The great circus

A fellow blogger recently posted about his current craze on European politics. I was quite surprised of course; personally I don’t know a thing about it. I posted a comment saying that I’d stick to Philippine politics. Lol. There’s nothing like Philippine politics. And here are a few reasons why I love it:

** We get to see Manny Villar’s dancing prowess in one of his campaign ads.

** We get to see another contender for the worst hair, along with North Korea’s President Kim Jong Il and Eddie Gil, Prospero Pichay. And come on, who could beat that ‘Pichay, itanim sa senado’ line. Cool.

** Some are giving away free insurance. Yay!

** A boxer turned politician –if ever elected, but thank God he didn’t go for the senator position.

** And then we get to see their smiling faces everywhere, posted in every wall, attached to some public transportation.


On a different note, here’s a great way to end a teleserye:

** The two main characters, hunted by death, surprisingly, in a much unexplained way, lives and ends up eating and having fun at Jollibee together. See what true love could do. -sniff sniff- And they just graduated from high school.

Just you

‘No man is an island’, true enough. Can’t argue with that right? But unlike other people who are in constant need of a buddy when they would go to the mall, I could spend the whole day alone and enjoy each and every single minute of it. Something that I call, ‘time for myself’. And I seem to find a lot of pleasure doing it.

Going to the mall alone is great because…

*you get to go anywhere you want.

*you don’t have to spend 10minutes talking in one corners deciding where to eat or where to go. Like you would ask “saan tayo kakain?” then number 1 friend would answer “kahit saan ok lang”, then number 2 friend would say “kayo na bahala, hindi naman ako gutom”, then you would say “sa –insert restaurant name here- na lang”, then friend 1 would say “ayoko dyan”, then friend 2 would suggest a place, then you would disagree… and after a few minutes of discussion your group would go to the food court.

*you don’t have to accompany your mom, sister, or a girl friend looking for the perfect outfit for hours.

*you could stay at PowerBooks and Starbucks (and sometimes Time Zone) for as long as you want.

*you’re not obliged to listen to anything your companion would tell you even if it bores you to death.

*you get to do people watching when you’re bored. And it’s fun.
A typical day for me at the mall would be: First at Starbucks enjoying my favorite Irish Cream Latte and Cinnamon Swirl while reading a good book. Go around CyberZone then go to PowerBooks. Buy a donut at GoNuts. Then buy a few back issue mags at Filbars. Play at Time Zone for some time. Then buy an ice cream or burger at McDonalds if I still have a few bucks. It may look boring but for me it’s spells F-U-N.

Try it. It’s great spending some time alone. Though I haven’t watched a movie by myself though. But I want to do it though. Lol.

Something new

Yesterday I just took my entire magazine collection– FHM, Manua, Pumpl and MetroHim –, started browsing, and reading the parts I usually ignore. I suddenly have this weird urge to read about fashion, health and lifestyle.

My exam last Friday had been somewhat of a wake-up call I guess. If I wanted to become a writer I must have at least basic knowledge of almost everything, I mean I shouldn’t just focus on my interest right? I was told to write about men’s fashion, I don’t even know the different types of clothes. I mean I know that what you wear on your upper body is called a shirt and its pants for the lower part, but what kind of shirt or pants this item is. No idea. When I was looking at the photos of the clothe line, I know I shouldn’t just call this shirt shirt or this pants pants.

Aside form that, I also watched Ambush Makeover, Project Runaway and America’s Next Top Model. A few cooking show and travel show on Discovery Travel and Living. I just want to be somewhat exposed to the topics I’m not familiar with.

Turns out that I still have a lot of things to learn.

Fashion disaster

I’ve done a few initial interviews and writing exercises, but the last – which was last Friday - would probably be the toughest.

I though it was just another initial interview but then the boss of the company came and so he was the one who talked to us – there’s another applicant Celine from Ateneo, she’s really nice. So yeah, the boss. He was really intimidating and I was so damn nervous. He’s really wise. We were born on the same day. But the feeling was just different, I mean he is the boss so that interview is no joke.

After the talk Celine and I were asked to write three articles: a business article, a feature article, and an opinion about Philippine politics. So why did I find the exam hard?

I was told to write a feature article about Topman, the leading men’s fashion retail in UK. I was given the magazine of the Spring/Summer 200 collection AND I DON’T KNOW A FREAKIN THING ABOUT FASHION. I’M NOT INTERESTED IN FASHION FOR HEAVEN’S SAKE. Celine was also told to do the same, though hers was women’s fashion something.

I was using the words chic, retro, stylish, trendy, elegant, sleek and modish which, as far as I remember, I haven’t used in any article I wrote in my life. And the description for each collection was just 4 sentences. It was tough I tell you.

Then the business article. Business journalism which I also abhor because you have to calculate this and that and I HATE MATH! Of all my journalism subjects, I got the lowest in business journalism (aside from journalism history that is, lol)


Chillin out

After the interview I went to my favorite coffee shop, Starbucks Megamall Bridgeway. Met my high school friend Janet, then after an hour came Pam and also Danna – both came from an interview as well. I found out that almost everyone is also having hard time job hunting.

Danna, Janet and Pam.

The banana duo (we call each other banana, long story).

The day after I met with Oneida and Aivee, two of my closest friends in high school. Missed them so much. Had a great time talking at the coffee shop and walking around the mall. We even went to Toy Kingdom and bought Barkada Trip toys.

Me, Aivee and Oneida @ CyberZone.

Lazy

I couldn’t get myself to read books for some weird reason. I have two great read books waiting on my table. ‘A Long Way Down’ by Nick Hornby and ‘Hannibal’ by Thomas Harris. Read half of both but I don’t feel like reading anything aside from the newspaper.

Speaking of newspapers, I just realized that I have this weird habit of reading it. First I would take the Business, Lifestyle, Entertainment and other subsections inside and put it away. I would start reading from the back, the Sports section, then after I would take a glimpse of the first page and only read the lead. Then just quickly browse up until the Metro section. I read the Philippine Star by the way. I don’t really read everything, especially the opinion pages – I think that they, the column writers, write their topic in a complicated way.

I received the weirdest birthday gifts this year; I got a big bag of marshmallows and two boxes of Little China. Weird. They all want me to eat more. I also recieved a LOT of cash. >evil laugh<


What’s on the boob tube

Anyway, I didn’t watch Kim-Gerald’s soap because they’re really starting to annoy me so I watched the next soap instead while waiting for PBB, ‘Maging Sino ka Man’. It was better actually. But I just couldn’t help but react to the unrealistic Sam Milby story angle. Hey, if I was previously the manager or something of a company, educated with a great job experience and background, I WOULD NOT work in a mine or construction worker or whatever just because of the I-have-to-find-myself-whatever drama. Lol. Teleserye writers tend to overdo the scripts. Irritating.

And there’s PBB. Obviously scripted but I watch it. Haha. The only thing I hate about the show though is when Gee-Ann talks to her doll and she would make the doll talk to her back in a very scary-possessed-like voice. Plus I’m somehow afraid of dolls. And Bruce was sent to Slovenia Big Brother, and Wendy overreacted about it.

Spent half of the day tuning in to CNN and ChannelNewsAsia to fully understand everything about the Virginia Tech massacre. This guy who turns out to be Korean killed 33 people including himself. Tsk tsk. How could someone do such a thing, but as reported the guy was hospitalized in 2005 of mental illness. But still. Don’t want to say anything more.

A year old story

It was your duty, so even though WALKING around Makati from one hotel to another to cover presscons then to NAPOLCOM and the Makati Regional Trial Court from 8am to 3pm was something that you did not plan to do on your birthday, it was a MUST. And as an intern, plus the fact that it was your first day, you must contain from complaining, following everything your trainer told you since you want him to have a great first impression on you. Then you stayed in the pressroom until 6pm writing your articles.

That was the scene of my first day as an intern last year. And it was also my birthday. So yeah, I was all sweaty from all the walking we did – for some reason my trainer doesn’t want us to use any public transportation.

After my shift I decided to relax at a coffee shop with a killer view, and for someone who complains a lot everyday, for some reason I just couldn’t think of anything to complain about after the day I just had then. I enjoyed every single thing that happened that day.

I can say that it was the best birthday I had. The best summer ever.

I had a lot of fun. Learned a lot of things. Enjoyed the free food from the presscons. Tried hard listening to the judges and lawyers in the cases I covered even though I couldn’t understand half of what they are saying. Took a lot of pictures of the rallies. Tried solving the sudoku puzzle of the day with the other trainees during our free time. I get to cover the Subic Rape case when it was transferred to the Makati RTC – the biggest case I ever covered and it was really chaotic. Having a cup of coffee at my favorite coffee shop at the end of the night.

Considering that last summer was HELL because color coding was removed and it was worse than an ordinary school day. But at least Makati did not participate in that stupid no-color-coding thing.


I’m a year older again. Hate it.

Whatever things

After watching the Amazing Race All Stars, I tuned in to ABS-CBN and watched Kim Gerald’s soap while waiting for PBB. I just don’t get the logic of the story. There’s Gerald doing everything just to ‘save’ Kim from dying – yet again. I mean if it’s really time for someone to die, why interfere? Because he love her? Whatever! Can’t help roll my eyes over and over. Lol.

I’m starting to have difficulty sleeping. Thanks to the heat. JUST LOVE SUMMER!!!! But at least I have an excuse to eat ice cream whenever I want, and also our refrigerator seems to have unlimited supply of ice cream. >evil laugh<

So bored.

So Hot.

Love the heat

I miss my friends – high school friends that is. Come to think of it, haven’t really talked to any of them. Well aside from Milano and Neida, both of which I communicate with blogs.

I have a few close friends back in high school, but I try hard to be friendly and be civil to everyone. I know I’m a snob and a day could pass with me only talking to my friends and completely ignoring the others. That was in high school. Maybe the reason why people think that I am weird or whatever. And being a snob was the thing that I really tried to changed when I stepped into college. But I’m still a snob. Lol.

A few days ago when I finished taking an exam in a company where I applied, I received a text message from an old friend – Janet. It was a forwarded quote which I immediately erased – don’t you just hate it when people bombard you with nonsense messages, and I was really thankful when globe raised the unlimited texting rate. Then I send her a message saying that I miss her and everyone – when I said everyone I meant my high school friends and classmates.

I miss my friends because whenever we have these ‘reunion’ events, only Neida would come. And I would attend the reunion just because I miss her.

That’s about it. Hopefully I get to talk to them soon.

It's freakin HOT!!!!!

Where I am

A year ago, a week before my birthday - which was also the first day of my internship, I was at my favorite coffee shop branch. Excited about my OJT. Wondering how my first day would go. Hoping that I would get to see my name printed on Malaya. Idealistic about my soon-to-be job.

Now, a year after, also a week before my birthday, I was again at the same coffee shop sitting on the same table. Enjoying my coffee after an exam at some company in Ortigas where I applied as a writer. Scolding myself for quitting my first job as a Korean English Instructor. And that I have to go through the application process again. And now, trying to be practical.

Don’t you just love job hunting?!

I’m not that willing to be a ‘journalist’ now. The pay is so low that if I will be a reporter, my sister earns twice my salary. And she’s sitting in an air-conditioned while I’m going around Makati under the scorching sun looking for stories. Fuckoff!!

And what’s irritating is that I really want to be a reporter. But come on. For 7k a month and a daily allowance of P50. The hell. So yeah, I’m looking for an alternative. Something that would make my resume better with a handsome pay.

So for now I won’t be getting my dream job yet. *sigh*

But hey, I’m just starting. I’ll try to be as optimistic as I can be.

So much for a happy ending

Since I posted my top 10 Final fantasy characters, my enthusiasm for FFjust seems to get higher and higher. It’s been a while since I last played any RPG game. My last would be Final Fantasy X, and I would rank it second to Final Fantasy VII. Obviously FFX offers better graphics and game play, but anyone who played FF7 and FFX would agree that FF7 got the best story ever.

But personally I think FFX got a better ending than FF7. My reaction when I finished FF7 was a big “HUH??”. Really complicated I tell you. Unlike FF7 where Aeris died in the end of Disc 1, FFX’s story somehow revolves around the love story of Tidus and Yuna.

Tidus was from another time and upon defeating Sin he would disappear. The scene where Yuna tries to run after the slowly fading Tidus and falling hard on the ground in that matter and you get to see Yuna in a miserable state, it almost made me want to cry. Lol. Really heartbreaking. Oh and the song was perfect. It really sets the mood. The scene was really an ‘awww’ factor.

I really didn’t expect a sad ending. In FF8, Squall and Rinoa lived happily ever after. And even though Aeris died in FF7, Tifa is there (but I’m still for Cloud and Aeris though). FF9’s Zidane and Garnet (or Dagger) ended up together as well.

Poor Yuna, she deserves to be happy. They might reunite in FFX-2 but I just played the first part, so I don’t know how it will end. Though I like the summoner Yuna better than the gunner version. But either way she’s really pretty.

For fun I’ll rank the FF series I played.

1.) Final Fantasy VII – the best.
2.) Final Fantasy X – great as well.
3.) Final Fantasy VIII – nice love story between Squall and Rinoa. Haven’t finished the game though because in the final place you have to go around the palace and kill a few boss to be able to unlock the commands in the battle mode. And I faced Ultimecea with only Attack and GF available.
4.) Final Fnatasy Tactics – love the gameplay.
5.) Final fantasy IX – didn’t like the fact that the characters are small. Lol.

One year old

I have been blogging for a year now. Cool.

I really can’t remember the reason why I decided to create my own blog. It was last year, of the same day, I ran out of sites to go and just that’s it. Lmao.

Blogging is really fun. At least I get to practice writing, and also get connected to my friends, especially Milano who’s in Canada. With blogs I get o know at least what the hell is happening with my friends.

Sho’s top 10 Final Fantasy Characters

Ah, the Final Fantasy series. FF7 was the first Role Playing Game I ever played, and up until now I can say that it is the best RPG. Unforgettable characters. Great story. It was the best. Not to mention the most expensive Play Station CD I’ve bought – back then when there were still no pirated CDs, I got this 3CD game for P600 per disc. So yeah, here’s the list of my favorite FF characters.

10. Beatrix (FF IX) / Agrias (FF Tactics) – cool female bodyguards with cool abilities. Though Beatrix is not playable, you get to fight her once and see how strong she is. On the other hand, Agrias is a Holy Knight. She has variety of Hoy skills which are of 100% hit rate.

9. Kiros (FF8) - no special reason. He just looks cool. You get to use him when you control Laguna.

8. Irvine (FF8) – great guy. His limit is great – tapping a button for continuous gun fire. Cool.

7. Vincent (FF7) – mysterious dude. He died, but then revived. Cool. When I first played FF7 I thought he was Zack in disguised or something. The thing about him is that his limit is not that helpful for me.

6. Vivi (FF9) / Lulu (FFX) / Edea (FF8) – love black magic!! Though they’re physically weak, they’re pretty useful. Casting black magic is the best. Plus Edea’s really foxy.

5. Sephiroth (FF7) – the best bad ass villain in the gaming history. And nobody seems to dislike this guy, even if he killed Aeris. He’s so cool that you can’t help but love this evil guy.

4. Quistis (FF8) – the pretty instructor. Plus she wields a whip. Though Blue Magic isn’t really that cool.

3. YuRiPa (FFX-2) – Yuna, Rikku and Paine. Final Fantasy’s very own Charlie’s Angels. It’s great to control 3 hot chicks throughout the entire game. But among the three, I’d say Yuna’s the best.

2. Cloud (FF7) – great guy. Great limit breaks. The main character of the first FF game I played. So yeah. Love the spikes too. Lol.

1. Tifa (FF7) – really didn’t like her when I first played the game coz I thought she interferes with love story the Cloud and Aeris. But then when I tried playing it again and really understand the story – since it is really complicated – I then started to love her. Another cool thing about her is that if you’re lucky you get to use all her limit skills with one limit bar. Neat.

Cause these are the days worth living

These are the years we're given

And these are the moments

These are the times

Let's make the best out of our lives

Even if hope was shattered

I know it wouldn't matter

Because these are the moments

These are the times

Let's make the best out of our lives...

Whatever things

I want to get a tattoo. Weird but I really want one. Something like WWE’s Randy Orton’s art on his back or the photo posted with this entry. But my parents would kill me. So I have to wait for a few more years, when I have my own house and all.

Also thinking of having my left ear pierced. That I can do now. I think they wouldn’t mind.

Holy week. Nothing aired on the boob tube.

Spent the day watching past wrestling matches of WWE Divas with my sister. It’s great watching Lita and Trish Stratus doing their thing on the ring. Two of the best Divas in history.

Also played Super Mario. Truly a classic.

Great night, it’s quite cold. I’ll be getting a nice sleep today.

Watched the trailer of Resident Evil 3 the movie. Really can’t wait. Too bad Jill Valentine was replaced by Claire.

Cool pics of me, Kai and Dex after my grad. And Reese.

Ryan and Francis

For the nth time I was told that I look like Ryan Agoncillo. I don’t see any resemblance between the two of us though. While we’re having our break, my co-trainee at this English Instructor thing told me that. She then started to call me Ryan, and two other people did the same.

Also at the same day after the 10 hour training, Dior and I decided to chill at Starbucks and talk about my now former job. There’s this barista at the counter – don’t know his name yet but I know him by face and vice versa because I’m there at that branch thrice a week or so. Baristas at that branch doesn’t ask for my name anymore since almost all of them know me. So when he was about to write my name, he looked at me and asked, “Francis right?”. Another barista who just came in said, “Sho hindi Francis.” And that barista is now a friend. I call him Francis. He calls me Francis and wrote ‘Cho’ on my cup.

Weird day.

Pics

With Diorskie. Helping her practice for the oral exam.

Ex-co-trainees (Flicks, Gwen, Abby and Marian - my then groupmates). Brainstorming before the exam.

Bored. Nuff said.

And then it hit you

Today was my first day of training as an English Instructor for Koreans. We were there from 8AM until 6PM. And tomorrow I will quit – well not exactly quit since I did not sign the contract yet.

Everyone was nice. Trainers were ok. Sir Mark, one of the trainers, even said that my intonation was good. Pay is really handsome. So why quit then?

Know the thing with fresh graduates, really idealistic when it comes to having a job, even though it’s really hard to find one. As the training was going on, I just knew that it wasn’t for me. I was sitting there, and after two hours my head was debating if I should quit now or just give it a try at least. I chose the latter. But it just made my mind clearer that I don’t want it.

Regret. A bit.

Contented. I can’t say. Letting go of another job opportunity seems stupid. But what can I do, I just don’t like it.

I’d say hello again to my dear friend. Unemployment.

And I didn’t attend the after grad party for it. Lol.

Anyway bought Nick Hornby’s ‘A Long Way Down’ yesterday. I’d stop reading ‘Hannibal’ for a moment.

Graduation pics will be posted on my multiply account... soon. lol.

Let it fly

Graduation. It’s really important. To me that is. Being able to finish four long years in a good university and finally getting a piece of paper while wearing a black robe.

A proof that I did something right.

I’ve always been insecure. To my siblings that is. Whenever we go to parties or gatherings people can’t help but compare the three of us. My sister was the pretty and smart one; she’s the athlete and popular one. My brother’s the star, a good singer. Both of which are charismatic. And I am always the tall and kind guy. The latter is a good thing though, not that I’m complaining or what. But as they compare the three of us, I can’t help but think that among the three of us, I would be the useless and talentless one.

I love my siblings, don’t get me wrong.

And now that I finished college, it’s as if it was just now that I knew my worth. I now hold this piece of paper, the proof that my existence is valuable – for me that is. I now have something that I can be proud of. And to think that it would just be the start of reality.

It’s a big thing for me that my sister would skip her work just to attend my graduation tomorrow. She even asked me what I want as a gift, but I told her she doesn’t need to. She then said that she would just buy me a coffee.

I know I shouldn’t be insecure, from now on I wouldn’t. I know I shouldn’t.

I'll be graduating in a few hours.

And it feels so good.