been a while.

its been a while again since the last time i made a post in here. a lot has happened since month of June started. June has greeted me and my friends some bad news about our friend who was just been diagnosed of having a stage 4 Big C. it was a rough time for all of us. a grueling 3 weeks that we have to dealt with. together with my high school friends we have to offer healing mass at Padre Pio for our good friend that will have to go through surgery and that same operation will be the the most difficult one because it will be the gauge of her health condition. with God's grace after surgery the Big C was swatted away, and series of chemotherapy that will completely shrug it off. one thing i have learned from this experience is that, always value time. while we still have the privilege we should always cherish the times spent with our loved ones  because we wont know what God's plan that is in store for all of us. and so we are all given equal opportunities to spend it wisely with people who matters most in our lives. what happened to our friend who is at a peak of her career and not even at her 30's is one living proof that age is a non arguable matter when it comes to getting sick or worst being ill. it can happen to anyone, it can even struck even to someone whom they think themselves as one healthy individual, but that's the thing we are human. we are not invincible nor immortals. bottom line, we take each day as if its our last. don't waste it. always do something that you think you have contributed something worthy. say i love you to your parents, spend quality time and show them you care. give value to your friends. and most importantly, love yourself. each and everyone of us are created with different uniqueness and yet with one common goal of spreading love that has bestowed on us by Him. Time is precious. don't put it into waste. 

post dinner at Uncle Cheffy after the 2 hour novena/mass at Padre Pio

Lip-Dub Proposal.

Sorry if this video would only make you feel more pressured of not getting hitched yet, but I am just a sucker for wedding proposals. seen a lot and mostly really will just captivate your imagination of what kind of proposal you would want to have from your fiance. but this one that I have just discovered would fill up my Top 5 most favorite. and every proposal you would want is something that's unique or the one that you never thought you can think of having simply because it's out of this world. you will always have to maintain the coolness and yet the sweet feeling will always be there from the start til you popped that question. methinks that when you involve the family and close friends in your "propaganda of proposing", it will be the sweetest of em all!! watch and enjoy this one of a kind Lip-Dub proposal!! and just the like the girl grab some headset and fall in love with it! Ü

call me maybe.

Aryt the first time i heard this i kinda like the beat and i find the lyrics very catchy. i find Carly Rae Jaspen voice very similar with Zooey' Deschanel's. but then i heard it once, that was it. never heard it again. since last year that it caught my attention and now that it became viral to local scene. group of "IT" girls namely Anne Curtis, Solenn Heussaff, Georgina Wilson, Isabel Daza and Liz Uy after naming those gorgeous gals do you think i need to say more? Wah! but that was not enough because hunks with their well played roles was perfect match with these stunning ladies. what makes this video so addicting to watch is because you never thought that lip-sync can be this cool and it was such a plus when you see these fine ladies going out from their way and making faces, play around the camera like little kids, jumped into each other not minding of getting hurt. the video was all fun. no scripts. no choreograph stunts, its was like a playground to look at. so invite your friends and try to make one like this because it will surely check  to your bucket list. just be crazy and have fun! 
Hey I just met you
And this is crazy,
But here's my number,
So call me, Maybe?

Carly Jaspen got signed for the song and had a sudden surge of request that's right after Justin Beiber and girlfriend Selena Gomez tweeted about this song and Beiber with big number of followers and when i say BIG that means 22million followers. Whopping! and they are the original of making a such video. that playful video has 39million hits already in Youtube and keeps counting as so we speak. sit back, watch and learn!  

 

photos from http://www.breakmystyle.com/

RUB me a little.

Yesterday after my 9hr shift Maybs and i paid our very good friend Ara a visit 3 days after she gave birth to a healthy and so gwapoooo baby boy "Nathan". so cute little angel that you wanna cuddle but 3 year old baby is so fragile and i didn't get to hold or even carry him because the lola is too giddy and busy taking care of Nate. looking forward on invading their house this week and play with the li'l boy :)

Baby Nathan at 3 days old CUTEEEEEEE!!!

and since we came from work with empty tummies we decided to grab a bite at "RUB" been raving on this new rib joint for few months now and finally we get to taste their famous ribs. YUM! the branch that they have in sct rallos is a bit small, its their first wing, the latest one that they have is in Kapitolyo, Pasig. the place they have in qc maybe small but that doesn't define alone the type of taste of their much talked about bbq ribs. i dont have questions with the price because with 3++ plus you get to share the big plate of this ribs with 2 side dish, we had buttered vegetables and bacon potato salad. we didn't have rice because rice and i is on a "cool off stage" right now. hahaha! excuses! nevertheless to put icing on our late dinner escape, we had fried oreos with vanilla ice cream, now that's what i'm talking about baby! we went home with our tummy smiling :)

RUB- 64 Sct Rallos, Q.C.

lots of variety to choose from aside the ribs and bbq

sides-entrees-nibbles-soup n salad-sandwiches-desserts

glimpse of before and after the war. gaaah!!!

much anticipated fried oreos with vanilla ice cream. slurp!!!

love perspective.

I have this seen video many times in social networking sites but it took a while for me to watch it entirely. and since last night i have all the time in the world to wait for this video to buff (its just an 8min vid) i have decided to watch it not knowing how much it gonna affect me. the first part was a wedding scene and everyone knows im a sucker for weddings. but on this part i am starting to get emotional because of the message that  is being relayed. il be saving the the rest of the story so you guys can feel the heart-wrenching story of this couple that I myself was captivated by their journey. their love story was not the usual ones that you see in the park but what makes them way too special is because of how they fought the trials that came on their way. after watching the video will make you realize that indeed life is beautiful and despite the struggles comes in between if you only put the Man up there in the center of your relationship, everything just   make sense after. i realized how strong love is after watching this because it completely changes my own perspective of LOVE. 

“God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him” 

― John Piper

OC charging.

this is how an Obsessive Compulsive charging should be *wink*

via Pinterest

mama.

Tomorrow will be mother's day. i honestly admit that i am not that iloveyouma-showy- typish of a person. but it doesn't define me just like that. i am more transparent and become real emotional when someone tries to put a word to my mom, that is when i really wanna freak out. Mama and I were close but i dont normally say everything to her, but she says everything to me and this you gotta take it me, mother's instinct really do exist. i wont debate on that one. thats why im effin scared even on white lies that i might say so save it. hehee. this time i wanna dedicate this post to her. not because in lieu for the mother's day occasion but because i seldom to. in my 29 years, i have always asked myself, where do i get the strength and determination in everything i do. i got that both from my from parents, but mostly because of my mom. not because she's tough as well, but she's the other way around. she's a bit vulnerable with the things going around, that made me tough, i need to be her steel. i need to be the shoulder to cry on, i need to be a stalwart for her. that is how i got the sturdiness in me. its already a cliche when making a statement about their mom but hey, sometimes the corniest thing is the true ones, but for me this has always been how i described my mother in all heights! "Mama is the reason for my breathing" she is like the source of everything and anything that i can ever encompass. i may not say i love you everyday ma, but my heart is shouting every second of it. I love you Ma!  Happy Mother's Day Ma and to all mothers out there :))

champion.

Last 6th of May 2012, i have witnessed the most dramatic, heart pounding and epic game it has been. its the duel between Bmeg Llamados (my team!) and Talk N' Text. truly its one for the books. two respectable coaches, Tim Cone who is 2 titles away from getting the most winningest coach in the PBA and Chot Reyes on the other hand has brought his team to 5 straight finals appearances is somewhat the most perfect match we are looking for in years. aside from the fact that 21,046 pair of eyes glued to the game not to mention the millions of tv viewers watching from their homes. most of the basketball experts says it was like deja vu of 1980 Open Conference between U-tex and Toyota. you cant debate that indeed this game will down the wire, the fact that they had reach Game 7, it also ended on an overtime you cant ask for more. these two teams just gives us real drama! just when i thought the game was over and TNT streamers about to be brought out with no time left on the clock, then a whistle was blown. FOUL!!!  2 pressured free throws by Bowles brought the Bmeg back in the ball game, and the extended 5mins overtime seems to be all Bowles making all the shots.. the next thing i knew, the uproar began and the balloons finally started to fall down, Bmeg banners all over the Dome and the famous Queen song started to play, "We are the Champion, No time for losers coz we are the champion...of the wooooorld!! no it wasn't a dream that is happening. as the old saying says.. "Dont underestimate the heart of a Champion. game is sealed. Bmeg Llamados, the Champion. 

the Pats

This couple just makes me more feel giddy about getting married. you can tell by this pre nup video shown how lovely they are and how can they make a perfect couple. Love is just in the air and couldn't deny the fact that indeed the aura is full of love. i hope to find my own Pats ❤ 

month of basketball.

Okay, not that i am hyping these two basketball leagues but everyone knows from my household, friends down to ignored species i can think of, they know what kind of passion i have on basketball. playing, watching, reading, surfing and even idolizing players on this sports makes me complete as human being, this without the exaggeration part. wow! it gives me a sense of joy every time i watched them. sarap ng feeling! since i was in high school and being a part of our school women's varsity team i have committed my full attention into it. it was actually an accidental try-out for me. i just want to try it since i wanna skip C.A.T back then. just imagine me getting stuck with C.A.T., that means getting all the sun rays getting to my fair skin, thanks but no thanks i got into the line up, hehehe! and the rest is history.. from that day on, i have loved, lived basketball. im thinking of making a blog soon about my varsity stint (naks! kala mo professional!) but that might not be possible since i have to post my pictures wearing those 'puruntong shorts' waah! *playdead* and this..... makes my segway on my post today. this month of April-May is all about BASKETBALL! yep! that's both on local and international scene of  Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) and National Basketball Association (NBA). for both leagues they are currently on trending topics on social networking  sites. its because, PBA now is having its Commisioners Cup Finals best of 7 and on the other hand NBA has just started their playoff season. and this means more money and revenues not just the the league itself but also the people outside because of the great demand there is a great increase on the demographic side of business. peak season of different markets which is in line with basketball. there is a certain rise of attention on media, entertainment and even advertising this is because they take the advantage of the uproar interest of people with undying love on basketball (count me on that one!) we have bars, basketball collectibles, even the famous here in Pinas, 'ending', pustahan with our friends, officemates (you have to admit it guys coz I am *wink*) and of course special mention the 'scalpers' hehe! and this simply means ME getting this stat of "DNDBSB" - "Do Not Disturb, Busy Sa Basketball" hahaha! 

 PBA- Bmeg vs Talk N Text

NBA Playoffs 

Words of the Lourde.

Along Edsa you will notice a big billboard of a dude with fake abs and some of you might began to ask 'who the hell is this guy?? he is not derek ramsay or another belo endorser hunk. well i know him! thats Lourd!! Lourd de Veyra. i dont know him personally but i know the guy on journalism/media perspective side since i am a frustrated journalist *scratching my head* i have a list of people who is into media that i consider a good example to the youth. dont expect me to put in Soliven or Beltran per se but my list is more of within my age group. to name a few i have Patricia Evangelista, Atom Araullo, Jessica Zafra and Ramon Bautista and this guy! Lourd is helluva one! he might not be one of the geniuses we can consider but i hate serious stuffs. you dont need a robot lecturing you this and that with such a serious note. yes i take things seriously but man, you gotta put some essence on it, a bit of humor because that's what the viewers and listeners gets hooked up to. okay so who is Lourd de Veyra?? he first got my attention with his sarcastic replies on tweets of some random people. but when you read his replies, he is sarcastically and awkwardly correct. little did i know that he was the front man of the band Radioactive Sago Project, tv personality, famous blogger and got a lot of recognition for being a great writer he is. you may find him "mayabang", because i did the first time i saw him on tv and that after learning and me realizing that im hooked with his works. he might not have the charisma of a matinee idol but this guy has brains. sabi nga nila, "aanhin mo ang laman kung sabaw naman" undoubtedly one of the most opinionated being and yet has an intellectual mind of this generation. he will tell you more of his life from this full excerpt of his commencement speech for the graduating class of of Mass Communication in Unibersidad ng Pilipinas. Yes, you heard it right, UP lang naman pare! Wow!! Astig ka Lourd! Trust me guys, you will learn a lot from his speech. there's a lot of humor on this one but hey, its the humor reality. advice should be taken seriously because its true. Here it is... the Words of the Lourde

"Ang tunay na lalake, walang abs" - Lourd

(Below is the speech of Lourd de Veyra which he delivered on April 22, 2012, Sunday before the 2012 batch of the University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication)

First time akong makaka-attend ng graduation ng college. Kahit sarili kong graduation ay hindi ako nakadalo. Nung panahon ko ay hindi ako naka-martsa sa entablado. Hindi rin ako naka-graduate on time.

Seven years after ko pa nakuha ang diploma ko, pero hindi na ako nag-martsa. Parang nakakahiya na. Kaya hanggang ngayon, ay masamang-masama ang loob ng aking ina dahil hindi kami nagkaroon ng Kodak moments. Pero wala nang Kodak ngayon. Kaya sinama ko na lang siya dito. Ayaw niyang maniwala na ako ang graduation speaker ng UP Mass Com.

Habang nagma-martsa sa PICC ang mga miyembro ng UST Arts and Letters batch 1995, kaming tatlo ng best friends ko ay naglalasing, nagdadalamhati na masisira na ang buhay namin.

Marami salamat sa imbitasyon. Kahit sa ‘min sa TV5 ay parang ayaw nilang maniwala.

“Bakit ikaw?” Yan din ang tanong ko. Busy siguro si Boy Abunda. Sabagay uso naman yata ang mga patawang graduation speech. Si Will Ferrell at si Sacha Baron Cohen ay inimbatahan ng Harvard nung 2003. Alam ko ang naiimbitahan sa ganito ay yung mga middle-age na may mga mahalaga nang naiambag sa lipunan at sa mass media— bukod sa pag-endorse ng isang brand ng alak at pagkakaroon ng billboard sa Edsa na may pekeng abs. Hindi rin naman masyadong nagkakalayo ang mga edad natin.

Para sa inyong lahat: walang sisihan. At para sa lahat ng mga aktibista dito, sana ay patapusin niyo muna akong magsalita bago kayo umakyat dito at magwagayway ng banderang “Serve the People” (Tingnan natin kung makakapag-serve the people pa rin kayo habang nagsusulat ng dialogue sa telenovela ni Aljur Albrenica sa susunod na taon).

Maraming salamat ulit.

Hindi ko sigurado kung ano ang gusto kong sabihin.

Pero bago ang lahat, gusto ko munang gayahin si Miriam Defensor Santiago na hihirit muna ng pickup line bago mag-speech, lalo na dito sa UP. “Yelo ka ba? Para kasi ang sarap mong ipukpok sa pader eh.”

Marami sa inyo ang magtatrabaho sa mass media. Marami rin sa inyo ang papasok sa gobyerno. Malamang marami rin ang ibebenta ang kaluluwa sa advertising at gagawa ng mga kopya tungkol sa shampoo at fried chicken. Ilan sa inyo ay mangingibang bansa. May porsyento na mananatiling tambay. Ang ilan naman ay magkakaroon ng scandal video at tuluyang masisira ang buhay.

Hindi ko na siguro kailangang sabihin kung gaano kayo kapalad na mapabilang sa henerasyon. Nabubuhay kayo sa mundo na wala ka nang karapatang maging tanga, maging mangmang. Dapat may maglabas ng ganyang slogan sa advertising, “BAWAL MAGING TANGA.” Nagtatampisaw tayo sa baha ng impormasyon.

Pero hindi pa rin maiiwasan na may magtanong sa Twitter kung ano daw ang capital ng Pakistan. Kung may Internet connection ka, you could have saved yourself the humiliation of being called stupid and instead make GMG: “Google mo, gago!”

Pero ito ang problema. Iba ang impormasyon sa karunungan — ganap na talino at dunong.

Hindi lahat ng may impormasyon ay may talino. Ang impormasyon ay phone number ni Coco Martin. Pero ang karunungan ay si Coco Martin mismo. Siya at ang kanyang katawan. Yaaa-meeee.

Sa mundong umaapaw sa datos, wala na tayong excuse maging mangmang. Pero kahit si Christopher Lao ay ganap na abogado ngayon, he was still not informed. Minsan, sa pagnanais nating makakuha ng impormasyon, nakakalimutan natin ang talino, ay ang may saysay.

Eksampol na lang nito ang panonood ng concert habang nagvi-video ng performance.

Para kang tanga: ilang oras kang nakahawak sa cellphone mo, nakataas ang kamay, at sa proseso ay nalimutan mo ang dapat mong pakay: ang mag-enjoy sa konsyerto.

Ang hinaharap nating hamon ay kung paano humubog ng saysay mula sa bundok-bundok ng impormasyong ito. Uulitin ko. Napakapalad ninyo.

Kung alam niyo lang. Kung alam niyo lang kung paano ang buhay kolehiyo namin noon. Ngayon halos lahat na bahay ay may computer at Internet connection. Dati umaarkila pa kami ng computer—kung hindi sa Cubao, sa Pasay— para lang makagamit ng sinaunang Microsoft Word. Ang thesis ko pa ay sinulat sa electric typewriter.

Twenty years ago, on exactly this month, ay tinatiyaga ko ang maglakad sa ilalim ng init ng araw para manghiram lang ng libro sa Thomas Jefferson Library at British Council.  Ngayon, ang kailangan niyo lang gawin ay “GMG.”

Twenty years ago, pauso pa lang ang grunge, at kinailangan pa naming bumiyahe papuntang Pasay para manghiram lang ng cassette tapes. Ngayon, GMG lang at…. Download. Ni hindi mo na kelangang lumabas ng bahay.

Huwag niyo sanang sayangin ang swerte. But speaking of swerte….

Tumigil na akong maniwala sa pagpaplano ng buhay.

Corny mang pakinggan, mas naniniwala ako sa tadhana. Kung totoo na talino at galing ang sekreto sa tagumpay, dapat wala ako dito ngayon. Hindi ako ang pinakamahusay na manunulat sa aming kolehiyo. At higit na mas marami ang mas magaling mag-isip kesa sa akin.

May paborito akong kasabihan mula sa idolo kong nobelistang si Kurt Vonnegut. “Unannounced changes in life’s itinerary are like dancing lessons from God.” Napakagandang ideya. Napaka-akmang metapora. Dancing lesson.

Sa dancing lesson, wala kang ibang pwedeng gawin kundi sumunod. Pag hinila ka dito, sunod ka na lang. Pag binaba ka, bumaba ka rin. Pag hinagis ka, magpagaan ka ng katawan.

Susugan din ito ng isa pang quote mula kay Voltaire: “I refuse to believe in a God who does not know how to dance.” Ang pagsayaw ay isang ekspresyon ng ligaya, ng laro, ng kalayaan ng katawan at diwa na mayroon pa ring sistema. Pero ako mismo ay literal na hindi marunong sumayaw.

Heto ang maiksing kwento ng buhay ko.

Pagkatapos ng kolehiyo, diretso sa trabaho sa diyaryo bilang reporter at editor. Umatend ng sandamukal na writing workshops. Nagtrabaho sa isang creative writing center. Rumaket sa iba’t ibang mga magazines. Nagtayo ng banda at nag-record ng apat na albums.

Nakapagsulat ng apat na libro ng tula sa Ingles, isang aklat ng essays, at isang nobela. Naka-tsamba ng ilang writing awards along the way. Tatlong taong gumagawa ng mga maiiksing dokumentaryo at video opinion pieces para sa TV5.  Kaya heto ako ngayon, weather presentor ng Aksyon prime news.

Weather? Ang labo no? Hindi ko inakala na mag-a-ala Amado Pineda o Ernie Baron o Kuya Kim ako.

By the way, kahapon ang record ng pinakamainit na temperatura sa Metro Manila sa taong ito. 35.9 degrees Celsius. Dahil pa rin yan sa ridge of high pressure area na umiiral diyan sa Hilagang Luzon.

Nung ako’y nasa elementarya pa, akala ko magiging pintor ako. Kung hindi pintor, sundalo. Nung high school naman, gusto kong maging gitarista. Pero gusto ni Erpat… abugado.

At hanggang ngayon, feeling ng tatay ko ay hindi ako ganap na matagumpay dahil walang “A-T-T-Y” sa simula ng pangalan ko. Hindi ko naman inakala na gusto ko palang magsulat.

At hindi ko rin namang inakalang marunong pala ako magsulat hanggang second-year college. Late bloomer ako pagdating sa panitikan. Nagtrabaho ako sa diyaryo ng anim na taon. Naging editor ng magazine ng mahaba-haba ring panahon. Sino bang mag-aakalang lalabas ako sa telebisyon?

Ngayon, may tatlo akong programa: ang Aksyon (kung saan ako nagwe-weather), ang talk show na Wasak sa Aksyon TV 41 (dito iniinterbyu namin lahat, mula kay Rico J. Puno hanggang kay Gringo Honasan), at ang Word of the Lourd.

Napasok ako sa TV taong 2009, nang tawagan ako ni Patrick Paez, isa sa mga bosing ng News and Public Affairs department ng singko— noong mga panahong nagdarahop pa ang istasyon (Oo, naranasan kong magtulak ng isang bulok na Toyota Revo na walang umasikaso ng baterya). Inalok niya ako ng isang segment sa late-night programang The Evening News. Bahala daw ako kung ano ang gusto kong gawin.

“Ano nga ba ang gusto kong gawin?” tanong ko sa sarili. Eh ang kaunting nalalaman ko sa TV production ay limitado lamang sa music video. Paano kaya kung makagawa ng paraan na pagsamahin ang elemento ng MTV at ang satirikong panulat?

Dito na pinanganak ang Word of the Lourd. Medyo blasphemous; wala na akong ibang maisip na title. Ninais nitong talakayin mga paksang hindi pinag-uusapan ng “seryosong” media.

Pero sa loob lamang ng tatlo hanggang apat na minuto. Hindi kailangang sundin ang mga kumbensyon ng isang mainstream report—dahil hindi naman siyang obhektibong pag-uulat.

Walang resource speaker o case study na iinterbyuhin, dahil, bakit pa? Ang mga unang paksa ay tungkol sa pagkakaroon ng abs, ang pagkahumaling ng Pinoy sa pagpapaputi ng kutis, at ang hygiene ng mga Pinoy. Di nagtagal, ang nunal ni Gloria hanggang buhok ni Noynoy, at tumagal hanggang sa pagka-macho ni Papa Piolo at ang tili ni Midas Marquez.

Kung hindi mainit na political issue, isang paksang may kinalaman sa kultura’t kasaysayan— gaya na lang ng balahurang asal sa social media, relihiyon, pagdura, pag-utot, mga mababantot na apelyido, Rizal trivia at iba pang mga historical tsismis, etc.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit siya hit. Pero dito ngayon pumapasok ang pagkaka-pareho namin nila Justin Bieber at Charice Pempengco.

Pero dito naman ako nagpapasalamat sa Internet, lalo na sa Youtube.

Hindi ko sigurado kung ano ang gusto kong sabihin.

Pero bago ang lahat, gusto ko munang gayahin si Miriam Defensor Santiago na hihirit muna ng pickup line bago mag-speech, lalo na dito sa UP. “Yelo ka ba? Para kasi ang sarap mong ipukpok sa pader eh.”

Marami sa inyo ang magtatrabaho sa mass media. Marami rin sa inyo ang papasok sa gobyerno. Malamang marami rin ang ibebenta ang kaluluwa sa advertising at gagawa ng mga kopya tungkol sa shampoo at fried chicken. Ilan sa inyo ay mangingibang bansa. May porsyento na mananatiling tambay. Ang ilan naman ay magkakaroon ng scandal video at tuluyang masisira ang buhay.

Hindi ko na siguro kailangang sabihin kung gaano kayo kapalad na mapabilang sa henerasyon. Nabubuhay kayo sa mundo na wala ka nang karapatang maging tanga, maging mangmang. Dapat may maglabas ng ganyang slogan sa advertising, “BAWAL MAGING TANGA.” Nagtatampisaw tayo sa baha ng impormasyon.

Pero hindi pa rin maiiwasan na may magtanong sa Twitter kung ano daw ang capital ng Pakistan. Kung may Internet connection ka, you could have saved yourself the humiliation of being called stupid and instead make GMG: “Google mo, gago!”

Pero ito ang problema. Iba ang impormasyon sa karunungan — ganap na talino at dunong.

Hindi lahat ng may impormasyon ay may talino. Ang impormasyon ay phone number ni Coco Martin. Pero ang karunungan ay si Coco Martin mismo. Siya at ang kanyang katawan. Yaaa-meeee.

Sa mundong umaapaw sa datos, wala na tayong excuse maging mangmang. Pero kahit si Christopher Lao ay ganap na abogado ngayon, he was still not informed. Minsan, sa pagnanais nating makakuha ng impormasyon, nakakalimutan natin ang talino, ay ang may saysay.

Eksampol na lang nito ang panonood ng concert habang nagvi-video ng performance.

Para kang tanga: ilang oras kang nakahawak sa cellphone mo, nakataas ang kamay, at sa proseso ay nalimutan mo ang dapat mong pakay: ang mag-enjoy sa konsyerto.

Ang hinaharap nating hamon ay kung paano humubog ng saysay mula sa bundok-bundok ng impormasyong ito. Uulitin ko. Napakapalad ninyo.

Kung alam niyo lang. Kung alam niyo lang kung paano ang buhay kolehiyo namin noon. Ngayon halos lahat na bahay ay may computer at Internet connection. Dati umaarkila pa kami ng computer—kung hindi sa Cubao, sa Pasay— para lang makagamit ng sinaunang Microsoft Word. Ang thesis ko pa ay sinulat sa electric typewriter.

Twenty years ago, on exactly this month, ay tinatiyaga ko ang maglakad sa ilalim ng init ng araw para manghiram lang ng libro sa Thomas Jefferson Library at British Council.  Ngayon, ang kailangan niyo lang gawin ay “GMG.”

Twenty years ago, pauso pa lang ang grunge, at kinailangan pa naming bumiyahe papuntang Pasay para manghiram lang ng cassette tapes. Ngayon, GMG lang at…. Download. Ni hindi mo na kelangang lumabas ng bahay.

Huwag niyo sanang sayangin ang swerte. But speaking of swerte….

Tumigil na akong maniwala sa pagpaplano ng buhay.

Corny mang pakinggan, mas naniniwala ako sa tadhana. Kung totoo na talino at galing ang sekreto sa tagumpay, dapat wala ako dito ngayon. Hindi ako ang pinakamahusay na manunulat sa aming kolehiyo. At higit na mas marami ang mas magaling mag-isip kesa sa akin.

May paborito akong kasabihan mula sa idolo kong nobelistang si Kurt Vonnegut. “Unannounced changes in life’s itinerary are like dancing lessons from God.” Napakagandang ideya. Napaka-akmang metapora. Dancing lesson.

Sa dancing lesson, wala kang ibang pwedeng gawin kundi sumunod. Pag hinila ka dito, sunod ka na lang. Pag binaba ka, bumaba ka rin. Pag hinagis ka, magpagaan ka ng katawan.

Susugan din ito ng isa pang quote mula kay Voltaire: “I refuse to believe in a God who does not know how to dance.” Ang pagsayaw ay isang ekspresyon ng ligaya, ng laro, ng kalayaan ng katawan at diwa na mayroon pa ring sistema. Pero ako mismo ay literal na hindi marunong sumayaw.

Heto ang maiksing kwento ng buhay ko.

Pagkatapos ng kolehiyo, diretso sa trabaho sa diyaryo bilang reporter at editor. Umatend ng sandamukal na writing workshops. Nagtrabaho sa isang creative writing center. Rumaket sa iba’t ibang mga magazines. Nagtayo ng banda at nag-record ng apat na albums.

Nakapagsulat ng apat na libro ng tula sa Ingles, isang aklat ng essays, at isang nobela. Naka-tsamba ng ilang writing awards along the way. Tatlong taong gumagawa ng mga maiiksing dokumentaryo at video opinion pieces para sa TV5.  Kaya heto ako ngayon, weather presentor ng Aksyon prime news.

Weather? Ang labo no? Hindi ko inakala na mag-a-ala Amado Pineda o Ernie Baron o Kuya Kim ako.

By the way, kahapon ang record ng pinakamainit na temperatura sa Metro Manila sa taong ito. 35.9 degrees Celsius. Dahil pa rin yan sa ridge of high pressure area na umiiral diyan sa Hilagang Luzon.

Nung ako’y nasa elementarya pa, akala ko magiging pintor ako. Kung hindi pintor, sundalo. Nung high school naman, gusto kong maging gitarista. Pero gusto ni Erpat… abugado.

At hanggang ngayon, feeling ng tatay ko ay hindi ako ganap na matagumpay dahil walang “A-T-T-Y” sa simula ng pangalan ko. Hindi ko naman inakala na gusto ko palang magsulat.

At hindi ko rin namang inakalang marunong pala ako magsulat hanggang second-year college. Late bloomer ako pagdating sa panitikan. Nagtrabaho ako sa diyaryo ng anim na taon. Naging editor ng magazine ng mahaba-haba ring panahon. Sino bang mag-aakalang lalabas ako sa telebisyon?

Ngayon, may tatlo akong programa: ang Aksyon (kung saan ako nagwe-weather), ang talk show na Wasak sa Aksyon TV 41 (dito iniinterbyu namin lahat, mula kay Rico J. Puno hanggang kay Gringo Honasan), at ang Word of the Lourd.

Napasok ako sa TV taong 2009, nang tawagan ako ni Patrick Paez, isa sa mga bosing ng News and Public Affairs department ng singko— noong mga panahong nagdarahop pa ang istasyon (Oo, naranasan kong magtulak ng isang bulok na Toyota Revo na walang umasikaso ng baterya). Inalok niya ako ng isang segment sa late-night programang The Evening News. Bahala daw ako kung ano ang gusto kong gawin.

“Ano nga ba ang gusto kong gawin?” tanong ko sa sarili. Eh ang kaunting nalalaman ko sa TV production ay limitado lamang sa music video. Paano kaya kung makagawa ng paraan na pagsamahin ang elemento ng MTV at ang satirikong panulat?

Dito na pinanganak ang Word of the Lourd. Medyo blasphemous; wala na akong ibang maisip na title. Ninais nitong talakayin mga paksang hindi pinag-uusapan ng “seryosong” media.

Pero sa loob lamang ng tatlo hanggang apat na minuto. Hindi kailangang sundin ang mga kumbensyon ng isang mainstream report—dahil hindi naman siyang obhektibong pag-uulat.

Walang resource speaker o case study na iinterbyuhin, dahil, bakit pa? Ang mga unang paksa ay tungkol sa pagkakaroon ng abs, ang pagkahumaling ng Pinoy sa pagpapaputi ng kutis, at ang hygiene ng mga Pinoy. Di nagtagal, ang nunal ni Gloria hanggang buhok ni Noynoy, at tumagal hanggang sa pagka-macho ni Papa Piolo at ang tili ni Midas Marquez.

Kung hindi mainit na political issue, isang paksang may kinalaman sa kultura’t kasaysayan— gaya na lang ng balahurang asal sa social media, relihiyon, pagdura, pag-utot, mga mababantot na apelyido, Rizal trivia at iba pang mga historical tsismis, etc.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit siya hit. Pero dito ngayon pumapasok ang pagkaka-pareho namin nila Justin Bieber at Charice Pempengco.

Pero dito naman ako nagpapasalamat sa Internet, lalo na sa Youtube.

Dahil sampung tao lang yata ang nanonood ng Channel 5 noon, nagdesisyon ang isang editor na i-upload ang mga sinaunang episodes ng Word of the Lourd. Kung di dahil sa Youtube, sampung tao pa rin ang nakakapanood ngayon ng programang ito. Akala nga ng iba: sa Youtube ito unang umeere—kaya naiimbitahan ako lagi sa mga forum tungkol sa “alternative media.”

Anong alternative media pinagsasabi niyo diyan? May pera na kami ngayon. Ini-edit sa mamahaling computer ang video namin. Sosyal ang nire-rentahan naming van.

Hindi ko pa rin ang alam kung bakit siya nag-click—o kung matatawag nga itong “click” dahil mas marami pa ring views ang videos ni Petra Halimuyak at yung mga videos ng mga pagong na kumakanta.

Gayunpaman, ang swerte ko pa rin dahil sa kalayaang binigay sa akin ng mga boss na isulat ang gusto kong isulat—wag lang libelous. Nagpapasalamat din ako sa Gloria Macapagal Arroyo at Kris Aquino sa walang humpay na materyal na binibigay nila. Buti na lang at hindi ako brodkaster sa probinsiya— sa mga ganun, walang sense of humor ang mga politiko.

So, muli, sa inyong lahat, congratulations. Sana lang, wag tayo lahat matusta ng rocket ng North Korea. May dahilan kung bakit tinawag itong “commencement exercises.”

Commencement dahil magsisimula pa lang kayo sa biyahe niyo sa buhay. Kaya heto na ang payo portion.

Obvious naman: pero kailangan uling sabihin. Mahalin mo ang ginagawa mo. Huwag magtatagal sa isang trabahong hindi mo gusto? Bakit mo naman gagawin yun? Dahil sa salapi?

Darating din yan, basta buhos mo lang ang kaya mo, kesyo indie film man yan o isang artikulo tungkol sa pagkain o paglalabada.

May kwento tungkol sa isang monghe sa monasteryo. Napansin ng isang bisita na walang ginawa ang monghe na ito kundi magtrabaho sa hardin buong araw.

“Bakit daw hindi nagdadasal ang mongheng ito?” Sagot sa kanya, dahil buong isip at diwa ng mongheng ito ay nakalaan sa pagdilig at pagtabas at pagtanim sa halaman, mas taimtim pa daw ang dasal nito kesa sa mga nakaluhod sa loob ng simbahan.

Wag seryosohin ang sarili. Pero teka, kelangang klarohin ko ito. Okay lang ang serious, huwag lang solemn. Walang bagay sa mundo ang hindi napapagaan ng pagkakaroon ng sense of humor.

At pinakahuli sa lahat, matutong magtimpla ng kape. At hindi lang basta kape—dapat ito ang pinakamasarap na kape sa buong mundo. Hindi na siguro uso ngayon ang uutusan kang magtimpla ng kape ng boss mo pag ikaw ay nagsisimula pa lang.

At sigurado akong may teacher kayong nagpayo sa inyo na huwag na huwag kayong papayag na patimplahin kayo ng kape ng boss ninyo. May punto naman sila. Pero parang Karate Kid lang yan eh.

Galit na galit at takang-taka ang batang disipulong si Ralph Macchio: “Nagte-training ako ng karate, di ba? Bakit inuutusan ako ng matandang guro na maglinis ng kotse niya? Bakit niya ako inuutusang magpintura ng bakod ng bahay niya?” Sa huli, naintindihan niya rin kung bakit. Wax on. Wax off. At kung ikaw ay fan ng mga kung fu movies, ang ganitong tila-mababang pagsasanay ay pangkaraniwang arketipo. Paano ka pagtitiwalaan ng mas malaking responsibilad kung ang isang maliit na gawain ay di mo magawa nang maayos?

Okey, ituring lang na simbolo ang pagtitimpla ng kape. Kung hindi kape, malamang pabibilhin ka ng blank DVD, o may ipapahatid sa iyong papeles o P2 card.

Kung ayaw mo namang magka-boss, aba…. Madali lang yan. Andiyan naman ang You Tube. Libre naman ang magbukas ng blog (Aba, maraming kumikita diyan; lalo na pag tungkol sa pagkain— kahit hindi ka marunong magsulat).

Basta, keep it real, ika nga ng kasabihan. Minsan sa makabagong mundo, sa virtual na realidad, minsan nakakalimutan natin kung saan tayo nakatungtong, kung saan tayo kumikilos.

Bilang pangtapos, gusto kong basahin ang isang tula ni Jose F. Lacaba.

NAKATINGIN SA BITUIN

Di naman panay dilim

ang gabing walang buwan

pagkat maraming bituin

akong nakita noon,

paglakad sa lansangan

nakatingin sa bituin.

Mga hiyas sa langit

(‘ka nga) nagkikislapan,

wala ni isang pangit,

wala akong makita

paglakad sa lansangan

nakatingin sa bituin.

Di ko tuloy napansin

ang dinadaanan,

kalsadang walang ningning,

pagkat talagang abala

paglakad sa lansangan

nakatingin sa bituin.

Nasalpok ko tuloy,

nasalpok ng isang paa,

ang isang tambak ng

taeng kalabaw sa daan:

paglakad sa lansangan

nakatingin sa bituin.

Santambak na kumalat

Sa kalsada’t paa ko,

Paalala ng lupa

Na paa’y nakatapak,

Paglakad sa lansangan

Nakatingin sa bituin

Sa Batch 2012, congratulations at good luck, at sana ay huwag kayong makaapak ng tae ng kalabaw sa landas niyong tatahakin. Kung sakali man, sumayaw ka na lang.

avengers.

 "Avengers Assemble!"

walkway 2012.

I remember Good Friday of last year 2011, i had my shift it was just an ordinary day.. usual day apart from it, it was the lenten season. 12 noon and i was alone at the office, since i worked on a bpo industry and we worked on a graveyard shift, everyone has gone home except for me since i have different function at the office, working on our end of day reports blah blah. went out of the office to grab some lunch but the only decent food i can eat is the one coming from mini stop since most of the fast food is closed..i didn't buy, instead i walked from Market Market all the way down to High Street, and who am i kidding of course im not gonna splurge myself to eat at Serendra, goodluck! but there was some kind of a force that pulls me towards at Boni Hi. and mind me, it was i think the hottest day of that week and im strolling at 12 noon! wah! then i saw this big black board once you cross from Serendra to High Street, written in there "This Holy Week remember how he took our place" its a short statement but it somehow caught my full attention. i challenged myself on checking all 14 interactive stations that stood there and each station has boards that you have to reflect into the words written in there and the most crucial part is that, each stations will designate you to perform a simple task that will make you realize how Christ took our place. to cut the story short, this year of 2012, i invited some of my closest friends and share the same experience i had from last year. 

Romans 4:25 He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our jurisdiction 

Mark 14:32 They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, "Sit  here while I pray."

Luke 23:24 "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing"

John 11:25-26 "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;  and whoever lives and believes in me will never die."

and to capped off the night, Walkway paved the way for us to our Jamba Juice date. Yay!! 

End of the activity they are all astounded of the beautiful experience we all had gone through. they are all looking forward of having the same drill next year. one thing i know, i may have doubts on sharing this one to them because sometimes religion is one sensitive issue that we need to be careful of, but im so glad that it somehow uplifted their spiritual view. Thank you Walkway. Thank you ChurchSimplified.