I've read a Fable comics from Vertigo, the plastic was open, and it was an hour or two before the anticipated mass. Cool story and premise, Goldilocks is a sexy, gun-totting, mass murderer. And she still loves poridge!

UAAP pala ngayon, kaya pala maraming tao. Haha.

So tinitignan ko ung statistics nitong blog ko and I've noticed that this is my 100th blog. So far there had been 130 people looking in my blog for 327 times, which means one person at least look at my blog at an average of 2.5153846153846153846153846153846 times or someone looks at my blog at an average of 1.8579545454545454545454545454545 per day since January 11, 2008 as of July 5, 2008 at 10:42 AM. Haha. I know its pathetic.

Well I just realize I love blogging...

Parang diary na feeling personal pero

So what happened thus far?

Well for starters http://theophilusbong.multiply.com had been created sometime in August 2006, 10:32 AM, in the Computer Center at Letran-Calamba, unit number 32 (memorize ko pa 'no?). Since I don't know anyone yet that uses Multiply (nasa Seminaryo pa ako nito) I posted only one blog about my daily routine in the seminary and then stopped.

Ang kauna-unahang tumingin at unang contact ay si Bueno (http://blueheaven14.multiply.com/), haha.

Then after two years, because some of my classmates at 2JRN2 had told me they saw me at Multiply, napag-alaman ko na may blog pala ako sa Multiply and then someone is already blogging about me. In my humblest opinion, if someone is blogging you or you can find your name in Google, then I think your ego just had your fill to the brim, haha. 

Then feeling bored I just wrote things in it, I resumed posting in January 11, 2008 at 1:03 PM. Si Nachi (http://nachoy.multiply.com/) pa nga ang kauna-unahang nag-komento sa aking blog!

So what happened for the past six months of activity in Multiply. I wrote about the Starbucks culture (http://theophilusbong.multiply.com/journal/item/18), some short stories, I am working currently on a shitty novel, I also irritated and was later deleted as a contact by an atheist who I constantly doubted his doubt, I posted  14 events, 14 albums, 9 videos, 5 links, 4 reviews, 4 drafts, 3 musics, I shared a very poor advice on love and relationships with this woman in my blog, I received a undeserving praise from that woman, I have Dong Abay the rockstar in my contacts, Manuel L. Quezon III commenting in one of my entries, two private blogs exclusive one for Apol (http://applekiss027.multiply.com/) and one for me, and I have 66 short replies in my Guestbook.

Multiply.

I currently have 91 contacts and unlike my dying and naghihingalong Friendster, majority ay kakilala ko at nakita ko na ng personal. Ang pinakamadal-dal dito sa Multiply ko are my Journ friends, haha. It is a good thing by the way.

Convulated, wait dinugo ako dun sa word, ang mga relationships namin dito, ung iba granddaughters ko, ung iba grandmothers ko, tapos ung isa pa nga girlfriend ko or something. So don't trust any 'relationships' of it dito, haha.

Some characterize my blog as Anti-Gloria and more recently Anti- John Lloyd, though I am not fond of her regime neither of his acting streak I never call for her resignation or the death of his career. Haha. Let just make that clear.

So what is the vision of my blog?

I would like to believe that my blog is not solely and entirely a political blog (though I must say I do enjoy veering in that direction), it is not solely a personal one either (I always take great care to appeal to the reader and not alienate them by talking something far from their experience), it is not really a blog discussing Academic Philosophy (I know none of you would dare read a criticism of Ramanuja's panentheism or Dawkin's memetics),it is not solely whining on every trivial things (though I grew fond on doing so) and it is not solely a discussion on love because I suck on giving advices nor I would like to purposely/consciously write to make someone laugh.

So what is theophilusbong?

It is my observations on society as a Filipino and as a member of humanity with a heavy Catholic Pinoy tone with a little bit of Taoist outlook. 

It is about me and how your lives had affected me in the process.

It is how I live my life in the best way possible and inspiring you to live yours in the best way possible too.

Corny,'no? But that is the main purpose of my blog, stolen shots on living and placing it on the wall to be admired and be pondered about.

Well this is my retrospect on my 100th Blog entry. What's yours?

Since we know that light travels faster than sound.

We can see other people as something bright until we hear them speak.

Paul just stared, half-amused and half-curious on why Georgea was laughing at him.

"So you're saying in that Arc a creature live, a creature who eats dreams and futures, and that's what explain the urban legend in the University?"

"That pretty much summed what I know about that Arc. But I never seen the creature, to see them as I've heard, require a sacrifice of the eyes." Paul replied flatly to Georgea, unaware of her sarcasm.

"Okay... You're cute when the occult gets into you, really you are." Said Georgea blushingly, she really meant it as she fancy this silent and brooding guy with his weird stories on Manila. They walked toward the Main Building along the trees of what the students call as 'Lover's Lane', they walk silently and their hands brush along each other.

Georgea blushed as she felt his hands against her.

Paul did not notice that moment.

Bangungot, the creature living in the Arc, watched them with lust and hunger.

---

Working on Chapter 2, just introduced you with two characters in my universe, haha.

PROLOUGE: http://theophilusbong.multiply.com/journal/item/98

CHAPTER I:
http://theophilusbong.multiply.com/journal/item/102/Chapter_I_Before_the_Storm

http://www.pinoyexchange.com/forums/showthread.php?s=0890d7a163480891f0955e8a051528ed&t=213433

Enjoy!

Go USTe!!!

All I need is a hundred more peso and I can buy Neil's Anansi Boys. But crap I only have two hundred and fifty bucks in my wallet because of the org. fair earlier. *sniffs*

So Ma'am Villaba, the yogi/philosophy professor/seventy something (I guess), was my only class for today. I plan to go home and dream of reading another Gaiman.

Then I stopped when I was seeing people going to this ice cream vendor as I pass Plaza Mayor.

Curious I neared.

Learning that it was free I neared further.

Ice Cream!

Then I saw Nachi, she was running towards me, I thought she was angry about my blog on John Lloyd (actually she is in some degree I guess) and after some confusing synapses in my mind I hypothesized she will hit me or something.

I almost blurted out "I DON'T HATE JOHN LLOYD, PLEASE DON"T HIT ME", then she did something worse, she recruited me in an organization. *sniff*

But what the heck, I think TomWeb will be cool (even with some negative comments from the last semester from those who recruited me, haha, but Jicky sporting a DSLR really sealed the deal) and I joined Circulo Hispano Thomasino so I can develop and be fluent in a third language (and an additional point for my final grade in SPN1).

A long day for a single one and a half hour class, two new organization with a hundred pesos membership fee each (we will meet soon Anasi!), ice cream which is not really free, and Bayad Center as I go home.

These actually sum my day before I lied on the floor to watch Oprah then switched to The History Channel featuring Ivan the Terrible, some crazy dude who likes poking pointy things on people, and well writing on Chapter 2 of my still untitled work. I can't think of any title. Any suggestions?

So...

Along the strenght of the river, just float and enjoy the sky, the birds, the clouds. And let that same river bring you to shore.

Man, I think I'm going thinner and thinner because of the class schedules. Damn it. Due to some observations, I will no longer use the term pwet to stress my discomfort on informal issues but will shift on more neutral quasi-curses as to refine myself, do note I never intend it to pertain to an anatomical part. Haha nag-explain pa ako.

So gusto ko medjo English, since si Jicky talked to me in English earlier (connect?).

So the June draws to a close.

Olypics is nearing (like I care) in.

800 bodies are still under that dismal ship with a then unreported pesticide shipment (which have a global ban on that chemical but Del Monte is well Del Monte, so fuck you world for not letting Del Monte gas its plantation and feed its fruit on the public).

Sulpico Lines blames Frank the storm, PAG-ASA the weather beaurea, and God... well as God I guess.

Pacquio won. Papa Manny balato!!!

Para sa iyo ang laban na ito... wooooh!!!

President Gloria is like a crack groupie following este phoning lang pala Obama. Pathetic. She is the visible symbol of the Republic, the Head of our State for crying out loud, and falling to that low level just to hear the voice of someone who is not yet president and letting her (and her allies') people die off from storms and oil prices is well... just unbecoming.

Obama: "Hello, who is this?"

GMA: *heavy breathing*

Obama: "What the fuck? Is that you Hillary?"

Dyesebel you're so cute. Ulul. My mother is gaga on the show. Man, I want to watch the Qin Dynasty, but noooo let's watch a fish woman instead. Great.

I thought she acts kind of retarded in Marimar, well I stand corrected

If I become a ninja I want to be a friendly ninja who protects people for only fifty pesos just like in the comics I read!!!

Ninja love! Watcha!

Don't get me started with John and drug addiction.

Sinong matinong tao ang nagbabaon nang isang banig ng Biogesic palagi?

Neil Gaiman is NOT a visual artist!!! He is an author!!! Dave McKean is the visual artist.

Neil, some girl I stole this photo from Flickr (sorry), Dave

Our proffesor in Political Dynamics is a total drama queen. She... er... I mean he called the whole class "You are a pathetic class. You bore me" or something to that effect. Then he dismisses the class an hour and a half earlier. I think I heard a snapping of fingers as he went out. Oh well, I love UST at night, it gave you an eerie feeling and how that huge TV screen along Lacson Ave. corner Espanya Ave. acts like a huge spotlight at the intersection.

I will start on writing for Chapter Two in my untitled work which the drafts are posted for public viewing here in Multiply. Do comment. It is a pathetic high mythology I am trying to compose. Again, do comment or PM me for ideas I will really appreciate it. :)

 Prolouge: A Rainy Night

-------

Three days before the storm.

Murderous eyes stared and lusted at Alex. Ready to tear his limb. The dark wolf gnarled at him, showing its ancient yellow teeth adorned with spells and magic written in an old and dead language. He can understand the language the spells were written in, as he can understand he will be dead soon. The wolf circled at him, he can feel the moist ground under his bare feet, and he can hear his heart pounding at him, going in rhythm with the wolf’s hungry groans.

Then Alex was awake.

His cellphone was ringing a familiar tune at a familiar time of the day. He looked at the cellphone still playing a song from The Carpenters. He rose up, and even though it was already cold in his empty tent, he was wet with perspiration.

He answered the phone.

“Mom, ”Alex said as he rubbed his fingers on his temple, “yes, ma we will leave tonight with Dr. Perez… no ma I am not sick… I just had a nightmare again that’s all…”

The wind made noise with the trees outside. A storm was coming on San Flavian, an impoverished and small Albay town he and Dr. Perez was staying for the last three months. The town was twelve kilometers away from the national road, and it was two-hour drive away from their archeological dig. But amazingly, there was still a strong cellphone signal in this obscure part of Bicol.

 The only thing that made Alex uncomfortable as he stayed in San Flavian, other than his mother calling at him every six hours or the nightmare he had for two days now, was an old man named Mang Angelo who shook his head in a regretful fashion every time Alex go to the barrio. But overall he enjoyed his three months away from his over-protective mother, at least in the physical sense. He also enjoyed San Flavian’s spicy food, the beautiful summit of Mount Mayon and the playful children, unaware of the poverty around them, who ran after him to show their achievements in their coloring books. Dr. Perez gave a dozen of it with four boxes of crayons to each of them as some early Christmas gift.

Poor folks, Alex sadly thought, have to bear the storm and all.

“No ma,” answered Alex as his thoughts came back to the tent, “Dr. Perez and I discovered something that will change Filipino history for ever… no ma it is not some urn believe me, you will be proud of me… no ma Dr. Perez is not NPA, he is just UP… no ma I think father will be proud of me up there even if I didn’t enrolled for a business course… no ma, just look at Ambeth Ocampo, he is a popular and successful Atenista, I can, no, I will be also a hallmark of Ateneo with this discovery.”

Dr. Perez stood outside of his tent as he tapped his wristwatch. Alex saw him and smiled apologetically and made a gesture. Dr. Perez nodded and returned outside. Alex can hear Dr. Perez as he instructed further the workers with them.

“Yes ma, I wished dad never died too… I love him too… and no ma, I won’t die on you,” Alex’s eyes started to water, he wiped it off with the back of his hands.

“I will be back there around nine in the morning… love you too ma, bye.”

He looked at the phone and sighed. Alex fumbled for his glasses and wore it as he went outside.

It was cold outside and the late afternoon sun is nowhere to be seen.

“Low depression, but the storm will hit land two or three days from now,” shouted Dr. Perez at Alex. Dr. Perez wore gray jacket, khaki shorts, a ridiculously large hiking boots and a trucker hat with the UP Archeological Society emblem on it.

“Sorry about earlier,”

“About your mother? I actually grew fond of her six-hour routine; The Carpenters are very calming you see," Alex blushed, his mother explicitly instructed him to assign a The Carpenters song to all of her five numbers that were registered in his cellphone, “well I don’t really expect your mother to be that open, since you are an Atenista in the middle of a poor province.”

“Hey that’s not fair, I don’t caricature your kind as a bunch of NPA!”

“Well, Alex, my Atenista, pampered, bourgeois, young colleague, too bad I’m not that diplomatic.” Winked Dr. Perez and they both laughed.

The three grueling months of dig and excavation, the three months of mosquito bites and generator powered lights, the three months of The Carpenters songs playing for every six hours and Mang Angelo’s pesky and gloomy aura were all drawing to a close and they will return to Manila as new national heroes.

The muscles, as Alex would privately think of the fifteen workers they brought to dig up the site, all rode in a flatbed truck. Dr. Perez made sure the large crate containing what he dubbed as ‘something that will change Filipino History, as we know it,’ was secured on the same truck as the muscles. Satisfied he returned to his Terrano where Alex was waiting.

“Manila, here we come, but first we must say our farewell to the Capitan.”

“This will be a long ride,”

“You better sleep or something, here I will play Karen just for you,” jested Dr. Perez as he inserted a CD of The Carpenters.

Alex smiled weakly not because of the redundant insult but because he really don’t want to sleep. Actually he wants to sleep, but he hoped not to dream. The dirt road was hypnotic, and Karen’s voice was soothing, sleep prevailed and nightmares seeped in.

He was running now. Running for his life. Then he met a wall of stone, carved by giants of old from a hill, he whimpered and he turned around looking for a place to run. Then he saw it again and he knew it was too late. The wolf, with incantations and spells engraved in its yellow knife-like teeth which were visible as it gnarled, stood at his front. Panting, calculating, menacing. And it continued to gnarl and salivate.

Alex stepped back. His back felt the cold wall of stone and the rocks felt his heart. Then the wolf shifted its weight and jumped at Alex, its huge body blocked the moon – blocked his hope.

Then he was awake. Dr. Perez looked at him worried at the immobile Terrano parked outside the Town Hall of San Flavian. It was already twilight.

“You have to lay off The Carpenters Alex,” joked Dr. Perez trying to ease him.

Alex smiled weakly and nodded. He was about to tell him about his nightmare when Dr. Perez continued.

“This won’t take too long, a little goodbyes and thank you that’s all,” then he left the car as Alex looked at him entering the Town Hall. The air-con dried his perspiration and he can see the muscles from the driver’s side of the window. They are talking at the other end of the parking lot. He tried to figure out his nightmares, he had it for two days now. It felt so real and the danger felt so close.

He nearly shouted when someone tapped the window at his back. He turned his back expecting a murderous wolf, but it was something worse, it was Mang Angelo. He lowered the window to humor the old man.

“Bad dream?” Mang Angelo asked.

“Yes… I started having it for quite some time,” he said half-alluding to Mang Angelo as the bad dream. The old man was silent, thinking deeply as he stared at the ground. He fumbled in his pocket and gave Alex a talisman made of ebony and fashioned like an upright man in Igorot wood crafting style.

“Wear it. I pray to God that your dream remain as such, just a dream, a product of the bad weather or bad food. If it is more, let just hope for the better it is not more. You see Mr. Alex, sir, the fallen brother must stay fallen.”

“Fallen brother?”

Mang Angelo nodded and pointed at the fading silhouette of Mount Mayon in the dusk. Alex turned to look at the volcano, but didn’t understand what the old man was trying to say. He turned back to ask but saw Mang Angelo already leaving into the darkness.

“Crazy old man,” whispered Alex under his breath. He looked at the talisman and shrugged as he wore it, “crazy but generous on souvenirs.”

Dr. Perez came out running back to the car. The flatbed truck started its engine.

“Okay, next stop Manila.”

He was awake. He slept for three hours or so but had never dreamt of anything. The Beatle’s song Michelle filled the car. Dr. Perez drove ahead of the convoy, the truck following his lead, as trees and many more trees zoomed by. Alex looked at his watch and it said 9:46. They are really in the province, only 9:46 and the whole road was dark and gloomy. Only the convoy of the Terrano and the flatbed truck seemed to fill the dark road with light- and presumably with life.

Fourteen more minutes and his cellphone will play The Carpenters again. He sighed and thought on how to come up with a witty reply at Dr. Perez.

“Check point,” announced Dr. Perez.

There was an outpost that blocked the road. Two men in fatigues and in M-14s hailed the Terrano. Dr. Perez fumbled at the glove compartments for the papers and rolled down his window to greet the two soldiers.

“Good evening,” greeted Dr. Perez.

The man with a long face grunted as the second man with a round face and a moustache neared the vehicle to get and inspect the papers.

“You ought not to be out here at this time of night, NPAs tend to do their mission at night, don’t want civilians being dead or something,” said the man with a moustache.

“Yes sir, I would keep that in mind, but we need to be in Manila and as far as I know the government is the enemy of the NPA not the people,” winked Dr. Perez, his UP orientation kicking in. Alex tried not to think of being found naked and dead, but he failed. Fuck, why must Dr. Perez wise ass manifest itself at the dead of night in the middle of nowhere in front of guys with guns, Alex thought.

“An archeologist from UP?” commented the man with a moustache, Alex prayed to all the angels and saints to arrive breathing and kicking in Manila “Tsk tsk… you people ought to know where your loy-…”

An army jeep exploded as something bright had come from the forest. A rocket launcher, Alex thought. The two soldiers ducked and started shooting at the direction of the rocket.

“Fuck!” said the man with a moustache.

“Shit… shit… NPA!!!” shouted the man with a long face as he fired at the darkness. And five more soldiers came hurrily out of a nipa hut and started shooting at the forest. A bright light came out again of the forest hitting the nipa hut and sending the soldiers near it flying into the air.

Another bright light wheezed off from the darkness, just nine feet from the Terrano, hitting the shoulder of the road. Dr. Perez stepped at the gas and drove away from the outpost, the truck following his lead. The two soldiers, ignoring them and continued on firing at the unseen enemy.

“That is some crazy fucking stuff,” gasped Dr. Perez as bright lights still descend at the smoldering outpost and explosions following it. Alex pulled his seatbelt, locked it and breathed heavily.

The Carpenters started to play somewhere in the car. Then there was a bright light hitting two feet ahead of the Terrano. Alex’s world became dark, but he was not sleeping.

I LOVE every moments with my adoptive family sa Journ and CA. Especially the interesting and bubbly souls that made college life bearable. That is why I'm really sad na wala akong classes with them this semester.

But as they say in Taoism, don't fight the rapids, let the power of the river take you to the banks.

Two and a half weeks zoom by...

After some shifty and ecstatic temperatures, tragedies at sea, and the ever-changing student discount on fares, I think riding the torrents of the river feels kind of good.

So, I have classes with four new sections. Interesting bunch of people. So...

First stop, 1PHL (First Year Philo)

Halatang mga first years mga ito. Very noisy and have shitty powerpoints for reports. One thing that I found quite amusing sa kanila is that they all freakishly speak in straight English. I mean they just speak in English with an accent. Last time I check hindi Ateneo ang pinasukan ko. Haha.

3LM2 (Third Year Legal Management)

I have an old high school classmate dito. All in all entertaining people, lalo na ung kiti-kiting babae dun, laging lumalabas ng classroom. Damn, daming dapat patunayan. Haha.

3PHL (Third Year Philo)

Thank God! Mababait ang mga ka-batch ko!!! Haha.

Funny people and I already made new friends. There is Pat, super friendly and acts like a guide or something. Haha.

Give her some love!!!

She kind of reminds me of a character in Hello Franceska sa may Arirang, yung Korean channel.

3SCL (Third year Sociology)

Interesting people. Especially yung girl with the super cute na boses. Well I was just humiliated by the Spanish language dahil nag-kalat ako nung recitation. I always made no justice pagdating sa mga foreign languages.

I messed and totally blew my English when I was young, I sucked big time in Latin in my Seminary days and now Spanish. Oh well, got to move on and learn from my mistakes.

On other matters...

Gago talaga ang Sulpicio Lines.

Masarap ang kahit anong biskit kapag pagod ka na at gutom.

Masarap ang mag Ping-Pong ng mag-isa na naka underwear at nagsisitakbo sa bahay para mahabol ang bolang tumatalbog. Ping-Pong is fun...fun...FUN!!!

Hindi pa pumapasok si Sir Reyes sa anumang klase ko sa kanya.

I'm enjoying tambalang Balahura habang naghuhugas ng mga plato at baso sa umaga.

I have reason to hypothesize that I have an evil twin.

Books in Circulation: Mythology Class (Pat), The Tao of Pooh (Jicky), The Hobbit (Sam), On the Shortness of Life (Tita Melda)

DVD in Circulation: Fight Club (Apol), Erik Mana's Mastermind (Julius), Saw II (Kelvin)

The story I'm working on is growing! Thanks Apol for the characters!

CCP Museum kami sa Sunday, buong pamilya.

Pupunta daw ang Hari ng Espanya (hindi ung Avenue) at ung Santo Papa sa 2011 celebration natin, hopefully iba na sana ang presidente natin nun.

I can't wate for Avatar: The Last Airbender, kahit si Shyalaman na ang mag-direk boto na ako sa kanya.

Hey congrats Carol at na-receive mo na rin ung award mong pinakahihintay mo, haha.

Bakit maraming babaeng mukhang gift ngayon dahil sa headband nila?

DL ako. Cool. Kaso lang 1.6 something. Baba naman kasi magbigay ni Sir.

Anansi Boys!!!

Yaya is such a loser!

Well late naman ako pumasok and I feel bad watching the news. Fuck, I hate tragedies, it makes me feel helpless. But times like these I have to salute the goodness in men's hearts and the love that makes us hurt but at the same time make us move on

Let us pause for a while in silence...

May pasok na ulit bukas. Spanish prayers seems to refuse to seep into my skull. Fuck Binay for being such a total wuss, kababayan ko pa naman kita, tsk. I feel bad on how politicians seem to enjoy the tragedy.

I also need to find a good museum. Any suggestions? Sinong gustong sumama?

Well hugas pa ako ng plato. Ahahaha.

Okay, new fresh meats had been formally introduced to the college world and for the first to second week they had and will experience the UST as something of a cross between a Venice and a Vietnam, haha. Fresh from high school they look so young and well their faces are not (yet) ravaged by heavy scholastic loads or the terror of proffesors. Tsk tsk.

Magkakapimpols rin kayo!!! Bwahahahahahaha.

Eneweis, last night was brownout. Kaso street lang ata namin because the next block has electricity!!! Damn you Judy Ann!!! Damn you!!!

Pwet kandila lang ang tinititigan ko, walang TV, walang DSL, walang mabasang libro or hand-outs at mahirap pala maghugas ng mga plato at baso na ilaw lamang ng kandila ang gumagabay. In the darkness I mentally create further the universe na inaayos ko, I'm thinking on how Amaron ought to die and how Asuang will invade Makati. Hmmmm.

I need to look for a pirated version ng Adobe, stagnant na ang aking Deviantart. Hirap naman kasing mag-download sa mininova, ung iba mga virus. Tsk tsk.

I also want a Holga, a scanner bed, a tablet, a DLSR, a new skateboard and a wine collection.

Pwet kumakanta na si Erap sa radyo? Fuck.

I LOVE Avatar: The Last Air-Bender. Sana h'wag na si Shyamalan ang mag-direk. Pwet na direktor un...feeling. Spend the last two weeks downloading the latest episodes. Haha.

ZU-TA-RA!!!

(They're soooo hot!!!)

So it was brownout last night, at medjo malakas pa rin ang ulan, basang-basa ako sa ulan dahil naghuhugas ako ng plato sa gitna ng bagyo. To comfort myself sa malamig na mga ambon sa aking balat I drifted off to an imaginary world in my skull... weeeeeh.

Me: *points to a first year* "You there! What is your major?"

First Year #1: "Journ sir"

Me: *points to another first year* "And you?"

First Year #2: "I'm a Philo sir"

Me: "Juniors!!! What is your major?!?!?"

Everyone: AWU!!! AWU!!!

---

  Welcome to the UST family you young tigers, you!!! 

The moon steadily moves to the west and the storm grew worse. On top of a condemned building stands three people. An old graying man with sparse white beard who wears a black woolen trenchcoat stands wet under the rain. While a child with hairs like noodles and a well-built man shares an umbrella.

They are silent for a time. The two who share the umbrella look at the wet old man with a nagging curiosity. Then the child speaks.

"Tell me a story, a story from a hunt would be delightful!" requests Oyayi.

"Yes, do tell us a story" repeats the handsome man under the umbrella.

"You are fools to ask me to do such a thing. No holocaust of goats or chicken, not even a cigarette and you dare to demand as such from me!

"My stories worth more than a request from the two of you.You know better Amaron and Oyayi to ask such, not even Tadaklan and his hound could be arrogant enough." sneers the old man.

"And none could be humbler, Kuento." comments Amaron with a grin.

Kuento looks at Amaron dumbfounded as he try to think of a witty comeback. But nothing comes to his mind. Oyayi giggles at the silly expression painted in Kuento's face.

"So other than declaring your humility to me and Oyayi, why do you request an audience with us on top of this condemned building in such a rainy and cold night?" Amaron continues.

"And why us?" asks Oyayi, her hazel eyes still filled with curiosity.

The rain pours heavily still, and Kuento produces a cigarette from his dark coat, lit it between his middle and ring finger and proceeds to smoke. He listens at the rain as it hits the cement and he sigh as he looks at them.

"For your presence here Oyayi a muse and a fairy of the Southern Lake and Amaron the clever and the brave of the Northern plains, I will honor your audiences with a story - a new story of gods and heroes, of thing that will past..."

He bends forward to the two, as if honoring a king with a poetry of war. He is good at this and had done this for ages past. And Kuento lifts himself and starts to tell them a story. Then silence fell over them.

Amaron was dumbfounded and Oyayi looks blankly as Kuento finishes his story.

Kuento sigh at their pale faces as he steps over the cigarette he was smoking. The rain still falls and he can't help but stare at the dark sky as he keeps on searching for the stars. 

I woke up today because of the rain. Dun sa mga nakaakyat sa kwarto ko might visualize kung paano magising sa aking attic-kwarto. Masarap, refreshing and with meaning. Pero today I felt a whole lot better because, salamat sa Diyos, nawala na rin ang rayuma ko that is bugging me for the last two weeks. Sa tingin ko dahil naliligo ako kaagad after a long walk from my stop. Haha napapasma mga joints ko.

Speaking of rayuma, or rheumatism para sa mga susyal. Some of my friends do experience a different kind of rayuma in this gloomy season an emotional and spiritual rayuma. Ngayon may mga nagtataka kung may koneksyon nga ba ang lamig ng panahon sa lamig ng kalamnan at emosyon. Wala akong masasagot sa mga ganyang katanungan. 

Dahil wala naman talagang sagot. Ang meron lamang ay mga payo, mga direksyon, mga bituin sa maitim na langit. Sa iyo na ang paglalakbay - sa iyo na ang mga bagay na iyong mapupulot sa naturang paglalakbay

Benjamin Hoff, an American Taoist, once said something to this effect: "Problems tend to solve by itself".

Benjamin Hoff

Seneca, a Roman Stoic, once also said something to this effect: "So you must not think a man has lived long because he has white hair and wrinkles: he has not live long, just existed long"

Seneca

Zuko, a character in the Avatar universe, also said this: "I've been into a lot for the last few years, and its been hard, but I'm realizing that I had to go to all those things to know the truth".

Courtesy of ~AlceDeChocolate

So what is the point of all these quotations?

Problems, you see, are always a part of our life. It is part of our growth. It is part of our maturity. How we deal with it, how we smile at it, how we spit and kick the balls of our problems are what make heroes of the past and this same attitude also what makes the heroes of the present.

Bear and be patient on your problems. Learn from it. Grow on it.

So friends, drink some tea, offer your problems to the merciful God, and shout to the sky: BRING ON THE RAIN!

Siya ang haligi,

Pag-ybig at ang araw,

Ang aking ama.

So...

LRT is free today from 5-7PM. We, my cousin from UST Engineering and I, decided to try it out. Kaso lang sobrang haba ng pila akala ko pila ng bigas. Pwet, napabili na tuloy ako ng ticket gusto ko kasi ng makauwi ng maaga para makapanood ng Avatar: The Last Air Bender.

Akala ko makakatipid ako pero mula UST napabili ako ng P5 buko juice, P12 na Vanilla Ice Cream, P10 na kwek-kwek na penoy, P10 na kwek-kwek na itlog pugo, P14 na LRT ticket, P12 na tricycle. Haaay, it defeats a simple 10km journey (yes, 10 km from UST to my stop somewhere in Anonas, I Google Earth it!) with only a discounted 12 peso fare to pay. Tsk tsk.

Hindi pa tapos uniporme kong pinapatahi ko. Manong naman, alam kong wala kang Multiply, pero bilis-bilisan mo at mahirap maglaba ng uniporme.

Ung titser ko sa literature mukhang tindera sa may Divisoria, alam nyo yun, yung tipong "Hendeh whan por whan-aNdred, whan por whan-aNdred".

May assignment ka-agad.

Nakidnap pala si Cess Drilron.

Patay na si DaBoy. May namatay rin sa may amin, heart attack, isang beses lang sya nagka-heart attack, ayun tigok, tsk tsk.

Kung ang kuryente ay parang yelo bakit kaya hindi natin ilagay sa freezer and tunaw na yelo?

Nasaan na kaya si Wowie De Guzman after the Juday days. Grabe ang kasikatan nya sa mga katulong, I mean inaagawan pa ng TV ang mga amo. Siguro may palabas sya sa Qtv na ilalaban kay Willie Revillame... Wow-Wowie!!!

May nag-add sa akin na sobrang daming degree (may Masters pa!) sa biology, nakakahiya at parang pinupuri pa nya ako. Siyet.

Madalas na akong napapalaro ng StarCraft, Stronghold at Zoo Tycoon 2. Gusto ko na lumabas ang StarCraft 2!!!

Officially adik na ako sa Avatar sa Nickelodeon. Pwet naman ang pa-contest nun sa Gold Coast, Australia, under twelve lang pede. Hmmmm... makahanap nga ng batang pamangkin. Bwahahahahahaha. Ubo, ubo.

Yehey dalawa ang klase ko kay Sir Reyes!!! Inggit na si Apol!!! Haha.

Magkakaroon na ng estasyon sa Monumento.

Kahapon natapos ko na ung American Gods ni Neil Gaiman. Apat na araw kong binasa. Ang ganda pero I will rate it for ages 17+! Daming gore and sex, bawal sa bata at isip bata.

Minsan iniisip ko na ako si Mr. Wednesday..."To us it will be a pleasure palace!!!" Haha. Next books in line, but not necessarily in order, are: Anansi Boys, I,Lucifer, Fragile Things, Baudolino, The God Delusion, i Hola Espanyol !, Explorations, Tao Te Ching, Logic, 300, Princess Bride at ung iba di ko maalala sa ngayon. 

Nagmamahal pa rin ang bilihin. Bumabagsak pa rin ang piso.

110 years na ang Republika... malaya ba talaga tayo?

It was morning, or I guess it was. The saints are looking from the sky, saddened faces follows me as I walk but their stance are stern, their pitied eyes are mixed with an infallible and unmovable conviction. The bustling souls that goes along and against my path are numerous and devoid of identity. And I am half-suprised that I do not have the concept of 'me' in my head anymore.

Devoid too as the damned soul that I come across I continue to walk. Minutes later I came to see a metal gate. And a man of authority , or is it a troll wearing man as a pelt, stationed at the metallic mouth requires me with these words: "Leave your hope all those who enter!" 

I am distracted and I have to squint my eyes and ask him again what he requires.

He looks at me and says: "Leave your hope all those who enter!"

I sighed as his words had missed me again and ask him to repeat once more.

He looks at me, irritated but patient, and says quite hazily as the words morph and bends: " Leeeeave...... bbbBBbbBoooy yung I.D. mo isuot mo para makapasok ka dito, third year ka na hindi mo pa alam ang regulasyon!"

I'm suprised as I snapped back to reality. Pasukan na pala and I'm still stuck with Gaiman's charm the whole summer. Haha. So today are the final days of the vacation, kind of excited and gloomy, in love with study but hate its regimented form. But what the heck.

All is done with that Faculty of ours and I walk home.

I am looking at the afternoon sky now, wondering what the future holds for a student like myself. A plane past by the cloudless blue canvass. That piece of metal looks ridiculously small as it flies over me. Something I can hold and control, as a giant in command of the mountains. But as I realize, I am the one who feel ridiculously small as the plane still moves above me. Stuck on earth, had to bear the storm that will pass, see the sufferings, experience the heart aches. Unlike the plane, if it falls, its passengers won't have to worry as they are in a state of euphoria.

I continue to walk.

I am looking at the trees now as it sways with the wind and I wonder under the afternoon sun what the future holds. As the price of rice is rising, of breads and meat as well. Jeepney fares, LPG and diesel, food and tuition. The Filipino Peso is heading into a virtual collapse as the dollar drags us, and countless other, to the gaping hole. Even Juday, the archetype of maids then now as a modern Filipina, seems to justify our aches as something the old Carabao had to bear with an ice that melts.

I walk.

I am looking at the statue of men I really do not know, of the three virtues (Caritas, Fides, Spes) surrounding that untrustworthy clock. I then look on the lovers shaded by nature and witnessed by the rocks and birds. What future do I expect? What love is there? What do my degree will lead me to? What hope is there?

My walk is uncertain, no questions are answered, no doubts cleared. But I am happy with that as the words of Cicero is given life in my head as I pass souls with identities, with names and dreams.

"Non Scholae sed Vitae Discimus"

And then I just walk, and smile, and walk.

Taken from: http://savetheinternet.com/=faq

What is this about?

When we log onto the Internet, we take a lot for granted. We assume we'll be able to access any Web site we want, whenever we want, at the fastest speed, whether it's a corporate or mom-and-pop site. We assume that we can use any service we like -- watching online video, listening to podcasts, sending instant messages -- anytime we choose.

What makes all these assumptions possible is Network Neutrality.

What is Network Neutrality?

Network Neutrality -- or "Net Neutrality" for short -- is the guiding principle that preserves the free and open Internet.

Put simply, Net Neutrality means no discrimination. Net Neutrality prevents Internet providers from speeding up or slowing down Web content based on its source, ownership or destination.

Net Neutrality is the reason why the Internet has driven economic innovation, democratic participation, and free speech online. It protects the consumer's right to use any equipment, content, application or service on a non-discriminatory basis without interference from the network provider. With Net Neutrality, the network's only job is to move data -- not choose which data to privilege with higher quality service.

Learn more in Net Neutrality 101.

Who wants to get rid of Net Neutrality?

The nation's largest telephone and cable companies -- including AT&T, Verizon, Comcast and Time Warner -- want to be Internet gatekeepers, deciding which Web sites go fast or slow and which won't load at all.

They want to tax content providers to guarantee speedy delivery of their data. They want to discriminate in favor of their own search engines, Internet phone services, and streaming video -- while slowing down or blocking their competitors.

These companies have a new vision for the Internet. Instead of an even playing field, they want to reserve express lanes for their own content and services -- or those from big corporations that can afford the steep tolls -- and leave the rest of us on a winding dirt road.

The big phone and cable companies are spending hundreds of millions of dollars lobbying Congress and the Federal Communications Commission to gut Net Neutrality, putting the future of the Internet at risk.

Is Net Neutrality a new regulation?

Absolutely not. Net Neutrality has been part of the Internet since its inception. Pioneers like Vinton Cerf and Sir Tim Berners-Lee, the inventor of the World Wide Web, always intended the Internet to be a neutral network. And "non-discrimination" provisions like Net Neutrality have governed the nation's communications networks since the 1930s.

But as a consequence of a 2005 decision by the Federal Communications Commission, Net Neutrality -- the foundation of the free and open Internet -- was put in jeopardy. Now cable and phone company lobbyists are pushing to block legislation that would reinstate Net Neutrality.

Writing Net Neutrality into law would preserve the freedoms we currently enjoy on the Internet. For all their talk about "deregulation," the cable and telephone giants don't want real competition. They want special rules written in their favor.

Isn't the threat to Net Neutrality just hypothetical?

No. By far the most significant evidence regarding the network owners' plans to discriminate is their stated intent to do so.

The CEOs of all the largest telecom companies have made clear their intent to build a tiered Internet with faster service for the select few companies willing or able to pay the exorbitant tolls. Network Neutrality advocates are not imagining a doomsday scenario. We are taking the telecom execs at their word.

So far, we've only seen the tip of the iceberg. But numerous examples show that without network neutrality requirements, Internet service providers will discriminate against content and competing services they don't like. This type of censorship will become the norm unless we act now. Given the chance, these gatekeepers will consistently put their own interests before the public good.

The cable and telephone companies already dominate 98 percent of the broadband access market. And when the network owners start abusing their control of the pipes, there will be nowhere else for consumers to turn.

Isn't this just a battle between giant corporations?

No. Our opponents would like to paint this debate as a clash of corporate titans. But the real story is the millions of everday people fighting for their Internet freedom.

Small business owners benefit from an Internet that allows them to compete directly -- not one where they can't afford the price of entry. Net Neutrality ensures that innovators can start small and dream big about being the next EBay or Google without facing insurmountable hurdles. Without Net Neutrality, startups and entrepreneurs will be muscled out of the marketplace by big corporations that pay for a top spot on the Web.

If Congress turns the Internet over to the telephone and cable giants, everyone who uses the Internet will be affected. Connecting to your office could take longer if you don't purchase your carrier's preferred applications. Sending family photos and videos could slow to a crawl. Web pages you always use for online banking, access to health care information, planning a trip, or communicating with friends and family could fall victim to pay-for-speed schemes.

Independent voices and political groups are especially vulnerable. Costs will skyrocket to post and share video and audio clips, silencing bloggers and amplifying the big media companies. Political organizing could be slowed by the handful of dominant Internet providers who ask advocacy groups or candidates to pay a fee to join the "fast lane."

What else are the phone and cable companies not telling the truth about?

AT&T and others have funded a massive misinformation campaign, filled with deceptive advertising and "Astroturf" groups like Hands Off the Internet and NetCompetition.org.

Learn how to tell apart the myths from the realities in our report, Network Neutrality: Fact vs. Fiction.

What's at stake if we lose Net Neutrality?

The consequences of a world without Net Neutrality would be devastating. Innovation would be stifled, competition limited, and access to information restricted. Consumer choice and the free market would be sacrificed to the interests of a few corporate executives.

On the Internet, consumers are in ultimate control -- deciding between content, applications and services available anywhere, no matter who owns the network. There's no middleman. But without Net Neutrality, the Internet will look more like cable TV. Network owners will decide which channels, content and applications are available; consumers will have to choose from their menu.

The free and open Internet brings with it the revolutionary possibility that any Internet site could have the reach of a TV or radio station. The loss of Net Neutrality would end this unparalleled opportunity for freedom of expression.

The Internet has always been driven by innovation. Web sites and services succeeded or failed on their own merit. Without Net Neutrality, decisions now made collectively by millions of users will be made in corporate boardrooms. The choice we face now is whether we can choose the content and services we want, or whether the broadband barons will choose for us.

What's happening in Congress?

The SavetheInternet.com Coalition applauds the recent introduction of the bipartisan “Internet Freedom Preservation Act 2008” (HR 5353). Introduced on Feb. 12, 2008 by Reps. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Chip Pickering (R-Miss.), this landmark bill would protect Net Neutrality and spark a much-needed public conversation about the future of the Internet.

The new bill would enshrine Net Neutrality -- the longstanding principle that Internet service providers cannot discriminate against Web sites or services based on their source, ownership or destination -- into the Communications Act. It also requires the Federal Communications Commission to convene at least eight “broadband summits” to collect public input on policies to “promote openness, competition, innovation, and affordable, ubiquitous broadband service for all individuals in the United States.”

Big phone and cable companies like AT&T, Verizon, Comcast and Time Warner have been lobbying furiously to kill Net Neutrality. They want to exploit their gatekeeper power to decide what you can do on the Web.

But Markey and Pickering’s bill deals a blow to the gatekeepers by ensuring that the public -- not phone or cable companies -- control the fate of the Internet.

Contact Congress today. Tell your representative to support the "Internet Freedom Preservation Act 2008” (HR 5353) to make Net Neutrality the law of the land.

Who's part of the SavetheInternet.com Coalition?

The SavetheInternet.com coalition is made up of hundreds of groups from across the political spectrum that are concerned about maintaining a free and open Internet. No corporation or political party funds our efforts. We simply agree to a statement of principles in support of Internet freedom.

The coalition is being coordinated by Free Press, a national, nonpartisan organization focused on media reform and Internet policy issues. Please complete this brief survey if your group would like to join this broad, bipartisan effort to save the Internet.

Who else supports Net Neutrality?

The supporters of Net Neutrality include leading high-tech companies such as Amazon.com, Earthlink, EBay, Google, Intel, Microsoft, Facebook, Skype and Yahoo. Prominent national figures such as Internet pioneer Vint Cerf, Stanford law professor Lawrence Lessig, every major Democratic presidential candidate, and FCC Commissioners Michael Copps and Jonathan Adelstein have called for stronger Net Neutrality protections.

Editorial boards at the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle, San Jose Mercury News, Seattle Times, St. Petersburg Times and Christian Science Monitor all have urged congress to save the Internet.

I am officially nineteen!!!

Growing old, I hope not only in my body but also in wisdom!!!

Thanks to all of you for being part of my life. God bless you!