14 Days To Lurve - Day 1

Lest you still think I’m bitter about Valentine’s Day, I will be posting a series of quotes/ lines/ paragraphs about love or anything related to love starting today until February 14 to commemorate the event. Well, to be honest, I have yet to gather enough quotes to complete the 14 days! So far, I’ve selected some pretty good ones (my favorites actually) from the books I’ve read (quite a coup, since I don’t read romantic novels). These are not your usual mushy mushy quotes about luurve, but I hope that the words will hit you the way it hit me!

I’ll start the series with my favorite passage from the book “High Fidelity” by Nick Hornby. Enjoy!

Some of my favorite songs: “Only Love Can Break Your Heart” by Neil Young; “Last Night I Dreamed That Somebody Loved Me” by The Smiths; “Call Me” by Aretha Franklin; “I Don’t Want To Talk About It” by anybody. And then there’s “Love Hurts” and “When Love Breaks Down” and “How Can You Mend A Broken Heart” and “The Speed of the Sound of Loneliness” and “She’s Gone” and “I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself” and… some of these songs I have listened to around once a week, on average (three hundred times in the first month, every now and again thereafter), since I was sixteen or nineteen or twenty one. How can that not leave you bruised somewhere? How can that not turn you into the sort of person liable to break up into little bits when your first love goes all wrong? What came first, the music or the misery? Did I listen to music because I was miserable? Or was I miserable because I listen to music? Do all those records turn you into a melancholy person?

People worry about kids playing with guns, and teenagers watching violent videos; we are scared that some sort of culture of violence will take them over. Nobody worries about kids listening to thousands, literally thousands, of songs about broken hearts and rejections and pain and misery and loss. The unhappiest people I know, romantically speaking, are the ones who like pop music the most; and I don’t know whether pop music has caused this unhappiness; but I do know that they’ve been listening to the sad songs longer than they’ve been living the unhappy lives.

Rob Fleming, “High Fidelity” – Nick Hornby

Pre-Valentine Mush

Dang it. Valentine’s is just around the corner. I don’t need to look at a calendar to know that – malls are doing such a fine job reminding us, they’re practically shoving red balloons, red cards, red everything down our throats you want to throw up.

I don’t mean to sound cynical but I feel that Valentine’s Day, aside from being commercialized, isn’t always good for us. It makes singles like me feel quite inadequate for not having a significant other to spend it with. It sets some pretty high expectations on couples to make the date extra-memorable despite the traffic and the generic gifts.

(You know what I hate the most? The horrendous traffic jam on the Dangwa area in Sampaloc on the eve of Valentine’s! Every Romeo is there, looking for the perfect and cheapest rose for their Juliets. Probably the only time you see men panic buying. Oooh…)

But that’s not to say that I hate the date, or the idea itself. I have my own fond memories of Valentine’s Day – whether I was “celebrating” as a member of the Samahang Malamig ang Valentine’s or while I was in a relationship. Sure, it’s nice when you can join the bandwagon and celebrate this “special” day. But you don’t need Valentine’s to make a person feel special. And the effort doesn’t have to be extravagant or expensive. Each day you spend loving someone is God’s gift and that is quite a present already.

So before the gooey commercialization gets in the way, let me be the first to greet you a Happy Valentine’s Day! And will my knight please hurry up and sweep me off my feet already?!!

Questions Of The Heart - Sort Of

Have you watched a movie/TV show or read a book wherein you wanted the leading lady to end up with her/her leading man’s best friend or any other secondary character other than the leading man? How often does this happen to you? Have you ever wondered about the reason why you felt that way? Was it because the story was flawed, the character of the leading man was unsympathetic, or the acting wasn’t any good? Or you just like the secondary character/actor playing the secondary character better?

Is it a case of you, the audience, rooting for the character that has qualities you are more attracted to? So, did the writer of the story got it wrong for not attributing those qualities to the lead?

Or, could it be that you’re attached to the character because you always go for the underdog? Or, because you don’t want the secondary character’s love to be wasted?

Would you choose the underdog even if your leading man is already in front of you, waiting for you to love him, too?

Or are you overanalyzing yet again?

(well, fee free to answer any of the questions above. : D)

Makes Me Wonder

... and it really makes me wonder how freakin’ expensive concerts tickets can be?! A VIP ticket for Maroon 5’s March concert costs 10,000++ bucks! Much as I want to see my ex Adam Levine, I have to pass on the opportunity to kiss and make up with him because of the prohibitive cost of the ticket. I mean, I’m a Maroon 5 fan, alright, but how I can I even contemplate paying for such a high-priced ticket when I gave up my chance to see Vertical Horizon last year, which I totally love more than Maroon 5? (And whose concert ticket, BTW, was cheaper!)

I know – you would probably suggest that I forget the VIP tickets and just go for the mas malayo but less expensive seats. But how can you truly appreciate the concert experience if you’re watching it from afar? Is that any different from watching it on TV? So call me maarte, but I wouldn’t want it any other way. It’s either I’m near or I don’t bother. This means that I get to watch foreign acts live on very rare occasions. They would have to be really, really worth it…

Hence this list!

My Top 7 I-Would-Pay-Big-Bucks-To-See-Them-Live Bands

1. U2
2. Gin Blossoms
3. The Killers
4. Radiohead
5. Green Day
6. Metallica
7. Foo Fighters

Runner-up… F4. Hahaha. Kidding.

Heath

Oh, boy.


Johnny Depp to Replace Heath Ledger
Thu, 24 January 2008 at 6:27 pm

Johnny Depp is poised to replace tragic Heath Ledger in his latest film role, reports UK’s The Sun.

Heath, who was found dead Tuesday in New York, was six weeks away from finishing fantasy flick The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus.

Now director Terry Gilliman wants his pal Johnny to film the remaining scenes.

A studio source said: “There is a point in the film when Heath falls through a magic mirror. He could change into another character after that and that is where Johnny would come in.

“It’s a weird, fantasy, time-travel movie so Heath’s character could easily change appearance. It would be a poignant moment.

“Johnny’s not working at the moment so everyone is praying he will do it.”

Source: justjared


Am I allowed to say that I’m still quite depressed by Heath Ledger’s early demise? Because I am. And much as I love Johnny Depp to bits, I just find it sort of weird that they’re already deciding Heath’s replacement when he hasn’t been dead a week.

I haven’t watched much TV for the past few days so I’m not sure how the coverage of Heath’s death has been. I hope it won’t descend to the exploitative level of coverage a la Anna Nicole Smith.

R.I.P. Heath Ledger

I am still stunned by the news of Heath Ledger’s death. Stunned and saddened. Heath Ledger! Damn. Gorgeous men like him shouldn’t die young. Brad Renfro just died last week and now it’s Heath. Heath!

He's far too young... And he’s going to be so amazing as Joker in the Dark Knight, I just know it! I think this is now the right time to watch my DVD of “I’m Not There” that’s been sitting in my room for quite some time.

Heath!!!

Cute

For as long as I remember, most people find me cute.

Nothing wrong with it, really – if I was still a kid. But during my teenage years, I wish I was anything but cute. Cute doesn’t cut it when you want your crush to find you appealing. Cute doesn’t cut it when you want to be taken seriously, when you want to be regarded as an adult. And the thought that I would be in my 30’s and still be called cute? Terrifies me!

There was a time when I dressed up as a rocker and not a few people came up to me and said - guess what? - “ang cute mo naman!”. Cute? CUTE?!! Whatever happened to extreme? Cutting edge? Scary, even? Rockers aren’t supposed to be cute, damn it!

A few years ago, a stranger (actually, a friend of a friend) sent me a message in friendster: “just thought you’re cute!”. I was flattered until I saw his friendster nick – WomanHater. I don’t know how to react. Maybe I’m not woman enough so that saying things like that to me would not be against his uh, woman hating?

I don’t know. Maybe because cuteness conjures images of a person who has child-like qualities, who is innocent, fragile and needs to be taken cared of. And yes, I know I tend to be childish, but that’s different from being child-like, okay? I may not be worldly but I’m not that innocent either and for as long as I remember, I tried to be independent and self-reliant. So, to be described as cute, sort of contradicts who I think I am.

But although cute is not in the same league as pretty, attractive, or alluring, I would like to think that people say it and mean it in a positive way (I hope!). And it’s not as if that’s the worst description in the world. I would never be gorgeous or seductive or sophisticated, I know. But still, better cute than ugly, right?

Nakatsu! Eh?

Thanks to John, I have a new Japanese celebrity crush. Meet Ikuta Toma:



He is Nakatsu Shuichi in the Japanese live action adaptation of the manga Hana Kimi. The series is about a girl who disguised herself as a boy and enrolled in an all-boys high school to follow her idol, a high jump athlete. Nakatsu was also a student in the school who at the start was the protagonist’s sports rival turned close friend. But here's the clincher - Nakatsu developed romantic feelings for the girl while she was disguised as a boy, not knowing that she was actually a girl! One of the really hilarious running subplot of the story was him being confused with his romantic feelings and convincing himself that he is not gay! But he couldn’t shake off his feelings… and that’s when the fun escalates!

He’s not your typical handsome leading man – he looks really funny and he always does this wacky monologue complete with hand signals! He’s somewhat arrogant, easy-going guy who likes to mess around. But he’s really sweet, caring and loyal. I like him a lot!

I highly recommend this series, especially if you like, well, reading subtitles! It’s a simple love story in an unusual setting. But more than that, it’s a story of friendship, not just among the three protagonists, but also among the students of the school. It’s your typical high school life, with students from rival dorms/ classes always bickering and competing against each other, but who rely on each other when things get tough.

Tundo Man May Langit Din

"The prejudices of ignorance are more easily removed than the prejudices of interest; the first one are blindly accepted, the second willfully preferred."


What idiot would hear the word “Tondo” and still associate it with “panaan” and “tagaan”? Does he live in some sort of parallel universe where it is still the 70’s and the people of Tondo sport numerous tattoos, carry weapons and act like warriors for warring tribes? (This piece of information should be treated as an urban legend – even my parents wouldn’t verify my claim.)

Haven’t he watched TV lately? I mean, duh. Sumpak is now the weapon of choice for your regular Tondo gangster. (What can you expect from someone who, upon hearing what my name is, said that it sounded like Jolina. Like Jolina is still relevant these days.)

Okay, seriously, what’s with all this ill preconceived notion about Tondo? You can actually see in their faces the unease and derision most people feel by the mention of the word “Tondo”. Whenever these people comment “Talaga? Taga Tundo ka? Hindi ba magulo dun?” I’m always tempted to reply sarcastically: “Naku hindi na ngayon no, tinaga ko na yung mga siga dun eh. Gusto mong makita yung mga tattoo nung napatay ko? Naka-drowing lahat sa likod ko”.

Okay, again, seriously, I know that Tondo is a dangerous place to live in. But I can say the same thing for other parts of our country. If I may be permitted to be the cynic here, the world is a dangerous place to live in. And yet people still choose to believe that Tondo is the ultimate, the one to rule them all, notoriety-wise. So by extension (to these people), me, being a resident of Tondo, is just as coarse and underhanded as the rest of the “siga ng Tundo”. And I hate that stereotype.

It’s not that I am being blind to the faults and ails of our place. I am not. I know the place is filthy and reeking with inhabitants of questionable hygiene. I know that Tondo is the place politicians go to when they want hakot crowd, the place where those public service shows go to when they want to produce a segment meant to tug at your hearts what with all the wailing and bawling about poverty, lost loved ones or dreams of one day meeting their idols. I know that most of the jologs crowd live here, I know the places where the gangs hang out, I know that most residents are just as glad to play the stereotypical “taga Tundo” for a sum or even for just a 15-second TV appearance.

And, to be completely honest about it, I really do understand how most people feel about Tondo. Until now, I’m still not bound to invite people to visit me at home. But that’s not to say that I don’t feel slighted by comments against our place. In fact, I am always defensive about the fact that I grow up in Tondo.

But I can’t hate our place. Sure, there are moments when I want to go on a shooting spree at patayin ang mga tambay, manginginom, nagvi-videoke at mga nagpapatugtog ng malakas. I don’t like the smell, I hate the reckless jeepney and pedicab drivers, I want to slap those little girls who seem to think it’s a great idea to dress sluttily and dance in the streets like the EB babes. But I can’t imagine a life away from it. I can’t imagine how I would turn out if I grew up in another place.

Life is never boring in Tondo. The people are loud but they are colorful and lead interesting lives. When worse comes to worst, I can expect our neighbors to help in any way they can. Life there is harsh and others would try to take advantage of you, but I learned to be tough and to not let others get the better of me. There are stories of destitution and struggles to live comfortably and with dignity, tales of broken youth and wasted lives. Each story saddens and scares me, but with each story of failure, I know there is also another story of another person striving to rise above it all, and it’s enough to inspire me.

I don’t know what else to say to sway people’s belief about Tondo. Frankly, I may not even be the perfect person to disprove these biases. I’m as siga as you can get! So let them have their stereotypes. I still like where I live. I wouldn’t want it any other way.

(Well, except for the videoke all-nighters and the little EB babes-wannabes and the loud drunks…)

My first worthy post for the year.

Sort of.

(since my posts so far are mostly filler)

Actually, my first full-blown rant post. You’ve been warned.






Meetings
- are the perfect excuse to get out of the office, do absolutely nothing productive and still give the appearance that one is actually working;
- are the perfect venue to shoot one’s self in the mouth;
- are abso-fucking-lutely wastes of my time.


Sukang suka na ko sa kaka-attend ng meeting, swear. Bago pa mag Christmas vacation last December, lagi na lang akong nasa meeting. I started the year with another meeting. Fuck, I started this week with a meeting in Sta. Rosa, Laguna! (anlapit di ba? and take note, bumalik pa ko ng office after the meeting) And I have meetings until Friday this week. Damn. Damn. Damn.

At alam niyo kung ano ang nakakasuka dun? Lahat ng meeting na yun is just for a single project!

I can’t understand why I have to be dragged to all these meetings when I could be doing more productive things for that project and for other things as well! I can’t understand the need to schedule multiple and follow up meetings with these various people when I could just pick up the phone or send them an email to do the follow up.

I am tired of discussing the same things over and over again, sick of all the small talks and smiling through all the flatteries and bullshitting that some people seem to have a knack for, sick and tired of being the one being singled out to work on these kind of projects.

What a very happy new year.

Tuesday Tunes - Week 15

Better late than later!!!

Tuesday Tunes is back for the new year. I had a request for a music bit of word association. You know the drill. I'll post 10 words and you tell me the first song/album/band etc that comes to mind.

Cruel: Cruel Summer – Ace of Base
Drunk: Laklak – The Teeth
Scared: If You’re Gone – Matchbox 20
Cover: The Man Who Sold The World - Nirvana
Color: Seven Black Roses - Chicosci
One: One – Metallica
Young: 1979 – Smashing Pumpkins
Punk: I Wanna Be Sedated – The Ramones
Age: So Little Time - Arkarna
Believe: As Long As It Matters – Gin Blossoms

PE Time!

Some choicest words you wish you could use on employee performance evaluation - of your boss!

• Since my last report, this employee has reached rock bottom and has started to dig.
• His men would follow him anywhere, but only out of morbid curiosity.
• I would not allow this employee to breed.
• This employee has delusions of adequacy.
• This employee is really not so much of a has-been but more of a definite won't be.
• This employee is depriving a village somewhere of an idiot.
• This employee sets low personal standards and then consistently fails to achieve them.
• Got a "full six-pack" but lacks the plastic thing to hold it all together.
• This employee has been working with glue too much.
• When his IQ reaches 50, he should sell.
• The gates are down, the lights are flashing, but the train isn't coming.
• If this employee were any more stupid, he'd have to be watered twice a week.
• It's impossible to believe the sperm that created this person beat out 1,000,000 others.
• The wheel is turning but the hamster is definitely dead.
• Works well when under constant supervision and cornered like a rat in a trap.
• When she opens her mouth, it seems it is only to change feet.
• He would be out of his depth in a parking lot puddle.
• This employee should go far and the sooner the better.
• A gross ignoramus - 144 times worse than an ordinary ignoramus.
• He certainly takes a long time to make his pointless.
• He doesn't have ulcers, but he's a carrier.
• He would argue with a signpost.
• He has a knack of making strangers immediately.
• He brings a lot of joy whenever he leaves the room.
• If you see two people talking and one looks bored, he's the other one.
• A photographic memory but with the cap over the lens.
• A prime candidate for natural deselection.
• Has 2 brains, one is lost, the other is out looking for it.
• If you gave him a penny for his thoughts, you'd get change.
• One neuron short of a synapse.
• Some drink from the fountain of knowledge, he just gargled.
• He has carried out each and every one of his duties to his entire satisfaction.
• Technically sound, but socially impossible.
• This Officer reminds me very much of a gyroscope - always spinning around at a frantic pace, but not really going anywhere.
• He has the wisdom of youth, and the energy of old age.

Belated (Again) New Year's Post

Similar to previous year’s meme, but this time I changed the rules a bit.

Copy and paste a random sentence from a random entry of each month of 2007. That’s your 2007 in summary.

January
Maybe deep inside I've always wanted a texbook love story - like the stuffs I've seen in movies or read about in books.

February
What sort of madness is it to stay up until 3 in the goddamn morning just to watch Season 1 of Meteor freakin’ Garden?!

March
Sadness is realizing that my parents are not getting any younger, that friends are moving away, that some of my dreams have been gone forever, that other people get sad and hurt, too, and that I can’t do anything about it.

April
While the weather hasn’t been really fun, beating the heat by being sick is not the way to do it.

May
Because maybe, just maybe, my vote might just count, and I might help elect a decent, responsible leader who can make a difference. (I chose this because it somewhat came true – not in our place though. I’m referring, of course, to the province of Pampanga and the fall of political dynasties there. Good job, people of Pampanga.)

June
You love someone but maybe love someone else too and cannot figure out why you are doing this because you are not a bad person. (not something I wrote personally, but I really like the message of the post.)

July
I was 19, still in college, when I came across a book entitled "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone". (I realized that all my posts for the month of July were Harry Potter-centric!)

August
Will I ever be described as sweet and malambing?

September
After months of denial, I officially announce that I have crush on him!

October
I remember the fear, because I was so certain of what I feel, but so unsure of where it will take me.

November
I never ever imagined that happiness could be this fleeting.

December
It’s okay when you’re not around, but when I see you the same old flutter comes back.