I'm BAck

This blog has been dead for a year but now it's back.
Why have i left the blogosphere?
Not my intention. Blame it all to webfilter.

UAAP Season 71 Upcoming Games

Please click image to view schedules:

FEU in the (physical) absence of Barracael is still solid

ONLY physical. Because he never really left the spotlight. He was in the minds and hearts of the FEU team and FEU community in that game against UE minutes ago. It was the best game i've ever seen in my entire life - a game that's close to perfection, a game that made me cry and sob. I would even forget how the CELTICS triumphed over the LAKERS last June 18 but i will never forget how the Tamaraws managed to put up an excellent and emotional fight against the Season 70 finalists.

I commend the Warriors for sustaining an impeccable defense as they always do. But the defense and offense that FEU invested in this round was CELTIC-like in such a way that i saw the passion and firepower of a Ray Allen, a Kevin Garnett, and a Paul Pierce in the ways of Ben Fernandez, Mark Barroca, and JR Cawaling. Normally in a basketball game, it is easy to point out which team gives a better and consistent defense or offense. In this round, however, both teams consistently gave equal strengths at the same time.

In the Season 71 premiere of UAAP men's basketball, Coach Glenn Capacio was interviewed about FEU's projected strength this season. He said three of the team's key players are Barracael, Berroca, and Cawaling. I was like, "WHO???" Because i am only familiar with the players during the days of Arwind Santos. I know now who Glenn's best boys are-- not for how they scored individually but for how everybody (whether rookie or tenured) steps up when circumstances require so. Effort is collective. This is what teamwork means. This is what basketball teaches us. This is what sports is about.

For generations, one thing common among FEU players is their way of playing and knowing the game by heart. If there is one thing that delineates FEU rom the rest of the UAAP community, --it is HUMILITY. Also, one thing that opponents should study about FEU is the team's unpredictability. FEU's strategies vary game by game, season by season.

Hearing the FEU Hymn post-game gave a different meaning of what has been the FEU spirit. The song's line: "Though far from home, our feet may roam, our love will still be true..." seemed to me as Mac Baracael's voice from afar in response to the banners waved and Jersey shirts displayed in dedication to him.

Seeing Cawaling in tears made me cry even harder. It made me realize that loyalty and support for my Alma Mater is indelible and infinite.

Punong puno ng puso ang laro, as ate Rose would say. I would agree with the commentator that UE could have won if not for the "silly fouls" they did. Had FEU lost to UE in that round, i would still post this blog because of my love for FEU and my belief in "playing-by-the-heart" and "triumphing-over-insurmountable-odds".. :')

4th of July

It's a holiday on the 4th of July. Federal holiday.
The 4th of July falls on a Friday, my favorite day of the week. I
wanna rest. I wanna have some fun.
FUN.

I wanna go to FEU on the 4th of July and buy a jacket for Hannah.
I'll sell one to her twice the original price.
Entrepreneurship, dude.

Then i'll go to Ateneo for the Australs.
Also, i need to meet up with friendSSS in Astoria Hotel before heading to Ateneo.

On the 4th of July, i wanna hear the voice of the international community debating and ranting and pretending to be debating and ranting, huh,
whatever.
Also, i wanna see some harrassed crappy adjes.

On the 4th of July, i wanna watch movies.
Movies that defy laws of physics and nature.
MOvies with the worst fucking lines.
Movies other than WANTED.

On the 4th of July, i wanna hear the sound of wheels screeching and tires squealing.
I wanna learn how to shut up and drive.
Well, you know, shutting up is a thing i will always refuse to learn.
So i'll concentrate on driving instead.

On the 4th of July, i wanna pull the trigger and learn some firing skills --
skills i refuse to learn from my dad when i was about age 13.

Finally, as i am here sitting in an office chair,

(BUllet approaching me in slow motion)
(Bullet curves)
(Camera zooming in and focuses on bullet)
(BUllet enters gun)

* i flip hair.
* Stare at the camera, and say:

"This is me in control. What will you fucking do on the 4th of July!"

--End of movie--

From Morayta with Love

It is nice to know that we will be meeting up with my debate peers and some college friends (showbiz or nonshowbiz) for a debate training on Sunday in prep for the Australs. FEU is joining the Australs, huh. The only international competition i joined in was the ASian Universities Debating Championship last summer of 2006 here in Ateneo, Philippines. So i never had a chance to step on a foreign soil, except entering foreign embassies here, principle of exterritoriality i would say. Stepping on a foreign soil -- see this line? Blog to follow. I am excited to see my debate mates, Stef, jox, kevin, rose lyn, mark ysla, sir joeven, and who else. Oh, i almost forget the legendary Mark Legaspi, the "ex" who prepared a sumptuous lunch for me when i got drunk few Sundays ago. Thanks for the hospitality, brotha.

Let's talk about my featured friends (showbiz or nonshowbiz) one by one ( in no particular order) :

Vivi. Still showbiz. We went out last June 8, we had lunch at Dencio's Trinoma and watched Kung Fu Panda at the Block. Just the same Vivi i used to know way back in college, the mysterious aura, and the "marathon-race-kind of walk." I was shocked when he asked me, "ikaw na ba yan, parang iba, di ko maexplain." I could hardly figure out what he was thinking. Was it me who changed? Was the change for better or for worse? Well, I told myself, people who have stepped on a foreign soil may have changed the way they see things -- literally and figuratively. Well i learned that this guy is planning to work in the Lion City. So is Jan. Well, in the event these plans materialize, we will be putting up an FEU community in Singapore. Haha

Macoy. Forever showbiz. Gone are the days when i see macoy in tears and in some sort of resentment. Well, i see he has fully recovered in all aspects of his life. Back in bloom. Teeth with braces. He always has bright ideas. The only idea i often dishonor is going to Timezone and playing games. I never liked it. Because i don't excel in any game except the TRIVIA. Months ago, we used to talk about one person but not anymore.

Kim. The Non Showbiz. He rudely left the conversation last night. We're havin chat sessions nightly but he is busy reading someone else's blog. For sure, it's not "WHEN MY LAST TEARDROP FALLS". So i would like to tell everyone a secret that this Kim MArtillano is reading a blog of a guy whose multiply id ends in "grapher". OMG Kim, I am so sorry darling. I suggest, you go with me when i put up a press conference.

Maren. Also showbiz. She has a new blogsite. She once visited my blogspot and left a message on the chatbox that says, "hey gee remind me to bring you cake from highlands im going there next week and i remembered you love cakes.soo..." Wow, cake from tagaytay highlands is extraordinary. Maren knows my favorite cake flavors. Kahlua Butter Cake or Devil's Food Cake are the best. She knows i hate fruit cakes. Oh, i haven't asked if Maren and her Kobe Bryant are still together. I'm talking about her boyfriend Leakey Mbori -- shape of face of a Kobe Bryant and a tone of Kevin Garnett. Someone asked me once, "how does Bryant's tone differ from Garnett's. I answered, "Bryant's tone is dark, Garnett's skin has more uhhmm gradient."

Jan. He broke his Smart Roaming phone. That's the latest from him. But i heard he is torn between two options: whether to accept job offer in China or the one in Singapore. Jan, either way, you'll see Mandarins. Either way, you eat Chinese food. But you'll get to see more friends in Singapore. Vivi, others, and i will be there soon. The GBF Scholarship program will be on 2009 so i still have plenty of time to decide to go to China. Oh, Jan = Showbiz.

Xandra. Also showbiz. I heard that this friend of mine is a Dean's Lister in the FEU College of Law. I am so proud of you, bez. Fun to be with when dining out to a nice resto or going out to a fancy night club. May we have more enjoyable nights in Brad or elsewhere.

STILL searching on and researching about some of my college friends. Nothing beats the Morayta days and Freedom Park Hours.

Thanks Roffa for the Memories

One of my closest office friends has left for Singapore. Her contract expired last Friday so when a golden opportunity knocked at her door, she grabbed it without a shadow of doubt. Her name is Irish but i call her Roffa because of the funny southern accent she has. Roffa is the Annabel-ic term of pronouncing Ruffa. She is actually a fan of this blog. Never was there a day without me catching Irish reading my blog while on shift. She reads every detail not to mention that she also reads my blogmates' posts. In fact, she cried while reading Marc Infante's I Died on the 5th of December, The X-men Encounter, and Not About You. She also cried while reading Jayson Maulit's On Square Off and All That Drama. Very dramatic. Hmm, but sensible. I have yet to pull out a funny Roffa voice log. I'll choose the funniest five she can listen to. By that time, im sure she'll laugh her lungs out while reviewing her voice and accent. No more tears, Roffa.

If i had only one thing left, i want it to be..poise

Composure is what makes one's beauty and achievements appear seemingly effortless. Working with ease, walking with grace, and even arguing dramatically with minimal effort create some sense of triumph indeliberately. Making pa-cute without looking desperate and hopeless is a matter of strategy too. Strategies that only a few cool people practice. One of these strategies is poise which constitutes the elements of drama, emphasis, and timing.

Drama first. When going out on a date with someone, taking pictures, or in a meeting with not-so-liked nonshowbiz bunch of crap people, always learn the politics of light. Light. Ilaw. Where there is light, position yourself in a spot where light exudes its most dramatic effect. It's what you call spotlight. Thank you ilaw! Think of the place as your acting set or centerstage, then the OSCAR slash Ms Photogenic goes to.. ME.

Emphasis then. Looking yourself in the mirror from head to foot, then foot to head again, there is always a thing or two that stands out. Hair. or boobs. or eyelashes. a glamourous dress. legs. or a nice pair of strappy sandals. A friend, whether real or envious can always notice it. It's a big NO-NO to verbally flaunt how nice it is. So when a friend compliments, "wow, ang ganda". Never say, "Divisoria lang yan" or "sale kaya mura". It pulls the ratings super low low low low low! Of equal importance is how not to flaunt the beauty regimen you've undergone prior to achieving that nice look. So when someone says,"NICE HAIR", never ever say, "gumastos ako at nagparebond at nagpa-hair spa, etc". Just say THANK YOU as if you are not aware how gorgeous you look. So the emphasis is not on the nice spots, but on the overall impact of your looks' naturalness.

Timing finally. Timing is about playing the politics of presence, injecting a joke in a proper context, being silent when necessary, avoiding side comments when uncalled for, when and when not to make lambing, etc. But timing as an element of poise is more of knowing when and when not to be there. It does not make poise to be constantly present in all activities. You have to make way for people to ralk about you- good or bad. Care not about backstabbing. Talking ill behind your back won't make others pretty.

Humor, by the way, is optional. Not everyone is witty enough to spark up fun.

Whether poise is innate or developed is insignificant. What matters more is how you carry yourself uniquely and comfortably. The more spontaneous poise is exerted, the better it is. In the absence of drama, emphasis, and timing, poise does not serve its purpose. When all else fails, the very fist thing to cheer you up is poise. ;)

Happy Birthday Dear, Mmmwahhuggs!

Hello my dear. It's your day, your 21st birthday. I wish you the best of luck and all the happiness in this world. I thank you for making me extremely happy and for making me see life in a very interesting way. I am letting you know that I keep an archive of your messages especially the one you sent me during my 20th birthday. It was, for me, the most notable.

It goes: "Hi superlab, nakakapagod pala magsara ng coffee shop. Pauwi pa lang me. Anyway, i wish you all the happiness in life. (smiley). it's your day, i love you and kaw lang ang only 1 superlab ko. miss na miss na kita. Mwahugs"

Remember the letter you gave me in Trinoma last December 21? It was so warm and touching. The last time i received a "handwritten love letter" was when i was thirteen. So long ago. The degree of excitement i felt when i read yours was incomparable. I enjoy every moment we're together and everytime we exchange SMS twenty-four seven. May God bless you with more blessings and true friends who will stay with you through thick and thin.

I am always here for you anytime you need me. And if we should walk our lives separately, i pray that your journey in life, in my absence, be safe and sound. I love you, you are my dearest and my one and only superlab. There is none like you.. Mwahugs!

Besides anti-DJ Montano sentiments, what more has Brian Gorrell exposed..

Chapter 1

I have been monitoring Brian Gorrell's blog for a month now and have been addicted to it, i would admit. When i found out that he can be listened to at Magic, i rushed my way home this morning and tuned in my radio to 89.9. I thought the show had started and i missed what i was rushing up for. But i caught up Mariah Carey singing BYE BYE, a song which i REALLY like (blog to follow)though i didn't intend to hear it. Then there came the real show, the real guest, the real reason for my rushing up.

T'was my first time hearing Brian Gorrell's voice over the radio and i could not imagine how sweet he sounds as opposed to how his blog "sounds" which was evidently strong, harsh, and rude. The interview was brief, more of Brian's current state of emotion and i am glad he feels ok now. I am surprised he doesn't have an Aussie accent, he sounds to me like a Filipino DJ speaking fluid conversational English over the radio.

He's gone more emotional when Grace opened up about his mommy (pronounces it as MUMMY). Her mom thing makes his entire mood emotional. I would agree that a threat against him and his mummy is possible so both of them need to take extra care of themselves.

Chapter 2

When I came to the office about a few hours ago, i read his blog, as part of my daily routine, and on the comments section of "Magic with Mojo and Grace", i noticed an off-tangent comment from anonymous. I say it's off-tangent because it has nothing to do with the post-at-hand but it makes sense somehow because it has something to do with the Lopez Family. Anonymous said PGMA too has been reading Gorrell's blog. He said so because Mr. Winston Garcia of GSIS was given the suggestion by Maynilad Consultant to propose split of Meralco, for the purpose of check and balance. In a way, the reader has insinuated that the blog's expose of the Celine Lopez controversy has given the president the avenue to scrutinize the Lopez-controlled management of Meralco. The direction of the thought may be flawed. There is no crystal-clear proof that the split in Meralco could be attributed to the the controversy that one of the Lopezes has gotten into. On the other hand though, we can not disregard the idea that PGMA probably wants the GSIS off the Lopez thing and more importantly -- the Lopezes off MERALCO. More of an image issue. A defense mechanism, so to speak. And a prelude to 'takeover'.

Looking at it on a superficial level, the proposed split in Meralco (together with its check and balance goal) can be attributed to:
1. The GSIS plan of filing fraud charges against Meralco over a 30-billion billing fiasco.
2. A split to East and West Meralco is better than a takeover.
3. GSIS as a shareholder has the corporate right to information of the Lopez transactions in Meralco because in any corporate atmosphere transparency is a necessity.
4. Cost of electricity has gone unreasonably higher at the expense of consumers.

But Malacanang moves in 'mysterious ways', in ways we don't expect. Celine Lopez's controversy in Gorrell's blog has something to do with her being addicted to illegal drugs. In the same blog, Brian Gorrell made an allegation that Celine's family is corrupt and that they profit money from the Filipino people. This has created loophole for the Lopez family since they own 18% of Meralco, where GSIS is also a shareholder of. Granted that anonymous was true, getting rid of Meralco is PGMA's way of washing her hands of the corruption issue. Also, Malacanang defensively denied allegations that the scrutiny is a part of an alleged vendetta against the Lopez family (PDI). Very defensive.

It is funny that Brian's blog has gone beyond it's personal essence. On the surface, he might seem to be attacking former friends but he has knocked Philippine society, economy, culture, and politics at large. His write up has challenged the definition and bounds of freedom of expression but it had the capacity to dig up recurring social and political controversies.