I’m Back

Did you miss your weekly reminder of proud Pinoy moments?

I’m back. Sorry for the absence. Had some stuff.

For the meantime, congratulations to Venus Rah for placing fourth in the Miss Universe Pageant. Her answer to the question totally bombed that will surely come down to international records of humiliating beauty pageant moments, but hey USA still holds the record.

We’re still proud of Miss Rah who isn’t exactly 100% Pinoy… but that’s still okay.

I’ll be posting soon. Try to enjoy this for now… Russell Peters talking about Pinoys at around 3:20. Totally funny and totally true.

Filipina Makes The Most Beautiful Things

I was not a big fan of fashion. I always thought it was superficial and leaned towards looking at people stripped of the aesthetics that could get in the way of substance. Until, I started hanging around women and came to understand that anyone’s need to be beautiful comes from everyone’s nature to want to make things beautiful. It is innate in all of us. We may differ on what is perceived to be beautiful but common in the desire for beauty.

It could be because of vanity. Everyone is vain.
It could be because we were born into it. We were born into a beautiful world, that’s the only thing we know.
It could be because we all are beautiful. No one can deny it.

Fashion, then, isn’t just a money-making industry that reshapes and reinvents the concept of beauity. It is but it is also more. It is humanity’s second nature.

One Filipina understands that better than most people in the world.

Monique Lhuillier

She has designed for Jennifer Connelly, Reese Witherspoon, Sarah Jessica Parker, Teri Hatcher and Eva Longoria, Ashley Judd, Sharon Stone, Halle Berry, Alicia Silverstone, Britney Spears, Lea Salonga and Angelina Jolie, among others.
Sensational.

Hillary Swank in Monique Lhuillier

Time Magazine and Newsweek, to name a few, will. And while we’re at it, let’s not forget that her designs were featured in top-rating TV shows in the USA including CNN and the Oprah Winfrey Show.
Legend in the making.

People Magazine feature on Monique Lhuillier

She was educated in Switzerland and designed her own wedding gown and that of her entourage that also turned the heads of the international designing world
Genius.

ashlee simpson on monique lhuillier

She has four stores in the U.S. for her RTW collection and has solo shows not just in the U.S. but also in Paris, Japan and just about every country where fashion is a big thing.
Unquestionably phenomenal.

monique lhullier

She was born in Cebu, Philippines to Filipino parents. Never denies her heritage and still talks like a Filipina. No frilly pretentious trying hard accent.
Now, THAT IS HARDCORE.

monique lhuillier

I’m A Proud Pinoy, You Got A Problem With That?

Is it me or are nationalistic causes and groups popping out left and right? Not that I am complaining. Greek gods know well enough I feel an elation comparable to a double shot of crystal meth and heroine whenever I see shirts with three stars and a sun or hear Pinoys cheer for other Filipinos be it in sports or entertainment. It makes me want to cartwheel my way to seventh heaven.

The obvious question is whether this thing is just a fad or a beginning of deep-rooted love for the country. Pepe Diokno’s Phony Pride argued that Pinoys’ ever expanding ego is a way to compensate for the Pinoys’ belief that they are inadequate. It is an age-old adage – arrogance is rooted on insecurity. The argument has a basis and not totally insane. It could, actually, be considered legitimate since it is based on some academic psychological theory.

I will not try to disprove his theory. Debate that requires some academic research is a skill I was never born with. I lack that chip in my pea-sized brain. It is so small god decided to put only the cells that will be necessary for my survival – cells that tell me to eat, take a bath, sleep, take a crap and download music and movies. Those are what I have.

Photo By Mech Serva a.k.a. TechieSlasher

What I will do is prove that at this point in time, whether or not Pinoys are doing this because they are insecure or “think of ourselves to be inadequate” is not important. You see, when you are out on the ocean with nothing on your horizon but more water – pride, class and all sorts of mothereffin’  values go out the f#@$in’ window. The only thing that will matter is survival.

That is where the Philippines was several years ago. It wasn’t long ago when Jose Rizal, OPM and the Philippine flag were all considered symbols for the lower classes. At some f$%^ed point in history, Senators and Congressmen were openly laughing at the possibility of speaking tagalog in their Congressional sessions. That is an absolute sh!t. Those are Philippines’ leaders, laughing at their country’s language. Now, they probably still can’t get through a session in pure Filipino but they dare not laugh at the suggestion anymore lest they witness their @rses get kicked by Pilipinos always ready and looking for any form of reason to kick some politician’s @ss.  That is how low the Pinoys were. So low, any move they make is up.

There were only a handful of people who was going like “Ok, this is sh!t. Gotta get my @ss moving if this nation is ever to have some semblance of love for its own.” Again, when you are that low, you take whatever step is available for you to recover just until you have enough room to breathe and know for sure you are not going to die. For now, what seems to be working is the dangling of everything and everyone that glitters and shines. That is often entertainers that are able to enter the door of Hollywood – Arnel Pineda, Charice, etc. It is the nudge that seems to knock down a lot of mountains.  There are sports heroes – Manny Pacquaio, Efren “Bata” Reyes, Paeng Nepomuceno, etc. There are Fil-Ams that openly acknowledge they are partly Pinoys – Jo Koy, Batista, etc.

Some people may view this as a superficial way of instilling patriotism. Well, so the f$%# what? If that is what it will take for people to notice and listen, I’ll take that. Certainly beats the h3ll out of waiting for someone to come up with a truly fool-proof way of instilling patriotism.

How do you suggest we do it then? Integrate it to the country’s curriculum? Last time I check, the government can’t even provide enough classrooms, tables and chairs and teachers for students to even learn the basic of history, math and literature. So you go and fix that and then get on my face and talk about this superficial way of promoting patriotism. What I do know is that when they are listening then it is easier for them understand and who knows even develop confidence and love for the country they were born into.

There is no denying that a lot of Filipinos still feel that Pinoys are inadequate – inadequate in and for so many things. It has been that way for ages and nothing was done about it until recently. It’s not like getting to here from that $hithole was an effin’ bliss. It took the assassination of Ninoy and subsequent revolution, a multi-platinum award of Francis M’s Mga Kababayan, the influx of foreign visitors to Boracay, several TV shows tediously researching for international performers who have Pinoy blood in them and many many more efforts that are still unrecognized just to get the brains of the Pilipinos wrap around the concept of this country not being a total loser. It’s paying off a bit but still not to the degree Jose Rizal might have desired but at least something is being done.

Philippines remain poor and that is the real antagonist of patriotism. Everyday people are just trying to survive. The government and other people who claim to care don’t really do much to help. Majority of Pinoys commute everyday to work (if they are luck to have one) below a sky ridden with pollution, on a road equally divided to snatchers, abusers, robbers, killers, bad traffic and monsters in uniform. They go home to a wage never enough for a decent meal three times a day. When you are that down, believe you me, it is difficult not to be angry at everything.  It is hard to think about being proud of the same country that is doing this to you.

Miraculously, watching local celebrities making it internationally seems to do the trick. It gives Pinoys some hope, some breathing space, some sort of an actual proof that this country isn’t so bad and that it ought to be loved even when they don’t know why.

photo by Tina http://teentoinks.deviantart.com/

“Pinoy pride… only exists because we think ourselves to be inadequate.” – Diokno

Below is an article written by Pepe Diokno on his own take on Pinoy pride. It is an interesting take on a concept that I feel every Pinoy needs to take personally.

After is my own take on the whole thing.

I encourage you to think about this and share your thoughts to me either by email or by leaving a comment.

Thank you.

Phony pride

By Pepe Diokno

Originally published on June 19th, 2008

With Brillante Mendoza turning up dry at the Cannes Film Festival, and with American Idol ending sans Ramielle Malubay, the Filipino race has again missed the chance to bask in international adulation. Of course, we need only wait until the next Pacquiao fight for a new fix of Pinoy pride. But considering what I’ve said so far, what the heck is Pinoy pride, anyway? Where does it come from? And have we really resorted to defining our national identity via wannabe singers and boxers?

Now, Lao Tzu, the founder of Taoism, defines pride this way: It is “(attaching) undue importance to the superiority of one’s status.” For Christians, on the other hand, “Pride brings destruction,” — that, from Proverbs 8:13. But Pinoy pride, though, is arguably different.

Ideally, the term should connote respect for our heritage — and not the superiority of our race over others’. But today, Pinoy pride is used as an antonym of shame. At a time when there is so much wrong with our country, it is meant to be the gravitas with which we say, “I am Filipino.” Instead, Pinoy pride has now morphed into an exercise in finding the silver lining.

Like, “I am Filipino, but so is singer Charice Pempengco.”

We jump every time we see a Filipino on foreign TV. The Black Eyed Peas’ “Bebot” gives us orgasms. And I bet you know every Hollywood star who is at least half-Filipino. (Rob Schneider?)

Robin Williams was married to a Filipina. Oh, ABS-CBN’s “Bandila” got nominated for an Emmy. Lea Salonga! Stars wear Monique Lhuillier! A bunch of private-school kids won a world robotics Olympiad! And Michelle Bumgarner has been signed by a major US racing team!

How was that for a dose?

But, “pride is the mask we make of our faults,” goes a Hebrew adage. And the same is true for Pinoy pride. Yes, Filipinos may be talented, hardworking, and world-class. But do we really need to keep telling ourselves we are?

We look around and see evidence that we’re not great. Our streets are dirty. Where is our government taking us? Over 20 years after we fought for democracy, and where are we? Are Filipino children learning in schools? Every day, thousands of Filipinos leave home to be underemployed abroad. And the “Mabuhay!” we all used to say has been replaced by the sound of, “Hello, this is ____ speaking. How may I help you?” (Said with an American twang.)

“A proud man is always looking down on things and people,” says “Narnia” author C.S. Lewis, “and, of course, as long as you’re looking down, you can’t see something that’s above you.”

See, there are real challenges that we Filipinos have to overcome. But instead of facing these, we turn to Pinoy pride. We turn to Pinoy pride to convince us that we’re a capable people. (Why do we need convincing?) We turn to Pinoy pride to assure us that we’re world-class. (Is it because there is a part of us that believes we aren’t?)

The truth is Pinoy pride only exists because we think ourselves to be inadequate.

Prepare For A Nosebleed

Don’t f$%#in’ say I didn’t warn you.

Let me begin by saying this week’s feature is about a Filipino internationally recognized painter, Ronald Ventura. Now, if that doesn’t automatically launch you to stratospheric heights of high-faluting madness where oxygen is so rare that it makes your brain explode and nose, ears and eyes bleed, here is more.  Someone from the New York gallery industry said that Ventura’s work, despite his penetration of the international market, perfectly illustrates the Philippine culture: It is a complex layering of images that on some level allude to the multifaceted identity of the Philippines, with influences from (different) cultures. His subjects are very contemporary—hip young people, tattoos, graffiti, cartoons from Japan and the US. All this gives the works a very urban vibe. Yet underneath this there are a lot of references to history and cultural evolution, and to a sometimes conflicted sense of national and personal identity. That’s what reveals a real depth that goes beyond the edgy subject matter.

Did I lose you already? Let me translate it to a language you will understand.

His work sells for $850,000.

Now, did I get your attention? Do you now understand how much of a hardcore this moth#rfu#$%r is? My first-hand experience in artwork creation is retarded, at best. So the best way I could explain what he does to you is by asking you to come up with a single image that will automatically make the viewer be reminded of the  culture of different countries all the while making it obvious, the point of view is that of a Filipino? So, like, nothing difficult or anything.

He recently had his first exhibit in New York. No, this is not one of those exhibits that is sponsored by the Philippine Embassy or some Filipino Philandtrophist featuring several Filipino-American artists in the hopes of making the American market realize the talents of Filipinos. This exhibit is his and his alone. The gallery, owned by an American, put it together for him and approximately $30,000 was spent. That is worth more than my internal organs put together and sold to the highest bidder. That is one night for Ronald Ventura.

The Strong and the Beautiful by Ronald Ventura

I think discussing his brush strokes or anthropological concepts of his work, although fun, is immaterial for this blog. Let’s just say whatever his style is must be so doped for some guy to buy his work for $850,000. I can work my ar$e out every second of the next 50 years of my life and I will never come close to earning that much.

Ronald Ventura

Now, anyone who has this amount of success can pretty much live like a rock star with complete disregard to the world around him but Ventura is not just “anyone”. He also happens to be one kick@$$ proud Pinoy. He was born and raised in Manila,  1973. He graduated in 1993 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Major in Painting degree from the University of Sto. Tomas, Philippines. Pinoy to the core.

He is standing in the pinnacle of success and is proudly holding the Pinoy mark closest to his heart. Look at the painting below. That piece is called the Mother’s Mark and has been revered as one of the two best pieces in his New York Exhibit.

mothers mark by Ronald Ventura

Ronald Ventura

Yeah, that is him, arguably the most successful painter of his generation that is taking the whole world on his hand all the while keeping the Philippine mark on his skin.

He Gave Up His Life For The Man Who Tried To Kill Him

I got an email from a reader requesting that I lessen my profanities. I thank you, dear reader, for your polite request and I promise that I will try my best to lessen it. Now, that is not sarcasm. That is a sincere statement. However, I cannot completely take it out because that’s just how I am. Writing otherwise will not be remaining true. I made a vow to just be true and tell the truth all the time. Pretty big vow, eh. That is not to say I will not try to accommodate your request, as I have said – I will try. Oh, thank you for reading my blog. Much love.

I am dying to tell you more earth-shattering achievements of Pinoys in the international scene, entertainers who flirt with the glitz of eyesight-shattering limelight or hardcore Filipino athletes who completely flip out in their world record breaking performances. However, this week’s feature involves the highest form of heroism – volunteers. Now, don’t go and say “I don’t know, man, volunteering for UN and *$%# (I’m trying to avoid cursing. I’ll get there give me time. – Ed) like that, I think it’s gay.”

First, there is nothing wrong with being gay. Second, volunteers are the bravest effers to ever walk the earth. Imagine giving up the comfort that city life could bring (geez, no internet for a year except when needed. Why don’t you just kill me?) to serve the basic needs of people you don’t even know and can never give anything back to you. These volunteers don’t spend their life punching people in their faces until they bleed to death nor their free time signing autographs but they are the ones who walk into people’s lives to feed them, clothe them, teach them how to read and write, and show them some amount of kindness that is so hard to find in this world. Now, THAT IS HARDCORE.

Richard Michael R. Fernando, SJ was a Jesuit scholar that was assigned in Cambodia in a technical school for landmine victims during his regency to work. Do understand, he doesn’t get anything out of this except the right to take a bath, sleep occasionally and eat just enough to survive but he was cool with all that. In fact, he chose that vocation. Operative word, CHOSE.

richard michael fernando, sj

It was October 17, 1996 when Richard woke up to another day of service. You know, feed the hungry, attend to the sick, have some fun with the students, just hang. All of a sudden, one student named Sarom threatened to release a hand grenade after being asked to leave the school. It wasn’t a bluff because he actually had a grenade in his hands.

This is a technical school, there are hundreds upon hundreds of students in that place all hoping against all hope they could learn a thing or two so they could have a better future, maybe have three meals a day instead of one every other day. Really, a place with hopeless kids with simple dreams. Richard didn’t even think effin’ twice on what he should do. He grasped the hands of this angry student pleading for him to not take out the pin and drop the grenade. Sarom didn’t give a $%#@ and just dropped the grenade.

#$%@ right?

Richie, being the hardcore, fearless volunteer that he was didn’t even blink. He was ready, willing and proved to be able to save hundreds of people around him INCLUDING the student who wanted to kill everyone.

Richard fell over the grenade. That’s not all. Just to seal the deal, he grasped it on his hand so tight to make sure no one else gets hurt. The grenade, of course, exploded and Richard died. NO ONE ELSE DID.

Saving one person from death by covering a grenade with your body is something that most mere mortals will never do in their lives, even if they have nine but for Richard, it was a natural thing.

That incident happened in 1996 and it is sad that very few people know about this. Richard’s story is exactly the kind that should be told and retold until it penetrates to every living soul’s effin’ body and lands straight to the heart. He makes being Pinoy totally cool, don’t y’all agree?  This loser blog can’t do much though, except write about it and hope against all hope, someone is reading and listening.

*special thanks to http://fonsetculmen.blogspot.com/2006/09/prayer-in-honor-of-richard-michael-r.html

The Ultimate B@d@$$: Ferdinand Marcos

The Philippines has several kick@$$ entries in the Guinness Book of World Records, the most prominent of which is the utterly b@d@$$ Ferdinand Marcos as the greatest thief of all time and his equally b@d@$$ wife, Imelda Marcos, with the biggest shoe collection in the world. The exact number of the shoes varies anywhere between 3,000 to 8,000 pairs but that doesn’t really f@#$*n’ matter does it? The minute you can go for a full year without wearing the same shoe twice is effin’ excessive.

Ferdinand Marcos - declaring Martial Law

Now, much as it is utterly appalling to be known for this insane thievery spree, you have to admit that these mothereffers took thievery, human injustice, social climbing and wealth hoarding to whole new level of sh!t. The bar is so high, angels can rest their legs on it.

Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos started his criminal life early. His father, Don Mariano Marcos was an assemblyman and representative of Ilocos Norte. In 1935, Ferdinand Marcos was 18, his father lost to his political enemy, Julio Nalundasan in the local elections. Shortly after the declaration of victory, Nalundasan was shot dead. Marcos, along with his father and two uncles, were arrested and charged with murder of Julio Nalundasan in 1938.

Imelda Marcos - she has never wore a pair of shoe twice within 8 years

Marcos, who just got his Bachelor’s degree in Law was forced to study in prison. That didn’t stop him from getting marks so high, he was summoned by the university dean on suspicion of cheating. If he could, wait for the word, allegedly murder his father’s political rival what are the chances the dean winning over him? He walked out of the dean’s office with the dean as his b!@tch. He was not allowed to take an oath yet, though, pending his murder trial. Luck was about to b!tchslap him as he was found guilty by the Laoag Provincial Court and sentenced to rot in jail.

Marcos had other plans. In a true b@d@$$ fashion, Marcos defended himself before the Supreme Court and got acquitted. If winning a case even before you actually become a lawyer doesn’t earn you respect, I don’t know what will. He was subsequently hailed by Philippine Free Press as the Lawyer of the Year. That was pretty sweet, eh? Not for Marcos so he decided to join the World War II and be a Prisoner of War.  He survived the Death March and joined the guerrillas in Luzon. Or not. Even American documents couldn’t confirm his story. Not that it matters to Marcos, the only thing that matters is that he claimed it. Anyone who is not down with it will be subsequently perished from his existence in this world.

First Quarter Storm - Philippines

Marcos resume law practice in 1946 and even became the youngest member of the House of Representative at 32. Now, even with women, he has it his way. He married an extremely beautiful Imelda Romualdes after only eleven days of knowing each other. You have to understand that this 1954, Pinays were culturally bound to stretch the courtship period to lengths longer than the waiting period of the next Transformers movie. He got her in eleven days. Yes, you read that right. The Shake Rattle and Roll movie is on theaters longer than that.

In 1965, he became the 10th President of the Philippines and he f@#$!n kicked @$$. He created a vision of connecting all our 7,107 (during low tide) islands through bridges and roads. It was epic and he looked like he was going to be true to his word:

• 16,000 kilometers of feeder roads, some 30,000 lineal meters of permanent bridges
• A generator with an electric power capacity of on million kilowatts (1,000,000 kW)
• Water services to eight regions and 38 localities.
• Construction of the North Diversion Road (now, North Luzon Expressway)
• In 1966, more than 100 important smugglers were arrested; in three years 1966-1968 the arrests totaled 5,000. Military men involved in smuggling were forced to retire.
• American culture was so dominant at that time. Filipino artists were forced to become copycats of Foreign artists. Marcos wasn’t feelin’ it so he imposed a 70/30 rule on radio stations. Each station was to play Filipino songs 70% of the time. Hello OPM!
• He also felt it was about time that people become aware of current events so he blocked off the 6pm primetime slot as the news hour. People were going to watch the news until their eyeballs come off.
• He was big on agricultural innovation too. He looked at the country and realized our soil is epic. That should produce more rice than what we need so he promoted this mothereffin’ IR-8 hybrid rice. I don’t know what monster that is, sounds like the brother of R2D2 to me but whatever it was, it made us self-sufficient in rice, the first time in history since the American period. In addition, the Philippines exported rice worth US$7 million.
• Marcos initiated, together with the other four heads of state of Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore), the formation of a regional organization to combat the communist threat in the region – the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), an organization that was later on revealed to be his brainchild. He wanted to use this as his jumping point to conquering the whole of Asia. Take that Hitler!

He was re-elected, the first time ever a Philippine President was re-elected.

Now, the downside of being too brilliant is that you can also be fu$%!n brilliant with evilness and Marcos played the part perfectly. In a true rock star fashion, he made the military his bi@!tch. Like a killer whale that was put on vegan diet for a decade, he went on a frenzy on the first taste of fresh meat.

He put up a mining business. Yeah, a mining business. He, with his wife, rode the helicopter and looked at properties that they like. Once they are feelin’ it, they just say “that’s mine” and lo and behold, it becomes theirs. They pulled businesses down to the ground by simply not supporting them or inventing some case to force them to close or by just getting it from them.

He was not about to take sh!t from anyone. You say one thing against him and you will lose your ability to say anything at all. Maybe your family too if he woke up at the wrong side of the bed. He also opened a bank account… in Switzerland and since he didn’t have any source of income, he took the money off the Philippines instead and put it under someone’s name that was subsequently transferred to someone else then was moved somewhere else and converted to something else by someone else… ah f%ck it. Point is, he was so brilliant in hiding the money, even the bank can’t find it.

The international economy decided to join in the fun of neckstomping the Philippines to absolute poverty. Oil-producing countries decided to cut back on oil production just because they f@#$in’ can. Well, not exactly. They got pissed at the US when the US decided to help Israel in the Arab-Israeli conflict. Don’t you just love the US?! Oil price shoot up and the Philippines, having its money taken away, were now giving up their arms, legs, liver, and effin’ eyeballs for a kilogram of rice.

Students started feeling massive discomfort so they rebelled. Marcos, as we have established, was not going to take any sh!t from anyone even if it meant killing four students in the first massive demonstration back in 1970 known as the First Quarter Storm.

Students started launching rallies left right and center and Marcos started killing, arresting, torturing, people left right and center. Now, some b@ll$ this guy got as he decided to seek for a third term. Problem is that the law wouldn’t allow him so he bribed people to change the law. Problem solved.

On September 21, 1972, Marcos signed Proclamation No. 1081 placing the entire nation under martial law. He got six years in the office with no limit on the number of times he can go for a re-election. He mandated himself to continue his presidency under the period of martial law.

He lifted martial law in 1981 and run for re-election against Alejo Santos. He also decided to silence his archnemesis, Ninoy Aquino by assassinating him during the live coverage of Ninoy’s arrival to the Philippines after years of exile. Yeah, kill your archnemesis while the whole world is watching, why the h3ll not?

Like a true blue b@d@$$, Marcos never did anything half baked, right? That wouldn’t make any sense. You want to be a lawyer, you become the best or f$%k off. You want to become rich, you become so freakin’ rich, the tenth generation of your family should never have to work again. You want to become the President, you stay there ‘till your dying days.

Ninoy Aquino Assassination - August 21, 1981

What the Marcos did to this country, for better or for worse, is still being felt today. Hey, we’ve got OPM music, we owe him that but we are also poor, he’s got a lot to do with that. He has been dead for how many decades and his actions are still being felt today. Whether we admit it or not, the Philippines remains his b!@tch to this day.

Geeks Are The New Rock Stars

Mathematics sucks big time. It is an absolute sham. I would rather perform an open heart surgery using Jollibee knives while I head bang to the music Sex Pistols than sit through a 10-minute class about the basic principle of Calculus. I would rather insert my arms in the esophagus of a starving crocodile while I dance the Macarena than solve any sort of Calculus problems. Algebra is no different, any mathematical problem that has a number above 5 is piece of sh!t. Well, you probably have speculated by now that my stratospheric hatred for Math is rooted in the fact that I suck at it. So hard in fact, a 3 year old can win a math contest over me. Ask me to write a script worthy of the Best Screenplay Award in Oscars and I will do it in a heartbeat but Calculus? Not I don’t want to, I simply don’t have the necessary brain cells for it.

John Russell Virata - middle

John Russel Virata is my counterpart. Math is his b!tch. He is so good at it that he is representing our country to this year’s International Math Olympiad (IMO). It is the most hardcore math competition in the whole fuc#!n world. There are more than 35 countries represented including the G effin’ 7 – France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and Russia. If you are thinking though that it is no big deal, you may just be as stup!d as I am because the training involved in qualifying in the IMO is equivalent to single-handedly charging a Palestinian troop with only a gadam toothpick as a weapon.

Virata went on a head to head clash against 3,500 math geniuses to solve problems from basic algebra to calculus in Philippine Math Olympics (PMO), the oldest mathematical contest in the country.

Virata does feel a bit of pressure. Last year, the Philippines won a bronze medal at the 50th IMO held in Bremen , Germany through Carmela Lao of St. Jude Catholic School. Looks like he has a lot of practice though. He already won various international mathematics competitions including last year’s Invitational World Youth Mathematics Intercities Competition held in Durban, South Africa where he won a bronze medal and the Philippine International Mathematics Competition in Iloilo City where he took home a gold medal.

Imagine traveling the world more than once a year for free to do something you love doing like solving Math problems, pretty sweet. Imagine winning these competitions that makes all the money spent on you for your travels worthwhile, totally awesome. Imagine living a life of absolute coolness because you are, day by day, becoming the embodiment of the new generation of youth – totally bad@$$ and totally cool at something that brings pride to your country, family and self – that is simply doped.

Anyone who claims that the Philippines can never claim genius in the field of Math, you either beat Virata on a one-on-one Math showdown or shut the fu$# up. We cannot deny that our educational standards are on an all-time low but people like Virata doesn’t bother b!tching about it because it will not help the situation. People like Virata – cool and f@#$in badass – simply live out their passion because THAT is what will actually help the situation.

The King Pinoy Of Evenings

I received several emails and comments, some contain constructive criticism, some are overwhelmingly flattering, some confusing. My favorites, however, are those that express mutual excitement on what this site is all about – pride in everything Pinoy. One interesting suggestion (she requested that I withhold her name) is to write about Pinoy delicacy.

Why not?

If there is one thing we will never run out of, it is the unique menu of mouthwatering, totally awesome, worth dying for food. The best part is that these don’t necessarily cost you an arm and leg. These are always available in your kanto-canteen for less than $1 (P50.00). A single serving of one Pinoy delicacy can more than drive the biggest construction workers that have the body of a quarterback times three as long as there is about five cups of rice, some kind of sauce and water, Pinoys are ready to rock their meal times.

Perhaps the second most popular delicacy from the Philippines is our good ‘ol BALOT (first is arguably Adobo). I know some of you are most likely cringing their disgust as not the entire country dig it but you have to admit this is one kick@ss delicacy that is our and ours alone and if your are down with it, tastes f***in’ awesome too.

Baluuuuutttt

Almost all friends I have from other countries who have come here and were (un)fortunate enough to get their hands on a balot or two admit that this is the most vicious, brutal, and throat-crushingly hardcore delicacy they’ve tasted in both good and bad way. Dude, they at least fry snakes and rats in Africa, by the time it is served to you, it looks like your ever familiar golden fried chicken and tastes like one too but our balot ever so proudly presents itself to the one eating it in complete anatomy – feather, eyes, fully functioning intestines and nails – as you put it in your mouth for a sumptuous meal.

Then there is the overwhelmingly unique way of getting hold of a balot. When the moon dominates the sky and beds are waiting for its owners, the classic chant that deserves the International Hall of Fame for Musical Achievement wakes everyone up – BALUUUUUTTTT, PENOYYYYY, BALUUUUUUTTTT.

You buy it and expertly find the rounder side of the egg for a ceremonial eggshell breaking either by slamming it against a wall or a table or against your companion’s forehead. Peel it slowly, gulp soup that tastes devilishly heavenly until you are now down to the real business – egg yolk and the 18-day-old duck.

hmmmm, now i need to get one of those

Yeah, it even made its way to Fear Factor, Amazing Race and Survivor as a part of a challenge. Contestants that could finish the balot on their plate wins a precious stuff like $50,000, a car or whatever it is the TV program is giving away. One of the contestants said “If they came and offered me the $50,000 right now to just eat one more, there is no way I would do it again, there is no way.”

Could you imagine that? Balot in exchange of $50,000? Balot is a prize in itself, weenies.

I hope, though, that you will see past through the attempted humor in this article and onto the value of what I am talking about. Other countries may be serving balot but not the way Pinoys do it in the Philippines. It is one of those things that makes you remember the Philippines when you are in the middle of a cold winter night in some snow-filled country with fondness and smile and at the end of the day, that’s what this country is all about – happiness that no one else gets but Pinoys.

are you digging this?

12 Things About Arnel That Truly Rocks

"Arnelly" to some of his friends

Y’all know the story of world’s Rock and Roll Fairytale – Arnel Pineda. There is no sense in writing about it all over again.

Instead, I will tell you stuff no one else knows except a few who are very close to him. Things that are bound to make you feel even more proud of being brown.

1. He has been offered a citizenship by Journey. He declined because he doesn’t see the sense in changing his nationality. Changing his passport will not change the color of his skin nor the cells in his blood and even if it will, why the h3ll would he want to. He is Pinoy and millions and millions of people go to Journey’s concert and it’s his voice they listen to, a Pinoy’s voice. So, why would he want to change his nationality again?

2. Most the TV shows where Journey appeared actually just wanted him, not really the whole band. It was his story they wanted to roll with. Apparently, it is “Journey’s rule” to never allow anyone in the band to fly solo.

3. He didn’t finish school and it is, perhaps, the only regret he has in his life. He is now setting up an NGO to be named AP foundation that will concentrate on providing education to street kids. He figured youtube has a lot of videos in there and it is easy to not notice other talents out there. His fans in the US already set one up. He is looking for volunteers. If you are interested, contact me. My email is somewhere in this site.

4. He is the most un-rockstar rockstar you can find. He neither drinks nor smokes even if it comes free with the territory. Rockstars are supposed to get insanely wasted and use that as an excuse whenever he thrashes hotel rooms and rip venues apart right? Well, I ain’t big on drinking but I like alcohol in my system every now and then. Man, Arnel is just clean. He gets into airplanes more often than he drinks alcohol. He is not big on soda or iced tea or any of those artificial juices. His favourite drinks are water and soy milk.That is how this rockstar chooses to roll.

The whole band was actually forced to go back to the gym because they couldn't keep up with Arnel's energy on stage

5. He is big on vegetables, fruits and fish. Yes, good ‘ol fashion hideous plants that a lot of children think is meant for animals give Arnel the energy he uses to leap like gadam hulk in steroids and sing like the retention of his b@ll$ depends on it. Those who work with artists know that it is almost a tradition to call up the artist’s handler to ask what kind of food the artist likes. His staple request is vegetable salad and fruits. He eats meat alright but he is not big on it. So if there are children reading this blog (sweet jezuz i hope none), go crazy on greens. It can turn you into a rock star.

6. He sounds more like Bryan Adams than he does Steve Perry. His natural singing voice that is. Nowadays, he doesn’t even bother to sound like Steve Perry anymore and people are responding better. His voice is more husky and more rockstar-like.

7. He is very thrifty. He doesn’t splurge on material things nor does he spoil his children. He says that his children was fine when he hardly had anything so he doesn’t see the need to change. They live in a better house, they have cars, and are in a better school. That, for him, should be more than enough.

8. Most of his clothes and accessories are provided to him for free. He has this kick@$s belt (that I wanted to steal) that was just rockstar cool. A fan asked for it and said “i’ll show you my boobs”. Guess what Arnel did – no, really, guess. Leave a comment or email me if you want to know.

9. He still carries his own clothes to shoots and shows.

10. He loves Chuck Taylors. He says the best place to buy is HongKong.

11. He is small, 5’4″ at best. U.S. size is still sometimes too big for him. He wears the female size in the U.S. if the need be. He usually gets his clothes from Affliction and Juicy Couture.

12. He is the only Filipino to ever have a 7-page spread on GQ. Do you have a copy of that?

Arnel says Journey takes care of him well. He couldn't ask for more

photos courtesy of http://arnelpinedarocks.com/