20 Years and counting...

28 December 2007
Friday

Last night I attended the 20th Anniversary Alumni Homecoming of my high school batch of 1987. It gives you roughly an idea of how old I am so go figure.

The night was a blast! Alcohol was overflowing, the food was delicious but not too heavy, and the company was anything but dull.

There was a lot of catching up to do especially for those who are based abroad and came just to attend this special day.

Wow.

Nostalgic really as we had our venue at the school's Multi-Purpose Hall. The Hall has changed just a wee bit, I still wonder if the curtains at the stage have tasted a wash after all those years.

We can feel the camaraderie despite our different groups and barkadas during our high school days. Maturity does wonders in bridging the gap. There were a few teasings here and there especially for those who were once an item during our younger years. Some of these couples eventually end up together and raise a family but most of us ended up with someone else.

Hell, my ex-GF who happened to be the lead vocalist of this nice band was still her cool and accommodating self. There was hardly any tension between us as we had our pictures taken... well, the kiss was still nice and cute but that was just about it.

We sang and danced with the 80's music reverberating through the Hall. Yup, we cans still remember those dance steps as well. I wished that someone had the idea of putting up a motif by wearing 80's fashion and hairdo's but then again, that would take A WHOLE LOT OF FREAKIN' EFFORT.

Damn... those were the good old days.

Quality time with my folks...

16 December 2007
Sunday

Spent the whole afternoon with my parents just at home. When others get to do some bonding moments together by going out or malling, we are just content and happy staying at home. I helped Dad install his new sound system. Something about working with him gives me great joy and pleasure.

Gave Mom a massage. She's into this tampong pururot about she not being taken cared of... *Sigh!* That's my mother dearest. Spoiled in the family coz she's the only girl. Hehehe...

If only the culprits get to read this...

25 November 2007
Sunday

MMDA REGULATIONS NO. 97-003

PROVIDING STIFFER PENALTIES FOR ILLEGAL/UNAUTHORIZE D COUNTERFLOW TRAFFIC VIOLATION IN ALL ROADS IN METRO MANILA

WHEREAS, it has been observed that the rampant and repeated disregard of traffic rule on “illegal counterflow” or “unauthorized counterflow” has been one of the major causes of traffic congestions and accidents in the metropolis;

WHEREAS, MMDA Ordinance No. 4, s. 1995 (Prescribing Guidelines for Suspension / Revocation of Driver’s License with the Jurisdictional Boundary of Metro Manila) considers “illegal counterflow” violation merely as an additional ground for suspension/revocati on of driver’s license;

WHEREAS, there is need for the imposition of stiffer penalty on existing traffic violations considered intentional in order to curb the rising incidents of vehicular accidents and to alleviate the worsening traffic situation in Metro Manila which has grown to an alarming and emergency proportion;

WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), through the Metro Manila Council (Council), is mandated by law to set the policies concerning traffic in Metro Manila, to regulate the implementation of all programs and projects concerning traffic management, and to fix, impose and collect fines and penalties;

WHEREAS, the council in session assembled resolved to provide stiffer penalty for illegal counterflow, violation in all roads in Metro Manila.

NOW THEREFORE, pursuant to section 6 of RA 7924, this Regulation is hereby adopted and promulgated by the Metro Manila Council, that:

SECTION 1. Illegal or Unauthorized Counterflow . – For purposes of this Regulation “illegal counterflow” shall mean going against the flow of traffic such as counterflow on one-way street and driving on the wrong side of the street.

SEC. 2. Coverage. – Illegal or unauthorized counterflow as defined in Section 1 is hereby declared dangerous and unlawful and shall apply to all city and municipal roads in Metropolitan Manila.

SEC. 3. The driver found violating this Regulation shall be penalized by a fine Two thousand pesos (P2,000.00) per offense.

In addition, this violation shall cause the suspension of driver’s license for three (3) months on the first offense six (6) months on the second offense and revocation of driver’s license on the third offense.

SEC. 4. Any ordinance, rules and regulations and other issuances found to be inconsistent with this Regulation is/are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 5. This Regulation shall take effect fifteen (15) days after publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation in Metro Manila.

Adopted: 7 August 1997. (Sgd.) PROSPERO L. ORETA, Chairman, and other members.

... they would be aware that what they habitually do is downright wrong. Are you listening jeepney and fx taxi drivers?!!!

Then again, how would one expect this MMDA regulation be followed?

1. I doubt if these drivers do e-mails or are aware that such regulation exists.

2. Even if they are not aware, traffic enforcers are not doing their job by enforcing this regulation.

If only people do their jobs the way they should...

Not everyone is happy about the people they work with...

25 November 2007
Sunday

... but man, I'm definitely not one of them.

I love my OPS team. Sure, we may have our disagreements but somehow we still work well. I guess one thing that works well for us is that we are expected to be formators since we're all school administrators. It would be a disgrace if we don't do what is expected of us and be proper role models for both students and teachers. Most of us are from U.P. hence we have a way of putting up a culture where we can indulge in debates and arguments without having to take things personally. If I'm not mistaken, only one is from DLSU and two are from ADMU. The rest are Maroons.

I find it funny though when the women have their misunderstandings. They have a way when they *ahem*, argue.

We men are more straightforward and more often than not, go immediately and stick to the issue.




Stress is always a normal thing in any place of work. I'm very much happy though, that I work with people who make stress at work easier to bear and easier to get over with.

When Things Go Utterly Wrong...

25 November 2007
Sunday

... I still got my family with me. Though we have our differences, I can always rely on my brothers and parents to see me through the hard times. Through thick and thin, we got each other. And no, I'm not the guy with no hair even if I'm the eldest of the brood. Go figure!


Of course, the couple I'm most proud of having...

... Dad and Mom!

Road Rage, Temper, and Trooper

21 November 2007
Wednesday

Talk about coincidence...

...every time I use the Trooper I end up with a day with at least an incident with a fellow motorist.

There's this moron who tried to insert his vehicle at my car's expense during a long line of slow traffic in one of my alternative routes to work. It really irritates me whenever people do a counterflow so that they can get ahead and then suddenly try to get in line when there is incoming traffic.

We had a heated exchange of work as I blurted out stuff like "walang disciplina, kadiri ka, pare, jologs mo!" "kaya di umaasenso and Pilipinas dahil sa mga ulupong tulad mo!"

I was still able to move ahead but when we were finally on the main road, he cut me from my blindside and I nearly got smashed against the bus on my left. Grrr...!!!!

I cut him and blocked him, got down, and released my retractable stick... all of a sudden it felt like one of those days in college when my I and my brods of my designated strike team would make a "hit."

I could have gone to him by the driver side, and while he was caught in the slow moving traffic, I could have hit his pathetic face just sitting there like a stupid sitting duck...

...then again, it just dawned on me that it was a bad idea so I just let it go... he KNEW I could have made him toothless. I'm so glad I didn't do it... for my sake. The berk isn't worth it.

Then just the other day, I had issues with a "poor excuse of a man" (read: lesbian who makes this pathetic attempt to look like a man) over double parking at my brother's condominium.

I know I shouldn't gotten down her level, but man... the bad thing about me is that I couldn't stand being disrespected and talked rudely especially with the likes of this kind of a person. I've been brought up by my parents not to hit women... makes me wonder if that would include butchies. At any rate, I didn't even lift a finger though I made allusions on her laughable attempt on trying to be a man and join the man's world.

I knew I hit a nerve when I did that, and the formator in me screamed "foul!" But hey, at that time, I just couldn't handle the manner in which this person treated me. The bad person in me emphasized to her that no matter what she does, she could never have what I have... the Y chromosome.

Damn.

On a lighter note, I am raring to get a hold of the UP Centennial Commemorative Car Plate. Yeah, baby!!! U.P. Maroons, fight! I had a joke with a colleague of mine from UST: "What is 400 years of Existence compared to 100 years of EXCELLENCE!" Hehehehe...

*sigh!* Thanks again, Dad!

19 November 2007
Monday

Always trust Pops to call a spade a spade. Yes, Dad. I'm listening. I'm moving on now... the closure has been done without even having to talk to her or anyone related to her.

I guess the sentimental part of me still wants to cling on... only to realize that I'm just clinging on cold air, straws and hay at most.

12 years of my life down the drain...

... that's life.

I Need That Friggin' Closure...

12 November 2007
Monday

It has been months now...

...damn, woman. Why did i have to fall for someone like her in the first place?

I hate this. I really do.

A Response to those Ignoramus

6 September 2007
Thursday

Another fraternity-related death is grabbing the news these past few days. As usual, we fratmen are judged collectively, not even realizing that fraternities, just like nation states of the same continent, are still essentially very much different from one another.

Senator Brenda is at it again. I doubt it if her proposal of abolishing fraternities will come to fruition --- too many fratmen among the lawmakers. *rolls eyes*

I posted this comment in a certain blog where people started bashing us fratmen and blaming us
collectively because of the death of Cris Mendez, who allegedly died while undergoing initiation rites of the Sigma Rho Fraternity of the U.P. College of Law.


------------ -

It's so easy for all of you to make sweeping statements and lump us all together in one bunch of crap. After all, it is so typical for people to fear, hate and bitch on things they don't know jack crap about. The fear of the unknown. The resentment of not ever knowing.

You said:

"The concept of undergoing initiation to prove commitment to the group still eludes me. What eludes me more is the point of their continuous existence right within school premises."

And it will forever elude you. Why must we explain our sacred rites and doctrines to the likes of you? Our continuous existence of at least 70 years goes beyond these senseless killings and deaths that are fraternity-related. It's so typical that negative news like this one gets more mileage than the positive things (at least as far as MY frat is concerned) we get from our organization.

Just because we are fratmen too, does that mean that we are also guilty? Guilty by mere association? That's bollocks!

I'm not here to validate or justify these deaths. Mind, we abhor them, and we make sure that things like these don't happen in OUR Fraternity.

I find all these deaths utterly senseless too. My fraternity - alumni and resident brods - do not in any way approve of them. Just like Sigma Rho, we are a very old fraternity rich in tradition, though unlike them, we NEVER had any frat-related deaths in our entire history.

And don't you dare call us elitist. Pot meet kettle, and boy is it so friggin black. U.P. in itself is an institution of the elite --- the intellectual elite --- after all, not everyone can INTELLECTUALLY afford to be in U.P.

In parting, don't associate us too with these street gangs with Greek-lettered names: tau gamma phi and alpha kappa rho come to mind. We legitimate fratmen don't recognize them as one of our ilk.

A Fleeting Thought Just Passed...

25 August 2007
Saturday

What is worse than hating a person...

... is hating a person that you once loved so much.

Welcome, Tyler!

4 August 2007
Saturday

What's it like to be a new uncle? Awesome!

My youngest brother is now a proud Pops. We will prolly see the little weasel this coming December. My old man insists that Tyler has got his patented "nguso" while Momsy says the little runt got her Japanese-looking eyes.

Oh, well, you know how grannies behave...

Cheers, bro! Another pototoy in the family. Hehehehehe...

Growing Old With Someone...

I Wanna Grow Old With You
Artist: Adam Sandler

I wanna make you smile,
Whenever you're sad.
Carry you around when your arthritis is bad.
All I wanna do,
Is grow old with you.

I'll get you medicine,
When your tummy aches.
Build you a fire if the furnace breaks.
Oh it could be so nice,
Growin' old with you.

I'll miss you, kiss you,
Give you my coat when you are cold.
Need you, feed you.
Even let you hold the remote control.
So let me do the dishes in our kitchen sink.
Put you to bed when you've had too much to drink.
Oh I could be the man,
Who grows old with you.

I wanna grow old with you.

22 July 2007
Sunday

I just took Dad and Mom to the airport today. They are on their way to visit Lola as well as see the going ons at the farm. Remy has flown in from the US a few weeks ago to be with my brother Jay. It seems that they are getting ready to get married next year.

That brother of mine is one lucky bastard. You can see it in her eyes that Remy is very much in love with him.

I see Dad and Mom and I'd say Dad is one lucky bastard too. Of course, he'd also say that Mom is also lucky to have him.

True, but true. He has proven Lola Cion wrong. Lola Cion didn't like Dad for Mom at that time when my old man was courting Momsy back in U.P. at Area 11. This was some time in 1965, I think. After all has been said and done and more than 40 years later, Dad has shown everyone that he is indeed the right man for my Mom --- faults and all.

As I see my old folks together, I can't help but feel envious of the kind of relationship that they have all these years... Even after 40 years I can see how much these two people are so much devoted to each other. Dad wouldn't want to leave the house without Mom, and if has to go without her, he would always want that goodbye kiss before he leaves. If Mom has to go, he always asks her and even calls her to come home soon. They remind each other of their medicines --- Mom is diabetic and Dad is watching his blood pressure (He had a quadruple bypass two years ago.)

Mom would always take care of Dad the way a wife should. Dad does the same as any good husband should. Such devotion. Such passion. Such love. You rarely get to find this kind of relationship these days.

I have this feeling that should one of them meet The Maker, the other one would follow soon. Such is the bond my parents have together. They bring about the best in each other. They complement each other well too. This is very much manifested with the way they brought up 4 sons:

The discipline.

The round table talks.

The debates.

The triumphs.

The heartaches.

How I wished that I could have such a relationship. I wish Remy and Jay the best and hope that they too would have a lasting and meaningful marriage just like our parents.

I hope and pray that I would end up just like them too.

The Reason Behind the U.P. Swagger

19 July 2007
Thursday

It is not true that the University of the Philippines has the monopoly of bright and smart students. However, from what I gather from the Philippine social context when it comes to local education, U.P. is the bastion of smart local education. U.P. students and alumni are generally regarded as smart and intellectually gifted. You can't be a U.P. student if you're down there in the pecking order in terms of intellect.

Surely there are smart and intelligent students/alumni from other universities. Others would contest that it's not the school --- it's the person. Others too would even go further stating that they choose NOT to study in U.P. even if they passed the UPCAT.

And rightly so. I have met people from other schools and universities and they would strike me as people who may even be smarter than some people I know from the U.P.

The question is, why do these U.P. Maroons display this type of pride and swagger over other people from other local schools and universities?

My theory is this: True, Ateneo, DLSU, UST, UA&P and other prestigious unis would have their fair share of I.Q. wunderkinds, but what separates U.P. Maroons from the rest of this pack is THE EXPERIENCES these students had to deal with during their stay in college.

It is a given fact that U.P. students are intelligent. The question is, are you smart enough to graduate? The running joke in U.P. is that a normal U.P. student does not get to finish his/her course in four years --- it's the abnormal ones that do.

Not all intelligent students get to finish or graduate from U.P. It's the smart ones that do. I have known graduates from prestigious highschools who happen to be honor students who would get kicked out of U.P. But if you're intelligent and smart and still did not finish in U.P., there is what we call legitimate bad luck as well as circumstances beyond one's control. There are also personal decisions --- they chose to leave for reasons only privy to them.

You see, there are a lot of things that Maroons have to face in order to be able to wear The Sablay (when other uni grads wear the togas during their commencement exercises, UP graduating students wear this native-looking "sash" over their Barong Tagalogs or Filipiniana dresses). It takes savvy and smarts to come out alive from what we consider as a microcosm of Philippine society (actually I don't agree with this, because if this was true then why the blue blazes do I see a number of stupid people around?).

1. Registration: Unlike other schools and unis who would have their students' scheds and subjects handed on a silver platter, Maroons have to fight over tooth and nail in order to be able to get the subjects that they need to be taken in scheds that they want. You start with your blank Form 5-A and it's up to you to sign up for the subjects that you intend to take in that sem.

Here is where you test your social skills, networking skills, skills of persuasiveness, and all those "diskarte" skills and talents in order to be able to land that subject that you're aiming for. One also has to deal with signing up for subjects whose enrollment rooms are not just floors apart, but buildings apart! Imagine signing up for Math subjects at the Math building then go to the College of Science for Nat Sci and STS, the GYM for P.E. and your major subjects in your respective colleges. Even if you had a car, it's no walk in the park since you have to deal with looking for parking spaces first.

2. Spacing your subjects: In connection to point 1, the smart U.P. student would come up with the right combination of subjects. One does not finish all his easy G.E. (General Education, not Geodetic Engineering) subjects and electives and leave the tough ones and major subjects later on. That's suicide! Imagine taking the Math 50 series, the Physics 70 series, and higher Chem subjects all in one sem without any easy subjects as buffers in order to maintain the minimum number of units to pass in a semester.

3. The Sense of Freedom and Open Opportunities: Compared to other students from other unis, Maroons "are more free" to do anything that they want provided that they pass their exams and projects and that the professors wouldn't give a crap how many times you were "absent" from their classes. What this means is U.P. students are very much exposed to temptations and distractions given a great number of freedoms allotted to them: you may opt to just hang out with your buddies or fraternity brods in your respective tambayans; cut classes to get that quality time with your S.O. for a little nookie; or even have a few rounds of alcohol a few hours or minutes BEFORE exams. You won't be sanctioned if you show up in class or exam wastedly drunk or reeking of alcohol.

4. The Competition: Given the profile of a typical U.P. student, this means that you're not the only one who is smart and intelligent. You have to at least show that you deserve to be in this class, in this university.

5. Student Organizations, Fraternities, and Sororities: Need I say more? This is very much related to the aforementioned point no.3.

The name of the game is Survival of the Fittest.

Only the strongest (and smartest) survive.

And that, my friends, explain why U.P. Maroons have that swagger.

A Leap of Faith???

15 July 2007
Sunday

Had a long talk with Dad. Sounds like a plan, really.

Do I have a choice?

Of course I know I do. The thing is, do I have the proverbial balls and have that fortitude to stand up with the convictions that would go along such decision? I know I should. Dad didn't raise his sons to be sniveling wimps!

But man, it's so friggin difficult, and it would definitely hurt me big time. The problem with me is that I tend to be too idealistic when it comes to issues like this. I'm just blessed that I got very supportive parents. Makes me wonder how life would be without them.

I'm about to make up my mind and convince myself that this is the path I'm going to take.

Brace myself.

This is gonna hurt.

Migraine Attack.

I just had my first migraine attack in years. Started an hour ago. It's not as intense as I used to have but it is enough to make my right eyelid look a bit puffy.

Where's the naprosen when I needed one.

Damn Politics!

No matter how great your workplace is, stupid politics will always rear its ugly head and ruin everything.

Dagnabit.

No matter how much one tries to avoid it like the plague, it will always find its way to bite you where the sun doesn't shine. I love my co-workers to bits especially those whom I work with on a very regular basis. It just irritates me so much whenever I have to listen to, if not deal with, such political crap.

My immediate superior even commented that it is not enough that I just keep mum and not participate in such discussion. He said that I have the duty to tell them off that such gossip-mongering is unhealthy and has no place at work.

I admit he has a point. However, there are times too that such verbal tirade from co-workers are not meant as gossip since they are just venting out their angst without having to deliberately broadcasting it for maximum exposure.

Damn politics.

Friggin' crud.

The Bloomfields' Wala Nang Iba Music Video

I have got to hand it to these guys! Love the music, love the video! Wincy, my man, job well done!

Although the video reminds people of the Beatles when they performed at the Ed Sullivan show (tho there were no comments after their names like "sorry girls, he's taken..."), all one has to do is close one's eyes and you would hear the Beach Boys singing.

I just hope that these dudes won't allow themselves to be seen as Beatles or Beach Boys copycats. Their song and music video are really cute but I hope that they could still produce songs and sounds that people would easily identify as The Bloomfields'.

Hmmm... haven't you noticed that the bands mentioned all start with the letter "B"?

Coincidence perhaps?

Time Management

It seems to me that I should seriously beef up my self-discipline and actually apply what I have learned when it comes to time management.

All it takes is political will.

Enough of relying on plain winging out on things.

Dang.

Talking with Dad

It's always fun talking with Dad... when he is in a good listening mood. It's all the more fun when we talk about "men stuff."

The nice thing I like about my Dad is that I don't have much qualms relating to him my problems and anxieties, as well as the things that have been happening of late... even the intimate ones.

Mind, it was never like kiss and tell. If there is anyone I would want to relate whatever has been happening to me, that would be my Dad and my brother Allen.

With Dad, it isn't like those "Boy Talks" when friends talk about stuff with the intention to impress - or at least won't get behind of what the rest of the posse has been getting. On top of that, I don't have any fear of being judged by some self-righteous moral compass. I can be myself and Dad knows pretty well that I don't tell him things just to impress him or show off.

Of course, Dad is quite concerned of what's happening in my life. He is quite concerned about my future. He reminded me one day that I should be sure that the woman I'm spending the rest of my life should always be there for me till the end of days. Obviously, he has gotten a good catch --- my Mom is always my yardstick when it comes to the kind of women I would have wanted to have till the end.

My parents are so lucky to have each other. Through all their trials and tribulations, it makes no wonder why these two would be there for each other --- forever.

Finally, the template I have always wanted!

Yes! I finally got the template that fits me perfectly. I tried a couple of times to make it work and finally I got to fix the glitches as I found the right website.

Anyway...

Today was a loooong day at work. Funny how things seem not to get done despite the time allotted to you. Meetings, meetings, and more meetings... the problem now is how to get things done and have all our action plans consumated.

I had an interesting chat with this friend of mine as we were on our way to meet our other co-workers for our regular weekly badminton night. We were talking about his latest moves concerning this newbie co-worker.

As always, I have told him that such things are bad news considering his failed relationship with a co-worker not so long ago.

Some people just never learn.

If this plan of his comes into fruition and the girl finally becomes his... people will definitely be watching him. And if that relationship doesn't work --- man, his rep really goes down the drain and he would be seen as a pariah of sort --- especially for female noobs.

Totally unprepared.

It's really something when the past haunts you and you're still unprepared to deal with it.

Damn.

I just hate it when I'm not in control of things. I just hate it when I don't have any choices...

... actually, I do have choices... they're just, well... bad ones. More like out of the frying pan and into the freaking fire.

I always end up just reminiscing the good old days, and make it makes me wonder how life would be like if I just let it go back in '99. Would life be rosier? If anything, the presence of just this one person (B) whom I love to bits makes my sufferings --- both ambivalence and otherwise --- worthwhile.

I told Mom one day that I regretted what I did and it's only this person (B) that made me wish that somehow something good still came up. She scolded me. Boy, was I surprised! As much as Mom adores this person (B), she would have wished that my choices in life would have been better... even if it means that this person (B) will never be a part of our lives.

So sad. Damn. Tragic definitely, if I had the power to turn back the hands of time and I opted to leave this other person (A) but that would mean person B wouldn't be with us...

... I just can't have my cake and eat it too.

Giving blogging a (-nother) try...

Funny how most first-time posts of blog virgins would start their "blogging career." If you haven't figured that one out... then check a number of blogs and see what I mean. Hehehe...

Frankly, I wouldn't care any less if my first entry with be similar as those of the others. I actually started a blog of my own a few months back but somehow I have totally forgotten its name--- even that of my name-handle.

It just goes to show how ambivalent I am into this thing about blogging.

I guess there is this fear of expressing myself- no holds barred - and then for some reason, get busted by somehow who actually knows you.

Hmmm... I'm actually at work as I type this. I got project proposals to do, not to mention training designs and power point presentations as well as starting off documentation for my school's CIS accreditation thingy...

For fear of getting busted by people who shouldn't know. I will just leave it hanging when it comes to certain proper names.

Okay, enough of slacking, I have to get back to work.