Got published in FemaleNetork.com for a story I never thought someone would ask me to write. I have to admit, when they asked me to write it, I was LOL-ing inside. I write for a business magazine. I can perhaps imagine myself writing for FHM or Mens Health, but never for Female Network.

Guess what I did two weekends ago? Endured a seven-hour ride to La Union up north. We arrived at midnight and even if it was pitch black, the sound of waves was unmistakable. I woke up and saw the waves.

Met with half-Aussie half-Filipino world-champion surfer Luke Landrigan at the San Juan Surf Resort in San Juan, La Union.

The story comes out in Entrepreneur’s March issue. Damn, a few more days and February is over. That was fast.

Merry Christmas!

Heaven is Here: Down is Up and Up is Down

by HORACIO DELA COSTA, S.J.

Christmas is when we celebrate the unexpected; it is the festival of surprise. This is the night when shepherds wake to the songs of angels; when the Earth has a star for a satellite; when wise men go on a fool’s errand, bringing gifts to a Prince they have not seen, in a country they do not know.

This is the night when one small donkey bears on its back the weight of the world’s desire, and an ox plays host to the Lord of heaven.

This is the night when we are told to seek our King, not in a palace but in a stable. Although we have stood here, year after year, as our fathers before us, the wonder has not faded, nor will it ever fade; the wonder of that moment when we push open the little door, and enter, and entering find in the arms of a Mother, who is a Virgin, a Baby Who is a God.

Chesterton has said it for all of us: the only way to view Christmas properly is to stand on one’s head.

Was there ever a house more topsy-turvy than the House of Christmas, the cave where Christ was born?

For here, suddenly, in the very heart of Earth, is Heaven; down is up and up is down, the angels and the stars look down on God who made them, and God looks up at the things He made.

There is no room in an inn for Him who made room, and to spare, for the Milky Way; and where God is homeless, all men are at home.

We were promised a Savior, but we never dreamed that God himself would come to save us. We knew that He loved us, but we never dared to think that He loved us so much as to become like us.

But that is the way God gives. His gifts are never quite what we expect, but always something better than we hoped for.

We can only dream of things too good to be true; God has a habit of giving things too good to be false.

That is why our faith is a faith in the unexpected, a religion of surprise.

Now more than ever, living in times so troubled, facing a future so uncertain, we need such faith. We need it for ourselves, and we need it to give to others.

We must remind the world that if Christmas comes in the depth of winter, it is that there may be an Easter in the spring.

During my last year in high school, I taught eight grade six students from a public school in Marikina, once a week, in a program called Tulong Dunong (TD). It was exasperating, but in the end, rewarding. After I graduated up to my second year in college, I’d receive a phone call on the day of my birthday every year, asking for “Sir Peter.” I’d pick it up, and on the other line was my student, now in high school, greeting me a happy birthday. During my fourth year in college, I saw one of them walking around the college campus, wearing an Ateneo ID.

Angel Aquino on Tulong Dunong

Went to work early this morning to find this in my inbox. At nine in the morning you could hear my laugh anywhere on the sixth floor.

And the evidence, still wrapped in plastic. I’m so glad I have a younger sister.

Ateneo de Manila University celebrates its sesquicentennial anniversary tonight. The line-up is crazy. They’ve been preparing for this for years, and for someone who’s been in the Ateneo (yes, I said the) for more than half his life, going back is like coming home. Some are more enthusiastic than others, but all in all, it’s always good to remember the past and look to the future.

From Ateneo Law School student, Miko Samson:

On the Sesquicentennial of the Ateneo de Manila University

On December 10, 2009, the Ateneo de Manila University turned 150 years old. Having been able to witness the build-up to this day through the events of the past few years, and being a senior in one of the Ateneo’s constituent units during this sesquicentennial year, and more importantly, having grown up at the Ateneo, I find myself driven by some sense of duty to reflect on what this might mean. So while I’ve been doing it for quite some time, let me speak Atenean today. Pardon me if this piece seems particularly endless–it seems to be quite characteristic of people of this academic pedigree to be verbose and long-winded.

Continue reading here.

From Ateneo graduate (batch 2008 Valedictorian) and lecturer, Leloy Claudio:

Eagle without talons? Nation-building and the Ateneo de Manila University

The celebration of the sesquicentennial of the Ateneo de Manila University presents an opportunity to celebrate not only the immense contribution the institution has made to Philippine society, but also to consider what more the university can do in light of its frequently articulated goal of building the nation. University President Fr. Bienvenido Nebres outlines his general approach to nation-building which he derives from Dr. Jose Rizal, the Ateneo’s most prominent alumnus. The Rizal that Nebres draws from is not the firebrand who sparked the first nationalist revolution in Asia – the hero who spoke the truth to power amidst massive injustices. His Rizal is the one exiled in Dapitan – the gagged Rizal forced to channel his energies towards community-building projects like the building of schools and the improvement of irrigation systems.

Continue reading here.

PHOTO CREDIT
Philip Sision via Fabilioh.com

As I attended the last day of Consumer Electronics Live! at the World Trade Center Sunday morning, I wasn’t able to catch the fight between Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto. While the cab was going at warp speed on what looked like a deserted EDSA at high noon, the announcer on the radio was describing the fight, well, blow by blow. I only caught the replay later that night. This is my version of what happened. As I am a visual person, I say it with pictures.

Before

PHOTO CREDITS
www.zimbio.com
www.pacquiaovideo.com

Halloween isn’t exactly a Philippine tradition. Pumpkins aren’t indigenous to the archipelago, we neither say trick (bulaga?) or treat (pasalubong?). The closest we ever got was the yearly one-hour special of Magandang Gabi Bayan on zombies, spirits that live among us, and supernatural beings. The script was repetitive, the reenactments (pagsasadula) were tacky bordering on ludicrous, and the ghosts were old women in linen. But it was still scary. When I was a kid, my mom would dress me and my little brother and sister  up every Halloween and go trick or treating. Every year I only had two choices as to who  or what I could be: Peter Pan (for obvious reasons), and Dracula (for reasons unknown). This isn’t scary, but it sure kicks ass.

Relief efforts are ongoing. But this one just makes me sick.

Whose color is orange?

That guy.

Mami Villar.

In case you forget his name.

From The Age

Philippine man loses own life after saving dozens from floods

An 18-year-old construction worker braved rampaging floods in the Philippines to save more than 30 people, but ended up sacrificing his life in a last trip to rescue a baby girl and her mother who were being swept away on a styrofoam box.

Family members and people who Muelmar Magallanes saved have hailed the young man a hero, as his body lay in a coffin at a makeshift evacuation centre near their destroyed Manila riverside village.

Mr Magallanes was at home on Saturday with his family when tropical storm Ketsana unleashed the heaviest rains in more than 40 years on the Philippine capital and surrounding areas.

SEPT 26 2009 PICTURES, RETIRO AREA QC by CARLO NASOL, MD

At first the family, long used to heavy rains, paid little attention to the storm.

But Mr Magallanes and his father quickly decided to evacuate the family once they realised the river 800 metres away had burst its banks.

With the help of an older brother, Mr Magallanes tied a string around his waist and attached it one-by-one to his three younger siblings, whom he took to higher ground. Then he came back for his parents.

But Mr Magallanes, a strong swimmer, decided to go back for neighbours trapped on rooftops.

He ended up making many trips, and eventually saved more than 30 people from drowning, witnesses and survivors said.

Tired and shivering, Mr Magallanes was back on higher ground with his family when he heard Ms Penalosa screaming as she and her baby were being swept away on the polystyrene box they were using in an attempt to cross the swift currents.

He dived back in after the mother and daughter, who were already a few metres away and bobbing precariously among the debris floating on the brown water.

“I didn’t know that the current was so strong. In an instant, I was under water. We were going to die,” said Ms Penalosa, her eyes welling with tears and voice choking with emotion.

“Then this man came from nowhere and grabbed us. He took us to where the other neighbours were, and then he was gone,” Ms Penalosa said.

Ms Penalosa and other witnesses said an exhausted Mr Magallanes was simply washed away amid the torrent of water.

Neighbours found his body on Sunday, along with 28 others who perished amid Manila’s epic flooding. The official death toll stands at 100 with 32 missing.

Standing next to his coffin, Mr Magallanes’ parents paid tribute to their son.

“He always had a good heart,” said his father, Samuel.

“We had already been saved. But he decided to go back one last time for the girl.”

His mother, Maria Luz, wept as she described her son as incredibly brave.

“He saved so many people, but ended up not being able to save himself.”

AFP

I woke up Saturday morning and the power was still out. My phone died the night before so I had no way of contacting my friends and relatives who were probably worried sick about me. Out of the many areas in the metro, three  have been the focus of the press because of the devastating effects Typhoon Ondoy has caused:  Rizal, Provident Village, and Marikina. I’ve lived in Marikina for as long as I can remember. The waters were like rapids outside our house. It entered our garage and, to all our relief, stayed there. The other houses down our street have worse stories.

After lunch, I took my bike and pedaled all the way to Riverbanks to look at the damage. The waters already subsided but you could clearly see on the walls of buildings and houses how high the waters reached. One can only imagine the fear a lot of these people felt knowing that their homes were slowly being swallowed by the floodwaters.  They all need our help.

Aside from all the mud and debris, the first thing I saw was this car on the corner.

It’s impaled on a steel post. I can only imagine how strong the waters were to have been able to hoist it that high.

I decided to bike near the houses that were just a few meters away from Marikina River. Everything was a shade of brown.

Everyone on this street had all their belongings laid out on the muddy sidewalk. This was about 20 meters away from the riverbank.

Traffic was barely moving as whole families were walking away from the flood.

Cars were totally wrecked and soaked with mud. I passed one in the middle of the street lying on its side.

I tried to enter Riverbanks but the people told me I’d get stuck in the mud. Restaurant windows were destroyed by raging waters. Some were looted.

It felt like I was in a scene from Cloverfield when all the people were walking away from the destruction.

Marikina River swallowed up the banks.

There is no riverbank to speak of.

This metal structure is located on the riverbank.

The debris hanging from it is an erie sign of up to where the waters rose. It probably touched the bottom of the bridge.

The barge that also serves as a bridge to both sides of the river was washed ashore.

Just a crumpled and twisted pile of metal.

Came across this barefooted lady carrying her prized possession: a statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Evacuees being helped down from a truck.

I moved in closer and realized that one of them was a baby. It was drizzling and they were all getting wet.

Went to Provident Village. It was virtually unpassable with fire trucks, news vans, and people clogging the entrance.

A pumpboat covered in mud was outside the gate. This one probably contained a drowned body at some point.

Rescuers were taking a break.

Then I passed by Blue Wave Mall.

Just one of the many establishments that was totally wrecked by the water. You can see on their windows up to where the waters reached. Everything inside soaked and muddied.

Another victim of Ondoy. Found what looks to be a dog lying in a creek.

The only happy thing I saw was this group of kids ecstatic over a sack of toys that washed over to their shanty, oblivious to the destruction around them.

How and where to help:  List of verified relief centers for ‘Ondoy’ victims

My life has been a poor attempt/To imitate the man/I’m just a living legacy/To the leader of the band

Dr. Onofre “Pagsi” Pagsanghan, Cory Aquino, Fr. Catalino Arevalo, SJ.

Was it too much to hope that out of the 1.6 million people who registered to get free tickets to the Michael Jackson Tribute, I would be one of the lucky eight thousand to get a pair?

I already did some research. Philippine Airlines offers daily flights to Los Angeles . A round-trip ticket in coach costs $655, that’s approximately P30,785(!) for a non-stop 13-hour flight. According to US Magazine, some people have begun selling their tickets on eBay for as high as $20,000, which is approximately P940,000(!). Since the MJ Memorial tickets come in pairs, I would have one ticket for myself and one free.  Unless my brother decides to take me up on my offer of him moving out of the room in exchange for the ticket, I plan to auction off the extra one. And since some people are actually crazy enough to offer their their life and the lives of their unborn children and grandchildren to attend the memorial, I’ll sell the extra ticket at $20,000 still. The extra money would cover my living expenses while in LA and the notoriously high airport tax at NAIA.

But I wasn’t chosen. Racisim!

So long, Michael Jackson.†

We all mourn his death and miss his music. I’ve been listening to Stranger in Moscow some five times every hour for the past two days. It’s such an underrated Michael Jackson song. The music video’s still excellent even with today’s standards. As I write this, You Rock My World is playing.

Compared to other countries, local reaction to MJ’s passing has been quite…subdued, which doesn’t necessarily mean we loved him less. We’re just less hysterical. There have been unconfirmed reports in the States and in Europe that some die-hard Michael Jackson fans have, indeed, died hard when they committed suicide over the news that the King  of Pop passed away, that their reason for living was now gone. Again, this is unconfirmed, but it’s all just depressing, disturbing, and hilarious at the same time. Other “reports” say that MJ faked his death to create a media frenzy for his comeback tour and to escape the pressures of stardom. He is now living with Elvis Presley in a remote location in Europe.  People, please get a life. Your own.

A relative of a friend who’s in the States said that while sitting in a bus on that faithful day, someone read the text message announcing MJ’s death out loud, prompting the bus driver to give his two cents’ worth on the alleged “child molester.” A heated argument ensued and a knife was brought out. They take their Michael Jackson very seriously. Here in the Philippines, I suspect the variety shows will be having a Michael Jackson Tribute this weekend. Good thing we have cable again.

I came across this question on Yahoo! Answers a few days ago. No lengthy introduction is necessary, just a side comment: There are a lot of stupid people in the world.  This one happens to be a Michael Jackson fan.

Click to enlarge.

The answers are something to note as well. They range from the serious

to the offensive,

to the introspective,

to the Darwinian,

to the eloquent,

and to the downright hilarious bordering on blasphemous.

I remember posting a question on Yahoo! Answers eons ago asking about where I could find a movie soundtrack. I got some pretty decent answers, but nothing as interesting as these.

UPDATE (07.04.09): When I took the screenshots, there were 54 minutes left for voting. I returned today to find that a consensus was finally agreed upon by a majority vote…of four. This isn’t a pro-life versus pro-choice issue. This is about whether Angela, the woman who posed the question,  is stupid or not. She is.

[SOURCE]

According to my Information Society class last semester, the rise of technology, specifically the Internet, was accompanied by the reduction of our social presence. From simple talking, to writing letters, to typing them out, to e-mail, instant messaging, blogging, micro blogging, video blogging, avatars, and emoticons, our connectivity has increased but our social presence has, ironically, decreased.

Media guru and “high priest of pop culture,” Marshall McLuhan (1811-1980) did say that while technology serves as an extension of man, it also amputates at the same time. He may not have predicted the meteoric rise of social networking, the term, or it’s similarity to illegal substances that create addicts, but he was still right on the mark. Today, social networking has become anything but social.

So I am in a dilemma: to add or not to add?

We are extremely far from social. It’s somewhere between remote and the future.  She wasn’t my classmate in any of my subjects. Nor were we part of the same org. Our “socialization” reached it’s climax when we’d pass each other in the hallway, her Sun Silk-sponsored hair whipping in the turbulence created by other people scrambling to get out of the way. So I guess that’s a yes, then.

And in other stalker news, Roger Federer was attacked by a  fan during the French Open finals against Robin Soderling of Sweden. Nothing serious though as the intruder, waving a Barcelona soccer team flag,  ran toward Federer and tried to place a red hat on his head. Security tried to apprehend the guy, he ran, jumped over the net, and received a deserving tackle from security with his face tasting clay. So in a way, he was able to literally worship the ground Federer stepped on. Very nice souvenir.