StarLYT

2008-12-05T04:59:00.000-08:00

Countdown fever

Don't you just love Decode, Womanizer, and Crush?

When a survey form asked my opinion on who I think should be the Music Video of the year, I left it blank. But there were three bands I think have at least one video deserving of such award: Taken by Cars, Pupil, and Sandwich. Yeah right. Like I’ve watched any of their recent videos.
Anyway, that indecision also proved my ignorance of the television and music video channels – for a while. The last music video I think I last watched was Coldplay’s Violet Hill, which was months ago, and I’m starting to feel guilty on how I’ve been living like a hermit in my room, listening to The Sundays and TLC, all this time.

So tonight, I updated myself by watching a daily countdown of music videos at MYX. Aside from noting how emo-tic Rico Blanco has suddenly become (what’s with the new tweaking voice), I also realized that some trends, like the perpetuation of the “emo” sound, still didn’t change, and that some artists are irritatingly still batting their eyelashes onscreen even if everyone knows that they should be on the height of their retirement.

#3. Decode by Paramore. I might receive a death threat tomorrow if I write something bitter about the band, although I still can’t see anything loathsome about the act, except that their music is overused and abused by local “underground” female-fronted bands who cover “Pressure” and the rest of their album. The video, which is part of Twilight’s soundtrack, is in fact spellbinding, or maybe it was just the visions of vampires and an immortal-falling-with-a-mortal that made my hair rise whenever the red-haired vocalist is tranquilly spilling out her emotional lyrics. With the craze everyone has in the movie, no wonder why the song is sitting unperturbed in the countdown.

#2. Womanizer by Britney Spears. The last image I saw of Britney Spears is a paparazzi shot of her walking around in her one-piece suit during her pregnancy, with the bulging tummy in all. I don’t know, maybe it was just me being outdated again. The point is, it is so electrifying how someone who has gone from pop princess to a wild prima donna to a self-haircutting maniac can actually go back to producing flirt-y hits and trying to look like her old Oops I did it again-singing self. Oh well, it’s better for her to be doing that than divorcing husbands. The video, anyway, reminded me of three other artists: Michael Jackson, Beyonce, and Avril Lavigne, although I will be happier if if it was Beyonce’s video who would grab that second spot.

#1. Crush by David Archuleta – For a moment, I thought: “Who the heck is this guy? I think I have seen him somewhere. Oh well, maybe in one of Hilary Duff’s movies.” Until I remembered that he was an American Idol finalist who lost in the David vs. David battle.
Anyway, I can't help thinking about the cheesiness of the song's title, considering that other artists have used the same teenybopper word for their hits. Then I realized that I actually know the song. It’s the song I’ve been hearing on radio stations playing pop hits, a song that pretty much caught my ears but never made me sing to it. It was not hard to figure out why the song topped the countdown. Aside from his forceful voice and lyrics that is a resemblance of Ryan Cabrera’s, David Archuleta. is cute, although he is not really the attractive type at first glance in his music video. The video, which shows him throwing glances at his crush during their summer getaway, is nothing but a reminiscent of the Aaron Carter-type of music videos: gushy, unrealistically emotional, but nevertheless corny that you can easily predict who voted and pushed for it in the countdown. #

2008-11-25T03:48:00.000-08:00

Learning from the coverage

While I was brushing my teeth the other night (of all routines), I suddenly remembered the days when I covered certain events - gatherings, affairs, or anything synonymous, and interviewed a number of Prominentes, from a businessman (twice) to government secretaries and undersecretaries (I sometimes think if there’s an under under secretary too) to movie directors to our college dean last semester. Sure, the experiences are cool and thrilling. Makes you feel like a part of the local media already, except that you are reporting not for any news programs but to your professors or to your college publication. Plus, you’re beginning to love your Journalism major, although you know that are more to come: the number of people you’ve interviewed are nothing compared to your future prospects.

While those instances last sem were enough to make me flaunt my Press IDs more, there were also days when I go home from a press coverage feeling such a wuss. Wrong itineraries. Grammatically incorrect questions. Useless materials gathered. So much for enjoying the pleasures of being “in the field,” I’m beginning to realize that you just can’t zoom yourself in a situation hastily, although there should always be a balance between preparedness and unpreparedness.

And thanks to the bits of humor, embarrassments, and pangs of guilt I felt, I suddenly felt writing about my post-coverage reflections before I can swallow fragments of Colgate last night:

-A beauty pageant coverage can provide you the ultimate boredom. That is, if you’re not really into those kinds of affairs, and if you know that the only thing that matters in your report are the three finalists.

-The National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) has its own website, which is easier to access than their office in Camp Aguinaldo. The first idea also applies to almost every government agency.

-After covering an awards night, the first thing you will tell your roommate when you get home is your conversation with Rafael Rossel.

-But of course, you will not write Rafael Rossel’s words in your report, but Kidlat Tahimik’s.

-If you’re from the print media, try to be the first to interview those you need to interview before bright lights begin spotlighting your subject and a woman with a mic steps in.

-You will never use the maps and prayer bookmarks, like what organizers give to everyone else, for your report.

-You’ll never know if the next person seating beside you is a senior reporter of GMA7 or an attractive photographer of a beverage company.

-Writing a letter of request, particularly an interview request, can be both a habit and a skill. In any rate, however, master the art of making one.

-But some sources do not require a letter of request, because they’re either in front of you or just a call away.

-Prominent people, like businessmen and politicians, are less likely to remember you even if you’ve interviewed them a dozen times already. Anyway, it doesn’t matter.

-Every politician, businessman, and lawyer has their own secretaries that will either attend to you or leave you waiting for five minutes.

2008-08-26T08:59:00.000-07:00

Padraska, pros, back for a scene

TEXAS Skater Jeff Gonzalez’ backside lipslide on a 3-ft rail and Ansey Flores’ frontside flip off a funbox may be the next maneuvers on your wish list of tricks, but they’re not the best tricks yet in a day when skate pros gather for a demonstration, like last August 16 at Paco, Manila.

That Saturday, however, isn’t just about the grand demo, it’s also an afternoon of skate competitions as skate apparel Padraska Skateboarding held their fourth event after two years of disappearing from the scene.

Dubbed “We’re back, it’s official!!!” the Padraska team’s return flared-up with the showcase of tricks at the Paraiso Park, first from the Class A and B skate competitions.

For Class A, Pamel “Bambam” Francisco emerged as the champion, his run ending with a frontside boardside on the high rail. Meanwhile, Robert Akuma went to the second spot and Marvin Basinal placed third.

The first place for Class B went to Taytay skater Choco Mangaspar, his last trick a kickflip frontside boardslide with an attempted fakie out from the rail. Harold “Pugak” Dia and Karl Mendoza placed second and third, respectively.

The event also called for the Best Trick competition, where Leonardo “Kilay” Asiodche ended as the winner after a perfect backfoot air and Japan air on the quarter pipe.

Demos were held in between competitions, with Philippines’ pro skaters Jeff Gonzales, Ansey Flores, Geno German, Jun Castor, Jack Nonato, Leonardo Asiodche and new Padraska team riders Jordan de Asis, Lito Tiburcio, Marlou Laquindanun, Jose Folo, Anjo Pineda, and Carlo Sangko showcasing high-end tricks at the park.

The park opened for free skate after the competitions and demos. The event is also brought by different skate shops and apparels such as Malachi Apparel, Melrose Sports, Skate Goodies, Ransak Clothing, Retardo, We Legedary Skateshop, Jackass Skateshop, and Gnarkill Clothing.

-by Krzl Light Nunes,

2008-07-17T03:20:00.000-07:00

RJ is Also Listening

FEW names reach familiarity. But if your appellation, particularly your initials are rung frequently in the airwaves, stamped at world-class guitars and concert venues in the metro, you’re more than a ring to the ears - you’re already a bequest in history. In Philippine history, one man reached such acclaim: Ramon Jacinto, the RJ of music industry.

On a Saturday midday, when Makati corporates are hustling out for lunch, businessman and musician Ramon Jacinto arrives in his recording studio, stoic and tranquil, from a visit to one of his guitar stores in Pasig. Once inside the soundproof room equipped with sound amplifiers, flat screen computers, and memorabilia posters partly flaunting his achievements, he eases on a chair for the interview.
Also named as “The Guitarman” by a disc jock, Ramon Jacinto’s legacy can be mirrored instantly in his businesses. Most of his assets are named after him, among them RJ Guitars, DZRJ, RJ 100 FM, RJ TV and RJ Bar. But what relates these holdings, aside from his initials, is the thing that also binds every inch of him: His passion for music.

The third of the eight children of National Steel Corp. founder Don Fernando Jacinto, RJ came from a family of businessmen. “My father was always nationalistic,” he says. “We put up a steel mill as foundations for the country.”

He set up RJ Enterprise, a production that recorded his first band, RJ and the Riots, even before he finished his Economics major at Ateneo de Manila. His band became popular until the late 60’s, and from his group’s name, he decided to name his music-related businesses after his initials.

After graduating, he worked at his father’s steel mill for awhile before taking up Law at the University of Santo Tomas. He established more businesses later like Ventures Bank, a retail store called Save a Lot, real estates and financing businesses, among others.

“I had many other businesses before,” RJ says. However, he chose to focus more on his holdings related to music, a business he started at his parent’s backyard when he was 17 years old.

“I noticed the radio station business here that time, very limited music was being played.” He explains. “So I said, maybe if I put up a station and I played the latest releases from America, a lot of people would listen.” From there, he established DZRJ, which is still operating in the 810 AM frequency.

But when Martial Law was declared in September 21, 1972, the business went off his hands and into the military for awhile. But before he could end up in jail, Ramon and other patriots like Ninoy Aquino already went to the United States, where they became exiles for 14 and a half years. They continued their nationalist advocacies abroad. “We tried opposing him (Marcos) from there.” He and his companions went around, with Ninoy Aquino making speeches and RJ taking part in putting up Movement for Free Philippines and raising funds for the opposition.

RJ also continued making music while in exile. He had a weekend band, and he also recorded “Muli,” a song about his divorce which also became a hit, to his surprise, when he secretly sent it to the Philippines.
When the EDSA Revolution broke out in 1986, RJ’s radio station, renamed “Radyo Bandido” that time, was used by the Enrile faction to urge people to join the revolution after the standby transmitter of Radio Veritas failed. It was later honored with “EDSA Award of Freedom” after serving as the voice of freedom during the historic event.

RJ went back to the Philippines in March 5, 1986. He regained Radyo Bandido, and the station continued to be a news public-affairs station in the AM band. In the late 70’s, he started RJ 100 FM. He continued to air pop hits, like what he did on his first radio station. His radio stations were also the first to discover many talents, among them the group Sampaguita, Heber, and Florante. “They were considered freaks, no radio station wanted to feature them,” RJ says. “So we did and we discovered them.”

RJ continued their mission of discovering artists, this time underground rock bands, when he established RJ Underground Radio 105.9 last year. It played the rock music of the 70’s onwards and original records of aspiring rock music groups.

He wanted to give exposure to good musicians, he explains. But it was not just other artists RJ led to improvement. His music-related businesses also helped him to continue playing his music and keep his guitar-playing skills alive.

Talking of guitar, RJ also expanded his guitar craftmanship through his guitar-manufacturing business, RJ guitars. When he returned to the country after Martial Law, he recovered two of his vintage guitars from the military. But the valuable guitars need refurbishing, so he looked for the best repairman of guitars. He found Rudy Discipulo, who revamped RJ’s Fender Jazz Master Guitar and brought back its tune to good condition. RJ was impressed, then decided to buy Discipulo’s shop, who then held an office in a small office in Quezon City. Up to now, even if Discipulo has passed away, RJ guitars continued to sell world-class guitars at different parts of the country. He also designed guitar pick-up configurations, one of them a guitar than can change to five different sounds, which will soon be made available in his stores.

Inside his recording studio, a vintage black electric guitar stands. It was not an old guitar, he points out, they just made it look like a relic.
RJ also continued to perform onstage, mostly in his RJ Bar, a concert hall that was known 15 years ago as Bistro RJ at Pasay City. He closed it for two years during the Estrada administration and reopened it as RJ Bar, now situated at Jupiter Street, Makati.

His performances, along with other artists who play in his bar, were also shown live at his TV station, RJ TV. He started venturing in the television business 15 years ago, also founding other channels such as Home TV Shopping and 2nd avenue UHF Free TV.

His contributions to the music scene were endless, but it was probably his recording studio that should be boasted mostly. Talking inside the digitally-equipped, carpeted room, RJ recounts some of the dozens of artists that the recording studio and hislabel, Quantum Records has produced. “This is the place where we produced a lot of hits,” he says. “Andrew E.’s Humanap Ka Ng Pangit, Sampaguita’s Nosi Balasi, Denmark the Rapper…even Michael V.”

Now, at age 63, RJ continues to keep the music scene alive, basically through his music-related businesses. He left some of his assets under the management of his children. Three of his six children work at his broadcast stations.

Looking back to RJ’s history, the radio stations, music bars, and guitar shops he owns today won’t probably exist if RJ did not decide to extend and share to everyone his passion and creativeness. Venturing in music-related business is very risky, he says. Too many people are in it already.

But how did he keep his holding stable? “By listening to a lot of people, by listening to what’s happening now,” RJ says. “Also, by being original. We don’t copy people. We just do what we want. Like RJ FM, (which plays) the greatest and the latest. Nobody thought that would work, but it’s now rating very high, very successful. We combine five decades of music; no other radio station did that. So I guess we listen but we stick to our branding.”

His branding will continue to be a legacy, a presence behind what we hear in the airwaves and behind the instruments we play, that’s for sure. And while we listen to his broadcasts, we can also be certain of one thing: Ramon Jacinto, the RJ of the music industry, is also listening,

2008-06-21T00:58:00.000-07:00

Susan Jo: The Pursuit of First Love

YOU walk into the hall of your college building, almost dragging yourself for another three-hour class, another major subject. Another school year has progressed, and you begin to wonder if this one will lead you to a better path, or if it would be more live-saving to go back, take another track and be like the half of the collegiate population forced to choose future-saving courses over a threatening major like Journalism.

You enter the room. Your classmates must have sought the same idea once or twice. Since few are enrolled in this major, it is more likely that the only person that pressed you into this is yourself, maybe because you know you can’t go back, in case you venture another trail.

You notice someone, a woman at the farthest side of the room, dressed in a casual blouse and denims. Who is she, you ask your seatmate.

“You might be wondering what an accountant is doing in a Journalism class,” the woman said when she was asked to introduce herself, and later her story.

She is Susan Jo, 51, taking up a Master’s degree in Communication, with an accounting college degree and a CPA title under her belt.

When she was in grade school, she had a favorite literature teacher, and the mentoring kindled her love for the subject, a passion she will forever hold on to. But times were tough. When she was 14, her father died of cancer, and she had to help sustain her 10 siblings, so she decided to work, first as a private tutor. At 17 years old, she was already employed in an office work. Her work was her financial aid, and even when she was reviewing for the CPA board, she was still working, although it did not interfere with her studies. In fact, she graduated a valedictorian and this helped her get a scholarship at the University of Santo Tomas.

She took up a degree in accounting. “I followed what should be practical with me,” she explains the decision. This took her to more “financially rewarding” jobs, especially when she passed the CPA board exams. Now, she is working as a treasury officer in a major corporation.

But despite a career established in the field of accounting, her love for writing remained. “This curiosity built up inside me,” she says, “what if I had become a journalist, a writer, or a teacher?” She often attended writing seminars, but they just made her yearning for more. “I had this urge of going farther.” And from there, she enrolled a Master’s degree at UST without quitting her work.

“It’s just going back to my first love,” she reiterates. Talking in front of 50 or so students, she adds, “pursue whatever you love, whatever you want in your life, because it is where you find happiness.” And that is what she did, why she’s back in school, even if it means giving equal weight to work, academic and family life, even if it means sacrifices like taking a vacation leave every Monday.

Talking of family, her husband and daughter are among those querying her about her decision. Describing her relationship with them, she says, “It’s really very difficult.” But somehow she manages to give time, with the help of her faith. “Everything was the working of God.”

And while her activities seem endless, turning back is not necessary. “Why should I quit now?” she says. She reclines in her seat, pauses before she could end her testimony. She blinks her eyes, obviously tired, an evidence of the four hours of sleep she gets almost every night. “I pushed myself into this.”

You look at your classmates, all intently listening at her. Like Susan Jo, you also thrust yourself to this direction. After hearing her story, you ponder. Maybe, you say to your mind, this course was worth choosing after all.

2008-06-21T00:53:00.000-07:00

This might be a little late, I actually dismissed the idea of writing about this, until I remembered the student seating in front of me one day on a jeepney.

She's wearing an almost-fading brown t-shirt, light blue denims and dark brown closed-toe flats (you know, the popular translucent flats you see on some sidewalk stalls). Beside her is another girl in a private school uniform, perhaps her sister or friend.

Both of them are students. The first girl is, although dressed casually, is sporting a sling bag stuffed with books and other notebooks. Hard to believe at first, but she’s a school girl - a sample product of the new No Uniform Policy implemented on the start of classes.

The No Uniform Policy allows all public school students to attend classes without wearing the school's required uniform. It was DepEd's expansion of the president's early decision to exempt six year olds from wearing uniforms. It is mainly attributed to the decreasing number of grade school enrollees, one reason of which is the incapacity of parents to afford uniforms for their children.

I’m not being a bitch here. Looking at the girl once again, I think it would be better for her to change, back to her old uniform, back to what would make her decent. With her get-up like that, she’s more like going to Divisoria than to the campus, seriously. Fashionwise, the students cannot handle the new policy. And who knows what her classmates are wearing, by the way.

Are we so like becoming America, like the high school kids we see in movies? Anyway, having the students wear civilian clothes, especially that a new dress code will come up, can also breed discrimination soon, maybe fights that will deliberately start with just the fashion statement that could, or rather did, define the social status. Student A teases his classmates for his loose t-shirt, ripped jeans and tattered sneakers, picks on him and tells everyone how impoverished-looking Student B is. I know, I know, it’s a worst case situation, maybe some scene in a teeny bopper Western movie, but hey, that could happen.

And there’s the problem on wardrobe collections, something like checking out what’s new on your cabinet everyday. I remember the days when I’m off for another gimmick; I’d change my get-up a dozen times (resulting to a ravaged closet). If this happens occasionally, then how much more are those kids that go to school everyday? Don’t tell me that kids today still wear the first thing they pull out of their cabinet, and don’t tell me that teenagers don’t smell fashion trends.

Compare it with having a set of uniform that you can wear painlessly for six days. Having the same look everyday is the same as going to school hassle-free, practically speaking. The last things you can worry about are the accessories that could go with your plain skirt. Before I went to college, I hated the idea of wearing a uniform, but later I realized its advantage: its saving my clothes for better purposes.

The government’s reasons for setting this policy may be sensible and logical. Some parents can’t really afford to wear five sets of uniforms for their children, and so it is helpful. But then, there are detrimental effects needed to be realized, to sum it all in a few words: The No uniform policy can further degrade the status of public school students, much more the marginalized ratio in the society.

I think the real problem lies in the manufacturing of uniforms. I’m not an expert on this, but if parents have problems buying uniforms, then maybe the price is too high for them, exceeding their budget (I remember how we spent almost two thousand for four white blouses this semester, it is financially devastating). If only uniform manufacturers could cut down their prices, for the sake of clothing children with decent garb.

Let’s see after ten months. DepEd once responded to the new issue, saying, “try the No Uniform policy first before complaining.” Okay, we’ll try it, let’s just hope the kids won’t end in a runway.

2008-02-24T10:22:00.000-08:00

The Heart of Punk Rock

I was walking in front of our building the other day when I saw someone familiar. He was a dark, slightly tall guy sporting a one-sided hairstyle that screams defiantly “emo” to everyone. I thought he’s my irregular loner classmate last semester for our Natural Science class, but even before I stepped up next to him, I realized he wasn’t my classmate, and I didn’t know him at all. He was simply a cloned fashion statement of my “emo” classmate, and a copycat of probably a hundred of “rockers” strutting in the same hair style.

I remembered when I was in third year high school. I met a bunch of old-school punk guys at a tattoo shop at a mall near us. They would just lounge around the place, indulging in hard liquor drinks while Anti-Flag and The Ramones play in the background.

It wasn’t the “rockers” season yet at that time. There was no Fallout Boy; no Click Five live at MTV, and no Dashboard Confessional giving the suicidal tendencies lyrics. The bands blasting from everyone else’s MP3s before are not yet in the mainstream. They are still a part of the underground scene, away from the world they think would just criticize them.

Moreover, the punk fashion is a one big daring statement communicating their liberal and bold beliefs. While Mohawk hairstyles and black leather boots paired with ragged jeans are deemed to be the weirdest get-up during that time, the punks would bravely walk around, knowing that their fashion conveys the idealism inside them. It was simply their “form of expression,” and not just a reason to show off their individualistic side.

And that world became my greatest influence. While my quest for real and sensible songs started from simply eliminating mainstream pop bands from my playlist, the world of punk rock introduced me to a genre that conveyed true angst against twisted beliefs, insanity, and the injustices in the society and the government.

This entry to the underground scene also changed my wardrobe. From a no-themed outfit, it turned to a more standout get-up: black tops (and eyelids),Chuck Taylor boots and fitted pants. Although some think that I am becoming like one of the guys, I still feel special. Girls joining such kind of crowd that time are very unusual, but for me it wasn’t a big deal, and to stand beside those kind of people reveals the real punk-rock in me.
_________

And to the “emo” guy I came across with the other day,

I know that you will, too.

_________

But the big threat came when I came across a punk-looking girl one day. She was wearing skintight black pants and high-cut chucks just like I used to do. Maybe I was jealous because I feel I’m starting to be not the only one. No, I just hated the sight. When I noticed that more and more girls at the mall started to be influenced by the same theme, it was obvious that it will evolve to be the reigning fashion trend for the next months.

What was the cause? I realized it was because of the underground-turned-mainstream punk bands, the highlight of which was when My Chemical Romance and their single “Helena” gained its popularity among teens that interpreted the music as super emotional and super angsty. Thus, the long-conceived “emo punks” started to circulate among the music scene, invading teenagers’ mind and telling them that “this is the real music.”

Which is not. From there, the term “poseur” also became the most insulting word to the... well, poseurs. It is also this time that I wrote my first ever i-love-it essay, an article that talks about my anger towards pretentious people, especially to the rock-“fashionistas” who just goes with the flow.

But it won’t change anything. Trend is uncontrollable; it spreads to all corners like fire. We can’t do anything but to let the “rockers” wear the blackest top they could wear and the flash the rattiest Chucks they could flash. Together with the one-sided, pointed bangs, everyone seemed to perfect the wardrobe set called “emo.”

Years have passed, and the trend did not fade. It was even made available to everyone – girls or guys. Whenever I walk around my school grounds, I count the people who have bangs over a part of their forehead. Turns out, almost every girl has them.

I’m not one of them, however. I stopped cropping my hair short at the sides, and I dress in the punk get-up only occasionally.

Now I understand why some of my hardcore friends are just wearing plain t-shirts and jeans. Maybe they’re just trying to avoid being labeled as poseurs, or maybe they just don’t want to express it altogether. However, I also realized that no matter how simple or weird your get-up is, it is your beliefs and thinking which really matters. There are other forms to express it loud and proud anyway, like through music.

Maybe I can’t do anything but to just laugh at the numerous people dressing up under the same theme nowadays. I know they’ll eventually grow tired of it altogether. And to the “emo” guy I came across with the other day, I know that you will, too.

Four years have passed since I met the punks and hardcores at the tattoo shop. The tattoo shop is still a tattoo and punk-rock shop, only relocated to a more business-conducive place. The punks don’t hang out there anymore, they’ve probably went to their own punk-rock ways just like me. But I know that whatever crowd and whatever style we are into these days, we are still united under one genre, one system of beliefs and one heart: the heart of punk rock.

2008-01-29T03:08:00.000-08:00

GADGET DILLEMAS

Here's the best way to end your gadget temporarily: Kill the batteries.

While our dslar camera became the most precious gadget during our event coverage yesterday, it also proved to be a worthless after all. That is, when the screen finally flashed "Battery Empty" right before our eyes.

It's inevitable and acceptable, but not on instances when you HAVE to take pictures, like during an awarding ceremony when you basically have to take the pictures of every winner, or else you'll be dead. Unfortunately, that became our fate yesterday during the Athena Cup (it's a quiz bee) Finals. While we were happily taking snapshots of people and things, our cam died EXACTLY BEFORE THE WINNERS WERE AWARDED.

I wanted to walk out right then and there. After all, our business is also done once our gadget is done with its functions. But I can't go out that easily; the organizers will be surprised why I am not present on the most important segment of the event. It doesn't make any difference either. I know they were wondering why I am just seated on the front seat while the quiz bee champions are awarded, while the other photographers are clicking their cams away. For a moment I felt that as a journalist, I am not worthy to stay at the event anymore, especially when I saw a photographer from The Varsitarian busily but calmly snapping her dslr in front of the giddy crowd.

At first I actually pretended to take pictures, but I had the feeling of self-awkwardness because I myself know that the cam is dead so I decided to stop that pretentious act and just sit down while my partner stared at the happy faces in front of us. I can't do anything, the best the thing I can do for that matter is write down details, which I did after a few minutes of frustration.

Luckily, we still had a source for the pictures, and it's not from the Varsitarian staff. There was a guy who was just documenting the pictures for himself, and so we just took the advantage (while swallowing our pride) by asking him if we could grab the photos. Thank God he agreed. Anyway, as journalists who could get caught at unexpected circumstances anytime, we have to have the skill of innovating our sources, no matter what the cost.

When my partner reiterated how unfortunate things have turned out for us, all I said is, "Okay lang 'yun." After all, we can't do anything about it. Gadgets are not human beings that could have unlimited powers. Their batteries run out and when all their stored energy is gone, well, they're over. You can't do anything about it except buying a new one or charging it.

And since I had these realizations ever since, I think I'll be a veteran of this battery-dying circumstances. I have to accept it, and that's why I don't grumble a lot anymore whenever my MP3 player spells out "Low Power" on its screen.

And for that matter, I often wished that all of my gadgets could be de-saksak operated, so I could still use it at home and just utilize the batteries on the outdoors.

But if I do that I think I'll be defeating the gadget's definition and purpose.

_______

2008-01-10T00:21:00.000-08:00

Up to this minute, I still have a Last Face Syndrome of my interviewee. But before anything else, I decided not to disclose his name because he might land on my blog (which I wish) anytime. So let's just call him the ..Ratty Sneakers. That name came up because he was, well, simply wearing those ratty chucks-like sneakers together with his white long-sleeved polo made of Katsa. But then, as I've told Prinz earlier, his handsomeness encompasses everything. So never mind the ratty sneakers and the farmer-like outfit concealing his wealthy lineage and Atenenean degree.

My major mistake was, I didn't bring any cam. But it's okay, because he might get distracted and he might lose focus on the interview, and I am the interviewer. So that's why I tried to put all the visible details in my head. Besides, I still have the voice recordings, although I can’t see him there.

Enough of the fantasies. Wake up dreamy head, the interview is over.

However, I did take note of some lessons, and not just observations of how hot he is. Learning his background and contributions to their annual event, I realized that the elite aren’t just for the white collar or the corporate jobs. They can also do other jobs, even muscle straining ones like carrying large rocks and picking up the thrash, as he shared. And that’s what usually pays off. Also, it is important to finish your degree, get a highly-respected job or start your own business. Although going to that point doesn’t mean complete self-satisfaction, earning the privilege and prestige is just one big achievement.

And of course, that means richness.

Well, he’s got it aside from everything else: the good looks, the respected background, the niceness and the right attitude towards work – the things most of us wants to achieve. He didn’t get that all in one grasp, however. He earned it through hard work, a good perspective of life, and from my own analysis, a little sacrifice as well.
We still have more years to be or to be greater than that.
___________

2007-12-31T07:32:00.000-08:00

Counting from the time I am writing this, there will only be 14 hours left before sounds and lights starts crackling up in the sky and around the world, signaling that a new year has begun.
Then it is time to chomp down on our media noche before going out again to our own street parties, drinking bouts until dawn and aftermath fireworks-playing. Or at least that was my idea of what might happen later later on.
Last night, I've been thinking. I have three choices. We could watch the fireworks from my cousin's rooftop and play luses there before going down to our house to eat. OR my friend Eden and I could play with sparkles down the street and go back to our house to feast for a few minutes. Then I could go to my neighbor's street party-slash-gig. OR we could just go to the Mall of Asia and be a Kapuso for a night with the crowd. Afterwards we could eat anywhere we can or probably walk at.. Baywalk? Nah, Baywalk is not kewl anymore.
But whatever happens, all I know is I won't spend the first few minutes of 2008 over the net, or at my room. Who would choose to be a bummer at that time of the year?
Why do I end my year with these problems? Oh, there's another one: i don't know what kind of fireworks to play with later. I want to divert from the usual luses-kwitis routine. I want to try something kewl, like sinturon ni hudas, sawa or even a swirling multi-colored fountain.
or i could just stick with the you-look-like-a-big-matchstick firecrackers: sparkles :P
---------------------
I know I bought the newspaper this morning for a reason. But even if I still can't figure that out, I know two reasons: First, it is part of the journ routine to be updated. Next, it is the last day of the year 2007 I had the feeling that there is some special news or something. And the something special was: a year end report on how 2007 has been a "year of creeping terror."
Thinking of the big events that happened this year, it seems that everything just happened, even if it was months ago. Well, it feels like it because of its effects. Like the Glorietta explosion last October 19 and the Batasan bombing last November 13. Although everything is trying to move on, there is still a hidden fear lurking somewhere - the fear of terror, the fear of fear itself.
But then we should always remember that there will be a day where we have to leave all the anxieties, fear, traumas and bad feelings we had. That day tells us that inspite of the unwanted incidents that occured, life goes on and there will always be a chance to make everything right. That day does not only signal the beginning of new hopes, but it is a reminder that everyone must hold on to their hopes at all times, no matter what day or time it is. That day is, of course, what we are going to celebrate at the strike of 12 midight later on: Happy NeW YeaR!!!

2007-11-24T07:48:00.000-08:00

EXTREME SPORTS BLASTS AT THE MALL OF ASIA

IT wasn’t the bay itself that attracted people towards the bay area of the SM Mall of Asia last November 10 but Tribu’s wakeboarding pool, the 36-feet, stone-studded wall and the skate park that converted the cemented walkway into an extreme sports arena.

Three extreme sports are one in the city once again. While skateboarding, wallclimbing and winchboarding are played at different places, these were amazingly held in one venue, all in one day at Metroactive Magazine and Tribu Outdoor’s “X in the City: The Extreme Sports Challenge in Manila.”

The annual event highlighted winchboarding by Towd Winch. Being relatively new to the city, Metroactive Magazine editor-in-chief Jeena Lopez explained winchboarding as wakeboarding in a small body of water such as a swimming pool where one is pulled not by a boat nor a cable but by a lifting machine called “winch.”

Competitions for the three sports started simultaneously in the afternoon, with the skaters pouring in and crowds getting ready to be splashed by the waves of the Tribu wakeboarding pool.

Winning the first place for the Towd Winchboarding competitions is Rocky Ona with backslide 180 as his winning move. Carlo de la Torre bagged second place for his boardslides and Carlo Rodriguez placed third after the series of skis he made at the funbox. Towd Winchboarding exhibitions followed with demonstrations from local and foreign wakeboarders.

Wakeboard competitions also took place and JV Tanjangco won first place for the men’s division and Joyce Recto for the women’s division.

Meanwhile, skateboarders were having close playoffs during Malachi Apparel’s skateboard competition, leaving skate achiever Rasheed Al-Rasheed as the champion. The Tribu Fresh Park opened later for a free skate.

Wall climbing also became a hit as people lined up to try the Tribu Wall. As for the speed climbing competitions, Eunice Quilantang won first place and Kenneth Roldan went second place for the men’s division; While Nikki Capalungan and Johanson Cachapero placed first and second, respectively, for the women’s division.

Wakeboarding, skateboarding and wall climbing were first held simultaneously last August 4 and 5 at the Bonifacio High Street by Stoked Inc. Making a comeback in the city, the event was flocked with extreme sports enthusiasts as far as Baguio City. As the event made the San Miguel by the Bay at the esplanade alive until evening, it eventually ended with an “extreme party” with performances from El Rey Cultural Dance Troupe and ethnic music group Tribu Boracay, completing the adrenaline rush and telling everyone that extreme sports will always be welcome in the city.

-by Krzl Light Nunes

2007-11-11T05:09:00.001-08:00

One of the biggest disappointments in life is having a goal turn to ashes. Sometimes it leads to having your heart broken, especially when everything you were expecting,excitingly waited for and almost made you believe could happen will never happen anyway.
In the end, something keeps telling you "you're wrong, you're wrong, you're wrong" about everything that you did.
Maybe I was wrong of feeling 'connected' with the guy I met at the skate event last night.
It all started with a deck my friend borrowed for me. I borrowed it a number of times from him. He was really nice, or at least when it comes to lending his skateboard. Later on, I often had encounters with him, like meeting him somewhere at the event area with him smiling or talking to me. I ignored him, since I was busy and I don't want to add cute guy-hunting business with my coverage work. After the event, though, I already had this plan of talking to him since we'll end up at one hangout spot anyway - at Malate. Well, after all those feelings rushing and all the thoughts about him in my mind.... he left. He left without even a word that he will leave. So what is the two-sentence questions he asked? Will it even make a mark on our conversation? When we called him, he didn't even made a nudge to go back, since he has this business somewhere and I don't care about his excuses. I know I'm being super frank towards him. I thought I'll feel good about telling him everything that I feel, but actually it just worsened my guilt and gave me regrets.
Maybe it was another deceit of heart without me using my mind, or maybe every move I made was wrong after all. I didn't know him in the first place. But when there was already a chance to talk and have the get-to-know-each-other part, he just burned it by leaving and making me sit there with all the guys having foolish and idle chatters.
I don't want to hate him, but I had this conflict in my mind whether I will forget him and everything that happened or have another chance of dealing with him if another instance will come up.
______________

"Maybe it was another deceit of heart without me using my mind, or maybe every move I made was wrong after all."
____________

Maybe it wasn't exactly getting my heart broken, since there is no reason for such after five hours of seeing him. I was just disappointed, that's all. To be honest, he was my ultimate prospect that night and already has this feeling like, 'Okay I think I'm beginning to like him.' I have this feeling occasionally, but why is it that the feeling just burns up and I realize that maybe the guy wasn't after me after all. I hated to think the fact that sometimes, we can't get what we want, but I think it's actually true. Maybe my search-for-the-perfect-moment isn't over yet, because I believe that if an instance like this happens, I know that the perfect moment is still out there somewhere. Maybe I still have to enjoy life as I still want to, with this intance serving as lesson or an experience.
Then I just realized that moving on is one of the hard things to do...
Maybe this guy and the experience is just another treasure or object I pick along my journey of life. There are more roads I have to conquer, and maybe the greatest treasure is still waiting for me somewhere, lingering around the corners of the maze of life.

2007-11-03T08:04:00.000-07:00

Soundtrack Review: Spiderman 3 OST

Where is it in the movie? Where are the songs that I’ve read at the back of the Spiderman3 soundtrack CD? Oh yeah, I heard three of them in the last part, as a background music when the credits are being shown. I was supposed to do a soundtrack review, and I’m trying to control myself of reviewing the movie more than the music. The fight scenes are heavier because there are more villains, but they are less thrilling. I think music also accounts for that. I was watching the characters falling and buildings collapsing all relaxed while watching for the next surprising thing that could happen to Spiderman or Venom. But then, I wasn’t jumped by the sound of metals crashing or the mere silence while watching Spidey fly up between buildings. They must have been maintaining the old New York ambiance throughout the movie, since there is no The Wyos or Sealings playing in the background of any scene. Then the characters/ credits part comes in the end, playing Snow Patrol and The Killers in the background. But even if it is played only in the least viewed part of the movie, it somehow reminds me of the action scenes in the movie, and the drama running throughout the movie as well.

2007-11-03T07:20:00.000-07:00

Minutes after I logged out of my blogger account, I realized that it was November 1 and it would be the best time to write about Halloween. But there isn’t much to write about trick or treat though, because I think it would be just treats for that day.
From the door of our home, I though I heard someone screaming “Happy Birthdaayyyyy..” on the microphone. I know where it came from, but then I presumed that maybe it was the “Happy Halloween” longest voice contest. I was also intrigued with the big noise echoing through our whole subdivision, and I asked my friend Eden, “Did they set up speakers around the subdivision to let us know what is going on?” Of course I was curious, and having sniffed a party mode scent around the corner, I went to follow it. And guess what.
It was at the cemetery at the back of our subdivision, and contrary to the popular notion of having a solemn mood when visiting such place, the cemetery was alive. This is not dawn of the dead, okay? People visiting their dead loved ones are close to having a party. The place is alive with people, music and in the evening, with the movies. There’s a film showing for everyone, the first of which is the animated movie Happily Never After and the next is.. I have no idea what that gory suspense thrilla movie is. What’s more, I felt like I was in a park for all the stalls lined up in different sides. There was Pizza Hut, Max’s chicken and a lot more.

_____________________

"This is not dawn of the dead, okay?"

___________

So just imagine how cool it is to have a picnic at the…cemetery! innovative, right? Well, it’s actually better to enjoy the day than staring at my aunt’s tombstone for a day and pretend like it’s a day for sentimentality. It is, actually, a day for remembering our relatives that passed away but maybe we could also make it a day for celebrating life and thanking God for giving us time to spend with our passed-away relatives when they are living. And we are Filipinos, trying to be happy in every situation, whatever the cost.
I looked at the people sitting at the grass that day and treating the holiday as a picnic day. Who would have guessed that a ‘party,’ like what happened last year’s Halloween, would pop out for such occasion? I think it’s really cool. When I went home, I told my mom that I if I’ll die, I want myself to be buried at that place, because I know that my relatives wouldn’t be so formal and somber in front of my marble tombstone. At least I know that they’ll remember me and still be happy, enjoying the day with the ‘party’ going in the perimeters of Forest Lake Memorial Park.

2007-11-01T09:42:00.000-07:00

Finally. After all my battle of opening the blogger website - which is not my fault but our super slow internet- I'm finally back to typing of whatever is in my mind for the passing time. I'm actually planning to tell something about the past weeks and the whole sembreak, but i realized that everyday was just a wake up-eat-watch One Tree Hill-sleep routine. So there's nothing interesting about that, except that I just finished the third season of One Tree Hill today. That wasn't interesting for a reader who is not a fan of the Scotts and Hilarie Burton though.
It felt good to write here once again. But then someone just told me something. In my previous post I just said a real bad word, and if you wanna find out just read it. He said that it doesn't fit me. Maybe it does not, but then maybe I thought I was just spilling out of whatever is in my mind. But I thank him for that, because right then I realized that saying something like that probably won't make a good example, or to be more specific, a testimonial to the people reading it. I also remembered how I wanted to reach out to my friends, but then if being a living example is just enough, I guess i didn't fit in. Or maybe if I want to be, maybe I'll have to start with my writing.
I'm okay. really. and I want to apologize to whoever thinks I am a careless scribbler just because of that word -a big word for that matter.
SO. Moving on..
______________

"...I thank him for that, because right then I realized that saying something like that probably won't make a good example.."

____________________

I miss a lot of things right now. I miss playing bass. My friend and I are talking about it right now and i suddenly missed it, together with the band and the hardcore scene. The other day I was rummaging through bass guitars at a music store and when I took hold of a bass guitar on the display, I just feel like I wanted to play. I miss plucking and slapping those strings and letting out everything that's stucked in the music side of my brain. When are we gonna play again Sickchild?
Then there was skateboarding. I am so excited for our upcoming skate event, and for a plug, here's the details:

WHO: Malachi Apparel and Tribu
WHAT: Free Skate and Skate Competition
WHERE: Mall of Asia
WHEN: November 10 and 11 (Saturday and Sunday)
WHY: JUST GO

I miss the Tribu Freshpark. and I miss my skater friends, especially those that I lost contacts with. Giddygiddygiddy.

I think that's all. Second sem's gonna start a few days from now, and like in TV series, of course I'm thinking of OneTreeHill) it's another season. I hope it'll be a fresh start for us in school, an improving situation at the publication and a more exciting round of events for Malachi... and of course, more gigs for us.
I just love having a busy day.

______________

"When are we gonna play again Sickchild?"

______________

2007-10-30T13:46:00.000-07:00

I sort of remembered our room. haha.
This is our room before:
Empty, desolate and without life...
then
This is our room now...

Now filled with all sorts of stuffs from the four of us, we just transformed it to our second home.. our home in the city.

And I remembered my previous post that read:
"Another afternoon of negotiations and financial arrangements has ended once again. Finding and preparing for moving to a new house is just as hard as organizing a party. You have to make deals with a lot of people and you have to consider the financial status and availability of your ‘colleagues,’-your future roommates. Then when you think that everything is polished already, another set of problems start to cascade into your final plans. Big Bummer.
One thing I’ve realized. Sometimes we fear dealing with what’s going on our real world. We don’t want to think about it, don’t want to talk about it. And when we’re already at the point of confrontation mingled with confusion, we give out uncertain answers or we simply put the topic away.
One thing I’ve realized. We shouldn’t be held by our fear of dealing with reality. If there’s a problem, talk about it. If we want to pursue something, then do everything to make it happen. If there’s something we need to straighten out, talking it out is still the best thing to do. Even if we are bound by the fear of being attacked with our problems, like financial matters.
In the end, we will all sigh deeply and smile for a mission accomplished. In our case, it’s a new house, a new family and awaiting experiences for the new school year."

Feels good to have a home, right?

2007-10-22T08:32:00.000-07:00

Right now I just feel like drowning in the music, write down what i want to feel and make myself 'better.' I know that being depressed is bad for my health, literally, but i don't think it is easy to get rid of depression after all. there are lots of things bugging my life - unexpectedly and unwantedly. and i am just surprised how my cheeks would get wet by tears easily. in short, the past problems trying to sort of 'devastate' my feelings but not entirely my whole life have suddenly transformed me to a super-sensitive crybaby. in any way, however, i found crying to be an effective way of letting out those feelings and, combining it with writing, will eventually make me feel better. in the end, i just laugh off, realizing that those things i'm crying about are petty stuffs.
before i entered this internet cafe i was super frustrated. first, the previous internet shop can't open any sites. then thoughts of my so-fucked up phone began reminding me of still being 'disconnected' with the world and that kinda sucks. i realized hours earlier that communication has now become so important in any rate - whether it was communication with another person, with the world and even with myself.
and so as i remember a line from a song of Unwritten Law: 'everything gets told.'
there is only one that made me glad tonight. grades. i dont think i have to rant about getting unexpected grades for some of my subjects, espeecially my 'favorite' ones. getting five line of 1's is super acceptable already.
______________________
"the past problems trying to sort of 'devastate' my feelings have suddenly transformed me to a super-sensitive crybaby"
______________________

right now i'm sort of okay. and i think i need to thank God for some reliefs He gave me today. I got the confirmation that our tuition fee decreased, and so i don't have to worry about extra cash. then our land lady gave us time for settling our rent debts. that debt issue kept bothering me, but now that i am not so pressured to get financial stuffs from nowhere, i just thank God for that.
as for the phone. i think i was just acting like a spoiled brat. although it hurts, i have to accept things as they are right now. and i have to accept this fact, because i can't really have everything, we really lose some things along the way. maybe we'll pick up some things in the later time, and maybe i shouldn't wait for it because it will just make me depressed and bitter towards other people anyway.
as ive said the other day, i should just enjoy what im doing for the current time. like the Inkblots that just started. also, dont have to think about the frustrating parts that hapened today, because eventually it'll go to the past when i wake up tomorrow. there are lots of things to give attention to. okay this is not easy. but i hope i will, with God's help.

2007-09-18T22:31:00.001-07:00

Its been months since i last updated my blog. like.whatever happened to me must've been stucked in the files of my usb. ive been typing sorts of stuffs but there wasn't a c hance these events were uploaded in this site. well i just feel that i need to say something right now. maybe because im glad, depressed, gloomy, bored or whatever.
well the truth is, i just had this big smile that i gave to someone. the events that happened minutes ago was so not me. before when i see or talk to him im like shaking on the inside and stammering on the outside. but then when i talked to him recently, i felt like it was all cool. i just listened, talked and smiled casually, just what i do with my other friends. my two classmates passed by, and they were giving me those meaningful stares. i controlled myself , of course. i dont want to feel the old feeling again. i know those feelings are the most 'high' but then i dont need to overreact and take everything seriously.

"i know nothing will ever come between us but i still don't want to lose my connection with him. after all, he's still my friend"

its just like highschool love. and i hate it when it happens because afterwards i feel like i am slowly drifting away from him because of my feelings and actins towards him. and i dont want that to happen. i know nothing will ever come between us but i still don't want to lose my connection with him. after all, he's still my friend. and i know that all my fantasies will soon be dumped on any corner of my memory box anytime. but even if everything will change and everything might turn into what i expected or what i didn't, he will always, and still be, my ultimate prospect.

2007-07-11T09:22:00.000-07:00

Finally I’ve finished my article. I wish I could watch Memories of Geisha right now, but I can’t and I shoudn’t. I still have lots of stuffs to do. Seconds after this I will be out once again, for the third time this night. But I won’t be lounging around. I’ll be going to the comp shop, e-mail these pending articles to my “boss” and sigh. Sigh for another work accomplished. Hey, I’m proud that I’m able to change an ordinary lead (for me!) to a more featurized one, I don’t know how I did it in a matter minutes, but it’s somehow out of pressure. Anyway, I’m proud of it.

Know what, my heart is beating fast since yesterday. Nah, it’s not an organ complication or whatever physical, it’s just that I’m so.. inspired? Haha. So mushy. But yeah, someone does make my spirits soar high than the usual. It’s him. You get it. Before I was close to liking him, but now it’s something else. I know I haven’t gave him the confirmation, but right now I just feel that every piece was perfect. I guess even the instance of being next to him was enough for me to feel a bit complete. Anyway just a reminder: I’m not making my orbit revolve around him. As I’ve told Prinz earlier, those kinds of stuffs are my sidelines. (but even this sideline created a great impact.oh yeah) I have lots of priorities, more things to think about. Or maybe I’m just making my world complicated. Whatever. Fact is, I really have to tend a lot of things these days. School, work, out of school groups, gimiks, events, bands, skateboarding. Then this one comes right into the picture. Perfect. Anyway it’s not that I’m grumbling or anything. I’m actually glad that this piece came in. It just added color, added music and added a spark. I feel good feeling good and I know that it’s something I won’t regret and won’t let go easily.

2007-06-22T08:12:00.000-07:00

What's with the twists and turns of events happening on those ‘reality’ tv shows? Members go out, new strangers come in and there are new love teams once again. Then the world awaits for what will happen for the next couple of days. They stay up late just to be either filled with the satisfaction that their favorite love teams are still together or be totally disappointed that the perfect match are arguing over petty reasons.
Let us consider the fact that they all entered the house as complete strangers. They knew the lives of their co-participants for only a short period of time and thus falling for the opposite sex so easily is such a fast-as-a-spinning bullet spur of emotions. I’m not the conservative type that advocates on lengthy courtships but then let’s just realize that these days, more people are using their eyes and hearts entirely when it comes to falling in love. People forget to be careful and critical when choosing, and so we need not wonder why some relationships end up in a tragic way – literal or not.
With the status of reality shows being a current trend in visual entertainment, I know that more instances of falling in love so easily will still happen. Perhaps, we cannot do anything with regards to these ideologies in the current modern age. I just hope that we would still be updated with the lives of those people outside that ‘reality tv show’ setting.

2007-06-15T14:18:00.000-07:00

Summer Ends but Skateboarding Never Will

Skateboarders showcased their tricks as summer ends during Tribu’s extreme sports challenge at SM Sta. Rosa, Laguna last May 30 to June 3.

With the banner ‘Huling Sigaw sa Tag-Araw,’ the event attracted crowds of people which featured skateboarding, wall climbing and indoor basketball.

Co-sponsored by the Malachi Riders, skateboard competitions were also held every afternoon of the five-day event and culminated on the final day with Jay-R Abu as the champion and Rasheed Al-Rasheed bagging the second place.

Wall climbing competitions took place at the last day, and live performances were given by bands and dance groups in between the contests and at the end of the event.

2007-06-12T13:32:00.000-07:00

Criminals on Wheels

Skateboarding is just one of the extreme sports I am presently practicing on, but it seems that I’ll be having trouble looking for a place to stay.

We once had a skate spot at our village last year. It was at a street corner in front of our friend’s house. During weekends an obstacle would be placed in the center, and that’s where my friends do their tricks. However, it came to an end when one of them caused an accident by crashing on a motorcycle passing by that street, add to that the unending complaints a neighbor for the noises we made. Since then, the number of skateboarders in our place decreased, until such time that only three were left to play to continue playing – me and and my two friends.

When I moved in to Manila, I met a group of skateboarders that eventually became my friends. We hung out and skated at Lawton, Manila, on the stage behind the big Andres Bonifacio Monument; and sometimes in front of the former Metropolitan Theater.

Our frequent practices at Lawton attracted other groups of skateboarders. The idea that Liwasang Bonifacio spread and soon dozens of skaters came to play at our ‘spot.’ They slided at the the thick marble railings, ollied (or jumped) at the tiled stairs and did tricks at the ledges of the stage. It was a fact that their ‘improvised ramp’ were made of materials that could break if stomped or left upon by a harder material, like wood and metal. And so you could imagine the ravages caused: cracks along the edges of the marble railings and chipped-off tiles at some parts of the stairs.

Authorities forbade to skaters to play at these areas. So my friends stayed at the concrete area and played on the obstacles they made by themselves. But the others, or those not originallly from our area, still tampered on the stage continously. Until the dreaded day came: we are totally banned from playing at Liwasang Bonifacio.

So we were forced to play at other places – beside the University of Manila, or in front of the Metropolitan Theater. We chose the latter, and it is still our skate spot until this day.
These experiences are not the worst, when it comes to skateboard bans and clashes with the authorities. In Norway, skateboarding is totally forbidden because of the numerous injuries it caused, and skateboarders would even go to the forests and other secluded areas just to skate.
There are other skate spots in Metro Manila besides. There is one in Mendiola, Marikinia, Sucat and inside the UP campus. Still, I could not consider those skate areas to be permanent skate spots, just like what we experienced in Lawton. There is still a tendency for authorities to ban it.
Moreover, it is just street skating. Vert skating, or performing tricks at huge obstacles like half pipes (the structures resembles an empty swimming pool) is not that prevalent anymore. Huge ramps and major playing obstacles are set up only during events like the X-Games and other skateboard competitions. So for sure, the usual skate spots would just be composed of a simple obstacle, the streetside ledges and and of course, the concrete streets.

In perception of who is to blame, I will not totally take side on the skateboarders, even if I am a skater myself. The problem and the solution lies on both sides. There are still those reckless skateboarders that does not know where to skate. The damages and injuries they have caused – to themselves or to other people- also gave the authorities enough reason to prohibit them from playing in the area, and in consequence all the skateboarders were wiped out – even the good ones.

The authorities may have a good justification as to why they clear public and public properties of from skaters, but they should at least have a counterpart action. If provided would have been provided from the start, skate parks could be constructed by now, and so authorities will not anymore worry if a property will be invaded once again by a group of skaters whose goal is only to play, practice and perfect their tricks.

Therefore the deal must be met halfway. But considering the present economic status and the government’s priorities, it is less likely to be compromised easily.
Yet skateboarders could do their part. There is still nothing wrong with skateboarding, it is actually one of the most developed extreme sport. But we should still know the limitations of our playing area – even of we are street skaters. To skate out in the streets does not mean damaging public facilities, invading private properties and sacrificing the safety of others and ourselves. ‘Skateboard is not a crime’ definitely has a point, but not a reason for carelessness and deliquency.

2007-06-11T13:23:00.000-07:00

I wonder if I’ll be getting a summer like this again.

School will start two days from now. Summer vacation will officially end, and so we’ll have to say goodbye to the outdoor fun and relaxations we had for almost everyday of those two months. No more beach parties, mall hopping, trips to our provinces and afternoon strolling in the streets. We’ll be back listening to endless classroom lectures , doing tons of reports like a busy bee and cramming for those requirements like crazy. Yes, we’ll miss the summer and the bright sunshine we see when we wake up at 11am.

My summer this year has been very, very exhilarating. It was one of the best summers I had since I was able to explore a lot of places, meet different people,meet great opportunities and go back to my hobbies. There are still days when I was bummed and stucked at our house but a bigger part of it was spent on going outside and, compared to my previous summer vacations, this summer was a busy one. I had no write-up of each activity but here’s a rundown of the major activities I did this summer:

1 week vacation at Calumpang, Liliw, Laguna – spent on playing with my cousins, visiting different places,hanging out with my friends and a long bout of texting late in the evening, my stay for my 5 day stay at my grandparents’ home was somehow activity and adventure-filled, at least in the morning and afternoon. Part of it was my visit to the river and irrigation at the end of the barrio where I discovered that the place was now abandoned and desolate. We also visited the Liliw proper, or what was called as the slipper capital of the country. We rummaged through the long road of shoe boutiques and stalls in our search for the perfect slippers for my cousins which, we did,fortunately, after a two-hour walk. My stay also included my last full bondings with my best friend there, Hazel, who was just married the other day. New people: finally, I was able to meet a guy I’ve never seen for a year and text another guy who I never even thought of getting connected with.

The ultimate summer getaway place: Boracay!! The 1-week chillout experience in the island is the best part, as my cousin Rime calls it ‘the summer of all summers.’ The white sand, the bars, the clear water, the night life, the beach – was still fresh in my memory. Everyday was a different trip, from walk trip on the first day to late-night partying every night. Our pictures totaled to almost 800 shots, and we almost ventured every good spot on the island. The memoirs were still left to remind us of the pleasure we had: the tan, swimsuit markings and of course, souvenirs. The people we met also varied day after day, from the cute guys at the resort to band members and so, we need not ask ‘How cool is that?’ because, dude, it way off COOL.

Vacation at Antique – after our Boracay getaway, we traveled towards Fatima, Antique and stayed at my second relatives’ house for five days. In was where we did our extreme sports – swimming, fish and coral-seeing, mountain climbing and rowing – the best!! What’s more, the fresh fishes are all so delicious, we never cared about calories. The adventures also continued as we explored different corners, like our late night walk trips at the streets and unforgettable experiences of running frantically from the dogs.

Tribu Extreme Games at SM Sta. Rosa Laguna – Co-sponsored by Malachi Riders, the five-day event featured skateboarding, wall climbing at the Tribu Wall, Indoor Basketball, Henna Tattoos and concerts. A skateboard competition was also held and Jay-R Abu bagged the championship.
The event made my summer end with a blast. My friends from Lawton, Manila, even visited Laguna just to skate at the indoor park. Two of them, Jun Castor and Chris Micu, even joined the skate competition and both of them qualified for the finals and Jun entered the top 10. Afterwards, we partied at Gerald’s place in Binan where those guys stayed for the weekend. Despite the obstacles along the way that almost made me stop from going to the event, I still managed to enjoy the weekend with guys, meet a lot of skaters from different places (like Len, Melvin and Sherwin), and see friends I haven’t seen for a long time (Like Jash and Jay). I wasn’t able to skate at the event because I was clad in slippers but after that weekend, I went back to skateboarding and rode at the streets of our subdivisions once again =)

Summer is definitely the best time for bathing in the sun, seeking adventure and linger around different corners, but it isn’t forever. It only comes once a year, and so we have to go back to our classrooms, in front of our profs and around the campus. But even if it sounds dreadful to cram at those requirements once more, let’s remember that the fun never stops at the end of our two-month vacation. The fun still awaits for us somewhere around our respective zones. =D