The syllabus can wait. (Borat is waiting) Not!

I am good. Writing is therapeutic. (Borat is waiting) Not!

As I was browsing oder entries I saw Fuwa and I'm reminded of the uninspiring and uncute mascots for London 2012. Please, add something cute, or if you can't be that subtle, have them replaced.

Oh, on a second thought I think they're cute enough.

World cup in... maybe I should pass on this edition.

Some people like me never learn. If we do, then why do I find myself in this uneasy situation again? Why do we not learn history to not repeat it?

Although I thought I am already over it, as the first and second quarters of the year had passed without any manifestations of its disturbance, I realized that this is an annual thing, and it doesn't have to occur at the beginning of the year.

Contrary to the popular belief I am actually a very hardworking individual. Just kidding. I am ready to explode. There is so much to do, and I can't complain, at least not publicly (and as tabulas is semi-abandoned already by those who matter that might stumble upon this entry, this is at most relatively private), because this is the life I wish to live, this is the path I decided to pursue and the set of tasks I demand myself to accomplish.

If and only if two graves are dug when a person is cursed, why should people begin cursing through a website? Don't they realize that an aging population as a demographic trend is hazardous to the stability of the social structure and detrimental to the very objective of institutions of higher learning?

Is there an entry to a tunnel awaiting at the end of all the lights? It must be constructed. In my present state I will never be able to procure a visa, much more pay for a trip underneath the British Channel.

The monetary compensation in the field of elementary and high school education will never satisfy an educator, unless of course you own a school that happens to be midsized at the very least. If you put too much thought on how much you earn in 15-30 days, or annually, you will only lack motivation and it will affect your performance as a facilitator of learning in the classroom. If that happens, an entire batch will suffer from lack of in-depth, even essential, understanding in the subject matter you were assigned to deliver. Do you wish to meet Enma Ai? A disappointed student might help in arranging a meeting.

Survey says you are right. Noynoy Aquino would've won if national elections were held right after Cory Aquino's death, by the end of 2009, during the commemoration of EDSA Revolution and a few weeks before the elections. Survey was wrong though by predicting a tight match between Aquino and Villar, although they were able to take note of the trend that Estrada is taking over the number 2 spot and that Binay is gaining momentum over some foulmouthed frontrunner towards the end of the campaigning period.

Still, it's not as close as survey predicted. Should the Red, Orange and Green teams bolt in to come up with one super robot it still would've lost. But does it all matter now when proclamation is just around the corner? Timeliness is a very important news element.

I have been interested initially in how the voters of Imperial Manila voted. Data was (not sure if it still is, I can't recall what the URL was) available online. I'm imagining Aquino won in every district of every city and Pateros, I can't vouch for that accuracy because I base it on trends. But what I am more eager to learn of is percentage and actual number of votes garned by the sore, not publicly sore, and unsurely sore losers.

Did Binay win in the collective precints of NCR? I would've considered him, even Roxas, uh, not really but it's always been the geek in the pink, not since, but even before day one. Here's how I would've voted had the dictator been more dictatorly towards the end of her regime:

Pres/Queen/Empress/Il Duce (f)/Fuhrer: Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo

VP: Admin Candidate, that's you Noli or Bayani or G1b0 JeJe0d0R0 ph0wwz!

Alas, the best option I got is the impressive admin candidate who lacked prior exposure, and unified support from his adoptive sucky party. Impressed by his fresh but still wanting style of campaigning and turned off by his jejemon inquisitors, I'm still not actually very sure he's worth it. And they'll question the automation procedure anyway had he actually placed just a little higher than his survey standing.

The other option, to make sure that the Iron Lady's cuisine will reign supreme in the kitchen is the secret candidate. GMA should have endorsed him instead, no kiss of death can murder the influence of that LSD influenced jingle. Song of the decade!

Because the polls are automated, the rest of my votes would be invalid if I insist on voting for Macapagal-Arroyo, because for that to happen I'd have to make stray marks for an 11th option. At least just for the lulz of the incompetent and sick BEIs in my precint, I could've displayed my loyalty to the current Chief Executive.

I am, like millions of actually concerned and affected, concerned in a hipster way, apathetic in a local showbiz personality way, interested on what's to happen when the chain smoker takes over. We smokers, owe to him our recent and intensified infamy. He could do anything, really, and I will still be satisfied.

1. Noynoy does really well - we would somehow benefit, right? not in the Arroyo, trickle down, pancit canton way? Aquino Dynasty begins and Arroyo's dream for the Philippines to be 1st world, in a Cold War kind of way, will be realized. Song Ming Yuan Chou Chin I need to recall the order darn it. Heian Nara Meiji restoration Commodore Perry Dewey Boulevard Baywalk Lito Atienza Fred Lim. Hey, to feel one bit more secure than before is good enough.

2. Noynoy does moderately well - there will be general satisfaction initially, it's good to monitor people's patience when improvement is beyond superficial but hardly tangible. When will people begin to lose hope? How did Obama survive after the euphoria?

3. Noynoy teh fails - see Arroyo prior to running for re-election and Hello Garci. This is probably the most boring scenario, the public would be disappointed, but not disappointed enough to do a Bangkok. Bring in Hacienda Luisita, Kris and the gang, smoking and his alleged insanity around midterm elections.

4. Noynoy EPIC phail - oh man six years of further decline. Slash wrists! But that's so 2005 gotta get that boom boom powa as in Ghost Fighter style People Powa N.  We'll probably outdo Bangkok and Gaza combined. It could be nice for lulz as well. We have a poster boy for l0lcats, and neither Pacquiao nor Pyramid will save the hyperconscious image of the Philippines.

Pacquiao by then would've already (been) defeated (by) Mayweather, no one significant enough is left to contend with, and he'll be older and busy coming up with plans to get a seat in the Senate. Charice will be so All American that the local crowd could not identify with her anymore, and although a Pinoy will still love a Pinoy trying not to be Pinoy anymore/at all (see talent-challenged Jasmine Trias), Charice will hangout with Beiber and Miley and they will be the Paris-Lohan-Britney of their generation. But that's too far fetched. The biz is teeming with one hit wonders, which brings us back to the kids who sang:

Nakaligo ka na ba sa dagat ng basura

Nakajerjer ka na ba sa gitna ng kalsada

It should've been Villar, but it doesn't feel right. It should be GMA. Heil Macapagal-Arroyo! It may seem insincere but I am thankful that she was the 1st Philippine President in order of height, and 14th (I did not cheat by counting but they always call Erap unlucky 13, and they always talk about 15th congress these days, and I could be embarrasingly wrong) President of the Philippines.

I don't know if she actually did well or even just slightly better than everyone else claims. So what am I thanking her for? Well, you do not choose your icons so don't ask me about her. My reasons may not be as logical and grounded on truth as Alberto Romulo's. Well, for one she's actually been an image of stability. It's pure crap to the victims of Ampatuan and I do not approve of that massacre but we could use some stable image... and mercenaries with shurikens (as an afterthought backhoes would do).

As long as I do not inquire about her business, like eating in fancy restos or contest her clan or provincial warloards or generals in politics or whatever, and as long as I'm not a journalist I'm free to be a callcenter agent ~ and I did become one, to my delight! ~ free to avail of Pag-Ibig housing programs- just the right to avail, not the financial capability, free to join the Sweepstakes meron pa ba nun, free to sing along to "Haplos mo ay gulay sa bawat nilalang, salamat sa iyong dampi ng pagmamahal", free to enjoy NLEX if I pay toll fees! Isn't it great?

I'll miss her. Back in high school we always monitor news concerning the countries we were assigned to (did I get Germany or UK?), stocks and GMA. She's always in the front page. Her caricatures are always the best and it's been a delightful downhill ride from her so-called succession in the so-called Revolution to her sex life, to her lying about running for another term, to Garci, to Oakwood, to ZTE, to Manila Pen, to her implants, to her dinners and her countless visits with that elite ePassport 00000001. You will miss her too. Generations who loved Pokemon will at least be appeased because she is coming back to the House!

If Aquino does not become as lame as the late great lady in yellow and turns out to be as fun, engaging and weird as his Ateneo professor, he will be my favorite president.

a las voces de los holden caulfields en mid-2000s

good morning!

one lazy afternoon i casually asked a friend which albums or artists stood out artistically for the current decade for him. he said it's a tough question, not because there's so much to choose from but because there's nothing that caught his interest.

i gotta disagree because i liked way too much off the decade. maybe it'll take time to fully ascertain the value of a whole lot of albums but there are undeniably classic albums- Radiohead's Kid A (2000), Amnesiac (2001) and In Rainbows (2007). Hail to the Thief (2003) isn't as loved but it's my favorite. And that's just one band.

maybe he'll agree with me that it's a great decade for films. though we don't necessarily dig the same titles, i think no one can deny that's this decade saw the creation of some of the best films. i checked the web for the usual decade-end lists. i haven't even seen most of the listed films. those i did however, i recommend. they're different degrees of good--

Squid and the Whale, Hotel Rwanda, The Last King of Scotland, The Departed, Kill Bill, Ratatouille, Pan's Labyrinth, Dogville, Elephant, Memento, Juno, Up, Mulholland Dr., The Dark Knight, The Royal Tenenbaums, Lost in Translation, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, The Lord of the Rings, Amelie, City of God, Battle Royale, Crash, Amores Perros, School of Rock, Me and You and Everyone We Know, Monsters, Inc., The Constant Gardener, The Return of the King, Syriana, In the Mood for Love, Y Tu Mama Tambien, Sideways, Minority Report, Dancer in the Dark, Brokeback Mountain, Borat: Cultural Learning od America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, Slumdog Millionaire, The Pianist, Vicki Christina Barcelona, Pride and Prejudice, Fahrenheit 9/11, Avatar, Shrek, Spiderman, Master and COmmander, Atonement, Moulin Rouge!,Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Pirates of the Caribbean, Up, Saw, Waking Life, The New World, The Aviator

I lost a student. Not one death shocked me more. I do not ask for another one, however. My friends, stay healthy.

I had a few weeks short of a quarter but still I think I failed to fulfill my duties as effectively as planned. Did he learn anything? Did he enjoy the activities and discussions?  Have I mentioned something that inspired him or got him into thinking? Did I appear approachable enough?

I set my goals in a manner that they would be evaluated by the end of the school year. I did not expect that you will die this soon. That sucks. I want to know, understand and help you all. I feel that I wasn't given enough time. But it's no excuse.

It should not matter. Whether I left an impression or not is the preoccupation of my vanity. It shouldn't matter that I'm merely one of the teachers that attempted to provide you an education on a school subject, or that I'm merely one of the many random figures you encountered in your very short life. In your own way you have left a mark on me as a teacher, a person.

It sucks. You're too young. I can't help but recall how I was 10 years ago as a second year high school student. Life pretty much went downhill after my adolescence but it can't be denied that I had all the potential to do well. You do have that much potential too, well, you did. Helpless people like us should've gone instead.

But lucky you. I can imagine how hospitalization burdened you. Now you're free. You make me want to believe in afterlife because it'd be such a waste. The burden is on us who are left behind. We have to subject ourselves to miss your presence, and we masochistically oblige because it makes us value our relationships with one another. And we have to move on. We have to study, work and live for the sake of living, because we all need each other, to continue living, just because we have to. You don't have to get sucked into this vicious illogical cycle anymore.

I have a pile of papers to correct, questions to create, reports to finish. It sucks that you have to go on a week like this. It sucks that you have to go, period. But feel free, for one last time, to interrupt my preoccupied mind.

Currently listening to: reign of love - coldplay

There is nothing worth looking forward to if today is an indication of things to come. I'm cool. Let us just surprise everyone.