Anonymous

Let's walk down memory lane. I found my 4th year college retreat journal in my cabinet and just wanted to lift something up from my past writings. We were instructed to write a ten-year vision of ourselves. The last part of that vision is written below:

By the time he's 30, he will be on top of the world. The long climb has finally reached the summit. He will now focus on sharing his blessings to the world. By 30, he will start sponsoring the construction of GK homes through the foundation he will create, Anonymous, Inc.

Ladies and gentlemen, I want to introduce you to the concept of Anonymous. Basically, it's a charitable institution with a twist and I got that twist after reading one particular passage, Matthew 6:3:

But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.

Anonymous, Inc. will do just that, by masking the identities of the institution's benefactors. Whether you are a company or an individual, the institution will endeavor to keep your contribution a secret, citing your donation as coming from an "anonymous source" (hence, the name). Of course, in the real world, that sucks. But by doing this, I hope to weed out those who give because of ulterior reasons and those who give sincerely. Primarily, the institution will cater to those possessed with a genuine desire to help and those who wish to maintain their anonymity.

Unfortunately, this idea is illegal and I found that out in a company seminar discussing the Anti-Money Laundering Law. It is apparent that for any donation to be legal, the donor must disclose his or her identity to the institution and once that information is recorded in the books, anyone can have full access to it. So much then for the idea, Anonymous.

As a background, the anti-money laundering law aims to make life hell for criminals. As per Wikipedia, money laundering "is the practice of engaging in financial transactions to conceal the identity, source, and/or destination of illegally gained money". One technique in hiding illegally acquired money is by donating it to a bogus or affiliate company. In the case of Anonymous, Inc., criminals can deposit their loot to the organization with the confidence that this money will never be traced. Of course, that begs the question why a criminal would donate money to help society (A change of heart perhaps?) but it still doesn't change the fact that the donation was made possible through the use of illegal means in acquiring wealth.

On to the next idea, then, unless, of course, there's another we can go around this law.

Crying Ladies

Sometimes, it's best to cry inside the jeep. Your audience are a bunch of passengers who don't care about you and you can cry your heart out without anyone telling you to shut up. Let me re-phrase, one of the best places to cry is among strangers in a jeep.

There was one time I was coming home from the office. This 50-year old lady was baring her soul to her companion, ranting something about her relatives having no sense of "utang-kabubut-on" ( or "utang na loob" in Tagalog). Definitely, it was impossible not to eavesdrop on their conversation but everyone in the jeep tried to appear nonchalant and stoic as she wailed loudly amidst the traffic noise.

Still another incident occurred, this time, while I was going to work. This elderly lady was whispering to someone over the phone, tears flowing down her cheeks. She got off at the Philhealth office along Quimpo Boulevard and anybody could deduce from her destination what her problem was...

And this post ends here ( I was simply narrating a snapshot in the life of a jeepney passenger).

Bad Trip

This is a rant. But, in my world, it's not called that since I call it by another name: constructive criticism. This concerns one saturday evening, when, after a day's work worth of overtime, I dropped by KFC Gaisano Mall for a treat and my dinner:

1.) Twenty minutes falling in line. No, the line wasn't long. The girl in our counter was simply taking her time. No queue management tools either. Nobody took our orders in advance. What's disconcerting is that there were some employees just talking to each other, as if their shift had already ended.

2.) When I received my order of two original recipe chickens, I asked that a piece be replaced with my favorite, a wing. However, the girl apologized by saying they are only allowed to pair big cuts with small cuts , which, in my case, is a skinny drumstick and a chicken rear tandem. Now that's something you ought to share with a customer: "We are rationing our servings to our customers and this is one of our best practices."

In addition, if a customer asks for something, can you just give it instead of justifying the deal with a company policy? Fortunately, I subscribe to the ethos of the Walay Labad Customer ( or WLC, something which I will expound later on in another post) so I didn't mind (I'm a walker, not a talker guy. Of course, right now, I'm already talking about it).

3.) The floor was dirty. No one was mopping the dark smudges off of the immaculate tiles.

4.) No water in the water dispenser and no one was paying attention. Also, no spoon was in the utensils holder. I tried to get the attention of a staff guy standing around and he promptly handed me a plastic spoon to pair with my metal fork, which left me mumbling, "So whose turn is it to wash the dishes and the spoons?"

5.) No ice. The girls at the counter kept asking customers if it's okay that their softdrinks didn't have ice. Do you have to ask that? Of course, it's not okay. Nobody likes their softdrinks lukewarm.

In fairness, that KFC outlet wasn't meant to operate 24 hours a day. I came at a time when Gaisano mall was already closed and they were already serving their last set of customers. Maybe, everyone there was bone-tired. But still, I guess that comes as a flimsy excuse for the service I received. All in all, these are just minor things but even the small stuff can leave a big impact. I may be a small guy but I do know what it feels like to be respected or pampered as a customer.

I think I won't be eating there again soon.

Yaya

Riding jeeps can be fun. That's because, sometimes, you get to see unusual scenes played in real life by actual characters.

One morning, while going off to work, there was this yaya-child tandem who boarded the jeep. The yaya was clearly new to the city, glancing at the myriad buildings along the highway.

When it was time to pay the fare, it was the kid who did it for both. She stood up, went to the driver, and paid the fare. She could have passed it on to the other passengers but she did it herself, a clear sign that she was also a novice at riding jeeps. The yaya just stared on nervously.

Then, when it was time to board off, it was the kid who yelled at the driver to stop the jeep. Then the kid, exasperated at her inept yaya, began returning the extra money to her yaya's coin purse. It was also the kid who got off the jeep first, with the subservient yaya carrying her stroller, trailing behind her.

After that, everyone laughed at the spectacle ( Yeah, I know. You won't break a smile reading my reenactment but it was really funny if you had been there). Someone also commented, "Ilisa na imong yaya, day!"

Haay. The scene was both funny and sad. You just don't get those spectacles by riding your own car every day.

Reconciliation Ecology

But what exactly is reconciliation ecology? It is the science of inventing, establishing, and maintaining new habitats to conserve species diversity in places where people live, work, or play. I am not suggesting inventing new habitats in reserves, or in acreage where restoration is going on. I am saying that people now use most of the of the world's land surface, and we can use it better. We can use it in a way that reconciles our needs with those of the wild, native species.

-Michael L. Rosenzweig, Win-Win Ecology

Professor Rosenzweig has a point to make. If we are determined to preserve biodiversity, we should start looking at our own backyards. In his book, he discusses the three strategies of conversation biology (reservation, restoration, and reconciliation) and how the third strategy is the most sound of them all, considering how much land we humans already occupy and use.

It basically boils down to an ecological law: the larger the area, the more species it harbors. Unfortunately, the human race has wreaked havoc against biodiversity, claiming more and more land while displacing and ultimately decimating the populations of the species who stand in our way.

So the solution now is more realistic, albeit a bit novel. We have to fully utilize the value of the land, ecologically speaking. We have already set aside natural reserves all across the country. We have tried to restore lands back to their pre-industrial bounty. Now, it's time we make sure our habitats don't conflict with the habitats of the other species in the area.

This starts by examining how we build our homes, our buildings. Even before construction, we have to take into account how our actions would affect the others and look for ways to mitigate those effects. Say, if there are several native birds residing in my area, I could at least incorporate the building of a birdhouse somewhere in the roof. This way, I could still make up for the loss of greenery (because of my house) with a shelter the birds can call their own.

If I were to daydream, I would envision a day where an ordinance reflecting the tenets of reconciliation ecology is in effect. Architects and engineers alike would have to be concerned at not just how structurally sound or aesthetically pleasing the building is but at how the building can support another species other than humans. Perhaps, such an ordinance can dictate that a tree over several decades old must be preserved or transferred prior to start of construction or that any plantation must sustain several native species in addition to the cash crops being cultivated. Maybe, such an ordinance can also recommend the implementation of green roofs in urban properties, thus lessening the "heat sink" problem as well as nurturing potential nurseries for endangered and endemic plant species.

You see, the possibilities are endless if only we humans learn how to share. And the best part is we can indeed preserve biodiversity in the very same areas sporting dense human populations. We have the techniques and the science in place. Now, all we need is a little imagination.

Screening Candidates

Te Eva has her own opinions and I have mine. Several times, we've been chatting about the organization of the San Pablo Parish lectors during our walks together and things do get more interesting every time our ideas diverge.

Take for instance the selection process of the lectors. Ate Eva likes the process to be rigorous. There's nothing bad about that but she also relishes the idea of culling or shortlisting prospective applicants to the elite fluent few. I, for one, do not like that idea.

I remember a moment in college during a get-together of all the religious clubs in the campus. There was one club member from Subdominant 7, the campus' choir, who exclaimed that she wasn't a singer until she joined the club. Well, she had the guts to admit she didn't have any singing prowess to speak of but still, the club admitted her until she could sing, if not on her own, then at least with others.

That's also the same thing I want to happen to the organization. I envision it to be an avenue in developing one's potential to become a good public speaker while serving God and the church. You got stage fright? We'll help you get over it. You stutter? We'll train you. You're not fluent enough? No problem, stick with us and, together, we'll make you better. That's the spirit I want to inject.

Of course, that starts by adopting a more egalitarian approach to would-be applicants. These applicants have gone so far as to muster the courage and self-confidence to audition, the best that we can do is to invite them in and train them.

This idea then precludes a "no-elimination" screening policy. In contrast to the above notion of eliminating the least desirable candidates, auditions and interviews under this new policy would simply be means to spot deficiencies in a candidate's skills and, if necessary, to identify methods to correct and improve the candidate's innate talent.

I believe everyone can be a good public speaker. Which is why it's such a waste that, as I've heard, several applicants do get turned down during the past auditions. I say we invite them all (Don't we have a manning problem to consider? Say, too many assignments yet so few volunteers?) and cross our fingers that everyone will get better.

True, the Lord deserves the best. A reader or a commentator for a Mass should at least be good in what he or she is doing. But we must not forget though that we also have an obligation to those who want to be lectors but are still "rough".

Come to think of it, everyone's a diamond who just needs a bit of polishing.

Random Notes

Just a couple of observations, actually. I just came from the annual DCBA (Davao City Bankers Association) opening ceremonies held in UM Matina Campus and I thought I should write these down:

1.) There will always be cliches in poster-making contests, cliches that artists would often resort to if they are not yet aware that these are, indeed, cliches. There's the globe, the hand, and a host of human figures. I think the contestants had been briefed that, in order to win the contest, you must have a cliche on your work for insurance.

2.) Wearing shades in a modelling contest is a definite no-no but, apparently, nobody told some male contestants this piece of advice. In the "Search For The Mr. And Mrs. DCBA 2010", some knuckleheads chose to wear shades so they could probably look cool. Well, what they succeeded in doing is covering up their best asset: their eyes.

3.) Ma'am Beth nailed it right on the head. Most of the female contestants in the Ms. DCBA Pageant didn't have a shot at winning because they looked like prostitutes in a cosplay contest. As a little background, this contest featured contestants sporting the attires of professionals. Some pulled it off while others failed miserably, choosing instead to don skimpy attires that made them look cheap, not sexy.

4.) In hindsight, the same can also be said of the dance contest held during the Bankers Night of 2009. Most dance routines then were downright sleazy. Instead of emphasizing the grace and finesse of the dancers, most choreographers chose instead to insert seductive moves taken straight from the bars and night clubs which, if any, did little to enhance the overall appeal of the performance. Add to that were the fishnet stockings and a host of other equally questionable wardrobe choices. Cheap? Yes. Sexy? Well, I beg to differ.

A Job In Government?

I remember my first orientation session with the Civil Service Commission some time ago. We were in the second floor of their building in Ecoland, listening to a woman talk about how good it would be to start our careers working for the government. I was a college dude back then and wasn't entirely sure about my job prospects considering that I was an English major. A job in the government wasn't such a bad deal.

Now, I know better.

Over lunch, I listen to some colleagues of mine talk about how fortunate it would be to be part of the government's work force. The benefits are obvious: job stability, good benefits, and, most importantly, "no stress". And by that last item, I mean that there's absolutely no pressure to perform since you are the government.

I guess that last item is consistent with reality because caricatures about government still persist and are still, in fact, true. Think about government and one conjures words like bureaucracy, red tape, snail pace etc. And the amazing part is that everyone's resigned to that idea. That's why in transactions involving government agencies, one can readily say, every time deals drag for months, the phrase "Gobyerno kasi" without risking being doubted or questioned. In short, government is the whipping dog of today's society.

Even if I were to go job hunting again, I guess the furthest thing from my mind would be to look for a job in government. Practically speaking, that's a non-option. I believe everyone who ever got a position in government did so not solely by their own merit but by the intervention of a backer. I don't have that and, besides, that kind of system sucks (pardon the pun, if you got the idea). But a more profound reason would be because being employed in government lends with it certain "risks". There's the risk of succumbing to workplace habits which are undoubtedly undesirable. And even more sinister, there's the risk of succumbing to corruption, to mediocrity, and to plain boredom, none of which make for a better employee, let alone, a better human being.

Given all this, working for the government now isn't really something I endeavor to do. I know I'm not strong enough and I know that there are temptations strewn across that certain career path, temptations which, if one is a lesser mortal, are powerful enough to change and debase one's core values and honor.

Besides, the private sector is way more fun.

Revisiting Evangelization

In my last Youth For Christ Conference (which was held in Davao), Coca-Cola was the brand of the day. There was a speaker who likened the Church's mission to that of someone who is endorsing Coke to someone else. That's exactly what we were supposed to do, says the speaker. In our case, the Coke was Jesus Christ and our mission was to give someone the taste of JC. "Patikim lang". Give them the taste. If they don't like it, then okay. If they do like it, then good.

Nowadays, that parallelism is taking a whole new meaning, or so I think. As far as I'm concerned, that simple exhortation is a call to be a witness for Christ, to be a face of God to others, to be the harbinger of the Kingdom to the rest of the world.

Contrast this with the recent history of the Catholic Church and Christianity as a whole. Then, whenever you say "missionary", it simply points out to someone who goes to a foreign land to convert some natives to the Christian faith. The primary goal of such an exercise was proselytizing others into the fold.

Today, in this new world characterized by a plurality of religions, the term "missionary" has taken on an undoubtedly richer meaning. To be a missionary is to be a Christian in all sense of the word; to be a missionary is to love and serve others. In this new definition, we therefore can now make sense why a lot of missionary volunteers are into social development projects like building schools, feeding children, uplifting entire communities. Yes, they won't be converting anyone to the faith with what they're doing but, come to think of it, what they're after clearly transcends that goal. They are bringing God into the world and such an undertaking definitely surpasses in significance any attempt to proselytize.

That's totally different from the earlier picture of a missionary and this only shows how far Christian thought has progressed over the centuries. We are celebrating, not condemning, the many revelations of the Divine inherent in the religious traditions practiced by others. And we, in turn, are being blessed by this act of dialogue through a deeper understanding of God. This response is all the more appropriate, considering that intolerance, indifference, and hate are fast spawning in many parts of the world.

Let's hear it out: "Ipapatikim ko sa iyo ang Diyos ko". Let my life be a blessing to you. Amen.

The Christian Atheist

Christian Atheism is the belief that, as per Wikipedia, asserts the teachings of Christ but rejects the existence of God. For most, it's a bit of a contradiction but some Christian atheist philosophers rationalize this by stating that it can be done if you treat Christianity as a utility rather than a religion in itself.

An example would be using the morality embedded in the Christian tradition to guide one's daily actions but conveniently discarding the belief in Christ as God. For some, it involves doing the same thing but also asserting that God has, in fact, died already. Such an approach definitely reduces the message of Christianity to that of a how-to guide to living one's life but it does relieve the levels of cognitive dissonance among those who are non-believers but who insist that Christianity remain a significant part of their lives.

This way of thinking does not come without its dangers however. One of its more insidious effects is the occurrence of selective amnesia, leading to a gradual drift from Christianity's core morality and the eventual subversion of the Christian message. As an allegory, Christian atheism can be likened to a man climbing a ladder who, once he reaches his destination, throws away the ladder (similar to Wittgenstein's ladder example in Philosophical Investigations). The ladder, in this case, is Christianity and the destination is the man's achievement of a moral compass. For many, the belief in Christianity now becomes superfluous after one has gotten the most out of it and after one has internalized its ethics; it is now time to throw it away together with the "superstitions" it espouses.

Such a decision comes with a price though, in a world wrought with increasingly complex ethical scenarios, where one is faced with a host of dilemmas but there is no "ladder" anymore to fall back on. Here, the dangers are similar to that posed by secularism. Since Christianity is treated as a utility to guide one's conduct, such a debased view of it makes it easier for one to switch to another philosophy of life, to another set of principles, which is more accommodating of one's desires and aims. If Christianity is seen only as a tool, it can easily be replaced with other tools more suited to one's temperament.

(Sorry, I would have loved to go on but I've ran out of steam. Maybe, I'll continue my line of thought in another post.)

Lumosity

Here's a nice link to a brain gym: Lumosity

Go see for yourself. Nice medication for any atrophying mind.

Celibacy For Priests

The book Animal Architects by James L. Gould and Carol Grant Gould mentions the existence of sterile workers in ant colonies whose sole purpose is to protect the colony and to look for food. I guess such an arrangement pays off: the colony is thriving and well-fed and the specialized ability to reproduce is left to those who are equipped to do just that, say, the queen ant and her harem of male drones.

In human society, a similar arrangement can be seen and, though we are far from being mindless ants, such an arrangement stands to benefit the society as a whole. Here we have the religious orders and the clergy who have chosen to abstain from "passing their genes to the next generation" by getting married to an abstract partner, the Church.

Obviously, the idea of celibate priests and nuns have received a lot of flak over the years. In the wake of the recent breakout of sexual abuse cases in the US, many have pointed out that forced celibacy among priests was the main factor that directly contributed to the issue. Some also protest the "restriction" as theologically impossible to defend since JC and St. Paul never placed any such restriction among those who had the priestly calling ( the apostles had wives too).

So why is celibacy here in the first place? Looking back at history, some pope by the name of Gregory VII declared that mandatory celibacy become part of canon law. This move was to eliminate pervasive corruption inside the church, a problem aggravated by married priests who supported their families by plundering the church's funds. The mandate also served to allow priests and nuns to work full-time for the church, since they had almost no other pressing obligations other than their commitment to their vocation.

The curious thing here is that most of the clamor for a married clergy ( like those of the other Christian denominations) are coming from either the laity or the elite club of ex-priests. Among current priests, there may be slight murmurs of disgruntlement but, over and above these, everyone is trying to uphold the standard of voluntary celibacy, a standard which appears quite insane considering the times we are living in.

Fr. Marbendear had pointed out earlier that good priests can, ergo, also be good husbands and vice versa. Why is that so? That's because the qualities of a good husband are already in a good priest. A good priest is faithful and loving. Voluntary celibacy is admittedly an "abnormal" way of living and, as such, demands a lot of fidelity from a guy ( just like monogamy, by the way. Human society is inherently oriented towards polygamy and yet we opt for monogamy as our choice of life, a choice which also demands fidelity and a little bit of courage too). A good priest must also be loving. It's hard to love another human person but I think it's also hard to love the church, a reality which is there but is not really there. For starters, there's no "having sex with the Church", a fundamental act of love which binds all marriages together. Instead, priests are left with the choice to love the church without the physical attraction necessary to sustain most human relationships. But a good priest still loves and that love comes unconditionally.

Such a reality exists because celibacy is maintained by the Catholic church. As for me, I think it's a wonderful phenomenon and I bet many priests would have it no other way. Going back to our ant analogy, such a self-imposed restriction does help priest perform their jobs better. Like those many sterile daughter ants whose sole function is to feed the colony, our priest and nuns also have a mission to nourish the flock spiritually and if celibacy allows them to do just that, why can't it not be a good thing?

Text Messages 21

When you see the object of your affection, your immune system gets a boost. Caring for someone tends to relax a person minimizing the production of cortisol, a chemical released due to stress. Liking someone, therefore, is a healthy habit.
Mary Ann Andicoy, May 10, 2010
This can be proven false, though. Liking someone can be just as stressful. Consider those who have a crush on someone else.

Some of the best moments in life:
-lying in bed while listening to rain outside.
-a long drive on a calm road.
-finding money in your old jeans just when you need it.
-giggling over silly jokes.
-holding hands with a friend.
-getting a hug from someone who loves you.
-the moment your eyes fill with tears after a big laugh.
Wishing you to have these moments in your life always.
JV Colina, May 12, 2010

It's just something that happens as we age. We realize it's not important to have many friends. What's important is to have real ones.
Ate Cathy, May 12, 2010

Mag-uyab nag-istorya sa daplin dagat.
Girl: Babes, unsa imong zodiac sign?
Boy: (Naghuna-huna ke bulokon) Ikaw sa babes.
Girl: Zodiac sign nako? Cancer.
Boy: Ako? Goiter.
Girl: Ha! Wala may zodiac nga goiter!
Boy: Hehe, joke ra. Ulcer bitaw ang tinood.
Edwin Gutierrez, May 12, 2010

Thought: There are two things which pierce the human heart: moments we wish would last forever and moments we wish had never begun.
Mary Ann Andicoy, May 14, 2010

Promises are worse than lies. Because you just don't make them believe, you also make them hope - hope for something you're not sure you can give.
Mary Ann Andicoy, May 15, 2010

Boy: Ang uban babae dira, pang-Tester lang nah.
Girl: Ah! Kahilas ba nimo!
Boy: Ikaw man ang Pangmatagalan...
Girl: Unsa ko? Battery?!
Boy: Kumbinseng...
Edwin Gutierrez, May 15, 2010

Girl: Mahal mo ba ako?
Boy: Oo naman!
Girl: Sabihin mo nga.
Boy: "Nga."
Edwin Gutierrez, May 18, 2010

Why do some things have to be so hard sometimes? Maybe because if everything was easy, we won't know if anything was worth it.
Mary Ann Andicoy, May 18, 2010

Pride is the only poison that when swallowed, gives cure.
Mary Ann Andicoy, May 19, 2010

One Page Story

How do you encourage a person to write? For this answer, I go back to my experience in college.

Granted, I only wrote then in exchange for something: a grade. So we embraced essays and 555 quizzes with gusto because of this ( and because I was generally weak in all other types of tests, like multiple choice and other stuff that required memorization).

As for writing stories, when did I start? I started with my Creative Writing class with Sir Don. I could remember how it felt like finishing that first story. After completing the last sentence, there was that euphoric sense of relief, of having saved the entire midterm period because of that one single story.

Looking back, that story wasn't much to look at. Among other things, its brevity was the most eye-catching. At two pages only (double-spaced, Times New Roman, 12), some would say it was "underdeveloped" but for the first-time writer Paolo Ray E. Bataller, it took me an eternity to write those two pages.

Yet the best thing about it was that exercise did get me to write longer and longer stuff. Sure, I'm a long way to writing a full-length novel but that early spark of success has sustained me over the years. Even if I'm no longer writing for a grade, I'm still here, writing about a little of everything else.

That's why the one-page story can be a legitimate, even necessary, genre in pop literature.

Moreover, I think it has been done before. In Reader's Digest, there was an article about a guy who, armed with a typewriter, went about typing one page stories to passers-by. He had a lot of fun and I guess the same exercise can also benefit those writers who do not possess yet the time nor the discipline to create lengthy works.

Any creative writing class then could start with writing one page stories first. In fact, I can imagine round table class discussions, where each student reads his one page work to the group, a scenario which is similar to screenwriters throwing brief pitches to would-be producers.

Maybe, in the future, other than a book or an anthology of the best short stories, we can also have another collection, this time, of the best one page stories to date. Or better yet, a one page story writing contest may become a legitimate school event. Who knows, right?

Library Card

Here's an idea for our Alumni President.

I've been an "alumni" for the past two years now ( whatever that label means). And during that period, I have come to grapple one of the hardest truths any graduate should know and swallow: that as we move further away from our graduation date, we become more and more stupid.

I guess that's the way things go. We tend to shed away most of the stuff that made us survive school in exchange for things that will help us survive in the real world. In my case, it was my fluency in English that slowly drifted away. Right now, I'm having a hard time speaking in straight English these days and my writing skills are going down the drain too. It's what one might call a "necessary atrophy" or "an inevitable doing away" but, even if this were the case, it still sucks. True, we still acquire skills that are more in line with our current needs but it comes at the expense of the other skills or abilities we have to come to master in the past.

Still, this pales in comparison to a more serious consequence befalling out-of-school youths like me. If I remember right, there was a study mentioned in a Psychology class that people in their early twenties and beyond possess mindsets which are less malleable to change. In other words, people who are already professionals tend to have fixed ideas and opinions about the issues in this world as opposed to their more youthful counterparts who are still more receptive to other people's thoughts ( Tragically, sometimes this receptivity allows subjects to be easily manipulated by people who have ulterior agendas. But I digress).

I guess this observation stems from a host of factors, one of which is the dearth of ideas experienced by people outside the confines of a school. More specifically, this experience can be a result of people not reading enough books, of people not getting enough "library time". What usually accounts for typical reading materials for a typical graduate are newspapers, coffee table magazines, and the occasional books read to pass away the time. Although these materials are informative and one can indeed learn a thing or two from reading these, the same just cannot replace the wealth of ideas stored in a library. We, adults, do have a tendency to become close-minded bigots and, maybe, that's a result of reading less than we were accustomed to at school.

My solution? Well, I hope it has been obvious right from the start. I happened to see a video of Improv Everywhere agents "ghost busting" in a public library in New York and I was surprised to see a lot of people, adults, with laptops taking their leisure time inside the library's solemn halls. I just wish we had that kind of luxury here but I guess you already know how deplorable our public library is here in Davao. So we go to the next best thing: the libraries of our respective alumni schools.

How about we create a library card system for the alumni association?

Yes, it may sound unnecessary. Why go to that extent when our libraries allow anyone with an alumni card to come in? Yes, it does but that privilege comes with a price tag: P100.00 per library visit. I know it isn't much but do consider that P100.00 per visit is still more hefty compared to surfing the net for an entire day. Sure, the school does profit from this but it unknowingly deters the majority who would go on preferring a cheaper, yet less intellectually stimulating, form of entertainment. The price tag now becomes a penalty instead of an incentive to learn more.

So what is this library card system I'm talking about? Well, I'm thinking along the line of a loyalty card. Every alumni can apply for one and then only has to pay his annual dues to keep the card valid. Definitely, some privileges, like borrowing a book or using wi-fi inside for free, have to be curtailed for the benefit of the studentry but I guess such an arrangement will be a win-win situation for everyone. The school can still get a decent profit from this exercise and alumni get their much-needed library visits at a lower cost.

If all goes well, I guess the school can even profit better with this arrangement due to more alumni coming in to enjoy this perk and more consistent collections of dues. Sounds neat, don't you think?

Outdoor Massage Parlor

Who would have thought of it?

But there they were. Men and women in green spa uniforms hovering alongside rows of plastic chairs placed near the boundaries of Rizal Park. Most of them were catering to clients; caressing clients' feet, doing back massages, pouring liniment oil to greasy skin, kneading clients' heads.

Voila! An open-air massage parlor for the budget-conscious. I don't know who came up with the idea but it sure looked like business was booming.

Is this a uniquely Dabawenyo phenomenon? I don't know. Definitely, I should try this sometime. And maybe then, I could get a picture or two for this post.

Paolo The Comics Artist?

Maybe, I should be a Comics artist. The only problem is, at present, I seriously don't have the time nor the enthusiasm anymore.

There was once upon a time when all I did was draw comics. That was in Grade School, when I had classmates who did nothing in their free time except draw comics. That was really fun. Back then, a lot of guys had these comics drawn on whatever is left of their lesson plan notebooks and pad papers. On those pages were our superheroes, persons in fancy suits acting out wicked action scenes. There were also friendly rivalries, as far as I can remember. Each drew to garner every one's admiration and I was pretty much riveted at other's works as well.

Haay. Those were the days.

Anyway, for those aspiring wannabes who still want to write ( yes, write) and draw comics, check out Espresso Comics Magazine. Perhaps, you have what it takes to be part of their roster of talents. Good luck.

Upgrade

The call came. It was from Manila. From a PLDT sales agent looking for Mama. She was trying to sell something interesting. An upgrade.

Would you wish to upgrade your Internet service? We have a package which boasts of higher bandwidth and faster loading time! Or it went something like that.

Mama, however, was not impressed. She declined the offer and, although we all wished for faster Internet, it wasn't happening. We weren't convinced.

The fact is, the present level of service we're receiving from PLDT is crappy at best. PLDT is delivering short of what we expected it to deliver for our bundled myDSL package. Downloading time is slower than a snail's pace and the connection is also lousy. In addition, calling on for support isn't a walk in the park.

My brother, Bulec, the Comsci dude, has an explanation for our Internet problems. It's just that PLDT is doing its own triage when it comes to delivering its services. The ones who get the most superior service are, of course, businesses such as the Internet shops and the corporate offices. These are the ones who enjoy lightning-fast Internet connections. The second tier are those homeowners who opted for the Internet packages and they usually get what's left of the system. These are the ones who get frustrated at PLDT and are also the ones who receive calls for upgrades.

After the call, we came up with a conspiracy theory. It involved the sales agent pushing this little, red button, turning our Internet connection on and off, on and off, while fiendishly grinning, mumbling the words, "Unya? Dili pa mu mag-upgrade? Dili pa mu mag-upgrade? Bwahahahaha!".

Of course, that situation doesn't happen in reality ( or does it?). Still, the question remains for our dear sales agent: If you cannot deliver competent, reliable service with our existing PLDT package, why should we expect something different from you if we choose to upgrade? Baka naman balak niyo kaming pagkaperahan ulit?

Dear PLDT, deliver what you promised with our existing package and then we'll consider that upgrade. Until then, don't try to call us just yet.