Soundtracks of my life...

(Written July 31, 2012)

Everyday, life is talking about ups and downs, rise and falls, and many struggles. But on the other side there are things created to make people assembles their walks of life in rhythms. That’s why music was invented by the emotions, expression and art.

Aside from the song of Confessional Serenade and The Disciples, nobody has the guts to say that there are musicians who don’t have any influences on their works. Anyway, these are 10 songs from my playlist which imbued my life with pointy lyricism, and excellent musicianship—from influential musicians, in many ways, shaped the person and musician I am today.

1.     ”Emily” (Paraluman)

                         An emo-driven song, which was the theme song when the girl I love, broke my vulnerable      heart. EMILY stand for Every Moment I Love You, tsamba.

2.     “Labing-Isa” (Farrington Heights)

                         A song for the downed, and failed, over and over again. This piece proves that independent music scene can make a mark for its own.

3.     “Parusa”(Cheese)

                         Daring acts of blasphemy? This is what Carlos Celdran truly means.

4.     “Regal” (Spongecola)

                         Perfect serenade.

5.     “Evidence” (Urbandub)

                          Chilly rhythms, savvy basslines courtesy of Lalay Lim, and aggressive lyrics courtesy of chief songwriter Gabby Alipe was one of the best Urbandub song I’ve ever heard.

6.     “Sobrang Init” (Kamikazee)

                           The screaming vocals makes me dance abnormally during summer season.

7.     “Starlight”  (Muse)

                          Dancey basslines welcomes you as the song opens, better than the song “Supermassive Black Hole”.

8.     “Gabay”(Callalily)

                           This pogi rock proves that they can do more in the pop rock scene than just having pretty face.

9.     “Pigface” (Greyhoundz)

                           The Fab 4’s best of their best, Baw! Hu-hupaw! Hu-hupaw!—misinterpretedby some folk noirs, Baw! Cu-cubao! Cu-Cubao!

10.  “Diveler” (Wilabaliw)

                           Look at how Ian Tayao dances and backflipped as the band performs this song, you’ll exactly understand why.

11.  “Gusto Ko Ng Baboy” (The Radioactive Sago Project)

                           The reason why I always told to myself, “ayoko na ng baboy..!”

12.  “Huling Sayaw” (Kamikazee)

                           Self-explanatory.                                                                                                                                         

.  13.“Define” (Hilera)

                          punk..? garage? college rock? you're wrong. 2-0.

Porno Creep

(Written July 30, 2012)

No, it’s not about the song by the nu-metal band Korn.

Technology is such a great gift for this world. From doing many tasks easily, time-saving, otherwise, improves efficiency. With this, people uses the appliances to do their things without wasting too much time and effort, there’s telephone and cellular phones for communication. With technology, life has been made easier.

But of course behind these good’s, there’s bad.

From the terms such as Tommy’s Thumbmarks, Just  Over Eighteen, Barely Legal, Virtual Date, 800 Fantasy Lane, Debbie Does Dallas, Manhunters, Tarzan X, to the locally to name a few of them, haven’t yet failed to give a reason why conversations turn into a elicit, conspiratorial, and lascivious gestures and acts. And even commercials showing women in naked glory serves as sources of a young boy’s carnal appetite. Thus giving to fresh, new meaning of the words ‘seduction’ and ‘fantasy’.

From movies to magazines to CD and DVD packages,(With the emergence of interactive DVD’s, viewers can dictate and manipulate the pace of the sexual process with the use of remote control. Adding menus for selection of virtual stars.) From your computer’s internet browser and media player into your cellphone, that’s how pournalism (better term rather than pornography itself) spreads worldwide, entertaining humans, mostly men, showing women in bikinis and school uniforms teasing with their D-cup breasts and can perform sexual satisfaction thru contact with the viewers. In adults and middle aged-teens, okay I’ll consider you guys. But for the children? Look, with this generation, where a 9-year-old boy knows how to perform sexual onslaught by seeing images shaped by pornstars—which is now considered as key to pleasing men, now think of what I’ve said before.

United States and also Japan are some of the countries which considers pornography and pre-marital sex legal. Adult Video (AV) industry, as what they call it is, a high-gross business for them, mostly Japan  (independently), so stars as Sola Aoi, Suzuka Ishikawa, and widely-known Maria Ozawa, can be called as  ‘bodies of money’, while in America, Adam and Eve is one of the highest-selling porn-movie producers—mostly online, selling copies of films stars Alexis Ford, whilst Rocco Siffredi, are known for having intercourse for making love with over 8 girls—simultaneously. Some of the stars are so whimsical, demonstrating ‘techniques’ to making a girl scream during an intercourse, Shawna Lenee is an example of this.

Tastes in pornalism shifted as time goes by, as variations exceeds. From the multi-angle P.O.V., to creampie, to the gauntlet bukkake, to cosplay sex—implementing pornalism today, known due to its subgenres. With this, anyone can direct a ‘scandal’, examples? Celebrity couple dancing in front of a hidden camera, later criticized by the whole society, or  even naked seniors in a shower.

I’m not a prude, and haven’t got yet involved into any debates and arguments about this extensive paranoia. But we begin to questioning everyone, what the heck is this society has, tolerance over 18-year old beautiful and cute girls having sex with crocodiles? How about their consequences? The danger? Is a naked woman tease-dancing to his ‘customers’ differs from a 12-year-old moron masturbating while watching Deep Throat?

But as we believe, there are punishments and consequences which immoral young ones have never been learned. One morning, a news TV network reports a Brazilian was found dead at his house, investigated that masturbating over 45 times, led him to the gates of death.

My favorite writer Lourd De Veyra stated, “ang tunay na lalaki, syempre, mahilig din sa tsiks, mahilig din sa sex.” He has the point to say it, but let us not forget that moderation and control is always there.

That Saturday morning between 7 a.m., I’m having a date with my girlfriend, were eating at a chain somewhere in Novaliches. She gave me the permission to use her laptop. I opened a new browsing window, checks her browsing history is already ‘memory full’.  I was shocked seeing porn sites on her web history. I grinned then wondered, “Isn’t that weird seeing my girlfriend enjoys watchingVirtual Date with Jessica Kizaki…alone?”. I thought she was ashamed of being found out so bringing out the topic in a private and subtly way is best.Without hesitation, I asked her honestly, and she answered me, honestly, She forgot to erase it, last time she opened it. So I told her, “It’s not that bad to watch these kinds of movies as we’re middle-aged, but don’t make it a habit and a sexual desire, you’re not a harlot.” She followed my advice, but we never watched it nor imitated it—together.

However, trust, honesty and good communication is the key to a long-lasting relationship.

Eulogy for Dolphy: Forever in Our Smiles

(Written July 11, 2012)

Tuesday, July 10, 2012, 8:30 pm, a cold,vastly night. I accidentally sighted my dad watching Wiltime Bigtime on TV5, yes, that one-of-a-hell show, which turns human beings into ants. When Willie Revillame, the host himself, during the ‘kantanong’ portion, took a short-but-long pause when someone beeped his phone, on cam. I only exclaimed, “he looks pretty serious then.” After a few minutes of chitchat, he claimed, 

”Patay na posi Tito Dolphy. Si Ms. ZsaZsa [Padilla] po yung tumawag sakin”, followed by DJ Coki cued their LCD Screen with so me scenes for “Talentadong Pidol”, a special birthday celebration held by TV5 for the birthday of the King of Comedy.

Yes, I’m clearing it to those who didn’t know any idea about the news. Dolphy, or Rodolfo Vera Quizon in real life, passed away due to multiple organ failure, and due to the severe pneumonia made him suffering months and months. To his fans, sorry, your prayers failed. But I truly believe it’s for the better, nobody wants to see him suffer over and over again. He’s hurt, he suffered that much, It’s enough.

I actually first saw him on the ABSCBN television sitcom Home Along Da Riles, around 2000’s, I’m not sure. Kevin Cosme, the man that sill freaks me out as of today. My elder sister exactly remembers how she is truly distracted by the way Nova Villa shrieks, “Kevinnnnnnn…!” 

Sadly, I haven’t reached the glory days of his movies since he entered the entertainment scene. Later knowing that he was first discovered as a tap dancer, and actually pioneered the “bakla-baklaan” routine—which comedians uses just the same as of today. Films such as Facifica Falayfay, Markova: The Comfort Gay, AngTatay Kong Nanay, Darna Kuno, are examples of this, proved that he really acts dramatically, and it’s better as he acts comic routines. These 4 movies inspired the gay community and their right to be respected and not to be discriminated. He also did the action- packed El Pinoy Matador; the fantasy-inspired Abrakadabra, and my favorite Family Planting and Aringkingking.  Dolphy also pushes himself over the limit, proving anyone that he can make people funny without reminding the misery of slum life, instead trying to work hard towards success. It’s such a brilliant collection and are still enjoyable to watch, rather than young ones trying hard to be real teens. Very disgusting.

The most influential work he did on television was John En Marsha, as puruntong shorts are appreciated in the trends of Filipino fashion. And the familiar Dely Atay-Atayan line, “kaya ikaw John, mag sumikap ka!” implementing that Misery can be defeated by trying, as laughter is the best medicine. That was the legacy I admires Dolphy the most, he make fun of himself, of others on a different style. No one can do what Dolphy did. He can crack up humor without harming the hearts of someone, (or what do you call that? Never mind.)—unlike what we see today in comedy bars or television sitcoms of this era, especially to those who are rich because of making fun of others vulnerability, failures, disabilities, weaknesses, discrepancies, etc. See them laughing over the primitiveness of their mouths. And even the ones cracking ‘green jokes’ over 19-year olds? Shame on you.

But sadly, they have no choice. It’s their way of making money. It’s their way to earn fame and fortune... but shame and hypocorism? Different issue.

Other thing to wonder, why are there so many things to open up after a well-known person passed away? Who started the fizz? The deceased person? The works? The issues?

It’s us.

225 movies, 8 TV sitcoms or shows, 15 nominations, 22 awards, millions of Filipino laughed. Isn’t that enough to analyze of a Dolphy to be hailed as a National Artist? National Commission for the Culture and the Arts stated that, “it’s a long process. A long debate to be discussed”. C’mon, what do you think of it, Impeachment? Hahaha, Impeachment? Okay.

Moving forward, whether you like it or hate it, you can’t deny how people loved him so much— frankly, after his death. The public viewing of his body, held as Manila Heritage Park, weeks ago, was slammed by thousands of fans and goers. Reminding me of the burial of the King of Philippine Cinema, Fernando Poe, Jr.

Of course, mediamen and journalists and usiserosare also there.
                                                                                                                                                                   So thanks for these unacknowledged writers and poets for informing this.

“Idol ko si Dolphy eh”, “Mamimiss ko yung mga palabas nya”, “Wala nang magpapasaya sa’tin kasi wala na sya.”, none of them shares, ”sya lang ang komedyanteng hindi nanginsulto ng sinuman”… (Maybe me, myself, or I.), but only referring to one, “patay na si Dolphy.”

Kind-hearted, optimistic, fan-friendly, humble, patient, calm, and of course, Tsikboy, he has 18 children, different mothers, different lovers, but in the end,ZsaZsa Padilla knocks them down.ZsaZsahasn’t got married to Dolphy before he died, so no one has the guts to call her “byuda” or “naiwananngasawa”, etc.

Back to the first topic, the only question remained is, if we love Dolphy, why Father Jejemon (entry of the 2010^th Metro Manila Film Festival) failed on the final poll? Si Agimat at Si Enteng Kabisote gained approximately P4.5M, while Ang Tanging Ina Mo (Last Na ‘To) earned P3.4M, while Father Jejemon gained only P1.5M? Did it failed due to criticisms on some scenes of the film like the ‘ostya’ fell from a woman’s cleavage and the other stuck from and old woman’s gilagid? The Catholic Church intrigued and banned some of the scenes, due to ‘misconceptions’ of the Catholic’s way of living? Serious as they say? Listen, life is boring without sense of humor.

So is this telling that we love people like him… after their death? So what will happen to his some forgotten and untold works when he’s still alive?

I’ve had this weird encounter at an Odyssey branch somewhere in Fairview, people were goofing around to buy DVD’s and VCD’s of his movies, and also his album, launched last year, or if I’m not sure around 2010.

So what will happen to my dad’s VCD and DVD collections of Dolphyfimatography? Turn out into trash? Or sell them out at a lower price? Or maybe, put them in a special freezer and gave them a special medal or award, they had served them well.

But like Neil Young said, “it’s better to burn out than fade away”.

So to Tito Dolphy, farewell and thank you for the laughter.

And to those who rocks about him,  I salute you, but finding him a good place in this era would be a big challenge for you, so good luck.

SONA Naman…

(Written July 24, 2012)

Hindi mo maitatanggi, pero alam kong nganga karin sa ginawang State of The Nation Address ni PNoy kahapon. Mapupuna dyan ang proudly-usage nya ng ating sarilngdayalekto----na para sa kababayan nating may kahirapan din sapag-unawang mas malalalim na salitang ingles.. Kung tutuusin, mas ok na ‘to, kaysa naman sa iba dyan..nakatapos na ang SONA nya, reaction nung mga tao? “Uy ano nga uli yung sinabi nya? Hindi ko maintindihan eh!” Kung mapapansin mo rin, parang kabisado nya ang lahat ng datos ng bawat departamento, kunsabagay, may Powerpoint syang back-up kaya mukhang sisiw lang sa kanya at hindi man lang sya nakatulong isang patak ng pawis, at higit sa lahat, hindi sya ubo ng ubo.

Pero hindi yun ang isyu dito.

Mula sa national budget na halos kulang parin para sa Pilipinong nanganganak at naanakan buwan-buwan, patungong PNP Chopper Deal, hanggang sa Syntax Bill, mukhang marami ngang plano itong si PNoy. “Hindi tsambang positive rating ang bansa natin”, at “walang hindi makakaya ang nagkakaisang Pilipino”. Nga naman, pero kung talamak parinang mga tarantadong corrupt, eh wala pa ring mangyayari. Misery.

Tinukoy ang bawat departamento, mula sa DOH, DepEd, PNP, at madami pa.. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ako natawa nung makita ko ang pagmumukha ng mga ilan sa bataan nya sa tuwing nai-‘special mention’, kesyo ginawa nya daw yung ganito o ganyan. Pustahan tayo, hindi lahat yun eh ginawa nya.

Mula sa statistics na 6.44 GDP Growth ngayong taon, o P3.1M na naipon para sa Pantawid Pamilya Program , o 1,520 sitios na napailawan at nabigyan ng kuryente, masasabi kong may nagawa nga sya.. Pero hindi parin nakakasiguro yung mgakaibigan ko dito sa Project 6. Hindi ko na inisa-isa pa ang mga datos na yan, hindi naman ako geek o eksperto sa Logical Analysis. Anti-Math kasi ako eh.

Pero ito ang pinakaimportanteng mga detalye (parasakin) na tinukoy nyang tumatak sa utak ko:

·         Deped

→61.7M na textbooks, 2,573,372 upuang gagawin at target na 66,800 na bagong klasrum na ipatatayo sa taong 2013 –eh naknantipus naman, kung madami pa ring mga burara at hindi maingat na mga estudyante, perwisyo sa mga kagamitan, at mga artist-wannabe, yang mag librong yan? Tsak, ilang taong lumipas, pantakip na ang mga pahinang yan sa butas ng bubong na ililipad na sa sobrang lakas ng hangin tuwing may bagyo. Yung mga upuan?Babaklasin nila yan iuuwi yung mga parte, lalo na yung turnilyo (ewan ko ba kung bakit nila ginagawa yun), at pag upo ng mga estudyante, mare-realize nila na iba pala ang ordinaryong upuan kesa sa tumba-tumba. Yung mga klasrum?Tsak puro murals na yang sa mga nangagarap maging artist balang araw, nilubak-lubak yung mga pintura, kaya nagmukhang abstract paiting na hinaluan ng graffiti at vandalism. 

→TESDA Scholars—434,676 ang mga nabigyan ng trabaho, mostly of them came from vocational schools. Kaya mali kung sasabihin nyong ‘napakababa’ nila, kesa sa mga regular students na hirap magaral dahil sa hindi talaga nila makuha yung kursong talagang nais nila dahil sa sobrang kamahalan.

→45.7M na estudyanteng regular na pumapasok na sa eskuwela—isang malaking katatawanan ba? Isipin nyo, hindi lahat ng estudyante pumapasok sa eskuwela, yung iba, pumapasok sa mga klaseng komportable sila at naipagtatanggol ang karaptan nila sa papanong paraan, yung iba naman umaabsent paminsan-minsan, meron din namang ayaw pumasok sa lahat ng klase, at etong malupet, dahil yung iba naman hindi pumapasok para lang makapagwelga sa kahabaan ng Commonwealth Ave at makipagbatuhan sa mga batalyon. Mas masaklap pa pala kayo sa kalagayan ko eh... Pero na sa magulang na rin yan, ‘Responsible Parenthood’ ,ika nga. Kaya kayo mga kapwa ko estudyante, imbes na makipagtakbuhan sa mga kapulisan at maliitin ang kakayahan ng pamahalaan ng walang patutunguhan, magaral na muna kayo ng mabuti—kahit nahihirapan pa, o kaya magtrabaho kayo at nang meron naman kayong mapatunayan.

·         Department of Health

→Pagdami ng pilipinong myembro ng PhilHealth, 5.2M na mahihirap ang natulungan—dalangin ko lang din na sana eh hindi na mangyari ang delubyo sa PhilHealth ilang taon na rin ang nakakalipas. Anong nangyari sa mga umalma? Ayun, naghanap lang sila ng wala.

→Pagbaba ng kasong Dengue— hindi nila yun masasabi. Hindi nila ito kontrol anumang oras.

→Dumami ang mga nurse na nai-deploy sa iba-ibang barangay. 1,021 health professionals sa iba’t-ibang pook—at least, may napala narin ang mga nagtapos ng medisina at nursing na tambay lang ang kinasundan.. Congrats sa inyo, galingan nyo ang pagsisilbi sa bayan.

·         Iba pang mgabagay

→Elevated NLEX-SLEX Connector sa 2013— kasabay nito ang pagbabawal ng talamak na counterflow, at pagbabawal ng mga sounds ni Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber at Katy Perry sa mga sasakyan... Para sa ikaaayos ng mundo.

→”Relief Goods sa tao, hindi tao sa Relief Goods.”— Hindi raw kulang, tingnan lang natin. Sigurado, madami pa ring mga buwakaw sa pamamahaging tulong dyan, yung iba nga eh halos pwede nang magtayo ng tindahan o chain sa isang mall sa Ortigas.

→45% ng mga pulis,na walang baril noong 2010, nabigyan na— ang tanong, sa mabuti ba ginagamit? Eh kung pagpapaputok lang sa bagong taon at pangyabang lang ang main purpose ng iba dyan eh iba nalang ibigay nyong baril. Suggestions? Tirador.

→Peace Process sa Mining at Militar— yanang gusto kokayPNoy, kahitnagkakagulonaangmgatao, nagawa pa nyangkumalmasagitnangkontobersya, at gumagawasamabutingusapan. Yan angtuunaynapinuno,hindipadalus-dalos, dinadaananglahatsadiplomasya.Minsan.

→Export ngPilipinasnabigas, target sa 2013, 15M cocowater liters, ine-export na— nagpapatunay na ang Pilipinas, kayang makipagsabayan sa kalakalan… For that matter.

→Comprehensive Agrarian Reform— dagdagniya, “bagoakoumalissapwesto, dapat naipamigay na lahat ng sakop na lupang CARP.”, at least tiwala parin ang taumbayan… Yung Hacienda Luisita nga na pinagtalunan mula 2004 pa, pinamigay na nya kahit napahaba ang pagtatalo, yun ngal ang, tigang na yung ibang lupain, pero okay parin naman.  

Pero kahit ganun, may napuna din akong mga isyung hindi na nya isiwalat, kung meron man, iilang segundo lang.

→Filipino Culture and the Arts— sa impluwensya ng punyetang kpop at mag revealing at ‘iluminadong’ suot ni Lady Gaga at baklang mayabang na si Gayber, hindi narin nakapagtataka kung isang araw humihingi ng saklolo ang sining at musikang pinoy sa purgatoryo dahil sa kakulangan sa suporta.

→Agawansa Scarborough Shoal—gago rin itong mga ibangTsinong namimilit hindi naman kanila, parang mga daliri, kung ano yung masikip, yun pa yung gustong siksikin.

→RH Bill— samahabangdiskusyon at debate, sapabor at hindi, anonangaba? Kunsabagay, depende rin sa pamilya yan, kung marunong sila mag-family planting ah este planning pala. Ika nga sa kanta ni Bamboo sa isang komersyal ng PhilamLife, “Basta May Plano, Kaya Mo Yan…”

→DAGDAG-SAHOD— Self-explanatory.

“Hindi ako ang gumawa ng pagbabago, kundi kayo.” Mataray nyang hirit, pero ang sakin naman, ”hindi ako, ikaw, sila, o kami ang gumawa ng pagbabago, kundi tayo”. At maliban sa ‘walang wang-wang’, sana eh alisin narin ang ‘bang-bang’, despues, gaganda ang buhay natin pag nagtutulungan tayo..papasok ang swerte, biyaya, mga ganun. Huwag tayong umasa sa mga pulitiko lamang— hindi ko sinasabing hindi tayo humingi sa kanila ng tulong, iba yun. Tandaan: Hindi lang pulitiko ang kayang magsilbi sa bayan at sa kapwa mamamayan, at hindi lahat ng bagay ay nasusulusyunan ng mga pulitiko, kahit na merong mga pulitiko na hindi naman talaga ginagawa ang mga yan. Yung iba nga eh, ang ginagawa lang eh magupload sa Facebook ng pictures nya kasama ang Hooters Girls sa isang eroplano galing Los Angeles.

Pero anuman ang mangyari, iisang bansa tayo. Iisang Bangka tayo.

Hupaw, may nangangamoy pulitiko.