eyeitis?

my job entails a lot of computer usage.... come to think of it, most of the jobs now cant survive without this nasty, i mean handy gizmo. but too much exposure to the monitor really makes my eyes hurt. then the pain radiates upto the occipital area. geez headache, eye pain. my job is not physically demanding (hence the flabby abs - 6 packed pandesal rolled into one big bulge), but at the end of the day, i'm still blessed with such a nice job (unlike the one i saw at BW's post) though it's really tiresome.

uhgh, my table is a mess, my monitor is not helpin a bit.


let me hear some music....... ahhhhh, that's it. imagine i'm havin some quiet time away from the office, a vacation in a place such as this....


just imagine......

ok, back to work! a cup of tea will give me a quick fix!

of Korean movies

Of Koreans and Movies.

During my residency days, I remember my batch mates set up a mini-movie house at our call room – an all-around laptop, an LCD projector, speaker, a white blanket placed on dilapidated wall and viola! Show starts after endorsement (which is around 8-9 pm, at least earlier that the last-full show at Robinson’s). All activities put on halt for a two-hour visual pleasure.

From jologs to classy. From English, Filipino and yeah, the most popular ones – Koreans. There has been a surged of everything-Korean on this part of the world. The Koreans invaded the Philippines (yes, they have out numbered the Japanese and Americans entering the country)! We have a Korean actress – sandara park, we have gazillion teleseryes from Korea - princess lulu, full house, sassy girl, etc etc etc (though I’m not an avid fan of teleseryes because you have to watch it daily – such dedication I cant afford). Now we have kimchi, K cars, Korean language studies and Korean Video Houses (take a walk along Ermita area, you’ll see lots of them).

Since I’m not fond of watching teleseryes (mini-series), watching a movie is the thing for me. And lo and behold – they have great movies. I think they have mastered the art of making quality films. You don’t have to speak their language and appreciate such masterpieces (ok, ok – subtitles is a must). After my residency, I have watched a handful. Their best at melodramas. The style of telling the story and presenting the TWIST usually near the end (which explains how, why and the whatevers of the movie) is totally brilliant! We are fond of watching western movies, it’s about time we try our neighbors’.

I just watched one this morning – Sassy Girl. They said, its part 2 of Wind Struck. Such a beautiful movie of love, relationship, pain and destiny. Don’t want to tell the plot, you have to see and appreciate, and remember – they always have a TWIST, which makes their movies worth watching until the end.

Ah, of rain and snow, of love and tragedy, of comedy and action. Their culture is not very different from ours, hence we can relate. Forget about their names (I didn’t remember a single bit) but watching every movie (or reading the subtitle at the same time), I assure you, they have movies far better than those made in Hollywood. Here’s some movies I recommend you watching.


Memories/Moments to Remember (50 first dates is no match with this one)
The Classic
Wind Struck
Sassy Girl
Sad Movie
Bungee Jumping in their own way
Am still looking for the Korean original “Lake House” - IL MARE




You have to watch the first 2 movies…..! So? How do you say hello? Ania sayo!

the morning rush

i dont know if you guys still listen to the radio. since the advent of MTV (and people are more visually entertained rather than just plain audio) and internet, we tend to discover music in 3D now. This is not a bad thing (well, that's my opinion), i guess marketing strategies continue to evolve and plain audio is not enough anymore. Just like in one song "Video killed the radio star", i thought the end of radio is near.... but i'm wrong.

everyday, on my way to office (traffic along quiapo, taft, incredible EDSA and bearable nichols) i tune in to the radio. I'd say, its nice to have a company along the way. Imagine yourself driving without a radio on - you will notice the horrendous driving skills of jeepney drivers, taxis swerving left and right, and pedestrians crossing on green light (hey, dont get me wrong, i'm no saint driver either - guilty as charge! but in this crazy road, you have to unlearn what you got from driving school cuz you wouldnt survive in the track! - solution.... geez, suddenly my mind is in a halt). That's a lot of segway there. Going back. Yup, radio will stay. Now, i have no time to watch for MTVs, but i have an hour listening to the radio in the morning and another hour (or two) going home.

this blog is getting long, the morning rush is from RX with chico and delamar, but i often tune in to the controversial GOODTIMES with Mo Twister (plus sexy Maui is there now) at Magic. Just like television, the stations are competing to get the chunck of listeners in the morning. Its controversial versus wholesome, but with our short attention span we can simply press a button and change frequency. plain and simple. audibly entertaining. radio lives! (i should probably blog about this some other time)

what's in a name

What’s in a name?

Yuan Mari. Kyan Rhed. April Rheiboy. Marie. Ryukym. Exactly, what’s in a name? For one, I remember during my high school days, one teacher told us that a name is the sweetest word to a person’s ear. Come to think of it, it’s true. Imagine being introduced to a crowd when suddenly the person who’s doing it forgot your name? That’s awfully awkward (you a**hole! Here’s my knife, catch!) And so you end up with a fake smile while uttering your name (huh, I’m sure this happens all the time). And vis-à-vis, I am guilty (countless occasions) of introducing people who I remember by face (tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon as I call it) not by name, hence embarrassingly putting them into anonymity on the spot! You know who you are guys, here’s my apology blog.

I don’t want this thing to happen with my kids. That’s why I gave them (WE gave our bundle of joys) unique names. Here’s their meaning.

Yuan Mari. Yuan is Chinese for original (we’re not Chinese btw, and its also their currency). He is our first-born. Actually, the original name was Yuan Luigi – sounds Italian, Luigi (from Mario brothers) fits quite all right with Yuan. Marie gave birth September 8 at the University of Santo Tomas Hospital, FYI September 8 is Mama Mary’s birthday – without hesitation, we changed Luigi to Mari (computer game is no match to Heavenly matters). Yuan Mari, our first-born. Original. Heaven sent.

Kyan Rhed. In less than two years, God gave us another blessing. Kyan means capable. You see, Marie was in her pre-residency training when we found out that she’s pregnant. Being a resident physician in the biggest government hospital in the Philippines is no easy task. It was indeed a challenge for my wife. She endured all these. She began to have premature labor contractions before her 30th week of gestation. Spotting during her duties. Kyan came out of the world preterm – but with all the stress our second kid and mom encountered, Kyan showed to everyone that he is capable - capable of living. He stayed for one week in the hospital – incubator, antibiotics, IV fluids and all. God is great!

Rhed? I don’t want to give Rheiboy (let me carry the burden to my grave, ok?) so we gave the name Rhed. Kyan Rhed. Capable. Great.

I pray that our third baby will be a girl (I’m sure Big Boss will grant our request), any name you can suggest?

farewell AJ

We just have to wait for another season. Yup, just like sway, AJ was "out" friday in the world's most popular reality television show. Another "ethnic mutt" gone. I think the song had a curse though, the jazz lady (sang the same song) also made her exit. Sayang, galing pa naman bosses ni AJ. Yo! Ethnic Mutt! visit PI! O well, life goes on......

terror mom to super lola!

How mom became grandma

Nothing is permanent in this world… but change.

I remember years ago (ok, let’s say more than 10 years…. or 20, I’m not good in math, especially when it comes to age and ageing!), when I was small and skinny and naïve on how the world works, my mom and dad were the guardians of whatever I do. My overprotective mom, such a character, overprotective to the nth power - to the point that in order for me to go out of the house I (well, not just me but that’s what my brothers and sisters do) sneak-out in the afternoon and go to the playground a few blocks from home – with the rusty slide, see-saw, dirt piles, grasses and all – and spend the whole afternoon, sweat and dirt and stain covering me. Funny thing is, when mom wakes up during her afternoon siesta, she knows where to find us. Haha, you’ll see mama rushing towards the playground, shouting our names, briefly pausing at the sidewalk to break a branch of an ipil-ipil tree, ready to whip our ass! Haha! Such a sight to the awe of our playmates (who sees mommy as the “terror mom”. Owe, I even hide my wound to mom whenever I get a mishap because she will definitely deliver her mantra - “sinasabi ko na nga ba, yang kakulitan mo! Yan ang napapala!” (I told you, that’s what you get for being naughty grrrr! – for my non-tagalog comrades). This was our schedule, we can go out in the morning until 10am, 10am-4pm inside the house (or prison, as what I recalled) 4pm –6pm – freedom! And by the way, during prison time, we are not allowed to bring inmates (friends). No visitors allowed! Yeah, those days, such a wonderful childhood. Thinking about it, mom was truly “terror mom”.

Years passed (here we go again). I’d say time, mellowed mommy. She’s not a terror mom after all. Having five kids, raising us all in one roof is such a Herculean task. Looking back, she’s not a terror mom (like my playmates call her); she’s a super mom!
My 2 kuyas are now engineers, ate is now a manager, little sister a pharmacist and me, a responsible Filipino citizen (and a netizen). We will never be on such stable ground today without “overprotective mom” who guided us along the way. Everything I owe it to terror mom.

We visit mom and dad every weekends (now lolo and lola to Yuan and Kyan). Nothing is permanent in this world but change. Terror mom allows my kids to go out and play outside the house (even during prison time 10-4pm), even calls the neighboring kids to play inside our house with Yuan and Kyan – playstation, run-around the house for as long as they like. Brings the kids to the playground (can you believe it!), and yeah no more breaking of ipil-ipil branches on sidewalk…… how mom became grandma, and how terror mom became the best lola in town (make it the whole wide world).

Love you Mommy, you’re the best. (Dad, love you too :) )

so who's the next American Idol?

I just watched American idol final 24 episode. I remember last year, when I didn’t miss week after week after week - from start to finish. It was exactly this time that I was reviewing for the board exam and at the same time going on 24-hour duties “moonlighting” in historic Cavite (prior to my present job, I was hopping from one hospital to another rendering my “hands that heal” to the people in need of compassionate attention). Yup, multitask – work, entertain, leisure, review all rolled into one.

This time, I’m watching AI in the comforts of my own home. My moonlighting days long gone. But this time I have missed 2 weeks of Idol, can’t help it though, with my present job comes late hours in a meeting or reading must-knows all the time. No complaints, you win some and lose some, hence, I lost some AI episodes.

Final 24. Last year I saw Sway Panelo (a Filipino in the F24) booted-out, how a squirming operatic performer ruined josh groban’s song (I forgot her name, but she was the first one eliminated – to no surprise), how little Paris gave her all, I indeed became an ADDICT (and I’m sure its not just me), I was there alright, I viewed all the episodes up until the finale, where the wedding singer outshined the superstar. My personal favorite though was Elliot Yamin – a commoner with the great voice.

So who will be the next American Idol? Having missed the Hollywood week, and based on what I saw tonight, its going to be one helluva show. They’re all good! Emotions into consideration – I want the single mom to be in the finals. Loyalty to Asia – there’s an Indian guy and I think a Korean (a guy named Kim) in the final 24 – hope one of them can nail it, it’s about time an Asian be in the limelight. Jasmine Trias(Filipino Hawaiian) two seasons ago was 3rd, I’m sure the whole Filipino community in the US voted for her (pahpahrapahpah, love ko ‘to!). Beauty? Well, most of them are a feast to the eye – Barba and another one who looks like Mariah are standouts. Commoner appeal – I’d say Sundance and the other big guy (the one who said “the reason I call for this meeting blah blah”). And before I forget, that “little miss dolittle”, the one with a short neck (or does she have a neck, which reminds me, giraffe girl didnt make it, sigh), the back-up singer – she’s outstanding!

So who’s the next American Idol? We just have to watch the show week after week after week. (I hope I can……..)