room mate from hell

Kung dati ang subject ko about bmw (bitching, moaning and whining) was focused on the job, let me discuss naman this time ang tungkol sa buhay outside of work. Particularly yong tungkol sa pagsi-share ng living accommodations sa mga kababayan, kaibigan or ka-kompanya natin. Dito, marami ring bmw ang nangyayari.

Dahil pag magkasama kayo sa iisang bahay, kahit pa sabihing magka-kumpanya kayo, old acquaintances, magkapitbahay sa pinas or kahit pa relatives kayo, doon lalabas ang mga tunay ninyong ugali. Mga individual differences on tastes, ways and habits na pag hindi napag-kasunduan ay nagiging umpisa ng tampuhan, disagreement at pag lumala pa eh away ang pinupuntahan.

Mas madaling mag-surface ang disagreement kung magka-kwarto. Kasi dito, talagang detalye ang pinag-uusapan. Magnified bawat kilos nyo kasi madalas, too close for comfort ang distansya nyo.

I had this experience noong 2001, bagong dating ako sa isang kumpanya sa Al-Khobar. And as usual, sa company housing ka muna hangga’t hindi natatapos ang 3-month probationary period. Entitled ako to have my own room pero ang kasabay kong dumating, nakiusap na maki-kwarto sa akin. Feeling close na kahit sa airport lang naman kami nagka-kilala. Um-okey naman ako. Ang siste, room mate pala sya from hell.

Kainitan ng summer, nagigising ako sa gabi na pinagpa-pawisan ako. Pinapatay pala ang aircon kasi daw tumatama sa ulo nya at sinisipon sya! Eh bakit hindi ka na lang mag-iba ng pwesto para hindi tinatamaan ang ulo mo!

Common na dito na carpeted ang room and everybody knows that carpet loves dust. Ang room mate ko from hell, hindi marunong mag-hubad/palit ng footwear pagpasok ng kwarto. Kung saan man sya galing, ke sa cr o sa kalsada, diretso ang tsinelas nya hanggang sa loob! Tapos magre-reklamo kang sinisipon ka dahil sa alikabok! Eh ayaw mo namang mag-vacuum. Sasabihin mong hindi ka marunong kahit ilang beses na kitang tinuruan! Grrr!

Ako ang taong hindi madaling gumawa ng tulog. Kaya pag nakagawa ako ng tulog at nabulabog, mahirap na akong makatulog ulit. Pero itong room mate ko from hell, walang pakundangan kung mag-cell phone. Kadalasan, magri-ring ang cp nya ng 4am. Full volume pa. Parents pala nya yong tumatawag kaya magsusumbong na ng kung ano-ano at minsan may iyak pang kasama. Bakit kako ang aga naman ng tawag. Kasi daw 9am na kaya tumatawag na ang mom/dad nya! Eh 9am sa pinas yon, di sabihin mong naghihilik pa ang mga tao sa saudi!

Sa umpisa, ini-ignore ko lang. Pinag-bigyan ko kasi tingin ko nag-a-adjust sa buhay na malayo sa pamilya. First-timer kasi sa Saudi. And besides, either mukhang mama’s boy o may pagka-spoiled kaya hindi pa masyadong responsible sa sarili. At kulang pa ng inter-personal skills. Parang may sariling mundo kasi.

But as days went on, hindi ko na rin natiis kaya kinausap ko na sya. Inisa-isa ko ang mga bagay na directly nakaka-apekto sa akin being his roommate. With all the diplomacy I could muster, nag-suggest ako ng mga pwedeng gawin namin para ma-solve ang problema.

Pero sumpa nga mga patron ng katinuan, totoo pala ang hinala ko. Overgrown child nga pala talaga sya! Nag-ngangawa at inaway pa ako dahil hindi ko raw sya maintindihan. Home sick daw sya tapos inaaway ko pa sya! Mea culpa! Grrrrrr!!!

Eh hindi ko pa nga sinasabing:

- Magpalit ka naman please ng bedsheet/kumot/punda dahil amoy tao na yong hangin na sinasagap at ibinubuga ng aircon! Ayaw mo naman ng air freshener kasi nga sinisipon ka kamo!
- Bumili ka na lang ng lamp shade kung ayaw mong matulog ng walang ilaw!
- Alam mo, pagod na ako kakahugas ng plato/baso/sandok/kalderong iniiwan mo lang sa lababo matapos mong gamitin
- Tsaka, may kasama ka bang mud-wrestlers sa banyo pag nagsi-cr ka? Grrr!!!

But beyond the tempers and expletives na pinakawalan ko, either in front of him or kapag nagbi-bmw ako sa mga kaibigan ko, I’ve managed to calm down myself. Naisip ko, ito yong realisation of the fact na hindi lahat ng tao sa mundo ay kapareho ng ugali ko. At kaya ako nagagalit ay dahil ini-expect ko syang maging malinis at maayos sa bahay/kwarto. Na hindi naman nya ugali. Dahil iba ang personality nya.

Kaya instead na ubusin ko ang oras at panahon ko sa pakikipag-talo sa kanya, nag-hanap na lang ako ng bahay na pwede kong lipatan. Talo inis sabi nga. To think na ako ang may right sa room at hindi sya. Pero mas mabuti na yong umiwas na lang ako kesa mag-away kami araw-araw at lumala pa ang problema.

Looking back, maganda rin naman ang nangyari dahil may mga natutunan ako sa sarili ko. I realized na maiksi pa rin pala ang pasensya ko. Dapat dinagdagan ko pa ang pasensya ko sa kanya and upped my tolerance level a bit more. Naisip ko, dapat pinagtiyagaan ko syang turuan sa tamang ways sa bahay. I could have changed him to something better instead na inaway-away ko sya. He could have learned something from me na pwede nyang gamitin later on in his life. At hindi na sya matawag na room mate from hell. Ah, well!

sarap saya sa sea

It’s the start of summer and the adiks thought it’s the perfect time to go on a picnic. Kaya nag-outing kami sa Al-Bahar kahapon. Ega took on the responsibility and organized everything kasama na ang mag-abono sa mga expenses! Hehehe….

It was about 5pm when we hit the Al-Bahar picnic Area 4. Dami food including Raoul’s yummy kare-kare, Tito Bong’s sisig, Orgee’s beef adobo at syempre ang Ren and Romme’s grill – churning out delicious hotdogs, pusit and chicken. Kaya ang mga adik, hindi swimming ang inuna, kain muna!

At saka lang nag-swimming. I thought I was brave enough to join Ren, Tito Bong, Irwin, Eton, Matt, Ega, Ricky and Orgee who took a dip. Pero hanggang hita pa lang ang nababasa, I had to scamper back to the shore. Malamig pa rin ang tubig and the wind is a bit chilly. Kaya pala panay ang sigaw ni Orgee! Akala ko nakagat ng dikya ang curvaceous butt! Hehehe… At ang ibang nagsu-swimming, umahon na. Hindi tuloy umabot si Raoul eh pinag-hirapan pa namang hipan yong isang malaking salbabida! Hahaha…

With the swimming part cut short, nag-games na lang kami courtesy of Game Master Ricky. Riot ang first game (was it pinoy henyo, adik version?) where I failed miserably on two geographical challenges – Bataan at malay ko bang Malaysia yon! Talo tuloy kami ng team ni Raoul.

The second game was even wackier – (charades, again, adik version!) where we’ve seen a couple of adiks showing off their hidden talents – Ega his dancing skills and Eton his butt! Riot talaga at ang ingay siguro namin umaabot sa industrial area! This is the kind of fun na kahit anong gawin ng isang pathetic bystander eh wala kaming pakialam!

At about 8:30 pm, we left the area with most of the adiks saving my tuna and salami sandwiches for baon! Marami pa po yan, pwede pa for another picnic!

Anyways, here are a few unofficial shots. Galing lang po sa camera ko while Matt is still processing his shots. See how the adiks enjoyed it to the max!

from bees in apples to a chinese in the gulf

last wednesday, out of the blue, nagka-yayaang mag-dinner ang apat na adik sa applebees, the latest addition to the dining choices in jubail. actually, galing na ako doon with three friends the wednesday before. medyo hindi maganda ang experience ko having seen some ufo - unidentified floating objects - at the bottom of my iced tea.

though i don't wanna give up on the place easily kaya niyaya ko ulit ang mga adik and as i said to the kabayang waiter, i'm giving them a second chance.


but it looks like it will not rank as one of my faves dito sa jubail. kahit si kabayan was just too eager na makabawi sa negative impression ko during my first visit, there were other small things that just doesn't fit my criteria of a favorite dining place.


idagdag pa yong hindi magandang narinig ng grupo while we're being ushered in. hmmm... matatagalan na siguro akong bumalik dito. unless may ibang maglilibre sa akin! heheheh...

here's a few pics from that place anyway, by matt who fortunately has got his camera with him that day. buti na lang magaganda yong flowers sa harap ng panda...


kahapon naman, kasi sweldo, nag-treat na naman si ega. back to gulf royal chinese restaurant naman ang mga adik. na dahil maaga pa, ayan, nag-hintay sa labas ng restaurant na parang naghihintay sa pagbubukas ng audition ng american idol! inip na inip si raoul na hindi na natuloy ang pagpunta ng saco. on our way home, eton gave us a demo of his hidden talent! we were blown - literally! hahahaha!

OWWAwang OFW

Back in December, I posted somewhere here one reaction sa isang news report where an OWWA official made some stupid remarks while opposing the idea of giving special exchange rate to OFWs. Eto yong kainitan ng issue ng paghingi ng mga OFW ng tulong sa gobyerno dahil sa patuloy na pagbaba ng palitan ng dolyar.

Judging from the e-mails I received expressing their support and sympathy to what I wrote, I think it reached a large number of OFWs. Marami ang nag-email sa akin saying they share the same sentiment towards the situation.

I also sent it to the source of the news report – GMA Tv hoping that it would reach not only OFW’s but anybody in the government na may natitira pang awa at konsensiya para sa mga tulad nating nagpapaka-hirap magtrabaho sa ibang bansa. Kaya lang, pagkatapos kong ma-send yong mail ko, I never had the time to check back and find out what happened to it. Nagbakasyon kasi ako.

Ngayon ko lang naalalang tingnan yong GMA site and I was pleased to find out that my mail was published along with feedback from other angry OFW’s na iba-iba man ang ginamit na salita, iisa pa rin ang pinupuntahan – disgust over the insensitive OWWA official who started the whole brouhaha. (see http://www.gmanews.tv/story/71343/OWWA-exec-rules-out-special-forex-rate-for-OFWs)

What made me check on that message is the latest news about OWWA-POEA officials who were found by COA to be stealing from our funds – something to the tune of 40 million pesos! At halos 800,000 pesos na ginamit para sa cell phone allowances.

Gusto ko ngayong balikan yong OWWA official na si Devanadera na nagsabi ng kung ano-anong ka-istupiduhan. Things like teaching our families to spend wisely tapos yon pala, nanakawin lang nila ang pondo natin para gamitin sa cell phone nila to download ringtones and games!

OWWA fund is said to have hit the $10billion mark. Dapat bantayan na natin ito dahil siguradong mapupunta na naman ito sa mga bulsa ng mga kurakot sa gobyerno natin. Ayan nga at nag-umpisa na sila. 40 million pesos stolen from us na wala tayong kalaban-laban. Samantalang maraming run-away abused OFW’s ang naghihintay ng repatriation sa mga consulate sa Saudi. Hindi raw maka-uwi dahil walang pang-bili ng ticket ang gobyerno! Yon pala ninanakaw lang ng mga masisibang buwaya!

Ang tanong ko ngayon, totoo kayang 40 million pesos pa lang ang nananakaw sa atin? Hindi kaya mas malaki pa, at bago pa natin mamalayan, totoo palang wala nang pondo ang OWWA dahil nakurakot na? Nasaan nga ba ang OWWA fund na ito? Is it safely tucked in some reputable financial institution in the country? Or is it already under an escrow account in the Cayman Islands under the name of several OWWA officials?

Sa tagal ko nang OFW and having paid so much that contributed to that fund, I’d prefer na ibalik na lang sa akin ang payments ko. Not in any kind – cash. Kesa mapunta sa bulsa ng mga walang puso, ganid at mga swapang na opisyales ng gobyerno.

the latest... and sizzling hottest

Past 1am na nang makatulog ako kagabi that’s why I feel a bit grumpy today. With just 5 hours of sleep, ayaw mag-work ng utak at katawan ko in unison. Blame it on the blogsite I picked up from one of the tabloids. Balak ko sanang usyusuhin lang kasi I was so intrigued why such a blog would have an average of 36,600 visits a day! That’s 1,500 hits per hour na halos 2 months hit ng blog ko no!

Well, visiting that site at 10:30pm turned out to be a huge mistake. Coz the posts and comments sucked me in completely and before I knew it, super late na. Eh regular workday pa naman. Ironically, I was reading up on people who doesn’t have to wake up early just to go to a day job. Maybe not many of them has a day job. And I can bet my life none of them has ever had the experience being an OFW. They’d probably cringe just hearing the word.

I’m talking about Brian Gorrell’s blog http://delfindjmontano.blogspot.com/ . Brian who? Well, he’s the HIV positive Australian who put up this blog basically to drum up attention (bad, that is) towards his Filipino lover, a certain DJ Montano, who, according to Brian, fleeced him of US70,000 (more than 3 million pesos!).

Ang kwento ni Brian, he and DJ were lovers and he was duped by DJ into financing a restaurant business somewhere in Makati. Kaya nahuthutan sya ng $70,000 dollars. However, lumabas na walang restaurant, nawala na rin yong pera. And now the poor Aussie is asking DJ to give him back his money which he need to sustain medication for his rather expensive illness.

But beyond the fights, fits, police arrests, crying and loads of drama, it is more than a story of gay lovers gone gruesome. Kasi si DJ – as pictured by Brian – was a social-climbing jerk, kaya ang pangalan ng mga kaibigan ni DJ na nasa high society were unnecessarily dragged into the melee.

Figuring prominently is Celine Lopez who is DJ’s best friend. Kasama sya sa mga himutok ni Brian for siding with DJ. Kaya may mga kwento rin si Brian plus pictures ni Celine putting her in a rather embarrassing situation. Damay-damay na dahil nasama na ang iba pang millionaires and socialites na mga kaibigan nila (Celine and DJ). Collectively, they are tagged “Gucci Gang” na dahil jologs naman ako at hindi ‘belong’ to the crème de la crème of Manila’s finest, iilang names lang familiar sa akin like Amanda Griffin and Tim Yap. Miachael Crespo is vaguely familiar.

And although Brian’s intention was to humiliate DJ to get his money back, umanak na ng umanak yong issue. Pag may nagpo-post at nabanggit ang isang pangalan na porke kaibigan ni Celine o kaiban ng kaibigan ni Celine, ayun na, umaatikabong dissing na ang ginagawa (I don’t really know kung mga sosyal nga ang nagpo-post kasi ang spelling ng iba ay dishing! Duh!).

So it turned out na kaya hit yong blog, for two main reasons.

First is the usual Pinoy notion of pakikiramay dahil lumabas nga na agrabyado si Brian. No matter how unverified his story is, ang mga kababayan natin are more than just willing to hug him and lend a comforting word or two. Readily disowning, lambasting and heckling DJ na galing daw sa isang prominenteng pamilya in Cavite.

The second, and most controversial reason why netizens flock to the site (mind you, karamihan talaga Pinoy ang visitors), is the fact that it offered a venue where our kababayans, lalo na yong mga tulad kong intrigued sa lifestyle of the rich and famous, get juicy bits of nasty rumors tungkol sa mga taong ito courtesy of people who are supposedly in the know. Ito yong mga chismis na hindi pwedeng i-print ng kahit anong lifestyle magazine or else they will end up with multiple libel cases.

Along with those nasty rumors is the chance for our kababayans, ke jologs din silang tulad ko or talagang mga elite din, the chance to bash these socialites freely, and most importantly, anonymously.

Eto na yong opportunity to get back on these self-aggrandizing creatures who must have stepped on their toes while dancing wildly at The Embassy. O yong mga nag-taas ng kilay at umisnab sa kanila nang magkasalubong sila sa Power Plant. Or those brandishing their Louis Vuitton bags in front of somebody na can’t afford bumili kaya lumuluwa ang mata sa inggit.

And get back they did! Ayan at umuulan ng mga kwento na si ganito eh cocaine junkie, si ganitong asawa ni ganito eh bading who will do anything just for a gram of coke or a pill of ecstasy. Mga kwento at accusations na ke totoo o hindi are sure to cause sleepless nights for the names mentioned. Explosive anecdotes that can shatter someone’s reputation and destroy his/her social status.

While browsing through the comments, I realized one thing. Malalim na ang galit ng mga Pinoy sa mga mayayaman. Specially to these breed of young millionaires who are enjoying la dolce vita amidst the poverty that’s killing their fellow countrymen. The social divide can no longer be ignored. It is a reality waiting to explode right into the faces of those in both sides of the ever-widening gap.

Magpo-post sana ako ng comment just to commiserate with Bryan kung totoo nga na naloko sya. But then I had second thought. Baka hindi commiseration ang gawin ko. Pagagalitan ko pa sya kasi nagpa-uto sya ng ganon-ganon lang. Hindi na sya minor at hindi naman siya illiterate to have trusted someone with that amount of money. Or siguro, talaga lang trusting soul sya. And that trusting has now led him into the pits.

Kung totoo ito, dagdag kahihiyan na naman sa atin. Kahit lesser evil ang embezzlement compared to graft and corruption, magkaka-mag-anak pa rin yon. Iisa pa rin ang ibig sabihin, na tayo ay mga pusakal, dupang at gahaman pag pera ang pag-uusapan. Boy, what a reputation we are making at the international scene, really.

As for the socialite-bashing, well, I really don’t care. Kung may kakilala lang siguro ako sa mga name na sinasabi nila, makiki-join ako. Mudslinging at it’s finest, saan ka pa! Kaya lang I was looking for one name na sabi kamag-anak ni Elvira Manahan, hindi ko naman nakita! Pasalamat ka Orgee! Hahaahahah!!!

what i believe in... or don't

I have a previous posting somewhere in this blog that deals with the story of the crucifixion as presented by a BBC documentary program. It basically said that in all practicality, Jesus wouldn’t have been nailed to the cross the way it was depicted in images widely used by the Christian populace.

The argument is that if Jesus indeed took the form of a normal person, then his weight will not allow him to stay suspended in that position for an extended period of time in the cross as the Christians were led to believe.

I wouldn’t want to sound blasphemous nor sacrilegious, but let me say I have the slightest tendency to somehow agree with that documentary. Maybe because I have been analyzing and probing things about my belief since the time I’ve started relying on my own discernment.

You see, I’m a Roman Catholic by birth. But I’ve been exposed to several other faiths while growing up. And even if I chose to remain a Catholic, these exposures allowed me to question things, find reason, and in the end, come up with ideas that I would rather believe in instead of blindly swallowing what has been shoved down my throat since my grade school catechism classes.

I kept an open mind on teachings that offer better explanation of things that are unclear to me. Or ideas that offer answers to question that were rather left to mere faith and thus, unresolved.

That is why I’m not a great fan of the crucifix and religious figures. If these figures represent holiness to most Christians, to me, it represents an outright disregard of what the Holy Bible said. I’m not sure what book, verse or chapter it was but I know for a fact that somewhere in the Old Testament, God said He is a very jealous God and He is not happy to see people worship idols and figures. That is why he destroyed what the Israelites were worshipping while waiting for Moses who came back with the Ten Commandments.

That is why I don’t understand why the church came up with photographic renditions, paintings and sculptures of saints and hundreds of other figures that devotees kiss, touch and worship. I’ve read the scripture in just a few occasions. But I clearly remember not seeing in any page that we should be worshipping anything or anybody else but God.

Also, I’m not a firm believer of memorized prayers. I can recite only a couple of them because they were mandatory morning prayers while I was in my grade school. And I admit I just mumbled through most of them. Coz I never felt any sincerity in whatever I was muttering. It’s because it was something memorized. Nothing any different from The Daffodils or the Invictus or the patriotic pledge of allegiance during flag raising ceremonies.

Whenever I pray, I communicate with my own words. I don’t go through kilometric preludes. I just say it simple and straight. But with all the sincerity, honesty and faith coming from my heart. Afterall, in all His omnipotence, He will see what’s in your heart even if you don’t speak. So to me, reciting these prayers, not once, but over and over and over is not just a waste of your time. You’re also insulting God and His intelligence by mumbling words you don’t even feel in your heart.

I also don’t subscribe to the idea of the Holy Trinity. I don’t exactly know where it came from. Maybe it was from the Bible but I don’t recall having read this as well. The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit? Again, there’s some great conflict here. Why would I bow my head to the Prince and the Magistrate if the King demands sole, undivided loyalty and devotion?

And these are just major beliefs I have trouble believing in. I wouldn’t go into details of stories we’ve been told like that of Jesus’ birth and death. Otherwise, you’ll end up calling me a radical. Or a bad seed.

Call me what you want. But as far as I am concerned, I am a thinking Christian. I believe in something that, to me, is right. Afterall, faith is one of the most subjective matters in this world. And I know you would agree with me when I say that every faith, religious sect or order claims they are the true and right religion. In short, everybody would believe what they want to believe in. And that’s exactly what I’m doing.

Having said that, I’m still a Christian and I believe Jesus came into this earth with a purpose. And if that is to remind us year after year that he suffered extreme pain and punishment just to save us from hell and condemnation, then let me wish you a blessed Lent. I just hope that we remember these days not only once a year. But in every day of our lives. Coz that’s what we should really be doing if we call ourselves Good Christians.

need a laugh?

i've read about this in one tabloid the other day but i never really took notice. but when ega mentioned it again, it started to intrigue me so i decided to check it out. and sure enough, it made me holler... my housemate must be wondering why i was laughing out so loud - all by myself!!! here... enjoy miss ken lee!

welcome back, chairman

sunday saw the adiks, well, just a handful of us, back at the ribbons to welcome the chairman who just came back from a two-week vacation. sponsored by ega (again!), we had pepperoni pizza minus the pepperoni! here are some shots from matt who still works wonder even with his n73 cam phone....

anabel's diamonds, pacman redux

And so huminto na naman ang mundo ng mga Pinoy kahapon (or kanina, depending on which side of the globe you're in). Lahat siguro ng mga mata, ke singkit, duling, banlag, naka-salamin o naka-contact lenses ke plain o kulay orange, naka-tutok na naman sa Mandalay Arena sa Vegas. Coz Manny is at it again. Up on the ring (bakit nga ba ring ang tawag dito eh square naman sya? Hmmm?) and doing his thing again.

Funny how this diminutive, rather ordinary looking guy has become such a gigantic figure in the sporting scene. Such a giant that in a stretch of his rather short arms to deliver a blow to his opponent, eh hindi lang yong panga ng kalaban nya ang tinatamaan. It also delivers a blow that wipes out boundaries and tear down divisions – at least for a moment.

O di ba at nag-declare pa ng ceasefire ang Philippine Government against it’s fight with the leftist group. Both the military and the insurgents wouldn’t dare miss his fight. Break muna sa barilan at pugutan ng ulo. Let’s enjoy Pacman muna. Have a break, have a Pacman (sounds familiar ba!).

Kahit mga holdaper, mandurukot, bank robbers and all the other petty offenders, nag-day off. They’d rather watch their idol on tv kesa rumaket sa lansangan ng Metro Manila. Ayan at for the second time eh nag-declare ang mga kapulisan na zero daw ang record books nila for street crimes in the metropolis. Hindi ko lang alam kung talagang walang nandukot o nangholdap. O nakatutok lahat ng pulis sa tv kaya hindi nakita ang mga nangyayari sa kalye.

Even Gloria who should be thinking of ways how to get herself out of the quagmire she’s currently in, ayun at talagang pinanood daw yong 12 rounds. Sa akin, palibhasa wala akong hilig sa boxing, that would be a total waste of 2 or 3 hours of my life. Afterall, ang importante lang sa akin eh malaman kung nanalo sya o natalo.

But of course a bigger number of the 86++ million Pinoys will disagree with me. Baka nga batukan pa ako dahil hindi ako nakiki-simpatya, cooperate and lend support to the Pambansang kamao. Parang KJ ako to the max coz I don’t share the frenzy of support the Pacman is being accorded.

Ayan nga at ang mga mapeperang pulitiko, negosyante at lalo ang mga artista, they all flew in droves to Vegas. To lend support daw to Manny. Pero sa totoo lang, gusto lang makita ang mga mukha nila on world-wide tv. Aba, HBO nga naman yon noh, something that they will never be able to do, kahit artista pa sila. So mas mabuti nang sumabit sa laban ni Pacman and get some exposure. Kahit split seconds lang.

What’s funny though, is what I read in Pilipino Star Ngayon na yon palang mga artistang nagpupunta sa laban ni Pacman, si Pacman ang nagbabayad ng mga plane tickets nila. Hindi lang nabanggit kung pati hotel kasama. But I was so appalled dahil all the while, akala ko mayayaman itong mga ito at patriotic yong reason nila for being there. To support Manny. Yon pala, libre ang tiket nila. Siguro hindi lahat huh. Pero Anabel Rama? Why would you buy a plane ticket for Anabel Rama eh mas malalaki pa nga ang diamonds nyan kesa sa mga flood lights ng Vegas strip!

But more than that, ang tanong ko, bakit parang inilalagay ng mga Pinoy sa balikat ni Pacman ang pag-asa ng Pilipinas? Parang nawawala sa tamang perspective ang mga bagay-bagay? Like politics. And priorities of the nation. Bakit nakahinto lahat dahil kay Manny? Are we saying that as of now, dahil sa kawalan natin ng pag-asa sa mga pulitiko, and some, even sa catholic church, si Manny na lang ang natitirang ray of hope natin to achieve something glorious and ecstatic?

Ganon na ba ka-desperate ang sitwasyon ng mga Pinoy?

Siguro nga. Dahil wala na tayong makitang matinong politicians that we can truly admire and respect. Siguro nga dahil kahit mga bishops ngayon ay tinatawag nang ugok ng isa pa namang supposedly high-ranking public servant. Siguro nga dahil kahit ang dapat na tinatawag nating Ina ng masang Pilipino ay nababalot ng kaliwa’t kanang akusasyon ng pangungurakot, katiwalian at pagnanakaw sa kaban ng yaman ng namamatay na sa gutom at hirap na si Juan dela Cruz.

I've always declared na hindi ako kabilang sa statistics ng Pacman fans. Pero hindi man ako fan ni Manny, I always thank him for his win. Particularly this one. Hindi dahil nagbigay sya ng karangalan sa Pilipinas. Winning a boxing match happens not only in a blue moon. Maraming nananalo nyan. In any corner of the world. In any title na pinag-lalabanan. A boxing championship belt is no longer a rare find.

Pero ang epekto ng panalo ni Manny sa masang Pilipino, that’s what I’m thankful for. Dahil binigyan nya ng rason ang mga Pinoy to celebrate and forget whatever gigantic problem the country is facing. Kahit 3 or 4 hours lang, it was such a relief sa bugbog-sarado nang utak, katawan at buhay ng mga Pinoy.

At least, sa 3 or 4 hours na yon, nakalimutan nila ang init ng araw na kailangang tiisin para anihin ang palay sa kalinangan. Sa maiksing oras na yon, marami ang nakalimutan ang baho ng basurang kailangan nilang halukayin para makakita ng pagkaka-kitaan. At sa maiksing oras na yon, marami ang nabingi sa pag-kalam ng sikmura nilang hindi na nasasayaran ng pagkain ng tatlong araw. Ang importante, lumalaban si Pacquiao. At bonus pa na nanalo sya.

Such a joyous occasion all Pinoys should be proud of. Eh paano kung natalo?

ingat lang kabayan

May e-mail na namang umikot today relating a couple of incidents tungkol sa safety ng mga expats dito. Apparently, marami nang crimes sa paligid committed by locals sa mga tulad nating dayuhan.

Then na-alala ko, meron nga pala akong inumpisahang article. Eto tinapos ko para ma-share ko sa inyo. Small things that I do para mag-ingat. Mainly on serious risks na pwede nating makuha sa labas. Para makaiwas tayo mga bugbog o hodap, much more ang tuluyan kang mapahamak.

If you’ve got anything to add, by all means, please do. Malay mo makatulong.

1. Ito ang pinaka-importante: iwasan maglaboy mag-isa. Hindi naman ako empleyado ng Census o kaya AGB Nielsen para kumalat-kalat ng walang kawawaan sa kalye. Kaya hindi ako lumalabas ng bahay kung hindi kailangan. Lalo na kung gabi. Kung meron akong pupuntahan, as much as possible, kailangan may kasama ako. Kung wala naman akong kasama, pinapa-alam ko sa kasama ko sa bahay kung saan ako pupunta, at kung pwede, kung anong oras ang expected kong balik. Basta’t kung hindi rin lang importante ang lakad, asahan mong naka-kulong lang ako sa bahay. Mas enjoy akong manood ng tv, mag-babad online, kumain at, ang bes op da bes – matulog. Kung sawa na ako, andyan naman ang paglilinis, laba, plantsa o magsulat ng articles para sa blog ko (obvious ba sa dami ng posting ko!).

2. Hindi rin ako model ng Levis kaya hindi ako naglalagay ng wallet sa aking back pocket. Bukod sa nasisira ang iqama at mga credit cards, nakarinig na ako from a friend na na-hablot ang wallet nya. Habulang umaatikabo dahil ang tumira, mga kabataan na member siguro ng relay team kasi si wallet, pinagpasa-pasahan habang tumatakbo. Pero kung talagang feeling mo eh wala kang pwet pag hindi don nakalagay ang wallet mo, at least ingatan mo na lang. Huwag mong hayaang naka-dungaw at nag-he-hello sa malilikot na kamay.

3. So saan nakalagay ang aking wallet, cp at kung ano pa? Sa isang bag na nakasukbit sa left shoulder ko crossing towards my right side. Yong sukbit na parang grade 1 para hindi madaling agawin. Tapos SOP pa na hawak ko ang strap kung wala din lang akong bitbit. In fact, mabuti at ganito ang naging ugali ko. Dahil minsang naglalakad ako, nagulat ako kasi may humatak ng strap galing sa likod ko. Yong tipong hablot na kung hindi ko hawak ang strap, dala ang bag ko. Bata din na naka-bike. Buti hindi nagtagumpay ang buhong. Kung hindi, magpapa-ikot din ako ng e-mail with matching appeal for my iqama!

4. Para naman akong model ng Orbit dahil meron akong satellites na umiikot sa likuran ko anytime na naglalakad ako sa labas. Kaya malawak ang peripheral vision ko. In short, lagi akong alerto. Matalas ang pakiramdam. Lalo kung may nasa likod ako o sumasabay na maglakad. Pati mga sasakyan, pinakikiramdaman ko lalo na kung bumabagal ng takbo. Ganon ako ka-praning. At pag may kasalubong naman akong naglalakad, malayo pa lang, tinatantiya ko agad ang kilos. Kung mukhang balasubas, iiwas ako para hindi ko siya makasalubong. Umiiwas din ako sa mga tambay na kabataan. Malayo pa lang, umiiba na ako ng daan. Yan kasi ang mga loko. Hindi ka man holdapin, bigla ka namang hahampasin o babatuhin ng kung ano.

5. Kung tatawid ako, hindi ako gumigilid ng husto sa edge ng rampa. White Lady lang ang hindi takot na mahagip ng sasakyan no. At kung nasa island ako, don ako sa bandang gitna nag-aantay hanggang makatawid ako. Medyo malayo para hindi ako mahagip na kung sino mang baliw. May mga narinig na kasi akong hinampas ng tubo o kaya sinabuyan ng tubig ng dumadaang kotse. Yong mga tipong sabog na nag-trip lang. Marami na rin dito non.

6. First floor lang ang tinitirhan ko kaya kung may susunod na baliw, madali akong masundan. Kaya bago ako humugot ng susi para buksan ang main door, lumilingon ako para masigurong walang halimaw sa likod ko. Marami na rin akong narinig na napasok ang bahay kasi nasundan, tinulak habang nagbubukas ng pinto. Kaya nalimas ang gamit ng walang kalaban-laban.

7. Hindi ako walking advertisement ng Nokia kaya hindi ko pinaparada ang cp ko sa kalsada kahit lumang model naman to. Kung nasa kalye ako at nag-ring sya, hahanap ako ng isang sulok o kaya papasok ako ng isang shop bago ko yon sagutin. Uso na dito ang snatching, mga bata lang na naka-bike, di mo na aaubtin ang cp mo. Kaya natatawa na lang ako sa ating mga kababayan na nakikipag-usap sa cp nila habang naglalakad sa kalye. Feeling VIP ba pag naka-cp silang naglalakad. Di ba!?

8. Marami na ngayon yong makakasalubong ka tapos aalukin ka ng relos o ng cp. O kaya may itatanong kuno o nagpapatulong. Hinding-hindi ako pumapatol dyan. Kung gusto kong bumili ng gamit, pupunta ako ng shops o mall pero hindi sa mga ganyan. Either maloko ka dahil akala mo nakamura ka eh peke naman pala yong nabili mo. At yong mga magpapatulong kuno, careful ka dyan kasi bigla kang itutulak sa kotse at dadalhin kung saan para ma-holdap. O ma-rape! May kakilala akong nakaranas na nito. (Katawa pa nga dahil lalaki sya pero pinag-hihipuan daw sya sa loob nong kotse!!! Bading ang mga goons??? Hahahaha!!)

9. Para din akong Martian na laging nakataas ang radar pag nag-e-ATM ako. Pag gumagawa na ako ng transaction at may pumasok, tinitingnan ko talaga ang mukha. Yong tinging may ibig sabihin. Double purpose yon. Una para mahitsurahan ko kung may gawin man sa aking masama. And secondly, kung walang intensyong masama, pinapa-alala ko lang sa kanya na hindi sya dapat pumapasok don habang may tao sa machine. Pwera na lang kung pila-balde at swelduhan. Yon talaga, blockbuster ang ATM pag ganong panahon kaya wag ka nang mag-reak.

10. Karugtong na rin ito nong number 1 ko. It’s about being alone. Hinding-hindi ako nagta-taxi mag-isa lalo na kung colorum. Di ba ang dami na dyang nasa mga kanto na illegal taxis. Sasakay lang ako sa ganyan kung meron akong kasama. Pero kung ako lang, tatawag na lang ako ng legal na taxi service. Mahal man ang bayad, sigurado naman (kahit paano) na hindi ako maho-holdap o kaya ay mari-rape at ibabaon sa disyerto.

In general, dapat lang na lagi tayong aware sa paligid natin lalo na kung nasa labas tayo. Kasi, kung matalas ang pakiramdam mo, madali kang makakapag-react. Kung panay ang emote mo, dyan ka madadale.

O, contribute na mga kabayan para naman makapag-ingat tayo.

whoa! how'd he do that???

a friend forwarded this... really cool!

more ribbons

yesterday we're back in ribbons, ayaw talagang paawat ng mga adik. this time, si ega naman ang sponsor. 3 large pizzas and cakes were just too much for the five of us (orgee, ega, matt, tito bong and me) kaya umuwi silang may bitbit na doggie bag. sino kayang nag-dinner kagabi ng pizza... hmm? eniweys, matt got his ultra hip and cool camera kaya heto ang mga shots... enjoy!

dream on, baby!!!

A friend forwarded an email today about Bill Gates finally being dehtroned as the world’s richest man. I looked it up quickly at the net and true enough, his 13-year reign has now ended according to the latest ranking released by Forbes.

What’s surprising is the fact that he was not disloged by just one guy. Dalawa ang tumalo sa kanya - Warren Buffet (fellow American) and Carlos Slim Helu (Mexican) – thus putting him in the 3rd spot.

From ranks 1 to 3, tigtu-2 billion US$ lang ang gap nila. Warren is at $62 billion, Carlos at 60 and Bill at 58. Masyadong malapit ito and I think it wouldn’t take long and we’ll see another shuffling of the top 3. Malayo naman ang gap ni Bill sa number 4 na si Laksmi Mittal who used to be the only Indian and a regular fixture sa top 10 billionaires list.

But Laksmi doesn’t have Indian exclusivity to the top ten anymore. 3 new Indian billionaires are now occupying the 5th, 6th and 8th positions. Sinong magsasabing mahirap ang India!?

Nawala sa top 10 ang ibang regular names tulad nina Li Ka-Shing, Lawrence Ellison and Roman Abramovich. Overall, two Filipinos made it to the billionaires list – Lucio Tan is ranked 785th with $1.5 billion worth and Henry Sy at 843 with 1.4.

You might ask me – ‘eh ano namang pakialam ko sa mga billionaires na yan?’. Naku, wala nga po. Pero natutuwa akong bantayan ang rankings na nilalabas ng Forbes. For somebody like me whose ultimate dream is getting rich, parang Oscar awards itong ranking ng Forbes.

Sana bigla akong tamaan ng sangkatutak na swerte at bigla akong i-declare ni Warren Buffet na receiver ng kanyang buong estate. Tipong sa akin iiwan ang bilyones nya pag namatay sya! Naku, I’d better make a plan pag nagkanon. Malaking responsibility yon pag nagkataon. Let’s see….

First thing na gagawin ko is to travel the entire world – particularly every country in Europe. Investment ang negosyo ni Warren pero concentrated sa US ang pera nya. Ida-diversify ko agad to a wider market. Dapat ma-penetrate ang Lichtenstein at Luxembourg. Pwede na rin kahit Andorra.

And if I’m staying for extended period sa mga business transactions ko sa Europe, I couldn’t stay in a hotel all the time. Hindi makatarungang magbayad ng $18,000 per night kahit presidential suite pa yon sa Ritz Paris. Bibili na lang ako ng isang penthouse suite sa isang residential condominium somewhere in the Champs Elysee area. Kailangang magtipid, baka magalit ang nagpamana ng pera!

At syempre hindi lang France ang base ko so I would also need a log cabin in the Swiss Alps and an apartment in The Hague. Pwede na rin ang isang castle in the UK like Dunnottar Castle in the Aberdeenshire area. That, of course, is in addition to my mansion in Beverly Hills and another penthouse suite in 5th Ave., New York.

Hindi rin pwedeng puro trabaho ako so I would need a beach house in the Bahamas and another one in the Cayman Islands where I will do most of my banking also.

Pag nasa Carribean ako, kailangan ko na ng isang 300-ft yacht para malibot ko na rin ang ibang island nations tulad ng Turks and Caicos, Antigua and Barbuda, Martinique, Barbados at St Vincent and the Grenadines.

To shuttle between Europe, the Carribean and the rest of the world, kailangan bumili na ako ng sarili kong jet. I’d prefer a Gulfstream 550 o kaya Falcon 900EX kasi mabilis ang travel. Pero kung long-haul flights, dapat customized A380 na para hindi ako mahirapan. Afterall, $300million lang naman yon. Papalagyan ko ng suites sa upper deck para makatulog ng maayos. Sa baba, dapat may malaking dance floor para hindi boring ang 14 hour flight!

But of course, kung may fleet of jets ako, kailangan ko rin ng fleet of cars. So I’d probably have a 36-ft stretch limo to bring me to different occasions. Black limo kung dinner concerts or the opera and a white one kung fund raising events lang or Presidential inauguration ang pupuntahan ko. Kung medyo casual naman ang occasion, I would need a fleet of Bentlys and Maseratis. And if I’ll just go clubbing, dapat Ascari A10 ang gamit ko. Or a Bugatti Veyron kung manonood lang ako ng finals match ni Federer and Roddick sa US Open.

Of course, hindi naman puro trabaho at lakwatsa ang dapat kong isipin. I have to give back to the community also. Like any other filthy rich philanthropists, I’d support various charity works. Pero dapat sa Pilipinas lang.

But instead of building charity houses, feeding centers and other usual stuff, I’m planning something on a bigger scale. Tatakbo akong Presidente ng Pilipinas. Tulad ng mga bulok na pulitiko sa atin, I’d use my billions para sigurado ang panalo ko. Then, pag nanalo na ako, I will hire a puppet President na gagawa lahat ng trabaho according to my directions. Remember, busy ako sa business transactions ko all over the world. So magha-hire na lang ako ng best CEO from Donald's The Apprentice.

Wala syang gagawin kungdi patakbuhin ng maganda ang gobyerno and give Philippines a better economy. Dapat ma-improve din nya ang educational system, public service at peace and order. Pero hinding-hindi sya pwedeng mangurakot as well as all the cabinet members, Senators, Governors, Congressmen at lahat ng government officials. Anybody who does that, dadalhin ko sa ituktok ng Corcovado statue sa Rio. At ihuhulog ko sya doon para hindi na sya umulit!

Grabe ba ang dream ko? Aba, libre naman mangarap eh kaya plis lang, pagbigyan mo na ako. Tutal pag nagkatotoo naman, kukunin kita as my personal bodyguard! Hehehe!