Ang Pasko ko’y Sumabit

I received this nice and timely parody of Levi Celerio’s Ang Pasko ay Sumapit from an electronic mail group. The unknown author said this seems to be what’s playing in Jocjoc Bolante’s mind as of the moment:

ang Pasko ko’y sumabit
ngunit `di pa rin aawit
kahit sa magdamagang hearing
dahil, diyos ko, ako’y may feeling

kung ako ay magsiwalat
may tatlong pari na dadalaw
at ang bawat isa’y
may ihahandog na dasal pang-patay

bagong taon kala’y bagong-buhay
humingi ng asylum du’n kay Uncle Sam
ako ay nagsikap upang di makita
ginawa ko para kay ma’am!

ayaw ko talagang umawit
balak ko lang ay tumahimik
kalusuga’y naiipit
kapag namatay, bagsak ko’y di sa langit

St. Luke’s pa naman may kamahalan
kaya inyong sundin `tong gintong aral
kung mabubuking kayo
sa probinsya magtago,
`wag nang mangibang-bayan!

 

10 Reasons Why We Should Support Ploning to be nominated to the Oscars

1. The movie was graded an A by the Cinema Evaluation Board, the highest score possible.

2. Critics and filmmakers around the world (France, United States, India, China and Singapore) took turns in praising this motion picture and showcasing it as part of their own International Film Festivals.

3. High caliber character actors like Ronnie Lazaro, Joel Torre and Jojit Lorenzo accepted the roles with little exposure and dialogue given to them. Seemingly a testament to their faith in the movie’s quality.

4. Cuyonon actors were trained and hired to add authenticity to the film. All of the actors and even the major players in the crew has Cuyonon buddies to guide them as they film every scene.

5. Dante Nico Garcia is an authentic local of Cuyo Island who studied in UP and became Judy Ann Santos’s friend during her Mara Clara days. Dante grabs this rare opportunity to save the dying Cuyonon language. This is also his birthday gift to Judy Ann.

6. This movie made Judy Ann Santos transcend her soap opera image.

7. The film’s cinematography is simply superb. It is a visual candy that provides us an opportunity to know that the Philippines’ environmental beauty is beyond Boracay and Mayon.

8. Aside from the beauty of the island, Cuyonon’s rare culture was made public in the film.

9. It is seldom that a film that shows some tragedy would also be labeled by a lot of people as a feel-good movie.

10. This film is a saving grace for a dying local movie industry marred by traditional conservatism, censorship, dirty politics and commercialism.

 

Binay as president?

When I saw the headline on inquirer.net about Binay’s supposed announcement, I actually thought it is another version of the joke (a racist one at that), that he is facing the challenge, purportedly inspired by Obama’s success, of being the first Philippine “black” president.

It turned out that the leader of the United Opposition is serious about his bid on being the country’s chief executive. While celebrating his birthday, his supporters, according to reports, are waving yellow banners with the slogan “Makati ngayon, Pilipinas bukas” (Makati now, the Philippines tomorrow).

Ewan.

 

Envy my Pampanga Diet

Almost all of my friends already know that religious traditions, like undas, are rare in my system and everyone knows the reputation of Pampanga in culinary matters. So my Pampanga trip, I filed a vacation leave for it, became a feast for my peptic juices especially since October 31 and November 2 are my mom’s and grandma’s birthdays.

Imagine 3 days of non-stop eating. From the very first steamed talangka (crablet) served by the time we arrived on the morning of my mom’s birthday to the fresh tilapia and hito (catfish) we grilled and fried.

Viands as ordinary as lumpiang shanghai and as exotic as calderetang bibe (duck). Sweets like maja blanca and ubeng calamay aside from the usual merienda of spaghetti, pancit canton, pancit bihon and siopao. Ice cream (Coffee Crumble and Very Rocky Road) were also bought as requested by the kids. My brother-in-law also cooked some Japanese snack of vegetables and squid, the name of which sounds too awkward for me to remember. A hot bowl of Sinigang na Baboy sa Bayabas is not bad to cap those three days, right?

No wonder Ikkang sarcastically told me that I might be 30-pounds lighter by the time I got back here in Manila. My girlfriend is wishing aloud.

 

MTV Generation’s Reunion

The album cover of Circus, Eraserheads’ second album, said, “It is the trip not the destination.” Now, after the concert, albeit cut short, of the Philippines’ Fab Four, I must say, “It is the crowd, not the performers.”

Way before the organizers finalized the details of the concert, not a few people heard me rave that I will never miss that concert and the reason is not really because I idolize the Eraserheads but because I deem them as an influence not just to me but to my generation; the MTV Generation.

I won’t dwell on the reunion concert being cut short due to Ely’s alleged heart attack nor on the apparent commercialization of the event. My verbal rants about the organizers’ seeming conclusion that the happy-go-luckies of that generation have turned into 5-digit in 15 days-yuppies are enough.

I was there, of course,  to enjoy Eraserheads’ music. But more than that, I want to enjoy it with a crowd that I grew up with and, I should say, got high with. This is an audience that does not need growl music (with apologies to Slapshock’s fans) to scream. This is a generation appreciative of the simple honesties (and lies) of daily life as Eraserheads’ songs’ lyrics reflect.

The sad part though is that I failed to see close friends from high school. There are a lot of possibilities why I did not see them. First, it is hard to find a few specific faces in a 60,000-strong crowd. Second, most of us never saw each other for a decade or so and their faces could be really different by now. Another possible reason is that they are either too busy or too broke to watch the concert. Possibilities are infinite why I never saw my high school buddies.

Still, as I expected, I found a lot of friends there. Good thing that I decided to go there alone to prevent me from being bonded to a single group. One of the firsts I saw is my boss heating his ass on the Global City grounds. It is the first time I saw him in such a light, in a MTV Generation-kind of way. I also got to meet old faces from PLM, UP Diliman and UP Manila including Rhia Diomampo, my first Editor-in-Chief in AP before. Some others like former UP Student Regent Terry Ridon simply sent a text message asking if I too was there. They are singing their hearts out as well.

Thanks to Buddy Zabala, Marcus Adoro, Raymond Marasigan and Ely Buendia for reuniting this crowd. I’m still thinking if there are other ways (an instant pancit canton-eating contest?) to reassemble this generation . It seems that other bands are either too political (Yano), too heavy (Wolfgang) or too deep (Rivermaya–the original line-up) to really gather that audience again. 

And, of course, thanks a lot Eraserheads for including Shake yer Head in your first set. Eventhough it seems that some members of the crowd, I assume those from other generations, do not know the song.

 

The Call Center Agent’s Desiderata*

Go not placidly amidst the noise and haste as you may be marked down for dead air. Avoid quiet and passive persons as they may worsen your insomnia. Walk a mile. Your life does not revolve around your workstation. Speak glowingly of the better customers; and heed well their advice, as you will learn to love them as the irate ones call.

Know what to do – and when, and, also, be wary of that annoying echo that sometimes gives some clue whenever you are being monitored. Consider that two wrongs never make a right, but that three may do if only for the joy of being petiks. Whenever possible, put people on hold. Be comforted, that in the face of all irritation and disillusionment, and despite the changing fortunes of time, there are always some incentives due to power hours and good metrics.

Remember the times that your biological clock is still normal. Strive at all times to bend, fold, spindle, and mutilate. Whatever makes you fit. Know thyself. If you need help, avail of a supervisor. Exercise caution in your daily affairs, especially with those closest to you… That Avaya on your left, for instance. Be assured that floorwalking through the seas of most souls would scarcely get your feet wet. Fall not in love, therefore, as the promiscuous culture of the industry may make you jaded. Gracefully surrender the things of day life: the birds, clean air, the sun, Philippine Daily Inquirer- and let not the sands of time get in your lunch. Hire people of blind obedience. For a good time, call 09167706376, ask for Primo. Take heart in the deepening gloom that the pantry is finally serving sensible food. And reflect that whatever misfortune may be your lot, it could only be worse in Sprint.

Therefore, make peace with your god, whatever you perceive him to be: your arrogant account manager or a machine meant to withdraw money from. With all its hopes, dreams, promises, and urban renewal, the industry , cross your fingers, is here to stay. Apir!

*My apologies to Max Ehrmann and the National Lampoon

 

A World without Rules?

I have always been a fan of Marvel and not of DC Comics. It seems though that The Dark Knight is better than any other superhero movie, from Stan Lee and otherwise.

TDK is not the usual pop-corn-for-kids adventure film. Not a superhero-whips-the-villain’s-ass action flick either. With all its intelligence and wit, you’ll enjoy TDK not because of its special effects or the characters’ costumes but because of the script and the performance of the actors.

To be honest, I don’t remember any good thing about past Batman movies and some of them I didn’t even bothered to watch. So expect no comparison here.

Without knowing that it was Heath Ledger, TDK caught my interest before when its trailer showed Joker. I actually thought that I should be waiting for a sequel of The Crow. I only knew that it was Heath Ledger when the screening date is already near and movie news websites are already buzzing about Ledger’s possible posthumous Oscar.

When I saw the film, though his co-nominees are also factors, I do think that Ledger really deserves such. Especially after I read the effort he did since the film’s pre-shooting.

Back to TDK, one thing I would like to assert is that I never saw this really as a superhero film. Batman is presented here more of an anti-hero. The title itself suggests that the title role is dark. The movie actually presented a possible “White Knight” in the person of District Attorney Harvey Dent.

The entire presentation of Dent, eventually Two-Face, in TDK actually debunks the idea of a superhero, of someone who is “pure” and “white”. For years, Batman, though not a lot of people know, already debunked the idea that “superheroes” got super powers. All Batman has are gadgets, wealth and machinery, remember?

Also, I like the way Lucius Fox (Morgan Freeman) threatened to leave Bruce Wayne if the mobile tracking computer will be used other than against The Joker. No other post-September 11 franchise Hollywood film made such a declaration of support for civil liberties. Wayne eventually redeemed himself after Fox followed his instruction whenever he is ready to resign.

The Joker’s psychopath-not-for-the-money-criminal is perfect. For me, he represents not the petty thieves who do criminal things due to desperation but the usual mad men in our midst. Those who hunger for more even though they don’t need it anymore. Though the Nolan Brothers may have written this one without such a concept. I can’t help but think that this particular Joker’s character symbolizes capitalist greed.

What balanced the too-dark-villain is the scene where not one among the two ferries’ scores of passengers, not the civilians who hates the criminals nor the convicts who sees they have nothing to lose if they’ll kill the civilians, decided to pull the trigger.

With such, TDK actually presented a good concoction of the real and the ideal, that the world has no rules but in the end, may the better idea win.

One thing that I need to air though is that this movie should have been entitled The Joker for two reasons: since it made me understand the villain’s character more than Batman and obviously Ledger outshone Christian Bale on this one.

 

Dragons on Fire

The Dragons made it once again. After I was promoted to the Quality Coordinator position and Jeremy to being an OIC who is now awaiting promotion to be a Team Manager, four of our former teammates were appointed as new Sales Buddies.

Daisy, Melvin, Mark and Ed definitely deserve to be part of the new seven-man sales coaching team. I know how they worked hard to be worthy of the promotion. And ever since I was made a part of the Quality Department, I am always proud of most of my teammates with them at the forefront. Their scores are always in the line of nine.

I know there are more to come for the Dragons. Our focus on quality sales are now being felt and our Team Manager was even approached by the Senior Account Manager as he is very grateful of the team that consistently delivers in all aspects.

Way to go, Dragons. Way to go, Fantastic Four.

 

A Night of Music (real music)

I never thought that a hundred and fifty pesos will give me the thrill and entertainment I got Thursday night. I almost forgot it though it is noted in my email inbox but the good thing is that Nica, a friend who is also a former full-timer, asked me if I will be able to go to the gathering at My Brother’s Mustache along Scout Tuason near Tomas Morato. It was a tribute concert for Susan Fernandez, the Nightingale of the Philippine Left who is under medication for a certain type of cancer.

The event was aptly described by Director Joel Saracho, one of the night’s hosts, as a reunion of sorts. I can’t imagine an activity that will make both Judy Taguiwalo and Etta Rosales attend with sincerity. The former is a Maoist who accuses the other as a reformist while the latter is a Social Democrat who labels the other as an extremist. But that night’s cause summoned them in a venue smaller than the lobby of UP’s Palma Hall.

As I said, that mini-concert is amazing. The names may not be pop but are certainly musical gods and goddesses. Mike Villegas and Noli Aurelio are such guitar monsters. Lolita Carbon, Noel Cabangon, Joey Ayala and Gary Granada are timeless singer-composers of progressive music.

Chikoy Pura of The Jerks was there as well as Lourd de Veyra of Radioactive Sago Project. Jazz artist Mon David’s daughter and son were there to sing and play as their father is out of the country. Poet Pete Lacaba was there. Dodong Nemenzo. Jess Santiago. Bayang Barrios. Cookie Chua. Even someone as pop as Bituin Escalante graced the event. Add to that the sarcasm and antics of Joel Saracho and Bagong Dugo.

And without a nil of compensation, none gave a mediocre performance. Nobody left the place unsatisfied and nearly all of us even think that that gathering is more than ten-folds the 150 we cashed-in.

 

Worths

This is my first blog post for weeks. The reason is because I decided not to write any until I passed an agent for the monitors I’ve been doing since I was promoted. Luckily, either for the agent or for my weeks-long ignored blog, someone managed to get 93% for her quality score. And now I’m back here.

The past weeks were rollercoaster rides in all aspects. From learning how to cook pochero to dating a self-confessed bitch, from appreciating practical spontaneous poetry to letting someone mess up with my hair, it feels like I was born a hundred times more. It does not even include the several firsts of my new office and some others that , however worth posting, seems not proper to be mentioned here.

While incidentally enjoying life, not a few people asked me the past few days if I am happy. Well, given that their question was asked in different situations and contexts, I gave no standard answer. The only thing that keeps on being delivered by my tendency to overanalyze and be talkative is my dichotomy between—- and relativity of —-pleasure and happiness. But that is, of course, another story.

Pondering further though and an inspirational message from a friend led me to something. Another complex concept is conceived and it is something worth asking everyone; Are we here to make a living or get a life? Tell me your answer people as both are worth an explanation from either side of your gray matter.