SING! ARANETAAAAAAAA

Finally! For 2 days I have not been feeling well. I suspected that it was because I tried to be a cowboy and drink directly from tap. Maybe I’ll be the first one to die when some emergency situation happens, like when a zombie invasion occurs. I’ll be eaten because I would poop all the time.

***

   A couple of days ago I have met with some of my highschool friends for some session. And I don’t know if it was the booze that made me reminisce and heightened my senses when the band was playing on stage, but there I was, banging my head like a madman and slapping the bar stool in front of me to the beat like it was some piece of nice ass. Hehehe. :p

  The first bar that we went to was small, and it was like the one that you could find in Malate and in Subic because almost all males inside were Caucasian and the females were Pinays. And because I am not sponsored by the bar that I went to, let us call it Pokpokers. Not that I am making-fun of (actually, I am), or I am looking-down at them, it’s easier to imagine what it looked-like without going much into the details, although I am a bit rude, sorry. But it wasn’t bad at all. The ambience was enough and the staffs were accommodating and, to tell you the truth, the scene that was happening on the dance floor was entertainment on itself. For some it would be distasteful (drunk guy and an accommodating girl with very short skirt, what the hell do you think would happen?) but hey! everyone were just having fun and everyone respects the personal space of everyone. But I guess everything boils down to the wizards on stage. The ambience creator. The painter with his canvass that is the bar.

  We have also visited a second bar that was on a different league. We call it Unshaven (<.-if you could guess what the real name was, you’re a genius!). It was almost full of business type people doing some after-work yoga. After-work yoga is booze. The only thing I could think that is peculiar (I couldn’t say negative because on its on it’s part of the peculiarity of it) about the band playing was the back-up singer. LOL. I couldn’t describe it. You have to see it to know what I am talking about. But the same thing with the band: the ambience creator.

  I am not talking about the music genres the band was playing, but the performance itself. The facial reaction and body movement of the musicians gives me the chills. The way the frontman close his/her eyes in sync with the lyric, head-banging of the drummer, the posture when the lead guitar does its part, the slapping of the bass. It reminds me of the time when I did dream, and actually do, to be someone on the stage and not with crowd. But I am not saying I had stopped :)

SING! ARANETA! Hehehe

  I now wished that I have had penned this when I was high with emotions so I could be more expressive but drinking Long Island and Beer AT THE SAME TIME had drained my powers. So I have to end with this:

Ramon Bautista is the coolest in the band (keyboardist), and Hanging tank top is sexy (Only for those who have the CAPACITY to make it hang :p ).

Please Don’t Forget To Be Happy!

My response on the Catholic block vote article

I have really no idea on  how and where on earth did the writer made the assumption that Catholics are as mindless and fearfull as before given the current realities that we could see and and also by the statistics out of surveys. And I couldn't tell if the article was satire or not. Maybe it is.
You can go to the article here:

http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/67806/why-there-will-be-a-catholic-block-vote-in-the-2013-elections

And here is my reply:

" If this is not a joke, you mislead yourself. You live in a wrong era. The Catholics today respects their leaders but most of them can and do think for themselves and have already voice their opinions and reasons. Most have, if not learned, outgrown and learn to distance themselves from the authority and dictates of the Church. Our culture might have been filled with religious traditions but in no way are they "primeval instincts and human nature." Our religion is as foreign as the "lifestyle centers" you dislike. If you think that my identity as a Filipino is being under a theocratic rule, continous hatred and bigotry, be a mindless zealot, so much disrespect to a woman and womanhood that you look at her JUST as useful as long as she can give birth, backward thinking and fearful, ignorance of science and general health, selfish, ignorant and arrogant at the same time, then count me out!"

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INSOMNIA

Not again. For 3 nights in a row I have not slept at my usual time. It's not a big deal when I don't have any thing planned early for tomorrow but it sucks because I really want to enjoy the morning. Especially breakfast. And I have noticed that whenever I wake-up late my day seems unproductive. Not that I do anything productive really. But it still sucks!

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Maybe one of the reason that I can't sleep earlier is that I am wanting something that is not exactly "favored" here. For those who knew you might know what I would be talking about. Vaping.

There were a lot of times when I have quit smoking. Or Pausing rather than Quitting to be more accurate. One was when I was a "minister" and the other was for more personal reasons. But I guess I "like" the vice. I am not proud of it nor am I ashamed. I just do. For some people, especially those who did not started or were not hooked, it's easy to say "just quit". If it was that easy to stop then why call it an addiction? And then again, it's my vice. Not proud, not totally ashamed.

For the past month, I had "stopped" at least from using the "analogue" stick when I had bought my very first Ecig. For the longest time I was intrigued on this technology but had my doubts. I thought that it was only a "posh" way of smoking. For those who don't actually know this product shut your mouth and do some proper research first. Like with everything in this world, there are pros and cons with this product but most of the cons are black propaganda by individuals who are ignorant and arrogant or by those companies/organization whose main source or large part of their income are from the sale of tobaccos.

I don't have to enumerate the pros of this product as you will be able to search it yourself. Start with Wikipedia. But my personal reason is that I am able to indulge my nicotine without the bad stuff from cigarette like tar and other chemicals. You can even do it in an airconditioned room without the annoying odor! As far as I know, second-hand smoke is eliminated as a health hazard effect.

But there are some things that I couldn't control. One particular reason is that it is not legal to some countries. The reason? Beats me!

So long story short. The Joker's back! Not if Batman could help... *wink.

- Sharksfin is my favourite food :)

BURN THAT 'MO OF O' BRIDGE!!!

O Philippines! My love, what is happening to your people?   Although it might be too judgemental of me to generalized the entire Republic for the deeds of the backward and the corrupt, but the ones entrusted with much hope to bring this beautiful nation to progress has contributed nothing but empty air, warming their chairs only for the function of pleasing the few powerful zealot masters. I do not mock their ideals and doctrines of backwardness, bigotry and slavery that they cling hard on to, but only on certain times, if they only apply it to themselves. But why must an entire nation, if supposed to be a Republic and democratic society not a theocracy of a few who have declared by themselves that they are the chosen men of God, be subjected to the backwardness, bigotry and slavery of one Church?! Did we go back again to the days of Jose Rizal? Didn't he write a history of his time, shrouded with a face of fiction, which has exposed the so-called holy and the untouchable who have reigned and caused much agony? What will the future generations think of this era? Would they think of us as another victim or a fool? A Good man learns from his own mistakes, a Wise man learns from others' mistakes, while a Fool keeps on repeating the same mistake over and over. That is why I propose that the sects and cults in this nation not to be acknowledge as religions but as a political party, because they are and they act like one. No special treatment, no exemption on taxes, have only one vote in the congress and will have an active role in politics if and only voted.

Please make a vote now to help, not the "faithful" be happy with their lives by subjecting everyone else to misery, but every citizen of the Republic of the Philippines. 

Support RH bill, or whatever they call it now by really, REALLY, understanding what the bill is all about. Learn from the experts, who are REAL experts, in terms of health and science, not just some wackos and wierdos that threatens anyone who opposes them to excommunication. And listen to those Women and Mothers and families who are supposed to be the beneficiary of this bill. Don't listen to me. I don't know half of what a labouring mother feels when giving birth, nor what a husband feels when he lost his wife during pregnancy nor the hunger of a child of a family of 12. Nor should you listen to any man who puts SUPERSTITION first before the LIFE of a woman, nor to men donned in white, the holy, who acts like they know everything, when they don't even understand the difference between a vagina and a butt.

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Please Don’t Forget To Be Happy!

SOME SHORT, RAMDOM THOUGHTS

I guess it's a bit too late. (insert months and days since). But I had just finished watching the last and final season of house. For many weeks I have been abreast with the seasons episodes but due to some technical problems, I was not able to comment about how my favorite show ended. I was so jealous when 9gagers were uploading memes about the end of house. But it doesn't matter. I have finished it and I feel complete...or maybe lost? What do you do after your favorite television show ended? But I like how House MD ended. We don't need to wonder anymore what had happened after House's "death".

***

Another gloomy day in Singapore. Not just the weather, but I think it has also infected my mood for the day. I thought I would escape the atmosphere of the rainy/typhoon season of the Philippines but i feel the same. The cold air is blowing against my exposed skin due to the Shorts that I am wearing and I feel defeated. One of the reasons that I came here to Singapore, aside from vacation, is to have the oppprtunity to work here. But given my history of work employment - I have been out of job for almost 1 year including the part time job of a Documenter for a Non-profit organization. Part of it is my status of being a forgeiner. Most of the jobs posted here are specific for the locals only. I can't really do anything about it because it is what it is. I just hope that, while I am here, I am lucky enough to be invited for an interview, at least. Then that's the time I could explain why my resume seems so "barren". Also, somehow, I could give them an idea of how I work. Nothing couldn't be learned given a time.

I hate it when people "show" or tell me how good they are GETTING their job. For those who I don't know very well, if you say that then I would take it as face-value. But for those who I had the chance to know more, sometimes, I see an egotistic-narcisist bastard. There was someone who said to me that I was not looking hard enough, or lazily applying for a job. Have they forgotten that there was a time when I had work? And don't they know how hard it is looking for a job given my status?

That is how I view myself when I landed my first and second job, LUCKY. I don't believe that I was the best or my skill-set were a cut-above the rest. I was just lucky enough to meet someone who saw a potential in me. Although I must say that through my experience, I was a lot better compared to my former self. When it comes to my being lucky, I am not talking about after getting the job, but the opportunity of getting a job. I think I know what I am capable of, what I can do best, given my experience, but not before actually doing it.

So please, if you are helping and giving me advice on getting a job, don't put me down by saying I don't look hard enough. It might bite you back when the situation changes. There are limitatons on somebody. Although there are some people who mean well when they said it, but I hope they think it through before it leaves their mouth.

            Or maybe I am really not doing as hard as I should.

But my point is, if you were not the one who looked for that job, or an agency got that job for you, if you just "inherited" that job, please, be careful on what you say.

The same applies to those who are rich because they had inherited it, or have won it from the lottery, or to those people who are genetically thin, you have no right to advise me on how to get rich or how to lose weight! Unless you have studied it. Or maybe it is best if you just advise me on how you maintain being rich and thin.

Luck, people. Don't horde all of the compliments!

Even if you are the smartest, hardworking sanopabitch, you are still lucky of being born smart and was not hit by a car or a plane when you went for your job interview. You sanopabitch!

I am just bitter. :)

The same advice I would give to CBCP, watdapuk do you know of the struggle of those women, wife and family who has so little to offer to the growing size of mouths to feed. And your advice is to abstain? That advice and your RULE has been in the Philippines for hundreds of years and look where it led us. You should at least practice what you preach and leave the kids' butts alone!

Please Don’t Forget To Be Happy!

SEE YOU IN HELL :)

Woke up late again today; I should start developing a good sleeping time habit to get my body on the early bird cycle. I notice that when in times like this happens my day seems to shorten and I feel like I have wasted another HP (Health Points) in bed. The reason I was still awake up until 3 AM was because of another HP. Harry Potter.

                I have noticed that movies or films, even books that are added to the list of my favourites have some kind of similarity to my life through the characters, or the storyline.  If you have just been born today (and somehow manage to grow intellectually fast) and don’t know the story of Harry Potter…well, too bad.

                In the first instalment of the movie/book Harry have discovered about his peculiarity from his adopted family. He found out that he is a wizard. Of course, his family were very heated about this and were furiously hiding things from him including his admission to the famous school for wizards, Hogwarts. It again reminded me of my transition from being a ‘hard-core’ Christian to my being an atheist.

***

(I have some earlier drafts retelling my journey but I haven’t had the time to finish it until now.)

***

                Before I wrote this piece, I was browsing my blog post if I have some articles written when I was still ‘on-fire’ that I could reference. I still don’t know if there are some articles floating out there in the interweb but I failed on this part. It was supposed to be a milestone in which I could estimate chronologically my progress; it’s still very hazy on when I have exactly concluded my stand.

                Nine or eight years ago, I remembered the second time (the first time was when I was still young; can’t remember any details) I was ever in a church that is not under the Vatican. It was not so different from the Sunday mornings I have grown-up with, except for the part where almost all, if not all, knew everyone because of the smaller size of the congregation. And because of this small number, sometimes the service would start late because our Pastor would have to wait for the number to grow a bit. But the usual happens; people come-in, sit, listens, stands, sing hymns, then leave after the service. But the key difference between this one and the traditional is the sense of being in a new community, or school, if that makes it more familiar to the senses. It was like transferring to a new school in the middle of the term where I am the only one who doesn’t know anybody, except for my best friend who have invited me to be there. Because in the traditional Catholic Church scenario, even when I visit other churches, all the people including the priest would not care who you are.

***

                Growing up, I was already inquisitive with every new thing, or odd thing, that I have a chance to encounter. One of it is philosophy and religion. In a nutshell, I was a sheltered, almost spoiled, brat with a diehard, stick-it-to-the-bone, Catholic mother and the usual conservative father when it comes to his religion. I became an Altar Boy or Sakristan at a young age. I also used to memorize everything about the rosary to my mom’s delight, including the Mysteries of the Rosary and the Litany. Throughout my high school years, when I was not being an asshole to my teachers, I was developing a need for spirituality, or holiness or maybe closer to the meaning to Mysticism. At my senior year I was encourage to take an exam to be a seminarian and passed but was too lazy to follow up.

                I was already distancing myself away from the Catholic Church when I entered college. I am not trying to offend anyone but the reasons that I wanted to get-out of the Catholic faith may have to do with everything about the Catholic faith. Except for art, Catholic’s history – one word, Bastards! When you learn about the Dark Ages, Inquisition, Genocide, etc. there’s no other word for it. Except of course EVIL –, Catholics teachings about the faith and actions –which is questionable to me even before I went to a different church, in part maybe because of Rizal’s work –, and the very obvious greed! In short, why would I ally myself with something that looks and sounds like the Death Star and Darth Vader from Star Wars?

***

                 Emotions were running high and the other side of my brain is trying to fight back what the other side has concluded to my problem. I was already a member of a Baptist Church for about 4 years that I really cared and love. I have become very active in my duties as a member; proselytizing to people I met, and even going house to house in our area for a chance to evangelize. I have also become one of the Youth leaders, and my greatest achievement or Calling was the opportunity to handle the Music Ministry, I was appointed the Director and Conductor of the Church Choir (I so missed this part and most of all the choir members!)

                Also, the cheesy part, I have fallen in love with my girlfriend from the same church. If you don’t know what this means, you’ve got to go out more. Some churches and parents have a very strict teaching about having relationships with someone outside of their religion. My church was not that strict, but it’s there.
                So, what do I do? The answer was easy. My brain wins all the time. Acting out of it is the hard part. I have two choices: One) Let it pass, Act like just anyone. They won’t notice; Two) Say what you really think and risk losing the love of your life. I chose Choice Number Two. Why? We have been together for a long time that I might have already a clue on what her answer would be. Yey! Risk management 101.

So what do you think someone like me who is very stalwart/stoic on my ideals, principles and, I should say lest someone accuse me of the contrary, very sure about my faith; no one could and should question my faith. No one could read my mind or my "heart". But everyone  wants to play God so to hell with that. The answer is what lead me to be converted at the first place. Love of learning, understanding, sound reasoning and skeptisism. Now I don't want to sound arrogant and be Mr. Everything-Nice, but that is what it takes for someone, like me who have been taught to believe in a supernatural being even to the time when I wasn't even fully aware of my surroundings, to escape and have a freedom to think and to choose.

I should also thank my crash course/seminar on Hermeneutics and Homilitics for making me understand more about The Bible. So I guess Penn and Teller was right when they said that the potent method to gain more Atheists or Agnostics would be to let people read and understand the Bible (from their show Bullshit).

Finally, to anyone out there who is having thoughs and/or doubts about your faith, there are a lot of support groups and organization out there and in the interwebs who could help you. From my experience, this is all true, I thought I was the ONLY Filipino in the Philippines who is an Atheist! I really have no idea about that the Philippine scene when it comes to those who does not want to belong to a sect. At first I tried looking at the American web sites for Atheist and Agnostics. Luckily I searched more and found out about FF (Filipino Freethinkers) and PATAS (Philippine Atheist and Agnostics Society).

The first time I went to a gathering of FF was during their Anniversary held at Techno Hub. It might not be a pure Atheist and Agnostics group, but they stand for what I think is important for the current Filipino society and to any individual: rational thinking, open mindedness and scepticism. I almost cried after I left the event. “I WAS NOT ALONE.”

Please Don’t Forget To Be Happy!