Mic is Gay. (For a Day)

watch out for this one. i went to a gay bar, and my masculinity survived. I'm to tired to update this now. Laterz bitches!

Scandalous Part 2... THES-QS 2008 is out.

Okay... so THES-QS 2008 is out
At least it seems Philippine universities have made an effort to improve.
So... kudos to Philippine universities... and yun... basta... There are methodology problems, and no one really believes this.


UP- 274
DLSU- 415
UST- 470

and

AdMU- 254
This is not right. UP is UP. It is UP.

Eyes Bleeding

I have been watching too many independent films. It's always been a hobby of mine, going to free movie sites, video stores on sale, art film showings... all for those addictive indies...
Poverty.
Sex.
Opression.

Then I had to dream I was IN Shortbus.
OMG.
Never again. Damn you misterhubs.

The Great Laptop Hunt

It's that time in life where your parents decide your computer is too slow, and your software is too outdated. So, they decide to get you a new laptop. :) I've narrowed down the choices to 2 models... and all you have to do is help me decide... Give your feedback.

The 1st is the ASUS F9E:

CPU Type	Intel Core 2 Duo
CPU Speed	1.86 GHz
Internal Memory	2 GB
Hard Drive Size	160 GB

12'' screen 4.2 lbs.

It of course runs on Vista

The 2nd is a Mac Book:

CPU Type	Intel Core 2 Duo
CPU Speed	2.1 GHz
Internal Memory	1 GB or 2 GB
Hard Drive Size	120 GB

13'' screen 5 lbs.

Runs on OX Leopard

Both are wifi capable and have a webcam and microphone. The ASUS has thumbmark identification and facial recognition software. The Mac is virus free for life. It's gonna be hard finding Mac software though... example... I need SPSS for my thesis. Can I find SPSS for Macs? I highly doubt that. :( Input is needed while I research :D.

Whistling Works

First, allow me to congratulate my honorable, proficient, and diligent friends from De La Salle University ID105 who have recently graduated. To my beloved, LR45ers, you all share a special place in my heart. You are true friends, and truly wonderful people. Godspeed in your future endeavors.

Secondly, the following essay was meant to be written last Friday, and as to maintain the level of emotion I had originally planned for this essay, I will do a pseudo Kronos and turn back time.

I lost four friends yesterday.
It's one of those things that you know happen to people, but you rely on the statistical fact that it can almost never happen to you. Of course, Murphy's law has a nasty back bite. I had 2 term papers to write for school. One was a 12 page paper for my Ethics class, and the other was my cognitive research project. I was done with both, except for finishing touches on my cognitive research project, so I volunteered to edit, print, and submit the compiled ethics paper of my group. I'm just nice like that. My ethics class was at 10:30 in the morning. I had planned the whole day carefully. I would wake up at 6, start up my laptop, and start editing the compiled paper. I would be done by 7:30. I would have the paper printed at the net cafe nearby, then leave the neighborhood by 8. I would reach school at 9:30, and all would be well. Unfortunately, things went wrong.

-I woke up at 6, and checked my email. None of my group mates had uploaded their work.
-I waited until 7. At 7:15 I discovered that they had uploaded their papers, but had chosen not to send the "new file uploaded" email. I began editing the paper.
-None of them followed the specified format, so I had to format everything.
-My MS Word broke down, so I had to relocate to the internet cafe at 7:45. They only had Open Office (scourge of all students).
-I finished editing the paper at 8. I had it printed.
-The printer printed at a rate of one page a minute. The paper was 82 pages long.
-When the printing reached page 60, they discovered that they ran out of ink, and pages 40-60 were cut in places, and were unreadable.
-I panicked and called my group mates at 9:10. No one picked up.
-At 9:20 I got to contact a group mate, and I told her to print pages 60-82. Right after that conversation, the cafe worker informed me that they fast drafted pages 40-60. They could have done that earlier, but they chose to have me wait an eternity.
-I left the neighborhood at 9:25. I asked my mom to bring me to school, since it takes an hour to get from the house to Ateneo in a car.
-There was a vehicular accident in Quirino. Traffic.
-There was a vehicular accident in EDSA-Guadalupe. Traffic.
-We had to reroute through Pasig.
-Fr. David gives automatic Fs to late papers.
-This paper was 30% of our final grade.
-I was late for class.

They wouldn't even look at me. No one asked what happened, and no one answered me when I asked them what I had missed. It was my fault, sure, as I should have edited it earlier, and true enough, the final avoidable instance lay with me. Legally it is my fault. I don't deny it. What hurts though is that whatever friendship I had with them, formed through the infinite number of shared activities we had to endure under Fr. David's instruction, was destroyed by a singular instance. We had inside jokes that only we understood. We had shared insights that were formed by hours of philosophical reflection. We had our memories of touring the City of Manila together. We were each others consolation. We supported each other through the whole of what was a seemingly unbearable class. Fr. David forced us together, and we somehow made do with the coerced cluster. We became genuine friends. I broke that friendship. I guess friendships, much like elements don't form true bonds under artificial circumstances.
What then can one do about broken friendships? I would try to apologize, but really, in such a situation, even I couldn't forgive myself. Would anyone take a rushed apology seriously? Apologizing right after a disheartening act would seem artificial, almost routine. What people fail to understand is that I am not one of those who simply know their pain. Their grades are now shot. It's entirely my fault. My grade is affected as well. I don't care though. I feel their pain. It's more than guilt. It's anguish. Their anguish is my anguish. It's funny, looking back at the car ride to school. I was literally bawling my eyes out, pulling my hair and scratching my face. A bit melodramatic I know, but how best to express anguish than by self mutilation and emotional outrage. Empathy is a curse, not a virtue.
What then can I do but sit stoic ly in my chair, humming "Young Folk" by Peter Bjorn and John. I can't whistle, but the melody would be the Trans-Pop equivalent of All American Rejects' "Move Along." Really, what can anyone do in such a situation but take it in stride. So there I was, twiddling my thumbs, and humming like an idiot. Chillax was the word of the day. When the bell rang, they approached Fr. David, asking if he would still accept the paper. He did. They returned to their seats around mine, gathered their things, and left me sitting alone. I guess I did deserve it, but it doesn't hide the fact that the entire experience hurt. It's Murphy's way of saying, "told you so."
So, friends were lost, and I took the day in stride. The day never improved, and I ended up tearing up on the commute way to my Mom's office. That's how it works. Who am I to complain?

Damn You Mother Huffer.

I despise you, trash talking mother huffer.

wanna see a finger?

,,l,,

ayan na finger mo.

Vanity: Backtracking Meterosexual High School

It began in second year highschool when I joined the chorale. I wasn't a very neat person, and since Kinder, I had been known as a dirty, messy, klutz. The chorale then was my introduction to a self aesthetic. All the clean looking pretty voiced people around me sort of affected my world view. Unkemptness is unacceptable in a sparky clean choir world. how then did i respond to the call of the aesthetic? How did every non sports playing geek answer the call to the aesthetic? A vanity kit of course.We called them kikay kits, and every mamma born high school boy had one. Mine was the kikay kit to end all kikay kits. My kikay kit was a kikay bag :D. I don't keep a kikay kit anymore... since I have found no need in keeping an aesthetic front, but I still like to reminisce on the 3 years in highschool, and my many fond memories with my wonder kikay bag... I'll enumerate what was inside... it's funny really.

1. Green Cross Isopropyl alcohol 70% (150mL bottle): Of course, everyone has alcohol in their kikay kit. Multipurpose... to wash your hands... to rinse your soiled sneakers... to clean your desk... to add in your milo so your crazy friend can drink a pseudo bailey's...

2. Lush Chocolate Whipstick (It's lip gloss with flavor): My lip gloss is special :) Choco flavored! I loved the stuff! everyone used to want my lip gloss... but no one was willing to spend 500 bucks for a kulangots worth :p. It's still available in Lush I think... 500 bucks for a kulangot's worth... hahahaha.

3. Nivea Essential Lip Balm: I was thorough. I would apply lip balm incessantly on my lips, as to keep them moist and feeling supple. The whipstick (above) is only applied in the morning, and after meals. The Nivea lip balm was for "every 5 minutes" use :p.

4. Listerine Pocketpaks Cinnamon Flavor: It was never mint for me :) my breath was always Cinnamon fresh :p if ever fresh at all... I used to go through packs of these in a week. These were my cigarettes.

5. Bath & Body Works' Vanilla Brown Sugar or Vitoria's Secret Vanilla scents: My scent of choice has always been Vanilla. It's only last year that I shifted to White Ginger. I AM SUCH A GIRL. My prom date was allergic to Vanilla... so prom was fun :).

6. Vaniila Brown Sugar hand soap: I think the DLSU peeps lived to see this in our Comparative anatomy class. i stopped buying it after Compana because it became useless to bring hand soap to school.

7. Avon Clay Facial Wash: It's a mud mask, and a facial wash in one! It was the most effective facial wash I had encountered. I can't find a picture of it though.

8. Avon's pimple drying thing: I can't find it anymore, but they used to have this sort of roll on thing that you apply to your pimpled areas, and the pimples would shrivel up and die!!!

9. Colgate Fresh Confidence: I still use this until now :) I love the minty fresh taste it leaves your mouth with... It's like Candy Canes at Christmas...

10. Papier Poudre: I AM SUCH A GIRL. It's oil control film with powder... i used to have a book of this, but I used it rarely... usually only if I get to go onstage or something.

11. Gatsby Oil Control Film: everyone had this, or the Clean and Clear counterpart. I chose Gatsby because it was manlier. It's an uber gay product, and so I found need to make it seem a bit more manly.

12. Gatsby Cooling Wipes: This was mostly for those after school hours Chorale or Tennis practices that left you sweaty, smelling foul, and needing a bath. I wipe up, and it's as if I'm good as new. The cooling effect of these miracle wipes is a godsend.

13. Nail cutter set: This includes nail cutter, toe nail cutter, file, buffer, swiss army knife, the sharp thing they use to clean dirt from your toe nails, and a nail brush.

14. Toothbrush: mine was a generic Colgate toothbrush :) It was orange. It was always orange.

15: Kleenex: of course I had tissue paper... for blowing my nose, wiping my table, wiping my perspiration off... kinky stuff (joke) et al. I love kleenex.

16. A face towel: for my general wiping pleasure :)

17. Skin so Soft Cooling Lotion: again with the cooling theme. It's so you feel clean, although you really aren't :p.again, for cooling and feeling clean purposes. Also for kinky time. (again, joke.)

18. Johnson and Johnson's Baby Powder: Who doesn't have this in their bag, right?

17. A spray bottle of distilled water: This is what I use to wipe my face with. I spritz some distilled water on my face before wiping :)

18. A "gift bag": Cellphones weren't allowed in my High school, but having one was a social as well as practical necessity, so what I did was I wrapped my cellphone in a shirt, and slipped it into a gift bag, which I would seal, and add a birthday card to. :) Whenever surprise inspections were held, they never opened my gift to "Maria" HAHAHAHAHAHAHA. They never wondered why I brought a gift to school everyday...

The other things are unmentionable... in whatever sense you interpret unmentionable as, is up to you...

Anyway... Maybe I should start with the excessive grooming again... I used to be overly... kikay, and it did wonders for me. :) Too bad the same wonders can't be bequeathed unto me anymore... Sigh... That's college for you.

Sigwa: Sa Pagpalipas ni Haring Habagat

Manong felt like new.

I rode a taxi again today from Sta. Mesa to Ateneo, just to be able to make it in time for a Philo group meeting my friends and I were having. The meeting was at 9:30. I checked my watch, and it was 9:03, and I had still not gotten a cab. I was desperate. A taxi finally stopped in front of me, but as I was waiting for the occupant to disembark, an old couple in their late 60s came from behind and entered the cab, with the previous passenger still inside.Of course the previous passenger, the driver, and I were shocked. I began to tell the old man who had taken the front seat that I had rights to this taxi, but then he merely shrugged me away and gave directions to the driver. They were going to Cubao to watch a movie. I come from a good natured albeit odd Filipino Catholic family that values respect for the aged. My family also respects individual rights. So I guess they'll have to forgive me when I banged on lolo's window and said, "It's old people like you and your inconsiderate, brash generation that trained the current generation to be self serving thieves who care merely for their own interests." Then I looked at lola in the back seat and said, "You should be ashamed of yourselves. You people don't deserve my respect, or anyone else's for that matter. No matter how old you may be. It's people like you who screwed up the Philippines, leaving us with an unkempt, morally depraved society. TAXI THIEVES!" Lolo was furious. but he motioned to the taxi driver to go ahead instead. I'm sure he wanted to give me a lecture on what he did in his youth and middle age to help Philippine society, just as every old bastos coot in Manila wants to do, but the reality is that rationalizing your brash behavior now by citing past reference to good works is futile. Society, and maybe even God, doesn't look at what you were, but rather, what you've become. If you're a bastos old coot now, that's what matters. Screw the fact that you're the chairman of the parish social committee, or that you worked for greenpeace in your youth. If you don't respect me, that means you don't know squat about human dignity.

I HATE Taxi Thieves.

A Show of Support

Aaah yes, right where they belong. On the floor.

On to the Championship then?

We love you kuya Nonoy :p

Kami first fans niyan. (Arrha pinaka una)

Chowder Snake

Figure 1: Chowder

Odd scene as I was on my way to school. I was walking to the turnstyles of the LRT station, and a chatty young couple was behind me. They were about my age, and they definitely weren't hiding the fact that they're sexually active. Anyway, they were giggling, their hands seemingly glued to indiscriminate body parts of the other, and suddenly they started talking about fear. A disturbing snippet of said conversation:

A: How about snakes?

B: Yeah! I hate snakes! They're like vermin. They're pests! (a metaphor and a simile of the same derived thought... priceless)

A: Hmmm, what about Chowder Snakes?

B: Oh! I LOVE Chowder Snakes! They're the best, but I like only one Chowder Snake...

A: Oh yeah? What's That?

B: *Giggles*

That was definitely one of the weirdest conversations I had ever eavesdropped on. I swear.

Again, to those who don't get it... Click on the "Chowder Snakes" with a hyperlink above to find out what they really were talking about.

The New Rizal Library

Like.... HWOW MY GARSH!!!! It's 6 stories tall... *drool* *drool* *drool* and aside from this new 6 storey library which will hold the General Circulation, Media, and Online Access Laboratories, we still have the Old Rizal Library which will hold the special collections like the American Historical Collection, The Ateneo Library of Women's Writings, the Filipiniana Collection, the Microform room, and I guess they might build Matteo type meeting rooms and individual rooms in the old lib building (hoping). COME TO EXISTENCE ALREADY NEW RIZAL LIB (which I will nickname Meron Lib because they'll build it ON TOP of Meron Pond)

Congrats Marie!

I would just like to congratulate my blockmate

Marie La Viña

She won third place for poetry (English) in the 2008 Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature for her work "The Gospel According to the Blind Man"

You are sooooo my idol now :) More power to you!

She deserves it. She's really good, and she's been writing forever. As in.

It's Quezon Avenue in Katipunan

In one of our group's post mortem meetings for Ph104 (we die in Fr. David's class, then we meet to discuss how we died.) We were talking ethics, when the conversation suddenly turned from Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics to part-time jobs. One of us in the group was looking for a way to make some extra money to be able to start up her future through a business, or through investments. She related that she was at Quezon Ave. at 11 P.M. last night looking for job/racket opportunities, and as it IS Quezon Ave., our brains automatically jumped to prostitution. I know, we are adolescent pigs. Of course it was all in jest, and we all had a good laugh discussing why she wouldn't have made a good prostitute. She sleeps at 9 P.M. nightly, so I'd think by the time the meat market (wth) is at it's peak, she would have long been asleep. Hahaha, sexuality without law: the topic of the day :). Anyway, then the topic shifted to drug pushing, as she could sell drugs and herself, we jested. She then of course replied that she was above drugs and prostitution, but one of her friends is the Marijuana supplier of the Ateneo smoker's pocket gardens. This is when things turned... revealing? I'll leave the aesthetic judgment to the reader... We talked about how her friend sells weed on campus, and sometimes even to the girl's school next door. In the spirit of jest, we inquired if it was sold per bag, or pre rolled, by box, etc. Fact of the matter is though that although I have known of the smocket Marijana market for a while now, I had never known how intricate the system was until it was narrated to us by a second hand observer. Names were never revealed, but the reality that a pusher was in such a seemingly close approximation to us was uncanny. Feeling a bit awkward as how thorough the discussion on the campus pusher was getting, we shifted back to prostitution, asking if anybody thought there were any prostitutes in the Ateneo. I personally know of one, not a prostitute really, but rather a man that likes the objectification he gets from being a "toy." I know, major attention issues abound, but are you really a prostitute if you're not after the money, rather the attention? The guy I know sometimes gives his fee away as mass offering, as in reality, he really doesn't need the money. The prostitution topic of course deviated from Atenean bounds, as it is hard to find prostitutes among the middle class I suspect. I could be wrong. Anyway... it's just odd, seeing deviance under a wider scope. I know, there are more intricate stories to tell, but again, I have beeen sheltered in a relatively pristine Catholic bubble. If it wasn't for my quick to wander feet, and the places I've ventured because of them, I would probably be in a seminary right now.

wqerqwQ

The Spectator Incident

I really have to lose weight. A friend of mine took this picture at the recent UE-AdMU game at Araneta. I was in the UE side (since we were there for the DLSU-FEU game), and well... You can see me from the Ateneo side... OMG. I'm on the other side of a 20,000 capacity colliseum, and you can still spot me. How much more of a balyena do you have to be to realize that you need to shed some off? I should wear a billboard on my stomach so I can advertise for a fee. I'd be a good investment. As is seen in the picture, the entire colliseum can see me.

So what happens now? I guess it's back to pesci vegetarianism. Me, fish, vegetables, and brown rice. It's about time I took care of my physical self. Do you guys know of any gyms that are easily accessible, meaning directly in the vicinity of the commute route from Katipunan Ave. to Taft Avenue? I hate the buffy vanity centers, and my slight case of homophobia hasn't helped me in my quest to join a gym either. The blame for that lies on the multiple gay lifestyle blogs I've been reading. It's about time though, to shape up. It'll take a while, but hey, one step at a time.

Sigwa: Sa Pagkwento Ni Haring Habagat

I rode a taxi to school today as a sort of break from yesterday's basang basa sa ulan fiasco (I left school at 7:10 and arrived home at 9:30... that rain sucked). I was in Sta. Mesa, in front of SM Centerpoint, waiting for a taxi. A couple beside me was also waiting for a taxi. They finally got a taxi, and I had to wait about 10 minutes more. I got the same taxi they got. I asked the driver how he came back so quickly. He said, "ah, malapit lang yung pinuntahan ng dalawang lovers. nag checkin lang pala sila sa motel dun sa likod. May Sogo naman doon sa tabi nila kanina, bakit di nalang sila nagpunta doon? sarap nun no?" All I needed to know was that their destination was closeby. His commentary on motels and the pleasure one gets from entering a motel with a lover was unneccessary.

I then proceeded to read my book (Use of Pleasure by Michel Foucault) and a few minutes into the ride, the driver asked me, "Ateneo ka ba?" I had told him that my destination was Katipunan, so I guess he saw the thick book and yellow highlighter and put two and two together. I of course answered "yes," and he proceeded with the questioning that usually came with the discovery of an Atenean. Question one, "Ano course mo, sex?" I was reading the chapter on aphrodesia, and the detailing of pleasure, and he might have peeked a look-see at the text. That wasn't the point though, it's just weird that he would think I took up sex as a major. I would be a Bachelor of Science, major in Sex. I answered that I took Psychology, and that the reading was for one of my classes. Question two, "magkano tuition niyo?" As inappropriate a question as that was, I truthfully answered that I did not know. Question three, "kilala mo si *insert name of basetball player*?"

A few minutes later, we began listening to Monster Radio's Morning Rush with Chico and Delamar. They started talking about underwear. Then at a momentary disgust induced lull, the driver says, "Atenista din yata sila," I of course don't think so, but the clincher statement is, "Sex din yata sila." OMG!!!! I wanted to laugh out loud. Another weird thing, the driver has a valet pass from Embassy (Superclub!) on the dashboard. Manong likes to party :p. Well, in fairness he must be in his late twenties at most.

Sigwa: Sa Pagbisita Ni Haring Habagat

I just had one of those serendipitous moments in the rain today. I've had my share of them, sure, but none seem to be as serendipitous as I could have hoped. Take into account this instance. Remember that however I may act, I still do have a Y chromosome. Screw the bipolar view of sexual orientation. We were both running in the rain. What were the chances that we both ran into each other in the middle of University Drive, me on my way out towards gate 3, and she on ther way into campus grounds. Both of us alone together. There we were, soaking wet, both without umbrellas. I literaly ran into her. She lost her balance. I apologized, we smiled, laughed, and then ran our separate ways. All I need to do now is stalk her, the find out she has a boyfriend. Am I not allowed to have a bit of courage? Am I not bearry cute? (Awuchu, I'm sure even to YOU dear reader, I'm "cute" to some extent.) That was odd. Forgive me. I believe I have watched too many reruns of classic gut wrenching, tearjerking, lovefests. Maybe it's time to give the illusion up for something more substantial. Do I take step one? There comes a time where you're sick of watching the mobile dangle above you, and you decide to stand up and reach for it. Screw the past. Step one, here I come... Maybe.

Fiction or nonfiction? You decide.

Oyeah!

Do I need to mention which side of Araneta I was in? haaay blessing and curse :)

My Shirt and I are in Love

This is my favorite shirt :)

It doesn't look like much, but I love it.

It is of my favorite brand (Lucky Brand)

It was given by my favorite tita (tita Marissa)

It was worn on TV by my favorite character (Marshall)

On my favorite show (How I Met Your Mother)

It retailed for $70

It's for sale on ebay for $10

It keeps me warm.

It's the best.

I love my shirt.

The MikeCab Interviews II

The MikeCab Interviews

(Part 2)

Welcome to the MikeCab Interviews, where we delve into what's been happening in the world of our favorite character of emotionality and mediocrity!

Interviewer: Welcome back Mic!

Mic: It's good to be back, random interviewer person...

Interviewer: You can call me Sid.

Mic: Sid. Hi Sid!

Interviewer: Hi... Anyway! So, how are you and Michel Foucault?

Mic: We... had a falling out.

Interviewer: What happened?

Mic: He... was too intense. I couldn't take the pressure anymore...

Interviewer: Did he... abuse you?

Mic: Yes! Oh, it was horrible... tears in my eyes, endless cups of coffee, and bloodied fingers! The pain... the pain...

Interviewer: There, there... It's over for now... how are you feeling?

Mic: I... I'm fine I think...

Interviewer: Have you moved on?

Mic: No... I know deep in my heart that I will take Foucault back... We'redestined to meet again...

Interviewer:Eh?

Mic: but for the meanwhile, Irvine Welsh and Woody Allen have made great temporary partners.

Interviewer: Are you thinking of going serious with any of them?

Mic: Unfortunately not... I mean Irvine Welsh is GREAT... I mean multiple (intellectual) orgasms per night, true as well for Woody Allen... plus they both make me laugh, which is something I haven't done in a long while, but... They're not the type to take seriously. I mean, I could imagine taking Irvine Welsh seriously, but now is just not the time to do that...

Interviewer: How about Stephanie Meyer?

Mic: We had a few dates... doesn't interest me.

Interviewer: Neil Gaiman?

Mic: I've already used him up. There's nothing more to see really... so unless something new comes up with him, we're done.

Interviewer: The same goes for J.K. Rowling?

Mic: Hehehe, I just used that bitch for fun. I didn't take her seriously at all.

Interviewer: There we go, maybe your experience with Foucault is literary karma.

Mic: Maybe...

Interviewer: Well anyway... It\s gladto see you backon your feet again.

Mic: Yeah, I'm glad for me too.

Interviewer: Any parting words?

Mic: Yes, I would just like to invite everyone to watch "Lipstick" on TV5! Mikee Lee is not cute in person, but the chubby mestiza is.