19 March 2010

Pompyang Punch

Here is the proof that Manny Pacquiao is fan of FPJ. He was caught doing the classic Fernando Poe Pompyang Punch.

It is either that or maybe, for a second, Manny thought he was doing a sequel of Wapakman.

Or was it a way for Manny to tell  Clottey, "Hey, wake up, we are on a fight!"

Why was it ruled an "illegal punch" by the referee anyway? Was it  because it confuses the compubox that counts punches?

Why was Clottey not punching and was instead hiding behind the high guard the whole fight ? Was it because Clottey took the referee's caution  "Protect yourself at all times!" literally?

 xxx

The panda wants to be a real boxer. He wants to learn Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, too. But right now, he contents himself with mere air boxing.

18 March 2010

Fearless Forecast

The panda cannot study everything, there is only a little time left. He has to choose which topics he thinks will come out in the exam. He must bet like a gambler and hope for the best.

He assumes the role of a Nostradamus who feels and connects with the energy or the world and the vibe of the consciousness. He anticipates the unexpected; he prepares for the worst.

He is brave, dauntless, and unnerved. Fearless enough to accept the consequences of his forecast, the rest is left to chance.

16 March 2010

20 Ways On How To Save at Starbucks

Here's what everyone should do to save money at Starbucks* :

1. First, and the most important rule in saving money at Starbucks is this -- "Don't go to Starbucks!"

2. If you are already in Starbucks, don't order anything.

3. If you have to order, buy the cheapest drink.

4. Milk is healthy and expensive. Ask for a cup of milk and every 5 minutes. Drink all the milk that you can.

5. Get more sugar than you need and bring it home. Who says nothing in life is free?

6. Get as much tissue as you can, bring it home, or as a reserve it in case you have to wipe  "something".

7. Get as much stirrer as you can. Use it to play pick up sticks.

8. Starbucks has this policy that if you are not happy with your drink, they will "make it right." Drink, 1/4 of your beverage and complain to the  barista, he will very gladly "make it right". Complain as often as you can.

9. Use all the condiments. Vanilla powder, choco, cinnamon, etc.

10. Bring your own coffee stealthily placed in a Starbucks tumbler, or any tumbler.

11. Detox. Water is good for you. Starbucks water is purified. Drink as much water as you can.

12. Go to the toilet and take a dump.They have clean comfort rooms, take advantage of this. Don't forget to use as much tissue as you can.

13. Clean is in.Use as much soap as much as you can in washing your hands.

14. Use as much water in the toilet as needed, too. Keep on flushing the toilet bowl 'till it's squeaky clean.

15. Use the dryer. It doubles as a heater when it gets cold.

16. Take advantage of the air-con. Stay as  long as you can.

17. Feed your mind. Read everything that is in the magazine stack. Or bring your own book.

18. Make friends. Get to chat with other customers and cute baristas, they are usually nice and friendly.

19. Take advantage of the parking. Park as long as you can.

20. (your own suggestion here)

It's okay to go to Starbucks if you have a lot of money to burn. But, for the most of us who survive on skimpy allowance from our parents' blood and sweat, going frequently to Starbucks is not practical.

So whenever you can, try to avoid going there, but if going there cannot be avoided - maximize your benefits.


*Something I posted  in my Multiply site a long time ago.

13 March 2010

Cube of Fate

One day, a wise old master bought a Rubik's cube from a sidewalk vendor.

He tried solving the cube. He made some rotations, left and right, up and down. He spent a lot of time solving the puzzle,  but failed.

Frustrated, the master gave the cube to the panda who was curiously  watching the master solve the puzzle.

"Here you go panda, take it." - the master told the panda. The panda accepted the cube and thanked the old man.

"Remember kid, there are things in life that we can solve and there are those that we cannot." "If you cannot solve a problem no matter hard you have tried - it's okay, just learn to let go..." - the master told the panda as he left the panda and the cube.

The panda tried to solve the cube by trying some of his own rotations, but failed as well.

The frustrated panda then brought out his laptop and Googled the key words -  "how.... to... solve.... a Rubik's cube puzzle?"

The search revealed the word that solves all Rubik's cube problems:

"ALGORITHMS."

The Cube of Fate

One day, a wise old master bought a Rubik's cube from a sidewalk vendor.

He tried solving the cube. He made some rotations, left and right, up and down. He spent a lot of time solving the puzzle,  but failed.

Frustrated, the master gave the cube to the panda who was curiously  watching the master solve the puzzle.

"Here you go panda, take it." - the master told the panda. The panda accepted the cube and thanked the old man.

"Remember kid, there are things in life that we can solve and there are those that we cannot." "If you cannot solve a problem no matter hard you have tried - it's okay, just learn to let go..." - the master told the panda as he left the panda and the cube.

The panda tried to solve the cube by trying some of his own rotations, but failed as well.

The frustrated panda then brought out his laptop and Googled the key words -  "how.... to... solve.... a Rubik's cube puzzle?"

The search revealed the word that solves all Rubik's problems:

"ALGORITHMS."

11 March 2010

THE Fraternity

THE Fraternity is not just a brotherhood of men. It is:

"THE" Fraternity.

Its motto: "Inclusio unius est exclusio alterius"

It is the coolest, the most elite, the most exclusive brotherhood in Shaolin Temple-like school. Everybody wants to be a member. The membership, however, is only by invitation.

Since the panda is relatively a well known figure in school, (because of the fact that he's the only panda that ever went to law school), everyone relatively wants a piece of him.

Left and right, everyday, he receives invitations from being a study buddy, to being a member of a friendship group, to organizations, to debate clubs, to student councils, to school papers, to fraternities, etc.

Of course, the most notable of the offers is the invitation of:

"THE" Fraternity.

What an honor to be invited by them. The panda, in spite of that, WILL NOT JOIN because of the following reasons:

First, pandas are naturally solitary animals;

Second, pandas are in grave danger of extinction. You do not want to subject the panda to hazing and risk his life, do you?;

Third, the panda is cute and adorable, not cool and ma-angas!;

Fourth, the panda hates unnecessary movements. (Secret handshakes, meetings, and all extraneous activities) All he wants to do is to read books, study, recite, take exams, and of course, to eat bamboo.

In short, supposing-and-assuming-for-the-sake-of-the-argument that the panda wants to be part of "THE" Fraternity - he can't; and even if he can - he won't.

It's not his fault. That's just the way nature made him -- a panda.





End Note.
1) Solitary: Animals that don't hang out in groups.
Eagles.Mountain Lions.Rattle snakes. Bears.

2) "Expressio unius est exclusio alterius" means : the express mention of one or more things of a particular class may be regarded as impliedly excluding others." Is a general principle in the subject of interpreting laws.

10 March 2010

THE Fraternity


THE Fraternity is not just a brotherhood of men. It is:

"THE" Fraternity.

Its motto: "Inclusio unius est exclusio alterius"

It is the coolest, the most elite, the most exclusive brotherhood in Shaolin Temple-like school. Everybody wants to be a member. The membership, however, is only by invitation.

Since the panda is relatively a well known figure in school, (because of the fact that he's the only panda that ever went to law school), everyone relatively wants a piece of him.

Left and right, everyday, he receives invitations from being a study buddy, to being a member of a friendship group, to organizations, to debate clubs, to student councils, to school papers, to fraternities, etc.

Of course, the most notable of the offers is the invitation of:


"THE" Fraternity.

What an honor to be invited by them. The panda, in spite of that, WILL NOT JOIN because of the following reasons:

First, Pandas are naturally solitary animals;

Second, Pandas are in grave danger of extinction. You do not want to subject the panda to hazing and risk his life, do you?;

Third, the panda is cute and adorable, not cool and ma-angas!;

Fourth, the panda hates unnecessary movements. (Secret handshakes, meetings, and all extraneous activities) All he wants to do is to read books, study, recite, take exams, and of course, to eat bamboo. Not to mention day dream of being a rockstar, ala Eli Buendia.

In short, supposing-and-assuming-for-the-sake-of-the-argument that the panda wants to be part of "THE" Fraternity - he can't; and even if he can - he won't.

It's not his fault. That's just the way nature made him - a panda.



End Note.
1) Solitary: Animals that don't hang out in groups.
Eagles.Mountain Lions.Rattle snakes. Bears.

2) "Expressio unius est exclusio alterius" means : the express mention of one or more things of a particular class may be regarded as impliedly excluding others." Is a general principle in the subject of interpreting laws.

09 March 2010

Drip

The panda went to the nearest Starbucks branch to study. He did this because someone told him that this is where all the cool students go to review for exams.

Upon arriving the coffee shop though, the guard would not let the panda in. 

"No animal allowed po boss." - the guard told to the panda.

"I know my  rights. I will not be discriminated just because I'm a panda." - the panda smiled as he kindly engaged the guard into a brief  verbal exchange. The panda was naturally charming and adorable.

The guard had no choice but to let the panda in.

"Sometimes the best way to win an argument is to avoid it ." "Even if you don't like the person, it doesn't mean that you should stop being nice." "When all diplomacy fails, that's when you only resort to aggression." - the panda told himself.

The customer before panda ordered "Venti-non-fat-extra-shot-Irish-cream-coffee- jelly-upsidedown-white-chocolate-mocha-frappuchino ..."

The panda  realized that generally, the longer the name of the coffee the more expensive it gets. Learning this, the panda ordered a coffee called "short drip."

The panda skimmed around the coffee shop. He still can't understand how students can study in that noisy, crowded, overly expensive coffee shop.

"Everyone, is like, so sosi here? Oh my gosh. Iz like, err.. maybe I'm not that cool enough?" -  The panda thought.

08 March 2010

follow the panda that goes to law school at http://rah888.blogspot.com/

Drip

The panda went to the nearest Starbucks branch to study. He did this because someone told him that this is where all the cool students go to review for exams.

Upon arriving at the coffee shop though, the guard would not let the panda in. 

"No animal allowed po boss." - the guard told the panda.

"I know my  rights. I will not be discriminated just because I'm a panda." - the panda smiled as he kindly engaged the guard into a brief  verbal exchange. The panda was naturally charming and adorable.



The guard had no choice but to let the panda in.

"Sometimes the best way to win an argument is to avoid it." "Even if you don't like the person, it doesn't mean that you should stop being nice." "When all diplomacy fails, that's when you only resort to aggression." - the panda told himself.


The customer before panda ordered "Venti-non-fat-extra-shot-Irish-cream-coffee- jelly-upsidedown-white-chocolate-mocha-frappuchino ..."

The panda  realized that generally, the longer the name of the coffee the more expensive it gets. Learning this, the panda ordered a coffee called "short drip."

The panda skimmed around the coffee shop. He still can't understand how students can study in that noisy, crowded, overly expensive coffee shop.

"Everyone, is like, so sosi here? Oh my gosh. Iz like, err.. maybe I'm not that cool enough?" -  The panda thought.

06 March 2010

Watchamacallits

It is amusing how humans coin words to describe their situation in law school. In panda land, pandas don't use any words. In fact, pandas don't really have  to open their mouths to say anything. Pandas just eat bamboo the whole day.

Here are some of the coined words that students use in school:


"Recit" - Recitations. Transforms a classrooms into dark, cold torture chambers.

"On Deck" - You are scheduled to be subjected to recit, torment, death, murder, kill, for a temporary moment. Sends shivers to your spine. "Pare on deck ngayon, kelangan magaral."

"Bokya" - Going totally blank on a recit question. Or giving a wrong answer. A source of depression.  "Pare bokya nanaman ako, and hirap ng tanong ng prof, badtrip."


"Kodak Moment" - Before you get the bokya, the act of standing, smiling, and making pa-cute to the prof because you don't know the answer. It is the picture perfect moment. "Wala akong nasagot, kodak moment na naman ako kanina."

04 March 2010

Alarm Clock Hours Time

The panda bought an alarm clock today. He wants to wake up early so he can be the first student in the library. If he does this for 15 days, he will win an island vacation, a new digital gear, and a higher chance that he will not see his masters again for the same type of kung fu-like subjects.

The problem with this goal is that it is almost impossible. He was born nocturnal.

It has been said that there is a correlation between hours of study and the chance you pass a test. The more you spend time studying,  the greater the probability that you will get higher scores in tests.

If this were true, only time will tell.

03 March 2010

Alarm Clock

The panda bought an alarm clock today. He wants to wake up early so he can be the first student in the library. If this is done for fifteen days, he will win an island vacation, a new digital gear, and a higher chance that he will not see his masters again for the same type of kung fu-like subjects.

The problem with this goal is that it is almost impossible. He was born nocturnal.

It has been said that there is a correlation between hours of study and the chance you pass a test. The more you spend time studying,  the greater the probability that you will get higher scores in tests.

If this were true, only time will tell.

02 March 2010

If You Can't Memorize

"Class you did not study. How come you don't know the answer, it's all in the book?" - The master addresses his students with a tone of concern.

"Class, if you can't memorize the lesson, then you should instead understand it."

The panda was listening attentively as the master shares school survival tips.

"...and if you cant understand it, then you should memorize it. It is that simple!"

The panda bobbed his head in accord as if he had just solved his long time problem of poor panda comprehension skills. He wants to learn like humans can.

The panda repeats the words he just heard to himself just to be sure he remembers it:

"If I can't memorize - understand. If I can't understand - memorize."

Panda grabs into his pocket to get a biscuit, which just so happens to be Hello Panda.

"I wonder when they will make biscuits called Hello Humans?" - the panda asked himself.

The panda took a good look at his biscuit.

The panda ate his biscuit.

Then, the panda tried to get the attention of the master by making the international-standard-hand-gesture for "May I go out?"

He went out and never went back to that class ever again.

28 February 2010

The Panda Watches Miss You Like Crazy

If a movie brings tears to the panda's eyes - it must be good.

Yesterday, the panda and his sweetheart went to watch the newest John Lloyd/Bea Alonzo Movie - Miss You Like Crazy.

Good thing, the couple was early. The theater was practically as packed as a jam.

John Lloyd plays the character of Alan Alvarez, a young urban professional who, despite coming from a middle class family, is a mainstay in the high society scene, courtesy of his girlfriend played by Maricar Reyes, who was sporting a different hairdo. Bea, on the other hand, plays the character of Mia Samonte, a typical young breadwinner who decided to work abroad to support her family. Bea’s unusual habit of writing on stones to express her feelings plays an instrumental part in making Alan and Mia’s paths meet.

Be reminded that the story is not linear. The movie will take you to flashbacks without notice, so be extra attentive. Nonetheless, the story is solid enough to stand on its own.

Watch the movie with a pen or paper.  The movie has a lot of good quotable quotes about love and relationship, too. "Time is meaningless when you are in love..." - that's one! Watch the movie with someone you can kiss!

It is seldom that the panda watches a movie in theater. Most of the times, he falls sleepy to Hollywood films drowned in special effects (to the expense of the romantic date). With this movie, you get a bang for your buck. It is not your typical kilig film. It offers something unique.

A hankie might be handy, too. The panda forgot to bring one.

End note:
Congratulations to the Props Master/Production Designer of the movie. I am very very very very proud of you. You surely pulled this one off  bro! Ang galing, outstanding, bravo, keep it up.

The Panda Watches Miss You Like Crazy

If a movie brings tears to the panda's eyes - it must be good.

Yesterday, the panda and his sweetheart went to watch the newest John Lloyd/Bea Alonzo Movie - Miss You Like Crazy.

Good thing, the couple was early. The theater was practically as packed as a jam.

John Lloyd plays the character of Alan Alvarez, a young urban professional who, despite coming from a middle class family, is a mainstay in the high society scene, courtesy of his girlfriend played by Maricar Reyes, who was sporting a different hairdo. Bea, on the other hand, plays the character of Mia Samonte, a typical young breadwinner who decided to work abroad to support her family. Bea’s unusual habit of writing on stones to express her feelings plays an instrumental part in making Alan and Mia’s paths meet.

Be reminded that the story is not linear. The movie  will take you to flashbacks without notice, so be extra attentive. Nonetheless, the story is solid enough to stand on its own.

Watch the movie with a pen and paper.  The movie has a lot of good quotable quotes about love and relationship, too. "Time is meaningless when you are in love..." - that's one! Watch the movie with someone you can kiss!

It is seldom that the panda watches a movie in theater. Most of the times, he falls sleepy to Hollywood films drowned in special effects (to the expense of the romantic date). With this movie, you get a bang for your buck. It is not your typical kilig film. It offers something unique.

A hankie might be handy, too. The panda forgot to bring one.

End note:
Congratulations to the Props Master/Production Designer of the movie. I am very very very very proud of you. You surely pulled this one off  bro! Ang galing, outstanding, bravo, keep it up.

27 February 2010

Encounters with a Student of the Third Kind

When you are a panda studying in a Shaolin Temple- like school for humans, sometimes things can be extra-challenging.

Because ordinarily, humans are smarter than pandas, a panda must exert extra-effort to learn.

Sometimes though, it awes the panda to see extra-ordinary-super-smart students. Sometimes, the panda thinks they are not humans at all, but (probably) an extra-terrestrial being from  far advance planets. The panda calls them "students of the third kind."

An example of this kind is Miss Student X who once sat beside panda. On one occasion, the panda noticed something very different, very extra-ordinary about her.

While if you could look at panda's books, they are full of multi-colored highlighted words, illustrations, examples, underlines, mnemonics, memory aids and devices to help him remember the lesson, Miss Student X's books (in contrast) had nothing written on it.

Mind you, not even a small check mark to indicate the very importance of a provision or a doctrine. She carries no notes, nor a pen, she is a working student,  you seldom even see her reading,  yet she is the best in recitations, and highest in the exams.

In the same occasion, panda couldn't help asking Miss Student X why her book was very clean.

Miss Student X's short and sweet answer was, "I feel sorry for my book..."

"And you Mr. Panda, aren't you sorry for your book? She looked at panda's book and smiled.

The poor panda doesn't know whether he should laugh or cry. On one hand, he is happy that his study habits, although laborious and time consuming,  works for him at the very least. He doesn't how he could have done it any better.

On the other hand, the poor panda feels sorry for himself. His intelligence is not at par with Miss Student X, nor he sees things the same way as her.

Miss Student X was really something else. She is not normal. She is a super-smart-student. Extra-ordinary photographic digital terabyte memory retention and cognition, if you can call it as that.

The panda looks at himself and realizes he is not normal either, he is just a poor panda; and he cannot think of anything else that could change that fact.

25 February 2010

Encounters with a Student of the Third Kind

When you are a panda studying in a Shaolin Temple- like school for humans, sometimes things can be extra-challenging.

Because ordinarily, humans are smarter than pandas, a panda must exert extra-effort to learn.

Sometimes though, it awes the panda to see extra-ordinary-super-smart students. Sometimes, the panda thinks they are not humans at all, but (probably) an extra-terrestrial being from  far advance planets. The panda calls them "students of the third kind."

An example of this kind is Miss Student X who once sat beside panda. On one occasion, the panda noticed something very different, very extra-ordinary about her.

While if you could look at panda's books, they are full of multi-colored highlighted words, illustrations, examples, underlines, mnemonics, memory aids and devices to help him remember the lesson, Miss Student X's books (in contrast) had nothing written on it.

Mind you, not even a small check mark to indicate the very importance of a provision or a doctrine. She carries no notes, nor a pen; she is a working student;  you seldom even see her reading,  yet she is the best in recitations and the highest in the exams.

In the same occasion, panda couldn't help asking Miss Student X why her book was very clean.

Miss Student X's short and sweet answer was, "I feel sorry for my book..."

"And you Mr. Panda, aren't you sorry for your book? She looked at panda's book and smiled.

The poor panda doesn't know whether he should laugh or cry. On one hand, he is happy that his study habits, although laborious and time consuming,  works for him at the very least. He doesn't how he could have done it any better.

On the other hand, the poor panda feels sorry for himself. His intelligence is not at par with Miss Student X, nor he sees things the same way as her.

Miss Student X was really something else. She is not normal. She is a super-smart-student. Extra-ordinary photographic digital terabyte memory retention and cognition, if you can call it as that.

The panda looks at himself and realizes he is not normal either, he is just a poor panda; and he cannot think of anything else that could change that fact.

Like Father Like son

The Labor teacher called the panda to recite on a labor case a while ago.

But before the panda can recite the facts of the case, the Labor teacher took a good look at the panda, "You look like your father. Your father is really  brilliant and  great. So, you want to follow the footsteps of your father eh?"

The panda gave the teacher that "I-get-that-all-the-time smile."

After that class, the panda went home.

Upon arriving home, he saw his father. He asked his father how the Labor teacher came to know that they were related.

The panda's father's gave an irrelevant answer to the question. The panda's father said, "I told your teacher to call you often in recitations..."

He knows this is very common of his father - not listening properly.

The panda gave up on the question, and instead took a shower.

In the shower, it occurred to him that pandas do not look too much different from one another.

The fact is, he and his father are the only pandas in school.

24 February 2010

The Panda takes Tax 1

It is Panda's first time to take Taxation. He is terrified of his tax teacher. The Panda has every reason to be scared. His teacher seems to be very antagonistic. 

The poor panda cannot forget the day when the professor shouted at him:

"Hey you panda, you did not read again! If I were your father, I would beat your ass. But I think your father is very kind to you so I am sure he won't beat you. But if I were your father, I would beat the hell out of you so that you would will not forget to study!"

"This law is from Satan! Tax is the no.1 disqualifier in the bar. In fact,  thirty percent (30%) was automatically disqualified form not making it above 50%in the last bar."

"The passing rate in taxation in the last bar was 5%! What is that?? A bank interest?!"

"This is the Waterloo in the bar, now you ask me, what is Waterloo... waterlily!? If you don't know what this means you must be an ignoramus!"

He would always make these points clear to the panda. Since that day, the panda was always terrified to his guts, and because of this, he studies as diligently as he can.

Everyone would agree - the tax teacher is a legend. No one can question his competence. He is the most sought after reviewer in taxation in the country. The professor has devoted his life to taxation - a subject that few people, even lawyers understand.

That's why the panda  reads his lessons everyday. He familiarizes himself with problems related to income tax. He wants to be extra ready. He wants to over-learn at least the basics.

It is the motto of the school that, "Strict teachers produce good students."

That's what the panda wants - to be good enough.

The panda takes Tax 1


It is Panda's first time to take Taxation.  He is terrified of his tax teacher.  The Panda has every reason to be scared, his teacher seems to be very antagonistic.

The poor panda cannot forget the day when the professor shouted at him:

"Hey you panda, you did not read again!  If I were your father, I would beat your ass.  But I think your father is very kind to you so I am sure he won't beat you.  But if I were your father, I would beat the hell out of you so that you would will not forget to study!"

"This law is from Satan!  Tax is the no.1 disqualifier in the bar.  In fact, thirty percent (30%) was automatically disqualified form not making it above 50%in the last bar."

"The passing rate in taxation in the last bar was 5%!  What is that??  A bank interest?!"

"This is the Waterloo in the bar, now you ask me, what is Waterloo -- waterlily!?  If you don't know what this means you must be an ignoramus!"

He would always make these points clear to the panda.  Since that day, the panda was always terrified to his guts, and because of this, he studies as diligently as he can.

Everyone would agree - the tax teacher is a legend.  No one can question his competence.  He is the most sought after reviewer in taxation in the country.  The professor has devoted his life to taxation - a subject that few people, even lawyers understand.

That's why the panda reads his lessons everyday.  He familiarizes himself with problems related to income tax.  He wants to be extra ready.  He wants to over-learn at least the basics.

It is the motto of the school that, "Strict teachers produce good students."

That's what the panda wants - to be good enough.

22 February 2010

Can the Government Tax Itself?

Taxation;

It depends on who the taxing authority is.

If the taxing authority is the National Government as a rule YES.
Except GSIS, SSS, PhilHealth, PCSO (Sec. 27C) and income derived from the exercise of essential government function accruing to the Government of the Philippines or to any political subdivision (Sec32b7b NIRC)

If the taxing authority is the local government units, as a rule - NO.
LGU's are expressly prohibited from levying tax against
1.National Government
2. Its agencies and instrumentalities
3.Local Government Units.

Except: Sec. 154 of the Local Government Code states that LGU's may fix the rate for the operation of public utilities owned and maintained within their jurisdiction.

21 February 2010

What is an Idealist?

 Psychology; Personality Types; Idealist

Recently, the panda stumbled upon a personality test. The test says he is an idealist.

Profile of an INFP - The Idealists
As an INFP, your primary mode of living is focused internally, where you deal with things according to how you feel about them, or how they fit into your personal value system. Your secondary mode is external, where you take things in primarily via your intuition. INFPs, more than other iNtuitive Feeling types, are focused on making the world a better place for people. Their primary goal is to find out their meaning in life.

What is their purpose? How can they best serve humanity in their lives? They are idealists and perfectionists, who drive themselves hard in their quest for achieving the goals they have identified for themselves INFPs are highly intuitive about people. They rely heavily on their intuitions to guide them, and use their discoveries to constantly search for value in life. They are on a continuous mission to find the truth and meaning underlying things. Every encounter and every piece of knowledge gained gets sifted through the INFP's value system, and is evaluated to see if it has any potential to help the INFP define or refine their own path in life. The goal at the end of the path is always the same - the INFP is driven to help people and make the world a better place.

xxx

Credits:
http://www.understandingothers.com/home.html

20 February 2010

Generator

Even if I first heard this (10) ten years ago, I still like this song.

If only I had Dave Grohl's voice, I will sing this song out in a rock-show somewhere.

Jeez.. where was I when God distributed voice talents?

(Click the Generator title below links you to a you tube video of the song.)

I particularly like this song because it talks about "getting better." But despite overcoming that certain "sickness he describes," he stays around to be the generator. (one who fires up hope for someone who wants to quit.)

There's this one part of the song that is interesting, and one quite very ignored:

xxx
Send me out on a tether
Swing it round, I'll spin your noose
You let it down
I'll hang around with you
xxx

A tether is a cord that anchors something movable to a reference point which may be fixed or moving. A noose is a loop at the end of a rope in which the knot slides to make the loop collapsible. I think this talks about taking one's life away.

This doesn't seem to much to be the focus of the song. But I think the more important point of that song is about making sacrifices for the goodwill of someone close to you.

It's also about respecting that special person's wishes:
'Swing it round, I'll spin your noose'-  (like if you decide you want to die, I'll respect your wish.)
'You let it down I'll hang around with you'- (but if you change your mind, I'm still here)

You can tell that "the person the song is referring to is special to him because, she's the one who started the generator inside of him.

Awesome and brilliant, this song is one the songs in my all time great list.


Generator


Lately I'm getting better
Wish I could stay sick with you
But there's too many egos left to bruise
Call it sin, you can call it whatever
Eating deep inside of you
Well if it were me, it's all I'd ever do
Steal me now and forever
I'll steal something good for you
The criminal in me is no one new
Till you find something better
When there's nothing left to use
And everyone starts going down on you

I'm the Generator, firing whenever you quit
Yeah whatever it is, you go out and it's on
Yeah can't you hear my motored heart
You're the one that started it

Send me out on a tether
Swing it round, I'll spin your noose
You let it down
I'll hang around with you
Till you find someone better
When there's no one left to use
And everyone keeps going down

I'm the Generator, firing whenever you quit
Yeah whatever it is, you go out and it's on
Yeah can't you hear my motored heart
You're the one that started it

I'm the Generator, firing whenever you quit
Yeah whatever it is, you go out and it's on
Yeah can't you hear my motored heart
You're the one that started it
I'm the Generator
I'm the Generator
I'm the Generator
I'm the Generator
I'm the Generator
I'm the Generator
I'm the Generator
Yeah can't you hear my motored heart
You're the one that started it

Haiku

Ang iyong bibig
Umuusok nanaman...
Yung sakin, hindi.

19 February 2010

What is the Stockholm Syndrome?


Psychology;  Psychoanalysis; Syndromes

The Stockholm syndrome is a term used to describe a paradoxical psychological phenomenon wherein hostages express adulation and have positive feelings towards their captors that appear irrational in light of the danger or risk endured by the victims.xxx
On August 23rd, 1973 two machine-gun carrying criminals entered a bank in Stockholm, Sweden. Blasting their guns, one prison escapee named Jan-Erik Olsson announced to the terrified bank employees "The party has just begun!" The two bank robbers held four hostages, three women and one man, for the next 131 hours. The hostages were strapped with dynamite and held in a bank vault until finally rescued on August
28th.

After their rescue, the hostages exhibited a shocking attitude considering they were threatened, abused, and feared for their lives for over five days. In their media interviews, it was clear that they supported their captors and actually feared law enforcement personnel who came to their rescue. The hostages had begun to feel the captors were actually protecting them from the police. One woman later became engaged to one of the criminals and another developed a legal defense fund to aid in their criminal defense fees. Clearly, the hostages had "bonded" emotionally with their captors.

While the psychological condition in hostage situations became known as "Stockholm Syndrome" due to the publicity – the emotional "bonding" with captors was a familiar story in psychology. It had been recognized many years before and was found in studies of other hostage, prisoner, orabusive situations such as:

* Abused Children
* Battered/Abused Women
* Prisoners of War
* Cult Members
* Incest Victims
* Criminal Hostage Situations
* Concentration Camp Prisoners
* Controlling/Intimidating Relationships


Stockholm Syndrome (SS) can also be found in family, romantic, and interpersonal relationships. The abuser may be a husband or wife, boyfriend or girlfriend, father or mother, or any other role in which the abuser is in a position of control or authority.

xxx


Credits:
Joseph M. Carver, PhD
http://www.mental-health-matters.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=167:love-and-stockholm-syndrome-the-mystery-of-loving-an-abuser&catid=1:relationships&Itemid=1606

12 February 2010

Shades

I like bands with shades. I admire their great artistic talents. They have devoted their lives to music. It is their primary source of income, too.

On my way to school yesterday, there they are, in Legarda Station, serenading everyone. Instantly, every time, it makes me happy.

This I wanted to say to them:

"Hello band with shades, very good! Nice set!"

"I hope you continue with what you are doing. You guys are really making a lot of people happy and entertained."

"I know that you guys can't see me. That is why I make sure I drop all my coins in your donation box so that, somehow, the KACHING! sound will let you guys hear my heartfelt appreciation."













Shades

I like bands with shades. I admire their great artistic talents. They have devoted their lives to music. It is their primary source of income, too.

On my way to school yesterday, there they are, in Legarda Station, serenading everyone. Instantly, every time, it makes me happy.

This I wanted to say to them:

"Hello band with shades, very good! Nice set!"

"I hope you continue with what you are doing. You guys are really making a lot of people happy and entertained."

"I know that you guys can not see me. That is why I make sure I drop all my coins in your donation box so that, somehow, the KACHING! sound will let you guys hear my heartfelt appreciation."






09 February 2010

Answers and Solutions


Answers and solutions are synonymous words to describe how problems are solved. They are, however, not the same.

For example:


1/2 ÷ 1/2 is (of course) equal to 1

We know that a/b divided by a/b will always be 1, that's a divisional property. (Division is the inverse operation to multiplication)

Most people will be quick to point out that 1 is the answer,
but some will not know why it is so.

This is how I feel right now.

I know the answer but there is a cloud in my brain - I can not see the solution.

The irony of problem solving is this:

"sometimes you know the answers but you have no solutions"

"Not wrong" is not the same as "you are correct"

Follow me! http://rah888.blogspot.com

Ask me anything http://formspring.me/rah888

http://www.formspring.me/rah888

08 February 2010

Solution and Answer

Answers and solutions are synonymous words to describe how  problems are solved. They are, however, not the same.

For example:


1/2 ÷ 1/2  is (of course) equal to 1

We know that a/b divided by a/b will always be 1, that's a divisional property. (Division is the inverse operation to multiplication)

Most people will be quick to point out that 1 is the answer, but some will not know why it is so.

This is how I feel right now.

I know the answer but there is a cloud in my brain - I can not see the solution.

The irony of problem solving is this:

"sometimes you know the answers but you have no solutions"

"Not wrong" is not the same as "you are correct"



07 February 2010

The Cue

It is a sign to begin - to commence.

It is the shackles and chains of my day

Visions of graceful swans turning into ugly ducks;

Pictures of masters turning into slaves;

Symbols of shame and
fantasy;

Images of rituals and acting
out;

- Appear before my eyes

BUT with amber tears and arduous
sighs.

It is not long before it succumbs and
dies. 

And from the heat of its ashes crimson embers
turn.

The phoenix rejoices as it soars
high

From a decade of slumber.

(Rah 2010)

31 January 2010

The Gambit

When I was a young lad, I remember commuting from our house in Quezon City to Vito Cruz in Manila every Saturday morning to attend a special class - I was enrolled in Milo Best Chess Clinic run by the Metropolitan Chess Club.

Chess school has 12 levels. While on the program, you also join tournaments.  Every win you get a rating, and if you win enough tournaments, they confer to you the title "master."

My chess teachers live and breathe chess. They practically eat and sleep on chess boards. Believe me when I tell you they are really, really good. They taught me the fundamentals of chess and its language. They introduced me to chess-books and the classic matches of Kasparov and Bobby Fisher - the legends of chess.

Not very long before my basic lessons, I was beating every kid of my age. Not very long after that, I was beating adults four times my age. I was also winning inter-school tournaments.

I do not know if it was good or bad, but not long after my winning streaks, I realized that I did not want to be a professional chess player and was happy and contented with the chess fundamentals I know. You can say that "everything I needed to know, I learned at level 1."

My last lesson at the Metropolitan Chess Club (MCC) was about a special kind of chess move. I can remember my teacher Mila (the president of MCC) telling me, "Rah, there is this one lesson I want to teach you... chess is 99% tactics and 1% planning. The importance of tactics is so significant - it is the secret to winning the game." Our lesson that day was about "The Gambit."

Gambit is a special stratagem in chess. The idea behind it is for a player to sacrifice a piece to gain control of the game.

Little did I know that it is a lesson not only in chess, but also in life. I learned that, "Sometimes, something has to be given up to gain control of  the self."

Tomorrow the gambit begins. But it does not end there.

The gambit gives the initial advantage, but the game is won - one... move... at... a... time.

28 January 2010

23 January 2010

"la la la on the other side"

xxx
And I, I got to be strong

Just keep pushing on

'Cause there's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be a uphill battle
Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose

Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb, yeah!

The Climb Miley Cyrus)
xxx
ngayon ko lang naintindihan ang song na to. ang lagi ko lang kasi kinakanta, pag naririnig ko to sa mcdo

xxx

"la la la la la ... on the other siiiiiiiiiiide...!"

xxx

may sense naman pala.

11 January 2010

We can't lie from who we are. Destiny chooses us. Play the man, not the cards - rounders

The Trajectory of a Mosquito

I am being bitten by a mosquito now.

As I watch this little insect suck blood from my left forearm, I can feel her excitement. Her legs a little bit shaky, I can feel her nervousness that she might get caught.

I watch her little proboscis pierce my left forearm to suck my AB type blood.

It is about 1 minute now, and I can see that her belly is filled fully.

I raise my right hand in a aggressive but calm striking position. I slap the mosquito with the speed of a flying fist. It dies at the palm of my hand. Now she's lying there lifeless, inanimate.

You'll never know when you are going to die. You'll never know when you will be lying lifeless, inanimate.

"That's the reality of life," I told my self as I scratch my hand to relieve  the itch. I just realized that I killed something.

I guess, while we are still breathing we might as well live the excitement, fill our belly with nourishment, do our best, and most of all, accept our fate.


10 January 2010

My Problem with Pooh

I will not introduce Winnie the Pooh to children. He (or she?) is a problematic character. Children should not imitate Winnie.

Why does Pooh have a girly voice?
Why does he wear a hanging blouse?
Why doesn't he wear pants?
(usapang lasing pero totoo bakit nga ba?)

Take for example the analysis of Mr. Maho in his Blog (http://jfmaho.wordpress.com/tag/literary-analysis) I quote:

xxx

There are many ways in which one can read literary texts. One can interpret them at face value, or one can read various things into them. For instance, did you know that the stories about Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends comprise an allegory of male sexuality; in fact, a very old-fashioned one. With the exception of Kanga, all characters are male, and they each represent different aspects of male sexuality and associated desires, inhibitions, fears, prejudices, etc. The stories also include a typically male (albeit ancient) bipolar view of female sexuality: the caring Madonna (Kanga) and the always-accessible whore (the honey pot).

1. Winnie-the-Pooh is the personification of male (adolescent) sexuality. He is not quite sure what he wants, or even who he is. His actions are often hampered by his fears or his ignorance. Winnie-the-Pooh is in fact a symbol for the penis.

2. The Honey Pot, Winnie-the-Pooh’s favourite thing, represents the male fantasy of a vagina. It is the ultimate objectification of female sexuality. It is passive, will-less, and locked up in a safe place until male lust (i.e. Winnie-the-Pooh) wants a piece of it. As such, the Honey Pot is also a symbol for the whore.

3. Piglet is the unwilling virgin. He is the little kid who wants to be a big kid, like all his friends. Piglet represents the young adolescent’s frustrations and insecurities about never being sure if the others think he’s a grown-up or if they know he’s just a kid pretending to be a grown-up.

4. The Owl represents pretence. He wants to be wise. He tries very hard to appear wise. In fact, he has come to live the image he has created for himself. He is the guy who wants wants everyone else to think he knows all about what to do with the girls, but in reality he is just the same fumbling fool as the rest of us.

5. Eeyore is downbeat, cautious, self-pitying. He is always holding himself back, never allowing himself to enjoy things. He wants new experiences (i.e. date girls), but he is never likely to do so, because he fears what it might lead to. Eeyore is the personification of repressed sexuality.

6. Rabbit is that annoying acquaintance we all know, who is convinced that he is more experienced and mature than anyone else. He is different from the Owl, who knows his limitations but hides them, while Rabbit has no self-awareness at all. He wants to be in charge of all things around him, because he knows best, even when he doesn’t. In the bedroom, Rabbit is the one with the whip, always in fear of loosing control.

7. The Heffalump represents everything that our mothers warned us about, such as bad company, unhealthy living, strangers in cars, etc., as well as their consequences, like unwanted pregnancies, naughty diseases, and so on. Still, we’re all curious animals, and we’re strangely drawn to the Heffalump, perhaps because it is so taboo. The irony of the Heffalump is, of course, that it is no independent danger at all, but a part of our own beings. In fact, the search for the Heffalump represents all those trials and errors we make as young adolescents looking for love, identity, and adulthood. Hence the Heffalump is a symbol of puberty, or more specifically, an escalating awareness of our own sexuality.

8. Kanga represents the teenage mother. (Roo is her child.) Kanga is a mother because she wasn’t afraid of the Heffalump, or at least not afraid enough. But even so, she is a responsible mother. In fact, Kanga is a symbol for the Madonna. Her main role in the story is to control Roo’s unlimited lust for life, clearly in a vain attempt to stop him from repeating her mistake(s).

9. Roo, Kanga’s baby, is the fearless, life-enjoying optimist. He is totally without inhibitions and fears. He represents all our desires for constant adventure and joy. He is like a stereotypical hippie advocating free, boundless sex. He is always willing to jump into anything, as long as it looks fun. And if it doesn’t look fun, he’ll jump into it anyway.

10. Tigger is a wannabee adventurer who wants to enjoy life, but is too dumb to understand what or why things happen the way they do. As he lacks Roo’s naive self-confidence, he also lacks the courage to go all the way. He is the insecure boy who wants to hit on the pretty girls, but always gets cold feet in the last moment (eminently exemplified in stories by Tigger climbing into the tree and freezing). Tigger represents unfulfilled sexual desires, which makes him the eternal masturbator (symbolised by his constant bouncing up and down).

11. Christopher Robin is the only genuinely asexual character in the story. In a way, he is God. He gave life to all the characters. He is the moderator of their lives. He feels for them and cares for them. He is the benevolent, respectful leader we all wish we had.

xxx


Anyway, hindi lang kay winnie the pooh ako may problema:

Porky Pig is nude too. Popeye is a violent old man. Looney tunes and Powerpuff Girls, Dexter's Lab, Tom and Gerry, Road Runner and Cayote are too violent for kids. Cow and Chicken is VERY SICK.

It's just wrong, or maybe - tumatanda nalang talaga ako (?)

08 January 2010

YouTube - DRAGON KATOL!




New Years Resolution

I just have one -- and that is to never drink Coke again. 

24 December 2009

Noche Buena with the Homeless

What did you wish for this Christmas?  Did you receive what you wished for?

***
My wish was simple - to share Noche Buena with the homeless and hungry. I have always wanted to do this for a very long time. And to be able to do this was a milestone for me.

Every time I pass by Kalayaan Avenue in Quezon City, my heart melts when I see families living in their kariton. These indigents live in such sorry subhuman and unimaginable conditions.

I wanted to bring them joy and hope -- even for just a night.

So in the afternoon of Dec. 24, from money I have saved, I (together with my siblings)  prepared a number of packed dinners consisting of spaghetti, bread, ham and bottled water.

We went to Kalayaan at around 8 p.m. We handed the said packed dinner the families and  spent the noche buena with them.

We left Kalayaan with a silent prayer that their lives will improve and that their tomorrow will be brighter.


07 December 2009

Mt Pulag Expedition




Conquering the highest peak in luzon

Mt. Pulag expedition




conquering the highest mountain in Luzon

04 December 2009

21 November 2009

A Backpack Filled With Hope

Rah can not wait. Rah wants to know how high he can go. He wants to know his limits.

Rah will bring a backpack filled with hope that he will reach the peak of Mt. Pulag.

On the fifth of December, Rah and Ayhve together with a team will climb the highest mountain in Luzon.

Rah will bring his camping gear - tent, sleeping bag, trekking shoes, and a camp-stove.

Rah will celebrate his birthday there. He will bring  cake and wine to be shared with the expedition.

Up there, Rah will offer a silent prayer the gods who have been there since the beginning of time.

18 November 2009

Challanges

A lot of people are afraid of challenges. But it is only through challenges that we can make a better self.

Mountains cannot be surmounted except by winding paths. -- Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

You have powers you never dreamed of. You can do things you never thought you could do. There are no limitations in what you can do except the limitations of your own mind.  -- Darwin P. Kingsley

"Life's challenges are not supposed to paralyze you, they're supposed to help you discover who you are." Bernice Johnson Reagon

That which does not kill us makes us stronger.
Friedrich Nietzsche

"“Only as a warrior can one withstand the path of knowledge. A warrior cannot complain or regret anything. His life is an endless challenge, and challenges cannot possibly be good or bad. Challenges are simply challenges.”" Carlos Castaneda

"Opposition is a natural part of life. Just as we develop our physical muscles through overcoming opposition - such as lifting weights - we develop our character muscles by overcoming challenges and adversity." Stephen R. Covey

"The key to life is accepting challenges. Once someone stops doing this, he's dead." Bette Davis

"It's lack of faith that makes people afraid of meeting challenges, and I believed in myself." Muhammad Ali

Extraordinary individuals take one step back and two steps forward with most every challenge—and sometimes two steps back to one step forward. They harvest useful lessons and knowledge from what doesn’t work, and they display a remarkable resiliency; and ability to bounce back from adversity - j. porras

10 November 2009

Doublespeak

Doublespeak is a term that describes how people present options that end up in a NO OPTION SITUATION at all.

While a "dilemma" is a problem offering at least two solutions of which none are practically acceptable,  "doublespeak" on the other hand, justifies a situation by offering distorted meanings of a status.

This sort of doublespeak is found on a lot of ideologies. Sometimes, it even comes out as forms of euphemisms that results to ambiguity and communication bypass.

There are countless of examples. My favorites are:  "Informal Settlers" to mean squatters; "pre-owned" to mean second hand; "Gaming" to mean gambling;  "preventive maintenance" to mean busted.

"Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied." Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.  ETC.

Like Big Brother (pinoy big brother sucks, but I watch it nevertheless to find out the next ridiculous thing he and the housemates will do), I also frown upon doublespeak.

The original concept of a Big Brother is from George Orwell's novel - Nineteen Eighty-Four. Big Brother is the founder of a new  world order calling itself "The Party." He watches every inhabitant through the "telescreen".

To facilitate his totalitarian regime, he developed a new system of language called "Newspeak." It is a kind of language that makes opposition to the Party impossible by removing any words or possible constructs which describe the ideas of freedom, rebellion,  opposition and so on.

Newspeak is the only form of language that does not expand but instead, contracts. Big Brother punishes inhabitants of "thought-crime" whenever someone tries to distort the words to advance their "anti-Party" intent.

While I do not subscribe to the totalitarian ideologies of Big Brother, maybe like him, people should also be critical when presented with a doublespeak.

We want clarity in our options. If not, we will probably be spending the better parts of our lives living the dreams and ideas of others.


09 November 2009

On Heroes

We all need heroes.

Unfortunately, when I tell people about my hero, they laugh. They roll their eyes when I show them the little collection of his stamps I purchased in an auction in Recto. They cannot believe their eyes when they see that my facebook profile is actually my hero's picture. They cannot believe their ears when I tell my story of checking his site everyday for an update of his latest blog entitled "Kumbinasyon." People ask me 'what is the deal' with my collection of his fights in DVD purchased from the black market. Because I know everything about my hero, they either think I am baduy or worse, I am sort of bading - I am not.

We all need heroes. 

Heroes are our sources of motivation. They are only people too, like we are. What makes them different though are the great levels of motivation they have accomplished. It is the greatest of skill and talent they have mastered. It is the sense of discipline unfazed and unparalleled. It is about the success they have accomplished.

We all need heroes. 

For people who are hopeless, heroes are symbols of hope. For those who are weak, heroes are sources of strength. For those who are living in the dark - heroes shed light. For those who are lost, heroes are like compass that guide us to the way.  



04 November 2009

Bohol Pics




Panlao, Tarsiers, Chocol8 Hills, butterfly house