Between The Lines

I need a serious alarm clock. My PDA alarm has little effect on me. Of course it will set off and will wake me up, but a slight tap on the dismiss button and I'm back to neverland again.

So I woke up a little past my "alarmed time" this morning which was 9 a.m. Smoked a bit. Then took a bath. Dressed up and went to work.

Smoked a little more. Had lunch. Smoked again. And went to the DOJ. Read the papers. Read some Court of Appeals decision. Summarized. Got out of the building. Went back to base. After checking the line-up and finding out I wasn't there, I went out. Smoked again. Hung out a bit more. And here I am writing.

Tomorrow, it will slightly be different. If we're going to Batangas then it'll be a whole day of wallclimbing. Otherwise, I'll be sleeping the whole day, punctuated only by my biological needs to eat, and counter-biologically sensible to smoke.

Life is boring.

The Sound Of Silence

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Heard it?/jtm

Collectively, Forward

I'm happy for my friends right now who are taking chances at love again. While I may not be in the same boat, I'm grateful nevertheless.

N. is seeing this singer. I., this Italian-British guy, and well R., enjoying * once again. T. and K. are technically out of the market since they have families already.

It restores my confidence in love and trust. It's scary to gamble. Although I'm not about to it again, I'm sure my friends' experiences will tell me, it should be worth the risk.

Last night, I thought I'd be better off if I don't hang out with couple-friends, because seeing them amplifies my singleblessedness, unintentionally. But thought, what the heck.

They say, it's always greener on the other side. Someday soon, I'll be grazing there. I'm happy where I am right now.

Just an aside. Until a friend told me, I didn't know my blog read heavy, sad, lonely, depressed. Well, just a disclaimer, I'm not always like that, hehehe. That was my subconscious you were reading.

Love's Legend

"So High"
John Legend

Baby since the day you came into my life
You made me realize that we were born to fly
You showed me everyday new possibilities
You proved my fantasies of love could really be

Let's go to a place only lovers go
To a spot that we've never known
To the top of the clouds we're floating away yeah
Ooh this feels so crazy
Oh this love is blazing
Baby we're so high
Walking on cloud 9

(You've got me up so high) So high
(My shoes are scraping the sky) So high
(You've got me up so high) Oh
(My shoes are scraping the sky)

Maybe later we can go up to the moon
Or sail among the stars before the night is through
And when morning comes we'll see the sun is not so far
And we can't get much closer to God than where we are

We'll go to a place only lovers go
To a spot that we've never known
To the top of the clouds we're floating away yeah
Ooh this feels so crazy
Oh this love is blazing
Baby we're so high
Walking on cloud 9

(You've got me up so high) So high
(My shoes are scraping the sky) So high
(You've got me up so high) Oh
(My shoes are scraping the sky)

Ooh...yeah
Ooh...oh hey

Ooh this feels so crazy
Oh this love is blazin'
Baby we're so high
Walking on cloud 9
You got me up so high
You got me up so high
You got me up so high
My shoes are scraping the sky

You got me up so high
You got me up so high
You got me up so high
My shoes are scraping the sky
ooh...ooh...Yeah...

This is how love's supposed to be
This is how, this is how love's supposed to be, yeah
Let's go to the moon baby, ooh
Let's go to the moon baby, yeah
Let's go, go, let's go to the moon baby
So high...

--
This is the song I'm listening to at the moment. This is also for all ya'lovers outthere!

Weekend Wonders

Tomorrow's a weekend again. As usual, I'll attempt to clean my room and maybe watch some Akira Kurosawa films. Got a bargain today, it was selling for P1,200 (an 11-movie collection) but I got it for P900. I had paid the DVD guy a hundred bucks as deposit but insisted that I get the set and pay the rest next week. Galing 'di ba? Charm offensive lang 'yan. ehehehehe.

So tomorrow that's what I'll do and perhaps listen to John Legend. And smoke to death. Hehehehe.

Come Undone

"A touching meditation on the most ignored reason why
relationships collapse -- love's unscripted exit, stage left." -- Mark Bieschke

Last night, I was home early. Saw this French film "Come Undone" (Prusque Rien). I don't know but I think the film's story paralleled with mine. Wouldn't go into details, but suffice it to say, I've gained some perspective. You usually get that when you're outside looking in. Didn't see it before but now I can detach myself from what had happened and see things clearly. No regrets.

Where's Garci Now?

Former COMELEC Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano from www.pcij.org/blog

Little did I think that that July 7th interview with ex-COMELEC Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano would be his last, or at least, so far his last.

Garci went out of what would be his last COMELEC en banc session. He didn't want to be interviewed but we persisted (it was the day after Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye came out with the CDs). Later on, he obliged to an interview.

I remember he was very categorical in his statements. "Was that your voice on the phone?"
With a straight face, he said "no." "Even a radio commentator told me, it didn't sound like me," he elaborated.

I rephrased my question: "Did you have any conversation like that with the President at all?" (the bait was out and obvious, but still I was hopeful). Because, surely, conversations of that importance or that degree would be remembered. Again, he said "none."

"Did the President ever call you?" I asked, once again.

"No," he answered.

I would not have known, at that time, the relevance that interview would have. In hindsight, I think without that categorical denial, things would have been a little different. The "I AM SORRY" speech would have been written another way.

But will there be less questions?

Bloggers And Journalists

Are they the same?



Should journalists, or moreso those who are working for mainstream media, blog?

There is an emerging discussion in the newsroom about this. I still haven't formed an opinion/stand on the matter. I'm browsing some internet articles on the subject. But here are some arguments that have come up.

My immediate, uninformed reaction or perception is that it is a form of censorhip, if journalists are restricted in writing about their opinions on certain matters.

But those on the other side see it as avoiding the tendency of being branded as "biased." Journalists should remain "objective," they say. Because what you say, what you think, may be perceived as that of the media organization you are working for.

"What if," they ask, "someone conducts a survey of reporters who are pro- or anti- this?"

"But blogs are personal," argues a fellow blogger-reporter.

Meaning, those opinions expressed in the blogs are the individual's. "And besides," I buttress her argument "we don't carry our biases into our news reports."

There's a system of checks and balance in the newsroom that makes it hard for personal opinions to come through. And we avoid it, like a plague, to get our biases in the way of our reporting.

Stated another way, being a blogger and a journalist are roles that we can shift to and from. When I blog, it is clear that I'm writing about personal things, writing personal opinions. As a journalist, biases go out the window.

"But you are personalities," a colleague argues. "How can you make that distinction?"

It's not us who should make it, it should be those who read us.

It's interesting really. Things to ponder on. Over coffee and cigarettes.

--
For purposes of enriching the debate, here are some articles on the matter which you may read:

1. Online Journalism Review (Journalists debate closure of another blog): http://www.ojr.org/ojr/glaser/1051593413.php

2. Editor&Publisher (Hartford Paper Tells Employee to Kill Blog) http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1872356

3. Online Journalism Review (Journos and Bloggers: Can Both Survive?)
http://ojr.org/ojr/workplace/1100245630.php

The Sea Is Watching

(with apologies to Akira Kurosawa)

Richard Misrach/NYTimes

On July 17, I woke up feeling despondent. Must be the weather I thought. But when I went back to the office that afternoon, the reason popped up, literally, via my email alert.

Strange, I thought, that subconsciously, my mind still longs for the long gone. It must have been used to the feeling, the excitement.

Last night, in my dreams, I went back to that old place where I had met he who I dare not dignify with a name. But he who I dare not dignify with a name was not there anymore. I was in a race, a cyclist ranked no. 6 at that moment, but I quit, before the next leg has even started.

"What did it mean?" I asked Ruth who is in the province at this moment.

"We all know that you know what it means," came the text, or something like that.

Frankly I don't.

What I can relate to with the dream, are feelings of being tired. Of quitting. Of giving up. And the relief that comes after. I did attempt to look for he who I dare not dignify with a name. But when I did not find he who I dare not dignify with a name, I felt sad but promptly got a hold of my feelings.

Today, I just want to drift away. I am enamored by the sea. It is a perfect escape. It's sheer expanse shall overpower me. And I will be reminded, that something is bigger, always bigger, than the hollering silence within.

I shall soak in that realisation then once again, empty myself. The sea shall forever fill it with other memories.

Spinning

Spinning, spinning aimlessly
Enjoy the kaleidoscope,
of dizzy dreams, fancy realities

Then stop.

Spin, again
Recreate, the dizzying dreams
Fancy the realities.

Whirl again.

Stop.

Dream.
Realities.
Learn to distinguish.

Smoking Time

Alas, TP wouldn't let me go until Flash airs. Geesh, it will in a few minutes time, thankfully but I'm really bored right now. I'm killing time with cigarettes and coffee. I dunno which would kill me first, boredom or cigarettes.

Hiber-Nation

Today was practically uneventful. Except for the pro-GMA rally, the country seems to be enjoying a respite from all those loud rallies and political events last week.

I am, too.

Practically spent the whole day sleeping and re-acquainting myself with my Stevie. Haven't played him in a long while, me, having been caught up with work the whole week.

But today was time to rest.

Hibernating, I discovered that my body needed to rest really. I was sleep-deprived and my body was asking for it. Woke up around 11, ordered food from a fastfood chain, then soundtripped: Joss Stone and D'Sound were it for me today. "Got a Right to Be Wrong," (Stone's) and "If You Get Scared," (D'Sound's) were the day's anthem.

Weekends are the best!

I'm at the office right now, pinchitting to write for the weekend's edition of our "FlashReport." Later, if Tina allows me to get off in a bit (I finished writing already), I'll probably have coffee with Caballi and Nels. Getting drunk, is, as always a given.

Today, we drink and get merry. And tomorrow is another day for sleep.

The Gods Have Deliberated

The Supreme Court has just finished its oral arguments on the expanded value added tax law at around 11 p.m. It was a full ten-hour no-break-no-lunch-no-dinner deliberation.

The first one who argued before the justices was Atty. Rene Gorospe, counsel for ABAKADA GURO Partylist, one of the petitioners. His main objection was that the standby authority granted to the President was an undue delegation of legislative power to the executive.

Gorospe argued that the taxing power was granted to the members of the Congress as their people's representatives. Because, "it is the people who decides how much and in what manner will they be taxed by the state."

But, Gorospe added, Congress made it appear that it was the President who would be making the decision to raise the tax come year 2006. "Congress practically hid behind the skirts of the President," he said.

There are two conditions when the President will have to raise the vat from 10% to 12%. These are:

1. value added tax collections as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP) of the previous year exceeds 2 4/5%, or;
2. national government deficit as a percentage of GDP of the previous year exceeds 1/2%.

But Associate Justice Artemio Panganiban asked Gorospe, does the President have control over these factors?

"No," Gorospe said.

"Meaning, the determination of these factors are factual? She cannot exercise discretion?" queried Panganiban.

"Yes," answered Gorospe.

"Then there's no undue delegation of power. If these factors are present, then she has no choice but to just raise it," Panganiban said.

"Yes," said Gorospe.

"Did you say, 'yes'," asked an alarmed Chief Justice Hilario Davide, Jr.

"What now is your position?" Panganiban asked Gorospe.

---
Judging from the line of questioning of the justices and the manner which the petitioner argued their case, some say, there's a strong chance that the TRO will be lifted and the law declared constitutional. But that's really up to the justices. The parties were asked to submit their respective memoranda within 10 days from yesterday. After that, the case is deemed submitted for resolution.

'Nuf Said

Kara brought this from the rally at Ayala in Makati today. I thought the message appealed to me, personally. Or the politics of thyself. Hehehehehe.

The Origin Of Kris

Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez surprised us with this revelation today at the DOJ interview. He had something to do with how Kris Aquino became Kris Aquino.

"I was the one who introduced her to Mother Lily (of Regal Films, for those non-Filipino readers)," he said.

We gasped.

"I was the lawyer for Regal Films then. I was with Dante Buscayno. They were thinking about doing a film about Buscayno. Cory (Aquino) called me up," he said.

We could only sigh a collective, "Oh my God!"

I'll leave the statement at that for your own interpretation.

Tobacco Republic

Former President Fidel V. Ramos before he left for Bangkok, Thailand on July 10, 2005. "That role of being a kingmaker, is a role that some shadowy characters like to play! I'm not like that," he says in response to criticisms that he has become a de-facto president, "a kingmaker" for supposedly saving the Arroyo administration from collapse.

Former Senate President Jovito Salonga said that "democracy does not guarantee good leaders. What it guarantees, in case you have bad leaders, is that you have the means to remove them from power."

It has been several days since the so-called "Hyatt-10", the 10 former cabinet members of President Arroyo have resigned, and it looks like Arroyo is hanging tough.

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines declined to join increasing calls for the President's resignation. It came as a relief to the government; a similar call from the influential bishops' block could have boosted efforts to make her resign.

"Joseph, what's your stand?" asked my landlady this morning. "Resign, or impeachment?"

"Impeachment," I told her.

And this is why.

Several days ago, I was able to talk to Presidential Adviser on the Implementation of the Recommendation of the Feliciano Commission Carolina Hernandez. She said, that it is a bit of a shame if we compare our country with the experience of Indonesia with regard to elections.

"See, Joseph, Indonesia has just had its elections and you don't see people on the street protesting the results. They are a much younger democracy than ours," she lamented.

And there lies the challenge.

Our task is to prove to ourselves, that democracy is right for us, that we can make it work.

Impeachment is a viable option than outright resignation. At least, we can really find out, via that constitutional process if the President indeed committed fraud.

But I'm surmising it is not palatable to most politicians. Impeachment, so some critics say, is just a numbers game. Truth is irrelevant. If you have the numbers, never mind if you, in the case in point, committed fraud or not. Your partymates will just throw it out. But there's a good chance that even our politicians have matured. If they feel passionately as they do now in finding out the truth, let them shed their political color and represent their people the way that they should.

--
Our boss has expressed worries that we might be quoted or things like that. So I'm referring you guys to the copyright thingie in the left bottom part of this blog. That says no attribution or whatever. Consider this, an exercise of my freedom of speech during a drinking binge.

Hungry for Ouster

Taken at the People Power Monument, July 10. "24-hour black fast" called by Fr. Robert Reyes and some Muslim leaders.



The group of running priest Fr. Robert Reyes has initiated a "24-hour black fast" in calling for the resignation of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

"We will do this, until she resigns," he says. "Hopefully, it will not take long because this will disrupt our lives," Reyes adds.

"What if she insist on staying on?" I query.

"Well, there are many more creative ways to ask for her resignation. Or the violent option is not very far behind," he answers.

The nation awaits.

Hanggang Saan?

HANGGANG
by Wency Cornejo

Ilang ulit mo bang,
itinatanong sakin
kung hanggang saan,
hanggang saan,
hanggang kailan,
hanggang kailan mag tatagal,
ang aking pag mamahal,
hanggang may himig pa akong naririnig,
dito sa aking daig-dig
hanggang may musika akong tinataglay,
ika'y iniibig
giliw wag mo sanang isiping ikaw ay aking lilisanin,
di ko magagawang lumayo sa yong piling
at nais kong malaman mo kung gaano kita kamahal
hanggang ang diwa ko'y
tanging sayo laan
mamahalin kailanman
hanggang pag ibig ko'y
hanggang walang hanggan
tanging ikaw lamang
hanggang may himig pa akong naririnig
dito sa aking daig-dig
hanggang may musika akong tinataglay
ika'y iniibig
giliw wag mo sanang isiping ikaw ay aking lilisanin
di ko magagawang lumayo sayong piling
at nais kong malaman mo kung gaano kita kamahal
hanggang may puso akong
marunong mag mahal
na ang sinisigaw ay lagi ng ikaw
hanggang saan
hanggang kailan
hanggang kailan kita mahal
hanggang ang buhay ko'y kunin ng may kapal
giliw wag mo sanang isipin ikaw ay aking lilisan
indi ko magagawang lumayo sa yong piling
hanggang may pag ibig
laging isisigaw, tanging ikaw
hanggang may pag ibig laging isisigaw, tanging ikaw

Uncertainty In A Time Of Turmoil

"You're afraid," Ruth told me in one of those countless conversations about countless things.

"Well, yeah," I agreed, shrugging my shoulder, I refused to rationalize.

Somehow, I knew what she told me was correct. And I don't know why I've become such.

"I guess, I've been badly burned," was my lame explanation. "I don't know."

------- o O o --------

This morning, at ten o'clock in the morning, 10 members of President Arroyo's cabinet resigned. They were: DSWD Sec. Dinky Soliman, DOF Sec. Cesar Purisima, Customs Commissioner Bert Lina, BIR Commissioner Guillermo Parayno, Budget Secretary Emilia Boncodin, President Adviser on the Peace Process Ging Delez, NAPC Sec. Imelda Nicolas, DTI Sec. Juan Santos, DAR Sec. Rene Villar and DepEd Sec. Florencio Abad. They called on the president to resign.

Former President Cory Aquino followed in calling for her resignation, so did the Makati Business Club and the Liberal Party.

At around six o'clock this evening, the President declared that she would not resign.

------- o O o --------

It was surreal, listening to the President's reaction to calls for her resignation on the radio on my way back to the office. Cityscapes/memories of what had transpired during the day run like montage; background to her pitiful voice struggling.

"This is a democracy that's held together by the Constitution and the rule of law. The Philippines has fallen into a dangerous pattern where the answer to every crisis is to subvert due process rather than work within the system. This must stop."

Boy Scout Rotonda, Timog Avenue. Banners and placards adorn what you used to be one of rallying sites of anti-GMA protesters. "Trabaho, Hindi Gulo" says a pro-GMA banner.

"I was duly elected to uphold the Constitution and ensure that the institutions of the nation were strengthened, not weakened. With all due respect to former President Aquino and others, I say that their actions caused deep and grievous harm to the nation because they undermine our democratic principles and the very foundation of our Constitution. Once again, we're subverting the rule of law and perpetuating a system that's broken and will remain broken until fundamental reforms are put in place."

January 2001. After the successful EDSA 2 which toppled ex-President Joseph Estrada. EDSA Shrine. Supreme Court Chief Justice Hilario Davide reads to her the oath of office. Senate Minority Floor Leader Aquilino Pimentel, Jr. holds the microphone for her. Jubilation. A thousand confetti descend on the scene.

"As former President Aquino is well aware, the President is charged by the nation to defend our hard-won democracy at all costs. To those who've forgotten this, I say, take your grievances to Congress where I'm very willing to submit to due process as called for by our Constitution. "

Impeachment court. Then President Joseph Estrada was under trial for charges of receiving jueteng payola. Clarissa Ocampo, a bank executive, testified that Estrada signed "Jose Velarde" one foot from where she stood. The bank account was not opened. The trial aborted. It precipitated what is now known as EDSA 2.

"In the meantime, I will continue to focus on the people's business, getting our economy moving and creating better quality of life for our people."

Manila. Children mindlessly playing basketball on the street. A worn train crawls by. A kid throws garbage into the cabin. An unsuspecting passenger surprised.

"I will announce a new Cabinet within the next couple of days. This team will be made up of individuals whose commitment to our nation and to democratic principles will be beyond doubt."

Ten cabinet members resign. "The longer the president stays in office under a cloud of doubt and mistrust, and with her style of decision making, the greater the damage to the economy and the more vulnerable the fragile situation becomes to extremists seeking to undermine democratic lights," Purisima says.

"This is the team that will work with me to move away from political bickering to doing what the people of the Philippines expect their leaders to do and that is get our economy moving and ensure the delivery of essential services such as health care, education and security to all parts of the country."

Today. Secretary's Office. DOJ Secretary Raul Gonzalez was watching Cory Aquino's address calling for Arroyo to resign. "She (President) will survive this. I will stick with the President even if I'm the last man standing," he said in response to reporters' queries.

Our realities are a function of our desires. We see what we want to see. Believe, what can deceive.

------- o O o --------

At home. One bleep. And everything's fine. One puff and the smoke shall engulf me; fantasies/realities both. Discernment, this time, is not one of my primary skills.

------- o O o --------

Moving Forward

Like fallen leaves, pieces of you fall in the crevices of my memory. I'm much better now. I don't even remember, how you were, and eventually who you were. And I will not ever bother ask how come.

This is where, the then and the now separate; a most awaited moment.

A most glorious one. And you don't deserve to partake in the jubilation.

Who, Me, Resign?

Is the President deaf?

Last I heard, it was her head that the people wants for supposedly rigging the elections or as Swanie puts it, "stealing" it.

But a few minutes ago, the President announced in a radio address this time, that she had asked her whole cabinet to resign, to give her a fresh start.

Wait a minute.

It wasn't them who were on the tape.

It wasn't the good ones who were caught in the controversy: DBM Secretary Emilia Boncodin, DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman, et. al., (sige na nga, isama na natin si Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez - you can shoot me afterwards).

Sayang. She's sacrificing the few good ones that she has to save her own face.

Or wait, was it really the President we heard on radio (aired on TV as well)?

Hello Ma'am?

Peace/Piss

Funny how "peace" and "piss" sounds alike. Right now, I'm just pissed. I wanna forget this day.

Let Me Tell You

let me tell you about the things i like.

beaches and how time is always short when i'm there. i enjoy those moments when the sea meets the sand; a short rendezvouz. one minute they kiss, and move away, only to come back for some more.

beers and how easy it is to leave worries away. it's easy to be funny when people are drunk. without the inhibitions or the pretensions, we are stripped down to our essentials.

cigarettes. it's weird, that you can see, in tangible terms, the passing of time: minute by minute, stick by stick. because it's hard sometimes, to measure, what is invisible. years can seem like days. months only minutes.

guitar self-lessons and how they teach you about life. that everything in this life can be acquired. like a skill, we learn how to survive, how to heal, how to move on.

funny conversations and diversions. i liked/like it that you make it sound stupid, those many months of anguish, of self-denial, of selfless love.

these are, just some, of the things i like. but there are very few.

i think it is when things are scarce, that we truly know what to value.

Kulungan

Dalawa lang ang kulungan sa buhay na ito.

Isang gawa ng kapaligiran. At isang tayo ang gumagawa.

Ang una, ang tinatawag na "societal standards": babae-lalake; nanay-tatay; empleyado-employee etc.

At ang bawat isa, may nakaakibat na papel, na mga dapat gawin, mga hindi dapat gawin, ano ang maaring gawin.

Sa ganitong istruktura, ang kapalaran mo, idinidikta. Hindi ka puwedeng lumampas sa kung ano ang nakatakda na.

Sa kulungang ito, madali ang buhay. Parang may isang script na sinusundan. Isang direksyon na tinatahak. Isang tiyak na patutunguhan.

Para sa ilan, parang hardin ito ng katiyakan, ng kawalang-pakialam at komportable dito.

Ang pangalawang uri ng kulungan, tayo ang may gawa.

Nakakatakot ito. Oppressive. At pinakamalaking inhustisya ang magagawa nating magpakulong rito.

Dinaanan ko ito. Nakaka-praning. Pero unti-unti, pinili kong palayain ang sarili.

Kung iisipin, ang mga "societal standards" ay mga social "constructs" lang naman. Gawa ng tao. At doon ko nakita ang kapangyarihan ko para gumawa ng sarili kong standard.

Walang pinagkaiba hindi ba dahil pareho lang namang gawa-gawa ito.

Pero irespeto rin natin ang mga taong walang sapat na tapang para kumawala. Kanya-kanyang panahon lang 'yan kasi. Baka paglipas ng limampung libong taon, mapagtanto, na maari na nilang palayain ang sarili.

Sa aking puntod, papalakpak pa rin ako.

Para Sa Iyo

Pa'no ko sasabihin ang mga pagnanasang walang katapat na salita?

Sa pamamagitan, siguro, ng pag-iwas sa mga tingin mo, habang nag-uusap tayo. Titingin na lang sa 'yong mga labi kesa sa mata mo. Nakakatakot tumitig. Baka lamunin ako sa pagpikit mo.

Lilingon-lingon. Papansinin ang mga tuyong dahon sa daan, walang buhay, walang saysay pero parang gusto ko silang kausapin. Itsitsismis na katabi ko ikaw, at kausap.

Titingin sa malayo, sa isip, tatakbo, tatakas, tatago.

O sa yosi ibabaling. Sa usok, basahin mo ang gusto kong sabihin.

Sa tabi mo, papaligiran ako ng bakod ng aking hindi kasiguruduhan, ikukubli ang tunay na nararamdaman, itatayong parang tore ang aking pagsisinungaling na hindi kita gusto.

Pero habang nasa tuktok ng tore sa langit, sisilip ako sa bintana nito at maghahanap ng konting ngiti mula sa iyong mga labi.

At 'pag natagpuan, guguho na lang ako ng kusa.

Radio On My Blog

"Tell me who your friends are and I will tell you who you are," so the old saying goes. "Show me what you listen to and I will tell you who you are," I say. Hehehehe.

Recently found this website that offers free music video codes (www.musicvideocodes.com). What's more, it has a playlist. So I added some of my favorite songs which had the corresponding codes for your listening pleasure. Enjoy.

Elida Moments

Or when Ester Bailey strikes.

T.P.

Nagtext ang isang malapit na kaibigan habang nasa kalagitnaan siya ng pagba-browse ng Internet at busy nga siya.

Text ng malapit na kaibigan: "Ano nang chika natin?"

Sumigaw si T.P. : "Hay! Ano ba itong si (malapit na kaibigan)! Ang kulet! Makipagchikahan ba sa text?!!"

Actually, may point sya dun. Ang text naman e para lang sa mga urgent messages lalo na't ngarg mode. Kung kailangang makipag-chikahan e tumawag na lang? Hehehehe.

Disclaimer ni T.P.: "Pakilinaw lang. Una, sira ang (LCD screen ko. It's so hard for me to text kahit all caps. At pangalawa, may request ka (ako 'un)."

Nelson

Sa ospital. Pinagdala siya ng stool at urine sample. Inilabas ni Nels ang mga samples sa harap ng nurse. Sabi ng nurse: "Sir, sa inyo po ba 'yan?" Sagot ni Nelson? "Hindi sa tatay ko!"

J.T.

Sa Bataan pauwi na kami ng biglang tumawag ang desk. "Uy, puntahan n'yo yung Superferry 14. Narinig namin sa radyo na may naglu-loot na raw." Kagigising ko lang so sabi ko. "Huh? Malayo naman sa pampang 'yun. Totoo ba 'yang radio report na 'yan? O sige bahala na."

Natulog ako.

Pagkagising ko, marami na ang missed calls. Sinagot ko na ang sumunod na tawag. "San na kayo?" tanong ng desk. "Pampanga, pauwi na ako."

Heheheheh.

Looking back however, I know it's wrong. It's a lapse in judgment. I am sorry. I take full responsibility. Hehehehe.

Ruth

Sa office, inaway ni Caballi ang computer. Lumipat kasi siya ng AVSTAR. So sa nilipatan nyang PC, tinangka niyang galawin ang kanyang istorya sa AVSTAR. "Can't edit story. Locked by Ruth." Na-imbyerna si Ruth. "Hello?! Ruth? E, ako nga si Ruth!!!!!"

Hay. Walang malay ang computer.

TRO

It's a Friday and I was expecting to unwind. This morning, in fact, I was on a weekend mode: woke up late, soundtripped, smoked 30 minutes before my official time-in.

The day looked promising, I had one story but it was fairly easy to write. I was excited. On my mind were three things: beer, beer, and beer.

Until ...

the Supreme Court issued a temporary restraining order on the implementation of the expanded value-added tax (R.A. 9337). It came out around 6:30 p.m. and it meant only one thing: I'd be stuck in the office.

SAKSI will have it as its take one (the equivalent of a frontpage banner story in print). So right now, I'm trying to understand the petitioners' positions for inclusion in my report. Beer, would have to wait for a while, unfortunately.

Effectively, the gods of Padre Faura, has indirectly issued a T.R.O. on my Friday night.

Hay.