Drunk Stoned High Wasted

I was really wasted yesterday night...had too much drink with my barkada in Antipolo. We were invited in one of a wealthy contractor's birthday. A sumptuous food was served with a whole "lechon na baka", still in its roasting bar as the main attraction on the table. Beer was flooding, no bottles, all in a beer dispenser and the theme that night is "drink all you can". But I opted to drink brandy, three of us consumed a 1.5-liter fundador while listening to a local band. The young dudes were mediocre playing smorgasbord songs...yeah, i didn't like it...everything was in disarray, feedbacks were there, mixing was worst, the sound was really poor...tunog lata, pero ok lang...maigi sa wala. Pinaka-badtrip, me nagvolunteer kumanta, ang pyesa..."Butsikek" ni Yoyoy Villame, nakakatawa pa, ang pangalan raw nya eh si "Donotbuy". Gusto pang humirit, Philippine Geography raw, inayawan ng banda at di alam ang tipa. Muntik ko ng agawin ang microphone at ipukpok sa ulo nya.

After the last drop of brandy, i felt i was really tired and drunk...i would know it if i am starting to talk too much. We left the party at aroung 1:30 am but ended up in a local videoke bar for some "washing"...we call it panghugas and beer would be the drink. I had a couple of them + 1 angel sitting right beside me, just cheap talks, nothing more. The last beer really wasted me and i didn't know what happened next...it was already 4:00 in the morning when i got home.

I didn't report for work today...hilong-hilo pa ako, the best i've done so far was sleep the whole day. Lubog na ang araw ng gumising ako kanina. Nasabi pati ng misis ko na napakasarap naman ng buhay ko sa araw na to...naglasing, di nagtrabaho at tulog maghapon. My reply was..."akala mo madaling uminon, sige, ikaw ang uminom at maglasing, tignan natin kung kaya mo". But it was only a joke and she understands....i don't do this as a habit, occasional lang.

Just a while back i drove my wife & kids at Jolibee ni Morong, Rizal for a treat...yan ang tinatawag na pangsuhol. One good thing about the drink last night..."nagtira ako ng pang-uwi" and mind you, i also follow the "10 commandments para sa manginginom"...it would really guide you, i guess.

Self-Portrait

 

Metal's self-portrait ? Hell, no! It was just the result of my big boredom during today's training...the so called "Restore Training" here at the plant's conference room. It was all about finance, purchasing procedures, accounting, capital budget, etc, etc...which it didn't interest me that much this morning. My mind was wandering out of this world i haven't paid any attention to what the resource speaker was talking about.

I wasn't aware i was holding a paper and a pencil, with my mind alienated, sketching this silly thing. I have this fondness of sketching weird creatures, myth characters...anything scary....i don't know why. Pa-baduy na ng pabaduy ang post ko talaga....

A Grand Time in Laguna

Nakakaburat na...ngayun, mula 8:00 am hanggang 3:30 pm, wala akong ginawa kundi gumawa ng monthly report, masakit na mga mata at puwet ko. Malapit na ang katapusan, hangga't maari di pa dumarating ang month-end, inuumpisahan ko nang gumawa...di ko style yung naghahabol ng mga report pag katapusan na, mas masakit sa ulo. "Cramming" ika nga. Retired na ako sa style na yun...estudyante pa ako ugali ko na, inalis ko na yun. Pampaalis muna ng suya, eto...makapagsulat nga ng blog.

 
I have nothing in particular to brag at this moment...ah, maibida na lang ang gimik ko nung linggo. It was one of the grandest time I had for a long time. Me and six of my barkadas (together with our respective families) had a trip to Lumban, Laguna, the home of lansones and rambutan. We drove our cars in "convoy" for a 2-hour trip to a certain "hot spring" resort. The place was very simple yet it was one of the most serene places i've seen...lots of trees (rambutan, lansones & whatever), fruits, some wildlife in cages (wild boar, snakes, lots of birds, monkeys, etc). Most in particular is the fresh air which is much, much cleaner than here at the plant. You'd feel a big relief when the wind blows on you...my lungs felt the comfort it brings.
 

The water was so fresh, the pool was filled up just when we arrived. I had a good time with my wife and kids at talagang nag-enjoy sila sa lugar na yun, pati pag-kain, super sarap...inihaw na tilapia na gumagalaw pang binili sa palengke sa lugar na yun. Meron ding inihaw na bangus, talong + kamatis + alamang, barbeque, sinigang na babuy, kilawin tanigue, pansit, mga prutas at ewan kung anu pa yung iba. Naglublub ako sa tubig maghapon (di ako lumanguy at di naman ako marunong) at talagang nakaramdam ako ng ginhawa...malayo sa trabaho, malayo sa traffic, malayo sa mga asungot sa paligid, maski panandalian lang.

Natutuwa ako sa mga anak ko at sa mga anak ng mga barkada ko...di mo maipinta ang kasiyahan sa kanilang mga mukha. Alam ko di lang sa tubig o sa lugar na yun ang naging kaligayahan nila kundi ang makita nila na ang buong pamilya maski gaano kahirap ang buhay ay sama-sama...maski sa panadaliang kasiyahan lamang.

Tama nga si Sampaguita..."Laguna, nang ito ay marating ko, para bang ako'y nagbago...kakaibang damdamin"

Sampung Utos sa Manginginom

Habang ako'y nagpapapalit ng "clucth disc" ng sasakyan nung sabado dun sa talyer ni Mang Toti, me napansin akong isang papel na nakapaskil sa isang dingding habang naghihintay. Medyo na-amuse ako kaya't minarapat kong kopyahin at ibahagi. Tinanung ko si Mang Toti kung sino me gawa nito...sabi nya, silang mga mekaniko...naniniwala ako dahil ugali kasi nilang mag-inom ng Tanduay o Emperador pagkatapos ng maghapong trabaho.

Sampung Utos para sa mga Tomador

1. Huwag makulit habang umiinom.
2. Huwag matakaw sa pulutan. Ito'y pangsapin lang at di panghapunan.
3. Huwag patagalin ang baso sapagkat me naghihintay rin sa susunod na tagay...ika nga, "di baling magtagal sa suso, huwag lang sa baso".
4. Huwag matutulog habang nag-iinom.
5. Di basta umiinom o nakikiinom lang, bumili rin. Sa madaling salita, mag-ambag ka.
6. Ilagay ang alak sa tiyan, huwag sa ulo.
7. Huwag pakalasing, magtira ng pang-uwi.
8. Huwag basta aalis habang nag-iinom, magpaalam naman.
9. Siguraduhing sa bahay ang diretso pag-uwi.
10. Huwag mananakit ng asawa, lambingin lamang ito at kung maari ay suhulan ng maski ano (halimbawa, pansit) para payagan ulit sa susunod na paalam sa pag-iinom.

Nagtataka si Mang Toti habang kinukopya ko ito, sabi ko'y ikakalat ko ito...malay mo baka makatulong pa ito sa iba. Nangingiting bumalik sya dun sa kanyang ginagawa.

metal's Dreadful Ordeals

I have to reveal these scary, if not, painful experiences out to get these off my nerves...

1. Once Bitten, Twice Shy: When i was 8 years old, i was fond of picking up "tansans" (bottle tops) in the neighborhood, pound them flat and convert it into an improvised tamborine. Sometimes these tops are good as bets in "tatsing". While walking along an empty street, in front of a big nipa house...a group of dogs (five of them), i still remember it clearly, came running towards me each giving their own bite. Had 25 anti-rabbies shot after that. After a year, my pet puppy accidentally bit me...had another 25 shots. Three years ago (from now), after a drinking session, a neighbor's dog (who had just given birth) run after me and gave me her share...6 shots in a row. That's 25+25+6...56 shots (too painful). Result is, i have now this dog trauma...whenever i see one, i sweat profusely and call all the saints that i know. It's thrice bitten, twice shy.
2. Billy's Got a Gun: It was a summer of my 2nd year in college, a friend called me up one night telling me to meet him in a secluded local bar in Baguio. We were meeting a guy for a talk with some illegal business (please don't ask about the business, it's hallucinating) so i had to go there. There was my friend with an odd-looking, goon-looking guy just sitting beside him. We had a couple of beer while talking some business, then my friend just said..."my friend here can play a guitar and sing", i think he uttered that because the bar has a small stage with a couple of instruments at rest. The guy requested me to sing a few, but i refused telling him that i feel awkward. The guy just pulled out a gun, put it the table and said, "it's your choice...kakanta ka o hindi". I don't know what's got into him. No choice...i have to pick up the acoustic guitar, put my butt on the stool at the stage and sang: Himig Natin (by J dela Cruz), Dust in the Wind (by Kansas) and Operator (by Croce), last one was Sweet Baby James by James Taylor (i loved folk songs then). Yeah, singing while looking at a gun on a table. I almost fainted afterwards.
3. Trial by Fire: 1994, two days before New Year, me and my family went home to Pangasinan (from Rizal) for a family reunion. My brother with his family (just came from Canada) were there, our eldest sister with her family (who just came from US) and our youngest sister are all present, with our Mom & Dad. We were having a grand conversation at the sala then an unusual sound just came off the ceiling..."ksssssst". It was an electrical failure, and after a while, our house, just newly painted in preparation on my siblings arrival from abroad, was up in smoke...the house was on fire. We all scramppled out of the house and watch it engulfed by fire. Each one of us was crying, nothing was saved, even a single clothing, we have to stay at my aunt's house for the meantime. What a reunion, too tragic...after a year, we started rebuilding a new house for my folks. Now they're ok.
4. In Sickness & in Health: I had this illness in the year 1996, i'm damn sick i had to leave work and had a pain taking medicine for two months. It was the lowest moment of my life, i though i'd die. But God was so good, he gave me my second chance...and i'm not wasting it.
5. Dad's Alright: 2004, the greatest fear i had...when Dad fainted in an FX taxi after a run around at a mall in the province. He was brought to a nearby hospital but was advised we'd bring him to the Philippine Heart Center. The doctor made an advise for us not to waste time and look for some blood donors, 15 healthy men minimum. He was tentatively diagnosed of a very rare heart disease...a very difficult situation and chances were very slim...we all broke down. I've called everyone that i know for some blood, i was hiding my emotions then making myself strong. When everything was ready, the doctors made their final diagnostics (very expensive tests and laboratories). One day, he called us telling that the first findings were incorrect and that Dad's not that ill, he's free from his heart operation. Suddenly the sun shone, birds were singing and i felt a mountain just came off my back. Indeed, it was a miracle and we were all crying with joy. God is truly great and Dad's now as healthy as a horse.

I was thinking of another part of this post which is "metal's Dark Secrets"...but nah, that'll be too personal. I have countless of them, very, very dark, indeed...but i'll keep it in my closet for a while, bring these with me to my grave. This will be my last post if i do that.

Kapitan Kidlat

Haaay, ano ba naman ito, kuya...talagang minamalas ako nitong linggong ito. Panay tigil itong operation at di na normal tong pangaraw-araw na buhay ko. Magmula kahapon hanggang ngayun, panay palya ang isang "frequency drive" dito at di ko pa makita ang dahilan. Matindi na ang pressure ng mga big boss at di na sila nasisiyahan. Dalawang gabi na akong di natutulog dahil dito sa bwakang na problema. Pag electrical ang issue o dahilan ng isang "trouble", napakahirap hanapin ang pinagmulan...buti sana kung sunog ang isang control card, at least kita mo na...papalitan mo na lang, pero wala eh, basta na lang titirik...buset talaga.

Nag-umpisa kasi ang lahat ng isang lunes ng hapon eh umulan ng malakas, galit na galit na hinaluan ng malalakas na kidlat. Mula noon, nagkalintik na 'tong drive na to. Ngayun, nangangapa pa rin ako. Gusto ng pumikit ng mga mata ko at makatikim naman ng kaunting tulog pero paano...di pa rin nahuhuli ang problema. Tanging ina naman oo...

Pasensya na sa mga magaspang na salita, habang sinusulat ko to, pinapahinga ko lang ang utak ko na ewan kung me laman pa o puno na ng kalituhan. Naisulat ko na nga lang itong pakiramdam ko para maibsan naman at pagbalik ko mamaya dun sa problema kong drive, medyo maluwag uli sa dibdib.

Isa pa nga..."Cooking ng ina"...agrrr!

Alas dos y medya na ng umaga...tulog na ang nga angel samantalang narito pa rin ako sa trabaho pero di ko naman aayawan ito. Ika nga, ang umaayaw, di nagwawagi. Kaya ko 'to...sabi nga nung isang reteradong boss ko dati..."kaya mo yan, gawa lang ng tao yan!". Sige!

Inner Voice (In the eyes of a blogger)

It has been two months now since I have started this blogsite, and in that span I have learned so much, from scratch, I was able to costumize the layout on what i feel best represents me. I have never imagine about getting into CSS and HTML tweaks, more so with some Macromedia and photo editing applications , but look, I am beginning to interest and understand these. Learning new things gives you a better outlook in life. But the main point of this experience is the way to handle things...how you express your thoughts, your feelings or sentiments and your understanding, the capacity of rational thought or perceptions.

Technically, blogging (from the word "Weblog") defined as a personal, even commercial site that uses a date format containing links and commentaries for others' views. The main content are the webmaster's aritcles which are regularly updated...too shallow.

In my point, it is a personal site of people's inner thoughts and their emotions (be it good or bad), honest views, observations, confusions, accomplishements, hapiness, desperations, solitudes, inspirations, beliefs, etc. It is their personal being that is symbolized and everyone is priviliged to have a view of them... it'll be up to us to interpret and reflect on these messages, dig and learn from them. I have read a lot of blogger's posts, seen a number of their sites and begin to understand how others define the meaning of life...some take it too seriously and some in contrast articulate it lightly. Some speak of morbidity, some speak of enduring memories, a lot are intellegent writers with excellent posts, some say it in few words, some are very objective, some are carefree and even some talk about their sex lives, defining every details...but I say, all of them are unpretentious people expressing their genuine thoughts. It would be up to us, readers, to construe their meaning and reflect on these purposes. It would definitely make us more wiser and appreciative.

The most striking thing about blogging is "meeting" a lot of "virtual friends", accepting their existence and trying to learn from them. It has been surprising to discover how people connect with each, how they think, how they react, how each one walks in when the world walks out. Indeed, though mysterious, life is not so lonely after all...

In Honor of Baknoy's Query

As promised on the "Age of Innocence" comments'...it would be an honor to answer baKNOY's queries. He wasn't the first to ask but I guess it would be the time to tell about the evolution of "metal_ears". Just the fun of it, ok?
To quote baKNOY's' comment: "hmm..tanong ko lang.. are we suppose to grow out of that? if so, when? and why is your blog black? and why is it called metal ears? do you really have metal ears? are they heavy? do they hurt? why am i asking so much? oh my. go...i haven't grown out of it yet... and im already 21..hehehe peace metal! babe is cool. he's a pig, and he talks. nuff said! have a nice day."
To answer: Q: Are we suppose to grow out of that? (i guess, referring to the perpetual questioning of a child) - surely no, we aren't suppose to grow out of that. Life is a never ending conquest for truth. From the Nike ad: " There is no finish line!". Q: If so, when? - No, no, no please...don't stop asking questions. Dead brains only do that. Q: And why is your blog black? - Well, from the basic Web Design tips, "try colors, styles and fonts that compliment each other"...Since metal_ears is my alias, surely i would go with the color that represents metal (pink will be a no, no). I thought of silver, nah (too dry)...blue, hmm...could be, black? why not...a lot of metal sites have black backgrounds, and red often comes with it...yes, Black, a Red and Gray with a little touch of Yellow and Sky Blue. White font. Q: Why is it called metal ears? - Here it goes, when i was in 2nd year high school, i got this old CBS Sony heavy metal tape (various artists) from a friend. It was a good selection tape with likes of Cheap Trick, Aerosmith, Heart, Boz Scaggs, Ted Nugent, Euclid Beach Band, Bruce Springsteen and so on. It was so good, i really liked it. But the thing is, the tape's case was lost so i have to provide one and replenish the cover. I did a little drawing for the cover with some colors then thought of a title..."Selection" doesn't sound good, "Various Artists"...nah, too common, so i thought of...why not "For Metal Listeners". Title still lengthy so i finally thought. "Metal Ears". Yeah, sounds good...that's it..."METAL EARS". (corny no?...hahaha). But at least me pinagmulan. From then on, i kept the name (and kept the tape, too...it's sooo old, but still cool). Q: Do you have metal ears? - Yeah, i think so, not only that, even my heart posses that...i love heavy metal (from 19 kupongkupong 'til now). People say, too loud, noise pollution, addicts' sounds, I say to them "oh yeah, up yours, fuck your disco !" Q: Are they heavy? - Yeah, "unliterally", yeah...really heavy. Q: Do they hurt? - Absolutely nope...in fact, feels even better, it's anti-gravity, man! Q: Why am i asking too much? - Sure, baKNOY...because you're cool and normal. You still have that child within...like most of us.

To baKNOY, many thanks, bro...this post was inspired by you!

Age of Innocence

I had a chance to watch an HBO program with my 5-year old kid last night. We were comfortably lying down in bed, his head resting on my shoulder as we watch. It was an old movie about the adventures of a talking pig, "Babe", together with its assorted talking animal friends. Well, this is not the first time that my son had watched this movie, surely he must have seen it a couple of times but he really adores these types. He would, in fact tell you what would happen on the next scene or episode. I, too was mermerize with it...imagine, a pig talking to a dog, together working as a sheepdog?

But the funny thing is that, through the span of the movie, he had this attitude of perpetual questionings, asking everything he sees or anything deemed necessary to satisfy his curiosity. He must have asked questions a hundred or so...every minute that if ever you lack a good-natured tolerance, surely you would blow your top.

He would ask:

Ian: Papa, bakit may putik ang paa ni "Babe"?

Me: Kasi, naglaro at naghabulan sila ng aso.

Ian: Eh, bakit sila naglaro ng aso?

Me: Magkaibigan kasi sila kaya sila naglalaro.

Ian: Bakit sila magkaibigan?

Me: Kasi magkasama lang sila sa isang bahay kaya sila magkaibigan.

Ian: Bakit sila magkasama sa bahay?

Me: Eh, kasi nga magkaibigan sila...

He pauses for a second, then here it goes again...

Ian: Bakit sila magkaibigan?

Me: Ian, manood ka na lang...

Handling children's questions is a skill, it requires thought about the questions being asked identifying the likely motive for asking it and the knowledge on how to turn a question into a useful starting point of an investigation. One article that I read is that, some of the children's questions should not be answered directly but must be handled to stimulate a discussion between the two of you. That would in fact contributes the developement of his thinking.

One sample is that:

Child: How do birds weave their nests?

Dad: They're clever...

Child: Birds are clever with their beaks. Nobody would ever think because they're small.

Dad: Yes, it's wonderful, isn't it?

From the part of our conversation last night, obvioulsy I don't have the skill, yet it would be best to try and learn the best answer to every child's questioning. Who knows, we might learn more from these kids.