Ako ang Susunod na American Idol!

O sige, sige.. may pagka-pilingero ako sa pamagat ng sanaysay na ito. Syempre, kailangan kong dagitin ang atensyon mo! Di ba epektibo? Hehe.

Nananahimik akong naghahapunan noong bandang gitna nang Enero, nang si Mabolo ay binulabog ako nang biglang nagpadala nang mensahe sa akin, “Si Adam Lambert“. Syempre, sino ba naman si Adam Lambert noong panahon na yun!? Di ko siya kilala. Kaya nag-reply ako: “Sino!? Ano!?”. Sumagot muli, “..American Idol, kamuka mo!” Syempre, yaman din lamang libre ang internet namin sa bahay, hindi na ko nagpatumpik-tumpik pa at tiningnan ko na kagad ang larawan nang ungas na sumisira sa imahe ko. Naks.

Napanood ko ang kanyang pag-awit mula sa awdisyon. Hindi doon nagtapos ang aking pagkalkal sa kung sino ba itong si Adam. Sabi nga ng guro ko, kailangan lahat ng bagay at aspeto ay pagmasdan bago dumating sa konklusyon. TAMA! Tinamaan ako ng magaling. Kinikilabutan ako na para bang may malamig na hangin na umihip sa likod ko habang pinapanood ko ang buong palabas. Kinilig din ako na tila ba naiihi ako sa pagkabalisawsaw. Parang ganun. Alam mo na yun!

Kinabukasan, nagkita kame ng mga kaibigan naming Chinoy sa Binondo para sa misa ng Chinese Nu Yir. Nabanggit sa akin na may kamuka raw ako sa naturang palabas. Alam ko na… kumalat na ang ebola. Hindi ko na maaapula ang pagsikat ko dahil sa husay at taglay na “arrive” nang GUMAGAYA SA AKIN na si Adam. Bwahaha. Iilan lamang ang mga babasahin ukol sa kanya sa internet. Dahil na rin siguro sa hindi pa siya masyadong nakikilala sa larangan nang telebisyon, sapagkat siya na rin mismo ang nagsabi, ang entablado ang kanyang tahanan.

Pilit ko mang hindi isinasaksak sa utak ko ang aming pagkakahawig ay naintriga talaga ako, at inaamin ko, lumala ang pagka-pilingero ko na kame ay magkabungo. Inabangan ko siya bawat Linggo sa mga dumaan na palabas nang naturang kompetisyon. Maging ang aking AVATAR sa YM ay naging larawan ni Adam na may 3 o 4 na kataong napagkamalang akin nga ang imahe. Umigting ang aking pagkiling sa kanyang presensya. Habang siya ay nakikilala at nakikilatis, dumarami rin ang aking taga-hanga. Harhar. Dumami ang nakaalala sa akin, maging ang mga taong matagal ko nang hindi nakakausap o nakikita ay nagteks. Saan man ako mapunta, sa opisina, paaralan, kliyente at kung saan-saan pa… eto na ang aking “BIG BREAK”. Sa kabila nang kanyang kasikatan, si Adam ay nanatiling tapat sa kanyang pangarap na pasikatin ang AMING BITUIN. Naglabasan rin ang mga hindi kaaya-ayang balita ukol sa kanya sa kabilang banda, gaya nito.

Sabi ko na nga ba. Si Adam ang sagot sa aking karukhaan at di na ako  muling mababaon sa utang kung susuwertehin! [Salamat na rin kay Emz, na nagdildil sa akin na isulat ang blog na ito.. sa paniniwalang makakatulong ito sa karera ko. LOL]

Upang hindi naman isipin ng nakararami na umabot na sa utak ang lahat, nagpatabas ako nang buhok. Para lang ipakitang hindi ako ang tipong nakikisakay lang sa kasikatan nang iba. SILA ANG SUMASAKAY SA KASIKATAN KO! *tumbling tayo*

LINGGO SA SEMENTERYO

Putakte.

Nasa sementeryo kame nung Linggo.

Niyaya lang ako ng kachoir ko na dalawin raw namen yung tiyahin niya dahil araw ng kamatayan nito. Bale nagiisang kapatid na babae raw ito ng tatay nya. Syempre… dahil kaladkarin nga ako, sumama ako kaagad kahit medyo makulimlim na nuon dahil tag-ulan sa mahal kong MAKATI.

Sa madaling sabi, hindi na ko nagpatumpik-tumpik pa at sumama na kaagad kahit na sando lang ang suot ko.

Ikot dito. Ikot doon.

Kala ko naman, alam na niya yung hinahanap naming na puntod. Syempre ikot pa ren. Kasi nalimutan nya raw. May mga nitsong may disenyong naglalakihang Anghel at Krus ang nakita namen sa ibabaw ng mga mala-higanteng libingan sa South Cemetery [Oi.. plugging! Wahaha!]

Lahat na ng pinanganak na halos kasabayan ng tatay ng kaibigan ko e tiningnan ko na sa bawat lapida. BUWISET talaga… tagaktak na pawis ko sa kakaikot. JABBAR ito eh! Napagpasyahan namen na maghiwalay na lang para mas mabilis namen Makita ang puntod.

Ilang sandali pa ay narinig ko nang tuwang-tuwa ang kaibigan ko ng makita niya ang hinahanap namen. “ETO NA SI TITAAAA!” — Jusko. Salamat po after 2 hours nakita na ren namen.

Paglapit ko… napamura ako sa gitla. NAMP***! Sabi ko, “Bakit di mo kagad sinabi!? Sabi mo tita mo!?”

“Oo nga, tita ko… kaya lang namatay siya sa sakit nung 4 months pa lang siya!”

HANEP.

Malaki pa sa kahon ng sapatos ko ang libingan niya. Nampotek. Eto pa, nakalublob sa baha ang libingan ng pobreng matanda… este bata.

Loob-loob ko na lang e, hindi sakit ang kinamatay ng tiyahin niya… kundi LUNOD! Bwahaha!

CHRISTMAS break

CHRISTMAS BREAAAAAAAAAAAK!

I waited for a long while to at least enjoy a mere whole week of HOLIDAYS!

Last year, since I was still new at work, I was not able to avail of a long vacation leave that COERCED me to come to work the day after Christmas day and the day after NEW YEAR’S. It was like hell, I know, but practicality swept away all my lazy thoughts and all the evil that made me feel the lethargy which could have ended my career. Bwahaha!

Now, now… I am 5 days away from my dream, not just one, but two-week vacation! My FURLOUGH begins on DEC 22 ‘07 til JAN 6 ’08! That’s 16 days! 16 days! YAHOO! I was supposed to consider a new job during the start of DECEMBER since the company I applied for was in a haste in hiring new guys. I just felt a strong need to enjoy a short break so I begged for an extension. Plus, I have never experienced a REAL break since I started working.

I will dig on the pile of DVDs I purchased for THE HOLIDAYS. Also, I will start shopping for Xmas Gifts since I have not purchased anything yet, I am still contemplating if I will start going to the GYM as a resolution. Haha. My friends and I will hop on every cinema come filmfest week.

When I go back to work on January, everything will be fresh and new. I’ve never been so excited for the Holidays like this.

Side Story:

The company party was held last week, Dec 12^th at mag:net café in Bonifacio High Street. I always knew that I’m lucky in raffles, competitions and alike. That however big a company is, I would still grab one of the grand giveaways, if not the major prize at stake!

This party wasn’t so different; I was able to get a BRAND AWARD as voted for by my colleagues. Thanks to them. However, I was really looking forward to having a HOTEL ACCOMMODATION Gift Certificate more than anything else, that night!!!

DANG.

I went home empty-handed. I left the vicinity with not even a body scrub at hand. Hence, the lull.

The Frog Prince in Hollywood

I will not be talking about myself — So, zip it.

HOLLYWOOD has turned a lot of geeks, nerds and hopeless cases in the looks department into BIG SWANS. Now, these guys are reaping tons of dough for looking good and earning more than an executive could earn.

In the local setting, Philippine show business has changed the face of a Filipina into a diva icon – after a nose bleeding Calayan or Belo overhaul. Filipinos tend to emulate the western perspective in beauty and lifestyle.

We all have witnessed how the ugly ducklings from ABC’s EXTREME MAKEOVER show transformed to gods and goddesses. The multi-million dollar show changed the beliefs of many viewers from just accepting what was given to them to emancipating from their psychological agony by succumbing to the knife, too. Many are enthused by any superstar’s presence and that’s what many people want to feel when their loved ones are around. At least, to feel that they/we are special too.

Looks, unfortunately, is also a basis of one’s fate in reality shows. Say… uhm.. American Idol. I never knew that there’s such a craze until I learned that a Filipina made it through American Idol 3. Blah.

I thought it’s just a mere talent competition that makes a one day superstar out of its winners [and finalists]; but no, it is a popularity competition through text and call votes which counted out the ULTIMATE SINGER ELLIOTT YAMIN during his season. Why so?

His hobbit-like features neglected the great voice that only ELLIOTT himself can blow. Hence, his votes dropped because his looks didn’t pass the “SINGING-SENSATION-MATINEE-IDOL” qualities. In total fairness to Elliott’s fans, they have supported him well enough to take him to third place.

Man, I gotta tell you, I was in vain looking for an MP3 of a song [title I dint even know] I’ve been hearing for days. Thanks to launch.yahoo, I learned the title of the song and also, I discovered that it was ELLIOTT who sang it! That’s really a big talent there; but that’s beside the point. He would not get that big break if he wont pose as a new Beverly Hills 90210 alumni in his album cover.

A few months after a bit of cosmetic dentistry and some extra surgical procedures, ELLIOTT YAMIN comes back with a fresh new album that includes WAIT FOR YOU, which is still looping in my player right now, a cut in his album that made me crazy squeezing the internet for.

This is the entertainment biz kissing the futures of frog princes to stardom.

We are a world of frog princes and princesses waiting for the opportunity of stardom to kiss our way too. it’s just that I look better than most of the frogs out there! – Asteg.

I LOST IT!

Tuesday midnight’s rains were horrific. Sure, there were no howling echoes like that of Milenyo, the Sept ‘06 super typhoon has brought us, yet it still gave me the same chills Milenyo had me last year. The tent we’re loitering at the middle of the street that night was swerving. The then already ebbing flood tripled again with the big heavy drops of sky tears.  It was really something to BLOG about. It’s 3am when that happened and I swore to myself that if the rains don’t stop or at least subside in the morning, then, NO OFFICE DAY for me!

Since I was raised in the land of broken promises, I still went to the office at 730 and worked til a little past 5 since I have to attend to my church obligations at 6, Wednesday night. It practically rained the whole day and I swam my way going to and leaving the office. I only had a couple hours of sleep and I decided to rest my eyes a bit while I was at the air conditioned AYALA LOOP passenger jeepney. It’s alright for me to do that because I have my cell phone, that’s usually on my hand, already zipped inside my bag safely. My tri-fold umbrella was securely tucked in between my legs and my wristwatch like no other was latched at my left arm, which I inserted inside my jacket’s side-pocket [rhyme eh!?]

Time to disembark at St Andrew’s Parish… The door was opened for me by a very good man since it was dark inside the jeepney that makes it hard to find the door lever. After I said my thanks, I went down the street hastily since it was, again, pouring kingkongs and godzillas that I had to run going inside the church. I heard somebody calling, but since it was raining really hard, I hardly understood what was being shouted, and of course, I just ignored. When I was already close to the church entrance, as I turn right from the parking area, I saw a man in red tri-fold umbrella; folded baggy pants, white-collared shirt and slippers waving at me. At first I thought it’s someone I know from the church, but as we went closer together, I noticed that he’s waving with my wallet on his hand. OMG! I forgot to keep it inside my bag pocket after paying the driver which is very unusual for me.

My eyes widened and I felt the chills at the back of my neck when I identified that that wallet is really mine. I am again, super grateful to this man, who at the very least, took time to run after me even if it’s not his stop yet just to give me back the wallet I irresponsibly lost for 60 seconds.

And yes, this man is the same man who opened the jeepney door for me that I said thanks to. This man whose good deed didn’t get unpunished; since he faced the high water just like I did is a gift to people who need such heroes. Whoever you are, again, my heartfelt thanks, man.

I didn’t offer him money cause I thought it would insult the person just the same way I would feel if I’d run after a person who will accidentally leave his wallet. Also, I didn’t have Pinoy cash inside my wallet except from the remaining coins left not even enough to get him to another jeep. Haha. What makes my wallet very valuable aside from my ATM cards, IDs, doctor’s prescriptions and some HK dollars is my picture with SM Tina and Superfriend Idjea. Bwahaha!

Good Samaritans exist. If there’s something I lost that day, it would have to be my skepticism that honest guys don’t wear beard. Peace \m/. Haha.

That’s my little swearing not to go to work the night before prophesied.

NOCTURNAL ME

Ts been two consecutive nights since I started sleeping before 830PM. I’m not yet insane, thank God. My constant burping after dinner triggered my untimely sleeping. I just thought that if I’d sleep early, I won’t feel like burping anymore.

There have been some advantages anyway.

1] I don’t feel sleepy in the office anymore [Or do I? wahaha!]. Well, not in long meetings, at least.

2] I have replenished the sleepless nights I previously had.

3] I get less irritated when waking up. Haha. And yes, I wake up at 7am. You do the MATH! Wahaha!

The disadvantages list is longer though, here’s what I missed:

1] Missed the late night fun with my friends.

2] Was not able to see the late night shows I religiously watch when I get home at around 3am.

3] I am not updated with the latest activities my normal nights usually have.

4] My night walks, which is my [only] form of exercise were missed.

5] The custard cake I buy at 11pm, before the bakery near Chuck’s house closes, misses me too.

6] Short talks with Maam Iris and her bf, Marlo.

7] Constant fellowship. Someting Ive been doing since I was 13 years old.

8] Lugaw [Rice Porridge] at Santa Ana.

9] Jumbo Burger at Burger Machine — South Ave cor JPRizal.

10] Videoke or Acoustic serenading wherever it may be.

11] No news for my colleagues the following working day.

12] Half of my life.

So basically, disadvantages overshadow the benefits I reap from sleeping early. Haha. I promise today that I will not sleep until dawn and til my mom sends me a billion text messages reminding me how stubborn I am to stay up until the wee hours despite my situation. She thinks that my throat bled because of lack of sleep. Naught!

Oh yeah, going back to my burping… my brother, who shares a room with me, told me that I don’t burp anymore when I’m asleep. I just fart… a lot! Bwahahaha!

Anyway, see you soon nocturnal beings!

bibitibabatiBOOP

It’s funny when most of the time that we feel heaven in some things; it turns out to be just a mere exaggeration of what it really is.

A mild spank on the cheek would make you go for a bit of reality check.

The short period of a month made me realize how I went against my principle of pragmatism. That everything always draws down to the practical side of things.

I cannot make everything work… still I challenged myself to hopping into things that I know I cannot manage from the very beginning.

With my not so gorgeous looks and a lot more limited resources, I don’t think a lot of patrons would drive to my inn and agree to spend a while with me.

I am freeing myself from getting drowned in this tiny aquarium I built to house the mermaids and pearls of my dreams.

This entry ends the groove that I was talking about on my previous post.

The groove is not groovy enough to pass the standards of a connoisseur.

This, when compared to pasta is a bit soggy to be aldente and a bit hard to be well made.

A chocolate-flavoured rhum. I’m acidic. It spoiled my system as an aftermath.

Who would ever blame me for riding in the bandwagon? I heard that being in love is like instead of sheep, you count stars to sleep.

The star-spangled dreams end today. Time to bring in some new stuff to count… say, my sanity cells.

I am not blaming the other party for anything that has transpired. Everything happened under my nose but I didn’t do anything to at least feel my feet on the ground. I was dreaming the whole time. No more sweet pillow kisses anymore.

The day of reckoning is back.

I was shunned by the quick turn of events but I won’t just bask in solitude for this. I’m too strong for that and for all I’m worth…

Fairy tales end too. My fairy tale is no different from others.

Bibiti-babati-boop.

Gettin` the GROOVE back2back

Being in the office the whole day is strenuous. Your brain requires to achieving an every minute exercise to cope up with the demands in the industry to survive.

My brain is deteriorating. After a while of waking up in the morning; religiously performing yoga on top of the human repository before the eternal shower, I am succumbing to burn out.

Some diversion, I reckon, would make me get pumped up again. Not necessarily a new working environment or time slot would suffice the lack I am trying to fill in.

Night of d 2nd, this month. My entire perspective, used to being downhill, turned right side up when I came across the ultimate tingle of my eternity.

I did not expect that JULY would be a good month for me, as to whatever endeavor I may want to get engaged with. It just proves that I am right since last year, same month; I landed to a job which I hailed as an opponent during college. Right now, I am its emissary [as long as it provides good dough] Haha.

My other personal encounters started in JULY last year. I got my groove back in JULY. I met my soulmate, TIN [Shut up, she's my senior webby artist and my best friend in the office who left me for greener pastures]. Also in July, I was able to redeem myself from being down with depression that my colleagues have gained paces ahead of me as I bask in unemployment.

Today, a year after that, I came across a gem that changed my negative impression on getting TiRED, because right now, it is the day to celebrate it.

A long day at work is not hard as long as you get updated on anything about the incarnate being that makes you wake up in the morning with a smile. No matter how late you sleep and how early you need to get ready for work, it’s still the same passion that enkindles you to make the most out of every single minute meaningful.

We don’t traverse to lavish and extraordinary sites to re-assure ourselves with the burning care we have for each other yet, just the thrill to be right next to what you’ve always dreamt of makes every moment fantastic!…

Who would not hope for nirvana and endless joy? Even POWER MAC doesn’t offer a few years warranty for free. I am just hoping that wherever the road may lead us be for common good, with that I will at least be ok.

I have gone through a lot in handling encounters like this one… I can’t blame myself if I still subject to such [after all the aches synonymous situations that eventually closed have brought me], but at least this is the triumph of my pursuit of happYness [Yeah, Will Smithy].

Socrates taught me that happiness should be found even in the absence of the material elements that make you feel like so… but I contest Socrates on this, because I can barely breathe if I don’t even see a familiar name on my phonebook affirming the mutual feelings we share as my mobile device hollers [you don’t know when the name appears isn’t what I expect… my heart breaks into gazillion pieces].

Having the fewest wants, I am nearest to the gods. — SOCRATES, At least I don’t greedily aim for anything but a smile glued on my face even as I sleep.

I have not mentioned the exact universal term that I’m feeling right now throughout this entry. I don’t know how you would say it in correct English but I’m pretty sure I am officially in love. Mushy and so not me it seems but don’t you ever tell me you don’t know what that means…

Reflecting 11

I am sick. Sick of waking up every morning to prepare for office; Sick of looking for the best clothes I could wear for the brand new sickening routine of going to the FX station to trek the road for a new office work day.

Eleven months ago, I was a destitute tightening my belt to unnecessary expenses since there was no longer “baon” and allowances for school. After graduation, I realized that I already understand why working people tend to like and miss school more now that they have already emancipated from the duties of being a student. I felt it by heart… that I will be cheaper by the dozen.

Whenever there is a new film to watch, I tend to pass and just wait for an upcoming hotter [I convince myself] attraction just to save the dough. My mom was in the US testing her luck there during this time; hence, I didn’t have enough resources to just say, “Hey, there’s a cool film showing today! Wanna watch?” Nah uh. Not that way. I even considered a cheaper combo meal in a regular fast-food than the short order that I used to get as a scholar. It was tough. Transitions are really difficult especially when you’re already thinking that graduation is a step up of the food chain. My case shows otherwise.

Weng, Chuck, Jonjon, Tintin, Monique and Aida… my constant crime partners for years already, have witnessed how I have embraced poverty when my older sib was the one in-charge of the house, which I totally refuted. It even became more difficult when the previous job I had ended since I considered it as an underpaid job. Just a brief background on it, I worked for a TV ad production designer who happened to be worse than Miranda Priestley since “she” kept on sticking around even with my personal engagements. I left; also for reasons that the pro bono days are quadruple compared to the paid days with free OT. Well, it’s big when you get paid for a day’s work in the advertising industry, yeah, but if you would spread it over the days that you worked for free? Not even a hearty meal for a day would suffice for the measly amount that you get. I am officially a bum from then on.

On the remuneration issue still, the Prod Designer only gives me my salary whenever “she” feels like it. Imagine, I was enslaved for so long with a floating contract that’s why I don’t have any protection under the labor industry. After getting a degree from college; fighting a dog-eat-dog race to the end, there I was a slave of an undergrad ego-tripping self-proclaimed guru with no people management skills whatsoever.

Right now, I at least have the 15th and the 30th of the month to frolic on the fruit of my labor. Also, the company that I am currently working for had me my very first medical program at my second month of being with them! The people I am working with have great work ethics and the boss that I am under is the most fantastic boss you could ever hope and wish for; plus he never wants me to do overtime work without proper compensation. Thank you.

Eleven months ago, I am but a couch potato at home. Kyvs, who also had his issues in school back then, walked into our house and bored himself with me as we, the renegades, dug into the pile of DVDs I had on my rack and played them one after the other. I realized that getting bored with people that you value is the ultimate test in life. I bet, I am yet to pass the test.

Eleven months ago, I didn’t have my MACBOOK. I reckon the number of times I heard myself speak of having a G4 for my graduation. The G4 didn’t happen and worse, I am far from even getting an analog laptop due to my unemployment. Now, Mac-Mac is making its way to showing me the money – minus the Jerry Maguire whine.

So yes, I am sick. And I am more than willing to be sicker than this sickness just to keep myself fueled up by the tiny blessings I had in this short ELEVEN MONTHS. [So yeah, bad news to the cranky FX barker for he shall continue agonizing with the sight of my face in his early morning turf to the terminal, haha!]

As for me, it is better to face the hardships of waking up and the stress/pressure that comes with the early morning jitters [like conception brings morning sickness ahuh haha] than to experience the hardships of being stuck inside the confines of a house that’s not relinquished.

Eleven does not make sense to a pregnant woman for she must be nursing for two months already but for Me, Kyvs, My MacBook and all other personalities who walked with me through all these, eleven makes a perfect number times two and that’s another reason to celebrate!

Cheers to heaven and earth!

the INTERMENT

Today.

I received a text message from my very loving and prudent mother accusing me that I left a friend’s mother unblessed due to a dreadful miscommunication.

This brilliant friend didn’t pay my mom a visit for a brief discussion on the arrangement of their mom’s final priestly blessings, to begin with.

During our [my choir] second visit to the wake, here came brilliance announcing that she talked to the chapel mistress and was told that everything was already fine… from the chapel ceremonial hall to the priest presider.

Of course, to our surprise, we just mentioned “BRILLIANT”. It is not easy to look for a priest especially right now that scarcity is threatening the congregations. Also, the parish where the chapel we’re serving is under limits the unacknowledged burial mass rites across all of its covered churches.

Then the Interment Day comes.

Today.

SEQ1. Office Pod.DAY

Fade in

A text message came in from MOTHER. She tells me why I didn’t tell her bout the burial and the mass precedent to that. She tells me that I’ve been in the loop about it and even the closest of kin allegedly told her that I’m aware of it. It’s going to be my fault when no priest shows up, she rants.

Cut to:

MIGRAINE REACTION SHOT

Cut to:

Replied: NONE OF MY BIZ. Im not the idiotest idiot in the world not to tell the authorities that someone is in need of help.

Fade out.

Duh, I dont even have BRILLIANT’s contact details, and I doubt if she does have mine, to begin with… how could I / she contact her / me? Great.

What’s up for tomorrow?

Blah.