the shadow laboratory

LJBF

2007-04-17T23:01:00.000+08:00

DISCLAIMER: No generalizations are made because generalizing is generally lying. The views and opinions written here do not necessarily reflect the views of the writer and the station.

In a world full of euphemisms (especially the Philippines), people don't say what they mean, or don't mean what they say, or whatever. words fail them. words don't come when they are needed. but sometimes, we Shift + F7 to say more. unfortunately, saying more doesn't mean a lot. less is more. Occam's Razor applies: the simplest explanation is usually the best one.

There are unlimited possibilities to turn down a guy/girl... but usually girls say this to guys, because it's the guy who courts. The most common one would be "Let's Just Be Friends" or LJBF for short. Instead of saying, "I don't like you," girls say other made up phrases or lines compiled from cartoons like... uh Powerpuff girls or Spongebob Squarepants. "I don't want to hurt your feelings" they say. "I don't want to lose our friendship," she says.

Rarely is it translated to Filipino, "kaibigan na lang tayo ha?" Rather in Taglish to have a more friendly and less offensive approach, "friends na lang tayo (+pa-cute googly eyes)." if you want to mock, just say the lines of the old Selecta commercial and ask "Sinong bestfriend mo doon?" so she would answer, "Syempre ikaw lang."

Recently from a series of SMS messages, i got this one: "Can we stay platonic?"
i didn't know where it came from but it was from an anonymous girl i used to like... used to. but i have no plans of going erotic (pardon the word but it is the opposite of platonic - a relationship void of physical desire). FYI: i have a different target market now... the untapped, emerging market. ;)

But what struck me though was the wording and choice of words. as a copywriter, it's nice to hear new ways of saying things. and that question lingers in my mind not because i'm affected but because it sparked my ADHD mind (in tagalog, malikot na utak). it's not a question you hear often. i sense a better command of words... but completely uncalled for. sorry.

Infinite permutations can be derived from usual ways of rejecting. Tip for the girls, harsh is good. Bullshit is bad. Here are a few.

Basic - Let's just be friends
Classic - It's not you, it's me
Taglish - Friends na lang tayo
Paranoid - I don't want to lose our friendship
Frank - I don't like you
Impatient - Piss off!
Vulgar - Utot mo!
Spanish - No me ames
Shakespearean - Let's abide not by affection (sabay bawi ng guy, "If you prick us, do we not bleed?!?!?")
Philosophical - Can we stay platonic?
Starcrossed - Hindi pwede eh
Clueless - Ay! Naging tayo ba?
More Clueless - Uh... and what's your name again?
Conyo Haliparot - Umm... I have a new boyfriend na already eh
Insensitive Haliparot - Uy! Meet my new boyfriend.
Harsh and Sweet - Can I call you kuya?

Yan muna, tinatamad na ako. Feel free to add... :)

Character Gender

2007-02-28T14:12:00.000+08:00

rawr! pussycat and bird...

minsan sa isang meeting, napagdebate-han ang kasarian ng ibang mga cartoon character. malamang karamihan sa kanila ay walang specific gender, pero sa galaw at kilos nila, parang meron.

si Tinky Winky ay bading. lalong lalo na si Barney.

bakit kaya walang salawal ang ibang lalaking character gaya ni Donald Duck at Winnie the Pooh... yun ay kung lalaki si Winnie the Pooh... Winnie.

si Nestle Chuckie, confusing. lalaki sya, pero cow sya, hindi bull.

si Tweety alam ko lalaki. pero parang babae sya. pero bird sya, kaya malamang lalaki yun.
therefore, si Sylvester ay babae. kasi sya ay isang pus... pusa.

wala lang akong mapost. saka na ulit ako magtitino.

Christmas Wishlist 06

2006-12-21T17:14:00.000+08:00

I wish for love and peace on earth this Christmas...

and...

1. Sony PSP or Creative Zen Vision
2. Anime action figures
3. Graphic Novels
- Blankets by Craig Thompson
- Mythology Class by Arnold Arre
4. Books
- Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk
- A Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion
- It's Not How Good You Are, It's How Good You Want To Be by Paul Arden
5. Computer upgrades

Ayoko na...

2006-12-01T23:58:00.000+08:00

saka na ang tunay na post... lyrics muna...

Kung Ayaw Mo Na Sa Akin
by Sugarfree

Kung ayaw mo na sa akin
di na kita pipilitin
Kung buo na ang loob mo,
bahala ka na sa buhay mo
di ako desperado
sa walang kapantay na pag-ibig mo.
sa mga halik mong walang kasing tamis

Kung hindi ka na babalik
araw-araw na akong gigimik
Kung malayo ka na ay malaya na ako
Ngunit ang kahapon ko ay bihag pa rin ng alaala mo

Kung ayaw mo na sa akin
di na kita habulin
medyo bata pa naman ako
may mabibighani pa sakin siguro
kung ayaw mo na ako
leche lalong ayoko sa yo
alam mo naman kung san ang bahay ko
baka sakaling magbago
ang isip mo please

Looking a year back...

2006-11-09T19:57:00.000+08:00

Found this picture while searching for funny pictures. It's not funny anymore if you're the guy in the middle. Reminds me of what happened a year back. It hurts to be in the middle. It hurts a lot in limbo. It hurts when you don't know where you should be. It hurts when you start to doubt. It hurts even more if you found out you were right all along. It hurts when you're close to someone, and something happens behind your back. It hurts when the perpetrator is just in the same room. A picture paints a thousand words... and million tears.

I saw this photo... Ouch!

One year na pala ang nakalipas...

Tagal ko nang hindi nagsusulat sa blog ko. tsk tsk...

Sukeban Deka: Codename Asamiya Saki

2006-09-15T15:38:00.000+08:00

*quoted from Wikipedia:

It was announced in February 2006 that a new film adaptation was underway. Titled "Sukeban Deka: Codename Asamiya Saki", it will star Aya Matsuura as the lead role, with Rika Ishikawa cast as her rival. Yuki Saitō, who played the role of Saki in the first live action TV series, will star as Saki's mother. The movie is scheduled to be released on September 30, 2006, and will have the official English title of Yo-Yo Girl Cop^[1]. It will be directed by Kenta Fukasaku, best known as the screenwriter for the film Battle Royale and director of its sequel, Battle Royale 2

waaah! tagal ko nang hindi updated kay Aya Matsuura. kelangan ko ulit ipunin. May movie pala syang lalabas this month, sana makahanap din ako ng kopya.

wooot! ang saya. Japanese overload, dami kong nabiling anime stuff esp. Naruto at One Piece, kaso nakakahinayang sulatan ung mga notebooks... agggst. ayus, kumpletong Gashapon na SD na naruto... weeeeeh. im turning japanese... i really think so.

Lovesong

2006-09-11T19:53:00.000+08:00

you know who you are... or not...
_____

The Cure - Lovesong

Whenever I'm alone with you
You make me feel like I am home again
Whenever I'm alone with you
You make me feel like I am whole again
Whenever I'm alone with you
You make me feel like I am young again
Whenever I'm alone with you
You make me feel like I am fun again

However far away I will always love you
However long I stay I will always love you
Whatever words I say I will always love you
I will always love you

Whenever I'm alone with you
You make me feel like I am free again
Whenever I'm alone with you
You make me feel like I am clean again

However far away I will always love you
However long I stay I will always love you
Whatever words I say I will always love you
I will always love you

Lines You Do Not Cross

2006-08-29T17:27:00.000+08:00

"Lead between the lines"

Everyday we're surrounded by deadlines - the lines you dare not cross. whatever happens, be sure to beat them - to death. lead between the lines. you read it right... lead. between those deadlines, you get lead times, the lesser lead time you have, the more pressure you get, and you need to do things faster - thus a higher possibility of stress. lead time is inversely proportional to stress.

Friends ask me the nature of my work, and my usual answer: we think, we brainstorm. bulk of the time spent in the office is brainstorming (including: individual brainstorm, group, getting inspiration from youtube, browsing ads, downloading, YM). we need to think, brainstorm, and beat the deadlines. and my friends ask, "paano kung wala kayo maisip?" i answer: hindi pwede, dapat may maganda kahit isa."

kapag wala kaming naisip, patay kami. deadline.

teka, mag-iisip pa ko, may deadline pa ko.

Philosophy in Life #8

2006-08-28T19:25:00.000+08:00

"The more entries you send, the more chances of winning."

Lovers in Paris

2006-08-17T12:55:00.000+08:00

Ilsa's goodbye letter to Richard:
"I cannot go with you or ever see you again.
You must not ask why. Just believe that I love you.
Go, my darling and God bless you."

I just watched Casablanca from the 1940s. A nice film regarding politics, love, memories, lies, and letting go. Sometimes, a memory is good enough... a nice memory. just think of the happy times, and then that happy moment stays forever.

Matters of Great Consequence

2006-08-10T12:13:00.000+08:00

"In the course of this life I have had a great many encounters with a great many people who have been concerned with matters of consequence. I have lived a great deal among grown-ups. I have seen them intimately, close at hand. And that hasn't much improved my opinion of them. "*

People usually make the wrong decisions not because they choose the bad things, but because they choose the lesser things, which often turns out to be worse. We do not choose evil. We just usually set the wrong priorities. After watching the movie Click, i suddenly remembered Exupery's The Little Prince, and its topic on matters of great consequences. We often associate great consequences with matters concerning fame, power and money. I work hard, i get promoted, i get a good life. Yes, we get all these material things, and yes, they can make us happy, but nothing lasts like real people, real friends, real relationships... family. Since people dear to us are always there for us, we tend to take them for granted. And those promotions, and job offers come once in a life time, thereby giving it more value.

But the bottom line is family and friends come first, because your job, your fame, and your money can't love you back. Choose priceless.

"On matters of consequence, the little prince had ideas which were very different from those of the grown-ups."**

* Exupery's Little Prince - Chapter 1
* Exupery's Little Prince - Chapter 13

LJBF

2006-08-03T17:12:00.000+08:00

LJBF... one of the scariest acronyms in history.

LiveJournalBloggerFriendster... scary

Hard to Say Thanks

2006-07-26T22:32:00.000+08:00

a song goes "it's hard for me to say i'm sorry"... but how hard could it be to say thanks if there's really reason to give gratitude?

it's hard to say thanks if there's somebody whose guts you hate and it hurts your pride to acknowledge the help.

on our way home, my co-young-creative (baka magalit eh) and i went to this always-out-of-stock-and-frequently-slow-service fastfood chain. i love their food, but their service frequently sucks. and usually in the evening, they ask you for your order but will tell you they dont have this and that. they will give you a choice to make you feel you have the choice, even if the only choice you have is to leave their store. This happened to me and my cousin weeks back:

Crew: Sir ano po order nyo?
Ako: Isang number 5
Crew: Sir sorry wala na kaming number 5.
Ako: Sige spaghetti na lang.
Crew: Sorry sir ubos na rin...
Ako: Ano pa ba available?
Crew: Meron pong #3 at #4
Ako: Sige number 3 na lang...
Crew: Ok lang po for 10 minutes?
Ako: (Aggst) Sige...
Crew: Ano pong drinks nyo?
Ako: Mountain Dew
Crew: Sir... wala na rin po. Pepsi na lang.
Ako: May magagawa pa ba ako? Dapat magsara na kayo.

Back to me and my co-young-creative after paying for our food: After putting the food on the table, i told my friend that the girl billed us incorrectly. Our bill should be Php115 + 55 = 170. My mental math could not go wrong. She only asked us around 130 bucks. So out of honesty and since i could not accept that my mental computation did not match the bill, we asked for a recomputation. I'm no math major but it's simple arithmetic, even zebras could do that, with blindfolds, no need for Boolean, Tangent and derivatives. After the hassle of going back to the counter despite our hunger.... they asked us 25 bucks more, and they did not even say THANKS for saving their freakin a$. even a smile would be nice, but no, they just told us we were 25 short. Stupid. Even more stupid than Spongebob as a cashier. At least Spongebob smiles. Stupid. And they still miscomputed. 170 PESOS. now we're pissed and so hungry to go back to the cashier.

remember: GRATITUDE IS PRICELESS

I'm Superman

2006-07-10T00:23:00.000+08:00

"I'm always around," said Superman before he waved goodnight to Lois, and flew off. On my last entry, it's entitled "I'm no Superman." But now, I've been thinking, I may be acting like one, like the boy scout in red cape in the movie. I have weakness which starts with the letter K. I have my own Fortress of Solitude. I have writing as my day job - in a company related with mass media. I wear glasses. I fly - my ideas make me soar and others around me. I'm a member of some sort of league to fight for justice. I'm faster than the speeding bullet - in my dreams. I wish i have X-ray vision... if i didn't. :) And just like the Man of Steel, i try to save others in my own little way, trying to be there for them when they are in distress. Similar to the latest movie, even if it's hard to let someone i love go, i'll bid goodnight while assuring her that "I'm always around."

“It is forbidden for you to interfere with human history. Rather let your leadership stir others to. Live as one of them, Kal-El, to discover where your strength and power are needed. And always hold in your heart the pride of your special heritage. They can be a great people, Kal-El, they wish to be. They only lack the light to show the way. ” - Jor-El

I'm superman, but I'm not. I'm not even super, yet i'm trying to be one, but unlike the Man of Steel, I'm not from Krypton, and i'm here for Truth, Justice, and the Filipino Way (whatever that means), in my own little ways.

It's hard to be someone you are not. Something you do which you are not supposed to. And more difficult still, is being yourself, amidst the corrupt and decadent times - in aspects of society, relationships and many others. I try to be Batman and lurk in the dark executing some poetic justice, but my inner Clark Kent manifests and do the Superman thing. The struggle to be good and not exact revenge is hard. For what it's worth... it's the right thing to do.

Which is harder? Trying to love who you do not love? Or trying not to love who you do love? I think it's the latter. Superman needs a savior too.

I'm no Superman...

2006-07-03T00:35:00.000+08:00

I've watched Superman Returns twice this week, and the film or rather the character was great - not just Superman, but more on his disguise as Clark Kent, trying to find his place in an alien world named Earth. Superman would always be one of my fave heroes (next to Flash), since he is not just a comic character but an embodiment of virtues and ideals. Reading comicbooks like Superman: Birthright and Batman: Hush, i get to know Superman more. The opposite of the dark Batman, Superman is the boyscout, not only to swoop down to save people, but also to check and try to console and ask them if they're alright. Being super, he tries to control his power not to hurt people. He could kill the enemies if he needs to, but he doesn't. In the movie, there is no moment that he tried to punch or kicked a bad guy.

Back in highschool, i really liked Superman's character, and what he represented. Kal-el, Clark Kent, Superman... I wish i was one. But somehow, while meeting people, i became one without being one...

"Super heroes are fictional characters with a purpose of providing fresh hope for the youngsters. And I believe that super heroes are real. I am proud to say that I know one. He is simple (of course, he has to hide his identity); fairly quiet and seemingly detached from the world. He gets upset with the slightest hint of injustice. A true gentleman, he remains diplomatic at all times. One tends to overlook this guy and he doesn’t have anything against this. He would rather stay true to himself knowing that he has great power within than change and be at the center of attention. He helps people who are in need and never hesitates to tell them (often bluntly) what their mishaps are so that they can learn from them. This guy has never left me even if I have always acted as a damsel who doesn’t need help when in reality I am awfully distressed. But… unfortunately I can’t tell you his “true identity”. It’s a secret worth keeping."

The quote above is not from Lois Lane writing "Why the World Needs a Superman," nor from a comic book writer, nor from a fiction author. It's a testimonial from one of my best gal pals, Karla. Somehow, i've become a member of my own Justice League... near the Superman i want to be, but not quite... i'm still a mortal after all... even someone super can take a fall, what more of a normal being like me... having tasted my own dose of Kryptonite... Kryptonite... Krypton... Kryp... Kr... K...

As Dave Matthews mentioned in his song "Where Are You Going"...

I am no superman I have no reasons for you I am no hero; oh that's for sure But I do know one thing Is where you are, is where I belong I do know where you go is where I wannna be

current music: John Williams - Superman Theme
currently reading: Maus by Art Spiegelman, and Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

First and Last

2006-06-29T01:37:00.000+08:00

"It is only the last love of a woman that can satisfy the first love of a man."

- Balzac

... i love ____la

... what's with girl's names ending in "la"? im not malay. i dont like elmo's world... la la la la... elmo's world. or maybe.. la la means i love you.

I Shall Return

2006-06-23T17:49:00.000+08:00

Nobela Join The Club

ngumiti kahit na napipilitan
kahit pa sinasadya
mo akong masaktan paminsan-minsan
bawat sandali na lang
tulad mo ba akong nahihirapan
lalo't naiisip ka
di ko na kaya pa na kalimutan
bawat sandali na lang

at aalis, magbabalik
at uuliting sabihin
mamahalin ka't sambitin
kahit muling masaktan
sa pag-alis
ako'y magbabalik
sana naman

sa isang marikit na alaala
pangitahing kay ganda
sana nga'y pagbigyan
na ng tadhana
bawat sandali na lang
sumabay sa biglang pagkabahala
lumabis sa pagtataka
tunay na pagsintang di alintana
bawat sandali na lang

at aalis, magbabalik
at uuliting sabihin
mamahalin ka't sambitin
kahit muling masaktan
sa pag-alis
ako'y magbabalik
sana naman

Minsan Pa...

2006-06-23T15:19:00.000+08:00

(an old painting of mine... minsan pa...)

Minsan Pa by Join the Club

Hindi ko mawasto,
ang kilos ko
ang paghakbang hindi magaan
at madalas,
mahilang aking isipan,
tila hibang

Ngayong lumulubha bigla-bigla …
sumagi sa isipan
bukas …makalawa…
wala ka na… lungkot ba’y maiibsan?!

huwag mong pilitin,
na limutin
ang damdaming minsan pa…
huwag sabihin
na hindi kayang lampasan…
huwag mong sabihin sa sarili
kung hindi na tunay pa …
panalangin, sana lang may minsan pa

Hindi ko matanto ang pag-ibig mo!
pang-agam ay di madaan
sa ‘di pangkaraniwan na
na pag-ibig na tulad nito .

Malilipasan ng panahon
ang pag-ibig nating nakahon
kahit akma satin ang isa’t-isa
pahintulutan mo ba ako?
na mawala sa iyo ng lubos?
ibabalik ba ang libong halik na hatid?

‘Wag mong pilitin na limutin
ang damdaming minsan pa
‘wag sabihin na di kayang lampasan
‘wag mong sabihin sa sarili
kung hindi na tunay pa
panalanging sana lang ma’y
minsan pa…

YLSC Openhouse 2006

2006-06-19T00:33:00.000+08:00

it's been a while since i last made some artsy ek-ek design. just plugging our church's Youth Life Student Center Openhouse. our church is a student center during weekdays, catering to students especially in the U-belt area. they can play games (like table tennis, chess, badminton, pictionary, uno, monopoly, and other board games), study, meet and chat with friends, or just hang out. plus, it's FREE. go and have a visit, it's just in Morayta, beside McDonald's (w/c is under renovation), near FEU. :)

Sandwich Day

2006-06-16T14:29:00.000+08:00

i declare June 14 as my Sandwich Day. it was a sandwich-filled day literally speaking. had lunch with my co-creatives Pat and Joni at Hotshots. reliving the pearl drive days, i treated myself with one Crispy Burger Melt. back to work, brainstorm here and there. with chef jeff bringing the merienda, i tried the Ham and Egg sandwich for a change. we stayed late in the office until 12AM, and my dinner was McDo's cheeseburger. arriving home, my mom bought double-longanisa burger. all sandwiches were good, and was a good variety. but it was a heavy wheat-filled day.

plus, since i havent updated my blog lately, hmm... some updates... wala naman. watched Benchwarmers and Cars. both were good enough for my movie tickets which were given free.
i might as well plug Toycon in Megatrade Hall tomorrow, June 17-18. great! half of my month's salary going to toys... finally a treat. weeeee

The Power of Silence

2006-06-07T00:49:00.000+08:00

Question and Answer Portion

2006-05-30T23:13:00.001+08:00

ive been inspired by some podcasts and websites, so i would try answering some questions from the citizens of the world. it may range in any topic under the sun. from normal looking ones to scientific to weird fantasy stuff that bothers you everynight while brushing your teeth before you go to bed to have a good night sleep to help you in your big day tomorrow which will be... aggst! dangling modifiers!!! of course, i opt to answer your question or not. and my answers should be taken with a grain of salt. i would mix some trippings, personal ideas, fiction and facts in the answers. all for good clean intellectual(or not) fun!!!

sample:

QUESTION:
Dear Yomz,

Bakit hindi ka nagpapakita ng mukha sa friendster or dito sa blog mo? Pangit ka ba?

sincerely yours,
Timoy, Ph

ANSWER:
Dear Timoy,

Hindi ako nagpapakita ng mukha dahil sa privacy. (Note: Fact) According to some research, the most dangerous information you could give out in the internet is your picture. Yeah, they can get your address and phone number, but they won't know your face. In a more practical side, they can stalk you. Or your picture can be used to degrade your character on the web, selling your picture around and making fun of it. Remember the forwarded email entitled "The Perils of Friendster?" Ikaw kaya ang pagtripan? Matutuwa ka ba? Ayun... so for your 2nd question, my answer is NO. hindi ako pangit. alam ko guwapo ka, kasi ikaw ako. hahaha. im really the humble type who dont want to brag what i have. pero to get to the point, i look gooooood :) syet, ang yabang ko na.

XOXO
yomz

so... fire away! Just leave the question to any entry. and i'll get to it.

My Humor Style

2006-05-28T21:40:00.000+08:00

the Ham

(23% dark, 46% spontaneous, 36% vulgar) your humor style:
CLEAN | SPONTANEOUS | LIGHT
Your style's goofy, innocent and feel-good. Perfect for parties and for the dads who chaperone them. You can actually get away with corny jokes, and I bet your sense of humor is a guilty pleasure for your friends. People of your type are often the most approachable and popular people in their circle. Your simple & silly good-naturedness is immediately recognizable, and it sets you apart in this sarcastic world.

PEOPLE LIKE YOU: Will Ferrell - Will Smith

The 3-Variable Funny Test!

Must I Write?

2006-05-23T21:56:00.000+08:00

my classmate/colleague pat shared this classic book: "Letters to Young Poet" by Rainier Rilke. I have several reasons why I blog. I blog to express. I blog to practice. I blog because I want. And quite recently, I blog because I should. Why to do I write? Why must I write? Several questions bug me. How should I write? Who should I ask? What books to I need to read? What resources do I need? What style should I take? Why am I asking too many questions? Some questions are better left unanswered as some answers come in time. A quote from Rainier Rilke exemplifies this point:

"You are so young, so much before all beginning, and I would like to beg you, dear Sir, as well as I can, to have patience with everything unresolved in your heart and to try to love the questions themselves as if they were locked rooms or books written in a very foreign language. Don't search for the answers, which could not be given to you now, because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps then, someday far in the future, you will gradually, without even noticing it, live your way into the answer."

Must I write? as the title of this entry goes. It's been my dream to work in creatives. Some dreams are fulfilled, and some dreams fulfill you; some dreams we pursue; some dreams pursue us. I'm always an artist at heart. Everything I do should be elevated as an art form. I want to discover and rediscover myself and everything around me. I want to push, and raise my bar higher. Before I reach some standards outside, I want to reach my standards first, and know my limits, and what I can do - and then outperform my standards, break my limits, do more. dont just think. act. potentialities are only half of the story. we need to actualize, do, create, perform, recreate. am i reaching my potential? i do not know. some of it... maybe. most of it... i dont think so. similar to my work, i should have as many ideas or potentialities as possible. discard most of them. keep a few. and defend what i have best. Again, must I write? For a number of reasons (e.g. i like to write, some ideas are better expressed before they rot in your brain, it's good to share things to others, writing is bread and butter), yes. How do I improve myself? Well... may Rainir Rilke's words enlighten you.

"There is only one thing you should do. Go into yourself. Find out the reason that commands you to write; see whether it has spread its roots into the very depths of your heart; confess to yourself whether you would have to die if you were forbidden to write. This most of all: ask yourself in the most silent hour of your night: must I write? Dig into yourself for a deep answer. And if this answer rings out in assent, if you meet this solemn question with a strong, simple "I must," then build your life in accordance with this necessity; your while life, even into its humblest and most indifferent hour, must become a sign and witness to this impulse. Then come close to Nature. Then, as if no one had ever tried before, try to say what you see and feel and love and lose. Don't write love poems; avoid those forms that are too facile and ordinary: they are the hardest to work with, and it takes great, fully ripened power to create something individual where good, even glorious, traditions exist in abundance. So rescue yourself from these general themes and write about what your everyday life offers you; describe your sorrows and desires, the thoughts that pass through your mind and your belief in some kind of beauty - describe all these with heartfelt, silent, humble sincerity and, when you express yourself, use the Things around you, the images from your dreams, and the objects that you remember. If your everyday life seems poor, don't blame it; blame yourself; admit to yourself that you are not enough of a poet to call forth its riches; because for the creator there is not poverty and no poor, indifferent place."

- Rainier Rilke (Letters to Young Poet; Letter One)

Firsts

2006-05-15T22:14:00.000+08:00

(first billboard that i made:
can be seen in the Galleria wall facing Ortigas, and Market2x wall)

I saw an ad before with a tagline "when was the last time you did something for the first time?"

2005 and 2006 gave me a lot of firsts... but i'd rather focus on my firsts this 2006 - my 21st year on earth... my year. this year i had my first job/first company - as a junior copywriter in BBDO. about 3 weeks before i got employed... i made my first billboard (seen above), since Mojo asked me to add my magic on their billboard. and i just saw it yesterday, agggst, i was overwhelmed, happy to see my baby on hanging on the walls in Ortigas. then last week, our company went in the Creative Guild Ad of the Year Awards. that was the first Ad Awards i attended, saw the big men in the advertising industry. i met my UA&P creative mentors (Sir Third, Lawin and Nathan), and congratulated them for their gold. (we took home many awards too) and after that, we had a party in Greenbelt 3. first BBDO party i attended, it was fun. Thank God for the opportunities and the blessings!!! asteeeg!!!

here are some random firsts:

1st award you received: ~ marami nung nursery
1st hero: ~ shaider
1st time you were sent to the principal for disciplinary actions: ~ 3rd year MaSci, for arriving late in class 18 times (kaasar naman kasi ung pila sa labas eh)
1st goal you accomplished: ~
1st crush: ~ juvy ann
1st person whom you gave flowers: ~ karla
1st friend: ~ hmm... can't remember, "sinong bestfriend mo doon???"
1st record you bought: ~ OST of the Mask of Zorro
1st musical instrument you learned to play:~ guitar
1st local concert you watched: ~ Rockestra
1st celebrity you saw in person? ~ that guy i saw in the mirror (malapit na)
1st TV show you really like? ~ Takeshi's Castle
1st book you bought and read: ~ yung Abakada na kulay dilaw
1st sport you played: ~ basketball
1st sleepover: ~ hmm... highschool barkada
1st terrible fight: ~ wala naman
1st bestfriend: ~ Ephraim
1st person who greeted you on your lastbday: ~ karla
1st cellphone: ~ 5110
1st collection: ~ NBA Cards (Grant Hill, Kevin Garnett at Tim Duncan)
1st time you saw a ghost? ~ may kumaway na kamay sa bintana ng 2nd floor ng bahay namin dati mga 3AM
1st love ~ tricky question... syempre si God. pero pag tao, parents. pero pag hindi parents... si ___la
1st girlfriend ~ sana si ___la
1st salary ~ kanina

and the list goes on... first major heartbreak/headache, first honor, first base, first hand held, first na niligawan, first girl na sinabihan ng malupheet na "i love you", first poem written, first script written, first toy bought, etc etc...

The Scholar

2006-05-07T22:10:00.000+08:00

i just watched the first episode of The Scholar... finally, a new reality TV show with sense, nudging the kids in the right direction not only for personal development but also for society as a whole. quoting what the show is about:

"For the chance at a full ride to the college of their choice, ten qualified high school seniors from economically disadvantaged backgrounds -- who might not otherwise have an opportunity to attend one of America's top universities -- will compete for a full scholarship, a prize that could be worth as much as $240,000. They will have to demonstrate excellence in the areas of academics, leadership, creativity and community service, while facing sudden-death oral exams defending themselves to an Ivy League scholarship committee."

hmmm... this sounds too familiar. well, i just came out of it just a month ago, and the graduation rites would be in a month's time. the past 15 or 16 years of my school life have been a blessing. imagine saving more than half a million bucks for tuition fees? and the show "The Scholar" is like that, how i wish both local networks adopt a show like that, i wouldnt mind them being copycats, since the important thing is that more deserving Filipino students who are blocked by their economic situation to get some kick@ss education that would be their ticket to a better life. molding the minds, their spirits, and bodies of the youth, to be better citizens is not a bad idea.

education is a big thing... i'd say a very big thing. i would not necessarily be your license for a luxurious life, but it would certainly lead to a more meaningful if not fulfilled life. i would not be a license but can be a ticket for a better life. unfortunately, many people do not have access to education, most often because of the lack of funds. yes, education is an investment, but not all can invest especially in schools. education becomes a luxury instead of a necessity. how i wish we could just sit at home and read a lot of books, watch life, observe the world, gain experience and get a job and enjoy. but a college degree is still necessary, diplomas still matter. though there's a tendency for schools to be diploma mills, and companies to have qualification inflation. a whole array of education topics to be discussed including the issue of brain drain, but the point is, education is important, at home, from preschool to the graduate level, each level with certain contribution to our whole being, from our childhood to our maturity. while having small talks at work, it was mentioned that as Creatives, "our time, ideas and outputs are very valuable, but more importantly, it is our childhood that is paid." yeah, my stay in IMC equipped me with practical knowledge in the industry, but creativity has no formula - it requires constant care, observation, exposure and intuition to develop an eye and the taste of what's good and not. in Creatives, it pays to have a great childhood, plus your memories, experiences and observations in the world around you.

Sulat

2006-05-01T23:43:00.000+08:00

What does your handwriting say about YOU?

The results of your analysis say:

You plan ahead, and are interested in beauty, design, outward appearance, and symmetry.
You are a shy, idealistic person who does not find it easy to have relationships, especially intimate ones.
You are diplomatic, objective, and live in the present.
You are not very reserved, impatient, self-confident and fond of action.
You enjoy life in your own way and do not depend on the opinions of others.

DBD Koleksyon - well, some of it

2006-05-01T21:10:00.000+08:00

Create your own Movie List @ HotFreeLayouts!

*inspired by nades' entry

Thank God I Didn't Reach 5th Year

2006-04-27T01:02:00.000+08:00

some of my students, waving goodbye as i temporarily left them for my BBDO interview
(sabi ng isa, "teacher tim, saan ka pupunta?", sabi ko babalik ako bukas, tapos sabi nya "basta bukas, wag ka na aalis ha?"... awww.... )

i'm soooooooooo thankful to God that I didn't reach 5th year, or to put it more positively, that I'm graduating and I'm free. Things are going quite well, and the happenings won't be possible if I'm in 5th year taking summer class. God is really great!!! i'm so blessed. the church retreat last Holy Week was such a blast, bonding moments with friends old and new. this week, i'm teaching a dozen 3to4-year-old preschoolers. sobrang asteeeg!!! and thanks for my beautiful young assistant ;) makulit, masakit sa katawan, masakit sa ulo ang preschoolers, pero worth it... sobrang saya. then, amidst the traffic and stupid van drivers, we still made it to our Ugly Writer Session, though we're late, i think we did well on the given exercise. agggst! we're not bums anymore. sabi sa akin kanina, "so wala kang ginagawa ngayon? gusto mo na magstart bukas?." sabi ko sa tuesday na. we're still in training and probi, but i think it's good that we're absorbed in BBDO GO. we're still under prob, so we can't afford to be complacent. now, it's time to raise the bar higher, and make the prayers stronger. Thank God for us going this far! :) i hope for bottomless creativity

goodbye summer break. hello real advertising world! i do hope i get a nice account to work on. hmm... summer would now get busier. hmm... another step in conquering the world...

"ON TUESDAY MAKATI, TOMORROW THE WORLD"

MAJOR CHANGE coming soon

2006-04-20T00:26:00.000+08:00

i might change my blog's layout and title. i'll maintain the dark look but will make it a little more grungy. and it might not be "the shadow laboratory" but "confessions of an angsty artist" or "angst of an optimist" or whatever that comes to mind. help me brainstorm on the title...

Pre-Landian Moments

2006-04-17T00:00:00.000+08:00

Flirt ka ba? Mahilig ka bang makipaglandian? Sanay ka ba sa kulitan at harutang walang humpay sa opposite sex matapos lang ang isang iglap? Kung oo, ikaw ay isang haliparot. at dapat mong tantanan yan...

Nakakasira ng samahan ang landian. Nakakasira ng existing relationships, nakakasira ng emerging relationships. Bago ang flirts, bago maging haliparot, bago makipaglandian... merong tinatawag na "PRE-LANDIAN MOMENTS" (thanks to Jown for the term)

ano ang pre-landian moment (PLM)? bago maglandian, bago magflirt, may mga moments na napre-preempt ang landian. ang hirap iexplain. basta, kunyari ang pagputok ng baril ang landian, so ang prelandian ang moments ang triggers o mga bagay na maaaring tumulak sa iyo na i-trigger ang baril. bago pa may mabaril na biktima ang flirting moments, dapat iwasan ang pagtrigger o iwasan na makalabit ang gatilyo ng baril para walang masawing puso at damdamin. minsan may ligaw na bala na pwedeng ibang tao ang tamaan ng hindi sinasadya dahil sa mga landiang hindi maiwasan, dahil nangangati ang mga daliri para kalabitin ang gatilyo. kung sana iwasan ang mga moments kung feeling mo may masasagasaan ka, o may posibilidad na magflirt ka sa isa pang tao, edi sana hindi na makakasagasa ang mga palikero at hindi na rin mauuso ang two-timing, ang sulutan, ang pagpapasulot, o ang mga pagseselos.

examples of pre-landian moments:

friendly text messages
pag-epal sa barkada
pagsama/pagyaya sa mga lakaran
eye contact
facial expressions
pagiging touchy
mga friendly hirits

ang mga pre-landian moments na ito ay sa landian din ang dating. it will all end in flirt. why initiate the pre-landian moments kung hindi mo naman balak makipaglandian? may dalawa akong mensahe dito dahil ayokong may makaranas ng sulutan, nagpapasulot, two-timing, at pagseselos o ang pagkasira ng mga samahan. bago pa man din ang landian, iwasan na ang pre-landian moments.

kung nasa relationship ka, iwasan ang PLM. since may mga landian na hindi maiiwasan, ung initial contact pwedeng tantanan na kung alam mong nasa relationship ka. kung may BF/GF ka, iwasan ang initial contact para hindi na mauwi sa landian. para hindi magkasulutan, at maiwasan ang two-timing, o maiwasan ang pagshift ng focus mula sa tao mong mahal papunta sa tao mong nilalandi.
kung sadyang pinanganak kang haliparot o palikero, hands-off naman sa mga taong nasa relationships. respeto naman tsong. bastusan eh. walang ganyanan. wala ka naman palang balak pumasok sa relationship, pero eepal ka at uumpisahan ang PLM, in a sense, nanunulot ka na. hindi lang isang tao ang sinaktan mo, ngunit dalawa: ung "inagawan" mo, at ung "sinulot" mo, dahil parang nilinlang at niloko mo sya sa iyong bitag para lang paasahin sya sa wala.

*gatilyo = trigger
**palikero = playboy or flirtatious male
***haliparot = malandi
****sulot = agaw

SURPRISE!!!

2006-04-13T01:11:00.000+08:00

(ganda ng cake ko, nakakahinayang kainin)

Backtrack. Some weeks ago: my mom collected my highschool barkada's contact numbers (something fishy). A week ago, i saw my baby pics scanned (still fishy). My close gal friends said they can't come to my birthday outing on the 10th. I invited most of my barkada but many of them said they can't make it because of enrolment, OJT, vacation, etc.

April 9, my big natal anniversary.

12AM - text greetings started pouring in...
430-7PM - church (gave the gift to the birthday girl)
730PM - started to travel towards the resort
845PM - had a flat tyre. mom calls. some guests are already hungry. i knew some churchmates and relatives were already there since i told my barkada to come the day after, para reunion na rin.
930PM - i arrived at the resort. they told me to put my bags in the room. my guests are preparing the tables to eat.

i opened the door of the room. SURPRISE!!!!!!!!!! my whole barkada was there waiting for me. i was surprised, but i didnt look surprised. asteeeg sobra! mga sinungaling!!! white lies. ang galing magpalusot ng barkada ko, may nalalaman pa silang hindi sila makakapunta. i was really touched by their presence. inside the small room, they were standing on the bed and the couch holding a big HAPPY BIRTHDAY banner, throwing confetti and some pop-up party ek-ek. galeng! my mom's modus operandi worked. they had good coordination. happiest birthday so far. woooot!!!

we ate. we bonded. sabi ko kay nanay wag na magprogram kung hindi, uuwi ako. we did have a program, but i cant back out, the people who attended were so special i cant leave them behind. walang cotillion. but they gave words of wisdom and advice to me, who i am to them, and what i did to them. i love my highschool barkada, walang kapalit, walang hihigit, the best, never failed me. it's where i really belong. we talked. we chatted. we played children schoolyard games. we shared stories. we swam. i didn't swim of course because i can't. i just soaked and floated with the "salbabida" gift. hehe. walang tulugan. half of them left 6AM the next morning. the rest left about 1030AM. walang tulugan to catch up with stories. connection, connection, connection.

i would like to thank the presence of my highschool barkada (plus their special someones who tagged along): allain, jan-michael, ryan james, pat, mark, gregore, sammy, john eric, marvin, uly, joedz, anj, elaine, mabel, ange, joy, lala, joan, danes

haaay... im eternally grateful. asteeg kayo!!!

next up! wedding year 200x!!! :)

Araw ng Kagitingan

2006-04-09T02:56:00.000+08:00

Maraming mahalagang okasyon ang ipagdiriwang ngayon. Palm Sunday ngayong April 9. Araw ng Bataan. Day of Valor sa Ingles o Araw ng Kagitingan ay ngayon din ipagdiriwang. Ang araw ng pagsuko ng Bataan. Ang araw na nagsimula ang makasaysayang Death March.

Ano ngayon kung Araw ng Kagitingan? Bakit nga ba natin ipinagdiriwang ito? Bakit sa isang araw ng pagsuko at pagpapahirap dahil sa Death March? Hmm... matanong ko lang. Naranasan mo na bang mag-"let go"? Mahirap bumitaw sa isang tao o bagay na pinakamamahal mo. Mahirap isuko ang isang tao o bagay na pinakamamahal mo, na handa mong ipaglaban at ialay ang buhay alay-alay lamang sa kanya. Nasabi sa isang Sentenyal na article:

"Bilang paggunita sa makasaysayang pagsuko ng Bataan, itinalaga ng pamahalaan ang Abril 9 ng bawat taon, bilang Araw ng Kagitingan, upang parangalan ang mga kababayan nating nakipaglaban, sukdulang ialay ang buhay para sa bansa."

Dahil sa pagmamahal sa kalayaan, ang Bataan ay hindi basta-bastang nagpagapi sa mga mapanupil na Hapon nung panahon ng Hapon. (trivia: sa Japan laging Panahon ng Hapon) Ang Bataan ang nagsisilbing ehemplo na ang mga Pinoy ay hindi basta-basta magpapasupil sa mga banyaga. Hanggang sa huling sandali, pinagtanggol ng mga magigiting na Pilipino ang kalayaan at ang bansa.

Siguro, ang mga pinanganak sa araw na ito ay sadyang magigiting. Kagitingan = Valor. Valor = The qualities of a hero or heroine; exceptional or heroic courage when facing danger (especially in battle). Masarap sigurong tanghaling magiting. Maging dakila. Pero sa kagitingan kadalasang sakit ang dinudulot. Hindi mawawala ang sakit, ang parusa, ang Death March. Isang salita ang madalas nating naiisip... Martir. Patuloy ang laban, kahit na nasasaktan. Ipaglalaban ang prinsipyo, ang mga kalayaan, ang pag-ibig. Mahirap maging magiting, maging dakila, maging martir. mahirap kumapit. Pero mas mahirap bumitiw. Mas dakila, mas magiting at mas martir ang mga taong sa kabila ng pagbitiw at pag-"let go" ay patuloy pa ring nabubuhay at buo ang loob, na hindi nawawala ang prinsipyo, at hindi nawawala ang pag-ibig. Alam nating sinuko nila ang Bataan, pero hindi nila sinuko ang Pilipinas, ang kanilang pagiging Pilipino, at ang kanilang pagmamahal dito. Hinarap nila ang mga hirap at pasakit (Death March), at patuloy na nabuhay hanggang sa huling hininga.
____

Itinatatag ko ang araw na ito bilang ang sarili kong Araw ng Kagitingan, ang araw na sinuko ko ang aking "Bataan". Pero tapos na ang aking "Death March", at sisimulan ko naman ang aking "Life March." ika nga sa Ice Age 2: "Let go of the past so you can have a future. " "FOOOD!!! GLORIOUS FOOOOOOOOOD!!!"

p.s.
Birthday ko po ngayon...

Salamat sa mga Nagtext: (in order of appearance)
angel & nades (parehong may maling kalendaryo, bumati na nung 8), karla dearest (saktong 12AM), doti, joan stacey, my angel joedz, prend pat, co-BBDO pat, ate chii-chii, micah, little sis rish, luchie, aspe, ange, unknown texter #1, miyay, nins, prend jess, dianne, unknown texter#2, liz, hongkong tourists (sam, jinielle, kate and mich), mon, hot singles international (ibang klase international na), boss danes, ideza, tippy, sis/angel mabel, macy...

March on June

2006-04-07T17:29:00.001+08:00

(my Tolits moments about 16 years ago)

No Such Thing by John Mayer

"Welcome to the real world", she said to me
Condescendingly
Take a seat
Take your life
Plot it out in black and white
Well I never lived the dreams of the prom kings
And the drama queens
I'd like to think the best of me
Is still hiding
Up my sleeve

They love to tell you
Stay inside the lines
But something's better
On the other side

I wanna run through the halls of my high school
I wanna scream at the
Top of my lungs
I just found out there's no such thing as the real world
Just a lie you've got to rise above

So the good boys and girls take the so called right track
Faded white hats
Grabbing credits and
Maybe transfers
They read all the books but they can't find the answers
And all of our parents
They're getting older
I wonder if they've wished for anything better
While in their memories
Tiny tragedies

They love to tell you
Stay inside the lines
But something's better
On the other side

I wanna run through the halls of my high school
I wanna scream at the
Top of my lungs
I just found out there's no such thing as the real world
Just a lie you got to rise above

I am invincible
As long as I'm alive

I wanna run through the halls of my high school
I wanna scream at the
Top of my lungs
I just found out there's no such thing as the real world
Just a lie you've got to rise above

I just can't wait till my 10 year reunion
I'm gonna bust down the double doors
And when I stand on these tables before you
You will know what all this time was for

Weak End

2006-04-02T22:31:00.000+08:00

no comment. walang lumalabas sa utak ko. agggst. eto na lang quote:

"A single deed is way better than millions of good intentions."

***start of rant***

haaay... sana lahat ng tao may isang salita. sana lahat ng tao naaalala at pinapangatawanan ang mga salitang binitawan. sana lahat ng tao hindi nakakalimot sa mga magagandang nakaraang pinagsamahan. sana lahat ng tao hindi lang puro intensyon. sana lahat ng tao totoo. sana lahat ng tao kumikilos at hindi ka lang pakakagatin sa mga magagandang pangako. sana lahat ng tao hindi parang pulitikong nangangampanya. sana lahat ng kaibigan nananatiling kaibigan. sana lahat ng tao namamansin hindi lang tuwing may kailangan. sana lahat ng tao matino mag-isip. sana lahat ng tao nagbibigayan. sana lahat ng tao may dangal sa kanyang sarili, sa kanyang pamilya. sana lahat ng tao kayang humarap sa mundo nang buong puso at taas noong hinaharap ang lahat ng problema at hindi lang ito tinatakasan. sana... sana... dapat.

***end of rant***

p.s.
week end was a blast!!! the last day was just weak
thurs-friday(afternoon): great! got to get close to God, to nature, and the birthday girl
fri(7-9:30pm): briefed and oriented in BBDO!!! CCO David Guerrero gave words of wisdom. I wish i get absorbed during the course.
fri(late night): party with the block with the JimenezBasic creatives! :) lot of fun, and i learned Mahjong
sat: badminton with the block... dapat. only a few showed up, well... it's alright. my body aches, pero ok lang. till next time. ayoko na magRELAY. afterwards, aspe, sam, and i met rish at Market!2x, then we met her bestfriend in Glorietta... then they helped me looked for gift items for the birthday girl... hehehe...

Summer Over The Rainbow

2006-03-29T19:25:00.000+08:00

(tripping lang, summer naman eh, dont sue me)

summer is here. fire prevention is now in session. im thinking of having a haircut too feel cool. when i saw V for Vendetta trailers, i can't help but associate Natalie Portman with the local girlie store? What if they spouse the bald Natalie on their billboards? hmm... would it still sell.

anyways, this week was really toxic but great. some random great things happened this week:

i met someone with the same birthday as mine. (we're both having our "debut")
pat and i got in the BBDO Training course. all out WHOA na to! thanks to Sir Third and all the support and prayers of the block and friends
the schoolyear has ended, now it's vacation
went to Powerbooks warehouse sale (thanks to Sam). i got 5 books: The Alchemist and The Fifth Mountain by Paolo Coelho; first 2 books of the Chronicles of Narnia; and J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan
went to Greenhills and was overwhelmed by the anime, toys and japanese things i have missed
can't believe that we did 20+ print ads in one sitting...
the TV is still broken but i'm exposed to more books
i got my googlepage account

*** still praying for number 1 and 2 for further developments on my Personal Legend

***

Word for the Day: RELAY
(e.g. Please relay the news regarding the saturday morning badminton game)

...

Let Go... Let God

2006-03-26T21:21:00.000+08:00

"Letting God!" would not be complete without "Letting Go."

hmmm... today is an interesting day. agggst! Thank God for His message! Im glad i attended the afternoon service. the message was about letting go and letting God. we can't let God take control of our life if we do not let go of unnecessary things, things which bother us, things which take our eyes off Him, things which stress us, things, people and situations which are hard to handle and hard to gauge. However these things are important to us in this temporal material world we're living, only eternal and spiritual things are things that matter. anything that pertains to God would be matters of great consequence.

and one more thing... :) i found another person who shares the same birthday as mine. she's having her debut... in guy's terms, im having one too, but no party for me. anyways... i'm happy, i hope to be euphoric soon...

Song of the Moment: One Last Cry
(last na talaga to...)

Dora the Rat Killer

2006-03-25T19:00:00.000+08:00

(parang may kulang... bakit kaya?)

Kelan pa naging batang espanyol si Dora? Yan ang tanong ko dati. Dora the Explorer... ahhh. Pero ang alam ko lang talagang Dora ay yung pamatay sa daga. Pangalan pa lang pamatay na. Dora. Dora dora dora dora dora. Ewan ko ba kung bakit ko naisip ang Dora Rat Killer para sa final campaign presentation namin sa Copywriting and Art Direction Class under Sir Third.

Masarap pag-isipan ung ad campaign, ang problema, hindi naging campaign ung amin, kahit na trip namin ang ideas (see print ad above), hindi masyadong thematic... un ang naging problema namin nung partner ko. Pero masaya dahil makulit, makulit isipin, masaya magshoot at mag-edit. Mahirap, pero masarap at masaya talaga gumawa ng ads. Gusto ko talaga makapasok sa isang creative na agency. Hindi biro mag-isip para maibenta ang mga produkto. hindi biro magpapansin sa mga maaarteng manonood sa loob lang ng ilang segundo para makumbinsi mo sila na sang-ayunan ka at mahikayat gumalaw nang ayon sa gusto ng inyong organisasyon. isipin mo, paano ka manliligaw o magpapansin man lang sa crush mo sa loob lang ng 30 seconds at sabihin mo na gusto mo sya, isipin mo na mas mahirap kung kelangan mo pang magpakilala dahil "new product" ka, maliban na lang kung kilala ka na nya at good shot ka kaso torpe ka, kaya kahit papaano meron ka nang "brand recognition."

minsan, sa sobrang hirap mag-isip, gusto mo na lang humiga at matulog, maglaro, manood ng sine at kung ano man. masama pinipilit, pangit ang lalabas. maganda merong mild panic. ayon nga sa narinig ko, "mild panic is the mother of invention." crammer ako, pero hindi sobra na wala nang oras maghanda. gusto ko pressured ako at my own convenience, yung tipong sarili ko ang nagbibigay ng pressure at hindi ibang tao. mahirap pag sobra ang pressure, nakakabaliw, samahan mo pa ng puyat at gutom, sakit na sa ulo, sakit pa sa katawan, parang gusto mo nang humimlay. kaya dapat may warning ang Dora Rat Killer na "Keep out of reach of Stressed People" at hindi lang "Keep out of reach of children." Mahirap na pag pumapak sila ng Dora... "dragon kung umusowk, dragon kung tumeypowk." Patay ang mga peste. Nakakapeste pa naman ang stress sabayan mo pa ng mga taong stressed... peste talaga. Dora... bow.

Idiot Savant / Erudite Imbeciles

2006-03-20T21:55:00.000+08:00

this is the dictionary definition of idiot savant: (click the title for more info on them)

"Person who is mentally retarded in general but who displays remarkable aptitude in some limited field (usually involving memory)"

many films and documentaries in Discovery Channel feature Idiot Savant: those amazing people who seem mentally retarded but may be either really good in observation, memory, calculations, and artworks. Forrest Gump would be one of the most popular. With really low IQ, he is good in many fields especially in sports, which make him appear like a learned man. In the movie Rain Man, Dustin Hoffman played an idiot savant... a retarded guy, but has astounding arithmetic and observation skills.

taken the phrase literally, as the oxymoron suggests, these people are idiots (A person of subnormal intelligence) but savants (Someone who has been admitted to membership in a scholarly field). We may call them idiot savants, erudite imbeciles, intellectual morons, or learned cretins. In my perspective, this term is not limited to those with talented people with low IQ, but also to erudite persons who make stupid decisions. even the people with the most profound knowledge can be idiots in their own right. we are not stupid, but we still commit stupid mistakes. why? because of rashness, the lack of prudence. because of not using our faculty of thinking as we should. because we give in to stupidity. because of love.

*** and then I'd go and spoil it all by saying something stupid like "I love you" ***

Song Analysis: Syota ng Bayan

2006-03-18T00:53:00.000+08:00

Habang nagmimeeting kanina, bigla kong naalala ang kantang ito entitled Syota ng Bayan by Grin Department. Noong nasa elementary pa lang ako, pinapatugtog ito sa school bus namin kaya halos lahat ng kanta nila ay kabisado namin... the chorus goes like this (click the title to go to the site with the full lyrics):

"syota mo ay syota nya at syota ng lahat,
syota na nila at syota pa ng bayan"

hmm... inisip ko na lang kung may ganyan ba talagang cases. grabe, senti, song from almost 10 years ago, tapos bigla na lang nagpop-up sa utak ko. malungkot isipin na may mga ganyang klaseng tao. mapalingon ka lang, aba, meron na palang iba. aggst... collect and select, or worse, gotta catch'em all, parang nangolekta ng pokemon na ikukulong sa pokeball of pseudo-relationships. hindi mo alam ang ginagawa pag nakatalikod ka. may darating sa iyo, akala mo special, one-of-a-kind, pero second-hand na pala... or worse, parang for rent, parang mga Betamax tapes, or mga Pinoy romance pocketbooks. Ang pangit tignan ng mga Betamax tapes na puro gasgas at dumi na dahil pinagpasahan na, ang labo na ng quality, akala mo makakaraos ka na sa panonood kaso wala rin. Pag nakikita ko ang mga for rent na pocketbooks sa recto (pwede palit, pwede rent, pwede bili, pwede ka rin magbenta), grabe, gula-gulanit na ang mga pahina, at hindi mo alam kung may makukuha ka pang kwento, kasi parang alam na ng lahat ang kwento, paulit-ulit lang, napagsawaan na.

ang punto ko lang siguro dito ay nawawala ang kahalagahan ng isang bagay pag masyado na syang kalat o gasgas. naalala ko kung bakit gusto ko ang alternative, gusto ko ung unique, ung kakaiba, ung kahit ako lang ang nakakaappreciate, hindi mainstream, indie, hindi pa gasgas. tipong, ang diyamante at ginto ay mahal at mahalaga dahil madalang sila sa ibabaw ng planeta. tipong sa kultura, pag masyado nang mainstream, iba na ang dating, di mo na masyado maappreciate ang tunay na taglay nitong ganda. pag kinakanta na ng lahat ang paborito mong kanta, parang ayaw mo na nito. pero kung ang kanta mo ay kanta nya at kanta ng lahat, kanta nila, kanta pa ng bayan. wala, wala nang uniqueness. bumaba na ang value, parang ayaw mo na rin tuloy kantahin. tsk.

If you have more insights, feel free to discuss. Dig deeper, Leap higher.

Tag Tim... Tag Team

2006-03-16T01:05:00.000+08:00

i was tagged... so i will tag back...

1. Tag 7 people: Prend, Allain, Grace, Anj, Rish, Nades, Doti

2. Write 7 angry things:
- GRRAAAWWWRRR!!!
- Lion
- Tiger
- Being hungry
- Pagpupuyat
- Pagtapak ng babol gam
- Pagtapak ng excretory wastes ng canis familiaris

3. Write 7 happy things:
- true friends
- art
- creativity
- sleep
- japanese things
- food
- BBDO!!!!

+ RATE MY LIFE QUIZ

This Is My Life, Rated
Life:	7.6
Mind:	8.5
Body:	8.8
Spirit:	9.2
Friends/Family:	4.7
Love:	2.1
Finance:	5.2
Take the Rate My Life Quiz

Last Chance Sale

2006-03-15T22:49:00.000+08:00

Natawa na lang ako nang nakita ko sa isang package ng Belgian chocolates dito sa bahay ang sticker na "LAST CHANCE SALE." Sige, halos pareho lang sya ng mga LAST DAY SALE na nasa mga mall at supermarket pero iba ang impact sa akin ng LAST CHANCE SALE eh. parang now or never. pero mahirap pa rin paniwalaan. naalala ko dati sa Tutuban, gabi-gabi namin nakikita yung LAST DAY SALE sa isang tindahan. araw-araw last day. tapos hihirit pa ang nagtitinda, "magsasala na, bili na." kung anu-anong gimik naiisip ng mga nagtitinda para makabenta. parang ang laking kawalan sa mga tao pag hindi nila kinuha ang oportunidad, sayang eh, last chance pa naman... cge na nga. sayang ang chance. tsk tsk

pero wala pa rin tatalo sa singing tiangge barker sa divisoria na huli kong narinig mga 5 years ago. "hala sige na, lapit-lapit na, bili na kayo, murang-mura lang, hala sige na." customized pa yan kung ano ung bibilhin mo. kung mapagtripan ka ng kumakanta, "hala sige na, lapit lapit na. meron ka nang blouse, meron pang panty." galeng, spontaneous, basta nakakabilib kasi non-stop. dumaan ka ng tanghali, kumakanta pa rin, dumaan ka ng hapon, meron pa rin. nalungkot na lang ako nang nagsimula na sila magrecord. siguro kinuha na yung barker na nakamegaphone ng isang major record label company, at siguro nakabenta na sya ng maraming CD, baka nga pinirata na sya sa quaipo eh.

hindi ko ba alam kung bakit ako nagblog tungkol sa pagbebenta. may iniisip kasi ako pero wala akong maisip kaya naisipan ko muna magblog tungkol sa LAST CHANCE SALE na nakita ko sa packaging ng Belgian chocolates. naalala ko nga kanina na dapat magboblog ako tungkol sa chocolates, pero mas striking yung pink sticker na nakalagay "LAST CHANCE SALE." paano kung tao yung may sticker na "LAST CHANCE SALE"? last chance mo na ako makikita ngayon, sigurado kang hindi ka bibili? marahil hindi ka na pinapansin kasi naisip din naman nya na next time naman may sale ulit eh. pero sige ka, paano kung wala nang stock? pero puwede rin naman pumunta sa factory kung saan factory price. kung defective siguro pwede ibalik within 24 hours basta walang gasgas. kung hindi talaga pwede, edi wag. nabasa ko nga sa isang tindahan ng dyaryo, wag bulatlatin kung hindi naman bibili. siguro pareho lang sa mga tao. wag mo bulatlatin ang buhay, wag mo paasahin na bibili ka kung wala ka naman talagang balak bumili, o kung wala ka naman talagang pera. the customer is always right. yeah right. ever heard of profitable customers? hmm... mahabang discussion pero respeto din lang sa tindero/a, pero ang tindero/a respeto din sa mga mamimili. dapat mahaba ang pasensya, maraming alam tungkol sa kanyang binebenta, pleasing personality, 20/20 vision, computer literate, graduate of any 4-year course with excellent grades in values education... siguradong bebenta ka, hindi lang ng iyong products.

Ms Really-Really-Really Fast Lover

2006-03-14T20:53:00.000+08:00

I've LSS on the Bud Light ads shown to us during our ad talks.

Bad Light presents Real Women of Genius... (tama na, ibang song na lang)

Biglaan by 6 Cycle Mind

Nandito nakaukit pa rin sa puso ko,
Nang sabihin mong wag na lang.
Nandito nakatatak pa rin sa isip ko,
Kung paano mong tinalikuran ang lahat.

Kay bilis ba't umalis, nakakamiss

Na bigla lang di ko man lamang nalaman
Na mawawala,
Na bigla lang di mo man lamang naisip
Na idahan-dahan.
Hindi ako sanay sa biglaan,
Unti unti na lang sanang nawala.

Hindi ba natin kayang magkunwari,
at sabihing sige na lang
Hindi ba natin kayang dayain,
Ang mga yakap sa tuwing lumalambing

Kay bilis ba't umalis, nakakamiss

Na bigla lang di ko man lamang nalaman
Na mawawala,
Na bigla lang di mo man lamang naisip
Na idahan-dahan.
Hindi ako sanay sa biglaan,
Unti unti na lang sanang nawala.

Ugly Writer

2006-03-02T19:32:00.000+08:00

woooooh! im so happy, at least i passed the 1st round. Our professor asked us to try out BBDO's Ugly Writer course, where they are looking for young creatives. After enjoying torture and adrenaline rush in Eurostar, now another challenge awaits. Aggst, i'm really excited. I got to the top 16, and i will have a "little chat" and live brief this friday. And friends, i need your prayers. I want, i hope, i pray that i get into the top 10. Thank you God for the creativity, talent and craziness you bestowed on me!

Woooo.... ooooh! Thank God for Eurostar!

2006-03-01T00:27:00.000+08:00

Thank God I'm alive. I'm thankful for my life. I'm thankful for my existence. That's what I said after going to Eurostar Carnival. Arrgh! It was a blast. I thought I could never ride those rides. Back in Enchanted Kingdom, Anchor's Away freaked me out. I could not even ride Space Shuttle. But I want to release the pain, tension and stress of school brought about IMC and the people i deal with. The last day of Eurostar is like the last day of my life. I am really glad Miyay coerced me to come. Great thing, Rissee, and Dianne was there too! I only rode 5 rides but it was well worth the price! The enjoyment, the experience, and the company was priceless!

Ride 1: Joker - I can't believe our first ride was already for daredevils. I thought we'll go for something mellow like bump cars and carousel... but no... we engaged ourselves in free fall. Imagine the feeling of jumping from a height of 42 meters. I always wanted to go bungee jumping... this is the closest so far. Free fall!!! And Miyay told me na "bitin ung sigaw ko." i needed to shout to relieve myself of the tension building up, but according to her, it seemed as if a frog was caught in my throat. I really loved this ride. For me, sulit ung 300 sa ride lang na to. Parang kang tinatapon na lumilipad.

Ride 2: Bump Car (Dodgem Clone)
- I pity you if you don't know bump cars. And there was a cutie in orange. Weeeeeh... happy me! :)
Ride 3: I forgot the name, but it's the Ferris Wheel or the Wheel-of-Fate Clone
- Enjoyable and relaxing. I really love heights. I love vertical rides. I hate those horizontal rides like carousels since they make me dizzy. Great view of Taguig and Makati.
Ride 4: Colorado (Jungle Log Jam Clone)
- I got wet.
Ride 5: Horror House
- sayang 50 pesos. it could be improved if u could see your upcoming grades beyond the darkness. seriously, walang thrill, or maybe because im too used to horror when i go to school.

and finally... Ride 6: Ranger (aka Anchor's Away 360 degrees version)
- If Anchor's Away was half the story, Ranger is the full revolution. If you want to torture Saddam Hussein or the leaders to squeal their WMD, make them ride there.

but nothing tops the first ride. I never felt so alive after riding Joker. My dream of bungee jumping came true... almost. Too bad last day na ng Eurostar today. Special thanks to Miyay, Dianne, Rissee, Peaj and Ica (kahit by heart ka lang kasama, salamat sa paghatid mo sa amin!)

Manananggal sa EDSA

2006-02-26T22:10:00.000+08:00

Naalala ko sa libro ni Bob Ong na Stainless Longganisa ang kanyang pagkamangha sa mga manananggal at sa digestive system nito. Malaking misteryo sa kanya kung paano dinidigest ng mga manananggal ang mga biktima nito sa kadahilanang ang kanyang mga bituka ay nasa naiwang bahagi ng kanyang katawan. Naalala ko ang manananggal nang makita ang mga pangyayari sa bansa natin ngayon.

Ang Pilipinas ay parang manananggal. Kung hindi mo alam ang manananggal, kawawa ka naman, hindi ko na problema yan. Ang dami na ngang problema ng bansa, wag ka na dumagdag. Balik tayo sa problema ng Pilipinas. Dapat ipinagdiriwang nung sabado ang kaisa-isang EDSA Revolution na hindi na mauulit muli. Kahit anong gaya, iba pa rin ang orig. Parang first love, first kiss, first salary... iba ang ligaya, iba ang epekto. Ngayon, walang dapat ipagdiwang. Magiging hipokrito ako kung hindi ko ipagbubunyi ang paborito kong anunsyo na "Walang Pasok," pero maliban doon at sa masarap na pagkain, walang dapat ikasaya. Problema ang kinahaharap ng gobyerno, marahil sila ang ugat, o sila mismo ang problema, sila na ang nakakaalam, malalaki na sila.

Bakit ko sinabing parang manananggal ang Pilipinas? Sa isang simpleng kadahilanan - ang Pilipinas ay hati. Nakahiwalay ang ulo sa ibabang bahagi ng katawan. Hiwalay ang ulo o mga pinuno at mga nasa kaitaas-taasan sa mga taong nasa ibaba. Hiwalay ang gobyerno, hiwalay ang militar, hiwalay ang simbahan, hiwalay ang karaniwang tao. Hindi mo alam kung sino ang humiwalay pero alam mong may humilay, may nang-iwan, at may naiwan. Habang lumilipad at aktibo ang ulo at "upper torso," nasa baba naman ang "lower limbs" at nakatanga, naghihintay ng muling pagbabalik ni "upper torso."

Bakit iba ang EDSA 1? Dahil ang mga tao dati ay iisa, hindi hiwalay. Marahil hiwalay dahil may oposisyon at ibang loyalista, pero nagkaisa din ang lahat para sa kapayapaan at kaginhawaan ng bansa. Sundalo, politiko, simbahan, mga tao -- nagkaisa at nagsama-sama. Sa madaling salita, for the common good. Ngayon, hindi ko maintindihan ang mga balita. Ano na ang nangyari sa bansa natin?

Kung ihahalintulad sa manananggal, dati ang Pilipinas ay nasa liwanag, isang magandang dalaga na buo ang katawan, kahali-halina sa mga manliligaw aka foreign investors at turista. Pero sa kasamaang palad, sa pagsapit ng dilim, dumating ang mga madidilim na araw ng Pilipinas... nilagyan ng langis ang baywang, at unti-unting nahati ang katawan at lumabas ang maiitim na pakpak. Lumabas ang kasamaan ng mga tao, ng mga Pilipino. Naging masama at pangit manananggal ang dating mahinhin at kaakit-akit na dalagang itago nating sa pangalang Pilipinas. Habang lumilipad ang ulo at itaas na bahagi ng katawan at naghahasik ng lagim sa paligid, ang ibabang bahagi (lower limbs) naman ay binubudburan na ng asin at bawang. Habang ang nasa taas ay lalong tumataas at nagpapakabusog, ang nasa baba naman ay natatapakan, nasasaktan, at iniwan. Kung hindi magsasama ang taas at baba ng manananggal upang magbalik sa anyo ng isang karaniwang tao bago magbukang-liwayway, pareho lang silang masasawi. Habang hiwalay ang mga manananggal, kahit mukhang silang makapangyarihan, talo pa rin sila sa bawang ng kahirapan at asin ng kasakiman, na syang papatay sa kanila. Habang hiwalay ang Pilipinas, walang panalo. Hindi pa huli para sa Pilipinas na mag-volt-in at ilabas ang taglay na kabutihan at kagandahan. Hope things turn out well...

Backup Love

2006-02-24T17:12:00.000+08:00

Always remember to backup your files. In one of the episodes of Spongebob Squarepants, they said that we should not bring anything we are not prepared to lose. In most cases, be sure to backup files we are not ready to let go. It hurts to see your files go... all your investments, your time, energy and internet money, going down to waste.

Early this morning, I saw some signs. I was sick, fortunately classes were suspended so i could rest. When i was about to use my phone, it shut down. No message in the inbox was left. Arrgh. Yeah, i copied some messages to a piece of paper, but those were good messages worthy remembering and keeping. But then, I have to let go. Forces of technology and cellphone malfunctions help me to let go. Then when i restarted the phone again, some messages saved from the sim went back. Hmm... not bad after all. Still, goodbye messages. A friend told me, a sign is just a sign.

Then I slept. I dreamt of meeting Zhang Ziyi. We were talking and she still had difficulty talking English, but the conversation went well. Arrgh... a sign is just a sign. I suddenly remembered my 1st crush who looked like her. Signs... nuninuninu... this has nothing to do with my point, i just wanted to share

Then i thought, what if love could be backed up. When love is lost, it hurts so bad. You invest time. You invest effort. You invest some money to execute your plans, to go out, to hang out. You invest love. You invest yourself. All these short and long-term investments - so love would grow, so the relationship would grow, so you'll grow together. Your stock prices will reach each peak. Wait... why am i talking about investments and stocks? Back to backing up. Then, one day, you'll discover everything is gone. You wake up one morning, being slapped in the face by words saying the feeling is gone, love is gone, all those investments gone awry. Goodbye. Ouch. Tsk tsk. Sayang. How you wish love could be backed up, and recover all those lost moments and feelings. How you wish you could install love once again, either to start anew, or bank on the recovered memories and build on the relationship as if nothing happened. Even if the love files are corrupted, how you could wish you could fix them or delete them so as not to affect the whole system of relationship. If the some virus or bugs or worms invaded the relationship, how we wish we could eliminate those pesky intruders who complicated the once blooming relationship. How we wish we could clean up the system to make the relationship running smoothly once again. How we wish we could bring back the memories, the moments, and all those good times.

Unfortunately, we can't bring back something another party considers obsolete. How could we compete with some new system? I think there are really backups, but those concerned parties keep them for safekeeping purposes, not something to bring back, since even if they are unforgettable happy or sad moments, those are the same moments from the person who they got tired of or got bored with. Due to the lack of term, "pinagsawaan na." If these were not the case, then backup would be successful. If this is the case, then it's time to say goodbye and live and let go. Find a new model. Upgrade yourself. Upgrade your love. Canvas, and find upgrades. Always raise the bar higher everytime you move on.

Neil Gaiman on Love

2006-02-23T23:39:00.000+08:00

i found one of my old drawings and decided to post it here. And it kinda reminded me of Neil Gaiman's thoughts on love. This is an interesting read.

"Have you ever been in love? Horrible isn't it? It makes you so vulnerable. It opens your chest and it opens up your heart and it means that someone can get inside you and mess you up. You build up all these defenses, you build up a whole suit of armor, so that nothing can hurt you, then one stupid person, no different from any other stupid person, wanders into your stupid life...You give them a piece of you. They didn't ask for it. They did something dumb one day, like kiss you or smile at you, and then your life isn't your own anymore. Love takes hostages. It gets inside you. It eats you out and leaves you crying in the darkness, so simple a phrase like 'maybe we should be just friends' turns into a glass splinter working its way into your heart. It hurts. Not just in the imagination. Not just in the mind. It's a soul-hurt, a real gets-inside-you-and-rips-you-apart pain. I hate love."

- Neil Gaiman in Love

Kahit Sulyap Lang Narda...

2006-02-19T22:55:00.000+08:00

Narda by Kamikazee

Tila ibon kung lumipad, sumabay sa hangin ako'y
Napatingin sa dalagang nababalot ng hiwaga.
Mapapansin kaya sa dami ng yong ginagawa
Kung kaagaw ko ang lahat may pag-asa bang makilala ka

Awit na nananawagan, baka sakaling napakikinggan,
Pag-ibig na palaisipan sa kanta na lang idaraan
Nag-aabang sa langit, sa mga ulap sumisilip
Sa likod ng mga tala, kahit sulyap lang Darna

Ang swerte nga naman ni Ding, lagi ka nyang kapiling
Kung ako sa kanya niligawan na kita
Mapapansin kaya sa dami ng yong ginagawa
Kung kaagaw ko ang lahat may pag asa bang makilala ka

Awit na nananawagan, baka sakaling napakikinggan,
Pag-ibig na palaisipan sa kanta na lang idadaan
Nag-aabang sa langit, sa mga ulap sumisilip
Sa likod ng mga tala, kahit sulyap lang Darna

Tumalon kaya ako sa bangin, para lang iyong sagipin
Ito ang tanging paraan para mayakap ka
Darating kayasa dami ng ginagawa
Kung kaagaw ko sila paano na kaya?

Awit na nananawagan, baka sakaling napakikinggan,
Pag-ibig na palaisipan sa kanta na lang idadaan
Nag-aabang sa langit, sa mga ulap sumisilip
Sa likod ng mga tala, kahit sulyap lang Darna

Nag aabang sa langit, sa mga ulap sumisilip
Sa likod ng mga tala, kahit sulyap lang Darna

______________________________

to those who thinks know me: http://kevan.org/johari?name=yomz

______________________________

illustration: from Mar's Ravelo's Darna (Mango Comics) drawn by Ryan Orosco

p.s.
it would be a good practice for me if i make my own illustrations of my fave songs of the moment. hmm... to draw or to write??? or make a new blog dedicating entirely to writing? hmmm... *puts on thinking cap*

Make your blog count

2006-02-12T20:51:00.000+08:00

Please support our class project here

make your blog count

if you have the time, please answer one or two questions in our forums. Your insights will really help, as bloggers and as blog readers.

http://theblogcount.blogspot.com/2006/02/forum-1.html
http://theblogcount.blogspot.com/2006/02/forum-2.html

Please help us. We need at least 50 ethical blogs.

Repost: Akin ka na lang ulit

2006-02-11T22:52:00.000+08:00

Just had the urge to post this again. plus, i really love the picture from the movie Shutter.

Akin Ka Na Lang
by J. Nicolas
from the album Noontime Show
performed by the itchyworms!

Verse 1
'Wag kang maniwala d'yan. 'Di ka n'ya mahal talaga
Sayang lang ang buhay mo kung mapupunta ka lang sa kanya
Iiwanan ka lang n'yan, mag-ingat ka
Dagdag ka lamang sa milyun-milyong babae n'ya

Chorus
Akin ka na lang (akin ka na lang)
Iingatan ko ang puso mo
Akin ka na lang (akin ka na lang)
Wala nang hihigit pa sa 'yo

Verse 2
'Di naman ako bolero katulad ng ibang tao
Ang totoo'y pag nandyan ka medyo nabubulol pa nga ako
Malangis lang ang dila n'yan, 'wag kang madala
Dahan-dahan ka lang, baka pati ika'y mabiktima ('Wag naman sana)

Repeat Chorus

Refrain
'Di naman sa sinisiraan ko ang pangit na 'yan
'Wag ka dapat sa'kin magduda, hinding-hindi kita pababayaan!

Repeat Chorus

Akin ka na lang
Liligaya ka sa pag-ibig ko
Akin ka na lang
At wala nang hihigit pa sa 'yo
Wala nang hihigit pa sa 'yo (akin ka na lang)

Falling from a Tree

2006-02-09T02:47:00.000+08:00

____________________________________

when i was a little kid,

i fell from a tree.

but i managed to hold on to a branch.

i was up there for a long time and waited.

the silence...
the pain in my arms...
the blood pumping in my ears.

then i fell...

i couldn't remember what happened when i hit the ground.

all i could remember was
the agony of holding on
and
the wonderful feeling of letting go.
______________________________

this msg was forwarded to me by a friend. i kinda liked it.

it's really hard to hang on. i thought i let go, but there's another branch i held into. the tree where i fell from was pretty high i think. the agony is starting to form... my heartbeats seem faster... i dont know when the branch will break, or when will my hands give up... or are there still branches down there. spikes and thorns are all around, but it's part of the challenge.

Pagkakamali

2006-02-09T02:15:00.000+08:00

PAGKAKAMALI*
Artist: MOJOFLY
Composer: Kitchie Nadal
Arranger & Producer: Rizal Jose A. Gurango
Executive Producer: Sony Music Philippines

kanina ko pa pinagmamasdan ang nakaraan
wala akong lakas sabihin dahil pagod na akong magisip
sa kasalanang nagawa ko

di mo man maintindihan alam kong nagkamali ako
ba’t di ko maamin ang totoo
ikaw ang pinakamagandang pagkakamali ko

pagbalik mo sasabihin ko pa rin sa iyo
na nag-iisa ka pa rin sa buhay kong ito...

ganito lang ako
habang buhay mag-isa
pinaghandaan ko na dati dati pa

*biggest mistake of 2005. good mistake though, im learning the HAAAAAAAAAARD way... i hope i wont do the same mistake again... what was the mistake anyway?

Hopeful...

2006-02-02T00:10:00.000+08:00

Little acts of kindness make me think that there is still hope for our country... for the Philippines. Small acts of goodness make the world go round positively. Good acts which may seem trivial keep me optimistic, make me smile, inspire me to do good too, even if there is no reward.

While riding the FX on my daily commute to school, I saw one guy who was supposed to ride the FX gave up his place for a family to occupy. Quite a good deed, expecting nothing in return. Yes, the guy may be late, but the gentlemanly act however small is really good. Start the day right. Nice to see good things in an evil materialistic world. People using pedestrian lanes, throwing trash on trash bins, cars giving way to another... how i wish everyone could be a little selfless.

p.s.
rainbow photographed while going home from Antipolo. Quite rare to see rainbows nowadays.

Blue heart...

2006-02-01T21:42:00.000+08:00

I found this color test in one of our e-groups, and i decided to take it. Then i took the heart or heads test.

What color am i???

Yomz, your true color is Blue!

You're blue — the most soothing shade of the spectrum. The color of a clear summer sky or a deep, reflective ocean, blue has traditionally symbolized trust, solitude, and loyalty. Most likely a thoughtful person who values spending some time on your own, you'd rather connect deeply with a few people than have a bunch of slight acquaintances. Luckily, making close friends isn't that hard, since people are naturally attracted to you — they're soothed by your calming presence. Cool and collected, you rarely overreact. Instead, you think things through before coming to a decision. That level-headed, thoughtful approach to life is patently blue — and patently you!

Heart or head?

I'm a Heart-Strong Idealist.

Yomz, you follow your heart when it comes to success

You're an impassioned individual who just can't suppress your ideals. You've got a strong sense of right and wrong, and want to let people know when they've crossed the line. Sure, there are times when you sit back to hear both sides of an argument. But people had better stay out of the way when your fiery passions take hold.

But just because you can be a bit of a rebel with a cause, it doesn't mean you're incapable of being understanding and compassionate. It's because you're so invested in your ideas and interests that you can work so tirelessly toward your goals and speak up for what you believe in. So keep pouring your heart into it. With conviction like yours, you're sure to succeed!

The Reject Project

2006-01-29T00:38:00.000+08:00

ipikit mo ang iyong mga mata. wala kang makikita. malamang hindi mo mababasa ang blog entry na ito kung ginawa mo iyon. mabuti na lang at binabasa mo pa rin ang kalokohang entry na to kahit na hindi mo sinunod ang panuto. hmm... wala nang pikitan. pero subukan mong isipin, bakit ba laging nasa dulo ng stick ang taba ng barbeque? sadyang puyat ako at kada puntong nais kong ipahayag ay sinasapawan ng isang kabalastugan.

marahil ilan sa atin ang sanay na hindi pansinin, ipagsantabi, ipagsawalangbahala. ang iba ay uupo na lang sa sulok, magdodrowing sa lupa ng mga bilog. hindi ko alam kung bakit ko ito naisulat. pero alam ko noong isang araw, naitanong sa akin ni Irish kung bakit hindi ako matanong, kung bakit usually "introverted" ako, at tila mahiyain. Ang unang pumapasok sa akin ay ang "fear of rejection." Minsan kasi parang nakatatak na sa isip ko na pag nagtanong ka, magmumukha kang tanga. Buti na lang nabasa ko sa Pinoy Komiks na Kiko Machine na mas ok nang magtanong at magmukhang tanga kaysa manahimik at manatiling tanga. Siguro ang ganitong pag-iisip ay magagamit sa ibang aspeto ng buhay: sa panliligaw, sa paghahanap ng trabaho, sa pagsulat ng proyekto, sa pakikipagkilala, atbp.

Ayon sa talatinigan, maraming kahulugan ang rejection.
1.) The person or thing rejected or set aside as inferior in quality
- siguro kaya narereject ang isang tao kasi hindi mataas ang kanyang kwality. wala syang masyadong kwalipikasyon. Hindi nakapasa sa quality testing. maaaring hindi ka inferior per se, pero inferior ang tingin sa iyo dahil baka hindi mo pinapakita ang superior side mo.

2.) Refuse to accept or acknowledge
- kapag ikaw ay nareject. Nirereject mo rin ang rejection. Paikot ikot lang yan. Rejected ka. Ni-rereject mo ung kaisipan na rejected ka. "In denial" ika nga.

3.) Resist immunologically the introduction of some foreign tissue or organ
- kapag medyo kakaiba ka para sa isang babae, ung tipong hindi sila sanay sa mga pagbabago, maaaring ituring ka ng babae na parang bacteria na hindi ka pwedeng dapuan o masilayan. parang kang hulog ng langit, niluwa ng bulkan.

Hmm... ang rejection ay masaklap sa dignidad ng isang tao. kung sa unang hirit ka na-reject ay walang problema. pero kung ikaw ay naghirap o nagsakripisyo o nagbigay ng iyong oras at panahon, masakit. para kang nanligaw at pinasaya, pero ipagsasantabi ka lang pag sawa na sya. para kang nag-isip ng magagandang ideya, tapos ipinagsawalangbahala lang ng iyong mga kagrupo o guro. parang kang nagprint ng resume, pumunta sa malayong lupain, nagfollow-up nang ilang beses para lamang malaman na hindi ka tanggap sa trabaho.

lubhang masakit pag may pinanggalingan. walang problema kung minsan ikaw ay mag-isa. alam mong hindi ka nag-iisa. nariyan ang mga kaibigan - may ilang tunay, may ilang hindi. hindi malungkot mag-isa, kung mag-isa ka. malungkot mag-isa kung may kasama ka. ung tipong kasama mo, pero hindi ka pinapansin. ung tipong kinakaawaan ang ibang tao, hindi nalalaman na ikaw na katabi nya ay mas nasasaktan. ung tipong ayaw ka ngitian, pero tawa nang tawa sa ibang tao. ung tipong kaharap ay cellphone tuwing kinakausap mo. para kang hangin. para kang wala. hindi ko alam kung bakit nandito pa ang talata na ito, pero para sa akin, isang malupeeeet na kaso ng rejection ang ganito.

"A DELAYED DECISION IS REJECTION IN DISGUISE."

hmm...

Brain Freeze

2006-01-25T21:23:00.000+08:00

Pauwi na ako. Naisipan ko bumili ng maiinom sa 7-11. Nate-tempt ako tanungin ung guard kung bakit may kandado pa sila pero hindi naman sila nagsasara, pero nasagot ko na dati ung sarili kong tanong. Matagal ko na pala akong hindi nakakainom ng Slurpee. Masarap pala ang Honey Dew flavor. Naisipan ko uminom para magka-Brain Freeze. Ni minsan, hindi pa ako na-Brain Freeze, (or na Brain Drain or na Brain Wash. ) Inisip ko na lang:

1. Hindi ko iniinom nang maayos
2. Tunaw na ang Slurpee
3. O wala lang akong brain

Hmmm... walang kwentang blog entry.
Gusto ko lang mag-blog. And always remember:

"Virtue is its own reward."

P.S.
masarap ang Snow Cone sa Market Market.

J-pop and Eiga Sai

2006-01-20T00:03:00.000+08:00

I got this from the newsletter OmakeNews... hmm... i hope i could go... this time i would definitely go... alone. Thanks for the reminder Limextreme! :) Back to J-enthusiasm!!!
__________________

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Phil-Japan friendship,
the Japan Foundation in cooperation with the Shangri-La plaza presents
"J-pop at the Shang". There'll be j-pop and traditional pop culture
booths, poster/photo and a music gallery of various j-pop artists,
j-teen movie filmshowings (Eiga Sai) and a j-pop performance of the
j-pop group, Core of Soul (http://www.coreofsoul.com).

Leche!!! @#$%#*&^#!!!

2006-01-18T01:08:00.000+08:00

While meeting for our business presentation for OrgComm at Liz's place, we ate pastillas de leche in a bottle. That pastillas... arrrgh... addicting. This is not a paid advertisement. I loved pastillas even when i was still young. May it be de leche, ube, buko-pandan, ube macapuno, durian, or strawberry (if ever there was one), i happily consumed it. i have a sweet tooth... teeth, to put it to an extreme. i can finish more than 50 pieces of chocolate kisses in one sitting, or a bag of king size M&M's with peanuts. Now, the bottle i bought earlier in Market Market is half empty, or half full depending on how you see it. I loved the product i blogged about it. Lecheng pastillas to! Sarap!

Epilogue:
Grand day with my close friends. Food trip in Market Market. Interviewed buyers in Big & Small of the same mall. Watched Narnia there. Bought pastillas. Went home. Pastillas half empty... or half full.

Prologue:
Hindi pa ubos eh. Sarap, astigin may website pa sila. http://www.sitsirya.com/

Sari Sari Sitsirya's Pastillas de Leche - Pure Gatas ng Kalabaw:
"Leche sa Sarap!"

My Childhood Memory

2006-01-07T22:42:00.000+08:00

Our copywriting lecture was the first writing class a actually enjoyed. The exercises were challenging. It was really fun. Fiction and fact coincide. You are the writer of your life... make your version interesting, not necessarily on how you live it, but on how you tell it. Our speaker Mr. Lawin Bulatao was really inspiring. Though he bashed my lisp (accepted, no offense taken, but why does the word lisp so freakin hard to pronounce?), he managed to stimulate my hunger to write... im no writer but i want to be one... and to be one, you should plan to write, you just write... telling your ideas wont be good if the ain't written. And it inspired me to maintain my blog more, to improve myself, to write consistently and regularly. Strive for excellence. As the comics Zits mentioned, "Excellence is the new average."

The professor asked us to keep our writing exercise as proof that we can write, and i decided to keep it here for safekeeping.

Looking back on my childhood memories brings back the innocence and imagination i had before. Imaging luscious sunsets, mouth-watering scenes, and serene animal sounds all around. Imagine running around spacious green meadows, lying on the ground with flowers enveloping me, and chasing around the magnificent unicorns. What the?!? These sound freakin gay! It does not sound right, i didnt have that disturbing childhood. It feels like i hit my head or something. which reminds me of my earliest childhood memory i can remember. When i was three years old, the back of my head banged the floor... shaking my cranium and all. I still feel the loose bolts when i shake my head from time to time... (just kidding, im completely sane) kidding aside, i really don't recall details except that i was running in the bathroom and i slipped and my young fragile head hit the tiles hard... real hard. They say time stops when you see the love of your life. But i say time stops when your head is about to take the place of your feet's territory. Imagine Matrix bullet-time, how i wish i could dodge the floor and defy Newton. Im thinking if my life flashed before me since it might have been near death, but i guess no life flashes were made, or i had no enough life scenes to watch with matching popcorn. Maybe banging my head on the floor formatted my brain leaving only basics for me to boot. These things lead me to the conclusion that my neurons were re-arranged, mix and mash the grey matter, dislocating the hemispheres and corpus callosum, thus making me think this way.

My Birthdate

2006-01-07T03:59:00.000+08:00

Your Birthdate: April 9

You are a born idealist, with more pet causes than you can count.
You prefer be around others, both when working and while relaxing.
Generous and giving, you believe you can change the world one person at a time.
You're open minded and tolerant. People feel like they can tell you anything.

Your strength: Your go-with-the-flow flexibility

Your weakness: Your flair for the over dramatic

Your power color: Pine green

Your power symbol: Circle

Your power month: September

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

While meeting for our copywriting subject, I asked my partner when was my birthday, unfortunately she forgot. Hmm... then i found this on my prend's blog. Tried it out. And... swak... swak na swak.

ANALYSIS:

You are a born idealist
- yep. im an idealist, more of a born optimist.

You prefer be around others, both when working and while relaxing.
- i love company. but on some counts, i love to enjoy my solitude.

Generous and giving, you believe you can change the world one person at a time.
- who does not? hmm... everybody has one part of altruism and on the other part selfishness. even acts of altruism could also be selfish, not that you have selfish motives, but because altruism gives you a sense of purpose and fulfillment. i give, im generous, especially when i can be. i want to change the world in small ways that i can do.

You're open minded and tolerant. People feel like they can tell you anything.
- i think i'm open-minded... i believe so. sometimes i feel like a confessional, many things heard, nothing gets told. (bawal din kaya ako maging court witness?)

Your strength: Your go-with-the-flow flexibility
- yatta! happy go lucky!!! yep... hakuna matata, i live with no worries. worrying kills. it kills you, it might kill others.

Your weakness: Your flair for the over dramatic
- yep. i will agree, since my friends will surely agree.

Your power color: Pine green
- no wonder i love this color even if it is not my favorite. my mulawin bag (not really from the series, but we call it that because of the feathers inside) and most of my clothes are sort of pine green.

Your power symbol: Circle
- circle... i can't think of anything, but i guess i believe in circles, sometimes you're up, sometimes you're down. hmm... love is not drawn like a heart, but a circle, it simply does not end, and you can't even pinpoint a moment where or why it started.

Your power month: September
-why september? is it because women important in my life have birthdays during this month? my mother, one of my best gal friends in highschool, and my bestfriend in college? hmm... conspiracy na to!

Advocacy: Campaign for Real Torpe

2006-01-04T00:54:00.000+08:00

Being the torpe that I am (or was), I really wanted to do this for a long time a spoof of Dove's Campaign for Real Beauty. Back in the last semester, we had speakers for our Public Relations class, and we were shown a lot of advocacy campaigns. I was thinking, why not make an advocacy campaign for torpes like me. Now, I finally started it and finished it.

I think "torpe-hood", "torpe-dom", "torpe-ness" or katorpehan or whatever you call it, is mostly misunderstood. Just like ADHD, Autism, Cerebral Palsy, (not that I consider katorpehan as a disease) torpe people are misunderstood, and do not get the treatment they deserve. Torpe people are humans too. they can love too. they also get hurt. Torpes also need the chance to love and be loved. Don't reject them at will.

Can timidity really be a strategy to get the girls? I mean, are we really shy or just sly? Torpes usually wait, and wait for the proper moment to come. It's all up to timing, or it could get tiring... I can't think anymore... Hmm...

p.s.
Torpe = timid people; shy; too afraid to ask a girl out or express his true feelings
...

Count Your Blessings (bye 2005)

2006-01-04T00:52:00.000+08:00

I remember from one anime i watched, it was said that if you have enough time to look back, move forward instead. Looking back wouldn't hurt, instead I let the past propel me to the future. Count your blessings, name them one by one.

maybe i wont go on some specifics for some may be forgotten or some may be too personal or i would be commiting injustice to other things i wont be able to mention. for the extra special people, there would be special mention of course. :)

I am thankful for year 2005 for the following.
1. for the wisdom and creativity and endurance God gave me to survive school
2. for the people who i met, who made an impact in my life
3. Karla
4. Tatay and Nanay
5. Highschool barkada (esp. Marian, Jan, Pat, Allain, Ryan James, Anj, Danes)
6. for the good health
7. for the laptop, DVD/DivX player, and a digital video cam :) weeeee

and here are the rest...

Christmas Wishlist: (Revisited)
1. Local serenity; World peace (pending... i guess)
2. A Christmas card delivered via Snail Mail (none)
3. A Hallmark E-card (check - thanks to Ate Chii)
4. A phone call (check - thanks to Karla and Nadine)
5. Coffee and pastry conversations with my prends (check - thanks to Pat, Jess, and Danes)
6. A funny, witty and heartfelt conversation with friends (check - highschool friends)
7. DVD movie marathon with my highschool barkada (check - thanks to Jan and Marian)
8. superb speakers for our avi/dvd player (maybe next time)
9. new pair of rechargeable battery for my good old mp3 player and digicam (pending)
10. new anime DVD titles (check - Trigun, Prince of Tennis, Midori no Hibi, FLCL)
11. Rurouni Kenshin and Trigun Action Figures (on my first salary)
12. Pearls Before Swine, Calvin and Hobbes, Zits comicbooks (on my first salary)
13. Siglo Graphic Novels (Siglo: Freedom; and Siglo: Passion) (pending)
14. PS2 (ipon ipon)
15. An Aya Matsuura DVD, CD and Photobook (on my first salary)
16. Morning Musume DVD, CD and Photobook (on my first salary)
17. L'arc en ciel DVD and CD (check)
18. More wisdom (still getting it)
19. More patience (still getting it)
20. More compassion (still getting it)
21. More discipline (still getting it)
22. More love (still getting it)
23. More motivation (still getting it)
24. More creativity (still getting it)
25. A Girlfriend (True Love Waits... True... Love Waits)

Happy New Year

2005-12-31T20:05:00.000+08:00

Happy New Year to all. Enjoy the food. Enjoy the year. Keep your limbs intact.

"An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in.

A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves."

~Bill Vaughan

"Drop the last year into the silent limbo of the past.
Let it go, for it was imperfect, and thank God that it can go."

~Brooks Atkinson

p.s.
this is one of our first assigned ads (along with the Bench Stick Ads) of our copywriting class under Mr. Third Domingo. The idea was pretty cliched, but i'll share it nevertheless for the occasion. Ha! My partner and I need to come up with ideas which are way out and unique and visually great.

As Lovers Go

2005-12-28T14:30:00.000+08:00

Dashboard Confessional - As Lovers Go

she said "i've gotta be honest,
you're wasting your time if you're fishing round here."
and i said "you must be mistaken,
cause i'm not fooling...this feeling is real"
she said...she said "you gotta be crazy,
What do you take me for? Some kind of easy mark?
"No, you've got wits, you've got looks,
you've got passion, but I swear that you've got me all wrong."

all wrong.
all wrong.
but you got me...

i'll be true, i'll be useful...
i'll be cavalier...i'll be yours my dear.
and i'll belong to you...
if you'll just let me through.
this is easy as lovers go,
so don't complicate it by hesitating.
and this is wonderful as loving goes,
this is tailor-made, whats the sense in waiting?

and i said "i've gotta be honest
i've been waiting for you all my life."
for so long i thought i was asylum bound,
but just seeing you makes me think twice.
and being with you here makes me sane,
i fear i'll go crazy if you leave my side.
you've got wits...you've got looks,
you've got passion but are you brave enough to leave with me tonight?

tonight.
tonight.
but you've got me...

i'll be true, i'll be useful...
i'll be cavalier...i'll be yours my dear.
and i'll belong to you...
if you'll just let me through.
this is easy as lovers go,
so don't complicate it by hesitating.
and this is wonderful as loving goes,
this is tailor-made, whats the sense in waiting?
this is easy as lovers go,
so don't complicate it by hesitating.
and this is wonderful as loving goes,
this is tailor-made, whats the sense in waiting?

I'm Eternally Grateful

2005-12-21T03:33:00.000+08:00

Before this year ends and the new year start with the bang, allow me to extend my deepest gratitude to the people and groups of people that touched my life in one way or another. I don’t want to be too sentimental, but I don’t want to take for granted the people who touched my life in one way or another directly or indirectly, big or small. I’m not committing suicide or planning to leave planet Earth anytime soon. I just feel like thanking people, anyways this is the season to be thankful, and not be sarcastic. I’m blessed for meeting you, and I’m eternally grateful.

TO MY PARENTS:

For giving me freedom. For giving support on my exploits yet still holding me with the guiding and protective love. For the never-ending love and care. For the protection and understanding. For understanding me, and encouraging me. For the allowance, for the food and pasalubongs. For the movies and the hang-outs. For being Godly. For loving each other truly and faithfully, and giving me a conducive environment to grow and learn. Without you, I won’t exist. Without you, I won’t know God. Without you, I won’t be like this. For the people whose my life touched, don’t thank me, thank my parents, for they molded me to be vice-free, Godly, caring, and understanding.

TO MY HIGH SCHOOL BARKADA:

My prendsheep Pat who is only an internet away. To Jan, Allain and Ryan James, for occasionally dropping by at our house to hang out and do random trippings. For my angels, Joedee, Marian and Ange, who are the ladies dearest to my heart, who are always there to share, and to listen, and be there. To the friends I frequently meet, you know who you are, thanks for being always there when I need someone to talk to, visit, comfort, and hang out, window shop, and eat. To Anj, for the occasional chats and talks. To Jess, who I can’t see anymore yet still a part of our Trimurti with Pat. To Pamkins, for being able to chat and talk once in a while though she’s far away, for lending an ear, for encouraging, for giving advice, and for the cards she sent. To Trine, for being a bestfriend, and sharing your anime trippings and stories. To JL, for being a kapatid with Marian and Trine, for the talks and Godly stories. To my tropa, Lyle, Annalisa and Jeck, for the eating and commuting moments, and for the longest walk stretching 7 LRT stations. For my Tropantog, Boss Danes, Martin, Vlady, Brian, Arthur and Jodan, for the tropa moments, for the phototrips and for the witty conversations. To Lala, for being a good friend, for considering me as gentleman and funny, for hanging out before, for being appreciative. To Khrisna, for being an epitomy of kindness and goodness. To those I missed out, I still thank you, for the high school memories which won’t be forgotten.

TO MY COLLEGE FRIENDS:

To my Block L friends, for still being there to talk to, hangout with, have conversations, and listen to my rants, and wacky stories. To Perry, for being the first one in the block I talked to and became my friend. To Angelo, Justin, Caloy, and Chris, for the basketball games, and some hangout sessions. To JC, for sharing the music. For Miyay, for the witty conversations and chats, for the friendly and thoughtful nags, for the stories exchanged, for putting up with my rants, and for the 3 years of working with her. To Ica and Concha, for sharing the Korean fun of drama series, showbiz and music. To Ris, for sharing the passion in Korean movies. To Raissa, for the anime and convention talks. To Arthur and Rox, for sharing not only your witty side, but also the playful side. To Dianne and Nins, for the walks and talks, and occasional commuting, and listening to my rants, and believing in my skills. To Jinielle and Mich, for being seatmates and groupmates, for listening and giving advice, and for believing in what I can do, and putting up with my tardiness.

To my SCL friends:

To Karla, for being a loving bestfriend, for opening a new dimension in me, for giving me a broader perspective of life, for inspiring, encouraging and motivating me, for the text messages, the emails and the long phone calls, for the coffee conversations, for hanging out, for the movies, for touching my heart and mind with sweet, inspiring, and sometimes hurting words which are nevertheless true, for being true, for staying as a friend, for still allowing me to hangout with you, for the long waits after class, for the walks and talks, for the commuting, for the arcade games, for the letters, for waking my dormant side allowing me to connect more to others by being a bridge allowing me to have more friends, for breaking the torpe spell cast on me, for the helping hand, for the concern, for the painting, for the stories, for trusting me, for allowing me to know you and enter your life, for believing on what I did, do, can do, for showing me that I to some extent I touch lives, and for many more reasons words won’t give justice. To my forever groupmates, Jinielle, Sam, Mich, Kate and Aspe, for being so patient and not banishing me for being always tardy in the group meetings, for the anger which turned into concern when I was not waking up, for believing in my capabilities, for supporting my exploits, for the ideas, for the accomplishments our group did, and for listening to my stories. To Chii, for being an ate, for being my forever seatmate with MM, for sharing the stories, for listening to my rants and stories, for being a confidant, for being a good friend, for the chats, for the advice, and for the company. To Rish, for being a PR manager, for being a loyal supporter, for believing in what I do and can do, for appreciating my benevolent acts, for the encouragements, for the occasional push, for understanding, for the advice, for the talks, for putting up with my rants, and for the occasional libre. To Macy, Doti, Ideza, Liz and Grace along with Rish, for being good friends, for being good friends to Karla, for listening, for understanding, for hanging out, for eating out, for the encouragements, and for helping me with my short but sweet exploit. To Tippy, for the chats, the conversations, the anime talks, the Bioman movie she lent, also for believing in my skills, for the text messages, the jokes, and for listening and talking to me to lighten up my mood.To Tami, for the heart to heart conversations in our chats, for the jokes, for the advice, for giving a different perspective, for listening, for being a good new found friend, and for believing and supporting my exploits. To Mau and Myrrh, for the witty yet fun casual talks, for listening to my stories and giving some points to consider, for the jokes, and for the cinnamon with whipped cream shot. To the instant campaign group, Jonathan, Kiko, Pat, Ria, Liz, Rish, and Sam, for the instant winning ideas concocted, for the wacky insights, for the funny moments and pictorials, and for the teamwork. To those I haven’t mentioned, you may not be in the evoke set or top-of-mind, yet I still thank you, for SCL won’t be complete without you, thanks for the IMC experience, the ideas, the talks, the jokes, the teamwork, the fun, the losses, and the victories.

TO MY FAMILY, FRIENDS AND CHURCHMATES:

These people sometimes overlap. These people may be too many too mention. But nevertheless, they are still part of what I consider family. To my family members on the mother’s and father’s side, to my extended family in University Baptist Church, to my friends back in my old communities, to my friends back in nursery, kinder and elementary in Philippine Christian University, to the friends I have in chatrooms, to the friends I have in blogs, to the friends I have in Deviantart, and to my old friends, and new found friends, thank you, thank you. Thank you for touching my life directly, or indirectly by touching the lives of my parents and friends.

And most importantly, thank you GOD. I’m eternally grateful for giving me life, intelligence, love, character, gifts, talents, skills, and most importantly for blessing me with a loving family, and the best set of friends.

Kisapmata

2005-12-20T15:08:00.000+08:00

Kisapmata
Rivermaya

Nitong umaga lang,
Pagka lambing-lambing
Ng iyong mga matang
Hayup kung tumingin.
Nitong umaga lang,
Pagka galing-galing
Ng iyong sumpang
walang aawat sa atin.
O kay bilis namang
Maglaho ng
Pag-ibig mo sinta,
Daig mo pa ang isang kisapmata.
Kanina'y nariyan lang o ba't
Bigla namang nawala.
Daig mo pa ang isang kisapmata.
Kani-kanina lang,
Pagka ganda-ganda
Ng pagkasabi mong
Sana'y tayo na nga.
Kani-kanina lang,
Pagka saya-saya
Ng buhay kong
Bigla na lamang nagiba.

Rock Ed: Rocking Society Through Education

2005-12-11T01:07:00.000+08:00

I've been in Podium to watch Rock Ed, and it really rocked. Along with the concert in Podium, there were other Rock Ed activities on a number of MRT Stations during the afternoon. What is Rock Ed all about? Their main objective is to make the young Filipino more interested in socio-civic realities, critical thinking, and having relevant knowledge about the complex issues du jour. Using a rock concert makes social involvement more interesting. December 10 is supposed to be International Human Rights Day. Rock Ed is advocating the White Band campaign, which is "Making Poverty History." I would really like to get a hand on baller white bands. It is not for fashion but wearing your beliefs on your wrist. For the mean time, I'll wear white bands distributed during the concert. I want to be a volunteer for Rock Ed....

Check their official site for more details. Click here... ROCK ED PHILIPPINES

"NO MORE EXCUSES, PHILIPPINES."

Secret Admirers Remain Secret...

2005-12-09T22:22:00.000+08:00

I left my laptop for a while... then when i returned, a little note surprised me...

I know where this note came from, and it's from a very good friend. No secret admirers exist. Just a pun. I think I never had a secret admirer, or even an admirer for this matter. I may have secret admirers before, but they lurk in secret, and never surface. Secret admirers doesn't count as admirers because it's as if they do not exist. Meron dating may crush sa akin, itago na lang natin sa pangalang... hmm... itago na lang natin sya. I don't want secret admirers. They're as good as secret societies that build conspiracies. Something kept within and not expressed is not worthy of attention. Keeping and not expressing is as good as lying. I don't like liars. Keeping and not expressing is as good as suppressing love and emotions which is not healthy. You can't force love, but you also can't forcibly repress it.

just some thoughts...

Wishlist (update)

2005-12-07T00:45:00.000+08:00

"when you want something bad enough, the universe conspires to help you get it."
- Paolo Coelho

Christmas Wishlist:
1. Local serenity; World peace
2. A Christmas card delivered via Snail Mail
3. A Hallmark E-card (check)
4. A phone call
5. Coffee and pastry conversations with my prends (check)
6. A funny, witty and heartfelt conversation with friends (check)
7. DVD movie marathon with my highschool barkada
8. superb speakers for our avi/dvd player
9. new pair of rechargeable battery for my good old mp3 player and digicam
10. new anime DVD titles (check)
11. Rurouni Kenshin and Trigun Action Figures
12. Pearls Before Swine, Calvin and Hobbes, Zits comicbooks
13. Siglo Graphic Novels (Siglo: Freedom; and Siglo: Passion)
14. PS2
15. An Aya Matsuura DVD, CD and Photobook
16. Morning Musume DVD, CD and Photobook
17. L'arc en ciel DVD and CD (check)
18. More wisdom
19. More patience
20. More compassion
21. More discipline
22. More love
23. More motivation
24. More creativity
25. A Girlfriend

(Libre mangarap; mangangarap ka na rin lang, taasan mo na)

Ultraelectromagneticjam

2005-12-05T00:02:00.000+08:00

I heard about the tribute concert for E-heads last week and i heard it was really good. My friend asked me to check Tower Records for the album. When I saw the album, I immediately fell in love with it. The tracklist was nice. And the art was gorgeous. (Thanks for Cynthia Bauzon-Arre for allowing me to use their images. Check their site at www.bauzon.ph)

For the album art: The album art were done by the ultraelectroartistic couple Arnold and Cynthia Arre. I really liked Cynthia's portfolio when i saw it a few years ago. The album arts and designs she did were really good. Arnold Arre's After Eden would always be my favorite love story/graphic novel/book. Check their sites. Their portfolios are really good. Arnold Arre's site is here http://www.arnold-arre.com/

For the songs... I really like them all. Various artists singing E-heads songs... asteeeg... But my personal favorites would be Imago's rendition of Spoliarium, Spongecola's Pare Ko, Sugarfree's Tikman, Orange and Lemon's Wag Kang Matakot, and Barbie Almabis' Overdrive. The album is really good... worth my money... i guess i should also buy last year's Anthology...

now im in cloud 9... senti...

"Sagutin mo lang ako aking sinta'y walang humpay na ligaya......"

But my story so far... almost...

Pare Ko
by Eraserheads

Pare ko meron akong problema
Wag mong sabihing na naman
In lab ako sa isang kolehiyala
Hindi ko maintindihan
Wag na nating idaan sa moboteng usapan
Lalo lang madaragdagan ang sakit ng ulo at bilbil sa tiyan

Anong sarap
Kami'y naging magkaibigan
Napuno ako ng pag-asa
Yun pala haggang dun lang ang kaya
Akala ko ay pwede pa

(refrain)
Masakit mang isipin kailangang tanggapin
Kung kelan ka naging seryoso tsaka ka niya *********

(chorus)
O, ***** ko ano ba naman ito
Di ba
******** nagmukha akong tanga
Pinaasa niya lang ako
Lecheng pag-ibig to-o-o-oh
O ***** ko ano ba naman ito

Sabi niya ayaw niya munang magkasiyota
Dehins ako naniwala
Di nagtagal naging ganun na rin ang tema
Kulang na lang ay sagot niya
Bat ba ang labo niya
Di ko mapinta
Hanggang kelan maghihintay ako ay ******* na
Pero minamahal ko siya-a-ha
Di biro
T.L. ako sa kanya
Alam kong nababaduyan ka na sa mga sinasabi ko
Pero sana naman ay maintindihan mo

O pare ko meron ka bang maipapayo
Kung wala ay okey lang
Kailangan lang ay ang iyong pakikiramay
Andito ka ay ayos na
(Repeat refrain and chorus)

Cork: For quick LBM relief

2005-12-04T23:09:00.000+08:00

Diatabs Ad: "Nagtataeng Ballpen"
Made by me and Karla

This is our ad for the week. We were assigned to make one for Loperamide Diatabs on our copywriting class, so we thought of some insights regarding LBM. LBM is not part of our schedule. We don't want to be bothered with LBM at the middle of any activity, like dating, working, travelling or playing. Not showing any poo, the visual that came into our mind was a "nagtataeng ballpen" to capture the essence of LBM. So to show work, we put the ballpen over some paperworks. The copy says: "Dont mess up your work with LBM." We were actually thinking of using a love letter, to show that we don't want LBM to ruin our lovelife. But that one is enough. Nuff said.

Bench Stick Hairwax

2005-11-26T22:28:00.000+08:00

Our Bench Stick Ad: BoyToy
Made by me and Karla

Arrgghh... copywriting class is like a pop idol contest... the atmosphere, heartbeats, nervousness... we made mistakes, but we sure better make sure not to commit them again, in terms of the copy, ideas, execution, visual devices, strategy, and effectivity.

Well, im quite happy despite the unhappy events like the economic crisis, the death of Eddie Guerrero (who i dont watch anyway), political struggles, and the break-up of Martin and Pops. tsk. Anyways, i was glad that i made above-mediocre graphic work. I was glad some of my classmates liked our work for Bench Stick. I was happy that 2 of our 3 judges picked ours as their best choice. weeeeeh... next time should be better....

_________________________

Song of the Month:

Love Team

Itchyworms

‘Di, di naman talaga

Tayo magsinta, pero gusto nila.

Kahit ayaw mo

Bagay raw tayo.

Di naman totoo

Mga yakap mo

Pang-eksena lamang ‘to.

Di mo lang alam…

Na nababaliw na ako sa iyo

‘Di ko na yata kaya ‘to,

Ang aking lihim na pakay

Ay ang lahat ng ito’y gawing tunay…

Sana, wag mo kong sisihin

Kung ‘di ko kayang pigilin

Sabi mo na mahal mo ko

Ngunit ‘di naman seryoso…

Sana’y magkasingkulay

Ang drama at tunay na buhay ko

Ang tanging pag-asa ko

Ay nasa tambalang ito…

Si, sinungaling ka, kapag may tao

Ay nilalambing mo ‘ko

Pero pag wala

Ay sumasama

Turing mo sakin

Ay parang hangin

Bitin na bitin

‘Di nila alam…

Na sa dulo ng tagpo

‘Di na patok mga linya ko

Nag-iiba ang iyong asta

Hanggang sa susunod na eksena…

Sana’y magkasingkulay

Ang drama at tunay na buhay ko

Ang tanging pag-asa ko

Ay nasa tambalang ito…

Ode to the Nice Guys

2005-11-20T22:27:00.000+08:00

This is not written by me. But I can relate much. Now that my heart is in chaos. This is just the beginning.

Ode to the Nice Guys (click to go to the original site)

This rant was written for the Wharton Undergraduate Journal
by Fu-zu Jen, SEAS/WH, 2003

This is a tribute to the nice guys. The nice guys that finish last, that never become more than friends, that endure hours of whining and bitching about what assholes guys are, while disproving the very point. This is dedicated to those guys who always provide a shoulder to lean on but restrain themselves to tentative hugs, those guys who hold open doors and give reassuring pats on the back and sit patiently outside the changing room at department stores. This is in honor of the guys that obligingly reiterate how cute/beautiful/smart/funny/sexy their female friends are at the appropriate moment, because they know most girls need that litany of support. This is in honor of the guys with open minds, with laid-back attitudes, with honest concern. This is in honor of the guys who respect a girl’s every facet, from her privacy to her theology to her clothing style.

This is for the guys who escort their drunk, bewildered female friends back from parties and never take advantage once they’re at her door, for the guys who accompany girls to bars as buffers against the rest of the creepy male population, for the guys who know a girl is fishing for compliments but give them out anyway, for the guys who always play by the rules in a game where the rules favor cheaters, for the guys who are accredited as boyfriend material but somehow don’t end up being boyfriends, for all the nice guys who are overlooked, underestimated, and unappreciated, for all the nice guys who are manipulated, misled, and unjustly abandoned, this is for you.

This is for that time she left 40 urgent messages on your cell phone, and when you called her back, she spent three hours painstakingly dissecting two sentences her boyfriend said to her over dinner. And even though you thought her boyfriend was a chump and a jerk, you assured her that it was all ok and she shouldn’t worry about it. This is for that time she interrupted the best killing spree you’d ever orchestrated in GTA3 to rant about a rumor that romantically linked her and the guy she thinks is the most repulsive person in the world. And even though you thought it was immature and you had nothing against the guy, you paused the game for two hours and helped her concoct a counter-rumor to spread around the floor. This is also for that time she didn’t have a date, so after numerous vows that there was nothing “serious” between the two of you, she dragged you to a party where you knew nobody, the beer was awful, and she flirted shamelessly with you, justifying each fit of reckless teasing by announcing to everyone: “oh, but we’re just friends!” And even though you were invited purely as a symbolic warm body for her ego, you went anyways. Because you’re nice like that.

The nice guys don’t often get credit where credit is due. And perhaps more disturbing, the nice guys don’t seem to get laid as often as they should. And I wish I could logically explain this trend, but I can’t. From what I have observed on campus and what I have learned from talking to friends at other schools and in the workplace, the only conclusion I can form is that many girls are just illogical, manipulative bitches. Many of them claim they just want to date a nice guy, but when presented with such a specimen, they say irrational, confusing things such as “oh, he’s too nice to date” or “he would be a good boyfriend but he’s not for me” or “he already puts up with so much from me, I couldn’t possibly ask him out!” or the most frustrating of all: “no, it would ruin our friendship.” Yet, they continue to lament the lack of datable men in the world, and they expect their too-nice-to-date male friends to sympathize and apologize for the men that are jerks. Sorry, guys, girls like that are beyond my ability to fathom. I can’t figure out why the connection breaks down between what they say (I want a nice guy!) and what they do (I’m going to sleep with this complete ass now!). But one thing I can do, is say that the nice-guy-finishes-last phenomenon doesn’t last forever. There are definitely many girls who grow out of that train of thought and realize they should be dating the nice guys, not taking them for granted. The tricky part is finding those girls, and even trickier, finding the ones that are single.

So, until those girls are found, I propose a toast to all the nice guys. You know who you are, and I know you’re sick of hearing yourself described as ubiquitously nice. But the truth of the matter is, the world needs your patience in the department store, your holding open of doors, your party escorting services, your propensity to be a sucker for a pretty smile. For all the crazy, inane, absurd things you tolerate, for all the situations where you are the faceless, nameless hero, my accolades, my acknowledgement, and my gratitude go out to you. You do have credibility in this society, and your well deserved vindication is coming.

Parang Takeshi's Castle

2005-11-16T01:54:00.000+08:00

My song for the moment... lagi naman songs pinopost ko. ewan ko ba. im quite bothered lately for the wrong things but seemingly right reasons. anyways, the fight continues... even if the fight seems in vain. Ika nga ni Naruto, no turning back. No regrets.

Takeshi by Kiko Machine

Tuloy pa rin ang pagsuyo sa iyo
Kahit na 'di mo napapansin na nariyan ako
Kahit pa 'pag sa telepono iniiba ang boses mo
Sasabihing wala ka

CHORUS 1
Kahit anung mangyari, tuloy pa rin
Kahit na ang hirap mo namang ligawan
Ang daming pagsubok na dapat daanan
Daig ko pa ang sumali sa Takeshi's Castle

Kahit pa 'di mo sinasagot
Ang lahat ng sulat ko'y basura sa 'yo
Lalo na sa mga kaibigan mo
Naging libangan ng ipahiya ako

CHORUS 2
Kahit na magmukang tanga, tuloy pa rin
Kahit na ang hirap mo namang ligawan
Ang daming pagsubok na dapat daanan
Daig ko pa ang sumali sa Takeshi's Castle

BRIDGE
Lindol at kanyon, handa kong labanan
Kahit alambre, handa kong daanan
Para lang manalo sa iyong Takeshi's Castle

Ang hirap mo [5x]

Akin Ka Na lang

2005-11-13T15:16:00.000+08:00

This is my LSS for the moment aside from the song from Sugarfree. The song is funky, catchy, and funny. I love the tune and the lyrics. :) Enjoy.

Akin Ka Na Lang
by J. Nicolas
from the album Noontime Show
performed by the itchyworms!

Verse 1
'Wag kang maniwala d'yan. 'Di ka n'ya mahal talaga
Sayang lang ang buhay mo kung mapupunta ka lang sa kanya
Iiwanan ka lang n'yan, mag-ingat ka
Dagdag ka lamang sa milyun-milyong babae n'ya

Chorus
Akin ka na lang (akin ka na lang)
Iingatan ko ang puso mo
Akin ka na lang (akin ka na lang)
Wala nang hihigit pa sa 'yo

Verse 2
'Di naman ako bolero katulad ng ibang tao
Ang totoo'y pag nandyan ka medyo nabubulol pa nga ako
Malangis lang ang dila n'yan, 'wag kang madala
Dahan-dahan ka lang, baka pati ika'y mabiktima ('Wag naman sana)

Repeat Chorus

Refrain
'Di naman sa sinisiraan ko ang pangit na 'yan
'Wag ka dapat sa'kin magduda, hinding-hindi kita pababayaan!

Repeat Chorus

Akin ka na lang
Liligaya ka sa pag-ibig ko
Akin ka na lang
At wala nang hihigit pa sa 'yo
Wala nang hihigit pa sa 'yo (akin ka na lang)

Makita Kang Muli

2005-11-13T15:09:00.000+08:00

i didnt know that this was the theme from Panday, nevertheless, I like the songs from Sugar-free. It kinda gives me inspiration. 100% confidence from now on. Arggh... gonna miss her... argghh...

Makita Kang Muli
Sugar-free

Ohoooohohoooohhh....... Ooohhoohh

Bawat sandali ng aking buhay
Pagmamahal mo ang aking taglay
San man mapadpad ng hanging hindi
Magbabago aking pagtingin
Pangako natin sa Maykapal
Na tayo lamang sa habang buhay
Maghintay

Chorus:
Ipaglalaban ko ang ating pag-ibig
Maghintay ka lamang ako'y darating
Pagka't sa isang taong mahal mo ng buong puso
Lahat ay gagawin
Makita kang muli, Makitang kang muli

Puso'y nagdurusa nangungulila
Iniisip ka pag nag-iisa
Inaalala mga sandaling
Nang tayo ay magkapiling
Ikaw ang gabay sa akin tuwina
Ang aking ilaw sa gabing mapanglaw
Tanging ikaw

Chorus:
Ipaglalaban ko ang ating pag-ibig
Maghintay ka lamang ako'y darating
Pagka't sa isang taong mahal mo ng buong puso
Lahat ay gagawin
Makita kang muli
Makitang kang muli, Makita kang muli

Nang Dahil sa Isang Milkshake...

2005-11-12T22:23:00.000+08:00

Rish and I tagged along with Liz, Karla and Macy to the airport to get their airline tickets to Cebu. When we came in, they were serving #19, and our number was the unlucky #69. Hmm... it was a long wait, but a fun one, I guess. We had the puns, funny faces, laughter, and the oldschool "pendong" and "keso" jokes.

On our way back, due to the call of our tummies, we decided to order food and Milkshakes from McDonald's Macapagal, since they are the only branch in Luzon that offers milkshakes. Then the adventure begins... we didn't know the U-turns, and we ended up passing a tollway, a roadsign saying "Welcome to Cavite", and eventually having our U-turn in Cavite.

That was some unexpected road trip. Fortunately, we are back in our respective homes. Cavite and Milkshakes... what a lovely combination.

The Hungry Hulk

2005-11-11T22:22:00.000+08:00

Bruce Banner transforms into the Incredible Hulk when he is angry. The madder Hulk gets, the stronger he gets. As mentioned in the Hulk movie by Ang Lee, "You won't like me when I'm angry." Once transformed, Hulk can be the ultimate machine for destruction. When he is pissed off, he acts as if he was pissed on. To make it short, don't make him angry.

Similarly, I have this Hulk complex, but on a different aspect. "You won't like it when I'm hungry." I tend to be irritated easily when I'm hungry. It's like as if I have PMS. It's like as if I'm mad at the whole world. I really can't work on an empty stomach. Mental note, don't make me hungry. You can make me stay up late or make me not sleep at all, but don't make my hungry. You can make me wait forever, but don't make me hungry. When I start talking in Spanish, "Tengo hambre... vamos a comer," I mean it, and watch out.

As mentioned by our professor in Consumer Insight, "Tipirin mo na ang lahat wag lang ang pagkain." Generally, I buy affordable food. But I won't hesitate to buy more expensive ones as long as I see the value and satisfaction I get. Cheaper food, means more frequency to eat. When I buy cheaper food, I can buy more, so I still end up consuming more money for food. Money for Food... tudididup... tudididup... tudididup...

For some serious global issues: There is enough food in the world to feed everyone. Yet because of hunger and related causes over six million children die every year. Related to the International campaign against poverty, we should also fight against hunger.

Moral of the Story:

"rationem patitur, nec aequitate mitigatur nec ulla prece flectitur, populus esuriens"
A hungry people listens not to reason, not cares for justice, nor is bent by any prayers.

-De Brevitate Vitoe (XVIII)

Panalo!

2005-11-11T22:04:00.000+08:00

Hmm... i was just reading through the pages of yesterday's edition of the Philippine Daily Inquirer and I came across the Special Project section featuring the Agora Awards. Then I saw the picture of our professor in IMC, who is also the program director of our course. He, Dr. Jerome Kliatchko, bagged the Outstanding Achievement in Marketing Education of the 2005 Agora Awards.

I can't develop some of my blog ideas so i will only post current events. :)

My Planet... My Brain

2005-11-07T17:30:00.000+08:00

Just tried on some quizzes on www.blogthings.com which I saw one on my prend's journal. Oooh... just found it interesting. I guess I should wake up now... sembreak is now officially over.

You Are From Neptune

You are dreamy and mystical, with a natural psychic ability.
You love music, poetry, dance, and (most of all) the open sea.
Your soul is filled with possibilities, and your heart overflows with compassion.
You can be in a room full of friendly people and feel all alone.
If you don't get carried away with one idea, your spiritual nature will see you through anything.

What Planet Are You From?

Your Brain's Pattern

Your mind is a firestorm - full of intensity and drama.

Your thoughts may seem scattered to you most of the time...

But they often seem strong and passionate to those around you.

You are a natural influencer. The thoughts you share are very powerful and persuading.

What Pattern Is Your Brain?

Print Ads

2005-11-04T18:11:00.000+08:00

Note: These are not official print ads. But these are the creative outputs we made in school during the last semester. We were tasked to do IMC strategies with creative outputs including print ads. Ad agency people and real clients were part of the panel who judged us. They liked these ads... I think. These are some of the winning ads during the pitch, except the KFC ads... but they are still good for me. Our groups did the brainstorming, while I did the executions. (The image quality is trimmed down for faster loading.)

Philips:
In our Direct Marketing class, this is the direct response ad we did. We used Onion bulbs as the visuals with they copy "Do your bulbs stink?" The second ad shows a Philips bulb in the form of a perfume, showing the benefits of using one. Philips. Experience the Difference.

KFC:
The concept of our ad is "My Rules" or "Ako ang Batas." Related to the "Finger lickin' good" idea of KFC, we did our "Rules" or "Laws" for a more enjoyable chicken eating experience. We played with road rules making it our "chicken rules."

Katinko:
Body Pain Reliever. Isang Pahid Ka Lang. Ads showed hand signs to symbolize the use of Katinko.

Hello:
Hello Choco-Wafer. We did wordplay and came up with these ads using "Hello" literally. We used the tagline "Fun starts with Hello." Relationships are fun. These relationships start with Hello.

Sterling:
Spotlight Group did a brilliant job of coming up with this idea. This is a PR/Advocacy print ad they were tasked to do. After they gave me the ideas, I was more than willing to execute it. Kudos to the Spotlight PR group!!!

Credits:
Clients: Katinko Group (Katinko), Hello Group (Hello), KFC Group (KFC), Philips Group (Philips), Spotlight PR (Sterling)
Ad Agency: Katinko Group, Hello Group, KFC Group, Philips Group, Spotlight PR, and the All-around Impromptu ad agency composed of Brainstormers and Copywriters: Ria, Kiko, Roger, Sam, Pat, Jonathan and Yomz; Art Director: Yomz
Models: Katinko Hand models: Ria and Roger; Hello models: Nicole, Kiko, Chii, Doti and Apple

(Disclaimer: Brands and Brandnames belong to their proper owners.
Say... who owns the brands??? The corporations, or the consumers? Hmm... back to readings of Don Schultz)

Rebranding

2005-11-04T01:05:00.000+08:00

Hmmm... though the design of this blog is not yet finished, I've been thinking of making a version 2... or even rebranding the whole blog itself: the content, design, title, layout... Hmm... or maybe i'll make another blog on another site. This old one will be dedicated to my art and making sense out of nonsense. And the other one will be the more philosophical, mushy and serious side regarding my sentiments about love and life. Hmm.. interesting.

P.S.
I love you...

Graveyard Shift

2005-11-03T18:46:00.000+08:00

I miss drinking/eating Taho. And when I saw one magtataho, I immediately bought one glass. Then I realized, this magtataho just started selling around 9PM. Say... a magtataho on a graveyard shift. That made me think... it was literally a graveyard shift since he is selling on the cemetery. What a sight... a magtataho shouting "Taho!" amidst the graves.

P.S.
Everything seems the contrary. Magbabalut selling early in the morning. Magtataho selling at midnight. Almost everything is getting blurred. Blurring of lines between meanings, time, and space... haaay... parang ganun pero hindi...

...

Scare Yourself...

2005-10-23T14:27:00.000+08:00

I've been opening URLs linking to disguised horror websites (like this: Spot The Difference)

My friend Tippy gave me this awesome site... creepy, gave me some goosebumps... Click the picture to play the game. It is a realistic version of the Crimson Room and Viridian Room . If you have not yet played those games... I challenge you...

Note: These are creepy mind games... give yourself a scare...

...Wake me up when the sembreak ends...

....

Cinemanila 2005

2005-10-12T12:21:00.000+08:00

i wish i could go to Cinemanila. It will start on October 12 and will end on the 25th. Argghh... so many things to do... i want to watch a movie... movie marathon... for more details just visit http://www.cinemanila.com.ph

Kaya Natin 'To!

2005-10-04T23:46:00.000+08:00

Argghh... i need to pass my subjects. i want to pass my subjects. with God's help, with the encouragement of others, with our optimism and determination, we can do it!!!

Working smart is important. Faith is important. Optimism is important.

Some food for thought:

“optimist and pessimist both end up dying. But they each use their lives in a completely different manner.”

"A warrior of the light sometimes thinks: “If I do not do something, it will not be done. It is not quite like that: He must act, but he must allow room for the Universe to act too.”"

-Warrior of the Light

I'm Sorry I Love You

2005-09-20T22:18:00.000+08:00

Argh! Don't you ever wonder why things don't go your way?
Hmm... We can get all things in life... but we can't get them all at once.
I didn't get what I want, what I like, what I love. Not just yet.

I had many realizations. Contrary to some opinion, this would be
the happiest week of my life. Whoah... the best. It's too complicated.
Sometimes things don't need explanation, just accept them and live
the moment to the fullest. Be happy. :) This must be euphoria.    

This is my song for the moment...
No one is gone... I'm not gone...
I just like the song...

TUMMY ACHE
- Sugar Free

Tell me when I can afford to be with you.
I find it hard to think that you are gone.
Is it ok if I run after you?
And push myself just to be with you

So tell me if I can afford to be with you
If I can’t handle things that could go wrong.
I’ve been stuck into this state of weary, drunk and wasted
And no one’s here.

I could be all alone in this pathetic little world I have.
I could be crying out, see if candies do exist in worlds  don’t know
And every time we come together,
We watch and we discover that we can't be together
Just because.

Tell me when I can afford to be with
I find it hard to think that you are gone

How did you know?!?

2005-09-18T09:39:00.000+08:00

How did you know?!? Sometimes, we don't know or we unconsciously know. We exist here for a reason. Sometimes, we don't really know, but something deep inside us tells that we know. I remember reading Coelho's newsletter "Warrior of a Light." We always search for the meaning of life. We search for our purpose. Sometimes we search too much for our purpose that we dont have time to live it. We search for meaning of our existence, we think to much... we rationalize too much. We pass through life, but we do not live. Thinking is different from doing. Thinking is different from living. Faith, hope and love are important. Love is the greatest of all. Faith and hope are nothing without love. On the words of Coelho: "At that moment the great question for human beings will not be: “How did I live?” but rather: “How did I love?”" We live to love. To love God, love others, and also ourselves. We love by living. We live the best way possible and give it our all. We show our love by living excellently in each way possible. Similar to the Invisible Hand Theory, while doing our best to improve ourselves, we unconsciously help others along the way. Sometimes one's mere presence is enough testimony that life is beautiful and meaningful. Our existence is God's gift, not only to us, but for the people around us. I hope I made sense...

.:yomz:.

P.S.
Hi dearest! Thank you for your existence. Thanks for being around. This one's for you...

How Did You Know
- Gary Valenciano

I remember so well
The day that you came into my life
You asked for my name
You had the most beautiful smile

My life started to change
I'd wake up each day feeling alright
With you right by my side
Makes me feel things will work out just fine

How did you know
I needed someone like you in my life
That there's an empty space in my heart
You came at the right time in my life

I'll never forget
How you brought the sun to shine in my life
And took all the worries and fears that I had
I guess what I'm really trying to say
It's not everyday that someone like you comes my way
No words can express how much I love you

Join our Forums

2005-09-02T23:24:00.000+08:00

join our forums. masaya dyan. makulit. halu-halong topics. may jokoes, may horror stories, may ideas about love, technology, movies, music, pop culture, politics, and many more ka-ek-ekan under the sun. join the fun. free for all sya. register lang kayo. the more, the many-er. i just want to promote our new tripping. make the community alive. just being more than a month old, and an ample 42 members, we already have 2000 posts. talk about active. sali na! tara na, forums tayo!

visit here:
http://www.doiop.com/forumsnatin

Movies and Books Weekend

2005-08-29T19:46:00.000+08:00

This coming weekend ... I hope I can go to all of these events...

1. Eiga Sai (on Shangri-la : Aug 31 - Sept. 5)
Horror movies: Admission is free

2. Cinemanila (SM Megamall : Aug 31 - Sept. 6)
Different movies from various countries. I will especially watch GITS:Innocence; Steamboy and Appleseed.

3. 26th Manila International Bookfair (World Trade Center : Aug 31 - Sept. 4)
Books galore. comic books, art books, novels, design books, and much much more. need to save some money...

Panliligaw 101: the IMC approach

2005-08-25T00:09:00.000+08:00

Panliligaw101: Here are some insights derived from my course(IMC - Integrated Marketing Communications) applied to building relationships not only on your special someone but also on your friends and family. Hindi ito tinuturo sa school and hindi ito naituro sa akin so gagawa na lang ako ng sarili kong tutorial. Some of the points here may be elaborated into specific journal entries if i have the time. enjoy. :)

1. INTEGRATED MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS
(IMC, course ko to) Be yourself consistently on all brand contact points (kunyari ako yung Brand Yomz communicating to target audience; brand contact points - sa lahat ng usapan, kwentuhan, txt msgs, email, phone call, or pagkikita)

2. Make each brand contact point an opportunity to create a positive brand experience.
Make her smile. Asarin mo sya. Minsan maiinis siya, since hindi ka naman perpekto. Pero bumawi ka, and make her smile once again. Always be there for her, especially if she needs you. Even a txt msg will reassure her. Know how to handle crisis management.

3. Public Relations
"Doing good and telling people about it." Maganda kung ung kabarkada mo, pini-PR ka sa nililigawan mo. Para kang may PR manager. Ang daming naglalakad sa iyo. Be yourself at mag-behave. You may be doing PR for yourself unconsciously. Always maintain a good image. Just be yourself.

4. Customer Relationship Management.
Dapat consistent on all brand contact points para magkaroon ng sustainable relationship over time. Dito papasok ang different forms ng direct marketing which should be selective, testable, personal, accountable and flexible. Forms of direct marketing include: direct mail, direct response advertising, phone, SMS and email.

5. Market Research.
Get to know each other. Hindi uubra ung profile nya sa friendster o mga kung anu-anong nasasagap sa internet or blog nya. Have immersion. Get to know each other well. Hindi nasusukat sa tagal ng pagsasamahan pero sa depth ng pagkakakilala nyo. Know her friends and bestfriends and ask about her. Know the competition. (Badtrip, ang dami kong competition.) Malaking tulong ang research basta hindi ka creepy at stalker.

6. Advertising.
Advertise yourself well. Maintain a good image. Let her know the real you. Dapat meron kang "abruption", or level of spontaneity na magugulat sya positively, knowing its the real you and making her smile. Dapat may insight ka at makarelate sa kanya. Mahalaga, like any other commercial, ay makaconnect sa target audience, and lead her into action, and in this case, para sagutin nya ako. Say your message clearly. though about 90% ng communication ay nonverbal (roughly 60% on body language; and 30% on voice) at 10% lang ang verbal, mahalaga pa rin na malinaw ang usapan.

7. Creative Strategy.
After knowing your target customer's desire and aspirations, and her demographics and psychographics, you should then develop good customer insights. Then, establish your Unique Selling Proposition(USP) or Emotional Selling Proposition(ESP), or all the added value you can offer to her. You should stand out from other people. You may have a "boy next door" or "childhood friend" image, pero syempre, may mga attributes ka na unique sa iyo. This is where you connect your USP/ESP to her desires and aspirations, and when these two meet, you can really connect with her. Dapat lagi kang may creative strategies. She will hold your dear. Be creative sa pag-connect sa kanya, to establish a good relationship, and to have a call to action, na sagutin ka nya.

.:yomz:.

* Communication Law: mag-ingat sa mga tsismosa. mag-ingat! baka kasuhan kita ng libel o slander!!!

Rockestra: the aftermath

2005-08-20T00:14:00.000+08:00

One word: asteeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeg!!!

imagine, the best rock bands in the country playing hand in hand with an orchestra... then you have rockestra. asteg talaga. asteg asteg asteg! we arrived @ 830Pm thereby missing the perfomance of Cambio. too bad, i was hoping to hear and see how the collaboration went while performing DV. aggst. anyways, the whole night was a blast. im awed and amazed. Silent Sanctuary, Imago, Twisted Halo, Cambio, Sugarfree, Sandwich and the Manila Symphony Orchestra collaborated well... sweet. Leaping Lizards!!! The finale was great. all the bands performing together with MSO, singing "Tayo'y mga Pinoy, Tayo'y Hindi Kano, Huwag Kang Mahihiya... Kung Ang Ilong mo ay..."

Saludo talaga ako sa Original Pilipino Music (OPM)!!! Mabuhay ang mga musikerong Pinoy! Standing ovation. *clap clap* Kudos to those bands! Kudos to the organizers. Kudos to Chino of Silent Sanctuary, the brainchild of the event! sana meron pang next time.

*************

For the mean time, I'll sing Eraserhead's Ligaya...

"pinapangako ko sa iyo na igagalang ka,
sagutin mo lang ako
aking sinta'y walang humpay na ligaya...
araw-araw iisipin ka,
sa maghapon, sa gabi at umaga,
wag ka sanang magtanong at magduda,
pagkat ang puso ko'y walang pangamba,
lahat tayo'y mabubuhay ng tahimik at buong...
LIGAYA."

IMC Exam: An Epitomy of the Market

2005-08-17T21:25:00.000+08:00

hmm. first there was CRM, then Communication and Society. Then we had comm law exam... major pain, major headache. Today, we had the exam in imc principles. it's either we fare well, or say farewell. confusing. mind-wrecking. vertigo-inducing. argh!!!

the exam itself is a representation of the market.

it shows the problems consumers and marketers encounter. the exam is IMC and not IMC in both lights. in the positive light, the exam is fully Integrated Marketing Communications for it is IMC. contentwise, it is. on second thought...

1. The exam represents the clutter in the market. On every instance of our lives, we are bombarded with information. We see countless products. We are buried in the clutter of ads. Information overload. We see different brands, with almost similar things to offer. We have many choices, and unfortunately, the number of choices is directly proportional to our confusion and inconvenience. Just like our exam. First part was MULTIPLE CHOICE. as in multiple with a capital E. The choices range from A-Z. argh... and we need to choose the best answer, only one answer. sakit sa ulo.

2. Different brands are not too differentiated. Look at the shampoo shelves in the supermarket. Look at the shampoo ads. You can make an omnibus ad without separating one from the others. They are just too similar. They have selenium sulfide and whatever. The plethora (naks plethora) of various brands and ads which are does not stand out, adds to the confusion and inconvenience of the customers. The choices we had in the exam from A-Z are almost similar. Some are direct statements, some are integration. But we have to choose one.

3. Answering an exam is a high-involvement activity. When you buy cars, computers, or any product which are expensive, and involve a lot of risk, we need to be highly involved. we need to think, think hard, and think smart. With the myriad of choices, we need to be careful and knowledgeable. Otherwise, we could suffer buyer's remorse. After choosing a product, we may feel some dissatisfaction or regret, thinking that we could have chosen a better one. The first part of the exam which was MULTIPLE choice have 6 numbers, 10 points each. HIGH INVOLVEMENT... as in HIGH...

hmm... i wish the exam could have been more consumer-focused, channel-centered, and results-driven. so hard. so confusing. waaah... the class is very enjoyable. i love the activities. the professor is really good. the course is great. GREAT means VERY CHALLENGING.

on the other hand... these exams build character...

Halina sa Parokya

2005-08-14T14:45:00.000+08:00

Parokya ni Edgar's new album is out in the market. I just got my copy today. Weeee!!! Still listening to it... and so far so good. The poster is malupheeet. (Album art above - Chito Maching and Mr. Suave) Mabangis ang graphics. The Activity Coloration Book is astigin. As usual. Makulit. Masaya. Astig astig astig!!!

PNE has been making hits in the Philippines for ages. Witty. Funny. Maraming kanta tungkol sa lablayp. PNE is an epitomy of real "barkadahan." They are more of a barkada than a band, which makes their band stronger, better, and fights cavity causing monsters.

Their concept is like Sesame Street. With Chito as Chito Maching; Vinci as Mr Suave; Dindin as the Order Taker; Buwi as Pedro the Basura Man; Darius as Big Bird; and Gabriel as Uncle Gab and his Lucky Seven Club. Angkulit!

Matatapos na ung album hindi pa rin tapos ung blog entry ko. Angkulit ng mga kanta. May mala-Batibot opening song na "Halina sa Paroka." Nandyan ang mala-commercial jingle na "Papa Cologne." Nandyan ang pang-superhero song na "Mang Jose." Ung dating "Victor Would" ay may karugtong na "Victor Could." May First Day Funk at marami pang iba. 17 Tracks in all, kahit 16 lang ung nakalagay sa cover.

I rate "Halina sa Parokya" with 4.25 shadows out of 5.01 shadows. Grab your copy now at your nearest suking tindahan. No to OPM Music Piracy!!!

p.s.
Hmm... next album up, Kiko Machine. Malapit na ang Rockestra!!!

i found this in Parokya's Multiply Groups... Halina sa Parokya's Launch pictures. First Day Funk pictures can also be found there. Click the album art above to see the photos.

**** toooot *****

x: pwede bang bumati?!?
yomz: oo naman.
x: binabati ko lang lahat ng kaibigan ko. hi na rin sa parents ko. sa fans club ko. hi sa barkada ko dyan. hello na rin sa pinakamamahal kong si...
yomz: sorry times up. bukas ka na bumati. see you next time for another exciting blog entry. ako pwede bumati?

**** toot *****

Happiness

2005-08-06T00:10:00.000+08:00

"Happiness is a smile in your heart which reflects on your face."

- from a happy text message

ako happy. ngiti abot batok.
peace out. more readings to go.

disclaimer: image - girlfriend ko - Aya Matsuura - "a" photobook.

.:yomz:.

Kaibigan, Friend, Amigo, and Tomodachi

2005-08-02T22:26:00.000+08:00

In 1985, according to psychologists Michael Argyle and Monica Henderson of Oxford University, there are several basic universal rules of friendship, among them:

Provide emotional support
Respect privacy
Preserve confidences
Be tolerant of other friendships

In violating these rules, we will forfeit our friend's "trust and, with it, the chance to build the intimacy that results in truly rewarding partnerships."**

.:yomz:.

p.s.
I'm really happy, so very very absolutely happy, because of friendship. as in. asteeg! asteeg! asteeg!!! astigin to!!! salamat bestfriend!!! :)

disclaimer:
**From Harvard Business review "Preventing the Premature Death of Relationship Marketing" by Susan Fournier, Susan Dobscha, and David Glen Mick
*Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson; i really love that comics :)

Rockestra

2005-07-31T21:46:00.000+08:00

ROCKESTRA
When Two Musical Worlds Collide
by Kristine Lim

When an immovable object like classical music meets an irresistible force like indie
rock the results are nothing short of explosive.

ROCKESTRA brings together six of the Manila's finest rock bands and the prestigious Manila Symphony Orchestra.

Forget what you think you know about classical music. ROCKESTRA will coax it out of its dusty old box, polish it shiny and new and make it ready for the future, with a little help from our local rock scene.

Imago, Cambio, Sandwich, Silent Sanctuary, Sugarfree, and TwistedHalo will share the stage with the MSO in a mind-blowing collaboration that will happen on August 19, Friday at the Tanghalang Francisco Balagtas (formerly Folk Arts Theater) at 7:30 p.m.

The Manila Symphony Orchestra has a long and impressive history as being the oldest symphony in the Philippines. Despite its age, the MSO has the youngest and most vibrant group of musicians in the country. Not only are they exceptionally trained musicians; they
also have many influences outside of the classical genre. With Professor Toti Molina waving his baton and leading them on, their passion for music is always evident in their performances.

Imago is a coed band with a handful of impressive awards under their belt, including the Awit and NU Rock Awards. Their highly awaited second album, "Take 2", was released on an independent label.

Cambio rose from the ashes of one of the Philippines' best-loved rock acts. But to dismiss them as less than their predecessor would be a horrible mistake. Equal parts pop-rock and witty cultural references, Cambio resists comparisons.

Sandwich combines the best of B-boy rap and lo-fi rock. Their unique stylings and electric live performances sets them apart from the pack. They released their long awaited third album,"Thanks to the Moon's Gravitational Pull" early 2004

Silent Sanctuary are the perfect fit for ROCKESTRA. Already possessing their own string section, they create a sound that combines their many influences Bob Marley, Dave Matthews Band, Mozart and Yo-yo Ma among others) into something completely unique.

If you've ever experienced heartache then you'll know what Ebe Dancel of Sugarfree has gone through. Taken to heart by youths everywhere, Sugarfree's odes to true love are as true as what's in your diary as they are perfect examples of pop songs.

You could describe Twisted Halo's music as art-rock. Or avant-funk. Or maybe even a little 80's. You would be right and you'd also be really wrong. Twisted Halo defies definition by
making music the way they want it. A hardworking band by nature they can be seen playing clubs and schools all over the city.

At ROCKESTRA, the bands will rip through their sets with the usual enthusiastic abandon, only this time they'll have the awesome firepower of a complete orchestra behind them. Imagine songs like "Mariposa", "Divisoria" and "Two Trick Pony" played like you've never heard them before.

And while you're imagining that: Imagine buying yourself a ticket to ROCKESTRA, telling all your friends about it, showing up at Folk Arts Theater and having the best night you will ever have in your entire life. Now quit imagining and go buy the ticket. Leave your top hat and tails at home. The dress code is strictly smartly caustic.

Tickets priced at Php 975/ 630/ 350/ 175/ 75.
Tickets are available at the CCP Ticket Booth, major National Bookstore branches, robinson's Department Store (Malate, Galleria, Cavite & Pampanga), Tower Records (Makati and Alabang), Music Museum (Virra Mall, Greenhills), Ayala Center Inc. Greenbelt 1 Ticket Booth Cinema Lobby, Glorietta 1 Ticket Booth Cinema Lobby and on the TicketWorld website found at www.ticketworld.com.ph. Call 891.9999 for inquiries and reservations.

Temporary Hiatus

2005-07-25T11:51:00.000+08:00

The Shadow Laboratory is currently in a self-imposed hiatus. No more new posts.

this is yomz... now signing off.

*National Anthem plays on the background*

static...

static...

static...

Bilog ang Buwan... Puro Kalokohan

2005-07-22T09:49:00.000+08:00

ano ba ang meron sa bilog? bakit pag bilog ang buwan, sinasabing puro kalokohan ang mga tao? bakit pag sinasabing binata ka na pag bilog na ang iyong utot? hmmm... bilog. bakit boxing ring ang tawag pero hindi naman ito bilog? bilog ba ang pinanggalingan ng sumisikat na mga blog? hindi ko alam kung bakit bilog ang topic ng entry ko ngayon. siguro naisip ko na ang bilog ay kumakatawan sa tuluy-tuloy na pag-ikot ng buhay, minsan masaya minsan malungkot. umiikot. parang katanungan na manok-itlog (chicken and egg question). hindi mo matukoy kung ano ang nauna. ewan ko. pero sinabi kasi kanina ng kagrupo kong si Kate na bilog ang buwan, kaya pala makulit ang grupo namin. haaay... ayun, naalala ko na. bilog ang buwan = puro kalokohan

Kalokohan # 1: The more entries you send, the more chances of winning

May nagbigay sa amin ng brochures kanina. wala namang interesado. kaya pinasa namin sa iba naming kamag-aral. pero paano namin sila makukumbinsi? ewan ko, pero bigla ko na lang sinabi na: "kailangan mo yan. the more entries you send, the more chances of winning." hindi naman ito contest o raffle. brochure lang para sa review center. hmmm... naisip ko. paano kung ang mga application form ng anumang institusyon ay may ganitong pamamaraan? tipong, "gusto ko makapasa sa college na iyon! magpapasa ako ng 10 application forms. the more applications you send, the more chances of getting accepted." isang malaking kalokohan.

Kalokohan # 2: Mga Taong Walang Isang Salita

ung klase namin kanina. "Don't read your book! Explain in your own words" ika ng guro. Wala siyang isang salita. ayaw nyang magpabasa, basa naman sya ng basa at hindi namin maintindihan sa bilis. gusto nya ipaliwanag namin sa aming sariling salita ang aming binasa, pero gaya ng aking nasambit kanina, basa lang siya ng basa. parang kausap nya ung pader. mayroon talagang mga guro na walang salita. tipong, ayaw ng guro ang mga nale-late. pero sya naman ay once a month kung pumasok. busit na kalbo un. kalbo masamang tao. hence, i will dedicate a whole entry just for him. meron talagang mga klase na ayaw mong matuloy. kapag nasa silid ka na, nanalangin ka na lang: sana may bumagsak na cometa; sana may dumating na UFO at kunin sya; sana may pumasok na lasing sa klase at sumigaw na "Itigil ang klaseng ito!!! Ito ay isang malaking kalokohan!!!" at kami ay magpapalakpakan.

Kalokohan # 3: Ang Blog ni Yomz

Axilla Force. Why I Hate Swimming. Torpe Entries. ang blog ni yomz. isang malaking kalokohan.

Food for thought:

"Poems are made by fools like me. But only God can make a tree."
- excerpt from Tree by Joyce Kilmer