steddy soliloquy

JB at the Open Mic UK 2010

2011-01-12T01:32:00.002Z

JB Nagano is a Filipino nurse based in North East England. He has made it to the grand finals of Open Mic UK. He is the only Asian competing against British singers. You make us proud Filipinos, JB! Mabuhay!

JB - The Way You Make Me Feel on MUZU.

Jouver wins Open Mic UK Regionals

2010-10-04T11:40:00.003+01:00

As much as I appreciate the pure talent of a dynamic singing voice, I was never a fan of singing contests and other talent-search counterparts. However, yesterday, when we watched Jouver Nagano sing in the Open Mic UK, I found myself between nervousness and awe. Jouver or simply JB is our band vocalist here in UK, not to mention a very good friend. He made it to the Area finals which will be held on Dec. 11 at Dewsbury, UK. Aside from his singing prowess, he needs our votes to win.

Free Man

2010-10-04T00:56:00.003+01:00

Happy birthday Francis M. There are so many good things to say about who you are as an idol, an ordinary person, a patient, and a friend. But somehow, in the vast pool of words, I realized they will never be enough to describe you.

We miss you. I find comfort in believing that you have found the peace that we can never find here in this life.

(Image from FM)

Blank

2010-08-13T00:05:00.001+01:00

I feel the urge to blog but I just can't help it.

Bakit si Dick Gordon?

2010-04-20T17:57:00.004+01:00

Kris Ablan sa Kongreso: 1st District, Ilocos Norte

2010-04-20T17:30:00.003+01:00

Kris is a man of sincere humility and profound integrity. He is your man.

Proactive Even if Far Away

2010-04-18T18:29:00.004+01:00

As I was following the #harapan thread on Twitter, I noticed that OFWs also want to be involved in the upcoming National Elections. It is really nice because as an OFW myself, being updated to current issues feels closer to home.

I hate it when some Filipinos think that our country is hopeless. I also hate it when the Pinoys residing in the Philippines hesitate to play an active role in improving our country. Sometimes, I think the OFWs are more active in making their voices heard, especially with regards to our Mother Land.

I hope that my countrymen will choose a leader that could really push our beloved Philippines forward. If they only know that we OFWs would give up everything anytime just to be at home.

Image is not mine. It was grabbed from an account searched via Google.

New Site

2010-04-17T03:54:00.003+01:00

I have made a new blog site for my (pseudo) book reviews. It just feels right to create a separate site for book blogs. It's still under renovation. I'm gonna transfer the book blogs from this site to the new one, but I won't be deleting them. Click this link if you wanna see it.

I just blogged about "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen" by Paul Torday.

Fish N' Chips

2010-04-03T00:37:00.004+01:00

English people are known for their Fish n' Chips -- a serving of cod fried with fish batter and fries. It is usually served with salt and vinegar but some opt to add gravy or garlic-mayonaise on it. You can find it anywhere in the UK, particularly at town centers.

Some say that Fish n' Chips are better when it is served greasy oily. The towns near bodies of water offer high quality cods due to the freshness of the fish. Rates vary depending on the cod size -- ranging from 2 - 6 gbp.

This crispy delight is usually sold out on Fridays. I asked if this is culture-related. My colleagues said it could be traced from the Catholics who abstain from meat and prefers fish on a Good Friday. It became an unwritten tradition. Ironically, majority of the English are Christians, but not Catholics.

***

In the UK, Fries are called Chips. The chips which are considered "junk foods" by mothers and nutritionists are called Crisps.

Getting stuck in a Lift

2010-03-20T20:49:00.004Z

Yesterday I got stuck in the hospital's elevator for roughly 30 minutes. I was about to go home after a somewhat smooth shift. I got in the lift with my colleagues. There were already other persons in it when we entered: 2 domestics, 3 visitors, and a female patient probably in her 30s. The elevator was carrying 15 passengers when it went down. Our ward is located at Floor 5. The lift opened at Floor 3 and 2 female hospital staff hopped in. A voice prompt said that the elevator was overloaded. The 2 ladies hopped out. The elevator closed and down we went. After a few seconds, we heard a loud metallic banging sound and suddenly the lift stopped. One of my co-nurses grabbed the emergency phone and rang for help. The lift engineers arrived fast, but not enough to bring us out quickly. Some of the passengers were hyperventilating. The patient was near-to-fainting. I was calm. But it was really suffocating. I had a terrible headache when I got out. The pain I attribute to these factors:

1) suffocation
2) heat
3) stinky smell of sweaty English women
4) listening to their rants in strong English accent

There's a reason why majority of the whites can be found at places with cold climate.

I Love Rock N Roll!

2010-02-23T21:17:00.001Z

This is the number one song in the US Billboards when I was born:

Prime!

Lomo Fun

2010-01-30T09:02:00.001Z

This is my new toy. It’s an Action Finder Lomo. My bro gave it to me as a send-off gift. I can’t wait to see the results of the printout.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

2010-01-29T05:30:00.006Z

Teenager Katniss Everdeen, for the love of her younger sister Prim, volunteered to join a reality TV show wherein winning means fame and losing is a sure death. Her only hope for survival was her adept hunting skills, powered by the will to return home to her family. In her painful and treacherous road to either survival or death, Katniss developed new friendship, relived agonizing losses, and brewed hatred against the creators of the game.

The very concept of the book is unique and creative. As I read, I tried to imagine a combination of the reality TV shows Big Brother and Survivor, only there are no deaths involved. The simulation of the battlefield was also imaginative which I think can be compared to X-men’s Danger Room. Minus Stephani Meyer’s positive comments, I’m sure the book will attract readers even from just reading the synopsis.

The chapters were cleverly created. The last parts of each chapter ended in such a way that one would really be enticed to flip to the next pages. The book is filled with mind-boggling twists that completed a thriller package.

The reality TV show was very much “real” in the sense that it provided Katniss a sense of home. She found an ally and a sister in Rue. Her indifference to her mother was masked by thoughts on the healing abilities of her mother which she thought would be of great use in the game. The mockingjay reminded him of his father. Peeta provided the security in Gale’s absence. She hunted to survive. Almost every part of the game can be compared to her life except for the murders.

I liked the idea of including romance in a thriller. These are two extreme and overflowing emotions. However, I think author Collins overdid it in some chapters. I understand the need to portray a plot wherein the boy is in love with the girl but the latter isn’t. However, there were parts which I know I could compare with Twilight – utterly mushy. In my opinion, I think some of the overly romantic part could be replaced with more action or suspense. The deaths of some of the Tributes were quick. I was looking for a fight probably between Katniss or Foxface, Peeta or any of the Career tributes but none. Foxface has been mentioned since early in the game but died in a poorly played death. It would have been nice to see Katniss fight an equally capable female opponent in the end.

The manner in which the 2 tributes from District 12 won is predictable. If not for the rebellion part which was a teaser to the next book, it might have ended badly.

In general, The Hunger Games is very entertaining and witty. The flow of imagination, thrilling fight scenes, and unthinkable modes of survival were superbly written. It’s difficult to stop even from the first chapter. If not for the unnecessary romantic parts, I would have given it a perfect rating. (Don’t get me wrong. The romance in the book was also intelligently created. I just think that some chapters, especially in the last parts, could have produced much stronger impact.) Probably it is just my testosterones. Anyway, I give the book 4/5 stars.

Giving

2010-01-10T18:00:00.004Z

I have started giving away some of my books. It was supposed to be a Christmas promo but due to my limited-physical-ability state during the holidays, I wasn’t able to re-arrange my shelves.

I miss mooching. I wasn’t able to focus on it because I am leaving the country. As a temporary replacement, I decided to give my books to friends.

Of course I will keep the books I love (and some of them are now with my sister). The books that I will put on the list are the ones that I won’t be able to read, but would love to if I have more time. They were found at different venues of book sales, some of which I considered great catch. Some have never been used. All have been well taken care of.

I am giving them away, hoping that in this letting go I would gain more and possibly greater books. =D

If you have bookmooch account, check my inventory (username: sTEDdy). If you don’t, write a comment here so I could send you the list via email.

Happy 2010! Early Goals.

2010-01-03T04:00:00.003Z

This January, Ted wants to:

Revive this blog account…
Remodel the page design…
Read more books…
Blog about books again…
Giveaway more books…
Lose weight…
Re-unite with relatives and friends…
Prepare for movement…

So help me God. =D

I will never vote for Erap

2009-11-02T12:19:00.002Z

I was tagged in a photo, and to my surprise, it was this one, taken in 2002 during one of the EDSA rallies for Erap’s ouster.

I wasn’t aware that such photo existed. In spite of the lanky college body and afro hair, I am pleased to see the proof that I voiced my stand on Erap’s presidency.

And on this coming 2010 Elections, I stand firm: “Erap should never be a President.”

***
Thanks to brod Chibu Lagman for sharing this photo.

This is what I've been doing lately...

2009-10-13T12:28:00.004+01:00

At GMA Kapuso

At Megatent Relief Site

(where we were introduced as rescue experts, hahaha)

At Los Banos, Laguna

The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga

2009-09-26T05:24:00.004+01:00

Balram Halwai was born in the “Darkness”. He grew up in one of the depressed and marginalized areas of India – so poor that the average number of children in a family is more than 10 and all of them are either called boy or girl. Before he became Balram, he was just “boy” – Munna.

This is the story of how Balram moved out of the Darkness – from being a son of a common rickshaw puller to being the driver of one of India’s wealthiest man; from being a murderer to being one of India’s most successful yet unwritten entrepreneur; from having no name to being the White Tiger.

I admit that after reading Life of Pi, I got interested to the other ManBooker Prize Winners. Pi’s story manipulated my imagination well and tickled my heart to silent bouts of laughter. I wondered if all Booker winners are as great.

The White Tiger is a highly recommendable book. It is the 2008 ManBooker Prize winner. If you enjoyed Pi’s story of childhood, spirituality, and struggles, you would also find Balram’s story amusing. The White Tiger is a story of success, albeit a morbid one. It is a picture reflective of the life in the slums of India – a long narrative of living in the Darkness.

Balram’s destiny was to be a slave from birth to death. This was because of India’s caste system, and his was never wealthy. Balram faced life’s obstacles carrying nothing but his wits and ambition.

Aravind Adiga described how it is to live in the slums of India nowadays. Aside from the caste system, India’s poverty is not far from ours. I guess we could really say that Poverty, be it in any given place, has only one face, but of multiple dimensions. Corruption is also very much apparent in our country, just like in India. It wasn’t hard for me to understand what the author was trying to tell when he talked about vote buying and bribing.

I love a good humor in a story. As you read this book, you would find yourself smiling or even laughing at some lines. I admire the author’s ability in creating a light tone on a socially-relevant story. The mood shifted to a darker one though when the murder happened. The story was serious on the parts emphasizing how the rich treated India’s poor.

Balram became rich. In my opinion, the transformation made him like the other wealthy persons of India. He forgot about his family. He also bribed people. He worked like a bigtime Mafia honcho. He became the persons he despised when he was still living in the Darkness.

I guess money really changes people’s character. Read it and you be the judge. I rate the book 4 of 5 stars.

***

I am on a mission of reading Man Booker Winners from the 1990s to present.

My book is an advanced reader’s copy I found at BookSale.

Fishing at Booksale

2009-09-15T09:52:00.000+01:00

Some of my friends wonder how I find highly-sought books at Booksale. Truly, for a beginner, that book store is a chaos. There is no organized book classification system – just hardbounds, mass paperbacks, trade paperbacks, inspirational books, coffee tables, children’s books, and magazines.

I am no expert in Booksale buying, because in my perception, there is no such thing. There were days when I can’t find something worth buying. And there were days when it felt like winning the lottery. The feeling is like finding a treasure. Imagine stumbling on a book in your wishlist that is in good condition at a very cheap price. I can’t even find the right words how to explain it. Just “wow!”

Think of Booksale as a vast sea of books. Everything beneath this great sea should be well taken care of. It is a generous provider of life for book addicts and enthusiasts. It connects people from all around the world. Now, this sea, like the real sea, contains treasures. Here are some of my tips if you want to treasure-hunt:

Study the Map and Plot the Coordinates

You don’t just go inside and randomly search for books. It’s a waste of time. Look around first. Get a feel of the bookstore. Find out how the books are segregated. This would not take long.

Plan the Dive

You should have a wide variety of choices in your mind when you go inside Booksale. You don’t go there looking for only one or two books. Even if you go to all the branches here in the metro, you won’t find them. Make a mental note of the authors and books you want to search. You have a greater chance of success if you have a number of book or author selections.

Reading book blogs and reviews would help you widen your knowledge on “great-buys”. Joining reading clubs is also helpful.

Duck and Dive

Although in Marketing, the bestsellers should be located at the eye level, this doesn’t really work in Booksale. Well, if you only want the mass paperbacks, then you could just stand up and look around. Take note, some of the treasures I found are underneath the shelves and tables. Some are even hidden behind other books. However awkward and uncomfortable it seems, crouch and squat. People there won’t mind you blocking their way.

Splash

If you are looking for clean books, Booksale is not for you. Books here are pre-owned. Most of them have been in the shelves for I don’t know how long. Your hands would get dirty. This is how you should search.

Love the Sea and Its Creatures

Don’t just pullout books and stack them in mayhem. Please take care of them. The books you do not like might be of high value to others. Respect other book buyers. Treat the sales crew nicely – they put the books in order; they give tips; they are willing to save the book for you. Get to know them.

Know the Best Time to Harvest

Ask the sales personnel when the book stocks are replenished for that particular branch. This would give you a headstart the next month.

I hope you find this helpful. I am sure other Booksale buyers and fanatics have more useful tips. Good luck to your hunt.

Go fish!

***
Photo was grabbed from here. Thank you.

September Mooches

2009-09-15T05:57:00.000+01:00

Today, I went to the post office to pick-up 3 mooches: one from Natalie of Japan, another from Laura of UK, and the other from Patricia (also from UK).

And these are the books I got:

A Spot of Brother – Mark Haddon (tpb)

The Inheritance of Loss – Kiran Desai (Man Booker Prize 2006 winner, tpb)

The Line of Beauty – Allan Hollinghurst (Man Booker Prize 2004 winner, mpb)

Truly early Christmas gifts!

***
The author is in the process of reading Man Booker Prize winners from the '90s to present.

Caleruega Church

2009-09-12T06:54:00.000+01:00

On Top of Mt. Manalmon

2009-09-12T03:50:00.000+01:00

I joined the Bakas Outdoor Group in their Outreach-and-Climb Program at Brgy. Madlum, San Miguel, Bulacan. I have had past experiences in climbing mountains, usually with my dad and cousins. It was my first to climb and camp overnight with friends.

The earth was soft and slippery, carrying the smell of fresh mud. It rained the night before. We prayed hard for the sun to grace our meaning and purpose. It would have been an easy climb, but the soil was wet. That slowed us down, particularly at the steeply-sloped areas of the mountain. We crossed two rivers, both above-the-knee-level. We felt its current shaking us even on a calm weather. We felt thankful because the rain did stop.

After roughly 2 hours -- roughly in time-estimation and climb-description -- we reached Mt. Manalmon's summit. The cool mountain breeze brought comfort and peace to our weary bodies and wobbly legs. Just looking at the picturesque view made me say in sincere appreciation, "Truly, God's creation is magnificent and wonderful."

***
My photo here was taken by Franco Cortez. Thanks bro!

Freckle Juice by Judy Blume

2009-09-08T17:09:00.005+01:00

Andrew Marcus is a little boy who envied his classmate Nicky Lane for having lots of facial freckles. Andrew wanted to have freckles so his mother would not notice his neck and face when dirty. Sharon offered a secret recipe – Freckle Juice – for fifty cents. Andrew was desperate and willing to pay just to have freckles. It was when he drank the concocted Freckle Juice that Andrew doubted its power.

Freckle Juice is a short children’s story. Its tone is light, suitable for kids. The illustrations, albeit large, vivid, and clear, are not that entertaining. The concept of a boy desperately wanting to have freckles is funny. I liked the teacher’s approach in helping Andrew. Instead of reprimanding Andrew (because of the blue dots on his face), she played along, offering her own freckle removal formula. Lesson: Each of us is unique. Ones attractive physical features may not look good on us.

I think this book would be better if it ended positively. There was no resolution on the part of Sharon’s misdoings. By finding another kid to fool, she remained a rival up to the very end.

If your purpose is just to kill time, you could read it. But I’m sure there are other worthwhile time consuming activities, as I am positive that there are many other children’s books better than this. I do not like it (2/5).

***
My copy was bought at Bestsellers, Robinson’s Galleria during NBS Month-long sale for only 30 Php.

Addiction

2009-09-05T18:44:00.003+01:00

Annually, August and September are book feasts for book lovers here in the Philippines. Powerbooks has just ended its month-long book sale. National Bookstore – the country’s leading bookstore – has its ongoing sale until September 20, 2009. The Manila International Book Festival is also held every 9th month of the year. Indeed, bibliophiles from different parts of the metro brag about their “best-buys” and at the same time complain about their dwindling savings due to hording.

My confession: I am one of them. If there is a rehab center for us, I would be one of those saying, “Hi, I’m Ted. I’m a book-addict.” But unlike other addictions, I don’t spend much. Ever since I learned the value of Booksale, I have gained the skills of a treasure-finder. It pains me to buy a book for more than P200. My heart skips a beat every time I find a bestseller or a hard-to-find-highly-sought book for less than a hundred peso. I have learned to dig deep within and beneath the shelves of Booksale, not minding the smell of old, time-worn sheets and dusty fingers.

But Booksale shops were just training grounds -- the birth of the addiction. Slowly, I found myself entering all bookstores in a mall. Yes, my dear reader, ALL. A mall trip would not be complete without visiting each one. If football is America’s favorite pastime, mine would be spending time between bookshelves. I could describe and rate any particular bookstore in the big malls around the metro. I have learned how to quickly browse the titles and authors on tables and those stacked in shelves before another addict could grab it. Sometimes I wonder if my pupils dilate or if I absentmindedly blink rapidly as I browse each and every title. The competition is tough during the 1st day of book sales – the books on sale are fresh. Logical and wise of course, addicts want to grab the bestsellers on sale ahead of everybody.

I think I leveled up when I started mooching. Book mooching is an online trade of books sent locally or internationally. I can’t explain in exact details the sensation I feel everytime I open a package.

Disclaimer: I am no expert on books and book-finding techniques. I guess as a hobbyist and collector, I could give sound advice, however unsolicited it may come.

How about you nerdy-geeky-autistic-book-lover? Do you feel the same way?

***

Image from Cartoonstock.com.

Paolo Coelho's Veronika Decides to Die

2009-08-24T15:23:00.005+01:00

Veronika, albeit being young, beautiful, attractive, sexy, and smart, committed suicide by ingesting loads of sleeping pills. Prior to the act, she wrote a letter that became her suicide note – she was committing suicide so that people would know where Slovenia is. Death came slowly. A few hours later, she woke up with tubes and catheters attached to her body. She found out that she was in a mental hospital.

Veronika Decides to Die is the story of Veronika – a twenty-ish alluring woman who decided to end her life for 2 reasons: 1) she thought everything in life is the same and 2) she felt powerless over the fact that she can’t change everything that is wrong.

In the hospital, she was told that the suicide attempt resulted to a failing heart. She was warned that she only had a week to live. Everybody in the hospital – from the staff, the nurses, to the sane and insane patients – knew that Veronika was dying.

Based on statistics, females committed more suicide attempts than males. But more males became successful in ending their lives. According to psychiatrists, females tend to be fickle, unlike men are more decisive than their gender counterparts.

Veronika was decisive enough to kill herself. Unfortunately, she failed. She wanted a comfortable, painless death; she decided to overdose herself with sleeping pills. Again, basing on suicide stats, males are more courageous in trying the painful ways of suicide. They knew that there is greater success in hanging, jumping over high altitude, shooting oneself with a gun, and slashing the wrists, among other painful, gory modes.

People commit suicide for lots of reasons. Each story, however we categorize it, is unique. Failure is one of the most common reasons. In the book, it could be said that Veronika failed to see the world in a different way. Furthermore, everything for her was the same, everything became a routine -- she failed to change it.

Failure is a common human phenomenon. Everybody experiences it. It could be the same for most persons, but the way we see, handle, and accept it are different. Psychiatrists explain that the persons who committed suicide have poor ego sets – they lack the support system, be it emotionally, spiritually, mentally, or socially. In the book, it was said that Veronika had everything: loving family, decent job, relationships with men, and a shelter. So, could her reasons justify her suicide attempt?

I do not know. I believe that anybody could commit suicide for whatever reasons. For us to better understand the reasons behind any suicide attempt, we need to dig deep within the personality of the person who committed suicide as well as her psycho- and sociocultural dynamics.

Veronika decided to die, yet death did not arrive. As I read, I thought it would be Veronika’s story all throughout, but no. Chapters were made for 4 other supporting characters: Zedka, Mari, Eduard and Dr. Igor. All of them are patients, except for the doctor.

The book was not entirely about Veronika. It was Veronika and the other characters. Veronika was just a medium for them to make realizations about their lives.

Zedka represented Depression. She was admitted due to this mental disturbance. She lost the love of her life which caused severe depression. She failed to take care of herself and her family.

In the book, Zedka was a recipient of an old, inhumane therapy – insulin shock. Insulin causes a drop in the body’s glucose levels which, in severe forms, results to coma. The purpose is to forget the stimulus of anxiety. While in coma, Zedka experienced separation from her body. Her spirit flew to places while her flesh remained on the hospital bed. When she met Veronika, she realized how valuable life is. She realized she could explore and expand her horizons. The only way to do it is astral projection. This left me asking these questions: Isn’t this unreal? How could she say she’s cured if she has another form of ‘reality’, so to speak?

Mari is Fear personified. She suffered panic attacks prior to her hospital admission. She failed to dsicover the cause of her panic attacks. She brought herself to the hospital. And though the doctor said she was already cured, she did not leave because of fear of being unaccepted by her family, friends, and the society.

Through Veronika, Mari realized that life is short and meaningful. She realized that life in the hospital is the same as life outside. She learned that there were lots of things she could do in order to put meaning to her life. She decided to leave the hospital.

Eduard could be perceived as Fantasy. This son of an ambassador became schizophrenic because he was so inclined to his “Visions of Paradise” – paintings of his perception of earthly Paradise which were inspired by a book that contained famous personalities and how they made their world a paradise. Eduard, after much persuasion from his father, decided to quit painting. But the visions were too powerful and it controlled him.

Even though I said that the book was not entirely about Veronika, I have to say that it centered on Veronika. The thought of an impending death made the main protagonist to push herself beyond her limits; to experience life without minding what others might think. Moreover, she made all other characters realize that there is life beyond the walls of their confinement – they realized that they have to live life to its fullest while they are still alive.

Dr. Igor created this theory – the cure for bitterness is self-awareness. He induced symptoms of heart failure on Veronika, thus controlling the hospital atmosphere, in order to arrive at answers.

Veronika Decides to Die also revolved on the idea that “abnormalities” are sociocultural in nature. The concept of psychological normalcy is greatly affected by the norms of our society. What we consider as normal may be abnormal to others of different sociocultural background.

Paolo Coelho’s book was not as powerful and dynamic as I expected. I had high expectations because it was included in the 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die list. But it isn’t that bad as well. In my own opinion, to be included in the list, it must parallel with novels like The Godfather, The Little Prince, Little Women, and Kafka on the Shore. I give the book 3/5 bookmarks – a good read but not worth recommending.

***
My book was mooched from Japan. I got it in mint condition, almost. :)

Happy Birthday Paolo Coelho!

Ninoy Aquino - Upsilon Sigma Phi 1950

2009-08-20T07:53:00.006+01:00

Upsilon Sigma Phi joins the nation in remembering and honoring the life of a great Filipino.

Kris Ablan (by Herdy Yumul)

2009-08-17T16:10:00.007+01:00

Written by Mr. Herdy La. Yumul

Article taken from http://riknakem.wordpress.com/

I am posting this not because Kris is a batchmate in Upsilon Sigma Phi. I am doing this because I believe in Kris’ genuine sincerity to serve the Ilocanos. I’ve known Kris to be a man of profound humility and admirable integrity.

Get to know him more at http://ablaners.multiply.com/ and http://krisablan.blogspot.com/.

****

IT’S BEEN five weeks since I did an interview with the young man, but I have been dilly-dallying on writing about him.

And it’s not because the congressional-son-cum-Sangguniang-Panlalawigan-member is uninteresting. In fact, Kris is any journalist’s ideal interviewee. He is brilliant, conversant, open, candid, reflexive, and, above all, sincere. He is also sensitive. You can talk to him for hours (in my case three) without ho-hum.

But then you may say that I am an academician, and, being such, I can stand long conversations even with the nerd of nerds with the thickest spectacles ranting with nosebleed-inducing jargon. Maybe so, but not quite.

I first met Kris when he ran as chair of the UP Diliman Student Council in 2004. “He is the son of Congressman Ablan,” said my friend, pointing at Kris who was then doing the “otso-otso” routine during a campaign activity in a student dormitory inside the campus. Surprisingly, Kris, then a virtually unknown at UP, won over Atom Araullo (now with ABS-CBN), standard-bearer of STAND-UP, the more popular political party.

You would expect, dear karikna, that I voted for Kris. After all, he is our kailian, and Ilocanos are known to be a tight group. Nope, I voted for Atom, and for good reason. He was a brother in the struggle. A couple of times in the streets, I had locked arms with Atom to fight a regime Kris’ father so ardently supports.

Three years after, I would meet Kris again in front of my house at Ablan Avenue, Laoag City. He was then campaigning for a seat in the provincial board. Warm and convivial he was, but, he did not, yet again, earn my vote.

Roquito Ablan, Kris’ faher, is known to be a skillful politician, you would think that his son’s venture into local politics is part of the former’s political master plan. Barred for another reelection, the old Ablan could just be fielding his son as a dummy (like one mayor in the second district is perceived by many).

“Not really,” says Kris, who explains that he, the youngest among nine siblings, is the only one drawn to law and politics. Thus, their family does not constitute a political dynasty, unlike other known clans in the country. Kris says his father never pressured him to take up law, but that he was happy, no doubt, when he followed his footsteps. He adds that when he was growing up, his dad was already “just an ordinary congressman,” no longer the force he was during the Marcos dictatorship.

That Kris is the first district congressman’s son is a double-edged sword. On one hand, having an institution for a father means the political infrastructure is laid out on a red carpet for him, which could prove helpful as Kris is now a hundred percent bent on running for the post his father will be vacating next year. On the other hand, a lot of people I know are not inclined to vote for Kris simply because he is his father’s son.

Remember that Teteng Sales, a lightweight, almost beat the reelectionist congressman in 2007. In fact, Ablan’s win is even under protest as Sales challenges the veracity of poll results. The former Pagudpud mayor almost won not because he had sterling credentials, but simply because the people had grown tired and weary of the old Ablan. Many would say, “Ubingak pay lang ket Ablan idin, awan met mapaspasamak.” (It’s been Ablan since I was a child, but nothing is happening.)

Kris agrees that his father is not much into doing landmark legislation but it is because he allows the younger ones to carry out that role. He further defends his father by saying, “It is not in the mold of an Ablan (he speaks of the name, fully cognizant of its prestige) to brag about his accomplishments.”

But a colleague in media texted me this when he learned that I was going to write about the bokal, “Kris is in a bind. He’s sincere but he’s still the son of the prince of darkness. If only you know how much damage the father has and is doing to our Ilocos Norte.”

Methinks Roquito Ablan may, by all measures, be a traditional politician, but mainly because it was the game of his time. He served his province by playing politics in ways he saw fit, which include swaying loyalties from one power to the other, and just by simply being the typical congressman who savors receiving his share of the pork barrel fund, a fuel for corruption disguised as aid for countryside development. He may not have been a spectacular legislator, yes, but he was not terrible either. At 78, he will soon take a bow from politics, without getting himself and our province embroiled in any major controversy.

But, Kris is his own man. In spite of (or is it because of?) his father, Kris consciously packages himself as politician of a new breed.

He first got my approval when, last January, he released calendars that featured beautiful scenery here in Ilocos Norte. Kris thought well not to include his face in the calendar. He only had his name on a small corner. The print was so minuscule, most people would need a magnifying glass to read it.

In his blog, window to his ruminant mind, Kris wrote, “The project was actually conceptualized many, many years ago when my dad came out with calendars with his face as the main picture (like all politicians with calendar giveaways). I thought to myself, ‘What if people didn’t want to look at your face every day?’ ‘What if they just wanted to see scenery?’” From then on, he got my attention.

While opposing parties engaged in a media war at the height of the proposed Laoag mall controversy, Kris worked swiftly, bringing in Ivan Henares of the Heritage Conservation Society to drum up support in the fight to save a rare architectural beauty which the city government and the Diocese of Laoag wanted torn down in the name of profit. He would later sponsor a resolution imposing a moratorium on tearing down or renovating school properties at least fifty years of age, thus saving the majestic Laoag Central Elementary School.

It is a breath of fresh air that Kris performs his duties fully cognizant that the power he bears is not a birthright, but a mandate emanating from a people he is duty-bound to serve. For instance, even if it’s not required by law, he distributes an annual accomplishment report which details his legislative accomplishments, and his disbursements of public funds for programs and projects.

At one point during the interview, Kris was misty-eyed (or so it appeared to me). The struggle he faces is real, and I could feel it. He has to win an election, but our rotten and immature political system makes it very hard for decent people to claim victory without sacrificing ideals, without being desensitized.

Still, he is unafraid to make decisions his jaded colleagues consider as political suicide. Also, Kris refuses to engage in tried-but-tired political propaganda, unlike his potential opponent who has cluttered public spaces with “Happy Graduation,” “Happy Fiesta,” and other happy greetings. Likewise, he refuses to have his name bannered prominently in any project, big or small. The moment I saw some of my students and colleagues at the state university (including fab Ianree Raquel) silently shed tears while the bespectacled young man, in a well-attended forum, detailed his sojourn as a young politician crying for reform, I knew, Kris Ablan is an antidote to politics-as-usual.

But, while showing qualities that run counter from those of his father, he may eventually have to take advantage of the perks of being an incumbent’s son. That is why he has been seen lately in inauguration and turnover ceremonies of his father’s projects funded by the pork barrel fund. “Unfair!,” cry his critics. Kris can be a noble congressman, but first he has to win.

There are many other interesting things Kris told me “off the record,” but I assure you, dear karikna, that they are all good, and they but heightened my respect for the young man.

I dilly-dallied on writing about him not because he is uninteresting, but only because I did not want to be so hasty in saying: Let’s support Kris, in spite of, not because of, his father. If you are a decent, mature, forward-looking citizen, there is no way you cannot like him.

Unless he gets desensitized too soon, Michel Kristian R. Ablan, grandson of a Japanese resistance hero, may yet be his family’s biggest gift to the nation.

Oooops?

2009-08-07T15:35:00.008+01:00

This photo was taken from yesterday's issue of Manila Bulletin. Hahaha! Was it intentional or just Freudian slip?

***Photo and concept taken from my batchmate Marc Marasigan's Multiply blog.

Thank You President Cory Aquino

2009-08-05T10:34:00.000+01:00

Human Rights Advocate
Freedom Fighter
Pillar of Democracy
Mother to Filipinos
Wife of an Upsilonian

"Maraming Salamat sa Kalayaan, Tita Cory!"

No Return

2009-07-09T00:00:00.005+01:00

I tried to deny it several times, but midterms is fast approaching, silent as the fart of the man 200-meters away who binged on beer the night before and had 3 hard-boiled eggs for breakfast. Try as I might, I could only go as far as flipping 2 pages of my module. Disillusionment shadowed my will to persevere – degradation pregnant and expecting. The alert to morse code S.O.S is on its highest level, but to whom? It’s either I swim to the nearest land of salvation or be a castaway on the sea of recession and despair.

If all else fails, my just-one-exam theory would again be put to use. And though it has been proven beneficial a number of times, especially during my college days, I don’t want to resort to it. At least for now.

***
The Just-One-Exam Theory was conceptualized during my long and lax stint in college. One needs to qualify for just one exam in order to pass the course: the REMOVALS.

Image grabbed from themisheffs of Photobucket.

The Shack - William P. Young

2009-07-08T21:59:00.005+01:00

Mackenzie Allen Philip’s youngest daughter, Missy, was abducted during the family weekend camp. Her body was not found except for proofs that she was brutally murdered: Missy’s red dress smeared with blood stains discovered in a shack deep in Oregon’s wilderness. Four years after Missy’s tragic death, on a stormy-winter day, Mackenzie received a simple note which appeared apparently from God, though there were doubts about it. The note was inviting him to return to the shack - the place where his Great Sadness started – the coming weekend.

Mackenzie decided to return to his darkest nightmare and the events that transpired thereafter changed his life forever.

I found the book not inspirational but rather enlightening. The Shack is a story that tackled Christianity, though it was stated in the book that Jesus is not only Christian but also part of other religions.

Debates on religion, Christianity, and even about the existence of God is as old and continuing as time. I was born, baptized, and nurtured in Catholic faith and I have to admit that my feedback on the book would be biased, as I have minimal knowledge on other established beliefs. However, I would still try to come up with a holistic review.

The Shack did not clash with my Catholic beliefs. If anything, it was reinforced. The book was like a mentor or a priest opening doors of new ideas and perceptions about God. Reading the book was like looking into an aquarium from another side – the contents have been known to you but the other sides would always look different.

It discussed the existence of the Holy Trinity: God the Father and Creator, God as Man (Jesus), and God the Holy Spirit. In the book, God was called Papa, a name used by Mackenzie’s family to address God. It was private to them. Jesus appeared in the book as somebody with Middle-Eastern features, far different from the stereotyped image of Him. The Spirit was introduced as Sarayu or Wind.

The Shack said that there is no hierarchy among the Trinity for the basic reason that the Three are One. Some people would be troubled by this from the premise that though they are all one, the Man does the will of the Father and the Spirit is always sent by the Father – proof that hierarchy exists. It also discussed hierarchy in society as an obstacle in forming relationships with others.

Other forms of religion do not believe that Jesus is God. For them, He is only a prophet. Moreover, some do not believe in the Holy Trinity, saying that there is only one God. I believe that a person who falls under these religions would not appreciate the book for its content and depth.

God appeared to Mackenzie as a Woman and a Mother. I liked this approach, albeit its deviation from the stereotyped image of God, because nobody really knows what God looks like. God is our Father because He is our Creator. After the week-long creation, He became our Mother, nurturing and caring. God’s personality as both parents has come full-circle. It is also evident in the Bible: Eve coming from Adam’s rib.

Jesus, in the book, was a laborer and carpenter. Mackenzie related with him easily because He was more human as compared to Papa and Sarayu. The Jesus in the book was clumsy and friendly. He joked around. He was like a brother and a buddy. I was impressed by the author’s ability to introduce Jesus as Human, albeit being God. This is a proof that God limited himself, by being human, to understand and be with us. God knows what it’s like to suffer and go through the everyday burdens of living by being Jesus.

Sarayu the Holy Spirit was the woman who collected tears. I liked the part wherein Papa said, “I would personally wipe away your tears”. True, God never promised the absence of disasters, problems, and tragedies. But He said that He would lift the burden. We cannot see God, but it doesn’t mean He is not around. He is with us, in Spirit.

Mackenzie had issues with his father when he was a child. The absence of a father image whom he could run to for support made it difficult for him to trust God, especially during his Great Sadness. The issue was resolved in the book, revealing a path for Mackenzie to completely trust Papa. The analogy, for me, is acceptable because I think it would very difficult for Mackenzie to trust God posing as an invisible Father if his own issues with his father is unresolved.

I also liked the part when Mackenzie was asked to judge God. He was asked to decide who among his 5 children should go to heaven and hell. I am not a father but come to think of it, it's hard to decide on it. Lesson: Who are we to judge other people based on their image and actions? Why do we always play God?

I tried to put myself in Mackenzie’s shoes. I believe that it was right for Mackenzie to feel anger and rage for his daughter’s murderer. In the Bible, God asks us to forgive our enemies. If somebody does something against your loved one, you fight for him/her, even if you are oblivious to what really transpired. The plot was severe: murder of the youngest child. Worse is that Mackenzie was not able to recover the body. Could you forgive the killer? I can’t. In the book, God asked Mackenzie to forgive the serial killer. At first I thought that Mackenzie would just easily forgive the oppressor, something which I find very unrealistic and non-human. But I was wrong. It turned out that Papa was asking Mackenzie to forgive the killer not only for his benefit, but also to release the person from his grip. Forgiving is offering the enemy to God. The book did not state that after forgiveness, you would be chums with your tormentor. Anger could still be felt and is acceptable. Papa only wanted Mackenzie to release the killer and He would do the rest. Papa also said (in the book) that the killer, “is also my child”. Papa requested to forgive the person everyday, until all hatred is gone.

There is so much to say about the book. I could really say that it is highly recommendable. But again, if you don’t flow with the same wave of faith, you will not appreciate it. Even if you try to digest it based on the plot, it would still coincide with ones beliefs.

The book is an easy read. It is entertaining. Some parts were funny, some were serious and dramatic. I realized I wrote a long commentary. Disclaimer: I wrote based on my own personal beliefs. I am not an expert on theology nor a person claiming to be of high knowledge about Christianity. Strict Christians, be of any sect, may find this book troubling and against their beliefs. I can’t blame them because afterall, The Shack was William Paul Young’s concept of who God is.

I love the book not because it is the “right” way of faith. I love it because it gave me a new perception of God which did not interfere with my own belief and faith. Take note: I used the word “new” and not “better”. If you are a person with an open-mind about religion issues, a mind which would want to see a different approach even if the end-results might be unacceptable, then I highly-recommend the book. I rate it 5 stars.

The Shack would be discussed by TMC’s Book Club very soon. I would write another post about the reactions of the members.

Gunita

2009-07-05T04:15:00.002+01:00

Nagpaalam kasabay ng paglisan ng araw
Init unti-unting nagyelo at pumusyaw
Ang mahalaga ay iginuhit ko
Ang langit sa iyong mukha

Pati aking anino ay nang-iwan
Nag-iisa sa gabi ng kataksilan
Higit kitang minahal
Iyon ang mahalaga

Ikaw ngayon kinumutan ng ligaya
Habang ako’y baog sa tuwa
Ang mahalaga ay iginuhit ko
Ang langit sa iyong mukha

Minahal kita, sa iyo hindi sapat
Alay mong pag-ibig rumupok, nagkalamat
Inakala ko naihandog ko ang lahat
Inibig kita higit pa sa sapat

Inukit mo sa hangin aking alaala
Ginunita ng bagyo biglang nawala
Mahal kita iyon ang mahalaga
Iginuhit ko ang langit sa iyong mukha

(Dec. 11, 2006 – 10:02 pm)

*Unang subok sa tulang Pilipino

Drowning Ruth by Christina Schwarz

2009-07-03T09:26:00.004+01:00

Mathilda Neumann drowned beneath the icy waters of Nagawaukee lake one winter evening of 1919, leaving behind her daughter Ruth, who then was only a toddler, to her older sister, Amanda. The tragedy caused grave depression to the family, including husband Carl. It took them years to cope and adapt with the loss, as well as the haunting memory of Mathilda. But how did she, a good swimmer, drowned? The answers remained repressed deep within their memories, as mysterious as the lake itself, until such time when everybody was ready for it.

Drowning Ruth is the mysterious death of Mathilda Neumann, told in various timelines by the narrator, Amanda, and Ruth. It was a bit dragging at first, but after the drama unfolded and the twists built up, it got really interesting. All the while I thought I understood the story, but I was wrong in the end.

Amanda is one of the main characters in the story. She was introduced as a troubled woman. The tragic death of her sister caused her to quit her job as a nurse because of somatic symptoms – in psychiatry, these are illness manifestations which have no physiologic relations, usually brought about by severe anxiety. Amanda was the only person who knew what really happened the night her sister drowned, but she kept it a secret. She tried to suppress the memory and decided to live a new life with her niece, Ruth. – both are known coping mechanisms exhibited after stressful events. Amanda experienced Post-Traumatic Stress disorder, manifested by her physical illness, nightmares, and flashbacks shortly after the event. She also had history of being admitted to a mental health institution. Keeping the secret safe was her only means of preservation.

Ruth was so young when her mother died, but she was there. She remembered running on ice, she even recalled drowning. But that was all her memory gave her. She grew up believing her mother drowned without any clear explanations on how it happened.

Mathilda, though already dead since the start of the story, was present in every chapter. As I have said, the book was told from different timelines. In a way, she was made alive in the book. Mathilda, as described by the author, was a very beautiful and charming lady. In fact, she was a better eye-candy than her older sister. There were lots of reasons why Amanda should envy her.

Though not explicitly said in the book, it was obvious that the sisters also underwent the “sibling rivalry” phase. I even assumed that envy killed Mathilda, apparently not.

As the author unfolded clues about the death of Mathilda, I made assumptions. At first I thought Mathilda drowned looking for Amanda and Ruth. Next, I thought she drowned trying to save Ruth. I also assumed Amanda left Mathilda drowning. But the ending was very different. I was surprised, and in a way pleased.

I admire how the story was written. The building-up of clues and characters pointed to various possible causes of death. Although the narration shifts from the narrator to and from Amanda/Ruth, which I found confusing during the start, it was vital in the building-up of the plot.

The story also involved 3 male characters: Clement Owens, his son Arthur, and Carl. All of them showed 3 different male personalities which highlighted the personalities of the female protagonists and how the story revolved. Clement was the love interest of Amanda. Arthur became the suitor of Ruth. Carl, as introduced, was Mathilda’s husband.

I also like the relationship that existed between Amanda and Ruth. They were not just aunt and niece living together. To compensate for their loss, a mother-daughter and sister-sister dynamic relationship existed.

I also like the idea of the lake being the central background of the story – quiet, calm, mysterious, and treacherous. The lake had been a big factor in the lives of all characters in the book.

I am not gonna spill the beans on how Mathilda died. I encourage you to read the book to find out. This book poses as a drama-suspense novel. If you hate the drama part, you might find it boring and dragging. But I could say that the death remained a mystery even until the very end.

Drowning Ruth was the first novel of Christina Schwarz. The book had been chosen by Oprah’s Book Club, the first I’ve read among their list. Initially I thought it was just some dramatic story, no more, no less. But the great suspense and storytelling of the author proved me wrong. I give it 4/5 stars.

I placed this book on my Bookmooch inventory before reading it. I never realized I'm gonna like it. Now I have to send it to somebody overseas. Well, I guess I have to share it with others.

Form 5

2009-06-29T10:46:00.001+01:00

Albeit book reading delays and setbacks, it feels great to be a student again!

Quoted from "Life of Pi"

2009-06-18T15:20:00.002+01:00

On wild life:
“Animals in the wild lead lives of compulsion and necessity within an unforgiving social hierarcy in an environment where the supply of fear is high and the supply of food is low and where territory must constantly be defended and parasites forever endured.”

On Letting Go:
"It's important in life to conclude things properly. Only then can you let go. Otherwise you are left with words you should have said but never did, and your heart is heavy with remorse."

On Faith:

“Faith in God is an opening up, a letting go, a deep trust, a free act of love – but sometimes it was so hard to love.

On Despair:

“Despair was a heavy blackness that let no light in or out.”

On Relationship:

“It is true that those we meet can change us, sometimes so profoundly that we are not the same afterwards, even unto our names.”

Yann Martel's Life of Pi

2009-06-18T14:35:00.008+01:00

Piscine Patel or “Pi” was the son of a zoo-owner who grew up near the zoo. Though he did not have first-hand experience as an animal caretaker during his childhood years, he knew enough to understand zoo business and animal behavior.

Pi was also a God-loving kid. His faith was, for his family, unbelievable to the point of being unacceptable. Pi embraced and actively practiced 3 religions: Hindu, Islam, and Christianity. He believed in the concept of one God.

At 16, he found himself on board a Japanese cargo ship to Canada with his family and the zoo animals. The ship sank and Pi tried to survive aboard a lifeboat with a wounded zebra, a hyena, an orangutan, and a 450-pound Bengal tiger.

Pi extracted all his knowledge about animals and said thousands of prayers just to survive. But will he make it to land?

I found Life of Pi an amazing story of living, surviving, and having great faith. The story is very entertaining, funny, and thought-provoking. It touched some issues which are, up to now, considered debatable.

The book discussed religion, and Pi practicing 3 way different religions is something which I found absurd. I grew up a Catholic and one of its common teachings is “one can’t serve 2 masters; one could be more loved than the other.” However, I do believe in the existence of a universal God – the God who created everything; the God worshiped by all believers of various faiths. In the book, it seemed as if Pi gave equal treatment to his 3 beliefs – something that is very difficult to achieve and master.

The book talked about zoo life – how it is similar with life in the wild. The debate for and against caging animals, in my opinion, would not be resolved. I enjoyed reading the author’s description about zoo life. I never saw animal territoriality could be viewed that way. While zoo life could be viewed as a minute and contained jungle, the issue about instincts in domestication still is a big question.

I tried putting myself in Pi’s position as I went through the story. Surviving more than 300 days of being a castaway is close to impossible. Having a tiger as a companion is simply unimaginable. Yet, author Yann Martel played with my imagination well, and as I flipped the pages, I also tried to picture everything as described. I found it hard to stop flipping the pages.

Life of Pi has an outrageous scenario – Pi’s faith, the tragic sinking of the ship, living with a tiger on a lifeboat, eating uncooked fishes and turtles, Pi bumping into a blind castaway when he turned blind, finding a patch of acidic land – yet the storytelling is disarmingly brilliant.

5 stars for this Man Booker Prize winner.

Snakes and Earrings by Hitomi Kanehara

2009-06-11T18:45:00.004+01:00

Lui, a 19-year old “barbie doll”, got attracted to one of Tokyo’s punk – Ama. But this guy was not just any ordinary punk. Ama had serpentine tongue and Lui dreamt of having one. The teenage lovers lived together, drowned beer bottles every night, and shared passionate sex. But they hardly knew each other.

On the other hand, there was Shiba-san, Ama’s friend and tattoo designer. Shiba did Lui’s tongue piercing, and more. He agreed to design Lui’s tattoo for sex. Their first was dangerous, a sadist-masochist sexual play, and Lui did not resist. Soon, they shared a sexual relationship without Ama knowing it.

How well did Lui know Ama and Shiba? As Lui dealt with the pain of making the hole of her tongue-piercing bigger, she also got deeper into the realization of her emotions and did unimaginable measures to make things right.

I did not like this book. But I don’t hate it as well.

I like the book because the plot had twists that would make you stop and ponder. As I went through those twists, I had to stop and think of the possible reasons for the actions of the characters involved. I looked for signs and symbols that made the story dynamic. Truly, one could ask loads of thought-provoking questions, probably without definite answers. The book is as mysterious as its title "Snakes and Earrings".

Worry not, fellow bookworms. The mystery is not hard to decipher. I’m just trying to make a point that this book is deeper that what is literally written. I could say that the author – Hitomi Kanehara – is really a genius. She deserved the Akutagawa Prize.

I hate the book for being open-ended. I did not like it for its “sex stories”, which some of it, I found irrelevant to the plot.

The book is thin and simply written, thanks to its translator: David Karashima.

I am giving this book 3/5 stars not because I like it but because it is the whole number between 1 and 5. I really can’t decide if I like it or not.

BookMooch Craze

2009-06-05T10:16:00.002+01:00

Last week I went to the Quezon City Post Office (QCPO) to get my mooched books. Yes, the arrival of mail notices got me hell-excited to visit the post office. The irony here was there is nothing really exciting in QCPO. It has no AC system. The air is humid and smelled of dust and heat combined. But the situation did not prevent me from grabbing my packages.

I decided to open the packages at home. Upon arrival, I immediately went to my room and deliberately tore open the envelopes. I was like a boy opening gifts on Christmas day. I got a hardbound copy of Laura Esquivel’s Like Water for Chocolate and a trade paperback copy of Paolo Coelho’s The Zahir. Both books are in excellent condition, especially the former. I am so pleased with these “gifts”.

How did I stumble upon BookMooch? I’ve been thinking about it but my memory failed me. One reason could be Shelfari.com; the Filipinos there are also engaged in mooching. Another could be Blooey’s blog entry about Bookmooch. I don’t know and I don’t really care. I’m happy with mooching and that’s what really matters.

BookMooch is a venue for persons who want to share their books, locally or internationally. All book lovers could say that there are books in their shelves that they don’t want to keep. Some of them opt to sell their books for a cheaper rate. Why not just share them with others? It isn’t a bad idea.

I started by making an account. For me to be able to ask or mooch books from others, I needed to earn points. I placed in my inventory folder all of my books that I am willing to send to anywhere here or abroad, including magazines. My inventory started with 12 books. I realized it wasn’t enough to get the books that I really want, especially if those that are available outside the country. So I built contacts. I took note of the bookmooch IDs of the active members of Flips Flipping Pages (FFP) and added them up. I had only one thing in mind: “Add more people.” It did not matter if they would reject my invites.

Bookmooch Angels Czar and Blooey responded by mooching from me. BM Angels are persons willing to help you get books from other persons, especially if you don’t have enough points. They are also more-than-willing to give advices on how to package your book better and how to send them cheaper. That was how I earned more points. Then I leveled up by sending books internationally.

I am now a bit familiar with postal services. I am still learning and the good thing is I enjoy it.

Here are some links you might want to read should you decide be part of BookMooch:

A love affair… with Bookmooch by Blooey
BookMoochers Pilipinas
Tips for BookMooch Newbies by Patti

Quoted from Sedaris

2009-06-05T06:52:00.001+01:00

“Real love amounts to withholding the truth, even when you’re offered the perfect opportunity to hurt someone’s feelings.”

- David Sedaris in Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim

Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim by David Sedaris

2009-06-04T16:00:00.004+01:00

Today, at around noonish, the TMC Book Club met up to discuss David Sedaris’ Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim. I don’t know if I could call myself fortunate or damned, but I was asked to facilitate the discussion. Deciding to accept the challenge was more difficult than choosing between McDonalds and Jollibee for the book is nonfiction. It would mean criticizing the life of the author and who are we to judge? So why not focus on Sedaris’ style and craft as a writer? I’d like to start on that.

The book is very simple. No flowery words. You won’t experience nosebleeds analyzing metaphors and other figures of speech. It’s plainly a collection of essays regarding events of David’s life which he found funny or worth sharing. There are no twists and hidden clues and messages. You would get to the author’s point as you read. No need to go back to previous pages. No need to take down notes. It’s simple and a quick read.

The book was divided into 22 chapters which dealt with the author’s experiences from childhood until a few years ago. I found some chapters extremely hilarious. One example is the first chapter “Us and Them”. In here, David sorted all the candies he got from the Halloween Trick or Treat and stuffed all the best sweets in his mouth so as not to share it with others. I also laughed at Chapter 14 entitled “Six to Eight Black Men” – a story of a weird Dutch Christmas tradition involving being beaten and/or nabbed by six to eight black men.

Other chapters, despite the apparent humor, were poignant. “The End of the Affair (Chapter 12)” dealt with Sedaris’ realization on how he and Hugh (boyfriend) are as a couple. By the way, David is a proud gay. Going back, “Baby Einstein (Chapter 21)” talked about his feelings for his first nephew from Paul (youngest sibling).

At this point, I would like to tell you about the gist of our discussion. But first, allow me to describe our group. Half of the members who attended were females whose ages are 40 and above. Take note, these ladies are TMC’s honchos. The other half could be safely categorized under the young adult bracket. I was the only male present. Those who belong to the middle-adult bracket said most parts of the book are not funny at all especially the chapters that discussed poor values sets. An example is "Chapter 2 – Let It Snow". The common response was, “How could a mother lock out her children in the cold?”

About half of the group agreed that David’s family is dysfunctional, or at least the values formation is feeble. Majority said that one good thing about the author is that however embarrassing his situation could get, he would just to laugh it off. He knows how to turn a misery into something funny for his readers to enjoy. About 2-3 members noted that the book is more inkling to the serious, poignant tone rather than delightful. We all acknowledged the fact that he is a good writer and must have exaggerated some if not most of his stories.

Listed below are the questions I used and I hope it would help you understand the book or the author’s life and style better. I gave them the opportunity to share a funny event of their lives as long as they are comfortable with it.

Which chapter of the book did you like best and why?
Which chapter did you least like (if not hate) and why?
In your opinion, which chapter has a serious tone?
If David was born and raised in the Philippines, would he feel awkward being alone in an elevator with a boy he helped?
Could you say that the source of David’s humor is his life’s tragedies and dramas? How so?
Do you think David’s life and family are dysfunctional?
Did you find the book funny or disturbing?
Name one issue that Sedaris confronted as a child and still does now as an adult.
In the chapter “The End of the Affair”, David said, “Real love amounts to withholding the truth, even when you’re offered the perfect opportunity to hurt someone’s feelings”. What is your comment on this?
Were you able to pick-up “life-lessons” from any of his stories?
As a kid, have you ever experienced stuffing your favorite sweets to your mouth because you don’t want to share or something similar to that effect?
As a kid, have you ever bullied a younger sibling or friend to do something stupid (as what the siblings did to Tiffany when they were locked outside the house) for whatever purpose?
Amazon rated the book 4/5 stars, same with online consumer rating. Do you think it is overrated?

I received a good comment about share-a-funny-story-of-your-life activity. The person said that at first she can’t think of any. But as she pondered on it, she found out that there were a lot.

All of us have funny experiences. Most of them were probably embarrassing. Some of them were mistakes of whatever magnitude. The good thing about it is when we think of it now, we find them hilarious. It’s a part of our life that we can never forget. Otherwise if it’s really traumatic, it would be repressed way beneath our subconscious. We laugh about it now because we know it is part of life. It’s part of growing and maturing. And somehow, we are proud to have gone through with it.

I rate the book 4/5 stars because I found it funny. Most parts really made me laugh. When we speak of its content, I give it only 3 stars.

***

Special thanks to Mae Dearest for helping me out on this project. xoxo.

Bob Ong's MacArthur

2009-06-03T08:26:00.003+01:00

MacArthur’s concept was taken from a classic Pinoy joke: What do you call the feces that don’t go down the drain after flushing? The answer is “MacArthur” – “I shall return.”

MacArthur is the sad story of 4 miserable friends (probably in their late teens to early 20s) who managed to stick with one another even to the darkest parts of their lives. They lived different lives, but somehow they connected through their favorite pastime – shabu drug addiction. Cyrus is the oldest among the group. He is an orphaned boy whose mode of survival is via stealing. He lives with his grandfather who is a barber. Voltron is the daredevil who is willing to try almost everything to survive. Jim is married with children but does not have a stable source of income so he escapes the reality through drug intoxication. Noel is a college student who learned how to take things from their house and sell them to sustain their vice.

All four encountered tragedies which none of them was able to solve. Their lives have gone “stinking bad” but it was almost rotten when they realized it. The friends struggled to pull each other up in the hopes that they are not too late for redemption.

This is Bob Ong’s first attempt to fiction. And as usual, it’s a short-story written in Tagalog. As I read the lives of the four main characters, I said to myself that their situations can be really compared to fecal matter. The analogy is evident and touching to the point of being disturbing. Yet, albeit fictional, I could say that the stories of the protagonists do exist in the Philippines.

The story is tragic and sometimes morbid. But I guess if ones situation is comparable to the end-product of digestion, there could be no better ending to it. In any part of the world, society views thugs as trash, regardless of what brought these people to be one. In third world countries, poverty is almost always the primary cause and it is vividly portrayed in this book.

The thugs of our society, however we get rid of them, would always return and be around. "MacArthur". This book is timely and socially relevant. However, it does not offer solutions. It just tells us that these tragedies are real; they are out there in the minefields of life. Bob Ong probably wants to convey that if your situation goes really deep shit, there’s no other way but expulsion. Out you go. He could have identified a number of solutions to this problem but nobody knows for sure which is right. Who are we to judge such persons anyway?

MacArthur is an easy and quick read. But mind you, it could be heavy, disturbing, and even disgusting. Bob Ong is yet to hone his crafts as a fiction writer, should he decide to be one. If you’re curious, go ahead and get a copy. But I can’t really say you would like it. I don’t like it, but I don’t hate it as well.

The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis

2009-06-02T20:08:00.009+01:00

It feels great to finally bookblog again. Work has been keeping me from reading and blogging. Now that I’m actually composing a write-up, the feeling is exhilarating.

I think I have mentioned in my previous notes that I am a member of TMC’s Reading Club. One of the books we discussed was C.S. Lewis’ The Screwtape Letters. This was my first introduction to Lewis’ literary works. Clive Staples Lewis (1898 – 1963) was one of the literary giants of his era. The Chronicles of Narnia was one of his famous works.

The Screwtape Letters is the correspondence between Screwtape, one of Hell’s higher ranking devils, and Wormwood, his nephew and student. Each letter sent by Screwtape is filled with lessons and sermons on temptation and how to ensure a person’s soul to Hell.

A friend of mine found this book boring. Come to think of it, yes, it could be boring. The book is not storytelling. All you could read are plainly letters of Screwtape to Wormwood, a one-way conversation from uncle-to-nephew, teacher-to-student. The lives of the persons they are tempting were vaguely and briefly described. Worse is you can’t find a single reply of Wormwood to his uncle.

In spite of the manner in which this book was written, I found it funny, striking, intriguing, and clever. C. S. Lewis is a genius. Have you encountered a person viewing Christianity from the devil’s perception? I haven’t, not until after reading this book. Screwtape addressed Satan as “Our Father Below”. He named God as “The Enemy”. He also talked about worst spirits of their kind -- devils far deeper in the “Lowerarchy.” Here are some excerpts:

“Men or nations who think they can revive the Faith in order to make a good society might as well think they can use the stairs of Heaven as a shortcut to the nearest chemist’s shop.”

“He (the Enemy) wants men, so far as I can see, to ask very simple questions; is it righteous? Is it prudent? Is it possible? Now if we can keep men asking ‘is it in accordance with the general movement of our time? Is it progressive or reactionary? Is this the way that history is going?’ they will neglect the relevant questions.”

“Provided that meetings, pamphlets, policies, movements, causes, and crusades, matter more to him than prayers and sacraments and charity, he is ours – and the more ‘religious’ (on those terms) the more securely ours.”

"To claim to equality, outside the strictly political field, is made only by those who feel themselves to be in some way inferior."

If you are interested, brace yourself for you may find this uniquely and cleverly written book dragging and pathetic. I say this because yes, there are boring chapters. But it did not hinder me from appreciating it. I give Screwtape 4/5 stars from Hell!

The Amber Room - Steve Berry

2009-05-13T04:04:00.004+01:00

I just finished reading Steve Berry’s The Amber Room. Finally! After more than one month of forcing myself to finish it (which seemed almost near to eternity), thankfully, it has come to an end.

Karol Borya survived the world war with one painfully unforgettable memory – the death of four German soldiers who kept their mouths shut to protect the location of the Amber Room. Regarded as one of the most priceless and exquisite treasures of the world, it has been sought by various world powers, resulting to a number of deaths. The Amber Room, believed to be cursed, produced a high death toll; the people involved were those who came close to finding it. Borya, the last link to its whereabouts, was closer than expected.

Borya’s daughter, Rachel Cutler, a seasoned Atlanta judge, found the death of his father odd. Holding onto the correspondence between her father and a certain Chapaev from Germany, Rachel decided to search for this man who may have information why his father was so into the Amber Room. Her ex-husband, Paul Cutler, worried about the possible consequences, followed close behind. Soon, they found themselves locked between the battle of 2 wealthy, powerful men who were also looking for the Amber Room.

This book is thick. I waited for the climax to sink in, but this book has no sustainability factor. The climax, wherever it was, fell short of what I expected. Probably because there were 4 major characters in this novel – the Cutlers and 2 other professional killers: Christian Knoll and Suzanne Danzer. As I flipped the pages, I found the battle between Knoll and Danzer more interesting than the protagonists -- the chase factor between the 2 antagonists is more adventurous and entertaining than the Cutler’s.

The book, in my opinion, is well-studied and researched. The author mentioned loads of famous art treasures from different eras. Basic knowledge with the Humanities would surely be helpful in browsing through the pages. But of course you could always google anything you find interesting in this book. That would add up to a better picture-image of the scenes in every chapter.

Steve Berry’s style as a story teller is not very far from other authors of his genre. In this book, he told the perception of each character involved in a particular scene as it happened. The thrill was there, but somewhere along the way,the plot fell short. The build-up of a certain scene was good, but it lacked a dynamic resolution. Nothing really spectacular about his craft, and as I have said, it got really dragging as I flipped to the end.

I am not recommending this book. 2 stars. Toink.

How To Save A Life?

2009-05-10T20:22:00.001+01:00

The huge Puerto Galera waves brought about by typhoon “Emong” almost took my friend’s life. Thank God I was there to respond, though the waters almost drowned me as well.

It feels splendid to save a life. It feels great to feel alive.

(Full story to follow; will just get a good eye-shut)

Lito Lapid - Machong Pinoy

2009-05-04T14:11:00.003+01:00

Lito Lapid, Modelo ng Tunay na Machong Pinoy

"Humahati ng Bala!"

The Spiderwick Chronicles

2009-05-04T13:18:00.005+01:00

I came across Spiderwick’s world roughly 3 years ago in a drunken state of mind. I got home from a drinking spree and can’t find sleep. I paced my room like a restless soul searching for heaven. I can’t find a thing to do. So I fixed my shelves. Then I found a hardbound copy of Arthur Spiderwick’s Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You. I did not even know we have a copy of this book (apparently my brother bought it for his art classes). It’s a compilation of sketches of all faeries and demons that are invisible to the human eye. My addiction to the Potter series and magical stories got me engrossed to Spiderwick’s. And because my brain is nearing alcoholic encephalopathy, my state of mind had been far away from reality. I started to believe Spiderwick. I thought of the stuffs I kept on a particular place and found missing a few minutes after. I thought of the minute, rapid steps I hear every night beneath the wooden floors of my room, which I assumed were rodents. Apparently they weren’t rodents. They are called House Brownies. I thought of fireflies which I rarely see, never realizing they were Sprites.

I remember asking my brother, “Is this real?” And to my surprise his reply was “Duh.” I found that vague which made my belief stronger.

I woke up with a bad headache and the painful truth that Spiderwick is fictional.

But it didn’t stop me from researching and reading his books. And I must say it could parallel Potter’s world on a different plane. The Potter books dealt with sorcery and witchcraft; Spiderwick focused on faeries and enchanted creatures -- two sides of the same fantastical coin.

The Spiderwick series started when the Grace siblings (Mallory, Simon, and Jared) moved to the estate of their great grandfather, Arthur Spiderwick. Jared was always blamed for the lost stuffs in their house. He later found out the reason behind their missing stuffs after discovering the diary of Arthur -- a book which must not be opened. But he flipped it open and found Arthur’s sketches, description, and personal encounter with enchanted creatures. Soon after, the Grace siblings realized that the book was being searched by the most dreadful magical creatures. Moreover, they realized that they must protect their great grandfather’s legacy.

The Spiderwick Chronicles is a must-read for people of all ages who find magical stories amusing. The good thing about this series is all books are illustrated. You could really step into fantasy as you read. Worthy to note is the similarity of some of the creatures in Spiderwick’s and Potter’s. Rowling included creatures such as unicorns, a phoenix, griffins, and dragons in her stories – magical animals that can also be found and appreciated in Spiderwick’s. The description of such animals was almost the same and it made me wonder if Rowling had read the Spiderwick Series.

I tip 5 stars to the authors: Tony DiTerlizzi and Holy Black. You guys rock!

***

I also have a copy each of The Spiderwick Chronicles Special Edition to the Seeing Stone: Troll Trouble and Great Escape.

My copy of Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You is hardbound. =D

Machong Pinoy

2009-05-04T07:33:00.004+01:00

Si Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao, isang tunay na Machong Pinoy:

“ASTIG!”

***

The Pacman once again proved that he is the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world by knocking-out Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton in the 2nd round of their light welterweight fight, May 2, 2009.

Wala kang katulad Manny!

Mooching

2009-05-02T09:34:00.004+01:00

Lately I’ve been addicted to bookmooch.com. I’m relatively new to the site and have made very few correspondences. I’m still trying to learn from the active members of Filipinos Flipping Pages in which I am a member. So far, my attempts to request for a book that I like have been futile.

What’s so exciting about mooching? In all honesty, I don’t know. That’s why I’ve been opening pages of people from other parts of the globe, just to learn from them. Maybe it’s the thrill of receiving a book via post from a near or far away location. I can’t really say because I haven’t got one.

In all fairness, I was able to send a book to a moocher. Thanks Blooey for the opportunity!

Blooey is a very good book blogger. Do visit her site: Bookmarked!

The Blair Bitch Poetry Projects

2009-04-26T17:06:00.004+01:00

I stumbled upon Chinie Hidalgo’s “The Blair Bitch Project: A Book of Bitchy Poetry” and I can’t help but follow it up with her next book, “The Blair Bitch Returns: Another Book of Bitchy Poetry". And since it was a quick read, I made my unsolicited remarks right away.

The author compiled her own series of “bitchy” poems, all of which, I must say, were witty and funny. The words used were simple, the poems light and easy-to-understand. There was no deep usage of different figures of speech, just plain simple poetry writing. The rhymes were well-written. Surprisingly, the poems were metered – a poetry-making attribute which new-age poets aka free-style artists fail to use nowadays.

I love reading poems and I struggle to be a “good” poet at the same time. Goodness is relative and if the reader is my mother, I’ll probably be one of the best. Anyway, poetry lovers have always loved poets who know how to craft thought-provoking metaphors.
I myself can’t help but be placed in a hypnotic trance after reading a deep poem line. However, poem-critiques also look in factors such as rhyme and meter. I rarely see them nowadays.

Try to imagine how difficult it is to create poems with intact meter, well-crafted rhymes, and mind-boggling use of wordplay and figures of speech. If you encounter one today, ask the person if he/she is a time-traveler as well. Chances are that poet came from the Shakespearean era.

Here is one of my favorites from Ms. Hidalgo’s first book. Please click the image for a bigger view. Notice the cute illustrations done by Ms. Krie Reyes.

And this one is from her 2nd book:

I stringed 4 stars from the depths of the universe and give it to Ms. Hidalgo. Her books are definitely worth-sharing. I think even non-poetry lovers would like it.

Images were scanned from the books.

Too bad the 2 Blair Bitch Projects are not yet on Shelfari despite having ISBN. I wonder how one registers a book in it.

The Trap by John Smelcer

2009-04-15T10:43:00.003+01:00

Albert Least-Weasel, a native Indian in his late 80s, was one of the highly respected men in his tribe, not only because of age, but also due to the fact that he was able to survive life in the North that long. Throughout his life, he mastered the skills of hunting, trapping, and surviving the cold – skills necessary to prove manhood in their tribe and defy the trecherous nature of his land. Little did he know that nature would soon test these skills.

Johnny Least-Weasel admired his grandfather to the point of wanting to be like him. Though native Indian culture has been gradually replaced and forgotten, Johnny tried to learn and live the ways of the old through his grandfather. At the age of 17, his instincts would be tested.

Through time, Albert learned to hunt with great precision and adept skills. But as he aged, his senses failed him. The old Least-Weasel got trapped in his own trapline – far from his home, amidst the white landscape, with only the cold northern climate for companion. With one leg trapped, he would evade death by generating heat, finding other sources of food, and scaring hungry pack of wolves, if only time would permit.

***

I did not like it because:
• The plot was simple with some flashbacks which for me are irrelevant to the story.
• It focused on Indian culture and ways of surviving the North aside from building a good or rather powerful climax and resolution.

I liked it because:
• The manner of storytelling was magnificent. It compensated the author’s plot inadequacy.
• The metaphors are powerful and moving.
• Easy to understand; light read.
• The information about life up north and Indian culture are nice-to-know facts.
• In my opinion, the ending is substantial.

Obviously, I liked this book. I give it 3/5 stars.

Erich Segal's Man, Woman and Child

2009-04-14T04:44:00.005+01:00

This is a love story which could me made a telenovela series.

Bob and Sheila Beckwith thought their lives are already complete – stable marriage, 2 wonderful daughters, and rewarding careers – until a message from France changed everything.

Bob received news from Louis Vénargues (ex-mayor of Séte) that Dr. Nicole Guerin, the woman whom Bob had an affair with almost 10 years ago, passed away. But the surprising news did not end there. What Bob did not know is that they produced a son -- Jean-Claude, 9 years old, now an orphan. The child had nowhere to go, and Bob needed to do something about it.

Bob, albeit extremely anxious, told his wife about it. Sheila, utterly hurt, tried to deny everything Bob confessed to her. But Jean-Claude was a living proof, one they can’t deny. Sheila was shocked; all the while she thought her marriage was perfect. She struggled for answers on what she could have done to deserve such pain.

Sheila turned cold to her husband. She coped with sleepless nights by taking sleeping pills. But these were expected reactions from a woman who felt cheated and Bob knew it. What he was not expecting were Sheila’s decisions. To Bob’s surprise, his wife invited the orphaned boy to spend time with them, but only for a month.

The couple told their daughters that Jean-Claude lost his parents and would be spending a month-long vacation with them in Cape Cod. As the days passed, the family grew fond of the boy, even Sheila herself. But this was all ruined when the girls found out that Jean-Claude was their father’s illegitimate son.

What happened next was a choice between Jean-Claude and her 2 daughters; save the relationship with the boy or his wonderful family. Bob had to decide fast. The series of events that occurred next opened a whole new world to the family.

***

I am not fond of love stories, especially if the plot poses as a telenovela. What are the chances that a man could have a have a woman pregnant after a one-night stand? Of course it’s fifty-fifty. But I think the stats of the number of men who got their partners pregnant after a one-night stand are fewer compared to those who have been having sex a couple of times.

What made Bob so sure that Jean-Claude was his son? Bob and Nicole spent the night together only once and they never saw each other again. For all we know, Nicole might have had affairs with other men during that year Bob was in Séte.

Sheila’s depression and anger were very much expected. But to accept the boy to their house the morning after learning the news was a bit off. Decision made that fast could be just a spur of the moment. She had time to re-think things, yet she did not change her mind.

These are just some of my unsolicited sentiments regarding the plot. I haven’t read any other Segal book, but I think the inadequacy in the creativity department, or the lack thereof, made the book a total bore. And like any other fictional short story about love-cheat relationship, one could not help but be intrigued about its resolution. Thus, the reader is compelled to finish the book just to find answers to the intriguing questions simmering in his/her head.

Of all the characters, Sheila Beckwith had the most burdens to bear. Yet, she was portrayed as a woman of exquisite character – beautiful, smart, caring, and enduring. She refused to fall prey to a treacherous life by trying to do her best to avoid committing the mistake her husband did.

The book is a short story and an easy-read; straight-forward, no flowery words. One could finish it overnight with only meal and bathroom privileges. I grudgingly finished it in one week, forcing myself to like the plot. I have to clear myself -- there are parts wherein the story would catch one’s attention and make the reader flip through the next pages. But the story, aside from lacking creativity, also fell short in sustainability, which made chapters predictable.

I give it 2/5 stars. Yes, I did not like it.

***
Image taken from this site.

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Dream Catcher

2009-04-05T15:11:00.004+01:00

I miss spontaneous word combustions. For so long now, I haven’t been through such word overflows again. Maybe it is because I prefer blogging about anything than actually composing poems.

To give you a picture of what I am trying to say, I’d like to tell you a story about me and my brother. My bro is Jay-Lo! Sexy huh? Haha! Well, he’s a visual artist, and a good one at that. He graduated cum laude from one of the prestigious universities frequently bothered by flash floods during rainy days, be it a drizzle or storm. Anyway, there was this night when I got home drunk. Well, not really irritatingly drunk, just giddy. And I’m not sure if I’m making up this now just to save ass. Going back, there I was, walking in the kitchen and he was seated by the dining table. He was sketching, not a doodle but something which would really grab your attention. It got me and I fell into the trap. Poor Jay-Lo. He trapped me while I was tipsy. With the freedom of speech I got from the alcohol kick, I started scrutinizing the artwork. “What’s that? Is that a unicorn or a Pegasus? I think something’s wrong with it.” My brother tried to defend his masterpiece through exchange of words and intellect. But I guess nobody wins over a drunken dude.

I went back to my room and literally put myself flat on bed. There are glow-in-the dark stars on our ceiling and when you’re under alcohol’s spell, you could not escape the hallucination. That was when I felt the flight of ideas in my head. I turned on the light, grabbed a pen, and wrote.

Then I fell asleep.

I woke up with the paper beside me. I went downstairs and look for my brother’s sketch. To my surprise, it’s what I had in mind the night before, while I was writing the poem. From a black-and-white pencil sketch, Jay-Lo turned his art into something surreal. The idea is genius. The play of colors is marvelous. Mahusay!

Lying half-asleep, half-awake
On the lassitude of my mattress
Lunar light peeping through
The slits of the blinds
Penetrating the pores of my skin
Creeping through my spine and nerves
Numbing my senses
Lids collapsing like avalanche in replay
Slowly, I am placed under
Sleep’s spell

On evenings such as this, I can see
the luminous white unicorn grazing
beneath our sampaloc tree
tiny fairies chasing one another
while scattering powder of silver and gold
the ceiling adorned with vivid images
of the planets and constellations
By the fish pond I see the mermaid
Chanting lullabies to the drowsyY
oung dragon beside her
The leprechaun snoring
Under the rainbow on my roof.

Then I see myself sitting
Not awake nor asleep
On the same weary mattress
Beamed by the same white light
From the slits of the blinds
Painting this dream.

- for my brother

(Nov. 13, 2006 - 9:20 am)

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Search for "The Venue"

2009-04-03T17:05:00.002+01:00

I was invited by my college friends to party at Embassy awhile ago. Clubs are not in my list of things-to-do-on-a-weekend-night but I am not against it either. Once in awhile, I go clubbing, but my operative definition of “awhile” might be way different from you.

Lately I’ve been more inclined to hangout in bars, and I’m still in the midst of persistently disproving the well-known fact that age has something to do with it. I’ve been telling my colleagues and fellow AA (Alcoholics Anyone?) members that we should look for a nice sit-down bar, one that we could frequent on a regular basis. “Nice” is a very vague term, and here are my criteria on it:

• Cool, cozy ambiance
• High-spirited, good-natured, peace-loving crowd
• Sumptuous meals with reasonable prices
• A-quality service
• Pleasing music of any genre
• Cheap beer (and other liquor for that matter)

The last criterion is important. I remember my frat batchmate Chuabols saying, “We need not slash out our pockets to get drunk.” And for people who drink until near-hepatic failure, cheaper costs would be loads of burden unloaded.

Ortigas area is nearest to our workplace. So far, I haven’t found any place which meets all the criteria.

Mini-Library

2009-03-28T22:28:00.004Z

Yesterday afternoon I rearranged my book shelves to make it more favorable to the eyes. Aside from my family, there are no lookers/expectators. I just want it to be organized and clutter-free, basically to please myself.

There is no specific segregation scheme whatsoever for the moment. I’ll come up with a good one soon. This would suffice for now.

***

Photo taken by me.

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Jostein Gaardner's Through A Glass, Darkly

2009-03-28T09:15:00.005Z

This is my first attempt to review a book since after high school; hopefully I could come up with nice one. I have forgotten the technicalities of book reviews so this initial try and probably the few succeeding reviews, should I say, are “trial-and-error” writing experimentations until I come up with my own style. Basically, this first one is just what-goes-on-in-my-head-and-I-don’t-give-a-damn sort of thing.

Why do book reviews? I’m a self-confessed bookworm and I feel that my opinions on a particular book would be put into neurotic garbage if I share it only with myself.

Here it goes:

Book: Through A Glass, Darkly
Author: Jostein Gaarder

I came across this book through TMC’s book club. It’s a story of a terminally-ill girl, Cecilia and her personal contact with an angel named Ariel. Everybody in the household knew that she was dying, except Cecilia herself. Though the specific disease was not mentioned in the book, it was vividly clear that she became weaker as the day moved on.

The story started during the Christmas season, a few days before Christmas to be exact. Cecilia, through their annual celebrations, has had perfect images on how to spend Christmas with familys. She was eager to be part of the activities, even to the point of being stubborn. She knew what she wanted and demanded to the highest levels just to get it. Then she met Ariel, an angel far different from what Cecilia imagined angels to look like. This angel was totally fascinated with human life and he tried everything to extract information from Cecilia on how it feels like to live. On the other hand, Cecilia doubted the existence of Ariel and demanded for proofs of his divinity. They agreed to exchange information in the hope of helping each other understand the nature of their worlds.

As the days passed, their friendship became deeper. Though Cecilia became weaker day-by-day, her wisdom on heavenly persona and matters increased vastly, making her prepared to face her inevitable and soon-coming death.

Through A Glass, Darkly is a sad book about dying. It has a different view about divine life, though not totally absurd. Ariel, for example, was described as having no hair and wings. He looks like a child though he’s been around since Creation.

The setting and timing added to its gloomy plot. Who would want to have a dying family member on Christmas season? It was also winter when this story took place, signifying coldness and loneliness. These 2 winter characteristics could be metaphorically compared with death and dying.

Mystiques say that angels communicate with living people through sleep. One could view this as Ariel’s way of communicating with Cecilia. For one, every contact with Ariel happened when Cecilia suddenly awakened from sleep. The angel never showed himself to other members of the family. Lastly, whenever the Angel was around, Cecilia was jolly and strong, unlike when she was with her family.

I feel that the book came short in the end. If I would come up with my own ending, I would leave signs for Cecilia’s family that she is now peaceful, so they too could have peace of mind. There was no mention of the family during her time of death. It was just Cecilia, moving to the other side of the glass, never coming back.

I believe in what the author is trying to convey. Life is like looking through a glass. It is full of mysteries and we only have the slightest idea about it. We see things as it is, like staring at a window. For us to have a better understanding, we need to move to the other side. In this story, for us to get a better glimpse of life, we have to go to the other side of its glass – experience death and live in eternity.

I am not really fond of sad stories, but I found this book inspiring and insightful in a way or another. It's a good read for people into such kinds of novels. The words used are light and easy to understand making it recommendable even to children ages 9 and up.

I would give it 3.5 stars (5 is the highest, of course).

***
I’m thinking of starting a TMC book club for nurses and other health care providers. What do you think Pauer? =D

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Not again?!?!

2009-03-27T21:18:00.004Z

Yesterday afternoon I underwent my 2nd Incision and Drainage in a month, this time on my right forearm. This has become my body's painful habit, without my consciousness knowing it.

Click here if you want to laugh at me.

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Vote Earth

2009-03-26T19:06:00.003Z

On March 28, 2009:

"Switch off your lights from 8:30 - 9:30 PM"

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We Gather Light to Scatter

2009-03-26T06:10:00.005Z

"Oldest born, greatest known."

For more information log on to www.upsilon.com .

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Others Sing Through Their Guitar Strings

2009-03-25T04:16:00.005Z

My sister sent me a copy of this video. I don't know how to upload the copy to blogspot so I just copied the youtube link to this site.

Perfecto De Castro or Perf was Rivermaya's axeman in their first self-titled album. He then became a member of the Triaxis band. He was Francis M.'s guest guitarist and music collaborator in Freeman 1 and 2.

In this video, Perf used a 10-string classical guitar. He has done various projects using such instrument. This instrumental version of Kaleidoscope World is his tribute to his friend and fellow musician Francis M. Indeed, Perf is one of our best guitarists today.

Video taken from Perf's youtube site.

Cellulitis?

2009-03-23T19:04:00.001Z

My right forearm has all the signs of inflammation: swelling, redness, warmness, pain, and possibly pus (from the closed wound). My pain scale reaches to 7/10, without any painkiller. It is so swollen, I could hardly stretch it. Its worse when the pain attacks.

I’ll be on sick-leave tomorrow. Indefinitely.

Kwentong Barya

2009-03-20T19:44:00.005Z

Nagbalik sa U.P. upang magbayad
Ng papeles halagang bente-sagad
Buti Disyembre ngayon
Mga estudyante nasa bakasyon

Naglakad mula kolehiyo hanggang Faura
Sa ilalim ng kainitan ng umaga
Naisip ko sa Rob dumaan
Upang damit at noo ‘di pawisan

Tumambad sa akin pagsapit sa kahera
Tama ang hinala, pangalawa ako sa pila
Hindi kailangan magmadali
Matatapos ito sa isang saglit

Binibini sa aking harap Roxas ang tangan
Halagang sisenta kanyang babayaran
Aking naulinagan, tanong ng kahera
“Miss, wala ka bang barya?”

Kinapa ko mamiso sa aking bulsa
Binilang lahat, kinse lang ang kwenta
Sinilip ko ang lumang pitaka
Maingat na dinukot gusot na singkwenta

Naalala ko mga kahera sa Jollibee
Ika’y tatanungin, “Do you have a smaller bill?”
Ngayon iba ang aking natunghayan
Walang barya sa iniingatang kaban

Pinilit ko iabot ang hawak na singkwenta
Baka sakaling may panukling trenta
Inulit muli ang narinig kanina
“Sir, wala ka bang barya?”

Kalbong ulo aking kinamot
Huminga ng malalim sabay tumalikod
Nag-isip kung sino ang magpapalit
Sa aking salaping kipit-kipit

Sa tindahan ng palamig may aleng naawa
“Sir gusto mo ba talaga ng barya?”
Tumango ako at pinakinggan
Kalansing ng piso sa aking harapan

Bumalik ako sa naghihintay na kahera
Aking inabot benteng barya
Sa wakas natapos din
Ang mabaryang usapin

Nakakatawang isipin, kaherang walang pera
Malaking kaban na walang barya
Kahera na kulang ang salapi
Kaya eto, walang panukli.

- isang tunay na pangyayari -

***
This poem was composed Dec. 15, 2006 -- one of my very few attempts on Filipino Poetry. It happened when I was paying for something, which I totally forgot now, at the Registrar's Office, UP Manila.

I miss writing poems.

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Naked

2009-03-20T19:29:00.000Z

I left my bag in Sir Otep’s car. In it are two highly-valued possessions: the book I am currently reading (David Seharis’ Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim) and my iPod Nano.

The book is negotiable. Of course I could always start a new book. But I’m a little OC when it comes to reading; I finish what I started and cannot move on to another book without flipping ‘til the last page. My iPod, albeit obsolete, is one of my treasures.

I feel naked whenever I’m out without them.

The Proxy Story

2009-03-16T18:22:00.004Z

(As told by FM)

Proxy shirts first appeared in the music video of Superproxy 2k6 -- Francis M.’s remake of the Eraserheads’ song “Superproxy” (from the Cutterpillow album). Back then it was not yet for sale.

Francis M. wore the shirt again during the LivELY Benefit Concert at Eastwood (January 27, 2007)– a fundraising concert for Ely’s hospitalization – 2 weeks after the former Eheads vocalist suffered a heart attack.

Francis M. included the shimmering red heart in the design a month after the concert to promote cardiac health awareness. He then made it available for purchase online; percentage of the income would go to Ely’s hospital bills and the planned Heartist Foundation.

Basically, the “proxy” shirts are FM’s gift and tribute to Ely.

dreams be dreams

2009-03-16T04:14:00.000Z

You know how some people say that the dead usually communicate through our dreams? Well, I had one weird dream...

I was a private nurse for FM. The setting was in a house, though I am not sure if it was his because I haven’t been there. Though in my dream, the ownership was there, so we could say, for the purpose of this story, that I was in his house.

He was lying flat on bed, in a room vividly not a bedroom but probably a part of the living room. Again, I am not certain about his exact location. All I could remember is that the room was adjacent to the dining area.

In my dream, FM was in a very troubling discomfort. It was as if all his body joints were in moderate-severe pain, just like what he used to experience every after chemotherapy. There were no apparent signs that he was in emergent distress. He was not having chest pains or difficulty of breathing. But it was obvious that he was suffering.

FM asked for a medicine, though in my dream the drug’s name was not clearly stated. All I could recall is that the drug he was asking for is an opiate. Opiates are potent pain killers which cause sedation. In my sleep, he was pleading for this drug and it seemed like he wants to be sedated for good just to put an end to his misery.

This is what I recalled from our conversation:

FM: “Ted, please give me the medicine.”

Me: “Sir, it could sedate you again. I’ll ask for another pain reliever na lang.” (Nurse’s note: FM was prescribed Oxycontin during one of his hospitalizations and became disoriented after 2 days of drug use. His wife refused it after.)

FM: “Okay lang Ted. I just wanna end this.”

Me: “Are you sure you want this sir?”

FM: “Yes, Ted.”

I nodded, not to agree, but as a gesture of surrender.

I wrote something on a pad. I think it was a request for the drug. I handed it to somebody not clearly revealed in my dream. Then FM, with a smile, motioned for me to come near him. I walked towards his bed and squatted beside him.

FM: “Thanks Ted. Thank you so much for everything.”

Then he touched my nape, pulled my head down and kissed my forehead.

After that, I went home. Then a household member broke the news that FM just passed away in peace.

***

Skeptics would say it's just a dream. I don't give a damn.

FM's Wake

2009-03-09T19:46:00.002Z

I went to Christ the King Church, Green Meadows early this evening to pay my respects to the Master Rapper. Even though the fans could only visit from 6 AM to 6 PM, the church was still crowded. I recognized some of the persons there – in our society they are called celebrities. About half of the population is family, immediate and distant. Some are close friends of the Magalonas, and they still look showbiz to me. Fans still come and go, but only a few stay for an hour or more. Paparazzis are scattered everywhere; I wonder what scoop they could get from the celebrity mourners.

We arrived halfway to the mass (I went there with Mae and JL). After the final blessing, the choir sang Kaleidoscope World, a capella. It was a good version and I can’t help but get teary-eyed as we chanted along. Then we slowly walked to the coffin to see Sir Francis. I had the opportunity to introduce my companions to Ma’am Pia. I was flattered when she said, “Ted is really close to us.”

My tears fell when I saw FM’s corpse. The last time I saw him was in the ICU, shortly after he died. It felt extremely saddening to see his lifeless body. The sound system did not help at all; most of his famous songs were being played. Then my memories of him flashed in my mind like moving photographs in a slide show, vivid and full of life, as if he was still alive yesterday.

Francis M. has already proven his immortality.

***
Mrs. Pia Arroyo-Magalona shook hundreds of hands and probably kissed more cheeks. From my observation, it seemed like she exchanged pleasantries with a warm smile and sincere gratitude. Her eyes looked different though, far from what I used to see during her husband’s hospitalization – full of sorrow and stress. I still wonder how she is coping with all these.

She’s a great, strong woman. She deserves higher honor and respect.

Quote of the Week

2009-03-04T19:09:00.002Z

“Love and hate don’t seem to cancel each other out. They can coexist and drive you mad.”

-- Erich Segal in Man, Woman, and Child

The Fire Alarm Incident

2009-02-26T19:06:00.009Z

Back in my freshman years in college, I did something that really rocked the world of students in my building. It was not stardom. And I did not become a rock star either. Let’s just say it was the other side of the “fame” coin.

It was a few minutes before 7 in the morning, and my classmates were silently preparing for our 1st class of the day. During those days, we were the only group to hold class at the 2nd floor of the building at this hour. A friend wants to be excused from class to prepare for a P.E. event. He asked me to accompany him to the professor’s room located on the 3rd floor. Now, I have to make it clear that the 3rd and topmost floor of our building could be scary and intimidating, at least for a freshman, because it holds the rooms of all lecturers and professors of our college, not to mention the dean’s office. And if you’re new to the program, it seems like all eyes are on you.

Anyway, back to my story, I decided to wait for my friend at the stairs of the 2nd floor rather than be seated on the old couch situated at the dark hallway of the 3rd floor. He went to the professor’s room and suddenly I was alone. Everything else was silent and gloomy aside from the rotating sound of the ceiling fan. I can’t remember what occurred to me but I suddenly found myself playing with the fire alarm. I guess from this you know what happened next.

I broke the glass supporting the lever of the alarm. The distress call was so alarming. I looked around to see if anyone caught me, but apparently, I was really alone. I ran back to our classroom and before anybody could speak, I portrayed an innocent face and asked, “Is that fire alarm?”

Almost everybody stormed out of the building, from students to professors, including the dean who recently suffered a bout of mild stroke. I think the only persons left in the college were the guards investigating the mischief.

Class was suspended for 2 hours. I have to admit it was fun, but it also scared the shit out of me, especially the thought of being suspended from class once caught. After a week, through my own admission of guilt, the administration found out. Miraculously, I did not receive punishments of any form.

This is what the alarm looks like now – brought to functioning condition with the use of a packing tape. I felt glad when I saw it. Torrents of memories from that eventful day swept me from reality. It reminded me of that carefree moment of my life. I realized I could still have it, as long as – like in this story – I am willing to take the risks. Afterall, life is all about risk-taking, and we only live it once.

5 Things I Look Forward to Come March 2009

2009-02-25T03:00:00.001Z

post-graduate course enrollment
Eraserheads: The Final Set (March 7)
My Motherdear’s Birthday Party (March 8)
My Fatherdear’s Birthday (March 10)
My Maeness’ Birthday Celebration (March 30)

A Nerdy Post

2009-02-15T13:09:00.001Z

Sometimes I wish I could extend my day an hour or two just so I could read more. Gahd! There is so much to learn and we only have 24 hours in a day, and for survival reasons, not all of it could be spent on reading.

Yes, I know. I'm weird.

Quote of the Week

2009-01-30T18:04:00.003Z

To claim to equality, outside the strictly political field, is made only by those who feel themselves to be in some way inferior.

-- C.S. Lewis (Screwtape Letters)

Daggers

2009-01-14T10:04:00.000Z

It’s a basic fact that we can’t please everybody. So why should we give a damn? Even though morality dictates that we should love our neighbors as ourselves, truth is we just can’t. We don’t live to please others. But I guess it would only matter when the persons involved are those we love and care most.

Yes, we, most of the time, go beyond our comfort zones just to make the people we love happy. And these acts are sometimes hidden way beyond notice.

I Had A Fan-Fuckin-Tastic 2008

2009-01-12T17:49:00.015Z

2008 for me was a year of Unions and Re-Unions...

A year of new love...

A year of meeting new friends...

A year of renewed and strengthened relationship with our Creator...

The birth of friendship with inspiring persons...

Being reunited with my bestfriends from high school, college, fraternity...

A year of new adventures and trips...

A year of empowered familial love...

A blessed year indeed.

*****************************************************

The first time I brought a date to Xaymaca (February 2008)

Meeting new friends: Barkadang Drawing and the Wonderful Baguio Trip (February 2008)

U23D Concert: the closest thing I could get to the band (April 2008)

Me and my brother's rockin' bday (May 2008)

After 3 long years, a Nursexsoc reunion

The Blissful Summer Getaway with Mae and her Family: Davao Pearl Farm (May 2008)

Taking care of TMC's big boss, Dr, Bengzon (no photo available; May - August 2008)

Serviam Singles Batch 5 (June 2008)

Pamper’s World Tour, Philippines (July - September 2008)

Francis M became a patient then a friend (August 2008)

The First Eraserheads Reunion (spent with the best people in town; August 2008)

UPCN 2005 (Mini) Reunion (3 years after graduation; September 2008)

TMC Stoma Care Seminar: I’m now a certified stoma therapist (no photo available; November 2008)

Seeing my High School friends again (after 4 long years; November 2008)

More and Better band gigs in TMC (December 2008)

Ocean Park Hong Kong Trip (December 2008)

The Macau Trip (December 2008 Holidays - January 1, 2009)

Of course, the thanks to the person who made my 2008 complete... Mae...

Special thanks to my family for everything I am now.

Books I've Read in 2008

2009-01-09T04:28:00.003Z

* Shoot the Moon - Billie Letts
* The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini
* Sun Storm - Asa Larsson
* Who Moved My Cheese - Sr. Spencer Johnson
* Seabiscuit - Laura Hillenbrand
* The Alchemist - Paolo Coelho
* No COuntry for Old Men - Cormac McCarthy
* Deception Point - Dan Brown
* Jonathan Livingston Seagull - Richard Beach
* The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon
* Where are the Children? - Mary Higgins Clark
* Skipping Christmas - John Grisham
* Nineteen Minutes - Jodi Picoult
* The Reluctant Fundamentalist - Mosen Hamid
* Twilight - Stephanie Meyer
* Night Train - Martin Amis
* A Thousand Splendid Suns - Khaled Hossein
* Paolo Coelho - Witch of Portobello

Stinky Urinal

2009-01-04T21:07:00.003Z

Urinals in Hong Kong Ferry Terminal are soiled, rusty, old American Express.

At least the Chinese get to pee on the Americans and make it really stink.

The Macau Tour

2008-12-31T03:18:00.003Z

This is our itinerary. My sister made copies for each one of us so we won't get lost. Aside from it being a checklist, it also serves as a guide for Chinese cab drivers or any Chinese for that matter to bring us to our destination. Notice the Chinese translation vis-a-vis the English name.

During one of the cab trips with my dad, he wrote something below the “Other Destinations”: Wine Museum. Our trip won't be complete without visiting this haven.

Sundo

2008-12-28T19:01:00.004Z

This is one of the photos I took upon arrival here in Taipa. I used a Canon Power Shot A 590 -- an ordinary point-and-shoot camera with manual settings (which is extraordinary afterall!). Of course I used the manual mode. I like this shot. This is just a lucky click. As expert photographers say, "Just continue shooting. When you get lucky, you become good."

First Night in Macau

2008-12-27T17:11:00.003Z

I'm now in my sister's pad here in Taipa, Macau. Thankfully, the trip went well. And by that I mean no hassle in the immigration and a smooth trip. It's my first here in town. Let me give a brief description about Macau. Climate is Baguio-like though more windy. Drafts are really intermittent. Vehicles are right-hand driven. Scooters are also everywhere. Lastly, there is a very immense language barrier.

I'm a bit sleepy now. We need to wake up early tomorrow for our Hong Kong trip. I'll try to give updates as often as possible.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

2008-12-25T00:30:00.001Z

To the persons who stayed with us through the torrents of unfortunate events...

To them who danced in glee during our euphoric moments...

To our families and friends:

"Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! May you and your loved ones find peace and fulfillment in 2009."

The Dream Match -- Give Us This Day

2008-12-12T14:02:00.005Z

It amazes me how our native warrior, Manny Paquiao, never fails to recognize the presence of the divine more powerful than him – the Greatest Slugger – before and after each boxing fight. Despite the fame experienced in our country, and even abroad, seizing the Pacific by storm, Pacman has kept both feet on the ground. “Manny, you are truly an inspiration. We are very proud of you.”

***
I have always been a fan of Oscar dela Hoya. I believe he did the right decision to quit before the 9th round, thereby saving himself from a lifetime of shame if he gets floored down by Manny. In my ecstatic state as I watch Manny launch a fierce attack, I also felt sad for the Golden Boy.

***
Manny could have knocked Oscar down. But he didn’t. Is Manny a true gentleman, a noble southpaw on top of his game? Or is there something underneath the table?

***
The Dream Match strengthened Manny’s rank as the Best Pound-for-Pound Boxer in the World . Moreover, the match also showed class of great worth and admirable sportsmanship:

(Conversation after the match)

Pacman: You are still my idol.

Golden Boy: No. Now, you’re my idol.

***

Thanks to my brother for the pay-per-view copy of the match. I dunno how he got it. On why I wasn't able to watch the match on the day itself deserves another post.

Weekly LSS: Sundo by Imago

2008-12-09T08:55:00.002Z

Yesterday, my band performed in TMC’s Nurses’ Day. Since last week, we’ve been practicing this song. And though it did not give much impact on me, the band rehearsals caused a week-long LSS. It isn’t that bad. Imago is a great band and the song is really good. So here you go, Imago’s Sundo.

***

It's nice to be blogging again!

Thought of the Week

2008-12-03T08:16:00.003Z

"There is a way to be good again." -from Khaled Hosseini's The Kite Runner

Torpe (the great loser)

2008-11-24T02:43:00.002Z

“How do you do?” she said
I stood abashed
a pole without a flag
scrutinized by the sun’s probing rays
knees wobbled with the heart
sweat precipitated on my forehead
as the face flushed
hands crumpled in my pockets
frozen and clammy
it must be the felicity of her eyes
the serenity of her smile
her overall radiance which
brought dysrythmia to this moment
I tried to utter a response
but the words vaporized as I
opened my stiff mouth
forming a luminous “loser” on my head
flashing shades of ridicule and shame
growing bigger as I shrink
I want to vanish
go to a place where I am not
the best comedian but a stranger
where only the sun and my shadow
own the privilege to mock
being witnesses on how I let go of the first
and last chance
to ask you out.

(Nov. 28, 2006)

Thought of the Week: On Mountains and Peaks

2008-11-23T03:20:00.005Z

"The descent from the mountain-peak is always the most difficult because it is when we tend to be careless. Much like in our everyday life, we, most of the time, overlook its easy parts" - sTEDdy

Weekly LSS: Francis M.'s 3 Stars and A Sun

2008-11-22T02:34:00.003Z

My conversations with Francis M have always resulted to starting and/or ending my day with one of his songs. This also happened after I watched the Eraserheads Reunion Concert; I had a week-long LSS of the charttoppers of the Pinoy Fab Four. Some of my friends said that they also felt the same stream of energy; a guiding spirit that made them click any Eheads song in their ipods. I bet those who watched Rihanna and Chris Brown here are experiencing this kind of LSS now.

Going back, I’ve been spinning repeatedly the song Three Stars and A Sun from Kiko’s album -- The Freeman. This hit is the concept behind his T-shirt line – the FMMC Three Stars and A Sun shirts. The heavy distortions; the passionate-almost-daring voice; the heroic and courageous lyrics – this song is screaming big bold P-A-T-R-I-O-T-I-S-M and F-I-L-I-P-I-N-O from intro to fade. Not that we’ll be engaged in a territorial war anytime soon. Listening to this song makes you wanna say, “I’m a Filipino. I could take you on.”

Here is the video of Francis M. with Parokya ni Edgar during the latter’s Inuman Sessions. I’m also posting the lyrics so you could really feel its message. Francis M. is indeed an icon of the Filipino free men.

Three stars and a sun, in one sky, so high,

I live and die and die will I for my

Motherland this is the land of my birth,

No purse is worth the price of this earth

Can we rise, can we all, hell no!

Or should we all just take the fall?

Bless the man if his heart and his land are one...

3 stars & a sun!

I'm ready to defend the 3 stars & a sun!

Ommision to a mission, transport for the brain,

Packed w/ stacks of tracks built for a train,

I eat lead, but I never let it be said,

"He said, she said," it makes me see red''

'cause I don't take bullshit & I'm 'a pack it and push it,

And hit you w/ the full clip

Switch to mode lock-'n'-load in the land of Juan (dela Cruz)...

the 3 stars & a sun!

3 stars & a sun!

I'm ready to defend the 3 stars & a sun!

Bahay kubo kahit munti, may pula,

Bughaw, dilaw, atsaka puti

There is a need to sow the seed,

Toil the soil and plod until your hands bleed

'cause this land is sacred,

Many a battle have been fought with hatred

Don't tell me that you understand,

It's been 4 hundred years of tears

For the brown man,

Still and all the fight has just begun...

3 stars & a sun!

I'm ready to defend the 3 stars & a sun!

***

Mae heard me singing this during one of our dates and said, "You're turning to a fanatic." I said to myself, "Nung elementary pa."

***

Thanks to weirdone for the video.

Long Christmas Vacation (2008)

2008-11-19T12:05:00.002Z

It’s official. Today’s issue of Philippine Star stated that our country’s workers will be experiencing a week-long Christmas vacation. The said break would start on Christmas Day (Dec. 25) which would fall on a Thursday. Dec. 26 has already been declared a special non-working holiday. After the weekend, another special non-working holiday would start the week (Dec. 29) followed by Rizal Day. Dec. 31 of course is usually a holiday for us Filipinos, as well as January 1, New Year’s Day. The government could still make Jan.2 a non-working holiday because it would fall a day before the weekend, but they have not yet made any announcement about it.

As if this applies to nurses. Haha. Oh well, this is good news to all those who would be working on the abovementioned holidays! :D

superproxy

2008-11-17T21:21:00.006Z

The “Man from Manila” blogged about how music helps him cope and survive (blog entry entitled “Music is Life” dated Nov. 15, 2008). In the said write-up, he told us about how he vocalizes everyday, even during blood transfusion. He also announced that he is doing a project with his good friend Ely. Last night, I had the privilege of hearing the blueprint from him.

He was my patient last night. I checked my other patients as early as I could because I wanted to have a small chat with Kiko. He told me about his upcoming band – a collaboration with his former group, the Hardware Syndrome and Ely Buendia, who paid him a visit earlier that night. He also made me listen to the first track they recorded -- “Higante”, composed by the former Eheads frontman. The song is promising, with its crisp guitar distortions and funky beat; of course not to mention the fact that it was sung by Pinoy rock music legends. He told me about the album cover plans, their speculated band launch, and the upcoming video documentary. I felt lucky hearing all of these.

Before the conversation, he was indeed vocalizing. His voice can be heard at the nurse station. He was singing some tracks from Nirvana (Dumb and All Apologies). That was the first time I heard him practice his notes. When he played “Higante” using iTunes, he sang with it, and I was like watching an MTV shoot, minus the camera and the people behind it.

Sir Francis, as lively and jolly as he may seem in his blogs, is not at all completely well. He would undergo the 3rd cycle of his chemotherapy anytime soon. I am not breaking confidentiality here because he already announced everything written here in his blogs. He is asking for our prayers. Let’s spare some lines for him. A prayer-chain would sure sound loud up above.

***

Photo grabbed from happybattle.net

Cross-posted at steddychronicles.

Thought of the Week: On Miseries

2008-11-15T10:57:00.005Z

"Maybe bad things happen because it's the only way we can keep remembering what good is supposed to look like." -- Jodi Picoult (from Nineteen Minutes)

Weekly LSS: Love in the First Degree by Bananarama

2008-11-13T20:24:00.005Z

Don’t you get hooked with one particular song for an entire week? It could be any song, and probably not your favorite. This track will continuously and unintentionally play in your head, like a cd player on repeat mode. Before you know it, you already have the “last song syndrome” or more commonly known as LSS. The good thing about this LSS is that it’s something you like. It sets up your mood to a full throttle. It makes you upbeat, and hearing it first thing in the morning, as you like to believe, would yield positive outcomes.

Music has always been an integral part of my life. I admit I have had such moments – one favorite song for one (or almost) week. I would play it upon waking up, on my way to work, after a difficult day, and sometimes even before going to bed. And I don’t just click play once during a certain time. That’s how addicted I could get, depending on how the song made an impact on me.

I’d like to share what I’ve been listening by starting a weekly blog about it. And as this week comes to an end, I could say that my ephedrine was Bananarama’s Love In the First Degree.

It’s an old song from the new wave genre. I can’t keep my head from swaying and bouncing after putting on the earphones and spinning the volume to a bearable loudness. And for almost 7 days, it has made me feel lighter and more relaxed.

Here’s the video (which I think is so old school and corny but it doesn’t matter because I’m not here to give a music video commentary):

***
Thanks to cfpinto for this music video.

StarBUKO

2008-11-11T18:48:00.004Z

The Starbucks Planner craze has already started. And to make it easier for caffeine fanatics to grab one, they lessened the number of stickers to be collected. From the usual 36 stickers, one only needs to pull together a total of 16 stickers – 8 stickers for the Holiday Featured Beverages and the remaining 8 for the other Starbucks drinks. But this move, which is supposed to be more economical, is not as seamless as it seems.

The design and style of the 2009 planner have degraded. Next year’s organizer is hard-bound which would come in 3 different colors, and that’s just it, way different from this year’s planner which has a leather skin and a strap. 2007’s collectible, in my opinion, although a thick one, is also better-looking than the one up for grabs. I wonder why this is happening.

Moreover, the freebies are also gone. During the birth of this promo, the coffee company gave discounts and even free coffees. The following year, the freebies are gone; but the bookmarks, cards, and other fillers were still there. Now, all of these are just stuffs of our mind.

I am not really eager to collect one now. I’m pretty sure that there are better planners available in the market, better in the sense that it is more hip-looking with a more reasonable price. However, I’m also sure that I would get myself a copy because I’m a self-confessed coffee addict. Before this promo ends, I may have amassed all the required stickers.

Maybe it isn’t that bad after all.

***

Currently dog-earring Paolo Coelho's The Witch of Portobello.

Image scanned from the actual Starbucks sticker collection card 2008.

Sublimation: Productivity under Anxiety

2008-11-07T19:45:00.002Z

I woke up a quarter before one in the morning jittery about my upcoming exam. "Darn!" I was less than 8 hours away from the nosebleeder. I went downstairs, took my leak, gulped a glass of cold water in a second or two, and then went back to bed. Going to bed is one thing, getting the needed sleep is another. Just when I needed a golden slumber, it was stolen by leprechauns.

I turned on the computer and checked my e-mails. Nothing important. I finished my usual web surfing routine and still, drowsiness remained elusive. I decided to search for free blogger templates.

***
Actually, I think the reason I was woken in the middle of the night is because I was dreaming of poetry lines. Then suddenly I heard loud shattering of glass downstairs. “It must be those damn rodents,” I said to myself. I checked the source of the noise, finding my mom in the kitchen after a midnight snack.

***
Instead of writing the poem, I chose to do something less head-breaking. I might have flown with the sudden word torrent if not for the need to wake up early for – to make matters worse – an exam.

I clicked and browsed until I stumble upon this design which you now see on my site. So why polar bears? Growing with my name magnetized lots of “names”, some for fun, others for mockery. Teddy Bear stuck. I grew fond of polar bears. They are pure, fierce, and strong underneath those adorable thick furs. They are always chilled. Steady. sTEDdy.

***
I don’t know a thing about htmls. All I could do is copy the works of generous designers and thank them wholeheartedly.

"Maraming Salamat! Pyzam.com for this web design."

***
It’s a quarter before 4 AM. Now I feel I could use some sleep.

nosebleed alert

2008-11-07T05:30:00.003Z

I’m pissed with the idea of retaking an English test, a requirement for the US immigration process, which I already met 2 years ago. All the anxiety I am now facing is only because the said English evaluation has expired.

Ted-to-self: "Prepare to nosebleed."

Free Twilight Book

2008-10-24T13:00:00.003+01:00

Okay, I admit, I was able to write a sappy poem for my girlfriend after leafing a few chapters of Twilight. Who wouldn’t want to be Edward Cullen – fully described in the book as godlike, an Adonis who happened to be a vampire? Vampires, if they truly exist, should be feared. But, no! In the book, either you would end up wishing to be a vampire or dreaming of having a vampire for a partner.

Who wouldn’t want to appear and disappear in various places, making the act naturally simple? Who wouldn’t want to woo people by mere stare? Who wouldn’t want supernatural powers? Who wouldn’t want a heightened sense of hearing, sight, and smell – a deadly predator skill-package? Who wouldn’t want to defy everything, even time’s immortality, for a loved one?

I’m glad there are people like Mia, a bookworm and a blogger, who are willing to share their blessings to anyone interested. To my billion readers, Mia is giving away a free copy of Twilight so that you could also live the wonderful romantic world of Bella Swan and Edward Cullen. All you need to do is blog about the contest or her blogsite and link the page. For more information, click right here.

Obviously, I have read the book. If I’m lucky enough to get fished from the pool of names, I’ll give the Twilight copy to my little sister, who's now living far from me.

Bayani's Political Will

2008-10-23T08:40:00.005+01:00

It has been said a million times that "the obvious should not be mentioned." Oh well, Bayani plans to run in the 2010 Elections and this tarp is part of the taxes paid by Filipinos.

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Photo grabbed from Marc's Multiply without his permission. Thanks batch!

Smart Caller Ringtune Ad

2008-10-22T19:09:00.004+01:00

Jen Hernandez' sizzling moves in this Smart TV ad got her a seat to instant fame.

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Thanks to ADman1909.

Sunset - Ligpo, San Luis, Batangas

2008-10-22T07:25:00.003+01:00

These sunset photos were taken at Ligpo Island, Batangas. I tried 2 angles but I wasn't able to capture the sun in the 2nd photo. I used my good ol' film camera, Canon EOS40D. According to Mae (and her friends), a film has a sense of permanence. I believe them.

Sunset - Saipan

2008-10-22T05:29:00.004+01:00

This sunset shot was taken at the Garapan shore, Saipan. I bought a 6-pack beer and went straight to the beach right after my NCLEX. There were only a handful of people; very serene indeed.

Photo taken using a Canon EOS40D, manual mode.

Sizing the Space Between Asleep and Awake

2008-10-17T18:31:00.000+01:00

When I started blogging, I wrote poems. I dreamt of publishing my own poetry book someday. Fearing piracy, I made the blogsite private. And it has been my literary sanctuary. Days turned to weeks and I struggled to improve myself, sailed various waves of poetic genre hoping to expand my horizon. I have had moments of being woken from deep sleep by a thought, or a phrase -- a lightning abruptly tearing the calmness of my night. Thus, the title “the-space-between-awake-and-asleep.”

But the torrent of ideas did not cease. Sometimes it runs like waterfalls, continuous. Sometimes it’s just a single train of thought. That’s why I have one-liners. I don’t know how to start nor end it.

I want to remember everything I ponder on, sensible or not. Hence, my mind gave birth to this blogsite. I have flight of ideas most of the time, and I needed an outlet. If you have read my very first entry here, you’d get the picture.

I still write poems, though not as much. But I still dream producing my own poetry book.

Lesson from Pigeons

2008-10-11T10:20:00.000+01:00

If they find their way, let them be.

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Image taken from here.

Autopsy

2008-10-10T22:30:00.000+01:00

Autopsy Unit – the only place where the living finds answers from the dead.

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Currently dog-earring Martin Amis' Night Train.

Image taken from thethirtytwo.com.

Zoolander

2008-10-08T23:40:00.000+01:00

I was walking inside the mall, homebound and almost there, off from a 6 AM 8-hour shift, thinking of nothing else but my bed. I was completely oblivious of my surroundings, as if already sleepwalking. Suddenly, somebody pulled me from my deep train of thought and asked, “Excuse me. Have you done modeling?”

I forced myself not to laugh so as not to embarrass the guy (I’m not quite sure if he’s gay) who asked. After all, he’d been polite. I courteously smiled and replied, “No and I’m not interested. I’m sorry.”

Hahaha!

I laughed silently to myself as I continued my trek home. I laughed because the question came to me as a joke despite the sincerity in his eyes. I laughed because of disbelief for I knew I looked sleepless and haggard (probably he’s looking for a Stresstab model). I laughed because the truth is I lied.