February 25, 2006

Practice

Now here's a good example of a lesson learned: people power can be dispersed after all.

We've had so much practice at this sort of undertaking that either the government has finally found an efficient (it's that eff word again) way to break up the buildup before it reaches critical mass, or the people have simply gone tired of taking it out on the streets.

I feel it's more of the former.

Anyway, here's a snapshot of public opinion on the defensive form of people power.

Happy 20th anniversary, People Power 1.

February 17, 2006

Crazy

Crazy sounds. Crazy, but amazing.

My fiancee’s cousin is into beatboxing, and while my exposure to this kind of music is very limited (if not non-existent), there is definitely pure talent in his repertoire.

Check out this human beatbox at www.hira85.com. And yeah, you can contact him if you want their group for any event. They wakawaka-rock!

The 2006 EIGA SAI at UP Film Center was postponed last night. I was hoping to watch “Memories of You,” directed by Sawai Shinichi. Sigh.

Out of sheer frustration for not having watched a movie, I did something bad: I picked up a pirated copy of Underworld: Evolution from a sidewalk at Philcoa (and paid for it, syempre).

It was strange watching all those blood-lapping while drinking a large mug of warm milk. Blood and gore! Haaaarrr!

February 16, 2006

Old news, fresh perspective

I arrived just in time for lunch at the Marketing and Opinion Research Society of the Philippines General Membership Meeting. People have started eating, so I squeezed in the nearest table occupied by a group of ladies (marketing and research, as I have accepted since college days, is still a female-dominated industry).

The getting-to-know-you-better part can wait, so I went straight to that important business of filling my stomach. In the middle of working that grub, familiar faces slowly filled the hall – some old-timers, some famous, some whom I’ve met at various projects, conventions, and similar meetings.

One familiar face gave me a surprise. A former dorm-mate, a batch younger, whose name somehow I did not forget (forgetting names is, sadly, one of my strong points) despite having not seen her for the longest time.

“So you still in the same office?” she asked.

“Yup. And you?”

“Still in the same organization – since graduation.”

“So just like me, you been working there for *ubo-ubo* years?”

“Yup!”

Dr. Ned Roberto, marketing and reseaarch guru, gave his outlook for 2006.

It’s the same set of lessons through the years since the Marcos administration: politics overwhelm economics. The sad part is, we never learn.

This year we can only hope that economics could rise above politics. A near-impossible feat, considering we have yet to hear more clamoring for either an end to political bickering or the ouster of the President.

But there’s much each and every one of us can do to help. These may be old news, but there’s always a time to start anew, and go back to where the problems lie.

Let’s do our part in making this country better, one day at a time.

February 15, 2006

Fulfilled

I just noticed today that I’ve been caffeine-free for almost a week until now. Had it not for that spicy isaw I ate, I wouldn’t have drunk that Coke given to me at the wake of our boss’ mother.

Now I’m having a hard time getting to sleep. I’m halfway with my mug of warm milk, but my body and mind are in no way slowing down.

There is much to remember from what was said, and shared, during the service.

Rich lessons on raising children to be open-minded persons.

That precious wisdom to always remember that God speaks to everyone in different ways, and no one should place oneself higher than anyone when it comes to faith.

And being remembered by selfless acts of generosity, belief in others, and planting a tree.

Grandmo, as we old-timers would call our boss’ mom, had a rich, fulfilled life. The family she left behind will attest to her legacy.

February 14, 2006

Destiny and Soulmate

The actual questionnaire went as follow:

1) Naniniwala po ba kayo na may isang tao na inilaan ng tadhana para makapiling ninyo na pang habangbuhay?
- Oo, naniniwala sa tadhana
- Hindi naniniwala sa tadhana

2) KUNG OO: Natagpuan na po ba ninyo ang taong ito?
- Natagpuan ko na ang taong ito
- Hindi pa natagpuan ang taong ito

3) KUNG NATAGPUAN NA ANG TAONG ITO: Sino po itong taong ito?
4) KUNG HINDI PA NATAGPUAN ANG TAONG ITO: Kayo po ba ay umaasa pa na matagpuan ninyo ang taong ito?
- Oo, umaasa pa
- Hindi na umaasa pa


Here are the results, which SWS released yesterday at 5 pm.

The release was picked up by some networks last night and today by newspaper. In their write-up, some reported it as "85% of Pinoys believe in soulmates..."

Soulmate...

While it was not the questionnaire's intention to ask about the concept of soulmate per se, and the media are so welcome to interpret it as such (kanya-kanyang opinyon lang yan, as we always say), I personally believe destiny and soulmates could be one and, at the same time, two totally different concepts (or persons).

I believe a soulmate could be anyone -- a friend, your mother or father, a family member, or even a stranger you have yet to meet.

Lucky are those who get to meet their soulmates, and never lose them as they grow old.

Blessed are those who end up marrying them.

And destiny...

Well, destiny is destiny.

Anlabo no?

Happy Valentine's Day na lang. ^^

February 12, 2006

Evolution

Here’s something I don’t see often.

The train was already full when I boarded at GMA-Kamuning MRT station, and as always I took my position at the corner. The usual scenario was there: young, able-bodied men comfortably seated while right in front of them women stand holding on to handrails.

Among the crowd that boarded at the next station was group of seven women, mostly elderly – and one of them blind. To my utter horror, none of the able-bodied men made any move to offer their seats.

And, mercifully, it happened.

The eldest of the group squeezed her way to the nearest seated man, who was listening to his MP3. She grabbed his arm and said in a calm but firm voice, “Tumayo ka. Paupuin mo kami.”

Without a word the guy stood up. The old lady then proceeded to call her blind companion as she pulled the next able-bodied guy off his seat. Perhaps anticipating what will happen next, the three other guys seated nearby did not wait to be grabbed, and silently they vacated their seats for the other elderly ladies.

None of the nearby young, able-bodied women vacated their seats, but eventually all seven of the elderly ladies were seated.

It was not long ago when I carry some rules of my own on chivalry. For me to offer you my seat, you should be any of the following: 1) an elderly; 2) pregnant; 3) disabled or visibly ill or injured, or; 4) in care of a child or children.

However, after some enlightening discussions with my better half, those rules evolved to add one, all-powerful item in the list: 5) woman/lady/female.

And so I have resigned myself to the fate of never having to get seated in the MRT or LRT. It was a relief to my psyche, I must say, since it rid me of the effort to assess my surrounding of anyone who needs to be seated – because now I don’t even bother getting a seat. All the time, I just choose to stand.

For someone who takes the train only on weekends, it was an easy sacrifice for me to make.

But for those who spend their daily, working lives commuting these railways, battling it out amid the stress and fatigue from the daily grind, chivalry must have taken an entirely different form -- something I find hard to understand.

Assuming it is still there.



More rare sights I had yesterday: the Lovapalooza at Baywalk, as seen from a small ship cruising Manila Bay and from the 5th floor of Grand Boulevard Hotel, and; my relatives and family friends who made it at the dinner cruise at Baywalk for a small gathering.

Tomorrow we re-visit Corregidor.

February 11, 2006

Theories and stuffs

Last night...

Mic's pasta ish da bomb. Dude, pwede ka nang magtayo ng resto. Wag ka lang magpapa-eat-all-you-can buffet kasi malulugi ka sa amin.

There seems to be a problem lately with San Mig Light. Somehow all the batches I've tasted were stale or lacking that certain fizz.

Mic's theory is that the stock must have been exposed to sunlight. Unlike Pale Pilsen's dark-colored bottle, San Mig Light's transparent bottle doesn't protect the contents from the sun.

Interesting.

I know now why pasta isn't an ideal "pulutan".

Both make me sleepy.

While carbohydrate gives power to the body, it is also a mild relaxant. And pasta, just like rice, takes longer to burn. The immediate effect of consuming large amounts would be sleepiness, as the body diverts most blood flow to the digestive system to hasten digestion. Power comes in much later.

Beer is a natural downer.

So after a hearty portion of pasta, it took just four bottles of beer to make me drowsy, and some of us tipsy.

Why does the street lamp turn off when we stand under it?

I used to think that when street lamps blink out when I pass by, it means I've been a bad person that day. Following that theory would therefore qualify me as a "bad" person every day (and night).

But for want of a more scientific explanation, I point to our "aura" as the factor.

Every lifeform has a unique polarity, or electrical field, that varies depending on both physiological and emotional state. A healthy person would have a significantly different polarity compared to someone who's sick or ill. Emotions affect our bodies' chemical composition as well.

I'm not sure whether the polarity is negative or positive between the human body and the electrical field generated by the street lamp towards the ground, but there's definitely a clash strong enough to put the lights out when the two polarities get within each other's range.

Hmmm...

Then again, maybe I've been bad.

How do you address your boyfriend/girlfiend’s father whom you will be meeting for the first time?

Sir? Tito or Uncle?

On this matter, maybe I'll just wait for our officemate's update when she meet her bf’s father, for the first time, today.

Finally, last night’s most memorable hirit: “Na-try mo na?”

February 10, 2006

Slowdown

There's an eerrie sensation seeing the actresses you once knew as child stars started appearing, barely-clad, on the cover of a men's magazine.

Dang, I'm getting old.

And worse, my housemates can somehow predict who among the young stars will be next.

Sigh.

It's going to be a busy weekend.

And an even busier week up ahead.

But for now, it's tequila friday. I just heard someone saying "UP Fair".

February 08, 2006

Drama

The caption at the bottom portion of the ANC live coverage yesterday says, "Probers reveal findings on the ULTRA stampede."

But to me, DILG Usec. Marius Corpuz sounded more like he's delivering a dramatic speech than statements of facts.

"... They were exploited, manipulated and treated like animals..."
"... pack of hungry wolves..."

By the time he wrapped up, I was wondering how much of what he said were from the fact-finding team's written report (a testimony, perhaps, from a survivor of the stampede) and how much were from his own opinion.

It is true that many have died from that incident, and emotions run high, but I can't help feeling that some government officials, including the Justice Secretary, should restrain themselves from voicing their speculations and personal opinions, given their official positions.

There's enough drama in this country as it is.

February 06, 2006

Too many

It was a sight straight out of a calamity-struck scene: people crying over loved ones while others walk about trying to find (and perhaps hoping not to) their missing companions among the lifeless bodies that lined up the streets.

But not even a calamity can bring this much death in one place.

May the lessons from the Ultra tragedy be never forgotten. May the tales of those who went there, and survived, be heard and echo forever.

This is one of the many realities of poverty.

What a way to dampen the Pacquiao euphoria, the strengthening peso, the visit of a renowned evangelist, among other good news.

Life, as always, would come up with something to balance things out.

But, there seem so many in just one week...

Last Wednesday a friend of mine lost her father to an illness. Last Saturday my boss’ mother, one of the most inspiring persons I have the pleasure to meet, passed away. And just this morning one of our executive interviewers died due to asthma.

Too many.

Sigh.

I want these back

I can't recall the last time I doodled, and out of nowhere, this came out today during our flag ceremony. Okay, maybe not ou...