the best of 'em all

it's official: roger federer is the greatest tennis player at the moment with 15 grandslam titles neatly tucked under his belt. this after he won his sixth wimbledon crown in an epic battle with andy roddick. the 4hour 16minutes play and 5-7, 7-6(8-6), 7-7(7-5), 3-6 and 16-14 score was dizzying. i bet both players were drained down to the last drop of their body fluids they'd need some serious redhydration after the game.

.

i caught the last few minutes of the action when they were battling out the tie breaker of the 5th set. and even if andy is also a favorite, i was really praying that roger win it. coz to andy, it'd be just another win. a lot of trophies are still waiting for him. but for roger, it's not just for the win, but most importantly for the books.

.

and when the unassuming swiss finally hit the matchpoint, i cheered with delight knowing that one of the most respectable and talented players got what he finally deserved.

.

sampras, my favorite and the greatest of recent past, was in the gallery to watch the momentous occassion. i'm sure he felt a bit disappointed when finally his record of 14 titles was overshadowed by roger's win. but knowing how genuinely nice pete is, i'm sure he's also happy to see roger achieve such huge honor.

.

congrats roger. cheers from me and the rest of dantespeaks gang.
.

(as if naligaw naman at nag-basa si roger ng blog ko! hahaha!.)

no. 14 : spendthrift

The other day, may nakasabay akong dalawang kakilala sa bilihan ng isda. What caught my attention was the fact na naghati pa sila sa 10SR na bayaran for 1kg of fish. Samantalang ako na nag-iisa eh 3kg ang binili. ‘Ipi-freezer ko’ sabi ko dahil tiningnan ako na parang gusto akong tanungin kung bakit para akong nag-panic-buying.

A few days before, may dalawang kakilala rin akong narinig na nagdi-diskusyon sa pambili ng tubig (mineral water). And they’re talking of what, 4 or 5SR?. Parang gusto ko na silang bigyan ng 5SR para lang matapos na ang diskusyon. Pero napahiya ako sa sarili ko.

Naisip ko kasi, siguro sa akin no big deal ang ganon dahil natural akong gastador. Pero sa kanila, they seem to understand the value of money. Obviously, better than I do. And that’s something I know I have to work on.

One of the weaknesses kasi that I have is handling money. When it comes to managing my finances, lalo na ang pagtitipid, I’m still one big work in progress.

Ako kasi yong taong may problema sa interpretasyon sa pera. Para sa akin, money is just one piece of overly decorated paper pag nasa wallet ko lang sya. It only comes to life, glowing with so much power pag iaabot ko na sya sa shopkeeper in exchange for whatever I’m paying for. That’s why I have this propensity towards buying. Whether it’s something that I really need or something that I simply want.

Kaya siguro hindi ako pinanganak na mayaman. Coz if I were, lalo sigurong wala akong respect sa pera. Eh ngayon nga na pinaghihirapan ko syang kitain, ganon na lang ako makagastos. How much more kung basta ko na lang minana from rich parents. Everytime siguro na papasok ako ng isang mall eh para akong huramentadong kaliwa’t kanan ang lipad ng cash at credit cards.

Coz I love money the way most of the rich and famous do. Dahil marami silang pera, they enjoy the finer things in life. And I want to live La Dolce Vita too. Have a nice house, a flashy car (a fleet wouldn’t be bad), leisure trips to the Carribean and the Swiss Alps, designer clothes, and probably a 150-ft yacht. Eh kaso hindi kaya ng kakarampot kong sweldo. Kaya ding! ding! Reality check muna.

I know I have to enjoy the fruits of my labor but I know I have to save for the rainy days as well. And start a retirement fund kahit matagal pa naman yon. That’s why I’m trying to find ways on how to control my urge na gumastos. Kaya madalas hindi na rin ako naglalalabas ng bahay. Hindi kasi uso sa akin eversince ang window shopping. Wala man akong balak bilhin pag lumalabas ako, pag-uwi ko ng bahay siguradong may bitbit ako. Again, be it something that I need or simply want.

Kaya pinag-aaralan ko na talagang mag-tipid. And the very first monster that I have to deal with is my taste. I have to tone it down. Hirap kasi ng pasosyal wala namang karapatan. Kaya bawas muna sa mga expensive perfumes. May nadala naman akong ilang bote ng Afficionado nong bumalik ako from vacation, okey na yon. Tigil na muna ng pagpapalit ng laptop pag may nagustuhan. At wala na munang expensive dinners sa classy restaurants. Kaya tinuturuan ko na ang sarili kong kumain sa Al-Bahar kahit pa sabihin ni Raoul na hampas-lupa ako. Hindi pwedeng puro Applebees at Sizzler. Si Ega lang ang nakakagawa non.

Mahirap ang buhay. Wala nang OT. At ang recession baka hindi pa matapos this year. So I have to tighten my belt once in a while. Kung kelan pa naman naging 32 tong bewang na to. Hmmpttt!

lowe beton

my friend cesar forwarded this to me via mail, looks like a grab from giselle's blog. though i didn't have the time to look for her site, i'm sharing this one with you. katuwa. tawa ako ng tawa while reading. i just hope that the ofw part is true.

.

Ang Pekeng LV (Louis Vuitton) ni Giselle Sanchez
.
Fourteen years ago, I was also in the same place, but I was not smiling like this. The Spanish Steps is a very popular place, especially to tourists and Europe ’s Rich and Famous, because this is where all the designer shops are located. Fourteen years ago, I was also invited to hold a comedy concert for the Filipinos in Rome through a group of Batangeño producers.

.

Pagkatapos ng concert ko, sumama ang sosyalita kong kaibigan na si Cutie del Mar sa akin para mag-bakpak at libutin ang buong Italya. Palibhasa, hindi ako sanay na isang bakpak lang ang dadalhin ko para sa isang linggong paglilibot. ‘Di ko yata kayang magsuot ng parehong Tshirt sa loob ng tatlong araw. YUCK! Ang baho na nun ng over! Kaya dinala ko ang isang Louis Vuitton na hand carry. Pero, ito ay isang Louis Vuitton na peke, japeyks, class triple-A, galing Greenhills.

.

Alam ko na mali ang bumili at gumamit ng peke pero sana maintindihan ninyo ako. Fourteen years ago, nag-uumpisa pa lang ang career ko. Kapiranggot lang ang kinikita ko at nagandahan lang ako dun sa maleta kaya binili ko. Wala pa akong malay sa brands noon. Kaya ganito na lang ang pagkukutya ng kaibigan ko sa akin.

.

Cutie: Oh my god! Is that a fake… I see!

Giselle: Sorry, hindi ako anak ng Congressman tulad mo!

Cutie: Giselle, ano ka ba! Giselle Sanchez ka na! You can’t be seen with a fake! You already perform for the rich and famous not only in the Philipp ine s but all over the world! When In Rome , do as the Romans do! Halika, punta tayo sa Louis Vuitton diyan sa Spanish Steps and buy yourself an original!

.

Ang bilis lumakad ng sosyalera, wala ako choice kundi sumunod kahit wala akong planong bumili. Plano ko lang tumingin at bilhin yung usong model sa Greenhills uli. O.A. kaya ang presyo ng Louis Vuitton bags. The cheapest, smallest bag will cost you P25, 000. Regular bags range from P35, 000-90, 0000. And the big and real nice ones cost P125, 000-P180, 000. Sa pinakamurang bag, mapapakain ko na ang pamilya ko nang limang linggo. At sa pinakamahal na bag ay mapapa-aral ko na ang kapatid ko ng college! Ako pa naman ang breadwinner ng pamilya.. Why would I waste my money with such over priced bags?

.

Eto na, pumasok na kami sa napakarangyang Louis Vuitton Shop. Siyempre, hindi ko naman maiwan yung peke kong maleta sa labas, so sama si japeyks sa loob. At pagkakita ng mahaderang manager sa bag ko, bigla akong nilapitan, inikutan at tinignan mula ulo hanggang paa.

.

LV manager: Excuse me, but what is your Nationality? Giselle: I’m Fil…(hindi pa nga tapos)

LV manager: (whispering but loud enough for me and Cutie to hear) I knew it! You Filipina maids come in here to copy our designs. Get out of my store!

Giselle: Excuse me! I am not a maid! I am an actress and I came here in Italy to perform for these “maids” you were referring to. And don’t you ever call them that! They are called Overseas Filipino Workers. Do not look down on our OFWs because they have dignity in labor. Do you work on commission, what’s your most expensive here?

LV Manager: (Points to this type of a cabinet where the bags are displayed). This one! It cost ___ million lira. (Nakalimutan ko na yung value, basta million-million kasi lira yung currency. Basta halaga ng tatlong buhay ko.)

Giselle: Ganun! What’s your second most expensive?

LV Manager: (Points to a luggage na kapalit ang dalawang buhay ko)

Giselle: Forget it! You! (pointing to a cute salesman in the counter) I will not buy from you, Mr. Manager. I will buy from him so he can take the commission! I’ll buy this, that, this, that, and this! It’s too bad I’m not an overseas Filipino worker because they can buy more than what I can!

.

So what is the price of dignity? P500, 000.00—maxed on my credit card; paid slowly for three years; with my mom screaming on my ears every now and then.

.

In fairness to these overpriced bags, they are very durable. I started using them fourteen years ago and I still use them up to now! People think I’m so classy using coordinated Louis Vuitton handbags, make-up kit, and shoe bags. Little do they know that Giselle became classy because of her being crassy. Moral of the story, kung di niyo kaya, huwag mang gaya at baka mapahiya. I never realized that paying for your sins can be quite expensive! Di bale, basta mapagtanggol ang dangal ng minamahal kong Overseas Filipino Workers! Mabuhay kayo…kahit mamatay na ako sa utang!

.

there goes the king

So most of the world is mourning from the sudden death of Michael Jackson, the King of Pop. Children and teenagers might not know who this king is but to most baby boomer gen like you and me, he’s the one who shaped the pop culture of the 70’s.

I – or we- grew up to the tune of his billie jean, dangerous, thriller and many other of his upbeat tunes. At one point in my geeky young life, I also tried once to imitate his moonwalk but soon realized i’m destined not for the spotlight but for other more mundane endeavors.

What’s more endearing to me though are his slower songs like ben when he was still a cute, black 10-year old boy and the later heal the world and man in the mirror when he’s already on his way to being a white, zombie-like creature.

And that’s where I’ve fallen off the MJ fan wagon. I just thought he was spiraling down after being on top for the longest time. I watched with amusement, sometimes with disgust as papers and television splash ugly headlines about the once-golden boy of the entertainment industry.

.
The baby-dangling stunt in Germany, the sleepovers with young boys, the court trials for sexual abuse, the news of financial debts and as a whole, the disintegrating grandeur of his entire iconic persona. I just don’t believe it’s worth following someone who’s obviously on the path of self-destruction. Besides, I didn't find his crotch-grabbing dance move amusing.
.

But whatever scandal, intrigue, malicious rumors and accusations hurled against him, we can’t deny the fact that he’s one musical genius who has graced the surface of the earth. His name will forever be etched at the halls of the greatest, probably alongside John Lennon and Elvis Presley. Afterall, he still owns the record of biggest selling album of all time. 65 million copies. And nobody comes even close.
.

And oh yes, everybody will forever be thankful to MJ for making moonwalk possible anywhere, you don’t have to go to the moon to do it.
.

Rest in peace you MJ.

to forward or not

I’ve said it a long time ago – I hate chain mails. Nakaka-irita at nakakasayang ng oras. Specially those posing as religious messages, ranting about some bible verse and in the end will ask you to pass it on to 20 people or else. I never believe it one tiny bit kaya diretso sa deleted box ang mga ganyan. Wag nang ikalat. Sayang ang megabytes na nagagamit sa internet. At lalong sayang ang oras ng mga nag-bubukas at nagbabasa.

Haven’t these people realized na kung totoo yan matagal na dapat at marami nang natigok, minalas o nakalbo dahil tulad ko eh hindi rin pinasa yong mail at dinelete. Kung totoo yan, marami nang nabawas sa population ng mundo. Baka maya-maya may bumubulagta sa mga bahay natin or in our workplace kasi nag-delete ng chain mails. Anong sinabi ng AH1N1 kung nagkataon. These people should realize that they are doing their faith more harm than good.

Eniweys, iba naman ang mga natatanggap ko lately. This time, mga informative messages naman kuno. Tipong matter-of-fact at kung hindi ka lang mag-iisip ng mabuti eh baka paniwalaan mo agad. Pero dahil nga natural akong pasaway, hindi ako agad naniniwala and instead hold my judgment until it is verified and carried by some reliable sources.

I’ll share these message with you kasi baka meron kayong alam tungkol dito. Site, article or anything that can substantiate or dispel the claims in this mail. Para hindi naman tayo left in the dark. Share nyo rin dito para naman may added value ang DS!.

Here goes…

1. World bank says 1$ = 52 pesos. Lotto is rigged. Sabi don sa mail, isang insider daw from World Bank ang nagsabi na ang totoong palitan ng US$ to PhP ay 52 at hindi yong current rate na 47 or 48. Sabi daw, ginagatasan ng gobyernong Pinas ang mga OFW dahil mababa ang palit ng dolyares na kinikita natin sa pagta-trabaho sa abroad. Dahil paano naman daw magpi-peg sa ganong rate ang dolyares samantalang nagbagsakan nga ang economies all over the globe dahil sa recession. Even Singapore daw which is way richer than Pinas had to suffer the effects of the recession and lose value on their money. Tapos heto ang Pinas at parang hindi apektado.

Ang say ko dyan, may basehan yong idea. Oo nga naman, bakit hindi bumababa ang power ng Piso considering na hindi naman tayo mayaman na bansa. Although ang question ko lang, kung talagang insider sa World Bank ang source, why isn’t he making it to the headlines. Samantalang yong allegation lang nila ng irregularity sa bidding ng government projects, naging malaking issue. So, if this is true, why hide in anonymity? O baka hindi nga totoong insider sa World Bank ang source. Could be anybody who’s plainly disgusted over the current situation na nakikita nya sa gobyerno ng Pinas.

Kasi ang nakakatawa, World Bank ang topic nong mail tapos biglang segue sa PCSO Lotto. Palabas lang dawn g gobyerno yan. At ang totoo daw, it’s the two sons of Gloria na kumakabig ng milyones. Yon daw biggest jackpot ever won by two in Luzon, si Mikey at Datu daw actually ang kumabig non. The mail even explained kung paano pwedeng dayain yong combination ng winning numbers.

Ang say ko pa rin dyan, I’m inclined to believe the very logical explanation kung paano nadadaya ang live and televised draw. Parang totoo nga dahil sa isandaang taon na yata akong tumataya sa lottong yan, ni hindi pa ako naging milyonaryo.

2. Guyabano is the best cure for cancer. Sana kung issued by WHO o kaya ng USFDA yong article, madali akong maniniwala. Coz this is something beneficial to the human race kung totoo. Maraming makaka-afford ng cancer treatment kahit mahihirap. Ang problema daw, according to that mail, kaya daw hindi nailalabas ito commercially, dahil daw pino-protect ang interest ng mga drug companies. In short, pera pa rin ang pinag-uusapan.

Ang say ko dyan, remember Virgin Coconut Oil? Eh bakit hindi maka-break through sa international medical market? Either talagang controlled ng isang cartel ang medical market o talagang walang medically proven wonders yan. In the meantime, we’re left hanging on for dear life even if it means buying horribly expensive medications for our sickness.

3. Tsunami warning on July 22. Sabi don sa mail, dahil daw sa matatakpan ng moon ang sun on July 22 this year, magkakaroon daw ng movement ang mga tectonic plates kasi lalakas ang gravitational pull nong moon. That will cause earthquake daw and possibly a tsunami in the asia-pacific region. Sentro daw ang Japan at masasakop ang Pinas. The mail seem to be supported by scientific facts. May graphic presentation pang kasama with latitudes and longitudes making it appear so authentic.

Ang say ko dyan, remember the prediction ng isang Brazilian na magkakaroon daw ng killer quake sa Pinas last July 18 2008 (see posting entitled Madam Bola dtd July 20 2008)? Hindi kaya ganyan din yang email na yan na gusto lang manakot? And what’s with July anyway? Bakit laging may prediction pag ganitong month?

Nobody can ever predict what will happen. And even if it is supported by scientific facts, hypothesis pa rin yon, conclusion reached based on data. Kaya instead na mamatay tayo sa takot, let’s just pray na hindi mangyari. God is still on the steering wheel . And all we have to do is to trust Him.

Patay din pagdating sa akin ang mga mail na ito. I didn’t forward it dahil ayaw kong magkalat ng information na hindi naman verified. Afterall, I believe that the net should make us wiser. Not bigger fools. But like I said, kung may alam kayo to authenticate the claims of this mail, please do post it here. You’ll be doing DS friends a great favor.

sorcery, anime style

It's been a while since my last posting. Medyo naubusan ng topics to discuss kaya sencia na mga DS readers. But before you get impatient, here's a brand new one. It's about a film I saw last night, shown at Dubai One na ewan ko naman kung bakit super late nang ipalabas. It started around 12:30 midnight after the epic The Lord of the Rings. But I didn’t mind the wait and the puyat coz the film turned out to be what the plug promised.

*

Howl’s Moving Castle (Hauru no Ugoku Shiro) is a 2004 animation masterfully created by the Japanese director Hayao Miyazaki. It was translated into English by Pixar, released by Disney and went on to gross more than $200 million on it’s limited release across US, Canada, Australia and UK (accdg to Wikipedia). I’m not surprised dahil maganda talaga yong film. Sayang lang at hindi ito naipalabas sa Pinas.

*

It’s about wizards and witches, sorcery and love. And oh yes, it’s pambata. Pero enjoy na enjoy ako. Imagine naka-tutok ako sa tv at that unholy hour on a workday.

*

As the title says, the centerpiece of the film is the moving castle owned by the mysterious and very powerful wizard Howl. Nakaka-aliw sya dahil pag-bukas mo ng pinto, you can step out into different places depende kung saan nakaturo yong dial sa may pintuan. From the outside, it looks like a typical house along a typical street. But once it switches into the magical mode, ibang-iba ang itsura nya and it travels on its four legs to different places. Powered by Calcifer, a fire creature who had a pact with Howl.

*

Dito napunta si Sophie, a beautiful 18-year old hatmaker na na-cast under the spell of the Witch of Waste kaya tumanda ang hitsura. She only returns to her normal self pag gabi na. Pero pag araw, isa syang matandang halos kuba na. Kaya lumayas sya sa kanilang bahay at naging cleaning lady nong castle ni Howl.

*

Howl is actually a very good looking young man pero nagiging isang malaking ibon when he fights the demons of Suliman, the King’s head Sorceress. Then Howl and Sophie got to know each other, fell in love and fought a war that eventually broke the spells cast over Sophie and the other characters in the story.

*

The film is one fine example of the superb Japanese animation technology. And thanks to that technology, the creator’s out-of-this-world ideas were successfully interpreted into the screen resulting to a feast of visually entertaining scenes. As a whole, ibang-iba ito sa mga pelikula about sorcerers and witches na nakita natin from the western world’s Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings and my favorite Willow.

*

No wonder why it won several awards in various Japanese Anime festivals and was also nominated in the 78th Oscar awards for Best Animated Film. It’s a film that you’ll be glad to watch along with your kids. Coz you’ll enjoy it as much as they do.

*

thank you all!

yeeyy! dantespeaks just got it's 10,000th hits. after 20 months on-line, more than 200 posts, one big thank you is what i'd wanna say. thanks for visiting, posting your comments and just hanging out at times. hope you'll keep coming back and give me another one of this....