Obi Macapuno

Feel Good Sunday

2009-08-02T01:32:00.004+08:00

So this is how it feels...

...when you'd not want to sleep just because, finally, reality is better than your dreams!

...when you'll want to wake up early just because there's something good to expect everyday!

...when you just want to stare blankly and know that it won't be blank for long because somebody will fill that space!

My Facebook

2009-07-18T12:47:00.003+08:00

I finally gave in after years of resisting Facebook!

I was being asked by friends to sign up since like two years ago and I can't justify creating another networking account since all people I need to touch-base with are in Friendster anyway!

But recently I surfed with friends in La Union and the only way I can get our pics is to sign up and grab pics from their accounts. So... asan na kayo?? I want my pics! Haha!

AND... add me up! I'm still learning how to navigate around.

Obi Parcon

Buhay Pa Ko

2009-06-26T16:08:00.004+08:00

Been busy doing a major revamp of processes and work habits more for myself than for my growing team at work (we're 10 now and soon-to-be growing s'more soon!). This week alone has been one of my most stressful week in my 8 years of IT practice and frankly, it din't do any good to downsize my burnout level.

Still... thanks to my wonderful team, who never backed down on me on facing our present challenges at work!

Thanks to the SA Sportsfest tomorrow! I'll finally have a shot of "life" back into my veins (I wasn't able to play hoops for the last two Wednesdays and stayed home ALL DAY - which is a miracle - last weekend!). Looking forward to the basketball games! Good job, Fellowship Team!

Thanks to Kath and our foodtrips kapag stress! Comfort food for the win!

And at the end of the day, nothing beats a geeky hobby to balance my active lifestyle... thanks Warhammer 40K!

Speaking of... I've been working on painting this Warhammer 40K miniature tank (Vindicator) for the last two weeks.

Dark Angels Vindicator - Work in Progress
PVC pipe - turned - Demolisher Cannon
I'm giving myself another week to paint everything up!

Anghel at Demonyo

2009-06-09T10:16:00.002+08:00

I was able to watch this film last week, just in time before the cinemas replace it with a whole slew of new movies! I was chasing it out with an expectation that this is an interesting film worthy of the cinemas. Watch it in DVD instead.

the brands of the Illuminati
*****

Angels and Demons
Spoiler Alert! Spoiler Alert! Spoiler Alert!

The gist...
The symbologist Dr. Robert Langdon has been called by the Vatican to solve a threat by the church's long-dormant nemesis - the Illuminati.

The situation is this:
* The Pope is dead.
* The Conclave of Cardinals is in session for Papal election.
* Four of the top candidates - the preferatti - are kidnapped by the Illuminati.
* A bomb threat is up in the Vatican... a powerful bomb that can wipeout the entire city-state.

The Illuminati will start to murder the kidnapped Cardinals one by one before midnight - the time the bomb is set to detonate. Langdon, starting with a clue from a Galilean book, follows the trail of the culprit around the walled city as the latter sets to accomplish his murder spree. Three dead Cardinals after, the symbologist still hops around the Vatican in a race to make sense with everything that is happening.

As Langdon closes in on the murderer, events unfold that leads to the discovery of the people behind the plot. On a dramatic climax, he saves the last Cardinal and exposes (in a sorry way of tying lose ends) everything that the viewers need to know.

The verdict...
What's outright striking about the movie is the overall aesthetics of the sets and locations. As if on a tour bus racing around the Vatican, the scenes switch from one landmark to another... as quick as the fast paced movie can showcase in two hours. Great cinematography!

The story is a lame excuse for a mystery flick. The development of the conflict is progressive only up to the point where Langdon flew to the Vatican and started nosing around. By the time clues started raining down on the symbologist, all went in a confused flurry of lame riddles and chasing around the Vatican and boring action scenes. I can imagine a more interesting Hardy Boys plot line.

What sparked a bit of interest for me is the same reason why I enjoyed "Da Vinci Code" - the way Robert Brown interlaced facts and fiction and make it seem to have an appearance of plausibility. I love the concept of the Illuminati and the personalities Brown affiliated with it... Galileo, Bernini, Michaelangelo, and Raphael Santi. He could have used the mystery of this clandestine group for a deeper plot line than just being a mask of the Carmelengo's deeds.

I haven't read the book so I can't tell if it was adapted in the movie well. But I have a big hunch it did not.

The acting is cool. The cast is cool. The script lame. Langdon is a walking curator! I mean 80% of the film, he's wise-talking and annotating every single Encyclopedia entry they pass through along the story. Again, I don't know if that's how Langdon's character is supposed to be since I quite remember a different Langdon from the "Da Vinci Code". And I don't mind it either... it's educational! It's just that there are a lot more creative ways of presenting information to readers than directly spoon-feeding.

In all, don't take the story too seriously or prepare to be disappointed. It may appear to have depth in the start but as Langdon starts to crack through the mystery, you'll have this notion that the story is more of an elementary detective novel than a CSI-ish episode.

6 of 10.

Museum of Natural History

2009-06-06T18:16:00.003+08:00

Watched this film last week after a stressful day in the office. It's just the right type of film to detox from work!

Larry Daley of Daley Devices
*****

Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
Spoiler Alert! Spoiler Alert! Spoiler Alert!

The spoiler...
Several years after the movie's part 1, Larry Daley hit it bigtime as a CEO of his own company leaving the nightguard post in the Museum of Natural History behind.

When the museum closed down for upgrades, some of the display artifacts are sent to the Smithsonian Institute archives in D.C. including the tablet of Ahkmenrah that which turns these objects to life. Triggered by the tablet, the Smithsonian displays are reanimated including the Egyptian pharaoh Kahmunrah and his unlikely allies Al Capone, Napoleon Bonaparte, and Ivan the Terrible.

The ragtag gang plans to rule the world by unsealing the gates to the underworld and summon forth a daemon army. But to accomplish this, Kahmunrah needs the tablet hieroglyphs deciphered! Larry, who breaks into the Smithsonian archives as soon as he is contacted by Jed the miniature cowboy for help, seems to be the pharaoh's only hope to break the code. With his reanimated friends being harassed by the bad guys, Larry had no choice but to work on the tablet, meeting new museum personalities as he go through it.

All the while, Larry's friends from the Museum of Natural History are brewing a daring attempt to get rid of Kahmunrah. They are able to do it in time as the pharaoh has just opened the gates to the underworld... Abe Lincoln's monument swathing daemons back to the netherworld!

With Kahmunrah gone, everything returned to normal in the Smithsonian. Larry brings back his friends to the Museum of Natural History and had it open 24 hours where every past midnight, patrons may walk with the reanimated museum artifacts.

The verdict...
It comes as a surprise to me that I enjoyed this film more than its prequel! And surprising even more is that it's not all about Ben Stiller's performance. He even hardly carry most of the fun stock of the story. I watched this movie expecting to see something entertaining yet won't require me to think too much deeply AND it did not fail me. It was good brainless fun! A must-see for a family outing.

The GOOD...
The new museum characters are a laugh trip... Kahmunrah has a comical lisp, Bonaparte squeals like a chick, and Al Capone and his honchos are in black and white! Even General Custer and the new capuchin monkey have their share of hilarious antics. The old museum characters are still kickin' fun as well. I particularly liked this scene where the miniature Octavius attempted to charge across an expansive lawn, tiring himself for naught (melodramatic and all!).

The entire production is just right. Costume and set design fit what needs to be depicted in the story. Computer graphic works is really creative and done flawlessly.

The SO SO...
Ben Stiller. I think he can't pull off a better-than-average presence in the film. I don't know if its because his script is lackluster or everybody else just outshines him! His female counterpart Amy Adams (Amelia Earhart) is a poor attempt at throwing in a romantic twist. She's exaggeratedly perky for me.

The BAD...
The story is not really impressive. It's developed just for the sake of having a plot to pour the comedy into. So with that, don't expect much depth on it or wish on having lose ends tied up. It's a fantasy story. Things happen, rationally or not. To add to that, the story ending is rushed.

Robin Williams is cheesy.

The rating...
7 of 10.

Keep Praying

2009-06-01T17:18:00.002+08:00

We're now selling our second batch of tshirts! Still at P250 bucks a piece, the design is inspired by the Johnny Walker classic logo with an inspirational twist.

Check the design by clicking the image below...

Keep Praying
And you might also be interested on buying our first tshirt! Check the design by clicking the link below...
http://lakwatserongkalbo.multiply.com/journal/item/260

If you want to own one, you can reach me or my friends Kat and Drew on our mobile numbers printed on the image above.

Watchout for more cool designs!

Ako si Onoraryo Batongbakal

2009-05-29T16:51:00.001+08:00

Palipas oras habang naiihi ako...

1. OK na sana araw ko kahapon, kaso?
- kaso nawala yung araw bago ako maging OK.

2. Ano mas masarap, magpatawa o tumawa?
- ang patawanin

3. May "special" ka ba na body part, na kakaiba sa ibang tao? ano yun?
- balat ko... namamantal kasi pag kinakamot!

4. Sino huling tao na nagpakilig sayo?
- si janroy at si laida!

5. Ano mas piliin mo, SOBRA sakit na hangover sa alak, o hangover sa past/X mo? (parehas tatagal ng 3 months)
- pwede both?

6.If ever you're in my arms again.. this time ill hold you forever.. This time will never end..
- anong tanong?

8. Ano mas ok, naka FERRARI pero ubod ng pangit, o naka BESTA pero ubod ng ganda?
- yung naka FERRARI at ubod ng ganda!

9. Favorite streetfood mo?
- isaw

10. Pili ka, magka pimple sa ilong, o magka pimple sa pwet? (sobra laki nito, kasing laki ng 5 centavos)
- pwede both?

11. May gusto ka bang tao ngayon, pero alam mo na ndi pwde? bakit? sino un?
- nag hang ako ng 1.5 seconds... (tangenang tanong to!)

12. Kung iibahin mo name mo, anong pangalan un ?
- Onoraryo Batongbakal (para may explanation na ko pag tinanong na "bakit OBI?")

13. Cnu ang mga taong "weakness" mo?
- si kryptonite!

14. Flirt mode ON or OFF?
- pwede both?

15. Tingin mo, ilan may gusto sayo ngayon?
- sandamakmak

16. Ako ang ______ sa pamilya..
- batas

17. Ano role mo sa barkada mo pag inuman
- tanggero... taga tanggi!

18. Bigyan kita ng chance na dagdagan ang bilang ng kahit anong body part mo, ano un at bakit?
- mata. para mas laki kita negosyo!

19. Ano reason ng last time mo nainis?
- ingay ng halakhak ni Kris Aquino

20. Best sa ________ si _________?
- best sa UP si Manong Fishbol

21. San the best manood ng movie na may kadate?
- sa bahay... dibidi dibidi!

22. Last person na nag text sayo?
- si virus!

23. Kapag ginawa sayo ng GF/BF mo, makikipagbreak ka kagad,
ano un?
- pag tinutukan niya ko ng baril sa ulo

24. Ang init! favorite pampalamig mo pag mainit?
- aircon

25. Ilang beses mo na nagawa matulog na walang damit?
- madaming beses na... hindi na mabilang sa daliri. isama pa ang daliri ng paa!

26. Magvvideoke tayo ngayon, ano kakantahin mo?
- My Way

27. Rate mo kung gano ka kasaya ngayon[1-10]:
- 3.141592

28. Bakit ganyan rating mo?
- para di ko makalimutan ang value ng PI

29. Nakakita ka na ba ng pulubi na may cellphone? kung makakita ka ng ganun, bibigyan mo pa din ng pera?
- nakakita na. hindi ko bibigyan ng pera. bibigyan ko ng load.

30. Kung magpapatattoo ka ng pangalan ng tao sa katawan mo, kaninong pangalan un?
- pangalan ng nanay ko na napapaligiran ng heart (para mama's boy!)

31. Sang part ng katawan mo ilalagay ung tatoo?
- sa tapat ng puso ko

32. Choosy ka ba?
- depende sa pagpipilian

33. Ano mas mabilis mapalitan sayo, cellphone o GF/BF?
- pwede both?

34. Bat nauso na ngayon ang gwapo na BF, pero pangit na GF?
- kasi mas maraming mayamang babae kesa mayamang lalake

35. Sinong gusto mong mawala na sa mundo ngayon?
- si Barney... ang dinosaur na bading

May Issue Ka?

2009-05-22T01:56:00.005+08:00

I was staring at this box of Word Factory amidst the chaos that is my room and I find it funny when I recalled how I sorta "cheat" my friends when we play this game back when we were younger. What I would do when I already run short of words to pick out of the jumbled letters is to move (discreetly) to another place in the huddle so I can have a "different" view of the letters tray.

I dunno if it's just me but I can pick out a whole new set of words each time I move to different spots around the tray. It's cool that we can see words that we haven't seen before on the very same jumble of letters from a different point of view.

Parang buhay.

Enter, segue way! Haha!

Things happen to shit us. And if we only cool our heads and think about it, your shit is none too different to somebody else's shit. Different people have different views on the same shit. We can do a lot of things about it but it will all boils down to two - take it like the shit it is or, like in the case of my "cheat" in that Word Factory game, change your perspective to see a non-shit out of the shitty situation!

I've had my share of recurring troubles... a vicious cycle of hurt. And no matter how I always fall on the pointy end of things, looking at the bright side of em made me somehow make it through. Yes, it was never easy but there are no fancy tricks either to find it out.

You just have to remember that people who say life sucks are:

1. people who don't know how to find the non-suck out of it, (outright pessimists)
2. people who just don't want to see the brighter side of it, (mga emo! pero uso naman siya ngayon haha!)
3. and, people who are clueless that there is a salvageable happiness out of a seemingly hopeless living. (naliligaw ng landas)

...ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU ARE NOT ONE OF THESE PEOPLE and you're off to a good start!

Curly sent me a text message this morning and it's really uplifting to know that we are not alone in our quest to "change perspective" and eventually leave our troubles behind. Her message comes from the book of Jeremiah 29:11 and guess what, it's from "the Man" upstairs!

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Isn't it reassuring that someone who is as mighty as Him professes that in the grand plan of things, we are off to a promising "change"!

I remember walking along Ayala Avenue one afternoon. Ever since I pull off my first job in HP, I've been walking this route for 8 years now! Imagine how boring it can get seeing the same buildings again and again everyday and edging your way through the same amount of crowd every rush hour! That day was different. I happened to look up as I felt a bead of water drop on my head to check if it's the telltale sign of a bummer rain (I hate bringing an umbrella) or perhaps a spittle from somebody on the nth floor of one of Makati's high-rise buildings (yuck... i know).

What I din't expect to see is a different perspective of Ayala Ave. The business district's skyline from a worm's-eye view! A perspective I've never seen in my 8 years of walking around the area. It's something new out of the ordinary for me and I was like, "May ganito pala sa Ayala!" in wonder.

Try to experience it yourself when you happen to walk in one of those places you frequent. Look up and discover a new perspective. And when you do, I wish that just as how you learned to look at things differently to make out something good from it, you'll learn to do the same thing in your life... in your troubles. And then let God do the rest.

End of sharing.

PS: It's not spittle.

Godside Believer

2009-05-19T19:36:00.002+08:00

Guys, we're selling this "Ringside Boxing Club"-inspired shirt at P250 bucks each. For now, I'm limiting the sales for friends and people I know.

Check out the inspirational design below.

Godside Believer!
It comes in color black and the following sizes:
XS (Extra Small)
S (Small)
M (Medium)
L (Large)
XL (Extra Large)
XXL (Double XL)

If you want it, just contact me through here or my mobile number. For people from the Alabang area, you may keep in touch with my friends Drew and Kat. Their numbers are also on the image above.

We're looking forward to print more cool shirts so do watchout!

An Open Letter to Love

2009-05-17T02:07:00.004+08:00

What if you personally know the personified Love? What would you ask her?

I tried answering it for me tonight.

*****

Warning: MUSHY!!!

*****

An Open Letter to Love
May 17, 2009

Love.

I've always treasured you
And the people who gave you to me.
But if there's one thing I'm learning
So you could as well not hurt me,
Is that not because I have you,
I should offer you carelessly.

There are times that giving you feels wrong.
And people slammed it to my face!
There are times I have to stop feeling you.
Not because I fell out of it, but I was forced to!

I never learned faking you.
I tried a couple of times in vain.
It was never too easy for me
That when I share you sincerely,
I won't get the same.

Shit.
I still can even feel your latest pain!

Yes, I'll be back to feel you again.
I'll bounce back to share you
To somebody you really deserve to belong.
I'm still longing to her who I gave you lately,
But I doubt she'll offer you back to me.

Though I hope to be proven wrong!

I've always treasured you
And the people who gave you to me.
But to spare me shame and spare my pride,
And so you could as well not hurt me,
I will learn one and only one thing:
It is not because I have you,
I should offer you carelessly.

Yours truly,
Obi

Red Matter

2009-05-13T01:51:00.004+08:00

Watched this film during the SE15-sponsored premiere showing in Festival Mall exactly a week ago. Good job, SE15!!

*****

The Past and the Future
L-R: Spock, Chekov, Uhura, Kirk, Scotty, Sulu, Bones

Star Trek
Spoiler Alert! Spoiler Alert! Spoiler Alert!

The gist...
A humongous Romulan starship got sucked back in from the future. Bent on avenging the destruction of his homeworld, its Captain (Nero) initiated a blackhole in the core of planet Vulcan to decimate the planet from within!

Out to investigate the catastrophe, an armada of Starfleet cruisers are sent to Vulcan. All these cruisers are decimated by the Romulans in a cunning ambush bar one - the "Enterprise". James Kirk, who is just stowed aboard the infamous starship, predicted this attack and is able to forwarn the Captain about it. In a daring attempt to negotiate with the Romulans, Captain Pike of the "Enterprise" appointed First Officer Spock as temporary Captain and the braggart Kirk as substitute First Officer while he dared to ferry himself into the Romulan spacecraft.

Captain Pike is eventually held captive by Nero. Outgunned and outsized by the Romulan ship, Spock take the logical choice to retreat and redezvous with the Starfleet. Kirk forcefully opposed the idea (wanting to outright follow and attack the escaping Romulans) which eventually made the Vulcan Captain eject him out of the "Enterprise" and into a nearby ice planet.

There, Kirk meet an older Spock (also from the future), who showed him to an onplanet Starfleet outpost and meet Montgomery Scott. Scott devised a gadget that beamed them back to "Enterprise". Aided by insights from the old Spock, Kirk tricked the present-time Spock into relinquishing his command of the cruiser and appointed himself the new Captain. With this new post, he executed his original plan to chase the Romulan ship and, in a foolhardily heroic plan, is able to beam inside the enemy vessel!

Being the good guys they are (good guys are just... y'know... good!), the plan went off well and the "Enterprise" are able to get rid of the Romulan ship and rescue Captain Pike. For this bravery, Kirk becomes permanent Captain of the "Enterprise" and the rest is let us say a joyride for the Trekkie fandom.

The verdict...
I'm no Trekkie but the film impressed me. I can only vaguely remember the original series but I guess this worked as an advantage for my enjoyment of the movie. It feels all new to me aside from the ship and the crew!

The CGI is a visual treat! Flawless and sleek, it effectively made the movie a must-see in the big screen. The sets are creatively designed and although they have touches reminiscent of the old Star Trek settings, most are fused and interspersed with props and materials that are of original concept. I particularly liked the "inside" of the Romulan ship, keeping the idea that it should look ahead of technology (as it's supposed to be from the future) while portraying the cabalistic nature of the crew.

The opening part of the movie can be quite confusing as it's not outright implied that the plot would involve an alternate universe and a time travel. Aside from that, the screenplay is generally mediocre with plot lines that are, if not totally briliant, just enough to bolster what the rest of the movie has to boast. As long as it's not outright dumb to waste such a good production, I'm good with it.

The assemblage of casts to portray the much-loved crew of "Enterprise" is well-done. Chris Pine (Captain James Kirk) nailed the William Shatner portrayal of the Don Juan chief of the starship and added little touches of his own device. Zachary Quinto's Spock (the younger one) is very very convincing as somebody torn between his emotionless and logical Vulcan nature and his sentimental Earthling half. John Cho's character Sulu is really vague on my recollections but I've always remembered him as a kick-ass fencer. It's kinda portrayed in the film as he duelled with a sword against a Romulan. So so acting. Anton Yelchin (Chekov) doesn't have to do much but talk in his annoying accent. Simon Pegg (Scotty) and Karl Urban (Bones) have really likeable characters while Zoe Saldana (Uhura) blew her's. She's obviously just trying. Eric Bana's Romulan captain Nero is a strong performance.

Salute goes to Leonard Nimoy (the original Spock) for reprising his role. He doesn't have to do much anyway but act as a more laid-back Spock than the one he used to play. Should not be hard for an aging man.

Action scenes are packed good along the story. I like how the space fights are designed. None too grandiose as Star Wars' but just excellently crafted to be visually impressive. I don't like the Uhura-Spock romance. It seems like a poor attempt at putting it just for the sake of having a love angle in there.

To sum it, the director has been bold enough to fuse some new concepts into the old premise of Star Trek and still pull it off well.

9 of 10!

Koo-koo Ka-choo

2009-05-03T16:49:00.003+08:00

Watched this film yesterday after playing badminton with my friends in Greenhills.

*****

X-Men Origins: Wolverine
Spoiler Alert! Spoiler Alert! Spoiler Alert!

The spoiler...
Logan and his brother Victor served the American army formidably and this is mainly because of their innate mutant abilities. Along the way, they met Colonel Stryker, an ambitious officer who assembled a team of mutants (and conscripting the brothers in it) that acted as a Special Force for the military. After a while, the team's differences took toll and they separated to live their own civilian lives.

Logan went a simple living on the mountains of Canada with his wife. One day, Victor returned and claimed the life of his beloved. Wanting to kill Victor for revenge, he agreed to Colonel Stryker's experiment to infuse adamantium to his bones rendering him almost indestructible. Tagged as Weapon X by Stryker's experiment, Logan opted to rather be called as Wolverine (taken from one of his wife's tales). He learned that Stryker wanted something else out of the experiment and tried to erase his memories. Wolverine escaped the facility and along the way learned that Stryker himself is in league with Victor.

The two are involved in kidnapping mutants and conducting experiements with them on a secluded facility called the "Island".

Wolverine went out to search for this facility and after arriving on it, new revelations has been revealed - his wife is not dead and is only blackmailed to cooperate with Stryker to save the life of her sister who is under the Colonel's captivity. Freeing the captive mutants, Wolverine (with Victor helping out) eventually has to battle with Weapon XI, the last and best mutant warrior Stryker's experiments have produced.

They are able to defeat Weapon XI and destroy the facility. The captive mutants are saved by a cameo appearance of Professor X. Wolverine however was shot by Stryker in the head with an adamantium bullet. The wounds healed but the damage in his brain made him forgot everything. Stryker was arrested by the military and rest is... well... X-Men history.

The verdict...
I've always liked Wolverine and I have to agree that Hugh Jackman (though out of scale to the original Wolverine who should only be 5'3 feet in height) is one of the best choice to grab the role. He looks like Logan and acts the role well.

It's cool that I'm familiar with most of the mutants on the film and like a fanboy I go "Oooh, I know him/her!" in my mind when a mutant appeared along the story. Some are not outright recognizable but there are enough hints to know who's who. Some of the most prominent characters are the Blob, Sabretooth (Victor), a young Cyclops, Deadpool (one of my favorites in Marvel), Emma Frost, and Gambit. It's disappointing that Gambit has been shown a lot of times in the movie's preview but doesn't play that much role in the movie itself.

There are obvious deviance from the canon story as read in the Marvel comicbooks but I believe that they are made in good spirit of TRYING to come up with an interesting story. This made the film also fairly acceptable to people who don't know crap about Wolverine and the rest of the Marvel mutants in print. The storyline is typical of comicbook adaptations where lose ends fly aplenty and impossibilities are only limited by the scriptwriters' ingenuity to make things happen. It's a leave-brain-at-home screenplay.

Actually, the movie can be boring, really, if you'll not be dazzled by the more-than-enough action scenes it packs. Some time along the movie you'll realize that mutant characters come and go like they just want to throw in as much mutants as possible even if they don't really help much on progressing the story. I can go as far as saying that there's not enough "flash" on the film (which should be expected on sci-fi flicks like this). Computer effects is horrible as some of the green screen scenes and digital edits are obvious. They've provided subtle fan services to the really hardcore Wolverine fans but it won't change the impact to people who would look for value for what they paid.

In all, it's your generic superhero flick. Nothing innovative is introduced in it except the fact that you'll learn that Wolverine's name actually originated from a who-knows-what-language word that sounds like "koo-koo kachoo!" Haha... laughtrip!

4 out of 10.

Mount Pundaquit to Anawangin Cove

2009-04-27T14:41:00.009+08:00

Quick Facts
Coordinates: (summit) 14°53'45 N, 120°4'16 E
: (cove) 14°52.830 N, 120°04.183 E
Location: San Antonio, Zambales
Jump Off: Barangay Pundaquit
Elevation: 464 masl
Estimated Trek Time: (traverse to cove) 4-5 hours

* Regular beach-goers may take a boat ride from Barangay Pundaquit to the Anawangin Cove. A favorite mountaineering adventure though is to trek up Mount Pundaquit and descend to the beach of Anawangin.
* Wild carabaos roam freely around the mountain (and we're lucky to encounter some!).
* The locals try to preserve the cove to its natural state but as of late it's fast becoming a famous travel spot that basic amenities are beginning to be available on the beach premise itself.

*****

Trek Date: April 18 - 19, 2009

We were supposed to hike the Tarak Ridge in Bataan, me and 5 of my friends. But a very last minute decision made me call to join another team of hikers that will traverse Mount Pundaquit going to the beach of Anawangin. So we boost our numbers to 13. With a bonus beach outing to boot!

Attendance
Team Carl: Carl, Junathan (Assunta), Belen, Tin, Jas, Say, PJ
Team Obi: Obi, Mher, Roy, Johann, Jops, Lou

the gang before the descent (Anawangin Cove in sight - top right)
So with a folded scratch paper and pen in tow, I braved the uber-heatwave that day together with the gang.

*****

(Entries are lifted from my notes in verbatim.)

Day 1 - Fold 1
Saturday
* 3:00AM - Bye house!
- The team texted that they're on their way too to the terminal (5-Star in Cubao).
(Ang aga ng call-time... lekat.)

* 3:58 - Magkakasama na kami ng grupo ko (Lou, Roy, Jops, Johann).
- Lekat ka Mher... kala ko ba 3:30??

* 5:02 - boarded bus in Victory Liner heading to Olongapo
(Yes... tumawid pa kami papuntang Victory Liner. Long story... but to cut it short, we only met in 5-Star because that's where we were supposed to ride if we pushed through going to Tarak Ridge.)
* 6:07 - Woke up (Guagua, Pampanga)
* 6:31 - Stopover (Victory Liner, somewhere in Pampanga)
(Hindi na ako bumaba sa sobrang antok. Bawi na lang ng tulog!)

* 7:56AM - arrival in Victory Liner - Olongapo
* 8:10 - connecting ride to San Antonio
(Yung may karatulang "Sta. Cruz" ang sinakyan naming ordinary bus. Words of Wisdom: Sa kaliwang bahagi ng bus sumakay. Nasa kanang bahagi ang araw. Sayang ang metathione! Hahaha.)

* 9:15 - arrival at the San Antonio City Hall
* 9:32 - chicha sa carinderia
(Kumain muna kami sa isang malapit na carinderia habang yung iba namalengke na ng mga additional na kekelanganin sa camping. Ansarap ng dinuguan!)

* 10:20 - resume trip
(Nag trike kami papuntang Barangay Pundaquit. Nasa likod banda ng City Hall yung tricycle station at 90 pesos papuntang Barangay Pundaquit.)

* 10:42AM - arrival in Pundaquit Jump Off
(Marami na kaming nakakasalubong na beach-goers. Eto yung mga magbabangka papuntang Anawangin. Meron kaming mga nakasalubong na parang Hagibis... complete with cowboy hats at Rayban shades. Hahaha! Katawan... katawan... katawan... oooohhhh katawaaaaan!)

(May unggoy dun sa tinuluyan naming resort. Dito sa resort kami nakipag "deal" sa guide namin at sa susundo sa amin kinabukasan. Alam ni Mher yung trail at hindi na dapat namin kelangan ng guide pero para makatulong na din sa kabuhayan ng mga taga rito, ipagdadamot mo pa ba ang ilang daang piso? Naks! Humanitarian!)

* 11:06 - start trek
(Pag tapos magpahid ng mga kung ano ano sa katawan, inumpisahan na namin ang paglalakbay. Sabi ko sa grupo ko, madali lang ang akyat. Sa gilid lang tayo ng bundok dadaan. Naniwala naman sila. Bwahahaha!)

* 11:35 - 1st stopover, Jelly Ace break
(Namahagi si Belen ng Jelly Ace! Hindi pa kami nag uumpisang "umakyat" neto. Binabagtas pa lang namin ang lahar field papunta sa paanan ng bundok. Soooobrang init! Open land siya, walang masyadong puno.)

* 11:46 - 2nd stopover

Day 1 - Fold 2

* 12:06 - 3rd stopover
(Eto start na ng totoong trek. Umakyat na kami ng bundok neto. Nakakita si Lou ng "tungkod" na kawayan. Naiinggit ako, kaya nag hanap din ako ng sarili kong tungkod. Nice, Moses.)

I'm trying to part the river!
* 12:19PM - 4th stopover
* 1:10 - 5th stopover
* 1:26 - 6th stopover
* 1:57 - 7th stopover to regroup
(Eto na... nararamdaman na namin ang init! Etong mga stopovers na ito ay dahil sooobrang init na, wala nang masyadong puno na matigilan, AT eto na yung part na ASCENT. Nagrereklamo na ang grupo... "Obi, kala ko ba walang pataas!". Ahahaha! "I lied!". Si Carl at Mher steady pace lang kaya naiwan ng grupo. Kala namin nawawala na kami, yun pala nagpahinga din yung mga grupong nauna sa amin. So to regroup, I asked the first group to stay put while me, Roy, and Johann waited for carl and Mher... under the sun!)

(Dito na din namin nakita yung mga wild na kalabaw. Isang grupo sila. Nakatitig sila sa amin, habang nakatitig kami sa kanila. Titigan kami! Hahaha. Tumayo ako sa harap nila sabay pagaspas ng aking tungkod sabay sambit, "WE COME IN PEACE!" Hahaha!)

* 2:09 - Regroup for photo ops
(Pektyur pektyur... magkakasama na ulit kaming labing tatlo matapos mahiwalay dun sa part na steep na yung akyat.)

* 2:54PM - summit ridge!
- Anawangin Cove is in sight
(Sa wakas! Ang ganda ng view ng Anawangin beach from this point of view. So picture picture kami ulet ng malupet.)
* 3:13 - descent to Anawangin
(Pababa naman! Akala nila tapos na ang dusa. Sabi ko sa kanila, don't take it lightly. Minsan mas mahirap ang pababa kesa sa pataas. Masakit sa calf maskels ang pumepreno ng may dalang mabigat na backpack!)

nawawala si Bulak
* 4:06 - 1st stopover after descent
- I ran out of water!
- Globe is being a f#$%... may signal ako pero hindi maka-send ng text!
(Naubusan ako ng tubig!! First time nangyari sa akin sa trek na puno ang bladder ko [2.5 liters] at naubusan ako ng tubig sa loob lang ng limang oras! Ganyan kainit. Nag umpisa na din maubusan ng tubig yung mga kagrupo ko. Lekat ang Globe. Bumigay na yung ancient kong simcard.)

* 4:39 - entrance to Anawangin Cove
(Sa wakaaaaas!!! Malapit na kami sa cove. So pektyur pektyur ulet!!)
* 4:51 - Anawangin's Tent City!
(Nagulat kami sa soooobrang dami ng tent. Alam ko na kapag summer sobrang dami ng pumupunta dito pero hindi ko akalain na GANUN kadami. Grabe... parang palengke! Hahaha! Uh well...)

* 5:24PM - tent pitched
(Naitayo ko na tent ko. Kami ni Johann at Lou ang magsasalo dito habang sa kabilang tent si Jops at Roy. Mga limang tent kami in all.)

the small river inlet before the beach
* 5:32 - run to the beach!!!
(Waaaah.... beach time! Andamiiiing taooooo... pero ok lang. Dami ding naka bikini! Wiiiiweeet!)
* 7:41 - banlaw sa poso
- dinner time
- inuman time
(Anlakas ng alon! Ang sarap magpahampas sa alon tapos tangay-tangay ka papuntang pampang tas pag tayo mo kita na yung mga 1-2 inches ng butt crack mo at punong-puno ng buhangin. Wahahaha! Laugh trip. Ako mismo, pag hampas sa kin ng alon at habang umiikot ako sa ilalim ng tubig papuntang pampang hawak ko ang boardshorts ko. Hehe!)

(May poso na sa Anawangin! Dun kami nag banlaw... habang sa kabilang poso ay parang may FHM shoot. Tuwang tuwa si Roy... ay, si Johann pala... ay, si Jops pala... ay, kami palang lahat. Punong puno ng buhangin yung sahig ng briefs ko. Lekat. Kumain na kami dinner pagkatapos. Adobong manok ang binitbit ko tas may adobong manok din ang kabilang grupo. Pero ang pinaka panalo eh yung igado ni Jops. Swabe! Desert namin ay yung tunaw na Flat Tops ni Johann.)

Day 1 - Fold 3
* 9:30 - sleeping time
(Marami pa nanyari bago kami matulog. Naghanap kami (ako, Roy, Johann) ng signal para sa Globe at Smart. Inikot namin buong pampang ng Anawangin in vain! Wala kahit isang bar ng lekat na signal. Bigo. Sawi. Kaya naghalo-halo na lang kami dahil matindi na ang cravings ko sa halo-halo. Trenta isang baso! Tsk tsk. Uh well...)

(Pagbalik sa tent city, naglalaklakan na yung kabilang grupo. Shot lang kami ng konti tas sibat na agad kami para matulog. Gainet!!)

Day 2 - Fold 3
Sunday
* 7:22AM - woke up
(Nagising ako sa inet!! Lintek. Walang pumapasok na hangin sa tent namin.)
* 7:50 - breakfast!
(Noodles at tinapay.)
* 8:37 - ice cream break c/o Manong
- tambay talks
(Umupo kami sa malaking punso sa likod ng tent namin at nagkwentuhan habang nanonood ng naliligo sa poso... este ng mga naliligo sa beach. Saktong may dumaan na naglalako ng ice drops. Panalo!)
* 9:41 - lunch?
(Ang aga naman ng lunch. Nagluto si Mher ng tuyo tsaka nagbukas ng tuna at iba pang natirang pagkain from last night.)

tent city
* 9:50 - ikot ikot!
(Naglakwatsa kami around Anawangin. May maliit na inlet o ilog sa likod ng campsite. Lumublob kami dun para makarating sa kabilang side ng mga campers. Hindi ko alam kung bakit namin ginawa yun eh pwede naman maglakad sa side ng beach para marating yung same spot ng tuyo. Lakas trip lang.)

* 12:40PM - 2nd round ng halo-halo!
- swimming time!
(Naghalo-halo ulet kami. Dinramahan ko pa si Manang kasi bente na lang ang dala kong pera. Sabi ko bigyan ako ng halagang bente lang. Nahabag naman sa akin ang matanda at binigyan ako ng halo-halo na parang halagang trenta pa din. So natuwa naman ako. Akala ko naisahan ko siya. Yun pala sa San Antonio, kinse lang ang halo-halo... doble pa ang laki kesa sa halo-halong tinira namin. Hahaha. Tubong lugaw pa din pala siya nung lagay na yun.)

* 12:52 - break camp
(Tupi tupi na ng tent at nag-ayos ng mga gamit.)

Day 2 - Fold 4
* 1:59 - waiting for Mang Mario the Bankero
(Hinihintay na namin si Mang Mario at ang bangkang susundo sa amin pabalik ng Pundaquit.)

* 2:08 - The "Carmelita" Incident
(Carmelita ang pangalan ng bangka ni Mang Mario. Ala-una niya dapat kami susunduin pero dahil nakatulog, alas dos na siya dumating. Ang malupet neto, may makulit na epal na nagtatalak dun sa pampang. Ang akala niya inunahan namin sila sa bangka kaya nagwawala. Alas dos daw ang sched nila pero hindi nila alam na mas una pa kami sa kanila dapat. So ayun, buong pagmamalaki niyang sinisigaw na sa halagang dalawang libo magbabayad siya pasakayin lang sila ng bangka ora-orada. Ayun awa ng Diyos, walang bangkerong pumansin sa kanya. Hahaha! Hambog kasi.)

(Naiwan kaming apat ni Lou, Roy, at Jops. Ambigat na kasi ng Carmelita. Sa ibang bangka kami pinasakay... mas maliit at mas mukang kakarag-karag. Pero gabilis! Naunahan pa namin ang Carmelita kahit nauna silang umalis ng Anawangin by several minutes ahead of us. Ang makulit nun, nabasa kaming apat sa sobrang bilis. Siga ata sa drag racing ng bangka yung bangkero namin.)

beach front
* 2:36 - Pundaquit beach
(Bumaba kami sa beach front ng Pundaquit pero aaaaang layo pa ng nilakad namin pabalik dun sa resort na pinag-umpisahan namin the day before. Parang nag trek lang ulit sa ilalim ng araw.)

* 2:43PM - resort na may unggoy
(Nasa resort na ulit kami na may unggoy. May signal na sa wakas!)

* 3:13 - trike to San Antonio City Hall
* 5:06 - carinderia time
- ride bus going back to Olongapo
(Pagdating sa San Antonio, chicha agad kami sa carinderia habang pinanood ang laban ng boxing ni Donaire. Astig ng pagkapanalo niya! Igado ulit ang inulam ko. Hangover ng igado ni Jops. Pagtapos nun sinabayan ko ulit ng halo-halo. Dito ko nga nalaman na kinsa lang ang halo-halo sa kabayanan.)

(After neto, nag abang na kami ng bus pabalik ng Olongapo.)

Day 2 - Page 5
* 6:22 - nag-iintay ng bus papuntang Cubao (Victory Liner - Olongapo)
- bumili ng pasalubong (orange)
(Naubusan ng bus ang Victory dahil sa dami ng taong umuuwi so nakatambay lang kami sa isang sulok ng istasyon at kung ano ano nang raket ang ginawa namin. Nag fishbol, bumili ng pasalubong, nag withdraw dahil wala nang mga pera, at kwentuhang malupet. Habang hinihintay magkaron ng available na bus.)

* 7:02 - nakasakay sa wakas!
(May dumating nang bus.)
* 10:20PM - tollgate (NLEX)
* 11:09 - arrival at Victory Liner - Cubao
(Anlakas ng ulaaaan!!!)

* 11:46 - tambay sa Goto King
(Nagpalipas kami ng ulan sa Goto King. Lamon muna kaming katakot-takot!)
* 12:27 - homebound
(Tumigil na ang ulan at nagkanya-kanya na kami ng uwi.)

Day 3
Monday
* 1:02AM - home sweet house!

*****

Acknowledgement...

ang ganda... sana andito ka!
Bro God!
(Thanks Bro! It was another safe and makulet na trek for us to experience! Thanks for the blessing of food, friends, and the opportunity to take part in this event. You're the bestest!)

Team Carl
(Thanks kay Carl and the rest of his gang for letting us tag along! Good times!)

Mher
(Salamat sa pag-sama, bro! Di ko alam kung ano manyayari sa amin kung tumuloy kami ng Tarak, hahaha! See you more in future treks ng AIM. Big up!)

Mommy Groovy ang Tita Angie
(Sarap ng adobo... as usual!)

Mang Mario, our guide, and "Carmelita"
(Ang aming "events organizer"... hahaha! Panalo. Napakanta ako ng... "Let me love you, Carmelita! Let me kiss and hold you tight!" Hahaha!)

8th Color of the Spectrum

2009-04-25T14:45:00.003+08:00

Ninakaw kay Kimay. Pampalipas ng oras. Na-miss ko sumagot ng gento. Game!

1. Sa hirap ng buhay ngayon, anong favorite mong band?
.Rage Against the Machine, kasi ang hirap na nga ng buhay aktibista pa sila. States-side nga lang.
.
2. Pag lumindol ng malakas at katabi mo crush mo, anong gusto mong sabihin sa mga may ayaw kay Pacquiao?
.Sa ayaw niyo't sa hindi... artista na siya at recording artist pa. Ang malupet, dancer na si Nanay Dionisia!
.
3. Kunyare mananalo ka ng 1 million, anong gusto mong kulay ng rainbow?
.Kunyare PINK. Kahit walang PINK sa rainbow.
.
4. Binigyan ka ng kapangyarihan ng diwata, ano favorite color mo?
.VIOLET. Tapos gagamitin ko ang kapangyarihan ko para gawing kulay violet si Barney! Kahit VIOLET na siya.
.
5. Ipapamana sayo mga ari-arian nyo ng tatay mo. Kung papipiliin ka, punk o emo?
.Punk! Kasi ang tunay na lalake hindi emo, may mana man o wala.
.
6. Kunyare papatay ka ng tao, saan ka galing nung saturday?
.Nag trek ng bundok pababa ng Anawangin Cove. Kaso sa sobrang dami ng tao hindi ako makapamili ng papatayin!
.
7. Kunyare nasa gubat ka na punong puno ng mga mapanganib na hayop, papayag ka ba mapunta si Angel Locsin kay Kuya Dick?
.Hindi. Akin lang siya. Isasama ko siya sa gubat!
.
8. Kunyare nag-i love you ka na sa nanliligaw syo tapos biglang may lumitaw na dragon sa harap mo, ano favorite mong pagkain?
.Sisig!! Dun ko siya ima-microwave sa bibig ng dragon tas susubuan ko yung nililigawan ko sabay sabi ng I LOOOOVE YOU... THREEE TIMES A DAY!!!
.
9. Kunyare nakasalubong mo ex-love mo na may kasamang bago nyang girlfriend/boyfriend, anong gagawin mo para makatulong sa mga nasalanta ng bagyo?
.I'll pray for them... dun sa mga nasalanta ng bagyo ha.
.
10. Nabuntis ang girlfriend mo ng bestfriend mo tapos tinanong ka nya, KFC o McDO?
.MikDonelds... dobol quarter pounder pleeeease!
.
11. Kunyare magugunaw na mundo bukas tapos nalaman mong gusto ka rin ng gusto mo, kaninong dentista ka magpapaus ng ipin?
.Kay Vicky Belo! Magpapa-botox ako ng ipin.
.
12. Oo o hindi lng, anong pakiramdam mo ngayon?
.Natatae.
.
13. Sa gulo ng gobyerno natin ngayon, sa tingin mo may pag-asa pa bang mabago ang size ng pasas?
.Tingin ko, kapag naipasa sa batas ang Constitutional Assembly hindi na lalaki ang size ng pasas kasi mas tataas ang benta ng galunggong kesa fruit salad, fruit cake, at raisin breads.
.
14. Nastranded ka sa elevator wala kang mahingan ng tulong, anong gagawin mo para makaalis ng bahay bukas?
.Kokontakin ko si Kokey sa pamamagitan ng aking ilong at iuutos kong humingi ng tulong sa Barangay Captain.
.
Kokey - My Hero!
15. Naalala mo bigla ung EX mo, tingin mo naalala ka rin ng teacher mo nung grade 1?
.Hindi ako kayang kalimutan nun. Kasi biningwit ko at ng EX ko yung hito sa fishpond niya noon!
.
16. Hindi na kayo nagpapansinan ng dating mahal mo, tingin mo alam nya ang pakiramdam mo kapag may sun burn?
.Malaki ang tiyansa na OO. Mahapdi kasi sa likod eh at ang sabi niya, nararamdaman niya kung ano ang nararamdaman ko. Sweeeet!
.
17. Dinampot ka ng pulis sa kasalanang hindi mo ginawa, anong sasabihin mo para add ka nya sa Friendster?
.Koya, friend ko sa Friendster si Katrina Halili! Check mo!
.
18. Nagkasabay outing ng tropa at pamilya mo? Ano uunahin mo isuot t-shirt o pantalon?
.Pantalon muna. Kasi kapag inuna ko ang t-shirt baka makalimutan kong wala pa kong underwear kapag susuotin ko na ang pantalon.
.
19. Nasira mo tiwala ng kaibigan mo, paano mo maibabalik ang dating sigla ng kalikasan?
.Hindi na ko iihi sa puno. Sa pader na lang. Yayain ko kaibigan kong ganun din ang gawin para magbalik ang tiwala niya sa pader.
.
20. Pag baka ang sabaw mo at chicken cubes ang nilagay mo, ano ang mangingibabaw... kasamaan o kabutihan?
.Depende sa ugali ng nagluluto. Minsan factor din yan eh.
.

Mga Taong Relo

2009-04-13T18:17:00.000+08:00

Way too late a review. I already have the graphic novel by the time I watched this film several weeks ago, but I refused to read it first before viewing it. This is just so I know I may be able to comment about it from a perspective of someone who is not comparing from the adapted manuscript.

Watchmen
Spoiler Alert! Spoiler Alert! Spoiler Alert!

It's the 80's and conflicts between America and the Soviet Union ups the possibility of a nuclear warfare. In the US, a retired costumed crimefighter is murdered. It sets off his friend and ex-teammate Rorschach to hunt the killer. In a tangled web of deceit, the remaining Watchmen are forced to reunite and follow the trails of the culprit as it led them deeper and deeper into its schemes.

The rest of the story has a brilliantly complex plot that giving it away on a summary won't give justice to its essence. So just to have an idea, in the latter part of the story, they discovered that the murderer is one of their own and that a necessary evil is done in order to justify a greater good.

The verdict...
I haven't read the graphic novel yet but I feel bad that Alan Moore disowns the film possibly without even going through watching it. Without knowing how good or bad the adaptation goes, the brilliance of the storyline alone and how it is depicted in the film is a visual treat. The 80's settings is captured alive and each scenes seem to be taken right out of comic book panels. Yes, they are darkly set typical of movies such as "300" (same director with the film) and "V for Vendetta", but vivid colors all around which is characteristic of the 80's is well represented throughout the movie. The Ozymandias & Silk Spectre costumes for example are reminiscent of the old colorful superhero japorms ala the "KABLAM! KAPOW!" era of Batman and Robin.

Since I belong to that part of the patrons who haven't read the comicbook, I can confidently say that reading it is not really a prerequisite in order to enjoy the film. Yes, viewers might be able to miss some nitty gritties that will only be apparent if one read the original storyline but the entertainment value coming from "freshly" viewing the movie and following its story is a totally different experience compared to those who read it and expecting a LOT from the adaptation.

The film can easily be discounted as just another "supergroup" story at first glance and I've heard a couple of unintelligent remarks about it by people who obviously just based their judgment from how crappy the heroes look like on the preview. Well for the benefit of those who don't know crap about the graphic novel, the storyline is brilliantly weaved with a plot well above to a hell lot of modern comicbook to film adaptations.

If there will be a downside to the flow of the screenplay is that I find the "character-driving" a bit extended to a point that the difference between what scenes are for character development and what scenes are for plot development is already confusing. So at some point, the movie will feel somewhat being dragged by unnecessary scenes when you will realize later on that they are relevant to the story.

I also hated the cut scene. Not because it bereft the male viewers a longer glance-time at Malin Akerman's (Silk Spectre II) naked glory but because it's an obvious and tasteless cut. I rather preferred the whole fiasco removed if it will mean that they can take it out of the film creatively, that is the cut being not too noticeable.

Now for the casts. Some of the praiseworthy performances to take note is by Walter Kovacs for taking the role of the hooded sociopath, Rorschach. His voice and mannerism made a life out of the character. Billy Crudup, the CG-based Dr. Manhattan, just needs to act blankly and detached and he'll do fine. I also liked the portrayal of the Comedian (Jeffrey Dean Morgan). Morgan's acting did justice to the storyline developed for his character... rugged and maniacal. I find Malin Akerman's acting dull. She's just a token eye-candy on the movie. As for Ozymandias (Matthew Goode), if the character's meant to be vain, laid-back, and haughty (and gay!) in the graphic novel then I guess he did his part well. Nite Owl II (Patrick Wilson) just acted averagely for me. He performed well as a typical nerdy do-good guy.

In all, it's a well mix of a great screenplay, a good cinematography (if you're the one for dark themes), and an awesome plot to back it all up. Kudos to the director for brilliantly putting up what is long deemed to be an unfilmable material.

9 out of 10!

Cutoff Time

2009-04-12T23:56:00.003+08:00

I attended this mass in Greenbelt just a couple of hours ago. Ang ganda ng homily ng pari. It was a series of short stories that mostly I heard already anyway but one topic touched me in a peculiar way. Sakto sa pinagdaanan kong trobol over the holy week.

He adapted a phrase from the movie Pay It Forward - "The world is a shithole."

His words exactly are... "the world is full of disappointments but we have the capability to flip it for our good". Basically, he just wanted to tell that there are bright side to things and all you need to do is believe in it. Accept it.

Life is a fuck. And no matter how unaccountable somebody's riches are or how jack (short for "jackpot"... haha!) you are with your dropdead trophy partner, these people's lives - like all of us too - are still bound to fuck in one way or another... sooner or later. In the end it's just a matter of contentment and how you view things that will keep you moving on with life.

Para sakin, hindi ko pa din alam hanggang ngayon kung ano yung brighter side ng trobol ko. Either that, or I'm just not ready to face it yet. Kung ano pa man yun, I'm just being thankful that I have Bro God to turn to.

Sabi nga ng isa sa mga paborito kong superhero na si Captain Hammer, "SO, this is how pain feels like!"

Hehe!

Happy Easter!

I Part Seas

2009-03-30T02:00:00.004+08:00

I just came from a very meaningful weekend leadership retreat in Tagaytay. It was quite an experience to sit there with potential servant leaders of our apostolate but it was even more heartening to know that I am with people who are or will be instruments of God's influence to a lot of other people the Singles Apostolate touch base with.

Ang astig.

I was sent an invite to join the "I'm No Moses" Seminar several weeks back but I only confirmed a couple of days prior to it. I have reservations about it really, not knowing what to expect. Plus the fact that I have lots of things supposedly planned for this weekend that I have to clear up first, I needed something to justify my participation.

Eto yung makulet na part.

It was a Tuesday (or Wednesday?) morning. Ilang araw na lang bago yung seminar at kelangan ko na ayusin lahat if I am to confirm AND in fact I need to know IF I will confirm, to start with. I needed a sign.

Nagluluto mom ko ng breakfast and, as usual, she has the FM radio turned on (tuned in to any station, just to have an ambient sound). That morning, she was tuned in dito sa isang jologs na FM station. Alam mo na yan, yung station that plays equally jologs songs and has DJ's that will pass as hosts for comedy pubs with flying colors.

I was brushing my teeth then when out of their usual playlist, may Christian song na tumugtog. I was like "huh?". It was totally out of the blue for them to play such song. I specifically paid attention to the lines "still You hear me when I'm calling..." and so I thought "Onga naman, minsan lang Niya ko tawagin pero kung ako naman, halos palagi ko Siyang kinailangan and He din't fail me."

So ayun, taking it as a sign, I confirmed my attendance to Shep Ali and Ther of the Teaching Team that day.

*****

Ia, Laurie, I-am-Sam, Pam, Obi
We're the 9th batch to attend the "I'm No Moses" Seminar. The Teaching Team of the Singles Apostolate of St. James the Great Renewal Movement regularly conducts this to budding servant leaders of the community. I'm totally elated that they consider me as one, totally in awe that God named me into it.

I'm No Mo Batch 9 Attendance: Paul, Len, Obi, Gian, Mike, Kris, Bianca, Sam, Laurie, Pam, Jan, Ia, Del, Karmi, Aweng, Zsa

It has been a very humbling and enlightening experience to join this retreat. Ang daming realizations at sobrang enjoy! For me, it's God's way of refueling my desire to serve. Just when I needed it most, He called me to join I'm No Mo to keep the high up in me. I'm still lost in words to fully describe how I feel right now.

Basta, ang galing!

So super thanks kay Bro... our Lord God for the opportunity to serve you!

Thanks to the Teaching Team, St. James the Great Renewal Movement, and the rest of the people behind the 9th I'm No Mo! I can't thank you enough for organizing the seminar.

Salamat sa Angels' Hills! Parang wala kami sa AH... ansasarap ng pagkain, for a change! Haha! Sana ganun ulet sa August... ahaha!

Mark, idol, special shout out to you. You're the man. Thanks sa lahat! Sigaw ka lang "summon Obi!" pag kelangan mo ng tulong sa Fellowship or whatever I can help you with for the community.

Syempre, thanks mucho sa lahat ng co-participants ko! It has been a very fun and memorable event with you guys. Angas.

*****

Share ko lang 'to... because I'm better off writing than talking.

Anyway, leadership was never an alien concept to me. I organize mountaineering climbs. I interact with peers in airsoft games. I coordinate with crewmates when sailing. I am a team lead of eight at work. AND I have a whole slew more of kabibohan in life that in one way or another I was called on to "step up".

I've never had any problems that I can't handle when dealing with these endeavors. But of course, it's because I am either conditioned into it OR the talents required for it are in me all along.

It's so totally different in the apostolate.

I was always called on to do things I've never truly been accustomed to do in my life. I'm even called on to do things that I don't really do outside the community!

Now, when I look back at what I've done for the apostolate, especially for my class (SE14), I realized that I was never really truly equipped to do what I should but, alam mo yun... we made it through. The class made it through.

I might have screwed up some but God did not fail to provide and correct things and do miracles when I least expected it. I realized, hindi ka Niya tatawagin para sa isang bagay kung hindi mo kakayaning gampanan yung role na iyon. And just as how Moses was called into ministry, just let it be. God will always have His way of doing the rest, of equipping you of just what you'll need to do things for Him. Yun ang astig na part dun.

Yes, I can proudly say "I'm Moses" now... and I'm ready for my burning bush, Lord God.

Can I request for my magic staff to be fine-tuned to part Manila floods? Haha!

*****
Who Am I
by: Casting Crowns

Who am I?
That the Lord of all the earth,
Would care to know my name,
Would care to feel my hurt.
Who am I?
That the bright and morning star,
Would choose to light the way,
For my ever wandering heart.

Not because of who I am,
But because of what you've done.
Not because of what I've done,
But because of who you are.

I am a flower quickly fading,
Here today and gone tomorrow,
A wave tossed in the ocean,
A vapor in the wind.
Still you hear me when I'm calling,
Lord, you catch me when I'm falling,
And you've told me who I am.
I am yours.
I am yours.

Who am I?
That the eyes that see my sin
Would look on me with love
And watch me rise again.
Who am I?
That the voice that calmed the sea,
Would call out through the rain,
And calm the storm in me.

Not because of who I am,
But because of what you've done.
Not because of what I've done,
But because of who you are.

I am a flower quickly fading,
Here today and gone tomorrow,
A wave tossed in the ocean,
A vapor in the wind.
Still you hear me when I'm calling,
Lord, you catch me when I'm falling,
And you've told me who I am.
I am yours.

Not because of who I am,
But because of what you've done.
Not because of what I've done,
But because of who you are.

I am a flower quickly fading,
Here today and gone tomorrow,
A wave tossed in the ocean,
A vapor in the wind.
Still you hear me when I'm calling,
Lord, you catch me when I'm falling,
And you've told me who I am.
I am yours.
I am yours.

I am yours.

Whom shall I fear?
Whom shall I fear?
Cause I am yours.
I am yours.

Next Mountain Please

2009-03-27T00:23:00.006+08:00

Not so far as a month from our Mount Pulag expedition, Team AIM is cooking up yet another climbing trip up north. After a couple of email exchanges (thanks God for technology!), the choices are Mount Cinco Picos (Five Peaks) in zambales and Mount Mariveles (Tarak Ridge) in Bataan and the dates are either on the long weekend of April 4-6 or April 18-19.

We've scaled Cinco Picos before so if we are to push through with the April 4-6 schedule, we'll take a different route... a longer, more arduous one (as if our first Cinco Picos climb is not). However, Tarak Ridge is a first for all of us plus there's a side trip to Corregidor! So in the end, Mount Mariveles on an April 18-19 schedule outweigh the Mount Cinco Picos long weekend.

Here's an informative site I searched on the net regarding trekking on Tarak Ridge...
http://www.pinoymountaineer.com/2007/08/tarak-ridge-1130.html

* pic-napped from lakwatserong.ticsay.ph

And here's our proposed itinerary:
Estimated Trek Time: 5 hours

April 18, 2009 - Saturday, Day 1
04:30 - Assembly at Cubao Five Star Bus terminal (Bataan Transit Bus)
05:30 - ETD to Mariveles, Bataan
08:30 - ETA Barangay Alas-asin (Jump Off); Register at Barangay Hall
09:00 - Start Trek
10:00 - "Triangle" clearing
12:00 - ETA Papaya River; Lunch
13:00 - Resume Trek
15:00 – ETA Tarak Ridge (Tarak and El Saco peaks)
16:30 – Back to Papaya River; Set camp
18:00 – Dinner; Social
20:00 - Lights out

April 19, 2009 - Sunday, Day 2
05:00 - Wake-up call; Prepare Breakfast
06:00 - Break camp
06:30 - Start descent
08:30 - ETA Barangay Alas-asin (Jump Off); Buy food in Market
09:00 – ETD to Villa Carmen
09:10 – ETD to Corregidor
10:00 – ETA to Corregidor
10:30 – Lunch/Swimming/Tour Corregidor
15:30 - ETD from Corregidor
16:30 - ETA to Barangay Alas-asin
17:00 - ETD to Cubao, Manila
20:00 - ETA, Manila

*****

Estimated Expenses

* Bus fare from Cubao to Mariveles, Bataan (Five Star Bus) = P534 (two way)
* Barangay Alas-asin Registration Fee = P40
* Jampong Trail Registration = P10
* Lunch in Corregidor = P220

That's just around P800 rounded total. But I recommend bringing at least P1,300 per pax for any expenses we might incur along the way. Take note that the boat ride from Villa Carmen to Corregidor is not yet factored in but it should not cost as much as P200 per pax given we were about more than 10 in the group.

*****

Essential Gears and Equipments

· Backpack (mountaineering standards)
· Sleeping bag / tent
· Flashlight / Headlamp (with extra batteries)
· Mess kits (utensils)
· Trash bags
· Personal medication / First Aid Kit
· 2 liters Drinking Water
· Off Lotion or any mosquito repellant
· Sets of clothing (Cool fit shirt or Mesh shirt)
· Trekking Shoes/sandals
· Cap / Bush hat
· Arm Warmer
· Leg warmer or Tights or Leggings
· Trekking shorts or Pants
· Thermal Jacket
· Hand Gloves

Mount Pulag - Day 2

2009-03-12T19:57:00.008+08:00

Day 2 of Team AIM's Mount Pulag expedition...

Ang nakaraan...

Sasapit ang kaarawan ng ating bidang si Obi (hindi tunay na pangalan). Naisipan niyang mamundok kasama ang mga piling kaibigan. Pinag-usapan ang dapat pag-usapan at pinag-kwentuhan ang dapat pag-kwentuhan hanggang sa mabuo ang mga plano... "AAKYAT TAYO SA BUNDOK NG PULAG"! Kasama sina Lakay (hindi tunay na pangalan) at Jessiemer (tunay na pangalan), naka-uto sila ng labing-lima pang tao para sumama sa paglalakbay!

Pag sapit ng ika-dalawanpu't walo ng Pebrero, tumulak ang grupo patungong Baguio sa harap ng kaguluhan ng piyesta ng Panagbenga at narating ang liblib na lugar ng Kabayan, Benguet. Dito sinimulan ng mga walang magawa sa buhay ang paglalakad patungong tuktok ng Bundok Pulag. Sa unang gabi ng kanilang paglalakbay, naranasan nila ang hirap, pagod, gutom, at utot ni Mher at Lu (hindi tunay na mga pangalan).

Tatagal pa kaya ang grupo para sa isa pang araw ng pananatili sa bundok?

Mararating kaya nila ang tuktok na hinahanap?

Mamimigay kaya si Gelo ng Speeem Senwhiiich (Spam Sandwich)?

Sino kaya ang makakatuluyan ni Bok... si Kim Chiu o ang bestfriend niyang si Gerald Anderson?

Abangan hanggang sa susunod na kabanata ng...

"KAPAG HANGIN ANG ITINANIM!"

*****

Sa pagpapatuloy...

Day 2 - Page 7
Sunday
* 2:42AM - wake up
- assault preparation
(Ang aga ko nagising. Bad trip. Aaaaang lamig lamig! Tagos laman! Pinilit kong bumangon para mag-ayos na ng gamit para sa assault papuntang Pulag summit. Lekat talaga si Eva, pang tatlong tao ang sinakop sa tent. Sa ibang mga tent, maingay na ang grupo ni Lou at Gelo. Utot na naman ata ang pinag-uusapan nila.)

* 3:15 - I'm prepped up
(I'm good to go. Sandamakmak na ang tinapal ko sa sarili ko para hindi maramdaman ang lamig. Here's what I wore and brought up to the summit that day...

~ 2 layers synthetic shirts
~ woolen jacket
~ windbreaker
~ layered hiking shorts
~ hiking pants
~ 2 layers socks
~ violet bonnet (kelangang sabihing VIOLET)
~ shemagh (yeah... that cultural scarf na ginagawang fashion statement ng mga bading)
~ boonie hat
~ gloves

waiting for my sunshine
My assault bag contents:
~ raisins
~ water bladder
~ pen and paper
~ mobile phone (ni Eva!)
~ headlamp

Day 2 - Page 8
* 4:01 - assault starts
(The group left the camp at exactly 4AM. Malabong kayanin ni Eva yung lamig kaya nag-paiwan na lang siya sa campsite. 17 kaming umakyat patungong summit. ANLAMIG! Can't state that any less. O.A. talaga sa lamig!)

* 4:32 - 1.5KM mark
- "pusakal" following us
(We reached the 1.5KM mark, meaning we're just a kilometer and a half to the highest peak of the mountain. There are lots of sub-peaks around the perimeter at this altitude and the infamous dwarf bamboos are endemic already around the area. May pusakal [pusang kalye] na sumabay samin sa pag-akyat sa peak. Habang pagod na pagod kami, yung pusa eh walang ka-effort effort na sumuot suot sa pagitan ng prusisyon namin.)

* 4:41 - Stopover (Overlooking Baguio)
(Madilim pa din nung una kaming tumigil. Kitang kita from up there yung mga ilaw ng Baguio. Parang nasa Antipolo ka lang overlooking Manila kaso mas malamig by 10 times.)

* 5:01AM - may signal ang Globe!!!
* 5:14 - several summits in sight
- Grassland summit ang target
(More sub-peaks in sight. Kita na at this altitude yung outline ng buong Cordillera Mountain Range. Sayang talaga hindi ako masyadong nakapag-research about the other significant mountain peaks visible from Pulag. Mas maangas yun if I can turn in directions and point out that this is the summit of blah blah blah.)

Day 2 - Page 9
* 5:34 - summit! (7 Centigrade)
(Victory! We reached the Pulag peak! Tinanong ko ang hightech na relo ni Danilo at ang sabi we're currently at 7 degrees Celsius. Ang angas! Matapos ang walang humpay na photo ops, siksikan kaming lahat sa mga dwarf bamboos habang hinihintay yung sunrise. Yung mga kasama naming photographer nagkanya-kanyang setup na ng tripod sa mga strategic locations.)

(May dumating na bagong grupo kasunod namin. Ang lupit ng mga attire nila, nakaka-lalake! May naka shirts at pants lang habang yung mga babae parang naka-daster na tela lang. Samantalang kami kulang na lang mag broke-bakan para makahanap ng init! Para lang silang nag wo-walk in the park. Asar eh.)

(Behind us is the infamous Akiki Trail. Bulletday [balang-araw], I'll be able to traverse that path too. Konting praktis pa at more mountain experience. PLUS sisiguraduhin ko na may thermal jacket na ko pag balik ko sa Pulag!)

sun!
* 6:29 - Team O goes down to Camp 2
(Di na yata kaya ng grupo ko yung lamig. Isa isa nang nagyaya bumaba pabalik sa campsite. So nagpaalam kami sa Team M at nauna nang bumaba. Kasabay pa din namin yung pusakal.)

* 7:17 - 1.5KM mark
- running downslope with Johann
(We're back at the 1.5KM mark! Sinubukan namin tumakbo ni Johann pababa sa isang slope. Ang angas ng pakiramdam! Parang isang maling tapak lang eh tilapon at gulong na kami to Kingdom-come! Tsaka sarap ng momentum... ambilis! Photo ops na din kami ng sandamakmak along the way back to the camp. Not far from the summit inabot na kami ng Team M dahil sa kaka-posing namin.)

* 7:35AM - back to campsite 2
(Inabot namin si Eva na tulog pa din at naghihilik. Bida ka na namang lekat ka!)

* 7:55 - breakfast preps
(Menu of the Day: itlog, tuna, papaitan, kilawin, corned beef, noodles, at half-cooked rice. Yum yum!)
* 8:56 - break camp
(Cleaning of the campsite and packing up everything. Pinaka-ayokong part ng trekking ang mag pack-up ng tent. Dammit.)

* 10:21 - packed up and ready to go
- my tent is a shit to fix
(As if hindi pa kulang na kamuhian ko ang mag pack ng tent, hindi pa nakisama ang tent ko. Dahil siguro bago, lekat sa hirap itupi. Naka ilang re-rolls kami bago ko pa naayos. Hagya ko nang naisaksak sa carry case niya.)

1.5KM Mark
Day 2 - Page 10
* 10:30 - bye Campsite 2
(Start trekking down. Sweeper position na naman ako. Hay, buhay!)

* 11:07AM - music in I-pod: "Hate that I Love You So" by Rihanna and Chris "beat-her-up" Brown
* 11:23 - sumama mood ko dito
(Hindi ko alam kung baket.)

* 11:27 - Camp 1 stopover
- chocnut break
(Thanks sa chocnut Dric!)

* 11:40 - resume trek
* 12:27 - Ranger Station
(According to a Manong at the Ranger Station, the trek from that point up to the summit is at least 2500 meters above sea level. Mataas na din, in fairness.)

* 1:20PM - bye Ranger Station
(Paid 1.1K for each guide. Dinagdagan na lang namin. Ambait naman ni Manang at Manong.)

Day 2 - Page 11
May utang ka spaghetti kay Piglet!!
(Walang kinalaman sa trek. Gusto ko lang isulat para maalala.)

* 2:56 - DENR ulit
- buy tshirt
(Back at the DENR station, naligo yung iba sa amin. Bumili na din ako ng "I survived Pulag" na tshirt para souvenir. Nag-alay din ako ng calling card sa memorabilia wall nila. Habang ang iba naman bumili ng chicha sa kalapit na tindahan.)

(Nag hingian na din kami ng mga kontak numbers at email. Isinulat ko sa Multiply ng Team AIM yung mga kontak namin.)

http://akyatitmountaineers.multiply.com/

Day 2 - Page 12
* 3:31 - bye DENR
* 4:37 - Pingkan Jo Eatery
* 4:47 - resume trip back to Baguio

sea of clouds
* 5:41PM - Baguio!
(Ang traaaaaaffic! Dahil sa Panagbenga, andaming sasakyan.)
* 6:01 - Good Taste Resto
(Ay grabeng LAMON ang ginawa namin dito. Sulit tong resto na ito. Price range is around 110-150 only but the serving size is REALLY gynormous and sulit sa sarap for its size! Lekat. can't describe it. Basta must-visit ito when you're in Baguio. What's weird is that I was always in Baguio. Wala atang taon na hindi ako umaakyat ng Baguio. Pero hindi ko alam itong kainan na to, and they've been there for a long time already.)

Grub List (for Obi, Eva, Johann pa lang!)
- Fried Rice for 6
- Lechon Chopsuey
- Beef Broccolli (Brocolli? Broccoli? Whatever!)
- Miswa with Wual Eggs

(Dito na din kami nag koleksiyon ng kontribusyon. Ang mura ng trip namin in fairness. Parang lumalabas wala pang 2.5K ang gastos namin all-in-all. Very tipid trip I must say.)

* 7:10 - bye Good Taste
(Hinatid na kami ni Manong Driver sa Victory Liner.)
* 7:40 - Victory Liner, Baguio
(Bid goodbye to Manong Driver na binigyan namin ng 9.4K, may pasobra ulit para sa isang malupet na tip. Dahil sobrang bugbog yung pink nyang jeep sa pag-akyat at baba ng Ranger Station. Good job!)

Day 2 - Page 13
* 7:57 - bus now
(Nakasakay na kami. Ansarap nang nakapag reserve ng tickets. Andaaaming chance passengers dahil sa Panagbenga!)

* 8:13PM - bye Baguio, hello Nyunyu Land! Zzzz!!!
* 9:48 - Sison stopover
(Pangasinan)

* 1:28 - Victory Liner, Cubao
(Naubusan na ng tinta ang ballpen ko. Bumaba na ang iba sa amin. Gento yung order ng pag-uwi namin...

Kamachille - Dric and company
North Ave - Johann and Eva
Kamuning - Gents and company
Cubao - Mher and company, Jiji and Scal
Ayala - Obi and Gelo
Pasay - Dan and Ayn

* 2:03AM - home sweet house!
(It's weird na hindi pa ko pagod at this moment. Ye, masakit katawan ko pero yung pagod wala talaga. I can't wait for our next climb. Sobrang sulit ang lahat sa trip na ito. Malupit talaga pag maganda ang pagkaka-plano ng lakwatsa!)

Team AIM

*****

Acknowledgement...

Lord God!
(Syempre Ikaw muna. Thanks, Men! Ang lupet ng binigay Mo sa amin... buhay, lakas at kakayahan, kaibigan, pagkakataon, kasiyahan, at higit sa lahat yung mga malulupet na tanawin tsaka etong mundo mismo na napakarami pang dapat i-explore in a lifetime. It was really a humbling experience to see such a wonder that You've created. Salamats ulit... You're the Man!)

Team AIM!
(Good job! I'm so proud of you. Kaming old-timers, kahit papano di pa din tayo kinakalawang mga bok! Yung mga first-timers naman, galing nyo! Pulag agad? Hahaha! I'm looking forward to AIM high for more mountains with you guys! So saan next... Bataan o Pinatubo ulet? Yung mga nagpahiram sa akin ng phone... Ayn and Eva. Dan... para sa i-Pod. Salamats!)

Manong Roger and Chief Mering!
(..and the driver and the guides and all the people that we met along the way and in one way or another have been instrumental for the success of our trip, saludo ako sa inyo kapatid!)

Mommy!
(Sarap ng adobo! You're the best!)

Jeff!
(Salamat sa burner, pre! Nagamit namin ng malupet.)

Conquer (for my bag & apparel), Triton (for my tent), Adidas (for my footwear)!

Globe Telecoms, para sa signal sa taas ng Pulag!

Hail Hitlah

2009-03-10T12:09:00.004+08:00

A long overdue post for the benefit of voicing out my opinion of the film.

*****

Valkyrie
Spoiler Alert! Spoiler Alert! Spoiler Alert!

Based on actual historical events, "Valkyrie" followed the life of Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg from being withdrawn from the German African Front to eventually involving himself on an intricate plot to asassinate the Fuhrer himself, Adolf Hitler, in Germany.

Fresh from injuries sustained on the African battlefield, Stauffenberg is introduced to an underground resistance of high ranking officers and politicians. Their aim: to kill Hitler and propose a peace treaty with the Allies, thus ending the war. In order to machinate the coup, the dissenters rewrite Operation Valkyrie - a protocol that enables the Reserve Army to take over Germany in case of Hitler's death. The resistance omitted the clause that gives the pro-Nazi SS (German special security force) that same privelege, thus the sole control of Germany in case of the Fuhrer's death goes to the head of the Reserve Army, General Fromm.

Stauffenberg got the revised Operation Valkyrie signed by Hitler and in a continued effort by the conspirators, they devise a plan for another asassination attempt. Stauffenberg himself and his adjutant Lieutenant Haeften execute it by planting a bomb on one of Hitler's staff meeting in the Prussian military HQ - Wolf's Lair.

They rig the bomb inside the staff meeting and quickly return to Berlin. Together with the resistance, they force General Fromm to execute Operation Valkyrie believing that Hitler died from the bombing. Fortunately (or rather unfortunately), the Nazi dictator survive the attempt when the bag containing the bomb is moved away from where it will be fatal to the Fuhrer. And just as Stauffenberg and the rest of the conspirators mobilize to occupy Germany, Hitler with help from his trusted SS officers consolidate power and eventually root out the dissenters.

All are either executed or have committed suicide. Colonel Stauffenberg died from firing squad the same night their underground group fail the coup.

Left: Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg, Right: Tom Cruise
The verdict...
The director did a good job of presenting the failed July 20 plot to kill Hitler in a way that it will be moving not only for World War 2 buffs but also to regular Joe viewers. The storyline, although mostly based on factual occurences, has been written to accommodate bits of fiction just enough to make it dramatic.

The production design did a great deal of research. From costumes to props to the actual locations, the film relives that era where the Nazi is at its height of power and makes you visualize how Germany looks like back then. It was as if you're looking at a 1950's movie setting, only not in black and white.

Of course, a posing problem of the film (and also on most Americanized foreign movies) is that characters converse in English. Obviously, expressions and intonations differ a lot between German and English and it may be off-putting for a German to see how lines are delivered or acted out awkwardly. But personally, it should be so trivial to matter if you won't be too anal about it. C'mon, you're probably not a German anyway to care.

Funny thing is that when I checked out the net for photos of the real personalities behind the conspiracy, almost all look like the actors that played them in the movie. Adolf Hitler himself looks really similar to the actor who played his persona (David Bamber). On the top of my list though is Bill Nighy who resembled General Olbricht strikingly accurate. Try to search a photo of the real General Olbricht on the net and compare it with Bill Nighy's depiction so you'll see what I'm talking about.

Great acting. Great production. Great storyline. This movie has the making of a classic if not for Tom Cruise himself. I can't figure out what's wrong with his acting in the film but he seems really out of place among stellar performances by his supporting casts... Terence Stamp (as Ludwig Beck) and Christian Berkel (as Colonel Quirnheim) first come to my mind.

Aside from that, it's totally an experience to watch the movie and worth watching on a good cinema. Know about the later part of the Nazi Germany era on a non-boring way.

8.5 of 10.

Mount Pulag - Day 1

2009-03-09T13:42:00.008+08:00

Quick Facts:
Coordinates: (summit) 16°34'58"N, 120°53'15"E
Location: Kabayan, Benguet
Jump Off: (Ambangeg Trail) - Badabak Ranger Station
Elevation (summit): 2922 masl
Estimated Climb Time: 4-5 hours
Estimated Climb Distance: (Ranger Station to Summit) - 8KM

* Mount Pulag is the second (some claims third) highest peak in the Philippines and highest peak in Luzon.
* Major inhabitants are people of the Kankaney tribe of Benguet.
* Dwarf bamboo grass is naturally prevalent at the top of Mount Pulag.
* The Pulag peak is just one of several peaks that ring around the area as part of the winding Cordillera mountain range.

*****

It was a harried Friday for me at work but by the drop of the 6 o'clock PM mark, I rushed my arse off the office to meet the rest of Team AIM and friends at the Cubao station of Victory Liner. This set off our first climb of the year to Mount Pulag!

Trek Date: February 28 - March 1, 2009 (Panagbenga Festival in Baguio!)

Team AIM in Mount Pulag summit.
18 in all, we decided to split ourselves into two teams to have a more streamlined organization.

Team AIM (Akyat I.T. Mountaineers) Attendance:
Team M:
Mher, Cicelle, Carl, Mandric, Sonny, Dan, Ayn, Jiji, Scal, Vic

Team O:
Obi, Johann, Eva, Gelo, Lou, Gents, Francis, Paul

I co-organized this expedition with Dan and Mher as a gift to myself for my coming birthday (which is today!) and I don't think they knew about it. But it's so cool we pulled it off just right. Tamang enjoy lang ang trippings.

I started writing on my travel journal the time me and Johann arrived at the bus stop so here be the logs I made. Tara lets!

*****

(Entries were lifted from my notepad in verbatim.)

Day .5 - Page 1
Friday
* 7:49PM - Victory Bus Line (Cubao)
(Inabutan na namin ni Johann doon yung grupo ni Mher, grupo ni Mandric, at si Vic. At ang sandamakmak na higanteng bags na naka harang sa bangketa ng terminal. Sorry Bayani Fernando!)

* 7:53 - Arrival of the the HP Group
(Eto yung mga tropa na bitbit ni Gelo.)
* 8:29 - Eva's Arrival
(Ang lekat na buzzer beater.)

Day .5 - Page 2
* 8:33 - board the bus
(Kinwentuhan ako ng malupet ni Mher kaya nakalimutan ko ilista kung ano oras umalis yung bus namin papuntang Baguio.)
* 11:02 - Tarlac Stopover
(Kung kelan nakukuha na namin ang tulog namin.)

* 11:25PM - Resume Trip
(Kumain lang ako ng bacon cheeseburger. Yub yub! Dito pumasok si Scal sa kabilang bus. Laugh trip.)
* 12:23 - SM City - Rosales, Pangasinan
* 1:04 - Victory Liner - Sison, Pangasinan (Stopover)
(Kung kelan nakukuha na namin ang ikalwang attempt naming matulog.)
* 1:21 - Resume Trip
(Kumain naman ako ng hotdog dahil nainggit ako kay Dan at Ayn. Nakita namin sa isang Panagbenga Banner na pupunta si John Lloyd Cruz sa Baguio sa araw na eto. Power huuuuug!!! Eeew.)
* 1:38 - Marcos Highway passage.

Pimp My Ride ni Mang Roger
* 2:47AM - Baguio! (Caltex)
* 3:33 - call Mang Roger
- No ALAK??!!
- Bought tickets for return trip
(Si Mang Roger ang "the man" kung trip niyo umarkila ng masasakyan na jeep from Baguio to Benguet. Ang lupit ng ipina-arkila niya sa aming jeep... kulay pink! Habang hinihintay si Manong Roger the Man, bibili sana kami ng alak sa katabing convenient store sa Caltex. Kaso di na pala nag bebenta ng mamam sa Baguio past 12 midnight. Olats. Habang sila Dan at Mher eh nagpa-reserve na ng tickets para sa return trip namin sa Manila, kumain naman kami ng mainit init at greaseless pa na strawberry taho. Namit!)

Day 1 - Page 3
Saturday
* 3:48 - Mang Roger the Man has arrived.
* 4:10 - Chowking - Session Road
(Kumain ako ng chowfan for breakfast at nag takeout ng dalawang siopao bola-bola. Baon ko ito paakyat ng bundok. Na-miss namin ang mga hindi nakasamang umakyat... Odie, Ogie, Leo, kahit si Dee Dee at Wacha. OO, Wacha, pinag-usapan ka namen!)
* 5:06 - Resume trip to Benguet.

* 6:11AM - Pingkan Jo Eatery (Stopover)
- NO SIGNAL ang phone ko! Awts.
(Benguet na ito. Photo ops kami sa tabing kalsada at wee-wee break na din.)

* 7:18 - Ambuklao Dam (Stopover)
(Photo ops muna sa Ambuklao Dam.)
* 8:01 - DENR Office
(We were welcomed by the local DENR chief, Mering Tamiray.)
* 8:33 - Seminar starts.
(Mam Mering have us watch a video presentation about some of the basic information about Mount Pulag and the things to consider when trekking it. After which, she gave a short talk about what to expect from the expedition and additional reminders. She's good at what she's doing. Kwela pa [or at least, she's trying to] sa pagbibigay ng inpormasyon. Yun nga lang tinulugan siya ni Lou. Sorry siya. Haha!)

Day 1 - Page 4
* 8:50 - Chief Mering talks.
(She continued her discussion about mountaineering in Pulag. Here are bits and pieces of what she informed us regarding our climb:

~ 3rd group na kami to climb the mountain that day.
~ Kinilala niya din kung sino yung mga assigned sa essential roles ng grupo...

Babala: Malalim na Tagalog
Dan - Leader (ang pinuno ng grupo; decision-maker at punong tagapag-paalala)
Ayn - Medic ng Team M (ang tagapangasiwa ng atensiyong medical ng Team M)
Lou - Medic ng Team O (ang tagapangasiwa ng atensiyong medical ng Team O)
Obi - Sweeper (ang tagahagupit sa mga mababagal maglakad; punong-abala sa pagsiyasat ng grupo)
Gelo - Spammer (tagapangalaga ng Spam Sandwich)

{okay, imbento ko lang yung pinaka huling role... haha!}

~ We were told to settle on Campsite 2 when we reach it.
~ WAG AWAYIN ANG SWEEPER! Kabilinbilinan ni Chief Mering. Haha!

Brief Orientation by Chief Mering
* 9:34AM - Seminar ends.
* 9:50 - Bye DENR. Trip resumes.
* 10:07 - Sa sahig with Mher.
(This is where the ride gets really bumpy. Bato bato na yung dinadaanan at paakyat na kami ng bundok. Umupo na kami sa sahig ni Mher para mas sarap buhay. Parang dinuduyan lang.)

Day 1 - Page 5
* 11:09 - Badabak Ranger Station
(Kinain ko na yung unang siopao na baon ko. Dito na din kami maguumpisa ng hike. Dito na din namin nakilala yung makakasama naming dalawang local guides na si Ate at si Kuya. Hehe yun lang tawag namin sa kanila eh.)

* 12:18 - Start of trek.
(Nagrereklamo na agad si Eva. Wala pang 5 minutes into the mountains. Stop the crap! Haha!)
* 12:41PM - first stop of Team M and Team O
(Tigil muna kami together para sa isang malupit na group pictorial.)
- I was talking with Kuya about the origin of names around the area. Akiki (the name of the harder trail going up to Mount Pulag) is a local bird's name.

* 1:20 - Camp 1 stopover
(May signal!! I love you... signal!!)
* 1:47 - Resume trek.
(Kinain na din namin yung first bag ng pasas ko. The best pasas in the world! Kelangan lang pagurin ang kakain. Hehe!)
* 2:28 - Stopover with Mandric.
(Sarap ng flat tops mo, pre!)

* 3:01 - music in i-Pod: "Crossroads" by Bone Thugs and Harmony.
(Nakaka-boring pala ang Sweeper. Bawal umalis sa dulo ng trek. Kailangang ako ang nasa pinaka huling tao sa prusisyon bukod sa guide. This is to make sure na walang ibang kasamahan ang maiiwan. Mainipin pa naman ako sa paglalakad at ambigat ng bitbit ko dahil may dala akong pang apat na tent, dalwang kilong adobong manok, at may ilang litro ng alak. Lekat!)

* 3:20PM - music in i-Pod: "I Don't Wanna Wait in Vain" by Bob Marley

blogging on the jeep ride up to Ranger Station
Day 1 - Page 6
* 3:45 - Campsite 2 arrival!
- Tent pitching
(Nag setup kami sa right side ng Camp 2 [kung nakaharap tayo sa entrance ng camp site]. Walong tent kami all in all...)

Tent 1 - Jiji and Scal
Tent 2 - Mandric and Sonny
Tent 3 - Vic
Tent 4 - Dayn and Ayn
Tent 5 - Obi, Eva, and Johann
Tent 6 - Mher, Cicelle, and Carl
Tent 7 - Gelo and Francis
Tent 8 - Lou, Gents, and Paul

(Dito ko na din kinain yung pangalwang siopao na baon ko. Eto na yung piiiiinakamasarap na siopao sa buong mundo... yung pag kinain mo ng sobrang pagod at gutom ka! Haha!)

* 4:33 - settled in our tents
(Ako, super bagsak. Sobrang O.A. na yung lamig sa labas. Pag hilata ko sa tent, para akong kinaliwang upak ni Pacquiao. Off to nyu-nyu land! Zzzz....)
* 4:50 - Obi's tent occupants, knockout!
(OO kayo yun Johann at Eva! Naghihilik pa!)
- Mher and Dan's cook off begins!

With Johann... on our way up!
* 6:26 - I woke up!
- super cold!
- food preparation
(Inupakan na namin yung adobo ko at binagoongan ni Vic. Sa sobrang sarap, hindi ako kumakain ng bagoong pero napakain ako! Panalo, Vic!)

* 7:00PM - done dinner
- 2nd mobile phone down!
- sarap umihi sa nag yeyelong lugar!
(Hours earlier, bumigay na yung battery ng cellphone ko. So for this trip, wala akong sariling pictures at hindi nagamit ang GPS ni Shiny the Super Hightech Phone. Tsk tsk! Pinahiram ako ng extra cellphone ni Ayn pero after a while bumigay na din ang battery niya. Ongapala, may signal sa Campsite 2 ang Globe kaya nakapag todo kitikitext ako!)

Day 1 - Page 7
* 7:21 - Phone #3 ready!
(Nakahiram ako ng phone kay Eva. Na namatay din agad makalipas ang isang oras ng pag text.)
* 8:18 - Phone #4 ready!
(At hiniram ko ang pangalwang phone ni Eva para makapag kitikitext some more! Thanks Evs!)

* 8:48 - Ready to sleep
- Called SST peeps at John's birthday celebration
(Sooobrang lamig na by this time. As in suot sa two layers of cloth at pasok hanggang underwear! Nabasa kami earlier ng ulan habang nag sesetup ng tent kaya after pitching it up, kanya kanya kaming suot sa mga sleeping bags namin. Sa tent ko, para kaming sardinas ni Johann sa sikip dahil ang sinakop ni Eva na space eh pang dalawang tao! Ayus ka ah! Humusay ka!)

(Magkakatabi yung mga tent ng grupo kaya nakakapag-kwentuhan kami between mga kapit-tent kahit nasa loob na kaming lahat. Sigawan lang ng konti. Sa tent nila Gelo parang may nagbukas ng old-school na generator. Yun pala naghihilik na siya. Sila Mher at Vic ang natuloy mag-inuman sa labas ng tents nila kahit parang nasa loob ng refrigerator ang lamig sa labas. May kasama pa silang dalawa pa, nakalimutan ko kung sino. Nilagyan nila ng sausage at itlog yung natirang nilaga from our dinner. Ano lasa? Mahalaga pa ba yun pag nangangatog ka na sa lamig at gutom?!? Haha!)

(Tumawag kami sa bahay nila John sa Manila dahil andun yung mga ibang opismeyts namin that night. Birthday niya. Pang asar yung moist na pumapasok sa loob ng tent. Kapag humangin ng malakas, napapagpag yung tent at nagtitilamsikan yung mga galamig na droplets sa loob. Para kaming winiwisikan sa mukha. Kaya kanya kanya kaming suot sa mga sleeping bags namin.)

(Dun naman sa tent nila Lou, may session sila. "Bio Gas Sharing" ang tawag. Palitang-utot sa Tagalog.)

AIM's tent city... my tent's on the upper right corner (blue with orange trims)
*****

Day 2 to be continued...

To Aim From Me

2009-03-05T18:14:00.002+08:00

Writing on the Edge (Mount Pulag - March 1, 2009)
If Only
by Obi
March-1-09

If only my eyes can paint what it see,
I'll capture this moment to last forever;
The gentle breeze, the clouds, the trees,
The thoughts of you and me together.

I'll paint all the places I'd gone to,
And show you things you never knew.

If my heart can beat the happiness I feel,
It'll always beat the same -
Tip tap. Tip tap. Tip tap tip.
Can you hear your name?

Nothing makes a special beat or two,
Than the simple joy of seeing you.

If what I hear and what I feel
Can be made to last a lifetime,
I'll cherish hearing your laughter
And feel your arms in mine
Knowing there'll be more next day
And all the days thereafter.

If eyes can paint what it see...
If hearts can play beats of glee...
If smiles and hugs are for eternity...
If only.

But they can not.
And all ll I can do is write what I see;
Describe what I feel;
Speak of moments I can recall from memory.

Only letters are availabe to me.
I can only write my heart out.
And if these letters can only shout.
It will do...

"I love you,
If you only knew!"

*****

Started brainstorming and writing bits and pieces of this poem during our two-day trek to Mount Pulag (I always keep a notepad handy on most of my lakwatsa). I thought I'd share this first while I'm still writing the travel journal I wrote during our climb.

Sa mga kasama ko na Team AIM sa Pulag, konting hintay na lang. Sinusulat ko na yung trek diary naten! Hahaha!

What Comes Up, Goes Down

2009-03-03T09:47:00.003+08:00

Click for a larger view

We made it in one piece!

4 ladies and 14 gents... atop a big heap of earth called Mount Pulag and back!

Akyat I.T. Mountaineers (AIM)
Team M
Mher
Carl
Cicelle
Vic
Dan
Ayn
Mandric
Sonny
Scal
Jiji

Team O
Obi
Johann
Eva Jane
Gents
Paul
Lou
Francis
Gelo

Unbeknown to most of these people, I half-orchestrated this expedition as a lakwatsa gift for my own birthday this coming weekend and I can't be thankful enough to these guys for making it a HUGE success! Fun, friendship, brotherhood, and just outright craziness... that climb will definitely be one of my most memorable one! Big thanks!

Photos will be posted soon. For now, enjoy the teaser banner at Dric's website.
http://rickgt23.multipy.com/

As usual, I was on journal duties on the entire journey. I'll blog down what I wrote during the climb soon.

BIG UP, AIM!

Push It Good

2009-02-18T19:27:00.003+08:00

Watched this film with the "Stoners" and our guest from Sydney. I can't believe we picked this over "Valkyrie".

"Push"
Spoiler Alert! Spoiler Alert! Spoiler Alert!

First, there's the Division - a top secret American bureau of power-wielding individuals. Kira – a “pusher” (she can put thoughts inside people’s minds) – escapes the Division and steals the key to their super serum project. She sneaks herself to Hong Kong where the rest of the story drags on… literally.

In comes Cassie (Dakota Fanning), a “watcher” (a clairvoyant), and her predestined bodyguard Nick (Chris Evans), a “mover” (he’s got telekinesis). According to the latter’s foretelling drawings, they need to look for the serum – and thus look for Kira too – to bring down the Division. When they finally get together, the group seeks aid from other gifted allies as they find out that a Chinese crime ring (led by people with super powers too) is also out lose to find the serum.

In an exaggeratedly brilliant maneuver, Nick devises a plan that throws off both the Division and the Chinese gangster, leading to the demise of the groups’ top dogs and the recovery of the coveted item.

The verdict…
It’s a classic example of an “it could have been better” film.

The production (settings, effects, editing and all) is above average. I’m all praises for the cinematography as they did a good job capturing the hubbub of Hong Kong’s busy districts and present it in a grungy yet still artsy kind of way. This is complemented well by the film’s musical scoring. Nice pick of tracks.

The effects are not outright awesome but are not sloppy either. I like the idea of hovering pistols and another “mover” Victor deflecting bullets with telekinetic barriers. The ripples created around deflected bullets are almost negligible but its addition is an eye-fancy.

Having said these, the down side of the movie is not on its more apparent parts but rather on the slow pacing of the story itself. In such steady pace, usually the characters or the plot get too overdeveloped but in “Push” it’s not. For me, the character development is even not enough. So what’s left in between to fill the prolonged scenes is dragging dialogues and trivial info-feeding.

The concept is actually good no matter how you can relate some aspects of it to some of the latest superhero flicks. Some superhuman abilities are presented in interesting ways like when “pushers” dilate eyes when they shove thoughts in the mind of others or how “shifters” metamorphose things in a whim. The world created by the film itself should be creative enough to be able to play around with a good screenplay but here’s where they fail big time.

While the film slowly creeps towards the climax, the resolution is rushed and unimaginative. Nick’s “genius” plans impossibly snapped right into place and most are obviously forced into happening. One specific scene that made me want to walk out of the cinema is when a henchman crashes on top of a car where Nick is locked up, wrecking its chassis and freeing him out of it. I’m usually forgiving when “luck” is in line with providential happenings on movies but sorry I just can’t stomach to buy this lack of creativity.

The casts are so so. Dakota Fanning (Cassie) is uncharacteristically dull. I particularly don’t dig how she acted when she was supposed to be drunk. She looks more like drugged than drunk. See the difference? Camille Belle (Kira) is cool. Chris Evans (Nick) is so so. Djimon Hounsou (Agent Carver) is convincing as a bad guy. Neil Jackson (Victor) is underexposed when his character rocks and more interesting than the Chinese gangster’s female “watcher”. The Chinese gangster’s pair of male banshees is hilarious but I must admit that the movie is able to pull off depicting a sonic blast.

All in all, it had been just a typical hero flick movie when it could have the materials to come up with something worthy of a good following. The lose ends (lots of them) will definitely need a sequel but I hope its screenplay will not be as crappy.

Four of Ten.

Take Me as You Find Me

2009-02-11T09:56:00.004+08:00

I'm already thinking of the next songs we should try to play next time with the band in the office (focus on the "try"). My thoughts stumbled upon this song... "Might to Save" by Hillsongs. Oks daw sabi ni Mike (who do the drums), so yeah we'll put this one up for our next jamming.

Jops (guitars... that's my Buttercup!), Mike (drums), and me (bass) in Euphony

Mighty To Save
by Hillsongs

Intro: C-G-Em-D

C G
Everyone needs compassion
Em
A love that's never failing
D
Let mercy fall on me
C G
Everyone needs forgiveness
Em
The kindness of a saviour
D
The hope of nations

C-D-C-D

Chorus:
G
Saviour
D
He can move the mountains
Em C
My God is mighty to save
Em D
He is mighty to save
G
Forever
D
Author of Salvation
Em C
He rose and conquered the grave
Em D
Jesus Conquered the grave

Repeat Intro Chords

Verse 2:
C G
So take me as you find me
All my fears and failures
Em
Fill my life again
C G
I give my life to follow
Em
Everything I believe in
D
Now I Surrender

C-D-C-D

Repeat Chorus 2x
Adlib (Intro Chords)

C G
Shine your light and
D
Let the whole world see
Em C
We're singing for the glory
G
Of the risen King
C G
Jesus Shine your light and
D
Let the whole world see
Em C G
We're singing for the glory
D
Of the risen King

Chorus 2:
G
Saviour
D
He can move the mountains
Em C
My God is mighty to save
Em D
He is mighty to save
G
Forever
D
Author of Salvation
Em C
He rose and conquered the grave
Em D
Jesus Conquered the grave

Repeat Chorus 2

Outro:
C G
Shine your light and
D
Let the whole world see
Em C
We're singing for the glory
G
Of the risen King
C G
Jesus Shine your light and
D
Let the whole world see
Em C G
We're singing for the glory
D
Of the risen King

Repeat till fade