Banterweight

i'm moving.

2008-05-21T04:20:00.000+08:00

moved to http://konstrukted.blogspot.com/

hmm...

2007-02-01T20:53:00.001+08:00

funny, i still have my brain after working at a call center.

Yet another update

2006-07-30T22:12:00.000+08:00

as bliss is elusive when comfort has weighed out the frantic QC streets, I've gone home.

Net Nomad

2006-06-16T12:52:00.001+08:00

To Everyone:

Getting out from the addictive bum life seemed hard. I ask forgiveness from those who have been directly (hmm...) or indirectly "affected" by my less than usual net presence, therefore failing to update/validate my existence. In the process of uplifting my life from being a bum to a fully functional human being, I have applied for a dead-end job. Contract signing / doomsday is this afternoon. For those who still remember dear old me, or those who want to rescue me from employment, you are welcome to text me now @ 09159693896 (yes, now i'm shameless to admit to social retardation). Or for those with landlines, pls text me first. I'll call you myself.

For future self-reference (do not read as next paragraph is only for me to read someday)

Do you want someone to tell you the truth and be willing to cover for them with a lie?
Or do you want that someone to keep pretending with you then soon discover that it was a lie?

Getting a girl pregnant is something. People who you don't know if they are pretending to have had it who bug you if they got someone pregnant for about 109 times is yet another story. I have inquired every conceivable resource I could.

Life Update

2006-06-04T01:27:00.000+08:00

Balik manila...

certainly uncertain

2006-04-24T02:14:00.000+08:00

Nothing particularly interesting happened the week after I got home from Vigan. I am once again stuck in this rather peculiar state devoid of anything that excites me. Well, maybe except the fact that my friends and I played black jack althroughout Saturday and drank two nights before that.

Benilde's deadline for the enrolment is on May 10. The time to make the wise choice is harrowing and yet I am uncertain. Too much time has been wasted yet I feel doubtful of my patience and abilities. I know I'm not stupid.

I have a brain. I am just too arrogant to use it.

vacation vigan

2006-04-19T00:10:00.000+08:00

Click on the images to enlarge

Friday: April 14, 2006

Anne, Kuya Kris, Kuya Karlou, Kiqs and I were eating our holy week fishballs when all of a sudden she tells me "Kuya Di, let's go to Ate April's house in Vigan!", to which I reacted negatively as Vigan was about 8 hours away from Pampanga. The next thing I know was that we were bound for Vigan.

We arrive at Cholo and April (our cousin) Baquiran's quaint vigan home at about 4:30 am, which is already short since we left at about 10:30.

A Tour of the House

Ate April's home was filled with exotic and original items giving it an refreshing eclectic appeal, decorated by no less than herself, the interior designer du jour.

Before, the house just served as a bodega but when they married, she decided that they move there and overhauled it into it's present state: A country themed exterior with all the comforts of a modern home on its interior.

calesa loveseat

the bar

candle fixtures

They also have actual horses in their backyard.

Saturday, April 15, 2006

We woke up with these critters licking our faces:

Then we headed to Chavit Singson's resthouse at Baluarte, Ilocos Sur.

Here's Anne with a python.

Warning: this is not a wire.

A trip to Vigan is never complete without visiting my Ate's resto. Make sure you make a stop at:

The Hambre Restaurant
Crisologo St., Vigan

Ate April's bread and butter.

That afternoon, Anne and I went for a walk at the brick-laden streets of old world Vigan.

At about 5:00 pm we went to Cabugao to chill at the beach.

We headed back to Hambre then Kuya Adrian, Anne, Ate Apes and I went to grab a vigan classic: the empanada.

Then we went to the town plaza to shop at the tiangge.

After that, we headed straight at the street party directly in front of the infamous and historic Cafe Leona where we drank with the owner of Max's Vigan while drinking beer and gobbling nachos and maki.

Sunday, April 16, 2006

Little did I know that I was assigned to be one of the judges for the Battle of the Bands whose winner will also be the front act for the upcoming Bamboo concert. It was held affront the Hambre restaurant who is also one of the sponsors of the said event.

The event started at about 9pm. Turns out the judges had unlimited food and booze. Lucky me. During performances I would compare my top 3 with the Tribe of Levi's own Rex Vargas, another judge in the event. By 2:00 I was already hammered by the beer that I wasn't paying attention to the performance levels of the band, it's like I was just in some bar listening to hard rock music while guzzling the free beer and munching on unending servings of baked stuffed chicken, buttered corn, and mozzarella sticks.

Pictures to come.

Monday, April 17, 2006

Before heading home we ate lunch (more like breakfast because we woke up at about 1pm, thanks to the battle of the bands) at Hambre. The food was stunning for only 5 of us will be eating. There was bagnet, vigan longganisa, garlic mushroom, buttered corn, adobo, and tokwa't baboy, among others. We finally said goodbye to Vigan at 4:30pm then arrived home at 1pm.

@mimosa

2006-04-10T15:34:00.000+08:00

Since Kiqs only had 1 week of vacation, we decided to get wet @ mimosa.

After guzzling a beer, I realize that he had taken my trunks. What's left?

A fuckin' spandex.

I decided and wore the shorts I came in with.

banterweight was at tiesto

2006-04-01T19:53:00.000+08:00

Manila is Tiesto virgin no more.

After hanging out at Mocha Blends, Harbor Square, we went straight to party with tiesto' s opening act: manolet dario.

the one significant event.

the patient crowd.

awaiting the god of trance.

the smirnoff challenge.

poster-worthy cutouts.

sleeping with my cigarettes in hand.

a photoblog of the most hectic day

2006-03-26T19:14:00.000+08:00

Last friday night, my uncle celebrated... his breakup. First Emond and Shalom arrived, then the celebrant with Kuya Mark and Marvin. We drank till midnight until his gf got back with him, by phone. Then 6:00 am the following day, I drove with my cousin for what would be my most hectic day ever.

First Stop: Anne's Condo, Ortigas

After two hours of prepare-time, we finally got started.

Second Stop: Lienzo de los Gazules, Makati

After we got sponsorship from Tito Ed, we went ahead.

Third Stop: Designer Blooms Showroom, Paranaque

Tang inang layo ng paranaque.

Fourth Stop: Avel Bacudio's Office, Kamias

Plush office.

Fifth Stop: UP Diliman

Kwelang Computer Shop - ticket printouts

Syempre Kikiam at Balls. Nex was here.

UP Coop

Sixth Stop: Anne's Condo

Wafu.

Metrowalk.

Seventh Stop: Home

Sa wakas.

touchy-feely

2006-03-23T15:49:00.000+08:00

Yesterday i found that happiness is found on life's simple joys.

The joy you find when:

Your cousins visit.

You sit down after a 4 hour basketball game with them, your whole body achin' and all.

Your cousin dunks and the ball suddenly goes up 4 storeys, almost hitting a person on its way down.

You draw yourself a steamy bath after such a game.

Your mom cooks homemade lomi after you bathe.

You and your cousins all catch up while eating lomi, al fresco, on a chilly night.

razr redesign

2006-03-23T15:41:00.000+08:00

This morning, in the event that there's not much else to do... and with my hips killing me, I fooled around with illustrator and redesigned the motorola razr v3i.

of gunshots and v-laced nights

2006-03-20T14:28:00.000+08:00

This week has definitely been a sensational blur. The week started off with my cousin buying a new razr and another cousin asking me to create a name for a media outfit. It then evolved into basketball bloopers and MWF red horse shots. Anne, another cousin has "granuloma anolaris" to which I always refer to as "granulosa areola". We hung out a couple times this week, specifically, wednesday then last night.

Saturday was pretty fucked up. We were at sax from 1am to almost 5. We didn't close the bar this time as some assholes closed it up for us. Here's the story: a group of crackheads (formerly known as bosconians) engaged in a brawl with their long standing enemies over a girl (to which my cousin referred to as uglier than crap) then fired shots outside. All this happened with not one of us moved at all. We were still chilling at the dj booth while all the shit was crackin'. After a while we then realized it was time to call it a night. A sad one at that.

Last night, we just chilled tho. We poked fun at anne's granulosa areola, had slowpokes, ate pizza, drank iced teas and cokes and then just plain slept.

Who better to make you salivate

2006-03-07T12:38:00.000+08:00

In the advent of dieting programs, I suggest a better alternative.... hence, the good ole tuna sandwich.

This is sick

2006-03-07T07:34:00.000+08:00

Natalie Portman goes hella gangsta on SNL. click here to view.

a hell of a time

2006-02-26T05:46:00.000+08:00

I was already drunk from a drinking binge over at my uncle's house and had puked twice already before this:

Before halfway, we first went to curved to drink... and I insulted people who were going off a van and said they were geriatrics. The next picture shows how drunk my brother was.

This picture was taken while my brother and cuz were puking the hell out of the car at 5 am when we almost literally closed the joint.

My brother in his drunken pose.

Now this is juvenile:

And this is just plain ugly.

Here's a video of the party:

if that doesn't work, click this.

Like a freak

2006-02-19T02:06:00.000+08:00

This very minute, I just drove myself home and left a great party because my fucking throat was hella swollen. Damn it. What a waste.

OFFICIALLY A DORK

2006-02-10T15:25:00.001+08:00

Beneath the cool exterior that I've sported since birth (*ehem*) I never imagined that on the 10th of February, 2006, that handsome look will be broken by an opthamologist.

Kiss this one goodbye.

To celebrate my dorkiness, I drank at lunch, soon after receiving the life ruining glasses.

A Week's Worth

2006-02-05T12:59:00.000+08:00

In the spirit of bringing myself back to do what i normally do sans the anxiety, this week has been filled with both productive and unproductive ways you could spend your time with. This thursday, Kuya Mark, Kuya Wally, Ate Donna and I played at the Smash Power court in San Fernando. After almost 2 hours of gameplay, I thought it was over, since I was already exhausted beyond imagination and it's been a loooong time since I played, but no congregants, they wanted to go to the gym to "cooldown". I didn't go and became the grinch of working out. So I went out of the building and smoked, drank gatorade, had about 2 ham sandwiches (so much for counting calories, eh) and listened to my mp3s. Then I noticed the most peculiar thing: a badminton ad where Isabel Granada and her husband (councilor and La Salle alum) Jericho Aguas were. I've been playing at Smash Power since 2004 and from time to time I see the darling couple play. The thing is, Isabel has to learn that not every woman who plays badminton should wear makeup all the time. Maybe it hasn't sunk into her bones that she's not that big anymore but please. . . try to act normal. Nobody's asking for your autograph anymore anyways. Nuff said.

As usual, saturday was party night. Decked in our best attire, we drank 2 beers at home then headed straight to Halfway only to be disappointed with the turnout. . . perhaps everyone was grieving with the stupid cuneta incident. Haha. After a lousy beer, we went to Sax. As usual it was stacked with people, and sennheiser (pseudonym) was there, making my cousin ecstatic. We practically closed the bar down. After that we had corn soup and slept.

the new banterweight.

2006-01-30T22:02:00.000+08:00

Not another drunken night

2006-01-25T10:59:00.000+08:00

Ok. so maybe it was. And since the whole country is a champion in settling for mediocrity, so will I. Assigned an ad project in a newly established mangrove for organic veggies. Boring. Maybe i should stop blogging because nothing in my life is postworthy.

Crazy Night

2006-01-22T15:50:00.000+08:00

Yesterday, after another meeting that never was @ golden cane, my cuz and i decided to let our frustrations loose @ halfway. Kuya Kri was at his fashion best with his gucci sneaks, a preppy vest and folded pants. Haha. It was crazy. True to our saturday ritual, we first went to our favorite watering hole, Curved, before unleashing hell at Halfway. About 5 of my hs classmates were also there, some with their wives, and some, to terrorize the joint (more of this later). After hearing "la puta la gasolina" yet again, my cousin and i agreed it was going to be a looong night. And it was. We arrived there at about 12 and by 1, we were already putting our feet atop the tables (boredom, not intoxication). Kuya Kris' gym buddy, who was also the DJ, was the only one who played decent music. And just for the record, it was the first time i ever heard Michael Jackson's another one bites the dust getting play-time at a club. Fuckers. and also, for yet another record, they didn't run out of ashtrays for us this time, since the place is always packed. By the time firefly started playing, we were on our toes, and we never stopped from there even when there already was a huge fight, thrown by the former buskos. I think i burned the rubber on my sneaks. Well. All in all it was really a crazy night on the town.

The meeting that never was

2006-01-20T17:53:00.000+08:00

11:30 am - Kuya Kris' ass-sistant calls me to say that we will have a meeting with FGP and designer Cesar Gaupo at the Golden Shell Office .

2:30 pm - Driver and Kuya Freddy from research & design arrive.

3:00 pm - off to Manila.

4:30 pm - re-routed at Quiapo. Driver don't know where to go, so we ended up at freakin Divisoria.

5:00 pm - FGP calls, saying that the meeting was over and that we should head to Savarin.

6:30 pm - We arrive @ Savarin, and FGP says that the meeting is now @ 6750 in Ayala. We realize shortly thereafter that the chevy was still banned on the streets due to coding.

7:00 pm - Kuya Kris and I eat at Savarin then FGP says that the meeting is canceled altogether but she needs the driver.

about 7:45 pm - I had to drive all the way to Pampanga. Fuck.

9:00 pm - We arrive home.

9:30 pm - had coffee at Beatico.

11:00 pm - bedrest, I felt like I was coming down with something, like fever.

There goes another unproductive day.

Of Solitude

2006-01-17T15:58:00.000+08:00

Solitude is the perfect irony. From the rigorous everyday routine, your solitude would be to draw yourself a hot bath or just be solitary. Then comes the paradox. Of being forced to solitude. Which is not solitude at all. A state when things are so peaceful you want to bang your precious head against a wall, just to make things slightly different. Consumed in this arduously facile state, I ramble into the depths of my brain and find homonymous occlusions preventing me from reaching a state from within the state of solitude. To put it in laymen's terms, i'm simply fucked. Does anyone know how to help me through this predicament? It's been so long since I felt normal, and the past 6 months have already passed since then and I'm ashamed to admit that I don't even know what normal is anymore.

Make My Day

2006-01-12T22:01:00.000+08:00

Make My Day

This afternoon my dear friend sent me a message that someone she would rather not prefer to be affiliated with just raised hell on my layout. I checked it right away then wondered why someone in the right mind would start a vendetta against someone's blog when clearly, it doesn't concern this specific person? What the hell. Maybe it was boredom or personal angst or maybe it was just angst shifted from a failed relationship, i could assume. I don't see the connection. Clearly, I should not be involved. So why waste my time? And why does he waste his? It's not as i'm competing with him in some web crap anyway plus, this is my personal space and no nitwit can tell me how it should or shouldn't look. Mind your own business and I'll take care of mine alright? Now everyone's happy.

The 25 of 2005

2006-01-03T22:01:00.000+08:00

FOOD

Official 2005 Food - Homemade Pizza

Official 2005 Chip - Lay's Sour Cream & Onion

LOCATION

Official 2005 Club - Sax/Halfway (it's a tie)

Official 2005 Watering Hole - Curved

Official 2005 Coffeeshop - Beatico

Official 2005 Shot Venue - our Garage

Official 2005 Sweat Local – Smash Power Badminton Club

DRINKS/VICES

Official 2005 Cocktail - Kremlin Sunset

Official 2005 Beer - Red Horse

Official 2005 Cigarette - Marlboro Lights Gold

MUSIC

Official 2005 Club Anthem - Stonebridge - "Put 'em High"

Official 2005 Song - Coldplay - "The Hardest Part"

Official 2005 CD - X&Y

GADGETS/ENTERTAINMENT

Official 2005 Phone - K700i (Kuya Mark, Me, Kuya Kris, and Emond, too much of a coincidence)

Official 2005 Gadget - Nikon f55/Canon 350D

Official 2005 Game - NFS Most Wanted

Official 2005 Movie - Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo

Official 2005 Book - Dan Brown - Da Vinci Code

Official 2005 TV Show - Pinoy Big Brother

EVENTS

Official 2005 Event - "Facilitation Period"

(photo unnecessary)

MISCELLANEOUS

OBSESSION OF THE YEAR
PC Parts

2005 ENDER
Glowstick Party

QUOTE OF THE YEAR
“well…”

HOBBY OF THE YEAR
Photography

FREAKY PERSON OF THE YEAR
Prudencio "Ding" Sebastian

Shitty xmas

2005-12-26T19:34:00.000+08:00

Since everything this xmas is shit,
this is my new year's resolution.

Embassick

2005-12-20T19:52:00.000+08:00

Despite the shitty feeling (colds, fever et al.), and against my better judgment, I went to the German Embassy. We arrived there 1 hour early, which means that we got bored. Me, my cousin and my brother hung out with the faux-fab call center people all dressed up for people on the other line who don't even get to see them.

Enough trash. We were trash. Ate with our aunt, the prez, who herself had an interview next to mine, at Delifrance. Interview time came and I was feeling a bit off. Especially because of the fact that the person who is about to interview me was the same fucked up arrogant arsehole who denied me a visa in my 2004 interview. Today he made me suffer. He made me design a candleholder, asked me my employment record (which was faux, due to politically correct expectations), why I was going and not a senior designer (to which I answered, "for experience, and that we were the second generation of our company") and whatever shit he can throw my way.

After the embassy, we went to greenbelt and my cousin bought himself a havaiana at *Celio. Kiqs browsed for the new iPod 30GB, and I, well, got tired from seeing people over 50.

Before heading straight home, we just chilled at Kiqs place.

Geeky Xmas

2005-12-18T13:23:00.000+08:00

In the spirit of xmas, and xmas spending, I opted to build for myself the ultimate powerpc; creating it from scratch and meticulously checking out which parts were best suited for it to be extremely functional, especially for those power-demanding games such as my newly acquired NFS Most Wanted.

Here's the specs:
Pentium 4 3.0/3.2/3.4 Ghz LGA 775 Socket with HT Technology
Intel 915GEV motherboard for optimum connectivity and flexibilitySeagate S-ATA 80/120 GBs of sheer storage power
512MB/1G DDR 533/400 or DDR2 DIMM RAM
256MB/128-bit DDR Video Card, such as the FX 5500/5200 and the Radeon 700a Sony Dual Layer DVD/R+RW for productivitya regular Sony CD-RW, for mp3's and shit
a Samsung 153V TFT-LCD, which i already got early this year
and to top it all off, an ASUS TM551 Case for ultimate cooling

Diplomatically Challenged

2005-12-16T16:58:00.000+08:00

5:30
the time the driver should arrive for our interview at the Botschaft der Bundesrepublik Deustcheland.6:46
the time he arrives, absolving himself of the crime and pointing it to the guard who forgot to inform a certain person that the vehicle was to be used for urgent matter.

7:00
time we left for Makati.

8:00
locked in traffic at Cubao. Driver still desperately trying to absolve himself

8:30
locked in traffic at Makati. Driver is still talking.

9:00
arrival at RCBC Plaza, new home to the German Embassy. And just in case you're wondering, driver still wouldn't shut up.

9:15
we're told to reschedule

past 9:15
starbucks... idle time... delifrance with our aunt.

11:something
went home. disappointed yet again. and the driver... well... u already know.

Jabongga

2005-12-15T17:34:00.000+08:00

Mula gabi hanggang umaga.

Jong Jong Jologs

2005-12-14T14:15:00.000+08:00

Last night we averted from the usual pulsating music to the kind that sends shivers down your spine. Kuya Mark was at our house while we were binging when he told us that his brother, Kuya Wally needed "rescue". Before we knew it, we were all on the Rav 4 with your everyday clothes. The twist to the story was that Kuya Wally needed another kind of "rescue". He was @ Kelly's Clark, which is a slightly upscale resto with a videoke for d.o.m.s. Our attire was perfect. Everyone there were at their fashion best. Luckily we were too numb from the red horse to care. From the sappy renditions of Just Once to drunken versions of Pare ko, we were hooked. Within an hour we finished 5 rounds of drinks and mozzarella sticks. What a freaky night.

Something to reflect on

2005-12-14T13:54:00.000+08:00

Extravagance of a Pauper

I want a house that could withstand the weathers. I want clean food; none of that bacteria stricken kind. I want a family; not one that exploits my youth and selfishly reaps the rewards of my work. Don’t give me that uncomfortable stare when I you know I want your money, nothing pisses me off the most. Don’t act as if you don’t know my purpose. I want drugs that does not double as an adhesive, clothes that literally breathe through them, streets that doesn’t offer grime, blankets that aren’t informative, a neighborhood that befits it’s essence, relatives that don’t corrupt me, or anything that is a cause for welfare. I want to be normal like you.

Yet another 24 hour day

2005-12-10T10:32:00.000+08:00

I was awakened to the sound of that irritating insinuation that I'm 1 hour late for a meeting with the Philippine Furniture Training Seminar. My cousin and I went and got the "ooh... Golden Cane is here" greeting from Mr. Rino Datuin, head of the PFTS, being the industry heavyweight that we are... or were. Tony Gonzales, a design exemplar was also there, showcasing all the work he's done in Locsin and abroad. His vision is something to be coveted, being that he doesn't close his mind when it comes to creativity, even when challenged to make the 1 peso chair. Anyways, we arrived there at 9 am (late 1 hr already) then left at lunchbreak. Datuin even quipped at us "sige, ok lang, kung ano ba ung priority nyo e, wala akong magagawa" when we told him that we were late for another engagement with the Undersecretery of Finance, Mr. Teves, while holding our lunches from Chowking. We headed straight to Golden Cane, then to Nepo Mall where we checked out photography stuff. Home was our last stop. Nighttime came, and Kuya Mark bought a case of Red Horse with Kuya Karlou and Pogs came with Janice, another one of his girls, with another case of Red Horse as did JP. I went to fetch my brother at the terminal, being the spoiled brat that he is at 9 pm. Then later in the evening, just as Kuya Wally, Ate Donna, Reese and Chi from SB arrived, another case of Red Horse came, plus a case of SML and chop suey, duck meat, prawns, beef with vegetables, and fried rice from Luk Foo. I might say that it was fully filling.

24 hour day

2005-12-04T18:49:00.000+08:00

As soon as I woke up, my brother and I went straight to the dentist for my root canal maintenance. There was heavy traffic on the streets of Angeles due to the Sisig Festival that was recently held at the Nepo grounds. After the dentist, we headed straight to Smash Power badminton court at San Fernando to flex our muscles a bit. We played for two hours and our muscles were sore. After that, we hung out a bit at the gas station to rest and smoke.

The afternoon came and we invited Kuya Kris over to go with us at Angeles' favorite watering hole named Curved. We drank a bit and our eyes wallowed over the look-rich and eye-friendly environment of Balibago. After that, we tried to get in at Sax but Kuya Kris was wearing flops from Germany (which we made as an excuse for the stringent guard) but we were still denied entrance. Well, fuck em.

So we decided to try our luck at Halfway Lounge, and luckily, the sandals got in, after some very careful spy work. We hung out then drunk till our livers can't take anymore and partied until the wee hours of the morning.

The dawn was almost breaking when we got home and also our cousins got home from SM (Sophia Mae, located in the angeles red light district) with three more-than-your-average looking paypals. We ate ice cream then slept at 6. Our muscles were already sore before, but this takes it to a new level.

Heavy

2005-12-02T12:56:00.000+08:00

Dead serious. The Phillipines has been 'rigging' the 23rd Sea Games. A number of the games either inherently put the Philippines atop the competition through unfair competition and unfair play. As I watched the billiards competition between the Philippines and Vietnam, it was undoubtedly apparent that the Philippines put international billiards superstar Alex Pagulayan and Orcullo against need I say, weaker, and more inexperienced players from Vietnam. Pagulayan has been championing the international billiards circuit long before the SEA games itself. He has played with the likes of US' Earl Strickland, Mika Immonen (who recently enjoyed time here in the Philippines), Taiwan's Fong-Pang Chao, and our very own Efren "Bata" Reyes. It's like pitting a giant against midgets, and rest is assured that no David and Goliath story will prevail. Thai's are crying out that we should not be hosting for medals. Unfair cry, right sentiment. The hypocrites that we are, will never understand this supposedly non-offending statement by Thai PM Thaksin. It's as if he told a fat woman to lose weight or die. Again, Unfair cry, right sentiment. It's depressing how the corrupt Philippine politics has overshadowed even the most diplomatic of events.

Since everyone's doing it....

2005-11-29T03:39:00.000+08:00

10 firsts:

first girlfriend:
Antoinette Joie Concepcion...
first best friend:
Andy from St. Claire's Prep
first screen name:
Yosi
first kiss:
Kulasa.. HS.
first piercings:
Left ear, Ibay's Baguio.. then had 6 more.
first crush:
matutina. tang ina. jurassic ang tanong na to.
first drink:
isa pa. bat ba ang kulit.
first job:
corporate communications specialist
first date:
HS din. after namin tumugtog sa battle of the bands.
first word spoken:
peme ng yosi.

9 lasts:

last cigarette:
Just now.
last alchoholic beverage:
Red Horse last sat.
last movie seen:
Maverick
last phone call:
stalker ka ba?
last cd played:
Franz Ferdinand
last laugh:
before i started answering this stupid questionnaire
last time you cried:
noong binunot ung ngipin ko
last song heard:
Take me out

have you ever:

have you ever dated one of your best friends:
ayus to. oo.
have you ever skinny dipped:
you'd have to make me go on a boat first.
have you ever been on tv:
Who cares? I'd rather be behind the camera.
have you ever kissed somebody and regretted it:
nop. good track record.
have you ever had a sex dream about someone you knew:
who've u been talking to? pervert!
have you ever lost someone you loved:
don't wanna talk about it
have you ever been depressed:
right now. clinically, or so i think.
have you ever been in love:
for what is a heart if not to love? naks. kupal.

7 places you've been to for the past week:

1. Intramuros - fuckin gilding seminar
2. Dentist - fuck. again.
3. Holiday Inn - Mequeni Cafe with Tasha and friend
4. Nepo - shot!
5. Jollibee - gutom pagkatapos ng shot
6. Makro - bought tools
7. Home.

6 things you've done today:

1. Woke up with the heaviest head
2. Smoked alot
3. Wolfed down a box of pizza
4. Researched photography stuff
5. Killed a cat (it's so routine)
6. M*st*r**ted (yep. what you're thinking's probably the one)

favorite things in NO order:

1. Yosi
2. Food
3. Photography in its entirety
4. PC + NET
5. Books

4 people you can tell [almost] anything to:
1. Kuya Kris
2. Tasha
3. James
4. Jem

3 wishes:

1. To be successful in the field of studio photography and industrial design. (naks! parang resume)
2. I wish I was aware of all that I know now before I was born so that I can experience more things.
3. Tumino na buhay ko. NO MORE TOXICITIES! m fed up with all that crap.

2 things you want to do before you die:
1. live.
2. share.

1 thing you regret:
1. I regret the Philippines as a whole. haha. political.

Kaibigan.

2005-11-28T00:54:00.000+08:00

Aah... hate to say it... I forgot about you. sorry, i've just been too busy. So much has happened this week I had to reedit this post again and again. Last week has been a blur. Seriously.

This monday, my cousin and I went to this freakin gilding seminar, I even had a goddamned toothache that was totally unbearable.

"yosilights"

I went to the dentist for some more torture (refer to the post i did entitled evil in its human form, dated oct 31) Kuya Mark visited almost daily this week to flex our photographic muscles.

"painting with light"

"x-mas balls"

"angel in the dark"

"jagerclaus"

Last wednesday, I had a quickie with tash and her friend who I somehow really can't remember but she managed to remember me; back in my more "huggable" days (thanks tash for the less harsh version of the truth). We met up at the Hilltop at the Mimosa, Clark then went straight for beers at the Mequeni cafe at Holiday Inn. Twas fun, for the fifteen minutes that it lasted.

The night before today, I was too smashed again. Pogs, Kuya Karlou, JC and I hung out at Nepo. Although the place sucked, it was better than dancing with in a freakin bar. My cousin and bro was at Sax. Thank god i didn't go because from what I heard all they got there was sheer boredom. I got so drunk I can't even feel my fingers. We almost hit a trike on our way back.

After driving JC home and eating at Jollibee (the best if you're drunk), we went to Sin's place to badger him into drinking at home. After Pogs succeeded in forcing Sin to come despite his busy sked, we went to our friendly neighborhood mini-mart. We bought a case of Red Horse, then went straight home to finish it off. My 1K was shot. This afternoon my family went to Makro to shop a bit, just when we were leaving the place, a woman was hit by a stupid jeepney driver. Isn't it wonderful why when tragic things happen everyone is excessively opinionated? Taking her picture didn't rub off as a great idea at the time. Haha. Twisted. I have to rest my head. See ya again anytime soon, if i've got the time.

Girls are Bull

2005-11-17T12:26:00.000+08:00

While we were having a shot session with pogs, kuya karlou, and noy, my cousin blurted out that he was "seeing" someone. Her name was Charisse. She was one of those FHM models that only graced the stage once then never came back. According to him, she was coming to visit him, so he went and gave her directions. That was 10 pm. At 3:00 am, the scenario was the same, only this time, my cousin was on the verge of cussing out this woman. Apparently, her manager had her go to his rest house while on the road after a shoot in Subic. At 3:30 am she told us to meet her up at Caltex in Holy Family, since it was the only establishment in her close proximity. At about four, she insisted that we just go to her house at Marisol. We were fed up already. She was feeding him a load of bull. Tell me, why can't girls just tell people what the real situation is and stop shitting people?

Leben ist Scheiße

2005-11-15T23:49:00.000+08:00

I'm having yet another interview with the German Embassy for the Kolnmesse in Cologne. Let's hope that i do not fuck up this time given the pressure of yet another fake administrative position bestowed upon me.

Santa's little helper

2005-11-15T01:10:00.000+08:00

Another maid has come to our employ. She'll be out sooner than she thinks.

Odiously Visceral

2005-11-15T01:04:00.000+08:00

Nay must I submit to thee, mine odious companion? For in thee resides the tempest. You linger free in mine will, even contention will not permit. For thou be evil. Thou art the counterfeit of humanity. You disgrace even the horrid stench of iniquity. Mercy is the decay which you dwell upon. You blind the truth with thy envy, thy discontent. You transfer the wicked unto others. You mask thyself with kindness when it is the fruit of malevolence that sears your soul. I pity you. O! I pity you. I grew amenable to your will. I detested it. You insisted. I grew weary. You supplemented. I detached. You persevered.

You implore forgiveness but you are not prepared. As soon as it is implied you shall accomplish what desecration you have always have exercised. I concede for I am not merciless yet I am in withholding. God help you. God help me.

Recipe for Wellington Crepes

2005-11-13T18:42:00.000+08:00

3 hrs hard labor
1 very bored person who finds...
1 very old cookbook
1 pound stinkin beef that wouldn't thaw fast
1/2 a pack of marlboro lights due to the long time to cook
1 maid to help you slice and dice every ingredient
1 giant mess in the kitchen that the maid will eventually clean up for ya

The Shift

2005-11-11T22:11:00.000+08:00

What is up with the world. People are a bitch. They're extremely stubborn, dismissive, corrupt, selfish beyond selfishness itself, fucked-up megalomaniacs, buffoons, assholes, pretentious, hypocritical and conniving idiots. Need I even say that they're the exact replica of satan himself, or even worse? Is it just me or the whole country has gone mad? Now spare me that holier that thou attitude. You know you exhibit at least one of these traits, or at least one you're willing to admit to. Nowadays one has to point a gun at another just to get someone to do the right thing. Being complacent in a land which has been corrupted beyond belief does not help either. It could just be the cause of all this chaos. Why am I lashing out? I am part of the problem. I can't take it anymore.

Buddhists believe that energies shift from person to person. By changing my personal attitude, and the way I treat other people, I am hoping to somehow change the energy of my personal social circle, need I even dare include the whole country, or even the world. The world isn't perfect, neither are we. But at least let's bring back the personal and social decency that we as a people need to have. Mad? No. Ambitious. Yes. Think about it. There's no harm in trying is there. Those dunces can mock you all they want. Don't fold. You'll realize that you know better and that it is really them that is problematic. Let go. Just be. Then you're really free.

"Be the change you want to see in the world." - Mahatma Gandhi

Seeing Double

2005-11-10T14:44:00.000+08:00

I can now officially declare myself an alcoholic. Three times just before this week even finishes validates this statement. I still haven't slept from my drinking binge last night. Before you continue, make sure that you are not eating anything. I have this gagging sensation in my throat and it doesn't help that it tastes like puke mixed with something else... like mucous. I'm sick as a dog and still it didn't stop me from drinking red horse. Already I have colds and now, probably diarrhea. Fuck. I've been unloading crap three times since the last bottle was drained. I tried to sleep but I can't because I've got this terrible stomachache. Enough of the shit. Yesterday, prior to my drinking binge, and also leading to it, my cousin proposed that we should put up a digital workshop, including graphics artistry, video editing, and photography studio. He also suggested that we give the showroom a lofty-museum kind of look. I agreed, of course and took the nosedive to signing the subheading of the ubiquitous unwritten law. Pray for me.

I-Haul, Revised

2005-11-06T15:25:00.000+08:00

Burgundy Westbay Towers, Unit 1610, farewell.

Not too long ago, I decided to reside in this quaint yet homey unit because it was perfect. It didn't matter that it didn't have good airflow and that something was leaking from the tubes above, causing my light bulbs to short out.

Its decadent hallway welcomes me in and leads me out of the building every single day, ushering me wherever I go.

Although my stay here was cut short due to concerns about my health, I had had wonderful and equally turbulent times here. The charades despedida for Kei, an incident involving E.R.s with desperate doctors and a disturbing stalker all made this place one of the most colorful. The thing is that this place reminds me of that "kailangan pa bang i-memorize yan" crap that you don't normally listen to but you can't get it out of your head, thanks to the association of yes fm listeners, and also the cab and jeepney drivers everywhere. I get to miss a lot about the place now that I'm leaving. I had a relaxing pool on the top floor overlooking the makati skyline that made me relax when I had a lot on my mind.

It had books, quite a number of them actually. Although I never got to read them. A guitar also made the place mellow, even though the only chord I knew when I bought it was "A".

That carbon monoxide infused air, heaven. To that whore who lives next door, who knows how to cook only one viand: tinapa, thank you for making the hallway smell like nepa-q-mart. To the dimwitted guards whom I instructed to ban a certain someone from the premises but were outwitted by that persistent stalker, you might want to retrain with your agency. The janitor who cleans up all of my cigarette butts on the hallway, sensya ka na, tao lang. To that elevator which took most of my morning schedule, fuck, ayoko rin naman pumasok e :). My window overlooks the bustling metro, its pollution and whatnot. I'll never forget it.

As the last piece of furniture was being hauled out, I sit and think about the melancholy that now covers it. The mellow atmosphere had shifted into a dull and empty space, waiting for a new tenant to bring it to life.

Farewell, 1610. I'll always remember you as my only friend when I had absolutely no one to turn to.

Coffee-based Rendezvous

2005-11-05T01:57:00.000+08:00

My cousin was frustrated. I was frustrated. My brother, well, you guessed it. The economy was harsh and our beloved (need I say it) company's foundations are fluctuating, and the sad thing is, so are we. We've shifted from caring less of the world and more of ourselves when it eventually hit us. It was cold. Hard. Real.

We had to take action, so we went out and had coffee. It was a terrible slew of emotions. There was worry, angst, boredom, and a little bit of humor. The owner of the joint was beside us, the one which my brother mistook or identified as an alien of preference. That's beside the point. I've got to start packing my stuff out of the condo tomorrow, meaning i should be awake by 6:00 am. Now it's 2:00. fuck. I'd better get to sleep before another senseless meandering enters my mind.

Overexposing the Filipino

2005-11-04T11:31:00.000+08:00

Photo by Dominique James.

What's wrong with this picture? Nothing, you might say. But the people who know photography sees what's been done here, whether it be right, wrong, or even designed to be aesthetically pleasing. Recently in greenbelt, they held the "Campaign for real beauty". They even held the lines "Dark, or Dazzling", "Aging or Ageless", "Flat or Flattering", and the ubiquitous "Extra-large or extra sexy". I try not to be a bigot but i think its gonna be both. A woman could be dark, but still dazzling. Naks. Making one choose between the two makes you feel a bit like a hypocrite. Back to the picture.

Everybody's seen big brother right? The two people above are both famous for being "cass" and "uma" from big brother. They don't look as good as when they're both on tv while they entertain us. In this picture, they're both overexposed. Now, why is that? It defies the conventions of being proud of your heritage. They're brown. They should be. Why are they almost unrecognizable with this picture basing it from big brother? Well, that's where "art" set in. But it is with great humiliation that with art comes lightness of the skin. When trying to apply glamour on the photos means adding exposure compensation or even artificial light in order to make it look "glamorous". This is not a personal attack on the photographer. Maybe i'm barking on the wrong tree. Maybe i should be attacking the whole environment for that matter.

Hollow-een

2005-11-02T00:02:00.000+08:00

The halloween break has been nothing but sheer boredom. I chose not to be and made this digitally-altered picture.

Evil in its Human Form

2005-10-31T13:36:00.000+08:00

There comes a time in every man's life when he should face his worst fears. In this case, evil takes a human form in my dentist. It was one of those events wherein you are obliged to go, or suffer the consequences. I woke up this morning to the sound of my alarm reminding me that today, I will be compelled to sit in that torture chamber.

As I arrived in the garden of evil, I was pleasantly greeted by the sinister himself, cringing with delight as he would when new meat arrives. He then plunges deep into your oral orifice as you wallow away in anguish due to the severe pain. He uses his weapons, though originally designed to rid you of much pain, causes more pain than you'll ever know.

He needles every bone in this opening, playing with it as a child would a rattle. Just when you thought you couldn't take anymore, he violently grasps your insides and then hauls it out while you are helplessly suffering with your mouth bleeding without fail. After the torment, you try your best to relax even though you've just been violated; but you say nothing because it is for your own good.

He strikes again, writing the medications and collecting that ubiquitous price you owe him for the torture. You just can't help but be morbid because its holloween. Happy Holloween everyone.

INactivity 2005 Campaign

2005-10-30T21:17:00.001+08:00

Unlike other charade sites, this new one carries with it a campaign whose slogan is INactivity 2005. Its goal:

"The INactivity programme is geared towards bridging the gaps within the charade community, whether it be physical or geographical. It hopes to accomplish even closer ties for the charaders through the organization of events."

My 9-5 is this. Hoping something good will come of this.

Smashed. No, Really Smashed

2005-10-30T21:14:00.000+08:00

I'm in a pirate ship. I felt like my head was a demolition ball spinning out of control. Turns out my cousin's plan to get stoned was off the wall, even though it was the maiden voyage for him. And I tell you, the maiden voyage makes you go seasick, as he puked for the first time also. People were being verbally reckless, as issues flew everywhere. My brother was picking up a potential textmate, and my cousin was so smashed, he slept at our couch, yet again, for the first time. Damn that Toska. Its cursed me two times before. I won't let that happen again.

Subsist

2005-10-30T19:20:00.000+08:00

(from my multiply, originally scheduled Oct. 24, 2005)

The room is infused in smoke. Coldplay hit me. The past week has been a blur of people, places, and sheer lack of appreciation of my more than fair share of luck. The photography workshop which I attended was two theories in contrast.

My mind had grasped yet another facet of knowledge, yet I wasn’t able to bring myself to be a normal person. Since it was the week when they held Manila F.A.M.E., an exhibit of the furniture export world, I decided to stay with my mom and Ate Faye, a marketing account officer at room 1220 in Trader’s hotel, adjacent to the CCP.

Jun Miranda was our professor in what my cousin would dub as the “shatter speed” workshop. A day in the workshop can be summarized in three sentences. Sat, listened intently, which in other terms meant being bored to death. I had gone down every 10 minutes or so to smoke outside the building. Took photographs that while I was swearing to myself it won’t turn out great, it amazed me.

In our first day, each of us were assigned partners to shoot with. I was assigned to Vincent. We shot in greenbelt. I was a bit thrown by the fact that most of them had digital SLRs (actually, there were only three of us out of 20 that used film). The second day, we were in the Raja Sulayman park, which is directly in front of the Manila Bay. I focused my shots on the things that are truly Manila: the garbage, the people, the calesa, and the sense perplexing beauty that is the Manila Bay sunset.

It was ironic that I had graduated two times in the past two weeks. So far, my condition is improving. This week I had gone from total bum to amateur photographer, to partyphile at Embassy, The Fort.

Last Friday I went out with my friends Jem, Tash, and Sarah, as they were the only ones available at that time. We hung out at the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf at greenbelt 3.

Last Saturday, right after Kuya Kris arrived from Hong Kong during a business trip, we shot SML at Coffee Outlet, then partied (more like lingered) at Sax. Then the most bewildering thing occurred. Lei was also there dancing with a few friends. My first (probably second, but what the hell) night out during the 4 months that I was sick and I see her. God must really have a hell of a sense of timing. Now I’m back to being a bum extraordinaire.

Upgrades for the Lenses of Life

2005-10-30T18:31:00.000+08:00

We look at life from different angles. Norms set the standards on how we selectively view things. One person who has seen more gore than another may interpret a scene of a bloody murder as just another random killing due to the crashing state of the nation, while another may doubt why God permits such tragic things to occur. There are scopes wherein one cannot comprehend certain emotions when felt for the first time, neither does he/she know how to react. Drugs on the other hand offer a perplexing universe lodged inside some pill, leaf, powder, etc.. You are guaranteed to see the world differently, first time or not. You let go of your inhibitions, your eyes deceive you, you fly to where no one has flown before, you may also say that you are wandering into oblivion. These substances offer you a different perspective on life, momentarily. Then after these upgrades, you fall back to earth and resume using your old lenses.

Aah, that new blog smell

2005-10-29T19:29:00.000+08:00

Exhausted from literally scraping the back of my head to locate a blog name. Let me rest.