What's up Blog? Long time no post!

Hey. Yeah I know I have been slippin. Real life and my nasty habit of procrastination has taken over. No excuses. I will try to keep my head above water.

So... 

Lemme see.  Christmas is over and done with. A long time since I spent Christmas in this part of the earth. It's not bad. It is just different. Usually, I would be basking in a humid, tropical clime. This time, I get to have a real Christmas tree, fireplaces and winter(y) weather.

I wanted to say something about faith. In my old age, I understand that it is similar to love and not romance. More like a marriage not a courtship. I understand that it is easy to be seduced by the theater and drama of it all. But ultimately, it is form not substance that we should be seeking.

There are hypenated -Filipinos that I know who openly profess to wanting to be something else other than Filipino. I have heard them say they want to be Korean. As somebody who took on American citizenship, I kinda understand... But Korean?

I guess the more pressing question is why have so many forsaken Filipino citizenship? Then again, I already know the answer.

But just the same. Before you go turning Korean. Learn everything you can about the Philippines. Before you go on over to the other side, explore where you are. You might just find everything you are looking for - HERE.

The grass sometimes really isn't greener...

It is true. The more you give, the more you receive.

How the F are you?
I know I am a flake. I will writemore  .. I promise.

For now, I just have to say I had a fulfilling weekend with the young.

This is why coursing your donations through the GMA administration is not a good idea.

Read this.

Certain words make me throw up in my mouth.

I guess I am old. Certain words kids say  make me throw up in my mouth. For example:

hella. Originated from the streets of San Francisco in the Hunters Point neighborhood. It is commonly used in place of "really" or "very" when describing something.

snap  expression: used to describe 1. dismay 2. disbeleif 3. surprise 4. joy

Potential + Courage = Virtue

Superman   
Maya Angelou says: One isn't necessarily born with courage, but one is born with  potential. Without courage, we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. We can't be kind, true, merciful, generous, or honest  unless we are courageous first.

Green.

I am opinionated. I have an opinion about almost everything. Especially people. A college buddy recently told me that I either liked somebody or hated them with a passion. No in betweens.
I know I can be really critical of people. Sometimes I say that I am not "critical" I am just more observant than most J
Ok. Ok. I have to work on that.
We all need to look for the "good" in people. Everybody has some redeeming qualities. (While I am typing this, I am still trying to convince myself that this is true.)
Willie Revillame, for instance. Hmmm.. I'll get back to you on that. Bad example.
It is not jealousy. I think the past months have taught me that humility is more attractive on me.
I think it took me awhile but I have finally come around to accepting what I am and what I am not. What I can be and what I will never be. And I am good with that.
The sin of jealousy stifles the good work we all wanna do.
It speaks well of people who honor without envy, somebody who have prospered. Inversely, haters hate the good fortune the befall their peers. There are many roads to hate, but envy is the shortest of them all. You will lose friends so fast if you desire their demise. Be happy for them! Envy eats you from the inside out.
I read once that "Love looks through a telescope; envy, through a microscope." Oh sure you will find stuff wrong with everybody you meet. But focus, or better yet, step back. So you can see what is good. Jealousy is a self-inflicted wound. Although jealousy stems more from self-love than love for others. You aren't doing yourself any favors. It will eat you up till you are soo miserable that you miss all the blessings you have received. The only person worth envying is the person who doesn't envy.

Read the agenda dumbass.

http://gawker.com/5362916/woman-declaration-that-shes-a-56+year+old-virgin-off-by-one-nightA woman announced at a Texas Education Agency hearing yesterday that she is a 56-year-old virgin. She thought she was testifying at a hearing about sex education. She wasn't.
Former schoolteacher Deborah Parish (we're unsure on the spelling, since we got her name from the video), wanted to impress upon the agency that you can teach kids to get sexy without taking their clothes off, a proposition for which the fact that she had gone all her 56 years without "technically" having sex somehow serves as evidence. But before she could testify about all her gratifying fully clothed sexual experiences, the agency's members informed her that they were taking testimony on alcohol awareness—the sex ed stuff, when her virginal status would have been relevant, had all happened the day before. Read the agenda, virgin!

The world is whacked.

The world is whacked.

Mass media and advertising will have you believe that power, wealth and prestige bring you joy.

The movie Scarface is one of my favorite movies. I often tell people that I like it because it is a great "immigrant" story. A story of a refugee, who does well. I say that in jest. It is really a story about how the things "of this world" are temporary.

It also brings to mind an episode of Punk'd when they pretend to smash Justin Timberlake's guitar and Justin cries like a baby and calls his "mommy."

Material possession, prestige and power. The good life. Fast cars. Fast women (or men if you so prefer).

Hey who does not want to live life like a beer commercial? Sex, drugs and rock and roll. Isn't that why every teen picks up a guitar and wails like a banshee?

But we have seen how this house of cards crumbles so easily.
They say every man in America is just 3 tragedies away from being homeless. Make a bad decision. Lose your source of income. Get sick. Lose control. And soon you find yourself in the gutter of broken dreams.

You don't have to look far. How many people do you know who 2 years ago were living the good life? I know somebody who had 7 houses mansions to his name. He was thumbing his nose at the world. He became arrogant. He could buy anything he wanted. He was on top of the world. Last year, he lost everything. The repo man took away even his sofa. His family now lives in a room at his sister-in-law's house.

If money and status are the ultimate goal, no wonder we hear of people killing their whole family then commit suicide after the economy raped them. There was nothing else to live for.
As a young boy, I never forgot the scene in Scarface where they show how well Tony Montana lived. He had a huge statue with a globe in his house that revolved… it said "The World is Yours." Hmmm. Knowing what I know now. Not really.
Do not put your love into something that can be taken away by men.

What do you absolutely believe in?

POSEURS.

The world is full of them. No not the cute, peace-sign, head tilting variety. Those are POSERS. But those who pretend to be somebody they are not.

We all know the type.

The wanna-be gangsta… with the fake chains and cubic zirconia earrings.Yeah, the one who think that tattoos makes them all hard and shit. The ones that think if they talk tough, they are tough. That if they shave their heads and dress the part…wooo they are soooooooo macho. Sad thing is, some girls people buy into it. I don’t know who the bigger loser is.

Or how ‘bout them chicks who think they know everything? I was in this focus group and we were in a room being asked questions, and this girl who claims she was a fashion stylist (but was dressed like a supermarket bum), in her stupid desire to brag that her boyfriend is a CFO of Sony, claims that Sony paid him a million dollars to not divulge information in a court of law, under oath. Soooo dumb coz the proceedings were being videotaped. True story.

If common sense was available as a pill… most people still will not take it.

Anyway, back to poseurs.

I remember when Fast and the Furious first came out, the import car racing scene was just about at its peak. It was not uncommon to see bone stock Honda Civics with the huge-ass spoilers running on OEM tires and rims. Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. There is a special place in hell for poseurs. All show and no go. I wonder how they feel everytime a real car with power is right next to them on a traffic light? Then again, maybe they have no shame.

Now let us talk about those who are real. Imagine all those people who stood up against what was popular. Those who got ridiculed and laughed at for standing up to what they believed in. Jesus Christ. Gandhi. MLK. They all went against the grain. They all got flak for not conforming. For espousing something that was different from the accepted norm. But they were real. They knew it. And soon multitudes of people knew it. They emerged victorious because they were real. Not a facsimile. Not a caricature. Not a fake. Not a poseur. They are real because they knew they knew something that most people have not seen. They have seen truth.

KEEPING IT REAL VS. TRUTH

We all know, heroes are often ridiculed, shot, crucified. That is just how it plays out. The definition of a pioneer is the guy/gal with a target on his back. Knowing the truth is not easy. Because then, one needs to stand up for the truth. But it seems, knowing the truth gives them power…or at least the resolve to keep fighting.

But for many of us, there is nothing to stand up for. How many of us really, absolutely believe in something. To begin with, how many of us are really honest with ourselves? How many times have we lied to ourselves? If we are not true to oneself…how much more of a liar are we to the world?

Everybody has heard somebody say with bravado, “I’m keeping it real” No. That’s not what it’s about. It’s not about “I’ll get up on your face and tell you what I want because I’m real.” It is “This is what I believe. You can do and say all you want, but I am firm in what I believe in because I have proven it.”

The wannabe gangsta likes the mystique of being a cholo.. but doesn’t really want to live in la vida loca. The wannabe fashionista, wants to play the part of a chic celebrity, but really does not have the personality, the style, the cash or the looks to pull it off. They are not being true to themselves. They may fool some of the stupid people some time. But deep inside, they know they are as fake as a 2 dollar bill.

ABSOLUTE

People are searching for something to believe in…

I am sure there is someone or something in this world we would consider trading our life for. But let us not confuse sacrifice for Belief.

It would be a good exercise to start a list. A list of things WE absolutely believe in. I wonder how long that list will be? Probably, not very long.

Do you do this when your picture is being taken? FAIL!

PLAY Video

You play, you pay.

Whew. I have a freakin shoulder spasm. Not enough sleep. Still a little slow.

But had a great day. Thanks for the memories Patron and Miller. You are always the life of the party.

More later when my brain cells grow back.

Funny thing happened...

On the way out of the supermarket... I saw a middle-aged woman put a quarter in one of the coin-operated horses and ride it.
No, it wasn't a joke. She was not trying to make anybody laugh. She was alone. A Lone Ranger. Hi-ho Silver, Awaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!

Couple asked me to take a pic... I obliged.

Great shot if I may say so myself.

Weng-weng FTW!

Sooo stupid that its amusing!

Caught cheating.

Signs.

When people tell me EVERYBODY speaks English in the Philippines. I always smirk.

Public official brags about beating somebody.

Watch interview here. Chavit admits to beating-up former live-in-partner and her lover.

Chavit Singson admits to beating up former live-in partner and her lover.
Tsk. tsk. Pinagyabang pa na buti daw di niya pinatay.

I understand that infidelities may make one crazy... but..we expect more from a public official...or should we?

If you are not outraged, then you have not been paying attention.

Upuan

Kayo po na naka upo,

Subukan nyo namang tumayo

Baka matanaw, at baka matanaw ninyo

Ang tunay na kalagayan ko

Ganito kasi yan eh...

Tao po, nandyan po ba kayo sa loob ng

Malaking bahay at malawak na bakuran

Mataas na pader pinapaligiran

At naka pilang mga mamahaling sasakyan

Mga bantay na laging bulong ng bulong

Wala namang kasal pero marami ang naka barong

Lumakas man ang ulan ay walang butas ang bubong

Mga plato't kutsara na hindi kilala ang tutong

At ang kanin ay simputi ng gatas na nasa kahon

At kahit na hindi pasko sa lamesa ay may hamon

Ang sarap sigurong manirahan sa bahay na ganyan

Sabi pa nila ay dito mo rin matatagpuan

Ang tao na nagmamay-ari ng isang upuan

Na pag may pagkakatao'y pinag-aagawan

Kaya naman hindi niya pinakakawalan

Kung makikita ko lamang siya ay aking sisigawan

Kayo po na naka upo,

Subukan nyo namang tumayo,

Baka matanaw, at baka matanaw ninyo

Ang tunay na kalagayan ko

Mawalang galang na po

Sa taong naka upo,

Alam niyo bang pantakal ng bigas namin ay di puno

Ang ding-ding ng bahay namin ay pinagtagpi-tagping yero

Sa gabi ay sobrang init na tumutunaw ng yelo

Na di kayang bilhin upang ilagay sa inumin

Pinakulong tubig sa lumang takuring uling-uling

Gamit lang panggatong na inanod lamang sa istero

Na nagsisilbing kusina sa umaga'y aming banyo

Ang aking inay na may kayamanan isang kaldero

Na nagagamit kapag ang aking ama ay sumueldo

Pero kulang na kulang parin,

Ulam na tuyo't asin

Ang singkwenta pesos sa maghapo'y pagkakasyahin

Di ko alam kung talagang maraming harang

O mataas lang ang bakod

O nagbubulag-bulagan lamang po kayo

Kahit sa dami ng pero niyo

Walang doktor na makapag papalinaw ng mata niyo

Kaya...

Wag kang masyadong halata

Bato-bato sa langit

Ang matamaay wag magalit

O bato-bato bato sa langit

Ang matamaan ay

Wag masyadong halata

Wag kang masyadong halata

Hehey, (Wag kang masyadong halata)

(Wag kang masyadong halata)

Yeahhey...

Watch the video. Upuan By Gloc9

The tide is turning.

I can tell.  (I hope.)

mmmmkay kids...

I live on the internet. But I am old. For some weird reason, I never get why mmmk means ok.  I may be wrong but typing O K is easier.
Also, I can not relate to ROFL or LMAO. AFAIK that has not happened yet. Oh that means "As Far As I Know"

AYSOS?

Couldn’t have said it better

May araw din kayo
By Conrado de Quiros
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Tatagalugin ko na nang makuha n'yo. Kahit na lingwaheng kanto lang ang alam kong Tagalog.

Tutal Buwan ng Wika naman ang Agosto. Baka sakali 'yung paboritong wika ni Balagtas ay makatulong sa pag-unawa n'yo dahil mukhang 'yung paboritong wika ni Shakespeare ay lampas sa IQ n'yo. Kung sa bagay, ang pinakamahirap gisingin ay 'yung nagtutulug-tulugan. Ang pinakamahirap padinggin ay 'yung nagbibingi-bingihan. Ang pinakamahirap paintindihin ay 'yung nagmamaangmaangan. Bueno, mahirap din paintindihin 'yung likas na tanga. Pero bahala na.

Sabi mo, Cerge Remonde, alangan naman pakanin ng hotdog ang amo mo. Bakit alangan? Hindi naman vegetarian 'yon. At public service nga 'yon, makakatulong dagdagan ng cholesterol at salitre ang dugong dumadaloy papuntang puso n'ya.

Kung meron man s'yang dugo, kung meron man s'yang puso.

Bakit alangan? Malamang di ka nagbabasa ng balita, o di lang talaga nagbabasa, kung hindi ay nalaman mo 'yung ginawa ni Barack Obama at Joe Biden nitong nakaraang Mayo. Galing silang White House patungong Virginia nang magtakam sila pareho ng hamburger. Pina detour nila ang motorcade at tumuloy sa unang hamburgerang nakita nila. Ito ang Ray's Hell Burger, isang maliit at independienteng hamburger joint.

Tumungo ang dalawa sa counter at sila mismo ang nag-order, hindi mga aides. Nagbayad sila ng cash na galing sa sariling bulsa at kagaya ng ibang customers ay pumila para sa turno nila.

Ito ay presidente at bise presidente ng pinakamakapangyarihang bansa sa buong mundo. Kung sa bagay, 'yung amo n'yo ay hindi naman talaga presidente. Di lang makita ang pagkakaiba ni Garci kay God kaya nasabing "God put me here." Pekeng presidente, pekeng asal presidente.

Sabi mo, Anthony Golez, maliit lang ang P1 million dinner kumpara sa bilyon-bilyong pisong dinala ng amo mo sa bansa.

Ay kayo lang naman ang nagsasabing may inambag ang amo n'yo na bilyong-bilyong piso sa kaban ng bayan. Ni anino noon wala kaming nakita. Ang nakita lang namin ay yung bilyon-bilyong piso—o borjer, ayon nga sa inyong dating kakosa na si Benjamin Abalos—na inaswang ng amo n'yo sa kaban ng bayan. Executive privilege daw ang hindi n'ya sagutin ito. Kailan pa naging pribilehiyo ng isang opisyal ang di managot sa taumbayan? Kailan pa naging pribilehiyo ng isang opisyal ang magnakaw?

Maliit lang pala ang P1 million, ay bakit hindi n'yo na lang ibigay sa nagugutom? O doon sa mga sundalo sa Mindanao? Tama si Archbishop Oscar Cruz. Isipin n'yo kung gaano karaming botas man lang ang mabibili ng P1 million at karagdagang P750,000 na nilamon ng amo n'yo at mga taga bitbit ng kanyang maleta sa isa pang restawran sa New York.

Maliit lang pala ang P1 million (at P750,000), bakit hindi n'yo na lang ibigay doon sa pamilya ng mga sundalong namatay sa Mindanao? Magkano 'yung gusto n'yong ibigay sa bawat isa? P20,000? Sa halagang iyan 50 sundalo na ang maaabuluyan n'yo sa $20,000. Pasalu-saludo pa 'yang amo n'yo sa mga namatay na kala mo ay talagang may malasakit. Bumenta na 'yang dramang 'yan. At pasabi-sabi pa ng "Annihilate the Abus!" Di ba noon pa n'ya 'yan pinangako? Mahilig lang talagang mangako 'yang amo n'yo.

Bukod pa d'yan, saan ba nanggaling 'yung limpak-limpak na salapi ng mga kongresista na pinansisindi nila ng tabako? Di ba sa amin din? Tanong n'yo muna kung ayos lang na i-blowout namin ng wine at caviar ang amo n'yo habang kami ay nagdidildil ng asin—'yung magaspang na klase ha, 'di yung iodized. Ang tindi n'yo, mga p're.

At ikaw naman, Romulo Macalintal, tapang ng apog mo. Maiisip mo tuloy na sundin na lang ang mungkahi ni Dick the Butcher sa "Henry VI" ni Shakespeare: "First thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers." Pa ethics-ethics ka pa, pasalamat ka di nasunog ang bibig mo sa pagbigkas ng katagang 'yon.

Marami mang sugapa rin sa aming mga taga media, di naman kasing sugapa n'yo. At di naman kami sineswelduhan ng taumbayan. Wala naman kaming problemang sumakay sa PAL at kailangan pang bumili ng P1.2 billion jet. Anong sabi n'yo, kailangan ng amo n'yo sa pabyahe-byahe? E sino naman ang may sabing magbabyahe s'ya? Ngayon pang paalis na s'ya—malinaw na ayaw n'yang umalis. Bakit hindi na lang s'ya bumili ng Matchbox na eroplano? Kasya naman s'ya ro'n.

Lalo kayong nagpupumiglas, lalo lang kayong lumulubog sa kumunoy. Di n'yo malulusutan ang bulilyasong ginawa n'yo. Para n'yo na ring inagaw ang isinusubong kanin ng isang batang nagugutom. Tama si Obama at Biden: Sa panahon ng recession, kung saan nakalugmok ang mga Amerikano sa hirap, dapat makiramay ang mga pinuno sa taumbayan, di nagpapakapariwara. Sa panahon ng kagutuman, na matagal nang kalagayan ng Pinoy, at lalo pang tumindi sa paghagupit ng Typhoon Gloria, dapat siguro uminom na lang kayo ng insecticide. Gawin n'yo 'yan at mapapawi kaagad ang kagutuman ng bayan.

Sa bandang huli, buti na rin lang at ginawa n'yo 'yung magpasasa sa P1 million dinner habang lupaypay ang bayan sa kagutuman—di lang sa kawalan ng pagkain kundi sa iba pang bagay—at pagdadalamhati sa yumaong Ina ng Bayan. Binigyan n'yo ng mukha ang katakawan. Katakawang walang kabusugan. Mukhang di nakita ng masa sa usaping NBN, mukhang di nakikita ng masa sa usaping SAL.

Mukhang nakita lang ng masa dito sa ginawa n'yong ito. Sa pagpapabondat sa New York habang naghihinagpis ang bayan.

At buti na rin lang mayroon tayong sariling wika. Di sapat ang Inggles para iparamdam sa inyo ang suklam na nararamdaman namin sa inyo. Di sapat ang Inggles para ipakita sa inyo ang pagkamuhi na nararamdaman namin sa inyo. Di maarok ng Inggles ang lalim ng poot na nararamdaman namin sa inyo.

Isinusuka na kayo ng taumbayan, mahirap man sumuka ang gutom.

May araw din kayo.

Why?

esterday, somebody asked me... Why did you name your blog blog "Insight to the Insane?"

Here are possible reasons.

1) Insanity intrigues me. There is this person at church. He must have voices in his head because in the middle of mass he will stand up and yell "What?"

Then he will spin in a circle... slowly... then sit down again. I often wonder what goes on in his head. I wish I could ask him. Maybe the next time I see him, I'll ask.

2)Insanity seems to be getting more and more common in the world. I would like an insight on why....

3) I am insane.

4) I couldn't think of anything else at the time. And I needed to give it a name or start the process again.

I am going with number 4....hmmm.. maybe #3.

Can you smell that?

There is something foul in the air.

The stench is filling the air. And it will get worse.

The COMELEC pegged the campaign period for candidates for President, Vice-President, Senators and Party-List groups to start on February 9, 2010. The campaign period for candidates for members of the House of Representatives and elective provincial, city and municipal officials will should start March 26, 2010.

But how come we smell something foul in the air this early?

It is because, politicians can not contain themselves. They reek.

There is no shortage of laws in the Philippines. There is just an absence of true enforcement.

In jest, somebody once told me that the people in the Philippines are the freest in the world. So free in fact that they can do anything they want. They pee in the streets, they cross where they want, etc. So much for democracy. Pwede. Pero hindi dapat.

Laws were made so that we do not slide into anarchy. Enforcement should not be lip service. Bawal lang pag nahuli. The spirit of the law should have the greater good in mind. It should have a purpose: to serve the majority. They say it should be blind. It should apply to the rich and the poor equally. Wow. Sarap isipin.

Going back to the candidates who are campaigning early. These are the kind of crappy leaders we can look forward to. Those who think the law does not apply to them. The ones who put their mug on every freaking billboard they can buy. Money that usually is the government's people's money.

These are the same people who after their term, will pass on the office to their wives, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, et al. Nepotism. Political dynasties. They say the Philippines is ruled by a handful for last names. Tsk. Tsk. In a country of 96 million people, these are the only choices we have?

If you are not outraged, then you are not paying attention.

Ugly picture.

Yeah I know the picture is gross. I was meaning to shock and awe. Well... ok shock.

Ok. Here goes. I always seem to have something to say. Opinionated. Admitedly, biased at times. But hey, I am working on it.
A blog only works if you blog. Well hopefully, it does not go into the bin of "Things I need to do" Or "Things I should have done." You see, I am a chronic procrastinator.
The characteristic "self-starter" describes me. Only when I want (or do get "started")
Anyway...Prod me to keep writing.
Another thing I promise to do is be honest and true. I write this so that I get a constant reminder that this is what I aim to achieve.
So here goes nothing.