Wednesday, April 27, 2011

The Coolest People on Earth Theory

As a social student/graduate, I've heard time and again from my professors at UP Manila that: "ang teoryang walang praktika ay walang saysay" (English translation: theory without practice is useless). I do recognize the importance of theory in society and, to an extent, social control. But before theory is practiced, it has to be carefully thought out.

Like Barney Stinson who always comes up with theories, and Sheldon and the gang who're always talking about real scientific theories, I'll give theory-making a try.

Theory: Once you meet The Coolest People on Earth, which is, as you know, subjective, you'll always have the thought that, whatever you do with other people it wouldn't amount to the fun, the familiarity and the feel of being with The Coolest People on Earth. So, meeting The Coolest People on Earth is both good and bad; there's a sense of ambiguity--much like Schroedinger's Cat.*

Illustration: If you're a party person, imagine yourself let's say... partying with the The Coolest Person--like let's say Tim Yap or someone who you think is the coolest (take note: not just cool butcoolest)--and then the next night you party with someone else who's not The Coolest Person. You'll come in, thinking, "ah, this is not going to be as epic as last night's" because you've experienced what partying with The Coolest Person feels like. Get it?

Real-Life Example (aka my experience): Having met, liked, loved, hated, loved again, and traveled with my Undergrad friends/blockmates/"barkada" I know what being with The Coolest People on Earth feel like. No matter what I do, whoever I meet, I know that nothing will compare to the fun, familiarity and over-all good vibe-feeling I get when I'm with The Coolest People on Earth. That sometimes, since I know that nothing will ever compare to these people, I come in into a group, a friendship, comparing this new group to The Coolest People on Earth. Of course, the new group loses because of the memories, inside-jokes and experiences I've shared with former.

In a way, this hinders me to make an effort to be really close to these new set of people I'm with/exposed to. But to look at it from another view, it gives me some sort of perspective. Where to put things, what to prioritize. Yes, I recognize the fact that I do need to make the extra effort and try to get to know and enjoy these new people's company more/better. But I also know for a fact that it will always come back to The Coolest People on Earth, who not only saw and was with me during my best moments but also have seen and tolerated me at my worst. 

Note: Each person may have a different set of The Coolest People on Earth. What I consider my Coolest maybe your Worst, or vice versa. But I guess that's the beauty of this concept. It's not encompassing, it's not true in all instances (one set of The Coolest People on Earth will not be such to each and every person on this planet) but you know it's true, it works.



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Tuesday, April 26, 2011

The Greatest Book Ever Written

Books give me ideas. Ideas that are great; ideas that aren't; ideas that may seem crap to you but seem to be the smartest thing to me. This is why I read, voraciously.

I don't always take books, statements, lines, for what they are. I always, like nine out of eleven times, turn them into something that matters to ME. Sometimes, often times, the words, the statements, the lines would be entirely different from what it is originally used to mean. Talk about screwing communication, language.

But this is what works for me.

I've read the Catcher in the Rye, hoping to be have Aristotle's bathtub-Eureka moment I experienced when I read On the Road. But no, I didn't turn into a psychotic serial killer or a possible Pope assasinator. Having read Fight Club, and after taking in the nouvelle cuisine of anarchy that the book offered, I admit I thought of becoming Joe's Smirking Revenge but I remember the sense in life and the belief I have in life, in the world, in everyone. There lies in each soul a glimmer of hope, a tinge of goodness that is waiting to be ignited into one, big, warm ball of kindness that would light the almost-dying light in other people's soul. It's a never ending cycle that awaits to be started by one's glimmer of hope, tinge of goodness.

See how books stimulate me to think... To rediscover the ideas I thought I have lost or were covered by other seemingly important but are useless pieces of information pretending to be knowledge.

One of my greatest fears is that: if I don't read my mind, my ideas, would be only as great as the last book I've read. And you and I know the last book one has read isn't, almost always, nine out of eleven times, not the greatest book ever written. There remains that one book, that one story, that one group of words, that IS the greatest book ever written, waiting for your eyes, your thoughts. It is my quest to keep looking for the Greatest Book Ever Written, and keep hoping never to find it.




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Monday, April 25, 2011

Quintet 2: Holy Week Playlist

Quintet is a monthly music review of any five songs I happen to come across/stumble upon, or were recommended, any how, any time. Suggestions from readers are most welcome because music deserves to be shared. Let me be your convert or critic.


This second edition of Quintet features five songs I came across in different ways, and listened to during the Holy Week break. Some were recommended by friends, one I discovered while watching a movie, and one I liked when the biggest crush of my life announced his engagement on TV.


In the Beginning by K'naan
On the night of 420, I had the irresistible desire to watch Harold and Kumar: Escape from Guatanamo Bay. It turned out to be a good decision because I discovered the song In the Beginning by K'naan. It was used as a background song when Harold, Kumar and their respective love interests were touring Amsterdam. First impression: The song was so catchy it made me want to go to Amsterdam. Second, more lasting impression: It has a legitimate, sensible message.

Verdict: It's a cross between Where's the Love? by the Black Eyed Peas and Jah is Mighty by Bob Marley. It's perfect for both 'chill' 420-like moments and for road trips. I liked the song so much I even made my own video of it. More on this later.


Bent by Matchbox Twenty
One of the ways I discover good songs to listen to is through the music video links posted by my friends on Facebook. It gives variety and a sense of randomness. This song is one of those Facebook discoveries. I thought I didn't know the song but when the chorus came on, I realized that I knew the song, and I'm part of the Matchbox Twenty generation. I sang to Unwell back in high school, and even during the depressing/emo moments of undergrad.

Verdict: This song has Matchbox Twenty written all over it, and Matchbox Twenty songs are always perfect for the lip-sync-ing and air-guitaring individuals.


Dogs Days are Over by Florence and the Machine
I've heard the song and of the song title; I've heard of the band (TIME said they're one of the emerging British indie bands). It never came to mind that these two are related. Me and The Coolest People in the World laugh at song title because it reminded us of our silly nickname for the lax days of undergrad: Doggy-doggy. So now that we've graduated from undergrad and most of us are working, the song title is perfect.

Verdict: This is what Laura Marling would sound like if she hang out/jammed with... let's say, K'naan or even Sara Bareilles.


Tadhana by Up Dharma Down
Like Bent this song is a Facebook discovery. Up Dharma Down's Oo made quite an impression on me (it was on 'repeat' for two weeks on my iPod) so I decided to give this one a try. It was the same slow melody, almost the same message/topic (sad, painful love) but this seemed to be a lot sadder than and has more drama compared to Oo.

Verdict: This is perfect for times when you feel like drowning yourself or drowning out the world with sad love songs. The analogies could mean anything, depending on how you see--no, hear it. 


Beautiful Days by Kyla
Being a Kyla fan, I knew of the song way back in high school/early college. I simply thought that it was nothing more than a nice love song and an ideal sleep-inducer, like Nina's Someday and Juris Fernandez' Di Lang Ikaw. But when Kyla sang it to Rich Alvarez, my most favorite basketball player of all time and ultimate crush (as you can see from this webpage's sidebar), I appreciated it in a different light--a loving, sincere and almost wistful light.


Verdict: The song makes you want to have someone to sing it to. Fortunately, before I shed any tears or look at the guy next to me, the song ended and K'naan's In the Beginning snapped me out of it. Good thing my phone's on shuffle.


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You may want to read Quintet 1.


Monday, April 18, 2011

The New Coffee Shop

Confession: I used to go to The Gym. Not because I enjoy it but because I fear that my genes or my lifestyle will get the better of me one of these days. Same reason why I don't smoke--It's not because I super care about the environment but because I know it'll become the death of me.

Anyway, the gym thing did not work well for me because:

1. Most gyms, or at least the one I used to go to, are full of men. Yeah, we hear countless women complain about their figures, their flaws and flabs but it is the men who are actually concerned about their health and their figures...or physique (or whatever sounds manly to you. haha). Some women thrive in an atmosphere reeking of testosterone but I don't.

2. I beefed up not toned down. Contrary to popular belief that gyms, or doing the exercises, lifts, etc that the gym trainers tell you to, will make you lose weight or be slimmer, gyms are perfect for people who wants to beef up. Those people who're born skinny as a stick are ideal gym-goers. Those who're born fat, or has big bone structure, should maintain a proper diet first before going to the gym to tone down.

3. Gyms are the new coffee shops. People go there not because they want coffee or really want to work out but because they want to socialize or be sosyal. Bleh.

and some other petty reasons. So I kissed gym-going goodbye and took up sports instead.


Recently, I've become a big fan of the Thought Catalog. The articles are funny, witty, and downright true. One of the more relate-able ones is this, an article on People You Tend to Find at the Gym. Fortunately (or maybe unfortunately) for me, I only met four out of the ten people the author listed. To this list, I want to add, from my brief gym-going experience:

11. The Cool Soccer Mom who wants to be fit, stay healthy and keep her husband from cheating, or get/seduce him back.
12. The Recently Retired Man/Woman who's looking for ways to spend his/her pension money and stay healthy.
13.  The Woman Who is this near to getting surgical treatments but is either: )1) still saving up for the big Operation or having second thoughts.

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Saturday, April 16, 2011

Petals, "Ostia" and Ice Cream

JAMMAMELA
For our English 30 (English for the Professions) class, a classmate (a second year student from FoodTech) created a brochure for her home-made gumamela jam. My law blockmate liked it, and even asked for a second (and third) serving but I didn't share his enthusiasm for the jam because I can't shrug off the reality that it is a flower; that I'm eating petals.

THE BIGGEST HAW FLAKES I'VE EVER SEEN
It's the size of, and looks like, a slice of Argentina meat loaf but it is a haw flake. Haw flakes, or ostia as I used to call it, reminds me of my childhood. (aww, drama) I ate half a pack because I missed eating it.

YES, I'M AN ICE CREAM JUNKIE.
The best, only, and most favorite Comfort Food ever. I eat it when I feel like celebrating, sulking, or, simply, passing time. My thighs reminds me of all the 800ml tubs of Selecta and Nestle ice cream I greedily consumed in the past.




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Saturday, April 9, 2011

The Battle of the Cup Noodles


The Protagonists (l-r): Nissin Cup Noodles (Beef), Tekki Shomen (Beef Overload), Lucky Me Supreme (Bulalo)


Tekki Shomen Beef Overload




The Lowdown: It comes in a slightly bigger cup for only P19(?), and is sleek-looking. The velvet/dark pink/red-violet color makes it different from the usual yellow, blue, brown and green cups, cup noodles usually come in. The flat noodles is a nice variety from the usual round(?) noodle types. The condiments, especially the white one that comes in the transparent pink plastic looks really unhealthy. The powder, which gives it the 'beef flavor' is looks like ash. Ugh. Makes you think twice whether to eat it or not. Fortunately, once the noodles are cooked, the ash-like powder losses it ash-like quality.


What is that gray thing? It looks like ash.


The Verdict: It's ideal for those who want to save a few pesos or those who believe in giving all brands in the market a fair chance. It's not called a free market for nothing, right?


Lucky Me Supreme Bulalo




The Lowdown: Growing up on Lucky Me noodles and pancit canton (and later on, Curly Spaghetti and Sopas), I was quite biased in favor of this brand. Like Colgate and Coffeemate, Lucky Me has brand/name-recall in its favor. Aside from that, the taste is familiar to the taste of the noodles we are accustomed to. The one we equate with rainy days and bouts with sickness. The fork that comes in the cup puts the 'instant' in instant noodles. Like Tekki Shomen, Lucky Me has this white, unhealthy looking condiment. It makes you think about not putting it in but because you know it'll change the taste, you'll mix it in, still.

What is that white thing? MSG? Haha


The Verdict: It is ideal for those who're on-the-go (no need for a fork) and for those who believe that, 'Why fix it if it ain't broke?'


Nissin Cup Noodles 'Beef'




The Lowdown: It comes in a plastic cup, unlike the other two which came in pseudo-paper cups, which makes me wonder about the environment a few seconds after opening it. Unlike the other two brands, the condiments or ingredients are already mixed in with the noodles, all one has to do is pour on the hot water and wait. This takes out my doubt with the white sticky condiment that is present in both Tekki Shomen and Lucky Me. The noodle strands are, somewhat, a cross-breed of flat and round noodles. One not-so good thing, however, is its easily tear-able lid. Let's say, in the 5 times that I've eaten Nissin, the lid gets torn in half about 4 times.    

The Verdict: I like Nissin because it's a cross-breed between the Tekki Shomen and the Lucky Me. The things that I loved about the two brands are combined in Nissin (the flat noodles and the familiar Lucky Me taste) and the things that I hate are removed (the white sticky-looking condiment). One thing is missing to make it complete: the fork.


WINNER: NISSIN CUP NOODLES (BEEF)

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Note: This review does not intend to convince people that instant noodles are the smartest thing ever invented (because it isn't) or that it is a healthy food choice (because it isn't). This only serves to enlighten people on what these cup noodles offer for those who're always on-the-go or doesn't know how to cook.

Still, nothing beats the real thing:

Masuki's original mami

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Twisted 8 1/2: A visual personal music player

I treasure friends who impart: (1) seemingly weird but turns out to be useful information, (2) quirky ideas, and (3) uncommon but highly logical insights. Also, I tend to like/love friends who give sensible gifts. I will take a friend who gives me something I didn't think I needed until I was given one over a friend who gets me something really expensive.

For my birthday last year, I received, albeit belatedly, two really sensible gifts. A key ring and a book. Both signify the maturity that characterized that particular year of my existence. I never thought that a key ring would be helpful but when I was given one by a friend, it turned out to be one of my most used belongings.

No matter how crappy or lame other people think giving books-as-gifts is, I adamantly maintain the position that: Giving books as gifts is cool, or hot. 

As a kid, when I was starting to get into reading, I always had this thought that whoever gave me my first book--after I realized reading is an interest, a passion--would be the coolest person for me. It turned out, I was right. It was my mother who gave me my first set of books; and she is, by far, the coolest best person in the world.

Yes, it was given that I received a Three Little Pigs storybook when I was kid, and I read the 1993 Guinness Book of World Records, and the Science Library that came with it, quite extensively, it was not until I was in grade school when I engaged in reading as an interest. When my mom realized that her second daughter is a nerd/book-whore, she gave me three John Grisham books: The Firm, The Pelican Brief and A Time To Kill. Of course, her choice of books was influenced by my growing interest in becoming a lawyer. (I believe it was in Grade Five when I realized that the logic-ness of being a lawyer outweighs the coolness of being an astronaut or a journalist or a painter.)

After the Grisham books, I mostly bought or borrowed all the books I read. My mom's boss is one of those very few (if not the only person) who gives me books as gifts. So when my friend gave me Twisted 8 1/2 by Jessica Zafra as a birthday gift, her coolness, in my mental Coolness Rank, definitely went higher. 
My copy of Twisted 8 1/2,
one of the coolest gifts ever
The book, as I told my friend when I thanked her after reading it (three months after she gave it to me), is a very light read. You can read it almost anywhere, any time. It being black and slim sends the message to people who'd see you reading it that, "Stay away; I'm reading serious stuff." Most books do that anyway.

Despite the slimness or the brevity of the book, it was able to make my mind churn; make me think. It made me, despite the noise of Metro Manila, hear myself think. It was like a visual personal music player. Paraphrasing Zafra: "It created a force field around me, it shut out the world that is trying to swallow me whole, and defined, however tenuously, a space that is mine." A space I call my mind.

The book was relateable and lovable because Zafra wrote about the things I'm equally passionate about: Reading, Books, Music, Photography and Writing. I was able to relate to Technology, which was the main topic of her essays/articles and of which I'm not so much a fan of, because she correlated it to the aforementioned topics.

Bottomline, the book is worth having, especially for people who are turned on by prose, reality, and an occasional amount of trivia.

To end, I will quote two sentences from the book: Books are repository of human experience. They tell us what being human is all about.


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Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Things I Have Wanted to Do But Don't Have the Time For (Summer 2011)

Because I'm overwhelmed with how much free time I'm going to have this summer (8 weekends = 16 days, approximately fifty evenings) and with the possibility that I won't be able to enjoy all these in June, when classes start, I decided to make a list of Things I Have Wanted to Do But Don't Have the Time For. All of these I wish to accomplish during summer.

1. Play basketball or badminton...or try out a new sport... Be fit, in general.

2. Lose weight, any 'weight' would be nice.

Photo from JessicaRulesTheUniverse.com
3. Read more. Finish reading all the books I bought during the school year and those I bought and never get to read. Twisted 8 1/2 by Jessica Zafra, Naked Lunch by William Burroughs, Our Town by Thornton Wilder, Life Universe and Everything, So Long and Thanks for all the Fish and Mostly Harmless by Douglas Adams, et al.

4. Rediscover painting. This long-forgotten passion/frustration has recently captured my interest when I saw the paintings on the wall of my Law blockmate's flat. Seeing his own work on canvas reignited (naks) my desire to make and display my own work.

5. Travel. Although I won't be travelling to Palawan, or even Tagaytay, with my Law blockmates because of The India Fund, I will be travelling with my family to my father's hometown in Pangasinan to celebrate his 50-something-th birthday. My childhood memories are filled with epic road trips to Dasol Pangasinan, and this trip will reminisce those.



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Monday, April 4, 2011

5 Lessons Learned as a Student

Lessons Learned from the Week I Became a Full-Time Student
(aka The Week I Took a Leave from Work to Study for the Finals Week)

1: The things you are deprived of, you value more.

2: Life's simple joys is, simply, to be enjoyed.

3: Always keep in mind Murphy's Law but not to keep it in heart. 

4: Love is not a feeling, it's an ability. -Dan in Real Life

5: The hours of sleep you missed can be negated, although momentarily, by the right amount of coffee you take.



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