What I Love About America (Sometimes)

From CNN.COM--

Congressman resigns after bribery plea

California Republican admits selling influence for $2.4 million

Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham said Monday he is resigning from Congress after pleading guilty to taking more than $2 million in bribes in a criminal conspiracy involving at least three defense contractors.

After entering his plea in San Diego, California, the eight-term California Republican said he was "deeply sorry."

"The truth is I broke the law, concealed my conduct and disgraced my office," he told reporters, his voice strained with emotion. "I know I will forfeit my reputation, my worldly possessions -- most importantly the trust of my friends and family."

Asked by U.S. District Judge Larry Burns if he had accepted cash and gifts and then tried to influence the Defense Department on behalf of the donors, Cunningham said, "Yes, your honor."

The text highlighted in red are things you would never hear a Philippine congressman say nor do if their hand was caught in the proverbial cookie jar. The US, Japan, China or South Korea, yes, but here you'd sooner have M*A*S*H back on the air than to witness a congressman say He Was Wrong.

When Kids and Milk Combine

The niece in pink is Jade. The nephew w/ the bib is Ryan. Both around 18 months old. At times when you put them together in the same crib it's a photographer's dream (and a yaya's nightmare).
Ryan's astute enough to know w/c milk is his. If it tastes different he actually hands the bottle over to Jade. And, as if on a sugar high, his idea of playing is spinning around.
Jade is the smarter of the two, already speaking basic words and being able to imitate requested animal sounds. She like hugging Ryan to the point of squeezing his head like a zit.
This photo session was done with only the room's night light on, so I was worried the flash photography my brother was doing would damage their eyes. Either the lack of any signs of discomfort from the kids meant they were okay with it, or it's because They Were Kids and Wouldn't Know Any Better. Hope they don't grow up thinking those spots they keep seeing in front of their eyes are normal.

Xmas in the Garden of Agno & Santos

My front yard at day and night.

Never thought I'd say this, but the front yard actually looks cool.

Family Ties

Ma (seated 5th from left, not counting Jasmine, who's standing) decided to celebrate her birthday early (she officially turns older next Tuesday), so it's off to The Circle at Shangri La Hotel Makati for a buffet dinner.

I love these family reunions, if only for the buffet (heheheh). For once I decided to bring the tripod so I could take one big picture of all who attended. Ironically about 7 people were mssing from this picture. sigh...

The hotel was also hosting a celebrity wedding (former Sentor Ramon Revilla's stepdaughter), so while some of the grown-ups were chatting away and having coffee/tea, some of us played with the kids in the lobby and oogled at the big names that were leaving their party. A lot of them turned out to be shorter than expected. 'Cept for Ruffa Mae's hooters, w/c were a HOOT. And the girl drives an ORANGE Jag? Well, if you're rich u can afford to be tacky...

Reefer Xmas

Seen on Quirino Hiway.

Seems someone has grown marijuana into Xmas tree form.

Sweet!!!

Carol & Eileen

These are two of my oldest friends, Carol Chua (hotel concierge in Spain) and Eileen Ang (Marketing Dept. of DLSU-CSB). Known them since grade school. Even as the 3 of us have gone on different paths, when we get together it's like nothing changed, meaning I still can't rely on things to go as planned when we get together. Carol's still her subdued (inna nice way) witty self, while Eileen still likes to follow other sentence I say with, "You're crazy." But make no mistake; I love them like Family. The ones I hardly see, anyway.

The original plan was to meet up at Fully Booked in Greenhills, watch Flightplan then grab a bite afterwards. Well, 2 outta 3's not bad. We had dinner around 9 at Mexicali, who for some reason did not have their Dinner Plate Meals available (they might as well have told me they didn't have tacos). So I stuffed myself w/ their cheeseburger.

And what's new w/ the girls? Carol has a 35-year-old Spanish BF named Lorenzo (I think she prefers the Like the oil? joke over the Like the Llamas? one) while Eileen's working her @$$ off in writing Philippine film annotations for Doy Del Mundo, or something like that. Yep, excitement all around.

Send in the Clones: Redux

While lazing about the house yesterday I was "abducted" by Lyndon, Christian (in town from Iloilo for a coupla days) and Dennis. Had no idea what they had planned. Turned to be shopping for mag wheels. We stopped by 2 shops: one in QC, the other near Greenhills.

After shopping we grabbed a bite at Lolo Mao, apparently the sister shop of Cheesecake, Inc., though Lyndon ordered take-out at McDo.


After grubs we went back to my place since I had a party to attend, but Ma said I could hang w/ the guys, instead. No problem. Ironically we couldn't decide on where to go next so finally we just ordered pizza, watched billiards on TV and took Clone pix. U can see the rest here.

Bits and Pieces

I am an uncle anew to Jian Kyle Co Santos, a name I pray my new nephew can live with. Personally I was partial to Jacob, Jarod, even John Kennedy (what, too soon?), but the final say wasn't mine.

* * *

My cousin M2 (or "Em Em") told his parents he wants to become a full-time stand up comedian. Oh, how parents long to hear those words coming from their children (insert sarcastic smirk here). Seems his friends have been telling him he's Funny. That and probably too many viewings of Last Comic Standing.

I wish him all the luck but highly discourage the Full Time part. Comedy is hard, and getting a laugh out of people who aren't your friends is even harder. Also, save for a few lucky ones (and I do mean luck-- fame is a crapshoot) a comedian's lifespan is short, fame-wise.

Sometimes that's the trouble with being a son of a well-to-do family. A sense of being invulnerable to the harsh reality of Life. That said, there's never enough people in my family allowed to pursue their dreams. Just hope he's up to it.

Okay, Fuddy Duddy Mode OFF.

* * *

They're cancelling Arrested Development and Kitchen Confidential?!?!

Damn you, American audiences! You wouldn't know Brilliant TV if it smacked you in the face, slammed you to the ground and came in your mouth!!! It's people like you that keep crap like According to Jim on the air and ignore of the intelligent comedies. First The Tick, then Wonderfalls, now this.

And damn you, Nielsen Ratings people, for putting those boxes in all the wrong houses!

The Godfather

Today I played godfather to Lynette's son Riley at his baptism/al. Never mind I waited in the wrong church for almost an hour (Ermita, not Malate) and couldn't find the right one afterwards. Anyway, afterwards we all had lunch at Don Henrico's for fun family pizza and pasta. Hope the kid likes the spaceship trolley.

* * *

After the party I drove around looking for the Pan Pacific hotel to go work out at their Slimmer's World Gym. Gods, was I going in circles for awhile. That didn't stop even after I found the place. Up one elevator, then up the escalator, then up another elevator. Reached the gym, only to get lost in a maze of rooms looking for the lockers and weight room. Never a poster map when you need one.

It's been awhile since I worked out at a Slimmer's World Gym, and I notice when the lapse of time is long enough, once I start lifting it's as if a new set of muscles get worked on and get sore quickly. I was already breathing hard after one bicep workout. Man, I'm gonna be sore tomorrow.

* * *

Caught the 2nd half the The Fog of War on HBO. It's a documentary featuring an interview with Robert S. McNamara, Secretary of Defense for the Jack Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson (think Donald Rumsfeld, only, you know, intelligent). Compelling stuff, hearing him share his experiences on how he handled the Vietnam war. The similarities between the circumstances leading up to that war and Bush's war in Iraq are chilling: The premise of bringing Freedom to a foreign country. The President refusing to bring troops home and insisting that they "hold on." Dead soldiers and more dead soldiers.

Whoever said those who do not study history are doomed to repeat it did not consider Man's laziness in studying History.

Day of the Dead

This year my family continued the annual All Saint's Day visit to departed relatives at the Manila Memorial Park in Dasmariñas, about a 2-hour drive from my home. As typical visits go, it's always in this order: Pay your respects (with incense sticks), eat lunch, hang around for a coupla hours, go home. Also as usual I got slightly sunburned (damn you, sunlight!), passing the time was a challenge (thank you, MP3 player!) . Wilson brought a laptop and just watched Serenity.

For most Tsinoys here, sitting under a hot sun looking over a gravemarker is not a great way to spend the day. This is why we have the mausoleums. Grandpa's even has a sink and a toilet!







Seeing as how people die all the time, I shouldn't have been surprised by how crowded the cemetary was (I have 4 relatives there at present), but it was a madhouse this year. It was like being at a Renaissance fair. Picnics, tents, kids playing and climbing trees. Good thing the park's occupants are dead or they'd be really peeved at all the noise and mess we make.