Ms. Charie Villa

The mainstream media really has a knack for making little things seem so big. I experienced that in my GMA Network Visit. What seemed to be a very big newsdesk was actually a little bigger than my study desk at home. News on Q looked like a very big room. Turns out it wasn't. And finally, 24 Oras, well, had the bragging rights to a big newsdesk. But Pia Guanio's Chika station? I think it just fits her.

So that's the gist of my experience in ABS-CBN. Just as when I though everything was SO big, turns out to be a tad modest. And though I'd still contend that the GMA7 is still smaller in terms of size and area, my initial notions of a big and wide ABS-CBN were dispelled to its right size.

First, was the gate. Unlike GMA7, ABS-CBN has a lot of security measures before entrance. To be sure, outsiders can't get in without official business. And it doesn't stop there, there's baggage inspection coupled with walk-through metal detectors. Goes to show, then, that security is tight whether it's a red alert day or not. Only an inside nut job, then, would put the entire network in total jeopardy.

That's just on the outside.

The INSIDE of the News and Current Affairs Department was also heavily guarded. There were walk-through metal detectors too and ID scanners. It was pretty much like a railway station - situated in the office, so to speak. Then I saw the DZMM radio booths which were way, way bigger (and brighter) than the ones in GMA7. The quintessential silver ABS-CBN logo on some reddish tile was also there - proof that I'm not getting lost. Inside the Department, I saw their mini-collage of TV equipment. It was still art and it reminded me of the great cameras display in Promenade Greenhills (top floor).

Then we went to the Newsroom. I was actually surprised when I saw the front desk. It was a little bigger than my study desk. Although there was only one receptionist, I really think 3 people wouldn't fit that desk. There were also packages for Ms. Karen Davila and another person behind her. So we stated our purpose and told us to wait for Ma'am Charie since she's on a meeting.

We had to wait on the desk's side. I remember smiling.

Hindi ko ito ipinapaalam sa lahat, pero deep inside, nagmemega fanboy moment ako. May ilang news personalities na pumapasok like Gretchen Fullido and Ricky Carandang (in his audacious pink and gray repertoire). Nasa-spot ko rin si Paul Henson, and Mario Dumaual. Jing Castaneda also came in and I realized something: these people dress so professionally at work! And not only that, they were (especially the guys) of relatively tall stock. How the heck am I supposed to compete with their height? My goodness...

But what the heck, Atenean Willard Cheng is almost the same height as me. I can even show you a picture. Here!



(I'm at the farthest right, by the way...)

My fanboy moments were cut short when the secretary told us to see Ma'am Charie already. On the way to her office, I saw the different timezone clocks I used to see once-in-a-while in News Patrol. Right beside her office is a newsdesk where the news advisories must be shot. I should know... there were teleprompters around (not to mention the business attired anchor-girl)!!! Then we went inside.

She wasn't there.... but Mr. Henry Castelo, the one who sent us the waiver forms, first said hi. Then came Ma'am Charie.

Comment: Pumayat siya!!!! She was wearing a black sweater na naka-zip up to her neck. It was really cold inside her office, but very much spaceous for her and her guests. Then she handed her business card to us while asking, "O, what time do you want to be deployed? 10PM? 2AM? Early morning?"

We weren't saying a thing.

"Ano ba?! Joke lang iyon... Ano nga? What are your free schedules? Morning, afternoon?" Then Claude, her deployment officer, came and introduced us. She said we were students of Ma'am Chay Hofilena doing an exposure assignment - a 'tag-along' to be politically correct. Mr. Henry went curious and asked whether this was already our internship or just a requirement. We clarified it and all became well.

After discussing the situations, what would happen, and supposed timeslots, we went on our way already. That meeting must have taken only 30 minutes. Damn.

But I guess it was better than just relying on email. You really can't trust technology sometimes.

All in all, that trip was good. And as I *psychologically* prepare for the big cover day, I'm placing trust in my senses that I'd be able to gather the news as quickly and effectively as it should be. Lest...

...I'd have no news to submit for class,

...and I won't be good for the reporting industry.

So yeah, that means that I'll be sacrificing some free time for myself. But if this time would be time well spent, then I guess I shouldn't worry any longer.

Travel safe!

On Virginity

(I can actually hear the TV Patrol World theme on my head...)

Rambo, Ma'am Charie, and Mother Ignacia

So there you have it. I've been given the chance to speak on air because the DJ said so. And not just any DJ, "Papa Bear" of Barangay LS during the afternoon radio show. I remember being teased with "Rrrrramboo!" relentlessly in school for doing just that. But I find it cute and funny because behind that teasing is the affirmation that I am really meant for broadcasting (daw).

We actually have a requirement for my News Writing class at school. It's called "The Beat Exposure Trip" in the journ kids get deployed to different media outfits (Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inquirer.net, Bulgar, Bandera, ABS-CBN). Most of these media outfits are in print; and ABS-CBN is the only broadcast network available. I hate to admit it but ABS-CBN is really a coveted assignment. That's why being assigned to it for this requirement gives me the shivers - both good and bad.

Anyway, so yesterday (January 9) was our first meeting with Ms. Charie Villa, the Head of ABS-CBN Newsgathering. "Ma'am Charie", as ABS-CBN people call it, is a top-caliber broadcast journalist. She is one of the "Tres Marias", the three big women of the network (Maria Ressa, Charie Villa, Luchi Cruz-Valdes) until by some twist of fate, Luchi Cruz-Valdes resigned. You could imagine, then, that the name Charie Villa was just something I've heard of in bigtime newscasts (or issues like the Manila Peninsula Journalists Arrest). Now, I'm seeing her in person.

We left the school at 1:30PM, right after my Japanese class. Mav, Dessa, and I were onboard Reema's family car en route to the network. As I was looking outside the window, I noticed that the radio was set on Barangay LS (DWLS 97.1) and it was the Papa Bear Show where callers can request and air their thoughts. Back in my COM100 days, I had the chance to join the Tracktrip to GMA Network where I saw the radio stations and the sets of 24 Oras, Saksi, Balitanghali, and Sis. There, I was able to sit by the DJ's microphone and do some spiels care of 'Papa Bear' to the great (hopefully) astonishment of those watching.

That's Maria Ressa and Ma'am Charie, by the way (taken from her Facebook account).

The time was 2:00 PM, and we were going through Timog Avenue already, crossing over to Mother Ignacia street when one caller shared her twisted love story and philosophies in life (read: 'motto'). I could care less about her love story after all it's a free nation. What I cannot stomach was her saying, which is...

"Virginity is not purity. It is lack of opportunity."

And I felt my eyes bulge in surprise and shock.

Graar!

Virginity has always been a dear topic to me. It concerns me greatly because I still believe in the teachings of the Catholic Church when it comes to Life and Human Sexuality. Today's society, however, is placing that hypothesis under great fire.

I really wanted to get mad at that statement (and I am indeed mad!). But what can I do? I am just only one of the diminishing people who still believe that sex must come after marriage no matter how easy or difficult it may seem.

Sexual liberation is actually happening in my generation today. I have seen cases of teens unable to contain their drives and go on in their sleazy escapades. I really, really want to frown at this but reality is hitting me far more than it is. But one thing that keeps me going (no matter how easy or difficult it may seem) is the thought echoed by a Youngblood contributor (Sex and the Single Pinay, Youngblood 3): I am not afraid of eternal damnation. I am afraid of eternal infection.

I think that best summarizes my reason for holding me horses.

But don't you think it's time to rethink if the caller's statements are true? I actually feel that it's a maligned way of justifying having sex 24/7 to known and unknown males. That person may have her reasons, but I think it's something I shouldn't condone nor agree to.

Not even in a million years.

Hopefully.

Patrol?

In other news, the meeting with Ms. Charie Villa was, well, pretty quick. Shorter than expected. Dessa even told me that the conversation could have been done through email. Find out more in this next post.

Sad to be Different

They say that differentiation is one way of ensuring adaptive ability. A new breed, regardless of its origins, remains to be a new breed capable of being tested through time. And being time, this new breed will have to see whether it will make it through or not.

I have confessed to being a [self-proclaimed] nonconformist. I take pride in saying that I go against the tide to show my backbone in the things I say and do. I particularly despise blind ubiquity, or conformism without context. Over and above, I go where angels fear to tread.

And I take pride in that.

But there are times when this going against the tide gets too tough. That people actually find that you are not making sense - or even, shutting out the world in front of you. That you are making a living hell out of your own life.

were actually meant to be your support system. As a Communication Major, I have learned the importance of being with your block. From first year up to the last semester of your second year, you will be with them one way or another. The greatest of these was during our second year days when we were classmates in almost all subjects (COM100, COM101, Psy101, Th121, Fil14). As my batchmate-turned-blockmate said in his Multiply blog, "We do projects together. We study together. We have fun together."

Commenting on his blog, for me, was an exercise of showing my affection to the people I have loved in the face of academic trials and emotional frictions. It is not easy getting along when you really have principles in mind. And when those principles run counter to popular belief, cognitive dissonance happens. And when cognitive dissonance happens, you really don't know where you're picking up from. It's either you risk violating your principles or you join the bandwagon.

And that's what I had to sacrifice in the name of my personal preferences.

It frustrates me, though, that my utmost sincerity (or so I think) is exchanged with a snicker, more so a statement of unbelief. I may have been the aloof and uncaring bastard of my block, but that doesn't mean I don't care. A human being is endowed with a heart, and the mere fact that I have one explains for itself. It makes me sad that my sincerity isn't paid back; but even if I go on and on raving about this, it just seems to spiral out of nowhere.

But don't get me wrong; I'm not the black sheep. I am the ghost... maybe.

When I appear, everything is fine. Nothing too grand, nothing too mundane. Maybe just right. But in some place, I secretly yearn to be in the clique that laughs with the majority, that has fun in the unthinkable places, that bonds (as they call it) in every way possible.

There's truth in the saying 'there's no place like home'. Often romanticized as 'there's no place like Comm,' the saying rings true to the people you have to love more than anything else. St. Augustine, for one, tried to find solace in every vice possible because nothing seemed to complete his life. It is only in finding God that he was able to come back - to the heart of what it means to be truly happy.

And so my sadness stems from my differentiation, my uniqueness, my lack of ubiquity. Just when you thought that being different is actually standing up for your principles, sometimes, it doesn't ring true at all.

One's social life is not dictated by what other people say. But getting along is something essential for human survival. If one doesn't know how to be one with other people, it will either place him on a pedestal or get thrown out of it.

So the question is, where am I going to start?

The Desire for Media Studies

When I was still halfway through my second year, I was fiercely bent on taking up the Journalism Track because I believed it was my dream. At that time, I had all the reasons to turn down the other Communication Tracks (Advertising and Public Relations, Image and Sound Production, Film and Media Studies) simply because I said so. My Communication Seminar (COM100) teacher, however, changed things when he taught the class with a critical perspective. I could never forget the geekgasmic moments I have to endure because every CommSem day was an avenue of something new. Never will walk from that class without knowing a new caveat.

That is why when I declared my track, I vowed to myself that I will be a Media Studies person as well.

Then, my COM100 teacher released an ad for his "Media and Society" class. We all had fun in his class and I want to live it all over again. So I immediately signified my intention to take it - which he took very positively.

Due to logistical reasons, however, I ended up taking my Journ classes all in one sem. And though my teacher wouldn't admit it, I know that he was somehow expecting his old students to cram in his class.

And I feel bad about it - because I felt that I ditched him for another hottie.

Although I'm not exactly regretting what I did (my Journ electives are so full of action, by the way), the fact that I may have left my teacher hanging in the air is what bothers me.

Yep, ganoon ko siya tinitingala.

But I don't know, I can't really tell. Sometimes, I feel that when I run into him, it's as if he didn't become my teacher (or I became his student). Parang noncommitted ang hi-hello namin. For the sake of everything. But I can't blame him, either - we're too much of a busybee to even be absorbed to those things.

But academic-wise, teachers have no direct power over our research interests, among others. And I'm glad that his approach to this is very professional and academic. I know of some teachers who would flare up to the thought of dropping the class because of interest incompatibility. And I think that's sad.

So much as I find intense action brewing in my journalism classes, there will always be a part of me that yearns for media studies - the study of people, ideology, representation, and how the media affects every aspect of daily life.

I will really pursue my Media Studies dream.

"Dear Ate..."

(First kuwento of the year! Dated: January 1, 2009)

I find it amusing that a great deal of blogs and social networking sites users have their way of celebrating the new year. That includes greetings, online surveys, significant events, wishes for the year, and new year's resolutions. And though I'm notorious for being a nonconformist, New Year's traditions are something I couldn't do without: from firecrackers to overeating, I do it all. So I guess my blog is not an exception; and before I say my first story for 2009, I'd like to great everyone first a very happy new year.

So let's begin...

Every time January 1 comes in, my father's clan meets up to stage a reunion. It has been a tradition since time immemorial because of understandable familial reasons. So since the mother's side held the first-ever Christmas Paskuhan/reunion at our home, you could imagine the fats and the flab getting through my system (not to mention the sodas I'm virtually forbidden to drink). Double events, double food, double the flab - there could not be any replacement.

Going home, I felt pretty weird because of my overeating spree. Usually, that's sleepiness in motion. So since I was afraid of getting pancreatic trouble (you know, the reason why matinee idol Rico Yan died...), I just closed my eyes to feign rest. But then, I "woke" up.

Trudging through the city streets, there was this gray Toyota Civic (I think...) taking up the farthest right of the lane. Thinking that the Civic would not speed up, my dad drove on with his usual speed. I was surprised, however, when the Civic's driver practically 'matched' my dad's speed, trying to overtake. I looked at the driver and broke a sweet smile. Seeing that I know what the little girl in the driver's seat was up to, I told my dad to just let her go ahead.

And I remember smiling the whole trip.

The reason why I was smiling is not because the girl driving the Honda Civic was someone to die for. I was smiling because she and I, though far from being acquaintances, shared something in common. Something that was so crucial and terribly liberating to us teens. Something so special and exciting to experience. Something that was so attainable given a few months of continuous driving - and that is, the thrill of holding the [steering] wheel.

Long-time drivers would find me funny for saying this, but I believe that driving by yourself is really an exciting and scary thing. Exciting, because it's the ultimate proof of your personal mobility. Scary, though, because you will have to deal with evils of the road, from possible car snitches, to the thugs of the highway, and last but not the least, the MMDA.

I haven't drove our 13-year old, service-center maintained, 40,000 km mileage  Mitsubishi Lancer EX by myself yet. Although I have brought it to school during the summer, I still have to experience bringing it all by myself. Having the driver during your first, second, and third time across the city assures that you can make it past the ruthless road. You will get the hang of it, yes. But getting on without the driver is another thing.

"Ms. Honda Civic Girl" must have been my age, perhaps 18-21. She was driving all by herself, and she was practicing extreme caution by the way she sat and strut. Her seating was so straight the orthopedic surgeon would get scared. She was dependent on the signal lights in turning left to right. She must be pressing the gas pedal in spurts because her car was going in spurts as well. She overtook us really fast; and proof that she's a beginning driver like me... the car wheels abruptly change from left to right.

Just to be clear on things, I am not rendering judgment on Ms. Honda Civic Girl because I know how hard it is to drive the car on you very own. You can get by the city in due time, but the first times are really scary - especially when you encounter motorists who prove their being 'king of the road'. You risk accidents and damage to property when you bring your car elsewhere. Defensive driving IS the norm; the only thing is, are the fellow motorists defensive drivers as well?

Frankly, my mother doesn't want to let me hold the wheel because she hates the way I sit before the wheel. She says it's the "jeepney driver sit" - nearly slouching, one hand on the wheel, simply 'too much comfortable' for someone driving. She also roars at my sudden gas spurts and braking, because it pushes her forward during the trip. Those observations qualify me as a 'reckless driver', says she. But even as she says that, I smile confidently because I know that once in my life I have driven our car in the smoothest possible way - that is, because I was seated comfortably, with my arms and feet in the right distance from the controls. I was able to drive smoothly, without the loud 'vroom!'-ing of the car because of it.

Hah! (Kid really...)

I have told my mom that by summer I SHOULD be driving the family car already because I'm afraid of commuting to school with a laptop in hand. Either I will lose the laptop or get held-up by a highwayman because my bag's a good loot. It's somehow whimsical for a guy like me, but I'd like to be safe than sorry. Besides, I can't imagine teaching a bunch of kids High School Physics using chalk and lecture notebook alone. At least for the time being.

So that is the story of Ms. Honda Civic Girl, and how, in a sense, see myself in her when she overtook us on our way home.

Until then, drive safely!

Don't Eat the Apple!

I believe this was the story almost always drilled to us kids raised in a Catholic School. God created the Earth, the animals and the sky, then Adam and Eve. Eve felt hungry so she set off looking for food. She saw an alluring tree with a sumptuous apple to boot. The snake sales-talked her into getting the apple, and she ate the apple. Like a loving wife, she gave the apple to Adam. And both felt naked. So they clothed themselves with leaves, and God called them out. The rest, as you know, is [salvation] history.

I guess the snake can be called the first public relations person since it was able to persuade Eve on taking the apple for herself. The Church calls it temptation; I call it sleazy [and dubious] marketing. It's not that I despise advertising and public relations practitioners (Lord knows how much I want to take up Integrated Marketing Communications some time in my Comm life); it's just that as a journ practitioner, we are asked to be watchful of 'public relations answers' (you know, the super sugarcoated answers typical of rationalizing a wrong deed).

Side point is this: right after Adam and Eve ate the apple, the Bible says that 'their eyes were opened', and with that came the knowledge that they were naked et cetera. By being naked, it was said that their knowledge of the world expanded so much that it rivaled God Himself. But whether the knowledge rivaled God's or not, perhaps it's safe to conclude that they knew better now than before. And to a certain extent, their realization, their 'aha!' moment, brought shivers down their spine. Skepticism, perhaps.

Studying the media, for me, is like an apple experience in the Garden of Eden. When you're experiencing the media from a passive perspective, you believe that the media is a very powerful and a very good friend. You know it could be bad, but you keep it aside.

Let's take episode 6, season 9 of the PowerPuff Girls. In this episode, Bubbles said, "I guess I shouldn't believe everything I say on TV..." Then the Mayor said, "No Bubbles, don't say that! Television is your friend. Television is never wrong and you should always listen to it and do whatever it says." Then the girls said [hypnotically] in unison, "Yes. Television. All hail the great and all-knowing television..." I don't know if it was just mock adoration or sort, but I sure found the message disturbing that I was perturbed by it throughout the day.

Studying the media is like an apple experience in the Garden of Eden. I guess any media analyst will agree with Roger Silverstone saying that we are living in a media saturated world, that everything entails media and we sure can't live without the media. And the image that we know of the media is something that is beneficent to the human race. Something that aids rather than destroys. And it's true to a certain extent, that's why saying negatively about it sends bad vibrations in the process. Truly, nobody wants to talk about the media in its goriest details because we were raised to think that it is the all-good media. The friend that never goes wrong and will never fail. That is our constructed reality. A perspective we have been conditioned to think and live about.

That is why I was so shocked to find a body of knowledge used to analyze the media from a critical perspective.

But then again, as a Communication student, I have to be familiar with these theories of media reception, power, and representation. I have to know what makes it hot and what makes it not. As a journalism student and practitioner, I am trained to get both sides of the story. And putting these in perspective, it's a deadly position to face something so warm and cuddly and then attack it with due ferocity once you unearth its sinister side.

I agree, then, that it's not easy dabbling with critical theory because it's tantamount to debunking your traditional beliefs. You see everything with a grain of salt, and just as when you are close to believing everything, one simple thought ruins almost everything. That is how I characterize my Media Studies experiences.

My alumni friends used to say that learning begins by intense wonder. Must have gotten it from philosophy class. And now, I am in this stage all over again; of questions and confusion at how the world wide web came to be. Of how social networking sites prove to be a boon and a bane to one's existence. Of why these services provide an avenue for identity construction, and a way to assess one's likeability over the superhighway. Is this exactly what Marshall McLuhan meant by media being the extensions of man? Is it really possible for everyday social relationships be intensified in mediated environments such as chatrooms and instant messaging? Why do people get numerous hits whereas some people barely get any?

Is there a link between social likeability and online likeability?

Malene Charlotte Larsen, Ph.D. is, to date, my greatly admired analyst for coming up with the 35 Perspectives on Social Networking. This document, admittedly, challenged and sustained my previous beliefs that social networking sites are an avenue for identity construction and mediation. I feel, sometimes, that if you are 'liked' by everybody, they will want to see what you have in your online space. What happens then, if you're not that popular? Will it stagnate? What will happen to your site? Few hits?

Truly, studying the media is like an apple experience down the Garden of Eden. With a system of beliefs challenged by non-traditional theories, you take things with a grain of salt. In a way, you learn how to take things in stride even if its trade-off will be constant questioning and wonder. There will be times where you wouldn't want to be in this state; but isn't wonder so great that you actually stumble on something?

That, I guess, is the [not so] secret magic of the world called Media Studies.

Dramang Sci10 Lang (Part II)

Edi katatapos lang ng plenary ni Fr. Ben. Punung-puno ako ng laughtrip moments during that plenary because of the side events that happened. Imagine mo, sa tuwing plastics and polymerization na ang pinag-uusapan, either si Ms. Favis o si Ma'am Cuyegkeng ang to the rescue. Akala ko, this was Fr. Ben's moment to shine (tulad ng dati), pero it's Abby's and Achoot's fame time too!

Kabanata 3: Ang conyo naman ng napili mo!

Duey is my Guidon friend na tulad ko ay na-assign sa pang-umagang plenary. Since may 930-1030 Sci10 class pa siya AFTER the PLENARY, umikot muna ako sa campus pointlessly. Wala lang, feel ko lang maglibot. 50 minutes is not too much difficult to pass if you're walking idly - well, provided at least alam mo kung saan ka pupunta sunod. So when 9:30 struck, balik na ako sa PubRoom kasi kuwento moment na naman iyon. Nang magkita kami ni Duey, nag-umpisa siyang mag-rant (like he always does). Sooner, humantong iyong usapan namin doon sa mga nagtanong. Nahalata ko yung disdain niya doon sa ikalawang nagtanong; kaya nag-dig further muna ako kasi amusing yung rants niya. Tsaka ko ni-reveal sa kanya (after the fiery rant), na yung binabalasa niyang nilalang na iyon ay ang misteryosang si Yumi-chan.

His answer was anything but typical...

"WHAT?!? Siya iyon?! Putek, ang conyo naman ng girl mo! I can't believe you liked her..."

Hwoy! May ganonnn!

Sabi ko na lang sa sarili ko, "P*t*r*g*s ka, Duey. Wala kang pakialam sa magugustuhan ko!" Sabay ngiti ng pagkalaki-laki.

Don't get me wrong, hindi naman ako na-offend or something - sobra lang talaga akong natawa doon sa assertion niyang iyon. Kaya every time feel kong asarin si Duey, gagayahin ko na lang kung paano nagtanong si Yumi-chan. Period.

The day went well with, as usual, pang-aasar moments, 'counseling' sa love life, care of yours truly, Duey and Me. Bow.

Kabanata 4: Two Days After the Plenary

Edi natapos na nga yung euphoria na dala-dala ng Sci10 plenary. Since wala namang announcements na nakalagay sa website ng partner ni Ma'am Cuyegkeng na si Sir David, left nowhere kami kung ano ang gagawin next meeting.

Pero diba, may catch talaga ang 'last class day before the Christmas break'. Bigla-biglang nagdi-dwindle yung number of students sa klase, 8:30 na e wala pa sa kalahati yung SEC-B201 na classroom namin. So sinolo namin ng ka-staff ko na si Bea Cupin at iba pang mga ka-Sci10 yung lamig ng silid. Dumating ang mag-inang Achoot at David. Nag-check ng attendance. Bigla-bigla, nagsalita ang nanay.

"Okay, let's do it the other way around..."

Uh, ano po ma'am?

"Those who are here today..."

Ano ngaaaaa?!?

"... those who are here today will be entitled to an extra cut..." (smile).

Homaygaaaaaaaahhhhd!!!!! EXTRA CUT!!!!!

Ibig sabihin, ang kaisa-isang cut ko sa Sci10 dahil na-late ako at umuulan ay pina-dissipate na niya into thin air!

Chemist talaga si ma'am! Pati inanimate reactions nagagawa niya! G'leng!

I heart you, Ma'am Cuyegkeng... HAHA!

Dramang Sci10 Lang (Part I)

(EVENT: Fr. Ben Nebres' Plenary Lecture on Technology and Lifestyle)

Sorry na sa acads, pero talagang kwento-worthy lang talaga (siguro) yung ise-share ko ngayong umaga/tanghali/gabi. Kaya, umpisahan natin ang mga Dramang sa Sci10AA Lang Nagaganap.

Kabanata 1: Mga Kuwento ni Pader Ben

Kung ako ang iyong tatanungin, walang super new na sinabi si Fr. President Ben Nebres, SJ sa kanyang "Technology and Lifestyle" plenary (830-930, Dec. 17, 2008). In my harshest terms, "dakilang rehash lang naman ng mga Sci10 articles iyan eh..." Pero don't get me wrong, kahit rehash lang iyan, may mga nag-stand out pa rin na peculiarities tulad ng...

Supersize Me! na sinabayan ng katunaw-tunaw na [toothy] grin ni Fr. Ben. Syempre, por added epek, may ipinakita siyang picture ng isang American kid na malapad pa sa 36 inch na waistline. In short, mataba. At may libreng endorsement pa from McDonald's kasi iyon yung location ng obese kid noong siya'y pinicture-an.

Ang kanyang 'dramatization' ng isang always there na nanay sa abroad. Tulad ng...

"Hon, saan ka ba nagpunta? Five minutes na akong tumatawag sa selpon mo di ka pa sumasagot?!" Nasa tindahan kasi si mister, bumibili ng suka sa tindahan ni Aling Bebang...

"Anak! May exam ka ngayon! Gising na, dali male-late ka!" Sosyal si mader! Manggigising na nga lang di cellphone pa! Magkano kayang load ang napunta para doon?!

"Hon, na-miss kita..." My gash, five minutes pa lang ang nakalilipas nang huli kang tumawag. Marami kang load, ano? Pasa load ka nga diyan!

Ang pinanggalingan niyang narrations na iyan ay yung sinasabi niyang lecture on Family Migration at kung paano nagiging connected 24-ever ang mga OFW families. Nakakatawa yung ilang instances, especially the ever-present momma, pero masisisi mo nga ba talaga e ginagampanan lang naman niya ang pagiging tanging ina niya?

All in all, the Sci10 plenary was a good experience for a start. Sana yung ibang plenaries e maging as substantial as that - at balita ko, ang teacher ko nang si Ma'am Achoot Cuyegkeng ang magpe-plenary... (pero balita ko lang iyon).

Kabanata 2: Tanong ng Bayan.

Edi natapos na nga ang plenary ni Fr. Ben. In-open na nga yung floor for the questions. Syempre, hiya to death naman ang mga gustong magtanong. I can see it in their eyes na pabaling-baling ang tingin. Bakit kaya ganoon, ang hirap maging first sa open forum: dahil ba all eyes and ears are on you, o baka bansagan ka lang na eager beaver? Eh the heck, ano naman ngayon... e may question ka eh! Burning need to answer that question. So over and above, may nagtanong na - tungkol yata sa plastics. Since na-bring up ni Fr. Ben yung initiatives ng Ateneo Environmental Management Coalition (AEMC), yung mga sumagot para sa tanong na iyon ay yung mga proponents na sina Ma'am Achoot at si Ms. Abigail Favis. Then natapos yung tanong niya. And then, may awkward silence/anticipation/excitement kung sino ang susunod na magtatanong. Finally, may tumayo. Isang babae. Pink (peach?) shirt. Umakyat ng pa-teeny bopping fashion then nagtanong.

It's Yumi-chan!!!!

"Um, Father.... um, I was just wondering... how come we never got rid of strawwwwwss? (blah blah blah)"

If there is anything I could say towards Yumi-chan's way of saying things, it's just this:

that's so conyo-tic...

If before, may super kaduper thump thump epek sa akin iyang si Yumi, ngayon ay...

mayroon pa rin... hindi na nga lang kasing-tindi tulad ng dati. Well, time and the others kasi eh...

Sinagot siya ni Ms. Favis by saying that, "Well actually, we've noticed that straws are the hardest thing to dispose of since it's a necessity in a beverage. But the truth is, straws are actually the safest plastic around since it's made of polypropylene..."

Natawa na lang ako inwardly.

And last but not the least, kilala ko yung huling nagtanong. At siya'y walang iba kundi...

ako.

Haha.

Dinirect ko yung question kay Fr. Ben, "Fr. Ben, one of the things that I've learned from my classes in the Communication Department is that technology enables us to live a fast-paced lifestyle and environment. Do you think that sooner or later - or maybe even now - the concept of a 24/7 society will come into fruition? Or let's say [a society where] people who sleep less than 3-5 hours a day because of work?"

Yung sagot ni Fr. Ben was very reminiscent of a Jesuit because he empowered me to reflect on it. And true, he said, that we are living in a fast-paced society getting faster by the second. Na may trade-off rin ang ating pakikihalubilo sa technology in a sense na bumibilis masyado ang buhay natin. Hindi rin niya kinalimutan iyong point na possible na sa atin bumalik (adversely) yung mga ginagawa natin vis-a-vis technology. Basta, over and above Fr. Ben's answer, in-invite lang niya akong mag-reflect.

Amen.

So that's the first part of Dramang Sci10 Lang. Don't miss the second installment kasi pamatay yung nangyari doon - something na ako ma'y di inakalang mangyayari.

Recession

Frankly, it has been nine months since I last conversed with Yumi-chan. And though you may laugh at me for still being this inept little dude who hasn't gone over a previous 'heartbreak', I still believe that an unfinished business is really some unsettling score.

My heydays during that time were mostly mundane. I smile when she smiles, and I'm happy when I talk to her. It is really true, the saying that the simple things really make you happy. That the best things in life are free. Where will you ever find love but in a person who's willing to be committed towards you? It does cost some emotional price, but to say a material/economic price, I don't think so.

And that's what makes me a little depressed.

It was nobody's fault, anyway. A fallout was to be expected sooner or later. But the really unsettling score is when my course blockmate intervened and poisoned the well. As if getting bad vibes wasn't enough, the blockmate had the nerve to say the deed to other people. To generate support? Sympathy? Why?

To me, however, the 'other people' weren't really 'other people'. They were friends dear to me. So at the first mentioning of the misdeed, I was informed. And I owe them my sanity today. Because if I didn't know it, I might have gone on with my heydays with a lingering question in my mind.

In one point or another, the people we actually 'care for' are those we want to give our time. We spent hours mulling over talking to them, whether through text or instant messaging, or through landline or cellphone. The ultimate objective is to be connected, and simply revel in each other's company. When you're 'in care' for that person, scripts really fly out of the window. 'Anything goes' is the name of the game, and you suddenly notice that three hours have already gone by. And you leave satisfied, contented, with a smile.

My editor, Sara, was right when she surmised that what I wanted from Yumi-chan is this sense of closeness that a faithful friend can give. Her terms point to mutual understanding (MU); and yes in my furtive dreams, I dream of that. Yet I believe that the foundations of true love are laid like a brick on a stone wall. You start off with whatever you can gather, and just build it up from there. Yes I believe in love, and I long to be in love. But to go for hasty love is something I would not bear.

Waiting for that special someone is actually an exercise of freedom and pain. One, you are free. Free to decide everything about your life; no need to be concerned about what/where/when to eat/hang out/sleep. Your life is in your hands, and you're pretty happy to have that. But once in a while pain creeps up your skin - maybe through a question of why you are still alone. Or a longing to be with someone to empty your love, care, and devotion to. In any eventuality, the reality speaks loudly it is really hard to wait. But, just like Professor Ueno's faithful dog, Hachiko, good things do come to those who wait.

Recuperating after that falling out wasn't an easy process for me because I know that there's a lingering question behind. I want to curse, kill, and smash my blockmate-culprit to pieces. But when I consider her disadvantaged state in life, I stop to say it's no use dealing with a disadvantaged enemy. Like a Chinese warrior who chooses to fight only the foe of equal stature, I choose to let my culprit's deed pass. Besides, if I reacted to whatever my blockmate did, it would only prove her victory in giving me a 'ruined life'.

And I'm really affected, yes. So affected that I can't stop thinking about the what ifs. But to sa that my life is ruined is a complete understatement. An exaggeration of my recuperation process. A complete, grand fallacy worthy of being thrown out of the window. Because if I am ruined, my life shouldn't be the same again. I shouldn't be laughing, I shouldn't be living. I should be like a living dead on a patch of earth. But I am here, alive, smiling, and even laughing. I have claimed stability over my life, and I am moving at a steady pace. So why be bothered with a perturbed spirit - such as the one who poisoned the well?

I like to face my culprit with a conviction that she is wrong to have done that. For the sake of personal interests, her doing was just so low. But one thing remains for sure: that between me and my beloved culprit...

I am still the ultimate champion.

Because I have victored over my own personal demons.

And I wouldn't have it any other way.

Multiply and Me: A Geekgasmic Blog Post

It really sucks bigtime when you get used to blogging in Multiply and then suddenly shift to a much hushed environment such as Blogger or LiveJournal. In a sense, you miss the crowds and the replies you get from people no matter how many or how few they are. At least, in Multiply, you know that your space gets viewed, people get curious about your current content and decide for themselves if it's worth commenting or not. In Blogger/LiveJournal, your only consolation is the friends you make in there.

There are certain issues surrounding it, however. When it comes to content creation, social networking sites promises personal space and freedom. Meaning, the user has the free capacity to create space and time like it was their own room. And being the owner of your room, you have the power to allow or disallow entry. That's why we have privacy settings - one inviolable right of a social networking site user/client.

But think of it as like Wisteria Lane in Desperate Housewives. Almost everyone knows what's happening in each household, and every little thing spreads like wildfire. There are friends who drop by to give each other sugar, and live lives of pure simplicity typical of the American Dream. But beyond that seeming warmth and friendliness are mysteries locked from within, or how illicit relationships happen within/without the marriage context. You seem to see Wisteria Lane with a tinge of ideality and say that "this neighborhood is the neighborhood to die for", when in fact, it's like any ordinary community. Only interesting.

That's how my typology of social networking sites use goes. It's like an ideal community that you build, and you share yourself in order to be noticed. At the very beginning, people are very much interested to see the newbie on the lot - is this person amiable? is she likeable? is he very accommodating? Things like that. But once that 'getting to know' stage has finished, things go on a great plateau until the next time you hit the airwaves and make history all over again.

It is with great alarm that I approach one startling trend about social networking sites: the performance of one's identity. In the few journal articles I've read about New Media and the Online Community, researchers have pointed out how teenage Americans use MySpace and Facebook as a ticket to connectivity and "coolness". Although it is not generalizable in the Philippine setting, it is highly possible that a densely-packed service such as Multiply could be experiencing the same situation.

The nearest experience I had towards identity performance is my great wonder why Friend A's Multiply account is always on a reply rampage whenever something new is posted (whether it's a photo album or a [lame] one-line blog post) versus Friend B who has made it a point to post content every single day and be met with a cold, eerie silence over the airwaves. I, for one, receive the least number of replies on blog posts I have 'passionately' made versus those I made just for the sake of it (like those lame three-line blog posts). Does it really have to do with likeability (or how people perceive you socially)? Or is it simply about uses and gratification?

In a sense, social psychology will tell you that a good number of people do things better when watched (social facilitation). And I think blogging in a social networking site is no exception. Why was there a need to put a blog function in Multiply when there's Blogger, LiveJournal, or Xanga to address the need anyway? Why do some people like blogging in Multiply compared to the time when they poured their hearts in the LiveJournal accounts? What is the magic behind the success of the Multiply blog? Is it really because of its release function? Its capability to make your sentiments public? Or simply an avenue to facilitate image reconstruction?

Malene Charlotte Larsen, Ph.D. in her 35 Perspectives of Social Networking once said that in a social networking site, identity gets constructed, reconstructed, and displayed. Such sites also act as co-constructors of one's personal identity. If we were to consider the second statement, one could think that the 'contacts' in a sense affect what we post in our accounts. If we feel it is right and okay for them, we go and post it. If it isn''t, then we don't. Such is the same with posting "controversial content" (rants, especially); we run risks posting these because of popular ethical considerations (which is quite normal). But perhaps the most startling of these is the reassurance perspective where "social networking sites are forums for reassurance and confirmatory messages between young people constantly reminding them that they are all right and someone likes them".

This, then, may perhaps explain why Friend A and Friend B's Multiply accounts are so different! Maybe it has something to do with likeability after all!

Michael Hecht in his Communication Theory of Identity once said that personal identity is something that comes from within, yet becomes influenced by society. Marshall McLuhan will tell you that today's society is an Information Society dependent on technology for building the global village. Globalization has made the world never too far from each other. If we are going to live in this world of closing in and in and in, then what is going to happen to our personal space? How else are we going to decorate our room? How else are we going to restrict passages when we are now called to keep it open?

Perhaps its time to reconsider how we use today's technology: are we using it for our greater benefit, or for our greater enslavement?

Stiff Neck

Something I wrote last December 7, 2008...

Ang hindi marunong lumingon sa pinanggalingan... may stiff neck.

Minsan, may mga pagkakataon na gusto kong tanungin: "Ako ba ay may telepathic powers na pag inisip ko, minsa'y nagkakatotoo?"

Kasi, may mga instances na nag-aala-Ray Aguas ako when he imitates God by making some thought materialize. Ganito niya ida-dramatize iyon. Iisipin ni God ang 'tomatoes' (nang nakalagay sa ulo ang kamay niya). Tapos pag ibinaba na ni God yung kamay niya at sumigaw ng "tomatoes!", <ka-ching!> lalabas na yung tomatoes sa kamay niya.

Minsan talaga, weird na nagkakatotoo ang ilang pinagmumuni-munian natin.

Noong semestral break, pinapangarap ko na maging Sci10 teacher si Ma'am Achoot Cuyegkeng. Syempre, di ko pa alam yung odds na hinaharap ko pag enlistment time na. So I was pretty wishing and hoping na matuloy nga yung pinapangarap ko.

Halfway through the sembreak, naglalakad ako sa may Zen Garden nang makasalubong ko si Ma'am Cuyegkeng. Syempre, dahil kilala lang niya ako that time as a Guidoneer, simpleng 'hi!' lang ang ipinarating ko sa kanya.

Nag-smile naman siya pabalik.

Hindi ko inakalang magiging teacher ko siya for Sci10 this semester.

Similarly, ngayong mga nakaraang araw, may iniisip akong isang nilalang. Yung kaisa-isang nilalang na gasgas na ang pagkakabanggit sa blog na ito, pero importante pa rin sa akin anyway. Siya yung dahilan kung bakit tila nasa langit ako noong first year, second sem. Malapit na rin kasi yung araw kung kelan una akong nag-'hi!' sa kanya (actually today iyon, December 7), at naaalala ko yung mga pinaggagagawa ko back then. Nagkatipun-tipon kami ng 2 friends ko online, at nagkumustahan. Napag-usapan rin yung kabaliwan ko noong nakaraang taon, at kung paano ako nabubuhay one year after.

Kinaumagahan, matinung-matino ang mood ko. Ma'am Cuyegkeng day kasi eh (sori na, idol ko kasi siya eh), so dapat good mood ako. Nakapila ako sa tricycle terminal nang biglang mapansin kong paparating siya - yung sinasabi ko sa previous paragraph. As a way of moving on, pinilit ko nang mag-smile; para at least, kung mapansin niya, ay mas lalong gumanda ang mood ko at makumusta siya after 9 months. Pero ayun, dire-diretso siya na parang sundalong inutusang mag-forward march. Parang walang nakita. Parang may stiff neck.

E bakit di ka nag-"hi!"?

Kasi kumplikado ang dahilan kung bakit kaya huwag mo nang alamin.

Pero in general, nakakainis ang mga taong may 'stiff neck'. Syempre, literally wala naman siyang stiff neck noong araw na iyon kasi kung meron, matatawa na lang ako nang matindi. Pero gets? Ang hirap talaga kung nakikipagplastikan ka sa isang tao, let alone isang taong pinilit mo lang kilalanin because you liked her sensibility and wit. At dahil may natuklasan lang siyang hindi niya dapat nalaman, ay nagbago na ang lahat.

Ni hindi ka man lang niya binigyan ng benefit of the doubt.

At iyon ang masakit sa akin.

Kaya ngayon, December 7, 2008, minamarkahan ko ang isang taon mula nang mag-'hi!' ako sa kanya. Nakakatawa, kung tutuusin, at may karapatan kayong tumawa. Pero iyon lang ang punto ko, nakakainis ang mga taong may stiff neck. Feeling nila kasi, sila lang ang tama.

Now if only I could straighten up her neck slowly but surely... HAHA

Fan Frustrations

Admittedly, when I see any picture of Mahoro-san, I feel quite depressed and irritated at the same time. Irritated because of the way Studio GAINAX portrayed the ending of what should have been the greatest series I have seen to date. Depressed because from a humanitarian perspective, I believe they deserve a better chance at being together.

To begin with, Mahoro was a combat android for Vesper. And she was deemed the greatest combat android of the company. When her retirement day came, she had the option to choose how she will live her remaining days - in peace or in war. Choosing peace, she ended up becoming a maid for Suguru Misato - the 14-year old son of the Vesper Commander. Their life went well, even to the point of love. And though both try to hide it, the simple gestures were enough to tell volumes.

And then, her final hours came. Stuck with a make-or-break final battle with Feldrance, another combat android, she used her secret weapon - the one which drawn out the last tinge of life energy from Mahoro. And thus, her self-destruction.

Suguru, under orders from Mahoro to run away to the nearest town (for they will meet there), was particularly betrayed by the self-destruction. After a promise not to be left with another death, Mahoro dies. This brought him to wits' end, ending up as a vigilante killing all androids in a seemingly unquenchable vendetta.

Many words can be spoken, and many fans can be contacted. But just as I liked Mahoromatic Seasons 1 and 2, I will never agree that GAINAX portrays the ending in a way that takes the justice out of the main characters. Mahoro and Suguru, I believe, deserved something more beautiful.

What Makes a Good Advertising Slogan?

From: http://business.inquirer.net/money/features/view_article.php?article_id=173486

What makes a good advertising slogan?
By Willy E. Arcilla
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 04:01am (Mla time) 11/21/2008

Filed Under: Advertising

Nothing is more enduring in the field of advertising and communications than the slogan or tagline. Advertising experts even theorize that slogans are more important than visual executions because that is what consumers remember based on psychological studies.

Visual executions change to provide freshness to a campaign, but great taglines endure.

Over the years, Filipinos have been captivated by taglines of the most popular brands from cigarettes to colas, soaps to shampoos, from cars to computers, and sports leagues to sports shoes. Advertisers know too well the tagline represents the essence of the brand message that should influence consumer attitude and motivate purchase behavior.

Memorability will depend on both the strength of the line and the amount of media exposure devoted to promoting it. However, this is not a chicken-or-egg situation because a good advertiser quickly realizes the power behind a strong slogan that deserves maximum media exposure.

So what makes a good slogan? It should be simple and memorable. It should be relevant to the target and unique to the brand. It uses consumer language. In a word, it should be brilliant.

Unforgettable slogans

Below are some of the more memorable slogans:

1. Come to where the flavor is. — Marlboro

2. It’s the real thing. — Coca-Cola

3. Coke is it. — Coca-Cola

4. Always Coca-Cola. — Coca-Cola

5. Just for the taste of it. — Diet Coke

6. The choice of a new generation. — Pepsi

7. Ask for more. — Pepsi

8. Obey your thirst. — Sprite

9. The uncola. — 7-Up

10. Do the Dew. — Mountain Dew

11. Is it in you? — Gatorade

12. This Bud’s for you. — Budweiser

13. It’s Miller time! — Miller High Life

14. Tastes great, less filling! — Miller Lite

15. It can only be Heineken. — Heineken

16. Probably the best beer in the world. — Carlsberg

17. Australian for beer. — Foster’s

18. Keep walking. — Johnnie Walker

19. The best part of waking up is Folger’s in your cup. — Folger’s

20. Got Milk? — California Milk Board

21. Melts in your mouth. Not in your hand. — M&Ms

22. Have a break. Have a Kit Kat. — Kit Kat

23. Quality never goes out of style. — Levi’s

24. Just do it. — Nike

25. Impossible is Nothing. — Adidas

26. I love this game. — NBA

27. We bring good things to life. — General Electric

28. Let’s make things better. — Philips

29. It’s a Sony. — Sony

30. Connecting People. — Nokia

31. Hello Moto. — Motorola

32. It keeps going, and going, and going. — Energizer (Bunny)

33. Let your fingers do the walking. — Yellow Pages

34. Think different. — Apple

35. Intel Inside. — Intel

36. There are some things money can’t buy. For everything else, there’s Mastercard. — Mastercard

37. Not just Visa. — Citibank Visa

38. Don’t leave home without it. — American Express

39. Turning dreams into reality. — Citibank

40. The world’s local bank. — HSBC

41. Singapore Girl, you’re a great way to fly. — Singapore Airlines

42. The heart of Asia. — Cathay Pacific

43. Smooth as silk. — Thai Airways

44. Be the first to know. — CNN

45. The happiest place in the world. — Disney

46. I ♥ NY. — New York

47. Engineered like no other car in the world. — Mercedes Benz

48. The ultimate driving machine. — BMW

49. Safety. — Volvo

50. Think small. — Volkswagen

51. The power of dreams. — Honda

52. We try harder. — Avis

53. Success. It’s a mind game. — Tag Heuer

54. Good times. Great taste. — McDonald’s

55. I’m lovin’ it. — McDonald’s

56. Finger-lickin’ good. — Kentucky Fried Chicken

57. Have it your way. — Burger King

58. “Langhap Sarap!” — Jollibee

59. It’s more beautiful with a Red Ribbon. — Red Ribbon

60. When it positively, absolutely has to be there overnight. — FedEx

61. It cleans right down to the shine, and isn’t that a nice reflection on you. — Joy Dishwashing (USA)

62. Tide’s in. Dirt’s out. — Tide detergent (USA)

63. “Labadami, Labango.” — Mr. Clean

64. “Puting-puti, ‘di maasul na puti.” — Tide Bar

65. “Wais si Lumen.” — Surf

66. 99.9% Pure. It floats! — Ivory

67. For superior skin-germ protection. — Safeguard

68. I can feel it … yeah! — Palmolive shampoo

69. No cavities! — Crest

70. The best a man can get. — Gillette

71. Raise your hands if you’re sure! — Sure deodorant

72. No more tears. — Johnson’s Baby Shampoo

73. The quicker picker-upper! — Bounty Paper Towel

74. Kills bugs dead! — Raid

75. Fill the air with love. — Glade

76. Kills germs, even under the rim! — Toilet Duck

77. “Iba’ng may pinagsamahan.” — San Miguel Beer

78. “Ito ang beer!” — San Miguel Beer

79. “Ito ang tama!” — Red Horse Beer

80. “Pang-kondisyon para bukas!” — Gold Eagle Beer

81. “Baranggay Ginebra!” — Ginebra San Miguel

82. “Magpakatotoo ka!” — Sprite (Philippines)

83. “Tama ang timpla!” — Pop Cola

84. “Be iba!” — Sarsi

85. The Olympic Energy Drink! — Milo

86. Drink Milo Every Day! — Milo

87. You are my number 1! (jingle) — Nido

88. One world of Nescafe. (jingle) — Nescafe

89. Follow your heart! — Selecta Ice Cream

90. Finest name in Ice Cream — Magnolia

91. “Wala pa ring tatalo sa Alaska!” — Alaska Milk

92. “OK ka ba tiyan?” — Yakult

93. “Chicletin mo baby!” — Chiclets

94. “Haplos ng pagmamahal.” — Vick’s Vaporub

95. “Bawal magkasakit!” — Clusivol

96. “Nasa dugo lang ‘yan!” — Circulan

97. “Nakasisiguro gamot ay laging bago!” — Mercury Drug

98. We’ve got it all for you. — SM Malls

99. Simply Amazing! — Smart Communications

100. It’s all in your hands! — Globe Telecom

101. The Beauty of the Philippines Shining Through. — Philippine Airlines

Note that most, if not all, of the above taglines belong to market leaders—or at one time dominant brands—perhaps until a new hire changed an old, hitherto successful tagline.

The author is president of Business Mentors Inc., a management consultancy firm, specializing in marketing and advertising, and regional director of ZMG Ward Howell Inc.

Mahoro Stops Functioning In...

...x number of days.

Perhaps one of the things that I really hate about anime producers (especially GAINAX) is their propensity to make endings so grand and convoluted that it works for the worst than the best.

I was able to finish seasons 1 and 2 of the Mahoromatic anime series minutes before 2:00 AM of January 5, 2009 - roughly six and a half hours before my first academic class for the year. And just as when you were about to expect a, well, orchestrated ending, its final sequences prove detrimental to the cause of the anime series.

You see, the very essence of Mahoromatic lies in the forthcoming death of the main character, Combat Android Mahoro (V-1046R MAHORO). Each episode (from season 1 to the very end) ended with a note saying "Mahoro Stops Functioning In... ___ Days". This is because Mahoro, to begin with, was designed by her creators (Vesper) as a fierce combat android - one that would save the world from all kinds of monsters (mechanical or not). And so fierce was Mahoro that she did every assignment with extraordinary combat prowess. In accomplishing her final assignment, she was given the option to decide on her retirement - whether to continue fighting, or become human by being employed on planet Earth. She chose the latter, and ended up being the household maid of Suguru Misato - to which her motivations are revealed later in the series.

The identity of "Mahoro Andou" (as she was formally named on Earth) is surrounded with mystery. Further immersion with it leads you to a conspiracy plot reminiscent of f Hideo Kojima's "The Patriots" from Metal Gear Solid. What remains true is that she's working for the Misato household to atone for her deadly sin - the murder of Suguru's father, and Vesper's Chief.

The series is laden with all fun, ecchi, and slapstick similar to Ken Akamatsu's Love Hina. It's semi-harem with the blue-haired Miyuki and erm, 'well-endowed' Rin (both of which crush on Suguru secretly), Chizuko who screams with every culinary delight, Shikijo-sensei (who dreams of getting Suguru laid with her), and the 2 guy friends. It becomes seriously funny when Mahoro says her signature line "Ecchi nanowa ikenai to omoimasu (Ecchi thoughts are baaaaad!)" in scolding Suguru for his dirty mags and ideas. Almost every episode is laden with this until the last few episodes which complicate the entire series.

The essence of the anime, I said, rests in Mahoro's eventual death. While 'death' is usually attributed to organic entities, Mahoro's biotic attitudes (like a pure/gentle/clean of heart) qualify her the use of 'death'. Admittedly, I hate watching series with a time bomb fate waiting for the main character(s). Aside from spoiling everything, you sometimes wish the ending will never come. In the same way, you wish that the main character suffers a death that is neither too harsh nor painful. I, for one, wanted Mahoro to die in Suguru's physical presence (whether he was 10 centimeters away or 1 meter away). But no, Mahoro had to 'die' in the line of duty. By using up all her life energy to defeat the persistent combat android Feldrance, Mahoro nails her demise - in ways fans see as heroic.

Tragedies are not my line. That's one thing I realized while reading Oedipus Rex. But one thing is for sure - when I say die, you die! A person who died, by biological, theological, and metaphysical conjunctions, must NEVER be brought to life again. I don't know why Mahoro needed to be resurrected at the final minute when all the watchers have been conditioned of her eventual demise.

Buti sana if their reuniting was some flowers-in-the-sky, pastel colored meeting. But no. It was just a white scene full of hydrangeas and a weepy couple reunited after 20 years. And when you see white sequences from a montage of dark, black ones, you immediately associate it with the depths of memory. In other words, the anime series didn't talk about whether Mahoro's real wish (back in Season 1) upon the tree was to be Suguru's wife.

Sure, there'd been fan service. And sure, Mahoro's deeply in love with her master. It only becomes apparent hours before her death when she finally kisses her by the beach. A romantic way to begin a whiplashing ending.

There's a lot of debate going on about Mahoromatic's ending. Crappy endings really fuel fans to write reviews or stories that would hopefully alter the issue. It's happening to me actually: I want to change the plot so badly. At least, if only through that, I would be able to do the story the way I wanted it to be.

So don't watch the series if you're not ready for a bad ending. But watch it if you want color and action rolled at the same time.

Be wary though, it's produced by GAINAX; and that firm really has a way of doing things... exquisitely.

Introibo ad altere Dei...

...ad Deum qui laetificat juventutem meam...
(I will go to the altar of the Lord...to God, the Joy of my youth)

That begins the now defunct Tridentine  Mass of the Vatican I era. As a kid raised in the ways of Vatican II, I find Pope Benedict XVI's Summorum Pontificum practically allowing the re-celebration of the Latin Mass upon the request of the faithful a welcome yet utterly scary move.

Perhaps us Vatican II people know the Tridentine rite through stories. Stories of old people saying that the rite was so solemn, so holy that you would be moved to recognize your sinfulness, and so boring because it was said in Latin. All of these registered as 'horror' stories to me because I've been so comfortable with the modern mass, the way we do things now and maybe forever.

But lately, I've been seeing a good number of parishes celebrate the Tridentine rite on special occassions. Last Christmas Eve, there was this certain Church down south that celebrated it live on television. It really caught my interest because I have never seen the Latin Mass said on TV, and I would like to know how 'bad' these stories of solemnity and bore are. Perhaps I'm being harsh to the old system; but actually, who would really take solace in a mass said in a foreign language - one that you were not taught to take primarily?

Maybe there were Latin-English mass texts at that time so that the public can follow the priest's lead. I forgot to mention that the priest who celebrated the televised Latin Mass was not a Filipino - some old guy reminiscent of Dan Brown's Bishop Aringarosa... only older.

But really, the seeming disdain I have for the Latin Mass doesn't stem from my hostility to the rite, it's just that hearing everything in Latin (and saying everything back in Latin) scares the hell out of me. How in Dante's Inferno can you explain to a child that the Gospel is being read already when he/she doesn't know what 'Verbum Domini' is? Although you can explain all you want to the young kid, it somehow gets exhausting over time. And how will you teach proper Catholicism to a kid if he can't understand what the priest is doing in there?

That's my contention against the Latin Mass. I have no qualms regarding hearing it; it's just that there are so many risks, explaining, and following to do in order to keep up with the entire ceremony. That's why the world must have rejoiced when Vatican II ordered that the mass be celebrated in the vernacular (English included).

Traditionalists are making a comeback now; but even though their efforts are taking root, it will take time for them to go mainstream again. A mass said in Latin may draw initial interest, the challenge then is keeping that interest alive.

Maybe that was the reason why they called it 'the holy sacrifice of the Mass'.

P.S. It must be cool to study Latin. But I guess speaking Latin during a date isn't sexy either.

The Philosophy of Blogging

Everyday (at least during the no-class days), my mom always tells me to get up early and clean the lawn. I don't know if you will find it ridiculous, but let's say that my mother has a knack for making me do household work with the least 'grr!' as possible simply because it has been a routine. A routine which she believes is for my own good, a routine which essentially helps me grow, a routine which, well, forces me to get up early.

So I was cleaning the lawn. And truth be told, the lawn really looks more of a graden than a stream of flowing grass. We have a good electric fountain which reuses the water poured into it, garden stones, and a set of good plants. Our garden may not be comparable to the ones in Buckingham Palace, but rest assured that it's a grove of its own. Whenever I walk outside the house, the garden soothes me as if it was massaging my tired eyes from all the work I've been doing as of late.

So yeah, I was cleaning the lawn. While I was sweeping away the dead leaves falling from the balete tree, I remember how my mom used to attend to the garden herself. She would tirelessly water the plants and treat it like a human being. Although she confesses to not having a green thumb, her watering skills at least do the talking. Eventually, she had to hire a professional gardener because admittedly I cannot do the perfect garden she wants to attain.

It dawned on me then, that maintaining a blog is very much like gardening. You pick up plants from the flower shop and place it in the garden because you want the garden to be very beautiful. Maintaining a garden is very much dependent on your caring. If you're the type of gardener that just sweeps and waters the plants for the heck of it, your plants won't grow. Worse, it will die. Blogging requires that you be patient in everything that you do, you start off with a clean space begging for you to brighten it up. Successful bloggers create their content every single time, and they didn't arrive at their present design in a flick of a finger. The best bloggers in the world created their content in a way that would be pleasing to themselves, more than anything else. Because before you can start pleasing others, I think you have to know how to please yourself (in ways only you can communicate).

So I asked my mom, "Do you keep a garden because you want others to like it?"

She said yes.

"Is that the sole reason why you maintain that garden?"

She said no. Because what she wanted is to wake up in the morning to the tune of chirping birds in a little garden she made, of beautiful flowers and light scenery.

And that's nothing far from blogging.

Far too often, the successful bloggers of our time pride themselves with people coming in and out of their site. Internet traffic is such a considerable topic of conversation since it concerns viewership. Viewership is the main bone of contention in Internet blogging; because in the real world, your blog is as good as dead without any visitors. But whatever the reason or motivation is, the desire to have audience still remains in a blog even if the things in there are pleasing, if not scathing. Blogs were meant for self-expression, an assertion of personal space, so it must follow that I have the right to create my site the way I want it. And I guess that's an inviolable right.

That's why it pains me when other people say, "You shouldn't have written about it in your blog because you know, it's public." It's like you can't be yourself in your own personal space because other people are looking. The reality of the blogosphere is that even if you are allowed the right to your own domain, the mere fact of people coming in and out is something to be wary of. Everyone is entitled to freedom of expression, and for sure we all know that this freedom is not absolute.

So it's actually a scary world out there.

The scare, however, should not disarm us in being true to ourselves. The essence of blogging is in its simplicity and faithfulness to your daily living. It's not about being one with the audience most of the time; it's all about being you and being comfortable with the content you share online. And just like maintaining a garden, you are free to turn it into something appealing and appaling.

After all, the one who will view the garden is not your neighbor. It's you.

"Dear Ate..." (First Kuwento of the Year)

I find it amusing that a great deal of blogs and social networking sites users have their way of celebrating the new year. That includes greetings, online surveys, significant events, wishes for the year, and new year's resolutions. And though I'm notorious for being a nonconformist, New Year's traditions are something I couldn't do without: from firecrackers to overeating, I do it all. So I guess my blog is not an exception; and before I say my first story for 2009, I'd like to great everyone first a very happy new year.

So let's begin...

Every time January 1 comes in, my father's clan meets up to stage a reunion. It has been a tradition since time immemorial because of understandable familial reasons. So since the mother's side held the first-ever Christmas Paskuhan/reunion at our home, you could imagine the fats and the flab getting through my system (not to mention the sodas I'm virtually forbidden to drink). Double events, double food, double the flab - there could not be any replacement.

Going home, I felt pretty weird because of my overeating spree. Usually, that's sleepiness in motion. So since I was afraid of getting pancreatic trouble (you know, the reason why matinee idol Rico Yan died...), I just closed my eyes to feign rest. But then, I "woke" up.

Trudging through the city streets, there was this gray Toyota Civic (I think...) taking up the farthest right of the lane. Thinking that the Civic would not speed up, my dad drove on with his usual speed. I was surprised, however, when the Civic's driver practically 'matched' my dad's speed, trying to overtake. I looked at the driver and broke a sweet smile. Seeing that I know what the little girl in the driver's seat was up to, I told my dad to just let her go ahead.

And I remember smiling the whole trip.

The reason why I was smiling is not because the girl driving the Honda Civic was someone to die for. I was smiling because she and I, though far from being acquaintances, shared something in common. Something that was so crucial and terribly liberating to us teens. Something so special and exciting to experience. Something that was so attainable given a few months of continuous driving - and that is, the thrill of holding the [steering] wheel.

Long-time drivers would find me funny for saying this, but I believe that driving by yourself is really an exciting and scary thing. Exciting, because it's the ultimate proof of your personal mobility. Scary, though, because you will have to deal with evils of the road, from possible car snitches, to the thugs of the highway, and last but not the least, the MMDA.

I haven't drove our 13-year old, service-center maintained, 40,000 km mileage  Mitsubishi Lancer EX by myself yet. Although I have brought it to school during the summer, I still have to experience bringing it all by myself. Having the driver during your first, second, and third time across the city assures that you can make it past the ruthless road. You will get the hang of it, yes. But getting on without the driver is another thing.

"Ms. Honda Civic Girl" must have been my age, perhaps 18-21. She was driving all by herself, and she was practicing extreme caution by the way she sat and strut. Her seating was so straight the orthopedic surgeon would get scared. She was dependent on the signal lights in turning left to right. She must be pressing the gas pedal in spurts because her car was going in spurts as well. She overtook us really fast; and proof that she's a beginning driver like me... the car wheels abruptly change from left to right.

Just to be clear on things, I am not rendering judgment on Ms. Honda Civic Girl because I know how hard it is to drive the car on you very own. You can get by the city in due time, but the first times are really scary - especially when you encounter motorists who prove their being 'king of the road'. You risk accidents and damage to property when you bring your car elsewhere. Defensive driving IS the norm; the only thing is, are the fellow motorists defensive drivers as well?

Frankly, my mother doesn't want to let me hold the wheel because she hates the way I sit before the wheel. She says it's the "jeepney driver sit" - nearly slouching, one hand on the wheel, simply 'too much comfortable' for someone driving. She also roars at my sudden gas spurts and braking, because it pushes her forward during the trip. Those observations qualify me as a 'reckless driver', says she. But even as she says that, I smile confidently because I know that once in my life I have driven our car in the smoothest possible way - that is, because I was seated comfortably, with my arms and feet in the right distance from the controls. I was able to drive smoothly, without the loud 'vroom!'-ing of the car because of it.

Hah! (Kid really...)

I have told my mom that by summer I SHOULD be driving the family car already because I'm afraid of commuting to school with a laptop in hand. Either I will lose the laptop or get held-up by a highwayman because my bag's a good loot. It's somehow whimsical for a guy like me, but I'd like to be safe than sorry. Besides, I can't imagine teaching a bunch of kids High School Physics using chalk and lecture notebook alone. At least for the time being.

So that is the story of Ms. Honda Civic Girl, and how, in a sense, see myself in her when she overtook us on our way home.

Until then, drive safely!