I took my mother and her friends to see |Sharon today (thanks a bunch,
Crissy! I loves ya! ). I feel particularly proud to be able to do this because if there's anything I've learned about my mother, it's that she's a die-hard Sharonian. She has admitted to rescheduling whole family trips around the opening of Sharon's movies.
She also says that there's only one Sharon movie that she hasn;t seen, whose title escapes her at the moment because, well, she hasn't seen it.
I guess my taking her to see Sharon's show makes up for my not getting any honors
or not being the prom queen groing up. My mom's probably thining: 'So what if my
daughter spent most of her life failing math? She took me to see Sharon!
It was a fun episode. They guested stand-up comedians who came as famous personalities. There was Manny Poohquiao, as Manny Pacquiao, John Santos as Mayor Vilma Santos (I must confess, there's a deep dark part of me that loves Ate Vi. And Lovely Ness, too. And no, I'm not ashamed to admit it!), and Tessie Tomas (Now there's another person who's a joy to interview) as Imelda Marcos. If you've seenthe episode, you know it's a good one, and not just because the camera kept
panning over our faces.
After the show, we went to Something Fishy in Eastwood City. We got there at
11pm, so we had to wait an hour to make it to the breakfast buffet. The buffet wasn't bad, especially since it cost less than a hundred per head. It had garlic rice, 2 kinds of adobo, tocino, longganisa, scrambled eggs (mushy -- just the way I like them!), pancakes, arroz caldo, beef mami, palitaw, plus a few dishes that I've forgotten. Unfortunately, I was too sleepy and too sick (I'm still coughing like it's terminal -- I was like that before I left. Joselle can testify!) to enjoy it. I've discovered this about my mother: she gets real mad when I sleep late, even if I'm not sleepy or can't sleep. It's completely ok, however, if she keeps me up all night, no matter how sleepy or sick I am. I didn't really complain -- I wanted her to enjoy the night, plus, I can use this event for ammo the next time I stay up.
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Saturday, January 20, 2007
This is where I'm at, yo!
This month, I've got two articles in Entrepreneur magazine, two (I think) in Burn magazine, and two in Vision, the Epson magazine. I may be missing something but I can't remember.
In Entrepreneur, I interview award-winning graphic designer Kimberly Tiu on product design and family business/ personal finance guru Elfren Cruz on professionalizing a family business.
In Burn, I interview Maksim, the pianist, about his new album and the band Callalily about their music.
In Vision, I interview 10-year-old digital art genius Nica Manzano about her art and advocacy (she teaches kids digital art) and sports photographer Neil Confesor about his need for speed.
That wraps up another bout of shameless self promotion. Back to regular programming.
In Entrepreneur, I interview award-winning graphic designer Kimberly Tiu on product design and family business/ personal finance guru Elfren Cruz on professionalizing a family business.
In Burn, I interview Maksim, the pianist, about his new album and the band Callalily about their music.
In Vision, I interview 10-year-old digital art genius Nica Manzano about her art and advocacy (she teaches kids digital art) and sports photographer Neil Confesor about his need for speed.
That wraps up another bout of shameless self promotion. Back to regular programming.
Friday, January 19, 2007
Media Mercenary No More
Today was my last day at the office. It wasn't anything special workwise, but it was touching to see so many people so sad to see me go. I always thought no one would really notice, as I tend to keep to myself, so it felt really really nice to find out that I'm not as anti-social as I think I am. Well, not that much, anyway.
As a parting gift, the web team gave me a framed picture of me and Polo Ravales, both of us in sunglasses and grinning at the camera, taken on the set of Super Noypi with dedications (theirs, not his) on the back. Jason, Jessa and KC also gave me the Golden Snitch, a tiny gold Christmas ornament with wings stuck on it (you know, like the golden snitch), which was their prized decoration during the Christmas workstation decoration competition. I was very touched, especially since they're all Harry Potter fans.
Binky, the local sandwich lady, also gave me my last sandwich for free. Yum!
I didn't get to say goodbye to everyone, like Jason, who left early, and Mitch, who was at a shoot (ed. - but Mitch texted goodbye the next day, which was sweet).
So ended my last day as a full time media practitioner. In two weeks, I'm going to be in unfamilliar territory, learning everything from the ground up. Who would have thought that I'd ever go into business? In a way, it's something that I've always wanted to do. I'll still continue writing, of course, but not as much. The future is filled with the unknown, and that's what makes it exciting.
As a parting gift, the web team gave me a framed picture of me and Polo Ravales, both of us in sunglasses and grinning at the camera, taken on the set of Super Noypi with dedications (theirs, not his) on the back. Jason, Jessa and KC also gave me the Golden Snitch, a tiny gold Christmas ornament with wings stuck on it (you know, like the golden snitch), which was their prized decoration during the Christmas workstation decoration competition. I was very touched, especially since they're all Harry Potter fans.
Binky, the local sandwich lady, also gave me my last sandwich for free. Yum!
I didn't get to say goodbye to everyone, like Jason, who left early, and Mitch, who was at a shoot (ed. - but Mitch texted goodbye the next day, which was sweet).
So ended my last day as a full time media practitioner. In two weeks, I'm going to be in unfamilliar territory, learning everything from the ground up. Who would have thought that I'd ever go into business? In a way, it's something that I've always wanted to do. I'll still continue writing, of course, but not as much. The future is filled with the unknown, and that's what makes it exciting.
A Week of Dinners
This week, being my last week in my current job, and as a full time media mercenary, is packed with social meetings. This is in anticipation of my new job in the corporate world, where I will (gasp!) have fixed hours and (double gasp!!) be banned from wearing flip flops to the office. I also will not be able to eat breakfast at my leisure ever again.
My schedule went thus:
Tuesday:
Met Crissy and Mae in Gateway at 8, then rushed to Greens just off Morato where Iris was holding her despidida party. Iris' thing also started at 8, which made me feel like a character in a sitcom, but I managed to get there before ten. Greens has got to be the most filling vegetarian restaurant I've ever been to. Or maybe my stomach got smaller.
Wednesday:
Met Leah and her friend's boyfriend Lizard at The Promenade for a business consultation, but not before snacking on Shrimp Puffs and Hakaw at the nearby Won Ton, first. I just found out that the reso is run by the same person who set up Chopstix, so I've become an addict. Plus, I really, really love their iced tea. I took the normally finicky Luis to eat there once and he loved the food as well. This is good because it means we're going back. Yay!
Thursday:
Took Andrea, who I haven't seen in ages, to Snackaroo in Judge Jimenez corner Kamuning. Andrea is the third person I've converted, if you count Anson Yu (the food writer), who I duggested the place to, even though I'd never been there, for a resto review. Back then, I had always wanted to eat there but didn't know where it was, so I needed someone to locate it for me. Needless to say, Anson found it. I've also dragged Maxi, my sometime partner in crime, there on one of my late night steak cravings, and he too, loved it, even though he ordered the bangus. Yes, my mission in life is to take everone to Snackaroo.
Jayvee texted to say that he posted my review of the Motorola 1200, aka the Motoming on Cellphone 9, his cellphone blog. Read it here.
Friday:
Managed to exorcise some demons during breakfast with Nats and Leah. Today was the day I found out that I can't eat as much as I used to, having lasted *only* three rounds at the breakfast buffet. I hang my head in shame. If you were to tell my younger self that I would only be eating three rounds at a breakfast buffet, she would have laughed and called you a liar. But it's true. I will never look at buffets the same way again. *cries anime tears* One day, I sahll write an article about the evolution of breakfast buffets. Hopefully, it will be so good it will win a competition -- and the prize will be free breakfast. :D
On a happier note, I managed to see Luis today *squee! squee!* . Still no hamster, though.
My schedule went thus:
Tuesday:
Met Crissy and Mae in Gateway at 8, then rushed to Greens just off Morato where Iris was holding her despidida party. Iris' thing also started at 8, which made me feel like a character in a sitcom, but I managed to get there before ten. Greens has got to be the most filling vegetarian restaurant I've ever been to. Or maybe my stomach got smaller.
Wednesday:
Met Leah and her friend's boyfriend Lizard at The Promenade for a business consultation, but not before snacking on Shrimp Puffs and Hakaw at the nearby Won Ton, first. I just found out that the reso is run by the same person who set up Chopstix, so I've become an addict. Plus, I really, really love their iced tea. I took the normally finicky Luis to eat there once and he loved the food as well. This is good because it means we're going back. Yay!
Thursday:
Took Andrea, who I haven't seen in ages, to Snackaroo in Judge Jimenez corner Kamuning. Andrea is the third person I've converted, if you count Anson Yu (the food writer), who I duggested the place to, even though I'd never been there, for a resto review. Back then, I had always wanted to eat there but didn't know where it was, so I needed someone to locate it for me. Needless to say, Anson found it. I've also dragged Maxi, my sometime partner in crime, there on one of my late night steak cravings, and he too, loved it, even though he ordered the bangus. Yes, my mission in life is to take everone to Snackaroo.
Jayvee texted to say that he posted my review of the Motorola 1200, aka the Motoming on Cellphone 9, his cellphone blog. Read it here.
Friday:
Managed to exorcise some demons during breakfast with Nats and Leah. Today was the day I found out that I can't eat as much as I used to, having lasted *only* three rounds at the breakfast buffet. I hang my head in shame. If you were to tell my younger self that I would only be eating three rounds at a breakfast buffet, she would have laughed and called you a liar. But it's true. I will never look at buffets the same way again. *cries anime tears* One day, I sahll write an article about the evolution of breakfast buffets. Hopefully, it will be so good it will win a competition -- and the prize will be free breakfast. :D
On a happier note, I managed to see Luis today *squee! squee!* . Still no hamster, though.
Monday, January 15, 2007
Arnold Clavio in the House
One of the personalities I enjoyed interviewing was Arnold Clavio. Unfortunately, shortly after I interviewed him, igma decided that it would concentrate on entertainment shows. This meant no news and public affairs shows. I thought my Arnold Clavio article would never see the light of day. Fortunately, they decided to use it in GMA Pinoy TV.
How this man manages to sleep extra late every night and wake up extra early every morning and manage to stay cheerful and smart all throughout will always be a mystery to me.
Read it here.
How this man manages to sleep extra late every night and wake up extra early every morning and manage to stay cheerful and smart all throughout will always be a mystery to me.
Read it here.
Weekend Binge Fest
I spent most of the weekend at home reading. Aside from a few hours of work each night, I got to stay in bed and read. I finished reading Tom Green’s autobiography, Hollywood Causes Cancer, a book that left me with a lot of respect for the comedian. I didn’t think much of him before but after reading his inspiring story of how he relentlessly chased his dream of becoming a comedian to how Hollywood swallowed him and later, gave him cancer (the kind Rizal talks about) and how he battled actual cancer, it made me think a lot of him. It also made me think better of Adam Sandler, who I’m not a big fan of but who apparently is a very nice man. According to the book, he was the only Hollywood guest who stayed until the end of Tom green and Drew Barrymore’s wedding, even dancing with Tom’s mom and chatting with his brother. Now I have the urge to borrow Freddy Got Fingered and search for The Tom Green Show on YouTube.
Another book I finished was Christopher Ross’ Tunnel Vision, a philosophical treatise written by a man who worked in the London Underground. At the age of 26, Ross gave up a lucrative, moneymaking job to do nothing but travel. He would then find work in whatever country he was in to pay for his next trip. Tunnel Vision is a lovely book that talks not just about travel, but about the human condition (at least as he sees it) as well. It’s a really easy read, with none of the high faluting words or metaphors associated with philosophy. It doesn’t tell you how to life your life. It’s more an entrance into the thoughts of a man who has chosen to work a mechanical job with the express purpose of observing his surroundings.
I also got a short course on African-American culture over the weekend -- if you can call watching a few episodes of Boondocks and reading Damon Wayans’ book Bootleg studying. If there’s anything I’ve learned from McGurder and Wayans, it’s that African Americans are like Filipinos. Really. Just replace all the words that pertain to African-American in the book and cartoon with “Filipino” and it will still make sense. You can do this with Dave Chapelle’s skits as well. There’s one where he talks about the African-American’s affinity for fried chicken and I thought, ‘That’s so Pinoy!’
This is a sad thing since, a. Filipinos are racists and would rather be associated with people with skin lighter than theirs (the sad thing here being the racism and the colonial mentality, not being compared to African Americans) and b. the book and the cartoon make fun of the African-American culture and its stereotypes.
What does it say about us when some of the aspects of our race that we are proud of (like not backing down from a fight -- from the ‘Nigger Moment’ cartoon) are aspects of another race that get laughed at by their own people? I’m not going to answer that.
My favorite line in Boondocks:
“Grandad, you can’t change the White supreme power structure with cheese!” -- Huey Freeman
I’m currently reading Pat McCarthy’s The Road to McCarthy, a book about a man’s search for his roots around the world. McCarthy, who is half English, half Irish, travels all over, from Morocco to Australia to the US to Monserrat and of course, Ireland, in search of his ancestors. It’s inspiring and it’s something I want to do myself, but I have the feeling I’ll have to learn how to speak Mandarin first. Even though knowing only one sentence (How much is this, miss?) got me though a month in Xiamen, I don’t think it’s good enough to go ancestor-hunting with.
I’m also reading Michael Palin’s Full Circle, where he circles the whole Pacific Rim for a BBC special and gets to write about it, too! I don’t know why I’ve been interested in travel books lately. For the last two years, it was business books. Before that, it was children’s books. Now, it’s travel. I think I’m going through the whole bookstore section by section!
Another book I finished was Christopher Ross’ Tunnel Vision, a philosophical treatise written by a man who worked in the London Underground. At the age of 26, Ross gave up a lucrative, moneymaking job to do nothing but travel. He would then find work in whatever country he was in to pay for his next trip. Tunnel Vision is a lovely book that talks not just about travel, but about the human condition (at least as he sees it) as well. It’s a really easy read, with none of the high faluting words or metaphors associated with philosophy. It doesn’t tell you how to life your life. It’s more an entrance into the thoughts of a man who has chosen to work a mechanical job with the express purpose of observing his surroundings.
I also got a short course on African-American culture over the weekend -- if you can call watching a few episodes of Boondocks and reading Damon Wayans’ book Bootleg studying. If there’s anything I’ve learned from McGurder and Wayans, it’s that African Americans are like Filipinos. Really. Just replace all the words that pertain to African-American in the book and cartoon with “Filipino” and it will still make sense. You can do this with Dave Chapelle’s skits as well. There’s one where he talks about the African-American’s affinity for fried chicken and I thought, ‘That’s so Pinoy!’
This is a sad thing since, a. Filipinos are racists and would rather be associated with people with skin lighter than theirs (the sad thing here being the racism and the colonial mentality, not being compared to African Americans) and b. the book and the cartoon make fun of the African-American culture and its stereotypes.
What does it say about us when some of the aspects of our race that we are proud of (like not backing down from a fight -- from the ‘Nigger Moment’ cartoon) are aspects of another race that get laughed at by their own people? I’m not going to answer that.
My favorite line in Boondocks:
“Grandad, you can’t change the White supreme power structure with cheese!” -- Huey Freeman
I’m currently reading Pat McCarthy’s The Road to McCarthy, a book about a man’s search for his roots around the world. McCarthy, who is half English, half Irish, travels all over, from Morocco to Australia to the US to Monserrat and of course, Ireland, in search of his ancestors. It’s inspiring and it’s something I want to do myself, but I have the feeling I’ll have to learn how to speak Mandarin first. Even though knowing only one sentence (How much is this, miss?) got me though a month in Xiamen, I don’t think it’s good enough to go ancestor-hunting with.
I’m also reading Michael Palin’s Full Circle, where he circles the whole Pacific Rim for a BBC special and gets to write about it, too! I don’t know why I’ve been interested in travel books lately. For the last two years, it was business books. Before that, it was children’s books. Now, it’s travel. I think I’m going through the whole bookstore section by section!
A Band Called Kjwan
Uploaded an article in my GMAP Pinoy TV column about my interview with Kjwan. This happened before they released their second album. The interview was for Anthem magazine. I got to meet Marc and Kelley, who were both very nice and smart and articulate and -- this impressed me the most -- frank.
I love Marc and Kelley! Especially since they know how to make a girl blush. Marc blew me a kiss at the Sugarfree launch and Kelley gave me a hug at the NU Rock Awards *skwee skwee* ^_^ .
Here’s an excerpt:
What has life been like after the release of your first album?
Marc: The first album defined us -- that’s what we observed -- as a macho core rock and roll band because of “Daliri.” I mean, we did release a couple of other songs but like most albums, one song stands out… From then until we started writing songs again, we kept on gigging and gigging, then we added Boogie Romero, who is also from Dicta License (as is Kelley -- ed.), into the mix so when we started writing songs, they became more ambient…
Kelley: The first album was an experiment. And what Marc was saying na rin, after the first album was done, it was our experiment, eh. We got together, we recorded all the songs that came to mind. In the second album, we knew each other better. I knew Jun more, I knew Marc even more, I finally got to jam with Jorel, Bogie came in.
So going into the second album, our mindset was a whole new thing. Yeah, we get defined also by our singles, but even in the first album, there were a lot of different aspects to our individual musicality din that showed out influences, rock and roll, R&B, we listen to a lot of different things, drum n bass, soul, electronica. So all of these mixtures, we’re more fully aware of these influences and we’re trying to translate this into a whole new different thing for the second album. Ang daming ups and downs din in the middle that the band got into. We survived, we got our guns going. We have a good team now. We’re really confident about our product, especially for the second album.
Read the whole article here
I love Marc and Kelley! Especially since they know how to make a girl blush. Marc blew me a kiss at the Sugarfree launch and Kelley gave me a hug at the NU Rock Awards *skwee skwee* ^_^ .
Here’s an excerpt:
What has life been like after the release of your first album?
Marc: The first album defined us -- that’s what we observed -- as a macho core rock and roll band because of “Daliri.” I mean, we did release a couple of other songs but like most albums, one song stands out… From then until we started writing songs again, we kept on gigging and gigging, then we added Boogie Romero, who is also from Dicta License (as is Kelley -- ed.), into the mix so when we started writing songs, they became more ambient…
Kelley: The first album was an experiment. And what Marc was saying na rin, after the first album was done, it was our experiment, eh. We got together, we recorded all the songs that came to mind. In the second album, we knew each other better. I knew Jun more, I knew Marc even more, I finally got to jam with Jorel, Bogie came in.
So going into the second album, our mindset was a whole new thing. Yeah, we get defined also by our singles, but even in the first album, there were a lot of different aspects to our individual musicality din that showed out influences, rock and roll, R&B, we listen to a lot of different things, drum n bass, soul, electronica. So all of these mixtures, we’re more fully aware of these influences and we’re trying to translate this into a whole new different thing for the second album. Ang daming ups and downs din in the middle that the band got into. We survived, we got our guns going. We have a good team now. We’re really confident about our product, especially for the second album.
Read the whole article here
Sunday, January 14, 2007
A Bugged Life
I recently interviewed Jayvee Fernandez for a Filipinas Magazine article on Pinoy blogging and posted about it in my GMA Pinoy TV column. Apparently, Jayvee posted about it as well. Read it here .
Saturday, January 13, 2007
San Juan's KKK Museum
I finally found time to check out the KKK Museum (note to foreign readers: KKK in this context does not refer to the Klan -- in the Philippibnes, the KKK refers to the Katipunan, a rebel army who fought for the Philippines' independence from the Spanish), which is walking distance from my house. I only found out about it last month, when I managed to catch a glimpse of its banner from the road.
I don't know its exact address (I'm too lazy to hunt for the brochure), but all I can say it's along the same side as the San Juan post office, inside the gates of the Pinaglabanan Shrine.
It's a tiny museum, about the size of a small apartment. It was nicely air-conditioned (a big plus!), but a bit hard to get into becuase the front gate of the Pionaglabanan Shrine is closed, so you have to come in through the back.
There wasn't much to see -- some dioramas, a few weapons and medallions, half of which were replicas. But it was only during the museum tour that it really sank in that the town I live in played a big part in the building of this nation.
San Juan was one of the many rebel strongholds. Battles were fought here, many people died, all in the quest for independence. Some of the landmarks were battles were fought, like the church and the tower, are still standing -- that is, if you can pick them out from the overcrowded town.
It's heartwarming to see the township putting up projects like the museum. My only complaint is that it seems to be more of a political vehicle than a cultural one. There's a picture of the mayor on the wall, which is ok I guess, since it was his idea anyway. But if you look at the museum's flyers, you see, not a detailed descritpion of San Juan's rich history, nbut a detailed description of how the mayor built the museum.
I have nothing against the mayor, but I believe that there is a time and place for everything, and that people go to a museum to learn about history, not to get sucked into a political campaign. It would be ince to get handed a flyer about the grand history of the Katipunan, not how the museum would not have existed without rich people who 'care.'
Still, I'm glad that there's a museum at all, and if a little propaganda is what it takes to keep it going, then so be it.
Apparently, we have a library too, which I'll visit as soon as I can.
I don't know its exact address (I'm too lazy to hunt for the brochure), but all I can say it's along the same side as the San Juan post office, inside the gates of the Pinaglabanan Shrine.
It's a tiny museum, about the size of a small apartment. It was nicely air-conditioned (a big plus!), but a bit hard to get into becuase the front gate of the Pionaglabanan Shrine is closed, so you have to come in through the back.
There wasn't much to see -- some dioramas, a few weapons and medallions, half of which were replicas. But it was only during the museum tour that it really sank in that the town I live in played a big part in the building of this nation.
San Juan was one of the many rebel strongholds. Battles were fought here, many people died, all in the quest for independence. Some of the landmarks were battles were fought, like the church and the tower, are still standing -- that is, if you can pick them out from the overcrowded town.
It's heartwarming to see the township putting up projects like the museum. My only complaint is that it seems to be more of a political vehicle than a cultural one. There's a picture of the mayor on the wall, which is ok I guess, since it was his idea anyway. But if you look at the museum's flyers, you see, not a detailed descritpion of San Juan's rich history, nbut a detailed description of how the mayor built the museum.
I have nothing against the mayor, but I believe that there is a time and place for everything, and that people go to a museum to learn about history, not to get sucked into a political campaign. It would be ince to get handed a flyer about the grand history of the Katipunan, not how the museum would not have existed without rich people who 'care.'
Still, I'm glad that there's a museum at all, and if a little propaganda is what it takes to keep it going, then so be it.
Apparently, we have a library too, which I'll visit as soon as I can.
Friday, January 12, 2007
Blogging as the Wave of the Future?
I've a new entry in my column in www.gmapinoytv.com . Here's an exerpt:
I'm currently doing research on blogging vs. advertising for an article I'm writing and one fo the people I had the opportunity to interview was Jayvee Fernandez, Channel Editor for the Technology Channel of B5 Media, a blog network. It's somewhat like being section editor or editor-in-chief of a magazine and then some but in short, he gets paid to write about cellphones. This, I think is every Filipino's dream.
Yep, blogging has become his main source of income now. Luis and I met Jayvee in The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf in Greenbelt 3. There, amidst tea and muffins, we discussed the great new world of blogging/ advertising.
Read the whole thing here .
I'm currently doing research on blogging vs. advertising for an article I'm writing and one fo the people I had the opportunity to interview was Jayvee Fernandez, Channel Editor for the Technology Channel of B5 Media, a blog network. It's somewhat like being section editor or editor-in-chief of a magazine and then some but in short, he gets paid to write about cellphones. This, I think is every Filipino's dream.
Yep, blogging has become his main source of income now. Luis and I met Jayvee in The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf in Greenbelt 3. There, amidst tea and muffins, we discussed the great new world of blogging/ advertising.
Read the whole thing here .
The Philippines, Bow
Got this in the mail, too. Reminds me of the time I was on a plane next to a white woamn whose had the strange idea that Filipinos ate nothing but vegetables. I bet she thought that we run around half-naked, too. Judging from today's trend in skimpy partyware, she may not be far from the truth.
A Truer Face of the Philippines, a Face Hidden from Americans
Bob R. C. Kemerait, Ph.D.
Department of Plant Pathology
University of Georgia
Rural Development Center, Tifton
(229) 386-7495
The day after the mudslide on the island of Leyte in the Philippines was
reported in the United States, I received a worried phone call from a
colleague here at the University of Georgia. Tim had seen footage of the tragedy on
the evening news. Though unsure where in the Philippines it had occurred, he
was concerned that my wife Pam's family had been caught up in the event. I
thanked him for his concern and responded that I was
confident Pam's family wasn't involved. Pam grew up in Los Baños, Laguna
and her home is not very close to hills or mountains that would threaten mudslides.
Over the next week my assurance to Tim was repeated to many others who were
concerned for Pam. I was grateful that they cared enough about her family
to ask for clarification. On long solitary drives across Georgia that week, I had
plenty of time to think about this latest tragedy in the Philippines and to ponder
its implications.
My first realizations were that good news from the Philippines is rarely
reported in the United States and that most Americans know very little
about the archipelago nation. Our countries have shared a very close history over the
past 100 years; the Philippines was a protectorate of the United States for nearly 50 years after the conclusion of the Spanish-American War. American soldiers fought and died alongside Filipino troops in the battles against the Japanese in World War II.
Strategic American air and naval bases were maintained in the Philippines until the early 1990's. Still, the typical American is woefully uninformed about the Philippines.
More importantly, the little that is known paints a picture of this country
that is, at best, skewed, and at worst perpetuates regrettable stereotypes of
the culture and citizens.
The printed and network news that reaches the American public largely
shapes our view of the world. If I were to take guess at the most common perceptions
Americans have of the Philippines, they would be as follows, not necessarily in any
particular order.
1. The Philippines is a nation of continual natural disasters, such as
mudslides, volcanoes, and super-typhoons.
2. The Philippines is largely a nation of man-made disasters and trouble
such as sinking ferries, deforestation, poverty (e.g. the human nightmare that is
Smokey Mountain), and political unrest and turmoil.
3. The fact Americans are most likely to know about the Philippines would
involve 3000 pairs of shoes from Malacañang Palace.
4. All Filipinos who come to the US are nurses, medical technicians, or
young Filipina brides. (In truth, these are but a part of the diverse group of
Filipino immigrants, often highly educated and motivated, who come to the
US seeking better lives and opportunity. )
5. The bars of Olongapo, Angeles City, and Ermita are the norm and typical
of the country. (In fact, much of this has changed in all three locations.)
6. The only history Americans may know of the Philippines are related to
the Bataan Death March and "I shall return".
7. Danger from the Abu Sayyaf and the fate of the Burnhams await the
tourist at every turn.
8. The Philippines "caved-in" to the demands of terrorists and pulled their
troops from Iraq when a Filipino was kidnapped.
(Most Americans do not realize how vulnerable vast numbers of Filipino
over-seas workers across the Middle East are to abuse and terrorist attacks. The
government in the Philippines can do little to protect them.)
Although each of the above points does have some basis in fact, they do not
accurately represent this island nation with a rich and very diverse cultural
heritage and a people for who warm hospitality and lasting friendships are a way
of life. I believe that creating an image and reality of the Philippines based upon the perceptions above would be the same as defining the United States as a land of gang violence, drug abuse, obesity, and lack of regard or consideration for anything that is
not "American".
Because my wife is from the Philippines, I have had the opportunity to be
immersed in Filipino culture here at home and on visits to her home in Los
Baños. As I was thinking about the stereotypes of the Philippines that are
prevalent in the US, I also thought about my own perceptions of the Philippines
and Filipino culture. When I recall memories and thoughts about all things "Pinoy" I envision the following.
1. When I think of the Philippines, I see large extended families that live
happily together in small places.
2. I think of large families that remain not only physically close, but
emotionally close as well.
3. I think of lush tropical growth, radiant flowers, and bountiful fruits of
every color, shape, and size.
4. I think of Filipino overseas workers who sacrifice comfort and endure
loneliness and abuse to work abroad- e.g. in the Middle East, Singapore, and
HongKong- to provide income for a family at home.
5. I think of the smell of fried garlic, fried fish, and fried daing (small dried fish) wafting from the kitchen.
6. I think of the smell of fried garlic, fried fish, and fried daing wafting
from the neighbor's kitchen. (Both because of the close proximity of the homes
and because of the hospitality where one is welcomed and expected in the
neighbor's home.)
7. I think of barkadas (a group of very close friends), potluck dinners, and
LOTS of merienda (mid-afternoon snacks).
8. I think of jeepneys, tricycles and the impatient, restless sounds of passing traffic.
9. I think of brightly colored bandanas pressed tightly to the noses and mouths
of pedestrians.
10. I think of the solitary cry of "Taho!!" (bean curd) coming from out on the
street early in the morning.
11. I think of warm smiles, courtesy, cheerful bantering,and "Hey, Joe!" as I
walk through Los Baños.
12. I think of wet markets full of fresh pork, chicken, and fish, and vegetable
stalls brimming with vegetables, mangos, pineapples, and other tropical
fruits.
13. I think of boys walking with an arm over their buddies' shoulders and girls
walking hand-in-hand.
14. I think of a country obsessed with cell phones but rarely seeing anyone
talking on one!
15. I think of heat and humidity and rain.
16. I think of San Miguel Beer, fighting cocks, and Jollibee Burgers.
17. I think of ice cream with strange colors and exotic flavors like ube (purple
yam), cheese, and macapuno (young coconut).
18. I think of exuberant children everywhere.
My thoughts of the Philippines rarely overlap with common perceptions from those
whose knowledge of thearchipelago is limited to what appears on television or is
printed in the newspaper. Sure, as in any country, there are serious problems in
the Philippines.
In fact, the problems facing the Philippines are so severe that one must wonder
if the country can ever truly overcome them. However, it is my experience that
the richness of the culture, the warmth of the people, and the sheer beauty of
the land and sea overshadow these problems in my memory.
I wish that more people in the United States could visit the Philippines and
share in a culture andpeople that have enchanted and embraced me. Better
understanding of each culture could insure close relations and cooperation
between two proud nations for the future. Without question, Americans visiting
the Philippines would be warmly welcomed and enjoy a destination of great exotic
appeal.
Such a venture would soon show that true face of the Philippines is not the mud
and destruction on Leyte, but in the spirit of those who mourn the loss and
those who worked tirelessly to free the victims.
A Truer Face of the Philippines, a Face Hidden from Americans
Bob R. C. Kemerait, Ph.D.
Department of Plant Pathology
University of Georgia
Rural Development Center, Tifton
(229) 386-7495
The day after the mudslide on the island of Leyte in the Philippines was
reported in the United States, I received a worried phone call from a
colleague here at the University of Georgia. Tim had seen footage of the tragedy on
the evening news. Though unsure where in the Philippines it had occurred, he
was concerned that my wife Pam's family had been caught up in the event. I
thanked him for his concern and responded that I was
confident Pam's family wasn't involved. Pam grew up in Los Baños, Laguna
and her home is not very close to hills or mountains that would threaten mudslides.
Over the next week my assurance to Tim was repeated to many others who were
concerned for Pam. I was grateful that they cared enough about her family
to ask for clarification. On long solitary drives across Georgia that week, I had
plenty of time to think about this latest tragedy in the Philippines and to ponder
its implications.
My first realizations were that good news from the Philippines is rarely
reported in the United States and that most Americans know very little
about the archipelago nation. Our countries have shared a very close history over the
past 100 years; the Philippines was a protectorate of the United States for nearly 50 years after the conclusion of the Spanish-American War. American soldiers fought and died alongside Filipino troops in the battles against the Japanese in World War II.
Strategic American air and naval bases were maintained in the Philippines until the early 1990's. Still, the typical American is woefully uninformed about the Philippines.
More importantly, the little that is known paints a picture of this country
that is, at best, skewed, and at worst perpetuates regrettable stereotypes of
the culture and citizens.
The printed and network news that reaches the American public largely
shapes our view of the world. If I were to take guess at the most common perceptions
Americans have of the Philippines, they would be as follows, not necessarily in any
particular order.
1. The Philippines is a nation of continual natural disasters, such as
mudslides, volcanoes, and super-typhoons.
2. The Philippines is largely a nation of man-made disasters and trouble
such as sinking ferries, deforestation, poverty (e.g. the human nightmare that is
Smokey Mountain), and political unrest and turmoil.
3. The fact Americans are most likely to know about the Philippines would
involve 3000 pairs of shoes from Malacañang Palace.
4. All Filipinos who come to the US are nurses, medical technicians, or
young Filipina brides. (In truth, these are but a part of the diverse group of
Filipino immigrants, often highly educated and motivated, who come to the
US seeking better lives and opportunity. )
5. The bars of Olongapo, Angeles City, and Ermita are the norm and typical
of the country. (In fact, much of this has changed in all three locations.)
6. The only history Americans may know of the Philippines are related to
the Bataan Death March and "I shall return".
7. Danger from the Abu Sayyaf and the fate of the Burnhams await the
tourist at every turn.
8. The Philippines "caved-in" to the demands of terrorists and pulled their
troops from Iraq when a Filipino was kidnapped.
(Most Americans do not realize how vulnerable vast numbers of Filipino
over-seas workers across the Middle East are to abuse and terrorist attacks. The
government in the Philippines can do little to protect them.)
Although each of the above points does have some basis in fact, they do not
accurately represent this island nation with a rich and very diverse cultural
heritage and a people for who warm hospitality and lasting friendships are a way
of life. I believe that creating an image and reality of the Philippines based upon the perceptions above would be the same as defining the United States as a land of gang violence, drug abuse, obesity, and lack of regard or consideration for anything that is
not "American".
Because my wife is from the Philippines, I have had the opportunity to be
immersed in Filipino culture here at home and on visits to her home in Los
Baños. As I was thinking about the stereotypes of the Philippines that are
prevalent in the US, I also thought about my own perceptions of the Philippines
and Filipino culture. When I recall memories and thoughts about all things "Pinoy" I envision the following.
1. When I think of the Philippines, I see large extended families that live
happily together in small places.
2. I think of large families that remain not only physically close, but
emotionally close as well.
3. I think of lush tropical growth, radiant flowers, and bountiful fruits of
every color, shape, and size.
4. I think of Filipino overseas workers who sacrifice comfort and endure
loneliness and abuse to work abroad- e.g. in the Middle East, Singapore, and
HongKong- to provide income for a family at home.
5. I think of the smell of fried garlic, fried fish, and fried daing (small dried fish) wafting from the kitchen.
6. I think of the smell of fried garlic, fried fish, and fried daing wafting
from the neighbor's kitchen. (Both because of the close proximity of the homes
and because of the hospitality where one is welcomed and expected in the
neighbor's home.)
7. I think of barkadas (a group of very close friends), potluck dinners, and
LOTS of merienda (mid-afternoon snacks).
8. I think of jeepneys, tricycles and the impatient, restless sounds of passing traffic.
9. I think of brightly colored bandanas pressed tightly to the noses and mouths
of pedestrians.
10. I think of the solitary cry of "Taho!!" (bean curd) coming from out on the
street early in the morning.
11. I think of warm smiles, courtesy, cheerful bantering,and "Hey, Joe!" as I
walk through Los Baños.
12. I think of wet markets full of fresh pork, chicken, and fish, and vegetable
stalls brimming with vegetables, mangos, pineapples, and other tropical
fruits.
13. I think of boys walking with an arm over their buddies' shoulders and girls
walking hand-in-hand.
14. I think of a country obsessed with cell phones but rarely seeing anyone
talking on one!
15. I think of heat and humidity and rain.
16. I think of San Miguel Beer, fighting cocks, and Jollibee Burgers.
17. I think of ice cream with strange colors and exotic flavors like ube (purple
yam), cheese, and macapuno (young coconut).
18. I think of exuberant children everywhere.
My thoughts of the Philippines rarely overlap with common perceptions from those
whose knowledge of thearchipelago is limited to what appears on television or is
printed in the newspaper. Sure, as in any country, there are serious problems in
the Philippines.
In fact, the problems facing the Philippines are so severe that one must wonder
if the country can ever truly overcome them. However, it is my experience that
the richness of the culture, the warmth of the people, and the sheer beauty of
the land and sea overshadow these problems in my memory.
I wish that more people in the United States could visit the Philippines and
share in a culture andpeople that have enchanted and embraced me. Better
understanding of each culture could insure close relations and cooperation
between two proud nations for the future. Without question, Americans visiting
the Philippines would be warmly welcomed and enjoy a destination of great exotic
appeal.
Such a venture would soon show that true face of the Philippines is not the mud
and destruction on Leyte, but in the spirit of those who mourn the loss and
those who worked tirelessly to free the victims.
A Nice View on Aging
I got this in an e-mail. I don't usually like forwards, but this made me smile. I beleive that you're only as old as you think you are. In that case, I think I'm a six year-old with a filthy mind. Actually, all six year-olds have filthy minds, so that makes me a normal six year-old then.
They also say that you will never, ever have the body you had in high school, which is fine by me because I was pudgy. My hero is Eula Valdez, who was mousy in Bagets but is super hot now. Another hero would be Zsa Zsa Padilla, who turned into a MILF (not the rebel kind) when she hit forty. And apparently, Pops Fernandez, as everyone who watched Zsa Zsa Zaturnah: Ze Movie saw. I can't wait till I hit forty so I can go around in superhero suits and burst spontaneously into song or appear in men's magazines in poses that will make my then teenaged sons (if I have children) uncomfortable. In the words of the great psychadelic thinker Austin Powers, Yeah, baby!
George Carlin's Views on Aging
Do you realize that the only time in our lives when we like to get old is when we're kids? If you're less than 10 years old, you're so excited about aging that you think in fractions.
"How old are you?" "I'm four and a half!" You're never thirty-six and a half. You're four and a half, going on five! That's the key
You get into your teens, now they can't hold you back. You jump to the next number, or even a few ahead.
"How old are you?" "I'm gonna be 16!" You could be 13, but hey, you're gonna be 16! And then the greatest day of your life . . . you become 21. Even the words sound like a ceremony. YOU BECOME 21. YESSSS!!!
But then you turn 30. Oooohh, what happened there? Makes you sound like bad milk! He TURNED; we had to throw him out. There's no fun now, you're Just a sour-dumpling. What's wrong? What's changed?
You BECOME 21, you TURN 30, then you're PUSHING 40. Whoa! Put on the brakes, it's all slipping away. Before you know it, you REACH 50 and your dreams are gone.
But wait!!! You MAKE it to 60. You didn't think you would!
So you BECOME 21, TURN 30, PUSH 40, REACH 50 and MAKE it to 60.
You've built up so much speed that you HIT 70! After that it's a day-by-day thing; you HIT Wednesday!
You get into your 80s and every day is a complete cycle; you HIT lunch; you TURN 4:30; you REACH bedtime And it doesn't end there. Into the 90s, you start going backwards; "I Was JUST 92."
Then a strange thing happens. If you make it over 100, you become a little kid again. "I'm 100 and a half!"
May you all make it to a healthy 100 and a half!!
HOW TO STAY YOUNG
1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay "them."
2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.
3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. "An idle mind is the devil's workshop." And the devil's name is Alzheimer's.
4. Enjoy the simple things.
5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.
6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person, who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.
7. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.
8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.
9 Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county; to a foreign country but NOT to where the guilt is.
10.Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.
AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
We all need to live life to its fullest each day!!
They also say that you will never, ever have the body you had in high school, which is fine by me because I was pudgy. My hero is Eula Valdez, who was mousy in Bagets but is super hot now. Another hero would be Zsa Zsa Padilla, who turned into a MILF (not the rebel kind) when she hit forty. And apparently, Pops Fernandez, as everyone who watched Zsa Zsa Zaturnah: Ze Movie saw. I can't wait till I hit forty so I can go around in superhero suits and burst spontaneously into song or appear in men's magazines in poses that will make my then teenaged sons (if I have children) uncomfortable. In the words of the great psychadelic thinker Austin Powers, Yeah, baby!
George Carlin's Views on Aging
Do you realize that the only time in our lives when we like to get old is when we're kids? If you're less than 10 years old, you're so excited about aging that you think in fractions.
"How old are you?" "I'm four and a half!" You're never thirty-six and a half. You're four and a half, going on five! That's the key
You get into your teens, now they can't hold you back. You jump to the next number, or even a few ahead.
"How old are you?" "I'm gonna be 16!" You could be 13, but hey, you're gonna be 16! And then the greatest day of your life . . . you become 21. Even the words sound like a ceremony. YOU BECOME 21. YESSSS!!!
But then you turn 30. Oooohh, what happened there? Makes you sound like bad milk! He TURNED; we had to throw him out. There's no fun now, you're Just a sour-dumpling. What's wrong? What's changed?
You BECOME 21, you TURN 30, then you're PUSHING 40. Whoa! Put on the brakes, it's all slipping away. Before you know it, you REACH 50 and your dreams are gone.
But wait!!! You MAKE it to 60. You didn't think you would!
So you BECOME 21, TURN 30, PUSH 40, REACH 50 and MAKE it to 60.
You've built up so much speed that you HIT 70! After that it's a day-by-day thing; you HIT Wednesday!
You get into your 80s and every day is a complete cycle; you HIT lunch; you TURN 4:30; you REACH bedtime And it doesn't end there. Into the 90s, you start going backwards; "I Was JUST 92."
Then a strange thing happens. If you make it over 100, you become a little kid again. "I'm 100 and a half!"
May you all make it to a healthy 100 and a half!!
HOW TO STAY YOUNG
1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay "them."
2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.
3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. "An idle mind is the devil's workshop." And the devil's name is Alzheimer's.
4. Enjoy the simple things.
5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.
6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person, who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.
7. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.
8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.
9 Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county; to a foreign country but NOT to where the guilt is.
10.Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.
AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
We all need to live life to its fullest each day!!
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Thanks, Jaemark!
My blog has been fixed, revamped, realigned, made beautiful again by Jaemark, who is a genius! Not only does my blog look neater, you can now view it on Firefox, too!
Thanks, Jae! I owe you one! :)
Thanks, Jae! I owe you one! :)
Of Placebo and Simon Webbe
First, Placebo.
As you can tell by my icon and my numerous odes to the band, I’m a big Placebo fan. So you can imagine my delight when I got to hang out with the band.
Unfortunately, this didn’t really happen, except in my head. I had one of the best dreams ever last night. Essentially, it was a long, drawn out, extremely fun dream. Brian and I talked about philosophy (we may have stumbled on the meaning of life, but I’ve forgotten what it is -- besides, does he even do that in real life?), Stefan tried to persuade me to buy these weird sneakers decorated with lace and Velcro (we were at a shot, they were on sale -- he ended up persuading my aunt instead), and Steve and I, in a mini subplot (mini na, subplot pa!), helped bring Britney Spears, who had been turned into a cat, change back to human form, but not before she managed to talk to the ghost of her dead ex husband, who was a famous indie comic book writer/ illustrator. I told you it was a dream.
The Simon Webbe thing, though, was real.
I was supposed to interview Simon Webbe, you know, the hot black guy from the now defunct boy band Blue, for a magazine. He was supposed to call at 6am. I got everything ready, did my research, formulated questions, set my alarm ten minutes early so that I would be alert when I took the call.
He didn’t.
Now I know what it feels like to be stood up by famous musician. Strangely enough, it didn’t hurt. I guess I would have felt differently if it was Brian. Or Stef. Or Steve. So I went on with my day, arriving at the office early and managing to upload more stuff into the new site we’re constructing.
At 6pm, I get a call from an unknown number. The line was choppy. Through the static, I managed to hear the voice of a British guy ask if I was me, and I worked for a magazine. Now I write for many magazines, so I didn’t know which one he was referring to. It only it me after I heard a faint, staticky “Webbe” in one of his sentences.
He hadn’t forgotten me at all!
I have to admit though that the whole thing felt sort of like that Simpson’s episode where they were trying to housetrain their dog, Santa’s Little Helper, and you can see the family members from SLH’s point of view and they’re going “Blahblahblahblah Santa’s Little Helper blahblahblah.” It’s rather sad, especially since my point of comparison is an animal that spends most of its life with its tongue sticking out of its open mouth.
The guy on the other line was kind enough to let me compose myself and gather my equipment before putting Simon on. By “gathering my equipment,” I mean frantically searching my bag and desk for my tape recorder and pre-written questions (See children? It pays to prepare!). Thank goodness my phone isn’t 3G.
Simon was very nice and the interview went very well -- well, what I could hear of it anyway. I only hope that Simon didn’t think that the writer on the phone was a dolt who didn’t learn how to follow up questions in journalism school (In my defense, I never went to journalism school -- unless taking a journ class as a mandatory elective counts). Otherwise, the interview went well. He has a lovely voice and his answers (what I could hear of them anyway) were articulate. Thankfully, the conversation registered well on my tape recorder, so I won’t have a problem transcribing the conversation later.
There ends my story of Simon and Placebo (feat. Britney Spears). Back to regular programming. All rise!
As you can tell by my icon and my numerous odes to the band, I’m a big Placebo fan. So you can imagine my delight when I got to hang out with the band.
Unfortunately, this didn’t really happen, except in my head. I had one of the best dreams ever last night. Essentially, it was a long, drawn out, extremely fun dream. Brian and I talked about philosophy (we may have stumbled on the meaning of life, but I’ve forgotten what it is -- besides, does he even do that in real life?), Stefan tried to persuade me to buy these weird sneakers decorated with lace and Velcro (we were at a shot, they were on sale -- he ended up persuading my aunt instead), and Steve and I, in a mini subplot (mini na, subplot pa!), helped bring Britney Spears, who had been turned into a cat, change back to human form, but not before she managed to talk to the ghost of her dead ex husband, who was a famous indie comic book writer/ illustrator. I told you it was a dream.
The Simon Webbe thing, though, was real.
I was supposed to interview Simon Webbe, you know, the hot black guy from the now defunct boy band Blue, for a magazine. He was supposed to call at 6am. I got everything ready, did my research, formulated questions, set my alarm ten minutes early so that I would be alert when I took the call.
He didn’t.
Now I know what it feels like to be stood up by famous musician. Strangely enough, it didn’t hurt. I guess I would have felt differently if it was Brian. Or Stef. Or Steve. So I went on with my day, arriving at the office early and managing to upload more stuff into the new site we’re constructing.
At 6pm, I get a call from an unknown number. The line was choppy. Through the static, I managed to hear the voice of a British guy ask if I was me, and I worked for a magazine. Now I write for many magazines, so I didn’t know which one he was referring to. It only it me after I heard a faint, staticky “Webbe” in one of his sentences.
He hadn’t forgotten me at all!
I have to admit though that the whole thing felt sort of like that Simpson’s episode where they were trying to housetrain their dog, Santa’s Little Helper, and you can see the family members from SLH’s point of view and they’re going “Blahblahblahblah Santa’s Little Helper blahblahblah.” It’s rather sad, especially since my point of comparison is an animal that spends most of its life with its tongue sticking out of its open mouth.
The guy on the other line was kind enough to let me compose myself and gather my equipment before putting Simon on. By “gathering my equipment,” I mean frantically searching my bag and desk for my tape recorder and pre-written questions (See children? It pays to prepare!). Thank goodness my phone isn’t 3G.
Simon was very nice and the interview went very well -- well, what I could hear of it anyway. I only hope that Simon didn’t think that the writer on the phone was a dolt who didn’t learn how to follow up questions in journalism school (In my defense, I never went to journalism school -- unless taking a journ class as a mandatory elective counts). Otherwise, the interview went well. He has a lovely voice and his answers (what I could hear of them anyway) were articulate. Thankfully, the conversation registered well on my tape recorder, so I won’t have a problem transcribing the conversation later.
There ends my story of Simon and Placebo (feat. Britney Spears). Back to regular programming. All rise!
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Surf's Up, Surfers' Cup!
The Manila Surfers' Association is holding its 2nd annual surf comp in San Juan, La Union this coming January 20-21, 2006.
Named Dakine Manila Surfers' Cup it will showcase a competition for Manila based surfers, surf clinics for would-be surfers, a beach party featuring a DJ and Kapatid and lots of amazing prizes.
Named Dakine Manila Surfers' Cup it will showcase a competition for Manila based surfers, surf clinics for would-be surfers, a beach party featuring a DJ and Kapatid and lots of amazing prizes.
Talk on Acupuncture
Zero-in: A Convergence of Five at Five
Herbs, Harmony and Health: An Exhibit on Traditional Chinese Medicine
Date: January 13, 2007 (Saturday) 2:30pm
Guest Speaker: Dr. Eddie Concepcion Topic: Principles of Acupuncture (Last of a series)
Venue: Kaisa Heritage Center
Anda corner Cabildo Streets, Intramuros 1002 Manila, Philippines
Dr. Eddie Concepcion has a B.S. Psychology degree from University of the Philippines and postgraduate degree in Medicine from UERM. He was a research consultant on NGO-GO collaboration of the Department of Health and was a part-time faculty member of Adamson University in Chinese Studies Program and Introduction to Chinese Medicine.
He attended a Traditional Chinese Acupuncture Advanced Course in China in 1988. He was a board member of Philippine Academy of Medical Acupuncture, Inc. and Acupuncture Therapeutic and Research Center and currently the treasurer of Integrative Medicine for Alternative Healthcare Services.
He was voted the Most Outstanding Alumnus of San Beda College in 2005.
For details, please contact. Vivian or Aleli at 526-6796 / 526-6798.
Herbs, Harmony and Health: An Exhibit on Traditional Chinese Medicine
Date: January 13, 2007 (Saturday) 2:30pm
Guest Speaker: Dr. Eddie Concepcion Topic: Principles of Acupuncture (Last of a series)
Venue: Kaisa Heritage Center
Anda corner Cabildo Streets, Intramuros 1002 Manila, Philippines
Dr. Eddie Concepcion has a B.S. Psychology degree from University of the Philippines and postgraduate degree in Medicine from UERM. He was a research consultant on NGO-GO collaboration of the Department of Health and was a part-time faculty member of Adamson University in Chinese Studies Program and Introduction to Chinese Medicine.
He attended a Traditional Chinese Acupuncture Advanced Course in China in 1988. He was a board member of Philippine Academy of Medical Acupuncture, Inc. and Acupuncture Therapeutic and Research Center and currently the treasurer of Integrative Medicine for Alternative Healthcare Services.
He was voted the Most Outstanding Alumnus of San Beda College in 2005.
For details, please contact. Vivian or Aleli at 526-6796 / 526-6798.
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Prozak for Lovers: Travesty or Genius?
I'm reviewing a CD called Prozak for Lovers. It's essentially rock songs (I'm being generalistic here) covered lounge style. By rock, I mean Blondie, The Clash, The Ramones, Nirvana, Led Zep, David Bowie, etc. Does the Blue Oyster Cult count as rock? This, I think, is consumerism at its height. Now we know that nothing is sacred, nothing is taboo. Only capitalists can turn songs that were written as a revolt against the norm into, er, the norm.
Mind you, the music isn't bad. It's just the idea of it that doesn't sit well with me, though I confess I did want to know what "I Wanna Be Sedated" would sound like when sung by someone, um, sedated.
Are Joey, Johny and Deedee Ramone rolling in their graves at the travesty? Would Kurt Cobain have killed himself if he were alive today and had gotten hold of a copy? Is he killing himself all over again as you read this?
Or is this a marvelous, brilliant way to breathe new life to "hard" music? It's certainly a way to get your lola to listen to "London Calling." It also gives your coño cousin the opportunity to truthfully say "I love Joy Division, pare. They should play them in Starbs."
So is this a breakthrough or a travesty? Let me know what you think. I'll let you know when the review is out.
P.S.
And if you could tell me how this makes it "Prozak for Lovers," I'd appreciate it, too.
Mind you, the music isn't bad. It's just the idea of it that doesn't sit well with me, though I confess I did want to know what "I Wanna Be Sedated" would sound like when sung by someone, um, sedated.
Are Joey, Johny and Deedee Ramone rolling in their graves at the travesty? Would Kurt Cobain have killed himself if he were alive today and had gotten hold of a copy? Is he killing himself all over again as you read this?
Or is this a marvelous, brilliant way to breathe new life to "hard" music? It's certainly a way to get your lola to listen to "London Calling." It also gives your coño cousin the opportunity to truthfully say "I love Joy Division, pare. They should play them in Starbs."
So is this a breakthrough or a travesty? Let me know what you think. I'll let you know when the review is out.
P.S.
And if you could tell me how this makes it "Prozak for Lovers," I'd appreciate it, too.
Weird Science
This is old news, but I stumbled upon the Ig Nobel Prize winners for 2006.
This parody of the Nobel Prize has grown into an international affair that celebrates scientific research that would otherwise be branded "useless" and "obscure." My favorite for the 2006 winner is the cure for hiccups.
I wish more people would deovte themselves to research like that. I wish someone would finally tell me the answer to the question that has been burning in my mind since I can remember.
That question is: Do frogs fart? If you know the answer, drop me a line.
This parody of the Nobel Prize has grown into an international affair that celebrates scientific research that would otherwise be branded "useless" and "obscure." My favorite for the 2006 winner is the cure for hiccups.
I wish more people would deovte themselves to research like that. I wish someone would finally tell me the answer to the question that has been burning in my mind since I can remember.
That question is: Do frogs fart? If you know the answer, drop me a line.
Monday, January 08, 2007
The Black Nazarene
Tomorrow is the Feast of the Black Nazarene. Now while I'm not a devotee, nor have I ever been to -- or dare to be at -- Quiapo on January 9 (Skydiving, yes. Bungee jumping, sure. Swimming with sharks, why not? Attnding the Feast of the Black Nazarene -- ARE YOU CRAZY???!!!) , this day is special to me for three reasons:
One, it's Lorraine's birthday. Happy birthday, Lorriane!
Two, it's the daythat figures prominently in my short story, "The Child Abandoned." It;s the first story in the second volume of Philippine Speculative Fiction, edited by dean Alfar and can be found in Fully Booked outlets.
Third, it also marks my first day in my current job (even though my contract says January 10).
Here's hoping that tomorrow's feast is a safe, peaceful one.
One, it's Lorraine's birthday. Happy birthday, Lorriane!
Two, it's the daythat figures prominently in my short story, "The Child Abandoned." It;s the first story in the second volume of Philippine Speculative Fiction, edited by dean Alfar and can be found in Fully Booked outlets.
Third, it also marks my first day in my current job (even though my contract says January 10).
Here's hoping that tomorrow's feast is a safe, peaceful one.
On Gio Alvarez and Ely Buendia
Jaemark just wandred by saying that Pupil frontman and ex-Eraserhead Ely Buendia has just suffered a heart attack and is now in the ICU! This calls for an emoticon! :o I love the Eraserheads! This can't be happening! Granted, they've been broken up for a while now but it was always pleasant to know that we had legends in our midst. Besides, Ely's too young to have a heart attack!
Later, Jaemark wandered by again and said, "Di ba palaging siansabi ni Ely na 'bakit niyo kami ginagawan ng tribute e di pa kami patay?'" This calls for another emoticon. :P
In otehr news, I found out that Gio Alvarez is back in showbiz! I'm embarassed to say this but I had a slight crush on him circa Pare Ko.
What can I say? I have a thing for noids. Unfortunately, you can play the noid card for only so long. Young noids are cute. Older ones aren't -- unlest they're millionaires. Wahahahaha! :D
The best of luck to Gio! I hope to meet him someday and have my picture taken with him, the same way I had my pidture taken with Jao Mapa on the set of Super Noypi.
Funny how I wouldn't watch Ang TV when I was younger but now want to have my pictures taken will all its stars now, if only because they defined a generation. Hey, it was baduy and I studied in an exclusive all-girls school. I have since learned the error of my -- and the entire exclusive all-girls school's -- ways. Da-n you Sister -----, Da-n youuuuu!
Later, Jaemark wandered by again and said, "Di ba palaging siansabi ni Ely na 'bakit niyo kami ginagawan ng tribute e di pa kami patay?'" This calls for another emoticon. :P
In otehr news, I found out that Gio Alvarez is back in showbiz! I'm embarassed to say this but I had a slight crush on him circa Pare Ko.
What can I say? I have a thing for noids. Unfortunately, you can play the noid card for only so long. Young noids are cute. Older ones aren't -- unlest they're millionaires. Wahahahaha! :D
The best of luck to Gio! I hope to meet him someday and have my picture taken with him, the same way I had my pidture taken with Jao Mapa on the set of Super Noypi.
Funny how I wouldn't watch Ang TV when I was younger but now want to have my pictures taken will all its stars now, if only because they defined a generation. Hey, it was baduy and I studied in an exclusive all-girls school. I have since learned the error of my -- and the entire exclusive all-girls school's -- ways. Da-n you Sister -----, Da-n youuuuu!
Old New Posts
I completely forgot to post about new stuff in my GMA Pinoy TV column.
The last one for last year was something about Up dharma Down, the band that has taken 2006 by storma nd whose music no one can pin down, even after most of a year. Here's an exerpt:
Here’s the unused portion of my Anthem interview on the band. The mag gave me permission to use it. Anthem is free and can be found in bars, restos, bookstores and shops.
How does it feel to be UdD now?
Armi: Honestly, it’s very hectic. There’s a lot of pressure going on, to be quite honest. They’re expecting a good follow-up and the sophomore album is always a threat to any band’s career. It’s a lot of pressure but it’s good. We’re enjoying everything. We didn’t even expect that this would happen so soon. We’ve only been together for two years.
My first entry for this year was a belated account of my attending the Mano Po 5: Gua Ai Di press con. Present were Ricahrd Gutierrez, Christian Bautista and Lorna Tolentino. Aside from getting to introduce myself to Christian (I inteviewed him via e-mail for Gusto once), it was aso fun to hear the stars speak Chinese and to get their insight on the culture. Here's an exerpt:
Someone else asked the two boys what they would do if they fell in love with a Chinese girl whose family didn’t approve of them (the premise of the movie). Both gave really dreamy answers.
Richard’s was very romantic, while Christian’s was very pragmatic -- so pragmatic he could pass for Chinese! Just kidding!
Richard said, “I would go all the way to Beijing for her. Kung talagang mahal mo yung tao, kahit ano, gagawin mo para sa kanya. Kung talagang mahal ko yung tao, ipaglalaban ko siya.”
Christian said, “Medyo mahirap yung sitwasyon kung buong pamilya may ayaw sa ‘yo. Siguro iisipin ko ano ba ang mas malaking masisira ko; kung mamahalin ko siya tapos aalis kami tapos maiinis yung pamilya niya sa kanya. Mas malaki ba ang mawawala nun keysa sa Narealize ko na kahit mahal namin ang isa’t isa, kami na lang ang mag hiwalay para masaya ang pamilya. Buti na lang, di ko p naexperience yun. Siguro gagawin ko muna ang lahat para makumbinsi ang pamilya na we can make this work. Lahat-lahat, meaning magpapa-inject pa ako ng Chinese blood. Pero personally, kung lahat, nagawa ko, pero di pa nila naaccept yun, siguro I will let her go… kasi for me, mas importante ang pamilya talaga.”
Read the whole of both column entries at http://www.gmapinoytv.com/karma/ . I also recently found out that I'm a featured blogger on http://www.gmanews.tv . I was actually offered a column there but I had to decline as I have te Pinoy TV one already, which readers can find on the site anyway.
The last one for last year was something about Up dharma Down, the band that has taken 2006 by storma nd whose music no one can pin down, even after most of a year. Here's an exerpt:
Here’s the unused portion of my Anthem interview on the band. The mag gave me permission to use it. Anthem is free and can be found in bars, restos, bookstores and shops.
How does it feel to be UdD now?
Armi: Honestly, it’s very hectic. There’s a lot of pressure going on, to be quite honest. They’re expecting a good follow-up and the sophomore album is always a threat to any band’s career. It’s a lot of pressure but it’s good. We’re enjoying everything. We didn’t even expect that this would happen so soon. We’ve only been together for two years.
My first entry for this year was a belated account of my attending the Mano Po 5: Gua Ai Di press con. Present were Ricahrd Gutierrez, Christian Bautista and Lorna Tolentino. Aside from getting to introduce myself to Christian (I inteviewed him via e-mail for Gusto once), it was aso fun to hear the stars speak Chinese and to get their insight on the culture. Here's an exerpt:
Someone else asked the two boys what they would do if they fell in love with a Chinese girl whose family didn’t approve of them (the premise of the movie). Both gave really dreamy answers.
Richard’s was very romantic, while Christian’s was very pragmatic -- so pragmatic he could pass for Chinese! Just kidding!
Richard said, “I would go all the way to Beijing for her. Kung talagang mahal mo yung tao, kahit ano, gagawin mo para sa kanya. Kung talagang mahal ko yung tao, ipaglalaban ko siya.”
Christian said, “Medyo mahirap yung sitwasyon kung buong pamilya may ayaw sa ‘yo. Siguro iisipin ko ano ba ang mas malaking masisira ko; kung mamahalin ko siya tapos aalis kami tapos maiinis yung pamilya niya sa kanya. Mas malaki ba ang mawawala nun keysa sa Narealize ko na kahit mahal namin ang isa’t isa, kami na lang ang mag hiwalay para masaya ang pamilya. Buti na lang, di ko p naexperience yun. Siguro gagawin ko muna ang lahat para makumbinsi ang pamilya na we can make this work. Lahat-lahat, meaning magpapa-inject pa ako ng Chinese blood. Pero personally, kung lahat, nagawa ko, pero di pa nila naaccept yun, siguro I will let her go… kasi for me, mas importante ang pamilya talaga.”
Read the whole of both column entries at http://www.gmapinoytv.com/karma/ . I also recently found out that I'm a featured blogger on http://www.gmanews.tv . I was actually offered a column there but I had to decline as I have te Pinoy TV one already, which readers can find on the site anyway.
Beeeeooootiful Gel...
If you're a Xavierian and/or are a Jose Mari Chan/ Rachel Ann Go fan/ hopeless romantic, here's something that might interest you this Valentines season:
Celebrate Valentine’s Day early with your whole family and together with Xavier Community at “Moonlight and Love Songs”, a benefit concert showcasing the timeless love songs of Joe Mari Chan.
Mr. Chan, a Xavier parent himself several years past, graciously donated his talents to benefit the school’s Grant-in-Aid scholars as his contribution to the Golden Jubilee.
Also featured are the talented Ms. Rachelle Ann Go, the Hail Mary the Queen Children’s Choir and our very own Grade School Boys’ Choir. The tickets are priced at P650 (balcony), P1200 (orchestra side), P2000 (orchestra center) and will be available at the AAXS ( 727 3329) and XSPA (722 8193) offices beginning Wed, Jan 10, 2007.
Come on Feb. 3, Sat. at the SM Megamall Cinema 9 and help make this event a successful and joyous occasion for all!
Just for the record, no I am not a Xavierian. They're a fun bunch of people though.
Celebrate Valentine’s Day early with your whole family and together with Xavier Community at “Moonlight and Love Songs”, a benefit concert showcasing the timeless love songs of Joe Mari Chan.
Mr. Chan, a Xavier parent himself several years past, graciously donated his talents to benefit the school’s Grant-in-Aid scholars as his contribution to the Golden Jubilee.
Also featured are the talented Ms. Rachelle Ann Go, the Hail Mary the Queen Children’s Choir and our very own Grade School Boys’ Choir. The tickets are priced at P650 (balcony), P1200 (orchestra side), P2000 (orchestra center) and will be available at the AAXS ( 727 3329) and XSPA (722 8193) offices beginning Wed, Jan 10, 2007.
Come on Feb. 3, Sat. at the SM Megamall Cinema 9 and help make this event a successful and joyous occasion for all!
Just for the record, no I am not a Xavierian. They're a fun bunch of people though.
Books, if by Sea
Forgive the bad pun. My brain is not making much sense today, probably because it's still trying to process the fact that I have my newest technological baby. But I'll post about that some other time. Meanwhile, here's a press release on the Doulos, which is once again docked in the Port Area:
WORLD'S OLDEST OCEAN-GOING PASSENGER SHIP AND LARGEST FLOATING BOOKSHOP RETURNS TO Manila (Jan 4 - 23, 2007) Manila - Good news for bookworms and ship lovers: Doulos, the largest floating bookshop and oldest ocean-going passenger ship in the world, is visiting Manila again.
Built just two years after Titanic, Doulos is the world's oldest ocean-going passenger ship still sailing. With its enormous onboard bookshop and its international crew of 350 volunteers, representing over 50 countries, Doulos is an international ambassador of goodwill and understanding, bringing knowledge, help and hope to the people of the world.
Over 6,000 different titles are available, in the bookshop at very affordable prices. Subjects range from science, medicine and management to Christian literature, hobby and cookery books. Most of the books are in English, with a smaller selection in Tagalog.
Doulos has toured Asia during the past seven months and will visit Manila for the fifth time after almost 6 years. After a successful visit to Bacolod the Doulos will continue her stay in the Philippines in Manila followed by Cebu (January 26 - February 19, 2007) and at last Batangas (February 22 - March 5, 2007).
After the Philippines the Doulos will travel to Taiwan followed by Japan and the Republic of Korea.
From January 5 - January 22, 2007 the ship's bookshop will open daily to the public. Opening hours are Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm, Sunday and Monday from 2:00 pm to 10:00 pm. The entrance fee is 10 Pesos. Children under 16 are free to visit, but must be accompanied by parents or guardians.
Doulos is owned by a German non-profit, charity organization 'Gute Bücher für Alle' (Good Books for All). All Doulos crewmembers serve as volunteers. Most of them are young people, giving two years of their life to be a part of this unique project. They receive on the job training in cross-cultural living and strive to learn from different backgrounds, languages and cultures.
Over 18 Million people, in over 500 ports, and more than 100 countries, have come on board the Doulos. Now the people of Manila are warmly invited to find out for themselves what Doulos is all about!
Doulos thanks the management of the Philippine Port Authorities, Asian Terminals Inc., various departments of state and central government, the office of the Mayor of Manila as well as the shipping agent Jardine Shipping Services, Inc. for their valued contributions in making the visit to Manila possible.
For further information and pictures, please contact:
Hyeok Seon Kwon
Mobile: 0921 736 1960
Email: doulos.manila@ gbaships. org
WORLD'S OLDEST OCEAN-GOING PASSENGER SHIP AND LARGEST FLOATING BOOKSHOP RETURNS TO Manila (Jan 4 - 23, 2007) Manila - Good news for bookworms and ship lovers: Doulos, the largest floating bookshop and oldest ocean-going passenger ship in the world, is visiting Manila again.
Built just two years after Titanic, Doulos is the world's oldest ocean-going passenger ship still sailing. With its enormous onboard bookshop and its international crew of 350 volunteers, representing over 50 countries, Doulos is an international ambassador of goodwill and understanding, bringing knowledge, help and hope to the people of the world.
Over 6,000 different titles are available, in the bookshop at very affordable prices. Subjects range from science, medicine and management to Christian literature, hobby and cookery books. Most of the books are in English, with a smaller selection in Tagalog.
Doulos has toured Asia during the past seven months and will visit Manila for the fifth time after almost 6 years. After a successful visit to Bacolod the Doulos will continue her stay in the Philippines in Manila followed by Cebu (January 26 - February 19, 2007) and at last Batangas (February 22 - March 5, 2007).
After the Philippines the Doulos will travel to Taiwan followed by Japan and the Republic of Korea.
From January 5 - January 22, 2007 the ship's bookshop will open daily to the public. Opening hours are Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm, Sunday and Monday from 2:00 pm to 10:00 pm. The entrance fee is 10 Pesos. Children under 16 are free to visit, but must be accompanied by parents or guardians.
Doulos is owned by a German non-profit, charity organization 'Gute Bücher für Alle' (Good Books for All). All Doulos crewmembers serve as volunteers. Most of them are young people, giving two years of their life to be a part of this unique project. They receive on the job training in cross-cultural living and strive to learn from different backgrounds, languages and cultures.
Over 18 Million people, in over 500 ports, and more than 100 countries, have come on board the Doulos. Now the people of Manila are warmly invited to find out for themselves what Doulos is all about!
Doulos thanks the management of the Philippine Port Authorities, Asian Terminals Inc., various departments of state and central government, the office of the Mayor of Manila as well as the shipping agent Jardine Shipping Services, Inc. for their valued contributions in making the visit to Manila possible.
For further information and pictures, please contact:
Hyeok Seon Kwon
Mobile: 0921 736 1960
Email: doulos.manila@ gbaships. org
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