...Of Corruption and Current Events: Realizations After a Talk with Uncle Jun...

Not too glamorous now, are you?

The PDAF Probe started yesterday, with all eyes intently watching what will happen to Janet Napoles and company. It should infuriate you, who are reading this now, because chances are, you belong in the same class as I do, the middle class. On a scale of 1 to Bayola, we are the ones most fucked over by what Napoles and whoever she alleges to have spent on her non-existent NGO's. The taxes that are automatically deducted from our salaries are supposed to be spent on improved roads at the very freakin least. It should maybe contribute to the salaries and the air conditioned-rooms of the legislative department to make laws that benefit us, or at least amend laws that are non-relevant or useless now. People shouldn't get away from driving 100km/h on the wrong side of the Skyway for a measley 200 Pesos just because there are no laws penalizing a drunk (possibly stoned) driver in the middle of the day.

The farmers are always the beneficiaries of millions of Pesos in PDAF funds, and yet you don't see them thriving.Educated by comments to my Facebook status sometime last week, I no longer understand why these "Legislators" from our House of Representatives have access to such a huge amount of money when all they have to do is legislate. How the hell can they check if the farmers they supposedly gave money to actually received it, if they're staying in the metro most of their days except election time?!

I'm almost baffled as to why the senate is investigating this case and not the DOJ. I'm definitely confused why Napoles had a closed door meeting with the President to surrender rather than going directly to the NBI or the DOJ. And while most are confused as to why Uncle Jun is being interviewed again, I am not. 

Whistle Blowing and Corruption

Spot.ph's report on 10 controversial Filipino whistleblowers

Jun Lozada's name was brought to the public's attention at the height of the NBN-ZTE probe, one of the most controversial cases of bribery and corruption alleged to the government some years back. It was one of the issues our former president, Corazon Aquino prayed intently for before her health failed her. It was one of the rallying points of the Yellow Army to urge Noynoy Aquino to take the challenge of running for presidency back in 2010. The resolution of which, and the judgement of the guilty were a couple of Noynoy Aquino's main thrusts in his campaign of a "clean government".

And yet, years removed from his campaign, what are the results? Uncle Jun is holed up again somewhere, as somehow his "moderate greed" statement has become a reason  for this government to file cases of graft against him. And the whole NBN-ZTE case just died down, with GMA getting public sympathy wearing a neck brace. Funny how she could be perfectly healthy for 10 years in the office, and as soon as she steps down, she's suddenly fighting for her life with whatever disease. 

Anyway, Uncle Jun's being interviewed again, and some friends and some random people (yes I listen in on random people's discussions) are questioning what his role is here. Some in the media would like to make it seem that this is a "revenge" angle by Uncle Jun because Noynoy (I refuse to call him PNoy, because I refuse to believe that he reflects the Filipino people as a whole.) did not help him out of his graft case. 

Fact of the matter is, as one of the more popular whistleblowers in the country, he did inspire quite a number of people who believe in his cause. And given his state in life right now, people would rather just shut up than share the same fate as him; jobless, and not knowing who to really trust in the government. Not everyone may have the skills he has in public speaking or the knowledge he has in technology to get by and manage to still provide for his family. 

With the inspiration he sparked, people have stepped forward and shared what they knew to him. These are, after all, part of the corrupt system he was up against when he stepped forward some years back. 

Soul for the Country

I had a short talk with him the other night, and pointed out a couple of stuff. I understand that one of his most popular snapshots is the one where he was crying in the senate. As per Uncle Jun, when you know what he knows, and you have the heart and soul for this country as he does, you will be able to feel pain, and there is nothing else that you can do but cry in pain. 

Go-to image by the media when portraying Uncle Jun. May pinapalabas o wala nang makitang ibang picture?

He says that "when you feel pain, it means that you are still alive... When you're numb to the pain of the people, your body might still be alive, but your soul (for the country) is already dead."

How many of us still has a "soul" for this country? 

I think that our "soul" is killed off by the same people we should feel pain for. EDSA 1 happened because the people had enough of that pain. EDSA 2 happened because we felt pain again, not the same kind as in EDSA 1, but pain, nonetheless. But that was it. We couldn't possibly overthrow another president (GMA) through the same way we put her in power. EDSA would lose its essence as a bloodless revolution, with the operative word being a "revolution" if it became a habit for us. 

After winning our "democracy" at least twice through those EDSA revolutions (the first was to "win" it, the next to validate it), we expected that we become vigilant and use our power to help us help this country. Yet the same system prevails; actors with no qualifications are voted into office, the same names that did nothing but put their faces on everything (using your money, by the way) in your city are re-elected, and the same people who voted them to office are the same people who cry out that their government has done nothing for them.

How can one have a "soul" for this country if this country doesn't seem to want to help itself? 

Second Generation Politicians

Taking "Family Business" to a whole new level

Speaking of the same people being re-elected, we're probably one of the top countries that have the most political dynasties ruling the country. For some reason, we have come to believe that "genes" could be a great basis for choosing our leaders. 

In the same conversation I had with Uncle Jun, he pointed out that the past two years should teach us that "genes" fail us sometimes. Diosdado Macapagal was a respectable President. Corazon Aquino was an inspirational one. We voted their children to office thinking we'd get more of the same. Apparently, their children did not have the same "soul" for this country as they did. 

And now, here we are, screwed over by the Arroyo administration, was said "sorry" to on national TV in the most stoic way possible, then given hope by one Noynoy Aquino for "change" and "clean governance" and we learn now that more of the same is happening (talking about the negative things he was against during the Arroyo administration). 

How many more examples do we need? Because of familiarity, we settle for who we know, but who we know don't usually share a love for this country that drives him to public service. The government has become a family business rather than a venue for public service.

Presidential Budget

A statement that is still true, but really, has anything been done to actualize it?

The last point that Uncle Jun talked to me about was that the senate approving the Presidential Budget for 2014. Despite an increase from the 2013 budget (2.82 billion from 2.73 billion), it was approved in a record 10 minutes. 

Reading up on news articles the next day, I learned why it lasted a mere 10 minutes:

In an interview after the hearing, Escudero explained that there were “no issues” with the OP budget because the lump sum funds are not under the OP.

“The lump sums [critics are mentioning] are with the Special Purpose Fund, which the DBM (Department of Budget and Management) will defend. Even the Presidential Social Fund is not with the budget of the President,” said Escudero, an ally of President Benigno Aquino III.

He added, “The third reason is by tradition, even in the past, Congress usually [extends] courtesy to the Office of the President and the Office of the Vice President with respect to their budget and if there are any issues with respect to the administration, it’s addressed to the department and not the office itself.”

 - Extracted from a report by Rappler's Ayee Macaraig, September 3, 2013

"Tradition" is what seemed to put Aquino in power, and it seems it is what has continually fucked us over throughout the years. The "nakasanayan" that we never got over; sila na yung nandyan, sila na lang ulit. We pay "bribes" to make our lives easier because policemen "traditionally" accept them. We shell out money to customs because "traditionally" the customs people are used to the practice of taking cuts from incoming goods either in form of money or in the goods itself. These are but some of the "traditional" shit going on in the country. 

What I don't understand about the 10-minute budget approval are the following 

1. If the lump sums are not under the budget of the president, why is it included in their proposal?

2. If the DBM will "defend" it anyway, what's the purpose of the senate approval?

3. If the senate will "extend courtesy" and will not scrutinize it, why did it have to go through that process in the first place?

In a time when the public is questioning how the government is spending our hard earned money, shouldn't this process take longer than 10 minutes to scrutinize at least, and not approved in the middle of the night?

The "Mythical Yellow Forces"

It was the people who urged him to run. Those people seem to mean nothing to him now.

Back in 2010 I had several healthy debates with friends who follow politics. We may not have changed each others' minds, but we did understand why we were standing by our candidates. It was the best possible way I enjoyed democracy; a clash of thoughts, a difference in ideals, but with a common cause. 

One of the main reasons why I campaigned for Noynoy was the fact that he had a whole nation rooting for him. He had a good family background that people could rally behind, and a clean enough reputation to make people believe that he has a genuine love for this country. He also was adamant in bringing the wrongs of the Arroyo administration to light, and punish the guilty. 

With everyone (or mostly everyone) rooting for him, I firmly believed that he was trustworthy enough to call for a constitutional change. FVR didn't have the trust of the public, as everyone thought he just wanted to stay longer in his office when he proposed constitutional change during his term. Erap didn't have that trust, nor was he ever in a position to propose it. GMA, well, she did do the country some good, but by the time she would propose the constitutional change, she no longer had the trust of the public. Aquino had that chance. However, little by little, my trust for him has dwindled. When you try to understand what this government is saying and doing, it almost seems that they are taking the public as fools. The Janet Napoles story is a prime example of it. 

As his parting words, Uncle Jun had this to say:

"It is painful to let of the sentimentality of the myth of the yellow forces" 

Is it not painful to let go of something you believed to be true? Hopefully, our vigilance toward the Napoles probe does not end with that Million People March.

...Pangingialam ng Pakialamero: Driving in the Philippines...

We Filipinos are known to be able to remain happy despite adversity. Working in the field of sales, one of the challenges I have to deal with is the hellacious traffic in the metro. To deal with road rage, I watch movies on my tab, or look out my window to criticize my fellow motorists, the whole scenery around me, and at times, pedestrians. Here are things I noticed while driving in the Philippines:

1. Turn Signal Technology

We have added features in ours.

We have an amazing turn signal technology implanted in our cars. I think it is only in the Philippines that your turn signal is directly connected to the accelerator pedal of the car behind you in the lane you want to switch to. You can try out this technology in the next traffic jam you're in. Compare it to when you don't use your turn signal when switching lanes. You'll find better success switching.

2. Road Signs are Decorative Pieces on the Road

How could I illustrate this better? 

I remember taking a written test when I was applying for a driver's license. I remember a couple of guys flunking it. I even remember a dude who was actually caught cheating. Yep, and all that I didn't really understand because everything was so openly displayed around us. Now, rules are supposed to give us a sense of order, and signs are great illustrations of what the rules are. Here in the Philippines, these signs are actually mere decorations on the road. Those white lines on the road that other countries call pedestrian lanes? No need for that here, because people can cross the road however they want. The perfectly spelled out "No Loading and Unloading" sign? That's the best place to hail a PUV because people would usually avoid it. Our roads no longer need paintings or murals, we already have a lot of decorations in the form of these colorful roadsigns nobody follows.

3. Rules End at the Stroke of Midnight

Of course I'll take a left there, don't be silly

You know how there are one-way streets, and there are streets where you can't turn right or left or you can't make a u-turn? Well, at the stroke of midnight, you apparently can already! Rules seem to only be followed if there are uniformed individuals manning their post (which curiously is always found just after a road sign or traffic light) and these same rules are no longer in effect when no one's looking. Way to contribute to our nation's progress, motorists who can't be patient enough for rules.

4. "Yellow" Means "Faster"

One of the most common practices that one would notice while driving in the Philippines is the fact that vehicles actually speed up rather than slow down when they see the yellow light on the traffic. I think it is somehow correlated to item #1, since turn signals are usually yellow. We need to find a new color for saying "slow down". 

See the bright dot at the top right? It means stop. Yellow comes before it, which means slow down. The Jeepney clearly had a different mindset when the saw that yellow light

5. Rain Causes  More People on the Road

They have their umbrellas, but wouldn't it be drier indoors?

I don't have proof of direct correlation of this, but for some reason, traffic is worse when it's raining that when it's sunny out. I don't know how people occupy 3 of the 5 lanes of Marcos Highway when it's raining, but manage to keep it steady the rest of the days. Don't people have to take shelter when it's raining? I have theorized long before that The Gremlins may be true after all. 

6. The Road: An Extended Market

Random stuff you'd probably need in your car to amuse you

I haven't been to too many other countries, so I can't say for certain that this only happens here in the Philippines. Sure, traffic bores the hell out of you, and makes you pick your nose or sing at the top of your lungs. But the characters outside of your car will give you more things to enjoy; there's the "takatak" boy selling cigarettes and candies, the Fish Cracker or other snack sellers along C5, the roasted mani vendors, the Kasoy vendors who can jump in and out of buses but also sell to cars, and vendors of random stuff; i.e. cellphone chargers, fruits, that solar powered plastic flower that moves by itself under direct sunlight, and just the other day, I saw one selling shaving blades. 

And it's not just the micro-entrepreneur that you will see on the roads. There are also the hopeless cases who just wander around begging for money, and the kids who "clean" your windshield with dirty water and shaggy rags. There are the sampaguita kids who will persist that you buy their stuff at 11PM. These are the sights and sounds of traffic in the metro. 

7. "Sorry" Makes Everything Better

"Sorry" lang katapat nyan boss, relax.

Traffic jams usually involve a lot of bumper to bumper jockeying for position. The most notorious of which are the steel-built jeepneys and other Public Utility Vehicles. It is almost common now that you see at least one or two accidents in a week, with one of the involved parties being that of a PUV. There are a lot of head scratching involved while the other party is irate. For some reason, these PUV drivers or those drivers who are generally assholes are the same people who will scratch their heads and say "sorry" as if their "sorry" could fix up the dent or scratch on your car. Forget insurance or police reports, they don't have those. It's going to be your responsibility to have it fixed by insurance because you don't possibly have the heart to let this poor man's family starve to death. You should take his "sorry", let out a sigh of relief, then charge it to experience, because the traffic will only become worse with your car never going to get better despite the more powerful "sorry na po talaga".

...LeBron James, Two-Time NBA Champion...

I never thought I'd see the day when I am actually rooting for Kobe to come back, and I'm making a blog dedicated to freakin LeBron James. I have always claimed to be a Wade-era Heat fan. It was a crappy few years after the '06 championship, but I stuck with them, hoped that Micheal Beasley would be a nice second for Wade, and was excited that Chris Bosh signed with the team in that big 2010 free agency.

And then came "The Decision". I hated the fact that LeBron joined the Heat. It meant the LeBron fanboys were going to join the bandwagon. It meant the public was going to be expecting nothing less than a championship, much like people expected nothing less from the '08 Boston Celtics. And that stupid "welcome party" they threw for the ONLY three guys who had active contracts for the Heat did not help endear themselves to the rest of the league.

They lost to Dallas in their first year; they were probably a bit too overconfident. They won against Oklahoma last year, but they never really got tested in the East after Derrick Rose had that freak injury, and Oklahoma was just too young. This year, they were dominant in the season, looked vulnerable against the Bulls, looked beatable against the Pacers, and had just an amazing, amazing series against the Spurs.

For all the criticism I think he deserved quite a bit, I think LeBron desreves a lot of credit for his accolades over the past two seasons. Let this non-LeBron fanboy try to defend our team's MVP by pointing out some criticism hurled against him.

He' a Choker

He probably still is. He had some bad end games in the Spurs series. But he is clearly trying. I'm not a professional athlete. Chances are, you aren't too. However, at one point in our lives, we probably had to take an important shot in a game. We may have missed some. Imagine doing that at the grandest stage of basketball, in front of thousands of people.

We make some, and we miss some. That's just how the ball rolls. He probably is making up for his "choking" by putting his team in a position where they could win it. He made plays to bring the team back when they were down in Game 5, but just couldn't do much in the 4th. He got lucky in Game 6 because they had the offensive rebound for that three pointer to bring them within two, but he had some pretty awful misses late in that game. 

If you're not a shooter, you improve your slashing ability. If you suck in the paint, you practice your shooting from the perimeter. For LeBron, if he is indeed a choker, he's doing his best to put his team in the position to have a chance to win, even if he's ultimately not going to be the guy to hit the winning shot.

He Took a Shortcut to Success

By joining Wade and Bosh in Miami, LeBron took the fast route and somewhat "cheated" success because the three of them in one team immediately made them contenders.

On the flipside, did you ever think that he would win titles in Cleveland where the second best player in the team is either an aging Zydrunas Ilgauskas, an ACL injury-recovering Mo Williams, a washed-up Shaquille O'Neal or Antawn Jamison?  It's not like he didn't give Cleveland a chance. He was drafted in 2003, and through those 7 years, Cleveland built around him. The pieces just wouldn't fit together well enough. In that 2007 Finals run, it was more about LeBron than anyone else. Who was the next threat? Old Z? No-offense Varejao? Donyell Freakin Marshall? Not-all-there Larry Hughes? Heck, John Snow would've helped them more that Eric Snow. 

If LeBron stayed in Cleveland, they'd have to pay him 100-mil or more. They will lack financial flexibility, and Cleveland just isn't too attractive of a place to go to, unlike Chicago, or Boston, or Los Angeles. Bosh and Wade already signed with Miami by then, and most of the big names already signed with teams. He'll probably get lesser stars to play with him again, at the level of Larry Hughes (good, not great) and he'll have to stay in a team that'll be good enough to win games in the regular season, but not good enough to win it all.

Would the Cavs be an attractive team with Kyrie Irving there? I think not as much as when LeBron was there. But the Cavs have Kyrie precisely because they sucked bad enough when LeBron left that they got a gem in Kyrie. If LeBron does come back to Cleveland to try and fulfill his promise of a title, he'll be with Kyrie at the point, and not some unknown ball player. 

Everyone needs a good second at least. He wasn't getting that in Cleveland during his stay.

He will NEVER be as Great as the Other Legends

Why didn't Kevin Garnett or Ray Allen have this much hate for this long when they bolted out of their teams to "win titles" in Boston? I read somewhere that KG actually said that if given another chance, he would love to have moved to a contender earlier in his career. Would Garnett NOT be considered one of the all-time greats because he moved to Boston?

LeBron is doing what Garnett wish he could've done earlier in his career. When KG and Allen joined the Celtics, they knew their window wasn't too big. LeBron's window is as wide as a door when he joined the Heat. 

Now, talking about other greats; Bill Russell had Bob Cousy in his team, and I won't even pretend I know the other guys in his team or how good they were because I don't. I just know the name Bob Cousy well enough to know that he was one of the all-time greats.

Magic Johnson had Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthy, Kurt Rambis, and MIcheal Cooper. They weren't called "Showtime" for nothing.

Larry Bird had Kevin McHale, Robert Parish, and Dennis Johnson. 

Micheal Jordan had Scottie Pippen (who I think was LeBron before LeBron, big, athletic, can carry a team on his back) in his first championship, after years of working with the guy to become the player that he was by 1991. Who would that have been to LeBron?

Tim Duncan had Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili. 

Kobe Bryant had Shaquille O'Neal, and wouldn't win another title until Pau Gasol came along.

Looking at the Cavs roster through 2010, did you even tremble at any of the remaining players on the Cavs roster if LeBron stayed? Anthony Parker? Jamario Moon? Sebastian Telfair?Daniel Gibson? Leon Powe? Old Z?

Every great player played with another great player to win their championships. It didn't seem that LeBron was going to get it in Cleveland with the way things were going for them at the time, and I couldn't blame LeBron for not wanting to waste his youth and energy in mediocrity in Cleveland.

How will he not end up as one of the greats? He has a freakish body with basketball skills to match, he is an unstoppable force on a fastbreak (apparently, unless your name is not Danny Green), and he can fill the box scores with his all-around game. How many have come before him who had all these? Are you not impressed watching him play like he was straight out of a video game? 

Conclusion

Should he have not left Cleveland? I think like every one of us who want growth professionally, he needed to move on from Cleveland as well. Like in our own professional careers, we can choose not to move out of the company that honed us to be who we are, and still achieve sufficient financial gains for "utang na loob" or loyalty.

However, sometimes we want more. We need to grow more because we feel unfulfilled where we are. LeBron was the hometown kid and the city built their team around him, kind of like a company providing you with all the training you need and promoting you when you deserved to be promoted. He had stability and a huge influence in the franchise. He was going to be what Karl Malone and John Stockton were for Utah or Patrick Ewing for New York or Reggie Miller for Indiana; beloved by the city, they defined their franchises. 

LeBron James didn't want to end up like them, or Alonzo Mourning or Gary Payton or Jason Kidd or this generation's Mitch Ritchmond who had to ride a powerhouse team late in their careers just to win a ring. It was the one thing he couldn't achieve in Cleveland. He wanted multiple championships while he can still play for it, and by staying another three to five years in Cleveland, he's wasting precious time making rivalries against Gilbert Arenas or Deshawn Stevenson rather than competing for the big prize in the Finals. 

I hated him while he was in Cleveland because of the hype he generated and just the thought that he seemed like a video game character brought to life. I still don't like him now, but "hate" is too strong of a word to describe my feeling for him now. I respect his game, but I still hate his shenanigans leading up to "The Decision" and the stuff they did after. If he never left, people would probably still hate on him. Because he left, people hate him immensely.

Either way, though, I think leaving turned out better for him. At least he has a couple of rings now, unlike being proclaimed "The King Without a Crown" in Cleveland. For all the shit thrown at him, he couldn't throw anything back when he was in Cleveland because apparently, winning the MVP trophy wasn't enough for people to consider him one of the best. Now, he can let his critics throw all the shit they want, while he fortifies his house with his two MVP trophies and two championships. 

While we see them as sports icons, remember that to them, basketball is their job. Given that fact, consider that they need to make the same decisions that you are going to make in your own professional career. No growth? File a resignation, and apply for another job. Would you not take a faster route to the top of the corporate ladder if the opportunity was given to you early in your career? Would you speak perfectly in front of an audience at all times while presenting a concept or report? Do you need to live up to those who preceded you, or do you have to be your own man or woman?

As douche-y as LeBron did what he did, it was a professional decision that he had to make, moving out of Cleveland. He chose not to be a hero of the masses because he wanted more for himself. At the end of the day, we make decisions that we think are best for ourselves, and not what other people might think. 

...Choosing to Act, a Product of Boredom...

There I was, pressed to decide once and for all.

                                              

It is never an easy task. Too many factors have to be considered. With one decision, everything may be affected. It's easy to choose that which is staring right in front of me, that which I know would work. But then, taking a step back, and evaluating everything, there is a lot more good that may come out by planning my next steps. Moving away from the easy way out doesn't always mean I'm making my life difficult, it may just be a step towards higher goals, and bigger accomplishments.

Life, after all, is not complicated. There are problems we can and can't solve. We must choose to act on those that we can rather than create more problems with those that we can't. Decisions shouldn't be this hard, you just choose what is easy.

Yet still, usually choose to a risk. One can't know for certain that a risk will pay off, or if the easy way out is the ONLY way that's right. I've been burned before by choosing a different path than what was offered to me, but I never learn. I still take those god damn risks.

I realize that I can't be stuck where I am, and it is not impossible to move forward. Others have, and some have not even taken their first steps. In any case, those others who have moved on were probably lucky, but they did make a decision otherwise they wouldn't be where they are. 

And so I must, like everyone else before me, make a decision, to stop thinking and just go with what I think is right. Thinking too much usually keep us where we are. We forget action will keep us moving, not thinking. Choosing the easy way or the more complicated one will affect everything anyway. Choosing is a decision. One just has to learn to live with the consequences of that decision.

Finally, I act. None of that safe shit that keeps flashing on my screen. I chose to take a risk. I take the red candy to drop the two blue candies and set myself up for that super circle. Thankfully, as soon as it breaks, my risk pays off, as the yellow candies on top of it form a striped candy. With just two moves left, and three more jellies to break, my circle and striped candy transform all the yellow candies to striped ones.

With one move left, the fish come out, and I have beaten Level 65. 

                                                 

Who says you can't learn anything from Candy Crush? :P

...Just A Fan: How I Became a Passionate Sports Guy...

Sports are a big part of my life. I enjoy watching it, I get excited rooting for teams, and I usually have a coarse voice a day after a good game because I've been shouting my lungs out. But unlike those "die hard" Ginebra Fans, "purple-blooded" Laker Fans or "true green" Celtics fans, I don't root for a particular team. I have favorites from time to time, and I switch allegiances whenever I feel like it. Let me explain why:

Learning the Game of Basketball

I started watching the PBA when I was a kid, because our house help had a huge crush on Alvin Patrimonio and Ronnie Magsanoc. Chot Reyes' Coney Island team won a championship against a team I forget now, but I was introduced to the great Alvin Patrimonio, his "Minister of Defense" Jerry Codinera, "The Bullet" Dindo Pumaren, and I think there was an Olsen Racela somewhere there. They later became the Purefoods team that I'd root for when I watched, but it was the 90's. You were either a Ginebra fan, or an Alaska fan. With my limited knowledge of the game, I enjoyed watching how systematic Alaska played as opposed to what looked like "tsamba" basketball by Ginebra/Gordon's, most exemplified by that Bal David game-winner from halfcourt, with the frenzied crowd cheering like they actually expected it would go in as a three point shot would. I'd trash talk in favor of Alaska, but I cheered for Purefoods. 

During these years, I was beginning to enjoy the game of basketball. In the NBA, there was that one team everyone was talking about; the Chicago Bulls. I saw how they won that third championship before Jordan retired to play baseball, and watched the second of their two three-peats. It was easy to ride on the Bulls bandwagon then because of Micheal Jordan. And hey, I watched Space Jam like it actually happened in real life. 

The Dark Ages, Fil-Shams and Retirements

Then the PBA had Fil-Shams. It was a time I stopped watching the PBA. Purefoods had Noy Castillo and some fat point guard named Rob Johnson leading the team. Rey Evangelista remained a workhorse, but he was close to retiring as well. In the NBA, Jordan has already decided to walk away from the game of basketball. It was a time (at least for me) where there wasn't much basketball to be watched.

Before entering college, I was conditioning myself to be a "Tiger". However, I was watching how well the team of James Yap and Paul Artadi was playing, and I was rooting for them to break the DLSU 4-peat (as I learned that only UST is the only other team to have achieved such honor in the Final Four era) after finishing second in the eliminations for a twice to beat advantage against what looked like a fiesty Ateneo team. Ateneo would later overcome the twice to beat, and later beat DLSU in the Finals, for their first championship in over a decade. 

Rekindling Interests

I was already hooked on James Yap. And as fate would have it, Purefoods were able to draft BOTH James Yap and Paul Artadi! They would later trade for, or pick players I enjoyed watching in other leagues, like Marc Pingris, Peter June Simon, and Chico Lanete. I had my team back.

In the NBA, while browsing through channels, I came across a Japanese channel showing a game of the Sacramento Kings. I couldn't understand the Japanese commentators, but I was mesmerized by the passing ability of all five guys on the team. Thanks to dial-up networking, I was able to read up on the Kings, and learned more about the team. I liked them so much that I patterned my playing style to Doug Christie, and wished to have the passing ability of Jason Williams. 

Switching Allegiances

As years went by though, Purefoods dispatched of the players I liked one by one, except for James. I hated Coach Ryan Gregorio for his rotation, and I eventually felt that James was over hyped. He'd have a good game shooting lights out, and then have three "off nights" after that. I still cheered for that team, but I wanted a fresh start. The Welcoat Dragons then entered the PBA. I liked to watch a team build their name from the ground up, and led by Jojo Tangkay, Junjun Cabatu, and Jay-R Reyes, you can't go any lower in the PBA. They struggled and evolved, and they drafted nicely. As the Rain or Shine Elastopainters, I loved that they drafted Jervy Cruz and TY Tang, but hated the fact that Sol Mercado is shooting like he's Reggie Miller. I finally found myself cheering for Rain or Shine after they hired Coach Yeng Guiao (who I credit for making the rest of the league look at Cyrus Baguio, Wesley Gonzales, Larry Fonacier and Gabby Espinas, among others) and dispatched Sol Mercado. I have been cheering for them ever since.

In the NBA, after years of not getting over the hump, and having our hearts broken by Robert fuckin' Horry, the Sacramento Kings slowly disbanded their team. During these times, Caron Butler made me notice a Miami Heat team struggling for recognition. The next season, I stopped watching the Kings after they traded Doug Christie to the Dallas Mavericks, of all teams, and I watched a young Miami Heat team eke out a 14-game win streak to end their regular season to enter the playoffs. Then some kid named Dwayne Wade dunked over Baron Davis and later Jermaine O'Neal in two rounds of the playoffs. I was sold on the Heat.

============================================================================

To this day, I claim to be a passionate fan of the game. "True" fans who cheer for their one team could label me as a bandwagon fan or a casual fan. As in food, I eat a lot, but I have favorites. But not being able to eat my favorite food does not stop me to enjoy other food immensely. 

I enjoy sports passionately. In the eyes of a mere spectator, ten men playing with one basketball looks stupid, grown men banging bodies with each other for an irregularly-shaped football is absurd, and twenty men kicking a single football in the grass looks boring. In my eyes, I see competitors trying to win a game. I shout when I cheer; alone or in a crowd, I will curse and shout when there's a bad play and clap rabidly at every great play. I don't care who's playing, I just enjoy the competition. 

Some of my friends don't understand why I defend a team they're dissing or why I diss a team they're cheering for. As a passionate fan, I watch games, I read stories, and I check out stats. I have favorites, but I check out as many teams I can fit into my head to be confident enough to know that I am knowledgeable in what I'm about to say or write. I don't hate on teams, I just want to bring "super" fans' heads back down to earth. I don't blindly say my favorite teams are invincible, but I will back up my words if someone challenges my claims. As someone who enjoys competition, this is where I get my fix; lengthy, (and hopefully logical) back and forth discussions with fellow fans. I have learned to recognize and channel out absurd and idiotic comments that attempt to be taken seriously, and engage instead in more intelligent discussions with fans who actually understand the game. 

To get my fix, I study the games that I don't understand, so that I may be able to keep up a conversation with just about any sports nut. To date, I can claim to have above average knowledge of the NBA from about 2002, PBA from probably the start of the James Yap era, and the UAAP from Mike Cortez's missed dunk in the Finals. I also have a basic understanding of football to be able to enjoy Steven Gerrard and Lionel Messi's games and thus casually follow Liverpool and Barcelona, respectively. I enjoyed and learned a lot of American Football from movies, but I understood the game by playing Madden and watching the games with my Uncle Owe. I tried to have a basic understanding of baseball to at least have a topic of conversation with my boss during our free time. For individual games, I enjoy watching tennis, MMA, F1 Racing, and boxing. I actually am trying to understand cockfighting to have something to talk about with my dad. Yes, it is somewhat of a sport. 

I don't get to watch a lot of games. Math proficiency is not my best asset to be some "Moneyball"-type of analyst. I don't get to talk to players. To compensate, I check out analysts' opinions, I try to analyze as best I can from the box scores and play-by-plays, and develop my own analysis and opinions. Eventually, I come up with stuff to say based on what I think, and what my gut feeling tells me. I'm not always right, but I enjoy the times that I am. 

I am not a "true" fan of a particular team where I'll go through its ups and downs. I don't wear jerseys of players or collect their shoes. I want to claim, though, that I am a fan of sports. I have my favorites, but I will cheer for any team at any time because I like how they play, and I do understand the rivalries and why I can't cheer for some teams. 

I will not "die" for a team, but I will cheer wildly when I watch games. I am, after all, just a fan. 

...Pangingialam ng Pakialamero: Statements and Mottos...

"Anything sounds weird if you say it a hundred times"
-  Ted Mosby, from How I Met Your Mother

In our daily lives, we encounter common statements from our friends or random people that seem to make sense, but once you take a step back and think about it, are really kind of stupid. We may be guilty of blurting these out at times when the situation arises, but really, with everyone else saying it, it has almost become senseless. The more we hear it, the stupider it sounds. I'm not even sure if that's a word, but the spell check says it is.

I learned that it's actually called something; Semantic Satiation. It's a psychological phenomenon where a word (or in the case I'm presenting, a phrase) loses its meaning/essence because of constant repetition. With people overusing these phrases I'm enumerating, I have have become sick of it, to the point that it has lost its meaning to me. And probably to you too.


Y.O.L.O.
You see this: Just about everywhere, especially when it became a fad

                                                


"You only live once", so the saying goes. It was the mantra of people who wanted to take risks, and there's no better time to do it than right at the moment. While it seems like it isn't so bad, some rapper makes an acronym about it, and kids are throwing it out like Japanese were shouting "Banzai!" during the World War II era. It has been completely taken out of context, and now people use this phrase as an excuse to do something stupid.


Haters gonna hate
You see this: When people are criticized

                                                 

What, and lovers gonna love, workers gonna work, and speakers gonna speak? Fanboys/fangirls or the topics of criticism usually use this statement to close an argument. Usually, this is also used to stoop down to the level of irrational critics who blurt out totally irrelevant things to criticize (whoa, critics gonna criticize). It is such a primitive argument that those who can't think rationally can't even answer back. It is the perfect ending to these types of arguments; both parties agree to disagree, with both feeling they won.

Keep calm and (insert random word/phrase)
You see this: As a meme, with the height of popularity probably from mid to late last 2012

                                                         

Did you know that the above picture is a World War II British public-safety catchphrase? I didn't. Now I understand why there's a crown there. It has become such a popular meme that everyone seems to have used or misused it at least once. The inserted word/phrase sometimes just doesn't make sense, yet people make t-shirts out of it because they think it's cool. I can think of a couple of schools that have misused this meme, but I'd rather not say. You know who you are, bandwagoners.

Everything happens for a reason
You see this: When shit happens in your friend's life and he or she is being all "Zen" about it; in emo selfies involving shadows or paper cut outs

           


A friend lost his/her phone, and he/she is like "My life sucks, but it's alright, everything happens for a reason".  Yes, everything happens for a reason. You lost your phone because you were careless, you idiot. Don't think the universe conspired to have you leave your phone in a taxi somewhere. While fate, destiny, and the universe are nice ways to blame shitty things happening in your life, there are moments that you just have to accept that you did to yourself. Fate isn't always the "reason" for everything. By making "fate" responsible for every shitty thing in your life, you have ruined this beautiful quote for those who actually believe it.


What happens in (insert place here) stays in (insert the same place)
You see this: As tags on crazy parties

                                                     

Watching American movies, I learned a popular saying that goes "what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas". I think I heard that in a Nic Cage movie. Anyway, the quote has been used just in about everywhere, that you wonder, is anything ever coming out? Albums have titles like, "What happens in Bora, stays in Bora" or "What happens in Palawan, stays in Palawan" and then you start to think why the hell they used those quotes as titles to their album if it's supposed to "stay" there. While it is true that sometimes, people just type this in as a shoutout, I still don't get why it becomes an "official" quote of a place just because one did crazy stuff there. You could have an agreement with friends that "no one outside our circle can know about this" but please, don't make it like there's a written rule in that place that says that.

(insert action twice) din pag may time
You see this: In pa-cool jej people statuses, bandwagon riders

                                           

I don't know how this shit started. When I learned it, it was quite amusing, as it implyies that you can squeeze something in your busy schedule for eating ("kain kain din pag may time") or sleeping ("tulog tulog din pag may time") or whatnot. But then it got annoying. People who had no jobs or are on vacation use the same quotes. You have all the freakin time in the world, why the hell do you need to announce that you're doing something "pag may time"?! Do what you want to do, it's not like you're packed with meetings or work!

...Gratitude, for Making Life Worth Living: A Birthday Blog...

"Friends was about that time in your life when your friends are your family and once you have a family, there's no need anymore,"

- Marta Kauffman, Co-Creator of F.R.I.E.N.D.S. on possibly having a reunion movie

I removed my birthday in FB's display so as not to get the automatic "Happy Birthday!" from every random person on my profile. For some reason, I'm actually happy that my birthday's coming up. Turning 27, I don't think it is significant or anything, but I think I almost have life figured out, and I'm happy. I have come to terms with things that I cannot control, and am trying to solve those which I can.

That said, I fear that I'm near a time where I don't need my friends anymore, if the "Friends" creator is to be believed. That is why this year, I am not writing a list of random things I'm hoping on getting for myself or as gifts. I just want say how I am thankful to everyone who has shaped my life to how it is now; family, friends of old, and friends I'd want to be in my future. If you don't already know, let me say this to all of you:

               

I have been a shy boy from a small school, but my confidence has grown leaps and bounds since. I have to thank the familiar faces of my elementary school, Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila School, because I never felt alone during all my years in that school. The boys and mentors of Don Bosco Technical College of Mandaluyong made me more comfortable with myself. The girls of La Concordia College and Don Bosco Sta. Mesa were awesome friends to have as well during that time of my life; here are girls who you can hang out with in just about anywhere, and talk about stuff freely. It was like having a bunch of sisters even if you had just one friend. 

I'm thankful to have my dad, who has given me a wide room to grow on my own. I am especially thankful to have a mom like I have; a provider, an inspiration, and at times, just someone who needs me as much as I need her. I am thankful to have an older sister who has grown with me, as we've been able to keep up our late-night "kapit-kwarto kwento" sessions to Whatsapp talks. I am thankful to have a brother who looks up to me, as it kept me disciplined enough to at least be a worthy role model.

                    

My Lozada family has been awesome. Through their jokes, insults, and laughter, I have learned to laugh at myself, accept what I am, and be happy with it. Their spontaneous decision-making, which I seem to have inherited, is one that taught me great patience. Funny how growing up, I was at odds with my cousin Jon, but we have grown to be brothers as we have grown up. All my cousins have made my childhood fun to look back to; from crazy games, petty fights, scars from playing, the sleepovers, and just all the good times. I wouldn't want to trade it up for anything. My uncles and aunts have, in their own weird way, taught me lessons along the way deliberate or not, at times alcohol-induced, but not all the time. Since we lost Tito Nandy, my godfather, I have tried my best to grow up as fast as I can so that I may be able to have adult talks with all of my other uncles and aunts. As they have their own fields and led different lives, I have learned a great deal about life through their personal experiences and wise counsel.

                 

I have not been particularly close with my Coo family, but I am thankful that I am given such trust by my Uncle Edwin to work in his company. I am thankful to be in a position during gatherings where I'm young enough to keep up a conversation with my cousins, but old enough to offer insights to my uncles on other topics. It also feels nice to reconnect with my cousins I have not been able to see as much as I've seen my Lozada cousins growing up. Despite just short conversations, I genuinely feel an appreciation on both our parts on wanting to establish our connections. Growing up, Philipp and Richard were the closest to our age, and they're cousins I wished I could've spent more time with.

            
                  
   

I'm thankful for my SDP family, who have guided me through college. Over the years, I feel that it may have evolved and may have taken a different direction from how I came to know it. Still, it has been nice to know the older alumni who have directly or indirectly inspired me not only in student politics and the AB life, but also how to handle life outside of college.

Kuya Ags and Ate Puch, who will finally tie the knot soon, have been two of my biggest reasons why I stayed in SDP, and continue to support the party even years after I have graduated. The family of lovely ladies (Ate Puch, Ate Pat, Ate Len and Tring) was gracious enough to accept Kuya Ags' boy, and we later welcomed a younger brother in the fold in Nico. This bond with them is one I always treasure, with or without them knowing about it.

The Mares and the Stellans - Che's friends - have been very welcoming. Thank you for the friendship, and making me feel like I am a friend as Voltaire the person, and not just Che's boyfriend.

My Philosophy blockmates have been great. For three years in college, I've spent most of my time outside of our classrooms to attend to extra-curricular matters. Yet despite the relatively short amount of time I've spent with them, they have all given me the opportunity to enjoy their company. In our Yahoo!Groups, I actually segregated the class in a way that I saw, and labelled every group. One of the groups, which I dubbed as "Team Flow" because they were already a 5-man basketball team (Kali, Robert, Christian, Imon, and Leonel, plus team manager Rey) and they were a group that "always goes with the flow" when a situation arises, actually kept their name. Over the years, the composition changed, and the relationships between the people in it have grown. Despite the childish label, I am thankful to be part of a group that I know I can count on in my worst times. This group now of Kali and Arianne, Imon and Ella, Benjo and Carin, Jan and Ariane, Chrisitian, Robert, and Rey, are friends I'd want to grow old with as we watch our kids grow old together as well.



The unlabeled group of friends I have with Ate Sof, Ate Len, Ernestine (my after-10PM ates), Ate I, Josef, Chip, and "Little S" Satrina, is one that I love to laugh with (special shoutout to Katrina abroad). I know exactly when this friendship started, how I somehow became part of this group, and I'm happy that I am. Even if I get SMS invitations after 10PM. During these times of late texts, I become uncertain as to whether or not I actually belong in this group, but I do want you guys to know that I love you all, and I thank you for being a part of my life.

The Hungry Rover team is a group that I barely hang out with outside of business, but they're a fun bunch. Ate I and Josef are in the other group, Mina has made things happen for this business, and Meo's been a great boss. Ate Abby, Kuya Bong, and our little promoter Gab have been an awesome team for the food truck. It's been about five months, and we're still learning. Our families have been supporting us from day 1.

I'm thankful for my somewhat best friend, Issa, for a friendship that I never thought was possible. She has been a wingman of sorts, an ear that listens, a person in need, and just a friend I can hang out with. She's been the Robin to my Ted, minus the romance.

I want to thank that girl from Canada, Katie. In a short while, you have made me feel special, and taught me not to be afraid of keeping my feelings. You were the chance I'm really glad I took. Thank you for the chance of letting me get to know you.

And finally, thank you, Che Marcaida, for being you. For "us". We have not been perfect, but we have made everything work. I know that you are trying to be the best that you can be, as I have been trying to be my best as well. Over the past 8 years, our relationship has evolved constantly as we have grown older together. Whatever happens, I regret nothing, and I value dearly every moment that we have spent together. Thank you for the patience, the memories, the present, and the future. Thank you for being a part of my life.

========================================================================

It has been a great 26 years. I've been with a lot more people, but I can't thank each and every one. I have lacked sleep because I always try my best not to miss out on a chance to be with friends or family. I think I want that sleep time now. I can't be everywhere, but I try to be. I probably won't try as much now, but know that I would if I can, especially for those on this list. I was always an easy person to please, and I never really wished for too much. I didn't wish for any of these people around my life, but I'm lucky to have been graced with all of them.

Thank you, everyone, for a life worth living.