How does one become a member of Team Pacquiao?

This question has always baffled me. Many claim to be a member of Team Pacquiao...but how does one actually become a member of this uhmm fraternity? Like, do you audition or something? Do you have to be a good singer (at least by Manny's standards)? A sports fan? An ex-politician? A kiss-ass, perhaps?

Well you'd be surprised by some people who would do anything, and I mean ANYTHING, just to be identified with the Team Pacquiao. It's ridiculous at the very least.

Read the story here

No wonder gurls swarm Manny like bees to a hive, hoping to get even a morsel of the cake.

The Happy Hobo

Here's someone whom we could all learn a lesson from in the face of debt and destitution. Maybe it's time we sift through our priorities, leave out the superficial and unnecessary, and move on with only the essentials that we need to make it through this journey. After all, who needs all that extra baggage that will weigh us down in the end? Okay, okay. I sound more like a preacher now. But seriously, I envy this guy. I don't know if I can do the same with two kids (and one on the way) to feed, not to mention a husband who eats a lion's share. haha Anyway, here's an article from men.style.com that attempts to revive a long-forgotten proverb: money is not everything.

COULD YOU SURVIVE WITHOUT MONEY?MEET THE GUY WHO DOES
In Utah, a modern-day caveman has lived for the better part of a decade on zero dollars a day. People used to think he was crazy

By Christopher Ketcham; Photograph by Mark Heithoff
DANIEL SUELO LIVES IN A CAVE. UNLIKE THE average American—wallowing in credit-card debt, clinging to a mortgage, terrified of the next downsizing at the office—he isn't worried about the economic crisis. That's because he figured out that the best way to stay solvent is to never be solvent in the first place. Nine years ago, in the autumn of 2000, Suelo decided to stop using money. He just quit it, like a bad drug habit...(Read the rest of the story here)

Post-mortem post on the King of Pop

I don't know if I should have posted this in the first place. Anyhow, this is an anecdote about the immense popularity of the King (and not Da King). I mean, yes I know he's up there in the fame meter, but I didn't realize that he was that popular until my six-year-old asked me about him.

River: Mommy, patay na ba si Michael Jackson?
Me: Oo. Pano mo nalaman?
River: Sabi sa TV. Mommy, san siya pupunta: sa hell or sa heavean?
Me: (Thinks hard and long). Uhmm hindi ko alam. Teka, kilala mo ba si Michael Jackson?
River: Opo.
Me: Talaga? Anong itchura niya?
River: 'Di ba siya yung mukhang manika...ung sobrang puti ang mukha tapos kulot ang buhok.

I was floored.

When it rains, it floods

Woke up this morning to the eerie howling of the winds outside. My cellphone read 5:20 a.m. Shit. The rain hasn't stopped since yesterday afternoon. I bet the gutters and drainages must have swollen into a massive pool of filth and human excesses by this time. I shuddered at the mere thought. I planned on going back to slumber, but then the aircon went dead. Crap! Walang kuryente. I scrambled for my cellphone, switched on the torch light, and found my way to the kitchen. I saw ate busy cooking something. She was up very early as usual to help me prepare my son to school, only there were no classes today. I suddenly missed going to school. Not because I loved studying or I was the type who didn't miss a single school day. I particularly missed the announcements on TV during these days, when we were all hunched in front of the TV (or glued to a battery-operated radio during brownouts) waiting for the announcer to say that classes have been suspended. Because today, just like yesterday and the past few days, I've been literally dragging my ass to work. All this extra weight (ahem, as a result of my pregnancy) have made me lethargic and lazy. I can't wait for my maternity leave.

BEWAARREEE!

I know this is old news; so much has been written about the same incident in the web. But at the risk of sounding redundant, I will share this experience with you (actually, it's more of my husband's experience) to serve as a reminder to everyone especially businessmen to be vigilant and cautious when talking to entities who pose as NGOs or who claim to have ties with the government to extort money. This experience happened a few days ago. An unidentified man called my husband's office asking his company to make a P3,000 donation to their fund-raising event. The caller introduced himself as part of the Philippine Anti-Drug Support Group Commission, name-dropping influential people (mostly connected with the police and army) as the conversation progressed. My husband then told the caller that he will discuss the matter with the Board as this was a financial matter that required a consensus at the very least. This obviously annoyed the caller. So instead of waiting for the outcome of the "board meeting," the caller passed on the "offer" to my husband. In short, he wanted my husband to make a personal donation from his own pockets (or should I say our own savings).
This fueled my husband's suspicion even more. Without wanting to sound rude, my husband told the caller that "I will have to consult my wife first before I make any decision." You could imagine how pissed the caller might have been because at this point, he was already making threats perhaps to intimidate my husband and eventually persuade him to give the money.
My husband of course did not give in to any of his demands, and after the conversation ended he immediately searched for the name of the bogus company in the web. And here's what he found
http://www.edericeder.com/mag-ingat-sa-philippine-anti-drug-support-group-inc/

Define S-E-X-Y

This came as a surprise to many, including myself who's not even a big fan of Robert Pattinson or Twilight. I haven't seen the movie (maybe in DVD if I have time) but judging from the publicity photos and paparazzi shots, I think Robert Pattinson could pass for a hunk by any woman's standards. Guess we don't use the same stick as The Phoenix editors who demoted the Twilight hottie as one of the Unsexiest Men together with Chris Brown (ho-hum...I won't even start a discussion about this scum), Shia LaBeouf (crashing ur fender prolly shaved off his pogi points), and John Mayer (ok, being full of oneself is unSEXY, not to mention when you wear a 'mankini' in full glory), to mention some.

According to the article, what made Robert Pattinson unSEXY (mind you, the article said unsexy and NOT unattractive) is the fact that he smells...errrhhmm bad. Like anghit or putok? I know he looks stinky in photos but does he really? Kaka-turn off if true.

An almost perfect getaway

Lesson learned over the long holiday: never go out of town at the spur of the moment lest you end up ruining the last stretch of the holiday and risk a word war with husband.
Holy Wednesday was too late to make any reservations to any hotel, counting little unknown resorts from faraway land (Pundaquit, Zambales) which I only stumbled upon on the Internet. Everything was fully booked. Yes I hear you. We should have planned weeks ago. But planning is futile if you don't have moolah which was the case in our situation. This is not to say we are cash-strapped. We are just preparing for the financial crisis looming ahead of us (read: enrollment). Bah it's no joke to send your children to school especially if they attend exclusive institutions.
Anyway, we still decided that we wanted to take the kids for a swim last Saturday - at the last minute. As soon as Argel woke up, he turned on his laptop to search for a resort, hoping there's one within the city that's not yet fully booked. Alas, we came across 9 Waves in San Mateo, Rizal. The name sounds dubious...is it a spin off of the original 8 Waves in Bulacan? Who cares. The kids love water so I'm sure they won't mind. I called the resort, intending to make reservations. The person at the other end of the line answered: "May natitira pa pong rooms, pero hindi pedeng magpa-reserve sa phone. Kailangan niyong pumunta dito." And that's we did three hours later.
To our surprise, 9 Waves was inside a small subdivision in San Mateo. What the heck. It's still a resort, there's still swimming pool. The only problem is, the resort was packed that the guard had to shoo us away because they can no longer accommodate incoming guests.
Geeeezzz. This is what we get for being spontaneous...
Again Argel had to find a net cafe in this strange city to look for an alternative. His search came up with Club Manila East. I think this was the one that was featured in Jessica Soho. The one with artifical waves, surf instructors, and kayaking activities. Ok. Not bad. Not bad at all. The only problem was, it was at the opposite end from where we were. And by the time we reach Club Manila East, it would have been afternoon already. Frak!
Our last resort (no pun here) was to head back home and pray that everybody has gone out of town that nobody thought of going to Ace Water Spa, which was a spitting distance (that is, if you spit like a monkey) from our house.
Hooray! There were a handful of people alright, but not the rowdy crowd you'd see in Bora or Puerto Galera. My kids were excited. Entrance fee was kinda hefty. 550 for adults, and 25o for kids (and this is discounted rate already, huh?) Add to that the swimming trunks we had to purchase at Ace (apparently a strict dress code was being implemented here, and my boys were not dressed for the occasion) and our bill amounted to something. BUT it was well worth it. We all enjoyed the pool and the special water machines that massaged your back and arms while you wade in the water. Unfortunately, I didnt get to try all of those because my condition prohibits me to do so. I almost swore that I would make a trip back next month when my husband pointed something floating in the water. Is that what I think it is? Oh. My. Gulay. Yes, it is WHAT I thought it was. Somebody pooped in the pool. A toddler maybe? Shet. Has it been there for long? Argel immediately dragged us to the floor and called the attention of one of the life guards.
Ano ba yan. It was almost the perfect getaway for us...almost becos we didn't plan on it...almost because the kids had a blast...almost until some poop popped out of nowhere.

Sa prisinto ka na magpaliwanag...!

I hate explaining myself to anyone especially if I know that my actions are void of any malice. It's an ordeal for me therefore to ride the public train every morning. As you already know, I am in my second trimester of pregnancy and as such I have earned the privilege to ride the "off limits" section of the train reserved for senior citizens, handicapped, employees, officers of LRTA, women with children below 4ft., AND pregnant women. The problem is, at this point of my pregnancy, I don't look pregnant at all. Sure I appear bloated or busog but definitely not pregnant. The last time I tipped the scale, which was a week ago, I weighed a frail 112lbs. That already includes the 3 1/2 month old person inside my tummy. So you can just imagine my "acting" skills whenever I attempt to ride the special section in the LRT which honestly I myself find ridiculous. Because I don't look preggers, I try so hard to protrude and project my tummy just so I can get past the guardia civil manning the train. And everytime, and I really mean every single time, the guard would scrutinize me like I was some kind of a criminal.
"Hindi ka pwede dito," to which I would meekly reply while pointing to my tummy, "Buntis po ako."
This is exasperating and frustrating at the same time. But I don't want to blame these guards who I know are just doing their job. Besides, they haven't and will never experience being pregnant so how the hell will they know if a woman is pregnant especially if she's only in her first trimester like me? Perhaps they don't have a choice but to take our word at face value, believing in our innate sincerity. Unfortunately, there are people who are just so makapal ang mga pagmumukha. I have been a witness to countless encounters wherein these unscrupulous women who try to sneak past the guard to get prime seats during rush hour. Can't they read the sign? Or they just choose to be ignorant?
Haayy, some people just don't learn.

Thank you...

This goes out to all my friends who read my previous post and prayed for the fast recovery of my husband and wished me well on my pregnancy. Thank you!

Well I have a good news to share (altho I don't know if this is any better than the last post). My husband does not have German measles after all! It was a false alarm, thank goodness. I'm just a bit annoyed because we had to wait for eight days (and sleep on two different houses) only to find out that the rashes on his skin were not measles. But hey, am not one to complain. I am too happy that Argel is back.

So let me share to you why we came up with such conclusion in the first place. About two weeks ago, my sister-in-law's mother contracted measles (altho I don't know what kind). Her mom and the rest of the family lived just across our house where they also have sari-sari store. Argel frequents this store almost everyday to buy yosi (see...I told you to stop smoking) and this is where the story begins. About a week after we learned that my sister-in-law's mom had measles, Argel came home one night with fever and rashes all over his back. At first, I thought he was just allergic to saw dust (as a result of the 3-day renovation in their office). The following morning, he went to the doctor to have his rashes checked. He was never sent home for the next eight days. However, the doctor was puzzled because the rashes kept on coming even after a week. If it were German measles, the red spots would be fading by now. Argel had a Rubella Test to find out if he had the German measle strain. We waited two days for the results. Good news: he didn't have the measles. Bad news: he had pityriasis rosea. It's a type of skin disease with unknown causes and unknown cure. Doctors say that these rashes come out of nowhere, fester the skin from 6 weeks to 2 months, then vanish. Strange we thought. Where did he get it?

Anyway, at least we know that it is not contagious. But just to give you an idea, I have posted a picture of what pityriasis rosea looks like. (Pasintabi sa mga kumakain) I know my husband will kill me for posting this but this is NOT his photo. I got this from the net.

Will I survive?

I feel like crying this very moment. I just learned that my husband has German measles. Yes, it's no big deal if I was NOT on my first trimester of my pregnancy. All moms out there know that pregnant women are NOT ALLOWED to get sick during this stage, much less with German measles. In the United States, expecting moms who contract this viral disease undergo "therapeutic abortion" without any argument because the chances of delivering a healthy child is very slim. Babies whose moms had measles while they were still inside the tummy are known to have congenital heart diseases, deformities, and other abnormalities once they come out. It's really scaring the shit out of me because for all I know, the strain may be incubating in my body for the past days that I have been exposed to my husband. The doctor said that the incubating period is 2 weeks before it finally manifest into reddish spots similar to allergies.
Now, half of the sad story is the doctor has advised my husband to stay away from me for at least a week to avoid any complications during my pregnancy. And because the virus travels by air, I must not be exposed to the air he breathes. I know that is impossible if you live in the same house and so, with all my begging and objections turning to nil, Argel has decided that he will be sleeping at his uncle's house for a week leaving me and the kids alone for seven days. We've never been separated for that long. I don't want to even think about it right now because I might break down to bits. It's already hard to be sleeping on different beds, what more if you were in two different houses? I may sound so melodramatic here but I can't help it. I am already missing my husband. And the kids, I know they will be asking about him and will also beg me to go see him. Nakakapanlambot. So please, please, help me God.

My first blessing this 2009

I'm talking about a very BIG blessing coming our way this year. I tested positive last night. No, no, not coke or meth. I'm having a baby again meaning I'll be a mother for the third time. The thought excites and scares me at the same time. We haven't planned on this one, but we need to be ready for him/her. Scary thought but a most welcome gift. Now we have to cut back on our spending and save as much as we could. I underwent CS the last time so I am expecting that I'll undergo the same procedure. Do the math and you instantly have a P60,000 looming hospital debt. Good thing my husband has doctors (a surgeon and OB) for relatives so we don't need to worry about the bills (well, at least for the professional fee). I just thank God that I am employed when this happened, otherwise I would deliver this baby via kumadrona inside our room. Ok, I am exaggerating because husband is a good provider. However, we still need MORE than what we are earning right now if we want a comfortable life for our kids, and ourselves na rin.
Anyhow, we already have a name in case it turns out to be a boy. We will call him Datu in keeping with the theme of giving our children Pinoy names. If was thinking of calling my baby Maya if it turns out to be a girl but then, my kumare beat me to it (She already gave birth last December altho hers spells Maia) so we have to decide on another one. Any suggestion?

Eheads Final Set...to go or not to go?

Ok. Now I am getting excited. I've read in some blogs and forums that (yes, finally) there will be another E-heads concert aptly titled "Eraserheads: The Final Set Concert." Tentative sched is March 7 (which, upon checking my phone's calendar, falls on a Saturday). No venue yet but some are predicting that it will be at the MOA concert grounds (God forbid) or The Fort (same as last year's).
My problem is, how do I get VIP tickets? It's would be easy if only they SOLD veepee tickets to plain Janes and Joes like me. Alas, VIP tickets as I painfully learned are for, well, very important people kuno like families, friends, honchos, media members, organizers, or anybody who had clout which unfortunately I don't have *sniff sniff*
Totel suggested that I might snag some passes if I volunteered to babysit for Ely's guitars. Not a bad idea if only it really were probable.
As an alternative,I am thinking of offering myself as a slave for a month to a friendwho got SVIP tickets at last year's concert *snicker* for the off-chance of scoring two tickets (one for hubby). I know I sound so desperate but who wouldn't be? I don't want to pay for patron tickets. I've been there before and I tell you the crowd, the food, the smell, and most importantly the view is not good to say the least.
Haiiiizzz. Ang hirap maging mahirap.

Wolverine is back..and other kick-ass characters from our childhood

I know nobody can really predict the future but I think it's safe to say that 2009 is gonna be a blockbuster year for movies (and yes, another reason to stash away some cash for those prime theater seats.)
Got this list from Yahoo Movies. I confess that I'm no movie fan. I am too lazy to make the trip to the mall, line up at the movie tills, wait for my turn at the hotdog stand, and sit still for two hours - UNLESS it's really a good movie like last year's "Batman" with Heath Ledger that had me strapped to my seat from start to closing credits (even if my bladder was about to blow up with liquid amonia all over the floor). It's just so unfortunate that Heath didn't live long enough to see his Oscar-worthy performance.
Anyway, here is a (long) list of movies that would somehow inspire you to save up some moolah because honestly they're all worth watching.

1. Fast & Furious with Paul Walker and Vin Diesel (no comment)
2. X-men Origins: Wolverine with Hugh Jackman (this I SHOULD not miss)
3. Star Trek (I haven't watched a single episode of this sci-fi franchise "loser! loser!" but I guess it's worth mentioning)
4. Angels & Demons with Tom Hanks - (I fell asleep with The Da Vinci Code but hey everyone deserves a second chance!)
5. Terminator Salvation with Christian Bale (and not Arnold Schwarzenegger, thank God!)
6. Land of the Lost
7. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Shia LaBeouf is smokin'!)
8. Public Enemies with Johnny Depp (need I elaborate more?)
9. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
10. G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra (I'm very curious with this)
11. Sherlock Holmes with Robert Downey Jr. (he did a good job in Iron Man)
12. Avatar (I SHOULD watch this on a Lazy Boy at Gateway with Argel and River. We are all big fans of Avatar)

For the complete list, click on Yahoo! Movies.

Still on the hairy issue...

This is a follow-up to my entry yesterday since my friend Lilith brought it up anyway. She ponders, "Is goatee considered a mustache?"

Very tricky question, ain't it? It's like saying, "Ang balbas ba ay para ding bigote?" (sorry for the lousy translation, I really suck in Filipino). What do you think? Are they the same or are they totally different? I made a survey over Facebook and am still waiting for the results (that is, if anybody cared to answer hahaha pfft!)

Anyway, whenever goatee or mustache comes to mind there's only person that pops in my head. He's also the only person I know (ok, ok, I am biased) who can go with or without a goatee/mustache and still look smokin' hot! Which do you prefer?

'stache or no 'stache?

So what is a mustacheologist? At first, I thought it was a new entry in the dictionary concocted by a Joe the Six Pack. But no, a mustacheologist is a person who studies (hold your breath) men's mustache. What exactly do they study? I honestly have no friggin' idea. Apparently according to the Yahoo video that I watched, there are a handful types of mustache like the horseshoe, manchu, handlebar, walrus, lampshade, and so on, categorized according to the thickness and shape of the upper lip hair, perhaps?

Whatever. I don't like mustache in my man. I find it simply annoying. No pogi points for you, dear hubby. I think of it as a dirt trap that gathers food residue and facial oils. And then what? You're gonna rub all that muck all over my face and *ehem" my body? No thanks. I prefer my man to be squeaky clean that's why I keep nagging my husband to please, please shave and get rid of those wiry shoots. I don't quite get some women who find mustache in men very sexy and well, arousing. Honestly, mustache reminds of me kontrabidas like Rez Cortez, Paquito Diaz, and Jorge Estregan, Jr.

On the contrary, there are actors whose mustaches define their characters such as the late Rudy Fernandez, and Ramon Revilla Sr. Just imagine if they didn't have mustache? Di ko ma-imagine.

Well going back to the subject, don't you think there should also be such a term as goateeologist to keep it fair and square? How about balbonism? Just saying...

(Photo credit goes to professionalheckler)

Ang aking listahan ng mga gagawin ngayong bagong taon...

Wala naman talaga akong listahan ng mga resolusyon dahil unang-una ay tamad akong magsulat; pangalawa, alam ko namang hindi ko matutupad ang mga bagay na gusto kong baguhin ngayong 2009. Sinubukan ko na dati yan. Ang sabi ko titigil na akong manigarilyo pero hindi ko talaga mapigilan ang sarili ko na magsindi ng isang stik lalo na pag matagal-tagal akong hindi nagbabanyo. Madalas ay un ang lagi kong palusot sa aking asawa. "Dad, isang stick lang para lang lumabas." Hindi ko alam kung psychological lang ba talaga o may siyentipikong epekto ang paninigarilyo kapag ang tao ang constipated.

Hindi ko na matandaan pa ang mga ilang bagay na pinangko kong gagawin noong nakaraang taon. Pero ngayon, susubukan kong baguhin ang isang ugali ko na alam ko ring matagal ko na dapat binago. Hmm..how do I put it? Ang hirap talagang mag-Tagalog lalo na kung ang gusto mong sabihin ay walang katumbas sa ating lenguahe. (Ngak! Tama ba ang ispeling ko ng lenguahe? kunganoman!)

Sa maniwala ka man o sa hindi, ako ay isang anti-social. Hindi ako nasisiyahan sa mga salu-salo lalo na't kung wala naman akong kakilala dun sa pupuntahan ko kaya't hindi nakapagtataka na mabibilang ko sa aking kanang kamay ang mga kaibigan ko. Parusa sa akin noon ang pumunta sa fashion shows, sa mga bahay ng mga ambasador, kumain at uminom ng mamahaling alak at pagkain sa mga hotel habang nagkukunwaring ako'y isang gourmand. Oo masaya ang dati kong trabaho dahil halos lahat ay libre. Sa kabilang banda, malungkot din dahil parang everything is superficial. Pero teka, nalalayo na yata ako sa usapan. Ang pagiging anti-social ko ang gusto kong baguhin, hindi sa ganoong aspeto ha, kundi pagdating sa aking mga kaibigan. Siguro iniisip ng mga iba kong kaibigan na nakalimutan ko na sila, or wala akong pakialam. Ewan ko ba, ganito na ko talaga high school pa lang ako. Hindi ako mahilig sumama sa mga lakad. Hindi ako pumupunta sa birthday, sa reunion, sa inuman o kung ano pa mang okasyon kahit na inimbita ako ng makailang ulit. Hindi ako yung tipong unang mambabati kung magkasalubong man tayo sa daan. Hindi rin ako maalalahanin. Pero hindi ibig sabihin nun ay wala lang..na wala akong pakialam sa mga tao o sa mga kaibigan ko. Ganun lang talaga ako. Anti-social. Ewan.

Ah basta. Yun ang gusto ko baguhin ngayong 2009. I want to rekindle friendships, to open up more, and mingle with people as much as possible. Ikaw, anong gusto mong baguhin sa sarili mo ngayong bagong taon?