Dreaming of...

Movie Review: No Other Woman

2011-10-27T21:19:00.001+08:00

I know it's late, but I still want to make a review of this oh so popular film. My friends kept on bugging me to watch it so with the power of facebook, I was finally able to understand their infatuation with the film.

It was wonderfully directed. I never would've imagined myself cheering for Cristine Reyes. Because of all the news/ gossip about her, I was never a fan. For the first time, I actually wanted Derek to get snuffed. The script was creatively structured so that we will remember most of the lines. The locations were well-suited for the scenes. The wardrobe, apart from the "barney party", was so enviable!

Now for the characters. My friends said that Anne's character had redeeming factors towards the end. Well, yes. In some way, I understood her character while at the hospital. But for those who were saying that it was not Kara's (Anne's character) fault that Derek cheated on his wife, I'm sorry but I cannot agree. Provided that she didn't know that Ram (Derek's character)was married when they started flirting with each other, she new that he was married BEFORE THEY STARTED the affair. So she cannot feign ignorance. Ok, malandi siya. She didn't want to be in a committed relation ship, fine that's her choice! Ram is incredibly HOT, she thought he was single. FINE. But upon knowing that he IS in a committed relationship (i.e. MARRIED), kahit gaanong kalandi ung HOT married dude na un, married parin siya. OFF LIMITS. Go look for some other flirty hot dude who is not married and is willing to play. I'm sure marami dun sa tabi-tabi. Being hot and loaded doesn't justify being a mistress. Sabi nga sa movie: Ano mas mahirap kalabanin? Putang Mahirap o Putang Mayaman? PAREHO LANG SILANG PUTA. She backed off. Admirable? HELL NO. It would've been admirable if she didn't start the affair in the first place. She gave up, because she knew she lost.

Ram. No debate here. All my friends despised his character. But it just goes to show the reality that no matter how much a person loves his partner, as long as they are weak to temptations, they will cheat. Having a rich and smoking hot lady come after him is a huge stroke to his deflated ego. It's good that he returned to his wife. But he got the easy way out by getting into an accident. He was let off the hook too easily. You say that he already felt bad enough by hurting 2 women? That's his fault. Malandi siya e.

Cha. I really applaud Christine Reyes' acting here. In her afternoon drama, I find her acting to be quite flat and sometimes sharp, walang sakto lang. So this was a big breakthrough for her, IMO. I loved the scene when she confronted Ram about the affair while at the resort. You can see her pain and her anger. If I was emotional, I think that scene would've made me cry. The throw down was just a bonus. LOL

No Other Woman is a near perfect example of why I love movies from Star Cinema; great acting, captivating script, brilliant directing and production, and they try to think outside the box. They do not limit their actors to just playing the sweet, sexy, lovable characters. In one movie they are the lead, in the next they are the spiteful villains you would love to hate. They enable versatility. So why is it not perfect, well for starters I didn't love the ending. It was fine, but it wasn't my cup of tea. The storyline was already used in Aga's movie with Maricel Soriano. The approach was different, but the theme was the same: cheating husband repents and is forgiven.

My Rating: 4 out of 5.

Writer's Block...Again?

2011-10-14T12:57:00.002+08:00

It's been a long time since I last posted on this blog...or any of my other blogs. Been busy with life. >.< A lot of stuff has been piling up and they have left me in no mood to write. Most of the time I just want to escape from reality and writing these days just makes me want to rant. I don't want that. I want to remove all the angst from my heart and mind. How will I do that? Meditation makes my head hurt. LOL Exercise makes my body ache. Talking about my problems just makes them seem more real..for once, I want to escape. But I know my problem will just get worse once it catches up to me. Since I was a kid, my parents taught me one thing: RUNNING AWAY IS NEVER AN OPTION. So time for me to exercise I guess. LOL Feeling helpless is not my thing so, until I find a solution, I will just have to roll with the punches. I Know I can find a way through this shit. I just need to find the flush...

The Evils of the Internet 1

2011-03-21T10:21:00.003+08:00

The internet is a very useful thing these days; it keeps you connected to families and friends from far away, aids in fast information dissemination, and mostly entertains people. However the internet has made the world smaller and therefore a single insensitive comment can be blown up into disastrous proportions.

This morning, I saw an article on Yahoo! that a UCLA undergrad student quit school because of death threats and whatnot due to her racial slur on youtube. She dissed the Asian community for talking on the phone while in the library. She might have a point there, the library is a place where people study (well, sometimes people sleep there too...ehem) and therefore should be kept relatively quiet. However she used the recent catastrophe in Japan as an example of why those people were using the phone. If she understood that they were calling because they were checking up on their families' safety, then why upload a rant on a VERY public venue? Why not just ask that person to take the call elsewhere? I don't know if she just wanted to get attention or if the is really just insensitive but what she did made her appear stupid to a lot of people, not only Asians. She is an undergraduate student of Political Science in a very prominent university in one of the most powerful countries in the planet, I do not think that she is really stupid in general but her actions reflected that of an ill-educated person. I would like to think that they were taught manners in school and as a multicultural country I expected her to be more accepting of cultural differences. But I guess that was expecting too much.

She also mentioned about the Asians having to adapt to American manners because they are living in America. But why are most Americans in Asian countries still living like they were in the US? Like they are better than the host country? I actually agreed with her on some level but she should also be fair in her judgment. If she is claiming that we (Asians) have to adapt to their culture, then their expats should also adapt to the Asian culture. It's only fair and logical that way.

Regardless of her rant, I still hope that she continues her education so that her mind can be opened to more possibilities. I hope that a proper education can let her mind, heart, and soul be awakened to the beauty of diversity. The one that her country so proudly boasts of...

Lesson? Well, do not blabber in public without thoroughly thinking it through. Everything you say or do can be blown up into a full scale war that can destroy your life. What is humorous for you might be offensive to others, that is why you should always think of being "politically correct." Asians in general are very sensitive when it comes to their ethnicity, so be careful of what you say.

Link to the original article.

Thought of Horror

2011-02-16T14:04:00.005+08:00

When my dad was watching/listening to DZMM teleradyo, I was slightly amused at how AWESOME their music was. My dad was tuned in to Dr. Love. In case you don't know, it plays REALLY old music, the type our grandparents used to listen to.

After two hours of the show, I was finally able to recognize ONE of the songs so I happily shared it on my FB page. My aunt commented that she was also listening to the show all the way in New Jersey. She said that she grew up listening to those songs and in the distant future, my cousins and I will be the ones listening to the same radio station and reminiscing. This made me think: what will be the classics of my generation? Then the scariest thought entered my head...will it by Miley Cyrus and Justin Beiber music? Dear Lord NO! Will it be the music of the Backstreet Boys and N'SYNC? *facepalm*

In a musical perspective, comparing The Beatles to The Backstreet Boys is like comparing Creme Brule to marshmallow. Is my generation so artistically challenged that the music of the 60's still overshadows the present?

When I thought that I could include the music of Nirvana and Guns and Roses in my generation's list, my siblings cruelly pointed out that I wasn't born yet in their heyday. I wasn't even lucky enough to buy an album from those bands.

Don't even let my begin with OPM which is virtually insistent these days. Cover songs and remakes are all I hear from our local "artists" today. Sad but true. Even our band scene is slowly dying with the news of disbanding abound.

It is truly disheartening for my generation. We still have time! Please make good music that can topple the MUSICALITY of the songs of the past. Popularity is nothing if the art doesn't last.

YouTube Video: Bruno Mars - Grenade

2011-01-12T17:49:00.003+08:00

I just ADORE Bruno Mars. The fact that he is part kababayan has nothing to do with this at all. Long before his videos were flooding the TV, I have followed his songs online. He just has this amazing voice and beautiful songs with melodies and lyrics to die for.

However I must say that I am not a fan of this song, Grenade. The musicality is still there, but the lyrics just doesn't do it for me. Listen to it yourself...

I don't want a man to die for me...I want someone who will strive to live WITH me. (Mind you, WITH and not FOR)

Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows: No Where is Safe

2010-11-18T23:28:00.000+08:00

I can't wait to watch this movie!! Two to go, bitter-sweet emotions.

Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows: No Where is Safe

Are You Peter Pan?

2010-11-07T15:16:00.000+08:00

Are You Peter Pan?

Do you refuse to act your age? Do you still want to play around even if you are already old? Then you might just be Peter Pan...like me.

Mariah Carey is Pregnant

2010-10-30T22:21:00.000+08:00

Mariah Carey is Pregnant
Finally, the good genes of Mariah Carey will be passed on to the next generation.

Will Justice be Served?

2010-10-29T18:06:00.000+08:00

Will the Vizconde family ever find peace?

Will Justice be Served?

Singing at The Top of My Lungs

2010-10-23T01:00:00.000+08:00

Singing at The Top of My Lungs

Learn to not be afraid of criticisms. Live your life the way you want to...it's yours after all.

Love in Technology

2010-10-21T15:06:00.000+08:00

Love in Technology

Finding love on the internet, is it really wise?

Separation of Church and State

2010-10-21T14:25:00.000+08:00

Separation of Church and State

Loser No More! Despicable Me CHECK

2010-10-19T20:14:00.003+08:00

Ok. So I haven't watched a movie since Alice in Wonderland. What's the big deal? Well, apparently there have been plenty of GREAT movies that I missed. Sorry for not having extra money for movie houses with lots of noisy customers.

It is no secret that I HATE watching movies in public for the plain reason that I don't like noisy people when I watch. I prefer hearing the actors deliver their lines without having the guy in front of me narrate every single detail to his date as if she was deaf and blind at the same time.

In the rare chance that I did end up watching a movie, it was an animated flick. I was prepared for the worst; crying children, noisy parents, ringing cell phones, wannabe-narrators, the whole nine yards. But to my delight, it was as if my friends and I owned the movie house. Only a couple of other groups were present and they were actually quiet! To add to that, the movie was so funny! I was laughing more than the solitary child in the audience. Fine, the plot was predictable, and the animation was only average. What in lacked in those areas, they made up for with wit and humor. I just have to give it a two thumbs up! 4 stars! or whatever the hell reviewers rate movies.

With that, I leave you with the clip of the cutest girl in animation: Agnes.

Hotaru no Hikari Season 2

2010-10-19T19:51:00.005+08:00

This series has been finished for quite some time now but since it was first uploaded on a streaming site that just plain SUCKED, I was only able to finish it yesterday.

Anyway, the new character played by Mukai Osamu is just made of WIN! I don't think I am biased here, I know he is my favorite actor and he is just so HOT, but I actually genuinely like his character; the "freeter" who eventually finds motivation to do a good job. The man whom you can ask for pieces of advice which you might actually follow. And the nice guy who doesn't force his feelings for the girl he loves.

True to "himono onna' (dried woman) fashion, Aho-miya is still the lazy lady with a hardworking attitude in the office. The humor is still there and Buchou is actually starting to open up. The sequel is definitely worth watching!

Imortal on ABS-CBN

2010-10-05T19:05:00.003+08:00

Think Twilight meets Underworld with a few hints of Anne Rice's vampire chronicles. That is what I first thought of when I saw the first episode of Imortal. Now before my friends kill me and dispose of my body, I am not saying that Twilight is comparable to the aforementioned stories and/or movies. I'm just saying that the plot is a mixture of those stories.

Twilight, well because of the whole "vegetarian" vampire thing and producing a child between human and vampire who will be stronger than any other vampire.

Underworld because of the whole vampire-werewolf forbidden romance.

Vampire Chronicles, particularly Interview with the Vampire, because of the whole "maker is a vicious vampire while the newly turned vampire wants to be vegetarian" bit. Remember? Lestat is a very proud vampire while our dear Louis insists on feeding on rats and rabbits.

So far, I am not happy with the acting and the make up of the show. Really, they look too pasty and the vampires are sweating. WHAT? I haven't seen a vampire sweat before and I don't think they are supposed to sweat.

I must say though that the young John Lloyd there is so CUTE! Crush ko talga siya! I think Bugoy is his name...he's so cute!

Hanamizuki

2010-09-30T16:56:00.003+08:00

I can't wait to watch this movie. Two of my most favorite ~~harem boys~~ actors come together for a heartwarming movie. Toma Ikuta and Osamu Mukai appear in this movie, but I guess Toma my dear is the lead guy here. I really can't wait to track down a subbed version of this movie.

PS.
In case you are like me whose brain sometimes sleeps in the gutter, it is not a yaoi or BL movie okies? It is about a heterosexual relationship...>.<

Remembering our Mentor

2010-09-29T20:39:00.005+08:00

Our school might not have the best facilities, heck it may even look like a mental institution from the outside. But I had the best (and worst) experiences there that prepared me for the tough life in college.

In the past, I wasn't really proud of my school. I wasn't ashamed of it, but I didn't brag about it like the other members of my family who were from a famous school in Marikina. In fact most of them looked down on the school because it severely lacked the amenities that their schools had. Who could blame them? We didn't have a covered court, air-conditioned libraries, spacious fields, and what's left of the few trees in the campus were cut down because of termite infestation. But they didn't know the hell that we go through with academic requirements and extracurricular activities (that didn't seem optional) every year. From preschool to high school, nobody was spared. Daily lessons with pop quizzes, long tests with project deadlines, two theses (for 4th year HS), and plays, recitals, and whatnot on the side.

We had teachers who throw soldering projects from the second floor just to see if it holds and if it does, it means you cheated. We had no boundaries between girls and boys when it comes to projects and classes; girls learn about electronics with the boys and the boys learn to sew with the girls. We were taught equally without prejudice and special treatments. I guess this started my belief in equal opportunity (mind you, EQUAL not special treatments. NOT feminism).

Honestly, even when I was cursing the school for giving us "too much work" in our stay there I am quite thankful because it prepared me for college. I didn't have to adjust with the multiple deadlines and sleep-deprived school days. I learned how to multitask before my peers even heard of the word. Going to college seemed like a breeze because of the fundamentals and all the grinding we experienced in school.

Although my school is not as popular as the others surrounding it, it has produced well-mannered and capable individuals who are ready to face the hardships ahead. From the proper intonation of saying "good morning" to changing a florescent light to submitting perfect "plates" to writing a script, choreographing field demonstrations, cooking your own lunch, and properly addressing and thanking the canteen ladies and janitors. You taught us all these and more.

I might not have been the closest student to you. To be honest I was one of those kids who were hiding from you when you pass by. We feared that we will bleed ourselves dry just speaking to you. I know better now. I should've known better then.

So to the woman who made all these possible, I know you are resting in God's able hands. I'll take this opportunity to say this to you:

Goodbye and thank you, Mrs. Mallonga. Jesus. Loves. You.

This is a simple greeting taught to us by our mentors, gradually forgotten in our older years. But this best describes our respect and gratitude towards you. You can rest in peace knowing that we have imbibed the motto you instilled in all of us; do the right thing, at the right time, in the right place, with the right person and everything will turn our right.

Pressured...

2010-09-27T16:10:00.005+08:00

Remember the days when everybody was wearing those ridiculous butterfly hair clips that seem to flutter when you move your head? Or the advent of the camera phones or the almighty iPod? Everybody just had to have them Classmates would come home to their parents wailing because they want one just like the popular kids at school.

I am proud to say that I am not one of those kids. I have never succumbed to peer pressure. I was the one who always kept to myself and didn't bother much with the fads. To this day, I have never owned any mac product and only owned second hand cellphones (aside from my SE W800i, which was a gift from my brother). I never really cared about what others think of me or if I will make friends. My belief is that if I would only make friends because of the stuff that I own, then I don't need those friends. Don't get me wrong, I am not one of those people who live their lives without a care in the world. I still bother with ethics and those stuff (not in the context of religion though) .I don't push my beliefs to others, but I also don't let people tell me how to act. To each his own.

However in the past couple of weeks, my cousins have gotten jobs and I am left jobless. All my friends have their own careers (or are still studying) and I am left aimless. Having said that, I have gone on a frenzy...totally not good. I sent applications to various companies that I can't even remember. Totally not good.

Now I have permed hair. Which I actually kinda like.

True Blood: Real Vampirism?

2010-09-16T23:47:00.004+08:00

For years now, vampire stories and movies have been the source of cult followings and nighttime terrors. Well, that is before the shiny, twinkling, mushy vampires appeared. When I was little, I was able to watch vampire movies of old such as Blood for Dracula, Interview with the Vampire, Bram Stoker's Dracula (this gave me the most nightmares LOL), and Nosferatu (I didn't get nightmares from this, I couldn't sleep at all!) on tapes and VCDs. When Twilight was released and got so much POSITIVE reviews and fans, I thought the age when vampires were hot yet extremely dangerous were done. I was on the brink of mourning and despair.

I am happy and proud to say that the dangerously hot vampires are not yet dead. As shown in the picture, while Eric Northman is still angst-y and delicious, real vampires are back. I would put hearts in this post but I think vampires would vomit blood when they see it next to their names. LOL

Aside from True Blood, a more teen-friendly vampire-centric show is currently aired on ETC. Vampire Diaries is the mixture of twilight ~~barf~~ but with the edge of True Blood. PLUS Ian Somerhalder as the hot and dangerous vampire, Damon is such a great sight to behold.

Fortunately, Boredom hasn't Killed me yet

2010-09-14T14:58:00.002+08:00

Unemployed for almost 8months now. It's not like I haven't been looking for a job, it's just that the jobs that I like give me crappy reasons why they can't hire me or why I'm better suited else where. The most brilliant reason is "You might get bored with this job" and other variations. Believe it or not, it has been said to me not once, twice, but three times out of 5 interviews. One interviewer even said that I "look studious" and speak above average English so I can find a higher paying job. wtf?! When has speaking good English been a deterrent in finding a job? I don't know if I want to yell or laugh.

What makes me wonder is that why do they always say that I will be bored? Do I ooze boredom from my pores? Do I have a sign on my forehead warning them that I am bored? WHY!?

Korean Tsunami

2010-09-07T13:36:00.006+08:00

The Korean "wave" has been steadily building up steam in the last couple of decades. From the influx of Korean migrants in the country to the proliferation of their yummy spicy food and of course, the invasion of their Korean drama series and pop music. So much so that I can no longer bear to call it a mere wave, but a tsunami.

I am afraid that after their drama series and movies infiltrated our local TV and movie industry, their next step is to take over our local music industry. I must confess that I watch their romantic comedy series like Full House, Princess Hours, Witch Yoo-hee, Coffee Prince, and so much more in the past. (The guys were so cute, I couldn't help myself LOL) But honestly, their stories were quite funny albeit dramatic at times and unrealistic. The point is most Pinoys prefer to watch K-dramas than local shows. (If you find Korean series overly dramatic, then watch Philippine dramas and see what DRAMA really is. LOL) As I type this blog, my mom and dad are watching a Korean period series whose title I cannot seem to remember. My dad barely allows us to watch a local drama without a cuss word escaping his mouth.

In recent Myx countdowns, there has never been a shortage of K-pop music while local acts barely make it to the top20. Unlike my lack of enthusiasm for local dramas, I LOVE OPM. I enjoy listening to local bands and their own compositions. Among my favorites are Urbandub, Rivermaya (Bamboo Mañalac/Rico Blanco days LOL), Eraserheads, Sandwich, Kjwan, and many more. I am not fond of those Korean "bands" and their dance moves so I feel irritated that it's everywhere while local acts settle for leftovers. Don't get me wrong, I like a couple of their songs. But most of the time I tend to switch the channel to save my sanity. I am just sad that many local acts that are far better (in my opinion) are getting overshadowed by foreign acts. Don't even get me started with Korean-wannabes, ok? I might throw myself into the Pacific Ocean if they multiply in number.

I must concede to this, MANY of those Korean actors and singers are as cute as a button and hot as hell. LOL For that, I can look at their pictures.

Buwan ng Wika: Buwan ng Pinoy?

2010-08-31T21:36:00.003+08:00

As you all know, I suck at writing in Filipino but I will try my best to use our native tongue so please bear with me. >.<

Pinoy ako. Kahit na sabihin pa ng mga kaibigan ko na mukha akong Koreano o Intsik, PINOY ako! Kahit na sabihin nilang baluktot ang tagalog ko at kapos sa bokabularyong tagalog, Pilipino ako. Hinding hindi ko ipagkakaila ang aking kultura at pagkakakilanlan kahit na pilit ibinabaon tayo sa lupa ng mga taong hindi tunay na nakakaunawa sa atin.

Nakakalungkot lang isipin na kung kailan natin ginugunita ang ating pambansang wika ay nataon naman ang magkasunod na pagbatikos sa ating kredibilidad, katalinuhan, at moralidad. Bago matapos ang buwan, "napahiya" tayo sa buong mundo dahil sa "palpak" daw na sagot ni Bb. Venus Raj sa Ms. Universe Pageant. Lalong nayurakan ang ating pagkatao nang mailathala sa buong mundo ang madugong eksena sa Quirino Grandstand. Hindi ko na ipagtatanggol ang nakakapanglumong insidente sa Quirino Grandstand dahil nasabi ko na ang gusto kong sabihin sa naunang blog post ko. Ngunit gusto ko lang sabihin na hindi ako isa sa mga taong nagmamarunong na "bobo" and sagot ng pambato natin sa patimpalak ng Ms. Universe. Ang sagot ni Bb. Venus Raj ay naiintindihan ko. kaya mo bang sabihin sa buong mundo kung ano ang pagkakamali mo? Kung tutuusin, "unethical" ang tanong na iyon. Huwag niyo na sanang tapakan ang ating kababayan, dahil sa huli tayo rin ang masasaktan.

Nakakapanghina lang na sa mga nakaraang insidente, ang daming pilipino ang yumuyurak sa ating kapwa. Sa totoo lang, gusto kong umiyak at pagtatadyakan ang mga taong walang pakundangang nilalait ang ating kapwa Pilipino. Kung ayaw niyong maging mababa ang tingin sa atin ng mga dayuhan, huwag niyo sanang siraan ang ating sarili. Siraan niyo ang isang pinoy sa internet, buong mundo ang magbabasa nito at malamang ay maniniwala sila dito. Hindi ko sinasabi na pagtakpan mo ang problema ng bansa natin, ngunit sana huwag naman tayong dumagdag sa mga mapanira. mahirap bang magsabi ng magagandang bagay tungkol sa ating bansa? Kung tutuusin, maraming magaganda tungkol sa Pilipinas. Pero binibigyang pansin ba ito ng mga tao? Hindi. Dahil mas naniniwala sila sa pananaw ng mga mapanirang banyaga na hindi kilala ang tunay na Pilipinas. Buksan niyo ang mga mata niyo sa ganda ng Pilipinas, huwag puro sa pangit. Mas madaling makita ang kagandahan ng ating bansa at ng mga tao dito kaysa suyurin ang mga kapangitan.

Manila Hostage Crisis: A Pinay's Reaction

2010-08-26T14:20:00.003+08:00

Last Monday, a very ghastly crime occurred in one of the most historic locations in Manila. The Quirino grandstand where a lot of Presidents took their oath, where Filipinos commemorate the heroism of Dr. Jose Rizal (Rizal Park), was the site of what every Filipino would consider one of the biggest shame of the country. The hostage crisis took a grueling 11hours only to end in a bloodbath.

As much as I take pride in being a Filipino and no matter how much I try to sympathize and understand the Police force of the city of Manila, I still cannot disregard the fact that their response was reeking of inexperience and ill-preparation. It showed the glaring inability and lack of training of our police force to solve problematic situations such as this. I know that our country lacks the necessary equipment to solve many cases, but we should have compensated with better and more rigorous training.

At first, I was under the impression that the hostages were pretty calm; looking out the window without a sign of terror or pain. That was until the shooting began. It made me think that the hostage taker was calm and was talking to the hostages peacefully, explaining the situation (given the circumstances). Heck! He was waving at the crowd after he released some hostages.

This leads me to another point: he didn't seem hostile at first. He released the children and the elderly early perhaps to lessen the trauma. What triggered his anger, and perhaps made him snap, was the image of his brother being taken into custody after talking to him. I wish they just let the brother slip for the mean time then arrest him after the incident was resolved. if he was compromising the negotiation, then do not allow contact between him and the hostage taker.

There are many things that the police, government, and media could have done better. They should have worked together in solving the issue. I wish the media put aside their drive for increasing their ratings and filtered their video feeds. Those footage could've been shown to the public after the incident was solved. As much as President Aquino stresses that he stayed away to "unintervene" (is there even such a word?), he is the PRESIDENT of the Philippines and this is beyond local issues. This is a matter of foreign relations because tourists were involved. Matters of this magnitude should be of high priority. Giving 300,000 Pesos worth of caskets is unnecessary and trivial. They could have saved lives and face if he didn't insist on his "unintervetion." Don't even let me start on what the police should've done...there is not enough space and time.

It is understandable that the Chinese and Hong Kong nationals are livid but please do not cast stones on the normal citizens of this country. We are also in pain and shamed because of this matter. Do not make this a racial issue because we see those tourists as PEOPLE not just Chinese. We were raised as Catholics almost to a fault. We value life more than anything in this world.

It is a very unfortunate and tragic incident. Do not make it worse that it already is.

P.S.

Shame on the people who posed in front of the bus as if it were part of a movie set! You have no tact and common sense of decency. You were even wearing your uniforms. I hope you shrivel in shame.

Movie Bum

2010-08-22T17:41:00.002+08:00

My dad has been watching movies day in and day out ever since the citibank promo began. While he has watched every single film released I, on the other hand, have not watched a single one. The last film that I watched in the movie house was Alice in Wonderland. Yes, you read it correctly. it has been MONTHS since I last watched a movie. Prior to that I watched Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.

Needless to say, I am not a fan of watching movies in the cinema house. I just think that it's too much of a hassle to go out of the house and spend hundreds of pesos for a film that I won't be able to appreciate because of noisy people. My number one pet peeve when it comes to watching movies is when a person tries to act like s/he is part of the movie. The people who seems to feel like they are the narrator of the film as if their companion was blind and he has to relate every single detail to his companion and everyone near him. FYI we did not pay approximately 200pesos to hear you talk! I am a talkative person myself, but I do know when to shut up.

This is why I prefer downloading movies and watching it on my laptop. Not only do I have to luxury of silence, but I also control whether or not I fast track through boring scenes. LOL

Dear Heart

2010-08-17T21:47:00.003+08:00

Dear Heart,

I know that I only refer to you as an organ that pumps blood throughout my body, but I need your help with something. Remember your mythical function that everybody raves and blabbers about all the time? Yeah, that one. Well, I've never been an emotional and I've never been big on the whole "love" concept therefore I don't subscribe to the notion of "romance." However, lately a couple of friends of mine have been "cheering" for me and a nonexistent love life.

Here's the thing, a guy I met at a party supposedly pestered our common friend for my number (but I think he just asked once, and my friend being the romantic, gave in). He started texting me, and under the orders to "be nice" I reply to his messages. I don't have anything against the guy but I also have no idea if we have anything in common for me to say that I like him. A friend of mine said that I was being too guarded, I should just go with my emotions. This is where you HAVE to meddle if what they say is true. It has been almost 4years since I last tried to use your supposed other function, and since then I haven't attempted to use it again. It was just too much of an effort to be worth it. I reckon it was because I was still "thinking" and not "feeling." This gives me the impression that you are not doing your end of the deal.

So, don't slack off! If you really have two functions, then perform your duties well! The heartburn and palpitation is also getting a bit annoying.

Sincerely,

Me (NBSB)

Where are All the Nice Guys?

2010-08-13T13:41:00.005+08:00

A male cousin of mine posted a craigslist article with the title "Where are all the Nice Guys" on his wall on Facebook and "dedicated" it to "teases" and aptly tagged a couple of female friends.

The title of the article was quite catchy so I read it. Obviously the writer was male...and quite angry at women. He answered the question in a matter-of-fact manner as if it was as clear as a summer's day. What happened to the nice guys? Well WOMEN happened to them.

He pointed out that the guy who would spend time with us as a FRIEND and come over to watch a movie when we are lonely and too lazy to go out WAS the nice guy. The guy who would listen to us rant about how much of an asshole the guy we are dating was, WAS the nice guy that we were looking for. However since we were too busy dating assholes and bastards, we didn't have time to pay attention to the nice guy who provides us emotional support. In the end, that nice guy got fed up and decided to become one of those assholes who get laid.

In the end, it's still about one thing for this "recovering nice guy." It's still about getting the girl AND getting LAID. In the first place, if you were really interested in the girl, then why not tell her directly? Why not say "Hey, will you be interested in going out with me?" Being nice is great, but even if you act that way, if you do not make your intentions clear then there is nothing we can do about it. We might say "he's so sweet. I think I like him...but he only sees me as a friend. we're JUST friends." Another thing, when men act nice to women and the girl suddenly thinks that "he likes me" some people would see the woman as "assuming" and label her as "desperate."

So, if you are really one of those nice guys and you want to date or get in a relationship with a girl, be NICE and tell her your intentions. Do not keep us guessing then blame us for turning you into an asshole or for letting the "chance" of snatching a nice guy pass us by. There is no use in telling us you LIKED us but we just didn't catch on to your nice guy game.

Troubleshooting: Changing a Flat Tire

2010-08-05T16:40:00.005+08:00

I don't know how to drive but I do know the principle of changing a flat tire. My dad has always been angry with my siblings for not knowing how to change a flat tire or even how to take care of their cars. He always says "takbo kayo ng takbo, hindi naman kayo marunong gumamit." He also adds that he is already tired of fixing their mess. This made me think about the past problems that my siblings and I faced that my father had to fix. Even if we were in the middle of the express way or back in school, he would rush to the site and fix the problem...he's not even a mechanic.

Not only in changing a flat tire, but also in our personal problems. He was always there to guide us and even battle "evil" school nurses who want to cut my nails. My father taught me how to
choose my battles, fight it on my own if I can, and ask for help when I can no longer handle it. He just doesn't want us to keep on running with flat tires.

In life and in changing a flat tire, you just have to remember that there are necessary tools to help us get by. What matters most is that we know how to use them. The jack is there to lift the tires from the dirty ground, the wrench to remove unwanted attachments, and the spare to help us to keep moving forward to our destination.

Pinoy sa Puso't Diwa

2010-07-28T14:33:00.002+08:00

Although I might not have the best grammar in my native tongue, I would still like to believe that I am a proud pinoy. Not 100% of the time, but most of my life I have never been ashamed of saying that I am a Filipino.

There have been a lot of misconceptions about Filipinos--Filipinas. One is that we are "easy" women; would do anything for a green card. This is perhaps one of the most revolting perception of foreigners about my countrymen. They go as far as to say that Pinays are "sex workers" who exchange sex for money or a chance to live in a foreign country.

Another infuriating notion is that Filipinos are ill-educated or worse, stupid. I really can't blame foreigners for thinking like this because our media portrays us as such. Movies, news, and even online articles are filled with negative comments about us. Our own kind, treating us as garbage. what is more painful is that some pinoys believe them. When in front of a foreigner, we lower our heads and accept their criticisms like they were facts.

Why can't we have more pride in ourselves, in our nation? The Philippines is a wonderful country gifted with beautiful natural resources and resourceful people. If only we could stop looking for an easy way out and find ways to sustain our growth and resources, we could be a powerful and rich nation. One that would be emulated (again) by neighboring countries and even across the seas.

Let's not leave everything up to chance and the government. We should be responsible for our own destiny; supporting and supported by the government.

onemanga.com: A Poor Otaku's Friend

2010-07-23T16:37:00.008+08:00

I have been reading manga for as long as I can remember. Sadly, it is not the cheapest and most available piece of reading in the Philippines. That is why I was so happy when I was acquainted with manga scanlations, or scans of translated manga posted online for FREE.

One of the first sites that I have frequented was OneManga. So imagine my shock and utter dismay when I found this note on my way to read the latest release of Naruto.

Due to some problem with publishers, OneManga has opted to close down until further notice. I hope that someday soon, they will re-open. It has been a great pleasure to visit it every so often to get my daily manga fix. It was very useful when I didn't know what to read next because of their random selection button. I have been in some trouble because of that though (LOL labels like "not safe for office" should be indicated).

Farewell onemanga.com you will be missed by this poor otaku.

Typhoon Basyang and the "Plight" of the People

2010-07-15T07:47:00.004+08:00

Typhoon Basyang was a certain surprise for most Filipinos. A couple of days after being told that there were no signs of a typhoon hitting our shores in the next few weeks, viola! classes were suspended and worse, no electricity. Unlike most of my countrymen, I HATE pointing fingers. Why in God's name do we always have to look for someone to blame? It's a natural calamity! Can't you even remember a basic lecture in our grade school class? Typhoons are named after women because of their erratic behavior. It's really not easy to predict where, when, and how strong it will hit us. I know there are apparatus to help us with this matter, but no matter how advanced our technology is, it will not stop the typhoon from hitting us hard.

Let's say they have predicted a typhoon's strength and direction, will it help strengthen our roof or our infrastructures? Will it prevent power outages and floods? NO. The storm signal was raised in some areas, while other neighboring locations were spared from the list; do we put our guards down knowing that the said alarm signals are only a couple of kilometers away from us? NO. Didn't we learn anything from Ondoy? We should always be vigilant.

I just hope people would stop pointing fingers at others and reflect upon their own actions (or worse, INaction). The need to put the blame on people ASIDE from ourselves is perhaps the greatest obstacle in Philippine development. Self accountability and the desire to COLLECTIVELY rise up the ladder of success is sorely missing in our masses. We must not pin all our hopes in one person even if that person CLAIMS that he can save you from poverty. As long as you yourself do not make a move to alleviate your own situation, nothing will change. The Filipino culture of "crab mentality" is definitely a scary thing. It is something that I hope will be put into the bin and never recycled. Why can't we look at a person who is rising to the top and say "I want to be like him" instead of "He cheated, that's why he got there." I mean, honestly...WTF?!

To My Father...

2010-06-20T19:56:00.002+08:00

For as long as I can remember, I have always been a daddy's girl. I would often fall asleep laying on my dad's lap or ask him to carry me around in the amusement park. When I was older, even if I am not a touchy person, I would still give my father bear hugs and belly slaps. For me, my father was the only man I could rely on; the only man worth loving. I guess to some extent, the reason why I still do not have a boyfriend; nobody will be as good as my dad. (Electra Complex?? NAH!)

Unlike most fathers, my dad was always beside us. He would go to the market and cook our food (when the maid is not home) and would even nurse us when we are sick. He was both a father and a mother to us even if my mom was also always home. My mother is not a domestic goddess, she doesn't cook nor go to the market (we go to the supermarkets, not the wet market. LOL).

I would remember him singing to us non-stop (even if we begged him to) when we are on road trips. He patiently taught me that "he is not a citric fruit, not Lemon...It's Lennon" when I asked him for the correct spelling of "Imagine" when I was in grade1 (yeah...I sucked at spelling!) I have learned to love music because of him from "oldies but goodies" to alternative rock. We loved drinking coffee (even when I was still in preschool) until now that we are both hyper acidic. Both of us are very temperamental so we would often bicker and sometimes not even talk for days. But he would always apologize to me...even if it was my fault. He would come home with shrimp tempura in his hands and bribe his way back to my good graces. Although I might complain that he favors my older sister more, I was still happy to have him as my father.

Nobody is perfect and I thought that his only imperfection was his ghastly habit of smoking and his foul temper. However reality really does bite...and it bites hard. Finding out that your father is not the ideal man was like a throw-down from life. Suddenly pulling out the trust from under our feet is the most painful thing that life has dealt my family. It has been a year now since the incident, and every time I remember it I still tear up and sometimes cry myself to sleep. This time, I see my mother in a different light. I see both of the in different lights. My seemingly perfect family, shattered by an old whore.

My parents are still together after that incident...my mom forgave my father. However he can never regain what he lost...what we lost. I lost my rose spectacles; my father lost our trust. So even if my father is still physically present, my heart still breaks when I hear "dance with my father." Now, I am looking at a new man...a man different from the father I knew. I know that what he did should not diminish his worth as my dad, I know that. But it feels terrible knowing that he hurt my mom...all of us. I hope one day, I can see my father again. The father that I love and respect. To my dad, I love you. Even if it hurts...

Pardon Me for my Emo

2010-06-01T20:15:00.004+08:00

After frolicking around for a couple of months, I decided to finally try my luck and apply for some jobs. Since I am still unclear as to what I really want to do with my life, I tried to play up to my interests instead.

I submitted a couple of resumes online and finally, one responded to my application. I was actually pretty interested in the position so i told my family over dinner. Then all piss and shit happened; they actually placed BETS on how long I will stay in the job! Talk about pissing on your parade!

Ang masakit lang talaga, sarili kong pamilya ung nagbababa sa akin habang nawawala pa ako. Paano ko mahahanap ang sarili ko kung sarili kong pamilya ko, hindi naniniwala sa akin? Putcha lang talaga...ang sakit. Gusto kong umiyak pero hindi pwede. Gusto kong magalit, pero lalo lang nila akong pagtatawanan. PUNYETA! Huwag nalang kaya akong magtrabaho? Para parepareho kaming walang trabaho?

Feeling the Heat: Batanes Experience

2010-05-28T10:45:00.003+08:00

It has a been a dream of mine to go to Batanes for as long as I knew the place existed. I don't think there is any other place (locally) that I wanted to go to so badly. So I was so happy to hear that there was a buy 1 take 1 seat sale in SEAAIR. My family instantly went to MOA to buy the tickets and by a couple months' time, we were off to Batanes.

To tell you honestly, it wasn't everything I hoped it would be. First off, it was burning hot there. We were under the impression that it would be really cold we were shocked to feel otherwise. Don't get me wrong, the place was absolutely stunning! It was as if we went to five different countries at once; Jerusalem, Greece, New Zealand, USA, and Africa. We took literally more than a thousand pictures in our 5day stay there. We made the most of our trip by going to all three of their inhabited islands; Batan, Itbayat, and Sabtang.

If you are interested in an extreme experience, I suggest you go to Itbayat. It's an island without a single beach! You need to ride on a boat for 3hours from Batan to get there. (Experience the refugee-like boat ride! No seats, just sitting on the floor and watch dozens of flying fish hovering on the water!) Aside from the journey to the island, going around the place was also quite the experience. They do not have vans and jeeps there, only pick-up trucks! So you have to ride at the back of the trucks, sitting on wooden benches (bangko). The experience is hard to explain in words, you just have to experience it for yourself. You will also hike a long way to go to a cave. On the way there, you will walk on a white limestone path that is absolutely breathtaking! Definitely worth the trouble. You can also go to a separate island, and stay there overnight if you prefer to laze on the beach. But you have to give them advance notice, because they have to prepare the place for you. That is if you have enough time on your hands...

Batan Island is like the center of Batanes. It has the most establishments, even internet cafes have found their way there. The Marlboro Hills are located here and also the world famous Honesty Coffee shop. If you do not know how to ride a bike, i suggest you learn before you go there. I didn't know how to ride one so I had to miss out on going solo. >.< SAD! Going around the Island on bike is refreshing and you can experience things you might have missed while on the van.

Sabtang Island has the most number of stone houses in all three islands that we have visited. It is also home to a 103 year old man! We talked with him and he didn't seem his age. It was as if you are talking to a 70 year old man. His secret: NO VICES! This is also the place where you can frolic on the beach and eat lobster. You can also watch locals weaving their Bakul (native straw hats) and buy them straight from the source.

I Think Therefore I am for GIBO TEODORO

2010-05-08T14:18:00.002+08:00

This is the last campaign day; last day of those annoying commercials. Thank goodness.

As the title denotes, I am for Gibo Teodoro. Popularity aside, I think that he has the best chance of improving the situation in our country. He will not be preoccupied with his personal vendetta and trying to please other people. He would go right down to business and run our country. He strikes me as a no nonsense kind of man; a man who is not ruled by his emotions when it comes to making decisions.

I want to shout at people who say "sayang lang ang boto ko sa kanya, hindi naman siya mananalo e." Well I say, mas sayang ang boto mo kung iboboto mo ang isang taong popular nga, pero wala rin namang magagawa para sa bansa natin. Contrary to popular belief, elections are supposed to be a system wherein we vote for people based on credentials and not on POPULARITY. This is our NATIONAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS and not a popularity contest in school. Vote based on credentials and merit, not based on relatives and endorsers.

Do not pay heed to the surveys because "I was not asked by the survey." Survey companies admitted that they only surveyed roughly 2000 respondents. That is not a reliable representation of the entire voting population. Ask the friends of your friends, I'll bet that none of them were asked by the survey.

For my VP, I will vote for Bayani Fernando. As a marikenyo, I know how effective he is in public administration and implementing laws and statutes. He will be the man of Political Will to discipline the Filipinos and execute our otherwise good existing laws.

First Time ^-^

2010-05-08T13:25:00.007+08:00

After three renewals and a flooded passport, I was finally able to get it stamped! First stop was Macao. Since we arrived late, we had to pay 40MOP for the cab. >.< The meter said 17.50 but the cab driver insisted that we had to pay an extra 20MOP for the luggage. Good thing that our hotel was superb and it quickly turned the bad into good.

Our stay in Macao was short but sweet. The following day, we had to jet off to Hong Kong where it was raining pretty hard. Thank goodness that it was only for our first day. Our trip to Disneyland and the Giant Buddha was bright and sunny. A fair warning, if you avail of the city tour package, make sure to ask if you have to pay extra for additional rides. We had to pay 50HKD for the boat ride in Aberdeen garden because our tour guide didn't inform us of this small detail...what a joke. For the city tour alone, we shelled out 100HKD (50 for the boat lady and another 50 for the guide). The picture they took of me was nice, but it costs 160HKD for the set. Too expensive! So I didn't buy it. LOL

For me. the highlight was that of our tour in Ngong Ping 360. The cable car on our way to the Giant Buddha and Po Lin Monastery was just superb! When I go to Hong Kong again, I will most definitely go there once more and buy more Mochi. LOL

Gone Crazy...

2010-04-21T00:34:00.005+08:00

My trip to Macau is just a week away and my friends and I already have a hotel to stay in. The only problem is that we still don't know where we can eat at a reasonable price and the schedule and fares of the public transportation (bus, in particular) there. So I looked them up in our ever reliable(?) Google Map for street directions and stuff. The good news is that we can go from one point to the other by walking...bad news is that the street names are in CHINESE. I may look Chinese, but I sure as hell cannot read Chinese characters to save my life.

We are relying on the shuttle service from the hotel to get around (hopefully for free) however there is this little problem called operating hours. We arrive there at night, so we need to make the most of our stay there during the night and off we to to Hong Kong the following day.

Anyway, I am still trying to figure out the map that I have here. So wish me luck!

You're Beautiful

2010-04-12T21:27:00.002+08:00

I just love this song...I am not a fan of Korean bands and dramas, but I do listen and watch some of them. I would not go to a crowded place just to get a glimpse of Korean guys it would be a different matter altogether if it was Mukai Osamu or Ikuta Toma though.

I watched You're Beautiful some time ago, but I still smile whenever I remember the scenes there. I was also pretty amazed when I found out that the actors there did their own singing. (I just a sucker for musicals so I guess this is the closest they can get to it)

My aunt is going gaga over it! She has watched it like three times already on her i-touch. I think I will watch it again in the near future, just to get my dose of drama-music-comedy. On another note, I always root for the second lead! It sort of sucks...when will I ever cheer for the lead guy?!

Racial Slurs

2010-04-06T00:10:00.004+08:00

For some time now, Filipinos have been offended by numerous racial slurs from mostly American entertainers. At first, I was totally with the masses in demanding for apologies and whatnot. I would be saying things like "WTF are they talking about? How can they criticize our culture and nation without even knowing us?" and "How dare they say those things about us? Are they perfect? They don't respect people's culture because they have none to speak of...a bunch of land-grabbers!" I am very much into studying various cultures therefore I am fond of countries with rich and ancient civilizations to speak of. In line with that, I do not think highly of countries without much history and traditions. I am not saying that the USA has a "blah" culture, but most of their habits and traditions are borrowed from other countries such as India, China, and numerous countries from Europe because of the settlers there. The rich culture of their "native Americans" have been trampled upon and treated as "idiotic."

I am one of those people who do not join the bandwagon in proclaiming their supremacy primarily because I hate supremacists and for as long as I can remember, Americans have been acting like that. (AT LEAST THOSE ON TV) I am not saying that ALL of them are like that, it's just that the BAD overshadows the GOOD.

I think it is high time that we stop looking up to them and start respecting our own culture and traditions. I hate to say this but we are also to blame for they perception of our country. The recent comments about Manny Pacquiao and the sex tourism in the Philippines is primarily because it is the image that we have somewhat projected. I resent his comment about the women in our country but the FACT is, MANY foreigners go to the Philippines because of the prevalent cases of prostitution in our country. We have a beautiful country, however perverts from other countries flock here not for the beaches and our rich heritage but for erotic entertainment. Besides, of all the things that the Philippines is famous for, why is he only aware of two-- Manny (the "idiot" a.k.a. the Fighter of the Decade) and sex tourism? It really makes you wonder what his priorities are in life. His view of Japan might be of squirming petite ladies and hentai not those of kimonos and zen Buddhism.

In order to stop these offensive racial comments, we should join each other in promoting the good in our country. Stop whipping our own culture wantonly. I am not saying to sing undue praises for our fellow Filipinos, but we should also point out the good and the beauty of our wonderful nation. The media has been bombarding us with news of rallies, corruption, deaths, and whatnot but the only achievement they are happy to share is the victory of the "pacman" over some guy who only hid his face for 12 rounds. Why not share the news of opening a new road, promoting tourism in our vast archipelago, or being champions in various competitions NOT involving boxing gloves?

I would like to think that the Filipinos are educated and intelligent. Why not give ourselves the chance to excel and be known not for sex tourism and boxer-turned-politicians?

Visita Iglesias 21st century Style

2010-04-03T23:19:00.004+08:00

Every year, my mother makes it a point that she mixes two of her most favorite things in the world; traveling and religion. Going on "Visita Iglesias" can be quite fun actually. However over the years many things have changed. For instance, most people actually prayed when they go in churches in the past. These days, people went in to get pictures and act like photographers. Unfortunately, my brother and I were sort of guilty of this. We sat and prayed for a while, but we also went to take pictures. This reinforced my belief that churches in our country can actually be beautiful.

We are not very religious, my mom considers it a miracle that I enter the church for mass more than twice a year. However I must concede that it is fun looking at the architectural beauties called as churches. Please do not think that I am an evil evil bitch because I don't go to mass. I am not an atheist, I just don't think we need religion to be kind and conscientious.

Ako'y Mamumundok

2010-03-27T20:00:00.004+08:00

My first climb was when I was an incoming freshman in High School. To celebrate the graduation of the people in the family, we all went to the Mountain Province. I was such a failure at hiking up the Batad trail because I was wearing platform shoes (genius, I know) and was severely out of shape (the real reason). Ever since then, I have always wanted another shot at braving the outdoors.

Well, my time to redeem myself has finally come! I am going up to Mount Batulao in Batangas with my parents and godparents. LOL It is a beginners climb, so I am hoping I do well. I will also bring my camera to take some shots of the scenery. I just hope that my brother dearest doesn't drain the battery of the camera. (Coincidentally, as I was typing this, my brother sent me an SMS regarding a seat sale in Cebu Pacific. LOL)

Oh well, I need to look for proper shoes to wear for tomorrow.

On Being a Responsible Citizen

2010-03-23T15:24:00.004+08:00

In case you missed all the posters, ribbons, fliers, internet ads, social networking campaigns, and of course the multimedia advertisements ~~I congratulate you~~ the presidential election is rearing it's ugly head. As annoying as their ad campaigns are, we still have to take a couple of minutes from facebook and keep an open ear and eye out for possible truths amidst all the lies.

Personally, I don't buy all the bullshit in their TV ads. What I do is watch their debates and look for their achievements and stands on current issues. There are others who might claim they support this and that, but in their senate records they voted against the bill that they claim to endorse(what's worse, if they abstained or was absent from the meeting). There are "minutes of meetings" in the congress website, or the Makati Business Club , and many other websites. You can call on their bluff without even stepping outside of your home.

DO NOT BE AN IGNORANT VOTER. Contrary to popular belief, being allowed to vote is not our only responsibility (others don't even think that it's their responsibility but their right. i won't go into this for now). Researching about your potential president, vice president, senators, congressmen, governors, mayors and many more is a big part of the democratic process. Participating in civil debates or even street corner conversations is also a wise thing to do. By doing this, you will be more aware of who you are voting for and his/her capability to lead our nation.

For the life of everything around you and in the name of everything you hold dear...please do not vote for somebody just because he is a relative of a famous person, or he's endorsed by your favorite athlete, actor, singer, or comedian. Most especially, do not vote for somebody because you think he has the highest chance of winning or your next door neighbor will vote for him. Vote for him because you think that he is a leader worthy to be called the President of our beautiful country. The Philippines is a country so rich in culture, history, natural resources, and is the home of many bright people. Do not waste your vote by settling for somebody who is all talk and no action. Do not settle for somebody who promises not to squander the people's money, but vote for somebody who works hard for his keep.

I do not believe that our country is hopeless, we are only as hopeless as we want to believe.

Choco Flakes, Chili Flakes, Corn Flakes! My friend is a complete FLAKE

2010-03-15T15:16:00.004+08:00

Imagine waking up at around 4 in the morning just to receive a text message saying "Good AM. Hindi na po ako makakarating mamayang 6AM. Sana wag kayong magalit and huwag kayong magsawang ayain ako sa mga lakad. Ingat kayo." (Good morning. I won't be able to meet you at 6AM. I hope you won't get angry and still invite me next time. Be safe.) We have planned this for over a week and she backs out the last minute? The first few times she did it was already infuriating but this just takes the cake. Just two hours before our scheduled trip, she backs out. Brilliant!

She has been my friend for around 10 years now so I am supposed to be used to it. It's just irritating that she hasn't changed this nasty habit yet. She makes up some excuse like she's studying for a gazillion questions for her review but I see her online the entire day on facebook. So I made up my resolve to NOT talk to her for a short period of time. Just until my emotions and urge to yell at her subsides. After that, I will talk to her properly about this..AGAIN.

The Calendar is my New BFF

2010-03-01T22:53:00.003+08:00

I have always been fond of traveling, it is perhaps the only thing that I inherited from my mother. I actually wanted to be a diplomat when I was a kid (until I graduated from college) because I was under the impression that they would be traveling around the world as their job.

Anyway, I guess this year my dream of going to various places around the Philippines and even a foreign country, is finally coming true (at least a little bit). My friends and I will be going to Macau and Hong Kong this April and this May, my family is going to Batanes. I just love it! I'm so happy even if the planning for the trip is taking quite a lot of energy and patience, I know that it will all be worth it in the end.

Other trips are in the works, hopefully it would all push through and that the budget of a bum like me would be able to accommodate them all. I am thinking of getting a baito to sustain my trips...LOL

Break Breakdown...

2010-02-16T21:16:00.002+08:00

I think at the young age of 22, my body is finally giving in. I know that I haven't been the poster girl for healthy living but I never thought that I would get this much illnesses at such a young age. I am not suffering from anything major, unless you count boredom as a life threatening disease.

Anyway, just passing through. The space rangers are currently away from the house so I am free to use the computer. I have to keep a VERY sharp ear out to hear the gates so that I can shut the computer down and pretend to be reading a book. Wish me luck...

Comabting Boredom WITHOUT the Internet

2010-02-06T22:19:00.003+08:00

Due to certain circumstances, I am not allowed to stay in front of the PC for too long. I am also not allowed to do a lot of things. I am now a bum who stays at home all day (for two days now) and so far, I have been bored out of my wits. For those who now me, they are already aware that I get easily bored even during our hell sem in college. Others are already making bets on how long I can stay like this. So far, I am losing...terribly. My parents have been keeping a hawk's eye over me making sure that I am not doing anything prohibited.

I tried to quench my boredom by trying to watch the TV but everything is just BORING..that or the crappy political CAMPAIGN ads are pissing the hell out of me. I am too lazy to look for my unread books (I'll do that after the lab results are out) so reading is out of the question. So what have I been doing for my two days of bum-hood? I have been messing around with my nephew and niece. But I think carrying them around is also not allowed...I hate this.

I have carpal tunnel syndrome...not life-threatening or anything but most of the things I want to do all require my hands. So what do I do for now?

So far, my friend and I will TRY to bake. For somebody who can still burn hotdogs, this is a great leap for me. Wish us luck!!

Funny News: No to Small Breasts!

2010-02-02T10:42:00.005+08:00

A new censorship law has been passed in Australia banning publications and producers from showing small breasts. According to them, small breasts promotes pedophilia. Apparently when pedophiles see small breasts, they immediately think "ooohhh, little kid!"

Talk about adding insult to injury. As if women with small breasts do not have issues with their small lumps already, now a law likens them to little children and promoters of pedophilia. I don't know if I should laugh or be insulted by this.

What's more, when women with small boobs take pictures of themselves it is considered as creating a simulation of child pornography and is therefore obscene. Now publishers are said to be "increasing" the cup size requirement of their models. Cup A models are no longer allowed to pose because of this new law.

For a woman, I should be happy about this bit of legislation. However I can't help but feel that the people who passed this law are just being pigs. If they want to stop people from being perverts, then why not pass a legislation that disallows pornography altogether? Yeah yeah, I know that it's part of human nature to want to see naked bodies and what not. But singling out small breasted women and likening them to children is just foul and a bit perverted. It makes me wonder if they are really doing this for the children or they just want bigger breasts while wanking.

OK, gotta go back to work now...the feminist in me just wanted to blog about this. (I am not really a feminist, I am for equal rights though.)

On a side note, since small breasts are no longer allowed then small penises should also be banned. I mean, don't they make people think "ooooohhh, little boy!" Just a thought...in the spirit of fairness and equality, shouldn't we protect the welfare of the little boys as much as we protect the little girls from pedophiles?

Here is the link for the news article: No to small Breasts

Epic Fail: Children's Toys

2010-01-29T17:30:00.004+08:00

My nephew is only 2 years old but he likes to shop around the market for toys. My parents like to bring him along so that he won't throw tantrums. Apparently, he takes after my mom; uneasy when indoors (in other words, super GALA). Anyway, whenever he returns from the market he always has a new toy or a pair of slippers. On most days, his sense of taste is just amazing. For a child to pick "puma" slippers among all those "beach walks" is something to be proud of. Much to his mother's dismay, he also buys candies and jellies from the market which he loves.

The other day, my parents took him to the usual places. But this time he wanted a toy...a paddle of sorts. It's one of those typical plastic paddles with a plastic film on the center. It's really noisy but somehow addictive to play with. What made it an epic failure was that the character on the middle was a confused inter-racial superhero...it's sort of difficult to explain so i took a picture. Here it is:

Superman in a costume

Funny News: Ecchi Suru?

2010-01-22T10:00:00.003+08:00

It is no secret that economic powers such as Japan and Korea are having problems with their low birth rate. Even China has been having 'demographic" problems because they are severely lacking females in their population.

So how do they solve this? In S. Korea, they implemented the "lights off" policy. They claim that they can encourage their citizens to make more babies if they switch the lights off in the office earlier. Let's keep our minds off the gutter for a while, ok? They are not saying they should have a massive orgy in the office, they are encouraging their people to leave the office earlier and make babies AT HOME with their PARTNERS. OK? Now that our mind is semi-clean, we can now proceed to other 'benefits' they might have if they do the hump the bump and produce possible laborers for the country, the ministry says that they will get cash incentives. That's great! they encourage you to leave work early, have sex, and make babies. That is one supportive government.

Disclaimer:The people in the picture are not korean, they are Japanese. The hot shirtless guy is Mokomichi Hayami. I do not own him, but i wish I do. if you do not know what "echi suru" is, then good for you. If you want to know, there is always the all knowing oracle called google.

Facebook "Color" Fever?

2010-01-08T23:51:00.004+08:00

Earlier this evening I received a personal message from my sister-in-law about a sneaky move by ladies in facebook. I found it really interesting so I joined the bandwagon. I posted a color on my wall, and forwarded the message to my friends. Soon after that I saw some of my friends posting their colors and surprisingly enough, others were actually asking about it. Some were actually bothered by it enough to post to their own walls asking about the strange happening.

This is an example of a weird conversation on one of those inquiries. For the sake of camaraderie, I will not spoil the fun. Good luck and have fun!

Happy New Year!

2010-01-01T02:04:00.004+08:00

For lack of better words to use, I will use the template for these sorts of stuff. Happy New Year everyone!
2009 hasn't exactly been an exceptional year for me, it seemed to have passed by in a breeze. Fine there are some highlights that came during the -ber months; Ondoy, DEATHS, new job, and new additions to the family. However I feel that I haven't grown as a person this year. I actually feel more lost than ever.

Unlike most people, I do not make new year's resolutions primarily because I think it's bogus. If you want to change something about yourself, then change it. No need to make promises(I actually believe in the saying "Promises are meant to be broken"). But if I have to make "plans" I intend to become less threatening and more feminine (steep, IKR). I guess that's it. So...how does one put on make up? What are those eye thingies you put on your eyelids again?

On other news, I now have a new camera! YAY!

Double Whammy

2009-12-23T22:40:00.003+08:00

Last December 20, 2009 our family celebrated a milestone for my father, his 60th birthday. Senior Citizen discount here we come!

Along with that, my godson celebrated his 2nd birthday. It was a very long and tiring day. However it was very fun and exhilarating while it lasted. The party started at around 4PM and ended with a missing child. My cousin pulled a prank that made us turn the house upside down and an almost phone call to the missing child hot line.

To the one who Gave me Life and Love

2009-12-18T18:02:00.002+08:00

I might not show it much, but I do love and appreciate you. I respect you for your decision and dedication to hold onto what you believe in. I admire your dedication to our family...so to you, the bravest and most forgiving woman I know, I love you and happy birthday!

Of Gods and Guns

2009-12-01T22:07:00.005+08:00

I always ride the bus when I go home from the office so I am always stuck in traffic; watching "action films" from yesteryear. Today, everything started like any other day. I sit, look hesitantly at the television, while trying not to laugh out loud, and wait until I get freed from my misery. However midway through the trip, a preacher dude suddenly took out his holy book(not Catholic so i don't know if I should call it the Bible. and no, this is not a euphemism for something dirty.) and started to preach at us. What made it memorable was a) it was my first time experiencing this and b) because as he was reading verses from the book(it was in tagalog BTW so I was a bit lost) the background was gunshots fired, babies crying, and people dying.

For me it was like poetry in our modern times. I forgot who said this but I must agree with him/her (read this from the Atheist Bible) MORE PEOPLE HAVE KILLED IN THE NAME OF GOD THAN FOR ANY OTHER NAME.

To clarify, I am not an all out atheist...I'm more like a deist.

Hell Week?

2009-11-21T09:50:00.004+08:00

They always said that we should start the week right...but what if you were doing everything for it to be OK then shit happens?

I woke up early last Monday so that I won't be late for work. However the dude from LTFRB won't let that happen. He stopped my shuttle for a good 30minutes. The old lady in the shuttle was bragging like hell that she worked for the government too blah blah blah. She also said that the driver should just "talk" to the dude and went so far as to say that "bayaran naman lahat yan e." (They can be bought) From her trail of thought, since she works for government and everybody can be bought does that mean that she can also be bought?

The following day was no different, crap happened at home and at work. I was in no mood to work and almost didn't meet my quota.

Wednesday was even more terrible because my workspace was infiltrated; my comfy chair was replaced with a crappy and uncomfortable one and my headset and other wirings for the PC were tampered with.

Thursday, I was losing hope. I was only looking forward to Friday because we can work from home. At least before the day ended, I was given a sort of good news. Thanks everyone!

Friday, a close friend and I bickered on facebook (on a public photo no less) because of some false statements she made about me and my other friends.

I just hope that this Saturday and Sunday would be different and that Monday would allow me to start over. Off to Gateway to plan our trip to HK!

Homosexual Partyl List in the Philippines?

2009-11-20T16:15:00.004+08:00

No, I am not gay...but I Refuse to hate

A couple of days ago, I heard of news that the gay and lesbian community is trying to get their voices heard in the congress. Unfortunately they were stopped by the COMELEC because of their supposed "immorality." This context of immorality was based on two BOOKS; the Koran and the Bible. Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't there are little clause in the Philippine constitution called "THE SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE? So how can two religious books be the basis of a government body to refuse their filing for candidacy? And if those are the bases of your judgment, then most of our politicians are not allowed to take part in the elections. Junk Bong Revilla's COC and of course, Erap's petition too. It is no secret that those two politicians have mistresses and have children by them too. I believe that the BIBLE is against that, right?

Another reason they posed was that the gay and lesbian community are not part of the minority. Meaning what? I really do not understand that reasoning. In a debate that I watched, the opposition said that if they were allowed to file for candidacy, then why not allow prostitutes create a party list of their own? DUH! PROSTITUTION IS ILLEGAL therefore practitioners of this illegal act are not allowed to be represented in Congress

This is one of the reasons why I would like for us to have some changes in the constitution. It is so full of loopholes that when we studied it back in college, it made me reconsider my career path.

Love of Siam

2009-11-13T00:51:00.005+08:00

It's already 1AM and I still have work tomorrow, but I just have to blog about this film! I was planning to watch it tomorrow, after work, but I just couldn't help myself. The review that Kring gave made me want to watch it ASAP.

BEWARE this is a gay film. Well, it's not porn...it's far from it. However the story is about two young men who find love in a very unconventional form. If you watch this film, you will find out why so many women watch shounen ai---not because if the hot guys making out with each other, but because somewhere in our hearts, we are yearning for the same level of love and passion from our partners.

Oh well, I guess you will never understand what I'm rambling about if you don't watch the film. For your sake, I implore you to watch this. AND MAKE SURE TO WATCH THE ENDING! Damn that made me cry...T-T

Road Distraction?

2009-11-11T21:00:00.003+08:00

Bring back papa Piolo's ~~Abs~~ ads!

As my family and I were passing by Libis, my sister suddenly sighed and said, "Bakit kasi kailangan tanggaling ung Abs ni Papa Piolo? ang lungkot tuloy ng Libis." (Why did they have to remove Piolo's abs? Libis is lonely.)
Apparently, this was removed due to vehicular accidents. They claim that motorists were distracted because of his stunning physique. I hope that this is not true,but if it were true it will be hilarious! Imagine, multiple car damages caused because a fe(male) driver was drooling over Piolo Pascual's chiseled abs...brilliant!

Back to Basics: What We Should've Never Forgotten

2009-11-07T11:25:00.011+08:00

A friend of mine sent this e-mail to me and I just wanted to share it. The excerpt was from "ALL I REALLY NEED TO KNOW I LEARNED IN KINDERGARTEN" by Robert Fulghum.

All I really need to know about how to live and what to do and how to be I learned in kindergarten. Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate school mountain, but there in the sand pile at school.
These are the things I learned:

* Share everything.
* Play fair.
* Don't hit people.
* Put things back where you found them.
* Clean up your own mess.
* Don't take things that aren't yours.
* Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody.
* Wash your hands before you eat.
* Flush.
* Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.
* Live a balanced life - learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some.
* Take a nap every afternoon.
* When you go out in the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands and stick together.
* Be aware of wonder. Remember the little seed in the Styrofoam cup: the roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody really knows how or why, but we are all like that.
* Goldfish and hamsters and white mice and even the little seed in the Styrofoam cup - they all die. So do we.
* And then remember the Dick-and-Jane books and the first word you learned - the biggest word of all - LOOK.

Everything you need to know is in there somewhere. The Golden Rule and love and basic sanitation. Ecology and politics and equality and sane living.

Take any one of those items and extrapolate it into sophisticated adult terms and apply it to your family life or your work or government or your world and it holds true and clear and firm. Think what a better world it would be if we all - the whole world - had cookies and milk at about 3 o'clock in the afternoon and then lay down with our blankies for a nap. Or if all governments had as a basic policy to always put things back where they found them and to clean up their own mess.

And it is still true, no matter how old you are, when you go out in the world, it is best to hold hands and stick together.
-------------
It reminded me of the basic rules we should live by. Let's face it, everything we know now about morality and whatnot was taught to us by our kindergarten teacher--it just got more complicated as we got older. This just goes to show that age doesn't necessarily make everything better, sometimes it just makes everything confusing.

YouTube Find: Crazy Candy

2009-11-03T17:31:00.003+08:00

So while surfing around the internet, I found myself stuck in the wormhole that is youtube...again. I don't know why, but I suddenly saw this very creepy commercial of gummy bears. It is no ordinary gummy bear however...it is a 5lbs giant with a week's work of calorie intake (12,600cal).

Don't believe me? Watch this...

Taking a Break from Bed Rest

2009-10-31T20:09:00.003+08:00

Who knew that taking some mandatory rest can be so tiring?

Last Wednesday, I was already feeling off but I had some work to do so I ignored it. By the time I went home, I was already burning up with a high fever. I still intended to go to work the following day but my father scolded me. So I opted to work from home instead. I still didn't feel any better so after my shift, I went to the doctor's office. He told me that I should take some rest. So here I am...tired of resting. Honestly, even if I'm a lazy ass bum I still want some activities. My mother won't even let me open a book for crying out loud.

Lesson learned: Listen to your body before it forces you to take some rest. ktnxbye! baka mahuli ng guardia sibil.

Rock Star Phail: Jonas Brothers

2009-10-27T17:19:00.005+08:00

doesn't he look gay here? or is he?

About a week ago I heared in the news that a certain Jonas Brother experienced a wardrobe malfunction. First thing that entered my mind was: "This is their rock star moment!" but then again they never cease to let me down. It would've been a wonderful moment for them to turn into actual rock stars! blah.

It is not beyond rock fans to go gaga over some flesh shown by their rock icons. However because they are pseudo rockers (like posers, only popular) they do not know the concept of fan service. I found a short clip of the "incident" tell me what you think.

On the other hand, this is what real rock stars do. (well not really, but this is what I call FANSERVICE!) View only if you are brave.

Food Trip #2

2009-10-23T11:26:00.008+08:00

A month ago a new Korean restaurant opened in Antipolo, just along Sumulong Highway. The area used to be my home for roughly a decade of my life until we moved to Marikina. this is actually the second Korean joint established in our former home. Anyway, after work my parents decided to accept the invitation of our new tenants to eat there at the opening ceremony. We ate samgyupsal, the very long and tough noodles (I actually already forgot what they were called) but they were delicious! Here are some pictures. I forgot to take pictures of the other dishes because it was like a battlefield in our table, our family's You snooze, you lose policy still stands even in public places.

A crappy picture from my phone, but this is part of the free side dishes that they serve for you. I swear, these side dishes could double as a main meal. just order rice...haha. Joke. But the weird looking squidball-tasting strips were really delicious. My family loved the gigantic bean sprouts. And the Kimchi is really good (SPICY!!).

The rice cake the they served was also a pleasant surprise. I was half expecting it to be too sweet that I won't be able to eat it. But it turns out to be a great after-meal food. My parents had to ask for forks though because it was a bit tough to eat with chopsticks. Even my brother who didn't like sweets that much enjoyed this dish. Oh yeah, it also came free with the side dishes.

As previously mentioned, we ate samgyupsal and the beef rib counterpart of the said wrap. (Sampgyupsal is pork) We also ordered spicy squid strips with vegetables and a fish dish. Who do their names have to be so hard to remember? Couldn't they have called them Bae Youngjun, Lee Junki or Won Bin instead?

This is the tough noodle dish that I was telling you about. At first we had great difficulties eating it because it was so long and slippery that it slides directly to our throat. And we can't cut it with our teeth...then we saw how the Koreans eat it...they cut it up with a pair of scissors in the bowl and scoop it out with the chopsticks. *toinks*

Food Trip #1

2009-10-16T10:49:00.005+08:00

I was really supposed to blog about the Euro-Japanese resto that we ate in last Monday, but some $hit happened to my phone, and I can't retrieve the pictures. So here come my other food photos...

My coworkers and I enjoy looking at food blogs *cough*at work*cough* so we always get tempted to eat out. Unfortunately, we do not have the highest paying salary that would help us sustain our addiction. So from time to time, we would indulge a bit and satisfy our food cravings. Today I will share our Delifrance experience...

I ordered the French Dip Roast Beef Sandwich and Oriental Shrimp Salad. It was certainly delicious! I was only able to eat half the sandwich so I took it home for my parents. (Hey, I didn't touch it so it's still clean and sanitary) The meat was so tender that I didn't have difficulty in eating it. The bread was freshly baked which made it more appetizing for me. The salad contained something I have never eaten...cucumber! I hate cucumber, but I was trying to change, so I ate it...and it didn't taste as bad as I imagined it to be (when I was a kid, I didn't think that cucumbers were edible because I thought it was only meant to reduce the puff in your eyes). The shrimp was fresh and so was the mandarin orange. The other greens had the right crunch to it, and the smoothness of the orange and the chewy-ness (?) of the shrimp was a delightful combo. The crab sticks were also good, but nothing spectacular (not really a fan of crab sticks in gengeral).

We found out the hard way that we need to pre-order our deliveries a day before so that they could process it. We were told that we had to wait a couple of hours before they can bring it to the office. Good thing though that somebody backed out and a slot was free so they were able to deliver our fix before lunch break was over.

Here come the other pictures...

Everything Changes...

2009-10-16T09:31:00.004+08:00

Last Monday I celebrated a very quiet birthday. It was my first birthday in the work force and i didn't feel like celebrating much. I didn't inform my coworkers about it and I also removed the alert from my facebook account. It wasn't anything spectacular, but it wasn't boring either. My family and I just ate in a Euro-Japanese fusion restaurant and bought some cake from Sugar House.

With everything that has happened in the last couple of weeks, I am totally happy with just a simple dinner with my family and the knowledge that my true friends remembered my birthday without a facebook alert to remind them. I know most of them are busy with work and stuff, so I won't bear grudges. I was just a bit sad that those whom I consider to be 'close friends' forgot my birthday...that's all. But no grudges, no friendship ruined. Anyway, it's just a birthday.

Since it was my birthday, I thought of things that I would like to buy for myself. Only one thing came to mind...my own digital camera...perferably a waterproof one. I will save up for this...and hopefully I can buy it for Christmas.

Oh yeah, I forgot my real age quite fast...I thougt I was older than I really am. Werid, right?

The Monkeys are Drowning

2009-10-10T16:36:00.003+08:00

I can't help but feel irritated every time I think about this comment. The "rain rain don't go away..." comment made by a stupid and heartless bitch (I will not name the nationality) really struck a nerve in me. I'm sorry if I'm still a bit hung over on the incident, but my family and I have yet to resume normal life since the calamity. I am not complaining, I am just pissed that somebody would make a comment like this. Amongst my group of friends, I am perhaps the most heartless and sharp-tongued. But never in my life did I say something as terrible as this; putting someone down when they have already suffered enough.

One of the biggest reasons why I took offense in this comment was because of where it came from. Not to be arrogant, but most of her countrymen come to MY COUNTRY, the "land of monkeys," to learn English and to study. They came here to LEARN...so tell me, if we are monkeys and you came to learn from us, then what are you supposed to be? Just a thought to ponder...that is if you can think logically. I am not saying that my country is better than yours, but don't dare criticize us if you know NOTHING!

I know that this is not a calamity that people from other countries will remember. But for us who suffered, who are still suffering from this, that heartless comment felt like our entire person was being stomped upon by a *insert derogatory remark here* and it hurts. As much as I would like to say that it doesn't matter, it hurts because we are in pain. The smallest hint of ridicule from a *insert derogatory remark here* is unacceptable. What would you do if we threw back your countrymen back there? Don't think that we are making much money from you cheapskates. You are reputed to be the most miserly tourists in every tourist destination here. But I am not saying that you are all like that, some are nice and friendly. I just hope there were more of them and less of people like you.

A little video for those who talk crap but are ignorant.

Gone Because of Ondoy

2009-10-04T07:28:00.012+08:00

A little over a week ago, may family along with countless others were left in shock because of the deadly storm. I have never been to attached of material things, and now I truly believe that it is a blessing that I'm not. However this experience made me realize how utterly dependent I am to electricity and the physical comforts of life. We were one of the lucky families who didn't need to evacuate from our house. We had a second floor, that has two rooms. We bunked in our brother's bedroom together with his family for about 1week (until we had electricity) and the help stayed in my bedroom. It would be bratty of me to complain that I lacked sleep and such so I will not expound on that. All i want to remember is that my family and I are lucky because we are still alive and safe, aside from the cuts and bruises we incurred while trying to salvage what's left of our belongings.

The water inside our house almost reached the light switch. Outside was a different matter altogether. Our front gate, which towers over people (approximately the height of two people), sank in the muddy waters. Our cars floated after being submerged in the flood. Good thing we were able to save our rice and some of our canned food. On the first night we survived on biscuits and Pandan Cake because we cannot cook our rice because there was no electricity and the stove was left in the kitchen...outside.

This was just the beginning, our cars floated after this

For me, the first night, Saturday was the most difficult part. Our neighbors were staying on their roofs and asking for help. We were trying to call all the emergency numbers and our friends, but the signals were so out of whack. It was probably the time where we were in a panic because we didn't know if our friends and relatives were OK. But thankfully, the following day we were able to receive news from them; they were alive and well but they were not able to save their stuff. A sigh of relief went over us...it's funny how a simple text message can wipe away your fears and pain.

A week from now I will be celebrating my birthday...I guarantee that this will be a year that I will never forget. This incident changed my life and the way I view things. Hopefully I would be able to say that I am a better person because of this.

On Becoming a Lady?

2009-09-21T14:42:00.003+08:00

Yes, that is a question mark. And before you get the wrong impression, no I am not a lesbian. I am really not what you would call a "lady" (no, I am also not a slut) because I rarely say things like "Oh my god! He's so HOT!" or "I will get my nails done after I buy a new pair of shoes." I have always been a tomboy; watching sports, not combing my hair, and just lounging around. I curse like a drunken sailor and do not apply make-up even when I go to bars and parties. However during this long weekend I find myself gushing about guys. I am not in love like my friends say I am. I just found a celebrity crush.

Yesterday, while going on yaya duties for my nephew, I went to the mall for some grocery shopping. While eating at a pizza joint, I heard people scream not out of fear but out of pure excitement. Apparently a local actor has a mall tour, no big deal right? I have never been fond of looking at celebrities and I am not one to bulldoze my way into a crowd just for a glimpse of a "star." However, this one was different...Let me present to you my celebrity crush...

The very talented and extremely hot, Coco Martin. I caught the end of his mall show and let me just say that his smile is intoxicating. Provided that he lip synced to the song of his teleserye, he still lit up the stage with his charisma and dazzling smile. Honestly, he wasn't that tall but what he lacked in height, he made up with his enchanting presence. Fine, I will stop here for now. Enough gushing like a bewildered teenager. One last thing, he is not just another pretty face who shot to fame because he went nude, the boy has real talent. So let us see beyond his lovely face and watch him as he wreaks havoc as his character Ramon terrorizes uber mushy love tandems.

UAAP Cheerdance Heartbreak

2009-09-14T09:08:00.004+08:00

I am a proud Thomasian. A proud supporter of the Salinggawi Dance Troupe. After two years of not being able to watch the competition, I was extremely anxious to watch this year's showdown. We were all in high spirits and of course, with high hopes. Unfortunately, we were not able to capture a place in the podium this year. Oh well, there's always a first time for everything. I am proud of their achievements thus far. I felt that they wanted to reinvent themselves by not doing their usual pirouettes and floor exercises. I felt that if they have executed their stunts flawlessly, they would've captured at least the 3rd spot.

This is not to take anything away from the FEU Tamaraws. Their routine was impeccable and catchy. The Ateneo Blue Babble battalion's break through was a welcome change in the roster of winners. Being able to watch live from the coliseum, I was insulted with the reaction of the 3rd placers. It was not shown on TV but I think that they owe it to the non-placers to at least smile and accept their award graciously. I know that I am going to receive some heat from their supporters, and I don't care. Other teams would be more than happy to get their award, what they did was unacceptable. Congratulations to those who were genuinely happy to win!

I will not sour grape and say that any team in the top three shouldn't be there, because I respect the judges' opinions. I will not be like other fans who scream foul just because they didn't get the podium placement they want. I am happy that my school and our Salinggawi Dance Troupe were gracious even in defeat. Indeed, the loss was heartbreaking, I am sad even as I type these words. But, the show of support and camaraderie at the end of the awarding ceremony made me gloat with pride. This affirmed my belief that Thomasians, even in defeat, can still smile and be proud of our school. I AM PROUD TO BE A THOMASIAN! GO USTe!

P.S. I am not saying that ALL Thomasians received this loss with an open heart. Some were not as gracious as the others, and perhaps made comments that they shouldn't have. For that, I am apologetic. I hope that it is only out of shock that they said that, and would have an open mind about the whole event. Let us not be sour losers. Let us not be like the others who cannot accept defeat, even in victory.

YouTube Find: While stalking Osamu Mukai

2009-09-11T23:06:00.004+08:00

I have been a fan of Osamu Mukai ever since I watched him in Nodame Cantabile. So when I accidentally found his facebook fan account, it all went tumbling down. Like the domino effect in international relations, one tab turned into two, and then three...next thing I knew I was stuck in a blackhole of fan videos. However this one caught my attention. It was really well edited and it featured other artists that I also like; Horikita Maki and Yamapi.

DISCLAIMER: If you would notice, the translation is a bit off, that is because it is fake. The subs were made to fit the plot of the video maker and not the dialogue in the video. OK?

This is the first of four videos. I also LOVED the songs that s/he chose for the video. If you want to watch it further, you know what to do...follow the trail of "clickies" and be careful of the balckhole that is Youtube.

Ok. That's it. I will continue to stalk him now. Byebye..

2009-09-07T17:57:00.003+08:00

While trying to unwind from work, I sometimes go around the net to look for interesting stuff. This time I stumbled upon Chico Garcia's blog post about having a bad day. Which I can totally relate to because today is an exceptionally bad day, and it hasn't even ended.

I found the pup so cute yet sad at the same time. Because no matter what he does, he still can't get what he wants. I really wanted to find out what happened to him after the video...because I felt that his struggle mirrored my own.

I am Woman...cover your crotch?

2009-09-05T11:59:00.003+08:00

As I was trying my best to focus on work the other day, a simple article caught my eye. It was about a woman in Pre-WWII Japan named Sada Abe. She came from an upper class family however things took a turn for the worse when she was raped by one of her acquaintances. She was sent to a geisha house by her father and turned into a lower class geisha who performed sexual acts with patrons. She then pursued a career in legal prostitution as it generates more money while still doing the same thing. She had lovers that claimed that she was insatiable and wouldn't be pleased with only one or two sessions. They grew tired and soon left her. She attempted to stop being a prostitute countless of times until the call for money and flesh beckoned her again.

She was taken as a mistress countless of times but what made her infamous was the afair she had with Kichizo Ishida. A self-made businessman who is known for womanizing. They had a very passionate afair, which Sada Abe called "love." She was so taken by the thought that she has to share her lover with other women, particularly his wife. They were fond of S&M (if you do not know what this is, it is either you are too young or too pure, so I won't explain this any further) so during one of their sexcapades, while Kichizo was sleeping, Sada asphyxsiated her lover which claimed his life.

The crime did not get famous for that though. After her lovers death, she dismembered him using a kitchen knife. She kept his penis and testicles in her purse and occasionally took it out and performed fellatio and other necrophiliac acts. There was a nationwide interest in her story that it mothered countless of other tales and movies for generations to come. She was caught and brought to justice only to be given pardon some years after the incident.

She killed her not out of anger or jealousy, but out of love and passion. Totally creepy, yet fascinating. So, would you kill for the same reason?

I am "Nobody"

2009-08-30T19:10:00.002+08:00

DISCLAIMER: I did not make this video, nor will I ever be able to make one like this. Another thing, I am not a fan of the music since it gets stuck in my head but I found this flash animation cute so I am posting it here.

Daniel Radcliffe's Biggest Fan

2009-08-26T13:41:00.002+08:00

I have been a Harry Potter fan from years back, around a decade now. I also HAD a crush on Daniel Radcliffe when the first movie came out (no pedophilia there, I was also young then). So, as I was browsing through Chico Garcia's blog, I stumbled upon this gem. I hope someone would translate it for me though...

I so envy her, not only for meeting Daniel Radcliffe in person but also for touring the set of the movie and also putting on the Sorting Hat!! *pouts* so LUCKY!!!

Local Music Scene

2009-08-24T12:56:00.002+08:00

As I was trying to reconnect with my relatives from the father's side, I was pleasantly surprised to see a video of my cousin in one of the MVs of Silent Sanctuary. The title of the song is "Hiling" and it was a bit on the dramatic side. My cousin played the lead female in the video.

I knew that she acted a bit (member of a theater club in Ateneo) but I didn't expect her to show up in a mainstream video. I am quite proud of her. Although her make up didn't do any justice to her beautiful morena face, her acting still made her shine.

Presidentiables?

2009-08-17T12:41:00.002+08:00

The 2010 elections are coming up; signaled by the wanton display of campaigns masked as "infomercials." I am just thinking, if they can't even follow simple election codes, can they be trusted to run our country?

I just have a few short messages to some of them.

Mr. Piggy bank,

I know that the city you are handling is really rich, that is why you can boast of such facilities and services. However please bear in mind that the rest of the Philippines is not rich. In fact, we are heavily in debt. So how do you intend to carry that out throughout the nation? Increase taxes? Pay for it yourself like you did your ads?

Mr. Akala,

I used to like you...until you became just another one of those trapos who jumped ships at the first opportunity. By the way, your house is not nearly as small as other people's so do not claim that you are as poor as they are. At least you had a roof above your head, others live in cardboard boxes...literally.

Mr. Palengke-turned-pedicab,

Please do not use children in your quest for more money and power. It just irritates me. Another thing, do not use marriage as a platform to catapult you into the seat of power, it's not like the people are waiting for you to get married. Some things are meant to be private, this just turns your wedding into a circus.

If these are the only people who are running for presidency along with a former president turned convict, I would rather die right now. Besides, is the former president turned ex-con allowed to run for office again? Hello people, CRIMINAL RECORD? Ooops, I forgot. We have a senator who is in prison right now...he is still a senator. Does he still work or is he leaching off of our taxes while in prison?

The Late President Corazon Aquino and the Dying Philippine Democracy

2009-08-01T22:24:00.003+08:00

To be quite honest with all of you, I have not been a fan of democracy in the Philippines. I believe that democracy is only suited for disciplined and logical people who have minds of their own. Contrary to popular belief, democracy is not for everyone. I mean, how long have we been a democratic country? Has anything changed for the better? With democracy, people think they have the right to scream at the top of their lungs wailing for the incumbent to step down when they themselves have done nothing to serve our country. In my opinion, marching down the crowded streets of Manila and burning effigies is not a service to our country but a disservice.
Wasting money for materials and food for something that would only cause traffic and negative impressions is not aimed to uplift our nation but it is designed for the opposite reaction. It might have worked in the past, but things are different now. We should be helpful for our country. And my dear ladies and gentlemen, I am sorry to point this out to you, those rallies and pickets do nothing but cause traffic and shame to our country. Not everything can be solved by this method..not anymore.

I wasn't born at the time of the EDSA Revolution. However from the stories of my predecessors, I felt that it was a thing of grandeur...it was like one of my fairy tales. I grew up envying my brother for being able to participate in such a wondrous event. I wasn't even conceived yet at that time but when they were talking about it, I thought that I was part of that revolution. Cory Aquino was like a hero to me...an icon that I looked up to. She, for me, was the epitome of the woman I wanted to be. No, I do not want to be a politician, nor a politician's wife. But I wanted to be a person of influence and a symbol of hope and justice. As time went on, and I was educated on various things from the classrooms and from the news, my view of democracy and what she fought for changed. Although my opinion of her bravery and strength would never change, my belief in the system that she fought for waned.

Democracy is a thing of beauty, I must admit. However something so beautiful should be taken cared of because like any other beautiful thing, it is fragile. The careless hands of the Filipino people has broken democracy. A presidential system is not working for us, however I do not think that a parliamentary form of government would be any better. Our government is full of turncoats and kiss-asses that we would not be able to achieve anything. Sweet words and colorful promises poison the minds of the people, and unfortunately for us years of this trickery permeated the land we call the Philippines. I love our country, that is why I still blog about it and study it. The news depict our lives like it would be terrible to be a Filipino. With corruption and human rights violation cases thrown at the incumbent left and right, those who do not know any better is more prone to the virus called "political agenda." Before we call ourselves worthy of democracy, study our situation carefully; cross reference everything you hear and keep a discerning mind. Do not easily bite in to the propaganda of those people claiming to know where you are coming from because most of them have not even experienced what you did. Do not just take their word for it, because most of the time it is filled with deceit and hidden agendas. Do not just take my word for it, talk amongst yourselves and most especially those with conflicting opinions. Because that is where you can get information you never thought existed. Converse. Argue. Learn. then perhaps we can call ourselves worthy of the democracy that Cory and our parents fought for.

To the late president Corazon Aquino, I hope that someday we would be worthy of the legacy that you fought for. When the time comes that people can follow simple pedestrian and traffic rules, I think that is the time when we can proudly say: WE FOUGHT FOR DEMOCRACY.

DEMOCRACY=DISCIPLINE.

Bidding Farewell to an Old Friend...

2009-07-23T17:33:00.003+08:00

Last Monday I found out that a family friend of ours died because of cancer. He was 60 years old. For most people this would sound normal and not alarming; 60 is old and cancer is really a killer. We were all prepared for his passing because the last time we saw him, he was really weak and looked frail. But no matter what, he would still be able to break a smile and crack a joke. He was one of my titos who took care of me when I was younger. I would go to his house and play with his children and eat there. He would often give me candies and chips on sight. When I grew up, our relationship became distant. We would not meet that often and we would barely talk to each other. This is primarily my fault because I detached myself too much. Now, I am deeply saddened that I was not able to talk with him like before. I was too busy with work that I was not able to give time to even visit him at home. I guess now I understand the sentiments of those people who have regrets when a loved-one passes away. I wasn't even like this when my grandfather passed...primarily because I was not able to actually build a relationship with my lolo and I was able to spend more time with my tito.

So for you, tito, I wish that you are now free from the pain that you have endured these past months. I know that you are now in a better place..rest assured that your family loves you and will never forget you...and neither would I. Thank you for being like a father to me when I was young, and thank you for being a good friend for my father. R.I.P...

Tommorrow, you will be laid down to your grave. This will be the last time that we will see your face. The face that always laughed and was filled with genuine love...we would miss you. We would always remember your vibrant smile and your exuberant laughter and not your frail frame and balding head.

Harry Potter and theHalf Blood Prince

2009-07-21T17:45:00.004+08:00

It has been a while since I watched a movie in a theater...I can't even remember the last film that I watched in a movie house. I am really not fond of going to public places to watch movies, especially if I want to understand the plot. I find watching in public to be quite distracting. I hate hearing cellphones while watching the movie, kids crying, people asking "what happened?" or people explaining everything to their companion as if she was incapable of understanding the movie by herself. Yes, I am one of those snobs who get pissed off at the various distractions that do not belong in a movie house.

With that said, I initially wanted to watch the film in one of those high-end cinemas so that there would be few people and also less distractions. I am not being an elitist or anything like that. I just observed that the people who watch in these movies houses are more quiet and actually focus on the dialogues. I have yet to encounter a person who has the urge to be the narrator of the film for his "blind date." I planned to watch the film with college friends and colleagues in Podium or Shang, but alas some problems came knocking and I wasn't able to join them. I made plans with one of my college friends the following day to watch it in Gateway. I know, it is not exactly the high scale theater that I aimed for and I was prepared for the nuances of children babbling to their parents or yayas and also for wannabe narrators. Thank God that there were no would-be narrators in the cinema and only one child was noisy enough to bother me.

THE FILM

I must say that it was worth the wait. It was a mixtue of suspense and comedy with a touch of romance. The kid that bothered me was afraid of some scenes, which was quite understandable because even some of the adults and myself found ourselves jumping out of our seats in one of the scenes. I can understand the sentiments of some of the fans who were not satisfied with the film but I also understand that we cannot include everything from the book...the film would take AGES to finish. So, for a 2hr 33minn film I think that it brought justice to the book. I can't wait for the next film!! God! It would take too long...November 2010, I am waiting for you!

Ok...got to go...my colleagues are waiting for me.

Trying to Revive my Blogger Account...

2009-07-17T09:59:00.003+08:00

I have been away from the blogger scene for quite a while now. The last two posts that I did was for a job application. My friends refuse to read my posts fearing the topic that I was assigned to write about would change their opinion of me. I am a non-romantic no non-sense kind of girl and writing about dates and "satisfying" loved ones is really not my thing. With that said, I would most probably not write about relationships and all that mushy stuff here...or I will. It really depends on what I feel like writing about.

I hope I can sustain this site..unlike the others that I have long forgotten about. I barely remember the account name of my first blogger account...which is kinda sad. I will make this a public blog, my private one will remain a mystery for most of you. (Wow, feeling maraming magbabasa ng blog ko?) I am not funny nor smart. I am not in touch with the latest fashion trends nor the hippest technology. I do not hang out in bars and coffee shops, but I am very opinionated. However I do not aim to change people with my opinions...I do not even claim them to be the ablsolute truth. My opnion is my opinion, if you disagree with it then you have a different opinion. If you wish to disagree and post a comment, you are welcom to do so but please be articulate and polite. I am still the owner of this blog and you are just passing by. This is just a precaution, incase flamers decide to grace my blog. (Feeling sikat? wala pa ngang followers e...)

Incase you haven't noticed, i am using two languages...perhaps I might even insert other words from different languages from time to time...but if you haven't noticed yet, I am a Filipino and damn proud to be one (most of the time). Perhaps since the 2010 elections is nearing, I would spend most of my efforts blogging about the elections and hopefully put some sense into it. (Please don't be scared of my blog...I promise to blog about things other than politics...like food and dramas...I do watch dramas...Japanese dramas.) hahaha...I guess this is it for now...feel free to add me up. I don't bite..much.

Satisfaction Guaranteed

2009-04-25T10:48:00.001+08:00

Preparing for a special occasion and at a loss for gift ideas? Here are some pointers to get you started.

First, you must know the taste of your girl. If your girl is the sophisticated and feminine type, then a piece of jewelry would be well suited for her. On the other hand, if your girl is the outdoors and sporty type, why not buy an article of clothing to suite her activities. Giving her something she could use and doesn’t already have suggests that you care for her and you notice her. However giving her something haphazard and ill-suited would create a negative impression. If your relationship is just starting, why not snoop around and ask her friends for information? A little sneaky, but at least your girlfriend will most likely be happy with it.

Second, if you are on a budget why not make something for her? Women love things that were especially made for them by a loved one. Does she like music? Then you could create a mix of her favorite songs. If you are artistic, why not make something that would show off your talent? Give her a portrait that you made yourself, or a poem composed just for her. Things coming form the heart and not from the wallet are treasured.

Lastly, spend time with your girl. People are too busy these days that quality time with your loved ones are rare. If you are a young professional and are often busy, allotting a day with your girl would make her happy. Accompany her to the mall and try not to frown too much. You can also watch a movie that she likes and have a romantic dinner afterwards. You can also just snuggle in your sofa and watch T.V. with popcorn in hand. It would also be the perfect time for you to catch up. Even students are sometimes too busy these days that they neglect to bring their girlfriends out for dates. Stay away from your online game for a while and spend time with her. Young relationships these days fail because the boy is too busy playing, so staying away from your precious computer game will give your girl the sense of importance that she deserves.

No matter what you choose to give to your girl, an expensive piece of jewelry or quality time, make sure to have fun and show your appreciation for her. Show her that you are doing this not out of obligation but because you love and appreciate her. Good luck!

Moving Forward with Technology

2009-04-25T10:01:00.001+08:00

Civilizations evolve using advancements in technology. Ancient civilizations were established and destroyed depending on their level of development. Technologies as simple as a pulley have turned into a contraption widely used by towering buildings, an elevator because human beings have the continuous need to evolve. With this insatiable thirst for evolution, world leaders such as the Japanese government are prompted to fund researches for technological advancements even outside of their country.

In the past, there was a need to fund expeditions to compete with neighboring countries. However in the present, governments around the world are putting focus on technological advancements. With the growing focus of the world to create new technologies, the Philippines is lagging behind. In the last decade alone, a number of Filipino inventors were forced to sell their rights to foreigners because of the lack of support and funding by the local government. Inventions and innovations such as the water-run engine would have helped our county get noticed by the global community and probably bring investors in the country, but the government chose to let it slip.

It’s about time for our government to notice our need to advance in terms of technology. The Philippine Air Force has helicopters that could belong to museums in the United States. Our trains are hand-me-downs from first world countries such as Japan and South Korea. With the global recession, our engineers and other computer literate population are now returning to the Philippines. Why not take advantage of the situation by employing those people to research and develop new technologies? This could give the Philippines a fighting chance to level with first world countries such as Japan and the United States of America.