Saturday, May 31, 2008

Assembling Pictures, Collecting Thoughts...

.:Assembling Pictures, Collecting Thoughts...:.

After two huge public shows for me, I think you can expect a fairly fun-filled post about my recent forays, both at Campus Redux and the Mangaholix convention... :)

Friday, May 30, 2008

Coming Up...

.:Reboarding:.

Looks like I’ll be training onboard with Joe Spinner on a more regular basis, 9-12 noon, starting yesterday.

Given how much effort I’ve been extending training at home, I think it’s a good time for me to start putting what I’ve learned at home to the acid test simply by going on the air and running with it.

Well, I’m really stoked and I really want to make good on this new chance to prove myself. Here’s hoping I really do well, because I’ve been building up to this opportunity for quite a while already…

Much thanks to the people who have been helping me out here and there. You all know who you are. ;)

.:Scheduled Shows…:.

Well, I actually have a couple of shows over the weekend, and they’re both really publicity-getting events, to say the least. This coming Friday, I’ll be present at Campus 99.5’s Redux launch party, and not only will I be there as part of the Aircheck team, but I’ll also be there to spread some cheer as I do some stuff for the people while I’m onstage. To say that I’m excited about that would be a gross understatement, as I do intend to really pull out all the stops when it comes to grabbing their attention, including a little bit of escapology for good measure.

On Saturday, I’ll be headed to Mall of Asia where I’ll be doing walkaround for Mangaholix. I’ll be meeting up with Jay Mata, as the two of us are going to go and perform there, and I’m pleased with this prospect because not only do I get to work with my very talented partner, but we’d also get to meet and perform for the cosplaying community, one of the two most appreciative communities I’m part of when it comes to my performances (The other one being the blogging community, of course.). Look for the two of us to perform for popular cosplayers such as Crissey, Joy, and of course, Alodia, assuming they don’t get completely swarmed by their fans at the venue.

On Tuesday, I’ll be in Taytay, doing a product launch for Alaska Choco. It’s one of the biggest corporate things I’ve done that doesn’t involve a convention or job fair.

All in all, it’s a pretty occupied week, and with Jay Mata and I continually cooking up something special, you can expect nothing but the best from the self-proclaimed Penn and Teller of the Philippines. Don’t miss out on Friday and Saturday (And Tuesday, if you're so inclined.): it’s going to be a Magikel time!

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

I Know I Should Be Posting By Now, But...

... Bah Gawd, I'm so stressed!

I promise a sensible update sometime soon. Sowee!

For now, can I just entice you with something even more disturbing than 2 Girls 1 Cup? NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART!!!

Oh, well. After Angel Locsin, there was a run-in with Nancy Castiglione, and then 6 Cycle Mind. Pictures to follow, of course.

Sunday, May 25, 2008

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Latest Exploits In Prestidigitation

I'm cross-posting this with my Magikel, simply because I'd be a fool to not let you guys see this. :)

.:The Second Day...:.


Guess who gave 88DB the inspiration for their posters? ;)

It was my second day here at World Trade Center, where I was performing walkaround magic for the crowds. I got really good reactions for the most part, and most of the time, I was swarmed by people who wanted to see me do my stuff. 88DB has been very wonderful to me, and the opportunity to perform for a crowd as big as the thousands-strong crowd in World Trade Center was an experience I definitely enjoyed.

I've tried out lots of new stuff for the past couple of days, and what's exceptional about my run this time was the fact that I actually managed to do an impromptu stage show when the host called on me in the middle of my walkaround!

It was a pretty fun time, for that matter. I did my usual stuff, but the comedy escape artist routine does get a lot of laughs from the audiences because I'm not even pretending for a moment that my escape takes any effort at all. It was played for laughs, and it certainly achieved its role in that regard. What made the performance even more fun was the fact that I really managed to pull things off with much aplomb, from top to bottom.

I even ran into Aileen, who was speaking for the job fair as well!

Having said that, I even ended up doing quite a performance for a certain other celebrity. During day 1, I ran into Angel Locsin. This time out, I ran into Nancy Jane, aka Nancy Castiglione... yes, she's holding a fork right there.




.:6 Cycle Mind + Campus Aircheckers = T3h Aw3som3:.

Saturday saw me in a Campus Airchecker meeting, with 6 Cycle Mind giving us a very candid interview about their music, the industry, and what they think the future holds. I felt a bit old as people referred to me in the plural Filipino honorific, among other gestures pointing to my age. Having said that, it was nice seeing the Aircheckers and getting to know some of them... one of them even looks like that commerical model from Closeup despite not having any Chinese blood whatsoever.

Having said that, yes, I did more stuff on Saturday, and...


Me and the lead singer of 6 Cycle Mind, Ney.



I'd provide more pics of the Aircheckers, but I think I'd rather have permission from them first... heh. There seem to be some loveteams forming though, and the Hazel-Ramon Bautista loveteam is a riot, since it's "Ha-Mon" for short. Heh.

.:TSC Ruckus:.

Saturday was also time spent hanging out with TSC, where I found myself performing quite a good number of effects, including Berglas, the Coin Snatch, and Taste Conditions (At long last!). Having said that, I hung out with Richard and Harry at the end of the day, and had a lot of fun talking to them about random stuff.

.:Two-Man Beginnings:.

Jay and I performed together at his seminar tonight, and I must say that it's been great so far. For now, let's leave it at that, as I'm really exhausted, and I just wanted to update you what I've been up to lately...

Posting About Job Fair Day 2 Next Time, But...

.:Your Moment Of Zen...:.


Prepare to be rickrolled in real time!



It's confirmed! Rick Astley is gonna be doing a concert here in the Philippines in Araneta this August! This is a picture of his poster, which is already posted all over Araneta.

Even better, I have a friend who just might get me tickets, since she works in Araneta!

Man, I can't wait. I sooooo can't wait!!!

P.S. Roderick Paulate as front act PLZ! KTHNXBAI!!!

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

So I Was performing in World Trade Today, And...

.:Guess Who I Met?:.

Pardon the picture's quality, but here's a clue...



.:Stage Show, A Smashing Success!:.

With the Derren finale, how could I possibly go wrong, eh? The selected word was "controversial".

Wish Me Luck!

Tomorrow, I'll be having a huge show at World Trade Center in Roxas Boulevard for the JobsDB Job Fair.

Here's hoping I do splendidly, because this is arguably the largest venue I've performed stage mentalism for, thus far.

Yay, me!

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Self-Doubt

.:A Moment Of Silence...:.

For Ollie, the Chua cat.

I think I'll spare you the details here, but I liked that cat a lot.

.:Seriously, Sometimes I Wonder...:.

I've been training quite a bit as of late here at Campus 99.5, and as the days go by, I worry more and more if I'll ever end up being ready to go back on the air. I really doubt my ability to just get that knack, not only because my diction is still off, but mainly because I'm still grasping for something to say whenever I'm on air.

So I got myself a copy of OTS DJ (The program we use to play songs on the air.), and I've been working on it at home, trying to segue songs, one after another, with any nifty trivia I can chuck at them while I was doing my stuff. I wasn't pleased as punch, to say the least, simply because I kept on ending my ad libs after the vocals kick in, plus I still obviously hesitate when I talk on the air. I have a long way to go for me to get that knack going for me, and I'm worried if I'd ever be able to get to that level.

The diction is one issue, but as some people mentioned, it's something that can be glossed over in time. I know I have a good command of the language for the most part, so I won't be talking in broken English, although admittedly, I do have some gaffs with my diction, particularly when my mind is operating in Filipino rather than English. Nonetheless, this means I have my work cut out for me when it comes to really getting into the groove of things. I want to be here. Despite having been a true-blue RX 93.1 fan all my life, professionally, I think Campus 99.5 is the place where I could really grow the most, which of course takes nothing away from how much I do love RX still.

I look up to the jocks here in Campus. You have The Triggerman, John Hendrix, Joe Spinner, Jimmy Jam, and so forth. They're great people, and they really are doing me a huge favor by training me despite the fact that I'm *supposed* to not need training anymore, yet I'm hardly any better (If I even am.) than the average student DJ trainee. Triggerman was right... they expected a lot from me, and I didn't deliver. Yes, I'm my own worst critic.

Despite the pessimism I may feel at the moment, I would be loathe not to give it my best effort. I've stagnated for too long in WAVE, and I know I've a long way to go before I can possibly earn my keep here. I can't point fingers and say that it was WAVE's fault I didn't become a competent jock: my own complacency is the primary suspect for what has happened, and I can't emphasize enough that I now have the perfect opportunity to better myself. Being trained both in Radio 1 and Campus Aircheck has to count for something, doesn't it?

Well, one certainly hopes so... as I go and train and do whatever it takes to be a better radio personality, I implore all the support from my friends who have more faith in me than I do.

Monday, May 19, 2008

The Ex Files...

Taken from Ruk, here's a meme I'm answering...

.:What If Your Ex Says...:.

The Divine

Why did you let me go?

Things weren't the same anymore. At the time, I felt that my life was headed in a direction that simply wouldn't have you in it any longer.

When did we last talk?

I think it was three years ago. I really don't remember anymore, because you wanted me to stay away from you.

Will you go out with me?

I wouldn't mind, but I think you would.

Hey, can I give/ask you for a ride?

No, I think I can walk.

I cannot keep my promise to you.

And I understand why we can't be friends. I screwed up. I know.

My friends say we don't look good together.

I never did care what your friends thought about us.

You have changed.

Yes, indeed.

Can we get back together?

No.

Oh, I knew what this is all about. You found someone else.

Yes. I did.

Don't you realize? You are the one who hurt me!

I know that. I make no attempts to cover that fact up at this point.

How can you forget our memories?

I haven't. I never forget.

The Shaddock

Why did you let me go?

Because you asked me to. And it hurts too much to hold on when you're clearly not wanted.

When did we last talk?

About a year ago.

Will you go out with me?

Definitely not.

Hey, can I give/ask you for a ride?

I think I'll walk.

I cannot keep my promise to you.

I understand why you can't be friends with me, too.

My friends say we don't look good together.

They were wrong.

You have changed.

For the better.

Can we get back together?

No. Not anymore.

Oh, I knew what this is all about. You found someone else.

Neither of us did until long after the breakup.

Don't you realize? You are the one who hurt me!

And I still apologize for that to this day. But you hurt me, too. I think that can't be denied.

How can you forget our memories?

I haven't. I never forget.

New Post Up At Magi-Kel!

.:You Know The Drill...:.

It's my magic-filled weekend, and you can read about it here.

Randomicity Again...

.:Kel And Beloved, Sitting On A Tree...:.

S-T-U-D-Y-I-N-G.

What else did you expect from a guy "studying" for radio, and his Beloved, studying for the nursing boards, right?

Having said that,my Beloved and I spent time yesterday talking over the phone, and we had this nice moment where I just ran my phone's song player, and we just played different songs throughout the conversation.

It was really nice having that time with my Beloved because things have been very hectic for the both of us lately. There's really something great about being able to have the chance to just bond through music, and given how torn I feel about things career-wise as of late, I guess this is a good reprieve.

Below are the lyrics to the song I dedicated to my Beloved. Sometimes, when I think about her, I realize how lucky I am to have been loved by someone like her, and then end up thinking that maybe I'm so out of my league to be hoping to have someone like her in my life...

Out Of My League
by Stephen Speaks

It's her hair and her eyes today
That just simply take me away
And the feeling that I'm falling further in love
Makes me shiver but in a good way

All the times i have sat and stared
As she thoughtfully thumbs through her hair
And she purses her lips, bats her eyes as she plays,
With me sitting there slack-jawed and nothing to say

'Cause I love her with all that I am
And my voice shakes along with my hands
'Cause she's all that I see and she's all that I need
And I'm out of my league once again

It's a master for melody when she calls out my name to me
As the world spins around her she laughs, rolls her eyes
And I feel like I'm falling but it's no surprise

'Cause I love her with all that I am
And my voice shakes along with my hands
'Cause it's frightening to be swimming in this strange sea
But I'd rather be here than on land
Yes she's all that I see and she's all that I need
And I'm out of my league once again

It's her hair and her eyes today
That just simply take me away
And the feeling that I'm falling further in love
Makes me shiver but in a good way
All the times I have sat and stared
As she thoughtfully thumbs through her hair
And she purses her lips, bats her eyes as she plays,
With me sitting there slack-jawed and nothing to say

'Cause I love her with all that I am
And my voice shakes along with my hands
'Cause it's frightening to be swimming in this strange sea
But I'd rather be here than on land
Yes she's all that I see and she's all that I need
And I'm out of my league once again


.:Return To Reedley:.

Dropped by Reedley International School at lunchtime, and as you can easily guess, I performed for them again, and it was a really great one, since I was introduced to the new faculty members in quite a fashion... heh.

At the same time, Ms. Wamilda even told me that during school meetings, they still acknowledge me as part of the English department, if only for the fact that I'm still associated with RIS as a club moderator. I can't leave that place, truth be told. I certainly miss Reedley, and you can be sure that it won't be long before I find myself back to the same old tricks with the people there.

It was great dropping by the school again. I miss being a part of the Reedley family, and I'm glad that to some extent, I'm still there, and still doing my part in touching lives as teachers are wont to do.

Sunday, May 18, 2008

Another Post Up At Magi-Kel!

.:More On My Personal Heroes Of Mind And Magic:.

This time, it's one of my favorite mentalists, Richard Osterlind! Read about him here!

Two Films, One Day...

.:Two Films, One Day...:.

So I hung out with Elbert and some of his students again, mainly because the heavy rainfall yesterday resulted in a power outage in the Katipunan area. We ended up watching Iron Man, and I think it was an exceptionally fun film, to say the least.

It was fun and all, but when I got home and electricity was back, I proceeded to watch a classic, and possibly the first dark comedy I've ever seen, “Penn and Teller get Killed”. The film was a laugh and a half, and it was inevitable for the dynamic duo to actually have performed some magic over the course of the film. A cameo by the Amazing Randi didn't hurt the film, either.

Sometimes though, I do wonder how it's possible (Assuming it's true.) that after all these years, Penn and Teller have a purely professional relationship and aren't friends at all. How would that work, and what keeps these two people from becoming friends, in the first place?

New Post Up At Magi-Kel!

.:New Post Up At Magi-Kel!:.

Today, I cover a very unpleasant experience with a less-than-professional non-client. My uncensored thoughts on this unfortunate occurrence here.

Posting By Tomorrow, Hopefully...

Boy, I'm bushed. I just came from the TSC Gathering, and Bearwin Meilly was actually there.

I even had a fun encounter with a Japanese guy whom I did magic for. Didn't realize he was Japanese, and he even tipped me, and he didn't allow me to decline his kindness. =)

Rassum fassum... Enter and Backspace keys are not cooperating again...

Friday, May 16, 2008

My Childhood Is Complete, And Then Some...

Photos courtesy of Aileen and Juned.

.:Nokia's Mobile Entrepreneur Awards Night...:.


Bloggers unite!

I was at Makati Shang last Monday night and hung out with several bloggers for Nokia and Go Negosyo's Mobile Entrepreneur Awards Night. While I didn't really have a specific agenda in going there, the food and the company was definitely motivation enough. That, plus the prospect of meeting potential contacts in the future was likewise enticement.

.:My Childhood Is Complete...:.

The thing is, when I was a kid, I always watched Battle Of The Brains. I was a huge fan of the show, and I was consistently answering the show's questions, all the way to the college level, even when I was just in high school back then. I was a huge fan, to say the least.

Of course, my biggest frustration was the fact that despite being one of the more academically advanced students in Don Bosco Technical College, I was never given a chance to represent the school in Battle of the Brains. I was frustrated because I thought I had what it took. After all, I was constantly answering those questions on TV, right? There's no reason why I can't take on those guys on the show, since I figured I was capable of answering at least 75% of the questions anyways...

So yeah. I would've given my left nut to have met the host of the show just to show off how "smart" I was back then. I mean, I was a brash kid who figured he was destined to be the quintessential BotB contestant the minute he got his chance...

Fast forward to a decade or so later, and what have we here?


Yes. I'm pleased as punch. How can you tell?



Aileen was worried I was actually gushing over him a wee bit too much. Even Poyt was amused about it as well.

Finally, my childhood is complete. I've met David Celdran. :p

.:Dammit...:.

The "enter" and "backspace" key on this computer is not working at all! Whaddaheck?!?

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Second Day Of Retraining...

.:Blogging Post Will Have To Wait...:.

No picture with David Celdran = No entry! Hmph. I want that pic, and I want it nao! Hehe...

Paging Aileen, here's hoping you have the picture already... you know it practically completes my childhood. Hehe.

.:Training, Day 2:.

I'm here at Campus 99.5 again, and on my way to the station, I finally got to meet Mo Twister, whom I've never run into prior to today, because he's usually out when I swing by the Magic booth, like the other day, where Mojo greeted "Mister Vader" on the air again... heh. During the RX days, I was paranoid about having my name said on other station on the air, because I didn't want to incur sir Louie D's wrath... I guess I can just be grateful I can breathe easy nowadays when it comes to that.

In any case, the training is going to be rather intensive. While I can handle the technical side of things here in the station, it's mainly my ad libbing and my diction that needs a lot of work. Years of being accustomed to autopilot on WAVE has dulled my improv abilities, and I'm real grateful to Joe Spinner for taking me under his wing and telling me where I could improve.

Having said that, I guess it's time for me to head onto training for now. There's nothing much happening to me lately, although there's a bit of buzz going on regarding some new shows I might find myself doing over the next couple of months...

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Just Got Interviewed For Inquirer.Net...

.:That Was Interesting...:.

It was a good day today, as I got a lot of headway into projects I'm gunning for in the coming months, and I was even interviewed by Alex Villafania of Inquirer.Net, as we talked about what I've been doing over the years as a blogger, from the Flying Chair Asian Blog Awards in 2003, to the current Magikel schtick, which has been garnering a lot of interest as of late.

I even introduced Alex to the jocks over here in Campus 99.5, which might yield future happenings involving both parties.

In any case, I'm expecting to see the interview up on the site sometime this week... I'm keeping my fingers crossed. =)

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Posting Next Time...

.:Heads Up!:.

Just came from a couple of blogger events.

In the meantime, munch on this. Some people have way too much time on their hands. Heh. They used a hack to make a stage that has sound effects matching the in-game music! Wow!

Monday, May 12, 2008

A Grab Bag...

This is going to be quite a mishmash of posts, truth be told, as I'm going to be writing about random stuff that has happened to me over the weekend.

.:Go, Speed, Go!:.

My eyes hurt, but watching Speed Racer with Marco, Jonas, Elbert, and Mary was a really fun experience, despite the serviceable story that was obviously marketed to kids. There was just something so fascinating about being drowned in pastiche that appeals to the senses, and Speed Racer was a fun, tongue-in-cheek romp in living color. It was so hard to tell what was going on in the screen sometimes, truth be told. The action was just frenetic, and it gave very little opportunities for anyone to catch their breath before the action just picked up again shortly thereafter.

Still, I liked the movie, and it was great hanging out with these people. It's been especially good, and the last time out, while hanging around El and Mary and at the time, Arvin, I even managed to make good (Somewhat.) on my first attempt at hypnosis...

I really am not making much sense lately, sadly. I've been trying to blog cohesively, but there's just something about the stuff I've been going through lately, particularly the whole unemployment bit as well as certain matters of the heart which shall remain undisclosed as always...

.:The Bitch Enters...:.

While hanging out with El and company after watching "Speed Racer", it turns out that the evil ex-stepsister was in the same area, as she walked past with her friend, immediately avoiding my gaze when she came within my line of sight.

The funny thing is, she did it again a few minutes later.

Ahh, such guilty consciences.

.:Ummm... Whoa!:.

So I was doing mentalism for a table last Sunday, where there was this particular spectator who was incredibly... gifted. It was a party filled with Chinese people, and I was bemusing how mature the particular spectator looked, in a good way, of course.

So while performing, I found out her name was Ciara, and in the course of my patter, I asked her how old she was, to which she said she was TWELVE.

My jaw dropped.

With a figure like that, she had no business being twelve!

Friday, May 09, 2008

Comprehensives, Part II...

Well, here goes nothing. Wish me luck!

It Came From YouTube...

.:Ladies And Gentlemen, Meet Shy...:.



Do I even need to say anything else? The man is a genius!

New Post Up At Magi-Kel!

It's that time again, when I feature something from my magic blog for your perusal...

Check out the post here!

Wednesday, May 07, 2008

I Miss My Beloved...

.:Gahh...:.

Can you believe it? It's been nearly a month since we last went out!

Review Is Slow But Progressing...

.:Kierkegaard, Descartes, Marcel:.

For this Saturday's comprehensives, I'm reviewing one reading apiece from each of these three philosophers. You might say that for me to work through this, all I'm lacking would be a training montage video set to the tune of "Eye Of The Tiger"...

Can't wait to finish my Masters. Given my rapidly expanding distaste for being around ADMU though, I have a feeling I won't be putting it to use there, sadly.

Tuesday, May 06, 2008

So...

.:Random, Almost Rhetorical Question...:.

If I were to go to a cosplay convention for anime or videogames or whatever the heck, who do you think I should go as?

Just fielding some answers here with this memetic question...

Sometimes, It Just Has To Be Said...

.:After All This Time...:.

We're still not talking?

Dammit, I hate having to carry burdens to the grave. Don't you? Aren't you just as tired of this as I am?

Maybe it's time to bury the hatchet.

My door is open for that much.

Mad Scientist Instructor?

.:Sounds Like Fun:.

I'm throwing my resume in for this one. Hey, you never know, right? =p

I Was On TV Again...

.:Yes, Channel 11 Again. And I Wasn't Informed!:.

So apparently, Sapulso reformatted into "The Beat", and they opened their new show with a reworking of their best segments prior to the reformat, although the spiels were now delivered in English instead of Filipino.

Too bad I missed it, but it's nothing you haven't seen before. :)

A New Post On Magikel...

.:The New Magic-Related Posting Series...:.

I decided to make various tributes over the coming weeks or months to the people who have influenced me as a performer, and you can see it on my Magikel site. It's a very interesting read, and it should tip you off about the immediate future for me.

Check the post out here!

Monday, May 05, 2008

Preparing For The Second Half...

.:Still More (School)Work To Come...:.

Well, I'm preparing for my next comprehensive exam this coming Saturday. Lots of stuff to work on, but I'm confident I'll be able to pull through. Had a boring weekend, but at least I did well for Modern Philosophy, since the questions were about Kant and Desacartes, two thinkers I'm very familiar with.

I've got a lot on my plate when it comes to this, to be honest. I really want to make sure I finish my thesis this year, which explains why I'm not taking a full-time job at the moment, even if it might be financially risky for me to do so. Finishing my M.A. would allow me leverage to teach Philosophy, and that's something I'd certainly want to do.

.:A Prelude To My Planned Series Of Posts On Radio...:.

I've been thinking of what to write about radio for the longest time, essentially writing much the same way I wrote
about teaching.

As most of you know, I've had a love affair with radio since I was a kid. From the moment I learned how to speed-dial my way to victory in radio contests on 93.9 DWKC, radio became my best friend, over and above television. I can't tell you enough how much I've always wanted to be a DJ, and when I found my chance way back in high school to be on the air regularly, you just know I had to jump at the chance to do it.

If I didn't love this industry, I wouldn't give a damn about it at all, nor would I willingly accept my current role as a Campus Air Checker despite having been an actual jock in WAVE 89.1 for three years. But here I am, still training as an Air Checker, and doing so out of my own free will, because I believe in the station that much.

For now, that is all that remains to be said. As I go through this thesis year, I'm also taking the necessary steps to go back to radio and show just exactly how much I want to be here.

Sunday, May 04, 2008

Sometimes, I Lose Faith In The Human Race...

.:Utter Balderdash:.



I've seen a lot of hideous things in my life, so watching the video itself didn't make me feel particularly bad.

What got to me though was the minute I read the comments, I was just driven nuts by the amount of ignorance spouted by some of the commenters there. Were we even watching the same bloody video?!?

If you look clearly at how the three-hour ordeal played out, the girl was clearly at least half the size of the manager's fiance. This meant that if the girl didn't do what she was being told, the guy was more than capable of beating her to a pulp, or worse. To say that the girl was a "slut" or that she "was enjoying herself" does not excuse the guy from doing what he did to her.

The girl was clearly on edge, and was afraid. She didn't know what to do, and for a moment there, I just thought that people had better sense than to take goddamned advantage of a girl who was out of her wits at the moment. I don't care if she was genuinely being "stupid", that's not an excuse to take advantage of her.

Scum like that man and his fiancee ought to be put in the slammer with the key thrown away. To have to read hundreds of comments at the end of the video pretty much blaming the girl for what happened to her is just depressing. Generally, I get annoyed at people who expose secrets in magic videos in YouTube, but I've never been this angry over a video before. The sheer bigotry and callousness of people who believed the girl deserved what she got was just crazy. You think she could just run out of that small room without the guy putting up chase and potentially killing her? You think she can just think of the best way to escape her ordeal when she's clearly scared out of a year's growth?

There's a double standard right there, and I'm sure people wouldn't be saying that if the guy were in a situation where he had to take off his clothes for a gay guy at gunpoint. Given the size differential, the other guy in the video didn't need a gun to implicitly threaten the girl with harm, and like those people who end up confessing to crimes they don't commit thanks to torture, we're looking at someone who did what she did under duress.

Even if we pretended that she wanted to do these things, why the hell did the guy do it? His fiancee was walking in and out of the room, dammit!!!

After the tragic murder of the hitchhiker for world peace, you can understand the amount of vitriol I have for the human race.

Sometimes, my faith in the human race really just falters. This is one of those moments where I don't understand how people could sleep well at night acting this way.

Teaser....

.:It's Under Wraps For Now, But You Have To Watch Out For It...:.

Sometime this year, I'll be coming up with a massive project related to magic and mentalism. It's something that I feel would really cause quite a buzz, and I'm exceedingly pleased about how the preparations are turning out well...

Stay tuned to find out what this is about.

If I Could Be Serious For A Moment...

.:Yet Another Passing...:.

Someone who has been a significant influence in my life has recently passed on. A high school teacher of mine, and to be honest, not one of my favorite people, but one I was always grateful to.

Teacher Glo was my first year Science teacher. She was also the moderator of the Don Bosco Technical College Young Broadcasters Club, which was the budding ground for high school kids who dipped their feet into radio broadcasting at a young age. The show, "Anak Gabay Mo", was a youth-oriented program in DWXI, where I had my first experience in radio. It was here where I learned how to write scripts, how to conceptualize segments, and so forth.

Teacher Glo was a controversial figure. To go through all the factors for that would be a great disservice to her, because despite all of that, she, for the most part, treated me well. Love her or hate her, she was someone who really influenced me and made me believe that my love for radio could transcend it merely being a hobby to something I could actively be a part of. If it wasn't for Teacher Glo, I cannot understate that it would be highly unlikely I'd even consider getting myself into radio.

Three days ago, due to complications with diabetes, Teacher Glo Flores passed away, and I take consolation in knowing I've thanked her for making a great impression in my life. As Ric Flair once said, it's not what the person's reputation is, but what they have done for you. Some people may actually feel happy Mrs. Flores is no longer with us, but I know that on the day she passed on, that part of me, wide-eyed and curious about all things radio, will miss her terribly.

Godspeed to you, Teacher Glo.

Saturday, May 03, 2008

Half-Done!

.:Comprehensives Was Quite A Challenge...:.

... but I made good on it.

I think this calls for a celebration... of preparing for the next comprehensive exams. Heh.

I can't blog sensibly at the moment, except to point out that I'm just glad I managed to get questions I was capable of answering this time out.

Friday, May 02, 2008

I Bit The Bullet. I Want In That Much...

.:Meet Your New Campus Airchecker...:.

Eleven years after DWXI, five years after Radio 1 in RX 93.1, four years after starting off in WAVE 89.1, and a week after my quickly-aborted run as a jock in Campus FM, and I'm now back in radio as a Campus Airchecker.

Yes, put down that eyebrow. You read right: I'm a student DJ trainee all over again. It's not the ideal situation, but I'd take it over completely letting the radio ship set sail on me when I know I can still make it back on the air as part of the Campus Air Force soon enough, assuming I work hard enough to earn my spot.

It's weird, really, because the only reason I'm still eligible for Aircheck is because I'm finishing my M.A. in Ateneo. It's a tough situation to find myself in, as I would obviously not take any other job unless it's part-time or pays exceedingly well, but there you go. I need this. I really want to make good on being a jock, and Campus FM is the place I feel I could really make a lot of headway in terms of improving myself and making myself worthy of becoming a radio personality.

I'm a bit depressed about how things turned out, but what can I do? I have a long way to go, and to this moment, I can't even say "truth" without it sounding like "troof". Ugh.

So yes, I am taking this temporary setback as a challenge for me to improve myself. I can only hope that my shows and hostings and whatnot can hold out as I go through this coming thesis year without faltering as I do whatever it takes to prove myself worthy of being part of the airwaves once more.

The Triggerman has given me a challenge. Now, I must step up.