HOROSCOPE ANYONE

I am not really fond of horoscope, but if I chance upon it in the pages of the newspaper or magazine, I also read it. Just for the fun, I read what it forecast about my future. But I don’t believe it. Its purely an entertainment (I remember back in the Weekly Sillimanian days when Ms. D was writing a horoscope for the lampoon issue, it was fun!)

Bleng, my former housemate, sent me a forwarded email last week about horoscope. This time, however, it does not predict your future but tells something about who you are.

What is weird though is that a lot of things that that article said about an aquarian man were true.

I only copied this from the email post and be warned that the English is not really good. But read it anyway, for fun. The sentences/phrases in bold are the things which I find true to myself. (In italics are my opinions)

AQUARIUS MAN

Hot-hearted man who likes to do thing his way. He can suddenly decide to do something without thinking of it's outcome. He is the type of guy with an inside energizer, so if you fall in love with this type of guy be "patient", even if you have to follow him a bit. His creative mind could create fantastic idea any time. If you do not understand or can not follow him, you won't be with him for long.

A man in this Zodiac will less likely to have a pale skin, and if he has a scar, it would be on his face or on his head. He moves very fast and very energetic, and he has a very self confident in himself. He is not the type to sit down and feel sorry or regret anything for long, especially with "Love".

He loves justice. He dares to show his opinion or even argue about certain subject even he knows it might bring him problems (This is so true!). A straight forward type of guy. He hardly lies except if he think it is necessary and he is not a good liar anyway. He will not lie to you about serious matter, but if he lie he will lie only a small little thing.

He is gifted with the ability to be a very social person. He could talk even about subject that he has no knowledge of (You people will agree on this one, right?). He interests only at the present time and look at the world positively. Many times he feels hurt because of reality, but he will not run away and he will overcome that difficulty .

Even he is a high and self confident type and center his own thought as a main focus, but at the same time he is a kind, cute and polite guy( doubts about being cute! HAHAHAHAHA. He certainly is not a mean person. He likes to help people who are in troubles even he is not asked to (and because I love to help people in trouble, I also got into trouble, like how Dr. Sinda got so mad about me for the thing I wrote to defend Melclaire). He is the type who feels sorry if you remember bad things he said to you that he had already forgotten, but you did not. Belief him that he is very sorry and give him another chance.

Once he decides to do something, he will put all his mind and energy in it either in his "Work", or "Love". He is the type who gamble anything in the casino, so do not even take him there. (There is no iota of evidence about this coz I don’t gamble at all)

He does not like pessimistic, low energy, and depress person, especially no brain( am . . . do I need to explain?. Strangely he like to overpowered this type of people to assure that he is more superior. He like to be the first person to do something. You can see sparkling in his eyes, once he meet a new target or new lover. Once he is in love, he will act as if he never has love like this before. This minute he could be real sugar sweet, and later he could also be an icy cold, but do not blame him for that will only chase him away. He could fall in love again with another girl and act again like he never has this kind of love before. He could really love someone, but not a heart broken type for he thinks love is "excitement" and "Love goes on". If you date this kind of guy, do not or avoid showing your face to him with face pack, face mask, always be presentable, nice and cute.

If he is quiet not because he is shy, but he is only quietly thinking(yes dearie, your in trouble when I am quiet, that means I am digesting bit by bit the things you said. Hehehehe). If you have a chance to ask his X-girlfriend, she will tell you that he is not a shy or quiet type. If he is really and truly in love with you, he will never lie to you at all. How do you know if he loves you, bet on your faith! Love him and treat him steadily and do not try to find anything to argue with him, he will be with you for sure. If you are his lover or girlfriend and need to tell him something, go and say it out loud and straight forward because he hate long boring story(Here, I would love to borrow KK's “cut the crap, what’s your point?!”). He hate to play games, chasing for love or being chased, so let him call you first.

He likes a confident woman who also a good follower. If he gets mad at you, let him be for only a short time he will be normal again. You have to like and be able to get along with his friends, but he does not have to do so with all your friends. Don't ever think you could make him jealous by flirting with other man, he will just leave instead of making a scene because he is a confident man and has to be the first in everything .

Any dissenting opinion? If you want to know your horoscope too, tell, I’ll email it to you and let’s compare notes.

PUSANG GALA

I will not make any movie review on this, but I am telling you you should watch this movie

I have to insist on James yesterday that we should watch "Mga Pusang Gala", a pinoy indie film. Our time were not wasted. All I could say was acting was superb in this film. Irma Adlawan and Ricky Davao delivered a superb performance, if the two won't be nominated for their acting in this film, I don't know what kind of award giving bodies we have. Supporting roles were okay especially that of newcomer Lauren Novero. Lauren's presence in the film is so refreshing, you will love him. He is way way way better than those craps who are products of artista search.



It is too bad that for a talented actress like Irma Adlawan, it was only now that she was given a lead role in a motion picture (she is already an acclaimed stage actress). But then again, it is not too late. It is high time that Filipinos should be able to see what great acting is all about like what Adlawan could deliver and not those sappy performances of Claudine Barreto and the likes.

The story and script is also great. Well, what else can you expect from a story based on a stage play "Mga Estranghero at ang Gabi" which won a fist place in Palanca?

Watch this film and be proud. There is one cute character in this film, I wont tell you who he is, watch it. For more of the film, see it here

SACRIFICE

Got this from my mailbox this afternoon and I am placing it here in its entirety:

One call we often hear today, when people ask President Arroyo to resign, is the call to make the ultimate sacrifice for the good of the country.

Now that is a call that we can endorse. No, not the call for the President to resign, but the call for everyone, not just her, to make sacrifices for the good of the nation.

Loren Legarda
You are challenging the legitimacy of Vice President de Castro. If and when the President does resign, de Castro will ascend to the Presidency. That is the constitutional process. Your continuing proclamation of his illegitimacy can become
destabilizing. Can you make the sacrifice of withdrawing your suit and just allowing him to sit as President?

The 10 Cabinet members who resigned
Many of you are known for integrity. Let your record speak for itself. Can you make the sacrifice of just shutting up now and not defending yourselves, for this contributes to further instability?

Frank Drilon
Your salivating for the Vice Presidency leaves a bad taste in the mouth. You manifested extreme hypocrisy and political opportunism in extolling GMA to high heavens and then stabbing her in the back, within the space of one week. Can you make the sacrifice of stopping all moves, including those of your Liberal Party cohorts, of political maneuvering?

All traditional politicians
Kayo ang tunay na salot ng bayan. Can you make the sacrifice of resigning your posts and fading into complete oblivion?

Activist bishops and clergy of the Catholic Church
We appreciate your concern for the good of our people, but we do not appreciate your being at the forefront of political activism. Can you make the sacrifice of sticking to your pastoral duties of ministering to the spiritual needs of the flock and leave the political posturing to the lay people?

Brother Eddie Villanueva
God has blessed you by giving you a big flock to take care of. That is your calling. While many disagree with your entry into politics, we leave that between you and God. But what is difficult to take is your insistence, and that of your apologists, that you won the Presidential elections. For goodness sake, you were number five! If you were cheated, it was not only GMA who did so but Fernando Poe and the others as well. Can you make the sacrifice of leaving partisan politics entirely and focusing on the Father's business?


Imee Marcos, Jinggoy Estrada, JV Ejercito
Is it not enough that your parents plundered the nation and you were part of that, and now you have not only kept all your loot but are also back in power? Can you make the sacrifice of removing yourselves from the limelight? In reality, you are a major reason why the middle forces are not responding positively to the call to a change in government.

Nene Pimentel
Make the ultimate sacrifice to SHUT UP! old man. You have ruined your integrity. You have shown the real you, a bitter old man of politics who never achieved what you have always dreamed of.

Activists
Isn't it enough that you are being tolerated despite the fact that you have never contributed any tax for this country? despite the fact that your existence is based on fault-finding? despite the fact thaat the "bourgoise" that you are so against of are the very people who support your existence?

Big business
Many of you really just care about having a positive environment where your businesses will thrive. Can you make the sacrifice of some of your profits to give more to the poor?

The poor
We understand that, sapagkat kayo ay kapit sa patalim, you allow yourselves to be exploited and brought to rallies of unscrupulous politicians. Can you make the sacrifice of a few pesos, of bearing with your hunger, and not allow yourselves to be exploited, so that you maintain your dignity and you help sow the seed for true liberation and well-being, in God's time?

Cory Aquino
Isn't it enough that you have become President of this country and you will go down in history as the one who gave the Filipinos hope after the Marcos dictatorship? Isn't Kris, your daughter, enough for you to handle? How can you have the heart to call for supreme sacrifice when you cannot even manage to call for the same sacrifice from your daughter who has never given this country something to be proud of? On the country, she is the epitome of bratness and low morals .

The call to sacrifice is a wonderful call. God himself showed us the way. Jesus sacrificed his life on the cross in order to win our salvation. Such a call is pure, noble, worthy of emulation. Let us not use it for selfish motives. Let us not prostitute its purity by polluting it with the filth in our hearts.

"For to me life is Christ, and death is gain." (Phil 1:21

Last Saturday's column of Solita Monsod (Mareng Winnie) is also worth reading. Read it here.

STATE OF THE NATION

Let me share my views on the State of the Nation.

First, I am disappointed with former President Aquino. Obviously, she never realized that by asking GMA to resign, we are actually putting more danger to this country. Why? I would explain later on. If Cory Aquino has nothing more to do, she should have concentrated on taking care of her Daughter Kris who needs more attention.

Second, as for Sen. Drilon, Gad! Have you seen his face when he announced allegedly the Liberal Party's call for GMA to resign (which is by the way rebutted by a number of LP members and of late by Sen. Mar Roxas)? Ambition was written all over his face! It is funny how one person could changes his stand in a day or two. A week before, he declared that GMA could find solace in Iloilo, his hometown. Last Friday, he called GMA to resign.

Third, I agree with the stand of the Catholic Bishop Conference of the Philippines (CBCP). Let GMA go through the due process of law provided for in the Constitution. Let her be impeached so that she could present her defenses in the proper forum. The "Truth Commission" should be set up, this should be an independent body with no trace of any political color. This is the same stand that the Philippine Daily Inquirer took in today's editorial.

Making GMA resign will not solve this crisis. If GMA resigns, Noli de Castro as her constitutional successor would become President. Not only is Noli's capability of leading the country questionable, the people backing him are also unidentifiable. It is much better to fight an evil you know, from the one which you don't have any idea.

The proposal of the opposition to have Susan Roces as the head of a caretaker government (which would mean throwing out GMA and Noli in office) is totally unacceptable. Any means beyond the constitution would place grave consequence on the confidence of investors into this country and would even bring us to an economic collapse. Moreover, an act beyond the limits provided in the constitution is very attractive to would be dictators and would seriously impair our democratic systems. Any formation of a Junta, caretaker government, council or whatever name they will give is outside of the constitution and should never be give a chance to develop. And when it is outside of the constitution, you will never know what powers they would allocate for themselves. "Absolute power, corrupts absolutely."

If there is one thing that this Crisis brought for me, it only shows what kind of a thick-two-faced are the so called leftist activists. Imagine, just to advance their so called principles, they are now sharing the stage with the people of Estrada and Marcos! Bayan-Muna people holding hands with the Estradas and Imee Marcos! Just great really great! It would only come to show that these people would even kiss the devil just so they could advance their ideology that has long been rejected even by the people where such ideology came from.

Lastly, the leaders in Manila should go out of the Capital and look at the provinces before they could make any decision and see for themselves the chaos in Manila and the stability in the provinces. Their minds have probably been affected by the pollution in Manila that they need to have a breath of fresh air from the province. I totally agree with Mayor Osmeña of Cebu, If Manila wants a change in the government without consulting the people in the provinces, then Manila should separate from the Philippines. Manila isn't the Philippines, it is the Capital, but it is not the whole country.

AFI'S TOP 100 MOVIE SONGS

Yesterday, it was the top 100 Movie Quotes, now its the Top 100 Movie Songs. I've realized that I loved many of these songs. Here's the top 10:

1. Over the Rainbow PERFORMER Judy Garland, MUSIC/LYRICS Harold Arlen/E. Y. Harburg, WIZARD OF OZ, THE (1939)

2. As Time Goes By PERFORMER Dooley Wilson, MUSIC/LYRICS Herman Hupfeld
CASABLANCA (1942)

3. Singin' in the Rain PERFORMER Gene Kelly, MUSIC/LYRICS Nacio Herb Brown/Arthur Freed SINGIN' IN THE RAIN (1952)

4. Moon River PERFORMER Audrey Hepburn, MUSIC/LYRICS Henry Mancini/Johnny Mercer BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S (1961)

5. White Christmas PERFORMER Bing Crosby MUSIC/LYRICS Irving Berlin HOLIDAY INN (1942)

6. Mrs. Robinson PERFORMERS Paul Simon, Art Garfunkel MUSIC/LYRICS Paul Simon GRADUATE, THE (1967)

7. When You Wish Upon A Star PERFORMER Cliff Edwards MUSIC/LYRICS Leigh Harline/Ned Washington PINOCCHIO (1940)

8. Way We Were, The PERFORMER Barbra Streisand, MUSIC/LYRICS Marvin Hamlisch/Alan and Marilyn Bergman THE WAY WE WERE (1973)

9. Stayin' Alive PERFORMER The Bee Gees, MUSIC/LYRICS Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER (1977)

10. Sound of Music, The PERFORMER Julie Andrews, MUSIC/LYRICS Richard Rodgers/Oscar Hammerstein II SOUND OF MUSIC, THE (1965)

Click here for the rest of the Top 100 movie songs.

AFI'S TOP 100 MOVIE QUOTES

In Celebration of the 100 years of the American Film Institute (AFI), they came up with Top 100 MOvie Quotes, here's the Top 10:

1. "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn." GONE WITH THE WIND (1939)

2. "I'm going to make him an offer he can't refuse." THE GODFATHER (1972)

3. "You don't understand! I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I could've been somebody, instead of a bum, which is what I am." ON THE WATERFRONT (1954)

4. "Toto, I've got a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore." THE WIZARD OF OZ (1939)

5. "Here's looking at you, kid." CASABLANCA (1942)

6. "Go ahead, make my day." SUDDEN IMPACT (1983)

7. "All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up." SUNSET BLVD. (1950)

8. "May the Force be with you." STAR WARS (1977)

9. "Fasten your seatbelts. It's going to be a bumpy night." ALL ABOUT EVE (1950)

10. "You talking to me?" TAXI DRIVER (1976)

The rest of the 100, click here

GALERA ESCAPE

White Beach, Puerto Galera is not really a place where you will be awed by the wonders of nature. As a matter of fact, its white sand is really more of a polvoron than a refined white sugar. The waters though are crystal clear, clean and not so salty, which means, a good water to have a swim.

But people still flock to White Beach, Puerto Galera every summer and even on the offpeak season. Why? Because White Beach, Puerto Galera is a place for fun! And the place offers nothing more but fun.

So it was not the wrong place for these three hardworking young professionals in Manila to have a break.


Last Saturday we packed our things in our backpacks and met at 3 a.m. dawn at the Bus Station in Taft-Buendia, off we were headed to Batangas Pier in Batangas City, a two-hour bus ride from Makati. From Batangas Pier, we took a painfully slow boat to White Beach Puerto Galera. We arrived at around 8 a.m. to find the whole place already teeming with people. We were informed that all the resorts were already fully booked. But in a place like this, its residence would open their doors to tourist, for a fee of course. We were able to find a room, a five-minute walk from the beach, for P1,500 per night with one big bed enough to accommodate the three of us. We did not mind at all, we only need a place to sleep at night and deposit our things, most of the time we will be hanging in the beach.

Then we started to discover the place.

The place was hot, literally and figuratively. Its summer and the Sun was scorching hot (we were all covered with an SPF 30 Sunblock). But its even hotter since the whole place was charged up with the energy of the young. Majority of the people there are young people ages 35 and below. Hotter still since most of them are in varying state of undress.





This is the place for urbanites to literally dress down and show off, shamefully or whatever, their skin that has been covered by work clothes for the rest of the year. This is the place for you to shout while enjoying the speed aboard a banana boat. This is a place where you love to stick your body to your partner despite the hear. This is the place where you won’t curse the Sun and the heat. This the place to ogle and be ogled at.







So we enjoy the waters, we enjoy the sun, we enjoy watching gorgeous people with glistening bodies displayed for everyone to see.



In Puerto Galera we swim, dive, snorkel, people-watch, eat (meat and those meats crawling in the beach, hehehehehe), climb a 20 meter high or so cliff with an incline of almost 90 degree, crawl a very narrow cave only to enjoy a lagoon-like wonder on the other side, buy summer clothes and accessories at bargain price, have some Henna tattoo on your body.







At night, the place is still teeming with life, with all those bars and restaurants at the beach front turning into one big party place. Tables with lamps are laid down on the beach were people dined. R&B, Techno and other dance music are played on loud speakers with almost naked people gyrating to the beat. On the far dark side of the beach is another story (ask me, I don’t wanna tell it here, hehehehehe).







We indeed have fun and the pictures would prove it. Even on our way home, we were still all smiles. T’was a good vacation, no! it was a Great Vacation and the three of us, Al, James and I are looking forward for another visit.

TAXES AGAIN!

I have nothing against the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) filling tax evasion charges against known personalities.

If Richard Gomez did not file any Income Tax Return for the past years, the he should be prosecuted. His lousy excuse that he was earning for those years is nothing but a stupid excuse. If Regine Velasquez failed to declare her additional Three Million Pesos as a product endorser, then by all means, let her pay the appropriate tax. And if fraud was used to conceal their true income, then they should be criminally prosecuted.

It is an abomination for actors and actresses not to pay their income tax properly. Abomination - - because for an ordinary working class like me, every inch of what I earned is already withheld for tax purposes. For the record, I paid P23,000.00 plus for my income tax last year. It might be small compared to others, but for a working student like me, that amount would mean a lot.

Actors and Actresses are different, however, they could claim numerous tax deductions. Tax deductions are those expenses you made relative to the practice of your profession which you could deduct from your gross income, thereby decreasing your taxable income. For example, my aunt who is a professor in Chemistry may not claim tax deductions from her school supplies. However, she could claim tax deductions for her school supplies by her being a researcher/scientist. Actors and actresses are the privilege few, they could claim tax deductions from almost anything!

If an actress will go to a salon to have her hair done and for make-up, she could claim that as tax deduction because looking good is part of her profession. If she visits Drs. Calayan and Belo, she could also claim tax deductions. She could even claim tax deductions from the expenses she incurred when she paid the salaries of her make-up artist, bogy guard and even her alalay.

Thus, by all means, if these personalities are guilty of tax evasion, then the iron fist of the law should be laid against them.

I see a problem, however, with all these attacks made by the BIR against personalities. If it is their intention to run after those who evade the payment of their taxes, then they should not be selective. They should not only run after these showbiz personalities, who are most likely will settle their accounts because they are most likely afraid of the effect of bad publicity against them. They should also pursue those companies who maintained two books, one for the company purposes the other for BIR purposes. The second book, of course, would reflect a lesser income, and in case of those thick-faced capitalist, no income at all.

The BIR should also go against those Senators, Congressmen, Cabinet Members and other government officials who did not declare their true income. In the press conference yesterday, Sec. Purisima of the Department of Finance was caught by surprise when asked by a member of the press if the BIR will also investigate Negros Occidental Representative Iggy Arroyo, brother of the First Gentlemen, for possible tax evasion for not declaring his income under the “Jose Pidal” account. Remember Rep. Arroyo claimed in a hearing before that he is Jose Pidal. Poor Sec. Purisima, he wasn’t able to give any right answer!

So you see, I really have no objections with BIR pursuing Goma and Regine. But if they are really true to their mission, they should also go after those who are more powerful and influential tax evaders. Otherwise, this campaign that they have now will be nothing but a cheap publicity gimmick of a government agency - - an agency deemed to be one of the most corrupt agencies in the country.

COÑO DAW O!

Seated in front of me in the bus last night where three girls. The girl seated beside the window caught my attention, not because of her looks, but because of her coño talk. Coño talk is the dialect with mixed Tagalog and English spoken with a particular accent and spoken by a young upperclass urbanite (and of course the wannabees).

I listened to what that girl was talking about (this is me, thinking:

coño wannabee girl: There was actually this guy who auditioned. That was Piolo. Kailangan niyang mapa “I Love You” si Bea to pass the audition. (Can you believe that this coño-talking girl watched “Dreamboy”?) It’s a nice movie talaga (WHAAAAT?!) as in kilig talaga! (OHMIGAD! What happened to this world!)

coño wannabee’s friend: By the way, napanood mo na ba ang “Darna”?

coño wannabee girl: Ay! Oo, napaka jologs naman ng special effects. Mas mabuti pa ang “Krystala” and “Spirits”. Ayaw ko talaga ng mga soaps sa siyete, ang jologs (and you think di ka jologs?!). Pero grabe talaga ang “Save The Last Dance”, napanood mo ba ang ending? Naiyak ako, di ba it’s so sweet? (Bus Driver pakibilisbilisan nga ang pagpapatakbo at ng makababa na ako or else masapak ko pa tong babae nato!)

One time I was at the back seat of an FX on my way home and there was this chubby woman seated in front of me. Ang gaga probably she noticed me and started to make pa-cute and did a coño talk. With her knees stuck together, a pouting lips and running her right middle and index finger on her hair right on top of her right ear (in otherwords, nagpapacute!), she started talking to her companion:

nagpapacute na chubbing coño: Kasi naman, di naman talaga ako ganun, di ba? I mean sa relatioship kailangan naman kayong dalawa di ba ang mag work? Eh yung sa ex ko (aba! At nagkaboyfirned ka pa pala!), lagi na lang ako ang naghahabol (aba naman iha! Umasa ka pa! At please lang no, di bagay sayo magpacute-cute ng boses kasi ang laki-laki mo!)

What happened to this world na ba talaga? I mean why are people like that? They think na if they talk mixed Tagalog and English, people will think they are sosyal na! I mean, da buh? It matters naman kung bagay sayo ang mag pa coño da buh? And of course, nagcoño talk ka nga, eh ang jologs naman ng topic mo. I mean, Gad! Piolo Pascual and Bea in “Dreamboy”?!!!! It really affects my sensibilities, da buh?

THE PRINCE AND HIS LOVE

I pity Prince Charles and Camilla.


Theirs is a story of “love conquers all”, “first love never dies” - - the right ingredient for a mushy love story that the masses would surely love. The problem, not everyone adore them, worst they received probably the worst and meanest ridicule ever.

I read in one of the articles over the newspaper saying Prince Charles attended two funerals – that of the Pope and his own. The former happened last Friday, the latter happened a day after.

But why is it that their love story is not a hit among the masses? Because between them is a beautiful Princess, Lady Diana, a compassionate loving Princess that exudes class and elegance. The Princess who comes straight out of your romance and fairy tales books. The Princess who was broken hearted because his not-so-physically-blessed-Prince had an affair with an equally-not-so-physically-blessed-lover (I am just trying to be politically correct, but the right word should be ugly). And so you hate that woman whom some people love to call as “horse”.

That “horse”, unfortunately, is the first love of the Prince who is known to be a horse lover (no pun intended, hehehehehe) and the beautiful princess is just a product of an arranged marriage, she was the one who broke Camilla’s heart first (after that the beautiful Princess would call her “the other woman” and people would call her “home-wrecker”). So you see, its love conquers all. That no matter how a Prince would fall for an arrange marriage to save his throne (or for whatever reason), he will always goes back to his First love.

A typical love story right? But not a hit among the Prince’s subject. It is because this is not a story between the Handsome Prince and his beautiful lady. This is love story of a physically-challenged-Prince and his equally-physically-challenged-lady (I am trying to be politically correct again!). But love conquers all and I know people would learn to accept the story of their Prince and his Lady.

If Disney would do a “Shrek 3”, I suggest they would base it on the love story of Prince Charles and Her Royal Highness Duchess of Cornwall. That would be nice, isn’t it?

NEWS FROM THIS SIDE OF THE WORLD

This is one of those days that I just feel so lazy when it comes to writing. There are too many things that I want to tell, too many stories that I want to share, too many ideas that I want to discuss, but every time I sit in front of the computer, I ended surfing the net and chatting. I kept on postponing on updating my blog till the next day, until the next day came and I am still not writing.

Blame it on the heat! Summertime is already here and Metro Manila has never been this warm (no warm is not the word, it should be HOT!). A 39 degrees Celsius is something that my cold-mountain-grown-body could not take. So I easily get tired. Blame it perhaps on my two-week rigorous final examination for the College of Law, I feel I am already drained.

But here I am now, face in front of the computer with no better things to do than to write. So here I am - - writing. (It what I will write does not make sense to you . . . well . . . the hell I care! At least I am writing!)

* * *

After many postponements (mostly my fault), I finally completed my first year of law school. It was really long ago when I decided to enter law school - - long ago because my batchmates are lawyers now. Imagine! They are lawyers now and I just finished my freshman year. Yes, I enrolled for two semesters back in Silliman, but those were two first semesters. So you see, I never completed my first year in Law School there.

I no longer have any intention of further postponing my law studies. Unless, of course, if my Professors do not want me to continue by giving me an “F” rating. But I believe my professors would be generous enough to make me pass.

Yes, the word is generous. My law study here has been a different experience for me. For once, I was already outside of my comfort zone - - Silliman (and Dumaguete perhaps!). At Silliman most of my professors knew me and I could easily pass a recitation and if I made some mistakes, they would be a little bit kind to me. Here, I am most uncomfortable when matters that are being discussed in the classrooms are things that were not in my readings or when I haven’t read my text book at all. Most of the time in class were spent in recitations and two of my professors show no mercy when you falter. They may be kinder in giving you a mark, but the words they uttered against you were harsh.

One day, I went into my Obligations and Contracts without reading my book. Unfortunately, I was called for recitation. My professor already had high expectations on me judging from my previous recitations, but that day I was at a lost on what to answer, I blabbered some words, but it doesn’t make any sense. My professor then asked “Mr. Joven, what is the difference between a sira ulo and a genius?” That, I wasn’t able to answer also.

I used to hate these teachers, but later on I realized that they mean well. You need to read your books and understand the text of the law. For example, my Obli-Con Professors hates it when you give complex examples, what he needs is a simple one just to make sure that you were able to understand the law and applied it in a practical sense. They just want you to think and not to rely only on what was written in the textbooks. That should be learning right? To be able to think by yourself, the books are just there to guide you.

But I have good teachers! My criminal law professors is the chief inquest prosecutor of the City of Manila, My obli-con teachers is a bar topnotcher and my Constitutional law professor is the former dean of the UP College of Law, lawyer of the deposed President and has been invited several times by the Supreme Court as Amicus Curiae.

* * *

Spending two weeks to study for my final exams means that I have to suspend my regular gym class. Of course, I can’t study without eating. So what is the effect? I gained weight! Now, I am doing double time in my diet and my gym class. I have the third week of April as my deadline. I need to look good by that time when we hit the beach at Puerto Galera, James and I are going there!

* * *

I have been reading about the details of the funeral of the Pope and the way a new pope will be elected. I am not a fan of the Pope, what I am interested is the protocol attached to it and the politicking involved. Electing a Pope involves a different king of politics, no wonder, the proceedings are kept secret to the world.

But I would love to watch the ceremony. I am the person who loves the pageantry of a royal funeral, royal marriage, crowning of the new king, inauguration of a new President. If there is one job that I would love to have, that would be to become a protocol officer.

I think I should apply for foreign service!

BADING SI MARIA CLARA AND IBA PA

What if Maria Clara is a babaeng bakla? How will she behave? I've got this forwarded message the other day and I can't help but laugh everytime i read this:

Maria Clara: Padre Damaso ano po ba ang lihim na inyong tinatago?
Padre Damaso: Wala iha, ako ay alagad ng Diyos.
Maria Clara: Tsaring Eh bat sabi ng mga tsenilin, ineklavu mo raw si. . .
Padre Damaso: O s'ya, aaminin ko na sayo. Pumatol ako sa . . .
Maria Clara: Oh my Gadd! Tama ang tsismaks! Tsinupangga mo ang tsakness na sakristan mayor!
Padre Damaso: Ano ang pinagsasabi mo? Ako ang iyong ama . . .
Maria Clara: Eeww! so anong ibig mong palabasin? Bi ka? Ganun?

DON'T CALL ME FRIEND

Don't call me friend if you can't be truthful to me!
Don't call me friend if all you have been telling to me are all lies!
Don't call me friend if you even won't tell me who you really are!
Don't call me friend when all you do is just to bother me with your phone calls!

You think I am a fool?
You think that I wouldn't know that you are lying to me?
You have told me too many lies already
Too many that your lies has become too obvious!

You can be my friend even if you are not rich.
You can be my friend even if you don't live in those fancy villages in Makati
You can be my friend even if your other friends are not goodlooking
You can be my friend even if you don't really have a jetsetting life.

I can accept you as who you are
Just be true to yourself and to me
But if your can't, then stop bothering me
My hours are too precious just to listen to your lies!

50 FUN THINGS TO DO IN AN ELEVATOR

For all those cityfolks out there who are already bored with their house-office-house routine. Here's something to spiced up your life. If you do one of these things, please let me know, okay?

1. Make race car noises when anyone gets on or off.
2. Blow your nose and offer to show the contents of your kleenex to other passengers.
3. Grimace painfully while smacking your forehead and muttering: "Shut up, dammit, all of you just shut UP!"
4. Whistle the first seven notes of "It's a Small World" incessantly.
5. Sell Girl Scout cookies.
6. On a long ride, sway side to side at the natural frequency of the elevator.
7. Shave.
8. Crack open your briefcase or purse, and while peering inside ask: "Got enough air in there?"
9. Offer name tags to everyone getting on the elevator. Wear yours upside-down.
10. Stand silent and motionless in the corner, facing the wall, without getting off.
11. When arriving at your floor, grunt and strain to yank the doors open, then act embarrassed when they open by themselves.
12. Lean over to another passenger and whisper: "Noogie patrol coming!"
13. Greet everyone getting on the elevator with a warm handshake and ask them to call you Admiral.
14. One word: Flatulence!
15. On the highest floor, hold the door open and demand that it stay open until you hear the penny you dropped down the shaft go "plink" at the bottom.
16. Do Tai Chi exercises.
17. Stare, grinning, at another passenger for a while, and then announce: "I've got new socks on!"
18. When at least 8 people have boarded, moan from the back: "Oh, not now, damn motion sickness!"
19. Give religious tracts to each passenger.
20. Meow occassionally.
21. Bet the other passengers you can fit a quarter in your nose.
22. Frown and mutter "gotta go, gotta go" then sigh and say "oops!"
23. Show other passengers a wound and ask if it looks infected.
24. Sing "Mary had a little lamb" while continually pushing buttons.
25. Holler "Chutes away!" whenever the elevator descends.
26. Walk on with a cooler that says "human head" on the side.
27. Stare at another passenger for a while, then announce "You're one of THEM!" and move to the far corner of the elevator.
28. Burp, and then say "mmmm...tasty!"
29. Leave a box between the doors.
30. Ask each passenger getting on if you can push the button for them.
31. Wear a puppet on your hand and talk to other passengers "through" it.
32. Sing Barney songs
33. When the elevator is silent, look around and ask "is that your beeper?"
34. Play the harmonica.
35. Ask each passenger if they are a virgin.
36. Say "Ding!" at each floor.
37. Lean against the button panel.
38. Say "I wonder what all these do" and push the red buttons.
39. Listen to the elevator walls with a stethoscope.
40. Draw a little square on the floor with chalk and announce to the other passengers that this is your "personal space."
41. Bring a chair along.
42. Take a bite of a sandwich and ask another passenger: "Wanna see wha in muh mouf?"
43. Blow spit bubbles.
44. Pull your gum out of your mouth in long strings.
45. Announce in a demonic voice: "I must find a more suitable host body."
46. Carry a blanket and clutch it protectively.
47. Make explosion noises when anyone presses a button.
48. Wear "X-Ray Specs" and leer suggestively at other passengers.
49. Stare at your thumb and say "I think it's getting larger."
50. If anyone brushes against you, recoil and holler "bad touch."

Belated Happy Valentines People! 

BIRTHDAY BOY

There used to be a time when my parents would throw a party for me in celebration of my birthday. It ended, however, as circumstances changed. That was when I have two younger sisters already and the economic situation has become difficult. I still celebrate my birthday after that, but it is different from the pictures below.


On my third birdthday with My late father, my elder sis and my mom (I do not have any memory of this party. I was three!, the picture has become my memory). 


Trying to be a model on my fourth birthday. 


Blowing the candles on my pinochio inspired cake on my 5th birthday. 


The guests on my 5th birthday party. 


Cutting my robot cake on my sixth birthday. 


My cake on my 8th birthday party. And the throwing of party ends here. 

I don't have a picture of my seventh birthday party. I remember celebrating it in my senior kindergarten class and my mom forgot to bring the camera.

* * *

I am 29 year old now. One more year before I turn 30. I don't know, there must be something about 30 that makes people dread about that age? As for me, however, I still feel that I am young. Your age may add every year, but your heart can always stay young forever. Youth is a state of mind. (Hahahahahaha. I am actually convincing myself!)

But I am happy now. At 29, I am back in law school and I lost weight already. I made this promise on my 27th birthyday and it is only last year that I was able to fulfill it. I am actually looking forward, with optimism, for the years ahead.

PHOTOGRAPHS AND MEMORIES

I suddenly had the urged the other Sunday to clean my closet. Thank goodness I did not find some skeletons there (har har!), but I've found some old photos that I brought with me from Dumaguete. So as promised to Her Majesty Queen KK, I scanned some of them and here they are.


The tWS 96-97 Gang. I would declare that this is batch is one of the best batch of the Weekly Sillimanian. This the batch that surely made their presences felt not only in Silliman, but also in the larger community called Dumaguete. 


The Vice Presidential Choir. Aldwyn, Johnard and Me (not in photo was Raffy). These guys became my goodfriends after the 1997 SUSG Election where I ran and won as Vice President. We call ourselves Vice Presidential Choir because of the unfortunate incident when Wilma and I agree to serenade Dr. Pulido on his birthday, only these people and She-she Sitoy accompanied us. I will forever be thankful to these friends for standing with me during my rough times as VP of the SUSG. I miss Johnard and Raffy, I wonder how are they right now? This photo was taken after the Doltz Ball.


Talking about Doltz Ball, here's a picture of me and my date, Janice. This is not our first date, on Valentines Day that year, we had a date at Park Theater watching Romeo and Juliet (the film which starred Leonardo de Caprio). The date and the movie ticket was courtesy of KK (remember that KK?). I had a big crush on Janice at that time and with the help of Joana Utzurrum, they we're able to arrange a blind date with me and Janice on Valentines Day. That was part of the activity of tWS where we had a manito/manita on Valentines Day with the objective of making your manito/manita happy on Valentines Day. 


This is the 1995 All-Unversity Extemporaneous Speaking Contest. One of the highlights of my College Life. Why? becuase I won First Place! (yabang!). Right hand most is Jamil Zoobi of the College of Business Administration, Dinah Baseleres of A/S, Nicel Dinoy of High School, Jayson Alcantara of CBA (third place), Best Friend (hehehehe) Rowena Reformina of Nursing (second place,remeber the loook on her face when she was called as second placer only? hehehehe), I forgot the name of PT representative, Ian Caballes of Music, and Tonette Lim of the College of Engineering.(not in the Photo was Beth Castillo who at that time was already preparing her speech) 


Talking about Extemporaneous Speaking Contest, a year before that, I joined the Annual Extemporaneous Contest sponsored by the English Department, I placed second to Wilma Famoso who later on became the President of SUSG and I was her VP. This was supposed to be our Portal Picture. 

If you can't open the pictures, see it here.

BITCHY LETTERS!

I love reading letters most especially if they are well written and their being bitchy is with class. Like this letter of Danton Remoto (do I need to tell you who he is?) published in one of the yahoo groups:

Dear Angmokio,

Since you asked, I will tell you.

Yes, the very intelligent management of Redline, composed of Dodong Rivera, who sends entertainers to Japan and owns a girlie bar and a gay bar, and Genesis Gallios, who was fired from Fahrenheit, said "my services are no longer needed" as of January 3, 2005.

Why?

1. I questioned their insistence on having too many almost-pornographic pictures of men. I said time and again that if gay men want porn, they can always go to the Internet. Not at my expense. I know Article 201 of the Revised Penal Code like the back of my hand, the code that penalizes magazines that "arouse the prurient interest of readers."

The text-picture ratio was supposed to be 50-50. They changed it to 70-30 in favor of photos. They violated the editorial independence that was my only requirement for joining them in October 2004. My friends in the Makati ad agencies said their clients want to advertise, but not when there is pubic hair galore on the pages of the magazine.

2. They treat gay and lesbian issues in such a shallow fashion. I had to fight for the coverage of the Pride March. I had to fight for the inclusion of articles on lesbian issues. To quote the great Genesis, who should instead be called Apocalypse, when one customer on the phone asked what the magazine contains: "Ang magasin ay may lamang tumpok-tumpok na titi." I rest my case.

3. Time and again, I asked them to provide me with a National Census and Statistics Office certification that some of the models are above 18 years old. They did not do this. Violation of this requirement that models should be 18 and above is an act punishable by law.

4. I warned them they are going on a financial hemorrhage. Under Mr. Gallios as VP, the magazine has spent P2 million on two issues. The usual expense should be P500,000 for one issue. Therfore, P2 million should have published four issues. How do I know? I have an M.A. in Publishing from the University of Stirling in the UK, and I have edited the weekend magazines of the Philippine Daily Inquirer and the Manila Times. I was also the Director of the Research and Publication Office of Ateneo for ten years, which published 200 books and journals.

5. Before me, two people in Advertising resigned; one in Talent Management; and my beloved Art Director. They went to the best schools--UP, Ateneo, De La Salle. My Art Director worked with a top company in Kuala Lumpur. I had taught in the US. But Mr. Gallios--a third-year, high school dropout who thinks globalization is the same as global warming--treats us with disrespect.

6. Now, their website for Campus Face Philippines shows UST, CEU and UE beside pictures of half-naked men. Even the good doctor of the Catholic Church, St. Thomas of Aquinas, has a statue placed beside a half-naked boy, making it appear that the contest is an official activity of the universities. The officials of these universities are now complaining, and I am sure Redline will get some official letters in the next few days.

Therefore, I ask our friends in the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community to BOYCOTT L Magazine and BOYCOTT Mr. Campus Face Philippines on Feb 2. I have been with gay groups since 1991, and only now have I met such callous people who think they can treat us in such a reckless fashion.

Not anymore, not now, not here. Let us not give our hard-earned money to people who do not help, but only oppress us.

Many thanks,

Danton Remoto
Associate Professor of English and Creative Writing
Ateneo de Manila University

Columnist, Art and Culture, Philippine STAR

Founder, Ang LUNDUYAN

Dear Eric,

I'm not sure if blogger is working but if it is, and you can see the design, I hope you like it. If you have anything you want changed, just email me okay?

Walay kurat ni, I like doing this stuff now, I don't know why but kalit lang. I might just do some course for it siguro if di pa ni mawala in the next couple of weeks.

I love you!

Love,
KK

FRIENDS IN THE BUKID

Its amazing how time fly so fast. How we have grown up. I looked at my High School Friends today and I am quite happy of what we have become.

We are the IV-Faith Batch '93. If you noticed, I just didn't call it Batch '93 of our school (Bukidnon State College), IV-Faith was our section. The other section is IV-Hope and from freshman to senior year in High School, we never get along with the other section. In our senior year, the tension between our section and the other section heightened and I was one of the reason. You see, I ran as President of our Student Council against the one whom everyone thinks as the likely winner. My opponent then was the Mayor of our Student Government in our elementary years, so everybody assurmed she will be the next President of the High School Student Council.

Knowing the odds, my classmates (all of them) campaigned for me with all of their hearts.And it was because of them that I won. The son of an ordinary unknown government employee won against the daughter of our town's affluent businessman.To some, your parents stature in the society won't really matter, unfortunately back in our place, it does. But we made it and I went down to the history of our school as the one who became the President of the Student Council and at the same time the Corps Commander of the Preparatory Military Training (also known as Citizen Army Training or CAT). Yes dear, I WAS A CORPS COMMANDER!

Now looking at them, I can help but smile and recall all the good memories that we shared. Most of us were not really "well-to-do" as opposed to the other section where only two of their male classmates does not bring any "wheels" to the school. But boy! we have all sort of fun! Outings, swimmings, mountain trekking or just strolling at our town's little business center (Malaybalay only became a City in 1998).

This is not the complete IV-Faith. We were 48, but some already resides outside of Bukidnon and even out of the country. So there were only a few us who were able to gather last Decemeber when I went home.

Let me introduce them to you (picture above). Leftmost is Paul now a Marine Biologist, Earl, our baby of the class, works for Landbank, beside Earl is Dearly or Ylizaderlita Rose (unique name right? our student teachers have a hard time pronouncing her name), she is now with the Provincial Government of Bukidnon, at the back of Earl is Marjorie (lady in red)now works for the City Government of Malaybalay, Joy a concert pianist and has toured Europe twice with the UP Concert Chorus, Ellen who teaches sign language, among others, for the differently able kids in Malaybalay, beside Ellen is me of course, Ritchielyn an Interior Designed and Choi, a webpage designer working for PLDT in Makati.

The girl sitting beside me in the picture below is Eisel a registered nurse but now full time mother. The three girls in that picture below (Eisel, Joy and Dearly) and I were the best buddies in High School.