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.