Ang Parisukat na Mundo ni Miles

2007-05-15T16:35:00.000+08:00

Voting Wisely

I have been keeping an eye on the GMA election coverage since this morning. Came dinner time, I was still watching GMA. And no I am not a kapuso loyalist, I just prefer watching news in tagalog. ANC does their coverage in English. Booooo! :P

I was ecstatic to tell my brother that my crush, Chiz Escudero is currently at the 1 to 2 spot. He happily exclaimed:

"Iboboto ko yang si Escudero kasi maganda yung Villa Escudero."

And he was dead serious about it. He added,

"Diba?"

Im just glad he isnt a voter yet.

2007-05-07T06:26:00.000+08:00

Panaghoy ng Tiyan

BABALA: Pasinatabi sa mga nagmemerienda.

Naranasan mo na ba yung pakiramdam na jebs na jebs ka na pero hindi ka maka-jebs kasi naunahan ka sa banyo? Sayang. aabante na, paatrasin mo pa.

Kung naranasan mo na, batid ko kung ano ang naging pakiramdam mo. Dahil iyan mismo ang naramdaman ko kanina. Napakadami ko kasing kinain kahapon--pancit, lumpia, kare-kare, hipon, icecream at kung ano-ano pa. Katumbas na rin halos ng isang linggong kain kaya naman pakiramdam ko ay isang linggo na rin akong mabubusong!

Malas ko lang talaga dahil matagal ang mga seremonyas ng kapatid ko kapag nagbabawas siya. Para bang napakaespesyal na ritwal nito sa kaniya. Nagagawa pa niya kumanta. Halos veinte minutos na yata akong naghintay. At sa wakas nang matapos na siya, tumakbo agad ako sa banyo.

Pero sinalubong ako ng mga masasamang kaluluwa ng aming inodoro. Matindi talaga maghasik ng lagim itong kapatid ko. Walang patawad at walang kinikilalang air freshener. At sa takot na baka malasahan o manuot ang amoy sa aking lalamunan, hindi ko na rin ninais huminga gamit maski ang bibig ko.

Ano pa nga ba ang magagawa ko kundi ang isara ang pintuan ng banyo. Wala na akong magawa kundi ikulong ang mabahong amoy sa loob. At bakit hindi? Katabi lamang nito ang aking kwarto. At sa tagal ng aking paghihintay, nawalan na rin ako ng gana jumebs.

2007-04-17T03:00:00.000+08:00

Haha nakakarelate ako--isang linggo na!

2007-04-15T19:47:00.000+08:00

The Elf and the Ogre

2007-04-13T18:50:00.000+08:00

HIPNOTISMO

Nahihypnotize ako pagnakikita ako ang video na ito. The first time I saw this vid, naging crush ko agad yung singer. Haaay... ang ganda at seksi niya. Nainspire tuloy ako magka-abs hehe.

2007-04-13T16:32:00.000+08:00

MILES'S SINFUL NIGHT

A few nights ago, I finally succumbed myself to the forbidden. I was alone that night. Surely, no one will see me while I help myself into my little nocturnal pleasures. I laughed fiendishly. I pressed on with my evil plan. And I must say, I enjoyed it.

The next morning, while I was riding the bus on my way to school, I asked myself,

"Did it really make you happy? Or did it just make you feel guilty?"

And for the fifth time, I forcefully pulled the zipper of my pants. But alas, my button broke. Im never going to eat donuts, and junkfood at night again!

2007-04-12T14:49:00.000+08:00

Testimonial

Napansin ko lang kanina, 116 na pala ang friendster testimonials ko. Parang kailan lang nasa zero yun pero ngayon, lagpas isang daan na! At sa lahat ng testi ko, ito yung may pinakamalakas ang tama sa akin. Yung tipong pagnalulungkot ako, yung taong nagsulat nito ang una kong naaaalala. Sulat ito ng pinakamamahal kong HS friend, si Jaye.

Pero sa totoo lang, kahit naman hindi na niya ako ginawan ng mga malupit na testi kagaya nito, palagi ko pa rin siyang maalala--kahit saan pa man ako naroroon.

Yiku Posted 4/8/2006

i ask myself, can i live without you?

yes...

but life would be like a forest without fairies,

a lake without mermaids,

an evening without fireflies,

space without stars,

a heaven with no angels.

can i live without you?

yes, but then all the magic would be gone.

2007-04-11T11:32:00.000+08:00

Memories of my Melancholy Whores

Bigkas ng bida sa unang linya ng kwento, "The year I turned ninety, I wanted to give myself the gift of a night of wild love with an adolescent virgin." Hanep talaga ang awtor nitong si Marquez. First line pa lang naa-adik na ako.

Eto, dagdag pa niya, "I have never gone to bed with a woman I didn't pay ... by the time I was fifty there were 514 women with whom I had been at least once ... My public life, on the other hand, was lacking in interest: both parents dead, a bachelor without a future, a mediocre journalist ... and a favorite of caricaturists because of my exemplary ugliness."

May mood na agad ng kalungkutan ang nobela, a common mood that is found in his novels. Nabasa ko na iyong libro niya na Love in the Time of Cholera. Ibang klase. Love story na puno ng libog, katrayduran at tunay na pagmamahal. Pero despite his erotic style of writing, I find so much decency and sophistication in his craft. At saka above all, may lesson kang matutunan. I cant wait to read this book.

2007-03-28T02:41:00.000+08:00

Kung ang Sago gusto ng baboy, ako gusto ko ng gulay.

Gusto ko ng gulay.

Gusto ko ng gulay.

Gusto ko ng gulay... sa araw at gabi.

Gusto ko ng gulay.

Gusto ko ng gulay...

ngunit...

MAS GUSTO KO NG KARNE!

2007-03-16T04:25:00.000+08:00

Mucha

O sige, english muna tayo.

Yesterday, I decided to give Mucha a bath at her tub (which happens to be our bathroom sink). After squeezing the water out of her head and torso, I decided to clip her ears in the clothes line and have her dried under the Arizona sun.

Hours later, I went out to check if she was dry only to find her lying dirty on the ground, with her snout almost dilapidated and torn. Beside her was our lousy dog, Brutus.

Stupid dog got out of his cage.

I rushed towards Mucha like a mother rescuing her wounded child, and cried,

"Papa, si Muchaaaaaaa!" I hugged Mucha and immediately brushed off the soil smeared all over her.

My dad went out to see what was wrong.

"Naku, yung mga halaman, wala na!", he shouted.

As the Arizona sun set down on me, I washed Mucha again and blowdried her instead. Unfortunately, the blowdry made her shrink. And as for Brutus, nevertheless, I still had to give him dinner even though he already ate all our plants and Mucha's snout

2007-03-15T05:09:00.000+08:00

Sabit Dahil sa Kabit

Sabit ngayon sa isang kasong pag-disbar si Unang Ginoo Mike Arroyo. Isang Maria Ceclia Suarez ang nagpetition ng kaso at nagpakilalang kabit ni Arroyo. Ayon kay Suarez, dapat i-disbar si Arroyo o tangalan ng lisensiya bilang abugado dahil siya daw ay imoral at corrupt.

Mabigat ang mga binitiwang akusasyon ni Suarez. Ayon sa kaniya, gumagamit daw si Arroyo ng ghost employees, nagdadivert ng campaign funds at nagmamay-ari pa ng tagong yaman sa Estados Unidos. Tinawag itong "FIGARO" o First Gentleman Arroyo, isang real estate na nagkakalaga lang naman ng $125M.

Ayon din kay Suarez, hindi pa man kasal si Mike kay Gloria ay magkasintahan na sila. Pinangakuan pa siya nito ng kasal subalit hindi tumupad si Arroyo sa kaniyang pangako. Mas pinili pakasalan ni Mike si Gloria dahil anak siya noon ng kasulukuyang pangulo na si Diosado Macapagal. Subalit hindi doon nagtapos ang kanilang uganayan.

Kahit kasal na kay Gloria ay nagawa pa nila magshopping sa ibat-ibang parte ng mundo gaya ng Hong kong at San Francisco. Noong 1982, niregalugan pa siya ni Arroyo ng magarang kotse, isang 1978 Colt Gallant Station WagOn. Pero siyempre, papayag ba naman si Mike na walang kapalit ang lahat ng ito?

Bilang kapalit ng lahat ng karangyaang ito ay ang isang nagbabagang sex life. Tsk tsk. Binahay niya si Suarez sa BF Homes Paranaque at ginawa nila itong love nest. At talaga nga namang napaka-wild ng kanilang sex life. Ito nga pala ang exerpt sa blog na Disbar the First Boor,

24. Petitioner(Suarez) was prevailed upon to meet Respondent(Arroyo) again. The dinner was at Respondent’s office and lasted from 7-12 midnight.
24.1 Petitioner was not able to control Respondent’s advances. He kissed petitioner behind her ears, caressing and then mashing her breasts with his two hands.
24.2 Respondent however was not contented with the same. He pulled petitioner and had her seat on his lap while continuously mashing her breast and kissing her behind the ears.
24.3 Respondent was doing the above while his staff were just outside the door

Mas kadiri pa ito kesa sa mga nabasa ko noon sa Tiktik at Remate noong grade 5 ako. At least iyon, fiction lang. Ito hindi lang totohanan kundi lantran at garapalan na ginagawa.

Ano kaya, mag-on kaya si Mike Defensor at Gloria Arroyo?

*Para sa karagdagang impormasyon ukol sa di umano'y kabit ni Unang Ginoo Mike Arroyo, bistahin ang : disbarmikearroyo.blogspot.com)

2007-03-14T04:45:00.000+08:00

RP most corrupt country in Asia, ayon sa PERC

Wow, number one na naman tayo! Pero hindi sa beauty pageant at hindi rin sa boksing kundi sa corruption.

Sa pagkakaalam ko, nitong dalawang dekadang nakaraan, nasa ika-apat na pwesto ang Pilipinas bilang pinaka-corrupt na bansa sa Asya. Pumapangalawa noon ang Indonesia habang ang Tsina yata ang pinaka-corrupt.

Pero ngayon, tila napagiiwanan na tayo ng mga kapitbahay natin sa Asya. Ayon sa latest report ng Hong kong-based Political and Economic Risk Consultancy (PERC), ang Pilipinas na ang nangungunang bansa pagdating sa corruption. Pumapangalawa and Thailand, pangatlo and Indonesia samantalang ang least corrupt ay ang Singapore.

Sa scale na 1 to 10, 1 bilang least corrupt at 10 bilang most corrupt, nakakuha ang Pilipinas ng score na 9.40. Pero nitong huling limang taon, Indonesia ang naitalang pinaka-corrupt na bansa sa Asya. Kung tutuusin, dapat sana Thailand ang nasa numero unong pwesto ngayon. Limpak-limak na salapi ang nakulimbat ni dating Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra bago ito nagtago sa Estados Unidos. Balita pang umiiwas sa pagbabayad ng buwis ang pamilya nito. At dahil nasa ilalim pa rin ng military rule ang Thailand, nakakabawas ito sa atraksyon ng mga investors sa kanilang bansa.

Napanuod ko lang ang tungkol dito habang nagluluto ako ng sinigang sa kusina. Tinawag ako ng tatay ko para mapanuod ang balita. Tinanong ng mga reporters si Gloria Macapal Arroyo ukol sa kaniyang reaksyon. At wika niya,

"These are based on old data."

Aba oo nga naman, may point si Gloria. Baka based ang data nila noong panahon ni Marcos.

Pero eksahersyon na iyon. For the sake of argument, let us grant that PERC based their report on old data. Perhaps they based their data one, two, or months before the study was conducted. Pero during those time, sino ba ang presidente natin?

At kung luma nga ang data na kinuhanan nila, dapat pa nga siyang magpasalamat. Kung current data ang binasehan nila, baka lalung ma-obvious ang corruption dahil kapanahunan ngayon ng kampanya.

Dagdag pa niya. "They want to put the poor down. They are driving away investors."

If you want to uplift the spirit of the masses, do we hide the aching reality of poverty and feed them with lies? Mahirap yata paniwalaan ang hindi mo nakikita at nararamdaman.

Noong 2006, 52% ng ating populasyan ay nakasadlak sa kahirapan (SWS Self-Rated Poverty survey). Higit pa iyan sa kalahati ng ating populasyon. Hindi mo naman kailangang maging eksperto sa ekonomiya gaya ng marami nating politiko dahil ang katotohan sa ating ekonomiya ay nakalantad sa estado ng ating lipunan.

At ikalawa, kung mayroon mang nagtaboy sa mga potential investors natin, hindi iyon ang PERC at lalung hindi ang mga militanteng grupo kundi ang corruption sa bansa.

And with all confidence, she ended her statement, "At saka they based their data on newspapers."

Malamang. Do you expect PERC to get data from a the most corrupt government in Asia?

2007-03-09T13:30:00.000+08:00

Gloria Macapal

este Macapagal Arroyo

(pictures from: ivanjrb15.blogs.friendster.com)

2007-03-08T02:53:00.001+08:00

Yeshhhh! May Theme Song na Kami ni Martin!

I cant wait to sing this with him. Oh, and perhaps dance as well!

2007-03-07T02:30:00.000+08:00

Depression Attack

Ako na yata ang pinakamalungkot na tao sa mundo ngayon. Ewan ko, basta nalulungkot ako. Basta nalulungkot ako, nalulungkot ako...

Natatakot akong magka-cancer. Noong nakaraang taon, namatay ang lola ko dahil sa cancer of the skin. Ngayon naman, may tumubong cyst sa kaliwang bahagi ng mukha ko. Sa dinami dami ng puwedeng tubuan ng cyst, bakit sa mukha ko pa? Bakit hindi na lang sa kilili ko? O kaya sa pwet? At least tago.

Idagdag mo pa ang sobrang frustration ko sa acads ko. Basta matinding frustration. Sobra sobrang frustration. Hindi ko maipaliwanag. Hindi na yata ako magkakaron ng college degree. Gusto ko na umalis dito, nagiging pabigat na ako sa pamilya ko. Hindi lang sa usapin ng grades, kundi pati na rin sa pera. Nakakaiyak. Nakakahiya.

Sa ngayon, I am expecting for the worst to come.But still, I am hoping for the best. Kaya, para pampalubag loob, pakikinggan ko na lang ang kantang "Perpekto" ng Dongabay. Hindi pwede magyosi, nandiyan si papa sa sala.

*Drifts away with a sad song

2007-03-04T13:07:00.000+08:00

Pichay, Itanim sa Senado!

Wtf? What kind of a campaign taglineis that? Pero in fairness, creative.But allow me to rephrase it.

"PICHAY, ITANIM SA KANGKUNGAN, HUWAG SA SENADO!"

2007-03-03T12:43:00.000+08:00

Mga Personal na Mensahe

Para sa mga nag-iilusyon agawin si Chiz Escudero sa akin:
"Bakit pretty ka naman ah... Pretty ugly!"

Para sa mga interesado sa "kuwan":
"Never thrust without Trust."

Para sa nanay kong asar na asar sa grades ko:
"Teaching Miles math is like teaching a carabao to fly."

Valentines

2007-02-15T16:33:00.001+08:00

Theme Song ng Valentines Ko

Wala lang. Gusto ko lang magpaka-heartbroken sa Valentines Day. Kaya naman ito ang pinili kong theme song, "Pansinin Mo" ng Juana. Wala nang sumisistsit na tricycle driver sa akin gaya ng dati. Samantalang si Martin naman, subsob sa trabaho. Oh well, happy valentines.

Pero hindi lang ito para sa Valentines. Actually, medyo theme song ko ito para sa Diyos. Lord, nagbalik loob na po ako. Pansinin Niyo naman po ako.

****

Anyway, I was surprised to find the video of "Pansinin Mo" in youtube. Im not really that impressed with the video. Cute yung kanta pero yung video medyo pacute.

From what I know, during the time this song was released, they were not that afloat in the music scene. I dont know why. Pero, ngayon, unti-unti na sila nakikilala because of their song "Goodbye". Pero sa totoo lang, mas gusto ko yung original image nila kay sa yung ngayon. If you were to listen to their latest songs, their music sounds like a mimicry of Barbie Almalbis and Moonstar88. And I think that is one of the reasons why they are not that highly publicized as compared to some emerging artists, kasi, medyo nasasapawan sila ng mga mainstream artists na katunog nila.

Anyway, sana pansinin na nila ako. Hindi ng mga tricycle driver ha kundi ni Martin at ni Lord. Lord, Happy Valentines po. At para naman sa iyo Martin, wala akong masabi.

2007-02-14T01:24:00.000+08:00

Lovapalooza

Ang sweet. Nag-outing si yaya at ang driver.

Putangino Niyo Mga Cojuanco Kayo

2007-02-13T15:07:00.000+08:00

Putangino Niyo Mga Conjuanco Kayo

Pakinggan mo ang pagputok ng mga baril. Parang popcorn. Nakapangingilabot.

“The strike at Hacienda Luisita is more than just a strike. It is a concrete illustration of the lingering social and class struggle between the exploited Filipino people and exploiters from the landlord, big comprador bourgeoisie and capitalist classes” - KMU Chairman Elmer Labog.

Kung Bakit Nagpakamatay si Hudas

2007-02-13T12:29:00.000+08:00

Kung Bakit Nagpakamatay si Hudas

Ang sabi sa akin ng nanay ko, kaya daw nagpakamatay si Hudas ay dahil na-guilty daw siya sa pagtraydor niya kay Hesus. Kaya para maipakita sa Diyos na tunay ang kaniyang pagsisisi, tinapos niya ang sarili niyang buhay.

Tsismis lang iyon. Ito ang tunay na kwento.

Isang araw, sa Jerusalem, inutusan ng Diyos ang mga disipulo ni Hesus.

"Kumuha kayo ng bato."

Kaniya-kaniyang kuha ang mga disipulo ng bato. Pero dahil tamad si Hudas, kumuha siya ng maliit na bato. Pagkatapos nilang manguha ng mga bato, sabi ng Diyos,

"Ang mga batong kinuha niyo ay magiging tinapay. Iyan ang kakainin niyo sa buong araw."

E di siyempre bad trip na bad trip si Hudas dahil maliit lang ang bato niya; inabot siya ng matinding gutom. Noong sumunod na araw, inutsan uli sila ng Diyos.

"Kumuha kayo ng bato."

Kaniya-kaniyang kuha ang mga disipulo ng bato. Sa pagaakalang gagawin ito ng Diyos na tinapay, kumuha si Hudas ng isang napakalaking bato. Pero, ang sabi ng Diyos,

"Buhatin ninyo ang mga bato at dalhin niyo sa bundok."

E di badtrip na badtrip si Hudas. Hirap na hirap siya magbuhat ng bato. Inabot siya ng matinding pagod. Kinabukasan, inutusan uli sila ng Diyos.

"Kumuha kayo ng bato."

Kaniya-kaniyang kuha ang mga disipulo ng bato. Pero this time, mas naging wais si Hudas. Kumuha siya ng isang maliit, at isang malaking bato. Ang isa ay sing laki ng holen. Ang isa ay sing laki ng gulong ng bus. Pagkatapos nilang manguha ng bato, ang sabi ng Diyos,

"Ang mga batong iyan ay siya ninyong magiging bayag."

At magmula noon, palagi na siyang iniiwasan ng mga tao lalu na ng mga chiks. Kahit ang mga prostitute sa Jerusalem ay hindi na siya pinapatulan dahil sa takot sa kaniyang bayag. Sa tindi ng tama ng insecurity at low self-esteem, naisipan ni Hudas na magpakamatay.

~The End~

For Kris

2007-02-12T15:25:00.000+08:00

A Must See For Kris

A few years back, Kris Aquino proudly broadcasted on national TV that her jewelries were from the "katas ng Hacienda Luisita."

When she said those words, was she even aware of how meager the workers' income were in their hacienda? While their salary amounts to PhP190 a week, the workers in Hacienda Luisita only get to take home PhP9.50 due to loan deductions and cash advances.

Yes, PhP9.50 a week . And no, I did not misplace my decimal point. After waking up so early in the morning, getting badly burded under the sun, at the end of the week, you still wont be able afford to buy a kilo of rice . And to think Mikee Conjuaco's horse is worth 38 million each.

So last Novermber 2004, farmers and millworkers decided to raise a strike agsint their oppressive land lords. What was intended to be a venue for voicing out their rights resulted in a bloody massacre. Policemen fired a storm of bullets on the unarmed workers. 35 were injured, 133 were arrested, hundreds were missing, and 14 were killed. Two of those who died are children who died from teargas suffocation. Noynoy, the third generation heir to the hacienda, denied the use of teargas by their dispersal team.

So, where did those teargas come from? Did it fall from outerspace? Or was it just a figment of our imagination? The video footages cannot lie.

After the bloodbath in Hacienda Luisita, Kris said on TV Patrol, "Nakikiramay po ako." But those people deserve more than just her sympathy. They deserve justice. They deserve their piece of land which was repeatedly promised to them by her mom two decades ago. Remember Corazon Aquino's platform on land reform?

Everytime I see Kris Aquino rambling about her love life and other people's life, I can't help feeling indignant for the victims of the Hacienda Luisita Tragedy. It's as if she remains oblivious about what happened in the tragedy. Imagine how many workers, how many of their children have to be enslaved, starved and killed before she benefits from the "katas" of the their hard work.

Oh and by the way, Radioactive Sago Project will launch their "Tanginamo andaming nagugutom sa mundo fashionista ka pa rin" at Saguijo on Feb 16. Please try to come. And I hope Kris Aquino will come as well. I hope she wears her "katas ng Hacienda Luisita" jewelries.

2007-02-12T15:24:00.000+08:00

GUSTO KO MAPANUOD 'TOH

2007-02-09T04:01:00.000+08:00

Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros

San ba pwede makakuha ng DVD nito? Kahit pirated o original, basta mapanuod ko...

Chiklet

2007-02-03T11:38:00.000+08:00

Chiklet

Antok na antok ako kanina sa library. Nagrereview (kuno) kasi ako para sa nakakainis kong Psio quiz. Sa pagaakalang mas makakamura ako, bumili ako ng chiklet sa halip na kape para naman magising ako kahit kaunti.

Kawawa naman ako. Kahit pambili ng kape wala.

Pagabot ko sa kahera ng chiklet, siningil ako ng $1.35. Nagising ako bigla. Hindi ako makapaniwala sa taas ng presyo. Pero pagtingin ko sa cashier machine, $1.35 nga ang halaga.

Ang mahal pala ng chiklet! Sana pala nag-jumping jacks na lang ako sa library. Libre na, panigurado pang nawala ang antok ko. O di kaya, nagpush-ups. Pero teka, hindi ko pala kaya mag push-ups.

Isipin mo, sa current peso-dollar exchange rate na $1= PhP 48.781, ang chiklet na binili ko ay nagkakahalaga na ng PhP 65.85! Samantalang sa kanto-kanto sa atin, ang tatlong Wrigley's chewing gum ay nagkakahalaga lang ng dalawang piso.

Dito, ang one dollar mo ay pwede mo na ipang-merienda. Pwede ka na makabili ng nuggets, o di kaya cheeseburger sa Mcdo. Pero sa atin, ang halagang one dollar ay kaya na bumusog ng pamilya ng apat. E sa halagang one peso, may mabibili ka pa ba? Kahit yata apa ng ice cream lagpas piso na. Nakakalungkot. Wala na yatang value ang piso.

Teka, mayroon pala. Pwedeng pangbukas ng lata ng Fita.

Celebrity Look-alikes ni Miles Daw

2007-02-02T04:51:00.000+08:00

Wow. Matangos Pala ang Ilong Ko!

Kamuka ko daw si Moby at si Josh Groban. Kahit na hindi naman halata e naniniwala na rin ako. Pakiramdam ko kasi matangos na rin ang ilong ko. At aba, nasama rin si Ayumi Hisaki. Pwede na pala ako maging Japanese pop star! Lilisanin ko na ang disyertong ito at lilipad papunta sa Japan. Sabi nga ni Allan K., Japan-ang sagot sa kahirapan.

At humahabol din sa listahan si Veleria Mazza. Kilala mo ba siya? Hindi ko siya kilala pero gusto ko siya. Mukha siyang pornstar hehe! Nanawagan po ako sa mga editor ng Tiktik, Abante at Remate. Pwede na po ba akong frontcover model ng tabloid niyo?

Pero nagtataka ako. Bakit hindi kasama si Ara Mina? Michelle Branch? Mickey Ferriols?

Martin's Celebrity Look-Alikes Daw

2007-02-02T01:05:00.001+08:00

Ang Swerte Naman ng mga Celebreties na 'To

Kilala mo ba sila? Sino si Kangta? Si Boris Vian? Si Linford Christie? Hindi ko sila kilala. At bakit nasama si Gareth Gates? Sa totoo lang, ilang beses ko nang pinalitan ang picture niya pero laging nasasama si Gareth Gates. Sayang. Inaasahan ko pa naman lumabas si Brandon Boyd kaso mailap talaga ang paglitaw niya. Tsk tsk.

Our First Ever Olympic Gold

2007-01-24T16:35:00.000+08:00

Our First Ever Olympic Gold

19 Olympics na tayong sumasali sa Olympics. Sa 19 times na yan, ang nauwi nating medalya ay 8. Mahigit 200 na gold medals ang pinaglalabanan every 4 years. Ang koponan natin in recent years ay nasa mga dalawang dosenang manlalaro. Ang populasyon ng Pilipinas mahigit 70 million. Ang gold medal natin so far, zero.

At kada-Olympics na lang ay pinagtatalunan natin kung alin nga kayang event tayo unang magkaka-ginto. At kung ibabatay sa napanalunan so far, sa walong medalya, lima doon galing sa Boxing. Natural, umaasa ang karamihan na nasa ating mga boksingero ang pag-asang magkakaron tayo ng ating first-ever Olympic gold.

Bakit, anu-ano ba yung mga events na sa tingin natin ay wala tayong laban? Bakit hindi Archery, e matagal nang nangangaso ang mga ninuno natin. Hindi nga lang bull's-eye, kundi baboydamo's-eye. Ba't hindi Shooting, e ang hihilig natin sa barilan at cheap movies. O di kaya Handball? Gaano na ba kahirap yung ilalagay mo ang hand sa ball.

Maganda pa naman ang umpisa natin. Unang salta pa lang ng mga Filipino athletes, sa Amsterdam 1928, nanalo na agad si Teofilo Yldefonso ng bronze sa Swimming. At sa sumunod na 1932 Los Angeles Games, tatlo! Simeon Toribio sa Track and Field, Cely Villanueva sa Boxing at second medal ni Yldefonso sa Swimming. Pero mula noon, 1964 na uli tayo nagka-medalya, kay Anthony Villanueva sa Boxing. At alam na natin ang maganda-gandang tatlong sunod na Olympics tayong may medalya sa Boxing. Leopoldo Serantes, Seoul 1988; Roel Velasco, Barcelona 1992; at syempre pa, si "Onyok" Velasco, Atlanta 1996.

At bakit napakailap ng gintong gold na yan? As usual, dalawa ang paliwanag natin palagi. Either minalas o dinaya. O, siya, siya. Pero maaring may mas malawak pang mga dahilan. At isa na riyan ang basic concept ng Sports. Pangit nga lang yung translation sa tagalog, Palakasan. Mas akma siguro ang Pagalingan. At sa mga laro ng pagalingan, walang kalaban-laban ang isang bayang ang daming maysakit. Pagamutan nga wala, pagalingan pa! Kakambal ng sports ang health. At ang kalusugan ng general population ang magbibigay ng balon ng mga magagaling na atletang Pilipino. Ngunit maliit na item ang health sa ating national priorities.

Ang ikalawa ay maaring makikita natin sa ating mga inani sa Olympics so far. Sa walong medalists, yung dalawang Villanueva ay mag-ama, samantalang yung dalawa namang Velasco ay magkapatid. Maaring overstretching ito. Pero maari rin kayang isiping hindi pa umabot sa antas ng national passion ang sports, kundi mas family matter pa lang ika. At maaring extension din lang ito ng level na ating national consciousness and identity. Kungsabagay, kahit naman politics natin, family matter din.

Pero ito wala nang hulaan. Ang dapat nating tutukan at bigyang diin na event ay yung sanay na tayo at hiyang sa ating pagka-Pilipino. Kaya kung ako lang, ibuhos natin ang buong national budget sa Weightlifting. Tiyak yun! Dito tayo makakakuha ng napakaraming medalyang ginto, with our 70 million well-trained athletes. Dahil kung sa pasanin din lang, may mas bibigat pa ba sa presidente ng Pilipinas?

****

the essay you have just read was written by gary granada. what can i say? ang galing talaga ng idol ko. for more of his essays, you can visit garygranada.com

love ko 'to?

2007-01-23T15:28:00.000+08:00

LOVE KO TOH?

My Personal Ordeal with the Arrogant Managers of McDonald’s

My name is Gary Granada, I am a KaalagaD volunteer, and I need 5 seconds of your time to help reduce the use of styrofoam in fast food chains.

What was meant to be a nice and simple Saint Francis Day motorcade-march to McDonald’s turned out to be a nightmare. We were rudely treated by McDonald’s, to put it mildly. Weeks before, we already sought a dialogue with them to reiterate our concern for their reluctance to reduce their use of styrofoam, despite their pledge to seriously attend to it during our dialogue in 2002! (Jollibee said the same thing, and while we are not satisfied with their response, at least they made some effort to shift to other packaging and serving materials.) We wrote to them, went to their office, made follow ups, waited for a response. The most we got from them was ‘you wait for our call’. They never called, never wrote back, but verbally said they will assign representatives to receive our motorcade’s representatives.

When we got there, their representatives turned out to be the Citibank Building’s security detail. Ill-mannered and impolite, they told us that they were told by McDonald’s that they were not expecting us. One of our staff went up to their 17th floor office to find out whether they were willing to sit down and talk matters. Told to tell us to wait, we waited. The giant that it is, the bosses of McDonald’s apparently regard little children, nuns, mothers, priests and concerned consumers as their employees. We asked how long we were supposed to wait and got no straight answer. Finally they sent word for me to come up, just me, no one else. I thought these people must have seen too many spaghetti movies, perhaps they thought they had a hostage crisis. I was led to a conference room that could easily sit six or seven people and was greeted by two bright boys.

Think about it. Naglakad kami papuntang McDonald’s, at pagdating namin doon, wala man lang bumaba para kausapin kami ng maayos. At pinatawag ako nitong dalawang batang managers!

It occurred to me that there were far more basic issues that plague McDonald’s than styrofoam. Like common courtesy. So I explained to these rich young rulers that the courteous thing to do was to go down, greet the delegation and ask how they may be of help. I even asked them where they were schooled, because in the public school in an obscure town where I came from, they manage to teach such things in Grade One. Their bloated bright brains must have taken up the space that was meant for their ears. It felt like talking to an electric fan.
Meanwhile I insisted that somebody from Greenpeace, the Ecowaste Coalition, Franciscan Movement for Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation, and the JPICC of the Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines (our partners in the activity) be present as well. They said they can only accommodate three people at most. Fine. So I said I and our staff will go down and we will send three people up. But at the lobby, the three representatives we sent were barred by security people from proceeding, again upon McDonald’s instructions we were told. It looked hopeless.

We decided to wrap up the program when out of nowhere a condescending woman materialized and introduced herself as the media relations officer of McDonalds. She said ‘Why don’t you go to Jollibee instead, they’re number One.’ To which Father Ben Moraleda replied, ‘We did, and at least they are doing something.’

On the side, irked by her audacity, Fr. Ben quipped, ‘And please take that hand of yours off my shoulders, I don’t like you.’

And all that commotion for a very simple and very reasonable plan: that McDonald’s reduce the use of styrofoam by 50% within one year. McDonald’s has once again demonstrated its arrogance and incapacity to appreciate the sincere and constructive efforts of common folks to protect our environment. Unlike them, we do not make money doing what little we can to help make things a little better for everybody.
5 seconds, that’s all I ask of you to help reduce the use of styrofoam. Sa mundo ng mga mayayabang, papansinin lang nila tayo kung tayo ay maninindigan. Take 5 seconds to think twice before choosing where to dine or order food.
WHEN YOU HAVE A CHOICE, DON’T CHOOSE MCDONALD’S.

I feel sad for that woman and those two young managers. So young, so successful, so ahead of their game, so privileged; so rude, so arrogant, so lacking in character, so bland. And I have since stopped wondering why their burgers taste the way they do.

****

mr. granada was polite enough to call them lacking in manner. because for me, they dont have manners at all. i think, the reason why the word "manner" can be read in the word "man(ag)er" is because manners are as important as managing skills themselves.

im glad mcdonalds here in the US does not use styrofoams. besides, what's there to use styrofoam on? they dont serve spaghetti or fried chicken like the mcdonalds in the philippines does.

perhaps mcdonalds should consider using reusable plates for such meals like what jolibee has started doing. although it may mean an extra expenditure on dishwasing liquid, i think it's still worth spending on if it means doing a great deal for the environmant. and as for those ill-mannered managers, i think they should eat their meals on a dust pan.

i clearly recall, when i was still in the philippines, i enjoyed eating in mcdo especially during kiddie parties. but after reading mr. granada's letter, i now find it hard in my heart to say "love ko 'to."

ANG PARISUKAT NA MUNDO NI MILES

2007-01-22T10:00:00.000+08:00

PARISUKAT NA MUNDO NI MILES

Pagbati at Pasasalamat

una sa lahat, hayaan mong batiin kita sa panibago kong blog. tuloy, tuloy, tuloy kayong lahat! ('wag niyo lang i-hack ang account ko hehe) ikalawang blog ko na ito. yung isa ay nasa friendster na may pamagat na "ramblings of a lunatic".

ikalawa, nagpapasalamat ako sa napakasipag kong graphic artist na nagdisenyo ng blog na ito, si nelius martinius. maraming salamat bon-bon ko! may utang na naman ako sa'yo.

Parisukat na Mundo

'wag mo na padugin ang ilong mo sa pagiisip kung bakit ito ang blog title ko. dahil ako rin hindi ko alam. (ngeee?!)

isipin mo na lang na parisukat ang kwaderno, parisukat ang aking espasyong ginagalawan, at parisukat din ang monitor screen ko. ang labo noh? ang tagal ko nang nagiisip ng magandang pamagat na mag-sasum up ng lahat ng thoughts ko, magbibigay representasyon sa bawat post na ililimbag ko. sabi ni xandimonster, "basangbasasaulan" daw ang gawin kong title. kaso hindi naman ako aegis fan. ako ay isang mystica fan. (sabay split)

sorry xandimonster.

mayroon din akong chatterpbox sa kaliwang bahagi ng blog ko, kaya kung may nais kang iwanang mensahe para sa akin at sa ibang nagiwan din ng mensahe, ipagsigawan mo sa mundo!

salamat sa pagbisita! balik ka ulit ha?