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Highlight of Red Promenade, Blue Masquerade
Feb. 27th, 2007 | 05:30 pm
mood: 
need LOTS of fluids...
music: Backstreet Boys - All I Have To Give
Leslie filmed the whole Backalley Boys performance. This was definitely the highlight of the night. Really funny. :D
Backalley Boys - All I Have To Give
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIl0rNiIS
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EK and Distressed Jeans
Dec. 21st, 2006 | 05:55 pm
mood: 
bouncy
music: Along the Watchtower - DMB
After getting most of the morning's work done, I spent the rest of the day yesterday out on a trip with my Sunday school kids.
Around this time last year we went to Tagaytay Highlands, this year we went to Enchanted Kingdom. As with last time, we took a couple of vans to convoy together on the way there. Last year I drove the other van. That was an experience. I drove a Nissan Urvan on a foggy morning all the way up to the Highlands. AND it was stick-shift! I had to spend the first 5 minutes re-learning how to drive manually. Plus I lost my way! We were supposed to get off the SLEX through the Asian Brewery exit. Instead I exited somewhere in Calamba...
Anyway, that's why I'm so glad that we brought along two drivers this time. So I got to sit at the back and watch High School Musicale and Shrek 2 in the van's (kick-ass!) DVD player while munching on Pringles and M&Ms.
We got on most of the rides. Pam was hilarious. She's so scared stiff about going on the rides. She had her eyes closed on most of them... except for the bump cars. Before we got on the bump cars, we conspired to bump no other car except Pam's car. She hardly got to drive her car. It's not that she didn't get to move, it's just that her car only moved whenever we rammed it. Si Miko bumwelo pa nga e ("Ano baaaaaa..."). She was able to shove Pam's car a good 5 feet backwards.
It was a hot sunny day at EK yesterday (and the weatherman predicted rain. Sheesh.), so we made the best of the water rides whenever things got too hot. We rode the Log Jam twice, but Luigi made the most of it by riding Log Jam seven times:
"Oy Luigi, saan ka naman papunta?"
"Log-Log lang uli ako!"
Kaya ayan, log-log na lang siya nang log-log, nagmistulang basang-sisiw. In the Rio Grande Rapids, tumapat pa ang waterfall sa kanya. He was wet down to his jocks. We teased him saying, "Tanungin mo kung may binebenta silang brip na may nakasulat: 'my other pair of jocks got wet at the Rio Grande Rapids'". I don't know how he still managed to attend the wedding rehearsal later that night.
***********************************
I'm thinking about ripping one of my jeans. Well not really rip as in rip, but I wanted to give it that distressed look. So I was googling and wikihowing my way through different sites, finding out how to personalize my jeans a bit more.
The reason why I'm suddenly interested in distressing my jeans (tama ba paggamit sa word na yun? parang nakakaawa tuloy maong ko) is because of this year's new year's eve party over at one of my relative's place. For a few years now they've been making this get-together a costume party of sorts. 2 years ago, we had to come in some hollywood costume. Last year, we had to come in Latin American get up. This year, it's "white shirts and jeans, preferably personalized".
So I've been going through a few DIY distressed jeans sites and it's kinda interesting. It involves using razor blades, serrated knives or even a cheese grater to put those "holes" in my jeans. And then I could also stain it using bleach, oil or paint and stuff. I feel like I wanna try it out but I'm just not sure I'd be happy with how it might turn out. I'm thinking of sandpapering the knee on one of my jeans and putting a "hole" on the pocket area on the other leg. But I might probably start with the hemlines near the ankle area first just to give it a go. The only thing I'm worried about is that the particular pair of jeans I'm thinking of distressing is fairly new. I'm not sure I've got the guts to mangle it just yet.
Around this time last year we went to Tagaytay Highlands, this year we went to Enchanted Kingdom. As with last time, we took a couple of vans to convoy together on the way there. Last year I drove the other van. That was an experience. I drove a Nissan Urvan on a foggy morning all the way up to the Highlands. AND it was stick-shift! I had to spend the first 5 minutes re-learning how to drive manually. Plus I lost my way! We were supposed to get off the SLEX through the Asian Brewery exit. Instead I exited somewhere in Calamba...
Anyway, that's why I'm so glad that we brought along two drivers this time. So I got to sit at the back and watch High School Musicale and Shrek 2 in the van's (kick-ass!) DVD player while munching on Pringles and M&Ms.
We got on most of the rides. Pam was hilarious. She's so scared stiff about going on the rides. She had her eyes closed on most of them... except for the bump cars. Before we got on the bump cars, we conspired to bump no other car except Pam's car. She hardly got to drive her car. It's not that she didn't get to move, it's just that her car only moved whenever we rammed it. Si Miko bumwelo pa nga e ("Ano baaaaaa..."). She was able to shove Pam's car a good 5 feet backwards.
It was a hot sunny day at EK yesterday (and the weatherman predicted rain. Sheesh.), so we made the best of the water rides whenever things got too hot. We rode the Log Jam twice, but Luigi made the most of it by riding Log Jam seven times:
"Oy Luigi, saan ka naman papunta?"
"Log-Log lang uli ako!"
Kaya ayan, log-log na lang siya nang log-log, nagmistulang basang-sisiw. In the Rio Grande Rapids, tumapat pa ang waterfall sa kanya. He was wet down to his jocks. We teased him saying, "Tanungin mo kung may binebenta silang brip na may nakasulat: 'my other pair of jocks got wet at the Rio Grande Rapids'". I don't know how he still managed to attend the wedding rehearsal later that night.
***********************************
I'm thinking about ripping one of my jeans. Well not really rip as in rip, but I wanted to give it that distressed look. So I was googling and wikihowing my way through different sites, finding out how to personalize my jeans a bit more.
The reason why I'm suddenly interested in distressing my jeans (tama ba paggamit sa word na yun? parang nakakaawa tuloy maong ko) is because of this year's new year's eve party over at one of my relative's place. For a few years now they've been making this get-together a costume party of sorts. 2 years ago, we had to come in some hollywood costume. Last year, we had to come in Latin American get up. This year, it's "white shirts and jeans, preferably personalized".
So I've been going through a few DIY distressed jeans sites and it's kinda interesting. It involves using razor blades, serrated knives or even a cheese grater to put those "holes" in my jeans. And then I could also stain it using bleach, oil or paint and stuff. I feel like I wanna try it out but I'm just not sure I'd be happy with how it might turn out. I'm thinking of sandpapering the knee on one of my jeans and putting a "hole" on the pocket area on the other leg. But I might probably start with the hemlines near the ankle area first just to give it a go. The only thing I'm worried about is that the particular pair of jeans I'm thinking of distressing is fairly new. I'm not sure I've got the guts to mangle it just yet.
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Happy Eid Il-Fitr! (Tagaytay Daytrip With Lianne)
Oct. 25th, 2006 | 08:49 pm
mood: 
aahhh... the good life.
music: The Music Or The Misery - Fall Out Boy
Happy Eid Il-Fitr! I know I did... hehe! Lianne and I decided to celebrate the holiday (and her sembreak) with a daytrip to Tagaytay and Enchanted Kingdom. Last Sunday we thought that EK was closed. Good thing Lianne was persistent in checking if they really were closed. Turns out they were open. (yey!) Immediately we thought of what things to bring: umbrella, sunblock, extra clothes for the wet rides ("do you think we'd really get wet?" "dala ka na lang extra shirt." "...and shorts?" "hindi, jacket lang yan..."), and clothes to wear: shirt, cap, shorts, flipflops (feeling summer hehe!). We checked their website and planned the hows and what-to-dos. We were such nitpicky planners that we even deliberated whether our flipflops would or wouldn't fall off during the Space Shuttle ride or float off the Rio Grande. Looking back, it's such a silly question, but then we REALLY wanted to have a great time.
And a great time we did have! Not a cloud on a blue sky morning and traffic was smooth all the way to Tagaytay. We first headed to Massimo's for lunch. It was windier and a lot chillier than when I last came (last may I think...). We had a hot and cheesy artichoke dip for appetizers, then a plate of linguinni with fresh tomatoes, shredded basil, pancetta and exotic mushrooms, and for the main course, we had peppered black angus steak. We thought of having some gelato for dessert, but then we thought we might regret it once we started doing the rides. After taking some pics with the ostriches, we headed to EK. Well, we started going to EK. Along the way we stopped to buy some buko pies and had another stop to take a view of theisland volcano volcanic island.
We finally got to EK. The first ride we saw to our left was Rio Grande: the people coming out were soaked. I mean really soaked! ("yari, di ako nakadala ng twalya!") We'll ride that last... or so we thought. The last time I came to EK was probably back in college, and the only rides I went to was Anchor's Away, Log Jam, and Flying Fiesta (onga no... come to think about it, i think our flipflops would probably fly off if we rode that...). I was too chicken to try the Space Shuttle ride for obvious reason... and the Wheel of Fate for not so obvious reasons.
As we sat in the gondola before the Ferris Wheel started, Lianne kept teasing me ("Hoy, bakit basa kamay mo? Hahaha!"). It wasn't that I had a fear of heights... well, yeah, that too, but I was more afraid of (I know this sounds weird) falling of the planet. I explained to Lianne that once in grade school, as I sat in the middle of an open field, I looked up at the empty sky and thought, "What if gravity didn't work?" Suddenly I was acutely dizzy and immediately looked for shelter. ...It also didn't help that that was my first Ferris Wheel ride (yeah yeah, I know, "Hu-WAT??!?")
After a total of two trips to EK, it was only on my third (and current) trip that I plucked enough courage to try it out. And so I was a bit disappointed that the Space Shuttle ride was "under maintenance". But after watching the 4D show (a silly animated horror/suspense 3D movie wherein the audience acted out their mock horror in perfect B movie fashion) and riding the log jam ("yuck, kadiri! Dumi ng tubig! Hahaha!"), I was puzzled to see people screaming their heads off of the Space Shuttle Ride. Apparently it opened up! We immediately made our way there.
You know those commercials or movie clips showing a roller coaster ride from the rider's point of view? Where everything else is topsy-turvy except the tracks and the camera man is filming every single fraction of a second as the coaster zooms past? That's exactly how it felt... except the camera man wasn't screaming himself hoarse and shouting "Oh-God-Oh-God-Please-Stop-Ayoko-Na-Momm
And a great time we did have! Not a cloud on a blue sky morning and traffic was smooth all the way to Tagaytay. We first headed to Massimo's for lunch. It was windier and a lot chillier than when I last came (last may I think...). We had a hot and cheesy artichoke dip for appetizers, then a plate of linguinni with fresh tomatoes, shredded basil, pancetta and exotic mushrooms, and for the main course, we had peppered black angus steak. We thought of having some gelato for dessert, but then we thought we might regret it once we started doing the rides. After taking some pics with the ostriches, we headed to EK. Well, we started going to EK. Along the way we stopped to buy some buko pies and had another stop to take a view of the
We finally got to EK. The first ride we saw to our left was Rio Grande: the people coming out were soaked. I mean really soaked! ("yari, di ako nakadala ng twalya!") We'll ride that last... or so we thought. The last time I came to EK was probably back in college, and the only rides I went to was Anchor's Away, Log Jam, and Flying Fiesta (onga no... come to think about it, i think our flipflops would probably fly off if we rode that...). I was too chicken to try the Space Shuttle ride for obvious reason... and the Wheel of Fate for not so obvious reasons.
As we sat in the gondola before the Ferris Wheel started, Lianne kept teasing me ("Hoy, bakit basa kamay mo? Hahaha!"). It wasn't that I had a fear of heights... well, yeah, that too, but I was more afraid of (I know this sounds weird) falling of the planet. I explained to Lianne that once in grade school, as I sat in the middle of an open field, I looked up at the empty sky and thought, "What if gravity didn't work?" Suddenly I was acutely dizzy and immediately looked for shelter. ...It also didn't help that that was my first Ferris Wheel ride (yeah yeah, I know, "Hu-WAT??!?")
After a total of two trips to EK, it was only on my third (and current) trip that I plucked enough courage to try it out. And so I was a bit disappointed that the Space Shuttle ride was "under maintenance". But after watching the 4D show (a silly animated horror/suspense 3D movie wherein the audience acted out their mock horror in perfect B movie fashion) and riding the log jam ("yuck, kadiri! Dumi ng tubig! Hahaha!"), I was puzzled to see people screaming their heads off of the Space Shuttle Ride. Apparently it opened up! We immediately made our way there.
You know those commercials or movie clips showing a roller coaster ride from the rider's point of view? Where everything else is topsy-turvy except the tracks and the camera man is filming every single fraction of a second as the coaster zooms past? That's exactly how it felt... except the camera man wasn't screaming himself hoarse and shouting "Oh-God-Oh-God-Please-Stop-Ayoko-Na-Momm
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Barristers’ Salubungan and Beer-Ops
Sep. 25th, 2006 | 07:49 pm
mood: 
tired
music: Dave Matthews Band - American Baby
Last Sunday, Lianne and I went to Taft Ave. for the Salubungan of the barristers. For four Sundays in September, the barristers took the bar exam, and last Sunday was the last day of their examinations. We were supposed to be there from 3pm to 6pm. But considering the hot afternoon, we thought we might just head over at around 4pm. We made it there at around 5pm.
Along the way, I asked Lianne what the Salubungan would be like. She simply said it was “magulo”. I didn’t really understand how “magulo” the Salubungan would be (apparently Lianne didn’t either. It was also her first time to attend the Salubungan.). At first I thought there would be a bunch of friends and supporters outside the testing area, waving placards, cheering, and giving out sampaguitas. But I guess that sort of thing only happens on popular noontime shows. The night before, I thought I’d invite my barkada to go too just to welcome Bianx after her taking the bar. In hindsight, I guess it was better that I didn’t. Earlier, over lunch, my dad mentioned that Taft would be a tough place to go during the bar exams, not to mention the hassle of traffic and parking. Lianne answered that we had a driver and that appeased dad. If only he knew what else was in store…
Lianne also mentioned there would be tents, so I thought, Oh, how convenient that they’d even think of that. We were already near the area and the cars were starting to pile up. It was almost 5pm so Lianne and I decided to walk it towards Taft. The first tent I saw was interesting, I think it was for a frat from FEU. There were a bunch of burly guys holding up fists and beer cans singing their frat song. I was surprised to see that they even had a stage complete with a sound system.
We passed them by quickly, and by the time we got to Taft Ave. itself, we were swamped by a throng of people.
There were probably more than twenty tents all in all, each with their own frat/sorority/org supporters and their own sound system. They were so many that they had the whole of Taft Ave. closed down. You’d think there was a rally around, more specifically, a pep rally. There were flags, confetti, banners, drums and a lot of chanting and cheering, the kind you hear and see in UAAP games. We had a hard time looking for the UP WinLaw tent. There were simply so many people, all frenzied and shouting, plus some were undoubtedly drunk. Everywhere you go, you smell beer. The people over at San Miguel must be having a field day from all this.
There were probably more than twenty tents all in all, each with their own frat/sorority/org supporters and their own sound system. They were so many that they had the whole of Taft Ave. closed down. You’d think there was a rally around, more specifically, a pep rally. There were flags, confetti, banners, drums and a lot of chanting and cheering, the kind you hear and see in UAAP games. We had a hard time looking for the UP WinLaw tent. There were simply so many people, all frenzied and shouting, plus some were undoubtedly drunk. Everywhere you go, you smell beer. The people over at San Miguel must be having a field day from all this.
We found the UP WinLaw tent after a long walk. They were waving maroon banners, wearing “I heart (was tortured by) UP LAW” t-shirts and passing around maroon caps and bouquets.
So we took our positions and waved our tiny “UP LAW” flags to the sound of “Ooh! -nibersidad ng Pilipinas! Ooh! -nibersidad ng Pilipinas!” I know. I’m not from UP, and I don’t take law. But when in Rome…
So we took our positions and waved our tiny “UP LAW” flags to the sound of “Ooh! -nibersidad ng Pilipinas! Ooh! -nibersidad ng Pilipinas!” I know. I’m not from UP, and I don’t take law. But when in Rome…
It was all pretty fun and exciting just being there (especially if you have a driver!). The only thing that worried me was that we were next to a raucous bunch from a different college. They ramped their huge container van up underneath the LRT. Then they had one side opened to the street and there were people inside waving red banners and a huge red flag up for all to see from such a high vantage point. But it wasn’t the red flags that caught our attention. It was all the beer flying in all directions that got us worried. Every time one of their barristers passed by, they’d shower him or her with so much beer that when they passed us by, you’d see beer streaming down their damp hair, damp face and damp clothes. Lianne looked at me and said, “Oh no! What would your parents think if they saw you coming home reeking of beer?” I started looking around if in case anyone was concealing beer cans nearby…
The UP barristers were taking a long time coming. Lianne said that if 6pm came and went, we’d leave with or without meeting either Bianx or Mario. People in the know were saying that the UP barristers were waiting for their fellow examinees, and that’s when I heard Bianx call my name. She came from behind us (how’d she get there?). Apparently they heard about the beer showering and they took a detour.
Mario soon showed up (also behind us). They both looked very happy, tired and very much relieved. You could actually see the weight of four or five years of studying lift off of their shoulders. We were very happy for them as well. Congrats to all the 2006 barristers!
Mario soon showed up (also behind us). They both looked very happy, tired and very much relieved. You could actually see the weight of four or five years of studying lift off of their shoulders. We were very happy for them as well. Congrats to all the 2006 barristers!
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Tea for Two Heretics Part 2 and Bar-Ops
Sep. 11th, 2006 | 04:13 pm
location: Sneaking an update in from the office...
mood: sleepy
music: dang, Ipod's dead...
Status: Lack sleep
Tea for Two Heretics Part 2 and Bar-Ops
Met with Andrea for tea again last Thursday over at T. Morato’s CBTL. It was raining real hard again that afternoon. She came in from the rain carrying an umbrella in one hand and a Starbucks paper bag in the other. We said our hellos and I handed her a copy of “Reading Lolita in Tehran” as her birthday gift and going-away present. I thought that there was much in the book that reflected a lot about her. It was about the different facets of Muslims, a group of people she is very much interested in. It’s intellectual, it focuses on women’s groups and uplifting their standard of living, and since it is about a group of women participating in a western literature class, it tackles a host of classical literary works. I hope she’d enjoy reading it as much as I did.
In return, she handed me her bag of goodies. Inside is her library of C. S. Lewis books which she will be “entrusting” to me for the duration of her stay in the UK (Ah books! Wonderful books! Lovely, glorious, delightful books!). She promised to hand me another compilation of C. S. Lewis related books but that they were too heavy to be carried in one haul (Ah, the heavier the better!).
Aside from the books, she also got me a small something wrapped in porous paper, a gift from her ministry field in Indonesia. She said that people would look at her funny if she carried it around without wrapping it in something. My interest piqued, I opened the package to find an ornate letter opener. The curved handle and the sheath were made of polished black wood, inlaid with gold stars and crescents. Pulling the knife out, I saw that the gold blade was etched with Indonesian and Arabic markings, which upped the cool factor a notch. Andrea said that men of her ministry field carried bolos with the same ornate marks and carvings since they had such a martial tribal culture. It’s so cool that I’m displaying it in a prominent spot on my office desk.
We had a fairly animated talk about the previous Sunday’s discussion regarding the youth leader’s code of conduct, and I was so glad to find that we agreed on so many points. After an hour of talk, we again decided to have dinner. We headed to the nearby CPK for a slice of pita sandwich and Caesar salad. Andrea has been relishing every morsel before she leaves for the UK. She bemoans bland English food. We then talked about family, personal life, love life, future plans and past issues. It was a good time all in all. Thinking about it, I realize that she’ll be living away for 2 years in another time zone. I guess it’s back to email correspondence. Plus it’s a good thing she’ll be blogging now. The world is in dire lack of heretical bloggers like her.
*********************
Last Saturday, Lianne and her raucous barkada picked me up and we headed to Century Park (formerly Sheraton) for the Bar-Ops. It was there in the van that I met Nico and Marie. Nico’s very amiable, but not unlike the barkada, he was also very funny. Marie on the other hand, well, aside from malakas siyang humirit, I’ll have trouble trying to disconnect “sperm bank” from my first impression of her (As she was being introduced to me, she was in a deep discussion with another friend about a certain sperm bank). Hahaha!
Bar-Ops, as I later on found out for myself, is a logistics organization made to cater to the needs of the barristers. i.e. those taking the bar exams; e.g. Bianx (Go Bianx! Kaya mo yan! Hehehe!). Bar-Oppers are responsible for taking various tasks such as providing the barristers with photocopied tips, giving them a wake up call at whatever time they specified, and even taking special requests such as giving specific candies (“I need M&M chocolate candies, kaso ayokong color blue na M&M, please pakitanggal mga blue na M&M!”).
We headed to the room that WinLaw – Lianne’s org – rented as their Bar-Ops HQ. The room was packed with women Bar-Oppers (including CJ: “Hooy, King Li, anong ginagawa mo rito? Haha!”), and then I remembered that Winlaw stood for “Women in Law”. It was also then that I fully realized that I will be spending the night here. Suddenly I felt very self-conscious.
After a while, we decided to have dinner over at the Mall of Asia since much of the work would be later on in the wee hours of the morning. None of us had ever gone to the Mall of Asia before, and Lianne and I had long planned to go there, so there was a distinct novelty about having dinner there. As we unloaded from Lianne’s van, we were greeted by a colorful display of fireworks (the operating word here – although it wasn’t mentioned – is “wow”). Walking around, I realized that the Mall of Asia was constructed such that most, if not all, of the walkways were open-air corridors. That and along with the huge number of people milling around made me realize why I keep hearing that going to the Mall of Asia is not as pleasant as one might expect from a mall with such a name.
Finding a restaurant to eat dinner in the Mall of Asia could be a bit difficult. It was not that restaurants are hard to find in such a big mall, since all the restos are situated along the walkways. It’s that there are so many restos to choose from in one glance! And since the mall’s huge, you keep thinking that there’s a better resto somewhere around the corner. At the same time, there are so many strange and dubious restos all around that make you question the quality of their food: Church’s Chicken, Juan Kalye, Bamboo Juan (or something like that), Mannang (which was next to Man Hann, haha!), and Pupung and Friends (huwat??).
After walking for about an hour, we eventually decided to eat at Tempura. We decided to patronize the safe and familiar instead of staking our digestion on questionable fare. After a hearty meal of chicken teriyaki, beef teppan, pork katsu, grilled squid, and an order of crunchy makis – oh, forgot the tofu and kaki fry! – we went back to Century Park to check up on any Bar-Op news… Nope, nothing new, so we went to Trader’s hotel to meet up with other Bar-Opper friends there. Bar-Opping is so fun ey? Hehehe!
I met more of Lianne’s friends there, although I forgot their names now even though I kept repeating them to myself all that evening. On the way up on the elevator, Lianne kept cautioning me, telling me to expect a LOT of teasing from these friends. Fortunately it wasn’t me, but another of Lianne’s friend (whom I’ll keep anonymous) who became the butt of all their jokes, something about her and a boy over at Westin. Hehe! So after another hour of teasing the anonymous friend, we headed back to Westin– sorry, I mean, Century Park for a brief nap.
That brief nap posed a whole spectrum of problems for me. For one thing, there are about fifteen to twenty people in the room working, napping, watching TV, talking and joking at any given time. Parang dorm di ba?, said one of the Bar-Oppers. But that’s a minor difficulty compared to what was running through my mind: Where the heck am I gonna sleep? There are two king sized beds, each of which would regularly fit two people. Altogether, with me and Lianne included, we were eight people who would be using the beds (not counting the one who brought her own sleeping bag), and this plus the fact that, as I mentioned earlier, most of them were women. As the only male person napping in the room, I was thinking of sleeping on a chair instead (oh man, they were straight-backed and wooden!), but thanks to the WinLaw’s hospitality, they made space for me in a corner next to Lianne. Although I still had reservations, I tried to nap as straight as a plank knowing that I tend to move a lot in my sleep.
Never got the chance to move in my sleep, after half an hour we were up delivering photocopied tips to different rooms. We passed by Mario’s room, a funny barkada friend and a barrister, rather handsome although unfortunately (for the girls) rather gay too. The Bar exam has taken a toll on him. Aside from crying and throwing up, he’s now taken to running down the hotel corridors at odd hours of the morning screaming, “Inaaaaaaaayyyyyy….!!!!”
After several trips round the hotel, including an aborted trip Lianne and I planned of checking out the hotel penthouse, we got back to the WinLaw room to watch the morning start. Ethel, the WinLaw coordinator, had trouble contacting Bianx for her wake-up call. I volunteered to call her on her cell phone. She didn’t know, and I didn’t get to tell her, that I was also at the same hotel she was staying (she fell asleep early). I was waiting for an opportunity to surprise her, and the opportunity came at this moment:
[Dialing Bianx’s number]
[cell phone rings for half a minute]
[Bianx picks up the phone]
Bianx: (rather sleepily, not a bit annoyed) Hello King Li…
King Li: Hi Bianx, this is your wake-up call from WinLaw.
[Bianx pauses, probably blinks to wake up from dream]
Bianx: (stupefied) Ha? Nandito ka?
King Li: Yeah. Hehe!
Bianx: Ohmigosh!
King Li: Good luck sa Bar, God bless!
Bianx: Thanks.
We went and delivered breakfast to her a while later. She was shocked to learn that I spent the night over at the WinLaw room. Well I was a bit shocked myself. After wishing her well, we headed back, but by that time the hotel lobby was filling up with eager barristers already. Two Sundays down, two more Sundays to go (Go Bianx! Woot!). As for the Bar-Ops, next time (if ever there’s a next time), I’m bringing a sleeping bag.
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Night Out with the A-Boys
Jun. 5th, 2006 | 03:04 pm
mood: up n' at 'em
music: Unknown – Lifehouse
So there I was spending time with some of my Sunday school students last Saturday afternoon when I got this text from, guess who, Jobim Perez. Yeah it was unexpected, but not entirely. Haven’t hung around Jobim and the A-Boys for quite a long while, but getting an out-of-the-blue text from Jobim asking if I could come over for a night cap then and there is not uncharacteristic of him.
I first met Jobim back in first year college as an English blockmate. Oh yeah, we were also part of the same wing back in ROTC (tune Honor Guards! Tune! Hehe!). Never really got to know him until the summer of `99 when we grouped together for computer programming class. My first impression of Jobim: “ay, siga `to, medyo matapang kung tumingin sa tao.” He always had this brooding look about him, and he had the kind of eyes that would leave you wondering what mischief was going on inside of his head. But after sitting at the back seat of Sarm’s car watching Jobim fiddle with the car stereo, playing and replaying “There She Goes” over and over again for 45 minutes, I was convinced, di pala siga. Crazy, yes, weird, oh definitely, but not siga.
I parked and shut off the engine and just sat there for a while. It was raining so hard I thought I’d sit it out until the rain calmed down. It’s been, what, four years since I met up with the A-Boys? Well, not really, we had bumped into each other two or three years back, but we never really hung out. Somehow drifted apart in our third year.
Got impatient, thought what the heck, jumped out of the car and headed to Sidebar. It was still pretty early: a little past 8pm. Jobim said to meet up at 830pm, but he also said that he already got there before I did. Damn rain. Wrong day to wear cargoes, I got really soaked. So the first thing I did was head to the men’s room to clean up. While I was wiping the rain off, this guy had his back turned to me. He’s a lot thinner now, but I recognized him instantly. I waited for him to turn around. When he saw me, there was a split second where you could see the look of recognition in his eyes before they faded back to the dark, brooding look they always had.
Jobim and I took a table for ten and then ordered some pizza and beer. The others hadn’t arrived which was good enough so I could get up to speed with what’s happening with everyone. Suddenly I saw this unfamiliar girl walk unmistakably towards our table. Apparently Jobim (intentionally) left out the detail that he already has a girlfriend: his officemate by the name of Lourdes.
Soon the rest of the A-boys walked in: Mac and his girlfriend Nicole (hope I got that right), Tanchi, Timmy, Dilbert, Bitoy, and JA. It was great seeing them all again. Tanchi’s still crazy over his basketball games. Mac’s still cocky. Jobim still chokes on his food. It was like nothing changed over those five years. Now that could be a good thing or a bad thing. It was kind of comforting to know some things don’t change: A-boys will be A-boys.
I first met Jobim back in first year college as an English blockmate. Oh yeah, we were also part of the same wing back in ROTC (tune Honor Guards! Tune! Hehe!). Never really got to know him until the summer of `99 when we grouped together for computer programming class. My first impression of Jobim: “ay, siga `to, medyo matapang kung tumingin sa tao.” He always had this brooding look about him, and he had the kind of eyes that would leave you wondering what mischief was going on inside of his head. But after sitting at the back seat of Sarm’s car watching Jobim fiddle with the car stereo, playing and replaying “There She Goes” over and over again for 45 minutes, I was convinced, di pala siga. Crazy, yes, weird, oh definitely, but not siga.
I parked and shut off the engine and just sat there for a while. It was raining so hard I thought I’d sit it out until the rain calmed down. It’s been, what, four years since I met up with the A-Boys? Well, not really, we had bumped into each other two or three years back, but we never really hung out. Somehow drifted apart in our third year.
Got impatient, thought what the heck, jumped out of the car and headed to Sidebar. It was still pretty early: a little past 8pm. Jobim said to meet up at 830pm, but he also said that he already got there before I did. Damn rain. Wrong day to wear cargoes, I got really soaked. So the first thing I did was head to the men’s room to clean up. While I was wiping the rain off, this guy had his back turned to me. He’s a lot thinner now, but I recognized him instantly. I waited for him to turn around. When he saw me, there was a split second where you could see the look of recognition in his eyes before they faded back to the dark, brooding look they always had.
Jobim and I took a table for ten and then ordered some pizza and beer. The others hadn’t arrived which was good enough so I could get up to speed with what’s happening with everyone. Suddenly I saw this unfamiliar girl walk unmistakably towards our table. Apparently Jobim (intentionally) left out the detail that he already has a girlfriend: his officemate by the name of Lourdes.
Soon the rest of the A-boys walked in: Mac and his girlfriend Nicole (hope I got that right), Tanchi, Timmy, Dilbert, Bitoy, and JA. It was great seeing them all again. Tanchi’s still crazy over his basketball games. Mac’s still cocky. Jobim still chokes on his food. It was like nothing changed over those five years. Now that could be a good thing or a bad thing. It was kind of comforting to know some things don’t change: A-boys will be A-boys.
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Terno Recordings Gig
Apr. 23rd, 2006 | 08:07 pm
mood: 
pleased
music: Alaala ni Batman - Radioactive Sago Project
Went out last night on a late night gig with Lianne to watch an indie rock gig at the adidas kamp. I thought we went there late. It started mga 7pm, abot namin dun mga 1030pm na. Good thing gigs like these started late, well, in a sense in was bad too, but more on that later.
First thing we saw when we went in was the display of the new line of adidas shoes called adicolor. The shoes and track suits were all pretty cool. Pretty wild. Pretty... colorful. hehehe! Astig especially this one pair of shoes called G2 Peter Saville. Plain white siya, walang adi stripes(!), but it has a very light hint of emerald/gold on its shoelace bars. Plus you could change the color of your shoelace: white or either of two shades of green. Galing!
While waiting for Up Dharma Down and Radioactive Sago to play, bumped into Peaches and her boyfriend Jerry who apparently was the one who designed the adicolor display. Pretty cool!
By the way, the gig was by Terno Recordings whose list of bands include indie rockers Up Dharma Down, Radioactive Sago Project and Juan Pablo Dream among others. We only got to watch Juan Pablo Dream and Radioactive Sago. Giniling Festival played in between them, but we took a bathroom break... a looong one! :P
We didn't get to watch Up Dharma Down anymore because it was getting late (rats!). But I was glad to catch Radioactive Sago. They played two very memorable songs.
The first one was "Siling Giniling"
Siling Giniling
by Radioactive Sago
Chorus:
Siling giniling, siling giniling, siling giniling, siling giniling
(repeat 52 times)
*Sa sobrang walang kwenta natawa na lang ako.
The second one was "Alala ni Batman". Now this was so funny:
Alaala ni Batman
by Radioactive Sago Project
Ano ba yun…
Bale, 1986 nung una kong nakilala si Batman. Wala pang ABS-CBN nun.
Sa BBC2 pa nun eh, panahon ni Marcos na malapit nang mamatay. Wala
rin si Kris Aquino, wala pa si Boy Abunda. Sikat pa si German Moreno
nun eh. Sabi ko, "Sh*t! Ang galing nito ah." Natulala ako nang una
kong napanood si Batman. "Sh*t! Ang galing nito." sabi ko sa sarili
ko. "Ang galing galing galing galing ng itsura ni Batman. Parang
kinatam ang mukha. Ang galing ng costume. Umuumbok ang dibdib pero
hindi pa rin bakat ang utong. At, ang galing ng gadgets niya, ang
gara ng kotse, ang ganda ng bahay, ang galing-galing mag-Ingles, ang
galing mangarate. Actually, pulbos nga lahat ng kalaban niya eh.
Palagi ko siyang pinapanood nang tuwing hapon. Palagi akong
nakikipag-away sa katulong namin dahil gusto niyang manood ng Lotlot
and Friends at saka That's Entertainment. Pero ako, isa lang talaga
ang gusto kong panoorin – siya ring na idol na idol na idol na idol
ko talaga (Idooool!).
Bale, idol na idol na idol na idol na idol ko talaga si Batman. Di
bale na si Robin. Ayoko si Robin kasi parang bading. Ano kaya ang
relasyon nila ni Batman? Pero, idol ko talaga si Batman nun. Palagi
ko siyang dinodrawing. Palagi ko siyang ginagaya. Lahat ng mga bagay
na Batman gusting-gusto ko at meron ako. Yung t-shirt ko Batman.
Yung lunch box ko, Batman. Yung pencil case ko, yung panyo,
sumbrero, yung toothbrush, yung brief ko, lahat yun Batman. Mahal na
mahal ako ng tatay ko kasi kahit mahirap lang kami palagi niya akong
binibili ng mga Batman na bagay. Pero minsan, gusto ko talaga ng
Batmobile na laruan. Nagpabili ako sa kanya, sabi ko "Tay, bili mo
naman ako ng batmobile o." Pero, kakadaing lang niya sa trabaho nun,
at wala daw siyang pera. Kasi kasali yata sa unyon, at wala siyang
ticket line kaya yun, natanggal. Kaya gumawa na lang siya ng tarak-
tarak na lata ng sardinas at binutasan na lang at kinabitan ng
tansan at dun ko nalaman ang ibig sabihin ng pagmamahal.
At paglumipas na ang mga taon na si Batman ay tuluyan nang naglaho
mula sa aking alaala. Ngunit sa isang madilim na sulok ng aking
kamalayan, alam kong naroon pa rin si Batman - isang tahimik na
aninong nakabalabal sa dilim at misteryo sa loob ng aking utak at
kwarto. At mula noon ay nag-iba na nga ang ihip ng hangin, nagulo na
ang ikot ng mundo, kumupas na ang kulay ng buhay, dumaan ang mga
kasintahan, ang mga asawa, ang mga taong akala mo'y kaibigan pero
yun pala'y tarantado, mga artistang araw-araw napapanood sa TV na
mga bobo, mga pulitikong bobo, mga trabahong maliit lang ang
suweldo, isang milyong limpak na mga problema, isang bahada ng mga
hinanakit sa mundong hinagpis. Hindi ko na matagalan. Hindi ko na
matiis. Hindi ko na kaya.
Ngayon, hindi ko na talaga kaya! Hindi ko na talaga kaya! Hindi ko
na kaya! May narinig akong putok na nasa kaibuturan ng aking utak.
Bumigay na ang tali! Sumabog na ang bulkan! Nabasag na ang pula!
Kaya ngayon, isang madilim na madilim na gabi, ako ay narito na sa
tuktok ng isang mataas na mataas na building sa Ayala. Ang sarap ng
hangin na umihip-ihip sa aking kapa. Nakataas ang aking mga kamay!
Nakataas na ang aking mga kamay! Malapit na akong lumipad! Malapit
na akong lumipad! Malapit na akong lumipad! Lipad, Batman, lipad!
Lumipad ka! Lumipad ka! Lumipad ka papuntang langit! Lumipad ka!
Lumipad ka! Nakataas ang aking mga kamay, nakataas na ang aking mga
kamay!
Eh pero, bigla kong naisip hindi naman pala lumilipad si Batman,
diba? Hindi naman pala lumilipad si Batman. Hindi naman pala
lumilipad si Batman. Kaya paalam, malupit na mundo. Paalam, mahal.
Paalam po, inay, itay, kuya, ate, lolo, lola, paalam po. Lolo sa
tuhod, paalam po. Lola sa siko, paalam po. Bantay, paalam. Muning,
paalam. Ewan ko kung sinong magpapakain sa inyo. Paalam po, Aling
Tekla. Paalam po, Mang Gorio. At saka ko na lang po babayaran yung
sukang inutang ko sa inyo. Paalam, Jun-jun. Paalam, Bong-bong, Ba-
bye Rose, Hoy! Ba-bye, Ba-bye, Baby. Ba-bye, Pablo…
First thing we saw when we went in was the display of the new line of adidas shoes called adicolor. The shoes and track suits were all pretty cool. Pretty wild. Pretty... colorful. hehehe! Astig especially this one pair of shoes called G2 Peter Saville. Plain white siya, walang adi stripes(!), but it has a very light hint of emerald/gold on its shoelace bars. Plus you could change the color of your shoelace: white or either of two shades of green. Galing!
While waiting for Up Dharma Down and Radioactive Sago to play, bumped into Peaches and her boyfriend Jerry who apparently was the one who designed the adicolor display. Pretty cool!
By the way, the gig was by Terno Recordings whose list of bands include indie rockers Up Dharma Down, Radioactive Sago Project and Juan Pablo Dream among others. We only got to watch Juan Pablo Dream and Radioactive Sago. Giniling Festival played in between them, but we took a bathroom break... a looong one! :P
We didn't get to watch Up Dharma Down anymore because it was getting late (rats!). But I was glad to catch Radioactive Sago. They played two very memorable songs.
The first one was "Siling Giniling"
Siling Giniling
by Radioactive Sago
Chorus:
Siling giniling, siling giniling, siling giniling, siling giniling
(repeat 52 times)
*Sa sobrang walang kwenta natawa na lang ako.
The second one was "Alala ni Batman". Now this was so funny:
Alaala ni Batman
by Radioactive Sago Project
Ano ba yun…
Bale, 1986 nung una kong nakilala si Batman. Wala pang ABS-CBN nun.
Sa BBC2 pa nun eh, panahon ni Marcos na malapit nang mamatay. Wala
rin si Kris Aquino, wala pa si Boy Abunda. Sikat pa si German Moreno
nun eh. Sabi ko, "Sh*t! Ang galing nito ah." Natulala ako nang una
kong napanood si Batman. "Sh*t! Ang galing nito." sabi ko sa sarili
ko. "Ang galing galing galing galing ng itsura ni Batman. Parang
kinatam ang mukha. Ang galing ng costume. Umuumbok ang dibdib pero
hindi pa rin bakat ang utong. At, ang galing ng gadgets niya, ang
gara ng kotse, ang ganda ng bahay, ang galing-galing mag-Ingles, ang
galing mangarate. Actually, pulbos nga lahat ng kalaban niya eh.
Palagi ko siyang pinapanood nang tuwing hapon. Palagi akong
nakikipag-away sa katulong namin dahil gusto niyang manood ng Lotlot
and Friends at saka That's Entertainment. Pero ako, isa lang talaga
ang gusto kong panoorin – siya ring na idol na idol na idol na idol
ko talaga (Idooool!).
Bale, idol na idol na idol na idol na idol ko talaga si Batman. Di
bale na si Robin. Ayoko si Robin kasi parang bading. Ano kaya ang
relasyon nila ni Batman? Pero, idol ko talaga si Batman nun. Palagi
ko siyang dinodrawing. Palagi ko siyang ginagaya. Lahat ng mga bagay
na Batman gusting-gusto ko at meron ako. Yung t-shirt ko Batman.
Yung lunch box ko, Batman. Yung pencil case ko, yung panyo,
sumbrero, yung toothbrush, yung brief ko, lahat yun Batman. Mahal na
mahal ako ng tatay ko kasi kahit mahirap lang kami palagi niya akong
binibili ng mga Batman na bagay. Pero minsan, gusto ko talaga ng
Batmobile na laruan. Nagpabili ako sa kanya, sabi ko "Tay, bili mo
naman ako ng batmobile o." Pero, kakadaing lang niya sa trabaho nun,
at wala daw siyang pera. Kasi kasali yata sa unyon, at wala siyang
ticket line kaya yun, natanggal. Kaya gumawa na lang siya ng tarak-
tarak na lata ng sardinas at binutasan na lang at kinabitan ng
tansan at dun ko nalaman ang ibig sabihin ng pagmamahal.
At paglumipas na ang mga taon na si Batman ay tuluyan nang naglaho
mula sa aking alaala. Ngunit sa isang madilim na sulok ng aking
kamalayan, alam kong naroon pa rin si Batman - isang tahimik na
aninong nakabalabal sa dilim at misteryo sa loob ng aking utak at
kwarto. At mula noon ay nag-iba na nga ang ihip ng hangin, nagulo na
ang ikot ng mundo, kumupas na ang kulay ng buhay, dumaan ang mga
kasintahan, ang mga asawa, ang mga taong akala mo'y kaibigan pero
yun pala'y tarantado, mga artistang araw-araw napapanood sa TV na
mga bobo, mga pulitikong bobo, mga trabahong maliit lang ang
suweldo, isang milyong limpak na mga problema, isang bahada ng mga
hinanakit sa mundong hinagpis. Hindi ko na matagalan. Hindi ko na
matiis. Hindi ko na kaya.
Ngayon, hindi ko na talaga kaya! Hindi ko na talaga kaya! Hindi ko
na kaya! May narinig akong putok na nasa kaibuturan ng aking utak.
Bumigay na ang tali! Sumabog na ang bulkan! Nabasag na ang pula!
Kaya ngayon, isang madilim na madilim na gabi, ako ay narito na sa
tuktok ng isang mataas na mataas na building sa Ayala. Ang sarap ng
hangin na umihip-ihip sa aking kapa. Nakataas ang aking mga kamay!
Nakataas na ang aking mga kamay! Malapit na akong lumipad! Malapit
na akong lumipad! Malapit na akong lumipad! Lipad, Batman, lipad!
Lumipad ka! Lumipad ka! Lumipad ka papuntang langit! Lumipad ka!
Lumipad ka! Nakataas ang aking mga kamay, nakataas na ang aking mga
kamay!
Eh pero, bigla kong naisip hindi naman pala lumilipad si Batman,
diba? Hindi naman pala lumilipad si Batman. Hindi naman pala
lumilipad si Batman. Kaya paalam, malupit na mundo. Paalam, mahal.
Paalam po, inay, itay, kuya, ate, lolo, lola, paalam po. Lolo sa
tuhod, paalam po. Lola sa siko, paalam po. Bantay, paalam. Muning,
paalam. Ewan ko kung sinong magpapakain sa inyo. Paalam po, Aling
Tekla. Paalam po, Mang Gorio. At saka ko na lang po babayaran yung
sukang inutang ko sa inyo. Paalam, Jun-jun. Paalam, Bong-bong, Ba-
bye Rose, Hoy! Ba-bye, Ba-bye, Baby. Ba-bye, Pablo…