Magic Sing, Eric Clapton, Inihaw, and Music in General

The last time Nichi held the Magic Sing (microphone), he said that he can barely hold it up for long which was surprising considering that our Magic Sing is very light.

But Nichi loves to sing so he proceeded on hitting the notes while lying down on the sofa. He was having a hard time sitting for long.

This was in June. He died in July.

* * *

A while ago, in the hopes of eluding the things I should be doing, and in between not doing anything at all, I decided to unearth the Magic Sing and hum. (I’m no good, thus the “hum.”)

Then I felt I had do Eric Clapton’s Tears in Heaven which didn’t bring me to tears at all and it was rather consoling, especially the part which says:

Beyond the door
There's peace I'm sure.
And I know there'll be no more...
Tears in heaven

* * *

Dad and I finally got to do our long overdue grocery shopping for the month of September last Thursday. We usually replenish our supplies on a weekend but since my office is now a few hops away from the supermarket we frequent, we can now do it on a weekday.

It used to be also that Nichi tags along. He has several of his own supplies-to-buy in mind that’s why he comes. And anyway, there’s a wooden swing in the middle of the supermarket where he can sit and rest whenever he feels like it.

And so buying our month’s supplies we, dad and I, did. We got ourselves a cab and sat our way home.

It wasn’t long after we settled in when one of Nichi’s songs was played on the radio. I say it’s Nichi’s song because he sang it with his signature performance level to Ate Win through voice chat probably around May or June this year. I didn’t know of this song not until after I asked Nichi about it. I initially thought he just made the whole song up.

And now I know it’s Inihaw by Siakol.

You may check it out here:

I take it, the playing of Inihaw in the most opportune time, was Nichi's way of saying that he was there, as he always was, grocery shopping with us.

* * *

Songs.

They speak a certain language that has the power to let you feel you weren’t abandoned. A power that allows you to connect. A force that reminds you that no matter how much it hurts, things are going to be fine.

And things are going to be fine.

...for my family and me, and, of course, for Nichi.

Look at This Stuff, Isn’t it Pink?

In a few days (or weeks), we will be welcoming the newest member of our family.

Allow me to share the bunch of pink loot I got (in behalf of Ninong Nichi and me) for the baby whom I often call, Bibby.

Cute!

I’ll post the name of my sister and brother-in-law’s pink bundle of joy as soon as she comes out. And she better not give my Ate a hard time. Hah!

In the Nude

It has been reported that Vanessa Hudgens, the girl who played Gabriella in Disney’s High School Musical, has nude photos circulating on the internet. The photos were said to have been taken by none other than her, TV’s innocent, sweet Gabriella. The good and disturbing thing about this is that she didn’t even try to deny the photos and, instead, proceeded on apologizing for showing the world her, umm, ahh, skin.

God, Vanessa is too young to be exposed to such scandal! But you know what they say, “stupid is what a stupid does.”

There’s nothing really wrong in having nude photos. If they’re done in good taste. If they’re not circulating worldwide. If you’re not someone who gets projects because you look innocent. If you’re not popular, especially to kids. (Think Pee-wee Herman.)

In case you don’t satisfy any of the four conditions I’ve mentioned, you should at least make money out of your nude photos to get some good out of being exploited. If you sell, then perhaps you can consider a career in porn.

Going back to nude photos, I think it is not a bad idea to get one just to have something to remember your youth by. I mean, you could at least keep some proof that one time in your life, you looked nice and healthy—body parts are intact at the places where they should be—a far cry from your present wrinkly body whose parts are slowly being pulled to the ground by gravity. By keeping a picture of yourself in your birthday suit, you’d be able to preserve time in a not-so-perverted way.

Unfortunately for Vanessa, she got famous. When someone sees her naked photos, they’d know that they’re looking at her. Compared to a naked picture of a nobody, Vanessa’s have a name. Hers.

The next thing we know, Vanessa would be trekking along the paths of Britney, Nicole, Lindsay and Paris. Meaning, she’d be soon spotted at all possible party places in their land chugging booze, smoking organic sticks, and probably drinking and injecting whatnots to her juvenile body. Meaning also, she’d soon find herself either in rehab or prison, if not AND PRISON as jail seems to be the in thing for young Hollywood, thanks to the trendsetter Paris Hilton and her soon-to-follow minions/girlfriends (See names I had previously enumerated.).

Apparently rich people like them can afford to waste everything including their lives.

In the mean time, we, normal entities, are reduced to witness these young girls ruin their lives in payment for their fame. Now that isn’t too much of an entertainment now, is it?

(I wonder how many people checked out this entry by mistake after Google searching “nude.” Oh well.)

Nichi's Second Monthsary

Please click on this Link for some sort of a primer.

Tol, ay, Gigi pala!

Dalawang buwan na tayong di nagkakausap! Namimiss na kita. Tapos ito pa si Juday, panay ang pagpa-plug sa radyo tungkol sa Bike for Life ng Cancer Warriors Foundation, Inc. Naaalala tuloy kita. Samantalang dati, nakikita lang natin yung magandang billboard ni Juday sa EDSA tuwing pagkagaling natin sa PCMC. Akalain mong sinusuportahan pala niya yung mga "classmates" mo!

Monday last week, binisita namin ni Dad yung mga friends mo sa PCMC. Konti lang ang naabutan namin dun, hindi kasi Tuesday o kaya Friday. Yung mga Hema fellows nasa meeting pa kaya di tuloy kami nakapag-thank you sa kanila ng personal dahil sa pag-aalaga nila sa iyo. Tapos hinahanap ka nung secretary ni Dr. Ortiz. Hindi niya pa pala alam na "nag-abroad" ka na. Maski daw yung naggugupit sa yo sa F-Salon hinahanap ka, sabi ni dad.

Si Dr. Alba, inabot namin. Kaso di ko na-share sa kanya yung sinabi mo sa akin nung June na nagugustuhan mo na siya kasi masaya pa rin siya kahit na malala na. Baka kasi maiyak pa ako pag nagsalita ako kaya nag-ismile na lang ako sa kanya.

Kanina sa klase ko, kinwento kita sa mga estudyante ko, for a change. Dati kasi sila ang ikinuwento ko sa iyo. Ngayon, ikaw naman ang bida. Sinabi ko sa kanila na ikaw kasi ang bravest person whom I know. Yun kasi ang sharing namin sa class kanina. Naku, yung isa pang bata walang naisulat dahil wala daw siyang kilala na matapang na tao. Mabuti na lang ako, nakilala kita kaya ayun, may naikwento ako sa kanila. Wag ka mag-alala, maayos ang pagdescribe ko sa yo. Ikaw pa e gwapong-gwapo ako sa iyo!

Hindi naman ako napaiyak. Yung isa kong student ang umiyak. Na-tats sa kwento mo. Speaking of kwento, ginagawan ko na ng paraan yung kwento mo sa Magpakailanman. Ang kulit din kasi ni Dad. Ayusin ko raw.

Kakatayin mo ba ako kung hindi ako ang magsulat ng script ng buhay mo? Gusto ko sana, para naman malaman mo na may ibubuga naman si Ate sa pagsusulat kaso mahirap talaga siya. Yun lang ngang goal ko na isulat ang mga bagay bagay tungkol sa iyo para naman maipublish at tuluyan naming maipagmalaki sa maraming tao kung gaano ka ka-astig, di ko maabot-abot. Pero pramis, balang araw papasikatin din kita.

Salamat pala dun sa huling bisita mo sa akin. Alam kong panaginip lang yon pero at least pinayagan mo akong i-embrace ka. Next time kiss naman, ha? Sana hindi ako nakagulo sa meeting ninyo ni Papa Jesus. Pasensya na kung ginugulo kita dyan tuwing nag-eemote ako dito.

Na-gets ko pala yung mensahe mo sa akin. "No more tears. Try it!" Ang husay mo talaga. Kaso di ko ma-papramis na hindi na ako ngunguyngoy. Kasi namin, miss na miss ko nang pagpipindutin ang mala-kutis mayaman mong mga braso. Hmmm...nanggigigil pa rin ako sa iyo. Ah lab you so much pa rin!

Malapit na palang lumabas yung inaanak natin. Bantayan mo sila ni Ate, ha? Ako naman ang bahala sa surprise natin kay Baby.

Sorry pala di kita nabisita nitong Sunday. Si Dad na naman lang nakasama mo. Kasi naman, yung pina-duplicate ni Ma na susi ko dun sa "pad" mo, hindi kasya sa padlock. Di tuloy kita nadaanan kanina. Di bale, lagi ko namang kinakausap yung picture mo sa sala. Alam ko naman kasi na nandyan ka lang palagi. Kahit busy kang mag-PS3 o kaya mag-Magic Sing dyan sa langit, alam ko, sinisilip mo kami. Nararamdaman ko yon. Kaya nga bitbit kita palagi sa puso ko.

O ayan, humahaba na. Kitakits na lang tayo sa dream and eventually, dyan sa bago mong tambayan. Ikaw naman ang magtutour sa akin pag nakapasok ako dyan.

I lab you, Nichi! Alam mo naman yon, e.

Para sa Mga Batang Batibot.

...wala lang.

At ito pa, pwedeng magvideoke!



On a more serious note, here's a segment from Kapuso mo Jessica Soho which was aired July this year. (I remember it well because I watched it at the hospital during Nichi's last days at the hospital.)

Salamat sa Youtube makukumusta na natin ang mga tao sa likod ng kinalakhan nating palabas sa TV.

Mommyfication

It has come to my attention that the girl I once treated like a little sister is four months pregnant. Her younger sister whom I also treated like a younger sister got pregnant, I think, a year or two ago when she was around 16 years old.

I’m disappointed, to say the least. I know I’m not in the proper position to give any reaction about it, let alone a negative one. But I can’t help it if I shrug at the thought that these kids whom I used to know—or thought I knew—are having their own kids.

On some level, I’m happy for them. At least they know that their reproductive organs are working. I mean, now they can prove that the mess and the pain they have to contend with on a monthly basis has a higher reason behind it. Child bearing.

Still I think they are too young to have babies. But what bugs me is that they didn’t seem to have learned from the consequences of the wrongs done in the past by those who came before them. There is a reason why we have to witness other people commit mistakes. I guess, these girls just watched and forgot to take notes. Too bad they failed to benefit from others’ faults and instead plunged into the same blunders as if they have no idea what they were getting themselves into. Tsk. Tsk.

I have my personal list of requirements a woman should satisfy before considering a change of lifestyle not just for nine months but, oh, forever.

I’m not quite sure if satisfying at least one or two will do. Perhaps you can check them out:

1. Financial stability. More or less, you should have graduated from college thus ensuring the ability to get a good job for yourself and your baby. “Financial stability” doesn’t mean mommy and daddy are rich. You can’t have babies then let your parents save you from the financial perils of parenthood! You got yourself a kid, you go find ways to support that kid. Plus new papa can always run away from you and your baby that’s why it will be safe for you, the person who’s about to give birth and raise your child, to have a lucrative means of livelihood.

2. Sound maturity. Baby = responsibilities. It’s some sort of a combo. You can have fun playing with your baby but there will always be realities to check. And you have to be there all the time in case of troubleshooting. Maturity means you won’t run. Maturity allows you to handle situations parenthood and those in between bring.

3. A tight partner. In our day and age, I don’t really think a husband is a requirement but if it is a husband you have then congratulations! You are one of the lucky ones. In any case, having a decent, responsible partner in rearing your baby is a total gift from the heavens. You’d have someone to assist you in your child’s financial needs. There’d be someone to balance your misgivings or perhaps overgivings—if there’s such a word—which will ultimately be good in the proper character formation of your child. And finally, you can count on someone can take over whenever you are sick, absent, or temporarily crazy. One thing to take note of: You will always be better off alone with your child if it means living with one lousy partner who beats you emotionally, physically, financially, and whatever other means he could and would.

4. A good sense of selflessness. Once you give birth, the world is no longer about you. The center of your life’s gravity shifts from you to your child. It takes a good sense of selflessness to put the new creature you brought into this world first despite your personal needs. Great mommies are hailed for their abilities to put their children at the top of their priority list whenever the situation calls for it. They do this without without actually wanting to be hailed. And their good sense of selflessness is perhaps anchored in their willingness to do things for their children out of love and not out of obligation. If you can do that, you can do every good thing to your child.

5. Mommy knowledge. Yes, there’s no such thing as school for parents, let alone a mommy course. But mommy knowledge is still a must to avoid parenting faux pas which may leave your kid damaged. Bear in mind that children don’t come with warranties. Once you drop them, you're toast. Unfortunately your baby will be more toast than you. So it is best to read books, magazines, journals or web articles that enumerate tips in child rearing. You can also solicit parenting whatnots from those who have been there and have done it. You’d at least know that you have to be extra careful in touching your baby’s undeveloped skull, the part called fontanel; otherwise things will be irreversibly bloody.

6. Open, flexible mind. As a mom, you have to admit that you are work in progress. Therefore, never stop learning to become the best mom from all sources possible and do your best to limit the blows of your mistakes. Although, there’s always hope after screwing up. Part of being a good parent is acknowledging the things you’ve done wrong and making up for them. Doing good at the making up part makes you better at it.

7. Model-material human personality. If you find anything redundant about that, then well and good. That means you noticed how being a respectable human being is emphasized where becoming a parent is concerned. Your offspring will initially look up to you for guidance and eventually put you on a pedestal. You ought to be deserving of your child’s belief in you. For heaven’s sakes be a good role model first before attempting to give birth.

That’s all I can think of for now. But I am aware that there are more prerequisites to being a good, deserving mother. The bottom line really is, it’s not easy. Being an accidental parent will make the ordeal much harder than it already is. But even then, you have nine months to complete your requirements. Nine months to prepare for the impending life-altering moment. Nine months to grow up and acquire the mommy qualities you need to posses.

All for your baby’s sake.

So good luck.

How Do I Undo It?

Somehow, I turned on the "Cross-post" option between my Multiply blog account and my Blogger account, thereby automatically re-posting everything that I have published here in Battik's Workshop to that of Battik's Depot.

Multiply is a whole new environment for me and I remain in the dark despite me inhabiting it for a few months now.

My problem is, how I will turn off this cross-post thing. Because, really, I don't like people to read all of my blog entries, especially those touchy subjects which are freshly posted.

The control freak in me is panicking.

I guess, what I'm saying is, "Help!"

Exactly Last Year

This picture was taken by Kate on September 17, 2006, a few hours after Nichi had his first and last seizure attack.

Such episode really did scare the wits out of us, the whole family, who witnessed how it was to lose Nichi for even just a few seconds.

Today I accompanied my Dad as he faced reality that we've physically lost Nichi for good. We went to Nichi's hospital to distribute our thank-you cards to everyone who were there to help him get well, or at least not get worse.

It felt weird. I felt like there's a lump in my throat almost the whole time. I had to forgo telling Dr. Alba how Nichi appreciated him as a doctor. Maybe next time I'll do that.

Right now, we have to deal with the longest "few seconds" without Nichi in our lives. Well, at least I have to learn to deal with it.

Erap, History, and my Utols

Last week Joseph "Erap" Ejercito Estrada was found GUILTY BEYOND REASONABLE DOUBT for his plunder case. Meanwhile, he was ACQUITTED for his perjury case.

Perhaps you can read about the complete proclamation (I'm not sure if the word "proclamation" applies) here.

I'm not going to react about it. Not today. I'm just taking note of history.

Incidentally, my brothers had their way of capturing history with Erap in it. Look.




Thought it'd be nice to share.

Beatle Mania to Beat The Blues

My dad boasts of the fact that his birthday and that of Sir Paul McCartney's coincide (June 18). I dare not burst his happy bubble by not reminding him that technically they don't have the same birthdays because of the time difference of their birthplaces.

Still, I have to say that Sir Paul was one cute Beatle. Check out this Video of "Fool on the Hill"--one of my favorite Beatle songs.



The skipping was rather Filipino-movie like. But since Sir Paul McCartney was the one doing it, I have to say that it added points to his cuteness.

However still, John Lennon isn't all that bad if you're into someone deep. Here he sings "Stand By Me," another of my favorites.



But Ringo Starr most definitely aged well. (Of Course, John Lennon and George Harrison are dead, thus their being devoid of wrinkles, if not facial surgeries.) Ringo is cooler now that he's older. He even has a cool website. And I saw him being interviewed on TV about his grandkid/s. He says he wants to be called, "Grandpa Ringo." How cool is that?

Then there's George Harrison who, on most of his videos, really looked like Vic Sotto, or is it just me? But in this MTV for the song "Something" George looked a bit like Jesus which is creepy if you think about it.



One comment in the Youtube site where I found this said that this video is a tribute to the Beatles' women. It must explain Yoko Ono's participation. I'm just not sure of the other girls. I don't really know them. I wasn't actually born on the Beatles' era. I'm just a fascinated post Beatles fan.

While I'm at it, allow me to post the video of my other Beatles favorite, "Hey Jude." Need I say why?

How Doraemon Saved My Life

What was once lost, I found at the perfect time.




Actually, Nichi was the one who kept it. It was Charlene and Wendi's Christmas gift to me but Nichi thought it was nice so he "borrowed" it for a while. Somewhere along the way, he misplaced it.


Funny how it re-appeared. Just when I needed precious air which proves to be a rarity in our new office.


They say we'd be miserable until October when we finally get those friggin transformers.


Until then, Doraemon will be saving my hot ass.

Quote Me

Here’s a thought that just popped inside my head. Thought it’d be nice to put it on record. I’m hoping to save somebody through it.

So here goes:

“Love, like shit, happens.”

To the hopeless romantics out there, no need to despair.

Writing and Me

Once again I’m being attacked by that thing called “psychological feeling of inadequacy”. F. Landa Jocano paired it with "disorientation" in describing us Filipinos, I think.

The disorientation half hasn’t caught up with me yet which is a good thing. The last time the two ganged up on me, it cost me two years in oblivion thus explaining some of the many wired reasons for my two-year hiatus from college.

I’ve been feeling so inept lately that I was seriously contemplating on shutting down my blog—my blog which I swore to maintain and nurture since December last year. That’s almost nine months of leisurely time spent online. I’m tempted to give it up because I strongly feel that I have no future at this writing thing. That writing is a gift I am simply forcing upon myself.

Bottomline: I feel that I suck at writing.

An insecurity which isn’t at all handy especially now that I’m teaching kids to write.

It helps that I lost the Wika2007 contest (Such sore loser, am I?). Then there’s the fact that I haven’t posted any decent universal piece (an article that doesn’t revolve around me, thus its supposed universal appeal) since, I-don’t-know-when. Plus, my inability to publish one of my works in any piece of paper that circulates bugs me.

Not that I am demanding that I be glorified. The thing is, I just want a special distinction that’ll let me know that I make sense and that I can, in fact, write.

I was about to boycott writing all together which wouldn’t be hard since I’m experiencing writer’s constipation anyway. But see? I’m writing again.

I worry that if I don’t, I’d be disoriented. I wouldn’t know what else to do. Eventually, I’d be lost again.

Right now I can’t think of a brilliant alternative to writing. I fear the day will come when someone, something or an event will confirm my fear—the time when I’d be slapped on the face with the “truth” that, despite my efforts, I do not have a place in the writing niche.

God, that will surely hurt!

Her Single Blessedness

It may be weird to talk about this now but I’ll go ahead and get this out of my system.

A few months ago, I had an epiphany which may well be my only chance to get myself my own family. I mean, hey, I’m 27! Having a family of my own, although not something I’d entertain everyday, is a truth that lurks around especially with society and science reminding me that, as a woman, there’s that biological clock which I have to beat if I were up for it.

I think it was a few weeks after my birthday when I finally realized that, yes, I do want to have my own kid someday. I’m up for it! I’m just not so clear on how I’d go about it. Well I know how, roughly maybe, but that’s not what I meant by how.

In my crudely mapped master plan, I am going to have that wonderful kid to whom I hope to be ready to pour in all the love I can come up with given my lifetime. Never mind, if the kid won’t take care of me when I grow old and wrinkled. I’ve come to a stage in my humanity when I know for a fact that being a parent is not about investing on a living, breathing “insurance plan” to which one can endorse oneself upon hitting 60. You become a parent, do your darn best at it, and never ever expect anything in return.

What you get while continuing to become a parent despite minor attacks of senility, the love and care your kid/s shower you with, those are rewards, unexpected rewards. You become grateful but never cease being a parent because unlike other jobs, being somebody’s mom or dad doesn’t allow day-offs, resignations nor retirements. And there are no monetary compensations either.

I do have an idea what I’d be “giving up” if ever I’d choose to implement my so-called plan. Perhaps I’d only go on with it when I’m sure I have achieved the state of mind wherein I won’t see it as giving up anything. On the contrary, it will be more of changing priorities and taking the focus away from me in search of a more meaningful existence.

I know, I know. It’s pretty much idealistic. And I am well aware, too, that it is as much difficult as it is idealistic, if not more.

However, I have to worry about that later. The more pressing issue now is the missing factor in my master plan. I haven’t squeezed in a husband on my future family picture. Hence the conflict.

Most women, they spend a big chunk of their lives looking for the man made especially for them, the other piece that would make them whole, the other piece that would fit perfectly in their hearts.

Oh, how I wish I can be like them just so I can be spared from a murky happy-ever-after.

But I guess I wasn’t built to look or wait for my supposed prince. I’ve said it many times, how convenient it would have been if I were a lesbian. If that were the case, it would be easier to explain why I have never been romantically associated with a man.

I admire men and, at best, like them, too. I can appreciate them in ways I’d rather not appreciate a fellow woman. But hooking up with anyone of their kind is bleak where I am concern, especially since I’m not one who’s into the dating game.

I just can’t muster the effort it takes to put my best stiletto-decorated foot forward just to catch a guy’s attention. And I admit, I’m not best at trying to actively impress someone whom I may, despite me denying, be attracted to. Plus, I don’t really dance to the tune of flirting. If there’s anything, the whole courting ritual or lack thereof makes me laugh.

But, please don’t get me wrong. I am not entirely a moron at relating to men. I do talk to them and I do in fact have male friends. The straight ones certainly outnumber the gay ones. But that’s about it. Male friends.

So there. Having a husband, let alone a boyfriend really is impossible for someone like me. And it sucks because I know I will be forever scrutinized for such inability. Not that I care so much what others may say. I am just bothered why it can’t be as easy for me as it is for most people.

I don’t think I am incapable of liking another person, a man to be exact. I just lack the ingredient that would allow me to want to like someone. Add to that my feelings towards the conventional way of becoming part of a couple because, as I have been saying, the path which may bring me from merely liking someone to getting involved with that person—I find hilariously unnatural.

Maybe, I am an enlightened one where being a parent is concerned. I can almost convince myself I’d be a good mom someday. But I can hardly picture myself as somebody’s wife. And never becoming a wife sort of gets in the way of my chance to become a perfect mom.

Of course I can always adopt or be a single parent to my own biological child. But in either case, I will be just thinking about me. It most definitely is not the parent I would want to become. I would hate to deprive my child with a dad because I cannot be normal enough to need a man. Because I have too much pride to admit I need a man.

Needless to say, my refusal to co-exist with a man, as maybe nature and God would have it, disqualifies me from being the perfect parent I wish to become. I don’t seem to put in much effort in trying. Unlike single parents who most likely didn’t realize they’d end up rearing their kid/s alone. They get loads of points for wanting and needing their relationship to work. Sit me beside them and I’d shrink.

I don’t know when I’d get another epiphany, one that involves me needing a husband, only until then will my master plan be deemed unflawed.

Reality Gnaws

Whenever my parents go out their separate ways to attend to their social lives, which happens a lot, I am compelled to stay at home and babysit, or perhaps teen-sit, my brother. It used to be “brothers” but since our youngest died, I’ve been reduced to one charge which, although supposed to be easier, proves to be less entertaining and rewarding. No offense to my living brother—the one to whom I devote what-could-have-been-my-social-life who, by the way, hates me—well at least the “me” acting like a an older sister to him. Meanwhile, my other living younger brother who needs no babysitting—well, he works and, fortunately for him, he has a social life.

Lucky them who socialize!

Obviously, unlike them, I only have our house, the office and a few hours in school. When our house is crappy, I have the office or school. When both are pressure cookers, I have the house which is crappy.

Unlucky me.

Hallelujah for the internet where I can immerse myself into.

Fart! This is my absolute reality.

And, boy, it gnaws!

Simpsonize me!

Magdadrama sana ako, kaso masyado akong nawili dito sa Simpsonize Me.

So eto na lang...

Meet Battik Simpson (Hindi related kay Jessica Simpson--nyek!
nyek!)...

Unfortunately, magulo pa rin sa opisina. Although coexisting with lesser boxes na kami, di pa rin comfy. And, boy, is it hot!

As in paypay tayo mga kapatid!

Salamat na lang sa aking battery-powered Doraemon electric fan, brought to me by Char and Wendz, kahit papaano may hangin na kaunti kahit malayo ako sa isa sa dalawang electric fan na ininstall sa department namin! (Tama ba namang di pa nagrorotate yung isa?!?)

Salamat kay Nikka at sa rekomendasyon niya sa kanyang Friendster account tungkol sa "Simpsonize Me", I just forgot how hellishly hot the office was and how somewhat truly sad I am right now!

Sino pa’ng magsasalita?

Nagsalita na si Joey De Leon ukol sa drama ispeysyal ni Willie Revillame.



Maraming bumabatikos kay Joey. Kesyo bakit kailangan pa niyang magsalita? Mayroon pang mga patudtsada sa pagkatao niya.

Kinailangang sumagot ni Joey dahil hinamon siya ni Willie nang walang sapat na dahilan. Natural lamang na ipagtanggol niya ang kanyang sarili. Ginamit siya ni Willie para maibaling ang spotlight mula sa kapalpakan ni Willie at ng show niya patungo sa pagkatao ni Joey. Pinersonal ni Willie si Joey para magalit ang mga tao sa huli. Sa paraang iyon, na-guarantee ni Willie na sa kanya pa rin ang simpatya ng mga tagasunod nya. Kaya naman kalokohan ang sinabi niya kay Joey na, “Sa yo na ang ratings mo!” Dahil sa pagngawa niya na parang bata, ginawan na rin niya ng paraan para masiguradong di siya iiwan ng kanyang mga tagasunod.

Ngayon ako naman ang magbibigay ng aking kuru-kuro. Hindi ako nakikisali sa issue dahil lamang naaasar ako kay Willie, trip ko lang, tsismosa ako or uso kasi. Ginugugol ko ang aking panahon sa gulong ito dahil manonood rin ako. Bahagi rin ako ng masang Pilipino na nagpapatuloy sa kanilang mga tahanan ng mga artistang kagaya nina Willie at Joey sa pamamagitan ng pagbubukas ng telebisyon. At dahil doon, isa ako sa mga nainsulto sa mga pangyayari nitong mga nakaraang araw.

Unang una, nandaya man o hindi, dapat ay nag-offer ng paliwanag sina Willie at ang kampo niya dahil ang pagkakamaling naganap sa show nila ay tunay na hindi nakakatawa at lalong hindi nakakatuwa. Nauto na nina Willie ang maraming tao noon. Hindi man nila ginustong mamatay ang mga tagasunod nila noon sa Ultra, malaki pa rin ang pananagutan nila sa trahedyang iyon. Pasalamat na lang sila at marami pa rin ang nagbulag-bulagan at nagbingi-bingihan at patuloy na nanalig sa kanilang show. Kaya naman parang walang nangyari at patuloy ang saya sa Wowowee. After a tragedy like that, the last thing the Wowowee fans needed was for them to be cheated. Heto nga’t nalagasan na sila ng buhay, tapos malalaman-lamanan pa nila na posibleng may dayaan sa palabas na walang humpay nilang tinatangkilik mula Lunes hanggang Sabado.

Ang lagay kasi, hindi tanga ang mga tao gaya marahil ng iniisip nina Willie and company. Sasagi at sasagi sa kanilang isipan ang implikasyon ng mga bagay na nakikita nila kagaya nung nangyari sa umano’y pangalawang run ng game na Wilyunaryo. Hindi maikukubli na may anomalya sa nasabing game dahil kitang-kita naman siya at, salamat sa Youtube, pwede siyang panuorin ninuman ng ilang beses sa internet.

Pero hindi nagsalita ang mga dapat sana’y magpaliwanag ukol sa issue. Naunahan tuloy sila ng tsismisan sa text, sa internet at sa mga kanto ng kung anumang barangay. Naunahan din sila ng matalim at mapaglarong dila ni Joey de Leon na noon pa ma’y mahilig nang sumundot ng mga hayagang pasaring sa anumang issue na naiisip niya.

Siguro nga, napikon si Willie kaya inumpisahan niya ang kanyang show isang araw na mistulang batang inakusahan ng kalaro niyang nanggancho sa hatian ng kendi nilang magkakaibigan. Sa mga pagdadrama at pagmomonologue ni Willie, hindi niya ibinigay ang sagot sa tanong na “ano ba talaga ang nangyari?” Tinanggi niyang mandaraya siya at saka nagbuhos ng sama ng loob laban kay Joey. Period. Nasaan ang tamang pangangatwiran doon?

Sa mga na-touch sa mga sinabi ni Willie, mawalang galang na po. Punasan po muna ninyo ang mga luha ninyo at isipin kung ano nga ba ang sinasabi ng idolo ninyo kung meron man siyang sinasabi. Kayo po kasi ang biktima sa hindi niya pagpapaliwanag. Kayo ang maaaring niloko niya kung manloloko man siya. Sa inyo siya pumalpak kung pumalpak lang nga talaga siya at tunay na wala siyang intensyong manggulang.

Maraming problema si Willie sa buhay. Pero wala iyong koneksyon sa nangyari sa Wilyunaryo. Nakipaglamay si Willie sa mga kamag-anak ninyong namatay sa Ultra, isang bagay na dapat naman niya talagang gawin bilang isang tao at bilang mahalagang bahagi ng Wowowee, pero hindi nangangahulugan na abswelto na siya sa isang malaman na pagpapaliwanag. "Inaapi" si Willie ni Joey kaya naman mas lalong dapat sabihin ni Willie kung ano ba talaga ang nangyari.

Ang kaso ni Willie at ang ginawa niya ay isang simpleng ehemplo ng tinatawag na “pointing fingers”. Sa halip na talakayin niya kung anuman ang kinalaman niya o ang pagkainosente niya sa mga nangyari, nagturo na lang siya ng ibang tao na mababatikos ng mga sumasampalataya sa kanya. Kahit papaano ko tingnan, paling ang strategy na ito ni Willie.

Hindi tamang utuin ang mga tao, lalung lalo na yaong mga sadyang handang kumapit sa patalim para lamang mapaginhawa ang kanilang buhay o para lamang makalimot kahit panandalian sa kanilang mga tinitiis araw araw. Mas lalong masama ang lokohin sila. Kung tunay na number one sa puso ninyo ang ang inyong mga tagasubaybay, hindi ninyo sila babastusin sa pamamagitan ng pag-aassume na “hindi naman sila nag-iisip kaya OK na ang kunwaring paliwanag ko”; na "dadaanin ko na lang ito sa iyak”; na "hmm, sa iba ko na lang ibubuntong ang galit at sisi na maaari kong tanggapin dahil sa mga nangyari.”

OK lang na gawing sirkus ang mga palabas sa telebisyon basta wala itong tinatapakang batas at tao. Ang hindi OK ay pati ang katotohanan o ang panghahangad ng katotohanan ay gawing sirkus rin. Tumbukin na lang kasi ang totoo at nang marinig na ng taong bayan ang karapatan nilang marinig. Tama na yung asaran kung wala namang nasasagot sa mga mahahalagang tanong. Konting respeto naman sa masa—masa na handang tumagkilik sa anumang pagsisirku-sirko na ginagawa ninyo sa inyong mga show.

Marahil ikaw, Willie, at ang mga kasama mo sa show ang dapat talagang magsalita. Pero, please, sabihin ninyo ang mga ineexpect ng masa, ng inyong mga tagasubaybay, yung nararapat talaga nilang marinig.

Isang mahusay na pagpapaliwanag lang naman.

Hindi iyon mahirap kung tunay nga kayong inosente gaya ng sinasabi ninyo.