THE REVENGE OF THE FALLEN

I am a sports' lover. (Well, don't be fooled by the statement. I don't do sports. I just love watching them on television. Lol.) And for sports' lovers like me, the second week of November crunch will be an action week 'cos it's - drum rolls - SEA Games season again! I can't hold my excitement. I've been waiting for this since the Laos' edition 'cos it only means one thing to Team Philippines - it's PAYBACK TIME!

Team Philippines had quite disastrous performances in the last two editions of the Games - placing 6th overall in 2007 (Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand) and 5th in 2009 (Vientiane, Laos). It is a bit frustrating knowing that we were once the "team to beat" in the region. Review your history books and you'll find out that we gave Southeast Asia its first ever Olympic medal - a bronze (1932 Los Angeles). And hear this, not just one but three. Fuckin' lovely! But unfortunately, our team has been sluggish the past decade. Well, blame it to our half-assessed, ever-loser sports program.

This will going to be a "bloody" battle, a war if I may. Everyone is bringing out their A-game even Timor Leste - I'm quite impressed. I'm pretty sure Thailand would be on the Top 3 sin duda. But watch out, Vietnam could be a "scene stealer" and will give everyone a run for their money. Indonesia, well, the mighty Indonesians could easily make it to the podium. But still, my heart beats for Team Philippines. Team Pilipinas # 1! I know that my team have the spirit of winners and the heart of champions. They are ready for battle and will never look back.

The cynic in me says that people wouldn't pay attention to this that much because they are more interested in watching sappy telenovelas. So just imagine my delight when I heard that a local channel (privately owned, mind you) will put them on national television. Woooohoooo! There is something glorious, liberating watching how medals are won and lost. The anxiety. The excitement. The pride. Borrowing a line from a UEFA ad: "The best part about winning is knowing how we get there".

To Team Philippines: Kick some ass. Seriously.

A Letter to My Girlfriend

Dear Chris,

I’m crossing fingers that you’ll forgive my indulgence to write and post this where everyone can be able to read this (yes, including my parents). Let’s just say, this is my own claim of public display of affection. I guess it will make me look mushy and lame to some people but I don’t even care, it’s the mushy guy that I am.

Never in my wildest and wettest dream did I ever, well, dream this would happen. I never expected to fall in love truly, madly, deeply so fast. Don’t get me wrong, I am a great believer of love-at-first-sight, yes I am. But I never thought I would be infected by the love bug that fast. The past months have been awesome. Has it really been four months? Wow. Time flies when you’re having so much fun.

You’re what I’ve been praying to God for the past five years - good-looking, smart, sweet, has sense of humor and a little bit “mayabang”. I love everything about you. All those weird little things that you do. And the way you make me blush every time you say “ang gwapo ng boyfriend ko”. It all amazes me. There is also a “you-and-me together” moment that I can’t help but love and cherish – remember the night when we spent time together under the rain? It was magical and so romantic that I never wanted it to end. When you told me that I’m the right one, I cannot tell how good that made me feels. I still don’t understand how an awesome guy like me would end up with an awesomer person like you. Well, there’s something called luck.

I’m not a perfect boyfriend but I’m trying to be one. You know that everything I’m doing now is not just for me, but for us, our future. The 500++ kilometers will not destroy us. I know we are strong enough to make it through. I have faith that in due time this will all come to an end and we will be together forever. For the time being, let us content ourselves with SMS, phone calls or the old-school love letters so we will feel like we’re together more often than we actually are. It’s not the same but it’s the closest thing that we can get.

I hope you never quit seeing how much my love for you is true. I’ve already told you that I love you, but I don’t mind doing it again. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you more than words could ever show and I know you love (well, adore is more fitting) me too.

Mas mahal kita ngayon kaysa kahapon at mas mamahalin kita bukas kaysa ngayon. ♥

Your Awesome Boyfriend

STOP THE HATE. GIVE THEM A BREAK.

It’s been a week since that gruesome shooting incident happened inside a mall (refresher course: a 13 year-old boy shoots alleged boyfriend and then shoot himself). It was all over the news. Upon hearing it on television, I became sad. Just because of a crazy little thing called love, two young people lost their lives. Ang sayang lang!

...

I’m surprised that “someone” actually created a fan page dedicated to Jake - the 13-year-old young man. I don't have any idea on what's the real intention of the page creator but I think the page will do more harm than good. Thought there’s a lot of people who expressed their genuine concerns and deepest condolences to the families, there are also a number of overly self-righteous Filipinos who out rightly judged and criticized the two young men without even knowing the whole story. Look, I am not defending Jake for what he has done. Nor I’m tolerating their relationship considering their age but c’mon can we at least give some respect to the souls of these young men and their families.

Some also brought up their sexuality – a nice sample of classic discrimination. NEWS FLASH: This incident can happen to any heterosexual couples out there. All along, I thought that sexual preference discrimination has subsided in the Philippines but it seems that I am wrong.

People might insist these as their own claim of freedom of speech – there’s no problem with that. In a democracy, everyone is free to express his opinion. But not all opinions are intended to help. Some, let’s just say, aimed to achieve more sinister results.

...

I had a “heated” argument the other day. I reacted to one of the posts (pictured above) of the page I’m subscribing to. I just want people to be more sensitive of the feelings of others. It is just an opinion, as good as anyone’s, but unfortunately it was given more credence than it should.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with finding happiness amidst tragedies. Nor do I have anything against the administrator (after all, why should I, I don’t even know him personally) but I must argue that what he posted is way-out-of-the-line and indeed, inappropriate.

And just because I’m the only one who think that the joke didn’t make a lick of sense nor was it a good one I am automatically “close-minded”? Wow. With all due respect to him, how can he assert that I am “close-minded” if he himself just brushed my comment off without even bothering to look where I’m coming from.

*start of rant* Dude, only those who are shallow will use language as a counter argument. You’re at a loss so instead of providing an intelligent counter argument to debunk what I have said, you shoot the messenger. You are not forced to agree with it, you’re free to offer your own “views” but where is it? *end of rant*

...

I know that the screen caps are just a very few out of a lot of FBs and tweets re: the shooting incident but I don't need to see the rest to know that there are still people who are just plain irresponsible and insensitive. Can we be responsible posters for once, pretty freakin' please?

Also, let us stop this “hate” thing against the third sex. In the eyes of God, everyone is equal and everyone deserves to be love.

To Jake and Jonathan, you will surely be missed.