Sayonara, Blogspot

I just finished transferring my blogs here to my renovated wordpress site. It's a bit sad and nostalgic, yet at the same time I feel excited and energized.

I will always be grateful to this platform, Blogspot, where I trained my (pro)verb(i)al wings.

That said, this will be my last blog entry (for now) here.

Keep in touch and hope you'll continue reading my blogs at the new site!

God bless you, and thank you so much!

The Tragic Dilemma Called "Two Free Tickets for a Single Guy"

So yeah, I love getting free movie tickets from Ayala Cinema's Sureseats. Being a loyal movie patron (and site/promo stalker), I often am a recipient of their freebies. As one of my favorite quotes go: "Chance favors the prepared mind." (Louis Pasteur) 

Ah, but with great gifts come great responsibility — and having two free tickets to an awesome movie is a difficult challenge for a single guy like me. What should I do with the other ticket??? And what will others think about what I did with the other ticket???

Here's the cycle of thought-choices that run through my head each time:

Though-Prints of a Dangerous Mind

I love walking, but I easily get bored — so I make it a point to bring my FM radio-capable mobile phone [because I don't have a smart phone or mp3 player] whenever I would go out to exercise. It also helps keep me updated with what's new and trendy with the music industry, or to stumble across some obscure sounds that a wayward radio jock happens to appreciate.

This morning, I got audibly waylaid by Ice-T's "Lethal Weapon".



Can our minds really be that dangerous?

Defining Internet Freedom: a crowd-sourced Magna Carta

This is a good read on a better alternative than the controversial CyberCrime Bill (RA 10175).

Defining Internet Freedom: a crowd-sourced Magna Carta

As a blogger-wannabe and an active social media user, I fully support Senator Miriam's bill.

I hope we who thrive and survive through the Internet will be able to truly unite in backing up this proposed legislation.

Tao Lang Po... Ba? (Are We Really "Just" Human?)

I just read this article about a padjak driver who died, and just like the writer - trying to find blame is so tempting, so easy, so... natural.

Source: www.interaskyon.com

Sometimes it's so easy to fall into a trap of prejudice, hiding behind 'protocols', 'precautions', and other social/bureaucratic red tape to avoid taking responsibility or simply show concern to someone in need - dubious or sincere.

And yes - I'm not talking about the guards (who actually had more heart in this story) or those who were around the scene. I'm talking about us: you and me - wouldn't we have acted with the same indifference?

For Tatay - on Fathers Day

I'll be turning 32 soon— but no matter how old(er) I get, I always feel like a kid when I'm around my father. Not that every memory of him is rosy - he is as faulty as any ordinary father. But I guess it is his very imperfection that makes me proud of him.

Why I Love The Rain

Don't get me wrong: I love summers as much as everyone else - and share its angst as much as others do. 

But rainy days hold so many memories for me, some of which I am grateful to still remember. And it also holds so much meaning to me, probably a by products of all those sweet, melancholic collective of introspective moments I spent out in the rain.

F.A.C.E. to WIN! (CampTalk for FIT to WIN 2013)

Our church had its first Family Camp (with a youth camp extension), and I had the honor of being one of youth's speakers (though I honestly, I suck at plenary talks). 

Our camp's theme was "Fit to WIN". It's so easy to talk about fitness nowadays, with all the health and wellness focus of our society and generation. Physical, emotional, relational, intellectual, moral and spiritual fitness. It's everywhere. 

But, what does it really mean to be fit to win?

What are we trying to win at all?

To be fit to win, I believe we need to have the FACE to WIN. "FACE" stands for 'Focus [to win]', 'Aim [to win]', 'Commit [to win]' and 'Engage [to win]'.

Creating My Own Lessons from GraphikaManila2013

Attending Graphika Manila 2013 wasn't part of my plans — especially budget-wise. I also was hesitant: Why should I bother listening people talk (or brag) about [their] creativity? [insert semi-bitter tone]

But yeah, against financial practicality (and after really praying about it — I'd need some divine intervention to get the funds), I decided to go. Amazingly, a friend provided the much-needed amount for me to afford it... in FULL! I was pumped.

I arrived at the venue at roughly 9:30AM, thinking "Hey, delegates are probably mostly artists — they're most likely to be late."

First Lesson of the day: Be EXTRA early on the next Graphika Manila conference.

Life is Too Short to be Impatient

A young friend chatted me up the other day, asking for a simple advise: should she stay with her current company who only offers her a small salary, or should she shift to a call center company where the immediate benefits is way better.

First of all, I have nothing against call centers. I respect their occupation and role in the society, being the recipients of our social ires — both valid and illogical. Sometimes you just gotta admire how their eardrums and brains can take the consistent pound-for-pound calls of irascible complaints, retarded questions, as well as the helplessly hurtful criticisms for their company (when it deserves merit).

But hey, I'm not talking about call centers.

Breaking Cycles, Becoming 2013

It's already 2013, and as I looked back in dismay - there were a lot of things I failed to do. Again.

As the year started in 2012, I was planning to buy myself some gadgets that I really, really needed. And so, I looked forward to the 13th month bonus (since my company doesn't give a Christmas bonus for us contractual employees). That included a graphic pen tablet (so I can upgrade my graphic design skills), a 1TB external/portable HDD drive, an affordable DLSR camera (or just the waterproof digicam, particularly the Olympus Tough haha), OR (yes, "or" not "and") a new mobile phone (or smart phone) - since the one I'm using (a simple but dependable Motorola phone) was just loaned from a good friend of mine years ago.

Alas, I didn't get a chance to buy myself any of these.

And somehow, thoughts of self-pity or self-chastisement creep up at nights, accusing me, "Why?!"

Yet, somehow God comforts me with the same question: "Why?"

Envy.