Eternal Wanderer is Grateful

Thank goodness, I'm over that nasty bump.  I hate it when episodes like those occur. They're nasty, and absolutely ruin my long, flaxen locks perfectly coiffed into a sweeping french twist.

Humpft.

Raw

You see the edge of a blunt blade as you slowly bring it to your wrist.

It starts with a dull sensation as the blade goes back and forth across the thin skin. 

Then comes the searing pain; the skin finally rips.  You know it is coming, yet a part of you is still caught off-guard by the immediacy of the sensation. 

The Felony of Martha Stewart

 Glenn Close is acting up again.

I woke up from my afternoon siesta to the sounds of my mom playing Spider Solitaire on my desktop. As I groggily reached for my cigs on the desktop, she paused her game, faced me and said, "Let's talk."

I immediately lighted a stick and sat down across her.

Eternal Wanderer Says 1

Kung gusto mo ng kanin, kelangan mong mag-saing.

Tawagin Mo Akong Ligaya: The G4M Adventures 2

Tawagin Mo Akong Ligaya: The G4M Adventures 1

Isang gabi, magkasabay kami ni Cubao Boy na nagchat sa lobby ng G4M.  Napansin ko na abala syang chinachat.  E shempre, nag-oshoso ako. Ako fa! May cam ang kolokoy na nakulitan ni CB, so clinick ko.

Ay. Teh, naka-shorts sya. At sando. Sight na sight ko ang arms nya. And mind you, biceps pa lang, ulam na. Ang sarap papakin! *tulo laway*

Aba, magpapahuli ba ako kay CB? Of course not! Naki-eksena ako.

Ternie: Hoy, CB, pakilala mo naman ako sa kausap mo.

CB: Ay. Chege. Eternal Wanderer, meet Pilosopo. Pilosopo, meet Eternal Wanderer.

Pilosopo: Hi, Eternal Wanderer!

Ternie: Oh, please you're too formal. Do call me Ternie. I'm dalisay, busilak, and mayumi. And you're smokin' hot.

Nakita kong natawa sya on cam. Bumenta yata ang hirit ko.

Pilosopo: Sure, sure. Lemme do that again. Hi Ternie, I'm Tasyo. You wana go private on YM? *winks*

Aw.

Yayaaaaaaaaa, where's my clip naaaaaaa? Make hawi naman my golden, flaxen locks because it's getting long eeeeeh!

Tawagin Mo Akong Ligaya: The G4M Adventures 3

Random Notes to Some Bloggers

Sa aking Kabit, na-miss na kita sobra! Pwede bang ako na lang mag-manage sa mga panadero mo???

Sa aking Kalangitan, fakers will go to hell, pwamis! MWAHAHAHAHAHA

Sa aking Vulcan, relak lang ok? Mashado mong pinu-push saili mo. Mmmwaaaaaah

Sa aking Miley Cyrus, alagaan mo ang iyong buko. Kundi ako ang iinum nyan! BWAHAHAHAHA

Sa aking Fashion Institute, kakalurkey ang image mo ngayon! Impeyrnez, very chorvah!

Sa aking Napag-apuyan, magparamdam ka naman ;)

Sa Tres Marias, nag-enjoy ako sa kape natin noon. Napaka-stimulating at free-flwoing ang mga kwento't diskusyon! Mariang Makiling, di pa rin ako naniniwala na busy-busyhan ka. Busy-busyhan sa booking pa ako maniiwala nyahahaha. Mariang Sinukuan, wag ka na-emote, ok? Mariang Palad, sino na naman bago mong inaalembong?!

Sa aking Boy Jakulero, hinay-hinay lang. Nakakabulag daw ang pagtitikol. Baka tumaas lalo grado ng salamin mo!

Sa aking Dikya, once a dikya, always a dikya lolz Hayaan mo, inuman tayo one of these days ;)

The Futility of a Dialogue

L'amour en rose

The solitary rose was lying on the table when I woke up. I had completely forgotten about putting it in the flower vase as my mind was preoccupied when I arrived home.

As I examined it, I noticed the blemishes were starting to set in. It was just a rosebud, its petals not yet fully open. "Now, I guess it'll never fully bloom," I mused to myself "just like you and I."

The Embedded Memory in Comfort Food

Everyone has his or her own  idea of what comfort food is.  It is highly subjective; most of  the association stemming  from pleasant  and memorable childhood experiences. For us Filipinos, what food could give more comfort than our own cuisine?  For some, it may be a bowl of pipping-hot sinigang na baboy, the meat and fat quivering in its softness, the vegetables green and crunchy, and the soup so sour  that one can't help but shudder in delight.  For others, it may be the humble adobo, be it saucy or dry, dark or light, sour or salty.  Eggs and potatoes are optional of course, but it is always best if it's lovingly cooked at home.

Masarap Ba ang Baygon?

Naalala ko yung isang tropa ko nung h.s. Hindi sya katangkaran masyado, pero gwapo't balbunin. Machong macho, tisoyin, at tipong habulin ng mga babae.  Pag mga soiree namin with Assumption, St. Scho,  Holy Spirit, STC, at Miriam, e sya siguro ang isa sa mga pinaka-popular sa mga  kerengkeng na pechay.  Di mapagkakaila na chickboy na chickboy sya.

Sya ay isang chick na mahilig sa boys.

In Search Of is Experiencing Technical Difficulties

Of all the darn things that could happen, the hard disk of my desktop bricked on me.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

And to think I was about to buy a new external hard disk just to back up the friggin' data.

Aaaaaaaaargh.

Will be back as soon I sort out this thing.

Roadkill of a Heart

No recriminations, no bitterness. I understand where you're coming from.

It may not have been grand, it may not have been a lot, but I'd like to believe there was SOMETHING. It was that something that fueled all those times I chose to keep you company through the night. It was that something that fueled my patience in trying to adjust to who and what you are.  It was that something the fueled my acceptance of our difficult situation.

In Search Of, One Year Later

When I created this blog way back in 2007, I never really expected that I would be able to sustain writing continuously. True enough, I did not, except for a couple of entries. In fact, I never even wrote a single post in 2008.

Tawagin Mo Akong Ligaya: The G4M Adventures 1

May ipagtatapat ako.

Naadik ako sa kaka-chat noon sa late and lamented na G4M lobby. Minsan, inaabot ako ng 8 oras na dire-diretsong pagcha-chat doon.  Nakaka-aliw naman kasi. Iba't ibang personalities ang makikilala. May kwela, may tahimik, may makulit, at may mga naglalakihang *toot*

Height Is Might: The Russian Women's Volleyball Team 1

As I have written about my favorite Las Morena del Caribe here and here, let me now share another volleyball team that perhaps was the thorniest rival the of the Cubans at the turn of the century: the towering Russian women’s national volleyball team.

The iconic players of Russia: Lyubov Sokolova on the left, and Ekaterina Gamova on the right.  Both shift between the opposite and outside hitter positions.  Like I said before, Sokolova, 6'3.5", is perhaps the compleat player to have emerged from the Russian team. She was outstanding in all the volleyball fundamentals save probably in setting.  At 6'7.5", Gamova is probably the tallest woman player active in the international volleyball scene.  Her intimidating block is extremely effective when she is the opposite position directly in front of the outside hitter on the other side of the court.

The Unbearable Lightness of Haiku

Haiku (俳句, haikai verse) listen (help·info), plural haiku, is a form of Japanese poetry, consisting of 17 moras (or on), in three metrical phrases of 5, 7, and 5 moras respectively.^[1] Haiku typically contain a kigo, or seasonal reference, and a kireji or verbal caesura. In Japanese, haiku are traditionally printed in a single vertical line, while haiku in English usually appear in three lines, to parallel the three metrical phrases of Japanese haiku.^[2] Previously called hokku, haiku was given its current name by the Japanese writer Masaoka Shiki at the end of the 19th century.

- culled from Wikipedia

Papaitan Recipe (Dahil Ubos na ang Ampalaya) Quote # 6

"Wag kang mag-inarte. Hindi ka kagandahan."

P.S. Ito na ang huli sa serye na ito. Disclaimer lang po: hindi lahat ng tugon e galing sa akin. o sinabi ko sa totoong buhay. Credit goes to other bloggers na kampon din pala ni Bitter Ocampo hahahaha

The Heisenberg Principle of Uncertainty – I So Don’t Get It (A Re-Post)

"Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose."
"The more things change, the more they stay the same."

- old French proverb

Call me staid (read: boring), and old-fashioned (read: inflexible), but change isn’t my cup of tea. Really. I dunno, but I’d rather prefer the sun to rise every morning I get up. Not that it hasn’t risen at all (knock on wood), but I imagine if it doesn’t, then my whole ordered and predictable world will come crashing down. Of course I’m exaggerating, but it brings me my whole point: why change your status quo when there’s no assurance that the precipitating change will be for the better?

Jakpat!

No, hindi ako nanalo nung P200+ million na jackpot last week. Wish ko lang no!  Pero paano ba naman ako mananalo e di naman ako tumaya hehehehe In fairness, niyaya ako ni EB na mag-bet nung nasa SM San Lazaro kami last week, pero naisip ko, jusme, ibibili ko na lang ng yosi yung pera.  Si EB na lang ang tumaya tuloy. Well, obviously, di sya ang nanalo.

Belat ka EB. At least ako, may apat na packs ng yosi nyhahahaha

In fairness, napagtanto ko, e kung tumaya nga ako at nanalo, anong gagawin ko sa P200+ million?  Eto ang listahan that I came up with:

Nauubusan na Ako sa Paraan ng Pagluto ng Ampalaya Quote #5

Tugon sa tanong "How was your Valentine?"

...

P.S. Maari rin isagot ang tugon ni Yj.

The Imaginarium of Eternal Wanderer

In the imaginarium of Eternal Wanderer, he sees the perfect set-up at home: his father and mother are still together, the sun is up and shining, and there is no rancor and resentment; all is peace and quiet at home.

Alas, the imaginarium only exists in the movie. Eternal Wanderer lives in real, and not reel life.

Four Things I Learned While Doing Math

Lately, I've been tutoring math to a h.s. kid who's studying at the British School Manila. I was looking over the textbook they use and immediately noticed there was a huge difference between the way the subject was being taught. I've been used to handling curricula that covers a lot of topics, but only on the same subject for the whole year or the whole semester. The British School, on the other hand, covers a smattering of different math subjects over the entire school year, i.e. a little of algebra, geometry, statistics, trigonometry, etc.

Admittedly, it was jarring to me at first. I mean, it would be kind of confusing for me to juggle factoring polynomials for a week or two and then suddenly shifting to calculating the angles of a polygon. As I was discussing this situation with another educator, he pointed out that it may actually be beneficial to kids who have a short attention span. In this manner, there would be a variety of topics covered, and boredom due to monotony could be avoided.

Sarciadong Ampalaya Quote #3

Tugon sa tanong "How's your love life?"

"Ano yun?"

Ampalaya con Carne Quote # 2

Tugon kapag inecha-pwera:

"Lalaki ka lang. Kayang-kaya kita palitan."

Charantiya Tea Quote # 1

Tugon sa "I hope we still can be friends."

"Marami na akong kaibigan. Di ko kailangan ang isa pang tulad mo."

Take a Silly Online Test, Get an Interesting Result

On one of my blog-hopping sprees, I came a cross a personality test that kinda looked *blah*. But since I really didn't have anything to do, I decided to take it anyway.

Whadya know, it actually gave interesting results.

Bomba Star Ako!

Nasa isang bubong na naman ang parentals ni Eternal Wanderer.  Mej weird ang set-up, pero kehri na rin.  May perfect opportunity tuloy  sya na i-contrast and compare ang ugali ng kanyang Popsy at Mom.

Ang Popsy ni Eternal Wanderer ay liberal na tao. Hindi nya mashado pinakikialaman ang buhay ni Eternal Wanderer.  Easy going at nagsasalita lang si Popsy pag kailangan.

Pero ang Mom ni Eternal Wanderer ay isang different animal all together. Napaka-coservative ni Dña Mudra del Vagabundo Eterno Quién es Puro Immaculado y Modesto!

Mothers and Sons 3

"Anak, are you hungry?", my mother asked me while I was busy writing stuff in front of the computer.

"Mmmmm," I grunted a non-committal reply.

-----

Ever since my mother arrived along with her adopted daughter, I've been extra sullen and moody. A lot of my talking either has been reduced to monosyllables or to shakes and nods of the head. I think she's been chucking it up to my artistic temperament; one time, she even patted my cheeck and said I'm starting to take after Popsy with the way I communicate.

Lost in Transliteration

A few years ago, I was loitering around the streets in a southern German town when I realized my lighter went kaput on me.  Desperately needing a puff, I spied a hottie guy smoking, and approached him to ask for a light.

"Haben sie ein Licht?," (Do you have a light?) I asked flirtatiously politely.

He gave a puzzled stare.

I repeated, "Haben sie ein Licht?," and did an accompanying pantomime of clicking a lighter.

Lights! Camera! Action!

Nagdalamhati si Eternal Wanderer at nag-drama sya ng husto.

Binoycott nya ang blogosphere, ang YM, at Fezbook ng dalawang linggo.  Di rin nya pinipick-up ang cell nya, at di rin sya sumasagot sa text pwera kung importante talaga. In fact, balak nya talaga lumisan sa mundo't pumasok sa kumbento ng mga fink zeezterz.

Pero nakakalurkey pala ang ginagawa ni Maricel Soriano, ano?  Nakakapagod maghihihikbi't maglululupasay habang humagulgol.

Untitled 2

it takes maturity to make a relationship work; 
even more maturity to end it graciously

Thank you.

-----
Close friends are dismissive of the whole affair because I almost never talked about him. I wanted to keep everything low-key, and kept what was really between us private. They will never genuinely fathom how much he meant to me.

And yes, it hurts. 
It hurts like no words can describe it.
The pain is real, the loss is palpable.
Another deep wound in the weary and battle-scarred heart.

C'est fini la comédie

C'est fini
C'est fini la comédie
Tout avait commencé
Comme une pièce à succès
Dans le décor tout bleu
D'un théâtre de banlieue
Nous n'étions que nous deux

Maala-Ala Mo Kaya ang Iyong Kabaklaan 4 (Pwamis, Johnny Cursive, Huling Kabanata Na 'To!)

Maala-Ala Mo Kaya ang Iyong Kabaklaan 3

Ate Charo, hindi naman po ako isang Laila Chikadora para sabihin na may nangyari sa amin ni Albert Martinez.  Though looking back, doon ko po napagtanto na kakaiba po pala ako.  May lihim na pagnanasa po ako sa kapwa kong lalaki.  Pero okay lang po yun, ayon sa aking mga magulang.  Ang bilin lang ni Popsy e practice safe sex daw at wag magda-drugs.  Since masunurin po akong bata, isa sa kanyang mga tuntunin ang aking masigasig na sinusundan. Hulaan nyo na lang po kung ano iyon.

Maala-Ala Mo Kaya ang Iyong Kabaklaan 3

Maala-Ala Mo Kaya ang Iyong Kabaklaan 2

Juspolord, Ate Charo, natulala po ako napaka-gwapo itsura nya! Naaalala ko na naka puting sando sya at faded na masikip na maong na tila may tubo ng pvc na nakabakat sa harap.

O.a. na po ako.

Pero totoo na ang puti-puti nya at may matching may-I-smile-with-dimples drama pa.  Tila tuloy may humaplos sa aking puso at tumbong sa aking natanaw right in front of me.

Putang Ina, Pwede Ba 'Wag Sumigaw?!

And to start your Monday off, let me intoduce a really sophisticated lady:

Now, THAT's what you call the paragon of a class act.

Have a great week, y'all! :D

Maala-Ala Mo Kaya ang Iyong Kabaklaan 2

Maala-Ala Mo Kaya ang Iyong Kabaklaan 1

Pero okay lan yun, Ate Charo.  If truth be told, mas gusto ko po talaga kalaro yung mga babae kong kapit-bahay.  Enjoy na enjoy po ako sa tuwing kami ay mag-chinese garter at jackstone.  Tuwang-tuwa sila lalo na kapag nagbabahay-bahyan o doktor-doktoran kami kasi merong gaganap na tatay at doktor.  Pero naaalala ko, naiinis ako dahil nakakasawang gampanan ang role ng doktor palagi.  Ang gusto ko po talaga ay ako  po yung pinunong nars na nakaputing cap at matching stockings.  Ayoko namang maging nanay.  Napaka-bargas na nun. Baka palayasin din nila ako sa laro tulad nung  sa mga lalaki.  Sabihin pa nung mga babae e nang-aagaw ako ng eksena.

Maala-Ala Mo Kaya ang Iyong Kabaklaan 1

Nagtataka si Eternal Wanderer.

Kamo daw, ano ang nakain ng mga bloggers at nagkalat ang mga istorya ukol sa kanilang paglaladlad.  Meron kay Johnny Cursive, kay Engel, at sa baklitang Lukayo.

Aba, aba, aba! Magpapatalo ba ang Eternal Wanderer? Shempre hindi noh. Kaya dali-dali syang kumuha ng papel at ballpen, at sa kanyang kahig-manok na handwriting, e sumulat sya ng liham sa palabas na Maala-ala Mo Kaya.

Die Blume, Der Tod, und Der Mann

with apologies to Robert Schumann and Franz Schubert

Today, I woke up early and attended the funeral mass for the dad of a good friend of mine.

Azrael was kind this time around. It was the time of the moon when he decided to minister his angelic duties to Tito.  It was a peaceful passing.  Tito was reposed in sleep, and quietly slipped into the night.

On Symbols and Signs

In the symbol entry culled from Wikipedia, a symbol is defined as "something such as an object, picture, written word, sound, or particular mark that represents something else by association, resemblance, or convention." An abstract idea or concept and its corresponding realization are joined together to form a symbol.  This synthesis is evident from the etymology of the ancient Greek word symbolon, meaning "to throw together," a literal "co-incidence" between two halves of the same whole.

Taking the Cup of Kindness

And on the last day of 2009, Eternal Wanderer bids 2009 a good riddance goodbye, and wishes eveyone a joyful incoming 2010!

Cheers to you, guys and gals!

UST Singers Alumni of America featuring their quintessential soprano, Joan Cano

The Year that is About to Pass

A roller coaster year.

Cagbalete. The Great Flood. Mom's visit. Band of brothers. Binondo. Relatives ahoy. Hello Kitty. Bohol. Blogging. Loss. Generosity of spirit. Learning.  La Union. Blogger friends. Injury. Cebu. Happiness. Vigan. Tampuhan. SF. Spice. Desktop suvives. Bataan.  Teaching. Musa survives. Triumph.

Life.

Now, I welcome 2010 with open arms.

A Christmas Carol

"Look around about and see, 
what a world of wonder this world can be!"

Despite a rough year, this is the perfect time to remember that there are still plenty of things to be grateful for.

With this performance he sang at, Eternal Wanderer wishes all his family, friends, and readers, and his Hello Kitty, a truly meaningful season.

A Merry, Merry Christmas to you all!

Comments on the Comments of a Post

My my my, Ewik, one of my favorite bloggers, seemed to have stirred a hornet's nest with his post on the transaction of some trannie tricks in a coffeshop.  Actually, it was Rudeboy's equally provoking commentary that added (a LOT of) fuel to the fire.  I'll try to avoid the fray in Ewik's comments section and chip in my thoughts on this post instead.

Avatar, or The Amazing Dumb Blondness of Eternal Wanderer

Eternal Wanderer is such a ditzy dumb blond.  He was at Trinoma last Saturday to have his usual movie date with EB.  Actually, EB didn't really want to go out of his house, but all that Eternal Wanderer had to do was flip make wagaway his long flaxen locks at EB, and voila, EB was out of his house in no time.

That always does the trick! teehee

Anyhoo, Eternal Wanderer was pretty much excited to watch the movie.  Come to think of it what was more fun that watching something about the likes of instant chat messaging and the wonderful world of Yahoo?  He thought he could pick up ideas on how to dress up and style his image on the upper right side corner of the YM chat window.

Paskong Walang Hanggang

Tinanong mo sa akin kung ano ang gusto ko
upang mapaligaya ang aking Pasko.
Bakit mo pa kaya kailangan sabihin sa akin 'yan,
para naman kasi hindi mo pa alam.

Ang aking araw-araw ay iyo ng iniba
mula pa nung ikaw ay aking nakilala.
Pinasayaw ang ikot ng aking munting mundo,
binigyan ng dahilan ang bawat oras at minuto.

The Story of My Art 3

The Story of my Art 2

On the day itself, I deliberately refrained from running through the two pieces.  Some of the members were asking expecting a full run.

I said no.

I told them, "We have been practicing for the past five weeks.  What would another run though do except tire you out?  Everything that was needed to be learned was already covered.  I'm not asking you to be perfect, but what I'm asking for is that you give your best shot when you go onstage.  I'm doing this because I have to trust that I taught you well.  I have to trust that you will perform with all honesty and integrity.  I have faith that you will deliver, so you have to have faith in yourselves."

The Story of My Art 2

The Story of my Art 1

It was an uphill battle from the start for the choir and me.  Given the fact that the pool of auditionees was limited to members of the organization, to say that there were scant options is an understatement.  Nonetheless, I personally listened to those who auditioned, and handpicked people who had  sharp ears and good tonal memory.  The rehearsal period was very short, and I'd really rather have a group who  were fast learners rather than singers with beautiful voices.

My gamble paid off.  We finished off the piece of our choice in three days.  I was excited with the fact that I managed to secure the permit of the arranger of the score to have the group do the Philippine premiere.  It was actually a commissioned work for a foreign choir; another Filipino choir had sung it, but only performed it abroad.  Luckily, I was also able to ask the choirmaster of that ensemble to allow us to premiere the work here in the Philippines. With his blessings, he gave the go signal.

The Story of My Art 1

I spent the whole night tossing and turning because of all the mounting tension.  When I finally did,  sleep proved to be fitful and restless.  I was fully expecting to wake up filled with panic and anxiety. However, as I opened my eyes a few hours later, the sun was up and shining bright.  I surprisingly felt serene and composed.

A good omen, perhaps?

I assured myself, "Today is a good day to win."

Eternal Wanderer Lives in Melrose Place

I had a most interesting call yesterday afternoon.  I chatted for prolly a good hour with the former long-time partner of Popsy.  Mom excepted, of all the women in my dad's life, that former partner is the one I'm closest to.  I was actually saddened when Popsy and her broke up because I really, really like her.  Now, Popsy has a new girlfriend, and I think the former partner is also with someone else right now. Just like my mom, former partner and my dad are kewl. She's even kewl with his new girlfriend.

All's well that end's well right?

Enter Madame Claudia Selina Powers.  But call her Glenn Close, for short.

Ang Pangbubukas sa Pangangalakal ni Eternal Wanderer

Si Eternal Wanderer ay nag-moment ng dalawang gabi. Hindi nya alam kung bakit. Nakakalurkey ang ganun.

Pero positive sya na tao. Sabi nya sa sarili nya, "Naku tama na ang emo. Keribelz lang umemo, pero wag aalagaan mashado.  Baka maging babu ni Janice lang yan!"

Kaya hayun.  Pumunta na lang si Eternal Wanderer sa YouuChoob at yumuyog sa tugtuging ito:

E di bonggang bongga ever ang kasiyahan si Eternal Wanderer! At in fairview, production number kung production number si Ate Guy a. Si Fafa Lloyd Samartino, ang wafu wafu naman!

Tara, Hello Kitty, yugyugan na tayo! weeeeeeee

P.S.

Sa mga nag-akala, e hindi ang sagot ni Eternal Wanderer. Hindi sya nalungkot dahil kay Hello Kitty noh.

Kaya John Stan and Xtian, mga echozerang froglette kayo!

hahahhahaha

Untitled 1

It's 3:30 a.m.

And Eternal Wanderer is experiencing.

Profound loneliness.

Random Musings of a Sleep-Deprived Mind

1. Honking you car in unmoving traffic may ease your tension, but does it ultimately get you anywhere? 
2. Sophistication is an art.  It can always be learned.  However, no amount of money can buy breeding.  Ever. 
3. Forcing your own beliefs, standards, and philosophies on others is a splendid way to alienate people.
4. Lovers come and go, but you can always count on genuine friendship. 
5. Advice dished out is but a recommendation.  If followed, well and good.  If not, don't make it your problem. Trust that the person is fully capable of leading his or her own life.
6. Do we really need this much noise in our lives?
   
7. Affection is always free to give and free to accept.  The giver offers it with with no price tag, and the receiver does not look for any fine print.
8. Politeness and charm unlock doors faster than being loutish and obnoxious.
   
9. Try to ask, "What am I getting out of it?" the moment you're tempted to harbor negative feelings.  You might be surprised with the answer/s that you'll come up with.
   
10. Opening the heart to the wonders of loving and being loved can be scary; choosing to be cold and barren emotionally can be even scarier.
11. I miss my Hello Kitty hihihihihihi
    

What Time is the Last Train Out of Here?

It was the holiday season once again.  Traffic and a multitude of crowds choked the city.  I was pretty hesitant to venture out on the streets to do the obligatory Christmas shopping.  But hey, it only comes once a year, right? I might as well show my appreciation to the folks that matter to me.

I decided to take the MRT instead of the bringing the car.  It was more convenient to do so.  No need to wade through the cars piled up on the streets.  No need to go around in circles in the parking building in hope of finding an empty slot.  All I had to do was hop on a coach, and I'd be on my merry way to the mall.

Mothers and Sons, Redux

Tonight, I brought my mom to the airport.

She spent a good three weeks here at the house where my father and I live.  It was actually a preliminary trip to prepare for her impending retirement come next year.  She went about her business of seeing to whatever things that may be needed when she finally returns for good.

At first, I was hesitant about the idea of her living with my dad and I.  After all, she has been gone for a very long time.  Like I said before, I may have already forgotten how it is to be a son to her, and she might have already forgotten how it is to be a mother to me.

Define Lusaw Ang Utak

There are days you can just write about anything you fancy.

And there are days you just draw a blank.

You stare at the screen. Until your eyes water up. Nothing comes out of of your head.

Brain-melt days. This is one of them.

Dammit. Dammit. Dammit.

Crap.

I prolly need more scratching from Hello Kitty.

HAHAHAHAHAHA

The Lusting of Eternal Wanderer

Si Eternal Wanderer ay tunay na dalisay, busilak, and mayumi.  Sa totoo lang, maraming naiingit sa pagiging ganun nya.  Nangunguna na dito si Yj.  Pero okay lang yun Yj. Libre naman ang mangarap, di ba?

Wahahahaha

Jowk lang Yj a. Peace tayo, sis!

Nung nag-umpisa syang magsulat ng blog, wala kamuang-muang sa mga makamunduhan na pamamalakad si Eternal Wanderer.  Pero ng 'di mag-laon, namulat ang mga kanyang mga mata sa mga samu't-saring kahalayan na umiikot sa blogosphere.  Salamat kay Jay Vee, Lukayo, at Ash, nag-mistulang Eva Fonda Eba si Eternal Wanderer - isang Eba na nakakagat sa mansanas ng gawaing laman na kailanman e di pa nya nararanasan.

Susmariosep! Kapag malaman ang mga gawing ito ng kanyang  Mamá at Papá, e baka tanggalin sya ng mana.  Hindi pa yata handa ang laking kumbentong Eternal Wanderer na maglalalakad sa kalye't maging kalapating mababa ang lipad.

Pero okay lang yun.  Kasi ngayon, tuwang-tuwa si Eternal Wanderer na makaranas ng mga kahindik-hindik na pagnanasa para sa bagay na ito:

Ang light-saber ni Rudeboy

Mainit-init. Nakakapaso. Aw!

A Message to You

As the sun is setting, and the dusk slowly unfolds her cloak upon the dimming firmament, I stop to hearken to what my heart is murmuring.

It is but a simple yearning, whispered in the recces of my soul:

"Sana nandito ka para mayapos kita ng mahigpit sa aking piling."

-----
The time was brief, but I would have not exchanged those moments for anything else in the world.

I miss you.  I really do.

Las Morenas del Caribe 2

One thing that distinguishes the Cuban team is their use of the the 6-2 system.  As opposed to the standard 5-1 system which uses one full-time setter and 5 hitters, the 6-2 employs two setters and 6 hitters.  Both setters are diagonal to each other; whoever is at the back acts as the primary setter, while the one in front acts as a hitter.  Once the setter at the back rotates upfront, he or she becomes the an attacker, and the opposite who has now rotated to the back becomes the primary setter.  What makes up for the stilted setting is the fact that at any given time, there will always be 3 attackers in front of the net.  It is this system that the Cuba has perfected, turning the setters into ferocious hitters at the expense of unimaginative and predictable setting decisions.

Lilian Izquierdo (lower right) and Marlenys Costa (upper right), along with Tanya Ortiz, Raisa O'Farill, were the setter-hitters of Cuba during the early to mid- 90's.  With the arrival of Taimarys Aguero post-Atlanta Olympics, she and Costa became the deadly duo opposite each other until the Sydney Olympics.  In 1997, Cuba experimented with running a 5-1 system with Aguero as the full-time setter. But after a year, it was dropped and they returned to the usual 6-2 formation.

For Anthony

Dear Anton,

Wow, it's been a while hasn't it?  I'd offer a thousand and one excuse for not writing you at all, but hey, better late than never ehehehehe

Las Morenas del Caribe 1

I already introduced to you some of my favorite Cuban players, Mireya Luis and Taimarys Aguero, in this my previous post about volleyball 101.  But allow me to delve deeper into las Cubanas and their team that overwhelmingly dominated the international volleyball scene in the 90's.

Regla Bell, on the right, and Yumilka Ruiz, on the left, were the other starting outside hitters  (OH) for Cuba during the 90's.  Bell is unusual because she is a left-handed OH when most southpaws are assigned as opposite (utility) hitters.  Ruiz took over the starting position of Mireya Luis, and remained with the team until the Beijing Olympics.

Cubao Boy + EB + Eternal Wanderer = Astro Gheys

May ilang buwan nang hindi nakapanood si Eternal Wanderer ng sine.  Ang huli pa yatang napanood nya na sine ay UP. Matagal-tagal na rin iyon.  Kaya nung nagyaya manood ng sine si EB, e sige lang go lang ng go kahit may trabaho.

(hango sa conversation sa YM ni Eternal Wanderer at EB)

Para sa Iyo. Oo, Ikaw!

Alam kong binabasa mo ito. At ito lang ang masasabi ko.

Isa kang malaking ganito:

Sapol sa noo!

AHAHAHAHAHA

Two

A man offered to pay a sum of money to his twelve-year-old daughter if she mowed the lawn. The girl went at the task with great zest and by evening the whole lawn had been beautifully mowed-well, everything except a large uncut patch of grass in one corner.

When the man said he couldn’t pay the sum agreed upon because the whole lawn hadn’t been mowed, the girl said she was ready to forego the money, but would not cut the grass in the patch.

Spices, Star Treks, and Sanrios

In his never-ending quest for his Prince Charming, Eternal Wanderer has had a good share of home runs, near hits, and awful misses.  However, this year, he has managed to break a personal record of sorts.  He actually found two people he really, really liked.  Of course, whether they really, really liked Eternal Wanderer back is another matter altogether.  Teehee :P

For those who have been reading the blog of Eternal Wanderer since about the start of the year, Spice is some sort of motif that crops up again and again in his writings.  They sort of got together early this year, and that made Eternal Wanderer extremely happy.  But alas, some good things come with an expiry date.  But nonetheless, he's fond of Spice.  He honestly is.  He's fond of Spice so much that he still meets up with him whenever Spice is in town.  They hang out and do lotsa fun stuff.  And Eternal Wanderer will resist the urge to elaborate what the fun stuff is because it's gonna be too TMI-ing again hahaha

Philippines, My Philippines

Remember my uncle who visited sometime last month?

He's a columnist for an online newspaper, and wrote about his recent trip to the Philippines here, here, and here.

I understand where he's coming from. He's been staying in the States for almost a good four decades or so. Chances are, his memories of the Philippines are frozen in time. And I don't blame him if he sees what he left all those years ago radically changed. That's putting it mildly.

It is true that many places in the Philippines, especially in the highly urbanized centers, may not be pleasing to the eyesight. It is also equally true that the socio-political system in the country is skewed to favor those who have the money and those who have the power. Everywhere, there is graft and corruption. Everywhere, there is filth, squalor, and poverty.

That is the life for most people living here in the Philippines, and may take several generations to undo the damage we ourselves have brought upon the country. For if we have not remained apathetic and indifferent to the system, then we might have not found ourselves in the mess that we are in. If each and one of us asked, "What can I do for my motherland?", perhaps we would not find ourselves being apologetic for the ills and conditions of our society.

-----

My Tito was here for a scant two weeks or so, and most of the time, he was staying in Metro Manila. But Manila is not the Philippines, and the Philippines is definitely not Manila. Sure, Manila is just like any other big city in the world,: fast, rude, noisy, and polluted. However, if he only ventured out further than the city and its surrounding environs, he would've had a better grasp of what the country is all about. He would've experienced the serene white beaches, the breath-taking vistas of mountains and plains, and most especially the genuine character of the Filipino people. Tell me, who would not be charmed by generous hospitality offered to you in the countryside? Who would not be touched with if they share with you the meager resources they have? Who would not be charmed by the warm reception and the casual conversations you encounter in the provinces?

-----

I am lucky to have been around the world. I, too, am lucky to have gone around the Philippines.  My mom always said, "Wag maging dayuhan sa sariling bayan." She made sure I familiarized myself with my own country even before I stepped foot on foreign soil.  Too bad my Tito, in many instances, experienced the bad part of the proverbial two-sided coin.

So at the risk of sounding defiant, I will say it out say it aloud.

There is no place like the Philippines. I am proud to call it home.

My Favorite Comic Storylines: Kingdom Come

Totalitarian vision of a dystopic future

Imagine a future where a new generation of super-heroes conduct themselves no better than super-villains. Imagine a future where the line between good and evil is blurred beyond distinction. Imagine a future where the old guard is pushed aside, and chaos reigns supreme. Imagine a future where an aging preacher's prophetic visions can lead to the world's apocalyptic destruction or its ultimate salvation.

Mark Waid and Alex Ross' chef-d'oeuvre moves forward 20 years from the present, into the time where Superman and his colleagues have either turned their backs at the world or operate under the cloak of subterfuge. In their stead, a new generation of super-heroes emerge, more violent and heavy-handed than their predecessors ever were. Wonder Woman coaxes a tragedy-laden Superman out of retirement to lead the restoration of peace and order throughout the world. Slowly, with the help of their now-aged colleagues and protegees, they keep the new batch of super-heroes and super villains in line by literally muscling their way through.

Unfortunately, their totalitarian approach is viewed with much suspicion by both non-powered colleagues and villains. The faction led by Batman insists that the methodology of Superman's Justice League is no different than what he is battling against. Luthor and his cohorts, on the other hand, prepare to counter the Justice League with their most formidable weapon: a Mr. Mind-controlled Captain Marvel.

The great battle meets head-on as Luthor unleashes Captain Marvel on the Gulag, the fort where the Justice League has incarcerated the super-villains. In the escalating melee, the head of the United Nations decides to aim a nuclear warhead to obliterate the meta-humans --- heroes and villains alike --- once and for all. It is only through the valiant self-sacrifice of Captain Marvel that some meta-humans survive the outcome of the great holocaust.

An enraged Superman returns to the United Nations, followed the surviving meta-humans. He is then made to realize the complex situation of masked crusading: that they cannot live in the world and live above and apart from it. In the ensuing epilogue, poignant scenes are depicted on how they fully integrate themselves as members of a kinder and better human/meta-human society.

The Kingdom Come whole saga  is complex, rich, and multi-layered in its approach to narration. Waid frames it within the perspective of Norman McCay, an aging minister plagued with prophetic visions of a catastrophic future. He is guided through the story by the Specter, who acts both as a commentator and judge to the unfolding events. But the Biblical allusions do not stop with the avenging angel imagery. The entire narrative is replete with Biblical references, specifically to those of the Book of Revelations. It's hard press to miss the symbolism of Superman as the militant Messiah, the savior who shall bring war in order to make peace.

Equally stupendous is Ross' contribution to the series.  His painted artwork gives a stunning feel to the series' visual design. Each panel was of photo-realistic quality; reading through series is akin to viewing a very gorgeous album.  It was my first encounter with Alex Ross' work, and I've been a fan ever since.

All in all, the series is certainly a worthwhile read, both  as a comic book series and as a literary work of fiction.  It most surely will stand the test of time because of the relevant themes and situations presented.  Perhaps this what really classic comic story lines are: they still remain pertinent to the reader's experience years after they were written.

Ang Aking Marikit na Bituin

Wala akong maisip na mai-alay sa iyo kundi itong kundiman na kinanta ko sa isang konsyerto.

At binibigay ko ito dahil ikaw yata ang gustong gawing himig ng aking puso.

P.S. Tulad ko, hindi sya perfect, pero I'm giving it to you in all my honesty and sincerity :)

My Favorite Comic Storylines: Crisis on Infinite Earths

 

Iconoclastic image: the death of Supergirl

 "Worlds live! Worlds die!"

By 1985, the continuity of DC was a convoluted mess. Multiple and alternative earths were established to explain continuity lapses, but even then, editorial feared that the whole multiverse concept was already too complicated. Therefore, they decreed that a major revision of some sort had to be made.  This monumental task of house-cleaning was handed over to then-hot New Teen Titans creative team of Marv Wolfman and George Perez. Thus, the complex saga spanning over 12 issues was born.

The whole narrative hinges on intrinsic duality of nature: for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. The Monitor has his own antithesis blatantly and unimaginatively named the Anti-Monitor, and their machinations causes catastrophic repercussions across the multiverse. The Monitor is killed in the middle of the series, but the superheroes from the remaining 5 Earths take up the cudgels against the Anti-Monitor. In one clean sweep, the battle between the Specter and the Anti-Monitor at the dawn of time unleashes unimaginable energies that cause the remaining Earths to be recreated into a single Earth. On this new Earth, various histories, locations, and elements were incorporated from the previously surviving Earths. Fittingly, Superman of the now non-existent Earth-2 then delivers the coup de grâce on the Anti-Monitor. Kal-L (emphasis on the L, not El), along with his wife Lois Lane and the Superboy of Earth-Prime, go off to live happily ever after in the paradise provided by Alexander Luthor of Earth-3.

Muddy mess all tidied up, ey?

Not quite.

The resulting cannon-fodder notwithstanding (including major characters from Earth-1 such as Supergirl, the Flash, and Wonder Woman), the aftermath of the Crisis provided a fresh start for DC. They cashed on heavily on the opportunity to launch new titles and to update various storylines.

In some aspects, they were very successful. Case in point was with the character of Wonder Woman. She didn't die after all, but was de-evolved into clay, and the time table re-set on her along with the Amazons. George Perez headed the creative team that launched her into the new (and single) DC-verse, strengthened the ties of her Greek mythological origins, and provided a very plausible insight into her ironic characterization as the warrior-princess seeking peace in a man's world.

On the other hand, while John Byrne's re-imagining of the Man of Steel was initially received with unanimous praise, it spawned massive continuity glitches in its wake. This time, there are no Kryptonian survivors from the barren and sterile planet save for a lone baby space-warped to Earth in a birthing matrix. He grows up with the Kents somewhere in Middle America as a normal kid and teenager. No superheroic capers for Clark Kent, and he only dons the Superman costume in his adulthood.

That would've worked out fine, except for one, not so-slight problem: the Legion of Superheroes. A huge fan-favorite title enjoying brisk sales, the whole concept hinged on the idea of teenagers, 1,000 years in the future, forming a band of heroes with the exploits of Superboy as their inspiration. But wait, Byrne said that there was no Boy of Steel anymore, right? The resultant explanation of Byrne involving pocket Earths and dimension hopping proved too much of a headache to handle for both the editorial staff and the readers. Sales quickly plummeted, and several years later the title had to completely re-booted from scratch to provide new origins for the group.

But taking the opus as it is, Crisis on Infinite Earths stands the test of time in its majestic breadth of story-telling. True, Wolfman's dialogue may sound awkward and clunky at times, but that can be attributed to the writing style of the period. The George Perez look may also be anachronistic from the modern point of view, but for my money's worth, no artist approaches him in terms of detailing something even as minute as the background. And with literally cast of thousands, he makes a breath-taking and magnificent job in each panel and spread of the comic book. His artwork is even more spruced up by the inks of the veterans Dick Giordano, Jerry Ordway, and Mike DeCarlo, formidable artists on their own right.

Hell Hath No Fury Like an Eternal Wanderer Scorned

Two words, two syllables.

Fuck.

You! 

P.S. I wasn't suppose to bring this post out, but an early morning text that reminded about the whole snafu.  To say it made my blood curdle again is an understatement.

Grrrr >:(

Scatch My Itch

Eternal Wanderer is having an itch lately. It bothers him so much that he keeps on tossing and turning at night. He's seeking a way to relieve himself because the insatiable craving is building up big, big time. He fears he might lose control any moment.

You see, Eternal Wanderer is having a severe case of techie gadget itch.

hahahahahaha

He's thinking of junking his white Macbook for a new 15 inch Macbook Pro. He's actually been salivating at the thought of acquiring the unibody model ever since it came out last year. The battery life longer, about 7 hrs or so compared to the paltry 2.5 hours of the older Macbooks. Plus the new Macbooks have a dvd writer and SD card-reader already built in, as opposed to the older model.

The downside? It's gonna set him back by roughly 113 grand. Throw in about 40K, and he can already buy a decent second-hand car. Or at 113K, he can get a cool Windows-based laptop, and rig up 3 powerful desktops, as well.

Speaking of desktops, Eternal Wanderer is also thinking of doing an upgrade with his desktop. He loves his desktop since he works it like there's no tomorrow. He learned the hard (and expensive) way of not abusing a laptop by leaving it powered-on for weeks at a time. A year and P14,ooo bucks later, he realized that desktops are still the way to go for everyday, heavy duty usage. His current, more than two years old desktop is respectable enough: a 2.66 Core2Duo with 2 GB RAM and a 500 GB HD running on an XP SP3 operating system. But now, he's down to prolly the last 15 GB of HD space, so a new 1.5 TB HD is in order (am I a hard dicks disk slut or what?). And since Eternal Wanderer is a coke-sniffing, speed-lovin' junkie, he's thinking of jacking off up his RAM to 3 GB, maybe even 4 GB if he shifts into a 64-bit o.s. He might also change processors to either a Core i5 or i7, so he can have a good, if not unnecessary, reason to shift into the new Windows 7 o.s.

Of course, that's roughly gonna cost him 25K.

Crap.

Maybe EB is right. Eternal Wanderer, at the very least, should change the battery of his trusty old N73. For just a thousand bucks , he can enjoy hours of talking dirty and nasteeh pleasure with his friends without having to plug in the cell in EW's Grand Canyon the charger every time lolz!

P.S. Eternal Wanderer wants to strangle the love spear of Cubao Boy for buying the new Snow Leopard o.s. of Mac. Grrrrrr!

How the Sun Shines

Five Minutes

The light from the sun was gently streaming through the windows while I was having a leisure brunch around ten in the morning.  My phone rang all of a sudden, so I took a peek at who was calling.

I was in for a nice surprise.

It was Spice.

He asked if I was doing anything. I teasingly replied that he only calls me if he needs something. He laughed boisterously.

(I can picture how his laugh brings out his dimples.)

I told him, "Nandito ka sa Manila ano?"

"Oo. Eternal Wanderer, kung wala kang ginagawa, gala naman tayo," he sheepishly said.

It has been a while since I last saw him. I heard he was working out. I was curious how he looked like now. I was also looking for a reason to get out of the house.

I probably could have come up with a thousand and one more excuses to justify my meeting up with Spice. Perhaps, if I just acknowledged one thing, just one thing, then I would not have gone through all the trouble rationalizing my decision.

And that one thing was that I did want to meet up with Spice.

So I said yes.

-----

It was a bright afternoon while I was waiting in the car for Spice to arrive; a far cry from the dismal weather the city has been experiencing of late.

Then I saw him. He was down the street, walking towards the car from a short distance. The sun  was basking him in the light, making his dark blue jeans and light blue shirt take on a fair hue.

"He still cuts a dapper figure. And yes, he is still manages to take my breath away," I mused to myself.

The mellowness of a memory past rippled through the surface of my thoughts.  At first, I couldn't articulate the dim reflections in my mind.  My brows gathered as I tried to grab at the meanderings. All I knew that the scene playing right before me had a tone that was amicably familiar.

At that instant, I relaxed and smiled.

I smiled because I remembered.

I remembered as only one can when sun gently shines on the heart; as only one can when the mind's skies are overcast no more.

(I couldn't help but smile.  For it was a good memory after all.)

-----

We spent most part of the afternoon in a mall doing nothing and everything.  He needed a haircut. I needed to run some errands for my father. He also badgered me for some driving lessons, and I obliged willingly.  We wound up in U.P.; and soon enough, he was able to master the intricate balance of clutch and gas in the first gear.

I had a good time.  I really did.  And before sleep overtook me in bed that night, I realized why I enjoyed every moment of it.

It is because the day is beautiful when the skies are already clear and the rains are no more.

It is because now, I can truly see how the sun shines, warm and bright in my life.

My Favorite Comic Storylines: Dark Phoenix Saga

 Jean Grey: redemption through ultimate sacrifice

The story is simple enough: Jean Grey, a young telepathic/telekenetic mutant, literally rises from the ashes and finds her psionic abilities magnified beyond belief. Though her powers are held back by a series of psychic circuit-breakers, the dam is slowly being chipped away at. She is manipulated and pushed over the edge by the Hellfire Club, until she finally bursts in raptor-shaped flames to become a dark god-like being, voracious in thirst for raw energy.

In order to satiate her quench, she consumes a far-flung star system populated with inhabited worlds. Consequently, the Shi-Ar empire seeks retribution and hounds her futilely through the vast expanse of space. She returns to Earth, and in a battle of the highest psychic order, Professor Xavier manages to re-bind the mental circuit breakers. She is eventually put on trial by the Shi-Ar, to which Xavier counters with a rebuttal via a battle-challenge.

On the moon, Jean Grey and the X-men make their last stand. When she sees Cyclops struck down, the rebound psychic barriers crumble apart, and she slowly transforms into the dark godling once again. But she realizes that the duality of her persona would haunt her for all eternity, and riddled with the guilt of having taken billions of lives, she chooses to annihilate herself while still in a vulnerable phase of transition.

The theme of redemption through self-sacrifice and the idea that absolute power corrupts were huge concepts for me as a kid. It held, and still holds, a fascinating sway over me. I can remember buying the trade paperback when I was around 11 or 12 yrs old, and patiently reading it through in one sitting. Revisiting it as an adult, the dialogue seems to be a tad bit stilted and dated in style and flow. However, the basic narrative remains intact, and ultimately, powerfully moving. Whatever his writing faults are, Chris Claremont remains the definitive writer of the X-men for me. John Byrne, inked over by Terry Austin, is at his classic best. I will always associate his artwork with his early impressive runs on the Avengers, X-Men, Fantastic Four, and Alpha Flight.

Si Varsity Boy at Ako: Pers Lab 7 (Engel, Last na 'To. Promise!)

Si Varsity Boy at Ako: Pers Lab 6

Natapos ang aming pag-inom ng kape. Nagsindi ako ng sigarilyo. Ganun din si Varsity Boy. May moment of silence. Hindi ko alam kung maitatawag ko yun na awkward silence, pero naisipan ko na ito na ang perfect time na sabihin ko na kung ano ang bumabalabag sa isip ko.

"Veebee...I...I have something to tell you...I hope you..you won't get mad. I'm...sorry talaga."

Kumunot ang noo nya.

"Sorry? Sorry for what?"

"You know...for what happened all those years ago...the..the quad thingie?"

65 million years ang lumipas bago sya mag-react.

Then nakita ko ang kanyang pag-relax. Ngumiti pa.

"Naaah...ano ka ba? It's ok. Jeez, that was like forever ago kaya. We were still kids then. What were we thinking of? What were YOU thinking of?"

Natawa ako. Natawa din sya.

"But for what it was worth, you do know I really, really loved you, right?"

Napa-bugtong hininga si Varsity Boy. May ilang segundong nakalipas bago sumagot.

"Yes... I know. I've always wanted to say thank you for that. I just never got around to say it in front of you. And you know what, I'm sorry, too. I know I could've handled the whole thing in a better way, but like I said, we were kids back then."

Ako naman ang napangiti.

"But we did alright back then, didn't we?"

"Yes, Ternie. We did. We did alright."

Natapos ang mahabang gabing yun sa tawanan at ngintian. Ginunita namin ang nakaraan. Naghagikhikan kami sa ala-ala ng mga stolen kisses sa classroom pag walang nakatingin. Napangiti sya ng husto nung pinaalala ko sa kanya yung aming first date sa McDo, at ako naman ay napahalakhak sa kanyang pag-papaalala nung muntikan na kami mahuli ng aking tatay kasi nakalimutan kong i-lock yung pintuan ng kwarto.

Nagsasara na ang kapihan nung hinatid ko si Varsity Boy sa kanyang kotse. Bago nya buksan ang pinto, humarap sya sa akin at yinakap akong mahigpit. Ang sarap-sarap ng feeling. Napakasaya at napakagaan. Yinakap ko rin sya ng mahigpit in return.

Gusto ko sanang mag-freeze ang time para ma-capture ang pakiramdam ng moment na yun. Sana pwedeng i-slow motion, i-pause, at ulit-ulitin forever. Pero alam naman nating lahat na hindi ito posible. Sa pelikula lang yun nangyayari. Hindi naman ito eksena sa pelikula. e Ang buong gabi ay eksena sa real life - isang eksena ni Eternal Wanderer at Varsity Boy na matagal na dapat naganap.

Nakatayo ako sa kalye habang sinundan ng aking mga mata ang paalis na kotse ni Varsity Boy. Papalayo ng papalayo ito; at sa paghayo ng kotse, tangay nito ang aking ngayo'y mga matatamis na ala-ala ng aking Pers Lab.

-----

Si Maida Chiminiaa ay nakapag-asawa ng isang mang-aawit, at nasa Estados Unidos na sila.

Si Varsity Boy ay kasalukuyang may girlfriend na approve na approve si Eternal Wanderer.

Si Eternal Wanderer naman ay single ngayon at kasalukuyang naghahanap ng booking.

-----

Masarap na masakit isipin ang unang mong minahal. Kahit matagal na panahon na ang nagdaan, sariwa pa rin ang mga nakaukit na gunita sa puso't damdamin.

Kaya sa lahat ng mga nakaka-alala ng kanilang Pers Lab, tara na, magpaka-Joey Albert na nga lang tayo't at mag-videoke nito:

Yes, Believe It or Not, I Actually Read Books

Eternal Wanderer loves to read. He loves to read newspapers. He loves to read comics. He loves to read books. He loves to read so much that he can't even poop without bringing a reading material.

Oooops. TMI.

Here's some of the books Eternal Wanderer has recently tried out:

A friend of his in college was gushing about Ayn Rand. She told Eternal Wanderer to check out Rand's novels. Being the dumb blond that he is, he innocently asked if it had anything to do with beautiful parks and fountains. She gave him what-an-airhead stare and walked out on him.

Years later, Eternal Wanderer is still a dumb blond. But now, he thanks to the book reader Stanza, he's been downloading e-books like crazy. One of the books he downloaded was Fountainhead. He picked up to courage to read it, and found himself thoroughly enjoying the novel. It practically read like good soap-opera stuff, albeit of the wordy kind. But in the last 1/3 of the book, he was got a migraine. The courtroom monologue of Howard Roark, the main character, was a little bit too much for Eternal Wanderer. It was major word puke. Eternal Wanderer wondered, "Why didn't Howard Roark simply say 'Fuck y'all. I'm an individual, so stuff it!'"

Of course, that line of reasoning would've put Howard Roark in jail for the rest of his life.

Eternal Wanderer is tickled pink at his own dumb blondness.

Eternal Wanderer is a sword slut. He goes into ecstatic throes whenever swords are concerned. He considers himself an expert handling swords of all lengths, widths, thicknesses, and sizes. He opines the bigger swords are, the better to play with. Nothing would please Eternal Wanderer more than if somebody dangles a sword before him.

With an enticing title "Dark Sword," how could Eternal Wanderer refuse to read such a book?

It was an enjoyable romp in the hay. Joram's sword very much delighted Eternal Wanderer. He even spent nights of torrid fantasy with the thoughts of caressing Joram's long and turgid sword. But it was the idea of the Technomancers (people who derived their magic through death) that gave him pause. He thought, "If I kill all roaches in the house, can it make my lashes magically curl up permanently? Do I have to do it myself, or can I just call in pest control? No, wait, if I call in pest control, it's their lashes that might be magically curled up permanently! We wouldn't want that, would we?"

Eternal Wanderer is amazed with the dumb blond ideas he can think of.

Eternal Wanderer digs magic realism. He has devoured a lot of those South American novelists which features interactive ghosts, seductive cooking, love potions, and their ilk. He thinks that the idea of magic treated as an everyday occurrence is such a fascinating idea.

Since he really adored the lush narrative of Gabriel Garcia-Marquez's Love in Time of Cholera, he decided to give 100 Years of Solitude a go. It was going on fine maybe until about the fourth generation. By that time, he almost completely lost it. The characters' names were all the same, and it was confusing the heck out of him. Eternal Wanderer even had to whip out a paper and write down who was who just so that he could keep track with all the characters.

It was then he realized that Garcia-Marquez was trying to emphasize the cyclical nature of of life. The flaws and sins of the (fore)fathers continue to haunt the children, generation after generation. Because of this, the past, present, and future are bound with one another in an inevitable spiraling towards an uncertain fate.

Whoa.

Eternal Wanderer just had a verbal and philosophical fart!

My, my, my. There may still be hope for the dumb blond Eternal Wanderer, after all.

Heehee

Si Varsity Boy at Ako: Pers Lab 6

Si Varsity Boy at Ako: Pers Lab 5

Kakagaling ko lang sa abroad nung tinext ko si Varsity Boy kung gusto nya mag-kape. Labing-isang taon na rin ang nakalipas simula nung naghiwalay kami. Naka-tatlong gf na yata si Varsity Boy mula kay Maida Chimini-aa. Ako naka... ahmm next topic! Pero pakiramdam ko, naiilang pa rin sya tuwing magkikita kami ng barkada namin. After all this time, napaisip-isip ako na baka kailangan ng some sort of proper closure.

Proper closure daw o.

"Ternie, ur bak!", sagot nya sa text ko.

"Yah. So kofi tayo 2nyt? Wer do u wnt?"

"Cge ba. U want SBC e. rod? Arnd 8:30pm"

"Okies! Cya"

Habang papalapit ang 8:30 ay naghahalong Cabanatuan City at Mariah Scarey ang pakiramdam ko. Ang daming thoughts na umaandar sa utak ko sa oras na iyon. Alam kong nananahimik na ang buhay nya. Eto naman ako, kakalampugin sya. Kailangan ko pa bang guluhin si Varsity Boy dahil sa pag-uungkat ng nakaraan? Baka magalit pa sya sa akin.

Pero hindi. Ako ang hindi matahimik. Siguro para mas sa akin talaga ang pagkikita naming ito. Hindi kasi maganda ang paghihiwalay namin. Kahit sa pangyayari na yun e makapag-apologize man lang ako. Gusto ko rin sabihin na tunay na minahal ko sya. Alam kong suntok sa buwan, pero sana, sana lang marinig ko rin sa kanya na minahal din nya ako.

-----

"Hey Ternie, you're looking good!", ang bati nya sa akin sabay shake hands.

Shet.

E ano na lang ang tawag sa kanya?

Grabe. Ang gwapo pa rin nya after all these years.

Oo, kahit nagkikita naman kami ng madalas, e usually kasama namin ang barkada. Ngayon lang yata kami lumabas na kaming dalawa lang since nagkahiwalay kami. Ngayon ko lang syang napagmasdan ng mabuti na hindi kinakabahan kung may makakapansin ba sa amin. Ngayon ko lang na-realize na nasa harapan ko na ang aking pers lab. At ngayon ko lang napagtanto na ang physical type ko e naka-base pala sa kaya: tisoy, balbunin, at chunky.

"Tara, let's order coffee na.", ang tanging nasabi ko na lang.

"Nah, coffee's on me. Just like the old times.", sabay ngiti.

Ay.

May ganun talaga?

Pwes, ilabas ang Knorr Sinigang Mix with Taro Bits. May asim pa pala si Eternal Wanderer!

Si Varsity Boy at Ako: Pers Lab 7 (Engel, Last na 'To. Promise!)