Analyze This

"Unexpressed feelings will never die. They are buried alive and will come forth later in uglier ways."
- Sigmund Freud

Blue and Pink

Isipin mo...

Sa isang eskinitang daanin ng tao,
May napadpad... batang may bitbit na bato.
Sadyang palalo o talagang mausisa,
Bato'y nilagay sa gitna ng eskinita.

Isang mama ang agad ay nadapa...
Sugatan ang binti, may galos ang mukha.
Dalawa, tatlo, apat, lima... anim!
Dumami ang bilang ng natalisod sa dilim!

Pinanood lang ng bata ang mga nadapa,
Sa perwisyong ginawa tila nakatunganga.
Hindi tatanggalin ang batong tinangan...
Ang bata... "MMDA" ang pangalan.

*****

Nyahaha. Tangena kasi. May dalawang taon na din simula nang maglagay ng concrete barriers ang mga hinagupak na yan sa kalsada. Sa dalawang taon na nagpabalik-balik ako ng bahay-ESDA-opisina, opisina-EDSA-bahay, hindi pwedeng walang sasakyan na sumasalpok sa mga konkretong yan. Kada linggo meron! Buwenas pa kung isang aksidente lang sa isang linggo. Tyamba na yun.

Nung pang-gabi pa ako, pag trapik ang EDSA, alam ko na agad na mayron na naman kawawang oto na rumampa sa mga pausong island na yan. Dati, elibs pa ko dyan e. Ayos, kasi bagong gimik. Pero puta naman, pag nakita mo nang hindi na epektib at perwisyo na, tanggalin mo na. Namo'y ahente ni Kamatayan ang mga lintek e.

San ka naman kasi nakakita kung hindi nanlilimahid sa dumi ang mga reflector... e kulay BLUE AT PINK. Tangena, hindi mo alam kung bakla o sadyang fashionistang kikay ang mga gago. "Pangkuha daw ng atensyon" para madaling makita. ULOL. Kelan pa naging madaling makita ang BLUE AT PINK sa dilim! May rason tsong kung baket dilaw at itim ang ginagamit na universal colors ng traffic chevrons. At kung napaganda ni BF ang Marikina, hindi naman siya siguro ganun katanga para hindi ma-realize ito.

Ang mariri, dumadami pa ng dumadami ang mga lintek na barriers. Ang pinakahuling pauso ay nilagay sa bandang Cubao-Santolan area. Para mas sumikip ang EDSA. Astig. Ang tatalino nyo!

Wala lang, napag tripan lang namin pag usapan kagabi ito habang bumabagtas kami ng EDSA. Kitang kita mo kasi na panay bungi na yung semento sa dami ng otong sumasadsad dito, pero walang aksyon na ginagawa. Ayaw pa din tanggalin o bigyan man lang ng tamang early warning device. Idol ko pa man din dati si BF dahil akala ko siya na ang "iron fist" na hinahanap kong makakapagpa-bago ng Metro Manila. Kaso parang kulang sa kukote... panay kamao lang.

Kapag marami nang nadadapa sa bato, tanggalin mo na. Para wala nang ibang madapa. Simpleng simple.

*****

Yesterday, we were at this church near Cherry's Fooderama in Congressional Road for Baby Enzo's baptism!

Shak Attendance: Pork, Garrboy!, Hairy Critter, Obi Doo, The Great Maw, Mussolini, Kim, Tatay Kamote, JC, Baby Enzo

Welcome to the Christian world, Enzo!!
Reception was at Max's across Cherry's. Ansarap ng bibingka sa tapat nung simbahan. Yub yub!
*****

Last night, we were at the Megamall for the ingress of entries for the 2007 IPMS-BA National Scale Model Competition. The place was set up after mall hours and I was with Pork, Arvs, Calipher Boy, and Johnny to haul their scale model kits. Miniatures were everywhere! There were ships, aircrafts, tanks, dioramas, and tons of single model figs of sci-fi and fantasy genre. Truly an eye-feast for the geeks and non-geeks alike! Haha.

Detail of the event is as follows:
IPMS-BAC (International Plastic Modellers Society - Bert Anido Chapter)
5th National Scale Model Competition
The Atrium, Megamall Building A
November 26 to November 30

I've already seen most of the entries and I say, this year, the competing kits and figs were better and more interesting than last year's. Spoiler: there's this huge table diorama of around 23 to 27 scale ships of different classes (destroyers, cruisers, aircraft carriers, and submarines)... an entire fleet!

Tambay ako dun this Wednesday and/or Friday. Kita kits!

*****

Saw this in You Tube while I scour it for Mojofly gigs. Soooooobrang cute ni Lougee. Lalo na dun sa isang episode ng Ramon Bautista Show. She grew up reaaaally fine. This is one of my peborit songs of the band. The guitar was too sharp for my taste though and I can see her struggle to sing louder against it.


"Mata" by Mojofly, Myx Live Performance
Lougee... marry me!!! I beg yooooouuuu!!!

*****

New album in my Multiply site:
Oktoberfest 2007 Closing Party (Click Me)

Mukha ka bang Tinapay?

Wag magmadali sa pag-aasawa. Sa hinaharap, mag-iiba ang pamantayan mo at maiisip mong di tamang pumili ng kapareha dahil kaboses niya si Debbie Gibson o magaling siya mag-breakdance. Mas importante ang kalooban ng tao. Paglipas ng panahon, maging mga crush ng bayan ay nagmumukha ring pandesal. Maniwala ka.
- Bob Ong

Third Baguio Trip of the Year

Shak Attendance: Riderman, Pork, Hairy Critter, Great Maw, Obi, Jubay, Nowie, Wutt da Hell, John Liit, Jumping Johnny, Topher, Anito, Bebop, Peptox

We left da Shak last Friday at some minutes past midnight already. Shot shot pa kasi kami ng Pulang Kabayo. Nauna na si Kaloy kasi first-taym niyang susubukan umakyat ng Baguio ng naka motor (si Bebop) at hindi siya makakadaan sa NLEX. Meeting point was at the Sta. Maria, Bulacan exit.

I was texting my relatives that night to know what would they want from Baguio. Dumiretso na kasi ako sa tambayan sa Virramall after work and my mom was just about to arrive from Pangasinan that day. So, sa teks na lang kami nakapag usap. I was able to text with Pouty too, nakaka miss nga lang. So, toma toma toma... then umalis na kami.


Room 13 @ Igorot Lodge, Camp John Hay
L-R: Arvs, Jake, Pol, Kaloy
Langya hirap talaga ng cameraman... wala sa aksyon.

Day 1
Since naka-escort kami over Riderman and Bebop, we took the loooong scenic route from Bulacan to Nueva Ecija to Tarlac. Surprisingly, it was really quick. Walang masyadong sasakyan sa kalsada. Mas marami pang nasagasaang aso at pusa.

Several stop-overs later, we reached Baguio via Marcos Highway by 6AM then headed to our first food trip target... Slaughter House! Sa mga taga Baguio, sanay sa Baguio, o nagkukunwaring maraming alam sa Baguio, the Slaughter House compound should be on one of your must-visit food chains in the city. Food are served fresh, mui delicioso and at oh-so-reasonable prices!


Wee-wee Break
We checked-in at the AIM (Asian Institute of Management) Conference Center (Igorot Lodge) inside Camp John Hay. Room 13! Awooooooo!!!! Arvs and Jake needed the rest since they were in zombie-mode from the past days. Kami ni Pork at Marco ang nag lakwatsa sa bayan. It was also convenient for my Starbucks sticker spree that John Hay's branch is just ten backflips and ten cartwheels (yes, binilang ko) away from our lodging. May cute barista pa (naaah, hindi yung bakla. tangena!).

We basically scoured the ukay ukay points of Baguio for just about anything...
1) Bayanihan Building, yung building dun sa tabi ng sakayan ng jeep sa sulok ng Burnham Park
2) Maharlika Building (?), nasa tapat ng Burnham... ilang carthweels away Session Road
3) Hilltop Center, ride a taxi and tell Manong "sa Hilltop po" (there you go, that's a lot easier to describe)

Nabili ko (all-in-all) sa wagwagan...
* a black synthetic backpack (Backstage)
* sari saring accessories at woodcrafts
* knitted Olive Drab military sweaters (pang airsoft ko)
* original dogtag plates (saan pwede magpa-engrave?)
* military patches
* gun bag with backpack slings
* Olive Drab sniper veil
* (dig this) AN ORIGINAL GRAY ARMANI SUIT for only 600 bucks!!! wooootness!!! tyamba si kolokoy.

Pagkagising ng tropa, sumunod na lang sila sa Session Road kung san kumain kami sa Jenny's Canteen (Foodtrip #2). Despite the English name, it's a Chinese-owned canteen. I forgot exactly where the street is, but it's one of those offshoot roads from Session Road. Astig ng pagkain. Panalo yung pansit tsaka crispy pork.

Next stop was SM-Baguio. Para lang ma-park yung oto. Nag hiwalay na kami sa point na ito dahil may kanya-kanyang agenda na ang mga hinagupak. Hours passed then we just met up again a couple of minutes before 6PM at Shakeys in SM-Baguio. Foodtrip #3. Grublist were pizza (doh), beer, tapuy (rice wine?), calamares, at rootbeer?? Holy smokes, where's the cox?? Shak Commandment Number 1 (?) hath been brokeneth! "Thou shall not imbibe any concoction other than the One True Beverage... Coke!!!"


Tangena, walang gagalaw ng pitsel ko!

The youngblood Joma arrived at around 6:30PM then we headed to points unknown to meet up Crispy's old pals to discuss the Warmachine hobby to their frequenters and demo the game afterwards. Went online to check my NBA Fantasy roster. Medyo umulan sa Baguio at this point.

We headed back to John Hay to setup stuffs then went off to wander around some more. Pookiemonster ought to catch more "Z" time. Gusto ng mainit na pagkain ng tropa (hindi yung mainit na pagkain na hindi nakakabusog). Tas naalala ko yung kinainan namin ng batchoy dati nung unang akyat namin ng Justice League-HP sa Baguio. Nakalimutan ko yung pangalan ng kainan kaya tingin ko utang ko sa kanilang i-describe na lang yung way papunta sa kanila...

Foodtrip #4
* galing Session Road, baba ka papuntang Burnham Park. sabay kanan sa dulo.
* diretso ka lang tapos may dalawang kalye na pakanan kang lalampasan. ang ikalawang kalye ay papunta ng simbahan.
* sa ikatlong pakanan, kumanan ka na (doh!). paakyat ito ng Legarda Street (gimikan ng mga Koreano sa Baguio).
* hindi ka dapat makakarating ng Legarda Street. pag kanan mo pa lang, tumingin ka na sa kaliwa mo.
* bago ka makarating sa unang intersection, may makikita ka nang kainan sa kaliwa na may nakasulat na nagbebenta sila ng bulalo.
* yun na yun.

Sinabing walang gagalaw sa beer ko e!
May in-order kami sa kanila na ang tawag ay pigar pigar. Ay putangena... ang sarap (kelangan talaga may mura). Pabalik ng John Hay, sa motor ni Kaloy ako sumakay. Bagong experience ito... biking over Baguio. Mga 11PM na ito. Papunta ng Loakan Road, napadaan kami sa Nevada Square. Gimikan ito ng mga bata-batuta sa Baguio. Imagine a local version of the Eastwood Strip. Tumigil si Karlo at napag-isipan naming bumaba at maki-jamming muna ng ilang shots. Lumalakas na yung ulan kaya may palusot kami para tumigil. Hehe. Tig dalwa agad kami ng Pulang Kabayo habang patingin tingin sa paligid.

Observation 1: ambata ng crowd. not the yuppies age bracket but around the college types... and they actually have the purchasing capabilities to party at such. tama si Kaloy, it's easy to camp out on your beer... yung bibili ka lang ng isa tas hahayaan mo nang lumutin all night. mag-inarte ka na lang na lasing habang hawak ito.

Observation 2: konti lang ang Koreans dito, given na mas madami pa ang Koreans sa Baguio kesa sa Manila. dumaan kami ni Kaloy sa Legarda Street bago pumunta dito. mukang andun lahat ng Koreans tas panay Pinoy naman sa Nevada Square.

Maya maya pa tumawag na si Crispy, kaya pinasunod na namin sila sa Nevada. It was some minutes past midnight already when we set off back to Torogi (igorot) Lodge to call it a night. Soooobrang haba ng Sabado namin.

Day 2
Buffet breakfast at the Camp John Hay Club House. Foodtrip #5.

Sooooobrang daming pagkaiiiiiin!!! Ang saraaaaap laaahaaat!!! Ang haaaaabaaa ng mga woooords kooo!!! Hehe. Sulit yung kain namin. Tambay kami ng mga halos dalwang oras sa resto sa sobrang kabusugan. Buti na lang naka-jerbo ako bago pumunta dun. Palaban yung tiyan ko. Pagtapos ng breakfast, balik kami saglit ni Pol sa ukayan. May pahabol pa kasing "pabili" si Garrkid e. Gusto nya rin daw nung nabili kong knitted sweatshirt, pang airsoft.

May kwento pa pala kong nakalimutan. The other day, we were looking for airsoft stuffs then we stumbled on this store with cheapo wares. Ang cute ng nagbabantay (si Babot)... kahawig siya ni Pouty (or mebbe it was one of those times that I'm imagining her from somebody else again). Basta... height, skin-tone, pati buhok, facial features and all. Sayang nga hindi ko nakuhaan ng ritrato. So ayun, natuwa ako sa resemblance. Kaya siya yung nilapitan ko para mag-inquire and buy stuffs. E kaso nung kinausap ko sablay mag Tagalog... hee hee!


Resibo ni Babot.
Hindi naman sobrang panget pakinggan. Matigas lang talaga yung accent niya na kapag nag Tagalog siya e medyo sabit. Hehe, no offense meant though. She can carry good English actually when I first inquired in the language (para konyotiks talaga). Tas kwentuhan na lang muna kami about airsoft, their store, and their wares habang nag-iikot pa sila Pork. Nakakatuwa talaga kasi yung resemblance niya with da Batgurl. Naaliw lang talaga ako.

So yun nga, the next day, pag balik namin ni Pork sa Torogi Lodge, we prepped up for home. Umiskor lang ako ulet ng kape sa katabing Istarbuko sabay larga na kami. This time, we passed on Kennon Road. First stop was at the Lion's Head (na mukang unggoy) syempre. Second stop was at the infamous Isdaan Resto in Gerona, Tarlac. Foodtrip #6.

Sa Isdaan - Gerona, Tarlac (Taksyapoooo!!)

Pinag-uusapan kasi namin itong Isdaan bago bumaba. I've been there already so I was recounting my food-experience with the boyz. No real plans on eating heavily in it so I ought to stay sa oto while the boyz roamed around the premise and bought some grub. There were memories there that I don't what to think about anyway. At least, not at that moment. I just want to maximize making the roadtrip wildfun... no senti, no downtimes. Trippings lang.

Pagtapos nun, diretso na kami sa San Simon, Pampanga where we met up with Mark on a petrol station near the exit. From there, we went to Doug's birthday bash. Tuwang tuwa naman yung Amerikano at naka-dating kami. Kwentuhan lang (ako, naglaro ng Warhammer) sabay kain (sila) tapos ubusan ng English, tapos umuwi na din kami.

Nakarating kami ng Shak (QC), mga pasado alas onse na. Nakauwi ako sa amin, lampas alas dose na. Pagod pero panalo. Zombies for the win!

Gusto ko itong shot ko dito.

*****

More pics will be posted in my Multiply soon.

Remember, Remember... The Days of November

I'm going to Baguio later after work. Huddle point is at da Fortress, Virramall before meeting the rest of the boyz at da Shak. We'll be meeting Menite there for a demo game of Warmachine and probably some ukay ukay spree and more goofing around.

We'll be there until late night where we will rush back to Bulacan at Crispy's house to catch some "Z" time. All, because on the following day (this Sunday), we need to attend Baby Enzo's baptism in Project 8. Emp should get ready with major grub fest since for sure the boyz will be dead-hungry coming from the long roadtrip.

But wait... there's more! In the afternoon, we have to drive back to Bulacan for DK's birthday bash. The Amerikano has scheduled this party several weeks ahead and the boyz just can't let pass a "well-supplied" parteeeey! Hopefully, after everything settled down, we can still call ourselves human... instead of ZOMBIES, for lack of sleep and rampant gluttony.

Such has been my weekends the entire November, I realized! Tinignan ko yung mga nakaraang araw and it was never different with the past months. I think this year has been blessed with activity-abundance for me. Partida, hindi pa ako natuloy sa Bangkok. With the past weeks alone, the schedule has been like this...

* Oct 26 - San Miguel Oktoberfest Closing Party @ the Metrowalk, Ortigas
Attendance: Jai, Obi, Sophie, Arnie, Dindo + 1, John, Paul, Ringo (wala si George)
...ang ganda ng bokalista ng bandang Paraluman, kras ko na siya.
...sa dami ng pitsel ng serbesa na nilaklak namin, nakapag-uwi kami ng tigi-tigisa

* Oct 28 - Basketball Games with the Bayaw @ St Thomas Aquinas, San Juan
...grubtime at In and Out Steak House afterwards
...sabay tambay sa Virramall pagtapos

* Oct 30 - Basketball Games with the BPI folks @ Urdaneta Village, Makati
...andaming cutey na nagja-jogging sa field

* Oct 31 - Pork's Birthday Bash @ da Shak, Kamias
Attendance: Kuneho, Grace (Bi), Obi, Pookiemonster, Jumping Johnny, Phatboi, Pol, John Liit, Topher, Hairy Critter, Mayor + Bro, Hervi, Longx, Romy, Muy Muy, Jubay, Jade Korean, Joma
...beer gallore, ispageti massacre, inihaw na Kuneho, at iba pa

* Nov 1 - Call to Arms Tourney Day @ Pitshop, Sta Mesa
...Warmachine games, sabay tambay sa Shak

* Nov 2 - Balls of Fury! @ Theater Mall, Greenhills
...Fluffy's back from Bangkok, and we'll go back to the Land of Smiles for an APO concert come February next year as concert organizer staff? Abangan!
...no review for Balls of Fury. just two words: itfuckin' rocks!!!
...minahal ko lalo si Maggie Q
..."It's better to die like a Tiger than to live like a Pussy."

* Nov 4 - Bandai Action Kits Universal Cup @ the Atrium, Megamall
...after that, grubtime was at Dencio's - Metrowalk (sisig! sisig! sisig!)
...then me and Long wandered around Rob Galle for more shopping time

* Nov 6 - Basketball Games with the BPI folks @ Urdaneta Village, Makati
...the jogging cuties were substitued with indoor football babes

* Nov 10 and 11 - Megaball 2007, Airsoft Fellowship @ Mimosa Leisure Estate, Clark Field, Pampanga
...there's a blog entry, click here

*****
Update:

New songs in my Multiply audio album (click the links)...
Sandakot na Kundiman
Obi Tearjerky

New picture album in my Multiply...
UP-College of Fine Arts Cosplay 2007

Mount Cinco Picos - Day 2

Day 2 - Page 4
* 5:55AM - Wake up call
- Agahan cook off
- Photo ops
(Nagising ako sa lamig. Hanep sa ganda ang view pag early morning! Muntik ko nang ligawan sa ganda! Kung camera lang ang mata ko, overload na ang utak ko sa kakulangan ng Gigs. Nag umpisa na magluto ang tropa habang abala ang iba sa pag ritrato ng paligid. Ako? Gusto ko lang tumayo at tumitig at lasapin ang oras na iyon.)

- "Down with the Sickness" by Disturbed
(Hinanap ko yung kantang yan sa i-Pod ni Dan. Rock in the morning! Punks not dead! Wooot.)

"Class picture" before leaving the Campsite

* 6:57 - Chowtime!
- Burner malfunction
(Kainan na habang tuloy sa pagluto ng agahan yung iba. Dan's burner suddenly burst into flames. Akala ko hanggang sa bundok sinundan kami ng bombers!)

- "Way Back Into Love" by Haley Bennett and Hugh Grant
(Senti naman. Sabay titig sa malayo. "Iniisip nya rin kaya ako?" Yiiiiiiikeeeeee! Malamang hindi. Waha!)

* 8:35 - Pack up
* 9:45 - Departure from Campsite
- Napigtal na naman ang bag ko
(Bumigay na din yung isang strap ng bag ko. Dalwa na sila! Itinali ko lang para mairaos for the rest of the journey. It was easier trekking downslope anyway.)

* 10:56 - Back to river trail and "Kubo 2"
(Finally made it back to "Kubo 2" at the foot of Peak 3. At this point, we were again separated into two batches. Good thing we have the photographers on our batch! Yahoow. Photo ops gallore along the water trail!)

Day 2, Second Batch. Pag sigaw ko ng "turo" lahat tumuro sa malayo... pati si Manong Puti! Haha... astig! L-R: Manong Puti, Ogie, Jason, Chris, Dan, Ayn, Obi... Dric (not in photo)

Day 2, First Batch: Manong Itim, Kher, Odie, Alfie, Vic, Tata, Dark
Day 2, Second Batch: Manong Puti, Obi, Dan, Ayn, Paz, Chris, Ogie, Jason, Mandric

* 11:28AM - Made it out of the River Trail
- Wall of Spears
- Water trail 2
(The Wall of Spears. Dito kami muntik maligaw the day before.)

* about 20 minutes after - Out of water trail 2
(Sa parteng ito naisip ko kung para san o kanino itong akyat ko. Para may sense of purpose naman. Walk for a cause ba. Eto mga naisulat ko sa notebook ko...

> para kay Mark. Rest in peace, 'tol. Bigla ko naalala na dapat kasama ka namin this Sunday sa party ni DK.
> para kay Pouty. kaka-miss.
> para sa Mom ko. salamat sa lahat lahat!
> for her that God has prepared for me. asan ka man, magpakita ka na... tangena ka, wag kang mag pahintay. wag kang VIP! hahaha.
> for God, of course! thanks sa safety and the experience the climb has been.

Day 2 - Page 5
- Standard Bearer
- Stick with gloves in "ngarat" mode ,,l,,
- Walk with Mandric the Photographer
(May makulit na nangyari dito. Tumigil ako para magpahinga so tinusok ko muna yung wooden staff ko sa lupa, sabay hubad ng kanang gloves para mag-ayos ng bag. Sinabit ko muna yung gloves dun sa staff, habang tinatali ng maigi yung bag ko. Pag tingin ko dun sa gloves, yung dulo ng stick e saktong dumiretso sa butas ng middle finger kaya naka "fuck you" yung itsura nung gloves sa kin. Sa tuwa ko, hindi ko na siya tinanggal. Bumaba na ko ng bundok ng dala yun. Wehe.)

The "Pakyumo" Standard
* 12:05 - River crossing
- Dip in photos
(Ang tawag ko dito - strategic positioning. Dikit ako kay Mandric syempre kasi nasa kanya yung camera. Kaya ayun photo ops kami while on the dip.)

* 12:20 - Kubo 1!!!
- Incoming mountaineers spotted
(We reached Kubo 1 again. A new batch of mountaineers were having their lunch there. Probably, having the same itinerary that we followed. They have this "wag na lang kaya tayo tumuloy" look on em. Can't blame them, really.)

* 12:41 - Meet up with Batch 1 on a shaded tree
(Nagpang-abot na kami ng mga naunang batch. Dito kami nagpahinga ng medyo matagal-tagal dahil mga ilang oras na lang at nasa Kulot compound na kami sa paanan ng bundok.)

* 1:14PM - River 1 crossing!
- man-made spa
- canned-goods fest
- swimming
(Finally, naabot na namin yung widest river crossing. Dito kami nagpahinga ng pinaka matagal dahil sa swimming! Nagtalunan kaming lahat sa ilog pati yung dalawang Kulot. Sa bandang malayo may mini landscape na naging natural spa dahil sa lakas ng current. Sa gutom, kinain namin yung mga natitirang de lata... ng hindi luto!)

Posing, Danilo!
L-R: Leandro Baldemor, Jay "Mola" Manalo

* 2:29 - Departure sa river

Day 2 - Page 6
* 2:49 - Last river crossing
* 2:53 - Arrival at Cawag Jump Off
(Natapos din sa wakas. Whether newbie or old-time mountaineer, additional item na naman sa resume namin ito at of course, hindi kayang bayaran yung experience! Nagpakuha kami sa mga Kulot na andun sa Cawag community tapos nagsipag-ligo lang, then umalis na kami.)

(Dumaan kami ng Subic para kumain. Hindi makapaniwala yung mga kasama ko sa dami ng kinain ko. Oo, gutom kami. Pero hindi lang pang-"gutom" yung kinain ko. Haha.)

(Teka, naalala ko... sabi ni Ayn kelangan ko daw isama ito sa blog ko. Along the way to where we ate, naghanap kami ng ATM. Medyo ligaw kami kung san yung ATM ni Dan sa Subic kaya kelangan magtanong-tanong. May nakasalubong kaming isang grupo ng "Ate"... hehe. Ang siste, nag turuan kami ni Ayn kung sino magtatanong. Too late, kelangang ako na ang magtanong dahil ang sama na ng tingin nila sa amin na tila ba isa-isa namin silang isasakay ng pwersahan sa van at gagawing G.R.O. sa Maynila...

Obi: Aaaah... Ate, tanong ko lang kung sana saan yung BPI dito.
*Nag pulong yung mga "Ate" na parang gumagawa ng play sa Basketbol*
*Nag sigawan yung mga kasama ko sa loob ng Van... "binata pa yan si Obi!!"*

Ate 1: Derecho dyan *ngumuso sa kalsada* merong BPI. Lalabas ka ng gate tapos sa may mall sa kaliwa.
*Naka "oo, tama siya"-look yung mga kasama niya*

Obi: *inulit ko yung itinurong direksyon para mas klaro*
Ate 2: San ba kayo pupunta, gigimik?
Obi: Oo eh, wi-withdraw lang.
Ate 2: Eeeeh, sama na kami!
*Sabay tawanan yung mga "Ate"*

Obi: Sige ba, sige balikan namin kayo. Hehe. Salamat ha.
*Sabay harurot ng van*

Bunso, don't be afraid... andito na si Kuya!
Farewell talks with the Kulot
*****

Thanks goes to...

* Team AIM, of course! Kilala nyo na kung sino kayo!
* Mike B. you're the Man!
* Fluffy for the bag... na pinutol ko ang mga straps!
* Dee Dee for the tent... na pwede magpa-House Party sa loob sa sobrang laki!
* Manong Puti at Manong Itim. Sana next time may pangalan na kayo. Add ko kayo sa Friendster!
* Sa driver ni Dan.
* Kela "Ate".
* God, 'nuff said.

Megaball 2K7

The Megaball is one of several major annual events for the airsoft community. Like last year, this year's Megaball was held at the Mimosa Leisure Estate in Clark, Pampanga last Saturday and Sunday. Team Semper Fi and Point Blank Incorporated hosted the gathering. Here are some quick facts posted at the Fil Airsoft forums for the event:


What : An annual Non-Competition AIRSOFT FELLOWSHIP event.
Where : Mimosa Complex, Clark SEZ, Pampanga.
When : November 10-11, 2007

Registration Fee : P800.00 per person inclusive of 2-day game fee, fellowship night buffet dinner, and our usual megaball kit (Megaball 2007 patch, sticker, etc.)

Accomodations : Discounted Villa Rates will be available for reservations only up to Oct. 29, 2007. Regular non-member rates will apply after the said date.

PROGRAM OF EVENTS
Saturday November 10, 2007
8:00 AM ... Fun begins with the following activities ....
Check-In / Registration
Registration AEG's joining the Gun Competition

----- Customized
----- Accessorized
----- Best Gun Paint
----- Best Pistol
----- People's Choice

SKIRMISHES !!!!
Tag o' War - Seven Man Team
12:00 noon till 1:30 PM ...
Lunch Break ...
1:30 PM - 2:00 PM ...
Team Leader Orientation
2:00 PM - 6:00 PM .....
Scenario Games
7:30 PM Onward ...
FELLOWSHIP NIGHT @ Mimosa Casino

----- Buffet Dinner and Cocktails
----- Band Entertainment
----- Complimentary "P300.00 Lucky Match Playing Tickets"
----- Team Intrduction
----- Sponsor's Night
----- Parlor Games
----- PARTEEEEEEE !!!!

Da Place!
Sunday November 11, 2007
10:00 AM to 12:00 noon
SKIRMISHES AND Team Leader Orientation
12:00 noon to 1:30 PM
Lunch Break
1:30 - 4:00 PM
Scenario Games ...
4:00 PM till END .. Recognition Hour ..

----- AWARDING OF GUN SHOW WINNERS
----- LARGEST CONTINGENT
----- FARTHEST CONTINGENT
----- BEST SQUAD
----- PUNISHER AWARD (Best BDU)

*****

First timers ang team namin (Screaming BB's) na sumali ng Megaball. As usual, sabit na naman kami sa tropa team namin - Team Apocalypse. It was also my come-back appearance in airsoft after taking a break from the game for like three months! Same goes for most of my teammates, kaya kating-kati kami kumalabit ng gatilyo.

Apocalypse contractors - Screaming BB's
L-R: John Lloyd Cruz, Phatboi, Lloyd, Jeng

Screaming BB's (SBB) attendance: Obi, Zeb the Destroyer, Kuneho, Jubay Bomber, Phatboi, Jeng, Lloyd, Jordan, Dax, Storm

Buti na lang gumagana pa yung baril ko. Malamang nagtatampo na yun sakin sa tagal kong hindi nayakap... ahuhuy. Salamats kay Ian at Jason sa pag kumpuni.

*****

Day 1
Kay Kuneho ako sumabay papuntang Mimosa. Hip hop tracks on the player. Boo hiss... Funks Not Dead! Haha. Pag dating sa Mimosa, deretso na kami registration. Tanghalian na nun kaya naghanap na kami ng makakainan.

After lunch, we were assigned our villa. Kasama namin sa bahay ang isang contingent ng Apocalypse. Heck, we even registered under Team Apocalypse. So for the rest of the event, ampon muna kami ng Apo. Hehe. We were assigned to the White Contingent.

Pag setup sa villa, sabay bihis sabay laro. Andaaaaaming players. I heard there were at least a thousand plus who registered. Kung sang sang lupalop pa ng Luzon galing! Flip TV covered the event and I heard it'll be aired in Y-Speak (...or Jack TV?? I have no idea when). Na-interview pa si Zeb nung cute na chick anchor lady. Pano akala batang naglalaro ng airsoft... di nila alam desisyete na ang hinagupak. Waha. Inggit ang buong kalalakihan!

The crew of Flip TV
Zeb the Destroyer
After the games, we hit the villa, took a break (with aching bodies), then prepped up for the Fellowship Night (pinagandang tawag sa inuman) at Mimosa Casino! Medyo nabitin kami sa buffet kaya with Sir Arvin from Team Northern Alliance, lumabas pa kami ng Clark para maghanap ng KFC para sa naglilihing si Kuneho. We passed along the red light district of Clark and somebody told that it's not even half "alive" when it was on its heydays!

Sarado na lahat ng KFC. Sa Jollibug kami napadpad. Pagkatapos, balik kami sa villa. Dahil makati pa ang paa, hinila pa kami nila Dax para mag lakwatsa. Balik kami sa Mimosa Casino at wild na ang crowd (senglot na lahat ng airsofters). Libre ang beer! Kaso Colt at Lone Star (lasang plastik)... kwang kwang! Pero tyaga tyaga... ang mahalaga, laseng! Parteeeey!

May isang malaking timba na puno ng beer tapos pinag papasa-pasahan sa paligid in the beat of the music. Tas kada may tumutungga, sinisigaw yung pangalan ng Team niya. Dun ko feel yung camaraderie ng mga players para sa event. Kahit yung mga non-player customers napasali na sa kalokohan... kahit yung mga Kano!

Ang lumaklak sa timba para sa Team namin ay si Kuneho (tinuturo pa ko ng loko, ako na lang daw)... SBB! SBB! SBB! SBB!

Pero hindi dun nagtapos ang kati ng paa. Lumabas pa kami ng Clark ulet para maghanap ng gimikan, mapilit si Jordan e. We ended up in this bar named Balk Line. Eto na yung pinaka disenteng lugar na nakita naming pwedeng tambayan. So ayun tambay lang. Tapos umuwi din nung boring na.


Day 2
Tanghali na nagsipag-gising. Naghanap ulit kami ng makakainan. There's this cantina near the compound's basketball court that offers sisig na mui deliciooooso!

Tambay ulit sa villa. Before 2pm, we geared up for the day's games. Nagkaron ng konting commotion when a dude from the opponent's side got a head injury from a direct BB hit. Nothing serious though, so the day resumed as is.

An in-game shot of the White Contingent (where we belong)

After the games, a gathering was held at the assembly area for the recap of Megaball 2K7 with the announcement of winners, more raffle draws, battle dress competition, and team photo ops.

Team Apocalypse bagged the award for the team that has the most number of participants. As of the last update that I heard, we numbered at 200 pax plus.

Bago umuwi, dumaan muna kami sa Marina sa Dau para bumili ng airsoft stuffs. I got me-self a Multicam-pattern shirt and a military green sweater (na sinuot ko na din agad pauwi). Nice.

The Ocho Ocho Generation

"Ocho ocho fries brain cells" - Dennis

*****

A random discussion at da Shak a couple of weeks ago led to a conclusion that most of today's youth devolved to be lethargic jologs because of an inherent fondness to pointless pop songs the likes of "Aring King King" and "Ispageting Pababa". I was laughing my arse off while chugging my cox, hearing them enumerate the songs. However, the arguments of the idea has this practical appeal that would make you think that it could possibly be true.

Sige nga. Ano nga ba mapupulot mong aral sa "Jumbo Hotdog" o sa "Ching Ching Tabaching"?? Haha.

Besides, I really can't imagine how will I react when I see/hear my future kids shakin' their booty while singing along the lines of "I-shoot mo, i-shoot mo, i-shoot mo na ang ball! Kahit nakapikit, walang sabit! Ang sarap mag basketbol!" (with a sensual yelp at the end)*. Haha. Not being green minded but c'mon, at a point in their childhood they'll finally know what those lyrics would want to imply and you can't just go "kasalanan mo dahil green-minded ka" with them! AND bullshit, I've never known such thing as "nakapikit, walang sabit" the whole time I played hoops! Haha.

* "Basketbol" by the Viva Hotbabes

Barako Ako

Starbucks has already kicked off with their annual Project Spark Hope.

24 cups of coffee! 24 beverages to glug down before you officially donated something to their charity!

Good news for coffee afficionados since they now have a workable reason to drown themselves with their favorite concoction other than the clichéd "para hindi antokin". Good news for Starbucks, themselves, too since apparently this marketing trick has attracted a HUGE following for a HUGE number of reasons... for being certified true coffee addicts, for posing to be one, or to just ride on to the Pinoy bandwagon mentality (me! me! me!).

Whatever the reasons may be, what I like about it is that at least it "clicks" for a cause. How can it be easier to donate to a charity than sprawling dead-wasted from caffeine-induced high?

O-di ba. So yeps, I got my coupon with my first sticker this morning.

Game na!

Pinoy Ako, Pinoy Tayo

I never really followed PBB religiously but with Gabby dela Merced's inclusion on the latest batch, I opted to watch whenever I could. She's soooo cute (dimples and all!). And c'mon, what's with a pretty lady on a race car that won't fancy every guys' dreams?? Crush ko na siya even before her FHM cover, I even blogged about it once when I was in Sydney. Makes me think: may preference yata ako sa mga boyish type ah. Haha.


Too bad she's going to voluntarily give up her stay inside the PBB house for a racing seminar. Saludo ako sa passion niya for racing and even more to her positive view of life (if anyone watched the episode last night where she gallantly lead the PBB housemates to give birth to a pet pig). She was such a sweety, teary eyed and all when one of the piglets died. Who would have thought she'll care that much?

After her stay, there's not much reason to watch the show anymore. Olats.

*****

AINAAAAAA, ikuha mo ko ng OTOGRAP!!! PLEEEEASE.

Mount Cinco Picos - Day 1

Quick Facts:
* Mount Cinco Picos is called Tatlong Tirad by the locals.
* Compared to the nearby Mount Pointed Peak (Bundok Balingkilat) which is at 1,100 meters above sea level, Peak 3 of Mount Cinco Picos, where the campsite of the trek is located, should be around 900-1000 masl.
* The local aetas should rather be called "kulot" for courtesy and they hunt Tatlong Tirad for wild boars, deers, and snakes.

*****

Pictures are available at my Multiply account:
Album 1
Album 2
Album 3

Acknowledgement for the pictures goes to Mandric, Paz, and Ogie!

*****

It was a couple of minutes past 2:30AM when Dan woke me up to prepare for the long day ahead. Naki-iskwater ako sa bahay nila since I can never wake up that early if I'll be sleeping on my own bed at home. We picked up Odie and Ayn before meeting the rest of the team at Rob Summit in Makati.

Team AIM (Akyat I.T. Mountaineers) attendance:
Mandric, Odie, Obi, Dark, Tata, Kher, Paz, Alfie, Vic, Jay, Ogie, Chris, Dan, Ayn

Most of us are IT practitioners (obviously) and either have worked or is working for HP-Phils. Some of the guys have climbed together before. Sayang. Due to the prior postponement of the original trek date because of the last few week's funky weather, maraming hindi nakasama. Originally, those who confirmed numbered at least 24!

We then headed North and after a brief stop somewhere in Pampanga (I was asleep the entire trip), we continued to Olongapo to meet Mike of Team YABAG. He's one of the local contacts for those who wanted to trek the mountain regions around the area - "the man" kumbaga. He accompanied us up to Barangay Cawag (a short trip from Olongapo City) where we hired two "kulot" guides and went on to prep up for the climb.

Here's where I picked up my handy notepad and started scribbling for my journal. Let my entries relive the experiences.

*****

(Entries were taken from my journal in verbatim)

Day 1 - Page 1
* 8:45AM - Cawag Jump Off
(Kinelangan namin bumaba ng sasakyan kasi masyadong malambot yung lupa papasok dun sa Kulot community.)

* 9:20 - Encounter with the Kulot
- Bihis at the shack
- Photo ops
(There's this small shack provided for the mountaineers. Dito namin nakilala yung mga magiging guides namin at yung iba pang mga pamilyang Kulot na nakatira sa paanan ng bundok. Dito na din kami nagbihis. Tatawagin ko na lang na Manong Itim at Manong Puti yung mga guides namin dahil itim at puti ang mga kulot nilang buhok, respectively. Si Manong Itim yung mas bata kaysa kay Manong Puti... obvious naman siguro.)

* 9:30 - Departure
* 9:38 - 1st river crossed
(Dito nasubukan yung supposed water shoes namin nila Dan at Ayn na hindi pa bayad sa credit card haha. Lumusong kami sa tubig ang binti ay nabasa... ngunit ang *toot toot* di pa rin nababasa. Hehe!)

L-R: Obi, Dan, Ogie, Ayn

* 9:57 - Chieftain's house
(As homage to the local Kulot chief, Dan, Mike, and Mandric made a "courtesy call" with him while we waited outside his humble dwelling. Di ko sure kung nakuha nila yung Friendster ni chieftain. Hehe. Ito na din ang last Kulot community na madadaanan along the trail. Anywhere past this is the wilderness alone.)

* 10:04AM - 2nd river crossed
(Eto yung pinaka malaking ilog na dadaanan. Katulad nung nauna, hanggang bewang lang siya sa pinaka-mababaw na daanan. Hanggang dito na lang kami hinatid ni Mike. Ang linaw ng tubig at soooobrang ganda ng paligid. After this, it was the start of the assault to the 1st peak.)
- i-Pod up
- "You'll be Safe Here" by Rivermaya
- Walking ahead, behind lead guide
(Mabato yung unang leg ng trek. Yung trail mismo ay halatang dating daluyan ng tubig dahil madaming crack sa lupa na puno ng bato tsaka may mga mangilan-ngilang dumadaloy na batis along the way. Yung iba, parang spa sa ganda. Imagine terraced rocks with flowing clear water sourcing out of lush vegetations. Tangena, kung kaya lang i-describe ng salita... pero malabo sa sobrang ganda. Ganun kalupet. At this point, naisip ko sabayan si Manong Itim at makipag-daldalan. He was our lead guide while Manong Puti took the rear of our lines.)

* Quarter to 11:00 - Rest
- "Makahiya", ngayon na lang ulit ako nakakita
- "Narda" by Kamikaze
(Almost an hour after the steep rocky climb, we decided to take our first rest of the trek. Upo ako sa damo, lawit dila, sabay sulat sa notebook ko. Ngayon na lang ulit ako nakakita ng halamang "Makahiya" matapos ang ilaaaaang taon na hindi na ako nakakabalik sa bahay namin sa Batangas.)

L-R: Kher, Mike, Odie, Ric, Ayn, Chris, Obi

Day 1 - Page 2
(Natuluan ng pawis ko itong notebook. Matutuyo din yan, sa sobrang init dito.)
* 11:38 - "Kubo" arrival.
- Siopao time!
- 30 minutes break
(Nakarating kami sa "Kubo" sa wakas! Ilang metro na lang ito mula sa 1st peak. May malapit na water source dito kaya eto daw ang designated stop-over point para mananghalian. Dito pa lang barag na kaming lahat. Ako mismo, hindi ko inaasahan na parang disyerto ang lalakaran namin. Ang nasa isip ko gubat na maraming matataas na damo. Makikita ko rin pala ang hinahanap ko maya maya. Sa ngayon, masaya naming binuksan yung mga baon namin dahil anticipated talaga sa itinerary na hindi makakapag luto sa unang assault. Ang baon ko e siopao ng Chowking... at sa sobrang pagod, eto na yata ang piiiiiinaka masarap na siopao na kinain ko sa buong universe!)

(Naghubad ako ng tig limang-libong sapatos *kelangan may presyo, gamahal e* at nagpatuyo ng medyas. Si Manong Itim at Puti naka fried chicken. Fabulous di ba? Tas ako pa-siopao siopao lang. Hehe.)

* 12:30 - Rest ends, resume walk
(O-ha sakto kami sa sinasabi ng itinerary.)
- 3rd river crossing
(It's not really a "river". More like a stream. But it was still a welcome joy to our aching feet to take a dip from time to time. Magandang break siya sa paa na matapos ng mga bato batong daanan e may paunti-unting daloy ng tubig na pwedeng pag tampisawan.)

* 1:30 - Nakaka dalwang bundok na kami
- 4th river crossing
(Bale after the 1st peak, nag-transition lang kami sa kadikit na 2nd peak. Next target daw namin ay yung pangalwang kubo halfway paakyat ng 3rd peak. Sa parteng ito na kami nahati sa dalawang batch dahil irregular na yung mga pahinga ng bawat isa. Dito ko na naramdaman na "bakit ko nga ba ginagawa sa sarili ko itong parusang ito?!?!?" hehe.)

(Tama ba?!?)
First Batch: Manong Itim, Dan, Ayn, Obi, Kher, Alfie, Paz, Odie, Vic
Second Batch: Manong Puti, Mandric, Jason, Tata, Ogie, Kher, Chris

* 2:10PM - 2nd "Kubo" point
- Water trail!!!
- 3rd mountain peak in sight
(Narating naming 1st Batch ang pangalawang kubo. Pero bago yun, dumaan kami sa isang mahabang water trail! Nakita mo naman tatlo pa yung exclamation point di ba. It's a rolling stream enclosed on all sides with all sorts of flora! Dun ka sa tubigan dadaan mismo! Hala, panay exclamation point na!)

(Nagkanda-ligaw ligaw pa kami nila Ayn, Dan, at Odie. Akala namin tutuloy pa din kami ng paglakad sa tubigan e yun pala umakyat na sila Manong Itim papasok ng kawayanan. Dito namin na-develop yung "The Harder Trail Principle"... kapag nawawala ka at mayroong dalawang trail, kung saan mo ayaw dumaan ay doon ang tamang landas. Hehe. True to its meaning, the right trail is towards the bamboo area. Bumalik si Tata galing dun para sunduin kami. I mentally assigned a name to that area... the "Wall of Bamboos".)

* 3:25 - 3rd PEAK!!!
(Astig ang view dun sa taas! Kitang kita ang baybayin ng Subic pati yung Korean company na Han Jin sa paanan ng mountain range. Ang ganda din ng point-of-view mula doon ng katabing Bundok Balingkilat. 15 minutes na lang daw papuntang campsite sabi ni Manong Itim. Sobrang pagod na kami at yung iba e seryosong bugnot na sa hirap. Etong last assault na ito ang pinaka sinumpa ko sa buong trail.)

* 4:00 - CAMPSITE!!
- In view of Peak 5 and Silangin Beach!!
- Pitch tent
(Narating namin ang campsite sa tamang oras na binigay sa itinerary! Ibig sabihin average na mountaineers kami... yahooow! Kulang na lang mag Macarena ako sa tuwa sa pagkaka-baba ng bag ko na naputol ang kanang strap along the way papunta sa Water Trail. Kelangan ko pa mag ala-MacGyver para ayusin ito. Kilala mo ba si MacGyver?? Kanya kanya agad kaming kuhaan ng sulok na pagtatayuan ng tent. Ang ganda ng view sa taas!! Kulang pa ng exclamation point... eto pa!!!!!!! Ayan! Ganyan kaganda sa taas.)

(The campsite's a plateau enclosed by the mountain ranges that connects Peak 3 to the nearby towers of Peaks 4 and 5. From afar is a majestic view of the cloud-topped Mount Balingkilat and just overlooking the cliff is a natural harbour that comprises the Silangin Beach! Its shoreline is actually connected to the more popular Anawangin Beach which was actually behind *from Cinco Picos's point-of-view* Mount Balingkilat.)

The Campsite!

* 4:58 - Batch 2 arrives
(Ang natoka na kasama ko sa tent ay si Mandric at Odie. Halos isang oras na akong nagpapahinga pero tumitibok pa din yung ugat ko sa ulo.)
* 5:36 - Cooking time, everyone settles
(Nag umpisang magluto ang grupo. Nagbihis na din ako ng panlamig dahil gumiginaw na at medyo may pagbanta pa na uulan. Inayos ko na din yung mga gamit ko sa loob ng tent pero nung napalapat yung likod ko sa higaan para akong na-uppercut ni Pacquiao. Knock-out si Obi Doo!)

Day 1 - Page 3
* 6:41PM - Still cooking, umaambon konti
- Nakatulog ako
- Galamig!
(Ayan, as mentioned. Kinumpirma ko pang natulog ako at malamig. Gumuhit si Alfie ng araw sa lupa para patigilin ang lumalakas na ambon. Ginagawa ko din ito nung bata pa ako at sa totoo lang hindi pa ito sumasablay. Tumigil ang ambon dahil sa araw ni Alfie, in peyrnes.)

* 7:32 - Still cooking
- Change battery (i-Pod)
(Nag setup na si Dan ng speakers para sa i-Pod. Tuloy pa din ang lutuan. Gutom na kaming lahat pero mas nangingibabaw pa din ang pagod. Binuksan yung dala kong sangkatutak na tuna at iniluto namin sa itlog. Yub yub!)

* 8:00 - Grub time: Liempo, Bangus Relleno, Papaitan, Tuna with Egg, Kanin
- Cooking continues for Pulutan: Sisig, Lambanog, Granma (Grand Matador), Tang, Pipino
(Piiiinaka masarap na kain ko, in years! Si Manong Puti nagrereklamo kasi dun siya kumuha ng tuna sa "extra-hot" na lalagyan. Sobrang anghang daw. Hehe. Astig ng papaitan. Panalo.)

* 8:45 - Inuman na!
(Nilabas ang alak. Natulog ang hindi iinom. Lumaklak ang mga may gusto. Kasama pati si Manong Puti at Itim. Pina-ikot ang tagay at chaser. Namapak ng pulutan. Ang resulta...)

* 9:25 - Sleeping time!
(Ang aga kong sumuko... mga anim na round pa lang yata tinamaan na naman ako ng straight punch ni Pacquiao. Off to nyu-nyu land!)

L-R: Manong Itim, Danilo, Odie, Vic, Paz, Alfie, Ayn, Kher, Obi

*****

Day 2 to be continued...

Analyze This

"Unexpressed feelings will never die. They are buried alive and will come forth later in uglier ways."
- Sigmund Freud

Blue and Pink

Isipin mo...

Sa isang eskinitang daanin ng tao,
May napadpad... batang may bitbit na bato.
Sadyang palalo o talagang mausisa,
Bato'y nilagay sa gitna ng eskinita.

Isang mama ang agad ay nadapa...
Sugatan ang binti, may galos ang mukha.
Dalawa, tatlo, apat, lima... anim!
Dumami ang bilang ng natalisod sa dilim!

Pinanood lang ng bata ang mga nadapa,
Sa perwisyong ginawa tila nakatunganga.
Hindi tatanggalin ang batong tinangan...
Ang bata... "MMDA" ang pangalan.

*****

Nyahaha. Tangena kasi. May dalawang taon na din simula nang maglagay ng concrete barriers ang mga hinagupak na yan sa kalsada. Sa dalawang taon na nagpabalik-balik ako ng bahay-ESDA-opisina, opisina-EDSA-bahay, hindi pwedeng walang sasakyan na sumasalpok sa mga konkretong yan. Kada linggo meron! Buwenas pa kung isang aksidente lang sa isang linggo. Tyamba na yun.

Nung pang-gabi pa ako, pag trapik ang EDSA, alam ko na agad na mayron na naman kawawang oto na rumampa sa mga pausong island na yan. Dati, elibs pa ko dyan e. Ayos, kasi bagong gimik. Pero puta naman, pag nakita mo nang hindi na epektib at perwisyo na, tanggalin mo na. Namo'y ahente ni Kamatayan ang mga lintek e.

San ka naman kasi nakakita kung hindi nanlilimahid sa dumi ang mga reflector... e kulay BLUE AT PINK. Tangena, hindi mo alam kung bakla o sadyang fashionistang kikay ang mga gago. "Pangkuha daw ng atensyon" para madaling makita. ULOL. Kelan pa naging madaling makita ang BLUE AT PINK sa dilim! May rason tsong kung baket dilaw at itim ang ginagamit na universal colors ng traffic chevrons. At kung napaganda ni BF ang Marikina, hindi naman siya siguro ganun katanga para hindi ma-realize ito.

Ang mariri, dumadami pa ng dumadami ang mga lintek na barriers. Ang pinakahuling pauso ay nilagay sa bandang Cubao-Santolan area. Para mas sumikip ang EDSA. Astig. Ang tatalino nyo!

Wala lang, napag tripan lang namin pag usapan kagabi ito habang bumabagtas kami ng EDSA. Kitang kita mo kasi na panay bungi na yung semento sa dami ng otong sumasadsad dito, pero walang aksyon na ginagawa. Ayaw pa din tanggalin o bigyan man lang ng tamang early warning device. Idol ko pa man din dati si BF dahil akala ko siya na ang "iron fist" na hinahanap kong makakapagpa-bago ng Metro Manila. Kaso parang kulang sa kukote... panay kamao lang.

Kapag marami nang nadadapa sa bato, tanggalin mo na. Para wala nang ibang madapa. Simpleng simple.

*****

Yesterday, we were at this church near Cherry's Fooderama in Congressional Road for Baby Enzo's baptism!

Shak Attendance: Pork, Garrboy!, Hairy Critter, Obi Doo, The Great Maw, Mussolini, Kim, Tatay Kamote, JC, Baby Enzo

Welcome to the Christian world, Enzo!!
Reception was at Max's across Cherry's. Ansarap ng bibingka sa tapat nung simbahan. Yub yub!
*****

Last night, we were at the Megamall for the ingress of entries for the 2007 IPMS-BA National Scale Model Competition. The place was set up after mall hours and I was with Pork, Arvs, Calipher Boy, and Johnny to haul their scale model kits. Miniatures were everywhere! There were ships, aircrafts, tanks, dioramas, and tons of single model figs of sci-fi and fantasy genre. Truly an eye-feast for the geeks and non-geeks alike! Haha.

Detail of the event is as follows:
IPMS-BAC (International Plastic Modellers Society - Bert Anido Chapter)
5th National Scale Model Competition
The Atrium, Megamall Building A
November 26 to November 30

I've already seen most of the entries and I say, this year, the competing kits and figs were better and more interesting than last year's. Spoiler: there's this huge table diorama of around 23 to 27 scale ships of different classes (destroyers, cruisers, aircraft carriers, and submarines)... an entire fleet!

Tambay ako dun this Wednesday and/or Friday. Kita kits!

*****

Saw this in You Tube while I scour it for Mojofly gigs. Soooooobrang cute ni Lougee. Lalo na dun sa isang episode ng Ramon Bautista Show. She grew up reaaaally fine. This is one of my peborit songs of the band. The guitar was too sharp for my taste though and I can see her struggle to sing louder against it.


"Mata" by Mojofly, Myx Live Performance
Lougee... marry me!!! I beg yooooouuuu!!!

*****

New album in my Multiply site:
Oktoberfest 2007 Closing Party (Click Me)

Mukha ka bang Tinapay?

Wag magmadali sa pag-aasawa. Sa hinaharap, mag-iiba ang pamantayan mo at maiisip mong di tamang pumili ng kapareha dahil kaboses niya si Debbie Gibson o magaling siya mag-breakdance. Mas importante ang kalooban ng tao. Paglipas ng panahon, maging mga crush ng bayan ay nagmumukha ring pandesal. Maniwala ka.
- Bob Ong

Third Baguio Trip of the Year

Shak Attendance: Riderman, Pork, Hairy Critter, Great Maw, Obi, Jubay, Nowie, Wutt da Hell, John Liit, Jumping Johnny, Topher, Anito, Bebop, Peptox

We left da Shak last Friday at some minutes past midnight already. Shot shot pa kasi kami ng Pulang Kabayo. Nauna na si Kaloy kasi first-taym niyang susubukan umakyat ng Baguio ng naka motor (si Bebop) at hindi siya makakadaan sa NLEX. Meeting point was at the Sta. Maria, Bulacan exit.

I was texting my relatives that night to know what would they want from Baguio. Dumiretso na kasi ako sa tambayan sa Virramall after work and my mom was just about to arrive from Pangasinan that day. So, sa teks na lang kami nakapag usap. I was able to text with Pouty too, nakaka miss nga lang. So, toma toma toma... then umalis na kami.


Room 13 @ Igorot Lodge, Camp John Hay
L-R: Arvs, Jake, Pol, Kaloy
Langya hirap talaga ng cameraman... wala sa aksyon.

Day 1
Since naka-escort kami over Riderman and Bebop, we took the loooong scenic route from Bulacan to Nueva Ecija to Tarlac. Surprisingly, it was really quick. Walang masyadong sasakyan sa kalsada. Mas marami pang nasagasaang aso at pusa.

Several stop-overs later, we reached Baguio via Marcos Highway by 6AM then headed to our first food trip target... Slaughter House! Sa mga taga Baguio, sanay sa Baguio, o nagkukunwaring maraming alam sa Baguio, the Slaughter House compound should be on one of your must-visit food chains in the city. Food are served fresh, mui delicioso and at oh-so-reasonable prices!


Wee-wee Break
We checked-in at the AIM (Asian Institute of Management) Conference Center (Igorot Lodge) inside Camp John Hay. Room 13! Awooooooo!!!! Arvs and Jake needed the rest since they were in zombie-mode from the past days. Kami ni Pork at Marco ang nag lakwatsa sa bayan. It was also convenient for my Starbucks sticker spree that John Hay's branch is just ten backflips and ten cartwheels (yes, binilang ko) away from our lodging. May cute barista pa (naaah, hindi yung bakla. tangena!).

We basically scoured the ukay ukay points of Baguio for just about anything...
1) Bayanihan Building, yung building dun sa tabi ng sakayan ng jeep sa sulok ng Burnham Park
2) Maharlika Building (?), nasa tapat ng Burnham... ilang carthweels away Session Road
3) Hilltop Center, ride a taxi and tell Manong "sa Hilltop po" (there you go, that's a lot easier to describe)

Nabili ko (all-in-all) sa wagwagan...
* a black synthetic backpack (Backstage)
* sari saring accessories at woodcrafts
* knitted Olive Drab military sweaters (pang airsoft ko)
* original dogtag plates (saan pwede magpa-engrave?)
* military patches
* gun bag with backpack slings
* Olive Drab sniper veil
* (dig this) AN ORIGINAL GRAY ARMANI SUIT for only 600 bucks!!! wooootness!!! tyamba si kolokoy.

Pagkagising ng tropa, sumunod na lang sila sa Session Road kung san kumain kami sa Jenny's Canteen (Foodtrip #2). Despite the English name, it's a Chinese-owned canteen. I forgot exactly where the street is, but it's one of those offshoot roads from Session Road. Astig ng pagkain. Panalo yung pansit tsaka crispy pork.

Next stop was SM-Baguio. Para lang ma-park yung oto. Nag hiwalay na kami sa point na ito dahil may kanya-kanyang agenda na ang mga hinagupak. Hours passed then we just met up again a couple of minutes before 6PM at Shakeys in SM-Baguio. Foodtrip #3. Grublist were pizza (doh), beer, tapuy (rice wine?), calamares, at rootbeer?? Holy smokes, where's the cox?? Shak Commandment Number 1 (?) hath been brokeneth! "Thou shall not imbibe any concoction other than the One True Beverage... Coke!!!"


Tangena, walang gagalaw ng pitsel ko!

The youngblood Joma arrived at around 6:30PM then we headed to points unknown to meet up Crispy's old pals to discuss the Warmachine hobby to their frequenters and demo the game afterwards. Went online to check my NBA Fantasy roster. Medyo umulan sa Baguio at this point.

We headed back to John Hay to setup stuffs then went off to wander around some more. Pookiemonster ought to catch more "Z" time. Gusto ng mainit na pagkain ng tropa (hindi yung mainit na pagkain na hindi nakakabusog). Tas naalala ko yung kinainan namin ng batchoy dati nung unang akyat namin ng Justice League-HP sa Baguio. Nakalimutan ko yung pangalan ng kainan kaya tingin ko utang ko sa kanilang i-describe na lang yung way papunta sa kanila...

Foodtrip #4
* galing Session Road, baba ka papuntang Burnham Park. sabay kanan sa dulo.
* diretso ka lang tapos may dalawang kalye na pakanan kang lalampasan. ang ikalawang kalye ay papunta ng simbahan.
* sa ikatlong pakanan, kumanan ka na (doh!). paakyat ito ng Legarda Street (gimikan ng mga Koreano sa Baguio).
* hindi ka dapat makakarating ng Legarda Street. pag kanan mo pa lang, tumingin ka na sa kaliwa mo.
* bago ka makarating sa unang intersection, may makikita ka nang kainan sa kaliwa na may nakasulat na nagbebenta sila ng bulalo.
* yun na yun.

Sinabing walang gagalaw sa beer ko e!
May in-order kami sa kanila na ang tawag ay pigar pigar. Ay putangena... ang sarap (kelangan talaga may mura). Pabalik ng John Hay, sa motor ni Kaloy ako sumakay. Bagong experience ito... biking over Baguio. Mga 11PM na ito. Papunta ng Loakan Road, napadaan kami sa Nevada Square. Gimikan ito ng mga bata-batuta sa Baguio. Imagine a local version of the Eastwood Strip. Tumigil si Karlo at napag-isipan naming bumaba at maki-jamming muna ng ilang shots. Lumalakas na yung ulan kaya may palusot kami para tumigil. Hehe. Tig dalwa agad kami ng Pulang Kabayo habang patingin tingin sa paligid.

Observation 1: ambata ng crowd. not the yuppies age bracket but around the college types... and they actually have the purchasing capabilities to party at such. tama si Kaloy, it's easy to camp out on your beer... yung bibili ka lang ng isa tas hahayaan mo nang lumutin all night. mag-inarte ka na lang na lasing habang hawak ito.

Observation 2: konti lang ang Koreans dito, given na mas madami pa ang Koreans sa Baguio kesa sa Manila. dumaan kami ni Kaloy sa Legarda Street bago pumunta dito. mukang andun lahat ng Koreans tas panay Pinoy naman sa Nevada Square.

Maya maya pa tumawag na si Crispy, kaya pinasunod na namin sila sa Nevada. It was some minutes past midnight already when we set off back to Torogi (igorot) Lodge to call it a night. Soooobrang haba ng Sabado namin.

Day 2
Buffet breakfast at the Camp John Hay Club House. Foodtrip #5.

Sooooobrang daming pagkaiiiiiin!!! Ang saraaaaap laaahaaat!!! Ang haaaaabaaa ng mga woooords kooo!!! Hehe. Sulit yung kain namin. Tambay kami ng mga halos dalwang oras sa resto sa sobrang kabusugan. Buti na lang naka-jerbo ako bago pumunta dun. Palaban yung tiyan ko. Pagtapos ng breakfast, balik kami saglit ni Pol sa ukayan. May pahabol pa kasing "pabili" si Garrkid e. Gusto nya rin daw nung nabili kong knitted sweatshirt, pang airsoft.

May kwento pa pala kong nakalimutan. The other day, we were looking for airsoft stuffs then we stumbled on this store with cheapo wares. Ang cute ng nagbabantay (si Babot)... kahawig siya ni Pouty (or mebbe it was one of those times that I'm imagining her from somebody else again). Basta... height, skin-tone, pati buhok, facial features and all. Sayang nga hindi ko nakuhaan ng ritrato. So ayun, natuwa ako sa resemblance. Kaya siya yung nilapitan ko para mag-inquire and buy stuffs. E kaso nung kinausap ko sablay mag Tagalog... hee hee!


Resibo ni Babot.
Hindi naman sobrang panget pakinggan. Matigas lang talaga yung accent niya na kapag nag Tagalog siya e medyo sabit. Hehe, no offense meant though. She can carry good English actually when I first inquired in the language (para konyotiks talaga). Tas kwentuhan na lang muna kami about airsoft, their store, and their wares habang nag-iikot pa sila Pork. Nakakatuwa talaga kasi yung resemblance niya with da Batgurl. Naaliw lang talaga ako.

So yun nga, the next day, pag balik namin ni Pork sa Torogi Lodge, we prepped up for home. Umiskor lang ako ulet ng kape sa katabing Istarbuko sabay larga na kami. This time, we passed on Kennon Road. First stop was at the Lion's Head (na mukang unggoy) syempre. Second stop was at the infamous Isdaan Resto in Gerona, Tarlac. Foodtrip #6.

Sa Isdaan - Gerona, Tarlac (Taksyapoooo!!)

Pinag-uusapan kasi namin itong Isdaan bago bumaba. I've been there already so I was recounting my food-experience with the boyz. No real plans on eating heavily in it so I ought to stay sa oto while the boyz roamed around the premise and bought some grub. There were memories there that I don't what to think about anyway. At least, not at that moment. I just want to maximize making the roadtrip wildfun... no senti, no downtimes. Trippings lang.

Pagtapos nun, diretso na kami sa San Simon, Pampanga where we met up with Mark on a petrol station near the exit. From there, we went to Doug's birthday bash. Tuwang tuwa naman yung Amerikano at naka-dating kami. Kwentuhan lang (ako, naglaro ng Warhammer) sabay kain (sila) tapos ubusan ng English, tapos umuwi na din kami.

Nakarating kami ng Shak (QC), mga pasado alas onse na. Nakauwi ako sa amin, lampas alas dose na. Pagod pero panalo. Zombies for the win!

Gusto ko itong shot ko dito.

*****

More pics will be posted in my Multiply soon.

Remember, Remember... The Days of November

I'm going to Baguio later after work. Huddle point is at da Fortress, Virramall before meeting the rest of the boyz at da Shak. We'll be meeting Menite there for a demo game of Warmachine and probably some ukay ukay spree and more goofing around.

We'll be there until late night where we will rush back to Bulacan at Crispy's house to catch some "Z" time. All, because on the following day (this Sunday), we need to attend Baby Enzo's baptism in Project 8. Emp should get ready with major grub fest since for sure the boyz will be dead-hungry coming from the long roadtrip.

But wait... there's more! In the afternoon, we have to drive back to Bulacan for DK's birthday bash. The Amerikano has scheduled this party several weeks ahead and the boyz just can't let pass a "well-supplied" parteeeey! Hopefully, after everything settled down, we can still call ourselves human... instead of ZOMBIES, for lack of sleep and rampant gluttony.

Such has been my weekends the entire November, I realized! Tinignan ko yung mga nakaraang araw and it was never different with the past months. I think this year has been blessed with activity-abundance for me. Partida, hindi pa ako natuloy sa Bangkok. With the past weeks alone, the schedule has been like this...

* Oct 26 - San Miguel Oktoberfest Closing Party @ the Metrowalk, Ortigas
Attendance: Jai, Obi, Sophie, Arnie, Dindo + 1, John, Paul, Ringo (wala si George)
...ang ganda ng bokalista ng bandang Paraluman, kras ko na siya.
...sa dami ng pitsel ng serbesa na nilaklak namin, nakapag-uwi kami ng tigi-tigisa

* Oct 28 - Basketball Games with the Bayaw @ St Thomas Aquinas, San Juan
...grubtime at In and Out Steak House afterwards
...sabay tambay sa Virramall pagtapos

* Oct 30 - Basketball Games with the BPI folks @ Urdaneta Village, Makati
...andaming cutey na nagja-jogging sa field

* Oct 31 - Pork's Birthday Bash @ da Shak, Kamias
Attendance: Kuneho, Grace (Bi), Obi, Pookiemonster, Jumping Johnny, Phatboi, Pol, John Liit, Topher, Hairy Critter, Mayor + Bro, Hervi, Longx, Romy, Muy Muy, Jubay, Jade Korean, Joma
...beer gallore, ispageti massacre, inihaw na Kuneho, at iba pa

* Nov 1 - Call to Arms Tourney Day @ Pitshop, Sta Mesa
...Warmachine games, sabay tambay sa Shak

* Nov 2 - Balls of Fury! @ Theater Mall, Greenhills
...Fluffy's back from Bangkok, and we'll go back to the Land of Smiles for an APO concert come February next year as concert organizer staff? Abangan!
...no review for Balls of Fury. just two words: itfuckin' rocks!!!
...minahal ko lalo si Maggie Q
..."It's better to die like a Tiger than to live like a Pussy."

* Nov 4 - Bandai Action Kits Universal Cup @ the Atrium, Megamall
...after that, grubtime was at Dencio's - Metrowalk (sisig! sisig! sisig!)
...then me and Long wandered around Rob Galle for more shopping time

* Nov 6 - Basketball Games with the BPI folks @ Urdaneta Village, Makati
...the jogging cuties were substitued with indoor football babes

* Nov 10 and 11 - Megaball 2007, Airsoft Fellowship @ Mimosa Leisure Estate, Clark Field, Pampanga
...there's a blog entry, click here

*****
Update:

New songs in my Multiply audio album (click the links)...
Sandakot na Kundiman
Obi Tearjerky

New picture album in my Multiply...
UP-College of Fine Arts Cosplay 2007

Mount Cinco Picos - Day 2

Day 2 - Page 4
* 5:55AM - Wake up call
- Agahan cook off
- Photo ops
(Nagising ako sa lamig. Hanep sa ganda ang view pag early morning! Muntik ko nang ligawan sa ganda! Kung camera lang ang mata ko, overload na ang utak ko sa kakulangan ng Gigs. Nag umpisa na magluto ang tropa habang abala ang iba sa pag ritrato ng paligid. Ako? Gusto ko lang tumayo at tumitig at lasapin ang oras na iyon.)

- "Down with the Sickness" by Disturbed
(Hinanap ko yung kantang yan sa i-Pod ni Dan. Rock in the morning! Punks not dead! Wooot.)

"Class picture" before leaving the Campsite

* 6:57 - Chowtime!
- Burner malfunction
(Kainan na habang tuloy sa pagluto ng agahan yung iba. Dan's burner suddenly burst into flames. Akala ko hanggang sa bundok sinundan kami ng bombers!)

- "Way Back Into Love" by Haley Bennett and Hugh Grant
(Senti naman. Sabay titig sa malayo. "Iniisip nya rin kaya ako?" Yiiiiiiikeeeeee! Malamang hindi. Waha!)

* 8:35 - Pack up
* 9:45 - Departure from Campsite
- Napigtal na naman ang bag ko
(Bumigay na din yung isang strap ng bag ko. Dalwa na sila! Itinali ko lang para mairaos for the rest of the journey. It was easier trekking downslope anyway.)

* 10:56 - Back to river trail and "Kubo 2"
(Finally made it back to "Kubo 2" at the foot of Peak 3. At this point, we were again separated into two batches. Good thing we have the photographers on our batch! Yahoow. Photo ops gallore along the water trail!)

Day 2, Second Batch. Pag sigaw ko ng "turo" lahat tumuro sa malayo... pati si Manong Puti! Haha... astig! L-R: Manong Puti, Ogie, Jason, Chris, Dan, Ayn, Obi... Dric (not in photo)

Day 2, First Batch: Manong Itim, Kher, Odie, Alfie, Vic, Tata, Dark
Day 2, Second Batch: Manong Puti, Obi, Dan, Ayn, Paz, Chris, Ogie, Jason, Mandric

* 11:28AM - Made it out of the River Trail
- Wall of Spears
- Water trail 2
(The Wall of Spears. Dito kami muntik maligaw the day before.)

* about 20 minutes after - Out of water trail 2
(Sa parteng ito naisip ko kung para san o kanino itong akyat ko. Para may sense of purpose naman. Walk for a cause ba. Eto mga naisulat ko sa notebook ko...

> para kay Mark. Rest in peace, 'tol. Bigla ko naalala na dapat kasama ka namin this Sunday sa party ni DK.
> para kay Pouty. kaka-miss.
> para sa Mom ko. salamat sa lahat lahat!
> for her that God has prepared for me. asan ka man, magpakita ka na... tangena ka, wag kang mag pahintay. wag kang VIP! hahaha.
> for God, of course! thanks sa safety and the experience the climb has been.

Day 2 - Page 5
- Standard Bearer
- Stick with gloves in "ngarat" mode ,,l,,
- Walk with Mandric the Photographer
(May makulit na nangyari dito. Tumigil ako para magpahinga so tinusok ko muna yung wooden staff ko sa lupa, sabay hubad ng kanang gloves para mag-ayos ng bag. Sinabit ko muna yung gloves dun sa staff, habang tinatali ng maigi yung bag ko. Pag tingin ko dun sa gloves, yung dulo ng stick e saktong dumiretso sa butas ng middle finger kaya naka "fuck you" yung itsura nung gloves sa kin. Sa tuwa ko, hindi ko na siya tinanggal. Bumaba na ko ng bundok ng dala yun. Wehe.)

The "Pakyumo" Standard
* 12:05 - River crossing
- Dip in photos
(Ang tawag ko dito - strategic positioning. Dikit ako kay Mandric syempre kasi nasa kanya yung camera. Kaya ayun photo ops kami while on the dip.)

* 12:20 - Kubo 1!!!
- Incoming mountaineers spotted
(We reached Kubo 1 again. A new batch of mountaineers were having their lunch there. Probably, having the same itinerary that we followed. They have this "wag na lang kaya tayo tumuloy" look on em. Can't blame them, really.)

* 12:41 - Meet up with Batch 1 on a shaded tree
(Nagpang-abot na kami ng mga naunang batch. Dito kami nagpahinga ng medyo matagal-tagal dahil mga ilang oras na lang at nasa Kulot compound na kami sa paanan ng bundok.)

* 1:14PM - River 1 crossing!
- man-made spa
- canned-goods fest
- swimming
(Finally, naabot na namin yung widest river crossing. Dito kami nagpahinga ng pinaka matagal dahil sa swimming! Nagtalunan kaming lahat sa ilog pati yung dalawang Kulot. Sa bandang malayo may mini landscape na naging natural spa dahil sa lakas ng current. Sa gutom, kinain namin yung mga natitirang de lata... ng hindi luto!)

Posing, Danilo!
L-R: Leandro Baldemor, Jay "Mola" Manalo

* 2:29 - Departure sa river

Day 2 - Page 6
* 2:49 - Last river crossing
* 2:53 - Arrival at Cawag Jump Off
(Natapos din sa wakas. Whether newbie or old-time mountaineer, additional item na naman sa resume namin ito at of course, hindi kayang bayaran yung experience! Nagpakuha kami sa mga Kulot na andun sa Cawag community tapos nagsipag-ligo lang, then umalis na kami.)

(Dumaan kami ng Subic para kumain. Hindi makapaniwala yung mga kasama ko sa dami ng kinain ko. Oo, gutom kami. Pero hindi lang pang-"gutom" yung kinain ko. Haha.)

(Teka, naalala ko... sabi ni Ayn kelangan ko daw isama ito sa blog ko. Along the way to where we ate, naghanap kami ng ATM. Medyo ligaw kami kung san yung ATM ni Dan sa Subic kaya kelangan magtanong-tanong. May nakasalubong kaming isang grupo ng "Ate"... hehe. Ang siste, nag turuan kami ni Ayn kung sino magtatanong. Too late, kelangang ako na ang magtanong dahil ang sama na ng tingin nila sa amin na tila ba isa-isa namin silang isasakay ng pwersahan sa van at gagawing G.R.O. sa Maynila...

Obi: Aaaah... Ate, tanong ko lang kung sana saan yung BPI dito.
*Nag pulong yung mga "Ate" na parang gumagawa ng play sa Basketbol*
*Nag sigawan yung mga kasama ko sa loob ng Van... "binata pa yan si Obi!!"*

Ate 1: Derecho dyan *ngumuso sa kalsada* merong BPI. Lalabas ka ng gate tapos sa may mall sa kaliwa.
*Naka "oo, tama siya"-look yung mga kasama niya*

Obi: *inulit ko yung itinurong direksyon para mas klaro*
Ate 2: San ba kayo pupunta, gigimik?
Obi: Oo eh, wi-withdraw lang.
Ate 2: Eeeeh, sama na kami!
*Sabay tawanan yung mga "Ate"*

Obi: Sige ba, sige balikan namin kayo. Hehe. Salamat ha.
*Sabay harurot ng van*

Bunso, don't be afraid... andito na si Kuya!
Farewell talks with the Kulot
*****

Thanks goes to...

* Team AIM, of course! Kilala nyo na kung sino kayo!
* Mike B. you're the Man!
* Fluffy for the bag... na pinutol ko ang mga straps!
* Dee Dee for the tent... na pwede magpa-House Party sa loob sa sobrang laki!
* Manong Puti at Manong Itim. Sana next time may pangalan na kayo. Add ko kayo sa Friendster!
* Sa driver ni Dan.
* Kela "Ate".
* God, 'nuff said.

Megaball 2K7

The Megaball is one of several major annual events for the airsoft community. Like last year, this year's Megaball was held at the Mimosa Leisure Estate in Clark, Pampanga last Saturday and Sunday. Team Semper Fi and Point Blank Incorporated hosted the gathering. Here are some quick facts posted at the Fil Airsoft forums for the event:


What : An annual Non-Competition AIRSOFT FELLOWSHIP event.
Where : Mimosa Complex, Clark SEZ, Pampanga.
When : November 10-11, 2007

Registration Fee : P800.00 per person inclusive of 2-day game fee, fellowship night buffet dinner, and our usual megaball kit (Megaball 2007 patch, sticker, etc.)

Accomodations : Discounted Villa Rates will be available for reservations only up to Oct. 29, 2007. Regular non-member rates will apply after the said date.

PROGRAM OF EVENTS
Saturday November 10, 2007
8:00 AM ... Fun begins with the following activities ....
Check-In / Registration
Registration AEG's joining the Gun Competition

----- Customized
----- Accessorized
----- Best Gun Paint
----- Best Pistol
----- People's Choice

SKIRMISHES !!!!
Tag o' War - Seven Man Team
12:00 noon till 1:30 PM ...
Lunch Break ...
1:30 PM - 2:00 PM ...
Team Leader Orientation
2:00 PM - 6:00 PM .....
Scenario Games
7:30 PM Onward ...
FELLOWSHIP NIGHT @ Mimosa Casino

----- Buffet Dinner and Cocktails
----- Band Entertainment
----- Complimentary "P300.00 Lucky Match Playing Tickets"
----- Team Intrduction
----- Sponsor's Night
----- Parlor Games
----- PARTEEEEEEE !!!!

Da Place!
Sunday November 11, 2007
10:00 AM to 12:00 noon
SKIRMISHES AND Team Leader Orientation
12:00 noon to 1:30 PM
Lunch Break
1:30 - 4:00 PM
Scenario Games ...
4:00 PM till END .. Recognition Hour ..

----- AWARDING OF GUN SHOW WINNERS
----- LARGEST CONTINGENT
----- FARTHEST CONTINGENT
----- BEST SQUAD
----- PUNISHER AWARD (Best BDU)

*****

First timers ang team namin (Screaming BB's) na sumali ng Megaball. As usual, sabit na naman kami sa tropa team namin - Team Apocalypse. It was also my come-back appearance in airsoft after taking a break from the game for like three months! Same goes for most of my teammates, kaya kating-kati kami kumalabit ng gatilyo.

Apocalypse contractors - Screaming BB's
L-R: John Lloyd Cruz, Phatboi, Lloyd, Jeng

Screaming BB's (SBB) attendance: Obi, Zeb the Destroyer, Kuneho, Jubay Bomber, Phatboi, Jeng, Lloyd, Jordan, Dax, Storm

Buti na lang gumagana pa yung baril ko. Malamang nagtatampo na yun sakin sa tagal kong hindi nayakap... ahuhuy. Salamats kay Ian at Jason sa pag kumpuni.

*****

Day 1
Kay Kuneho ako sumabay papuntang Mimosa. Hip hop tracks on the player. Boo hiss... Funks Not Dead! Haha. Pag dating sa Mimosa, deretso na kami registration. Tanghalian na nun kaya naghanap na kami ng makakainan.

After lunch, we were assigned our villa. Kasama namin sa bahay ang isang contingent ng Apocalypse. Heck, we even registered under Team Apocalypse. So for the rest of the event, ampon muna kami ng Apo. Hehe. We were assigned to the White Contingent.

Pag setup sa villa, sabay bihis sabay laro. Andaaaaaming players. I heard there were at least a thousand plus who registered. Kung sang sang lupalop pa ng Luzon galing! Flip TV covered the event and I heard it'll be aired in Y-Speak (...or Jack TV?? I have no idea when). Na-interview pa si Zeb nung cute na chick anchor lady. Pano akala batang naglalaro ng airsoft... di nila alam desisyete na ang hinagupak. Waha. Inggit ang buong kalalakihan!

The crew of Flip TV
Zeb the Destroyer
After the games, we hit the villa, took a break (with aching bodies), then prepped up for the Fellowship Night (pinagandang tawag sa inuman) at Mimosa Casino! Medyo nabitin kami sa buffet kaya with Sir Arvin from Team Northern Alliance, lumabas pa kami ng Clark para maghanap ng KFC para sa naglilihing si Kuneho. We passed along the red light district of Clark and somebody told that it's not even half "alive" when it was on its heydays!

Sarado na lahat ng KFC. Sa Jollibug kami napadpad. Pagkatapos, balik kami sa villa. Dahil makati pa ang paa, hinila pa kami nila Dax para mag lakwatsa. Balik kami sa Mimosa Casino at wild na ang crowd (senglot na lahat ng airsofters). Libre ang beer! Kaso Colt at Lone Star (lasang plastik)... kwang kwang! Pero tyaga tyaga... ang mahalaga, laseng! Parteeeey!

May isang malaking timba na puno ng beer tapos pinag papasa-pasahan sa paligid in the beat of the music. Tas kada may tumutungga, sinisigaw yung pangalan ng Team niya. Dun ko feel yung camaraderie ng mga players para sa event. Kahit yung mga non-player customers napasali na sa kalokohan... kahit yung mga Kano!

Ang lumaklak sa timba para sa Team namin ay si Kuneho (tinuturo pa ko ng loko, ako na lang daw)... SBB! SBB! SBB! SBB!

Pero hindi dun nagtapos ang kati ng paa. Lumabas pa kami ng Clark ulet para maghanap ng gimikan, mapilit si Jordan e. We ended up in this bar named Balk Line. Eto na yung pinaka disenteng lugar na nakita naming pwedeng tambayan. So ayun tambay lang. Tapos umuwi din nung boring na.


Day 2
Tanghali na nagsipag-gising. Naghanap ulit kami ng makakainan. There's this cantina near the compound's basketball court that offers sisig na mui deliciooooso!

Tambay ulit sa villa. Before 2pm, we geared up for the day's games. Nagkaron ng konting commotion when a dude from the opponent's side got a head injury from a direct BB hit. Nothing serious though, so the day resumed as is.

An in-game shot of the White Contingent (where we belong)

After the games, a gathering was held at the assembly area for the recap of Megaball 2K7 with the announcement of winners, more raffle draws, battle dress competition, and team photo ops.

Team Apocalypse bagged the award for the team that has the most number of participants. As of the last update that I heard, we numbered at 200 pax plus.

Bago umuwi, dumaan muna kami sa Marina sa Dau para bumili ng airsoft stuffs. I got me-self a Multicam-pattern shirt and a military green sweater (na sinuot ko na din agad pauwi). Nice.

The Ocho Ocho Generation

"Ocho ocho fries brain cells" - Dennis

*****

A random discussion at da Shak a couple of weeks ago led to a conclusion that most of today's youth devolved to be lethargic jologs because of an inherent fondness to pointless pop songs the likes of "Aring King King" and "Ispageting Pababa". I was laughing my arse off while chugging my cox, hearing them enumerate the songs. However, the arguments of the idea has this practical appeal that would make you think that it could possibly be true.

Sige nga. Ano nga ba mapupulot mong aral sa "Jumbo Hotdog" o sa "Ching Ching Tabaching"?? Haha.

Besides, I really can't imagine how will I react when I see/hear my future kids shakin' their booty while singing along the lines of "I-shoot mo, i-shoot mo, i-shoot mo na ang ball! Kahit nakapikit, walang sabit! Ang sarap mag basketbol!" (with a sensual yelp at the end)*. Haha. Not being green minded but c'mon, at a point in their childhood they'll finally know what those lyrics would want to imply and you can't just go "kasalanan mo dahil green-minded ka" with them! AND bullshit, I've never known such thing as "nakapikit, walang sabit" the whole time I played hoops! Haha.

* "Basketbol" by the Viva Hotbabes

Barako Ako

Starbucks has already kicked off with their annual Project Spark Hope.

24 cups of coffee! 24 beverages to glug down before you officially donated something to their charity!

Good news for coffee afficionados since they now have a workable reason to drown themselves with their favorite concoction other than the clichéd "para hindi antokin". Good news for Starbucks, themselves, too since apparently this marketing trick has attracted a HUGE following for a HUGE number of reasons... for being certified true coffee addicts, for posing to be one, or to just ride on to the Pinoy bandwagon mentality (me! me! me!).

Whatever the reasons may be, what I like about it is that at least it "clicks" for a cause. How can it be easier to donate to a charity than sprawling dead-wasted from caffeine-induced high?

O-di ba. So yeps, I got my coupon with my first sticker this morning.

Game na!

Pinoy Ako, Pinoy Tayo

I never really followed PBB religiously but with Gabby dela Merced's inclusion on the latest batch, I opted to watch whenever I could. She's soooo cute (dimples and all!). And c'mon, what's with a pretty lady on a race car that won't fancy every guys' dreams?? Crush ko na siya even before her FHM cover, I even blogged about it once when I was in Sydney. Makes me think: may preference yata ako sa mga boyish type ah. Haha.


Too bad she's going to voluntarily give up her stay inside the PBB house for a racing seminar. Saludo ako sa passion niya for racing and even more to her positive view of life (if anyone watched the episode last night where she gallantly lead the PBB housemates to give birth to a pet pig). She was such a sweety, teary eyed and all when one of the piglets died. Who would have thought she'll care that much?

After her stay, there's not much reason to watch the show anymore. Olats.

*****

AINAAAAAA, ikuha mo ko ng OTOGRAP!!! PLEEEEASE.

Mount Cinco Picos - Day 1

Quick Facts:
* Mount Cinco Picos is called Tatlong Tirad by the locals.
* Compared to the nearby Mount Pointed Peak (Bundok Balingkilat) which is at 1,100 meters above sea level, Peak 3 of Mount Cinco Picos, where the campsite of the trek is located, should be around 900-1000 masl.
* The local aetas should rather be called "kulot" for courtesy and they hunt Tatlong Tirad for wild boars, deers, and snakes.

*****

Pictures are available at my Multiply account:
Album 1
Album 2
Album 3

Acknowledgement for the pictures goes to Mandric, Paz, and Ogie!

*****

It was a couple of minutes past 2:30AM when Dan woke me up to prepare for the long day ahead. Naki-iskwater ako sa bahay nila since I can never wake up that early if I'll be sleeping on my own bed at home. We picked up Odie and Ayn before meeting the rest of the team at Rob Summit in Makati.

Team AIM (Akyat I.T. Mountaineers) attendance:
Mandric, Odie, Obi, Dark, Tata, Kher, Paz, Alfie, Vic, Jay, Ogie, Chris, Dan, Ayn

Most of us are IT practitioners (obviously) and either have worked or is working for HP-Phils. Some of the guys have climbed together before. Sayang. Due to the prior postponement of the original trek date because of the last few week's funky weather, maraming hindi nakasama. Originally, those who confirmed numbered at least 24!

We then headed North and after a brief stop somewhere in Pampanga (I was asleep the entire trip), we continued to Olongapo to meet Mike of Team YABAG. He's one of the local contacts for those who wanted to trek the mountain regions around the area - "the man" kumbaga. He accompanied us up to Barangay Cawag (a short trip from Olongapo City) where we hired two "kulot" guides and went on to prep up for the climb.

Here's where I picked up my handy notepad and started scribbling for my journal. Let my entries relive the experiences.

*****

(Entries were taken from my journal in verbatim)

Day 1 - Page 1
* 8:45AM - Cawag Jump Off
(Kinelangan namin bumaba ng sasakyan kasi masyadong malambot yung lupa papasok dun sa Kulot community.)

* 9:20 - Encounter with the Kulot
- Bihis at the shack
- Photo ops
(There's this small shack provided for the mountaineers. Dito namin nakilala yung mga magiging guides namin at yung iba pang mga pamilyang Kulot na nakatira sa paanan ng bundok. Dito na din kami nagbihis. Tatawagin ko na lang na Manong Itim at Manong Puti yung mga guides namin dahil itim at puti ang mga kulot nilang buhok, respectively. Si Manong Itim yung mas bata kaysa kay Manong Puti... obvious naman siguro.)

* 9:30 - Departure
* 9:38 - 1st river crossed
(Dito nasubukan yung supposed water shoes namin nila Dan at Ayn na hindi pa bayad sa credit card haha. Lumusong kami sa tubig ang binti ay nabasa... ngunit ang *toot toot* di pa rin nababasa. Hehe!)

L-R: Obi, Dan, Ogie, Ayn

* 9:57 - Chieftain's house
(As homage to the local Kulot chief, Dan, Mike, and Mandric made a "courtesy call" with him while we waited outside his humble dwelling. Di ko sure kung nakuha nila yung Friendster ni chieftain. Hehe. Ito na din ang last Kulot community na madadaanan along the trail. Anywhere past this is the wilderness alone.)

* 10:04AM - 2nd river crossed
(Eto yung pinaka malaking ilog na dadaanan. Katulad nung nauna, hanggang bewang lang siya sa pinaka-mababaw na daanan. Hanggang dito na lang kami hinatid ni Mike. Ang linaw ng tubig at soooobrang ganda ng paligid. After this, it was the start of the assault to the 1st peak.)
- i-Pod up
- "You'll be Safe Here" by Rivermaya
- Walking ahead, behind lead guide
(Mabato yung unang leg ng trek. Yung trail mismo ay halatang dating daluyan ng tubig dahil madaming crack sa lupa na puno ng bato tsaka may mga mangilan-ngilang dumadaloy na batis along the way. Yung iba, parang spa sa ganda. Imagine terraced rocks with flowing clear water sourcing out of lush vegetations. Tangena, kung kaya lang i-describe ng salita... pero malabo sa sobrang ganda. Ganun kalupet. At this point, naisip ko sabayan si Manong Itim at makipag-daldalan. He was our lead guide while Manong Puti took the rear of our lines.)

* Quarter to 11:00 - Rest
- "Makahiya", ngayon na lang ulit ako nakakita
- "Narda" by Kamikaze
(Almost an hour after the steep rocky climb, we decided to take our first rest of the trek. Upo ako sa damo, lawit dila, sabay sulat sa notebook ko. Ngayon na lang ulit ako nakakita ng halamang "Makahiya" matapos ang ilaaaaang taon na hindi na ako nakakabalik sa bahay namin sa Batangas.)

L-R: Kher, Mike, Odie, Ric, Ayn, Chris, Obi

Day 1 - Page 2
(Natuluan ng pawis ko itong notebook. Matutuyo din yan, sa sobrang init dito.)
* 11:38 - "Kubo" arrival.
- Siopao time!
- 30 minutes break
(Nakarating kami sa "Kubo" sa wakas! Ilang metro na lang ito mula sa 1st peak. May malapit na water source dito kaya eto daw ang designated stop-over point para mananghalian. Dito pa lang barag na kaming lahat. Ako mismo, hindi ko inaasahan na parang disyerto ang lalakaran namin. Ang nasa isip ko gubat na maraming matataas na damo. Makikita ko rin pala ang hinahanap ko maya maya. Sa ngayon, masaya naming binuksan yung mga baon namin dahil anticipated talaga sa itinerary na hindi makakapag luto sa unang assault. Ang baon ko e siopao ng Chowking... at sa sobrang pagod, eto na yata ang piiiiiinaka masarap na siopao na kinain ko sa buong universe!)

(Naghubad ako ng tig limang-libong sapatos *kelangan may presyo, gamahal e* at nagpatuyo ng medyas. Si Manong Itim at Puti naka fried chicken. Fabulous di ba? Tas ako pa-siopao siopao lang. Hehe.)

* 12:30 - Rest ends, resume walk
(O-ha sakto kami sa sinasabi ng itinerary.)
- 3rd river crossing
(It's not really a "river". More like a stream. But it was still a welcome joy to our aching feet to take a dip from time to time. Magandang break siya sa paa na matapos ng mga bato batong daanan e may paunti-unting daloy ng tubig na pwedeng pag tampisawan.)

* 1:30 - Nakaka dalwang bundok na kami
- 4th river crossing
(Bale after the 1st peak, nag-transition lang kami sa kadikit na 2nd peak. Next target daw namin ay yung pangalwang kubo halfway paakyat ng 3rd peak. Sa parteng ito na kami nahati sa dalawang batch dahil irregular na yung mga pahinga ng bawat isa. Dito ko na naramdaman na "bakit ko nga ba ginagawa sa sarili ko itong parusang ito?!?!?" hehe.)

(Tama ba?!?)
First Batch: Manong Itim, Dan, Ayn, Obi, Kher, Alfie, Paz, Odie, Vic
Second Batch: Manong Puti, Mandric, Jason, Tata, Ogie, Kher, Chris

* 2:10PM - 2nd "Kubo" point
- Water trail!!!
- 3rd mountain peak in sight
(Narating naming 1st Batch ang pangalawang kubo. Pero bago yun, dumaan kami sa isang mahabang water trail! Nakita mo naman tatlo pa yung exclamation point di ba. It's a rolling stream enclosed on all sides with all sorts of flora! Dun ka sa tubigan dadaan mismo! Hala, panay exclamation point na!)

(Nagkanda-ligaw ligaw pa kami nila Ayn, Dan, at Odie. Akala namin tutuloy pa din kami ng paglakad sa tubigan e yun pala umakyat na sila Manong Itim papasok ng kawayanan. Dito namin na-develop yung "The Harder Trail Principle"... kapag nawawala ka at mayroong dalawang trail, kung saan mo ayaw dumaan ay doon ang tamang landas. Hehe. True to its meaning, the right trail is towards the bamboo area. Bumalik si Tata galing dun para sunduin kami. I mentally assigned a name to that area... the "Wall of Bamboos".)

* 3:25 - 3rd PEAK!!!
(Astig ang view dun sa taas! Kitang kita ang baybayin ng Subic pati yung Korean company na Han Jin sa paanan ng mountain range. Ang ganda din ng point-of-view mula doon ng katabing Bundok Balingkilat. 15 minutes na lang daw papuntang campsite sabi ni Manong Itim. Sobrang pagod na kami at yung iba e seryosong bugnot na sa hirap. Etong last assault na ito ang pinaka sinumpa ko sa buong trail.)

* 4:00 - CAMPSITE!!
- In view of Peak 5 and Silangin Beach!!
- Pitch tent
(Narating namin ang campsite sa tamang oras na binigay sa itinerary! Ibig sabihin average na mountaineers kami... yahooow! Kulang na lang mag Macarena ako sa tuwa sa pagkaka-baba ng bag ko na naputol ang kanang strap along the way papunta sa Water Trail. Kelangan ko pa mag ala-MacGyver para ayusin ito. Kilala mo ba si MacGyver?? Kanya kanya agad kaming kuhaan ng sulok na pagtatayuan ng tent. Ang ganda ng view sa taas!! Kulang pa ng exclamation point... eto pa!!!!!!! Ayan! Ganyan kaganda sa taas.)

(The campsite's a plateau enclosed by the mountain ranges that connects Peak 3 to the nearby towers of Peaks 4 and 5. From afar is a majestic view of the cloud-topped Mount Balingkilat and just overlooking the cliff is a natural harbour that comprises the Silangin Beach! Its shoreline is actually connected to the more popular Anawangin Beach which was actually behind *from Cinco Picos's point-of-view* Mount Balingkilat.)

The Campsite!

* 4:58 - Batch 2 arrives
(Ang natoka na kasama ko sa tent ay si Mandric at Odie. Halos isang oras na akong nagpapahinga pero tumitibok pa din yung ugat ko sa ulo.)
* 5:36 - Cooking time, everyone settles
(Nag umpisang magluto ang grupo. Nagbihis na din ako ng panlamig dahil gumiginaw na at medyo may pagbanta pa na uulan. Inayos ko na din yung mga gamit ko sa loob ng tent pero nung napalapat yung likod ko sa higaan para akong na-uppercut ni Pacquiao. Knock-out si Obi Doo!)

Day 1 - Page 3
* 6:41PM - Still cooking, umaambon konti
- Nakatulog ako
- Galamig!
(Ayan, as mentioned. Kinumpirma ko pang natulog ako at malamig. Gumuhit si Alfie ng araw sa lupa para patigilin ang lumalakas na ambon. Ginagawa ko din ito nung bata pa ako at sa totoo lang hindi pa ito sumasablay. Tumigil ang ambon dahil sa araw ni Alfie, in peyrnes.)

* 7:32 - Still cooking
- Change battery (i-Pod)
(Nag setup na si Dan ng speakers para sa i-Pod. Tuloy pa din ang lutuan. Gutom na kaming lahat pero mas nangingibabaw pa din ang pagod. Binuksan yung dala kong sangkatutak na tuna at iniluto namin sa itlog. Yub yub!)

* 8:00 - Grub time: Liempo, Bangus Relleno, Papaitan, Tuna with Egg, Kanin
- Cooking continues for Pulutan: Sisig, Lambanog, Granma (Grand Matador), Tang, Pipino
(Piiiinaka masarap na kain ko, in years! Si Manong Puti nagrereklamo kasi dun siya kumuha ng tuna sa "extra-hot" na lalagyan. Sobrang anghang daw. Hehe. Astig ng papaitan. Panalo.)

* 8:45 - Inuman na!
(Nilabas ang alak. Natulog ang hindi iinom. Lumaklak ang mga may gusto. Kasama pati si Manong Puti at Itim. Pina-ikot ang tagay at chaser. Namapak ng pulutan. Ang resulta...)

* 9:25 - Sleeping time!
(Ang aga kong sumuko... mga anim na round pa lang yata tinamaan na naman ako ng straight punch ni Pacquiao. Off to nyu-nyu land!)

L-R: Manong Itim, Danilo, Odie, Vic, Paz, Alfie, Ayn, Kher, Obi

*****

Day 2 to be continued...