You Know you are Filipino if... (2008)

You Know you are Filipino if... (2008)

You get your haircut from a "bading"

If you are not Kapuso, you are a Kapamilya

You have been to Boracay and tell the story of your adventures there to everyone

You have never been to Boracay and you have to sit and listen to the one who did.

You have a family member who owns a motorcycle or tricycle

You get out of the NAIA to a jeepneyful of waiting relatives.

The same relatives will be the ones to wish you off when you depart, even if it means missing work or school.

You go to the mall because the weather is too hot.

You know someone who works in a call center

That someone rides the jeepney and pays the fare with an American accent.

You work in a call center

You have a Friendster account

You dislike anything "jologs"

You like Manny Pacquiao better than the President.

You have a relative who is a nurse or caregiver or studying to be one.

You go to a fastfood restaurant and order "#1" , "#2" , "#3"...

You send text messages like "D2 n me , wr n u?"

You own two mobile phones, one for Smart and one for Globe.

You own just one mobile phone but switch 3 SIM cards back and forth.

You text your friends for Pasaload.

You werent able to reply to a message because you were out of load.

You have secretly or openly wished you were a studio contestant for Deal or No Deal, GKNB, Wheel of Fortune or the Singing Bee.

Wowowee as well.

You always have an opinion on the characters in Pinoy Big Brother, Pinoy Idol or Pinoy Dream Academy.

"Lucky me" isn't just an expression.

You say "for a while" when you actually meant "one moment please"

You like watching beauty contests, from major events like Miss Universe to Little Miss Brgy. Puting Bato.

You like forwarding touching stories thru email only to end it with "your mother will die if you dont send this to 50 people within the next 5 minutes"

You pretend like you are texting to make yourself look busy.

You have bought VCDs and DVDs for less than 50 Pesos each.

You like to go to gay comedy bars.

You have voted for an actor/ model or TV personality into public office.

You eat instant pancit canton for breakfast.

You have heard alibata before but don't know what alibata is.

You politely turndown a compliment (eg. A: Hey you look beautiful today B: Hindi naman )

The only bookstore you know is National Bookstore

The only drugstore you know is Mercury Drug

You wish classes to be suspended everytime it rains hard

Summer for you starts in April

You have had notebooks in Highschool and Elementary school with photos of That's Entertainment stars on the cover.

You wear black to wakes and funerals

You can go to a theater in the middle of the movie and leave at the part when you arrived.

You sing "Hapy birthday to you, Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday, HAPPY BIRTHDAY...... Happy birthday to you!"

You like to ask a foregner the following: "You have a girlfriend/ boyfriend?" , "Have you been to the beaches?" "Do you want to try balut?"

You think being a cono is being a wealthy brat.

Your idea of a date is a movie and Jollibee afterwards - at the mall.

You like to sing at videoke machines.

You have to be steady with a girl first before you can go out on a date.

You pronounce Ibuprofen (Medicol) as eye-BYU-pro-fen.

You dont recycle. You want to but there are no recycle bins in your area.

You browse youtube for this scandal and that scandal.

You expect a massage after a haircut.

Random Thoughts on English - Speaking

English is a tool for communication – not a quality that divides social classes. You must refrain from thinking of it as only for the elite. Rather, think of it as a tool to narrow that divide. You are reading this now because you have a desire to make your life better. And a requirement for the path that you chose is English proficiency.

English is not a novelty. It doesn’t make you a freak (Even though those who can’t speak it insist that it does). Just because you can speak English doesn’t mean you have grown a third nipple. On more than one occasion, I had had a young college girl giggle, cover her face and run away from me when I said “hi”. Imagine if I were a 6 foot 200 lb 45-year-old blue-eyed white American male. I would have 18 elementary school children calling out after me “hey joe!” and the rest of the campus scampering away.

Jose Rizal, who spoke the famous words, “Ang hindi marunong magmahal sa sariling wika ay higit pa sa mabahong isda” actually spoke several languages including English and even married an American. Yet, he made his way to becoming the National hero. Being fluent in another language, especially English doesn’t necessarily equate to the abandonment of one's national pride. Again it is a tool, even, to compete globally and promote the beautiful cultures of the Philippines.

English is a part of culture. An understanding of American or British culture can be very helpful in expressing yourself in English. It will also be easier to understand a native speaker.

The Philippines has an advantage in the availability of Mass Media presented in Standard, British or American English. With the widespread availability of cable TV, channels like CNN, Discovery Channel, and HBO are the perfect resources easily within reach. Simon Cowell of American Idol and his harsh criticisms may raze Filipinos sensitive skin like molten magma on tissue paper but he is a goldmine for analogies and expressions:

“If I’m being honest…”

“I don’t mean to be rude…”

“Don’t take it the wrong way…”

“Having said that…”

“On the flipside…”

My favorite – “You’re like a drunken man on the loose.”

Now is not the time to argue about whether Filipino English on a national level is good enough or deteriorating.

Now is not the time to argue about what the National Language should be. If you want to pass the English Proficiency test, you must satisfy the requirements of the test giving body and even try to please them enough to pass you.

Focus on your weak points but make sure that your strong points are secure.

Try to learn a new word or expression every day. I was watching Mythbusters this morning on the Discovery Channel and while they were conducting an experiment, the “plausible” was mentioned about 9 times in 20 minutes. Without consulting the dictionary, I learned a new word out of context. The best part is, that I was able to experience the sights and sounds of the entire situation where the word “plausible” was perfectly appropriate.

Wit and sarcasm are part of American everyday life. No matter how good you are in textbook English, if you don’t know how to respond to, say, a witty UCLA undergrad, you find yourself speechless. Even a docile Canadian would easily look for a more interesting person to talk to.

Just as a singer knows he is RnB or Rock, speakers also have their own distinct manner of speaking – your own trademark if you may.

· For example, there is this pageant host who started his sentences with “At this juncture…” and I counted 23 times in a 1-hour show, sometimes twice in a sentence – So at this juncture, we will have a final look at the five finalists and at this juncture the reigning queen shall have her final walk. J hahaha.

· If it makes your thoughts flow more fluidly, it is ok to use “basically” or “you know…” with your sentences as long as you don’t use it to the point of annoyance.

A goodbye to my Canon IXY

It is a bittersweet parting.

I still remember when I was deciding on my first digital camera, back in Korea. After hours and hours of browsing the net and comparing dozens of possible choices, I finally zeroed in on a Fuji Finepix 3.2megapixel camera. I didnt care much about megapixels or zoom distance. All that mattered was how cool it would look in my hand or on my desk - how fashionably stylish it was designed and how small it was.

Then John, my boss insisted that I get a Canon IXY 4.5, the same one that he has bought a couple of weeks back. He made sure that I get a Canon if not an Olympus, which we bought for the Global Lounge, the international lounge at Yonsei University where we worked. He even went with me to Namdaemun meaning South Gate in Korean. This is where the latest and best digicams were sold at the lowest prices in Seoul. I don't have a single ounce of regret with this decision. For here started a great romance with IXY as I findly called it.

I used IXY to capture my final days in Korea with awesome images and memorable videos, including those of the awesome farewell parties put together by my friends.

The stunning design of the casing and the rarity of digicams in teh Philippines at that time gave me access to almost any hotel and resort in Boracay. Workers, staff and managers opend the doors of thier best rooms so I can take pictures of them - which gave birth to bluemaroon.com. Unfortunately, bluemaroon was one of the latest targets of cybersquatting and to this day is being held hostage by a rogue company. Nonetheless, the images of Boracay captured by IXY continue to amaze even the professional photographers. It has become common for people to mistaken me for one when they see those pictures



It has been more than that too.

Major events like Miss Earth, the Flower Festival, weddings, graduations, and other holidays - I have counted on IXY to capture the best moments as well as astounding pictures



My newest baby, Urdaneta Multiservers would not have become a reality without IXY, as most of the updates were done thru photos much like this one.

Anyway, as much I would love to have IXY stick around, it is time to let her go. For one, I need money to buy the more powerful Canon S5 IS. Yes. Only a Canon can replace a Canon. And S5 IS will be my stepping stone towards ultimately owning a DSLR - an EOS.

To the next (I'm sure) proud owner, I can asure many more years of great photos and captivating images. I'll give tips.

Goodbye Bluemaroon.com

Parting is such sweet sorrow.

I found out today that due to my lapse in renewing the domain contract, someone else has bought my domain name: bluemaroon.com - a site that i built and popularized for two years.

Sad? yes.

but not for long.

for this juncture has provided an opportunity for me to cover a bigger slice of the globe.

today, i just purchased takeasia.net

self explanatory sweetie. it will cover travel around asia.

which means i will be forced to do just that.

ecstatic? absolutely

ok... gotta go back to work. my projects are starting to pile up

Start up or Buy out?

I think I just invented something.

or at least innovated on a design...

nah. I think I just invented something.

Hint:

It could be a hit in the Philippines and South Easst asia and even Europe.

So-so in the US.

Korea and Japan would not have a need for it.

...and I'm being careful not to give too many hints because it might give away my secret.

hehe

My question is this:


If you have a simple invention (design) that you think has a great potential of capturing a huge market, and you have no experience in production, marketing or distribution, would you venture a start up or would you sell your idea/ invention to a known and trusted company?

What are the factors considered?

How about in the long run? Short run?

I have posted the same question on Pinoy Exchange . com


Whew, glad to let some of it off my chest

Updates on my life...

The blog bug has bitten me again and it's just a matter of time 'fore i'll be again typing away..hehe

Of Medals and Sour Graping

I’ve certainly had enough of the natural disasters that plagued humanity this year, from the aftermath of last year’s tsunami to Hurricane Katrina, to the earthquake in Central Asia and many others that were not sensationalized by the media. I’m very much hoping that 2005 would go out the back door peacefully.

It has been a good year to be Filipino, though, athletically at least. Manny Pacquiao is in the top ranks of the Boxing world, exciting us with his great fights all year. As I write this, the Philippines is enjoying the view from the top as it continues to rake in gold medals, currently at 53, 21 medals away from it’s closest competitor, Vietnam at 32. The Philippines is now with a total of 121 medals and 99 for Vietnam. Thailand is close at third with 112 medals, 27 of them gold.

Now, except for the spectacular opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympics, there hasn’t really been a reason for Filipinos to stay glued to their TV sets during the Games. Onyok Velsquez’s sad loss to the Pole in Atlanta still stirs up a bitter memory every now and then. For the past two Games, the Philippines has brought home nothing.

In the 2002 Asian Games, there was the shocking loss of the Philippine basketball team to the Koreans in the last few seconds as their player threw the ball one last desperate time and in a merciless twist of fate snatched the victory away from the Filipino cagers. Their morale spiraled to such unimaginable depths that we didn’t even bag the bronze.

But this year, is the athletic year of the Filipino. As the host of the 23rd South East Asian Games, it is now the Pinoy’s time to shine, to prove to its neighbors that despite the many different crises it is facing today, it can still hold his head high in the face of its economically stronger neighbors.

It was actually very difficult for the Thais and Vietnamese to grasp the idea that Filipinos can actually be this good. They have probably been used to identifying Filipinos with screwing up that any legit victory would HAVE to be rigged.

Any true blooded Filipino would be offended. Notice the counter attacks made by Pinoys on the message boards. http://www.pinoyexchange.com/forums/showthread.php?t=237552

It is expected that losing teams would make protests over the results and even go as far as accusing the winning team of cheating. But from such a highly esteemed person as the Prime Minister you’d expect a more responsible attitude.

In the midst of this uproar, I am affirming my full support to the Philippine team. I am first and foremost a Filipino. I have watched the games and have seen the awesome performances of our athletes. Every ounce of gold, silver and bronze is well deserved.

National economic might has nothing to do with it. Imperial benevolence has nothing to do with it. Annual tourism arrivals has nothing to do with.

In this arena , it is the heart that has got to do with it.

Our athletes just went in there and did it.

Nothing can take it away from them. Nothing can take it away from the Filipino.

Sunsets

It is the grandest finale to the greatest show on earth. It is shown everyday, smooth like clockwork. It is predictable at times but more often it has a twist of glory that leaves the heart yearning for more… more time even for just a few seconds. Although it is one of the most photographed events, it does not cost a penny to be viewed.

It is the great sunset. Bright afternoon skies that gradually change into playful hues of yellow subduing into oranges, reds, purples and blues before finally fading into the darkness. White cotton clouds that give character to the bluest skies become splashes of color and eventually become the shadows that they cast.

For those who have the luxury of time to stop and marvel it – there is a gift of mixed emotions and feelings. Peaceful complexity and unleashed tranquility in a throbbing, shrouding, empowering calm and heart pounding contentment that validates the presence of a Creator.

Sunset signals the end of the day for many and the beginning for more. For those who have called it a day, the promise of rest, quality time with loved ones, sleep. For those who have just begun, bright lights, gatherings, parties, excitement.

In a modern world when time has become a commodity or even a luxury , appreciating the sunset has given way to rush hours and overtime.



Filipinos are one of the few people blessed with beautiful sunsets in more days of the year. With 7,107 islands across the archipelago, the version of this show from one place is just as spectacular as next door. Whether viewed from the white sandy beaches of Boracay or from the pine tree lined peaks for Baguio, The suns magnificent rays never fail to breathe awe into people’s lungs. The fabled and glorified sunsets of Manila Bay helped put the Philippines on the map of tourism.

Beauty. Sweet, natural, powerful beauty that defines poetry. A picture that only the mind can preserve.

The Philippine sunset.

Images of spectacular Boracay and Baguio sunsets can be viewed and downloaded from bluemaroon.com

Let me just bitch about the weather here for a second.

I know I am from the Philippines, tropical islands with considearble amount of humidity- hence the younger looking Filipinos compared to people from temperate countries. Being a Filipino, I thought that I can endure any heat that Korea has to offer. Everybody thought so too. All winter, I had waited and anticipated the arrival of summer. I was glad to hear that summer will be this year . The longer the better.

But I wasn't ready for the hell that was about to break loose for this year's Korean Summer.

BAck home, sure i've had instances when I would start sweating just sa soon as I stepped out of the shower. And there have been times when I woke up and my pillow was wet from all the sweat.

But I've never had a hard time sleeping and staying up till sunrise because of the fucking heat. I've never had a wet shirt after 5 minutes of walking. And weirdest of all, I've never actually seen humidity. That's right. humidity is so thick here in Korea this year that you'd think it's smog. But you'll know it is not because you can feel it wrap you like a blanket, then you'll start breathing in gasps, and droplets of sweat start forming on your forehead, the back of your neck, your chest, your back, and even your legs and groin.

I have never experienced a worse summer. I can actually blame the weather for me missing some classes, losing my temper on some people, and even my health.

But how do I fight the heat? Most Koreans would advice " Iyeol-chiyeol" or fighting fire with fire. On hot days, Koreans would eat steaming chicken stuffed with rice. Hot and spicy food also experience an increase in sales. Korean's believe that if you're body is hotter than the temperature around you, you won't feel so hot.

That may make sense, and since I am a fairly open minded person, I'll respect that belief. But I won't necessarily practice it. I like the idea of sweating your toxins out and I'm sure that also has its health benefits. But I wouldn't risk getting dehydrated and end up in the outrageously expensive Korean Hospitals.

Besides, no matter how hot it gets, no matter how much I bitch about it, I still love summer. How do I get over the heat? I just think of the horrible time's I've had in winter, when I had to be wrapped up like a dumpling before I could go anywhere. When the a trip to the bathroom was agony. When waiting for the bus was like waiting for the death coach.

Never mind the leaves changing in the fall( it actually means that icy cold days are just around the corner), which Korean's exalt to unbearble cheesiness, or the flowers starting to bloom in the spring( I actually like this season because it preempts the advent of my favorite time of the year.Despite its unforgiving scorching wrath, summer is still still my season.

So this is me. Aquarian, therefore of water, pumps in the veins. Can hear the call of the waves, of the undersea currrents, even in deep sleep. Semitarian- nothing with four feet. High on the earth's produce and the sea's fresh catch, minimal on poultry. Music lover. Tolerant of most. Currently into alternative rock. Computer whiz. Web designer. Flash follower. Hardware SME and FTR/FTR exclusion rate awardee (don't ask). Artist. Leader. Temporarily based in Korea. Can survive in any English, Spanish, Tagalog and/or Korean speaking country. On the look out to annihilate scumbags and fart asses. Purpose in life- to live it.

nice to know that it is still alive. Man, my activities can really eat me up alive and make me forget about other things that I care about. But as I always say, it's never too late.

I'm currently updating my personal site and giving it a makeover. should be out within the week. The biggest job will have to be the gallery cuz a lot pictures have been taken over the days and weeks and months.

keep posted.

Manning the Global Lounge alone.
Lisa Ono singing in the background. I decided to do this every Saturday when I'm in charge of the G.
No harm is there?
Until I receive any complaints, I intend to make the G a true lounge under my keep. Musically at least.
Maybe I'll try to experiment with other types of music that promote a study and conversation conducive environment.

nuff said bout that.

bought a sketch pad and some colored pencils yesterday. seems like im getting back into the flow. but unlikethe last time when I did water colors, I'm now experimenting with colored pencils. Not that I've never used them before. Its just that I have prefered brushes in th past.

Well, this is just classic me. Trying other things.

there's a lot to write about, (man, i'm really gonna pile up if i dont write for a couple of days!)
there's my growing remorse for a coule of people in my class who think they are the epitomes of cool but are actually two of the biggest losers in the world.
there's the girl that I like, used to like, still like, that's making me crazy. One kiss and that started it all. or was it way before that? Did it start with the flirting? Hey, I'm only human.
there's my growing dissatisfaction with my life in seoul, some mild, subtle warnings about overdoing this little Seoul adventure. That if i didnt get my act together, I could end up being a loser like the Beavis and Butthead in my class. Shall I go home, jumpstart back to a career? Shall I stay here until i get the right opportunity? Actually there are opportunities left and right, but many of them are not for me. Shall I get a masters degree? here in Korea? in the Philippines?I'm currently searching for an organization willing grant me a scholarship to go to graduate school to study Management, because that's where I feel myself gravitating towards. Should I stay here until I earn enough money and start that business (what kind, I havent decided yet)?
And there's the thing I want to write about a person whom I entrusted my entire futiure to, but turns out to not know shit, and from whom I've received the wordt kind of treatment from. But I feel compeled to hold it back a little lest I lose control, because I feel like I am inevitably starting to abhor this person.

In due course, I shall elaborate on these subjects at a more suitable palce and time.

And did I mention that I'm horny right now?

I though this ws going to be a night of getting back into my writing-
not that im actually a writer, but im hoping that it would help me fight back
the deterioration of my English.

Instead, it became a night of recolection, whichia not that bad considering that i should have taken care of this blog long time ago.

as a closing for todays trip down memory lane
I decided that i dont want to keep chasing after Luisa simply because It is obvious that that kiss meant nothing to her adn that she is not ready for a relationship.
I am. I want.

To make it worse, my tip bank and one of my best friends left today
to serve the 2 year Mandatory Korean Militray Service

Also, I decided to try and get back to some of the things that I like to do.
Perhaps, my trip to the museum to see picasso's prints and Yoko Ono's hippie art
inspired me so.
These days, I ant to write again- thus the reopening of the Blog
and I want to try drawing and painting again.

wait and see.

October: this is kinda tough
this is 10 months away

Went to doksu gung or duksoo palace with class mates
Was able to meet Claose peolpe like:
Chris, Jeny, Gloria, Bong Geun, etc.


November:
Started to get really cold (for me at least)
started buying and wearing thick coats, gloves and scarves.
Bong Geun gets into GSIS

December:
My first snow
Went Snowboarding
got insulted athe immigration while trying to renew \/extend visa
Called family: Cried
spent Christmas with Bong Geun
Popped Champagne at a place we now call champagen corner at 12:00mn Christmas.
Spent New Years eve with Chris, Jenny and the rest of Assa in Jongno

January:
Went to a Public Sauna: Wont ever go back
Got in touch with Jeff, visited him in Gyeonggi
Went to to Ganghwa-do with Jeffs Photography club
Am cursing the cold

February:
Just my birthday: with with Spencer, his Gf and Bong Geun
I think this is the time I started working in a Hagwon- JOngno M School
They introdiced me as HAwaiian
"Fuck the Cold"
Was the Director for the class in the Korean music Festival in KLI
We did not win.

March:
(My Memory is getting clearrer he hehehe)
barely passed level 2
immigration official ws much nicer
burned our scarves in the campus basebll park to summon spring
Spring in Yonsei is beautiful

April:
Moved to B course 3
Joined Teo- a club that pplays the samulnori or traditional percussions
I started learning the Janggu.
JOined my first MT.
Became a Monitor for the Yonsei Annals
http://annals.yonsei.ac.kr/

May:
Was selected the Host for the Korean Music Festival in KLI
Was director for our Class
We won 2nd place
Performed on the streets of yonsei with janggu for the Muak Festival- The biggest festival in Yonsei.
Watched the Akkaraka festival- saw a lot of Korean Celebrities-
Baby Vox, Se7en, Big mama, etc
Was again a Monitor for the Yonsei annals.
Moved to Shinchon

June:
Got hired by Global Lounge
Started updating the Website for Global Lounge
Immigration official was again nice; hope the next one will be much nicer

July:
Gave a speech introducing the GL to 400++ International Echange students
Was in included in the intro video of Yonsei university.
HAd Dinner with the Yonsei president
Was tech support for UC- Yonsei Student Exchange.
Went on a ten day sabbatical- it ws tough
HAd tequila bodyshots with the hot russian and Uzbek girls
kissed miss UZbekistan- Have a girlfriend (or so i thought)

August- ah August....

what a hiatus
almost 11 months since the last post
lets see,

i was planning to start writing again,
get the flow back.

but as i see the the previous post,
makes me want to asses what has happened in the last 10 months and a half.