Robot Cuteness

This was just too awesome not to post. :) Robots dancing the viral-LSS song "Nobody" of the Wonder Girls

Refuge

(Front Row L-R: Marco, RJ and Mark; 2nd Row L-R: Brian, David, Jon and Tim; 3rd Row L-R: Jess, Abi and Me; 4th Row L-R: Jasper, Minneli and Jacq; Last Row L-R: Andrew and Martin; Not in photo: Beej and Migs)

This is my Refuge every Wednesday at 8pm.

Marco: the coffeeshop owner (TazadeKape along E.Rod has good food!)

RJ: the newest freelancer in town

Mark: the leader

Brian: the keyboardist

David: the new guy

Jon: the noodle-eating boy

Tim: the one who's waiting hahahaha peace!

Jess:the Kiwi

Abi: the Fil-Am, lost, late-for-an-exam girl

Jasper: the mixed breed

Minneli: the M.I.S.S.

Jacq: the graphic artist

Andrew: the bassist

Martin: the Spongebob

Beej: the one in Canada

Migs: the Next Big Star (Ng, 2009)

Awesome. Real. Cool. Unpretentious. Fun. Authentic.

This is Refuge :)

Gravity

A song by Sara Bareilles of the Love Song fame. This video is probably one of the most ingenious music videos I have ever seen.

Loveless Romance

Copyright 2009 JesusBranded

Holy Ghost

Credits: xkcd.com

Lost in Binary #3

01001001 00100000 01101100 01101111 01110110 01100101 00100000 01111001 01101111 01110101 00100000 01100010 01110101 01110100 00100000 01101001 00100000 01100100 01101111 01101110 00100111 01110100 00100000 01101011 01101110 01101111 01110111 00100000 01101000 01101111 01110111 00100000 01110100 01101111 00100000 01110100 01100101 01101100 01101100 00100000 01111001 01101111 01110101 00101110 00100000 01001001 00100000 01100001 01101101 00100000 01110011 01110101 01100011 01101000 00100000 01100001 00100000 01100011 01101111 01110111 01100001 01110010 01100100 00100000 01100110 01101111 01110010 00100000 01101110 01101111 01110100 00100000 01101101 01100001 01101011 01101001 01101110 01100111 00100000 01100001 01101110 01111001 00100000 01101101 01101111 01110110 01100101 00101110 00100000 01000010 01110101 01110100 00100000 01001001 00100000 01100100 01101111 00100000 01101011 01101110 01101111 01110111 00100000 01110100 01101000 01100001 01110100 00100000 01111001 01101111 01110101 00100000 01100001 01101100 01110010 01100101 01100001 01100100 01111001 00100000 01101011 01101110 01101111 01110111 00101110 00100000 01010011 01101111 00100000 01110111 01101000 01111001 00100000 01101001 01110011 00100000 01101001 01110100 00100000 01110011 01110100 01101001 01101100 01101100 00100000 01101000 01100001 01110010 01100100 00100000 01110100 01101111 00100000 01110100 01100101 01101100 01101100 00100000 01111001 01101111 01110101 00111111

Battle of Katipunan

we won against last year's champs by a large margin! haha! :p

Let's go U.P.!!

Atonement

"I'm very, very sorry for the terrible distress that I've caused you. I am very, very sorry..."

Joe Wright's interpretation of Ian McEwan's literary masterpiece, "Atonement" is one of the best book-to-movie adaptations I have ever seen.

Tim Villarica lent me the book a week ago and I'm still on the 4th chapter, so I decided to download the film instead and read the book later.

A love story that has levels that are not meant to be understood by the likes of the (mis)educated girl on the bus, Atonement explores the story of a little girl's mind that is able to create characters and scenes. Then one is led to a web of a narrative that blurs the line between fiction and reality. A writer who's mind runs on fiction, tears lives apart and ultimately, cursing two hearts beating.

Excellent cinematography, score and acting, that is Atonement.

Watch/read it and let me know what you think. :)

Litterbug: does this say that writers are very good weavers of lies?!?! hahahaha :p

Earmuffs

Copyright 2009 JesusBranded

HELPPPP!!!!

hey guys! i'm helping raise funds for a friend who's in dire need. :) whatever amount will do. so far, what we've got cannot cover half of what's needed. so you ask what's this for? my friend's mom might just get imprisoned if she is not able to pay a certain amount to someone. so here we are, desperately trying to raise the amount due. donations are very much welcome, but if you'd rather lend, it's okay too. we'll pay you ASAP. you can contact me through my email add: djoseph.ramos@gmail.com or my mobile number 09159055150 if you wish to help us out with our endeavor. or you can deposit your donations/loans to any Union Bank, account number: 109450616710

thank you very much! :)

Lost in Binary #2

She feels abandoned as the plane stabbed the thin air above it.

Five years.

---

They agreed to talk every Friday.

She waits with much hesitation.

BUZZ!

They update each other.

They log off.

She sleeps.

---

She opens her closet and finds the small box.

He promised her that.

Right before he left.

“Soon.”

---

She wakes up.

Staring at the ceiling, thinking.

Around her finger is a ring.

Beside her is another man.

---

And the unanswered window keeps Buzzing every Friday since.

Do Not Disturb

Two weeks ago, while rain poured all over Makati and people scrambled for bus space, I sat comfortably by the window. I usually sleep whenever I'm on that side of the bus. Along Ayala Avenue, I was awaken by a series of loud sounds. This fat dude (yes, he's fatter than me in case you're wondering) in front of me is snoring so loudly that everyone inside the bus couldn't help but exhale hearty, you-should-wake-up-and-alight-the-bus laughs. some snores are just plain disgusting to hear, and his was along that highway.

This morning as I rode the FX to Ayala, I experienced another tired person sleeping. And this time, it's not a fat dude but a girl! My ears were plugged with earphones and maxxed volume, yet I could still hear her! The whole 1 and a half hours of traveling was just not bearable.

Oh well, being tired is not a crime. But disturbing other people's peace is!

Photo Credit: blog.cantaloupe.tv

Disaster Voyeurism

Credits: xkcd.com

Lost in Binary #1

He only met her once. Hi. Hello.
The night tore on with lights tirelessly dancing around them.
And the cab took him away not knowing when he’ll see her again.

---
He’s really not into inviting people he does not know.
But his index finger was braver than him.
He waits for her to approve.
---

The green light is on.
“Hey!”
He waits.
A thought bubble appears.
They talk, even while being strangers.
Numbers are exchanged.
---

Daily, he sits in front of the white screen.
Daily, he wishes for the green light.
Daily, he waits.

Lost in Binary series

Between 1s and 0s are two people.

Between 1s and 0s are words.

These are their stories.

The Other Joseph

I am such a photography dork. If only I have the bills to equip myself with such nice gear, you'd probably find me dead with a camera around my neck. And so, I resolve to feature other awesome photographers' works. And from my home base, talent is not that hard to find. Heck, I'm from such an awesome college where practically everyone can do anything and everything. And I mean everything!

This is Joseph Pascual, a Film student. And these are some of his many excellent photos. Check them out at otherjoseph.livejournal.com. When my friend, Barbie, asked me to check his LJ out for her photo, I instantly became a fan. If you happen to pass by our humble abode that is our college, you'll often see him lugging around a camera or two.

The (Mis)Education of the Girl on the Bus

Tired from work.

On a bus.

On my way to training.

My peace was disturbed.

I know I have such a loud mouth.

But I don't babble senseless things (at least most of the time.)

Was desperately trying to catch some rest since work was tiring and I'd have to exert effort in a matter of minutes.

A girl behind starts talking - loudly and annoyingly.

She starts by telling her friend that she wants to watch the latest Harry Potter flick (an HP film that I'm really interested to watch since I got hooked by the trailer.)

I listen in since she then followed that with a conversation regarding her take on certain movies and literature. (by now you should know that I am such a flick and literature geek.)

Then she said something that made me cringe and pity her very poor sense of literature. She declared that without a doubt, the Twilight series are the best books ever written. I stop myself from laughing hysterically.

She does not stop there. She then says one of the dumbest things I've heard in recent history, "di ko gets kung bakit gandang-ganda sila sa Wall-E, wala namang sense eh." I literally had to cover my mouth to stop myself from answering back.

First she glorifies a series of books that would not even qualify with the ranks of Palahniuk or Murakami (not even Brown's) then she shuts down one of the best animated films ever made. (As in seriously, it would not take a genius to comprehend the satirical wonders of Wall-E!)

Is she kidding me?!?! When they said that the quality of our education is worsening, I did not think it would come down to this! (Okay, that was evil of me. But I could not help it, Twilight series as the best??!?!)

Dear government (and to the incoming one), instead of making yourselves richer, please allocate a humongous budget for education! And please find out where she studied and teach them how to teach literature and comprehension. We badly need it.

Photo Credit: forumgallery.com

Ceasing of Thievery

Copyright 2009 JesusBranded

Wet Mornings

Woke up with the sound of the pouring rain landing on our iron roof. It's 7am. And I'm late. Usually by 7, I'm already on a PUV on my way to work. Half an hour later, I'm out of the house.

You see, catching a ride to work is always a tough feat. A lot of waiting. Standing. Running. Pushing people aside. And finally sitting for almost two hours to arrive at one's destination. Imagine that at least 15 other people are doing this. And every time, only 10 are accommodated by Manong's FX. Today proved to be harder since it's pouring like crazy.

The sound of the pouring rain that woke me up, continued to generously land on the FX's roof and it's starting to lull me to sleep. After two hours, I wake up greeted by lofty buildings and droves of men and women walking around with umbrellas above their head.

All of us, just longing to arrive at our destination - dry.

Photo credit: travelpod.com

Manila

This promises to be a good film that showcases actors who are not

usually seen in independent movies.

Let's just cross our fingers, hopefully it delivers.

Directed by Adolfo Alix Jr and Raya Martin

This is --

MANILA.

The Craziness

Of 11 Lives.

Some of us weren't even really friends when we started out.

Plain acquaintances, we stayed in one slammin' house in Batangas.

Since, we were inseparable.

We can turn any boring room into a party place.

Laugh our hearts out until we could barely breathe.

11 of the Craziest people I know.

And I freakin' terribly miss them.

:(

Things Fall Apart

Credits: xkcd.com

burning sticks

It was June. I was tidying up. In constant bouts to erase yesterday's mess. I first saw you in solitude - silent. But your embers drew me. I'd spend countless Jose Rizals just to see your burning coals. No one knew about my addiction. My parents would smell the smoke, but they never saw the fire. They say you're prohibited, illegal even, but I honestly don't care. You were are my addiction, my running engine. One January night, I made a mistake and stopped puffing. The next 365 were hard. At the point when I thought I was finally able to quit you, I puffed smoke again. I know you and the dangers you bring, yet, in all vulnerability, I gave in. No, you don't want me. In fact, you're slowly killing me. Still-- I puff. Then I say, 'this is my last stick', just what I said yesterday, and the day before that.

*No I don't smoke. =) It's an essay inspired by someone I saw smoking under a lamp post and a friend who's been trying to stop.

Wearing Jesus

Copyright 2009 JesusBranded

That is the latest design from US-based graphic design shirt company, JesusBranded.

I stumbled upon their company when a friend posted one of their earlier designs (below) on Facebook. And instantly I was hooked.

Copyright 2009 JesusBranded

Samuel Franada is the artist who does all these amazing designs. He's half-Filipino, which makes him extra awesome!

Copyright 2009 JesusBranded

I added him up on Facebook and was able to talk to him. Ever since, I'd post on Facebook the designs they post every week.

Copyright 2009 JesusBranded

What I love about their designs is that they actually are messages. That they're not just statement shirts or graphic art, they carry a meaning with them. That God blessed them with a talent to bring His message through graphic art.

Copyright 2009 JesusBranded

And every time I post them, it pains me that I do not have $17 to buy one and shipped here to our shores. Once, Sam made a comment on my Facebook, apologizing for the shirts' price. I told him that it's ok and I would definitely purchase one soon.

Copyright 2009 JesusBranded

One of their recent designs (below) really hit close to home. Me and my stupid mouth.

Copyright 2009 JesusBranded

I am constantly blessed when people people share their thoughts and experiences that are related to the current design. Oftentimes, people just pour their hearts out (I know I have) in all their vulnerability, but at the same time we are all secure that we are not going through things alone.

Copyright 2009 JesusBranded

Yesterday, I got an email from Sam and was truly blessed by it! Thanks Bro!

This is their Real World

"This is the true story... of seven strangers... picked to live in a house...work together and have their lives taped... to find out what happens... when people stop being polite... and start getting real...The Real World."

So says the show's OBB.

Been watching the current season (thanks to torrent downloading..shhhhhh.. haha) that brought eight American youngsters to the sandy beaches of Cancun. And so far, they've been nothing but entertaining.

Sans the possibility that this is actually a scripted show, I actually like its premise. I mean, come on, admitting that they won't be polite on this show is already a winner. With all the bleeps and the blurred fingers sticking out of each episode, I get the sense that these kids aren't acting out. That they're actually pissed. They they're actually having fun (at least occasionally.) At least to them, this is what being "real" is all about.

As a Filipino viewer, I couldn't help but compare them with our own futile attempts at reality shows. I remember how surprised our fellow Filipinos acted when they first saw the "controversial" first season of Big Brother. Filipinos are not like that, they said. But what if, our race has already evolved to such an extent? That women are no longer Maria Claras and that Filipino juveniles nowadays are not well behaved the whole 24 hours? I like it how Hannah, my officemate, puts it - our culture has become so traditional and customary that despite the evolving times, it still tries to be traditional yet at the end of it, is just plain pretentious.

Since that season, viewers watch Housemates that are reduced to drones whose main task is to please everyone. But honestly, why is our culture too scared to watch the real us? I feel like we're living in a culture that expects everyone to get along, when sometimes we do have to disagree. When we do have to take stands.

"You're not always going to like everyone and they're not always going to like you. That's just the way the world works," says Emilee, a roommate of this season's Real World.

And I agree.

Introductions.. Introductions..

I am a writer. I tend to write anything and everything that's on my mind. This blog will be that venue.

Sometimes i'd write a phrase or two that are whims out of my head. Or a plain report of the day that has been. Or a short story i wrote on my way to work. Or a blog on the current bureaucracy and its many flaws. Or a critique on the metro's unforgiving corners. Yes, when I said that I write anything and everything, I meant it. :)

This will be my doodle notebook.
And I do hope that it's pages will be filled.