LAPSAPAN

noreply@blogger.com (paolo) — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 07:15:00 +0000

from the journal

“easyway”

You were watching Jerry Maguire explains how Dorothy makes his life complete. Jerry wants her back. Dorothy said, “shut up, Jerry. You had me at hello”. She laughs while tears fall from her eyes, “you had me at hello.”

Then your landline phone rings.

“Hello?” you said.

“…a…s…w…y?” the voice on the other line asked.

Is it this damned low-tech phone line or is it that heart-pounding-blood-warming-angelic voice that made you temporarily deaf?

“H-hello?” you asked again, the only word that your stupefied brain was able to come up with, hoping against hope that the girl on the other end wont think that you are a moron who learned how to answer a ringing phone.

“Easyway?” the sweet voice asked.

Easyway? This is not the Easyway. At that moment, you wished your home was the Easyway, wherever, whatever that is. Why? So you can ask the girl what you can do for her. And you thought you’re articulate enough but in that situation, all you can say, besides hello, was…

“Huh?”

“Is this the Easyway?” she patiently asked.

Yes! This is the Easyway. This is the easiest way you’ll ever find on this lonely earth, you silently screamed inside. God, forget my BMW, please make this home the Easyway instead. But you can’t lie to her. How could you even think of lying to a voice like that?

“I’m sorry, wrong number,” you said but you know she has no idea how sorry you were.

“Okay, thank you…”

The line’s dead, you’re alone. Is it possible? Is it possible to fall in love with someone after hearing her say eight words? After a less-than-10-seconds conversation? You didn’t even know how she looks like. Hell, you don’t know anything about her, except that she’s looking for Easyway or an easy way. Whatever. Who cares?

From this moment on, you won’t even go far from this phone. What if she mistakenly calls again?

***
Written in the late 90’s, when cellphones are not yet a must-have, and landline phones are still “in”. Later, I learned that “Easyway” is a shop located in the Manila area. And nope, she didn’t called again.

noreply@blogger.com (paolo) — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 03:44:00 +0000

francis magalona (1964 – 2009)

Francis Magalona, a Filipino artist, died yesterday because of leukemia.

One may ask why give that much tribute to this person while there are other Filipinos who recently died, that have done far more nobler, greater things? That is a fair question and it deserves an answer.

For me at least, I pay this tribute to Francis M. because he was one of us, no matter who we are. And since he was family, it is but natural to feel the loss.

If you are the Pinoy “masa”, I’m sure you have watched and laughed with him watching him and the other “dabarkads” in Eat Bulaga, the quintessential Pinoy masa noontime variety show (incidentally, it was Francis who coined the term “dabarkads” which they use in the show).

If you love “loveteams”, Francis M. has “been there, done that” during the early part of his acting career. He was a matinee idol introduced in “Bagets 2” movie in 1985. Come to think of it, he was still a matinee idol because even though he was already 44 years old, he still looks young and “makalaglag-panty”.

Of course, for rap aficionados, he is the Pinoy rap icon (sorry Andrew E., no dice).

Even though Francis M. is a mainstream celebrity, underground and the so-called alternative crowd still considers him a cool guy, having worked in collaborations with some of the top and coolest Pinoy bands we have right now, bands and artists who also respect Francis M’s immense musical talents.

He was also a loving son to his parents, a devout husband to wife Pia, a great father to his eight kids, and a true dabarkads to his friends. Now, who can’t relate to that?

And during his time of sickness, he still maintained his coolness factor. He didn’t let the disease pull him down, he still kept his upbeat attitude towards life and yes, he asked for our prayers to help him overcome that pit, but he didn’t asked for our pity. He even was working with Ely Buendia of the Eraserheads, in a project called The Sickos (Ely too, has his own heart condition). Now, how cool is that?

He has his faults, I know. His drugs related arrests and then some but who among us have no faults? That, for me, is what makes Francis more human, more like us.

And of course, most probably didn’t know this, Francis M. was also an enthusiastic photographer, having won awards and the respect of his peers.

Every color and every hue
Is represented by me and you
Take a slide in the slope
Take a look in the kaleidoscope
Spinnin' round, make it twirl
In this kaleidoscope world

***

the image above is for our francis m. tribute in our flickr group

noreply@blogger.com (paolo) — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 16:23:00 +0000

my "firsts"

Two "firsts" happened to me last week. Last Sunday was my first time to join a Flickr photography group to ~~shoot~~ take photographs of four- yep, count 'em, one, two, three and four- models inside a studio. It was fun. All of the photographers (all fifteen of them) are easy to get along with and even though most of them already knew each other, I didn't feel left out at all. I learned a lot from them too. It was much harder than I thought shooting under "studio" conditions, compared to shooting in ambient, natural light.

Since there were 16 of us and four models, we decided to give each photographers 2 minutes each with one model to compose and shoot. I feel like I’m in a reality show and the challenge was to shoot good photos in 2 minutes. It was sort-of nerve wracking since it was my first time to do that. And worse, the models are really pretty. I get tongue-tied in front of pretty girls.

The other “first” happened earlier in the week. My sister won a cash prize on a texting promo of ABS CBN Interactive. Since she can’t claim the prize that week, she asked me to claim it for her. So, to Mother Ignacia, Quezon City I go. It was my first time to go on a network studio. It was, to say the least, interesting experience. There were four of us who claimed prizes that day. A nursing student who won free CDs from Myxx, a girl who won a Dyosa doll and a T-shirt, and a mother from Batangas who won something from Wowowee.

To cut this getting-long story short, the ABS CBN guy gave me the check but before I can say “see you later alligator”, he told me he needed to take my picture holding the check in front of me.

Uhhhhh… say that again? My picture? Like a mug shot?

Yes, sir, it’s standard operating procedure for us.

There I was holding the damn check in front of me, like I was in a police station caught soliciting the company of a hooker. Or worse, they might print it out in life-size form and one day see my life-size cutout in some mall, hoding the damn check.

Walking outside ABS, I called up my sister. “Bayaran mo ang kahihiyan ko!”

noreply@blogger.com (paolo) — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 15:24:00 +0000

Dear ~~Diary~~ Blog,

It has been a long time since I last posted an entry here. When was the last time I was here? September of last year? Yep, I believe so. How have you been? How have I been? Lots of things have happened since, although there still remains lots of things that are still the same.

Barack Obama won the US election, that's good. But the world economy remained in the gutter, unable to stand up. My president (yep, I voted for her, unfortunately) GMA is still in office, her husband's name still pops-up in almost all scandals of corruptions that are being exposed but sadly, it seems we have to wait for 2010 for changes to happen. Unless a charter change takes place and extends her term in office, which I doubt will happen.

Lots of things have happened in my life, but I still remained the same in a way. Wish things could be different. I lost my passion for words, replaced by my desire to capture life in digital images. Writing is a lonely life. If you want to be a really good writer, you have to be prepared to live a solitary life, for it's hard to write good stuff when you're happy; except of course for the few very talented writers who were able to live a happy life and write good stuff at the same time, like Butch Dalisay. On the other hand, in photography, the more you learn to interact with people around you and your surroundings, the better your photographs turn out.

So for now dear ~~diary~~ blog, let me enjoy this camera in my hands. But don't worry, I promise to visit you more often.

Promise.

noreply@blogger.com (paolo) — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 15:02:00 +0000

acts of immorality : plunging neckline

I was reading the employee handbook of company X, a callcenter company where a friend is working. Regarding conduct and behavior, they listed down types of acts and whether the company deem them as a light offense or a grave one.

Discourtesy to supervisors, co-employees or the public = LIGHT (well, that is a light offense because 'courtesy' is a rare commodity these days)

Conviction of a criminal offense = GRAVE (duh? "conviction" plus "criminal offense"?)

Proliferation and/or distribution of "poison" letters, defacing of walls and removal blah blah blah = LIGHT (this is quite common in companies and most of the time, this is fun! -unless of course if you're the topic of the letter)

Acts of immorality = LIGHT (uhmmmm... I wonder what the church will say about this)

But this, we should all be concerned about this next item on the employee handbook. This is... this is... to put it mildly, preposterous! Unconstitutional, even.

Ladies Dress Code : Dresses/blouses with plunging neckline is not allowed. Cleavage must strictly not be visible.

Wow, that sucks! Who would want to work in there?

noreply@blogger.com (paolo) — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 15:56:00 +0000

an open letter for the citizens of the united states of america

This November, you will go to your voting precincts and cast your vote on who will lead your country for the next four years. You will vote for your leader who will guide and protect your way of life.

Before you cast your vote for John McCain or Barrack Obama, please, please, consider also that it is not just your country that will be affected by your choices, but the whole world as well. Your votes will determine not just how the USA will be in the coming years, but almost every country on earth.

I am not an American, and I am in no way affiliated with any of your country’s political parties. I am from a third world country asking you to vote for Barrack Obama, and here are the two very important reasons why.

First, the world can’t afford another war in the name of fighting terrorisms. And from my vantage point, I’m seeing that Senator McCain’s legacy, if he will be elected as president, will be just like that of your President Bush: war. To quote Bush himself (based on what i read on a Yahoo! report) "We need a President who understands the lessons of September 11, 2001: that to protect America, we must stay on the offense, stop attacks before they happen, and not wait to be hit again,” said Bush. “The man we need is John McCain.” First it’s Iraq, then Afghanistan and recently, there was reportedly, a Bush-authorized military operation on Pakistan without that country’s knowledge. Then what’s next? North Korea? Iran? Russia? When and where will it end? I know that Sen. Obama also doesn’t rule out military actions on rogue countries posing threats to America, but he has also said that he won’t rule out peaceful diplomatic actions first. The Republicans criticize him when Obama proposed having talks with Iran’s leader. I’m asking, what’s wrong with that? Talk is bad? Would you rather your missiles do the talking with Iran? What if Iran talks back with their own missiles? What do we have? War.

You are spending billions of dollars on Iraq. Billions of dollars that you could have used better in humanitarian help to impoverished Muslim and African countries. Wouldn’t that be a better way of combating hatred against anything American? I say to combat terrorism, you must dispel the wrong views of those supporters of the terrorists that America and Americans are bad. If they will see that you are spending billions of your dollars on humanitarian help, would they still "terrorize" America?

In the long history of the USA, you were only attacked in your own soil twice by foreign elements. First by the Japanese on Pearl Harbor, second, on 9/11. That only means you are doing a good job on your national security compared with what the rest of the world is experiencing everyday until now. You don't have to be on the offensive always. You don't have to wait until you are hit again. Just be vigilant. And I don't believe that Obama will also let terrorists attack your country again. He can do that, you can do that, not just by attacking other countries first.

Bush is saying Iraq is a success; you have liberated the Iraqis against a dictator. Then why not liberate other people with dictators as their leaders. Start with North Korea and Iran. Thousands of American and Iraqi lives are lost in the Iraq war. Is that “success”? And what did this war really succeeded on? Where are the WMD that Bush says you will take out, as the reason in invading that country? They say Iraq is more peaceful now with the surge of additional American troops. Well, what do you think will happen to a place if you put a lot of military personnel, peace of course. But on a temporary basis only, until you go home, or until you let the Iraqis take care of themselves. They can do that. We Filipinos managed to take out our own dictator. The question is, how long will you be in Iraq?

The second and the most important reason is your economy. A weak American economy affects the whole world. Who is better equipped in reviving your economy? By McCain’s admission, he doesn’t know much about economy. And please do us, citizens of the world, do us a favor and study the economic plans of both candidates. Which plan can help you, in turn, helping the rest of the world? Don’t take the word of the leaders of both parties, do your own homework and study their proposals. Read about them in independent organizations’ reports.

The presidential race in your country is a tight one now based on surveys. I say, that shouldn’t be the case if you will base your vote on issues and not personalities. Half of the Americans are being swayed by the McCain campaign’s “change Washington” mantra. Two months ago, was that what the Republicans were saying? Was Sarah Palin anti-pork two—no, last month? The answer is No! They are saying that only now and half of you Americans are buying it. They are only saying that because they’ve realized that that’s what you wanted to hear. And half of you are falling for that. Unbelievable.

And here I am thinking that you guys know your politics, that you are wise voters. Well, now I can say that we Filipinos are not alone on this one, because we also elect our presidents based on personality.

If my views are naïve, excuse me but that is what I gather from watching, listening and reading about your country. If my views are wrong, I can safely say that my views are the same of that of the other citizens of different countries. If our views are wrong, help us understand you. Do that, this coming election.

noreply@blogger.com (paolo) — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 15:19:00 +0000

the world i know

This was almost a closed blog. My last entry was November of last year. The reason for this is I now have someone to talk about things that, in the past, I would just write about in order to get it out of my mind. But something happened today that, even after telling her about it, I still couldn’t get it out of my brain, thus, the need to write.

About noon today, I was on a public bus going somewhere. I found myself sitting beside a man in his late 40s. I didn’t notice him at first, not until he spoke. He told me I could position the bus aircon duct towards me, if I wanted to, because it’s directly hitting his head. He said it’s giving him a headache because he hasn’t slept much in the last 4 days.

I’m not a fan of having small talk with strangers so I just gave him a smile and looked ahead. after pointing the duct towards me. After a while, he spoke again and told me that he’s from the province of Bulacan and he hasn’t slept much because her 10-year old daughter and 12-year old niece are in the Philippine General Hospital for four days now because they accidentally drank water with rat urine. They developed very high fever, somewhere in the 40 deg. Celsius, their hair started falling off, and their fingernails turned violet. Then his voice started to crack and his eyes became watery as he tells me that his niece died about 1:30 am this morning and about a couple of hours after, his daughter passed away too. He showed me copies of their death certificates issued by the hospital and pointed to me the exact time.

What’s worse, they couldn’t take the bodies home because they still have to pay the hospital about a thousand eight hundred plus more. He said that he went to the Department of Social Welfare and Development office to seek financial help but the death certificates lack the signature of the embalmer, and now was on his way back to the hospital. He was also supposed to go home to Bulacan because nobody knows that the girls were dead but he doesn’t have money for bus fare. The man was trying not to sob/cry when he was telling me all of those. Now, I wasn’t born yesterday. Usually, I’m a bit skeptical of these kinds of stories. I told myself that if this man asks me for some money for help, I might give him a small amount, if I decide to give him at all. But then, I was about to reach my bus stop (and he knows where I will get off) and he was just blankly staring out the window.

Before I get off the bus, I discreetly gave the man some money and, I think, he was genuinely surprised of my gesture. He took it and profusely thanked me. The amount was a bit large, quite out of my budget in fact, of what I would normally give to a stranger I didn’t know. I was contemplating of giving him half of what I gave him because, frankly, I need the money too, but at the last minute decided to give him that full amount.

I just told myself that I would sacrifice buying some things that I might really want but not necessarily need. I can make that sacrifice, I convinced myself. Besides, if I were in that man’s position…

After I got off the bus and went about my business, I felt good. But after a couple of hours, I still can’t get it out of my thought. The bad part is, I somehow felt conned, scammed out of my money. I know that what he told me is most likely true, and I should feel glad I was able to help them in my own way, but something is telling me it was a fraud.

Then it hits me. What happened to the world we live in, particularly this part where I live, that you were able to help someone out yet you feel bad, you feel conned? Are we living in such a bad community that nothing is genuine anymore, nothing is true and pure, nothing should be taken for what it is? Is this the world I know?

Or is it just me, grown cynical of everything? Did people like me made this world into what it is, or did the world made me into what I am?

noreply@blogger.com (paolo) — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 05:19:00 +0000

from The Journal

sms

To some it’s easy, for me, it’s not. But I did it because perhaps, it’s something I need to do.

There I was, in my bed, one late afternoon of a weekend. It was a day just like the day before that, and the day before. The next day, it will be just like that day, and that’s what I’m thinking about at first. What to do about it, what to do? Then my thoughts began to wonder. What have I done with my life, my dreams, my master plan? Who was it who said that one is getting old if his dreams are replaced by regrets? Regrets, I do have regrets. But I still have my dreams.

Then I thought about the things I did wrong, the people I let down. Then I thought about my dad. I have a lot of things to say to my dad but I couldn’t say them. You see, this father and son are not used to talking about emotional mumbo-jumbo, something that is fine by me. Then, it happened. I got my cell phone in hand, typed a short message, the things I need to say, things I really need to say. I had a discussion with myself if I should send it. But I did, I did pressed “send”. A minute passed, two minutes.

My cell beeped. A message from dad. You see, I received quiet a few messages in my phone everyday but that one meant a lot to me. Okay, okay, so it made my eyes watery, a drop of tear almost escaped. His message is something I know he couldn’t say personally too. That would be too mushy for both of us.

I erased his message immediately. I could imagine he did the same thing.

noreply@blogger.com (paolo) — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 12:40:00 +0000

taken from The Journal

are you 27 yet?

What’s with legendary musicians and the age of 27? Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin (pict on the left), Robert Johnson and Kurt Cobain, yep, all dead at 27. Cobain’s mother said, after her son’s death in April 1994, that “he’s gone and joined that stupid club”.

I know what your thinking. It’s that “selling your soul to the devil” stuff again. The deal, according to legend is the Devil will make you famous but he will take it back, with your soul of course, when you reach your prime. That’s what happened, they say, to “The Club” members. A deal is a deal. But didn’t you notice that all of them have the letter “J” on their names? Except Kurt. Maybe Kurt wasn’t suppose to be a “member” but he wanted to gate-crash the club. Or as reports now surfaces, his beau Hole front girl Courtney Love had him killed because she wants him to join those dead musicians. Who knows?

John Lennon. Letter “J”, dead. But at the age of 40. I have my own theory n this. It’s either the Devil is afraid of John starting a revolution in Hell and so the Devil didn’t honor the deal or Mr. Lennon himself is the Devil himself! Gasp! Remember his song “Imagine” and his comment about the Beatles being more famous than Jesus? O di ba? Di ba?

But the fact remains : Clapton is God.

xoxoxoxoxoxox

how to sell your soul

According to the book “Searching For Robert Johnson” written by Peter Guralnick, the late bluesman Tommy Johnson gave this account on how to dance with the Devil.

“If you want to learn how to play anything you want… and learn how to make songs yourself, take your guitar to where a crossroad is. Be sure to get there a little ‘fore 12 that night… have your guitar and be playing a piece yourself.

A big black man will walk up there and take your guitar and tune it, and then he’ll play a piece and hand it back to you. That’s the way I learned to play anything I want…”

The Devil on a crossroad? Or would you rather practice like hell instead?

noreply@blogger.com (paolo) — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 09:37:00 +0000

taken from The Journal

where is my monday?

Oh, boy. Now what?

I thought today is Tuesday; yesterday’s naturally is a Monday. But whoa, Nellie! The GF told me today is Wednesday so yesterday was Tuesday. Then what happened to my Monday? I can’t remember. I can’t remember Monday. Hmmmnnn… think… think…

Maybe when I went to seep last Sunday night, I woke up on Tuesday morning, which means I slept thru Monday.

Or… or little green aliens from Mars abducted me last Sunday! They then replaced me with a clone, which became “me” that people saw on Monday. The aliens then returned me Tuesday morning, which explains why I can’t remember Monday.

Or a secret experiment was performed on me by a covert government agency, which steals memories from unsuspecting citizens. Maybe right now, my memory of Monday was stored somewhere in an underground laboratory together with the stolen memories of others. For what purpose? They know. Who are “they”? Just they, them, sila.

Or I simply forgot the day.

Or I’m getting old.

Or… or… or…

xoxoxoxoxoxoxox

.

you

At some point, I said to myself that we Filipinos are ugly, if not butt-ugly. I even go to the extent of including the whole Malay race in that observation, the Malaysians, the Indonesians, the Thais.

I know that’s not a very politically correct thing to say but go to Quiapo, to Cubao, to Crossing in Mandaluyong and even to Makati. Observe. Although you’ll see flashes of beauty, but it’s on a ratio of 1 is to 10, di ba? On a really bad day, it’s even 1 is to 20. Though I don’t have any hard data or statistics on that, but you see my point right? Op kors, because they’re everywhere you look.

But then…

One fine day, I saw…

You.

Now, my whole grand theory burst like the Zeppelin balloon, “oh the humanity!” With just YOU as my proof, I now declare that we Filipinos are the most beautiful people on earth.

Thanks to you.

noreply@blogger.com (paolo) — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 08:14:00 +0000

wag kang bibitiw

noreply@blogger.com (paolo) — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 08:54:00 +0000

ang journal (bow)

Highschool pa lang ako, mahilig na akong magsulat. Nakakuha kasi ako nuon ng jourmalism classes. Kasabay ng pagiging loner (by choice) ko nung highschool, nalaman kong masarap palang kasama ang pagsusulat sa mga panahong kinakausap ko ang aking sarili. Oo, kinakausap ko ang sarili ko at kadalasan ay nagtatalo kami at hindi parehas ang aming paniniwala at mga opinyon. Karamihan ng mga usapan namin ng sarili ko ay nakasulat sa aking journal.

Ang journal ko ay katulad ng isang diary, ang journal ko ay hindi katulad ng isang diary. Hindi ko sinisimulan ng “dear diary” kapag nagsusulat ako sa aking journal. Hindi ko rin sinusulat sa journal ko ang mga araw-araw na pangyayari sa aking buhay. Sinusulat ko lang dun ang mga bagay na nasa isipan ko, mga bagay na bumabagabag sa akin, mga bagay na gumigising sa akin sa gabi. Dun sa aking journal kinukulong ko ang mga bagay na iyon para di na ako masyadong gambalain pa.

Matagal na akong di nakakapagsulat sa journal. Unti-unting natigil ang pagsusulat ko dun nung nagkaroon ako ng girlfriend. Sa girlfriend ko na kasi nasasabi ang mga bagay na karaniwang isinusulat ko sa aking journal. Mas masarap pating humalik ang girlfiend ko kumpara sa aking journal… ehek!

Nung nauso ang online weblog (blog), isa ako sa naingganyo dito. Ang unang blog ko ay ginawa ko lampas dalawang taon ng nakakaraan. Kahit papano ay madami ding nagbabasa ng blog kong iyon. Ang pinakamataas na narating nun ay top 49 sa Pinoy Top Blogs. Subalit ang mga sinusulat ko dun ay ang mga bagay na gustong mabasa ng mga readers. Kumbaga, nailagay ko ang aking sarili sa isang kahon na hindi pwedeng sumulat ng naiiba sa tema. Bagama’t akin naman ang blog na iyon at walang nagbabawal, pakiramdam ko ay limitado lang ang pwede kong isulat dun. Isa ito sa dahilan kung bakit ko isinara na ang naunang blog na iyon at buksan ang Lapsapan.

noreply@blogger.com (paolo) — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 11:37:00 +0000

nasaan si kabayan?

Nasaan na ang bise-presidente ng bansa natin, si kabayan Noli De Castro, sa mga panahong ito na higit nating kinakailangang marinig ang kanyang boses? Nasaan na ang boses niya na naging pamilyar sa atin tuwing binabati tayo ng “Magandang gabi, bayaaAAAaannn…”?

Sir, nasaan na kayo? Ngayon nyo kilangang ipakita ang leadership qualities nyo, sa mga panahon na ito na maraming katanungan tungkol sa pinakamataas na pinuno ng Pilipinas. Sa mga panahong ito na maraming issues laban sa gobyernong kinasasapian nyo. Oo, marami din sa mga Filipino ang tinatawaran ang kakayahan nyong mamuno kahit pa binoto kayo bilang pangalawang pangulo ng bansa. Kung may panahon na kailangan nyong patunayan na mali ang pananaw na iyon sa inyo, Sir, ito na ang tamang panahon. Ngayon namin higit na kailangang marinig ang inyong boses.

Nawawala na ba ang boses nyo? Kung mawawala ng tuluyan ang inyong boses, may silbi pa ba kayo?

“The hottest place in Hell is reserved for those who remain neutral in times of great moral conflict” - Martin Luther King, Jr.

noreply@blogger.com (paolo) — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 12:55:00 +0000

sayang naman

Nung nakaraang closed-door executive session ng mga senador at ni dating NEDA commish Romulo Neri, “on the verge” na raw ng pagsasabi si Neri ng lahat-lahat ng kanyang nalalaman tungkol sa anomalous NBN-ZTE deal subalit pinigilan siya si Sen. Joker Arroyo, isang admin senator at ni Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr. Ito ay ayon sa several unnamed sources ng Inquirer.

Ayon sa ilang kolumnista, si Neri daw ang susi sa lahat ng mga katanungan tungkol sa deal na ito. Madami siyang nalalaman. Ayon na rin sa ilang kaibigan nito, sinabi daw ni Neri na ang nalalaman niya ay maaaring makapagpabagsak kay pangulong-salamat-sa hello-Garci Gloria Arroyo. Sinasabi din na natatakot si Neri para sa kanyang physical safety at sa maaaring ibagsak ng ekonomiya natin kung mag-People’s Power na naman tayo.

Ang sabi ko naman, “parang napapanood ko na ito sa pelikula ah…”

Unang-una, hangga’t hindi sinasabi ni Neri ang kanyang nalalaman sa buong mundo, mananatili siyang in physical danger. Hindi na siya pwedeng ipapatay kung nasabi na niya ang kanyang nalalaman dahil magpapatunaylang ito na totoo ang kanyang mga sinasabi. Tell the truth and he’ll be “untouchable”. Dahil kung misteryosong biglang nawala si Neri, alam na alam na natin kung sino ang nag-magic sa kanya para mawala at sa tingin ko naman ay hindi ganun katanga ang mga taong masasagasaan ngmga nalalaman ni Neri.

Pwede rin naman na gumawa siya ng video recording ng lahat-lahat ng kanyang nalalaman at ibigay niya iyon sa isang mapagkakatiwalaang kaibigan, na may instructions na kapag nawala bigla si Neri, ibigay sa media ang video recording. Hindi ba napapanood na natin sa mga pelikula yun? Meron na siyang bargaining chip para hindi siya galawin ng mga taong maaaring magpapatay sa kanya.

Maaaring natatakot nga siyang bumagsak ang ekonomiya natin kung magpi-People’s Power na naman tayo at maaaring natatakot din siya kung sino man ang papalit kung sakaling mapalitan nga si Gloria. Iniisip niya iyon dahil isa siyang economist. Pero dapat din isipin ni Neri na economist siya at hindi si God. Sino siya para kontrolin ang takbo ng mga Filipino at ng bansa natin? Tell the truth and let the people, the law decide.

Kung nuong nakaraang linggo pa sana nagsabi si Neri ng lahat-lahat ng kanyang nalalaman, sana hindi natalo ang Ateneo sa La Salle kanina nyuk-nyuk-nyuk…

Sayang kasi, may dalawang pagkakataon sana para maging proud ang lahat ng alumni ng Ateneo. Kung nagpakatatag lang si Neri (galing sa Ateneo) at pinanindigan ang values ng isang Atenista at kung nanalo sana ang Blue Eagles kanina.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

Nag-Google search ako ng picture ni Gloria at Loren na naka school uniform at laking gulat ko dahil lumitaw sa results ang dalawang pictures na ito.

Dali-dali at nanginginig pa ang daliri ko sa pagpindot ng link papunta ng website at naghanap ako kung may iba pang pictures kaso wala na.

Sayang.

noreply@blogger.com (paolo) — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 16:03:00 +0000

because i have been a victim of plagiarism, here it goes...

so, you're de-evolving

Do you find that your facial hair is starting to spread past your face? Are your knuckles a few inches closer to the ground than normal? Do you feel like you’re spending more and more time climbing trees and throwing feces at your friends?

Well these are the classic signs of what is known as De-Evolving. Don’t be afraid, a lot of people have gone through this phenomenon, and they are now settling fine in their respective zoos.

Hopefully, this guide which we have devised can make the transition from being a ~~Homo Sexual~~ Homo Sapien to Missing Link an easy and enjoyable one for you.

Identifying The Signs

Now, the first thing to do is to make sure you are indeed de-evolving. In the early days, diagnosing this condition was easy as pie. All you have to do is ask your friends one simple question:

“Hey, am I dumb?”

If the answer is yes, then you are either de-evolving or Chris Crocker.

Now, because of techno music, habit forming drugs, and Dan Brown books; it’s gotten hard to tell if people are de-evolving or are just plain dumb. But thanks to our research and a recent encounter with a de-evolvee, we’ve come up with a list of signs by which you can tell if you are climbing down the evolution ladder.

Loss of Common Knowledge

This is a very tricky thing to test for. First of all, it really depends on how much common knowledge you currently have. So for the sake of SCIENCE, we’ll work with what we like to call the Carrot Top unit of measure.

For example, ability to recite the whole alphabet is equivalent to 1 Carrot Top:

Ability to find your way back home is 2 Carrot Tops:

Ability to pee while not missing the bowl entirely is 1/2 Carrot Top:

And so on and so forth.

And not being able to come up with an original thought warrants the special rating of Carrot Top with Pie in Face (CTWPIF):

Now, if your Carrot Top rating goes way below half of a Carrot Top, or even the dreaded CTWPIF, then you better have your mail forwarded to the nearest zoo because that’s where you’ll be staying from now on.

Normally, people who can walk a straight line without bumping into things don’t have to worry about their Carrot Top levels. However, if somebody asks you “Hey, when’s your birthday?” and you suddenly answer “Orange!” then feel free to contact any of us to get your official Carrot Top rating.

What Next?

So your Carrot Top rating is dangerously low. What do you do? Your first impulse would be to create a blog and fill it up with content stolen from other blogs. But trust us, this is not the way to go.

Yes, we understand that you want to make others think that not only you can write a coherent sentence, but are able to come up with mildly entertaining blog entries, it would be better to refrain. Because you’re not fooling anybody. Also, plagiarizing is not the solution to de-evolving or “being a fat fattie” as it is known in the streets.

But if you do insist on creating a blog, don’t use a profile picture that hides most of your face with your elbow which rests on one of the ugliest canes on the internet.

Not only does it tell people how ugly your elbow is, but it also tells us that have a Mao Tse Tung-shaped growth coming out of your right shoulder. And nobody gets any respect from that. Even if your Mao Tse Tung growth can talk.

Sadly, the de-evolving process is irreversible. Once you’ve been diagnosed, there is no going back. Best thing to do is make peace with your fate, pack up on several dozen combs, and just don’t copy anybody’s work and pass it off as your own.

Look on the bright side, you’ll be eating healthier, you will get plenty of exercise swinging from tree branches, and best of all, you will lose all inhibitions about whacking off in public.

===

Note: Inspired by Jonathan Coulton’s awesome song:

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

see also (as of today, 12:03am):

Ade, The Man Blog, Squid, Coco, Fritz, Peter Juan, Baddie, Steel, Pau

noreply@blogger.com (paolo) — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 02:09:00 +0000

kc concepcion

Kagabi ko lang talaga na-appreciate si Maria Kristina Cassandra Concepcion (born April 7, 1985).

Nasulyapan ko kasi ang isang special feature about KC kagabi sa channel 2, “KC, From Paris To Pinas”. Tinalakay dun ang buhay ni KC sa Paris kung saan nagtapos sya ng kolehiyo kamakailan sa American University of Paris sa kursong BA in International Corporate Communications. Pinakita din ang mga huling araw nya sa France hanggang makauwi siya ng Manila.

Maganda si KC, no doubt. Pero dati, ang tingin ko sa kanya ay female version ng tatay nya, si Gabby. Sikat din naman sya dito sa Pinas pero hindi katulad ng kasikatan ng ilang teeny-bopper stars na talaga namang tinitilian ng mga fans mabanggit lang ang pangalan. Hindi naman kasi talaga showbiz si KC. Galing sa mga magulang nya ang koneksyon nya sa mundo ng showbusiness.

Teka, bago mapunta kung saan-saan ang walang direksyong pagsasalita ko, hayaan nyo munang ipaliwanag ko kung bakit ko nasabing na-appreciate ko na ang dalagang anak ni Ate Shawee. Simple lang, kasi may natapos syang kurso. Pinahalagahan nya ang pag-aaral, sa Poveda, sa International School, at nitong huli nga, sa AU of Paris. Kung gugustuhin nya, kahit hindi na sya mag-aral. Sa mga commercial endorsements pa lang, milyon na ang kikitain nya. Napakadali sa kanya kung gugustuhin niyang sumabak ng full-time sa showbiz. Hindi ko alam kung talented si KC gaya ng nanay nya pagdating sa pag-arte at pagkanta pero kayang-kaya nyang pekein ang kawalan ng talent (kung wala man) kagaya ng ginagawa nila Angel Locsin. May ka-love team na sana sya.

Kailangan talaga ng dedikasyon para makatapos ka ng isang kurso. Alam ko iyon dahil hindi ako nakatapos ng kolehiyo. Isa sa mga regrets ko sa buhay. Mas kinakailangan ng isang kagaya ni KC ng dedikasyon at tyaga sa pag-aaral dahil gaya nga ng sabi ko, kahit hindi na sya mag-college ay maagiging maginhawa na ang buhay nya, kayang-kaya naman niyang kumuha ng dalawang Ylmaz kung gugustuhin niya. Alam ba ninyong nag-working student pa siya sa Paris? Naunahan pa niyang makatapos si Sharon dahil si Ate Shawee, balik istudyante sa open university ng UP. Pag mayaman na ako, pramis, kukuha din ako ng diploma at di yung diplomang nabibili sa Recto ha.

Perfect recipe for disaster sana ang sitwasyon ni KC. Galing sa isang broken family, naghiwalay ang mga magulang nya sa kanyang murang edad. Lumaki sa spotlight ng media dahil sa kasikatan ng mga magulang. Mayaman. Walang responsibilidad na kailangang gampanan. Kug naging mahina ang resolve nya, isa sana siya sa maraming ehemplo ng mga anak ng mga sikat at mayayaman na nagwala, nagrebelde at nagtapon ng buhay. Pero tingnan naman natin kung nasan siya ngayon.

May nabasa ako dati na rumored na nagkaroon ng pagtitinginan dati si KC at ang dating vocalist ng Rivermaya, si Rico Blanco (I heard she’s dating a director, Lito Cayetano, these days, lucky bastard). Supposed to be, ginawa ni Rico ang mga kanta nilang “Bali Song” at “Imposible” para kay KC. Sinabi din ni KC na “Promil Kid” si Rico, meaning genius sya sa musika. Kung totoo man yun, nahalikan kaya ni Rico si KC?

Shit, sana naging sikat na rock star din ako.

To speak or not to; where to begin.
The way dilemmas I'm finding myself in.
For all I know you only see me as a friend.
I try to tell myself wake up fool;
this fairy tale's got to end.

Never in my life have I been more sure,
So come on up to me and close the door.
Nobody's made me feel this way before;
You're everything I wanted (more)

You're everything I wanted

watch the complete episode here : http://www.youtube.com/user/fairskin0614

noreply@blogger.com (paolo) — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 19:05:00 +0000

tawa naman diyan

EKAW BA’Y nag-iisa, nalolongkot at walang makasama? Aba’y madali lang yan, alamin mo lang ang pinakamainit na kaganapan sa bansa natin ngayon, ang sinasabing maanomalyang National Broadband Network deal at panigurado, maiiyak ka sa katatawa.

Recap muna. Ano ang NBN deal? Read HERE.

Eto ang mga pangyayaring napulot ka na totoong onli in da Pilipins:

Sept. 17 Monday, biglang umalis ng bansa si First Gentleman Mike Arroyo patungong Hong Kong sa di malamang dahilan. Humabol siya sa flight, 10 minutes before the plane took off. Bakit umalis? Walang totoong nakakaalam that time pero kinabukasan, nagkaraon ng ideya ang mga tao.

Kinabukasan kasi, nasa Senate investigation hearing ang anak ni House Speaker Joe de Venecia na si Joey, para bigyang linaw ang mga pagbubunyag nyang corruption sa ZTE NBN deal. Sa hearing na yun, papangalanan din niya ang sinasabing “Mystery Man” na nagsabi sa kanyang mag-back off na sa deal at hayaan na lang ang ZTE na nilakad ni Comelec Commish Abalos. Ang mystery man? Si FG Mke Arroyo. Pagkatapos nun, marami na ang nagka-idea kung bakit agad-agaran ang ~~pagtakas~~ pag-alis ni FG ng bansa.

Nagpatawa pa si Sen. Jinggoy Estrada during the hearing na ang Mystery Man pala ay ang Mister Ni Mam. Walang natawa sa Senado.

Ang pahayag ng abogado ni FG Mike Arroyo ay umalis ito for medical reasons. Ang pahayag naman ng doktor ni FG ay umalis ito hindi para takasan ang Senate hearings. Parang nabaligtad ang role nila ah?

Ang complain ng anak ni GMA na si Rep. Mikee Arroyo, bakit daw laging nadadawit sa mga anomalya ang pangalan ng tatay niya. Ibinalik ni Sir Butch ang tanong kay Mikee, “eh bakit nga kaya?” Nagpaka-showbiz naman si Sen. Escudero nang gayahin niya si Joey De Leon sa salitang "explain before you complain".

Ang bwelta ng anak nilang si Luli Arroyo, kasing nipis daw ng nakakalbong buhok ni Joey DV ang mga binitawan niyang akusasyon. How very regal.

Kanina naman sa second day ng Senate hearing, sinabi ng mga inimbitahang Palace officials na pagkatapos magkapirmahan ng agreement sa China between the two governments na sinaksihan pa ni GMA herself, nawala daw ang kopya ng kontrata ng RP Gov’t dahil may nagnakaw daw nito. Eh?

Tinanong din ng mga senador kung ilan daw ang kopya ng kontratang pinirmahan. Sabi ng Palace Official, isa lang daw. Kontrata, usually ay dalawa ang kopyang pinipirmahan. Biglang bawi ang nasabing opisyal, oo nga pala daw, may sarili ding kopya ang mga Chinese. Tanong ng isang senador kung bakit daw di tayo humingi ng kopya sa mga Chinese. Ang sagot ng opisyal, di daw pwede dahil nawawala din ang kopya ng kontrata ng mga Chinese. May nagnakaw din. Eh?

Tanga ba ang mga opsiyal na ito o akala nila ay tanga tayong mga Filipino?

***

Para sa transcript ng mga hearing na ito, basahin lang ang blog ni Manuel L. Quezon III.

noreply@blogger.com (paolo) — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 01:06:00 +0000

public service para sa mga ngayon lang nakakapag-internet

(or why you wouldn't find "tagpos ulo titi" here)

“THE INTERNET is a wonderful thing” nasabi ko sa aking sarili habang nagse-search sa internet ng mga ~~porns at sex videos~~ paraan para masagip ang mga penguins sa North Pole. Boom na talaga ang internet sa Pilipinas lalo na sa bayan namin na kamakailan lang naging on-line sa mundo. Malaking tulong kasi ang internet lalo na sa mga mag-aaral. Kung dati ay kailangan pang mag-reseach sa encyclopedia sa library para sa mga projects at assignments, ngayon ay pwede ka ng mag Wikipedia, Yahoo! search or Google search habang nakikipag cyber sa inyong PC sa bahay.

May napansin lang ako habang sinisilip ko ang Site Meter na naka embed sa blog site ko. Nandun kasi ang mga “hits” sa aking blog at nakita ko dun kung ano ang mga sine-search ng mga students at papano sila napunta sa site ko. Example?

May nag-google search ng:

mga kauna unahang pilipino n nanalo sa pagandahan sa buong mundo

at ng:

kumpletong pangalan ni jose rizal

Wala akong naisulat tungkol sa kauna-unahang Filipino na nanalo sa isang beauty contest o kaya ay kung ano ang complete name ni Jose Rizal. Lumabas sa google search nya ang site ko dahil sa mga keywords nyang “pilipino”, “mundo” at “rizal” o alin man sa iba pang words na na-type nya sa search box.

Eto ang tip, mga kids. Kapag maghahanap kayo ng mga information, di nyo na kailangang isulat ang buong tanong. Piliin nyo lang ang mga key words para maging specific ang resulta ng search nyo. Halimbawa, yung unang naghahanap, pwede nyang i-type ang Binibining Pilipinas Universe. Dun sa result, makikita nya ang website ng Binibining Pilipinas at mababasa nya dun ang first Filipina who won, si Gloria Dia na naging Miss Univer. Sa pangalawang searcher, pwede niyang i-type ang Jose Rizal Biography. Sa ganitong paraan, mapapabilis ang pagre-research nyo at pwede ng makipag-chat ulit. Hindi na kailangang mapunta pa sa mga useless sites gaya ng sa akin.

Ang pinagtataka ko lang ay paano napunta sa site ko ang mga taong ito na naghahanap tungkol sa:

google.com.ph/search= sinyales sa pagiging buntis (nabuntis kaya sya ng BF nya?)

google.com/search = kagat labi dance (bagong pausong sayaw ni Joey De Leon)

google.com./search = hanapin ang mga larawan sex video (wala nito sa blog site ko dahil hinahanap ko din ang mga ito… ehek!)

yahoo.com/search = mga bagay na ginagamit ng pari sa pagmimisa (eh? wala din nito sa site ko)

Ito ang the best. Hindi ko din alam kung paano sya dinala ng Google sa blog site ko at kung bakit siya naghahanap ng ganito.

google.com.ph/search = tagpos ulo titi

noreply@blogger.com (paolo) — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 01:53:00 +0000

Rak en rol!

ETO ANG sinulat ko dati:

Favorite Singer = Martin Nievera, Gary V.

Bata pa ako nun at ang akala ko, cool ako kung ang dalawang songers na yun ang ilalagay kong sagot sa mga slum notes ng mga kaklase ko kahit pa hindi naman talaga ako fans ng mga kanta nila. Akala ko cool ako kasi ang karaniwang sinusulat nila ay Air Supply, REO Speedwagon, Journey, Michael Jackstone, Madonna. Eh ako, kakaiba, Pinoy. Yun pala, ang corny ko. Oo, batang 80’s ako, late 80’s

I sold my soul to the Devil, but music bought it back.

Wala lang, gusto ko lang siyang sabihin. Nakalimutan ko na rin kung sinong nagsabi nun. Pero totoo din sa isang banda, sinagip ng musika ang buhay ko. Loner ako at bago ko pa matuklasan ang therapeutic qualities ng pagsusulat at pagbabasa, pakikinig ng music ang tanging naging kasama ko. Tama ang sabi ni Liz, masarap kasama ang mga kanta.

Nadiskubre ko ang power ballads ng mga glam bands ng 90’s. Early 80's pa sila sa Tate pero 90's na nakarating sa Pinas. Bon Jovi, Warrant, Poison, Skid Row, Motley Crue at iba pang bandang mukhang poodle. Pero napansin ko ding mga power ballads lang ang magaganda sa kanila. Pasok ang Guns and welcome to the jungle. Napakinggan ko ang double-album ng Guns N’ Roses, ang Use You Illusion l and 2, at dito ko talaga napagtanto na gusto ko pala ang maiingay na mga banda. Bagay kasi ang mga kanta nila kung inlababo ka o kaya ay nagagalit. Mahirap kasing mag-emote ng galit habang nakikinig sa music ni Kenny G. Iniisip nyo siguro sex, drug and rock & roll? Hindi po, iba na. Sabi nga ni Ade, "porn, meds and rock n' roll".

Pati nga album cover ng Illusion, di ko pinatawad. Meron daw kasing devil sa cover na makikita mo lang kung alam mo paano hanapin. Tingnan nyo ang highlighted part ng Illusion 2 (pindot the picture), baligtarin nyo yun. Si Santi di ba?

Nang mapakinggan ko na at halos pagsawaan ang lahat ng mga kanta ng GNR, natural na maghanap ako ng ibang katunog, sa mga bagong banda at sa luma. Nandiyan na ang pagdating ng bagong music na tinawag nilang “grunge” (Nirvana, Pearl Jam etc) hanggang sa “alternative” at sa “emo” bands. Bumalik din ako sa nakaraan, The Ramones, Sex Pistols, Led Zep, Eric Clapton hanggang kay Jimi Hendrix. Ngayon, lahat ng uri ng kanta ay pinapakinggan ko at naa-appreciate. Isa lang ang requirement ko, na ang kumanta ng kanta ay ang sumulat din ng kanta. Singer/Songwriter ba, hindi lang basta maganda ang boses. Mas hinahanggan ko kasi yung nakakasulat ng sarili nilang kanta.

Habang lumalawak at lumalalim ang pinapakinggan ko, naramdaman kong kailangan kong malaman kung kanino nagsimula ang lahat. Para sa akin, ang paghahanap ko ay nagtapos sa Beatles.

Tingining Beatles yan, nasira ang pag-aaral ko gawa nila. Pano ba naman, napakasimple ng mga melodies at chords ng mga kanta nila, parang napakadali pang tumugtog tas ang daming mga nagtitiliang babae. Ayun, nabuo ang pangarap na mag-banda. Sinang-ayunan pa ng Eraserheads. Pangarap na nanatili na lamang pangarap. Pero marami din akong nagawang kanta nun, mga bente ata at yun ay sa chords pa lang na D-A-G-A at G-D-C. Yun nga lang, nakalimutan ko na ang mga tono. May nabasa pa naman akong sabi ng isang songwriter na kapag nakalimutan mo daw ang tono ng isang kantang nagawa mo, malamang ay walang kwenta ang piyesang iyon. Pakers.

Rak en Rol!

noreply@blogger.com (paolo) — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 02:17:00 +0000

Hindi About God

NAHIHIRAPAN AKONG magdasal. Hindi dahil sa dami ng kasalanan ko, hindi dahil sa hindi ako marunong, hindi dahil sa nagdadalawang isip ako kung meron ba o walang Diyos. Alam kong meron, dapat lang meron. Nahihirapan ako dahil may mga agam-agam at katanungan ako sa nakalakihan kong paraan ng pagdarasal.

Halimbawa, sa tinuro sa ating dasal na Ama Namin.

“Ama namin, sumasalangit Ka, sambahin ang ngalan Mo…”

Para sa akin, ang paggamit ng “ka” ay kawalan ng galang sa Diyos. Isipin na lang natin halimbawang may panauhin tayong isang matandang kakilala. Pagkakita natin sa kanya, ang sasabihin natin ay “Uy, kayo pala Mang Kulas. Tuloy po kayo. Ano pong kailangan nyo?” Bilang paggalang, gagamitin natin ang “kayo” dahil parang wala tayong galang kung ang sasabihin natin ay “Uy, ikaw pala Mang Gusting. Tuloy ka po. Ano pong kailangan mo?”

Mahilig din tayong mag-utos sa Diyos na para bang may utang na loob Sya sa atin. Sa panalanging-bayan sa misa, karaniwang maririnig natin ang dasal na “pagpalain Mo po Panginoon ang (blah blah blah)… Iligtas mo po sila sa (blah blah blah)…” o maging sa Ama namin, nandiyan ang “bigyan Mo po kami ng aming kakanin sa araw-araw, patawarin Mo po kami sa aming mga kasalanan…” Hindi ba parang inuutusan natin Siya? Alam kong hindi ganun ang ibig nating iparating subalit hindi naman siguro mahirap kung medyo i-edit natin ang dasal at gawing “pagpalain Mo po sana Panginoon ang (blah blah blah)… Nawa’y iligtas mo po sila sa (blah blah blah)…” Konting pagbabago pero malaki ang pinagkaiba. Sa pagdaragdag ng “sana” at “nawa”, nagiging request ang ating panalangin, na nasa Diyos pa din ang pagpapasya kung gagawin nga nya yun o hindi, ayon sa Kanyang mga plano para sa atin.

On a personal level, nahihirapan akong magdasal bago matulog sa gabi. Ini-intro-han ko ang dasal sa edited version ko ng Ama Namin. Pagkatapos ay magpapasalamat sa mga blessings na natanggap nang araw na iyon. Then, hindi ko na alam ang sasabihin. Hindi ako makahingi ng tawad sa mga kasalanan dahil sabihin ko man o hindi, alam kong alam na Niya kung pinagsisihan ko nga ba o hindi ang mga kasalanang iyon. Hindi naman sa malaki ang mga kasalanan pero sino ba namang tao ang hindi nakakagawa ng kasalanan sa bawa’t araw, gaano man kaliit? Hindi ko rin masabi ang aking mga kahilingan dahil baka ang hingin ko ay taliwas sa mga plano niya sa akin.

Kaya usually, pagkatapos ng Ama Namin at mga thank yous ko, sasabihin ko na lang na “Lord, alam Nyo na po kung ano ang nasa isip ko at ang nararamdaman ko. Kung ano man ang plano Nyo sa akin at sa mga mahal ko sa buhay, sana po ay magawa namin…” Yun lang then tapos na. Pakiramdam ko ay kulang ang dasal ko pero wala na akong ibang masabi. May mga pagkakataon din dati na nahihiya akong magdasal sa Kanya dahil may mga nagawa akong kasalanan dati na bagama’t alam kong mali ay patuloy ko pa ring ginagawa. Anong idadasal ko sa Kanya kapag ganun? “Sorry Lord pero gagawin ko ulit bukas..”? Ang iniisip ko nuon ay magdadasal na lang ako kapag tinigilan ko na ang kasalanan. Alam ko mali iyon.

Hindi rin ako sang-ayon sa pagdarasal tuwing may contests o tunggalian sa pagitan ng dalawang sides. Halimbawa sa basketball, pangkaraniwan ng nakikita natin ang nagdarasal na fans o players. Alam naman natin siguro kung anong dinarasal nila, na sana ay manalo sila. Pero makikita rin natin na ang kabilang kampo, nagdarasal din. Sino ngayon ang papakinggan ng Diyos? Di ba parang pine-pressure natin sya to choose? Okay lang sana kung ang dinarasal ay para walang masaktan pero alam nating hindi ganun. Dinarasal pa nga minsan na sana ay madulas ang kabilang player, hindi maka-shoot o kaya ay maagaw ang bola. Hindi ba pagdarasal yun ng kasamaan sa kapwa? :P

Sa mga gameshows naman, maririnig natin ang pagsambit sa pangalan ng Diyos at kung hindi ang ninanais ng contestant ang lumabas, para bang pinabayaan siya ng Diyos o hindi tinugon ang dasal. Para tuloy walang kwenta ang ginawang dasal. Sa dalawang example na ito, hindi kaya pwedeng sa simula at sa huli na lang ng contest magdasal at mag-enjoy na lang during the game? Ang unang dasal ay gabayan sana sila ng Diyos, ang huling dasal ay pasasalamat sa kung ano mang naging outcome ng contest.

Ang isa pang pinagtataka ko ay ang pagsambit sa ngalan ng Diyos habang nakikipag-sex.

“Oooooh God… unghhhhh… ahhhh… Yeeesssss, oh God…”

Alam ng Diyos na hindi naman talaga ako relihiyosong tao at ito ay ang mga naiisip ko lamang.

noreply@blogger.com (paolo) — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 15:33:00 +0000

Ang Babae Ay Parang Cellphone

parehong pinipindot

masarap pindutin

kailangan nga lang ng load palagi

AYON KAY Bebang, parang pakikipagbreak daw sa karelasyon ang mawalan ng cellphone. Nuon lang ako nakabasa ng paghahambing ng cell sa pag-ibig. Sige nga, tingnan ko nga kung pwede.

Huli na ako nang magkaroon ng cellphone. Meron na ang karamihan, tsaka pa lang ako nasabihang “mobile” ang buhay. Pero Nokia 3210 na ang cellphone ko nun, habang ang karamihan ay malaki at may antenna ang CP, yun bang Nokia 5110. Maganda ang 3210 nuon, masarap hawakan at ipang-text. Text lang, mahal kasi ang call. Nuon ko nalaman na masarap pala talaga ang may cellphone. Laging excited kapag tumutunog ang monotone na ringtone, tinitingnan agad kung sino ang nagtext. Galing lang pala sa Globe. Guilty din ako sa style na nagkukunwaring may tumawag sa aking cellphone at kinakausap ang “caller” pero ang totoo, gusto lang ipagyabang na “hoy, tingnan nyo ako, may cellphone na ako!” Nawalay lang ako sa cell kong ito nang mawala ang cell ng tatay ko at hiramin (na wala ng balikan) ang aking 3210 dahil mas kailangan daw nya yun kesa sa akin.

Pagdating sa pag-ibig, huli na rin ako nang mainlababo. Habang ang karamihan ay na broken-hearted na, ako ay bago palang tumitibok ang puso at kumikislot ang-- uhmmn… uhhh… anyway, nang malaman kong may pagtingin din pala sya sa akin, nuon ko din lang nalaman na masarap pala talagang ma-in love. Laging excited kapag nakikita at naririnig ang kanyang boses. Syempre, style na rin ang magpa-cute lagi tuwing nasa paligid sya. Ngunit gaya ng aking cellphone, hindi rin nagtagal ang aming pagsasama. Iba kasi ang relihiyon nya at di pwedeng makipagrelasyon sa iba ang paniniwala.

Siguro ay dapat pinaglaban ko ang pag-ibig namin, gaya ng dapat sigurong pinaglaban ko ang aking cell sa tatay ko. Ngunit sa akin, alam kong di talaga kami para sa isa’t-isa; kami ng girl at kami ng 3210 ko. Alam kong mas kailangan nga ng tatay ko ang cellphone at kami nung girl, alam kong di namin kayang talikuran ang mga nakagisnan namin relihiyon. Ito siguro ang dahilan kaya di ganung kasakit ang pagkakawalay ko sa dalawang iyon.

Ang sumunod kong cellphone ay Nokia 3310 habang ang karamihan ay 3210 naman. Nawala din ang cp kong ito. Nakasakay ako nuon sa tricycle at maluwag ang bulsa ko sa pantalon. Lumipas lang ang kalahating oras pagkababa ko nang mapansin kong nawawala ang cellphone kong nasa bulsa. Patay. Hindi na ako umaasang makikita pang muli ang cell ko ngunit alam kong kailangan kong subukan man lang hanapin. Tinunton ko ang tricycle na nasakyan ko (wala daw siyang nakita— natural). Tinawagan ko din ang cell ko, may sumagot ngunit ayaw namang magsalita. Ang narinig ko ay umiiyak na baby. Mauubos lang ang load ng cell ng kaibigan ko. Tinext ko na lang, nakiusap na ibalik ang cell o kaya ay ang SIM na lang (mahalaga din ang SIM lalo na kung nandun lang ang kopya ng numbers ng mga textmates at kakilala). Walang sagot. Shieeet! Hindi nakuha sa santong dasalan, gamitan ng pananakot. Tinakot ko din yung nakakuha ng cell ko na ibalik ang cellphone kung hindi ay ipatutunton ko sa kakilala kong pulis na matulis. No effect. Sabagay, tanga lang ang mananakot ng ganun at tanga din ang maniniwala.

Nokia 6610 ang sumunod (oo, Nokia lagi. Kami kasi ang may-ari ng Nokia) kong cp. Matagal na kaming magkasama ng cell na ito. Mahaba na ang aming pinagsamahan. Reliable. Muntik ko nga lang maiwala ito sa isang inuman. Buti at nakuha ko pa ulit. Meron na din akong O2 XDA ngayon, isang PDA phone. May nagregalo lang naman. Medyo may kamahalan na at hi-tech pero sa totoo, di naman talaga ako mahilig sa magagarang cellphone. Basta nakakatawag, nakakatext eh ayos na ako dun. Hindi rin ako mahilig magpalit-palit ng casing.

May kaugnayan pa ba ito sa relasyon? Hmmmnnn… konti na lang ata.

Gaya sa cellphones, hindi rin ako mahilig sa magagandang babae. Mas gusto ko yung masarap, masayang kasama. Yun bang nagkakaintindihan kami sa mga tinginan at ngitian pa lang. Pero ang pangalawang babaeng nagpa-inlababo sa akin, pre, maganda talaga sya. Kumbaga sa cellphone, isa siyang Apple iPhone. Ipagmamalaki mo talaga kapag sabay kayong naglalakad. Madami din siyang features, pwede sa turo-turo, pwede sa fine dining. Oo, naging kami nung girl at kami pa rin. Pero gaya ng 6210 ko, muntik na din siyang mawala sa akin dati. Tanga-tanga ko kasi, hindi ako nag-iisip.

Ngayon, alam ko ng kailangan nating alagaan ang cellphone at ang taong minamahal natin sa tuwina dahil maaaring sa isang pagkakamali lang, hindi mo na iyon muling makikita pa.

Oh, may co-corny pa ba sa post na to?

noreply@blogger.com (paolo) — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 18:23:00 +0000

Jose Pidal Next?

MAGIGING MATAGAL pa ang usapin tungkol sa pangyayari kahapon. Marami pang kuro-kuro, opinyon at sariling pananaw (di ba pare-pareho lang yun?) ang masasabi at maisusulat tungkol sa resulta ng kaso ni dating presidente Erap Estrada.

May mga nagsasabing naaawa sila kay Erap. Hindi ko nasubaybayan ang anim na taong tinakbo ng paglilitis sa Sandiganbayan subalit sa tingin ko lang, guilty talaga si Erap sa pagpapayaman niya ng sarili. Likas na sa ating mga Filipino ang ugaling maawain lalo na sa mga malalaking personalidad. Marami ang nagsasabing ibalik na lang nya ang mga yamang kinuha nya at pwede na siyang makalaya, quits na. Para sa akin, mahirap kaawaan ang isang taong may P3.2 BILLION sa Jose Velarde account nya sa PCI-Equitable bank. Nakapamuhay siya at ang kanyang pamilya ng magara dahil sa mga perang ito. Naging pabaya sya, nahuli siya kaya sorry na lang. History na ang maghuhusga sa kanya balang araw. Nakakaawa kung wala talaga siyang kasalanan pero ayon sa mga nababasa natin at sa kinalabasan ng kaso, guilty talaga.

Madami din ang nagbubunyi (lalo na sa Malakanyang) at sinasabing nagpapatunay lang ito sa katatagan at maturity ng ating justice system, na sinasabing dapat tayong maging proud dahil napatunayan daw natin sa buong mundo na kaya nating mag-convict ng isang dating presidente sa isang criminal offense.

Duh!

Eh ano ng nangyari sa Jose Pidal case at sa iba pang kinasasangkutan ng Arroyo family? Sa kaso ni Hernani Perez na pagkatapos ng anim na taon ay nasa preliminary hearing pa lamang? Ni Jocjoc Bolante na sangkot sa fertilizer scam? Sa walang kamatayang Hello Garci? At ngayon nga ay sa mainit-init pang $329-million National Broadband Network deal with China’s ZTE Corp., na sinasabing overpriced dahil malaki ang komisyon ni Comelec chair Benjamin Abalos ayon na rin sa pagbubulgar ng anak ni House Speaker JDV. Eh ang maanomalyang $460-million Cyber Education Program? Dahil ba malapit sila sa palasyo?

Imbis na linawin ang mga bagay na ito, ang sagot ng Malakanyang ay ang illegal na EO 464 na naglalayong pigilan ang mga matataas na opisyal ng Malakanyang at ng military na pumunta sa mga Senate inquiries kung walang pahintulot ng presidente, na naglalayon sanang bigyang linaw ang mga bagay na ito.

Oo nga, na-convict natin si Erap pero masasabi lamang nating matatag nga ang justice system kapag hindi lamang ang mga kalaban ng gobyerno ang ating naipakulong, maging yung nasa loob at paligid sana ng Malakanyang.

Dahil kung ating susuruin, ano ang pagkakaiba ni Jose Velarde kay Jose Pidal?

noreply@blogger.com (paolo) — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 18:13:00 +0000

Pare, Erap Guilty

HINDI KO NA ipagsisigawan dahil sigurado akong alam na alam nyo na ang balita kung may TV kayo, dyaryo, radyo o internet connection. Guilty sa kasong pandarambong o plunder si dating-artista-dating-mayor-dating-senador-dating-bise-presidente-dating-presidente Joseph “Erap” Estrada. Pero ilan sa atin ang tunay na nakakaintindi sa kaso? Marami sa mga Erap supporters na nagpunta sa Sandiganbayan kanina ang in-interview sa TV, tinanong kung anong pakaintindi nila sa “plunder”. May nagkamot ng ulo, may umaming di nila alam at meron din namang ang akala ay tungkol iyon sa maraming babae ni Erap. Nyaahhh! Hindi ako nag-aral ng law pero eto ang pagkakaalam ko sa mga pangyayari kahapon.

Not guilty sa kasong plunder sila Sen. Jinggoy Estrada at dating presidential legal counsel Edward Serapio.

Not guilty din si Erap sa kasong perjury o pagsisinungaling sa korte tungkol sa maling assets and liability na kanyang sinabi dahil hindi napatunayan ng mga prosecutors na ginawa iyon ni Erap “with criminal intent”.

Not guilty din si Erap tungkol sa P130 million Tobacco Excise Tax na sinasabi ni Ilocos Gov. Luis “Chavit” Singson na binigay niya kay Erap sa pamamagitan ni sinasabing gambling lord Charlie “Atong” Ang, na kaibigan ni Erap. Ayon sa Sandiganbayan judges, hindi napatunayan ng mga prosecutors na kay Erap nga napunta ang pera.

Guilty ang dating presidente sa kasong pagtanggap ng Jueteng payola na nagkakahalaga ng P545.3 million, kasama na ang P200 million na dineposito sa Erap Muslim Youth Foundation na pinamumunuan ni Atty. Edward Serapio.

Guilty din si Erap sa pagtanggap ng komisyon na nagkakahalaga ng P189 million sa pagpwersa nya sa GSIS at SSS na bumili ng shares ng private company na Belle Corporation. Dito sya na-convict sa kasong plunder dahil pera ng gobyerno ang ginamit sa pagbili ng shares na tumanggap sya ng komisyon.

Ang parusa ay Reclusion Perpetua o pagkakabilanggo ng hindi hihigit sa 40 years. Sinabi ni Erap lawyer dating senador Rene Saguisag na handang magpakulong si Erap sa Muntinlupa Penitentiary kanina din subalit inutos ng Sandiganbayan na ibalik si Erap sa house arrest sa mansyon nito sa Tanay, Rizal hanggat hindi nila inuutos na ilipat na si Erap. Nag-apila na rin ang kampo ni Erap sa Supreme Court na sinasabing maaaring umabot ang review ng kaso mula 1 hanggang 3 taon pa.

In the meantime, abangers muna tayo sa mga susunod na kaganapan.

noreply@blogger.com (paolo) — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 02:54:00 +0000

Bastos!

KAMAKAILAN AY napanuod ko sa QTV channel 11 news ang pag-aresto/pag-imbita kay Mark Verzo, sinasabing gumawa ng boybastos.com. Naikwento ko ito sa BF ko (blog friend) at marami siyang naging katanungan sa akin.

Unang-una, bakit daw sa QTV ako nanunuod ng balita? “Eh?” Wala kasi kaming cable at wala ng ibang mapanuod sa TV tsaka maganda naman manuod sa Q. Tahimik lang ang mga mapapanood mo dun, walang maiingay na hyperactive hosts at studio audiences na pumapalakpak sa ibabaw ng ulo nila.

Pangalawang tanong nya, sino si Mark Verzo at ano yung boybastos.com? Hindi ko kilala yung Mark na yun. Sa news clip ko lang sya nakita at nalamang gumawa daw ng boybastos.com, ngingiti-ngiti pa nga sya ng ilabas ng NBI operatives sa bahay niya sa Ayala, Alabang Sosi. Narinig ko na dati pa yang website na yan subalit hindi ko pinag-aksayahang bisitahin dahil ang pagkakaalam ko ay isa lang ito sa maraming pinoy free porn sites sa internet. Ooops, nanunuod din ako ng mga porn at sex scandal clips at may iba akong pinagkukuhanan ng rasyon ko kaya di ko na naisipang sumilip sa boybastos site. Pagkatapos kong mapanood ang news, nagmamadali akong nag online at ni-type ang website. Tama ako, katulad din lang ito ng ibang porn sites. Medyo “tame” pa nga kumpara sa iba. May mga picture galleries ng mga hubo, may sex video sections at mga links papunta sa ibang porn sites. Teka, teka, bumalik ka dito hoy. Tapusin mo muna ito. Wag mo ng hanapin ang boybastos.com dahil sarado na ang site, blank page na lang ang iyong makikita.

Pangatlong tanong, kung kumain na daw ba ako? Sabi ko ay oo, ang sweet mo naman, pero di na mahalaga yun.

Huling tanong niya ay kung inaresto ba o inimbitahan lang ng NBI? Yan ang hindi ko nasagot sa BF ko dahil hindi ko rin talaga alam. Sa katotohanan, in fact, medyo malabo ang detalye ng balita. Hindi kasi sinabi kung bakit inaresto/inimbitahan si Boy at kung anong charges ang ipapataw sa kanya kung may isasampa nga ba. Ang nakita ko lang ay inaalalayan siya ng mga NBI palabas ng bahay, kinumpiska pa ang computer nya. “Inaresto/inimbitahan”- parang pareho lang naman, basta dinampot siya ng NBI. Nagtataka pa ako kung bakit dala pa ng NBI agents ang monitor ni Mark gayung yung CPU lang naman ang mahalaga at mapagkukuhanan nila ng information.

Malabo pa sa ihi ng babaeng bagong panganak ang balita. Dahilan nito, naglilibot-libot ako sa internet at inalam ang mga dapat malaman. Dun ko nabasa na si Sen. Loren Legarda pala ang nag-undyok sa mga concerned ahensya ng gobyerno (NBI at Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (Iacat) na imbistigahan at ipasara ang boybastos.com dahil naghahasik daw ito ng child pornograhy at maaaring sabwat din sa tafficking of women. Imbis na matakot, parang nang-asar pa si Boy Bastos dahil hinamon pa nya sa website si Sen. Legarda na subukang hulihin siya kung kaya nito. Nagpasalamat pa sa free publicity na binigay ng senadora. May “P.S. Tsiks si Loren” pa sa huli.

Ngunit iba-iba din ang info na nabasa ko. Di rin malaman kung inaresto nga ba o inimbitahan lang. May nakasulat dun na sabi raw ng isang NBI official na wala pang batas ang Pilipinas tungkol sa internet fraud and pornography. Ngunit may sinasabi ding may authored bill daw si Loren tungkol dito. Pero bill pa lang naman ito, hindi pa law. Iba’t-ibang blogs at forums na ang binasa ko, may mga simpleng boggers, may lawyers, may mga siryoso at mga nagpapatawa lang, may sumusuporta kay Boy, may bumabatikos at vice versa din sa ginawa ni Loren.

What’s my take on these?

Sa tingin ko ay naging pabaya si BoyBastos at naging kumpiyansa masyado. Hindi na rin sana niya “inasar” si Loren. Bastos tayo, pero hindi mayabang. Sana ay nagpalamig muna siya indefinitely habang mainit ang issue. Inintay na lamang sana niyang magkaroon ng bagong mas malaking issue. Tingnan natin ang Wowowee Scandal, may naririnig pa ba tayong balita dito? Wala na masyado, di ba? Natabunan na ito ng pagbubuntis ni Camille Pratts hehe Sana ay sinara na lang muna niya ang website at nilinis ang mga bagay-bagay na makakapagturo na siya nga ang gumawa nuon. After a few weeks, happy-happy na ulit sana ang mga boys bastos. Sinara lang nya kasi ng sandali.

May mga bumatikos din kay Sen. Legarda na nag-ga-grandstand lang daw ito dahil sana raw ay sa concerned gov’t agencies nya iyon sinabi at hindi sa media. Mas sincere pa raw sana ang dating at hindi “nagpapaganda” lang sa mga botante para sa 2010. Para sa akin, hindi rin natin masisisi si Loren dahil politician sya at para mag-survive sya sa politics, kailangan niyang gawin iyon. It’s the nature of the beast, the beast here is the old political system natin, hindi si Loren ha. Mag-isip tayo ng mga senador na sa tingin natin ay walang ginagawa sa Senado. Di ba sila yung mga taong wala tayong naririnig na kahit na ano? Malay ba natin na madami na pala itong naipasang batas? Basta ang alam ng karaniwang botante, tahimik sila, walang ginagawa. Kaya di rin natin masisisi yung mga politicians at elected officials na mag-ingay o ilagay ang mga larawan nila at pangalan sa malalaking signs na nagsasabing ginagawa ang isang public project “thru the effort of…” nila.

Ang huli kong nabalitaan, pinalaya na din si Mark Verzo ngunit patuloy pa ding ini-imbestigahan ng NBI ang kaso. Pinasara din muna ang website pending the outcome of the case.

In the meantime, papano ang mga parokyano ng boybastos.com? No problemo, marami namang ibang pinoy porn sites sa internet. Gaya DITO o DITO, pwede din DITO at ang the best, DITO.