The Word of the Day is UMAY

Posted on August 21, 2013 by heavenliner

Living in a scorching and humid tropical country, I love it when it rains. Rain is like a sweet dessert after a damn hot meal. But being subjected to constant raining for the past five days is too much. It’s no longer sweet and pleasurable. It’s already like the horrible sickening feeling you get after a nasty food binge.

Thus, my word of the day is “UMAY” pronounced as “ooh-mai” meaning cloy or cloying. After raining for almost a week this has been my general feeling. No thanks to typoon Maring and the monsoon wind for being so stupefying.

It’s already nakakaumay, umay-peg and umayness. But for the sosyal, classy and ostentatiously wealthy the feeling is nakaka-cloy, cloying-peg and cloyingness.

stuck and stumped inside my unit
due endless raining for the past 5 days

I definitely miss looking at the moon and at the stars. And I hope the dark clouds would give us a break and the great sunshine would finally show up tomorrow.

Sana bukas umulan… Umulan ng pera…

Acid Rain On Treadmill

Posted on June 16, 2013 by heavenliner

I don’t run. I brisk walk.

Brisk walking is one great exercise. It makes you healthy. But brisk walking outdoors in a place called Metro Manila would actually make you more sick than healthy. The air is so polluted it would be stupid to jog or brisk walk outside. And if tough luck besets upon you droplets of acid rain may even infiltrate your lungs making you even more prone to illness.

That is why a Metro Manila inhabitant like me would rather settle to go to a gym and do my brisk walking on a painfully boring treadmill. Let me be clear that I do not detest Metro Manila the way I have grown to detest the treadmill with growing hatred.

Brisk walking on the treadmill is a mental game for me. Aside from shaping up my delicious mortal chassis, brisk walking on a treadmill for me is an exercise of mental toughness. It is because brisk walking on a treadmill is so god awfully boring. There’s nothing more dreadful than seeing the seconds count down and being fully aware of how much time is still left and the calories you have shred off was actually just equivalent to a spoon of mayonnaise.

To ease the agony of boredom and win the battle against this mentally tormenting machine, I have sought the service and assistance of musical artists particularly of the dance-electronic genre. Now I shape up and step on a treadmill with matching beats. My walk has gone interesting since the pacing and distance of each stride depends on the beats of the music on my earphones.

Music of Alexis Jordan has been an often tune in my playlist every time I step on the treadmill. She’s got great selection of songs with varying fast beats. The most recent one that I truly enjoy listening to is ironically entitled Acid Rain. This is the Acid Rain that will definitely not hurt at all. Now, boost up the volume and start listening!

Lakad na!

Bravery From The Barnacles Of My Consciousness

Posted on May 8, 2013 by heavenliner

I do not fancy myself as a particularly good person. I know that I exhibit myself as a big façade of guts, courage and dauntlessness ready to suck the marrow out of life. Being a person that I am whose been living by myself for the last one and a half decades, I have always believed that if things are not right, there is nobody else but me to put things right. I don’t know if I should be proud that my fearlessness is my secret weapon. Or think that this belief is one of my fatal flaws.

By living by myself, I don’t have the choice but to be brave. I know that this is such a cheesy sentiment, but honestly, I need to be brave. I need the courage to fight the creatures that I have to fight, may it be the monsters beneath my bed or the invisible ogre who pulls me down. I need to be brave so as to heal the failures of the past and get ready to navigate away for the would-be-wounds of my future.

I know I have lots of great reliable friends and loving dependable relatives but at the end of the day it is but me whom I should depend myself on. I am responsible for my own misery and at the same time my own welfare and happiness.

This post is so tacky and so old -fashioned, it makes me barf!

Nagtatapang-tapangan!

Kamehameha Powers Of My Monster Nieces & Nephews

Posted on April 14, 2013 by heavenliner

These photo memes are starting to become so popular here in Japan. Since me and my family have limited time, I and my silly nieces and nephews might as well do what typical Japanese are doing. It`s called Kamehamehaing. This photo technique is based on Dragon Ball Z`s kamehameha powers.

inside the fukoshima inari shrine (with monster nephew dennis, photo taken by monster niece thatcher)

kobe tower as the background (with monster nephew luis and niece erika, photo taken by monster niece kim)

erika kicking my butt in kobe harbor (with monster niece erika, photo taken by monster nephew luis)

In the western world the photo meme that is starting to become viral is called Vadering, based on Star Wars` character Darth Vader.

our vadering version… (with monster nephew dennis, photo taken by monster niece thatcher)

Both are basically the same, but I like the drama of Dragon Ball Z better.

I`d rather do this than the silly planking or the catatonic like owling…

Nakikiuso…

A Letter to North Korea

Posted on April 2, 2013 by heavenliner

Dear North Korea,

What the hell have you been thinking?! I know you are upset with South Korea for having closed a mighty deal with USA to hold a joint military exercise. But try to think again if you are really pursuing your stupid plans of annihilating the South. Because I am pretty sure you won’t succeed.

Why? Here’s why…

First, the problem with you is that you have shunned yourself to the world. You basically have been living under the rock that is why you don’t know that in the past couple of years there has been what is known as the “Korean Wave”. Which actually should have been coined “South Korean Wave” since this phenomenon has totally nothing to do with you.

You should be aware that (South) Korean Wave refers to the increasing popularity of South Korean entertainment and culture all over the planet. And part of this wave is the migration of South Koreans in various parts of the world. They are everywhere for goodness sakes! Therefore, even if you smash and rupture the vast lands of South Korea into smithereens, South Korean genes, populace and ethnicity will never be gone. It will remain on this planet. I just hope you learn from the equally dim-witted soul-less Nazis who thankfully flopped in annihilating the Jewish people.

jo in-sung

Second, if you fight the South Koreans people of other nations will detest and abhor you. This is because when South Korea will be at war their popular boy bands as well as their superstar actor-celebrities Jo In-sung, Hyun Bin and Lee Min Ho will be required to be enlisted to join their armed forces. People of the world would definitely don’t want these cutesy looking idols getting hit by a bullet or even crawl on muddy messy ground.

dara: pambansang krung krung

Lastly, if you fight South Korea, Dara of girl-band 2NE1 who is popularly known as Sandara Parks here in the Philippines will be sad and agitated. You must know that Filipinos love Dara, she is the pambansang krung-krung (Philippine icon for weird yet adorable silliness). And of course, you don’t want to mess up with the krung-krung Filipinos. We don’t need to go there in your country to physically fight and be at war. We have lots of expert mangkukulam-s (voodoos) and the mambabarang-s (withcrafts and sorcerers) who can easily cast a curse or spell on your brain-washed people.

That is why you should think again. Anyway, getting into war is so ancient, obsolete and very out-of-style. My final advise to you, you should get out of your shell, be current, be modern, be cool!

Your Would Be Nemesis If You Don’t Straighten Up Your Act,

The Delicious Earthling

Umayos nga yang Nort Koreya na ‘yan! Di naman kagandahan!

Panlakad

Posted on February 20, 2013 by heavenliner

I don’t know what’s the English translation for the Tagalog word panlakad. Maybe there is no single English word for it. With my limited English know-how, the best translation I can give is that panlakad are social clothes and apparels worn for an occasion, an event or by simply being out of the house and in a public place.

sporting my nengkoy shirt. di ko pa napang simba yan!

Back in the days when table salts are not yet iodized, inhabitants in the Philippines would make sure that their newly sewn or purchased panlakad must first be worn to attend a Holy Sunday Mass. Although this rare custom and tradition has long been gone, I can still remember people’s line of questioning to folks they saw sporting new clothes. They would ask, “Pinang simba mo na ba ‘yan?” (“Have you worn those in a Mass?”) It’s as if wearing new clothes that has not initially been worn in a Sunday Mass celebration is such an abomination and is a wicked habit of the devil.

The socio-anthropologist in me dictates that this not-so-ancient unorthodox yet dissipated belief may be a progeny of Filipino’s robust Catholic faith that owning and wearing new clothing is a gift from heaven, thus, it would be most appropriate to first wear it inside the house of God. Or this belief has been generated from Filipino’s long running tradition that they should wear new clothes during Christmas Day and it is a must to go hear a Holy Mass during this Holy day.

I don’t know if I should be thankful or resentful that this tradition is no longer observed. Thankful because with the volume of clothes I own, I cannot imagine how many times in a year would I be required to attend the Holy Mass. Resentful because this tradition could have at least given me another reason to attend and hear the Holy Mass.

‘Yang suot mo ngayon, Pinang Simba Mo Na Ba Yan?

Out My Window This Morning Was The Bow Of God

Posted on February 2, 2013 by heavenliner

A lot of folks – me included – get so excited seeing a rainbow in the sky. I know that rainbow is just but a wonderful result of a climate condition and has nothing to do with luck. But rainbows don’t appear often that is why seeing it invokes joyful hope and optimistic promise.

This is what I exactly felt when I woke up this morning, rose from my bed, looked out my window and saw this brilliant display of colors in the sky.

the bow of God

if you’d look closer it’s actually a double rainbow

I would like to believe that seeing it is a sign from the cosmic universe that something wonderful – may it be divine providence or good fortune – is ahead. For me, seeing a rainbow has always been a delightful, ethereal and inspiring experience.

Swerte, akin ka!

Incorrigible Donald Trump Jr.

Posted on February 1, 2013 by heavenliner

“Hopeless Idiot” that is what I unconsciously uttered when I read in the news about the cruel tweet posted by the son of the estate mogul Donald Trump.

So for Mr. Trump Jr. the 277-million-dollar ship that can’t properly navigate is more important (that’s why it got lost and eventually stuck on the reef) than the Tubbataha. He doesn’t want the ship dismantled. It is so sad to know that this son of a magnate who would soon be one of the forerunners and major stirrer of a conglomerate has gone numb and insensible about nature.

I totally agree with FranceFluxing when she tweeted this.

Yeah, the Trump Organization run by Donald Trump and his family can develop hotels, resorts, golf courses and residential towers in various parts of the globe. But one thing is for sure their organization cannot construct a natural wonder like the wondrous Tubbataha Reef.

If Donald Trump Jr. and his supporters will try to challenge or get critical about this post then my middle finger is ready to rise…

Ignoramus…

My 28th Day Hurdle of Breaking the Smoking Habit

Posted on January 30, 2013 by heavenliner

my super friends

It is believed that it takes 28 days to form or break a habit. Last Saturday, January 26 was actually my 28^th day of being cigarette free. Ironically, it was the toughest test of my being a smoke-free mortal. This was the day I caught-up with my super friends who knows that I am a notorious smoker every time we would go out.

We convened at Sofitel Philippine Plaza Hotel I did not smoke. We had dinner at a Filipino restaurant in Resorts World I did not smoke. And the hurdle of all hurdles, we went to a smoke-filled dance club along Julia Vargas Avenue in Pasig later that same night and I surprisingly did not lit a cigarette. I’m even proud to say that I never psychopathically craved for it the whole time I was with my great buddies. No drooling, no chills, no big cold sweats. I was normal and simply had pure fun.

With this, I can superciliously announce that I passed the test, emerged triumphant and totally broke the noxious smoking habit.

Aym pretty shur gradweyt na ko sa yosi.

Harrison Plaza

Posted on January 27, 2013 by heavenliner

The Philippines boasts of its humongous shopping malls. Two of the biggest in the world can actually be found here (SM North Edsa and SM Mall of Asia). But there’s one mall I grew up going to. It’s Harrison Plaza. Growing up, this has been my family’s mall of choice during the 70s and 80s because of its accessibility since it is simply just at the borders of Pasay and Manila cities.

I am writing about this mall because I happen to bumped into a photo of how glorious Harrison Plaza was in the 70’s…

harrison plaza during the ’70s

This one-stop retail center is the first shopping mall in the country. It opened in 1976 and up until now is very much operational. Though it obviously needs some serious refurbishing to bring back its glory, Harrison Plaza is actually even older than the world’s worst airport NAIA Terminal 1 by 6 years.

harrison plaza today

Obviously, time has changed. It is no longer the mall of choice by the Filipinos. But going to Harrison Plaza does not entail and pressure a person to primp and gussy up (like when you would go to Rockwell, Greenbelt or Resorts World). You can simply go sporting your casual house clothes.

It is no longer the mall of the well-heeled and A-listers. Yet being so near to one of the Ivy-League-like universities of the land (De La Salle University), Harrison Plaza for sure has been visited at least once by these privileged souls. I suppose this is one place every Green Archer can’t inevitably get rid of during his fun yet busy college life – may it be a simple need for a cellphone fix, a school requirement purchase, a cheap lunch or a societal immersion to a lower to middle class bracket of the population.

Now that I am living 3 minutes away from Harrison Plaza, this mall has been my most convenient place in resolving my addiction to rash and unnecessary purchasing binges otherwise known as “shopping”.

Bakit walang estatwa o rebulto si Francis Burton Harrison sa mol na ‘to?

Nengkoy

ruminations & travesties of the favorite yet naughty son of Nengkoy

Category Archives: Me, Myself & I