Shortened Hours

UC guys, if you still are not aware, here are our class schedules for tomorrow, June 30, 2011: 

So instead of 8:15pm, I get to go home at 3:00pm. Or will I?

I have other things in mind.. [insert decepticon laugh here]

Myself in Marketing Terms

Our Mktg1 (Principles of Marketing) instructor gave us three minutes to write about/introduce ourselves using - what else - Marketing terms (needs wants demands stuff).

Here's what I came up with:

 I am Bjorn Reyes, 18 years old, an only child from a middle class family. My mother is a Registered Nurse, while my father is currently the Department Manager of ISD, ABRECO (Institutional Services Department, Abra Electric Cooperative). Being an only child (my only sister passed away in the past year), I tend to receive whatever I need; therefore marketing basically helps by informing me about the products and services with the best quality and lets me choose among them. Being 18, I often have a lot of wants and demands; I would love to get the best products and services available. However, my parents never dreamed of me grow up as a spoiled brat; they see to it that I always get only what I need, sometimes what I want and occasionally what I demand.

Considering we were only given a few minutes to accomplish this task, I guess I did a pretty good job on it.

My teacher was sking how I got to write "a lot", given the less than ample time to do such. I smiled and thought to myself: "the perks of blogging."

Dad's DayS

Every third Sunday of the month of June, we celebrate Father's Day.

{Why do I hear "Yah, we know" everywhere?}

  

On Sunday morning, though, I woke up to this touching - really really touching - Father's Day message from one of my classmates in grade school:

"I wish I could greet my dad, but I couldn't. Naiingit ako sa inyo because your fathers are still with you, and you can show them how much you love and care for them. How I wish I could also celebrate father's day with him kahit minsan lang. Sigh. I miss you, papa. how I wich you were here. I love you so much, pa. Happy father's day po sa mga haligi ng tahanan dyan."

 My former classmate's father passed away - he was with the military - about seven months before she was born.

I know father's day ended a day ago. But then - read my classmate's message again and try putting yourself in her sneakers - does that mean we stop showing our fathers how much we love and care for them?

I sure hope not.

The "real" winners

With all due respect, here are the real winners of the Mutya ng Dolores pageant:

Mutya ng Dolores 2011 [center]

Mutya ng Talogtog: Emerisa Alcantara

Mutya ng Dolores-Environment [right]

Mutya ng Calumbaya: Charina Bermudez

Mutya ng Dolores-Tourism [left]

Mutya ng Cardona: April Rose Avero

I guess transparency is a good word.

Peace out!

Congrats Mutyas...

Mutya ng Dolores: My winners

After I posted a nasty blog entry criticizing the overall results/winners of the Mutya ng Dolores pageant, feedback were calling on me to show who I believe should have gone home with the title. They say it would make me "more transparent."

Whatever that means, here they are:

Mutya ng Dolores 2011

Mutya ng Salucag: Deanne Joy Purisima [!]

 I know. I know. While nobody can argue that among the pageant's Magic 7,  Deanne delivered the best answer in the Coronation Night Q & A (she went home with the Mutya Articulate Award), her pulchritude (anlalim pare!) arguably also easily qualifies her to the top 3 prettiest mutyas, if there was such a thing. Beauty and brains, remember? Beauty and brains, baby! Beauty and brains... I know. I know.

Mutya ng Dolores-Environment

Mutya ng North-East Poblacion: Maezy Tordil

May be considered as the most physically beautiful of the Mutya ng Dolores candidates, her A in the Q & A was not bad either. Maezy is definitely someone you'd love to be doing the represent-Dolores thingy.

Mutya ng Dolores-Tourism

I'm leaving the 3rd and last spot open as a testament that all of the candidates deserved a shot at the title. Here are my honorable mentions though for Mutya ng Dolores-Tourism:

 Mutya ng Isit

Mutya ng Taping

Mutya ng Isit: Julie Anne Apolinar

She was not voted Mutya ng Congeniality for nothing. The award is a attestation to her friendly personality and ever-ready smile. Now that's something she can use in marketing tourism in our town.

Mutya ng Taping: Lea Nina de Leon

With her body custom-made for modelling, she's absolutely one who can champion Dolores for tourism.

Mutya ng Central Poblacion

Mutya ng Central Poblacion: Rashel Taluban

I praise her for the natural beauty she possesses. A natural Dolores beauty for Dolores tourism.

Mutya ng Lublubba

Mutya ng Lublubba:
Liway Grace Trinidad

Dolores Fiesta is now known as "Dolores Sakuting Festival". Liway is great in it (went home with Mutya Talent award after doing the sakuting). Do the logic, she's one for Mutya ng Dolores-Tourism

Mutya ng Dolores : A bummer

{Notes: This blog entry went straight from my mind to the keyboards. It underwent no copyreading nor editing of any type. It is a long overdue blog entry. If you happen to be from Talogtog, Dolores, Abra or a fan of the reigning Mutya ng Dolores, don't even bother reading. If you insist on doing so, (and before you get to challenge my credibility for writing this), please keep in mind that the name of this blog is "Random thoughts and Arrogant Opinions". Makes sense?}

It still is strange that I, of all people, had the guts to write something like this. After all, it was I who later fell in love with someone I met mainly through the Mutya ng Dolores pageant. [wink] So then why would I even consider calling the pageant "a bummer?" Allow me:

While I commend the  great minds behind the Dolores Sakuting Festival for coming up with something that succeeded in showcasing the beauty of Dolorenias, I, like some other hundreds of my town mates, am not thrilled of the overall results.

 Here's part of a candidate's answer during the Coronation Night's Question and Answer portion:

"I'm sorry, I'm just a people. I'm not perfect."

Oh girl, you're beyond right, you're not perfect. I am not even close to being perfect. The person reading this right now is not perfect. Neither is Megan Fox nor LeChoke James, President Obama...the list goes on. NOBODY IS PERFECT.

However, she, who is just a people [foul!], went on to bring home the bacon: the Mutya ng Dolores crown, that is. I AM NOT FREAKING KIDDING! This is like Venus "Major Major" Raj being crowned Miss Universe, only this is a bit worse.

Yes, I am fully aware that the Q & A portions is just but one part of the whole pageant. But then, I guess we can all agree that it is big BIG part. The cliche is "Beauty and Brains." It was never (and never will be) "beauty, hot body, sexy legs, seductive eyes, nice arse and brains."

On the other hand, a little of slip-up (call it that way) won't do much to hurt your chances of winning, right? Wrong. Have I mentioned about Venus Raj? I did. Venus Raj was a major major crowd favorite even before the Miss Universe pageant and had a major major chance of going home with the title. The minor minor slip-up cost her a lot. She ended up as fourth runner-up.

The reigning Mutya ng Dolores looked good, she really did. However, all of the candidates did. On the other hand, we have to admit that only a handful of them gave good answers [see: Miss Salucag]. Now I'm biased.

It is a shame that the winner gets to represent the young ladies of Dolores the youth of Dolores pretty much the whole town of sorrows Dolores. This is so much like electing Manny Pacquiao to the House of Representatives. Oh, that guy is involved in politics? It figures.

Nuff said. I have to go wear my bullet-proof vest.

Take it easy, you guys.


 [Wanna know who I believe should have won? See here.}

Ab-ableng/Abal-abal: A second look

Ever heard of the cliche "You are what you eat" ?

Basically, it connotes that you have to eat healthy to be healthy. Blah. Blah. Blah.

But then, if we take the saying literally (which is what I often do)........

There's a reason you never see me chew these creatures: I am what I eat, and I never dreamed of being a tiny insect easily attracted to rancid stuff (read: keddeng).

Of course, I'm kidding.

The Philippine beetle (salagubang in Filipino; ab-ableng / abal-abal in Ilocano) is actually considered a delicacy in most of Northern Luzon including my hometown of Dolores, Abra. [Here's a recipe] Although, we consider eating them conventional, it is not a surprise that people may call them exotic.They are usually abundant when the wet season starts; therefore, it is a common sight in Panar (ab-ableng country) to be filled with people waiting for them to come out when dusk settles in May.

My parents love ab-ablengs, my uncle goes to Panar almost every afternoon to bag some for dinner and my niece chomps on them like there was no tomorrow. I guess that means they taste good, don't they?

That said, I still do not see myself eating them in the near future...

Peace!

[photos from Discover Dolores and Dolores, Abra]

A look at the Dolores "Abong-Abongs"

 

Every year during the Lenten Season, it is a Philippine tradition for  us, Catholics to have a procession around our respective towns/parishes. It is also a Lenten practice in my home province Abra that these processions pass through a series of stations we call "abong-abong's." These are like arches which are usually built with bamboos, covered with coconuts leaves and decorated in the interior with various fruits. Blah Blah Blah.

That said, let's take a look at these abong-abongs in my hometown of Dolores (exterior and interior) just before the Maundy Thursday procession:

• Curapo. (located in the Northwestern part of Dolores)

• Balneg I (southern part of the town)

• Balneg II (southeastern part of Dolores)

• Dapuan II (eastern part of Dolores; just before you reach the town plaza if you're traveling from the capital town of Abra, Bangued)

• Last but definitely not the least: Dapuan I. (eastern part of town) This is where I grew up as a boy before I entered the minor seminary for my high school years (2004-2008). This abong-abong is located just 10 meters north of our house and 5 meters south of our family house where my father spent his whole life before we moved to Bangued.

Believe me when I tell you that everybody in this picture is a relative. I believe the dog in this picture is my aunt's (not mentioning the dog's name here).

 The boy in the striped shirt is Ezra Amor, a godson of mine (I'm 18 year old, sir, thank you for asking) and a 2nd cousin.

 The guys in the red shirt is Dan, one of my playmates when I was young and the girl in blue is Manang Aiza, a 1st cousin.

That's it. (All photos courtesy of Sir Manny Pacapac)

To Sir El, with love

One great man (read: Dr. Jose Protacio Mercado Rizal y Alonzo Realonda) once described his father as "a model of fathers."

I'm no Rizal, not even *this* close. But put this on record:

I can never ask for a better father than Mr. Eldrino Reyes, Jr.

Enough said. Belated happy birthday papa. 49 year-old guys are not suposed to pee anywhere, much less a swimming pool.

This one's for Tito Babes

Tuesday, March 23, 2011 marked the 32nd natal day of my favorite uncle (I have two). no celebrations of any kind for Cpl. Eldrino G. Reyes, IV 853763 PN(M) who is in Tawi-Tawi as member of the Philippines Marines.

Here's to the people in Mindanao who risk their own lives for the safety of others'. You all stay away from harm. You all stay safe. God bless everyone of you.

Happy birthday, Tito Babes. Come home safe and sound and we'll have a big birthday party for you...

Rajon Rondo and the 2002 All Stars

From Kuya Earl:

Yup.  It’s true.
Rondo is playing with 4 other dudes who, come February, played in the All-Star Game 9 years ago.

Average age of non-Rajondo, Celtic starters?  35 years old.

And to make matters worse, take a guess who won the All-Star MVP that year…

Kobe Bryant.

Certainly, Ray Allen (Seatle Supersonics), Paul Pierce (Celtics), Kevin Garnett (Timberwolves) and Shaquille O'Neal (Lakers) all played in the 2002 NBA All-Star Game in the First Union Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. West defeated the East 135-120.

Who would have thought that these guys, who were superstars in different teams, would be playing in the same team after nearly a decade? Beats me. I was in the 4th grade during that game.

Four superstars playing for one team with another all star player. And all we complain about is three superstars who joined in one team.

Fact? No sir?

October 2010 had 5 Fridays, 5 Saturdays and 5 Sundays all in a single month. Some say this happens only every 8 centuries - 823 years to be exact. Cool, man! My kids, grand-kids, great-grand-kids and great-great-grand-kids will never experience that.

Oh, wait. Think again:

 Let’s think about this, a year can only start on one of seven days, so there are seven possible basic calendar years. Add leap years, and there are fourteen basic calendars. Period. And one of those calendars only gets used every 823 years? How would that be possible? It’s not of course, all fourteen calenders get cycled through regularly, in fact 2010 uses the exact same calendar as 1999.

5 Fridays, 5 Saturdays, and 5 Sundays in an October will happen again in October 2021. Now my amazement is gone. It will come again when I'm 29.

Here's the thing though: October 2010 had October 10, 2010 or 10-10-10, and it will not happen again until the next millenium. Now that's what I'm talking about!

Wrong move, Mr. President

Yesterday, all newspaper headlines in the country talked about the bus bombing in Edsa that killed five - two on the spot - and hurt 13 others. Terrorist attack? Most probably. I mean, who places a bomb under a passenger seat in a bus and sets it off using a cellphone and kill and injure innocent people? I know my Marketing teacher is a terror, but nobody can do and will do these things but the terrorists.


One thing disturbs the most, though: President Noynoy Aquino's statement during the news briefing. From the Philippine Daily Inquirer:

At a news briefing, Mr. Aquino said he received intelligence reports last year that “a Muslim secessionist group” was planning a “bombing” attack but did not have the resources to mount it. 

Wondering how the group was able to mount the attack, the President ordered a probe of the bombing.

“Everybody can be assured that in the soonest possible time, like many other incidents such as the bar exam bombing, there will be a solution to this situation,” he said.

Seriously? You received intelligence reports that this was going to happen?

The attack came two months after the United States and several other Western governments warned that a terrorist attack in Manila was imminent, and followed a bus hijacking in August last year that left eight Hong Kong tourists dead.

What? We were told?

Bombings happen in the Philippines. Terrorist groups exist in the Philippines. The President himself was warned on a attack, and DID NOTHING to prevent this happening.

Now this is what they/we are doing: 

The National Capital Region Police Office has ordered random inspections of buses in the wake of a deadly bus bombing in Makati City on Tuesday.

The authorities have placed the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on heightened alert in the wake of Tuesday’s deadly bus bombing on Edsa, deploying twice the usual number of security guards and increasing patrols by bomb-sniffing dogs. 

Guys, it has happened. While it is just right to prevent more attacks to follow, nothing we do now can save the dead. We should have done those inspections and stuff ages ago and should have them consistently. After all, we were warned.

It is said that "prevention is better than the cure."

Please. Let us all be proactive, not reactive.

Why blog?

Question: “Why blog?”

Here’s one answer: Start a blog is in my to-do list for 2011.

My father always lectures me about my eyes weakening due to stupid useless moments spent in front of the laptop - the laptop he himself gave me - and warns me of losing it unless I use it in a fruitful way. I thought writing would be somewhat productive. I will be able to keep the laptop, write about random things that enter my mind, have a good reason to request for a permanent Internet connection and more importantly, do something I would love to do. Reading blogs has always been a hobby of mine. Surfing the Internet will never be complete for me without paying a visit to Ball Don't Lie and Peninsula is Mightier. We can call that a win-win-win-win-win.

 Nuff said, here are the other items in my to-do list for 2011 (in no particular order):

•  Get a job
• Crash Ma'am Ngolob's list
• Attend a concert
• Drive!
• Enter a bar

Seriously?

I really hope these guys are paid actors or anything but real on duty police officers.

Because if they are, God bless the Philippines.