Nung Second Year High School pa ako, exam ko the next day sa Math, kaya umuwi muna ako sa bahay namin para kumain tapos nagbihis. Tsaka na lang ako umalis pababalik ng SJA, para sa remedial class ko (na ang panget ng abreviation, ASS as in Academic Support System).

      Agad ako sumakay ng jeep na deretsong Sangandaan. Nung time na iyon, wala akong napansin na kakaiba hanggang sa may Maysilo na ang sinasakayan kong jeep. Lumingon ako mula sa bintana at may napansing kakaiba’t pamilyar sa isang pasahero na nasa harapan ko: maputi, bilog ang mata, mala-rosas ang labi. No doubt, si Ashley Martin ito!

     Turns out, siya nga!

     Hindi  nga ako makapaniwala, pero ang mas di kapani-paniwala, nasa jeep na pala siya bago pa man ako sumakay. Doon pa lang, napansin na niya na ako pala iyon: ang James na nakilala niya ilang taon na ang nakakaraan. Hehehe, ang saya saya ko!

   Iyun nga lang, pagdaan sa Francis, doon na siya bumaba kasi may gagawin siya at ng kasama niya sa Concepcion. Ako naman, nakarating na sa Bayan pero pinagalitan ako ni Ms. Aldea kasi, bukod pa na late ako para sa ASS, hindi pa ako naka-school uniform.

Puwede naman ako kumain sa labas para mananghaolian pero magkano ba ang nabibigyan saking baon noon?: singkuwenta pesos! Sus, la na nga ako pamasahe doon eh hehehe 😛

It is a time for New Year Resolutions and new beginnings. Welcome to the 2nd look back to the year 2008 as we countdown the top 25 entries filed under J-Blog during 2008. Let’s start the countdown as we welcome the new year! (Dates are set in Philippine Standard Time and are based on chronological order).

1.       A Year after Campus  Jan 20

-The death of Campus Radio saddened not just me but a whole lot of people who fell in love with LS-FM’s popular format. Can’t even believe that there are those who kept on bashing Campus , pati mga DJ’s hindi nila tinantanan!

2.       Ang Gabing Tinawag Ko ang Buong Malabon at Navotas Feb 8

-Ginabi ng uwi bunso ko kasi may practice ang buong section niya ng sayaw para sa darating na Intrams. Kaya tumawag ako sa lahat ng mga taong maari makatulong sa’kin. 😀

3.     What If I Joined the The Team? Feb 21, Apr 6, Dec 28

-This was written in three parts, the last one being posted just recently. I was planning on joining CSB’s taekwondo varsity but was disappointed on the outcome.

4.       So Sick May 1

-I was only in my first week in summer class when a fever took me down, making me miss a few days worth of classes and quizzes. It had an effect on my final grade a week later.

5.       Singkwentay Sais, When History Repeats Itself Jun 5

-This was under the Reality and Dreams blogs series. I wasn’t exactly dreaming that time but I had a sense of déjà vu because I felt a repeat of past events that time.

6.       Being in Blumentritt the First Time Jun 6

-Well it’s true.First time kong nasa Blumentritt. It was scary yes but it’s never too late to take a risk going there, right?

7.       YMing with an Airchecker Jun 10

-When Campus 99.5 was still alive, I got to YM’ed an Airchecker from Campus Aircheck Batch 5. I think his name is Miguel from Letran, I wish he and the rest of the aircheckers a very fruitful new year!

8.       Meeting Up With the Omani-raised Girl from Oman Jun 13

-I think I mentioned about a Girl I met during orientation back when I was just starting out with Year 1 of The CSB Experience, I only realized that my classmate was the Omani-raised girl I met a year back.

9.       My First Manila Day Holiday/Weekend Jun 23

-Manila Day 2007 was on a weekend so I never really had that Manila Day-feeling yet until the next year when it fell on a school day.

10.   Inside The Black Box Studio with Dawn Zulueta Jul 5

-3 things: 1) 1st time being on SDA’s 6th floor, 2) 1st time being part of a taping of a show, 3)1st time to meet up close and personal Dawn Zulueta and Boy Abunda.

11.   Tour de Manila Aug 5

-The Good Earth Plaza next to the Carriedo LRT station was on fire so I was forced to take a jeepney ride while going to school. Fortunately, that jeep led me to take an unwanted tour on unexplored parts of Manila.

12.   107 Clutter and Panic on the Es-Ay-Es Aug 7

-That was when the SIS was all clogged up and all of us under 107 were having a difficult time encoding our schedules.

13.   Eating Benildean Fish Fillet at the Z-Square Aug 8

-Fred’s cousin and I sneaked inside La Salle Manila to have lunch at the popular caf, Z Square.

14.   When You Know That He’s/She’s A…Aug 22

-Nilista ko ang mga side professions ng mga naging kamag-aral ko, kasi unbelievable na pumapasok pala sila ganong mga trabaho.

15.   Jaime and the Boni Adventure Sep 2

-This is the day when 99.5 RT returned on air and I took up the courage of visiting a station such as that in Paragon Plaza in Reliance.. However, before I could go inside RT, I found myself inside Magic 89.9, the room next door.

16.   Aymadi-El Sep 2

–This was when I found myself becoming a dean’s lister for the very first time.

17.   One August Morning Sep 6

-Every once in a while, I would often write poems especially when I’m in the mood of doing so. Same thing can be said when I was inspired of putting this one up because of “One August Morning”

18.   Concluding the Court Drama Sep 18

-an update on the case of my almost stolen I-Pod, the suspect surrendered herself but failed to appear in all the meetings called upon by the discipline board. I just hope she gets what she deserves!

19.   Networking?  Sep 18

-A warning to anyone who’s being persuaded to join into this business:  The people who are into this will brainwash you into mindless money-oriented zombies!

20.   Na-USTe Ako ni Will! Oct 24

-Microcosm proved to us that it is indeed a very small world, that was when I met former Thomasian Will Valeriano who happens to be a former blockmate of Dianne and Nikko DS in USTe.

21.   The Last Exile, Dapitan! Oct 26

-I took the time going around UST after submitting my brother’s requirements for his upcoming entrance examination. That was when the school was in the middle of a sembreak, I felt like I was in Europe with every  period-inspired building I see in every corner of the royal and pontifical university.

22.   The Infiltration of Guillermo Tolentino’s School of Thought Nov 11

-Can’t believe no one read this blog as of now. I was referring to a certain someone and her unnamed school. I coined her as Guillermo Tolentino, a conservative thinker. Hehehe

23.  Si Jeco Na-USTe! Dec 21

-This happened during the 2008 Paskuhan in UST. Nagkawalaan kami nina Raymond at jerico. Hindi namin matanggap ang text ng isa’t isa kasi ang daming tao sa USTe kaya nakakabanggaan ata ang mga mtext messages ng mga naggo-Globe at Smart. Sun ang nanaig kahit may buwan. Buti na lang nagkita kami bago ako sumuko’t uuwi na lang. May libreng concert pa si Bamboo!

24.   James’ Series of Unfortunate Events Dec 26

-The unluckiest streak I ever had in recent memory. As if, the days’ leading up to Christmas is a day’s worth of a nightmare. And it’s all because of that dumb bird who dumped its puke on my hair!

25.   Bicycle MIA For 2 Years Dec 26

-This was a long delayed entry commemorating the loss of my bicycle back in 2006. And it’s all my fault!

So here you go: My top 25 blog entries written during 2008 Anno Domini. Merry Christmas and a Happy Happy New year to all of us!

Hahaha! Gumana na rin sa wakas!

Went to Alyssa’s place down south to celebrate the end of Finals Week!

Starting December 25 until the first few weeks of January every year, all cinemas in the Philippines are required to show nothing but all-Filipino movies, entries for the annual Metro Manila Filmfest-Philippines.

 For the first 17 years of my life, I haven’t watched a single filmfest entry  in theaters unless they get to be aired on cable. It was only January of this year was I able to watch my first filmfest movie, Shake Rattle & Roll 9.

For this year, the current line-up of entries are watchable, unlike in past years that there’s only a few films worth watching. I haven’t watch any of these movies yet but here’s my initial reviews on each of these films:

1. Ang Tanging Ina Ninyo Lahat-The sequel of the 1st Tanging Ina movie and a follow-up to the spin-off television series. I’m not sure how the 2nd movie would be able to give fans the lowdown of what happened after the events  following Ina marrying John Estrada’s character and the absence of several key caharacters (Juan, Fortia, Sixtus, etc). But given the premise that Ina became president of our country, for sure it’d be able to produce a lot of laughs as well as give emphasis to the importance of family.

2. Iskul Bukol: 20 Years After-This TVJ starrer takes places after the events of the original 1980’s situational comedy, “Iskul Bukol”, when the Escalera brothers were reunited 20 years later. Most of the original cast remained intact. Wala pa ako  mundo when it was still on air but knowing the trio that’s Tito, Vic and Joey, I’m sure that this film would be able to generate the same kind of response that made their sitcom a hit.

3. Baler-There wasn’t any Philippine period film that was able to at least match the quality and success accomplised by the 1998 filmfest entry, Jose Rizal. But based from the good reviews Baler has been getting (including members of the historical community), this is one period movie I’m sure going to watch. One lowdown I guess would be the character of Jerico Rosales. He’s too “kayumanggi” to be a Spaniard but he could still pass as a “mestizo” soldier from any of Spain’s former colonies (but the date was set around 1898, and Spain by that time had already lost most of its colonies).

4. One Night Only-good news: This movie received an award for Best Original Story, thanks to director Jose Javier Reyes, who’s also a well-known screenwriter who was able to produce a remarkable number of screenplays adapted into film and television. The bad new: The story may be promising, this movie may also possess the same kind of tendency that Reyes’ other non-romantic comedies have, they start off good but gets confusing in the middle until becoming totally lost in the end. I’ve watched his two recent films, Kutob and Matakot Ka sa Karma, and my impresson was “what?”. Alam ko na may nais sabihin si Reyes sa mga pelikula niyang thrillers at sex comedies, pero siguro naman puwede niyang hindi masyadong palituhin ang mga manonood. He could go beyond the tried-and-tested formula, but he should at least maintain the interests of viewers.

5. Desperadas 2-Every one knows that Desperadas is inspired from the US series “Desperate Housewives”, hence the title but people should give this film a chance since the story is far different from the series.

6. Shake Rattle and Roll 10-This is the tenth installment of the popular horror trilogy franchise. They usually follow a certain format: “Shake” is a mellowed, sometimes comedic and safe episode, kumabaga “patikim” pa lang. “Rattle” is medium-done and tender, just the right fright but almost ends on a good yet risky note. “Roll” is where the fun begins and ends, and the film finish with everyone spooked up! My New Year’s wish is for a MMFF with only one entry coming from Regal Films instead of a whole army of films produced by Regal tycooness, Lily Monteverde (Why do people call her ‘Mother’ anyway?)

7. Magkaibigan-Any MMFF is never complete without seeing a movie starred by longtime movie vets, and this year is no different. Magkaibigan is a movie produced in dedication to the late actor, Rudy Fernandez, whose best buds, Jinggoy Estrada and Christopher De Leon, share the title roles of best friends. People guessed it right when they know that this movie is going to garner at least one of the top plum awards, the Best Actor Award. I have nothing against the actors nor the movie which I guess is pretty good, but I wish that the filmfest won’t always be dominated by oldtimers.

8. Dayo-The first fully animated film entry since “Animasia” and “Ibong Adarna” (was this movie a filmfest entry, please do correct me). Unlike other films, this movie took 2 years to make. Based from the behind-the-scenes footage, i like the cast of voice talents (no feeling dubbers), a good mixture of child innocence to professional theater actors to good-timed comedians. No feeling dubbers whatsoever. As long as they are able to do jsutice to the characters given to them I’m fine with it. But when there comes a time for another Pinoy animated film sometime in the future, they ought to also cast people who have take voice acting a profession. This one is what I’m really dying to watch.

My top 3 picks for movies I’ll most likely going to watch would be:

1. Dayo (Because I support Philippine animation)
2. Baler (Because I’m a History Buff)
3. Tanging Ina Ninyo Lahat (Because I’ve already watched the first movie and the TV series. The sequel would complete my happiness).

       Wegh, late na late na to since nung bakasyon! Okey, so hindi ko pa kayo nabibigyan ng follow-up kung ano ang nangyari sa supposedly meeting namin sa coach ng taekwondo varsity ng CSB.

    Nung araw na magkikita kami, hindi ako pinayagan ng nakakainis na manong mukhang aktibista ng visitor desk sa DLSU-M. Doon kasi kami dapat magkikita kung saan, nagsasagawa siya nung panahong iyon nang training sa members ng varsity.

         Since, nandoon rin naman ako sa area,  plano ko namang hanapin ang nawawalang course card ko sa ngayo’y dating opisina ng SDA sa 7th floor. Nung nandoon ako, sinubukan ko na lang na i-text ang coach para malaman niya na hindi ako pinayagan na pumasok ng La Salle. Nagreply siya, sinasabing hindi rin siya makakapunta (o parang ganoon ang nangyari kasi tagal na).

       Hindi nagtagal, tumawag siya sa cellphone ko para kahit papaano ay magkaroon na kami nang linawan. Binigay ko sa kanya ang mga detalye na may relasyon sa pagiging dating atleta ko noon. Kaso, nung nalaman na niya, heto na ang naging paliwanag niya na talagang ikinagulat ko:

    Ayon sa kanya, ang hindi blackbelt ay hindi maituturing opisyal na miyembro ng varsity. Maari ako sumali sa training nila, wala akong matatanggap ng mga pribilehiyo gaya nang paunang enrollment, at iba pa. Parang may mali nga lang, kasi may kaibigan ako na nagsasanay para maging miyembro ng arnis varsity pero kahit hindi pa siya opisyal na bahagi ng varsity (mga under ‘probation’ kumbaga), meron na siyang mga ganong klaseng pribilehiyo. Ang labo ‘no?

     Matapos kong malaman, nagpasalamat na lang ako sa kanya dahil sa oras na inilaan niya para sa akin ukol sa planong ko sanang pagsali sa varsity.

Sayang talaga ang pagkakataon. tsk tsk tsk.