One of the Haters

Don’t you just hate it? This is the title of Lester Dizon’s latest article (dated Nov 28, 2007) in the Motoring section of Philstar.com. Most of the time I visit this site to check on anything related to automotive talks – from review of places to go, people behind the motoring scenes, and of course test drive reports from the stereotyped Korean vehicles to the dream cars such as the BMWs and Subarus – most of the time I’d wonder who happens to afford such luxury in this part of the 3rd world country. Hopefully, none of them are politicians.

Anyway, when I read this one yesterday, I can’t help but quote (or copy. If by any chance this reaches the original author, please advise if you want this blog modified or removed) some of its content. Well most of it actually:

“Don’t you just hate it when you get stuck in rush hour traffic and see some MMDA traffic enforcers just chatting at their posts and the only thing they could do to direct traffic is to lazily wave their hands?

Don’t you hate it more when, to cope with the spiraling fuel prices, you trade your mid-sized sedan for a sub-compact car only to find that they consume the same amount of fuel because of the heavy traffic?

Don’t you hate it even more when, to cope with the spiraling fuel prices and to get through the heavy traffic, you trade your car for a motorcycle only to get stuck in a traffic gridlock caused by floods and a sudden downpour at a time when you didn’t bring your raincoat because PAGASA predicted good weather?

Don’t you just hate it when some driving schools seemingly teach their students the wrong driving habits like driving slowly on the fast lane and parking against the flow of traffic among other traffic violations?

Don’t you hate it even more when most of the instructors of these driving schools aren’t even certified and that their students contribute to the growing number of discourteous and undisciplined drivers on the road today? Don’t you just hate it when jeepneys, FX taxis and tricycles use the corner of a busy intersection as their terminals and block traffic for more than a kilometer?
Don’t you hate it more when these jeepneys, FX taxis and tricycles use that corner as their terminal and cause traffic under the watchful eye of an MMDA, police or a local traffic enforcer?Don’t you just hate it when heavily-tinted vehicles with the number “8” on their front plates, which are reserved for congressmen, bully their way through traffic using their sirens, the unauthorized use of which in vehicles other than ambulances, fire trucks and police cars in an emergency has been declared unlawful by the President in an Executive Order?Don’t you hate it even more that some of these heavily-tinted vehicles with sirens and the number “8” on their front plates are not actually driven or ridden by congressmen but by their immediate families, their staff or by cronies, who act as if they were the ones elected to public office?

Don’t you hate it even more when Congress needed to “remind” the LTO through a press conference about the unauthorized use of these number “8” plates and the apprehension of drivers using these official plates instead of purging their ranks of abusive congressmen, congressional personnel, family members and cronies?

Don’t you just hate it when a government VIP convoy consisting of a heavily-tinted vehicle with flashing lights and sirens, two back-up vehicles filled with armed goons and a couple of motorcycle police escorts bully their way through traffic and violate all known traffic laws that they were sworn to protect and obey?

Don’t you hate it even more when this bullying VIP convoy is merely escorting an abusive government official or a crony to his luxurious home, which was funded from the corrupted taxes of the road users they bullied along the way, just so they can get through the heavy traffic that they caused with their graft and ineptness anyway?

Don’t you hate it even more when these road projects are merely repairs or repaving of existing roads and not the design and construction of new ones to alleviate the worsening traffic in the metropolis and the slow traffic flow around the country, which is choking trade, commerce and the national economy?

Don’t you just hate it when Thailand and Vietnam had licked most of their traffic problems with the construction of new roads or multi-tiered highways and are on the road to economic strength while we couldn’t even get our anomalous road repairs done right?

Don’t you hate it more when Singapore and Malaysia are implementing plans to combat the greenhouse effect of air pollution while the bright boys at MMDA are cutting down healthy trees, which can help minimize air pollution, because these plants “interfere” with the overhead electrical wires and cables?”

 

Well, to Mr. Dizon, include me as one of the haters. And of course your article awakened some of my hatred and here they are:

Don’t you just hate it when you hear that Vietnam and Malaysia’s economy is growing while some of the senators are trying to become either CSIs (by doing investigations, most of it fruitless) or hotel wreckers instead of enticing investors for the benefit of every Filipino?

Don’t you just hate it even more when these countries pose a threat to your job as your company builds more factories there while the one you got here in the Philippines gets ignored?

Don’t you just hate it when you’ve been reading the motoring section religiously when in fact you don’t even own a car yet?

Don’t you hate it even more that because of the bickering of these politicians, your chance of owning a car gets slimmer and slimmer?

Patience, patience, patience my friend.

Circus Now Showing on TV

“A nation that forgets its past is doomed to repeat it.” – Sir Winston Churchill

“Ang hindi marunong tumingin sa pinanggalingan hindi makararating sa paroroonan.” – Chinese Proverb (?)

I was coming from our last graveyard shift for this week and upon waking up from a 4-hour deep slumber – thanks to the rain & cold weather outside – I switched on the TV channel and I was surprised by what I saw on TV.

“I must still be dreaming”, “Did the cable channel provider changed programming?”, “Am I tuned to the History channel?”, “Did my remote control conked out?”

While I was trying to recollect myself of the reality of what is being shown on TV, the “Live” caption on the side of the screen then made me realize that what I’m watching is indeed happening.

Standing in front of the camera was Sen. Trillanes surrounded by some personnel, a priest who became famous for running, a lady thanking the media for their perseverance to stay despite the tear gas bombardment - she doesn’t have to say that, these guys will stay like leeches even if a bomb is about to explode. That could have been a welcome entry for World’s Amazing Video.

This scene greeted me from my wonderful siesta like a post-sleep nightmare. Here we go again. Fill in the blanks: Edsa (type series no. here). What a shame.

Other than being pissed by what is actually happening hundreds of kilometers from where I am, I was reminded of a then irate Jim Paredes’ post (Equal Right to Lawlessness) in his blog site and what I in return commented to it:

“Jim,So what’s next? Edsa 4?Just like Neo who suspects that a déjà vu occurs when someone is tweaking the Matrix, I too thinks that someone out there (Uh oh, I’m becoming a conspiracy theorist) is calmly running his fingers through the rum glass, massaging his bearded chin just as this event is in progress and most likely doing a revision of his “master plan”.

I say not. It looks like we are a bunch of people with 64kb of memories - i.e., we forget so soon.
…
I’m tired of seeing on TV a cliche of events that would humble even the plot of the telenovelas:
1. People gets angry at the president.
2. TRAPOs gather people.
3. People + TRAPOs oust the president.
4. TRAPOs hug and attends [sic] mass with Bishops.
5. New President.6. (Repeat # 1 if necessary)

Only in the Philippines.”

 

Why?

This is because I am now concluding that behind this Trillanes character is a bigger group or individual so eager to topple the current regime so that they can “serve” the Filipino people. After all I believe that this senator (sadly, yes) is a coward and should have never been voted in the first place. But then again…we tend to forget.

If we rewind what this ex-soldier, coup-plotter or in short just a plain hooligan had done, we will see that he’s had this habit of cowering in hotels to make his point (or the lack of it) known to everyone. Now I think it is about time that all hotels run a memorandum to close its doors once they see this man coming in. So far I could not recall that he’s made a good impression for Philippine hotel economy. He’s just scaring investors away since the world got to know him.

Of course to prove that Trillanes is mainly out there to stir the Edsa spirit (pun intended), he brought along with him a minimum number of characters to summon the majority (also known as “the masses”) of the short-minded Filipinos and a bunch of media newscasters willing once again to insult if not to challenge the intellect of the “resilient” pinoys. Interestingly, Jim Paredes’ has a blog about it to - 23 tools to brainwash and influence people through mass media:

“…
14. Repetition is key. Repeat important messages as often as possible.
15. Repetition is key.
16. Repetition is key.
17. Bypass rationality by any means possible. People don’t need logic to accept information. Belief is emotional. Always remember: WAR=PEACE.
18. Remember –- two half-truths make up a whole truth….”

Repetition is the key. We were taught before that a succession of drops of water will eventually make an impression on a stone. Unfortunately this is being used for the wrong objective. Ti abi.

So while I’m a few hours away from my birthday, I might as well grab the opportunity to entertain myself with the circus on TV. Who knows, the next time I click on the boob tube a new “clown” is already out there to serve our beloved nation. Mabuhay!

She’s Hot

The anticipation of a storm (Mitag) somehow affected this week’s day-off. I got more bored, got lazier and miss the company of my wife more.

So to compensate for all that negativity and longing, I got out of my normal routine and tried to look for something worthwhile doing.

That’s when I met someone I haven’t seen for a long time, and if I remember it right, I haven’t touched her for years. Well the time and opportunity was perfect -my wife was out, I was alone. And with the eagerness to deviate from something so predictable, I picked her up in excitement. She’s still got the curve and she turned on hot so easily. Great, just my type.

Being separated for quite a while, we got some getting-to-know- each-other moment but fair enough we got along well quickly. As I laid my hands on her, she responded immediately and did what was expected of her. Hana is her name and we miss each other a lot.

We did it three times in a row and the last one was the best. I was getting the hang of it already but then my session with Hana has to end.

Time flies so fast and I didn’t notice that all three shirts are done. And our Hanabishi flatiron has to end its job.

Blame it on the rain as they say. In this case, on the storm that gladly didn’t pass through our place. It is nerve- wracking to wait for the 100kph storm, but looking at the bright side I got to notice Hana who has been collecting dust right under our computer. I just don’t know if when I’ll see Hana again, but it seems that we’ll be frequenting to see each other as I realize that I love the sight of a well-ironed shirt. Ti abi.

To you Hana, Hasta la vista, baby!

Beowulf

After coming back to Honda Cars Alabang just like a ghost of a car buff restless until he gets what he wants, I dropped by Ayala Town Center just so I can catch a van going back to my place. Once there, curiosity guided my feet to pass by the cinema to check out the new movies. After all it’s been a while since I’ve watched a movie. Beowulf. Three cinemas are showing it. But then I remembered someone from multiply.com had a review of it and the review about it was bad (no pun intended).

So right after buying some delicacies at Bread Talk bakeshop I hastily go to the van terminal for me to be home at least more than an hour after lunch – and watch PBB maybe or have my regular siesta. Disappointingly, the vans are all empty and the dispatcher mentioned that the first trip will leave by 2pm. Now what’s left to do but to go back inside ATC and convince myself to check Beowulf despite the threat of drowsiness.

But that drowsiness didn’t come. My siesta clock shut down and there I was in front of the big screen with eyes wide open.

From the very start of the movie until the end I just can’t believe that what I’m watching is a 3D animation. I can’t remember if I’ve mentioned this before (either in my Blog or to someone) that someday there will come a time that we won’t differentiate an animated character to a real one. Now I think it is starting to happen.

The cast and crew of this movie did a great job producing a very realistic film. I don’t know the technology behind it but whatever it is, it is the future of animation.

Anyone who will watch this film will eventually notice the resemblance of the animated characters to the real actors behind the face and voice. Just after watching Meet Joe Black, I immediately recognized John Hopkins (Hrothgar). Then I recognized John Malkovich (Unferth), first from the accent then the stare completed the hunch. Of course, anyone who has seen Angelina Jolie (Grendel’s Mother) will immediately notice the pouty lips (even in animation, she just looks so seductive and sexy).

I don’t know the rest of the actors behind the other characters but just by the look of it, I’m sure they’ll be exactly just the same in person. Although I doubt if Ray Winstone (Beowulf) has all the battle scars on his body.

And that is what I find fascinating about this movie. Although it may have cost a bit more (I don’t have the idea how much exactly) to produce this quality of animation than do prosthetics or make up, the producers had the pleasure of doing whatever they want for an actor or character to look like. Beowulf I think will set the trend.

The story may have some flaws but the experience of watching the awesome animation totally compensated for all of it. It was so (with extended ooooo’s) good, that I think viewing it in IMAX will be more thrilling and fun…wait, forget the fun, this is not for the squeamish or weak of heart. And just a word of advice, do not bring and eat pizza or even Bavarian donuts (or any food that drips) if you’re picking this movie. Trust me, you’ll regret it. I just hope I’m not going to have nightmares again tonight.

A Lovely Death Story

“How I was born I do not remember, How I will die I do not know” - Russian Proverb

Just last week while channel surfing, I passed by HBO and saw that Meet Joe Black is about to be played. I can’t exactly remember when we viewed this in the cinema and more than that, I can’t even remember what this movie is all about.

Trying to figure out what I missed in this film, there I was glued on our couch again but with my finger on the remote’s channel button waiting to press it any moment I get a hint of boredom from the movie’s story or plot.

Interestingly the remote got laid down on the table just a couple of minutes after the show started. The scene opened with the character Bill Parrish abruptly waking up and having a confusing conversation with someone he can’t see, never even sure if he is really hearing things. And this is just the start of the weird things to come.

While watching the movie I was trying to recall past films I’ve watched that is about death. And my mind was rewinding to me horrifying faces of the “Scream” mask, of a man in black hood with the ever familiar scythe, of heads rotating 360 degrees, of men and women in death beds, of bloodied soldiers dying in the battlefield or in the arms of their comrades. Those previous films portrayed death just as it is – morbid and scary.

With those in mind, Meet Joe Black is just the complete opposite.

Maybe the casting has got something to do with it. Death (known as Joe Black) represented by Brad Pitt, the prospective “victim” as Bill Parrish (Anthony Hopkins) and his lovely daughter Susie Parrish (Claire Forlaine), whose twitching lips and sharp probing eyes catches my attention every now and then. Or maybe the subtlety of the story despite presenting the topic of death is what mattered most.

While watching the re-run, I have a mixture of emotions running around my mind.

There’s the uncomfortable feeling of having to be reminded (again and again) that we will all inevitably die.

There is the humor in meeting and conversing with your angel of death; and with him trying to calm you down to not have a heart attack so as not to ruin his “vacation”; Joe Black being an IRS agent – but then again as the cliché goes, “There’s nothing more certain in life than death and taxes”. So there you go.

And there’s the romantic idea of getting in love with death. It’s absurd but for the first time I find dying funny and interesting.

The last moments in the movie aren’t predictable either. Instead of the boring death bed farewell, there was grand fireworks and partying. There’s Bill anxious yet firm in anticipation of leaving his family, business and aristocratic lifestyle and subsequently facing the unknown. And the last conversation was just enough to send chills to my spine when Bill asked, “Should I be afraid?” Joe Black answered, “Not a man like you.”

Tis The Season to be Jolly

“Don’t be afraid to be weak
Don’t be too proud to be strong
Just look into your heart my friend
That will be the return to yourself” - Enigma. Return to Innocence

The ‘ber’ months must have some effect on everyone if not to the Filipinos alone. Once the very 1st day of September sets it everything seems to intensify or gets exaggerated. As if some switch gets turned on right after the midnight of August 31.

Different ages react differently to this transition. For most adult this is the start of expenses pouring in. Everything seems gets listed in the “needs” section of the budget list. The “wants” list more often becomes empty – blame it on consumerism? For most children however, this is the season to be Jolly, period.

I can still remember my excitement - when l was kid - every time when the calendar reaches September. As if the calendar page between August and September is a musical card that plays a song when opened, “…Santa Claus is coming to town…” And unknown to me then, this Santa Claus are those adult that gets weary and anxious when these ‘ber’ months sets it. They are either our parents or our “unlucky” ninongs and ninangs (godparents). After 20 years, I’m now one of them.

It was as if just a couple days ago when someone reminded me to start buying gifts to avoid the shopping rush. In fact that was months ago. Just like any broken vinyl record this irritatingly skips and repeats. Sadly the holiday rush doesn’t skip. It just repeats. The farthest I can remember panicking at this level is since I started having my own pay check. (Now I’m confused if having a paycheck should either get celebrated or cursed.) My wife and I normally kid each other usually around every January to start buying Christmas trees and gifts by this time. But before I know it, the ‘ber’ months are in, again. Now I’m behind 2 months already. It’s now November.

The mall sales now get more frequent than before. The bonuses are coming in (or shall I say passing through). The yuletide songs are as common as jeepney noise. The dreaded traffic gets worst. The horrifying thought of the inaanaks (godchildren) knocking at the front door getting realized as December nears. It’s funny but when someone says now “Christmas is just around the corner”, this is now like a windtalker’s code that someone is out to get you.

Hey, did I just realize I’m now a Grinch? During this season most adults are, I guess. Well it must be the cycle of life I guess. Some call it karma. The act gets repeated but the recipients change. If before I was thankfully receiving crisp bills, now I’m…I’m not giving one. Beside, the crisp bills now are of less value. Now that’s justified (miser smile).

Every time I’m in this situation I think of an old Filipino song (by Asin) with the following lyrics:

Itanong mo sa mga bata (Ask the children)
Ano ang kanilang nakikita (What they see)
Sa buhay na hawak nila (At the life they have)
Masdan mo ang mga bata (Observe the children)
Sila ang tunay na pinagpala (They are the lucky ones)
Kaya dapat nating pahalagahan (We should appreciate them)
Dapat din kayang kainggitan? (Shouldn’t we envy them)

Although this is not a Christmas song, this clearly describes and shows how having the innocence just like the small ones becomes a very big deal. More often, taking the simple meaning of an event or season is what matters most. Children love summer for the vacation. Children love Christmas for Santa Claus. If they love it for Christ’s birth, the better of course. But that’s where our adult explanation comes into play (and it’s another long story or blog).

So if only most adults, including me, can see this significance just as it is (even just during December), then I think this is when we can wholeheartedly join the children in saying, “Tis the season to be jolly”.

Hello, Wifey : )

Until today, I’m still feeling the guilt of not being with my wife on the midnight of her special day. It has been her tradition to stay awake until the very first seconds of her birthday. In return I get to greet her first. Unfortunately this year is different as I was at work packing precious processors instead of packing a birthday gift.

So to make it up to you wifey, here’s one for you:

Being you…

Enhances my identity

Being caring…

Makes me appreciate your presence more

Being patient…

Teaches me to be one

Being understanding…

Encourages me to know compassion

Being funny…

Just tickles my funny bone

Being strong…

Makes me stay as one

Being loving…

Makes me love you more

Being a late greeter…

Gives me the excuse to write this one bad poem.

Happy Birthday!

I love you!