Splinters

Signing on

A recently conducted survey revealed that we Filipinos are the second happiest people in the Asian region. This means despite the tumult, despite the disasters,despite the repeated cycle of economic boom and bust and despite of impoverished living lifestyle we still manage to smile and even joke about it. I bet my bottom peso the government would give credit to the so-called economic growth that president GMA boasts about. Ah, if they only know...

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Isn't it a wonder why Magdalo would choose places like Oakwood and the Manila Peninsula to voice out their grievances and to call out everyone to rally behind them in their drive to oust GMA out of Malacañang? Crying for a jologs revolution from a coño crib: how oxymorous......

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ABS-CBN filed a lawsuit against AGB Nielsen for an alleged anomaly in the ratings of their program after somebody spilled the beans of a manipulation pulled by another station in exchange for, the informant claim, five hundred pesos and groceries. Shortly afterwards GMA network expressed their concern about the matter saying that they too are victims of such manipulation. I smell ratings war....

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(Partial) Memories Of An 80's Childhood part three

Signing on

The eighties have been said to be an era for local Philippine movies. I could still remember that there are only a handful of foreign movies being shown here, and most of the time Filipino movies dominate the box office. What I remember best about the movies popular in the era is what some calls the "fan movies" You know, movies with predominantly campy aesthetic, demographically catering to young audiences, always starring popular young actors and actresses of the time, formulaic in terms of plot and storylines, and most especially, with a production number before the closing credits. Today everytime I watch them I realized, did I really enjoyed them? Now I find all the singing, all the dancing, all of the theatrics at the end very annoying, very irrelevant, and very cheesy. Oh well, I guess that I'll just be thankful that it became obsolete when the 90's set it.

When I was a kid, and when we were still living then in the outskirts of Makati (it wasn't declared a city then), everytime we go out to watch a movie the usual place would be Makati Cinema Square along Pasong Tamo. It occupied the, hmm, let me think... Okay, my guess that is was the third floor of Plaza Fair;the other movie house which we often go is Spring Cinema. If you (yes you, the reader or visitor) are from Pasay City you would know what I am talking about. What we frequently watch is the kind that I had described above. My most favorite, and perhaps the only ones that I would want to watch, are movies of Tito, Vic and Joey.

Now on foreign films. Remember "The Never Ending Story"? How about "Flight of the Navigator"? Man, if you did, then we're on the same league. I enjoyed them as a kid. Too bad I never had a chance to see "Santa Claus the Movie" and "Pippi Longstocking". Kids my age then were not allowed to watch actions films as they are deemed too graphically violent for our (once) young, innocent eyes. But nevermind, I was not a fan of such films; once I hit adolescence did I only manage to watch and grew to love them. Hey, guess you'll learn with age, eh?
(to be continued, again)

Signing off

Watch Your Words!

Signing on

They say that we Filipinos are the one of the most creative people to ever populate this planet. So creative that we can fashion almost anything out of an existing one. Improvise when something is lacking. Invent out of dire necessity. Be able to articulate through gestures and sometimes, giving some words in the Filipino language a whole new meaning. On the latter part though, we often put some connotations which sometimes always border on the risqué. Remember "Nakatikim Ka Na Ba Ng Kinse Años?"?. Yup, the infamous tag line scribbled on a tarpaulin billboard somewhere along Roxas Boulevard that caught the ire of moralists and conservatives for its alleged sexual content; that of having sexual liaison with a minor. Of course, those words meant to describe a brand of liquor that was aged for fifteen years. Too bad the company has chosen the wrong words to promote the beverage.

Monay. I am hungry as I type this, so I am thinking about food right now. This is a kind of roll that was usually eaten as a merienda. But now the term used for a kind of bread is used to describe a, ahem, a sensitive part of female anatomy used for procreation. How about this one, itlog; egg in English. What was used to describe something that will hatch into a chick soon has been used for an organ where sperm cells are being made, as well as hanging behind.... you know. [Hey, I have to be consistent with what I profess under the blog title!] Titles of soft core movies popular in the mid-90's through a few years ago often bear sexual connotations. Remember "Patikim ng Pinya"? How about "Kangkong", "Pag ang Palay Naging Bigas, May Bumayo", or "Basa sa Dagat"?

A host of the longest running noontime variety show (we all what it is, and who it was) was suspended for uttering a word that was unfortunately was taken out of context. He was suspended again for the same offense, this time while imitating a celebrity midget with an unintelligible speech when he allegedly said something that describes a sexual act. Oh dear. Led Zeppelin was right when they sang that "sometimes words has two meanings". If this means that every word we say and write can be taken out of context, then how the heck can we express our thoughts without being misinterpreted? Sure, the Filipino vocabulary is one of the richest of them all, but what if every word becomes connotative? How can we talk to somebody without the fear of offending someone? How can we say what we want to say without the recieving end thinking that we are perverts? For me, that is the question.

I'm thinking of an alternative. What if we play charades? Not quite. We can't just expect everybody to guess what we mean, especially the "slow" ones. Pictograms? Nah, just the same. People would look like archeologists trying to decipher hieroglyphs. How about sign language. Whoah, that could be feasible! Hey, can somebody teach me what's "tinitighiyawat ka ba sa mani" in sign language?....

Signing off

(Partial) Memories Of An 80's Childhood part two

Signing on

Just because I was a kid doesn't mean that I do not watch shows starring material and flesh and blood actors at all. Heck, I do remember watching Iskul Bukol and was laughing at the antics of the Escalera Brothers and their latest caper that usually ends in disaster, for them at least. I also loved T.O.D.A.S ( Joey De Leon, Val Sotto, Spanky Rigor, Frieda Fonda, Maribeth Bichara and later, Jimmy Santos) especially their knock-knock jokes, gags and sketches. That show lasted for, I think 11 years before Bubble Gang broke their record just recently. How about Champoy with Subas Herrero and Noel Trinidad? I loved that show. Bet most of you remember Ora Encantada, shown every Sunday with Luz Valdez playing storytelling grandmother. Following that was Happy House, a family sitcom starring Tito Sotto, Sandy Andolong, Isabel Granada, Aga Muhlach and Laura Hermosa. Then when nine o' clock strikes it time for my all time favorite comedy show of all time: Sic O' Clock News, with "anchormen" Jimmy Fabregas and Ces Quesada, together with Junix Inocalla, Wilson Go, Rene Requiestas (deceased), Errol Dionisio (also deceased), Ching Arellano and other names I couldn't remember.

That's Entertainment? Well, I remember that, but sorry, I'm no fan of love teams; most of my female cousins are. Eat Bulaga? Of course! Tito, Vic and Joey? they're my heroes then. Drama? Hmm, the only drama that I remembered was Lovingly Yours, Helen with the late Helen Vela. How could I forget that: my mom watches that every Sunday afternoon right after GMA Supershow. Wait! there was also Maricel Drama Special in channel 2. How could I forgot about that. Okay, hmm I think I'll mention Discovery Drama Special hosted by newscaster Angelique Lazo. You know, the show that works like a some sort of a laboratory for up and coming actors. Well, the only actor who I can still remember is Dennis Balthazar. I wonder where are the rest are doing now? Sitcoms? Aside from Iskul Bukol which I had mentioned, I remember Chicks to Chicks, Sitak ni Jack, Barrio Balimbing, Manok ni San Pedro, and... and... darn, that's all that I could recall!

Superseryes has become a regular staple in today's TV, but to be frank, it's not a new, novel idea. Let's be honest: some of us recall Kapitan Kidlat and Darna over PTV 4. Twinbill? I'm not a Kapamilya, for your information, and I am very aware that rabid Kapusos out there will come out and lynch me for this, but as I recall ABS-CBN came up with a similar format, a short-lived one, if I recall correctly ( I hope), starring Robin Padilla ( as a superhero whose moniker I no longer remember) and Manilyn Reynes (as a dead girl turned guardian angel). Fantaseryes? Hmm, aside from Ora Encantada, most agree that Okay Ka, Fairy Ko was the prototype of the fantaserye, and I hope that I'm right. Horror Stories? Gosh, Regal Shocker (GMA) and that other show on channel 13 scared the ghost out of me (no pun intended).

Hey, how about shows that came from the other side of the world? GMA used to air a lot of them during that time, especially on primetime. I loved watching Knight Rider just because I was amused with the talking car KITT. Punky Brewster: occasionally. A Different World, St. Elsewhere, Miami Vice, China Beach, Baby Boom, Scarecrow and Mrs. King, Knot's Landing et al. : never watched a single episode. The Cosby Show: watched once, never followed; couldn't fathom the humor. All Star Professional Wrestling:OOPS! That was on channel 13; but that was my first time that I watched grown men in their underwear "beat the hell out" of each other. That's where I was introduced to Hulk Hogan, Iron Sheik, Andre the Giant, Ricky Steamboat, Tito Santana, Ric Flair, Don Muraco, Ronnie Garvin, etc. McGyver: I wished I had his improvisational ingenuity. Imagine building an aircraft out of bamboo and motor, making bombs using common household cleaning materials, or turn a fountain pen into a gun. That's so cool.
(to be continued)

Signing off

Time of Turmoil

Signing on



The House of Congress blast last night was perhaps can be called one of the most deliberate act of terrorism or otherwise, which resulted in multiple casualties. We are are still trying to cope from the Glorietta blast and from the Cavite blast that killed five or six people and now it is being followed by this. On the former two, investigators are certain that the blasts were human errors, not human terrors. But on the latter, it seems that it is intentional. Our country has already experienced one tragedy too many, with too many people killed, and too many lives shattered. We could only hope that everytime we leave our house for work or for pleasure, we could get home safely in one piece, or better yet, alive. I don't want to say that nobody's safe anymore, because I'm still optimistic that at the end of the tunnel we can see a way out of this turmoil we're in, and I hope it will not be long. For now, the least that we can do is pray and be vigilant. Now more than ever. For we are living in a time of turmoil.



Signing off.

(Partial) Memories Of An 80's Childhood

Signing on

There are some times when I am alone with my thoughts doing nothing, procrastinating or just engaging in my confined solliloquy, or read some books for the nth time, or snoozing; but besides all that I mentioned, there's this one pastime that I would consider my most favorite; going on a trip back memory lane. Being a nostalgic fool that I am, going for a sentimental journey has become my hobby. A trip where I don'nt have to be physically out of my house. Where my time machine is my recollection about the past and my experiences that comes with them. Where all it takes is to hop in and go with the spiral and spin, spin, and spin around, and around, and around, and around....

"Pagmulat ng mata, langit nakatawa sa Batibot" Ahh, how could I forget that song. And the place. The neighborhood every kids my age wished they lived.Where they can play with the childish, hulking Pong Pagong and the gravel-voiced Kiko Matsing. Where they can listen to Kuya Bodjie'sstories. Where they can learn their abc's... or in this case, a-ba-ka-da from Ate Siena. And the puppets;the siblings Ningning and Ginging, Irma and Tikyo, the bickering aliens Sitsiritsit and Alibangbang and other crop of characters whose names I can't recall anymore. All in all, Batibot is perhaps the fondest memory every 80's kid like me has in our respective childhood. And don't forget, Batibot is shown twice a day, everyday; the morning run is aired over channel 9, the afternoon run is aired over PTV 4. Weekend kiddie variety shows means either Uncle Bob's Lucky 7 Club, Pen Pen De Sarapen or Star Smile Factory.

Cartoons. There were lots of that on TV then than now. Especially during weekday afternoons. When ABS-CBN resumed broadcasting after the EDSA revolution it showed robot cartoons every, if I'm not mistaken, 4:00 o' clock in the afternoon. The daily roster is as follows: Monday, Mechanda (?) Robot; Tuesday, damn I forgot! But that is my most favorte among all (I know that it involves computers, that is the clue); Wednesday, Daimos; Thursday, Voltes Five. Friday, on the other hand, is for the live-action super sentai Bioman. That was also the time when there are cartoons being shown on primetime. Bet that you could remember watching The Real Ghostbusters every seven o' clock in the evening on channel 2

Weekend Saturday mornings mean Saturday Fun Machine on channel 9, not to mention the adventures of the Superfriends which is light and campy in demeanor ccompared to the edgy approach of the recent Justice League. Other Saturday staples include channel 7's M.A.S.K and Spiral Zone and channel 2's Pole Position and Visionaries. Channel 13, which was the dominant station of the time,had Looney Tunes, Transformers, G.I. Joe, Denver the last Dinosaur, Widget among others. When primetime comes the fun didn't stopped, rest assured that I have my fill of the Thundercats and Silver Hawks on channel 7.

( to be continued)

Signing off

Class Days and Rainy Days

Signing on.



When I was a kid whenever there is news of a coming typhoon, we already had our ears glued to the TV or the radio, expecting to hear what would be every student's best wish: suspension of classes. WAHOOO!!! That would perhaps be a break to a rather another dreary day in school. But for some reason, as if the heavens conspired with nature, the day that should've justify the early announcement by DECS didn't turn out as expected it to. Instead, it turned to be a perfectly fine day. Even the sun peeks through the clouds. Bummer! On the same token, when they announce that there are classes, the opposite happens. While inside our classrooms in the middle of discussion, all of a sudden..





CRASSSSHHH!!! BOOOM!!!


KA-BLAAAAM!!!



Just our luck. I remember when I and my two sisters are studying in a private school in Pasay when that happened. We couldn't get a jeep, so we rode a tricycle and we got stranded before we could reach our home. We ended up threading through flood. Good thing the level is only knee-length, so is was okay for us to wade through. I thought that that would be the first and the last time that I will go through that. Or so I thought.

Fast forward: College



It was Saturday and I was a sophomore then. That was just a regular day for our ROTC and the weather was not a fine one then. After the drill as I was inside the jeep heading for home rain began to fall down heavily. When I am about to board another jeep I heard that the water level has reached to chest-level because the nearby dam has released a considerable amount of water for it can no longer contain it; the road is right beside the river. Since it was the only way home, I was forced to wade through it. The current is strong but managable, as I slugged through the water for hours. It was finally nightime when I finally reached home.



How I wish DepEd and CHED were accurate in announcing the suspension of classes to spare students from trouble. Just like what happened to me.

Signing off

Just the Beginning

This is a test broadcast...





This is a test broadcast...





Signing on







Hi! This is Citizen J.D.C, the blog run by someone who just passively sits by the comfort of his house as he watches history and madness unfold right on his native country The Philippines. Well, he's not that passive because if he is, he wouldn't bother just keeping quiet and not to speak out his mind. That's why he created this blog, to serve as an output to his own opinion and insights about Philippine society and everything it encompasses. He is not an authority, he's not a maven, and most especially , he's not a pundit; just a plain, average citizen who share his thoughts in the eyes of a commoner. Although he is in a community where everything is possible, especially profanities, he elects to stay away from that and keep it simple and direct that way he likes it to be. He writes the way he talks, so it's like "talking" on blog.



So anyway, there goes the introduction. If there is anything that you want to comment about, whether reaction, praises, or criticism, he is open. After all, this is a community; just cut out the hate mail, please. Thank you and see you.

Signing off