COVERAGE ::: The Lonely Mountain (Conclusion)

We were now on a narrow road that lead to Legazpi City. It was dark all around as Reming had knocked down everything in it's path. I saw a sign that told me we were now in Camalig, one of the severely affected towns. The amount of damage swayed conversation through various degrees of disbelief. Large mounds of earth had been shoveled to the sides, abandoned houses with their roofs blown and windows torn, downed electricity posts and trees, and empty streets.

Now, the windows were down because our driver wanted some fresh air and it had gotten rather chilly with the A/C on. As we surveyed the ghost town that was Camalig, we passed an area that smelled so bad and so we had to roll the windows back up as quick as we could. Then I noticed some men with surgical masks and gloves on. I told the guys that it must be where they were still digging up those carried off by floodwaters. Several white wooden crosses were also found on the side of the road not far from them.

COVERAGE ::: The Lonely Mountain

When I got word that they were bringing along a writer for the "Malacañang to Bicol Mercy Mission", I knew I was the one going. Seriously. I'm 99% predisposed for assignments to far-off places so I wasted no time and signed on for it. The remainder of that Monday afternoon (and evening) was spent packing and unpacking.

The following morning, at the rendezvous, I found out our destination was Legazpi City, 577 kilometers south of Manila and, based on Kuya Cesar's last trip there, a 14-hour drive. Obviously, I've never been to Bicolandia and seeing Mayon Volcano with my own eyes would be akin to demystifying something abstract. I mean it's something you're told about year in and year out since starting school but you don't really grasp it. At least, that's how it was for me.

Anyway, we rolled out at around 11 am on Tuesday morning after a brief send off/photo op with the President and the news media. You all know they go: photographers are wolves and cameramen are bears, somewhere in the middle of the mess is your tiny head of state trying to give a speech. But hey, it's her circus.

By 11:30 am, we were plying SLEX, speeding ahead and darting in and out of lanes so Mr. Photographer can take photos of the caravan en route to Bicol. This can be a little bit nauseating because just as I got adjusted to the speed, the car would slow down to park on the side of the road.

We made a stop at Atimonan, Quezon to take one last group photo with the baby blue waters of the Philippine Sea as our background. It reminded me of the highway to Ilocos. Really nice. Unfortunately, we weren't even halfway to our destination so we continued on as the sun was hurrying to set.

RIGHT BRAIN ::: Break Out that Wham! Classic

The title just means I'm hearing "Last Christmas" more often than what is mentally healthy. I'm not kidding. People in this country love that song. Anytime it's a "lost love" kind of thing, it sticks in society's psyche...just like ol' Yorgos' sissy dance. Ah, weeell.

This office is like Amazon.com's fulfillment house right now. You walk in and it's wall-to-wall Christmas giveaways, things my fellow employees could only wish would trickle to them. There's a stack of DVD players, a TV set, iPods, a couple of desktop computers, Christmas baskets of imported stuff, and a refrigerator. Now, imagine yourself trying to come up with an article at your desk somewhere in the midst of all that. Pretty insane but that's the price of "keeping good relations" with the freeloaders. Ye know who y'are, y'extortionists.

I finally heard Window in the Skies and I think their Sgt. Pepper collab with Macca did rub off after all. I'm not too fond of this song. Maybe that's the reason why I haven't picked up the new product. Or maybe I'm just making it easy for anyone thinking of getting me something for Christmas.

Speaking of joint projects, I was pleasantly surprised to learn about they're nominations for next year's Grammys. I wasn't expecting that they'd be up for Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals for One with Mary J and Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal for The Saints Are Coming with Greenday. Very nice! High five! I mean, usually, after an album gets released, U2 will make two Grammy appearances and disappear for a couple of years. Well, except for Bono who would come to a show to present and flaunt a new 'do. But he would rarely be a nominee, right? I don't think they'll attend anyway.

I hope that everyone going to see them tomorrow will have a great time. Man, you people suck.

Post-grind Movie Night

Yesterday morning at work, my co-writer offered me invites to a movie premiere (of which our company was one of the sponsors) that evening and I accepted. That's nothing to fuss about, I know, but I normally would've declined them since I'm not keen on going anywhere else but home after a long 10-hour work day...unless, of course, I were off the next morning. (I really gotta ease up on these long sentences!)

So a little after 7 pm, Bacolod Chicken (another co-worker) and I hopped on a cab for Greenbelt 3 to see the Russell Crowe-Ridley Scott movie "A Good Year".

Traffic was surprisingly moderate on that full-moonlit night (heh!) and we got to G3 after about half an hour. It was also a great plus that there weren't many people strolling or hanging around. Maybe it was still early? Anyhow, I've come to expect Russell Crowe movies to be either epic or cerebral dramas. This was neither and, boy, was I glad.
Most of the story takes place in Provence, you know, with rolling meadows, vineyards, rustic estate, and yellow-orangey hues all around. Think "Under the Tuscan Sun" from 2003 except Tuscany's in Italy. You get the idea.
Nobody can deny that Russell Crowe is a serious actor, the guy knows what he's doing. But we rarely see him making a fool himself in character. Here in this movie, he falls, he's messy, he says funny lines.

He's not the only actor to delight in this movie. They've got Albert Finney and Freddie Highmore. Yes, the Brits are well accounted for. And then there's the actor who plays Duflot, the French steward of the vineyard. You'll love him in a William H. Macy type of way. He looks like Vincent D'Onofrio though.

Okay, that's all I've to say for now. Hope everyone's enjoying all thing's Christmassy but never forget that its first six letters are what counts.

RIGHT BRAIN ::: Polling Time

TIME magazine's annual poll is back up. I've been on the lookout for this the past couple of days and didn't realize it's been right under my nose for a week now. In any case, I still find myself doing a doubletake on this list.

WARHOL ::: Don't Be Hatin'

There was a contest on the MTV Mobbed (TV program commissioned by Motorola) blogs a couple of weeks ago for best response to the topic "Tell us the ONE thing you love most about your country and why." Well, guess what? I won. Below is the post.

The happy people. Ask any expat who keeps coming back to the Philippines and you'll get this answer. Filipinos are fun, creative, laid back, loving, happy and VJ Max knows this first hand.

Happiness. It's the one thing that sets us apart from the rest. It's not that we're blissfully lumbering around like deadbeats while the rest of us starve. It's mainly because Filipinos have a unique way of looking at life that makes it stress-free.

We know how to have fun regardless of how little we have. Sure, we're lagging in economics but we do our best every day to get better. What feeds this resiliency is our inate love for life. We take things one day at a time. Being happy demonstrates what Filipinos value most--over financial statistics, GDP, gratuitous flak from other national leaders...heck, even natural calamities. Where else can you see a woman smiling at the news cameras as she was being carried out from her house that was washed away by flood? Certainly not in New Orleans.

That last part was not a dis, OK? Just an illustration of the contrasts.

So they're supposed to give me any cd of my choice as prize but how're they gonna do that when they haven't contacted me yet? I was thinking I should make it a little more challenging for their lazy asses. Any ideas?

Some Things Money CAN Buy

Warning: Pompous ranting below

By this time, I've resigned to the fact that I will NEVER see the Vertigo Tour. To say that the odds are stacked high against me is an understatement. And so I will relish the remaining dates of this tour by reading about the setlists and viewing concert photos taken by lucky ducks whom I sincerely hope are true fans who know their U2. It would be utterly painful to find out they just happened to think it was the cool thing to do on a lazy night.

Given my lack of fundage, I shall therefore resort to concert DVDs of the best band in the world for the remainder of the year. A few are ripe for picking at the local Tower Records:

• Zoo TV Live From Sydney
• Elevation 2001 Live From Boston
• Vertigo 2005 Live From Chicago
• and the upcoming limted edition deluxe CD/DVD U218 which drops Monday, November 20.

You can guess where my Christmas money will be going.

P.S. It seems I won last Topic of the Week. Thanks! As for the prize, this entry gives a little more than a nudge-wink. HAHA!

SHRINK RAP ::: Lighting a Fuse

Sixteen years ago today, I got sent out of my PE class permanently due to "excessive absences". I'd like to state, however, that it was more of a chronic mix-up in scheduling. You see, the teacher was always away on a sports meet and you wouldn't know if he would show up or not unless you waited in the gym for the duration of the class. But I had other important things to busy myself with aside than playing his little guessing game.

The rest of the day went on but I don't remember feeling much else other than fear--that sick-to-your-stomach kind of dread that leads to anxiety attacks. As I walked home, I replayed the scene over and over in my head until I reached the general vicinity of my house. Libay saw me approaching and blurted at me (with such disregard for tact that is a Tanzang Luma trademark) that Lola Delang had passed away. I felt a vacuum in my gut.

She had been ailing for months with multiple complications. At night, we would hear her calling out names of her dead relatives and wailing like a child. We knew the worst would come sooner. I just didn't expect two blows in one day.

When I got home, I remember people being calm and speaking in hushed voices. A few had tears in their eyes. I didn't intend to tell them the latest reason why I thought PE was pointless.

U2 ::: Domo Arigato For No Domo

PulsePH has a contest running for a chance to see U2 in Japan at the end of the month. Yeah, I know what you're gonna say. I should cut yapping and do everything I can to bag the prize. After all, what's downloading all four U2 ringtones over and over again for the next five days to rack up points (and drain my already limited budget) if it'll get me to the promised land?

According to the rules, you've gotta have a valid passport (check) and Japanese visa (uh-oh) because I think the way they'll let you know you won is ambush you like in MTV FANatic. "Surprise! You're gonna see U2 live...tonight! Except it's gonna be in another country and you have to be authorized to enter that country and if you're not right this second well tough luck 'cause you forfeit the prize and we save sponsorship budget. Hehe! Thanks for joining!"

I am totally insane.

I learned about this just yesterday and til this second I haven't gotten one entry (one download equals one entry). So what I'll do is wait til they announce the winner and then harrass that person to irreversible paranoia because they know squat about U2's music. Start praying it won't be you, stupid poser from MTV Asia!

Hmm. This actually sounds like a very good and satisfying plan.

RIGHT BRAIN ::: Where Have You Been?

Once in a while, people would ask in rhetoric what would've become of the Philippines had the Americans not relinquished possession of these islands. I think the following can be one of the possible answers.

Kuya Boy (a.k.a. Uncle Victor from Seattle) is quite a character and I think he knows it. Some nights ago, he kept us up til 3 am as he waxed quite affectively on his youth. It won't take you long to guess how many times he's told this story. His prose is the stuff of low budget TV-movie dramedies, the kind you encounter on HBO Asia in slow afternoon blocks. Of course, if you ask most of our older relatives who were actually there, it's a dragedy. Hey, that sounds like "tragedy" if you have a stuffy nose. But I digress as usual.

He sniffed and chuckled for five or so hours as he recalled his teenage years. Their poverty and the responsibility of being the eldest child formed a major part of his struggles.

After graduating highschool, he held various blue collar jobs to help the family. One day, while on a visit to the general vicinity of Sangley Point (old US Navy base in Cavite) with a childhood friend, a group of American sailors (Navy servicemen) in a bar caught his attention. The sailors were, not unusually, cavorting with some local women while displaying a most whacked-out way of downing beer. Impressed by such carefree demeanor, he told his friend that that was the life he wanted to have. He wanted to be a sailor. (Might I mention that Kuya Boy gushed like a man who just hit pay dirt as he related this part of his story) He wasted no time in signing up for the qualifying exam.

The written test was a breeze but he encountered a hitch in the physical due to the fact that he was flat-footed. Disheartened, he pleaded with the Navy medical officer to reconsider because this was his family's only chance of a better life. The officer was moved by the sight of a skinny 18-year-old weeping and begging to join the most powerful maritime force to ever sail the planet. Soon, Kuya Boy was no longer flat-footed and blissfully proceeded with the rest of the physical exam.

A few months passed and he received his order to report to Sangley Point as one of the newest recruits of the United States Navy. When he got there, he recognized a few hometown boys with whom he will form lasting friendships. There they were, young, impressionable, provincial kids who were about to devote not only their formative teenage years but also the rest of their lives protecting (and worshiping) everything American. They were the proverbial plaster to be cast in the American mold.

They soon boarded a ship which took them to San Francisco. It was early 1964 when Kuya Boy and his mates disembarked and soon received formal training to launch what would be a three-decade-long career in the US Navy.

He wouldn't return to the Philippines until five years later to find his wife in the person of Amor Ordoñez from Bayan Luma, also in Imus. They made their home in Oxnard, California and later moved to Waialua, Hawaii sometime in the 70s. After raising four kids (all of whom, with the exception of Abigail, knew absolutely nothing about their parents' homeland) Kuya Boy brought his family to Seattle in the late 80s where they have achieved much success as real estate agents.

From all indications, Kuya Boy's life in America has been comfortably middle class Republican. I've never confirmed this but his devotion to the stars and stripes speaks GOP. You guessed it, he has become your typical freedom fries American. It's too obvious in his point of view, logic, expressions, even in his wardrobe and bathing habits.

I hope he doesn't take the 5 bucks back if he ever reads this.

Just ONE Thing?

(This is my entry for the Topic of the Week which asks for one thing you like about your country)

The happy people. Ask any expat who keeps coming back to the Philippines and you'll get this answer. Filipinos are fun, creative, laid back, loving, happy. Just ask VJ Max, he knows this first hand.

Happiness. It's the one thing that sets us apart from the rest. It's not that we're blissfully lumbering around like deadbeats while the rest of us starve. It's mainly because Filipinos have a unique way of looking at life that makes it stress-free.

We know how to have fun regardless of how little we have. Sure, we're lagging in economics but we do our best every day to get better. What feeds this resiliency is our inate love for life. We take things one day at a time. Being happy demonstrates what Filipinos value most--over financial statistics, GDP, gratuitous flak from other national leaders...heck, even natural calamities. Where else can you see a woman smiling at the news cameras as she was being carried out from her house that was washed away by flood? Certainly not in New Orleans.

FLAK ::: Do They Teach "Excess" at Stanford?

I am now leaning further towards the belief that BLOGGER BETA IS A VERY EVIL IDEA. Seriously, how many times does a user need to log in to do anything? For posting a comment, it's preferable to log in. I say no problem! I type, I click, I wait. Uh-oh. I'm using blogger beta! Now, I gotta use my gmail log in! So just like any information technology muppet, I go and do just that. I wait again in the hopes of getting the comment box. It instead takes me to my dashboard! What the heck am I supposed to do with that?! Are they kidding me? All I wanted to do was leave a frikin' comment? What part of that did they miss? Geezuz, I thought I knew English!

Note to Sergei and Larry: lay off the start-ups!

Get. Me. Outtahere.

The boss is in-love with herself.

This will be the last is yet another time I'm going to talk about my frustration at the workplace. I just need to vent so forgive me for being incoherent.

OK. So I scheduled to take-off for a couple of days this week for some personal errands. I did that one full week ahead, as per procedure--'cause they're such control freaks.

On my way to the city this morning, I get a text message from my boss asking if I was finished with the editorial she asked me to write Thursday last week. I replied and said, "Yep, it's in your inbox" or something like that anyway. She then said for me to email it to another addy because the mail server at work was down. Since the file is on my work computer, I just asked a co-worker to retrieve the file and give it to the boss. All seemed well after that.

Moments later I get another text message from her asking about the CDs containing photos we'll be using for a joint production with ABS-CBN. She wanted to know if I'd already returned it to our Creatives unit. This is what I said: "No because we haven't picked any photos yet, remember?" Her reply demonstrated just how inconsistent and out-of-touch she is with the people she oversees. She said, "Next time, before you go on leave, make sure you don't have any loose ends."

I almost cried from the intense emotion that overtook me seconds after I read her dis. I could not believe she would be so irresponsible with her words. You probably think I'm overreacting but trust me, it's a loaded statement, coming from her. She likes to devalue people when it comes to work ethics. And nothing gets to me more than that because I make sure that whatever job I hold, I give it a hundred percent. Nobody can accuse me of negligence.

What made me upset in the first place was her telling me off like the condescending miss goody two shoes she is. Doesn't she know how I'm the only one who can stand her self-righteous ass? Doesn't she know that 99% of her staff (me included) has been thinking about leaving the company for a long time now because of her?

So I sent another message telling her that that's exactly why I put the CD on my drawer instead of returning it to the creatives. I knew she would ask for it today, Monday! Because she's always complaining to me how she's overworked, spread too thin, and always besieged by our head's orders one on top of the other, I choose to hold off on telling her certain things that can wait until she asks for them! I thought I was actually doing her a favor because I know she gets irritated by constant follow ups. Turns out she has no grip on her real psyche.

It's a good thing I have a co-worker who shares my frustration. He's always getting unnecessary crap from her, too. All her subordinates do. I wonder if she ever thinks about how pathetic her management style (or lack thereof) really is. Has she ever asked why her people don't meet her standards?

The thing is my boss is that way because it's exactly how her superiors treat her, too. She (in)advertently spins the vicious cycle with us. But if she's any good, she shouldn't. She can't tell the difference obviously.

It's a Beautiful Daaaate!

This is too easy. If I post on this week's topic, would it get me that date? Too doubtful. So I'll share my bit anyway.

I know I've dreamed about dating celebs when I was a kid. Johnny Depp at 9, Jordan Knight at 12, and Michael Jackson, from 13 to 20. No kidding. I loved MJ in all my teenage fan capacity. Oh, I almost forgot, Darren Hayes, too. Apparently, I'm drawn to dark-haired men. ;-)

But right now, if there is one celebrity I really want to date, it's gotta be Bono and for countless reasons.

He's intelligent, wity, articulate, poetic, has a sexy Irish accent, and concerned about humanity PLUS sings lead for the greatest band in the world right now. That alone takes care of the dead air over dinner.

But after wining and dining at Mario Batali's Babbo restaurant at Greenwich Village, the B-man flies me to Lesotho in Africa to get to know the people behind Edun clothes. We thank them for their talent and courage to keep the faith. Then it's off to Dublin to meet with the rest of the U2 boys. Adam and I exchange experiences on spending birthdays on Friday the 13th (we share a birthday) and they treat me to a live performance of "One" and "Where The Streets Have No Name". Before I leave, the band sign a copy of U2 By U2 for me as souvenir.

We can then drive Bono's Maserati Quattroporte around Hannover Quay where Windmill Lane used to be and end up at The Clarence, the hotel he and Edge own. This will be home for the night which I'll spend uploading hundreds of photos to my Mobbed Blog. Right before I fall asleep, Bono calls up my room and tells me they want me to work for them, U2 Limited. Aww.

How's that for a...beautiful daaaay!!

HBO Saves Cable

These days, I can't get enough of Entourage. Yes, that HBO original series. Have you seen it? It's frickin' awesome. I never really paid any attention to it until last week when I caught the scene where Ari walks into the boardroom and gets humiliated by Terence. It was GOLD! ( Excuse the pun) Tse-tse fly indeed.

We've seen Jeremy Piven here and there (as John Cusack's friend in Serendipity or as that gay-ish Versace store clerk from Rush Hour 2) and he always steals the scene. Always.

Anyway, this show is pretty amazing. Very good writing and exceptional performances from Piven every single episode. No wonder he took home the Emmy.

I can't wait for the new season to start! Oh, and as if I can't love this show enough, they had an episode where they see the Vertigo tour open in San Diego. Priceless.

U2 ::: Entourage (more awful photos)

I completely missed Bono's new Larry King interview. I loathe myself. Especially because I tuned in the whole hour he had Clay Aiken on. Clay Aiken, for pete's sakes! I didn't know Bono was gonna be on, I swear. It wasn't on @U2, wasn't on C's, wasn't on the official site. So where does that leave me? *exhale*

So I was watching another Entourage marathon and one of the episode had the guys attending the "San Diego" show from Vertigo '05. It was awesome. I thought the most they would show of the band was their photo on the tour t-shirt so I was freaked out at the end when they actually included a clip of them performing "City of Blinding Lights".

I feel justified.

U2 ::: Bono Giorgio

When feeling restless on a lazy Sunday afternoon and back-to-back episodes of Entourage still aren't enough to save your day, try Fashion TV. You never know who'll end up on the red carpet clips.

Planning My Weekend

Sabado

0700 Get up and take on human form (Thunder and lighting all over the house as the process takes place.)

0800 Leave for Shangri-la EDSA Plaza Mall (Yes, it takes me an hour to get ready. And I don't even wear make-up!)

0930 Arrive @ Shang, proceed to Starbucks, and look for Rasheed from Arab News (I had a David Sedaris book signed for him so he better meet me with a grande beverage in hand)

1000 Bloggers meeting commences (Here we go again with the whining and blaming everyone else but him/herself)

1200 Lunch @ Green Tomato with Mama and baby bro (Did I mention I'm buying? Either that or Jollibee...as if I needed more saturated fat. "If I so much as look at an apple, I gain weight." - Darren Hayes)

1330 Head home, I guess.

U2 ::: Throw the Dog a Bone

Hee-hee! The @U2 staff are probably the most prolific news organization online today. Are they hiring?

EVENT ::: Right on, Q

Laying off writing about that typhoon on purpose because I know every dang blog from this city has nothing better to talk about right now.

As many of you know, I love U2 like no other...band, commodity, idea, etc. on the planet and one of my favorite sources of reading material on them is C's blog. She just happens to have posted a very thrilling account (you have to be a fan to understand) of that fateful day one week ago. All I gotta say is "ugh! I knoooow, I knnnow!" C, my right eye is still twitching.

OK. Now, on to what I've decided to report.

We went to Mall of Asia yesterday. Sunday, payday weekend, one helluva mistake. But because I'm a thoughtful, generous, patient, all around good sister (who's also in serious need of something, anything, worthy to update this blog with), I took my mother and baby bro to see Q (Boy Kuhol aka other brother) play guitar on stage to a dettached, but otherwise appreciative crowd of geeky Architecture kids. I say that with much endearment, mind you.

But first, I needed money. Finding an online atm machine was extremely difficult because many parts of the city still has no power. What's worse was my own bank had none of theirs running so I had to concede to the transaction fee other banks charge on withdrawals. This is their greed taking over us. It adds up. Banks are evil.

They started at 3 pm and Q's band, called Not to Scale (in case anyone forgets their major), were fifth to go on. I sat through the first four bands playing recent Billboard hits. I notice they're no longer referred to as American Top 40. Lil Casey Kasem must be seething.

Anyway, the groups were all alright, for first-time performers, except for this one group who I believe were only there for lack of anything better to do. Their vocalist slurred and forgot his lines so much he'd make Bono seem obsessive-compulsive. They were quickly and conveniently forgotten seconds after they left the stage.

Q's group were next which was my cue to go on music photographer mode. I've been doing this since '99 and I'd like to think I've learned a few tricks here and there but I doubt if I'll ever turn pro. Digression.

So they plug in, check their mics, amps, instruments, nerves. Check. Their first song was Champagne Supernova (Oasis) and I kind of wondered why they chose that since they had a female vocalist. I think her name is Joyce and I could see from twenty feet away that she was a nervous wreck. Her voice shook a couple of times, the poor kid. She must've been intimidated by the size of the space and crowd watching. Despite her anxiety, the audience loved their number and some were even singing along.

When the first song ended, she rubbed her palms profusely on her hips as they launched into You Oughta Know (Alanis Morissette). This time they'd captured the audience. I could see my brother doing his John Mayer impersonation (yes, Honey, other people LOVE John Mayer, too ;)) jutting his head back and forth as they ad-libbed towards the end of the song.

The audience applauded and cheered and I told Q later that he was clearly lapping up all that attention because he stood on stage to just a few seconds longer than the rest of his band. That monster.

Soon after the last band had performed, it was Barbie Almalbis's turn to really shake things up. I knew she was up next as soon as I saw her drummer from '99. When she appeared, a bunch of us stood up and crowded the foot of the stage to take photos and be like giddy fans. For the first time that afternoon, I didn't feel like dozing off. (Hey, the sea breeze was making it too easy)

Then some dorks/premature geriatrics warming their arses kept howling at us to go back to our seats 'cause we were blocking their view. Are they kidding? This is just about the only rock portion of the show, numbskulls. I guess the idiots had limited their musical entertainment to Sam Milby or any of those Starstruck wannabes who lipsynch through cheesy ballads in mall shows. The organizers had no choice but ask us to sit down, or more like squat. I was losing it so I went back to where my mother, baby brother and Ynah were. By this time, Q had joined us in screaming and squealing at Barbie.

She started her set but the mix was way off. There was just no time for sound check. Besides, it was a free show and she's a superstar so who's complaining?

Throughout her four or five song set, Q and I would be jumping and screaming in between stares from the uninitiated. Thankfully, this behavior was also found in other areas of the floor so we weren't necessarily attracting security people.

This other band played after Barbie but the audience had fizzled out noticeably. It was only wise to award the winners. Q's bandmates had left soon after they played because one of them was ill plus they were convinced they weren't really going to take home any prizes anyway.

Well, they were right, in a sense. They weren't there to accept the 3rd Place award, just Q and did he relish the moment. Boy Kuhol was on top of the world. It didn't matter if it were 3rd or 1st place. All he cared about was getting the acknowledgement and I have to say he does deserve it. Unfortunately, I had run out of batteries so I wasn't able to capture his Grammy practice run. Fortunately, their school made up most of the audience so there were plenty of back ups. I did manage to take photos after loading fresh batteries. See, here's one of the actual award and of Q with his number one fan. Aww. That's Ynah, chief finance officer for the Q wardrobe unit.

We sat around and politely waited for the show to end. However, the last band to perform, Fuse would play a full set (much to our disappointment!) instead of one or two songs. So we chucked our manners and walked out on them. We were starving!

Dinner was at Juanbambu, the "Asian restaurant with kare-kare and sisig in the menu" is how I can sum up their whole deal. It was a good. So good in fact that I paid the bill.

We headed home, tired and burping.

U2 ::: Island Hopping

I haven't posted anything worth my while in an eternity because I've been swamped with other things going on in my 'nutherworld. The good news is I've finally sent the financial dead weight also known as my laptop to the repair guy and will, hopefully, be working tomorrow. If that should come to pass, I'll get to share some photos that have been stewing in various storage devices for a long time.

U2 turns a ripe 30 tomorrow, September 25th, which also happens to be my baby brother's 16th birthday. (:::applause:::) I brag that I have the same birthday as Adam but its no contest with him.

So anyway, I don't know if anyone's ever pointed it out (except for @U2.com's regular calendar blurbs on the front page) that U2's New Orleans performance on Monday night (Tuesday for us) marks their 30th anniversary. I understand how they're probably not putting much emphasis on it since it's just a number but it's also possible that the book and the pre-game show IS the commemoration. I don't know. C, what do you see?

By the way, these guys are such expert business travelers aren't they? London on Friday, Dublin on Saturday, Manhattan on Tuesday--three islands in less than a week. I'd love to know what perks they got.

RIGHT BRAIN ::: En Somera

I like how September seems to be almost over and yet I'm not in a hurry to get it over with. What I'm getting at is I've come to a settlement with myself. I've decided to ease up, stay put, and allow things to fall into place instead of chasing that feather in the wind. Until the next wave then.

Nooooo!!!

Oh please! For heaven's sake, don't tell me you've got work for me to do NOW! It's a half hour til I end the stinkin' work week! Ca-mahn!

U2 ::: Who's That Girl

Allow me to just flat out declare that U2 were denied the credit they deserved for Priscilla Queen of the Desert. Larry plays the part best with his piercing "you have no idea" stare but I think Adam, Bono, and Edge could use a few more episodes of Brini Maxwell.

I like this new addition to the site, photographic points of interest. Something to tide us over while insinuating fan club membership. Great marketing move.

...now wher'd I put that visa?


UPDATE:I hope this gets picked up by the Bono radar. It's not a lot but it is.

RP to push for Suu Kyi release at ASEAN summit

Another Reflection

Well, not exactly although I won't contest that it has seemed that way for the last week or so concerning my blogging frequency.

Went to the MNL Int'l Book Fair yesterday. As usual, so many books, so little cash. Not crowded at all and I love it that way. Afterwards, I thought about going in for a movie at nearby Mall of Asia but seeing how they practiced single screening only, I decided against it. Plus, who're they kidding with those ticket prices?

So I went home just as the mob began pouring in from all entrances. I noticed this Arab family (Pinay yaya in tow) posing in front of the mall as the dad snapped a photo. It somehow gave me a glimpse of what a trip to a mall in Jeddah would be like for our OFWs.

My siblings and I were also under the care of a yaya when we were little. This was back in the early 80s when I only saw my mother in the evenings and my father after every few months or so. Her name was Ping and she was strict but we loved her a lot. She was our playmate, our commander, our nurse.

When I started school, she was the one who dragged me out of bed to get ready. And when the school service came to pick me up, I cried violently and demanded that Ping come with me. I was scared of the other kids.

Countless other nannies have looked after us but, somehow, none of them made a bigger dent in our memory than Ping. We don't remember her reason for leaving because it wasn't dramatic, or even sampal-sabunot-induced, but we certainly have fond memories of how she put up a fight. Watching over three pesky kids was not a job for the frail.

A Diane Lane Afterthought

I just returned from an afternoon at Filinvest Alabang where I caught "Fierce People". The main reason I went to see this severely underpromoted film is Diane Lane, one of my favorite female actors.

Well, since I scarcely had an idea on this movie, save a few blurbs from a year or two ago, I went in there thinking she was the lead character. She's not, Anton Yelchin (kid from "Hearts in Atlantis") is.

Set in the Summer of 1980, Finn (Yelchin) and his mother (DL) move into a rich benefactor's (Donald Sutherland's "Ogden Osborne") estate to rebuild their crack-damaged New York life. Later, Finn wins old man Osborne's affection and soon the latter takes him under his wing much to Bryce's (Osborne's grandson played by Chris Evans) chagrin and extreme, albeit supressed, jealousy.

To keep this entry spoiler-free, I'll move on to talking about other aspects of the film.

Yelchin reminded me a whole lot of a young Crispin Glover. The voice, the gestures. DL gets jumped by a guy again that it's almost like a staple in her movies. But she puts up a good performance enough to forgive last year's Must Love Dogs. And then you have Donald Sutherland who is simply great. It's impossible to fault him. He played his part with equal amounts of authority and pathos you never see on other actors anymore.

As for plot, it was not as engaging as I'd expected. The production design, however, was commendable. They were effective in creating a miserable look and feel vis-a-vis old money.

See this movie if you want to spend 90-plus minutes dissecting the symbolism and discourse. Watch out for the Pinoy extra who plays a Shaman in a few scenes. He speaks Tagalog.

RIGHT BRAIN ::: Finally, the Sun

Because it had been raining forever. The truth is there's nothing special going on in my neck of the woods so I'm on hiatus. Hey, I do try, what do you want from me? Rin, update your blog. Jonas, update your blog. You slackers!

Echoes of Ani DiFranco

I love Gmail. It's got the most efficient spam filtering system on the planet, enought to make me think they're the source of all that crap. Hardly. If there's anyone left out there who still doesn't have a Gmail account, let me know "why" and tell me where I can send you an invite.

Taking my cue from Paris Hilton, I think I was exceptionally proficient today. I finished a couple of lengthy articles all before 4 pm and I bet my employer would probably sigh and remark how I deserve every bit of the minimum wage they call "basic salary"...but we all know they don't give a monkey's, right? Screw the suits.

Don't get me all mixed up. I love writing but it's a challenge to be a PR writer for the government. That's why I hope there are still some folks out there who are independent thinkers, people who refuse to be fooled by the media.

Everybody is looking out for number one, including those who claim to be watchdogs. But they're more like lapdogs. I'm serious. Mass media is a business and the more shock value a story/piece has, the better it sells. Yeah, big surprise there. So I guess what I'm driving at is give both sides of an issue their space in your thoughts. Everyone's got their dark side.

Sick

Yes, just as I'd expected, my weekend was a disgusting mix of snot, fever, cough and cold pills, liquid, some green oil, and sweat. I had the flu and it's never fun.

If you're like me, you enjoy moments of solitude exploring--the city to watch neopolitans spend their selves, nooks and crannies of your house to find long lost things, or just ideas that came to you not too long ago. Well, I did none of that and instead spent three days lying in bed. The only activities I engaged in were wiping my dripping nose, getting up to pee, taking my pills, and changing my clothes. I tried to write in my journal but my head was so heavy it would literally tip backwards by itself. And then the worst thing happened.

The MTV Pilipinas Awards were held at a venue which our company owns and operated. Guess who was there. Yes, Colby. I had expected Max to be the Singapore representative to the show but he cancelled. Had I known Colby would be coming, I'd have dragged myself out of bed, braved the rain and possibly even pneumonia, just to be able to stare at him...from a (safe and lawful, LOL!) distance. And I could have cared less if the entire audience started sneezing and wheezing cause of me just then either. But as always, I only learn about his returns when he's already left.

So anyway, I'm back at the office and working on some article/press release/letter once again. The only good thing about this week is that it's another three-day weekend coming up. Yeah.

U2 ::: Has This Happened Lately?

For this edition of U2ube, I give you our boys (clearly in that helmet hair phase) doing "Out of Control" where Bono ends up taking his shirt off cause the fans kept tugging and pulling at it. One thing you have to conclude--and I admire him for it--is Bono's one of the very few singers out there who's never been afraid of jumping into the crowd. I mean he really just burrows in there unmindful of whether he gets trampled or whatever!

Money's No Abject

This morning, I thought I was coming down with a flu because of this hacking cough so thick my chest hurts each time I get a 'seizure'. I went to work anyway and got myself conveniently late by one minute. My back hurts, too, and I don't know how in the heck I will sit to ease the strain.

Anyhow, it's almost time to go home and I took paracetamol a while ago which sort of makes me feel a little better now. I'd hate to have a case of "Friday Sickness" tomorrow. It worked for me when I was a kid but it's just plain irresponsibility now even under the right reasons.

I can't wait for the PH Mobbers EB to happen. It'll be great to tour the MTV studios at The Fort and probably catch a show afterwards. Maybe we could even witness another of those wannabe celebrity brawls at Embassy next door. Hahaha!!!

Let the Popularity Contest Begin!

First off, how the heck did I get 3,645 views for this blog?? I know for a fact that that's impossible because I don't post as often as paulvincent does whenever a word comes to his mind. (don't worry, dude, I'm voting for you back. thanks.) So my guess is something's wrong with the site's stats program or whatever software the use to monitor traffic. At any rate, that makes no difference to me...

OK. So Mobbed (or "mopt" according to Max) has this new thing where members vote for best blog of the month. By the way, thank you, Fiz, for clearing that up. I remember someone messaged me a few weeks back asking for feedback on the whole thing and I sorta hinted them to pick interesting blog entries. Well, they didn't do that and instead have come up with this Best Blog of the Month voting thing. I'm not complaining though, lest some knucklehead thinks I'm being sarcastic.

Now look, can you see this thing turning into a popularity contest? Alliances, schemes, that sort of thing? Gosh darn before we know it, it's become the Big Brother house! And I can't wait to find out how that unfolds here in the Mobbed arena. Hey, money could even be involved. LOL! Ohhh this is gonna be exciting. The drama, the deception, the intrigue! It's freakin All My Children meets Melrose Place!

OK, so much for the sugar rush. Vote for this blog if you believe in truth, justice, and freedom fries!!

---- P e a c e ----

U2 ::: The Gold Card Club

I picked up the Vertigo 2005 Chicago live DVD at MusicOne and wondered why it didn't have any 'behind the scenes' footage. I later realized I had gotten the jewel box edition and not the double-disc one. The concert was nothing short of amazing, of course. It was Bono's birthday show and so forgetting his lyrics was pardoned. Not that it's anything new. *smirk*

Above is a short film which I had no idea about except that it was probably made in the late 90s. I know I could google it but I'm about to clock out of here so maybe I'll indulge tomorrow. Note that Bono carries a gold card, like any U2 member should. I dunno. Maybe? Oh and I loved how he tells her "Could you...gift wrap it for me?" in that almost whispery soft voice.

BRUSH ::: Thedarith Cometh Hither

I had a great weekend, thank you very much. Last Saturday, I went to Powerbooks Greenbelt (braved the heavy rains) for David Sedaris's book signing. I expected to have a miserable afternoon, too. What with it being a pay day weekend that meant every square foot of the city would be heartily represented.

A few hundred of these turned up at my destination, clutching piles of David's books as if to say "I've been a fan when all these wannabes' parents were still virgins" whereas my two not so mint, inexpensive, handy paperbacks said "I'm glad to meet you, David!" In truth, I have only read Dress Your Family in Corduroy and have been reading nothing but that book for nearly a year now.

From where I stood at the back, I could see Jessica Zafra sitting up front. She had on her trademark cat-eye glasses which, according to her blog, had just been resurrected.

David was very amicable. He reminded me of Woody Allen both when he spoke and with his movements. He wore a white button down shirt with the sleeves rolled up and plaid shorts that revealed his hairy legs.

During the hour-long reading, he shared his musings on this visit and gave the impression that he's enjoyed it so far. He's been to quite a few places I never expected he would be. Lunch at Jollibee a few times, drinks at Hobbit House (he said it was a great idea because it changes perceptions of little people), haircut at Bruno's barbers, roughed it up at Wowowee (!) and lost all his money at a cockfight held in a "sports center". He was pretty convinced he was the only gay person in that arena, too.

He started the reading with a fable involving a cat and a baboon in a salon. Six to Eight Black Men (from Dress Your Family) was chosen because he loved Christmas and that this was our cold period. Whoever told him this must not have done a great job explaining things like climate.

David would read for more than an hour, the lengthiest among his three book signings in this stop. The crowd, a mix of Manila's literati, yuppies, soccer moms (mostly white expats), gay men, artisans, a bald goth girl, and me, laughed hysterically at the right moments and politely at the not-so-funny ones.

They followed it by having David take in questions from the audience. One woman asked if he was planning on moving to the Philippines but, unfortunately, due to David's rambling answer, I forgot what he said.

He took a couple of cigarette breaks in between signing books. Around this time, a youngish white guy arrived and proceeded to the patio where David took a breather. I could only assume it was Hugh since his name was mentioned a couple times in David's answers.

As I sat and waited, I tried to think of a good question to ask him. I even leafed through "Dress" for ideas. Then I thought about complementing his shorts. "I should get my father one like that" or just simply "I love your shorts!" I also thought about asking him to visit this blog and leave a comment just so I can brag about it.

My number was up and I walked over to his table as he greeted me with a sprightly "Hell-o!". Our short conversation went something like this:

D.S.: When you shook my hand, were you admiring this bracelet (name) gave me?

Me: Oh yeah, even from ten feet away!

D.S.: Have you been to Ice Monster?

Me: No. Then again, I'm not that much into cold snacks.

D.S.: But do you go to Jollibee?

Me: Yeah. Everybody goes to Jollibee. Especially in desperate times.

D.S.: Well, Jollibee is service with a smile! Now is it Jollibee or Jollibees?

Me: It's singular.

D.S.: OK. Now, (my name), do you have a yaya?

Me: No. (The question surprised me.)

D.S.: But do you have a driver? See, I'm trying to piece it together. If you have a super yaya then you'd have a driver. Right?

Me: Right. It follows. Hey, do you go online? (I decided I wanted to get him to comment on this blog.)

D.S.: No. I've only been on the internet a total of four times and I can never get into it. I used my friend's internet and he showed me how but I could never get the hang of it. (So much for premium advertising.)

Me: Well, you're not missing much. See ya!

It was nothing out of the ordinary. I had thought I was going to act like a raging fan but I'm just not that type of person and I'm glad about that. David Sedaris was exactly the perceptive, witty, and accommodating human being I thought he would be. Americans can rest easy.

RIGHT BRAIN ::: Sedaris is Coming

I don't need to remind anyone how freakingly awesome this will be. I mean, I LOVE David Sedaris! This was just too impossible...more so than a U2 concert in Manila. (I'll leave the Pussycat Dolls and Black Eyed Peas to you frivolous conio kids. I won't be caught dead in that kind of money pit.)

Seriously, this is just too amazing. *screams*

RIGHT BRAIN ::: GOCC Volunteering

Behold every corporate drone's worst nightmare. You know, I was told the pay was bad but did they have to put it in black and white like this?

How does your payday weekend look like? I hope you guys out there get to, at least, settle some bills. And for my credit card company, call back much later.

RIGHT BRAIN ::: Water Whirled

When I left the house for work yesterday, it was windy but not raining. Minutes later, near Ramon Revilla's walls (I say this because no one I know has ever seen the house/mansion, just white-washed walls) was when the rain poured down hard like it was going to punch holes through the roof of the vehicle I was in.

As we advanced towards the city, certain parts of the highway would be heavily drenched while others were just damp. The winds along Coastal Road were particularly scary because it was wide open on either side of the highway and the vehicle's height would make it easy to get toppled.

I got off at near Pedro Gil and saw how tall crashing waves licked the tops of the coconut trees along Baywalk. No rain though, just strong gusts of wind.

Walking to our building around the corner was like walking on ice. My shoes didn't exactly grip the wet pavement friction so I found myself tip-toeing in certain areas.

When I got to the office, I got a full view of just how bad it was.

Yesterday morning


Yesterday afternoon

Later that day, at around 2 o'clock, chismis went around that work was going to be suspended for the rest of the day. It turns out Malacañang had already ordered the suspension sometime during lunch hour, effective 12:01 PM in fact. They didn't tell us until it was almost 3 PM. It didn't matter though because the whole dang office was cleared less than 15 minutes after it was announced on the PA system.

I didn't get to leave until past 4 o'clock because I had some stuff to finish which were due for release the next morning. On the jeepney ride along MH Del Pilar, I thought things were a bit disappointing because there was neither drizzle nor flood.

Then I got to Pasay and that's when the misery started. It's as if Manila was the sanctuary and you were on your own against the elements when you cross its boundaries.

Anyway, the sky finally let loose, unloading on scurrying yokels on Harrison and Buendia. You almost felt sorry for these people. They're so used to discomfort that it's become a leisure activity. The rain just kept pouring down for an eternity.

Under the Roxas-EDSA flyover, I could see there was no way to stay dry. The jeepney stopped at a precarious spot and I hurried to the exit. These drivers get furious when they're unloading out of place. As if my life couldn't get any worse, the whole area was a river! I hopped off the estribo and into floodwater. Goodbye, cheap shoes.

I quickly skipped to where the Imus jeepneys made their U-turn and waited with the rest of the stranded folks. Again, more wind.

Two college students--from the nearby school I had attended--swaggered around laughing.

Girl 1: Parang gusto ko dun sa kabila.
Girl 2: Bakit?
Girl 1: Parang mas maganda ang tayo nila don.

The opposite side of the U-turn drive also had people waiting and looked like they were posing for a photo.

After fifteen minutes a jeepney came and folks swarmed it as soon as the barker yelled it's destination. I climbed up to the front seat knowing full well that I was going to be smudged with rain and dust when we hit the high road. Didn't care. Must get home.

Sure enough, my extremities were soaking wet minutes after we sped off. I tried propping up my umbrella to try and shield myself but it was useless, I knew it. What with it being too darn small and the metal ribs were bent out of place. I just resigned myself to the fact that I was on the final stretch home and water in my face was just a small hitch. Wouldn't you know it, when I got to Imus it had stopped raining.

I walked leisurely to our house, looked up, and wondered about the dark cloud hovering above. Seconds after, it rained and water seeped through parts of our house as if to say "Guess again, fooh!"

U2 ::: Bono in the Sky with Diamonds

Haha! This is probably from their groovy sixties phase which Conan forgot to cite back in October. Or maybe he planned to until the U2 people threatened to cancel the appearance.

"Life on a distant planet..."

I'm Not Going to Jail!!

Sorry if I startled you with that title. It's just funny how things in my life turn from corner to corner. No, I've not committed a felony. Not yet anyway. Kidding. Whutevur.

But check out the new celebrity Got Milk endorser!

We took my sister to the airport early Monday morning. She was leaving for Jeddah and that being the first time anyone in my family was going abroad for a lengthy period (years), I was a little emotional.

It was funny because in the days prior to her departure, my mother was being all depressed and joked that she wouldn't come with us to the airport. My father was also feeling down but he didn't tell anyone but my mother. I chastised them for their attitude. I told them to change the way they saw the whole situation and that their being depressed would only cause concern for my sister.

Well, there we were saying goodbye and guess who had the bloated eyelids? Yep. This one here.

I tried my best to act cool about it, even taking photos of everyone there to distract myself. Still, seeing my sister walk through the airport entrance pushing her cart with her box and suitcase...was heartbreaking.

In the car on the way home, I couldn't control my tears anymore. I wasn't sobbing or anything, just soaking a piece of cloth with my eyes. What made it worse is I had work later that day and I couldn't think of a good excuse for my eyes.

I've recovered pretty quickly through. I didn't think I would be able to go to work at all but I managed to. My sister now has a job there and, from my mom's text, was able to finally call home and talk to them.

So as you can see, ladies and gentlemen, I'm a sensitive soul though I seem thick-skinned. Thank you, Pumbaa, for that timeless quote from The Lion King.

U2 ::: Hewson Associates, LLC

(Three days and a narrow escape later) I know I said "later today" but I didn't mean in Earth years.

I had no idea that there's a new lobbying firm around. What are these guys saying? That they want Bono to bite the hand that feeds him? Sure, the man's got heart but you can't expect him to become a saint overnight.

Of course, I'd love nothing more than for these greedy corporate types to be stripped of their, well, greediness. But as Bono said himself, "Compromise, it's not a dirty word." We can, therefore, say (or theorize) that he won't touch on this copy protection issue. It's just like when the band chastised him for meeting with Dubya. Being Bono is tough alright and I admire him for picking his battles.

In other developments...

I wonder how things will be come Sunday at the Franco-Italian border. Bastille Day is July 14 so if we want the French to be uncharacteristically friendly, we better hope they win the coupe de monde. The Italians can throw a better victory party though.

RIGHT BRAIN ::: My Teenage Pursuit

First things first: I loved Michael Jackson (still do) immensely when I was a kid and that Oprah interview from 1993 would have to be one of the most prized events in television history, whether you're a fan or not. Time magazine even had a double-page spread about that TV special with the headline "Peter Pan Speaks" — I still got a copy of it somewhere in our house.

It aired on a Sunday night in March. I was feeling guilty staying up past bedtime because Monday mornings were always difficult but I just had to see and hear MJ just sit down and talk like a normal person. Come to think of it, whatever he did back then was, for me, nothing like the ordinary anyway.

The man was my "idol" and I was only too excited to talk about him to anyone. Sadly, back at school the next morning, hardly any of the kids had anything interesting to say about the interview other than admiring Michael Jackson's theme park rides. They knew I was a big fan though and were nice enough to share every now and again about the cool dance moves and videos. But nobody cared to talk about the songs or about the person.

Through the years, I've become less and less enchanted with Michael Jackson. Partly because I've been jaded by things around me and because Michael has stopped creating. He's stalled and, being a fan who's seen all his material, I kind of wish he'd just go back to basics. I hope that with this recent announcement to rebuild his musical career, he'll finally remember that it IS about the music and not the costumes, big budget, publicity, or special effects.

But I will always have this in mind:

Remember that when Michael Jackson beatboxes, it's nothing like what your average boom-chick-a-boom-boom Timberlake wigga does.

It's Only Tuesday, My Friend

I realized this only recently but never really refered to it as much. Now, I must. It's this truth: the more you let people vent their problems to you, the more they whine.

TRANSPORTED ::: Hello, up there!

(Posted 29 June) My trip to Ilocos was so overwhelming that until now, over a week since I got back, I've yet to commit my thoughts about the entire trip on paper. Yeah, I know, some writer. Hopefully, this weekend I'll find time to do that...or just go see Superman Returns. For now, you may click on the photo above to see the slideshow I've assembled.

WHIMSY ::: 'Away' Message

Guys and dolls, I'll be on holiday for the next few days and should be back around the 21st. It's not a long break, I know. I ought to go on longer ones! But, alas, the funds aren't that plenty and work builds up so I'll make this trip short and sweet. (Did I just say 'alas'? How pretentious!)

If you're wondering, I'll be going on a road trip up to North Luzon and will be taking lots of photos for a future article in our little magazine. Hopefully, we'll have sunshine where it counts. Pray we get there safe and sound, my brothas and sistas.

It will be my first time up in Pagudpud and Ilocos so I'm very excited. There are some pretty amazing sceneries there which I didn't expect to be found in this country. That makes me love the Philippines so much more because it always comes around with nifty little surprises like wind farms, a rustic lighthouse, and dunes. Yes, sand dunes!

OK, I'll end here so I can finish packing. I know they told us to "pack lite" but unless all my clothes are nylon, I don't think that's gonna happen.

Tot ziens!

P.S. NED vs. Ivory Coast tomorrow night. Hup, Holland, hup!

All the Way for Oranje!

Netherlands match schedule*:
11 Jun SCG vs. NED 21:00
17 Jun NED vs. CIV 00:00
22 Jun NED vs. ARG 03:00

I just found out that lanky goalie Edwin Van der Sar and Phillip Cocu share a birthday, October 29, 1970. That makes them the two oldest members of the World Cup 2006 Oranje squad. Seeing them will definitely make me miss the old crew: Dennis Bergkamp, Marc Overmars, the DeBoer twins, Jaap Stam, Edgar Davids, Patrick Kluivert, Clarence Seedorf, and even coach Guus Hiddink.

It's my third World Cup and I'm glad the KNVB team is playing. (Doesn't take a lot) The last one in Korea/Japan was not as exciting for me because Bergkamp, who retired last month after eleven years in the international leagues, and the Dutch squad were missing from the pitch. But the boys are back in the game so I'll be having occasional ridiculously early mornings over the next month.

Oh yeah, it's onnnn now!

*all times MNL

U2 ::: I Wunt That One

First, thanks to C for delivering this and many other U2 scoops in the past. What's a fan to do without you?!

So I want one of these. It retails for $325 which is about a month's wage for me. Yeah, believe it. What's next? A U2 concert receiver that lets you pick up audio and video of any live concert or performance of theirs from anywhere in the world. Heh. See how stuff get obsolete in a blink?

I want to take a nap.

RIGHT BRAIN ::: Mee-Choo-Fat (High Mandarin for 'babbling')

It was drizzling last night when I went out to load-up my phone. On the way back, I picked up a bottle of C2 green tea (lemon flavor, chilled), my favorite drink, at the 7-Eleven. I thought I'd put it in the freezer so it'd be extra cold later on just like how some people want their beer. I don't drink beer or any alcohol at all but you get the point. I then went upstairs to flip through the channels. The Pinoy Big Brother Teen Edition finale was on but the unending commercials and Mariel Rodriguez flubbing her lines (She's had that hosting gig for ten friggin' months now! Why can't ABS fire her ass or at least send her off to a speech pathologist?!) made the show painful/unbearable to watch. Thankfully, my eyes had become watery by now so I went to bed and fell asleep. I had completely forgotten about my C2.

This morning, I got up at 8 AM, unusually early for a weekend. I opened the freezer and my C2 was solid as a rock. There're several ways to thaw it but every one of them needed me to wait.

Meanwhile, the sun was out and furious. Unfortunately, even after a few minutes on the pavement, it still wasn't a drink.

WHIMSY ::: Horoscope for the Day

Sometimes when you're granted a wish you don't always realize it; something you've been waiting for is coming your way now, so you'd better open your eyes to see it. Dressed up in camouflage, it probably won't fit your physical ideal -- but it is perfect for you. Any adjustments you need to make to accept it are necessary. Choices you made in a work or school environment are paying off, and you will be given a chance soon to enjoy an extended stay in luxurious surroundings.

It's almost 4 o'clock now and so far all I got is half a palabok from Eloi. Should I assume my pay-off is a dud?

WARHOL ::: Invading MTV Singapore (Photo Update)

On the way back to the office from our weekly lunch with the press yesterday afternoon, I got a call on my cell from a hidden phone number. I had a hunch who it was and I was right. It was from MTV Asia and the girl's name is Michell. She was the same girl who called me six months ago when I first came on the show.

Anyway, she called to say that Pop Inc was being reformatted and that they wanted to ask me for any ideas and stuff that I like about the show.

I told her I wanted Pop Inc to be aired live and she explained that they can't do that right now because of staffing problems and other matters but will look into it. She also said that they appreciated all my ideas and comments and do look into the possibilities of my suggestions. It was cool to know that because I do care enough for the show and want to see it improve on many areas.

The best thing she told me was that they would be calling me the next day to talk to the VJs, Denise and Colby. Woo!

"You like him (Colby), don't you?" she asked.

"Well, yeah. I mean he's from the Philippines. I have that affinity for him."

"He gets a little shy at times."

"Really? Colby?"

"Yes."

"Maybe you could have beer on the set to losen him up sometimes."

"That might be allowed in the Philippines but it's not allowed in Singapore."

"Oh they wouldn't have the budget for it anyway!"

"We do have a budget....(forgot what else she said). So we'll give you a call tomorrow at around two and record with you?"

"Yeah. Looking forward to that. Thanks."

"OK, it was nice talking to you."

"No problem. Bye!"

"Bye!"

* * *

Next day, I get the call at past 3 o'clock. I had been staring at my phone for a full two hours, maniacal and catatonic. The girl who called asked me to find a quiet spot and that she'd call me back in ten minutes.

An hour passed and, finally, I get the call. They were prepping up for my segment and passed me on to Denise and Colby. After the niceties, Colby said "I want some San Miguel beer."

"Well, don't you guys have it there?"

"We do but it's very expensive," complains Colby.

"It's fourteen dollars," said Denise.

"Really? That's about ten times as much."

"We hear that over there it's only like one dollar," she explained.

"Oh, even less!"

Colby asked about the weather. I said it was overcast. He's hella talkative.

Back to the control booth. Girl asked me to hold as they get ready. Someone counts down.

Roll camera. Denise and Colby go "hellooo!"

For the rest of the conversation, tune in next Monday, June 5, for my second Pop Inc appearance. Don't miss it because me and the VJs had a lot of fun talking.

By the way, I was asked for a video request and, naturally, I told them I wanted a U2 video. "One" with Mary J. Blige.

bye! 

jam still asleep 

paparrazzi shot 

people-luggage compartment