...A Hungry Rover's Cucina Andare Experience...

How fun is it that my 300th blog post (including Multiply blogs) is about food. And good food at that.

So in case my social media flooding to my friends hasn't been too obvious, I'm actually a co-owner of a food truck that we call the Hungry Rover. Save for Ate Abby (who's an HRM graduate), none of us owners have a background in culinary arts or the food industry. What we have is a collective love for food, a common dream, and passionate hearts to achieve that dream.

Over the past few months, we've talked about how we're going to do this truck, presented ideas to each other, and agreed on a bunch of stuff. One of the things we agreed on was that we wanted to launch the truck through an event where we could invite other existing food trucks, have some bloggers or media friends drop by to check out the food and the trucks, and start a buzz from there. Then we learned of Cucina Andare, which had pretty much the same idea and more. It was perfect because the organizers were known to showcase innovative food offerings through their other known ventures, such as Mercato Centrale, Manda Centrale, Distrito Makati, Soderno, and Mezza Norte. 

The past couple of weeks have been a fun experience, talking to strangers, making new friends, and meeting other food truck owners as well as food stall owners. Kind words have been humbling, but the joy on their faces as they give out these kind words have been priceless. Those are what keeps us doing what we're doing, and the reason why we started this in the first place.

Some people who stopped by our truck who said they just got there and were simply checking everything out asked me what I was really selling. They got confused because after my whole Hungry Rover spiel, I'd rave about all the other food I've tried, since they just got there. It's probably because I can't stop talking, but really, it's more because I love to eat, and I wanted to share that experience with everyone else. Now, onto those food offerings:

Shawarma Bros

NomNom Club's best food AND best truck winner, these Bros are awesome people with awesome food. They have shawarma rice plates, with beef, chicken, or lamb as your choices of meat. I asked for a free plate from one of the owners, Rammy (who was one of the first food truck owners I met for this event) because I was their 50th Twitter follower, 400th Facebook fan, and his personal account's 100th follower. I guess it doesn't really matter, but because he's awesome like that, he got me a free Beef Shawarma plate. The nice taste of the beef shawarma is complemented well by their biryani rice and their sauce. A whole plate could fill one up nicely.

Beat the Bros, Episode 1

After reading a bunch of reviews, though, I said I needed to try their Lamb Shawarma plate. They had a "Beat the Bros" promo last Friday, which I accepted when everyone wasn't too busy. All I had to do was beat one of them in a beer chugging contest. They chanted Abe's name when they told me about the challenge, so I took him on. That was a big mistake though, as the dude was a beast. It was a great intro to my first lamb plate. Even if I won and got it free, I probably would've come back and paid for it because my friends kept asking more of it. What I like about it is the smoked flavor brought about by the meat being really well done. People might think that lamb is too "exotic" for their liking, but lamb really isn't that bad as long as the person who cooks it knows how to do it properly. These guys know how to do it. You'd probably forget that it was lamb midway through your plate.

Food Truck by Chef Broosy

One of the nice looking trucks around Cucina Andare, they offer a Japanese fusion menu. Next to sushi, ramen is a Jap food I usually look for when in a Japanese restaurant. After watching "Ramen Girl" on Star Movies, I tried to look for the best ramen I could find around the metro. I've seen nicely arranged ones, unaesthetic but fully loaded ones, and overpriced ones. I must say that Chef Broosy's Spicy Ramen is appropriately priced, if not under priced, just because it is packed with a healthy serving of pork and noodles in a spicy broth that wouldn't burn your taste buds. For 180 pesos, that ramen is really good.

My dad ordered Kani Salad from them as well. It is served in an edible bowl, which is a nice touch to go with the flavorful salad in the bowl. The owner, Mrs. Viray, is also a joy to talk to during idle moments, as we share our experiences in Cucina Andare.

Schmidt's Gourmet Hotdogs

One of two gourmet hotdog stalls in Cucina Andare, Schmidt's offers "the best hotdogs in the world" with gourmet hotdogs inspired by countries around the world. I was able to try their Coney Island Chili Dog, and words cannot describe how I enjoyed that hotdog. They do not hold back on those toppings. And they put little flags on your hotdog to show which country inspired it. I was almost disappointed that I had to eat it just because it was too pretty to look at. I was saying "ang sarap nito" at every bite, validating my taste expectations when I first saw it. I didn't take a picture of it because I might just want to eat one every time I look at that picture. I shit you not, it will be worth every cent.

Chicken+Waffle Haus

I envy the stalls in the middle of Cucina Andare because these guys perk them up in the middle of the night. You hear the owners shout "chicken n'waffles!" every time you pass by, and from time to time they just burst into song. Their food is as fun as the owners. Those Kpops chicken pops are tender and complemented well by their hickory barbecue sauce. It's a nice beer match. Their C+W Sandwich is appetizing from cooking to eating. We got hungry from smelling the waffles being cooked, and the smell translates well to the taste, as we enjoyed every bite of that waffle sandwich.

And hey, they're no slouches on beer chugging! They battled for pride as one of the owners, Sean, took on the same challenge against the Shawarma Bros Champion, Abe:

Carlo's Kitchen

Sir Carlo dropped by Hungry Rover on the first day with his wife and their pretty daughter who wanted to experience the truck. I had no idea I was enjoying their food before then. Their Crunchy Belly Chicharon is like eating chicken skin because it is so thinly sliced. It's a great snack to have while roaming around Cucina Andare, and a nice beer match.

B.Wings

Inna, our wing-loving co-owner, tried out the Chicken Wings of B.Wings before closing our first Sunday. She taught me how to "properly" eat a chicken wing. It was a nice beer match to close the night, and it was spiced just right.

Last Sunday, a college classmate, Jason, dropped by to taste our food after his gym session (won't say what he ordered, trainer might be reading) and also picked up an order of the Black Mamba Wings. I think he bought it because of one or both things: it was their best seller, and it was "Black Mamba", Kobe's monicker. He had no idea that it had a chocolate coating, one of the reasons why Inna and I decided to pass on it, as we thought chocolate didn't go that well on wings. Well, the reviews I read were right, it really is something to try!

Manila Q

My friend was raving about Bagwang, being from Ilocos, so we ordered one from Manila Q. I don't know why I even thought it was fish before trying it, but it is actually their version of bagnet. I think it works best with rice, as the saltiness is evident at every bite. It's not a bad thing, really, since I like salty food. I just think the best experience for this is eating it with rice over breakfast with slices of tomato. I met the owners of Manila Q, Sir Dante in particular, because they were sourcing out a flavor for their iced tea. Nice to finally try their food like I promised him when we met.

Mio Gelati

This is probably the cutest food truck in Cucina Andare. It has a pull-out stage for customers to see what's available. My girlfriend, Che, was bent on eating a gelato despite having a hard time talking because of a sore throat. She got a Snickers Gelato which she had me finish because of said sore throat. I wasn't complaining.

Merry Moo

While Che opted for gelato, her friends checked out Merry Moo's Seasalt Caramel. I wasn't able to try, but my sore-throat suffering girlfriend did, and she was whining like a kid because she can't get one for herself.

Union Market Bar

I've always passed by it, but never really bought one, as I'm actually more of a beer drinker than a cocktail one. Che and a visiting friend, Issa, tried their Bacardi Mojito Original. I took a sip of it and thought that it was perfect for her, as it really isn't too minty nor was the alcohol evident. They do have other cocktails, which I think would be just as nice.

Hungry Rover

Grilled Wraps na Masa-wrap :p

Of course I should also promote our food truck. Our awesome Beef Tapa is great when paired with our freshly baked pita bread, but the experience won't be any less if paired with steamed rice or our chili rice. Either way, it could be best paired with our youghurt garlic sauce for those looking for that Mr. Kebab-like taste on the meat, or the creamy pesto sauce for those who want a sweet complement to the saltiness of the tapa. The Beef Kofta sliders are mini burgers of Mediterranean inspiration. It has a unique zing I can't really describe, but I definitely like. It's best with the curry sauce, which usually scares people off, but it's more of mustard than curry. I usually get people to try it first before they do decide to go with the sauce. And we do have honey mustard sauce and cheese sauce for those who aren't too adventurous with the other sauces. The Chicken and Pork bbq options are also nice, with tender and chunky pieces of meat for wraps and rice.

Beef Tapa on Classic Rice

While people are enjoying our food, we want to constantly innovate, which is why I prefer to stay by the truck to know what people like, and what people think we can do to innovate or improve our truck and food. Sanya Smith dropped by on our first Sunday and suggested we do karaoke with our on board TV, and we're thinking of working on that next. For the food, a customer ordered Kofta on rice, which is not on the menu, but we served to her anyway. She said that the creamy pesto on rice didn't work for her because it was sweet, but there were customers who liked the sweetness of the creamy pesto sauce. Kids loved the Kofta sliders, because it fits their hand like a regular burger on an adult hand.

Sanya Smith aproves!

With all these in mind,we're looking forward to bigger things for Hungry Rover next year! We're optimistic about some people we've talked to and we're setting up meetings with people who can help Rover be in places where there are hungry people looking for an alternative meal option.


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On a side note, I still do want to try other food offerings at Andare. I haven't seen QKebab or Mexicombi after the first night, but they do have food I want to try. Other food I do want to try in Cucina Andare:

Macheesmo's Burger - if I understand it right, there's cheese inside the patties.

Ylaya Food Truck - Xidee's food truck is the only vegetarian food truck in Cucina Andare. Veggies fresh from Batangas!

Top Dog - Apparently, this is comprised of an enterprising group of kids doing this venture as a school project or thesis, not really sure, I was just informed.





Guac Truck - my brother actually tried their nachos, but since I haven't tried it, I might drop by one of these days. It's one of the first food trucks we came to know about in the Philippines.

**Save for the Guac Truck, Mio Gelato, Chef Broosy's, and Shawarma Bros pictures, all pictures are from Cucina Andare Facebook page, ourawesomeplanet.com, their respective fan pages, and foodnotebook.blogspot.com for the Bagwang.

...A Not So Expensive Wishlist...

I'm easy. I get wowed by the simplest things, and I get speechless over really expensive or really thought out gifts. And just like everyone else, I do have a list of stuff I'd really want for Christmas. I'd tick them off myself, but I do want to share it so that those who'd be thoughtful enough to buy me a gift wouldn't think so hard =)

1. An Audio CD/Mixtape

I have a CD player on my car. I can't use it as much because I don't have CD's. While I do have a bunch of MP3 players, I haven't really updated my playlist in a long while. I don't like to consider myself as liking a particular genre, as I enjoy music as long as it sounds pleasing. Right now, I got this mix on my mind, and am hoping Che would make it for me:

Overjoyed - Matchbox 20
Angels - The XX
Here I Am - Yellowcard
Turn It Well - Up Dharma Down
Skeletons - This Century
Between the Raindrops- Lifehouse feat. Natasha Bedingfield
The Runaways - The Killers
Let Me Love You - Ne-Yo
Hurts Like Heaven - Coldplay

It's pretty much a collection of songs that are in no way associated with the other. I just like hearing them. And singing to them at the top of my lungs like an idiot when I'm driving around. If someone else could give me a CD of songs they enjoy, I'd gladly listen to them, just for variety :)

2. An Aux Slot for Bruno

 This one I'm probably getting myself. When traffic is really bad, I play some of my series on my tab. I am getting sick of buying FM Transmitters from CD-R King again and again. I need to stop. And the best way to do that is to find a place where I can install an Aux slot so that I can use that "AUX" button on Bruno's in-dash radio. If someone can just help me find a place where I can get this installed, that'd be really great. 

3. A Drinking Session with Kuya Ags



Yep. That is a particular one. Dad's been busy since the influx of government work came. No longer just the poster boy for smoke-free offices, he's been all around but no longer around me =P We've been to a couple of events, but weren't really able to talk much. Hopefully, that changes soon.

4. Witty Books of No Particular Topics

I've been hearing about these, but never really picked up any of them. I really want one. Or all.

5. More Hungry People...

...that we can feed on the Hungry Rover! The first week was pretty awesome, meeting new people, talking to friends, and seeing all of them genuinely enjoy the whole bus and food experience. I'm wishing for more friends and strangers to drop by our truck, and hopefully, we can really get the truck going places by next year to do what it's supposed to do; feed the people by roving around the metro :)

6. A Basketball Game. Or Two.

It has been a while since I last played. I need to enjoy an actual game, and not just enjoy watching or playing it via PS3. I want to play. I am almost willing to play pick up basketball with strangers, as long as I know one person there. But basketball will be a lot more fun with friends. I just can't reserve a place, and I can't get 9 other people on board.

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I think I had more in mind, but I'm sticking to this list. I'll probably update it later if I suddenly remember stuff.

...A Perspective on Relationships...

I love hearing about people's problems. On one side, it makes me thankful that I don't have such a shitty life. On another, by actually making others feel good, I get a feeling of being wanted, of being appreciated. Over the years I have learned why women loathe men, but do understand and accept some of our behaviors. I'm not a matchmaker for my friends; I rarely have a friend meet another friend so they can hook up precisely because I don't want to be the cause of each other's anguish.

In this light, let me offer a perspective on men, from a man's standpoint, but with sympathy to women, and on the flipside, offer some insights on men that women may not realize.

1. The Concept of Ligaw
The "Best Foot Forward"

It may be an old school tradition, and some may say they don't believe in it, but trust me, this shit happens. Men are always concerned of leaving a first impression for the women to keep wanting more. It may not always be the roses-and-chocolates type of approach, it may just be the unusual attention to details, the unwavering eye contact, and the gentleman approach in every possible opportunity. Don't get me wrong, the dude may really be interested in the girl, and this may actually be his norm, but most of the time, it's not.

What Women Need to Know: Consciously or not, men do put their best foot forward until you are really impressed. You will not know for sure based on time; the faster you say "yes" to a guy would probably mean  a shorter time of enjoying what you enjoyed, while the longer you make him wait, the more that he'd expect more from you as soon as you say "yes". My advise is to play it cool. Don't jump the gun too fast, because you're not giving him enough time to prove himself. Don't make him wait for too long if you think you really like him, because by that time you're chasing him, and he'll enjoy the fact that you're on his leash. If you really like someone, just freakin say it. Don't be too impressed, because he may stop trying if he's wowed you enough, but do learn to show genuine appreciation, because if not, he may think his efforts are futile. If after you get together, he stops doing the things he usually does back then, don't try chasing him for it. You didn't ask for that Teddy Bear or that long walk home, why ask for it now? Let him want to do it again by not letting him feel you're ok with everything. When you're together, as long as you say you're ok, he'll think that you are because he thinks there's an honesty between you two already. If he doesn't make an effort despite you dropping hints or saying what you feel outright, then you may have just fallen for the guy who loves the chase, not the girl.

What Men Need to Know: Don't set a bar too high for yourself if you can't keep it up. You give a huge Teddy Bear and a bouquet of roses on your first date, what if you didn't have the cash for the same things for your next date? Set a girl's expectations on levels that you can manage. If you can't, then don't give her reason to think that you're always like this. Usually, when you get the security that you want (i.e. girl becomes your girlfriend), girls look for the "you" before you got together because you lose the effort trying to impress her. Understand that they liked you for a reason. If you don't want those reasons to be material, don't give constant gifts. If you don't want to spend your time window shopping, politely say you won't do it, because when you do get together, she'll expect that you'd come with her constantly. If you do join her for window shopping just because you want to be with her, then that want of being with her shouldn't die down when you do get together eventually. If you can't suck it up, then you don't want her bad enough.

2. The Concept of Security
"Let's not lose the friendship"

Most of us hate being alone. It's almost natural to think that we're meant to be with another person, as husband and wife are called each other's half. That said, we often look for close friends to be around with, but we feel most secure when we establish a romantic relationship with another person. Things become complicated when friendship turns to romance.

What Women Need to Know: As mentioned earlier, after you've given that much coveted "yes" to a guy, they have a certain kind of security that you'll always be there. And if you break up in good terms, the guy will always think that you'll be there waiting for him, even if you say you're not. Chances are, by breaking up in good terms, you probably still are wishing he'd realize he needs you in his life. What follows is a series of "why the hell did I do that" moments for you, as the guy will milk whatever leverage he might have on you. Without the commitment, he's free to try his luck with any other girl, of course, while keeping you on the side as his "friend". Learn to love yourself more, rather than thinking you love someone so much that you'd do anything to keep him. On the flipside, if it was the girl who likes to keep the guy as a "friend" right after the break up, know that though we may not show weakness, we do will get hurt if done the same thing.

What Men Need to Know: You need to stop being fuckin pricks. You broke up, stop flirting with her. You give men the bad rep we have to live with. It doesn't matter how good you were as friends. You can't say you "don't want to lose the friendship" because you risked losing it when you decided to become a romantic couple. If you're not sure, put an effort to make it work. If you're certain that you want to break up, do it and don't look back. Sure, it's always nice to have the perfect arrangement of having a pseudo-girlfriend with the mutual understanding of what it is you're doing, but don't tell me you won't punch the dude who becomes her boyfriend while you're in that floating stage of your relationship.

3. The Concept of Habits
"We've always been like this"

Over time, you will build habits with your partner. Be it the period before you get together, or during the time that you are together. You will become comfortable with these habits, and usually would want to hang on to the relationship just because of these habits.

What Women Need to Know: To keep the relationship healthy, you need to move away from these habits. Everything is always exciting over the first three months of the relationship; you don't know each other well enough to know what to expect from your partner. There's a good chance that your partner can still "wow" you with some stuff, and vice versa. But like everything, it may become routine, and one may lose interest in the relationship if those surprises don't happen. On one side, by getting too used to routines, you might look for it when you break up. The long talks, the constant movie date, and the shoulder to lean on among other things are those that you'd long for after the break up, and you tend to gravitate towards your now former partner despite supposedly needing space from each other. Sure it's always sweet to say that he's the only guy you'd want to be with, but really, you can't let your world revolve around just one person. If all your habits are tied to one person, what happens when you lose that person? Make your own habits.

What Men Need to Know: Usually, we put it upon ourselves to make an effort for the relationship. What we do eventually become those habits. Understand that after breaking up, the girl you have formed habits with will most likely look for it at times. Of course, you may want that as well. But again, you decided to break up. Work things out if you want to stay together, but when you decide to break up, let it be over. No revisiting habits. It will only hurt you both if you later don't get back together, because one of you might move on a little faster.

4. Knowing When to Let Go

With an illusion formed during the courting stage, the security felt upon confirmation of mutual feelings, and the habits formed over the course of the relationship, one may mistake "love" for one of these things. Girls may have fallen for the illusion that the guy is full of surprises and will always make time for her; guys for the illusion that this is a great girl worth doing stuff for. Then you get to know each other a little better and you suddenly don't like them as much. Couples may be happy with the security they have with each other that they wouldn't want to let go of this certainty despite the fact that they are not as happy as they would want. Sometimes, couples mistake love with a person to love of the habits formed.

How can you say you love a person? It varies from person to person, I guess. In my opinion, it is when unconsciously, you think of them all day. You'd know because when you buy groceries, you'd remember to look for something for him or her. Or while talking to other people and a topic suddenly shifts to something of interest to him or her, you manage to talk about your partner. He or she is the first person you'd want to tell great news to. Despite a long and tiring day, you don't feel as bad when you get to be with him or her. At the worst times in your life, only that person will make you feel somewhat better because of their mere presence. You want to make a change in yourself because it would make him or her happy. Heck, you do or learn things to make him or her happy. It doesn't matter how tired or busy you are, you always manage to find time for them. You push yourself to make an effort to see them if they can't make time for you, because chances are, if he or she feels the same, they'd really appreciate you being there. These are, I think, some things a person does for love.

If things aren't as great as they were during the first few times you were together, determine and accept if you have fallen for mere illusion. Don't try to stand by your decision to be with him or her if only to tell yourself that you made the right choice of choosing them because that will only make you miserable. If you have feelings for another or feel happiness in the presence of others more than your partner, then maybe you're keeping him or her for your own security. Be fair and let him or her go. If you can't deal with the fact that you don't have anything to do if you lose him or her, then you probably are just hanging on for the habit, and not for the person. Let the person go if habits become more important than him or her. If the person ultimately decides to be "just friends" after things "didn't work out", it means they don't want to fight for you as much as you would. You will be their security. You will make yourself miserable by waiting and wishing they'd come back. Let go. Cliche as it may sound, but if you're really meant for each other, they will come back. Let them make that effort to win you back. Don't wait for the time that they'd just come flying back to you, because who knows, maybe things just "didn't work out" with another person, and you're the only sure thing in his/her life.

Learn when to let go by learning to love yourself above all else. When you appreciate yourself, you will loathe anyone who hurts you, and you will understand why people are saying that he or she is not right for you. You need to draw your own lines because nobody can tell you what you should feel about someone. You may not know what you want or what you need, but you definitely will make the best decisions for yourself when you learn to love "you" more.

...Here's to a Girl...

To the girl who was the reason for me bringing two umbrellas during my sophomore year in college...

To the girl who made me walk the flooded streets of San Juan because of a saved message in my 5110 that said "sigurado na ako.. :)" some eight years ago...

To the girl whom I exchanged uniquely folded messages with...

To the girl with insecurities I can't even count...

To the girl who gave me the most unforgettable Valentine's I had with the help of a toy car, a football pillow-radio, and some friends...

To the girl who made one of my childish wants (owning a large stuffed toy to wrestle with) a reality...

To the girl who kept me awake after I crashed our car falling asleep on the wheel... 

To the girl who I embarrassed myself with by singing and making a speech in her debut...

To the girl who joined our family outing...

To the girl who introduced me to the wonderful people in her life...

To the girl who I've searched countless of restaurants with...

To the girl who's been my constant movie date...

To the girl who made me watch Pinoy movies on the big screen without hiding my face after going out...

To the girl who made me learn how to make my Aunt's cheesecake that I only loved to eat...

To the girl who taught me how to make those crazy spicy Dinamitas for parties, burning my hands in the process...

To the girl who can't stop laughing at my jokes...

To the girl who got stuck with me during Ondoy...

To the girl who spent her bonus to get me a PS3...

To the girl who tried to surprise me for my birthdays...

To the girl who wanted to give up but can't...

To the girl who I wanted to take care of...

To the girl who I can be a kid around...

To the girl who dreams with me...

To the girl I am growing up with...

To the girl that I love...

Happy 8th Anniversary, Che =)

*walang basagan ng trip sa mais.

...Why I Choose Me...

I've never thought that I'm good at anything. Basketball knowledge, probably, but in this basketball-crazy country, who isn't? I've thought of myself as being capable of being able to do a little bit of anything, so that I'd be flexible enough, then cultivate that one thing that I'd be needing in the industry that I finally fall into. That's why I took a call center job. That's why I was confident to leave it after three months. That's why I took an English tutoring job. That's why I decided to leave that for a "better" opportunity as a temp in a multinational company. That's why I was so sure that taking my current job is the best thing that's ever going to happen to me. I get to help the company, and I get to have a respectable career.

And then "me" starts knocking. After a series of disappointments, a couple of screw ups, some small victories, and receiving perspectives, I took a step back to re-evaluate my life; where I am, where I'm going, where I want to be, and where I really want to go. I hated myself for realizing this now, and not 5 years ago at least.

I didn't know where I wanted to be at this point in my life. In the ideal world, back when I was a bright eyed young boy who thought everything will fall into place after I graduate, I thought I'd be married by now, waiting for my first kid. Year by year, reality speaks to me through my bank account and my professional state. I decided to be patient, thinking I'm planting the right seeds and I'll soon reap the fruits for it. Three years of trying to impress came down to shit in my previous job. My current boss saved me from that, and I thought that was the fruit of my seeds. And now I realize, I can be really good at this, but I want to be great somewhere else. As great as he turned out to be, I wasn't like him, and I couldn't be like him because I didn't want to be like him. I wanted to be me. And "me" is someone who loves to write. "Me" is someone who thrives in competition within a group. "Me" is someone who needs people around.

To some extent, I feel that I am fulfilling my goal when I took this job, and that is to be able to help the company grow in any way I can. I'm a "helping-people-out" kind of guy, so I thought this is the perfect job for me, who basically had no real "dream" job. And then the realization that I wanted something. I can't stay on wanting to help others while I can't help myself.

The most difficult part of this decision is the fact that I don't really need to leave. I have no reason to. It pains me to decide that I want something else when I am given the trust, patience, and opportunity that I am being given here. It pains me to disappoint the person who has given me so much.

And yet, if I do go on, I may not be helping myself. I may be growing, but I don't think it is what I want to grow into. At 26, I don't think I have much time to spend thinking. I need to start deciding what I really want, and doing something about it. Speaking to my boss about it is a step.

During the whole time I was afraid, it seemed like God was dropping all the signs that I shouldn't be. From status messages by friends to opportunities opening, it was almost like some girl was dropping all the hints that I should talk to her. I decided to take the leap. I'm not really sure if these opportunities are still here by the time I may be available, but I can't wait forever I needed to do something about what I want.

And while I am forever grateful at all the opportunities and trust given to me, I think I need this.

I need to choose "me".

...Of Heroes and Dreams...

"Anong gusto mo paglaki mo?"

- Common old person line to a kid

I don't regret much in my life. I've always lived with the idea of dealing with the consequences of my actions. However, as I grow older, I realize that one of my biggest regrets in life would probably be the fact that I never really put much thought in what I really wanted to be when I grew up. I've always thought that it was just a stupid question old people keep on asking just to break the ice, but they don't really care about. I now realize that it actually is an essential part of laying the framework of what you actually want to be.

I have made it a habit of playing the hero for people around me. I don't go around in spandex fighting crime, heck, I can't even be a reliable person you can borrow money from. But I do what I can. I try to be present, to offer advise, and from time to time actually slap reality on friends figuratively and literally.

And now here I am, ambitious-less and in need of saving. I chose to leave my dead-end job of 3 years to turn to a higher-paying dead end job because of the hero in me wanting to "save" my uncle by being Robin to his Batman in his steadily growing Gotham. I am happily in a relationship, and have a good number of friends who I think enjoys my company, but at these moments of weakness when I think I need to be saved, I don't feel a hand holding mine. I guess it's my fault as well, for not admitting weakness, for feigning stability, for being stubborn when being given advise. But what kind of a hero am I if I show the people I want to save that I am vulnerable? Nobody wants to lean on weak walls. And I want to be leaned on.

My uncle didn't ask for help; I offered mine because I thought he needed it. People don't always come up to me to ask for help, but there are times that I see that they need someone to listen to them and I'm there. Lately, I seem to want that. I don't know how to help me, but I don't want to figure it out. I want someone else to.

At 26, it seems a bit late for me to realize all these. But I guess I'd take the late realization than going on with a life I am no longer content with living. I can't settle anymore. I now know what I want. I can't always be the hero. I can't save everyone. I need to be saved every once in a while.

If I were asked that annoying question again about what I want to be when I grow up, I'd know what to say: I want to write. I want to share my thoughts to the world. I have always aimed to be a little bit of everything, but as a result, I never truly became good at something. Now, I think I want to claim that I write pretty well. I am better at writing than I am doing anything else. Except eating.

I just hope that it's not yet too late to dream.

...On Blind Faith and the Poor...

While hearing Easter Sunday mass in Bicol, this small kid suddenly appeared out of nowhere to poke me and asked for alms. I told him off, saying a mass is going on. Later, this woman was guiding an older blind man to ask for alms as well. I shook my head and they went on to bother other parishoners.

At first, my choice of actions bothered me. Is it not hypocritical of me to hear mass, yet not "practice" the Lord's teachings by "sharing" my gifts to the poor? But upon examination, I realize, I am either enlightened, or I will soon burn in hell. For what it's worth, I'll share my thoughts, and hope that one of you readers of mine would buy into my idea so that my faith in this country might be restored. Or at least I'll have someone I know burning in hell right there with me.

I looked up Christian or Catholic countries in the world. And it seems to be dominated by either 3rd world, developing, or struggling countries. Yes, one might argue that Christianity is the dominant population in the world but looking at the ratio of it, I would conclude that Christian-dominated countries are struggling economically. It's actually not surprising, though.

I'm not saying that God is to blame. The problem I see is lack of education. The poor continue to be poor because they hold on to the fact that "God will provide" for them. They love each other and express their love physically until they have enough children to form a basketball team. And a cheering squad. Some take advantage of their stature and a person's faith, just like what the kid and the blind man did that Easter Sunday; they compel you to give alms because you wouldn't have the heart to turn them down while in Church,would you? I guess they figured that since after-mass alms are the most they get in a week, why not take it a notch further by asking for alms DURING the mass?

It is said that "faith begins when reason ends"; there are things that we just cannot explain and would have to rely on faith to satisfy our curiousity. There are several variations of faith and religion, yet we cannot know for certain which is true, if there is any. Defenders of one's faith may challenge me on this claim by proving their religion is true (I tried to debate with a Salesian Brother and an Iglesia follower back in high school, only to reach a dead end), but really, faith is only as strong as how you believe in it.

It is regrettable to admit that the most number of Church goers happen during Christmas and New Year. I reckon it is because people are dictated by the norm that one MUST go to Church during these days.

Faith, I think, has been reduced to a mere traditional norm and an excuse to be miserable.  It seems to me that most of us have not completely shed our "indio" mentality and remain ignorant of how faith works. And sue me, but I think some local Church leaders exploit this fact by advancing their causes during homilies, leading ignorant zombies to believe, hypocritical parishoners to support, and power hungry politicians to prey on the opportunity to grab votes. What, you think a signature of Anti-RH bill will save your soul in the apocalypse?

I am not trying to antagonize Anti-RH Bill supporters. You people take a stand as I do, and as long as we stand for it for the right reasons, then we can educate each other through a healthy discourse. I am, however, against how some people are educated by “spiritual” leaders. And here, I am not exclusively talking about the Catholic faith. I try to watch a couple of TV shows despite the fact that I know somehow they would just take a jab at each other. I am under the impression that these “spiritual leaders” are dictating rather than enlightening minds. They tell people what they should think, and not educate them on what could be thought.

In the midst of the current calamities we are facing today, it is abhorrent to know that some people see these disasters as God’s way of “punishing” us because of the RH Bill. I think such a claim is another illustration of how religion is making zombies rather than enlightened people.

I dare say that blind faith keeps our country from progressing. As long as we have a false sense of salvation by following what is dictated by spiritual leaders rather than actually thinking, our country will remain a third world country. Beggars will continue to beg, exploiting one’s conscience so that they may live day by day without even trying to find a decent occupation. Politicians will continue to keep these beggars as they are even if they don’t pay taxes because they can eventually pay them for their votes.

...A New Hope: P-Noy’s Third SONA ...

Had to write it for FHM, I guess it was too long and too politically driven.  I'll be posting for my personal benefit, to keep an online record of the stuff I wrote. A shorter version could be seen at http://www.fhm.com.ph/incoming/fhm-feature/article/14619, but for the bored, patient types, check out the unedited version. 

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“Humaharap po ako sa inyo bilang mukha ng isang gobyernong kayo ang boss at kayo pa rin ang lakas. Inuulat ko lamang ang mga pagbabagong ginawa ninyong possible.” – Benigno Aquino III, 

July 23, 2012

Yes, that is a Star Wars reference. The third SONA of the Noynoy Aquino administration may not have been about the Star Wars saga, but it did inspire a new hope, to believe that the impossible may be achieved.

Check out some highlights of the SONA for this year:

The Martial Law Baby

PNoy started his SONA by grounding it on his experience during the Martial Law. He said that he suffered as much as most of his countrymen that he vowed never to let anyone else experience it again. Martial law, according to him, was executed by a tyrant who abused his power. Today, this abuse of power came in the form of absurd government bonuses to undeserving officials, overpriced equipment, and excessive contracts to government-funded projects. He sought the understanding of the people as it he said not everything can be overturned in just two years, but he did praise the Filipino people’s perseverance through these challenges.  He aims for a government that is with the Filipino people, and in part, the ”wang-wang”  is now exclusive to police and ambulances, no longer from government officials.

A Sick Man Cured

PNoy said that once dubbed as “The Sick Man of Asia”, The Philippines is now bouncing back economically. He cited that the Philippines achieved the second-highest GDP growth, second only to China in Asia, which exceeded expectations. He claimed that international publications are recognizing that the Philippines may be the next “Tiger Economy”, and urged that local media may recognize this as well.

Pangtawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program

As mentioned in his last SONA, the Pangtawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program aimed to give money direct to those families in need most. The families who benefit from this are determined by the National Household Targeting Program that ensures that those registered are the ones who need it most. The long-term impact of this extra cash for the poor are more people are willing to have check-ups, kids suffering from diseases are getting treatment, and there are lower absence rate due to poverty.

On Health

PNoy cited the increase of members of PhilHealth. He also mentioned that the poorest households that are members of this government agency enjoy a no-pay benefit to ensure that they are given proper treatment. Due to poverty, some people do not make it a point to consult medical professionals. He cited the RNHeals program which deployed nurses and midwives to places in need, as directed by the National Household Targeting Program and the National Anti-Poverty Commission. He cited two problems being eliminated by this program; the underemployed and unemployed nurses are given a chance to perform in their craft, while the poor are given proper healthcare. He also propose a Sin Tax Bill, as he said that this could help the health care sector in a sense that more money will be used for health and people are discouraged from spending on vices.

On Education

PNoy cited confidence in Bro. Armin Luisitro of the Department of Education and his ability to make his vision for the education sector into a reality. He aims to address the shortage of seats as well as a 1:1 ratio of textbook to student by the end of 2012. He drew the largest applause in his speech when he hinted on the RH Bill by saying that Responsible Parenthood is the solution for the problem of overpopulation of students. He also proposed a budget increase for State-run Universities and Colleges, provided that the SUC Reform Roadmap by CHED is implemented to ensure quality of education from the said schools are excellent. He also cited the continuous increase of education budget from 2010, and joked that student activists who say otherwise should attend math remedial classes.

The TESDA Transformation

PNoy mentioned that during the previous administration of TESDA, vouchers were given by the authorities, but no funds were allocated for the budget. With the leadership of new TESDA chief Joel Villanueva, he cited that more than 400k people have been trained. Certified specialists through the TESDA program are now also earning above-minimum monthly wage.

The BPO Industy

PNoy cited the generation of more jobs, and the unemployment rate going down from 8% in 2010 to 7.2% in 2011 and to 6.9% this year. He cited that the drastic increase of employment by the BPO industry over the past decade has given positive results to other areas. The generated need and increase in purchasing power has given opportunities for employment in transport, food stalls, and other retail areas.

The Infrastructure Plan

PNoy also laid out his plans for infrastructure improvement. For airports, he laid out his vision of new airports and upgrade of current airports before the end of his term. He also noted that Sec. Mar Roxas has given his word that the NAIA 3 issues will be solved before the next SONA. For commuters, he cited a proposed LRT Line 1 Cavite extension. Also noted are two elevated NLEX-SLEX connectors by 2015. New quality provincial bus terminals should also be in place in Taguig, Quezon City and Paranaque before the end of his term. He said that when before people complained about inaction, today, people are complaining about traffic due to the increased number of projects by the DPWH. He commended the action of Sec Babes Singson in repairing National Roads, and noted that before the end of his term, the National Road Network must be fixed completely.

It’s More Fun in The Philippines

With the improved infrastructure in place, the Philippines is ready to welcome more tourists. He noted that the increase of tourism over the past two years is already more than the previous 9 years before his administration. He noted that Sec. Mon Jimenez still has bigger plans for Philippine tourism, and commended the Filipino initiative in voting for the Puerto Princesa Underground River as one of the New Seven Wonders of the world.

Growing Agriculture

PNoy recognized the work ethic of Sec. Alcala in improving the agriculture sector. He noted his action on overstock of rice that became an issue before, and aims to export instead of import rice by next year. He also noted the commendable increase of coco water and coco coir export. On the issue of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program, he promised that by the end of his term, all lands under the said program must already be dispersed.

Energizing the Country

PNoy criticized the past administration in the Department of Energy as they claimed 99.98% of the country is energized when in fact, only a single electrical line was installed in remote areas. Through the work of Sec. Rene Almendras, the budget for 1,300 towns was allocated to 1,520 towns at only a part of the total budget for this project.

Crime Rate and Pacman

PNoy moved to crime rates being down with less roads now without light. He cited the decrease of crime rate and reported car thefts over the past couple of years. He also cited conviction and actions on known felons. He also said that the PNP will no longer be unarmed, with the bidding on firearms already at the Quality Control stage. He even referenced Pacman fights, since these are usually zero-crime rate days, saying that Pacman can’t fight everyday to stop crimes from happening, which is why the police force must be improved.

The National Defense

PNoy reported that deals are already in place and budget has been duly allocated to the improvement of the national defense. The budget for the AFP Modernization Program almost equals the allocation for the same program over the past 15 years. The air force will be improved by new planes. The coast guard will have more ships to defend our coastal territories. He noted that this is not a show of arrogance, but rather for defense, which until today, was only a dream. The government focus on the military force increased the morale of our soldiers, and PNoy cited some accomplishments in peace and order in war torn barangays.

The ARMM Reform

PNoy commended the efforts of OIC Governor Mujiv Hataman in solving the mystery of non-existent schools with allocated budget, unfixed roads, non-existent teachers in the payroll, and ghost students. He has eliminated these “ghosts” and allocated the budget to proper avenues. With these reforms, he said that even the rebels who seek change are actually seeing results. Proof of this is that there has been no MILF encounter for the past 7 months.

The National Resource Defense

PNoy claimed that in the mining industry, only 9% of the total 2010 earnings went to the government budget. He urged the congress that laws must be passed so that the natural resources of the Filipinos are utilized to benefit the Filipino people. He also recognized tree planting programs that have been present, but there is no continuity. He cited that through the National Convergence Initiative, this issue will be addressed. It will also generate jobs for those who will safeguard the trees. On the issue of illegal logging, he praised the positive action of Butuan Mayor Jun Amate for his fast action on the matter. The confiscated logs are sent to TESDA-trained carpenters to make tables and chairs for public schools. He also cited the actions done to abusive officials and warned future offenders that they will be punished just the same.

Disaster Risk Reduction Program

With improved equipment, the government is already given improved and accurate forecasts to aid them in preparation for typhoons to come. He recognized the typhoons that devastated the country, and said that Project NOAH aims to improve the forecast to prepare the people in case such typhoons face the country again. He promised more equipment by 2013.

Pension and Incentives

PNoy promises that before the end of his term, old age and disabled pensioners should receive no less than PhP5000, from only PhP500. To eliminate the absurd bonuses by government offices, PNoy said that starting this year, government bonuses depend on performance of the agency. When before, non-performing government offices are able to shell out huge bonuses, this time the bonuses will be at the hands of the employees.

The Chinese Occupancy

PNoy noted that he employs calmness and respect to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea in dealing with the Chinese conflict regarding the Spratleys. However, he made a bold statement that he will not take further indifference by China to the same laws, saying “Kung may pumasok sa inyong bakuran at sinabing sa kanya na ang kanyang kinatatayuan ay sa kanya na, papaya ba kayo? Hindi naman po yata tamang ipamigay na lang natin sa iba ang sadyang atin talaga.”

To Forgive and Forget

PNoy responded to critics who tell him to let bygones be bygones, and just forgive and forget. He strongly said that he can forgive, but never forget those who have wronged the Filipino people. And by not forgetting he cited the need for the plunder case to be filed against Cong. Gloria Arroyo and cited the Corona impeachment as a statement that despite the high post in government, justice may still prevail. He cited the challenges of the new Supreme Court Chief Justice, and hopes that the new appointee will perform up to par against these challenges. He also cited the Ombudman Conchita Carpio-Morales for taking the challenge of her post once again. He thanked the congress for their role in the impeachment. He also thanked his cabinet for leaving the private sector in favor of public service. And to close his SONA, he thanked the Filipino people, whom he said are truly responsible for all the changes happening.

The Good

1.       PNoy once again delivered his speech in Filipino to truly reach out to the Filipino people. Another excellently-written speech.

2.       Despite the long speech, he was able to insert some humor in serious issues to maintain interest.

3.       He grounded most of his achievements in statistics and facts, and one can say he is no longer all talk.

4.       He laid out his plans well and touched on a wide array of topics, while also presenting achievements for each field.

5.       He received positive comments from attendees, with most saying that this is probably the most realistic SONA thus far.

6.       By presenting deadlines, he gave the impression that he means serious business and his goals are aimed to be done, not just dreamed.

7.       He displayed excellent leadership skills by appointing the right people for the right posts, and commending them accordingly for the work they have put in.

The Bad

1.       He still has not moved on from blaming the previous administration for some of the problems the country still faces.

2.       Critics claim that some statistics that he laid out are immeasurable, in particular, the unemployment rate.

3.       This is probably the longest SONA in recent history.

4.       The presented deadlines are like double-edged swords; if he does it, then good for him, but if he doesn’t fulfill his promises, he will be the subject of public scrutiny for a long time.

5.       The violence that erupted outside the session hall between the police force and militant groups may not have been a bad thing about the SONA, but it is worth noting as it did happen during the same day.

The What

1.       I still don’t get what the militant groups are trying to do by trying to block the President’s convoy. Not to defend the President here, but really, how could they change what is already written on the President’s SONA?

2.       Wasn’t Satur Ocampo in the congress as representative for his party-list for 9 years? Why did he not advance their cause during those years, only to go back to street anarchy?

3.       The RH Bill Reference drew the loudest applause during the SONA, but one wonders why it hasn’t been passed. 

...Looking at UAAP Season 75...

I am feeling giddy that the UAAP Season is starting again.  I'm a big fan of the NBA and the PBA, but only the UAAP can make me scream my lungs out from the first jump until the final buzzer. There are no safe leads in the collegiate league, which always makes it exciting despite seeing your team trail by 25 at the end of a half. The NCAA has good games to watch as well, but since I come from a UAAP school, I have a preference for the latter than the former.

Now that I've thrown that out there, here are my brief thoughts on the teams that would be competing. No, I will not go into great depth discussing additions and losses, other sports websites have had their crack at that. This is a fan's perspective. Ranking them from 8 to 1. 

University of the East Red Warriors

More than half of the team is composed of rookies, as most of the team has played out their eligible years. It will be interesting to see how this team performs this season, but I don't see them winning too many games. Jerry Codinera was one of my favorite players back in the Purefoods-Coney Island days, and despite being only a second-year coach, I think he has the background to inspire his kids to play well enough to show heart. 

Projection: 0-14 to 2-12

I think they can have the heart to steal one from either UP (historically bad), Adamson (loss of key players), La Salle (possible lax when facing inferior and non-final 4 teams), and UST (historically careless at times).

University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons

Mike Silungan was so hyped up when he came to the league, you just have to wonder when his promise will be actualized. UP looks to have a reason to cheer about this season, as they have a vastly improving Silungan and key returnees Mark Lopez (heady point guard, good defense, so-so midrange) and Alvin Padilla (streak shooter). They still have Mbah and I think another big guy, so don't be surprised to see some "upsets" this team will be able to pull off. 

Projection: 4-10 to 6-8

They have the size to compete against Ateneo, and rivalry games usually raise the intensity of players. They can upset FEU with their current lineup and the Tamaraws' guard-heavy system. This team can run with La Salle, could be as streaky as UST, and look to be better equipped than UE. I think Adamson has an advantage over them just because of the head coach, because I personally think Coach Leo Austria is in a different level. 

Adamson University Soaring Falcons

Talk about rebuild; Adamson lost their dynamic one-two punch in Jeric Canada and Lester Alvarez, their big man John Colina, big guy Austin Manyara, and streak shooting Janus Lozada (not related to this writer). They have capable holdovers, with Alex Nuyles leading the charge on the court, and of course, Coach Leo Austria manning the sidelines. Players do win games, but with this particular team, I think the coach is a big factor.

Projection: 5-9

UE looks to be the doormat team this year, and the Falcons are expected to hurdle that team easily. This team looks to have gritty battles with UST, UP, FEU, and DLSU. They don't have the size to compete with ADMU, but they won't go down without a fight. And no, I don't think they have the ability to stop Ray Parks.

Far Eastern University Tamaraws

Glenn Capacio installed a pretty defensive system over at FEU, and Bert Flores is in no way a downgrade. They finally get to field former San Sebastian big man and disgruntled Green Archer Arvie Bringas to team up with his spunky brother. The Terrence Romeo-RR Garcia combo is still a scary pair to match up against. But I think this team is a bunch of Rajon Rondos put together; highly skilled, but are full of themselves. Each want to be that guy who'd win it for their team, which I think would ultimately cause their downfall this season. 

Projection: 7-7

I think this is the team that falls off from the Final 4 for reasons of immaturity. They might have a terrible first round where they will be upset by one or two teams below them, and will recover with a big second round push. They have a good team with a good system, which makes the Final 4 tricky; apart from Ateneo and NU, all the other teams look to have a chance at getting the 3 and 4 seed, and dare I say it, even UP will be a team FEU needs to watch out for. 

University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers

This is more about me being a Thomasian than I am being an objective writer. Of course FEU may be able to grab the 3rd or 4th spot in the Final 4, but I'm rooting for UST so shut up. I have good reason to believe that UST can actually pull off a good Cinderella run once again, with a basically intact lineup (Chris Camus being the only notable loss, the other being Eddie Aytona because I can't curse at a particular player anymore), and a couple of key returnees in Clark Bautista (streak shooter, undersized SG) and I think, Eduoardo Daquioag (SF transferred from RTU, played two seasons back, good defender, capable slasher) as a not so prominent returnee but could be a Camus alternative. Jeric Fortuna is playing in his last playing year, so expect an MVP-worthy performance from this kid.

Projection: 7-7

Yes, to be fair to FEU, I'm giving the same projection. UST has the tools to beat any team in the league if they click on all cylinders. The live-and-die by the three mentality has been a staple of UST since Coach Pido took over, and mostly, UST has lived through it. They have more capable shooters now, with the question on their depth addressed by the team's heart. It will be exciting to watch who gets the last 2 spots in the Final 4.

De La Salle University Green Archers

The runner up finisher in the annual Fil-Oil sponsored preseason tournament, La Salle showed that they are stopping at nothing to deny Ateneo their history-making 5-peat. Jeron Teng, brother of UST stalwart Jeric, showed during the tourney that he was not all hype. With the return of LA Revilla, a slew of capable big men, and a new head coach and system (finally), La Salle will be a force to reckon with.

Projection: 9-5

They may be a step above UST and FEU if only because of holdovers that are only getting better (read: Tampus, Van Opstal, Paredes, Andrada, Webb) and gaining key players from the youth team. They have the inside track on the third spot, but again, it wouldn't be surprising if they fell off with the re-tooled UP, the feisty Tigers, and the proud Tamaraws. 

Ateneo De Manila University Blue Eagles

This is not a dig at Ateneo, and this is probably wishful thinking, however, with their "Drive for Five", I think teams will perform beyond their potentials when facing Ateneo. On paper and on the court, they are probably the best team in the league, coached by arguably the best coach in the league. They are capable of sweeping this tournament once again, but it will not be an easy task.

Projection: 12-2

With a solid line up validated by a preseason win against the Eagles, La Salle will look to upset Ateneo in the UAAP tournament to further add flavor to the rivalry. And who would not want to see these two compete in the Final 4 as the 2nd and 3rd seed? NU will definitely challenge Ateneo's vaunted lineup, and probaby split the season series. 

National University Bulldogs

This is a huge jump for a team that has historically been a doormat team that narrowly missed the Final 4 last year. Ray Parks is the closest thing the Philippines has to LeBron James, and he will be supported by an able cast. I read somewhere that they actually have their own locker room in the MOA Arena, which is different from locker rooms that other teams will be housed in every game. They practice at the MOA Arena as well, so they have a definite home court advantage. Add the fact that majority of the games will be played in the MOA Arena, and it's not crazy to believe that NU will be winning a lot of games this season.

Projection: 12-2

I think they will either be swept by Ateneo, or split the series with them and be upset by another contender. I dare say that they will be the team Ateneo has to beat to claim that Drive for Five. They are the team I can't say outright that will be upset by a lesser team as they have an unstoppable force in Ray Parks who can carry the team on his back when needed. They may not be as deep as Ateneo, but what they lack in depth, Parks can make up for it with sheer dominance. I am all for the hype of this kid after seeing him play last season, and catching glimpses of him during preseason tourneys. Kid has serious game.