Life's a passionate bitch

AFP modernization

2012-02-13T07:01:00.000+08:00

The Philippines is rapidly ramping up its military.

A second Hamilton class cutter is being processed in the US and will soon join its sister BRP Gregorio Del Pilar. Although the Hamilton class cutters were built in the 60's to serve the US Coast Guard they still are formidable ships and suited perfectly for coastline defense and offshore patrols.

There are also rumors floating in the netverse about a potential donation of a South Korean Pohang class corvette. The Pohang class corvettes are lean mean fighting ships with a lot of weapons platforms fitted on a relatively small hull.

F-16s are also being floated around to bolster our air defense. Gunships would be better for COIN operations but we are utterly lacking in air defense capabilities. The only fighter planes that we have are jet trainers and light prop planes.

About time PH thinks about external defense capabilities as we are currently the weakest military in South East Asia. A far cry from the 60's where we were the envy of the region.

2010-11-10T09:29:00.001+08:00

Hello old friend.
With you I blog again.
And the visions
clogging my brain

With the Sound of blogging

2008-04-18T02:40:00.000+08:00

My Dragonfly Tattoo

2008-03-05T09:20:00.002+08:00

Lately, I have been cooking a lot.

Don't know why, but me and April are the dominant cooksters at our humble abode in Joisey.

I have cooked, Gyudon-sortoff, tunaquila steak, sukiyapansit, Japa Curry, Indo Kari, baby herbal tots, Tsampanok, Arroz Con Pollo Loco, Arrozmansi, Epol baboychops, smiley keyks, kidney toaster keyk, soufflemelet, astro tofu, and what not.

I can't really say that I am a conventional cook since I do like to experiment. Sometimes it doesn't really turn out well and on other times I surprise myself.

Am just waiting for Salmonella or food poisoning to set in.

Atrociously Tofu:

1 block of firm or extra firm Tofu
A dollop of sweet soy sauce
Some kind of Vinegar
A bazinger of Chili Oy
Saffron flowers - (serves no purpose really, we just have lots of it)
Calamansi juice, lime juice, or spit for tanginess

Instructions:

Cut the tofu to your hearts content. -- personally, would want to experiment on fun shapes.
Stir fry the tofu until golden brown or crispy or burnt beyond belief. Your choice really.
While waiting for tofu to cook, mix the remaining ingredients together adding or subtracting according to your palate. Add the mixture to the tofu and watch them sizzle.

Serve with a sprig of orchids to impress your mate.

2007-10-17T11:39:00.001+08:00

Scala and the Kolacny Brothers

2007-10-15T10:15:00.001+08:00

You're Mother Night!

by Kurt Vonnegut

Nobody knows what to believe about you, and you know least of all. You
spent most of your time convinced that the ends justify the means, but your means were,
well, downright mean! And the end is nigh. Meanwhile all you want is to travel back in
time, if not to change, then to just delight in the way it used to be. You are who you
pretend to be. Oh yes, you're the great pretender.

Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

2007-10-02T12:43:00.001+08:00

Life's Past

2007-10-01T09:13:00.000+08:00

2007-09-12T01:55:00.000+08:00

9/11

2007-09-05T08:37:00.000+08:00

Buzz

Did you ever had a moment wherein your mind was buzzing with ideas and when it's time to finally lay it out your mind goes blank?

Man, I am so in this funk.

Every frakking day an idea pops into my head and when I finally move my fat ass to write it down it just goes away.

Not much of a problem really if you think about it.

I mean just buy a frakking recorder or something.

But somehow the ideas just stay in mired in that gray gunk.

It makes me wonder if I should just stay smashed bordering on lucidity for me to be effective.

2007-08-16T06:47:00.000+08:00

Nerdvana

DnD Tactics for the PSP just came out and I can't wait to play it on my system.

Reserved a copy at GameStop and just picked it up a few minutes ago.

According to the message blogs at GameFaqs, it is based on the 3.5 system and stays true to the core rules with a few changes here and there.

And nope its not based on any of the known realms (Forgotten, Dragonlance, Eberron).

I think there is also an option for online play.

Wouldn't it be great if this was true. Would bring back the good ole days . . .

*** WTF just finished with my gym session and apparently just burned a little over 150 calories.

Life's a Passionate Bitch

2007-08-07T13:13:00.001+08:00

2007-08-07T12:32:00.000+08:00

Fil-Expat in NYC

I'm slow.

Just realized that I can consider myself as an expat.

Yep, transported from the home country to work in another one.

2007-08-01T11:13:00.000+08:00

Roots

Just browsed thru friendster and looked up some of my old friends in the industry and it just brings back memories of the good ole days.

Ever since graduating from college all I wanted to be was a damn good photojournalist. But look at where I am now. Sure I am still in the media industry but I am more and more mired in admin stuff. Stuff which I vowed way back never would be involved in.

Its not as if I am regretting the turn of events. I mean what I am doing right now is pretty much mondo stuff. Laying down the groundwork for a brand new bureau, going head to head with some of the stiffest competition our publication has ever faced, setting up distribution points and managing a team of AE's, correspondents, and delivery personnel. I have no doubt that our team will succeed in the East Coast. But still ...

There is still an itch to really just go out and cover the news as it happens. I am not talking about the usual press conference and pr stuff but full blown hardcore news stuff. Stuff that will make it to the history books.

I miss covering protest marches, natural disasters, human tragedy. I miss running and jostling for position with my fellow photogs. I miss standing in the blistering sun, eyes constantly roaming, fingers twitching, emotions constantly on edge. I miss the adrenaline rush and the seemingly nothingness of waiting for something to break.

Earlier on I have foregone my DSLR for a camcorder, thinking it would be more fun and challenging. It was for a time. I loved the switch from stills to motion. I loved the exactness of the editing bay and the tediousness of cramming a story in a minute thirty. I loved the various cables and battery packs wieghing down my harness as well as the pair of wireless mikes that I always have on hand. i loved watching my footage shown on Channel 18 and in some occasions GMA 7 in Manila. Now we are affiliated with Balitang America of ABS-CBN and would be shooting some footage and possible on-cam work for the network.

But I digress. The point is, though I love what I am doing right now (running the NYNJ bureau) nothing can replace the thrill of covering the news be it for publication or broadcast. In fact I tried to lobby for an Iraq posting and even filled out an application for embedded journalists from the US DOD. Even going so far as thinking of spending for my airfare and all the protective gear required by the DOD. For there is no greater dream of mine than to be a war correspondent.

Futile dreams and gestures perhaps but still I tried.

It still tingles in my veins. The urge, the thrill. Nothingness and an adrenaline rush.

2007-07-29T12:38:00.000+08:00

Roadtrip USA

After a long and gruelling 3,000 mile drive I have finally arrived at my new post in New Jersey.

I have been reassigned to our New York/New Jersey bureau to oversee the setup of the newest addition to the Asian Journal Publications family.

The trip took about four days and passed through the states of California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania and finally ending at the city of Edgewater in New Jersey.

I drove the company provided 2007 Honda Odyssey minivan (which I fondly call Homer) for an average of 10 hours per day, racking up at least 700 miles before my buddy Luky (Indonesian driver of Asian Journal) took over usually in the evening or when I felt that my body was crashing with fatigue.

The van was pretty much loaded with 3 persons barely able to fit in with the rest of the space filled with luggage and boxes full of computers and office supplies.

Good thing that we were very lucky during the roadtrip since I have a bad tendency to stomp on the accelerator on the usually empty freeways, reaching as fast as 110mph (150kph-160 I think). But usually I tried to stay 10 miles of the stated speed limit which was about 65-75 depending on which state your are driving in. We were advised that state troopers were kinda strict in the heartland but I only had two or three close calls with the smokeys.

Thanks to the Magellan roadmate 2000 GPS and to AAA TripTix we didn't get lost and managed to find superb room rates along the way.

The drive itself was exhilirating and the view quite fantastic specially when driving thru the high deserts of Utah and the mountain passes of Colorado. After that the view was kinda tedious passing thru the heartland of America. I mean it was corn or wheatfields as far as the eye can see. Unfortunately I was too caught up with driving that I barely appreciated the scenery. Thus the virtual dearth of pictures which I would normally have plenty of if I did not drive.

Given the chance I would do the trip again and if permitted I think I could solo from LA to NJ to get one of our delivery vans.

2007-07-13T00:54:00.000+08:00

Star Wars Three Decades After
By Miko Santos/Asianjournal.com

LOS ANGELES – “A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away . . .” Thus opened thirty years ago on May 25, 1977 in what would be one of the highest-grossing movies of all time, “Star Wars”

Little did “Star War” creator George Lucas know that the movie franchise would spawn a huge fanbase bordering on cult status and a multi-billion dollar merchandising phenomenon.

“Star Wars” quickly became a monster hit, and Lucas released two enormously successful sequels: "The Empire Strikes Back" in 1980, and "Return of the Jedi" in 1983.

After a 16-year break he produced and released three "prequels": "The Phantom Menace" in 1999, "Attack of the Clones" in 2002, and "Revenge of the Sith" in 2005, all recounting the story leading up to the original movies.

The movies broke new ground in film special effects, but are best known for being the first to rake in a fortune in movie-related merchandise products.

"Star Wars" spawned a cottage industry of spin-off television series, books, comics, video games, toys and other merchandise. Forbes magazine estimated in 2005 the franchise has generated as much as 20 billion dollars in revenues over the past three decades.

Fast forward to 2007 in Los Angeles Convention Center to be exact, as thousands of fans worldwide converged in Downtown Los Angeles last May 24-28, 2007 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of “Star Wars”.

White-armored Stormtroopers, Jedi Knights, Sith lords, bounty hunters and twin-bun Princess Leias, prowled the convention halls along with die-hard Star Wars fanboys and fangirls to watch all six films, scour the latest merchandise, learn belly dancing lessons, and to play out their movie fantasies.

“The Force is strong in this one …”

Joining the celebration this year were nine Pinoy fans from the 501st Philippine Outpost who also participated in the Rose Bowl Parade early this year dressed as Imperial Stormtroopers and Biker Scouts.

Proudly displaying a stylized 501st Legion patch with the colors of the Philippine Flag, the troopers gamely posed for a barrage of photos before lining up for the Legion’s group photo.

“We started out as a group that enjoys costuming and later found out that there was a much bigger organization and decided why not join them and create our own outpost,” said Manny Mendoza, CO of the 501st Philippine Outpost.

The 501st Legion is an international fan-based organization created by Albin Johnson in 1997 to promote and celebrate the Star Wars mythology thru highly detailed costumes based primarily on the “bad guys” of the Star Wars universe.

Oneal Rosero, XO of the 501st Philippine Outpost, got hooked early on Star Wars and was costuming as a Jedi Knight before joining the “dark side.” He likens it to role-playing as an action figure. “The costumes are much more dramatic and it reminds you of an action figure, I mean how cool is it to dress up as one,” said Rosero.

The costumes that they are wearing are often hand-made and can cost anywhere from $700 for an Imperial Stormtrooper to about $4,000 for a full Darth Vader outfit according to Dr. Ron Rosero.

Regina Layug, the only female member of the Philippine Outpost and a participant of the Rose Bowl Parade, said although the costumes cost a lot it pays off in the end. “It was a great experience meeting George Lucas during the Rose Bowl and the friends we have gained thru the Legion.”

“These are not the droids you are looking for…”

Among the 501st Philippine Outpost’s members are former Identity Crisis band member Buddy Arceo and Spongecola drummer Chris Cantada.

Arceo remembers watching the movie at Harrison Plaza and seeing some moviegoers in cardboard costumes. “It got me hooked.” said Arceo.

For Cantada, the “Star Wars” phenomenon is a great equalizer. “Geeks, jocks, old, and young all think Star Wars is cool,” said Cantada

“Star Wars was the only movie I chose to remember,” said Dr. Rosero reminiscing on the first time he saw the movie.

Three decades has passed and the “Star Wars” franchise has no signs of slowing down. From graphic novels, books, video games, and a soon to be released TV series in 2008, the “Star Wars” phenomenon continues to thrill fans and bring them to a galaxy far, far away. (AJ)

2007-06-20T08:14:00.000+08:00

Moving...again

I guess its kinda official. I am going to be reassigned to New York City by mid-July.

It is a barely a year that I got transferred from the Manila office to our HQ in Los Angeles and now here I am moving again to NYC to set-up our office there.

Good move though, I think ...

Hate the city though, would rather prefer to be transferred to Seattle, Washington or Hawaii but I guess that would be in the future.

***sigh***

Ching's B-day is coming up soon and was really planning to go home and surprise her but apparently I cannot, just yet, go back to RP. All papers are ok, so are the finances, its just complicated and I have to sacrifice a bit.

***sigh***

Well, NYC here I come.

2007-05-27T13:34:00.000+08:00

Star Wars Celebration IV

Here are some photos from the SWCIV

501st Philippine Outpost

Manny Mendoza and Noel Angeles from the 501st Philippine Garrison

Mae and Regina Layug from the 501st Philippine Garrison

Me and the 501st Philippine Outpost

501st Vader's Fist prior to group shoot

2007-05-17T11:25:00.000+08:00

There is a God.

Got this in my email and I can now officially cover the upcoming Star Wars Celebration here in LA.

Thank you for attending and covering Star Wars Celebration IV at the LACC. The earliest you will be able to pick up your media credentials is Thursday, May 24th, at 11:00am, and the pressroom will open at this time. Please visit the VIP check-in kiosk located in South Lobby and you will be escorted to the pressroom where your badge will be available. Press kits will be available within the pressroom. The pressroom is located in the South Hall in Room #308A.

The Exhibit Hall opens on Thursday May 24th at 12pm and closes at 8pm. From Friday, May 24th - Sunday May 27th, the Exhibit Hall will be open from 10am through 7pm. On Monday, May 28th, the Exhibit Hall will be open from 10am through 4pm.

The pressrooms hours are:

Thursday, May 24th, 11am-8pm
Friday, May 25th, 9am-7pm
Saturday, May 26th, 9am-7pm
Sunday, May 27th, 9am-7pm
Monday, May 28th, 9am-3pm

A schedule of media worthy events on the floor and in the press conference room will be available each day in the pressroom. These will include press conferences, media only Q & A sessions, photo-ops, exhibitor activities and events on the many stages throughout the LA Convention Center. We cannot guarantee any one-on-one opportunities with the celebrities as their schedules and availability are being determined by their representatives and the company coordinating the autograph sessions.

We look forward to meeting you at Celebration.

2007-04-27T16:01:00.001+08:00

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

2007-04-24T09:26:00.000+08:00

"Hijo De La Luna" -- "Son of the Moon"

Hijo de la Luna was the theme song for Gypsymoon and little did I know that the original version of the song was sung in Spanish by the Latin band "Mecano." Sung by Ana Torroja it was miles better than the better known Sarah Brightman version.

Here is the French version sung by Ana in 1991

.... and here is the original Spanish version

2007-03-25T12:25:00.000+08:00

Star Wars Horoscope for Scorpio

You are a powerful character.
You tend to be possessive and lusty - which explains your greedy nature.
You feel threatened when people try to order you around or control you.
You are prone to suspicion and jealousy - but your resilience and passion get you what you want.

Star wars character you are most like: Han Solo

What Is Your Star Wars Horoscope?

2007-03-06T11:32:00.000+08:00

LA Bike Tour -- Men in Tights

"You're crazy," said my friend Jim when I announced that I will be joining the Los Angeles Acura Bike Tour. In retrospect probably I was but I was not alone in my madness.

As it was, on a chilly Sunday morning, more than 16,000 like-minded cyclists gathered infront of the Los Angeles Sports Coliseum to participate in the 13th Acura LA Bike Tour. A 23 mile bike ride that will take the riders in a circuitous route of Downtown LA along the path of the 22nd LA Marathon.

Way back in the Philippines, I was an avid cyclist logging in more than 30 kilometers every day and to my mind 23 miles does not seem that much. I even joined a cause-oriented group which biked from Manila to Cebu in three weeks to raise funds for children afflicted with the big-C.

But then again that was seven years ago when I was at the peak of physical condition. Fast forward to 2007. Now I have a beer belly and I have not been on a bike for quite some time.

So there I was at 4:30am with my mountain bike, camelback, spandex padded cycling tights, coolmax jersey, helmet, gloves and a lightweight jacket lining along with other cyclists waiting for the start of the bike tour. The official start of the tour was pegged at 5:50am but I wanted to be at the front of the pack since I know the dangers of being in the middle of a large group of mixed skill riders.

And a mixed group of riders it was that joined this year's tour. There were the Lance Armstrong wannabes in their colorful team uniform and lighweight road bikes, rugged mountain bikers and burly downhill fanatics with their dual suspension or hardtail bikes, and there were the casual cyclists in a mishmash of bikes ranging from tandem bikes to recumbents and even some with baby buggies.

Needless to say it was the greatest concentration of spandex clad people that I have ever seen.

Most of the riders, including me, were itching to start the tour since we were freezing in our next to nothing cycling wear. So after the long winded speeches and the ceremonial blah-blah, the fireworks went off signaling the start of the bike tour.

It was a pretty orderly start and the road rules were that you should be able to maintain a minimum speed of 9 miles per hour else you have to drop out of the course. In the physical state that I was in, I opted to do just that and coast along enjoying what LA has to offer. This was not a race after all but a chance to cruise Downtown LA's normally busy streets on a bike.

It was therefore no surprise when I systematically began to hear "on your left" or "stay your line", as we cyclists say to each other when we need to overtake, from the road cyclists and fitter riders. But to hear it from a girl on a store bought Barbie bike really riled me. Here I was in my fancy-schmansy custom built mountain bike being passed by an eight -year old girl. The nerve.

In my mind, there was really no doubt that I could finish the tour, but after a measly five miles, I began to doubt myself. I needed to push my speed up to 15 mph and I know I might bonk out from the exertion but I just can't bear the thought of coming in last and being passed by children.

Normally in pack riding you would need to latch on to a strong cyclist and let him cut air resistance while drafting behind a few inches from his rear wheel. I know at this time that I have to drop my normally anti-social demeanor and join a group but I can't seem to catch up to one. So I ended up jumping from rider to rider concentrating on their butts to catch a good draft, therefore missing the chance to see the beauty of LA's streets.

In fairness it was a scenic route especially when we crossed the 6th street bridge offering you a good view of the LA skyline. Fortunately it was downhill at this stage, freeing me from my frantic wheezing to enjoy the sight.

The bike route was fairly flat except when we hit Figueroa and 6th street where there was a steep climb. It was probably mile 12 on the route and by this time I was fairly gasping and my butt was pretty sore. I tried to climb that steep hill but I know that would be the end of me, so I ended up walking up the hill. I was not alone, so it kinda soothed my wounded pride.

By this time the streets were being filled with the early-bird spectators and performers for the LA Marathon. It was uplifting to hear them scream and cheer you on. Quite a break from "hey fatso move your butt."

Glancing on my bike computer I knew it was just a few miles to the finish line and when we reached the corner of Normandie and Exposition Blvd. I stopped hyperventilating.

In the end victory was mine as I crossed the finish line and received my finisher's medal after two hours of cycling. So thanks to you little girl in the Barbie bike that pushed me on to never quit.

Would I do this again? Probably but I would rather run and take my chance in next year's marathon.

2007-02-21T07:45:00.000+08:00

LA River Bike Path

One thing about LA is the diversity of its places. I mean who would have thought that a place like this can be seen within the city limits.

The LA river though cemented is teeming with wildlife. Along the 10+mile exclusive bike path are burbling waterways filled with ducks, herons, and some other bird species I can't identify.

The path is cemented and is an easy trek for all agess and a great starter trail for roadies and mountain bikers as well. Though there are portions wherein the roots of the trees lining the path have broken through the concrete the path remains relatively smooth with a couple of rest stops strategically emplaced for you to enjoy the view and catch your breath.

2007-02-20T04:06:00.000+08:00

Advanced Global Personality Test Results

Extraversion	\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|	40%
Stability	\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|	36%
Orderliness	\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|	33%
Accommodation	\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|	43%
Interdependence	\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|	43%
Intellectual	\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|	63%
Mystical	\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|	63%
Artistic	\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|	63%
Religious	\|\|	10%
Hedonism	\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|	70%
Materialism	\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|	63%
Narcissism	\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|	56%
Adventurousness	\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|	90%
Work ethic	\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|	83%
Self absorbed	\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|	56%
Conflict seeking	\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|	76%
Need to dominate	\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|	76%

Romantic	\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|	50%
Avoidant	\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|	56%
Anti-authority	\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|	76%
Wealth	\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|	56%
Dependency	\|\|\|\|\|\|	30%
Change averse	\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|	36%
Cautiousness	\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|	36%
Individuality	\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|	90%
Sexuality	\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|	83%
Peter pan complex	\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|	43%
Physical security	\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|	56%
Physical Fitness	\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|	57%
Histrionic	\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|	76%
Paranoia	\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|	63%
Vanity	\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|	50%
Hypersensitivity	\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|	43%
Female cliche	\|\|\|\|\|\|	30%

Take Free Advanced Global Personality Test
personality tests by similarminds.com

2007-02-15T05:51:00.000+08:00

Me, Myself, and I

The funy thing about Valentine's Day is that you don't notice it till you you have to suffer thru it alone.

I was not the kind of person who gives a frak's ass about this oh so "special" day. In fact it is just another day for me albeit fraught with an unbelievable amount of traffic and the often not so subtle hints from your love one.

Usually no special plans were made, no flowers, no reservations in a fancy restaurant.

Until one day, you are suddenly alone and then you long to make that call to a romantic hole in the wall restaurant, go online and choose that perfect gift, dream about the spark, the magical moment when your hearts and mind intertwine.

I guess the old adage remains true, you never know the value of something/someone till they are gone. . .

2007-02-13T06:12:00.001+08:00

You Are Cookie Monster

Misunderstood as a primal monster, you're a true hedonist with a huge sweet tooth.

You are usually feeling: Hungry. Cookies are preferred, but you'll eat anything if cookies aren't around.

You are famous for: Your slightly crazy eyes and usual way of speaking

How you life your life: In the moment. "Me want COOKIE!"

The Sesame Street Personality Quiz

2007-02-13T05:02:00.001+08:00

You Are a Chimera

You are very outgoing and well connected to many people.
Incredibly devoted to your family and friends, you find purpose in nurturing others.
You are rarely alone, and you do best in the company of others.
You are incredibly expressive, and people are sometimes overwhelmed by your strong emotions.

What Mythological Creature Are You?

2007-01-30T12:05:00.000+08:00

Back in the Saddle

I still remember my bike I left in Manila. It was a 1999 GT Zaskar decked in full xt gear with a manitou fork and shimano 747 clipless pedals.

I really loved that bike and when I was handling the Petron gas station in Bulacan I managed to squeeze in 30kms or about two hours of biking in rough farm roads everyday.

The bike was my constant companion during the 2000 Bike for Life wherein a group of us raised funds and awareness of cancer by biking from Manila to Cebu.

Pity I can't bring it here to the US.

Recently I bought a replacement for my Zaskar, a measly Avalanche 2.0 decked in a mish mash of parts but with a terrific Marzochi Comp fork and Tektra Aquila mechanical disk brakes.

It's not as light as my Zaskar which probably weighed in at around 26 or 28lbs. This is probably around 30 or 32lbs.

I bought it in Santa Monica and as a test I biked from Santa Monica to Downtown, roughly the same distance I biked before. But, and a big but at that, I was so woefully out of shape and not even in the proper gear. Add the fact that it was also raining last Saturday and it truly was an interesting ride.

Long story short, my legs and specially my ass still hurts from sitting for 2+ hours on that damned bike. But what the hey, it was a glorius sort of pain borne about by exertion and sweat. A pain that I pretty much missed.

Its good to be back in the saddle again.

2007-01-20T08:37:00.000+08:00

Blast from the Past: Bike 4 Life : Manila to Cebu and Back Again

Those were the days . . .

I kinda remember most of the days of that epic ride.

More than a month on the road, all for the benefit of helping raise funds for children afflicted with the big C.

2007-01-10T09:29:00.001+08:00

With Team Everest 2007

(from left to right) Pastor Emata, Karina Davondon, Geekus Extremus, Noelle Wenceslao

2007-01-10T08:51:00.000+08:00

Greetings from Chub-chub Land

It seems that it was a long time ago since I last saw my toes.

Like hello tum-tums.

When i left Manila I was a burly 150lbs. After a couple of months in the land of milk and honey I have balloned to 165lbs. I now have prominent man-boobs but luckily i still retained my basketball sized ass-cheeks.

* sigh *

I miss my bikes . . .

2006-12-27T09:21:00.000+08:00

Which Card am I?

You are The Wheel of Fortune

Good fortune and happiness but sometimes a species of
intoxication with success

The Wheel of Fortune is all about big things, luck, change, fortune. Almost always good fortune. You are lucky in all things that you do and happy with the things that come to you. Be careful that success does not go to your head however. Sometimes luck can change.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

2006-11-01T15:25:00.000+08:00

Bya's Halloween

2006-09-15T14:04:00.000+08:00

Galactica gets to earth

2006-09-15T13:39:00.000+08:00

maritess versus superfriends

2006-09-07T14:44:00.000+08:00

Oasis - Wonderwall (Noel solo acoustic)

2006-09-07T14:04:00.000+08:00

Red hot chili peppers - Under the bridge Live acoustic

2006-08-16T13:56:00.001+08:00

Stone Temple Pilots - Plush - Acoustic

2006-08-16T13:56:00.000+08:00

Stone Temple PIlots - Plush Vh1 Storytellers

2006-08-16T13:31:00.001+08:00

Moby Boardie Concert - Natural Blues

2006-08-16T13:31:00.000+08:00

moby natural blues cartoon version

2006-08-05T02:43:00.000+08:00

What Am I Listening to

Here are some songs in my kulafu-Itunes and am currently chilling to:

- Under the Bridge - Red Hot Chili Peppers
- Plush - Stone Temple Pilots
- Cats in the Cradle - Cat Stevens
- Wonderwall - Oasis
- Five Years - Sugar Hiccup (all time fave!!!)
- Paint it Black - Vanessa Carlton (Rolling Stones remake)
- One - U2
- Bittersweet Symphony - The Verve
- No Rain - Blind Melon
- Smells Like Teen Spirit - Tori Amos
- Nothing Else Matters - Metallica
- If You Leave - the Cure
- Say You Love Me - MYMP
- California Dreaming 2004 Remake - Benny Bennassi
- No Scrubs - TLC
- Mon Amour Tokyo - Pizzicato Five (tee hee anime =) )
- Stairway to Heaven - Led Zeppelin
- Love on a Two Way Street - Jackson 5
- Overdrive - Barbie Almabis (Eraserheads remake)
- I Just Don't Wanna be Lonely - The Manhattans
- Zombie - Cranberries

2006-07-25T11:06:00.000+08:00

Let's GO DODGERS!

It is not everyday that you can go ground level at a major baseball stadium of a major team. And what do you know, I was one of the few selected by the Fil-Am community for a Dodgers-Padre baseball game.

2006-07-20T08:28:00.000+08:00

Miss Universe Fever!

For those not in the know, The 2006 Miss Universe Pageant would be held here in LA and Asian Journal is one of the few media outfits accredited to cover the event.

It is very rare that I have my photo taken with celebrities but due to the rareness of the event I conceded to "magpaka-jologs."

Niways the final event would be held this Sunday but unfortunately we can't cover it due to restrictions but would be covering the coronation ball right afterwards.

(Momar Visaya, EIC Asian Journal, Miss Indonesia, special child)

(Momar Visaya, Lian Ramos - Miss Phils., dakilang alalay)

2006-07-05T00:25:00.000+08:00

Pix from the Edge of Boredom

Heya all, due to an extreme sense of boredom, I have embarked on a journey to take a photo of myself whenever I can.

Initially what I envisioned was to take a pix of me and as many Starbucks Coffeeshop that I can. I was planning on calling it "I, Starbucks."

Nutters on that.

New project, "I, America."

Watchatink?

Atlantic City!!! Slotmachine cravefest

Monkey See, Monkey Do

Atlantic City Urbanite

2006-06-14T23:59:00.000+08:00

Hello from the US

This is going to be my first blog entry since arriving in the US last April 23.

What can I say, I am in America right now and pursuing the American dream.

NOT!!!

But really, the US provides a whole lot of opportunities normally not open or available in the home country. Like, I have a new skill right now and have evolved from being a photographer to a videographer and am liking it a whole lot.

You could check out some of my work at www.la18.tv and click on Kababayan LA, a show hosted by Jannelle So one of our officemates here in Asian Journal. If you can do try to leave a feedback at her site. Her show is one of the first wholly Filipino produced show in LA and she needs all the support she can get.

In a few days I will be trying my luck to get a US driver's license. I have not been driving for around 5 years now and would need to hone my skills again and learn about the rules and regulations here.

Finally, perhaps I can purchase a big bike which I have been wanting for a some while now. Cars and motorcycles are relatively cheap and easier to acquire here than in the Philippines.

Do miss all you guys back there in RP . . .

2006-04-06T22:20:00.000+08:00

Pics of my PSP

2006-03-29T17:30:00.000+08:00

Consular Interview

I have just finished with my consular interview this morning and thankfully I passed. The visa would be mailed to me later this week.

It was quite a near thing and I was almost not granted a visa by the consul since he could not find a premise or the logic of why Asian Journal would need me in the US on a part-time basis knowing that the job seems to be suited for a full-time position and that I could very well do the job here in the Philippines.

I countered that it was what AJ's need at this point in time and I had a set of unique skills and knowledge (in tune with the socio-political situation in RP) suited to the thrust of the company to provide Fil-Am centric original content to their readers as opposed to that culled from local dailies.

In order to fulfill those duties there is a need for me to research on what Fil-Ams want and to spin the articles to suit their tastes. A job which can only be done if I am in the US.

On the part-time part, I just quickly made a story that the work load and time is suited for me since it would give me time to concentrate and research on my planned coffee table book, "The Filipino Experience in America" which hopefully would be picked up and published by the Asian Journal Group.

The turning point in the interview surprisingly was my knowledge about cameras and digital imaging. The topic came up when he questioned me if I had the sufficient skill set and experience needed for the job and I answered my first job was as a photojournalist for Manila Times way back in 1994. It luckily turned out that the consul was an avid photographer and we had a lively discussion about camera gear and photography in general. He was quite impressed with my knowledge and skills and eventually released the visa with a stern warning that the purpose of AJ in requiring me to be in the US is quite thin and to him holds no merit or justification.

2006-03-15T03:27:00.000+08:00

PSP, Luv ko to!

Due to pressing circumstances, I had to sell my gamecube but fortunately it was not long before another took its place.

I recently had a chance to exchange some of my unused stuff for a Sony PSP and this gadget is simply amazing!!!

Crammed to its sleek black body is one hell of a gaming machine. Roughly it has the same capacity as a Playstation 1 and some even say as high as a PS2. It can not only play graphically amazing games but can also be used as a MP3/MP4 player and as a web browser.

Sad to say the games are quite expensive for this machine, ranging from P2500 to P4k for brand new ones but there is an active second hand market where you can trade your finished games or buy from P1k to P1500. Great deals.

You can also download MP4 content from the net or rip DVDs and watch it in the widescreen format display.

Did I say web browser? Yup thru its built-in wi-fi you could surf the internet and visit all the porn sites that you want =)

PSP! Luv ko to! (syempre wala papalit kay Chinggay!)

2006-03-10T18:33:00.000+08:00

Your Hidden Talent

You have the natural talent of rocking the boat, thwarting the system.
And while this may not seem big, it can be.
It's people like you who serve as the catalysts to major cultural changes.
You're just a bit behind the scenes, so no one really notices.

What's Your Hidden Talent?

2006-02-04T04:13:00.000+08:00

Gaming Heaven

Recently bought a Nintendo Gamecube from one of our acquaintances from the US embassy and the unit rocks! It came with LOTR: Return of the King and PN03, a first person shooter.

First off, the unit itself is kinda cute and quite portable. Compared with the geenormous Xbox and the anorexic PS2, the gamecube really looks like a cube. The controller is also more comfortable to hold than the controllers of its competitors.

Unfortunately the unit is a US version and cannot play pirated games unless I have it modifed for a modest fee at Greenhills where the games would cost from P150-P250 but mostly japanese version games.

Fortunately I have discovered the local nintendo fanboys site at www.pinoy-n.com , where all things nintendo are being actively sold and traded.

Currently I have six games: LOTR: ROTK, PN03, Robotech:Battlecry, Rogue Squadron: Rebel Strike, Metal Gear Solid: Twin Snakes, and Metroid Prime.

Of all the games that I have, I really enjoy LOTR:ROTK and Robotech. I already have finished LOTR, unlocked all the characters and still am playing it again and again.

LOTR:ROTK is a classic beat-em up, rpg like, action-adventure game wherein you closely follow the events highlighted by the movie while playing a variety of characters from Legolas, the Hobbits, and even Faramir. Legolas rocks but is fairly fragile while the hobbits are a very energetic bunch. Needless to say, Gandalf is one of the most balanced characters of the game with a strong melee and ranged combat stats.

Would have loved to spend more time playing the gamecube but I havn't converted Ching to a gaming grrl yet, and of course the ungodly hours that we have at AJ is excruciating to say the least.

There is also the pressing matter of my impending expatriation to the US sometime in March or April. Could bring the unit to the US but if anybody is interested in buying the Gamecube package do email or give me a ring and will see if I would change my mind.

Niways, am looking forward to slice and dice some Uruk-hais, and kick Zentraedi butt this weekend . . . . .

2006-01-04T02:48:00.000+08:00

Hippy Happy Beng-Beng

Somehow spending New Year's Eve alone will kinda skew your perspective on things. Or perhaps it might have been something I ate . . . .

Niways, NYE started off slowly with me spending it in our office in Makati waiting for incoming faxes and preparing my gear to shoot the fireworks over the Makati Skyline. Good plan but wrong gear though. I overestimated my capabilities and physical condition and somehow used the wrong gear with the fireworks. Should have used a tripod and not a monopod, totally forgot how heavy an 80-200/2.8 lens feels. Factor in also that I was way out of practice with photo skills and getting a bit on the "oinky" side. Will post some pix If I remember how . . . .

This year's beng-beng was somewhat bland but it was a new experience seeing all the way to Cavite (our office is on the 32nd floor). Somehow it looked like a very light version of what war correspondents might have experienced in Baghdad during 1991.

The skyline was aglow with twinkling lights (prolly "kwitis or kwitons") while nearby a 1,000 or more piece "sawa" was being ignited adding a staccato accompaniment to the pseudo-war scene. A metallic flower blooms followed by a gut crushing explosion. Gahh, neighbors next building using a geenormous mortar-like tube. In fairness, it was a thing of beauty that lasted mere seconds. Yup there goes your 5k. Poof!! But hey, is it even legal to launch that thing so close to the rooftops?

2005-12-21T01:15:00.000+08:00

Hits and Misses

It hsa been a long time since I really updated my blog. As you can see in my past postings, it was very much a cut and paste affair.

Work has dominated my life for the moment and the very being that I had tried to avoid in the past has catched up. *shudder* I hate to think that I am now responsible for the success of our operations here in RP and of course the well-being of my staff.

Power I hold and covet and I like it alot.

2005-12-14T20:34:00.000+08:00

Your Career Type: Artistic

You are expressive, original, and independent.
Your talents lie in your artistic abilities: creative writing, drama, crafts, music, or art.

You would make an excellent:

Actor - Art Teacher - Book Editor
Clothes Designer - Comedian - Composer
Dancer - DJ - Graphic Designer
Illustrator - Musician - Sculptor

The worst career options for your are conventional careers, like bank teller or secretary.

What's Your Ideal Career?

2005-11-05T02:55:00.000+08:00

How You Life Your Life

You seem to be straight forward, but you keep a lot inside.
You tend to avoid confrontation and stay away from sticky situations.
You prefer a variety of friends and tend to change friends quickly.
You tend to always dream of things within reach - and you usually get them.

How Do You Live Your Life?

2005-10-27T01:18:00.000+08:00

You fit in with:
Humanism

Your ideals mostly resemble that of a Humanist. Although you do not have a lot of faith, you are devoted to making this world better, in the short time that you have to live. Humanists do not generally believe in an afterlife, and therefore, are committed to making the world a better place for themselves and future generations.

20% spiritual.
40% reason-oriented.

Take this quiz at QuizGalaxy.com

2005-10-24T22:15:00.000+08:00

Missing your Passion

For the past few months, I have not gone out and covered the big rallies plaguing the city. Believe me if I say that I miss the whole frakkin' deal sooo much.

I long to be there with my fellow journalists braving the raving mob and short-fused riot cops. I long to feel the adrenaline rush of scampering and elbowing your way to a good position to take the perfect shot. I long to fear again for the safety of my equipment before caring if it is my blood that stains my shirt or that of an unlucky cop or protester.

I have missed so much since i have to take the mantle of responsibility. I have to now delegate this extremely fun endeavour to our pool and concentrate on tasking the right people for the right task.

Sigh, command responsibility . . . .

2005-10-18T03:33:00.000+08:00

You Are Balanced - Realist - Powerful

You feel your life is controlled both externally and internally.
You have a good sense of what you can control and what you should let go.
Depending on the situation, you sometimes try to exert more control.
Other times, you accept things for what they are and go with the flow.

You are a realist when it comes to luck.
You don't attribute everything to luck, but you do know some things are random.
You don't beat yourself up when bad things happen to you...
But you do your best to try to make your own luck.

When it comes to who's in charge, it's you.
Life is a kingdom, and you're the grand ruler.
You don't care much about what others think.
But they better care what you think!

The Three Dimension Luck and Power Test

2005-08-29T19:03:00.000+08:00

Pinoy Big Bother

No matter how much I want to hate the latest reality show in ABS-CBN, I can't help but be drawn to this voyeuristic show. I mean this is a psycho and behavioral scientists' wet dream.

Think about it, 12 different personalities locked in a relatively small house for 100 days. No TV, radio, cell phone, in short no contact with the outside world. 100 days of seeing the same people everyday. I wouldn't be surprised if one of them ended up going postal and killing the cast and crew.

One thing that kills the concept though, is that ABS got predominantly pretty boys and girls for the show. I understand that this is to boost ratings but it does skew things up a bit in terms of a scientific viewpoint.

Niways, have been following the show religiously since the show began and even went so far as to follow the events not covered in tv in their website.

As early as now, one can "guesstimate" who would be the crowd favorite and who would survive the ordeal. Pity thought that the most mature of the group, Raquel, and in essence the one with most brains would most likely be voted off first. The pretty boys and girls would most likely last since viewers would like to ogle their skimpily clad bodies.

Still it is interesting to see how the housemates would react to each other when day 50 comes by.

2005-08-14T01:54:00.000+08:00

Changes

Just got my office issue Ibook and am quite impressed. It weighs a whole lot less than my old laptop and extremely fast. But this may very well be in the maxing out of the specs for my photo and layout needs (1gig ram, 80gb HD).

Its kinda cute but it has a small screen, just 12" but its super bright. I just need an appletech to colorsynch it.

The first time I used it, I was looking for the right-click of the mouse but soon acclimatized myself with the one button mouse and extremely swell trackpad.

Its kinda hard though to find programs for the mac and I can't synch my PDA just yet for lack of compatible software. I can't use the bluetooth option also since I don't have a single bluetooth device. Having fun though with the built-in airport express (wifi for PC).

All the computers in the office are Imac G5's and its kinda nice looking at all that snowy white hardware specially when we configured everything to run on wifi.

BTW Edy was chosen to be our graphic/layout artist and we would be working together once again.

Yipee ginpo days are here again!!!

2005-08-05T23:45:00.000+08:00

Your Patronus is the Badger! The badger is a symbol
of aggressiveness, passion and drive. He is
also the mascot for Hufflepuff. As your
Patronus, the Badger will bite and claw to
protect you. Congratulations!

That your Patronus is a badger says that you are
very driven in whatever you do. When you enjoy
something, you go at it with all of your heart.
Unfortunately, you also tend to be aggressive,
and this can lead to a bossy attitude. Try to
keep that aggression in check, and you'll be a
wonderful witch or wizard!

What is Your Patronus? Version 1
brought to you by Quizilla

2005-08-05T23:35:00.000+08:00

"Frak Me"

I have the new Battlestar Galactica Season 1 DVD and believe me when I say that the series is really, really good. Much much better than SG-1 which was my oh so current fave sci-fi series.

I doubt if anyone in our group even remembers the original BSG with Lorne Greene as Adama and Dirk Benedict as Starbuck. I remember watching this when I was around 9 or 10 at channel 9 or 13 with Moonbase 2010 and Sealab.

The new series is a far better adaptation with gritty characters and antiquated futuristic look and feel.

Must watch!!

2005-07-30T19:14:00.000+08:00

A tale of two men . . .

One was this small . . .

The other was this gee-normous . . .

2005-07-23T21:54:00.000+08:00

"Wannabe super-model niece"

Meet my soon to be super-model 4-month old American niece, Bianca Shanelle

Wannabe

Meet my four-month old niece, Bianca Shanelle. Bya is her nick. She is the daughter of my sister and get this . . . a bonafide American Citizen.

Yup, she was born in the USA and if everything goes to plan, might be able to visit them by October or by early next year.

My sister is now living in San Francisco with my Mom and have sucessfully undergone an operation to remove her cervical cancer. However, she would have to undergo chemo and radiology treatments in the coming months to ensure that her cancer won't recur.
Sadly the procedure would also ensure that Bya would be their only child.

Truly, my niece's name fits her for she is the "Biyaya" of her mom.

I am not known to be a religious person, but I know many of you are. Hopefully you could include her in your prayers or rituals.

2005-07-20T17:22:00.000+08:00

"Losing Focus"

Trying to be cute . . .

President Gloria-Macapagal Arroyo is facing an exceptionally complex set of scandals and accusations and, as usual in the Philippines, nothing is clear.

Mrs. Arroyo's perfect storm of crises has probably put her close to lame-duck territory one year into her six-year term, and may have paralyzed her administration for years. This can only exacerbate the profound, long-term crisis of capacity that is crippling the state.

Even before the latest Comelec scandals, Arroyo had recorded the lowest presidential approval ratings in the history of opinion polls in The Philippines. It took her three weeks to respond to the telephone call revelations, and that response only came after a dozen of her cabinet secretaries reportedly threatened to resign.

But that reality came into effect on Mrs. Arroyo’s most trying day as 8 cabinet secretaries and two senior executives led by her economic team resigned en masse and asked for her to step down as well. On that same day her staunchest allies led by Senate President Franklin Drilon and former President Corazon Aquino joined the call for her to step down.

Rally after rally followed with each side gunning for the most number of warm bodies to give credence to their case. At its prime, the opposition claimed 40,000 flocked to Ayala to call for the ouster of Mrs. Arroyo. But most probably the masses went to catch a glimpse of their favorite actors and actresses in the seemingly variety show bandwagon. The Arroyo supporters countered with a prayer rally held last Saturday at the Quirino Grandstand saying that at least 100,000 supporters called for stability and the end of the political turmoil.

In the end, these rallies do not only worsen the economic instability of the nation, they also generate divisive sentiments among the people and draw away focus from the nagging problems that need our leaders’ full attention.

In the course of the political turmoil brewing in the Philippines, many politicians and civil leaders have lost sight of the true problem hitting not only the home country but the whole International community as well.

A pending oil crisis is looming in the near future as the price of oil in the world market has breached the $70 per barrel ceiling. In addition the Philippines desperately need economic reform and to strengthen its effort in the fight against terrorism.

It seems that Mrs. Arroyo is dead set in addressing them but she is hugely damaged, and intensely vulnerable should just one more crisis break out.

But whether things would grow better or worse from here on, would all depend on what the Mrs. Arroyo would do to ease the pressure on her to vacate the presidency. For as long as she would not do anything to worsen the prevailing national condition, the easier it will be for the armed forces and the national police to remain neutral as it has been doing in the past weeks.

Which is why it is important to settle the issue through constitutional process rather than allow violence and divisiveness to continue.

It is really just a matter of letting our legal processes take their course, and for results to come out with objectivity.

2005-07-11T21:23:00.000+08:00

"Enter the Sandman"

British author Neil Gaiman

I must say, the level of geekiness was quite high at the Music Museum where Sandman author Neil Gaiman was to hold a Q&A sponsored by the ever dapper British Council. Even before the 1:30pm call time, the theatre was already bursting with fan boys and a large contingent of fan girls. Looking back it does seem that the girls outnumber the guys in this event.

Originally, I was about to pass this assignment to our newly hired reporter, which incidentally is an active Cosplayer (think Elektra and slave girl Leia and some other anime characters which I conveniently forgot. . . ), but due to a misunderstanding had to schlep my way to Greenhills and miss a more important coverage of Cory Aquino again asking GMA to step down at DLSU, Taft.

American Gods is the only work of Gaiman that I am familiar with. Although, I do recall that in college almost every artist was a-gaga over his works especially Sandman and some other titles in the DC Vertigo line.

See, this is the limit of my comic/graphic novel knowledge. Pathetic. . .

I was prepared to be bored with the whole she-bang and just shoot and scoot but somehow I got enraptured with the witty Brit and stayed for almost an hour. Albeit I could not relate much with the comic genre, it was interesting to note that Gaiman was a journalist first before becoming a graphic novel author. That is why, according to him, his novels are more gritty and some would say a different level then the usual hero fantasy that comics are generally known for.

That got me intrigued and am looking forward to read more of his work especially the graphic novels. Wonder if they are still available, cheaply of course.

Niways, this was a good break from covering the seemingly confusing political bruhaha that is plaguing our country.

2005-07-08T19:42:00.000+08:00

Who's next?

Now former President Cory Aquino calls for GMA to do the "supreme sacrifice" and step down for the good of the country.

Influential Makati Business Club comprising of the Philippines' business elite calls for PGMA to step down.

Civil society groups reads a statement calling for PGMA to step down.

2005-07-07T19:35:00.000+08:00

Mackenzie Calhoun- You are the wild man of
Starfleet. You love outwitting oponents by
doing the one thing they wouldn't expect from a
Starfleet ship... fighting dirty. Of course
to get away with your craftiness, you only
exist in books. Doesn't matter, you're much
cooler than Archer. Some people say you're a
self righteous SOB. They might be right, but
you don't give a damn.

Which Star Trek Captain are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

2005-07-05T16:35:00.000+08:00

B'Elanna Torres! Congratulations! What does this
mean? It means you have some serious issues...
At least that is what some may think. You are
very confused. You don't like who you are and
to you the grass is always greener on the other
side. You struggle with two very different
sides, each one wanting to get the better of
the other. What you must realize is that both
of these sides are what make you who you are.
Don't fight it, unite it! You'll be able to
work twice as well if you aren't constantly
fighting with...yourself...
You are very good with technical things and with
running a room full of people. You can think
off the top of your head and get things done.
You prefer to work alone for the most part as
you can't really trust anyone else to do it
right.
If you have a fault, it is anger and mistrust.
Don't lash out at people because you are angry
with yourself. Try meditating, controling your
emotions. And every here and there, give
someone the benefit of the doubt. They may
surprise you.

So Which Star Trek Voyager Character Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

2005-06-30T23:45:00.000+08:00

And the people has spoken . . .

Thumbs down for Mrs. Arroyo

A protester kicks a poster of Mrs.Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo showing the contempt the Filipino people has for its bogus president

2005-06-28T01:03:00.000+08:00

Transcript of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's statement on the issue of the tape recordings
(from www.ops.gov.ph), June 27, 2005)

Mga Minamahal kong Kababayan,

For the last several weeks, the issue of the tape recordings has spun out of control. Tonight, I want to set the record straight. You deserve an explanation; from me, because you are the people I was elected to serve.

As you recall, the election canvassing process was unnecessarily slow even after the election results were already in and the votes had been counted.

I was anxious to protect my votes and during that time had conversations with many people, including a Comelec official. My intent was not to influence the outcome of the election, and it did not. As I mentioned, the election had already been decided and the votes counted. And as you remember, the outcome had been predicted by every major public opinion poll, and adjudged free, fair and decisive by international election observers, and our own Namfrel.

That said, let me tell you how I personally feel, I recognize that making any such call was a lapse in judgment. I'm sorry. I also regret taking so long to speak before you on this matter. I take full responsibility for my actions and to you and to all those good citizens who may have had their faith shaken by these events. I want to assure you that I have redoubled my efforts to serve the nation and earn your trust.

Nagagambala ako. Maliwanag na may kakulangan sa wastong pagpapasya ang nangyaring pagtawag sa telepono.//pinagsisisihan ko ito ng lubos.// Pinana'gutan ko nang lubusan ang aking mga ginawa at humuhingi ako ng tawad sa inyo, sa lahat ng mga butihing mamamayan na nabawasan ng tiwala dahil sa mga pangyayaring ito. Ibig kong tiyakin sa inyo na lalo pa akong magsisikap upang maglingkod sa bayan at matamo ang inyong tiwala.

I took office with a mandate to carry out a plan for the nation. Since that time, I have focused on making the tough but necessary decisions to make up for years of economic neglect. We passed a comprehensive fiscally responsible national budget; raised new and necessary revenues to reinvest in the people; and implemented new anti-corruption measures that have led to the highest collection of taxes in history.

Nothing should stand in the way of this work, or the next phase of my reform agenda, which includes new investments in education and social services with our new revenues; and an expansion of our successful anti-corruption and lifestyle checks.

That is why I want to close this chapter and move on with the business of governing.

I ask each and every one of you to join hands with me in a show of unity, to help forge One Philippines, where everyone is equal under the law, and where everyone has the opportunity to use their God-given talents to make a better life.

Our nation is strong and getting stronger. The progress is steady and I ask you to walk with me on this journey to rebuild our great nation. I remain your humble servant and promise you that I will fulfill my constitutional oath of office to serve the people to the best of my ability.

God Bless the Philippines.

2005-06-27T17:34:00.000+08:00

"Surviving GMA"

Unbelievable!!!

Looks like Madam Gloria might, MIGHT, survive the series of crisis that is hounding her administration.

The opposition and cause-oriented groups has already struck three times and she is still standing. Unfuckingbelievable!

Jueteng, came and gone, but still breathing . . .

Atty. Ong and San Carlos Seminary, a footnote to history . . .

Independence Day protests, fizzled like day old coke . . .

Last week's mega march, not Welcome in Manila . . .

Abat's planned march to Malacanang, Abat who? oh the "atras-abante" retired general . . . BADINGARZEE . . .

Sheesh, looks like the old adage stands true. "Matagal mamatay ang masamang damo"

But then again, I think it is high time to end this rigamorole and concentrate on what really is important.

2005-06-24T17:32:00.000+08:00

Legacy of Sin

Catholic devotees sign the guestbook at Jaime Cardinal Sin's wake held at the Manila Cathedral

Early Tuesday morning a dearly loved Philippine icon passed away. Jaime Cardinal Sin, 76, succumbed to a long time kidney ailment and suffered sepsis shock much like the one which claimed the life of his dear friend Pope John Paul II.

When Cardinal Sin spoke presidents, listened. When he summoned, people flocked. He was crucial to the Filipino's freedom and was central to the toppling of two presidents.

The Philippine political scene would not be the same without the firebrand known as Sin . . . .

2005-06-18T19:33:00.000+08:00

"For the one who led me from darkness . . . "

my light

All I Want is You
by U2

You say you want diamonds on a ring of gold
You say you want your story to remain untold.
All the promises we make
From the cradle to the grave
When all I want is you.

You say you'll give me a highway with no-one on it
Treasure, just to look upon it
All the riches in the night.

You say you'll give me eyes in the moon of blindness
A river in a time of dryness
A harbour in the tempest.
All the promises we make, from the cradle to the grave
When all I need is you.

You say you want your love to work out right
To last with me through the night.

You say you want diamonds on a ring of gold
Your story to remain untold
Your love not to grow cold.
All the promises we break, from the cradle to the grave
When all I want is you.

2005-06-17T18:46:00.000+08:00

"Hello Garci . . ."

GMA "Liar and Cheat"

All over the metro, protests are mounting as Mrs. Arroyo kept her silence regarding the alleged wiretapped conversation between her and Comelec commissioner Virgilo Garcilliano to rig the 2004 elections.

It seems that Mrs. Arroyo is trapped in a damn if you, damn if you don't situation. If she admits that she was the person in the tapes then her presidency is a farce since it was begat by fraudulent means. If she denies that she was in the taped conversation, the masses won't believe her and most probably will mount more protests against her.

What to do, what to do? . . . .

2005-06-15T17:51:00.000+08:00

Oust Gloria now!

2005-06-15T17:32:00.000+08:00

"Stalemate"

Malacanang may have been given a breather over the long weekend since the Samuel Ong affair has not generated the kind of people power response that followed the decision of the Senate not to open the second envelope during the impeachment trial of President Joseph Estrada.

No throngs flocked to San Carlos Seminary where Ong sought refuge nor was there strong support from opposition figurehead Susan Roces whose husband was the direct victim of the alleged election fraud. At best, Roces was lukewarm to the whole affair and for that many Filipinos were grateful. Roces has in her power to appeal to the masses and inflame them to another popular uprising. At least one figure chose to remain level headed thru this sordid affair.

But as many well know, we are just in the opening moves of a very elaborate chess game with the future of the Republic of the Philippines as the stake.

At present the political situation is at a stalemate, with both sides waiting for the next big move.

Many expected Mrs. Arroyo to make a stand on the wiretapping issue during Independence Day but instead, she called for an end to "dirty politics".

Mrs. Arroyo should realize that the more that she evades the issue, the more she fans suspicions that it was she indeed in the tapes presented by Ong.

Already, two independent foreign voice analyzing companies have confirmed not only the authenticity of the tape, in that the conversations have not been edited or altered in any way, but also that the voices have been identified as belonging to Mrs. Arroyo and COMELEC commissioner Virgilio Garcillano.

Garcillano’s continued disappearance adds to speculations that Malacañang does not want the conversation confirmed because that would further pin down Arroyo. Attempts to arrest Ong bolster his claim that Malacañang wants to silence him because he has more explosive evidence incriminating Arroyo.

Mrs. Arroyo has to handle the volatile issue very carefully lest it blows up in her face and she incurs the wrath of the people. As it is, the Philippines is quite near the boiling point.

The scandal over the so-called "Mother of all tapes" will continue to hound her unless she comes forward and honestly answers it. She owes it to the people who voted her into office, first and foremost, to explain about it.

At the end of the day, the political battle between the opposition and the administration would likely result with one side winning, and another side living to fight another day.

If Malacanang plays their cards right, Mrs. Arroyo might survive this latest assault to her presidency but the confidence of the people and perhaps the world community would be seriously compromised.

The losses in the local currency and the stock market would be difficult to recover and the confidence of the international investment community would again be nearly impossible to regain.

A strong republic is what Mrs. Arroyo wanted, but a stong republic requires an equally strong leader which sadly she is proving to be wanting.

2005-06-11T18:00:00.000+08:00

Huli ka na!

"Buking"

Buking ka na Gloria kaya baba na.

A caricature of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo depicts her alleged wiretapped phone call to COMELEC commissioner Virgilio Garcillano implicating them in election fraud last May. Opposition members, militant groups and the clergy staged a prayer rally on Saturday at Liwasang Bonifacio to signinify a "national day of mourning" due to massive corruption in the government and the alleged vote padding that happened last elections.

Tsk, tsk, seems GMA is hanging by her very fingernails in this latest controversy.

One saving grace she has right now is that no identifiable figure has emerged which the people can rally behind.

Noli de Castro. . . he does not have the confidence of the people much more the politicians and in any case I don't think anybody would want the country ruled by ABS-CBN.

FPJ . . . he's dead, dipshit.

Susan Roces . . . hmm, nah, don't think she has the force of will to rally the politicians behind her. darling of the people, yes at the moment, untested definitely.

Erap . . . kill me now why don't you.

Senate President Franklin Drilon . . . only logical choice as of the moment, but he must concede the position by calling a snap election as soon as possible lest he incur the wrath of the people.

So there "Gloria-gate" is just entering its first phase and definitely more will break in the following weeks.

Interesting, these times are . . .

2005-06-07T19:41:00.000+08:00

"Jueteng"-gate

Self-confessed jueteng operators Wilfredo “Boy Bicol” Mayor, Richard “RJ” Garcia, and Demosthenes “Abe” Riva dropped a veritable time bomb when they testified in a joint hearing by two Senate committees looking into the illegal numbers game.

They implicated legislators, top police officials, Manila and provincial based journalists and some members of President Gloria-Macapagal Arroyo’s family.

High on the list was her son Representative Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo, whom they called the “Lion King”. Also mentioned were First Gentleman Mike Arroyo and his brother Representative Iggy “Jose Pidal” Arroyo. They said that jueteng operators need the “attorney from Malacañang’s” blessing.

As expected, the personalities named by Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz’s witness strongly denied the accusations. So, what else is new?

Of course they will deny ever dipping their hands in illegal gambling, but the word is out and here in the Philippines rumors and scandals do spread very fast.

The witnesses admitted that they did not see the big fishes themselves receive the money. They said it was their bagmen that they dealt with. Legally speaking,
their statements are pure hearsay...for now.

And seemingly to get the people’s mind off the jueteng controversy, a new bombshell has been released by Malacañang.

Malacañang says that it has intercepted an alleged tape of a telephone conversation or series of conversations between President Arroyo and her husband, on one end, and an election operative named Gary on the other. The conversations are said to
broadly hint at the massaging of the election returns from areas where Fernando Poe Jr. gave Gloria a drubbing.

Malacañang said the tape was faked and even provided copies to the media. It added the spliced tape signals the shift to high gear of the opposition campaign to
drive President Arroyo out of office. Strangely, opposition leaders said they had never heard about the tape until Malacañang itself announced its existence.

President Arroyo’s administration is indeed in very rocky grounds as evidenced by the recent opinion poll on which she received a -33% rating, the lowest a president has received since 1986. And we all know what happened during that year.

The people will always believe the worst about President Arroyo. And it’s not that the accusations of cheating are something new or the fact that her immediate family has been implicated in juicy scandals before.

It is ironic that jueteng toppled the Erap administration and put President Arroyo into power and now it seems that jueteng has come back in a big way to haunt her.

The Philippines and perhaps the world community now wait with bated breath the next sordid tale of our President Gloria-Macapagal Arroyo’s telenovela.

2005-06-05T19:35:00.000+08:00

What’s so bad about “jueteng” anyway?

“Jueteng” for the uninformed is a grassroots numbers game being played almost all over the Philippines. The bank pays out 80 centavos for every peso that is bet. Pagcor's roulette, which is also stacked against the player with its zero and double zero, offers better odds, but only a tad better.

“Jueteng” gained infamy when it toppled the Estrada administration. “Jueteng” payola is once again in the limelight, dragging with it the names of members of the President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s family.

Some say that it is a boon for the Filipino poor while others say that it is a social evil, the root of corruption in the Philippines.

For the poor a peso can buy dreams of winning Php800 which can go a long way to supplement a family’s meager income. Critics, however, condemn “jueteng” as nothing but a criminal racket that victimizes the poor, co-opts police, bribes officials, perverts elections and threatens or kills those who oppose it.

Plunking a peso or two certainly won't rend the moral fabric of a bettor, after all for many “jueteng” is just a diversion, a means to easy money. But it is the web of corruption that the illegal numbers game spawns that is the problem. And we are seeing it now.

The police are corrupted. Local officials are corrupted. Even national officials, if we are to believe Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz, are on the take. Come to think of it, even the Catholic church admits to receiving donations from any source, even “jueteng” lords.

The Philippines has been a buzz with the constant rumors that the President’s family are on the take from the illegal gambling racket and that Pres. Arroyo herself received campaign contributions from known big time “jueteng” operators.

From a different viewpoint, it is quite easy for the government to stop “jueteng,” after all the big time operators are well known and one even resides in Arroyo’s hometown in Pampanga. But it is the big and relatively easy money that is earned from illegal gambling that is too hard to resist. “Jueteng” payolas are much larger than a civil servants pitiful salary and all they have to do is turn a blind eye to the illegal gambling racket. So the better approach should be obvious: remove the corrupting aspect of "jueteng" and the problem will solve itself.

There had been many attempts to legalize the numbers game in the past but all ultimately failed, probably due to the fact that the payolas would certainly be cut. But it can be done and legalization can be a means to an end to stem corruption.

Moral pundits say that gambling is a sin. So be it. It remains a sin whether it's legal or illegal. It's the corruption spawned by illegal gambling that worries us. After all Lotto and the sweepstakes are legal and it is a form of gambling, so why not “jueteng?”

2005-06-03T16:54:00.000+08:00

Pres. Arroyo's ratings plunges to record low

Lowest ratings ever? Keber!

Amid allegations of massive goverment corruption, rising prices, high taxes, and ties linking her immediate family to "jueteng," Arroyo's ratings have plunged to a record low.

According to a recent SWS opinion poll, Pres. Arroyo's ratings have plunged to a record low of -33%. The lowest ever since 1986 . . and we all know what happened durng that year.

And take this, GMA wants to hold a constitutional convention by next year in order to put into motion the change to a parliamentary government. Afraid, this one is . . .

Yup, keep it up GMA. Interesting times are surely ahead.

2005-06-01T20:38:00.000+08:00

You Are a Snarky Blogger!

You've got a razor sharp wit that bloggers are secretly scared of.
And that's why they read your posts as often as they can!

What kind of blogger are you?

teehee . . . Snarky!

2005-06-01T20:13:00.000+08:00

WAGE HIKE?!?

A P25.00 (US$0.50) wage hike? Get real Pres. Arroyo!

I don't know who Pres. Arroyo is kidding, but a P25 wage hike is just insulting. I mean what would P25 buy at present prices. It's barely enough for transport fare for most workers.

No wonder the cream of our talents are contemplating on migrating or at least working in another country.

Sigh . . . . .

2005-06-01T20:01:00.000+08:00

WOL-PUWIT!

Kiss our collective butts, World Bank!

Dumb, dumber, dumbest is the best way to describe US Pres. George Bush's decisions.

Take for instance the recent appointment of Dr. Paul Wolfowitz as the president of the world's most influential financial institution, the World Bank.

For those not in the know, Wolfwowitz was one of the primary planners for the US led wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Wolfowitz also served as the assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs and was crucial to the escape of Pres. Marcos during the 1986.

As it stands, Wolfowitz is very close to the family of Bushy-bushbush.

I mean, the guy is primarily a military planner and not a financial person. Giving the reigns of the World Bank would only give Bush a means to wage another kind of warfare on those he deems are against him. Financialy breaking a nation is deemed more disastrous then physically destroying it.

Gives whole new meaning to Papa Bush's "If you are not with me, then you are against me."

Sheesh . .

2005-05-31T14:40:00.000+08:00

Your Birthdate: October 31

Your birthday suggests that you are a good organizer and manager, an energetic and dependable worker; attributes often showing success in the business world.

Serious and sincere, you have the patience and determination necessary to accomplish a great deal.

Your approach can be original, but often rigid and stubborn.

Sensitivity may be present, but feeling are likely to be repressed.

You are good with detail and insist on accuracy, but at times scatter energies.

You're a practical thinker, but not without imagination.

You love travel and don't like to live alone.

You should probably marry early, for responsibility is necessary for your stability.

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

2005-05-31T14:25:00.000+08:00

FISHERMAN'S RALLY

A protestor tries to fight his way past the police blockade at Mendiola

Policeman grabs a protestors neck as he tries to stop them from marching into Malacanang Palace

Another day, another rally.

Once again some hot-heads tried to force their way into the Malacanang Palace Grounds and once again they were foiled by riot police at Mendiola.

But somehow they managed to trick the police into thinking that the main group was in the vicinity of Morayta and they managed to outrun the blockade before finally being stopped near CEU, that is after a lot of pushing and manhandling.

Must remember not to stay in the middle of the mob lest I be mistaken for one of the protestors or worse the police. . . . Oh well, another lesson learned.

2005-05-19T23:04:00.000+08:00

Long ago in a galaxy far, far away . . . . . .

The force is strong in this one . .

Fans spurned the first two installations of George Lucas' Star Wars prequels but the final part of the intergalactic saga would make the fans drool for more.

Although the same wooden dialogue and dry acting still permeates much of the movie, the lightsaber battles and the overall dark feel of the movie more than makes up for it.

Spoilers aside, although we do have a general idea of how Anakin became Darth Vader, the real story lies on the path that led to the ominous black mask and the harsh decisions he had to do.

Its a classic case of doing all the wrong moves to do greater good or how blind a person can become when he believes he is on the righteous path.

Ultimately we do have a little of Anakin in us and in someway, somehow we would be facing the same dilemnas that he faced.

If you are looking for great acting, look elsewhere. If you are looking for great battle scenes and intense sword fights, bingo! Good storyline . . . definitely.

2005-05-10T17:58:00.000+08:00

The Heat is ON

To catch a fountain . .

It' so friggin hot in the Metro!

As in so scrochingly hot.

Sometimes I do envy all you peeps working in your air-conditioned rooms, sitting on your chair, facing your computer terminal, and waiting for the fiver to arrive.

For us others, there is daily sunbathing and occasional steam baths from the ever elusive rain. Then you come home to a virutal oven of a room.

Touch the walls and they are hot. Turn on your fan and a hot steamy stream of air would assault you. A cool shower might stave off the encroaching heat, but unfortunately water pressure is depressingly low. A personal air-conditioner is a luxury often dreamt of, but so frustratingly unattainable.

The answer to the heat? Hit the malls and join the masses enjoying free air-conditioning.

Sometimes I wonder if it is a good idea to set up a mini-dorm in the malls. Like rent a good enough space and put in some double-bunk beds for economy class and perhaps partitioned off spaces for single or twin sized beds for people who would prefer more privacy. Charge by the hour and wait for the money to roll in.

Crude but effective I guess. I mean I would certainly go for it just to escape from this frigging heat.

Just my one cent. . . .

2005-04-13T00:29:00.000+08:00

rally

Hazardous Life

Recently, we were covering a rally near the Malate Church when things started to get ugly.

Nobody really knows how it started but apparently somebody agitated the riot police holding the protesters back and they started to retaliate with their sticks and shields.

As usual, I had to be in the middle of it to capture the best image possible. Somewhen during the fracas a Carmelite priest got hit by a cop and was soon squealing for his mommy right beside me with a bloody head to boot.

Me? I got hit in the back with the edge of a police shield and a close encounter of the precious jewels kind from a bamboo stick wielded by one of the protesters.

Fun, fun, fun.

Evil as it might seem, I just can't stop laughing about the whole incident. One moment the priest was all fire and brimstone and the next a helpless, squealing baby with blood streaming from a nasty cut in the head.

2005-04-10T09:50:00.000+08:00

May the Blessed Kitty Watch Over Thee

I believe in dreams, I believe in miracles, I believe that toy ballons could touch the moon.

Lo and behold, from the land of Sanrio comes forth the messiah of kyutishness, Blessed Hello Kitty.

Bless us Hello Kitty, guide us to the path of cute and cuddly. Swatch our dreams, empty our pockets, show me the money.

From the heavens above came Little Twin Stars, from the pond of dreams came Kerokeroppi, I dont know what to do whenever you are near, I think of you every second of the day, You give me hope, the strength, the will to carry on.

Kitty oh Kitty save us from ourselves.

2005-04-07T09:17:00.000+08:00

GOODBYE JP2

Karol Wojtyla, the Polish priest who became Pope John Paul II and led the Catholic Church for almost 27 years, was an extraordinary man. His death Saturday at age 84 is a loss that, like his impact, will be felt far beyond his 1.1-billion member flock.

Pope John Paul II traveled the world more than any pontiff in history and spoke in person to more people than any individual in history. He toured extensively in the developing world, drawing enormous crowds of the faithful and demonstrating a spiritual power that made some political leaders nervous.

Filipinos will always have a special place for the much loved Pope.In his first visit to the Philippines in 1981, JP2 planted the seeds of a nation free from oppression which ultimately led to the “People Power” revolution which toppled the Marcos regime.

With shouts of “Viva il Papa“, Filipinos and youths around the world once again welcomed him in 1995 for the World Youth Day.

It was also under his term that the first Filipino saint, St. Lorenzo Ruiz, had been canonized.

Known as the “Great Communicator,” the pontiff was fluent in English, French, German, Polish and Spanish. But ultimately, he was fluent in people.

He has preached the Gospel with clarity and extraordinary insight. He has guided the Church wisely and touched the hearts of millions outside the fold. He has faced up to any and all expressions of racism and totalitarianism. He has fought for peace and justice with equal vigor. He has been a missionary traveling the world as no one ever before him, and this he has continued even in the face of extraordinary physical infirmities.

Pope John Paul II made "the worth of the human person" his grand project. Not only did John Paul plead for the lives of the unborn, but also for human rights and social justice for those outside the womb. He deplored the Iraq war, saying that "violence and weapons can never resolve the problems of man."

He was a religious leader who labored tirelessly to be so much more -- peacemaker, bridge builder, healer, even conscience to the world.

Pope John Paul II is by any measure one of the most celebrated and inspiring leaders of the 20th and 21st centuries. He has championed the law of God when others have lost hope and given in to the demands of a fickle world.

His, indeed, was a dignified and full life. Through example, in extraordinary travels, in a pontificate defined by courage, leadership and forgiveness, the Pope has reached to the hearts of his flock. Even for nonbelievers, his certainty in his faith could never be doubted, his place in history forever fixed.

2005-03-25T09:35:00.000+08:00

Bad as I Wanna Be

Ok, so I borrowed the line from Dennis Rodman, so sue me! Dont you get it? There is a certain mystique surrounding mischief, rebellion, going against the tide, and that sort of stuff.

For many a life carbon copied from a multitude of others is fine, dah?! Boring. But who am I to preach, right?

Individuality as we know it is slowly becoming an endangered attribute. I can't blame them, can I.

To be secure is one of the tenets of life, one so religiously pursued by many. What are we searching for, what are we striving for? Is it not life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Oops, too imperialistic, lets try it again shall we. A stable high paying job, a domicile worth calling home, good healthy food to sustain us, clothing to impress others with, an understanding & patient wife/husband/lover/whatever, well rounded kids, and finally self-esteem to feed our ego. In the end we delude ourself thinking, hey I got it all. For some perhaps, for all I fervently hope so.

How many times have we faced a fork in our life? Decisions wherein there is no turning back and might as well dictate the rest of our life. You could do this and be that or maintain the status quo. Take the plunge, I say.

Failure is not an option, or is it? Life aint easy. Failure is an option. You have to be wrong to know what is right, diba?

Many times we fail, but what matters is how we bounce back. How we recompose ourself and face the jeers of others, is it not what failure teaches us?

Strength, perseverance, passion are what counts the most.

Be that as it may, we are what we mold ourselves to be. Enough crap about how we are the products of our society. Dont delude yourself thinking we had no choice.

Forks, dear people, forks in our life. Always, every minute, every breath we take. A multitude of paths are available. Some dark, some light, but always there.

There was once a person I knew who said I can change the world. Where is that person now?

Me? I'll be as bad as I wanna be. Got a problem with that bub?

Playing with your minds. . . . . .

2005-03-03T08:03:00.000+08:00

He who must not be named

2005-01-28T18:36:00.000+08:00

Do try to track down a copy of the japanese film Battle Royale II "Requiem."

Its a story of Japan's wetdream of solving their juvenile delinquents by using them as a pseudo-strike team to take down terrorists.

See the teenyboppers moronic attempt to storm a beach and charge a fortified stronghold without any sense of tactics.

Watch as they stand and wail idiotically while waiting for their heads to be blown up.

Be prepared to writhe and squirm and your seat for an hour and a half of overacting and mindless bloodfest.

Of course their are guns galore and and mil-wear to be seen. To name a few, FAMAS, MP-5s, AK-47s, M-16A2s, JGSDF battle gear, swat getup and what not.

If you are lucky enough do try to secure a copy of Battle Royale I also. More mindless fun with angst ridden teens battling it out with whatever item they can get hold of . . . .

2005-01-25T22:06:00.000+08:00

It's a brand new year and sadly this is my first blog entry in so many months.

I had a chance to read my past emails and pseudo-articles and I was surprised to see how angst and loneliness brings out the creativity in you.

Somehow being happy and content tends to smother this trait.

This is not to say that I regret my situation right now, but I do miss lashing out with raw emotions and just letting it all out.

The passion is still there but got kinda lost or is it perhaps diverted to someone else whom I dearly love?

Niways, I do hope to get back the same zeal as before but without losing Ching.

Trala . . . . .

2004-11-26T13:48:00.000+08:00

Alexander the Gay

Due to boredom and perhaps intrinsic curiosity, I decided to watch Alexander the Great yesternight at G4. Was planning on watching The Incredibles but I do so wanted to watch that one with Ching.

Niways, the movie was a great surprise in the sense that it was one of the few blatantly homosexual movie that I have ever seen.

However, the homosexuality exhibited in the movie was far far different from any other. It was more of a "Band of Brothers" type of sexuality, and not the screaming faggot type we usually associate with today.

Although I did find myself cringing in the kooky scenes with Alexander and Haephestion plus with his other love affairs, I kinda realize that it was the tradition of the Greeks (Macedonian for that matter) to engage in such sexual activities.

I was not alone in the shocked, aww shucks, giggly state regarding the gayness of Alexandra. I was seated next to a gaggle of college girls and it was really funny how they reacted to the kooky scenes interspersed with the gory and very vivid battle scenes. I do love to see them squirm.

Niways, I think modern common people cannot readily accept that one of the most famous generals of ancient times was openly homosexual (the pare pa kiss nga type).

Certainly, Alexander was not alone in this. Historical accounts say that Richard the Lion Heart and somebody or the other were also gay.

Niways, it was a very good movie with very gory battle scenes which I loved (so very reminiscent with Braveheart and The Last Samurai). The movie however barely showed the enormous military conquests of Alexander. It also failed to show the Gordian knot in which he was famous for.

Watch it and be ready to cringe and be thrilled.

2004-10-16T15:54:00.000+08:00

Ha, after five long years I just discovered that my old website at geocities still exists.

Niways, here is an oldie from yesteryear . . .

Halika na, pumikit limutin ang problema. Hihintayin ang umaga.

Wish it was that damned easy. Better days are definitely ahead you just have to survive the night. Its the problem aint it, if you still have the guts and the willpower to carry on. My nights have steadily become a nightmare, a slow death of sorts. Wish that I could just lie down, close my eyes, and wake up to a new dawn. Unfortunately, I just cant do that for I’m not living in some fairy land. Reality bites, as they say, and it bites damnably hard.

Demons of my own making abound and have slowly crept into my psyche. Carry a honkingly big stick and beat the hell out of these demons seems the best course of action, but in a sense i dont want to. Somehow I thrive on the adrenaline rush, that all out emotional lashing out. Raw, intense emotions. Love, hate, despair, anger. I live for those. Somehow i might bitch about my life, but in the end this is what I love the most. An unbalanced existence, verging on insanity and self-destruction. A life so fuckingly unpredictable that every day is a gamble. If u see me now, my scars are increasing rapidly. Aye, symbols of stupidity and at the same time badges of honor for a life I have chosen to live.

Strength, passion, perseverance. What counts the most. Passion I definitely have, the other two would need some work. Passion wold someday be the death of me, but its a long ways from now. Without passion what is man? Perhaps this is my way of expressing a cry for help, perhaps not. The life i have right now, leaves me quite unbalanced most of the time. I still havnt found what im looking for. Bike for life has been moved to the 21st of May but my training continues on. I need this project so much to gain a foothold back to sense and sensibility, least i totally implode.

Hope might be fleeting for some of us, but ever there is something for us to hold on to. Children with cancer are out there dying, slowly losing the lifeblood of hope. Bike for Life. www.bike4life.org . Let us give hope to those who have so little of. Let us give life to those who have given up. Perhaps in the end, we will be saving ourselves.

Gumising na. Araw ng pag-asa'y narito na. Dumating din, haharapin natin. . .

2004-10-10T18:46:00.000+08:00

Pocket PC rocks!!

I was just issued a Toshiba E740 pocket PC by the office and I must say the unit rocks. It has two, yup thats right, TWO expansion slots Compact Flash and MMC/SD plus it has wi-fi and 64mb of onboard memory.

Now I can view my pix taken from my DSLR in the PDA and can send it via wifi to our site. Now if I can only find a program like a photoshop lite to accompany the PDA it would be perfect for me and can virtually send from anywhere with a bluetooth SD card and a gprs cell phone.

Did I mention the games? Galeeeng. Meron ako nabilihan na pocketpc games at parang mini-pc na sya. There is a game called snails that is similar to worms armaggedon or to gunbound. Meron din mga rpg stuff like eye of the beholder type games pero di ko pa nainstall.

I also bought an IR keyboard for the PDA but havn't used it much since I found out that I can write directly to my PDA and have my handwriting by recognized and converted to a word format file.

Still longing for a proper laptop though.... but for the moment I am quite satisfied with this little gem

2004-10-02T18:02:00.000+08:00

Ragnarok

It all started with that stupid review. Now I am hopelessly addicted to Ragnarok and I don't even know what the goal of my character is other than to kill more monsters to level-up.

I am currently in Baguio with my boss and luckily (or rather unluckily) there was a 24 hour bet cafe near the hotel where I was staying and I gravitated to the place searching for a terminal to play online.

Woe is me, the boss is giving me a DSL connection at home and it seems the ragnarok bug would even get worse.