A Pinoy "Improv Everywhere"?

Lately, I've been thinking about copying the Improv Everywhere concept to the Filipino setting.

Wikipedia defines Improv Everywhere as a New York-based performance art group, which carries out "pranks" a la "Wow Mali" style (minus the overkill). A couple of ideas I have in mind:

Idea 1: A video featuring a street gang intent in wreaking havoc. Their mission? To teach some citizens a lesson. Their victims? Everyone who pees in public. Their modus operandi? Hit and run. While riding a motorbike, gang members throw ice water at men peeing in public.

Idea 2: A spoof on the Axe ad machine. A poster featuring an Axe product that is too effective. The poster features a tricycle driver (the Axe user) who had too much of a good thing. He is looking blankly forward as he is being harassed and groped by his male passengers, burly biker men who unfortunately go gaga after a whiff of the driver's cologne.

Idea 3: A documentary of the country's first-ever Mano Po lane. It features the opening of Davao City's "Respect for the Elders" lane, a specially marked sidewalk in C.M. Recto, where volunteers have lined up and are putting strangers' hands against their foreheads in a show of respect. The lane, as the script would go, is aimed at revitalizing the Dabawenyo's respect for elders.

Idea 4: A video featuring a haunted jeep. An unwary passenger is forced to ride a jeep chock-full of other passengers wearing aswang costumes (and other Halloween paraphernalia). It's going to be a riot as the "victim" begins to realize he is all alone during the long, long trip to Calinan.

Salamat Sa Modess

I'm not ashamed of what I'm going to share. Looking back, I can almost believe that it was Divine Providence that made me stuff a pack of Modess napkins in my backpack that fateful Wednesday night.

If you've read my past post about my Apo climb, I mentioned that I suffered from chaffed skin during our ascent. My inner thighs were becoming sore because of constant friction with my groin. I could make some conjectures regarding my condition then: I wore the wrong kind of underwear; my cycling shorts trapped a lot of moisture down there; or it was simply a case of bad luck. 

The bottom line was that I was in agony during our climb. My inner thighs were protesting with every stride, with every step. At one moment, I thought I might be walking home with blood dripping between my legs.

I tried self-medication. I plastered band-aids during the morning of Day 2 and again during our brief stay in Campsite 2. These didn't work. The band-aids weren't adhesive enough and simply fell off.

Then, the eureka moment. We were now at the peak and I was busy inside our tent, rummaging through the items in my bag, hoping for a remedy. I did pack a Modess pack, didn't I? I remember thinking of packing one just for the sake of it. Perhaps, a lady we might come across might be suffering from the monthly malady and would appreciate receiving something from us (On hindsight, I don't think any sane woman would climb Apo knowing her period is around the corner).

So I got one pad and was instantly fascinated at it. So this is what it looked like. The pad boasted a neat feature: adhesive strips on its sides, which was probably intended to make the pad stick to the panties. I began placing the pads inside out, one for each thigh, with the absorbent portion exposed to grab any moisture from my wet pants. 

The next morning, I knew I did the right thing. Walking was a breeze and I remember climbing down to Lake Venado, leaping across the grass. 

Salamat sa Modess, ika nga.

Apo Video

Just something my brother came up with. The backstory behind this was that our camera wasn't working properly. During the first day of the climb, I noticed that the pictures were too bright. I tinkered with the settings throughout our trek to no avail (My theory was that the graphics card was saturated with moisture). So I opted to record on video our visit to the top. My brother, a former Masscomm student, did the second part by editing a video out of the footage.

For later climbs, I'm thinking of doing a spoof horror-comedy film teaser using Apo as the backdrop. But that's for later. Right now, enjoy the clip. That's my proof I actually climbed Apo for good.

Here's the link to the video on Facebook (Be sure to log into Facebook first prior to clicking on the link).

Tips For The First Time Apo Climber

First up, a disclaimer: I've climbed Apo only once so far. That doesn't, in any way, make me an expert in the subject of climbing it. However, because I'm helpful and because I don't want those who follow me to have such a hard time, I'm offering some tips or advice for the newbie Apo climber.

In his song, Sunscreen, Baz Luhrmann comments that Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it’s worth. And it's true. The tips I'm going to give you are essentially an elaborate rehash of whatever it is that most have learned over the years. But here I go anyway:

Days In Apo

Day 1

Slept for only three hours. Slept at 12 midnight after packing my bag. Woke up at 3 AM. Hugs from Mama and Papa as they see us off in ADDU. Bulec forgot his ID and registration form. Fortunately, I had mine not yet filled up so we had a copy scanned and printed in an Internet shop (which was still open thanks to the junkies still fixed on their respective computer screens). On a jeep to Toril, then to Santa Cruz. Picked up Rommel along the way. First challenge was climbing a steep slope in Santa Cruz. On another ride to the rural countryside, on a multicab. Stopped on top of a hill, surrounded by nipa huts, for lunch. Then came the downpour. Rested for awhile until the rain weakened down to a drizzle. On we walked and finally set up camp after the rain returned with a vengeance. Shivering underneath my supposedly waterproof jacket. Aim was to make it to Camp 1 but that's not possible anymore. Couldn't set up the tent because our guides advised against it; our tent didn't have a fly. Tried to sleep instead in a small tent shared by five other souls: Bulec, Rayray, Sir Ramy, Anton, and Rommel.

Day 2

Sunny morning. Had breakfast and, from then on, it was up, up, and up. Thighs hurt because of chaffed skin. Finally reached Camp 1. Refilled water bottle, had lunch, and it was off to Camp 2. Tried to self-medicate my chaffed skin. Reached the boulders. Otherworldly. Nothing but rock but that was the first time I appreciated our efforts because I could finally see Davao Gulf. Reached Apo's crater. Really cold. Wind is unforgiving. Climbed up short of the peak then went down to the campsite. Lots of climbers. Lots of shit everywhere. Against expert advice, we set up our tent. Had dinner and a satisfying sleep, all snug in my sleeping bag.

Day 3

Woke up early to watch the sunrise but the clouds spoiled the fun. Spent several minutes in the peak before climbing down to fetch some water. Then the descent began. Several slips as we walk down the now very muddy trail (thanks to the hundreds of climbers who have preceded us). Reached Lake Venado. Set up tent and rain again came pouring down. Sleeping bag got wet and the tent was leaking. Uncomfortable sleep. Very cold. Watched a trail of lights across Apo's face, emanating from the headlights of climbers still descending from the peak at night.

Day 4

Rather uneventful day. Continued our descent. Stopped at a campsite for lunch then stopped again for balut and softdrinks. Trekked a river then finally made it to the end of the trail where officials were trying to collect money (exit fees) from climbers. Went away scot-free thanks to Rhab and relaxed at Lake Agco for awhile. On a van bound for Davao City. Really tired. Nice experience.