The More Things Change,...

2005

2011

Letter to a Spanish Couple (Edited)

Dearest HudBud (& Loren, my Hud-Hombre)

Belated Fleece Navigator! (write back if you don't get the joke.)

Not Out w/ the Old, Could Do w/ the New

Just a few personal items that ought to be disposed of in the name of aesthetics (or fashion mercy), but my practical side feels that nothing short of their disintegration would get me shopping for replacements.

New Years!

Or... "Boy, this was a violent week for me."

Xmas! ('Nuff Said.)

Of Martyrs & Faith

Faith Quieng texted me last week asking if I was free on the 19th of this month. I found out weeks before that she was tying the knot on that date w/ Steven, her co-worker from Saint Jude Catholic School's IT Department (Faith works at the Guidance Councilors office), so I replied w/ Congratulations and teasing her about the office romance. Also weeks before I know Irene was invited but had no ride to either the wedding or the reception. I volunteered to act as escort and gatecrasher. Now it seemed I was promoted to car-pooler and guest.

I was surprised to learn (since I didn't really read the invitation thoroughly) that the wedding was going to be held in the high school building's chapel on the 2nd floor instead of St. Jude Church, but then again it's at the former where SJCS employees can get married for free. Great present from the bosses, if nothing else. No wonder they allowed me to park inside.

My second surprise came in finding out that the Uy Twins were in town. I missed seeing them last year, and with Marilyn and Marinette both based abroad in Colorado and Singapore, respectively, they only get to come home twice a year, usually at the end of the year. ('Lyn hasn't changed, but 'Nette's lost some weight.) This is also the first time in a long while I've seen the complete Uy Family ('Rents, Richard, Twins and Maricris) in attendance (Auntie Lily was a principal sponsor).

Third surprise: Adrian Ong was in town, on vacation but decided to help our batchmate and official wedding photographer Jervy Santiago get some shots of the ceremony.

As with all the weddings I've attended where the bride was Chinoy and the groom Pinoy (3, counting this one), the guests of the latter outnumbered the former 8:1. Irene and I arrived at Dragon Gate Restaurant an hour early, w/c was just as well since parking was going to prove difficult for the guests who decide to arrive on time. While emcees Frances and Jacob (probably getting their names wrong) left more to be desired (like a better emcee, singular), Jervy saved the video presentation w/ a last minute change on the projector screen from big to humongous.

Faith is the 2nd of 5 daughters but the first of them to get married. One down...

Starting SHOT

Dec. 16, 2010: As invited, promised and under pretend-threat of whatever-kind-of harm from the Managing Editor (I'm sure it wasn't bodily), I attended the launch party of SHOT Magazine at The Establishment. Being a Fort Strip newbie it took me awhile to find the place, because even if the pillar w/ the letters F, O, R T on one side served as a landmark, The Establishment's front door was pretty inconspicuous. An hour and a half past the time stated on the invite and place was moderately packed w/ people I didn't know. The dress theme was supposed to be the Golden Age of Hollywood-ish, but I lacked a Rat Pack suit or a James Dean leather jacket, so I instead wore the new shirt my sister-in-law gave me.

Normally my at-present dateless social life has me spending quiet evenings at home watching downloaded programs, but Ana G. is one of maybe three people that can get me off my duff and leave the house past 8pm to attend her late-night events. And tonight was a big deal to and for her. Print journalism may be dying but print magazines still have some life left in them, and I think she's more than qualified to see one of them through. Cocktails like brown nachos, popcorn and pigs-in-a-blanket were being served before the official unveiling of the maiden cover, all to be washed down w/ a controlled (read: limited) open bar. The bartenders wouldn't make me a mixed drink w/o paying, so for the whole evening I made do w/ glasses of white wine.

Moi, Carlos and the Managing Editor

Master of ceremonies Lucas Raven's voice reminded me of Russell Brand sans British accent, or perhaps Maurice Arcache w/o the chain-smoking rasp. The band led by Eddie Alejandro (I'm guessing related to Rachel and Hajji Alendro, since both were also present at the event) was so-so, insisting on singing an 80s cover song w/ a loud monotone akin to Cake. Oddly enough they didn't sing a single song w/ the word shot in the lyrics for some thematic symmetry. (And there's so many to choose from! Pat Benetar's Hit Me with Your Best Shot, Billy Joel's Big Shot, JLS' One Shot, and --duh--LMFAO's Shots.) I met Frenchman Henri Muzzarelli, who's in the high-rise windows cleaning business, and Carlos, who works in media and between appetizers shared his best and worst FHM-worthy multiple-partner sex stories. (True of not, it was entertaining to hear.)

The semi-crowded Establishment.

As for quasi-celebrity sightings, aside from the Alejandros there was Avi Sawa, whose almost-dress seemed to be composed of a foot or two of leather and strategically placed double-sided tape, and Vicky Belo, arriving from another party next door and showed up only to have her picture taken and to use the ladies' room. I imagined approaching her in all her low-cut-dressness and saying, "Hi, I know your ex-boyfriend's parents. Nice couple. Did you know they're attending weekly Bible study sessions w/ my ex-girlfriend's parents now?"

Finally there was party co-host Patrizha Martinez, whom I honestly didn't know until TV5's showbiz-gossip program Juicy aired their piece of the SHOT launch about a week after. Apologies.

Alas, I was not in the VIP list to receive a complimentary issue of SHOT, but I managed to browse throught a copy before the VIP owner, Nico, saw me keeping it close to my chest and asked in a strong French accent, "Are yoo mehkeeng lov to eet?" I'm guessing that would've sounded classier if spoken in actual French.

Speaking of shots, after 3.5 glasses of wine I was ready to call it a night, as tipsiness was already kicking in and would probably leave me unable to drive home straight if I had some more. Paid for it the next day w/ a allergic reaction of a splitting headache and hives.

Scene At a Warehouse Supermarket

Spotted while going around S&R this morning:

What kinda kid is counting calories on a modified lollipop? They're not eating these things for their health value, yannow.

"Toasted Vanilla" w/ "Cocoa butter." Not sure whether to bathe in it or eat it.

"Calming Lavender," for the fussy baby that's sick of the original Furious Yellow.

"Less Intense." That's pretty much how I'd classify any liquid you put in your mouth that has zero alcohol.

Lessons in Kettlebelling

This week I finished a grueling 16-stage kettlebell workout program that’s supposed to help increase my strength and stamina. It differed from my regular k-bell workouts in that there was less variety but more repetitions. If you had told me years back I’d be swinging approximately 70-pound weights explosively over my chest then above my head as many as 60 times I’d have asked if you missed taking your medication, or looked for DeLorean time machine.

I came out of the program w/ calluses on my palms thick enough to file off, as well as a newfound appreciation for packaging tape, anti-perspirant sticks, petroleum jelly and paper napkins (in lieu of having actual protective gloves we wrappped our hands in so much packaging tape we looked like poorly financed Muay Thai fighters.)

But sometimes our improvised "gloves" weren’t enough. As the tape wore out the calluses graduated to to blisters that formed because of friction heat generated by our repetitive swinging movements. I came across a seemingly obvious solution: reduce the friction with petroleum jelly. Thanks to that my blisters didn’t break and/or bleed, unlike w/ some of my k-bell classmates. The gross downside is picking on calloused skin like scabs on a wound.

Psychology was also key in finishing the more insane workouts. For example: one of them had us do 3 sets of 40 reps, but I found it was easier to finish if I counted it as 5 mini-sets of 8 reps instead of a straightforward 1-40 rep count.

Workout buddies also help. I got my cousin John(son) to join me about a month after I did, and like Lyndon before him in my past gym days, it’s good to have someone to pace with and challenge you to see how much your body can take. John and I are the same age, but even though physically he’s bigger in size (and appetite) I’m relatively stronger than him. I believe he’s also the only relative I know who also lifts weights for exercise, but unlike him I don’t have a sport to fall back on (he’s an avid golfer.)

This is all I have for now in terms of weight training, or even as a pseudo-sport. (Bowling and swimming are done for fun and cardio, respectively.) While I’m sure to be getting a stronger (and better looking, at least w/ the right room lighting) physique out of this, I just hope the rewards exceed the damages (achy joints, slipped discs, etc.).

Where Geeks Dwell

Last Sunday National Bookstore at Powerplant Mall opened their Comics Zone, an expanded section dedicated to graphic novels. I accompanied Lola both as wingman and comics consultant. She even dressed for the occasion, wearing Flash-themed colors w/ a red top, a yellow belt and his lightning bolt insignia button. Actually her overall look more closely resembled Wonder Girl's current costume, but at least it's still comics-related.

When we arrived a small crowd was already gathering outside the store, their attention caught by a big sign that said FREE COMIC SUNDAY. Either that or they had just finished having their pictures taken with the partially mechanized life-sized white tigers and giant pandas displayed in front of the bookstore and were looking for something else to do.

Aside from giveaways in the from of Free Comic Book Day (actual trademarked term) leftovers (and 20% off all graphic novels), they set up autograph tables manned by renowned talent like Tony Zuniga, Edgar Tadeo and Leinil Yu, w/ the latter's sketch of The Hulk being given away a the grand prize on their raffle. And if you asked them nicely they'd even oblige you w/ a free sketch.

I can sum up the main difference between The Comics Zone and the graphic novel sections of other bookstores in 2 words: Open. Copies. Without fear of discreetly removing shrink-wrap or ignoring DO NOT OPEN PLEASE ASK FOR ASSISTANCE notices, I was finally able to peek at the interiors of the thin-but-humongous Wednesday Comics hardcover, while disparaging DC Comics' inconsistency w/ their production values of deluxe hardcovers. (Superman VS Muhammad Ali gets recolored and superior paper stock, but Alan Moore's Superman run gets printed on something that's just practically one ply above newsprint? Thank god Marvel Comics gives equal treatment to all its trades and hardcovers. Thick and glossy paper for all, even the $#!++y titles.)

While browsing for titles it was fun chatting w/ fellow fans of the medium (complete strangers, btw, save for Mike Smith, Product Manager of Nokia Philippines, who gave me his business card afterwards) and sharing insights on our favorite titles and writers. (Coulda used more chicks, though. Just saying. :p) I may have gone all prudish w/ my reaction to seeing Mark Millar's Kick-Ass on the bottom rung of their display wall, where kids can easily get to it, next to Flash: Rebirth, another book that, no offense to Geoff Johns and Ethan Van Sciver, is more PG than GP. (The former is choc-full of over-the-top blood and violence, while the latter has someone being violently murdered in the first 3 pages. Yes, I've read both books, and even in context I wouldn't lend it to kids.) I pointed this out to Lola and suggested we replaced Kick-Ass w/ X-Men: First Class (rhyming unintended), IMO a good "gateway" comic.

In support of the event (and to take advantage of the sale) I bought several volumes of Ex Machina* and Vol. 12 of 100 Bullets to fill holes in my collections. Before that I caught Lola chatting w/a famous newspaper writer (and well-known bibliophile). Although she didn't introduce me to her I noticed the writer's earrings, w/c were made from empty tubes of Mighty Bond. Eclectic or fashion accessory cheapskate? You decide.

We stayed all afternoon, and as her way of thanking me Lola had my Mighty Avengers hardcover autographed by Leinil Yu, and bought us dinner at Cafe Mediterranean.

*POSTSCRIPT: Later that evening I removed the shrink-wrap plastic on Vol. 7 and was shocked to discover that the plastic masked the shoddy condition the TPB was in. Not only was the back cover's usually glossy finish almost gone like it was cleaned w/ metal polish, but a laminated display table tag was stuck on the cover page! Two days later I went back to NBS to have it replaced and/or exchanged, but while they agreed to replace it the cash register girl had the gall to try and charge me w/ paying the balance of the book's pre-discounted price! I stood my ground and in the end they gave me Vol. 6 at no extra cost.

By coincidence, famous newspaper writer was also there, standing at the cashier next to me and purchasing a lifestyle mag. She was still wearing her Mighty Bond earrings.