Sesame Street Characters

I asked Darwi a funny stupid question:  If I were going to a costume party, what Sesame Street character fits me best?  She answered Cookie Monster.  I didn't ask her why.  But I guess it would be because of the near-psychotic manic way Cookie Monster has with cookies.  At least I hope that was the case, because I wouldn't want to think that I'm like Cookie because of the way I speak.  hehehe

Going by the Sesame Street character list, I tried to see if I fit the image.

Bert and Ernie.  That's a vaudeville comedy pair.  The straight man and the smart-aleck sidekick.  No real identity without the other.  And besides, stupid things happen to Bert (see http://www.snopes.com/rumors/bert.htm).

Big Bird.  Wrong image for me.  Wrong shade of yellow.  Now if instead of canary yellow it was green, then maybe I can say he fits just right for studying at Taft Avenue.

The Count.  More OC than Bert and his soda pop cap collection.

Grover.  Possible.  Thin, gawky and old looking guy.  Fits in the background.  Pensive.  hehehe

Elmo.  No, sorry, but me as Elmo, I would scare the kids.  hehehe

Kermit the Frog.  Ooops.  Sorry, but I am not a frog.  hehehe

Oscar the Grouch.  Close.  But I am not wearing that costume!  I am not a grouch!  Does anyone really think I'm grouchy??!!!  (Ooops, sorry about that outburst.  It just slipped out.)

Oh, well.  You should try it sometime, ask a friend or a kid, the same question and see what happens.

--andoy
3 January 2008

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

It was a good season.  But after slogging through a stretch of one and a half months which felt like a very long two months, the whole of December went by so fast.  And I didn't even blink.  Christmas came and went so fast, my head is still spinning.

Really, Christmas came and went.  And I am happy and merry through all of it.  There was one big (and long) Christmas party to start things off.  And then there was a Christmas party for our company's Alabang staff, after Christmas and before New Year.  That was quiet, uneventful, but significant for the bonding time it afforded us the employees.  (Which meant that though most of the guys got drunk, they weren't drunk enough; shop talk and gossip was at a minimum; and lots of good ribbing and roasting.)  And then we were off for a long weekend preparing and celebrating the New Year.

Yes, a Happy New Year to all.

There's food, fruits, cheese and wine in the fridge.  I know no one with a New Year's Day injury.  I am looking forward to the year ahead, looks good from where I'm standing.  December (and Christmas just past) was okay as far as my experience goes.  Not the best, but a whole lot better than most, thanks in part to the four-day weekends.

After all of that, and though I kept it to myself, I was most enthusiastic about the last package given to us last night.  It was a small newspaper wrapped package of danggit, which my mom gave Lilia, with instructions to wash off the salt first before cooking.

--andoy
2 January 2008 

PS:  If this sounds disjointed, that's because it is.  First working day and the first migraine of the year.  --same

Roselle and Naomi in the chrorus of "Bituin Sa Langit"

My niece Roselle and Naomi had roles in a church play. This is the black light scene where the kids were singing "Bituin Sa Langit." Si Naomi yung malikot ang kamay. And yes, the scene is dark because they used black light. hehehe

--andoy
28 December 2007

Kasoy

There are now a lot of street vendors who ride the buses selling various snacks and I've often wondered about them.  Normally, the items would be cheap ones and easy to sell, like peanuts, quail eggs, bottled water, boiled banana native sweets or candies.  Even chicharon bulaklak in some areas.  But there've been a lot of vendors lately who've been selling a relatively expensive item, the shelled cashew nut. 

 

The cashew nut the bus vendors sell has been shelled and roasted and sold for either 10 or 20 pesos per small container, either a shot glass or a small water glass.  I doubt if you can have 5 whole nuts in the shot glass, or even 10 nuts in the larger container.  Even considering that the nuts sold are not even whole anymore. 

 

This is not sour graping, because I really miss snacking on kasoy.  Not the commercially packaged items, but roasted in the shell, with dark burns, whole or not, strong aroma, type of kasoy.  And usually with my fingers dark from soot and with some acid burns from splitting the cashew shell.  In our province, and until now whenever we get the chance, we roast the kasuy in the shell, using a can with holes in the bottom.  While roasting the shell catches fire and the acid inside the shell burns with a pungent odor.  The acid practically explodes while burning.  The roasting aims to burn off the acid, and to cook the nut flesh.  And when all the kasoy are burning, we tip the can, let out the contents, and put out the fire with loose earth.  If done correctly, the flesh is a nice golden brown color, otherwise, it looks singed or plain burned.  Most of the time the shells are crisply burned to the flesh.  And the fingers as well.

 

The difference in taste is due to the processing.  The commercially available kasoy is split first before roasting.  The shell contains an acid which usually seeps into the kasuy nut's flesh. This results in the slight acidic taste (closest I can describe it is "tanning") and slightly soft flesh of the kasoy, with less of an aroma.  To me, it smells uncooked.  The kasoy we roast, toast or burn in the shell, has a strong aroma, crunchy flesh and strong flavor.  Definitely not finger-licking good, but eating the crumbs still gives you a sense of achievement.

--andoy

27 December 2007

The Short Work Week (this is not a rant)

This week is a short work week.  The Barangay and SK elections (a national holiday) were held yesterday (29 October) and we have two more holidays All Souls Day and All Saints Day on Thursday and Friday respectively.  And all we have left is today and tomorrow for work.  I am not complaining and this is not a rant.  In fact, I am perfectly happy that we have this short work week.  In principle, at least.

 

However, things at work have come to head because of this.  I was given two projects to manage and for turnover from the current Coordinator, and her last day of work is tomorrow.  Normally this would have been just a matter of paperwork but one of the projects have some updates needed on a daily basis -- at nine o'clock in the evening.  Additionally, some data clean up is needed before the update.  With only five branches, the data clean up could be done easy.  But once this is rolled out, the data clean up has to be automated. Less user intervention, less data errors and all that entails.

 

This will be a hectic two days.

 

And a dentist check up at the end of the week.

--andoy

30 October 2007

Naomi Singing "Dancing Queen"

Naomi singing "Dancing Queen."

--andoy
22 October 2007

Naneng, Darwi, Roselle and Naomi singing and dancing to FOOTLOOSE

Naneng was singing and dancing, with Darwi, Roselle and Naomi doing backup singer/dancer roles.

--andoy
22 October 2007

Naomi sings "Beauty and the Beast"

On the weekend before Bert left for the Middle East, we had a small get-together and Naomi sang "Beauty and the Beast." At her age, she's still pretending to read from the TV screen.


--andoy
22 October 2007

Saucony Shoes

The new shoes, the white ones are Kenneth's and the blues are mine. Courtesy of Albert. Thanks Bert!

--andoy

Saucony Shoes

Kenneth's first pair of Sauconys.

Saucony Shoes

New Saucony shoes

Mama's Birthday Weekend

Goofing off outside Gerry's Grill while waiting for a table.

Mama's Birthday Weekend

Roselle, Darwi and Naomi

And then they came for Mama's birthday

Over the weekend was my Mom's birthday.  And my sister Irene and brother Bert had to surprise her.  Irene arrived in the afternoon from Singapore.  And then Bert arrive around 9:00pm.  They just arrived without informing Mama beforehand.  That was fun.  We had dinner at Max's the following day.  Sunday afternoon, we had spaghetti in the afternoon merienda before going to Gerry"s Grill for dinner. 

 

Irene went back to Singapore Monday morning.  A quick stop, really.  And Bert will be going back to Qatar in another two weeks.  He's been abroad for more than three years.

-- andoy

20 September 2007

"Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax
and get used to the idea."  - R. Heinlein

Pictures from Mama's Birthday weekend

Irene, Mama and Darwi

Pictures from Mama's Birthday Weekend

Adora, Irene, Darwi, Roselle, me, Mama and Bert the night Bert arrived.

From MSN: 'Unchained Melody' Writer Hy Zaret Dies

I first heard this song from my Dad. Whenever he was driving he kept singing this song. But I guess he only sang this song when he wanted to keep awake while driving. Truth is, I'm not sure he even sings this song when there are more people in the car.

Back to the song... There was a Harry Belafonte version with a different stanza: "Lonely mountains soar..." I can't remember that one but I've been trying to find THAT particular version for a long time now. Elvis Presley sang it in one of his concerts, and U2 as well.

And even though the most popular version is by the Righteous Brothers, which version was included in the movie GHOST, I like the more sedate version of a straight ballad.

So now I know who wrote the song and when. Thank you, Mr. Zaret.

--andoy
4 July 2007

And in my head I am dancing...

Listening to CRASH INTO ME. Standing immobile with headset on
listening to nothing. With the music in the background. And in my
head I am dancing.

-- andoy
26 May 2007

LSS out of nowhere: Your Love by Alamid

Your Love

Artist - Alamid
Lyrics - Your Love

verse:
you're the one that never lets me sleep
to my mind, down to my soul you touch my lips
you're the one that i can't wait to see
with you here by my side i'm in ecstasy

pre-chorus:
i am all alone without you
my days are dark without a glimpse of you
but now that you came into my life
i feel complete
the flowers bloom, my morning shines
and i can see

chorus:
your love is like the sun
that lights up my whole world
i feel the warmth inside
your love is like the river
that flows down through my veins
i feel the chill inside

verse:
every time i hear our music play
reminds me of the things that we've been through
in my mind i can't believe it's true
but in my heart the reality is you

repeat pre-chorus and chorus

-=0=-

A slow day and you find people singing this song from out of the blue.
Even my kids sing this song. Maybe I really am getting old.

--andoy
25 May 2007

Dragonfly

Dragonfly
(Magne Furuholmen)

I will never let you down
I will always be around
In the time we are here
We'll see love disappear
Don't ask how
Don't ask why
Just fly, dragonfly
Just fly, dragonfly

I will never bring you down
I will always stick around
I will heat you when you're cold
In the time we have left
We'll raise eyes to the sky
Don't ask how
Don't ask why
Just fly, dragonfly
Just fly, dragonfly

Don't ask how
Don't ask why
Just fly, dragonfly
Just fly, fly, fly dragonfly

-=0=-

Another LSS.

--andoy
3 May 2007

I have nothing against Manny

During the weekend and on till Monday, the news was all about Manny
Pacquiao. (Well, there was this little piece about the First
Gentleman Mike Arroyo, but the only way he would have grabbed the
headline would have been if he had died. Which I don't believe would
happen anytime soon. Not in the next twenty or thirty years, in
fact.) But sorry to say, I have not watched any of his matches. I
have never wanted to watch any of his matches as a matter of fact.

Frankly, he may be good and worth his weight in gold, but the only
reason I am writing about him now is that he is falling into a
classical trap where people (specifically politicians) are fawning and
falling all around him and he is beginning to believe his own
propaganda. The worst that can happen to him and to his province is
if he wins the election as a congressman.

Imagine a guy with the potential to earn upwards of 100 million pesos
a year net, for the next six years, going into politics and be used by
countless politicians (including Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Chavit
Singson and Lito Atienza). He may be rich but the riches he has
earned and the "good" name (naive and innocent in politics) might not
be worth it. I think Gabriel "Flash" Elorde made the right decision,
he stayed away from politics and just lived quietly with his own
boxing gym.

Which reminds me of what Dolphy keeps saying whenever he is asked if
he will ever run for office. He always answers "eh kung manalo?" To
which a Marxist answer would be something of the sort: "but we've
already booked the Quirino Stadium for the victory celebration."
Paraphrasing Groucho Marx, that is.

Oh well. If we have senators like actors Ramon Revilla and his son
Ramon "Bong" Revilla, Joseph Estrada and his son Jinggoy Estrada, Lito
Lapid, and Tito Sotto as well as basketball players Freddie Webb and
Robert Jaworski, and now we have Cesar Montano and Richard Gomez
running for the post, maybe we do deserve Manny Pacquiao in Congress.
I have no idea what he'll do there, but I do know he's going to be in
a better position as a boxer rather than as a lawmaker.

--andoy
19 April 2007

New things; old things

There've been a lot of things happening. Some odd and unexpected. Others are just plain weird but should have been happening for a long, long time.

I was riding a jeep home one day, when I saw this guy, a vagrant, a "taong grasa", walking the empty street going to the Marikina Engineering offices. He was practically naked, except for his briefs. He may have been dirty all around, but his briefs was not as dirty. It was not brown or gray. It was pink.

As the jeep passed him (and he was going in the same direction as the jeep) I didn't have the sense to look back. I guess it was shock. More of a shock because of the pink briefs.

And during that same week, as I was walking around the mall, and into a Watson's store, there was this "matrona" who was walking around talking on the phone. It looked like a regular desktop phone. Except that she was walking around lugging around the phone. I didn't really pay much attention to it at the time. It could have been a Bayantel or Globe wireless phone. What grabbed me was that after the phone call, and not being able to stow the phone in her bag, her cell phone rang.

I just had to ask myself, up to what extent people want to be in touch with other people. I've seen a woman on the commute to work sending text messages, on two phones, at the same time. One cell phone in each hand. I didn't care if these were the same message or not.

And before the cell phone text explosion came along, I saw a guy on the corner of Ayala and Paseo de Roxas, talking over two phones. He had another cell phone on his belt as well as a pager. I did say it was way, way too long ago.

Again , I wonder up to what extent people would want to get in touch with other people. I have no idea about that answer.

--andoy
16 April 2007

LSS: PLEASE DON'T GO , KC and the Sunshine Band.

PLEASE DON'T GO
H.W. Casey and R. Finch

I love you
Yeah
Babe, I love you so
I want you to know
That I'm going to miss your love
The minute you walk out that door

(Chorus)
So please don't go
Don't go
Don't go away
Please don't go
Don't go
I'm begging you to stay
If you leave
At least in my lifetime
I've had one dream come true
I was blessed to be loved
By someone as wonderful as you

(Chorus)
Hey, hey, hey
Yeah
Babe, I love you so
I, I want you to know
That I'm going to miss your love
The minute you walk out that door
So please don't go
Don't go
Don't go away
Hey, hey, hey
I need your love
I'm down on my knees
Beggin' please, please, please
Don't go
Don't you hear me baby
please don't go

Don't leave me now
Oh, no, no, no, no
Please don't go
I want you to know
That I, I, I, love you so
Don't leave me baby
Please don't go

Copyright (c) 1975 , 1976 sherlyn publishing co
Harrick Music, INC

-=0=-

Man, I am getting old. hahaha This was a popular song when I was
still in high school. We actually slow dance to this song. Now, I
think those who went to high school during the late 70's slow dance to
this, very very slowly. hahaha

In a way, this song is a goodbye song. There've been songs which
sampled portions of the first stanza and chorus. Come to think of it,
it's not a bad goodbye song. A fun song for all that. Reminds me of
memories dancing slow.

Man, I really am getting old.
--
--andoy
15 November 2006

Another LSS: "Once In A Lifetime" sung by Sarah Brightman

Sarah Brightman
Once in a lifetime

Cuando anochezca
Te esperare
Quiero volverte loco esta noche
Con la luna llena
Te esperare
Hoy moriras entre mis brazos
Nunca soñaste algo igual

(When the night falls
I will wait for you
I want to drive you crazy tonight
With the full moon
I will wait for you
Today you will die in my arms
You never dreamed about something like this)

Let me dive in
To pools of sin
Wet black leather on my skin
Show me the floor
Lay down the law
I need to taste you more

Refrain:
Then I feel your sea
Raining down on me
Can this be my once in a lifetime
Hell's at heaven's door
As I need you more
You know you're my once in a lifetime

Todo tu cuerpo temblara
Pero esta vez, es realidad
Aunque el tiempo pase
Nunca, nunca lo olividaras
Sera
Solo una vez en tu vida

(All your body will tremble
But this time it will be real
Though time passes by
You will never, never forget it
It will be
Only once in your lifetime)

When you take me
And make me cry
Then I feel you satisfy
Show me the cage
It's all the rage
And lock it up

Found a part of me
That's a mystery
That will be just once in a lifetime
When the moon is high
Passion never dies
Will you want me for all a lifetime

Once in a lifetime
Once in a lifetime
Once in a lifetime

Giving you my soul
Letting you control
Took away a part of my lifetime
Memories of you
Left me black and blue
Now I know you're once in a lifetime

Refrain

Found a part of me
That's a mystery
That will be just once in a lifetime
When the moon is high
Passion never dies
Will you want me for all a lifetime

Refrain

Found a part of me
That's a mystery
That will be just once in a lifetime
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Music: Peterson, Schwarz, Meissner
Lyrics: Peterson, Brightman

-=0=-

--andoy
28 October 2006

LSS: "Every Little Thing" by Dishwalla

Artist: Dishwalla
Song Title: "Every Little Thing"

Let me in
to see you in the morning light
to get me on and all along the tears they come
see all come
I want you to believe in life
but I get the strangest feeling that you've gone away
will you find out who you are too late to change?
I wish I could be
every little thing you wanted
all the time
I wish I could be
every little thing you wanted
all the time
some times

lift me up
just lift me up don't make a sound
and let me hold you up before you hit the Ground
see all come
you say you're all right
but I get the strangest feeling
that you've gone away- you've gone away
and will you find out who you are too late to change?

I wish I could be
every little thing you wanted
all the time
I wish I could be
every little thing you wanted
all the time
some times

Don't give me up
don't give me up tonight
or soon nothing will be right at all
salvation
will you find out who you are too late to change?

I wish I could be
every little thing you wanted

-=0=-

Was at the internet shop, when this was playing. Just thinking about it.
--
--andoy
3 September 2006

This made me smile...

I came upon this quote:
Most women set out to try to change a man, and when they have changed him they do not like him.
Marlene Dietrich

hahaha

It made me smile. Made my day, methinks. And it works both ways, too.

--andoy
19 August 2006

A Funny Thing Happened This Morning.

A funny thing happened this morning. Walking to the barbershop, I
passed by the shuttle terminal where Makati and Ortigas office workers
queue for their ride to work. Though I am not feeling well, dry
cough, sore throat and flu like symptoms, I felt different when I saw
these people lined up and waiting. It was a weird feeling. So weird
that I felt it. I can't say I understand what I felt. But I knew I
felt it. I was proud walking in front of them. Walking with
shoulders high and head proud. I don't remember passing by the area
with that feeling since way before January last year. I had actually
forgotten how that felt, early morning and feeling tired but proud.

Really weird.

--andoy
26 June 2006

Pagemaker 7

I first used Pagemaker way, way back 1993 (if I remember correctly). Back then it was version 3 and then version 4 which I used. I also had the opportunity to teach Pagemaker at the Technology and Livelihood Resource Center (TLRC) in Makati. I last used Pagemaker around 1996. During the weekend I had the chance to install and re-learn Pagemaker. It's now version 7 and it seems that there have been few differences from the earlier versions. Only thing is that I may have forgotten a lot about using the software. Been fun trying to teach myself again how to use this product.

I plan to use this with the next release of the Pinoy Poet Poem Collection. That would contain the poems posted from June 1 to 15. Least I can say is that I have an easier time of formatting the styles and pages than when I was using MS Word. And the real clincher is creating the Table of Contents (TOC) and the Index. I had fun with those on Pagemaker as the pages were done automatically. In contrast, I had a hard time with Word in creating the TOC and Index.

Creating something for free should be fun. Or else it's not worth it.

--andoy
14 June 2006

Chaim Potok, "The Promise" and "The Chosen"

More than twnety years ago, I read these two books by Chaim Potok. The Promise and its sequel, The Chosen. Since then, I've been trying to find these two books so I can have my own copies. Finally, I have them. Mind you, these are from yellowing paperbacks from a second hand book store, but it was well worth the effort to try and find them. This has been a very surprising week, if only because I have these two books at last! hahaha

--andoy
14 June 2006

It happened again! Football shoes to work

I was at Eastwood last week, minding my own business when I saw this girl. Nothing extra-ordinary about her. Frankly, I don't even remember what she looked like. But what caught me were her shoes. Football shoes by Puma, black with yellow trim. I could not have been mistaken because the heel proper was more than a half-inch above the floor. I guess wearing soccer shoes to work isn't uncommon nowadays. This is the second such lady/office worker/call center agent (no doubt about that one). Yes, no doubt a call center agent. I was in Eastwood around 9:00AM and here she was going home from work. No brainer. Well, I guess if you could pull it off, why not?

Now if I can only pull off wearing hawaiian shirts to a (very corporate) business meeting, hahaha.

--andoy
5 June 2006

Going to work in sports shoes, a new twist

While on the way to work, I usually ride the van (shuttle) from
Marikina to Makati. Other times, I ride the MRT/LRT. Tedious but
gets me on time if I walk fast from SM Makati to Rufino Street.

This particular day, I thought, what the hell, if I'm late, I'm late
and queued for the shuttle ride. Everything okay. I even had a few
short shut eyes. And just when the van was turning Buendia Ave. I
had a glance at this young girl's shoes. Okay, she's not a young
girl, young girl, girl, but more like early twenties, in t-shirt denim
pants and rubber shoes. (But forgive me if I call any female younger
than thirty, a "young girl.") Looked like a call center agent. I
raised my head from my nap, and the shoes caught my eye. First time I
saw a young lady wearing white soccer shoes. No kidding. The studs
were yellow. I don't know what model it was, but it was a Nike, with
a number 90 on the heels.

Soccer shoes are not the most comfortable shoes outside the pitch.
And maybe only a woman who's worn high heels can appreciate the beauty
of wearing soccer shoes to work. I don't know, I'm not "smart
looking" enough to wear soccer shoes to work.

--
--andoy
28 February 2006

Last Friday: A Funny Thing Happened on the way to EDSA...

(or Making Sense of a lot of pre-emptive missteps)

Friday morning. A coup happened. And of all types of coups, this one was the worst kind. It was a scheduled coup. At the start of the day, Tatay sent me a text message informing me that there was going to be a coup. Everyone knew there was going to be a coup. And then Friday morning came, and first thing I heard on the TV was that classes were suspended. (At which my wife told my kids that they can undress from their school uniforms and go back to bed.) Next thing I heard was that a coup was aborted with the "arrest" of three senior officers. ("Arrest" being a conditional term as event unfolded during the weekend.)

There were scheduled anti-Gloria rallies. Not really anti-Government as the rallyists were mostly Government personalities and the main rally was to be at Makati with the appropriate permit from the City Government (and where the Mayor of Makati, Jejomar Binay was expected to attend.) There was a rally at the EDSA People Power Monument, and another rally at the EDSA Shrine. Watching TV last Friday, I can't help but note that there was a sense of "Three Stooges" meets "The Twilight Zone" masquerading as CNN breaking news.

Consider these:

1. Before noon, Friday, there were riot policemen at the EDSA Shrine, facing rallyists who were on the Shrine steps (just below the Mother Mary statue). This was planned and announced days in advance. One of the police officers was holding a water cannon, and water was already gushing out of the hose. And there was a guy in barong tagalog (or white long sleeves polo, tucked out) talking to one of the police officers discussing or negotiating the dispersal of the rallyists. First time I ever saw the water cannon hose spewing water while negotiations were ongoing just beside it. And then former VP Guingona goes up and joins the rallyists. The water cannon was not used at that time. I think it was used later in the afternoon.
2. Friday afternoon. News from Malacanang is that coup plotters have been tagged and the coup aborted. After lunch, a press conference with the Joint Chiefs of Staff have the top military brass winging their way out of the questions posted to them. Turns out that the coup plotters were relieved of duties and under custody, but not in the stockade, or have been charged with anything yet. Turns out that one of the suspected coup plotters, who was supposedly already under custody was in the Chief of Staff's office talking to him about joining the coup attempt. And then they arrested the guy. The Chief of Staff said so on national TV.
3. Government negotiators talk to Former President Ramos, asking him for support. He's holed up in Tagaytay, and the only thing he gave was "conditional support" for House Speaker de Venecia's statements to support the constitution and state, etc. As of Friday, FVR's position was that a statement will be released the following day, Saturday. Said statement in essence condemns the State of Emergency, suspension of habeas corpus, and other actions by PGMA. And now, Congressman Pichay (a pro-Gloria politician) taunts that FVR thinks he's still the President. Pro-Arroyo people ask for FVR support and when they don't get it, they turn against FVR.
4. If the coup plotters have been rounded up, why suspend the writ of habeas corpus? And why declare a state of emergency? No reason.
5. If this was a coup attempt, why are there (supposedly) a hundred suspected civilian supporters and another hundred military supporters to be invited for questioning for their possible involvement? This boggles the imagination. A coup attempt with that many supporters. Wow! No wonder everyone knew about it.
6. House Speaker de Venecia gives a statement that the coup attempt was an alliance of right-wing military elements with communist insurgents. I have no idea where he got that idea.
   
7. Live on national TV, UP Professor, sociologist, writer and political scientist Randy David got arrested. Insane!
8. One newspaper was shut down Saturday morning. And the TV stations had military personnel securing them for the safety of the press. What?
9. Sunday late afternoon. Remember the military brass who have been tagged as coup plotters? One of them, a marine, goes to the the Marine Headquarters and asks that he be charged and put imprisoned. This is a weird turn of events. I'd have thought that the coup plotters were already in jail. Now here he comes, asking to be imprisoned. And the Marines don't know what to do. The new Marine Commanding General even has to introduce himself as being in command because the marines don't know who's in command. Really, I thought they jailed these guys. And this Marine commander walks to Headquarters and asks to be imprisoned? WTF?

As an offshoot of all of these, there was hardly anyone out during the weekend. The EDSA celebration was still held at the EDSA Shrine, but not enough people in attendance.

All this because Madame President has the propensity to pre-empt all opposition. This will be the real beginning of her downfall. Funny thing is that I have no idea if the President really thinks that she can get away with this, or that she's outsmart the opposition, or that there's someone else out there pulling her strings.

Crazy.

--andoy
27 February 2006

Statement of Vice President Noli De Castro ON PROCLAMATION 101

Statement of Vice President Noli De Castro
ON PROCLAMATION 1017:

I urge everyone to rally behind the Constitution. Only
by adhering to it will we be assured of the continued
enjoyment of our freedom and our democratic way of
life.

I respect the right of the President to declare a
State of Emergency in order to preserve the peace,
maintain law & order, and ensure the protection of
human rights & civil liberties of the people for as
long as there is an imminent threat to public safety.

I reaffirm my support to the people, the Constitution
and the duly constituted authorities. ###

-=0=-

Vice President Noli de Castro was in Batangas last Friday at a Fiesta
celebrating coffee and with him were some ambassadors. The statement
above was also released from his office during the day. Question is,
even if he had tried to be a lot more vague, could he have succeeded
more without using a fire-alarm and smoke bombs in a movie house?

This is a standard issue statement from his office, and I wonder if he
will ever give a statement giving a definite stand. Then, again, at
least he gives statements and press releases. When PGMA was VP, she
never gave a statement while Erap was having problems.

--andoy

Quiz: Check the difference.

PROCLAMATION 1081
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines,
by virtue of the powers vested upon me by Article VII, Section 10,
Paragraph ('2) of the Constitution, do hereby place the entire
Philippines as defined in Article I, Section 1 of the Constitution
under martial law and, in my capacity as their commander-in-chief, do
hereby command the armed forces of the Philippines, to maintain law
and order throughout the Philippines, prevent or suppress all forms of
lawless violence as well as any act of insurrection or rebellion and
to enforce obedience to all the laws and decrees, orders and
regulations promulgated by me personally or upon my direction.

PROCLAMATION 1017
NOW, THEREFORE, I Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, President of the Republic
of the Philippines and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the
Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested upon me by Section 18,
Article 7 of the Philippine Constitution which states that: " The
President…whenever it becomes necessary,…may call out (the) armed
forces to prevent or suppress…rebellion…, " and in my capacity as
their Commander-in-Chief, do hereby command the Armed Forces of the
Philippines, to maintain law and order throughout the Philippines,
prevent or suppress all forms of lawless violence as well any act of
insurrection or rebellion and to enforce obedience to all the laws and
to all decrees, orders and regulations promulgated by me personally or
upon my direction; and as provided in Section 17, Article 12 of the
Constitution do hereby declare a State of National Emergency.

--
--andoy
27 February 2006

SHARE: Sun In the Night, Lighthouse Family

Sun In The Night
LIGHTHOUSE FAMILY

How many times in your life have you ever had the feeling
That the way you live is crazy and there must be something else.
When you look at the sky does it ever cross your mind
There could be something you’ve forgotten that won’t ever go away

(Chorus)

Like the sun in the night,
Like the sun in the night,
You’ll always be with me baby,
Be in my soul,
You’ll always be with me
Wherever I go.

Gets too much after a while trying to always hide your feelings
When the world is going crazy and you keep it to yourself
How much it hurts; though you try, try to get on with your life
And tell yourself that worse things happen and just hope it goes away.

-=0=-

--andoy
22 February 2006

MetroWestDailyNews.com - Local / Regional News: No refunds on dates

MetroWestDailyNews.com - Local / Regional News: No refunds on dates

This is a crazy story about a guy asking a refund for a date which didn't turn out well. He asked for $20. Stupid guy. hahaha

--andoy
14 February 2006

Another LSS: Iris by Goo Goo Dolls

Iris
by Goo Goo Dolls

And I'd give up forever to touch you
'cause I know that you feel me somehow
You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be
And I don't want to go home right now

And all I can taste is this moment
And all I can breathe is your life
'cause sooner or later it's over
I just don't want to miss you tonight

And I don't want the world to see me
'cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am

And you can't fight the tears that ain't coming
Or the moment of truth in your lies
When everything feels like the movies
Yeah you bleed just to know you're alive

And I don't want the world to see me
'cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am

And I don't want the world to see me
'cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am

And I don't want the world to see me
'cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am

I just want you to know who I am
I just want you to know who I am
I just want you to know who I am

-=0=-

Another song which title is not mentioned in the song. I joined an
out-of-town trip with several office mates. A (delayed) birthday
celebration by the Head Accountant, Ms. Beng. And this is one of the
songs played on the car's sound system on the way to Iba, Zambales.

Valentine's kasi, kaya I posted it here. hahaha

--andoy
13 February 2006

SHARE: Somebody by Depeche Mode, another LSS

Somebody
sang by Depeche Mode
(c) 1984 Martin Lee Gore - Depeche Mode

I want somebody to share
Share the rest of my life
Share my innermost thoughts
Know my intimate details
Someone who'll stand by my side
And give me support
And in return
She'll get my support
She will listen to me
When I want to speak
About the world we live in
And life in general
Though my views may be wrong
They may even be perverted
She'll hear me out
And won't easily be converted
To my way of thinking
In fact she'll often disagree
But at the end of it all
She will understand me

I want somebody who cares
For me passionately
With every thought and
With every breath
Someone who'll help me see things
In a different light
All the things I detest
I will almost like
I don't want to be tied
To anyone's strings
I'm carefully trying to steer clear of
Those things
But when I'm asleep
I want somebody
Who will put their arms around me
And kiss me tenderly
Though things like this
Make me sick
In a case like this
I'll get away with it

-=0=-

I watch "Unang Hirit" every morning while I have breakfast. Not
really watch as in paying attention. Just watching as in it's there,
I hear it and if it's interesting I pay closer attention. While
having breakfast, and listening to my wife and yesterdays' recap of
daily events. Anyway, this morning Aiza Seguerra sang "Somebody" live
and playing the guitar herself. [The only person who ever lip-synched
on that show was Mike Hanopol last week. All the bands and singers
sing live in the studio or on location.]

First time I heard Aiza sing that song. I sang that to my kids as a
lullaby till they were old enough to notice that I don't know how to
sing. hehehe And then I stopped. They still know the song by heart.

Good way to start a day.

--
--andoy
7 February 2006

Discovery Channel :: News :: Odors Trigger Memory In Squirrels

Discovery Channel :: News :: Odors Trigger Memory In Squirrels

It has been noted that memory is strongest when associated with odors. In other words, odor reinforces memory. And not just in humans but also in squirrels, it seems.

--andoy
6 February 2006

Thursday!

One of those days when you want to shout and curse at the toilet bowl
and flush it all down afterwards! Ahhhhhh!!!!

And a headache to boot!

When is Friday when you need one?

--
--andoy
2 February 2006

The Ultimate Blog of Jesuit Humor

The Ultimate Blog of Jesuit Humor

That says it all.

--andoy
1 February 2006

Is Hell Exothermic ?

**new twist to the joke

Is Hell Exothermic?

The following is supposedly an actual question given on a University of Washington chemistry mid-term. The answer by one student was so "profound" that the professor shared it with colleagues, via the Internet, which is,of course, why we now have the pleasure of enjoying it as well.

Bonus Question: Is Hell exothermic (gives off heat) or endothermic (absorbs heat)?

Most of the students wrote proofs of their beliefs using Boyle's Law (gas cools when it expands and heats when it is compressed) or somevariant.

One student, however, wrote the following:

First, we need to know how the mass of Hell is changing in time. So we need to know the rate at which souls are moving into Hell and the rate at which they are leaving. I think that we can safely assume that once a soul getsto Hell, it will not leave. Therefore, no souls are leaving.

As for how many souls are entering Hell, let's look at the different Religions that exist in the world today. Most of these religions state that if you are not a member of their religion, you will go to Hell. Since there is more than one of these religions and since people do not belong to more than one religion, we can project that all souls go to Hell. With birth and death rates as they are, we can expect the number of souls in Hell toincrease exponentially.

Now, we look at the rate of change of the volume in Hell because Boyle's Law states that in order for the temperature and pressure in Hell to stay the same, the volume of Hell has to expand proportionately as souls are added.

This gives two possibilities:
1. If Hell is expanding at a slower rate than the rate at which souls enter Hell, then the temperature and pressure in Hell will increase until all Hell breaks loose.
2. If Hell is expanding at a rate faster than the increase of souls in Hell, then the temperature and pressure will drop until Hell freezes over.
So which is it? If we accept the postulate given to me by Teresa during my Freshman year that, "it will be a cold day in Hell before I sleep with you," and take into account the fact that I slept with her last night, then number 2 must be true, and thus I am sure that Hell is exothermic and has already frozen over.

The corollary of this theory is that since Hell has frozen over, it follows that it is not accepting any more souls and is therefore, extinct...leaving only Heaven thereby proving the existence of a divine being which explainswhy, last night, Teresa kept shouting "Oh my God."

THIS STUDENT RECEIVED THE ONLY A

--

--andoy
1 February 2006

Late by...

We have a contest/incentive program here at the office where a point
is deducted from each department for each employee who comes in late,
or past the late grace period, to be more specific. We have a grace
period of 15 minutes. Since we have a computer to login to on the
lobby, you type in your login name and password. To make a long and
boring story short, I logged in at 9:16:03. Yup, I was late by 3
seconds.

Not a funny way to start Monday.

--
--andoy
23 January 2006

The PROPHET, by Kahlil Gibran

The PROPHET, by Kahlil Gibran

There are days when I miss my copy of this slim volume. This is one of those days. Been feeling down in the dumps lately, like blah. To describe it, I'd say somewhere near hungry deprived, and almost like you just want bang your head against the wall so you can feel alive, but looking around and trying to find someone else's head instead. It's quite an ambivalent and ambiguous feeling, really.

Just one of those days.

--andoy
19 January 2006

One Year

It's been one year since I started working for this company. And it's
been one hell of a ride so far. It's been a lot of things. A lot of
stress and pressure. And a lot of goofing off. In fact, if truth be
told a lot of the time, I can't help but goof off, because I am
waiting for something to happen, some result to test, anything.

The money's not so bad either. Could be a whole lot worse. This job
rescued me from working on the night-shift. I guess if I had not
gotten this job, I'd still be in a call center doing supervisory work,
at about half my current pay. Probably less.

I started on this job, when one of my former managers called me and
asked for people to man his department. I tried to find people for
him. I didn't really think that I'd be working for him. Neither did
I care if I earned anything from this or not. After several weeks of
follow-ups, he called one morning, just after I got home, and I was
still sleepy and he told me that he needed me on his staff, even if I
didn't do any programming. And he asked me how much I wanted, being a
moron (albeit a very sleepy stupid moron) I gave a round number.
Something I can live with, but enough to make him turn me down. Or so
I thought. He told me to start immediately. That woke me up and I
wanted to kick myself on the head.

I spent my first week working half-day (afternoons) at the office,
went to the call center, took a nap, went on shift and trained an
agent, got home, slept for several hours, before going to Makati, to
work half-day again. That was one week of hell. The funny part about
my new work at the time was that there was nothing to do at the
office. I sometimes found myself sleeping on the floor beside the QA
people. Actually, beside Donna's desk. So I can safely say that I
spent my first week sleeping beside her. She was working on her
computer and I was on the floor beside her sleeping with my jacket as
a pillow.

Midway through last year, I got promoted because my boss found a way
to get kicked out and still get paid. He got a good settlement. Good
enough to leave me with the problems he created, and which I helped
exacerbate in the first place. In essence, I helped dig my own grave.
I'm not yet finished crawling up and out of that hole, but I'm
getting there.

Of particular note was that time last year, first week of May. I
worked the weekend. And May 1, and 2 (a Monday which was declared a
holiday). Tuesday came along and we found out that two programmers
resigned on the Sunday. We were two programmers short. That week was
very noteworthy because I spent 80 hours in the office that week.

There have been overnights, and there have been Saturdays. And the
occasional Sundays in the office.

I admit this is a crazy job. And insanity really is a requirement
hereabouts. But it's still a good ride so far.

Tense, cold and with no friend to have lunch with,
--andoy
17 January 2006

SHARE: Ever The Same, Rob Thomas

SONG: "Ever The Same"
Artist: Rob Thomas

We were drawn from the weeds
We were brave like soldiers
Falling down under the pale moonlight
You were holding to me
Like a someone broken
And I couldn't tell you but I'm telling you now

Just let me hold you while you're falling apart
Just let me hold you and we'll both fall down

Fall on me
Tell me everything you want me to be
Forever with you forever in me
Ever the same

We would stand in the wind
We were free like water
Flowing down
Under the warmth of the sun
Now it's cold and we're scared
And we've both been shaken
Hey, look at us
Man, this doesn't need to be the end

Just let me hold you while you're falling apart
Just let me hold you and we'll both fall down

Fall on me tell me everything you want me to be
Forever with you
Forever in me
Ever the same
Call on me
I'll be there for you and you'll be there for me
Forever it's you
Forever in me
Ever the same

You may need me there
To carry all your weight
But you're no burden I assure
You tide me over
With a warmth I'll not forget
But I can only give you love

Fall on me tell me everything you want me to be
Forever with you
Forever in me
Ever the same
Call on me
I'll be there for you and you'll be there for me
Forever it's you
Forever in me
Ever the same

Forever with you
Forever in me
Ever the same(Ever the same)
--

As I read this, it's more a friend about friendship than anything
else. About supporting friends when they're down, and being there
when they need you.

--andoy
16 January 2006

Share: Help by the Beatles

ARTIST: The Beatles
TITLE: Help

Help, I need somebody
Help, not just anybody
Help, you know I need someone, help

When I was younger, so much younger than today
I never needed anybody's help in any way
But now these days are gone, I'm not so self assured
Now I find I've changed my mind and opened up the doors

{Refrain}
Help me if you can, I'm feeling down
And I do appreciate you being 'round
Help me get my feet back on the ground
Won't you please, please help me

And now my life has changed in oh so many ways
My independence seems to vanish in the haze
But every now and then I feel so insecure
I know that I just need you like I've never done before

{Repeat Refrain}

When I was younger, so much younger than today
I never needed anybody's help in any way
But now these days are gone, I'm not so self assured
Now I find I've changed my mind and opened up the doors

{Repeat Refrain}
... Help me, help me ooh

-=0=-

It's been one of those weeks, when seems that things I did are not
working out right. Not real fiascoes, just SNAFUs! I'll be glad to
get this week over and done with. TGIF!

And thanks to my friends, in the office and outside, who helped me
survive this week: Donald, Steph, Dennis, Cielo, Butch and Rach.

--andoy
13 January 2006

YOUR BODY IS A WONDERLAND (John Mayer)

YOUR BODY IS A WONDERLAND (John Mayer)

We got the afternoon
You got this room for two
One thing I've left to do
Discover me
Discovering you

One mile to every inch of
Your skin like porcelain
One pair of candy lips and
Your bubblegum tongue

'Cause if you want love
We'll make it
Swimming a deep sea
Of blankets
Take all your big plans
And break 'em
This is bound to be a while

Your body Is a wonderland
Your body is a wonder (I'll use my hands)
Your body Is a wonderland

Something 'bout the way the hair falls in your face
I love the shape you take when crawling towards the pillowcase
You tell me where to go and
Though I might leave to find it
I'll never let your head hit the bed
Without my hand behind it

you want love?
We'll make it
Swimming a deep sea
Of blankets
Take all your big plans
And break 'em
This is bound to be a while

Your body Is a wonderland
Your body is a wonder (I'll use my hands)
Your body Is a wonderland

Damn baby
You frustrate me
I know you're mine all mine all mine
But you look so good it hurts sometimes

Your body Is a wonderland
Your body is a wonder (I'll use my hands)
Your body Is a wonderland
Your body is a wonderland

-=0=-

Sounds like a good make-out song. Listening to it this morning. And
I got caught in it.

--andoy
6 January 2006

Share: You And Me, Lifehouse

Share: You And Me, Lifehouse

"You And Me"
Artist: Lifehouse

What day is it? And in what month?
This clock never seemed so alive
I can't keep up and I can't back down
I've been losing so much time

Cause it's you and me and all of the people with nothing to do
Nothing to lose
And it's you and me and all of the people
And I don't know why, I can't keep my eyes off of you

All of the things that I want to say just aren't coming out right
I'm tripping on words
You've got my head spinning
I don't know where to go from here

Cause it's you and me and all of the people with nothing to do
Nothing to prove
And it's you and me and all of the people
And I don't know why, I can't keep my eyes off of you

There's something about you now
I can't quite figure out
Everything she does is beautiful
Everything she does is right

Cause it's you and me and all of the people with nothing to do
Nothing to lose
And it's you and me and all of the people
And I don't know why, I can't keep my eyes off of you
and me and all of the people with nothing to do
Nothing to prove
And it's you and me and all of the people
And I don't know why, I can't keep my eyes off of you

What day is it?
And in what month?
This clock never seemed so alive

-=0=-

Lifehouse were guests in one of the Smallville episodes. This song was playing while Clark Kent was dancing with Lana Lang, while Lois Lane and Chloe were watching on the sidelines.

--andoy
5 January 2006
(originally posted on http://andoynovel.blogspot.com)

tabulas.com: I Dance With Abandon

tabulas.com: I Dance With Abandon

The link above is to my poem, "Undertones." It was included in the first Pinoy Poets' Chapbook. And then it got picked up by AmyBecca and posted on her MySpace welcome page.

It's a weird Tuesday.

--andoy
3 January 2006

www.myspace.com/amyinatx

www.myspace.com/amyinatx

Through a very circuitous route, my poem ends up in this lady's myspace website. hahaha
Front page/welcome page material even.

Thank you.

--andoy
3 January 2006

You Are Beautiful (James Blunt)

You're Beautiful
sung by James Blunt

My life is brilliant.

My life is brilliant.
My love is pure.
I saw an angel.
Of that I'm sure.
She smiled at me on the subway.
She was with another man.
But I won't lose no sleep on that,
'Cause I've got a plan.

You're beautiful. You're beautiful.
You're beautiful, it's true.
I saw your face in a crowded place,
And I don't know what to do,
'Cause I'll never be with you.

Yeah, she caught my eye,
As we walked on by.
She could see from my face that I was,
Flying high, [ - video/radio edited version]
Fucking high, [ - CD version]
And I don't think that I'll see her again,
But we shared a moment that will last till the end.

You're beautiful. You're beautiful.
You're beautiful, it's true.
I saw your face in a crowded place,
And I don't know what to do,
'Cause I'll never be with you.

You're beautiful. You're beautiful.
You're beautiful, it's true.
There must be an angel with a smile on her face,
When she thought up that I should be with you.
But it's time to face the truth,
I will never be with you.

-=0=-

I am very happy today. But the songs I hear are of the "senti" kind.
Doesn't make sense, really. But it does. hahaha

--andoy
2 January 2006

Ever the Same by Rob Thomas

*"Ever The Same"
by Rob Thomas

*We were drawn from the weeds
We were brave like soldiers
Falling down under the pale moonlight
You were holding to me
Like a someone broken
And I couldn't tell you but I'm telling you now

Just let me hold you while you're falling apart
Just let me hold you and we'll both fall down

Fall on me
Tell me everything you want me to be
Forever with you forever in me
Ever the same

We would stand in the wind
We were free like water
Flowing down
Under the warmth of the sun
Now it's cold and we're scared
And we've both been shaken
Hey, look at us
Man, this doesn't need to be the end

Just let me hold you while you're falling apart
Just let me hold you and we'll both fall down

Fall on me tell me everything you want me to be
Forever with you
Forever in me
Ever the same
Call on me
I'll be there for you and you'll be there for me
Forever it's you
Forever in me
Ever the same

You may need me there
To carry all your weight
But you're no burden I assure
You tide me over
With a warmth I'll not forget
But I can only give you love

Fall on me tell me everything you want me to be
Forever with you
Forever in me
Ever the same
Call on me
I'll be there for you and you'll be there for me
Forever it's you
Forever in me
Ever the same

Forever with you
Forever in me
Ever the same(Ever the same)

--
--andoy
2 January 2006

Pictures from Raul's Wedding

There are a lot of stories about Raul's wedding. Maybe some time I could write them down. But it was fun. This was the wedding they've been planning for the past several years. I have no idea how long it was in the planning stage, but Raul and Doy started dating in College. And he's now 36 years old.

There were several things they didn't want to do. The bride did not want to walk down the aisle. No extra expenses for the bridal entourage. Nothing fancy, just a church wedding. The wedding was scheduled for a Saturday. On the Friday before the wedding, I received a text message that it was moved forward by half-an-hour. A big-shot died during the week and he was going to be buried on Saturday, and the wedding was moved earlier so that the deceased would be taken to church and mass by 10:00am. 9:40 came along and the bride and her party wasn't there yet. Almost 10:00 when we were informed by the Church aides/ladies that the ceremony was to be done at the sacristy. If you noticed the pictures, these were taken at the sacristy of the Concepcion Church, in Marikina. Doy came along around 9:45 or 9:50 and she was not in a good mood. She was blaming her family for being late. And to make matters worse, she left the wedding give-aways in the taxi. Notice the pictures, she couldn't smile because she was thinking of how bad the day was going along. Notice that Raul was smiling very widely, he knew he can rile her and have fun about the wedding even before the wedding began. That's how they love one another.

Tatay was mad, and he so wanted to write the Catholic Church Hierarchy about being bumped in schedule by a rich dead guy. But at least the priest saved the day. It was very intimate, and he had a target audience which was listening to every word he said. It may not have been the most solemn, but the priest had fun, and he was joking at times, the whole wedding party enjoyed the ceremony. Everybody was standing around the bride and groom. Literally. Tatay came to enjoy the wedding and he didn't push through with his plan to write to the Bishops.

Too bad that I took the videos. It was horrible because I wasn't able to keep it steady. Everyone who saw the video had only one reaction: seasick because of the movement.

The wedding reception was also a matter of the newly-weds putting their foot down. No doves, no garters, no bouquet throwing. It was really a family affair. And to think that the real joke about the reception was done by Auntie Pinang. They did the catering. But they had a lot pinakbet for their consumption. Ha! Unfortunately, they
gave some to Naneng's table, and I was able to ask for more. And by the time we were wrapping up, I was able to ask for the rest of the pot. That was some good pinakbet. Not too salty, nothing fancy, just good vegetables.

Raul and Doy now live with my parents. They occupy the room me and my family had before we got an apartment last April. I guess they should be having a good time, since they've had more almost twenty years to decide about this. Okay, at least fifteen then.

--andoy
7 September 2005

The wedding.
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Mama, Doy, Raul and Tatay
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The newly weds with Doy's elder sister and father.
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The groom's family.
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Doy and Raul with the wedding sponsors. Si tiong Benny yung isa sa mga ninong.
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The newly-weds with the bride's family.
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Doy and Raul at the Sacristy after the wedding.
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Celia and Mitch. Wala lang. hehehe
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The Presidential table.
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The newly-weds with Doy's father and sisters.
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Tiong Benny, Irene, Darwi, Roselle, Doy, Raul, Naomi, Kenneth and Lilia.
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Tiong Doring, Auntie Pinang, Ate Evelyn and Auntie Sally with the newly-weds.
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Mama with Naomi, Mr. and Mrs. Borlaza, Tatay and the newly-weds, Doy and Raul
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Seated from the left: Roselle, Darwi, Kris, Adora, Renato, Mitch and Naomi. Standing at the back are Doy and Raul.
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Jonas with Naomi, Celia, Doy and Raul
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Raul and Doy cutting the wedding cake.
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Raul and Doy eating cake.
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Mama and Tatay
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Optional Holiday!

Sunday, August 28, being the last Sunday of the month, is National Heroes Day. And in line with this, Press Secretary Bunye clarified last Friday that Monday August 29 (today) would not be a holiday. Along came Saturday, and Executive Secretary Ermita announces that the President has decided that Monday would be a holiday. This statement in itself was not a pronouncement as the official announcement would come later. Sunday, the Office of the President decides to release the announcement that there would be no classes in public and private schools, as well as government offices. There would be work in private companies. Monday morning and I think they did this just to muddy, perplex and confuse an already confused citizenry, they qualify that it is optional. And the morning hasn't fully started yet, and they have a rejoinder that if it isn't too late to announce, then the private companies can call it a holiday.

Now I ask, is the President just PMSing or does she have Alzheimer's?

--andoy
29 August 2005

Mag'irgo Tamoyna Nin Binubolinao

Mag'irgo Tamoyna Nin Binubolinao

And the Bolinao website has its own blog site, too!

--andoy
22 August 2005

A Bolinao Website

This website is still under construction and is being created and maintained by Josue Castellano.

If all goes well and if the support is there, this should become a great resource for the Bolinao language.

--andoy
22 August 2005

[SHARE] the day you said goodnight, by Hale

The Day You Said Goodnight
by Hale

Take me as you are
Push me off the road
The sadness, I need this time to be with you
I'm freezing in the sun
I'm burning in the rain
The silence I'm screaming
Calling out your name

And I do
Reside in your light
Put out the fire with me and find
Yeah, you lose the side of your circles
That's what I'll do if we say goodbye

To be is all I got to be
And all that I see
And all that I need this time
To me the life you gave me
The day you said goodnight

The calmness in your face
That I see through the night
The warmth of your light is pressing onto us
You didn't ask me why
I never would have known
Oblivion is falling down

If you could only know me like your prayers at night
Then everything between you and me will be alright

She's already taken
She's already taken
She's already taken me
The day you said goodnight

-=0=-

This is quite popular these days. And I catch myself humming or singing snippets of the song. Keeps on running round and round my head. Must be the blue skies and dark rain type of weather that we're having. Downer.

Good song though.

--andoy
9 August 2005

Sick Leave

I was absent yesterday. Several times I woke up in the middle of the night, coughing hard because I couldn't breath. And when morning came, my body hurt, I had sore throat, no voice, thick phlegm in my throat. I could have gone to work, but since we'll be very busy the next month or so, I thought, WTF, I'd go on a one-day leave, get some rest, get better, and hopefully don't get a relapse when I go back Wednesday.

Maybe I need to move my things to another location, the airconditioner always goes full blast pointing at my back. And the thick (anorak) jacket doesn't help. I think I'm going to have the flu.

--andoy
3 August 2005

PGMA and SONA

Last Monday, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo delivered her State of the Nation Address (SONA).  It's now Thursday and I still haven't decided what the speech was all about.

On the one hand, I felt it was another pre-emptive strike to keep her in power.  By saying that she is pushing for a constitutional change, she is asking congress to debate on how it is to be done, then have congress cease function and to act as the constituent assembly, and then after the constitutional change, a referendum to accept the changes.  That already takes more than a year, all in all.  A year where she would still be in power.  If Congress decides to push through with her impeachment, then she can also have her people hammer the opposition and stop it altogether.  She is trying to get all the support she can get including a multi-awarded TV and movie director to direct her public appearances, and a political analyst from the academe who wrote portions of her SONA.

She's really working hard at keeping her Presidency.

And the speech itself.  A whole lot of nothing.  No real report on progress and economy.  And no assault on the opposition.  Just a promise for change and the same Ten-point Agenda she had last year.

--andoy
28 July 2005

Lola Trining

My grandmother died last Friday, July 22, at 2:00pm at Bolinao, Pangasinan.  Tatay was there and had been there for the past few weeks.  Mama went there also, to visit, came back to Manila, and then went back to Bolinao last Sunday.  Among us siblings, Raul, Irene and Dong went to Bolinao with Mama for the wake.

She's a small woman.  Always had been, I would imagine.  I was small when I was a kid, but she didn't look any taller even then.  She walked to church every day, went to the market afterwards and walked back home to cook lunch, that's about a kilometer each way, the market being just beside the church.  Up to a few years ago, if there was any community prayer in the barrio, she led the rosary.

Lola was born and grew up in San Fernando, La Union, where she met Lolo Santiago.  After World War II, they lived in Bolinao, Lolo's hometown, where they raised their brood of ten children.  With Tiong Emong, Auntie Ely, and Auntie Rose in Bolinao and Auntie Mila in La Union, all the rest are in Manila.

Lola was laid to rest yesterday, Wednesday July 27.

I was saddened by the news and I wanted to cry.  I felt like crying, but the tears were dry.  There was an emptiness.  I couldn't scream.  I couldn't get angry.  I just felt hollow and empty.

I was on an emotional roller-coaster this past weekend.

--andoy
28 July 2005

another long day

This is another of those nights when I work late waiting for some development while the server is being setup. We are uploading the program to the server and some little things give these big problems. The images don't load, the location is not found, the files are there but not being accessed, the generated text has the wrong address, etc. Small things which makes the program look like a race car with the turbocharger installed backwards. It has all the functionanlities, but these are not showing (i.e. not functional). The old argument goes like this: "it's working on the local machine, and on the local server, and we only need to fix something on the production server. Though we have no idea what that might be."

It's a long process. And to think that I was looking forward to coffee and a relaxing chat before I go home. No go.

Well, that's life.

--andoy
19 July 2005

Politics

There is a political storm brewing and I don't think anyone is thinking properly about how it will affect the country within the next five years or ten years or fifty years.

The long and short of it is that Pres. Arroyo was haunted by intrigues since her run for Senator.  This, however, is not a rant about the past ten years or so.  This is about the past few weeks, so limiting ourselves to the events at hand, she is now reaping the fruits of the intrigues.  She took the offensive by pre-emotive strikes at her opponents and opposition.  She wanted to out-balance whatever plans other people had.  I think that these pre-emptive strikes backfired.  The wire-tapping issue would not have been general knowledge if Malacanang had not divulged to the public that the tapes existed and would be used against the current administration.  This now led ultimately to a muddling of the issues.

Her second pre-emptive strike was when she dissolved the cabinet to make way for reshuffling the bureaucracy.  This backfired because it was widely known that the economic team was resigning, and these cabinet members said so in a press conference after the cabinet secretaries handed their resignation.

Even before, there was already a negative perception about her.  Even if the economy was doing relatively okay, she was perceived to be not doing her job well.  Now with all these things her administration started (to prevent further problems, which created bigger problems) the perception or image has gone further negative.

I want to see this "crisis" end in a constitutional manner.  Because this will be a precedent for future event resolution.  The old models are passe, people power is not a viable alternative any longer because the people are tired, and there is no power anyway.  People Power has become a value meal joke.  You get two jokes for the price of one.

This will be fun.  The old chinese curse comes to mind:  "may you live in interesting times."  It's been too damn interesting for as long as I can remember!  Since before 1972, in fact.

--andoy
15 July 2005

a terminal trick

Forwarded message:

i hope this isnt too far off topic for this group but i thought i
should share this

goto the terminal with an internet connection and type

telnet towel.blinkenlights.nl

then watch star wars episode 4 (the original) in ascii text ;)
have fun
`km

Yuk, what kind of dumb menu system is that? Oh, so that is Windows!

-=0=-

I picked this up on the MacOSX Yahoo groups courtesy of Kris Murray.  Enjoy.

--andoy
15 July 2005

UK TV Licensing

I sent a message to Mark, the host/producer of tartanpodcast (of which I wrote about in an earlier blog). I had a listen to the tartanpodcast #10 and he was ranting about TV licensing.  Me not having gone out of Philippine borders, I told him that I think that TV licensing, as he explained it, was crazy.  And he sent me a link to the UK TV Licensing bureau which explains why in the UK every TV set which receives broadcast has to pay a license fee.

Maybe I'm really from a Third World country, or maybe I just like commercials more than some TV shows, but all along I had this concept that TV viewing was free.  I guess in some countries it does not appear so.  And looking at the PDF document from the TV Licensing bureau, it seems to me that the whole thing was borne out of an outdated concept, whose spirit was lost when it was revised and updated in the 1990's.

Imagine, I buy a car and I need to have it licensed.  That I understand.  I would be using the vehicle on roads made by the government.  I might injure someone and the government has to know who owns the vehicle.  But if I buy a TV, I don't need to pay the government for the use of the ether through which radio signals are being transmitted.  Makes as much sense as licensing windmills for the use of the wind.

--andoy
15 July 2005

Bad Luck!

This is just to ask a stupid question:  may balat ba sa puwet si "Brenda"?

This is not a frivolous question because she is now supporting President Arroyo.  And historically, everytime she supports anyone for President, the guy loses (of course, that includes Her Brain-damagedness.)  She supported President Estrada, and the only truth which came out of her was the famous line:  "I lied."  How many times has she tried to run for President?  I lost count, but I do know how many times she won:  ZERO.  Now she's a stalwart on defense for Pres. Arroyo.  Another thought comes to mind:  With friends like her, who needs enemies?

--andoy
13 July 2005

French Podcasts

I'm downloading episodes of a french podcast, I'm not sure if I can understand any of this but I'll try to have a blast.

--andoy
12 July 2005

The Morning Commute

This morning's commute was kinda weird. The van I was riding sounded different. A different noise is heard from the floor of the van sounding mechanical and appears after the van has revved up a bit, about 5 to 10 KPH. The driver inspected the bottom of the vehicle several times but couldn't see anything outwardly wrong with the vehicle. At some point when the van was running relatively fast, around 40 KPH, the engine's torque would translate to a wiggling of the van's body. We reached Makati safely enough, without any mechanical breakdowns. And once on Paseo de Roxas, the sound totally disappeared.

Personally, I think it may have been the parking brake (hand brake). It may have been disengaged, but still connected in some way.

Nice start to a week.

--andoy
11 July 2005

Lola Trining

Tatay went to Bolinao last Friday. My grandmother, Lola Trining, had asked for her children as she is now very weak. The consensus is that she's on her deathbed and would want to see her family before she leaves. There was some good news when Tatay arrived. Lola was feeling better and showing some strength. By Friday evening, Tatay sent word to Mama that Lola might not make it over the weekend. Mama left for Bolinao last Saturday.

Lola's health has not been good for the past year. A strong and wiry woman, she goes to church and to market every day walking the odd kilometer to the Town Plaza back and forth. And, I guess, if you've been doing that everyday since before World War II, then a slow down is something else altogether.

I've been praying for her.

--andoy
11 July 2005

tartanpodcast

I just started listening to podcasts and one of the first channels I listened to is tartanpodcast which is a podcast from Glasgow, Scotland. I've always enjoyed listening to Scot brogue accents.

I once had a chat with a scot -- at a wake, for crying out loud -- and he did mention that there are differences in accents and that this is so pronounced that it is possible to situate where you are from the accent. It does change from town to town. And is so different sometime that it is possible to live in one town and almost not understand people living in the next town. Imagine this in a country of 5 million people. Contrast this with the Philippines with 83 million, 8 million of which live in Metro Manila.

The podcast I listened to was #15. It included "Twisted Melons" and some other bands. But really, the main reason I wanted to check this out is the accent. Great accent! Here in the Philippines, there is a current impetus to use "American English" and the DJ's brogue is totally different. I worked on a call center before and every so often we had callers from Scotland, and some callers do have very thick accents. I've been entranced with the scottish brogue since I first noticed the difference between American and British accents. And whenever we see a movie with scottish characters, it's fun to emulate them. Well as best I can, along with my son and daughter. I once read some chapters of "Harry Potter" to them in as best an imitation that I can. We were particularly enamored with the Hagrid-type accent. And it would be fair to note that in the movies, the Weasley family talk in different accents. The only accents which are alike are the twins (logically so I would think.)

Even before podcasting, I've been trying to get an internet radio broadcast from Scotland, with no success. The closest I can get are the gaellic mp3's from Ireland. hahaha

Maybe if I can have my own website, I'd try podcasting myself. I would think that I can do this around one hour a day, max. Plus processing and uploading, this could easily translate to about four hours of work. Anyway, that would be something to look forward to, more as an activity for me and the kids.

--andoy
8 July 2005

Old Body

Since we moved to the new apartment, I've been playing basketball with Kenneth on an almost regular basis.  We wake up, or rather my wife wakes us up, at 5:00am, dress up, go across the street to the (covered) basketball court.  We do some stretching.  I sometimes jog around the court to warm up, and we shoot some hoops.  And we go back home by 6:00am.  Normally, we're the only ones using the court at that time.  We played one-on-one the first time we played on the court.  I was in no shape to speak of, whatsoever.  Got myself panting and gasping for air.  I guess I'm in better shape now after almost two months.  But I need to be playing him one-on-one again soon, because if I defer it, he'd be taller than me without anyone noticing.

Played Saturday morning and then again Sunday morning.  Saturday morning, I over extended myself and was several heartbeats away from collapsing.  We had no water bottles with us, so we had to go back home.  Anyway, it was already 6:00am, so it was just in time.

Not being much of a basketball player (I can't even do a decent layup) I give Kenneth drills instead:  "give and go", "pick and roll", shooting drills (free throws, three-pointers, side of the key, quarter-court), kick-out and screens.  Nothing special, just drills he wouldn't be doing if he were just playing three-on-three half-court pickup games.

And now, it's a Monday, and my body hurts.

--andoy
4 July 2005

PP Anniversary by Ergoe

Therefore I Am

Ergoe Tinio wrote this in her blog, about the Pinoy Poets Anniversary gig at Conspiracy. Great poem she had, which was read to a loud round of applause. Now, if I can only find a copy of it...

--andoy
30 June 2005

Pinoy Poets Anniversary at conspiracy

I attended the Pinoy Poets anniversary celebration last night at the Conspiracy Bar at Visayas Ave. It was a raucous affair with poetry readings, songs and an open mic (for poems). Sadly, I had to leave early, just past 10:00pm. A whole lot of the people I've met in the GA's were there: Jheric, Jeff, Rhodge, Rommel, Medel, Kiko, Kramer, Jonar, Rosvie, Dave, Andrea, Van, Ergoe, Kath, Emong, Steph, Mitz, Edz, Kai, Ani, Nanoy, Jojo, Claire and some new members and new faces which included Anavi and Bambina.

Steph already posted on her blog how the evening went.

Was just happy to have been there. It was great.

--andoy
29 June 2005

INSIDE PCIJ: Stories behind our stories

INSIDE PCIJ: Stories behind our stories: "INSIDE PCIJ: Stories behind our stories"

This is a great blog. Written by news reporters telling stories behind the headlines.

--andoy
23 June 2005

Ambigram: Literati

An ambigram is a design or lettering which is legible both ways. Both ways meaning it can be read right-side up and upside down. And there are some ambigrams which are legible from both sides of a glass door, for instance.

I saw an ambigram this morning and of all places it was near the Loyola Memorial Park in Marikina. It read "literati". At first glance, you'd think it was just a different design. But upon closer inspection, you'd see that it is an ambigram.

If only I had a camera. Damn!

--andoy
22 June 2005

Ryan Cayabyab's commencement speech at UP

This was forwarded to me.

-=0=-

In case ( unlikely) this has not reached you yet--I heard it has created quire a stir...

Enjoy it , including ( in your imagination ) the full-blown-orchestra-and-chorale-backed rendition of a tribute to UP (an original composition) at the end.

How many among us would ever have a dream assignment like this? But we can all relate to his touching reminiscences ( the DDT chase is very real to me...I do recall the enchantment with the cloud-like fume... which explains--so that was it !-- my crazy tinge). And a consuelo de bobo to know he is an Accounting dropout.

O, pa'no...sige.

-=0=-

"Pitong bagay sa buhay na natutunan ko sa U.P."
by PROF. RYAN CAYABYAB

Commencement speech given on April 24, 2005 before the Class of 2005, UP Diliman, Quezon City

Maraming salamat po, magandang hapon po sa inyong lahat. UP President Emerlinda Roman, former presidents Jose Abueva and Noel Soriano, UP Diliman Chancellor Dr. Sergio Cao, the Board of Regents, U.P. faculty and administrative staff, co-professors from the College of Music, classmates from UP High 1970, fellow alumni, graduates, and friends:

Malugod kong binabati kayong mga nagsisipagtapos ngayong taong 2005. Isang karangalan ang pagtayo ko dito upang maghatid ng isang talumpati para sa inyo. Huwag kayong mag-alala, maiksi lamang ang aking sasabihin.

Kinikilala kong ako ay isang mamamayan ng UP. Unang nasilayan ng aking mga mata ang sinag ng araw sa Area 1, UP Campus, sa may likuran ng Infirmary, kung saan din nanirahan sina Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero, si NVM Gonzales, si Jovita Fuentes, si Jose Maceda, at ang mga Lansang, mga Manalang, mga Daza, Cailao, Lesaca, Estrada at marami pang ibang mga pioneering faculty members ng UP Diliman.

Ang nanay ko ay nagturo sa UP College of Music. Apat kaming magkakapatid na lumaki sa sariwang
hangin ng Area 1, nanghuhuli ng tutubi at kuliglig sa araw, kulisap naman sa gabi. Diyes ang Coca-cola, singko ang Cosmos. Minsan sa isa o makalawang linggo, may dumaraang truck ng DDT (Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) na nag-bubuga ng makapal na usok pampatay ng lamok na nagdudulot ng malaria. Lahat ng bata sa Area 1, at sa buong campus ay sinasalubong itong truck, at kung kaya lang naming magsiawit ng Haleluya noon ay ginawa na namin dahil para kami lahat nasa ulap, nagtatakbuhan, hinahabol at nilalanghap ang maputi at mabangong usok ng DDT truck. Napakasaya namin. Walang nagsabi sa amin na hindi lamang lamok ang pinapatay ng DDT. Ngayong malalaki na kami at nagbibiruan ang aming egroup na Area 1, napagkasunduan namin na dahil sa DDT na yan, bawat isa sa amin ay may bahid ng kabaliwan, depende sa dami ng nalanghap na DDT.

Marami kaming laro noon sa Area 1 "patintero, tumbang preso, siyato, lastiko, gagamba, luksong tinik, step-no, habulan, taguan, teks at holen, na sa palagay ko ay sasabihin ninyong napakalow-tech kumpara sa mga laro ninyo nung kayo ây mga bata. Meron kaming mga sikretong tawagan, sipol at huni. Ang dami kong nais ikuwento tungkol sa aking pagkabata ngunit mauubos ang ating oras.

Nag-aral ako sa UP Elementary School at sa UP High School. Matagal na panahon ding diyes lamang ang bayad sa IKOT.

Saan pa ba ako magkokolehiyo kundi sa UP rin. Una akong pumasok bilang accounting major sa UP College of Business Administration. Sa kabutihang palad, nauntog ako at na-realize ko na ako ay hindi pala maalam sa pagbibilang ng pera.

Tinanggap ako at lumipat sa UP College of Music bilang isang piano major. Nauntog na naman ako at natanto ko na ako ay nagpapanggap lamang na isang Cecil Licad. Mabuti naman at tinanggap ako ng Department of Composition and Theory. Sa maniwala kayo ât hindi, tinapos ko itong kurso, Bachelor of Music Major in Composition "summa" suma-sampong taon bago ko nakuha ang aking diploma. Aba! Naniwala pa sila sa akin at kinuha akong guro. Dito ko nakilala ang isa kong estudiyanteng napakaganda na una kong naging barkada sa kainan at kantahan, nauwi rin sa simbahan. Halos dalawampung taon din ako nagturo sa UP College of Music.

Wala pang tatlong taon na ako ay nagbitiw bilang isang assistant professor; akala ko ây doon na ang katapusan ng aking koneksyon sa UP. Hindi pala, dahil ngayon ang aking panganay ay kasalukuyang isang university scholar sa College of Music.

Mababaw at maikling kasaysayan lamang ito. Gayon pa man, kasaysayan pa rin. Para sa akin, napakahalaga ng aking nakalipas at ito ay lagi kong babalik-balikan. Habang ako ay papalayo ng papalayo sa aking pinanggalingan, palalim nang palalim ang mga ugat na aking tinatanim, sinisiguro ko lamang na hindi ako maitutumba ng kahit ano mang malakas na bagyo o delubyo na sa buhay ko ay sasapit.

Ngayon, nakita nyo kung bakit napaka-halaga ng UP sa aking buhay, sana ay maging sa inyo rin. Kahit hindi nyo na nasisilayan ang oblation, at hindi na naririnig ang karilyon, nawa ây nasa puso at isipan lagi ang paaralang kumupkop at nagpalawak ng isip ng bawat isa sa inyo.

Naituro na lahat ng maituturo sa inyo ng inyong mga guro. Alam naman natin na ang bawat isa sa atin ay may natatanging angking galing. Walang halaga ito kung hindi ninyo gagamitin para sa ikabubuti at ikauunlad ng inyong komunidad, ng inyong pamilya at ng buong sambayanan. Itanghal ninyo ang inyong pagiging Pilipino na nag-aral sa U.P. kahit saan kayo mapadpad.

Meron lang akong dagdag na pabaon sa inyo para lalong di nyo malimutan, ang UP nating mahal. Ito ang pitong mga bagay-bagay tungkol sa buhay na natutunan ko sa U.P.:

1. Ang buhay ay parang IKOT jeep. Ang iyong patutunguhan ay siya ring iyong pinanggalingan.

2. U.P. lang ang may TOKI, sa buhay wala nito. Pero nasasaiyo na yon kung nais mong pabaligtad ang takbo ng buhay mo.

3. Sa IKOT, puede kang magkamali ng baba kahit ilang beses, sasakay ka lang uli. Sa buhay, kapag paikot-ikot ka na at laging mali pa rin ang iyong baba, naku, may sayad ka.

4. Sa U.P., lahat tayo magaling. Aminin nating lahat na tayo ây magagaling. Ang problema dun, lahat tayo magaling!

5. Kung sa U.P. ay sipsip ka na, siguradong paglabas mo, sipsip ka pa rin.

6. Sa U.P., tulad sa buhay, ang babae at ang lalake, at lahat ng nasa gitna, ay patas, walang pinagkaiba sa dunong, sa talino, sa pagmamalasakit, sa kalawakan ng isipan, sa pag-iibigan; at kahit na rin sa kabaliwan, sa kalokohan at sa katarantaduhan.

At ang panghuli:

7. Sa U.P. tulad sa buhay, bawal ang overstaying.

Maraming salamat po!

Mayroon pa akong isang huling pabaon, galing sa puso ko - para rin sa mga puso ninyo, ito ang napili kong paraan upang maisalarawan ang tema ngayong hapon: "Angking Galing Para sa Sambayanan." Ito ay isang awiting nilikha ko at ng aking kaklase sa high school na nagtapos din ng kolehiyo sa U.P., aking musika sa titik ni Ome Candazo, sa tulong ng mga kaibigan ko sa San Miguel Master Chorale at San Miguel Philharmonic Orchestra na pawang mga alumni ng U.P.

Hala ginawang concert ang speech!

GO UP!!!