Piping Pepito : "The Mute is Back. Talkative as Ever."

A Dangerous Mind

2005-12-25T05:25:00.000+08:00

Wow! If my friends think I have one crazy mind, I really do think one of my officemates has a dangerous mind -- in a cute way that is. I don't want to elaborate. =)
Anyway, it's already five thirty in the morning and i still cannot sleep. My housemate and I arrived at arround four a.m. I don't know why I am still awake. Still lively. Maybe I'm very happy today. I went out of our house feeling somewhat troubled and feeling very bad but everything seems turned out to be for the best. I don't want to elaborate either. ;p
What else? Oh yeah. I think my verbal english is improving alot during the few days. I don't know why but I believe I write passable english but when I speak up, sometimes even I don't understand myself. Maybe psychological. And lack of practice. But regarding my singing talents, I finally conceded that somehow it really is genetic problem. Man, can't do nutin' 'bout that. Live with it man.
And yes, the title of this blog actually describes the first few lines only. Man, I'm so tired. But something inside me won't make me sleep. Sigh. Good night! ;p

I Look Younger Huh?

2005-12-10T17:44:00.000+08:00

The owner of the next house we will rent can't believe I'm already working. She thinks I am young, about five years younger than my real age. I don't know why. My brother looks like the older brother maybe because he looks more serious than I am. I don't know. And I don't care. What is important is that, I believe, that when it is time to make a decision, if ever I am put in a position that will require me to make a sound decision, I can decide and make a wise opinion with the oldest and wisest of them. For me looks is not the most important thing.

Wanting to be a Leader Minus the Responsibilities of Being One

2005-12-10T17:36:00.000+08:00

Kevin Garnett said of Mc Hale, that he wanted in his heart to be a coach but doesn't like the responsibilities of being one.
Sometimes I feel like we all are like that, right? I mean, we want to be leaders because of the privilege and the respect that comes with the position. We just want the title. We just want to bark orders here and there. But we should bear in mind that, from Spiderman, "with great power comes great responsibility". If you want to be a leader, learn to serve first. Try hard to be a leader because you want to serve and not to be served, and I think with that kind of mentality we will be successful leaders.

In Search For Someone who Believes in True Love

2005-12-10T16:42:00.000+08:00

I owe this blog to one of my friends. I promised her I will post a blog and try to find her someone who believes in true love. Funny, but that's the lone criterion she is looking for in a prospective life partner. Of course that someone must be a he and should be single. The latter I added myself though my friend insisted that she doesn't care.
Anyway at this age I really feel it is hard to find someone who still believes in true love. Do I? Hmmm. Let's just say I'm reserving my answer for that. Plus I need to be impartial in this blog. Anyway, I feel like I've already elicited some violent reactions from some people. That's nice. If you feel you met the simple criteria mentioned above, please don't hesitate to reply. Hehe. ;)

A Year Ender Report

2005-12-10T16:25:00.000+08:00

Time really flies fast. I've been away from home for more than a year now. Do I feel homesick? Of course I do. From time to time homesickness attacks me. Did I change a lot? Of course I've changed. A lot. I think it is time for me to look back at my one year here and list down my experiences and to learn if I've changed or not.

Local English is still too fast for me

I remember the first time I entered Mc Donald's here. The service crew talks too fast for me. He asked me a question and I, as was my habit if I dont understand what someone is saying, just nodded confusedly and said yes. The service crew looked at me and, this time a little slower, asked me again if I want "chili or catchup".
After more than a year, just last November, I attended a course (company sponsored training). The speaker was a local and he was a lively and funny speaker. Whenever he will deliver a joke, the response from the class is this:
1) He delivers his joke.
2) All the other attendees laugh.
3) I'm still processing the joke.
4) The speaker moves on to his next topic.
5) I finally understood the joke and laugh.

I've finally joined a badminton competition.

I succeeded in talking a girl friend, that's with a space between girl and friend, into joining the company badminton competition. We joined the mixed doubles competition. And it, shall I say ordeal, lasted around ten to twenty minutes only as we were unceremoniously defeated in the first round. And as the good sports we are, we graciously accepted the humiliating loss, without any excuse, although we havent played for about five months, we haven't practiced playing with each other for far more than that, we played the eventual champions, etcetera, etcetera. ;)
Anyway, I've started playing weekly badminton games now. Every Wednesday I join some of my Indonesian colleagues. And all of them play well. Last week I think I'm among the bottom three players, no thanks to my smashing prowess (or lack thereof). However, I still didn't lose, with two different partners.

I'm still single and is still very much available.

Although not for long. Hahaha. Dream on. Anyway, actually I don't really care. I'm enjoying my career and I have laid out a career path and my priority is to stick with that plan as of the moment.
In relation to being single, my three office friends and I, signed up for Social Development Unit(SDU). It's the local government's way of promoting marriage to young professionals. And one of my friends was laughing when we attended the orientation. There were only the four of us. Hahaha. Talking about desperation. Anyway, I didn't continue my "application" as I imagined being bored with it.

I still have a big plan for a future organization/foundation.

It's been inside my head for a long time now. I wanted to coerce my highschool friends to start an organization which aims to help and guide students. What I have in mind is simple. Growing up, since I didn't come from a professional family, I have no idea what is waiting for me in life. I know that with my math skills and problem solving abilities, engineering career suits me. But what kind of engineering? And what about another career? Looking back, will I still take the same career path I am in now? That's the idea. I want kids to be fully aware of what they can do as early as possible. Plus we would try to develop their social skills as well as promote reading books. As I've learned after college, the most important thing for us to learn is to learn how to learn.

I feel like I am a ton lighter now.

My friends think I grew bigger here after seeing my latest pictures. But I really disagree. Although I don't have an available weighing scale to support my claim, I feel lighter. Plus I can tap the board again when playing basketball. Enough said.

I know there is still a lot to say. But I think it is suffice to say that I changed in some ways but still am the same principled guy I always am.

Blogging Back (Huh?)

2005-10-21T22:41:00.000+08:00

Wow. It's been a long, long while. My web log is, well, full of cobwebs (corny!). Anyway, what to blame? NBA Live 2006 . And anime. And Basketball. Yeah. After days of anticipating how the newest NBA Live will look like, I got one for myself. But the anticipation is much better. Sigh. I'm still enjoying it though. Hmmm. Why do I like, uhm, love, NBA Live 2006? Two things. One, it's basically the only way I can dunk on people (besides settig up a five-foot rim and playing with a bunch of kids, which I really am tempted to do at times...). Two, I can be a coach, coaching a lot of egos and I can own and manage a team (which makes me a rich man).
As for the real thing, my Saturday basketball game, it is forcing me to sleep early on Fridays. But the good news is, I CAN tap(reach) the board again. Yey. The last time I was able to do that, I think, was back in highschool or freshman in college. That means, (a) I'm getting lighter, (b) my legs are getting stronger again, (c) the basketball rim here in Singapore is smaller, (d) gravity here is weaker, (e) i'm finally discovering my superhuman powers. Meditating deeply on each choices, and cancelling those improbable choices, the answer is obviously... (e).
And why am I blogging now? Friday night? Instead of socializing with my friends in Starbucks (They actually invited me! Really! And I chose NBA Live and anime over them. Harharhar. Talking about being anti-social.) While I have a basketball game tomorrow afternoon? Because of one stupid reason. My shoes are still wet. Walked in the rain last Sunday right after church. Imagine me and my friend fully-dressed, the rain pouring down hard upon us, when we suddenly decided to close our umbrellas and just walked calmly home. Wow. It was, hmmm, refreshing? Until I remembered the shoes. And I can't find a place to put them so the sun can dry them.
What else? Uh, yeah, I'll be joining our company's badminton mixed-doubles competition. I hope my partner and I can win at least one game. Good luck to us. ;)

Sipa

2005-10-09T20:04:00.000+08:00

Was walking with friends in East Coast Park, taking pictures of the craziest poses we can imagine, when, suddenly, to our surprise, and as if it was fate, one Singaporean approached our group, showing us an object with yellow feathers and asking us if we know how to play it. The object which was vaguely familiar to me suddenly registered, and even before he finished telling us what to do I immediately volunteered. Then I caught myself, made sure if what he wants us to do is the same as what I had in mind. And yes, it was "sipa", one of my favorite pastime back in highschool, the culprit of many broken flourescent lamps inside our building (use your imagination). He asked us if we can hit the object ten times using our feet alone. I obliged him. He was very happy when he saw me complete ten. Then he brought us to the parking area where one of the stations in their current game/contest was being held. He told me that it was just a game and that I need to "pretend" I am with his team. After making him promise it was just a game, and that they will not win the brand new car in the middle of the parking space, I agreed. Well, I know it was not exactly right but I didn't know how to say no. Besides it was only a game. And I suddenly missed "sipa". So there I was, being explained about the rules. I heard the winner will be the fastest to make ten. But the rule didn't register to me as I was consumed by my desire to play "sipa" again, and to show-off a little. So happily, I completed ten, amphasizing every single hit, just enough height to look snappy, and hitting the last one strongly. And they clocked me at seven seconds, one second short of the fastest time.

random blogs

2005-09-30T22:02:00.000+08:00

drats. i'm back. been very busy. still is. busy with work. enjoying work. enjoying every OT hour. enjoying basketball every saturday. sometimes sunday morning. sometimes pingpong. will join badminton mixed doubles. single elimination. will we waste our time? growing old. sigh. pressure from work. pressure someone at work. growing old. friendster is improved. been enjoying anime. hinata grew up. nice fighting skills. cuter and pretier. if i'm naruto i'll choose hinata over sakura. cuter. better fighter. naruto is still stupid. can we just remove him from the anime? tsunade looks young. been watching ippo. nice anime. nice story. but story seems like repeating. aren't all animes? loved hikaru no go. growing old. sigh. now you wonder if someone you like is already married. geez. growing old. roy jones versus antonio tarver. searching for heroes? are we searching or are we making. did we find jones or did we manufacture him? sigh. growing old. last chance for redemption. for glory. growing old. lebron is now surrounded by good players. great. a year older, how great is he now? kobe is a year older? is he mature now? is wade better than carmelo? than lebron? without shaq? cha-cha? growing old. don't think. just do it. grow old.

Too Much Noise

2005-07-12T18:11:00.000+08:00

Last Saturday, I went to Tampines Library to borrow technical books. I decided to finish right there one book that I just borrowed a few days back. I seated myself on a couch near the magazine section. The couch was only good for three. One girl is already sitting on one end, so i sat on the other end leaving the middle free. A few moments later, while I was comfortably devouring the book, a family -- a mother with her young son and young daughter -- arrived. They were browsing the magazines. The boy and the girl sat on the available space. The boy started making some noise, annoying his sister who kept on telling him to keep quiet cause they are inside the library. The mother was not doing anything to stop her son. Of course I was irritated not with the boy but with the mother. I wanted to tell her "Hey lady, this is the library. If you can't leave your young kid at home, please at least be responsible to make him behave." Instead, I transferred to another couch. There I continued reading my book. The mother sat on the space vacated by the girl. And I was there, alone in my couch, comfortably reading the book when suddenly a phone rang. And the ring was set to loud. "GeeWeez lady. You're inside the library," I wished I told the lady again when I learned it was her phone. But when I heard her phone conversation I was tempted to laugh.

"O sige baba na kami."

Tsk. She wasn't a local (Singaporean) afterall. And worse, she's a Filipina. Sigh.

An Alternative Way of Choosing the Philippine President

2005-07-08T16:34:00.000+08:00

In view of the current crisis our country is facing and considering the unfaltering love of our countrymen for showbiz, politics and sports, I decided to mix these three all up and come up with a win-win solution for all – a reality show to end all reality show, “Who Wants to be the Next Philippine President?”

The format of the show is simple and easy to follow. For a given period of time, say six months or one year, the lives of the candidates will be televised twenty-four hours a day – from the time they wake up even while they are sleeping. Of course wire-tapping is legal this time around.

The candidates will be given different problems they need to solve within a day, a week, or a month, depending on the predetermined level of complexity. Some possible problems are “reading and comprehension” (easy level), “simple arithmetic” (easy level), “selling lemons” (medium), “disguising and mingling with the masses” and “running a big company for a day” (difficult). There will also be physical competitions which will determine the longevity of the candidates.

Some other suggested activities are as follows:
• Each contestant will be sent to an orphanage or nursery full of crying kids/babies. The contestants/candidates will be judged according to how many kids/babies they can successfully console. Children being a very good judge of character will show who among the candidates are genuine and trust-worthy.
• The candidates will be sent to a house full of people. Within a given period of time they will try to befriend as much people as possible. They will be judged according to the quantity and quality of people they will befriend.
• The lie detector challenge. Each contestant will be asked a series of questions, some demeaning, while connected to a lie detection machine.
• A quiz bee pitting the candidates to elementary, high school up to college level of students.
• Team competition. The candidates will be divided into two groups. Each group will be given a problem which they can only solve if they work together.

On the other hand, the following suggested activities are not allowed:
• A mahjong competition.
• A competition to determine who has the highest alcohol tolerance level.
• A competition to judge who is the funniest candidate.

Each activity will not be the sole criterion for voting out the candidates. Please see the rule for elimination below.

A small area, possibly an island, will be used to simulate the real Philippines. From time to time, activities will be held in this island. Some simulation examples are war, protests and cabinet meetings.

Near the end of each episode, the candidates will be pitted against one another, debating on a particular issue.

To determine the winner there will be two sources of votes – people’s vote (50%), through text votes, and judges’ vote (50%). Since the presidency should not be a popularity contest, the people should not be given the sole power to determine the winner. The judges will be comprised of at least three learned and educated people from the different sectors of the society. Some foreign judges will be brought in from time to time, depending on the current activity. The lowest vote getter per episode will be eliminated.

The host should have a witty and strong personality. As of the moment, Mirriam Santiago is the leading candidate for the job. A close second is Edu Manzano.

Among the benefits of holding this reality show is as follows:
• The publicity Philippines will make will rival even the holding of Olympics.
• The income it will generate – from licensing to other countries, merchandises (Gloria’s fake stick-on mole, Erap’s wrist band, Noli’s gel, Susan’s puppet doll, Rex Cortez’ action figure, Brother Mike’s colorful suits, Erap’s mahjong set, etcetera), SMS messages. How about a Pay-Per-View tie-up with HBO?
• We will be sure, that at least for the year preceding the next president’s election, he/she was never been involved in an anomaly.
• The voting power of undeserving Filipino voters is greatly decreased.
• The candidates will not spend a lot of money campaigning, thus enabling him/her to start his/her presidency clear from debt.
• It is easy to hide one habit, mannerism or addiction for a day, but the candidates will not be able to hide it for six months or more.
• At least once during those 365 nights a candidate will talk in his sleep and we can just imagine what revelation it will be.

In order for us to maximize the benefits of this reality show, I suggest creating another reality show succeeding this one. The title will simply be “The Life of the Philippine President”. And this will show a twenty-four hour coverage of the president’s activities.

On Corporate Politics

2005-07-08T14:12:00.000+08:00

Four years and two companies after, I still can't accept how politics can limit, sometimes destroy, an organization. We see it nearly destroy the Philippines, painting a laughable portrait of us to the eyes of the world. We see it cripple some of our sports -- chess and basketball in particular. But to experience it firsthand destroying our company is something different altogether especially if we are in the center of it. We can only vent our anger to no avail.

What triggers politics to come in to the equation? In my opinion, maybe naive opinion, professional incompetence brings about politics. Pride, low self-esteem, plus incompetence are sure ingredients to a disastrous leadership waiting to happen. Add these all up with power, and we have a template for a mediocre, pitiful organization.

It is human nature to protect one's turf. If one is not good enough (incompetent) sometimes he tends to device other means to preserve his corporate existence. He thus develops defense mechanisms to guarantee his survival. The emergence of competent and much younger employees triggers one to bring-out these defenses. These mechanisms, mostly underhanded tactics, most often than not, create a dysphoric environment. This environment causes a chain reaction felt all the way down to the lowest level of the organization. The upper management, being blind to what really is happening downstairs, and can only hear what the middle managers are telling him, will almost always side with the middle management.

Among these tactics is to divide the younger employees by "tribes" adopting under his wings the competent but controllable ones. The slightest display of resistance will automatically put one to the other tribe and will almost surely put him in a stiff climb up the corporate ladder. Sometimes if the young employee is pushed too hard, he tends to fight back only to find himself not strong enough to make even a dent. By then it is just a matter of time for him to bolt out.

But the effect of the power struggle that entails affects not only the direct combatants but the whole organization itself -- from the upper management down to the lowest personnel. Sometimes the effect is felt even outside the company. No matter, the result is always a mediocre organization as good only as the middle managers.

But where are the other middle managers in the middle of this? The most dangerous politicians are those, though professionally incompetent, are very much competent in other areas like diplomacy. The other middle managers are first put under his spell, easily becoming puppets following his whims.

The culprit, amid the chaos he created, fails to remember one rule in becoming a very good leader – the role of a good leader is to develop an apprentice to his full potential if even much better than him.

The mediocrity he brings to the organization is a threat in itself. Sometimes he finds it an achievement to force someone out of the organization. But the loser is not really that someone but the organization who’ll suffer to a curse of mediocrity. The person forced out turns out to be the winner as he is introduced to a bright future hidden to him by the mediocrity of the previous organization.

In my opinion, if there is a way to solve the problem brought about by the politician, it lies in the hands of the other middle managers or the upper manager himself. Sometimes people tend to mistake silence for kindness, totally forgetting the character needed to control politics.

Tinkering With My Blog

2005-07-08T11:22:00.000+08:00

Gosh. I'm like a six-year old kid playing with a new toy. Days after adding two hit counters within a span of five days, I was experimenting with my blog's template. Yep, being a programmer that I am, I hate tinkering with codes if it's not my job. So it took a while before I decided to modify it. Sometimes I wonder if I'm in the right profession. Anyway, this is but a temporary page. At least that's what I've decided two days back. The sole purpose is to while my time while i'm preparing my more permanent web site. It will probably take a few more weeks to bring it up though.

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Some few days back, I've planned to borrow "Hitchhiker's". However, much to my irritation, all copies from the Bedok library were on loan. So I tried to reserve a copy but I think I'm third in their list so it's not until at least two months before I'll know if it's the "humor" for me. Instead, I accidentally discovered the location of their hardbound comic books. I borrowed Concrete, Bone, and one Marvel and one DC crossover books. Well, I've always been a comics lover but I had no resources to exercise it. I loved the Bone comics. Incidentally, the two crossover books are about evolution and origin of life, albeit, in a fictional way, which is currently a hot topic in one of my mailing lists.

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After five days or so, I've finished reading the four comics. I've headed to the Tampines library and decided, this time, to borrow more "heavy" stuff. I've ended up with four, literally heavy, hardbound books. I had problem bringing them back.
I've borrowed one Asimov mystery book just to be safe. And just to prove to myself that I'm more mature and focused now to study technical things, I've borrowed one technical book (guess what?*grin*).

I really, really love Singapore's library. When I go back to the Philippines, hopefully with money to spend, I want to establish a community library. I really think reading should be promoted to us Filipinos. We really need to mature intellectually if we will have a chance to recover someday.

Too Late

2005-07-04T10:23:00.000+08:00

Oh... Too late... search engines, at least google, are still directing them to my site.. sigh... if you reached my sight by using the keyword "c_h_r_i_s_t_i_n_e r_e_y_e_s s_C_a_n_d_a_l" or something like that, i'm teribly sorry... you're in the wrong site.. so, sorry... :D

My New Toy

2005-07-04T09:57:00.000+08:00

Just recently, about a few days back, I added a new toy to my blog. I added a hit counter. And what do you know. I've been avaraging about 1000+ visits a day. Is that a good thing? With the things I put in my blogs, I really think it's not a good idea to make it searchable. Most entries are made for my close friends only. Some are abstracted and only I can understand them. But I'm still hoping some of my old, long lost friends will accidentally visit my blog so I think I'll just let it be. And I'll just remove the culprit. Sigh. It's funny to know that the blog about the "popular searches in my friendster" is the culprit. Hehehe. I guess I'll just remove it. It will dramatically slow down my hit-counts. :D

Note to self: Don't ever dare mention S_E_X S_C_A_N_D_A_L_S in my future blogs. :D

Why 6:47? Is "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" Funny? Etcetera.

2005-07-01T09:14:00.000+08:00

I woke up at exactly 6:47 AM today. Weird. This is not the first time I woke up at this exact time, especially during the first few months of my arrival here in Singapore. There was even a stretch where I'd wake up at the same exact time everyday, regardless of what time I slept the previous night. And my alarm clock is set at 7 AM. What's with 6:47?

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John 6:47
I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life.

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Yesterday I was searching for a copy of "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy". Because of the mix reviews about that book, some finding it so-so if not at all funny, and some are cult-followers of the book, I am intrigued. Hey, it might give an answer why some people find me corny and why some people (namely me... ouch!) find me funny. Maybe I'll laugh hard reading the book and I have an instant cult to join.

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Today I need to go to Bedok Library and try to borrow a copy of the same book. I've failed to secure a copy yesterday.

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Speaking of books, heh, I've finally given up on reading "The Romance of The Three Kingdoms". I guess my mind is just too occupied right now to add a heavy reading of that type. Maybe next time.

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Yesterday I've seen VP Noli de Castro's interview with ABS-CBN. What's this? Is he starting to distance himself from the GMA administration? I noticed his answers are all safe even saying that "He is still supporting the _programs_ of the administration". Safe answer if you tell me.

Early campaign for the Vice President huh?

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I've also seen Susan's speech condemning P Arroyo. She said she doesn't accept P Arroyo's sorry. To which I thought, "PGMA was not directing her sorry to her or to any opposition at that". GMA was appealing to the "mabubuting(kind)" citizens.

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By the way, how many acting awards does Susan already have?

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Now if the opposition can add more credibility to their cause. I really don't like how some actors managed to destroy the credibility of the, supposedly, People's Power 3. I wish to see less stupid (I'm not pertaining to celebrities only) interviews. I want to hear more intellectual comments not just emotional outbursts from some of our kababayans.

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Speaking of intellectual, I really hate it during the last, last election (1996?). While I was inside a bus, I overheard some reasons why they want to vote ERAP -- "Sinubukan na natin ang matatalino, niloko tayo. Ngayon subukan naman natin ang bobo. (We've voted for intelligent people but they just cheated us. Now let's try someone stupid.)" Sheesh. That's why I'm wondering if democracy is right for us Filipinos. I always believe that the smartest and the brightest should be sitting there in Malacanang.

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Now I'm wondering what would have happened if Dear Miriam won? I, and some of my friends, really appreciate her intelligence. Why did you join the darkside Miriam, why?

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What about Ninoy?

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Going back to Noli, what if this is the administration's ploy? Seeing no other escape for Arroyo, they are now asking Noli to distance himself from GMA. After GMA steps down, Noli will sit as the next President. Winner: Administration. Loser: The Filipino People.

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Biggest Winners: Filipinos working abroad. What with the peso value continue to go down. Sigh.

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But if GMA will step down, which I think she should, who's the leader capable of uniting the nation? Certainly not Noli.

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And if an opposition takes the presidency, it will be a never-ending cycle. So, what are our options?

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Incidentally, I was reading an old newspaper ("Saturday Insight") yesterday. There was an article titled "Why So Few Takers For This Job?". It discusses about the presidency in Singpore. It says that most of those qualified for the job are not interested to run.

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Sigh. Qualified? Not Interested? How about this -- "A lot of unqualified but very much interested candidates"? And now I understand why a small country like Singpore is rich and the relatively bigger Philippines is poor. Sigh. Sigh. Sigh.

NBA Draft: Is it wise that I stayed in school?

2005-06-29T17:04:00.000+08:00

Today, the NBA draft was held. A lot of college students and some highschool graduates participated. Those drafted in the first rounds are guaranteed to be instant millionaires, that is, if they play their cards right. They are a young bunch and yet they are destined to be rich and famous. I'm terribly sorry for equating money with success, but for now I'm talking about materialistic and earthly things.

Then it came to me, what if instead of studying through college I stopped and played serious basketball instead? I know I'm not that tall and my game is suited more for a big man, but I know if I just put my mind into it I could have been a basketball player at least locally. I could have converted my game into a guard, be drafted in the PBA, probably play for the national team, then endorse a beer or a sausage. Or probably, I could have taken a billiard cue and head to a billiard hall instead of the classroom. It could have been equally rewarding just like playing basketball. But my parents insisted that I go to school, so that's what I did.

Imagine, instead of blogging about them players, somebody else would have written a blog about me. I could have been doing a blog for NBA dot come for all I know, but no, it was not meant to be. I stayed in school, joined some academic activities (contests, etcetera), got a college scholarship, graduated in engineering within five years, and here I am now -- working in Singapore and updating my web blog from time to time.

But then again thanks to my education and I learned all about equations. I learned that it's not just money equated directly to success but you need to include a lot of things too -- like love(uh-oh!), family, God, the number of people you make happy, friends. When it comes down to it, fame and money is not just enough. In the end I might not make a lot of money like them basketball players or may not be famous outside my own social circle, but deep down inside me I know I can be just as successful as them if not more.

Our Swimming Pool

2005-06-29T16:21:00.000+08:00

Months ago, I was asked by a friend to create a blog about our swimming pool (I asked her to create a blog about education system in the Philippines, if I remember correctly). But it was an instant dilemma for me. What can I write about our boring swimming pool? It is almost always lively what with kids swimming there and all. But aside from them kids, whoelse? There are a number of big, and I mean really big, dark-colored and hairy guys (I don't mean to discriminate here but I'm just writing what I see!). That's all. And, uh, I forgot. There are old aunties from time to time. I mean, it really is discouraging to swim specially for young people like me. I'm not insinuating anything but it's just that young people want to go where other young people are. So, what can I say good, for that matter, anything, about our pool? A request is a request, so I'll still try...

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When the big, hairy one arrives, it's time to shower, dry up and go home.

Not being able to swim, swimming pool is not really a good place for me. But a few consecutive boring nights without choice of doing anything forced me to take my swimming attire and towel and head down to the condominium's pool. During these nights, I always try to stay where few people are swimming, stay low profile, and act like I know how to swim. During these nights, after about thirty minute or so, a man, about ten times bigger than me and hairy (if you've seen pro-wrestler King Kong Bundee just try to imagine him) goes down to the pool. I'm just thankful it is illegal to dive.

And I am just amazed by the way he looks. But what is more amazing is, he can swim! Shame on me, the big guy actually floats! And with a lot of splashes, he will always start swimming the length of the pool, stopping and floating in the middle (The design of the pool is that the deep part is located in the middle) then proceed. It was a sight to behold for me. Sigh. I guess it has something to do with those hairs.

After a few more minutes of watching him, I always go out of the pool, take a shower and head back to our unit.

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I'm in the pool, please don't bother me.

Well, not really a good swimmer, err, not really a swimmer, I tend to stay at one side of the pool. I don't try to learn how to swim specially if no friend is with me to see if I am doing it correctly. I don't want to look ridiculous to other swimmers. From time to time, if I'm sure nobody is watching, I'll do some few quick strokes and evaluate my accomplishment. But all the time I am disappointed. So, instead of studying how to swim, most of the times I just go to the deepest part, of course by the side of the pool, and walk underwater. It's still a very good exercise. Then I try to hold my breath as long as I can. But in-between doing these underwater exercises, my mind always fly somewhere. I can't help it. If there is a chance, I keep on reflecting about my past actions and decisions. Well, I don't regret making them but still there's always a time you can't help but wonder. Then I'd go on and think about my future. Am I in the right track for the future I want? Lately there is the cockiness in me that tells me I can't lose -- that everything will turnout just the way I see it. I don't know. I know it's got to do with my trust in HIM. For some reason, after I did some stupid (based from my standard) things in college, I developed this sense of calmness knowing everything will turnout for the best. Yes, from time to time, I get rattled. I freak out. But most of the times I tend to think I am in control of the situation, of course with HIS invisible hands as guide. Then the worries will banish.

Then some big splash of water will break my concentration. I'll look around and see the big hairy one. It's time to get out of the pool, take a shower, and go home.

Favorite Character: An Idiot Savant

2005-06-28T13:14:00.000+08:00

When asked who my favorite character is, I usually stop for a while and think hard (Ok. ok. No one really asks me that question except in surveys..). For someone who has no "favorites" growing up (except probably Jordan, but who didn't?), this is a tough question. Sure I like "Superman", "Archie", "Garfield", "Goku", "Shikamaru", "Hinata", among others, but they are not really my favorite characters.

So who's it (she/he)? Certainly I hate "Sailor Moon" and "Yaiba" because they are too noisy. The answer, I found out, will be very unlikely. It is "Ed" of "Cowboy Beebop". She is the "idiot savant" helping the bounty hunters find their "criminals". Her innocence and child-like (infant) mannerism while breaking into some of high-security systems makes her character cute.

It is really difficult to explain but if you watch the anime you'll understand what I am trying to say.

First Love Never Dies

2005-06-28T10:51:00.000+08:00

How funny the ghost of the past keeps on haunting us. Yes. Funny. Not Scary.

Just recently, the memory of my first love suddenly flashed back to me. It's as if fate has conspired using all possible opportunities to let me remember the sweet memory of the past. It is haunting me for abandoning her to follow the lure of a promising and rewarding career.

Suddenly it made me remember the feeling -- my heart palpitating, beating in an unusual pace; my eyes growing round in sight of her; and the feeling of comfort and serenity beside her. "Yes, it is love," I thought.

But a potentially fruitful relationship abruptly ended when I chose to take up computer engineering and its promise of a bright and rewarding future. "I will still be near her," I thought. But "near her" was not close enough, as we drifted apart until I can no longer remember her. Until all I have is the memory of her. Then even the memory was gone.

But like a ghost of one long dead, she surfaced again, teasing me with the images of what could have been. Her memory flooded back to me, brought by some "innocent" messages in a mailing list, some news about a Filipino mathematician(haux?) from different blogs and even in a conversation with a new friend in Friendster. Like Bruce Willis in "The Kid", it's as if I'm looking through the eyes of a younger, more care-free me.

First the mails about "which course to take in college" where sent. The point of view which I support is "taking a course where we will be mentally prepared -- where our analytical thinking will be greatly enhanced". Come to think of it, how many of what we learned in college, me specially, are we using in our career today? What is more important is developing the ability to think. One mail suggested taking Math, Physics, and the likes over Management and Computer Science (one even suggested taking Computer Science as a hobby). It stung me -- How on earth did I choose Computer Engineering over BS Math just because of the promise of a better paying job? Going back, I could have been doing what I am doing now, if not better, if I took up BS Math.

Then the flood of math questions from the maililng list made me feel like a high-school student again, salivating for the next challenging questions and begging for more. Most of my highschool, and even elementary school, memories are filled with math. Although rusty (Hey, I could barely think nowadays), I tried to solve each question with such gusto.

The last came, of all unlikely sources, through friendster. I've been talking to a friend and I don't know how we arrived at the topic Math but it feels good to talk with someone about it.

Finally, after hopelessly searching for hobbies to eat up my free time and force me away from "NBA.com", I decided to refresh my memory about Math -- my first love.

Korean Movies and Lover's Concerto

2005-06-26T18:47:00.000+08:00

Korean movie really caught me by surprise.
A great respect for their film-making and story-telling was developed within me, starting when I fell in love with the very original style (as far as I know) of "My Sassy Girl" and it's beautiful lead star -- one of the prettiest women as far as i am concerned. At the time I thought it was a one-shot wonder for their film industry, but a handful of movies after, and one drama-series, I know I am a full-pledge Korean-movie fan. Indeed, "My Sassy Girl" was but a start.

My love grew even further when my friends and I had a movie-marathon of the love-inducing, drama-filled, heart-breaking series "Stairway To Heaven". The movie "The Classic" did nothing to decrease the love I'm starting to feel for Korean movies. On the contrary, it served as additional fuel. Both movies made me teary-eyed. I immediately placed them among my favorite drama-movies of all time.
Even the violent, shocking movie Old Boy discussing a taboo topic, incest, caught my admiration, as do their romance-comedy like "My Little Bride".

Their movies are not just cinematically pleasing but also has intelligent story-line that are hard to find in today's hollywood love-dramas. Each movie I watch just adds more to my longing for more.

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

The latest Korean movie I've watched and fallen in love with is "Lover's Concerto". As a rule, I don't watch a movie more than once. But since my friends haven't seen the movie yet, I was obliged to watch it again with them. It proved to be a good decision on my part as I understood some parts which I misunderstood the first time -- proof of the intelligent story-line of the movie.

In summary the movie is about an unconsummated love. What will you feel if all along you love a woman but you don't want to tell her because of a complicated friendship that involves another woman, bestfriend of the two of you, who you thought you fell in love with at first sight, and the woman loves you too but also thinks you love her bestfriend? The woman left you afraid to hurt herself and her bestfriend. Everything was only made clear to you when it was too late, when the woman you truly love is already dead? Such a tragic abrupt ending to a love that did not even start.

Exercise Day

2005-06-26T00:59:00.000+08:00

Today is exercise day -- physical, mental, social and emotional. My day started at ten am. Marvin and I played thirty minutes of one-on-one basketball while waiting for Jerrha and their friend to arrive. They had plans of playing tennis. After arriving more than thirty minutes after the agreed time, we started playing tennis. Its my second time to play tennis, so is Jerrha, and our other two companions are first-timers. Tennis being not exactly an easy game to learn unless you are truly gifted, we made the ball flew to the other court, disturbing (and annoying) the other players. One ball even flew outside. Fortunately, the weather see through our self-imposed embarrasment and helped us by pouring a heavy rain, forcing us to abruptly stop our game.
Next on schedule was pingpong, the one game I really, really can't learn (well, beside swimming and any water related sports). I really find it difficult playing games needing hand-to-eye coordination and good ball control. After eating our lunch in the cafeteria, we proceeded to the pingpong hall. We had a two-hour reservation. As expected, my game really was an eye-sore. But I guess, though negligible to others except to me, my game improved every set. But my best wasn't good enough as I suffered one humiliating loss after another. After Jerrha humiliated all the guys, we headed back to our unit to rest.
And after a morning of physical exercises, it's on to emotional exercise for us. Cris followed Jerrha to our place at around 4 pm and we watched "Lover's Concerto". And like the other Korean movies we watched before, this movie is really a tear-jerker (which reminds me, it needs a separate blog entry). While watching the movie, and since I already watched it before, I was trying to solve in vain a puzzle posted in one of my mailing-lists. I slept last night trying to solve it, and in between being humiliated in pingpong and painstakingly sitting while waiting for my next humiliation, I was trying to solve the puzzle mentally. It was a well needed mental exercise for me. Work really makes my brain rusty.
After the movie ended, we headed to Cris and Jerrha's place, and on to our social-conciousness exercise. I went there to bring the laptop for them. While dining we were discussing the problems of the Philippines and other socially-relevant issues. My stand was that U.S., specially the education system they introduced to us, has a lot to do with our country's present predicament.
After a few hours, and after learning that their living room wall clock is an hour late, and that it is already nearing midnight, I said goodbye to them and headed back home.
Really is a tiring but very eventful day.

BUG Fixed

2005-06-23T12:44:00.000+08:00

They fixed the bug! Huhuhu. No more free sports stories for me. Sigh. Huhuhu.

Three Most Important Subjects

2005-06-19T22:39:00.000+08:00

Math, Reading, and Communication.

Master Plan

2005-06-19T02:51:00.000+08:00

I was reading news today and I've read about how our governement applauded the move to write-off the debts of the 19(?) poorest nations. First I was happy thinking we are among those poor, "deserving" countries. But sadly, we are not. Sigh.

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Then it came to me - "So, that's the magnificent, fool-proof plan of our government. All along we are aiming to be on top of the exclusive list of poorest nations." Only, the execution was not perfect as we never managed to be among those 19(?) lucky winners. Good planning. Bad execution. Sigh.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Which reminds me, if we never had overthrew Erap the last time, we could have easily reached our goal. Being among the nineteen(?) poorest countries would have been child's play to us. We could have easily topped the list. Another bad grade for the administration for not clearly thinking ahead. Sigh.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Finally, I hope all the debts of all countries should be erased, allowing them the chance to start clean and fresh.

The Magic Ball

2005-06-19T01:48:00.000+08:00

I was enchanted by its beauty, floating like that amid the room. I was blinded by the multitude of vibrant colour it was giving off. I just stood there, staring. I've never seen something as lovely as this, I thought. It was elegant in its perfectly rounded and metallic presence, slowly and rythmically swirling in a beat known only to itself. It was emiting a lovely, soothing and relaxing tune. I found myself with no strength to move as I was totally enslaved by its outworldly magnificence. It was aesthetically pleasing my senses, as I found myself contented just staring at it.
Then, poof. It was gone. I was totally surprised and frustrated. But I realized it is what I thought it was -- aesthetically wonderful to the senses but no known use to me. And I know the memory of being in its presence will linger inside my mind forever, but it will never be missed.

The Early Bird Catches the Worm... Not!

2005-06-18T11:07:00.000+08:00

I woke up relatively early today. I was awakened by a succession of deafening thunders. Instead of continue reading one of the two books I am currently busy with, "The Guardian" by Nicholas Sparks and "Birds of Prey" by Wilbur Smith (a third, Romance of the Three Kingdoms, I still haven't find the will to open the pages yet), I decided to go online and check if the message I am waiting for has already arrived. Lo and behold, I still haven't receive the message. Sigh. As usual, I just browsed through CNNSI and ESPN. I really can't suppress my basketball addiction, which, due to my geographical location and my growth cells suddenly going bonkers on me, deciding to grow any direction but upwards, is now only limited to reading basketball columns, playing "NBA Live" if available, and , well, do some shooting every now and then (which reminds me, I need to find new sites to visit. i am practically visiting eight sites -- nba.com, cnnsi.com, espn.com, yahoo.com, gmail.com, google.com, inq7.net and philstar.com. geewiz. talking about wasting the power of the internet. note: remind self to visit linuxjournal.com, livescience.com and other linux and science and technology related stuff).

Finally realizing I need to have life and I was so pathetic, I went offline and decided to play basketball instead. But before I can slip on to my magical basketball shorts, and attire, my bed called me again. I would have easily resisted it's call if it weren't for my pillows and comforter joining the call. Alas, I wasn't able to resist. Lying down, I started reading my books(yeps. books. as in five pages of this book and five pages of the other.) again.

After a few minutes, my competetive and active spirit managed, I don't know how, to bring me to my feet. The same spirit guided my movements as I managed to find myself on my way to the basketball court. Being early, I was expecting an undisturbed personal time. I was practically dreaming how I will finally perfect those jumpers, how I will finally be able to perfect my unguardable cross-over, how I can add another few inches to my vertical leap and a few seconds to my breath-taking hang-time and so on (geez. that's why i said its a dream. its my dream. back-off. you are not allowed to comment negatively.).

But I was too much an early bird for my own good. the court was still very wet when i arrived and the sweeper was on his way to cleaning it. Disappointed, and my dreams abruptly vanishing into thin air, evaporating with the water on the court, I just turned back, head and shoulders slumped. I realized I'll just apply for my six-months-delayed security pass. I went to the condominium's office instead. And horror of horror, the office opens at nine am. And it's still 8:50 or something. Not patient enough to wait, I decided to head back home again.

On my way home, I realized my stomach craves "Ma-Ling" (oops! this is a free advertisement. whew! i am making these manufacturers rich. note: remind self to send bill to manufacturer) and egg for breakfast. So I went to the mini-grocery store. And, you guessed it, the store is still closed. Broken hearted, I just went back to our unit and reheat my one-week-old left-over food.

note: remind self not to wake up before ten am

Deconstructing Duncan (sports illustrated)

2005-06-17T09:35:00.000+08:00

I was smiling, well, laughing when I read this in www.cnnsi.com. This illustrates why Tim Duncan is one of my favorite basketbal player. And I really think he's the best player out there.

Deconstructing Duncan

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich thought All-Star Tim Duncan would bounce back from a subpar effort in Game 3, when he scored 14 points on 5-of-15 shooting and grabbed 10 rebounds.

Duncan "just beats himself up" after playing below the standards he sets for himself, Popovich said before Game 4. "He gets disappointed in himself, and when the next game comes, his cup fills again and he comes with a renewed focus.

"I said nothing to him [after Game 3] -- well, I did," Popovich said. "I sat next to him and said, 'Do I need to say anything or do you already know what I'm going to say?"'

Duncan nodded and Popovich said, "'It's been great talking to you.' And I went the other way. And that was our meeting. ... The things I do are amazing."

source: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/basketball/nba/specials/playoffs/2005/06/16/finals.notebook.ap/index.html

Farewell Lex, Farewell Nathan

2005-06-16T10:28:00.000+08:00

The past few weeks had been emotionally draining for me. Two friends died in succession. They lived their lives well, I surmise, for they served me well. Before you get any idea that I am a user who measures friendship by how much people serve me, I'm talking about my Lexar memory stick, the cheapest memory stick I found in Japan, and Nathaniel (yes, its a brand name), my rubber shoes.

I am particularly very proud with Lexar. He outlived most of his more expensive cousins, out-performing even my own optimistic expectations. It came one afternoon and it didn't come suddenly. First he was working properly as expected, then the breathing suddenly stopped. I tried to revive thinking I might have done wrong. A few moments later he showed sign of breathing. Then a few more moments again, the breathing left him for good.

Nathaniel on the other hand, may not be as recognized as his more famous cousins, but I've spent a lot of my productive and happy times, both while playing basketball or badminton, or even simply while jogging, with him. He served me long after he damaged his sole, and long after he was no longer whole enough to hide my socks. In the end he didn't give up on me as I voluntarily retired him and give him his most deserved eternal rest.

Pepito's Random Thought

2005-06-16T02:11:00.000+08:00

If you always find yourself needing to explain your actions and motives then probably you are with the wrong crowd.

Fred Clumsy #003

2005-06-14T14:20:00.000+08:00

It's been a while since my last (mis)adventure. I've lied low fow a while. i was so not busy that's why no misadventure happened. but in between my last misadventure and now, i've experienced few and minor ones. Like when I put inside an oven-toaster my friend's tupperware. Of course it melted. Then I destroyed a friend's mouse while I was apologizing to her. Sigh. I have this habit of moving my hands uncontrollably when I feel agitated or whenever I have a strong feeling or so. While apologizing, I kept on moving her mouse. My friend, instead of being mad, can't help herself but laugh at me.
But one of the clumsiest things I've done, and I've done it over and over and over again, is leaving my key in the keyhole. Sigh. I've done that almost everytime I am alone opening our door. Today we had an unexpected guest, or so I thought, when someone buzzed on our door. I opened it and there was an unknown old lady talking to me. Well, she just told me we forgot to remove the key. Luckily she have no idea, and I hope she will never guess it, who was the stupid person who left the key. I just took the key and calmly thanked her.
Anyway, that's it in the latest installment of Fred Clumsy's boring misadventures.

Farewell Mike

2005-06-12T23:45:00.000+08:00

In a generation almost devoid of heavyweight boxing icons, Tyson's shadow loomed large. He was the best, the meanest, the baddest, boxer of all. He was arguably the last great champion before the dark age of heavyweight boxing dawned upon us.
Growing up, he captured a generation's imagination. There were endorsements, wrestling appearances, and video games. Boys already wanted to be like Mike even before Air Jordan was a basketball-god. It was always cool to be like Mike.
In a career starting when he was a teenager, he demolished all pretenders left and right en route to becoming the youngest heavyweight champion ever. The devastating hooks and uppercuts induced fears in his opponents' eyes. The mere mention of his name, and the mere idea of being in the same square ring with him, made his opponents shudder uncontrollably. He was simply invincible. He's indestructible. He's a monster.
Then came the unexpected knockout against Buster Douglas. He was exposed as a mere mortal, capable of feeling the pain as he is capable of inflicting it. The aura of indestructability was vanquished with that one defeat. The defeat was followed by a rape conviction, and it was all downhill from there. He suffered five losses since he was released from prison, including the ear-biting circus co-starring Evander Holyfield. Then he filed for bankcruptcy, officially completing his life's cycle -- from-rags-to-riches-to-rags.
Yesterday he again lost. This time, to a virtually unknown fighter. It practically ended his status as a top-draw knockout machine and circus side-attraction, if not his career altogether. I feel sad because Tyson robbed me, and all the boxing-loving people around the world, of the chance to see arguably the most fearsome knockout artist of all time reaching his full potential. In the end of his career, although he no longer provided the same entertainment he used to by being the baddest person on Earth, he managed to entertain people without the punch because of the whole helter-skelter in all of his recent fights.
Looking at the current crop of heavyweight fighters, plus the seemingly blinding lure of more glamorous and rewarding sports like basketball and American football, there might not be another Iron Mike Tyson, both the good and the bad of him.

Moving Out

2005-06-12T11:19:00.000+08:00

Moving out is really very troublesome specially for lazybones like me. Last Saturday I helped my friend, "kumpare", to move-out of his unit in Changi Green. After more than a year here in Singapore, he decided to instead go back home to be with his family. We moved all of his things first to our place in Melville Park since his flight home will be on Tuesday. He'll spend the rest of his days here in Singapore in our place.
To help us move, since there are only the two of us, we needed another person to act as our eyes while we move the things from his third-floor unit down to where we will ride a taxi. We had no person in mind as who can help us since my housemate is busy with his own personal stuff. The only logical choice is AJ, so, even though it was against our will to bother someone, we reluctantly and shyly called her. That's one thing I really like about her as a friend, she's always willing to lend her hands, and in this particular case, her eyes, whenever she is needed. She readily agreed and within an hour or so, she was already in Changi Green.
My friend and I brought the things down from his unit. After all things were downstairs, my friend called a taxi. The plan was to cal two cabs. It was a good thing the driver suggested for us to put all the things inside. It saved us some precious dollars and my friend just added a few cents to the fare in reward for the driver's initiative.
Around fifteen minutes later we are in Melville and after a few hardships we managed to bring all the things on our sixth-floor unit.
It was a very tiring and troublesome day. I'm glad for my friend because he'll already see his family again.

Ang Gulo Naman Ng Pinas

2005-06-07T07:34:00.000+08:00

Hindi ko alam kung pano pa ko maeengganyong bumalik sa Pinas kapag nababasa ko at napapanood ang mga kaganapan doon. Meron na namang isyu tungkol sa jueteng, tumaas na naman ang mga pamasahe at pagkain, tapos, sobra-sobra na ang pulitika. Pati isports pulitikang pulitika na rin. Tapos mukhang bagsak pa ang paborito kong isports, ang basketbol. Mukhang wala ng pagasa. Nakakapanlumo.
Para pa naman sa isang katulad ko, na ika nga ng mga nakakakilala sa kin, ay isang taong masyadong mataas ang idelohiya sa buhay, napakahirap isipin na ang bansa na gusto mong tulungan ay tila ba wala ng pag-asa. Sabi ko nga sa AOTS report ko, yung idelohiya mo paglabas mo ng unibersidad ay unti-unting kinakain ng sistema, hanggang sa halos maging bahagi ka na rin ng sistema. Nakakalungkot.
Dati sabi ko ayaw kong lumabas sa Pinas. Gusto ko maghanap ng trabaho dun. Gusto kong makatulong at magkaroon ng silbi sa bansa ko mismo. Tapos, pagkatapos ng ilang taon, sabi ko, lalabas na lang ako at magiipon ng pera. Pag-nakaipon na ako, babalik ako at magtatayo ng sarili kong negosyo. Pero ngayon, parang nagdadalawang-isip na ako. Parang ang mga pag-asa ng bayan, mga Pinoy na may patutunguhan ang buhay, itinataboy palabas ng mga politikong hindi na natapos sa bangayan at awayan. Marahil ang pinakproblema ng bansa ay sobrang daming matatalino. Pero baka hindi din. Di ba, ang unang-unang sukatan ng pagiging matalino ay ang malaman mo at matanggap na lagi kang bobo at kailangan mo din ang talino ng iba para masolusyunan ang malalaking problema?
Sa palagay ko pa, talagang hindi pa handa ang mga Pinoy sa demokrasya. Siguro dapat ay marating muna ng mga Pilipino ang sapat na edukasyon na kailangan upang maging epektibo eto. Siguro mas kailangang maging intelektuwal ang mga Pinoy kesa emosyonal. Sa palagay ko, masyado pa tayong emosyonal para maging matagumpay ang demokrasya.
Iniisip ko pa, matalino ang mga Pinoy. Mas matalino tayo sa mga Singaporean pero bakit mas maunlad ang sila? Sa totoo lang, sa pitong buwan mahigit na inilagi ko dito sa Singapore, napansin ko na ang mga Pinoy ay mas creative kesa sa mga Singaporean, at kadalasan maging sa iba pang mga dayuhan dito, pero bakit parang kulang ang talino natin at ang ating pagka-creative para solusyunan ang ating pambansang problema? Siguro kasi yung creativity natin ay nakatuon kung pano maiisahan ang ating mga kalaban lalong lalo na sa politika.
Sa totoo lang, minsan naiisip ko kailangan ng bansa natin ay rebolusyon. Kasi sa rate ng pagbabago nating mga pinoy aabutin pa ng kung ilang henerasyon para makarecover tayo. Pero kung rebolusyon, iniisip ko kung sino man ang magwagi, alam ko na magiging mas nagkakaisa sila. Kung sino man ang magpapatakbo sa Pinas konti lang siguro ang magbabangayan. Lahat tulong-tulong na. Pero pano kung ang manalo ay mas malala pa sa kasalukuyan? Nakakatakot.
Siguro nga ang pinakasiguradong paraan ay maghintay. Maghintay ng ilang henerasyon. Pero dapat simulan na natin na ihanda ang henerasyong iyon. Dapat bata pa lang ang mga Pilipino talagang pinagaaral na kung paano mamuno. Dapat maaga pa lang mamulat na ang mga mata natin sa problema ng bansa. Dapat pagaralan din natin ang mga solusyong ginawa ng gobyerno ng ibang mga bansa. Dagdag pa, dapat siguro magkaroon ng batas na bawal tumakbo sa gobyerno ang mga kamag-anak ng kasulukuyang mga namumuno. Kasi, kanino pa sila natuto sa pamumuno kungdi sa mga namumuno rin nilang kamag-anak di ba? At base nga sa nangyayari sa ngayon, hindi epektibo ang mga solusyong ito. Kailangan sigurong mabigyan natin ng pagkakataon ang ibang ideya sa pagpapatakbo ng bansa.
At ang mga artistang tumatakbo? Wala naman akong problema sa kanila. Wala akong problema kung artista ka o hindi, pero sana naman, may alam ka sa pagpapatakbo ng bansa. Sana wag maging balat-sibuyas ang mga Pinoy pero sa totoo lang, kelangan natin ng matatalino sa gobyerno. Kailagang makuha ng gobyerno ang mga pinakamatalinong Pinoy, hindi yung tinataboy nila ang mga ito palabas ng bansa.
Sa totoo lang nakakinis yung mga mangmang na iniisip na dapat wag matalino ang iboto kasi naman sinubukan na daw ang matalino pero pumalpak, kaya subukan na lang ang bobo. Tama ba namang pangangatwiran eto? Kung bukal sa puso mo ang makatulong sa bansa sa pamamagitan ng pagtakbo sa gobyerno, e di dapat kang magsakripisyo sa pamamagitan ng pagaaral. Siguro nga may kursong dapat kunin ang mga gustong tumakbo sa gobyerno. Kung determinado sila, dapat nilang ipasa ang kursong ito. Kung ayaw nila, lagi namang may option sila na tumulong sa pamamagitan ng mga NGO.
Kahit alam kong walang pag-asa, bansa ko pa rin ang Pilipinas. Apektado pa rin ako sa mga nababalitaan ko sa dyaryo. Apektado pa rin ako sa mga napapanood ko sa TV. Apektado ako kasi may pamilya at mga kaibigan pa ako doon. Apektado ako kasi doon ko pa rin gustong mag-retire. Kaso wala akong magagawa. Nasa kamay ng mga lider ang solusyon ng problema. Ang magagawa ko lang ay maghintay, mangarap na maayos ang lahat, at magsulat ng sinasaisip at sinasaloob ko dito sa blog ko.

On Closeness

2005-06-06T14:17:00.000+08:00

I realized something. Closeness is not directly proportional to the number of nice, engaging words two persons can exchange with each other at any given time. In fact, closeness has got nothing to do with words. Closeness is defined more by the comfort two persons get just by being with one another. Closeness transcends what mere words can convey. It explains the connection shared by two people without a need to utter a single word.

Who's the Real Sidekick?

2005-06-06T00:02:00.000+08:00

The self-proclaimed Most Dominant Ever (MDE) is very vocal in claiming that the Heat is his team and that Dwyane Wade is his sidekick. They're the dynamic duo -- he is the Batman and Wade his Robin. For those who don't know what I am talking about, the Most Dominant Ever I am describing here is Shaquille O'Neal, the 7-1 NBA superstar, the ex-teammate of Kobe Bryant in Los Angeles Lakers and the ex-teammate of Penny Hardaway in Orlando Magic when Penny was still a superstar. For those who's more familiar with movies, he was the genie in Kazaam (Is this correct?).
Now he is claiming that Wade, whom he gave a monicker Flash, is his new sidekick. He is the main act and Wade is a mere side attraction. But considering how Wade carried the Heat team when Shaq was injured, I really feel Wade owns the Heat. Heck, I don't even know why Shaq has threatened Steve Nash for the season's MVP. When it mattered most, on game 6 of the current eastern conference finals, Shaq wasn't able to lift the Heat past the Detroit Pistons when Wade was nursing an injury. He wasn't able to return the favor to Wade when Wade carried "his" team for him while he was gone.
Given that he is reportedly still injured, I wil still give him the benefit of the doubt until he is already at 100 percent. Until that time, and until he can prove he can carry the Heat without the Flash, I am reluctant to agree that he is the man in this Heat team. At the most, I will just give him, at the moment, equal billing with the Flash. But he still needs to prove his real worth for this team or face the "embarrassment" of being the sidekick for the first time in his career.

"Jeepers Creepers": Irritating Movie

2005-06-05T23:13:00.000+08:00

What if you've been a witness to a gruesome, cold-blooded murder, what would you feel and what would you do? To be exact, what if, while driving in a highway, you're car was hit with a policeman's head, of course separated from the body, would you stop and check who threw the head? what if you've just witnessed someone pick-up the head, and eat it, would you look and observe it in shock, or drive as fast as you can, your curiousity not withstanding? If you decide to drive as fast as you can, would you stop in a dark, farm-house and ask the owner for a phone, wasting precious time conversing with her while you know it was still very near from the crime scene, or drive as far as you can, until you find a safe location, possibly a police station?

While watching a movie tonight, "Jeepers Creepers", I was really, really irritated with the lead female protagonist and in general, the very bad dialogues of all the characters. I mean, the lead female acted abnormally, trying to act stupidly tough. She chose to do the opposite thing a normal person would do, as did the other characters. The stupid, moronic actions of all the characters were magnified when the thing, the murderer, the monster, finally reached the girl and her brother in a police station, where they also met a psychic. After they all have seen the monster with their own eyes, they still wouldn't listen to the psychic. They still thought the psychic was weird. Grrrr. Really irritating. The psychic was just explaining what they were already experiencing and yet they still wouldn't believe her. The writer and the director really managed to find a way to make an unrealistic fiction seem even more unrealistic. The girl continued to act stupidly tough throughout the movie, for some reason known only to the writer and the director.

Sigh. And why did I continue to watch it though I felt really irritated? Unfortunately, the remote control was out of my reach so I have no choice but to endure the movie. At least I had an instant blog topic. Sigh. Sigh. Sigh.

And since this is already as good as a movie review, then I need to add the customary rating here. So here goes. The movie gets an irritating 0/10. I really hated the movie.

Crimson Room

2005-05-29T02:32:00.000+08:00

I woke up in the middle of a room. It was too dark. I switched on the light. I am in the middle of the room, lying on a bed. I stood up. There was a door in front of me. There was a cabinet to my left and a window covered by a curtain to my right. I walked to the door and tried to open it. Locked. I tried to force it. Impossible. I looked around. No key nor any object that I can use. I looked inside the cabinet drawers. No luck. I pulled the curtain. I looked through the window. I learned I was somewhere high. I went back again to the door. I again forced it. Still not successful. I used all my strength. I didn't succeed. I sobbed. I cried. I shouted. No one answered. I cried again. I slumped down on the floor, crying.

If only I tried opening the window, I should've noticed the fire escape leading to my freedom.

On Selfishness

2005-05-29T01:27:00.000+08:00

In the end, it is only you who can save yourself. People can only go so far with you and you have no choice but to take care of yourself. You cannot expect them to climb the highest mountain nor swim the deepest ocean with you just because you are willing to do the same for them.
In life it is ok to be selfish from time to time. Heck, it is better to be selfish! You need to save your hide first before trying to save the whole world. Besides, you cannot expect the world to save you when you need saving. You're all alone out there. Survive or die. Sink or swim. No one can teach you to swim. No one can give their life for you when you're dying.
It is a wild world out there. Survival of the fittest. We need to outwit and out-maneuver everyone to succeed. Scheme and be cunning if you must, but do succeed. And never ever let your guard down or show your weakness to others. Do anything you must to survive.
Think of your self first. Selfishness is the only way to survive!

Drunk

2005-05-28T23:36:00.000+08:00

Always thought I have a high alcohol tolerance level. I thought drinking alcohol will be child's play for me. Armed with this confidence, I tried to drink more than a glass of vodka during my friend's bithday.
Don't get me wrong. I am not a heavy drinker. I do sip every now and then on special occassions. And it was my friend's, Bing's, birthday. Well, there was a vodka and I admit I tasted it partly because of cockiness, partly because of confidence, and partly because of, uhm, a personal reason. I mean, whether it was Bing's birthday or not, that time I will drink whatever alcoholic drink was present. But the reason is besides the point. It was the first and only time I experienced my sight swirling. I cannot focus and it seems like everything is moving around me.
Wow. This is the feeling of being drunk? Well, at least I already know it. And from what I experience, I know I don't want to go beyond this point. This is the maximum drunkardness I am willing to take. As long as I can still blog.

The Awakening

2005-05-27T00:47:00.000+08:00

On the fifth month of the fifth year of the second millenia, a holocaust of gigantic proportion will come to pass, and the child of the beast will be born upon this Earth.

He cusped his head, now barely keeping his self upright. He's been fighting himself for sometime now. He doesn't know if it's been months or years but he knows this time it is something big. He may no longer be able to control it this time.

He shouted as the creature within him struggled to take over his body.

"No! This can't be! I won't allow you to control me!", he shouted. He knows the helplessness of his situation. Within a few moments from now, the creature inside him will take over. He can't accept the fact that his body will be a host to this creature.

He cried. What can he do? He's been struggling with all his might. He can be stronger than this. He knows he can get more strength from what he possess now. But what happened to him? He can barely move his limbs.

"Argh! No! Don't! I won't allow you!", he shouted.

Then, little by little, he lost control of his functions. Suddenly it was an odd experience. He knows he is still inside his body but he is no longer in control. It's as if he suddenly turned into an observer, watching his body move, reacting to situations he's not even sure how he'll react himself.

Then the transformation is complete. He can't do anything but to accept his fate. All he can do is shout from within, but even he can't hear his voice.

Careless Whisper (Dave Coz)

2005-05-23T21:53:00.000+08:00

Time can never mend
The careless whisper of a good friend
To the heart in mind
Ignorance is kind
There's no comfort in the truth
Pain is all you'll find

I feel so unsure
As you take my hand and lead me to the dance floor
As the music dies
Something in your eyes
Calls to mind a silver screen
And all it's sad goodbye

Chorus:
I'm never gonna dance again
Guilty feet have got no rhythm
Though it's easy to pretend
I know you're your not a fool

Should have known better than to cheat a friend
Waste a chance that I've been given
So i'm never gonna dance again
The way I dance with you, oh

Time can never mend
The careless whisper of a good friend
To the heart and mind
Ignorance is kind
But there's no comfort in the truth
Pain is all you'll find

(Chorus)

Tonight the music seems so loud
I wish that we could lose this crowd
Maybe it's better this way
We'd hurt each other with the things we want to say
We could have been so good together
We could have lived this dance forever
Now who's gonna dance with me
Please stay

Rhea's Birthday

2005-05-23T16:45:00.000+08:00

Eager to expand my social circle here in Singapore, I was hopelessly scourging the web for a group or organization to join. I've tried joining some activity meet-up organizations like scrabble, Nihongo, badminton, etcetera, but alas, my natural laziness got the best of me and I failed to join a single meeting. I've also tried to search for new friends through Friendster but to no avail. I found new "friendsters" but not new friends.
Rhea's simple birthday dinner party provided the best opportunity for me. The moment she invited me, I readily accepted. I brought with me Richard. It was a long travel, almost one and a half hours, with two train changes.
I've met new acquaintances in the party. I really liked the "atmosphere" around her and her friends. And like the other Filipino get-togethers which I've managed to attend to, magic-mic very much made the party alive. Richard, who at the start was a little shy to sing, managed to find his much-valued KNM(hehehe) just on time as he sang a number of songs with such gusto.
As usual, I was my usual shy self. No one was able to make me sing. Joy asked me to sing but I, stupidly, told her I will sing only after her. I thought she was too shy to sing. Hu hu hu. Pitiful me, later, she sang with such gusto that I just crossed my fingers, hoping she won't remember. But she did. I decided it is to my advantage not to sing that night, so I just said, emulating my favorite senator, "I lied", minus the demonic laugh of course.
Sigh. Maybe next time I will be generous enough to let then hear my magnificent voice.

Chatting With Old Friends

2005-05-10T13:37:00.000+08:00

I've seen Tim's status in Friendster as married. I was wondering if it is true or not, so the first time I've seen him online in YM, I immediately asked him if it's true. He retorted, "Ngayon lang tayo nag-chat yan na agad tanong mo sa kin."
Well, I guess my curiosity just got the best of me this time. So we exchanged some small liners -- I've asked him if he knows a work in Japan; he said he wanted to work here in Singapore. Then I saw Looney online. I invited both of them in a conference. Looney said we should invite Mong too. He gave as Mong's "secret" Yahoo! ID and I invited Mong. Just like that and our 198 group is complete again after four years or so -- the pioneers of UP Diliman's Mobile Robotics Laboratory.
We exchanged stories. I felt sad it seems I've missed a lot about them. And I felt I miss the atmospere of our campus. Heck, I miss my undergraduate days. I miss the overnight stay in our laboratory; I miss staying awake for 2 to 3 days to cram for a project; I miss going out of the lab during midnights to look for a place to eat; I miss kwek-kwek and fishball; I miss the caaraderie we somehow managed to establish.
Looney is still the most serious and most dedicated among us. He was not bothered a bit as he was very focused in whatever he was doing, typing short messages from time to time. I really am proud and happy how the lab improved since we first joined the lab as four "bright" but still clueless undergraduate researchers.
After an hour or so of exchanging updates, Tim said he needs to go because he is already hungry. Mong decided to find a food to eat. So we decided to continue our discussion some other time.

On Blogging

2005-05-08T11:23:00.000+08:00

Blogging is my solace, the outlet of my emotions. Whenever the burden is too great for me, I retreat back to the deepest corners of my mind and translate every bit of emotion into concrete words -- trying to explain the vagueness of everything to myself.
I don't care about writing. I don't care about people reading my entries. This is mine, my outlet. This is for myself. This is my sanctuary. This is not about how people will interpret my ramblings. If it helps them, I don't care. If it makes them happy or sad, I don't care.
I just wat to write anything. Everything. Even if it is abstract to most people, to me it is very clear. And it is what matters to me.
This is my blog. This is my sanctuary.

Dreams...

2005-05-08T11:08:00.000+08:00

Was reading Jack London's "Before Adam" for a few days now. I learned that some dreams are related to evolution -- specifically the falling dream. I haven't verified it yet but I guess it makes sense. I think we all had that dream more than once in our life. In that dream, we see ourselves falling in a somewhat bottomless pit. Then we will wake up. He said that scientists relate it to some of our ancestors living in trees who fell while sleeping. Since the experience needs to be passed down through generations, there's no bottom. Our ancestors who reached the bottom of course died before having the chance to pass the experience. The other ancestors who survive the fall manage to cling to branches or to anything and survive.
But some of my most vivid dreams, those that haunt me for years as a child are somewhat unexplainable to me even today. Dreams should be made up of our experiences. And some of my dreams I cannot relate to any of my experiences.
There was a dream about flying beds. In my dream I was awakened in the middle of the night and see beds flying over me. Then I will wake up in the real world confused, and thinking it was a real experience.
There was a dream about me flying. In that dream I am trying to fly but I can't. I'll run for a few miles, then jump really, really high. Much like flying. But after a few moments I will fall down. It was frustrating me because it is as if I know the techniques of flying but somehow I have forgotten it. There was a feeling of hopelesness.

...

2005-05-08T11:01:00.000+08:00

geez... my mind is not working properly today... and last night... haven't had a decent sleep yet... slept at three thirty am... woke up before seven am... tried to sleep for thirty minutes... to no avail... went out the room... surf the net... brought the laptop back to my room... read myself to sleep... was a very uneventful sleep... full of bad dreams... not nightmares though... compressed in that short time... woke up at ten am... head very heavy... and emotionally disturbed... need to face another day... another problematic day... sigh...
...
...
...
need to prepare for church... need to talk to HIM... badly...
...
...

Digging A Hole

2005-05-08T10:48:00.000+08:00

There was a man who started digging a hole. After a few hours he noticed that he already had sank deep. But he continued digging unable to get out of the hole and unable to force himself to stop digging.

Never ever second-guess me, please?

2005-05-03T18:25:00.000+08:00

People are entitled to their opinion. I agree to that.But sometimes I really get irritated (don't know why I easily get irritated these days) when people try to interpret my actions and to guess my motives because they seldom hit the mark. Heck, sometimes they even go as far as to suggest to me what I need to do. I mean, it is really irritating, if not amusing. Here I am planning at least two moves ahead. Then there is this person who will think about what I am doing as this or that, unknowingly I already considered that as a wrong choice among with a few others beforehand.

No, I am not boasting, although I agree I am a proud person (and that’s one of my biggest fault as a human). But I think I am at a level these days that if I want to be scheming or cunning, I can do that with no sweat. I was scheming and cunning as a kid, well, for fun. My closest friends know that. They know how my mind works. I let them know me because I want someone to understand how my mind works. And they can tell you it is not as simple as yes or no, one or zero, true or false. I often tell them if I want to be a villain I can be a very good villain. Heck, Rob will
look like the most just person in the whole world next to me if I decide to let the devil in me out.

And that’s another thing I was telling people before. For some people it is easy to be kind. They were born to be kind. It is natural for them. But for some people, every moment, every second, is a struggle to be good. But that’s for another blog. Let me get back to my original ramblings.

As I mentioned earlier, I am a scheming, cunning, devious and whatever synonymous adjectives you can think of, person. And if I don’t share a person my thoughts, or if a person doesn’t see me doing anything or he/she doesn’t hear anything from me, that doesn’t mean I am not doing or thinking anything. I just don’t want him/her to be a privy yet. I am a person who is always thinking, always trying to translate a losing situation into an advantage. For me, life is a big game of chess. If you want to win, you need to make every move count.

To close my ramblings, it is ok for people to give whatever meanings they can to my actions and they can talk about that behind me. I don’t care. But please don’t let me know. Because it’s either I will laugh at them or they will irritate me for the rest of the day. Just be contented that whatever my action will be, it will be for the best of everyone concerned, because, luckily for humanity and for Rob, I chose to be a just person.

Interview with Google

2005-05-03T08:11:00.000+08:00

Interview has always been my waterloo. I barely passed my highschool interview and I guess my exam result helped me much to pass. I barely passed my interview in NEC and I think the only interview I passed well is my exit interview with the same company. I really hate interviews. You can just imagine what I was feeling for my Google interview.
I was very happy to be considered for the interview, though. I think my cover letter did the job. However, I didn't know if I can exorcise the ghost of my failed interviews of past and get this job.
Armed with a renewed level of confidence, I excitedly answered the phone when it rang at around 8 AM. I was taking a shower that time. Naked and dripping wet (with some soap here and there), I run to get my phone, placed on top of my bed. I missed the call. So I called him(wasn't sure yet if he's a he or a she because of the name). And yes, it was from Google. We exchanged a quick hello, I described my work experience to him and what I do in my current work. Then he proceeded to ask me a few questions. Most of them simple but I was really rusty. As in super rusty. And nervous. But I'd rather not post the questions here because I don't want any leakage.
As it turned out, I failed in one question with computation which is usually my strength. I was panicking. Geez. I really hate interviews. That's why I thrive well alone in front of my monitor or a written exam.
After the interview, when I was no longer panicking, I easily computed the answer. I emailed him and thanked him for the interview and inserted as a P.S. my correct answer to that one simple question.
Sigh.

Missing my Childhood

2005-05-02T09:35:00.000+08:00

As a child I've been a basketball player, a boxer, a chess player, a soldier, a police, a thief, a teacher, a lawyer, an actor, a dancer, a painter, a sketch artist, a magician, an escape artist -- you name it and I've probably been that. I miss those days when you can just do whatever things you want to without thinking about anything else. Life was good.
Then age catches up with you. Awareness is developed. Suddenly you realize you are too old for role-playing and too tall to play with your playmates -- you can no longer be a soldier, a police, a thief, a teacher nor a lawyer. Then the responsibilities built up and you decided chess is no longer worth your time.
One day you just woke up and realized you've already outgrown your childhood friends and you found new ones who can relate to your new interests better. You realized its better to plan for your future, and to completely say goodbye to your childhood games, of course, except basketball.
And then one day more, you realized you can no longer play basketball like the way you do. You couldn't just go there, play your heart out, jump and bump bodies with complete abandon. You realized you can approach the game more intellectually, with more style and finnesse. And you did. You didn't realize you are no longer as effective as you once did. And one day you realized you no longer enjoy the game like the way you did. But it was already too late. You already reached a quarter of your life. You felt sorry for yourself because there's no "rewind" in life. You can only look at your self now, consumed by too much thinking.
And as you are saddled by problems -- financial, work, family and love -- you can't do anything but face them. You realized you are on your own now. No parents to comfort you when you are crying. You realized people really suffer in real life and you canot restart everything if you lose. If you lose, you lose. Simple as that.
You realized you cannot just close your eyes and sleep, knowing that when you wake-up everything will be ok. You realized that now, if you close your eyes and sleep, everything will be the same, if not worse, when you wake-up. You realized you don't have a choice but to face your problem heads on, with eyes wide open.
And you can only look back at your childhood, envy at that young kid, playing, smiling at you, not a clue about the problems he will need to face later.

You Are My Strength

2005-04-20T00:23:00.000+08:00

Sigh. Here I am pretending to be strong, trying hard to be the strength you need. I want to be your voice, your heart, your mind. I want to manifest the anger that's building-up inside you. I want that anger. I want to take that anger as my own.

Here I am, trying my best to provide hope even in the hopelessness of it all. I want to be your hope, your faith, and your dream. I want to give you the optimism you so desperately need. I want to take your entire burden and your sorrow and crash them into ashes and blow them up to the wind. Or take them as my own.

Here I am, feeling hopeless, watching you cry. All the strength I've been building up for you dwindles with each tear falling from your eyes…

Happy Birthday Ring

2005-04-18T00:39:00.000+08:00

Hey Friend! We've known each other for how many years now? Ten? Twelve? Fourteen? Yes. Fourteen. We've known each other forever. We know each others' strength and weaknesses. We've seen each other laugh and cry. But wait. This is not about us and our friendship. This is about you, your special day.
So what can I say to you today, your special day? Though this is so clicheic, thank you very much for the friendship. And I hope you'll find someone who's worthy of you very soon. Just keep being yourself. That's all I can say. Sorry for this blog. You wished it would be something monumental. :)
Maybe I'll find you someone here... and I'll mail him to you as soon as possible... :)

How In Are You?

2005-04-06T17:53:00.000+08:00

Do you want to know how "in" you are? Here are some few guides.

1) The Inbox-Outbox Ratio
The more messages you have in your inbox, be it mobile phone, e-mail, etcetera, the more "in" you are. But, hey, just count the personal messages ok. SPAM messages ere NOT counted. So, if you think your inbox messages are lagging your outbox messages, take it as clue and start doing some precautionary measures like the following:
i. Avoid answering any SMS/e-mails if you can. Ready your alibi once the sender confronts you. You can say you're cel was low-batt, etcetera. Just be creative.
ii. In the event you cannot avoid to answer the message, always try to add questions in your reply. The goal is you should not be the one sending the last message.
iii. If for some reason you think the number of your outbox messages will never be able to reach the number of your inbox messages, wait for special occations or events (Christmas, New Year, etc.). You are sure to receive many messages during that time. Don't send messages until your inbox messages is well ahead of your outbox messages. If you still don't receive any messages during those occations, take the hint. You will NEVER be "IN". Stop reading this blog.

2) Weekend Activities
If you are spending your time in front of a PC, working in the office, and/or writing a blog about how to know if you are in or not, you're NOT "in". The more diverse your weekend activities, the more diverse your weekend crowd is, the more "in" you are. So go out! Find something to do. Catch up with your friends and buddies. You're NOT supposed to read this blog on a weekend.

3) Friendster
Of course, the more friends you have the more "in" you are. If you have a lot of friend invites from new/unknown people, then the more "in" you are. If you keep on getting rejections from your invites, then think again. You need to shutdown your friendster account.
If you just learned friendster recently, argh! From what planet are you? Go back to your planet, maybe you are "in" there.
If you're reaction to this is "What is Friendster?". Shucks. STOP reading this. Go back to your sleep. And stay ASLEEP for the rest of your life.

4) Blog
If you know about blogs you're "in". If you are reading this blog (except of course on a weekend), you are super-duper "in". If you have your own blog, you are "in", as long as others are reading your posts. If you think blog is something round, sticky, puffy, slimy (add other weird descriptions here), and you have no idea that what you are reading is a blog, you're hopeless man. I pity you. Just continue surfing through the net and join different mailing lists. Wait for the next "in" thing and be the first to jump in it. Maybe you can redeem yourself. But now, I can't see any redemption for you.

5) Latest Happenings, Latest Movies, Latest Shows
You should know at least one reality show. They're the "in" thing today. You should know at least one of the latest movies. If you don't know anything about those two, get a life man. Do yourself a favor. STOP reading this blog until you manage to watch one movie and one tv show.

But seriously, who cares about being "in"? I don't even know if some of the guides above have some bearing or none at all. As long as you are at peace with your self, as long as you are doing the things you want to do, that's good enough. You don't need to be "in" to different groups. Just select a few. Quality will always beat quantity.
And Remember: Just be "in" with yourself, and the "in"-ness measure ends there.
(But if the above guidelines actually make sense to you, let me know. And please reply if you can still think of other guides.)

How do you measure a man?

2005-04-06T17:30:00.000+08:00

You can appreciate a man by seeing him do good things everyday, you can applaud him for his countless achievements, and you can respect him for countless good traits he shows under normal circumstances, but it won't be enough. A man is not tough just because he knows how to use his fists, nor because he always sounds tough or acts tough. A man is not kind just because he looks meek and humble. A man cannot be great on the weight of his achievements alone specially if it is laid down and given to him from birth. Yes, achievements, characters projected by a man, his reputation, carry some weight, but they are not all that matters to me.
But remove him from his rose-colored world, remove him from his mechanical and formulaic life, see how he carries himself. Will he carry himself with class, or self-destruct amidst the chaos of it all? Then you'll see the man. You'll see how many of the achievements is real. You'll know who you want to be with in a fight. You'll know who you need to have in achieving a goal. And you'll learn the real measure of a man. Because it's when the chips are down, and everything is stacked up against him, its when great men are born... and mere impersonators crumble and disappear to oblivion.

Crocodile Meat and Frog's Legs

2005-04-06T17:13:00.000+08:00

Wow. Sounds appetizing, huh? One day, when I was assigned as cook, I accidentaly seen crocodile meat sold in the grocery store. Curious and eager for another gastronomic adventure, I decided to buy the meat. I was inspired to look for more. So I scourge the grocery section in search for other "not-so-common" delicacies. I stumbled upon frog legs. Long wondering what frog's legs taste, I took one pack.
Cooking them was another problem. I didn't know how to prepare the crocodile meat to bring out its natural flavour. I browsed through the net and all I found out was to avoid using too many spices -- to let its natural taste stand-out. I first decided to just deep-fry it, adding a little corn-starch. But later, and it was a big mistake, I decide to cook it using an experimental sauce I was else to use. It turned out too salty. Anyway, the meat was delicous.
As for the frog's legs, I decided not to fight my instinct and just deep-fry them, adding just enough salt. This time I captured the real taste of the frog -- a little like chicken.

Congrats sa Path

2005-04-01T22:05:00.000+08:00

Congratulations to my ex-group mates, NEC Telecom's Path group, for being one of the best five groups in SWQC. Talagang, from Majo (tama ba?), achievers mga Path. Galing nyo. :) From email ni Robii, ang galing ng intro ni Jas and ang galing din sumagot ni Robii. :) Syempre, I think over-all contribution pa rin ng group ang pinakanakatulong. Keep it up. =)
Hmm. Kailangan namin ng QA/QC dito sa bago kong company... :)

McGyver, Ocean's 11, Entrapment, Spiderman, Whatever

2005-04-01T21:42:00.000+08:00

Last Tuesday (or was it Wednesday?), my housemate accidentally locked himself out of his room. It was already past ten pm, so callling a locksmith was not an option. I've tried to do a McGyver and tried to help him open it, recalling my experience last year (see one of my older blogs). The insert-something-hard-but-flexible-on-the-side-of-the-door trick didn't work. I tired out easily so I gave up. I didn't want to do the simple lock-picking trick because I had only one success with that trick before -- and that was way, way before. I needed to think another trick. I suggested we try to enter the room from the bathroom window. We went out to the dirty kitchen area and removed the windows' glasses one by one. Unfortunately, we cannot remove the topmost glass. Another setback. We needed someone smaller to fit into that, and none of us is small enough (our bodies are bulging with too much muscles for our own good.) I could only manage to bring one foot inside. 100 pounds ago that task is no sweat for me. He was already desperate as he called our agent. The moment he left, I managed to a way to flexibly fold my bones as I successfully managed to bring myself, muscles and all, inside the bathroom, and calmly opened his door.

Kasparov Retires

2005-03-13T11:51:00.000+08:00

Kasparov, at 41 years old, announced his retirement from professional tournament. Growing up, Kasparov has been one of my many "heroes" -- back when I thought I could be a very good chess player (but was greatly discouraged by my parents because they think there are no money in chess :D). And unlike basketball which has a number of young stars to compete for the throne vacated by MJ, and tennis which, after a while, now has a very good number one player in Roger Federer, whom many tennis experts think can even surpass Pete Sampras, there's no close second to Kasparov in chess. If you look around, he is head and shoulders above the rest of the competition. I'm afraid it will turn out to be like heavyweight boxing, now in search of the next great champion after the last great one, Lennox Lewis, retired. But who knows? Maybe like tennis, one Roger Federer will rise to claim the place vacated by the chess king.

Imagine This

2005-03-12T18:01:00.000+08:00

You made it a habit to leave your house for work at exactly 8:25 am everyday. Every minute counts because at around that time your crush is also rushing for work. You always see her at the same bus stop as yours, but unfortunately she is not taking the same bus as you. That's about the only five minutes in a day that you get to see her. You always try to take a glance at her secretly but it seems she doesn't even know you exists. And if for some reason you missed that 8:25, it will make feel down the rest of the day.
What if one Friday night, you arrived very late from doing overtime work, and you noticed someone walking infront of you who seemed like her. You immediately increased your pace but careful not to look like a stalker. And for some strange work of fate she entered in the same condominium as yours and walked to the same block. Then she entered the very same elevator you take everyday just two steps ahead of you. You increased your pace again so you get to ride in the same elevator as her. You tried to be a gentleman and asked her what floor she's going and as if fate is playing with you, with the sweetest voice she told you "sixth floor", the same as yours. She smiled her sweetest smile and, of course, you did too. You thought it will be the longest six-floor elevator ride you will ever take. Imagine, you and your crush alone inside a small elevator -- just barely big enough to fit around six people. You can't help but smile your biggest smile in a long while. Then, when the elevator reached the second floor, you farted. Not just a normal fart but one big, loud fart.
You just made sure it will be the longest "six-floor" elevator ride you'll ever take.

Random Chat One Boring Afternoon

2005-03-09T20:30:00.000+08:00

Here's a transcript of my chat with a friend one boring afternoon...

========================================================================
minggay: hey
pipingpepito: yeah?
minggay: game po...u der?
minggay: kwento naman...
minggay: wahapend? y u bored?
pipingpepito: wala lang
pipingpepito: bored
pipingpepito: bored lang
pipingpepito: :)
pipingpepito: san na si rhea?
minggay: sn? be specific...
minggay: dont know..di nia ko iniimail eh
minggay: u lyk to get her email?
pipingpepito: okie..
pipingpepito: but what for?
pipingpepito: :D
pipingpepito: btw..
pipingpepito: let's play a game
minggay: lal ng
minggay: kala ko bored k e
minggay: she myt be a gud company
minggay: wat game?
pipingpepito: dugtungan ng sentence hanggang makabuo tayo ng isang paragraph...
pipingpepito: :D
minggay: sure
minggay: cge game
minggay: start the sentence
minggay: bagal n nitong pc ko kaasar
pipingpepito: life is for dummies.
minggay: sabi ko sentence
minggay: seryoso k jan?
pipingpepito: that's a sentence
pipingpepito: yeah.
pipingpepito: :)
pipingpepito: ;)
minggay: o cge n nga...
pipingpepito: :->)
minggay: DUmmies who wiill never learn
pipingpepito: :->(
pipingpepito: that's not a sentence.
minggay: Dummies who will never learn to appreciate life.
minggay: tagal naman
minggay: heheh
pipingpepito: AYAW ko na..
pipingpepito: mali naman takbo ng isip mo eh
pipingpepito: kasi i realized life really is for dummies
pipingpepito: they get to enjoy life much
minggay: hehe..cge..sensya n ha
pipingpepito: unlike the thinking persons
minggay: grabe k nmn....u will ask me to play a game when u already knowhow to play it pala
minggay: as in u already have ur expectations
pipingpepito: hehehe
minggay: u spoiled the fun
pipingpepito: hahaha
pipingpepito: o game
minggay: i wonder why u hate surprises eh
pipingpepito: im not dummy
minggay: nweis, so wat about dummies?
pipingpepito: bwahaha
minggay: kanya kanyang fun lng yun
pipingpepito: btw, change topic
pipingpepito: kaw magstart
pipingpepito: :D
minggay: when u ask them, they will say, ur having more FUN than they are...dummies that they are
pipingpepito: start na ba yan?
pipingpepito: wag na dummies
pipingpepito: kasi pang blog ko yun eh
pipingpepito: ibang topic
pipingpepito: totally scrap it out
pipingpepito: :D
minggay: kaw n lng bigay topic
minggay: kahit ano
pipingpepito: there are no bananas in bahamas.
minggay: All the bananas used their wings and fly to the Philippines
minggay: ay mali
minggay: was thinking of a sort of harry potter eh
minggay: you up to this?
pipingpepito: in the philippines they lost their wings and learned to wear suits.
minggay: as in let us fictionalize this one
minggay: hehehhe
minggay: wait....ako naman
minggay: They had fun pretending they were Filipinos.
pipingpepito: But all the while they were missing the monkeys so they decided to join the senate, using the skills they learned from them ( monkeys ).
minggay: hahaha
minggay: winner...
minggay: tawa tlg ko
minggay: saglit ha
minggay: lemme recover first
minggay: THey thought, "Senate is cool! I get to pretend I am intelligent and everybody listens!"
pipingpepito: They didn't notice that among them was the great APE enjoying his disguise but is still not contented.
minggay: hahahhah
minggay: ewan ko ba..bat ang benta ng mga sagot mo sakin...hehehe..maybe bec they are so true
pipingpepito: bilis
pipingpepito: delaying tactic eh
minggay: So while the bananas tweaked all the variables in the Philippine economy, they never noticed the looming ape - angry and jealous!
pipingpepito: All the time while the bananas where busy doing that, the great ape was increasing his minions -- winning their hearts simply by aping around.
minggay: saglit no
pipingpepito: hehehe
pipingpepito: bilis
minggay: The wise little monkeys thought it best to befriend the great APE.
pipingpepito: One day during one of those circus-like house sessions, a cute little turtle came huffing and puffing.
minggay: The ols wise turtle looked and around and said, "how come we are all stuck in this never-ending debate?"
pipingpepito: Yes, the turtle with a dual personality -- one cute and charming, and the other old and wise -- made everyone silent for a while.
minggay: hahah
minggay: okay...
pipingpepito: w8
pipingpepito: sayang conference with json
pipingpepito: bakit ka umalis?
pipingpepito: conference tayo with jason, and milag.. :D
pipingpepito: and dennis and chilet
pipingpepito: :D
minggay: nsa hse k b?
pipingpepito: yes..
pipingpepito: ;)
minggay: bt k absent?
pipingpepito: may nagfifix ng door namin
pipingpepito: :D
minggay: me sakit k ata eh
minggay: ah ic
minggay: THe schizoprenic turtle, laughed and cried for everyone to see.
pipingpepito: Then the pig, no longer able to hold his eagerness to lecture his peers about his magnificent ideals, joined in the fray.
minggay: IT was such a mellee. Everybody is shouting, wanting to be heard
pipingpepito: The turtle was crying, the pig was talking and talking and talking, the bananas are going bananas, the monkeys and the great ape were monkeying around, when suddenly, the door to the house session slammed open!!!
minggay: Bang! The sound resonated with a boom. With mouths gaped open, they were terrified at what they saw...
pipingpepito: The sudden bright light caused by the opened door blinded them and the booming voice of the newly arrived deafened them while their hair were standing on ends.
minggay: They can feel a devilish presence. A dark cloud hovering among them all. Cold. Numb. THey knew this is different. Something is amiss.
pipingpepito: Then the newly arrived, big and sturdy, with his booming voice annonced: "Quiet everyone!!! Presenting her royal highness, the reigning Lambada dance queen, straight from her Eat Bulaga audition, the amazing, the alluring..."
minggay: hey...still der...
pipingpepito: yes
pipingpepito: what happened to you?
minggay: ? just got back...nagmass kc ako...
pipingpepito: oh
minggay: it is my turn now
pipingpepito: good for you
pipingpepito: yes
pipingpepito: pipingpepito: Then the newly arrived, big and sturdy, with his booming voice annonced: "Quiet everyone!!! Presenting her royal highness, the reigning Lambada dance queen, straight from her Eat Bulaga audition, the amazing, the alluring..."
minggay: okie..la ko maisip
minggay: heheh
minggay: eto na..
minggay: The one and only....everybody held their breath, others gasped and gulped quietly...
minggay: ooopps
minggay: it shoud be written like this
minggay: Everybody held their breath, others gasped and gulped quietly.
pipingpepito: hehehe
pipingpepito: just kidding
pipingpepito: hmm..
pipingpepito: pasa daw ba pabalik sa kin ang burden...
pipingpepito: But the announcement was cut short when, out of nowhere, a chicken crossed in the middle of the session -- entering from the door, passing through the mysterious new comer, under the pig, flying on top of the bananas' table, flying on to the great ape's nose and finally, out the window!
minggay: gudness.
pipingpepito: huh?
pipingpepito: what gudness?
minggay: isip pko
minggay: It was Master Kong - the Ape's hubby. Looking stranger than ever casting doubt on the crowd.
pipingpepito: "Wait! Doesn't chicken get respect around here?" the chicken blurted out as it surprisingly went in again from the window.
pipingpepito: huy?
pipingpepito: what's keeping you from posting your reply immediately?
pipingpepito: Sorry dun sa: "Badabing badabang badaboom"
pipingpepito: :(

===============================================================================
End.

'Coz, You Miss the Old Potato

2005-03-07T01:44:00.000+08:00

The pain is real. It hurts and I can't do anything about it -- just hide it and try to look the happiest man alive. I want them to see how strong I am. Always smiling. Always laughing.
But the pain lingered. My laughter couldn't wash away the pain. It ached more than I think I could handle.
No. It's nobody's fault but mine. I told you having this heart works both ways. I feel other's pain easily, yes. But the sad part is people can hurt me easily without them even knowing it. I told you I need to toughen up. I need to turn that warm heart into a cold, uncaring one even just for a while. For once, I wanted to be selfish. I told you I need to love my self first coz I can only give so much. And so I did.
For a few days I kept on drawing back to myself. I don't care about the people around me. It's just me. Me alone in the world. And for a while I didn't care for you. And you were hurt. No. Maybe you were not hurt but you missed me. At least the old me. You said it yourself -- you missed the old potato, your potato.
When you said that, it broke my heart. It almost made the tears fall from my eyes. With your words, the wall I've been surrounding myself for days melted, just like that.
So you get your wish -- your old potato back; smiling because you're happy again, but still very much suffering. And I'd rather have it this way -- me suffering just to see you happy again.

Women Don't Make Sense!

2005-03-04T00:38:00.000+08:00

I received an email today about women not making sense. The email, in summary is about, well, women not making sense (Was my summary sensible enough?). A sensible summary -- jerks have more success rates in asking women out. The article, in a way, actually makes sense. There's a high number of cases where this is true, so, it's hard for it not to make sense. But did it made some sense to me? Nah. Not at all. I mean, I don't care. I'm in a stage of my life where I don't care anymore about these things. I try to.
I still believe that finding a relationship (and yes, I'm talking about relationship here, not the picking-up or dating abilities of guys)is more about likes attracting likes (yes, opposites attract, too). I believe that you should only expect to get what you can give. For a relationship to succeed, it should always be give and take. You should always think of, not only what you can get from a person, but what you can give him/her. It's not only you giving or you taking. It should be both ways. You need to grow in a relationship and you need to make someone grow. And if this hypothesis makes sense, then it also makes sense that only jerks are meant for jerks.
I really miss the good old days where everyone still had sense to them. I really miss the time when people try to look for a partner in life, not to try to pickup someone -- what? For a night? For weeks or months? Today, finding a relationship is hit and miss. You look around and look at the relationships and everything doesn't make sense. Teenage mom. Single mother. Break up here and there. Sex here and sex there. No sense at all. The world is starting to be nonsense to me.
So, will I give in to the pressure and try to be a jerk? Let all the jerks out there horde the dates, the hot chicks, and everything they can get. I'll just patiently wait for that one sensible woman who'll make sense to me and who will see me as what I am -- a sensible guy. Not a jerk.

A Night With the Maestro

2005-03-04T00:24:00.000+08:00

Carol went to our office tonight. We had dinner together. I accompanied her, Cris and Jerrha home. We initially planned on taking Suntec's free shuttle service but we weren't able to ride on the first trip. Instead of waiting for the next shuttle, we decided to walk. Along the way, Jerrha jokingly said that one guy walking ahead of us was Efren "Bata" Reyes, the reknowned pool magician. But it turned out it was really him. We hurriedly walked towards his group. He was with Django Bustamante and an unidentified person, probably their manager or agent. We approached them, Chatted for a while. I took Cris' phone and took the picture of the group with Django and Bata. I didn't include the unidentified guy. After the picture taking, we walked with them a while, chatting along the way. We parted ways, wishing them goodluck for their games tomorrow.

I Have Never Been a Duck

2005-02-28T23:53:00.000+08:00

Yesterday we accompanied Jerrha to their new house. She is sharing a unit with Cris and Carol. Their unit is much more beautiful and elegant than ours. Well, I'm not really good with descriptions, but I'll say it has a classical feel to it.
Their throw-pillows caught my attention. These are designed with ducks. I remembered, somehow, ducks have a good symbolism and I know I learned it from Opus Dei. For a few moments I racked my brain up for this symbolism. Then I remembered.
You see, every room in an Opus Dei Center has a duck figurine. It serves as a good model for our earthly struggles. Just look at a duck in a pond. It looks too peaceful, swimming in its own pace. What we don't notice is it's struggle paddling its feet just to stay afloat.
Just like in life, no matter how "harrased" we are, no matter how big our problems are, we should always keep our peace. But I know it is not always easy.
I've tried to be a duck before, but I didn't succeed. I am always rattled by my struggles in life -- career, love, family, etc. But I think it is the right time for me to try again. Thankfully, the duck "quacked" to me at the most appropriate time.

New Blogs

2005-02-27T10:25:00.000+08:00

Last night I've started two new blogs. One is titled "Kwentong Pepito" where I'll try my best to create a sort of Filipino-flavored anime. It features the life of, whoelse, Pepito. It is a story of his journey to find meaning for his life. Hopefully it will chronicle his love, adventure, battles, triumphs, failures, and anything that comes his way. It is basically life-turned-anime-turned-life -- mixing real life and fantasy as I am capable of.
The other blog is titled "The Making of a Guru". My aim is to make this blog more formal, more real-life, and more technical. It chronicles my journey through my career -- my plans, goals, the problems I'll encounter and, hopefully, my solutions to these problems. I aim to post some technical thoughts and ideas here. I hope it will attract some comments from some technical people. Of course it can't be helped if I post "non-technical" stuff from time to time.
The link to these sites are as follows: "http://kwentongpepito.blogspot.com" and "http://themakingofaguru.blogspot.com". I hope you'll visit these sites and post some comments. And by the way, please do click on the advertisement banner.

On Dying... And Living Again

2005-02-27T00:38:00.000+08:00

It started as a little needle prick. Then two. Three. A few hundreds. Thousands. The pricks became stabs. Slashes. Whacks here and there. Finally, the man can no longer fight it. He gave in to death. Then he lived.

Webber to 76r's - Whoa! I didn't see it coming

2005-02-25T00:05:00.000+08:00

Finally. The first major trade just before the trade deadline. The Iverson-Webber combo will take Philly deep into the playoffs. And they have another trade asset in Glenn Robinson. If they can just turn him into another contributor, it will be great. Robinson for Steve Francis? Iverson-Francis guard combo is fun to watch, but I don't think it will work-out fine. Try Redd. Or Ray Allen perhaps? But I want to see either of the two with Lebron in Cleveland.
Another trade I'd like to see is Peja for Lamar. Lamar will fit in nicely in Sacramento with Webber gone. Peja's wish to be traded where Divac is will come true. And Petrie's move, trading Chris without acquiring Robinson, makes sense only if he will make another move.

The Clown

2005-02-24T09:16:00.000+08:00

Another day gone. I am alone again inside my room, looking at the mirror. I can see the sun through the window, setting. After all the empty laughters and smiles, it's time again to wash my mask off -- with my tears.

Friendster is temporarily unavailable for maintenance.

2005-02-16T23:58:00.000+08:00

"Friendster is temporarily unavailable for maintenance.

The purpose of this maintenance downtime is to make improvements to the system, such as adding new hardware or making changes in software to offer new features. We will try to make improvements as quickly as possible.

Thank you for your understanding.

Regards,
Friendster"
==========================================================

Why can't a guy spend a peaceful few hours of friend-seeking nowadays? Why can't a guy edit, delete, create testimonials at his own luxurious time? Why do friendster needs to do maintenance at the most inappropriate time? Such an unfair world! Grr.

A cook's slump

2005-02-16T23:46:00.000+08:00

That darn spaghetti really started everything off. It has been two straight days now (and counting?) after my Spaghetti misadventure, that I really am not liking the food I'm preparing. Yesterday bland (spelling?) fish with coconut milk (ginataan po...). I was very conscious not to make it too salty that I actually forgot to put salt altogether. And talk about cockiness. I never really tasted the dish. I thought it will be ok just because I felt it was so. And today is macaroni soup without the soup really. Grrr. Today's dish is a perfect example of overdoing things. I really was pumped up cooking the food yesterday night. haven't had two consecutive failing dishes. I really want to make it perfect this time. So I put a lot of effort, a lot of meat, plus some few carrots and a few sprinkle of cabbage. I exerted my 100% performance. The problem was I overcooked everything especially the cabbage. On top of that, I failed to add more water. Also, I wanted to make it salty without really the salt , so I added soy sauce. But I poured a lot of it, accidentaly. There goes my more than one hour of effort, destroyed by a spoonful of soy sauce. Sigh. If only she won't taste my dishes, then everything could have been no problem...

On a Serious Note: My work

2005-02-16T23:39:00.000+08:00

I went to our factory in Kallang today. I needed to fix some bugs for our manufacturing. I already went there once before but that was with my two other colleagues, and we came from our Suntec office. So I really had no idea how to go there by MRT. I went down on Lavender station and took a cab. I told the driver where I want to go. The driver drove his taxi and turned left to the next block and there's our Kallang factory. Could have walked to it in around five minutes or less. Instead, I was around 3.50 dollars poorer.

Again on Friendster Testimonial

2005-02-16T23:30:00.000+08:00

I'm having a hard time deleting some of my testimonials. I badly want to delete some testimonials I've made for my friends. Why? I don't know. Maybe I just find them out-dated nowadays. Some may no longer hold true. Maybe I just want to create new ones. Or maybe, I just want to. But why would friendster add that one tiny delete button if it cannot delete my testimonial? I don't really know but I am beginning to get irritated.

Friendster Testimonials

2005-02-16T23:05:00.000+08:00

Kakatuwa. Binabasa ko ang mga testimonial sa kin sa Friendster, at natutuwa ako. Nakikita ko ang history ng personality ko. Ibang chapter, ibang description -- seryoso, maloko, mabait, makulit, leader, supervisor, hopelessly romantic, torpe, shy, corny, makwela. Iba-ibang degree ng pagkakaibigan, iba-ibang degree din ng pagkakakilala. Pero, sa mga deskripsyon na yun, sino nga ba ako? Sino ang gusto kong maging? Parang may pagka-childish no? At twenty five, am I still entitled to ask this question? But why not? Living means continuous change, continuos evolution. Part naman talaga ng growing up/growing old yun, tuloy-tuloy mong hanapin ang gusto mong maging. Well, para akong cook. And my life is my special dish. Ang problema lang walang eksaktong recipe. Kailangan daanin sa patikim-tikim. Medyo matabang? Dagdagan ng asin or toyo. Kulang sa tamis? Lagyan ng gatas o asukal? Kulang sa tapang? Dagdagan ng spices. Lagyan ng siling labuyo saka paminta. Pero ang masaya dito, your preparing the dish not for others. You're preparing the food for yourself. Kaya no need to please others. Kung anong gusto mong rekado, idagdag mo. Paalala lang -- Dahan-dahan sa pagtikim baka mabusog ka at tuluyan ka nang mawalan ng ganang magluto.

Tan-ta-nan tan-tan...

2005-02-14T21:57:00.000+08:00

Have you seen "Stairway to Heaven". There's this one funny thing in this K-Series. Everytime the lead actor will come out, a music will be played. Tan-tanan-tan tan tan. Tan-tanan-tan tan tan.
Now if you have seen this series, and is familiar with the music/sound I am talking about, you will like my version. Do the first two lines/patterns of entrance music. Then do "tan-na-nan na nan.. tan na na na na na" Tan tan tan, tan tan tan tan" "Dancing queen, tan tan tan, tanantantantantan."
Ah basta. Ang hirap. Be imaginative na lang. Then imaginine mo si Song Joo. Papasok sya sa scene na cool, after tumunog yung "Dancing Queen" na music, sasayaw din sya. Cool di ba?
Btw, nagcacancer si Jung Suh kasi binangga sya ni Yoori di ba? May side effect. Cancer. Namatay sya sa dulo matapos magsuicide si Tae Wah para mabigay lang sa kanya yung cornea. Tsk. Kawawa naman si Tae Wah.
And yes. Kung sinusubaybayan mo yung "Stairway to Heaven" spoiler to. Sorry ka na lang.

P.S.
Lately may naririnig akong music pag naglalakad ako - Tan-tanan-tan tan tan. Tan-tanan-tan tan tan.
Ano kaya yun?

Spaghetti Challenge: A Valentine's Day Disaster

2005-02-14T02:04:00.000+08:00

I never really back off from any challenge. So, two months after cooking the worst spaghetti I've ever tasted in my whole life, I can't wait until I pit again my cullinary wizardry against the one dish I am yet to perfect. What a better time to try again than on February 14 -- the day of the hearts. To make this day special, I decided to prepare pasta rather than our usual rice meals. Knowing I've never messed up the same dish twice, I was expecting a magical cullinary adventure this time around. A cullinary experience rivaling that of "Cooking Master Boy's".
Learning from my previous mistakes, this time I didn't buy a ready-made spaghetti-sauce. I wanted to create my own sauce made from good old tomato sauce. I also realized I need to add a lot of meat this time around if I'll have the chance of totally erasing the stigma of my last cullinary mishap.
This time I used butter as oil to saute all the ingredients -- garlic, onion, tomato, hotdog and ground pork. I added the tomato sauce, a pinch of salt, some soy sauce and a little bit of water. I tasted it and it was very sour. Afraid I might over-do the sourness again this time, just like before, I immediately added salt. A lot of salt. I tasted again and found it was very salty. The sourness was not fixed either. I added water to try to decrease both the sourness and saltiness but to no avail. Finally I gave up. I need to remove the sourness and saltiness without sacrificing the favor. I found it beyond my powers as a super chef yet. I turned-off the stove and just prayed they (my friends whose sharing food with me) will at least fake their reactions regarding the food.
Uh well. There is always next time. I hope the third time will work as a charm to me.

Giving Up

2005-02-11T14:53:00.000+08:00

Who? Me? Give up? Nah. I already stopped using that word a long time ago. I no longer want to give up. I won't quit and say it's over until it's over. I just need a new approach and a new outlook. Then if all i'll do will still fall short of my goal, there will be no regrets.
No quitting and no regretting -- that's my way of the ninja ( Ngek! Too much Naruto. Hehehe! ).

K-Drama Marathon... Ho-hum

2005-02-11T14:28:00.000+08:00

Ang gwapo-gwapo.. Oppa... (yung scene na nagsho-shower yung Bidang lalaki) Wow.. Ang ganda ng katawan... (Bawat time na i-fofocus ang mukha nung guy) Eeehhhh... Ang gwapo... I-wall-paper natin.. (hindi pwede noh... Mas cute pa rin wall-paper ko! Guess whose picture?)... Grabe.. Ganito pala manood mga babae. Matapos akong magenjoy sa panonood sa reactions nila habang nanonood kami ng "Feng Shui", napilitan akong manood ng favorite Korean drama nila na Stairway To Heaven. Inumaga kami sa panonood! Ok lang sana eh. Kaso pag-tumili na sila at kinilig sa bidang lalaki, kakainis. Grrr. Well, maganda rin naman yung bidang babae pero hindi naman ako tumitili. Tapos bagsak ko pa cook lang. Cook na hindi pinapansin. Huhuhu.
Anyway, kung jan ba kayo sasaya eh, habang pinapanood ang crush nyong artista habang may isang taong naghihirap magluto para maenjoy nyo ang panonood ng hindi kumakalam ang inyong mga sikmura, e di sige. Basta masaya lang kayo. Basta masaya ka lang. Masaya na din ako. :)

There's Always More Than One Side in Every Story

2005-02-11T07:16:00.000+08:00

This is what I've been shouting all along -- try to see all the possible angles before judging anyone. Sometimes at first glance, common knowledge dictates we crucify a person for doing this or that but if we put ourselves in the position of others involve and all of a sudden we have a different and valid point-of-view laid before our eyes.
Sometimes we get caught up to one beutiful, inspiring happy ending that we fail to notice that for every happy endings there is at least one sad story lurking somewhere; For every cold-hearted villains who make life harder for our favorite heroes there is a sad story that are awaiting for them to blurt out.
Don't get me wrong. I still believe that there is absolute evil. But for a day-to-day normal circumstances, every person we meet has his own story to tell. I just think people are driven by different circumstances, stories are made by different experiences and sometimes life evolves on what fate lays in front of us.Everyone is a hero and villain at the same time, it just depends on what angle we are looking at.
I'm not saying I don't judge. I am also guilty of this from time to time. But the realization and acceptance is a start. So I decided to adopt this philosophy. And to aid me on this, I decided to break everything up into smaller concrete versions and create a good old list. Here goes.

(1) Don't judge.
This pretty much summarizes everything. Heck, this is everything. But I want to make this into a separate entry nonetheless. Just take everything at face-value and don't try to get deeper into people's actions. If their actions hurt you, cry then tell them. If it makes you laugh, laugh. Just don't give meaning other than what is obvious.
(2) Majority is not always right.
Sometimes we are pressured of what everyone else is doing. If everyone else is doing it, it must be the right thing to do. But as history repeatedly shows us, majority aren't always right. So, just do whatever your conscience tells you to and the hell with everyone else.
(3) Everyone is not created in the same image as us.
This I think is one of my biggest mistake in dealing with people. I have my strict set of rules. But not becuase I'm doing things the way I do them, others should also do things the same way. I have my own strengths as I have my own weaknesses and so do other persons. I need to accept that fact. I need to accept everything about a person. We all are unique.
(4) Be Open-minded.
No matter how we view life as too short, it is still long enough for us to meet different people with different personalities and different points-of-view about life. We need to be open-minded that somewhere along our journey, we will learn things and we will know whatever we thought was right before is actually a big mistake.

This is all for now. I'll just add to this list later as I gain more experience.

New Look

2005-02-06T17:57:00.000+08:00

Drats! Pano ba magpost ng pix dito!? Gusto ko sana ipagyabang ang new look ko. Anyway, just visit my friendster and see my new hair. Now I have a Chinese hair-style to go with my Chinese looks. Sabi ni Jerrha I remind her daw of her Korean crush, hehehe. :)

Change

2005-01-30T23:57:00.000+08:00

Change is what makes living life exciting and liveable. It adds spice to our otherwise boring existence. For the next few weeks, expect some changes to this blog. Watch as I do some tweaking here and there, changing and redesigning every minute detail, adjusting the look and feel, adopting new blogging style, and choosing the right topics to write. The goal really is the rebirth of this blog to a more exciting, fun-filled and addicting site. I hope to see you all in the rebirth of my blogger.

Last Leaf

2005-01-22T02:41:00.000+08:00

The last autumn leaf fell to the rushing river. It's drifting away, away, away. I stood there looking. Staring. Wondering. Where will it stop if it will stop at all. The first drop of snow that day fell on my face. First a drop. Then one by one they fell. They fell to my eyes. Melting. Mixing with my tears. I looked at the leaf. Still drifting. Now very far away from me. It's gone. Away from me. It has completely passed by my life. Like the last leaf the year before. And the year before that.

Road Trip

2005-01-15T22:52:00.000+08:00

Just slept the whole day today. I woke up at past seven pm. The sun had not set yet. Took a quick bath and off I went to the mall to buy a detergent soap. I walked around the mall, taking my time, tried hard to find something nice to do before buying what I intended to buy.
I rode bus number 38 to go home. This has been my simple guide in Singapore's not very complicated transportation system - "if you rode bus number X to go to a place, you can ride bus number X too to go back from that place". Unfortunately for me, the bus was going in the wrong direction. Gah. The moment I was inside the bus and noticed no other passengers boarded, I knew I rode the wrong bus. But still I didn't go down until four stations later. I alighted in a station I knew I can easily ride a bus back. I alighted in front of Singapore Expo.
There, I again took bus number 38. I wanted to ride bus number 12 but number 38 arrived first. The bus is still half-empty so I was able to find a seat. Two or three stations later The bus was already jam-packed with passengers. Then the bus stopped near our place, Melville Park. But since it was not parked properly yet, and since normally a lot of people go down on the same station, I didn't hurry to go down. I thought the driver will park it properly. I was frustrated when, after openning the door for a few seconds, the driver drove on. Gah.
So after one more station, I am again boarding a bus going towards our place. Since I missed bus number 9, I had no choice but to board number 38 again, but this time I rode the bus going to the correct direction and didn't "over-shoot" our bus stop.
Not really my idea of road trip. Gah.

Piping Pepito (1979-2004)

2005-01-13T00:25:00.000+08:00

Discussing death openly is somewhat still a taboo in our society (pertaining to the society from which the author grew up). Anything that has to do with death is morbid. The mere mention of death, specially if directed to a living person, even if to the speaker himself, produces goose bumps to most listeners. It is as if denying the existence of death makes people live forever.

For me, I want to embrace the existence of death. She reminds me that life is too short to achieve everything I want to achieve. By accepting death as she is, ironically as part of life, adds a sense of urgency for me to do things I really want to do. Imagine I have already spent a quarter-of-a-century of my life by achieving practically nothing (I know its a perspective thing).

Death tells me not to waste my time regretting things I have done or should have done. Death tells me to continue living, to pursue my dreams. Death tells me to go on, continue moving forward, establish my path and make my mark in this world. Death tells me to spend every moment of my life without regret so that when it is time for us to meet, I will welcome her with open arms.

The title could easily have been "(1979-2003)" or "(1979-2002)", etcetera, but no. Thankfully it is still open-ended(1979-____). I am still breathing, still able to wake-up every morning, still capable of correcting my mistakes. I just hope when Death finally puts a number in that blank space, I will no longer have any regret.

YM

2005-01-08T23:16:00.000+08:00

Lungkot na lungkot ako ngayong araw. Hindi ko alam kung anong gagawin ko. Ako kasi yung taong mahirap tamaan ng pagka-home sick. Mabubuhay yata ako na ako lang mag-isa, walang kausap, basta may libro lang. Kaya pag tinamaan ako ng lungkot, sobrang lungkot talaga. Tapos manood pa ba naman ako ng tatlong pelikulang Tagalog, e di lalo akong nalungkot. Kaya heto, naghintay ako sa mga kaibigan kong naka-online. Kaso wala. Nag-google pa ako ng chat room sa Singapore. Para akong college ulit.
Buti naman biglang nag-online si "sis", ang long-lost sister ko "daw". Sa wakas, may nakausap din ako. Kung wala, mukhang sasabog na ang ulo ko. Thanks sis. :)

Pepito's Theorem

2004-12-22T22:07:00.000+08:00

Pepito's Theorem #1: One's friend-gaining rate tends to reach a saturation point that will cause it to eventually surpass by the rate in which one's g-mail invites accumulates.

Pepito's Theorem #2: One's total number of remaining g-mail invites is inversely proportional to the number of techno-moron friends he/she has.

Note: Theorem's 1 and 2 seem to contradict.

So Fast, huh!

2004-11-26T20:45:00.000+08:00

After locking my self out of my room (read the other post) that forced me to lock myself
inside the same room for the whole day, I decided to bring myself out, down from our
22nd floor HDB house, and to a video shop and rent a movie to bring back up the 22nd
floor for me to watch as I lock myself back in.
A few minutes after deciding that, I found myself standing inside the video shop, talking
to a nice Singaporean lady. It was past six pm. She told me I need to pay S$15 deposit
and S$3 per vcd. And, uh, almost as an after thought, she would give me back S$1.50 if I
return it at the same day before eight pm, and $1 if I return it the next day. A pretty good
deal if you ask me. I selected "The Runaway Jury (written by John Grisham)", and
brought it all the way back up to the 22nd floor and inside my room where I watched it
while having my dinner.
Approximately three minutes before their closing time (9:27), to the Singaporean lady's
surprise, and albeit, dismay, I was back, returning the vcd and getting back my deposit
and my S$1.50 refund. So fast, huh? To her credit, instead of giving me back only S$1,
she gave me the whole S$1.50 since I am a first-time customer.

Locking Myself Out

2004-11-26T20:40:00.000+08:00

Can you believe it? I locked myself out of my own room!
You, what?
Yep. You got that right. I locked myself out of my own room.
Huh, that's kinda stupid you know.
Well, I know, thank you. But it happens to all of us.
Nah, won't happen to me. (I'm)Not that stupid. So, how the hell did it happen?
Ok. See, I was on my way to my office. It was already nine thirty am. It was a crazy
morning, been cooking my food for two hours man. Then, at the same time, I was ironing
my clothes. Naturally, after doing everything, I was very disoriented, what with the time
pressure and all.
Time pressure my *bleep*! You are not time-pressured!!!
Well, technically I'm not. But psychologically and emotionally, yes. You see I made it a
point to always reach the office at around nine am. And it was already nine thirty, man. I
was still back home. I immediately wore my clothes and ran out the room. When I was
about to close the door of the house, I realized I forgot the key inside my room.
Idiot.
I beg your pardon?
Uhm, nah. Didn't say a thing. Nada.
Anyway, that's what happened. By that time I realized everything, it was already too late.
I tried the old card technique that works seamlessly in the movies, but...
Are you implying it doesn't work in the real life? Are you insinuating that my all time
fave hero MacGyver is a fluke? Huh? Is that what you are saying?
Let's just say that after two hours I was still trying it man.
Well, that proves it beyond doubt -- you're an IDIOT! Baka na hito ne. So why didn't you
go to your office.
Well, how can I get out of the house?! I mean, can I leave the house open? Do you want
my housemates to kill me? And after succeeding in opening the door, I was too tired to
go to the office. Besides, what time would that be? I can no longer work man.
So, what did you do that whole day?
Well, I locked my self inside my room the whole day.

Do you want to play 4-on-1?

2004-11-26T19:38:00.000+08:00

Every weekend morning I made it a habit to sweat it out playing basketball against the
best available player around. And that usually means me [Ok. Ok. I'm playing alone, so
what?]. Usually I go out at around 9am, shoot some hoops for around 30 minutes and
climb the stairs all the way up to the 22nd floor. On this particular day, there were four
little elves - two girls and two boys - playing on the other half of the court. I was
shooting, driving and dunking against my imaginary foe on my own half for a few
minutes when one of them asked if I want to play 4-on-1 [Ok. I exaggerated a bit with the
dunking.]. How thrilled I was, flattered even. I never realized how admirable my hard-
court moves are. Four against one - my stock suddenly sky-rocketed. They respect my
game man. Being the ever humble me, I decided to decline their offer and missed a
chance of writing my own "Frederick's travel: 4-on-1 Against the Lilliputians".

Things I really want to do in Singapore

2004-10-26T20:37:00.000+08:00

In the spirit of "the-top-ten-of-anything-lists" (I think I read one from Louie's blog page some time ago when I was still in-control of my life), I thought I ought to share my own top ten list regarding the things I really want to do here in Singapore. Uhm, I'm aware some stuff are really geeky so please spare me with your unruly comments. Here goes...
Top Ten Things I really want to do in Singapore (starting from 10, 1 is the highest):
(10) Read one book on a specialized subject (psychology, politics, etc.) a week.
(09) Read one technical (work-related) book a week.
(08) Read one book (novel) a week (read my other blog).
(07) Start an opensource project.
(06) Lose ten pounds (hmmm... to reach my basketball playing weight)
(05) Be a master chef(uhrm..6 or 5... 6 or 5...why should decision be this difficult...).
(04) Join a badminton club and play even if in the lowest level.
(03) Write a book (see my other post).
(02) Create my own web site (using a commercial web hosting(~SG$6 a month) complete with my own .com(~US$20 a year) address and probably using php)
(01) And the number one thing I really want to do in Singapore is.... =D
to be continued...

Pausing from a very busy schedule..

2004-10-16T21:51:00.000+08:00

Hello all...
Its been quite a long time since the last I posted here...
Anyway, its been very busy the past few weeks... Its hell week all-over again for me...
Drats... I've been practically leaving in our office... Thought I already graduated from that.... Anyway... I really need to use my only free time to greet all those who celebrated their birthdays... Happy birthday to you all.. =)
Hah... Hope to post often again next week... =)
Pa-fedex nyo na lang blow-out nyo.. ;)

Bored in Singapore

2004-09-26T17:27:00.000+08:00

Twenty two days.
Two books (Count of Monte Cristo and Man of Two Worlds; Now Pudd'nhead Wilson) finished. Five days played badminton. About seven games of chess played. One day spent in Orchard. Fifteen days worked. One assignment finished. Over a hundred pages of specifications read. Two Sunday masses(missed two) attended. Five blogs posted(this is sixth). About twenty email messages read. About half of that sent. About twenty two days missed one person. Around ten days missed my friends and family. About ten phone calls to my family made. Only around twelve dollars left before pay day. Around 100 dollars of borrowed money.
Thats about the summary of my life in Singapore so far. Very interesting, no?

Stairways to (a) Heaven(ly Body)

2004-09-25T13:42:00.000+08:00

Huffing and puffing, I looked at the number painted on the wall. Thirteen. That means I already climbed thirteen floors. Only nine floors to go. My sight is starting to blur but I still forced myself to jog up the stairs. Sixteen. I climbed as fast as I could, stopping from time to time to catch my breath. Twenty. Twenty-one. Twenty-two. Hah. Finally. I rested a while at the steps while waiting for my lungs to get back to normal.
"Hah. The price I need to pay just to shed off ten pounds. I'll try again next Saturday, and the next until I am finally fit," I said trying to convince myself, knowing that sooner or later i will undeniably give in to laziness as I did countless of times before...

The Warrior

2004-09-25T13:06:00.000+08:00

Closed eyes, he was grinning while trying to imagine what awaits him. The feeling of expecting a life-threatening adventure enough to chill anyone else's blood excited him. It excited him almost as much as it frightened him. As he nears his destination, his fears grew stronger. He never felt fear like this before in his whole life. It all the more excited him.
He reached his destination. A few warriors were waiting for him. They exchanged quick glances. He exchanged nods with the leader. They recognized him. Immediately, the leader pointed to him the cave. It was a dark cave that seems to go infinitely deep underground. The creature was lurking somewhere inside.
They heard a terrifying growl emanating from the depths of the cave. For the first time since he started the journey, the fear overcame his excitement. He tried to hide his feeling but his knees almost betrayed him. He looked again to the leader. The leader felt his fears but didn't change his mind. Slowly, he descended to the cave. His eyes found it hard to adjust in the dark. The growl became louder, more frightening as he descended further. A few more minutes and he was staring at a pair of glowing red eyes in the dark.
He found himself at the bottom of the cave standing face to face with death. He felt his heart beat faster. He wasn't able to move. "So, this is the feeling of standing face-to-face with death," he muttered.
He felt the creature attacked him. Luckily, he found the strength to dodge the initial assault of the unseen attacker. He pulled his sword and swung blindly. After a few more swings, he heard a deafening shriek. He hit the creature critically. And it shrieked.
A few more minutes and he was standing in front of the cave's entrance. He was holding the head of the creature which he can now clearly see as a red-colored dragon. He was breathing heavily.
The leader and the rest of the warriors cheered him. They congratulated him. They welcomed him to their group. Although still numbed by his adventure, he managed to force a smile. After all the warriors settled down, and everything was back to normal, the leader grimly whispered to him: "This is just the beginning. The Monster you slew is probably the weakest you'll ever face. Don't rejoice yet..."
The warrior's eyes glowed. He grinned. "This is the life I was looking for," he thought.

My New Work

2004-09-11T13:50:00.000+08:00

after three plus years of toiling in a well-structured organization (as what one can expect in a japanese organization), i am back where i am more comfortable with - an organization with much more freedom to its employees. im not saying that its better than the one i have left, nor im saying that the one i left behind is better, but i guess this one suits me better. consider these things: (1) there is no time-in or time-out in my ne, just arrive whenever you like and leave when you feel like it; (2) it is an output-based organization, much to my liking; (3) the work i've been dreaming of is now a reality. this time i need to study one whole ieee protocol, as a part of the team that will implement it; (4) whereas before we try to learn different technologies (Versant, Rouge Wave, Orbix, etc), this time its only C, C, C and a lot of thinking.
i am wondering though, with much freedom i get here, i feel much more responsible in using the freedom to good use. i waste only little time in surfing the web. if ever i do, it is to check my emails and my blogger account.

The Thirteenth Flight

2004-09-11T12:40:00.000+08:00

I woke up early. Startled. It was already four in the morning. I need to leave at around five. My flight that day was at eight twenty five am. I went to the bathroom, still sleepy. Too sleepy from the other night's last minute preparations. I forced myself, half asleep, to take a bath.
The past few week has been a busy week for me. Despedida gimik with some of my different circles of friends - projectmates, officemates, highschool friends, family - almost every other night was really tiring.
My parents accompanied me to the airport. We exchanged goodbyes. Maybe I'll meet them again February next year.
In the airport, the schedule of my flight was nine thirty am. I was surprised. I was still a little bit sleepy, and giddy, to feel some resentment towards PAL. So, I just contented myself by sitting in the waiting area. I waited until the check-in for the Singapore flight.
After an hour or so, they opened the check-in counters for the Singapore flight. I checked in my baggages. It weighed about 30 kilos but I didnt pay anything. Then I proceeded to the immigration. I was a little nervous. I really babbled, to say the least, to the immgration officer's questions (I dont think I can discuss them here. Hehehe).
I waited for another two hours or so, sitting in front of the wrong gate, which was printed in my ticket. I think not quite a few passengers are waiting on the same wrong gate t0o.
At eight forty five, I have gone impatient of the lack of activity in the gate. We need to board in a few minutes but no official was around. So, I walked around. I saw a list of the flight schedules, and learned I was really in the wrong gate. I proceeded to the correct gate and waited until the boarding time.
I was shocked to see the plane. It was one of the smallest plane I have ever ridden - as small as the Cebu Pacific plane I rode from Cebu last year.
Inside the plane, I have taken the wrong seat. Obviously, I am still a little nervous with my earlier encounter with the immigration officer. I went to my correct seat, tried to read a book( "Count of Monte Cristo"), but slept most of the time. Two thirds into the flight, it started to rain. It was a strong rain. I openned the window cover (I was sitting on a window seat), and was overwhelmed by the magnifcence of the clouds. It was tempting to go out of the plane and play on those mountains of cloud. I imagined myself as Superman, flying through those clouds, with, uhm, my Louise Lane. Then I contemplated on the events that day and that of the last few months. I felt that the nervousness Im feeling was but a tip of the fear, of the anxiety, that was building up for weeks. I am certainly afraid of the uncertainty that was waiting for me. I've recounted the other times I was inside the plane. I realized that it was my thirteenth flight. Every other time before, I'll stay for just a few months, and each time, I'll be back in the comfort of my home and of the companionship of friends. This time I'll be staying away almost for good.
After three hours or so, we landed on ChangiAirport. From there my friend Richard would pick me up. I was still a little nervous with the Singapore Immigration but my nervousness proved to be unfounded. I passed through the immigration easily.
Then I met Richard and his friends. Its only then that I made a sigh of relief.

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Epilogue:
The next day, I applied for my EP card. I got another scare because the officer in the Ministry of Manpower questioned my medical certificate.

Fred Clumsy's Mystery Series: #1 The Disappearing Comb

2004-09-07T10:17:00.000+08:00

"Eee!!!"
"Where is my comb?!"
"I planned to go to the office before eight in the morning and it is already a good fifteen minutes after eight. But I cannot go out without combing my hair."
"Let me see... Hmm.. I was awakened at around three this morning because of extreme cold. I sat up, reahed for the air-conditioner remote control, turned off the aircon, then went back to sleep. Hmm... No comb there."
"Then, I woke up at around seven thirty a.m., got my towel and other toiletries, then proceeded to the bathroom to take a bath. Hmm... still not a memory of the comb."
"Wait a minute.. On my way to the bathroom, Jeff just finished taking a bath. I met him on his way to his room. We even exchanged some greetings. Hmm... Then after I finished taking a bath, he was nowhere to be found. He was already gone. Hmm... Something looks suspicious... And what about Mansion? I haven't seen him the whole morning... Maybe..."
"Oh my gosh! It's already eight twenty. I should really hurry now. I think I'll just have to comb my hair with my hand."
Something fell.
"Hey. What's that. Something fell from my hair. Oh, my comb. All along it was just attached on my hair... oops..."

And so, another mystery was solved by the ever-reliable detective, Fred Clumsy. Case closed.

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Jeff and Mansion are my housemates.

how did you know...

2004-09-02T19:42:00.000+08:00

"How did you know
I needed someone like you in my life..."

Nah. I didnt really know. I am stupid. Clueless. What I am sure of though is I need you badly in my life. No matter how I try to look strong, deep inside I am longing for you.

"That there's an empty space in my heart
You came at the right time in my life.."

Well, is there enough empty space to accomodate me? I occupy quite a big space you know. Anyway, even if there's no empty space, even if there is only a tiny little hole left in your heart, i will gladly
dig it up until it is big enough for me.

"I'll never forget
How you brought the sun to shine in my life
And took all the worries and fears that I had"

Never really thought you are achluophobic. That sun surely chased the darkness away, huh? No more fears and worries? I am really glad. Whenever your worries and fears come back, never hesitate to contact me. Even if I am in other places, maybe in Singapore, I'll gladly fly back to wherever you are. And I'll bring with me the sun and a lot of stars.

"I guess what I'm really trying to say
It's not everyday that someone like you comes my way
No words can express how much I love you"

Those words are enough, really. And, uh, I love you too.

Deep inside, I really hope you were singing this song to me instead of "Farewell". But, I know it is just a wishful thinking on my part. I know It will always remain a dream to me. I know it is no use hoping. But even if you never really need me in your life, I hope you realize how much I need you in mine.

"Inside My Cubicle"

2004-09-02T19:19:00.000+08:00

I look at her and have to smile
As we go coding for awhile
Looking nowhere in front of her open pc
And as she fix the bugs she finds
Watch them glimmer in her eyes
In the stillness of the office

And I've got all that I need
Right here inside my cubicle
Oh and I can't keep my eyes on my job
Knowing that she's inches from me

We stop to get something to drink
My mind pounds and I can't think
Scared to death to say "i love her"
Then we're alone in my cubicle
Hear my heart that beats so loud
Try to tell her simply

That I've got all that I need
Right here in my cubicle
Oh and I can't keep my eyes on my job
Knowing that she's inches from me

Oh and I've got all that I need
Right here in my cubicle
Oh and I can't keep my eyes on my job
Knowing that she's inches from me

Oh and I know this love grow

Oh I've got all that I need
Right here in my cubicle
Oh and I can't keep my eyes on my job
Knowing that she's inches from me

And I've got all that I need
Right here inside my cubicle
Oh and I can't keep my eyes on my job
Knowing that she's inches from me

And I've got all that I need
Right here inside my cubicle
Oh and I can't keep my eyes on my job
Knowing that she's inches from me

And I've got all that I need
Right here inside my cubicle

On Basketball

2004-08-19T12:30:00.000+08:00

While reading my blogs, I realized that I've never dedicated one post for basketball considering that i am very passionate about it. I think I mentioned it only once. Anyway, I realized I need to change it so I decided to make it the topic of most of my next blogs.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I am very disappointed with the way the basketball program in our country is going. I dont even know if we have a concrete program. Recently, I've watched the PBA all-star games, and I'll tell you, it was an eye-sore. Its lack of quality was even emphasized when they showed a video clip of an old all-star game. Admittedly, the players today are much athletic, taller and more well-sculpted than the old guys. Players like Caguioa, Miller and Taulava are fun to watch just because of their talents. But, comparing the games now to games in the 80's and early 90's will show you that it pales in excitement. Players before, though lack in the above mentioned qualities, are very much more skillful. Some can even play any position, from center to point-guard (Ramon Fernandez). I dont really know if other Asian countries really improved or we just declined. Maybe both.
Then there was the shoot-out where the young gunners were pitted to the older ex-players like Caidic and Cabahug. I am not familiar if the older players are still practicing but one thing is sure, the younger guys are no match for their elders. Heck, I still think that the Philippine team should recruit Caidic for the next Asian game. I believe he is the last best shooter we have produced. It is no coincidence that the decline of Philippine basketball concided with the decline in Caidic's game.
And then, again, there was the slam-dunk competition. Only once did I really appreciated a dunk of a Filipino - it was when Canaleta(Im not sure now...) jumped over the head of some guys. And he's still in UAAP. The others? Well they are quite an eye-sore. Honestly, it represents everything that I think is wrong with our basketball. We are trying much to be like the Americans without their height, athleticism and talent. Even with all these, look at how they are being beaten by other countries. No wonder we are no longer at par with our Asian neighbors.
And, oh, have you seen the recent Jones Cup? I think our team was humiliated by the Chinese-Taipei team. I think I remember that team being defeated handily by our PBA teams. But that's because they were very young then. And I think planning for the future while sacrificing the present worked for them. Maybe we can learn a thing or two from them.

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More next time... :)

Cheering for the old guy(s)

2004-08-11T18:57:00.000+08:00

We always have attachment to great people who attain greatness during our growing up years. To us, they are simply invincible, our childhood heroes, the icons of our childhood years. To some extent, we are saddened when they start to lose, when age finally caught up with them. Who can blame us? It signals the arrival of the new generation - out with the old, in with the new. It means we are older and that we have to give the spotlight to the new generation, with their own sets of heroes and icons.
So, it is not surprising that we feel happy when the old guys defeat the new guys.
Last night, I saw Andre Agassi defeat Hewitt two sets to one in a tennis finals(I forgot the name of the tournament). The crowd were obviously rooting for him, as I did(as did my generation). The long time rival of Pete Sampras, volleyed his way to an impressive win against the widely regarded second best player of the new generation of tennis players (as was Agassi's status during his career). Every point won by Andre made me smile. It is a different feeling seeing your childhood heroes, at the twilight of their careers, pulling some wins against the younger players. It certainly is one point for the old guys - one point for my generation.