the lure of the zeroes

About two years ago I received an email inviting me to apply for a post in a steel company in Valencia, Spain. Aba sino ba naman ang tatanggi sa ganong opportunity. Sa isang tulad kong inamag na sa Saudi, it’s one welcome change para maiba naman ang working environment. Eh di nagpadala ako agad ng CV after na-check ko yong website nong company.

Totoo namang may ganong steel company (Corporacion Sidenor) sa Valencia kaya I didn’t suspect anything fishy. And the email address used looked like it came from the company’s official mail system. Na-excite pa ako nong nagbigay na yong Recruitment Manager ‘daw’ ng figures for their offered package. Nothing exhorbitant to arouse any suspicion from an applicant like me but it sure was enough to get me excited.

Pero nong dumating na sa puntong hinihingan na ako ng 1,800 Euros for processing fee daw, I was like a speeding car coming to a screeching halt. Bam! Scam!

When I retraced my steps, that’s when I realized na wala nga pala akong na-receive na reply from the company’s official email address na nakuha ko sa website nila. And that email add was slightly different from the email add na ginagamit nong kausap kong tao na Recruitment Manager daw nong company. I should have noticed that the domain name was different. Tanga ko.

But at least I backed out just before they lured me into their trap. Itong nangyari lately, medyo nakipaglaro pa ako and took one step bolder.

Last week kasi nakatanggap ako ng email from a purported organization called Commonwealth of Nations saying that I won their on-line lottery. Porke yong yahoo address ko raw was randomly selected and I won the 3 million dollar prize. Obviously it’s one of those scams. Tinawanan ko pa nga.

Pero ewan ko kung bakit hindi ko dineretso yong mail sa trash bin like what I usually do. Worse, nag-email pa ako don sa binigay na contact person (a certain Albert Barry na Finance Director pa raw ng isang bangko sa Malaysia). Again, as a precautionary measure, hinanap ko naman sa web yong Malaysian bank na sinabi. I tried verifying the person and the position. Malay mo totoo. Aba 3 million dollars ang pinag-uusapan dito noh.

I must admit that the six zeroes momentarily blurred my vision, shutdown my reasons and sent me into a plethora of wild dreams. Para akong naka-droga at biglang nag-play ang isang pelikula sa utak ko. The kind of scenes na matagal ko nang pinangarap. Like packing my bags in a jiffy and taking the first flight back to Pinas. Kaliwali (never mind) na ang sweldo at ESB (end of service benefit) ko kahit 7 years na ako sa company. That’s peanuts compared to 3 million dollars.

Jeezzz, tagal ko nang pangarap makabili ng magarang kotse, build my dream house and trot the globe via first class air ticket. Not to forget a 150-ft yacht huh. And here’s 3 million dollars to make those dreams come true! Nag-calculator pa talaga ako kung magkano yon sa peso. For a single moment, I was praying na hindi scam yong mail. Na kahit nagdudumilat naman ang katotohanan, I was hoping na totoong may 140++ million pesos na naghihintay sa akin to make my dreams come true.

Tokkkk! May bumatok sa akin. Yong guardian angel ko.

Nag-reply yong contact person na in-email ko. And this stupid guy was asking for my personal details like full name, address, occupation, telephone number, etc. Wala namang bank account na hinihingi pero bakit ko naman ibibigay sa kanya yong mga detalyeng yon di ba. Wala man silang manakaw na pera sa akin, but identity theft is just as worse. At least napaisip ako. Nahihibang ako pero may kaunti pa namang katinuang natitira sa akin.

Or so I thought. Kasi tinawagan ko pa rin si pareng Albert Barry. Hindi kasi nag-reply yong Malaysian Bank doon sa aking verification. So I was still hoping na totoo pa rin yong 3 million dollars. Kaya tinawagan ko pa rin si pareng ugok even if it means spending a few Riyals dahil Malaysia yata yong mobile number nya.

But during the conversation, na-realize ko na talagang na-denggoy ako at ang tanga ko. Big Time. Kasi ni hindi tunog Finance Manager yong kausap ko. Ni hindi masagot ng maayos ang mga tanong ko. Ni hindi maipaliwanag ng maayos kung ano yong lottery nila, yong Commonwealth of Nations at kung ano pa. And I had this picture in my mind na yong kausap ko eh isang Bitoy na nanggigitata, somewhere in a cheap apartment in Malaysia, tumutungga ng beer while scratching his stinking armpits.

Hindi ko na pinatagal ang usapan namin but before I ended the conversation, I made it clear to him na iritado ako at alam ko nang he was a dupe. One of my last sarcastic bit was ‘Is this a joke’. Alam ko naman ang sagot pero tinanong ko pa.

As soon as I got off the phone, may na-receive akong follow-up mail ni Albert Barry. Ayon na at pinagde-deposit na ako ng ilang libong dolyares para daw makuha ko yong winnings ko. I did not delete it. I’m forwarding it to Alliance Bank officers in Malaysia para maging aware sila na may sindikatong gumagamit ng kanilang pangalan. Ipo-forward ko rin siguro sa FraudWatch.com pag sinipag ako.

As for me, I’ve learned my lesson. And the lesson is not to blind yourself with the zeroes. Otherwise, ang sakit masabihang Ang laki mong tanga… or Were you born only yesterday!? At baka nabatukan pa ako ng mga adik!

Meantime, ito na lang latest mail ang aasikasuhin ko. Baka ito totoo na. May African princess na gusto akong pamanahan ng 1 million British Pounds! Balatuhan ko na lang kayo! Hehehehe….

hotnothot 28

Hotnot: Venus Raj dethroned. It happened again. Another Bb Pilipinas winner na binawian ng korona. Ewan ko nga ba kung bakit sa dami na ng ganyang kaso hindi pa rin natuto itong mga organizer ng Bb Pilipinas. All the girls wanted is just a piece of that crown kaya hindi mo sila masisi if they withheld info or even deliberately falsified some details in their application form. Lulusot talaga hangga’t makakalusot. And it’s BCPI’s job to stop them. Bakit hindi imbistigahang mabuti bago iparada sa madlang pipol. Hindi yong kung kelan nakoronahan na saka babawiin. They (BPCI) should remember na hindi lang ang mga babaeng ito ang napapahiya kungdi sila mismo. As a ‘respected’ organization, parading a beauty queen who turns out to be a ‘cheat’ is just a reflection of how bad their systems are. Or, ang mas masakit, babawiin pa ang korona ng walang matibay na dahilan. Just because trip lang nila. Patay kayo ngayon papasok sa eksena si Senator Loren!

Hotnot: Adam Carolla the idiot. Ayan may nagpapansin na naman. Kulang siguro sa listeners ng radio program nya kaya nagpaka-kontrobersiyal. Dami na nilang nanglait ng lahi natin ke papangit din naman. Mga wala namang sinabi at puro nobody nobody but you din. Hindi ko na nga lang patulan dahil yon nga, ang pumatol daw sa baliw, mas baliw pa. Basta pag nakita ko itong Carolla na ito dito sa Pinas, ipapahuli ko agad sa grupo ni Liza Maza. Tingnan ko lang kung saan sya pupulutin.

Hothot: Ipad is here. There’s a warm reception from the techies for the newly launched Ipad. A larger version of the I-pod, it has more applications including a very impressive multi-touch screen plus on-line access to a host of entertainment options like cartoons and other tv channels. I’d probably get one for myself coz it’s not just very convenient (an improved laptop that you can bring any where, stow anywhere) but it’s also one gadget that does it’s part in fighting the ticking bomb of environmental destruction. Imagine the thousands of trees saved coz you’re reading an on-line newspaper or e-book instead of the usual printed copies. Cool isn’t it.

Hotnot: Gibo’s crashed party. Nabasa ko lang na nag-resign si Gibo as head of his party. Bakit kaya. To think that he needs the machinery of his party in this very critical time. He needs all the support he can get now that the election date is fast approaching. Kailangan din nyang umangat sa surveys being the perennial 3^rd behind Noynoy and Manny Villar. But whatever his reason for resigning, siguradong it’s something beyond patching up. Tama kaya ang mga kumakalat na rumors that he’s just one dummy presidentiable in the many strings of GMA’s puppet show? At dahil nagpapakita ng personal integrity si Gibo kaya humihiwalay na sya sa grand machinations ni GMA dahil alam nyang sa kangkungan sya pupulutin if he continues the association? Ahhh… politics. Nothing beats the controversies and drama behind it.

Hothot: Baby James’ innocence. The mere mention of any other presidentiable’s name amidst Noynoy’s campaign will surely earn the ire of Madam Kristeta. Siguradong magrereak at tatalak yan. At siguradong matatarayan kung sinoman ang culprit. Kaso, mismong ang cute nyang baby James ang bumanat ng Villar with matching V sign sa isang campaign sortie nila down South! Cute at nakakatawa dahil ang akala nilang Alas sa kanilang kampo turns out to be an infiltrator pala! But what will you do to something as cute as that angel? Baka nga malakas na tawanan din ang ginawa ng magkakapatid na Aquino. But one thing is for sure… siguradong lagot ang mga yaya at kasambahay ni Kristeta. Siguradong maiimbistigahan kung anong pinapanood nila at na-pik-ap ni baby James ang Villar fever.

it's her 40th

time really flies faster than you thought. eto at 40th day na pala since Nanay passed away. i called my Ate this morning and she said tapos na yong padasal. nadalaw na rin nila finally yong puntod ni Nanay. maganda raw yong pagkakagawa ng lapida.

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funny how my Mother is now reduced to a piece of marker. at tuwing bubuksan ko ang cabinet ko, there she is, in a piece of paper called certificate of death. pero sa utak ko, ayon at buhay na buhay sya. ramdam na ramdam ko pa ang pagtawa nya pag niloloko kong mag-asawa na lang ulit. at yong mga ngiti nyang pigil na pigil pero excited sa binigay kong jewelry. o kaya dolyares.

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i will now be counting the days and years na umalis sya sa mundong ito. this time, medyo mas accurate na ang pagbibilang namin. di tulad ng birthday nya na hinuhulaan lang namin. wala kasing makitang birth certificate. kahit NSO walang data tungkol sa birthday nya. sabi kasi ng mga tiyahin ko, nong unang panahon daw when she was born, her birthdate was carved out sa isang baul. ang siste, inanod si baul ng baha. kaya walang ebidensya ng kapanganakan nya.

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we found her first marriage certificate (my Tatay was her second husband) but unfortunately, year lang ang nakalagay. 1928. walang exact date. kaya hindi sya nagsi-celebrate ng birthday pag sya lang. hinahandaan na lang namin pag umuuwi ako.

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ang nakakatawa, everytime na magpi-fill up ako ng forms requiring her birthdate, iba-iba ang sinusulat ko. philhealth, insurance, application form, etc. imbento lang ako ng imbento ng date. pati nga yong nakalagay sa lapida nya ngayon, imbento lang namin. at least tama pa rin yong year.

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but now the counting stopped at 82 (totoong age yan based on 1928). at iba na ang bibilangin namin ngayon. the days that will soon turn to years na iniwan nya kami.

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miss you po Nay. at sigurado natatawa ka rin sa lapida mo dahil ngayon mo lang nalaman, february ka pala pinanganak.

what goes around...

I was still very young when it happened. Nagising ako isang umaga na minamaso ang dingding ng bahay namin. I ran out of my room and saw my Mother crying. Ang Tatay at Lolo ko nag-tatalo. My Father was so furious. At 4 or 5 years old, inosente pa ako pero naiintindihan ko na na may nangyayaring hindi maganda.

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Naibenta pala ng isang Tiyahin ko ang lupa at bahay na tinitirahan namin. Actually sa Lolo ko yon at dahil wala na ang Lola ko, doon kami sa kaniya nakatira para may kasama sya sa bahay. At sa kustombre namin sa probinsya, that house and lot should be inherited by my Father being the youngest son of my Lolo. Pero yon nga, behind everybody’s back, nagapang pala ng isang Tiya ko na papirmahin ang matanda para mabenta ang property. Daylight robbery at its finest.

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Kaya wala kaming kaalam-alam, heto na ang mga trabahador ng intsik na nakabili nong lupa. Talo pa ang demolition squad sa squatters area. Walang patawad na giniba ang bahay namin. Kaya ang ending, nakisiksik kami sa lupa ng isa ko pang Tiya. At habang tinatayo ang bagong bahay namin, tumira kami ng ilang araw sa ilalim ng yerong sinandal sa isang puno. Daig pa namin ang mga refugee.

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Imagine the humiliation and betrayal na naramdaman ng Tatay ko. Ate pa naman nya ang gumawa ng kalokohang yon. Isa sa kinonsider nyang Nanay dahil maaga ngang nawala ang Lola ko. Tapos ganon ang ginawa sa kanya. Kaya hindi ako nag-effort na maki-awat nong sinugod nya at sinakal ang Tiyahin kong alibugha. Sinumpa pa nya na wala daw syang kapatid na ganon ang pangalan. Patay na. As in pinutol nya talaga yong koneksyon nila bilang magkapatid.

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But time really has it’s own way of healing wounds. Kahit gaano pa yan kalaki.

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By the time na nagsa-Saudi na ako, naibili ko ng lupa at napagawan ng bahay ang Tatay at Nanay ko. Ang bahay na giniba at naging dahilan ng bitterness ni Tatay, napalitan ng medyo mas maganda. Mas malaki pa ang lote kaya may parking area sya sa kanyang pangarap na tricycle.

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Siguro, Tatay took this blessing into consideration ng minsang lumapit ang alibugha kong Tiyahin. Nanghihiram ng pera. At ang Tatay ko, kahit pa sumumpa-sumpa some 20 years ago, hindi natiis ang kapatid na naghihirap. Nagpa-utang. Nagkaiyakan. Nagkapatawaran.

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Mabuti na rin at nangyari yon coz after some 6 years, my Tatay died. At least, he left this world at peace. Nagkaroon ng closure ang malaking galit na nasa dibdib nya na dinala nya ng maraming taon.

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Lately, nitong wake ni Nanay, dumalaw ang pinsan ko (anak ng Tiya kong bida dito sa kwento) at binabalitang bedridden na rin ang nanay nya. Na-stroke pa raw kaya paralyzed ang kalahati ng katawan. Walang pambili ng wheelchair kaya nanghiram lang. Namomroblema sya sa pambili ng gamot at pagkain sa araw-araw. The usual sob story of poverty.

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The day after na malibing si Nanay, kinarir ko naman ang pagdalaw sa mga Tiyo at Tiya kong matatanda na. Matagal na kasi akong hindi nakakauwi ng probinsya at hindi ko sila nakikita. I just felt I owe them a visit para bago man lang mawala sa mundo ay nagkakamustahan kami. Kasama sa dinalaw ko si Tiyang alibugha.

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She really is a picture of misery. Malayong-malayo sa mataray kong Tiyahin na nakapamewang pa noong mga panahong kino-confront sya ng Tatay ko kung bakit nya binenta ang lupa. Kung dati ay mataas ang boses nya, she can barely speak this time. Hindi ko maintindihan ang sinasabi kahit tumutulo pa ang laway sa sobrang effort na makapag-salita. Naka-wheelchair nga pero may tatak na property ng kung anong NGO yong wheelchair.

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After more than an hour of kwentuhan, nagpaalam na ako. Sabay kuha ng kamay ni Tiyang alibugha at inipitan ng pera. Hindi yon ang kamay na paralisado kaya naramdaman agad nya na pera ang nilagay ko sa palad nya. Then she started weeping. I said some words of consolation para matigil sya sa pag-iyak.

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While I was walking away from her, naisip ko, bakit sya umiyak? Nag-self-pity ba sya dahil sa katayuan nya ngayon? Naibalik ko na ba yong feeling of humiliation na pinadama nya sa amin more than 30 years ago? Naramdaman nya ba finally na ang mga taong kinawawa nya ay magiging mabait pa rin sa kanya? O baka talaga lang malaking bagay ang 1,000 pesos pag wala kang pambili ng gamot at pagkain.

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Whatever it is, wala kahit kaunting color of vengeance ang pagdalaw na ginawa ko sa kanya. Afterall, hindi ko sya dinalang baggage kahit kailan. Kahit naawa ako sa Tatay ko noong umiiyak at nagwawala habang tinatapon palabas ng bahay ang mga gamit namin, hindi ako nagtanim ng galit sa kaniya. Siguro nga I was too young to feel the hatred. But what she did left something burning in me.

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It was one of the reasons why I became so focused in life. Dagdag ammunition yon sa pagsisikap kong matupad ang mga plano kong matakasan ang kinalakihan kong kahirapan. Kaya in one very ironic way, I’m thankful to her. What she did gave me a real, honest picture of life. And it made me stronger ever since.

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If this is the culmination of the saying what goes around comes around, I’m glad I wasn’t the one at the receiving end. And it only reinforced my principle na mas masarap pa ring mabuhay na wala kang inaagrabyadong tao. Coz down the road, even when you’re down and out, wala kang aalalahaning bad karma na babalik sa iyo.

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unforgettable maribago

if i'm not mistaken, it was right after sinulog 2000 that the whole gang of the then magnus-des had to fly to cebu for our yearly company outing. i was tasked to organize the whole thing from flight booking to resort accommodation, team building exercises, fun games and events.

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i found maribago blue water up to the standards of our very discriminating bosses aside from the fact that it fits the budget i was given (which, mind you, is not cheap!).

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at the end of the 3 day-2 nights event, i was way beyond exhaustion. but the bright smiles of everyone gave me the most exhilirating reward. i even got a thank you note from one of the husband and wife, a note that i still keep in one of the memory boxes i keep stashed somewhere in my cabinets.

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here's a load of pix from that event. one unforgettable episode of my magnus-des career.

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day 1 - photo op at the reception of the maribago bluewater resort in mactan island

inside the function hall, preparing for the first team building activity with a lot of help from my dear friends petite, hes, ma and ferdie

our ceo bill giving his welcome speech

and that's our cio chris who said something too

pete, our coo couldn't be far behind when it comes to speeches... hehehehe

there's a talent competition among 5 groups and this is hes and petite's grop rehearsing their dance number

but it's dinner first at the restaurant by the beach

the bosses waiting for food too

then it's back to the function hall for the performances

that's our group though you can't see me coz i was the one doing the narration (pang-voice over lang hehehe) of a story that started with an ethnic dance and ended up with a hip-hop! talk about ma's creative genius!

the bosses opted for an american indian number which most of us didn't get... (they came prepared with that costume, kinarir talaga!)

judging the competition was left to the visiting regional directors
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and that's jan handing me the results...

of course our group won!

day 2 and it's mini-olympics by the beach

crossing to the island via this raft

that's one of the races complete with hurdles

there's tug of war too

while ma and i directs the whole thing with a megaphone

day 3 and it's out of the resort

to the city where we had lunch at the waterfront hotel

visited magellan's cross

and the sto nino basilica

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it's one tiring but very enjoyable trip. it will stay forever in our memories as a successful 3-day event where we achieved what we aimed for - a stronger, better magnus-des team.

amazing grace

When I came back from my first vacation last Feb 3, nabanggit ko kay fwend kong Edgard na nakita ko sa in-flight music channel ng Qatar Airways yong first album ni Susan Boyle. A couple of days later, heto at binigay na nya yong mp3 copy nong buong I Dreamed a Dream album. Little did I know that one of the songs in there will be significant in the coming days. Dahil nga in less than a month, babalik pala ako ng Pinas to bury my Mom.

During the wake ni mother, gumawa ako ng slideshow ng mga pictures nya. Sort of a tribute to the last few years ni madir lalo yong mga pictures nya nong pinapasyal ko sya sa mga mall at restaurants when she was still in Sta Rosa. The days when she was smiling a lot more than usual dahil lagi kong pinapatawa. To make the slideshow more dramatic, syempre kailangan ng musical score. And there’s nothing else more fitting but Susan’s rendering of Amazing Grace.

Nilagay ko si laptop sa ibabaw ng casket ni madir para may napapanood ang mga nakabantay sa kanya lalo sa gabi. Kaya lang mahina ang sound nong unit at wala akong speakers na mahagilap (nasa Mindoro po kami, remember). Kaya inagaw ko muna ang headphone ng pamangkin kong ginagamit nya sa PSP. Kaya pag may lalapit at manonood nong slides, they had to put on the headphone. Imagine you’re in Odyssey at meron kang isang music CD na gustong i-try before buying? Parang ganon. Well, at least everybody liked the slideshow dahil naramdaman yong background music. Besides, sinasamahan ko ng kwento yong bawat picture kaya mahaba-habang kwentuhan ang inaabot, tanggal ang antok ng mga naglalamay.

Nong inayos na namin sa simbahan ang schedule ng interment, sabi ko sa Ate ko na i-request sa church choir the same song. Sagot ba naman ng Manang sa admin office nong simbahan “Ano Yon”? Aba, hindi ka taong simbahan kung hindi mo alam yon! Naalala ko tuloy ang sabi ko kay fwend Edgard na tatawagin ko si Susan Boyle para sya ang kumanta sa requiem mass!

Pagpunta namin sa office ng funeral service, sinabi ko rin sa kanila na gusto ko yon ang i-play sa hearse during the procession. Wala naman daw problema as long as I have it in mp3 format! ‘Sosyal’ sabi ko sa sarili ko. Nasa malayong probnisya nga ba ako ng Mindoro at mp3 na ang labanan!

Eniweys, nasunod naman lahat ng request ko. Nakarating at narinig si Susan Boyle in a far-flung place na ewan ko kung may nakakakilala naman sa kanya. Kasama din syempre ang favorite kong si Josh Groban whose To Where You Are and You Raise Me Up echoes in the wind habang marahang umuusad ang karo. At syempre, mawawala ba naman ang walang kamatayang Hindi Kita Malilimutan ni Basil Valdez na ewan ko ba naman kung bakit naging theme song na yata ng mga prosesyon sa libing.

Pagdating ng simbahan, binulong sa akin ng Ate ko na alam daw nong isang choir member yong Amazing Grace. Buti naman, sabi ko. Or else talagang ipo-protesta ko itong simbahang ito at hindi alam ang isa sa mga pinakamagandang gospel song. At yon nga, towards the end of the mass, narinig ko na yong request ko. Kaso lalaki yong kumanta at pang-pop ang boses kaya hindi masyadong effective. Okey lang sana kung medyo mala-Boccelli ang timbre o kahit Jed Madela na lang. Besides, tipong hindi nya kabisado ang lyrics kaya may mga parteng pinapagulong lang para lang makaraos. Ah well, at least nasunod ang gusto ko.

Looking back, I think it was a mistake on my part. Na yong gusto ko ang nasunod. Hindi ko naisip kung ano yong gusto ni madir. Dapat pala naipakanta ko sa choir at naisama sa musical scoring nong kanyang prosesyon ang super-favorite nyang Sa Baybay Dagat. Although problemang malaki kung saan ako hahanap ng choir na alam yong kantang yon. At mas malaking problema kung saan ako kukuha ng mp3 version, if ever na meron!

Going back to Amazing Grace, just in case na maligaw dito yong choir member, heto ang saktong lyrics nong kanta. With this, hindi ko na rin kailangang i-explain kung bakit ito ang ginawa kong theme song ng pamamaalam ni madir sa mundong ibabaw. Coz I know that she’s within God’s Amazing Grace right now.

Amazing Grace

John Newton (1725-1807)

Stanza 6 anon.

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,

That saved a wretch like me.

I once was lost but now am found,

Was blind, but now I see.

T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear.

And Grace, my fears relieved.

How precious did that Grace appear

The hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares

I have already come;

'Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far

and Grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me.

His word my hope secures.

He will my shield and portion be,

As long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,

And mortal life shall cease,

I shall possess within the veil,

A life of joy and peace.

When we've been here ten thousand years

Bright shining as the sun.

We've no less days to sing God's praise

Than when we've first begun.

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,

That saved a wretch like me.

I once was lost but now am found,

Was blind, but now I see.

hotnothot 27

Hotnot: Dubai’s delusion. Despite the fact that they are still in the hole for not paying their billions of debt, heto ang Dubai at nagmamaganda na naman. Today, they’re having their Dubai World Cup, a horseracing event with a whopping 10 million US$ prize. What’s more unpalatable is the fact that this event will be held in the newly-built race course constructed to the tune of 1billion US$! Such ostentatious display despite the fact that they are cash-strapped and way under the red leaves a bad taste in the mouth. Nakakatawang isipin that despite a magnitude 7 wake-up call just a couple of months ago when Abu Dhabi had to rescue them from an embarrassing situation, they still haven’t woken up from their delusions of grandeur.
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Hothot: The 2010 Torino Championships. While watching the Figure Skating Championships, nagulat ako nong napansin ko yong Philippine flag na naka-sabit sa loob ng skating rink. So I looked at the events site at yon nga, may dalawa palang Pinay na nakapasok sa competition this year. Lauren Ko and Mericien Venzon, though both based in US, are carrying the Philippine flag. They skated their short program yesterday and will be doing their Free skate today. Kahit pa sabihing nasa bottom pa sila ng standing, to be included in such a prestigious group is already an honor for our country. Considering na wala namang snow sa Pinas para mag-skate sila ng ganon kagaling. Hope they do good in this competition, kahit personal best lang or Seasons best ang ma-beat nila ok na.

Hotnot: The Pope and his priests. Under fire ngayon ang Catholic Church because of the very hot issue about priests who committed crimes of sexual abuse particularly against young boys. The Pope issued an apology statement last week but that didn’t stop the ripple. In fact, lalong lumala ang sitwasyon dahil lumalabas ngayon na even the closest aide to the Pope knows what’s going on but didn’t do anything to punish the erring priests. With that in mind, kinu-kwestyon na rin kung talaga bang walang alam ang Pope? Kung may alam, bakit walang ginawa? The top aide already resigned pero hindi pa rin napa-pacify ang mga tao. Protests are going on particularly in Ireland where there are more cases of abuse. They are saying the Pope isn’t doing enough. I agree. A letter of apology cannot hide the fact that there have been perpetual consecration of the Church over the years. And “sorry” just doesn’t cut it. Heads must roll if the Church is to cleanse itself of the devils hiding under the sanctity of the robe.

Hothot: Anne’s nipslip. Pinag-pistahan ang paglitaw ng isang dibdib ni Anne Curtis sa kanilang Boracay presentation. Aksidente daw, na-edit man sa Tv pero sa dami ng nakatutok na celphone at camera, na-upload din sa internet. Nakiusap ang mga taga-Channel 2 na wag nang i-upload. Umiiyak daw madalas si Anne Curtis sa kahihiyan. Ang sa akin naman, if you’re going on a national television (lalo na sa major networks na buong mundo na ang coverage), at ayaw mong masilipan, bakit hind mag-ingat? Ayaw mo palang makitaan ng private parts, bakit haharap ka sa tv ng walang pangloob? Lumabas ka sa stage ng nakapalda, mahaba nga, pero humangin. Eh di nakita ang tinatago mo? Saka ka ngangawa? I’ve got no pity for people like these. Carelessness is just one step short of stupidity.