My online buddy, pB, a Filipina based in Saudi Arabia, posted an article, sent to her by her colleague, from Arab News believed to be written by a certain Mr. Abdullah Al-Maghlooth, an Arab national. The article is entitled "Imagine a world without Filipinos".

The article is great story of the skill, industry and discipline of the Filipinos working in Saudi and everywhere else in the world. Below is the clip of the article. Please read on, so no Filipino has to take Prozac tonight.





In my comment to pB's post, I told her how happy and glad this article made me. However, I said that I emailed the "author" to express my thanks for this very positive article about our hardworking overseas compatriot-heroes. In that email, I also asked if he indeed wrote it. So as not to sound imprudent, I did not ask if he was indeed an Arab national. I told pB that it would be very nice to know if the author is not a Filipino using an Arab nom de plume.

(I googled the article and it could be read at the Saudi Gazette, the same article, the same author. So the article really exists.. I would like to believe the writer is not a Filipino. DK)

Meanwhile, let's give the benefit to the article and the Arab's veracity, until proven otherwise. So put back the Prozac back to the med cabinet.

Two days ago, after Djokovic routed Federer at the Australian Open 2008 semi-finals, I wrote in my blog that "...we'd go for a Djokovic win on Sunday."  When my compatriot Greg commented his agreement to that blog, I replied, "My fearless forecast is Djokovic in four sets."

So, less than an hour ago, World No. 3 Novak Djokovic, 20 (right, photo below), won over the unseeded French Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, 22 (left, photo below), at the Australian Open 2008 Men's Tennis Finals, in four sets. My prophesy was correct. That was Djokovic's first Grand Slam and the youngest winner since Stefan Edberg. (A day earlier, I predicted that Maria Sharapova will win. She did.)

I am a prophet.

Or maybe I just read the games and the players too well that I correctly identified both winners, and more accurately the number of sets when Djokovic would topple Tsonga. Whew. I am scared at the accuracy. (I already knew my knack for predictions. Happened quite a few times in the past.)

The Championships fought earlier was the best game I have ever seen since Wimbledon 2002. It had the ferocity of a Sampras and the consistency on an Agassi. Both guys were tireless and ran after each ball like Nadal does.

Anyway, back to the tennis winners. Everybody is already saying that new names for champions have already emerged. Djokovic already had his first Grand Slam. Tsonga would surely hold his Grand Slam trophy very soon. Both guys, Tsonga and Djokovic would be the face of tennis in the many years to come. I give it to the guys; fierce on court, but very polite to each other on the winners' stand during the awarding ceremonies. Both young but yet already possessing the virtue and decorum befitting true champions. It would also be interesting to watch out for Roland Garros (the next Grand Slam, in France) where Tsonga would try to ride on the home court advantage and slug the trophy from three time consecutive champion Rafael Nadal to win his first Grand Slam. And of course, Djokovic will be there to give Roland Garros a very good show.

(Btw, Tsonga was born in France to a French mother and a black father from Congo. Both parents are now teachers at the Le Mans region of France.)

But I think the biggest winner in today's Finals was Adidas. Both Djokovic and Tsonga were outfitted and sponsored by Adidas. I am sure Nike was gnawing its cuticles to bleed with the marketing smarts of Adidas. Just look at the two guys' shirts on their photo above, the Adidas logo is smiling its way happily to the bank.

The officials at the Australian Open said and I agree that the hands of tennis are now in good hands. I am happy now.

And as my another tennis textmate Daisy from Iloilo said, she almost got constipated watching the game earlier, her first tight feeling for a game after Sampras retired. She said that she would have reasons to watch and cheer the ATP and Grand Slam matches to come.

How do you solve the problem like Maria?

The answer came in Melbourne, Australia - January 26, 2008 (that's this afternoon). Maria Sharapova of Russia (right, photo below) pose with her Australian Open 2008 Women's Champion trophy, and Ana  Ivanovic of Serbia, runner-up, holding her plate after the Women's Final match of the Australian Open 2008 at Melbourne Park. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)



Our predictions were proven correct. Maria Sharapova won. It's her third Grand Slam win (1st was in Wimbledone in 2004 when she was 17; then the US Open in 2006 when she was 19; and this Australian Open win at age 20.)

This third Grand Slam win by Sharapova at age 20, (and Ana Ivanovic also 20) proved that tennis champs redefine the meaning of "old" and "retirable". When office workers retire at age 65, tennis could retire a player at a tender age of 25 (to 28). Even the Williams sisters, Venus, 27 and Serena, 26; Martina Hingis, 27, who once ruled the Grand Slams alternately, looked like they are old compared to the new surge of tennis talents. (But Hingis did drugs, so her retirement is justified.) Former champions Lindsay Davenport and Jennifer Capriati who are both 31, are already retired. Tsk tsk tsk.

Another good thing that surprised me in this Rod Laver Grand Slam is it being called the Grand Slam of Asia and the Pacific. In a fitting occasion, Live telecasts were done in Sydney and Shanghai via huge screens in the cities' city centers. The citizens in these cities were acknowledged during the winners' presentation and beamed Live to the audience in Melbourne. I still have to find out which other major cities in the Asia/Pacific region had Live feeds on the Championships. This is one brilliant stroke. So the ever impassioned Asian tennis nit and buff that I am was happy at this touch of geographical association.

Finally, a renaissance in tennis has already happened. The world saw the rise of No. 3 Novak Djokovic of Serbia as he defeated the invincible No. 1 Roger Federer in straight sets, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (5) in the Australian Open semifinals early tonight. The game was spectacular as both men exchanged superb volleys and serves. But it was the 20-year old Novak who proved to be the better player when he outplayed the 26-year old Federer who was reduced to seem old. Novak knew that today, he was the better player. (Photo below is Djokovic's parents and brothers sporting N-O-L-E shirts, cheering him on.)

It was doubly fantastic for me as I have been rallying about the issue of the game when I wrote yesterday and I write again that "...the issue I am concerned about is the monotony of the fact that it is always Federer who wins. If this continues, what challenge and excitement are left to watch on the Grand Slams?"

"Predictability is surely not the ingredient that tennis lovers would want to see. We want challenge. We want excitement. We want surprise. And Roger Federer needs other players to make these much needed sporting ingredients. If his surge continues, then the game that we love so much will be boring. And boring is a sure route to the demise and gasp, extinction of this game."

I waited FIVE LONG YEARS FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. And it did happen today.

My soothsaying proved me correct when I said yesterday that "At the start of this Grand Slam, I was hopeful that Rafael Nadal or the Serb Novak Djokovic to give Federer a good beating."

Federer, who is one win shy of Pete Sampras' record of 14 Grand Slams, had been in the last ten Grand Slam Finals, winning seven and losing to Rafael Nadal in the last three consecutive French Open at Roland Garros. This afternoon, everybody who breath and live tennis saw that Federer is after all mortal.

In fairness to the highly heralded Federer, he had always been a good sport and a gentleman. He never curses, rarely loses his cool and does not fight with the umpires. However, due to his incessant winning, I challenged the idea that if he continues to do so, the luster of the game will dissipate and turn boring.

So come Sunday, the world will usher the new superpowers led by Novak and the 22-year old French Jo-Wilfried Tsonga at the Australian Open Finals. Tsonga likewise proved his mighty worth when he beat No. 2 Rafael Nadal in the other semifinals.

After the Djokovic-Federer match, I had conversations with some tennis buffs and we agree that we'd go for a Djokovic win on Sunday. Though Tsonga shows more strength, but Djokovic's  consistency at the baseline and his serves might do him good over the French.

Anyway,  Sunday's Finals could only be good for tennis as finally, we already have a new era of very young guns ready and able to make breathtaking games. Hopefully, we would see the end of a Federer dominance and see the emergence of young guns led by Djokovic and Tsonga to join Nadal, the American James Blake, the British Andy Murray, the Argentine David Nalbandian, the Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis, and perhaps hope for the resurgence of the Russian Marat Safin.

With this spectacular group, we can now witness the re-engineering of tennis and see great games reminiscent of the days when Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, Boris Becker, Patrick Rafter and Jim Courier alternately ruled the various surfaces of the four Grand Slams.

May I be correct in these assumptions.

----

Wait, the last photo above are the sisters Alona Bondarenko, right, and Kateryna Bondarenko of Ukraine who beat Victoria Azarenka of Belarus and Shahar Peer of Israel in the Final of the Women's doubles at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Jan. 25, 2008. Look at them closely. (haha I'm such a prick.)

Something monumental is happening in the world of tennis. It is unflolding at the Australian Open 2008 now being played in Melbourne.

FIRST, the French Jo-Wilfried Tsonga beat World Number 2, the Spaniard Rafael Nadal, earlier in their semi-final match. In straight sets. What makes this news amazing is that Tsonga, in defeating the ever strong Nadal, showed an even greater power and grit. What makes this sweet is that finally, tennis fanatics have seen someone with a shining hope who can defeat the undefeated Roger Federer, the Swiss. At the start of this Grand Slam, I was hopeful that Nadal or the Serb Novak Djokovic to give Federer a good beating.

I am harping on this issue since for the past few years, we have seen nothing but Federer holding the Champion's tropy in Wimbledon, the US Open and the Australian Open. (Nadal is the defending Champion at Roland Garros for three years now.) This scenario is of course excellent for Federer who is out to topple all existing records held by the legends past. This is good for one man and the history books, yes. But, the issue I am concerned about is the monotony of the fact that it is always Federer who wins. If this continues, what challenge and excitement are left to watch on the Grand Slams?

Predictability is surely not the ingredient that tennis lovers would want to see. We want challenge. We want excitement. We want surprise. And Roger Federer needs other players to make these much needed sporting ingredients. If his surge continues, then the game that we love so much will be boring. And boring is a sure route to the demise and gasp, extinction of this game.

And besides, I know that Federer is not greedy enough to just hold the winner's trophy via mediocre competitors. Federer would want his wins to be hard fought from the most worthy opponent who also posseses the true make of a great champion and not from someone with so-so abilities. Hey, Nadal could make with other compatriots in court with the likes of Djokovic and now Tsonga, who would once again bring the spark and spunk to the game.

For example, during the time of Pete Sampras, we knew that his wins were well deserved by battling giants with the likes of Andre Agassi, Patrick Rafter, Goran Ivanišević, Jim Courier and Boris Becker. There were lots of them who displayed the true grit of real tennis champions. So each of Pete Sampras' win was well deserved.

So now, who do we hear? If it's not at Nadal's Roland Garros, it's all Federer who we keep on hearing. So with the advent of Tsonga's emergence and Djokovic's staying power, perhaps, we could see a new dawn of great tennis played at the Grand Slams.

In hoping for a winner other than Federer, I will put my hopes on Tsonga, basing on his handling of Nadal's defeat earlier in Melbourne. Tsonga was powerful at the baseline and his volleys matched Nadal's superb shots. Even his athleticism matched Nadal's who always ran after every ball. But we still have to wait for the other semi-finals tomorrow between Federer and the Serb Djokovic. If Djokovic won't prevail, then we would witness a Federer-Tsonga Finals. And I would cast my lot with Tsonga. If he wins, then he will be the first French to win the Australian Open since 1928. Whew, 1928 was a looooong time ago.

SECOND, the Serbians are sponsoring a revolution in tennis as seen at the Australian Open. And this is spearheaded by the Serbs. (Serbia is a break-away province of the former Yugoslavia, that already gained independence in 2006.)

I already mentioned Novak Djokovic as a Serb who is now on the semi-finals in Melbourne. But he is not the only Serb to attain such dominion and fame. The women have even more combatants there now. First is Jelena Jankovic who beat Serena Williams in straight sets on their quarter final match. Then came Ana Ivanovic (left photo), who beat Venus Williams in the other quarter finals also in straight sets. And we thought that the Williams sisters were invincible. However, Jankovic was beaten by the Russian Maria Sharapova in straight sets at this morning's semi-final match. (Sharapova handily beat World Number 1 Justine Henin 6-4,6-0 in their quarter final match the other day.)

This morning, I also watched the semi final match of Ivanovic versus the other Serb Daniela Hantuchova. (Erratum: Daniel Hantuchova is Slovak not Serb. Thanks to Karen for this correction.) I thought Hantuchova would beat Ivanovic. But I was dead wrong. Ivanovic trailed Hantuchova 4-6, 0-2 and then made a magnificent come back in beating Hantuchova in three sets. She gave Hantuchova a tough game that left the audience at Rod Laver in frenzy. I was amazed. If Ivanovic would maintain her momentum, then by all means would she be a match to Sharapova (photo below) on Saturday's Finals.

So we saw three Serbian ladies in the semi-finals of the Australian Open. That was unprecedented from a newly independent nation whose population is only a little over 10 million, which is even lesser than Metro Manila. So this is the second best news I have in tennis. And who do we have from the Philippines in the top 100 in women's tennis? Nada. Not even in the top 500! That is crazy.

The current ranking of world's women's tennis (WTA) have Russians, Serbs and other Eastern European nations in the top 10. Gone are the days when American women dominate the top ten. Only a sprinkling of American women are left, with the likes of the Williamses. Even men's tennis have a dismal representation from the US which dominated the top ten in previous years.

The emergence of Eastern Europeans in world tennis, especially in the WTA (women's) might probably be because of the women's need to liberate themselves from the bondage of poverty and war. For years, we witnessed how Eastern Europe had been plagued with war, political upheavals and poverty. This might be the signal in which the women are empowering themselves to be known throughout the world that hey, they also have strength, power and ability to make it big in the world stage. (Martina Navratilova did this. When she was winning for Czechoslovakia, she deflected to the US and opted to play for USA, to escape gender repression (she was open about her sexuality), political persecution and poverty, which caused the ire of the Czech government.)

Serena Williams made a remark last year in Wimbledon that amused me. She said she "surprised to see a hundred of Russian and Eastern European women with surnames ending in -ova and -ic to be in the top ten". Williams further remarked that those WTA tours they weren't entered or didn't win had winners with such surnames. That is already the reality.

I am writing about this sport with such a passion because I believe that this is one sport that does not require height in order to win. And that is where we Filipinos could stand a chance. But sadly, our government is not doing anything to promote and support this sport. We Filipinos are agile and fast-runners and ergo, we could do well in this sport.

And besides, I enjoy watching competitive sport that engages countries. I treat it as a spectator watching a war. Hey, if anyone watched the stands in these games, we see nationals of  the athlete's countries shouting their chants hoarse. I love watching that.
 
So for Saturday, the Russian Sharapova (in right photo) averted a history-setting All-Serbian Australian Open Women's Final by beating Jankovic. On the other hand, the other semi-finals with both Serbs had Ivanovic emerging the winner. Between Sharapova and Ivanovic, I would root for Sharapova. In being pretty and statuesque, both girls are stand-out. But in ability and new found confidence, I'd bet for Sharapova.

We'd know on Saturday if my sooth-saying will prove correct.

2008

to all my friends here in

 

Antok.

Matutulog na ako.

Finally, first time akong wala nang gagawing overtime work sa bahay at walang ganang mag-photoshop at walang ganang mag-isip para mag-blog ng may katuturan kuno.

Wala lang, walang inspirasyon. Tulog na kasi misis ko; wala nang nangungulit kung anong pic ang pinoprocess ko o anong blog ang sinusulat ko.

Kaya wala. Wala.

Antok.

Kaya matutulog na ako.

At eto, record.

First time kung sumulat ng ganito. Walang saysay. Maikli. At naka-italics pa.

Haha.

Busy lang kasi ngayong linggo. Babawi na lang pag may oras na.

Sige, log out na ako.

Antok.

Matutulog na ako.

With great expectations, the 2007 WORLD POOL CHAMPIONSHIP is now starting Live at ESPN from the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City, Philippines.

Our very own Roberto Gomez from Zamboanga City will slug it out with Daryl Peach of Blackpool, England..

(Oh, here comes another Blackpool celebrity.. I thought Blackpool is only popular for the World Ballroom Dancing Competition, haha.. Watched JLo and Richard Gere in "Dance With Me"?)

The official site mentions the sterling credentials of both Finalists.

What gives me more excitement is that a pinoy won last year's WORLD POOL CHAMPIONSHIP courtesy of Ronnie Alcano.

Will it be a back-to-back win for the Philippines?

Let's wait after the 17th rack is played.. The courtside announcer boomed and called the players and my stomach turned into a sommersault when our "SUPERMAN" was called. He is the favorite to win the game! Let's see..

The LIVE coverage starts!

We all need a laugh after ABC's "Desperate Housewives" rudely implied that our medical schools are up to no good.

As a resbak, here's a clip that would give us enough laughs at the writers of DH and to Teri Hatcher, who according to my new pal Ms Sylvia, was dumb enough not to question the line she said. I agree, she was in a position to change it and save a nation from being sensitive and be maligned.

So here goes, click the link below:

Naveen Andrews, who plays Sayid Jarrah in LOST, has a movie with Jodie Foster. As Sayid, the faithful LOST followers are assured that the series characters they root for who are with Sayid will be protected as they swash and buckle one thrill after another thrill in the mysterious groups of islands where they are stranded. We are in awe with the Sayid character's skills and mastery in combat, reconnaissance, psychological warfare, and even torture. While we watch LOST, we feel confident that our favorite character who is with Sayid will be scooped up from harm as Sayid so adeptly brandishes his combat skills. And Naveen plays that with great aplomb.

Now that Andrews has a movie with Jodie Foster, I'm sure this would kick great arse. Foster has acted on one of the strongest and most solid female characters that we have loved and admired, that of being Clarice Starling in "Silence of the Lambs". For those who just emerged from their caves, Foster played Clarice like she was born to be the bravest and most intelligent female cadet FBI has ever produced and we forgot that it was a movie. We admired her fearlessness and display of tenacity against Anthony Hopkin's Dr Hannibal Lecter.

Foster has always been cast in roles of strong women like the one she played in Carl Sagan's "Contact" and of women who unwittingly gives off a hard emotional punch like her role in Scorsese's "Taxi Driver".

So with Andrews and Foster in this movie "The Brave One", everybody could expect one hell of a ride.

I'm actually interested to know why the tagline of their movie is "How many wrongs to make it right?" I know they are both right for the role. But watching the movie could be the actual judge of that.

I am happy with this find. Thanks Erom Reven. He named these USEFUL WORK PHRASES. I just enjoy smarting over these perky and pesky one-liners and quotes that would irritate the pseudosmarts, wasted on the daft, and would make me feel good.

Now, go pick what you like to be smart about. I choose ALL. I'm a sucker like that.

Here goes:

1. Thank you. We're all refreshed and challenged by your unique point of view.

2. The fact that no one understands you doesn't mean you're an artist.

I wanted to post this on Videos but the HTML tag for websites and blogs would not effin upload. Demmet. I'm still naive as a friggin nut.

I'm sure the Ilonggos and the Ilonggo-worshippers would holler in delight at this. Anyway, if anyone cares for a good laugh that will have your sides in stitches while rolling on the floor laughing, click this link:

Benjo Kag Ang Batalyon Pitbull

Go Bords!!

Federer won Wimbledon 7-6, 4-6, 7-6, 2-6, 6-2. He tied Bjorn Borg's record for winning Wimbledon for five consecutive years. But since I was rooting for Nadal, I wrote the piece below while watching the game Live, in anticipation of a supposed Nadal win that never materialized.

------------------

Nadal won Wimbledon.

And with it, he served notice that he is the new force to reckon with in Men's Tennis, especially on grass and clay.

He established a record and made history by becoming the only man to win the French Open and Wimbledon in the same year after Bjorn Borg did it 27 years ago.

Nadal stopped Federer from making an even bigger record; tying Bjorn Borg's record for 5 consecutive wins in Wimbledon. The world thought it was impossible for Nadal to beat Federer on grass, but the few of us and all of Spain, cheered him on. And the rest is now part of history.

The match had a divine setting with the 'enormous' presence of past champions all big names with sterling records: Bjorn Borg who holds the most consecutive wins in Wimbledon for 5 years; Jimmy Connors who holds the record of most matches won in Wimbledon; John McEnroe who holds the 4th most matches won; and Boris Becker, the youngest winner in Wimbledon at 17 years old, sitting in the stands.

While the game was on, I was cheering forcefully for Nadal point for point, winner for winner. When Nadal broke Federer's serve to win the second set to even the match at 1 all, I was ecstatic. Then the games resumed. I felt like my chest would burst and my tendons would disengage from my joints at the very tight display of tennis armada from both players. I felt various negative sensations when Federer won the third set 7-6, but came right back again when Nadal broke Federer's serve in the first game of the fourth set. Then I was hopeful again when Nadal broke Federer's serve again in the same set for a Nadal lead 4-1. Nadal then evened the score at 2 sets apiece. The  fifth set started with a tremendous see-saw that had both players slug it out like gladiators trying mightily to win a kingdom. Nadal continued his display of brilliance up to the 2nd set. (When he served for a 3rd set lead, Federer broke him.  THEN IT WAS ALL FEDERER FROM THERE ON.)

There were spectacular plays from both champions. Rally after rally and a display of  magnificent volleys, marvelous and deep groundstrokes. It was tennis at its finest. Yet another classic.

Let me make it clear again. I am not entirely cheering for Nadal the person. I am cheering to have another champion to make Wimbledon and tennis in general to have hard-fought games. It could be anybody. But since Nadal is the it guy at the moment to give Federer this much needed challenge, then Nadal gets all my energies to cheer for. I wrote an earlier post about this.

For his credit, the brilliance of Nadal was seen throughout the match. He challenges the ball and the net like a matador, he never leaves a ball and runs after it like a sprint champion, dives, bends his body and rolls over on court to save a ball like a gymnast and gets the winner done! The man is just awesome with spectacular display of agility, strength and stamina.

But two others were just as triumphant: Nike and Men's Tennis. Nike dressed up both champions, with a custom-made shoes made for Nadal with Rafa inscribed to the back of both shoe. Apart from the obvious fact that both champions played superbly, there is now another champion in Wimbledon other than Federer. The world can now therefore expect a great and equitable match. I said in an earlier post that with Federer hogging the wins consecutively with no real power to match him is boring.

So with Nadal's triumph, Wimbledon and hopefully the other Grand Slams (US and Australia) would now be poised to change for an even bigger greatness. I hope the other player on the ATP would get the message that Federer is not invincible. I hope Nadal opens the door for other players to give anyone a good fight and have varied champions in the other Grand Slams and on the ATP tours.

--------------

ps.

I guess Federer would continue his dominance in Men's tennis. But then Nadal's game has improved tremendously since he is the only player to have led Federer to a five-setter in all of Federer's five time wins in Wimbledon. The rivalry of Federer and Nadal is getting mature and stronger. However, the arena for producing a new champion apart from Federer is still wide open. Nadal and anybody else could still try to challenge the monopoly of Federer. I hope someone comes up in the US Open and in the 2008 ATP Tour.

07-07-07

Today is elementary, my dear Watson. Today is 07-07-07 or July 7, 2007. (Just don't look at the crappy date on the upper right hand. Multiply's date template is nuts, it doesn't follow Philippine time and I don't know how to reset it.)

Seven (7) is everybody's lucky number, er except me. (Mine is 8 and 2, in that particular order.) Having one 7 is already lucky. But having three 7's is three times lucky.  So everybody would try their luck or wait for the luck manna to drop from heaven.

The token neighborhood soothsayer in Carbon and the pedicab drivers in our village would say that today's 07-07-07 date is the luckiest day. I'm sure everybody would be betting today on numbers with 7 or more 7's on it or any other number divisible by 7, or get married, or do something wild, memorable, crappy, insane, glorius, heroic, absurd, or anything else or a mixture of two or three of it. Since I will not do any of these, apart from my usual Saturday routine, I am therefore blogging this. I can show this to my grandkids as a proof, in memory of this day in the future.

I just had to write about today, since I won't be here on this Earth when the next 07-07-07 happens again; and that would be July 7, 3007. I don't know anyone in the planet who knows anyone who is still alive today who was born on the previous 07-07-07 or July 7, 1907. I'm reminded that July 7, 1977 is technically not a 07-07-07 since it is written digitally as 07-07-77. So I feel extremely fortunate to have been born before the turn of this century to actually experience the triple digit dates on the Gregorian calendar.

Today's triple digit date is special for me having been born on a February 2, so I had the great chance of having a birthday on 02-02-02. Again, I won't be here on Earth when the next 02-02-02 happens. So every year after that, uhm, well, I actually started the habit in 2001, I'd check who's celebrating whose birthday on 01-01-01, and so on, and what great world event is happening or have happened on this date.

So for today, Live Earth  is happening, the New Seven Wonders will be announced, and thousands of couples getting married, among many things. So what momentous event was done on last year's 06-06-06? Hmmm lemme think.. tap-tap-tap... hmmm.. oh yeah, I remember! They had the world premiere of Omen.

So for next year's 08-08-08 which is supposed to be the number set for prosperity, I should already be thinking of really making a serious contribution to world history for that day. 

On 08-08-08, I should already be able to fly. Like really fly.

-----

ps,

The rain behaved in Wimbledon. The semis are played, the French Bartoli defeated the Belgian Henin and would meet Venus Williams in tomorrow's Finals (or maybe Monday, since the Men's semis will be played later tonight). This is great tennis for France. The lady made history. I don't remember any French, man or woman to have reached a Finals match in Wimbledon. Not even the babe Mary Pierce. She only reached the QF there in '96 and '05. Though she plays for France, she was born in French Canada. Oh no wait! Amelie Mauresmo won Wimbledon last year, demmit. But then though she was born in France and still plays for France, she now lives in Switzerland. What the heak, even Bartoli who was born in France, now lives in Switzerland. I might try to invite these ladies to live in Minglanilla. There are two houses in our block that's up for rent.

A-Rod is now playing Gasquet, with the Gasquet leading 5-4 in the fifth set. It's already 2:44a and they might reach a tie-break for the match. Boy I'm glad it's Saturday, 07-07-07. I can sleep my arse off til noon.

pps,

We turned off the aircon because it's Baguio c-c-cold. I wish the temperature is always like this every night. brrrrrrr...

Tacloban City, July 1, 2007

Blogging is like water. It seeks its own surface. Or like Sprite, that you have to quench your thirst for it. (Was it really Sprite's ad?) I will explain what I meant by this later.

Being in my hometown after being away for many years in another adopted city, gave me a different kind of pleasant experience. Being home has now become an experience and not the norm of usual feelings. So I am in Tacloban. Coming here earlier for an official trip in Samar tomorrow, just so I could attend the Tacloban fiesta, see friends who have come home too, and just see how the place has become.

The fiesta first. It's still a circus. Or more appropriately, everything has been blown out of literal proportions. Traffic has increased many folds and all available spaces where filled with parked cars. And any space in between were littered with people who have seemed to have come from some spontaneous combustion. Any more spaces in between were only enough for oxygen to float so these people could still breath and live. This is so unlike the fiestas of the late 80's where there were still actual spaces on the streets where we could still pass.

There are some pleasant surprises in Tacloban; some gustatory delights are now available in restaurants like Ocho, Stephanie's, and of course Bo's Coffee Club and Gloria Jean's. There are good establishments and nice new buildings with attempts at some urban architecture, though not really much, but the effort at trying is worth a whit of commendation. There will be hope in Tacloban's urbanesque future, I suppose. However, the inner roads of downtown is still potholed and tricycles of the wee types are still the legit commuter facility available.

Then seeing the grounds at the RTR plaza had me dismayed. Imagine this: the plaza is probably a hectare-wide and the City government (have they?) put nice and pretty water fountains all around the plaza. These fountains have different shapes, sizes, lights, figures and I bet there are stories behind each unique fountain. So I find it nice. Really nice. I actually saw it first on Patricia Evangelista's TV show when she featured Tacloban. I liked the fountains. All of them. But to my dismay, the city government has allowed talipapa, tiangge, beer joints, stalls, etc etc to fill the entire plaza and the fountains have gone lost in the madness of all these structure and people. The hell?! Here was an attempt to put sanity to the city by putting some art and architecture and the next moment, the city allowed the place to be turned into a marketplace, ukay-ukay style. I wanted to eat all my cuticles and knuckles alternately in anger and desperation at this very conflicting situation.

Earlier after lunch at our Ninang's house along the former Imelda Avenue, there was hieghtened excitement at the avenue. "Adi na hi apple of the eye! Adi na hi apple of the eye!". I looked at my brother in law quizzically and he said, "That's the Congressman-elect of Leyte's first district Martin Romualdez, on a convoy throwing apples for the bystanders. The apple of the "apple in the eye" was the literal gift-giving of apples as his campaign slogan. The Congressman was in Barong (with bodyguards) looking coño amidst a sea of indios. Doña Victorina would only be too pleased at the sight. Yes, this Martin is the nephew of the Imeldific; his father being the former First Lady's brother.

So, why the introduction? After the apple-throwing show, I didn't have anything to do. So I saw this idle PC and was too pleased to see some active browser with an active internet connex. I logged in to my Multiply and got to read the thread of comments on my Meet the President post. I realized I was a nut for automatically turning in my Multiply mode at the slightest chance with no provocation. Feeling and realizing the shame, I logged out and proceeded to behave as the fiesta guest expected of me. Whew, I said, blogging is like water, it seeks its own surface for an even keel or level, satiating the thirst for that glorious feeling of tap-tapping the keys and organizing thoughts into words and seeing it print on screen.

To save myself from further delving into the internet, I left. I joined College buddies Adonis (who came from Manila), Rey and son Jaden (who came from Chicago) and Joboy (who just arrived from Manila that morning). Yes Greg, you in Malaysia, you were lacking in our group. I should write about meeting these best buddies from College and our sort of reunion. We were like pigeons, homing in to base camp after years of flying and hovering in lands far and distant.

And geez, this Multiply sorely lacks a feature where I can note the Music Playing as I write this. So I can write "As the Music Play" by Matt Monro. No, it's not my kind of music, but it's what the music at the sunday radio show of the neighbor is playing.

It is Wimbledon season once again and I dread to see these two weeks end like how it had been ending four years in a row: Federer winning it with neither a bang or a whimper. Just plain old-fashioned winning. Federer's consistency is boring. Not because he does not play great, becuase he does, but due to lack of consistent fierce threat on grass. 

Ho-hum.

As of this writing, the Live game is between Andy Roddick and the Thai Danai Udomchoke. If the Thai is any sterner like his compatriot at the greens, Tiger, I'd be rooting for him, I being Asian and a fan of any rising Asian athlete. But since I know that he's just one fodder, for the current greats like Roddick to reach the latter matches, I'd rather root for Roddick - for very good measure: I want Roddick to provide that grass master Federer some consistent competition. And so do I want the Spaniard Nadal and the Russian Safin to give the same. Phillippousis, the other big-serving figure at the current tour would not be a shoo-in to give this Federer the much needed threat. Where is he, anyway?

Sure, if  Federer wins this year, he will match Bjorn Borg's record five consecutive titles in Wimbledon and would catch up to Sampras' record seven wins on the same Club.

But there is a court of difference in the wins of Federer compared to the wins of Sampras and Borg. The two latter champions had very consistent threats to their crowns. Borg had Nastase, Connors & McEnroe. Sampras had The Goran Ivanisevic, Courier, Becker, Agassi and Rafter. These competitors had given either Sampras and Borg hard times in other surfaces and had one their own Grand Slams too.

And who does Federer have? Philippoussis, Roddick and Nadal.

Now I am not saying that Philippoussis, Roddick and Nadal are weenies. They have their share of winning Grand Slams, well, except for the inconsistent and the injury-hounded Phillippousis who could be the next greatest tennis player not to have won any Grand Slam, if he isn't already. It's just that Roddick is also playing inconsistently after winning his only Grand Slam title in Flushing Meadows. But with Jimmy Connors as new coach, he is expected to show some fierce consistency to beat Federer.

And Nadal? For those who just came back from Eris, he is just trying his sprints and volleys in surfaces other than Roland Garros' clay where he lords it over Federer in lifetime matches. Nadal was runner-up to Federer last year in Wimbledon after his first finals there. So Nadal is expected to wind up standing in the other half of the draw in this year's Wimbledon to have a rematch of last year's finals, and hopefully Nadal to show some fierce Federer-beatings to provide the world with some gruesome matches in grass we deserve to see.

Another possible Federer-slayer is Marat Safin, who equals Federer in volleys but even better in serves, but I don't the hey know what's keeping Safin for keeping consistency in making winners instead of unforced errors to finally win matches over Federer. Ah yes, Federer is way too consistent. But Safin is still expected to give Federer some beatings.

Like millions of fans worldwide, I too have my two-cent's worth of acidic issues to tackle. I fiercely want to see some spectacular action from other players other than Federer to give Wimbledon a much needed fire lest it falls down into boredom and ignominy.

Again, this is not to say that I am pulling down Roger Federer. No. What I want is for the other players to give him great tennis so his wins would be worth it. A lot of people, including myself say that Federer's win is like a walk in the park for lack of better opponents. Or worse, that Federer's budding legend is undeserved. This is my point in saying that his wins is nowhere near like the wins of the two other Wimbledon legends Sampras and Borg. I want Federer to really deserve his wins and to really be considered a true Wimbledon legend.

The last truly legendary match ever fought in Wimbledon was in 2001 when Goran Ivanisevic won over Patrick Rafter in the greatest five-sets I have ever seen in Wimbledon.

The finals, years after that were a ho-hum.

I know that there are millions of other nuts like me around the world who have this simultaneous desire and grunt to let either Nadal or Roddick or Safin give a good fight this year so that if ever Federer wins, it will be truly deserved. I know that our collective desires and grunts will cross oceans to reach those who are concerned and possible propel either Nadal, Roddick or Safin to win over Federer. By God, we need a real classic match to be considered truly legendary. We are so hungry for that. This way, there is some real battle before this Wimbledon ends and something to look forward to when the US Open comes and beyond. 

Pagkatapos hin kamaihaan nga panahon, yana la ako nakalugar pagsurat ha internet ha Leyte-Samarnon nga pinulungan. Kadamo na hin mga espasyo, okasyon ngan websites, nga ak gin-agian, pero daw waray ko gana nga magsurat ha waray. Kun kay ano nga dinhi ha Multiply pa ako nagkaada hin igo nga kaandaman ngan pamahong-pahong pagtikang pagsurat hini, diri ak maaram. Akon pa iton pagtutukibon.

Kay ako como Dulagnon, siyempre pa, it ak angay igsurat, mga butang ngan ideya mahitungod didto hit ak natawhan nga bungto han Dulag. Siring pa ha Wikipedia, it Dulag, "usa nga ika-upat nga klase nga bungto ha probinsya han Leyte ha Sinirangan nga Kabisay-an nga rehiyon ha Pilipinas. Usa ini han mga gidako-i nga mga bungto ha daplin han dagat haa sidlangan. Sumala han 2000 census, mayda ini populasyon nga 38,897 ka tawo ha 7,657 nga panimalay".

Damo an masusurat mahitungod ha Dulag para hit usa nga Dulagnon sugad ha akon. Pero mayda usa nga lugar ha Dulag, harani la ini didto hit am balay ha Capitan Goyong, nga akon uunahaon pagpasangyaw. Amo ini an Dulag Catholic Church, an Parokya han Virgen del Refugio. Usa la ini ka eskina tikang ha amon balay. Kay tungod kaurugan hit mga Dulagnon Katoliko, amo ini it lugar ha Dulag kon diin nagkakatitirok pagpakita hit ira pagtuo ha Guinoo it mga Dulagnon, labi na kun Mahal nga Adlaw, Pasko ngan pagselebrar hit Bag-o nga Tuig.

Pero it istorya hini nga simbahan del Refugio hilarom ngan maundanon. Han gudti pa kami, damo nga klase nga istorya an am nahibatian han pagbomba han mga Hapon han daan nga simbahan, ngan an tuna alirong han simbahan ginhimo nga istasyunan han mga Amerikano pag-abot han Liberasyon. Usa nga maundanon nga sinurat tungod han katikangan han simbahan ha Dulag, nagsiring:

"The first Jesuit missionaries arrived at Dulag in September 1595. An ecomendero, Don Pedro Hernandez brought them in his boat from Cebu. The missionaries, Fr. Alonzo de Humanes and Fr. Juan del Campo, first coaxed the natives to settle within the limits of the sitio instead of living far from each other. After this was accomplished, the Jesuit fathers built a church and a convent.

A nucleus of some 60 boys from Palo was formed by the fathers for the first mission school in Dulag. In the church compound they were taught their three R's and religion. Using the crudest of materials, the boys learned the Spanish language and helped serve as interpreters to the missionaries on their missions. The burden of supporting the boys began to tell on the resources of the padres but periodic allowances from the encomendero permitted them to continue with their studies. The school was patterned after a Jesuit school in Antipolo in Luzon, which the Jesuits had founded earlier.

Dulag became a booming locality by May 1596. It became the centrum of commercial activities. The Jesuits made great progress at conversion. They became successful especially when the principales of the town allowed themselves to be baptized.

Years of peace were suddenly broken when on October 29, 1603, moro raiders ravaged the town. Wild confusion followed after the arrival of 70 vintas full of moros. Some of the precious possessions of the church were fortunately evacuated before the moros finally landed on the shores of Dulag.

Bolisan, the moro leader sailed away to Surigao after 700 captives and rich loot had safely been stored in the holds of their vintas. Fr. Hurtado, one of the missionary priests was himself a captive. During the years that followed, the padre was able to teach Christianity to the moros. He was later ransomed and returned to Dulag.

The moro raids were said to have burned 10 churches in Leyte. Sacred images were destroyed, sacred vessels were looted, and new Christians enslaved.

After the moro raids, more misfortune struck the town. Two typhoons destroyed the church and laid waste the harvest of the season. An earthquake of violent proportions followed this. In 1610, a locust invasion destroyed more crops. In September 1611, more typhoons added to the desolation of the people. As if to climax the lean years, the moros returned in 1613, destroyed the church and town, burned the harvest and carried of men, women and children to be sold as slaves. The parish priest, Fr. Pascual Acuña was also captured by the moros. He was later released in exchange for a moro chief named Pagdalunan who was captured by the Spaniards.

Before the Jesuits left in 1768, they had built a brick church under the avocation of the Nativity of Our Lady. It was significantly called the "Refugio."

After the expulsion of the Jesuits, the Augustinians took over then parish. Fr. Cipriano Barbasan is specially remembered for enlarging and remodeling the church. He was responsible for the ornamentation of the church altar and the construction of lookout towers of the hills of Calbasag and Mount Laberanan in San Jose. Both were solid edifices of brick which served as places of refuge during subsequent attacks by the moros.

In 1843, the first Franciscan parish priest arrived. Under the direction of Fr. Francisco Rosas, the first road to Abuyog was constructed."

Katikang hadto nga istorya han simbahan, damo liwat an naglabay nga kahimyangan ha Dulag. Pagkahitabo liwat han guerra mundial numero dos, amo liwat an kaguba hini nga simbahan, diri tikang han mga moros, kundi tikang han mga Hapones. 

Ada nalipay ak hin dako uyamot pakakita ko ha internet hin tinuod nga ritrato han nabombahan nga simbahan del Refugio han Dulag. An nakasurat pa ha ubos amo ini: "Picture of a church destroyed by bombing, with Army jeeps in foreground. The caption hand-written on the back says: "Dulag - Leyte. Where Japs made airborne landing and held fighter strip for 24 hours".

Mayda ngay-an kamatuoran han uruistorya han mga kalagsan ha Dulag. An Dulag man gud, usa han mga nasentro han guerra mundial numero dos. Bisan an ak Tatay nga ulitawuhay na hadto nga guerra, damo guihap an istorya ha am kun guin ano nira an pagtagu-tago ha mga Hapon. Makuri daw an ira kabutangan hadto nga panahon kay nahadlok hira nga pamatayon han mga Hapon. Han una pala ngani nga tuig han pagsakop han mga Hapon ha Dulag, tuig 1941, usa na an ak Lolo (amay han ak tatay) han mga namatay, pagpusila han mga hapon an ira ginsasakyan tikang ha Tacloban tikadto ha Dulag, dida ha may Bil-at pagkatapos ha Tolosa. An ira ginsasakyan nahulog ngadto ha dagat amo nga waray na makit-i an patay nga lawas ni Lolo Julian.

Usa liwat nga mahinungdanon nga ritrato nga ak hinkagian ha internet pinaagi ha google, nga may kalabutan han ginbombahan nga simbahan del Refugio, amo an ritrato hin rebulto han Sagradao Corazon de Jesus nga nakada han mga guba-guba ngan iba pa nga debris pagkaptos han pambomba. An kumpleto nga pagsaysay hini nga ritrato amo ini:

"Statue of the Sacred Heart at the Catholic church stands after complete destruction of the 18th-Century building. Dulag was shelled by battleships and bombed by carrier planes from October 17-20, 1944, prior to Sixth Army's XXIV Corps landings on A-Day, October 20. The town's mayor, Marcial Lagunzad, was killed along with many other civilians. Almost every structure was completely obliterated. The US Army's 96th Infantry Division, 184th Infantry, commanded by Colonel Curtis D. O'Sullivan, was to land on Yellow Beach 1 and Yellow Beach 2 near Dulag and then drive inland, directing its main effort toward an early seizure of the airfield west of Dulag. It was also to seize and secure the crossings of the Daguitan River. The 184th Infantry landed at 1000 Hours, two battalions abreast - the 1st on the southern half of Yellow Beach and the 3d on the northern half. They encountered surprisingly little resistance on either beach and were able to push inland at a much greater speed than had been anticipated. The 3d Battalion drove through the town of Dulag, which lay directly in its path, to the Dulag-Burauen Highway. The 1st Battalion pushed inland and reached the highway at 1210, just fifteen minutes after the 3d Battalion. At 1530 the two battalions established physical contact and maintained it throughout the day as they continued their advance along the highway. Eleven Japanese had been killed in the 184th Infantry's zone. After the front line moved on, the ruins were used as a hospital. The church was not rebuilt as a war memorial to those who sought refuge during the war".

Ito nga Mayor nga hi Marical Lagunzad nga hin-ngaranan dida han photo caption, amo an amay han amon maestra han Home Economics ha Dulag Central.

An siring didto ha am, pagkatapos daw han guerra, an mga Dulagnon ha bug-os nga nasud, nagburublig pagpatukod hin bag-o nga simbahan, sapit la ngahaw han ginbombahan nga daan nga simbahan.

Yana nga panahon, an mga ruins nala han daan nga simbahan an makikit-an sapit hit bag-o nga simbahan tipakadto ha Barangay Sungi. Ini nga mga nahabilin nga istruktura han daan nga simbahan ginhimo na nga Park ngan outdoors museum didto ha Dulag. Damo nga mga turista it napakadto pag-inaw, labi na an mga Dulagnon nga diri na naukoy ha Dulag, pareho nakon.

Amo ini nga simbahan mahinungdanon ha akon, ngan hit am bug-os nga pamilya diri la tungod hit iya parte hit history hit bungto han Dulag, kun di amo ini nga simbahan diin hira nanay ngan tatay ginkasal, ngan diin kami nga pito nga magburugto guinbunyagan ngan guinpakumpirma. Dinhi guihap hini nga simbahan guinpamisahan hi tatay han iya kamatay.

Bisan diri na ako nagpapraktis hin pagka-Katoliko, masarig pa gihapon ha akon kasing-kasing ini nga simbahan tungod kay parte man ini hiya han amon kinabuhi. Ngan amo man ini an simbolo han amon pagtuo nga naghatag ha ak han pagkilala ha Guinoo nga Dios.

It’s a long weekend and I’m home and bored. For lack of a better thing to do, I parked the clicker at Star World where Elton John was sashaying his birthday concert. Got all the more bored as I don’t really enjoy his music. Switched the click to MTV wanting to chance upon a new song I can steal from the net and into my ipod.

 

Earlier, Kookie was doing her foot spa from this expensive gadget she bought in Ayala. Too bad, she didn’t want to do my feet for fear she’d be infected with all creatures, viral and homicidal, that she suspects to inhabit my two loyal footsies. After dutifully pampering her footsies, Kookie just left all the gadgets, towels and all sorts of scented liquid arsenal by the foot of the bed and stretched on the bed. Then blissfully slept. I thought of doing my own footsies, but badness me, I don’t know how to operate the blasted gadgets. So I could not possibly administer to myself that one glorious comfort in the privacy of our room, that if done in some downtown spa, could cost me some hefty amount (that I’d rather use to buy me some glorious Sampoerna) or if not first ridiculed by usyusiro people gawking and brandishing me a complete idiot of the human male species for having a foot spa that is only reserved for women. Gah. I will not go into a larger exposition of that. Suffice it to say that I will never in my life go into some commercial establishment downtown to have some foot spa. Or so I’m saying. Whatever.

 

Then back to watching MTV. I looked at the parade of these trophy models smoochin’ this Victor Basa (lucky bastard) guy acting like a cool veejay that he could never be, and I thought that everything they show on MTV are all naughty and lacking of nourishment. Hah. What kind of nourishment? *smirk. Then I realized that goodness, I’m too old to appreciate all these MTV hoopla. Except that the music of course did not grow old with my age. I still move to the beat. Heh. After some time, this Basa guy stopped giving music and instead blabbed and blabbed. At this point, I felt like my mind was regurgitating and melting fast I think blood and the soot of boredom will ooze from my viral organs.

 

I wanted to sleep.

 

Then hooray of hoorays, VECO executed a splendidly well-timed evil plan: the lights conked out. The aircon in the room fizzled and slowly, the air happily converted the bedroom into an oven. I sweated like a pig, though I’m not of the breed that oinks.

 

So I did the next best thing to do to save myself from combustion: I went back to the already logged in multiply and stared at the opened ‘compose blog entry’. (Thankfully, laptops have this reserved batt.) I didn’t know what to write until I remembered this one forgettable ad spoken by this forgettable human, mentioned about today’s La Independencia holiday and essayed how we should as patriots (sounding more like ‘idiots’) should attend flag ceremonies tomorrow, when I thought to start this piece: “It’s a long weekend…”.

 

Sans the pleasure of air-conditioning in this very humid Philippines, my mind couldn’t whip a crack of inspiration to write. Nada. The kuryente not yet back on, I saw that my body was slowly melting into water fast enough to fill a very large palanggana. I wanted to scream the heat away but thought that I’d rather save my energies to stall my liquefaction so I could go on writing this piece. I didn’t want to frustrate myself by not giving this first blog entry in my multiply account the much painstaking effort all first time articles deserve. Yeah.

 

Then the lights are back on!! Hell, yeah.

 

I reread what I have written and find too much rubbish I should end this now. No grand ideas to parley my days. No great suggestions to make life good for all. Writing far too much nonsense in other unremarkable blogs before had acquired me the skills needed to qualify to be editor-in-chief of Super Balita, if only their readership base reads in English and I have too much bravado, chismis-gut and lots of kapalmoks. Though I speak Cebuano fluently, writing and thinking in that language is far fourth in my order of language competence.

 

Mercifully, I'm sleepy again. I should catch a few winks. I have this big party to attend tonight; in barong, whew. No, not some Independence Day fete¸ but some party about some person getting some big-assed induction or something.

 

Sleep is calling me and it's only 3:57 pm. I should acquiesce.

 

Nothing follows.