# 86 IN ALL SERIOUSNESS

Two days ago, I’ve downloaded Jim Paredes’ Handog ng Pilipino sa Mundo, a popular EDSA 1 song that E-jay, Mon and I reminisced over gin pomelo. There was one line that struck the trio the most:

Magkakapit-bisig libo-libong tao.
Kay sarap palang maging Pilipino.

EDSA 1 was one of our defining moments as a people and as a six-year old that didn’t know the complexities of politics during that time, all I knew was that it’s Cory Aquino and the people vs. Marcos and his loyalists. It was easy to identify and it was clear to know what was being fought for.

But today is different and lines have become blurry. GMA pardoned Erap and there was no protest on the side of the Aquinos. GMA pardoned Pablo Martinez, one of the convicts involved in Ninoy’s murder, and we hear Ninoy Jr. expressing his family’s disgust over the decision. But neither convicts admitted their guilt. There are a lot of inconsistencies that we have witnessed in recent years and this one is just the icing.

For me, it’s been a daily battle to say that I love this country and I want things to change. I want a peaceful and prosperous Philippines. I want a secure future for future Filipinos. I want pride and respect for our country. Not only through Pacquiao’s fists or through our talent in singing. But our greatness as a people.

Is it our destiny as a people to be exported all around the world? Do we now belong to the world or do we still belong to this country?

I read this speech that I got from Filipino Librarian. The message is fitting during these times of despair and rage. I’ve put in bold letters what I feel are worth remembering again and again.

My fellow citizens: there is one thought I want you always to bear in mind. And that is: that you are Filipinos. That the Philippines are your country, and the only country God has given you. That you must keep it for yourselves, for your children, and for your children’s children, until the world is no more. You must live for it, and die for it, if necessary.

Your country is a great country. It has a great past, and a great future. The Philippines of yesterday are consecrated by the sacrifices of lives and treasure of your patriots, martyrs, and soldiers. The Philippines of today are honored by the wholehearted devotion to its cause of unselfish and courageous statesmen. The Philippines of tomorrow will be the country of plenty, of happiness, and of freedom.

A Philippines with her head raised in the midst of the West Pacific, mistress of her own destiny, holding in her hand the torch of freedom and democracy. A republic of virtuous and righteous men and women all working together for a better world than the one we have at present.

Guess who delivered this speech?

It was Manuel Quezon (and for you guys who are in the mood to correct Mr. Quezon about the line “the Philippines are”, go read this).

I’m still hoping that these are prophetic words and that I would witness it during my lifetime. It all begins with us.

# 85 COMEDIC GENIUS!

There are the smart sitcoms and other over-the-top sex comedy movies but one favorite that I wouldn’t mind watching tons of times would be Dumb and Dumber. I picked this as one of the best scenes…
THE DYNAMIC DUO OF DUMB. The sweetest sound this earth can produce.
The song “Mockingbird” is a 1963 song written and recorded by Inez and Charlie Foxx, covered about a decade later by Carly Simon and James Taylor in a 1974 single (from Wikipedia). I was curious what the song was when I first heard it in the movie. Part of the lyrics from Songfacts.com:

Mock (yeah)
Ing (yeah)
Bird (yeah)
Yeah (yeah)
Mockin’bird, now

Everybody have you heard
He’s gonna buy me a mockingbird
And if that mockingbird don’t sing
He’s gonna buy me a diamond ring
And if that diamond ring won’t shine
He’s gonna surely break this heart of mine
And that’s why I keep on tellin’ everybody
Say yeah, yeah whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, uh, oh

I got the Taylor-Simon version in my iPOD!

# 84 SEX MINUTES IN HINDU

Through the valiant efforts of Mr. Edward Jay Paz, I bring you this gem of an infomercial.

I bet you would dance to its very catchy beat.

Tandaan, huwag pagkatiwalaan ang pinadadalang link ng taong ito:


NIRODH RULEZ!

# 83 50 IN YOUR HEAD

snatched from djorella:

1. Beer: The Great Equalizer (Ang panget gumaganda, ang maganda, lalong gumaganda)

2. Food: my wife’s cooking!
3. Relationships: pag tumatagal, lalong tumitiibaaaahy
4. Your CRUSH: ‘di natitinag:
   NGUNIT GANOON PA MA’Y IKAW PA RIN. It’s been more than 10 years.
5. Power Rangers: Felix Bakat
6. Life: ay parang bato. It’s hard!
7. Death: is a Righteous Babe
8. School: is cool
9. The President: Usurper/ La Traidora
10. Yummy: SANZRIVAAAAL!!! Yung parang ganito…
    I JUST CAN’T STOP POSTING YOU. I long for you.
11. Cars: Volkswagen

12. Movie: Simpsons Movie
13. Halloween: Batman
14. Sex: Borat
15. Religion: not good for the Pinoy for now.
16. Myspace: cluttered
17. Phobia:
18. Marriage: a lifelong work in progress
19. Blondes: Tracy Lords!
20. slippers: islander
21. shoes: adidas baby!
22. Asians: samuraibebot.memebot.com and rice
23. Past time: videoke
24. One night stands: fleeting
25. Cell Phone: Sony Ericsson
26. Smoke/Cigarette: mabaho
27. Dreams: last forever
28. College: ANIMO LA SALLE!
29. Highschool Life: Enchanted Kingdom
30. Pajamas: and Bananas
31. Stars: djong said, “and i… wanna fall from the stars… straight into your arms and i…” and i follow “i hope you clap your haaaaaaands.”
32. Fitness Center: good for the girls
33. Alcohol: is the social lubricant
34. The word Love: is overused and abused.
35. Friends: Ross, Rachel, Monica, Chandler, Joey, and Phoebe
36. Money: makes the world go round
37. Heartache: Ella Mae Sayson
38. Time: is an Omega watch or Oris
39. Divorce: Social solution
40. Dogs: Asucena
41. Undies: Boxers rule
42. Parents: Inay
43. Babies: Cute until 5
44. Stripper: Yes.
45. Blogs: Funhouse
46. News: Tiring
47. Paris Hilton: One Night in Paris
48. Pizza: Ninja Turtles
49. Kleenex: pampahid

# 82 TGIH

It’s highly unthinkable but when you think about it, it gives you a big smile.

I never thought that I’d see the day that finally, we are one step to economic advancement. It’s not the stable foreign exchange rate or how we are coping with soaring gasoline prices. GMA and her cohorts might be thinking that they’re behind this superficial development.

It’s about franchise expansion and how many jobs are created. It’s high time that we get a true sign of hope. And it’s not behind the Golden Arches of the glorified Clown but rather we look at a different symbol of nourishment.

The BIG Story
THE BREAST PART IS THE BEST PART. That’s for the chicken, perv.
I grabbed the news from Business Mirror (At last, they got a scoop and redeemed themselves for publishing Rick Olivares’ “I HATE DLSU” column).

I pulled out some quotes coming from Kaz Endo, managing director and partner of Paradise Wings Llp. (a Guam-based company which owns the Hooters franchise for Guam and Asia) with my emphasis in italics.

While the restaurant is most famous for its Hooters Girls, immortalized in a number of American films, TV shows, magazines, and calendars, Endo said their group is not hiring waitstaff based on looks alone.

Now, this was well said. True, I say!

No doubt, the Hooters Girls are the restaurant’s ambassador of goodwill and service. As pretty as they are, these are hardworking waitresses who make sure that customers of all gender and age are happy with our service.

Honesty pays! I just hope that we won’t see burning of Hooter Girl effigies when our morality police hears of this.

With an average of 70 percent of all sales coming from food sales—Hooters is still a restaurant, not a bar!

This is the ultimate gospel truth!!! It is a restaurant NOT a bar, so no karaoke for you, Mr. Ramon “Jun-jun” Navarro.

We are being very selective with choosing who gets to be a Hooters Girl. They have to have a great personality, smarts as well as beauty. . . . all within a ‘girl-next-door’ package.

They should be or the worst thing that could happen to this promising venture is to hire serving staff that the “local” American market would like (oh good grief, the exotic beauty). If they’ll be needing a screening committee, I’m offering my eyes for the job.

This was what I saw in Singapore (here’s to Sarah, Deybi, Deybi Joy, Chengwa, and Reeetsaard recently/ currently Singaporized)…
HOOTERS NOW SERVING SHRIMP. Six out of 14 ang panalo.

They love guests to have their own occasions so my former officemates instantly made a birthday celebration in my honor.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU & ME. Yours truly can’t hide his happiness.

Long overdue

After two years of not seeing the beach, we’re finally getting our butts out of the city and into the central Visayas region for some much needed R&R. Get a glimpse of where we’re going:

I’ve finally been able to cut down my shortlisted 23 must-see places to 13. I was actually able to trim it down to 18 and Bry helped whittle it further to 13. These are where we plan to go on day one—yep crazy me initially wanted to visit 23 sites in one day—with help from a colleague’s friend who works as a tour guide. At least I hope she’ll still help us—I’ve been vacillating on the when and where so many times she might have just found me too indecisive to take seriously. Feh.

Anyway, these made it to the final cut. Check this site to see a description of these places.

1. Maribojoc Church and Punta Cruz
2. Mt. Carmel Hil
3. Loon Church
4. Calape Church
5. Virgen sa Calo-oy
6. Sagbayan Peak
7. Chocolate Hills
8. Alburquerque Church and The Historic Ermita Ruins
9. Clarin Ancestral House
10. Loboc River and Busay Falls
11. Blood Compact Site
12. Corella tarsier reserve
13. Baclayon Church and museum

We will, of course, go dolphin watching (no whales in that part of the ocean at this time of year, or so I’ve gathered) at the crack of dawn of day two. If we still have time, we might check out a few other places as well.

I am so excited about this trip. I just hope that the resort and the sites are much better or at least as good as the pictures. I sure don’t want to be disappointed after waiting two years.