"Kasya siya sa short bond?"

After all.... I AM your brother...

2008-01-18T12:34:00.000-05:00

It is it

2007-11-22T00:53:00.000-05:00

Just got back from a double feature. Disney's Enchanted and August Rush. Sure was promising to be a pretty brainless experience before I entered the cinema. Count on me, though, to nonetheless cull a profound realization from it on the way home.

I left the cinema and came out into a muted metropolis. A fog had descended upon Boston on the eve of Turkey Day and I felt compelled to walk the distance between Tremont Street and home. Most of Boston's residents were well on their way to respective hometowns (for that annual trek in the name of the American tradition that is Thanksgiving) and there was a particular serenity to the city. On the playlist was a modest mix of Elgar, Lauridsen, Lennon and Radiohead. That's when I let it hit me. Between monuments that line the Public Gardens --- that was where the fact stared me in the face. Music is quite undeniable, isn't it? One may plod along her life swearing by just one of its forms or he may consciously seek out the many that make him the one. But there is no denying the power and possibility of this art form. It permeates and, just like this November fog, equalizes any and all. And for lack of a sense of tradition on this beloved holiday, I propose this:

Music is our thanks --- for the lifelong search, for the why, the letdown that led to the Wisdom, for beauty that poisons, and friendship, family, for yearly feasts, feel good movies and the short walks home.

Waha.

2007-10-17T15:16:00.000-04:00

Rosas Pandan (arr. George Hernandez)

2007-06-16T15:25:00.000-04:00

Let me start a series featuring video clips from the Ateneo College Glee Club's 2001 European tour. This first clip was taken at some mall in France. We might as well have been called the Boulanger Choir.

Rajaton - Butterfly

2007-04-23T23:23:00.001-04:00

Always loved this song. Now it's on Youtube. Yay.

Boo, Berklee, Boo

2007-03-12T15:59:00.000-04:00

You wanna know what injustice is? Injustice is Berklee giving away a $10,000 scholarship to a student that already enjoys full scholarship. I hope she spends it wisely because there are a lot of us who were ready to give an arm and a leg for even a tenth of what she's gonna get.

Pwe.

2007-03-06T11:16:00.000-05:00

Putang ina ang lamig. Tang. Ina.

Music as chanced upon.

2006-12-01T01:19:00.000-05:00

The night ended with Horace Silver's "Sister Sadie," the astounding Andy McGhee on tenor saxophone. Now, in a different circle and within a different conversation, it would be an embarrassing admission to say that I have absolutely no idea who Mr. McGhee is, or even who Horace Silver is or, more importantly, if Sadie was indeed a nun. But tonight is special and being candid about my musical ignorance is necessary to describe the remarkable experience I just had.

At 8:15 this evening, Berklee's Rainbow Band ensemble mounted a show that would leave an indelible impression on me. As with many things worthwhile, this beautiful experience arrived unannounced. Half an hour into the concert, I was actually still eating my Mexican wrap at Bollocco. I had no idea what kind of music this group played nor was I excited to watch their show (earlier I'd bumped into Mark, who urged me to watch them perform --- I had nothing to do and I figured that I could spare a dollar to watch them). The friends I was having dinner with had to leave and catch a different concert at the Middle East so I finally crossed to the other side of Mass Av., bought my dollarticket and entered the Berklee Performance Center. I sat down, my schoolbag still slung around my shoulder. Within five minutes, I was halfway through a very interesting dream involving spinach, Tita Maggie and castanets. "Boring, sixteenth note-ridden jazz," I figured. I was apparently watching a big band show. And I was not so impressed. I decided that I had to leave shortly after they begin their next tune, thinking that leaving during the lull in between would make me look like an ignorant poser who just wanted to say that he watched a jazz concert on a Thursday night. And then, Aubrey happened.

Freshman Aubrey Logan (18 years old from Seattle --- at least according to Facebook) sashayed onto the stage after being proudly introduced by music director Phil Wilson. She had a trombone in her hand and a microphone on the other. The pianist then gamely started to play the delicate line cliche progression of My Funny Valentine. I did not for the life of me expect to eventually find my jaws on the floor as this young lady brilliantly wove through the famous Richard Rogers ballad, regurgitating each haunting note with spot on intonation, mature musical sense and clearest intent. That she then took her trombone and played an amazing solo for the same song was almost a funny inevitability to me at that point. I was just bawled over by the music making that was transpiring a few meters away from me. I literally was on the edge of my seat by then. This show was clearly going to take me to another place.

The performers were also sitting on the edges of their seats as Wilson made extemporaneous choices on stage, arms waving, cajoling them to perform the arrangements according to his vision of the moment. The band then performed one of his own compositions. It was a frenetic tune (title to follow) that described his experience of living in Nice, France years ago. As the composer is himself a trombone player, it was no surprise really to find most of the action happening around the trombones with the players tasked to blow out this driving, semi-comical line. The composition evolves around this low and steady frenzy. For a minute it most definitely reminded me of my own experience in that southern French city, running around the maze of tiny roads, gelato on hand, recreating the car chase from the movie "Ronin."

So there he was, my unbelieving self, shouting "bravo" with some other people in the audience who were presumably, hopefully having their own unexpected moment of music. "Bottled lightning," I whispered to myself.

Wilson thanked each member of the ensemble, the audience clapped in appreciation, McGhee is called onto the stage and the band performed the night's last number --- which takes us to where I began. I had just stayed on for the whole show. I started to notice the tiny pain on my shoulder, around which my heavy school bag was still slung. Half of my butt, the half that actually had a seat under it, was on its way to getting numb. Soon I noticed that people were shuffling out of the hall and the music had stopped. Some people were still clapping. I did not know what I needed to do next. I almost had to relearn how to stand up and walk because my whole being was distracted away from my own life's daily grind.

I found my way out and onto the sidewalk. The late November night was still uncharacteristically warm, the #1 bus was still characteristically parked askew beside the Berklee beach and I was back to being me, only a little different. Feeling compelled to capture my moment, I bravely traversed Boylston St. and took the B-line back to my home by Packard's Corner.

As I reflect on my experience, I feel that I may have finally discerned what Berklee should be to us students. It should be this night, this show. All of us got here, coerced by fate and circumstance, not knowing what to expect or what to gain. It seems that that’s actually perfectly fine. By all means, we must come to Berklee bearing all the baggage of insecurities and musical pride that we have. Love the music that you love, loathe those that you loathe. But at the same time be ready to be to be amateur, uncomfortable, unfamiliar, because it is usually in that state when learning actually takes place. And heaven grant, if music really is the ultimate expression of our inner selves, then we may just come out of it with richer, more eloquent souls.

My Beantown

2006-07-24T23:45:00.000-04:00

I used to cringe whenever a Pinoy referred to Boston as Beantown. It's like hearing a Caucasian say "McDo." Only not amusing. Not cute. Been in Boston since August 2004. In these past two years, I've gone through my share of being broken in by the city. It almost feels like I am auditioning for the part of "Bostonian." Everyday is an interresting tug-of-war between remaining and becoming. Just the other day a good buddy of mine was complaining about how I over emphasize my "T's."

"I'm not about to consciously edit the way I speak for you. You understand me anyway."

"Yeah but it takes me longer to do so. No American will understand you when you say 'PARTEE.' Just say 'PARdY'"

Did I say that I have meaningful conversations with my friends out here? I rarely do. My life here is a flux of beer funnels, mandatory, nightly flirting as well as arguing with post pubescent toddlers who sincerely believe they're the smartest asshole on the block (we all know that I'm the smartest and sweetest asshole --- ever). I'd still say I mostly enjoy it though. It certainly beats staying up late to watch Becker on StarTV... twice (after midnight, the channel just repeats its show lineup till sunrise), or waking up in the middle of the afternoon to join the maids watch Wowowee!, or simply waking up for that matter, realizing you're a 26 year old degree-less man, sleeping in a room with pastel polka dot walls.

For the novelty of this stereotypical American college life, I'm fine. But for that remaining 10 percent of the time, I yearn yearn yearn for sitting around with decade old friends, complaining about the same useless things we always bitch about, retrieving memories that never seem to lose its poignancy or humor, being absolutely and comfortably silent in their presence.

Short of uprooting my friends from their own rest-of-their-lives and taking them here, I end up telling them about my own rest-of-my-life. My friends would be utterly shocked to find out how much my Manila friends know about them. I wish it could go both ways, though. But how do you tell the kids here about DWTL (someone once described a mass to me as "something important happening in the big room")? Or have conversations with them about Mendelssohn's motets? How do you translate "Isa lang ang suso mo. Saan mo siya mas gusto ilugar: sa isang tabi o sa gitna?"

I deal with it by having many friends, each one serving as my Jess-talk friend, or my let's-talk-about-life friend, or my let's-eat-till-our-bellies-explode friend (I do have a lot of lets-drink-until-we-skip-a-whole-day-of-our-lives friends). But there is no one friend to be all those friends. All this when I have my friends back home, each being that one friend to me (well I suppose only Katz can handle being my drinking-till-were-shitfaced friend).

It's not really so much that I'm complaining. I'm just adjusting to this new way of living. Eventually (and finally) I will graduate. I will find a job and will have all my weekends planned out for the year. I'll be blocking off Sundays to have lunch with people I don't really care about. I'll start saving up for my future kids' future college tuition while paying off my own student loans. It's just the way it's gonna be, I guess. In the meantime, I will keep on looking to chill, secretly hoping to build friendships that can last beyond a semester or two.

Blogging. Meh.

2006-05-26T23:45:00.000-04:00

It's getting old. Three months of no blog updates. That's gotta mean that this blogging thing is getting old. That or I've finally succumbed to the truth that my life is totally uninteresting. Or that I'm such a lazy ass that I don't even want to write about an apparently interesting life I'm having.

I'm sure some of you guys can relate when I say that so many things HAVE actually happened to me that I just don't know where to begin. Should I go chronological? Or just pick out the most significant moments? Should I simmer it down to the essence of what's changed and what's the same? Which things would matter to my two readers?

Let's go with the essence thing.

I --- apparently --- have changed. That much was evident as I saw my friends watching me drink up yesterday at a wedding. They were part amused, part disgusted.

No no. I'm not a drunkard. That isn't what I'm saying. It just seems like coming home (I am in Manila now) actually gives you the chance to SEE how you have changed.

Wanna know what else it makes you see? Makes you see that some things that used to be crucial, seem so petty. Also that people sometimes allow themselves to live in such narrow worlds without knowing it, never willing to step out or let people expand it a little.

Wershwersh.

See this is what I'm talking about. It's the bad side of blogging. They should make us all unable to proofread.

Tired of putting my best foot forward out here.

VNCool!

2006-02-26T00:34:00.000-05:00

MWSnap001
Originally uploaded by talimusak.

I don't even know how I stumbled upon this. I think I was trying to get my powerbook to print thru a printer connected to my new hp desktop. ANYWAY, ang galeng! Basically, over the last few hours I found out that I can actually CONTROL my powerbook from my windows pc (and vice versa). I didn't think I'd be able to do this but, as you can see from the picture, I was able to figure it out! Anubeh. Geeky moment.

***

We're having another weekend of snow. This has been a really weird winter. It felt more like spring. But then everyone missed out on it cause everbody thought that it wouldn't last. Ayan tuloy. Spring na talaga. Like our boyband pose?

Don't be misled

2006-02-08T18:17:00.000-05:00

bbday06 - chris kyo01.JPG
Originally uploaded by talimusak.

This isn't actually a picture of Chris2. It's a picture of the SHOWER CURTAIN that Fabio used to cover up his bed. Course it didn't stop this kid from rolling around it.

Juri and Steve

2006-02-08T18:11:00.000-05:00

bbday06 - juri steve.JPG
Originally uploaded by talimusak.

Does it look like he had something else in mind?

Maiko at Ako

2006-02-08T18:09:00.000-05:00

bbday06 - gp maiko.JPG
Originally uploaded by talimusak.

Why do I look like a happy brown Chinese pancit vendor?

Jess Blessed

2006-02-08T18:05:00.000-05:00

bbday06 - chris01.JPG
Originally uploaded by talimusak.

First pic of a set. Fabian and I had a party a couple of weekends ago and here are the memories. A party isn't a party until it is blessed by.. uh.. Jesus' tongue? Chris Franzen plays God the Son yet again.

Euh, where's Winter?

2006-02-08T17:58:00.000-05:00

View from the Berklee College of Music Admissions Office
Originally uploaded by talimusak.

Yet another unbelievably beautiful Boston day today. This is so weird. Kasagsagan ng winter. No snow. Something's up. Hey I checked my sitemeter thing a while ago. OOOOOOO. You who vieweth my page from the cozy confines of your Albington, Massachusetts suburbian home... WATUP?!. This is fun. I feel so naked. Euh.

Noche Buena '05

2006-02-07T00:58:00.000-05:00

flickr_prenochebuena.JPG
Originally uploaded by talimusak.

My first Noche Buena alone...sort of. Siyempre di papayag ang Pinoy maging mag isa sa Noche Buena. My friends and I congregated at Bambi's house to celebrate Christmas (sort of) Pinoy style. This is NOT our Noche Buena. It was our PRE Noche Buena.

Si Tonyo Nuong Pasko (as sa bawat natitirang araw ng bawat taon)

2006-02-06T21:10:00.000-05:00

antonio_pasko02.JPG
Originally uploaded by talimusak.

'Bout time I write about Anthony. I've been meaning to add more "friend portraits" on here but somehow I just can't seem to get a perfect picture of him. Finally, over the Christmas weekend, I was fortunate enough to have been able to take this candid shot of Mister Morris. It pretty much says it all. Bem is all about Joy. Not Joy CORTEZ. Joy as in that little welcome butterfly in your tummy. This man must have been born with a smile on his face. It seems that it's all he's gunning for in life: make everyone happy. You can hear it in his music too (a teacher who once proclaimed that Anthony had the L.A. sound missed the point entirely). His music has humor, a transcendental quality to it that could lift the spirits of a hobo during a snow storm. Okay, that was bad. But YES. Happiness, Joy. That is what Anthony brings into our lives. He's the only other person I know of that can make people happy by talking about his bowel movements (the first one being me of course). Oh, and that he gets GIRLS by being funny and sweet IN NO WAY DIMINISHES THE VALUE of the happiness he gives. It really doesn't. Seriously, it doesn't. 'Di nga.

Noche Buena '05

2006-02-06T20:55:00.000-05:00

noche_buena05_01.JPG
Originally uploaded by talimusak.

THIS was our Noche Buena.

siteMETER CHANGE

2006-02-06T20:24:00.000-05:00

Ayan. Jeline convinced me to revisit this little nook of mine. I'm in the process of installing a site meter. I just want to keep track of how often people read my blog. And by people I mean: Carlo, Jeline... and me. Haha. Oh GP...

Thoughts off the top of my head:

1. I do not wake up conversant in English. The other day at the admissions office (where I work), I found myself struggling to form a basic sentence in English. That I was trying to tell a joke made it all the more embarrassing. I still ended up funny though. You can't not make people laugh if your punch line is "...the lyrics on the Pocahontas ktv video goes: You think you own whatever land, YOLANDA."

2. I can't function without my iPod. I realized this months ago but I've been meaning to blog about it since forever. I wanna go home and tell you about my song of the day. Cause I always end up having one.

3. Our final project for General Psychology is all about flirting. We're supposed to observe people flirt and describe the processes involved in determining WHY and HOW they flirt. Should be interesting.... especially since I intend to publish my observations on here. Office space flirting in sexual harrassment suit weary America is VERY ENTERTAINING.

SONG FOR THE DAY:

Serenade for Strings by Edward Elgar
sweeping, luscious, classy --- very Boston

chiz

Jess Bless

2005-12-22T11:27:00.000-05:00

jess.JPG
Originally uploaded by talimusak.

So it seems I'll be spending Christmas by my lonesome this year. As I told Sir Jojo, I'm not really minding that. I mean I actually kinda look forward to it. As antisocial as that may sound, there's reason behind it -- I think. See, all my life Christmas has been a huge five or six month fiesta. I've never really had time to just sit down and think about it. And that's something I have this year. I took this picture at the Museum of Fine Arts as part of a school project. This is one of the very few medieval Christ sculptures that were able to survive. Centuries old and it still strikes you. I suddenly remember the Days anecdote. You go up to Christ. Ask him: "How much do you love me?" He spreads his arms and dies on the cross. Somehow that anecdote isn't even half as efficient as this image in conveying the same message. Talk about holy surrender. Anyway, I'm a couple of days early but I would just like to greet everyone a Merry, Merry Christmas.

p.s. Chris recounts the anecdote rather differently:

You go up to Christ and you ask Him:

"How much do You love me?"

He spreads His arms and as He is about to die, says:

THIS.

*hilarity ensues*

Oh, Chris Ong.

Junjunification

2005-12-22T10:51:00.000-05:00

Here's a funny story from a couple of weeks ago. Tatagalugin ko kasi para di matikla.

Nuong isang araw kinukulit ako ni Junjun. Nakita kasi niya yung ASaP CD ko. Iniisa-isa niya lahat ng kilala niya. Tas edi naubos na niya. Tapos sabi niya "So nasaan na yung nagsasalita ng Aleman?" Talagang tutok siya sa paghahanap. Tinuro niya si Onyl at sinabing "Imposible namang ito." Tuloy sa paghahanap hanggang sumuko. Sabi niya "Nasan na?" Tas binuklat ko ang CD sleeve sa kabila. Sabi ko ayan o. Tapos sabi niya "YUNG TAGAKUMPAS NIYO?!"

*B A C K S T O R Y *

Sa loob kasi ng isang taon chinichika ni, um, Ursula, si Junjun through me. Kinakausap niya ng Aleman. Tapos sa panahon na 'yon ang pagkakaalam ni Junjun eh kaibigan ko lang yung kumakausap sa kanya.

*B A C K T O T H E S T O R Y *

So nawindang siya na yung chumichika sa kanya eh yung tagakumpas pala natin.

Minsan nawiwindang naman ako sa fact na kaibigan ko yung tagakumpas natin. Nakakawindang nga, I guess. Imagine mo kung Aleman ka tapos sinabi mong kaibigan mo si Frieder o di kaya'y galing ka sa Inglatera at sinabi mong kaibigan mo si Rutter (assuming na nagsasabi ka ng totoo!). Pero yun naman ata ang special kay Ursula eh. Kaya nagga-gravitate mga tao sa kanya kasi para siyang hari (o reyna) na nakikisalamuha sa masa. Inaabot niya yung musika sa'yo kung ito ay musikang 'di mo maabot. Siya ang Erap ng buhay natin.

Cancellations and a Disbursement (Kababawan)

2005-11-24T03:05:00.000-05:00

What is wrong with American television?! I just found out that this is going to be the last season of Alias. It ends this coming May, having been unable to put up a good ratings fight against Survivor: Guatemala. I can't believe people still watch THAT show. It's really depressing. Especially in light of the recent news that Kitchen Confidential has been cancelled as well. Same thing for Threshold. Chaka.

In approximately a week's time, I will be getting my loan. Yay. No more starvation.

I want to go to Europe next year with ACS. Somehow, I'll find a way. It's funny 'cause whenever I mention this to any of my ACS friends, they just say "aww" or "=)" Haha. I wonder how many other ways there are of saying "you can't go with us?" Chaka.

I wonder how many people read my blog. I'd like for it to be discovered by an absolutely random person. That should be interesting, meeting people over the internet.

Winter Woe

2005-11-18T12:13:00.000-05:00

It's been downhill weather-wise since that snowy day early this month. Winter came baring down on us so quickly that it really wasn't the greatest Fall season this year. I was never really able to sit still since I returned from Manila. It was one problem after another. How do I pay for school? How do I pay for rent? How do I pay for food? How do I find work? I was always on my toes. The past few months have been a progression of deadlines. Kapagod. It doesn't help that it is this cold this early.

***

Everyday, on the way home, I pass by a church. It's right in front of the 1140 building. Even in the immediate post summer days, it looked so cold and uninviting.

***

Yesterday during my art history class, as we were studying the decline of the Roman empire, the teacher took pains to point out a curious aspect of early Christian architecture. He first explained to us how taking the ancient Roman capital to Constantinople paved the way for the "Easternizing" of Christian architecture, and how it brought forth two schools of architectural thought. In the east we had the orthodox-ish churches. In the west we had the basilica type architecture most of us are familiar with. But, like I said, he took the time to point out a peculiar fact. He showed us how different these western churches looked as seen from the outside and as seen from the inside. Outside they looked like early 20th century factories made of brick. Impersonal. Cold. Inside was a totally different world. The walls were covered with mosaics made of the finest, shimmering stones and precious metals. It would have inspired awe in the church-goers and would have helped create a spiritual atmosphere inside the church.

***

On my way home yesterday I stopped in front of the church. I decided that I should walk in, expecting a bloggable event to happen. "Maybe it looks more welcoming on the inside." I went in. I was disappointed to see that there was nothing different behind the doors. Just more of the gray cold concrete. Empty pews. I sat down anyway because I welcomed the temporary respite from the climate outside. In a matter of moments everything changed. It really was something that I could barely describe. Imagine the intensity of a thousand "disco" sessions. Imagine being embraced by an invisible man, being assured that everything will be okay. Imagine going through all that without really expecting it to happen. Iba. Whereas I felt alone coming in, I then felt like "the only one."

***

A couple of moments later I was walking again; walking along the same path that I've been taking for months. Walked into the same apartment. Complained about the same overeager heater. Tried to look for someone to eat with. At the back of my mind I was thinking about ancient Romans, and how walls of precious mosaics glimmering in the light must have been their weak, weak attempt at approximating the love of God, who always invites you inside where He resides always in His magnificence.

Kitchen Confidential

2005-11-05T22:55:00.000-05:00

All of my friends know how much of a TV show addict I can be. Currently, I download the following shows onto my laptop:

ALIAS
LOST
DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES
PRISON BREAK
SURFACE
SMALLVILLE
THE O.C.
NIGHT STALKER

There's gonna be a new entry now:

KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL

There's been some buzz about this show in the past few weeks. More people have been talking about other shows (My Name is Earl, Prison Break, Surface) so I never really got curious enough to check this one out. Well that has changed. And I am now addicted. Over midterms week I downloaded the first two episodes of this new series (starring "the-guy-who-used-to-play-Will,-Sidney's-best-friend-in-Season-One-of-Alias") and what a funny gastronomic delight it is! It revolves around the character, Jack, who is a chef struggling to revive his career. He is given 48 hours by this restaurant owner slash mafiosi character to develop a menu for his restaurant's opening. Jack manages to assemble a team of hooligans and, well, I really shouldn't be telling the story, huh? Suffice it to say that this show is amazing. It is so funny and I am happy that a show that's not about a group of women ranting about their lives has found its way into my playlist. If you have any means of downloading this show, do so.

"Here's the thing about change: sometimes you think you've changed but you haven't. You just traded one addiction for another.. and sometimes that's the best you can hope for." - line from Kitchen Confidential

Dorothy's

2005-10-30T12:57:00.000-05:00

Dorothy's
Originally uploaded by talimusak.

Despite the horror of midterms week and a snowy weekend, people still trooped to the local costume store in preparation for Halloween '05. The question on everyone's mind: sino si Dorothy?

First Flakes

2005-10-30T12:55:00.000-05:00

First Flakes
Originally uploaded by talimusak.

Nobody ever sang about a white Halloween. EEE. Looks like this winter is gonna be very cold.

The Drama

2005-10-29T02:48:00.000-04:00

1. I got an email yesterday. It was from a friend of mine who'd agreed to co-sign for my student loan. She had to back out of the deal because it might put her brother's mortgage (for which she co-signed too) in jeopardy.

2. Today I somehow managed to break my iPod.

See, this is what I get for complaining about not having drama in my life. Now I've got loads of it.

1. Now I have absolutely no idea how I'm going to continue paying for this apartment.

2. Where do I get money for next semester?

3. How do I pay off the half a million pesos that I owe Tita Dhong?

4. HOW WILL I LISTEN TO MY MUSIC NOW?

What's so bad about it is that I'd planned to go out with my friends tonight --- a little easygoing Halloween Friday night with friends. And what's happened instead? What's happened is that I'm here at home asking "why me," because they all decided they couldn't be arsed to go out tonight because, well, they're lazy or they're tired. You'd hope that you are at least worth making up a good excuse.

I'm just bitter. I'm bitter because if I decide to still go to that Halloween party, people are going to be more sad that I didn't bring my friends along than they are going to be happy that I'm there.

To M/miss John Paul

2005-09-24T01:06:00.000-04:00

Miss John Paul
Originally uploaded by talimusak.

JP is one of my oldest (AND shortest), funniest, and most treasured friends. We laughed our way through most of our higher education: laughed with him while watching the Madz sing "Italian Salad," laughed AT him when he accidentally set off the school's fire alarm, let him laugh when he needed to "not cry," laughed at each other when we realized that we had become useless lazy bums.

Very few people can conjure up so many fond and unique memories like JP does.

HERE ARE QUOTES FROM THE PAST TEN YEARS:

"F sharp!... sorry, Papo!" - Maam Daisy Ragragio (Valenciano)

"Look at me! Look at my boobs. Look! Nooooo bra(h)" - Alma Concepcion

"Hindi. Best friends lang kami." - ____________

"Yuck." - Louie (mouth closed)

"Uyjusko." - Joy

"Aida" - Kikidee

"Fishing." - Pag-asa

"Mahal ko si Mayann." - Chris Ong

"Mahal ko si Gutsy." - Chris Ong

"Nakita mo barong ko? Ah hindi.... Pachupa." - JP

"'Pag kasama ko kayo sinisira niyo ang buhay ko eh." - JP to GP and Chris

"Hindi nga." - JP to GP and Chris

"So wala na tayo mapag-usapan. Mag picture picture tayo kunyari nag eenjoy tayo." - JP, the day this photo was taken

A lot of people like to think that, although he is far away, it still feels like he's with us. I say it sucks that he's where he is now. We want our JP back because we miss him so much.

When Gay Bashers Attack

2005-09-24T00:35:00.000-04:00

When Gay Bashers Attack
Originally uploaded by talimusak.

So is this.

Endangered?

2005-09-24T00:34:00.000-04:00

Endangered?
Originally uploaded by talimusak.

This is such a funny picture (at least to those who get it) that telling the story actually KILLS the effect.

Fall

2005-09-23T23:35:00.000-04:00

So it turns out that yesterday was officially the first day of the Fall Season. And that makes today the first Friday night of Fall 2005. Count on college students to make out some reason for them to go out and spend THIS Friday (maybe next week is the SECOND Friday of Fall gimmick night --- chaka I'm so bitter cause I'm poor). So anyway, bitter me is just "chilling" here at the crib with Fabian, our newest roommate (who I sometimes refer to as "Connie," which is more of a Camacho adjective than anything else.. but yeah..). This guy is cool though. He's funny and considerate. Certainly is making it easy for me to adjust to having another human being reside within my own personal space. Farts a lot though. But then again, I do too (oooookay PIG STY in the house). So yeah we're just here. Funny how I choose the most ngerf moment to immortalize in a blog entry. So many things have happened that are certainly worth blogging about (like that time when we excitedly arrived at a Chinese restaurant, ready to celebrate with the "bagong salta" Filipinos of Boston, only to find out that we arrived exactly one week early). So what would be nice? How about I list down random new things that I can think of about me:

1. Ten pounds lighter - Oh yes, I won the bet. I am.. well, WAS,... 200 dollars richer because I lost 20 pounds in the Philippines. And thanks to my new best friend, POVERTY, I'm losing weight still. (I've taken this opportunity to go back to the gym and willfully do something about my health --- we'll see by Spring Break).

2. (As mentioned above) IMMENSELY IMPOVERISHED - hmm, well maybe poor is such a strong word. Didn't Gabrielle Solis say that noone is ever poor, just broke. Or something to that effect. Well, I'm IMMENSELY BROKE then. Since I wasn't able to secure a loan for this year, living in Boston is suddenly so difficult. I literally have 10 dollars left in my bank account and I have no idea as to how I'll get some money soon and quick. But yeah, in true GPesque fashion, DEADMA. I'm starting to think it's a BAD trait of mine to be so unaffected by such problems.

3. EVER GRATEFUL - Tita Dhong shouldered my tuition for this semester. Enough said. She's not even family and yet she was able to extend a helping hand. Amazing woman, she is. Certainly drives me to make sure that this "investment" is worth it. Was a pretty interesting experience though hearing from my dad (via Chikka --- you gotta love this tiny piece of software) that I should not expect any form of help from the Philippines for the second semester. Yeah, I knew that. Thanks for rubbing it in. But come to think of it, it really DOES need rubbing in. Cause it's the truth. So I shall look for more people to bug about co-signing for my loan (I'm this close to approaching a purely random American citizen --- might have a better chance with them than with family or friends).

4. My counterpoint teacher has a crush on me - Seriously. She adores anything I do or say. She's this (rather nice) old lady (with a thick Baltic accent) who's been teaching counterpoint since 245 BCE I guess. Hehe. Anyway, I do like her. Great musicality. Great way of teaching counterpoint. Plus she plays classical pieces at the end of every class (as in plays on the piano ha?). But I crush her not.

5. (OMG) I'm turning OC - Ever since my rather "kalat" roommate Fabian moved in, my mother's genes started asserting themselves in everything I do. I clean up after myself now --- as well as after everyone else. I FOLD my laundry, I bought a carpet for my nice little wooden desk. I sweep and mop the floor and absolutely hate it when anyone leaves dirty dishes in the kitchen sink. It's a scary new me. I'm so OC that sometimes I can't carry a conversation if something's not right in the room (like shoes that are not neatly placed on the floor!). Fabian's funny though, cause HE can't stand dirty dishes left in the kitchen sink as well. But he's quick to admit that that's about all that he's oc about.

Musically, there's nothing new with me. My classes this semester are more the "other-side-of-music"ish. I thoroughly enjoy my Legal Aspects of the Music Industry class though, as well as my Introduction to Business class --- mostly because my legal aspects teacher looks like Ray Romano (hes funny as hell too), and because my Intro to Business teacher say's the nicest things ("Sometimes you gotta take it.... but make sure you take it with Vaseline.")

I should have a separate blog about my teachers sometime. They are all so fun to observe. So if you'd like to read about my "seemingly always smokes up" piano teacher to my Baltic admirer then keep on checking up on my blog. I'm back.

Listening to - well WAS listening to...... MATERIAL GIRL. Haha. I can't help but think of Pia. There is something so absolutely fun about secretly listening to "Material Girl" while walking down Massachusetts Avenue.

P.S. Came across this short story thru Jeline's blog. She knows the author (whereas she's not sure if he knows her still) and I think it's a great piece. Done when he was 17, whoever the fucker is. Just cut and paste. Katamad mag html editing:

http://www.mcsweeneys.net/2000/02/22breaker.html

Great. They Fumigate.

2005-08-22T19:53:00.000-04:00

It seems that the local barangay government has taken upon itself the task of ridding this tiny community of its pests. As I was driving out, I saw what seemed to be a house on fire. There was so much smoke around our neighbor's house that I was certain there would be nothing on the lot but ash when I returned. Peculiarly though, my neighbors, in a great display of Pinoy Pag-uusyoso, stood feet away from the house and didn't seem to be bothered by the "raging inferno of death" eating away their neighbor's house. It was a few moments later, when I saw the "Alis Dengue" shirts on the barangay officials that I realized what was happening. It was the day of the great fumigation.

News had been circling around these past few weeks that our community was considered a dengue hot spot. This was nothing new though, as dengue seems to occur quite regularly in these parts. One would think that there should be an official dengue season declared here, right between the rainy season and the Christmas season (and the onset of the BER months). SO ANYWAY, I passed the house and carried on with my errands for the day. It was when I returned home when I witnessed what is probably the most disgusting sight in my whole life.

As I was nearing my house, driving along our unusually dirty road (it seemed as if a great gust of wind rustled up every tree on the street and caused all the dead leaves to fall to the ground), I concluded that the fumigation must have been over. Everyone, save for the children, had gone back to their homes and to their mundane Monday afternoon affairs. Drove into the garage, disembarked and greeted my dogs. And as I was about to enter the house, I heard Ate Edith shouting to Monica, my brother's girlfriend, who was standing on the other side of the road, looking absolutely terrified. I felt something brush up against my feet. And it was THAT particular moment that made this whole fumigation experience worth blogging about. Crawling all over the road were countless cockroaches. What I had just passed up as fallen leaves were actually insects that were driven out of their hiding places, writhing, twitching, dying. The children had made a game out of stepping on them, amazingly finding a way to ENJOY such a disgusting moment. And in the midst of it all was me, Ate Edith and Monica. Careful not to make my terror obvious I slowly walked to the door and went inside the safety of the house. After me ran Monica, who continued running inside the house, up the stairs and into the safety of my brother's room. But judging from the mini scream I heard as she closed the door upstairs I guess she realized with me that the house wasn't that safe after all. I'd just entered my own room too and realized that there were cockroaches crawling all over my bedroom walls. I killed them all with hatred and disgust that I never thought I could ever possess. God bless rubber slippers.

And now, as I blog about this whole thing, and while JR points Ate Edith to the cockroaches that are still crawling around the house (she kills them with her broomstick --- which she also uses to sweep them onto a dustpan), I reckon there is something to LEARN from this. I think back to the kids who made a game out of killing the cockroaches. There is something to learn about us as a people in this whole experience. We are quite odd and adorable, us Filipinos. Sure we incessantly complain about the rising gas prices, the sinking value of the peso, our stupid, cheating, lying leaders. We complain most about everything in our country. But as much as we complain, we have also learned to actually DEAL with it (at the very least live with it), while we regroup and try out new solutions, waiting for that time when God gives us a break and life would be a little easier to live. And for that day to come, it seems that our children will have to continue killing all those dirty pests that we have been breeding all these years.

***

On a totally different note, it feels weird to be blogging again. This is the first time I've written anything since I returned home. I should say that I've been too busy to write anything, but that would be only partly true. Truth is, while I certainly went through a lot of things worth blogging about the past three months, there has been no need for me to "write home" about it, because I AM home. And the friends that I've bee missing while I was in Boston are all so near to me now. I figure that, in the next couple of weeks, this page will be updated more often, as I return to Beantown where a whole schoolyear of challenges await me. Here's to a great three months in Manila though. And here's to an equally if not more fruitful year ahead.

Saya

2005-05-18T18:21:00.000-04:00

saya
Originally uploaded by talimusak.

A couple of days ago I got a text message from Joy. She'd heard from Tita Celia that she was probably the person that I missed the most. I guess it's true.

Company

2005-05-10T18:15:00.000-04:00

flickr - rico and rich
Originally uploaded by talimusak.

So many people wonder how I am able to cope with living so far away from home. To be honest, I myself didn't expect to find adjusting to this life-change as easy as it turned out to be. In a few weeks time, I mark my NINTH month away from home and friends. Those are nine whole months. A new human being could have been conceived and born in that span of time. And yet here I am, cheerfully going about my life. A couple of things helped deaden the impact of my transition. First of all, I am here for a REASON. This whole Berklee thing is my stab at having a life plan. I intend to follow through with this and end up working in a Philippine music industry that is progressive, up to date and innovative. The thought of that eventuality really drives me and gives me reason to wake up each day and actually be EXCITED about whatever new thing I'm about to learn (of course it helps to every now and then realize that I spend around a million pesos per semester to learn what I learn!). Another great motivator is the music itself --- the music that permeates my world and the music that emanates from it. It is an almost indescribable experience witnessing "outsiders" appreciate our music. Thirdly, and I think most importantly, I get by here because of the new friends I've made. Everyday for me is an interesting, exciting one because I get to go through it with these people. Prime examples are Rico and Rich (photographed here while we were all drunk silly and singing OPM songs in the middle of the night). People like them have positioned themselves between me and utter depression. Everytime Rico bugs me about going to the gym (or about staging yet another OPM marathon), everytime Bem (another member of the barkada --- pic forthcoming) cooks another tasty vegetarian meal for me (or drags me to the Guitar Center to drool over their keyboards), everytime Rich obliges our ears with her incredible singing (and indeed her teleseryesque love stories), everytime these people show me that they'd spend their everytime with me, I really feel like I'm in a place where I belong. I will forever be grateful for their company.

Cinco de Mayo

2005-05-06T11:39:00.000-04:00

flickr - gp - cinco de mayo
Originally uploaded by talimusak.

Cinco de Mayo is a Mexican holiday that commemorates the Mexicans victory against the French at the Battle of Puebla in 1862.

Out here in Boston, Cinco de Mayo is another reason for people to get drunk and be silly. I myself had a date Miss Margarita over here and had a blast.

I usually do not allow myself to get as drunk as I got yesterday but last night I threw all caution to the wind. I'd just finished my second semester at Berklee and I'd just come from watching an incredible performance by Sting (more on this later) and, well, it marks the beginning of my first summer here in the States.

Wow. I actually did it. I managed to be a good Berklee student for a whole year. I never thought I still had that in me. I guess self-congratulation is in order? Anyway, I'm still hungover and i have one final exam to (ahem) ace so... yeah. Cinco de Mayo was fun.

**Jeline made me a very nice testimonial over at friendster.com. Really appreciate it, mai-shi. Although I REALLY would like to know... WHAT'S SO FUNNY ABOUT ME!?**

listening to:

Mercedes Benz Mixed Tape 03

Photoblogging

2005-03-29T12:03:00.000-05:00

DSC02266 - Marco singen 3
Originally uploaded by talimusak.

When you feel that you've run out of things to say. Show!

I asked Carlo yesterday about how I can post pictures on my blog and he directed me to "flickr." Galeng. Nga lang may MONTHLY limit. And so I was trying to upload the 100+ pics in my iPhoto library but no, I hit the limit. Oh well.

Anyway, I've decided to start a blog mini-series of pictures that were taken by ME. I may not be a professional photographer but I've been told that I have good visual aesthetic sense. And I do have some pictures worth sharing.

For this series I'm going to post pictures of FRIENDS. Aww. No but seriously, I think the most difficult pictures to take are pictures of people since you're really trying to capture their ESSENCE. I've been browsing through my collection and I've noticed that my friends are, well, ESSENTIALLY GOOD. Haha. I have such colorful, fun, inspiring, naughty, unforgettable friends.

So here is my first installment. It's entitled "Marco singst."

Marco is a friend of mine from Berklee. He is not with us anymore. He's not dead though. He HAS, however, gone back to Germany and is trying his luck as, well, a singer. The pic was taken during my "BenettonBarkada's" first night out. It was the night before Halloween and we'd just come from a pub and were quite drunk. We went to this piano bar where this Nova-Villaesque woman was singing show tunes. So yeah to make a long story short, we ganged up on Marco trying to convince him to sing too. He obliged and went up the stage. At first he looked really nervous but when he started singing, everything fell into place. And by the end of his "Blame It on My Youth," everyone was mesmerized. And this is why I know Marco will make it in Germany, Berklee degree or no Berklee degree.

*palakpak*

Heady

2005-03-28T22:49:00.000-05:00

Been a while. A lot's happened in the past few weeks. Most important of which is that JD, Jolegs and Dexter kept me company during my first spring break. It's probably not a good idea to be writing about this two weeks after the fact simply because the experience is not as fresh anymore. We did have fun though. In one week we were able to watch a concert of Monteverdi's Vespers, watch the regional finals of an a capella competition, have dinner with Fr. Manoling Francisco and his cool Jesuit brothers (I guess that's what they're called?), dance in a club (right after watching the Monteverdi concert!) and well, eat, eat, eat. But that's "telling and not showing," as my English teacher often likes to point out. Blah.

So that was two weeks ago. Last week was basically the teachers returning our midterm exams. I did exceptionally well. But even that is not worth showing nor telling.

So hmm.

Went to New York last Friday. Woo! Boo from Lorribeth though (Lorribeth is the name of my STOMACH --- don't ask). All that JD and I (oh yeah, JD was there too) did was walk, walk, walk. We even got lost in the subway system. Which we found cool. Count on ACS people to find something like that cool and see it as an opportunity to SING (which we did a lot, to the amusement of the New Yorkers around us). So now I know what 5th Avenue, Broadway, and SoHo looks like. Woo.

While in New York, I took the opportunity to watch an opera. Yes, you heard it right. I watched an opera. Der Rosenkavalier. Was, um, nice. I'm sure the rest of it was nice too (slept through most of the first act). No, seriously though. Apart from my Act 1 snooze, I actually did appreciate the show. I'm not sure when my next opera will be, but at least I could say that I've now seen an opera, right? At the MET, no less. But that's just the "cultural climber" in me talking.

***

I'm not the only Eleria in Massachusetts. Now THAT is worth writing about. A few days ago, while researching on autism, I came across a link to someone named Anna Eleria. Now considering the fact that I can count the Elerias I know with the fingers in my body, this was a BIG deal. So I emailed Anna to try and figure out if we're relatives. Turned out we were! We ARE, I mean. Her dad Anghel is the second cousin of my dad. How cool is that?

Anyway, I had Easter dinner with them yesterday. They are very nice people. And I feel quite good about the fact that I'm meeting all these cousins and am starting to find out that I do have quite a huge family. We just don't like to interact. Hehe. Well Anna, my other cousins and I are gonna do something about that. Probably gonna spend my next Christmas break with them in Minneapolis.

Right now I'm just simply exhausted. I didn't sleep till 3 am today, which makes this past weekend the longest amount of time I've stayed awake. I was awake from 1030 am Saturday IN New York till 3 am Monday IN Boston. Nice.

And I couldn't sleep because I couldn't stop thinking about old friends, how much I miss being around them, life and how much of it I am yet to make the most out of, and family, how much more of mine I am to meet, to love and to be proud of.

Miss Matrioshka

2005-02-25T04:22:00.000-05:00

I couldn't believe it. Jeline has stopped blogging. I'm deeply affected by this sad, sad, turn of events. Right now I realize how reading through blogs and emails (and indeed checking out my friendster account every now and then!) has kept the pangungulila bug away from me. And now that Jeline has stopped blogging I don't know what to do (I check my friends' blogs every night before I sleep --- and my "tonight" just cannot accomodate the absence of Matrioshka!) Suddenly, Jeline is so far away.

Jeline dear, I would just like to thank you for taking me to Paris and taking me with you. I enjoyed every moment of it, from meeting your friends who've christened you Andrelinas and Angie , to calling out your name beside them on the street beneath your balcony, to seeing you steal glances at your crush(es), to sitting beside you as you wonder if this was the right thing to do. I will definitely miss Miss Matrioshka. Yakap.

Feelin' Good

2005-02-20T02:59:00.000-05:00

Woke up to a typical day today: an hour ahead of when I really should wake up --- enough time for me to shake the sleepiness off my body. Did my daily rituals --- cooked food, took a bath, fixed my bed. Wait. Fixed my bed. I fixed my bed. At that point, I realized how radically my life has changed living here in Boston. Looking around my room, I see my new "lalagyan" ng clothes, something i bought on sale and assembled all by myself. Beside my computer table is my work desk. On it are neatly stacked folders, each labelled according to which class I use it for and stacked according to which day I have them. Walking across the floor, I realized that I have such a CLEAN floor! This is because I have forbidden myself to wear anything sa paa BUT my bedroom slippers while I'm inside my room (my for-everything-else slippers reside just outside the doorway).

I then had to go to a Christmas Party. Yep, a Christmas Party at the tail end of February. The Iskwelahang Pilipino Carollers had been too busy over the holidays that we weren't able to find time to get together and actually CELEBRATE Christmas with each other. We had a fun time. They brought gifts for each other, me and the kiddies watched the latest episode of American Idol on my Powerbook, Francis and Michelle (newly married couple) arrived and raved to me about 92 AD being so galeng (sang for their wedding), we ate, ate, ate , ate. I didn't bring any gift to the party. I did bring CDs of Michael Buble though. Umorder si Tita Louise and Tita Dolly sakin nung December pa. Siyempre di ko pinakawalan yung bagong CD ni Buble without copying it first sa computer ko.

After the party I went home, where Felician, my roommate was packing his stuff. He'd just decided that he wanted to spend the weekend in New York. So he booked bus tickets, found a cheap hostel where he would stay and, well, left. I played Sinatra's "New York, New York" as he was leaving while he called me "crazy."

Went back to my computer to chat with people, mangumusta sa Pinas. Also played the newly "imported" (ITunes does not call it RIPPING) tracks from the new Buble CD. One particular track, caught my attention because it could have been the soundtrack of my whole day, in fact my whole life nowadays. And right now, I'm definitely feelin' good.

writing this inside a uhaul van

2005-02-12T18:31:00.000-05:00

thats it. i just needed to write a blog inside a uhaul van. as in nasa likod ako ha.

Snow Business

2005-02-04T04:23:00.000-05:00

GP was sooooooo happy to be returning to Boston. He was so happy that, when he arrived, he celebrated with his friends. But little did GP know that something evil was afoot. EVIL SNOW was on its way! Slowly it crept up towards New England, gobbling up everything in its path. Soon, it reached GP's doorstep. GP didn't know what to do. "Where did all the leaves go?!," he asked. He looked down and got the answer. GP couldn't believe his eyes. There it was. The last leaf has fallen. "HEY THERE!," said his neighbor "Hey," said GP. He thought that he was going crazy. He thought that he just saw a woman skiing on his street. "Hey there," called a woman"GRR! THAT'S IT!," growled GP. "I DON'T CARE HOW STRONG WINTER IS. I'M GONNA DEFEND MY HOUSE AGAINST IT!" And so he did. A few minutes later, GP got tired. "This is useless. Winter is too strong for me," he thought. Little did GP know that all the shoveling he did was able to clear a path between his front door and the street. "This is a little battle that I have won." And so GP smiled.

Zuerst. Una.

2005-01-19T13:48:00.000-05:00

First day of classes! Woohoo! Woohoo!

*Talon talon talon*

Woohoo! Woohoo!

*11 degrees Fahrenheit temperature*

Woohoo!

*BLAG. Patay*

Haha. MAMAMATAY NAKO DITO! POTA ANG LAMIG!

Anyhoo. Mukhang bumebenta ang aking mga QUOTES. So sige punuin natin ang pangangailangan.

QUOTE OF THE DAY:

Fr. Manoling Francisco, SJ: "Mas malala pala yung naisip ko. Akala ko sasabihin mo: 'Pa'no kung hindi siya naging pari, kinasal sa intsik at nagkaron ng anak na pinangalanan niyang PU."

- reaksyon ni Father tungkol sa hirit ko na: "Buti na lang naging pari siya. Kung hindi, eh baka kinasal siya at nagkaanak --- na pinangalanan niyang BARBIE."

- hirit ko tungkol kay FATHER NEMY QUE.

*Maghintay ng limang segundo. Bumalik sa hirit ko. Ngumiti. Bumalik sa hirit ni Father. Magets ang joke*

BENNNNTA si Father.

INGAT KAYO!

--- me and my pa-cool-effect titles.

LISTENING TO:

"Beneath an Evening Sky" - OREGON and the Moscow Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra

Kung makahanap man kayo ng CD ng Oregon at lalung lalu na kung itong CD na Oregon in Moscow. WINNER. If you like classical music and jazz and you're looking for something in between that is not a watered down version of either, you gotta listen to this. They are absolutely incredible. Bought my CD from Amoeba so I'm not sure kung available pa tong album na to but if you like I can email stuff to you. Just "holler."

p.s. tapos na yung oregon --- now listening to QUIT PLAYING GAMES - Backstreet Boys

EVERYONE can sing the solo guitar part of this song.

+/-

2005-01-14T20:24:00.000-05:00

"YEAH, WEVE BEEN GETTING ALL SORTS OF ASSHOLES ON THE BUS STOPS TODAY....

*LOOKS OUT AT MAN CARRYING A BIG BOX AND SPEAKS LOUDER*

... ISNT THAT RIGHT, SIR?...

*MAN WITH BOX SAYS SOMETHING INAUDIBLE*

...DELIVERY MY ASS!...

*LOOKS AT THE SCARED OLD LADY IN FRONT OF HIM*

.... ALLO! HOW'S YOUR DAY, MA'AM?"

Today I met the most reckless, most pleasant, WHITEST irony of a bus driver.

Started my day rather late, having slept in and still being on L.A. time (which is 3 hours delayed). It was raining outside and I really wasn't expecting the day to be anything but gray. I was waiting at the bus stop in the pouring rain for about two minutes, after which the number one bus screeched in from out of nowhere. I had to run to get in because the driver was signalling me to hurry. I got in and he screeched away again, trying to catch the green light.

"Hallo. How is your day?"

"Not bad." I drop the barya into the box and asked for a transfer slip.

The previous scene happens again and again as the bus driver screeches in and out of the next few bus stops. What is amazing though are the conversations that take place:

"Hey you remember my mom and her boyfriend? They're getting married," says a black woman, seeming to be pleasantly delighted to catch this particular bus driven by this particular driver.

"Oh that's nice to know. Send my best wishes to her okay? Hallo...," says the bus driver as another person enters.

"Oh, may I have a transfer slip please?," says a woman who entered too hurriedly and forgot to ask for the ticket.

The bus driver is quick to respond flicking out two slips. "No problemo, here's TWO." I swear there's a twinkle in his smile right there.

"Whats up DAWG?!," he suddenly exclaims as well one of his "dawgs" comes into the bus.

"Not much FOO! Aight gimme some love," says a big black man with chains all over his wardrobe as he asks for his transfer slip.

This continues until I get to my stop. As I disembark he shouts, "you have a nice day new person!"

Went on to "check-in" for this semester. I had a transfer ticket too, since I reckoned the checking in wouldn't take too long. I walked to the Uchida Bldg. There were two lines, as was the case last semester --- one for the Domestic Students and one for the International Students. I'd always wondered why they had to have two lines when they had more than enough people to accomodate all of us. But before I concluded that there must be some sort of racial segregation going on in my school, I realized that the Domestic Students line was sooooooooo long, while the International Students line had around 5 people in it. See today was also the LAST day for checking in. And so it turns out that the two lines were being imposed for OUR sakes, since international students seem to be better at anticipating long lines and we tend to check-in during the EARLIER part of check-in week. Seems Berklee didn't want to make us I20s fall in line with the Domestics because we did not DESERVE to endure the long line. I resisted from making "iling" as I observed Domestic Students one after another get told that they had to do this and that and pay for this and that and walk all the way to the library to settle this and that before they can be allowed to check in. I do not doubt that some Americans were not able to check in today because they came in too late.

SO ANYHOO.

Walked back to the bus stop. From afar I saw a number one bus screeching towards the bus stop and thought to myself: "no way." I ran to catch the bus and:

"Hallo! That was quick."

I was just staring at the driver, realizing that I was living a Twilight Zone episode.

"Well why don't you just give me that transfer slip I gave you a while ago?"

I gave him the ticket.

"THERE you go. Alright, you're all set!"

Bus screeched away and then I was in his world again, a world of screeching to and fro and Hallos and Whatsupdawgs.

Fifteen minutes later I press on the yellow rubber tab that tells the driver that I need to go down at the next stop. He looks at his rear view mirror, sees me and nods. One penultimate screeching and the bus stops. I exit . I figure that it would be proper to say goodbye but as I opened my mouth to do so he shouts "GOODBYE NEW PERSON!" to me. He refocuses his attention on the next passenger, whom he greets in SPANISH, the doors close and bus number one screeches away as quickly as it screeched into my day.

HOME

2005-01-08T10:00:00.000-05:00

Home being Cambridge, Massachusetts. Wow ambilis ng bakasyon pero mas excited ako sa pasukan. Andaaaaaaming nangyari during the break at hindi ko alam kung paano ko uumpisahang ilahad lahat dito. So imbis na ilahad ang lahat ng nangyari, magshe share na lang ako ng mga quotes mula sa mga nakapiling ko nitong nakalipas na tatlong linggo:

1. Ate Belen (mukhang gulat na gulat at napakasaya): "Ano!? Si Gino na-promote!?"
--> upon hearing the news na si kuya eh nag PROPOSE na sa kanyang girlfriend.

2. Uncle Hugo (habang nanonood ng Lakers vs Heat game) "Tignan mo 'yang si Shaq, parang kapre.... naalala ko tuloy nung nakakita ako ng kapre."
--> he then recounts his childhood experience of seeing a real kapre.... he followed it up by recounting his experience with an aswang na mukhang baboy damo slash hyena.

3. Tito Ging "Tragedy is an exercise in compassion."
--> sa gitna ng isang heart to heart talk namin nung binisita ko siya. Lumpo si Tito Ging dahil na aksidente siya four years ago.

4. Leon Palad (talking to everyone in his car --- ako, si Robin at si Jolegs --- matapos niya kaming sunduin sa Oakland Airport): "Dapat naman eh mag GIRLS NIGHT OUT tayo." *sensing the awkwardness in the air and finally looking at Jolegs* "Ok fine! Boys night out for you." --- I will forever be an honorary Baklita.

5. Ate Belen: "BASTOS KAAAAAAAAH!" *nanduduro sa culprit* "YOU'RE BASTOOOOOOS!!!!"
--> matapos niyang muntik nang maiputan ng isang malaking heron --- needless to say eh tawa ako nang tawa.

6. My three year old cousin, Mira, while I was telling her a story about her "Mister Snowman": *she suddenly pulls one leg of Mr Snowman and thrusts it into my face* "PAA." ---- omg pinsan ko nga.

7. My cousin, Jun: "I think I'm actually you're uncle." --- turns out he is.

8. Ate Belen: "CHING! (singing the word in forte right at the end of Dulce's "Ako ang Nagwagi") O diba ang galing? Dapat ganyan ka rin mag arrange ng kanta GP, yung may CHING! ganyaaaan." --- omg I kept on laughing my tummy hurt so much.

9. My cousin, Kyrene: *frantically waves at me so I would shut my mouth and leave the store* --- she works at Goldilock's, where I ordered two pastries. She put five in the bag. She also just met me.

And last but not the least...

10. ME to Jetblue Airlines check-in counter girl: "Yes, I'm sure that it's today" --- moments before I found out that my flight was YESTERDAY.

BUT ALAS IM HOME! So ano ba ang nangyayari? Bakit mas na-miss ko pa ang Boston kesa sa Maynila? Hindi ko yata napansin na sayang-saya ako sa buhay kong mag-isa. Yung gumigising ako araw-araw na alam kong ang pananagutan ko lang sa araw na ito ay sa sarili ko. Okay yun diba? Ngayon, excited na akong bumalik sa school kasi ginaganahan akong pagbutihin pa lalo ang pag-aaral. Nakakuha ako ng 3.64 na GPA for my first semester. Nakakabitin pala pag ganoong kalapit sa pagka perfect. At hanggang hindi nagiging 4.0 yang lekat na GPA na yan eh hindi ako matatahimik. Sa ngayon eh may isang linggo ako para maghanda sa parating na lamig at sa panibagong pagkakataong daigin ang sarili ko.

Magkaron nawa tayo ng taon na makabuluhan.

Ay may last quote pala ako:

11. A considerable amount of people on my plane a while ago: *GASP* --- upon finding out that Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt had split up.

So bale nakausap ko (yata) si Jason Mraz sa AIM

2004-12-24T00:20:00.000-05:00

Mahabang kwento. Next blog na lang. Sa ngayon ang mahalaga eh mabati ko ang mundo ng MERRY CHRISTMAS! Ano ang ginagawa ko habang nagsusulat nito? Heto ako nakaupo sa isang makeshift computer terminal sa garahe ng bahay ni Ate Belen, napapaligiran ng mga kahoy, lagare, old baby toys at ng isang asong German Shepherd daw hindi naman (kalaking damulag takot sa akin). Pitch black dito dahil walang ilaw sa garahe. So ang ilaw lang eh nanggagaling sa aking powerbook. I even had to go around my terminal just to see the white apple logo proudly beaming in the middle of darkness. Sounds around me: isang eroplano ang either kakaalis lang o papadaong na sa LONGBEACH INtL AIrPORt. Sa likod ng bahay may nagjajajmming na banda ng mga chikano (na overtake na nga raw ng mga latino ang mga itim sa pagiging number one minority dito --- siyempre hindi pahuhuli ang pinoy community at kanina nga eh sinabi na ng tito ko na "number two na ang mga pilipino. number three na lang ang mga egoy"). Sa loob ng bahay eh nanonood si Ate Belen ng TFC. Siguro more FPJ news. Nagpapahinga siya kaluluto ng ube at leche flan na pang regalo. Ano kaya ang noche buena namin bukas? May nakuha pala akong regalo. Binigyan ako ni Bianca ng slippers na ultra comfy na pangbahay. Antagal na mula ng may nagregalo pala sakin ng isang bagay na gusto ko. Ultimo yung ALLEGED giant birthday card ni Chris Ong for me nuong 1997 eh di pa niya binibigay sa akin.

Tama nga si Jeline. Pwede ka ngang sundan ng "home." Ok naiirita ako ano ba ang translation ng HOME sa Pilipino. Wala no? Laos. Anyway, eto ang aking mumunting paraan ng pagbati sa inyo ng Maligayang Pasko (tulad din ng mumunting paraan ni Mraz sa pamamagitan ng pagchat niya with fans sa AOL --- kung siya nga yun). MERI KRISMAS. Kayo paano ang Pasko niyo diyan? Comment naman o. Sarap makibalita, eh.

LISTENING TO:
The sounds of the Los Angeles Freeways

Ang nakakainis sa mga sidewalk na nagyeyelo pag napakalamig...

2004-12-20T05:15:00.000-05:00

... ay ang pagkadapa. At yun na nga ang nangyari sa akin nung Friday, as I was walking to my final, uhh, final exam. Pero napakagandang experience pala. Well yuong "gliding effortlessly across pavement" part lang. Ang pag semi-split-slash-luhod yung medyo masakit at nakakahiya. Pero pati yung mga experience na ganun eh mapupulutan pa rin pala ng insight, lalu na kung t.h. ka maghanap ng meaning sa lahat ng bagay. Pagkatapos ng final final ko umuwi nako para ipagdiwang ang pag end ng sem ko. At habang naglalakad ako napangiti ako kasi na realize ko na for the longest time, mula pa nung una akong nag apply sa Berklee, pinagkaingat-ingatan kong HINDI madapa: ang Berklee-or-bust attitude, the trying my best to get a 4.0 gpa thing, kahit ang pagiging isang effective na conductor ng i.p. choir, pagpupunyagi pala yung ginawa ko. At talagang naramdaman kong mahirap akong matumba. Yumpala simpleng tubig at lamig lang ang katapat ko.

***

Last carolling day namin kanina sa I.P. Isang taon pa uli halos bago kami magkita-kita uli. Napamahal na sila sa akin. Para akong binigyan ng instant pamilya. Binigyan pa nila ako ng onting pabaon na pera (dahil na rin sigurong nalaman nilang wala na akong pera ni pambayad sa train). Katuwa sila. Nakikita kong magtatagal ako sa grupong ito.

***

Bound for California in a little over 12 hours. Real excited. Not excited about having to clean the place up before I leave. Buti sana kung kaya kong matulog na lang sa eroplano. Pero hindi eh. Kasi hihilik lang ako at mapapahiya lang uli. Lecheng hilik yan. Sana maging masaya 'tong Paskong 'to.

***

Kanina habang busy yung choir ko na nag aayos ng gamit ng sneak back ako into the church (kung saan kami nagdaos ng Christmas Program) para tugtugin yung Steinway and Sons na piano. Eventually found myself playing Kaibigan. Haven't played that song in a while and kanina para akong binuhusan ng nostalgia. Habang tumutugtog ako hindi ko napansin na may nakikinig palang 9 year old kid sa akin. Pagkatapos ko, umupo siya and said "That was beautiful." Pero di siya makatingin sa'kin dahil nahihiya siya. Tapos sabi niya "I'm just starting to learn the piano. I have a long way to go before I get to be THAT good." Tinanong ko siya kung ilang taon na siya at sinabi kong nag-umpisa akong tumugtog nung 12 ako. Tinanong niya kung ilang taon na ako. Sabi ko 25. Instantly sinabi niya "So it'll take me 13 years, huh." Katuwa. I started to play this simple song on the piano. I don't even remember when I learned that song. Just imagine John Thompson. Anyway, sabi niya "That's really simple. Maybe Grade 1 stuff. I'm in Grade 2." Tapos sabi ko sa kanya "But you know not everything that is simple is also necessarily ugly. It all depends on how you play it." Tapos tinugtog ko nang may linya at articulation yung piyesa. Di ko malilimutan yung itsura ng pagkamangha niya. It was as if he found something precious. Maybe he did. Sana.

A Boston Night Flight

2004-12-14T04:44:00.000-05:00

I really should be sleeping now. But alas here I am blogging away. In around 8 and a half hours, I will start a VERY LONG Tuesday. Today, I have three finals. One is a proficiency exam in piano (for which I feel that am not prepared) and the other two are final exams (Writing Skills and Music Technology). The reason why I can't help but blog this moment is because I just found out that Carlo is seriously thinking of going to Berklee. HE. HE. Just writing about it tickles my senses. Imagine how THAT would be like. As it is, quite a number of people I know here are already impressed with Carlo's work, ano pa kaya when they get to work and hear him in person? Anyway, we have decided to make this our project --- our "bring-carlo-to-berklee-as-fast-as-we-can" project. Here's the plan: we prepare a killer audition CD, Carlo gets full scholarship, life goes up a notch on the fun-o-meter.

*suddenly realizing the importance of ME still being here when Carlo arrives*

MUST. STOP. BLOGGING. MUST. GO. TO. SLEEP. FINALS. TOMORROW. FINALS. VERY. IMPORTANT. PRESSING. PUBLISH POST BUTTON. NOW.

KaChakahn

2004-12-09T23:54:00.000-05:00

Hay salamat. Merun na akong oras magsulat. Finals na! Yay! Ang pinakahihintay kong dulo ng sem na to ay dumating na rin! Biglang parang ambilis pala. Di ko alam kung bakit ako nainip nang ganun. Anyway, ipagdasaaaaaaal na ma-maintain ko ang momentum ko the past sem. Nakakatawa nga't ako lang ang tuwang-tuwa sa kangaragan of the past few weeks. Lahat ng mga bata sa Berklee nagrereklamo. Bakit daw andami namang pinapagawa sa kanila. Aba eh kung ayaw nilang magtrabaho eh dapat di na sila nag enrol sa Berklee no. Last time I checked libre pa rin naman ang pagiging bum eh. So here I am finding my tempo in the tumult and finding a pocket of time to write about it. Here are some highlights of the past few weeks.

1. Watched the Gospel Choir in concert. Nawindang ako sobra. Ibang klaseng experience yun. Alam kong bilib tayong lahat sa kagalingan ng Pinoy kumanta at sa pagkakaron natin ng puso and all that. Pero ibang klase pala pag tunay na yung na experience mo. Walang sinabi ang lahat ng choir natin sa Pinas na pinagsama-sama against these twentysomethings. Iba talaga. Pagbukas ng bibig nila puro totoo ang lumalabas. Dusa, sakit, hinagpis, saya, pasasalamat. Naririnig pala ang lahat ng iyon. At one point during the concert, nakapikit na lang ako trying to absorb everything that I can hear and feel tapos yung choir biglang pumasok na lang nang sabay-sabay. Ni walang lyrics yung kinakanta nila. Isang malakas na "AHH" lang na nakakakilabot marinig. I had to open my eyes at pag tingin ko sa mga singers sa stage nakita ko silang lahat na puno ng hinagpis, yung iba pa naka outstretch yung mga kamay, nagsusumamo. Ilan sa kanila umiiyak na, kasama na rin ang ilan sa audience. Ang ilan sa amin napatayo na lang at sumisigaw. Ibang klaseng experience talaga. Na realize ko na lahat tayo may pasanin at lahat tayo may dahilang mapuno at sumuko. Gusto kong makiiyak noon pero hindi ko rin kaya dahil kung umiyak ako baka mawala yung atensyon ko sa nangyayari sa paligid ko. Tapos pagtingin ko uli sa stage nakita ko yung isang singer sa front row na nakatungo. Nung una akala ko umiiyak siya o nahihilo. Then it struck me. He was bowing down. While everyone, with their arms outstretched, wailed and begged for grace he was calmly and resolutely bowing down in front of his God. Awe inspiring grabe. Tumitindig balahibo ko hanggang ngayon.

2. Nag-umpisa na kaming mag carolling ng aking choir. Nakakatawa nung inintroduce ako during the first night may dalawan booboo:

a. galing daw akong La Salle
b. ang choir ko daw eh Ateneo Choral Group

Hahaha. Nakakatawang marinig yung letter b. I don't mind being mistaken for a La Sallite. Nakakatawa lang yung experience na yun dahil parang may collective *gasp* from all the Ateneans, UP people in the choir. Parang booboo siya talaga. Anyway. Letter b. Haha. Ateneo Choral Group! So bale it's a common mistake pala. Maybe we should rename our choir na. Yun ang nagsistick sa utak nila eh. Anyway, that experience was wonderful. I watched the choir sing their hearts out and slowly realize that the point was in "enjoying" the song. And by enjoy, I don't mean smiling all throughout or goofing around. What I mean is that they finally just "got it." Nakita nila yung importance ng getting to know the song beyond the pitch and the rhythm. Ang dumi-dumi ng Tirindingding but it's the most honest rendition that I've heard. Oh you should have seen the women nung dinuduro nila yung mga lalaki! "Kung matulog ka ay para kang mantika!" Haha.

3. Went to the installation of our new president. Mukhang okay siya. Ang thrust niya ay definitely to be "in touch" with the student body. "Cool president" siya kung baga. Nakaka excite to be here right when new things are about to happen. I wonder what he'll do in the next few years that will improve Berklee. Paunti-unti nang nararamdaman yung kanyang effect sa school. There's now a concerted effort by both the school admin and the student body to foster some sort of "school spirit" na dati eh wala sa Berklee. Kaexcite. Feeling ko after a few years dito nakikigulo na rin ako.
Sa installation nung president ay binigyan ng honorary doctorate si

* D7(#9)*

CHAKA KHAN.

Haha. Ibang klaseng experience! Chaka Khan in the flesh --- wearing a toga! --- and looking so uncomfortable! Sobrang katawa talaga. Throughout the ceremony eh nahuhulog-hulog pa yung mga papel na hawak niya tapos nagkakamot siya minsan o kaya eh nag-aayos ng buhok. CHAKA! Hahahahahahhahahaha. Ang pinakanakakatawa pa ay na kino consider ko siyang great experience NOT because siya si Chaka Khan the singer but because siya si Chaka Khan ang pinanggalingan ng word na CHAKA. ANOBA!

Sa dulo ng ceremony eh kumanta na naman ang gospel choir for the recessional or whatever you call it. Ayan na naman sila. Mga panibagong "Damians" (Damian ang tawag namin sa mga nakakatakot na mga children's choir)! Kinakanta nila yung Fantasy ng Earth Wind and Fire at ang lakas! Tapos nung umalis sila sa stage parang hindi nagbago yung volume. Anlakas pa rin. Scary.

Ayun.

listening to:
Distant Land - John Rutter - The Orchestral Collection: wala na talaga magawa si John Rutter merun siyang Beatles Concerto. Interesting pero ultimately mari realize mo pa rin kung bakit NAPAKAgaling ng Beatles. Iba sila. Talino shet.

"What's on your mind?"

2004-11-29T16:08:00.000-05:00

Naaalala niyo pa ba yung semi-catchy catchphrase ng commercial ng San Miguel Beer Super Dry? May matching catchy melody ("Whats on your mind with super DRY!). Anyway.

Dry. Tigang. As in. I'm listening to the latest cd offering from the good people at the San Miguel Foundation for the Performing Arts. At ako'y napapa "WHA?!" Here we have the first professional choir in the Philippines and they're justifying their existence by singing DA COCONUT NUT?! It's so sad, really. I mean, wasn't the Smokey Mountain version good enough already? I did enjoy listening to that recording but I also do not need to pay for another one. I mean the choir sounds, uhh, massive. Towards the end we have the choir singing en masse and I can't help but feel that I'm being assaulted by hula-dancing orcs from Mordor --- "coco trees" and all. It's just grotesque. Suuuure they are a good choir. Pero what are they selling? Fortissimos? The cd is awash with timpani rolls and swiisssshhh and swaaassssshes and AAAAAH!!!!!!!s and all that --- so what? Now THAT'S sound and fury signifying nothing. But then again, what were we to expect? It's San Miguel that owns them after all. I mean, would you have taken The Budweiser Foundation for the Performing Arts seriously?

Definitely was the right decision for Sir Jojo to leave. I have always believed that. Despite what everyone says.

***

The other day I went out with some friends from Pinas. I was walking along Boylston and lo and behold (!), I saw a sign outside the "Foggy Goggle" Pub saying:

"SEE VANILLA ICE, LIVE!"

And it was real! And there were lots of people outside, all lining up to see this relic of the early 90s. Wonder where Eminem will be 10 years from now?

Having said that, does anyone remember Mr. Ice's (?) MOVIE "Cool as Ice"? Haha. I actually watched that. Also used to have a betamax copy of MC Hammer's Can't Touch This video.

And no I didn't go in to see him. Half of me was wondering if it was really him inside there. Ah but these are the pains of having no money middle of the week because you've spent your week's budget already.

listening to:

Freddie Hubbard - Little Sunflower
to those who don't know who this is, hindi ko rin alam. The piece is something I have to play for my finals sa ensemble. Download it. Ganda. Modal.

Game

2004-11-12T03:26:00.000-05:00

"Game."

Gusto ko yung expression na yun. Sa isang salita binalot mo yung intention mo na umpisahan ang isang bagay na, malamang, matagal mong pinag-isipan at pinagmuni-munian. Dawit na rin sa expression yung resolve na parang "eto na wala nang urungan." Ang galing dahil ni hindi nga Tagalog yung salita. English siya pero di ko naman narinig (ever) na gamitin ng kano o ng sinumang nag-i English.

Uhh so bale bakit ko siya pinag-uusapan sa blog entry na to? Hehe. WALA LANG. Kanina kasi binasa ko (nang mabilis) yung mga blog entry ni JP at ni Jeline. Parang andaming nangyayari sa buhay nila. Parang inggit ako dahil tuwing umuupo ako para magsulat ng blog walang lumalabas. At ilang beses nang nangyari yun. Yung umupo ako at nagtangkang magsulat ng blog entry. Kesyo during class o di kaya habang kumakain sa caf, pati sa elevator no. Pero wala talagang lumalabas.

Hindi naman sa walang kwenta ang buhay ko dito. Sa katotohanan nga masaya ako ngayon. Masaya as in hindi ako malungkot. Pero walang nangyayaring kasiya-siya. Gets?

Well, siguro merun namang mga kasiya-siya pero hindi ko alam bakit hindi na ata ako naeexcite. Nagkakaron na ako ng "barkada" dito (isa pang magandang salita yun --- ilang beses ko nang naabutan ang sarili kong hirap na hirap na ineexplain sa mga kaklase ko kung ano ang "barkada"). Ayos naman yun dahil masaya sila kasama. Siguro minsan magsusulat ako tungkol sa kanila with matching pictures.

Nakakalabas naman ako. Ilan na ring sine ang napanuod ko and there's that Halloween gimmick na masaya din. Pero hindi ako compelled na magsulat tungkol sa mga iyon . Which is sad kasi alam ko for a fact na HABANG nangyayari sila eh gusto kong ipamalas yung experience sa lahat ng kaibigan kong wala dito (which is, until very recently, comprised of LAHAT NG KAIBIGAN KO period).

Okay naman ang school. Paminsan-minsan tinatamad na ako dahil pakiramdam ko para akong nanonood ng isang feature length film na naka slow mo. Tipong hindi naman ako pwede umalis dahil hindi ko alam ending at hindi ko pwede i forward dahil magagalit yung mga ibang nanonood (na walang angal sa kabagalan ng pinapanuod nila). Oy parang deep yun ah!

Merun pa rin akong frustrations. Unang-una, pera. Sana marami akong pera para hindi ko na iniisip ang pera. Anlaking amount of time and energy ang ginugugol ko para lang pag-isipan kung saan ako kukuha ng pera (kahapon nga lang siningil na naman ako ng landlord ko ng 1,150 para sa buwan ng November -- jusme eh never ko nakita yung ganung kalaking amount ng pera sa Pinas --- anyway, sinabi ko sa kanya magbabayad ako sa kanya kung mahuli niya yung dagang umaali-aligid dito). [Dinadagdag ko lang itong sentence na ito habang pinu-proofread ko ang entry ko. Sabi ko kasi "Unang-una..." Hindi ko pala nasundan ng ikalawa. So. Ikalawa, ANLAMIG POTA. Hindi niyo naiintindihan kung gaano kalamig. Pakiramdam ko tuwing gumigising ako na yung dugo ko para nang "Minola -- ang matikang tulog"]

Hindi ako nako compel magsulat dito.

Pero. Sawa na rin ako maghintay para sa isang tumultuous event para lang may isulat ako sa blog ko. Naisip ko, eh sa kakapiranggot na dami ng mga taong nagbabasa nito, hindi ako dapat mag-alala kung ano ilalagay ko. At kung nagbabasa ka pa rin hanggang ngayon, ibig sabihin lang nun eh kahit ang kaboringan ng buhay ko ay interesting pa rin para sayo.

Kaya ito, magsusulat na lang ako nang magsusulat. Tutal everyone has a place under the sun naman, lalu na dito sa cyberspace.

Asan na ba'ko? Hehe. Tumigil ako magsulat right after that previous paragraph tapos matagal na nag-isip. Bago nun tuloy-tuloy ang sulat ko (kaya pala daloy ng kamalayan ang tawag). Ngayon i feel compelled to end this entry in a creative way. Ewan ko kung bakit (dati ko pa na notice yun eh --- sobrang love ko to end things beautifully or creatively). Pero WHAT IF ang creative na ending eh yung no creative ending at all? Yung tipong titigil ka lang

bigla.

Ang corny shet.

Auspicious

2004-10-26T16:10:00.000-04:00

Ganda ng Boston. Lalu na ngayong napakasaya niya. Wala nang Curse of the Bambino at mukhang mananalo pa Sox sa World Series. Parang may indayog ang galaw ng lahat ng mga tao. Ultimo kotse parang nakangiti habang umaandar. Minsan ka lang din makakita ng mga taong nakangiti habang umuulan. Dami nun dito ngayon. Buti pa sila masayang masaya.

Midterms ko ngayon at sa halip na mag-aral ako ay nagsusulat ako ng blog. Ganda. Medyo tinatamad na ako dito, hindi dahil walang kwenta akong tao pero dahil maraming walang kwenta sa paligid ko. Wala palang mas nakakabuwisit pa kesa sa mga batang mapagwaldas! Ang yayaman ng mga hinayupak kong kaklase pero akala yata nila kelangan lang nila pumasok dito at, paglabas, eh superstar na sila. Ano sila tanga? Buwisit talaga. Tuloy ambagal ng andar ng klase at lagi akong bitin. Bitin at tinatamad dahil alam ko pagbalik ko sa classroom eh mabubuwisit lang ako uli.

Ni hindi ko alam kung bakit ko gustong-gusto magsulat ng blog eh wala namang bago sa buhay ko. Merun akong mga kaibigan dito at masaya sila kasama pero pakiramdam ko naghihintay pa rin akong maging HIGIT pa sa mga-bagong-kaibigang-masaya-kasama ang Berklee. Yung lecheng Music Technology class ko, halimbawa. Ang ganda-ganda ng pinag-aaralan pero nagawa pa rin ng teacher ko maging boring ang klase. Ano ba naman yan? Sa sobrang boring niya, ang pinaka kasiyahan na na nararanasan ko eh twing may pinapatugtog siya sa sound system ng classrom dahil ilang libo daw ang presyo ng mga speakers dun (dollars ha!). At ang ganda nga ng tunog! Pero nakakabuwisit pa rin dahil, well, wala akong ilang libong dollars. May ilang libong dollars ako --- utang. Ganda ng Boston.

CAPSULE

2004-09-21T16:39:00.000-04:00

Well, that's that I guess. Been about a month since my last entry and I don't know how to start telling you about the last 180 degrees of life-change. Let's see...

THE MOVING IN

I arrived in Boston at the end of August. Had to practically beg my landlord to allow me into APARTMENT 2 without a lease, without a downpayment and with free electricity. It was a long shot but then I found a connection:

THE CONNECTION: a postcard from Nantes, France. Asked my landlord if he's ever been. Apparently he hasn't and he had heard from a friend (postcard sender) that it was a beautiful place. I amened to that and confirmed that Nantes, indeed, is a beautiful place.

My landlord, Mister Spunt, was amused to hear about my adventures in Nantes during the 2001 Fete de la Musique (tama ba, Jeline?). He, apparently, was a lover of the arts --- opera to be specific. Took my cue from that. Told him about me being in a choir and all that jazz. At the end of the conversation he had a spanking new "Awit sa Panginoon" CD and I had an apartment.

Which isn't a big thing really, because three weeks have passed and I still don't have a lease, haven't paid my downpayment and still am enjoying free electricity. And I do not want to wear out my welcome. A free CD can only do so much.

THE STRATEGY: for the most part, my solution has been to call up relatives to help "guarantee" my lease for me (I couldn't, for reasons only known to Mister Spunt, sign my own lease). That has fallen through and I am not about to ask a relative stranger to do that for me. And if THAT fails, then off I go to stranger number two. If THAT fails... I don't suppose I could get a pre-release copy of the ACS' second album, could I? So much for THE STRATEGY.

THE CHECKING IN

Apparently, here at Berklee (I am writing this blog on my spanking new laptop while sat on a comfortable chair in the "silent study area" and online via Berklee's immensely fast wireless network (300 MB in 10 minutes, whoa!)), it isn't called enrollment. It's checking-in. You'd suppose that THAT wouldn't be too difficult for li'l old me, considering I'd already got a student loan and all. You cannot be more wrong.

THE PROBLEM (very succintly): T.E.R.I., The Higher Education Resource Institute, they who have granted me a loan.... are a bunch of arseholes.

The general REASON for my not being able to update this blog is my loan problem. It's been a couple of weeks of them asking me for this and that, them taking 48 years to process this and that, only to realize they need THOSE, which, in turn take 48 more years to process. I missed two weeks of school because of this, that and those. But thanks to my "bring it right on" attitude, I've weathered that storm quite nicely.

THE BAGEL GUY: who the hell is this guy beside me eating a BAGEL in here!? Eating it grossly in fact. Ahh, musicians. (Having complained about that, I wouldn't be surprised if I found out later on that he's the best drummer in the tri-state area)

IMPRESSIONS

I have a good feeling about my life here in Boston. I haven't quite settled in yet (lease-related issues, catching up with my "academics"), but I feel that I can manage... and that I will enjoy my time immensely. I WISH I had the Eiffel Tower to gaze at whenever I want (DAMN YOU JELINE IN PARIS!), but I do have the music that I definitely signed up for. Mostly, I am happy to meet challenges once again. Out here I'm far from the best. But the exciting fact is that I COULD BE the best someday because of Berklee. And that, for now, is THE PLAN.

LISTENING TO:

Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da (Beatles): not my copy. Listening to the playlist of jerm397. When you're online here, your ITunes playlist is online as well, available for other people to listen to. Neat, huh?

Tick-tock, tick-tock

2004-08-25T21:42:00.000-04:00

Jeline texted me the other day:

"Aalis na tayo in 4 days!"

That was almost two days ago.

EEP.

Today all my non-Boston responsibilities officially ceased to exist. I finished an arrangement of "Kahit Kailan" for the AHSGC, finished a VIDEOKE project (for which I am getting a mere pittance), finished the study mp3 for the ad libbed parts of "Movin'" (thanks to Carlo, who did everything actually --- I'm so going to end up a producer -- a demanding one at that -- whats with the "--"?).

*Giddy*

My packing abilities will be put to the test right after I publish this entry. Yesterday, I made a list of things to bring to Boston with me and I have taken it upon myself to beat Jeline's 20 minute packing record (what would very easily qualify as a "quickie" --- i intend to do a "quickier").

Thanks Jeline for being such a cool blogger. My blog now sports its own CLOCK. Would have been an immensely cool idea except for the fact that the Boston time it shows is exactly the same as Manila time.

I suddenly realize that I have never owned a clock in my entire life. Nor a pencil case. I think I'm gonna go buy a pencil case now. Maybe after this song.

LISTENING TO:
"Ewan (Apo Hiking Society)" - if there's such a thing as comfort food, there's such a thing as comfort OPM. And it's the music of these three fine Ateneans.

P.S. Go to Carlo's blog and read about the kidnapper who was shot point blank, fell 5 stories, put in a casket, and was discovered to still be alive. It's all those dumplings I tell ya. Something in them dumplings...

Last Weekend

2004-08-21T08:55:00.000-04:00

U.S. Visa arrived today, finalized my travel itinerary, about to start packing, finishing all harang related activities by today, taking time out to think about Ninoy and what has become of his daughter Kris.

It's odd that I still don't feel like I'm about to leave for good. Even the people here at home don't seem to be getting "senti." Not that I'm complaining. It's just I'd been expecting to have some sort of telenovelic episode, well, anytime now. Who knows, maybe mom will burst into the room crying and complaining about losing her baby boy. *Cringe*

I am "bedless" and happy. My considerably big bed has been taken from me. Dear, dear Katz and JP paid me a semi-surprise visit last night and semi-decided to sleep over. If only I can take them with me.

Tonight I will watch the Madz's homecoming Concert. They will be singing an arrangement of mine. It is a punctuation of sorts. Actually, I'm quite ecstatic. I have always been shameless about my groupie-ness when it comes to the Madz. There is just something about them and their music: audacious, true and by all means beautiful (hey those are three things!). The moment will be made more perfect by the presence of JP, who has come home for a brief respite from his own rest-of-his-life. He jokes that he mysteriously felt compelled to come home only to find out that he did so just in time to hear the Madz in concert. I believe him, actually.

Ahh, Belen Cuevas

2004-08-19T17:29:00.000-04:00

Oh how I cried.

Yesterday Ate Belen, my childhood yaya, found out that my Boston plans were pushing through. She also found out that Tita Malou had been instrumental because she co-signed my loan application. This was a surprise to her as she never really warmed up to that aunt of mine. Ate Belen always thought that Tita Malou was one who loved to show off and liked to tell people how eager she was to be of help.

Yesterday Ate Belen found out that Tita Malou helped me out bigtime. So she got up early in the morning (long before the sun had risen) and cooked her special "suman." She drove to Bellflower City and handed the "kakanin" to Tita Malou and thanked her "...para sa tulong mo sa alaga ko..."

I cry still.

The Old and the New

2004-08-14T18:32:00.000-04:00

I had heard that the 2004 Olympic Opening Ceremonies were going to be all about the Old and the New and, my , my , my, were they correct. It was a beautiful experience getting to watch the event (a part of it detailed, in symbols, the history of human progress --- from tableaus of Greek philosophers to a huge laser light depiction of the human DNA floating in the center of the stadium). Made me feel happy for an unbroken couple of hours. Few things do that to you. Even Mister Jackson had to do it in installments.

The event had reached it's climax as the ueber high tech torch (which I think resembles a really big cigar) was lit and it flipped back into position, flaming proudly against the Greek night sky. It was rousing.

I didn't think anything could ruin the moment. But against all odds, my father was able to! I hate spilling out too-personal details of my life even to my closest friends so I'll just say that we had a quick verbal tiff. Well at least it was supposed to be a tiff, 'cause he got angry at me when I told him that I had intended to sell my computer. Of course, I got angry back because my computer is my SOLE POSESSION. It's the one thing I bought with my own money and took care of as something that I owned. And, hard as it may be to sell it, I have to because I need the money for my September rent. And he has the gall to get HURT because I was doing that. What did he think was I going to do with it anyway? LEAVE IT as a parting gift?? Ribbons and all!? *Sigh* Anyway, I can't believe I'm still furious about it.

I guess I'm just really touchy 'cause these days I feel as if nobody, not even my parents, seems to realize that I really am leaving. Or more like: when it comes to my leaving for Boston, people seem to have the memory of a goldfish. Last night, while chugging beer at Emman's party, Chris suddenly blurted out: "Shit GP anlapit mo na umalis!" Uh. Right. Bukas, mas malapit pa. At sa makalawa, mas malapit pa lalo.

LISTENING TO:
"You will be my Ain True Love (Sting)" - loved this song since I first heard it. Love Sting. Making me feel better as I type this.

Friday the 13th

2004-08-13T19:55:00.000-04:00

The Olympics start today. Yesterday people on CNN were talking about the "Olympic truce" or the "echeiria". It turns out that, because of this echeiria, 10,000 children were inoculated in a war zone during the 2000 Olympics. Now, let me get this straight: humanity HAS, in fact, an existing truce for PEACE that EVERYONE has been observing since 9 B.C.!? We just can't observe it for more than a few days. That's a load of crap, fellow humans. What, peace is too boring to do ALL THE TIME? Sheesh.

Hey, I just realized that today is going to be my last Friday the 13th in the Philippines (at least for the next couple of years). I reckon the coming days will bring forth many last things for me. I can't help but feel anxious about the rest-of-my-life that is about to happen. I feel like I'm on the edge of a ledge and, assured as I may be that there is something beautiful waiting after the fall (and that I'd survive the fall, for that matter), it just kinda sucks to have to be the one to let go. Can't someone just push me over?

Edge of a ledge. Catchy.

LISTENING TO:
"The Prayer (arr. Robert Delgado)" - rare recording of the Ateneo College Glee Club and the Philippine Madrigal Singers singing together.

Expensive Humor

2004-08-12T14:51:00.000-04:00

Came across this site, thanks to Carlo. Now thats what you call a WHIM.

Hey! Now, we have a first name for the F()CK#R. CAPTAIN EDWARD MURPHY. Faye and I are right now talking about evil Ed. He just really sucks doesn't he? Anyway, we are talking about trudging along despite Ed's (sometimes EXPENSIVE) sense of humor and stuff that we're having to sacrifice because of his law. We all just gotta trudge along. So trudge we shall.

I want my powerbook NOW. grr.

Danke Schoen und Achtes Fenster

2004-08-11T00:57:00.000-04:00

I never thought I'd have something to write about only hours after my first blog but here I am. After having spent the better part of my day trying to decipher the patterns behind Guyguy's banging on my Korg Trinity, I have at last my peace and quiet. And, surprise, surprise, a couple of things to write about!

Let's begin with the thank yous. I would like to thank Andrelinas (see links section and click on "Jeline" for background info) for helping me out with my blog template. After a little tweaking here and there, Madame Anjeline and I have finally figured out how to put up a LINKS SECTION. Yaaaay. I'm surprised to find out that blogger.com does not boast a "blogger wizard" of some sort that spits out a spanking new blog at the users' click of a mouse. At the very least something that will not require me to tinker with the CODE. Oh well. Maybe it's God telling me I'm too lazy. I would also like to thank KFC for my dinner. One thing to look forward to once I land on American soil: cheap but tasty fast food. Jolegs even told me about this restaurant with TAKE OUT BUFFET. Sanamagan.

Anyhoo, here's the bulk of my second blog. It's actually taken from an email I sent to our egroup. I'm being risky by posting it here. If Monsieur Consul from WINDOW 8 (Achtes Fenster) of the U.S. Embassy receives RSS feeds, I'm toast. Anyway, here goes:

Rainy Monday Blues

Hola everyone. I'm back, still reeling from my interesting day at theembassy. Before anything else, I'd like to announce that I've beenwhat you might call SEMI-APPROVED. Here's the story.

My day started at 1:30 AM. My restful slumber was disturbed by a phonecall. I answer:

GP: "hheello?"
ROBIN: "Hi Geefeeeh!"
GP: "o?"
ROBIN: "AY TULOG KA BA?! BAT ANG AGA MO NAMAN MATULOG?!"
GP: "visa interview ko mamaya lola"
ROBIN: "AH! Ehehehihihihi. Okaaaaaaay tulog na uliiiiit goodniiiiight..."

Something like that. Tawa ako nang tawa after that conversation.Anyway, as I started to go back to sleep I saw, invitingly perched onthe bedside table, this book that Sir Jojo lent me. PREY by Michael Crichton. Sabihin na lang natin na sobrang galing ni Michael Crichton magsulat. I read the book until I finished it. And when I did, it was already just a few minutes before I had to wake up. Wunderbar.

I left the house at around 5ish am for my 730ish am appointment. As I leisurely drove along Buendia I noticed that the sky was BLACK ahead of me (which gave me book-related jitters... you really should read the book). Wunderbar. So anyway I parked in front of Starbucks Padre Faura and walked to the embassy, armed with my folderful of documents (perfectly arranged for easy access and organization), my white jacketand my orange umbrella. To be greeted by what seemed to be a mile worth of people in line for their interviews. So there I was standing in line with around 200 or so people on thesidewalk of Roxas Boulevard, with a black cloud above me and highly enterprising Pinoys hawking everything you might need, from ways to take 2x2 pictures to ballpens, to folders, to UMBRELLAS. They made a killing that day because, as promised by said black sky, it rained.And it poured. They must have sold 50 umbrellas. At one hundred each that's not bad at all. At that point I figured: this must happen a lot (rainy day on roofless sidewalk in front of American Embassy) for these Pinoys to be ready for it. And at THAT point I started thinking: at 5,600 pesos per application, these two hundred people soaking in the rain are worth 1, 120, 000 pesos! MORE THAN ENOUGH to to cover the expenses of putting a simple roof along the sidewalk.

After a few more minutes of America-bashing in my mind, I entered the embassy and walked towards the side of the Pavillion marked 7:30.There was a guy shouting: "O PILA NA DITO ANG STUDENT VISA APPLICANTS." I was right in front of him. So I managed to be second in line. I was given a stub with "1001" written on it. Apparently, the first number they give out there is 1000. So things were looking up. When we got to the "documents check" section, the man in front of me (mister1000) realized that he lacked the pink thingie that the bank gave out when you pay for the application. He was faced with no other option but to step aside, wonder where in CAGAYAN DE ORO he might have placed his pink thingie, and just settle for another visa interview.

So here I was first in line and, I figure, first to be interviewed as well, right? It was not to be the case. After this lady with long pink fingernails (what is it with the Embassy and the color pink anyway?) told me that everything about my application was in order she told me to go ahead inside and wait for my turn. I entered the "interview area" and sat down to wait.

A couple of hours later, and after having had a front row view of people getting denied one after the other, Istarted to fear window eight. The window 8 consul was much worse than the notorious Korean girl, I kid you not. He listened intently to the person he was interviewing, showing no signs whatsoever that he was bent on denying said kawawa person's application. And then he'd say "Actually, based on the new laws of the United States of America you are ineligible.Thank you." Bi@@@tch! So, anyway, I was glad I was just seeing this. And then the screen in front of me flashed: "1001 ----- WINDOW EIGHT."I felt like I was just flushed down the toilet. And after saying to myself: "CONFIDENCE... CONFIDENCE..." I walked up to him.

CONSUL: "Hi how is your day?"
ME: "A little wet but otherwise fine" (REAL ME: "Not so good now thatI'm in front of your window."

We launch into a conversation about my application.

CONSUL: "I see youve been denied a visa once"
ME: "Yes."
CONSUL: "Do you know why?"
ME: "You know what, to be honest with you, I really don't know. But Itrust the consuls decision, she may have thought I wasn't comingback."

CONFIDENCE.... CONFIDENCE...

CONSUL: What instrument do you play?
ME: Piano.CONSUL: But do you sing?
ME: Of course. I'm a member of a choir.
CONSUL:What kind of choral music do you like the most?

I was singing Sir Agot Espino's "Magsiawit Kayo" in my mind whilewaiting for my turn. Nice song, by the way. Glad it's now part of the ACS mass rep...

ME: Folkloric songs.

At this point I explained to him what folkloric songs are, telling himhow interesting the folkoric songs of other countries are and that...

CONSUL: Sing me one.

I didn't see that coming.

CONFIDENCE....CONFIDENCE......

ME: Oh suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuure. You know what, I'll sing you a song thatcan be considered an AMERICAN FOLKLORIC SONG.

ME (sings with full voice, as if I had all the confidence in the world in me): "GIVE ME THAT OOOOLD TIME RELIGION, THAT OOOOOLD... you know what this is ACTUALLY what we sang for you guys when we applied for our visa last time. Now you get to hear it solo.... TIME RELIGION. GIVE ME THAT OOOOOOOLD TIME 'LIGION, IT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR MEEE."

confidence....confidence....

And to make a long story short, after a rather loquacious interview and an entertaining song, the consul was pretty much convinced. I then thought to myself: "ITS IN THE BAG."

CONSUL: I'm gonna give you a temporary denial.

GREAT.

CONSUL: "It doesn't really mean anything. It just means that I need you to submit some other documents. Your application is strong so I think it's as good as approved. Besides, you did sing for me."

So here I am suddenly nursing a mysterious flu and writing this lengthy email to announce that I have been semi-approved. Orsemi-denied. Hassles notwithstanding, I'd say this was a very very interesting rainy Monday.

So there. I did it. Mister Consul, if you're reading this.... I love you.

As a postscript, I would like to congratulate Sir Jojo for setting up HIS OWN blog. This should be interesting. I wonder if Gary Graden has one too.... Hmm.

Overture

2004-08-10T04:31:00.000-04:00

I have given in. I never thought I'd find myself writing my own blog but, alas, here I go.

The first thing you may want to know is "What's up with the title?" I blame Trina Belamide for that. A few weeks ago I was at Robin's place cramming for the Dr. Hofileña Tribute and we were busy with the "Anthology" CD design. Robin had just finished it and was asking us for our opinions. Trina said something that sounded like gibberish and then burst into laughter. Apparently she was trying to ask Robin kung "kasya siya sa short bond?" Problem was, she couldn't. She literally couldn't say the phrase. At which point (and being the curious Pinoys that we are) we (Aying, Robin and I) subjected ourselves to the self-deprecating motions of trying to say the phrase over and over. We couldn't. I've never witnessed Manay laugh so hard. That was the point when I realized how much endorphins laughter can produce. We trudged along and finished what we had to do. The tribute and the CD were big hits and we had a bagful of funny memories to take home with us.

So here we are: me writing this blog and you reading it. Strange. If you want to find out who Dr. Hofileña is and why he deserved a tribute, or if you wanna check up on me to see if I had new funny memories to write about then read along and welcome to my Blogworld. It is mine and I shall call it "Susan."

But first, you gotta say it with me.... "Kasya siya sa short bond?"