The Most Beautiful Day In The Universe

“Ang Pinakamagandang Araw sa Kalawakan” (The Most Beautiful Day in the Universe). Catchy. It was nice of ABS-CBN to air the pageant. I’m not much of a beauty pageant fan but I watch pageants anyway. Pageants are kind of fascinating – especially the Miss Universe pageants.

Riyo Mori – Miss Japan – was crowned Miss Universe 2007. I have no objections. The 20 year old dancer deserved to win.

My bets for the final five – when the final fifteen were announced – were Miss Japan (Riyo Mori), Miss Korea (Honey Lee), Miss USA (Rachel Smith) , plus I-don’t-care-who-the-other-two-are. Well, I was right, my three favorites made it into the final five – with Miss Brazil (Natalia Guimaraes) and Miss Venezuela (Ly Jonaitis).

Miss USA was no crowd favorite and was received with jeers by the Mexican audience during the interview competition. At least she maintained her poise and managed to win some cheers. It should also be noted that she fell down when the contestants paraded their elegant attires (she probably got outbalanced by stepping on the gown).
She ended up as fourth runner-up.

Miss Korea – among my three bets – was, I thought, most likely to win. But I believe her answer to the question and answer portion was not a winning material – though okay (at least she did not answer that the super power she wants is ‘world peace’). But she only ended up with third runner-up, beaten by Miss Brazil and Miss Venezuela, first runner-up and second runner-up respectively.

Our very own Miss Philippines – Anna Theresa Licaros – got a Miss Photogenic Award (which I thought was going to Miss Slovenia). At least it was a consolation for not making it to the Final Fifteen.

I am no racist. Maybe I just do not appreciate it much. I just did not like Miss Tanzania and Miss Angola to reach the Final Ten nor the Final Fifteen. But I guess I have no right to question the judges. Nothing I can do about it.

It was fun also to think that we have three pinays on the pageant. We have a Miss Philippines, plus the half-Filipinos Miss Germany and Miss Norway. Three chances – all failed to make it to the Final Fifteen.

The Miss Universe show was a fine one. Honestly, I was hoping our Filipina bet would win – so we would have three Miss Universes in history. Well, that is that, maybe next year.

But congratulations again to Miss Japan. "I learned how to always be happy, be patient and to be positive, and this is what I want to teach to the next generation," she said during the interview competition. Hmm. Let’s see if she can do that as Miss Universe.

Till next year’s pageant.

Read More

Three Memorable Childhood Crying Moments

I cried many times in my childhood years. Some are just because of trivial matters, like being injured and such. Most of them I don’t even remember. But I remember three memorable times that made me cry.

* * *

I was, I think, about two years old when my parents first left me alone at home. No big deal. Yup, I was a brave baby. I did not cry that I was left alone, heck, it was even night time. But then, it began to rain. Then the lightning flashed… then, you guessed it, the terrifying sound of thunder rumbled. The thunders roared like it was the end of the world (exaggeration maybe… but to a two-year old baby, I don’t think so). That was the time that I cried. I cried like a baby (wait… I was a baby). I don’t know how long I cried. The continuing sounds of thunder terrified me. I only stopped when my parents arrived.

* * *

The second experience I’ll tell you, I was years older – I was in the late part of my first decade. My mother took me with her when she and her workmates went to Manila. We were roaming around the mall there, when I unconsciously (or consciously?) wandered away from my mother.
I realized I was lost. My face paled. My heart beat louder and faster. I was afraid. It would be okay if I got lost in Legazpi, at least the places are familiar. But that was Manila. I do not know anybody there (now I know several friends and acquaintances there). I was a kid, a little below ten years old, alone and afraid. But I hold on, I refused to cry.
I made another mistake. Instead of staying at one place, I roamed around to search for my mother – or her workmates. The mall was big, and it was foolish to do that. It took minutes (which were like hours) when my mother finally found me. When I saw her, I couldn’t control my emotion any longer. I cried. I cried out the fear I felt. And I cried of relief.

* * *

I cried in those two circumstances because of fear – fear of the loud thunder, and fear of being lost.
This third one, I cried because of hurt. Not of physical one. But a deep hurt in the heart – worse than a physical one.
I was about ten years old, watching TV, when suddenly I heard a commotion outside. I looked outside the window and saw our neighbor’s large black dog (I forgot the breed. But it was like the Hound of Baskervilles… exaggeration again? Maybe) causing havoc outside, and then suddenly the dog bit the neck of one of my cats. Shiela was the cat’s name, and moreover she was pregnant. In a panic state, I searched for the door’s key and took one of my pellet gun (Uzi model). When I finally went outside, the dog was dragging my cat down the road. It was terrible watching my bloodied and helpless cat struggling between the large jaws. I tried to shoot and shoot the dog with my pellet gun, but the hellish dog can’t feel the sting of the pellets. The dog kept on his hold on my cat’s severed neck, shaking his head, snarling, his teeth dripping with blood.
I was not able to save my cat. Shiela died, but the dog still did not let go the limp body of my cat. I cried hard as I walk back to our house. It hurt a lot. It was terrible. I cried long and hard. I felt weak and terrible. My mother bought me a magazine to comfort me, but though it calmed me a little, I was still hurting and sad.
That was the last time I really cried. The last of boyhood tears.

* * *

In all those circumstances, in some sense, I was brave. But not brave enough. I was brave enough to be left alone at home – but not enough for the thunder. I was brave enough from being lost – but foolish to not stay in one place. I was brave enough to confront a big dog that could had easily injured or killed me – but, still, it was not enough to save Shiela.

* * *

Now, I still get afraid. I still get hurt.
And there is still a lot of thundering around at me. I still get lost. I still lose a lot things – important things – in my life. But I think I’m braver and stronger now. No use crying over them.

Read More

In Creating A Band

I am not an authority in band making, but I can give some advice. For me, there are five essential elements needed: talent, relationship, attitude, discipline and inspiration.

-Talent is of course needed. you need people who can play the instruments and who will sing.

-Relationship is greatly needed. the members should be good friends. they should be able to communicate freely. it is a big plus if the members grew up together and were friends since childhood.

-Attitude. positive attitude to all members. all members should be ready to give and receive positive suggestions and criticism. a member should always follow the leader (if there is one) and the leader should not abuse his power and think that he is better than the rest of the band. each member should not think that he is too good for the band.

-Discipline is needed, especially in practices. members should always be on time. members should be disciplined. they should not "mess around". it is a waste of valuable practice time. but in jammings, it is sometimes okay to mess around.

-Inspiration is the foundation. what motivates the band is very important. here are my elements. it is what i think is needed. after considering them, always keep in mind that it does not matter if your band does not make it big, as long as you are together and having fun. having fun is all that matters. your band is the best as long as the members has good relationships.

Most of all, always remember that God gives the talent. it is only right to use it for Him. so consider making your band a praise and worship band. like 1 Corinthians 10:31 says, "Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it for the glory of God."

Read More

KEVIN GARNETT: THE BEST MAN TO BE WITH KOBE BRYANT IN THE LAKERS

I thought the Lakers can be different this season, and improve their satisfactory performance last year to excellence this year because they were winning in the beginning of this NBA season. I was wrong. They were losing big time a little before the All-Star break, and then the second half of the season. Now, as I write this, there’s even a chance they can be knocked out from the playoffs (with a record of 40-39).

Kobe Bryant, as usual, excels this season. He won the All-Star MVP. And he scored some 50 and 60 point games this season, overtaking Carmelo Anthony for the number one in scoring in the league. He’s a good leader and player. But Kobe Bryant is not enough for the Lakers.

Lamar Odom is a very good player. All-Star material even. He can play some very good all-around basketball. But with him as Kobe’s sidekick is not enough.

Kwame Brown is a disappointment. Smush Parker is no superstar. Andrew Baynum is too slow to grow. Luke Walton is good but lacking. The Lakers need to improve their line-up. And I believe that one man will improve their line-up. There were talks of getting Jason Kidd from the Nets before the trade deadline this season. I have no complains since Kidd can quickly learn the Laker system. And his good, he can make the other Laker players improve in offense (when you’re free Kidd can find you), and also a great help in the frontcourt defense. Plus, though he’s a point guard he can grab those rebounds (like a Laker legend named Magic Johnson). But I was not much dismayed when the trade did not come true. I know they needed someone better than Kidd.

They need a big man who is not slow, can force himself to the basket, and can shoot anywhere. Someone to grab those rebounds – yup, Odom is good at them, but the Lakers need more than that. And, yes, to be a defensive force in the paint. And also to be effective in Coach Johnson’s triangle offense. Yup, a player like that. And I have one guy in mind. His name is Kevin Garnett.  He's the most appropriate big man to be with Kobe (second best would be Pau Gasol).

Yes, Kevin Garnett. He’ll look good in the purple or yellow jersey (just as Iverson looked good in a Denver uniform). He’s gone to several All-Star games, and won one All-Star MVP. He also has a regular-season MVP. He’s the man for the Lakers.

Now, Bryant and Garnett can work effectively.  It would be nice to see them playing together in the NBA. Imagine, Kobe driving though and breaking the oppositions’ defense, and then he founds Garnett and gave him a no look pass, Garnett turns to the basket and SLAM DUNK! That’ll be cool. Like Shaq and Kobe back then.

The Minnesota Timberwolves are holding on to KG too much. I think their waiting for a draft pick for a good guard to complement Garnett. (Sigh) I don’t know how the Lakers can facilitate such deal, but they have to be crafty, like send in some satisfactory players, and sweeten the deal with some draft picks.

Kevin Garnett is the man to be with Kobe Bryant in the Lakers. With the both of them in the Lakers, I’ll bet they’ll win another championship. It’s a fantasy I have to see them play together, and bring back glory to the Lakers. (Another cool fantasy I have for the Lakers is a Kobe Bryant, Lamar Odom, Kevin Garnett, and Jason Kidd line-up… dream on, Bernz).

All I can do is pray for divine intervention… and wait and see.

Read More

Guitar Opinion

I love guitars. And I have this fantasy of owning a large guitar collection someday. Complete with different kinds of effects pad and gadgets, guitar straps, picks, and, of course, different kinds of guitars: acoustic, electric, jazz, classical, folk, etc… different kinds, brands and models. And it would be nice to have vintage models, too. Ahhh… if only…

Anyway, in my opinion, the guitar is the best musical instrument there is. And I believe all people can play it, all it takes is perseverance, dedication and love for it. It’s also the best instrument to start with (only in my opinion… some say it’s the keyboard), since if you know how to play the guitar, it would be easy to start studying how to play other instruments, too. After some time of guitar playing, learning the basics of bass playing would be easy. Then, with increased sense of rhythm and timing due to playing the guitar, the playing of basics of the drums would follow. Anyway, it is not always true – it’s still up to you. And besides, no matter what the instrument, it requires constant practice and study to master it; from basics, to variations, and then mastery.

Playing the guitar is both easy and hard (You’ll understand this statement when you start to play). It’s nice of someone can teach you (better still, to have lessons), but you can also study it on your own. Like me. I just self-practiced and self-taught myself. Just have yourself a guitar and a chord chart, and then practice the chords. Sooner or later, you’ll be able to play your first song. As I said, it only takes perseverance, dedication and love for playing the guitar. By and by, the basics of guitar playing – chord shifting, strumming, timing and plucking – will be “programmed” in your mind.

Then learn some lead. For starters, one should learn how to read lied sheets or tabs, to learn to play the pieces made by others – usually downloaded from the internet – in playing particular lead situations in songs, and to gain some ideas about lead playing. Octaves, chromatics, pentatonic, major and minor scales, slides, bend, pull-off, hammer, triplets, tap, mute, and the other “principles” of lead should be learned. And as one get himself familiarize with the principles, techniques and scales, one can make his own guitar fills and ad libs.
In using a guitar effect, I guess, distortions are the best to start from… not only because it is cool, but, mainly, also to mask your mistakes. Honestly, the hearers may not notice the mistakes when you play with distortion – just be quick to bend, slide, or whatever to make the lead flow right. (Especially in strumming a chord with some heavy distortion, it is rare of the hearers to notice you struck the wrong chord). But try other effects, and clean, too, by and by. Experiment, practice and study the effects. And also try playing lead, acoustic style. Playing lead with the acoustic is not at all inferior compared to playing with an electric, and in some cases better still, especially if one masters the classical or Latin styles.

In playing lead, fast fingers are not necessary – but very convenient. Often, it is not about how fast your fingers but the proper usage and progression of the notes – plus the phrasing and proper use of guitar scale/technique, whether, it is jazz, disco, classical, basic rock-pop, or others. Learning to play “grooves” in the guitar is necessary, too, I guess, though it’s mostly the bass guitar’s job.

Learn also to play or “jam” with others. Learn band principles and techniques, communication, and teamwork. No matter how good you are, if you cannot work with the band, you cannot play effectively.
The guitar is a very fascinating instrument. Playing the basics, and then some, nor even if you “mastered” it, it does no stop there. It is best to continue practicing and learning new things. Playing the guitar is definitely rewarding.

Read More

Fried Chicken

Fried chicken is truly one of the most beloved food on earth. I am very fond of it, though it’s not my favorite food - but it used to be when I was a little boy. Now, my lil’ sis is the one who loves fried chicken like I used to when I was her age – it’s the only thing she orders when we go out.
I don’t know why most children are very fond of fried chicken. It’s a fact. Fried chicken is the most popular food among kids. And when they grow up, they may put other kinds of food above fried chicken but they will never forget fried chicken. It’s still going to be in their list of preferred food.
The best meat for me is beef, followed by pork, and fish and seafood, and lastly, poultry – chicken in particular. But when it comes to being fried to crispy brown perfection… I’ll go with chicken. How would you like chicken be cooked? Grilled? Roasted? “Tinola”? Great ideas, but I’ll go with “fried”… most people will answer the same.
You can eat fried chicken with anything you like. With rice, or pasta, or baked goods. Gravy, ketchup, mayonnaise, sauce, or nothing at all. It is also a great finger food. And it can be eaten anytime - in snacks, meals, luncheons, picnics, etc.
There might be some instances when someone gets tired, or sick of it (probably because of eating too much, or eating one with e coli bacteria, or the chicken was inferiorly fried). But often it is only temporary. Given some time, fried chicken will be back on his diet, simply because he can’t resist.
Fried chicken comes in different tastes, because there is a lot of ways to marinate it… or depending on a restaurant’s trademark recipe. Me, I use flour, salt, egg, some vinegar or “kalamansi” – preferably “kalamansi” than vinegar – on it. If I get lazy, just salt and vinegar. I make good fried chicken – and my number one is my sister.
I think the best fried chicken restaurant in the country is KFC. I can’t wait for it to open a branch here in Legazpi. I love KFC’s chicken strips. KFC is one good thing those Americans brought us.
Come to think of it, fried chicken is an American influence on us. Americans love it. Filipinos love it. And probably everyone.
Ah, fried chicken. If you just think about it, there’s something fascinating in all of this about fried chicken… the smell… the recipes… deep fried… the crispness… the taste in your mouth… it’s appeal… it’s popularity… everything.
Maybe the loneliest people on Earth are those who can’t eat fried chicken because of some reasons (like they are allergic to it). They’re missing out something big. Fried chicken is one of the best things out of life.

Read More

On The Philippine Comics Industry

I want the Philippine comics industry to succeed. Really. I dream of a time where the Philippines will rank among the United States of America and Japan as makers of top-rank, first-rate comics.

Filipinos have the talents, no one can deny that. We have certified world class artists. And the ideas in Filipino comics are good. We have good writers and artists. Sadly, success in the comic book industry is dependent to one’s economy. Look at the US and Japan, they have good economies, thus good comic book industries. In the Philippines, the talents cannot find much money in the local comics industry, so they work abroad where they can be find their talents and abilities paid handsomely (another case of “brain drain” in the Philippines).

* * *

I read a lot of comics since I was a kid. And back then, part of my reading was of Filipino comicbooks like Bata Batuta, and Funny Comics. Sadly, most of my Bata Batuta comics are gone now. However, I still have my Funny Comics with me. They have some decent stories there, satisfactory to kids. The only problem, like other weekly comics books, is the lack of art quality – I guess it’s because of the lack of time production and budget. If only the coloring is improved. I don’t care if they raise prices or it will take a longer time to produce one. Tinay Pinay, Combatron, Tomas N’ Kules, and the other children-loved characters deserved to be appreciated by Filipino kids like they appreciate foreign characters like Archie.

* * *

I also have Pugad Baboy compilations in my collection. Now in all the cartoon strip franchises that I know of, for me, Pol Medina Jr.’s Pugad Baboy is the best there is. Pugad Baboy has good art and has good entertaining quality. Now that’s Filipino talent!

And there’s Lyndon Gregorio’s Beerkada, another great Filipino comic strip. Only second best next to Medina, but Beerkada also has its own appeal.

With guys like Medina and Gregorio, Filipino comic strips stood up with the foreign comic strips in the newspaper comics page.

* * *

I was sad when Culture Crash stopped publishing because of – probably – financial problems. It was a very promising Filipino comicbook. Yup, it has Japanese influence in the art – but it was still very Filipino. The art was good, and so are the plot and the stories.

I was in my late elementary when the first issue of Culture Crash came out, and since then I promised to collect each single issue (sadly, I missed two issues). I did not mind of their irregular schedules of releasing issues. I really wanted Culture Crash to succeed – thinking it would start the revolution in Filipino comics. I was wrong. Culture Crash has its ups… but it cannot fully become paramount.

Culture Crash never finished the stories. I do not know if I would ever know the ending of One Day Isang Diwa, Pasig, Cat’s Trail, Solstice Butterfly, and Kuburi Kikiam. All I can do now is reread the past issues.

* * *

Well, there are decent local comicbooks out there. Like indie comics (mostly manga influenced), and those published by Mango.

But I guess it isn’t enough. Filipino comicbooks are not very popular. Captain Barbell and Darna cannot be Superman (or is Captain Marvel?) and Wonder Woman.

It would be really cool if finally the Filipino comicbooks will be proudly put beside the foreign comics on the stands and racks.

I will never lose faith in the Filipino comicbook industry. I will never lose faith in Filipinos. Someday, my dreams about the improvement of the comicbook industry may come true.

Read More