Transcript of My 26th Birthday

Date: July 18, 2010

Venue: Home (bahay lang - maulan eh).

Program: Nothing much. Videoke lang as usual. Songs were mostly OPM and ballads. May 90s songs din. Kung sabagay si ate at nanay lang naman ang kumakanta. At around 5 PM, mom's amigas came over. Finally, the genre of songs changed - mas lumuma. Either OPMs in the 70s or Visayan songs.

Invited guests: Cousin (1 person); Neighbors (15); mom's amigas (7)

Food: Main course - rellenong bangus, lumpia, adobo, igado, spaghetti, pansit, lechon (worth P6,000.00). Dessert: Goldilocks cake ube and cheese flavor, fruit salad
Note: Take outs for everyone were encouraged para maubos ang pagkain.

Additional notes: No photos taken. Nakalimutan. It rained prior to the "party". They said it's sign for good luck. May blessing ni Lord.

Lessons in Life

I was made to remember another lesson in life after a casual spur of the moment conversation with my siblings a few days back. Whenever you feel down and unhappy for whatever reason, remember to look upward and see the wondrous things you can still accomplish and the multitude of great things the universe has yet to offer. At the same time, look below you and see how many people are actually trying hard just to get to your place. In short, while it's human nature to feel discontent occasionally, it's healthy to always be grateful, to continue working on your dreams and to look at the glass half full. I need this kind of reminder from time to time. Ang saya ng buhay!

For Your Entertainment - Twilight Saga: Eclipse

I watched The Eclipse last night after getting mixed reviews from co-workers and friends. I am not a fan, but for my own peace of mind, I wanted to find out, or shall I say, see for myself what's the fuss surrounding this third installment is really all about. Okay, I may be gunned down for posting comments about the movie when I haven't even read the book. Some may say I'm expressing half-baked opinions here. Still, I just want to share my "outsider's" point of view. Wala naman sigurong masama if I forget about the book, and just take this movie as it is.

Honestly, Eclipse wasn't that bad at all. It was not as boring, contrary to my expectations, as the second installment. In fact, I found it surprisingly action-packed. There was less talk, and more fight scenes. Come on! Sino ba naman ang di mapapatalon sa upuan when you have two formidable vampire groups fighting against each other, but with a twist. Werewolves were on the side of the Cullens. Winner, di ba? Plus, the humour injected in some of the dialogue were also helpful in sustaining my interest. Like when Jacob told Edward "You cannot deny that I am hotter than you are" (or something like that). That really brought out good chuckles in me. And of course, the fact that you have visually "palatable" characters in front of you comfortably puts you on your seat. I think my co-spectators inside the cinema screamed it well: "Yummy!"

Enough of Eclipse. Can't wait for Breaking Dawn. Indeed, this flick has just proven once more my fascination with vampire movies. Like witches and wizards, they connote fear, magic and mystery. At this point, I cannot help but simply be entertained.

The World Cup All Over the World, Except the Philippines

While the rest of the world gets delirious over the feverish World Cup, it's a different scenario altogether in the Philippines. While the FIFA World Cup is considered by many as the most popular sporting event in the planet, majority of Filipinos in contrast seem impervious to its charm. For example, a couple of days ago, England and the US provided audiences a glimpse of how feverish every match gets even in the qualifying rounds as they battled it out for supremacy (last time I checked, the two teams are tied in first place). Expats in the country flocked every bar to watch the event. Turn to cable channels and almost all international media provided unprecedented coverage as well. But check the Philippines. No turmoil. No craze. The mania is not even felt. It's business as usual in this country.

I feel sad that when less economically stable countries like Ghana and Cameroon have teams on the field that fans can cheer of, Filipinos simply gaze unwittingly and naively from afar. What happened? Is this a bad premonition of the Philippines being left out of the rest of the world?

They say this is a basket ball country. Ok, fine. But can we not be a foot ball country in the very near future as well? They say our size and built make us more suitable to compete for the latter game. But why don't we have any team in the World Cup?

I believe sports is an arena where a country's status - economically, politically, or otherwise - can be reflected. When a country dominates any major sporting event, it can be a reflection of its people's sturdy character, perseverance and socio-economic-political power. No wonder China invests so much in sports and in its athletes. Sports is a field where one's nationalism, and yes, power can be proudly displayed. So when we cannot shoot our way to the top, perhaps, we can start kicking our way to that elusive gold of international dominion, particularly in a highly competitive sports like football in which something this country has badly fared in the last three to five decades.

Pride of the Philippines: Charice, Finally on Glee!

After denying earlier that she has been cast as Glee's newest member, suddenly (or shall I say, finally), the rumor has come true. Charice has confirmed that she is now officially a Gleek! According to the news, she will guest in the award-winning television series' next season as a foreign exchange student who will rival the singing prowess of the show's lead character, Rachel (portrayed by Lea Michele).

Personally, I'm not surprised. Apart from Charice's amazing vocal talent (which is a given), she got some extra backing from one the most influential personalities in the entertainment world, Ophrah Winfrey herself. That makes almost everything possible. Yes, there are a lot of extraordinary talents in Hollywood which makes it hard for any new comer to stand out, specially if you belong to a minority group like Charice, but with the right connections, doors will be opened and someone's star will shine the brightest. Charice had the needed talent and the right connections, and so it won't be long before she reaches the pinnacle of international stardom; perhaps a Grammy in a year or two. Who knows?

I'm not a fan, okay, but I'm simply happy that at least, there's a Filipino out there who can proudly wave the Philippine flag onto the world stage, and would lift up the status of this talent-rich country as a nation worthy of other nation's envy.

I support Charice. I salute the Filipino talent.

Dreaming about Paradise

When I applied for an accounts managerial post in one of the Philippines' leading Ortigas-based retail companies, I was asked by the managing director what was my plan in the next five to ten years. I answered without even pausing that I intend to buy a property in the province and develop it into a personal paradise - a ranch. With eyes sparkling (I know my eyes did sparkle even though there was no mirror around), I told the interviewer that it should be at least 10,000 hectares of land located by the mountain, near the sea. Since I am a nature-lover, I will convert the property into a mango plantation-cum-beach resort. An eco-tourism site, my paradise will not just be a perfect place for relaxation but for retirement as well! Looking back, I guess it was easy to describe that dream space because of one amazing travel I had with friends in Zambales. The places we visited, specially Talisayin and Nagsasa Cove, were somewhat closer to my ideal ranch. I just hope I would be able to realize such a big dream in schedule (10 years max). Hehe.

Noynoy Aquino and the Sponsors of Change

Less than two weeks before president-elect Noynoy Aquino takes oath as the Philippines 15th President, I cannot help but to look forward to a new type of governance and platform that he promised to deliver. Of course, it is expected that the first family, primarily Noy's sisters and nephews and nieces, would play an active and direct role in actualizing those platform and yes, promises. In fact, in an exclusive interview with TV Patrol World, immediately following the president-elect's proclamation in Congress, Noynoy's sisters Ballsy-Aquino Cruz and Kris Aquino already provided the public a hint of their priority causes. Kris will tackle education which she already started by giving books in some public elementary schools in their native Tarlac; Ballsy, the rights of indigenous peoples, and Pinky, another sister, will deal with water problem in the country. Meanwhile, in an interview with news executive Jessica Soho in GMA 7, the president-elect's nephews and nieces are also planning to sponsor a set of social issues, perhaps youth-related, on their own. Why not? They have instant, unlimited access to the next President. What a privilege indeed!

And now, in the solitude of my envious heart and in the company of fantasy and make believe, I wonder: What if I were one of Noy's brothers, or nephews? What if I were his son? What if I were Mar Roxas who the president-elect who was promised with the same unlimited access to the president as the president's immediate family? What cause would I champion? What would I do with the privileged access I have with the Most Powerful Man in the Philippines? Whose voice would I represent?

I'm thrilled by those what ifs. The power and prestige it connotes are simply overwhelming. But then again, those are just far-fetched illusions and I have to live to the reality that I, along with 90 plus million Filipinos unknown to Noynoy, would need to depend on my individual strength and on God's grace and guidance to improve my lot and to affect positive change in the harsh but beautiful world we inhabit.