Bursting Uncensored Thoughts

When cars collide

2010-10-19T12:36:00.004+08:00

I remember hearing laughter, then frantic horns blaring, screeching tires then BAM!

I check my friend, Bev, beside me if she's alright. She said she is. We get off the cab and take photos of the wreck. The photo above doesn't really give an exact image of the wreck of the cab we were riding. We walk to the nearest shed. I thank God that Bev and I are safe.

I don't remember panicking right at that moment. But when we get on an FX headed for home, that's when things dawned on me.

I could have died. Then a thousand more scenarios play through my head. I arrive home and head straight for my parents room.

I wake up and prepare for work. I ride a cab. The driver steps on the brake. I find myself slightly nervous whenever he does that.

Dear Iskolar ng Bayan,

2010-10-08T10:37:00.004+08:00

WATCH THIS:

I am only one but I am one. I cannot do everything but I can do something. What I can do, I ought to do, and with the grace of God, I WILL DO IT. (Monsod, 2010)

Ikagugulantang Niyo!

2010-10-04T09:14:00.006+08:00

I remember sitting in the front row of the Guerrero Theater. I remember laughing the whole night. I remember wanting to watch it again. That was in 2006. On October 2, 2010, at 3 in the afternoon, I sat on the second row waiting for the same show I watched four years ago to start.

When I learned that Dulaang UP will restage Shock Value and that my awesome Theater 12 (the one and only academic class besides PE na streetdance na naka-UNO ako yeaboi!) professor, Dexter Santos (pictured below), is part of the production, I knew that I should watch the show by hook or by crook.

Unfortunately, Sir Dex wasn't part of the show I watched. Instead, the original Ritchie that I watched four years ago played the part. Matt Deseparasidos was played by Jojit Lorenzo pictured below, instead of the Andoy Ranay who I watched before.

The show isn't for the conservative type. Beside me was a lola accompanying her apo who is a student of UP. During the infamous bed scene where Matt is caught having sex with Jason, lola exclaimed to apo, "Hija, ano ba tong pinapanood natin? Bakit kayo pinapayagan manood ng ganito?" I was laughing so hard both on the scene and lola's remarks! That day will always be marked as "The Day Shock Value shocked Lola"

Shock Value is a satire of the Philippine media and how it has exploited itself among other things. Underneath the surface, it is more than just gay sex and network wars. Amidst all the laughter is the reality that the industry is a flawed one.

I want to watch Shock Value again... and again... and again. Yes, it's THAT awesome.

Blast!

2010-09-28T09:35:00.000+08:00

The crowds cheered. The schools grooved. And five out of 12 teams made it to the finals.

Last Sunday was UP Street's elimination leg for the Skechers Streetdance Battle. The competition, now on its 6th year, has become the biggest streetdance competition in the country since its inception in 2005 - as evidenced by its ever increasing ticket prices.

This is our team right before the compet:

Photo by: Liza Carbonel

Congratulations UP Streetdance Club for making it to the finals! Compet team - Aye, David, Toki, Renz, Jolo, Trizza, Lian, KatM, Miko, JM, Phim, Hannah, Espi, Reg, Canter and Leonard, props to you guys for represnting the org, our school and God, of course.

While we were having a blast with all the dancing, a real blast happened on the other side of town. The usually festive Salubong for barristers ended in tragedy as some got rushed to the hospital because of an explosion along the crowd-filled Taft Ave.

One of my college friends, Estella Maniquis, a current student of San Beda Law is one of the victims of the explosion.

Initial investigation points to frat wars as the cause of the explosion. At least a couple of victims had to have their legs amputated due to severe damage.

Dear culprit, I would wish that you blow up to pieces but I wouldn't. Instead I hope that you'd feel pain that the family members of the affected students are feeling.

Been reading..

2010-09-24T11:52:00.004+08:00

a blog for more than a week now. Started reading posts from 2007, I'm now on the last month of 2008.

Funny how some of the posts just hit you on the spot.

Bye now, two more years of posts to read.

15 films

2010-09-23T16:19:00.007+08:00

Here are 15 movies on top of my head - more like movies I would watch again and again.. and again.

MUST SEE WITHDRAWAL FILM: Trainspotting

MUST SEE ZOMBIE FILM: 28 Days Later

MUST SEE DREAM/REALITY AMBIGUITY FILM: Inception

MUST SEE KOREAN FILM: The Classic

MUST SEE NON-LINEAR FILM: Memento

MUST SEE VAMPIRE FILM: Let the Right One In

MUST SEE TEARJERKER FILM: Grace is Gone

MUST SEE MEMORY ERASURE FILM: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

MUST SEE DISTURBING COMMUNITY FILM: Dogville

MUST SEE SUPERHERO FILM: The Dark Knight

MUST SEE VIOLENT CHILDREN FILM: City of God

MUST SEE DYSTOPIC FUTURE FILM: Children of Men

MUST SEE STAR CROSSED LOVERS FILM: Atonement

MUST SEE POST-WW2 RACISM FILM: American History X

MUST SEE NON-LOVE STORY FILM: (500) Days of Summer

What's in your list?

Cough and Colds

2010-09-23T13:40:00.001+08:00

Two weeks, not getting any better.

UGH.

Hunger Pains and Budget Cuts

2010-09-20T11:59:00.006+08:00

The weekend was fun to say the least. But for the most part, I was in pain.

Friday night, due to heavy traffic towards Ortigas, nalipasan ako ng gutom. The Buffalo Wings from Charlie's at 10:30pm (a must try!) didn't help. So my stomach was hurting really bad. Then off to a party at Manor, Eastwood for Vimi's birthday. Joel's back!! Really fun night despite the badly aching stomach.

Saturday morning, woke up with bad headache. Left the house for the Skechers Kick Off Party and first round of college eliminations! Congratulations ate Mycs and LSDC Street! :) Then off to a road trip away from traffic-ridden MOA and EDSA. Roadtrip with some Club friends which took us forever. And it was traffic everywhere in the Metro na nalipasan na naman ako ng gutom. UGH. Met up with Refuge (my GCF growth group) for a birthday dinner then off to Minneli's house to visit her dad.

Sunday, church and family day. Started out okay until really late lunch came with some churchmates in MOA. We ate around 1:30pm at nalipasan na naman ako ng gutom. But the pain was extra hard to endure this time. The coffee didn't help. But sleep did! The pain subsided around11pm.

----

Short story: I NEVER liked Noy. Such a false sense of hope just cause he is the son of Ninoy of Cory.

And then this happened: A proposed budget cut of 1.39 Billion pesos. B is for BULL!

I am an Iskolar ng Bayan - MATAPANG, MATALINO, WALANG TAKOT KAHIT KANINO and I AM AGAINST Noy's 1.39 billion budget cut!

Noy can shove his yellow hope somewhere else, NOT IN MAROON LAND!

thanks to greatgatusby.tumblr.com for the awesome budget cut art.

Blogging again

2010-09-17T17:07:00.003+08:00

It's been a looooong time. I don't even remember the last time I updated this blog. But here I go again. The need to have brain and emotional farts is just too strong for me today.

A blog that I've started reading is starting to depress me. Ewan, today's been off. Ugh gotta shake off the blues.

Hello there Mr. Weekend!

REFUGE in BOLINAO

2010-04-09T15:12:00.006+08:00

So here's the beach that I went to during the Holy Week vacation :) and these are the people that made the trip so much fun. 'Til the next trip to the BEAAAACH! (NOTE: all photos were taken by Robin James Yu)

REFUGE.

The girls are making fun of my huuuuge tummy.

JUMP!

SAND. WATER. SUN. BEACH.

2010-04-08T14:07:00.003+08:00

In a month's time, not only was I able to spend an awesome Holy Week vacation with really awesome people (will post photos later), I'm spending four days on an island in Palawan. Gotta love the beach. :)

*photo taken by Robin James Yu

The Employed Lad

2010-04-05T13:48:00.004+08:00

Wow. It's been a while since I actually wrote something substantial here.

A lot of things have happened already. Quick recap:

I got a year older.
Bummed for two months (Dec to Jan)
Tried the news wire life
Road ended with the news wire life
Two weeks of dancing
SFX: Decade. Vision. Dance.

And just like that, I am shoved to a corner inside an office. And work commenced.

I easily got a job shortly after my Reuters stint. Ate Iona (a UP Street orgmate) submitted my resume to her agency. And before I knew it, I am reporting for work a week after.

A lot has happened since. Calls. Calls. Email. Event. Email. Rounds. Rounds. Rounds. Follow-ups. Calls. Rounds.
Work's something like that.

Rounds. Rounds. Rounds.

I thank God that immediately got a job. Hopefully, I'd be able to perform well. :)

The Fanboy

2009-11-24T11:22:00.003+08:00

I was a freshman then when I watched the first Skechers StreetDance Battle at the World Trade Center, December 2005. It was for free then ~~until Skechers realized that they can make big bucks out of it~~.

That night started what was to become the biggest and most coveted streetdance competition title in the country.

I was a basic streetdance student under Prof. Jerome Dimalanta then, and I remember him telling the class that the Club's piece would make us, mga Iskoand Iska, proud.

The UP StreetDance Club of UP Diliman won that night. And I went home, a proud Isko, never knowing that those people would later become my family.

Auditioning for the UP StreetDance Club was tremendously scary. Let's leave it at that. Haha.

Soon after, I was on the same stage with the same people I was screaming for, six months back. And dancing with them just feels so surreal. I used the present tense because until now, I am in awe that I get to dance with people of such great talent. And our relationship does not end on the dance floor.

Skechers 2 and 3 happened. And in both occasions, I lost my voice.

It's one thing cheering for people representing your school. It's a different story when they're your friends.

It's been three days, and yet I'm still ecstatic.

Armed with a new team with a different swagger, you guys conquered Araneta with much gusto.

I thank God for blessing the Club with Skechers 5.

Congratulation UP StreetDance Club!

I will always be a fan. Always.

Pause #2

2009-11-10T21:21:00.002+08:00

haven't been blogging lately. No excuses. But Imma update this at least twice a week from now on :) ciao!

this is IT!

2009-11-02T08:41:00.003+08:00

This turned me into an MJ fan!

Not a Love Story

2009-10-27T07:56:00.006+08:00

This is a story of boy meets girl. But you should know up front, this is not a love story.

I'm a sucker for chick flicks.

And (500) Days of Summer has been on "YOU SHOULD WATCH" list since forever.

It's one of those films that, as my friend Abi Fernan wrote, "hits the men hard. Yes, the man gets hurt this time and I find it rare for movies to make men feel so hurt they actually TALK about the movie after and express the sadness that they feel.

And talk about the movie I did.

Obviously, the storyline was non-linear as it would jump from day 300something to day 22. But what I liked most was the French Impressionist treatment of the film. Think Amelie and you'd know what I mean. The play of cinematography and mise-en-scene was just amazing. Sorry, the Maskom in me is something I can't live without.

And the film comes with such a kick-ass soundtrack!

Vice Ganda's en-pointe Impersonation of the Mother

2009-10-23T10:11:00.001+08:00

Battle for Terra

2009-10-20T10:47:00.003+08:00

Donning 3D glasses, four friends and I watched the premiere of Battle for Terra at the SM Digital Theater last night.

It is very reminiscent of Wall-E as it explores how humanity itself is the reason of its demise - making Earth uninhabitable.

The film is a direct commentary to the effects of pollution, war and industrialization that is rapidly happening all over the globe.

Despite having a good theory behind the movie, the movie did lack depth in story.

Generally, the movie was good and entertaining way of disseminating the possible effects of the continuing abuse to the environment.

Maybe, we could've shown this one waaaaay before Ondoy and Pepeng?

The Online Helper

2009-10-04T21:01:00.000+08:00

The Ondoy Chapter is far from over. A lot of things are yet to be done. And online, the campaign to raise awareness about what happened and to rally the Filipino youth was overwhelming. Platforms such as Tumlbr, Twitter and Facebook proved to be such powerful tools in mobilizing the Filipino people to help out and volunteer.

Here are some tools used during the campaign that circulated all over Tumblr and Facebook:

A poster urging people to donate goods at the Ateneo campus for their relief operations.

A poster asking people to help out and volunteer since celebrities from other countries are doing so. Why not us, Filipinos too?

A poster of the UP Sagip Isko relief ops campaign. Go Isko!

A poster encouraging Filipinos to help out in restoring, rebuilding and recreating the country.

A poster asking people to help and volunteer for those who are in evacuation centers.

A poster of the Raise the Roof benefit concert for Ondoy victims held at the Megatent along Meralco Ave.

On Twitter, a lot of Filipino personalities, politicians and celebrities utilized its powers by coordinating and updating volunteers through its micro-blogging capability. Spot.ph's article on the 10 Virtual Volunteers: helping out in the time of tweeting gave a list of ten people who were of great help while using Twitter. And I do have to give credit to Gilbert Teodoro for keeping the people updated with current situations all over the metro regarding NDCC matters and answering people's queries. (He directly replied to my Tweet regarding the supposed loose crocs scare in Pasig and Cainta).

The internet isn't just for porn as Avenue Q would argue. And during the past week, it has proved that it is such a powerful to rouse a nation's consciousness for their fellow countrymen.

Pause

2009-09-30T11:27:00.000+08:00

Sorry for the lack of updates. Been very busy lately due to Typhoon Ondoy. But I do hope to post something soon. :)

Feeling Sick

2009-09-22T14:03:00.003+08:00

As I write this, my head is throbbing. My eyes are hurting too. I just want to sleep.

Tiresome Saturday

2009-09-21T10:40:00.010+08:00

I haven't been blogging lately since my brain refuses to work. But today, my brain declared war against stupidity and required me to write.

Saturday, September 19, 2009
Day was pretty jam-packed. My usual Saturday would entail waking up really late. Watching an episode or two of a recently downloaded TV show. Going to GCF for volleyball and youth worship service. And eating dinner with friends. But this particular Saturday wanted me to wake up by 8-ish in the morning and battle through the ACET traffic along Katipunan. Spent most the whole morning and afternoon with the awesome people of AComm as they prepared for the upcoming Rhythm in Blue (RiB) inter-org competition sposored by the Ateneo's very own Company of Ateneo Dancers (CADS).

I left around 2:30 to go to SM Mall of Asia to watch the Skechers Streetdance Battle 5 Kick-Off Party. Good thing I was able to catch a ride with Justin F., Jared, Peter and Rapha. We were a little bit late but it's all good. We got to bond with fellow UP Streetdance Club members as we weaved through the labyrinth that is the department store. We purchased a Von? shirt for Kuya Von.

I soon left the group because the AS1 - Gary Valenciano and Martin Nievera cocnert was just around the corner - literally. I got free tickets for the concert because of Facebook. Yes, Facebook! So I met up with my siblings, Nathan, Eki and Lai. And watched one very historic concert. In my mind, it's like Justin Timberlake and Neyo in one concert.

The concert was really REALLY awesome! One of the dancers was Kuya Sherwin and I kept screaming his name, people stared at me but I didn't really care. It was kuya Sher! He's an orgmate!! Gary and Martin didn't fail to deliver the best in Philippine vocals and they were Robin and Gabb's rendition of BEP's "I Gotta Feeling". Although the concert was great, standing for 2-3 hours was not as fun.

Talk about a tiring day. :|

The Club

2009-09-08T10:40:00.008+08:00

Dear UP StreetDance Club,

Everything started in June 22, 2006. I was number 3. Chris Brown was playing. The room was full of kids aspiring to become part of your seemingly exclusive group. You'd actually have to audition first just to become an applicant! An hour and a half later, the auditions were over and I was on my way back home.

I've always wanted become a part of your group. Ever since I saw you perform during my sister's graduation in April 2003. When I got into UP, I was a week late when I learned about the auditions. After taking Basic StreetDance, screaming during 1st Skechers Streetdance Battle and watching Street Fuzion 6, I stood in front of a panel. Clueless as to what I'll do for the freestyle part of the auditions.

June 26, 2006 I went to the gym to check the list of students who passed. There was none yet. I went home, still hoping that I got in. I was alone, eating dinner when I got the message. "Congratulations..." was the first word that I read and my phone fell into pieces.

Before I knew it, I was training with 34 other people in a room covered with blue mats. Fast forward to March 3, 2007 some of us survived the application process and our first concert as members beckoned. The feeling felt surreal. Exactly a year ago, I was part of the humongous audience watching and screaming in awe. A year later, I was a part of the family on stage.

It wasn't always a walk in the park for us. I know I was one of those kids that took a lot of patience from your end. I'm very sorry for the all the headaches I've caused. I'm sure that at one point my name was synonymous to trouble during conversations. You taught me a lot about character. Thank you for never giving up on me, even if I was just too hard to handle; for allowing me to grow.

Temperature, So Excited, Ching-a-Ling, Go Dumb and Imma Shine are songs I probably wouldn't want to hear again. But you wanted me to dance to those songs week after week.

Batch 06 - Barbie, MJgirl, Noelie, Iya, David, Toki, Joan, Sam, Malco, Jolo, Kel, etc. You guys rock!

Blue Team - Micx, Trizza, Em, Kevin, Rev, Peter, Lian, Malco, Danya, Roz, Rapha, Aylene and Nikki = AWESOME TEAM! =)

Chosen Ground 4

Chosen Ground 5: Reboot

Street Fuzion 7: Homecoming

Street Fuzion 8: Ministry of Dance

Street Fuzion 9: Crossroads

Thank you for these five concerts. It was such a privilege sharing the stage with you.

And now I make my final bow. Good bye for now.

Thank you for the most rockin', kick-ass, awesome three and a half years.

The experiences I shared with you will always be incomparable. Will never exchange them for anything.

For the mean-time, I'll again be part of the crowd in front of you. :)

Regards,

Dan

Trouble!

2009-09-04T11:24:00.004+08:00

If you could, would you?

Mason (lower right) and Sam (upper right) is in a relationship. An open-relationship. And in case you're wondering what that is, it's the type where in both people involved acknowledge that they love each other and are committed to each other YET they consent the other to sleep with other people. Twisted right? Well, people who are in such, would tell you that it works for them. At least it "prevents" them from "cheating" on each other cause both are aware with what each is doing.

Fling is a modern love story. Mason and Sam's love story. But things did get complicated. What started out as innocent flirting between Sam and her college boyfriend, James (upper left); and Mason and 18-year old Olivia (lower left) just spell disaster. I won't be spilling the beans here cause I think it's worth one and a half hours of your time. It's a lot like Closer with Jude Law, Clive Owen, Julia Roberts and Natalie Portman - all those twisted relationships and sex but with far younger people.

But my point is this, I think the idea of open relationships is not a good thing. How can you say that you love someone when you're out screwing somebody else? How can one not be jealous if the one they love is out with another person? It just reeks trouble from the get go. But then again, if it suits other people, I guess it works for them. But I don't think I'm one to enter such a volatile nature.

And I realized how we treat our relationship with God as an open one. And a one-sided one at that.

Just in Case

2009-09-03T15:46:00.002+08:00

You're wondering where all my political brain farts are, I transferred all of them to my new blog site danjosephramos.blogspot.com that would be solely dedicated to anything and everything related to politics. :) please feel free to visit that blog site and comment on the blog entries :)

Lie to Me

2009-09-03T10:48:00.005+08:00

When I was in grade 4, my mom caught me lying about a school project.

During my juvenile years, I would lie to save myself from trouble.

"No, I wasn't the one who broke the glass."

"I wasn't the one who started the fight."

"I swear I didn't know it was yours."

Lies. Lies. Lies.

And now that I'm 21 (and yes, I'm old since I will be turning 22 in three months time) such lies are just plain ridiculous. Oftentimes, telling the truth would keep you out of trouble more than lying. And I learned that the hard way. Ask my parents how.

---

Our generation is very familiar with a lot prominent people both here and overseas who have lied in more ways than one.

Who can forget Sen. Miriam Santiago's infamous admission of lying combined with her laughter during the Erap years?

US Pres. Bill Clinton and the whole Monica Lewinsky brouhaha. "I did not have sexual relations with that woman."

And then there's Erap and GMA. 'nuff said.

---

One of the shows that I am currently ~~obsessed with~~ watching is Lie to Me. And this show is just made of awesome. Its premise is that, even if people desperately try to hide emotions, their micro-expressions (errr facial and gestural and even tone of voice) can give them away.

Dr. Cal Lightman (played Tim Roth) is the world's leading deception expert who studies facial expressions and involuntary body language to discover not only if someone is lying, but why. When someone shrugs one shoulder, rotates a hand or raises the lower lip, Lightman knows he's lying. Based on the real-life scientific discoveries of Paul Ekman, the series follows Lightman and his team of deception experts as they assist law enforcement and government agencies to expose the truth behind the lies.

Watch it!!! Errr, well download it first haha :p

Undignified

2009-09-03T10:38:00.000+08:00

A List

2009-09-01T09:43:00.005+08:00

Make a list of 10 types of people that you don't like and tag people to do the same.

1. Alcohol-driven dads who can buy booze but not proper education for their kids.

2. School bullies who can do nothing but bully intelligent kids to do their homework. Airheads!

3. Reckless jeepney drivers who snake their way through traffic but can only say sorry if they bump a private car since they can't afford to pay for the repair.

4. Spoiled brats. Those who throw tantrums to get what they want.

5. Friendster-using, black-donning jumping jologs who live to emo themselves out.

6. Number 5's hiphop counterparts. Salbakuta-loving kids. They call themselves "ghetto" but I don't think they'd survive the real thing. Apparently numbers 5 and 6 have an on-going online war on Friendster.

7. Mocha frappe-drinking, eighth-floor dwellers. But then, I have really close friends in that category. Ooooops.

8. Twilight fans :p

9. Number 2's variation, those who can turn a school's hall into a fashion runway. But are still airheads anyway.

10. Random people inviting you on Facebook and when you ask who they are because nyou don't normally add people you do not know, they tell you that you're an elitist.

Nearsighted Blindness

2009-08-26T08:18:00.000+08:00

Rice Chronicles #1

2009-08-25T08:46:00.006+08:00

Photo Credit: betterhealth.vic.gov.au

I'm on a journey towards losing weight. I used to say that I don't really care if the "daddy-tummy" is starting to develop. (no, I ain't a dad yet, I promised to keep the crib empty remember? hehe) Since I think that despite having one, I'd still get paid with what I do anyway. I don't use my flabs to think and write in the first place. And so, I continued with my day to day living without caring on the amount of food I eat (and my officemates would tell you that I've been eating a lot) But I realized very recently that the "daddy-tummy" development has to stop. And here I am, embarking on a road that I've taken before - I ain't gonna eat rice at least until our concert day on September 6.

Yesterday was my first day for the no-rice diet and I was successful! For breakfast, I ate Cream-O and coffee. For lunch, we ate at Chowking and I ate pancit bihon and siopao. And for dinner, I ate pancit canton and fried eggs. Yeah yeah, you'll tell me that what I ate aren't so healthy either. But then again, they're not carbs from rice so it's all good for me :p

Until when will I last? I don't know. The rice grains' pull is strong, but I'm the one with the brain. So I guess it's all up to me.

UP, up and away!

2009-08-20T08:24:00.004+08:00

Watched Disney/Pixar's UP with my growth group last night.

And it's just awesome! Sans the effort to rationalize the amount of realism the film has - talking dogs and multi-colored cross-breed dodo bird and ostrich - the massive amount of scientific inconsistencies just makes the animated feature more fun and entertaining. Talking dogs? You get the picture.

Some scenes are tear-jerkers - at least to the awesome girl two seats away from me - and some have LOLs written all over it.

Carl, Ellie, Russell, Dug and Kevin prove that an adventure despite the inevitable danger along the way, is still an adventure worth taking. And in Carl's case, it was an adventure he had to do with a crossed heart.

As always, the Disney/Pixar partnership delivers an animated film that is not just for kids but for adults with juvenile hearts.

So far, all of the films that they have made that I've watched - Monsters Inc., Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Cars, Ratatouille, WALL-E and Up (I have not watched both Toy Stories and A Bug's Life, I'm a loser that way) - I always get the same feeling after.

I'm not sure what it is, but others call it "heart-warming".

Rescue

2009-08-19T08:39:00.000+08:00

Let's see how this improves over the year :)

2009-08-18T15:55:00.000+08:00

My Lakbayan grade is C!

How much of the Philippines have you visited? Find out at Lakbayan!

Created by Eugene Villar.

Two Parties and a Night

2009-08-15T22:17:00.001+08:00

Sounds fun? Not really. Especially if the other party is actually not work.

While everybody else around you is gyrating to the thumping sounds of house and trance, your truly walked around with a pen and notebook in hand.

My job? To write down the names of every person that the photographer would take a picture of. Sounds fun? To some extent, yes it was. But at some point, I was aching to dance already. :)

The event was Big Fish's GodsKitchen Worldwide with DJ Sander Van Doorn and it was awesome. This is my second Big Fish event and i can't wait for the next.

Was never a fan of house music until I went to Big Fish's Innovation White party which I then wrote about for Spot.ph. And I am a fan since.

The second party was a walk away from Big Fish since it was also at a.Venue but this was at Attica Bar. It is RX 93.1's 90's party.

This time, I didn't have to walk around taking down people's names. I was just there, chillin' with Kat Cruz and Gabb Agapito. We soon left the party and settled to just sit and talk inside a.Venue.

Got home by 4am. And boy was I sleepy the day after.

Two parties in one night was fun. But heck, I'd give anything to catch the ZzZzZzZzZzs lost. :D

Sun Set No More

2009-08-14T07:52:00.001+08:00

Dada Docot's Sablay

2009-08-13T11:39:00.004+08:00

In reference to the piece of clothing, UP students wear during the commencement exercises.

I remember when I wore mine not too long ago. I am not ashamed to say that it's probably one of my proudest moments. Not everyone are able to experience the privilege of studying in such a school. But wearing it also bears a huge responsibility.

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

2009-08-12T10:31:00.000+08:00

This is EPIC!

My Hesitant Feet

2009-08-12T08:39:00.001+08:00

I'd kill for this one. I'm kidding.

How to Break Up (Tales of Mere Existence)

2009-08-10T14:56:00.003+08:00

This is really funny.

Lunch-hour Teenage Dad

2009-08-10T10:28:00.004+08:00

Babies. They're some of the cutest living creatures on Earth. But taking care of one of them for a mere 15 minutes can drain the life out of a fat 21-year old.

I love my god-daughter Mika, but hey, try running around Landmark for 15 minutes straight, with no rest, while worrying that the kid hopefully does not get lost or bumps her head is somewhere, is probably the most exhausting activity I've had the past 21 years. That may be an exaggeration but I'm trying to make a point. :p

I looked like a teen-age dad (I know I'm 21 and I don't look nearly like a teenager but I'm still relatively young though) running after his baby girl.

So I pledge to keep the crib empty until I'm ready to run after a hyper kid again.

The Traffic that was Worth It

2009-08-07T11:08:00.010+08:00

As I've blogged earlier, some friends and I had an awesome roadtrip to Alabang last Wednesday. I texted Minneli that I think we should leave Ortigas really early since we might encounter SLEX traffic due to Pres. Aquino's burial. So we agreed to meet up by 7am at GCF. But we all know what happens if things are planned at such an ungodly hour. :) Regardless, we left GCF at 7:45am. Lo and behold, there was no traffic, so we arrived at Alabang really early. After the whole day rest, we headed for home.

And the traffic that we tried to avoid earlier that day, materialized that very afternoon. It was just really bad. It was moving but on such a turtle speed. Right after the Sucat exit was this:

And this went one til forever. The fence separating the express way and the service road was filled with supporters, by-standers and merely curious people, all waiting to see the arrival of Pres. Aquino's coffin. People even climbed roofs and billboards just to be able to catch a glimpse of the President before she was laid to rest at the Manila Memorial.

All these, to have a last look at the former President who was a vital instrument in restoring democracy for the Filipino people. And despite the traffic, no temper rose, because we all understood that what was going on was historic. What was before us was once in a lifetime. This was traffic that I didn't loathe to experience.

This was a President that the Filipino people loves because of her dedication. This was a President who fought despite threats for her life. This was a President who proved that "the Filipino is worth dying for." This was a President who had the people's interest at top most priority. No, she isn't perfect but she does deserve credit.

And in all honesty I ask, is the current President capable of such things? Would Mikee and Luli feel the same support the Filipino gave Noynoy and Kris, if it were them at the same circumstance.

I highly doubt that.

The first three photos are my shots using RJ's camera except the last photo which he shot. :)

Hangover at Alabang

2009-08-07T08:45:00.006+08:00

L-R: Me, Minneli and Abi

Roadtrips are nothing short of awesome. And this one is not an exception. Since August 5 was announced as a holiday in commemoration of former Pres. Cory Aquino's burial, together with 5 other friends, armed with an X-Trail, board shorts and canned goods, we traversed the early morning from Ortigas to Alabang.

L-R: Abi, Jacq, Andrew, Minneli, RJ and Me

We left Ortigas really early (and that would be my fault, right Minneli? haha.) We arrived at Alabang really early too! Even if we missed our Alabang exit, who would have thought that the Filinvest exit was closed? And the rest of the day was spent on talking about a lot of things - alcohol, poverty, money and high school relationships among others (Don Robin had nothing to say about all of them haha), swimming, jumping in all means possible, eating corned beef and tuna (oh Abi's was special due to the presence of the tomato and onion combo), watching The Hangover, taking weird photos and driving through the Cory-supporting-people ridden SLEX. But that would be another blog entry.

L-R: Jacq, RJ, Minneli, Andrew and Me

This was a holiday well spent :)

Replenish

2009-08-07T08:25:00.000+08:00

The Hangover

2009-08-06T15:24:00.003+08:00

Funny as hell hahaha although it's not your conventional humor that one would expect from films form the same genre. This one takes a little bit of IQ haha :p and watching it with sabaw friends - Andrew, Minelli, Abi, RJ and Jacq - during a rainy afternoon is just fun :)

Choose

2009-08-05T05:39:00.001+08:00

Longing for College

2009-08-04T11:46:00.003+08:00

UP-Diliman is an incomparable experience.

1. Reserving seats errr tables at the CASAA :)

2. The half-hour before training when people start arriving.

3. Arriving at the lung-friendly atmosphere of UP compared to that of Katipunan or Philcoa.

4. Meeting people around the campus.

5. Walking from the gym to Technohub.

6. Taking exams without reviewing for them.

7. Performances! I miss them a lot!!!!

8. Roadtrips going to these performances (WOOT for getting lost on our way to Pasay!)

9. Selling concert tickets at AS Walk

10. Club showcase at the AS Lobby, me being the umalohokan

11. Random hang outs and overnights (Overnight at Hanna's for Sam's birthday still tops my list)

12. Whole-day-training-Sundays when everyone's just there.

13. Getting random texts that you have a performance the next day :)

14. Blue Team is love. Purple Team is dead tiring.

15. Collabo performances with other dance orgs - Pep, Filipiniana and DanceSport (UAAP, Pep Rally and Technohub)

16. Screaming my lungs off for the Compet team during Skechers.

17. Spending a whole afternoon with any Clubber in sight

18. Life in Maskom is just beyond awesome!

19. Chosen Ground and Street Fuzion. need i say more?

20. Cramming for papers due in an hour.

21. On the spot reporting in classes. And pulling it off!!

22. Simultaneous screaming and laughing at the Skywalk.

23. Failing exams yet getting good grades after is just sweet. (a field trip is every student's weapon)

24. Watching the sun rise at Sunken Garden.

25. Having decent conversations with people.

I can list more. :/

I miss college. I miss UP.

Robot Cuteness

2009-07-31T09:02:00.003+08:00

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

Refuge

2009-07-30T09:46:00.014+08:00

(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

2009-07-29T09:58:00.006+08:00

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

2009-07-28T15:00:00.000+08:00

Holy Ghost

2009-07-28T12:11:00.000+08:00

Credits: xkcd.com

Lost in Binary #3

2009-07-27T11:20:00.003+08:00

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

2009-07-27T09:56:00.002+08:00

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

Let's go U.P.!!

Atonement

2009-07-24T16:09:00.006+08:00

"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

2009-07-23T23:18:00.000+08:00

HELPPPP!!!!

2009-07-23T14:16:00.005+08:00

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

2009-07-23T10:35:00.005+08:00

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

2009-07-22T09:26:00.003+08:00

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

2009-07-21T10:10:00.003+08:00

Credits: xkcd.com

Lost in Binary #1

2009-07-20T15:23:00.003+08:00

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

2009-07-20T14:38:00.007+08:00

Between 1s and 0s are two people.

Between 1s and 0s are words.

These are their stories.

The Other Joseph

2009-07-20T14:08:00.008+08:00

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

2009-07-17T12:25:00.006+08:00

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

2009-07-16T16:59:00.001+08:00

Wet Mornings

2009-07-16T09:53:00.006+08:00

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

2009-07-15T17:33:00.008+08:00

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

2009-07-15T15:47:00.006+08:00

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

2009-07-15T12:43:00.000+08:00

Credits: xkcd.com

burning sticks

2009-07-15T10:33:00.000+08:00

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

2009-07-15T08:28:00.002+08:00

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

This is their Real World

2009-07-14T10:23:00.000+08:00

"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..

2009-07-14T09:19:00.000+08:00

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.