Pasko 2005

Wake up little darling,
its Christmas morning
The sun is up,
it's time to open all the gifts that you've been given

You had been dreaming,
angels are singing
But now they're gone,
and once again it's time to go on with our lives

Let's hope that the next year will be better than last year
and somehow we'll all get by
And maybe the time will come when we won't have to pretend
to be happy for just a while

World keeps on turning
Fools keep on wishing
And when you wake,
you'll find that everything is not what we dreamed them to be

Wake up little darling,
its Christmas morning
So rise and shine,
let's make the most of happy holidays
Or maybe, i should let you dream for a while longer
wherever's a better place than here...

- Eraserheads, Christmas Morning

The Case of the Killer Robot

A friend and former colleague used The Case of the Killer Robot in his Ethics and Technology class at Ateneo de Naga. The case is basically "a detailed scenario that combines elements of software engineering and computer ethics", and is used primarily for ethics teaching and discussion purposes. The scenario begins with the indictment for manslaughter of a programmer who wrote faulty code that caused the death of a robot operator. The student is supposed to come up with a judgment, based on "different ethical perspectives and theories."

I decided to look at it from a different viewpoint, and here is what I could come up with.

First, Silicon Valley does not fall under Philippine jurisdiction. So, let us assume, arguendo, that the events happened in Philippine soil.

Absent any criminal intent on the part of the programmer Samuels, he can be found guilty of, at most, criminal negligence (Art. 365 Revised Penal Code). If Samuels is found to be criminally liable, then he would also be civilly liable per Art. 100 RPC.

Note that Samuels can argue that the injury was caused "by mere accident without fault or intention of causing it", which, according to the Art 12(4) of the RPC, would exempt him from criminal liability. This is without prejudice to a civil case that may be filed separately against him under Art. 2176 of the Civil Code.

His employer will be liable for the death of Matthews (Art. 2180 CC), unless, it can prove that it exercised the diligence of a good father of the family in hiring and supervising Randy Samuels.

So Ordered

We spent the weekend over at Subic, and I had the chance to browse over some old files and clippings which I conveniently stowed under my bed. I reread Constantino Tejero's two-part article The Making of a Lawyer which ran over two Sundays back in July 1993, in the Sunday Inquirer Magazine.

A few interesting tidbits from the article:

1. In 1993, the tuition fee for ALS is around PhP 9K per semester. It is now closer to PhP 50k. UP's tuition fee barely moved, if at all.
2. ALS's performance in the bar was better than UP's in the early 90's. The topnotchers, however, usually come from UP. These are still true as of last year.
3. UP folks are "smug" as to their counterparts' apparent superior performance in the bar. They did not care then, we still do not care now.

I was happy that I kept that article after all these years, if only to convince myself that whatever it is I am trying to accomplish right now is not a mere passing fancy. Why I decided to do this right here, right now defies logic and basic utilitarian philosophy. It doesn't make sense, moreso if you consider the fact that I am earning more right now that what a new associate will earn five years hence.

Knowing that I made not a few illogical decisions in my life - and that most of them turned out to be right - somehow tempers this seeming ambivalence. It is what makes us human. It is what makes all this, fun.

You see, according to Cocteau's plan I'm the enemy, 'cause I like to think; I like to read. I'm into freedom of speech and freedom of choice. I'm the kind of guy likes to sit in a greasy spoon and wonder - "Gee, should I have the T-bone steak or the jumbo rack of barbecued ribs with the side order of gravy fries?" I WANT high cholesterol. I wanna eat bacon and butter and BUCKETS of cheese, okay? I want to smoke Cuban cigar the size of Cincinnati in the non-smoking section. I want to run through the streets naked with green jello all over my body reading playboy magazine. Why? Because I suddenly might feel the need to, okay, pal?

- Edgar Friendly, Demolition Man

Quality

The project I am working on is currently being continuously harrassed by the firm's Process Group to comply with the latest CMMi requirements. In English, it means that time, effort, and resources are being redirected towards endless meetings, documentation work, and other narcolepsy-inducing tasks that will supposedly enhance the quality of the work product.

It's a freaking scam. The guy who came up with this crap should be shot. If he's already dead, we should exhume his remains and shoot him again and again.

I am pretty sure that my being subjected to constant reminders to complete the requirements within two months has nothing to do with my choleric attitude towards it. Neither does the rather exciting nature of the task - tracking hours, counting defects, measuring variance, and other oh-so-fun stuff - have anything to do with my disposition. I just somehow developed a liking for it, similar to the attachment developed by Garci towards clean and honest elections. The loath came naturally. It is just something that I find to be utterly inconsistent with the core of my being. I couldn't care less if half the world feels as if it's the greatest innovation ever created by man. It is still crap.

Oblation Run

I was reading the news this morning when I suddenly thought, maybe I should've watched the Oblation Run yesterday.


According to the Inquirer:

TWO YOUNG WOMEN WEARING NOTHING BUT masks and wigs yesterday stole the show from 20 male streakers in their "Ritual Dance of the Brave" during the "Oblation Run" at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City.

For the first time in its 28-year history, the event featured naked women, who gamely posed for photographers in front of the Oblation Statue at Quezon Hall. They carried posters with the message: "Equal Rights for Women."

The organizer, the UP Alpha Phi Omega (APO) fraternity, quickly denied that it had a hand in the women's surprise appearance. "We have no idea who they are," said the fraternity's media liaison officer, Joselito Narciso Caparino.

Photo courtesy of the Inquirer.

He Who Fights and Runs Away...

From the Shoot-Yourself-In-The-Foot Department:

Joseph Yeo turned an otherwise very good exhibition "dream game" between Ateneo and DLRT last Thursday into something from The Twilight Zone. Or Ultimate Fighting.

The teams were composed of alumni now playing in the PBA and active varsity players. It appeared that both teams wanted to win, despite its billing as a mere exhibition game. It was just another game, before Enrico Villanueva's elbow found Joseph Yeo's shoulder off a rebound play with 10:27 left in the third quarter. Yeo decided to make things exciting by pausing for a second and hitting Villanueva in the face with his forearm. He then promptly ran away. As per PBA rules, Yeo was expectedly thrown out of the game.

PBA commissioner Noli Eala remarked that "[Yeo's] actions will have a big bearing on his eligibility in the draft." He added "We are already studying our options. One, to disqualify him from the (rookie) draft. Two, make him ineligible for some time. Three, let him be drafted then suspend him." Chot Reyes, who coached Ateneo, when asked about the incident said "What I feel is not fit for print."

Ateneo wanted to end the game right there and then, but according to Reyes "the organizers decided to just let the pros to continue, so that settled it." The varsity players were all benched thereafter.

The ending was one for the books. DLRT mounted a spirited comeback late in the fourth quarter to lead by three with less than two minutes left. Wesley Gonzales, who could not sink a single shot the whole game, drained a three (but not after Macmac Cardona bit into his fake so hard that Gollum found himself out of bounds) off the left corner to tie the game at 85.

After the DLRT inbounds pass, Gonzales then harassed Ritualo into turning the ball over with nine seconds remaining in the game.

Ateneo milked the clock before Olsen Racela passed to Villanueva who launched, and sank, a three-point basket at the buzzer. Game over, 88-85.

Larry Fonacier led all players with 30 points. Villanueva scored 27.

ATENEO 88--Fonacier 30, Villanueva 27, Alvarez 12, Bugia 6, Gonzales 4, Intal 4, Chia 3, Tenorio 2, Racela 0, Kramer 0, Hizon 0, Aguilar 0.
LA SALLE 85--Allado 18, Cardona 14, Telan 11, Ritualo 13, Cortez 8, Yeo 7, Araña 6, Limpot 4, Cuan 2, Cabatu 2, Maierhofer 0, Wilson 0.
Quarters: 20-22, 44-37, 62-56, 88-85

Eheads Forever

I have copies of all the Eraserheads albums from Ultraelectromagneticpop to Carbon Stereoxide (except Aloha Milkyway). I know that I can still fairly rant Punk Zappa. My copy of Natin99 was signed by the members of the band. My wishlist for the office party exactly ten years ago consisted of one item: a copy of Cutterpillow. I guess you can safely say that I listen to their music.

Now, some marketing genius just came up with this idea of a tribute album to the Eheads. The news - and the album - was out for quite some time now. This finally explains the crowd lining up in front of the UP Theater last Tuesday. Apparently, there was a concert featuring the artists who did the covers. The fact that I learned of it only now, is a testament to how much free time I still have in my hands.

I was hesitant to buy the album at first, because the track list had some characters who have absolutely no business whatsoever singing an Eheads song. For example - and for the love of everything good and holy - Cueshe. WTF?

But there is hope. FrancisM is doing Superproxy - which is rather expected. I am interested to hear Paolo Santos' interpretation of Magasin, and there is that now familiar remake of Maling Akala, as sung by Brownman Revival. And get this, Ang Huling El Bimbo will be sung by no other than Rico J. Puno himself.

Of course, I am not expecting any of these songs to be better than the Eheads' originals. In fact, I am willing to bet that not one of these bands will even come close to the standards that the Eheads set all those years ago. But, I am rather certain that it will be some trip down memory lane.

You're in Good Hands

My ass.

Before the clocks struck nine, I have been to four Metrobank ATMs and they were all sorry for being temporarily unable to dispense cash. All this time I thought that that was what ATMs were for. Four separate ATMs in four separate locations within Makati - the financial district of the country - all do not have cash. WTF? It is not as if the bank is unable to foresee this. It is payday, you morons. It happens twice every effing month. Tomorrow, it would already be December. Remember Christmas, you dimwits?

Salaries are deposited to ATM accounts precisely for convenience, you pricks. If your ATMs are going to run out of cash every payday, we might as well go back to lining up before the cashier to collect our paychecks. At least, we won't be disappointed and tired. Until, of course, we see our payslips and see how much our respective congressmen are getting from our salary.

But that's another story.

He's Back

Voldemort, that is. While the rest of humanity has seen it fit to watch the fourth installment of the highly popular Harry Potter series almost two weeks ago, I decided to let the panic subside a bit and watched it yesterday. It is not Star Wars, after all. Nevertheless, "the boy who lived" still managed to fill up Power Plant's Cinema 3, although most of the people who filled up the seats probably got their tickets just before the show was about to start.

I have not read a single Harry Potter book. Not knowing what will happen next, I think, makes the film more enjoyable to watch. I am even willing to go out on a limb here and say that Voldemort's reincarnation is many times - nay, infinitely - more compelling than that of Apo Abukay's.

Conversely, I try not to watch any of the film adaptations of the books that I have enjoyed reading. So, I purposely did not watch The Cider House Rules, or Simon Birch (A Prayer for Owen Meany). I saw Hotel New Hampshire via my PS2 and Breakfast of Champions over RPN-9, and both films were definitely disappointing. An exception to this rule would be any of Stephen King's novels. I couldn't care less how many times one has read Different Seasons, particularly Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption, you still have to see The Shawshank Redemption. It's that good.

Why the AHEAD billboard along Katipunan was taken down

Random Rants

I am still adjusting to sleeping at 1 a.m. at the earliest, yet again. I am still trying to figure out how to prepare given the wretched schedule that we have.

We have HR for ObliCon, and he is quite a character. He does not laugh. He guffaws. I have to agree with him when he said that the money that we spent for his time, is insufficient for the entertainment that he provides.

DG is DG. I cannot think of his class without the word "drop" constantly popping in my head.

Quoting La Aunor in Minsa'y Isang Gamu-gamo is in fashion again. After the alleged rape in Subic last November 1, everybody and everybody's mother is reciting: "My brother is not a pig!"

PBB is one big scam. Toni Gonzaga is effing annoying (imagine fingernails and blackboard). Bastusan na mangwarta ang ABS-CBN.

Da Bears

When I left for Manila almost six years ago, I said that one of the things that I would miss most about Chicago was watching the Bears live. When I was there, the Bears were still bad. Not the kind of "bad" that would put fear into their opponents' hearts, but the kind that you need to flush. They were consistently at the bottom of the division, or at best, somewhere very near it.

I used to take the train, or drive and park somewhere near Northwestern station, and take the bus to Soldier Field. There is nothing like it. Not even a Bulls game at the United Center (granted that when I saw a Bulls game live, nobody was wearing #23). Believe me, there is nothing that comes close to the experience of watching a football game. Live. In the middle of winter. In an open-air stadium. Sitting on a lake.

The Bears are now 6-3. They lead the division, with a two game lead over Detroit (4-5), which they have already beaten twice, and Minnesota (4-5). Now, if only they could figure out a way how not to screw this up...

Thirty One

On this day in 1974, 63rd Davis Cup: South Africa beats India in (w/o).

It is just uncanny that the most significant event on that day just happened to be a sporting event (which by the way, has absolutely nothing to do with the November 4, 1974 cover of SI, above).

Untitled

Hell starts anew in less than a week. I spent the break reacquainting myself with sleep, television, pirated dvds, and more sleep. I am also reading a book which so far do not contain the words: petitioner, respondent, provision, wherefore, etc.

Initial returns are acceptable. I will leave it at that.

I have learned that a friend is studying Nursing. God bless her. I took up Computer Science partly because I believe that one's choice of major is purely a decision on what kind of garbage one is willing to handle on a daily basis. So I myself, have learned very early in my life, that Nursing is not for me.

There's Hope in Dumbville

Finally, a Lasallite who actually makes sense. From today's PDI:

La Salle alumnus Cerviliano dela Cruz, however, stole the show during the press conference when he surprisingly lambasted the university officials "as the biggest hypocrite La Salle has ever produced."

"How could they fail the government exam and pass the La Salle exam?" asked Dela Cruz, adding that all La Salle alumni have "become the butt of jokes" as a result of the controversy.

Luistro assured the 70-year-old alumnus, who crashed the press conference, that the incident doesn't imply that La Salle has "lowered its standards" and the scandal "won't happen again."

Quebengco reasoned that "different programs have different requirements" and both players "met the requirements of the AB Sports Management course."

Apparently, standards for admission to the Sports Management course are lower than that for high school graduation. Dimwits.

There's Joy in Soxville

If there is one thing I've learned in the years that I have lived in Chicago, it is this: The World Series is never played in Chicago. But after Boston's championship a year ago (its first since 1918), you just believe that it can happen. You only hope that it happens sometime during your lifetime.

Now, after the White Sox beat the Houston Astros 1-0 in a sweep, the Windy City can celebrate its first World Series win in 88 years. The White Sox did what Chicago baseball teams are only rumored to have done before. They won a world championship. After the BoSox and the ChiSox won their respective championships, this leaves the Cubs as the only remaining team in baseball (or in all of organized sports for that matter) with an epic streak of futility.

As we have been saying since 1908: maybe next year.

Make-Believe Part II

DLRT released its statement on the eligibility of two of its basketball players earlier today. While the press conference mentioned nothing that the general public did not already know, it is surprising that one of the personalities it chose to implicate is the now-infamous batokero Salgado - one who is already banned for life in the first place. They could have saved everybody the time and effort by simply sending a fax.

Then it gets really funny:

"However, it was not until September 30, 2005 that the matter was brought to the attention of the deciding authorities. The delay can be attributed to administrative procedures that had to be followed and the apparent lack of urgency that the matter deserved."

If having two HS dropouts in your institution of "higher learning", not to mention first-hand knowledge of falsification of public documents, do not merit urgent action, I don't know what will.

Chewbacca Defense

Some sectors along graft-ridden Taft Ave. are now using South Park's Chewbacca Defense to get out of the shithole they're in. Here's the complete transcript:

Ladies and gentlemen of the supposed jury, Chef's attorney would certainly want you to believe that his client wrote "Stinky Britches" ten years ago. And they make a good case. Hell, I almost felt pity myself!

But ladies and gentlemen of this supposed jury, I have one final thing I want you to consider: Ladies and gentlemen this [pointing to a picture of Chewbacca] is Chewbacca. Chewbacca is a Wookiee from the planet Kashyyyk, but Chewbacca lives on the planet Endor. Now, think about that. THAT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE! (Background: Damnit! What? He's using the Chewbacca defense!) Why would a Wookiee—an eight foot tall Wookiee—want to live on Endor with a bunch of two foot tall Ewoks? That does not make sense!

But more important, you have to ask yourself, what does this have to do with this case? Nothing. Ladies and gentlemen, it has nothing to do with this case! It does not make sense!

Look at me, I'm a lawyer defending a major record company, and I'm talkin' about Chewbacca. Does that make sense? Ladies and gentlemen, I am not making any sense. None of this makes sense!

And so you have to remember, when you're in that jury room deliberating and conjugating the Emancipation Proclamation... does it make sense? No! Ladies and gentlemen of this supposed jury, it does not make sense.

If Chewbacca lived on Endor, you must acquit! The defense rests.

Deep Thoughts

Panahon na para magsaya
Forget mo na ang problema
Pa-dance dance, para sumigla
Rock 'n' roll hanggang umaga
- Sampaguita, Bonggahan

1. The White Sox reached the World Series for the first time since 1959. The last time they won it, was in 1917. If you think that's pathetic, remember that the last time the Cubs won it all was 1908. So, to all the NU fans out there (yes, all two of you) do not despair.
2. The Astros appear ready to close out the Cards. Which should be good. As a Cub fan, I just don't know how I can handle a ChiSox-Cards series.
3. The Irish (No. 9, AP) almost pulled it off against the Trojans last Saturday. Almost. The good news is, they did not fall off the rankings. The better news is that they are poised to go 9-2, and enter the BCS sweepstakes for the first time since 2000. The highest-ranked team left on the schedule is No. 17 Tennessee, and four of their five remaining games are at home.
4. If you are having a hard time explaining the birds and the bees to your kids, try using Philippine jurisprudence. According to our Supreme Court, female virtue is the "citadel of passion", and sex is equivalent to a "bombardment of the drawbridge" or a "shelling of the castle of orgasmic potency." For reference, see People v. Campuhan, GR No. 129433, March 30, 2000.
5. Overheard: "Kapatid ng sinungaling ang magnanakaw, therefore, GMA's marriage to Mike is null and void ab initio."

Sembreak

We will be going to Naga tomorrow to visit Weng's grandmother. It will be my first trip to the heart of Bicol since Holy Week. My excitement of seeing the place once again is somewhat tempered by the reason why we are going there in the first place. I will be try to have my fill of Bicol Express (the likes of which I guarantee you cannot find anywhere in Manila) and toasted siopao, before Sunday evening.

I will be coming from my final, final exam tomorrow. That concludes part one of what is set to be a 10-part marathon of persistence and endurance. I am rather proud of having survived the past five months. I guess the experience really was all they made it out to be. It was something that I wanted to do for the past 10 years or so. Earlier today, I was on my way to Malcolm to pass a final paper cum exam, and this MD on AM radio was saying that loving what you are doing will give you the energy that you need, more than anything else. Or something to that effect. That partly explains why work sucks.

I will be back on Monday. For the first time since June, I will be sleeping early on Friday night. And the day after that. And after that.

Keep on passing the open windows. Amen.

No Diploma? No Problem.

I promised myself I will stop picking on DLRT when they lost the title to FEU. But this one is just too good to pass up on:

In a statement released by the office of executive vice president Dr. Carmelita Quebengco, La Salle acknowledged that the high school records of a player on its current roster “turned out to be spurious,” and was therefore “neither eligible for admission to DLSU nor for participation as a member of DLSU’s basketball team.”

This admission, at least, settled one thing. That is, one can get admitted to DLRT without finishing high school.

What Pinoys Read

I don't know about you, but this is just sad.

LISTED below are the 10 most-read columns on news.INQ7.net for the week of September 25 to October 1, 2005, based on server traffic statistics.

1. Bubble Gang Toppings (Dollywood, September 28, 2005)
2. Kissing hunks and Pinay achievers in Toronto (Only in Hollywood, September 25, 2005)
3. Rock Star' finale: Inquirer was there (Only in Hollywood, September 25, 2005)
4. Running on True Faith and waxing sentimental (Dollywood, September 26, 2005)
5. Pacquiao confirms a happy news (Bare Eye, September 30, 2005)
6. A Filipino Tragedy: Lament of a Balikbayan (High Ground, September 26, 2005)
7. Dangerous ground (Editorial, September 26, 2005)
8. What Pacquiao failed to teach Gejon (Bare Eye, September 30, 2005)
9. Out for revenge (Editorial, September 27, 2005)
10. Carjackers still on the loose (On Target, September 27, 2005)

At least, we still have something to be thankful for. Maurice Arcache is not on the list, palanggas.

Instant Karma

From today's Inquirer:

The game, though, turned ugly after the buzzer as La Salle assistant team manager Manny Salgado rushed onto the court and hit Santos on the back of his head. The unsportsmanlike action was caught on television.

At the very least, you have to appreciate the irony. After all, this person came from an institution which tolerated unsportsmanlike behavior by its players, in at least two separate incidents, namely, the now infamous jig of the dancing queer, and the team committing a useless foul to stop the clock, to pose for pictures.

Suddenly, we find sick pleasure in seeing idiots getting a dose of their own medicine. My friend Joy would call this schadenfreude.

In addition, the incident is now being replayed on television, cellphones, PCs, not only in the Philippines but outside the country as well, courtesy of PINOY TV (GMA7) and TFC (ABS-CBN).

Breaking News:

The gentleman just apologized on national television this morning. He said that "it is clearly in the tape that my main intention was really to pacify both Santos and (Joseph) Yeo who were really at it." Right. Pacify Yeo and Santos by bashing the latter's head.

A hero's burial for Marcos?

The Philippine Daily Inquirer posted this question: Should Ferdinand Marcos be buried at the Libingan ng Mga Bayani? Why or why not?

Here is my answer: Yes, but only if Imelda is buried alive with him.

Kudos

Lord, in the battle that goes on through life,
I ask for a field that is fair;
A chance that is equal with all in strife,
and the courage to strive and to dare.
If I should win, let it be by the code,
with my faith and my honor held high,
but if I should lose, let me stand by the road
and cheer as the winner goes by.

After yesterday's game, the forums have been flooded with comments insinuating that the victors were a bunch of classless morons. I am not saying that they are not, but really, we have to understand that anybody would have a very hard time displaying class, when he has not attended one since he stepped on a college campus. It is difficult to imagine, but in some places, that is how things are.

So, inspite of the Arana jig, the pose at center court, let me offer my congratulations to the Archers from Taft. After all, pursuant to Art. 12(1) of the Revised Penal Code, you are all still exempt from criminal liability.

Of course, it goes without saying that I am not talking about insanity.

Eat Bulaga?

I can think of a number of reasons how tens of thousands of Vietnamese boat people in "the only Southeast Asian country that didn't turn [them] away" survived their ordeal, but "Eat Bulaga!" would probably be not one of them. Incidentally, I would have been wrong.

According to one belonging to the first batch of 229 Vietnamese who are flying to Los Angeles today, "he will surely miss the native dish sinigang, variety shows like 'Eat Bulaga!' and everything that made his life bearable."

Too bad nobody asked whether or not they enjoyed "Master Showman."

Remembering Sept. 21, 1972

1081 Proclamation 1081 is signed by President Ferdinand Marcos on Sept. 21, 1972, placing the entire country under martial law.

1935 Constitution provision stating the President can impose martial rule in the country or any part of it when public safety requires it is invoked by Marcos.

The trigger is the reported ambush of Defense Secretary Juan Ponce Enrile by communists who riddled his car with bullets.

(On the first day of the People Power revolt on Feb. 22, 1986, Enrile admitted the ambush was staged to justify the imposition of martial law.)

49 persons from the Greater Manila Area are immediately arrested on Sept. 22, 1972 by the AFP. Among the more prominent are Senators Benigno Aquino Jr., Jose Diokno, Ramon Mitra, Sergio Osmeña III, businessman Eugenio Lopez Jr., activist teacher Loretta Ann “Etta” Rosales, human rights lawyer Haydee Yorac and journalist Amando Doronila.

The AFP closes all media offices and arrests persons suspected of being involved in alleged rebellious activities.

On Sept. 23, 1972, Press Secretary Francisco Tatad announces the imposition of martial law and reads the Marcos proclamation in a nationwide televised broadcast.

12-4 a.m. curfew is now in place. Marcos abolishes Congress, moves to consolidate control over the media, Manila Electric Co., Philippine Airlines, the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. and other major communication and utility firms. Marcos also bans rallies.

22,287 individuals arrested from February 1974 to February 1986, according to Task Force Detainees of the Philippines.

706 persons disappear during the same period, according to TFDP figures.

880 massacred.

154 tortured.

2,491 summarily executed.

Source: The Philippine Daily Inquirer, 21 September 2005

Cabatu Posterized!

Unfortunately, that was about the only good thing that happened last Thursday.

For the record, JR Aquino was not trying to save Cabatu from the ignominy of being further humiliated over the Internet.

Here is the typical La Sallite's thoughts on the game:













Right.

Tamaraw FX

Yesterday's game was a joy to watch. Well, probably not if you're from Ep-Eee-Yu. LA Tenorio schooled Jonas Villanueva, who by the way, fouled out and finished with a measly 2 points. So much for all the hype. Tenorio, on the other hand, finished with a game-high 25 points, shooting 4-7 from beyond the arc.

Bonus: Japeth's two successive blocks on Arwind Santos were priceless. They were not gimme blocks either. Remember, this is the Arwind Santos we're talking about here.

Next: vs DLRT, Thursday, 4PM, Araneta Coliseum. I think I might be sick.

Make-Believe

While I immensely enjoy watching superheroes in sexy costumes save the day (having Angel Locsin under the costume really helps a lot), it annoys me as much seeing most of the protagonists, while generally depicted as noble and ideal, being hopelessly dumb.

Cases in point: Quick, somebody tell Efren how easily he can dispose of his shape-shifting malevolent wife by simply consulting a lawyer, any lawyer. And no, you can't just get a kid from his home by simply presenting a DNA certificate. It doesn't matter how horribly the kid tries to act.

It is not really difficult to overlook the characters' imbecility given the no small amount of gratification one can get by watching a flying arousal. But, one's tolerance can only accomodate so much. So here's a tip: Darna is still as enjoyable with no sound.

Until I Find You

I don't frequent Book Sale now as much as I did in college. Which is sad, when you think about it, considering that most of the books I had were fruits of tedious search operations in Book Sale branches all over Metro Manila. My copy of Catcher in the Rye, was such a fruit. Bought for the sum of 10 pesos, only to be borrowed and never to be returned.

I also started my collection of second-hand Steinbecks, Vonneguts, and Irvings this way. Sadly, most of these have already been lost to the elements, and to critters who likewise call our family home, home.

Speaking of Irving, I am eagerly awaiting the release of the man's latest novel. I was in college when I read Garp, New Hampshire and Cider House, and none of his other work has been as compelling as the three mentioned above. While I sincerely doubt that this latest novel will be better than those three, I am more than willing to find out.

Ateneo wins, 75-69

Watching the UAAP games after a killer Saturday of Legal History and Consti has become a refreshing ritual for the past two weekends. Last Saturday, I had the pleasure of watching Big Blue run rings around UE's 23-year old "freshman" transferees from JRU.

I came into the Big Dome with the game, as it turns out, already won. The score was 15-5.

Three

After Persons last night, I had this insatiable urge to look for this poem that I first saw on my best man's shirt from college:

I think that I shall never see
A grade as lovely as a three
A three that’s earned with blood and sweat
When failing is a serious threat
A three I’ve asked for God all day
Knowing praying is the only way
Exams are taken by fools like me,
But only God can give a three

Priceless.

For the Record

Harare is the capital of Zimbabwe.

The Dead Archer

The First School

Before Mr. Taylor taught the world to play
Before fiberglass
Before parquet
Before the word "Doctor" was spelled with a "J"
And ballrooms were ballcourts where the Renaissance played
Before the hype and before the dunk
After the rhythm but before the funk
Before the money and before the fame
Before new school and old school
Before school had a name
It was only a ball and the soul of the game
Converse
The first school