MERRY CHRISTMAS

I am going home tomorrow. In our side of the Bukid, there are no internet cafe and I fear that my Suncellular phone may not be as far-reaching as their ads claims, so allow me to greet you now.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year people! I pray that the year 2005 will be fruitful for all of us.

FUNNY PICTURE: 4th part

Will you buy some romance books from him? 

THE AMERICAN DREAM

Stories like this make you appreciate life more and inspire you to work even harder and learn how to persevere.

Cebuano nurse makes it big in Nevada
By Connie E. Fernandez
Inquirer News Service

CEBU CITY-He used to rummage through the neighborhood trash for whatever could be sold to the nearest "timbangan'' (junk shop) to augment his school allowance. But he does not have to do that now.

He has come a long way--from an urban poor community here to the glittering world of Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, where he was recently named "Nurse of the Year."

Rhigel Tan, 35, the only child of a retired schoolteacher and retired policeman, did not expect to win. His mind went blank when his name was called during the awarding ceremonies on Nov. 13 at the grand ballroom of the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

Although he did not prepare a speech, Tan did not forget the promise he made to himself in case he won. He closed his message to the crowd of 700 that included state officials and medical practitioners with "Thank you ... maraming salamat ... daghang salamat [Many thanks]." (read more of the story here)

SO HE'S DEAD

Can you bring back my regular programming?

So he is dead. But do I have to bear watching TV programs with nothing but coverage of his wake? I wake in the morning and the regular morning show speaks nothing but about him, I watched the late morning show and it is all about him, I watched the primetime newscast and it is still all about him! They even brought the newscast to Sto. Domingo where his body lies in wake! And just because he is dead people are talking about giving him the National Artist Award.

So FPJ is a good man. So he has a helped a number of people. So he could have been our President (and thank God, he is not!). So he have made hundreds of movies where he acted as hero of the common folks. But do we have to suffer all these coverage about his death? Isn’t the coverage an overkill?

Now we have forgotten about the people who are still suffering in Quezon, Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan etc. We don’t know what happened to the case of General Garcia. We don’t know the development of the bombing in General Santos. We don’t know any developments about the negotiation to release Tarungo, a Filipino captive in Iraq. The Philippines, as how our major networks have seen, is in a standstill just because “Da King” is dead!

Yes, he probably deserves all the tribute of the people whom he has helped and he worked with. But flood us with programming all about him? I am choked!

Thank God for cable television!

DYAMES BLOG

Friends,

Atty. James Dalman already has a blog. Check him out here. His blog is also in my link under the midnight society. I have also added (albeit quite belated) the blog of Teng in my City Friends list.

FUNNY PICTURE
3rd part


Yeah, Baby Yeah! (other captions please, just for fun). 

YOUR FAITHFULNESS

Tom Seibert, former President of American Standard Philippines and our lead guitarist in our team, bid farewell last night at our Evening of Praise and Worship. Tom is one of the few cool Christians I know, kind, understanding and he enjoys music Stings and the likes much as he enjoys playing Contemporary Christian Music.

While saying his farewell (he will be going back to Vietnam to work there), he left us with this song. I am putting this song to remind others that despite all the troubles we are experiencing now, we can all rest in God's faithfulness. To TJ, my good friend, this song is also for you.

Your Faithfulness

I don’t know what this day will bring
Will it be disappointing
Or filled with longed for things
I don’t know what tomorrow holds
Still I know I can trust
Your Faithfulness

I don’t know if these clouds mean rain
If they do, will they pour down
Blessing or pain
I don’t know what the future holds
Still I know I can trust your faithfulness

Chorus:

Certain as the rivers reach the sea
Certain as the sunrise in the east
I can rest in your faithfulness
Surer than a mother’s tender love
Surer than the stars still shine above
I can rest in your faithfulness

I don’t know how or when I’ll die
Will it be a thief
Or will I have a chance to say good-bye
No, I don’t know
How much time is left
But in the end I will know your faithfulness

Bridge:

When darkness overwhelms my soul
When thoughts are storms of doubt
Still I trust You are always faithful
Always faithful

Chorus to end:

Certain as the rivers reach the sea
Certain as the sunrise in the east
I can rest in your faithfulness
Surer than a mother’s tender love
Surer than the stars still shine above
I can rest in your faithfulness
I can rest in your faithfulness

WEAR SUNSCREEN

I've got this piece while browsing over some people's journal a long time ago(http://riyadhrocks.multiply.com/journal/item/9). I find the truth in this article worth pondering. Accordingly, this is a graduation speech, I don't know who the author is.I have highlighted some points, I hope you could give me your comments.

Ladies and gentlemen of the class of '97:

Wear sunscreen.

If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.

Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth. Oh, never mind. You will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they've faded. But trust me, in 20 years, you'll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can't grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked. You are not as fat as you imagine.

Don't worry about the future. Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind, the kind that blindside you at 4 p.m. on some idle Tuesday.

Do one thing every day that scares you.

Sing.

Don't be reckless with other people's hearts. Don't put up with people who are reckless with yours.

Floss.

Don't waste your time on jealousy. Sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind. The race is long and, in the end, it's only with yourself.

Remember compliments you receive. Forget the insults. If you succeed in doing this, tell me how.

Keep your old love letters. Throw away your old bank statements.

Stretch.

Don't feel guilty if you don't know what you want to do with your life. The most interesting people I know didn't know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives. Some of the most interesting 40-year-olds I know still don't.

Get plenty of calcium. Be kind to your knees. You'll miss them when they're gone.

Maybe you'll marry, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll have children, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll divorce at 40, maybe you'll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary. Whatever you do, don't congratulate yourself too much, or berate yourself either. Your choices are half chance. So are everybody else's.

Enjoy your body. Use it every way you can. Don't be afraid of it or of what other people think of it. It's the greatest instrument you'll ever own.

Dance, even if you have nowhere to do it but your living room.

Read the directions, even if you don't follow them.

Do not read beauty magazines. They will only make you feel ugly.

Get to know your parents. You never know when they'll be gone for good. Be nice to your siblings. They're your best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.

Understand that friends come and go, but with a precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle, because the older you get, the more you need the people who knew you when you were young.

Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard. Live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft. Travel.

Accept certain inalienable truths: Prices will rise. Politicians will philander. You, too, will get old. And when you do, you'll fantasize that when you were young, prices were reasonable, politicians were noble, and children respected their elders.

Respect your elders.

Don't expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund. Maybe you'll have a wealthy spouse. But you never know when either one might run out.

Don't mess too much with your hair or by the time you're 40 it will look 85.

Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia. Dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it's worth.

But trust me on the sunscreen.

BACK ON TRACK

Ladies and Gentlemen, Honorable Members of this House:

As of today, 04 November 2004, I am officially enrolled as a student of the College of Law of the Lyceum of the Philippines.

I am finally back on track and pursuing my dreams.

Don't wish me luck, pray for me instead.

INTERVIEW

For the lack of anything to write. I copied this interview from Ms. D's page. So here I am, pretending that I am so famous to be worth an interview about my life.

1. What kind of first impression do you think you give people?
That I will devour them. I really don’t know, but it’s probably the way I look that those that I am not close to will always think that I want to eat them alive.

2. What's one thing you like to do alone?
Sing! And not only sing, I sing in a performance level with all the hand gestures and pretend that I am singing in front of a huge crowd. Then I practice waving, you know, like how Presidents wave when they get out of the plane upon their arrival. Don’t ask me why.

3. Are you a giver or a taker?
Giver. To a point that I have become a doormat.

4. What have you stolen before?
Coins from my Mama’s purse. A ballpen from the department store in my hometown. Well, I though I have already bought a lot of things from that store, so it won’t harm their business if I put one Kilometrico ballpen in my pocket.

5. How many drinks before you're tipsy?
If I haven’t eaten, three bottles of San Mig Light will make me tipsy. But If I have eaten and in an open place, I could go for more than three bottles of Colt 45.

I refrain from drinking beer nowadays. As much as possible, I limit my drinking to tequila, vodka, brandy and red wine!

6. Do you ever have to beg?
I don’t really beg. When I ask something and I don’t get it from asking. I’ll just walk away and find other means to get it! Hehehehehehehe.

7. What kind of books do you like to read?
Anything worth reading.

8. Do you think you're cute?
No. But some people are crazy over me to the point of stalking me, so I don’t know, am I cute? Or just simply irresistible?

9. Do you have a problem changing clothes in front of your friends?
Not when I am with a group of men. I don’t have problem undressing in front of them. Living in a dorm for four years and using the showers with no cubicles, I have learned to adjust. However, I get conscious when I undress in a presence of a woman.

10. What's the most painful experience you've ever had?
Losing my father and growing up in a place where not your skills, wit and talent matters in order to “belong” but what brand of clothes you wear. And I mean this literally. The problem was, my Mama just couldn't afford to buy me those branded clothes and I don’t really beg for clothes to my Mama.

11. Favorite communication method?
Sarcasm!

12. Do you care?
Yes I do. I care if people around me are so full of the soap operas they watched that they seem to forget and oblivious to all the bad things that are happening around them.

13. What is your most prized piece of your music collection?
Josh Groban Concert CD and VCD. Given to me by a lawyer friend after I wrote his speech that he delivered when he was invited as a graduation speaker in my hometown. Considering the remarks that he received about the speech, I think that CD and VCD is not enough! (Gaddd! The travails of a ghost writer!)

14. What is the geekiest part of your music collection?
A karaoke VCD of Tom Jones’ music. Again, don’t ask me why.

15. What do you eat when you raid the fridge at night?
Bread! Yes we put bread and cookies, hopia and all sorts of pastries in the ref.

16. What is your secret guaranteed weeping movie?
I cried watching “Bata, Bata Paano ka Ginawa?”, “Step Mom” and any commercial of a brother talking to his elder brother or a son talking to his father. In case you will wonder why, I am the only son and I lost my father at the age of 12.

17. If you could have plastic surgery, what would you have done?
I am seriously considering having some reconstruction on my nose and injecting some botox to erase the lines in my forehead.

18. What is a physical habit that gives away your insecure moments?
I am usually silent when introduce to a group new group. (But it would only take seconds for me to be noisy again! hehehehehe)

19. Do you know anyone famous?
Yup, movie and TV personalities, politicians, writers!

20. Describe your bed.
Typical bed of a boarding house. Double deck (I occupy the lower deck), two pillows in blue pillowcase, white blanket with some floral prints and a blue bed sheet.

21. Spontaneous or planned?
More of spontaneous. Like when I want to go out to sing along bars in Malate, I go there even if I won’t be able to pull anyone to accompany me.

22. Do you know how to play poker? No. The only card game that I know are “bulak-bulak” and “unggoy-unggoy”.

23. What do you carry with you at all times?
My wallet with my ATM, Credit and Health Insurance Card, my cellphone and some condoms.

24. What do you miss most about being little?
Swimming at the river just 25 meters at the back of our house in Bukidnon, even If my Mama strongly prohibits it. Getting some firewood and playing at the pine forest which is just less than fifty meters at the back of our house, even if my Mama prohibits it. Climbing all kinds of fruit trees, playing bahay-bahayan with a makeshift house that we built out of banana leaves, sacks, sticks we got in our backyard. Catching all kinds dragon flies in our back yard, playing “shatong”, eating santol with salt and vinegar, listening to radio plays like “Esteban Escudero”, “Mutya sa Saging Minantikaan” “Hayop ka man Mohilak Ka-usab”, “Handumanan sa Usa ka Awit” Ramini ang Batang Bronse” and many more courtesy of Radio Mindanao Network. There’s a lot that I miss about being little.

25. Are you happy with your given name? Yes!
My Complete name is Eric Samuel Paano-Joven. Eric originates from Scandinavia (Vikings, remember?) and it means above all kings. Samuel is of Hebrew origin which means, “called by God”. Paano, my middle name, is of course a tagalog word which means “how”. And Joven is a Spanish word for young.

26. How much money would it take to give up the internet for 1 year? Probably a million dollar. But I don’t think I can live without any internet for one year.

27. What color is your bedroom?
Brown! It’s a boarding house, so what can I do. If I’ll have a bedroom, it will be colored blue, a mixture of all shades of blue.

28. Have you ever been in a play?
Yes, back in my college days. I played as Mendel in “Fiddler on the Roof”, Pharaoh and Rueben in “Joseph the Dreamer”, Vincenzo in a tagalog play “Alitan”, and acted as that proud theater guy in the one-act play “Impromptu” for Alexis dela Cruz play.

29. Do you like yourself and believe in yourself?
Yes, but sometimes I slap my own face for the stupid things that I have done and hated myself for being stupid.

30. Do transient, homeless, or starving people sometimes annoy you?
Yes, especially when they look healthy enough to make a living, or when they use their kids to beg! I made it a policy not to give in to beggars. I believe that you are not helping them if you give. But If I have enough money, I donate it to reputable charities. Believe me, some of those beggars are part of syndicate, so the best way to help them is help organization that will take them out of the street.

31. Do you consider yourself to be a nice person?
Yes. It is only people’s first impression of me that isn’t nice. But once they get to know me, they know how “approachable” and how down-to-earth I am.

32. Do you spend more time with your girlfriend/boyfriend or your friends?
I wish I were in a relationship now. So I have no choice but to spend time with my friends, hoping that they will match me with their other friends. HAHAHAHAHAHA!

33. What's one thing you wish you could do but can't?
Run this company I am currently employed! and Kill Ryan!

34. What is your ideal wedding location?
Old small chapel by the beach.

35. What's one instrument you wish you could play?
The violin and harp.

36. Something you love and hate?
Good-looking persons.

37. What's one language you want to learn?
French and Spanish.

38. What do you order at a bar?
San Mig Light, Vodka, Tequila.

39. Have you ever pierced your body parts?
No.

40. Do you have any tattoos?
No. I don’t want to blemish my good complexion. A henna tattoo would be okay though.

41. Would you admit to getting plastic surgery if confronted?
Over my dead body! That is if, I’ll be dead first!

42. What's one trait you hate in a person?
Apathy! A person who doesn’t care at all deserves to die!

43. Do you consider yourself materialistic?
Not really. Most of my salary goes to food.

44. What do you cook best?
Rice! Although I cook, but I really don’t know if its good.

45. Do you cry in front of your friends?
Yes, but to a close friend.

FUNNY PICTURE
2nd Part


Isn't the picture cute? Now this time, all I want from you is to place a caption for this picture. Common, let your creative juices flow! Hehehehehe. 

FUNNY PICTURE
1st of the Series


Truly, a picture tells a thousand word!

Now, any idea on why the girl was also holding the hand of the guy in white shirt? Those who can give the wildiest theory will receive a . . . commendation! Hehehehe! 

LIGHTER

I should have made this announcement two months ago, but better late than never.

Ladies and gentlemen, on my first day at Slimmers World, I was weighed and hit the scales at 175 lbs. At 28 year old and with a 5'8" height, I was clearly overweight (di ba obvious?! Hehehehehehe). Friends, I am happy to announce today that I am now officially weighed at 155 lbs or 20 lbs less from my weight four months ago. That has been my weight for the almost two months now.

No, I did not take any medicines nor made a visit to the clinic of Vicky Bello. I have been working out at least four times a week for the past four months. I do aerobic exerices (tae-bo, hip-hop aero, bench, hi-lo) and started lifting weights. I have also observed my diet. I ate less carbohydrates, more fruits and protein and fiber rich food. For two months I ate only 3 pcs of skyflakes and coffee for breakfast , one cup of rice and a choice of not so fatty food (I have no choice since I only buy my food in the canteen) for lunch, and wheat bread and tuna or corn beef for dinner.

I was actually surprised that I I enjoyed doing it. There use to be a time when I dread even at that thought of having to allocate some time for physical activities.

I love my gym! Gym time is always fun time at Slimmers World Salcedo. I am happy to be working out with people who have a good sense of humor. Since I love dancing, it wouldn't be surprising that all these new aerobic exerices (hip-hop, latin aero, aero jam) would be interesting to me.

Now, all I am concentrating is gaining more muscles. Yes, I dream of having a body like Marc Nelson and I am working on it! I still do my aerobic exerices.

I feel healthy today and I love the feeling. It nice to walk knowing that your legs would not be strained because of your weight. I feel sexy, not that I have those sexy muscles, but the thought of dancing with sweat running down your body looks sexy to me. I feel good, I breathe easier now.

I feel great!

STORIES IN THE CITY

Metro Manila, with this sprawling urban jungle laden with millions of residents, it wouldn’t be surprising to met someone with a unique story to tell. Stories in the City are the stories of the people I’ve met, talked to, worked with and even "make love" with. These are the people who made my life and my story as a Tagabukid in the city more colorful.

The first installment is a story of a friend I’ve met over the net, specifically mIRC.

Green is the Color for Red

Meet Red, he is a twenty-something-young-professional in Makati. He is a graduate of the premiere university in the country (with honors) and his is one of the unusual “coming out” story that I’ve ever heard.

In his senior year in college Red had a bad break-up with his boyfriend. It turned out that his boyfriend also had another lover. Mad, trying to get even and really wanting to find another guy, Red opened the internet and log-in at some channels in mIRC. His opening line was, “Cainta anyone?” Many responded, one of those was the guy who would turn out to be Green.

Their conversation over the net went on until Green proposes for an SEB (for virgins out there, SEB means sex-eye-ball, or you meet for the purpose of having sex). Finding it as way to get even, Red agreed and they set a time and place to meet. Red had doubts though, but who wouldn’t when never in his life had he had an SEB, this would be his first if ever. Red, however, was able to convince himself saying, “if this is what my ex did to me, I might as well do it with somebody who is only after one thing from me and that is sex.”

The time came for their meeting. Red went to Green’s house and they proceeded to his room. They met at 9 p.m., by that time, Green’s parents would be asleep.

Inside Green’s room, Red told him that he never had an SEB before. Green replied, “you should have told me, I don’t want to do this to you if you don’t want me to.” They ended up talking. Red learned that on that day he and Green chatted at mIRC, Green also had a bad break-up with his boyfriend. Green cried while relating his story.

Sympathy or pity he might have felt that Red, after hearing Green’s story, asked, “can I kiss you?” They kissed and one thing leads to another.

Naked and laying in Bed, Green hugged Red and was running his finger over Red’s body. “Don’t do that to me, I easily fall in love, “ Red told Green. Instead of stopping, Green was kissing him on is nape.

Red went home at 2 o’clock dawn.

The following day, Red received in his cellphone a forwarded message from Green. It was obvious from the message that Green is courting him. They chatted at mIRC again and Green told Red his intentions. Still doubtful, Red told Green, “sex lang ang habol mo sa akin (you’re only after me for sex).” After reading those words, Green felt insulted and automatically logged out from mIRC. Knowing that he offended Green, Red called him and apologised. Green went online again and they continued chatting.

Days passed and Red was busy doing his thesis, but there is one feeling that bothers him. Red terribly missed Green. He texted Green and told him that he would be going home to Cainta on that day. Green met him and they went to Green’s place.

One night in September, inside Green’s room, Red and Green have officially become boyfriends.

Both still continue to meet at Green’s place at 9 in the evening with Red leaving the place at 2 a.m..

Green never failed to surprise Red. On their first “monthsary”, Green brought Red to his friend’s place in Caloocan. Although earlier Green had a slip of tongue and told Red that he was preparing something, Red was still surprised to the extent of Green’s preparation. At the rooftop of apartment of Green’s friend, Red was awed to see the place filled with lit candles in every corner, flower petals scattered on the floor and a table with Red’s favorite food. When Green forgot about Red’s birthday, Green brought him to his place. All the anger of Red melt down when he opened Green’s room filled with candles and rose petal on the floor and on the bed where the two laid.

Red is a good child. He is especially close to his mother. He has never giver his parents any headaches and for all the achievements that Red earned in school, his parents glowed with pride. But while still in school, Red never told his parents about his sexuality. That is why Red and Green can’t meet at Red’s place.

Graduation day, Red finished his studies with honors. On that day, Red also decided to do something. While his mother was busy putting on her make-up, Red told her that he would introduce her to someone. Busy with what she is doing and excited about that thought of she and her husband going to the stage to put on Red numerous awards, his mother did not really take note of what Red had told her.

Red invited Green to his Graduation. After the ceremonies, Red called his parents and brought with him Green.

“Mom, Dad, “ Red said, “this is Green my boyfriend.”

Silence.

Red wished that a jeepney would pass by so that he and Green could leave and save them from any embarrassment unfortunately they are far from the road. Then Red’s mom broke the silence.

“Have you eaten already?” Red’s mom asked Green. To his surprise, Green could only answer, “no.” Red’s father told Red, “we already have suspicion of who really you are, but we are happy that you did not turn out to be one of those “addicts” in the street.”

Red and Green were so happy. On their way home, one of Red’s relative called Green “bé” thinking that it was Green’s name. “Bé” wasn’t Green nickname, but in their happiness, Red and Green were already oblivious to the other people around them that they started calling themselves in their term of endearment, “bé ” (short for bé bé ).

Green was still a little bit shy in going to Red’s place despite the acceptance of Red’s family. However, on Mother’s day, Green sent flowers to Red’s mom. The note on the flowers states, “salamat sa pagtanggap ninyo sa amin ng anak nyo (thank you for accepting us and our relationship with your son), happy mother’s day, love, Green”

Red and Green’s relationship was never without any trials. They have had four break ups already but they would also be back in each arms after. Tomorrow, Red and Green will be celebrating their second anniversary.

Happy Anniversary to Red and Green. Your courage and love for each other is an inspiration for all of us. I hope your love for each other, with all the trials you’ve been through, will go stronger as the days passed by. Thank you for your story.

JasonGrimes

HAPPY BIRTHDAY IAN!



Happy Birthday to Ian Fermin Rosales Casocot!

Here's one person that I truly admire and respect. A person with wit, intelligence and an impeccable sense of style.

On his 29th birthday (ooops! is it a crime I mentioned your age? hehehe), I pray for a good life ahead, a life filled with love and joy. I pray for more great literary work (and hopefully a gold in the Palanca).

Be happy my friend and I know you are. Happy Birthday!

RESTROOM DIALOGUES

Restroom conversations are funny and it is even funnier when you are the topic of the conversation without them knowing that you are inside in one of those cubicles listening.

I had my head shaved last Friday and If you ask me how I look? With a more fit phsyique now (thanks to Slimmers World) and a shaved head, I look like a a plebe of the Philippine Military Academy. After sporting that spiky, hip haircut, some people couldn't just but help how different I look. This is true with my teammates of the Praise Team in church.

In between our early morning rehearsal and the 8:45 service in church, I went to the rest room. While I was inside the cubicle, I heard three person who came in, from their voices i recognized them as Paolo (our drummer), Joel (one of the vocalist) and Rox (our bassist). They were talking bout something else, then Paolo said, "astig talaga ang buhok ni Kuya Eric." (Don't ask me to translate astig in English). Paolo was obviously making a comment on my new hairstyle to which Joel asnwered, "well, at least it looks okay on him, at least he looks manly now." Then the three of them were laughing.

At that instant, I was tempted to go out of the cubicle and say "did I hear my name mentioned?" But I decided not to. I waited for them to went out, before I came out.

There used to be a time when I would feel terribly bad when I know people are talking about me and my sexuality. My teammates conversation, of course, insinuated on my sexuality, but i didn't feel bad. I have come to point of accepting who really I am. And if accepting who I am comes with a challenge then I am more willing to face it rather than living in denial. I have spent quite a number of years in denial that I have already grown tired of defending myself whenever the issue on my sexuality becomes the topic.

Let them talk about my sexuality, I don't care! For people can talk endless about it, but would that do me any good? I don't know, but what matters to me now is how I live my life and how I earned people's respect out of the things that I do.

People can talk about my sexuality, but as long as it won't affect the flow of money in my pocket (which for now comes in in trickles, hehehehe) or affects the things that I love to do, their conversation won't matter to me. I have learned to live with that and accept it as part of my reality.

DON'T MIND HIM

I was almost tempted to react at some stupid remarks here, but William Butler Yeats reminded of more worthy things than reacting to his remarks.

TO A FRIEND WHOSE WORK HAS COME TO NOTHING
by William Butler Yeats

Now all the truth is out,
Be secret and take defeat
From any brazen throat,
For how can you compete,
Being honour bred, with one
Who, were it proved he lies,
Were neither shamed in his own
Nor in his neighbours' eyes?
Bred to a harder thing
Than Triumph, turn away
And like a laughing string
Whereon mad fingers play
Amid a place of stone,
Be secret and exult,
Because of all things known
That is most difficult.

THE MOST IMPORTANT LESSON “IMELDA” TAUGHT ME



Probably by now you may have watch Ramona Diaz’s Documentary Film “Imelda”, or if not, you may have read quite a number of film reviews about her work, so I live the review of the film to the legitimate film critics. There are only three words I can say about “Imelda”, it’s funny, entertaining and informative (not necessarily in that order).

I watched “Imelda” twice over the weekend, first was on Saturday evening and the second time was with my Aunt Anamy on Sunday afternoon. The film features interesting interviews that the Diaz did on Imelda Marcos on the different aspect of her life. Imelda talked about her childhood, meeting and marrying Ferdinand Marcos after 11 days of whirlwind courtship, becoming the First Lady, Martial Law, the People Power, her shoes and her diamonds, her ternoes, her parties, her theories of the Good, the Truth and the Beautiful, among others. Watching the film gave you a deeper look on what’s in the mind of Imelda and how until today she is denial of any wrongs she committed to the Filipino people. Listening to her make you ponder on your life as well.

And this is what I learned - - you need “real friends”. Friends who will not just say good things about you, but who will also be kind enough to tell you your wrong and your idea sucks.

This is the trouble with Imelda, she was surrounded by people who are all trying to please her that even if her idea is the most stupid of all, they still praised her telling her how marvelous her ideas were. You just have to watched her explain her so called “Seven Portals of Peace and Order” to know what I mean. Since it seems to her that everybody was praising her for her ideas, she concluded that her idea is really great! Remember the story of the “Emperor and his New Clothes”? Imelda is very much like the Emperor. Imelda believed that her theories and ideas are great that she even wrote a book for which she said that she “presumptuously write”. The book was entitled “Circles of Life”. (If your wondering why it didn’t make it to the bestsellers list, you already know the reason)

That is why you need friends, friends who would let you go back and think of the reality, friends who help you plant your feet firmly on the ground now matter how successful and how rich you have become. Mga Kaibigang handang-handa sapakin ka para lang magising ka sa kahibangan mo. (I couldn’t say it much better but in Filipino)

And I thank God I have those friends, thank you guys and I love you!

For more about the film, click here

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?