One Last Call for Alcohol...

I was not able to log in these past few days because I was so busy with work and stuff and I just really did not have the energy to think clearly on what to write. It seems that all the creative juices inside my head dried up. I couldn't come up with a good topic to write about. Everything seemed to be boring me. It is as if nothing is interesting enough to write about.

Yesterday, I saw a friend who went to visit where I work (It was not me who he visited). We talked a bit before we went on our way. It was nice talking to friends. I wish there was some time we could get together and talk about crazy stuff like we did before.

Most friendships start from having a common interest. And when you're in the Philippines, most male friendships start from the most sought after drink second to Coke... Liquor (Lol!) 

With just as much as 50 pesos, you and 2 of your buddies can have the time of your life talking about people, work, sports, love, liberty, justice and the american way. This concoction of fermented grapes can make your ideas flow all night long. There is even a Filipino saying that alcohol makes one a smart one. The more you drink, the smarter you get.

But what makes liquor very attractive to people that they tend to drink so much of it. Well, it is because, when we are with friends, we tend to be shy to speak up and alcohol removes it so everyone is engaged in the conversation making everyone contribute ideas, opinions, and queries that sometimes can help you solve some of the things that have been bothering you. Alcohol is also the thing some men turn to whenever they are experiencing the lowest part of their lives. Some turn to alcohol because they are having trouble sleeping (thanks to call center graveyard shifts and global warming). And to some (read: me and my friends) just like to drink and be merry. We even have a name for our group. Wasalak or as every alcohol-gulping Pinoy may know, is "walang sawa sa alak" (roughly translated as "really likes to drink").

Drinking with friends or family is fun but some people can't seem to control the amount of alcohol they gulp down. It is okay if they are not driving but, sadly, in this country of ours, DUI (driving under the influence) is a traffic violation rarely enforced. Why? Simply because we don't have the knowledge or the equipment to measure how much alcohol percent in the body is safe for driving. Usually, we only find out that the driver is drunk after he hit a lamp post or another vehicle. And when asked if he is drunk, he will immediately say that he is not drunk... he just had a few drinks (like 2 liters of beer... yeah, right...) 

This was once a motorcycle

Nowadays, drunk driving is always the reason people think of when a motorcycle is involved in an accident. Either that or the rider is going too fast... faster than the car... faster than the eye can see... faster than a speeding bullet... yeah, right. As there are some who do drink and drive a bike, most of the time they can't go really far from the place where they were drinking because they simply can't. Why? It is due to the fact that to ride a bike, you need balance... a skill which disappears after 2 liters of a very popular malt-liquor. So if you see a hapless fellow involved in a motorcycle accident, think again. Was the rider drunk? Or was it caused by something else.

Ride Safe!

From left:
Boneneng, Ronald, Guard,
Dado, Bigmak 

(This blog is dedicated to Dado, Ronald and Bigmak. GAME NA!!!)

It's a Little Bit Funny...

Have you ever wondered what the hell you are doing inside that office? Have you ever asked yourself if that is what you want to do? Have you ever said to yourself, I'm a graduate of so and so major and yet I am here?

Nowadays, people tend to work as a something yet that is not what they studied for at least 4 years in college. This is a common problem here in the Philippines as the opportunities for a good employment is highly competitive. And for some, they want to look for a job which pays far greater than what they will earn if they follow the path laid out to them after they leave the halls of their school (or the halls of PICC). Others just accept the fact that their major is really not a money earner.

When I was in college, my major was Management Information Systems in one of the popular computer colleges here in Metro Manila. After that, I never did work as a programmer in any software company. I worked as a sales representative in a packaging company. I worked as a loan officer in a bank. I worked as a data encoder. I worked as a call center representative.

The Lesson

Right now, I am working as an ESL Instructor teaching Koreans how to use the English language. The job itself is not difficult. What is difficult with being an language Instructor is the language barrier between the student and the teacher. 

I remembered the time when the Head Teacher of this academy where I am currently working called me up and asked me if I was interested to be interviewed because they are looking for new instructors.  Since I was looking for a job back then, I said yes right away. After asking for the details and directions on how to get to that office, I put down my phone and wondered... can I be really a teacher? Will the students learn anything from me? Would they like me? Will I like them? So many questions instantly flooded my poor, poor brain....

So I went. The school was okay, though it was a little quiet when I first came in. I was wondering how are things done in that school. It was very much different than tutoring one on one (one of the jobs I took to earn some more way back when I was in Indonesia). The head teacher called me and conducted the interview. It was a very casual interview. It was just all about my teaching experiences and she discussed how things are being done there. It was a rather quick interview then I was asked to observe some of the classes. The other instructors there are quite friendly. There was this female instructor who I was asked to observe an it turned out, I was the one being the topic of her class. She and her student, in turns, asked me to talk a bit about myself. It was fun, I admit. I told myself, I think I am going to enjoy working here.

A few after that, I started working there as an ESL Instructor. I was a bit nervous because it was the first time I was going to handle university students... and all of them are Koreans. My first student came in (by the way, I am handling 1-on-1 or, as they call it, man-to-man). She was a bit shy and tensed at first so made her comfortable by making some jokes and talking to her about her interests. So we had a good chemistry and it was good! I did the same thing with my second student and got the same result. Now we are somewhat  close friends. They called me up from Korea on my birthday and I appreciated it very much. I had 5 students at that time, 4 girls and a boy. The boy was kinda close to me too. He ain't that much keen on studying but he does every homework I asked him to do. Now he calls me up from Korea to ask advice on what to do whenever he feels confused about something. The other two was quite close to me too. There was this shy girl who started coming out of her shell a few weeks before she went back to Korea. I just learned that she is the top of her class for two years in a row! And the other one, she is quite a good kid too! Not that much of a talker though but we still chat from time to time. She is currently in Los Angeles enjoying her vacation.

It was a very good experience. I have grown to love what I am doing. The pay is not that high but it teaches me things about myself that I have not discovered before. I may not be doing what I learned in school, but I like what I am doing so far. I don't know for how long but I do enjoy it. It is not always what you intend to do happens. It's a little bit funny that opportunities for discovering your other skills and talents come from the things that you were even thinking of in the first place.

Follow the light

This is not about riding but still... ride safe!

And Now I'm Falling...

My bike... a typical underbone.

I've been riding my motorcycle for almost 4 years and I learned how to ride since 1995. Motorcycles, especially the underbones have been around for quite sometime but they only became popular here in the Philippines about 10 years ago. These underbone bikes are so called due to the engineering of their chassis which is quite unusual from the regular motorcycles wherein the gas tank is placed on top of the chassis between the seat and handlebars.

The reason why these machines became popular here is because of the skyrocketing prices of fuel. But to some (or maybe more than the average Juan can see) these bikes became popular because of drag races held in almost every major avenue at least in Metro Manila. Due to the popularity of underbones, it also gave birth to a new set of problems... bike crashes.

Pedestrian crossing.

Just this morning, I witnessed a hapless bike rider fell. No one bumped him and he didn't crash to anyone or anything. Traffic was not heavy at that time and I am sure he is within the 60 kmh speed limit because I was riding within the same limits and we were only 4 bikes apart. He doesn't seem to be drunk. The only problem was the road was still wet due to the heavy rains. I stopped for a while just to see if he is alright and when I was sure that he is, I went on my way.

Most news programs feature these kinds of accidents on TV and always, and I mean always, it is being assumed that the poor rider is either drunk or going really fast. In some cases these may be true but most of the time it is not. But the rider who fell always get the look that he is the one at fault of his accident.

                            Ride safe.

People, especially those who have something against two wheeled transports, tend to generalize all riders to be boastful, road hogs, undisciplined and rowdy bunch of obstacles plying the road. I beg to disagree. Yes, there are some who are guilty of those accusations but in reality, only a very small portion of the motorcycle riding populace are like that. Generally, bike riders such as myself, follow traffic rules and regulations. Why? The real reason is that we are always picked out from the rest of the motorists by traffic enforcers who would rather take Php200 - Php500 from riders who are caught violating rather than educating them. And to us, that amount is worth one week of gas and travel... Too much to lose, if you would ask any rider.

To my fellow bike riders, let me give you some more road tips just to ensure personal safety as well as the safety of other motorists.

* Avoid riding on the painted lines on the streets especially on wet roads. These lines are very slippery so avoid them. The same goes for those reflectors on the roads as they may tend to make you lose traction and steering.

Don't try this anywhere.

* Always give way to pedestrians even if they are on the no-crossing zone. If you bump them, you will be the one at fault... Philippine rule. You can shout all the known invectives at them after they have crossed safely.

* Do not play chicken with any four-wheeled vehicles. They tend to be more stubborn than 2-wheeled ones.

* Never forget to wear protective gear when riding. It is much cheaper to buy a good helmet than a good wheel chair or the cheapest memorial plan.

* The maximum number of people who can ride a motorcycle is 2. Hence the 4 four foot pegs.

* The horn is to get the attention of the vehicle in front of you when you are going to pass it and not to attract the attention of the whole neighborhood.

* Always have time to do a maintenance check on your bike as it cannot maintain itself.

* Modifications are usually good only if it is within the limits of your motorcycle riding skills.

* Avoid revving too much in residential areas especially if your bike is fitted with an aftermarket muffler. This may be hazardous to your health and this is already a proven fact.

And lastly, avoid going too fast. Try to enjoy the bike ride and the scenery. Feel the air flowing in to your face. Feel the road and its bumps, curves and ridges. This is the real advantage of a motorcycle from any 4-wheeled contraption.

Ride safe!

The Long and Winding Road...

Tiga-Las Piñas ka ba?  Madalas ka sa ba Las Piñas?  Mahilig ka bang magpupunta sa SM Southmall o kaya sa ATC?  May sarili ka bang kotse?  Motor?  "Professional" commuter ka ba?  Siguro alam mo na ang tinutumbok ko.  Ang walang humpay na trapik sa Alabang-Zapote Road.

Naranasan mo na bang maipit sa trapik?  Yun bang tipong alam mong malapit ka nang bumaba pero malayo pa para lakarin na lang? Sa pagkakatanda ko ay sinimulan nilang biyakin ang kalsada noong November 2010 eh. Susko pagsasikip baga naman ng kalsada noon... teka.. hanggang ngayon pa pala...

Hulaan nyo nga kung saan ito...

At dahil nga sa ganyan, madami jan ang nagpasiya na lang na gamitin ang kanilang mga motorsiklo para baybayin ang daanang ito.  Pero minsan (at madalas yang minsan na yan ha),  kahit anong uri ng transportasyon ang gamitin mo, ay talaga naman hihinto ka rin nang medyo may katagalan.  Ito ay dahil tatlong linya na ang sinakop ng hukay ng Maynilad sa kalsada.  Naalala ko yung isang kasamahan ko sa trabaho, nagmula sa Pulang Lupa, nakarating sa opisina namin sa may Pilar na masama ang loob. Oo, nag-commute lang siya. Mantakin mo ba naman, inabot kaya siya ng dalawang oras mahigit!  Aba, yung dalawang oras na yun ay byahe ko na sa Tagaytay pamula sa bahay ko ah!

Me isa rin akong katropa.  Dating nakamotor din.  Siguro dahil sa nabwisit na sa init at alkabok dulot ng walang katapusang pagbubungkal ng semento ng Maynilad, binenta ang motor at bumili ng kotse...  Aguy! Ngayon halos hindi na namin makasama dahil ang 300 pesos na gas ng kotse nya ay kulang pa para pumunta sa tambayan at bumalik sa bahay niya. Ngayon nag-iisip ulit siya bumalik sa motor.  Siguro dala na rin ng kantiyaw at inggit sa byahe namin.

Minsan, hindi lang trapik ang dulot ng pagbubungkal na ito.  Yung isa kong kaibigan, nasemplang ang motor dahil sa buhanging nakakalat sa kalsada dulot ng pag-ulan.  At bago pa siya nasemplang ay may nauna nang dalawa sa kanya nung araw na ring yon.  Tsk, walang siyang nagawa kundi umuwi ng may bitbit na "tocino" sa siko at tuhod.  "Tapa" yun sigurado matapos ang ilang araw.

Hay... kelan kaya maayos ang Alabang-Zapote Road...

In The Beginning...

Ito ang una kong subok sa paba-"blog" ng mga pangyayari sa buhay ko at sa kapaligiran ko.  Sa totoo lang, hindi ko hilig ang magsulat (o tumipa sa keyboard ng mahabang oras).  Pero sa kagustuhan kong malibang upang maka-iwas sa mga di magandang bagay na pumapasok sa isipan ko na maaring pagsisihan ko pa (ulit) sa huli ay maigi nang idaan ko na lang sa ganito... baka kako kapulutan pa ng katuwaan (o aral) ng mga makakabasa.

Teka, sino nga ba itong nagsulat nito?  Kalma lang... darating tayo jan...

Mangyari ay maraming nang karanasan ang dumapo sa akin.  Mga nakakatuwa, nakakainis, malungkot, kagula-gulantang, walang kwenta, maraming kwenta, kagalit-galit at kakilig-kilig.  Ngunit, sa lahat ng karanasan kong ito, isa lang naman talaga ang tanong ko sa sarili ko... Ano ba talaga ang gusto kong mangyari? 

Sa dami ng aking napagdaanan, hindi ko lubos maisip kumbakit sa pakiramdam ko ay parating may kulang.  Parang parati na lang na hindi ako masaya sa kinalabasan ng lahat ng gawain ko.  At dahil doon, kadalasan din ay nauuwi ito sa bokya.

Nung bata pa ako, natatandaan ko na ang buhay namin maayos sa kabila ng mga problemang dinaranas ng halos lahat ng pamilya.  Bininyagan ako bilang isang katoliko ngunit hindi ako nahilig sa pagsisimba.  Hindi sa wala akong pananampalataya, ngunit ayaw ko lang talaga sa mga lugar na kung saan ay napakaraming tao... yung pakiramdam mo ay kada galaw mo ay may masisiko ka.  Hindi ko rin hilig ang magpipila ng mahaba sa restaurants, ATM, registration windows, sinehan (pero wag ka, tiniis ko lahat yun nung ipalabas ang unang "Transformers" na pelikula), at sa mga ibang lugar na kelangan kang pumila ng mahaba.  Ang tingin ko sa mga pumipila ng mahaba ay mga langgam na alinsunod lamang sa daloy kahit labag sa kalooban o prinsipyo nila.

Tumanda ako ng ganito ang nakasanayan.  Nakapagtrabaho ako ng ganito ang sistema.  Maayos naman sa simula ngunit kalaunan ay hindi na ako nagiging masaya.  Pakiramdam ko ay napipilitan lamang akong sumunod ng sumunod ng sumunod sa kung saan man ako dalhin ng utos sa akin. Yung tipong wala ka nang pagpipilian kundi ang sumunod na lamang kahit ito ay inaayawan mo na.

Sunod sa agos ng buhay.  Yan ang isa sa mga pinag-iisipan ko.  Dapat nga ba akong sumunod na lamang ng sumunod sa dikta ng kapaligiran ko?  Oo, maari kang dalhin nito sa maganda.  Tutal, ikaw rin naman ang pipili sa pag-aanuran mo eh... parati namang may pagpipilian kadalasan nga lang ay wala sa mga pagpipilian ang talagang gusto mo.  Parang kalsada lang na ang pagpipilian mo pagdating sa dulo ay kaliwa o kanan lamang.

Taong 2007. Dahil na rin sa pagkabagot sa pagsakay sa jeep na ubod na nga bagal ay para pang nanadya ang tsuper na magpatagal sa kakaintay sa pasaherong mukha naman ayaw sumakay, nagpasya akong bumili ng motorsiklo.  Ang motor na ito ang nagsilbing paa ko sa pagparoo't parito sa trabaho, grocery, tambay at gala.  Noon ay takot na takot ako sa motor, ngunit dahil na rin sa pangangailangan (isipin mo, ang pagpunta ko sa trabaho pag naka-jeep, isang oras... pag naka-motor, 20 mins), napagpasiyahan kong magmotor na lamang.  Di naman pala nakakatakot.  Nakakatuwa pa nga.  Pakiramdam ko, ako ang may kontrol sa buhay ko at hindi ang kung anumang agos na pilit tumutulak sa akin.  Sa buong buhay ko, ang pagbili ko ng motor ang masasabi kong isa sa pinakamasayang bahagi ng buhay ko.

Nakarating rin ako sa mga lugar na hindi ko pa nararating noon. Calatagan, Nasugbu, Pampanga, at iba pa.  Naranasan ko na rin ang maaksidente na kamuntikan nang tumapos sa akin pero hindi iyon lumikha ng anumang takot.  Medyo nadagdagan nga lang ng ingat.  Nakilala ko ang mga taong magpasahanggang ngayon ay itinuturing kong mga tunay na kaibigan.

Ano nga ba ang tunay na kaibigan? Maraming nagsasabi na ito yung taong makakasama mo sa maraming pagkakataon, sa hirap at ginhawa... HELLO!!! Hindi na basta kaibigan yun! Asawa na ata ang tawag dun.  Sa akin, ang tunay na kaibigan, bagama't nakakasama mo nga, ay iyong may kapupulutan kang pwedeng makatulong sa diskarte mo sa buhay.  Marami na akong nakasama na matagal... sa magulo at mabuti... pero hindi lahat ng taong iyon ay maituturing mong kaibigan.  Minsan, kahit ano pang tagal o lalim ng inyong pinagsamahan, siya ay maituturing mong kakilala lamang.  Ang tunay na kaibigan, ay iyong taong kahit sasandali mo pa lang nakakasama ay naipapakita mo sa kanya ang tunay mong pagkatao na hindi ka mangangambang iiwan ka pag hindi nila trip ang mga trip mo.  Kadalasan, sila yung mga taong kahit anong dami ng kapintasan mo ay tanggap ka nila kahit na alam ninyong lahat na napipilitan na lamang ang isa't-isa (haha!!).  Sila yung mga taong alam ang ang kalikaw ng bituka mo.  Sila yung taong kibot pa lang ng kilay ay nagkakaintindihan na.

Mabuti akong kaibigan, yun ang sabi ng mga kaibigan ko sa kin.  Masayahin daw ako.  Parang wala daw akong pinoproblema.  Kengkoy.  Patawa.  Joker.  Mahusay daw akong makinig.  Me magagandang payo daw ako.  Hindi ko alam kung totoo nga ang sabi nila sa akin, pero parang ayaw kong maniwala.  Masayahin ako, oo... pero iba ang masayahing tao sa masayang tao.  Mahusay daw akong makinig.  Siguro, pero bakit yung taong dapat kong pakinggan ay hindi ko narinig ng ayos (kagulo tuloy...).

Ganito pala kapag nagsusulat.  Ganito pala kapag me gusto kang sabihin pero ayaw mong me makaalam ng sinasabi mo.  Ganito pala kapag naiwan ka sa tapat ng computer at naubusan na ng gagawin.  Ganito pala kapag mejo "emo" ka na sa kakaisip sa nangyayari sa buhay mo. Ganito pala.

Oo nga pala, di pa ko nagpapakilala. Ako pala yung taong akala mo walang pakealam sayo. Di mo lang alam, hirap lang akong maglabas ng saloobin ko sa yo dahil hindi ako sanay ng kinaaawaan.  Ako yung taong akala mo pinabayaan ang samahan natin. Di mo lang alam, hindi ako nagpabaya, hindi ko lang siguro nasunod lahat ng gusto mo.  Ako yung akala mo binalewala ka. Di mo lang alam, hinahanap ko yung dati nating pagkakakilala kasi muntik na kong masanay nang wala ka.  Sabi mo magkaibigan pa rin tayo... kaso hindi tayo basta magkaibigan lang eh...