Crush ko (pa rin) si Bistek! :-)

I was cleaning up/classifying files in my mini-hardrive the other day -- the modern incarnation of the age-old pre-x'mas holiday cleaning tradition -- and came across a folder of digital photos taken during one of my evening Aikido classes at the Philippine Heart Center (circa 2003, I believe).

If I remember it correctly, it was Family Day that evening at the Dojo, and the students had invited their parents to view their Aikido practice. As it happens, Ms. Tetchie Agbayani's two daughters were Dojo-mates of mine so we were all treated to her riveting presence.

To add to the "star struck" moment, one of the senseis, apparently, had also invited then Vice Mayor "Bistek" Bautista to grace the affair!

Eeeeeeeeeeeeee! Kilig-ness ever! :-)

And now a word from the remaining 1%.

'La lang. I just thought it would only be fair to hear what the remaining "1%" has to say about all this "Occupy this and that" brouhaha. Tao din naman sila na may karapatang magpahayag, tama?

:-)

Yes. I'm joking.

F@CK you, Mr. Burns and everyone like you!

Yay! The good Mayor is Gay! :-)

Congratulations to Klaus Wowereit for winning his Third Term as Mayor of Berlin! Openly Gay and a Social Democrat to boot, Klaus inspires me no end.

No to Discrimination! Yes to honest public service!

Our own "still-in-the-closet" politicians can definitely learn a thing or two from him.

:-)

Are we selling our Heritage?

Buwan ng Agosto, Buwan ng Wika, Pagdakila kay Manuel L. Quezon. pero bakit may balita ng ang bahay ni Quezon sa New Manila ay binebenta sa mga developers? Para ano? Gibain at tayuan ng Condo?

Hindi ba pwedeng ideklara na Historical Site? Ito ay part ng ating heritage bilang Filipino, bilang taga Quezon City! We should balance development with the preservation of our historical sites!

Funny... Sad... but, unfortunately, still True.

How very apt naman this. :-)

Pero seriously, dapat bang lagi na lang tayong ganito? I can't imagine subjecting my future kids to this same pitiful (and infuriating) situation.

It has got to stop... and soon. Cliches tend to become unfunny rather quickly.

Bangkok in my mind.

At long last, I finally got to go to Thailand! Weeee!!! Too bad it was only for a day (don't ask)... still, I managed to squeeze-in visits to some "need-to-see" places or two. My absolute fave?

Khao San Road, beybeh!

 

It has everything one would expect from a real happenin' beach place -- henna stalls, curio shops, places where you can have dreadlocks braided into your hair, cheap food, cool beer, white people in skimpy beachwear walking the main road, stalls giving massages, bargain books, tie-dyed shirts and sundry... 

Yups... one can find everything at Khao San Road... everything except the beach, of course.

:-)

Do-it-yourself-Dilbert therapy session

Talk about living vicariously through others, I recently discovered that one of my favorite Dilbert books had cut-out finger-puppets panels at the back.

Finally! Now I, too, can banish the "Demons of Stupidity" with as much elan as Dogbert! :-)

 

Dora the Explorer, all grown-up!

Watching the live TV coverage of the Senate investigation of the Ligots was a blast! It, hands-down, beats watching any telenovela anytime!

One new development was the expose of a certain "Dara" (Kapampangan for "Tita") being Mrs. Ligot's "constant companion" during her numerous trips abroad. Wow. As in Wow! Si "Dara the Explorer" ito! :-)

Ganito na ba ang itsura niya now that's she's all grown up? :-)

My heart bleeds for Japan.

No words will ever suffice. No amount of sympathy... of empathy. Commiseration won't cut it. 

What is needed is action -- the world community has to pitch in. Everyone. For only in helping those in desperate need do we become more human... more humane. 

My heart cries out for Japan. Her children... her mothers... fathers... brothers and sisters... lives swept away in an instant.

My heart bleeds for those left behind.

I support the RH Bill

I think it's about time that the Philippines gets a logical, just and comprehensive program on Reproductive Health and all its attendant issues.

Frankly, i believe that overpopulation is a drain on the country's resources. We are a rich country, yes; but many of our people are desperately poor. Family-planning may not be the cure-all for our country's myriad problems, but it is definitely a step in the right direction.

Dear legislators, please do the right thing. Pass the RH Bill! 

Please... PLEASE let there be a good Football Stadium in Kyusi!

I haven't been to Bacolod City yet pero grabe... nakaka-inggit talaga sila! Not because they have the Masskara Festival (although that would be a good reason)... not because they were recently voted "Best place to live in the Philippines" in one magazine survey (which I don't agree with 100%, no offense po).

Why am I jealous of Bacolod City then? Because they have a Panaad Stadium, that's why!

And having a Panaad Stadium means only one thing --- the AZKALS will be practicing there regularly!

Dear Kyusi Government, please build a football stadium here in our city. If you build it, rest assured... We will come! (I know I and my gang will) :-)

Top Ten Reasons why I HEART Kyusi :-)

In case you've missed the obvious, let me lay it out for you in plain language -- I'm a bona fide Kyusi Fan! I was born here... I grew up here... I'm now studying here... and hopefully, in the future, my career will allow me to stay here in Quezon City.

What's there not to love about Kyusi?

Ok, I admit there are lots of things that can cause one to not like it, but taking everything into account, Kyusi comes out quite positive.

Here are the Top Ten Reasons why Kyusi is dear to me:

1. The fact that there are many trees in the city -- in Parks, in Schools, in vacant lots, along roads, and in people's backyards. I can breathe in Kyusi.
2. The constant public works improvements one sees. Yes, they're a pain sometimes. But somehow one gets the impression that people's Taxes are being put to good use.
3. That the premier universities in the country are right smack in the middle of the city. Students here have a choice -- very good choices. 
4. It has a relatively large middle class sector, concentrated in several enclaves around the City.
5. The preponderance of tambay places! Practically everywhere you look, there are places to hang-out in, catering to all budgets and preferences.
6. That more and more areas are getting Wired. 
7. That the City Government is quite progressive. Proof? The City has an Ordinance on Reproductive Health! Yehboi!
8. That the QC Police doesn't have as bad an image as do other Police Departments.
9. Kyusi's LGBT (that Lesbian-Gay-Bisexual_Transgenders to the uninitiated) sector is very vibrant.
10. The formal and informal economy of Quezon City is quite varied, ranging from huge IT-BPO complexes to sidewalk vendor encampments along pedestrian zones

And, finally, what other city in the country has a Mayor and a Vice-Mayor who are both artistahin?

Teka. That's 11 Reasons na pala. :-)

What's up with Baron Geisler?!

I get it that he wants to project a "bad-boy" image -- a la James Dean, perhaps? And, truth be told, he does manage to pull it off seamlessly. But lately, his antics seem to have crossed that thin line between "bad boy" and just plain "pervert."

What a pity, kuya. You were my bet for "best indie actor"... but not anymore. 

And I even used to fantasize about having you as a date. Now, I'd be scared just to be in the same room. :-(

Fishing in the City? I kid you not!

School vacation finally gave me the time to do some exploring -- online, that is. And after the de rigueur searches on Justin Bieber (gawsh!) and Katy Perry (I wanna BE her), what blog should I wander into but one that contains one of my long-standing frustrations in life... FISHING!

Hibiki's fishing blog is filled with cool photos, helpful fishing tips, interesting tidbits of fish psychology (i swear!) and great (not to mention, surprising) suggestions on where to indulge your angling urges -- with some fishing havens being located within Kyusi itself!  

Dang! Imagine that! City Hall Tourism Department, take note please!

So, if you think you smell something fishy... it definitely isn't Hibiki's blog, it's you! Now get your butt off that sofa and Go Fish!

Or, if you're like me, at least fish vicariously through Hibiki's blog. :-)