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About heavenliner

a twisted little soul... people see me to be so delicious they sometimes want to eat me...

Torso-Splitting Thought

Airfares nowadays are as high as how the airplanes fly.  Aside from visa restrictions by a lot of nations, Filipinos are not that fortunate like other citizens to travel around due to high cost of airfares.

But one unique Filipino breed has yet to be discovered that will enable Pinoys to travel around the world at a very cheap price.  This is through the use of its own monsters called manananggal.

Only in the Philippines would you find and heard of a monster/creature that has the ability to fly.  Our remote rural areas are believed to house large populations of aswang – viscera-eating creatures with bad hairday.  One popular form of aswang is the mananaggal – a creature who split in half, grows leathery wings, and leaves their lower torso and legs on the ground while upper half goes hunting for live human flesh.

Since manananggal have the power to fly, this would solve the pressing problem of air transfport, which our country undoubtedly have one.

The Philippine government must realize that manananggal has other uses other than terrorizing the citizenry and being a nemesis in a lot of Pinoy-made movies.

A few months back, Fedex closed its operation in the Philippines to transfer to cheap and lower cost China resulting to the rising statistics of unemployed Pinoys.  This therefore is the opportunity for jobless Pinoys with manananggal genes to venture into air freight delivery service.

Banks can utilize the service of manananggal to safely transport their cash and other treasures from their branches going to their main office.  Transporting of these treasures by helicopter obviously means a lot of costs for the bank while via land transportation, the treasure is so exposed to bad elements lurking around the streets like holduppers and other more organized crooks.  Manananggal could also deter these bad elements for they could simply terrorize or eat them when they’ve gone hungry during their flight.  Eating the crooks could be considered an additional perk for dear manananggals.  They will surely deserve additional perks after a long tiring flight.  This is what you call a win-win situation.

The Philippines unlike other countries is composed of scattered islands and islets separated by seas.  Thus, transporting of goods and people are commonly done by sea vessels.  However, the Philippines at present holds the record for having the worst sea tragedy.  But through the service of manananggal, the country can prevent sea tragedies for these monsters can transport goods and people safely from one island to another.

When all these are found to be effective and successful, then, it would be more than appropriate to go international.  I’m sure international airlines would have big problems competing with the manananggal.

It’s safer, it’s cheaper, it’s cost effective and its even earth-friendly since these monsters need not use fossil fuels to fly.

If all these will be successful, this would be the start for Pinoy’s world domination.  I’m pretty sure all countries would allow Pinoys’ entry in their country without visa.  Otherwise, people of other nations who deny Pinoys’ entry in their country will simply become prey and dinner for these useful monsters.

One drawback though is the tendency for the manananggal to eat the passengers.  Nevertheless, a solution has been established.  Thanks to the movie “Twilight”.  The movie has instituted that monsters can turn to other living creatures other than human beings as their fresh meal.  Thus, as part of manananggals’ training is a required viewing of the movie before venturing into these scheme.

The coconut agriculture industry will also flourish if all these has come to realization and has been very successful.  It is believed that manananggal would bathe and massage their body with lana (virgin coconut oil) before they grow wings and their upper torso separates with the lower one.  At least, the oil they use are still organic and not the soon to be depleted fossil fuels.

So, to all manananggal, I suggest that you come out in the open and forward this proposal to Congress.  Its your time to shine and be recognized.  The country needs you now more than ever!

Go! Go! Go! Arghhh!

Tons of Thonz

It was a boring Saturday for it was my usual household chore day.  It was a nothing-special day until I was sent a text message by my officemate informing me to proceed right away to the Grand Ballroom of Century Park Hotel for it was soon to be our company’s entry to perform at the National Bartending Competition.

In my slippers, a simple shirt and jeans, I crossed the street to proceed to the said venue.  When I arrived I learned that the second half of the 23 participants has yet to perform.  Waiting for our entry’s turn, I watched the other bartenders perform in curious attention that even made my day more boring.

However, the phase of the day suddenly changed when Thonz Viola, our bartender appeared on stage and did his performance stuff.  I was literally controlling myself from screaminmg for it is not allowed to cheer in the middle of the performance otherwise Thonz will be disqualified.  He ended the performance with much elegance, charm and precision.  All eyes in the audience were stuck on watching the handsome routine as if Thonz possess talismanic powers that seem to have hypnotized everyone.

The phase of my day even peaked higher when Thonz was announced as the third place winner and is officially part of the 3-man Philippine Team for the upcoming ASEAN Bartending Competition.  This was the moment when all the pent-up energy that I and my colleagues have been trying to control all the while was released by applauding, shouting approval and cheering to much elation for Thonz.

Congratulations to Ms. Grace Villadolid and Mr. Bernie Bonoan who coached and gave all efforts to train and support Thonz.  Of course, all praises for Thonz who brought joy, pride and honor to me and my colleagues.

Under the beautiful ray of summer sunshine, I went home elated, happy and smiling.  I was so happy I was able to clean my bathroom later in the afternoon without grumble and apprehension.

Galing! Galing!

Celia: of the Heavens…

Celia is a female name of Latin origin.  It is from the Latin word “caelum” meaning heaven.  It is also believed to be from the Latin word “Caelia”, the feminine form of the old Roman clan name “Caelius” meaning heavenly or “of the Heavens”.

According to the internet, the name Celia was seldom used during the medieval ages and was only first introduced and popularized to the English-speaking population via literature.  Thanks to Shakespeare who named one of the characters as Celia in his play “As You Like It”.

In the United States, the name Celia was at its most popular during the 1850’s when it ranked 84th most popular name for a baby girl.  In 2004, it was the 23rd most popular name in France.  In Spain, it was the 35th most popular name in 2006.  Again in the United Sates, it ranked as the 783rd most popular girl’s name in 2007.

In the Philippines, the most popular woman named Celia is of course Celia Rodriguez, the actress with husky voice and big bulging eyes best known for her classic kontrabida (villain) role as Dr. Valentina Vrandakapoor, ang babaing ahas (snake-lady) with PhD in Reptilian Zoology in the movie “Lipad, Darna Lipad!” during the ’70s.

In numerology, Celia is equivalent to “3” meaning optimistic, easy-going, sociable and humorous.

As a form of calamity, Celia is a retired name for Atlantic hurricane, meaning it is no longer being re-used.  It was retired after Hurricane Celia, a category 3 hurricane damaged Cuba and Texas in 1970.

As a mainstream popular animated movie, Celia is Mike’s girlfriend-receptionist in the movie Monsters Inc.  She is the character who is also in charge of announcing the new monster that takes the position of Top Scarer.

Celia is the real given name of Nengkoy.  Only during my short research did I know that my mother’s first and last names if translated both in English would exactly mean the same.  Celia, a Latin-originated word meaning “heaven” and Langit (her surname) a Tagalog-Malay word also meaning “heaven”.  Thus, in English-speaking world, Nengkoy’s name would be Heaven Heaven.

Being mother’s day today, I will not characterize Nengkoy for now… because its all in the name…

Yan ang Nanay ko! Happy Mother’s Day Nanay!

Cinematic Lines of a Double-Bitch

Boba, idiota, tonta, double-bitch and puta ka! These are some of the uttered words of my favorite character from the movie Temptation Island.  Yes!  I still couldn’t get through this spectacular film.  So let me write another article about it.

Suzanne Reyes played by Jennifer Cortez is my favorite character in the movie.  She is the rich spoiled brat and demanding socialite in the movie being attended by Maria, the oppressed and downtrodden yaya (maid).

Suzanne in the movie is the only creature who had bitchy and hilarious catfights with all the other lady characters.  Mind you, the catfights are held in different venues and of various modes.  She had sabunutan (hair-pulling fight) with Azenith Briones on a shallow sea bed.  She had sampalan (face-slapping fight) with Bambi Arambulo right on the desert sand.  She had patpat-ala-arnis upakan (stick-weapon fight) with Dina Bonnievie inside a dry lifeless jungle.

She has gentle ways of speaking, yet words coming out from her mouth are mean, unapologetic and oppressive – a true epitome of a bitch without mercy.

Among the four finalist characters of Miss Manila Sunshine pageant in the movie, she has kept her cool and still tried to maintain and be conscious of her looks even in the midst of being trapped in a desert island without food and without fresh drinking water.  She would ask her yaya if she is still beautiful, she would still put on make-up and suntan lotion and bathe under the sun to keep her beautiful youthful complexion and she would even bother wearing her silk scarf coupled with shades in the middle of a barren lifeless landscape with no salvation in sight.

I also loved the way she projects her face and body in front of the camera.  It definitely added to the ultimate hilarious campiness of the movie.  She totally gave a new meaning to the word “chin-up”.  Because the way she raises her chin to project her provocative beauty is so high it is already literally horizontal to her flat nose and short forehead.

But the ultimate reason why I love her among all characters trapped in a desert island are the lines the scriptwriter and director have assigned her.  The words coming out from her mouth and the way she delivered it are mind-boggling!  Here are some of the lines she uttered in the movie…

  • Sabihin mo kay Vicente na ihanda ang Mercedes na charcoal gray… Mas gusto ko yatang magpahatid, para I can leave anytime I want.  Late entrance, early exit.  ‘Yan ang dramatic!”
  • “As I was saying, this is a bright sunny day.  A day in the light of the sun’s rays.  This is how I begin my day.  An hour of tender loving care in the eight o’clock sunshine! ‘Yan ang sikreto ng aking youthful complexion.  Parang nasa tabi lang tayo ng swimming pool.”
  • Hay… kagabi, compose na compose ang byuti ko.  Ngayon nagdi-decompose na.”
  • “So what’s new?  Everybody needs a shipwreck ones in a while.”
  • “Ang lalakas naman kasi ng loob nyong sumali eh hindi naman kayo magaganda.
  • Maria, hwag kang tonta! Pantyhose, panghuhuli mo ng isda?!”
  • Mag-alis kayo ng panty kung gusto ninyo.  But my panty stays right where it is!”
  • Wala akong carpenter-complex, so I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
  • Maria… sabihin mo nga sa akin, maganda pa ba ako?”

My top-3 favorites lines are…

  • Ay nako, I have no time for middle-class sentiments.”
  • “Maria, pakikuha mo nga ang make-up kit ko sa kabilang bundok, nakalimutan ko eh.
  • “What are bitches for? But to bitch around with fellow bitches.”

Idol ko si Suzanne Reyes.  O, laban ka?!

Beautiful Disaster

A lot has been written about the 1980 Pinoy movie entitled Temptation Island.  Some has considered it as one of the greatest Pinoy masterpieces.  Others say that it is a moving cinematic experience.  A lot declares it as the campiest most hilarious Filipino movie ever made.  But others commented on it as a crazy-awful movie.

I am not a film critic and I don’t consider myself as the last authority on movie reviews but after seeing the movie for the second time, all I can say is that the movie has gone beyond the word “worst”.  But I’m saying it not on a negative note but rather as a compliment.  The movie was so bad that it has crossed the bundaries of “negative border” (meaning the negative of all negatives).  Thus, it can therefore be considered an excellent work of art.  The movie was so criminally stupid it is no longer irritating but insanely entertaining.  The movie was so preposterously funny even without the intention of being humorous.

As a piece of advice before watching the movie – for those who has not seen it – don’t take the movie seriously otherwise you will miss the point of its being a great film.

There is no dull moment in the movie.  I don’t want to pick out my favorite scene for I love all the scenes.  I love the twisted humor since I believe the director intended it to be a serious flick but came out so campy and funny.  I love the cheap special effects and technical faults for it added to the unquantifiable laughter I exhibited while watching the film.  I love the appalling and without-mercy overacting performances of the lead actresses.  I love the stimulating and utterly ridiculous lines the actors and actresses throw on each other.  For me, the written script and lines spoken and how these were spoken by the characters in the film made the movie a “classic”.

Temptation Island is pure unadulterated fun.  The film is such a magnificent disaster it is definitely a Pinoy movie masterpiece.

Salamat kay Kuki Catindig sa pagpapahiram ng VCD copy.

System Failure

Schools’ vacation season has barely a month to go.  It has been a couple of weeks that wallets and purses of persevering parents has been on rest period.  However, expensive payment on school fees and “baon” will soon be reactivated.  Stop gaps are now being undertaken by socially-aware students not to allow increase in their fees for the upcoming school year by picketing onto the streets in front of the country’s education agencies.  What is so notable is that these youths who opted to bring their concern to the streets are without the support of the street parliamentary nuns and priests.

The only academic scheme Pinoys get hold of is public education.  The Church, the concrete and somewhat tangible supposed powers from Heaven has failed to act as a key figure of good basic education essential to Pinoy society.  It is so apparent that its inclination is for its own business enterprise by establishing and carrying out high-priced private education called Catholic school.

Though it is non-government institution, the so called Catholic schools mostly cater to the nation’s economic elite.  Catholic educators promote that they are in-charge of shaping the moral backbone of the next generation but this obviously has become very selective.  The cost of Catholic school education is so unreasonably pricey Pinoy families of the lower income bracket (which is the majority of the population) obviously cannot afford.

Aside from boosting on youth’s partaking on the sacramental life of a Catholic and study religion, its one societal advocary – since they’re into education business – is to improve the educational system in the country.  However, being one of the most powerful systems in Pinoy psyche they seem concentrated on watching over the beautification of its own little chapels in their respective campuses and busy scheduling the  next “retreat” of their blue-blooded students either in Tagaytay or in Baguio.

It can therefore be deduced that the Catholic Church even contributes to the sustenance in the gap between the rich and the poor of society.  The rich continues to be richly trained and the poor remains to be poorly educated.

Another irony about these schools is that it does not necessitate to be a Catholic in religion before a soul can enroll or study.  However, possesion of bazillions of pesos is absolutely a requirement no matter if your religion is Saksi Ni Batman.

“Keyr ko!” sabi ni monsignor.  Hala magagalit si Archbishop nito!

Bachna Ae Hasseno

Being trapped in an airplane from Casablanca to Manila gave me the opportunity to watch movies shown free in the airline.

As I zapped through the remote control, I discovered that there were vast choices of movies to choose from.  Qatar Ailines featured a wide spectrum of movies to watch while the airplane is flying.  There were movies from Oriental countries, European countries, South American countries and Middle East ones.  There were even 2 Pinoy movies to choose from.  There was the KC Concepcion and Richard Gutierrez flick and the Tony Gonzaga and Vhong Navarro movie to watch.

Since I had long hours to waste I settled to watch marathon Oscar-nominated movies and later decided to go for a Bollywood flick.  I heard Bollywood movies are usually more than 2 hours to finish.  The first full length Bollywood movie I watched was entitled Bachna Ae Hasseno.  The story was fun and lighthearted.  A true Bollywood genre because the characters would suddenly burst into a song with matching outlandish dance number coupled with spectacular production numbers.  The film is about a Casanova heartbreaker who goes from one love affair to another, only to run into true love.

The film did not disappoint me in terms of the style Bollywood films are known for.  It featured gorgeous locations, good looking characters, bouncy musical numbers and breathless romance.  What is so good about the movie is its light mainstream entertainment which did not require the viewer to think.

The movie was something new and was a refreshing experience considering that I am in the middle of a notorious long travel.  Too bad I was stuck on my seat and there was not enough space to dance Bollywood style.

Wala lang.  Gusto ko lang isulat ang kakaibang karanasang ito.

Travel Young

I am glad to have come to Morocco while I’m relatively young and healthy because going around that country is no big joke.  It requires good physical stamina.

The flight takes at least 19 hours to travel from Manila to Casablanca.  It takes 4 hours via train ride to travel from Casablanca to Marrakech.  It takes 6 hours back and forth to traverse from Marrakech to Essaouira crowded inside a grand taxi with 5 other passengers.  It takes at least 2 days to tour around the outskirts of Marrakech to visit the Berber towns and the magnificent provinces of Merzouga, Dudades and Ouarzazate to finally get to Sahara.  It takes a 30-minute camel ride to get into the edge of the Saharan dessert from Merzouga.  It takes a 7-hour train ride from Marrakech to Fes.  It takes 4 hours to commute via train ride from Fes to Casablanca.  It takes another 19 hours air travel from Casablanca to be back to Manila.

With all these rides and travels, I have not even counted the yards, meters and kilometers of traversing the streets, valleys, gorges and narrow alleys of Morocco (especially the old medinas) that me and my friends have been to.

I am not complaining because along all these travels comes the unforgettable and spectacular experiences I had in this marvelous north western part of Africa.  While travelling and moving around the country, I simply fed my senses and work my glutes.

I am so thankful that I travelled early unlike other people who put off travel until retirement.  I may not have saved a lot and not yet financially secured but I don’t want to consign the most active years of my life to drudgery.  I don’t want to sacrifice today’s freedom for a future that will always remain uncertain, no matter how I carefully plan for it. 

I’m not saying that everyone sitting in an office or busy with ther respective jobs should drop everything and take off for north Africa.  I’m saying that if you want to see the world, plan for it and do it as soon as possible.  The experience will give you the spunk, courage and inspiration you need to survive being a full-grown human being.

Tara na! Gala na tayo!

Silly Similarities

Via airplane, Philippines to Morocco is a 19-hour journey.  The time zone difference between Pinas and Morocco is 8 hours.  Pinas is hot, Morocco is cold.  Majority of Pinoys are Christian while Moroccans are Islam.  It’s basically worlds apart.  But after my 2 weeks vacation, I realized that there are similarities between the two countries…

  • Inhabitants do not have the concept of using the zebra/pedestrian lane.  Moroccans like Pinoys would cross the street wherever they want unmindful of the imminent danger of a fast approaching vehicle.
  • Motorists in both country think that traffic laws are mere suggestions.  Both citizens ignore the significance of the yellow traffic light.  Crossing the road in both countries are the surest way to heaven.
  • People can assume that underpass walkways have no purpose other than its aesthetic presence.  No one dares to go by the underpass due to the possibility of being mugged and get out from it black and blue.
  • Residential streets are turned into big sports venue.  In Pinas, streets are turned into bantam basketball courts while in Morocco streets are turned into mini soccer fields.
  • There are lots of bootleg peddlers on the streets offering tourists to buy fake (made in China) watches and sunnies.
  • Dingy street corners of urbanite cities stink in the morning as caused by the trace of urine leaked by a drunken man the previous night.
  • Both countries have internet cafes that don’t serve coffee.

Ang listahang ito din ang mga hindi ko na-miss sa Pinas.

Mon, Amy & Efren

When I was in Macau last December with Karen and Denton, we would address the locals as ‘my friend’.  “My friend, where is this?”  “My friend, what is that?”  “My friend, how is this?”  My friend, why is that?”

‘Efren’ sounding so similar to ‘my friend’, my avant-garde friend Karen after a considerable extraordinary intellectualization concluded that the most common name in Macau is Efren.  According to her you can call every local as Efren.

In Morocco, I kept hearing ‘Mon Ami’ when a local or tourist would call or address a total stranger.  When a store attendant would call me Mon Ami I would not respond for I don’t know what it connotes.  But my French-speaking friend Charlie would tell me that the store attendant was actually calling me.

Similar to Karen, after stupendous intellectualization, I came to a conclusion that the most common and popular name in Morocco is not Abdul or Mohammed but Mon and Amy.

After my stick-figured thighs were showing signs of muscular definition from all the walking along all the Mohammed V streets and old medinas of Marrakech, Casablanca, Essaouira and Fes, I learned that Mon Ami are the French words meaning ‘my friend’.

Magandang hapon sa lahat ng Efren sa Macau at sa lahat ng Mon at Amy sa Morocco.