NEW LINKS

I have two new links in my blog. First is The Secret Tango Dancer by Sebastian, an award winning writer based in Dumaguete. The second one is Mom's Closet by my Sydney base friend KK Maslog.

By the way, these two person are so in love at the moment so forgive their being mushy and corny at some point in their resepctive entries.

I am supposed to write something about "Rants" today, but I am just happy at the moment (I don't know why, probably the thought of meeting two goodlooking person this evening),so I don't want to destroy my mood. Tomorrow, I might write something about people I met and how dangerous my mind could be sometimes.

THAT KRIS AND JOEY THING

While everybody was praising Kris Aquino for her courage to tell the "truth" about what happened between her and her ex-lover Joey Marquez, I thought I was the lone voice in the wilderness. But yesterday, I found one who shared the same opinion with me. Yesterday's column of Conrado de Quiros of the Philippine Daily Inquirer proved that I am not alone in sharing my views against Kris and this whole issue (you can check my September 24 entry). Here's what de Quiros said:

Ambivalence
Posted:11:09 PM (Manila Time) | Sept. 28, 2003
By Conrado de Quiros



LAST year, I wrote about Kris Aquino. She had just become the cynosure of the nation's eyes for making her affection for Joey Marquez public. My reason for doing so was that I was bothered by the jokes about it. Though some of the jokes were really funny -- we Filipinos are past masters at gallows humor, and we get sharper the more the noose tightens around our necks. They were also pretty cruel. Or indeed sprung from very wrong premises.

I was particularly uncomfortable about the ones that suggested promiscuity on her part. There was no lack of cheap shots made on the words "Hindi ka nagiisa" and "The Filipino is worth dying for." There was a larger issue at stake there, I thought, which was the double standards we held about the proper behavior of men and women. We had just had a president who did not particularly mind parading his mistresses and conquests before the world, yet no one made any bones about it. Except Jaime Cardinal Sin, and everyone thought him puritan. There were jokes about his incontinence to be sure, but they were not cruel, they were admiring. When Kris, on the other hand, gushed out her affection for someone against all opposition -- her family's chief of them -- the world came down on her.

The reactions I got from friends and readers were: one, that it wasn't the promiscuity people were making fun of, it was Kris' penchant for exhibitionism; and, two, why did I have to fiddle around while Rome burned? The first I don't buy: the underlying premise of many of the jokes was not scorn for Kris' loudness but her presumed "kalandian", a judgment never made about men. The second doesn't bother me. I write about things I feel strongly about, whether others think them important or not. If I can't be true to myself, I can't be true to the public.

This time, however, I am tremendously loath to write about Kris' -- or Joey Marquez's -- current predicament. One would think it would be easier because the women's groups have already given it a national-interest spin: Kris should be congratulated for making domestic violence public. That should encourage battered wives to come out and seek redress, or be rescued from their plight. If true, I myself would join the chorus and sing my praises, too.

But that is the first thing that bothers me about this issue, the rush to judgment. I myself do not particularly like Joey Marquez. And while I am infinitely tolerant of the foibles of love -- those who insist the young should marry, or settle down, wisely have either not been in love or have forgotten how they themselves rushed in where angels fear to tread; it is always a case of temporary insanity, well, sometimes permanent -- I can't understand how any woman couldn't have sensed the danger a mile away. Anybody who has seen an episode of "Palibhasa Lalake" -- the title says it all-couldn't have failed to spot the machismo. I don't mean by this the penchant for fickleness (a lot of fickle men are not macho), but the attitude of being God's gift to women. The kind (like Robin Padilla) that says such patronizing things as "Ang babae ay di binubugbog kundi niroromansa."

But having said that, I don't know that naturally makes Marquez guilty as charged. Is it possible that someone entertaining political ambitions would beat up a partner who is not just the daughter of the most prominent citizen of this country but is one of its most popular show-biz personalities? Well, stranger things have happened and there's no telling what machismo can do. But until that is proven, I don't see why I should join the lynch mob.

That is the second thing that bothers me about this: the uses of the media for whipping up a frenzy. Unlike Maria Teresa Carlson, who was at the mercy of her oppressor, Kris is not. She is a powerful person in her own right in this television-addled country, having several shows in ABS-CBN. She is not the underdog in this case. Maybe it's true, as she says, that Marquez is merely inventing her having said she would ruin him because she is popular and people are apt to believe her, but the way she is going on about this, she is giving credence to his accusation. She is turning Marquez into a sympathetic figure by making him the object of a media mugging. That is assault and battery, too, and it is happening right before our eyes.

The way she and Korina Sanchez have violated every canon of media ethics, chief of them maintaining a degree of objectivity and giving the other side a chance to say his piece, is enough to embarrass any self-respecting journalist. One would imagine that if Kris had learned any lesson in life, it would be that when you try to silence someone by an excessive use of force, he speaks with the force of a thousand tongues.

What this incontinent display of power is bound to encourage is not more battered women to come out and tell all but more idiots in the media to oppress their enemies, particularly those who cannot fight back.

The last thing that bothers me about this issue is our utter lack of sense of proportion, our infinite capacity to dwell on these things. Rome is burning, or this country is. I feel the charge of fiddling more sharply in this case, and my only excuse is that a dissenting voice must be heard here. Of course, other countries are prey to the snares of the Pied Piper, too-even England waxed show biz over the death of Diana whose contribution in life were to prove more interesting than the man she married. But we do it to outrageous lengths. Rico Yan dies and we make a saint of him. Ruffa Gutierrez marries and we want to follow every step of her pregnancy. Kris Aquino and Joey Marquez fight, and we stop the world.

A country of slaves deserves tyrants. A country of simpletons deserves F4. And the Kris and Joey show.

LANTANA


I wish I had the faculty of language to describe the film that I watched last night, but I don't. All I can say is that I had a wonderful, no, superb movie experience last night. And its all because of the Australian Film "Lantana".

One good thing with my office address is it is just in front of Greenbelt 1 which now host the Art Film of the Ayala Cinemas. Starting September 19 up to September 28 Greenbelt 1 played host to the First Australian Film Festival (I missed the film "The Sum of Us", starring Russel Crowe because I was sick when it was shown) Last night's feature was "Lantana".

To know more about the film, please click here, this will lead you the films Official Website.

This is a must see film. Acting was great and so was the story. It is one of the film that would make you think and it is full of surprises.

The central theme of the story is trust and the character Valerie (portrayed by Barbara Hershey) explained it in the film when she said "trust is as vital to human relationships as breathing is to life." Trust in this film is presented in the context of a married life. This is the synopsis of the film as provided by film's website

A woman disappears.
Four marriages are drawn into a tangled web of love, deceit, sex and death.
Not all of them will survive.

LANTANA is an intriguing psychological drama about love, infidelity and mistrust. It's about the mistakes we make, the consequences we suffer and the attempts we make to fix things up. Detective Leon Zat moves through a dark labyrinth of human relationships on his journey to solve the mystery of a woman's disappearance. He strips away layer after layer to reveal the tender and dark underbelly of this perplexing obsession between men and women called love. And each layer causes him to reflect back on his own marriage, on what he has lost and what he must get back.

Leon (Anthony LaPaglia) had an affair (two night stand) with Jane (Rachel Blake) who is estranged with her husband Pete (Glenn Robbins). Leon's wife Sonja (Kerry Armstrong) has suspicion and consulted her psychologist Valerie. Valerie is struggling with her other patient Patrick (Peter Phelps) who is gay and admitted to having a relationship with a married guy whom Valerie suspect to be her husband John (Geoffrey Rush) who is silently agonizing from the murder of their 11-year-old daughter.

One night Valerie almost had an accident in a dark road and hailed a van driven by Nik (Vince Colosimo) who with his wife Paula (Daniela Farinacci) are the close friend neighbor of Jane. On that night, Valerie was reported missing and on the same night, Jane saw Nick threw a shoe on the Lantana bushes.



The film is full of twists and surprises. Before you could jump into conclusion, your opinion will suddenly be debunked by the next revelation in the film.

If you have the opportunity to watch this film, don't fail to watch it. It is worth your time and would really make you think about the relationships your are in right now.

And yes, Lantana is that flower beside the title of this article.

photo from PDI

HOW DO YOU SOLVE A PROBLEM
LIKE KRISTETA?

Showbiz. That is the word that could best describe her. If there is one person in Philippine show business that epitomizes the word "showbiz", Kris Aquino is on top of the list. This latest episode of her life that hugged the headlines is just a clear example to her being showbiz.

How do you solve a problem like Kristeta?

Kris Aquino is one of the many personalities who does not care if her private affairs are laid open in public. What matters to her most is that she'll be always on the spotlight. No matter if people call her all sort of names for having been engaged with married man to another. No matter if her family is scandalized by the things she admitted on TV. For her those things are immaterial. As long as she is talked about (in Filipino, napaguusapan), she would be happy to jump into that opportunity.


For Kris, any issue about her, be it good or bad, is still publicity. That is very much like Kris. That is very showbiz.

Now before you accuse me of automatically jumping into conclusion. I would like to say that yesterday's turn of events is already enough for me to derive on this opinion.

What happened between Kris and Joey Marquez at the Essensa Tower in Fort Bonifacio is a private matter. And if indeed Joey physically harmed her and threatened her at gunpoint, then by all means she should report it to the authorities. There is nothing wrong with that! What is actually wrong is all these media coverage.

What happened at the Pacer compound at the Camp Crame yesterday was a show. The intention really was not to report to the authorities the alleged maltreatment done to her, that was just part of the script. The real intention was to grandstand, to have a show.

How did they do it?

First, they need the attention of the media. That is the most important part. Media people have no business at Pacer compound on that day. So what are they doing at the Pacer's compound before Kris arrived? Obviously they received a tip and that's why they were there to record and broadcast the show. Where does tip came from? Well it certainly won't come from Joey's camp, not from the PNP, but it should come from Kris camp.

The came the arrival. Kris arrived with her brother Tarlac Rep. Noynoy Aquino, lawyers Raymond Fortun and Rene Saguisag, and Mayor Jejomar Binay of Makati City. Have you noticed anything wrong with the picture? I do. Kris went there to blotter the incident. This is a very simple procedure of telling your complaints to the police officer and the police officer would record your complaint. Simple as that! I've done this before and any ordinary Filipino could do it. You don’t need all the legal expertise to do it.

I would understand if she arrived with her brother because that would be the right thing to do. But to come with your lawyers (who were not just ordinary lawyers) and with a powerful mayor, to assist you in making the simple task of making a blotter, your intention must be different. Of course the effect would have been different if Kris went there alone or with a not so known lawyer. She wants to create a bang and that’s what she did.

So everything was perfect. Media were in place and the luminaries as her escort. But that did not end there. Kris has to play her part too. And she played it well. The distraught lady and not talking the media, but making sure not to enter her vehicle immediately, linger for a while and make sure that the media can catch your supposed bruises in your arm, which is by the way very obvious if your skin is as immaculate as Kris skin is.

See everything was perfect. There is no reason why the media won't feast on it, all the elements of intrigue are present and that's what the media did.

Now you would ask me, why am I allotting some space (and time) in my blog just to talk about Kris and his affair with Joey?

Because one way of getting rid of your irritation is to write.

It bothers me that news like the leak in the Bar Exams, the appointment of Eduardo Ermita to the controversial defense post and other worthwhile news are being placed in the sideline while a lover's quarrel are given importance.

It sickens me that ABS-CBN to protect their prized talent in the person of Kris would once again (as always pala) loss its objectivity in its news and current affairs program just protect its talent. I mean, for the love of ethical journalism, what's the use of interviewing kids on your late night news program and asked them "who do you like, Kris or Joey?" Spare the kids, puhleesee! And what was the purpose of that man-on-the-street interview on Kris and Joey issue when you haven't really heard the other side of the story yet? Besides, it's a private matter and we shouldn't have any business about that!

Kris irritates me and the people who applauds her for her "honesty" by washing her dirty linens in public. Go ahead tell me about how you fell for a married men. I don't care. But broadcast it on a national TV where my five-year old niece whom I love so much is watching, that is another story. Have she taught about that? What kind or role modeling then would she give to the million of teenagers and kids who are watching her everyday?

Obviously, that won't matter to her. What matters to her is she'll be talk about. That is so showbiz!

How do you solve a problem like Kristeta?

Make her irrelevant. Let her feel that we don't approve what she is doing. That is the only way to solve the problem.

And yes, if you ask who I am inclined to believe? Call me a chauvinist, call me a pig, but I find Joey Marquez to be more credible.

MY MEASLES ARE GONE!

I had my much needed rest over the weekend. And I need to be sick just to have that rest.

I was infected with German Measles last Thursday. At first, I thought it was just prickly heat. But then, some tiny red spots started to appear on my face (anything on my face can cause panic for me), I finally decided to see a doctor.

Well, it was a German Measles my doctor said and its contagious. Which means, I have to stay in the house (just a note, if you have one don't come near a pregnant women, you migth infect her and the infection will cause some abnormalities on the baby). Funny, I was really feeling ok, my body is a little bit weak but I have no fever and no dizzy spells. Except for that rashes over my body, I could have been in a perfect condition.

So I had my rest from work, from my Saturday and Sunday singing engagements and from my gimiks.

Today, I reported to the office. Which means, I am okay.

Thanks for those who prayed for me. It is sometimes nice to be given those cares and attention.

My ex-boyfriend will be releasing his new album this November. That one above is the cover. It will be out on November 10.

(Yesterday, the picture link was from Fotki and I think that link is carzy. Good thing I was able to found a forum of Josh Groban's fans and I was able to link that picture above from the said forum. For Josh Groban Fans out there you can access him at his official website or at this forum -Eric 9/23/03 )

F4 FEVER

I stop reading Conrado de Quiros already. Yes, he is such one brillian writer, but I have to much of his GMA bashing. Not that I am a fan of Gloria, but I am just tired of it.

However, his article yesterday caught my attention. It did not talked about Gloria but about the F4. Yes, that disbanded Taiwanese band. And I totally agree by what he said. Here's de Quiros" article from the Philippine Daily Inquirer:

Meteors falling
Posted:10:56 PM (Manila Time) | Sept. 16, 2003
By Conrado de Quiros

I'VE been asking people in the past days why the Taiwanese teen singers F4, the stars of "Meteor Garden," are so popular.

The reason for it was the news I saw last week. The Ninoy Aquino International Airport turned into a circus as soon as the group planed in. There was more security than greeted a visiting dignitary and a lot more enthusiasm. A group of kids had skipped elementary school to be on hand to welcome the guests. One girl would say later that she was a little disappointed not to have been able to shake the hands of her favorite stars -- she had been swept aside when the crowd surged forward -- but it was enough that she had shared the same ground with them, or within their proximity.

A fairly senior and impoverished citizen who was at the airport too said she made it a point to save whatever she could to buy F4 or Meteor Garden paraphernalia -- posters, pictures, bric-a-brac. It gladdened her in her old age. Several airport officials themselves, men and women, lost their composure, and like the other fans, faces flushed, gushed breathlessly at the recollection the stars actually passed by them just a couple of feet away. And somebody told me kids from the more affluent schools not just skipped classes but rented rooms in the hotel adjoining the guests'. You can't get more cross-section, and idolatrous, than this.

These are levels of adulation I have not seen for some time. I did see it in my own time in the hysteria that greeted the Beatles wherever they went. I remember that there was a commotion too at the airport when they arrived, and an even bigger one when they left. Though the latter was far less amusing: The group was chased out by a mob, apparently upon orders of Malaca?ang, presumably for snubbing a presidential invitation. A harrowing experience that prompted John Lennon to vow he would never return to this savage land, a vow he never had the chance to break. And an opinion he never had the chance to revise. But that is another story.

But that I should recall the Beatles in reference to F4 must suggest I am impressed by the latter's success in these parts. Certainly, none of the local "megastars" -- Sharon Cuneta, Gary Valenciano, Martin Nievera -- has met with the same levels of worship. They too must be wondering what happened, what they did wrong and what the Taiwanese group are doing right. I just read in the papers that fans caused a stampede at the Philsports Arena, forcing the visitors to cancel an appearance in a local TV network next day lest they be crushed by fanatical embrace.

I confess I have not seen a "Meteor Garden" episode -- my TV consists of news, some sports and DVD -- but my 14-year-old tells me it's funny. He himself got rave reviews of it from his bus mates, which prodded him to watch it. He never got hooked on it, however. He left it after a couple of weeks to go back to his favorite Japanese anime, the ones with even weirder titles than "Meteor Garden" -- "Initial D.," "Grander Musashi," "Amon Saga." And to his favorite online game, the locally made, and equally phenomenal, Ragnarok: I'll have to write about that, too, someday. But he says "Meteor Garden" is funny.

The reactions are divided. Some of my musician friends are furious at the impertinent poaching on territory. Particularly, as one told me last weekend, since F4 was apparently already on the wane ("palaos na") in Taiwan. It doesn't help, he said, that they cannot hold a candle, music-wise, to any decent local group. But another musician friend was more philosophical. They must obviously be striking the right chord -- pun fully intended, he said -- with local audiences. And at least the group comes from another Asian country. We're too sucked into American Top 40 it was good to be invaded music-wise by an F4.

I myself think the phenomenon should wake us up to a not particularly pleasant prospect, about which I had warned in several previous columns. That is, that we could be losing our competitive edge in the export of musicians to Asia, which is one of our biggest and better-quality exports. The days when hotels in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok would put up signs that say, "Filipino band playing tonight" may be numbered.

The karaoke sounded the first tones of its death knell. The karaoke's invasion has been far and wide, penetrating the heartland of popular music itself, which is America. Certainly, its march into the local scene has been 2 fast 2 furious, if the ubiquity of the machine is anything to go by. Even NGOs have not been spared, their staff -- like those of government offices -- repairing to the nearest video-karaoke bar after meetings to take out their frustrations on the microphone. That alone may explain the decline in the quality of NGO thinking over the past years, as shown specifically in their inability to distinguish War Bonds from PEACe Bonds. But that is also another story.

The digital revolution turned the faint tones into a sonic boom. We probably still have the edge in ear but other Asian countries have the edge in technology. While we worry about piracy and use taxpayers' money to protect Hollywood (that's what Bong Revilla is doing with the Videogram Board), other Asian countries have been resolutely exploring the possibilities of MP3s and even higher levels of sound compression and finding new ways to market music. I did warn about that too before; we're looking at life through a rear-view mirror, trying to impose old structures on new realities.

Of course we can always say that meteors are fleeting things; they burn bright and die in the blink of an eye. But they can always say the same thing about us too, or our musicians.

I am (desperately) hoping we can find a way to reinvent ourselves. We've always had a good "oido" [ability to learn by ear], maybe we can still play this one by ear. But it helps to read notes, too, or signs on the wall.
©2003 www.inq7.net all rights reserved

I AM SICK!

All the tension that I had over the weekend and the hearing I have last monday plus all the night outs for the last two weeks, finally caught up with me. I was down yesterday with fever and with an aching muscles and joints. Worst, I have to be in the office to answer Katrina Legarda's new motion.

I am okay now, weak but ok.

And yes, for those who have seen over the last six months with my noty so long hair. I said goodbye to that already, I had it cropped last Monday and I never felt so good!

WHEW!

I have just survived one hearing that has been giving me goosebumps over the weekend!

It wasn't really a big deal. I was asked to appear in court as a representative of my boss because he can't attend the hearing for he has to another hearing. All I have to do is to go to the court. Once the case (Declaration of Nullity of Marriage) is called, all I have to do is tell the judge that I am appearing as a representative of my boss, that my boss can't make it to this hearing stating the reason mentioned above, I will ask for a postponement and a period ten days to file a comment on the motion filed by the petitioner (our client is the respondent).

Simple? Probably yes. But when you are not yet a lawyer and your formal studies of law is only up to two semesters (I'll be continuing my law studies next year), you wouldn't have that confidence. Worst, you know that seating at the opposite side of the bench as lawyer for the petitioner is THE Atty. Katrina Legarda. Now tell me if you wouldn't be afraid.

Who is Katrina Legarda? Well, she just happens to be one of the best lawyers in town. She has her own talk show in one of the major TV network in the country, almost everybody listens to her, possess the impression of being feisty and the reason why former Congressman Romeo Jaloslos of Zamboanga del Norte is in jail right now.

I am usually a composed person (my friends can attest to that), my level of confidence is high and when pressured, I don't panic. But this morning, I was fidgety. I was going over my notes a hundred times, imagining all the worst scenarios, I can’t stay in one position while seating. The irony is, I WAS ONLY ASKING FOR A POSTPONEMENT! It is supposed to be as simple as that! But you don’t expect Katrina Legarda to go easy on that and I was right.

By 8:30 the court started calling cases. Atty. Legarda did not arrived yet. Part of me was wishing she wouldn’t come, but a part me was hoping she would. Honestly, I would really want to meet her and know how is she in court (and part if was of course the bragging right that “hey! I have faced the Atty. Katrina Legarda in court!”)

By 9 a.m. she arrived and upon seeing her it seems that there is a percussion band beating in my heart. Worst, she sat beside me which even made me feel more nervous. I was trying to amuse myself at the testimony of a 16-year-old girl while waiting for your case to be called. Katrina, on the other hand, was angered by the taught a 16-year-old girl who was called to the witness stand to testify against her mother in an annulment case. I wasn’t really laughing at the girl (well, sniggering for that matter), I just found her answers bitchy and amusing.

That 16-year-old girl testified that her mom is of unstable mind and has been causing her and her sisters physical and mental abuse. To counter her testimony the lawyer of the mother presented some cards which the girl admitted that it came from her. In that card, she wrote that her mom is the “perfect mom in the world”. The lawyer, dressed in all white and aided by a cane, then asked “how can you reconcile now this card with your previous statements. The girl candidly answered, “you wouldn’t give somebody a card and write bad things about her, won’t you?” At this point, I gave a soft laugh which was noticed by Katrina.

Noticing me, Katrina asked for what case I was there. I told her for the R Case (can’t tell the title ok). She then asked so what are you going to say in court? I answered we will be just calling for a postponement. She answered, “that cannot be, you had all the time to answer.” Then the “interview portion” began, while the judge was still hearing other cases.

“You are attorney?” Katrina asked. “No ma’am, I am just a paralegal,” I answered.

“A paralegal! are you studying law?”

“I used to, but hope to continue next year.”

“So where did you study law?”

“Silliman University”

“Silliman University, that is a good school!” She declared.

“Thank you ma’am,” I answered.

She continued to ask, “where do you intend to proceed with your law studies?”

“At FEU-LA Salle.”

“Oh, that business and law program at RCBC Plaza?”

“Yes, Ma’am”

“Well, if you have a problem just tell me, I know Atty. Bautista the dean of FEU law school.”

“I will ma’am.”

She was kind. Later an employee of the court approached her. After that our case was called. If she was accommodating to me while we were still seated she wasn’t when we were already standing in front of the judge. Eventually, the judge was persuaded by her arguments and refused to give the postponement that we asked. The judge told us that the petitioner’s motion will be submitted for resolution without our comment.

Well, I was not able to get what we want but I am happy to say that I did not commit any blunder, either. I am also pleased by the fact that even if she knew meas a paralegal only with a minimal knowledge about law compared to her, she did not go easy on me. She treated me as an equal and made me defend my case the best that I could. She had all my respects.

And yes! Most of the people that I talk to had all this comment about Katrina. She is a dyke. I beg to disagree. Yes her hair is cropped, but no dyke would come to the court bringing a pink handbag made of indigenous materials and with floral design. No dyke would have well-manicured nails and wear a pink blouse top by black coat. Katrina is not what most of the people think about her, that is obviously an unfair stereotype. She is a handsome woman. Feisty, determined, but still a lady.

2 NEW LINKS

I've added two new links in my blog. These are the live journal "Catharsis" by Nikolai a freshman Filipino-American Student at Georgestown U. He is an interesting read, articulate and his commentaries on American and world politics are good. Another link is the blog "beadle-doodles" by my friend Aldwyn who is managing a Human store in Cebu.

Check them out.

100 BEST THINGS ABOUT BEING A GAY MAN
(Second Installment)

26. Your car has an amusing female name. I don't have a car

27. You're the only one at your high school reunion who looks a lot
better than you did in high school. Yes! All my other classmates in high school seems to lost a lot of years in their life (nalusyang in Bisaya), I even look better than those who were considered hunks when we were still in high school

28. You've got at least one framed picture of a pet. I don't have a pet

29. If your mattress could talk, it would be Joan Rivers. huh!

30. You know that sex complicates things. Yes, I do. But I still love it. I don't have sex though with my close friends, I find it incestous

31. You know that being called a "cheap slut" isn't actually an
insult. I am a slut, I transfer from one bed to another and I love it!

32. There's a married guy somewhere who is terrified of you. A lot! And when I saw them in the malls with their girl friends or wives, they would go the opposite directions. I just love the look on their face when they saw me. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

33. Nobody tells you what to do in bed...unless you tell them what to
tell you. I am the master in Bed and my partners are the slaves. But I am the master who would teach my slaves to treat me like a slave, I just love it!

34. You have a medicine chest stocked for any occasion. I don't have a medicine chest

35. You have at least one movie musical on video. NO, but I have the soundtrack of Chicago, would that qualify?

36. You're not embarrassed to sing in a piano bar. Why should I? I have a good voice!

37. You're embarrassed by people who sing in piano bars. Unless their voice is awful

38. You never hold a grudge for longer than a decade or two. I am a forgiving person

39. You know how to make an entrance. If I love to, I will. But most of the time, I like it when I am unnoticed

40. You know when to make an exit. same as above

41. You worry about people you don't even know - like Liza Minnelli. I worry about a lot of people because I am a caring person by nature

42. You choose the most fabulous greeting cards. I choose cards for what it says, not on how it looks

43. You know how to program your VCR. I do

44. You've got sunscreen at every conceivable SPF level. I only have a moisturizer with SPF 15

45. You have a cologne display worthy of Bloomingdales. Nada

46. You understand, viscerally, Joan Crawford. I don't watch Joan Crawford

47. Some of your best friends are your ex lovers. I don't have an ex-lovers. But yes, some of my good friends now are those I once share a bed with.

48. You know when to play dumb. Yes

49. You know what to do for a hangover. I rarely have hangover

50. Yes, you do have a condom. I always have two hidden in my wallet (in case of emergency)

MY ALMA MATER IS 102 YEARS OLD



Happy 102nd Founders Day to the school that changed my life - Silliman University. As a loyal Sillimanian, I won't miss this day without greeting all my fellow Sillimanians worldwide a Happy Founders Day.


Promise, I will be writing about Silliman and how the school changed my life.


Loyal we'll we be to Silliman.

NEW LOOK

It is alright, you have not access a wrong window. This is my blog, yes the blog of Eric Samuel P. Joven.

Why change? Becasue I feel that the former web design that I had for my blog is not really me. Those "cutie-cutie" dogs paws in the background is not and the whole concept of the web design is not refecltive of my personality.

I am comfortable with this new lay out. I hope you are to. Please don't forget to drop a line or two, if you agree. if you don't - - bahala ka sa buhay mo! hehehehehe

IT'S FALLING APART!

And there lies started to crumble.

Remember July 27, 2003? That day when these Magdalo soldiers held our country in hostage? On that day they accused Sec. Angelo Reyes of ordering the bombings in Davao.

Well, in the questioning during the Senate Inquiry, Lt. SG Antonio Trillianes (yes, him, that arrogant bastard!) said this, "For the record, based on our evidence, we have no direct link. The Davao bombings have no direct link to Secretary Reyes."

Imagine, you have the tenacity to place bombs around the country's central business district with the sole reason that you are showing your disgust to the corruption in the military. Then, then to prove your point you accused no less than the Defense Secretary of ordering the bombings in Davao, and yet, you don't have enough evidence! how foolish can you be?

How foolish Trillianes can be? And this is the guy whom a lot of girls (and gays) have been hero-worshiping?! My gad! I never liked that guy the first time I saw his face on TV that early morning of July 27, now I can prove to myself that indeed I wasn't wrong in not liking him. ( I also don't like Sec. Angelo Reyes, but that is another story)

Here's the story from today's edition of thePhilippine Daily Inquirer:

Trillanes: No direct link of
defense chief to bombings
Posted: 2:22 AM (Manila Time) | Aug. 26, 2003
Inquirer News Service

THE SPOKESPERSON of the Magdalo group of mutinous soldiers has admitted having no direct knowledge of Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes' involvement in bombings in Davao City earlier this year.

Navy Lieutenant Senior Grade Antonio Trillanes IV said during questioning at a Senate hearing on the mutiny that he was not personally aware of Reyes' involvement in the bombings in March and April that killed more than 40 people in Davao City.


"For the record, based on our evidence, we have no direct link. The Davao bombings have no direct link to Secretary Reyes," Trillanes said during questioning by Senator Loren Legarda-Leviste.

He said he and his fellow mutineers came up with the conclusion that ranking armed forces and defense officials were behind the Davao bomb attacks based only on the testimony given by Army Captain Milo Maestrecampo that a superior officer had ordered Maestrecampo to hurl a grenade at a mosque in Davao City.

Transcripts of the Senate hearing showed Trillanes also said his group linked top defense and military officials to the bombings because of documents on "Oplan Green Base" which they believed had the signature of Eduardo Ermita, presidential adviser on the peace process.

The documents also bolstered the mutineers' suspicion that ranking government and military officials were behind the Davao bombings, Trillanes told the Senate.

"We used that as some sort of propaganda material," Trillanes' testimony went.

Ermita has denied signing such a documents. Defense and military officials say the documents were bogus.

Trillanes insisted that the explosives used for the bombings came from government arsenal. "Whether the airport bombing was the [work] of the MILF [the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front], the point was that the ammunition and the explosives used there came from the government arsenal," his testimony at the Senate went.

HEROES THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE

It really irritates me, no, it makes me angry, no, it annoys me, when someone thinks that they did the country a great favor when they expose alleged corruption in the government, when they themselves does not come in clean hands. This reminds me of the Bible adage, "he who never sins be the first one to cast the stone."

It annoys me further when these people made their exposé in the floors of the Senate or of the House of Representative where they are basking from their parliamentary immunity. Because this won't set the level of playing field on even grounds. There basically are no legal remedies available for the victims of these exposés since they can not sue the one who uttered it is because he is cloaked with that immunity.

( Parliamentary immunity means that a Senator or a Representative can not be sued for anything he says during the sessions of the Senate or of the House, on committee hearings or any other venue where he speaks/acts in his official capacity.)

The problem actually is, no matter how true your exposé might be, it automatically becomes unbelievable since people would question your motives.

That is the trouble with Ernesto Maceda, Mr. Expose himself but who was once called "so young but so corrupt" by a Manila official. The same trouble with Congressman Mark Jimenez and now with Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson.

Granting that what Ping Lacson said about First Gentleman Mike Arroyo about is true, should I start to clap my hand and stand up an applaud him? Should I praise him for his desire to expose this corruption? On the first place, is it really his desire to expose these acts so that once and for all we could get rid of all corrupt officials in the government? Or this is just a vendetta on his part? A Political Propaganda? Judging from the premises of his privilege speech last Monday, this is purely a political vendetta and an early campaign for 2004. (have you seen the Lacson's ads that come out on TV a day after he delivered that speech? It speaks the same problem and portraying Lacson as the one who can solve it)

You see, the battle against corruption is already lost on first base because you failed to convince the people of its truth because you as the source and your motives in doing it is questionable. Good for people like us who can appreciate evidence, but what about the people who does not? What about the people who already had had this bias against you? How would you convince them when you yourself are tainted?

Secondly, I can not bring my self to praise Lacson for what he did. I can not appreciate a person who does a seemingly good deed but hidden is the sinister intention. Lacson already declared his intention to run for President. Obviously, by destroying the President's husband, she have also destroyed the President Arroyo, Lacson's contender in the 2004 race (we are not sure that GMA will run or not in 2004). I also agree with Amado Doronila's analysis that because of what Lacson did, debate on economic and social issues in the 2004 election will be push aside and mudslinging will once again take center stage. That is always the problem with exposés like that.

Third, I can not applaud Lacson's speech. A serious study of his speech reveals that while he alleged the First Gentleman and the so called "Toh Triad" in having millions pesos in their bank statements, it never showed that those money came from government coffers. How sure is he that the Tohs doesn't have any other business. What Lacson did last Monday was to insinuate but never prove that indeed that money in Tohs' account came from illegal deals. So what if Arroyo kept the bigger portion of her solicited campaign funds in 1998 if she knew that the real fight was not in 1998 when she run for Vice President but in 2004 when she was, then, planning to for President? Remember that she was already a sure winner in the Vice Presidential race (and she indeed won with a very wide margin). Wouldn't it be wise for you to keep your money for the real fight? There is no law in our country that prohibits that.

Fourth, what was Lacson's purpose in dragging the name of Mon Tulfo, Alex Magno and Jarius Bondoc and his wife Marissa? ( I never like Mon Tulfo, but that is another story). They were arch critics of Lacson. And so what if they were seen in LTA Building in Makati? Does that mean they did something fishy. Again this is Lacson's insinuation. Too bad, these people he mentioned can't go after him because he is cloaked with immunity.

Fifth, I agree with Rina Jimenez David that Lacson's speech was just a copycat to Joker Arroyo's opening statement in the impeachment trial. And by using the Incredible Hulk as a comparison to the tall, big First Gentleman, Lacson's intention was to gain media mileage, more than anything else.

Lacson may feel that what he did is heroic. By exposing the alleged corruption at the highest level, he might do a Chavit Singson act. But before we can proclaim him as hero, there are still big shadows that follow him. These are the Kuratong Baleleng Case and the issue on Narcopolitics. Just this, made me doubt Lacson's sincere objective.

Talking of heroes, there is another one person who feel that he did the country a great favor with what he and his classmates did last July 27. His name is Lt. SG Antonio Trillianes IV.

Trillianes for me is one arrogant fool. He feels that we should thank him for what they did? He feels that we should thank him for exposing the corruption in the military as if we don't know that? Well thanks to him. Thanks to him our economy sink further. Thanks to him we one again lost investor's confidence. Thanks to him for holding the whole nation in hostage. Thanks to him for further aggravating the devaluation of our peso.

So they have complaints against the government. So they want to air their grievances. We all want that. But plant bombs and threatens to explode it? That is something else. There are a lot of ways you can air your grievance? You can go hunger strike, you can go to the media, but come in with fully armed with all the high tech weapons and a threat to violence? That is totally distasteful.

Now, Trillianes would want us to believe that what they did was spontaneous. Spontaneous my Ass! Three hundred men coming from Mindanao, Luzon and Visayas coming in together and you are going to tell us that it was not planned? Coming with armband that you just can't buy in any stores because the design was obviously a combination of the KKK's symbols?

Again, these people did not come clean. They want us to believe that they were not supported by any private citizen. But we won't be fooled. They claimed to be lowly paid, yet one of them was able to check in at Oakwood four days before July 27. Oakwood is not just any hotel, a stay in Oakwood cost seven thousand pesos per night. Moreover, their arm bands alone already cost 54 thousand pesos, how much more their high tech gadget? Where did they get the money? Who financed them? These they failed to answer.

Trillianes is an example of an intelligent persons who think that they are so intelligent that they alone could save the country from destruction. They are kind of people who think that they can get away with their stupidity.

Lacson and Trillianes are two examples of persons who thought they are heroes. Trouble is, it is only them (and those they fooled) who think that they a re indeed.

YOU HAVE 14 WEEKS LEFT
IF YOU REALLY WANT TO HELP
THIS COUNTRY

Got this from Ian's page, and being a concern citizen that I am, I'm posting it also in my blog to spread the information. Here it is:

You have until November 14, 2003 to register with the COMELEC if you are a first time registrant or revalidate if you are already a registered voter.

Let it not be said that, when the opportunity came for you to save your country by being actively involved, YOU NEVER LIFTED A FINGER.

Please PASS ON to every netizen in your address book.

Thanks,

From your friends at the WHITE FORUM and Youth Alliance Philippines

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

Even if you have registered before you need to validate your registration!

Here are the dates for Comelec Registration - August 4 - November 14, 2003.

Go to your local Comelec office in your City Hall or Municipal Hall and submit the following:

A. A 1x1 or 2x2 ID Picture

B. Age 22 and above (at least 2 of the following)
1. Driver's License
2. NBI Clearance
3. School ID
4. Company ID
5. Passport
6. Proof of Billing (Meralco, MWSS, PLDT etc.)
7. Police Clearance
8. Postal ID

C. Age 18-21
1. Birth Certificate
2. Any ID listed in B.

All ID's should indicate Present Address.

COMMENTS

Friends:

I already installed BlogSpeak in my Blog. This would mean that if you like to comment on the things that I wrote or you just feel like writing to me without the need of opening your email, you can now do it. Just click on the word "comment" at the end of every comment. Go ahead, try it. A warning though, other people can read your comment since this is open to the public.

Now, if you really would want to send me a private mail and you don't know my address, at the lower left portion of this page, you can see the word "contact", click on the phrase "Tell Me" that would direct you to my email address.

I MET TWO BEAUTIFUL SMART WOMEN

Over the weekend, I had a very nice conversation with two smart women. And honestly, I was attracted to one of them.

I know KK (and some of you) is raising here eyebrows now, but what the heck, I was honestly smitten (dami kung "honestly", mukhang defensive).

Rochie arrived last Saturday from Doha. She had two nights layover in Manila before she will fly back to Qatar. Early Sunday morning she called me informing me that we will be joining the 8:45 service of the Union Church of Manila and will be bringing with her two of her fellow flight attendants from Qatar Airways.

I met Marilou of Argentina and Malina of India. Marilou looks like a typical Latina. Curly hair, some freckles on her face and an aquiline nose that betrays her Spanish ancestry. Marilou speaks English with a Latin accent. Malina, on the other hand, is a statuesque dark beauty with deep-seated eyes and a soulful look on her face. She is grace and beauty personified. A goddess. (Now, you know who I was attracted to) Malina speaks English the way an educated Indian does.

We are very comfortable with each other that over some Egg McMuffin and Egg Omelet at Mc Donalds right after the service and only minutes after we are introduced to each other, our discussions were already as profound as the poverty of our respective countries and as personal as the choices that we made in life.

Prior to that, while we were walking towards Mc Donalds, I asked them if they watched "View from the Top", a film about flight attendants starring Gwyneth Paltrow. They all answered "yes". When I asked them what was their reaction to the film, Marilou declared, "we are not that stupid." She said the film was a stereotypical presentation of a Flight Attendant.

I realized that life of a flight attendant is never that easy. Sure you've got to travel to the beautiful cities in the world for free plus a reasonable allowance (200 US Dollars for every long flight) and free first class hotel accommodation. But you also have to sacrifice something. First, you've got to be separated from your family. Marilou confided that she lost her father two months ago and she felt bad that she wasn't there when her father was struggling for life. Secondly, while the work demands that you appear sweet, caring and charming, the same job demands presence of mind and alertness and the ability to handle difficult customers with finesse. Now, you may want to dismiss this by saying, "well it's not something unusual, in our job we ordinarily handle demanding clients", but try handling a difficult client while your body is tired because for most of the duration of the flight (that is ten hours for Doha-Manila) you have been standing and handling over food trays, coffee and other beverages while trying to maintain your balance as the plane moves. Most importantly, a flight attendant is there not just as your "dignified waitress" but they are also there to keep you secure (in every sense of the word) in your flights. The pilots are there only to make certain that the plane takes of, fly and land safely. The rest are in the hands of the cabin crews whose responsibilities include, among others, handling a panic-stricken passenger, a racist passenger (Rochie told me one time that once a British passenger declared right on her face that "you Filipinos are nothing but worth five dollars") and on the extreme, possible terrorist attacks.

Malina said that she loves flying, but she does not look at it as a lifetime career. She used to fly with KLM Air before KLM's base in Bombay, India closed. She said after working for more than two years in the airline, your body will start to show some signs of fatigue and you would grow tired.

It is really a pleasant thing having nice intelligent conversation with women. You know, ladies, we men (no matter what our sexuality are) can sometimes be tired with all your whines about men and your chatters about who is cute or not. I am always genuinely interested with women who can talk to me about other things, other than men or other people's lives. While the stereotypes of women flights attendants are vain persons who are only concerned with how they look, these two ladies broke that stereotype. Marilou and Malina went to the church with no make up at all and wearing casual clothes. Both admitted that they only wear make up when they are boarded on the plain (which made me wonder, how beautiful could Malina be when is totally made up). And most importantly, they are not detached from the reality. Both are concerned with the poverty of their respective countries and have a wide grasp of knowledge on the culprit of that problem. Both are thankful that they were educated and even if they don't approve of any practice (Rochie was telling us how people in Munich would just lie in the park naked, and some were even groping), they have an open mind and respect other people's lifestyle.

I am thankful that I met these women. Meeting beautiful and smart women and having good conversation with them is indeed a treat.

Now, now, now, I know my lady friends would surely react upon reading this piece. Don't worry ladies, to quote the last line of the new KFC commercial, "don't worry, you're smart naman eh." Hehehehehehe.

Over the weekend, I met a very very good friend whom I missed terribly. Thanks to the gathering of Gen-X Sillimanians, after nearly five years I met Dinah Baseleres nee Ladia. It was indeed a great fun talking to Dinah and having those animated conversation about the good ole days. And yes, an added bonus, Ritchie Teves was also there.

What can I say about Dinah? Just read her livejournal to know more about here. All I can say, it is nice to have friends who are excellent, no, superb writers.

By the way, congratulations to Ian Casocot for winning his second Palanca. Check Ian's blog, he has a link to his winning entry.

Ian dear, we are so proud of you? Ano ba? Is collecting Palanca becoming your hobby already?

STOP THE HERO-WORSHIP PLEASE!

Finally, someone brought us back to our senses. DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman said it best from this news article from the Philippine Daily Inquirer. Lt. SG Antonio TRillianes and the rest of the Magdalo group were never heroes and they never will because of what they did last Sunday. I am on the process of writing an article entitled "The Hero He Never Was", for the meantime, here's the news article:

Social welfare chief: Rebels
anarchists, not idealists
Posted: 0:56 AM (Manila Time) | Aug. 01, 2003
By Volt Contreras
Inquirer News Service

SOCIAL Welfare Secretary Corazon "Dinky" Soliman is bitter at the mutinous Magdalo group.

"Even the vendors of isaw (barbecued innards) whom we provided with seed capital can now lose their market," she said Thursday, and warned the public from regarding the mutineers as "idealists" or "heroes."


Soliman, who is directly tasked with helping the poorest of the poor, said she felt "not just frustration but [also] anger" over the economic consequences of Sunday's failed uprising.

"I'm passionate about this because whatever hope we [in the Department of Social Welfare and Department] have generated by helping a significant number of people in a concrete manner is now backsliding," she said in a phone interview wherein she made a rare display of resentment.

She said that the mutiny leaders had a "political agenda" and that she was worried they would be "hero-worshipped."

"I'm not saying there is no graft and corruption in the government for indeed there is [graft] even in the private sector. I'm concerned about the model it presents to the young people-a romantic notion of how problems can be solved at the barrel of the gun and by threatening lives," she said, adding:

"Excuse me, but you just pushed us back two to three steps behind."

Soliman also said the mutiny leaders were "not honest enough" to tell their recruits about their motives and financiers.

She said the mutiny had political backing, supposedly primarily indicated by the rebels' very demands, foremost of which was the resignation of President Macapagal-Arroyo.

"When you ask for the President's resignation, you cannot not know who's going to be the replacement," she said. "Otherwise you're just an anarchist."

She said the mutineers' allegations, like the sale of ammunition to Moro separatists, "only serve the interest of political players if they are unsubstantiated."

She wondered aloud how the mutineers managed to get satellite phones, velcro pads on their armbands, and flags made of relatively expensive material when they were griping about the military's insufficient funds.

"I think part of their agenda was to erode the economy and government authority even if they don't succeed in grabbing power," she said.

Soliman said she was particularly concerned about the people the DSWD had tried to help become self-employed under its "micro-financing" program.

She said the DSWD had released some 143 million pesos as seed capital for close to 30,000 families nationwide so they could put up small businesses like sari-sari stores.

"What [the mutineers] did was hurt the poor ... and in fact lends more to corruption because more people will now be pushed deeper into poverty," she said.

THANK GOD, IT'S OVER!

Sunday, July 27, 2003, was no ordinary Sunday for the Central Business District of Makati City.

While the Ayala Center is usually full of shoppers every Sunday, yesterday was different. The streets in Salcedo and Legaspi Village were almost deserted. The families who shop and dine at the restaurants in Glorietta and Greenbelt were replaced by hundreds of Armed Men from the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the rowdy members of the Philippine Press. Armored vehicles, tanks and six-by-six trucks replaced the cars that were usually parked around these shopping centers.

I wake up very early that Sunday morning. Bobby, my landlord who just joined the ranks of the Philippine National Police, woke us up saying there is a coup going on and the rebels have already occupied some portions of Makati. It was 4 am, two hours earlier than my scheduled waking up time every Sunday. I went down and joined Bobby in watching the developments on TV. By 6 am, Paolo Baron, our drummer for the Praise Band of the Union Church of Manila (UCM), sent a text message that with or without the coup, we will go to Church.

By 7 am, I left for our Church only to find out that all entry going to our church were blocked. I was left with no choice but to walk from the corner of Buendia and Ayala, to UCM. Our church is located in at the corner of Legaspi and Rada Streets in Legaspi Village, a five-minute walk to Oakwood Condominium where the siege took place. I was surprised to find out that even with the crisis, all members of our Praise Band (including the expats) were present except for Karen Kelly, Press Attaché of the US Embassy in Manila, who was asked by her boss to report to the embassy at 3 am.

While practicing for our songs, the lines of the song suddenly became very meaningful for all of us. Our songs are already prepared a week before, but their meaning were very appropriate for the moment. Even with half of the regular attendees were present (surprisingly majority of them are foreigners), we started the service on time at 8:45. We opened it with a song with a line that goes:

For all those things that we don't understand
We come by faith and place them in Your hands

And close with another song singing:

I'm so secure
You're here with me
You're still the same
You're love remains
Here in my Heart

So close I believe
You're holding me now
In Your hands I belong
You never let me go

Right after the service, my aunt and I decided to take the taxi along Paseo de Roxas only to find out that it was already cordoned off by hundreds military personnel. We still manage to hire a cab and Ate Ping, my aunts friend, still managed to make usyuso with the military guys in greenbelt.

After going to the groceries, we went straight to my Aunt's condo unit along Taft. In the evening, I still was able to go out and have gimik with friend Jojo in Aurora Boulevard where in order to get there I have to pass by Edsa Shrine and Camp Aguinaldo.

I was indeed an unusual Sunday. While a crisis is going on, everybody is trying to make it appears that there is business as usual. Very unusual indeed.

WRITING STYLE

My midnight-society yahoo group has been active lately and it all started when one of our members said something about the writing style of another member. Ian published his answer in his blog with Tedo's letter. Okay so I am one big copycat and I feel like writing my answer also in my blog. Well, not really, I just want to share an explanation about my style (if I have any) for those who are regulalry reading this blog. Here it is:

Pipol:

It seems everybody has said his or her piece already with that "parting shot" issue, except me. So here's my opinion.

If there is one thing that I learned when I was still writing for the Weekly Sillimanian and as a Mass Communication student, it is writing to express not to impress. When writing, my first consideration is that I should be understood by my desired audience/readers. This is also the lesson I shared with my news writing students before.

More than anything else, as a news writer my first goal is to "tell the story" as accurately and as clearly as possible. This discipline I carried on whenever I write, be it a news article, press release, an opinion for my column or answering your e-mails. I play with words, yes. I love the language and I desired to use the vocabulary that I've learned but only with one goal in mind - that every word that I will use will help correctly convey the message that I want to impart and emphasize the point that I want to raise.

My vocabulary is limited compared to other members of this group. And I am not an authority in the use of English language. I can honestly say that I have only learned good English when I entered Silliman University. Although I have good English teachers in Bukidnon State College (where I finished my elementary, secondary and my first year in college), but at that time I wasn't that much challenged to improve my English than when I was in Silliman and writing for the campus publication.

I can categorically say that I improved a lot in my English and thanks to my teachers and friends who wouldn't hesitate correcting me or giving me a piece of advice about my writing (I still couldn't forget the red notes that I've got from Mr. Timothy Montes when I submitted to him my essay for English 25). One thing that I can attribute for my improvement is my openness to accept criticism. But I don't just accept criticism as they are.

I also have learned to listen to a criticism that are honestly intended for me to improve from those that are there to make me feel bad. For example, I*** cherishes every opportunity when he could correct my grammatical lapses in my e-mails. He wouldn't hesitate pressing the "reply all" button so that he could broadcast the grammatical blunder(s) that I have committed. Of course, his real intention was for him to feel good about himself that he was able to correct the English of a person who used to be a teacher in News Writing, a debater and a writer and editor of the Weekly Sillimanian. It is different with the editing marks that I've got from Ian C, the red notes from Mr. Montes, Amabel Mascardo asking me to sit beside her while she was editing my news article and explaining to me why my usage of a certain word is wrong, or Melanie Misajon telling me while rehearsing for "Joseph the Dreamer" that I should be careful in pronouncing words with long "e" (i.e. legal and sleep).

We all have our blind spot (remember Johari's Window?). That is why we need friends and mentors to guide us in this area. If we cease to recognize sincere criticism, that is the beginning of our own destruction.

Now, as to accepting people as they are, I could honestly say that I am really working on it. I am a very judgmental person. If my first impression of you is not good or I don't like the way you look, or I find you too presko, or you don't appeal to me as an intellectual being, it might be difficult for me to accept you as who you are.

But I am working on it. Experience taught me to give all persons their two cents worth of opinion. I may not like them, but I still have to listen to them. Someone said, "everybody has his or her story to tell." And sometimes, we find the most profound taught in the simple things of life. We may derive lessons just by listening to the stories/opinion of the common folk (the one we called as member of the "bakya crowd").

But I am not saying that I have to congregate with them. I only said, I will give them a piece of my time. We can accept people as who they are, but that doesn't mean we have to be extra close to them.

I agree with Ian that we are bias. That is why we have cliques, our own circle of friends, because we share and believe on some common ideals and we share similar "likes and dislikes".

I remember when I was still a college freshman at Bukidnon State College. I had a crush on this girl. She was beautiful, kind, sweet and she obviously had a crush on me too. Well, I said to myself this is it, "I will finally have a girlfriend!" But during recitation in our English Class, the moment she opened her mouth and utter a word in English, I feel like I would like to sink into my chair feeling embarrass for her. She just happens to have a terrible diction and a terrible grammar. Did she become my girlfriend? Forget it! I can't afford being laughed at by my friends. We became just friends and besides, I found another statuesque, intelligent lady who speaks good English to pursue, but that is another story.

This is probably the reason why, now, I just don't jump in to a relationship. It is not enough that the person and I are compatible in bed, that person must be someone who won't embarrass me in front of my friends. Harsh it may seem or I might appear as to picky, but that is the reality. We just couldn't go out with someone and when we are with my friends I have to put a tape on my partner's mouth so that I wouldn't be embarrass.

Take people as they are? Yes we can do that. Respect their opinion and for who they are? We can certainly do that. But be extra close to them? That depends, do I like you enough to be someone I can be comfortable with?

I rest my case.

Eric

QUIZ TIME

I am bored. I am not doing anything, so I answered this quiz. I got this from one blog, I just forgot the site. here's the quiz:

Current Clothes: Light green long sleeves office barong, black slacks

Current Mood: Sleepy (wala akong tulog kagabi)

Current Music: "To love you more" by Celine Dion

Current Taste: after taste of Pepsi which I drank during lunch

Current Hair: Long back

Current Annoyance: Taxi Drivers na bastos at malakas mangikil!

Current Smell: Hugo Boss

Current thing that you should be doing: Sleeping

Current Desktop Picture: ten cute labrador puppies from Webshots

Current Book: Just finished Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Current CD in CD Player: Josh Groban

Current Video In VCR: Dumaguete Sex Scandal (hehehehehehe)

Current Color Of Toenails: Never colored my nails so its natural, pinkish

Current Refreshment: water

Current Worry: How will I budget my salary?

Current Crush: Meron Ba? Ang dami nila, di ko maisa-isa

Current Favorite Celebrity: Renee Z. and Lani Misalucha

LAST PERSON...

You Touched: Bea, the cute baby of my landlord

You Talked to: Mary Ann, my boss Secretary

You Hugged: A guy I met in the bar last night (hehehehehe, that is why I am sleepy)

You Had A Crush On: Sino ba sa kanila? They are still my crush now.

Who Broke Your Heart: I can't tell. Basta she this girl back in college.

FAVORITE...

Drink: Dalandan Juice

Color(s): blue

Movie: Chocolat, Ever After, My Best Friend's Wedding

Quote: "I may not be a tree at the top of the mountain. I may be a bush at the foot of the hill, but among the bushes I may be the best" (wish ko lang!)

ARE YOU...

Understanding: Yes

Open-minded: Yes

Insecure: Grabeh!

Interesting: Well people love to talk to me and hear my views, I must be interesting.

Hungry: No.

Friendly: Yes, although most of the people's first impression of me is that I am snobbish.

Smart: I think so.

Moody: Not really.

Childish: Nope

Independent: Very

Hard working: I am working on it.

Organized: Huh! You should see my desk, my closet and my bed! Kung ano ano na ang nakatambak!

Healthy: Thank goodness, yes!

Emotionally Stable: Yes

Shy: Yes, but most of the people interpret it as me being a snob. I am usually shy at first.

Difficult: If you did something the pissed me off, you will wish that you never met me!

Attractive: I have my good angles (hehehehehe)

Messy: My closet, my desk and my budget!

Thirsty: Nope

Responsible: Yes

Obsessed: Not really

Angry: I have my share of angst.

Sad: a little, but I am most of the time happy and doing okay

Trusting: Grabeh! So sobrang kong pag ka trusting, ilang beses na rin akong naloko.

Talkative: I can talk the whole night.

Original: I love to be original and I love person who values originality. Although, if there are things worth copying (and if legally allowed to do so), why not?

Ignored: sometimes

Reliable: Yes

Content: no, there are plenty of things I still want to have

Optimistic: My view of the future is quite bright.

Deep thinker: I love it when people challenge my reasoning. I analyze issue weighing every pros and cons, so I must be a deep thinker

Self-disciplined: wish ko lang

Sleepy: Very !

Lonely: I have friends, people to talk to, but I do not have somebody special. I am not in love even. So, would this qualify being lonely?

WHO DO YOU WANT TO...

Kill: Antoinette Taus

Slap: Ping Lacson, the PNP officials who were responsible for the escape of that Indonesian Terrorist, bus drivers who do not have any road discipline

Get Really Wasted With: Josh Hartnet

Be Like: Ewan McGregor, the guy is cute, can act and can sing! (unfair talaga ang world!)

Talk To Online: my friends

New Links

I have two new links in my blog. I've been reading these blogs for quite sometime already and it was only yesterday that I learned that this is written by a friend I met in Dumaguete in the Summer of 2001. These blogs are Cloudwalker and Manumissionisms.

This is a toothpaste commercial. (l-r Dennis, Ted, Jade and Me)

There used to be a time that when we (except with Ted) go out on for pleeshor (the term Dennis and Jade, we would always end up drunk. Pleeshor for us would mean drinking bottles of "Colt 45" or Gin mixed with lime at Slapshot, a bar just across Silliman University, or going to Disco Parties sponsored by campus organizations, or for Jade and Dennis, spending the night at waiting shed outside Villareal Hall and watching and talking about those passersby.

Sometime towards the end of 2001 (that was more than three years after we went separate ways after college), we met once again. Jade just arrived for a vacation, she is now based in New York with her husband, Dennis was in Manila for a seminar, at that time he was based in Davao working for the Presidential Assistant for Mindanao, I was just new in Manila then after a three years stint with the City Government of Dumaguete, and Ted at that Time was already based in Manila working for ABS-CBN.

Haven't you noticed the wholesome picture? Well, when Jade called that we would met, I thought we would be going to a bar, but surprise of all surprises, we had a "wholesome dinner" at a restaurant called HELLO KITTY RESTAURANT in SM Megamall! Well, some things change. We are now matured (matured? Having dinner at Hello Kitty?). Ah basta!

Of course we had fun remembering those days at Silliman and yes we had fun taking note at the irony of the place that we met.

I MISS MY FRIENDS

I miss Dennis lady like voice and his shirts with plunging neckline.

I miss Jade's antics like wearing a Muslim shawl on her head while ordering pork barbecue at Scooby's Silliman or her Masscom jersey with a "Morissete" name at the back because she just love Alanis.

I miss Ted's paranoia and our escapades in Manila (and Vigan!).

I miss Ian and his black shirts and his looks that seem like assessing you everytime you meet.

I miss KK and her bitching at maarte people.

I miss Aldwyn and the way he impersonates me while dancing.

Basta! I miss my friends

VOYEURISM

This is an article written by Atty. Elmar Jay Martin Dejaresco, my officemate who is also a Dumagueteño ( I already considered myself a Dumagueteño and I think I already earned my right to become one), as a result to the "Sex Scandal" that rocked Dumaguete City over the past weeks. For those who don't know the real story, kindly click this link from the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Voyeurism
by Atty. Elmar Jay Martin I. Dejaresco

An apparent syndicate of moneyed peeping toms have sparked outrage in the community when videos began circulating in the city showing unsuspecting young ladies having sexual intercourse in a place where they had some reasonable expectation of privacy.

In legal parlance, these sophisticated “boso-boys,” are called voyeurs. Video voyeurism, is still un-chartered waters in Philippine legislation, as it is even in many states in the U.S.

Voyeurism is one of the emerging offenses against personal privacy. The Canadian Oxford Dictionary defines a voyeur as “a person who derives sexual gratification from the covert observation of others as they undress or engage in sexual activities."

Voyerusim has been considered both as a behavioral and sexual disorder.

Many Dumaguetenos, apart from the victims and their families, feel shocked, insulted and deeply wounded by these beastial acts. This could have happened to one’s daughter, sister or relative. The people of the city share the pain and anguish.

The local governments have asked for an investigation, leading perhaps to exploratory prosecution of the perpetrators.

We strongly ask the authorities to kindly exercise caution in protecting the privacy of the victims and their families. They do not deserve further public humiliation.

Although it does provide some practical political sense to conduct investigations in aid of legislation, inviting the victims to testify in public doesn’t.
Prosecuting the culprits

Authorities are thinking of criminally prosecuting the culprits behind this scandal. But under what law?

Article 201 of the Revised Penal Code, as amended by Presidential Decree 969, has been tossed in the air. This provision punishes “immoral doctrines, obscene publications and exhibitions and indecent shows.”

However, the law merely punishes those who distribute the films which are “offensive to morals.” It does not punish those who conspired in taking the videos. The law is not `on target.’

But there are other laws that prosecutors must also look into.

For instance, if sexual intercourse is considered a form of intimate unspoken communication between a male and a female, then perhaps Republic Act 4200, or the Anti-wiretapping Act is worth studying.

The title of RA 4200 is very revealing: An Act to prohibit and penalize wire tapping and other related violations of the privacy of communication, and for other purposes. The law has penal sanctions.

This is not without precedent. There was a California case of a successful prosecution using their counter-part anti-evesdropping law, mainly due to the absence of a law against criminal voyeurism.

Next, is Presidential Decree No. 1987, or the law creating the Videogram Regulatory Board (VRB). By the way, President Arroyo has recently appointed the former city first lady, Atty. Christine Cuisia-Remollo as Director of the VRB, so help may just be a phone call away.

P.D. No. 1987’s `whereas’ clause states: WHEREAS, the rampant and unregulated showing of obscene videogram features constitutes a clear and present danger to the moral and spiritual well-being of the youth, and impairs the mandate of the Constitution for the State to support the rearing of the youth for civil efficiency and the development of moral character and promote their physical, intellectual, and social well-being;

The VRB is empowered to regulate the production, reproduction, distribution, exhibition, showing, sale, lease or disposition of videograms including, among others, videotapes, discs, casettes or any technical improvement or variation.

Under PD 1987 the VRB is authorized to prohibit the production, copying, distribution, sale, lease, exhibition or showing of videograms, including, among others, videotapes, discs.

PD 1987 is also a law that is worth studying.

On the other hand, rushing to prosecution would not exactly be an ideal strategy. We should bear in mind that in the event of a criminal trial, the victims would necessarily be dragged as witnesses.

The victims, may not want to undergo the harrows of a humiliating trial and would rather suffer in silence.

Fortunately, court proceedings allow the trial to be insulated from the public when the proceedings are offensive to morals.

Civil Suit

It is not expected that the victims will come out in the open and file a civil suit against these electronic peeping toms. Perhaps, the shame or humiliation of having to relate the incident in a public trial is too unbearable for the victims.

In any event, the Civil Code addresses a person's sacred right to privacy. Article 26 of the Civil Code states that every person shall respect the dignity personality, privacy and peace of mind of other persons.

Any acts of meddling with the private affairs of another would cerate a cause of action for damages in favor of the victims.


Looking forward

Amidst this nightmare, there is much that the community can do.

Members of the community should spearhead the passage of a law criminalizing video-voyeurism. The community should push for this law so that it won’t happen to innocent women from other areas of the country.

It is not difficult to look for a model legislation. By far, the laws against video-voyeurism in the States of Missouri and Louisiana in the U.S. should provide some framework with which to start.

Under the Missouri model, “a person commits the crime of invasion of privacy if he knowingly views, photographs or films another person, without that person’s knowledge and consent, while the person being viewed, photographed or filmed is in a state of full or partial nudity and is in a place where he would have a reasonable expectation of privacy.”

Meanwhile the Louisiana model defines video voyeurism as “the use of any camera, videotape, photo-optical, photo-electric or any other image recording device for the purpose of observing, viewing, photographing, filming, or videotaping a person where that person has not consented to the observing, viewing, photographing, filming or videotaping and it is for a lewd or lascivious purpose.”

Local legislators can refine and polish the model-laws against voyeurism to suit the local landscape and endorse, through a resolution, to the congressmen and senators.

We suggest that the community, including the church, civic organizations, cause-oriented groups, students, conduct a signature campaign urging the President to certify the video-voyeurism bill as urgent in the hope that its passage would not be overtaken by next year’s electoral circus.

It can be done.

The community can do a lot to remedy the city's tarnished image. Voyeurism and the distribution of voyeuristic materials should be addressed. Something good must come out of this. If the community does nothing, other people will think Dumaguetenos tolerate voyuerism and voyeuristic behaviors.

Dumaguete might just become the “voyeur-capital” of the country.

That would be a greater tragedy.

Somebody is giving my cellphone numbers to strangers. Just this past three days, I received two different calls from two persons whom I haven't met yet. when I asked where did they got my numbers? The usual answer would be, "a friend of mine who happens to be your friend gave your number to me?" Ang galing ng friend na yan?! Who is that "friend", I don't know! But I just wish he or she will stop doing that. I still value my privacy.

It is really irritating how someone would assume that it would just be okay if they gave my numbers to a complete stranger. The best thing that a person could actually do is to ask permission first.

FALSE ALARM

Well, I thought I am going to fall in love again. But, it turn out to be a "False Alarm". Let us just say that the person didn't turn out the way I expected. It is difficult when you meet someone with the dim lights of a bar and with your head spinning from the alcohol in your blood, that would always result to a bad judgement call.

I think, I am about to fall in love (finally?!!!) with someone whom I met just recently. I don't know. Let us leave it all to time.

Tedo dear:

I thought you were able to get over with that Dodong thing?

Eric

COURTESY

Metro Manila, with the impersonal behavior of its residents and where the cliché "dog eats dog" is a common occurrence, one of act kindness and one act of courtesy would surely brighten your rather gloomy Thursday morning.

Having not enough sleep, since I have to take care of my aunt, who fractured the bones of her right shoulder after she fell from the stairs in on of the building in De La Salle, I woke up this morning a little bit tired. Apparently, the five-hour sleep did not give me enough rest. I was able to get out from the house at 8:00 a.m. Knowing that I would be late if will take the bus, I decided to hail the cab.

Tropical storm Chedeng may have left the country already, but the rain did not. I was already assuming that I won't be able to call a cab that easy (for those who don't know, taxicabs will suddenly be in demand in Metro Manila when it rains). After waiting for ten minutes or so, I was finally able to find an empty cab.

Automatically I took the back seat and told the driver to bring me to Legaspi Village in Makati and to take the Finlandia-Dela Rosa-Salcedo route. Noticing probably my hurried pace and the usual snobbish look on my face, the driver, apparently in his fifties, greeted my "Good Morning Sir" and turned on the taxi meter. I did not respond. Deep inside me I was saying "aba, ano naman kaya ang gimik ng driver na to at my pa good morning, good morning pa!"

While traversing those side streets in Makati, the taxi driver was very solicitous and was just laughing off my harsh criticism against one radio commentator (the taxi's radio was tuned to DZ double B). Never really bothered to argue nor comment, but he was listening.

In ten minutes time, I was already outside Greenbelt One (my usual routine in the morning is to buy some pan de sal at Basta Hot Pan de Sal bakery in Greenbelt then proceed to my office in Corinthian Plaza which is just across the street). After giving my fare and saying, "thank you" to the driver (it was my self impose habit as a sign of courtesy to say "thank you" to taxi drivers, except when the driver is terribly rude and terribly reckless in driving). I was surprise when the he answered back, "thank you din sir, and have a nice day!"

Despite the gloomy weather, I got out from the taxi smiling and thinking, "may ganoon rin palang taxi driver dito sa Manila."

With this weather and with the people rushing to their offices, taxi drivers would suddenly become demanding and would refuse to use their taxi meters but would ask a totally outrageous fare. It was really a surprise and pleasing to note that such driver exist who did not take advantage and was in fact very courteous.

I wish all drivers were like him. So that people would start their day rather good. Unlike the drivers of the buses who are more concern with their commissions rather than the comfort and safety of their passengers. But that is another story. I do not want to destroy my happy aura today by telling how irritating the bus rides in Metro Manila can be.

Have a nice day!

Dear Ian,

I choose to respond thru this entry because what I am going to say is something that I would also like to share to the rest of the world (assuming of course that there are other people who read this blog).

Welcome come back! I should say, to the world of electronic correspondence. Even if lately your entries in your blog are repost from your column, I still enjoy reading you.

There used to be a time when I worry (sometimes panic) when I cannot see any new entries in my mailbox or I haven't seen any response from the letters that I sent or no messages in my cellphone. I used to ask myself, "what is it that I did that might have offended someone that he/she stops sending letter/messages?" But then, I realized that it quite futile for me to keep on worrying if I received no response. I realized some people just don't feel like answering any messages that I sent (unlike myself who always have the compulsion to reply to any message sent to me) because they don't see the need to answer.

Now, I have learned to live with the "silence" (i.e. no messages in my mailbox, etc.). I have realized that I have friends who are "real people". And I should take comfort on that fact. Real in a sense that they are not afraid to show their real emotions for the sake of being pleasant (well, actually most of the time, because sometimes we also can afford to be superficial, a.k.a. plastic, when needed). So when, they fell the need for silence to sort up the mess in their lives, I have learned to wait. I used to be bothered when two of my friends quarrel. But then, that is the sign of being true to each other. And of course, I came to accept the facts that I have friends who are so good at being "drama queens"!

Silence. I remember a scene from the movie "Ever After" (with Drew Barrymore and Angelica Houston) when the step mother criticized one of her daughters by saying, "if you cannot improve the silence, you better keep your mouth shut." (I really don't now if that was the exact quotation, but I sure it means the same). I know with my friends that somehow their "silence" will be broken. And if it's broken, it is actually better.

Ian dear, you said in your letter there are just some things that we don't broadcast to other people even to our friends. We can actually say anything we want, but there are just things that we feel better if it is kept from the eyes and ears of other people. I cannot find any reason to disagree with you.

Remember the time when I texted you that I was depressed and your immediate reaction of course was to ask if it has something to do with that person I left in Dumaguete. I denied it of course and said that it has something to do abut my job. Then you immediately responded how you and some of our friends are actually worried with what I am doing with my career and said, among other things, that I am just but a "dignified secretary".

While I was sending messages to our yahoo group about the people I've met, places I've visited, and my escapades in Manila, I was already starting to loose my self esteem. Those letters were actually a cover to assure people that I am okay and doing "great". Don't get me wrong, actually enjoyed meeting those people, visiting those places and having those escapades, but that wasn't the whole truth.

Dignified Secretary. That was actually an understatement Ian. I was a nanny to his kids, janitor, personal accountant, house help, etc.

In those days, I would fold the blankets and bedding in his room when my boss left early in the morning for his office in Legaspi Village, then I would clean the office including brushing the C.R., wash the dishes, pay his bills, iron his clothes, name it. From time to time he would ask me research some cases using the SCRA (Supreme Court Reports Annotated) books in our library. At first, I thought it was okay knowing that we were all just starting. He, restarting his career in Manila after those three years of service in Dumaguete, and me, the ever-loyal staff, is there to support him. I was told that the law office will be operational soon and I could now reclaim my title and my job as Office Manager (in the real sense of the word) in that law office in Buendia.

Days turn into weeks, weeks turn into months, and months turned into a year, yet nothing happened. I was still in that office doing nothing except making sure that the office is clean, that the bills are paid and that when somebody feel like visiting our office, I would be there to wait. For one year, I have memorized all the television shows because I don't have anything to do. I was practically alone and bored.

I am paid during those months, okay, but that is not the case. It is actually your feeling of "self-worth". During those times, I was actually asking myself, "did I study for four years in Silliman just to end like this - - an Office Manager reduced into a janitor?" And yes! Need I forget that I didn't just graduate in Silliman, I left the campus with almost all people (students, teachers and staff) knowing me and many of them are intimidated with my presence. My first job carries a lot of responsibilities and carries with it some amount of respect. People listen to my ideas and ask for my advice. Then, all of a sudden I was doing a job that requires a little amount of brains and more on brawn.

Don't get me wrong, not that I underestimate a work of a janitor and a laborer, my father happens to be one, but I did not study and toiled in college just to be one.

To add to my depression, I had no one to turn to. You and the midnight society group were there, or shall I say an e-mail away, but it is different when there is someone that I could really talk to face to face. The three persons working Manila that I am comfortable talking to already left the City. Ted, my partner in crime, left for Chicago, Desiree found a much needed "escape" to Thailand and Rochie was already flying with Qatar Airways and is now based in Doha, Qatar.

I was actually planning to leave my boss, but last November he said that he is planning to bring me in the insurance company where he is the Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Counsel. I considered it and gave him until last January to make good his promise. I was finally hired last January, but it was only the next best things. I was assured that I would be hired as regular staff, but these damn-Chinese-big-boss had some other things in mind. They hired me as a contractual employee for one year with no other benefits except the SSS, Philhealth and Pag-ibig (no 13th month, no leave benefits). But then, I was left with no choice, it is difficult to find a job in Manila. Besides this is much better than the thing that I used to do. Now, I have a defined responsibility and does job which challenges my wit (i.e. facing the judges and convincing them why a TRO is important for this case). But it is still the next best thing. Honestly, I am willing to leave this company if I a find a much better offer.

I used to consider my debt of gratitude to my boss, but I realized that if there is any, I was able to pay it, even more. It is high time that I should think for myself. For may years, I was basing my decision on what other's may see, how will the people close to me respond. I think It is high time that I should ask myself what is it really that I want and pursue it, whatever the cost.

Tonight, I will be meeting Rochie's gorgeous boyfriend (one of the crew of Qatar Air and a former Fashion Model from India who speaks French). She actually sent something that I need to pick up. I am including this because I would also be giving to Rochie, thru her boyfriend, my Curriculum Vitae. She promised that she would try to bring me in to Qatar Air of if it is not possible she would help me find a job there in Doha, Qatar. I hope this is the break that I am waiting for. I've researched something about Doha and it I've learned that its is a beautiful city.

Pray for me, my friend, as I would also be praying for you.

I hope to see you soon.

Always,

Eric

Just click on the picture to know what is it all about.

Hi to Koi from Cebu, your journal is now part of my links. See you soon.

I know, I know, I haven't written anything for my blog. Although Ian won't accept it as an excuse, but I was damn busy for the past few weeks that I already felt tired everytime I think of writing something for my blog. I have a lot of things in mind to share, I'll be sharing it with you in the next few days.

For the mean time have a nice day!

There used to be a picture of Ali, an Iranian boy who was severely maimed and injured because of the war. I deleted it because I can't stand the sight. Not that I lose concern about him and all the other innocent victims of the war, but I think I laready made my point on the several days that Ali's picture was part of this entry. You can still read about Ali in the daily mirror.