ramblings, random musings, fascinations, rants, raves and revelations

Yesterday, in the parenting section of a local magazine, I read this short article simply entitled “Spoiling” with a teaser, “Do you find yourself giving in to your child’s demands for toys or treats? Could your kids be spoiled?”

I was immediately drawn to it as I was “naughtily” teaching my nephew the Ogie Alcasid’s “you’re such a loser Yaya… however, however..” line. I don’t intend to really make him an annoying brat. I’m just making fun of him since he responds greatly to whatever he’s hearing now.

I remember when people said my parents spoiled me when I was young. I always associated this comment with meaning that they gave me too much, and sometimes when my life’s in the deep end of the ocean, I wonder whether that’s true. Is it possible that I believed I should have everything and everything should come easily to me? No, I didn’t think that, and if I did, the world quickly schooled me otherwise.

However, this subject of spoiling children by giving them too many material possessions and letting them “have their way” seems to come up increasingly in conversation and in media. We probably all know children who have the latest video game consoles, more toys than the nearest daycare center, more clothes than they can possibly wear, and who clearly understand that throwing a royal tantrum wins whatever they wish. Sometimes these children may belong to us.

How do we determine what spoiling means? I think what we’re really saying when we say a child is spoiled is the child lacks discipline that we believe should have been instilled by the parent. However, I also think some parents are so fearful that they will raised a spoiled brat that they go overboard with denying their children enriching experiences and other pleasures.

Further research gave me Karen at Pinoy Mom Network called “Ways to Make A Spoiled Brat.” At Karen’s personal blog she has a list of ways to produce at rotten child, one of which is “Be Inconsistent” about discipline.
Bribe them, buy their love. In our society where both parents are often working, we are constantly beset with guilt: guilt that we often leave our children to caregivers or grandparents, guilt that we are not there to witness their milestones in life, guilt that there are times when we are not there for them. So how do we compensate? We shower them with expensive gifts, treat them to any toy of their choice, we give in to just about anything they ask for, after all we owe them. Here’s a newsflash, kids are extremely intelligent creatures, believe me they will catch up on what you’re doing. They will try to stir every situation to their advantage, they know that mommy and daddy will eventually give in.

Ignore the work that they’ve done. Not letting the kids know that you appreciate the extra effort they made to make their beds or bring the dishes to the sink will surely nurture the little brat in them. After all, whether they do good today or just slack off, it will all be the same with mommy and daddy. Slacking is much easier.

Be a bad example. How do we act in front of our kids? Do we also act hard to please and demanding? Do we give more importance to the monetary value of the gifts we receive, rather than the thoughtfulness of the giver? Do we constantly berate our household help for the littlest things? Perfect!

Be inconsistent. When trying to discipline our children, we often unleash a torrent of threats: don’t watch tv on a school night or you’ll be grounded for a week; if you hit your sister one more time I will not give you any cookies; if you don’t pass all your subjects this quarter you won’t be allowed to leave the house forever! And when the set rules are not met, we don’t follow through on our threats. Again, kids are really intelligent, after a while they realize that by saying that they are really, really, really, really, really sorry [plus a sad puppy look to boot], you eventually let them off the hook.

By the way, pictures here are of my pamangkin. Do you see him being that bratty? You’re such a loser yaya. Whatever, however, eeewwww…

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Sunday came once again. It was some how rainy and gloomy. To better enjoy it, Kiko and JC’s presence should be there. So after watching TV, pancit canton, tapsilog and seeing the new batch of ABS-CBN’s Star Circle, we went into our usual banters. It was a lovely and funny afternoon as everyone shared their comic sides and shared each others stories.

I have not seen them since I got back from Baguio so we thought that it’s a must to go out. Many suggestions had been considered but all agreed to just watch WALL E.

We made our way to Gateway, goofed around, took our snacks at Burger King and reserved ourselves theater seats.

Wall-E brought a desolate vision of the future that is softened by sophisticated storytelling, memorable characters and a good sense of humor — impressive, considering the film is largely lacking in dialogue. Humans have abandoned Earth for luxury liners in space following a catastrophic buying blitz that has left the surface of the planet covered in waste.

After hundreds of lonely years of doing what he was built for, WALL•E [short for Waste Allocation Load Lifter Earth-Class] discovers a new purpose in life [besides collecting knick-knacks] when he meets a sleek search robot named EVE. EVE comes to realize that WALL•E has inadvertently stumbled upon the key to the planet’s future, and races back to space to report her findings to the humans [who have been eagerly awaiting word that it is safe to return home]. Meanwhile, WALL•E chases EVE across the galaxy and sets into motion one of the most exciting and imaginative comedy adventures ever brought to the big screen.

Joining WALL•E on his fantastic journey across a universe of never-before-imagined visions of the future, is a hilarious cast of characters including a pet cockroach, and a heroic team of malfunctioning misfit robots.

Younger audiences may squirm as the first half hour or so goes boldly without much dialogue, but Wall-E’s personality-infused whistles and squeals are executed seamlessly. I was not sure of my feelings at the earlier part of the movie. I was just there listening to people. Jc was laughing and so as the people behind me. I then thought maybe it’s the effect of too much Vodka I had the other night. So I tried to focus on understanding and feeling the movie. After few minutes, I found myself being drawn to it at last.

It is supposedly a story of robots. But Wall-E’s got the hearts [and maybe even the tear ducts] of audiences in the bag. Even though he has the company of a pet cockroach, his loneliness is heartbreakingly palpable — especially when viewers catch sight of the bot’s broken-down robobrethen, and it hits home that the tender droid has been by himself for a long, long time.

The film’s pace picks up when an egg-shaped probe called Eve arrives on Earth. She’s a sleek, white, laser-equipped fembot sent by the megacorporation that fueled the current disaster. Although Eve has an infectious digigiggle, her itchy trigger finger and cool exterior don’t radiate charisma quite as deeply as lovable Wall-E does.

Still, it’s love at first pixel for Wall-E, who does his best to woo Eve with his treasure trove of salvaged goods before a simple sprout wins her heart and simultaneously shuts her down, summoning her mothership.

From then on, the film is a wild ride through space that lands Wall-E and Eve on Axiom, the spaceship that contains what’s left of the human population. The first glimpse of humans nearly 1,000 years into the future — they’re “giant babies, completely devolved” — is not a pretty sight.

After hundreds of years aboard Axiom, humanity has turned into a sea of lazy, machine-dependent consumers content to float on plus-size hovering recliners and slurp supersize sodas. People are immobile blobs of overindulgence, but the ugly reality is deftly delivered as comedy.

The CEO of Buy ‘n Large reveals that humans are never meant to return to Earth. His revelation results in a 2001: A Space Odyssey-inspired fight scene between the ship’s captain and Axiom’s autopilot that raises lingering questions about humanity’s future and our relationship with technology.

A truly romantic film at heart, the film ends on a cheerful note — for Eve and Wall-E. The fate of humankind is left rather vague, probably wisely, since their enlarged physiques, jellied bone structure and total lack of agricultural knowledge doesn’t exactly spell promise for rebuilding Earth.

It’s a message kids might miss, but a potent, topical theme that will surely ring with adults.
At least the robots will love, and live on.

Behind Wall-E’s puppy-dog binocular eyes lies a deep-rooted message: If we don’t clean up our act, our Roombas are going to inherit the Earth.

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It’s monsoon season and its drizzling outside. I have not been able to sleep as our stupid land lady bugged me for advance payment [but that's a different story], I sat next to the window and gazed out at the far huzzle buzzle road that never gets tired of the traffic even in such wet weather. Its kind of very good time pass to watch the vehicles pass by tearing the watery roads.

It’s been long since I have gone out for a late night walk, I thought to myself. A sudden thought that struck like a bolt of lightning in me. Yeah, my occasional night walks listening to good, soothing, melodious music all alone in the peaceful empty night roads.

A voice from the other room, “Kuya, kain na at lalamig na to”, thats our Yaya. She is very specific in having our dinner on time, the voice continued “Am not going to warm it once again if it gets cold, come and have it”. With an affirmative sign I went to the table before I could hear the second call.

I took the mushroom soup only. After the good warm “soup dinner” I headed back to my window, there is nothing in this world that can match the pleasure and satisfaction of soup meals on a cold rainy night.

When the clock struck 7:30, I hurried and prepared myself to work. I decided to just walk my way to EDSA instead of taking a cab that will take me directly to Ortigas. Yeah that solitary walk on the empty roads near my place. The rain was hesitantly falling from the sky dancing to the tune of the wind; I stepped out of my house and started to walk on the silent night road alone. My journey started, it has no particular destiny just a casual night walk. It is very cold outside, in spite of wearing a jerkin and a jean trousers I could feel the chill spill all over my body. With my jerkin top covering my head my headphone of my mobile phone was saved in my ear.

I even hummed the song I used to hear from little kids in our province.

Kung ang ulan ay parang tsokolate,

O anong sarap ng ulan.

Ako’y lalabas at ako’y nganganga

Hahahaha hahaha hahaha

O anong sarap ng ulan

O anong sarap ng ulan

My favorite house music [ahh], what a heavenly feeling! As my hands gripped into my jeans trousers I walked further down the road. The busy roads had a break at last, no one is on the roads except me and few of the vehicles that pass by once in a while. I felt myself totally free, no stress, no strain just me alone walking in the cold rainy weather.

How beautiful is this place in night!!! with the drizzling and the cold wind, walking alone with my favorite tune playing in the headphone that I plugged into my ear. A cold wind slept past me, I could feel my nose getting pinched by the cold, its time for something to have hot. I don’t night walk the same road, I remember the last time about few months back I walked down the east road that leads to a totally different direction but this time I walked south where you have some tea shop opened till 12 or 1 at night. I saw a tea shop that I used to go sometime to have a tea and buy myself a “pang-banyong tsinelas”.

As I got into the tea shop lifting my jerkin head cover a voice asked, ‘Sir coffee or tea?’…

Gimme a strong tea with high sugar’ I said, that’s how i like to have tea.. Strong but in a sweet way.

Got a cigarette from the shop boy and went to the corner table of the shop. As i lighted the cigarette my tea arrived with a voice ‘Sir tea’… With a head shake due to cold and as a gesture to say yes I held the glass with my palms covering the cup, it is nice and hot it made my cold shivering palms warm.

I took a sip of the strong brew, its perfect… thats the way it should be, I could feel the hot liquid flow all the way down within me. Rain outside never gave up, its still showering while I was enjoying my cup of tea, nice and hot that added a warm to my cold body. And yes, I tried smoking again.

After finishing my tea, I again started to walk briskly… Its a pleasing and soothing experience to walk all alone in the rain! No disturbance, no noise… So calm and cold… Dont know how many will like this kind of solitary late night walk, but for me its gives me the greatest pleasure. A pleasure while I lead my way to work.

Before I could reach the place to hail a bus to Megamall, I got a call from Z,’Where are you? I didn’t mind…

I turned off the phone and walked in the same pace as I started with my hands clutching in my jeans… Oh i just had my time today, a small enjoyment which many refuse to go out in such a rainy weather. I was almost reached home, I thanked myself for the splendid rain walk.

Releasing my hands from my trousers raised it up to my shoulder, looked above the showering dark sky… Thats the way you welcome a good monsoon rain. Stood there in that position for few second thanked the almighty for the soothing slow rain.

After a long time its a nice cold, melodious, poetic, rainy, night walk… There is nothing that can match my solitary night walk, that too in slow drizzling rain to add more romance for my lovable walk. Nevermind the problem on how I’m gonna dry myself.

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Im a self confessed whore. A cam whore to be exact. So are my friends.

Aside from the usual hearty laughs, banters, food binge-ing and photoshoots, we have added “Ang Spoiled” and photo editing to our growing list of stress busters.

While Zelot and Gay discover the secrets of great photography, I’m doing the easier part by cheating [hahahaha]. I manipulate our pictures using Adobe Photoshop.

For this week, I’m into lomography.

I love lomo shots, I like the vignette feel and how the colors contrast. Of course, I don’t own a lomo camera so the next best thing is post processing by Photoshop. Here is an example of a lomo-ized shot:

For those unfamiliar with lomo photography, this effect is achieved by lomo cameras by cross-processing photos, meaning the use of chemicals not intended for that specific type of film. Typically, Lomo users will take a color-slide film and then have it processed as a standard 35mm film [which uses different chemicals for photo processing], resulting in unique [oftentimes strange] exposures. Lomography inspires a passion and devotion to photography that is both heart warming and accesable, it has an organic feel that runs totally in the face of the sterile digitally enhanced age we live in.

Here’s what the photo above looked like before I edited it out using Photoshop:

Notice the difference between the two shots? If you want to know how cool your picrtures can be, try playing your Adobe. Abi is starting her own projects now. One good thing about exploring like this is you get to know your way around Photoshop bit by bit. Try it out, it’s like making new photos out of old ones.

FYI

Lomography… is a style of photography that was inspired by one particular camera the LOMO LC-A . A camera made by russians for russians, very simple in design a ‘trabant’ for photographers if you like.

Delightfully inconsistant Lomo cameras all have there own personality with ocasional light leaks and shutter lines, which all helps Lomography emphasize casual, snapshot photography. Characteristics such as over-saturated colors, off-kilter exposure, blurring, “happy accidents,” and alternative film processing are often considered part of the “Lomographic Technique.” Users are encouraged to take a lighthearted approach to their photography, and use these techniques to document everyday life, as the Lomo LC-A’s small size, simple controls, and ability to shoot in low light encourages candid photography, photo reportage, and photo vérité.

So there!

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I was starting to feel a little blue because of little things adding up for the last months. Yes, I just came from a vacation and have tried to set aside the issues but I believe everyone gets those days when things don’t seem to go your way no matter what you do and no matter what you tell yourself you just get frustrated. Maybe it's also the weather that's making me feel this way again. It's funny how bad paranoia can affect you and how evil people can get. Uh well, I'll just go by Gay's YM stat before - "Paranoia knows no reason nor logic. Stop that nonsense!"

The internet not working [fixed now]. Cable TV not working [fixed now]. Me losing a small photo album I always carry with me ever since I could remember with photos dating back from my grade school days for which I don’t have any more copies [will never find it].
Sigh on the last one.

I think I feel the way I do mostly in part because I miss home. It’s not going back to where I used to live and living the life again but the thought of what I previously had, how it felt like to have someone take care of you and to always have friends you grew up with at hand.

I miss being young again and having my parents make the decisions for me. I miss the summers in between school when the only major dilemma I had was what to do for the day, when will I have enough pocket money to go out, and where and when my friends and I would meet up.

I miss not worrying about what to eat for my next meal because someone always prepared it for me and fixed up after. I miss someone doing my laundry, fixing my bed, driving me around. I miss the lazy weekends curled up in bed next to my parents and sisters and watching just any stupid show on TV. I miss the shared meals on the table.

But mostly, I think, after all these months, I actually miss my family being together, as in really miss it. I miss my Mama doing polvorons and pancakes [hotkeyk as we call it], I miss thinking of what to give Papa for his birthday. I miss us talking and laughing together. I realize that one can never have enough time with the people they love.

With that being said, I feel so much better. Writing and knowing that people will read what you write is good therapy. I mean I’m not the type who writes about family issues, this being one of the really rare times, but I guess it’s good to do so once in a while. Yes, I’m human after all.

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When do you tell yourself that the pain you’re experiencing is not normal anymore? When do you suggest being taken to the hospital? This was the struggle I experienced the last time I was rushed to the Medical City. It first occured on my last day in Baguio. Thinking that it’s just a normal abdominal pain, I tried to ignore it. The next day, soon as we arrived here in Manila, the pain struck again. I was really in severe pain. I decided to ask my sister to bring me to the hospital after I vomitted twice. The same continued on our way there.

On arrival, I was checked over by a nurse. She gave me something to help with my symptoms. I honestly can’t remember if it was a spray or a tablet she gave me. Whatever she put under my tongue definitely helped with the pain and my breathing. She left the room to go get some advice. She returned and said that I needed to be endorsed to the surgery department. I was asked a series of questions, he was making sure I felt ok, asking about my abdominal pains etc. I think he was trying to get a bit of background to pass on to those at who were going to be taking over my care.

Follow up:

On arrival I was taken into a room and put on a machine that checks all your vitals like heartbeat, blood pressure, etc. My blood wasn’t right. My heartbeat was also very fast. I think it was around 120bmp. I then had a CT Stono taken. They couldn’t see anything of concern. They decided I needed further tests to do with my pains because the doctor wasn’t happy with what I was saying with regards to my symptoms. Apart from the abdominal pains, what other symptoms do you have? he asked. I told him that I really feel strange like being numb all over, peing was painful, my throat too and that I felt like puking again. He didn’t look happy. He asked if there was anything else. I said yes, I have a pain going down my urethra. My neck seemed stiff too.

I was moved to another room few hours later. Some tests were again executed. That was scary knowing they were talking medical terms. I also find it funny because the door sign of the room I was in said OB Gynecology”. WTF!!!

The consultant came to see me that evening and had a chat with me concerning the tests. He seemed happy with the results but still perplexed as to what was causing the symptoms, especially my pains. He advised that we may have another scan of the abdominal area. [I think this was because of my continued gastro symptoms].

Anyway, the waiting felt like forever. I was anxious and worried also about my sister waiting for me. She skipped school becuase of my emergency and has not eaten anything yet. It wasn’t until the doctor came back to see me later on that he mentioned my kidneys. Kidney stones in fact. He asked if I’ve undergone medications or anything that could have caused this. I said no. He wanted to do a couple of blood tests I think, to see if they could find the cause. Nothing appeared to show up as a probable cause.

After completing all the tests, clearance from my “OB GYNE” [hahahaha] I was allowed to go home. Bilateral nephrolithiasis [??] - the main reason I was told. I was given some medications to take home with me. I was given a form and told to go back and see my own urologist. I visited my doctor the following day. I told him what had happened and he told I did the right thing, such pains MUST be checked out. He asked if I had been given anything to take when I was discharged. I said no. [I told him when I was in hospital they gave me anti spasm and pain killers] I told him I was not experiencing heartburn. He prescribed omeprazole to help with the gastro symptoms which I’ll for a period of one month. Unfortunately it doesn’t appear to be doing anything for my symptoms. When I read the leaflet on omeprazole, I couldn’t believe it. It mentioned heartburn. I can tell you, HEARTBURN IS NOT what I was experiencing.

Going back to what the hospital did find, I did a bit of research about the kidney stones. I was asked to strain my wee wee to check for sediments. Since I chose the option of not going under the knife, I was prescribed tons of pain killers until the stone settles down my urethra. It’s still painful everytime I forget to take my meds and I hate the drowsy and dumb feeling after taking them. But I guess, I’m left with no choice. Sad.

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After a couple of days of turning down good time offers on Thursday and Friday, a strong impulse shoved me out of my Fortress of Solitude last Saturday night. On hitting the centre Z and I popped by San Miguel by the Bay bar strip. A certain group with so hard to understand name was playing to a lovely lively crowd. It seems like every time I go to the place, someone will be playing house music which of course immediately catches my attention hence the existence of any live group. Elektro was played, as well as the rest of my BED playlist, well, it’s always good for a drink or two.

Next, Z suggested that we went to check out the end of the strip which projects movie scenes on their screen. I missed all the films and videos, but caught up with a few people I hadn’t seen in a while. A couple of beers later and I was off to another, where a dude named Chris was having a going-away party.

The bar seems to have it going on: it looks good, the drinks are a bit on the pricey side, but not unreasonably so, the music [at least last night] was pretty danceable house, and there were a fair number of familiar faces there.

A bit of chatting, a couple of beers, too many cigarettes and a cab ride later I was in the far more genuine atmosphere of Malate. The contrast in vibe was kind of stunning in a pleasant way.

I pulled a bit of a whitey after a beer and a few hauls off a spliff and took off. It was around half past three in the morning at this point and I was in no mood to take a night tram back home. So I hung out in O-bar for few beers and a bit of people watching.

Before all these nga pala, we were looking for a new resto to try and so we’ve seen Pupung and Friends accidentally, since I am not so familiar with MOA all I can remember is that this resto is beside an escalator and another new restaurant KKK. Nates and I wanted to try this before but too bad, they were already closed when we both got there. Good thing Z asked me earlier this time.

The Food

We ordered Rib Eye Pork Steak which costs 125.00 including java rice and a glass of ice tea. We also ordered halo-halo.

They also offer, tapa, liempo, longanisa, bangus belly, bbq tuna in sticks, breaded porkchop.

For drinks, they have guinumis [cold drink with coconut milk], halo-halo and buko pandan. They also have green mango ensalada, tinuktuk[?] and laing.

The Cost

An order of a meal would cost around 70-88 pesos, their highest price of food is the pork steak. Drinks costs aroubd 16-25 pesos for soda and ice tea.
Other sidings you could order for 10.00 or 15.00 or 25.00 like laing or pinakbet.
Extra rice cost 12.00 and java rice costs 16.00.

The Ambience

It looks a little crowded and they cannot accommodate all the people coming in so the tendency is to look for another restaurant nearby. Their design is a big tarpaulin on the wall of Pupung and Friends comics, plus they wrap another comics tarpaulin in one of the big posts. They even use it to decorate their lampshape with Pupung and Friends cartoons.

Service

It takes a while for your order to arrive, around 15-20 minutes, but if you ordered breaded porkchop it is readily available, if it needs to be barbequed you have to wait. Though we did not order porkchop, you can see it in their counter that it is already prepared. Maybe it is just their soft opening so they are a little slow.

The concept

Their menu is not new but their concept it, they named their food after the character in the comics, the decoration I think is original. They do not need a lot of advertisement because there is a lot of walk-in clients. They may be familiar with Pupung and Friends and the food is cheap.

Rating

I would give them a rating of 6 out 10, because I like what we ordered, but it is not a candidate for my favorite reataurant. You might just try it but nothing will make you come back, maybe the price or maybe if there is a long line in other resto.
The food is similar with Binalot and other street resto offering tapsi and breakfast meal. Maybe in one year they need to add, french fries, spaghetti, carbonara, and other food and maybe name it Pupung and Friends in Italy or France or America so you can order a burger. Hehehehe.

Oh! and yeah, Nates treated me out last time we were there. After hearing the mass at EDSA Shrine, we went to MOA and had couple of drinks. It was a night worth remembering kse unang libre niya to since he got back. More to come Nates!

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I have been known to be the guy who can usually quip “mahirap” with flair. It’s not because I claim to be rich or trying to act as one. The term has been used to encourage laughter or to suggest good time. I may have offended some [sorry] but I will appreciate a good brain equipped to understand.

The name “AL” equates to the term “jokingly mean” so if you’re not up to having a good time, let me know. Just don’t use it against me. Oh please, we have our own shares of “kalokohan at kakulitan”.

In his essay “The Soul of Man under Socialism”, Oscar Wilde wrote the following:

“Ordinary riches can be stolen; real riches cannot. In your soul are infinitely precious things that cannot be taken from you.”

Televisions, laptops, jewelry, mobile phones, iPods, in fact anything a consumer can acquire for money, can all be stolen. Some things – the most precious things – cannot.

I have my own riches that nobody can steal…

• Snuggling up under a warm blanket on the sofa with a good book on a cold night
  Sitting quietly with the TV’s remote control in my hand swhitching through channels
  Watching the waves hit the shore as the sun sets over the sea
  Feeling the change in the air when -BER months finally arrive
• Seeing my parents together
  Knowing that I have my mother’s love and respect
  Playing with my nephew
  A good banter with my siblings
• The peace and quiet of a forest
  Star gazing
  The smell of grass after a rainfall
  Watching a log fire burn
• Laughing so much that it hurts
  Picture takings
  Knowing who I am
  My MP3s
• Spending hours at the library just browsing the books
  Enjoying comments on my blog
  Playing cards and board games [but NOT Monopoly]
  Designing or doing some layouts with Adobe
• Watching the wildlife back home in Mindoro
  The smell [and taste] of fresh baked buns
  Walking barefoot on grass on a sunny day
  Watching a heavy rain storm
  Egg and mayonnaise sandwiches
  Sitting in the sun, knowing that the vitamin D is making me stronger
• Scouring “wagwag” in Baguio
  Meeting new friends there
  Eating fresh strawberries
  Wearing a scarf
• Hopping on the scales and seeing that I’ve lost weight
  Baste ‘98
  Baby talk with my managers
  Binging on pancakes or waffles with a friend
• Receiving a hand written letter
  Snuggling up in a bed with fresh, line dried linen
  Sprawling on the sofa, listening to music
• Home made pizza
  Seeing my family achieve their goals, however small
  The smell of cinnamon
  Barbeques on the beach
  Learning something new
  Watching clean washing blowing in a breeze
  My memories… many, many of them

The list isn’t limited to the above; there are endless things that make me feel happy and contented with life. Sometimes we all need to remind ourselves of the riches that really matter - those that money just can’t buy. What would you put on your list?

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I’ll be in Baguio for the weekends and then I’ll be watching Cinemalaya films on Monday [UP] so there might be a break in blogging over the next few days. I’m taking my laptop, so I might get a sneaky post [pray that I'll be tamad and focus on taking pictures]. There will definitely be a post on Monday. Anyway just so people didn’t worry when I go quiet for a bit especially considering my mental state [paranoia - it's not deadly so no worries] and the ludicrous amount of posts I’ve been doing over the past few days [sorry BID for flooding *hehehe]. Have a fun weekend all. See yah again!

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When the day environment suggests a not so good time, when people around you makes a big poop out of whatever you said just to free themselves from the guilt of being the initiator of such thought, if a friend starts to be unfriendly, if everything just don’t turns out right, I tend to divert my attention to reading.

Sometimes I’ll be reading the news and come across something so utterly fucking retarded that it makes my blood come to an immediate boil.

Get this, apparently Rachael Ray [Who’s Sicilian and not at all Muslim and/or a Terrorist as Wikipedia so kindly informs me] has had her Dunkin Donuts ad pulled from TV because apparently she’s endorsing Hamas in it by wearing a scarf, which is actually a super secret way of saying that she hearts Osama. Now, normally I cheer when an ad is pulled because it amuses me greatly to see stuff like that happen. I like seeing shills fail, and I especially like seeing ads fail. However, the reason behind the pull is such bullshit that it actually sapped out all the joy I might have felt from this.

In the ad, Ray is wearing a Keffiyeh. It’s the white thing around her neck for the uninitiated. When we had our Puerto Galera

FOX News says it symbolizes Palestinian Terrorists. Actually… No. It symbolizes a hat. That’s all. That some terrorists choose to wear it doesn’t make it a symbol. Most actually don’t even wear the fucking thing, they tend to favor Balaclavas with a bandanna over it, not Keffiyehs. So ski masks are bad too? Bandannas are out?

Can’t wear a beret because people might thing I’m supporting Che Gueverra, can’t wear a Kepi because that’s too much like Charles De Gaulle, can’t wear a military cap like Fidel Castro because I’d be pro Communist, can’t wear a cowboy hat because then I’m a redneck, can’t wear a Confederate Flag baseball cap because everyone would think I like Lynyrd Skynyrd. Shit people, The next time I wake up, I don’t have anything to wear anymore.

What’s next? Get offended at Toyota pickups and AK-47s because terrorists use them? Old Toyota trucks are the number one choice in transportation for ragtag armies; and the AK has murdered more American soldiers than any other weapon since the beginning of time. I don’t see anyone banning their importation.

The most absolutely surreal thing about this though, is that OUR side also uses the fucking keffiyeh. They call it a Shemagh. The Navy SEALS, the British SAS and other special forces people wear it all the time.

Think THEY’RE supporting Palestine by wearing it? I don’t think so. I also don’t think Michele Malkin, the pundit who started the whole fucking thing, would have the balls to suggest it. Ray was just an easy target that she used to make a non existent point about nothing. What a fucking idiot. It’s not enough that brave men like the SEALS have to constantly worry about being killed by the enemy, now they have to worry that they may have to use sub-standard face protection against sand because some dumb cunt at FOX couldn’t keep her mouth shut and very consciously tried to create a moral panic about Arabic head covering.

Oh, and now I hear that Ray was only wearing an ordinary scarf all along. Which is an understandable mistake on behalf of the people who bitched, considering that a keffiyeh/shemagh IS JUST A FUCKING SCARF TOO!!!

Didn’t they know that almost all of the Badings who flooded Puerto Galera last Holy Week wore that? Can you imagine Bading Terrorists? Hard!

Face sa kanaaannn na!

Face sa kaliwaaa na!

Chot!

What a made up, bullshit controversy. Some people deserve to be repeatedly punched in the ovaries for wasting the valuable time I could have spent looking at internet porn with these moronisms.

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You know what made my day after almost only 2 hours of sleep?

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Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I cannot accept, and the wisdom to hide the bodies of those people I had to kill today because they pissed me off. And also, help me to be careful of the toes I step on today as they may be connected to the ass that I may have to kiss tomorrow.

Help me to always give 100% at work…. 12% on Monday 23% on Tuesday 40% on Wednesday 20% on Thursday 5% on Fridays.

And help me to remember….. When I’m having a really bad day, and it seems that people are trying to piss me off, that it takes 42 muscles to frown and only 4 to extend my middle finger and tell them to bite me! Amen

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Nates: 29-Jul-2008 5:06pm
Wer u? I’m with rain. Kape kami. Wanna join us?

That started it all. I haven’t got enough sleep yet but still, I pushed myself to go. With few bills in my pocket, I thought of stuffing myself first before I left the house. When I asked our Yaya what’s for dinner… “Wala pa Kuya, di pa ko nagluluto. May rice diyan at may spanish sardines sa may oven.” And then I thought “Hmm, ayaw ko ng sardinas ngayon” not expecting that I’ll be like one in few minutes time.

Paranoia strikes - “Naku baka isipin ng magbabasa, nagiinarte na naman ako. Ayoko lang muna ngayon ng sardinas. Pede na ba iyon?” I feel sorry for the poor sardine though; his life was cut short when he was caught and then stuffed into a can, never to swim again in the deep blue sea.

At least he had one advantage; he sure as hell was not in an elbow fight to get into that can.

The MRT has often been likened to a sardine can, with people stuffing themselves into a confined space in a desperate bid to beat the dreaded rush hour EDSA traffic. I am no stranger to the MRT, but today I had the singular experience of being carried into the MRT by a wave of crazed flesh vying for a comfortable place in the train.

I didn’t even have to walk; everybody was pushing and shoving as if the world was ending and that was the last ride to a better place. Hands and elbows and knees and toes were everywhere as people came in from all sides trying to fit into the small aperture offered by the train’s sliding doors.

It was all I could do to stop from screaming at the barbarians at the gates. A bomb threat right there and then would have landed me in jail for violating the HSA, but it would be well worth the satisfaction of seeing the frenzied crowd run and duck for cover.

It’s another annoying example of Filipinos’ tendency -obsession- to be the first in everything. It would be nice if that drove our people to excel in everything, but the unfortunate end result is a people that would choose to flirt with danger rather than wait a few minutes in line, or queue up in an orderly fashion, or wait their turn to cross, or stay in one road lane, or -you get the picture.

The sheer lack of discipline so prevalent in our society is extremely frustrating. We were talking about Singapore in class this morning, and I can’t help but wonder how much better this country could have been if a person the likes of Lee Kuan Yew held office at Malacanang.

Getting out of the train was just the opposite of getting in. I had to push my way out of the sea of bodies that just wouldn’t budge even to my repeated cries of “excuse me”. At the door was another wave of people jostling and pushing and shoving to get in, effectively hampering my exit.

I felt so bruised, all sweaty and stinky. Needless to say, I was already in a very evil mood by the time I got down to North Avenue Station station. The woman who cut into my line sure as hell didn’t help matters!

I was holding myself from freaking out when I have to be back to our meeting place twice because of incorrect information.

What more? we had a hard time deciding where to eat because everything seemed jampacked or if not, the place wasn’t smoker friendly.

When we have found one place that is of perfect location, mahal naman mga presyo nila. It’s not really as pricey as going to exclusive restaurants but I just don’t think it’s reasonable enough. Hefty servings may have been the reason but the place isn’t that good. My apologies to Heaven and Eggs Restaurant.

I won’t write anything more about the restaurant. I’ll just be thankful I was with friends. They’ve been my friends since young. We’ve been classmates since Kinder to High School and still maintaining to hold our friendship. True people who know each other inside and out. People who can rightfully claim - Kilala kita Al.

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This season’s PDA pales in comparison to last year’s but this guy, Van Pojas, is totally worth all the hustle-bustle. I totally dig for his boyish charm and of course, the cutesy cutesy voice. Gosh, really can’t fight this feeling any longer [har har har]. People might think it the other way but he just reminds me of my Z. So I have both Liezel and Van now to support.

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I have long been reading Harry Potter. I have avoided as much as I can to hear stories of how it ended. Thanks to Jc for lending me both the 6th and 7th book.

I know it’s quite late already. The mania has already faded but who cares? It took me a while to buckle down and write about my reaction to “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.” I could have done it as soon as I finished it—I was still wide awake at that time—but I honestly couldn’t make up my mind on how I felt about it. I still can’t, actually, but July draws to a close and so does my Harry Potter month. At least I hope I don’t end up writing an epilogue later on.

After making making”tambay” at Kiko & Jc’s haven, I got home, ate lunch, and proceeded to bulldoze my way through the novel until 3ish AM.

Like I said, I am still undecided on how I feel about it. To make things easier, I will just pull out stuff from my head one by one. You can pour them all in the Pensieve when I’m done. I’m thinking about incorporating “pensieve” to my own blog domain.

I am sure most people have read the book by now, but just in case YOU have not read it, please do not proceed if you don’t want to know what happened.

Alright? You have been warned.

The Deathly Hallows: I am not too happy about that storyline. I was looking forward to seeing more of the Horcruxes so I was a bit annoyed that my attention was being drawn to yet another convoluted tale. I know, I know… it’s in the title of the book so I should not complain about it.

Ron hissing: What the hell was that? Granted that we can all mimic sounds and Ron displayed a talent for it, I still thought it was lame.

The Epilogue: Rather cheesy, in my opinion, but I guess the fans would have been very upset if she didn’t include it. I know some people who wanted at least another chapter full of updates. Puh-leez.

Names of the children: Okay, why didn’t he name any of his kids Serius? Or is the other one James Serius?

The locket: It reminded me of the One Ring. Sorry, I can’t help it.

Death 1: I was shocked that Hedwig got the ax! It was necessary, though—they would have used him [her? I don’t remember] when they were camping around Britain. It was good that he was killed fast, though. It was cruel, but Rowling had to make a statement that nobody was safe. Well, at least she wanted us to feel that way.

Death 2: Fred, Fred, Fred. That pissed me off. She should have killed Molly instead.

Which brings me to Bellatrix: Why Molly?!?! I would have been more thrilled if Tonks [ah, she was already dead by then] or Lupin [ditto] did it. Her husband would have been a better choice as well.

I knew Lupin had to die at some point after he asked Harry to be the Godfather of his child. Stupid move, man.

Poor Creevey.

Did Fenrir Greyback bite Lavender Brown or was he about to when Trelawney stopped him? Did she turn into a werewolf or not? Hey, wouldn’t it have been cooler if Trewlaney killed Bellatrix? Hehehehehe.

Dobby: I never liked that character, but that was one of the deaths that I took hard. A bit sappy, but I felt so bad for him.

The Dursleys: I didn’t like the idea that Diddy liked Harry in the end. I wanted Harry to go to war irritated.

The Malfoys: The had to be redeemed, I figured, because J.K. was determined to have a very, very happy ending for the series. I hate that. It really didn’t make sense.

When Draco appeared in the Epilogue and she described him and said that he had a receding hairline, I thought—wow, he didn’t inherit his father’s lovely locks after all! Hehehehe.

The Elder Wand: I am still confused as to how Harry became the true master of the wand. He didn’t physically take it away from Draco! It was another wand, right? You mean if you take one then you get ownership of all of your opponent’s wands?

The Patronus spell: JK Rowling went crazy with that one. All of a sudden everybody was using it left and right. Too much, too much.

The Doe: I knew it was Snape’s! I knew he was good so who else would have been clandestinely helping Harry?

Snape: When Dumbledore said “Please” to him in HP6, I knew Albus was begging him to keep his end of the deal. He’s still my fave along with Serius.

Snape again: I didn’t like the whole chapter with the Pensieve. Couldn’t she have explained Snape’s story in another way? It sounded to me like an after-thought or a rushed job. And the “I love Lily” was already clear to me from Book 5. I was expecting more.

Lily’s eyes: Rowling said before in one of her interviews that it was important that other people noticed that Harry had his mother’s eyes because it would play a big part in the ending and the series. I guess it served as a reminder for Snape not to throttle Harry too much.

Dumbledore: There was too much Albus in this one. I thought I had seen the last of him in HP 6. I am not exactly a fan of his as you can see. Fine, she wanted to show that he was “human” and fallible, too. I still don’t like it.

I wanted more Voldy—past and present. More blood and gore! More soul splitting! hehehe. The snake coming out of that poor lady was cool, though.

I really wanted Hagrid to die. Why didn’t he die???

Tunnel to Hogwarts: To think poor Draco had to fix that stupid cabinet for one whole school year! I thought this was lame.

The camping scenes: I guess it was essential to let Harry, Ron, and Hermione bond, but it took them a ridiculously long time to get their act together. Zzzz… Why did she have to follow her “one school year” formula again? It reminded me of HP4—Barty Jr could have handed Harry over to Voldy at the beginning of the year. Did they have to wait for the stars to align or something? I guess I have to check the book.

Special appearances all around: Even Krum was there. I thought Lockheart was going to waltz in at some point. heh.

The locket, again: I remember asking a friend why it was not included in the HP5 movie. I thought it was a horcrux and I thought it was important that they show that Harry and co found it and threw it away.

Speaking of Horcruxes, I knew Harry was one, too, that was the reason why I was so convinced that he was going to die. He did… for a chapter. How disappointing. Lame, lame, lame. We got another “Dumbledore-Harry-heart-to-heart-talk” in the end. I really thought he was going to die.

Happy Ever After: I guess JK Rowling really didn’t want a tragedy in her hands. The series, no matter how dark and serious it got in the end, was still for kids. She wanted to give them a nice and clean ending. I wanted something else. Oh well…

Well… I can’t think of anything else to say. It’s funny how I’ve spent so much time mulling on this. I had a Harry Potter week!!! And to think I was such a lapse-fan of the series.

Anyways, all in all, I think that this book was tailor-made for the fans. I can’t help but wonder if JK would have written the series the same way if she didn’t have a very strong and imaginative and vocal fan base.

I still don’t know how I feel about it, though. Maybe I should just read it again.

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WARNING : Before you read this, make sure you have a fully developed brain to understand what I’m saying and why I’m saying it. So backoff pea-sized brain! If you don’t know the art of writing or blogging per se, don’t read one. I don’t want people reading my blog then use it against me. I hate to hear people making “parinigs and pahagings” because their brains couldn’t seem to grap the essence of writing.

This is my sanctuary, my place of thoughts. So if you don’t have what it takes to understand it, jump off the building. You’ll realized how stupid you are before you even hit the ground.

While having our banchetto lunch earlier and with the neverending stories to be shared by one another, Abhi shared what Ron made her watch through YouTube. It was the “Ang Lihim ni Antonio” flick. Everybody turned so interested as we all tried to picture all it’s scenes in our minds. I have heard of this film before but never took time to watch it.

For whatsoever gift Abhi has, I got so curious and decided to watch it also. It was really one hell of an effort to view it through YouTube but it was nice and all anyway.

It’s the story of a gay 16-year old and the random events that happen in his life. First time actor Kenjie Garcia was okay and very brave. Brave that he had scenes where he had to literally touch another man’s penis and go full frontal for a masturbation scene. The story is really simple. That’s all there is to it. A falling out of friendship after drunken sex; coming out to another friend; living with a compassionate but broken mother; reaching out to an absentee father; and the arrival of a hunk uncle. The plots don’t exactly bleed into one another in a satisfying, cause-and-effect, or thematic fashion. Collectively, they paint a portrait of a coming of age that is incoherent, and maybe that’s the point.

The director really knows how to push beyond the boundaries. Unlike his previous film ]Ang lalake sa Parola], I felt his versatility as a director on this one. He used the “videocam” technique in almost the entire film. Some people are bothered by this style since the camera moves constantly but on the contrary, it gives a more dramatic effect, especially if you’re trying to get a more realistic approach. It was just right for this film.

The “uncle” played by Josh Ivy Morales [which of course immediately became my crush] wasn’t as bad as well with his piece, since it didn’t really require any major acting. I can presume that the reason why he was cast for this film, is because he had a past experience in doing porn [Manila nights]. So, I wasn’t really surprised when he had frontal erection scenes. These set-ups are not new from film maker Jose Altajeros, too bad if you decide to watch his movies in the cinema, these hard core scenes are deleted but you can always wait till it gets released in the video house. The VCD/DVD version will always have the director’s cut. My take with Jose’s films, when it comes to feeding your sexual appetite, he is the master! He knows how to get to the root of your sexual desire [homoerotic] and at the same time balance it with a good script, good acting and good directing skills. I guess, this is where we can draw the line between porn and film. These kind of movies aren’t new in the french cinema, but for a filipino audience, this movie can be considered extreme.

I got disturbed in the last part of the movie, I was there in my office [alam kong bawal sana but I can't help it] table totally awed by the scenes. I felt the anger, the trauma and the cursing “putang ina mo!!” That very same line played in my head while it is being delivered by Sharmaine. And on another note, the acapella version of “silent night” played in the background which made it more striking. Sharmaine Buencamino has always been a fine actress, if it wasn’t for her performance, this movie would have been a waste.

The movie’s main fault is that it doesn’t really make us care about any of this. Antonio is a walking empty shell. None of what he does, or what happens to him, seems to have any gravity. What keeps us watching is not that he’s interesting, but that the occurances are familiar to us as gay men who’ve been there before or at least heard stories about it. Sure, I giggled at the memory of wearing somebody’s used underwear on my face, but what was so special about that scenario, really? I got tired of scenes unfolding without distinctiveness or consequence. I stayed on my seat mainly because I already know uberstud Josh Ivan Morales will eventually flash his hefty manhood and that he will finally do it with cute newcomer Kenji Garcia. It was just a matter of when.

Talking about being naughty [hehehehehe].

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I’ve always been fascinated by this practice. As most people know, it is a tradition in many parts of the world to bake up a birthday cake for a friend or family member celebrating a birthday. Typically this cake is decorated nicely and topped with birthday candles, one for every year of the celebrant’s life. When the time comes to eat the cake, there is a tradition that the candles are lit and the birthday boy or girl makes a silent wish and then blows out the candles. If they are successful in their comedic [and sometimes spittled] extinguishing, it is said that the wish that they made will come true within the year.

Well, as with most things, there is more here than meets the eye. I was browsing some of my pictures when I saw those that were taken during Mhel’s birthday. It’s a funny picture with all of us helping her blow her birthday candles. It was then I asked - “What’s with the blowing”?

Good thing there’s always Google Loo to help me. It was something like this:

The blowing out of the candles on the birthday cake originated from an early tradition that believed that the smoke from the candles would take one’s wish or petition up to God.

Of course, such a tradition fits squarely within many other religious incense beliefs around the world, which we’ve briefly visited before here, here and here. The beliefs are that burning incense, a form of candle which often produces a fragrance or aroma, is a spiritual purificatory rite that has any number of benefits:

practical use [obscure odor, particularly in funerary ceremonies to cover the scent of decay]
chronological measurement
repel mosquitoes or other insects [Zen Buddhists use this technique when meditating]
indulgence for the sense of smell
sacrificial offering to deity
It is in this final sense that we find most usage in the Judeo-Christian tradition, and in the Bible. Our Bible Dictionary teaches:

The preparation of incense is described in Ex. 30:34-36; the duty of offering it twice daily fell upon the high priest (Ex. 30:7-8), but in the second temple the privilege was extended to all the priests, and the lot was cast each day to decide who should offer (Luke 1:9). Live coals were brought from the brazen altar of burnt offering, and placed on the golden altar of incense; then the priest to whom the lot had fallen entered alone into the Holy Place, carrying in a censer the incense, which he cast on the fire. Then, bowing reverently toward the Holy of Holies, he returned to the congregation, who were praying outside, and pronounced the blessing in Num. 6:24-26. The choir of Levites at once started to sing the daily psalms. On the Day of Atonement there was a special offering of incense. See Rev. 5:8; Rev. 8:3-4; cf. Ps. 141:2; Mal. 1:11.1

Such an offering of incense by the priests gathered around altars set before the veil in the tabernacle or temple was believed to carry the prayers of the Israelites as smoke up to the throne of God, such that they would be heard by Jehovah more effectively.

Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. (Ps. 141:2)

So there. At least we know now “what’s with the blow”.

Something to keep in mind the next time you are blowing out your birthday candles.

These photos were all from that day. Kulit no?

Again, Happy Birtday Mhel!!!
From :
Gay, Kate, Jill. Rhon, Agnes, Al, Cj, Joanne, Dior, Mia, Genie, Princess, Ryan, Aiah

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Waiting for calls to be monitored takes like forever. Everybody’s so busy… or at least trying to be. I have been holding myself from opening Adobe because they might use it again against me but I really can’t hold it any longer. What the heck!

So here’s the result of that struggle. I know some will think that I’m being sipsip or nagpapalakas again. Haller!!! di na kailangan. Ako na mismo si Malakas at si Maganda [har har har}. Talking about being Becky. Chot!

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I slept like a baby for 8 hours earlier. When my phone alarmed at 8 o’clock, I passed over the clutter in the kitchen and fell into the bed blacked out and heedless of the mess altogether. I was supposed to ask our Yaya to do the laundry but my eyes was wailing to catch up on sleep so I paid heed. I managed to force open my eyes to send a quick reply to my Z’s [I'll introduce him when the right time comes] text message then I pressed my head back into the pillows.

I don’t usually fall asleep within 5 minutes of lying down but earlier was one of those rare instances when my eyes just shut off involuntarily. It’s not that I’ve been deprived of sleep, it’s just that I’ve been feeling woozy in the night time especially at work lately and I sense some twinge around my neck that feels like swollen lymph nodes. I guess it’s cold symptoms.

I got out of bed to clean up. well, having to do the “head-of-the-family” chores myself is both the good and the not so good slice of being a “kuya” lifestyle but I don’t really fret. Actually, it’s exciting. Well, it’s not really the feeling of being responsible at last, it’s the self-discovery that’s more thrilling. Each day sweeps on like a journey to self-discovery. and I’m so pleased to see the other side of my quirky character unfolding, that is “AL-as-he-should-be” self.

It’s a Tuesday and I felt the “I-feel-like-being-nice-today” attitude. So, soon as I reached my office, I greeted everyone with a smile. One of my biggest accomplishment? I even talked to the “hiddenly-treacherous-guy”. I just feel like being nice. I know he’ll always be like that because the attitude makes him breathe but I guess I’ll just maintain my vigilance. And as my YM status says :

Simply ignore the bitchiness, and respond with a smile. He should be pitied, his life is miserable, and that is contagious, but love is also contagious, spread that instead!

More love people!

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