defection of the twenty pesos

Aguirre street: ghost town.

Ganito ba kapag holiday? Tatlong dahilan kaya gusto kong pumapasok sa opisina kapag holiday: (1) maluwag ang biyahe; (2) pwedeng i-offset ang araw na ipinasok, at; (3) tahimik ang kalsada.

Iilang tao lang ang naglalakad. Maraming mga laglag na tuyong dahon. Walang metro aid na nagwawalis. Kanya-kanya sa pagdaan ang mga sasakyan. Hindi sinusunod ang one-way policy. Walang Makati meter maids and meter men. Tatlong sasakyan lang ang nakapark. Sarado ang mga jolli-jeep. Isa lang ang costumer sa ministop. Malakas ang hangin. Makulimlim.

Papasok ako para mag-support sa mga Intsik na customer at kliyente ng web system namin. Palibhasa, ang mga Intsik sa Pebrero pa ang bagong taon. Kaya heto sila, may mga pasok pa.

Tapos, uuwi na ba ako? O ituloy ko na kaya 'yung plano ko? Pero OK lang, half-day lang naman ang schedule ngayon e. By 12:30, pauuwiin na ako niyan. Tamang-tama para sa bisperas ng bagong taon. Tamang tama para sa putukan mamaya...

Ilang modules na lang naman ang kulang nito e. At plantsado na din sa isip ko ang codes. Ita-type ko na lang, then run. Hindi nila mararamdaman sa sobrang saya, sa sobrang ingay ng mga paputok. Narinig mo na 'yung paputok na Goodbye Earth? Paano kung gawin ko nga talaga 'yun ngayon?

Tatlong buton lang. Una, isang malawakang brownout. Ikalawa, para sa pagde-detonate nung mga itinanim na bomba sa mga lugar na hindi pwedeng malaman ng mga otoridad. At ang Ikatlo...hindi mo gugustuhing malaman.

Tatlong buton lang, at mga limang modules na lang ang kulang para sa tatlong buton na 'to. Hindi nagawa ni Rizal, sa pamamagitan ni Simoun, ang balak niyan lipulin ang sangkatauhan, ang buong lahi, para mapalitan ng bago, sariwa, at purong inosente. Pwes, ako ang gagawa. Konting oras na lang ang kelangan ko para tapusin ito at masimulang pas...







SHET! May nagpapaputok na sa labas. >_<

Errr... enough of this story-telling attempts. I think I gotta get going. Pinauwi na ako ni amo ng 12 noon, and to think 12:30 na. Will I ever write a good story? :-??


Ewan. Basta ang sigurado, hindi pa dito matatapos si Mimitaba (nearly 6 years now).

Kung bakit, simple lang: Higit sa iniisip ko, AKO ang mga isinulat ko.



Goodbye 2010. Hello 2011.


--peso--

Will buy some pizza for the family. Ihanda ang palm card.

depiction of the twenty pesos

"That was a nice tagline.
That was a nice slogan.
That was a nice ending.", sabi ko sa sarili ko habang naglalakad paakyat ng Francisco St. (aka Alfred), papunta sa mga tricycle. sarap i-blog.

Ano nga kaya kung libre pala yung sakay sa van no? Tapos nagbayad pa ako! Tangna, maiisahan ako dun ni manong.

O kaya naman, pagkaabot ko ng bayad, sabihin ni manong, "ok na boss, ibinayad ka na niyang katabi mo." Sabay haharap ako sa katabi kong macho, at sasabihin nito sa aking, "hi dude. saan ka bababa?" [kinikilabutan ako. lalo ngayo't mag-isa ako sa opis.]

Well, hindi totoong mag-isa na lang ako bumaba sa alfred. Yung huling limang pasahero e kasabay ko sa pagbaba. Pero kinailangan ko talagang lumunok ng lakas ng loob bago iabot sa driver ang bayad ko. Kasi baka sisihin ako or pagbintangan or pagbantaan or whatsoever and ever, amen.


At siyempre, hindi din totoong libre 'yung serbisyo ng van. So hindi totoong naisahan ako. Hindi totoong may banner na nakapaskil sa gilid nung van.

Pero totoong nag-aalangan ako kung magbabayad ba sa driver, o magbabayad na lang nang doble sa dispatcher kinabukasan pag nagkita kami. Iniisip ko ang karma pag hindi ako nagbayad. Maliit na halaga lang ang bente pesos, pero hindi maliit magbiro ang tadhana. Totoong iniisip ko kung paano ba ang magandang gawin. Pero sa huli, nagbayad pa din ako, at natawa sa sarili dahil biglang nakagawa ako ng kwento.

Lahat 'yan ay bunga lang ng pagod, tuwa, imahinasyon, at kagustuhang gumawa ng gawa-gawa.


Goodbye twenty pesos. Welcome back, honesty. :)

********** ********** **********

Habang nasa tricycle, nag-iisip ako ng magandang titulo para sa dalawang kwento: isang gawa-gawa at isang hindi. Wordplaying did make it. "the fiction" & "depiction". Kahit walang katuturan, alam kong yun ang pinaka-akma.


Hay buhay. Bigla kong nagustuhang maging manunulat.





--peso--

the fiction of the twenty pesos

8:13pm.

Sa gitna ako nakaupo. Last passenger ako na pumuwesto sa gitna ng van, habang pinupuno pa ang nasa likod. Nung napuno na ang sasakyan, binuksan nung dispatcher 'yung pinto sa gitna, at sumilip sa loob. Hindi ko alam kung nagbibilang para makasiguradong okupado ang lahat ng upuan, o may hinahanap na kriminal sa mga nakaupong pasahero. Kalaunan, sinara na din niya ang pinto. Maya-maya pa, sumakay na 'yung driver. Puno na ang van. Arangkada na ang sasakyan. To Novaliches.

Nung medyo nakalayo na, Mindanao Avenue (aka, C5), naalala ko ang hawak kong pera. Isandaang pisong papel. Hawak ko na yun pagkasakay ko pa lang. Tapos hawak ko pa din. Teka, naniningil nga pala 'yung dispatcher palagi bago bumiyahe 'yung sasakyan. Teka, bakit 'di niya ako siningil? Baka naman yun ang dahilan kaya niya binuksan ang pinto at sinilip ang mga sakay?

Pero bakit di niya ako siningil? (Akala niya siguro bayad na ako.)
O bakit hindi ako nagkusang mag-abot ng bayad ko? (Akala ko nagbibilang lang siya ng sakay.)
Edi bakit hindi siya nagtanong kung bayad na ba ang lahat ng pasahero? (Nalilito na siguro.)

Langya, obserbahan ko muna. Baka naman hindi naningil yung dispatcher. Isa-isa sigurong magbabayad 'tong mga sakay. Kapag may limang nagbayad, magbabayad na ako.


Pag-asa.
Puregold.
KFC-Congressional Ave.
Road 20.
Mcdo-Tandang Sora.
St. Charbel Subdivision.
Barangay.
Shell na. Walang nagbabayad. Hawak sa isandaang piso.


May nagsalitang pasahero, "Boss sa Gloria 5 lang ha". Akala ko magbabayad, nag-aabiso lang palang bababa na siya. Demet!

Hawak sa isandaang piso. Paano ko iaabot ang bayad ko, e siguradong agaw-eksena ako nito. O magbabayad pa ba ako? Akin na lang kaya 'tong benteng pamasahe? Bumaba na si Gloria 5.


Victoria Subdivision.
Gem 7.
Wilcon.
HBC.
Millennium.

Heto na ang mga gay bar, pero mukhang bayad na talaga ang lahat - maliban sa akin. Malayo pa naman ako e. Hintayin kong bumaba muna yung mga nasa unahan bago ako magbayad. Pagtitinginan nila ako panigurado. Kahinaan ko yun. Ano kaya sasabihin ko sa driver? Baka wala siyang panukli sa isandaan. May singkwenta naman ako dito, yun na lang kaya para maliit-liit? Baka mainsulto yun kapag binigyan ko ng isandaan. E paano kung umabuso bigla at 25 ang singilin sa akin? Paano kung ganito:

"Boss bayad, o. Di ako siningil ng dispatcher e."
"Nampucha naman o. Kanina pa nagsisingilan e."
"Ho? Aba e, hindi ako nilapitan e."
"E sana brad, ikaw na ang nagkusa. Malulugi kami niyan sa ginagawa mong yan e."
"Anong lugi dun? Buti nga inabot ko pa tong bayad e. Kung ibang pasahero ako, ibinulsa na lang ang bayad. Bakit, alam mo bang hindi pa ako bayad?"
"Abay putangina mo pala e!"

Naku, away pa yun. Baka hindi ako umabot ng 2011.

May bumaba sa semenaryo. May bumaba sa Urbano. May bumaba sa Holy Cross. Lima na lang kaming sakay. Hindi pa ako nagbabayad.

Rockville, bumaba yung isa. Rainbow Homes, bumaba na yung tatlo. Mag-isa na lang ako. Hindi pa bayad. Hanggang sa ganito na ang eksena:


"Ser saan kayo?"
"Diyan lang, Alfred. Nga pala, [hugot ng lakas ng loob] naningil ba yung dispatcher? Hindi kasi ako siningil e. Eto o...[inabot ang isandaan]"
"Ay, Tenkyu po. [kumuha ng mga papel, inabot sa akin ang sukli. 80 pesos, walang kickback]"

Bumaba na ako sa Alfred. Maluwag na ang paghinga. Wala talagang tatalo sa katapatan ng Pinoy! Bente pesos lang naman, e ipagkakait ko pa ba? At gusto ko lang din maging patas sa kapwa ko pasaherong lahat nagbayad. Para saan pa ang pasko ng pagbibigayan 'di ba? =)

Isinara ko ang pinto ng van, at akmang lalakad na papunta sa terminal ng tricycle nang mapakamot ako bigla sa ulo. May nakapaskil pala sa gilid nung van (isang katangahan at hindi ko 'yun napansin nung sumakay ako) na isang maliit na banner. Binasa ko ito habang unti-unting papalayo ang sasakyan:

"Trinoma-Novaliches route free ride!!!
December 26-31 from 8:00pm to 12:00pm.
A Christmas bonus from TriNova Transport Management.
Salamat po sa suporta!"

Goodbye twenty pesos. Hello comedy.

--peso--

The Mike Kasem Times

polokya: ano 'yung kantang nagrarap si eminem? 'yung may babae tapos umuulan 'yung setting niya.
ako: wala namang kanta si eminem na hindi siya nagrap e. :))

********** ********** **********

Well, my sister gave me the nudge to remember some things that will bring me back not to my childhood, but at least to the early days where I first watched MTV. She just watched Aqua's Barbie Doll

Sa Studio 23 pa nun ang MTV sa Pilipinas, hindi pa channel 41 (na wala na din ngayon). Nakikirenta lang ng oras, at hindi pa MTV Pilipinas 'yun. Just all cuts from MTV's prominent shows like MTV Most Wanted, MTV Fresh, MTV Land, MTV Asia Hitlist (every Saturday morning), and some Migraine Boy appearances. Sila Mike Kasem at Nadia Hutagalung (?) na lang ang naaalala kong VJs. :D

Anyway, this is really not about MTV. Sa halip, inaalala ko ngayon 'yung mga videos na unang tumambad sa akin via the famous music channel. So while downloading the complete clips of MTV's Staying Alive movie "Transit" and at the same time listening to the combined force of Belle & Sebastian and Club 8 discographies, let's bring back the time machine in the years '96-'97.

(Oh, it's 11:43 pm - magical numbers)

Arranged in alphabetical order by artist:


#1
Artist: Ant & Dec [wiki entry]
Track: Falling
Album: The Cult Of Ant & Dec (1997)

Very 90's! I actually almost forgot this duo to include in the list. I was thinking of that video by 3T when I remembered it's not them I should include, but Ant & Dec instead. You know I was only inclined to Rock music when I first heard the true bits of Beatles way back grade 5, but given the chance I didn't hear the fab four, I would be contented with this kind of music Ant & Dec provided.

See below video from Youtube. Sounds like Francis M's "Cold Summer Nights". Close your eyes and you'll hear Ogie Alcasid on vocals. :)

#2
Artist: Babybird [wiki entry]
Track: You're Gorgeous
Album: Ugly Beautiful (1996)

This is memorable. Kasi pangit na pangit kami ni kuya sa kantang 'to. As in pinagtatawanan namin. This is where I first heard the word "gorgeous" and knew its meaning. Nung mga unang kita ko nung video, ang pagkakaintindi ko sa lyrics ay "Because your kotses" (plural of kotse), kasi sa video may nagbabagsakang mga kotse.

See video below from Dailymotion. Can't find it on Youtube. Watching this gives me the feeling that we were laughing again.

#3
Artist: Backstreet Boys [wiki entry]
Track: Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)
Album: Backstreet Boys (1996)

Probably the first, if it's not Boyzone, boyband act I've seen. This video is incomplete without the rain effects in the end with AJ McLean showing his briefs. This, in my opinion, is the 3rd best BSB track after "As Long As You Love Me" and "All I Have To Give".

#4
Artist: Bjork [wiki entry]
Track: I Miss You
Album: Post (1995)

Well I know lots who say Bjork's music is a piece of nothing. I strongly disagree. Since elementary when I saw this video, I think it was something. Is it because a child of my age then is still inclined to animations? Well I can't exactly figure out but of all the tracks included in this list, "I Miss You" must be one of the tops. Great music videos really do exists together with great artists who performed them. Hail the queen of the most vaguely-experimental songs!

(Another video from Dailymotion. Youtube sucks! It's either they don't have the video or they have it soundless.)

#5
Artist: Boyzone [wiki entry]
Track: A Different Beat
Album: A Different Beat (1995)

Rest In Peace, Stephen Gately. I didn't know you were gay. But above all, rest well. A Different Beat is one of your (and your band's) songs that really gave me the marking. All I remember is that footage from Africa can be seen in the video. Add the title of the song and the continuous "Heeeyeeee--ho!" backing vocals into it and it'll clearly tell you the message.

#6
Artist: Jamiroquai [wiki entry]
Track: Virtual Insanity
Album: Travelling Without Moving (1996)

Everytime the intro goes -- the piano saying "tonungtung" -- I stand up from my sitting, I wake up from my sleeping. That's figuratively, however. Kasi naman e, escalator-like floors? Moving sofas? Groovy tune? Paanong 'di ko malilimutan ang video nito. Back then, I even said Jay Kay in that hat looked like my ninong sa malayuan.

And oh, I remember sa Odyssey SM Megamall, Pre-owned section, there's a copy of this album. Better grab it sooner!!! (To you, gentle reader, h'wag mo 'kong unahan!)

For the video, just kindly click here. Damn youtube, may video nga, may sound naman, embedding-disabled naman! #-O


#7
Artist: Kula Shaker [wiki entry]
Track: Govinda
Album: K (1996)

I really believe they were Indonesian, until now, after reading their wikipedia entry. Pure English pala 'tong mga mokong na 'to. Misleading kasi 'yung Govinda - may pagka-Hindu culture from title to tune to lyrics, plus their band name itself - Kula Shaker. Well, one of my first encounters of a rock video. I can still remember they became MTV's artist of the month (or so) sometime February of '96 or '97 (January's place goes to Boyzone). After this hit of them, wala na akong narinig sa kanila. Some one-hit wonder loneliness, but I'm pretty sure they still rock. :)

#8
Artist: Mark Owen [wiki entry]
Track: Clementine
Album: Green Man (1996)

At first, I didn't know Stephen Gately was gay. Next, I didn't know Kula Shaker wasn't an Indonesian band. Now, this column should be retitled to "The Things I Will Not Know If Not For Wikipedia", because it's only now that I found out that Mark Owen is also a member of Take That, that includes Robbie Williams and Gary Barlow! Now you ask, "Huh? Mark Owen who?" Well, you had to be at least born not later than me in order for you to know. You had to be watching MTV then as well.

I know Barlow doing his solo by the same time Owen's doing his own, but I never know they came from the same group. Then, Robbie came to the scene few years afterward, then Barlow and Owen escaped out of the scene. Clementine, however blurred as it's the only copy I got, watch below. =)

#9
Artist: No Doubt [wiki entry]
Track: Don't Speak
Album: Tragic Kingdom (1995)

Mala-Genesis 'yung video - may forbidden fruit. Nilalangaw yung ulo nung bahistang negro. Ito yata ang unang beses na nakakita ako ng babaeng Macho. Hindi ko pa nakikita noon si Madonna o si Vina Morales. Reminds me of Agaw Agimat (don't know why). After some years I was surprised Gwen Stefani goes solo, in an RNB mode. Bukod dun, wala na.

#10
Artist: Orbital [wiki entry]
Track: The Saint
Album: OST - The Saint

May pagka-psycho-thriller-horror ang dating sa akin nito dati, kasi may eksenang nagpapalit sila ng pisikal na ulo nila. Tapos 'yung tunog pa - pang-detective. Pang-habulan. Parang may goons na nakikinood sa likod mo. I think this is one of Val's favorite tunes.

#11
Artist: The Presidents of the United States of America [wiki entry]
Track: Volcano
Album: II (1996)

Another rock video I used to laught at. Oh, god of rock music, forgive me for I did not know what I was doing then. Afterall I was a child who only know the catchy tune of Quit Playing Games. Well, I vaguely remember the content of the video, so I have to re-watch it. All I know is I'm seeing this video on early mornings of MTV days.

#12
Artist: Sheryl Crow [wiki entry]
Track: Everyday is a Winding Road
Album: Sheryl Crow (1996)

This is it! The verge, the climax. Hearing this song travels me completely back to time. Sepian video. 90's alternative sound. What more could I say. Yeah, this is truly the era when I was found out! =)

#13
Artist: The Wonders
Track: That Thing You Do
Album: OST - That Thing You Do (1996)

How can someone forget this Beatlesque video? Sa local scene, katumbas 'to ng Shindig ng Freesouls. But do you know what? Hindi ko pa napapanood ang film na 'to. After this entry, I've got lots to download! =)

#14
Artist: U2 [wiki entry]
Track: Discotheque
Album: Pop (1997)

"You know you're chewing bubblegum, you know what it is but you still want some...". Shit the lyrics! I know "Staring at the Sun" which came from the same album is better, but this is an epic pinkish thing! Bono dancing in front of the fish-eye camera, all his sexy between-man-and-gay steps, the dancing prosti-like chicks, and their Village People looks in the end -- this time the band's the superhero!

#15
Artist: White Town [wiki entry]
Track: Your Woman
Album: Women In Technology (1997)

The last in the list. We have a sepia few tracks above, now we have another black & white like Ant & Dec's. Just like many from above, wala na akong narinig sa White Town after this song. Sad one-hit wonders. Surprisingly however, this artist is presently active like the other silents as well.

********** ********** **********

That's the end of the list...or is it?

Well, I just thought of the following additions. These might had come in the same era, or months later, and so I just put them on the "pahabol" list. Parang runners-up. Undeniably still, they belong to the batch that holds the first music videos i've ever seen:

Daft Punk - Around the World

Blur - Beetlebum

Spice Girls - 2 Become 1

Depeche Mode - It's No Good

Duran Duran - Out of My Mind

********** ********** **********

There we have it. How I miss MTV's Asia Hitlist. Tuwing Sabado inililista pa ni kuya 'yung kasama sa top 20 countdown. Isa pa, sa pagkakaalam ko, Eraserheads ang unang Filipino band na nakapasok sa Asia Hitlist, bitbit ang "Julie Tearjerky" at number 20. Kaso, isang linggo lang. Haha.

And also, I miss Mike Kasem. Where the hell is he now?


Well, to end it up, I'm just lucky to be born in my era. Mantakin mo, isisilang ka ngayon, tapos ganito na ang music videos na makakagisnan mo:

"let's get freaky now!"

--peso--

When A Tells B How Kind Is C, It's a Good Sign of Life

Dumalo ako ng misa kanina (Sabado). Anticipated mass para bukas. I earned a nice thought, and so, just minutes before I sleep, I think it's a must to write it here before I regret on forgetting the thought in the future:


While living, we need to earn praises for ourselves. Or "praise" man lang, kung isa lang. Praise - halimbawa, "Ang bait bait mo". Naiibsan nito ang dalahin mo, kung may mabigat kang problema, kasi alam mong merong minsan nang naka-appreciate sa'yo. Galing 'di ba? Tama nga naman. Pero hindi lang 'yun...

Nabanggit kasi ni Father, na minsan mas maganda na yung praise e maideliver sa'yo INDIRECTLY, or merong involved na third person na naghatid nung mensahe.

Halimbawa: Person A tells Person B how kind Person C is. Person A never did tell it to Person C, instead Person B delivers the message to Person C.

Bakit mas maganda minsan na hindi direkta from A to C?

Kasi kung ikaw si Person C, hindi mo masasabi kung gaano ka-sincere si Person A. Pwedeng sinabi lang niya 'yun dahil kaharap ka niya, para may masabi lang siya, o kaya para di ka masaktan kung taliwas ang nararamdaman niya.

Pero, 'yung puntong sinabi niya sa iba ang tungkol sa'yo, ibig sabihin proud siya para sa'yo to the point na ipinagmamalaki ka niya sa harap ng ibang tao. Kung hindi siya sincere sa nararamdaman niya, hindi siya gagawa ng effort na magsinungaling pa sa iba, kasi mababaligtad lang ang sitwasyon at siya pa ang talo.

=)


Gayunpaman, hindi naman necessary na maghanap ka pa talaga ng third person. Pwede mong sabihin directly sa taong yun kung gaano mo siya na-appreciate in any means. Say it in his face. That person, may the word came from you or not, deserves the knowledge that at least even once he achieved a goal.


Goodnight.


--peso--