Oh shoot...

I'm shooting a commercial again.

When I look back, it's hard to believe i've been in the industry for more than a decade. After stumbling into advertising even before my graduation day, it has never left my system. This is something I love doing and know will do for as long as my mind churns out ideas. Hopefully, that'll be a long, long time. Plus, my former boss told me: "You know, you'll be president of a multinational agency soon..." With a line like that, you can't help but be hooked.

The first commercial shoot I attended was during my 1st working day at Adformatix. The project was for Mamee Noodles (now a dead brand), and it was for a raffle promo. The director was Jun Austria and his AD was Ronnie Bertubin. It wrapped up after midnight, and my parents weren't to thrilled that my first day ended so late.

My first storyboard transformed into an actual TVC was for Coleman. It was a group of kids who you thought were lost in the wild but it turned out they're just camping in their backyard. Ries and Trout says that you'll never forget "first" things, and it's true in this case. Here's what I remember from my first TVC:

Title: Camping
Producer: Raul Blay/Doreen Bernal
Director: Trevor Hone
Talents: Khalil Kaimo (a last minute replacement for CJ Ramos who was doing the celebrity bit.) Charlene Getubrey, Rex Agoncillo (later did the Coke Beat TVC), Cecille Yatco.
Location: Mariposa, New Manila

Being a copywriter trainee then, everything was new and held me in awe. It was a long, arduous process but it was fun, nonetheless. I still remember the script that I wrote for it:

Every Coleman product is designed to withstand the harshness of the great outdoors,
so they can stand up to your normal, everyday use.
Coleman. Unbeliveably tough.

Voice over: Buddy Norton.

After that, I made commercial after commercial after commercial. I've actually lost count of a lot of it, maybe because they were embarassingly bad. But a lot I still remember. Like the Myra series with Eula - that wildly successful campaign. The Splendido Ad that never aired. Palmolive Aromatherapy with Bianca Araneta. KC's Palmolive Ads.

Of course, one of my latest commercials is one of the more spoofed and irritating ones:

Can you say: "Ang soppp... Ang dulas... Gandaaaahhhh"

Go Mama Ricky! You're still a star in my book.

The TVC that we're shooting now is my first board for Y&R HK and it's a really nice concept. We got a french director to shoot it, and he's doing a lovely job handling it. My colleague, George, took pics while we're shooting, and as much as I want to post it, it's confidential.

They're expecting the shoot to end around 7am tomorrow, making it a 26-hour shoot.

This is the part of the shoot that I don't miss...

Few down, a lot more to go

create your own visited country map
or check our Venice travel guide

I've been to 22 countries around the world. For some, that might be a lot, and for others, that might be too little. But if you look at it at a grander, more global scale, I've only visited about 10% of the whole world.

I'd love to travel more, and I certainly will. But I must confess, this recent spate of budget airline tragedies made me lose interest in traveling by air. If I could only globetrot by boat or land, then i'd probably cover much more ground.

I'm a homeboy!

Since I got the keys to my first apartment, my focus has momentarily been diverted from clothes to home accessories. (Operative word being "momentarily.")

The past few days, i've been aimlessly loitering around Ikea, in search of furniture. One thing I noticed is that my method of choosing sofas, tables and chairs is the same as the way I pick out jeans, shirts and shoes. What I did was to distinguish which had to be "classic" and which could be "trendy." Then i decided to spend more on classic furniture and less on the trendy ones.

Ergo, those things that i'll be using a lot, like beds and sofas, are the articles I chose to spend on. Other stuff like closets, tables and shelves, well, that I've decided to scrimp on.

I'm done with the first round tonight, and another one tomorrow. By Monday, they'll be delivering it to my flat and from there, the fun begins!

After my trip to Ikea, I went to Granville and found 2 nice shirts at ISO. That's how "momentarily" momentarily is. (insert evil laughter here.)

Moustache Musings

Things that I noticed since growing this bush on my upper lip:

- My facial hair is golden brown.
- It tends to trap a lot of liquids, making it difficult to drink or sip soup.
- It smells like food after eating.
- Sometimes, i forget that I'm growing one, and feel like something hairy is crawling up my lip. I panic momentarily, but regain my composure.
- I need a moustache trimmer because it's starting to get unruly.
- I'm beginning to develop a mannerism: running my fingers along my moustache when I'm thinking.

Ah, the joys of facial hair.

The world is (a) flat!

Yes, I finally have a flat to call my own. After more than 3 months in Hong Kong, I'm moving in to my very own home away from home.

It isn't a very impressive flat. It's in a commercial building near the touristy side of Kowloon. It isn't 60 storeys high like Tanya's flat, and it's not as picture pretty as the units you see in the ads. (Then again, they're ads. So they're supposed to be pretty.)

What I like about it is that it has a lot of space. The living and dining area is one of the biggest I've seen. And the bedrooms are - in HK city flat standards - huge. My primary consideration when I was looking for a place is that I want to be able to move around. Give me room! That's what I say.

And this flat will give me room. Room to move around. Room to lounge. Room to host my family and friends. Room to cook. Room to store useless stuff that I might amass.

I got my keys tonight, and entered the flat as its new owner. To celebrate, I bought 2 rugs and a silverware set from Ikea. For the record, these are my first "home purchases" in Hong Kong.

Tomorrow, i'll start shopping for beds and other furniture. And by Monday next week, i'll be able to really declare: I'M HOME!

Still growing up

I wrote my first few checks today. Parted with a lot of money in a matter of minutes. But it's for my flat, so why not?

Writing checks feels such a grown up thing to do.

"All grown up"

In the continuing saga of: "Lester tries to grow a moustache."

Almost a month after I last shaved, my moustache and goatee has grown considerably. Whilst it isn't thick and bushy like my Dad's moustache, it ain't sparse and Fu-Manchu-y either. Let's say it's enough to be noticed, but it also allows some of the flesh to pierce through. In fact, if I look at it on the mirror, it's a looks a bit grayish.

Surprisingly, a lot of my officemates dig this "new look" of mine. Reactions range from "you've changed so much," to "that's looks really, really good on you," to "that very cool, eh. Very, very cool!"

Nice feedback, albeit quite vague. It's like answering the question "How are you?" with "I'm fine, thank you," as opposed to "well, i feel a bit feverish, but i'm sure it'll go away with a few glasses of fresh orange juice."

Surprisingly, it was one of my clients who gave me the most concrete feedback.

She saw me and said: "Wow, you've changed a lot since I last saw you." Then I pointed out my moustache and told her that i'm experimenting and trying to grow it. Her pleasantly surprising reply was: "You look all grown up! Without it, you were the boy-next-door, but now, you're a man with character."

It made me realize that I was just that most of my life, the "boy-next-door," much like Bill Pullman. Everybody likes him, but people rarely single him out or look for him. He's this guy who's cool if he's there, but it's ok if he's not. This is cool when you're in your 20s, I guess. But i'm in my 30s, and maybe it's time for me to be somebody else.

One of the nice things about being in a different country is that you can actually reinvent yourself. Though I'm not doing that drastically, I think this "'growing a moustache" is a step closer to that. Yes, they had a glimpse of me "sans moustache" and now that i'm growing it, they're more receptive. I can only imagine how my friends in Manila would react if they see me growing one. They will - like my Mom - probably demand that I shave it off this instant. The reason: it's just not me.

But maybe I'm trying not to be "me" too much. And maybe that's good.

It's funny how they acknowledge my moustache here. This afternoon, one of them asked me: "Hey Lester, can you and your moustache come here for a moment." I thought that was so funny, and cool.

Again, i'm looking at this as an experiment. In a few months, I might want to see the clean-cut me again and shave this friggin' thing off. It does get irritating sometimes, but I can still manage. That's what GROWN-UPS are supposed to do, right?

Amazing how a little bit of facial hair can change your character in a big, BIG way.

That's Interesting. Never saw myself as him...

You scored as Colossus. Colossus is the strongest X-Man physically. His love for his family and his sister Illiana make him strong. Although he can be prone to fits of rage, he has a big heart under that organic steel skin. Powers: Can change his skin into organic steel making him nearly invunerable and exponentially increasing his strength Jean Grey 90% Colossus 90% Cyclops 85% Gambit 85% Rogue 80% Iceman 75% Beast 70% Nightcrawler 70% Storm 60% Wolverine 60% Emma Frost 45% Most Comprehensive X-Men Personality Quiz 2.0 created with QuizFarm.com

Zara-tonin

Whoever owns the Zara franchise in Hong Kong must be grinning ear-to-ear. Zara on a weekend is just like Greenhills on December 22 - packed with people, and shopping frantically.

I'm a big Zara fan since the early 2000s when I discovered the store in Barcelona. I find their menswear casual but edgy, and the women's line is classic but playful. Since then, i'd make a regular pilgrimage to outlets in Europe almost every year, and would happily come home with a stash of jeans, shirts and the occasional jacket. What's great about this brand is that the stuff I bought 4 years ago are as wearable now as when i first bought them... that's a testament to how timeless the appeal of the brand is.

I bought my first pair of really low-rise jeans way back in 2002, and when i wear them today, people keep on asking me where I got them. When I explain that I got them 3 years ago, they swear that the design could have been something from this season's collection. Which makes me realize that Zara is not only timeless, it's fashion forward.

Now, Zara is taking up more space in my closet than it did 2 years ago. It didn't help that they now have stores in Asia, and it has elevated from being a once-a-year thing to a once-I-feel-like-it thing. Some of my favorite clothing pieces are from Zara, and my dual-time watch from Singapore is yet to be dethroned as the best looking watch ever.

Shopping in Zara Hong Kong is much more difficult that when i'm in KL or Singapore. The reason being there are more fans of the brand here. Nay, they're not Zara fans, but Zara HOARDERS! One thing I learned is that when you see something you like, go ahead and buy it. Because in a few hours, it might be gone forever.

Take this simple jersey that I saw last night. It was made of a nice cotton fabric, there was an interesting slit in front, nice print, and it was only HK$49! (the price is what did it for me.) So, I saw it last night, and there was a big pile of it in different colors and designs. I came back today after lunch, and the shirts were all gone!

AFTER LESS THAN HALF A DAY, ALL THE SHIRTS WERE GONE! THAT SHOULD BE WRITTEN IN THE GUINESS BOOK OF WORLD RECORDS!

Imagine, in a span of 3 hours, all the shirts, in all the colors, all the designs and all the sizes were lapped up by this crowd of shoppers in the Kowloon branch. (It's the price! I'm sure it's the price!) I proceeded to the IFC branch, and all the shirts were gone as well. That's how popular it is.

Maybe it's because the brand is new and a novelty that people are just snapping everything up, call it an "infatuation phase" with the brand. Knowing how finicky the Hong Kong market is, the brand might not be as hot in a few years or so. But for those like me who are in a long term relationship with Zara, no matter where the store is or how old it is, i'll always feel the same way. Just like that moment I first laid my eyes on it in Barcelona in 2001.

So while its making some Hong Kong businessman very happy these days, Zara has been making me happy for the last 4 years.

And I heard that the Manila store is almost complete. Ah yes, it's yet another reason to be deliriously happy.

Good deeds

I miss doing them. It's one thing I can't do as often here in Hong Kong, for the main reason I don't know too many people who need good deeds.

In Manila, good deeds are fun and easy to do. It was as simple as dropping by Adformatix to tell Sir Con that he's the reason why I am where I am now. Or dropping by Arnie's office with a little treat on hand, like Kiehl's lip balm. Or carrying a cake all the way to La Union so that they can get a taste of excellent Apple Walnut-Cake from Manila. Or buying Prichy lunch at our favorite hang-out, Jollibee Vito Cruz. Or buying my sister a new ensemble at People are People. Or giving an unsuspecting cab driver a P100 tip.

What constitutes a good deed for me? It's something you do that puts a smile on someone else's face. That someone can be someone I love: like my sibling, nephews, nieces or friends. It can be someone who created a lasting impact on your life: former bosses, former colleagues, people you've crossed paths with once but left quite an impression, or someone who I shared my life with. It can also be someone random: a cab driver, a salesclerk, a lost tourist, or a kid on the street.

Good deeds make people happy. Happiness, in my opinion, is the best thing one person can give another person. Each and everyone, including myself, can't have too much happiness. It something that you'll never tire giving, and getting a lot of. And this is the precise reason why I love doing good deeds, because it makes me, and another person, happy.

Double Happiness! Ask any Chinese person, and they'll tell you this is tres good.

Yes, I do a few good deeds here and there, but I miss doing it on a regular basis.

So what's stopping me?

First, i don't think people here are used to being the recipients of good deeds. So they react to it with ambivalence, or worse, suspicion. I guess it's a cultural thing. No one's nice to other people, so they don't expect other people to be nice to them. It comes as quite a shock whenever I bring "pasalubong" from Manila to HK, and I do mean A SHOCK! But it looks like they're getting used to it, ergo, I'm fast becoming "Lester, the good boy."

Second, i don't know too many people here. And the people I know don't need good deeds, (or I don't think they need good deeds.) I should really go out and meet more people, so I can have more "good deed" recipients. I'm also afraid that my being nice might be misconstrued as something else: like being cocky or narcissistic, or worse, messianic.

Third, I miss the people I'm used to doing good deeds for. After three months, I realize how much I miss my sisters and brother, my nephews and nieces, my D' Frendz, my Melrose gang, my former officemates, and all the people who mean something and everything to me. I'm actually doing a few good deeds for them, but I have to wait until I go back to Manila before I can see the happiness on their faces.

But like McGyver, I should make do with what I have. Maybe I should chuck fear out the window and start doing good deeds for some random Pinoy in HK. It would be nice to see a random face radiate with happiness again.

"What's the point?"

It's a question that I find myself asking the past few weeks.

It usually follows: "Are there any nice jeans today?" Or, "What did I buy this time?"

Well, at least those two questions are easy to answer. "Yes, there were nice jeans at G-Star Raw, but they were a bit loose around the leg area and they make me look short and stubby." "No, I didn't buy anything, but the Miss Sixty denim blazer would definitely look good on my sister."

But when you ask yourself "What's the point?" You're in for quite a search.

Better start searching now...

Spooky!

It's been a while since a movie last spooked me. And I must say, "The Skeleton Key" spooked me GOOD!

There was an instant disconnect when the name "Kate Hudson" was in a horror movie poster. I'm certain that a lot of people thought: "Where the hell is bright and bubbly Kate?" Then again, it would be nice to see Kate out of her element, just to see if she's as versatile as she's touted to be. Can she beat the "Meg Ryan curse" and prove her range?

The answer is Yes. Whilst it wasn't a groundbreaking revelation, it was refreshing to see Kate play a dark character. She managed to ditch all the cutesy-patootsy antics she carried with her in "How to Lose a guy in 10 days" and "Raising Helen." This was something Meg Ryan couldn't do. I swear, while I was watching "In the Cut" and "Proof of Life," my mind was waiting for her to do that "Awww...shucks" head throw that she mastered. Even in "City of Angels," it was hard to take her seriously as a doctor contemplating on how life fragile is.

Enough of Meg Ryan. I love her! She just needs to work on her range. I love "Kate and Leopold", by the way.

Back to Kate. In "Skeleton Key", I momentarily forgot she was Kate Hudson and was convinced she was really a New Jersey girl trying to make a living in New Orleans. She was totally lost in her character.

The nice thing about the movie is that it eschews all those tried and tested horror tricks. No shadows crossing in front of the camera. No sudden music crescendos. There were a few things popping in from out of nowhere, which was cool. With this combination, it escaped the rut that "The Others" fell into, and that is being compared to "The Sixth Sense" too much. (This was M. Night's best film yet, his others were so lame! But I digress...)

It's really the end of the film that got me. The conclusion and resolution was quite subtle, some might even say it's predictable. But once you leave the theater, and start piecing the things together, that's where the scariness really kicks in. And believe me, it KICKS IN hard and good.

I watched the film in the morning, and I was still carrying that spooked out feeling at night. While walking, my mind was playing "Iko, Iko" and goosebumps would just pop out of my skin. I haven't had this kindn of feeling since "The Blair Witch Project."

More horror films should be made this way. It's one big mind game, and a fertile mind is the best place to plant horror seeds.

Bread-diction

A few days after finally deciding to check out the little bakery in front of the office, I find myself addicted to two of their products.

The first one is their version of the "monggo-bread." It's this croissant-looking creation with swirls of red bean paste. It also has a sprinkling of peanuts and a generous dose of sesame seeds. This creates the right blend of sweetness that makes it excellent for breakfast of dessert.

The second one is a long, rectangular shaped soft bread. It looks like one of those submarine sandwich buns, although this is a bit flatter. It's filled with floss and beans (suspiciously Hunt's pork and beans tasting), and has a few peanuts here and there. This bread is great as merienda because it's like a very light sandwich with a sweet/salty kick.

I've been buying these two everyday for the past few days. I'm hoping my frequent visits will help me secure a discount in the near future.

It's a holiday! Time to answer a survey...

LAST MOVIE YOU SAW IN A THEATER:	The Brother's Grimm
WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW:	Archive
FAVORITE BOARD GAME:	Mad Magazine game
FAVORITE MAGAZINE:	In Style
FAVORITE SMELLS:	Fresh sheets, stuff coming out of a Balikbayan box
COMFORT FOOD:	Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
FAVORITE SOUNDS:	Howling wind
WORST FEELING IN THE WORLD:	Diarrhea
WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU THINK OF WHEN YOU WAKE UP IN THE MORNING:	What time is it?
FAVORITE FAST FOOD PLACE:	McDonald's & Jollibee
FUTURE CHILD'S NAME:	Boy: Eduardo Miguel; Girl: Sofia Ysabel
FINISH THIS STATEMENT: "IF I HAD A LOT OF MONEY, I WOULD":	Make a lot of people happy
DO YOU DRIVE FAST:	Nope
DO YOU SLEEP WITH A STUFFED ANIMAL:	Nope
STORMS -- COOL OR SCARY:	Cool
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CAR:	Proton Wira
FAVORITE ALCOHOLIC DRINK:	Corona, Tequila
FINISH THIS STATEMENT,'IF I HAD THE TIME, I WOULD LOVE TO':	Spend more time with my family and friends
DO YOU EAT THE STEMS OF BROCCOLI:	Yes
IF YOU COULD DYE YOUR HAIR ANY COLOR, WHAT WOULD YOU CHOOSE:	Black
GLASS HALF-EMPTY OR FULL:	Half full
HOW MANY CITIES/TOWNS HAVE YOU LIVED IN:	Quite a number
FAVORITE PLACE TO RELAX:	In a cinema house
FAVORITE SPORT TO WATCH:	Gymnastics
WHAT IS UNDER YOUR BED:	Shoes, suitcase
TOILET PAPER/ PAPER TOWEL--OVER OR UNDER:	Under
CREATE YOUR OWN! - or - GET PAID TO TAKE SURVEYS!

Lester and Melvin attack Macau

"Pictures paint a thousand words." So goes the cliche. But they're cliches because they're true, a lot of times over. As much as i'd love to write about Macau, and how I've bonded with the country in such short a time, I'm going to let pictures tell the story in the meantime. (And besides, i'm STILL going to write about Macau when my mind is a bit more organized and lucid.)



Like two good altar boys, Melvin and I are well behaved in front of the Ruins of St. Paul. This place is much nicer at night. Very serene, with only a few people camped out - some having an impromptu picnic, others walking their dogs. Most of the time, they're locals, which is a welcome change after seeing this place swarming with tourists during the day.



Lester, the jolly white giant, attacks the unsuspecting city of Macau. He heads off to the Macau Tower and tries to pull it out.



After a long, arduous fight, Lester is overpowered by the sheer might and determination of the nation's army. Once apprehended by the National Guard, they chained the jolly white giant, hoping he will no longer wreak havoc in the city.



Outside the Macau Cathedral at night. Very peaceful. Very serene. It feels like you're in the plaza of some colonial town in the Philippines -- like Vigan, La Union or Malinao.



And here's an absolutely hare-raising shot to end the night.

Of long weekends and unfinished posts

It's going to be a 3-day weekend, thanks to the mid-autumn festival. Melvin and I are jetfoiling off to Macau tomorrow for some serious R&R and a mean round of photography. I'm going to test drive his Canon D50 because i'm planning to buy something similar. Might as well master my shooting skills while i've got nothing to do on weekends.

It'll also be a good time to finish writing my other blog posts. I've got about 5 or 6 blog drafts that I haven't published yet. The thought isn't as complete as I'd want it to, so I decided to park it until I've filled in the missing bits.

Three days to practice my writing and photography skills - indeed, this will be a happy weekend!

Nice jeans...

My officemate and fellow fashion-phile had to stop me as I walked down the corridor. He looked at my jeans and said: "Hey, where did you get those jeans? They're gorgeous!"

Coming from a person who's hard to please and perpetually complaining about the fashion sense of people at the office, this is definitely a good thing.

I'm so glad a I got these jeans.

Last night's best buy...

Jeans from two percent homme.

Compared to the jeans i've been buying in the past, these ones look pretty boring. No distressed details. No patches. No prints. No fading. They're just your good ole "boy next door" blue jeans. So why did I buy them? The fit and construction are utterly and undeniably fabulous.

The waist, though not very low, falls somewhere between the 1st and 2nd hip. So if I'm feeling a little bit risque, all I need to do is to give it a little tug - and voila - "dangerously low waist" jeans. The leg is cut straight and very linear, as an added bonus, it's cut close to the body. This skimming effect gives me the illusion of added height. (I can almost hear my friends say: "what do you need that for? You're tall.) I also like the hem which has a little roughed-up edge, and the fact that it has the perfect length. When I'm wearing my Chuck's, they fall exactly on the ground - no more, no less. This is great because I don't have to trip all over them. (Unlike my favorite Lee D-strukt jeans.)

Oh, there's a quirky detail near the butt pocket - a little belt at the back - in case you lost a little weight since you bought them.

I loved this pair so much that I bought 2: one in deep navy, and one in black. The black one is my first pair of black jeans in eons. But with a fit like that, I'd buy it in any color - even pink!

Since we're on the subject, they do have pink jeans at TH. I don't think i've got enough fashion power to wear them, so while they look cool, I thought it best to stay away - far away from them.

AND NOW, ON TO MY SISTERS' JEANS

They've got new stocks at Maple and Outlet 100, and they've got a new stash of Zanadi Jeans.

Zanadi is an American brand, and is actually made for teens. But since American teens are notoriously tall and full bodied, their jeans can fit grown women as well. They come in sizes 1 to 11, and the 5 to 9 range will fit any woman with waistlines 26 to 32.

I was able to get 2 pairs: one was this plain medium wash denim that looked plain up front, but from behind, you have this elaborate embroidery of a mermaid amidst a floral paradise. One look and I was bowled over! I knew Ate Bullet would look spectacular on those. The second one had floral embroidery, beadwork, and steel rivets scattered all over the waist and leg area. It channeled those Abercrombie and Fitch designer denims - at a fraction of the original price.

Aside from those two, I also bought a pair of Request jeans - and these are BAD-ASS-ROCKER-CHICK jeans. It was fully painted with swallows and pierced hearts, and had the word "Request" painted then embroidered around the back hip area. Then there was a pair of Rush jeans that didn't have a waist band - i'd call these the DAMN-I'M-SEXY-COME-HITHER-AND-DROOL-AT-ME jeans. I bought a black belt to go with that - and i'm sure this ensemble will give my sister another round of looks. (Add to the tons she already gets.)

I should really change careers and work as a buyer and/or stylist. I'm getting really good at buying clothes and creating looks for other people. Just ask Alfie and you'll know.

McNificent

Tried out the new Grilled Chicken Sandwich combo at McDonald's and I must say that it's a great addition to their menu. It's a big chicken breast marinated in barbecue sauce, then grilled juicy and not dry. Then it's sanwiched between two torpedo buns with lettuce and mayo. The sweet-ish chicken breast flavor is neutralized by the lettuce, and the mayo adds a tangy twist. The soft bun tempers the entire flavor mix.

Plus, the combo comes with potato wedges in lieu of French Fries. Wedges - wherever you buy them - is a taste and texture explosion that leaves fries out in the cold. The only fries that can go mano-a-mano with wedges are the Vlamsees Frittes in Amsterdam. These potato babies really fill-in whatever space is left in your stomach.

Top it all off with a cold glass of Coke light and a red bean pie, and you've got lunch that'll make any fast food junkie happy.

I think i'll do this again tomorrow!

This looks strangely familiar..;.

My room in Hong Kong is beginning to look like my old room in QC. Shoes are all crammed under the bed, and when there's no more space, I park them in every corner of the room. My small closet is all filled with jeans and jackets that i've resorted to folding my extra jeans and putting them on top of the television set. My shirt cabinet is likewise packed, so you can see a pile of shirts on the refrigerator and tv stand. And my shorts? They're sitting on the couch along with my back pack - leaving no space for me to rest on.

Obviously, i've been buying too many clothes again. And to think i haven't even begun transporting my clothes from Manila to Hong Kong. When that's done and over with, then my room will definitely feel like home.

Odd...

Odd Comments...

I'm actually quite surprised when people leave comments on this blog - pleasantly surprised if I might add. But the past few days saw my blog getting weird comments from people selling some sort of unearthly currency. Mesuspects that it might be the blog equivalent of spam.

So if it's Blog Spam, should it be called BLAM?

Odd Salad...

Bought this fresh fruit salad from my favorite Mango Sago place along Haiphong Road last night. It had fresh fruits alright, but it also had boiled eggs! And instead of cream, it had a mayonnaise base. It tasted like egg salad meets fruit salad. Of course, I got a hang of the taste eventually, but it didn't stop it from being odd.

So if it's Fruit and Egg salad, should it be called a FREGG SALAD?

I'm a G(r)eek!

Athena


?? Which Of The Greek Gods Are You ??
brought to you by Quizilla

I've always been fascinated by Greek Mythology. I think i've read and re-read Edith Hamilton's "Mythology" book more than 100 million times. I wanted to stop Pandora from opening the box and my heart fell when she eventually did. When Orpheus chose to look back and check whether Eurydice was still following him, I almost shouted out: "Don't you understand the meaning of trust? You should trust Hades because he is a god." Hera always held my fascination because of her cunningness and capacity for vengeance.

There was a time when i memorized all the gods' names - both Roman and Greek. Like Venus was Aphrodite, or Mercury was Hermes, or Athena was Minerva, Diana was Artemis, Juno was Hera and the great father of the gods Zeus was also Jupiter.

Reading the results of this quiz instantaneously put a smile on my face. When we were in high school, we were required to do a stage play based on a Mythological tale. I don't quite remember which story we did, but I do remember who I played. We were an all-boys school, so in the tradition of old English theatre, the males had to do female roles. And the part I got?

Athena.

Daddy's boy

My Dad always called me his "carbon copy." Growing up, he'd always show me off to his friends and tell them that i'd look just like him when I reach adulthood.

There were instances that really proved his point. One time, from out of nowhere, some guy walks up to me and asks: "Anak ka ba ni Egat?" And this was the first time I saw this guy! He turned out to be Dad's friend, and he identified me because I looked exactly like him. Then, there was this instance when I answered the door, the person outside looks at me for a few seconds and asks: "Egat?"

Dad and me have the same bushy eyebrows and face shape. One of our main differentations is that he has a moustache, and i've got a smooth face (most of the time, at least.) But today, I've decided to grow a moustache and a beard, just for kicks. I want to see if I'll really look like Dad when all factors are made equal.

Giving them wings

"Later that year, at the turn of spring
Heaven sent angels down,
and gave Grandma her wings.
Now she's flying, and sliding, and gliding,
in better days."

- BETTER DAYS by Dianne Reeves

In a span of two weeks, 4 people I know were given their wings by heaven.

First was Onat, our former final artist, who succumbed to Kidney failure. He was only 32, and never did I see this happening to him at such a young age. Onat was the quiet type, but we'd talk a lot about our common favorite subject - jeans. We never failed to complement each other if we thought the jeans we were wearing are high on the "cool charts." This was usually followed by 2 important questions: where did you buy it, and how much is it. We were both big fans of Big Star Denim and all those funky cut jeans. And we never tired talking about that.

Once, I told Onat how cool his BC Ethic cap is, so he was generous enough to lend it to me. It was the cap I wore in one of my favorite photo shoots. He never asked me to give him the cap back. He was generous with his stuff just as he was generous with his time, stories, and work.

Second was Ate Ging. I heard that she passed away Monday due to a depression-related sickness. Ate Ging was one of my cousins in Bicol. Their house was just beside my grandparents' home that's why we would hang-out at their place often during summer. Ate Ging was very mild-mannered and quiet, but I often looked at her as a figure of authority. We last saw each other 2 summers ago when we had this mini-reunion in Bicol. Little did I know that it was the last time i'd see her.

This made me realize how a bad thing depression can be. It was also an eye-opener to how volatile life is. We were talking about what happened last night, and Auntie Ben - her mom - said that Ate Ging looked alright that day. She saw her kids off to school, she even collected the lunch that my Aunt sent her. Then a few minutes after lunch, when my cousin-in-law Kuya Dodie came home, he saw Ate Ging lifeless on the sofa. Nobody saw it coming, but it did.

Yesterday, John and Franz were found murdered in their home. It was apparently the handiwork of their houseboy and driver who planned a robber/carnapping. But as these stories usually play out, their plan probably went awry, then Franz and John might have put up a fight.

Last night, while I was walking and trying to digest their fate, there was a heavy load in my heart and it almost drove me to tears. Often, you read about violent crimes like this, but when it happens to someone you know, and someone who's a friend, it just magnifies the senselessness of it all. Why couldn't they have just taken the money? Why did they have to hurt John and Franz? I wouldn't be surprised if I read somewhere that they were high on drugs when they did the deed. I also read that one of the culprits left his license in the Pajero. With this positive ID, I hope they can capture these guys immediately, and give them the death penalty in an instant.

My last correspondence with John was about 2 months ago when I transferred to Harrison, and our building was just behind his work place. He was setting up a lunch meeting so we can update each other with our own goings-on, and at the same time, he could give me the Stroopkoeken that i've asked him as "pasalubong" during his last trip to Amsterdam. Now I'll never be able to talk to John, not be able to share travel stories, not be able to go to the videoke, and never have that Wunderman reunion we've always wanted to have.

Death is always a sad occurence. But it also serves as an eye-opener, it tells us how we should really cherish every minute of our lives, how we should tell people we love just how much we love them, how we should never let chances pass, because we never know when life is going to end.

Right now, I try to make sense of things with Dianne Reeve's song. That even if their life on Earth has ended, somewhere they're using their new-found wings to fly, slide and glide in better days.

Losing John

Erwin called me up around lunchtime with gory and shocking news. Our friend John was found murdered in their house this morning. He had multiple stab wounds, and the motive for the killing is still unknown.

All I could think of was: "Why John?" He was such a nice guy who didn't have a mean bone in his body. We worked together during our Wunderman days, and I know him to be such a generous soul. He and Franz loved to travel, and we'd always look at their pics from Brazil, Spain, and their native Appledoorn. He'd always bring us Stroopwaffles from Holland everytime he'd go there. And he would always volunteer his messengerial services whenever he'd go to Amsterdam - just in case i'd like to send Roland something, and vice-versa.

He was also a big singer, like most Pinoys. During my birthday in 2003, we went to 8th day to watch Freestyle, and he sang "Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang" with Jinky, to the delight of the audience. John had a very good singing voice, and Chiqui, his constant "duet-mate" can attest to this.

It's during times like these when you look up and ask: "Why?"

We might never know the reason. I just pray that he's in a better place now. And I pray much fervently that whoever did this to John and Franz will pay for this heinous and senseless crime.

I know this is harder than it sounds, but, Rest in Peace, John and Franz. Our prayers are with you.

Tired...

I must have been really tired last night.

The moment I entered my room at around 9pm, i didn't even bother to turn on the lights. I proceeded to lie down, and automatically fell asleep. I woke up at 2am, still wearing my jacket, jeans and shoes. While i'd normally stand up to change and wash up, i just decided to sleep some more.

So there I was. Room without airconditioning (was too lazy to even turn it on), still wearing my office clothes (complete with shoes), and slumped on the bed.

I woke up at 6am, then changed to my white shirt and boxers, then fell asleep again. By 9am, that's when i became lucid and really awake.

All those nights sleeping after midnight are beginning to take their toll.

I've been ID-ed

Went to the Immigration department to collect my ID card. The system for collection is as efficient and high-tech as the application process.

After you turn in your temporary ID, they ask if you're picking up the ID personally. When you answer "yes", they ask you for your left and right thumbmarks to see whether it matches with what they have on their database. And when it's a perfect match, you get your card.

One of the neat things about this ID card is the chip which stores all your important data. This makes it virtually impossible for anyone to misuse the ID or get around carrying a stolen one.

In Macau, you even have the option to NOT pass through an immigration officer when you arrive. All you need to do is insert your ID card in the "E-pass immigration system", then put your thumb on the marker, and you're set. The data of your arrival has been automatically stored.

Having a National ID like this really is a big source of convenience for people. At least we don't have to carry separate SSS, TIN, Pag-Ibig, and PhilHealth IDs. It's also easier to track Filipinos leaving and returning. It'll also provide easier access to personal records in the census.

People are afraid that it might be used as a tool to violate human rights, as personal data would be so easy to access and use. But if people can go beyond paranoia, this National ID system just might work.

The Racist is on!

There was this very interesting guest in the seminar we attended today. She's a dermatologist, and if I may add to her credentials, she's also a racist.

Background: She's a Hong Kong born Chinese who grew up and studied in Australia. Judging from her language and demeanor, she has assimilated well into the culture down-under. Heck, she even has their penchant for putting other races down.

It all started with a simple question: "Why are Chinese people obsessed with white skin?" She answered by launching this litany of how inferior other races are.

"People from Hong Kong and China have no self-identity," she opens. "They've been influenced by the British and the West for so long that they feel the need to look and act like them." She argues that most of the people from the west are white skinned, Asians feel that if they have the same skin color, they can attain the same status them. Thus, the desire to be whiter.

At this argument, most of the people in the room gave an uneasy scoff. Maybe because 60% of the people in the room were Chinese from both the Mainland and Hong Kong.

Then, she continues by bashing the West as well. She said that the people from North America and Europe are obsessed with getting tans because it gives them a sense of status. That white skinned Westerners are minimum wage earners who can't even afford to take a vacation in Santorini because their salary can't afford them to. And they want to get a tan, even the fake ones, just to lead people to believe that they have money to go on a sunny holiday.

To cap it all off, she launches another salvo against South and South East Asians. "There's a stigma that comes with dark skin in Asia," according to her. "Why? Because look at the dark skinned people. Who are they? They're Indians, and most of the Indians are our security guards and laborers. They're Filipinos, and Filipinos are are domestic helpers. They're Indonesians, and they're prostitutes. Who would want to be associated with them?"

Including myself, there were 3 Filipinos in that room. While we would love to pounce on this ignorant "Chinese masquerading as an Australian," we decided to keep quiet and let her ramble on. It's not that we don't love our country enough to defend it, we just felt it's not worth fighting a battle because it would be stooping down to a lower level.

What made this woman so strange is that she's completely ignored the fact that she's Asian. Because she was raised and educated in Australia, she feels like an Australian and feels she can trample on other "non-1st world races." I just hope she realizes that after she's stripped of the degrees and accent, she is still Asian. No matter how long she lived in Australia, she is still Chinese.

Alas, that also happens to a lot of Filipinos. I've met quite a number of Pinoys who are living abroad who diss the Philippines so much, never needing encouragement to put the country and its people down. They feel that just because they have a new home country or a new citizenship, they've eradicated the core of their identity, that is, being a Filipino.

Often, i feel sorrier for Filipinos who think like this. They fall under that old tagalog saying: "Ang matsing, damitan mo man ng ginto, matsing pa rin."

It's beginning to look a lot like...

September 1 is a one of the dates I look forward to. I'd wake up and excitedly prepare for work. Board the Cubao jeep going to the MRT station, whip out my stored value ticket, go through the security check, and go up to the platform. There, i'd hear it. The sound that never fails to lift my spirits high:

"We wish you a Merry Christmas. We wish you a Merry Christmas. We wish you a Merry Christmas. And a Happy New Year!"

Today marks the official start of the Christmas season in Manila. Radio stations would start playing all the cheesy and not-so-cheesy holiday ditties. People will start greeting you "Merry Christmas" in half-jest. National Book Store will start bringing out their cards and wrappers. And people will start taking out their naughty/nice list and start shopping.



I love, love, LOVE the fact that we have THE longest Christmas season in the world. It begins September and ends on the Feast of the Magi. I guess it reflects our innate love for parties and joyous occasions. Being 101% Filipino, I always try to find an excuse to party, or organize a party. There's something about friends, food and funky music that really gives me an adrenaline rush. The season gives us the excuse to party as much as we want, as long as we want.



I'm going to miss that this year. When I rode the MTR this morning, it was the usual tri-lingual PA system asking everyone to "Please mind the gap between train and the platform," and "Please stand back from the door." When I was walking to the office, I had the same "it's business as usual" feeling. No one's there to greet me "Merry Christmas" or "Uy, Ber months na! Pasko na!"

Maybe I should just run off to HMV, buy a Christmas CD and pop it in my iBook. It won't be the same, but it's a start.

MERRY CHRISTMAS WORLD!