Back in business

I've been experiencing difficulties with my blog. But this time I'm determined to succeed in doing this at least every other day for the time being.

I'd like to thank Angelo Racoma from i.ph for patiently helping me through my difficulties in the past days.

These are anxious times and it's as good as any time to blog religiously. I've also accumulated a lot of topics, issues and memories that I want to put here. I'm done planning what to do here; this time, I'm just gonna do it.

In the words of my favorite Beatle, the immortal John Lennon:

"Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans."

Good or Evil

It's supposed to be my day-off today Tuesday (technically, its already Wednesday morning) but I was prevailed by my boss to come in due to to the House Hearing on the wiretapped tapes...

I was tasked to monitor and help track the hearing's proceedings and complement whatever our teams in Congress were getting, the reason being that I was at least familiar with it, having gone through the Senate Impeachment hearings in 2000.

I was already at the office by 12.20pm; with only water and boy bawang to get me going, I hunkered down behind the workstation of my boss and proceeded to do my task.

And so it came to pass, that from 1pm to 6pm, I tapped on the keyboard as fast as I can and tried to get the gist of everything covered in the so-called joint hearing of the 5 House committees. Every suspension of the session allowed me just enough time to upload my monitoring to the Avstar and prompt Tex for what was big tackled during the hearing.

It was in the course of doing my task when I realized that there was indeed a bigger purpose for us in life (mind you this is the nth time that I was struck with renewed inspiration as to the purpose for my being)... I quickly thought of my blog, which I have been neglecting for the past month or so... Now I realized that it has a purpose other than being the repository of my mundane musings in life... and no longer will I be neglecting it as before while balancing work, school, family and lovelife.

So back to the hearing... As I tried to keep up with its proceedings which was going crazier by the minute, I was also struck with inspiration from it, for this blog, for my career and my life. Call it a renewed sense of purpose or a sudden flash of divine perspective but I was immediately reminded of a famous quote that sums up what would happen to me or to us, if we remain contented with our petty lives.

It may be a little cliche but it was the only appropriate quote that I recalled in the situation - ‘The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing’ (with apologies and thanks to William Burke, the 18th century British Statesman readily credited to author this quotation).

For the hearing plainly showcased not just the usual political showdown between the opposition and the administration in Congress. It also turned out to be a battle between good and evil, between truth and falsehood, dark and light etc...

The hearing was after all intended to establish whether or not it was really GMA and Garcillano on the cd's; and if they where, did GMA cheated or not in the past elections?

Now having covered and witnessed the Impeachment proceedings I was more than sad to watch and hear Congressmen Zubiri and Baterina to filibuster and stall over mundane and inconsequential matters like venue and procedural rules. They sounded so puny and trivial now when they were brave and invincible then when they were Davids as against Erap's Goliath during the Impeachment trials.

I was surprised though with Congressmen Golez and Cayetano, I thought they were pro-admin; but in the hearing, they shone and helped enlighten and moved forward the proceedings with their statements and questions...

I saw Congressmen Remulla and Locsin both in a new light here; Remulla especially was smooth in handling the situation, not bad for a former broadcast journalist.

I also saw Cong. Paras, my kababayan, also in a new light; he was biting and to the point in his arguments that moved the hearing to its rightful purpose despite the stonewalling of the administration solons.

Party-List Cong. Casino shone as well; his Q and A with Bunye was painful to watch and hear; it was as if Bunye was never a Congressman to be singlehandedly upstaged by a neophyte solon...Cong. Etta Rosales taking on Zubiri was good as well; I anticipate the lady solon to lock horns with other administration solons in future hearings which I'm sure she will win.

And what of the stonewallers, the clear as sight Malacanang lackeys? Congressmen Pichay, Javier, Datumanong, Libanan, Domogan, Solis, the lady solon from Pasay, etc - you guys better try your luck next time. You are now in the same boats as that of Erap's legislators during the impeachment trial but much is the disappointment in you people because the battle now is bigger than ever and sad to say, you are all in the losing side.

How about Cong. Escudero? He was good and he will continue to shine. While the opposition has an agenda, I hope Chiz goes beyond their agenda and sees this through for what it really is - a battle to redeem the souls of the Filipino people who are being fucked all over by the very people they chose to be its leaders.

Now about Bunye... I don't know if you were just simply naive or plainly moronic but your answers sucked big time and boy were you really dumb (also Wycoco but then, he's from the NBI). You Bunye, are truly are fit for your job as Presidential Spokesman. And you had the temerity to drag my buddy Jove Francisco's name into the fray as well as the Malacanang Press Corp. I hope the MPC eats you alive for breakfast because you deserve to be roasted in hell for being a bad liar unlike your boss.

I could go on and on but I have a good DVD in line and I still have 59 pages of reading material for my elective so I'll stop for now. In the words of the famous Ahnuld - "I'll be back" to whip your asses good.

I don't know about you folks but it feels good to be alive and kicking ass(es) these days. Evil ass(es), that is.

What have I done to deserve this?

First off, I miss doing this blog - it has been frustrating and challenging as well. It seemed like an eternity since I last attended to this and as my colleague said, inaamag na nga daw ito.

What's funny is that every waking moment, I always write down something that I plan to upload later in the blog... but I never get around to doing it when I'm in front of my workstation at work. First, I have no business slacking off during my busy shift anyway... After the last newscast of the day kasi bangag na ako from the adrenaline of it all and I just want to sleep it off until my next shift...

And so it has been this way since my last post until the teambuilding seminar that the Newsroom had in Clark last weekend.

Pero ganun talaga sa trabaho na pinili ko... It keeps me young and alive anyway...

But some days are pure bliss though, despite the downsides sa trabaho, which I guess are normal ...

These days I'm simply happy for want of a stronger word. It's been a week to this day since I got news that I got accepted to the CFJ Fellowships at the AdMU's Department of Communication.

And so it came to pass that 10 years after I last attended formal schooling... I'm again attending one. I finished my registration at the Ateneo campus Thursday afternoon and I'm looking forward to everything that the academe will give to me this time... Maybe to atone for the slacker in me when I last attended school.

But then again the question of my program director still echoes... "why do I want to go back to the university when I'm already working in the number 1 network?"

Hmmm, that would be the subject of another post, definitely. As it is, I am still in awe and disbelief with the turn of events, considering that the Ateneo grant will definitely turn my life around from now on.

I can only thank the Good God above in every waking moment even as I ask what ever have I done to deserve all this...

What a weekend!

Had a good weekend!

The 1st half of the 13th month bonus was probably the reason for it hehehe.

Had drinks with regular drinking buddies Al and Eugene - for the first time in many months this time at Off the Grill. Had good pulutan there - oysters and grilled pusit!

Slept all day saturday - I needed that - and went out for some window shopping in Shangrila and SM Megamall...

Siyempre went to my fave haunts - Tower Records in Shang and Powerbooks in Mega.

Saw some prospective buys there.

Had drinks w/ Wilson & wife at Greenhouse in Matalino - puno ang Treehouse w/ Singles for Christ people. Saw JJ and another producer there... Reminds me to take JJ for a drink w/ red wine this week.

And then Sunday - Weng's wedding at Paco Park. 2nd time ko na umatend ng wedding doon and first at 8am in the hot Sunday morning... Reception was at the Old Swiss Inn - masarap ang sausage platter nila the best. Weng had a smooth wedding - nice giveaways na bagay sa weather - mga pamaypay and the coffee w/ personalized sleeves - panalo Wenggay!

After the wedding I had time to kill before my 4pm duty so I went to SM North and watched a period movie starring Charlize Theron, Penelope Cruz and Stuart Townsend. Although I forgot the title, the movie was fairly ok. More on this next post...

Have a good week people!

Liberation is at hand

Two nights to go and I'm free.

On May 16, I'll have my freedom back - well, that of a 5-day a week drone anyway - as compared to my 6-day workweek since November 2004.

To say that the almost past 6 months was an ordeal is an understatement. I'm just looking forward to getting back my normal life (or what passes for it anyway).

So, another day has passed and I'm slowly getting my rythm in maintaining this blog. Ang hirap palang disiplinahin ang sarali nang magsulat ng regular - lalo na't di ako nasanay sabihin ang totoong nasa isip ko hehehe. Well, here goes nothing.

Sa ngayon, I'm still narrowing down my list of what I'll cover in this blog, in case someone wants to know why I put this up in the first place.

I'd like to think of myself as a storyteller first and journalist second...

And so because people make the best subjects for stories, this blog will be about those whom I've met in my lifetime. I guess, first of all, I would make this blog a shrine to all the good and nice people that I've met in this world... Come to think of it, I'll even include the not so nice or even downright evil - just to dissect what makes them tick hehehe.

Next, I'll talk about the places that I've been and the places that I want to go.... Then maybe I'll cover the holy trinity that makes me tick - books, music and cinema.

I'll also talk about fitness and health, which is what I'm currently interested in - after losing weight and keeping fit for the past year already (this started after I quit smoking 6 years ago).

I'll surely talk about my wonderful family and workmates/employer too.

Maybe I'll talk about my pet too, although at the state that Princess - my 1 & 1/2 year old labrador bitch - is in, I'm probably a failing in keeping a pet (she is not eating well and has developed rashes all over her body; I've not exercised her in ages and not brought her to the vet in like months...)

One reason why I got a pet was to start having a responsibility again that won't talk back or nag and ask for my whereabouts through the cel in every freakin' minute. In short, prinapraktis ko uli magkaroon ng responsibilidad the way having a girlfriend would be.

Nope, I'm not a pervert or wierdo or something... Just your average guy who got burned from a relationship (that I may or may not have any fault at all for its failure). I figured that if I succeed in nurturing my pet, then I'm ready to go have another girlfriend, again, probably for keeps... Hmmm, let's see.

So, there you have it. This blog is basically meant to hook that elusive girl hehehe. This blog is meant to seek out that girl whom I'll be making as my empress in my universe. To this girl, I'll tell her that I'm a renaissance kind of guy who can rescue her from her oppressors and defend her from the scums in this world or something and still be a wellrounded guy whom she can be proud enough to show of to her parents despite my minimum salary and empty back account.

Okay... Gawd so I'm probably not making sense so I'm just gonna end this entry and catch up with my buddies out drinking in Off the Grill.

Until next time... Have a great weekend.

Moving on

This was forwarded by a friend back when I needed it. It was one of those rare forwards that I did not deleted because it hit me in the bullseye. It helped me a lot to move on - this blog is now the sum total of that moving on... I hope it helps you too.

***

Here's something from the same guy who wrote "The Alchemist." But it isn't fiction, and it isn't something that the imagination conjures up. It's real, in fact, so real, that I guess a lot of people will relate to this essay.

If you have time, read through the entire thing slowly, and realize why we sometimes really have to let go...

Closing CyclesBy Paolo Coelho

One always has to know when a stage comes to an end.If we insist on staying longer than the necessary time, we lose thehappiness and the meaning of the other stages we have to go through.Closing cycles, shutting doors, ending chapterswhatever name we give it, what matters is to leave in the past the moments of life that have finished.

Did you lose your job? Has a loving relationship come to an end?Did you leave your parents' house? Gone to live abroad? Has a long-lasting friendship ended all of a sudden?

You can spend a long time wondering why this has happened. You can tell yourself you won't take another step until youfind out why certain things thatwere so important and so solid in your life have turned into dust, just like that.

But such an attitude will be awfully stressing for everyone involved: your parents, your husband or wife, your friends, your children, your sister,everyone will be finishing chapters, turning over new leaves, getting on with life, and they will all feel bad seeing you at a standstill.

None of us can be in the present and the past at the same time, not even when we try to understand the things that happen to us. What has passed will not return: we cannot forever be children,late adolescents, sons that feel guilt or rancor towards our parents,lovers who day and night relive an affair with someone who has gone away and has not the least intention of coming back.

Things pass, and the best we can do is to let them really go away.That is why it is so important (however painful it maybe!) to destroy souvenirs, move, give lots of things away to orphanages, sell or donate the books you have at home. Everything in this visible world is a manifestation of the invisible world, of what is going on in our hearts andgetting rid of certain memories also means making some room for othermemories to take their place.

Let things go. Release them. Detach yourself from them. Nobody plays this life with marked cards, so sometimes we win andsometimes we lose.Do not expect anything in return, do not expect your efforts to be appreciated, your genius to be discovered, your love to be understood.Stop turning on your emotional television to watch the same program over and over again, the one that shows how much you suffered from a certain loss: that is only poisoning you, nothing else.

Nothing is more dangerous than not accepting love relationships that arebroken off, work that is promised but there is no starting date,decisions that are always put off waiting for the ideal moment.Before a new chapter is begun, the old one has to be finished: tell yourself that what has passed will never come back.

Remember that there was a time when you could live without that thing orthat person nothing is irreplaceable, a habit is not a need. This may sound so obvious, it may even be difficult, but it is very important.

Closing cycles. Not because of pride, incapacity or arrogance, but simply because that no longer fits your life. Shut the door, change the record,clean the house, shake off the dust. Stop being who you were, and change into who you are.

Search for something amazing

There's one scene in The Incredibles that clearly sums up what I'm feeling lately. This was when Bob's little neighbor - a boy blowing a bubble gum and riding a bike saw him about to hurl his car in frustration. Bob asked the boy what he was waiting for and the boy answered something like -

I dunno, maybe something amazing

... And then Bob says,

me too kid, me too

...

That was the best part for me in The Incredibles, among the best scenes that littered that really incredible movie.

I guess it sums up my sentiments these days - waiting for something amazing to really happen to me, to my family and to my country... waiting for something or someone even, a hero perhaps to amaze us and more...

I remember growing up in sleepy Dumaguete City and searching for heroes to emulate and look up to. And was I so frustrated... That's why I think I'm still searching for one until a friend told me this may be futile, unless I don't mind the celluloid, literary and comic books variety. He then told me na baka naman, the hero that I was searching for was myself. Or rather, I may have to be my own hero for others to be emulated and looked up to.

Wow hebi pre... And so it came to pass that I had to lay off from my friend's deep thoughts that time...

But it has not stop me from thinking about it since then. Maybe, after all, we are our own heroes and we just don't know it yet.

Or maybe we're just doomed to search for that something amazing for all eternity...

So here goes nothing... and meanwhile, have patience with me for I'm still birthing this blog...