Huge Grant

I saw this link on a bulletin post in Friendster...

http://www.play-analogia.com/cgi-bin/index/u/

You've got to upload a picture of you on that website then after you point the coordinates of your eyes in it, it will search their database of pictures of Hollywood stars for the three nearest match to your face.

These were my results:

First off, Hugh Grant (pronounced Yu Grant... hindi Huge Grant...) - puga, ang swerte ko namang lalake kung kamukha ko talaga si Pareng Hugh. Lalakeng lalake ang dating e at sa totoo lang di ko makita yung hawig nung ritrato nya sa ritrato ko. Siguro yung lopsided smile. Siguro lang.

Next, si Tatang Clint Eastwood - Eddie Garcia ng Tate. Ang Tatay ng Sex Appeal. Bukod sa bilang ng buhok, wala na ko maisip na pinagkaparehohan namin nito. E naka cap naman ako sa ritrato ko. Medyo may pagka-prescient siguro yung database nung website. Kanina ko pa tinititigan ritrato namin. Wala talaga ko makitang pagka hawig.

Lastly, si Allen Iverson. Sa mata? Sa labi? Di naman siguro. Langya, lugi ang Lip Balm sa kin kung ganun labi ko. Siguro ang basis nung database e sa facial shape. Malamang. Pero idol ko sa basketball yan si Manong Allen. Apir ako dyan.

Through the Years

Got tagged by Miss Yax...

20 years ago
I'm probably beside my lolo, mustering my newly-learned talent - reading! - as I skim through the latest "Kuyug" comic strip entry in the newspaper, "Tempo" (that's how I learned how to read). Either that, OR my lolo's bragging my other "talent" to his kumpadres, which is to finish a jigsaw puzzle while its pieces were laid out upturned.

15 years ago
Grade 4. Most likely sprawled on the dirt with my toy soldiers or doodling on our house's walls. Pero hindi ako autistic ha. =D May ADHD nga ako e.

10 years ago
Batangenyo na ko nito, having transferred to Lipa from Manila for already 5 years by this time. This is that year in my highschool when I was training as a CAT officer and about to quit the baseball varsity team.

5 years ago
Kung kailan ko naramdaman ang totoong kahulugan ng "magsunog ng kilay". It was our last year in college and it was all projects-gallore... thesis, feasibility studies, programming, software analysis and design!

3 years ago
Got an HP pewter mug as "prize" for this Total Customer Satisfaction activity we've had. I also dressed as an old-school Harlem basketball player for our retro Christmas party - complete with Afro wig. =)

last year
My first Ilocos Region tour. We roamed around prominent places in Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, and Abra. I also started with my new hobby, Warhammer 40K. Here in the office, we won the basketball championship for our company league.

this year
Our tropa, the Justice League, went back to Ilocos and surprisingly was able to jam with Heart and Echo in an off-summer swimming spree in Pagudpod. Before that, we also spent the summer in Zambales.

yesterday
I informed my manager that I will be leaving the company.

last night
I was composing my resignation letter.

today
I'm officially a bum around here in the office.

tomorrow
never knows?

next year
I might be on a Masteral class. Or on a concert stage, whacking my bass guitar. malay natin. =)

5 to 10 years from now
most probably teaching my twins how to play ball. =D

Tears? Check. Frown? Check. Go, Emote!

Rain
by Manong Obi (8/24/05 - Rob Summit, Makati)

Where the warmth fades
And the sun cloud-shrouded
There is rain

That while I might smile,
Might laugh...
Might revel with the raindrops' patter,
It will only hide the tears,
Indiscernible among rainwater flowing on my face.

Flowing...
And yet the feelings remained.

That how I wish in every flow,
Every bead of tear I cry
The thoughts,
The memories,
The love...
Will simply drift along.

But it will not.

So when the blues wither down,
When the tears ran dry
There still will be:
Our thoughts,
Our memories,
Our love,
And the rain.


********************
Paalala: Hindi ako emo mode. Hindi ako malunkot. At lalong hindi ko isinulat ito ngayon para umayon sa isang totoong karanasan, nararanasan pa lamang na pangyayari, o ano pa mang bagay na mag uugnay sa interpretasyon ng tula sa aking buhay.

Trip ko lang magsulat ng malunkot ngayon. Hehe. Walang kelaman ng trip. May angal?

Salamat.

New Wave

Got this from a forum I frequent. Langya... riot ito. Yung hindi maka-relate e ipagtanong nyo sa mga uncle at tiyahin nyo!

Remembering the 80's

*kumakain ka ba ng aratilis?

*nagpipitpit ng gumamela para gawing soapy
bubbles na hihipanmo sa binilog na tanggkay
ng walis tingting?

*pinipilit ka ba matulog ng nanay mo pag hapon at
di ka papayagan maglaro pag di ka natulog?

*marunong ka magpatintero, saksak puso,
langit-lupa, teleber-teleber, luksong tinik?

*malupit ka pag meron kang atari, family computer
or nes?

*alam mo ang silbi ng up, up, down, down, left,
right, left, right, a, b, a, b, start?

*may mga damit ka na U.S.E.D., Boy London,
Cross Colors, Esprit, Blowing Bubbles at
pag nakakakita ka ng Bench na damit eh naalala
mo si Richard Gomez?

*addict ka sa rainbow brite, carebears, my little
pony, thundercats, bioman, voltes v, mazinger z,
daimos, he-man at marami pang cartoons na hindi
pa translated sa tagalog?

*nanonood ka ng shaider kasi nabobosohan mo si
annie at type na type mo ang puting panty nya?

*marunong ka mag wordstar at nakahawak ka na
talaga ng 5.25 na floppy disk?

*inaabangan mo lagi ang batibot at akala mo
magkakatuluyan si kuya bodgie at ate sienna...
nung high school ka inaabangan mo lagi beverly
hills 90210?

*gumagamit ka ng AQUANET para pataasin ang
bangs mo?

*meron kang blouse na may padding kung babae
ka at meron kang sapatos na mighty kid kung
lalake ka?

*nangongolekta ka ng paper stationaries at
mahilig ka magpapirma sa slumbook mo para lang
malaman mo kung sino ang crush ng type mo?

*kilala mo si manang bola at ang sitsiritsit
girls?e si luning-ning at luging-ging?

*alam mo ibig sabihin ng time space warp at di mo
makakalimutan ang time space warp chant?

*idol mo si McGyver at nanonood kang perfect
strangers?

*eto malupet... six digits! lang ba ang phone
number nyo dati?

*nakakatawag ka pa sa pay phone ng 3
bentesingko lang ang dala?

*cute pa si aiza seguerra sa eat bulaga at alam mo
ang song na "eh kasi bata"?

*inabutan mo ba na ang Magnolia Chocolait eh
nasa glass bottle pa na ginagawang lalagyan
ng tubig ng nanay mo sa ref?

*meron kang pencil case na maraming
compartments na pinagyayabang mo sa mga
kaklase mo?

*noon mo pa hinahanap kung saan ang Goya Fun
Factory?

*alam mo lyrics ng "tinapang bangus" at
"alagang-alaga namin si puti"?

*alam mo ang kantang "gloria labandera"..
lumusong sha sa tubig ang paa ay nabasa
at ang "1, 2, 3, asawa ni marie"... hehehehehe?

*sosyal ka pag may play-doh ka at Lego... at
nag-iipon ka ng G.I. Joe action figures at iba pa
ang mukha ni barbie noon?

*inabutan mo pa yung singkong korteng bulaklak at
yung diyes na square?

*lumaki kang bobo dahil ang akala mo nangangagat
talaga ang alimango sa kantang tong-tong-tong...
diba naninipit yun?

*alam mo yung kwento ng pari na binigyan ng pera
yung batang umakyat ng puno para bumili ng
panty... and shempre, alam mo rin ba kung ano
binigay nya sa nanay nung umakyat ng puno?

*meron kang kabisadong kanta ni andrew e na
alam mo hanggang ngayon.. aminin?

*laging lampin ang sinasapin sa likod mo pag
pinapawisan ka?

*bumibili ka ng tarzan, texas at bazooka bubble
gum... tira-tira, at yung kending bilog na
sinawsaw sa asukal?

*kinukupit mo pa at nanonood ka ng mga porno
tapes ng tatay mo na nasa BETAMAX format pa...
at sanay ka tawagin ang porni as BOLD?

*takot ka dumating ang year 2000 dahil sabi nla
magugunaw daw ang mundo?

Mix Mix - Konyong Halo Halo

Friday
Finally, it's formal! I got the Software QA/Tester position I was applying for at Sandstone Technologies. I'll report there by September 26, Monday, going back to the regular morning work shift that I missed. Makaka-gala na ulit ako sa gabi pagkatapos ng work!

Well, I felt both happy and sad upon getting the confirmation from the company. Happy that... well evidently, my transition to another work basically meant more moolah and compensation incentives for me, but sad because I was almost four years old here in my current work and I've seen how this very group rose to the standards we are known today... the very standards that our colleagues in Cincinnatti and Brussels had came to admire for the quality of our work. The group's my pride, my second family, and my confidant. Now, I'm leaving that legacy behind... leaving what I've witnessed as that 8-man fledgling group of software analysts to the 32-strong family we are now, most of whom I personally trained during their probationary periods.

That's life. I have to move on... to mature... to progress.

Balik tanaw: *camera focuses on something then blurs out with matching dreamy warble sound effects*

I am a software analyst here in my current work. This has been my job ever since I graduated in college almost four years ago. I was first assigned to work in the Asia team, working on the normal day shift. It was not until last October, 2004 that I started to work for the North America team on the "vampire" shift. The stay was a wild riot ride, and iL never forget everything I experienced here.

Thanks to my work family! Your bunso is now a man. Maglalayas na ko kasi di na tayo sabay sabay kumain, di nyo na ko mahal. Nyahaha. =)

Saturday
I treated the family to Glorietta. That's basically me, my brother, my sister (the younger one), and my mom. My other sister was off for work so she wasn't able to join us. We watched "D Anothers" again, and my mom predicted that it'L be corny but she was the first one rolling on the floor laughing during the film.

After that we ate in Oody's for the same reason that I was still craving for that orange Thai condiment. Then after having some of my sister's digital pics developed, we bought some pretzels for my other sister. She likes it ordinary. My personal favorite is the Parmesan flavored one.

May pasalubong sa yow si Koya!

Sunday
Painting session ng pamilya. Warhammer 40K Sunday!

Not that my siblings were playing the game but I need to rush painting my figs in time for the series of tournaments on the coming months so I taught them how to hold a brush (duh!) and had them basecoat my Marines black.

My mom kept on detailing how she wanted my Warhammer display case to look like. I'll have one manufactured as soon as I came up with the perfect dimensions to fit on that spot in our house where I want it to be.

Also, I had my haircut.

Monday
It's the birthday of my brother's Ate today!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RIBBONS!

One year to go and iL be problematic on what debut gift I will give to you!

My "Linggo ng Wika" Entry

I was a member/subscriber of FictionPress. I planned on publishing all my novels, short-stories, and poems there for like three years ago and actually I was able to post a few of those literaries there. I should have completely forgot the website now if not for this student who sent a review on one of my novels there - Empire of the Orient Pearl: Dark Times Rising.

It happened last last week when I was doing my rounds of checking each of my email accounts. I got this notification mail from FictionPress that someone gave a review for my work. I read the review and part of it was to ask my permission for her to use the novel for their school project and to give my pen name for it. She's from Miriam College. As part of their Buwan ng Wika celebration, they need to find an English novel made by a Filipino writer, and compose a literary paper for it.

I just find it cool how she'd chosen my story for her project over any other commercially published novels because as she said, "Those that I've found in bookstore are rather boring...".

Astig.

Well, at least, that made my day. Pang projects na pala ang kalibre ng mga sinusulat ko. Nyahaha. Hydrocephalus!

Anyway, I hope she'll do well with the novel and if she happened to pass around this blog I want you to know that you got the right choice! Nyahahaha.

On the other hand, the novel "Empire of the Orient Pearl: Dark Times Rising" is one of a series of novels I conceptualized as to be of alternative history-fantasy genre. It highlighted the events that happened during the Imperial Age of Man, when Holy Rome and City-State Sparta, Spain and Portugal, the Barbaric Tribes of Central Europe, and Feudal Japan flourished as central powers of their own protectorate territories. Along this timeline in history, my idea was to insert the question "What if the Southeast Asian region became one of these powers during those critical time in the civilization of Man?". "What if the Philippines became the central power behind this Empire?"

Such lead me to Bathala - the Imperial name of the Philippines with the Southeast Asian countries collectively under the Balangay ni Bathala (Bathalan Empire). The novels basically revolved around these ideas. Also, one x-factor of these novels perhaps is the fact that I experimented on applying the procedure I called cross-language technique in creative writing wherein the language used on the narrative will be different to the actual languages spoken on majority of the conversations in the stories. In my case, I used an English narration on Tagalog conversations.

Here's an excerpt from the novel:

Empire of the Orient Pearl: Dark Times Rising
Chapter 2 - "The Last Tribunal"

There was a feeling of tension within the walls of the Tribunal Amphitheater as the State Ambassadors together with their Magistrates and some minor administrative delegations congregated on the domed establishment. They have, at least, assumed some insights on the upcoming events upon taking notice of the Dugong crew members who were in full battle gear, present in the assembly. The Imperial Court rarely permitted personalities beyond government officials.

The amphitheater was at the edge of a sea cliff. Not far downhill, the formidable warship, Dugong, was set to sail at one of the Hukbong Layag waterfronts with its heaved hulking sails overshadowing the eerie full moon’s reflection on the calm waters of Laguna Lake. This too were evidently viewed by the curious statesmen from the structure’s large arched portico entry. Someone must be leaving or maybe Bathala was set for a military expedition, was most of them had presumed.

The commotion was cut short when a loud clanging sound from a large gong signified the preparations for formal commencement of the gathering and entry of the Emperor. Everyone inside the dome went into their proper places, rose, and silenced. The Ambassadors settled in the front banks with their Magistrates huddled behind them as the admin delegates situated themselves on the secondary tiers. The Dugong expedition team stood as spectators in the outer circle.

“Mga Maharlikang Kinatawan, Mahistrado, at miyembro ng mababang tribunal,” a hoarse voice paused as it announced, ”ang Datu ng Balangay ng Bathala!”

An entourage of six Kalasag entered the amphitheater followed by the Diwa and finally, the Datu, strangely clad in a commoner’s garment. Datu Silwas went straight ahead the rostrum as the weary Diwa seated behind him; the Kalasag encircled the majestically architectured podium.
The Emperor gestured for the audience to be seated.

“Kumalat na ang salot na sakit, marami na ang namatay sa gutom, wala pang lunas magpa-hanggang ngayon! Delikado tayong maubos sa sakit dito sa Balangay. Lulusob ang mga kaaway oras na malaman nila na mahina na ang ating kakayahang militar,” the Emperor gravely said upon standing on the pulpit, not wasting any time for futile introductions, “ilan lang ang mga iyan sa mga nalalapit na mangyayari.”

He stressed his voice. “Alam nating lahat na ang Brazilia ang may pinakamagagaling na albularyo sa mundo. Alam din nating lahat na matagal nang kaaway ng Balangay ang Kaharian na iyon. Gayon pa man,” the Datu took a deep breath and abruptly muttered, “magtutungo ako ng Brazilia.”

A multitude of murmurs reverberated among the stone wall of the dome. One of the Ambassadors, evidently from Sayam because of his traditional sarong, stood up and sympathetically said, “Delikado ang anumang pakikipagkasundo sa Kaharian ng Brazilia. Maraming bagay ang maaaring maitaya dito Kamahalan.”

Datu Silwas raised a hand to pacify the assembly. When the crowd appeased, he explicably stated, “Wala nang ibang paraan… kailangang makapagsaliksik ng lunas, at tanging mga albularyo lamang ng Brazilia ang may sapat na kakayahang gumawa nito. Ngunit, huwag kayong mag-alala, hindi ko kukunin ang lunas sa isang kasunduan, at mas lalo na sa isang digmaan…”

He gestured at his garments. “Magpapanggap akong isang mananaliksik na Indones. Tutungo ako doon kasama ang isang may sakit upang siya itong mapag-aralan. Bibilihin ko ang lunas at nang sa gayon ay makagawa ng maraming kopya nito ang ating mga albularyo.”
Vital moments passed as the Emperor continued discussing the plans. Many had shown empathy for him and contradicted the fact that he will be the one leaving for the expedition. The Datu explained why he had chosen to go, and the administrators were so much grateful for the Emperor’s courage.

****

Extra lang: Another review regarding this novel, also from FictionPress. Nakakataba ng puso. It's from Chunhyei and she said:

I Love It! Glad to see an epic of Pilipino proportions!Keep it up! Mabuhay! ^_^

Anong Latest?

My Warhammer 40,000 blog is finally officially onlinely! Hehe. Carried away.

Well, like this blog I want to keep its layout as simple as possible and as long as it projects the intended aura, its good enough for me. Besides, I created it to just keep track of the progresses I made with my miniature hobby. It's more of a personal thing to be honest, but I believe some people who are into the hobby (including those in our organization, probably) or who are curious on what it is all about will visit from time to time. Let's say I also intend to help promote the game/hobby through it so instead of focusing on ornameting the layout, I just jampacked it as much as possible with information regarding Warhammer 40,000.

The setting of the story behind Warhammer is in the battle-torn future of the 40th millennium. Apparently, that's the reason for the "40,000" on the game's name. As it is, I like the blog to be grim and dark, so I just made it all black with fonts in white and various tones of gray. There's this edited picture of me on the centerpiece (see? I told you I want it GRIM! hehe) portrayed as a member of the cloaked Deathwing - the elites of my Warhammer 40K army, the Dark Angels.

However, expect to read a lot of jargons in there since I took into consideration that regular players and those who were already in the hobby will be bored out of their boxers if iL explain every technical stuffs word for word.

It's still under partial construction so iL try to add more stuffs as I move on with working on it - a major reason why I'm still stuck with these halo-halo layout though I want to start a new one!

SO without further ado, welcome to MY WORKSHOP!

http://butingting.blogspot.com/

For the Emperor!

Missin' Bloggin'

Friday
I took a vacation leave here at work to attend my second RHCG meeting in New Manila.

RHGC or Rolling Hills Gaming Club is the local organization for Warhammer players. We aim to create awareness to the public regarding our hobby as well as help each other to more enjoy the craft.

I met with the other members on Neutral Grounds - Galleria at around 6pm to benefit with the car pool and by approximately 8pm, we were already in the venue after a light-hearted discussion of the harmful effects of aspartine, mercury poisoning on tunas, potato no-nos, and yes... even the origins of sago and gulaman. Tapioca pala English dun.

Anyway, it was a night of food, liquors, food, Warhammer games, food, acquaintanceships, and... have I mentioned food? My Dark Angels army lose that night against an Iyanden Craftworld army. That's basically me losing a game of Warhammer 40,000 by the way.

We also had a group pictorial which will be sent to Australia with an article regarding the organization so that we could be featured on any future publications of White Dwarf. White Dwarf is the official magazine of Warhammer-related game systems specifically Warhammer Fantasy, Warhammer 40K, and Lord of the Rings.

The gathering ended just past 1:00am.

Saturday
I went to Glorietta before lunch with my cousin, LJ and my younger bro, Sponklong. It was to buy the albums "Legacy.." and "Best of... Collections" of the Boys 2 Men in Tower Records - a favor my younger sis, Cheng asked me.

Afterwards, I treated my companions to Oody's for lunch because I was craving to that orange-ish sauce they use as condiment for their spring rolls and satays. I dunno how they call it or what that Thai thing was made off, but as long as it's good on my palates I don't give a heck. I even saw a Singaporean guy on the table next to us literally immersing his barbeque on that orange stuff.

Next, we indulged our time playing on Time Zone where there was this situation that came up on the basketball shooting arcade. I love spending time there, so it was our first stop. On the gallery on my left were a group of young girls... and I mean "highschool" young. The arcade was set to interactive mode so basically we will be competing along with the other people on the other galleries including my cousin and my bro. When the signal to start shooting begun, I noticed that their basketballs were two pieces short so they couldn't retrieve them quickly enough to prepare for the next shot. Being the "nice guy" I am (or so I thought hehe), I quickly transferred two of the basketballs in my gallery into theirs. I'd rather play with that handicap than the hapless damsels.

For me it was casually nothing big. I never had an idea that there was something more in it for them until they started teasing one of their friends after the round of shooting was done (and I got the most points, mind you... hehe). They were teasing the girl to me! Napangiti na lang ako as in... hello Earth, alam nyo bang 24 na ko?? Funny how I pondered with the idea of her calling me honey or baby or sweety and calling my 17 year-old sister "ATE"! Riot yun! Hehe. Baka habulin ako ng Department of Social Welfare. Sabagay si Pauleen Luna nga niligawan ni Dieth at age 14?! Showbizzzz....

Anyway, I think it was because of my attire that's why they thought I'm younger than the real deal. I'm wearing my baggy skaterboi get-up to match with my younger companions, that's why. Ayoko naman mag mukhang tatay ng mga kasama ko noh.

Anyway highway! Nagsawa kami sa arcade games around 3pm and masyado pa maaga para umuwi. I elected to watch a movie and we chose between "Stealth" and "Great Raid" and well, surprisingly my companions (perhaps with a sudden outburst of patriotism) went for "Great Raid". And so it was. Aimed with two double cheeseburgers, a handful of fries, and some rootbeers, we charged the film.

Ok. How will I start this? The film was jampacked with historical facts and the researchers must have had a great deal of work behind these. I'm proud of our Filipino artists who made the cut to be in the movie. Kudos to all of them, especially Cesar Montano for the potrayal of Captain Juan Pajota. The sets were greatly reminiscent of the old Philippines and even their render of old Manila (Intramuros) was astoundingly nostalgic to watch.

Two things that I was frustrated to know regarding the film, though, were:

1. Captain Juan Pajota and his lieutenant, Joson were only given menial tasks during the actual liberation of the Cabanatuan POW Prison Camp. The Commanding Officer, Lt. Col. Henry Mucci assigned the Filipino forces to just hold bridges that were possible Japanese escape routes while the US squads charged the Camp and do their heroic thingy.

2. The family of Captain Juan Pajota (as I heard) did not receive any considerable donation for using the name and life-story of their kin on the film.

All in all, it's a great watch. Watchout for the kids though for some gory scenes. As if kids will be enthusiastic to watch. I observed that most of the patrons were senior citizens. =)

We went home around 8pm, after buying my mom assorted salads from Salad Days. Kahit kasali ako sa umupak ng kain pag uwi. Tsalap.

Sunday
Sabbatical Sunday.

I unbelievably stayed home the whole day, just painting and modelling my miniature Warhammer 40K figures...

...and hearing my mom making fun of my being able to take a nap listening to music the likes of Rage Against The Machine's "Bulls on Parade" and Karl Roy's "Overload".

Dee Anothers

Last Tuesday, after going home to sleep around 7:00am and waking up 11:00am to rush back here in Makati for some "work-related stuffs", I hit the cinema to sleep. Office will start at 8:00pm and it'L be a waste of precious time if iL go back home to continue my slumber. So, armed with my comfortable jacket and my pillow-soft bag, I charged the Glorietta theaters after the "work-related stuff" and bought an admission for "D Anothers".

I wasn't able to sleep.

Umpisa pa lang patok na.

***SPOILER ALERT! SPOILER ALERT! SPOILER ALERT!***

gf's rich dad: ...call the security guards!
tiyahin: ...call the PNP!
gf's rich dad: Call the AFP!
tiyahin: Jograd, call the CIA and KGB combined!
gf's rich dad: Y'know, I think you're sick!
tiyahin: Then call the Doctor very quick!

=)

Despite being a typical modern Pinoy comedy film, "D Anothers" will clinch the audiences humor with Vhong's comic delivery and patented body language. There had been several scenes in the movie reminiscent of the classical Pinoy stuffs like the mid-film musical acts (kudos for the Streetboys' cool dance moves), uber dependence of the storyline on love pairs, and slapstick humors. Although these were not entirely drawbacks of the movie, it contributed to the fact that there had been "downtimes" of humor along the plot. I know it's not supposed to be a hard core comedy movie but still it could have been better if the transition in between phasings were better. See, it's chiefly a comedy-horror film but they'd also tried hard to insert humor on more serious scenes which for me did not click. If you'll happen to watch the movie or have already watched it, then I'm talking about the love affair between John and Michelle and the plot involving Jhong and Ms. Bella, to name a few.

Astig talaga yung kissing scene ni Jhong at Bell Flores! Hanggang ngayon hindi ako makakain ng mabuti. Nyahaha.

In short, the story's so hilarious on several scenes and outright bland on random ones. This is not good in comparison to its simple plot. Isn't it better if the plot's not that complex but the humors are straight out funny? American Pie comes to mind. Wala ako maisip ipangtapat na local film eh but I know a Bayani Agbayani film that fits the criteria well. Nakalimutan ko lang title. =)

Anyway, on a scale of one to five and five's the highest, iL be giving the film a 3.14 for sheer will to pass the "pasang awa" level. *kung nag teacher ako, ambait ko siguro*

Final word: crush ko na din si Michelle Madrigal. Hehe. Humaba pa lalo ang listahan ko!

Late Blogger

Party sum up muna. (I know... my report's late again)

As opposed to what I said in my previous post, we've not been safe against the KJ neighbors. See, they've sent a "tanod" to warn us to tone down our noise! Hindi nila ma-appreciate yung bagong genre ng music... DRUNK ROCK! That's around 2:30am when the barangay staffs asked us to quiet down, but the celebration ended around 4am. Si San Miguel (Lights) at si Don Pedro (Brandy) ang bida that night. I refrained from the hard liquor though. Di ko trip malasing nun. Pagtapos namin, kumain muna kami ng Pares sa España bago umuwi. Astig sa sarap.

Being lazy to blabber today, let's outright proceed with the pics...

The Pack. (I'm the only guy wearing a cap)


3/4th ng Justice League - Kid, Wacha, Piolo Pascual *pweh!*, Man. (I'm singing "Born Free" here. Serious.)


Group hug! Sinubukan ko i-project yung likuran ko.


"Closer You and I" naman ang hirit dito.

Speaking of...

I'm off for another house party this evening. Our department here at work decided to spend the night at a colleague's house and what rapstars call "partey till duh break o' dawn". Me and my officemates in the night team were rescheduled today for our monthly meeting that instead of working on a "vampire" shift, we started this afternoon at 2:00pm and will end later at 11:00pm. Tapos good-to-go na sa venue.

Angel, the host of the gathering, went home early to setup everything on their place. I heard there's a videoke machine and that sisig and isaw are part of the pulutan menu! Ayus! Mukhang sasabayan ko ng kanin yung pulutan. Hehe. As usual, we will held the party on the rooftop of their four-storey house, safe from neighbors' complaints and/or shotgun bullets. Ahihi.

The gathering, as I classify it, is simply a goody goody. We were there just to discuss mostly about work-related stuffs and concerns. Talk shit or not, I know it will rock since it'L be the first time again in months that the department (composed of around 34 guys within 25 years of age range, mind you) will gather to hang loose.

Anyway, tomorrow iL be on Galleria for a Warhammer 40K game. It's in Neutral Grounds on the last level of the mall, near the Bowling Center and Victory Worship Center. Anyone who's interested on the game may come watch or better yet drop me an SMS. Basta ililibre lang ako ng Double Wham Burger! Nyahaha.

On Sunday, I might stay home (It's a mirakuL!) to finish painting my remaining Warhammer 40K miniatures in preparation for a series of tournaments on the coming months. One tourney will even pot a whoping 10,000PHP prize money! I like!

Magandang tapusang-linggo sa inyong lahat!

Bow.

Series of Slashes

Last Saturday was a blast! Pareng Jon, a close buddy slash college tropapips slash classmate slash kumpare, celebrated his birthday with a house party. Being a scarred veteran of such, I say that one will be in the top five best house party I attended this year.

Just to share my view on these, I classify house parties into three categories: Themed, Goody-goodies, and Ol' School.

Themed Parties
Typically a house party organized to cater a specific frame of idea. Slumber/pajama parties, halloween parties, and pool parties fall into this category. This is the type I rarely have the time to go to, especially when the person inviting me is not that close to me. I'm an advocate of spontaneity and i don't fancy indulging to prepare for a party just to be "in" with the theme. Magiging KJ lang ang labas ko. I might attend one but I will not pay much regard on getting too much into the motif. It's like in a masquerade party, I'm the one comfortable enough wearing a paper bag with eye-holes in my head.

Goody Goody Parties
As the title suggests, parties under this category were meant to be just clean fun with good-natured purposes. Acquaintance parties, informal class reunions, and "typical" birthday celebrations are examples of this category. Here's where you'll have a good deal of exercising your smile since it will commonly involve sweet talkings, getting-to-knows, and/or tête-à-têtes. In short, plastikan. He he. Loko lang. But don't you just hate it when you hear scripted lines over and over again?

"Pare, panganay ko nga pala."
*kuwari nagulat* "Huh?!? Sya na ba si Dominador? Ang laki na ah! Manang-mana sa tatay."
*eto yung part na ngingiti ka kahit anlayo ng mukha mo sa tatay mo*
#
"Kain na kayo."
*papakipot konti* "Sige, Koring. Busog pa. Kakakain ko lang pag-alis ng bahay."
"Ay kumain ka na lang ulit. Sige na. Wag na kayo mahiya."
*kakain na. baka magbago pa isip ni Koring.*
"Ay babalik kayo ha. Marami akong niluto."
*kahit ubos ubos na yung handa sa lamesa*
#
"Huy, Karding! Kamusta na? San ka na nagtatrabaho?"
"Sa Makati, Pare. Ikaw?"
"Wow bigtime na ah. San sa Makati?"
"Sa Ayala, Pare. Kamusta na?"
"Wow ang galing naman. Saan banda sa Ayala?"
"Sa RCBC, Pare. Ano balita kay Kumare?"
"Tignan mo nga naman oh. Ipasok mo naman yung anak ko sa inyo."

Familiar with these lines? Those were so common in goody goody parties that in time I've known how to react on each situations even in my sleep. Yep, sabay ngiti.

Old School
Eto yung astig. This is my definition of house parties, often seen on American teen-flick movies where everything was provided and it's anything goes for the guests. No rules. No holds barred. Yung party ni Jon was a classic example. Sa Meycauayan yun. We set up a videoke area and bought "generous" amounts of alcoholinks both for the "hard" drinkers and the beer patrons.

alcoholinks - (n.) ALCOHOLic drINKS. Source: Diksyunaryo ni Lolo

The food arrived in time to start the celebration. And basically, since there was no one who'L accommodate the guests aside from the celebrant, it's up to them on what they wanted to do. The place was jampacked by midnight and I was drunk by 2:00am (it took a lot of guts to admit that though). Everywhere, people was sprawled about the place, heckling, merry-making, and yep, even chasing each other in spurs of intoxicated trippings. The last thing I heard before settling on the couch to doze off was a neighbor complaining about Jon's car club colleagues who were on the videoke singing... err... shouting their lungs' desire. Everything else was a black void until the next morning. Walang hang-over. Ang galing.

Fundador-Colt ang na-combo ko that night. My body's not that good in tolerating alcohol. Madali ako malasing, and thus I'm not fond of drinking casually. Kapag iinom ako, dapat merong magandang rason. I don't drink for the sake of it. Hindi ko kaylanman nagustuhan ang lasa ng alak. I drink for the camaraderie that lays behind the reason why we are here to drink. It's that because we are bonded to celebrate for something special! Yun yun eh.

With that, I wanted to greet Jon a HAPPY BIRTHDAY again! Magkasing edad na tayo huy!

Si Baks

Thanks Cbox for the wonderful tagboard!

Tatlong araw nang cranky yung old shoutbox ko eh. Kabwisit. Lugi negosyo.

Binyagan na yang bago... tambay na!

Huge Grant

I saw this link on a bulletin post in Friendster...

http://www.play-analogia.com/cgi-bin/index/u/

You've got to upload a picture of you on that website then after you point the coordinates of your eyes in it, it will search their database of pictures of Hollywood stars for the three nearest match to your face.

These were my results:

First off, Hugh Grant (pronounced Yu Grant... hindi Huge Grant...) - puga, ang swerte ko namang lalake kung kamukha ko talaga si Pareng Hugh. Lalakeng lalake ang dating e at sa totoo lang di ko makita yung hawig nung ritrato nya sa ritrato ko. Siguro yung lopsided smile. Siguro lang.

Next, si Tatang Clint Eastwood - Eddie Garcia ng Tate. Ang Tatay ng Sex Appeal. Bukod sa bilang ng buhok, wala na ko maisip na pinagkaparehohan namin nito. E naka cap naman ako sa ritrato ko. Medyo may pagka-prescient siguro yung database nung website. Kanina ko pa tinititigan ritrato namin. Wala talaga ko makitang pagka hawig.

Lastly, si Allen Iverson. Sa mata? Sa labi? Di naman siguro. Langya, lugi ang Lip Balm sa kin kung ganun labi ko. Siguro ang basis nung database e sa facial shape. Malamang. Pero idol ko sa basketball yan si Manong Allen. Apir ako dyan.

Through the Years

Got tagged by Miss Yax...

20 years ago
I'm probably beside my lolo, mustering my newly-learned talent - reading! - as I skim through the latest "Kuyug" comic strip entry in the newspaper, "Tempo" (that's how I learned how to read). Either that, OR my lolo's bragging my other "talent" to his kumpadres, which is to finish a jigsaw puzzle while its pieces were laid out upturned.

15 years ago
Grade 4. Most likely sprawled on the dirt with my toy soldiers or doodling on our house's walls. Pero hindi ako autistic ha. =D May ADHD nga ako e.

10 years ago
Batangenyo na ko nito, having transferred to Lipa from Manila for already 5 years by this time. This is that year in my highschool when I was training as a CAT officer and about to quit the baseball varsity team.

5 years ago
Kung kailan ko naramdaman ang totoong kahulugan ng "magsunog ng kilay". It was our last year in college and it was all projects-gallore... thesis, feasibility studies, programming, software analysis and design!

3 years ago
Got an HP pewter mug as "prize" for this Total Customer Satisfaction activity we've had. I also dressed as an old-school Harlem basketball player for our retro Christmas party - complete with Afro wig. =)

last year
My first Ilocos Region tour. We roamed around prominent places in Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, and Abra. I also started with my new hobby, Warhammer 40K. Here in the office, we won the basketball championship for our company league.

this year
Our tropa, the Justice League, went back to Ilocos and surprisingly was able to jam with Heart and Echo in an off-summer swimming spree in Pagudpod. Before that, we also spent the summer in Zambales.

yesterday
I informed my manager that I will be leaving the company.

last night
I was composing my resignation letter.

today
I'm officially a bum around here in the office.

tomorrow
never knows?

next year
I might be on a Masteral class. Or on a concert stage, whacking my bass guitar. malay natin. =)

5 to 10 years from now
most probably teaching my twins how to play ball. =D

Tears? Check. Frown? Check. Go, Emote!

Rain
by Manong Obi (8/24/05 - Rob Summit, Makati)

Where the warmth fades
And the sun cloud-shrouded
There is rain

That while I might smile,
Might laugh...
Might revel with the raindrops' patter,
It will only hide the tears,
Indiscernible among rainwater flowing on my face.

Flowing...
And yet the feelings remained.

That how I wish in every flow,
Every bead of tear I cry
The thoughts,
The memories,
The love...
Will simply drift along.

But it will not.

So when the blues wither down,
When the tears ran dry
There still will be:
Our thoughts,
Our memories,
Our love,
And the rain.


********************
Paalala: Hindi ako emo mode. Hindi ako malunkot. At lalong hindi ko isinulat ito ngayon para umayon sa isang totoong karanasan, nararanasan pa lamang na pangyayari, o ano pa mang bagay na mag uugnay sa interpretasyon ng tula sa aking buhay.

Trip ko lang magsulat ng malunkot ngayon. Hehe. Walang kelaman ng trip. May angal?

Salamat.

New Wave

Got this from a forum I frequent. Langya... riot ito. Yung hindi maka-relate e ipagtanong nyo sa mga uncle at tiyahin nyo!

Remembering the 80's

*kumakain ka ba ng aratilis?

*nagpipitpit ng gumamela para gawing soapy
bubbles na hihipanmo sa binilog na tanggkay
ng walis tingting?

*pinipilit ka ba matulog ng nanay mo pag hapon at
di ka papayagan maglaro pag di ka natulog?

*marunong ka magpatintero, saksak puso,
langit-lupa, teleber-teleber, luksong tinik?

*malupit ka pag meron kang atari, family computer
or nes?

*alam mo ang silbi ng up, up, down, down, left,
right, left, right, a, b, a, b, start?

*may mga damit ka na U.S.E.D., Boy London,
Cross Colors, Esprit, Blowing Bubbles at
pag nakakakita ka ng Bench na damit eh naalala
mo si Richard Gomez?

*addict ka sa rainbow brite, carebears, my little
pony, thundercats, bioman, voltes v, mazinger z,
daimos, he-man at marami pang cartoons na hindi
pa translated sa tagalog?

*nanonood ka ng shaider kasi nabobosohan mo si
annie at type na type mo ang puting panty nya?

*marunong ka mag wordstar at nakahawak ka na
talaga ng 5.25 na floppy disk?

*inaabangan mo lagi ang batibot at akala mo
magkakatuluyan si kuya bodgie at ate sienna...
nung high school ka inaabangan mo lagi beverly
hills 90210?

*gumagamit ka ng AQUANET para pataasin ang
bangs mo?

*meron kang blouse na may padding kung babae
ka at meron kang sapatos na mighty kid kung
lalake ka?

*nangongolekta ka ng paper stationaries at
mahilig ka magpapirma sa slumbook mo para lang
malaman mo kung sino ang crush ng type mo?

*kilala mo si manang bola at ang sitsiritsit
girls?e si luning-ning at luging-ging?

*alam mo ibig sabihin ng time space warp at di mo
makakalimutan ang time space warp chant?

*idol mo si McGyver at nanonood kang perfect
strangers?

*eto malupet... six digits! lang ba ang phone
number nyo dati?

*nakakatawag ka pa sa pay phone ng 3
bentesingko lang ang dala?

*cute pa si aiza seguerra sa eat bulaga at alam mo
ang song na "eh kasi bata"?

*inabutan mo ba na ang Magnolia Chocolait eh
nasa glass bottle pa na ginagawang lalagyan
ng tubig ng nanay mo sa ref?

*meron kang pencil case na maraming
compartments na pinagyayabang mo sa mga
kaklase mo?

*noon mo pa hinahanap kung saan ang Goya Fun
Factory?

*alam mo lyrics ng "tinapang bangus" at
"alagang-alaga namin si puti"?

*alam mo ang kantang "gloria labandera"..
lumusong sha sa tubig ang paa ay nabasa
at ang "1, 2, 3, asawa ni marie"... hehehehehe?

*sosyal ka pag may play-doh ka at Lego... at
nag-iipon ka ng G.I. Joe action figures at iba pa
ang mukha ni barbie noon?

*inabutan mo pa yung singkong korteng bulaklak at
yung diyes na square?

*lumaki kang bobo dahil ang akala mo nangangagat
talaga ang alimango sa kantang tong-tong-tong...
diba naninipit yun?

*alam mo yung kwento ng pari na binigyan ng pera
yung batang umakyat ng puno para bumili ng
panty... and shempre, alam mo rin ba kung ano
binigay nya sa nanay nung umakyat ng puno?

*meron kang kabisadong kanta ni andrew e na
alam mo hanggang ngayon.. aminin?

*laging lampin ang sinasapin sa likod mo pag
pinapawisan ka?

*bumibili ka ng tarzan, texas at bazooka bubble
gum... tira-tira, at yung kending bilog na
sinawsaw sa asukal?

*kinukupit mo pa at nanonood ka ng mga porno
tapes ng tatay mo na nasa BETAMAX format pa...
at sanay ka tawagin ang porni as BOLD?

*takot ka dumating ang year 2000 dahil sabi nla
magugunaw daw ang mundo?

Mix Mix - Konyong Halo Halo

Friday
Finally, it's formal! I got the Software QA/Tester position I was applying for at Sandstone Technologies. I'll report there by September 26, Monday, going back to the regular morning work shift that I missed. Makaka-gala na ulit ako sa gabi pagkatapos ng work!

Well, I felt both happy and sad upon getting the confirmation from the company. Happy that... well evidently, my transition to another work basically meant more moolah and compensation incentives for me, but sad because I was almost four years old here in my current work and I've seen how this very group rose to the standards we are known today... the very standards that our colleagues in Cincinnatti and Brussels had came to admire for the quality of our work. The group's my pride, my second family, and my confidant. Now, I'm leaving that legacy behind... leaving what I've witnessed as that 8-man fledgling group of software analysts to the 32-strong family we are now, most of whom I personally trained during their probationary periods.

That's life. I have to move on... to mature... to progress.

Balik tanaw: *camera focuses on something then blurs out with matching dreamy warble sound effects*

I am a software analyst here in my current work. This has been my job ever since I graduated in college almost four years ago. I was first assigned to work in the Asia team, working on the normal day shift. It was not until last October, 2004 that I started to work for the North America team on the "vampire" shift. The stay was a wild riot ride, and iL never forget everything I experienced here.

Thanks to my work family! Your bunso is now a man. Maglalayas na ko kasi di na tayo sabay sabay kumain, di nyo na ko mahal. Nyahaha. =)

Saturday
I treated the family to Glorietta. That's basically me, my brother, my sister (the younger one), and my mom. My other sister was off for work so she wasn't able to join us. We watched "D Anothers" again, and my mom predicted that it'L be corny but she was the first one rolling on the floor laughing during the film.

After that we ate in Oody's for the same reason that I was still craving for that orange Thai condiment. Then after having some of my sister's digital pics developed, we bought some pretzels for my other sister. She likes it ordinary. My personal favorite is the Parmesan flavored one.

May pasalubong sa yow si Koya!

Sunday
Painting session ng pamilya. Warhammer 40K Sunday!

Not that my siblings were playing the game but I need to rush painting my figs in time for the series of tournaments on the coming months so I taught them how to hold a brush (duh!) and had them basecoat my Marines black.

My mom kept on detailing how she wanted my Warhammer display case to look like. I'll have one manufactured as soon as I came up with the perfect dimensions to fit on that spot in our house where I want it to be.

Also, I had my haircut.

Monday
It's the birthday of my brother's Ate today!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RIBBONS!

One year to go and iL be problematic on what debut gift I will give to you!

My "Linggo ng Wika" Entry

I was a member/subscriber of FictionPress. I planned on publishing all my novels, short-stories, and poems there for like three years ago and actually I was able to post a few of those literaries there. I should have completely forgot the website now if not for this student who sent a review on one of my novels there - Empire of the Orient Pearl: Dark Times Rising.

It happened last last week when I was doing my rounds of checking each of my email accounts. I got this notification mail from FictionPress that someone gave a review for my work. I read the review and part of it was to ask my permission for her to use the novel for their school project and to give my pen name for it. She's from Miriam College. As part of their Buwan ng Wika celebration, they need to find an English novel made by a Filipino writer, and compose a literary paper for it.

I just find it cool how she'd chosen my story for her project over any other commercially published novels because as she said, "Those that I've found in bookstore are rather boring...".

Astig.

Well, at least, that made my day. Pang projects na pala ang kalibre ng mga sinusulat ko. Nyahaha. Hydrocephalus!

Anyway, I hope she'll do well with the novel and if she happened to pass around this blog I want you to know that you got the right choice! Nyahahaha.

On the other hand, the novel "Empire of the Orient Pearl: Dark Times Rising" is one of a series of novels I conceptualized as to be of alternative history-fantasy genre. It highlighted the events that happened during the Imperial Age of Man, when Holy Rome and City-State Sparta, Spain and Portugal, the Barbaric Tribes of Central Europe, and Feudal Japan flourished as central powers of their own protectorate territories. Along this timeline in history, my idea was to insert the question "What if the Southeast Asian region became one of these powers during those critical time in the civilization of Man?". "What if the Philippines became the central power behind this Empire?"

Such lead me to Bathala - the Imperial name of the Philippines with the Southeast Asian countries collectively under the Balangay ni Bathala (Bathalan Empire). The novels basically revolved around these ideas. Also, one x-factor of these novels perhaps is the fact that I experimented on applying the procedure I called cross-language technique in creative writing wherein the language used on the narrative will be different to the actual languages spoken on majority of the conversations in the stories. In my case, I used an English narration on Tagalog conversations.

Here's an excerpt from the novel:

Empire of the Orient Pearl: Dark Times Rising
Chapter 2 - "The Last Tribunal"

There was a feeling of tension within the walls of the Tribunal Amphitheater as the State Ambassadors together with their Magistrates and some minor administrative delegations congregated on the domed establishment. They have, at least, assumed some insights on the upcoming events upon taking notice of the Dugong crew members who were in full battle gear, present in the assembly. The Imperial Court rarely permitted personalities beyond government officials.

The amphitheater was at the edge of a sea cliff. Not far downhill, the formidable warship, Dugong, was set to sail at one of the Hukbong Layag waterfronts with its heaved hulking sails overshadowing the eerie full moon’s reflection on the calm waters of Laguna Lake. This too were evidently viewed by the curious statesmen from the structure’s large arched portico entry. Someone must be leaving or maybe Bathala was set for a military expedition, was most of them had presumed.

The commotion was cut short when a loud clanging sound from a large gong signified the preparations for formal commencement of the gathering and entry of the Emperor. Everyone inside the dome went into their proper places, rose, and silenced. The Ambassadors settled in the front banks with their Magistrates huddled behind them as the admin delegates situated themselves on the secondary tiers. The Dugong expedition team stood as spectators in the outer circle.

“Mga Maharlikang Kinatawan, Mahistrado, at miyembro ng mababang tribunal,” a hoarse voice paused as it announced, ”ang Datu ng Balangay ng Bathala!”

An entourage of six Kalasag entered the amphitheater followed by the Diwa and finally, the Datu, strangely clad in a commoner’s garment. Datu Silwas went straight ahead the rostrum as the weary Diwa seated behind him; the Kalasag encircled the majestically architectured podium.
The Emperor gestured for the audience to be seated.

“Kumalat na ang salot na sakit, marami na ang namatay sa gutom, wala pang lunas magpa-hanggang ngayon! Delikado tayong maubos sa sakit dito sa Balangay. Lulusob ang mga kaaway oras na malaman nila na mahina na ang ating kakayahang militar,” the Emperor gravely said upon standing on the pulpit, not wasting any time for futile introductions, “ilan lang ang mga iyan sa mga nalalapit na mangyayari.”

He stressed his voice. “Alam nating lahat na ang Brazilia ang may pinakamagagaling na albularyo sa mundo. Alam din nating lahat na matagal nang kaaway ng Balangay ang Kaharian na iyon. Gayon pa man,” the Datu took a deep breath and abruptly muttered, “magtutungo ako ng Brazilia.”

A multitude of murmurs reverberated among the stone wall of the dome. One of the Ambassadors, evidently from Sayam because of his traditional sarong, stood up and sympathetically said, “Delikado ang anumang pakikipagkasundo sa Kaharian ng Brazilia. Maraming bagay ang maaaring maitaya dito Kamahalan.”

Datu Silwas raised a hand to pacify the assembly. When the crowd appeased, he explicably stated, “Wala nang ibang paraan… kailangang makapagsaliksik ng lunas, at tanging mga albularyo lamang ng Brazilia ang may sapat na kakayahang gumawa nito. Ngunit, huwag kayong mag-alala, hindi ko kukunin ang lunas sa isang kasunduan, at mas lalo na sa isang digmaan…”

He gestured at his garments. “Magpapanggap akong isang mananaliksik na Indones. Tutungo ako doon kasama ang isang may sakit upang siya itong mapag-aralan. Bibilihin ko ang lunas at nang sa gayon ay makagawa ng maraming kopya nito ang ating mga albularyo.”
Vital moments passed as the Emperor continued discussing the plans. Many had shown empathy for him and contradicted the fact that he will be the one leaving for the expedition. The Datu explained why he had chosen to go, and the administrators were so much grateful for the Emperor’s courage.

****

Extra lang: Another review regarding this novel, also from FictionPress. Nakakataba ng puso. It's from Chunhyei and she said:

I Love It! Glad to see an epic of Pilipino proportions!Keep it up! Mabuhay! ^_^

Anong Latest?

My Warhammer 40,000 blog is finally officially onlinely! Hehe. Carried away.

Well, like this blog I want to keep its layout as simple as possible and as long as it projects the intended aura, its good enough for me. Besides, I created it to just keep track of the progresses I made with my miniature hobby. It's more of a personal thing to be honest, but I believe some people who are into the hobby (including those in our organization, probably) or who are curious on what it is all about will visit from time to time. Let's say I also intend to help promote the game/hobby through it so instead of focusing on ornameting the layout, I just jampacked it as much as possible with information regarding Warhammer 40,000.

The setting of the story behind Warhammer is in the battle-torn future of the 40th millennium. Apparently, that's the reason for the "40,000" on the game's name. As it is, I like the blog to be grim and dark, so I just made it all black with fonts in white and various tones of gray. There's this edited picture of me on the centerpiece (see? I told you I want it GRIM! hehe) portrayed as a member of the cloaked Deathwing - the elites of my Warhammer 40K army, the Dark Angels.

However, expect to read a lot of jargons in there since I took into consideration that regular players and those who were already in the hobby will be bored out of their boxers if iL explain every technical stuffs word for word.

It's still under partial construction so iL try to add more stuffs as I move on with working on it - a major reason why I'm still stuck with these halo-halo layout though I want to start a new one!

SO without further ado, welcome to MY WORKSHOP!

http://butingting.blogspot.com/

For the Emperor!

Missin' Bloggin'

Friday
I took a vacation leave here at work to attend my second RHCG meeting in New Manila.

RHGC or Rolling Hills Gaming Club is the local organization for Warhammer players. We aim to create awareness to the public regarding our hobby as well as help each other to more enjoy the craft.

I met with the other members on Neutral Grounds - Galleria at around 6pm to benefit with the car pool and by approximately 8pm, we were already in the venue after a light-hearted discussion of the harmful effects of aspartine, mercury poisoning on tunas, potato no-nos, and yes... even the origins of sago and gulaman. Tapioca pala English dun.

Anyway, it was a night of food, liquors, food, Warhammer games, food, acquaintanceships, and... have I mentioned food? My Dark Angels army lose that night against an Iyanden Craftworld army. That's basically me losing a game of Warhammer 40,000 by the way.

We also had a group pictorial which will be sent to Australia with an article regarding the organization so that we could be featured on any future publications of White Dwarf. White Dwarf is the official magazine of Warhammer-related game systems specifically Warhammer Fantasy, Warhammer 40K, and Lord of the Rings.

The gathering ended just past 1:00am.

Saturday
I went to Glorietta before lunch with my cousin, LJ and my younger bro, Sponklong. It was to buy the albums "Legacy.." and "Best of... Collections" of the Boys 2 Men in Tower Records - a favor my younger sis, Cheng asked me.

Afterwards, I treated my companions to Oody's for lunch because I was craving to that orange-ish sauce they use as condiment for their spring rolls and satays. I dunno how they call it or what that Thai thing was made off, but as long as it's good on my palates I don't give a heck. I even saw a Singaporean guy on the table next to us literally immersing his barbeque on that orange stuff.

Next, we indulged our time playing on Time Zone where there was this situation that came up on the basketball shooting arcade. I love spending time there, so it was our first stop. On the gallery on my left were a group of young girls... and I mean "highschool" young. The arcade was set to interactive mode so basically we will be competing along with the other people on the other galleries including my cousin and my bro. When the signal to start shooting begun, I noticed that their basketballs were two pieces short so they couldn't retrieve them quickly enough to prepare for the next shot. Being the "nice guy" I am (or so I thought hehe), I quickly transferred two of the basketballs in my gallery into theirs. I'd rather play with that handicap than the hapless damsels.

For me it was casually nothing big. I never had an idea that there was something more in it for them until they started teasing one of their friends after the round of shooting was done (and I got the most points, mind you... hehe). They were teasing the girl to me! Napangiti na lang ako as in... hello Earth, alam nyo bang 24 na ko?? Funny how I pondered with the idea of her calling me honey or baby or sweety and calling my 17 year-old sister "ATE"! Riot yun! Hehe. Baka habulin ako ng Department of Social Welfare. Sabagay si Pauleen Luna nga niligawan ni Dieth at age 14?! Showbizzzz....

Anyway, I think it was because of my attire that's why they thought I'm younger than the real deal. I'm wearing my baggy skaterboi get-up to match with my younger companions, that's why. Ayoko naman mag mukhang tatay ng mga kasama ko noh.

Anyway highway! Nagsawa kami sa arcade games around 3pm and masyado pa maaga para umuwi. I elected to watch a movie and we chose between "Stealth" and "Great Raid" and well, surprisingly my companions (perhaps with a sudden outburst of patriotism) went for "Great Raid". And so it was. Aimed with two double cheeseburgers, a handful of fries, and some rootbeers, we charged the film.

Ok. How will I start this? The film was jampacked with historical facts and the researchers must have had a great deal of work behind these. I'm proud of our Filipino artists who made the cut to be in the movie. Kudos to all of them, especially Cesar Montano for the potrayal of Captain Juan Pajota. The sets were greatly reminiscent of the old Philippines and even their render of old Manila (Intramuros) was astoundingly nostalgic to watch.

Two things that I was frustrated to know regarding the film, though, were:

1. Captain Juan Pajota and his lieutenant, Joson were only given menial tasks during the actual liberation of the Cabanatuan POW Prison Camp. The Commanding Officer, Lt. Col. Henry Mucci assigned the Filipino forces to just hold bridges that were possible Japanese escape routes while the US squads charged the Camp and do their heroic thingy.

2. The family of Captain Juan Pajota (as I heard) did not receive any considerable donation for using the name and life-story of their kin on the film.

All in all, it's a great watch. Watchout for the kids though for some gory scenes. As if kids will be enthusiastic to watch. I observed that most of the patrons were senior citizens. =)

We went home around 8pm, after buying my mom assorted salads from Salad Days. Kahit kasali ako sa umupak ng kain pag uwi. Tsalap.

Sunday
Sabbatical Sunday.

I unbelievably stayed home the whole day, just painting and modelling my miniature Warhammer 40K figures...

...and hearing my mom making fun of my being able to take a nap listening to music the likes of Rage Against The Machine's "Bulls on Parade" and Karl Roy's "Overload".

Dee Anothers

Last Tuesday, after going home to sleep around 7:00am and waking up 11:00am to rush back here in Makati for some "work-related stuffs", I hit the cinema to sleep. Office will start at 8:00pm and it'L be a waste of precious time if iL go back home to continue my slumber. So, armed with my comfortable jacket and my pillow-soft bag, I charged the Glorietta theaters after the "work-related stuff" and bought an admission for "D Anothers".

I wasn't able to sleep.

Umpisa pa lang patok na.

***SPOILER ALERT! SPOILER ALERT! SPOILER ALERT!***

gf's rich dad: ...call the security guards!
tiyahin: ...call the PNP!
gf's rich dad: Call the AFP!
tiyahin: Jograd, call the CIA and KGB combined!
gf's rich dad: Y'know, I think you're sick!
tiyahin: Then call the Doctor very quick!

=)

Despite being a typical modern Pinoy comedy film, "D Anothers" will clinch the audiences humor with Vhong's comic delivery and patented body language. There had been several scenes in the movie reminiscent of the classical Pinoy stuffs like the mid-film musical acts (kudos for the Streetboys' cool dance moves), uber dependence of the storyline on love pairs, and slapstick humors. Although these were not entirely drawbacks of the movie, it contributed to the fact that there had been "downtimes" of humor along the plot. I know it's not supposed to be a hard core comedy movie but still it could have been better if the transition in between phasings were better. See, it's chiefly a comedy-horror film but they'd also tried hard to insert humor on more serious scenes which for me did not click. If you'll happen to watch the movie or have already watched it, then I'm talking about the love affair between John and Michelle and the plot involving Jhong and Ms. Bella, to name a few.

Astig talaga yung kissing scene ni Jhong at Bell Flores! Hanggang ngayon hindi ako makakain ng mabuti. Nyahaha.

In short, the story's so hilarious on several scenes and outright bland on random ones. This is not good in comparison to its simple plot. Isn't it better if the plot's not that complex but the humors are straight out funny? American Pie comes to mind. Wala ako maisip ipangtapat na local film eh but I know a Bayani Agbayani film that fits the criteria well. Nakalimutan ko lang title. =)

Anyway, on a scale of one to five and five's the highest, iL be giving the film a 3.14 for sheer will to pass the "pasang awa" level. *kung nag teacher ako, ambait ko siguro*

Final word: crush ko na din si Michelle Madrigal. Hehe. Humaba pa lalo ang listahan ko!

Late Blogger

Party sum up muna. (I know... my report's late again)

As opposed to what I said in my previous post, we've not been safe against the KJ neighbors. See, they've sent a "tanod" to warn us to tone down our noise! Hindi nila ma-appreciate yung bagong genre ng music... DRUNK ROCK! That's around 2:30am when the barangay staffs asked us to quiet down, but the celebration ended around 4am. Si San Miguel (Lights) at si Don Pedro (Brandy) ang bida that night. I refrained from the hard liquor though. Di ko trip malasing nun. Pagtapos namin, kumain muna kami ng Pares sa España bago umuwi. Astig sa sarap.

Being lazy to blabber today, let's outright proceed with the pics...

The Pack. (I'm the only guy wearing a cap)


3/4th ng Justice League - Kid, Wacha, Piolo Pascual *pweh!*, Man. (I'm singing "Born Free" here. Serious.)


Group hug! Sinubukan ko i-project yung likuran ko.


"Closer You and I" naman ang hirit dito.

Speaking of...

I'm off for another house party this evening. Our department here at work decided to spend the night at a colleague's house and what rapstars call "partey till duh break o' dawn". Me and my officemates in the night team were rescheduled today for our monthly meeting that instead of working on a "vampire" shift, we started this afternoon at 2:00pm and will end later at 11:00pm. Tapos good-to-go na sa venue.

Angel, the host of the gathering, went home early to setup everything on their place. I heard there's a videoke machine and that sisig and isaw are part of the pulutan menu! Ayus! Mukhang sasabayan ko ng kanin yung pulutan. Hehe. As usual, we will held the party on the rooftop of their four-storey house, safe from neighbors' complaints and/or shotgun bullets. Ahihi.

The gathering, as I classify it, is simply a goody goody. We were there just to discuss mostly about work-related stuffs and concerns. Talk shit or not, I know it will rock since it'L be the first time again in months that the department (composed of around 34 guys within 25 years of age range, mind you) will gather to hang loose.

Anyway, tomorrow iL be on Galleria for a Warhammer 40K game. It's in Neutral Grounds on the last level of the mall, near the Bowling Center and Victory Worship Center. Anyone who's interested on the game may come watch or better yet drop me an SMS. Basta ililibre lang ako ng Double Wham Burger! Nyahaha.

On Sunday, I might stay home (It's a mirakuL!) to finish painting my remaining Warhammer 40K miniatures in preparation for a series of tournaments on the coming months. One tourney will even pot a whoping 10,000PHP prize money! I like!

Magandang tapusang-linggo sa inyong lahat!

Bow.

Series of Slashes

Last Saturday was a blast! Pareng Jon, a close buddy slash college tropapips slash classmate slash kumpare, celebrated his birthday with a house party. Being a scarred veteran of such, I say that one will be in the top five best house party I attended this year.

Just to share my view on these, I classify house parties into three categories: Themed, Goody-goodies, and Ol' School.

Themed Parties
Typically a house party organized to cater a specific frame of idea. Slumber/pajama parties, halloween parties, and pool parties fall into this category. This is the type I rarely have the time to go to, especially when the person inviting me is not that close to me. I'm an advocate of spontaneity and i don't fancy indulging to prepare for a party just to be "in" with the theme. Magiging KJ lang ang labas ko. I might attend one but I will not pay much regard on getting too much into the motif. It's like in a masquerade party, I'm the one comfortable enough wearing a paper bag with eye-holes in my head.

Goody Goody Parties
As the title suggests, parties under this category were meant to be just clean fun with good-natured purposes. Acquaintance parties, informal class reunions, and "typical" birthday celebrations are examples of this category. Here's where you'll have a good deal of exercising your smile since it will commonly involve sweet talkings, getting-to-knows, and/or tête-à-têtes. In short, plastikan. He he. Loko lang. But don't you just hate it when you hear scripted lines over and over again?

"Pare, panganay ko nga pala."
*kuwari nagulat* "Huh?!? Sya na ba si Dominador? Ang laki na ah! Manang-mana sa tatay."
*eto yung part na ngingiti ka kahit anlayo ng mukha mo sa tatay mo*
#
"Kain na kayo."
*papakipot konti* "Sige, Koring. Busog pa. Kakakain ko lang pag-alis ng bahay."
"Ay kumain ka na lang ulit. Sige na. Wag na kayo mahiya."
*kakain na. baka magbago pa isip ni Koring.*
"Ay babalik kayo ha. Marami akong niluto."
*kahit ubos ubos na yung handa sa lamesa*
#
"Huy, Karding! Kamusta na? San ka na nagtatrabaho?"
"Sa Makati, Pare. Ikaw?"
"Wow bigtime na ah. San sa Makati?"
"Sa Ayala, Pare. Kamusta na?"
"Wow ang galing naman. Saan banda sa Ayala?"
"Sa RCBC, Pare. Ano balita kay Kumare?"
"Tignan mo nga naman oh. Ipasok mo naman yung anak ko sa inyo."

Familiar with these lines? Those were so common in goody goody parties that in time I've known how to react on each situations even in my sleep. Yep, sabay ngiti.

Old School
Eto yung astig. This is my definition of house parties, often seen on American teen-flick movies where everything was provided and it's anything goes for the guests. No rules. No holds barred. Yung party ni Jon was a classic example. Sa Meycauayan yun. We set up a videoke area and bought "generous" amounts of alcoholinks both for the "hard" drinkers and the beer patrons.

alcoholinks - (n.) ALCOHOLic drINKS. Source: Diksyunaryo ni Lolo

The food arrived in time to start the celebration. And basically, since there was no one who'L accommodate the guests aside from the celebrant, it's up to them on what they wanted to do. The place was jampacked by midnight and I was drunk by 2:00am (it took a lot of guts to admit that though). Everywhere, people was sprawled about the place, heckling, merry-making, and yep, even chasing each other in spurs of intoxicated trippings. The last thing I heard before settling on the couch to doze off was a neighbor complaining about Jon's car club colleagues who were on the videoke singing... err... shouting their lungs' desire. Everything else was a black void until the next morning. Walang hang-over. Ang galing.

Fundador-Colt ang na-combo ko that night. My body's not that good in tolerating alcohol. Madali ako malasing, and thus I'm not fond of drinking casually. Kapag iinom ako, dapat merong magandang rason. I don't drink for the sake of it. Hindi ko kaylanman nagustuhan ang lasa ng alak. I drink for the camaraderie that lays behind the reason why we are here to drink. It's that because we are bonded to celebrate for something special! Yun yun eh.

With that, I wanted to greet Jon a HAPPY BIRTHDAY again! Magkasing edad na tayo huy!

Si Baks

Thanks Cbox for the wonderful tagboard!

Tatlong araw nang cranky yung old shoutbox ko eh. Kabwisit. Lugi negosyo.

Binyagan na yang bago... tambay na!