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YouTube Generation

May 22, 2009

Whoever thought of YouTube created a generation. Everything is now on YouTube. From advertisements of where to buy HGH supplements, to infomercials on global warming, to music videos, to interviews of politicians, to bloopers of superstars. Charice Pempengco, who’s been guesting at Oprah and Ellen, and Arnel Pineda, who is now the lead vocalist of the international band Journey, were both “discovered” in YouTube. It has become a level playing field for those aspiring to be stars. YouTube can make one a big star.

But YouTube can also break a person—big time. Who among Filipinos do not know about Hayden Kho and Katrina Halili’s scandalous videos? I pity the women involved in the sex scandal. YouTube has “aired” the sex scandals, reaching millions of viewers, and the politicians, especially those identified of having political ambitions in the coming election, have blew it out of proportion. It felt like they were exploiting the case, if not the women. They must have forgotten about the noodle scandal, the ZTE scandal, the H1N1 virus, and the ongoing move for cha-cha (charter change). It’s time again to be popular. Who knows? I might see them in the coming months in YouTube—hopefully and expectingly to see their blunders.

Posted by mordsith at 12:08 am | permalink | Add comment

Seven Favorite Things

May 17, 2009

What do you know, onyxx gave me reason to post by giving me this Kreativ Blogger Award. I wasn’t expecting it really. It was such a surprise I almost fainted when I learned about it. :)

 

 

With the trophy (the image above) comes a task: to write seven favorite things I like and to pass it on to seven others. I wondered if I should say love, care, peace, but those were expected (and mushy). I thought of making a list of what I like to have, but those would be my desires. So I guess I’d stick to the seven day-to-day things that I like doing most. After all, these little everyday things are what we do most our lives. Can you guess what these seven activities are?

 

I like…

 

…watching. I enjoy TV series such as House and 24 and animation such as Star Wars: Clone Wars and Naruto, though I cannot watch them an episode at a time. I just can’t handle the suspense hehe. This and the coming months, there are many good films I’ve watched (last were Star Trek and Wolverine) and will sure to watch. A treat indeed.

 

…reading. There’s just something about being sucked in a world so unlike yet so similar as mine. I get to be warriors and knights, and wizards and dragons, even with my Lestat (Ann Rice’s hero/antihero). Where did you think I got my name here?

 

…listening to music. And watching concerts. Music is like poetry to me, only I can understand the lyrics hehe. Seriously, it really has the power to make me very happy or sad. The words become mine, and the music becomes my emotion.

 

…knowing the news. My day starts and ends with news (sometimes reading). I want to keep myself informed, especially of the state of our government and the plight of our countrymen. We just have to care with what’s happening, then maybe we can do something.

 

…eating. Eating makes me happy, and I eat more than most women and some men I know hehe. I cannot live without rice, and oftentimes, one cup a meal is not enough. I can eat a good burger (Brothers Burger) in Westgate in Alabang, isaw in UP Diliman, or home-cooked meal at home, anywhere as long as my stomach is full with delicious food. I like cheese and cheese-flavored food the most.

 

…playing. I used to be an athlete in elementary and high school, so I enjoy every chance (which is not much) I get to play basketball or to just run around with kids. I find getting sweat from sports or simply running fun. But if you name running as exercising, it’s not that happy anymore. hehe. It sounds work. Oh, and I also like playing video games.

 

…driving. I enjoy the adrenaline rush and/or the relaxing effect on me.

 

Here are seven more things about me. So what’s your seven favorite things? Go on. Do the tag. By the way, did you get all seven?

Posted by mordsith at 7:43 pm | permalink | comments[15]

Saying Grace

April 24, 2009

I have just uploaded my posts on each day of the holy week for this year. More than wanting to share to you the days while I was away, I take pleasure in reviving in my mind everything I did during that week, as if compressing months in 7 days. For someone who goes home (to my province) barely once a month, that I got to spend 9 days straight with my family, especially the kids, is something to be grateful for. Time really flies, especially when you’re away, when you don’t watch kids grow in front of your eyes, when you don’t see changes occur over time. I live here now, but I live for every moment with them. I am grateful for my family who doesn’t drift away from me though I am miles apart. I am grateful for our healthy and for the improving health of our sickly.

I am grateful that I have work, though not the one I want to have. In times of crisis, one should find comfort just in having work. And though it is hard to make accounts balance, with a little (read: huge) stretch, I still make it to the next payday. While this has become a cycle, I am grateful that I haven’t completely succumbed to cynicism and that I still have my vision.

I am grateful that I am that girl from UP. After a plummeting self-esteem, I made it back. Kettlebells are for strength. Exercises are for endurance. What are for the brain? Six years after college, I am grateful He gave me a second chance to seek my dreams.

Posted by mordsith at 4:29 pm | permalink | comments[16]

The Treasure Room

Every one of us is losing something precious to us…Lost opportunities, lost possibilities, feelings we can never get back again.. That’s part of what it means to be alive. But inside our heads…there’s a room where we store those memories.

—Kafka Tamura from Kafka on the Shore

As one grows older, one tends to look back on the golden past. People almost always feel that 10 years ago was a better time, no matter what era they are from. There is no certainty to life. No term insurance, an assurance. No probability, an absolute. Not all lost can always be found. But those I want to keep, I keep them alive, burning in my mind. The golden past then seemed so alive.

Posted by mordsith at 4:23 pm | permalink | comments[1]

Easter Sunday: Glorious Nature

April 22, 2009

A blessed Sunday it was indeed.

To avoid the overcrowded swimming pools that day, to celebrate Ian’s birthday the day before, and to bond with the whole family one last time for the holy week, I urged the oldies on a 1-hour trip near the boundary of Nueva Ecija and Aurora. Kids didn’t need convincing at all. haha.

As I learned from a friend, there’s a river an hour or so away from our city where people go to. I’ve never explored the whole of my province, and it’s a surprise to me that there’s such a place. Luckily, Tito had been there on one of his motorcycle trips, and Lola had been wanting to visit the place. As for me, I want to swim on natural waters.

We headed to our destination. We arrived there about lunch time, and the place was so full! We were almost discouraged. We even planned to continue ahead to beaches in Aurora. But the day was really for us, and just about 300 meters away, we found a great place. Lola already heard about stone 8 (the place we found), so we checked it out.

one of two huge pools

 

Look! It has slides!
Yes, we also ran up and down these slides!


Now, now, now. That is not a swimming pool. Well, at least not completely. The water is coming from the Sierra Madre mountain range. It was cold and clear, unlike pools warm from the kids’ you know haha. From the volume of people who were also there, surprisingly, we didn’t have that itchy feeling.

 

Here’s the picture of the kiddie pool.
Behind it is the mountain where the water is coming from.

 

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Posted by mordsith at 5:09 pm | permalink | comments[4]

Sabado de Gloria: Ian’s Day

April 21, 2009

We celebrated Ian’s birthday quietly. He wanted to invite some of his friends in the house, but all of them were on outing with their families (the downside of having birthdays on holidays). Ian didn’t mind, and he was just thrilled that there were so many friends who greeted him on his birthday. His cellphone was beeping every 5 minutes!

When I woke up, I immediately went to him, kissed him on the cheeks, and greeted him a happy birthday. I then asked him what he wanted for his birthday, and he said, “Really? You have no gift for me yet?” I felt a little regretful I hadn’t bought anything for him Monday that week, but his favorite T-shirt shop wasn’t available in our province. And I was right! He wanted a shirt from Artwork, green or gray. I gave him a red Artwork shirt for his birthday last year, and it was his favorite. I know it’s late, but I’m still hunting for the best shirt for him. hehe.

Out of all the kids, he is the one whom I really saw grow up. I was the one who gave his name, as per Tito’s request (I was his favorite among his pamangkins). He and his parents lived in a house within our compound when he was born, the firstborn of his mom and dad. When he was still a toddler, his parents moved out and planned to make it on their own, i.e., work, have a house, etc. For some reason, they wanted Lola to raise Ian, and Lola gladly accepted this very, very cute little boy.

I was in Grade 5 when he was born. When I get home from school, I go to their house and just play with him. Being an only child, I am so excited to see a baby at home. Kuyang, Tootie, and I are almost of the same age, so Ian was the first baby I know. I didn’t help feed him or change his diaper. I was very much a child myself then (until now?), and all I wanted was to see him, maybe stay with him for a while. I even sleepover at their house a few times so I can be with him longer. He was so irresistible. Really.

I saw his first steps, and I was so excited. I was holding him in his waist while his father was across the room calling him to come. After a few steps, he still thought I was holding him! But he was walking on his own! Then, I’d clap and say, “yehey! yehey!” repeatedly so that he’d also clap hard and smile that sweet smile, and he wouldn’t notice he was still standing on his own. Yeah, we tricked him. hehe. And now he can very much walk on his own, go out with friends, and attend a prom. Time flies. Hay.

I promised his father when I was still in elementary that I’d send him to college. I actually thought I’d be successful by that time. He’d be a senior in high school this June, and I haven’t had the slightest idea where to get his tuition. Would they hold my words, words of a child, against me? hehe. Seriously, I wanted to sponsor his college education then, and I still want to now. I just don’t know how to yet.

It was a quiet April 11. No birthday cake. No candle. No visitors. Just immediate family members. My mom cooked her famous spaghetti, and Tito brought two bilaos of arroz valenciana (rice casserole). Surprisingly, Ian didn’t complain; normally, he would. hehe. In the afternoon, Ian and I went to our city’s dambana, instead of going to the city cathedral. Dambana was farther but quieter. The air was more serene, and the place was more solemn. We prayed for a while and went home. We spent the day watching DVDs and just bumming out.

But as I don’t want his birthday to end just like that, I again planned another impulsive outing the next day just for him. hehe.

 
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Posted by mordsith at 4:40 pm | permalink | comments[3]

Good Friday: Penitensiya

April 16, 2009

Para maiba naman sa mga posts ko tungkol sa mga pinagka-abalahan ko nung Semana Santa, minabuti kong isulat ang “araw” na ito sa Filipino. Bukod sa nahihirapan na ako ng kaka-Ingles dito hehe, parang mas nababagay ang wikang atin para sa tema ng post ko na ‘to.

Huwebes pa lang ay excited na ang mga bata para makakita ng penitensiya. Pinangakuan kasi sila ng Kuya Tootie nila na dadalhin ng maaga sa Sta. Rosa (katabing bayan namin, mga 20 minutos lang ang biyahe) dahil marami ang nagpepenitensiya doon. Ako naman, ilang beses na kong nakakita ng ganun nung bata ako, kaya hindi na rin ako nagplano na sumama pa. Hindi na ako interesado masyado, kumbaga.

Teka, parang nanunumbalik sa akin ang alala nung mga panahon na inaabangan namin ni Tootie at ni Kuyang ang penitensiya. Kadalasan si Daddy o si Tito ang aming kaalakbay sa mga ganitong pagkakataon. Ngayon ako naman at si Tootie ang nagbibitbit sa mga anak ni Tito kung saan-saan. Tingnan mo nga naman ang ikot ng mundo. Noon kabataan ako, mas marami ang nagpepenitensiya sa lugar namin. Maghihintay lang kami sa kanto at siguradong may makikita na na grupo ng mga lalaki na nagpepenitensiya. Minsan ay dalawang grupo pa nga, may maliit at may malaki. Kapag sobrang suwerte, dumadaan pa mismo sa harap ng bahay namin.

Ay naku! Ang dami namin pamahiin tuwing santo-santo (Lunes santo, Martes santo…). Siyempre, bawal ang kumanta, dapat malungkot, kasi namatay si Kristo. Kahit konting tunog ng radyo ay bawal na bawal. Ang matigas na ulo na Kuyang ko, nahuli minsan ni Lola na nakikinig ng radyo. Ayun, tinawag siya tuloy na Hudyo. At pag nagka-sugat ka daw sa linggo na ito, hindi na gagaling. Eh nung isang Martes santo, nasemplang ako sa bisikleta ko, na-gasgas ang tuhod ko. Sobrang takot ko na baka hindi gumaling. Gumaling naman siya. Siguro dahil gasgas lang at hindi sugat haha. At ang pinakakinakatakutan namin ng mga pinsan ko—ang matalansikan ng dugo ang balat namin ng mga nagpepenitensiya. Hindi kami takot sa dugo, takot kami na malipat sa amin ang kasalanan ng mga nagpepenitensiya. Ganun kasi yun. Ang haba na ata ng munting kuwento ko, balik na tayo sa pangunahin istorya.

Alas-siyete ng umaga, nambubulabog na si Billy sa kuwarto ko. Mangyari kasi, si Babyline at si Eduard ay sa kuwarto ko natutulog. Aalis na pala sila sa ilang minuto. Napakahirap gisingin ng dalawa, pero pinilit ko. Sayang naman ang pagkakataon na magkakasama sila na makikita ‘to, lalo na at si Billy ay sa Qatar na nakatira. Kaya makalipas ang ilang saglit, hindi pa man nakakaligo, umalis na sila upang manood ng pinaka-aabangan na penitensiya.

Para sa mga takot sa dugo, hindi para sa inyo ang mga susunod na litrato.

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Posted by mordsith at 7:48 pm | permalink | comments[8]

Maundy Thursday: Sick But Not Tired

After a day of malling, a day of staying up until the sun rises, and a day of swimming, I realized I wasn’t invincible after all.

I woke up with a serious case of muscle pains and headache. I usually have “headaches” due to problems, that is, stress, but not the real physiological headache. With the fatigue of swimming and running around the pools and the slides, I had difficulty even standing up. Worse, I couldn’t tell mom. I’m not about to hear, “That’s what you get. I told you not to go swimming, didn’t I? You’re so restless!” and on and on and on. hehe. Besides, I cannot just stay in my room and do artsy fartsy stuff. I’m largely illiterate in handiworks (what’s Lortone rock tumblers anyway?) and zero talent in craftsmanship. So I stood up near lunch and went to my usual routine of going to our terrace, where most people in the house stay in the morning. I love lying in the sofa there (albeit hard) and watch members of the household go about their business.

Even the adults yelling to mischievous kids seemed funny (at times) to me. Everything’s happening in the terrace. Instead of staying in the kitchen, Lola slices meat and vegetables in the terrace. Sometimes she also does marinating or whatever food preparation not requiring heat. We also had a TV in the terrace, so all can just watch there while doing all sorts of things. I enjoy watching Eric and Eduard bathing and playing in the inflatable pool I gave them around 5 years ago in the garden area near the terrace, while Lola continuously tells them not to waste water (and raise the bills!) hehe. At times, I butt in to conversations or to disputes between adults, between kids, and between adults and kids. Most of the time though, I just listen and watch intently while lying in the sofa. I just savored every word, every joke, every disagreement, every moment.

Just before lunch, Dad said he saw a penitensiya near our street, and he thought it might pass by at our street corner, as it sometimes does. As I was pretending not sick at all, and as the kids urged me to go to our street corner and wait for the penitensiya, I and the kids went out of the house and walked under the scorching heat of the noontime sun. Really, I’ve never hated the sun so much. hehe. They also raced each other, and I, too, joined the race. Ouch, my muscles hurt! After 10 minutes of waiting, we realized that the “parade” went a different way, and so we went home. This time, no race. I couldn’t walk fast, even if I wanted to. hehe.

During lunchtime, Dad noticed I was sick. If it was my voice, my slow movement, or my face color which gave me away, I don’t know. He got a thermometer, and it was confirmed, I had a fever. It’s been a long time since I had one, and I forgot how hard it is to have one. And when mom found out I was sick, well, I guess you know what she said. hehe.

After lunch, my parents made me rest. I also want to sleep. So I went straight to my room. Eduard soon followed, with medicines in one hand and water in the other. Touching. I told him that they can watch TV or play around my room, but they can stay only at the sofa bed as I didn’t want them to also get sick. He only nodded and left. I graciously slept until before dinner.

I wasn’t totally healthy when I woke up, but it felt like I needed that long afternoon sleep, and it reenergized me. The kids didn’t disturb me, not even once. That’s a first, not that they’re a disturbance. hehe.

Here in the city, it’s easy to get sick and tired, even just with day-to-day work. In the province, in my home, with friends and family, I can exhaust all of my energy and hyperactivity, but I will never get tired. How’s that? ;)

Posted by mordsith at 11:21 am | permalink | comments[6]

Holy Wednesday: Sunburn

The day before, I thought we were decided not to go swimming with Tootie’s (cousin about my age) girlfriend’s family, although Tootie had been inviting us. The adults in the families had several concerns, and they wanted to have our own trip at some other time.

 

When I woke up at 10 am, Eduard immediately approached me and told me that Mitch (Tootie’s girlfriend of 7 years) was at the house there and asked why we were not coming. With her was her niece Mika, a 3-year-old who’s close to our family. Eduard was telling me that Mika showed him her two-piece underneath her clothes and that she was looking for me. By the tone of Eduard’s voice and the look on his face, I knew he so wanted to go. My heart breaks seeing him sad, so despite a bad headache (see last paragraph of last post), I got up and told him we’ll follow Mika after lunch. I texted Tito to bring Babyline over so all the kids could go swimming.

 

Mom and Lola were a bit disagreeable and stressed at preparing the food with so little time. What can I do? I couldn’t disappoint those sad eyes. I just let all the litany in and out of my head and continued organizing the outing. hehe. For some reason, Ian decided not to come. There was a little bit of drama in the house. I tried talking him out of his “dramatic” state, but he wouldn’t. So Tootie, Billy, Billy’s friend, Babyline, Eduard, and I went happily to our unplanned trip (with this Sandwich song playing in my head).

 

Here she comes (sunburn)

Golden Island Senorita

Here she comes (sunburn)

Slow-mo freeze the frame

Here she comes (sunburn)

Do you know her name?

 

(more…)

Posted by mordsith at 9:17 am | permalink | comments[13]

Holy Tuesday: Finality

April 14, 2009

The night before, Ian, Eduard, Billy, and I (Babyline went home to their house) planned to go to Ian’s school to get his final grades for the school year and then go to my friend’s Internet shop to let you know I live hehe.

In the morning, when all the light bulbs were off, Ian, Eduard, and I ate our breakfast; took our baths; and dressed up to go to Ian’s school. Billy had his friend over at their house (which was beside the compound where Lola and our family live) and were sound tripping, so he did not come with us. I could not force him, so we just left without him.

I wanted to go with Ian to his school to get his card with him, but you know teenagers, so I said Eduard and I would just wait for him at my friend’s net shop, which was just a few minutes walk away. He was hesitant to show his card when he arrived and warned me of his not-so-high grades. I decided to see his card, when we’re already in the car on our way home.

At the net shop, I uploaded three very short posts, mostly about random thoughts (and NOT emo! hehe) and chatted with eks and PJVP. Mostly, I needed reassurance from them that I’d be doing the right thing, that is, declining a job offer to be a Writer/Web Content Administrator. I think it sounds better that it actually is hehe. After 2 weeks of deliberating with eks, we finally decided against transferring work.

I don’t know, but after thinking while sleeping (oh, yes) on Monday night, I realized that, after weighing the pros and cons, in the end, what would matter is where you’d be happier, or not sadder. I’ve always known that salary is not the only factor in work, but actually choosing between two jobs was a brain wrecker. After the yes’s from eks and PJVP when asked if I’d be doing the right thing, I sent a mail declining the new job. I would have accepted that job had things been different. Oh, well. I cannot have it all. Surprisingly, I am no longer bothered with that decision. I don’t know, but there must be something being with the kids that made me decide with finality what I wanted or needed.

After sending the mail, I talked with my friend whom I haven’t seen for months already while the two kids were social networking, watching trailers, and playing Sponge Bob games. Over a box of donuts, my friends and I exchanged stories while waiting for the two to finish. Would you believe that they were in front of the computer from 11 am until 2 pm, and they wouldn’t have noticed that we were missing lunch had I not told them? Kids and computers. I thanked my friend, and we left the net shop.

In the car, I asked for Ian’s card. He wouldn’t give it at first, so Eduard grab it and gave it to me. That’s my boy! hehe. At this point, Ian no longer protested. He had a fair grade, nothing spectacular. I was actually expecting lower grades because of his super resistance to show it. But I found his card acceptable. I told him that it is okay not to be honor or not to get high grades; that he passed his subjects was enough for me (this is my line of thinking when I was still studying, though I’m not sure if it’s right hehe). And that he should also show his card to Lola because Lola deserved to see the fruits of the education she’s been paying for. I think he understood. :-)

When all the children were asleep, I went out with old friends, some I haven’t seen for 3 years, at 11 pm and came home around 5 am. hehe. Though I knew mom would be angry if I stay until morning, I’m hoping she’d understand a little. After all, time passes fast when talking with childhood friends and hometown pips.

When I got home, after listening for a minute to my mom’s “comments,” I went to my bed and fell asleep at once. Zzzzzz…

Posted by mordsith at 8:07 pm | permalink | comments[14]
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