Affirmative Action

Had a nice chat with a good friend a while ago . . .

Vladimir: wala na yung local office dito

Vladimir: tsaka, di na sya ganun ka-selective.

Estragon: eh walang maka-afford sa inyo na local company eh

Vladimir: mas "diverse" na sya

Estragon: hahahaha

Estragon: elitista kang atenista hahahaha

Estragon: bwahahahaha. DIVERSE!!! bwhahahaha

Iskul Bukol

Me: . . . sufficient magnitude . . .
Him: No.
Some other guy: . . . sufficient magnitude . . .
Him: Yeeeesss!

Me: Good faith . . .
Him: No, not good faith . . .
(Browses his bible)
Him: . . . sincerity and good faith . . .

Me: . . . truth and verity of his religious beliefs . . .
Him: . . . No, not religious beliefs . . .
(Browses his bible, yet again)
Him: . . . truth of his religion!

Here's the clincher:

Him: . . . while we moot and analyze, all they do is memorize!

Putangina.

Requiem for a Season

Macky Escalona played the game of his life. JC Intal took the last shot in regulation and in overtime - as it should be. It is still not enough.

In the end, UST's Jojo Duncil simply refused to blink, and his Growling Tigers annexed the UAAP men's basketball crown by going past Ateneo in overtime of Game 3 of what turned out to be one of the best championship series in years.

The Tigers - mostly unnoticed during the preseason - earned the no. 3 spot by beating the Falcons in a one-game playoff, and then went on to beat no. 2 UE twice in a row to face the top-seeded Blue Eagles in the Finals. If not for Doug Kramer's one-second miracle in Game 1, the series would have actually been over last Saturday.

But, both teams saved the best for last, going wire-to-wire from the tip-off up to the final buzzer. It is unfortunate that one team had to lose in this series, and it is more unfortunate still for the Blue and White faithful that that team had to be the Eagles.

OBF.

P.S.

Jojo Duncil was reportedly wary of Bobby "Angelica-Jones-dating" Yan after Game 2. Baka raw kasi batukan siya tapos biglang tumakbo.

The Invisible Hand

Getting tickets for Game 2 of the UAAP Finals just got really difficult. Ateneans are expecting, or at least hoping, to watch the 69th season end on a triumphant note, and everybody from Loyola Heights apparently wants a piece of it.

SRO tickets, as usual, will be sold on gameday itself. Which simply means that you have to line up early in the morning, and wait for the booths to start selling them. Plan B is to get GenAd tickets (the nosebleed section), and jump down to Upper B. Plan C is, of course, stay home and watch it on TV.

The scalpers' are also having a field day. Upper A tickets (face value: 120) reportedly went up from 350 to 700 yesterday alone. Today's going rate is 800. Patron seats are reportedly being sold for at least 2000.

Advisory: The games (the Eaglets are likewise playing for the championship) will be telecast live at the Blue Eagle Gym, High School Cafeteria, College Cafeteria, and Ateneo Professional Schools Atrium, Rockwell.

Bedlam

One down. One to go.

I don't think it is necessary to discuss the last play of the ballgame yesterday, which most viewers would have already seen repeatedly on TV and on YouTube. Well, except for those of us at the venue, who were too busy deliriously celebrating to pay any attention to the widescreen.

UST's Allan Evangelista learned a painful lesson yesterday when he celebrated - probably a little prematurely - after making the go-ahead shot with one second left in the game clock. In fact, he and the Tigers were too happy that they left Doug Kramer wide open on the next, and last, play of the game.


The zebras, being the morons that they are, almost won the game for UST. For starters, the three blind mice should be made to learn and relearn the definition of a backcourt violation. They are taking the joy out of the game. If they want to play, they could probably play for some schools who have "rookies" who, chances are, went to grade school with them.

Photo courtesy of www.fabilioh.com.

Almost There

Barry announced last night that we won't be meeting on Monday. Which means one thing, and one thing only. I can, and I will, substantially satisfy my craving for hoops this Sunday, without any tinge of guilt or letdown whatsoever. Well, at least if we win. Otherwise, there would be plenty of letdown to go around.

He also won't be calling any more people for recits until the end of the sem. Which means I am pretty much set until the finals week rolls in. Which, is not really saying much since the final exam will account for sixty effing percent of the final grade.

I am also in knots trying to write a paper about, of all things, blogging. It would have been pretty simple and straightforward, if it isn't for a course called Legal Theory. I am planning to insert a sentence or two about Liberalism just to make a connection - any connection - no matter how flimsy. I have an eerie feeling it will be like Consti 1 and the E-VAT all over again. Crap.

The schedule for the second semester is also out at CRS. Partially, at least. Once again, there are two classes on Saturdays. Which means that Friday nights and Saturday afternoons will be cramming sessions again. It's not really a good study method. Not unless, of course, you have no choice.

SRO

In what probably is the most horribly-officiated basketball game I have ever seen, Ateneo barely survived Ken Bono, Patrick Cabahug, three dumbass zebras, and three token goons from the Manila City Jail. Despite all the Ts, the dubious foul calls, Adamson's not-so-subtle attempts to physically maim our players, and those two crucial - almost backbreaking - TOs in the last 30 seconds, the Blue Eagles won. To Adamson: welcome to your first Final Four. We hope you enjoyed the experience while it lasted.


(Seats are just suggestions.)

In the second game, the no. 3 seed, UST beat the no. 2 seed, UE. Good job, UST. Now, since you two would be playing another game on Thursday, (1) I don't have to call in sick, and (2) I don't have to miss Consti 2.

OBF.

On to the Fray

image courtesy of www.admu.edu.ph.

Curiouser and Curiouser

The following excerpt is from p. 46 of the UAAP Fact Finding Report on the DLSU PEP Test Scandal. See, and judge, for yourself.

"He (Mark Benitez) stated that Bro. Casingal (Bro. Roberto ‘Bro. Bobby’ Casingal, FSC, DLSU Director for Sports Development) went to their house and he was made to write:

"Atty. Villa: When did he go to your house?

"Mr. Mark Benitez: Nakalimutan ko na rin po eh. Parang pinasulat niya ko na kung ano yung mga ilalabas ko about kung...hindi na magbabanggit about kay Jun Tiongco at kay Derek Pumaren kasi daw po matataas daw yun...mahirap kalabanin." (I’ve forgotten. Seems he made me write about what I would disclose...no more mention about Jun Tiongco or Derek Pumaren because they’re high up there...hard to fight.)

"Atty. Villa: Who said that?

"Mr. Mark Benitez: Si Bro. Bobby po. (Mark Benitez, TSN, p. 24)"

Right now, it appears that more people, than the public was made to believe, were involved. It is also a rather sick coincidence that Jun Tiongco, one of the main characters in this sordid tale, is an assistant coach for UE, under Dindo Pumaren, and is also an assistant coach for Talk and Text, under Derek Pumaren. If you've been hiding under a rock for the past 10 years, just so you know, Franz Pumaren is DLSU's head coach. But, of course, I'm sure that the good QC councilor has absolutely nothing to do with this.

Balls

The Eagles showed no letdown for playing in a no-bearing game, and eliminated the Tamaraws from Final Four contention yesterday, 70-68.

FEU was leading 68-65, when Chris Tiu drilled a three-point basket to tie the game with some 40 seconds left. After FEU's Jeff Chan missed a three, Doug Kramer grabbed the rebound, and passed off to Escalona who calmly brought the ball downcourt. With less than 10 seconds left, JC Intal received the ball from Escalona at quarter court, drove through the middle and made a lay-up with 1.2 seconds left.


FEU had no more timeouts. Game, and season, over.

The Falcons and the Tigers, tied at 6-6, would play a game on Thursday for the no. 3 seed and the right to play the no. 2 seed, UE. The loser will go on to play the Eagles, who were seeded no. 1 as early as last week. (Let's all cheer for the Falcons on Thursday, just so we can have give a little payback to UST.)

A few game notes:

Game analyst Ronnie Magsanoc irritated me no end, for repeatedly insisting that the no. 1 seed would face the no. 3 seed. It's one versus four. ONE versus FOUR. Man, that would be one dumb bracket.

Another hilarious halftime performance by the Blue Babble Band. I say we let them perform during the cheerdance competition. You know, just to show how seriously we take that thing.

Hallelujah!

Doctors and medical students: fret no more.

FOR frustrated doctors and medical students eyeing a nursing career overseas, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo offered an alternative she says should keep them home.

“I’d like to make special mention to frustrated doctors, don’t leave medical school because medical transcription (is here),” Arroyo said at a roundtable discussion in Malacañang on Thursday.

My God. Just where would this country be without her?

Shameless Plugging

Carlo J. Caparas, the "massacre" film king, who brought upon us film classics such as, The Maggie dela Riva Story and Vizconde Massacre, is eyeing to produce a movie on - of all people - Ninoy, "based on the convicts’ version of the truth." Legal genius Caparas, who may or may not be suffering from a delusion that he's Oliver Stone, will supposedly advance his own "one-bullet, one-triggerman theory."

“Only one bullet killed Ninoy. How come 16 people were convicted?”

Without passing on the man's aptitude in critical thinking, or the state of his common sense, let me just say that his appreciation of this country's penal laws and his sense of history must be leaning a wee-bit towards the deficient side. Because, in the real world, we call it a conspiracy. It's in the dictionary. Look it up.

The Three Point Dunk

Noli Eala seemed to have suddenly developed a weird case of brain fart, and is pushing for a three point dunk.

Now, that, to me, really sounds like a novel, if not revolutionary, idea. The only problem is that it's laughable, idiotic, and downright stupid. Who, in his right mind, would suddenly develop a rule for professional basketball that nobody else in the known universe has ever thought of adopting, and is absolutely unsuited for the Filipino physiology? Come to think of it, should the board members suddenly lose all their mental faculties, and decide to approve this really stupid proposal, imports will no longer need their local teammates. Except, of course, to inbound the ball.

While the NBA is changing its rules to push for more ball movement, and results of FIBA-sanctioned events show that we should emphasize outside shooting and teamwork, Noli Eala is, apparently, suffering from a delusion that all that Filipinos want to see are showboating and individual plays.

Here's an idea, Mr. Eala, why don't you just invent a new game, start a new league, and play with the rules as you see fit. Leave basketball alone.

Dumb and Dumber

Raul Gonzales, the Justice Secretary who always has something derogatory to say against somebody, has decided over the weekend to pick on the UP system:

That school breeds the destabilizers that haunt the country year after year. They are acting as if they are the only ones who know how to run the country.

x x x

I doff my hat to them because they initiate the running of naked people... That’s also one kind of culture that they develop there... Maybe we are going in that direction... there are now women running naked. I will not be surprised if they will go to school with only their books, nothing more.

In response to his statements, the UP Alphi Phi Omega fraternity staged a “special edition” of their yearly Oblation Run at the Diliman campus yesterday, if only "to show the UP community that the fraternity was not going to take the justice secretary’s remarks sitting down." There is no feedback yet from Gonzales if the streakers, one way or the other, destabilized the country.

But what do we know? The state, after all, according to Gonzales, "is the one paying for [our] schooling," unlike Gonzales, who incidentally is from the University of Sto. Tomas(!) - the reason, supposedly, why he is "well-behaved.” He said, "I think some degree of gratitude should be there also."

Well, I am a taxpayer. So, I am paying him his salary as Justice Secretary. I believe the good secretary should likewise repay me, by say, slitting his throat.

Eight and Done

The UST Tigers avenged their first round demolition at the hands of Ateneo by beating the Eagles in OT yesterday, 88-80. The Eagles were leading by three points, off a Doug Kramer jumper with 10 seconds left in regulation, 69-66, before shit happened.

UST's rookie center Jervy Cruz scored all but four of his 14 points in overtime to put an end to the Eagles' eight-game winning streak. The team tied the win streak mark set by the 2002 UAAP champion team, and the 2004 Eagles.

At this point, the difference between the #1 and #2 seeds is just too insignificant. I don't think it will make much of a difference if Ateneo ends up playing either Adamson, FEU, or even UST in the Final Four.

Having said that, I hope that the team would just relax and play. I am not saying that they drop all their games, But there is a bigger goal ahead of them, and that is what they should be preparing for.

OBF.

Help Needed

Joshua has started a mini-campaign (I really don't know what to call it) to bring attention to Jones' condition. Jones, one of the finest people I have ever had the opportunity of knowing, currently suffers from some debilitating disease, which, as far as I know, still cannot be identified by his doctors. The news has quickly spread to Jones' former students, fellow alumni, and classmates.

I suggested to Joshua that he seek the help of the University and its Alumni Affairs Office - which I thought should not be waiting for such appeal in the first place - given the fact that Jones is both an alumnus (HS and College) and a member of its faculty. The resources at the University's disposal would be a substantial shot in the arm not only in information dissemination and fund-raising, but perhaps more importantly, in arm-wringing. While there is nothing, as of yet, in the University's website regarding Jones' plight, I would give it the benefit of the doubt. It's hard to be pissed off when you're eight hours away by land.

If you're from Naga, or if you know someone from Naga, kindly pass the note. And say a prayer for Jones, while you're at it.

Final Four Bound

With FEU's loss to UE in the second game last Sunday, the Eagles also clinched the first twice-to-beat incentive in the Final Four.

Still looking good.

Photo courtesy of www.fabilioh.com.

The Best President We Never Had

"I return from exile and to an uncertain future with only determination and faith to offer – faith in our people and faith in God."

- Benigno S. Aquino, Jr. (1932-1983), from a prepared speech Ninoy was supposed to deliver upon his arrival in Manila

Make-Believe Part III

My wife tells me that the latest incarnation of the Marvin-Jolina tandem on TV is about to end. The story, revolves around four people who for a really, very brief and temporally inconsequential period of their lives, find themselves in the Big Apple. Hence, the title of the show.

The creators of the show have assumed that a majority of its viewers are idiots. That, boys and girls, is the only logical explanation why they allowed several storylines that do not make the slightest sense, and would probably be rejected in a fantaserye.

First, the US Embassy will admit that Dubya is a moron, before it would grant a US visa to an unemployed minor, from the some rural area in the Philippines, who just happened to win barely enough money for a one-way ticket from some noontime show. No, they won't really care that you won it on Laban O Bawi. How he planned to actually live in the US was, conveniently, never explained. If this crap happened in real life, Toni Gonzaga wouldn't have a movie.

Second, contrary to the images shown on the boob tube, Filipinos in New York, or anywhere in the US for that matter, legal or otherwise, actually do open their windows. For some stupid reason, whenever the cast is supposedly indoors in NY, there are no windows. If for some architectural miracle, windows do find their way into the rooms, they are always covered shut. The only explanation I can surmise from this observation is that, should the viewer see through the windows of their sets, the viewer will most probably wonder why NY looks a lot like QC.

Third, they mistook the INS for the PNP. The INS is not that inept. Just ask Atong Ang or Joc-joc Bolante. Jolina may run faster, but the assumption that dear Jolina has a more calculating criminal mind than either Atong or Joc-joc is just too incredible, and is undeserving of any iota of belief.

WTF?!

WTF #1:

I believe that every person is entitled to his own opinion, but for an Atenean to say that he'd "rather see ADMU lose to DLSU rather than see AMDU (sic) win the championship without facing DLSU" is not just plain wrong. It's utterly stupid. For it to actually come out in the Ateneo college paper itself, well, that's really something else.

With all due respect to the writer (I also once wrote for the Guidon), I'd rather lose to NU year in and year out, than lose a single game vs. la salle. I am rather certain the other side feels the same way.

WTF #2:

Great job by the Eagles last Sunday in totally and absolutely dismantling the UST Growling Tigers, that by the end of the second quarter, the Growling Tigers reportedly considered changing their nickname to the Whimpering Pussies.

The game was tied 30-all early in the second quarter, when Chris Tiu unloaded 8 straight points to put the Eagles up 38-30. At the end of the second quarter, the score was 63-36. No, that is not a typo.

The Eagles have swept the first round for the second time in three years. Two years ago, after sweeping the first round, they promptly lost the next game, and went on to end the second round with a 4-3 card. Those past events puts the current season into perspective and makes you enjoy the season in a state of guarded optimism.