Ondoy Will Always Love You...

.:Leave Jacque Bermejo Alone!:.

No, really, guys. Leave her alone!

With all the energy we’re spending trying to figure out how to destroy her life, shouldn’t we focus all that energy to rebuild lives instead?

That what she (allegedly) said was rude and uncalled for cannot be questioned. That we respond in kind just shows how easy it is for people to lose track of what needs to be done and instead exhaust all our vitriol and frustration on an easy target.

The government is as easy a target, I would readily admit, but I don’t see why one person’s insensitivity should merit the kind of wrath one administration’s inutility should merit.

At the same time, with the news that Jacque was probably hacked, why is it that these people, so quick to judge, so quick to castigate, suddenly can’t find it in themselves to back off and apologize?!? People were so quick to call her names, but aren’t nearly as quick to take it back? Wow. The gall of these people. Most of these people did this to Ted Failon. Now, they’re doing it to Jacque Bermejo.

Okay, so I’ve wasted enough time and effort on telling people to put their energies elsewhere. Whether it’s Jacque, or some Wondergirls hater who’s poking fun at us all the way from Korea, it doesn’t matter. We have better things to do than give these issues the time of day.

So please, leave her alone. Innocent or guilty, attention and time given to her is attention and time taken away from the people who need it: the victims of Ondoy.

.:And Now That I Have Your Attention…:.

Currently clocking in at around $6000 US or so, Philippine Aid has managed to collect a lot of money for relief operations, but they could still use more. They use PayPal, so it’s very easy to help them out! Please, please do, if you can. It’s one of the easiest ways to give money, and I can personally vouch that the money will go to the right place.

There are many other people out there who can help, such as the Victory Church, with one of their main centers here in The Fort, at the Every Nation Building in front of Market!Market! Tomorrow will be their last day of relief operations, though. You can help them out in cash or in kind up to 5PM tomorrow, and if you wish to volunteer, give them a call at 8171212.

If you wish to help, you can go there, or to Xavier, or LSGH, or Ateneo, or DLSU. These are your best bets, especially now that classes are suspended until Saturday, so relief operations will proceed for that long.

My Weekly Column Is Up!

.:My Weekly Column Is Up!:.

On the POC, this week, I talk about The Reproductive Health Bill.

Hope you like it! ;)

Two Songs For The Day...

.:A Double Dose Of LSS...:.

Well, here's my song for the year, considering this is the first song I heard when I woke up this morning...

Issues
by The Saturdays

Vanessa:
Oooh, yeah,
Sometimes I feel like I'm going out of my mind,
Boy the way you do me is a damn crime,
But then you smile at me and it's alright,
With you there ain't any in between...

Every time that I walk out the door
I tell myself I can't take it no more
There's a part of me won't let you go
I keep saying yes when my minds' saying' no...

Chorus:
Me and my heart we got issues (issues)
Don't know if I should hate you or miss you
Damn I wish that I could resist you
Can't decide if I should leave you or kiss you,
Me and my heart we got issues, issues, issues
We got issues, issues, issues.

Rochelle:
It's so hard; boy you leave me hangin' for so long
You empty out my love until it's all gone
You change the words but still it's the same song
I'm tired of the melody

Vanessa:
Change my number and throw out your clothes
But my feelings for you, it still show
I keep building a wall round my heart
But then I see you it all falls apart...

Chorus:
Me and my heart we got issues (issues)
Don't know if I should hate you or miss you
Damn I wish that I could resist you (damn I wish)
Can't decide if I should leave you or kiss you, (can't decide)
Me and my heart we got issues, issues, issues (Me and my heart)
We got issues, issues, issues.

Una (and Mollie):
Why fight it, (why fight it)
Can't hide it (can't hide it)
Truth is I think I like it
Confusion, illusions (confusion, illusions)
Still I don't know which way to go,

Vanessa:
Me and my heart we got issues
Don't know if I should hate you or miss you

The Saturdays:
Damn I wish that I could resist you
Can't decide if I should leave you or kiss you,
Me and my heart we got issues, issues, issues (Me and my heart)
Don't know if I should hate you or miss you (We got to work this thing out)
Damn I wish that I could resist you (I don't know)
Can't decide if I should leave you or kiss you, (can't decide if I )
Me and my heart we got issues, issues, issues (issues)
We got issues, issues, issues.
We got issues, issues, issues (me and my heart)
We got issues, issues, issues
Me and my heart we got issues, issues, issues (we got to which way to go)
Don't know if I should hate you or miss you (I don't know...)

And now, here's my song for myself, the one I actually chose to represent how I feel on this day...

Wake Me Up When September Ends
by Green Day

Summer has come and passed
The innocent can never last
Wake me up when September ends

Like my father's come to pass
Seven years has gone so fast
Wake me up when September ends

Here comes the rain again
Falling from the stars
Drenched in my pain again
Becoming who we are

As my memory rests
But never forgets what I lost
Wake me up when September ends

Summer has come and passed
The innocent can never last
Wake me up when September ends

Ring out the bells again
Like we did when spring began
Wake me up when September ends

Here comes the rain again
Falling from the stars
Drenched in my pain again
Becoming who we are

As my memory rests
But never forgets what I lost
Wake me up when September ends

Summer has come and passed
The innocent can never last
Wake me up when September ends

Like my father's come to pass
Twenty years has gone so fast
Wake me up when September ends
Wake me up when September ends
Wake me up when September ends

I'm actually grateful for the opportunity to extend help to other people in my own ways right now. It helps me forget about my own stupid problems, like being betrayed yet again by someone I thought would come through at this very moment. But she didn't.

For now, I have better things to do than mope. And so do you. So do all of us.

I Got Published! :D

.:Hey, I Got Published!:.

Apparently, my column entitled This Could Only Mean Good Things For GMA is already on the POC. Looks like I’m gonna be in for a bumpy ride.

Lemme know how you feel about this week’s article! =P

A Whirlwind Of Gigs...

.:The Name Of The Game:.

The past several days, I found myself in a whirlwind of performances, both of the magical and comedic persuasions. It was certainly a challenge for me, but I definitely made sure I was more than prepared to handle what came my way.

Ditzy on Friday

Ditzy Diner was quite enjoyable, as a tough crowd forced my hand, resulting in me dropping standup comedy in the middle of my set and moving straight to my magic, which proved to be a good move. I had the crowd firmly on my side by the end of my set, so I was happy about that.

Project 2!

I can’t believe they’re disbanding! =(

It was the final gig ever for Project 2 last September 19, so needless to say, having them ask me to do a bit part where I would perform magic by producing a longganisa from thin air was a bittersweet experience.

You see, sometime last year, I saw Project 2 for the first time ever, performing during Route 196’s “Rick Astley night”. From then on, I was hooked, and I really wanted to hear and see these guys more. In fact, I wanted to see them perform so bad, I even asked them to guest for our show, Bound and Gagged, and they graciously agreed to do it.

Sadly, it wasn’t in the cards, and they disbanded last week.

I’m gonna miss those guys. They had hilarious songs, and it was a great honor to have performed magic on their final gig.

Thanks to this event, I could barely remember what actually happened at Wordcamp, other than the fact that I’m doing much better using my Wordpress blog now thanks to that seminar.

Tough Crowd!

Sunday was a challenge for me, as Nomer and I, two mentalists, dived right into a swath of skeptics. If it weren’t for the fact that I had the foresight of doing our legitimate levitation, things would’ve been a disaster for Nomer, since his mentalism was being scrutinized by everyone in the party, while my more laid-back comedy magic was just well-received all around.

Normally, I do mentalism myself, but after several days of performing, I wanted to ease back a bit and just have fun, and I think I made the right choice that day.

Afterwards, I ran into some TSC members in Trinoma who found out that I’m quite a gamer as well.

Fulfillment

One of the best shows of my career was a simple birthday celebration for a cause at the end of Ramadan.

I will not mince words: this was an exhilarating experience for me, to perform for the kids from the Cancer Warriors Foundation, and to amaze them and open their sense of wonder. What was supposed to be a quick show for only half an hour turned into a significantly longer run where I pulled out all the stops, making sure that the kids would be very happy to watch my show.

To the Cancer Warriors Foundation, rest assured that if you need someone who would be more than willing to entertain those kids, I’m just a message away. That’s really all I could say at this point. I was overwhelmed then, and I’m still overwhelmed now. The smiles I managed to coax from the kids was something money cannot buy, and I’ve had very few audiences who were happier to see magic than these kids.

And you wonder why Jay and I insist on doing a fundraiser at least once a year?

Breaking In

The open mic people had their first ever run-in with Sidebar Café in El Pueblo, and it was a great experience.

While we were a bit apprehensive about the night as it was the first time standup comedy was going to be performed in the venue, we still gave it our best, and we had people rolling in the aisles for much of our performances. I was especially pleased with my set, as an uncooperative mic meant I had to make sure that my energy level made up for it, and it rubbed off on the audience, who actually appreciated my material.

It was also a night that Victor Anastacio pretty much killed the crowd with point-on jokes and commentary. He was definitely proving why he was the winner of the first ever Laffapalooza. Trian came back from the dead as well to deliver a lot of comedy goodness from his end, too.

All in all, it was quite a good experience, and we’re hoping this means more chances for us to strut our stuff there in the future.

Well, that’s pretty much how my last few days went, really. We didn’t have standup in Toyz last night, but I’m sure we’ll be doing Ditzy again in a few hours. Ciao!

Thank You...

.:Today's LSS...:.

No further words necessary...

Thank You
by Tyler Collins

Thank you for teaching me how to love
Showing me what the world means
What I've been dreamin' of
And now I know, there is nothing that I could not do
Thanks to You

For teaching me how to feel
Showing me my emotions
Letting me know what's real
From what is not
What I've got is more that I'd ever hoped for
And a lot of what I hope for is
Thanks to you

No mountain, no valley
No time, no space
No heartache, no heartbreak
No fall from grace
Can't stop me from believing
That my love will pull me through
Thanks to You

(Adlib)

There's no mountain, no valley
No time, no space
No heartache, no heartbreak
No fall from grace
Can't stop me from believing
That my love will see me through
Thanks to You
Thanks to You

For teaching me how to live
Putting things in perspective
Teaching me how to give
And how to take
No mistake
We were put here together
And if I breakdown
Forgive me but it's true
That I'm aching with the love I feel inside
Thanks to you
Thanks to you

.:Gratefulness:.

There have been a lot of things to be grateful for, and I must say, that last Tuesday’s Toblerone event really brought all of it to the fore.

Admittedly, I usually reserve my gratefulness near the end of the year, but it wouldn’t hurt to thank a few people, as we enter the very crucial month of October, where we’re going to be having the highly-anticipated sequel to last year’s Laughs And Gasps, Bound And Gagged!

Firstly, we’d like to thank our blogger friends, such as Jane, Jonel, and Jonas, all of whom really ensured that the word is out about the upcoming show. We pulled out all the stops, and with a winner lineup of comedians (Mike and Richie), magicians (Kel and Jay), ventriloquists (Ony and Wanlu), and musicians (Giniling Festival and Grin Department), you just know you’re in for a treat.

Secondly, we’d like to thank some of the sponsors who have come in to help us, such as Nuffnang Philippines, URC, and our upcoming media partners, TV5 and Hero TV. Hero TV already interviewed Jay and myself for their network, in fact, and I know more things will be coming in as the days go by.

Much love also has to go out to some of the friends who have been helping us out, such as the Story Circle, the New Worlds Alliance, and Cosplay.ph, all of whom have been more than gracious in extending their assistance to the show in any way they can.

And of course, our beneficiary, the Real Life Foundation. We can’t thank you guys enough for allowing us to share all these blessings with your worthy cause.

As a special note, I’d like to thank my dearest achie Rochelle, who has been my source of sanity at this insane point in my life.

I’m excited about this show, no question about it. I hope you guys would be there, because we’ve prepared for a really long time for this one.

I saved my last bit of thanks for last: thanks to Geiser Maclang and Sheero Media for having sponsored this endeavour for the second straight year. You guys rock, and Geiser generously invited yours truly to the launch of the National Thank You Day campaign by Toblerone.

Thank you, thank you, thank you. I can’t say it enough. If you can’t either, join not only the people who celebrated in Fiama, but the rest of the nation as we all express our gratitude. Don’t miss out on the chance to thank the people who need thanking!

Will Post Next Time, But...

.:Interesting Long Weekend...:.

1. Had one of my better standup sets last Friday
2. Wordcamp happened
3. Project 2's last gig ever
4. Had to perform magic for a tough crowd in Shangrila
5. Ran into some TSC people while in Trinoma
6. Cancer Warriors Foundation gig

And yes, tickets for Bound And Gagged are now available. Just ask me for details!

It's Been A Hectic Week... And A Big Announcement...

.:Crazy, Crazy, Crazy...:.

I experimented with some new jokes and setups for my standup last Thursday night, and I must say I strictly prefer my old premise for N.U. The new one just takes too much time, and uses too few punchlines.

There's still room for loads of improvement, and really, that's what open mics should be about. I'm really happy the Pokemon jokes are getting a lot of mileage, though. It's something I didn't quite expect.

.:Your Moment Of Zen...:.

I bring you.... Nomnom!

What is Grimace doing to that kid?!?

.:Enjoy The Long Weekend!:.

It's a very brief post, I know, but given how hectic this week has been, I guess it makes sense. Nonetheless, I think it's time we stopped beating around the bush and got to the news...

.:Project 2 Is Disbanding!:.

One of my favorite indie bands, Project 2, is unfortunately disbanding. ::sobs::

I know most of you probably realize they were supposedly booked to perform in Bound And Gagged, so you just know how disappointed I was to find out that due to unforeseen circumstances, the band will be parting ways,and their last gig will be in Route 196 this Saturday night. They will be missed.

.:Having Said That...:.

... JP from Project 2 has kindly allowed me to get in touch with an awesome band to take their place.

For those who don't know, we will be replacing Project 2 with Giniling Festival for the October 23 show. I'm definitely excited about this prospect, as this turn of events was unexpected but certainly a good thing. Here's to a successful "Bound And Gagged"!

Today's LSS: Let The Healing Begin?

.:Today's LSS: Let The Healing Begin?:.

If I can't move on, maybe she deserves to. I've been holding on for so long, but in the end, someone's gotta go.

This is the first day of the rest of my life. I think.

Already Gone
by Kelly Clarkson

Remember all the things we wanted
Now all our memories they’re haunted
We were always meant to say goodbye

Even with our fists held high
It never would’ve worked out right
We were never meant for do or die

I didn’t want us to burn out
I didn’t come here to hold you, now I can’t stop

I want you to know that it doesn’t matter
Where we take this road someone’s gotta go
And I want you to know you couldn’t have loved me better
But I want you to move on so I’m already gone

Looking at you makes it harder
But I know that you’ll find another
That doesn’t always make you want to cry

Started with a perfect kiss then we could feel the poison set in
Perfect couldn’t keep this love alive
You know that I love you so, I love you enough to let you go

I want you to know that it doesn’t matter
Where we take this road someone’s gotta go
And I want you to know you couldn’t have loved me better
But I want you to move on so I’m already gone

I’m already gone, already gone
You can’t make it feel right when you know that it’s wrong
I’m already gone, already gone
There’s no moving on so I’m already gone

Already gone, already gone, already gone
Already gone, already gone, already gone, yeah

Remember all the things we wanted
Now all our memories they’re haunted
We were always meant to say goodbye

I want you to know that it doesn’t matter
Where we take this road someone’s gotta go
And I want you to know you couldn’t have loved me better
But I want you to move on so I’m already gone

I’m already gone, already gone
You can’t make it feel right when you know that it’s wrong
I’m already gone, already gone
There’s no moving on so I’m already gone...

I'm Real Happy For You, And I'mma Let You Finish...

.:Moment Of Shame:.

So I had my first experience of sorta cross-playing in Cosplay Mania. And I'll leave it at that. The less said about it, the better.

And all for a pink pillow...

.:A Breath Of Fresh Air:.

Speaking to one Merei Hatanaka, I realize just how amazing people can really be sometimes. It's not everyday you meet someone who's pretty, smart, eloquent, and blessed with a heart of gold.

Just a shout-out to a one-in-a-million person, really. :)

.:Magic Mug!:.

Read the post and be amazed. Congressman Biazon’s mug is made of awesome!

.:So, Kanye...:.

I won't jump on the bandwagon of declaring hatred for Kanye, although I certainly don't like what he did.

He apologized profusely about what he has done, and Taylor Swift, being the awesome class act that she is, has nowhere indicated that she isn’t accepting that apology. As far as I can see, between the two of them, that issue is over and done with.

What Kanye needs to do now, though, is work out his own issues. This isn’t the first time he’s run his mouth off without thinking about the consequences of his actions. He’s dissed a lot of people, and I just think that this one time, he didn’t have anyone on his side to back him up. He clearly crossed a line, and for once, even he recognized it.

It’s a start. It’s not like he’s murdered anyone or anything that drastic. He’s a bit rash, a bit mouthy, and I don’t expect him to be a role model or anything like that, but he owes it not only to his mother, to his fans, but most of all, to himself. He’s a talented musician, I’ll give him that. He shouldn’t squander the good will that his musical genius brings him with petty tactics like these.

But hey, as long as he doesn’t tell Patrick Swayze that MJ’s death was better, I guess he’ll be fine if he does clean up his act.

Knowing the internet, though... they're fast when it comes to these shenanigans. =P

Hush, Hush, Hush Hush...

.:Today's LSS: Life Goes On:.

Life Goes On
by Leann Rimes

Life goes on, life goes on, life goes on...

You sucked me in and played my mind
Just like a toy you would crank and wind
Baby, I would give 'til you wore it out
You left me lying in a pool of doubt
If you're still thinkin' you're the daddy mac
You should've known better but you didn't and I can't go back

Oooh, life goes on, and it's only gonna make me strong
It's a fact, once you get on board, say goodbye 'cause you can't go back
Oooh, it's a fight, and I really wanna get it right
Where I'm at, is my life before me, got this feeling that I can't go back

Life goes on, life goes on, life goes on...

Wish I knew then what I know now
You held all the cards and sold me out
Baby, shame on you if you fooled me once,
Shame on me if you fooled me twice
Youve been a pretty hard case to crack
I shouldve known better but I didnt and I cant go back

Oooh, life goes on, and it's only gonna make me strong
It's a fact, once you get on board, say goodbye 'cause you can't go back
Oooh, its a fight, and I really wanna get it right
Where Im at, is my life before me, got this feeling that I can't go back

Na na na na na life goes on, na na na na na made me strong
Got a feeling and I can't go back
Life goes on (and its only gonna make me strong)
Life goes on and on and on

Shame on you if you fooled me once,
Shame on me if you fooled me twice
You've been a pretty hard case to crack
I should've known better but I didn't and I can't go back

Oooh, life goes on, and its only gonna make me strong
It's a fact, once you get on board say goodbye 'cause you can't go back
Oooh, it's a fight, and I really wanna get it right
Where I'm at, is my life before me, got this feeling that I can't go back

Na na na na na life goes on, na na na na na made me strong
Whoa, yeah
Got a feeling and I can't go back...

.:Stonecold Said It Best: The Unsent Series, Volume 2, Part X:.

Dear Licorice,

Stonecold said it best: D.T.A. Don't. Trust. Anyone.

I'm turning into quite a cynic, to be honest. Despite that, I think my suspicions have been well-placed. I now see the truth, and it alarms me.

Who I am, what I do, and what my hopes and aspirations are may not be such a big secret to everyone. Despite that, I believe that when I confide in someone, I should be able to expect that it wouldn’t become common knowledge to random people in a few days’ time. Did I expect too much?

You see, I believed in you. I’ve gone out on a limb for you more times than I’d care to count, and I couldn’t help but feel that my trust in you was misplaced from the get-go.

You thought I wouldn’t know? You thought your betrayal would just slip past me, when I have successfully managed to trace it all back to you? That’s where you’re dead wrong. To think I thought the world of you.

And now you dare tell me that I was wrong about you.

I wouldn’t disagree, actually. I was wrong about you. I thought the world of you, I fought tooth and nail for you, because I believed you had character. I believed you were worth fighting for. The minute you threw me under the bus was the minute I realized that I was indeed fatally wrong about you.

And maybe that’s exactly what happens to be wrong with me as well. I trusted you too soon. I didn’t think twice because I really thought you were a great person. I really thought you weren’t going to be just more of the same. I guess that’s really the way things work, in the end. We deceive ourselves in believing these things so bad, we allow our senses to take a leave until the cold, harsh reality hits us at the most inopportune of times.

I don’t trust you any farther than I can throw you. I don’t trust you, and I’m not falling for your lies anymore. Act all offended and indignant all you want, but I wasn’t the one who played you for a fool.

So please, before you have the temerity to get terse with me, to get mad with me, maybe you should consider your mistake first. I sure as Hades didn't do anything to deserve this from you.

Licorice, you’ve played me pretty well for a while, and I’mma let you finish, but Audacity was the greatest deceiver of all time. Of. All. Time.

Met And Gret (LOL) Ruffy Biazon Last Friday!

.:Any Man Who Knows What It Means To Be Rickrolled Is A Fine Man, In My Book…:.

Photo courtesy of Congressman Ruffy Biazon.

Last Friday, Carlo Ople was kind enough to invite me and a few other bloggers to meet Senatoriable Congressman Ruffy Biazon at Bo’s Coffee for, well, duh, coffee. I was actually the first one to get to the venue, as the weather really prevented everyone from getting around town quickly enough.

My co-workers Judd and Carlos would join us shortly, but when I met Cong. Biazon, he looked very unassuming, and it was so easy to talk to him. It didn’t take long before we were already swapping stories, and that’s when I found out he actually does club mixes and the like. He’s an even better DJ than I am, for crying out loud.

He was funny, amiable, and genuine. It’s hard finding that in people, let alone politicians, yet he’s the second genuine politician I’ve met recently, the first one, of course, being Chiz Escudero. Thing is, though, we had more time to talk to Congressman Biazon, and it was really an engaging discussion with him, as he had so many stories to tell.

After a while, Carlo called my cell while we were talking, and since my ringtone was “Never Gonna Give You Up” by Rick Astley, I was smirking as the ringtone blasted in the café. Ruffy Biazon looked at me, smiled, and said rather sheepishly, “I’ve been Rickrolled.” I apologized half-seriously, but he waved it off, and told me that he actually regretted not being in town during last August’s concert. Right then and there, my respect for the man shot up, especially when he flatly told me that he was indeed a fan. I couldn’t have been more impressed if he walked on water and then turned it into wine.

Shortly afterwards, Carlo and the other bloggers started arriving, and we asked Ruffy all sorts of questions, ranging from politics (peppered with Mikey A jokes) to the fact that he has the same nickname as Ruffa Gutierrez to the reason why Ruffy would make an excellent senator, given his personality and the simple fact that he really does have a good head on his shoulders.

I mean, how could you possibly go wrong, right? He’s a frigging fan of Rick Astley!

On a serious note, to Congressman Biazon, thank you for spending your time with us last Friday, and sharing your thoughts with us. We could only hope that other politicians would be as candid and as genuine as you were to us last Friday.

Personally, I don’t have a problem endorsing someone I genuinely like, so here goes… Congressman Biazon is running for senator. Pick eleven other people, but make sure he’s one of them. =)

A Few Thoughts For The Day...

.:The Weirdness Of Last Thursday’s Toyz:.

Last Thursday, there were only two standup comedians in Toyz Café: myself, and Ryan Sarita. Despite that, we had a very supportive audience who even called me back for an encore, as I ended up doing Shanghai Shackles with a few new punchlines thrown in for good measure.

All in all, it was quite a unique experience for me, and it definitely tested my mettle in unknown territory. I was very lucky the audience was supportive because if they weren’t, I’m not quite sure how I would’ve done.

To the guys who watched us at Toyz last Thursday, I couldn’t thank you enough.

.:Kimmy Dora Ruled:.

I won’t do a film review for now, but I definitely loved “Kimmy Dora”. It was a very hilarious and heartwarming romp, and it was great bonding with my AC5 batchmate Iza. She’s been my bright ray of sunshine lately, and for that, I’m grateful. Last Saturday was definitely most enjoyable because it was spent in her company. :P

.:Cosplay Mania:.

It's hard to believe, that I couldn't see... you were always right beside me... (Photo from OtaKing.

I wasn’t keen on watching the whole cosplay event this time, so I really just waited for the Battle Of The Balls competition, where the Yuti Yatballs ended up facing off with the Stormballs. Without question, they really floored people with their very unique… performance.

In any case, I was one of three speakers for their panel discussion on panel in the morning, along with Rotch and Otaking. I didn’t even know I was complimented/critiqued by a certain blogger who apparently hasn’t been around the blogging community enough to know what I’ve done for it already, but hey, it’s all harmless to me, as far as I’m concerned, especially since I realized I was given some props before I was torn down, which is something this blogger rarely does.

Anyways, my introduction was rather choppy, as I didn’t really know what to cover, since I knew I was speaking to an audience who are cosplayers first, bloggers second. I took the time out to promote Nuffnang, as well as to thresh out some of the nuances of the Philippine blogging community. Considering how I’ve been a relatively known blogger, I actually do appreciate the fact that I can still stay somewhat anonymous, given how few people who don’t know me personally or don’t follow my blog know me beyond the only aspect they’ve ever met me in: so those who’ve seen me host, know me as that, those who’ve seen me do standup know me for that, and so on and so forth.

Anyways, Rotch was her usual fiery self, and Cliff was really speaking his mind to a captive audience, to say the least. By the time we got to the question and answer portion, things definitely took an interesting spin, as questions involving making money and going to blogger events cropped up, and apparently, the disdain for unscrupulous bloggers was made manifest, and stemmed right then and there. Hopefully, if any of the people who attended the panel discussion would start their blogs, they’d learn that nobody likes insensitive bastards who have massive entitlement complexes.

After everything was said and done, I did some shameless plugs of my upcoming October 23 show, and found out that the room had quite a number of Mike Unson fans.

Well, all’s well that ends well, I suppose. I think it was a good workshop, and being asked by the succeeding workshop people about perhaps being a voice talent afterwards definitely made the whole thing even more fruitful than it already was.

I had an onstage near cross-playing moment of show during the event, though. The less said about that, the better.

Random Developments I Noticed...

.:I Guess Chiz Is Really Running...:.

With that video, you will see at 0:28 that it's Chiz Escudero portraying the mystery man from the two "Bagong Sigla" commercials.

Well, given that we know he's probably running, and given that Noynoy probably is, too...

... wow.

I don't know about you guys, but I personally see a pretty promising pool of people running for president in 2010.

.:My, Oh My...:.

I see your true colors, shining through. I see your true colors... that's why we're through.

.:A Barrage Of Promotions:.

We're doing what we can to make "Bound And Gagged" a success, and yup, that includes really selling tickets as briskly as we possibly can. That's pretty much all we can really hope for, at this point.

If anyone's interested in sponsoring the event (As I might end up paying for the venue myself, if things don't work out...), do drop me a line at marcelle.fabie@nuffnang.com. I'd definitely be very grateful for it.

.:More Some Other Time...:.

The long weekend bored the heck outta me. I didn't really do much, as I stayed home, worked on my thesis, and on Monday, found out Street Fighter IV is too manly for my laptop to handle. Meh. It's been a very boring past few days, for the most part...

October 23: Bound And Gagged!

.:Just When You Thought Your Funny Bones Were Safe, Kel And Jay Strike Again!:.

We’re baaaaaaacccckkkk!!!

Last year’s “Laughs And Gasps” was a rousing success: hailed as a big magic and comedy hit, a clamor has been raised for a sequel, and because you demanded it, the “Penn and Teller of the Philippines,” Kel and Jay, are back, and they’re pulling out all the stops!

This year, “Bound And Gagged”, the sequel to last year’s show, will be happening on Friday, October 23, 7:30 PM, in PETA Theater. The venue shouldn’t be too hard to find, since it’s on Eymard Drive, which intersects with E. Rodriguez Sr. Avenue in Quezon City.

From this show, you can expect nothing but top-notch magic and mentalism from your heroes of Mind and Magic, Kel and Jay, as well as an unprecedented showdown featuring two of the country’s top ventriloquists, the Philippine’s Premiere Ventriloquist, Ony Carcamo and the Ventrillusionist, Wanlu. Also slated to perform are two top comedians from the immensely popular Comedy Cartel, the winner of 2009’s “Tawag Ng Tawa” Richie Fernandez, and one of the hosts of TV 5’s “Front Act”, the inimitable Mike Unson. Special musical guests include the Route 196 favorite Project 2, and the legendary 90’s icon, Grin Department.

On October 23, you will be treated to a night that will excite, delight, and ignite your imaginations, and all for a worthy cause! “Bound And Gagged” will feature some amazing acts that combine Kel and Jay’s unique style with special homages to some of their greatest influences, like Houdini, Copperfield, Osterlind, Maven, Brown, and of course, Penn and Teller.

For a sample of what Kel and Jay can do, take a gander at this guesting last November in “Unang Hirit”!

With Kel and Jay, Ony and Wanlu, Mike and Richie, Project 2 and Grin Department, how can you possibly go wrong? Don’t miss out on an evening of wonders, bringing laughs and gasps to another level.

This is “Bound And Gagged”. Tickets are available at 200 (balcony) and 300 (orchestra) each, available at the gate, and proceeds of the show will be given to the Real Life Foundation. For more inquiries and ticket reservations, call or text 09175126883.

On A Rainy Friday Evening...

.:The Raindrops Bring Out...:.

... the worst in cab drivers.

Really, it does. Cab drivers who'd normally take you to a reasonable destination suddenly collectively decided to turn their meters off and charge an arm and a leg to take their passengers anywhere at all.

Try it on a rainy Friday night. See if they'd take you anywhere without a struggle.

It's one of my pet peeves, really.

.:The Older Generation Rawks:.

I found this really nice story online.

A very self-important university freshman who took it upon himself to explain to a senior citizen standing next to him at the bus stop that it was impossible for the older generation to understand his generation.

“You grew up in a different world, actually an almost primitive one,” the student said, loud enough for the other passengers nearby to hear. “The young people of today grew up with television, jet planes, space travel, man walking on the moon, our spaceships have visited Mars. We have nuclear energy, electric and hydrogen cars, computers with light-speed processing and …”

When he paused for breath, the senior took advantage of the break in the student’s litany and said, “You’re right, son. We didn’t have those things when we were young, so we invented them. Now, you arrogant little prick, what are you doing for the next generation?”

Don’t you just love senior citizens?

.:I'll Be Talking About Blogging @ Cosplay Mania!:.

Aside from the fact that many cosplayers will be gracing the event known as "Cosplay Mania" (Who'd have thought it, right?) on September 13, yours truly will be part of a panel about blogging at the event around 11AM with other bloggers Otaking and Rotch. It should prove to be an awesome time, and I'm excited about it.

Well, Ranulf, Clair, Peppy, Mario, and the rest of the JGL, I'd sure be very appreciative if you guys could come around for some moral support. :)

Catch you guys there!

There Oughta Be A Law...

.:Mikey Arroyo Hangs Himself, Figuratively...:.

... although some might wish literally.

In a recent telecast on Unang Hirit on GMA-7, Mikey Arroyo found himself under fire for neglecting to declare a house in the United States.

I don't even need to say anything anymore. His gross arrogance says it all.

Dear Mr. Arroyo, nobody wants to sue you because you and your family have twisted the law for long enough for it to not offer us any more consolation. You've shown absolute impunity and a refusal to answer the simplest of questions. If you have "nothing" to hide, then why deny to answer something that is actually a matter of public record, that is, your corporate partners?

What's more, isn't it clear that you misused your campaign funds and heavens, even your own wedding gifts? That's straight from your own mouth, as well.

I'm so disgusted right now, I don't think I can write further without puking my guts out.

Today's LSS: Burnout

.:Today's LSS...:.

With the crunch of the daily grind, I do believe I'm headed for a burnout...

Burnout
by Sugarfree

O wag kang tumingin
ng ganyan sa ‘kin
wag mo akong kulitin
wag mo akong tanungin

Dahil katulad mo
ako rin ay nagbago
di na tayo katulad ng dati
kay bilis ng sandali

O kay tagal kitang minahal

Kung iisipin mo
di naman dati ganito
teka muna teka lang
kailan tayo nailang

Kung iisipin mo
di naman dati ganito
kay bilis kasi ng buhay
pati tayo natangay

O kay tagal kitang minahal

Tinatawag kita
sinusuyo kita
di mo man marinig
di mo man madama

O kay tagal kitang mamahalin

Music To My Ears...

.:Sugarfree: A Musical Upwelling:.

Last Saturday was a Saturday well-spent as I took the time out to watch the 10th anniversary concert of Sugarfree, “Dekada”, featuring the Manila Symphony Orchestra. I was awed at the wonderful playing from the orchestra that simply made Sugarfree’s songs that much better to listen to live.

While they didn’t play “Hintay” or “Kung Ayaw Mo Na Sa Akin”, two of their songs, “Burnout” and “Unang Araw” still slew me, not to mention “Mariposa”, which is one of my all-time favorite songs, period.

I have been a fan of Sugarfree since “Mariposa”, and with each new album, they just keep on finding more and more ways to tug at your heartstrings. Gone were the days where all they could do was sing sad, mopey songs, and call it a day. With new songs like “Feels Like” and “Hay Buhay”, I can safely say that Sugarfree’s music is maturing and definitely appealing to a broader market than just the pseudo-emo kids.

It was even better for me after the concert, as I ran into Joy and her friend Ceej, as we shared dinner and interesting conversations in Gerry’s Grill. It was awesome talking about Sugarfree with fellow fans who similarly appreciated the band and their music the way I did, considering how few of my friends are really fans of the band, or of OPM in general.

Having said that, Sugarfree really outdid themselves that night. They were performing from the heart, and they really gave the audience their money’s worth when they went onstage and just gave their all. You could tell they were all rather emotional, and they were sincerely grateful to all the fans in attendance who gave Sugarfree all the reasons in the world to survive in the local music industry for ten long years.

Congratulations, you guys! I’m sure I’ll still see you next time you drop in on Route 196, though!

.:The Itchyworms: Loving Every Minute Of It:.

Last week, Jugs told me that Itchyworms will be performing in Route 196, and since I told him that if they have a gig in Route or Mag:Net and I’m not doing standup I’ll most definitely watch, I dropped in that night, and I was thrilled to find out one of the other bands I happened to like, Soapdish, was also there.

Anyways, after their set, I hung out with them outside, and we started talking about interesting possibilities for a collaboration with music and magic, among other things. Given how much I love their music, I was more than happy to hear what they had to say, and the possibilities right now are simply endless.

This situation definitely bears watching.

Quick Bytes

.:Mar Roxas Defers To Noynoy:.

Color me impressed.

Really, I have nothing else to say but that. I’m very hopeful that this very magnanimous act by Mar Roxas is not just mere PR, but a sincere gesture.

Do I support Noynoy for president? To be honest, that remains to be seen. I’m very optimistic as of late, though.

Quite a far cry from the persona I’ll be projecting once I start writing about politics and the like elsewhere, though.

.:Marvel-Disney?!?:.

The sky isn’t falling. Miramax has been under Disney, and they sure didn’t stop Kill Bill from airing, so why would they want to touch the comics? It’s the licensing they’re after. Just imagine what Pixar can do for Marvel, for example.

.:Case Of The Ex…:.

Ran into Grace last Friday in Ditzy Diner. To say that it was an awkward moment would be an understatement, as she practically looked away throughout my standup set. :(

I don’t know what else to say, really. I’m still a bit shaken by what happened.


.:Up!:.

I missed like the first five minutes, but I must say, I definitely enjoyed the film, and even found myself welling up in tears at a couple of points.

Cross my heart.

Globe's Youniverse

.:Globe’s New Tattoo Sim, And The Youniverse!:.

Thanks to Netbooster and Globe, bloggers were given a sneak peek last week (H-ey, it rhymes!) for the new online effort by Globe. Having been a Globe postpaid subscriber for years (grumble), it was great to see Globe converging their cellphone services with their broadband, albeit I’m still waiting for them to finally throw us postpaid subscribers a bone and just make it worth our while to actually subscribe, what with all the freebies and promos being directed at their prepaid subscribers most of the time.

Despite that, I’ve had nothing but good experiences with Globe, so I’m still a loyal subscriber after all these years. The event definitely caught us off guard, as we were asked to dress to impress, and given that cue, you just knew I would look very unique.

This time, I decided to “cosplay” as Ryan from High School Musical.

Image courtesy of Achie Rochelle.

That’s of course me with Cher Cabula, and while she was dressed to the nines, she was one of two brave souls who actually went and rode on the Harley bikes that were provided for us from M Café as we were told to head off to the next secret venue, which completely took us by surprise…

… we ended up in Handlebar.

Yup. There I was, dressed like some confused metrosexual, and we were right in the middle of Testosterone Street and Alpha Male Avenue, as we ended up right out of the swanky M Café right smackdab in the middle of the biker bar known as Handlebar. I looked woefully overdressed, but I didn’t care, since hey, I rarely get the chance to dress up like this and not be booked for a magic show on the same day.

Soon enough, in the middle of the hype for the upcoming Youniverse and in the midst of some people inexplicably casting dirty looks at anyone who was in my table, a challenge was given to anyone willing to get a tattoo. A few brave souls, including Juned and Fritz came forward, but it was Lauren who managed to “win” the chance to get a tattoo for free… plus a mini laptop.

With bloggers being treated to something that was certainly anything but your run-of-the-mill event, it was easy to see why people were stoked not just about the Youniverse itself, but about the future for events in general, all the same, and I don’t mean just for bloggers. Globe has shown it can step up, as has some other stalwarts, such as RX and Yehey. Will we be seeing even more creative events in the near future, like maybe an event that is for a cause, and combines magic, comedy, ventriloquism, mentalism, and music, all in one night?

Oh, that’s right. It’s called Bound And Gagged, and it’s happening this October 23. You’d be remiss to not catch it, I’m sure.

Anyways, your moment of Zen for the day…

It’s me and my Achie!