Around the World in 80 Days, Proverbially Speaking 3

a thug at the Jewish Memorial in Berlin, Germany

Berliner Dom in Berlin, Germany

Germany is almost always our entry point in Europe. Apparently, the embassy gives out cultural visas for free. So if you, in anyway, can dance the singkil, declaim Adios, Patria adorada, or sing an Ilonggot lullaby, why not apply for a Schengen cultural visa at the German embassy? You get a free one, too hehe

Germany = sausage heaven. I'm a fan of sausages (the real ones, you naughty, naughty reader you!), so I got my chops licking whenever bratwurst, liverwurst, weißwurst, etc was served. But the most unusual kind of sausage I ate was currywurst. Basically it's chopped up bratwurst grilled and then powdered with curry. Partnered with real fries, I'll take it anytime over McDo and its ilk anytime.

I love Paris!

Of all the cities I've gone around to, Paris remains the one closest to my heart. It's where I met the man of my dreams, who swept me off my feet when I least expected it. We kissed tenderly in the softest night time drizzles, and we made sweet love until the rising sun made its presence known, peeping through the early morning clouds...

Gumising ka, Maruya.

Mwahahahahaha

The times I've been to Paris, I've always made sure to visit both the tourist traps and the local color of the city. Soaking up all the art and exhibits at the Louvre and Musée d'Orsay, marveling at the Nortre Dame and the Sacre Couer, ogling both at the Palais de Versailles and the Moulin Rouge - feast for the eyes and food for the soul. But it was also equally fascinating to discover neighborhood finds - the flakiest and most buttery croissants, the quaint corner bistros with their handwritten menus and café you can sip all-day long, the weekend market where you can buy the cheapest, freshest, and sweetest cherries and peaches. It's all of these things and much more that definitely makes Paris very memorable for me.

break from all the walking somewhere in Venice, Italy

Snowing it up in the Italian Alps

Audiences all over Europe are very appreciative whenever we do concerts. I found it weird that even if a particular performance sucked, they'd still clap their hounds out. But audiences in Italy are a different lot. Reserved is a word that's non-existent in their vocabulary. They'd shout or even roar in approval if they liked a particular song. In the more quiet passages, it wasn't unusual to see people sniffing and wiping their tears away. It makes me think that there's some truth to the saying that music is universal and transcends any language after all.

Italy is all about pasta, pizza, and gelati. There was a dinner I remember that we were fed platters of the thinnest and crunchiest pizzas I've ever tasted. The Italians would find it amusing that we would slather parmesan cheese all over non-tomato based pasta. Apparently, it's a big no-no. Oh, don't even get me started on gelati! Arrrrgh!!!

Almost 30 countires, and countless cities - yes, I've been around literally. But at the end of the day, I'd still hanker for my own bed in my own house in Manila. Give me adobo, sinigang na baboy, kare-kare, and rice anytime, please. I guess it's my own at person at work: a creature of comfort, where there's nothing sweeter than the thought of home sweet home.

Gary was right. Babalik at babalik ka rin!

Around the World in 80 Days, Proverbially Speaking 2

Old Town in Brussels, Belgium

I just love romping through these parts of any city! We spent the whole morning exploring the nooks and crannies in the old town section in Brussels. I munched on authentic Belgian waffles (almost bready in taste and texture), and loaded up on Belgian chocolates for pasalubong. Bad decision. It took all my creativity to figure out how to store the chocolates in my luggage without them being squashed.

By the way, I couldn't help but look for Patrash! lolz

At the side of the Swedish Royal Palace in Stckholm, Sweden

We arrived in Stockholm aboard a cruise ship. In one of the concerts, word got around that the Swedish choir we were competing against in a few months' time would be watching us. We gave them an eat-that-beeyatch singing that night! hahahaha Though the serious choral tradition has only been around for a generation or so, I'm proud to say that Filipino choirs are much feared and respected in competitions abroad :)

My dad and I shared hours of swapping stories about our Sweden He spent almost a year doing post-grad studies in his field. He told me student experiences. I told him about my midnight escapade with my friend. We snuck out at night, took ferry and train to Copenhagen, drank coffee there, and were back by 7 a.m. just in time for breakfast!

Partying in Torrevieja, Spain

This is the only place I experienced wherein it wasn't unusual for concerts to start at 10:00 p.m. It's a very laid back country, very casual and easy-going. It's prolly the cheapest place in Europe where I could by cigs. For € 2.50 a pack, it's practically a steal!

Callos, torta de patatas, and paella made me miss home very much. In Bilbao, I searched in vain for authentic chorizo de bilbao (no such thing), and in turn, I got by asked people on how much a mantel de manila in the Philipiines is (no such thing either). Pantomining ala charades with some sales ladies, I managed to buy some really kewl abanicos in El Corte Ingles (their SM) :D

Around the World in 80 Days, Proverbially Speaking 1

The best part of what I used to do was that I got to travel around Asia, Europe, and North America singing my ass off. At that time, I'd take it for granted to pack my luggage for months at end. Sure, it was exhausting and grueling to be constantly on the road. But looking back, I was definitely lucky enough to have been be able to go around and see really, really cool stuff.

Here are some of my pics:

freezing our butts off in Seoul, South Korea

For some weird reason, we'd always end up in South Korea during winter time. In the pic above, we just had lunch at a restaurant. Korean bbq stuffed with rice and wrapped in a lettuce leaf is love, but their noodles are way too spicy. Needless to say, I'm not a fan of spicy foods at all.

In one of the trips, we went around South Korea for about three weeks. One thing that consistently impressed me are their auditoriums. Even in the most far-flung towns we went to, there'd always be a fabulous theater with great acoustics. Yes folks, apparently cultural presentations are a big thing in South Korea.

doing the clothed Oblation in the Red Square in Moscow, Russia


the obligatory group shot in front of St. Basil's Cathedral.
Also in Moscow, Russia.

Ah, Russia. One of the dream countries I've always wanted to go to. It was end of spring when we went there, but the temperature was still almost freezing. I think 11 of us shared a sparse apartment with NO hot water running. Never, under any circumstance, take a shower in Russian springtime with hot water. I tried braving it for the first time like a man and ended up screaming like, ermmm, a faggot hahahahahaha

The subway stations in Moscow were replete with murals and chandeliers. It was like going to a museum every time we'd go down and ride a train. One pleasant surprise for me: Russian men are HOT! weeeeee

in the port terminal in Helsinki, Finland

We ended up taking the overnight train to Finland. I'm telling you, nothing more stressful than trying to load forty-plus huge luggages in a train in under a minute or so. I remember though sharing the cabin with my three other voice-section mates, where we did housecleaning among ourselves.

Helsinki was wet and dreary the whole time we were there. It wasn't much fun going around in the dripping rain, hence the lack of decent pics. Of all the oddest things I could've done, I caught the Da Vinci Code in a movie house to kill time. Yes, complete with Finnish subtitles hehehe

Ferragamo or Chucks?

, Shoes come in all shapes, colors, makes, and sizes. Some bite you in the heel no matter how much you break them in. Some are a perfect fit even on the first try.

Some shoes you wear because you have to.

Patented leather, all spic and span. Preferably of European brand and make.

Very fashionable. Trés chic.

But ultimately, you realize that you cannot wear them everyday. Slowly, you find reasons not to wear them everyday.

Too expensive. Save it for a special occasion. Whatever.

You keep in a box in a closet. It is special, after all.

And before you know it, it's out of style. So last season.

Some shoes you wear because you want to.

Nothing flashy. Nothing swanky.

But they are comfortable to walk in. They are so comfortable that you want to wear them everyday. At every occasion possible.

You wear them until the soles are worn out. Until they get holes. Until they get dirty and grimy and muddy.

But you don't care. Because they fit you like a proverbial glove.

Ferragamos are fine and dandy. Nothing wrong with that.

But me? Give me my trusty Chucks anytime.

------
Dedicated to you. And your shoes.

Listahan

Mga kailangan kong gawin:

1. Paliguan si Musa (aso kong Rhodesian Ridgeback). Nangangamoy Musa na kama ko. Oo, Spice, kasama ko si Musa matulog sa kama. Though ang gusto ko talaga, ikaw sana katabi ko ;)




2. Bumili ng baterya ng cordless phone. Di ko tuloy magamit yung Magic Jack na binigay sa akin. San ba nakakabili nun?




3. I-text yung middle blocker namin na maglaro sya sa Sabado para kumpleto kami. Tama si Trip. Ang hirap magbuo ng team para makapaglaro ng volleyball.




4. Bumili ng oven at mga kagamitan pang-bake. Gusto ko talagang matuto magbake ng cake. Seryoso ako. At balak namin ng tropa magluto ng turkey. Yun tipong lalagyan pa ng bacon sa ilalim nung balat para self-basting ang effect. Panalo! Weird ba ang trip namin?

5. Tapusin ang mga librong binabasa ko. Nakatapos ako ng tatlo last week, at itong week inumpisahan ko naman yung Elven nation trilogy. Geek alert!!!





6. Mag-walking kasama si Pkf at Ting Ting Cojuangco sa Ateneo bago sila mag-ensayo. Maghahanap na rin ng makakalantarin doon. Wahahahahahaha




7. Magluto ng adobo na maraming bawang at gamit yung sukang iloko na binili ko nung Holy Week. Sabi nila, masarap daw ang timpla ng adobo pag gumamit ng sukang iloko :D




8. Linisan ng maigi ang kotse. Sumisigaw na sya sa akin, "HUGASAN MO NAMAN AKO, PARANG AWA MO NA!"




9. Bumili ng bagong cross-trainers. Apat na taon ko nang ginagamit yung Nike Max Air ko. Loshang na loshang na sya. Gusto ko sana yung 360, kaso sabi ni Cubao Boy, madali daw pumutok yung ilalim.

10. Maghanap ng jowa....Etchozzzz.

Band of Brothers

Consider this:

A high profile chatter. An independent guy. Tall. Candy to the eye. As straight as you can get. Downs Red Horse like water. Smart. Opinionated once you get him going. Real. Is not afraid to cry. Is there when you really need him. A big baby. Has a huge capacity to love.

Consider this:

A high profile chatter. Gruff and secretive. As straight as you can get. Witty and funny as hell. Padre de familia. Very sensible. Smart. Generous with his resources. Downs anything that remotely resembles alcohol. Real. Will not back off fighting for a worthy cause.

Consider this:

A high profile chatter. Meaty. Very meaty. Smart. Loves to dance in his skimpy undies in front of the cam. A truly sensitive soul. As straight as you can get. Can talk for hours when in the mood. Real. Downs two Long Island iced teas and is a goner. Will go with you anywhere. Literally.

Consider this:

Vigan. Hours in the Lobby. Countless hours spent together sharing life stories. Coffees. Laughter. Heartaches. Bataan. Dinners. Alcohol. Lots of alcohol. Tagaytay. Movies. Emo. Bulacan.

These are my band of brothers. And I drink to that. With Coke Zero. Lots of Coke Zero.

Masks

I am Eternal Wanderer, but yet I am just a mask.

It is not me, but it is still me.

It is not the whole of me, but a part of who I am.

We all put on masks. Different masks to different people. To our parents. To our siblings. To our friends. To our lovers.

Sometimes, we even layer it. One at a time. A careful and calculated construction.

At the end of the day, we take it off.

I take it off.

Only to discover that I am the mask underneath.

Have I become the mask, or has the mask become me?

-----

For you, and what we have talked about.

Five Simple Things I've Learned from Playing Volleyball

"One point¹ at a time lang tayo, o. Kung magkamali, bawi kaagad!"

There's no use dwelling on past mistakes. Just let it go. Don't worry too much with the future, too. Just stay in the moment, stay in the now. Each moment is fleeting and transitory in nature. Once it's gone, you can never bring it back to savor it.


"Kung yung block e nasa harap mo na, pa-check² mo na lang sa kamay. Gawan mo ng paraan!."

No one said that life would definitely be one smooth ride. Obstacles will always be encountered. What matters is that you do something about it. Wag titiklop, wag dadagain, wag papatalo. Walang rebanse³ in real life, walang take two. Think of it very well, and just do it!


"Cover⁴ your spikers. And your blockers as well."

It's all about trust and support. That you'll be there for the people who mean something to you. That those very same people would also be there for you. Kung san ka masaya, suportahan ta ka. Well, as long as you don't step on other people in the process hehehehe


"Talk! Talk! Talk! Bawal tahimik sa loob ng court!"

Open communication is one of the fundamentals in any kind of relationship. Being honest is always the best policy, whether is brutally delivered, or said in a gentle manner. You deserve that from them as much as they deserve it from you.


"There are no bad 1st⁵ balls. Only bad setters."

I take full command responsibility with the choices I make. I can't lay the blame on other people, and neither can I blame external factors. At the end of the day, it's still me who will have to decide. It's my life after all. Integrity will back up and follow through these choices that I make. Hopefully.


-----
¹ The rally point system makes it easy to get a point. Just don't make a mistake, and force the other team to make a mistake.
² The act of hitting the ball off the hands of the opponent's block.
³ In the parlance of pustahang laro, it's the last and determining set. Sometimes, the stakes are raised even higher.
⁴ Staying underneath the your spiker to be able to get the ball just in case it gets blocked back into your own court. Covering your own blocker means rushing in behind them just in case the opponent decides to tip the ball instead of spiking it hard.
⁵ This works on the premise that no matter how the ball is badly received or dug, a really good setter should still be able to give the ball properly to his spikers.

La Divina, Postscript

Maria Callas
(1923–1977)



Vissi d'arte from Puccini's "Tosca"

Vissi d’arte, vissi d’amore, non feci mai male ad anima viva!
Con man furtiva quante miserie conobbi aiutai.
Sempre con fè sincera la mia preghiera ai santi tabernacoli salì.
Sempre con fè sinceradiedi fiori agl’altar.
Nell’ora del dolore perchè, perchè, Signore,
perchè me ne rimuneri così?
Diedi gioielli della Madonna al manto, e diedi il canto agli astri,
al ciel, che ne ridean più belli.
Nell’ora del dolor perchè, perchè, Signor,
ah, perchè me ne rimuneri così?

I lived for my art, I lived for love, I never did harm to a living soul!
With a secret hand I relieved as many misfortunes as I knew of.
Always with true faith, my prayer rose to the holy shrines.
Always with true faith, I gave flowers to the altar.
In the hour of grief, why, why, o Lord,
why do you reward me thus?
I gave jewels for the Madonna’s mantle, and I gave my song to the stars,
to heaven, which smiled with more beauty.
In the hour of grief, why, why, o Lord,
ah, why do you reward me thus?

La Divina

To be particularly honest, I never really caught on the idea of Maria Callas as a great soprano – at least in the beginning. Being the high-note whore I was when I was a kid (sure, some traces of it can still be found nowadays – but I’m digressing), I was utterly shocked with my first aural encounter with her. Owing to the fact that this happened at a very tender and impressionable age of ten, and that my idea of a pretty voice so far was that of Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music, what was coming out of the speakers repulsed me, to put it mildly. The voice had none of the purity and limpidness that I expected from a coloratura soprano. Instead, I was deluged with a darkish, veiled, almost bottled-up kind of sound. Sure, fine, she had high notes. That I couldn’t argue about. But it was produced in such an unorthodox kind way that made my skin scrawl. Let’s put it this way, would you rather be A) crushed under a whole ton of hollow blocks masquerading as a high note or B) suffer a hundred decibels of pure siren-wailing trying to pass itself as a high note? Either choice is equally valid, by the way; because that was the how she sounded to me come high note time. Trust me, the listening session didn’t turn out to be a pleasurable experience as I was hoping it to be. It was mind-boggling experience all right, as in the oh-my-god-why-the-heck-is-she-famous-when-she-sounds-SO-ugly? kind of mind-boggling. Deciding that she was just a hack for all I care (oh, such arrogance of youth), I quickly yanked the tape out of the deck after a few arias, and stored it in the box-that-it-never-to-be-opened-at-any-cost, otherwise known as the baul where my lola stored all precious knick-knacks and what-mays.

Fast forward to the age of the laser disc (okay, I realize that sounded really, really dated). Through the intervening years, I slowly got re-acquainted with the voice of Callas through various live and studio recordings of recitals and complete operas. Sure, she was still sometimes painful to listen, especially when she was lunging at the high notes. Definitely, the voice wasn’t anything remotely beautiful. In fact, for a lot of conservative vocal purists, her physical instrument sounded intrinsically fractured. Anyway, back to the laser disc story. My friend just arrived from the States lugging back a LD of Callas’ Covent Garden performance of Puccini’s Tosca. Since it was a lazy Sunday afternoon, and there was nothing good on t.v., I decided to accept his invitation to hang out and watch the video. As the performance unfurled before the t.v. screen, I was mesmerized. So this was what the Callas myth was all about. Her sheer presence and animal magnetism was very much apparent, throbbing with a palpable force I’ve never encountered before. Never mind the wobbly high notes or her distracting yodeling in and out of her chest voice. Every vocal histrionic was well put into the context of the drama. She ceased to be Callas the prima donna, and became every inch of Tosca, the outraged prima donna character she was portraying. A whole gamut of emotions, from jealousy to pain, from elation to desperation, from tenderness to fury leaped out from the video straight to the core of my being. The performance ceased to be an opera. Rather, it became was a searingly white-hot display of naked emotional truth compressed into about two hours of sheer drama. And yes, Virginia, to put it simply, I was riveted.

So what’s the whole point of the essay? It's a fanboy's personal recollection and tribute to a siner who has justifiably revolutionized opera from the mid-50's onwards. Even after 50-odd years, the reforms of Maria Callas in the operatic scene can still be felt, with the audiences expecting singers to have well-fleshed out characterizations as opposed to the stand-and-deliver approach to singing. She has proved to be a shinning beacon for an opera singer like me on how to approach and deal with the music at hand. Her untimely retirement from the operatic scene has left a void that others have tried to fill. Renata Scotto, Elena Souliotis, Sylvia Sass, and their ilk have taken up Callas' cudgels with various degrees of success. But it stops there, because the is only one Callas, bar none. The Queen is dead, and no one can ever replace her. Viva La Divina! Viva La Callas!

Baby Steps in Writing

How can you kill yourself slowly? Well, I asked a few people about it and I got some kooky answers I'd like to share with you. So here it goes:

First, eat lots of food that is fatty and high in cholesterol. These fats and cholesterol will slowly build up and eventually block your arteries, leading to a stroke or heart attack. Of course, you wouldn't notice anything amiss until IT strikes. Isn't it exciting? Well, as for those "healthy foods, the diet plans, and your subscription to Slimmer's World and Shape Center, junk them because they're definitely no-no's in achieving your goal.

Second, expose yourself to a lot of stress. At every opportunity, drive during rush hours, cram to beat deadlines, and quarrel with everybody in sight. That ought to make you tense enough to make your blood pressure shoot up to high heavens, and, coupled with a bad diet, it would surely drive you to the box early. But, hey, who's rushing? Just shout invectives at the other drivers, kiss and make up with your enemies, and smoke like hell when you're cramming, all to give you a chance of experiencing there nerve-wracking situations again and again!

Third, speaking of smoking, did you know that each stick takes away five minutes from your life? Not only that, you're bound to get cancer sooner or later. That's why you should smoke several packs of cigarettes a day. Regular or menthol, whatever you prefer, but never the light brand. You not only burn money (for those poor-little-rich-people who can't find anything to do with their money), but more importantly, you never notice the effects until the next medical check-up, wherein cute golf-size spots appear in your lung x-ray. Eureka!

These are some of the crazy answers I got to the even crazier question "How can you kill yourself slowly?" Well, it's definitely easier to pull the trigger, or slash the wrists, but, hey, where's all the fun in that?

-----

While I was doing house cleaning, I came across this untitled essay I wrote in 3rd year h.s. It's prolly the earliest specimen of writing I have that still survives. I can't figure out what prompted me to come up with something like this, but apparently the teacher liked it enough to give me more than a decent grade. Apparently, he took a fancy a my stab at satirical/sarcastic writing. To each his own, I guess.

Tripping Down TV Memory Lane 3

Siguro mga 10 yrs. old na ako nung sinabi ni Ermats na pwede na magka-TV sa bahay. Tuwang-tuwa ako kasi bumili si Erpats ng bagong TV. At malaki pa! Kaya nagpakasasa naman ako manood doon. Sa mga panahong yun, may bagong series na pinapalabas sa channel 7. Nagalak ako dahil lalaking hero naman ang pinapanood ko for a change.

Eto sya:

Napakakisig ni He-Man! Nasiyahan akong sulyapin palagi ang
mga muscles nya pag nag-transorm si Prince Adam into He-man.

Hindi nagtagal, e may nilabas din na spin-off na cartoon. Aba, may kambal na babae pala si Prince Adam! At nung nakuha ni Princess Adora ang magical sword at sumigaw ng "For the honor of Greyskull!" sya ay naging:

She-Ra, Princess of Power! At ang paborito kong
kalaban nya ay si Catra. Yung isang kaklase ako sa
grade school, e role-playing kami. Ako si She-Ra,
sya si Catra. Nag-gugulungan kami kakabuntal
sa football field, at sa pag-uwi ko, pinapagalitan
ako palagi ni Ermats dahil gulagulanit na uniform
ko't may mga suga't pasa na rin ako sa buong katawan.

Hindi ko papalampasin na ipakita sa inyo kung paano magtransform si She-Ra:

Needless to say, ang huling balita ko,
bakla na yung kaklase ko na yun.

(Hindi ako badiiiiiing!!! Wag makuliiiiiit!!!!)

Oo, masaya naman ang panonood ko ng TV nung bata ako. Between Electro Woman, Isis, Wonder Woman, at She-Ra, naging makulay ang imahinasyon at mundo ko. Salamat sa kanila, e nagkaroon ako ng role models for the sense of what is right and justice tempered with compassion. Dala-dala ko pa rin sa aking pagkatao ang mga values na ito hanggang ngayon. And without batting an eyelash, masasabi ko na magagandang kaugalian naman ang mga values na ito. So you see, may pinatunguhan naman ang panonood ng mga TV shows na to, di ba?

-----

Naalala ko lang ang lahat ng mga ito dahil sa isang conversation namin ni Totoy Mola. Topic namin kung ano ang mag favorite TV shows namin nung bata kami. Hilig nya yung mga action type. Kwinento ko yun akin. Ang react nya?

Isang gruff at astiging "EW, ang vahklita mo."

Sobrang miss na kita, Tototy Mola. Totoong-totoo yun. Pumunta ka sa Sabado a. Magtatagay ka ng Red Horse at ako naman Coke Zero. At pagsaluhan natin ang ating pagiging magkaibigan.

Related links:
Tripping Down TV Memory Lane 1
Tripping Down TV Memory Lane 2

Tripping Down TV Memory Lane 2

Minsan, kung adik ako, uuwi ako para mananghalian lang, tapos balik sa kapit-bahay sa hapon para manood ng mga ito:

Si Electro Woman at Dyna Girl! Nilalaro namin
yan ng nakababata kong pinsan na babae.
Syempre ako si EW at sya si DG.

Eto sila in action:

Sa awa ng Diyos, yung nakababata kong pinsan
na babae e hiwalay sa asawa 't tibo na ngayon.

May isa pa akong paborito na live-action show. Sa totoo lang, mas gusto ko pa nga ito kesa sa Elecro Woman at Dyna Girl:

Si mighty Isis! Dahil sa kanya, e napabasa
tuloy ako ng lahat na available na libro
sa school library namin tungkol sa
Egyptian mythology. Na ikinagalak
naman ni Ermats kasi mabuti daw yun
para sa ikalalawak ng knowledge ko.
Kung alam lang nya....

Eto sya pag nag-tratransform:

Lumalangoy ako nun sa Ateneo Grade School pool
tuwing Linggo ng umaga kasama si Ermats.
Bago ako tumalon, pose muna ako at bubulong
"O mighty Isis!" sabay dive. Tuwang tuwa si Ermats
dahil kada talon ko, e nagiimprove daw ako ng husto.

Pero sa kanilang tatlo, sya na siguro ang pinaka-paborito ko:

Ang ganda at sexy nya ano? Kasama nya dito
si Wonder Girl, kababata nyang kapatid.

Palibhasa gabi na kung ipalabas yun, kaya sa bahay na lang ng lolo't lola ko na lang ako nanonood nito. Overnight na doon, sabay diretso sa school the next day. Never ko pinalampas yata ang Thursday night na di ko yan papanoorin. Deadma kung may exam the next day. Karay-karay ko ang review materials, notes, at mga libro sa bahay ng lolo't lola ko. Sabay kami nanonood ng isa ko pang nakababatang pinsan na babae. Minsan, habang nanonood kami nagtanong sya, "Kuya, ba't ba ang hilig mo manood ng Wonder Woman?" Ang pa-utal kong sagot e "Uhmm... ah...ermmm...kasi mahilig ako sa invisible jets e." Ay jusme. Ano ba namang sagot yun?

Ganito mag-transform si Wonder Woman:

Nahihilo ako tuwing ginagaya ko sya
mag-transform. Pero kahit ilang ikot gawin
ko, kahit gaano kabilis, di ako magi-maging
Wonder Woman. Nagtataka na lang si Ermats kung
bakit ako napapatakbo sa banyo at sumusuka sa hilo.

(Hindi ako bading sabi e. Lalaki ako. Promise.)

Related links:
Tripping Down TV Memory Lane 1
Tripping Down TV Memory Lane 3

Tripping Down TV Memory Lane 1

Nung bata ako, medyo may kahiligan akong manood ng TV. Pero palibhasa banned ang TV sa bahay ayon sa kautusan ni Ermats, e sa kapit-bahay na lang ako nakikinood. Buti na lang, mabait sila. Kaya tuwing sabado ng umaga, nanood kami ng mga kalaro ko doon ng Saturday Fun machine sa channel 9.

Ito ang mga ilan sa mga paborito ko na cartoons sa Saturday Fun Machine:

Si Shmoo. Di ko na maalala kung ano sya,
pero natatandaan ko na naaliw ako sa kanya.


Si Space Ghost. May mga sidekick sya. At
yung mga sidekick nya, may sidekick din.
Blue na unggoy! San ka pa?!

Mahaba yung Saturday Fun Machine. Siguro mga tatlo o apat na oras na sunod-sunod na cartoons ang pinapalabas. Pero sa lahat ng mga cartoons, ito na siguro yung pinakapaborito ko:

Super Friends! Nandyan pa si Marvin, Wendy, at Wonderdog!
Pero ang naalala kong pumasok sa isip ko nun e,
"Ano kaya ang pakiramdam sumakay sa invisible jet ni
Wonder Woman at gumamit ang magic lasso nya?"

(Hindi ako bakla. Lalaki ako.)

Related links:
Tripping Down TV Memory Lane 2
Tripping Down TV Memory Lane 3