as mentioned on the closing part of my last entry, manny pacquiao again took to the world stage and showed he is the top dog in his division.  and while the whole nation was united–even for just a couple of hours–amidst a scandal-weary, violence-marred, insult-thrown society, another tragedy occured.  this time, it was not behind the pacquiao-chanting public while the fight was in progress, but right under their noses.  i'm referring to the robbery done by the advertisers and the local network that aired the fight "live via satellite."

while it was a given that a mega-buck fight such as the pacquiao-barrera tussle part two would have local advertisers literally have peso signs as eyeballs, nothing as preposterous and unheard of happened at yesterday's telecast.  compared to pacquiao's previous fights where all is said and done at around 1:30-2:00PM local time and everyone is already going back to their normal lives (mind you, those telecasts were already loaded with 10-minute commercials of hog and rooster feeds and dewormers, paints and roof sealants in-between rounds, most of which only get to be shown during boxing matches for reasons that i couldn't fathom why), yesterday's event lasted until 4PM!  okay, it is also given that the match went the whole 12 rounds–a rarity in pacquiao fights–even so, the network that carried the telecast should've known better than to salivate with revenue from advertisers and could've shorten the in-between rounds of shoving images of piglets and leaky rooftops down our throats and just show the damn fight!  for god's sakes, i even received a breaking news through sms from a major newspaper about who won the fight and how it was won even before the singing of the national anthems on the telecast!  and while i elected to stay up and still watch the fight after coming from work even after reading the sms alert, i felt very sleepy towards round seven and lost my enthusiasm and instead was overcome with relief when the split decision was announced.  heck, the chinese formula one grand prix aired on star sports that started live at 1PM even ended ahead of the pacquiao fight!  what kind of bullshit telecast were we given?!

if you think i'm alone in what i views, you're dead wrong.  thousands of our countrymen also felt robbed by those greedy network and advertising slobs (and they have the nerve to call themselves executives).  while i understand the need to make money, it shouldn't be at the expense of a nation reeling from being insulted and degraded by US TV shows (of all places, although which i don't agree with the majority's sentiments), and is hungry for being one with the crowd inside the mandalay bay cheering with every punch our fighting champion landed on his opponent.  at least once in very, very  few instances, why could'nt be something as big an event such as this be brought to the simple households with minimal advertisements?  and why do networks lock or ban cable operators from broadcasting the fight on another cable channel that shows the same fight to other countries in real time?  what gives them the right to hold cable tv subscribers hostage by forcing them to watch the local telecast on free tv?  this kind of thinking is absolutely greedy and self-serving.

while we can't change the mindset of those gluttonous advertiser-slobs (thank god i'm not in that field), an appeal to change can be made to the network itself.  so to GMA 7, first and foremost, your telecast of the fight yesterday was the worst–if not one of the worst–telecasts you've ever made.  you say you're the number one network in the country that provides the best programming and service to our countrymen, and yet in the event yesterday, you only thought of yourselves and succumbed to the piles and piles of money given to you by the adveritisers.  in the face of "insults" and "racial slurs" made by US TV programs and networks, you yourselves committed the greatest insult by denying the filipino people in our own homeland their right to join other filipinos around the globe in watching national pride being displayed to the world.  you should be ashamed of yourselves and should be the one issuing a public apology to the entire country for this dastardly act.  an exercise in discretion in favor of the viewing public by cutting commerial time was the simplest thing you could've done in the face of pressure from your so-called "loyal" advertisers.  hopefully, this would be the first and last such mistake you would ever make should you ever be assigned to carry more of manny pacquiao's prized bouts in the future.  and the same goes to all networks wanting a piece of the pie, so to speak.  remember that without the viewing public, your institution wouldn't be where it should be.

'nuff said.  now it's back to our normal lives, and i'm back to hating manny pacquiao doing the kind of stuff he's doing outside the boxing ring. i was openly offering wagers to some people at the office yesterday with me siding with barrera, but there were no takers.  although i know pacquiao would win, i was hoping for a barrera upset to make him go back to earth.  oh well, i guess whether he wins or loses, he still has ara mina to bang when he comes home.  lucky bastard…

this past week, news of how filipinos around the world were insulted and degraded by two US TV shows were the talk of the town.  from desperate housewives' comment on the quality of the country's medical education, to the daily show with jon stewart's take on past women leaders–the philippines included, of course–filipinos around the world reacted to it.  and while almost the entire nation cries foul over these two events ahead of another filipino stepping to world prominence in the sport of boxing, i for one do not totally agree with the majority's sentiments over what transpired.  i may be late in my reactions through this entry, but i did what most did not take time to do:  analyze.  but before any of you brand me a traitor or unpatriotic, let me explain my side.

on the desperate housewives' scene where teri hatcher's character asked to check first on the doctor's medical records to see that the diplomas didn't come from a medical school in the philippines, i didn't find any insult to any specific filipino medical professional in the US.  one, her character didn't specifically mention filipino doctors or nurses on the particular scene.  and two, the doctor character himself is a full-blooded american, most likely coming from a US med school.  now, the assumption of miss hatcher's character of the doctor character that he came from a med school in the philippines, now that was an insult to the medical institutions in the country.  but again, not to any specific medical professional making a living in the US.  that i took offense to.  our med schools produce one of the finest medical professionals in the world today and are honored in respected in their chosen fields.  so to say that filipinos were insulted was, well ok, there was a little validity in it, but the bulk of the degrading remark was aimed at our medical institutions.  the reason most probably, is the not too recent nursing exam scandal that sent shockwaves throughout the world.  i mean, we should admit even to ourselves that that particular fiasco was enough for hospitals everywhere to second guess how med schools are being run here.  and while we filipinos have already gotten past that issue and be our usual selves and just put a smile on our faces because that is over and done with, mind you, the rest of the world does not behave the way we do.  while the sad truth is that some people in the US still think that our med schools produce cheaters, what we should've done in addition to the negative reaction to that particular scene was to inform them that the scandal has been taken cared of.  now, the TV network that produces the show already issued an apology over the scene.  then why is there still clamor for the show to be banned?  the series is one of the critically-acclaimed shows in the US, and this little incident won't be enough to phase it out, believe me.  and there's also a clamor for miss hatcher herself to issue the apology?  how could she have a hand in this?  she was just following a script, for god's sakes!  so now every TV or movie star should be conscious of what the script says for fear of stepping on someone else's toes?  we're in the real world.  let's face it, not everyone knows what's going around other countries.  so for me, the apology issued by the network is enough.  we shouldn't issue any more diplomatic prostests concerning that mistake.  this is one clear cut case of over-reacting.

on the case of the daily show with jon stewart's labeling of slut to former president cory aquino, now that isn't even an issue.  one, the show itself is a political satire/comedy aimed at political events.  naturally, it will take potshots at politics and politicians.  that's the nature of the show.  two, did you even hear the same reactions from the other women leaders' countrymen who were in that scene?  they weren't specifically labeled as sluts, but just the same, it was a shot at them, with former prime minister margaret thatcher having a compromising photograph.  so, what's the fuss all about here?  the entire scene was meant to be a joke about how the US may or may not be ready for a woman president with the candidacy of hillary clinton, that's it.  there is no serious remark or insult whatsoever to any of those personalities.  what surprised me was kris aquino's (daughter of cory aquino) reaction to it, saying that what if we label former US presidents as "callboys" or male prostitutes.  now here's someone who i thought is up to date with what's going on in the US more than what's going on here, and someone who had brains.  really.  doesn't she watch david letterman or jay leno take shots at president george w. bush on a nightly basis on their shows?  they make jokes about him being a dumb president, the crowd laughs and the leader of the free world doesn't lift a finger about it.  why?  because it's a joke.  J-O-K-E.  plain and simple.  yes, kris is just coming to the defense of her mother.  but again, it's a non-issue.  it doesn't hurt to laugh at ourselves sometimes, you know.  heck, we even made tons and tons of jokes about former president joseph estrada, right?  and what did he do?  nothing!!  the whole world knows cory aquino's real reputation and what she has done.  this segment wouldn't change that one bit.  when i saw how the report was made about it in our local news programs, i just shook my head in disbelief.  at least willie nepumoceno did the same thing i did:  watch the entire segment and saw that it wasn't an insult to anyone.  no apology is necessary from comedy central.  i wouldn't demand for it in any way.  because this, meanwhile, is a clear cut case of mis-reacting.

now don't get me wrong, i'm proud to be filipino.  i really am.  but the problem with most of us is that we don't see the bigger picture.  we rely or see and hear solely on what is put in front of us.  we don't find out or even think why things are going the way they are.  and these two are very good examples of such.  we can't just go ballistic when someone plays a joke on a former politician or a network television program airs a scene based on true negative events.  yet i'm also not saying that we just bow our heads all the time.  we must learn how to analyze things that are being said or potrayed before making a fuss.  though not everything that can be displayed is pleasing to the eyes or ears, but we must know how to distinguish true fact from plain fiction.

as i have mentioned earlier, another filipino is taking the world stage today.  although i do not like what manny pacquiao is doing outside the boxing ring, i respect and i'm proud of what he does inside it.  yup, he's an odds-on favorite to win the fight.  but i'm betting on barrera to score an upset…

i'm glad to be almost completely out of sick bay and feeling a lot better.  it took quite some time for those meds to take effect, but at least they did.  in fact, i'll be heading back to the gym after my shift in a couple of hours and get right back at my routine.  even with the looming dreaded trip to the US next month, things on my end are kinda turning for the better.  i guess it's life's way of saying, "ok, i'll let you have a little fun now, but remember, your trip is coming soon, so in no time, you'll feel miserable again" (insert evil laugh here).

probably one of the things why i feel kinda positive these days (with emphasis on the word kinda) is that i started playing christmas songs on my istereo (a cheap name i coined up when i started hooking up my ipod two weeks ago on my car stereo instead of playing CDs) last saturday night (sunday early, way early morning) while going to and from work.  i actually wasn't aware that october was only a day away until i glanced at the calendar.  realizing that christmas is merely less than 100 days away had a positive effect in me, obviously it being my favorite time of the year.  which reminds me to start with my list of people to give gifts to and to canvass potential gifts as well.  i guess a trip to greenhills tomorrow after shift would be a good idea.

also, upon arriving home from work sunday morning, i was surprised to find DVDs of the whole six seasons of dawson's creek sitting on the computer table.  apparently, my younger brother borrowed them from his friend and, judging from the entirety of the series, it'll stay with us for a very long time.  i know, i know, you might be surprised to find out that i watch–well, used to watch–that series.  ok, for the record, i am a creek addict.  there, i said it.  i was a big fan of the show.  why?  i don't know.  i was just hooked on it the moment i saw the trailers leading to the pilot episode.  am i able to relate to any of the characters?  i dunno, maybe.  although i lost track of the series during the third season, i think, due to work.  now, at least i can start everything again from season one.  i haven't started watching it though, maybe during my days off or some days after going home from work.  yipee… 🙂

after watching resident evil:  extinction and being awarded for being nice last week, yes, things are kinda looking up.  might as well enjoy the ride while it lasts…

i didn't have a good weekend.

that initially sums up how my weekend went.  one main factor is that i'm still under the weather (going on it's second week now), though i'm feeling a bit better than how i was the last couple of days.  it was the first time in as long as i can remember that i took meds at least three times a day.  had an on and off fever and the headaches just wouldn't stop.  i initially thought that i was struck by the infamous dengue fever, but looking at the symptoms, i knew i didn't have it.  not that i don't mind if i do have it, but if i did, well, it wouldn't surprise me anymore.  nor would i be worried or be concerned.  one thing that was adversely affected is my gym routine.  i guess it's now been two weeks since i worked up a sweat.  hopefully i'll be back by sometime this week when i'm feeling a lot better.

i also went to the department of foreign affairs together with my mom this past friday to have my passport renewed before i make that dreaded trip to the US this november.  with my sickness still in effect (had a constant headache the whole day), i mustered enough willpower to look and act as normal as i could.  we took the public transport since my brother used the car that day and left at around 7AM.  i was quite surprised that the whole process ended before lunchtime, witnessing the sea of people who also went there that day with the same agenda, or applying for a new passport.  i treated my mom to lunch at mcdonald's on the way home and upon arriving home, went online a bit and slept almost the rest of the afternoon and early evening.

i guess the two silver linings i saw that weekend were, one getting to watch resident evil:  extinction this past thursday evening and two, being recognized-slash-awarded by a friend on her blog as one of the nicest people.  i saw the movie with my sister and my cousin (who left for seafarer duty this past saturday morning).  i initially wanted to cancel watching the movie since i wasn't really feeling all that well, but seeing that this might be the only chance for me to see the movie in the theater with all the activities coming up in the next couple of weeks, i pushed on.  besides, it was the last time my cousin would be seeing a movie before he leaves, so might as well, right?  we met my sister in glorietta (we saw the film in cinema 3 in glorietta4 since 6:20PM was the earliest screening after 5:30PM, which was the time my sister gets off work; greenbelt3 had a schedule of 7:15PM which was kinda late for us) and bought some snacks before going in.  the movie itself was good overall, and with the information i had that it would be the final installment of the franchise, i wasn't surprised to see some of the characters from the first two installments be killed off.  yet, of course, there was still that little teaser at the end hinting that there might be either another sequel, or a spin-off (like the mummy returns to the scorpion king and daredevil to elektra to name a few) since there were major characters whose fates were unknown at the film's end.  still, it's a good movie to watch, that is, if you're a fan of the video game and the franchise itself.

as i was online that friday afternoon, i went through the usuals:  checking my email, checking my email on the rx-talk mailing list, checking my friendster and myspace, and of course, checking my blog.  i was surprised to find a comment by liezl, one of my dear friends, saying that she gave me an award on her blog for being one of the nicest people to her.  i was really flattered and it made me smile.  i never imagined or dreamed of being labeled a nice guy since most people i know that perceive me as just a regular guy who just cares (although sometimes too much), much less being called "niceness and patience personified."  in any case, i would like to take some of this space to thank you, liezl for the award.  really, really thank you.  you're one of the few people in the world who i know that always gives encouragement whenever i'm down (mostly, as can be seen on my posts… hehehe) and would also be happy for me in the fewest times that i am.  i guess you're also the first one who publicly told the world how nice of a person i am.  and again, i thank you wholeheartedly.  i'm also currently in the process of doing what you did, recognizing friends and people who have been nice to me despite and in spite of everything, but i'm still reflecting as to who will i recognize.  i guess what you did is an effect of one person who started doing it, and i would say it's something worthwhile since we always see the faults and mistakes–no matter how small they are–of friends and people we know, but forget to praise and elevate people on not just the good things they did or are doing, but by merely how nice or good they are as a person.  so expect that entry to be coming out soon.  again, liezl, i can't thank you enough.  i do hope to see you soon and catch up on things.

looking at what happened over the last couple of days, maybe i didn't have a bad weekend after all.  okay, maybe i had a so-so weekend.  i'm a realist, so sue me.

a couple of things:  first, i've been going to work sick since sunday night; second, my head feels like it's being split open by a piledriver; third, my team's absenteeism is unbelievably and frustratingly high; and fourth, that dreaded trip to the US has finally been set, much to my mom's delight and to my utmost dismay.

the first and second things, well, that i couldn't control.  i've been taking my overload dose of vitamin c and it's still not taking effect.  the third is also out of my control, with one of my agents having hemorrhagic cystits, whatever that is.  filing for a leave of absence came way too late after the agent incurring occurrences absences of more than two weeks.  the fourth, well, i'm too sick and tired to rant about it, and i have also ranted about it before on a previous entry, so you can refer to the link and see exactly how i feel about it.

what am i trying to say?  that i'm stuck in something that is unavoidable.  all of them are things that i wish i had more control of, but it's the inevitable.  but the trip itself, now that is like being led to the gallows.  i sure as hell don't want it, i'm being forced to take it, i'm being forced to spend (read:  take a loan) for it, and a chunk of my vacation leaves have already been dedicated to that trip (and have been approved by my boss).  imagine not having a planned three-day weekend for almost two months!

crap.

no, wait, let me rephrase that…  shit.

that's exactly how i feel right now.