06 Sep 2010
by Jamesin Rants Tags: 2010, Christmas, Pinoy, Rants
We three kings of Orient are
Bearing gifts we traverse afar.
Field and fountain, moor and mountain,
Following yonder star.
The -ber months have begun and already it smells like Christmas (only in the Philippines, the holiday season begins in August)! In the market places, retailers have begun selling Christmas decors and paraphernalia. Oh I can’t wait! Fast forward please!
If only that were possible, fast forwarding to the good bits of the year. I would fast forward to the day after my Midterm examinations are over. Oh don’t worry, I’ve already reviewed.
This month my Mama and Papa will be celebrating their birthdays. Ma on the 11th (we were probably celebrating when the twin towers fell) and Pa on the 19th (same as my cousin’s cousin Jemima). So don’t forget to greet them, ya hear? ^^
01 Sep 2010
by Jamesin Pinoy, Rants Tags: 2010, Pinoy, Rants, writer
Happy Birthday Baguio City. I’m sorry I’m not that deep in the loop to actually know how old you are already. No matter. I thought I’d appreciate how good you have been to me throughout my nineteen major major (I just had to use that punchline) years of life, because I’m certain that one day I will leave your hills and highlands and coolness for greener pastures in my professional life.
Baguio, I have so many memories engraved in your pine trees and strawberries and other whatnots that I shall keep dear and for which I shall be forever grateful. I am most grateful because you have greatly inspired my love for the pen. Baguio life has inspired many ideas stored in my brain that are yet to be flourished with a few figures of speech and classy adjectives. The wonder of living in you broke the monotony of everyday life.
I admit that there have been times that I got sick of you, and would have given anything for a bus ticket out of your streets, but overall I’m glad that I was raised here. So again, happy birthday and I hope you don’t get some phony politicians any time soon. Viva!
30 Aug 2010
by Jamesin Rants Tags: 2010, Rants
A massive headache and techno music (tugs tugs tugs) constitute for a bad day, don’t you think? I now know what it feels like to have a migraine and hear techno for fifteen minutes straight. I could have asked the cab driver to shut the darn radio off, but my head was too engaged in interpreting pain info to bother.
My ears are ringing as I type this, so I’m just going to adjourn. Blog post will be continued… soon. Bonsoir Blog Sphere, I’m gonna get some relief.
P.S.
To my cousin Gift, I miss you pseudo Korean. Stay cool in Illinois (Illinwa in French). Na nun no nul saranghe (am I correct?).
P.P.S.
To my dear friend slash sister Halee, have a safe flight on Wednesday. Keep safe in London, if I’m not mistaken. Much love.
P.P.P.S.
I got a text message that read something close to this:
You hate the Philippines for the hostage taking blah blah blah… so should I hate China for the products that contained melamine that not only killed eight people but probably thousands of consumers blah blah blah… Don’t blame the whole country for the mistake of one man blah blah blah.
I don’t really remember the exact message so I paraphrased. Maybe I’ll post it when my phone isn’t dead.
26 Aug 2010
by Jamesin Rants
It hurts to be a Filipino right now. The world distrusts us and has written sensationalized articles about how chaotic our nation is due to colonization, rapid changes in government blah blah blah. I say sensationalized because they label us this and that after witnessing an isolated incident. Yes, a sacked cop took hostage a bus filled with tourists from Hong Kong, but I don’t believe it fair to generalize that all Filipino cops are like Rolando Mendoza.
Honestly speaking, the PNP employs many brave men who are willing to risk their lives for the sake of justice. The hostage taking incident just turned sour because the Police lack the money to train and to purchase the necessary equipment. Having said that, it is not fair to blame everything on the Police, though admittedly they could have done better.
The job of the Secretary of Tourism is unenviable, like Ana Marie Pamintuan said. Alberto Lim has the [necessary] responsibility (along with the R.P. Government) of rebuilding the image of our country. Since the bad stuff are easily remembered and the good stuff are swiftly forgotten, this task apparently is a very high hurdle. Godspeed with this jump. We must admit we need it.
23 Aug 2010
by Jamesin Rants Tags: 2010, Random, Rants
Dear Diary (epic fail)
Today I saw my crush. She wore a pink top and– Seriously!? What’s up with that dear diary thing? This ain’t a chick flick!
Have you ever ever experienced having your body react to your dreams, while you’re dreaming? I have. It really sucked ’cause back then my right ankle was badly sprained to the point of me being bed ridden. I was dreaming of being on the soccer field, running with the ball dancing around my legs (quite impossible in real life, but in my dreams my football moves are sicker than Cristiano Ronaldo’s). Then unconsciously, my legs jerked. The pain of kicking out with a bad ankle sent my mind into overdrive, causing my senses to go into red alert. Pumped with adrenaline, I sat straight up.
Maui kept laughing at me when I told him and my mom about it the next morning at breakfast. I sensed Mama wanted to laugh with him, but she showed the face of a concerned parent. Oh well it was weeks ago so whatever.
I deleted a lot of my connections on Facebook. From 600+, my friend list is at 300+. They were basically people I didn’t know and people who I had no business with and who didn’t have business with me (besides blog followers could connect with James Lontoc Dot Com). Does that make me a snob? I don’t think so. With all the internet crime and internet bull, I believe it’s best to be careful and stay safe. It’s not wise to accept requests from strangers. Privacy is called privacy for a reason. It’s my right anyway.
Ah, rights. A few days ago my rights were violated. At an overpass, some dude tried to pick my pocket. Good thing I felt it; if not, I would’ve been broke for the rest of the week. When I felt it I turned around to find his hand on my wallet (whew, he was an amateur), I acted on impulse and punched him on the jaw. He scurried away like a sewer rat. I might’ve been wrong by punching him, because I could’ve screamed ‘MAGNANAKAW’ or something, but the more I think about it the more I believe that punching him was not wrong at all. I basically acted instinctively; it is man’s instinct to protect his rights. I was protecting myself from being violated, and smacking his face was a means of self defense. Besides, screaming ‘MAGNANAKAW’ is sort of a chick thing. Or a palengkera thing, palengkera is great but it doesn’t suit me.
Anyway. Today I learned a new word. It’s medically related and it’s the term for repetitiveness, basically. It’s when something is said or asked over and over again (e.g. kung di nanalo si noynoy si erap presidente… kung di nanalo si noynoy si erap presidente… sige ulitin niyo pa!). The word is echolalia.
14 Aug 2010
by Jamesin Rants Tags: High School Files, Random, Rants, writer
Thank God it’s the weekend. I’ve had quite a hectic week, and R&R is welcomed with arms wide open. Last night while waiting for the jeep to embark, I witnessed a real life soap opera in live action. I always used to think that soap scenes could never be the same as reality because to me, they seemed exaggerated and too melancholic. But last night’s incident made me realize that the poignancy they display is actually based on what happens in real life. It was a refreshing eye opener. Perhaps as refreshing as it will be after I shave.
Speaking of realizations. We are living in a post modern society, where innovations and new stuff are illustrated everywhere. Automobiles, fashion, computers, and even dating, have all been bitten by the post modernization bug (we are modern, but we want to modernize modern). Nevertheless, I find that the classics still attract me best, for most things (since I cannot imagine myself living in a generation without modern technology). There is just something ineffable about classics that is so cool. Classic books, classic shoes, classic music, classic styles, you name it. The classics rule.
I missed the classic sound of a television. I seriously have not heard it for a while, and again, it is very refreshing. Abstain from one thing for a long time and when you get back to it, the feeling is indescribable. One can’t really describe how expensive white chocolate would taste like after months of eating only cheap, bitter chocolate. It would be like being in love I guess, and describing that is no walk in the park, especially since the said park is post modern.
Oh how I love white chocolate! Give me a bar of Hershey’s Cookies and Cream, and you could be certain you’d have made my day. Just a bite off of that bar would make me forget all my academic stress. Nothing beats recharging by savoring something you love so much. That’s why I’m recharged every time I write. I love writing; it is my life.
Since writing is a big part of my life, I plan to live off of it. Certainly, you’ve been asked what you think you will be doing in the next five, ten years. You’d probably answered, brewing coffee for the top honcho of Microsoft, cooking food for President Obama, tending the bar of the Copacabana, or perhaps manning the cash register in the nth 7Eleven (by the way, I had a blueberry latte from 7Eleven before going home tonight, and it was superb).
In my case, I answered, “In the next five years, I see myself sitting on a hammock with a Mac on my lap, typing away a commentary on a random social issue as fast as I can just so my editor won’t annihilate me. I’d be working for a national paper or magazine, earning just enough to pay the bills, gasoline, and my mother’s regular gym sessions. ”
I’m quite the dreamer don’t you think? Well, it is advised to dream big. I remember a saying stuck on the walls of my classrooms in High School. It said “Aim for the moon. ‘Cause if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.” or something close to that effect. It didn’t really make sense to me back then, but now I see the significance of it. It’s like “If you’re blind, just keep shooting. You’ll hit the target soon enough.” or “Just keep picking, you’ll nail that booger in a minute!” if you know what I mean (wait a sec, what do I mean?). Point is, dream big, do your part, and God will do His.
Well, I better get some of that R&R. MacGyver sounds good to me or perhaps a chapter of old Arsene Lupin. Be seein’ ya.
10 Aug 2010
by Jamesin QuickPress, Rants Tags: 2010, 90's kid, Random, Rants
This English Major had a relatively tiring day. Had to get to school early to practice for the upcoming group activity (live performance meeting) for my Parliamentary class on Wednesday, which half of the members by the way missed (those who wanted to practice weren’t there, so if they flunk they can’t blame those of us who sacrificed).
Then I had to attend three major subjects ’til 6 pm. Afterwards I had a ball game in which I played about four (?) minutes, and then had a Double Cheese Burger and Monster Rockin’ Ruby Float at McDonald’s. Maui and I got home at about 10:30. I’m quite drained, but I can’t complain. This day was productive, thus great. Thank you God.
Good night Blog Sphere and faithful (?) readers. And to the all the Sakata Gintoki fans and Batang 90′s like me. Que vivirá para siempre Batang 90′s! Espero que haya dulces sueños, hermoso pueblo.
09 Aug 2010
by Jamesin Rants, Reviews
I finished watching the Hallmark rendition of the Arthurian Legend. Merlin focused on the Legend of King Arthur, coming from the point of view of the also legendary wizard Merlin. I’ve already started watching another rendition, Mists of Avalon. It looks promising enough, based on the minutes I’ve seen awake (I fell asleep halfway).
I am not particularly a fan of the Dark Ages. I appreciate the Renaissance more than I do the Medieval Times, and while watching the renditions of the Arthurian Legend, I found myself getting pissed at the characters. Everybody has at least one flaw, which sadly is not just a small chink in the armor. These are big time flaws that could be considered as unforgivable. Arthur making love to his half sister Morgan Le Fay, Lancelot betraying Arthur by taking Guinevere and in turn murdering his wife through heartbreak, and so on and so forth.
Miss Buen, my English Literature teacher, asked us to discuss what piece of Dark Age literature best described the Dark Ages, and I had to answer La Morte D’Arthur. That’s because in my opinion, the Medieval ages were the climax of man’s savagery; it was the highlight of human nature. Greed, lust, pride, and so on, were all present in Malory’s compilation of the Legend, and clearly illustrated at that. D’Arthur I believe is a personification of the reality of man. Hopeless without his Savior.
It was quite ironic; in the Pagan vs Christian war, the need for God was emphasized. Whatever. I’m just glad we’ve moved on to the Renaissance.
03 Aug 2010
by Jamesin Rants Tags: 2010, manga, Rants
A lot of people think of manga as a load of bull that makes children stupid. This perception could be or could not be true, depending on the manga that is being read. I admit as a frequent reader of manga, there are tons of dumb arse manga that deplete one’s IQ to nil. But then again, I should know that there are a lot of awesome mangas too, that teach readers values that can be used in real life. Take for example this screen from one of my favorite titles, Bakuman:
The context is that this guy (i.e., Takagi), convinced another guy (i.e., Mashiro) to join forces with him and become a mangaka. Takagi would do the script and Mashiro would do the drawings (sort of like a George Beard and Harold Hutchkins combination. Yes Captain Underpants rocks). Mashiro shows Takagi a book his late uncle (a mangaka who died of burnout from too much mangaka work) owned entitled ‘How To Be a Man 2′ since they’d be working together under the pseudonym Ashirogi Muuto.
As you can see above, the five rules don’t only apply to being a mangaka; they basically are work ethics that apply to every form of work. Work ethics that eventually lead to success. There are a lot of other stuff readers learn from a lot of other manga. It’s just a matter of choosing the right one to read.
So who said manga is a load of bull? Maybe he should read a few and get schooled.
P.S.
Read your Bible before manga.
01 Aug 2010
by Jamesin Rants Tags: Rants
I learned valuable life lessons while cooking Sinigang this noon. First lesson, do not open the lid of the pressure cooker while the pressure is still at max. Doing so will release the pressure and cause the water in the pot to burst everywhere, including your feet, hence scalding your toes. But if you don’t mind the sore and stingy toes, by all means, be my guest.
The second lesson is to stay focused on matters at hand. Do not multithink or multitask. Trust me, you will end up scalding your toes. Staying focused on what you are doing will help you remember to turn off the stove and let the pressure boil down before you open the lid of the pressure cooker. This will spare you the need to clean after the huge mess too.
So there you have two very important life lessons that will prevent scalded toes. Bonne nuit chacun, et à mon cousin Kathleen, je suis heureux d’être texto ou encore une fois.
P.S.
Sarap ng Sinigang!
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