C H A S I N G LIFE

The Problem with Peter Pan

2009-01-10T03:09:00.000-08:00

All work and no play forces Peter Pan to grow up.
(forces = very much against his will)

For the longest time, Peter Pan had nothing else to worry about and no one else to take care of but himself. Yes, he would help with the bills at home, but other than that, he was free. Free to be a child and act like one (except for the full-time job, of course).

Fast forward to present...

After more than two years of being with Wendy, Peter Pan suddenly found himself turning into his worst nightmare. His world revolved around bills and paydays. The day would not end without Peter Pan checking his account balance on the latest ATM slip at least once. Peter Pan would always have upcoming bills and the next payday in mind. If someone would invite Peter Pan to go out or if Peter Pan himself even so much as thought of going out, Peter Pan would mechanically compute his and Wendy's remaining cash and the available balance on his credit card (which Peter Pan, of course, has already memorized in his sleep) and dismiss the idea more swiftly than you could say "freak". Peter Pan would, every morning, check the fridge before going to bed and estimate how long it would be before they ran out of food and then make a mental note to include food in the budget. Peter Pan would make mental notes of the help's pay. Peter Pan would constantly be thinking of how to budget his and Wendy's next pay. Peter Pan's every breathing moment would be about money and everything it makes go round.

A n d I ' m s o s i c k o f i i i i i i i i t ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

dahil namimiss ko ang TROPANG TRUMPO...

2008-12-11T02:51:00.000-08:00

caronia, caronia
ikabufini, manigura
puntang makati, manigura
caronia, caronia
confucius says...it's caronia

CHICKEN!!!

BATTLE OF THE BRAINLESS
****************************

Host: Sino ang pambansnag bayani ng Pilipinas? Ang initials niya ay J.R.

Team A: Jeric Raval?!

Host: Mali! Doctor yun!

Team B: Doctor Jeric Raval?

Host: Hinde, patay na siya!

Team A: The late Doctor Jeric Raval!!

HOST: anong sagot sa 2+3? nagsisimula ito sa letter F

CONTESTANT A: four?

HOST: hindi, mas mataas diyan ng kaunti

CONTESTANT B: (in a higher voice) four?

Q: Ano ang national tree of the Philippines?

Clue: Nagsisimula ang pangalan niya sa letrang "N" (Narra).

A: Niyog.

Q: Mas matigas pa diyan.

A: (In a strong-sounding voice) Niyog!

******************

BAHAW, kaning lamig ay wag itapon........

******************

q: old mc donald had a _______

carmina: farm!

q: okey, spell farm!

carmina: huh? eh.... e-i-e-i-o

Ano ang pambansang ibon ng Pilipinas?

Answer: Kwago.

Hindi letter "M" simula...

Answer: Manok?

Hindi! BROWN siya!

Answer: Piniritong manokkkk?

Hindi! Ang last letter niya ay "A"...

Answer: Piniritong Manoka?

MALIIT lang siya!

Answer: Maliit na piniritong manoka!

Hindi, mas maliit pa diyan.

Answer: Maggi chicken cube

******************

Gee, your hair smells like fresh flowers picked from the mountains of Laguna last April 27, 1984
(Spoof ng Gee, your hair smells terrific ahihihi)

******************

Q: Anong pangalan ng bagong grupong mangsasayaw. Ang initial ay UMD, at kumakanta pa sila. (Universal Motion Dancer)

A: United Merikan Diki-diki

Q: Hindi, maraming kababaihan at mga syoke na naghihimatayan

A: Ut and Mouth Disease

Q: Sino ang National Hero na naka-picture sa 500-peso bill?
Clue: Ang initials niya ay "N-A"(Ninoy Aquino).

A: Nora Aunor.

Q: Hindi, ang last letter ng kaniyang palayaw ay "Y".

A: Guy Aunor?

Q: Hindi, dati siyang naging Senador

A: The former Senator Nora Aunor.

Q: Hindi, patay na siya!

A: Patay na pala si Nora Aunor? . . .

Q: Sino and nakapatay kay Magellan? Ang initial ay L-L

A: Lito Lapid

Q: Hindi, inuulit ang pangalan nito!

A: Lito-lito lapid-lapid

Q: Hindi, konti lang ang letra ng pangalan niya

A: Lot-lot

Q: Hindi, mas marami pa dito ang titik niya

A: Lot-lot and friends

Q: Ano ang tawag ng tao na sumasagip sa iyo pag ikaw ay nalulunod?

Clue: "L" ang simula ng pangalan niya (Lifeguard).

A: Lifebuoy.

Q: Hindi, pero kahawig nga ng pangalan ng sabon ang pangalan ng taong ito.

A: Safeguard.

Q: Hindi, pero makukuha mo ang pangalan nito pag pinagsama mo ang dalawang sagot mo.

A: Safe boy

Q: Hindi siya "boy" at matipuno nga ang kaniyang katawan.

A: Si Mr. Clean.

Q: Saan binaril si Dr Jose P. Rizal?

Clue: "B" ang simula (Bagumbayan)

A: Sa back?

Q: O sige, pwede rin na ang simula ay "L" (Luneta).

A: Sa likod?

Q: Hindi pa rin. Para mas madali, gamitin natin ang kaniyang modern name - "RP" (Rizal Park).

A: Sa rear part

Q: Saan tayo madalas pumunta pag summer upang maligo.
Clue: Nagsisimula sa letrang "B" (Beach).

A: Banyo.

Q: Hindi, pag pumunta ka doon, naaarawan ka.

A: Bubong.

Q: Hindi, pag nandoon ka na, marami kang makikita na mga babaeng nakabikini.

A: Ahhhh! beerhouse!

Question: Ano ang ginagamit na floatation device sa dagat upang hindi ka malunod?
Clue: Starts with the letter "S" - Go!!! (correct answer: salbabida)

Ateneo: (linalapit ang bibig sa mike) Sirena.

Host: Hindi! Hindi ito babae.

San Beda: Siyokoy.

host: Hinde!! Hinde ito Lalake!

La Salle: Siyoke.

Q: Anong hayop sa dagat ang may walong tentacles?

Clue: Ang pangalan niya ay nagsimula sa "Octo" (Octopus).

A: October.

Q: Hindi, walo nga ang tentacles nito.

A: Octo-walo.

Q: Hindi pa rin. Ang hayop na ito ay walang spine at malambot ang katawan.

A: Octoarts Dancer.

Q: Hindi, nagtatapos sa "s" ang pangalan nito.

A: Octoarts Dancers.

Q: Hindi pa rin.

A: Octomechanix

Q: What is the National Flower of the Philippines?
Clue: It starts with the letter "S" (Sampaguita).

A: Sunflower.

Q: Hindi, binibenta ito sa kalye.

A: Stork.

Q: Hindi, bulaklak sabi, eh.

A: sitsarong bulaklak!

Q: Hindi pa rin. Ang ending niya ay letrang "A".

A: Sitsarong bulaklak na may suka!

Q: O, para madali ha, uulitin ko ang clues at dagdagan ko pa: pangalan ng bulaklak na nagsisimula sa letrang "S", nagtatapos sa letrang "A" at kapangalan ito ng isang sikat na singer.

A: Si Sharon Cuneta

Oh! I'm sorry, ang tamang sagot ay SUNFLOWER

Q: Sino ang kaunaunahang chess grandmaster of Asia? Clue: Kapangalan niya ang tao ng chess (Eugene Torre).

A: Carole King.

Q: Hindi, mas mababa sa "King".

A: Al Quinn.

Q: Hindi, Filipino ang apelyido niya.

A: Armida Siguion-Reyna.

Q: Hindi pa rin. Mas mababa pa sa "Reyna".

A: Bishop Bacani.

Q: Mas mababa pa sa "Bishop".

A: Johnny Midnight (Knight).

Q: Mas mababa pa sa "Knight".

A: Jerry Pons (Pawns)?

Q: O ayan na ha. Nabanggit mo na ang lahat ng piyesa. Yung kahulihulihang piyesa na lang.

A: Sylvia la Torre

Q: Anong pambansang hayop ng pilipinas?
Ang initial ay "K"(sagot=Kalabaw)

A: Kambing

Q: Hindi, itim ang kulay ng hayop na ito.

A: Kuto

Q: Hindi, itong hayop na ito ay nasa lupa

A: Kutong lupa

Q: Dugtungan ang mga sumusunod na pangungusap (fill in the blank) "You're nothing but a second rate, trying hard, copy ____". Clue, start with the letter "C" go!

A: Cuneta. "You're nothing but a second rate, trying hard, copy Cuneta".

Q: Hinde, madalas ito ang dahilan sa ang mga bata ay nagkakasakit dahil sa kanyang mga balahibo.

A: Corikong. "You're nothing but a second rate, trying hard, copy Corikong".

Q: Hinde sabi, Madalas ay pagala-gala sa mga kalye at sa kalsada.

A: Cop. "You're nothing but a second rate, trying hard, copy Cop".

Q: Hinde, ito'y madalas hinahabol ng aso.

A: Cartero. "You're nothing but a second rate, trying hard, copy Cartero".

Si Gary Valenciano ay kilala rin bilang ______ V.

FLYING V!

Mali, buhay ito.

Ah, BUMBLE V!

Mali pa rin, tao siya.

Ah, ATE V!

Mali pa rin, pangalan ito ng lalaki.

Ah alam ko na, MICHAEL V!

Oh! I'm sorry, ang tamang sagot ay VOLTES V

Reuniting with the Past

2008-11-14T05:28:00.000-08:00

"Don't worry about people in your past, there's a reason they didn't make it to your future."

There's something special about Meme coming home every year. Not only do I get to spend time with one of my oldest friends, but I also get to regress back to a time when all I would worry about is what excuse I have to fabricate for coming home late, or not coming home at all.

My Christmas Wishlist

2008-11-13T06:38:00.000-08:00

a Moleskine - The ruled reporter notebook, squared. For my endless lists. Or maybe I'll go back to real journal writing. And sketching too if my Moleskine inspires me to connect to the artistically inclined ninth-grader in me again.

my Palm Treo back

red peeptoes - yum yum

those cute grey boots from Janylin - much like these, only in grey and made of faux leather.

a DSLR cam well, not anymore cos Da got me a postpaid plan with the Samsung E590. It's got a real cool 3.0 megapix cam, almost like a digicam, with all the confusing icons. ;)

Flavors of Entanglement CD I can't believe I still don't have this one!!!

and finally, the creme de la creme of gadgets for bagong-lipats........

a videoke system a la Music 21! ! !

(then I can wish you Merry Christmas!)

Just When I Thought...

2008-11-06T23:49:00.000-08:00

...Alanis had written every possible narration of different stages and aspects of my life - yes, she writes 100% of her songs based on my perception and experiences and thoughts, I am her muse - I listen to this track from the So-Called Chaos album. (I haven't been too keen on listening to songs post-Under Rug Swept and I have managed to delay listening to this album for the longest time, but now I am at another stage in my life where I need some music in the background and verbal daggers up my sleeves.)

Spineless - Alanis Morissette

And once more, she catches me off guard. Who better to sing "I am the prettiest appendage to ever lose herself" than me?

Anderson Cooper is a Rockstar

2008-10-30T11:48:00.000-07:00

I know I'm a bit late to realize that (and I know I'm known for being huli sa balita). Can't blame me, first time I ever saw Anderson Cooper was when he was filling in for Regis. That doesn't make him any less the rockstar that people see him to be though.

Must be cool to know you've made such a big difference and not give a damn.

Anyways, I'm just excited I could grab a copy of Dispatches from the Edge on Ebay. I like how Cooper manages to be so transparent even on print: "The only thing I really knew is that I was hurting and needed to go someplace where the pain outside matched the pain I was feeling inside." This is exactly how I wanna write someday, this is the kind of prose writer I'd like to be.

The best piece on Anderson Cooper that I've found so far is on nymag.com. It's like Anderson Cooper 101 for those who have never even heard of his contribution to New Orleans post-Katrina.

Entry 5: Inspired by Alanis Morissette

2008-10-29T04:04:00.000-07:00

Dear Matthew, I liked spending midsummer nights with you, making imaginary snow angels in the garden, arguing about the inconceivable theories in your notebook and spitting on your mom's antique escritoire.

Contest on http://anothermiyaw.livejournal.com/146627.html#cutid1

Moleskine Contest: Week 2, Entry 4

2008-10-29T03:43:00.000-07:00

Seeing the contents of his black notebook was as inconceivable an idea as snow in midsummer, up until that fateful morning when he left it on his escritoire.

Moleskine contest on http://anothermiyaw.livejournal.com/146627.html#cutid1

Moleskine Contest: Week 2, Entry 3

2008-10-29T03:26:00.000-07:00

One midsummer morning the inconceivable happened: my notebook on the escritoire in the balcony touched snow.

Another Moleskine contest on http://anothermiyaw.livejournal.com/146627.html#cutid1

Moleskine Contest: Week 2, Entry 2

2008-10-29T03:19:00.000-07:00

My Science notebook from 3rd grade, sitting on the escritoire, gathering dust, full of inconceivable ideas from snow in midsummer to penguins on the North Pole.

Yet another Moleskine contest on http://anothermiyaw.livejournal.com/146627.html#cutid1.

Moleskine Contest: Week 2, Entry 1

2008-10-29T02:02:00.000-07:00

My tears are like snow in midsummer, forming imaginary stars on the escritoire, condensing the words in your notebook, inconceivable yet alive.

Joined yet another Moleskine contest on http://anothermiyaw.livejournal.com/146627.html#cutid1

Me Want a Mohl-Uh-Skee-Nuh

2008-10-24T01:19:00.000-07:00

How would I use a Moleskine? Let me count the ways...

I do not just create words but I actually get more stimulation out of creating letters on a surface (any surface: notebooks, table napkins, hell even walls for some time) with the strokes of my fingers, enticing the paper with my pen. Here's how much I love the written language: Two of my three tattoos are made up of words, "Born to make mistakes" and "Drei's". What's more, I'm a very impulsive writer. So if I had a Moleskine, I would probably scribble in it more than I would email my fiancé.

Ever since my significant other has destroyed my notebook (it was made of thick, thick brown recycled paper and oh how I loved to write on its pages... sigh) - it simply contained too many remarks about insignificant others from the past - I have downgraded to a spiral notepad that has less sentimental value and that I have filled with even less significant contents: grocery lists, budget lists, lyrics of my current earworm, lists of books to read, music to download, movies to look for in Quiapo. Lists, lists, lists. I suddenly transformed into a less introspective, more practical, nay, mechanical writer.

And that, my fellow prose lovers, simply proves that your passion for writing is directly connected to your relationship with the instruments you write with. Now imagine what a Moleskine would do to your writing habits. You wouldn't even need an inspiration anymore, the notebook itself would already be your muse. I can already picture the pages I would fill with pensive thoughts, happy thoughts, angry thoughts... thoughts, and not lists. I might even take up sketching again.

If I don't win any of the contests by Avalon.ph, I'll just have to wish for one for my birthday. A Moleskine's simply too special to just purchase yourself... I know, very drama queen of me.

For those of you who got all drooly over Moleskine, the series of contests has now started on the Wifely Steps blog and there'll be more to come til December, so why not take your chances.

Han Loves Daphne Loves Derby Loves Emo

2008-10-11T02:49:00.000-07:00

Far past these roads
There is a place
Where all our precious dreams remain
Someday I know
I'll find a way
To keep myself from holding on

Stay awake with the sound of my voice
I'm restless from the silence in the air

I want to be somewhere I can see the roads
A place where everytime you breathe a wish comes true
I want to be where love is real
And memories of distant days come to life again

Inside this room
Time will stand still as long as
I'm not aware of change
The world outside
Leaves me behind by myself
There's no mercy for those who hold on

Stay awake with the sound of my voice
I'm restless from the silence in the air

I want to be somewhere I can see the roads
A place where everytime you breathe a wish comes true
I want to be where love is real
And memories of distant days come to life again

Bakit ba wala nito sa videoke?

Can't.. Suppress... Anymore...

2008-10-10T04:23:00.000-07:00

There's this all too familiar feeling lurking beneath my nerves and in the pits of my stomach. I think I know what it is but I don't dare say it out loud. Because then it would be real and I'd have to admit that I'm 13 again.

My Love-Hate Relationship with Dane Cook

2008-10-03T01:42:00.000-07:00

After watching My Best Friend's Girl last week, I started contemplating Dane Cook's movies so far. In Mr. Brooks he was convincing (maybe it's also just because I didn't know him to be a comedian back then). In Dan in Real Life he was the perfect complement to Michael Scott's, er, Steve Carrell's character. Then in this new comedy with Kate Hudson he was almost adorable, but the entertainer in him could've needed just a bit more push.

I haven't seen Good Luck Chuck yet for the mere reason that I found its trailer, synopsis and movie poster dry, nay, forgettable. But now, having watched his almost-but-not-quite performance by Cook, I think I'll give him a shot.

Now, Dane Cook as a stand-up comedian is a totally different story. He's quirky, he's energetic, and he can find the hidden joke in the most mundane things. What I can't seem to grasp though is how someone who's bigger than life when in front of an audience could suddenly turn into a cardboard cutout when in front of a rolling camera.

The Ballad of Lula and Bela B.

2008-09-05T09:06:00.000-07:00

Okay okay, first of all, I don’t wanna be one of those people who embed way to many vids, music clips, etc. in their blogs (or even on their profile). But this one I just have to share with all of you, simply because it may very well be the best duet I’ve ever heard… and that despite some flaws I’m going to talk about later.

So this is the video of the song "Leave" by Bela B. and Lula. Lula, then still an up-and-coming chanteusse from France, wrote the lyrics to the song and recorded it for her solo album. After Bela B., a German rock icon (for me THE German rock icon) heard Lula’s singing talent he convinced her to rerecord this particular song and to collaborate with him on other projects. Later on, the song came to be included in the soundtrack of the German film "Kaliber Deluxe" (2000), hence the video with snippets from the movie.

Now let me first elaborate on the mini-flaws. There are just two: Lula’s sentence construction and Bela B.’s pronunciation. Again, Lula is French and Bela B. is German, need I say more? There are no lyrics of the song online, but ever since I first saw this video I’ve understood the words as "you’re the one who leaved perfume in my bed". Who leave? Me leave? You leave?

Plus, "a thousand doorbells buzzing in my head" will definitely sound a bit off in a song where the lyricist obviously focused only on the sonics and not on meaning, depth, or even grammar. (Although sonics and depth are easily interchangeable for some.)

Ultimately though, and I don’t mean to romanticize or euphemise, all these minute details put together make up something very, very special, namely the entrancing words and sounds coming from Lula’s mouth and the equally intense singing of Bela B. The first time I saw this video I was literally transfixed and sent into perpetual sigh-dom.

*SIIIIIGH*. This is the only expression I can use to describe what this song does to me. It’s especially the video that I think is so awesome, I think without the catchy video the song wouldn’t be as moving.

Well, see for yourselves folks:

The Soundtrack of My Youth

2008-09-05T08:56:00.000-07:00

Albums that shaped my existence:

Foo Fighters - There is Nothing Left to Lose

Alanis Morissette - Supposed Former Infatuated Junkie, Under Rug Swept

R.E.M. - Up

Natalie Merchant - Ophelia

Lene Marlin - Playing My Game

K’s Choice - Almost Happy

Tonic - Sugar

My Best Friend’s Wedding Soundtrack

Ally McBeal Soundtrack Vol. 1

Message in a Bottle Soundtrack

Goo Goo Dolls - Dizzy Up the Girl

Semisonic - Feeling Strangely Fine

Jude - No One is Really Beautiful

Bryan Adams - MTV Unplugged

Sarah Maclachlan - Mirrorball

Does it mean anything that the most unforgettable songs in my life I listened to when I was in high school, the only time in my life that I was perceptive, uncorrupted, and introversive?

I hate myself. I’m shallow and I now listen to what people say and care what people think. Should listen to more music and connect to myself and daydream more again. Note to self: buy cd changer