For once, I didn't find Jay Leno funny!

 

But no matter how many times Jay Leno makes fun at us and our government's decision to pull out our 51-men troop in Iraq earlier than August 20, no matter how many times US, Australia, Great Britain and all those from the so called "Coalition of the Willing" will say that our action set a bad precedence, in my heart one thing is sure, GMA and our government made a right decision.

Saving the life of a Filipino truck driver hostage in Iraq is a matter of national interest since Angelo and millions of them abroad are the lifeblood of our economy. To let him die in Iraq in exchange of pleasing the members of the US Led coalition, is to insult the people whom we have called as our modern day heroes.

 

Jay Leno, Howard, Bush would never understand how important Angelo's life to the psyche of the Filipinos, more important than the possible repercussion from the international community because of our troops pullout. These people and their country never have to bring millions of their citizens abroad in order to support their respective families and in turn keeping our sagging economy afloat. They cannot understand that.

So let Jay Leno make fun at us now, because in the end we would all know that we, our government and the Filipinos in general, are not the greatest fools.

 

Foolish are the people who supported the decision of their President to attack and invade a country based on faulty intelligence. Where are the weapons of mass destruction? They couldn't find any yet their government still insists that their invasion is justified? Whose government's action is more stupid now? Us who acted in order to save life and honor our citizen? Or them, who still insist that their presence in Iraq is justified even when the committees and bodies they created to investigate terrorism are telling them otherwise?

Sad, however, that it took a threat to the life of one of our Filipino brothers before our government decided to end its support in the US led invasion, but then again, it is better late than never.

 

Let Jay Leno makes fun of us now, because we know who holds "the huling halakhak". And definitely, it is not the country whose President's decision to invade another country is based not on the experts' opinion (like the international body created by the United Nation to inspect the alleged WMD of Iraq) but on some baseless assumptions, rumors and a college thesis.

 

Who is funny now?

ON THE TURNING AWAY
by Pink Floyd
"A Momentary Lapse of Reason"

On the turning away
From the pale and downtrodden
And the words they say
Which we won’t understand
Don’t accept that what’s happening
Is just a case of others’ suffering
Or you’ll find that you’re joining in
The turning away

It’s a sin that somehow
Light is changing to shadow
And casting it’s shroud
Over all we have known
Unaware how the ranks have grown
Driven on by a heart of stone
We could find that we’re all alone
In the dream of the proud

On the wings of the night
As the daytime is stirring
Where the speechless unite
In a silent accord
Using words you will find are strange
And mesmerized as they light the flame
Feel the new wind of change
On the wings of the night

No more turning away
From the weak and the weary
No more turning away
From the coldness inside
Just a world that we all must share
It’s not enough just to stand and stare
Is it only a dream that there’ll be
No more turning away?

Happy Happy Birthday to my best friend Jade Sheryl Speleski Yamut-Zapanta!

Here's one woman whose strength of character I truly admire. And for a woman who has been to a lot of trials in her life, I pray for happiness, joy, love and peace of mind.

I know she is happy now and I continuously pray for more blessings upon her and her family.

God Bless you Jade and happy 26th Birthday! (Opps! Sorry, I mentioned your age! Hehehehehe) 

WHATS IN MY NAME!

E	Extreme
R	Raw
I	Ideal
C	Cuddly
S	Sexy
A	Arty
M	Magical
U	Unforgettable
E	Exquisite
L	Legendary

Name / Username:

Name Acronym Generator
From Go-Quiz.com

I humbly submit to your decision your honor. hehehehehe

FILIBUSTER

By now, those who have been watching the Canvass in Congress, will know the meaning of Filibustering. Well after Pimentel spoke for more than four hours (and damn! I regretted casting my vote for him), everybody seems to hate the word.

But there were those days that "Filibustering" was quite honorable. Those were the days when the Senate was still free with the people like Tito Sotto, Ramon Revilla, Robert Jaworski and the likes. And here's one article published by Inquirer today that spoke of how the late Senator Roseller T. Lim Filibustered for more than 18 hours just to prevent then Senator Ferdinand Marcos from becoming the Senate President. And by the way, the Late Senator Lim is a graduate of Silliman University College of Law.


photo from INQ7.

ROSELLER T. LIM
He filibustered for 18 hours
to stop Marcos but…
Posted: 1:31 AM (Manila Time) | Jun. 18, 2004
By Noralyn Mustafa
Inquirer News Service

Great filibuster

HISTORY does repeat itself.

Forty-one years ago, in April 1963, shortly before the Senate adjourned, the late Sen. Roseller T. Lim took to the floor and did the great filibuster that could have changed the course of our history.

For the entire 18 hours and 30 minutes that he talked, he had to keep standing, leaning on the podium only when he had to. He was allowed to take only water, but was prohibited from going to the comfort room. He had to relieve himself in his pants.

His cause: to prevent Ferdinand Marcos from becoming Senate President.

Before martial law was proclaimed on Sept. 21, 1972, there were only two parties-the Nacionalista Party (NP) and the Liberal Party (LP).

When Marcos, a Liberal, contested the Senate presidency against the Nacionalista incumbent, Eulogio "Amang" Rodriguez, the Liberals were the Senate majority, numbering 12 against 10 Nacionalistas. Diosdado Macapagal, the incumbent President, was a Liberal.

There were, however, two independents who were going to vote with the minority, which would assure the Nacionalistas the majority vote, except that the one crucial vote for the NP was in the hands of Alejandro Almendras, who was in the United States purportedly for a throat operation but was expected to arrive in the country in two days. With all their hopes pinned on him, the Nacionalistas had to delay the election.

On the eve of the election for Senate President, Marcos made a "friendly" visit to the Zamboangueño senator. Marcos knew that the Government Service Insurance System was foreclosing the mortgage on Lim's house (such were the senators of that time, they could not even afford to keep up with the amortization on their loans).

In elegant statesman's language, Marcos offered to pay the loan; and in equally elegant statesman's language, Lim refused. But after Marcos left, he let out a string of invectives in unelegant Spanish.

"I was a witness to that visit," Lim's daughter, Rosamy, told the Inquirer. "Daddy was mad. I think it was at that moment that he decided to do what he had to do."

The following day, at the party meeting hours before the vote, Lim offered to filibuster to buy time for the Nacionalistas until the arrival of Almendras.

For 18 hours and 30 minutes, he stood there talking, with just a glass of water nearby to sustain him. More than that, his brilliance, his impeccable command of the English language, his years as a trial lawyer and legislator, his vast store of anecdotes in the legislature and the laboring class of which he was a champion that gave him enough material to talk about and keep his audience listening. (For more of the article click here)

What a lovely couple! Richard and Beth's Wedding was one of the best weddings I've been to.

By the way, my attendance to Beth's wedding completed my four wedding and a funeral in five months time. December, I attended two weddings. One for my team mate in the Praise Team of UCM, the other one was with for my cousin. In April, I attended the funeral of my cousin in CDO. Also in April, I attended the wedding of my roommate in Tarlac. Then Beth's wedding in May.

If your are wondering why I am saying this? Well, just to let know, that's all, hehehehehe. 

SEX AND WEIGHT LOSS

This one I got from "Fit", the magazine of Slimmers World. I am currently enrolled with Slimmers World for one year.

Foreplay
* Trying to find the clitoris (burn 8 calories)
* Trying to find the G-spot (burn 92 calories)
* not caring at all (burn 0 calories)

Putting on the condom
* With an erection (burn 6 calories)
* Without an erection (burn 187 calories)

Having an orgasm
* A real one (burn 112 calories)
* Faking it (burn 315 calories)

Putting clothes back on
* Quietly (burn 32 calories)
* In a hurry (burn 98 calories)

Moral lesson of the story is, if you don't have time to go to the gym but have time for sex, then for you to lose weight you must:

1. not patronize quickies since this will reduce the time for foreplay,
2. not get excited too much for you to burn more calories while putting on a condom,
3. fake your orgasm, and
4. do it in a place where you have all the likelihood to get caught so that by the time your done, you have no choice by to hurry up in putting your clothes back.

Now, shall we put this into practice? Hahahahahaha!

NO FEAR!


(photo from pcij.org)

His name is Manuel "Way Kurat" Zamora. No, he is not your typical-gardener-employed-by-a-rich-businessman-living-in-Forbes-Park, he happens to be the Hon. Manuel Zamora, Representative of Compostella Valley in Mindanao.

Now, if his name doesn't ring a bell, that means you haven't been reading the newspaper or watching TV reports lately.

Here's a reminder, at the height of the debates in the Congress for the canvassing of votes for the President and the Vice President, when another Representative from Mindanao, Digs "Shut Up" Dilanganen, was trying to employ his delaying tactics again (remember Erap's impeachment?), Congressman Manuel "Way Kurat" Zamora (whose nickname literally means "no fear"), in all "parliamentary posture" interrupted the heated debate in the plenary, and asked the Speaker of the House, in full view of the hundreds of people inside the Plenary Hall of the Batasang Complex and the millions of Filipinos watching the television, if he could personally carry the 190 or so ballot boxes in front because he is getting bored. This brought the House down and ease up the tention. And yes! it wasn't just all for show, up to this day he brought those boxes in front one by one!

But "Way Kurat" is no ordinary congressman, if all congressman where like him, proabbly the Congress would not be tagged as one of the most corrupt institutions in our government. Here's an article from inq7.net which was republished at the House of Representatives' website:

Rep. Zamora shows them what austerity means

HE GOES to work on a bike and wears “puruntong” shorts in his office. He uses a small service vehicle for his rounds back home. And when his finances permit, he takes a boat to visit his province.

Moreover, he interacts with his constituents by acting as “kristo” (bet collector) in cockfight arenas scattered around his district.

Would you believe this guy is a congressman?

Compostela Valley Rep. Manuel Zamora, 51, has a lot to teach his colleagues about frugality and austerity.

A first-term congressman, Zamora says he goes to work on a bicycle because he still has to get a car from the House of Representatives and he can't afford to take a taxi.

"So, I thought, since the place I was renting was only 3 kilometers away (from the Batasang Pambansa complex), why not ride a bike?" Zamora says in an interview by the INQUIRER.

So off to Cartimar in Pasay City, Zamora went with his chief of staff to purchase a P5,000 mountain bike.

At 8 a.m. from Monday to Friday, Zamora takes a 30-minute bike ride from Sierra Monte Village in Quezon City to the Batasang Pambansa.

It's uphill going to the House, but its okay because it's downhill on my way home, he says.

Donned in jogging pants, Zamora chains his bike to the railing of the steps at the entrance of the South Wing where he holds office at Room 405.

After taking a bath, he changes into his “puruntong” shorts and then goes about his legislative work, including entertaining his constituents.

"I'm comfortable in my shorts. Why should I be ashamed?" says Zamora, who is a farmer by profession.


At lunchtime, Zamora takes his bike for the short trip across the main gate to take his meal at Migs Restaurant where rank-and-file House employees have their lunch.

After lunch, he changes into the more formal barong Tagalog as he prepares for the 4 p.m. regular session.

"I'm just like this. I am a simple man," Zamora says, wondering why he should get so much attention for leading a frugal life in what was otherwise a world of the rich and famous in the House.

He says he felt timid during the opening of Congress on July 23 because his seatmate happened to be San Juan Rep. Ronaldo Zamora, who incidentally has a brother named Manuel.

"(Ronaldo Zamora) is so rich, it felt weird sitting beside him," says the unassuming Zamora, a high school graduate who only went as far as first year in college where he took an engineering course.

Zamora will most likely get a vehicle soon because one of the benefits given to members of the House is a car loan from the Landbank of the Philippines.

Click here for another article published by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism. I REALLY LIKE THIS GUY!

"Way Kurat" and his bike 

CALL ME TANGA!

For the fourth time, I lost my cellphone again!

Yesterday, as I was hurrying up to get off the cab since I was late, I failed to notice that my cellphone fell of from the side pocket of my pants. It was already too late when I discovered that it was lost. I was already in my office when I learned that I don't have my cellphone in my pocket. I tried calling my number through our landline but what I got was a busy tone.

I was really intending to buy a new one. My nokia 3310 is quite antiquated. What pissed me of was that it goes with it my SIM card. Good thing, I have a list of my friends numbers. Bad thing is, I don't have the list of darth vader and I don't know how to get in touch with him! That thing really sucks!

Who is darth vader? ask Beth.

PRAYER FOR A TRUE AND SPEEDY CANVASS
by Corazon C. Aquino
(Courtesy of INQ7)

DEAR Jesus, Prince of Peace,

I ask You to bless us, so that we will continue to enjoy Your favor.

Listen to our prayer and hear our cry for help, as we await the official canvass by Congress for the highest office in the land.

Give us the patience to wait out an honest count as the Constitution requires.

Give us the understanding to appreciate the issues, the discernment to tell the real from the false.

Inspire our legislators to address our doubts with clarity and patience, knowing that a gentle answer turns away wrath, and the tongue of the wise brings healing.

This important work of Congress will be hard and tedious, but a sincere desire for the truth, will help rather than hinder the speed of the canvass.

Confident in Your great mercy, dear Lord, we believe Your people will do their best.

Therefore, let every word spoken in Congress bring understanding instead of delay, calm rather than more uncertainty, and a humble acceptance instead of hurt pride, that we may achieve the stability that comes only with justice, and the freedom that springs only from truth. Amen.

(And I say Amen and Amen - Eric)

MY VOTE

President

Gloria Macapagal Arroyo

Vice President

Noli de Castro

Senators (in alphabetical order)

1. Alvarez, Heherson
2. Barbers, Robert
3. Biazon, Rodolfo
4. Cayetano, Pia
5. Chavez, Frank
6. Defensor-Santiago, Miriam
7. Gordon, Richard
8. Mercado, Orlando
9. Pimentel, Aquilino
10. Revilla, Jr., Ramon
11. Roxaz, Manuel
12. Yasay, Perfecto

Party List

Abanse Pinay

I know some of you are rising their eyebrows on some of my choice.

I am not voting for Gloria for the sole reason that she is the only one who can prevent an FPJ presidency. I am voting for Gloria, becuase among the candidates I believe that she is the only one deserving of the position.

Eversince, I don not like Roco. He is too arrogant for me. Besides, Roco's failure to even put up a decent Vice-Presidential Candidate puts into question his political ability. The fact that he can't complete his senatorial slate and running with a virtually unknown VP, puts Roco's leadership ability into question. Moreover, his sickness further gave me dount about his capability to run this country.

Lacson? The way he operates his campiagn is like a gay showbiz reporter. Mahilig mangintriga but when asked to produced evidence, he can't.

Villanueva is a perhaps a righteous man, but I have serious doubts to his leading this country of 80 million people with diverse beliefs.

I am voting for Noli becuase I don't like Loren. A vote for Aquino is another wasted vote, that candidate is bound to lose from day one of the campaign.

As for Bong Revilla, I think he did well as VRB Chief and that alone derserves my vote. And I want Mirian back in the Senate, despite her "weird" behavior, I believe that the senate is the best place for her.

THE FALLACIES OF THE FPJ CAMPAIGN


photo from inq7

FPJ drop out in high school because his father died when he was young and he has to work for the family.

Believe me, I have read this excuse in my yahoo group from people who obviously work for FPJ. This could be a very good excuse with an emotional appeal. Imagine, a devoted son ready to work at a very young age to put some food on the family’s table.

I would have been shedding with tears now and applauding him, but not this time, besides I am no drama queen!

My father died when I was twelve, my mother is only a mere government employee. At that time my father died, my mother was only earning less than P10,000.00 a month. I was in my sixth grade when my father died, my elder sister was in college in Silliman, and my two younger sisters are in prep school. It was a very difficult time for us, but we managed and we survived. My elder sister and I finished college and my two younger sisters are now in college.

We could have quit going to school at that time to help our mother make a living, but my mother knows the importance of education. My mother sent us to good schools and studying entailed a lot of sacrifices for us, but we were able to manage.

I know there are thousands others whose situations are far worst than mine, but they were also able to finish college

My point is, if you believe on the value of education you would know how important it is and you would do all your best just to earn a degree.

FPJ was not poor and never was poor. There are a lot of entertainers who juggled work and college and were able to finish, but not FPJ. For me, it only proves one thing, learning and earning knowledge are not on top of his list. Education is not his priority and now he wants to be President of this country, how could we think of having him as President.

True, FPJ is not schooled, but he is taking crash course on economics, governance and politics with some UP professors

Oh dear! From experience, a crash course is only bound to one thing - - a crash landing.

What FPJ did is to do cramming and my experience (and probably for all of us) cramming does not work. If you cram for your exams, you might be lucky sometimes, but most of times you are bound to forget all the things that you learned through cramming once you see the test papers.

This is only college, now magnify this to the level of national governance where the problems are way way much difficult and more complex than your college exams, then put a leader who will work on these problems who crammed in studying his lessons, what can you expect? A miracle?!

FPJ is sincere

So am I and millions other. But would that be enough to be President of this country?

Yes, FPJ does not have any experience in government, but he has experience running his own company

What company was that? Was that company listed in the top 5000 companies of the country? How many employees are working for that company? And why is it that it is only now that I heard of that company?

If running a company is the basis of becoming the President, then the Zobel Ayalas could probably be a good president too. But again, that is not only the basis. A President is the Chief Executive of the Country, the Head of State, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, the Chief Foreign Relations Officers, and many others. Would FPJ’s experience enough to fit in into those positions?

How many employees that FPJ has in his company where he personally managed for him to be capable of running this country with 80 million people?

FPJ could always hire the best advisers

True, he could do that. Erap did that and look what happened to him.

A leader always seeks the counsel of some other people. But the catch is, it isn’t always that advisers would give the same advice, most of time personal differences and motives would come and mixed with those advise. What knowledge that FPJ has for him to choose the best advice? Does he has the capability of discerning which among the advice that he gets, officially and unofficially, is best for the country and its people?

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

If you notice, I made a lot of questions because unfortunately that is what I got from the FPJ campaign - - QUESTIONS!

I just wonder:
Does FPJ know how government operation is being run?

Can FPJ defend his foreign policy (if he has one) to statesmen? Or does he know the importance of an effective foreign policy?

Does FPJ know the very basic law of supply and demand in economics, the value of knowing the inflation rate, the difference of Gross National Product and Gross Domestic Product and its implications?

Does FPJ know a very simple procedure like procurement of office supplies?

There are a lot of questions and I was hoping that earlier in his campaign FPJ would be able to show signs that he has answers to most, if not all, of this questions. But I didn’t get any. All I heard are those motherhood statements and those spiels from his movies that are only intended to arouse the emotions of the people but short or severely lacking in substance.

Yes, FPJ wants peace, jobs for Filipinos, food in every table of the Filipino family. We also want that and so are the other candidates, but the questions is - - how are you going to that? FPJ did not give any answer, instead, as evidenced by his political ads, FPJ wants answer from us. This act could be a good one knowing that in policy making a down-top-approach would help a better understanding to the problem, that is you get the pulse of the people and learn from their experience. But the problem is, with this approach you need a leader to provide the direction and the vision, otherwise what you will get are hudge-pudge of opinions with no clear direction as to where this policy is heading.

The trouble with FPJ is he refused from telling us the specifics of his plan which gave us the question, does he sincerely know how to find solutions to the problems of our country? Does he really know what entails to become the President of the Republic of the Philippines? Again, questions.

FPJ could have share this to us had he agreed to a debate, but he refused, calling the debate a “waste of time.”

Debate, in a democratic society, is important. That’s how democracy works and survived. In a democratic society, the voicing out of ones opinions is as important as putting them into action. You need to present that idea first to the test of the public opinion and be able to defend that idea from hordes of criticism and questions to be able to convince the vast majority that your idea works. That is debate.

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

So what did I get from the FPJ campaign? Entertainment only, but as to an assurance that he could best serve this country as our President? All I have are doubts. So why would I risk my vote to an inexperience high school dropout who refuses to tell the public how he would run this country? My conscience and my patriotic upbringing tell me not to cast my vote for him.

I hope you also do.

I AM RESIGNING

I am hereby officially tendering my resignation as an adult. I have decided I would like to accept the responsibilities of an 8 year-old again.

I want to go to McDonald's and think that it's a four star restaurant. I want to sail sticks across a fresh mud puddle and make a sidewalk with rocks. I want to think M&M's are better than money because you can eat them. I want to lie under a big oak tree and run a lemonade stand with my friends on a hot summer's day.

I want to return to a time when life was simple; when all you knew were colors, multiplication tables, and nursery rhymes, but that didn't bother you, because you didn't know what you didn't know and you didn't care. All you knew was to be happy because you were blissfully unaware of all the things that should make you worried or upset.

I want to think the world is fair. That everyone is honest and good. I want to believe that anything is possible. I want to be oblivious to the complexities of life and be overly excited by the little things again.

I want to live simple again. I don't want my day to consist of computer crashes, mountains of paperwork, depressing news, how to survive more days in the month than there is money in the bank, doctor bills, gossip, illness, and loss of loved ones.

I want to believe in the power of smiles, hugs, a kind word, truth, justice, peace, dreams, the imagination, mankind, and making angels in the snow.

So...here's my checkbook and my car keys, my credit card bills and my 401K statements. I am officially resigning from adulthood. And if you want to discuss this further, you'll have to catch me first, cause....Tag! You're it.

I got this from the net. What if we could possibly do this? I don't know, just thinking out loud here.

Eric Samuel P. Joven was a Demented Photographer in a past life. Discover your past lives @ Quiz Me

GREAT NEWS



Ladies and Gentlemen!

The Midnight Society now has a lawyer! Congratulations to Atty. James Renan "Dyames"Dalman! We are proud of you!

By the way, I won't be blogging for a week since I will be going to the Bukid for the Holy Week.

PLEESHOR ME

It is too bad that Starstruck and Star Circle Quest won't accept people of my age, these pictures would have added to their ratings. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!





Ok, ok, ok! I admit those were digital shots from the studio and they did something for that photo. But, that is only to get rid of two pimple marks and a few scars. Otherwise, that would still be me on my relax and non-toxic day.

THE ROMANTIC PINOY

Filipinos are indeed romantic!

One great testimony to the Romantic Pinoy is our music. Not only are the lyrics written with love flowing through the lines, but the melody and the orchestration of our music are reflections of our passions.

It was therefore a great treat when Ayala Corporation celebrated its 170th year yesterday with a concert dubbed as “Hindi kita Malimot: The Filipino as Romantic” featuring the country’s premiere (and accordingly the most expensive!) San Miguel Philharmonic Orchestra (SMPO) with Prof. Ryan Cayabyab leading SMPO in playing classic Filipino Love Songs.

The concert was for free which was staged at the lobby of Ayala Tower One in Ayala Triangle (for that evening, portion of Ayala Avenue from Makati Ave. to Paseo de Roxas was closed).


The Lobby of Tower One

Love songs like “Hindi Kita Malimot”, “Kataka-taka”, “Dahil Sa’yo, “Maalaala Mo Kaya” serenaded Manila’s well-heeled society and Makati’s ordinary employees. All of the music were Cayabyab’s arrangement and were played in public for the first time last night.

Filipinos penchant for drama is evident in Cayabyab’s arrangements and seeing how the ordinary folks reacted to the music is truly a manifestation that Cayabyab was able to capture the hearts of Filipinos. The soaring melody of the strings rising into a crescendo, followed by the rolls of the timpani and the clashing of the cymbals, then a soft violin solo is mesmerizing. I don’t know, but probably realizing how good our music is that I had goose bumps all throughout the evening. Or probably it is just because I am really a hopelessly romantic fool.

As an encore, SMPO played what Cayabyab called as “something pedestrian”. They played the full orchestra version of Parokya ni Edgar’s “Mr. Suave". And guess where it received most of the applause? At the back portion where most of the ordinary folks were standing. SMPO put class on “Mr. Suave” with Cayabyab gamely urging the crowd to shout “hoi! hoi! hoi! hoi! hoi! hoi!.” The economic disparity, however, among the crowd last night was very evident with those seated in front just keeping mum, while those at the back standing were clapping their hands and doing the “hoi! hoi! hoi!”.

But that was only part one of the show.

After the intermission, Eugene F. Castillo, who already made his mark in the US, took the baton for the SMPO and led the orchestra in playing fairy tale suits. The greatest treat for the night, however, was when Cecille Licad went onstage and performed Ravel’s Concerto in G with the SMPO.


Cecille Licad

I know, some of us here had bad experience in dealing with Licad’s behavior when she visited Silliman in 1998. But Cecille Licad is Cecille Licad. She is one hell of a performer! You don’t have just to listen to Licad’s music, you also have to see her perform.

There is only one word I can say about Licad’s performance (and I know Ryan would love this! hehehehehe), it’s “orgasmic”. Bless me Ryan for I know I’ve sinned but I just can’t help but think that when Licad performs, it is as if she is making love (or having sex to be blatant) with the piano. Watching her expression (since her face was focused by the camera and projected on the two wide screen) it is as if you are also carried with whatever emotion she brings and as the music rise into a climax, it is as if I am having my climax too.

The people of course did not let the chance pass by, after performing the concerto, they made Licad performed another piece from Ravel.

Obviously I had a great evening last night even if I was standing for almost two hours. Ayala Corporation, of course, wouldn’t present something mediocre. Even the lobby of Tower One was filled with flowers and floral artworks of Jaime Augusto Zobel Ayala was projected at the ceiling of the lobby for the whole evening.

It, however, leaves me a sense of panghihinayang. Having to stand at the back, I’ve realized how most of us are really “culturally illiterate”. I don’t claim to be culturally informed though, but I know how to appreciate classics. Sadly, you would hear comments (that is what you gert when you are standing at back with them) like “sana may ocho-ocho”. Or probably from a Makati Office Girl who speaks the “coñotic” language and looks like any yuppies and would exclaim, “ang jologs naman!” if something was said out of their taste, only to be heard (by me, of course!) uttering the silliest comment I heard that night. Reacting when the voice over announced that there will be a ten-minute intermission, she exclaimed “saan na ang intermission?” She was of course expecting that when it was announced that there will be a ten-minute intermission, there would be an “intermission number.” And I thought she was the only one, when her lady companion arrived (from the rest room) and seeing the people standing, she asked, “anong nangyari?” To which her friend answered, “ten minute intermission daw.” Then she replied, “asan na ang intermission.” You could imagine how the contour of my face changed upon hearing that.

Well, what can I do? This is a free show and everyone, as in everyone!, were invited to watch.

I’M BACK!

Miss me? Accept it pipol, you miss me. Hehehehehehe.

Ok, so what happened to me for the last 18 days that I haven’t blog? A lot of things actually. There are plenty of things that I would want to share with you, plenty bad things to gripe about, plenty of stupid people to bitch - - but everytime I am in front of the PC, all of a sudden I feel lazy to write. Well, it was those days.

So, for the highlights of this month, here’s my report. I am finally a regular employee this non-life insurance company in Makati. For security purposes, I won’t be saying the name of the company here (actually, it’s more of I don’t want my big bosses to trace this site to me as I would be saying, ok “griping”, about this company in my blog).

These past two months were really trying months for me and Aldwyn knew that (he was the only one who had the chance to see me on those days). As you see, I was only on contract with the company since January 2003. My contract ended last January 16, upon my boss assurance, he said that I would immediately be taken by the company as part of their regular force. I hang on to that assurance, unfortunately it wasn’t an easy one.

I was interviewed again by our SVP Treasurer (he is the one who approves hiring of employees, our HR is a mere stamping pad). He told me that until I can submit my transcript of records that is the only time they can start the process. Fortunately the ever-dependable Moses Joshua Atega was there to help me get my TOR from Silliman and I was able to submit it before January 30.

I was already expecting that I won’t be receiving my Salary yet for the Jan. 30 so I have made provisions already. True indeed, I wasn’t able to get my Salary that day because nobody from our HR worked on it.

February came and I was expecting that by the 15th I would be receiving my Salary. But I was wrong, while my boss received a note from the HR head that our SVP has approved my hiring, nobody from the HR staff worked on it. It was really bad! I celebrated my 28th birthday with no money. Worst, those people from the HR blatantly said that why I am still working when my contract has already ended. I am really stupid right? Unfortunately I am not, I was working because my boss told me so. I was fuming mad already that even my boss had some taste already of my anger.

Now before you people cast some invectives against our HR, in fairness to them they don’t know the situation. It was only my boss and our SVP Treasurer that talked, trouble was their agreement did not trickle down to the people who would be implementing it. A miscommunication, but at what price to pay (a month that I did not received my salary).
After learning the true situation, it was only then that our HR started the process. I was made to take an IQ test and psychological test (and I tell you their material were already antiquated and the rumors was -- I am the one of those who had high marks), go through a series of interview with HR head, head of the IT and our SVP for properties, and had my medical exams.

February 27 came and I was hoping that I would finally be receiving my salary. But I was wrong again. The HR couldn’t catch up with the paper works. They, however, assured me that I would definitely be receiving my salary by the 15th of March.

First week of March, the HR Head talked to me and he said that finally the company is hiring me as a regular employee effective March 1. My first question of course was, “what will happen to that January 16 – February 29 period where I was working (and handling confidential information) for the company?” He answered, I would be receiving a different check for that based on my old rate. Then he said that management decided to reduced by 2,000 the salary that I am receiving as a contractual employee but in exchange would be giving me a 1,100 monthly meal allowance and another 1,000 gift cheque from SM. I said, “okay.” And as regular employee I would be entitled to until a 16th month salary and a medical, dental, optical health plan. And finally, to probably save them from the trouble that they have given me, instead of going through the regular 6-months probationary period, I would automatically be hired as a regular employee with a rank of a Supervisor I.

Whew! Finally last March 12, I received my salary (which was just in time for the midnight madness sale at Glorietta) and on the 15th I received my salary covering the period of Jan. 16 – Feb. 29.

So why did it took me only this day to write about this? I was actually busy having my therapy for all the heartaches that those two months that I was left hanging in the clouds. I t wasn’t easy you know. So what kind of therapy I have undergone? Shopping, my dear, shopping (hahahahahahahaha) and of course a trip to the salon.

How did I get through those two months living in Manila and commuting everyday without a clear income? Well, there is always my boss and my aunt to borrow money from, and being a seasoned survivor, there is always a hundred and one ways to save your last centavo.

Now talking about my company, this is the kind of company that I will grow old with. No, I don’t mean I would spend years working here, but I will age soon in this company. This is the company that won’t allow their ladies to wear an open-toe-shoes and no denims for men in Filipino, mag mukha kang manang dito! And I had my taste of this insane policy last Monday.

Have you ever been to a salon, have your haircut, and after your done you couldn’t help but smile because you feel good about your new hairstyle? I tell you I went through that last Friday. My first trip after getting my Salary was to go to Bench Fix Salon in Glorietta and had my haircut. I decided to have it trimmed shorter. But Mike, my regular stylist (mind you he is straight), added some twist, made me look a bit hip by putting some stylishly unkempt spike and I like it, my friends like it, my aunt like it, my church mates like it, my roommates like it. I feel good and I know I look good.

Monday came and then my boss saw me with the new hairstyle. True as I feared, he didn’t like it! He said James (our SVP Treasurer) might see me and reprimand for my hairstyle. “For what”, I would have asked, “for being stylish, for looking young?” Would my credibility be lost just because I have a “spiky hair”? I don’t look like the new- age punk in the eighties! I look good! But what can I do, argue over my hairstyle with a person who sense of being cool is so seventies? Whose jokes was so yesterday?!

So I have to make a compromise. So here I am with a little of those spike but not spiky enough to cause them the alarm. I hate it! But what can I do, I need this job to survive.

Finally! A much-deserved award for Sean Pean! And not only that, Hollywood gave this guy dubbed as "Hollywood's bad boy" for his not so pleasent relationship with Hollywood, a standing ovation. Great! Just Great! And the acceptance speech? Despite being snubbed a number of times by the Academy, he still said this:

Thank you. If there's one thing that actors know, other than that there weren't any wmds -- it's that there is no such thing as best in acting. And That's proven by these great actors that I was nominated with as well as the -- as well as the Giamattis, Cages, Downey Jrs., Nicholsons, etc. that were not nominated. We know how great all of you were.