The first time I met Gang Badoy

If I am not mistaken, the first time I met Gang Badoy was back in 2006.

It was after the 7am gig of then band Orange and Lemons and we cool call center kids decided to go to this bar in The Fort that opened at 6am for the Orange and Lemons Rock Ed gig.

I honestly do not know what Rock Ed is, and I am just slightly familiar with Orange and Lemons having known some of their songs, I decided to go with my music lover friends, smoke and drink beer after shift, while listening to the band.

There I was, with a cigarette on one hand and a beer on the other, enjoying my carefree twenties on a typical start of weekend. She was introduced at the ending part of the gig. She came in apologetically, saying that this is the first gig that she attended that started at 7am. She usually sleeps at around 5am and now had to wake up and talk to us people, call center people, about Rock Ed Philippines.

Source

What I remember about her, is she spoke with so much passion. Like I could literally see passion in her eyes. The way she held the mike, the way she spoke to the audience of cold, who-cares-we-are-trained-to-care-about-USA people, the way she tried to break in and hopefully tap the consciousness of these people still in their young twenties to make a difference. In between of cigarette smoke and bitter taste of warm beer, she caught something in me that I remember signing up in that volunteer sheet.

I remember getting invites to attend the rock gig they are throwing for the benefit of something something. I always decline the invite because the event is always in eastwood and I live in Makati. Plus, I am so tired from my shift that I would just prefer to just sleep in.

Years later, after getting inspired and reading Bianca Gonzales article on Gang Badoy, it rekindled my memory of her and was inspired to go after my passion. What I like most about her is she isn't from a cookie cutter and is not afraid to stand out and be different.

I wonder if I had participated as early as 2006, would I still have this nagging feeling of looking for that something that seemed to be missing? The certain je ne sais quoi that makes you giddy at 12mn that you can't wait to start the day because your reality is better than your dreams. I wonder ,would I have fire in the eyes like what I've seen in Gang Badoy's eyes the first time I met her?

Between getting a Driver and an Assistant

I learned to love being a passenger when I learned to drive. Some people think it's cool to be driving a car but just as what my father told my sister and  I, getting your own car is like having your own child. It is a big responsibility. That's why I still love to commute. I do not mind if I have to hop on a pedicab to a tricycle to a jeep and to a cab. I'm low maintenance like that. 

I've been doing majority of the driving since April of this year. I cannot say I love it because when I have passengers I tend to be really OC and extra cautious because I know that I am responsible for their lives. I have to warn my passengers I drive like a cab driver/jeepney driver. 

I wish getting a driver is as affordable as the other manageable monthly bills on a single person's salary. Or maybe I can pay one on a daily basis (for times when I can just go and do the driving myself) I wish I can have something like a driver/mechanic/body guard in a way. A trust worthy one, I have major issues when it comes to trust and ungrateful people. 

I do not really fancy an assistant, I like to swing from one appointment to another without someone poking their nose in. I always know my schedule and the amount of time I will allot on a certain activity even  if someone's bound to ruin it eventually. If I'm really going to have it my way, I want someone like Ranjit from How I met your Mother. 

Here he is hard at work: 

Jeez, Im really starting to sound a lot like Barney these days that I'm becoming afraid to even hear myself. 

Speaking of How I Met your Mother, I am excited for this season that Barney's engaged. They have already started airing it and I haven't downloaded watched the first episode yet. 

These dogs are bringing out my maternal instinct

"You can't have two alpha male dogs! One has to be the Alpha. That's why they're always fighting!" said Kuya Stew.

I have three male dogs in the house. Since my dad passed away, I am now their official "feeder". They've always been nice to me, but now they get my hand gestures when I shoo them out of the house.

I do not keep them on leash. Why? Because I found out and witnessed that they are fighter dogs. They don't bark just for the sake of barking. They don't act brave and turn on war-mode just because that's what is expected of them. One of our gardeners were actually bitten by one so that's when I knew I am going to unleash this baby and let the hell loose.

Visitors and Guests must be accompanied by either me or my mom because our dogs look like they are always going in for the kill. It didn't really bother me that much until I realized that I actually have to pay for the anti-rabies shots of the unlucky one who pissed my dogs off. That's why we take extra caution in opening the gates with guests in tow.

The problem with having all male dogs is when they see a female dog in heat on the street, they "kung fu" each other til they hear me scream. I am starting to sound like a nagging mom with two sons fighting.

My two alpha male dogs

What to expect when you're expecting a wedding album, Kuya Stew

Dear Kuya, since you're getting married in 25 days starting tomorrow, I thought I might as well give you a preview of how your wedding album would look like.

Yes, there would be a photo of the bride's wedding gown. In the Philippines, it's the bride's big day.

 Yes, there will be a photo of even the most mundane objects such as shoes. It's included in the protocol.

How to survive a concert via General Admission: American Idol S11 Live Tour

Last week, my sister, her beau and my grad school friends attended a concert. We planned it out of a whim weeks before because we all feel like we needed a break.

I've been to Araneta, but I don't remember watching a concert. So I consider last week my first to watch a concert in Araneta via General Admission. Our ticket costs less than a grand and we chose to just listen to them live and don't want to throw in more than 2k for the next level of General Admission.

I'm actually surprised to find a mixture of the crowd in GAs. Most of them are really just into the music and just wants to dance along. of course, it wouldn't complete without concert trolls pushing against your body. I am reminded last week why I am not a fan of concerts: I have this ridiculously wild fear of sweaty crowds that might tick a potential stampede. I certainly do not want to be a statistic. But I managed to survive the concert by following these steps:

1. Load up with food before the concert.
2. Make sure you hydrate yourself enough to survive for three hours without having the need to pee.
3. Make sure to bring low maintenance, on-the-go, fun and easy going friends. I honestly cannot think I can survive if not for the fun people I am with.

The entrance

More after the jump!

The Grad School Diaries: Episode 13 - Rappler.Com at UPLB

Pardon the lazy blogger in me. I’ve been so busy this week and I am trying to squeeze in this little post before I head of to my next appointment. Oh yes, this week will be the start of the many busy weeks of my life this year.

Anyway, last Wednesday, Rappler came to UPLB. As the secretary of DevCom Graduate Students Association, I am required to attend, participate and involve myself in planning. Good thing, our President, Derek, is a full-time student, he was the one who really organized almost the whole thing, together with UPLB’s Office of Public Relations (OPR).

Anyone who is obsessed into social media (ehem!) knows what Rappler is. For those who don’t:, here's an excerpt from Rappler's Bio from the official website:

Welcome to Rappler, a social news network where stories inspire community engagement and digitally fuelled actions for social change. Rappler comes from the root words "rap" (to discuss) + "ripple" (to make waves). It's a new world of limitless collaboration enabled by new technology and connected by social media.
We at Rappler promise uncompromised journalism that - hopefully - inspires smart conversations and ignites a thirst for change.
We are veteran journalists trained in broadcast, print and web disciplines working with young, idealistic digital natives eager to report and find solutions to problems. We are web artists, designers, publishers and professionals combining the best of broadcasting and IT processes.
We won’t be complete without YOU.
Technology now allows us to work in ways never before possible to create connected communities and to tap “the wisdom of crowds,” the process of harnessing a group's collective answer which, under the right conditions, have proven to be better than any single expert opinion.
To help set up these conditions, we began nationwide workshops with our Move.PH chat series. In the age when everyone is a reporter, it’s good to discuss standards, responsibilities and ethics. Our journalists are running workshops and engaging the public in ways we have rarely done before.

So here we are at 10 in the morning preparing for the event at 1pm: 

Jennifer Aniston's Funny New Ad

This has got to be one of the cutest ads I've seen. And oh how I miss Jennifer Aniston as Rachel.  Jennifer Aniston stars in this funny ad for smart water making it look like they're taken from Jen's security tapes.

Kuya stew thinks Jennifer's character, Rachel, [in Friends] is a bitch. He keeps on saying how Jennifer Aniston has manly features and the only good thing about her is her rockin' body and her gorgeous hair.

After watching the video, I think Jennifer Aniston's real appeal really came from her hair.  What do you think?

(source)

Dear @laiahdear, This is how I show my appreciation

Because last week, you got me Jane Green’s new book:

  let me show you my appreciation by giving you... ADAM LEVINE.

Oh how I would love to be hand model for this! 

I can already hear you screaming like a hyena. 

Franco and I would love to ditch our graduate school officer duties to join you at the Maroon 5 concert tonight if it wasn’t for the guilt.

And work obligations.

And being responsible and all that. Haha.

Have fun at the concert and do not forget to scream your lungs out for me! 

(photo source)