Xmas Party 2007

Level Three

Change of Account - the dreadful Level 3. Back to collections. Nov. 16 was when "they" finally decided to put me to Level 3, and eventually say goodbye to TAB. Hehe.. There are some things that I've realized in the past few days while working for Level 3:

1. Show me the money scenario - it's all about the money, collecting and collecting.

2. More alienation, more stress.

3. They’re not gonna tell you what the whole system is all about, it’s for you to figure out.

4. I’m more prone to introversion.

5. But I’ve got great dudes here.

P.S Irisk is a great trainer – fast delivery but accurate directives. I salute you! Never mind the Americans; though we feed on their money, they are bound to feed on their carcasses.

Munich

Rating:	★★★★
Category:	Movies
Genre:	Action & Adventure

Watched this movie last Nov. 4. Great film, it blends action and humanity - clashes of principles, honor, ideology. Spielberg cannot decide how to end the film but there’s too much to admire about this thing. This is based on true events, I have felt the primary need to use violence against enemies. Though, ‘Schindler’s List’ is better than this one (non-fiction), Spielberg’s coverage of the century old war between Palestinians and Israelis is gripping, you must see this one! An intelligent creation, three hours of watching is worth it!

See link for further information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Munich_(film)

Nga pala, the year was 1972 when the Munich Massacre happened. 1972, Martial Law was declared in the Philippines – a year of terror.

Ang Tunay na Pasista

Mula ito sa blog ni Sherwin Mapanoo, basahin niyo na lang. Salamat.
 
Prologo. Suriin ang mga ebidensiya at pagkakasunod-sunod ng mga pangyayari.

I. Ganito ang eksena: Ilang segundong lumindol sa Glorietta II at nabalot ng makapal na usok ang paligid. Wasak ang kisame. Basag ang salamin. Tumilapon ang mga kotse. Nagkalat ang halu-halong debris sa daan. Labing-isang tao ang patay. Halos isandaang tao ang sugatan. Ayon sa imbestigasyon, itinanim daw ang bomba malapit sa escalator. Pinalakas pa ang pagsabog ng mga LPG tanks ng kapalit na restaurants.

II. Agad na nagpahayag ang Malacanang ng pakikiramay sa mga biktima, at inatasan ang kapulisan na imbestigahan ang trahedya. “The President is deeply saddened by this incident and extends her sympathies to the families of the casualties… She has also ordered the PNP to get to the bottom of things and to leave no stone unturned,” ani Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye. Itinaas din ang alert level at nagdeploy ng dalawang libong pulis at sundalo sa Kamaynilaan.

III. Batay sa imbestigasyon, maaaring C-4 military grade plastic explosive ang ginamit sa pambobomba. Sa isang briefing sa Camp Crame kasama ang Pangulo, sinabi ng chemist ng AFP na nakitaan daw ng residues ng C-4 component na “RDX” ang pinangyarihan ng pagsabog.

IV. Inako na raw ng Rajah Solaiman Group ang pambobomba, ayon sa kumakalat na text message mula sa nagpakilalang Omar. Kasunod nito, nagpalabas ng anunsyo ang PNP na magbibigay ang gubyerno ng 2 milyong pisong reward sa sinumang makapagbibigay ng impormasyon upang maaresto ang mga suspek. Pati ang Makati businessmen at Lungsod ng Makati ay magkakaloob din ng tig-iisang milyong pabuya.

V. Sa isang radio interview kay National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales, sinabi niyang ang pambobomba sa Glorietta ay maaaring “fund-raising activity” ng mga terorista. Aniya, “Isang intelligence report, may terrorist group nagpa-fund raising. Kung hindi ka magaling walang popondo sa iyo. May ganyang reports a few days before the bombing.” {Wala talaga akong masabi sa “intelligence” ng AFP. Anong silbi ng multi-milyong Confidential and Intelligence Funds? Hanep. Kamote. Kalabasa. Kangkong. Putangina.}

VII. Ang babala: Maaaring “patikim” pa lamang ang Glorietta Bombing, at may susunod pang mas matitinding pag-atake. {Gasgas na paglikha ng paranoia. Huwag matakot}

VIII. Ang ebidensiya: Bugbog-sarado sa iskandalo nitong nakaraang buwan at linggo si Gloria. Pinakahuli ang pamumudmod umano ng pera sa mga opisyal sa isang pagpupulong sa Malacanang. Kumanta na si Pampanga Gov. Ed Panlilio. Buking na. Hugas-kamay pa.

IX. Sino ang "kaaway?" Malinaw na malinaw.

Epilogo. Abangan ang mga susunod na (marahas) na kabanata.

Marriage 101

Just this morning, a dear friend of mine reflexively asked me "Do you have plans of getting married?”. I was caught off guard, but instinctively, I know the answer to this question. Maybe it’s too early to decide if getting married is one of the options I wish to muse over. Given the present circumstances, I don’t think so.

Frederick Engel’s “The Origin of the Family, Private Property, and the State: in the light of the researches of Lewis H. Morgan” ( which I have read way back in college) shows how families originate (of course!), resulting into a bourgeois concept of a family.

Sample quote: “Bourgeois law dictates the rules for relationships and inheritances. As such, two partners, even when their marriage is not arranged, will always have the preservation of inheritance in mind and as such will never be entirely free to choose their partner. For Engels, a relationship based on property rights and forced monogamy will only lead to the proliferation of immorality and prostitution.”

And so, I defended my principle, that marriage will not lessen any complication (if there is any). Think about gay and lesbian relationships. I do sympathize with them, and the kinds of discrimination that some of them go through give them emotional torture – fascist bigotry!

Though, in my present state of mind, I don’t go for polygamy, group marriage etc. It’s just the thought that when you want to be with someone, the concept of marriage is not important anymore for it only boils down to the concept of economy and bourgeois property. Why not invest more on emotional foundations – love, affection, sharing, values on how to make each other worthy as beings. Some say “The best things in the world cannot be seen by the naked eye.”  - (Helen Keller) – exactly my point.

But just to clarify, I am not against marriage. Of course, once (or twice?) in my life, I daydream of wearing a bridal gown, walking down the aisle with the love of your life and saying I do.

This friend of mine misinterpreted my reply; he said “Don’t frown at tomorrow!” Not having a chance to marry is not a valid reason to frown at tomorrow, I guess. As long as you have found the right person to be with forever..

Peace out O**r! Hahahah.. This guy is gonna marry soon that’s why he asked me that question.

Beautiful Boxer

Rating:	★★★★
Category:	Movies
Genre:	Foreign

Poignant Toom!

I watched this movie last Oct 22 - my birthday celebration I spent in my hometown Aurora Province. The DVD player was busted, I didn’t know what’s wrong with the settings but my father can’t fix it either, so I have to bear with the player and watch the film in black and white.

This is the real life story of Toom Parinya, a Thai transgender kickboxer who entered the world of Muay Thai to get enough money to help his family and pay for his ultimate sex-change surgery. I recalled the times when me and my father watch Van Damme films, and get astounded by the kicks and blows and extravagant fight scenes throughout the film. Though this film offers less bloodshed, even Toom, at first don't seem to appreciate Thai Boxing. He later on understood the sport and gained mastery over the ancient moves, delivered it with great ease – crushing his opponent.

This film received awards abroad, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nong_Thoom for a full access to Nong Toom’s biography.

Suwanee did a great portrayal for Nong Toom, his finesse, femininity, spell bounded me to sympathize (even my dad) with him. She’s indeed a woman trapped in a man’s body. And all her (I want to use this now) emotional battle finally ended when she had the sex change.

I need to remember this line: “Forgetting what you really want to be is the hardest thing.”

So Toom became what she wanted to be, a woman with a woman’s heart.

The Lakehouse

Rating:	★★★★★
Category:	Movies
Genre:	Romance

Thumbs up! Great great plot!

This film I guess is the best romantic-fantasy film I have ever watched. Though, I discovered that this was a remake of a Korean film "II Mare", I still love how the story was revised to give a full-pledge thrill in the end.

Sandra and Keanu's performances and chemistry, though quite not perfect, reveal a tangible connection. Yes, I need to suspend belief from watching this film, I guess, that’s the reason why movies are made anyways. Sandra’s loneliness was nostalgic, and her craving for a genuine love – manifested through Keanu’s attraction to her, gives the story a bittersweet start. I was actually groping in my seat trying to figure out what will happen in the end, and I was so relieved when they finally ended up being together, sharing their magical love. The picture of the lake house gave the film a melancholy bite. And the time distance, the “chase” between the lovers was haunting. Sandra, trying to bring an end to their correspondence, and the so called “first war” kept me guessing what will happen next. And yet they waited. Sandra’s line “Just wait, wait for two years, and then come here at the lake house, I’m here”, was stunningly romantic!

I love how Keanu described Sandra’s eyes – “unguarded”.

Can’t believe I had tears in my eyes when they finally kissed in the end. Corny. I’d love to see the Korean original version. I saw trailer pictures of the Asian actors and they look great together.

Sonnet XVII

Best love poem in the world. Purest of pure love expressed in the best words."

By Pablo Neruda

I do not love you as if you were salt-rose, or topaz,
or the arrow of carnations the fire shoots off.
I love you as certain dark things are to be loved,
in secret, between the shadow and the soul.

I love you as the plant that never blooms
but carries in itself the light of hidden flowers;
thanks to your love a certain solid fragrance,
risen from the earth, lives darkly in my body.

I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where.
I love you straightforwardly, without complexities or pride;
so I love you because I know no other way

than this: where I does not exist, nor you,
so close that your hand on my chest is my hand,
so close that your eyes close as I fall asleep.

Artikulo mula sa 70's Bistro Bar

Isa ito sa mga articles na nakuha ko sa 70s Bistro Bar, nostalgic ang mga linya, siguro dahil dama ng may-akda ang ganda ng nakaraan niya.. Pero malungkot ang wakas, o sana di pa talaga ito ang wakas.

FROM A DISTANCE
Buhay pa pala ang Bistro 70s
Jose Torres Jr / MindaNews / 27 July 2002

LUNGSOD NG QUEZON — Napasyal ako nitong Huwebes sa Bistro 70s, ang maliit na tambayan ng mga “baliw” sa kalye Anonas sa Lungsod Quezon.

“Buhay pa pala ito,” sabi ko sa sarili.

Buhay pa pala ang lugar na pinaghubugan ko noon ang mga pangarap — magsulat, tumula, mamundok, makibaka at umibig — habang tumutungga ng malamig na serbesa at nakikinig ng mga awitin ng Grupong Pendong at The Jerks.

Buhay pa pala ang Bistro 70s, saksi ng mga lambingan at tampuhan ng mga aktibistang karamihan galing Minda, debate ng mga kadreng napasyal sa siyudad, protesta laban sa pamahalaan at hatian sa kilusang komunista mahigit sampung taon na ang nakalilipas.

Matagal na rin pala akong ‘di napasyal sa Bistro 70s, kasing tagal na yata mula nang huli akong magsulat sa wikang pambansa at sumubok na maghabi ng mga salita.

Napasyal ako sa Bistro 70s nitong Huwebes at muling nanariwa sa isipan ang mga nakaraan, ang panahon ng mga pag-aalinlangan, pagbabakasakali at paglalakas-loob. Muling nanariwa ang mga huntahan, mga debate at paglalagom.

Mga bata na ang mga mang-aawit na nakita ko nitong Huwebes sa Bistro 70s. ‘Di ko na nakita sila Pendong Aban at asawang si Chat na silang boses ng Grupong Pendong. Wala rin si Noel Cabangon. Nandoon si Bayang Barrios pero nakaupo na lang sa gilid kasama ang pintor na si Boy Dominguez. Marami na ang mga bagong mukha. Tila marami na rin ang nawawala sa mga luma.

Habang tumutungga ng serbesa at pinupulutan ang saliw ng mga makabagong awitin ng Session Road, nakita ko ang dalawang dating kasama — isang dating mataas na kadre ng Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas sa Visayas at isang dating mataas na opisyal ng Christians for National Liberation ng National Democratic Front. Pareho na silang umalis sa kilusan, naging presidente ng isang unibersidad ang paring si Toots at “racketeer” naman daw si Lito ngayon.

At sabi nga ng kanta, “We talked about the revolution.” Pinag-usapan namin ang kilusan na minsan naming hinandugan ng panahon at talino, sa kaunting mayroon kami noon. Ginunita ni Lito ang pagkilos niya noon sa kanayunan. Si Toots naman ang pag-organisa niya noon sa mga lugar ng mahihirap sa Kamaynilaan. Tila walang katapusan ang kwentuhan, hanggang magtanong ako kung nabasa na ba nila ang aklat ni Bobby Garcia, isa pang dating kasama.

Lumungkot ang mukha ng dalawa.

“Nagkamali tayo,” sabi ni Toots.

“Pero tama naman ang feeling natin sa ginawa natin noon, di ba?” sagot naman ni Lito.

“Wala tayong ipinagkaiba sa mamang namugot ng ulo dahil tinakot ng Abu Sayyaf,” dagdag ko naman.

Malungkot ang librong “To Suffer Thy Comrades” ni Robert Francis Garcia o Bobby sa kanyang mga kakilala. Tungkol ito sa pagpupurga ng kilusang komunista noong dekada 80.

Inakala ng pamunuang rebelde noon na malalim na ang impiltrasyon na nagawa ng militar sa kilusan Nagdesisyun itong maglinis ng hanay. Marami ang nabiktima. Marami ang namatay. Marami ang napahiya at tila marami na rin ang nakalimot.

Salamat sa serbesa at tugtugin ng mga bata, nanumbalik ang mga gunita.

Buhay pa pala ang Bistro 70s at magsasampung taon na ito. Matagal na akong hindi nakabalik dito. Nang dumalaw akong nitong linggo, hindi ako nagulat dahil tila walang nagbago. Mainit pa rin ang mga awitin, madilim pa rin sa mga sulok, tumutumba-tumba pa rin ang mga mesa at upuan, mausok pa rin, kahit medyo lumuwang ng konti ang tanghalan, marami pa rin ang nananaginip na gising at, higit sa lahat, malamig pa rin ang beer.

Kung makakapagsalita lang sana ang dingding, kinantiyawan na sana kaming tatlo ni Toots at Lito. Sasabihin nito, “Hoy, ang tatanda n’yo na, ang senti n’yo pa rin!” At kung makakaluha lang sana ang kisame, ibinuhos na siguro nito sa amin ang mga dalamhati na nasaksihan nito sa mga babaeng napangakuhan, mga kasamang naiwanan at mga waiter na natakbuhan ng kostumer.

Madaling-araw na nang umalis kami sa Bistro, tahimik na ang gitara, wala ng tao sa kalsada at mainit na ang serbesa. Maghihiwalay na naman ng landas ang dating mga magkakasama. Kanya-kanyang abot na lang kami ng tarheta, tila ba may panahon pa sa iba’t ibang mundo naming na magkakatawagan pa.

Hanggang sa susunod na pagbisita sa Bistro 70s, sa tambayan ng mga “baliw.”

(Ang MindaViews ay ang seksyon sa opinyon ng MindaNews. Ang journalist na Si Jose Torres, Jr. ay taga-Mindanao pero nagtratrabaho ngayon sa Lungsod ng Quezon. Siya ang may-akda ng aklat na ‘Into the Mountain, Hostaged by the Abu Sayyaf.”)

Puerto Galera January 2007

At Puerto Galera January 1-2, 2007, with Jam, Brenda and Caloy.

UP Memories

Familia

Moments with my Pamilya

Everything Incoho Phils Inc

Phoebe Rea, Charmaine Manio, and me

Nueva Vizcaya Seminar

Baguio June 2006

Wooden Statue of a minority.

LRA Internship

me at lra

Katipunan Moments