Things I Think I Think:

1. With a growing threat of being slapped a windfall tax by lawmakers, the big three rolled backed prices by 5 pesos per liter for diesel and 2 pesos for gasoline. Hmm. Sounds like the threat worked wonders.
2. Now that gas prices has gone down, should fares go down too? Paying 8.50 for a jeepney ride isn't just fair. And shouldn't taxi flag down rates go down too? It's not just oil companies who are greedy. The transport sector, too, is greedy.
3. What kind of a name is Joc-Joc?
4. And what the hell is going on here? Why is Joc-Joc rushed to St. Luke's Medical Center because of an undisclosed medical illness when he arrived when the regular Tomas, Pedro and Juan's of the country can't get this attention from the government? If he is really sick, he should've been sent to East Avenue Medical Center or PGH.
5. Aren't the church and the state supposed to be separate? Then why is the church interfering with affairs of the state? Just wondering.
6. Melamine sure do sound like something found on your skin doesn't it?
7. Why do telenovelas, fantaseryes, and the like dominate prime time TV? Does it say something about what kind of society we have? Why can't we have more educational & informational shows? Just wondering.
8. And talking about TV programming, I can't help but notice that those EB Babes of Eat Bulaga are "well-fed". Di ba Chabs? hehe

"Like matter, I'm in a state of flux".

- Vincent the Philopher

Things I Think I Think:

1. The Apocalypse has come! With big financial institutions failing in the land of milk and honey, every doomsayer worth his weight in salt is predicting a "Great Depression 2.0". Will this financial crisis get worse or have we seen the worst? Abangan!
2. As further proof that the apocalypse has come, a black man is about to be elected president of the United States of A. Also, the four horsemen were reportedly sighted at Sta. Ana.
3. With gas prices so low, shouldn't fares too? Just wondering.
4. As mentioned above, with gas prices lower than the previous months, there's this pervasive feeling that it should be lower than current levels. A lot of people, including me, are thinking why can't the oil companies be more transparent in their pricing? Easy, they don't want us to know how they are cheating us.
5. I can understand now why there is such a thing as "road rage". As a new driver, I experience it everyday in the form of motorcycles, PUJs and PUVs izigging and zagging the streets without abandon & making the road their personal parking space as they wait for passengers. As if that's not enough, unruly pedestrians cross the road on very inopportune times. With all these a driver have to deal with, it's very easy for someone to snap (ala Rolito Go). The point is, if everybody just follow traffic rules, then everything'll be fine. But then again, this is the Philippines. We thrive when there's chaos.
6. How time flies. I can't believe it's about to be November. It seemed like May was only a couple of weeks ago. In a couple of months, we'll be celebrating the yuletide season and ushering in a new year. This early, I'm seeing some Christmas lights already. Even the air is colder now.
7. I so love statistics. Of all the math subjects in college, statistics was by far the subject I liked most. And now in grad school, I still love it. Wala lang.

Things I Think I Think:

1. Another olympics, another no gold perfomance for our country. Zilch, nada, splat, zero, none. I'm beginning to wonder if I'll ever see the Philippines win a gold medal in my lifetime.
2. The "Big Three" (Shell, Chevron & Petron), along with Meralco, Globe, and Smart should be dubbed "The Axis of Evil".
3. My Advanced Academic Writing professor, Ms. Mojica, once told us: "Graduate school is all about sleepless nights, blood, sweat, and tears". She could've not said it better.
4. With Hedging Devices as my topic for my final paper, I was enlightened as to the importance of hedging in writing. Not only in writing but also in daily conversations. All these years, I've been making "strong claims". No wonder why I have a lot of opposition. Well, it's never too late to change.
5. A few days ago, a Philippine Air Force C-130 cargo plane crashed. The reson for the mishap is still being determined. We're sad for the widowed and the PAF. They do not deserve this. They deserve better equipment. For too long, they have endured public ridicule for the numerous crashes they had. Little do the public know that they were making do with what they have-secondhand equipment from the US government. Until the powers that be addresses this, many wives will be widowed over senseless tragedies like this.
6. Psychologists claim that people who talk and act loud are really weak people. Based on experience, I tend to believe that. Most often than not, it seems that people exhibiting this behavior lack the necessary skills, knowledge or breeding. Appearing tough, they think, will cover up some insecurities they have.
7. Good managers think, talk, and act like managers. An unqualified manager may get away with it initially, but will soon be found out as a fraud.
8. It's done. After so much haggling over revenue sharing, legendary boxer "The Golden Boy" Oscar De la Hoya chose Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao to be the last opponent of his storied career sometime in December. Analysts suggest that total revenues from the fight could reach $100 millon. And with the Pacman getting a share anywhere 35-40% of the revenues, this promises to be the richest fight for him but also the richest fight in history.

Filipino saying of the week:

"Bihisan mo man ang matsing, matsing pa rin".

I have learned that...

1. One must know when to fight and when to run away.
2. Where you studied is important. Companies do look at where you studied.
3. You will care about gas prices when you become a driver.
4. One can never be too old to learn new things.
5. La Salle ain't that bad at all. In fact, it's not bad at all.
6. Respect can't be bought or demanded. It is earned.
7. Watching mindless comedies like Takeshi's Castle or Will Ferrell's movies relieve stress.
8. I don't know everything. That's why I ask questions.
9. I am the master of our household. But my wife is my commander.
10. No matter what you do, don't mess with your inlaws.
11. It doesn't rain everyday.
12. There is such a thing called "karma".
13. All men are not created equal.
14. It's hard to find true friends. So if you found one, don't lose him/her.
15. Pirated DVDs are like the original.
16. If you're in a hurry, don't take the G-Liner or RRCG.
17. Quality comes with a price.
18. You can't buy love and happiness.
19. Your needs are commensurate to your pay.
20. No matter how much food you leave on the plate, people in other parts of the globe will still go hungry.
21. It never hurts to say "I'm sorry" nor does "I love you".
22. TIme is your most valuable resource.
23. You should not argue when you're angry.
24. No matter how kind you are, you can't expect people to be the same with you.
25. People listen more to what you don't say (non-verbal cues).
26. You lose a skill/knowledge when you don't practice it (except driving & riding a bike).
27. Saving a peso a day do make a difference.
28. You'll study harder when you're paying for your tuition.
29. Vegetables are good for you.
30. Health is wealth.

Olympics and War

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Things I Think I Think (The San Beda vs Letran Edition):

1. I think San Beda's two championships and this year's if they win it all should be marked with an asterisk. They wouldn't have won them without the benefit of having an import. Thus giving them an unfair advantage over the rest of the NCAA teams who fielded true-blooded FIlipinos. Even the PBA makes it so that everyone should have an import if there'll be one.
2. Bedans should be ashamed of themselves. They couldn't win it by themselves so they got an import. How else can you explain why it took them so many decades before winning one again? So please stop acting like you own the world.
3. On the other hand, I've got nothing but praise for Coach Louie Alas. He really is Letran's ace in the hole. Talk about making do with limited resources.
4. To Mapua, this year's organizers, shame on you! Why was the game held at the cramped Cuneta Astrodome & not at the more spacious Araneta Coliseum when it's obvious that the Astrodome cannot accommodate the number of fans? Come on! This was a rivalry game that goes way, way back.Rumor has it that Mapua scheduled the game at the Astrodome on purpose.
5. I'm getting tired of watching those Little Indians at halftime. Don't you? Give us some cheerleaders already!
6. And only on the NCAA: "Pogi kami, pangit kayo!" & "Squatter!" These are cheers chanted by both Letran & San Beda. The NCAA sure do know how to cheer.
7. Round 1 goes to the Height is Might school of thought. Small Ball just got swatted into oblivion. Though the bully got smacked in the mouth. Beda's aura of invincibility is almost gone.
8. Ekwe is not the Ekwe-lizer. Ok? Get it?
9. Menor is one hell of a baller. Tough, tough guy. Very hard to stop.
10. To the Letran guards, I don't know how you do it but pressing all game long & only Jazul cramping up? These guys are one of the most fit athletes in the NCAA. What stamina.
11. Sam Beda. 'Nuff Said.

Where Na You?

Whatever happened to Jun Lozada? Where na you Jun?

Things I Think I Think:

1. Oh my God! I though I've seen it all. But today's game between Letran and Perpetual really had it all. All game long, Letran never led and was down by 20 points midway through the 3rd quarter but came back furiously and finally won on two free throws with 2 seconds remaining. Only in college basketball. They say it ain't over till the fat lady sings. This game definitely is in my top five best games I've seen in my life. Wow.
2. On the other hand, UST, my alma mater, blew an excellent chance to keep pace with league leading Ateneo as it lost to archrival La Salle by 1 point yesterday. The loss dropped them to 1-2. What was Pido thinking? This guy had a massive brain cramp on crunch time as he devised a play that had a rookie shoot a three pointer with 23 seconds left and La Salle on the penalty. Right now is a very frustrating time to be a UST fan. I just wish we had a coach like Louie Alas. We need a coach, not a clown. Sigh.
3. True to form, a typhoon graced my birthday. As if that was not enough, I got sick. A double whammy of sorts. Happy 30th birthday to me. Wow, I thought for a minute there that it was my 25th. Boy I'm old. No wonder kids call me kuya. hehe
4. With gas, rice, fares, & basic necessities going through the roof, the last person I would want to be is GMA. She probably is the saddest & the most stressed person in the country these days.
5. Eight weeks into graduate school, I'm finally catching up. Or so I think.
6. I think, no, I know I have the best wife in the whole wide world. I love you Chabs. Thank you for making my birthday fun. Without you, I'm lost.

Things I Think I Think:

1. Have you seen THE fight? Of course you did. What a masterful display by Pacquiao. In knocking Diaz out, Manny did what no Filipino or Asian has ever done before. He's the first Asian to ever win 4 world titles in 4 weight divisions. And the way things are shaping out, it looks like it will be 5 next year. The legend just keeps on growing. And we're witnessing it. Enjoy the show folks. This is once in a lifetime.
2. Just when everything's going well in our economy, the oil & food crisis put the brakes on our takeoff. One can draw a parallelism to the Asian financial crisis during Ramos' administration. One can't help but think. Our country is really cursed. Really, think about it.
3. Strange but true: I saw on television yesterday that on Saudi Arabia, mineral water (bottled water) is costlier than gasoline. Goodness gracious! Why can't our government leaders negotiate with them Arabs? Let them pick from Wilkins, Agua Vida, Absolute, etc. In exchange, we'll accept unleaded or premium. hehe
4. The UAAP & the NCAA are in full swing. Time to show your true colors. Mine's yellow. Growl.
5. With gas prices rising through the roof, the MMDA has unwittingly discovered the solution to our traffic woes. Bayani was heard trumpeting that we should raise gas prices even more. haha
6. Of all the major banks, Banco De Oro (BDO) is the dumbest, most inefficient, most insensitive of them all. Maybe you have noticed their atms offline during payday? Or when you visit the bank itself, surprise of all surprises, the bank itself is offline. And you say this is a major bank? I'm missing Equitable Bank already.
7. A week from now, I'll celebrate (or should I say mourn) another birthday. Malapit na ako mawala sa kalendaryo. Hay. I wonder where the fountain of youth is...

Things I Think I Think:

1. In the course of history, for every great hero there is a corresponding villain or villains. This villain will do everything to make life hard for the hero. Initially, they will succeed. But as we all know, in the end, the hero triumphs.
   And haven't you noticed, almost all villains stink & look hideous. Case in point: Max Alvarado, Romy Diaz, Bomber Moran, Bella Flores. So do your own real-life villains.
2. Today is Friday the 13th. I don't know why a lot of people dread this day. But I don't. In fact, I love Friday the 13ths for the sole reason it's payday. hehe
3. They say competition brings out the best or worst in people. I think, more often than not, based on experience, it brings out the worst.
4. When I think about it, I only have a few friends left in the country. Most have gone abroad to seek greener pastures. I begin to wonder. Is the grass really greener at the other side of the fence? Does it taste sweeter?
5. On Ces Drilon & company, you don't play with fire & not get burned. They definitely got burned as they got kidnapped (or should it be adultnapped?) by the Abu Sayyaf. Abu Sayyaf? I didn't know they still existed. It turns out they were just biding their time.
6. I think the Lakers will come back next year. They're just too small to compete against the big boys of the Celtics this year. You have to hand it to those Celtics. They played with a lot of fire.

Movie Title of the Week:

Babangon Ako't Dudurugin Kita

Things I Think I Think:

1. Going back to school was a blast although I was clueless most of the time. It's fun being a student again. Being part of a class, taking notes, taking part in group work, making assignments, photocopying, etc. are a welcome change from selling to Americans everyday.
2. On a related matter, what the hell are phonemes, logograms, ideograms, adverbs, rebus writing? I didn't know the English language was that complicated. Sigh.
3. Wow! Last time I looked (which was Friday), gas prices were 51 pesos per liter. When we had our tank filled last Sunday, it was already 53 pesos. Somebody's going to pay for this. As is always the case, it's us who's doing the paying. Damn.
4. On the Meralco squabble: Get this done & over with. We don't care who controls the God-forsaken utility. What we care about is lower electricity rates. Are there any honest businessmen in the world anymore?
5. What's with ants suddenly being active & aggresive? I'm in this annual battle with these insects over territory. I wouldn't have a problem with them if they just kept out of our house & went about their ant business elsewhere. But they won't. And so this means war. I'm about to unleash armageddon or it's equivalent to them in the form of my weapon of mass destruction: Baygon's chalk. Prepare to get annihilated ants! Bwahahaha! (Wow, this must be what Bush felt when he invaded Iraq.)
6. NBA Finals. East vs West. Lakers vs Celtics. Kobe vs The Big Three (Garnett, Pierce & Allen). Showtime vs Celtic Pride. Phil Jackson vs the ghost of Red Auerbach. LA-LA Land vs New England. The NBA goes Retro. It feels like the 80's again. The NBA needed this. Everybody's getting caught up. I'm getting caught up. Can't wait for the series to get started.
   Fearless Forecast: Lakers in 5 or 6.
7. A thought to feminists (like Gabriela): why don't they give a hoot when women are given undue rights & privileges over men & shout to the high heavens when they don't get equal treatment? Case in point: the MRT & LRT cars exclusively for women. Aren't they supposed to fight for equality? Where's the equality in that? Nothing against feminists. Just a thought.
8. Since I got back to school, I'm finally getting to enjoy writing again. Looks like my love affair with the pen (or in this case, the keyboard) is in full bloom again.
   

Arivederci.

The Transformation & The Quandary

The transformation is complete. The man who was first Green
& White (Paulinian) then Blue and White (Louisian) then
Yellow (Thomasian) is finally, reluctantly, Green (La
Sallian).

Last Saturday, I enrolled at DLSU's Graduate School where I
will take up a masteral course for teaching the English
language (MA-TEL). In two years or so, I hope to acquire the
knowledge & skills necessary for me to be able to teach
college students the beautiful language we all aspire to
learn.

At the very first paragraph, I wrote that I'm a reluctant La
Sallian now. Reluctant because I'm a proud Thomasian.
Reluctant because of those so many wars our schools have
waged on the UAAP. Reluctant because of "Tuition niyo baon
ko lang." Reluctant because of the cheer "Bobo La Salle."
Reluctant because... I can go on all day enumerating the
reasons why La Salle would have been the last school on
earth I would've enrolled on. But alas, times has changed.
Realities, too, has changed.

Sad to say, our beloved alma mater's graduate school has
stubbornly resisted the realities of today. In fact, truth
be told, it has very meager facilities that does not befit
it's lofty reputation in the academe. From the year I've
graduated (2000)to now (2k8), UST's graduate school is still
sharing facilities with the High School Department. And with
this, compared to other reputable schools (UP, DLSU, Ateneo)
it has the gall to charge exorbitant fees. Sure, the
university has made strides in improving it's graduate
school through the Research Center, subscriptions to
journals, etc. But it simply is not enough.

In the end, as much as I wanted to enroll at my grand old
alma mater, economic realities told me not to. It just could
not beat DLSU's trimestral program, facilities & tuition &
fees.

This transformation will be difficult when the UAAP begins.
Will I be chanting D-L-S-UUUUUUUU or E-yo, E E E-yo? Or Go
La Salle, go go La Salle or We are the Tigers, the mighty
mighty Tigers? Will I do the wave or will I give you the
elitist stare or glare? What a quandary.

It would be difficult too when my friends & I get together.
Surely, I will get it from them. I will get ridiculed &
villified for switching sides. Drawing comparisons from
Anakin Skywalker drifting to the dark side of the force &
becoming Darth Vader.

I'm writing this like an apologetic Thomasian would to his
former comrades in arms. Even if it appears I've left you,
I've never really abandoned you my friends. I have not, and
will not wander to the dark side of the force. And even if
I'm a La Sallian now, once the cage wars begin, I'll show my
quality, my true colors. To the very end, to the very last
breath, in my mind & in my heart, I'm still a yellow-blooded
Thomasian.

Animo Tigers, beat De La Salle! Beat De La Salle!

Cinco de Mayo at Puerto Galera

Time really flies so fast that one can easily lose track of it. Moreso when one gets older. Last May 5, Chabs & I celebrated our much anticipated first wedding anniversary. And what better way to celebrate it by doing what we love most. Traveling.

Since it was summertime, it was a perfect time to go to a beach. We had some places in mind and after briefly considering going to either Boracay or Bohol, we ultimately decided to do otherwise due to the prohibitive cost in going to those vacation hotspots. Although we're still planning to go to those places in the near future. And we're looking forward to it.

With Bohol & Bora out of the picture, Chabs & I thought Puerto Galera would be perfect. And it was.

I've been to Puerto twice already & Chabs once so we know what to expect in the island. We burnt our skins, ate grilled food, I had a henna tattoo, she had her hair braided, we had a good massage on the beach & partied at night. Plus I got to try the banana boat. And boy, it was a blast even if my whole body felt sore after. But still, it's one ride I'd recommend to all. Overall, our Puerto experience, like all our past travels, was perfect. And much of the credit goes to Rianne, our travel agent who made sure we had a very nice place to stay in. She was so intent in making life easier for us she more than exceeded the bounds of customer service.

Looking back, we had a charmed 1st year of marriage. We always say that we are a lucky couple and it sure is that way. We see other couple's marriages and compare it to ours and we can't help but feel very lucky indeed. Sure there are the usual petty quarrels & disappointments but the happy moments far outnumber them. And these moments galvanize our relationship even more.
This is our first year together and we know that we will be celebrating many many more anniversaries. And consequently, a lot more traveling is in the pipeline.

The heat is on!

Global Warming - It's real & it's here. If you haven't noticed, the temperature this past few days is as hot as a fever.
After so many years being in denial, a lot of people, including me have come to realize that the geeks led by Al Gore were right. That the earth is heating up. Hence the term "Global Warming".
If you saw "The Day After Tomorrow" or "The Inconvenient Truth", you have to be scared at our prospects.

The geek squad theorized that with the world's polpulation growing (6 billion people and counting) and their wasteful destruction of the planet's resources & their wanton burning of fossil fuels rapidly accelerate the build-up of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere.

For the uninitiated, greenhouse gases trap heat in our atmosphere. So the more of these stuff in the air, the hotter it will be. And consequently it doesn't take a genius to know that with this, more ice in the polar ice caps will melt resulting to rising sea levels & receding shorelines that will directly affect low-lying countries. Some experts has also identified Global Warming as the main reason why we have stronger typhoons now & a more prolonged wet & dry spells. Does Milenyo, Katrina, La Nina & El Nino ring a bell? No, they're not names of bimbos.

To think that Mother Earth gave us a break when Pinatubo erupted. The eruption lowered global temperatures by 2 degrees for two years as the sulfur ejected from the volcano enveloped the atmosphere. Now the sulfur are all gone. And we're back to our race to the boiling point. Literally.

What's funny is that people from poor countries like ours get to pay for all of the excessess of the developed world (US, Europe, Japan, etc.). Especially the US. What's more, the US with it as the biggest polluter of them all, has the gall to refuse ratifying the Kyoto Potocol that will set a cap on their carbon emissions. So typical of the ugly American. So arrogant & pompous. So while these Americans drive around on their gas guzzling SUVs, we're being toasted by the heat or getting drowned in flashfloods. I'm crossing my fingers here, I'm hoping they wouldn't endure another Katrina. But odds are, they will. And maybe then, they will finally go green. And when they do, will it be too late?

In the end, we cannot wait for these damn Americans to lead the way. We have to take it to ourselves to make a green revolution. Let's leave a lesser carbon footprint. i don't know, do it however you want. Either by planting more trees, carpooling, recycling, etc. Bottomline, just do it already. Every little thing we do will add up.

Things I Think I Think:

1. It's wonderful what Pacquiao does. All he does is fight & the whole country unites even for just a day. Or not (more on this at the second item). When he fought, would you believe, the Armed Forces declared a ceasefire with all rebel groups; the ZTE scandal got buried; the crime fell to zero. Why can't this guy fight 365 times a year? Makes me wonder.
2. They say sour grapes are that, sour. ABS-CBN, are being themselves again. Classless & full of crass. They are predictably demeaning Pacquiao's recent win. Get over it folks. You had your chance when Pacquiao was still a "Kapamilya".
3. Summer is indeed here. Notice the heat these days?
4. And what about Easter Sunday? I can't ever recall waking up so early for a mass. Chabs & I woke up at around 3:30 AM to witness the "Salubong" in Bocaue. Couldn't they, at least, make this at around 7 AM? Just wondering. But it's still a good experience though.
5. On Tita Cory having colon cancer: She had a full life. I bet she wouldn't live it any other way.
6. On Pope Benedict XVI during his annual "Urbi et Orbi" Easter message greeting the Filipino faithful in Tagalog: Work on it. They say practice makes perfect. But the gesture is appreciated and kinda cute.
7. Boy, the people who walked to Antipolo on Maundy Thursday were numerous! They occupied three-fourths of Ortigas Avenue. And did they start early too. The road was jampacked with people at 8 PM. I still recall the days when only half of Ortigas was filled during the Alay Lakad & started at around 12 midnight.

Unfinished Business Still

The deed is done. With last Sunday's win, Pacquiao validated his title as Mexico's "Republica Enemy no. 1". Pacquiao dethroned Juan Manual Marquez via split decision to be the new WBC Super Featherweight champion. Judge Duane Ford favored Pacquiao 115-112 and Jerry Roth called it 115-112 for Marquez, while Tom Miller gave a 114-113 edge to Pacquiao.

In a scintillating display of will & boxing ability, both fighters showed the world how a fight should be fought. The whole bout kept everybody at the edge of their seats as both boxers fought gallantly with each having their moments. Marquez with his vast array of counters & often varying his style in between rounds to befuddle Pacquiao, and with Pacquiao displaying his usual frenetic pace & unmatched speed and power. It was so close it could've gone the other way. And when Michael Buffer uttered the words "And new....", jubilation, pandemonium followed all over the archipelago. You don't need to hear the words after that to know Pacquiao won. It turned out that the 3rd round knockdown of Marquez was the difference.

It took four years to make, and boy, was it worth the wait. When Ciara Sotto sang the Lupang Hinirang, it was one of those moments that the National Anthem was that, the National Anthem. I felt a surge of Filipino pride in my veins. I wanted to shout "Pinoy Ako!" But boy, what about those earrings Ciara wore? Those are big rocks aren't they? And it's quite distracting. But in fairness, she sang the Anthem well. And as Pacquiao made his way to the ring with the Black Eyed Peas' "Bebot" in the background, I can feel the hair rise at the back of my legs. This is it! The moment has arrived.

As Chabs know it, my favorite part of a fight is the fighter introduction. And no one can do it better than Michael Buffer. When Pacquiao was introduced, everybody who has Filipino blood on them in the Thomas & Mack Center shouted their lungs out. And so did the Mexicans when their bet was introduced.

After the fighters were introduced, they touched gloves and the fight is on. Marquez controlled the opening two rounds with his pinpoint counterpunching & Manny probing & trying to find his distance. I was getting sad already as the first two rounds confimed my biggest fear, that Marquez will bore Manny to death with this waiting game & Manny getting impatient & barreling recklessly. But before I sink to further depression, in the 3rd round, Pacquiao drops Marquez like a bad habit with a short, compact left. It awakened me from my stupor. With a blink of an eye, Marquez was on his back, sprawled on the canvas & Pacquiao's back in the game. Marquez got right back up trying to shake the cobwebs and surprisingly traded, with him getting the worst of it. In fact, he almost went down again if not for the ropes & the round ending. The round ended with some comic relief as Marquez, visibly still out of it, staggers towards Manny's corner perhaps thinking it was his corner. Haha

In the fourth round, much to my dismay, Marquez was able to recover some of his wits and managed not to get knocked down again. But he's never the same again as Manny has that newfound confidence & starting to dart in and out with his flurries.

I thought the fight was in the bag when suddenly, a cut opened on Manny's right eye on the 8th round. Or was it the 7th? I swear, I heard every Filipino worth his salt shrieked in horror as Manny repeatedly got tagged by Marquez's accurate straights. So when the round ended, as a testament to his reputation as the world's best cutman, Joe Chavez, weaved his magic & closed the cut. And lo and behold, the cut never bothered Manny again.

The fight ended like it began. With Marquez countering every Pacquiao punch. And when the final bell sounded, both men raised their arms in triumph. They deserved to. They fought an even fight & there was no clear winner. While the scorecards were being tallied, in a display of class, Manny approached Marquez to congratulate him for the good fight while Marquez will have none of it as he dismissed him. At this point in time, I was preparing myself for the verdict. I feared for the worst while expecting a draw. The conspiracy theorist in me can't shake this thought that the powers that be will finally reward Marquez. And when Michael Buffer proclaimed Pacquiao the victor, I couldn't believe it. Wow! That was a pleasant surprise. A visibly surprised Pacquiao was in near tears and celebrated like he never did before. All that hard work & sacrifice has bore fruit as he became a champion again & made history as the first Asian to ever become world champion in three weight divisions.

Predictably, during the post-fight presser, Marquez thought he was robbed. And so did his trainier, Nacho Beristain, and his promoter Golden Boy Promotions. While Bob Arum, Pacquiao's trainer vehemently fought off their accusations. And so a war of words ensued. Pacquiao & Freddie Roach, his trainer, were their usual conciliatory selves & were one to declare that there will be no third fight in the near future. It was revealed that Manny will move up in weight & fight WBC Lightweight champion David Diaz (who won earlier over Ramon Montano) at the same venue on June 28 if he heals on time.

Whew! This sure is a long post. I'm glad Manny won. In a country lacking real heroes, we sure need one. And a former "panadero" from Gen. Santos City is up to the task. Till the next fight. Goodnight & good fight.

Unfinished Business

On Sunday, the fistic debate on who is the best will finally be settled when World Boxing Council (WBC) super featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez defends his title against three-division world champion Manny Pacquiao. The bout is a rematch of their May 8, 2004 epic battle that ended in a controversial split draw.

After annihilating the best fighters Mexico has to offer including icons Marco Antonio Barrera & Erik Morales, Juan Manuel Marquez is the last Mexican standing. And if their last fight gives you any indication, this promises to be another slam-bang affair. Not only the futures & the respective reputations of both fighters are on the line but also the hopes of their countries rest heavily on their shoulders. The entire Mexican & Filipino nation will literally stop to watch them pummel each other for fame & glory.

Dubbed "Republica Enemy No. 1", Pacquiao is in for a hard fight. Of all the fighters out there, Marquez stylistically is the most difficult fighter for him to figure out. Marquez is known as a wily counterpuncher that will throw anyone offbalance with his repertoire of counters that comes from unusual angles. Although on his recent fights, Marquez was observed to deviate from his usual self & showed willingness to move forward & engage in exchanges in the middle of the ring. This new version of Marquez will prove to be a boon for Pacquiao who excels in blitzing his opponents with a relentless two-fisted attack. We can also note that Pacquiao is lightyears away from the man who fought in their first fight. He now brings to the table improved head & foot movement & a right hook that complements his left. Add these to his widely known left, blazing speed & unmatched stamina and one can see why Pacquiao is widely considered as the second best pound for pound fighter in the world over.

For one day, Filipinos will get a respite from politics & what not & be proud to be a Filipino again. Go Manny!

Fearless Forecast:

Pacquiao wins. What did you expect? We don't care if he wins via KO or unanimous decision. What matters most is that Pacquiao wins. Period.

25 Random Facts About Me

* I'm very quiet but can get noisy when with the right people.
* My favorite subject in school was history.
* My least favorite subject was math.
* They say I like to debate. I say I like to communicate.
* My favorite basketball team is the Los Angeles Lakers.
* I collect coins.
* My star sign is Cancer.
* I am a telemarketer.
* I am very much addicted to Fantasy Sports.
* Of all movie genres, I like war movies best.
* I'm a big fan of Linkin Park.
* I have a sweet tooth.
* I don't know how to swim.
* I was a sportswriter & a songleader in high school.
* I have never placed a bet on the lottery.
* I have never gone to a casino.
* I have never gone (and never will) to a gay bar.
* I have size 7 shoes.
* I have a fetish for jackets and shoes.
* I was the 2000 AB Brainmaster's Cup Champ.
* I still have a huge crush on Jolina Magdangal.
* I know how to make donuts.
* I'm a kapamilya.
* I'm a proud Thomasian.
* I'm an Ytawit.

Questions and Answers of a Troubled Mind

What do you when you are confronted by a bully?

• Stand up to them. They say bullies are the way they are because they always have their way. They are so used to people cowering on them that when someone actually stands up to them, they get flummoxed & back down. Wouldn't it feel great to bully the bully? Now that's role reversal for you.

What do you do if someone steals from you?

• Kill them or better yet, torture them before you kill them. hehe Seriously, avoid them like the plague. You will never know what that person will steal next. Hey, it may be your pen or your lighter or your ideas. If he/she can do it once, what makes you think he/she can't do it again?

How do you deal with haters or people who talk smack against you?

• Ignore them. Fact of the matter is, you can't please everybody. If you think you can, then you should have a reality check. Haters are usually people who envy you. So even if they hate you, it's really a compliment that they do. It only shows that you must be doing something right. So don't waste your precious time on them & just keep doing what you're doing.

When is the right time really the right time?

• This is one of life's biggest mysteries. And you know what, you'll never know it when it happens. That's the beauty of it. Otherwise, if you know it's the right time, then all the fun & the joy associated with it is not as meaningful as when you didn't know it coming. I think, you'll only know it's the right time when you look back at it some months or years it happened.

What do you do when in doubt?

• They say, when in doubt, ask. Don't be afraid to admit you're unsure or don't know the answer to a question. It'll just get you in deeper trouble. And besides, nobody's perfect. So be honest & say I don't know or I'm not sure.

What am I doing asking questions to myself and answering it myself?

• Hmm. Good question. And I have an answer. Maybe because I have a troubled mind? hehe Really, this is just me during one of my monologues.

Things I Think I Think:

1. My wife (aka The Pocket Bombshell) told me that I should be writing more. I think so too. But the lazy part of me got the better of me these past few months. And so, I haven't written any meaningful post recently. With The Pocket Bombshell recently giving me an oratory about the merits of writing again, here I am. And just like cheesy movies, I'm back for a sequel.
2. Money changes everything. Well, almost everything. If you know what I mean.
3. The Democrat Presidential Primary is exciting isn't it? Whoever wins make history. If Sen. Hillary Clinton wins, she'll be the first American woman presidential candidate. And if Sen. Barack Obama gets the nod, he'll be the first African-American presidential nominee. Signs of the times people. Looks like America's catching up with the rest of the world.
4. On the local front, I think Jun Lozada's a liar and a hypocrite. All the things he's said so far are mere hearsay and can't be backed up with evidence. He may be telling the truth but I have this strange feeling in the gut that tells me that what he's saying are half-truths. I also think he's a hypocrite. How can a government official like him on a meager salary afford to send his son to La Salle Greenhills, or buy luxury cars, or be a member on golf club or shocker of all shockers, support two families at the same time? I don't know. You tell me.
5. They say, politics make strange bedfellows. The recent Interfaith rally in Makati calling for GMA's resignation saw Tita Cory Aquino sitting beside Erap. If that's tame for you. How about former Veep Tito Guingona of "I accuse!" fame sitting beside Erap? As they say, onli in da Pilipins. hehe
6. It's only 2008 and it smells like election fever already. This ZTE scandal is all about that.
7. After 18 years in the PBA, Sta. Lucia Realty finally won the All Filipino Cup. That, folks, is a very long time to wait for the championship. Congrats to them. They deserve it.
8. I know what GMA's thinking right now. I think she couldn't wait for March 16. That's the day Pacman will fight Juan Manuel Marquez in Las Vegas. As you know, the whole country stops when Pacman fights. Heck, even the criminals stop to watch. And I bet, she's praying for Pacman to win.

He Said / She Said:

"We're biased for the truth." - Sen. Panfilo Lacson to Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile during the Senate hearing on the ZTE scandal when JPE implied Lacson's bias against GMA.

Whatever.