Eh-hum # 245

There are a few things in my mind right now, a couple of which are making me quite uncomfortable. Its not really a problem, but if not handled properly, it could spell trouble for me. This all came about last Friday, when I spoke to two different people with different sets of news. But like most in this world, its all interconnected. Again, its making me uncomfortable, the reality of it all.

I thought I could use some enlightenment. Thus, I asked my siblings' opinions. Whenever my sister spends her weekends in Novaliches-land, we would have these mini-conferences in the kitchen, usually when our parents retire to their room for an afternoon nap. Having these talks are very helpful in times of distress, because it puts everything in perspective.

I am thankful for having smart/witty siblings.

***

People turn to food for comfort when agitated. Well, this doesn't really apply to me since I eat comfort food on a regular basis. What I do is nothing new: retail therapy. However, instead of clothes or shoes, I buy books.

What better way to temporarily escape your worries than to indulge oneself to some good reads and get lost within the pages of a book/novel. And here, in my opinion anyway, are some interesting literary works.

A month ago, I purchased Fugitive Pieces, a story about a Polish boy who lost his family during the Holocaust (narrowly escapes being killed by the Nazis) and was adopted by a Greek archaeologist. The book also talks about his life after immigrating to Canada, marriage and writing poems. Its a wonderful story, and it moved me. There is something so poignant about children surviving an extremely unfortunate event then trying to live a normal life afterwards. I also learned that the novel was translated to the big screen and premiered at the 2007 Toronto International Film Festival.


The other book I bought last Saturday, hence, I haven't finished it yet. With its lead characters on a quest, my newest acquisition can be considered an arcane mystery. Yes, its both exciting and frightening. Why? Because The Historian takes another look on the historical Dracula, and the myth that was (and still is) associated with him.

Eh-hum...

Eh-hum # 244

To my Fellow Pinoys:

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!

May we continue to work smart and hard to make our nation independent from the things that challenges our place in this world.

Eh-hum # 243

While waiting for the train this morning, I noticed a movie poster for Made of Honor right across from where I was standing.

Patrick Dempsey is handsome, no doubt about that, and his popularity will make it the movie, uh, popular among the ladies. However, the movie is like a male version of my Best Friend's Wedding, except the lead guy wins and gets the girl in the end. But I thought the groom was interesting as well, being Scottish and all. Hehehe.

I did not consult Wikipedia for the plot (which is obvious), but for the actor who plays the groom, Kevin McKidd. In the said poster, you can see only 1/3 of the groom's face, but I thought he looked awfully familiar, until I confirmed that it was indeed Lucius Vorenus in a tux.

If I were the girl in the story, I would be quite in a bind. So, the choice is yours ladies. Would you rather be "examined" by the charming, dreamy doctor or act out any scene from Rome with a tough and principled centurion (complete with costume)?

*This post is brougt to you by (my wish to purchase) the DVD set of the HBO series Rome. Thank you.

Eh-hum # 242

I. Each blogger starts with ten random facts/habits about themselves.

II. Bloggers that are tagged need to write on their own blog about their ten things and post these rules.

III. At the end of your blog, you need to choose ten people to get tagged and list their names.

IV. Don't forget to leave them a comment telling them they're tagged, and to read your blog.

***

1. Weird but true: I eat banana with bagoong, or shrimp paste. It is an acquired taste, so try this only at home.

2. I'm Christian, but it wouldn't hurt to observe certain Filipino beliefs. For instance, I always say "Tabi-tabi po" when crossing quite corners, foreign places, bushes, etc. so not to disturbed its residents.

3. I have four email addresses. Why? Because I also use them to store important files. Also, once upon a time, email accounts offered less than 25 MB of space. Also, I am thinking of buying my own external HDD. I need space, even though I won't be able to use all that memory. I'm afraid of, what my brother calls, "the blue screen of death", and/or my computer crashing.

4. No matter what company/organization I am working for, I am (usually) the first person to arrive in the office. Yes, I am the current key monitor.

5. I like riding trains. Its convenient and fast, and the stations make good landmarks. I pray the transportation system in the Philippines will improve, like that of Japan (sigh).

6. I am a newbie when it comes to coffee, and it was only over a month ago when I started making regular visits to a shop near work. My favorites are dark mocha and coffee jelly. Non-fat/light blend, of course. Also, I prefer iced coffee, so that I can drink it faster.

7. I make to-do lists that I rarely follow. Its important for me to just write it down. Doing it on time is a different matter. I also like doing rough diagrams/mapping, which I can only understand, of how to do a task/tasks. I talk out loud while "brainstorming".

8. If I fail to watch a movie and I am interested in knowing the plot, I always look it up in Wikipedia. I sometimes make a mental note of the things I want to check in the said online encyclopedia.

9. Whenever I pass by National Bookstore at the mall, I have this urge to buy something. Its usually a steno notebook, ballpen, fold back clips or any paper.

10. I am a big bag person. But I always wanted to go to school and NOT bring a bag at all. Iskolar, kuno.

***

I haven't thought of whom to tag, so I'll just say for anyone who will be visiting this blog.

Thanks very much to my sister for this one.

Eh-hum # 241

I was reading yesterday's editorial of the Philippine Star, and found Mr. Jarius Bondoc's opinion article interesting. Perhaps it is true what they say, that history repeats itself.

While Mr. Bondoc didn't share his opinion on the account, he hinted (from what I understood anyway) that the skirmish between the RP Government (especially Malacanang) and Meralco has something to do with the (seemingly) heated and unpleasant relations between two very influential families: the Arroyos and the Lopezes. Unfortunately, us taxpayers and common folks are right in the middle of this "war".

Anyway, here's a portion of the article. Read the rest of it here.

***

Meralco squabble relives earlier Lopez-Arroyo clash

GOTCHA By Jarius Bondoc

Monday, June 2, 2008

The Malacañang-Meralco tiff looks more like a fight between the Arroyo and Lopez families. Gloria Arroyo drew first blood in blaming the Lopezes, instead of her mulcting Napocor appointees, for costly electricity. Lopez spokesmen countered that the Arroyos were squeezing Meralco to get back at their other controlled firm, critical media giant ABS-CBN. Full-blown war then escalated in the courtroom, boardroom and newsroom.

Eight decades ago in 1929 a similar battle raged between the Lopezes and Arroyos. Setting: Iloilo, the fastest rising city in the Visayas. Self-rule was top issue nationwide. A National Assembly of Filipino legislators had just convened in Manila under Senate President Manuel Quezon, of Partido Nacionalista. New technologies were spurring changes in traditional sugar regions. Among the young entrepreneurs caught up in the modernization tide was Eugenio “Eñing” Lopez, 28.

Iloilo, as all other cities, had a seamy side. A Chinese mestizo named Luis Sañe, alias Sualoy, operated jueteng with impunity. Bribes to civilian and police officials exempted him from law enforcement. It so happened that Eñing was then reviving his late father Benito’s Spanish-language newspaper El Tiempo. Immediately in Sept. 1929 the paper launched a crusade against vice that corrupted the Iloilo government. The jueteng winning numbers were published each day on the front page, playing up official inaction. Personally leading the fight, Eñing came out with one exposé after another, pointing to the highest officials as Sualoy’s protectors. “Eñing did not choose lightweight opponents,” Raul Rodrigo recounts in the book, Phoenix: the Saga of the Lopez Family. They were no less than Governor Mariano Pidal Arroyo, city police chief Marcelo Buenaflor, and congressman-brother Tomas Buenaflor.

***

Ahhh, same old story: 1) Arroyos and the issue of jueteng payolas; and 2) Frequent antagonism between the Government and the media.

Eh-hum.

Eh-hum # 240

Cleanliness is next to Godliness.

Don't ask me how I took the pictures...nor why do a post on lavatories.

Yeah that's right, lavatories or comfort room or powder room, etc.

But I thought our dear urban planners, architects, real estate people or whoever is in charge in constructing commercial buildings and/or malls should realize that it pays to have clean, modern and (need I say more) CLEAN lavatories. It reflects on the kind of building they've constructed (I sense a metaphor for a person is about to develop, but let's not go into that...hehehe).

So here it is. A Japanese lavatory (that our malls should all emulate...for the love of God).

***

First Picture: where to place your baby safely while "releasing tension" (inside the stall);

Second Picture: sensor-operated thrash bin;

Third Picture: white, CLEAN, sparkling sinks;
AND

Fourth Picture: sensor-operated soapy foam dispenser.