Nostalgia stuff

Toni got me all nostalgic and stuff... This is from 3  and a half years ago... I remember this was after the USTET, and I applied for BS PSYCH and AB PHILO 'coz I was still paranoid that I wouldn't pass any of my entrance examinations except maybe for UST 2nd choice... Then I imagined I would take Philo and then take my masteral and doctorate in Madrid or Salamanca... then I would teach in Spain. That was the dream du jour. Beth wanted to be a hotel manager. Where is Beth anyway? Hahahaha nostalgia... coolness...

HARAJUKU IN NEW YORK: MIC IN COSPLAY (On G2Con and PCosCon)

I apologize in advance to whoever reads this and is offended because they are one of the people who touched Naruto's nipples. 

HARAJUKU IN NEW YORK: MIC IN COSPLAY

Late last year, I was invited to attend the 2007 G2CON or the Games and GadgetsConvention which was held in Gateway mall. I didn't formally attend, but I stopped by for a bit to say hi to a friend of mine. My initial reaction upon arriving was in my thinking similar to how a Harajuku girl would react in corporate America. The whole area was littered with cosplayers, anime statuettes, and memorabilia shops. It was like being in some alien world, except that Starbucks was right there. 

Naruto

Enjoying my way around, I noticed a life sized mannequin of the anime character Naruto. He with him his usual clothing, which is the orange jacket and trousers, and the ninja headband. This would be a usual sight in these gadget and anime conventions, but what was most disturbing of this particular piece of work is that his jacket was dangling off his shoulders, revealing a six pack and oblique lines that I never knew a 12 year old ninja could have. To top off my encounter with the Naruto figure posed like a stripper, a group of male cosplayers dressed as high school girls and a photographer in tight black clothesstopped to run their fingers down Naruto's abs, up from Naruto's nipples, finally tracing down his obliques. I believe pedophilia should be reprimanded whether in actual or imaginary children. The only saving grace for that awkward experience was when a mother in her 30's, who was clutching her toddler, walked toward the Naruto figure and fixed and buttoned his jacket back to place as to cover his torso. She then smiled, nodded her head, and walked away. I imagine Naruto's mother, bless her departed soul, would probably do the same. 

Cosplay Convention

Fast forward to a few months after the G2CON. It's March 2008, and I had just finished my final exams. I visit Robinson's Manila after a long hiatus with the mall in order to visit the newly constructed annex. As I enter the modern looking structure which although chic, still maintains the aura of a Robinson's mall, I am surprisingly transported back to corporate America as a Harajuku girl. There are cosplayers everywhere. The first thing that popped into my mind was the movie 28 days later. The virus must be spreading. I seemed to have unknowingly walked into the 1st Philippine Cosplay Convention. I couldn't possibly enjoy strolling around the mall with all my favorite fictional animated heroes walking around, so I decided to just sit quietly on one of the empty seats around the convention area. Observing from a fixed perspective has it's good points. I got to see Tsokoleyt, the gay actor, dressed as "Dark Magician Girl" from Yugi-Oh, of course baring his thighs for the world to see.There were many other interesting costumes there, including a well made Iron Man costume made from cardboard. I almost punctured the costume. 

So We Meet Again

My observing of the general public was halted by the sight of a familiar undressing statue near the convention's entrance. Ah, chistled-abs Naruto. We meet again. As I walked closer to my seemingly molested friend, two thoughts came into mind. Maybe the statue's owners meant for Naruto to expose himself in this manner, out of someunconscious desire for sex with the character, or maybe this particular Naruto statue ismeant as a beacon to attract gay and female cosplayers from all over. Whatever the reason for the owner's displaying Naruto in such a light, there can be no good intentions seen in it. It's as if they're pimps selling you a whore a bit more expensive than the rest because she shares some resemblance with anne Curtis or Angel Locsin. Plus, she can do the Ping-pong thing. Too bad no mothers came along this time. A message to chistled-abs Naruto's owners: get a Naruto inflatable sex doll already. Please. 

HARAJUKU IN NEW YORK: MIC IN COSPLAY (On G2Con and PCosCon)

I apologize in advance to whoever reads this and is offended because they are one of the people who touched Naruto's nipples. 

HARAJUKU IN NEW YORK: MIC IN COSPLAY

Late last year, I was invited to attend the 2007 G2CON or the Games and GadgetsConvention which was held in Gateway mall. I didn't formally attend, but I stopped by for a bit to say hi to a friend of mine. My initial reaction upon arriving was in my thinking similar to how a Harajuku girl would react in corporate America. The whole area was littered with cosplayers, anime statuettes, and memorabilia shops. It was like being in some alien world, except that Starbucks was right there. 

Naruto

Enjoying my way around, I noticed a life sized mannequin of the anime character Naruto. He with him his usual clothing, which is the orange jacket and trousers, and the ninja headband. This would be a usual sight in these gadget and anime conventions, but what was most disturbing of this particular piece of work is that his jacket was dangling off his shoulders, revealing a six pack and oblique lines that I never knew a 12 year old ninja could have. To top off my encounter with the Naruto figure posed like a stripper, a group of male cosplayers dressed as high school girls and a photographer in tight black clothesstopped to run their fingers down Naruto's abs, up from Naruto's nipples, finally tracing down his obliques. I believe pedophilia should be reprimanded whether in actual or imaginary children. The only saving grace for that awkward experience was when a mother in her 30's, who was clutching her toddler, walked toward the Naruto figure and fixed and buttoned his jacket back to place as to cover his torso. She then smiled, nodded her head, and walked away. I imagine Naruto's mother, bless her departed soul, would probably do the same. 

Cosplay Convention

Fast forward to a few months after the G2CON. It's March 2008, and I had just finished my final exams. I visit Robinson's Manila after a long hiatus with the mall in order to visit the newly constructed annex. As I enter the modern looking structure which although chic, still maintains the aura of a Robinson's mall, I am surprisingly transported back to corporate America as a Harajuku girl. There are cosplayers everywhere. The first thing that popped into my mind was the movie 28 days later. The virus must be spreading. I seemed to have unknowingly walked into the 1st Philippine Cosplay Convention. I couldn't possibly enjoy strolling around the mall with all my favorite fictional animated heroes walking around, so I decided to just sit quietly on one of the empty seats around the convention area. Observing from a fixed perspective has it's good points. I got to see Tsokoleyt, the gay actor, dressed as "Dark Magician Girl" from Yugi-Oh, of course baring his thighs for the world to see.There were many other interesting costumes there, including a well made Iron Man costume made from cardboard. I almost punctured the costume. 

So We Meet Again

My observing of the general public was halted by the sight of a familiar undressing statue near the convention's entrance. Ah, chistled-abs Naruto. We meet again. As I walked closer to my seemingly molested friend, two thoughts came into mind. Maybe the statue's owners meant for Naruto to expose himself in this manner, out of someunconscious desire for sex with the character, or maybe this particular Naruto statue ismeant as a beacon to attract gay and female cosplayers from all over. Whatever the reason for the owner's displaying Naruto in such a light, there can be no good intentions seen in it. It's as if they're pimps selling you a whore a bit more expensive than the rest because she shares some resemblance with anne Curtis or Angel Locsin. Plus, she can do the Ping-pong thing. Too bad no mothers came along this time. A message to chistled-abs Naruto's owners: get a Naruto inflatable sex doll already. Please. 

HARAJUKU IN NEW YORK: MIC IN COSPLAY (On G2Con and PCosCon)

I apologize in advance to whoever reads this and is offended because they are one of the people who touched Naruto's nipples. 

HARAJUKU IN NEW YORK: MIC IN COSPLAY

Late last year, I was invited to attend the 2007 G2CON or the Games and GadgetsConvention which was held in Gateway mall. I didn't formally attend, but I stopped by for a bit to say hi to a friend of mine. My initial reaction upon arriving was in my thinking similar to how a Harajuku girl would react in corporate America. The whole area was littered with cosplayers, anime statuettes, and memorabilia shops. It was like being in some alien world, except that Starbucks was right there. 

Naruto

Enjoying my way around, I noticed a life sized mannequin of the anime character Naruto. He with him his usual clothing, which is the orange jacket and trousers, and the ninja headband. This would be a usual sight in these gadget and anime conventions, but what was most disturbing of this particular piece of work is that his jacket was dangling off his shoulders, revealing a six pack and oblique lines that I never knew a 12 year old ninja could have. To top off my encounter with the Naruto figure posed like a stripper, a group of male cosplayers dressed as high school girls and a photographer in tight black clothes stopped to run their fingers down Naruto's abs, up from Naruto's nipples, finally tracing down his obliques. I believe pedophilia should be reprimanded whether in actual or imaginary children. The only saving grace for that awkward experience was when a mother in her 30's, who was clutching her toddler, walked toward the Naruto figure and fixed and buttoned his jacket back to place as to cover his torso. She then smiled, nodded her head, and walked away. I imagine Naruto's mother, bless her departed soul, would probably do the same. 

Cosplay Convention

Fast forward to a few months after the G2CON. It's March 2008, and I had just finished my final exams. I visit Robinson's Manila after a long hiatus with the mall in order to visit the newly constructed annex. As I enter the modern looking structure which although chic, still maintains the aura of a Robinson's mall, I am surprisingly transported back to corporate America as a Harajuku girl. There are cosplayers everywhere. The first thing that popped into my mind was the movie 28 days later. The virus must be spreading. I seemed to have unknowingly walked into the 1st Philippine Cosplay Convention. I couldn't possibly enjoy strolling around the mall with all my favorite fictional animated heroes walking around, so I decided to just sit quietly on one of the empty seats around the convention area. Observing from a fixed perspective has it's good points. I got to see Tsokoleyt, the gay actor, dressed as "Dark Magician Girl" from Yugi-Oh, of course baring his thighs for the world to see. There were many other interesting costumes there, including a well made Iron Man costume made from cardboard. I almost punctured the costume. 

So We Meet Again

My observing of the general public was halted by the sight of a familiar undressing statue near the convention's entrance. Ah, chistled-abs Naruto. We meet again. As I walked closer to my seemingly molested friend, two thoughts came into mind. Maybe the statue's owners meant for Naruto to expose himself in this manner, out of some unconscious desire for sex with the character, or maybe this particular Naruto statue is meant as a beacon to attract gay and female cosplayers from all over. Whatever the reason for the owner's displaying Naruto in such a light, there can be no good intentions seen in it. It's as if they're pimps selling you a whore a bit more expensive than the rest because she shares some resemblance with anne Curtis or Angel Locsin. Plus, she can do the Ping-pong thing. Too bad no mothers came along this time. A message to chistled-abs Naruto's owners: get a Naruto inflatable sex doll already. Please. 

RENT Closes in Broadway

RENT, the Pulitzer and Tony award winning musical by Jonathan Larson, which is a modernized version of the Italian opera La Boheme, will be lowering the final curtain on Broadway on June 1st, 2008. As of now, the count is 95,547 minutes 'till the last show :'(. 

The one thing I wanted to do when I get my trip to New York when i graduate was to watch RENT, and the modernized West Side Story. Both are now closed. Urine Town sucks. The Philippine version was great, but as they say, nothing beats Broadway. As was mentioned in the RENT website, "an era is about to end." We must be thankful for 14 years of je ne sais pas. It's more than just a "gay" show. It's about courage, truth, passion, acceptance, friendship, hope, and love. RENT formed a whole generation of Rentheads that will forever keep the music living inside them, and will for as long as they live look at every fleeting moment not as a second in a day, but rather as the experience that co-exists with the time. RENT practices precisely what it preaches. It measures in love. Real time is not measured in seconds. It is measured in experience.  

Thank you RENT for being a part of my life.

RENT website: http://siteforrent.com

Life Cafe (yes it actually exists) website: http://lifecafe.com

If anyone's going to the States soon *ubo**Sanny**ubo* and will be passing by New York, can you please get me a life cafe brochure or something... or RENT memorabilia... or watch the play for me... please...

The Semesteral Post of Gratitude Professors

Professors:

Dr. Ray Aguas: You opened my eyes to new perspectives in understanding my faith. You tore down all I had known about God, and from the ashes of a disbelieving ruin you had built a fortress that can withstand the constant battering of a licentious society, yet can further better itself through self reflection and proper thought. Splagchnizomai.

Mr. Andrew Soh (soon to be Dr. Soh!): Experience is now more to me than the hum-drum of daily living. It is opening your eyes to what the world is giving you, and reacting in a way that will best suit the circumstance. It is about intersubjectivity and the appreciation of each point in the existential line. All things are important. I know nothing. Intersubjectivity.

Dr. Cara Fernandez: An Atenean is more than what can be memorized from books. An Atenean looks beyond the theory, beyond the practice. They see the intricate workings of all things combining to form each unique individual. The naming of each process is simply expertise. The solution is simply experience. What separates true Atenean Psychologists is the understanding of all things in a bigger, more substantial picture. Humanism.

Mr. Weevens Ty (Soon to be Dr. Ty!): Persistence is the virtue. Methodology is the tool. We are precisely as good as we do, yet me must also understand that we can go beyond what we are, to be who we want to be. It is not simply about science. It is about experience, and understanding. It is about knowing, and loving what you do. Passion.

Ms. Sharon Co: You cannot truly know a person without knowing his life and works. Psychology is more than justt he theories formed by multiple theorists. It seeks to appreciate the lives of these individuals that helped them seek understanding. It is about seeing the general through the perspectives of many specifics. Perspective.

THANK YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH.

Usagi-wa... Usagi-wa...

Simon got Rose pregnant. Rose still seems to love her ex boyfriend. If you understand this, you're as bored as I am.

What do you do when if for a week, all you were served for lunch and dinner was fried fish and soup. Aside from a lipid embolus in your aorta, you'd have a headache as well. They say the fact that you eat only fish for a week is sacrifice. To me, Holy Week and it's cojoined abstinence is more than a sacrifice. It is at Holy Week that I am closest to my God. I am holiest during Holy Week. All that cooking oil in your system will obviously be cause for temporary insanity. In my case it's great headaches, which leads me to be short tempered with everything. My computer is slow? GOD!!! COMEON!!!! I BEG YOU!!!!! I HAVE A MEETING IN YM AT 3!!!!! GOD!!!! PLEASE!!!!!! I speak to God the most times during Holy Week. My parents are forcing me to watch "The Nativity Story?" GOD!!!! LET THIS DAMN MOVIE END ALREADY!!!! I SWEAR I'LL DO GOOD JUST LET THIS F*CKING MOVIE END!!!!!!! IT'S F*CKING BORING!!!!!COMEON!!!!!!! GOD!!!! Okay, maybe God won't like the swearing, but at least I pray right? Fried fish for dinner again? I SWEAR I'LL FEED THE HUNGRY! JUST LET THIS WEEK BE OVER!!!!!! GOD!!!! LET THEM FRY TOFU INSTEAD!!!!!! NO MORE FISH PLEASE!!!!! PLEASE!!!!! You promise a lot of moral things, and you actually mean them dring the oil rush of Holy Week. Maids are playing "Low" loudly on the radio? LET THE AGONY STOP!!!! IT'S DEHUMANIZING, SEXIST, AND UTTERLY JOLOGS!!!! COME ON!!!!!!! LET THIS MUSIC COME TO PASS!!!! So now you have a worse headache from all the internal strife... I swear... in a day, I must have uttered a hundred prayers... so much for the Pasyon... I have fried fish and a headache.

Just Because This Week IS This Week.

I Theologized, and have come to the conclusion that we as egg eating Catholics, must not eat eggs during days of abstinence (which includes Holy Week) because:

a. At the level of being meat:

The logic of "Humanae Vitae" states that human life begins at the embryo because left alone, the embryo has the innate capability to become a whole human person. This means it is an underdeveloped human being, but is still therefore a human being. Eggs if left to their natural devices will become Chickens someday, ergo they are underdeveloped chickens as eggs.

b. At the level of Abstinence as sacrifice:

The whole point of abstinence is to sacrifice. The church doesn't define meat as the thing to be sacrificed, but it rather recommends meat because it is what most people eat. If people prefer fish to meat, then during abstinence days, they should give up fish. The logic is sacrific, not definition. The same goes with the eggs. Giving up eggs if you like eggs is a sacrifice. We have then established that eggs are chickens, and that we must give up chickens because we have to sacrifice.

There. Pop Theology. It's the new Youth branch of Theology :D.

Adolecent Quiz (Reliable and Valid) Cabauatan, 2008

Physical (Papalia, Olds, & Felman, 2006):

[ ] Pubic hair growth
[ ] Increase in oil and sweat production
[ ] Appearance of underarm hair
[ ] Clear change in voice from 5 years ago and now

Cognitive (Elkind, 1998) (Kohlberg, 1973):

[ ] This world is far from ideal
[ ] I have argued with my parents about either a moral or political point
[ ] I see many alternative solutions to a problem
[ ] It can be hard to pick among alternative solutions
[ ] People will notiv=ce if I have a stain on my uniform
[ ] I can text while riding a jeep because the chances of me being held up are low
[ ] Cutting class is not always wrong

Psychosocial:(Marcia, 1980) (Robinson, 1993) (Papalia, Olds, & Felman, 2006):
[ ] I have not found my identity
[ ] My friends affect my identity
[ ] I have been or have wanted to be in a relationship
[ ] I turn more to my friends for emotional support
[ ] I classify people into cliques



scoring:
number of checks = X
number of questions = Y
score = Z

formula:
Z=100X/Y


this is your adolecent coefficient :D

Why Oh Why.

I wrote a 5 page single spaced essay in 3 hours in the internet lab... then I find out that by some miracle of modern technology, and through no fault of my own, it was deleted. I literally cried in front of the net lab person when he said, "sorry. I-type mo nalang ulit.". I do not need this now. That document was critical. I needed it. I NEEDED IT. I can't write another since all the data was in that file too. Now I have to scheme some new data. I really feel like crying even more now... why of all days... this last one yet... :'( I need a hug... and a frappuccino. GRAFGHERAGHF!!!!

This May Be Where I End Up After All

Okay... this may be the most impulsive decision I have made, but I decided to shift minors from English Lit. to (can you believe it) Theology. I know... but then when I asked the department if I could sign up, the secretary looked at me funny and said, "there is no Theology minor." Bummer right? then she said... "if you really want to continue on taking Theology units though, you can use your electives to take Theology major courses on New and OId Testament study." I of course wasn't much for scripture... I'm actually a Church Tradition/Magisterium study sort of guy... so I said no thanks... Then she said, "hmm... if you'd like, I could have you cross enroll with the LOYOLA SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY. They have some very interesting courses available for the masteral level. You could take some of those. How many would you like to take?" I blurted out "FIVE!" although a minor only takes 4 extra subjects >.< now all I need to do is get my department's approval (Psych dept.) and I can take Theo units in LST! OH MY GOD!!!!!! God is good. I hope everything goes well... With Theo units from LST under my belt, maybe I can be accepted as a CLE teacher in CSA or any other Private Catholic High School... then I can take my masteral under the Ateneo FIRE: MA Religious Education program... which they only offer during summers... that why I have to work in a school to be able to support myself post grad... I pray... I pray... I WANT TO DO THIS. If I can take the Theo units in LST... maybe I can make my BC and FU applications better too..... PLEASE... May God's love guide hearts that I may be what I must be; whatever I must be.

This May Be Where I End Up After All

Okay... this may be the most impulsive decision I have made, but I decided to shift minors from English Lit. to (can you believe it) Theology. I know... but then when I asked the department if I could sign up, the secretary looked at me funny and said, "there is no Theology minor." Bummer right? then she said... "if you really want to continue on taking Theology units though, you can use your electives to take Theology major courses on New and OId Testament study." I of course wasn't much for scripture... I'm actually a Church Tradition/Magisterium study sort of guy... so I said no thanks... Then she said, "hmm... if you'd like, I could have you cross enroll with the LOYOLA SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY. They have some very interesting courses available for the masteral level. You could take some of those. How many would you like to take?" I blurted out "FIVE!" although a minor only takes 4 extra subjects >.< now all I need to do is get my department's approval (Psych dept.) and I can take Theo units in LST! OH MY GOD!!!!!! God is good. I hope everything goes well... With Theo units from LST under my belt, maybe I can be accepted as a CLE teacher in CSA or any other Private Catholic High School... then I can take my masteral under the Ateneo FIRE: MA Religious Education program... which they only offer during summers... that why I have to work in a school to be able to support myself post grad... I pray... I pray... I WANT TO DO THIS. If I can take the Theo units in LST... maybe I can make my BC and FU applications better too..... PLEASE... May God's love guide hearts that I may be what I must be; whatever I must be.

You Don't Question Gods

you don't question gods

not their actions

nor their intentions

their acts are of a grander plan

their morality is of a higher scale

the world to them is seen in vibrant light

which colors span beyond human eyes

their crafts are all in reason

their wills are just

divine

you do not question gods

you do not question me.

Just to Be Clear

Still neutral, but please press "Preview & Spell Check" next time...

Also, the ad hominems are sickening, so please... if any of you can find no further argument beyond grades and physical looks, then just shut the fuck up.

Humane Vitae

Encyclical on Human Life as Sacred.
by Pope John Paul II

Creeping Out 'Za is a Favorite Pastime.

Hey you!

Hey!
Uuuuy, howz Ateneo?

haha, how long have I been there? 2 years? and you know what, the SECs; so dirrrrrty!

what?
the SECs ... omg... could use a good 'job.
even Matteo... neophyte, but still in the SECs, or between SECs... anyway, Matteo's so dirty too, especially... down there. People just seem to eat off Matteo's lower parts, and so there's spill everywhere.
what the hell?

Ateneo served it's purpose to me.
which is?
Aesthetics. Hotness.
who's Matteo?
Oh Matteo? ahaha; Matteo's the best. As I said, Matteo's between SECs, and it's just nice to hang out. Matteo's really big... You just can't put your hand around it.
Okay...

Matteo's the study hall. the SECs are the Science Education Complexes. It's dirty in SEC, but everywhere else is fine. Matteo's dirty too. ]

creeping out 'Za is fun! HARHARHAR

Dionysus' Narrative

Gaiel, I am by your side.

Why do you emerge from the woods?

I, as god have heard your cries.

and what has the god of wine to offer a suffering heart?

Only that which I am lord of.

I do not need your madness.

I do not wish to give it.

I am human; born of human womb, born of godly flesh.

I am the loss of consciousness, and the loss of care.

I am intoxication. I am vulnerability.

I am escape. I am truth.

My father speaks of order. My brothers speak of virtue.

My sister speaks of love. My mother speaks of vengeance.

I speak of tired souls and weary minds. I speak of rest.

My pantheon is bound by Gaea and Kronos.

I am bound by freedom.

I am a solitude of human weakness.

Your temporality is beauty.

I feel with human soul, and work with human hands.

I am who knows best your pain.

I who understand your empathy.

I who give temporal apathy.

I do not wish to share my madness.

It is man who seeks it.

Jesus and the Kingdom of God. Yes, I am a 'Goddie.'

The conciliar documents of Vatican 2 express in Gaudium et Spes and in Dei Verbum that Jesus Christ is the “full revelation of man to man himself which makes his calling clear.” Jesus, being the full revelation of humanity’s calling on earth is the perfect example of how a human life should be lived out. The same passage from Gaudium et Spes also expresses the reiterated thought that Jesus Christ was fully human. “He worked with human hands, thought with a human mind, acted by human choice, and loved with a human heart.” With this is mind, the basic assumption is that since Jesus worked only with human capabilities, we are then fully able follow in his example. We follow his example, simply because he is the full revelation of God on humanity’s calling on earth.

Nolan presents this point by initially looking into the world view of the original and early disciples of Christ. They, who were not as organized as the modern Church, with it’s many doctrines and long list of councils are seen as specifically following only Christ’s example in it’s purest historical sense, and later through the second hand teaching of his disciples, and even later on through the writing of the Gospels. A main point Nolan makes in the article is that in the early church, Jesus’ presence was continually felt even after his death and resurrection. He continued to lead them, whether by virtue of their personal experience of Jesus, or by narrations and writings of him. The historical Jesus continued to be the guiding force and inspiration behind the actions of the Church. This is how we see the importance of the Gospels, and it’s relevance to our salvation. Since we in modern days cannot fully know what Jesus had done in his lifetime, and as John 21:25 says “Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written,” we can only rely on the bible as our source and reference of God’s full revelation to us through Jesus.

The question then is what exactly did Jesus do? What is God’s message? To get straight into the point, we will look at the two main characteristics of Jesus Christ: Splagchnizomai and Faith. Splagchnizomai in Greek literally means “to be moved as to one’s bowels.” It is to feel compassion to the highest degree. In the part and time of the world where Jesus ministered, Judea under the Romans, it was a highly theocratic society ruled in the strict sense by law, and anyone who sinned was automatically cast away. It is here we see that the law becomes a tool for seclusion instead of the law’s philosophical role of safeguarding the people’s rights. We then by Jewish theocratic law, get a sense of a superficial God, as the only way to cleanse yourself of sin was to offer expensive sacrifices in the temple. We also get the sense of a harsh God who would readily cast members of the human race into sickness and loss if ever they have sinned. This strict law sense caused many to be out casted by society, examples of which are prostitutes and tax collectors. Others who have been marginalized are the lepers, who we now historically see was considered to be anyone with a skin abnormality. In all this, there is a stratifying society that outcasts supposed sinners. Then Jesus of Nazareth comes in. He spends his life in the open company of these sinners. He dined with them, conversed with them, and even forgave their sins. He felt deeply for their suffering, and saw the need to immerse himself in the needs of the marginalized. That is also what he calls us to do. He calls us to social concern and responsibility. The view of most Catholics in this day is that moral laws are the priority of the Catholic faith. As long as I follow God’s moral law, I will get to heaven. That’s the same paradigm the Pharisees had in Jesus’ time. Jesus said to "be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees." That is because of their overemphasis of moral law, versus their shared social responsibility. The main goal of all Jesus said and did would be the coming about of the Kingdom of God. This is the end goal of human life. We are to bring it about here on earth. “For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” Heaven isn’t the point of our existence. We are called to be like Christ. We are called to feel the greatest compassion for our fellowmen. We are called to social concern and responsibility. With such a utopian idea in mind, it follows that there is a great deal of doubt whether it can be done. Modern times have adopted the paradigm of looking at the faults or diseases of humanity. Our paradigm automatically becomes diagnostic. The whole concept of a utopian “kingdom” that is ruled by equality and social justice seems utterly impossible. That is where Jesus’ second trait comes in: Faith. His compassion was so great, and the need to right the injustices done to the marginalized was so immense, that he primarily broke many laws of his time. Why did he do this? It’s because he believed that the Kingdom of God will be achieved. He believed in it so much, that he worked against all odds, and later on died on the cross for his belief in the kingdom.

The Kingdom of God is what we are called to bring about. It is contrasted by what is called the kingdom of Satan. There are 4 points that must be discussed here. First is money. The point is that money is not intrinsically evil. It is the love of money (Mammon) that is the root of evil. Money, as well as the physical goods in life are needed for man to survive. We have physiological needs. Te kingdom of Satan though would have us gathering material goods and not sharing it with others. The point is to get just enough to fulfill your physiological needs, then give the rest to those whose basic needs have not been met. It’s that simple. Second point is Power. Jesus had ample opportunity to gain power. He had thousand following him. He could have led an uprising against the Romans if he had wanted, but he did not. Taking power would precisely mean that you become above your fellowmen. Again, that is not the point of he as message. Shared social responsibility is what he was advocating. It’s not about your oppressors, and whether you would be rid of them, but rather the point should always be what one can do to bring about the Kingdom of God. The third is Prestige. He in the bible showed absolute humility to everyone. He never put himself above others. A sign of which was when he washed the feet of the disciples, and also in the way he told the lepers not to speak of who he was. Prestige again causes inequality, which is not the point of the Kingdom of God. The whole point of the kingdom all boils down to the last point, which is Group Solidarity. The kingdom specifically is an all inclusive community. All it’s members get what they need. They share what they have, and through Christ, live for others, while also living in morality, in a full loving relationship with God.

Rule 1: If you opened this you GOT TO take it. Rule 2: You are NOT ALLOWED to explain ANYTHING unless someone messages you and asks Rule 3: Only answer truthfully "Who was your last?" LAST PERSON. 1. had a beer with ? --- i don't drink beer. 2. went to the movies with ? --- June. 3. went to the mall with ? --- June. 4. talked on the phone with ? --- Papa. 5. made u laugh ? --- my sister!! 6. u hugged ? --- uhhh obvious. 7. u yelled at ? --- wala. WUD U RATHER...? 1. pierce ur nose or tongue ? why ? --- nose. yuck kya sa tongue. eeew. 2. be serious or be funny ? --- serious. 3. drink whole or skim milk ? --- skim milk. 4. die in a fire or get shot ? --- get shot. sa head pra patay agad. ANSWER TRUTHFULLY... 1. sun or moon ? --- sun. i love the sun. 2. winter or fall ? --- fall.. 3. left or right ? --- right... 4. sunny or rainy ? --- sunny 5. peach or pear ? --- peach. 6. do u twirl ur spaghetti or cut it? --- twirl.. hehe.. 7. do u cook ? --- i wish. hahaha 8. current mood ? --- blissful. ;) IN THE LAST WEEK HAVE YOU... 1. kissed someone? --- pass 2. sung ? --- yup 3. been hugged ? --- yup. 4. danced crazy ? --- nope 5. cried ? --- no.. nothing to cry about. Who Was Your Last (Tuozo, 2008)

Rule 1: If you opened this you GOT TO take it.

Rule 2: You are NOT ALLOWED to explain ANYTHING unless someone messages you and asks

Rule 3: Only answer truthfully

"Who was your last?"

LAST PERSON.
1. had a beer with ?
--- my lolo.

2. went to the movies with ?
--- myself :'(.

3. went to the mall with ?
--- myself :'(.

4. talked on the phone with ?
--- iris.

5. made u laugh ?
--- britney spears

6. u hugged ?
--- myself :'(.

7. u yelled at ?
--- lolo.

WUD U RATHER...?
1. pierce ur nose or tongue ? why ?
--- pwede eyebrow? nose. its cute.

2. be serious or be funny ?
--- funny.

3. drink whole or skim milk ?
--- skim milk.

4. die in a fire or get shot ?
--- get shot. i could survive if i get shot. you never said die by being shot.

ANSWER TRUTHFULLY...
1. sun or moon ?
--- moon.

2. winter or fall ?
--- fall. autumn leaves are the shitnitz

3. left or right ?
--- dexter.

4. sunny or rainy ?
--- rainy.

5. peach or pear ?
--- peach.

6. do u twirl ur spaghetti or cut it?
--- twirl. twirling is fun.

7. do u cook ?
--- very well thank you.

8. current mood ?
--- mediocre.

IN THE LAST WEEK HAVE YOU...
1. kissed someone?
--- nope.

2. sung ?
--- 'so close' is stuck in my head.

3. been hugged ?
--- yup.

4. danced crazy ?
--- yup!!!!

5. cried ?
--- no.

REPOST as "Who was your last...?"

I Saw Ibsy in Ateneo Today...

Do you guys remember Ibsy? Yung kamukha ni cupid sa painting na sinabi ni Fionna... Yung classmate namin ni Thea sa Genpsych at kasama natin sa Recollection nung 1st year? Nakita ko siya sa Ateneo... hahahaha grumadweyt na siya nung October at naghihintay ng trabaho mula sa PAL. :) Oldest kaibigan ko yun... as in. hahahaha It's nice to see familliar faces again in strange lands :)

Target List

I'm going to closely monitor these locations because their residents (whether permanent or otherwise) are threats to the stability of human capability. They must not know they are being monitored. They will be exterminated.


This particular area seems to harbor most of the delinquents that my superiors have willed me to eliminate. The three targets are found at these locations at different times of the day. These are the first to go. I will initially eliminate the Waxified one, then the short one, then the smart one. I will have to eliminate all three before proceeding on to the "queen."


This is supposed location of the queen. I must take caution in this mission. Her neighbors supposedly pelt you with carrots cabbages and fresh meats. People also steal your wallet in this area. Oh yeah, I have to have my watch pawned here too.



After I eliminate all 4 delinquents, I will go here, and drink tea in X1, shop in X2, and go partying in X3. A great end to a great day. Yay!

Head Story

This is the story in my head.

It's there. You just don't understand.

Culture Vulture Kuno #1

SAYAW DARLING

I said to myself that this post, as it sounded in my head, would end up like a critique of pop culture in a Saturday morning paper. So, as to indulge my fantasies, and to make an even bigger fool of myself, I made a header, complete with a very disguising Photoshop edited head shot, just like my favorite pop culture columnists from the Philippine Star's SUPREME. Now, let me begin.

Avid watchers of Star World will know of the commercial of Channel [V]'s AMP or Asia's Music Platform. The commercial, approximately 30 seconds long, is annoyingly repeated at least once every commercial break. It basically talks about how Asian pop culture has infiltrated the mainstream by citing Korean break dancers, and how the Asian music industry has flourished over the past few years. What caught my attention most in the commercial though was the reported statistic that a few years ago, 70% of music in the Philippines was imported, but now... "Local music rules the airwaves." The statistics seem right enough. Local music is surely dominating the local music charts. The problem is that "local music" is basically Willie Revillame, Joey de Leon, and the Sexbomb Dancers.

RADIO NOW

If you haven't heard about FM radio being back "in," then you've probably been spending too much time with your ipod. A lot has surely changed in the world of short wave radios since the last time FM radio was en vogue which was in the late 90's. Mo Twister is back from the States, where he seems to have gotten his ethics dessicated. Campus Radio has shifted from a middle and upper class radio station, to the CDEF class Barangay LS (forever.) A multitude of CDEF radio FM stations started sprouting around like mushrooms. Love Radio is still the number one radio station in Metro Manila.

KOKOROKOKO

What makes love radio so popular? Is it the pun filled names of their DJ's like Sexy-terry, Christyuper, and Nicole Ayala? Is it the Station ID from hell that invokes the laughing of demons? Is it that infernal rat Kokorokoko, who continually plagues our ears with the most un-tasteful jokes? Maybe it's the fact that they replay Yeng Constantino's "Habangbuhay" 1000 times a day. I don't know for sure, but what I do know is that many of us who ride the jeep during the morning cringe and moan at the all too familiar guitar pluck of "Habangbuhay's" intro. After then enduring the hundredth replay of the song in the jeep, we finally relax our faces, only to groan once more because Joey de Leon's "Itaktak Mo" starts playing, followed by "Iyugyug Mo" by Willie Revillame. It's a vicious cycle of repetitive melodies. Then Kokorokoko cracks a joke. By this time, I have my bible in hand, and I'm praying for salvation. By the time I exit the Jeepney, I'm humming "Iyugyug Mo" under my breath. My conspiracy theory is now that Love Radio is continually played in public transport vehicles to seek out and brainwash the middle class.

RULES THE AIRWAVES

What I would give to rewind time a few years back, when 70% of the music was imported. Sure, you had Filipinos with odd accents singing Westlife's "Seasons in the Sun" (We ad juy weh 'ad pan, weh 'ad sesons en da san) or the Backstreet Boys' "I Want it That Way" (ent nating bat a hurt-echh) but at least the music actually had lyrics that made sense, instead of today's songs of yug-yog, tak-tak, doodoo-da-hahaha, and other such babble. I'm so infuriated by the lack of musical taste of the masses that I'm even beginning to miss the screamfests/songs of Regine Velasquez during her hayday. What I miss most though are those interpretative dances plus lipsynch that everyone used to do when a slow Westlife song would come on.

AMP*ta

I wonder if Asia's Music Platform, the show that so proudly announced the victory of local music over taste, will ever showcase Willie Revillame featuring the G-Girls. Imagine some Thai guy with an Australian accent introducing the best that Philippine music has to offer. Imagine the reaction of the Asian community when a 40 year old man and a group of twenty-something overly made up wimen start undulating onstage while singing "iyugyug mo" over and over and over again.

PLEASE DON'T STOP THE MUSIC

The Philippine music industry needs a serious revamp. Proper bands like Urbandub are being outsold by Willie Revillame and some other sell out bands who started proper and ended up just plain Jologs (shout out to Cueshe.) The main reason Willie and Joey are outselling real musicians is that they are being supported by recording companies that are sister companies of media companies that show television shows that rely on the brainwashed musical taste of the masses to be able to grab viewers. Another shout out to those companies concerned. Please don't brainwash us, we have a future abroad. There are hundreds of musicians that deserve the spotlight more than WIllie, Joey, Sam, Piolo, and Yeng. Sometimes recording companies are so stuck with the "formula" that will grab the audience, ergo the repetitive beats, that they forget to innovate. Innovation is a must for music to thrive in a society. The main point of everything is that local music may rule the airwaves, but local music doesn't thrive in stagnancy.