Walking around the Windy City

Interesting.

Walking around downtown Chicago was weird. Just weird. It was like travelling back in time.

So many familiar things and places: the hill over at the Elk’s (you know that honey), Lincoln Park, Lakeshore drive, Navy Pier, O’Hare, Jewel-Osco, Rock and Roll McDonald’s, Ontario, State, Dearborn, Wacker, Clark, La Salle and the El train. Things have changed though. Jaye isn’t around to look out for me anymore. No smoking CheChe. No story telling Rico. No hoopdie driving Ria. No dancing clown Allan. No Lianne (yet). No Pads. No Ate Jen. No Fritzie. No Tessa. No Copi. No Mel. No RJ. No Joyce. No Aji. No Jhon, Sye, Sya, Mike and Lei.

Gwenny was here but she just moved far away. Vince was here but he moved to Indiana.

I went over to Jude’s to hang out. Sterling felt weird. I'm overwhelmed with memories.

Happy? Not much.
Sad? Not really.
Interesting? Definitely.

My Question Last May

Interesting.

Last May, I asked one of the questions that will only be answered in June. I only gave myself two possible answers:

What will I eat for lunch on June 16?

a) 2-piece Chickenjoy from Jollibee
b) Pad See Iew from Singha

June 16 came and went.



... I guess all great stories come in trilogies...

Crabby Arn

We were having lunch at this seafood place one day. I already ate a stick of barbecue and some shrimp then my uncle placed a huge orange crab on my plate. It smelled great!

but how do I eat it?

I don’t know how to “himay” (hmm… dismantle?) a crab. I eat crabsticks and crab rangoons from Singha (Thai restaurant in Chicago) but I never learned to eat crabmeat straight from a crab mainly because (1) mom always took out the meat for me when I was a kid and (2) having crab in our house was more rare than me going to the gym.

(which is like saying... "never")

I took the crab and tried to break it in half. I know I’m supposed to break it at a certain spot but I didn’t know where. I tried splitting it open with my bare hands and it felt like my fingers were being sliced with a dull knife. The crab was still in one piece and now my fingers were swollen. I grabbed a metal thingie and smashed the crab shell open sending pieces of crab flying around the place. I rammed and rammed the crab like I was playing wack-a-mole. I was getting ticked off because the smell and the sauce were delicious but I couldn't get the meat inside. Watching me hammer the crab, poke it with a knife and shout at it was like watching a monkey open a coconut.

...or like watching the Incredible Hulk operate a cell phone.

RRROAAARRRR! Arnold MAD! *bam!* (hammers the crab) Arnold CRUSH crab! *bam!* (pierces crab with a knife)

Was I able to get the meat out? Yup. Was I able to eat it? Yes but it was irritating since I fine minced the shell into the meat. Now I can’t differentiate the meat from the shells add that to the fact that both the shell and the meat are white. Genius. I ended up ordering a big box of Hotshots from KFC on my way home.

No shell, no claws, no problem.

It Was Just Meant to Be

I’ll be a few minutes late for the church service and so I told Jaye to go ahead without me and that I’ll just catch up. She didn’t tell me where exactly she would be sitting.

I arrived 20 minutes late and the place was packed. I proceeded to one side and an usherette asked me if I wanted a seat. I smiled and was about to say no and that I was looking for my friend but she took it as a yes and she directed me to this one seat with a bag on top of it. The bag belonged to the girl beside it.

The usherette asked if someone was seated there and the girl said it was reserved for someone. I grabbed the bag, placed it on the floor and sat on that particular seat.

I didn’t know who that usherette was nor did she know me or the girl. She just wanted to find a chair for me. How she directed me to that one chair - among all the empty chairs in the crowd, beside Jaye I’ll never know.

It guess it was just meant to be.

Learning from Waves

[My beach stories... part 4]

Obviously, this trip was more of a retreat for me than an office team building.

After that short conversation with Him earlier, I was back in the ocean not to ask anymore questions but just to have fun with my friends. After a few minutes of getting bounced around by the waves, I realized that waves are a lot like life’s problems and there are so many ways to handle it.

A wave came and I jumped backward into it. All the others were doing that.
Lesson: Look at how others solve their problems. If it works for them, it might work for you too. It's not guaranteed but it's worth a try.

A wave came and I dove into it. I went through the wave and surfaced on the same spot.
Lesson: Some problems can be taken head on. No running. No hiding. No delaying.

A wave came and I dove underwater. The current couldn’t drag me since my weight was concentrated on a single spot and resistance was above my head.
Lesson: Sometimes, the best thing to do is duck.

A small wave came and I punched it. It deflected most of the water and there wasn’t enough momentum left to drag me.
Lesson: Some problems can be solved using brute force. As much as I don’t recommend this, it sometimes works.

A wave came and I jumped backward. After landing back on my feet and regaining my balance, an unexpected wave came and wiped me out. Sending me floating back 10 feet, making me gulp salt water and burning my eyes.
Lesson: Problems can come in sequence. After solving one, be alert for the next.

With my back turned, a wave came and wiped me out. As I was floating and figuring out which way was up, I was coughing underwater because I inhaled a lot of seawater. I flailed my arms around until someone caught me.
Lesson: Problems can screw anyone but friends will always be there.

A wave came and I jumped with the wave towards the beach and swam. The wave brought me almost 20 feet from where I started.
Lesson: Roll with the punches. No resistance, no conflict, no problems.

A wave came and I jumped backward. As the wave hit me, my right leg cramped up. I swam back to shore on one leg while massaging my calf.
Lesson: Know when to quit and control damage.

I think the biggest lesson I learned from all this is that during the entire experience, I never stopped and complained that another wave was coming. I never blamed anyone for the waves. I never complained about the salty sea or the rocks I step on. I never wished that I was on a pond instead. I enjoyed the ocean even with the waves battering me around.

Stop complaining. There will always be problems. Enjoy life.

Angela and Erwin

[My beach stories... part 3]

I was walking back to our resort after taking pictures of the sunrise. 2 kids saw me and walked along with me. They were carrying a bag of mangoes and selling me some so that they can go to school. Unfortunately, I didn’t have anything with me other than my phone, my camera, my room keys and a camera battery. I have no intentions to eat mangoes for breakfast but I wanted to reward these kids for earning money instead of begging for it. The next best thing I could do for them is take them to the beach in our resort so they could sell mangoes there.

I asked them about life around here. Their dad earns just enough to survive. They have to sell stuff from the forest to earn extra. They walk along these beaches everyday to make a few bucks.

And yesterday I was complaining that the air conditioner in our room was not cold enough and that the battery of my iPod was already drained because I did not charge it for a week?

Here’s Angela and Erwin. I’m guessing that’s their dad who was resting after taking a dip in the ocean.

Of Sunrises and Happy Thoughts

[My beach stories... part 2]

I’ve photographed sunsets before especially in Chicago but I’ve never taken a picture of a sunrise.

I was at the beach at 5:30 in the morning, camped on a log which served as my makeshift tripod. I walked the whole stretch of the beach looking for a good angle of the mountains and finally settled on that log.

Sunsets are nice. It gives me that warm fuzzy feeling that today was a great day. The remaining sunlight creates unique shadows and the sun has changed into an orange ball on the horizon. I can look into it without shielding my eyes, take one deep breath and say “Truly, it was a good day.”

Sunrises are different. I know it’s a cliché but sunrises give me that “new beginning” feeling. All the pains and problems of yesterday are lost. It’s a fresh start and the day is already good and only up to me to mess up. I can look into it still without shielding my eyes, take one deep breath and say “This will be a good day.”.

I got caught staring at the sunrise for longer than I imagined. My camera was now just hanging around my neck - turned off and with the lens cap on, as I sat on that log – thinking, smiling, realizing so many things and appreciating life and what it has given me.

Staring at the sunrise – not a feeling like it. I took a few photos but used up most of my time staring. I’m a poet first, photographer second.

Not yet done

[My beach stories... part 1]

I was standing on sand and rocks with the water above my shoulder and just below my ears facing the sea. I raised my arms to my side and said “Here I am. If today’s the day so be it. You have a clear shot at me. Here I am. Your move.” then I closed my eyes and emptied my mind.

For a minute I felt empty. His answer was quick.

I opened my eyes and a big wave was forming in front of me. I closed my eyes and stood still. It slammed me and spun me in many directions. I was floating but I didn’t know which way was up. I reached out my hands and my legs hoping to feel sand which I did with my right arm. Next thing I know I was standing up waist deep in water with my eyes burning from the salty seawater and I was now facing the beach a few feet away from where I started from. When I regained my eyesight, another wave hit me from behind the knees taking me down and I was floating on my butt. I ended up sitting on the sand, neck up in water and still facing the beach. Another wave came and slammed behind my head which felt like someone slapping me and saying "Stop asking stupid questions."

I stood up and walked back while clearing the sand that was lodged onto my ring and causing my finger to itch. It took me a while to realize it but I did.

Thanks for the quick response.

Election Thoughts

Poor Manny

I could imagine Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales and Juan Manuel Marquez all sitting on a sofa watching the news about Pacquiao's loss over at ESPN, laughing uncontrollably and drinking Corona.

(In a Mexican accent) "Wala ka talaga katolad Manny! Bwahahahahahah!! Talo ke Darlene bwahahahaha!!!"

Election Ads

Frankly I was disappointed with the quality of mudslinging in this election (Well, I didn't see much from where I am so I guess I really shouldn't complain). Remember that ad before asking Enrile "how much are you?" and he goes on and shares his worth? Remember that ad with Miriam describing some Filipinos as "species of lower life forms"?

FINALLY, here's one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WavDUB3p0g8

My thought? "Lahat naman e" :P

The month of June

June will be interesting. I guarantee it.

Five Short Chapters on Change

Chapter 1
I walk down a street and there's a deep hole in the sidewalk. I fall in. It takes forever to get out. It's my fault.

Chapter 2
I walk down the same street. I fall in the hole again. It still takes a long time to get out. It's not my fault.

Chapter 3
I walk down the same street. I fall in the hole again. It's becoming a habit. It is my fault. I get out immediately.

Chapter 4
I walk down the same street and see the deep hole in the sidewalk. I walk around it.

Chapter 5
I walk down a different street.

Typical Arn Story

This place where I'm currently taking my week long training serves breakfast, lunch and merienda for free to their students. They used to order out from nearby restaurants but I guess due to budget constraints, they decided to get an in-house caterer.

Anyways, one morning they were serving pancakes and ham for breakfast. They gave me two pieces of pancakes and a slice of ham. I placed a chunk of butter on each and drowned them in syrup which was unusually...er... malabnaw. I started walking away when the server called my attention.

"Ser, patis ho yan."

Making My Vote Count

This week I voted and celebrated democracy...



... and I for once I was proud I had dirty fingernails. :P

The Shakeys Experience

Last night, Jaye and I hopped off work and went straight to Park Square where I was looking for some lens hoods for my camera (as advised by Pads). After walking and walking and walking… we couldn’t find it and decided to eat dinner. We dropped by Shakeys and there started one of our worst dining experiences ever. Sorry guys, you had this coming.

- It was hard to call the attention of waiters. It took them a while before they could even give the menus to us and we even had to seat ourselves. A waiter would walk by and I raise my hand like a geek in math class but I get ignored. Another waiter walks by and I’m ignored. Another waiter… you get the idea.

- They first served the drinks (which was the only thing they served on time). I took a sip and placed the glass down. Jaye took a sip, looked at me and we had that conversation with incomplete, incoherent sentences but made perfect sense to us: “Lasang…” “uhuh”, “Parang…” “uhuh”, “Ganun ba…” “yep”… The soda was stale. I called the waiter and asked to have it replaced. They problem is…

- They have rude waiters. Look, we ordered for bottomless sodas so we’re not stiffing you by pretending the sodas were stale. The waiter had that “arte nyo naman” look when he grabbed the half empty glass. I asked where the soda came from (because if it was from the fountain, I’ll switch to iced tea). In a very arrogant voice, he explained to me “EH KASI HO SODA HO YAN.”.

Riiiiiiiiiight. That explained EVERYTHING. The waiter left and Jaye and I were laughing our butts off.

It’s not like we ordered Bloody Maries. It’s just Coke! Did they get it from their supplier in powder form or something? How do you mess that up?

- The orders took a long time to arrive. We observed the place and it wasn’t because there were plenty of customers and there were only a few waiters… it was a problem with efficiency. It’s like they don’t know the meaning of multi-tasking.

- We ordered the Bunch of Lunch which looked more like the bunch of Meriendas or bunch of appetizers. Just before Jaye could finish her sentence describing the Shakeys of old, I was already done with my spaghetti, mojos, pizza slice and was halfway done with my chicken.

- Don’t get me started with how long it took for the soda refills to come. Sabagay... Soda nga naman diba? (still doesn't make sense)

- We finished our meals and asked for the bill. The waiter acknowledged, ran off and was never heard from again. Another waiter passed and I asked for our bill. Again we never heard from that waiter again. We looked around and there were only a handful of customers left. Is their service really that bad or is the phrase “check please” in addition to drawing a rectangle with your thumb and pointer finger actually a voodoo spell that disintegrates waiters?

The Shakeys in this generation is completely different from the Shakeys a few years ago. The bunch of lunch before was really a BUNCH of lunch. I thank the Lord that I was able to experience such a meal before. Hold on, let’s recap. Problems with the current generation? Check. Complains a lot? Check. Balky knees? Check. An overly appreciation of the Lord? Check. I’m definitely old.

I rate this restaurant, 3 stale mojo potatoes.

Nagawa mo ba to?

1. kumakain ka ba ng aratilis?
Tried but I hated it. Aratilis (for me) is still the best ammo for my slingshot. My neighbor made aratilis shake which was gross. ewww....

2. nagpipitpit ng gumamela para gawing soapy bubbles na hihipan mo sa binilog na tanggkay ng walis tingting?
Yup, but instead of walis tingting we used the stem of a papaya leaf.

3. pinipilit ka ba matulog ng nanay mo pag hapon at di ka papayagan maglaro pag di ka natulog?
Or else daw hindi ako tataba... and now look what happened.

4. marunong ka magpatintero, saksak puso, langit-lupa, teleber-teleber, luksong tinik?
I loved patintero (I was our team's "patotot" - the vertical line guy). we had different teams with different "home courts" where we had different rules. Saksak puso is extremely familiar but I can't remember anything about it. Teleb what? Luksong tinik and luksong baka tried but I wasn't good at it (I sucked at anything that involved jumping)

5. malupit ka pag meron kang atari, family computer or s-nes?
Yup! I graduated family computer and moved on to Sega, PS1, PS2. I'm enjoying PS2 so far.

6. alam mo ang silbi ng up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, a, b, a, b, start?
30 lives in Contra 1. (and if you held down left select and A ata it was the sound edit version). It also gave you freebies in Gradius.

7. may mga damit ka na U.S.E.D., Boy London , Cross Colors, Esprit, Blowing Bubbles at pag nakakakita ka ng Bench na damit eh naalala mo si Richard Gomez ?
I had Boy London shorts before. Bench was automatically linked to Richard Gomez - anything Bench and anything related to rowing.

8. addict ka sa rainbow brite, carebears, my little pony,thundercats, bioman, voltes v, mazinger z, daimos, he-man at marami pang cartoons na hindi pa translated sa tagalog?
Yup! Those were the afternoon cartoons after arriving from school and while eating Nissin's Ramen.

9. nanonood ka ng shaider kasi nabobosohan mo si annie at type na type mo ang puting panty nya?
Really? I didn't know that.

Huy, nung isang beses red yung suot nya...well, that was what I heard.

10. marunong ka mag wordstar at nakahawak ka na talaga ng 5.25 na floppy disk?
Wordstar, Wordperfect and dBase. I was using Turbo C when I was 13. :)

11. inaabangan mo lagi ang batibot at akala mo magkakatuluyan si kuya bodgie at ate sienna... nung high school ka inaabangan mo lagi beverly hills 90210?
Yup! Took me a while to realize 90210 was the zip code.

12. gumagamit ka ng AQUANET para pataasin ang bangs mo?
N/A. I was always bald when I was young. I had aquanet in my bike to ward off dogs in case I was chased.

13. meron kang blouse na may padding kung babae ka at meron kang sapatos na mighty kid kung lalake ka?
I had mighty kid shoes and I would cross the velcros so it would look cool. I also had a pair of Kaypee shoes.

14. nangongolekta ka ng paper stationaries at mahilig ka magpa pirma sa slumbook mo para lang malaman mo kung sino ang crush ng type mo?
Slumbooks I loved signing though I didn't really keep one for myself. I had a filo and a trapper keeper though.

15. kilala mo si manang bola at ang sitsiritsit girls? e si ning-ning at ging-ging?
Batibot!

16. alam mo ibig sabihin ng time space warp at di mo makakalimutan ang time space warp chant?
Of course! It's funny that Shaider episodes ALWAYS end the same. He beats them up, monster has "surprise" powers and now beats up Shaider, Annie mabobosohan, Shaider gets the upper hand, calls his spaceship/gun and blasts the monster.

17. idol mo si McGyver at nanonood kang perfect strangers?
McGyver not much but I was a huge fan of cousin Larry and cousin Balky. Back in grade school I did the "dance of joy" with my best friend everyday. But I still don't know where myphos is.

18. eto malupet... six digits lang ba ang phone number nyo dati?
n/a. We lived in the mountains and we didn't have a phone that time.

19. nakakatawag ka pa sa pay phone ng 3 bentesingko lang ang dala?
Yup! That big red pay phone as described in that song.

20. cute pa si aiza seguerra sa eat bulaga at alam mo ang song na "eh kasi bata"?
Yup, she was still a girl then.

21. inabutan mo ba na ang Magnolia Chocolait eh nasa glass bottle pa na ginagawang lalagyan ng tubig ng nanay mo sa ref?
Yup! I would be devastated when mom would buy Magnolia Milk instead of Chocolait.

22. meron kang pencil case na maraming compartments na pinagyayabang mo sa mga kaklase mo?
Yup! I had 1, 2 and 3 pencils. I also had that pen with multiple colors but it drove my teacher nuts reading my essay in 50 colors.

23. noon mo pa hinahanap kung saan ang Goya Fun Factory?
Yea...

24. alam mo lyrics ng "tinapang bangus" at "alagang-alaga namin si puti"?
Tinapang bangus? nah. Alagang-alaga namin si puti I know only the chorus.

25. alam mo ang kantang "gloria labandera".. lumusong sha sa tubig ang paa ay nabasa at ang "1, 2, 3, asawa ni marie"... hehehehehe?
Araw gabi... (I don't know the rest of the song...)

26. sosyal ka pag may play-doh ka at Lego... at nag-iipon ka ng G.I. Joe action figures at iba pa ang mukha ni barbie noon?
I had GI Joe's. My brother got the lego's. I also collected Micro Machines and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle action figures.

27. inabutan mo pa yung singkong korteng bulaklak at yung diyes na square?
Don't forget the 1 cent coin and the HUGE 1 peso coin.

28. lumaki kang bobo dahil ang akala mo nangangagat talaga ang alimango sa kantang tong-tong-tong. .. diba naninipit yun?
Yup, but it doesn't rhyme with "dagat". It think it falls under poetic license.

29. alam mo yung kwento ng pari na binigyan ng pera yung batang umakyat ng puno para bumili ng panty... and shempre, alam mo rin ba kung ano binigay nya sa nanay nung umakyat ng puno?
This one honestly I have no idea. Does anyone know this?

30. meron kang kabisadong kanta ni andrew e na alam mo hanggang ngayon.. aminin?
Ok ok ok I was a HUGE Andrew E fan. I have all the cassettes but my lyrics were all wrong because I got them from Songhits. I also watched his movies (for shame...)

31. laging lampin ang sinasapin sa likod mo pag pinapawisan ka?
Nah.

32. bumibili ka ng tarzan, texas at bazooka bubble gum... tira-tira, at yung kending bilog na sinawsaw sa asukal?
I even know the Bazooka Bubble Gum jingle and collected the comic strips that came with it. :P

33. takot ka dumating ang year 1999 dahil sabi nla magugunaw daw ang mundo?
I was already in IT by then and I knew all the technical details so I wasn't scared. :)

Tech Questions

I remember last year, Vince, my buddy from Chicago asked me where do files really go when they get deleted. I gave out a geeky answer but I wasn't sure (the files will still be in memory but they lose the pointers to it, making them blanks and unretrievable).

Here's a second question: what makes a mouse pointer move? Jaye sent me the answer here.

Try moving the pointer fast, slow then try clicking it. :P

Of Certifications, Ads and Things You Hear If You Just Listen

MCP x2

I passed my second Microsoft Certified Professional exam! I didn't sleep for days reading the MOC and was literally a zombie when I took the exam. The last time I felt like that was during my thesis days back in college. It was worth it and I even got a surprisingly high score given that this wasn't my specialization. (The test was about database administration, I specialize in performance optimization). 2 Down, 2 to go.

Why I don't appreciate some local television ads

Piolo is shown driving a European sports car. Angel, who's wearing a sexy top waits for him from her home. Piolo arrives and takes off his shirt while walking towards her. They play rock music in the background. Then they drink coffee? The ad is about coffee?

I know the ad is about a "light" coffee and they show a guy "dreaming" that he looked the same way Piolo does... but I still don't get it.

One more thing, how come when Piolo is on TV they ALWAYS find a way in the script for him to take off his shirt. "Ako po'y maglalakad papuntang paaralan... NAKOW!... may dumaan na mamang may dalang spaghetti, nadapa at tumapon sa shirt ko."

Nothing wrong as long as it doesn't involve cowboy hats

I was walking past the security guard here when I overheard another guard over his radio ask him "Kamusta ka naman diyan?" in a uhh... concerned voice. "Ok lang ako dito. Ikaw?" then he saw me and turned the radio down. Though somewhat awkward, I think it's sweet to know that our security forces here are BFF.

If I heard "why can't I quit you?", that would merit a full blog entry from me.

Of Monthsaries, Bowling balls and Happy Thoughts

Overtime work + bowling + dinner

Project team building? Nah, It's actually our agenda to celebrate our MONTHSARY! :D It was't like this is what we had in mind for our ideal date but with our workload that time, we didn't have much choice. It was a busy week but we refused to reschedule and celebrate it another day. Besides, we've been aching to go bowling for a looooong time.

So it's Jaye vs Arn. Sweet little Jaye against Herculian man Arn who outweighs her by... much! This had "NO CONTEST" all over it and pretty sure it would be over fast. We picked the lane, put on our shoes and picked our bowling balls. I even taught Jaye had to pick out a ball. Honestly, I wanted to keep the score close so as to not embarrass my honey.

We rolled the first frame and immediately I know I've been had. I'm your typical office guy bowler - no professional form, capable of hitting pins, no spins, occassional strike. Our first game was like watching Sanjaya beating the crap out of Batista. I would roll the ball and hit the 2 left most pins. Jaye would get a strike. I get 2 more pins and Jaye would shoot a spare.

No fair.

I even tried to imitate the guy beside me (who had a funny release) to no avail (went straight to the gutter). I tried teasing her and even surprised her after she released the ball and STILL rolled out a strike.

She won the first frame by a few points... Ok, ok she won by a lot more than that... Ok ok ok fine, the score was so bad that if there was a referree, he would have stopped it by the 3rd round and award a TKO victory to Jaye. She won by 55.

The second game started with Jaye rolling a gutter ball and walks back smiling at me. Yea right. I have a change in my strategy too since I know Jaye's weakness - she laughs a lot. The next few frames were more about me dancing in the lane, doing a Johhny Bravo flex after releasing the ball, basically just make a fool out of myself. With Jaye laughing all night, it kept the score close enough for me to pull an upset win in the end.

We wanted to bowl a third game but decided to have dinner instead. What a great night! It felt so good not to think about work for a few hours and just enjoy life.

It was really nice of Jaye not to embarrass her honey.

Happy monthsary!

Pacman Rides Again

The boxing event was named "Blaze of Glory": Manny Pacquiao vs Jorge Solis of Mexico. There was also a fight between some dude and whatshisname but I really didn't care.

Manny Pacquiao comes in as the favorite having defeated other notable Mexican boxers including two wins over Erik "Wala kang katulad Manny" Morales (who appeared in a San Miguel Beer commercial with Manny). The promoters made sure that people won't treat Jorge Solis as a pushover by building up on his undefeated 32 wins - 0 losses - 2 draws on 23 knockouts standing, his height advantage and his aggressive. The fight was last Sunday and that morning I was really really really really wishing for a result some Filipinos wanted.

A Pacman loss.

To those who didn't see that fight, Manny won by knocking Solis out in the 8th round. Ok ok ok Manny fans I get it. Before you throw at me your Surf detergent boxes, Chicken McDos, Alaxan and Circulan capsules, Datu Puti, Thunder energy drink, SMB and GSM bottles, Magnolia ice creams, Smart sim cards (ouch), Magic sings, Nike shirts and Darlington socks (yup, those are all his endorsement deals) hear me out first.

I'm a sports lover and I know what a Pacquiao win means to the country and I would have wanted Manny to win this fight...

but he chose to run for congress.

Despite strong advice from influential people he still went ahead and will probably continue to file as a candidate. He's exploiting a hole in our democracy about the influence of celebrities in politics. Manny Pacquiao, the greatest Filipino boxer. He already has that title. In his next match, if Juan Manuel Marquez beats the crap out of him he still holds that title. Don't taint it by going into politics, well at least not now. Wait until you've accomplished everything first but it's not a good idea to mix in politics while you're in your prime. Wait until Mexico declares you public enemy number 1.

In this match, we saw a careless Pacquiao play around in the first few rounds. If you have the "hopes of the nation" on your shoulder, focus on the fight! Was he stalling? More rounds mean more ads? Making the fight close to make it more entertaining? Was he acting as if he was giving his best, then get beat just a little then make a dramatic finish? Nah, I've seen clips of his movie with Mikey Arroyo and Manny can't act wet in the rain.

True enough Manny fought like a congressman in the first 5 rounds not even showing shades of the vicious Pacman who floored Morales and would've beaten his entire corner if he wanted to. Manny was head butted opening a bloody cut on his left eye. From then on he turned it up a notch, going berserk and finally knocking Solis out. Manny wins. Solis humbled. Crowd cheers. Filipinos give the people's champion a pat on the back then immediately comment "What the heck was that?!?". Despite Manny winning the match, it was a big disappointment. They didn't like the way Manny handled this fight. It seems that not all Filipinos now are automatic Pacman fans. Remember during the Morales fight when people would chant "Mejico" then it would be drowned out by stronger chants of "MANNY! MANNY!"? This time there was something off as not all Filipinos are on his side. Did you see the battle of Cebu event last February? He was booed as if he was a Yankees fan at Fenway Park.

How about the prefight press conference of "Blaze of Glory"?

Fernando Beltran, Solis' promoter said "Solis is undefeated and he doesn't know how to lose. He is a two-time national champion in a great, great weight class. I really believe Solis will shock The Philippines and the world. Mexico will be very proud of its champion on Saturday night."

Jorge Solis said "When I heard that I was fighting Manny Pacquiao in the main event on pay-per-view I got so excited I started jumping up and down. I couldn't sleep - not scared - but because of the excitement of it all. I came to San Antonio to win. As the saying goes in my hometown, I am taking home all of the marbles. I hold the pride of Mexico in my two fists. Manny's winning streak over my countrymen will end Saturday night. Be ready Manny, no excuses!"

Both statements were cocky but these are what you expect from a pre fight interview. Both predict a Solis victory and they say Filipinos should be prepared for a shocker.

Justin Fortune, Manny's conditioning trainer said "We never underestimate an opponent. But a physically fit and strong Manny Pacquiao is impossible to beat, and Jorge Solis, you can call this fight Mission Impossible."

There you go! They say Mexico will win, tell them to dream on. Now what did Manny say?

Manny said "I know my opponent Jorge Solis has worked hard and is determined to win. This will be a great fight for both of us, both of our countries and all of our fans. But there can only be one winner and I have every intention of leaving the ring the way I came in -- as champion."

Ok... he says Jorge is good, everyone will have a good time but he intends on leaving as the winner.

Eh?

This is a pre fight interview! There's no need to use safe words! Tell him you'll punch his face so hard such that it will bend all around over to his ass where he'll drive a burrito and a San Miguel beer bottle all the way up!


Pacquiao vs Morales. Now THAT's an intimidating pose. Frown and flex!


Pacquiao vs Solis. Ugh. I could've sworn they were dating.

My point is it's obvious that Filipinos hate politicians A LOT. Manny turning congressman is a bad move as they hate Congressman Manny more than Boxing Hero Manny. Come on, we're not dumb. Are we telling the world that a boxer, who is known to be fond of parties, bars, billiard playing and women has enough political knowledge and experience to be congressman in the Philippines?

I wished Manny would have a controversial loss - illegal gloves, Solis is really Evander Holyfield and the judges are really Barrera, Marquez and Morales in costume (ala Scooby doo) or probably something like WWE where Pacquiao is already winning but Stone cold comes in and gives him a Stone Cold Stunner.

I was rooting a Pacman loss hoping that this will finally put an end on his current congressional plans. A Manny win will somewhat seal his victory in the upcoming elections. Manny's corner predicted a Pacman victory. Solis' corder predicted disappointment for Filipinos.

Both sides were right.

From New York to Paris

How do you get from New York, NY to Paris, France? I found an interesting answer in Google:

1. Go to http://maps.google.com
2. Enter "new york, ny to paris, france" to get driving directions.
3. Scroll down to step number 23. ayos no? :P