Paolo The Baggage Counter

Just experienced being a baggage counter attendant in the recently concluded Hour Run. Pretty much manual work but it was a new experience just the same. 

You know what I want to do? I want to do what Mike Rowe does for a living. In his show, he tries out other people's jobs for a day or two. Then he moves on to the next job. 

Now that would be a luxury I will really enjoy. Why a luxury? That's because if I get to do this (job-hopping would be a more appropriate term), that would mean one thing: I'm well off enough to even think about leaving a job, then another job, then another one...

Cool, isn't it?

Family Run

Taken from this site

This was my first ever family run. That's because almost all of us joined in the event: Mama, Papa, Ate Bating, and Rayray (Not present were my three other siblings who were sucked in by the gravitational pull of their respective beds). The secret was utterly simple: Mama had paid all our registration fees so we only had to run for free. Immediately, all of us were up to the challenge. 

Afterwards, we had breakfast at Lisa's in Times Beach and enjoyed a succulent date with their tasty fried catfish dishes. Not a bad morning.

Setting The Bar Higher

This is an interesting link from one of the blogs I follow. Below is an excerpt from the linked post:

Earlier this month, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s administration issued a mandate requiring so-called “comprehensive” sex education for all middle and high school students in NYC public schools.

 

In response, Dr. Anne Nolte, a family practice physician in Manhattan, wrote last week that the city’s new requirement reminded her of the saying, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again but expecting different results.”

She then goes on to make some bold observations:

"If we had the courage to look honestly at teen pregnancy, we wouldn’t be satisfied with a mandate that does the equivalent of placing a tiny band-aid on a gushing artery. If we had the courage to admit that we don’t have a solution, we’d be unwilling to spend more money on an old model that has pretty much failed. 

If we had the courage, we’d challenge our preconceived ideas about teenage behavior and sexuality and would go back to the drawing board.

Could it be that teens really are capable of self-control, moral decision-making and goal-directed behavior? That teens would adopt healthier behaviors if they got a consistent message from parents, teachers, doctors and the media that risk-avoidance, rather than simply risk-reduction, is possible and would maximize their happiness? Could it be that we — the adults who discount their potential for acting with integrity and maturity — are part of the problem?

 In every other public-health intervention, an ideal is promoted: no-smoking campaigns, no-soda-drinking campaigns. Why not in the area of teen sexuality?

This reminded me of a certain episode in Y Speak where, if I remember right, the guest speakers were debating whether it was right for teens to be allowed to buy and bring contraceptives. 

Alarmingly, such a debate is becoming commonplace here in the Philippines.Unwanted pregnancies, particularly teen pregnancies, are becoming an issue, not only in the US, but also in the Philippine society. I should know because I lived through college watching my female classmates get pregnant one at a time, always out of wedlock. 

So there is an issue and it has been acknowledged. What matters now is how we respond and the quality of that response. And at this juncture, I go back to what Dr. Nolte had to say about Bloomberg's plan for 'comprehensive' sex education. Whereas, the plan by Bloomberg involved mitigating the risk of rampant premarital sex among teens by promoting rigorous instruction in contraceptive methods, Dr. Nolte calls for a more realistic solution, grounded on the philosophy that teens are more than capable of sound judgment and abstinence if given a consistent message by all of society's sectors.

I side with Dr. Nolte on this one. Yes, teens are capable of saying no to premarital sex, just as most of them are capable of saying no to drugs, to alcohol, to peer pressure, to smoking. And it would be tantamount to belittling the youth if adults are content with simply providing them easier access to condoms and abortion clinics.

Scrapbook

By the way, I forgot to thank Aissa for bringing out the artist in me. I thought it had died inside me over the years. It was her birthday and, being her (sparring) partner in Housing, I felt an obligation to give her something special on that day. 

So I opted to give her a scrapbook instead and I ended up living through a long (three-day) weekend trying to piece together something which resembled a work of art. It was all worth it though. I learned all over again how to use Photoshop, how to use the glue gun and buy stationery, how to scroll through Facebook and look for the better-looking low-res pix. Plus, she gave me her sweetest smile yet on the day itself. 

Again, thanks Aiss and happy birthday.

Guilty

Oh well, I admit it. I found a link in Cracked listing down the eight worst types of blogs in the internet. 

I'm guilty of being a Parrot Blog at times. I post something, attach a link to it, and that's it. Those times occur when I'm in no shape to pursue a lengthy discussion about the topic. Or maybe I was just plain lazy during the time I decided to blog.

I promise to try to refrain from resorting to this kind of haberdashery, now that I'm aware.

But, still, the temptation will always be there to just get a post out of a way with a link and a few rushed words...

Text Messages 32

In life, you will realize that the people you meet have a purpose. Some were put there to test you; some would use you; some would teach you; and some would bring out the better, if not, the best in you. Some may even cause you pain and heartache, but one must learn to move on. So let go of the people who cannot treat you right and hold on to those who love you back and see your worth. After all, it's touching people's lives.
Mary Ann Andicoy, May 22, 2011

Genie: Panga'u ug usa ka wish.
Dionisia: Sure? Gusto nako mu-gwapa ko!
Genie: Ablihi ang botilya.
Dionisa: Unya? Mu-gwapa nako?
Genie: Dili. Mobalik na lang ko sa botilya.
Edwin Gutierrez, May 21, 2011

TRIVIA:
You cannot say "Mmmmm" while holding your nose.





Hahahaha. Buhaton na niya ron.
Lisod noh?
Edwin Gutierrez, May 16, 2011

Stapler ka ba?
Kasi papel ako. Handang masaktan, madikit lang sa iyo.
Edwin Gutierrez, May 15, 2011

Juan: Pedro, bagsak na daw ka sa English?
Pedro: Who telled you?
Edwin Gutierrez, May 15, 2011

Mosley ug Pacquiao
Mosley: Wala man jud ko nimo taga-i ug chance oi. Imo mang gi-Pacquiao tanan.
Pacquiao: Kadaghan baya ko nihatag nimu'g chance. Wala jud nimo pahi-Mosley.

Mama: Juan, palit ug asin.
Juan: Dili ko, ngitngit na. Hadlok ko.
Mama: 'Yaw kabalaka. Kauban nimo imo angel.
Juan: Siya na lang sugua! Kami pa jud duha, para asin rah!
Edwin Gutierrez, May 12, 2011

Life is like riding a bicycle. You have to balance everything. And in order to maintain balance, you have to keep moving forward.
Mary Ann Andicoy, April 16, 2011

Cooking

One of my fantasies in life is to learn how to cook. By cooking, I mean baking, broiling, grilling, and all those other esoteric cooking methods. Right now, my repertoire of cooking skills involve frying anything on a pan or boiling water.

This fantasy was borne out of necessity. There was this one time, after I got home from Manila, when I was left alone at home. I already spent several days eating lunch by myself and my viand always consisted of a newly opened can of Century tuna. In short, I was fed up with my routine (and my diet) and wished I knew how to cook.

I greatly admire those people who have special recipes up their sleeves, recipes which might as well have been attached to their names because those recipes were the first thing that pop up in my mind whenever I hear their names. For instance, JV Colina was known for her Pepper Steak recipe which was really delicious. And there was my former colleagues in BayanTrade who, for every party in the Casibang compound, always complemented the celebration with grilled pork and sinuglaw.

I wish I could one day ascend to that semi-mythical status. And guess what? I have one recipe to start off my journey. In the documentary, Hamburger America, they featured Ted's Restaurant, a burger joint known for their steam cheeseburgers. I wish I could create one of those burgers: a steamed cheeseburger dish complete with buttered vegetables and mashed potatoes on the side.

Then, I can proceed to other dishes as well. I mean, anyone can dream right?

Acne

My younger sister has acne. She's in first year high school and she has to contend with this issue. I'm not sure if her episodes are starting to have an effect on her self-esteem. But, every time I see her massaging a pimple, hoping to make it go away, I resist the urge to just hug her right there and then. I understand her predicament. I really do.

I started having pimples way back in high school. But my bout with my face worsened in college. In high school, I only had to settle with a pimple a month. In college, I had to deal with breakouts every week. They would always crop up, like a never-ending array of pustules all bent on tormenting me.

I experimented with a lot of skin products back then, which made my face extremely dry or oily. Still, my acne wouldn't go away.

My respite came after I had chicken pox. I was literally acne-free for months. However, they came back during my final year in college and things have remained that way since. I remember hoping then that by the time I reach age 21, my debut, acne won't bother me anymore but I still have a pimple every week

Looking back, I can confidently say that acne didn't take away anything from me. But it did make me uncomfortable at times, especially when I had to speak in public while living through a period of dark blemishes and numerous emerging pimples. 

It is frustrating. Acne definitely is. It is one of those things in life which one doesn't have any control over and it is with this quite unforgivable quality that acne taught me something of value. It is that, inasmuch as I would like to believe that I control my destiny, there will always be things that are beyond me. Things ranging from the quite mundane, such as acne, to the more heavier stuff, such as fate and death, all lay before us, tantalizingly near but always beyond our grasp. 

With this, what matters simply is one's attitude towards what cannot be directed or dictated upon. And with this realization comes the need for a more stoic acceptance of life's surprises and a healthier appreciation of its certainties.

Champions...Again

The 2011 DCBA Street Dance Challenge Champions.

Photo is courtesy of Ma'am Sohnea (of Sterling Bank? Not really sure).

Songs And About A Thought To Ponder

Just sharing a nice anecdote I got while reading a book. This is a segment from an essay by Peter Coyote, an author and a writer, on how he imagines the arts will be in the near future:

Popular music might begin to express affection for things other than sexual objects, might expand its scope to include love of place, parents, friends, other species, and water. (I once had the good fortune to live for several weeks with the Hopi snake priest David Monogye. Well into his nineties when I knew him, he was a wry and sophisticated observer of mainstream culture. He used to tease me by observing, "We Hopis have lots of songs about water because it's so rare and precious in the desert. I notice that your people sing about love all the time. Is that because it's so rare for your people?")

The Hopis, if you're asking the same question, are a tribe of indigenous Native Americans living in Northeastern Arizona. And, yes, I was struck by this brilliant observation from an otherwise impartial outsider.

That's because it rings true to what we see today. Love has become scarce and this isn't strictly an American phenomenon. In a world increasingly plagued by broken families and utilitarian relationships, it is so easy to see why love has fallen on the wayside and why many of our songs speak about what we have lost.

Ariel And Maverick

Ariel and Maverick. The comedy duo. I first got to watch this pair during an episode in their show, The Misadventures of Ariel and Maverick. It was pretty late-night so I watched them infrequently. But the memories that did remain with me about these episodes never fail to put a smile in my face.

Remember the time they wore animal suits, went to kindergarten school to amuse the kids, and ended up with a class full of crying kids, scared to death?

Or the time that they and the entire crew had to sleep in a small room so they ended up sleeping against the wall, instead?

Or the many instances when Mommy Elvie, Ariel's lovable mother, would shoot sarcastic quips about her son's numerous antics and shots at fame?

The duo was (and still is) amazing. And to think that they did all of there shows without a fixed script (talk about "Improv") only proved that they had talent and unmistakable wit.

Now, I've got something in my bucket list. I wish I could have all of their episodes of all of their shows with me so I can begin watching them again right from the start.

That would be wickedly fun.

Ned Kahn and Theo Jansen

Ned Kahn is an artist whose masterpieces center around working with the elements in a given environment to produce highly dramatic effects. His works always feature a wonderful symbiosis between his sculptures (if you can call it that) and the settings these sculptures are situated in.

If you have time, do visit his website you'll have a clearer picture of what I'm talking about.

Theo Jansen is another artist who is notable for his "wind walkers", gargantuan contraptions of wood which walk with the wind. His works also feature the same quality as Ned Kahn's, that is of man-made elements specifically designed to work in harmony with the environment.

Below is a BMW commercial, featuring the artist (As a side note, I have to commend the ad agency for this quite subtle, and effective, commercial. Just try looking for a BMW car):

Both artists are geniuses in their own right and their works provide a formula for sustainable design. Architects and engineers have a lot they can learn from these two pioneers.

Job Hazards

Haay. Job hazards. They can be such a drag. 

Thankfully, us bank employees rarely, if ever, are exposed to life-threatening conditions (unless you count bank robberies in which case you can still be thankful you're not the security guard). But we are, unfortunately, exposed to a different set of hazards, hazards which can potentially ruin our lives just the same.

For those working in the branches, there's the risk of losing money which isn't even yours. Say, you're a teller and a client unexpectedly withdraws a greater deal of money than he's supposed to carry home and he just won't return it despite your insistent claims that it was simply a mistake. You are then forced to pony up for what's lost (Curse you, liar! Your soul will burn in hell!).

In my case, I don't have to worry about this scenario because I never handle money (being in loans). But I do handle collateral, titles to be exact , and it's also stressful nonetheless. I remember asking a colleague how much I am expected to pay if ever I lost one and he quoted me a figure that was probably a year's worth of wages. And as for my job after? Well, kiss your job goodbye after that.

I love my job. In a weird, masochistic kind of way, that is (I'm joking. Or maybe I'm not?).