The Miracle of Friends

The Miracle of Friends

May be its coincidence. But I’d like to think of it as God working his mysterious ways. As you may have read in the previous posts below, I was (wait, emotional check…still am) confused, a bit paranoid and definitely touched by all that has happened (very) recently in my life. And while I was at the height of this melodrama of mine, forwards from friends that WERE (ARE) so APT, fits my situation to a T, seemed like they were tailored made for me (I know, how can they be when they are forwards right? But they oh so were! ), kept on coming in as if telling me to quit moping around and deflect all the negative thoughts that were flying through my mind at top speed, leaving my reasoning and logic as dust trailing after them.

Roch, Pet, and Ate Marie,
Thank you for thinking of me when you decided to forward those sms. To you they might have been just something nice to forward. To me, at the time you forwarded them, they were words of wisdom, that God willing (crosses fingers real hard), I’d like to adapt in my life.

And to you who just recently came into my life, I hope and pray that you would be different from the rest. All I ask that you prove me wrong. Pai duo lah!

The Bull in Me

Symbol: the Bull

Ruling Planet: Venus

Ruling House: Second House

Element: Earth

Quality: Fixed

Body Parts: neck, throat

Keyword: POSSESSIONS

Date with destiny: Virgo, Capricorn

Run for the hills: Leo, Aquarius

Where you glow: on the trading floor

What makes you tick: a Rolex

Fitness forecast: massage

Play date: test-driving that new BMW

Perfect jobs: stockbroker, bank manager

Best accessory: a scarf

A sure thing: tending an herb garden

Destination: Norway

Pleasure: luxury, beauty, chocolates

Pain: flexibility, low quality, being rushed

Kindness:Your solid, dependable, gentle nature makes you the rock that family and friends turn to during a crisis.

What's my line? Show me the money!

Taurus, the second Sign of the Zodiac, is all about reward. Unlike the Arian's love of the game, Taureans love the rewards of the game. Think physical pleasures and material goods, for those born under this Sign revel in delicious excess. They are also a tactile lot, enjoying a tender, even sensual, touch. Taureans adore comfort and like being surrounded by pleasing, soothing things. Along these lines, they also favor a good meal and a fine wine. The good life in all its guises, whether it's the arts or art of their own making (yes, these folks are artistic as well), is heaven on Earth to the Taurean-born.

It's the Bull which is the Taurean's mascot, and along with that comes the expectation that these folks are bull-headed and stubborn. Yes, they are. Hey, this Sign has a Fixed Quality attached to it after all, so expect that things will occasionally grind to a halt. That said, Taureans don't start out with the intention of getting stuck. They simply want to get things done, and it's that steady, dogged persistence which winds up being viewed as stubbornness. Bulls are actually among the most practical and reliable members of the Zodiac, and they are happy to plod along, as it were, in pursuit of their goals. The good news for Bulls is that once they get to the finish line, they'll swaddle themselves in material goods. A self-indulgent beast? Perhaps, but if you toiled as laboriously as these folks do, you'd need some goodies, too.

Taurus is ruled by the Planet Venus, a lovely gal who didn't deny herself many things. In ancient Roman mythology, Venus was the Goddess of Love, Beauty and Pleasure, and Taureans have pretty much taken up where she left off. Bulls are fond of all things pretty, whether it's in their home, at a museum or on the stage. Life as one sweet pas de deux is how the Taurean-born like it. To onlookers, this may look like so much materialism and blessed excess, but Bulls really aren't interested in living without beauty in their lives. Beauty to the Bull also comes in the way of a happy home life, one which includes a partner and a stable relationship.
Taureans value harmony in their personal lives, so they'll work hard on keeping their mate happy. The Bull's penchant for sensual pleasures, of course, can only help things along! Bulls can also be the sappiest of sentimentalists. Will all this overweening attention to their mate turn a Bull into a possessive mess? Probably not, although these folks do have to manage their tendency to latch on a bit tight. At the end of the day, however, the Taurean-born are true romantics and loyal to the core.

The Element associated with Taurus is Earth. No pie-in-the-sky for these practical folks, since they'd much rather be on terra firma. Bulls tend toward conservatism, and this is often seen in their day-to-day behavior. No far-out schemes (that's Air) or shrieking ultimatums (more like Fire) here. Taureans far prefer to take each day slowly and steadily and work toward their ultimate goal. Along these lines, those born under this Sign are happy to stick with their projects until they have reached a successful conclusion. They are also extremely patient and dependable along the way. Does that sound earthy enough? The only kink in this well-oiled chain is the heckler in the gallery that tries to upbraid the Bull. These folks may not have a hair-trigger temper, but it's short enough. Bulls in a hissy fit can get pretty argumentative, but eventually they'll calm down and come back to center, since these folks would much rather be Zen. The Earth in this Sign does tend to act as a balancing mechanism so that things never get truly out of hand. For every one person who considers the Bull a pain, there are two who will say 'No way!' and happily take the Taurean's gentle charms any day.

Seeing as how Bulls are generally strong and well-built, it's no surprise that these folks enjoy testing their strength on the field of play. Expect to find a Bull engaged in a spirited game of hoops or mountain climbing. Hiking is also a favorite pastime, since it keeps Taureans close to their beloved earth. Indoor adventures are also favored by Bulls, which is why the opera or ballet is right up a Taurean's alley. When it comes to love, the Taurus-born are devoted, romantic and somewhat possessive. Their sensual nature has a way of erasing any mistakes! Since Taurus rules the neck and throat, Bulls would be wise to keep a silky scarf at hand, ideally in a warm (and soothing) earth tone.

The great strength of the Taurean-born is in their stability, loyalty and dogged determination. Bulls want to get the job done, and they will. What better way to get the riches they so fervently crave?

Back to Quizzes

I'm trying to put myself in the right so please indulge me...(pai duo lah JT!)


Your Japanese name should be

'Aki'

which means
"autumn".

You can be compared with autumn, the way the autumn weather changes, is how your feelings change. You have these mood swings you can't control; one moment you're happy, the next you're feeling almost depressed. You're probably sensitive and creative.

Which Japanese name fits you best? [females, 9 results + absolutely stunning ANIME pictures!]
brought to you by Quizilla
Do I really have mood swings people?

This cracked me up! Yippie! I'm on my way to recovery! ^_^ I think...

You're Sailor Moon! Congradulations, you're me!! MUAHAHAHAHA!! Everyone loves you because you love everyone. You are a good friend and can sometimes be annoying, but at other times you're shy and reserved. Your soul is very deep
but you do not concern others with your serious problems. You do whine a lot, though.


..::Which Sailor Moon Character are you??::..
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NOW, I've gotta look for something or someone to touch!!! bwehehe! (oh, Im losing it again) Any volunteers? (~.~)

You can't live without your sense of touch. If you see something that allures you, you must touch it. You can sometimes be the bull in the china shop because of it, but it's not your fault. Touching things helps you remember more clearly, and helps you categorize the peorson, place or thing being touched. You would make a
great poet.

Which ONE of the FIVE senses can't you live without?
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I touch only when allowed to...and when no one is looking...lolz!

This reminds me that I have to take care of my eyes! So far so good cause after four years of law school and tons of case readings and law books, my eye grade is only 25-25. Not bad right!

Sight. You are most connected to your sense of sight. You are scared of the unknown... You
would much rather know every detail of a story than just the summary. Most likely you are very
smart or wise (whichever you prefer). The sense of sight has to be one of the most important
ones. It would be hell to have to live without it... You try to distance yourself from people,
but don't really succeed at at. People just can't stay away from your mysterious personality.

~Which of the 5 senses are you most connected to?~ (with... you guessed it! Anime pics.)
brought to you by Quizilla

(^_^)

at least, they made me smile...

Not In the Right

I am a mess right now.

Emotionally that is.

Thoughts are flying through my head; all negative or tending to be negative mind you.

The sound that would be the sweetest music to my ears today would have to be the SMS alert or Caller alert of my phone.

Oh why cant you just ring?! Just this once, ring when I bid you to.

I am...

touched...

paranoid...

and confused...

what am i going to do with myself?

tell me?

help me!

anyone!

pai duo lah!

Panning the Pun in Billboard Advertising

The tarpaulin was very simple by contemporary advertising standards. It contained no models, no breathtaking background; only the product and the tagline “Nakatikim ka na ba ng kinse anyos?” set in golden bold-faced monarchical font-type made more lustrous by the plain bright red background. But members of various sectors of civil society, particularly those who belong to women’s groups, child's rights advocates, parents and minors in the same age bracket, raised hell like a woman scorned over such advertisement that promoted Destileria Limtuaco’s Napoleon Brandy, aged fifteen years. After much lobbying and news features both in the print and broadcast medium, not to mention the volley of cases filed between the proponents of the advertisement and those against it as well as the revocation of the permit to display/air such ad by the AdBoard, the ad considered by Representative Liza Maza of Gabriela as “offending and degrading to women” was pulled down and pulled out from all the media mediums. Just as the controversy over the brandy advertisement was being laid to rest, another advertisement sought to stir the same pot. This time around, it’s a cola ad for Virgin of the international company with the same name headed by Richard Branson, the tagline going like “virgins to satisfy you.” Unlike its predecessor, the uproar on this ad died quickly. The advertising agency handling ad, probably taking its que from what happened with the brandy ad, added the words “more” and “from” in order to diffuse the controversial slogan which now reads “More from Virgin to satisfy you.”

The taglines are obviously play on words. Puns and double entendres meant to catch the readers attention, the meaning of which depends on the person’s perception viewign the same. Contextually speaking, sans any malicious visuals and our Filipino culture’s taboo-istic view on anything is sexual or even just connotes sexuality, the advertisement did not violate the so-called civil society’s morals. Quoting Karen De Asis, Agora awards Marketing Educator of 2003, “It was a correct ad. It did not go against regimented rules. [However] in the outside world, an ad may be okay, but might not fit well with the beliefs of people.”[1]

The advertising industry in the Philippines, unlike the movie and television industry, is self-regulated. Though both boards, the Philippine Board of Advertising (PBA), now AdBoard and the Movie, Television, Regulatory and Classification Board (MTRCB) were created during the martial law regime, the former was given a “free hand” so as to make Marcos’ mass media regulations more palatable to the taste. Using the freedom of expression as its springboard and linchpin, the advertising industry was able to maintain its self-regulation; protecting itself against interventions from governmental agencies who lack the sensitivity to appropriately respond to the industry’s nuances and idiosyncrasies. But in the heat of the cutthroat battle to win the consumers’ attention, where the most effective weapon of choice appears to be one that appeals to consumers’ baser interests, would self-regulation still be enough?

Commercial speech, or in this case advertising, under the Constitution is lower in rank in the hierarchy of protected speech as the same does not form an integral part of the robust exchange of ideas vital to a democratic society. Reading the taglines in question, one may be all too willing to agree that commercial speech need not be protected as much as the core speeches. And knowing that these taglines were displayed/aired because of the industry’s practice of self-regulation, one may even go one to venture and say that the “Kinse Anyos” controversy just goes to show the futility of self-regulatory practices. The AdBoard does not have any compulsory powers to implement the orders they churn out, making it a practice in futility. The severest disciplinary action within and among their ranks is an issuance of cease and desist order, the implementation of which depends on the agreement of the AdBoard and its member-organization and in extreme cases, ostracism from the advertising community. Further, its is uncertain who has jurisdiction over controversies involving billboard advertisement. The AdBoard’s Executive Director, Oscar T. Valenzuela, has stated that they don’t have a mandate over billboards. “This is usually left to the discretion of the advertiser and the advertising agency except when the billboards advertise infant formulation as an extension of a print ad, skin ads that bare flesh and contain number one claims as well as superlatives, to which the AdBoard requires substantiation.”[2] Technically speaking then, billboard advertising is unchecked and unregulated.

Clearly, coming from the “Kinse Anyos” debacle, the answer to the first question posted would have to be a resounding no. Self-regulation is not enough. This then brings us to other questions. Is regulation, similar to the one that MTRCB is exercising the answer? Or is it better to leave judgment-making to the experts, the courts?

Providing the AdBoard with an intrusive power similar to MTRCB would be like chopping off the hand that feeds it. Due to the fleeting nature of the attention span of its target audience, advertising needs the elbowroom to exercise its practitioners’ creative freedom. Taglines have always been attention grabbing because they need to be. Otherwise, they loose their purpose for recall. The use of the tagline in the case of the “Kinse Anyos” instead of the usual scantily clad woman clutching the brandy bottle complete with the comehither look should be seen as an effort of liquor advertisements to move away from objectifying women rather than as an affront to them. Again, contextually speaking, nowhere in the billboard ad can one find any allusions made to a woman or a girl for that matter. The allusion that is vehemently objected to by the various civil society sectors is only created in the mind. Condemning the play on words used in the controversial ads based solely on perceptions and connotation would set an unstable precedent, as the condemnation would be based only conjectures and inferences that are changing and not established facts as what every decision should be.

However, this is not to say that advertising, particularly billboard advertising should be left unchecked and unregulated. Freedom of expression is not absolute. It can be regulated. The problem lies in the application of a set of rule of thumbs that have been outdated through time. Precisely because the standards are ever expanding, and the goal post of public norms and morality is constantly shifting that we must reserve regulation to the courts. Leaving regulation and enforcement of public norms to only a hand-full of people is a romanticized idea that blots out the reality of unequal access to power to make judgment call for others. It is best to remember that the sauce of the goose is not always good for the gander.

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[1] Cai U. Ordinario. Billboard Bangs On The Head Of Rp Ad Industry http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2004/mar/13/yehey/business/20040313bus1.html. Last accessed on October 25, 2005.
[2] Id.

Fcuked Up Judgment Call!

*sigh*
labas lang ako ng sama ng loob
fcuked up judgment call!
*sigh*
alam ko its just mulah, pero inipon ko yun e!may be it would be nothing for those who have enough sources, but not for those who dont. sa kasawiang palad, i belong to the latter.
*sigh*
just so fcuking frustrating!
cant do anything about it!they dont want to reimburse me.to teach me a lesson i dont deserve daw!
*damn it! i hate it when my conscience butts in and says may be you deserved it, a lil, just a tiny bit, itsy bitsy tiny bit.DAMN!*
*one loooooonnnnngggg forlorn, dejected, the corner of my lips reaching the floor kinda sigh*

Lapses

When I got back from the salon after having my hair relaxed last Wednesday, I was surprised to find our housekeeper, Ate Dory, in a snit, greeting me with "where have you been, I've been looking all over for you." The uncalled for "greeting", if you can call that a greeting, would have irked me but since I was feeling beautiful coming from the salon, I just smiled and said, "Galing akong parlor, di ba obvious? giving her a flip of my no tangles, no tikwas, at di buhaghag hair. "Nagpunta ka kila Pat (my family's stylist)? E bakit sabi ni Kuya (referring to my Dad who didn't go the office because of sore throat and colds) e natutulog ka daw. Kala ko nga binibiro mo ako dahil la ka naman sa kwarto mo. Nahilo na ko sa kakahanap sa'yo dito sa bahay nagpaparlor ka pala!" My eyebrow raised when I heard what she said. "Ha? E si Daddy pa nga nagsara ng pintuan sa akin ng umalis ako e. Labo naman nun!" Then we laughed out loud with Ate Dory having the last say of "Si Kuya talaga, matanda na!"

This morning over breakfast, that incident last Wednesday was again brought up. Not particularly sure how or why but it was just thrown into the conversation that we were having while eating breakfast. Oh, I just remembered. It was when Ate Dory brought out the bukayo for dessert when my brother was looking for the sweetened peanuts that my Dad brougth home from their company outing in Batangas last weekend. She was explaining where the other pasalubongs went that lead to another one of my dad's memory lapse anecdote. She was telling us that the other afternoon, my Dad was asking whether or not he had merienda when the evidence that he did was right in front of him. Ate Dory again then recounted how her conversation with my father went regarding my whereabouts last Wednesday which went on like this:

AD: Kuya, si ________? (she went looking for me because it was already dinner time and I still haven't gone down)

Dad: Nasa taas, natutulog pa ata.

AD when upstairs to look for me and according to her, "Nahilo na ko sa kakahanap sayo, e wala ka naman pala dito!" She then went downstairs and told my Dad that I wasnt upstairs.

Dad: Ha? Wala ba sa taas?

AD: Oo, wala sa taas. Di ba nagpaalam sa'yo?

Dad: Ah...Ewan ko. Kunin mo nga ang cellphone ko ng matext kung na saan na siya.

Like before, we laughed at my Dad's short-term memory lapses. But unlike before, I sobered quickly, afraid that those incidents might mean something more than just mere symptoms of aging. My mind chose to remember The Notebook, the first (and last as of to date) Nicholas Sparks book that I read and loved for its heartfelt/wrenching dialogues, which I feel weren't given justice in its film adaptation *sigh*. I quietly asked myself, "Were those lapses signs of Alzheimers?"

I know that I'm being extremely paranoid here but I cant help it. My dad IS old. And although we don't have a history of that disease with most my relatives dying due to heart attack and high blood pressures and he hasn't had any of those episodes that were written in The Notebook (talaga bang gawing basehan ang novel ni Nicholas Sparks noh?!), the thought still doesn't give me comfort. In this day and age, anything can happen! So, to at least assuage my fears (unfounded or not), I yahoo-ed Alzheimers and here is what I got from http://health.yahoo.com/ency/healthwise/hw136623/hw136626

What is Alzheimer's disease?

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive condition that affects areas of the brain involved in memory, intelligence, judgment, language, and behavior. It is the most common form of mental decline, or dementia, in older adults.

Alzheimer's disease is more severe than the mild memory loss that many people experience as they grow older. Alzheimer's disease also affects behavior, personality, the ability to think clearly, and the ability to carry out daily activities. Close family members usually notice symptoms first, although the person affected also may realize that something is wrong.

What causes Alzheimer's disease?
It is not clear why these changes in the brain occur, but research to discover the cause of Alzheimer's disease is ongoing. Although most people who develop Alzheimer's disease do not have a family history of the condition, you are at increased risk for the condition if a member of your family has it.

What are the symptoms?
Typical early symptoms of Alzheimer's disease include:
Memory loss.
Inability to use judgment and make decisions.
Confusion about what time and day it is.
Getting lost in familiar places.
Difficulty learning and remembering new information.
Difficulty expressing himself or herself.
Decreasing ability to perform everyday tasks like cooking a meal or paying bills.

As the disease progresses, these symptoms get worse. The person may also develop strange new behaviors and withdraw from family and friends. Hallucinations, delusions, and paranoia are common; some people may become verbally or physically aggressive or abusive. Eventually, the person may forget how to perform basic tasks such as eating, dressing, bathing, using the toilet, or getting up from a bed or chair and walking.

How is Alzheimer's disease diagnosed?
Alzheimer's disease is diagnosed after a careful medical history and physical examination, evaluation of the person's mental and functional status, and selected lab tests and imaging tests, such as CT and MRI scans, to rule out other possible causes of the symptoms. Imaging tests may identify subtle changes in structures of the brain that may relate to Alzheimer's disease, but they may not provide enough evidence for a diagnosis.

How is it treated?
While there is not yet a cure for Alzheimer's disease, much can be done to maintain quality of life and help the person stay active. Treatment focuses on several areas, including improving memory and daily functioning, dealing with new and unusual behaviors, and treating other conditions that commonly occur with Alzheimer's disease such as depression. Medications, including cholinesterase inhibitors or memantine, may temporarily improve memory and thinking problems. Other treatment includes making sure the home is safe and providing supportive care as the condition worsens.

Since the average life span has increased over the years, Alzheimer's disease is becoming a more common problem. If you are a caregiver for a spouse or parent with Alzheimer's disease, the demands can be physically, emotionally, and financially draining. With support, education, and planning, caregivers may find ways of making life easier for the person they take care of and for themselves.

What I read STILL didn't give me comfort, particularly when I read what my Dad forwarded* me in the email which was, to say the least, thought provoking and tearjerking. The opening slide already had my eyes misting and by the end of the show, I was crying.

I really hope that its just all paranoia on my part and nothing more. That those short term memory lapses of his are nothing more than just symptoms of aging. Nonetheless, notwithstanding this hoping and wishing of mine, I still plan on suggesting that he see a neurologist to be sure. Good luck to me on how to tell him!

*if you want to see the forward, click here: http://briefcase.yahoo.com/bc/andybluetwinkle/lst?.dir=/Mail+Attachments if that doesn't work, just leave a comment with your email address and I'll send it to you a.s.a.p. It's really worth seeing, I tell you; really worth it.

Only In Dreams

I'm starting to believe that dreams are a conglomeration of all the thoughts you had in the day (or in the week) that you have put in the back of your mind (or just got buried under all the new thoughts you have had), released in a movie-sh fashion when your subconscious takes over all because of the strange, weird dream that I had early this morning.

I dreamt that I was sitting up in bed looking out my window in horror over what used to be our neighbor's house and backyard because an old train model of PNRC (Philippine National Railway Corp.) had just ran over it and was just slowing down to a stop. From the corner of my eyes, I saw this SUV type of vehicle still being pushed up on top of the ruin which thankfully came to a stop just before it hit dividing wall between our house and the neighbor's. My jaw couldn't help but drop for while all of this was happening, our housekeeper, Ate Dory, who was very much oblivious to what was happening over the bakod, just went about her merry way of hanging our laundry on the clothes' line. I wanted to tell her to get out of the way but I couldn't find my voice. In a blink of an I was down below, in the fray of things with my Aunt who just appeared out of thin air. We didn't communicate but I knew that we were searching for my nieces and my brother. She picked up a silver necklace which, again without communicating, we know belonged to my brother. We started to get hysterical because we knew he was in the mishap, but before we reached the crescendo, I woke up.

Dreaming of someone getting into an accident or worse, dying, especially if that someone is related to you is considered by most people, if not all, as a nightmare. However, its worst than a nightmare for me. It's an omen. I don't know if I'm supposed to call it a "gift" when all it brings is sorrow, definitely an antithema of what gifts bring to anyone who receives one, for when I dream of someone dying, someone usually does. It has already happened twice and I certainly don't want it to happen for the third time.

You can most certainly tell that I was more than bothered waking up from my dream this morning. In fact, I had tears in my eyes when I did. Thankfully I had the presence of mind to nit-pick the details and assure myself that it wasn't those dreams and that it was just A dream. What gave off the dream was the PNRC train that ran over our neighbor's house. We don't live anywhere near a traintrack. The nearest one is a 30-minute to an hour's drive. So how can a derailed train end up in my neighbor's lot? Only in dreams! The train is probably a remnant of 2046 (see previous blog) and my 'five-minutes-na-lang-exam-na' discussion with my classmates for PoliRev about the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee investigation on the PNRC rehab contract which the U.P. Law Center bungled up with its recommendation that it be rescinded for being disadvantageous to the Philippine government upon its "finding" that the same didn't pass through bidding when it fact it did as belatedly disclosed by the administration. Most of my professors actually see the Center's bungle as a roundabout way of forcing the government's hand into disclosing the details of the rehab contract with China. Way to go UPLC! Great job!

The obliviousness of Ate Dory to all the ruckus that was happening over the bakod also gave the dream way. I mean how can you not notice a train ramming through your neighbor's house?! You simply cant! Whether you're deaf or blind, one way or the other, you will still notice something as big as a train level your neighbor's house. Only in dreams can those things happen!

I blame the "finding the necklace" scene from Encantadia (yes, kapuso po ako, at di kapamilya, only for the fact that our telly can't seem to pick up Channel 2's vibes) for last night's episode had Anthony (Mark Herras, not sure of the spelling of his last name) finding his necklace among the jewelries kept by Lira (Jennylyn Mercado, not sure the spelling of the first name this time..lolz!). My Aunt and my nieces were "in" the dream because they were among the last people I saw before I went to bed. It's only the SUV that I cant find an explanation for.

Be it as it may, I still told my brother over breakfast to take extra care today. Nothing wrong with being cautious, even if it was only a dream.

Back to back to back

I love watching movies but ever since I entered law school, I can count in my two hands how many movies that I was able to watch on the big screen. That's how bad law school can ruin your social life! No movies, no dates (scratches head on this one...lolz!), no good dinners (kailangan magtipid para sa sangkatutak na photocopies ng cases, reviewers, at libro, sama mo pa ang pang-gas na ka-mahal-mahal!), no parties (kaya nga kinacareer namin ang pag-thro-throw ng parties sa school, ke birthday o holiday pa man yan, so long as there is a reason to throw a party, we throw one! Even if there is a policy against it. Keber!). In short, no gimmicks! Not that I am a gimmickera or anything but I do enjoy going out once in a while. But law school turned that once in a while into once in a blue moon!

I digress...going back to movie watching...

Whenever I have the chance to sit back, relax and watch a movie, I make the most of it. And making most of it means having a DVD/VCD marathon of at least three films in one sitting. There was even a time I went on DVD-shopping craze at The Ruins in B.F. that I spent close to around 700+ bucks just on old films that I didn't get to watch when they were shown in the cinemas. Four days later, I was already done watching all of them. All 12 of them! Much as I would like to say that my eyes got sore from watching too much, it didn't. But I got sleepy in between movies though. ^_^

Last Sunday, I made the most of the time I had, which was very little considering that I still had a test on Tuesday. Comprehensive Political Law Review exam to be exact with comprehensive (just to highlight the point of the exam being all encompassing) meaning the WHOLE 1987 Philippine Constitution. But since I had with me the Pre-week BarOps reviewer and the case doctrines of compiled by Cayo (FYI: who was voted as Mr. Law School some 2 years ago), and not to forget my "amazing" (I honestly don't know why my college friends and now my law school friends find my reading skills amazing particularly when I read like they do...hmmm...May be its the speed?) reading skills and gift of retention (My mom said I inherited her skill, is it a skill?, of pagiging matandain), I felt confident that I could breeze through it (and I did, bow) that I went ahead with my plan and borrowed a DVD (they had a limited selection of DVD's at this branch) and 2 VCD's from Video City at SM Sucat.

For those of you who know where I live, you're probably saying, "ang layo naman ng hiniraman mo" or "sus! dumayo pa siya, meron namang walking distance from her place". Now, before you call me eng-eng, cause I know that would be coming somewhere in there, lemme explain why I chose to borrow there. For starters and for those who still don't know, my brother works a marketing manager at SM Sucat (and yes, he already has the SM jingle as a ringtone in his phone...Here at SM, we got it all for you!). This spells convenience with a capital C as he can be the one to borrow and return all the DVD's and VCD's that I would like to see. Now, you CAN'T call me eng-eng for borrowing there!

With his work being near and commuting would cost more than one liter of gas, Kuya (I call him that cause its role reversal for us since he's the one working and I'm the one still in school, but not for long, I hope! Since I only have one semester to go! Yippieee!) gets to bring the car (yeah! I commute to and from school as its more expensive to bring a car to Makati in terms of gas cause its flat rate parking in Rockwell) except on occasions that my parents need for something or that I have exams, which I'm done with after taking my last exam for the semester last night! Hooray! Anyway, that particular Sunday, I had to bring him to work since Mom needed the car on hand for doing the groceries. Since I was already there, I decided to check out the Video City store and borrow if I find something to my fancy. And I did find something to my fancy. Not only the display rack but also behind the counter! *lolz!* Its not that he is handsome or anything, I'd give him cute, that caught my fancy. Its the way he easily switched between colloquial Filipino and straight English, complete with accent, that did! I was looking pretty shabby that morning since I slept at 2 am coming from a nightout with my highschool friends hence my "social defense mechanism" was up, my weapon of choice being my "English tongue." He didn't cower or buckle but instead he parried with me much to my delight! We even agreed on the point that Orlando Bloom was such a disappoint after playing the role of Legolas. He laughed out loud when I told him that I didn't like Orlando in Troy for the reason that Eric Bana died all because he couldn't contain his horniness for Helen! He pointed out that may be all his films afterwards were for atonement for lack of character in Troy, referring to the movie that was playing on their screen, Kingdom of Heaven which also has Orlando in it. We continued to banter even if there were customers coming in and all until I had to leave with my "borrowings" that made me think we were flirting with one another...Were we? Probably! Too bad, I didn't get his name! Now, you can call me eng-eng!

Of the three that I borrowed, I first watched the romantic comedy The Wedding Date that starred Debra Messing (Grace of Will & Grace) and Dermot Mulroney (The best friend in My Best Friend's Wedding).

It's Pretty Woman in reverse with just more croutons to thicken the plot. Instead of the man looking for woman to pretend to be his date, its the woman who looks for and tracks down a date. Kat, played by Messing, is flying home to attend her sister's wedding. It would have been a happy affair, which weddings are, if only her ex-fiance, who dumped her without so much as an explanation as to why, wasn't the groom's best man. So in order avoid the all the questions and the pitying looks she was sure that were going to thrown her way, she lets her fingers do the walking on the Time Magazine's human interest stories entitled, The Confessions of a Professional Male Escort to find the perfect date. She finds this so called perfect date in the person of Nick, who is played by Mulroney. Nick's services cost her $6000, inclusive of an all expense paid trip to London where the wedding would be held, and of course, don't forget her heart! After all, it really wouldn't be a romantic comedy would it if Nick didn't get to win her heart?!

Of the all the lines exchanged in the movie, the one I like the most is Nick's line that went along like this, "Every woman has the lovelife she wants." to which Kat retorted, "Are you saying that I am single because I want to be single?" that Nick replied with, "Yes. Until you want to let of go of your singlehood-ness, than you got what you want." Despite the funny backdrop of their conversation; they were in Kat's bathroom with Kat sitting on the closed toilet seat while Nick was drying himself after stepping out of the shower, I found their conversation heavy and serious for I found myself asking and mulling over Kat's question. Am I single because I want to be single?

In all honesty, I value my independence very much. I like the thought that I don't have to answer to anyone (well, except my parents that is) regarding my whereabouts, my activities, who I am with and all those things that are entailed in coupledom. I value the freedom to do as I please with my time and my money. I don't have to worry and make time for day-sary, week-sary, month-sary, anniversaries and what have you's that couples celebrate and make a big fuss of. And best of all, I am glad to be spared of all the heartache of misunderstanding, jealousy, and break-up's. But then again, being just me, myself and I can be lonely at times, especially when February comes along or just anyday that is couple infested that anywhere you turn, you see couples around you being mushy and lovey-dovey. Hmmm...may be I should get myself one those blinders that horses wear so that I wont see them anymore. Whatchathink?

The second movie I watched was a Chinese (not sure if it's a Hongkong, Taiwan or Mainland) movie (obvious naman sa poster sa baba di ba). The Chinese female lead is Zhi Yi who has recently sent Hollywood a buzz and would also be starring in the film adaptation of the Memoirs of a Geisha opposite Michelle Yeoh of the Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon fame. I'm sure the male lead is also crowd drawer in all the Mandarin speaking countries in Asia but alas, for all his fame, his name escapes me right now (probably because I cant pronounce it).

2046 takes places in Hongkong where Mr. Chow is a "gambling refugee" from Singapore who is making ends met by writing raunchy articles for, I suppose, an equally raunchy newspaper during the height of Hongkong's civil unrest. He writes a futuristic story, I guess during his free time, about a time-train that goes back to the past, the year 2046 where the every passenger, including Mr.Chow, tries to recapture a lost love, when in fact he is living in the latter half of the 60's. Sans the jumble of flashbacks and fast forwards, the movie reveals Mr. Chow's brushes with the emotional enigma that is called love and the lessons he has learned from such encounters. What is interesting in this movie is that it used the loop technique of going back to where it started to put an end to the same. Mr. Chow's character in his novel gets off the train with the realization that lost love IS lost love.

Last, but not the least is The Uninvited, a Korean horror psycho-drama about beliefs, repressed memories, lies, denials and of course the supernatural.

The cover's description wasn't really kidding when it said that it was psycho. There wasn't much drama, but there were a lot of psychosis for sure. So much that at the end of the movie, I had this duh look on my face with my mind wondering what really happened. I have bits and pieces of movie's story in my head but because of the way the story was unraveled in the movie, it makes me doubt whether or not I got the right interpretation of what happened. And for this, I would have to say that they did a great job. I'm not a fan of horror movies because I easily get scared of the effects but this one didn't scar me, it made me think. And there is nothing more I enjoy than a movie that inspires MENTAL masturbation. =P

Commuting 101

With the gas prices getting higher by the cents these days (current pump price for unleaded is anywhere from 34.90-35 per liter) , one has to master the art of commuting in order to get places. I've been commuting every since I was allowed to...probably since I was twelve...which makes it almost half my life! *lolz! and I just realized that just now!* From the padyak (the man-powered version of the tricycles), tricycles, jeepneys, shuttles (mapa-fx pa man yan or yung van type), buses (me aircon man o wala), taxi, lrt, and mrt, I've ridden them all. I think the only public transportation that I havent ridden is the kalesa probably because I dont frequent the areas where they ply their route.

During the 12 years or so that I've been commuting, here are some of the things I learned:

Lesson 1: Planning your rides. They say that time is gold. And with traffic in Metro Manila, planning your rides could spell the difference between you being a "pauper" or "millionare". If you're in a hurry, choose the fx over the bus. The fx has only 10 pax seating maximum capacity while the bus has 60 to 80 if the conductor wants to make a killing for their boundary. Once the fx is filled, it rarely stops to let down passengers as most of those who take the fx ride it until its last stop. As for the bus, with its expandable capacity, stops at every person that the driver thinks would like a ride. The shuttle-van, although very similar to the fx that it rarely stops until it gets to its destination has some drawbacks one of which is that you have to que in line to get a ride. I have no qualms about queing and all but it gets really frustrating and down right aggitating if the shuttle takes like forever to get back to the terminal. The other is that it doesnt leave until it is filled, unlike the fx who moves along with traffic to get its passengers. This is okay if its around the rush hour but a no-no if its on the tail end of the same as there are fewer commuters, hence the long wait. Another option is taking the LRT or the MRT. Among the public transportations, these two, hands down, would have to be the fastest ride you can take to get to your destination. The only things you have to deal with is the long ques to get a ticket, which you can elimate by buying the store value ticket that's worth Php100 that's equivalent to around a maximum of 8 rides); the transfers you have to do to get to a station because although the MRT and the LRT are on the main artery of Metro Manila's main thorough fairs (EDSA and TAFT Ave, respectively), they aren't exactly accessible on foot from most major bus stops, Baclaran in particular; and finally, the occassional techinical difficulties that the systems encounters. Now, if your pocket is quite full, then you can just flag down a taxi and bribe the driver with an additional Php 20-50 if he gets you to your destination on time. But be it as it may, you should still give around an hour and a half to two allowance cause traffic is really unpredictable in this city. Besides, its always better to be early than to be late.

Lesson 2: Choosing your ride. Remember the addage "don't judge a book by its cover"? Well, that dont pretty much apply in this case since what you are affronted with when you see them "flying" by you on the streets is their "cover". Philippine jeepneys are known all over for the flare and audacity of their graphic art, not to mention their loud and often times cracked (sabog) sounds system that plays anything from classical (yes, I've had the fortune of riding one), heavy metal, stuck in the 80's, caters to the yuppies and not to forget those novelty (I hear this is what they are called) that are heavily laden with sexual innuendo (sakayan kita, sa lahat ng gusto mo, basta sakayan mo rin akohhhh!) music. Where can you find tin horses with multi-coloured plastic tails on the shiny hoods, religious icons and family portraits for body detail and names for trim sitting side by side with stickers of scantily clothed women announcing to everyone who would notice that driver's are sweet lovers underneath which is a reminder that God knows Hudas not pay? Only in the Philippines! Just stand on any corner of any main thorough fare here and surely, you'll find an "art" on wheels pass you by. The rest of the commute-fleet have followed suit. You can now find frilly curtains in buses, fx and van type shuttles. Even padyak and tricycles jumped on the band wagon by hanging mini crocheted curtains that would fit and highlight their small "windshield". Now when you stick out half your arm to call them to a stop (sorry ladies and gents, bus, or in this case jeepney, stops are unknown to this part of the world), pull over the one that looks like its road worthy. You know, something in between one that has just been rolled out Sarao's assembly line and one that yells its scrap iron. It hard to explain in words but you'll know it when you see it. Promise!

Lesson 3: Knowing your fare. The basic fare on a jeepney is Php 7.50. For buses, its 8 and 10 respectively for non-aircon and airconditioned buses plying the SM/Lawton/Sta.Cruz. If you're not sure how much your fare would cost, praticularly if your riding on a bus, it is wise to ask the driver how much. If, on the other hand you doubt what the driver said, you can check out the fare matrix (written in such a way that its only a fellow driver could undestand how it works) that should actually be visibly displayed inside the vehicle as required by the LTRFB. If you dont see one, you are actually entitled to refuse to pay the fare; another directive courtesy of Chairman Lantion from the LTRFB. As for fx's, the ones plying from SM/Alabang Metropolis to Lawton would set you back anywhere from Php 10-40 depending on where you are going down, their basic rate being the same with aircon buses. Shuttles (the one going to Ayala) on the other hand can cost you anywhere from Php 50-70 depending on the terminal where you got on. The basic rates for the first two public transportation are lower for students and seniors citizens as they are given a 20% discount on their fares. While the discount for students and senior citizen is already mandated by the law, conductors of buses dont automatically deduct the same from the fare, that is even if the commuter is uniform or is already old and grey. This unscrupulous practice thereby forces the commuter to be vigilant about demanding what should have been a given in the first place.

Lesson 4: Safety first. Enough said.

30 Things Guys Should Know About Girls

30 Things Guys Should Know About Girls
written by a guy after years of experience.

1. Whatever you do, don't just show up at their house...they run around in their underwear just like we do.---> May be if you've got a place of your own. But if you're like the rest of the population of thrifty and practical twenty somethings, you definitely wont be able to do this since you'll most probably living with your parents and family who I think you really wouldnt appreciate the sight of you in your undies.

2. DON'T CHEAT ON THEM. It may seem foolproof, but girls tell each other everything about everything. Trust me, they WILL find out and you will be mud.---> Di lang mud...BURAK!!! Ikaw ay magiging isang burak! If you're in a relationship, you SHOULD NOT be cheating period!

3. Beware of every single male relative and all guy friends. Any of them would kick your ass at the drop of a hat, and a lot of them wouldn't even wait for the damn hat.---> ROI of being one of the boys!!!

4. Never miss an opportunity to tell them they're beautiful.---> It's not because we are vain that we like to hear this but because assuages our insecurities...ahaha! I think I just succeeded in projecting womankind as psychotic! lolz!

5. Don't refuse to kiss in front of your friends. If they laugh at you, it's because they're jealous.---> Show off!!!

6. If they slap you hard, you deserved it.---> Yes, we dont get violent for no reason at all... *innocent eyes*

7. Don't be afraid to touch them if you want to. If they're going out with you in the first place, it's because they like being in your arms.---> Piliin naman ang lugar. Baka naman makasuhan ka ng acts of lasciviousness niyan e!

8. If you don't sleep with them, do not tell your friends that you did.---> Liar liar pants on fire!!! Ma-tosta sana yang pinaka-iingat-ingatan mo!!!

8.5 If you DO sleep with them, don't tell your friends that you did.---> If you do, tell them we were the best sex you've had in your lifetime! *bleh*

9. You can be dirty minded in private, really...most of them are not offended by it...---> Inuman ng Sprite! Magpakatotoo ka p're!

10. Not all of them eat like birds, a lot of them can eat like whales.---> What's the biggest whale again?

11. Most of them don't mind paying half of everything, but they do discuss these things with their friends. Realize that if you make your girlfriend pay half all the time, everyone will know about it and your friends will know y ou're a pussy...---> Pussy? When did being a penny pincher make someone a pussy? Hmmm...someone care to explain this?

11.5 Do you honestly need all your money that much? Be a man, pay all the time!---> Right on!

12. Every girl should eventually get three things from her boyfriend- a stuffed animal, one of his sweatshirts, and a really pretty ring. Even if it's not a serious relationship.---> Awh! *hugs* to whoever came up with this!

13. Make sure she gets home safely as often as you can. If you're dropping her off, walk her to the door. If you aren't dropping her off, call to be sure she's home safely.---> Another hug for you who ever you are!

14. If a guy is bothering her, it is your right to beat the shit out of him.---> My knight and shining armour!

15. If you're talking to a female friend of yours, pull your girlfriend closer.---> Ano ito, preventive measure against jealous outbursts?!?!

16. Never, ever slap her, even if it's just in a joking way. Even if she swats you first, and says, "Oh, you're so dumb" or something, never make any gestures back.---> You bettter not! Cause I'll slap you with a lawsuit for physical injuries so fast, you'll never know what hit you baby!

17. Go to a chick flick once in a while. She doesn't care whether you enjoy it or not, it just matters that you went.---> Hey, I know some guys who enjoy chickflicks! Helps them improve their emotional quotient!

18. You're dead meat if you can't get along with their pets, parents, and best friends. Be prince charming to their friends, Mr. Polite to their parents, and make sure to be nice to their animals.-->"It’s not always rainbows and butterfliesIt’s compromise that moves us along"--She Will Be Loved by Maroon 5

19. Don't flirt with their moms...that's just freaky.---> EWWWW!!!

20. Don't be freaked out by PMS. It's not gross, and it really does make them feel like shit, so be understanding.---> Just to give you an idea...ever had a toothache or wisdom tooth extraction, something similar...

21. If you don't like the way they drive, you do it.---> Kung hindi, mag-commute ka! Sinakay ka na nga, libre na gas, reklamo reklamo pa!

22. If you're officially dating, and you're introducing her to your friends, you'd better damn well introduce her as your girlfriend.---> In short, just put yourself in her shoes when you do something as awful as that.

23. Don't stress where you go for every date. They really only want to be with you.---> Yeah, we really just want to be you. *beautiful eyes*

24. If they complain that something hurts, rub it for them without being asked.---> Gives you another opportunity to touch us... *winkz*

25. Girls are fragile. Even if you're play fighting/wrestling, be very gentle.---> But there are things better done rough... *winkz*

26. Memorize their god damn birthdays. You forget her birthday and you're basically screwed for life.---> Cause for sure, we got down yours to a pat!

27. Don't marinade the cologne, but smell good.---> Marinading in cologne= Nauseousness! So if you dont want puke on you, just settle for some dabs on the pulse points. That way, we'll seek out scent. *hehehe*

28. Don't give her something stupid for her birthday or Christmas or Valentine's day. It doesn't have to be expensive, but it has to be meaningful. Jewelry is always nice.---> Remember, its always better to give than to receive, so give ka lang ng give okay? *lolz*

29. If you think the relationship isn't going to last, don't wait to find out. It will only hurt you more if you draw it out.---> Cut back losses as early as possible. You really dont want to invest on something that would inevitably fail. You're just cheating yourself if you do.

30. After you've been dating for a while, realize that they really have started to trust you. When you have a girlfriend who truly trusts you, you have a lot more responsibility, privilege and control than you would think. Be careful with it, most guys would kill for that kind of power, and it can be lost in a nanosecond.---> "Anyone who, can touch you, can hurt you, or heal youAnyone who, can reach you, can love you, or leave you"-I Bruise Easily by Natasha Bedingfield

Not So Much

Haloscan commenting and trackback have been added to this blog.

There you go! Im not so much of techno ignoramus anymore!

Yippiee!

Where is it?

"Haloscan commenting and trackback have been added to this blog."

I've added Haloscan to my blog but I cant seem to find it! I used the automatic wizard at Haloscan so that I wont make a mistake but it seems like I still did. I cant find the Haloscan comment and trackback that I (technically the wizard) added! *sniff*sniff*sniff* I'm such a techo ignoramus! *sob*

Vacacion En Grande and Then Some

Its been, what, almost four years that I haven't had a proper vacation. By proper vacation, I mean a weeklong, mindless, carefree, aimless wandering and doing nothing but living a pig's life (buhay baboy ^_^ of eating, drinking and sleeping round the clock) vacation. The last time I did that was back in 2002, right after graduating from college. It's been that long!

I've had mini vacations here and there. There are the annual summer/birthday celebration (most of my family members, including yours truly are summer babies, so we tend to tend to hold the birthday celebration together with the summer outings that we do. Actually, I can count in my hands the number of birthdays I didn't spent inside a pool or by a pool) jaunts to Laguna where everyone goes to for a quick dip in the pool if you don't have one of your own, which is the prevalent status quo in this country of ours *rainbow eyes*. Then there was this trip to Nagcarlan, Laguna, courtesy of Pet/PJ/Riasan, where I, together with JT, got a taste of our very own version of a Simple Life. No, we didn't get to milk cows or any other bovine for that matter like Nicky and Paris did, nor did we do chores to earn our keep. The Simple Life factor in our version of it is the laid back community that played host to us in our stay in Nagcarlan. Everybody knew everybody and it seems that Pet/PJ/Riasan and her family were like local celebrities. Everywhere we went with Ninang, Pet/PJ/Riasan's aunt with whom we stayed with, introductions would start with, "Eto si PJ, anak ni (insert PJ's father's name here), and the other person would say, "Ay, siya nga ba! Aba, ang laki laki mo na a! Kamusta na ang tatay mo? Naalala ko pa...blah blah blah." (Pet/PJ/Riasan ano ba ginawa ng pamilya niyo sa Nagcarlan at ganun kayo kasikat? O sadyang maliit lang ang community nung lugar kaya everybody knows everybody?) And finally, there were those trips to the summer capital, Baguio City! (say it the way beauty contestants do...hehehe). If my memory serves me right, I've been there three times. The first when I was too little to remember anything. I only know because I got pictures (Kodak moments with Lola). The second was with my brother, his friend, Ate Dory, and Tia Rosing. Didn't get to move around that much cause I had to be consentious of the elders we had with us, hence our jaunts were limited to the town proper and traditional places that hilaw na tourista like us would go to. The last one was with Pet/PJ/Riasan and JT (hey guys! Aren't you noticing a pattern here? Its always us three that gets to go on vacation...hmmm...mukhang dapat tayong magplano ng vacation ulit na tayong 3 lang...kasi pag tayong 3 lang, natutuloy ang vacation e...bwehehe) where Mary's sacrificial lamb was born (this is another story that I decline to elaborate on).

Sembreak is fast approaching with only four exams and a paper to go. I've already got a few things lined up to do as soon as I print and submit my last requirement for this semester and before I get anxiety attacks waiting for my grades in the email. First up would be to meet a friend who arrived from somewhere who would be treating me out to a gimmick which I'm SO looking forward to kasi...libreng inom to mga chong! Lolz! Lahat ng bagay, di ba, mas lalong sumasarap kapag libre! Second would be being a dakilang driver to my younger cousins and two nieces. My brother got this bundle (and I mean BUNDLE) of tickets for Star City that entitles holder to 5 free rides for just paying the entrance fee of (I think, not sure) 50 bucks. Since the tickets are only valid till the 27th of this month, we'll probably going on the 21st. Third would finalizing the deal with the photo studio of our choice for the Forum and coming up with the details for me and my batchmate's grad photo shoot schedule. It doesn't really sound relaxing but it does have its perks as there are 2 bidders that are offering test shots. And being the photo editor, I get to be in one of those test shots! Libreng glamour shot! Ang saya! After that, I'm free as bird to do some proper vacation! Yippiee!

So where do I want to have my so called proper vacation? Locally, I'd like to go our beaches that haven't been that commercialized or exposed to tourist. I remember watching Team Explorer on Studio 23 and they featured this island off Bohol that looked like Boracay before the deluge of commercialism hit the place. DOT (Department Of Tourism) under Gordon has been pushing over the years that we shouldn't be aliens in our own country (wag maging banyaga sa sariling bansa) and this is also the overriding theme of his successors. I'd love to heed that call but how can I when the prices for trips to those tourist spots they keep on advertising on TV and magazine are tourista prices?! With the kind of economy we have, its no wonder why people would rather bear the traffic on SLEX (di ko na pwedeng i-include ang NLEX dahil, according to their ad, "walang traffic dito!") everytime Gloria declares a non working holiday to hit Laguna, Cavite and Batangas to unwind than hit the domestic airport and fly out the other provinces of our archipelago. On the other side of the coin, if I were to go out of the country this sembreak, I have four countries in mind as my destination: Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Hongkong, and Thailand (not necessarily in the order they appear, though).

Yes, I don't speak Mandarin nor is the place considered a tourist destination, so why Taiwan you ask? Simple, I've got a place to stay there. A friend of a friend, who is also considering going me on this trip if ever it pushes through, lives there and is willing to house us, which in turn will make it easier for us to obtain a visa (rainbow eyes! haiz, ke-arte naman kasi nitong mga chekwang ine! may pavisa-visa pa, e di pa naman totally recognized as a country in the family of nations...asus! pa-improtante...tsk!tsk!tsk!) since the first thing they ask is where you're staying at. Free lodging, and most probably board as well, translate to more dough for me to spend on myself. Saan ka pa di ba? Kebs na kung mag-sign language ako sa pagtawad sa night market nila! The same goes for Thailand.

As for Singapore and Malaysia, there is a tour package for like $223 for a 5 day tour of both countries. I haven't checked out the details that my cousin told me but if the details are iffy, then I could just opt to go on TigerAir or AirAsia that has the lowest airfare going to both countries. Yung nga lang, sa AirAsia, you have to go to subic to take their flight. But, for the price of a $67 ticket going to Singapore/Malaysia, I wouldn't mind the 3+ trip to Subic. Lastly, hopping on the bandwagon of Disneyland crazed Asians is my "reason" for going to Hongkong. Sama mo na rin ang shopping!

Sigh...sana lang talaga, hindi lang siya puro plano...sigh...

My Kind of ABC's

Got this one from Smung's

A- Age: A number you shouldnt be measured against
B - Band Listening To Right Now: None at the moment, but I'd like to hear Bamboo, Cueshe, Hale or Sting (? is he part of a band?) and almost forgot, U2 as well.
C- Career: Working on it!
D - Drink or Smoke: Drink! One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, four tequila, FLOOR!
E - Easiest Friends To Talk To: My fellow tian shi's and my highschool friends! I miss you guys!!!
F - Favorite Song/s at the moment: Because of You by K.Clarkson, Don't Cha by PCD and I Dont Wanna Be by Gavin Mcgrawe
G - Gummy Bears or Gummy Worms: Worms. I like their flavours better.
H - Have a Girlfriend: I'm still very much into MEN, thank you.
I- In love: Willing to be...
J - Junk Food You Like: Potato chips and HKC!
K - Kids: Love them!
L - Longest Ride Ever: hmmm...on what may I ask? Coz, you know, you can ride many things... *winkz*
M - My Favorite Sport: Swimming and anything that involves a racket.
N - Names For Your Future Kids: Oh my, I lost the paper where I wrote them before but here is what I like at the moment. For boys: Martin Alexander, Tristan Michael, and Marc Nathan. For girls: Heather Brianna, Tatiana Alie, and Faith Christiane
O - One Wish You Have Now: That I pass my final year in law school
P - Phobias: anything that slithers and are slimy.
Q - Favorite Quote: Everyone is perfect once you learn to view their imperfections perfectly.
R - Reasons To Smile: My life and everyone in it.
S - Sleeping Hours: a minimum of 6 hours.
T- Time You Woke Up: today? 9:23
U - Unknown Fact About You: Let's leave it at that okay?
V - Vegetable You Hate: Okra! Slimy! Radish.
W - Worst Habit: Procastinating!
X - X-rays You've Had: general x-ray when I was like 7 when I dislocated my thumb. Yeah, yeah, I know, how can you dislocate your thumb? But hey! I was seven so cut me some slack okay?
Y - Yummy Foods: I'm not choosy when it comes to food. Just dont serve with real "exotic" ones.
Z - Zodiac Sign: Taurus

He Was Asking For It

Finals week is next week! *grumble,grumble, mumble!* First up is Criminal Law Review. I don't know how to study for this subject! Its partly *bleh!* (I've got enough responsibilities on my shoulder to add this one on, so I'm distributing the burden!)*evil laugh* my fault cause I took this subject for granted (awh...ang mushy ng dating!). Why? Cause the professor was asking to be taken for granted! Owh! I know I sound so baaaddd! But before you pass judgment on me and my wickedness, hear out the reasons why I think (and feel) that the professor was asking to be taken for granted.

1. There's no attendance--With all the subjects, particularly this subject I have with this particularly bad faith professor, and not to mention the Thesis bruhaha that all seniors had to go through, this was definitely the big GO signal for everyone in the class (this was a joint session between the two afternoon classes who happen to have the same professors in all subjects) to cut as often as they want, be it excused or just out of plain laziness to come to class.
2. There's no recitation--Aside from the cut system that is in place to compel students to come to class, WON they like to, recitation is another compulsion that assures the seats in class are filled for it usually makes a third of your grade in a subject. There are professors who dont respect cuts and grades you when you're called and you're absent which equates to a 1 (4 is the highest in our grading system) or 60 if you're really unlucky. So if you've got a professor that belongs to the latter category, then you'd prefer to be present for effort to be in class earns you an additional 10 points. 70 is still a 70 but at least its not a 60.
3. There's only lecture-- A two-hour "accented" lecture in an airconditioned room with mood lights and you esconed in slightly plush upholstered seats = boredom! Rather than be caught snoozing away, wouldnt you want to spend those hours productively?
4. There's supplemental readings--The professor has coined a name for these supplemental readings that, due to privacy issues (mine mostly) I shall not reveal, almsot contain what he said in the lecture. The only drawback is that having these photocopied will definitely burn all your pants' pockets.
5. The class is 6-8, Monday and Thursday--Enough said!

SO now, do you believe (or at least understand) why I say the professor was asking to be "abused"?

Don't Go To China Ashley Simpson

China will punish any firm or singer who is found to be lip-synching.
ORIENTAL DAILY NEWS - Government officials are cracking down on lip-syncing, a trend that's been spreading north into the Mainland by way of Hong Kong singers. Starting on September 1st, it is criminal activity for performers from the Mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan, while performing in China, to lip sync. Their belief is that it constitutes consumer fraud. All along, new and old singers from Hong Kong have lip-synced, such as Andy Lau, Leo Ku, Twins and Kelly Chen. They've been accused of it and with the new breed of singers, the situation is just getting worse.

As China has opened up its markets, more Hong Kong singers are flocking to the Mainland to perform. Monkey see, monkey do, singers from the Mainland are catching on too. Should any performer, promoter or production company be found guilty of this charge, even for nonprofit organizations, the government will take away the company's business license. Furthermore, the Chinese government is no longer allowed to sponsor any concert and cannot use any government funds to purchase any concert tickets. They are trying to get the public involved too. Any person who suspects that a performer is lip-syncing should report it to authorities either by phone or text messaging. The government promises that they will take appropriate action.

I dont know if these Chinese authorities got to watch Ashley Simpson on SNL or they went down music's memory lane and remembered the drealocked, cycling shorts & coat duo Millie-Vanillie (spell check, please) of the late 80's to early 90's when they thought of this prohibition (but knowing how they value their own brand of music, I dont think it was any of those I mentioned). Well, whatever triggered this knee-jerk reaction, I think it was called for. Transmorphing the situation to legal parlance, China is just implementing civil society's "unjust enrichment" rule--that no one should be enriched at the unjust expense of another (haha! I think I just failed in exlpaining what unjust enrichment is. Anyway, just look it up in the NCC (New Civil Code) guys; the book on Human Relations). Now, in ordinary parlance, they're prohibiting a mass rip off by the artist against the fans. These fans qued (and probably had to bear the burnt of the extreme weathers in China), shelled out hard earned money, and did numerous overtime work to free their schedule to see a live show! And what do they get? Recording! Aint that a rip off or what? You paid for a live show, of course, naturalmente, you expect to see a live show! No amount of explanation can excuse an artist who is doing a live concert for doing a lip synching. Even if they say they are sick! They know the rigors and demands of the industry they are in, so they should have prepared; beefed up their immune system and took precaution. If they cant stand it, then they better put off their concerts until they can. It saves them and their fans from disappointment, disillusionment, extreme embarassment and loss of credibility which is something, in any industry or career, hard to regain once lost.