Author Archives: markie09

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About markie09

a music lover at heart, hopeless romantic, sports fan, frustrated DJ and photographer, workaholic-slash-homebody who spends most of his time pondering on when his time on the relationship ride will come; a quiet, yet equally loquacious individual who would rather be at the sidelines than hog the limelight, yet at times longs for his 15 minutes of fame; an imaginative and observant movie buff who most of the time watches movies or binge-watch TV series alone and considers professional wrestling as a real sport; a detail-oriented drummer wannabe who at times would change his mind at the last minute, yet determined and focused once his mind and heart is set on a goal; a taken-for-granted, dignity-trampled-on, emotionally-ignored individual who is easy to fall in love with, yet always being played a second fiddle by women whom he falls for; a Gemini in the true sense of the word who would think of the most obnoxious and dreadfully naughty things at one time, and preach of morality, righteousness and the good of mankind in another; a self-professed loner who takes on the world and the cruelties that go along with it, on the verge of giving up but for some unknown reason continues to press on and make people around him think better of who and what they think they are simply because he just damn cares.

emotional rush

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the past 11 days have been somewhat…  weird.  two wednesdays ago, i was able to attend my cousin’s wedding.  i was granted the day off by my new british boss, thankfully, and i still played my part as a veil sponsor.  it was a very, very happy and wonderful day to be with relatives.  not really a reunion of sorts, but it was quite surreal to see a younger cousin walk down the aisle and taking the vows.  during the reception, the groom’s sister who is the same age as mine caught the bouquet and we’re all teasing her that she’s next. i didn’t catch the garter, but it was all good, for i don’t believe in that sort of stuff.  for pictures, you can view them on my facebook account.  i’m very happy for the new couple and i wish them the best.
 
then three days later, i received news that the younger brother of a friend of mine was shot dead the previous night.  i didn’t receive the news exactly from her, but from a common friend.  though that friend of mine and i weren’t really that close, we still maintained constant communication through text messaging and occasional meet ups.  i was completely caught by surprise and found myself stunned still while i was reading the message.  i had originally planned to go to the wake sunday, but my brother had the car that day, so i went there monday after work.  upon reaching the funeral home, the mood was quite upbeat for a very somber moment.  i gave my friend a hug and offered my condolences.  i learned from her that a whole magazine of a 9mm handgun was emptied on her brother’s body in an apparent robbery which occurred outside their subdivision.  i felt so sad that such a gruesome act can be committed all for just money.  i tried to lift her spirits up as best as i can during that one hour i spent there with her.  the interment ceremony was held earlier today.  though i wasn’t able to attend, i still sent her a message telling her to stay strong.
 
’twas the first time in as long as i can remember that i had a sudden change of emotions in a couple of days.  i was still riding high on the wedding when i got the news on my friend’s brother.  it was as if you were spinning and you suddenly stop.  not that dizzying feeling, but the confusion of reorienting yourself with what just happened.  it’s hard to put into words the exact thing or feeling, but i didn’t know that it’ll be this weird.  it’s been what, a week now since i went to the wake, but i’m still experiencing the sad feeling whenever i think of what happened to him, yet everytime i see my cousin (who lives next door), i can’t help but smile and continue to be happy for them.  forging a new life ahead versus losing a loved one’s life.  how can it get more confusing than that?
 
but that’s life.  you win some, you lose some.  in a perfect world, things would be very different.  but that’s the reality of it.  you’ll never know a curve ball is going to hit you when all you think that’s coming is a fast ball.
 
that’s my rant.  and speaking of emotions, i’m going through some undecided-ness on what to get for myself.  there’s an on-going installment madness in glorietta that runs until april 5 and i’m thinking of getting myself either a laptop or a mobile phone.  thing is, i’ve got my nokia n90 for three years now, and with the signs of wear and tear both physically and performance-wise it’s having, i’m thinking that it’s time to retire it.  on the other hand, getting a laptop has been one of my targets since december.  it’ll have a huge advantage on my part, especially with the work i now have.  good thing that a third item on my wish-list has been scrapped (for now).  it was supposed to be a second hand canon 350d professional digital camera that was being sold to me by the boyfriend of one of my cousins for 17k.  but i just learned that he had already gotten a buyer for it.  i guess my new found hobby of photography will have to be put on hold.
 
anyways, i still have a couple of days to decide.  thanks to all those who have been giving me advice and support.  though your inputs are all valid and make sense, they all weigh in equally which makes decision making still quite difficult.  but for sure i’ll be finally making one in the next couple of days.
 
hope everyone has a good week ahead!!  🙂

unusual heroes

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despite the news of the sudden demise of francis magalona this past friday, i was able to see the movie “watchmen” after i got off work. i reserved my ticket online two days before, but had second thoughts on the day itself about seeing the movie, since i knew nothing of the comic book franchise and worried that i might get lost in the movie’s plot and storyline. but i thought that this might be a chance for me to be acquainted with the group, plus if director zach snyder did a very impressive job on “300,” then this might be worth seeing as well.

in a nutshell, it’s not your typical superhero movie of heroes versus villains. surprisingly, it’s a “generational” movie about superheroes of the 1940s and 50s, with some their children carrying on their parents’ legacy (except for doctor manhattan who stopped aging) and adopting their namesakes and continue what they started.  it’s also set in an alternate timeline of 80s america, where the term limits of the president was lifted, therefore having richard nixon still the incumbent president.  the story starts with one of the original members being murdered and the crusade of another devoted member finding out whodunnit while trying to solicit the help of the others in the team.

the plot unfolds amidst the twists and turns of each member’s relationship with their fallen comrade, and how they continue to live their lives in the present setting where society has forgotten them and they themselves trying to have a life outside of their more popular alter egos.  the movie takes you on a roller coaster ride of flashbacks and sub-plots, of emotions and principles.  i would believe that the person who watches this movie who doesn’t check his or her brain at the theater doors won’t be able to understand or keep up with the continuous bombardment of narrative dialogue while trying to find out for themselves who the murderer is.

what i liked about the movie is the constant presence of conflict.  be it among the superheroes themselves, within each one, with society, and with their desinty.  there was one line that really stood out which was mentioned by the mother of silk spectre II.  i don’t remember the exact words, but it goes something like, “the future gets dimmer and more bleak, while the past, even with the most gruesome of events, keeps getting brighter and brighter.”  i really don’t know why that line stuck, but i guess it has something to do with where we peak in our lives, be it professionally, personally, or whatever.  once we reach that, everything is downhill moving forward.  for silk spectre II’s mother, she had the height of her powers, abilities and fame and is headed towards insignificance.  i suppose all old people are like that, but you’re left to wonder if other superheroes share the same sentiment as her’s.

the movie was a good watch for me.  it was worth paying an additional 45 pesos to my usual carpark rate (i initially thought of moving to another carpark near the theater but decided against it eventually), and having dinner by myself (again).  the theater was sold out for a 7:45pm screening which is a good sign that the movie will earn big at the box office.  i would recommend this movie to anyone who wants to be entertained in a different way by a superhero movie.  it’s definitely the start of another big and highly anticipated summer movie season.  up next, nicholas cage’s “knowing.”

 

 

 

black day

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part of me is still in a state of shock over the sudden passing of francis magalona yesterday.  i just finished having lunch yesterday when the news broke out.  being someone who admires his music and his talent, i felt a heavy feeling inside my chest as i tried to accept the fact that one of the most influential and recognizable talents in philippine music left this earth.  dying at such a young age of 44, he’s still in the prime of his career and can do more.  even now, i still find myself shocked speechless whenever i think of what happened to him.
 
francis magalona’s passing is a very big loss to philippine music and a more bigger loss to his fans who appreciate his music–me included–but ultimately, the country has lost one of it’s premier citizens who, through his music and talent, raised being proudly filipino to new heights and boosted morale of the common man with his inspiring words that went along with the beat all his own.
 
to the bereaved family of the master rapper, i humbly, sincerely and lovingly offer my condolences.  do take pride, comfort, and joy that francis magalona lived his life the way he was meant to.  he utilized his god-given talent to unite a nation through music, inspired others like him in the industry to be somebody who can also speak freely through music, and left a legacy that is truly, and entirely filipino.  his “happy battle” with leukemia did not end in vain.  rather, he proved that with a smile, one can face the gravest of challenges and stare death in the eye and say, “no matter the outcome, i’m going full throttle.”
 
a pioneer and a legend has left us.  may he rest in peace.
 

turn of the tide

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i don’t know how to describe what i am feeling right this very moment.  it’s better than when i got my recent job, and the anticipation to be part of something on the rise which i’ll be fully hands-on with is added with that.  i don’t know if the past valentine weekend had something to do with it as well, or my mobile phone turning three years old yesterday.  to cut the long story short, i’ll be starting on a new job on monday next week.  what’s good about it, is that i’ll be retaining the same normal schedule with the same days off.  i’ll be describing more of it in detail (including the company itself) in the next couple of entries, because i just can’t get over this super-charged positive feeling i had after leaving the building where i’ll be holding office soon earlier today.
 
what will i be, you may ask?  well, basically my new job function is to oversee the entire operations of the manila office, which includes–among other departments–customer support.  thankfully, my new boss will be a big british guy and he seems to understand my abilities, attitude, capabilities, and how i want to run things.  everything is straight-forward, no bullcrap and a “call-it-as-i-see-it” approach.  he also believes the kind of supportive work atmosphere i want to have compared to the ones i’ve been in.  nothing compares to the assurance being given of support and belief in one’s potential.  and my next boss is exactly that.
 
i still of course, have to get some things in order this week before i start.  medical examination and documents procurement are on top of the list, not to mention clearance stuff which will be quite easy.  i know that there are people who ain’t gonna be happy about this, but hey, when opportunity comes, i just grab it.  and did i mention that the office is in the capital’s business district?  this means less travel time, less travel expenses.
 
i missed watching three live programs earlier today (nba all-star game, latest season of the amazing race, and the live coverage of wwe’s no way out pay-per-view), but after that appointment, i could care less.  i’m revved up, excited, and finally being able to run my whole show.  if 2009 has been said to be a good year for people born in the year of the dragon, this may be the start of something big…  finally.  🙂
 
off-topic and just to recap what happened to me on valentine weekend, i just drowned myself in music.  alternative ballads and rock ballads filled my ears, and on the night of the 14th, i indulged myself in a dvd movie marathon:  the lake house, sweet november, and titanic.  what a way to spend being single on the day of hearts, eh?  yesterday marked the third anniversary of my mobile phone.  nothing special, just checked to see if it’s still working fine.  hopefully it won’t end up with me for another year… hehehehe…
 
i wish everyone a good week ahead.  i hope my happiness rubs off on everyone.  thanks to all those who prayed for me.  may you be rewarded 10 times over.  right now, a new chapter in my life begins…  🙂
 
 

one down, 11 to go

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and just like that, it’s now the end of january.  it’s just like yesterday when we partied to welcome 2009.  hmmm, i’ll bet that i’ll say that last sentence again when december comes.  but as they say, time flies when you’re too busy to stop and smell the roses…  or something like that.  now comes the shortest month of the year.  and believe you me, we’ll just breeze past it faster than we think.  things to look forward to this month?  for me, there are only two, and both are sporting events.
 
first, it’s now super bowl weekend!  though my favorite team, the dallas cowboys didn’t make it that far, this sunday’s game (monday morning in manila) will still be worth watching.  i’m always for the underdog, so i’ll be rooting for the arizona cardinals to win it all against the pittsburgh steelers.  nothing’s worth spending the first monday of the month more than being glued to the tube to witness all three hours plus of helmet-crashing, bodies-flying, pigskin-throwing, crowd-cheering action.  plus, bruce springsteen will be performing at halftime.  although i haven’t seen “the boss” perform in years, but i guess the organizers could’ve done better in selecting the halftime performer.  but stil, the stadium at tampay bay will be rockin’ and rollin’ once kickoff starts.
 
the next is nba all-star weekend in phoenix.  though that’s still a couple of weeks away, the nba’s version of the pro bowl is actually three days long.  slam dunks, three-point shootouts, and east meets west highlight the festivities.  and compared to past all-star games uniforms, this year’s looks way, way better.  no over-fancy designs and distracting colors, it’s as simple as simplicity gets.  i’m a west coast kinda guy, but i think the east packs more punch in all-star basketball power this year.  the one good thing about this year is that it’ll be beamed live (hopefully) to a local channel, unlike last year when it was monopolized in one cable channel that our provider doesn’t have.  hmmm, another weekend of being glued to the tube then…
 
two major sporting events in one month.  but both something to look forward to.  someone in the background is yelling that valentine’s is also another occasion to look forward to.  what?!   valentine’s?  what’s that?  i’m not familiar with that day…  i don’t recall that there’s a celebration for that.  so it’s not an issue.  by the way, today is one of my cousins’ birthday.  so to my cousin treck who’s based in london, happy, happy birthday!!  wish you all the best, bro!
 
hope everyone has a good weekend.  i know i’ll be having one…