What Coup?

OK. I promised myself not to post anything about this siege that had happened yesterday in the Manila Peninsula Hotel (simply known as 'The Manila Pen') in Makati City. But some people are just so annoying that I had to say something.

In tonight's episode of Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Edition(aired in ABSCBN), the housemates were told about a certain "coup" that occured while they are inside the house. PBB (short for Pinoy Big Brother) exaggerated it by using sound effects galore, collating speeches from other different annoying personalities, and, of course, instilling fear in the heads of the housemates. How ridiculous.

People barely felt the so-called "coup". I, in fact, was surprised that something like a siege hit the headlines. Classes as usual, you see (I came home after a long day of studying). Sir Ernest, who works just in front of the Manila Pen, even took pictures while negotiations were in progress. And he's not alone, as tourists were enjoying the sights, too. Oh yeah, let us not forget the raining of gunshots but, fortunately, no one was hurt. Unfortunately, millions of pesos worth of Manila Pen's properties was destroyed. It's more like a film shooting than a coup, as far as I can see.

So what's the point? Well, simple lang. The media always (and I mean ALWAYS) exaggerates everything. I could just remember how dull I felt as the WHOLE news program was devoted to this siege. There are more news than "coup" news.

Coup, huh? Coup yourself.

(Update 1) SEA Games 2007

After 4 days of shooting, Thailand currently leads the Southeast Asian Games race with 10 gold medals, followed by Singapore with 7, and Vietnam with 3. They are followed by Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Indonesia, in that order.

The men's football event will kick off tomorrow while the opening ceremonies be held on December 6.

Kiwi!

Here is another video. This video is about a kiwi, a bird that cannot fly, who devoted his whole life to achieve his lifelong dream--to fly. He created an illusion by nailing many many trees beside a cliff--an illusion that made it as if he is really flying over a forest. And so he spent his entire life doing this. In the end...

Dreams can be achieved--no matter how hard they may seem to be--if we try to.

*Hey, this blog is starting to have a niche. Thanks to Mushroom Boy for leading me to this video.*

Somewhere Out There

For some reason, I have been in a remembering-childhood-moments mood lately. Well, I just hope that you, my readers, wouldn't mind me talking and talking about my past.



This video was taken from the 1986 movie An American Tail. Created by no other than Steven Spielberg, this film depicts the life of a Russian family of mice who sets forth to migrate to the United States during the last years of the 19th century. They migrate in the belief that there are no cats in America, unlike in Russia. They later find out that they were wrong--there are cats in the United States, and a lot of them, too. The film revolves on Fievel and how he was separated from his family because of the storm that swept their boat just when they were near the States. This show what Fievel had to go through during his quest for his family. It was, well, portrayal of how the immigrants' lives in the US were during that time.

I remember that I had only seen this movie once--and not in the movie theatres because my parents weren't even married then. I was very sure I cried when I watched it. It was one of my favorite animated fime. The movie has such a lasting impact that its OST, Somewhere Out There (featured in the video), is now a classic.

I loved this movie. I still do--and I hope you do, too.

A Saturday at Alphie's Debut

The monk has gone down the mountain.

I've been to a high school batchmate's debut last Saturday. I must say it was a very refreshing evening, as I saw many of my high school classmates again after 2 years. However, I stayed mostly with only three people the whole night (Sam, Deb, and Jaq)--once with Jane, when she forced me to escort her to the ladies' room. HAHAHAHAHAHA. Pawpaw (Johneal) was also there but we didn't hang out that much. Too bad some of my closest friends weren't able to attend. Boo. hehehe. Here are some of the pics:



(from left) Sam, Jaq, Deb, and moi


moi and Samuel


moi and Deboy


Jaq and moi (supposedly wacky)


Senti mode


(from left) Jaq, Sam, moi, and Congressman Pawpaw. hahaha.


moi in senti mode with Jane beside me


The bridge is falling!!!


For the complete set of pics, please visit Debbie's page

A Thursday at the Mall of Asia

I've seen my closest friends in college for the first time in a few months. We, that is to say all of us but one (Jumel), even went to the SM Mall of Asia, because of the vast amount of time ahead of us. Hehe. FYI, that was my first time there--and it was a good time, indeed, even though I had no cash.

Even though our legs were already killing us due to extensive walking, we still walked and and walked and walked around the mall, with the guidance of our lost tour guide--Gerald. We also spent some time watching the sun setting down at the bay area, looking at the pile of shoes on the giant rocks beside the mall, admiring the jumping fishes (haha that was the first time I saw something like that), and acting like some freaking tourists by taking a lot of pictures. Too bad I cannot post them here because the pictures are with Kester. I hope I can post them soon, though.

It was a pleasant day, I still remember, looking at the waters of Manila Bay. True, Manila Bay isn't clean, but there's something about that moment that I couldn't help but get a little passive. I think I was being mushy, spending time with these people who gives me so much joy--an understatement, mind you. Hahaha. But instead of expressing mushiness, I ended up in silence, which is very typical of me.

Anyway, it was a long trip home. I spent the whole time eating chips with Kester, while texting and watching some corny videos of the Porkchop Duo. Haha. There was even a moment when we had to search under the chairs because Kester had lost his Form 5A. Clumsy as always. Oh well.

It's possibly one of the best Thursdays I ever had.

An afterthought: I'm excited about Monday because the half of my day will be spent with Kat and Kester. We're classmates kasi. :)

Achievements: First Worked-For Cash

Wheee. I just got my first ever online money. It's US$15 or approximately PhP640. Yes, it isn't much but, still, it's good to know that my efforts have paid off. My job was to write website introductions/reviews in an online directory for two hours--and that's it! If I have made good articles then I might be considered for future projects. I hope I have.

Hai. I still have with me my copy of the Western Union transaction paper. Whee. It's nice to look at. It's nice to know that I have earned something for myself at last. My aunt told me that I should buy something as a remembrance, just as she had done during her first payday. I should buy a belt. Hehehe.

Kensei

Since I have promised Olive here that I'll make a post tonight, but do not have the cerebral capacity to do so, I requested someone, who refuses to be credited for his/her work, to write for me.

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Raise your hand if you watch 'Heroes'. I think you are the few blessed ones to witness a calling for us who secretly wish to be a superhero. Sure, it’s another sci-fi series with gorgeous actors and gory scenes, but hey, that’s like green mango and lollipop in one--my two favorite food items. The series is able to capture its audience because of the suspenseful plot, imaginative storyline and the alluring questions that one encounters in his/her life. No matter what part of the globe you are in, 'Heroes' affects you like no other TV series there is, except 'Friends', of course.

It brings out the inner child in you, igniting the sense of hope that somewhere in the midst of this chaotic world, a Peter Petrelli is ready to risk his own life... Or it could be a small wishful thinking that your loved ones are able to regenerate, because you fear the day that they would slip away from your hands. Random thoughts begin to enter your mind as you think of the word ‘heroes’--but the bottom line is that I believe the show reflects how one can turn from ordinary to extraordinary in an instant. You do not have to have genetic mutation to become a super hero; you just have to go beyond your boundaries, extend your limit and exceed your potentials--all for the good of others without expecting anything in return.