Kudos Tuldok’s “Pasintabi”
Philippine Aniamtion faced so many problems just like commercialism, content development issues and talent drain. However Pinoy animation was able to survive and strive and actually made it’s own identity. Recently the Aniamtion Council of the Philippines in cooperation of Gateway Cinema had its 3rd annual Animahenasyon 2009 Animation Festival. The festival gave pinoy animators [independent / mainstream] to show their talents, fruit of their hardwork and innate imagination.
I am also made an initiative to join the animation industry by joining Tuldok Animation’s egroup last 2008. It gave an access [or by means, some chance] to join in some projects. They’re so cool because even though they usually brainstorms high end concepts and storylines, they see to it that an average pinoy like me will be given a chance to join the group in doing the feature. They usually post some announcements regarding the film they’re doing like some updates, their need of set design/designer or help regarding character design.
I remember the last time I submitted my character design when they posted their need of character design for Lolo Apang for their future feature “Pasintabi”, a follow up for their superb work “Libingan”.
Tuldok Animation always promotes pinoy content thru their animation features, ranges from superstitions, and urban legends up to some unique traits of Filipino culture. I learned about Tuldok when I saw my idol, Ramon del prado’s portfolio site, since then I followed Tuldok’s growth thru TV appearances and festivals. And also I got a chance to work with Ms. Rianne Hill Soriano way back 2008 when I was a trainer in Streetpark prod. Idol ramon is one of her friends at Tuldok.
And then last night, I got an update about Tuldok’s “Pasintabi” won the won the Best Animation Category F (TVC/OBB/Demo Reel) Professional Division at the recently concluded Animahenasyon 2009 Animation Festival! I felt bad because I missed that event. All I can do is to drown the misery by surfing Youtube, searching for the winners and interesting entries.
So for now, Congratulations to all the people who worked hard for that endeavor! Well I learned that the film is not finished yet. Hopefully, Tuldok can enter the whole film at next year’s Animahenasyon 2010 Festival, the 10th year anniversary of the Animation Council of the Philippines (ACPI).
[for the list of entries/nominees and winners per category, please visit Animation Council of the Philippines offical website : http://www.animationcouncil.org/ ]
Again Kudos 
to those who don’t know about Tuldok Animation is, here is one of their profile vids
I’ll post Ramon del prado’s “Save Me” trailer and also Ms. Rianne Hill Soriano and Ramon’s Demo reel in near future
another Silver Luna pix challenge
It’s Dory’s “Botday” when we decided to dare ourselves on this one thing. Nothing serious actually, all we have to do is to use one certain photo as our profile image on our facebook account[s].
We took several group pics during our trip slash celebration [do I need to spell out "slash?" heheh anyway], we do make attempts to produce good photos when we’re still roaming ’round the mall but we can’t. I thought the challenge won’t be possible until i got a chance to scan the photos from Galaxy’s cam. I found some pretty decent shots but there is one that caught my short attention span. A group shot at Alfie’s House [the offcial Silver-Luna Tambayan]
Fortunately, my so called creative juices let me do some simple twitches and adjustments to make it more interesting. And here’s the end product
reversed B and W image entitle "Silver Luna :Energy Never Dies"
Just like a mock DVD [or on the image size CD] cover , I imagined what if I put a title on it, just like a movie poster, complete with DVD official logo [sorry, BluRay discs never works for me, hehehe]. thus I ended up BEP’s recent album title The E.N.D. Energy never Dies…
-Epilogue-
I sent a group text to all Silver Luna peepz that were present in that certain image, I told them to check my post and start to use that as thier FB profile pic. after several minutes, Alfie replied “wow, ayos ah, sige sige, pero pede palitan? ang panget eh jejeje.”. It didn’t broke my heart, actually it’s a sign that he likes it…hahaha LOLz, just working on my reversed phsycology. hahaha LOLz.
Pinoy Indie Raketers, Beware of those craps :D
Being a part of the film industry is not a joke, whether you’re the director or merely a PA [production affiliate}. It requires a lot amount of sweat and blood. I had a chance to work for a feature film before so i got an idea how the production works and how hardwork usually entails it.
So yesterday, I got this mail from our egroup [The Philippine Cinema yahoo group] and it gave me something to cringe about. It is not about any tacky film but a shared horrible experience of this filmmaker who only wants is to produce a quality material. and take note, it’s a campaign material that [should be] used in the campaign period of this “known” political figure…with no further ado, here’s the story
————————————————————————————————-
FILM FRIENDS, PAKIBLACKLIST ANG MGA ITO SA RAKET CAREER NYO.
Today at 12:14pm
Rumaket kami ng political advertisement. Two (2) weeks lang kami nagpre-prod dahil sobrang rush ng lahat. Humiling ako na maghire ng mga tao na makakatrabaho sa prod. Initially ayaw pa maghire ng PD. Sabi ko, hindi pwede dahil autobiography ang pinapagawa nila so may periods ito. Nag-ask ako na maghire ng PM. Ayaw. May secretary naman daw sya na pwedeng umasikaso ng lahat ng kelangan ko in terms of logistics and budget. Sabi ko sige fine. Nagtitipid sila. Nagiipit ng pera.
Bilang SECRETARY nya ang naging production manager ko at apparently walang alam sa prod work, ako parin ang gumawa ng bulk of the pm-ing with the help of my production assistant na mas may alam pa sa kanya. Bilang walang alam itong si SECRETARY, nagkada-leche leche ang budget at hindi tama ang budget breakdown na naipa-approve nya sa boss nya na PR PERSON nung pulitiko.
Nag-day one ng shoot kahapon. Nung pack up na, shempre alam nating kaliwaan ng tf. Bilang hindi naman talaga pm si SECRETARY e hindi nila mabayaran ang grip dahil inakala nilang ang budget ng Balicas for the day ay yung budget na for the entire 3-day shoot. So hindi nila marelease ang Balicas. At shempre hindi rin nila kami mapaalis.
Hinold nila kami sa 23 ILANG-ILANG STREE NEW MANILA (office ni PR PERSON) for 5 hours after pack up dahil sa diskusyon sa mga tf ng tao na malinaw naman nung umpisa pa lang na kaliwaan. PR PERSON called us a bunch of unprofessional shitty cowards who don’t know what we’re doing. He threatened to call security and to sue us if we don’t leave his office that moment. He bragged about his connections in the industry and threatened to ruin our careers to the people he know. E hindi pa nga kami nabibigyan ng talent fees. At hindi parin sila nagbabayad sa Balicas.
Mabuti na lang nakaka-day 1 pa lang ng shoot, nagkaalaman na agad ng baho. Hindi na namin tinapos ang project at dahil dyan, alam kong anytime soon may kokontak sa inyo to offer a raket. So if ever may kumontak sa inyo for a political ad, mag-ingat lang kayo. Do background checking. Sign a contract.
Warn your friends and colleagues. Share this with them.
—————————
so guys in the industry, be careful with this or better yet, keep away from those nasty peeps..
Well that’s for now…
So Till then and Godspeed
Lighthouse [part 4]
—EPILOUGE—
+++ JUNE part 2 +++
(something to write a a(BLOG)bout…)
Almost seven hours uminit ang mga pwet at nangawit ang aming mga hita sa byahe. Pero sa wakes narrating na namin ang Subic airport. Sinalubong naman kami ng isang kabarkada sa lounge malapit sa bukana ng hangar ng aming private plane.
“Mouse!!!” at kumaripas na ng pagtakbo si Chicken at niyakap si Jeremy. Mababasa mo sa kanyang mga kilay ang pagkaasiwa niya sa kanyang “petname” na sa tingin namin, ay literal na petnames.
“akala ko ba nauna ka na sa Batanes?”
“Guys, here’s Matthew, sasabay sya sa atin papuntang Batanes”
At dumating nga ang oras na nakarating kami sa Batanes, kala ko duon huling makakasama si Jeremy si Matthew, nagkamali ako.
She invited him.
(pag pinigilan mo kasi, she can use the word bitch twenty-nine times in a sentece, a walking black movie cliché)
Nakarating kami sa bahay ni Dante, at sa pagbaba naming ay sinalubong kami ng kakaibang aura. Naabutan naming ang mga katulong na nagseset-up ng kara-oke , ng mga party table at nagwawalis.
“Ma’am Ching (chicken), Ma’am Jeremy, andito po pala kayo…”
“andito rin kami”, sabi ni Adrian(Tiger)
“si sir mo?”, sabi ko, sabi ni Rooster.
—EPILOUGE—
+++ JUNE 1 +++
(totoo na ‘to pwamis)
“burn that fats, beybeh!!!”, kanchaw ni Adrian
“Leche! Mas masarap pa ‘to kesa sa Electronic Surfboard na binili ko” sagot ni Chicken,Ching habang pinagpapawisan sa pagpadyak ng pedicab. Masyadong makitid ang daan para sa aming sasakyan…
“ala na si Sir…”,sabay napalitan ang iyak ng ngiti..
“me vidoke ditto mamya…uso kasi ditto yan pagkatapos ilibing ang patay”
Wala na si Dante, nakuryente daw nang minsang kidlatan ang kanyang kwarto, habang pinaglalaruan ang electronic dictionary ng bisitang Koreano. Namatay si dante sa paraang nakakashock. Literal na nakakashock.
Minsan,kahit anong bagay ang dala natin, uso man o hindio ay di natin madadala sa kabilang buhay. Pati mga alaala ng paggamit mo nito ay di mo matatandaan. Sabi nga ng bili kong DVD ng Discovery channel sa Quiapo , di ka matatandaan ng iyong utak, dahil kasama mo itong mamatay, kasama mong mabaon pati ang iyong mga masasayang alaala. Di rin matatandaan ni Dante ang mga nabasang Harry Potter E-books na pinagbebenta ng illegal sa kanyang office. Na minsan siyang nagalit sa Methatione dahil di pumiti ang kanyang kilikili. Paano sumakit ang mata nang nakita ang 150 inch plasma TV ng Panasonic sa Trade fair. Paano napaiyak ng “First Sunday” ang machong damdamin…
Nakaakyat na kami sa burol na sinabing huling umatend ng misa si Dante, wala na sila…baka naglakad na papuntang sementeryo.
Pakiramdam ko isa ako sa mga umusbong na independent writers na kalaunan magpapablish ng damdamin este ng libro independently, di ako maka-iyak at walang gusting humagulgol. Kasabay naming sa pag-akyat ang pagbaba ng haring araw.
Ano kaya reaksyon ni Dante ngayon kung:
10. Nagkaroon ng Marimar Book 2, tapos sinerialized ang “private Practice” , sinong bida ang kanyang pipiliin?
9. Paparoonin kaya niya ang version natin ng mga musical movies? Biag ni Lam-Ang the Musical? Maganda ba pakinggan?
8. manghihinayang kaya siya pag di siya nagkaroon ng tissue mula sa Byke’ Café, Bumba Shrimp Gump at Hard Rock Café na may planong magtayo sa batanes? (wala na kasi mapagtayuan sa maynila sa kabila ng demand)
7. Na kamukha niya si Chester Bennington pagminorph ang kanyang portrait sa MYHeritage.com, na makakapagJolibee ka na sa 50 pesos at na nakalimutan niyang I-log-out ang I-mesh account niya?
6. Na dahil sa DVD combo 60X drive kaya nasira ang kanyang PC na Windows Longhorn na?
5. Na pwede ka nang magtoothbrush na walang gamit na toothpaste, na solar energy lang ang gamit? Na tinutulak ng Green peace ang Renewable energy kasi yun ang uso este maganda sa ating environment drama?
4. Na kung susumahin, umabot na sa limang tapon ang oras ng pagrender ng kanyang windows movie maker sa paggawa ng home videos na alam niyang tatawanan niya balang araw at mapagkakakitaan pag nabenta sa mga TV stations? (well nagkamil siya sa part na “balang araw”), Na Ulead na ang uso sa pag-edit ng video pati ng Underground music ng kanyang secta?
3. Mahal parin ang gasul at mamahal pa. Na pinauso ni Gloria ang week-long vacation? At di talaga totoo ang mga growth pills…(tignan mo si Gloria), na di man lang malabanan ng herbal capsule ang bilbil ni Chicken (tignan mo si Juday, me commercial nga ng Fitrum pero lagi kina doctor Calayan nagpapasalamat pag me guesting)
2. Usong Hang-out ngayon ang Manila Pen. Uso ang red na armband at di parin naalis ang itim na kilikili
at ang huli…
1. Di alam ng lahat ang matagal ko nang pagmatyag kay Jeremy na minsan mong kinantsawan na me Crush sa akin…
Ano kaya?
Ano kaya no, Dante?
Walang umiyak, bagkus namangha sa gandang ng Lighthouse na minsan naming iniwan. Lighthouse na minsan naming naging tambayan. Parolang hanggang ngayon ay naroon sa alaala ng aming pagkamusmos.
Parolang hinahanaphanap, kahit ano pa ang usong dumating. Kahit anu pang material na bagay na dadampi sa aming isipan, kahiligan at itatapon. Di tulad ng parolang ito kung saan huli kong nakausap si Dante, Nagmumukmok,nagsusulat ng blog tungkol sa pagkawala ng signal ng WeRoam sa kanyang bahay. Si Dante na kunyaring pinagpalit ang prinsipyo sa isang Macbook at mainit na kape.
Lighthouse [part 2]
+++ APRIL +++
(pamean, pamin, pahmhen, pamen, paminta)
(Virtual Insanity: Blake Lewis : 02:01:01 PM : Thursday)
STEVE: yun na yun?
DANIEL: —grunts—
STEVE: ba’t di mo siya dinala sa mga “minibreaks” dyan sa Makati?
DANIEL: —grunts—
STEVE: tawag ng Hotel ni Paris sa Shorttime, syempre, pasossy, ganoon na ang tawag ngayon sa short time.
DANIEL: pero tutungo rin sa tunay na meaning… (grunts)
STEVE: Sa whats the GP?
DANIEL: GP?
STEVE: Game Plan…
DANIEL: Great, now you’re speaking in Initials.
STEVE: Its time-saving man, its like Day-light Saving…
DANIEL: but enough time to waste just to define them…duh…
STEVE: GP!
DANIEL: Game Plan?
STEVE: Good Point!
(When the Stars go Blue: Blake Lewis : 03:32:59 PM : Thursday)
STEVE: American Idol & sucks bigtime, Di man lang Kumasa sa Grade five at you don’t know who’s Gay , Straight or taken, Di ba Big Brother?
DANIEL: —grunts—…yes bigtime…
STEVE: Si Tetet yun ah… kaway ka dali…
DANIEL: Kaway…
STEVE: She’s Hot Pre, you didn’t that part?
DANIEL: Magastos yan pre, from head to toe, You should invest something just to keep her
STEVE: Well let me see… Big Bag by Alexander Mcqueen by Louis Vuitton, Gucci Morphed Aviator Shades, Van Der Chunky Big necklaces. That’s quite a fortune man…but dude, look at her, she’s a walking art gallery, direct from Paris.
DANIEL: and Direct from your credit card. Advice Dude, mayroon nang ganyan sa Divisoria even before makarating ang mga orig niyan sa connecting flight nila sa Bangkok.
STEVE: Now that’s latest, pero pati Philip Traecy Crazy hat she’s wearing?
DANIEL: siguro hindi, si Tessa prieto lang naman ang me angas na magsuot niyan kahit sa Libing no…
STEVE: —cough badly—
DANIEL: ok ka lang bro…
STEVE: ok lang, nasamid lang ako… —cough, cough,cough—- remind me na papansinin ko mamya yang hot chick sa elevator ha…
DANIEL: where’s the chick?
STEVE: hot chick at six o’ clock man…
DANIEL: (Sabay lingon…)
(This is my now: Blake Lewis : 04:01:11 PM : Thursday)
STEVE: Like your shirt man… reminds me of 50’s though
DANIEL: thanks, I got it somewhere, Uso nanaman pala ang Stenography art na pinauso ni Ian Hamilton Finlay
STEVE: Where did you get those facts man!
DANIEL: ala lang, nahook lang ako sa designs…speaking of Designs… asan na ang Tatoo mo?
STEVE: well like the recent Republicans, im going to be a Mormon, Mormonism is in yo… bawal ang Tatoo sabi ng chick sa bible study..
DANIEL: GOOD LORD, PLEASE SPARE HIS SOUL!!!
(Somewhere only we know : Blake Lewis : 04:02:17 PM : Thursday)
STEVE: (Talking to his LG ViewTy Camera Phone… spend five minutes and turned it off)
DANIEL: —grunts—…
STEVE: Some credit card company man, they’re forcing me to pay my debts…
DANIEL: Ingat ka dyan bro… baka makulong ka
STEVE: DontchaworryPre! Edi magloan sa ibang credit card para mabayaran ang utang, that’s the trend bro…and beside, pardon is in the air.
DANIEL: tsk.tsk. kaw kasi, masyado kang nahook sa NFL , di ka makuntento sa kakapanuod sa cable, kailangan mo pa bumili ng merchandise nila.
STEVE: That’s my weakness pre. By the way, I brought a New England Patriot Golf Caddy
DANIEL: yan ka nanaman, dude.
STEVE: but its on sale…
DANIEL: how much?
STEVE: —cough badly— 9 thousand gran? Hehehe. Not bad..
DANIEL: sale ba yun? By the way, pahiram naman ng something na pwede kong mapaglibangan, I just finished Paulo Choelo’s “Veronika Decides to Die”
STEVE: sure, punta ka sa bahay, subukan nating laruin ang Nintendo Wii ko.
DANIEL: what? How about that PSP combo? Or that Nintendo Gamecube 2 and Xbox Prenium you brought a month ago.
STEVE: nakakasawa kasi dude, my fingers are too tired doing the same thing over and over again, its time to shake this booty man..
DANIEL: gross dude…that’s so gay man…
STEVE: masyado tong CHUMORVA…
DANIEL: huh?— ikaw ba yan pre?
STEVE: hehehe, I just read it , some gay magazines…you know…exploring…
DANIEL: ok…?
STEVE: so punta ka? Pick a game, there’s Kingdom under Fire: Circkle of Doom for my Xbox, Harvey Birdman:Attorney in Law for PS2 and the freakin PSP, or just contented with the Wii Zapper?
DANIEL: wala ka bang Paraparadance paradise dyan?
STEVE: meron ako…yun ba yung parang dance revo pero damay buong katawan? Maganda exercise yun dude.
DANIEL: ok…
STEVE: so expect your booty there?
DANIEL: what? (looked at Steve anxiously then raise his shirt) does this body makes me…
STEVE: sexy? …I mean intimidating?
DANIEL: (pulled his shirt back on0 gotta go…(sabay karipas ng takbo)
STEVE: that was fast…5KM isn’t bad at all (sabay tingin sa bagong Swatch yerar of the Rat watch)
Lighthouse [Part 3]
+++ JUNE part 3 +++
(Jeremy’s Motivational books are not that good at all…)
‘I would go between Nissan Rouge SUV and Audi A8 Sports car”
“ilan po ba hkayong sasakay ma’am? Pang heavy duty po ba?”
“nope, were just giving it a good smooth ride, how aboutn were eight?’
“I recommend the Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid…and the..the…Jeep Luxury SUV”
“ill pick the Hybrid one… me color red?”
“hehehehe…good thing meron..”
its so easy to make car rental reservations through the net, unlike last year, we have to walk around batanes because naubusan kami. Good thing they have their own business link sa WebKinz.com, salamat narin at me Wifi rito sa airport, I can surf and chat the net through my PDA, installed with the new Windows Mobile 6.1…
Maayos naman ang lahat hangang sa natapakan ng isang Geek ang Prada multicoloured Art Heels ko…and were not talking ordinary shoes here…
JEREMY: Ouch! You crap!
GEEK: Sorry…I’m just trying to find…
JEREMY: Stop complaining you dick!
GEEK: (and they’re calling me dick, what’;s next? Nectar balls?)
Look! I’m just trying to find WiFi signal with this shirt…
JEREMY (confused) with that shirt?
GEEK: Yes! With this shirt, look…haven’t you heard the WiFi detector shirt…
JEREMY: I heard, and I saw the color of the LED attached to that shirt were already changing (then points at the Geek)
GEEK: Matthew by the Way..
JEREMY: Jeremy…
MATTHEW: this seat…taken?
JEREMY: Nope, you may seat, but please be careful next time, baka makasira ka pa ng mamahaling heels…
MATTHEW: Those men are’nt tired of that desgn (points at his back) Shirts with One-line statements are very common…
JEREMY: Cool though…(turned off her PDA, switched her Multicolored LED lightbulb and digging her way down inside of the Halo3 Messanger Bag. Blah.Blah.Blah, pulled a book and she start to read.)
MATTHEW: The Book of the Lasts by Ian Hamilton, from last Roman Emperor up to the last Beatles number one hit… you have a good taste, bookworm… (Sniffs and laughed)
JEREMY: Do you have a problem?
MATTHEW: Motivational books aren’t good at all, sometimes it doesn’t works…
JEREMY: Do you wish people think well of you? Don’t speak well of yourself…
MATTHEW: Great! Now you’re throwing lines from Blaise Pascal…
(Ten minutes of BookWorms Fights…throwing of lines from Ralph Waldo, Immanuel kant, Eleanor Roosevelt. Hurting each others Ego with SNAPS and intimidating each other by comparing our voice recorders, his Ultra Thin Voice recorder against my Neuros OSD Linux Media recorder. What’s the latest movie we’ve watched since January of ’08…his “in the name of King” against my “taxi of the Darkside”a nd animated “Pirates who don’t do anything: VeggieTales”. We proved that quotes from the O.C. and One Three Hill are catchy, I love New York, Lincoln Heights and The Naked Trucker and T-Bone Show are good reality shows of our time… nakilala naming ang isa’t-isa b y that fight…)
Doodle it up :D
Sometimes when I’m stressed at work or for some other strange reasons, I often pull out some sheet of paper from wherever and grab some inky pen and start to doodle. Doodling is some sort of my relaxation, it releases my tension, unfocused energy and sometimes, my “creativity”. A doodle is a type of sketch, an unfocused drawing made while a person’s attention is otherwise occupied or in my case, stressed . Doodles are simple drawings that can have concrete representational meaning or may just be abstract shapes.
Many of my doodles are usually found in my school notebooks, often in the margins, drawn while daydreaming or losing interest during class. Other common examples of doodling are produced during long telephone conversations if a pen and paper are available.
Anyway, I made an experiment at the office. I asked a trainee-turned-friend to doodle with me in a single sheet of paper, we called it, “Mag doodilan tayo” hehehe.. Well, Sheila is pretty available to join my art wagon and thus we started to doodle.
Each of us two got his/her own side of the paper to doodle on, and as a part of the experiment, I rotated the paper and started doodling or add some finishing touches on each other’s doodle and then continue the doodle of the other.
After almost two hours of scribbling with pen, we ended up with this artwork.
Val :"Hirap siguro kulayan nito?, Shiela:"I-scan ko nalang sa bhay" Rose: "Tapos akin na lang, kulayan ko hehehe"
Then it’s time to leave the office, Ma’am Portia saw our doodle pad, attention caught; she grabbed it and asked us “Ano ito?” [what’s this?} then as usual, we explained. She showed her appreciation and we’re shocked on what happened next.
She pulled a pen out of her bag and start to draw some materials and put some names on it. While saying “Dapat may content ito, yan [drowing ng puno], environment, tapos, ito ba ang araw, ito dapat si Sir [sulat ng name ni sir] tapos ito, ganda ah…[then sulat “Global Warning”]. She practically added new details into our artwork. She explained it should contain some relevance and not just random lines.
We explained what doodle and doodling is. She said she got the point, but still we’re not sure, .
On the next day, ,while killing some time, I asked Shiela again. We doodled again and exchanged our background stories regarding sketching, our passion in drawing, our fave subjects to draw when we’re still kids, what happened to those drawings and how we trained or evolved our talent.
Second attempt to produce something better..well..actually, not an attempt because our brains are in auto-pilot while doing this one, meaning no pressure at all
Well doodling isn’t all about killing time or releasing some tension, it is also about your subconscious taking over, let him draw freely without any form of judgement from the public. It’s the real you who is really scribbling those art, even though it’ll turn nonsense, your doodle is worth everything, like those you drawn beautifully years ago. You know why? While doodling, you instantly shutted down your judgment fuse. You’ll not be able to judge yourself and stop it, but rather, you set him free to explore, while you, starring at the doodling “you”, can observe yourself and can be happy accepting the real you. You wouldn’t be conscious at all, whether you draw something silly or abstract or ugly. By doodling, your self confidence and self esteem can be built.
LightHouse [part 1]
cover photo for "Lighthouse", featuring some of my pals in moment of random thoughts
[last 2007, i wrote this mini novel for a college requirement. The theme is to discuss the present trends in a creative way and also give a glimpse of the future must haves. I ended up enjoying writing it. Even though i passed the manuscript, I kept in touch with the material. well, how about a little serving of the story?]
“Southbeach? That’s bullshit man!”, sabay lagok ng isang herbal capsule. “ang mahal ng punyetang gulay na yan di naman ako pumayat.”
Napatawa kami sa sinabi ni Chicken, Palibhasa ang utak ay nakadepende kung ano ang pinapalabas sa lifestyle channel, kung ano ang napapanuod ay yun din lang ang nakikita niyang solusyon sa kanyang matagal nang mamantikang problema.
“O, s’ya mahuhuli na tayo sa flight natin.”
“Let’s go guys.” Sagot naman ng isa at sabay-sabay naming niligpit an gaming mga PDA, cellphones at laptop at mahinahong iniwan ang Starbucks.
“Nga pala si Mouse?”
“Nauna na siya sa batanes para asikasuhin ang rerentahan nating kotse.”
Sa loob ng FX ay nalilkibutan kami ng nakakabinging katahimikan, na paminsan-minsa’y sinasabayan ng pabulong na himig galing sa aming mga earphones. Andyan ang maingay na “Hollywood Holiday” ng Love Me Butch na syang paulit-ulit na pinapakinggan ni Tiger gamit ang Schinzer headsets at MOTORAZR2
Si Tiger ang pinaka-techie sa aming barkada, palibhasa mayaman, kaya niyang magpalit ng portable DVD kada buwan, cellphone kada three weeks,at mag-uploaf ng bagong music kada araw. Tulad ng isang ordnaryong music lover sa panahon ngayon, malawak na rin ang kanya-kanyang music preferences ng barkada. Tulad ng pagkahilig ni Tiger sa mga foreign music. Pero di basta-basta foreign na galing amerika. Andyan ang Rockband na Love me Butch (LMB) ng Malaysia, MIZUE ng Japan hanggang kay Stefano Fucili ng Italy.
Ako naman ay kuntento na sa A capella music na laman ng HTC Touch phone ko, ang tinaguriang “i-phone Killer” ng 2008. Maririnig mo kung pa’no ang “this guys inlove with you” ng Kilyawan, “Kaleidoscope world” ng Akafellas at “Mr.Brightside” ng Harvard University Callbacks. Mahirap kung sa mahirap maghanap ng kinahiligan kong genre of music. Andyan ang pakikipagsapalaran ko sa internet gamit ang Limewire, Imeem, Multiply, esnips at pati CDbaby. Pero buti nalang nagpopost paminsan minsan ang paborito kong DJ ng mga PODcasts sa kanyang webpage. Kaya wala na akong problema sa paghahanap ng acapella version ng maiisipan ming kanta. Mula sa beatles hanggang sa the Killers, Orson o Panic at the Disco, you name it,mayroon akong acapella version niyan.
Si Chicken naman ay puro Dance o Club House Music ang iniindak ng kanyang eardrums, palibhasa she needs more exercise kaya puro pampaindak at pampawork-out ang laman ng kanyang I-phone. Inabangan pa naming talaga magpalit ng taon para lang makabli siya ng kanyang pinapangarap na original I-phone dito. Kaya sa sonbrang pagkasabik, diretso kami ng mall para magdownload ng mga music ng Daft-punk , Gyzkard at Sitti on Mix. Isinasayaw-sayaw niya rin paminsan-minsan ang mga gawa kong remixes.
By the way, isa akong turntablist. Isa sa mga hippest jobs sa metro. Pangatlo sa Social Yuppie Pyramid ng Makati, Pinangungunahan ng Advertising Gurus, Graphic Artists, kami, freelance writers at way back at the bottom, mga callcenter agents. Ako lang ang nakakaalam noon sa barkada at mahirap nang masakal ni Chicken, palibhasa tumaba sa pagpupuyat para lang kumita ng malaki.
+++ MARCH+++
(Hi 5 shout-out: Gumigiling nanaman sa ere si Beyonce, tapos susundan ng Reunion ng mga Spice Girls, Hot daw sila ngayong taon pero sa akin hindi… Mas in pa sina Maria Mena, pagbabalik nila Robyn at Lisa Loeb at ang bagong kanta ni Robbie Williams— screwed butterflies)
Halos isang taon mahigit nung huli kaming bumiyahe sabay-sabay papuntang Batanes. Naging ritwal na naming sabay sabay na bumalik doon hanggang sa napagdesisyunan ni Dante na roon tuluyang mamuhay kasama ang kanyang asawa. Naisip na naming nung una pa na papasok sa ganitong sitwasyon ang kaibigan naming iyon. Di ko alam kung dahil ba’yon sa “uso” ang makabuntis at mapikot o sadyang tinadhana na talaga sila.
Lumaking aktibista si Dante. Ang tanging matapang sa aming grupo. Pinaglalaban niya kung ano ang sa tingin niyang tama. At lalong lumaki ang mga litid nito nang nagkolehiyo sa Maynila, napasama sa mga grupo hanggang sa tuluyang nahubog ang isang mapagmatyag at mapag-isip na Dante.
Pero sa kung sa pagiging seryoso ang pag-uusapan, tyak magugulat ka dahil mas makulit pa ang taong yan kaysa kay Chicken at sa aming lahat. Katwiran niya, di dahil isa siyang tibak ay ganoon na dapat siya umasta. Minsan niya kaming pinagsabihan na ang pagiging uso ng isang bagay ay pautot lang ng mga negosyante, gusto lang nilang kumita, magpapakilala sila ng mga usong bagay na siya naman nating pipiliting iangkop sa kinasanayan nating kultura. Kikita sila habang tayo ay nagkakadarapa sa pagbili ng mga iyon.
Hindi niya maintindihan kung bakit tayo kumakagat sa mga bagong Jukebox phone ng VodaPhone eh halos parehas lang sila ng gamit ng MP3 player na minsan nating pinagkaguluhan. Nalilito siya kung bakit mahirap makuntento ang tao sa makabagong teknolohuya sa paligid niya habang ang mga magsasaka sa Davao ay kuntento na sa araro’t kalabaw na gamit sa kanyang pagsasaka. Natatawa lang ako sa pagdaing niya sa amin habang nagta-type ng mga CSS codes sa kanyang Apple Macbook Pro,nag-eedit ng profile ng kanyang multiply site. Depensa niya, minsan lang naman niyang dayain ang sarili kaya nilubos na niya, sabay inom ng four season coffee frap na nakalimutan na niyang naglalaman ng kapeng pinaglaanan niya ng dugo at pawis ng mga magsasakang minsan na niyang sinamahang magmartsa patunging Malakanyang. Biro ko nga sa aking sarili, di kaya sumusunod lang ito sa mga pauso ng ibang nuisance na aktibista?
Yung tipong magpapanggap na tibak, pinagsasama ang “social consciousness” at Fun X factor. Alam kong uso yan ngayon. Pinagpalit kasi ako ng chikas ko last month dahil sa “cool” daw magkaroon ng boyfriend na ganoon. (palibhasa pinaglihi sa Trojan Horse Virus, kung saan file kakapit-kapit. Tapos pagnasira ang utak, tyak iiwanan ka niya para maghahanap ng ibang masisirang hunky file tulad mo)
I’m sick ang tired narin na makakita ng mga pankista at aktibista. Parepareho silang puro itim ang shirt, EMO o “loose oasis” ang buhok at me mga black na eye liner. Naalala ko tuloy ang kapatid kong nagpapakada-EMO, di naman bagay, nagging sensitive siya sa kanyang feeling kala naman niya relevant yun sa paglakas ng piso at ganoon alang ang pagmukmuk niya pagfeeling down siya. Trip niya lagging madepress at itsurang depress. Nakakdepress dina ng itsura nila pagtumatalon sila sa ere sabay yugyog ng mga ulo sa mga kanta nila ATRYU, Underoath, sensefall at Alexis on Fire. Gustong gusto nila ang mga kantang iyon eh halos sigaw lang naman ang lyrics at akala mo me nota, mayroon pala. (minsan ko nakita ang kapatod kong magpraktis ng mga kanta nila, palibhasa acoustic guitar ang hawak, duon ko lang narinig ng klaro ang tono ng kanta. Uso daw ang magkabanda kaya nagkakadarapa siyang magpraktis para di itakwil ng barkada.)
Ano kaya nangyari sa mga bandang sumikat noon hangang nung nakaraang taon? Oo, alam kong wala nang matchbox 20 dahil nagpakaldo uli si Rob Thimas para sa sususnod niyang solo album, pero paano ang walang kamatayang “Push” at “Unwell”, o yung “wonderfull” ng Everclear, o yung “Mr Jones” ng Counting Crows. Ano ang nagyari sa kanila? Okay na sana ang mga bandang Orson, the Adventurer , Red Jumpsuit Apparatus at Greenday kaya lang malakas parin ang sigaw ng mga SCREAMO, scream plus EMO, edi SCREAMO. Ang bagong genre ng makabago at ng mga nagresurect na mga pankista (siguro tuwang-tuwa ngayon ang nag-imbento ng kasabihang “punks not dead!”)
Pero at one point, may nagustuhan rin ako sa kanilang mga kulto ni Pepe Smith at yun ang kanilang mga “Zeitgeist” sense of literature. It strongly depicts aural imagery ng kanialng emotions (Peque Gallaga) , Nakabasa ako minsan nang naligaw ako sa isang forum sa net.
Bakit nga ba?
Siguro.
Dahil masarap magkunwari na ginagamit ang utak
Dahil wala nang panahong mag-isip.
Dahil hindi mo ito kailangan.
Tulad ng siopao, masarap ang bawal.
Dahil wala nang iba pa at yan lang ang natira.
Dahil pagod na?
O minsan wala lang talagang maisip na sagot.
Baka rin kasi minsan di naman kailangan.
Dahil pangit tignan pagbigla akong gumulong sa lupa.
Baka kailangan mo nang kausapin ang dati mong kasama.
Kaya lang baka hindi niyo kaya.
Siguro dahil wala nang masabi sa isa’t-isa.
Bakit nga ba?
(excerpt from Girl Trouble by Alan Navarra)
Gumawa rina ko tulad noon at syempre, pinablish ko sa net…
Rooster: So did you like my poems I e-mailed you?
Tiger: Haven’t checked my mail yet (then placed emoticons)
Chicken: I forgot my password
(then typed her popular jargon) wasted kasi eh
Dragon: Maybe this Friday,
(pre sa totoo lang, gotta follow those chikas pare, don’t have time)
Dog: Don’t believe in the internet
(photobucket sucks!)
Rooster: (imageshack sucks bigtime!)
Mouse: Eyow…Check Ko Buwas, pwamis…buwas…
(its fun to be a mushmouth nowadays)
Cat: which account? Yahoo Mail!, G-Mail o Myspace?
++HuGz-n-Kizzez++: IV3_R3@D_TH3M… (hope you can read this…)
EmOtErAh_2008: they reveal so much about you, should place it to your Hi5 profile though.
Pig: Diba dapat petnames lang ang andito?
++HuGz-n-Kizzez++: kaya walang nag-PPM sa’yo eh…masyado kang nega..
Cat: —meow…. ^_^
Pig: PM?
EmO-tErAh_B@be: Private Message
++HuGz-n-Kizzez++: LOL …hahaha -.-
Pig: Hoy! At sino ka para murahin mo’ko?
Mouse: Ay tanga…
Tiger: Inum tayo –.
(at doon nagsimulang nabuwag ang clan naming sa chatroom, kawawang Pig, walang nag-PPM sa kanyang lalaki at walang member ang balak siyang karirin. Tsk.tsk. )
Still, pagkatapos mag-agree ang lahat na di nag-exist ang clan na iyon, ay nagkaroon parin kami ng contact ni ++HuGz-n-Kizzez++ a.k.a. Tetet. Nag-usap kami sa maraming bagay na sa text at chat lang naming kayang sabihin sa isa’t-isa. Nakapagtayo pa kami ng isa pang Clan.
Minsan ay naawa ang amang ko sa araw-araw kong pag-e-load kaya niregaluhan niya ako minsan ng 500 na load. At dahil sa naexcite sa kakaibang feeling na naibigay sa akin ng prepaid load at tila humiwalay ang aking kaluluwa sa aking katawan. Biglang nagflashback ang lahat ng alaala (yung katulad na katulad na nangyari ke Russel Crow nung tinamaan siya ngespada sa Gladiator…dami kang makikita noon sa mga tindang 30 in 1 na DVD sa Quiapo), naalala ko nung napagkamalan kong pamato ng piko ang “await-load” (tama?) hanggang sa huling kong cellphone na Motorola Douce and gabanna edition, na napilitan kong ihagis para lang di ako mahuli ng tunay kong GF sa tumatawag na ka-flirt ko that time… balik sa prepaid load, Tinawagan ko si Tetet, siya ang gusto kong paglaan ng 500 prepaid load ko, minsan lang ‘to no…
“tara inom tayo” sabi ko.
“sure…”
“sa MetroPhi na lang tayo magkita”
“sa condo mo nalang…ayaw mo?”
Laos na ang “palibhasa lalaki” days, din a uso ang pagkamanyak ni Joey Marquez na sasabayan ng paghampas sa kanya ng dyaryo ng cameraman. Chivalry na ang uso ngayon.
“sa MetroPhi nalang…” sabi ko
“Ok” sabay text ng smiley.
Pants o Shorts? Ok na siguro yung cargo shorts na ginamit ko kahapon.
T-shirt o Polo? Putek! Alang plantsadong white polo.
Giordano Black Polo nalang, me angst pero youthful parin.
Gel o Natural look para sa buhok? Tsk.tsk…
Pagnakagel, napakakintab ko naman sa Gabi..daig ko pa yung disco ball ng club.
Pag natural, mukha akong wasted. Layered pa naman ang gupit ko tsk,tsk,
Dilemma.
Mahirap talagang ambisyoning maging kamukha ni Brad Pitt sa Mr and Mrs Smith part 2 kung ang kahawig ko ay isa sa mga taga Jackass number three.
Nagkita nga kami doon. Nakaleave ako kaya di ako pinagpapawisan ng grabe tulad ni “the Kennedy Project”, isa sa mga porener na turntablist. Di ko nga alam kung bakit nauso ang dayo eh parepareho naman ang tunog “patok” na Jeepney rutang Sta. Mesa – Marikina.
“Oh Yeah…”
Umindak si Tetet sa Club mix ng Cosmic Girl ni Jamiraquai, beastie Boys.
Andoon lang ako sa isang tabi,nagmamasid,umiiwas mapagpawisan nang di mangamoy ang shorts. Nagpapakadalunod sa beer na paulit-ulit na nilalagok ni Bamboo sa TV.
Nakipag-indakan siya sa mga bading na mukhang chimi ah ah…mathuthunders naman. (some of a thousand lingo na natutunan ko sa pamamasyal naming ni Steve)
Matapos mapagod sa pag-indak ng apat na rounds ay umupo narin sa wakes si Tetet, tinawag ang Waiter at nag-order ng San Mig Light, ang aming social lubricant para sa aming rusty social skills.
Lumabas kami ng maingay na Bar, umupo sa gutter ng kalsada at nag-usap sa mga bagay-bagay.
Totoo bang guguho someday ang Mall of Asia, at
Bakit hangang alas diyes lang ang mga mall pag mayroon silang MID-night sale?
Neil Gaiman ba o J.K. Rowling parin? (Arnold Arre na me…sikat na xa eh…)
CatDog food ba pagkain nila CatDog? Eh ano naman sa nakalimutang Cow and Chicken? Paano na si naruto? Lalagpas pa ba siya ng kinse anyos? Anong alternative pag di nagkasya ang binili kong COSPLAY para sa susunod na fantasy convention….
Ano ang pinagkaiba ng IMAX theatre ng MOA , sa Digital Screening ng SM Block sa Digital Cinema mayroon ang Glorietta sa 4D theatre ng Enchanted Kingdom?
(siguro ‘ala, parehas silang nakakahilo tulad ng naramdaman ko nang minsang nastranded kami sa loop ng space shuttle. Kala ko “ssssteeegg…” ang ma-stagnant duon, mali pala ako, alang signal!… ipapadasal ko naman sa Quiapo ang pagtirik ng flying fiesta sa susunod na pagpunta ko doon…hehehe)
Paano kaya di magsasawa ang mga fans ng High School musical sa paulit-ulit nitong
paggamit ng mga tono?(makakyanan pa kaya naming dal’wa sa paglabas ng High School Musical 3? Eh sa Sequel kaya ng Grease o Music and Lyrics? “On the Land of Women” nalang sana, matutuwa pa ako, pede rin Hairspray” )
Marereformat ba ang paborito naming radio station tulad nang nangyari sa isa nung
nakaraang taon? Buti nalang nagkaroon siya agad ng barangay.
Paano na napadugo ni Inday ang aming mga ilong, paano niya nilampaso ang
mga one-liner jokes nila Milenyo, electric Fan, TV at iba pang appliances. Mababawi
pa ba ng pagka-mangmang ni ERAP ang kanyang trono sa txtvotes? Este txt jokes?
Lalo na ngayong puro trivias at short stories na ang usong I-chain text ngayon
pagnakaunli ang isang adik sa txt?)
9. anong mangyayari pagpinagsama sama naming ang mga BROTHERS and SISTERS ni
UGLY BETTY sa KID’s NATION? Magiging HEROES ba sila o magiging KUNG FU KIDS?
Paano na ang EUREKA ni BIONIC WOMAN? Di bale, anyan naman si HOUSE MD na
magtuturo ‘bout GREY’S ANATOMY, BONES at pati narin ang PSYCHE. Papatok kaya
ang PINOY IDOL sa syete? Paano na si MAU? Kelan puputi ang mga ULINGLING? 24
hours? O pagkaroon ng PRISON BREAK? Bakit nauso ang season season na yan?
dal’wa lang kaya season natin Ditto…
at ang huli…
10. ang tatlong oras na trapik sa Mendiola. Ang “Kkiam Experience” ni Jay Panti. Kung paano niya inaaply sa akin ang nabasang “He’s not into you” at “Its Complicated” parin ba ang status naming dal’wa sa Friendster ngayong kami na? Gusto ba naman niyang ipaalam sa buong madlang people na kami na? Kami na nga ba? O Fling lang? Tulad ng mga nakukuha ngayon sa mga Speed dates sa Glorietta. (oo tayo na…) kami. (I-flickr mo pa mga picture natin, I-blog mo pa mga karanasang ito. I-youtube mo pa mga videos natin…oo tayo na…)
“lipat tayo sa inyo?”
“sa amin?’
“oo— nga pala..”
“ano?’
“Sensation ha—wag frenzy banana…”
natahimik ako bigla. Tila andyan si Sadako sa aking tabi. Para akong si nakaupong machong lalaki na nagtutulug-tulugan sa masikip na MRT, para di Makita ang mga nakatayong chikas sa aking harapan, ayaw magpa-upo at malayo pa ang istasyon na aking babaan. Mas maganda nang manahimik… “practicality, next to Chivalry” ang drama naming mga lalaki. Ayaw ko sumunod sa uso na nakakabuntis nang bata pa. (bata pa po ako kahit sa age kong 23.)
Heartbreak World [right here where you want me]
Singing your [swollen] broken heart out in a locked room is really effective lessen the pain. It also do wonders from practicing your “shower” singing voice up to finding some advice from the song’s lyrics. It is good and advisable, yes, but I never had an idea that it would hit me. I am not prepared to deal with a broken heart, much worst, pick up a good playlist to heal my heart.
Until Two years ago, someone broke my heart, she didn’t care whether I can handle it , can survive through it, or –whatever, She don’t cares about me at all… The pain she gave taught me that not all the things good in sight can’t hurt you, well she did it DAMN “TERRIFYINGLY” GOOD!
Well, I must admit, I’m not good at handling my own feelings, showing it also was one of my problems.
My problems just mixed up, added by the breakup, equals two mild heart attacks. (Hell yeah, that’s true)
anyway, after that break up I just realized I needed some advice or comfort from a friend, from a brother—not from my parents, I’m not open regarding to this when it comes to them…it’s sleazy. After calling all my friends, I got a text message saying i must comfort myself anyhow by listening to some music new to me. He suggested to give this album a try. Besides, it’s college week, everyone are so busy to check one another, it’s hard by that time to get a friend to consult or share a beer with. My weak heart and disturbed mind followed that guy without any chance or attempt to rebut…And yes, he’s recommending Jessie McCartney.
Some ballad songs (take note: ballad) from this album taught me how a man accept heartbreaks as such many levels.
REJECTED B’COZ OF THE OTHER GUY : Just so you know
“It’s gettin’ hard to, Be around you, There’s so much I can’t say
Do you want me to hide the feelings, And look the other way
And I don’t know how to be fine when I’m not
‘Cause I don’t know how to make the feelings stop”
THE RELATIONSHIP IS GOING NOWHERE AND YOU SAW IT COMING
:Tell Her
“I can’t believe, Her hold on me, it’s somethin indescribable
I know she knows, But won’t you please
If you see my girl
Just tell her i miss her smile
Tell her I’m counting the minutes
Gonna see her in a little while
Cause I know when she
Holds onto me
She’s the one thing that i could never live without”
WANT TO END THE PAIN? : Just go
“You can’t walk back in my life, You had your chance to be by my side
I don’t have to hear you cry to know
Just go, I gave you my word and I promised to love you
Go, it’s over, You had your chance
Just go, There’s nothing inside me that still feels connected
To you to me you’re already gone”
YEAH I KNOW IT’S NOT EASY TO FORGET, WELL AT LEAST YOU TRIED: Can’t Let you Go
“So many times I’ve tried
To get her out of my life
But she knows I’m addicted
To the taste of her lips
My strength is drifting away
My body’s aching with pain
I can’t hold on
I can’t hold on any longer”
IN CASE YOU WANT TO REMINISCE THE PAST , WHEN YOUR WORLDS BECOME ONE— We Can Go Anywhere
“Breakdown, all the pressure that surrounds you
Allow, it all to fade away
We can, move on looking in the rearview mirror-
Wave goodbye, come on we’re leaving everything behind
You know that sun is shining
We’ll keep driving, doesn’t matter where
‘Cause we got that open highway leading our way
As long as you are there
Yeah, we can go anywhere”
I must admit, I didn’t expect that from his album , he’s too Disneyish when I first heard of him, It may not have made huge waves, but Jesse McCartney’s debut album, Beautiful Soul, was an undeniable hit, one of the biggest hits on the tween scene since Hilary Duff no longer belonged just to Radio Disney. McCartney filled the hole Duff left behind at Radio Disney, as his slick, sugary confections constantly played on that channel and on The Disney Channel, too. It set the stage perfectly for a mainstream crossover, just as Hilary Duff made serious inroads outside of the Disney community after her second album, and that’s what his 2006 sophomore effort, Right Where You Want Me, was designed to be. Unfortunately, it doesn’t quite deliver on its intentions. Right Where You Want Me goes just a little bit too far in making McCartney into a mainstream star — rather, it goes a little bit too far in making McCartney mature, removing the snap from his bubblegum by giving him too many ballads to sing and too much production to sing through. He amiably gives it his all, yet the problem doesn’t lie with McCartney: it’s with the material and its presentation, which is too reserved for tweens, too kiddie for adult contemporary. So, it’s the equivalent of musical puberty: McCartney may be closing in on 20, but this finds him in his awkward phase where he’s not a boy yet not a man, and the record will only please those fans who are sticking by him through their own awkward phases. Fortunately, McCartney is enough of a showbiz pro that when he survives this transition, he’ll be able to come through and deliver a good third album that builds on the better sections of this record.
ALBUM TRACKS
1. Right Where You Want Me
2. Just So You Know
3. Blow Your Mind
4. Right Back In The Water
5. Anybody
6. Tell Her
7. Just Go
8. Can’t Let You Go
9. We Can Go Anywhere
10. Feelin’ You
11. Invincible
12. Daddy’s Little Girl
So brothers don’t be scared to listen to this album , give it a try and there’s nothing wrong in crying…just toast the beer to the air and learn to analyze things. Let him sing you a song.
Query Boxes
Bought two boxes full of Query questions from Papemelroti, my friend enjoyed it and asked me several of these questions…
_______________
WHAT THING WOULD YOU LIKE TO TRY BUT ARE AFRAID TO?
Ala pa naman as of now, try and try lang kasi ako, wala akong hini-hindiang challenge… even though isa sa mga phobia ko ang pinapagawa sakin
NAME ANY CITY IN THE WORLD YOU’D LIKE TO GET LOST IN.
Prague, Czechoslovakia
ONE DAY, YOU SUDDENLY WOKE UP AND FOUND THAT YOU WERE A HOLLYWOOD CELEBRITY, WHAT IS THE FIRST THING WOU WILL DO?
Syempre sisigaw sa tuwa, anu pa ba?
FOR YOU WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN LIFE THAT MONEY CAN BUY?
SMILE!
WHAT DO YOU MOST OFTEN DREAM ABOUT?
Tatlo, death , my future marriage and one of counter strike fellas na nakikipagdigma sa isang maze made of bathroom tiles…at ang kailangan naming sugpuin?…guess who…si Ms. Jean Garcia lang naman…hehehehe…natrauma lang siguro ang utak ko sa mga role niya, pati panaginip ko hinahunting xa.hehehehehe
WHO HAS YOUR IDEAL BODY TYPE?
Rob of AKAFELLAS, gusto kong tumaba o maging chubby pero cute parin at me commercials hehehehe…pero totoo yung part ng mataba
WHAT IS THE CURRENT THEME SONG OF YOUR LIFE?
Kaso apat as of now, PANUNUMPA by HANGAD, BOSTON (acapella version of UPENN) and WHAT SHE’LL LOOK LIKE ng STEPHEN SPEAKS, WORDS I COULDN’T SAY by RASCAL FLATTS….. nareremix ko nga yung tatlo sa utak ko, complete with the ¾ or 4/4 beats, scratches and everything
IF YOU COULD WRITE OUT THE REST OF YOUR LIFE (AND IT WOULD COME TRUE) WHAT WOULD HAPPEN THIS YEAR?
I got a grant to produce my scripts or one of my screenplay attempts got an award abroad kung hindi…maging sikat na singer! Hehehehe…
WHAT DO YOU DO TO FALL ASLEEP?
DVD marathon ng mga DISCOVERY CHANNEL specials or BBC’s days that shook the world (umaabot ang tatlong oras ang panunuod ko ng mga yun, at di parin ako nakakatulog pero pag natapos ko na yung target episode ko, laspag na ako pagkatapos.)
IF YOU WERE A POET, WHAT WOULD YOUR POEMS BE MOSTLY ABOUT?
Life. Air. Pinwheels (my favourite subject), Lonely Journeyers, Time, sand.
IF YOU HAD TO IMPERSONATE ANY ONE FAMOUS FOR ONE DAY, WHO WILL YOU CHOOSE TO BE?
Gus Abelgus? Hahaha ( SO-CO, ha-ha-mu-nin ka sa i-sang tongue twist-er hahaha, with matching long pause at tuyong lalamunan, tuwang tuwa mga classmates ko pag ginagaya nila si gus.)
HOW I WISH I COULD SAY THAT I DISCOVERED (OR DISCOVER) ……
The Rosette stone or the Music and Lyrics of KAHIT DI SABIHIN / ONE IN ME ng AKAFELLAS
BEST ADVICE YOU EVER GOT?
“val, matuto kang magalit kahit minsan” di ko alam kung best ‘to but still this advice best applied pag me nang-aabuso. Sa sobrang patient ko raw di ko na alam kung inaabuso na daw ako. Hehehehe…same advice rin sa production
YOU WERE CHOSEN TO REPRESENT THE WHOLE OF MANKIND TO A NEWLY DISCOVERED PLANET INHABITED BY ALIENS, YOU COULD BRING 5 PEOPLE WITH YOU, WHO WOULD YOU BRING?
One college Kabarkada (female], Three high school Kabarkada (male and 2 females),My Sunshine (to give that planet enough sunshine wahehehehe_My favourite Cameraman I just worked with…(xmpre with his cam)ay six na pala…sumobra!
WHAT (OR WHO) MAKES YOU SMILE?
Two of my college friends (si meyr, kasi nakakatawa ang sirkerang yun hehehe at si Japeng , ang total performer ng clase. He/.she can be anything you want, from whitney Houston to Mr bean.)
WHAT SURPRISE WOULD YOU LOVE TO RECEIVE AT LEAST ONCE IN YOUR LIFE?
A rooftop date with all of my love ones
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE SMELL?
Amoy ng bagong school supplies o art and craft materials
BY SOME TWIST OF FATE, YOU HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO BE A PROFESSIONAL SPORTS PLAYER FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE, WHAT SPORT WOULD YOU CHOOSE TO PLAY?
Soccer player at professional skateboarder (matagal ko nang wish yun kaso I don’t have time para bumili ng gamit at maghanap ng group—-sigh!)
IF YOU WERE A COLOR.WHAT WOULD YOU BE?
Blue…reminds me of STEPS music video, yung “deeper shade of Blue”, galing ng mga costume kasi ni H, pero seriously speaking, like the shades of brown so much…
WHAT TV CHARACTER CAN YOU EASILY PORTRAY?
Nagbubuckle na LTR announcer? Daniel Mead (ugly betty) at ang the best HIRO ng HEROES, kaso pumayat na ko kaya medyo alangan, mukha lang constipated pag nag-aatempt akong magteleport o pahintuin ang orad (YATAI!—Yesaaaaaa)
HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU’RE ALREADY A GROWNUP?
A Goatee perhaps.
IF AT THE SNAP OF YOUR FINGERS ANY ONE OF THE WORLD’S PROBLEM, WHICH PROBLEM WOULD YOU CHOOSE TO RID THE WORLD OF?
Mosquitoes Rats and all kinds of pests! (mapa hayop o governement man, ooops, all the same pla hahaha)
WHAT ARE THE USUAL CONTENTS OF YOUR BAG/BRIEFCASE?
A towel, extra hankerchief (can’t live without these, its like walking naked), extra shirt, my music player with pixelated camera, cellphone, money, pen and memo pads (pag me iDea na pumasok, sulat agad, very useful)
DESCRIBE THE WORST NIGHTMARE YOU COULD EVER HAVE. (REAL OR NOT)
A gruesome accident (Hollywood-like terror)
WHAT SKILL OR TALENT WOULD YOU LIKE TO LEARN OF YOU HAD ALL THE TIME AND RESOURCES IN THE WORLD?
A professional drummer, filmmaker and skateboarder (kasi mukha akong poser pag nagskates ako)
WHAT ANIMAL WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE FACE TO FACE?
Buwaya (kaso madami niyan sa kalye ng metro manila hahahaha)
WHAT’S THE MOST IMPORTANT SOUND TO YOU?
Breathing
DESCRIBE YOURSELF AT AGE 90
Happy, energetic, travels the whole word at nagsusulat at nagdrodrowing ng anime
IF YOU COULD ADD ALL THE KNOWLEDGE OF ANOTHER PERSON’S BRAIN INTO YOUR BRAIN, WHOSE BRAIN WOULD YOU CHOOSE/
JACK NEO or AKIRA KUROSAWA. Idol!
WHAT’S YOU MOST NERVE-WRACKING EXPERIENCE?
Pagiging Director of photography and Assistant director at the same time. Pagiging DOP kasi first time ko maghandle ng mga LIGHTS, yung di basta basta lights, pagiging assistant director kasi, nasanay na ako lagi ang director or executive director, by then I have to follow orders. Pero ayos lang, it thaught me how to follow and manage pressure with a smile.
WHAT MACHINE, OR HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE CAN MOST REPRESENT YOU?
Mashing Wachine (sabi ng baby brother ko) sabi nila madalas me maglakd ng paikot-ikot pag nag-iisip o di kaya pag nagkakaroon ng writers block o di kaya pag nakarecieve ako ng text from my crush—ui, alam mo kung sino ka so if you’re reading this (and I’m sure u are)…..hahahahha
IF GOD APPEARED BESIDE YOU, WHAT THE THING 1ST YOU WILL SAY TO HIM
Musta Bro!
NAME YOUR TOP 3 PHOBIAS?
Rust (as in kalawang), masisikip o maliliit at saradong lugar, at malalaking pulang langgam. Weird no?
IF YOU WERE TO RECEIVE AN AWARD THAT EVERYONE WOULD HEAR ABOUT. WHAT AWARD WOULD IT BE?
Oscars: Best director, cinematography, best story and best screenplay…
IMAGINE YOURSELF AS A CAR WHAT MODEL AND MAKE WOULD YOU BE? WHAT COLOR?
Simple. Honda Jazz. Red!
IF YOU WERE INVISIBLE FOR A DAY, WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
I’ll go beside my crush, and stare at her all day (except when she needs to go to the bathroom, haha..)
IF YOU HAD TO DO RESEARCH ONE THING FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE WHAT WOULD YOU RESEARCH ON?
What makes the European films have “that” effect on its viewers,
AT A MOMENT’S NOTICE, YOU WERE GIVEN THE CHANCE TO STEP INTO A “TALENT DUPLICATOR MACHINE”, WHICH COULD DUPLICATE ANY PERSON’S TALENT ANF MAKE IT YOURS FOR LIFE. WHICH TALENT WOULD YOU PICK AND WHOSE?
Directing and Acting capabilities of Jack Neo, he’s one of my idols. He can portray a 80 year old woman and direct the film at the same time., o di kaya Vocals ni Rob Thomas or Drumming skills ni Leroy ng Dave Matthews
A BIG MOVIE PRODUCER WANTS TO CAST YOU IN HIS FILM AND LETS YOU PICK A ROLE…WHAT ROLE WOULF YOU PICK?
Beat boxer of an A capella Group or a wasted (poser) drummer …bida sa isang all-out drama slash musicale film (hahahaha), or isang bulag na teen-ager (ooops, just potraiyed one sa workshop sa MASKAY hehehe)
WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU THOUGHT ABOUT THIS MORNING WHEN YOU WOKE UP?
I have to write….
IF YOU WERE A GUEST ON “FANTASY ISLAND” WHAT WOULD YOU ASK FOR?
To leave me alone, coz I have something else in mind…
NAME THE TOP 3 DREAM JOBS YOU’D LIKE TO HAVE
Cinematographer/Photographer, Museum Curator, Animation Director/SFX specialist
IF YOU HAS A BOOK ABOUT YOUR LIFE, WHAT WOULD BE IT’S TITLE?
Overcasted Pinwheels : the Amherst Ureiqn story
COMPLETE THIS SENTENCE; I AM THE ONLY PERSON I KNOW WHO have an unique penname AMHERST UREIQN.
IF YOU WERE GIVEN 3 WISHES WHAT WOULD THEY BE?
Isa lang, give me the power of granting my own wishes (forever and endless…hehehe. pretty smart huh.)
IF YOU HAD A SHOT IN THE FRONT OF EVERY NEWSPAPER OR MAGAZINE IN THE WORLD, WHAT WOULD BE YOUR FAVORED HEADLINE?
Died Young, lived with Fun.
IF YOU HAD TO BE A LIFELESS OBJECT FOR A DAY, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Lump of Sand…ala lang, I want to be mindless, stationary for just one day
IF YOU WERE TO PICK ONE TIME AND DAY WHEN YOU ARE MOST ACTIVE AND ALIVE, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Thursday, 9 am.
IF YOU COULD HAVE ONE HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE HAVE A MIND OF ITS OWN TO FOLLOW YOUR ORDERS, WHICH WOULF YOU CHOOSE?
Universal Remote control (pakipindut at pakipaandar ang ganito ganyan hehhehe)
YOU HAD TRANSFORMED INTO CARTOON LAND AND GET TO PICK ANY CARTOON IDENTITY TO HAVE AS YOUR OWN, WHICH CHARACTER WOULD YOU CHOOSE?
Kenshin the battousai (RUROUNI KENSHIN) , the evangelion 01 (NEON GENESIS EVANGELION : CRUEL ANGEL SYNTHESIS) yung guy na bida sa KARESHI KANOJYO NO JIJYO (his and her circumstances) o pede rin si DARK ng DNAngel
Or worst, si Ash ng POKEMON, napapanaginipan ko kasi lately na ako si Ash ay marami na akong pokemon and im looking for this badge…hehehehe…
IF YOU HAD TO BE AN ANIMAL WHICH WOULD YOU BE?
Eagle! soar high , Fly high and nasa top ng food chain…
LOOKING BACK IN TIME, WHICH YEAR WOULD YOU HAVE WANTED TO LAST TWICE AS LONG?
Second year college/ high school fourth year
SAY ONE MEMORABLE LINE FROM A MOVIE THAT YOU LIKE
Gabe: But it wasn’t that easy. I guess love never is.
Adam: I just cleared some old stuff out of the storage room.
Gabe: Never had I been so keenly aware of the ability of palm to manufacture sweat, but I was determined to hold that girl’s hand for every single second.
[Josh Hutcherson as 11 yr old Gabe , Little Manhattan, 2005]
IF YOU WERE STUCK ON A DESERT AND COULD HAVE ONLY ONE KIND OF FOOD FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Pancit malabon or Sauted kangkong leaves…hehehe weird huh…
WHICH ERA OR PERIOD IN HISTORY WOULD YOU FIT WELL IN?
The present era, what else…
IF EVERYONE HAD TO PICK A NEW NAME WHAT WOULD YOURS BE?
Daniel Amherst Ureiqn or Zymeth Yssyl (named after a DOTA character)
IF YOU WERE WEATHER, WHAT WOULD’VE OUR FORECAST WITH YOU AROUND?
Cloudy
WHO WOULD YOU LIKE TO MEET AND SPEND THE DAY WITH, CAN BE SOMEONE FROM THE PAST..
My friend Adrian, I’ll ask him “anung feeling ng patay na, bro?”
WHAT IMAGES COME TO YOUR MIND WHEN YOU ASKED ABOUT YOUR CHILDHOOD?
Walkathon with my first dog named Sharon, I don’t know, I got that mem’ry when I was only three or four years old (im not sure).
IF YOU HAD A MILLION DOLLARS WHAT WOULD YOU SPEND IT ON?
Film School, Arts and Crafts business and I’ll stay on an expensive resort for one week…
YOU ARE THE JUDGE FOR THE COOLEST BOOK EVER WRITTEN, WHAT BOOK WOULD GET THE AWARD?
The The Mythology Class by Arnold Arre.
IF YOU WERE GIVEN THE CHANCE TO PICK THE WORLD’S 8TH NATURAL WONDER , WHAT WOULD YOU CHOOSE?
Tubataha Reef? (plastic?) hehehehe
RANK ACCDG TO IMPORTANCE FOR YOU PERSONALLY… FAME, POWER, RICHES,GOOD LOOKS. (rank from most important to least important)
Fame, Power, Good looks, Riches!!! Hahaha!
DESCRIBE YOUR DREAM HOME…
Basta yung may malaking attic, duon ang magiging kwarto ko, if possible, gusto kio me tatlong malaking attic, the whole interior would be somehow simple, yet full of arts and craft (ndi yung antiques ha…yung tipong do-it-yourself arts and crafts) para homy and cozy ang pakiramdam. The lighting should be white, not yellow.. The exterior ay may landscape, malawak, me Boracay inspired beach sa likod, isang malaking gate na me weird designs at ma nakapalibot na sprinklers at humidifiers(accdg to extreme makeover home edition) para lagging malamig at di mainit..
IF YOU COULD EXPAND ONE ROOM IN YOUR HOUSE TO TWICE ITS SIZE, WHAT ROOM WOULD IT BE?
Sala…
WHAT’S THE BEST ADVICE YOU’D GIVE TO YOURSELF TODAY?
Five Words… ONE STEP AT A TIME…
———————————————————————————————–
—now its your turn to answer these questions, sabi nga sa label ng box… know yourself better, be yourself more prouder, know your someone better, keep them in your arms harder!
21 is just a number for a kid like me
Introduction : Sometime last year, i opened a blog account however after my first post, i wasn’t able to maintain it. I think because I can’t access with my password, or at times, the site can’t detect my email address. Almost a year passed, i got a chance to bump into that blogsite. I was so happy not because of another account about me do exists [so narcissistic], it is because the blog reminds me what am I [when I was young] , one year younger.
I noticed that I was full of hope back then and very excited about life, well my perspectives now adidn’t changed much but it’s really cool to read materials you wrote, then suddenly abandoned then from nowhere, will jump into your present day life, and begins to haunt you , so with no further ado, here it goes…]
21 is just a number for a kid like me
Getting tails, kicks and sometimes ripped conscience
That’s me as a kid.
Yup, I’m still a kid at heart though, but they also tell me that I’m the real example of that guy from New Amsterdam.
It’s so frustrating getting a fine looking goatee. Also I can’t control my child-like attitude. I’m having the hard time to get serious at times when it needs most. My nerves shivers whenever I saw someone touches each other, kiss each other, (and the rest, I’ll leave it to your imagination). I always claim that I’m innocent to those things, reasons to be tagged as the boy preparing for his priesthood.
Kid, yes.
But I took my responsibilities to the fullest; I act like an old man when it comes to money but a toddler when it comes to relationships.
A Todd, yes
But a todd that cares like a kid to his lady, who often takes his companions to field trip, long bike rides, pinwheel races and park bench activities.
So what’s the problem if I’m a kid, if I’m still a kid? I’m already 21 though.
It’s just age.
Yes an age to be ridicule of because I think 21 years is not enough to be a full grown man.
I still devour my self into simple bike ride, tag games, chocolates (a lot!), pinwheel and a childish ways to live life.
21 is just a number.
Laugh now.
Live later
Think later
Enjoy life now.
Kick ass later.
Mock to those serious things now.
Be serious later.
Get higher later.
Self reflect later.
Pray always.
Appreciate things now and then.
See all things whether small and big, to the fullest
Share gratitude and smile as well.
Love yourself.
Love others as well.
Seek advice.
Share advice.
Tell your stories.
Listen as well.
Go out and discover world.
Get in; know yourself better.
Move forward and claim that spotlight.
Move backwards and be proud of your accomplishments.
Find new friends.
Preserve the old ones as well.
Make your own name in your chosen field.
But give more dignity to the one your parents gave you.
Face your fear and let it go.
But build new ones to give you excitement in discovering things.
Seek God. Love God. Learn more about him.
Sense he’s always around you.
Be guided and be a light to others.
Expand your abilities.
Give self confidence to others.
Work so you can support yourself and help your family.
Work for you to gain more reasons to go out and be found.
Take a rest when you need to.
Take a rest; let your body think and self reflect as your mind always did.
Take a rest and let yourself get lost track of time.
Learn how to fall, make mistakes for you to analyze.
Learn to stand or get a rock to hold on. Falling at all times is not good for you.
Learn to shrink, sit or kneel at times, modesty and humility should be considered.
Dance to music, Sing a song, watch a movie, learn to calculate, draw things, dig a treasure, point at things that needs appreciation, be keen, skeptic, keep asking questions, post your dreams to someone’s door.
Swear like crazy, but keep it as you meant it.
Keep this Ode this to yourself.
That’s what you should be doing if you’re 21.
Innate Purpose of the Innernet [scenario uno]
just got from a quantum leap,and by doing so in trance made my future past through in front of my eyes
In 2032, My kid will be approximately 18 years old, If ever it turns out to be a girl, she’ll be named Ureiqn Danielle or Samuel Ureiqn. If it’s a dude, he’ll be named as Amherst Ureiqn or Zagath Ureiqn. [But I think it’ll be better if God will give me a chance to use all those names---so I can have an excuse to form a band out of them hehehe joking aside]. She or He will be in his or her “raging teen hormones” years. My kid can now explore the world and by that it means that he/she is somehow “allowed” to go out, enjoy prom, go to some parties, drink a little, learn how to mingle with peers and lastly, date another being. I think I’m not going to be that kind of parent that will keep his kid away from this kind of social activities. I’m going to be the coolest dad ever. But there will be a catch, my kid should be at home within my given curfew or else, He or she will taste the wrath of a nagging dad [or should I say, a pesky one].
I’ll put my kid to a hotseat, I’ll ask him/her about his/her day, sort of an interrogation I guess, anyway, just to make sure my kid is still my kid and to assure myself that I know my kid better than anyone else did. I’ll the closest guy in his/her life if ever.
If ever I broke my kid’s heart during the hotseat, I’ll keep my apologies to myself and rather, blog about it, I’ll write there my clear intentions about asking details about their adolescent lives. I’ll tell the world my love for my kid, how I want him/her to be and the disclaimer that no matter what he/she will turn out be, he/she will always be my kid…
I’ll cap every entry with an apology from a dad, longing to be with his kid again, to with him all day, just like when the kid is still young and acceptable to be called as a “kid”. Sitting in his lap, telling playful stories and colorful dreams, while father starts build his expectations in his mind, planning on how to help his kid to reach that goal in the future. I’ll retold those stories you use to whisper in my ear when you’re still young. And tell you bit by bit how you grow well in front of my eyes. I’ll blog everything about it.
So if ever you’re in sober my kid, or you choose to be stay in your room, grunting because you think I’m mad and not in the mood to talk to you, well, you may read my passages and assure yourself that I’m still at your side no matter what. I’m just a keyboard tap away , just nursing some emotions hehe [in other word nageemote lang ]…
Innate Purpose of the Innernet
Yes, I’m a self-confessed Internet addict.
I can’t blame myself if I lurk myself too much into the cyrberzone. Being in cyber space for a while makes you more knowledgeable about things that you’re wasn’t aware of before. Also, a chance to seek revenge and release that whole college day stresses by killing some Nordic Myth Character on games or for a while, communicate with your high school colleagues, breaking them some good news like “I got a chance to participate in a declamation contest which I never did way back in high school” or “Hey guys, guess what, I’m not a part of NGSB societal anymore”, and parading some of your new experiences and lessons learned to your friends.
Four years ago, my newfound college friends usually tagged me as “Squarehead”, for the reason I normally spend most of afterhours at the netshop, surfing the net, learning Photoshop and downloading some things you would rather not ask.
I usually consumed 2 to 3 hours hovering the cyberzone, but it is alarming when I caught myself enduring my eye’s pain in starring the UV-ray covered screen for almost 5 hours or more. It came to my realization why I suffered occasional headaches and eye rage.
So, yes, I got addicted to it since then, but I tried to lessen those hours and basically, put an end into it.
My third year in college came and hectic schedules in random made me quite busy and not to lurk the net at times. But still, instances came that the library that usually expected to generate answers for our overflowing queries turned out not capable at all to give us what we need. Therefore, the tasks of scourging answers by hitting the keyboards are innate solution to our problems.
Well, this addiction is hardworking to get back into my system and that’s bad. Good thing I diverted myself into post production, Yes I’m hitting those keys again but now, I’m turning it into gold. Fees regarding my 3rd year tuition , miscellaneous and projects were paid by my Post-Prod job in an agency. That’s good though but since then my jobs always entitles me to work in front of the PC, so I think the net will again eventually go back to my veins.
But recently it came to me some innate purpose of the “Innernet” [like what the call ‘cenner’ agents usually pronounce it]. There are many benefits that you can get from the net, some of them ranges from short term to long term benefits, from society approved knowledge to random bunch of trivia up to believing some conspiracy theories that might save you in “near future” [wink wink.]
So much for an intro [and some editorial] please let me enumerate some of it’s benefits in the near future …
So that’s for now guys.
So Till Then and Godbless
If you only knew Jill
I’ve been reviving this bad addiction. No, it’s not drugs and the sexy three letter word [ and it’s never been ] , it’s about eating BBQs. Yes, barbecues, I’ve been pushing enormous numbers of those in my gut since my Digital cat days [a.k.a Digital Cat video post prod days] and got stopped while I’m in ePLDT Ventus then continued just recently when I got myself pretty lot of time.
I don’t know what’s with eating streetfoods or to be specific, eating charcoal cooked, animal’s internal parts. I think that the chewing part made me addicted.
ahh...Isaw, betamax, Gizzards, hotdogs and more...yum yum
Moving on, I noticed that I’m pushing too many to my gut these past few days and I’m worried of getting some sort of hepatitis or gastroenteritis. Thank God, my buddy Galaxy is also a keen kid when it comes to that. I don’t know if he noticed or do mind about me pointing on his ability, but it do saves us from getting street-like street foods. After watching some TV shows that exposed how some cooked theirs in dirty ways, exposed to germs, roaches and everything you don’t want to think of while you’re eating, it made me reluctant to eat barbecues in random places.
Also, adding to my guilt is my mom who’s been nagging about eating those stuffs and scaring me that I might caught some disease, and after every nag, she’ll propose some alternatives like Palabok, roasted chicken or fried chicken.
Continue to my guilty trip, I notice that my tummy is getting bigger. I think I’m getting a little bit chubby already and it is time to crank those tunes and build my body into shape.
Galax : Is that Jill? Me: WTF...omg, pati ba naman dito me fulcrum agant?
Hmmm…on the second thought, it’ll be hard for me to not eat or skip meals or not to attend foodtripping with friends. I think it’s the conversation made between us friends makes it more difficult. Plus the fact we’re always looking forward checking on that dudette who cooks our barbecues. We first noticed her “beauty” after Galaxy and I indulged ourselves to the CHUCK series, and turned ourselves in to CHUCK geeks. We named her “Jill” because looks like Chuck’s Ex turned Fulcrum agent. It became a habit that every time we’re craving for the toasted/burnt meat on a stick, we instantly pop the quote “Tara, kina Jill tayo” [let’s go at Jill’s]. and that habit made some of our friends think which of us two, like that cook lad. Ending up, Galaxy and I pointing each other, trying our best to push one another into the lion’s den . Poor Jill, she’s not aware that we named her after a fulcrum agent, or worst yet, a subject of someone’s “affection”. Haist. We apologize Jill…oops, is that your real name?
Well…A bounty foodtripping with friends is fun, it gave us chance to experiment on some dishes, claiming our “innate” talents as cooks or made us enjoy spend money and eat by the playground, and take pleasure in having each other in a conversation, that’s why ever week, I always look forward for a foodtrip weekend…
OMG, how can I loose much weight? Hmmm…and how can I prevent myself to be a “big” glutton? Hahaha LOLz.
Kiss me Goodbye, I’m Defying Gravity
Glee’s cool-off period made me paranoid on what to be expected on the show. I guess it is because I do love High School Musical and Best of Collegiate A capella series. But still I consider Glee as a separate influence that will go directly close to my heart.
It’s been almost a month since I last watched it’s recent episode, “Mash-Up”where they featured Puck singing “Sweet Caroline”. First I have no idea that it is an old song until after searching the net, I found some renditions like David Archuleta’s Studio version while he’s still on the competition.
Well, to the real motive, I do like their arrangement on Wicked’s “Defying Gravity”. It is so amazing that Kurt can sing it in his own note and style, plus his/her capability to switch notes makes him the song do wonders for him.
Actually, as a self-proclaimed “broadway addict”, I watched Wicked from Youtube long time ago and practically didn’t noticed the grandeur of the musical, so as the pieces made. But until I watched Glee’s “Wheels” and got stunned with the diva-off part where Kurt and Rachel got to belt it out against each other. They sang “Defying Gravity” in turns. It got me…actually, Kurt’s version got my senses from the first note then elevated when Rachel got her turn for a belt out.
The song is all about building confidence, and gathering enough strength to go against the stereotyped thinking of society, or of their surroundings, trying to close their eyes and do defy the norms without any fear regarding the aftermath. As to Kurt’s story, he wants to audition for the piece that is actually his personal favorite, but stereotyped thinking made the piece easily given to Rachel and not available for audition . Kurt only got a chance to try-out or audtion for the song when his dad argued with Mr. Schuester that don’t judge his son because he’s gay. Well, the song I think served it’s purpose
As a usual reaction, I searched the net for possible download sources of the whole song and figured out that there are three versions released, one by Kurt alone, then by Rachel then the actual “Diva-off” duet. {if you’re using Torrent or Bittorrent, check out possible torrent sites that currently hosting mp3s from the Glee’s episode 9; also the whole volume 1 of soundtracks released, also the original arrangement from the broadway “Wicked”}
So check out their versions and tell who’s got the better version
{Rachel’s Version}
{Kurt’s Version}
{Rachel and Kurt’s Diva-off version, without Kurt loosing the high note XD}
And so please do check the original version, actually I only got the original casts’ Tony performance , starring Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel. [Kristin Chenoweth actually appeared as April Rhodes in Glee’s Episode 5 entitled “The Rhodes not taken”.
{after got myself some nifty copies of the Glee and Original versions, I played them in turns almost half day continuously —there are times that I got lost from the momentum due to dialogues of the Oz witches and villagers are included in the original }
So that’s for now guys.
So Till Then and Godbless
Getting old senses back
While looking for some important papers, I discovered a gem hiding beneath my self-made bookshelf. It’s not a literal gem but a literary gem [sorry for the pun made—please accept my pat and some wink wink ] ..
One of my college notebooks covered in dust got it’s way into my nifty hands. And as I open, I rediscovered something about myself—my love in writing poems. Bad for me, I forgot about this notebook that cradles many of my compositions…many of them are quite still in my memory while others are seriously forgotten by my aging nugget.
I never thought that I was going to rediscover one of my senses that morning. As I scan those compositions, there are things I noticed. One, I love to write poems the way I define them, Two; I always write in free verse—well, in some, I tried to write in meters, but after re-read those, I think it’s not for me and Third, majority of my compos were written in Tagalog.
For now, I’m enjoying rediscovering the contents of the notebook. While in turns, I got a chance revisit my “loner-college-stude-days”.
Here’s the first poem from that notebook
“LUMIPAD, LUMAYO, LUMIPAD”
Lumipad, Lumayo, Lumipad;
Iwan ang lahat maliban sa isipan
Lumipad, lumayo, lumipad;
Upang makita mo ang di kaya makita ng mga mata
Lumayo, Tumingin, lumayo
Tanawin mo ang lahat ng naisin
Lumayo, Tumingin, Lumayo
Basagin mo ang lahat ng katanungan
Tumingin, Magpakumbaba, Tumingin
Ilibot ang mga mata sa iyong pligid
Tumingin, Magpakumbaba, Tumingin
Ihanda ang pagkatao sa makikitang galit
Magpakumbaba, Lumipad, Magpakumbaba
Ipantay ang sarili sa karamihang dukha
Magpakumbaba, Lumipad, Magpakumbaba
Ang pagtaas ng noo ay may lugar
Lumipad, Lumayo, Lumipad;
Kung sawa kana sa pagkadukha
Lumipad, Lumayo, Lumipad;
Pagaanin ang kalooban, Iwan ang problema at Lumipad..
Lumipad, Lumayo, Lumipad;
Grotto Kinetograph Hike
(location ; Grotto; San Jose del Monte Bulacan)
Last time I got a chance to hike there was on my 21st birthday, and yeah, it’s exhausting yet worthy.
I don’t know what got in to me to plan a hike but I made my way there right after I got the raw materials from my video editing job.
From Vicente Cruz, Espana, Manila, it just took me an hour and a half bus ride.
di ko alam, siguro gusto ko mag”soul searching” dahil I’m having some thoughts these past few days. or maybe I just want to pay that place a visit.
As a full pledged Bulaceno, parte na ng buhay ko ang Grotto, I almost spent my childhood there. nagaaral ako dati noong gradeschool sa eskwelahan sa tabi mismo ng Grotto church, which ngayon ay abandonado na dahil sa rellocation na ginawa. Relocation na di naman ganon kalayo, siguro sampung hakbang lang nasa new building ka na. MILC or Mary Immaculate Learning Center ang kinagisnan kong pangalan nito, pinalitan nila ito 2 years mula nung lumipat ako ng school, IHMS ata.
Anyway, namiss ko yung mga madreng nagalaga sa akin noon, ganun din yung mga teacher at janitors na nagaaruga sa akin sa tuwing naiiwan ako ng schoolbus (di ako namamalayan ng driver –kuya bobby– na nawawala ako, aalis sila ng school at di na nila ako babalikan, gabi na ako susunduin ni mama, kasi sa ganon oras lang din niya nalalaman na ala ako sa inupahan niyang sundo) o di kaya sa pagkakataong binubully ako ng mga kaklase ko dahil sa ako lang ang may kumpletong series ng isang sikat na jokebook nun (mas makapal pa xa sa textbooks natin at yun ang sikat nung di pa nasisislang ang mga Bob Ong books).
Ang simbahan ng Grotto ang naging saksi sa ilang unforgettable moments ng buhay ko (naks!) mula nung naging cab scout ako hangang sa nanging leader ng sarili kong platoon ( nakamit ko ang Tenderfoot award at rank! yahu!), mga time na tinatakot ko yung platoon ko sa pamamagitan ng paghike sa gitna ng gabi sa kabundukan sa likod ng grotto (may time an lahat kami nakakita na kumindat si Mama mary at ginalaw niya ang kanyang marmol na mga kamay–creepy),
doon din namin niloloko ang aming mga sarili, nagpraktis ng “spirit of the glass” kung ssan namin nakausap yung isang matandang espirito sa daan pababa sa calvary, nag attempt din kami maglevitate (sabay sabay kaming nag indian sit pumikit at kung sino ang lulutang dapat sumigaw, para makita namin, sa kasamaang palad, maghapon kaming nakapikit).
Sa harap ng Grotto rin ginaganap taon taon ang graduation at recognition day namin, kaya umulan man o umaraw, doon dapat ang grad.
ngunit isa lang pinagtataka ko, bakit magaasawa na ko’t lahat lahat di parin tapois ang Grotto, coem to think halos 20 years na ito dapat tapos at 20 years na itong umaapaw sa donasyon.
hindi ba nagtataka ang mga tao rito? well siguro, malamang, bilang isang dating estudyante na nagaral doon, ilang taon din naming nakikita ang mga construction materials na kinakain ng kalawang sa taas ng simbahan, nawala nalang ito nang nagkaroon ng haka haka sa delay ng pagtapos nito, grade school palang ako noon at excitited na lahat na matapos iyon, ngunit me forces talaga na gumagawa ng paraan para di iyon matapos.
Isa pang siste doon, simula noong mga 2000 ata nun, can’t remember, nagkaroon ng order mula sa Arsobispo ng Malolos na lahat ng gaganaping misa o sacramento sa simbahang iyop ay di kikilalanain ng simbahan at si sagrado. Dahil sa tumanging magbayad ng henerasyong humahawak sa grotto ng buwis at parte nito sa Archdioses ng malolos. Alam ko ito dahil sa misa ito sinabi ni Father Manny, Misa sa isang simbahan malapit din sa Grotto. Syempre papaniwalaan ko si father Manny dahil padre rin sya ng aming paaralan at isa rin sya sa mga padreng nagmimisa sa Grotto noon. nagkaroon ng banning sa samahan ng mga pari ang lugar na iyon kaya kung sino sino ang nagmimisa doon.
Well, isang magandang lugar dasalan ang Grotto, at di na iniisip ng mga deboto kung hindi kinikilala ito ng simbahan, ang mas mahalaga makausap nila ang Diyos sa anumang paraan.
Tuwing Lent season every year, nagkakaroon ng pilgrimage sa Grotto, at dinadagsa ito hanggang ngayon ng mga deboto, mga gusto maghike, mga negosyador, mga media para sa kanilang lenten special, mga nagtitinda ng mahiwagang langis, naghahanap ng mahiwagng langis, mga tindera ng cap, shirt, mug, kandila, rosaryo, pamplet, mula sa souvenirs hangang sa lkumang dyaryong o sakong pede ilatag sa damuhan tulad sa luneta. At kanina nga naabutan kong pinipinturahan at nililinis ang buong lugar. ngunit tulad ng taon taong senaryo di parin tapos ang simbahan.
Nauna pang magkaroon at matapos ang artificial lake sa may parking lot, sa attempt na magagaya nila yung sa Baguio o La Mesa Eco park, ngunit bigo lang ito dahil sa nasipsip lang ng lupa ang tubig, resulta, isa syang maputik sa bangin ngayon. nauna pang dumami ang mga picnic area sa baba kesa matapos ang tore, bakit kaya di ito matapos tapos sa kabila ng umaapaw na donasyon tuwing mahal na araw?
Sana di na ganito ang maabutan ng magiging anak ko dahil maganda talaga ang hangarin ng mga nagpasimula ng Grotto, maganda ang istoryang nasa likod ng paggawa nito. sana di sirain ng kasalukuyang henerasyon ang hangarin ng Guanzon couple na nakalibing mismo sa altar sa baba ng grotto.
balik tayo sa purpose ng pagpunta ko, isa na yung school, well anu pa ba? hmmm? well tumataba na daw ako so kelangan ko na muna magpapawis, well dala dala ko si Zagath, ang aking Nokia 5610 Xpress Music Camera phone, so anu pa ang mangyayari, edi kuhaan na naman ng pic!
may napulot akong calachuchi sa daan at naisip ko xang pagtripan. pinasyal ko sa buong lugar ang bulaklak na iyon at kinuhaan sa kung saan saan. hangang sa tuluyan na xang malanta at literal na liparin ng hangin.
Well sa mahal na araw, tyak andito kami ng mga kaibigan ko, sana makita ko yung mga gradeschool friends/classmates ko, or in other case, sana makita nila ako, di ko na sila makilala, tulad nung nakraang taon,nung Easter, sila ang unang nag-appraoch sakin dahil ‘kanina pa daw nila akong nakikita ‘ well di ko sila makilala so di ko taalaga sila napansin.
sana magkita rin kami ng first love ko sa lugar na iyon, well iyon ang unang lugar na pinagsaluhan namin bilang magkaibigan bago kami nagkahiwalay at nagtagpo ulit sa ibang lugar.
saan man xa, sana magkita kami sa bonfire na laging nagaganap sa harap ng simbahan ng grotto tuwing easter ng dapithapon.
(me nasama me na mga poste shots –as usual, el paborito subjico ko–mga poste aking nadadaanan . And hey, would like to apologize to write this thing on my native tongue, i must admit, It kinda soothes me to write thing up in Tagalog…hmmm… Sige, I’ll write blogs in turns, May Ingles, and there Tagalog for you hahaha —-TMI )
CALL FOR PARTICIPATION | CRAFTING THE NEW SCHOOL OF PHILIPPINE CINEMA | November 2009
This is one of the things that kept me busy these past few days. I help as a volunteer that coordinate some schools listed in their directory. Not all schools are members of PACE that’s why, like laying another task on the table, I have to go to those school and send them some invitations so that they can be aware about the events and eventually become a member of PACE, of Philippine Association of Communication Educators. We are trying to make a solid group made of all Colleges, University and Institutions that teaches Mass Communication or others calls it Communication Arts.
After the successful Communication Research seminar-workshop in May 2009, the Philippine Association of Communication Educators (PACE) brings another opportunity for professional development.
In cooperation with the National Committee on Culture and Arts (NCCA) Cinema Committee, the College of Saint Benilde (CSB), and St. Theresa”s College Cebu, this seminar workshop dubbed as CRAFTING THE NEW SCHOOL OF PHILIPPINE CINEMA aims at teaching the aesthetics and craft of digital filmmaking. This is open to all communication educators who handle courses in Introduction to Mass Comm, Multi-Media Presentation, Media Literacy, Production, and Film Appreciation.
There will be two separate schedules for the seminar-workshops: 1) November 19-21, 2009 for Luzon and NCR participants at College of St Benilde, Vito Cruz, Malate, Manila and, 2) November 27-28, 2009 at St. Theresa’s College Cebu, Don Ramon Aboitiz St. , Cebu City for Visayas and Mindanao participants. Please see attached documents for details.
Schools may send at least 2-3 participants. Pre-register now to reserve slots (deadline for early bird registration is November 14, 2009).
We anticipate your favorable response and unwavering support to PACE. Let us be one in mind and purpose.
[to be much aware of the topics that will be discussed in the workshop-seminar, here are some copies of the program]
—well, hope to see you there..
So that’s for now guys.
So Till Then and Godbless
Caught Camwhore
PROLOGUE
Tita will spend the entire holyweek in her hometown, up north of Luzon. I didn’t recognize her when I first saw her, I don’t know if it’s my fault (whether my photographic memory failed me bigtime or my vision is not serving me right). Anyway, she didn’t recognize me either; it’s been years since the last time we see each other.
Tita had to made a whole day pit stop at our place; luckily I have an extra bed space, an opportunity to catch up with each other. Tita saw my collection of books ranges from Filipino Literature Classics (like Benjamin Pascual, Ricky Lee and Lualhati Bautista), rare infamous novels (Paul Zindel, Richard Adams) up to Specialty books.
She scanned the titles in my mini shelf, pulls them off when the title made her interested, scan the synopsis at the back cover then grin or smile or look blankly and return it in place.
I just let her grab some books as I read the book hanging on my reading sched, “ I never loved your mind” by Paul Zindel. She looked at me, praised my love in to books come to think, I’m a guy (she thoughts it’s rare, but I think it’s not), a graduate (some she knew never touched a book after they got their diploma) and lastly I’m in the , according to her, “gimikero” age.
Well, in defense, I answered, some of the authors are male, so why bother the reader’s gender, next, having a diploma doesn’t mean you have to stop imagine new worlds, explore new plots and linger crisp pages and lastly, reading a book is more productive than drinking in bars, dancing in loud music and stroll, why you bother to do that when you can read a book and invite a friend and have an intellectual masturbation (sorry for the term, let me rephrase that, having more conversations that relies in fruitful intellect) One of my bad habits is reading against the light, having my book like 5 inches from my face. Well, I like to linger every page, letter by letter, seeing every detail of the plot, even the ink trails of the print. Tita asked if my vision is still good. I gave her a no, and she left the room with a smile in her face.
——————————————
Two hours later Tita came back with an ophthalmologist, She told me that the way I read books is a bad sign that I’m starting to lost my damn vision.
The specialist let me undergo in some tests, like reading a chart in a distance, that chart with a big E in the top portion. Color blind tests and more.
After almost an hour, the specialist let me wear that weird looking glass with measurements in its eye rims. It’s time to scale my vision. They got 110/120 vision. Uneven, that explains my headaches and nausea.
My vision starts to blur last year, I think December.
Not sure, though, I started having vision troubles while I’m having my training for a new account, facing the computer almost over 12 hours of our day life.
Like the outstanding balance that not paid, my vision accumulated problems for over 2 months. I’m having difficulty in reading digits of my clients’ various bank accounts.
I can’t sacrifice my health, a sudden realization that lead me in a sudden decision. I have to resign.
——————————————
My resignation letter cooked almost 2 weeks in the pot, planning can be easy but execution could be hard and aftermaths are inevitable.
But I have to….
——————————————
As I walk towards my team leader with my resignation paper in one hand, I took a glimpse of my teammates.
Snapshots of the last Christmas party shuttered at the back of my mind.
Well having a losing vision scares a lot, it makes me cringe when it taps my consciousness, I’m scared of living in the dark, hearing only voices, afraid of the conclusion that I might not trust anyone as I would to my remaining senses.
Scared that people around me might fool me and squeeze the being out of me, I might be a nutcracker like those in Hallway # 7. Ten steps before our team leader.
Kath gave a “sad” smile, she was shocked by my decision…as planned, she and almost the whole team, didn’t saw it coming.
——————————————
After clearing all my post and things, I bid them goodbye and got out of the building. Sad, yes, not because me leaving but sad with the fact that my memories with them is in blur in my memory and I blame my weak vision for that.
All I can do to save their faces from growing blur is to look at the misadventures and candid moments kinetographed with my mobile phone’s camera.
Almost two thousand photos help me not to forget those experiences, those faces, that favorite building, Ortigas and the slice of life that once got into my system.
Well goodbye for now, I’ll never forget your faces as long as these photos can be detected with my corneas and brainwaved to my sensory nerves.
EPILOGUE
The specialist confirmed to me that I’ll be having my glasses 2 weeks from now, have to wait long because they’ll put my requested anti-radiation feature (just what I need as I work as a full time video editor and blogger,—( this benchmarked journal)).
Feeling lonely, got scared that I might not see my future wife if I don’t find her. I wish my vision is still there, perfect and not blurry, good enough to see my wife’s face and how it lighten up by sunshine.
One way back
Sunday afternoon…
Afternoon seems a word that normally pictured out as a sunny hour where people devoulge in getting pretty nice shades and having those dilema of cloudy days.
But it seems this sunday afternoon, it’s not.
Raining. Traffic Jam.
Ureiqn and I just preferred to stay inside the car. Keeping ourselves dry as the rain showered our haven enormously.
It’s been a while ,these moment where I can take a gasp of my girl still rare and still agape.
suddenly, she began to be teary-eyed.
——————–
EPILOGUE:
She’s crying and still recounting tha past.
I’m still at my own, also recounting, sorting. hands on the wheel.
We’re remembering those days as couple that currently in a wrecked car, pulled by a fast-moving tow truck. We’re practically moving backwards.
One way back on a Sunday afternoon,
New Ahmerst Ureiqn Studios Logo
After a long hiatus, It came to me that I need to rebrand my lil’ “studio” …it’s been months since I caged myself as a researcher and a part-time AVP producer/ editor, well…having a well-worth part time job should come with a good branding..thus I decided to do one.
With no further ado, here’s Amherst Ureiqn Studios new Logo
[first seen on my FB, I'll post AUS rebranding avp, obb and studio idents---see yah. ]
Single buds carnival mood swings
There are only 2 common perceptions about a bachelor, it’s either he was enjoying playing around or he’s a sissy boy.
“That’s shallow!” Rye told me.
A guy wants to be single because he wants to reserve some time for himself, to know thy self better, realize his dreams and knowing his purpose in life.
Rye and I shared a couple of beer last Saturday, knowing it’s the day when everybody seems to lavish roses and chocolates, we decided to stroll around UP and share some couple of beer and have some good talk.
We talked about a lot of things:
-the typical “which came first, the chicken or the egg” thing
-gray or grey
-The Sarah Silverman show or that new reality drama/comedy hybrid of Lisa Kudrow.
-The Soup or the The Dish
-Guitar Hero
-to use or not to use “capote” (typical)
-cars (as usual answer: honda Jazz, red)
-oasis or trim
-Kolehiyala girls or Cowboy type lads
-what are the signs that you’re a:
-gay, straight or taken, a lad was a straight or lesbie? or psycho?
-some nonsense things
-what’s better, Circle or MOA
-Bike or Go Karts
-Single or with Sidecar
-ideal age to get married.
We almost got a bit of all topics a normal homo sapien can think just to keep the helical communication theory moving and working. He asked me if I would go for a hard drink, I disagreed, i just hate hard drinks ’cause it usually shorten the time of ability to talk about things. I’m into the typical cervesa because it never fails to make any conversation worthwhile and long than a typical chit chat.
Yup, we’re just single guys wondering literally and figuratively, Rye and I wonder what will happen 5, ten or 20 years from now, we will die young? can we make our dreams come true? how many beercans we will contribute to the pollution someday? and last, what would be the best way to find that someone, the person who will be our side at the rest of our lives. We can only do is to wander and that’s all.
Our cervesa powered talk was moved in QC circle, we rented some bikes, hitting the pedals would lessen the currently over taking power of 10 beer bottles. As We toured around the place, we saw many single buds in different moods, there’s a guy that contents himself with a walk, a guy reading a local comic book (laughing his heart out not caring about what other might think) , a guy silently looking towards the sky waiting for something not for someone, a guy chewing his gum, thinking where to spit it….and so many single buds that’s also celebrating that day as happy but deep inside tormented singles.
Guys often pour their emotions out when they’re accompanied by their closest, bud and or a beer. but at times, a man can settle things out by giving himself a good chair, good position to stare to the blank sky and a chewing gum.
We guys comes in different packages with different moods to swing on, we can be the jolliest person in town but the most tormented one around, we can be the “hell-I-care” guy but the only person who normally checks on you (even in the strangest way)
It’s dark already when we decided to go home. we better do before mosquitoes celebrate over our “meatbags” (thanks for bender of FUTURAMA” for the term hehe)., he thanked me for accompanying him that day, for the chance of going out with him even though I can celebrate the day with my current ex. (the truth is, my ex already had someone to go out with). I do returned the gratitude and politeness of Rye by a brotherly salute.
before calling it a day, he gave a thank you gift, the Poetry and Aeroplanes album by Teitur.
I already heard the song poetry and Aeroplanes but I never got any songs from the same artist again. “Poetry and Aeroplanes” helped me to cope up with things a single guy normally has. Teitur’s composition taught me that I’m not the only one alone who’s afraid to love and lose, to undergo the same procedure all over again just to learn. others says that there’s nothing wrong in hurting yourself with some mistakes as long as you learn, but the question is… are there some other ways to learn? what if you’re already tired but never learned at all? can someone call me BOBO or something?
“Alone in these strange beds
I think that I’ve traveled enough
Poetry and aeroplanes
I am tired of waiting for love”
Yup, not all time we can ditch ourselves into the black hole just to look for that thing—- there’s a time you gonna say “I’m tired, enough of this” and your final resort is to wait…
“Tend to fall asleep in the fast lane, in the fast lane
Sometimes sinking low in the high life, in the high life
No more happy songs of heartbreak, oh’ heartbreak
Or playing white knight misunderstood, misunderstood”
Even though waiting can’t harm you, can’t bring you heartbreaks, misfortune, middle of the night conversations , pimples and ability to lie, it only lessen your ability to know yourself better, Am I the best guy around? Am i mature enough? are all of my decisions right? What would it be with someone else? am I a good partner? Am I going to be a good partner?
Waiting also let others misunderstood you, Society might label you between the 2 common perceptions about a bachelor, either enjoying playing around or a sissy boy.
“Alone in these strange streets
I think that I’ve walked them enough
Poetry and Aeroplanes
I am tired of waiting for love
Another night I lie awake
In woken dreams of faith and fate
Hope my love don’t come too late”
so one question… can you still wait or step your foot forward the black hole and fall into the something you, yourself are not aware of?
Straightjacket Toothaches
First Saturday of the year.
Yup, I know I’m kind of a bum but really, I hate leaving my room. I hate to go outside and think I only have three days of vacation. But I have to stick with my plans. Paying a dentist a freaky visit would be the number of my list.
As long as my memory serves me right, my last dental would be in grade school, almost eleven years I think. A toothache on my lower jaw made me squeal in no time, making my mom arrange an appointment with the nearest dentist. It is when the Tomb raider and Evolution rocked the cinemas. My mom made me choose whether pull my aching tooth out and go to the movies or spend my weekend in my room and read books. Well, I think I made the wrong choice…
Eleven years have passed and my palms are sweating, my fear with dentist grew bigger than I’ve expected. My mom didn’t want be there the whole the time, since according to her I’m officially a man; I have to figure out how to manage facing my fears. “Well Ma, this is a tooth for crying out loud, a tooth to be extracted out of my gum, out of my mouth and out of my life.”
Mama just gave me that “you’re-silly-exagerating-things-don’t-be-a-scardy-cat-or-I’ll-hit-you-with-this-spatula” look. I just smiled back at her and after a second she left in the waiting room.
I just remembered that a friend was only a block away from the dentist’s office. It’s not bad to have a companion in this life changing situation.
After exchanging some sms with Angie, she came and sat beside me. She cracked some jokes and told me some stories about the people in the asylum she last visited.
“Minsan nga nung nagconduct ako ng art class with my students, may napansin akong babae, grabe friend, she keeps on playing with her hands, iniikot niya yung kamay niya sa taboi ng tenga niya, looks like she’s like a radio getting a signal from the outer space or somewhere beyond.”*
And I grinned, I just imagined how they looks like, Angie and her students in scrub suits distributing crayons and Oslo papers to those mentally ill patients. With schizophrenias, traumas and mind bending pain.
She continued, “ tapos nung turn na niya magexplain about her drawing, she didn’t say anything but kept doing her thing, iniikot parin niya ang kanyang kamay na tila may hawak na turner sa tainga. I ask her kung ano yung idinorowing niya pero ginagawa pa rin yung habit niya. Nung tinanu8ng ko siya kung ano yung ginagawa niya, nagsimula naman siyang magsalita ng pabulong, she sounds Chinese pero gibberish kaya I can’t finalize my judgement.”
“Edi di niya napaliwanag yung drawing niya?”
“Yun na nga I keep asking her but she still doing her thing, sabi nga ng mga caretaker sa room na ‘Mam, kumukuha pa po ng signal’ sabay tawa, yung iba naman ang sabi ‘nag-aadjust naman daw ng volume’” she took a glance outside, “tatanungin ko nga sana kung bakit niya iyon di masagot at lagi niya iyon ginagawa…”
“pero bawal magtanong ng BAKIT di ba?”
“yun nga eh, so my question ended up,’ano ang ginagawa mo? Anong dahilan?” hindi nagiging sympathetic”
I just learned from her to avoid asking WHY to a mentally ill patient. That three letter word means so much to their lives; it can pull a screw out of their healing thinking. A sexually abused patient ran wild after an intern asked her “bakit ka tumatalon sa kama?”, the patient just looked at him, stopped and began to ran.
“ We’ll there’s this patient about our age, he got the looks I tell you, but sayang, may factory defect.”
‘Yikes! Child abuse!” then I laughed.
“Adik!” she laughed back, “One time, bigla syang lumapit sakit tapos bigla akong tinapik and he said ‘Ilabas niyo na po ako dito, matino naman ako eh, sige na oh’ , pinansin ko siya at sabi ko naman pinaalaga siya dito para gamutin siya pero alam mo na ang mga ganun, makulit, pero syempre kailangan nating maging patient friend.”
“syempre,” sigh! “nakakita ka nga ng gwapo me sakit nga lang”
“Yun nga eh, May time ngang yung mga student ko yung kinukulit niya,:”
‘sige na uwi mo na ako’
‘sige na’
‘bakit naman? Marunong ka bang manlaba? Magluto?’
“Sinuway ko nga:”
‘hoy! Wag niyong hamunin nyan mamya lalong umasa yan.”
“Minsan nga during our art class bigla syang lumapit sa akin along with his art materials, ‘Mam, pakisabi sa tatay ko na sunduin na niya ako dito, gusto ko na umuwi dito, mababaliw ako dito eh’ and then bigla syang pumunit ng papel sa side ng bond paper, tapos nagsulat then inabot niya sa akin yung cellphone number ng tatay niya;”
‘Yan ang number ni Tatay, pakisabi pasunduin ako kay ate, pakisabi pakibilisan, okay?’
Sigh!
“Bakit naman siya nabaliw? Batang bata pa, ka-edad natin sabi mo…”
“Yun nga, nakwento sa akin minsan ng tauhan ng asylum,; ‘Mam, alam niyo ba, yang si *** ay dating estudyanteng nagduduty dito’ , nagulat ako and I asked kung bakit nabaliw , di naman masagot ni manong.”
“Sayang..” sounding almost gay.
“Schizophrenia daw. “
“bakit naman nabaliw yun?”
“Siguro bumagsak sa battery exam, alam mo naman kung gaano yun kahirap diba? Kami rin halos mabaliw.” And she cracked “kaya pag may meeting ako sa mga students ko I’ll tell them, ‘alam niyo magiingat kayo ha, baka mamya ayaw niyo nang umalis dito, there are only three reasons, Una, nagkagusto kayo sa pasyente niyo, pangalawa, masyadong nagustuhan niyo ang pagkain dito at pangatlo baka pasyente narin kayo.”
And then we laughed on that piece of cornball.
“paano kaya yun? May kaibigan ba iyon? Dinadalaw kaya siya dun? I can’t imagine being in an asylum as our young age…”
She took my cell and began to film my moment
She smiled and said, “Okay lang yan friend, you can do it! Just face your fear! Don’t be afraid.”
I thanked her.
“Laki laki mo na eh, takot ka pa din sa dentista”
Sarcastic grin.
“Salamat ha friend!” Sigh!
I took a step to the OR room, and observe the dentist as she picks her tools. On the other hand, her patient, mouth wide open, but you can see a smile on her eyes.
And I just told myself,
“You know what, you can do, you must do it, some of those who were in Asylum faced their fear and admit themselves to therapies just to be healed, some of them conquered it and already took a step outside of the crazy hall, some, well, didn’t won because they let fear ruin their plans, they became more insane because of losing.”
And some of them were, well… just confined by their family, they don’t have a choice, they didn’t have any chance to argue, they were just locked up in a straightjacket and face their worst fear, worst realizations that they’re out of there mind, need to be treated and after that, they can smell victory and reunite with their families.
Boy, I think I have to buy more ice cream after this…
IN OTHER'S PERSPECTIVE