liquid sunshine

Quotes: The Mentalist (1x02, "Red Hair and Silver Tape")

2012-08-27T01:02:00.002+08:00

The body of a girl is found in the fields fully-clothed but bound with silver duct tape. Jane is sure that she is a local and so is the killer. Midway through the investigation, Jane theorizes that this is the work of someone just learning the ropes.

Written by: Bruno Heller
**************
Jane [hypnotizing Raquel]: Raquel, look at me. Before you fall asleep tonight, while you're lying in your bed relaxing and slowly drifting off into sleep, I want you to think of me. Think of me and imagine that you can fly. Imagine that you're weightless. You can float gently into the air if you want to. Safe and calm and serene. You can fly away and leave all your burdens and worries and fears behind you. Imagine that. What a nice feeling it is. Next time you see me, when I say hello, you'll remember that good feeling and you will want to tell me the truth. Because when you do tell the truth, you feel that a heavy weight has been lifted from your shoulders. I'll say hello and you will feel as light as a feather as if you were floating on air. Why don't you sit here a moment and think about that before you go back to work?
Raquel: Whatever. [looks at Cho] Your friend's crazy. Can I go now?
Cho: Yes.
[Raquel leaves the room.]
Jane: Worked on the chicken.

Jane: Yes, I did hypnotize her but...
Lisbon: But nothing. It's unprofessional and it's illegal. It's totally out of bounds.
Cho: That's what I told him.
Jane: I was gonna say you had nothing to do with it, but hey.
Lisbon: You allow him to pull that stuff again and you'll be showing visitors around the state house in a stupid hat.
Cho: Yes ma'am, understood.

Jane: Being sorry is far worse punishment than being dead. Everybody dies; very few people feel truly sorry for the bad things they've done. It hurts.

Jane: Don't fret. I wouldn't seduce you over a meal. That would be very sophomoric.
Lisbon: I didn't think you were trying to seduce me.
Jane: Come on. How could that thought not have entered your head? Your denial that it did intrigues me.
Lisbon: Bite me.
**************
Cast: Simon Baker as Patrick Jane, Robin Tunney as Agent Teresa Lisbon, Tim Kang as Agent Kimball Cho, Owain Yeoman as Agent Wayne Rigsby, Amanda Righetti as Agent Grace Van Pelt, Sarah Hernandez as Raquel

Quotes: Flirting with Forty

2010-08-22T01:06:00.002+08:00

So I just finished watching Flirting with Forty, which, to be honest, I wouldn't even know about if I hadn't gone into stalker mode and searched for all things Robert Buckley. Since I don't like horror films and I'm already hooked on Lipstick Jungle, this was the next step into fan-dom.

Can you blame me for wanting more? (source: justjared.buzznet.com)

This made-for-TV movie centers around the life of Jackie, played by the lovely Heather Locklear (who, by the way, was 47-ish when the movie came out in 2008 and she didn't even look it). Newly divorced with two kids, she heads to Hawaii as a birthday gift from her friend Kristine (Vanessa Williams). There she meets the sizzling hot Kyle Hamilton (Robert Buckley), a surfing instructor who dares her to "swim out of (her) comfort zone".

Jackie ushers in her 40th in bed with Kyle and soon, the two agree to an exclusive relationship. This is met by disapproval from Jackie's ex-husband and friends, and, coupled with the realities of her children and her job, she is forced to break away from Kyle. Months pass and Jackie acknowledges that her happiness is with Kyle.

**************

source: wikimedia.org

Jackie: Okay. So, I'm gonna put this together and then we'll put the Christmas tree through here. You guys will lift it up and hold it and I will tighten the screws.
Jessica: Well, Daddy has a very smart one.
Will: Yeah, Dad has the new no-tip, no-tilt, tap-a-toe stand.
Jackie: Well, we have this perfectly lovely little Christmas tree stand that's been around since before you were born.
Will: It's very old.
Jackie: Well, we don't trade it in just because there's something new out there. So, we are gonna honor this Christmas tree stand. Even if it is old.

Kyle: So, how about a lesson?
Jackie: For real?
Kyle: Why not?
Jackie: Why? You can't teach an old dog new tricks.
Kyle: What dog? And who's old?

Kyle: You know, surf wisdom says that you gotta swim out of your comfort zone to catch the wave that's gonna change your life.

Jackie: So, the door slams and he's gone and I end up blubbering like a baby ‘till 3 in the morning. And that's how I rang in my 40th. But, I mean, that's not the point. My point is that, as a grown-up, aren't I supposed to be able to handle these ridiculously stupid decisions that I make and not end up in a ball all wet and snotty all night?
Kristine: Okay. So, it's a sign of maturity to have zero feelings?

Jackie: Why does everything taste better outdoors?
Kyle: It does, right?

Kristine: Excuse me? Have you not heard of the Moore Phenomenon? Demi? Julianne Moore? They're both married to guys that are 10 years younger than them. And Katie Couric? She's in her 50s and her boyfriend's in his 30s.

Kristine: Well, I'm just glad to see you happy. You know, like my grandmama always said: "The only way to get over a man is to get under another."

Will: I have this girlfriend, Stephanie.
Jackie: I didn't know you had a girlfriend.
Will: I do. I met her at the Fourth of July. And yesterday, when I came second in the swim meet, she said I didn't win 'cause I'm too small. She said I would swim faster if I wasn't so little.
Jackie: First of all, Will, you're exactly the size you're supposed to be and everyone grows at different rates. So no one can say who's too big and who's too small. And judging by your father, you're gonna be towering over all of us very soon.
Will: Yeah?
Jackie: And if Stephanie doesn't understand that, and doesn't appreciate you for you, and exactly who you are, then that's her loss.

Kyle: All the hustle on the mainland just seems insane to me. I mean, you got this one life and you're spending it sitting in rush hour or working under fluorescent lights in a climate-controlled room, hunched over a computer, sucking back caffeine. And for what?

open letter.

2010-08-19T17:42:00.028+08:00

Borrowing a line from that Sinead O'Connor song, "it's been 7 hours and 15 days, since you took your love away". At this.exact.moment.

Life's been chugging along like the little engine that could. I laugh with friends, throwing jokes out with the same timing that I had before. Apparently, humor has kept me sane and distracted because honestly, I'm not yet up to thinking about what happened to our relationship.

This is not to say I haven't shed any tears. I have and there have been plenty. While I'm productive during office hours, it's the mornings and the late nights that are giving me problems. I find no need real reason to get up in the morning and at night, I fear that if I sleep, I may never wake up.

The three-day mourning period my mother gave me has already expired, obviously. She said it's non-moveable, but I'm going to use it anyway whenever I feel like it. If there's one good thing this breakup has done, it's that I found a renewed respect for my family and friends. None of them are hurrying this healing process and none of them have brushed off my tears and rants as immaturity or nonsensical, no matter how repetitive they may be.

Of course, I have to deal with the obvious repercussions of welcoming you into our lives: everything has suddenly transformed from objects of love into reminders of love lost. You have infiltrated all my photo albums since 2007, every corner of the quarters and of our Baguio home, every techie- and car-related topic, and everything even remotely related to any of my experiences in the past 3 years. Why? Because I allowed you to be with me through it all. The thing about shared experiences is, well, you can't "un-share" them. Moving on from a relationship of this scale is fracking hard.

I know I should be more concerned about self-preservation and moving on. However, a little voice inside me is nagging me about the possibility of leeches creeping around you trying to get a taste of what they never had before, of vultures circling my head even before I'm dead, and of assholes who will attempt to take you to the dark side. It is my wish, and my prayer, that you do the right thing and stay away from these kinds of people -- lest you turn into a douchebag or a manwhore.

Do you remember how I always have new songs for you to listen to? I've removed "Happy Heart" from my iPod – you know, the one that contained all your favorite songs, from Babe, to Nothing's Gonna Stop Us, to Iris. I've already set-up a "Heartbreak" playlist on my iTunes and the song count is growing. I just can't believe I'm back to singing these again. With the help of suggestions and dedications from friends, the playlist evokes different shades of negative emotions:

… fear of being forever broken (Bent)
… despair (Big Blue Sea)
… unfair (Breakeven, Hiling, I Hate This Part, Oo)
… denial (It's Not Over, The Man Who Can't Be Moved, Over My Head)
… aversion (Halaga, Huwag na Huwag Nang Magbabalik, I Don't Want to Be Your Friend, I Love You Goodbye)
… and, of course, hope that sooner or later, I'll get over this whole thing (Heal Over, Tattoo).

I have only recently added "hate and good riddance" to my list, with songs like Irreplaceable, Survivor, and Gone in September – in an attempt to move on.

This is my playlist. What's yours?
**************
I'm playing the "heartbroken" card to explain the lack of coherence. Excuse me.

of promises and high hopes.

2010-08-18T15:49:00.007+08:00

Aquino's 100th day is drawing near and the realities are setting in: that he's no Superman and that he is not exempted from critics heavily armed with words that point to the negatives.

However, let's not forget that the President has high hopes for this country -- and so should we. It's an old joke, but what this country really needs right now is a "Pangulo" (President) not a "panggulo" (troublemaker). Whether he delivers on his promises or not is a different topic altogether, but it's up to us to make sure that he does. Check out this site by ABS-CBN: the Aquino Promises Tracker.

Transcript of the Inaugural Speech of President Benigno C. Aquino III delivered on June 30, 2010 after the jump.

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His Excellency Jose Ramos Horta, Former President Fidel V. Ramos, Former President Joseph Estrada, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and members of the Senate, House Speaker Prospero Nograles and members of the House, justices of the Supreme Court, members of the foreign delegations,Your Excellencies of the diplomatic corps, fellow colleagues in government, aking mga kababayan.

Ang pagtayo ko dito ngayon ay patunay na kayo ang aking tunay na lakas. Hindi ko inakala na darating tayo sa puntong ito, na ako’y manunumpa sa harap ninyo bilang inyong Pangulo. Hindi ko pinangarap maging tagapagtaguyod ng pag-asa at tagapagmana ng mga suliranin ng ating bayan.

Ang layunin ko sa buhay ay simple lang: maging tapat sa aking mga magulang at sa bayan bilang isang marangal na anak, mabait na kuya, at mabuting mamamayan.

Nilabanan ng aking ama ang diktaturya at ibinuwis niya ang kanyang buhay para tubusin ang ating demokrasya. Inalay ng aking ina ang kanyang buhay upang pangalagaan ang demokrasyang ito. Ilalaan ko ang aking buhay para siguraduhin na ang ating demokrasya ay kapaki-pakinabang sa bawat isa. Namuhunan na kami ng dugo at handang gawin itong muli kung kinakailangan.

Tanyag man ang aking mga magulang at ang kanilang mga nagawa, alam ko rin ang problema ng ordinaryong mamamayan. Alam nating lahat ang pakiramdam na magkaroon ng pamahalaang bulag at bingi. Alam natin ang pakiramdam na mapagkaitan ng hustisya, na mabalewala ng mga taong pinagkatiwalaan at inatasan nating maging ating tagapagtanggol.

Kayo ba ay minsan ring nalimutan ng pamahalaang inyong iniluklok sa puwesto? Ako rin. Kayo ba ay nagtiis na sa trapiko para lamang masingitan ng isang naghahari-hariang de-wangwang sa kalsada? Ako rin. Kayo ba ay sawang-sawa na sa pamahalaang sa halip na magsilbi sa taumbayan ay kailangan pa nila itong pagpasensiyahan at tiisin? Ako rin.

Katulad ninyo ako. Marami na sa atin ang bumoto gamit ang kanilang paa—nilisan na nila ang ating bansa sa kanilang paghahanap ng pagbabago at katahimikan. Tiniis nila ang hirap, sinugod ang panganib sa ibang bansa dahil doon may pag-asa kahit kaunti na dito sa atin ay hindi nila nakikita. Sa iilang sandali na sarili ko lang ang aking inaalala, pati ako ay napag-isip din—talaga bang hindi na mababago ang pamamahala natin dito? Hindi kaya nasa ibang bansa ang katahimikang hinahanap ko? Saan ba nakasulat na kailangang puro pagtitiis ang tadhana ng Pilipino?

Ngayon, sa araw na ito—dito magwawakas ang pamumunong manhid sa mga daing ng taumbayan. Hindi si Noynoy ang gumawa ng paraan, kayo ang dahilan kung bakit ngayon, magtatapos na ang pagtitiis ng sambayanan. Ito naman ang umpisa ng kalbaryo ko, ngunit kung marami tayong magpapasan ng krus ay kakayanin natin ito, gaano man kabigat.

Sa tulong ng wastong pamamahala sa mga darating na taon, maiibsan din ang marami nating problema. Ang tadhana ng Pilipino ay babalik sa tamang kalagayan, na sa bawat taon pabawas ng pabawas ang problema ng Pinoy na nagsusumikap at may kasiguruhan sila na magiging tuloy-tuloy na ang pagbuti ng kanilang sitwasyon.

Kami ay narito para magsilbi at hindi para maghari. Ang mandato ninyo sa amin ay pagbabago—isang malinaw na utos para ayusin ang gobyerno at lipunan mula sa pamahalaang iilan lamang ang nakikinabang tungo sa isang pamahalaang kabutihan ng mamamayan ang pinangangalagaan.

Ang mandatong ito ay isa kung saan kayo at ang inyong pangulo ay nagkasundo para sa pagbabago—isang paninindigan na ipinangako ko noong kampanya at tinanggap ninyo noong araw ng halalan.

Sigaw natin noong kampanya: “Kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap.” Hindi lamang ito pang slogan o pang poster—ito ang mga prinsipyong tinatayuan at nagsisilbing batayan ng ating administrasyon.

Ang ating pangunahing tungkulin ay ang magsikap na maiangat ang bansa mula sa kahirapan, sa pamamagitan ng pagpapairal ng katapatan at mabuting pamamalakad sa pamahalaan.

Ang unang hakbang ay ang pagkakaroon ng tuwid at tapat na hanay ng mga pinuno. Magsisimula ito sa akin. Sisikapin kong maging isang mabuting ehemplo. Hinding hindi ko sasayangin ang tiwalang ipinagkaloob ninyo sa akin. Sisiguraduhin ko na ganito rin ang adhikain ng aking Gabinete at ng mga magiging kasama sa ating pamahalaan.

Naniniwala akong hindi lahat ng nagsisilbi sa gobyerno ay corrupt. Sa katunayan, mas marami sa kanila ay tapat. Pinili nilang maglingkod sa gobyerno upang gumawa ng kabutihan. Ngayon, magkakaroon na sila ng pagkakataong magpakitang-gilas. Inaasahan natin sila sa pagsupil ng korapsyon sa loob mismo ng burukrasya.

Sa mga itinalaga sa paraang labag sa batas, ito ang aking babala: sisimulan natin ang pagbabalik ng tiwala sa pamamagitan ng pag-usisa sa mga “midnight appointments.” Sana ay magsilbi itong babala sa mga nag-iisip na ipagpatuloy ang baluktot na kalakarang nakasanayan na ng marami.

Sa mga kapuspalad nating mga kababayan, ngayon, ang pamahalaan ang inyong kampeon.

Hindi natin ipagpapaliban ang mga pangangailangan ng ating mga estudyante, kaya’t sisikapin nating punan ang kakulangan sa ating mga silid-aralan.

Unti-unti din nating babawasan ang mga kakulangan sa imprastraktura para sa transportasyon, turismo at pangangalakal. Mula ngayon, hindi na puwede ang “puwede na” pagdating sa mga kalye, tulay at gusali dahil magiging responsibilidad ng mga kontratista ang panatilihing nasa mabuting kalagayan ang mga proyekto nila.

Bubuhayin natin ang programang “emergency employment” ng dating pangulong Corazon Aquino sa pagtatayo ng mga bagong imprastraktura na ito. Ito ay magbibigay ng trabaho sa mga local na komunidad at makakatulong sa pagpapalago ng kanila at ng ating ekonomiya.

Hindi kami magiging sanhi ng inyong pasakit at perwisyo. Palalakasin natin ang koleksyon at pupuksain natin ang korapsyon sa Kawanihan ng Rentas Internas at Bureau of Customs para mapondohan natin ang ating mga hinahangad para sa lahat, tulad ng:

• dekalidad na edukasyon, kabilang ang edukasyong bokasyonal para makapaghanap ng marangal na trabaho ang hindi makapag-kolehiyo;
• serbisyong pangkalusugan, tulad ng Philhealth para sa lahat sa loob ng tatlong taon;
• tirahan sa loob ng mga ligtas na komunidad.

Palalakasin at palalaguin natin ang bilang ng ating kasundaluhan at kapulisan, hindi para tugunan ang interes ng mga naghahari-harian, ngunit para proteksyunan ang mamamayan. Itinataya nila ang kanilang buhay para mayroong pagkakataon sa katahimikan at kapayapaan sa sambayanan. Dumoble na ang populasyong kanilang binabantayan, nanatili naman sila sa bilang. Hindi tama na ang nagmamalasakit ay kinakawawa.

Kung dati ay may fertilizer scam, ngayon ay may kalinga na tunay para sa mga magsasaka. Tutulungan natin sila sa irigasyon, extension services, at sa pagbenta ng kanilang produkto sa pinakamataas na presyong maaari.

Inaatasan natin si papasok na Kalihim Alcala na magtayo ng mga trading centers kung saan diretso na ang magsasaka sa mamimili - lalaktawan natin ang gitna, kasama na ang kotong cop. Sa ganitong paraan, ang dating napupunta sa gitna ay maari nang paghatian ng magsasaka at mamimili.

Gagawin nating kaaya-aya sa negosyante ang ating bansa. We will cut red tape dramatically and implement stable economic policies. We will level the playing field for investors and make government an enabler, not a hindrance, to business. Sa ganitong paraan lamang natin mapupunan ang kakulangan ng trabaho para sa ating mga mamamayan.

Layunin nating paramihin ang trabaho dito sa ating bansa upang hindi na kailanganin ang mangibang-bansa para makahanap ng trabaho. Ngunit habang ito ay hindi pa natin naaabot, inaatasan ko ang mga kawani ng DFA, POEA, OWWA at iba pang mga kinauukulang ahensiya na mas lalo pang paigtingin ang pagtugon sa mga hinaing at pangangailangan ng ating mga overseas Filipino workers.

Papaigtingin namin ang proseso ng konsultasyon at pag-uulat sa taumbayan. Sisikapin naming isakatuparan ang nakasaad sa ating Konstitusyon na kinikilala ang karapatan ng mamamayan na magkaroon ng kaalaman ukol sa mga pampublikong alintana.

Binuhay natin ang diwa ng people power noong kampanya. Ipagpatuloy natin ito tungo sa tuwid at tapat na pamamahala. Ang naniniwala sa people power ay nakatuon sa kapwa at hindi sa sarili.

Sa mga nang-api sa akin, kaya ko kayong patawarin, at pinapatawad ko na kayo. Sa mga nang-api sa sambayanan, wala akong karapatan na limutin ang inyong mga kasalanan.

To those who are talking about reconciliation, if they mean that they would like us to simply forget about the wrongs that they have committed in the past, we have this to say: there can be no reconciliation without justice. Sa paglimot ng pagkakasala, sinisigurado mong mauulit muli ang mga pagkakasalang ito. Secretary de Lima, you have your marching orders. Begin the process of providing true and complete justice for all.

Ikinagagalak din naming ibahagi sa inyo ang pagtanggap ni dating Chief Justice Hilario Davide sa hamon ng pagtatatag at pamumuno sa isang Truth Commission na magbibigay linaw sa maraming kahinahinalang isyu na hanggang ngayon ay walang kasagutan at resolusyon.

Ang sinumang nagkamali ay kailangang humarap sa hustisya. Hindi maaaring patuloy ang kalakaran ng walang pananagutan at tuloy na pang-aapi.

My government will be sincere in dealing with all the peoples of Mindanao. We are committed to a peaceful and just settlement of conflicts, inclusive of the interests of all – may they be Lumads, Bangsamoro or Christian.

We shall defeat the enemy by wielding the tools of justice, social reform, and equitable governance leading to a better life. Sa tamang pamamahala gaganda ang buhay ng lahat, at sa buhay na maganda, sino pa ang gugustuhing bumalik sa panahon ng pang-aapi?

Kung kasama ko kayo, maitataguyod natin ang isang bayan kung saan pantay-pantay ang pagkakataon, dahil pantay-pantay nating ginagampanan ang ating mga pananagutan.

Kamakailan lamang, ang bawat isa sa atin ay nanindigan sa presinto. Bumoto tayo ayon sa ating karapatan at konsensiya. Hindi tayo umatras sa tungkulin nating ipaglaban ang karapatang ito.

Pagkatapos ng bilangan, pinatunayan ninyo na ang tao ang tunay na lakas ng bayan.

Ito ang kahalagahan ng ating demokrasya. Ito ang pundasyon ng ating pagkakaisa. Nangampanya tayo para sa pagbabago. Dahil dito taas-noo muli ang Pilipino. Tayong lahat ay kabilang sa isang bansa kung saan maaari nang mangarap muli.

To our friends and neighbors around the world, we are ready to take our place as a reliable member of the community of nations, a nation serious about its commitments and which harmonizes its national interests with its international responsibilities.

We will be a predictable and consistent place for investment, a nation where everyone will say, “it all works.”

Inaanyayahan ko kayo ngayon na manumpa sa ating mga sarili, sa sambayanan, WALANG MAIIWAN.

Walang pangingibang-bayan at gastusan na walang wastong dahilan. Walang pagtatalikod sa mga salitang binitawan noong kampanya, ngayon at hanggang sa mga susunod pang pagsubok na pagdadaanan sa loob ng anim na taon.

Walang lamangan, walang padrino at walang pagnanakaw. Walang wang-wang, walang counterflow, walang tong. Panahon na upang tayo ay muling magkawang-gawa.

Nandito tayo ngayon dahil sama-sama tayong nanindigan at nagtiwala na may pag-asa.

The people who are behind us dared to dream. Today, the dream starts to become a reality. Sa inyong mga nag-iisip pa kung tutulong kayo sa pagpasan ng ating krus, isa lang ang aking tanong – kung kailan tayo nanalo, saka pa ba kayo susuko?

Kayo ang boss ko, kaya’t hindi maaaring hindi ako makinig sa mga utos ninyo. We will design and implement an interaction and feedback mechanism that can effectively respond to the people’s needs and aspirations.

Kayo ang nagdala sa akin sa puntong ito—ang ating mga volunteers—matanda, bata, celebrity, ordinaryong tao, na umikot sa Pilipinas para ikampanya ang pagbabago; ang aking mga kasambahay, na nag-asikaso ng lahat ng aking mga personal na pangangailangan; ang aking pamilya, kaibigan at katrabaho, na dumamay, nag-alaga at nagbigay ng suporta sa akin; ang ating mga abogado, na nagpuyat para bantayan ang ating mga boto at siguraduhing mabibilang ang bawat isa; ang aking mga kapartido at kaalyado na kasama kong nangahas mangarap; at ang milyun-milyong Pilipinong nagkaisa, nagtiwala at hindi nawalan ng pag-asa—nasa inyo ang aking taus-pusong pasasalamat.

Hindi ko makakayang harapin ang aking mga magulang, at kayong mga nagdala sa akin sa yugto ng buhay kong ito, kung hindi ko maisasakatuparan ang aking mga binitawang salita sa araw na ito.

My parents sought nothing less and died for nothing less than democracy, peace and prosperity. I am blessed by this legacy. I shall carry the torch forward.

Layunin ko na sa pagbaba ko sa katungkulan, masasabi ng lahat na malayo na ang narating natin sa pagtahak ng tuwid na landas at mas maganda na ang kinabukasang ipapamana natin sa susunod na henerasyon. Samahan ninyo ako sa pagtatapos ng laban na ito. Tayo na sa tuwid na landas.

Maraming salamat po at mabuhay ang sambayanang Pilipino!

[Source: inquirer.net]

Quotes: House M.D. ("Occam's Razor")

2010-08-10T17:42:00.006+08:00

Excuse the fan. Quotes from House episode 103, "Occam's Razor":

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House (Hugh Laurie): [to the crowd in the walk-in clinic's waiting area] Hello, sick people and their loved ones! In the interest of saving time and avoiding a lot of boring chitchat later, I'm Doctor Gregory House, you can call me "Greg." I'm one of three doctors staffing this clinic this morning.
Cuddy (Lisa Edelstein): Short, sweet, grab a file.
House: This ray of sunshine is Doctor Lisa Cuddy. Doctor Cuddy runs this whole hospital, so unfortunately she's much too busy to deal with you. I am a board...

*long pause*

...certified diagnostician with a double specialty of infectious disease and nephrology. I am also the only doctor currently employed at this hospital who is forced to be here against his will.

That is true, isn't it?

But not to worry, because for most of you, this job could be done by a monkey with a bottle of Motrin. Speaking of which, if you're particularly annoying, you may see me reach for this: this is Vicodin. It's mine! You can't have any! And no, I do not have a pain management problem, I have a pain problem... but who knows? Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe I'm too stoned to tell. So, who wants me?

And who would rather wait for one of the other two guys?

Okay. Well, I'll be in Exam Room One if you change your mind.

***

Wilson: Beauty often seduces us on the road to truth.
House (Robert Sean Leonard): And triteness kicks us in the nads.

Quotes: One More Chance

2010-08-10T17:24:00.004+08:00

After watching a cult classic like One More Chance years after it sent odd feelings rushing through your friends' veins, one is pushed to jump on the train and post lines that were uttered in the film, forever etched in our cliché-dependent minds. Here we go:

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Official poster (from wikipedia.org)

Basha (Bea Alonzo): Poy, what if? What if hindi ko na gusto 'to? What if ayoko na maging arkitekto? What if... what if tinuloy ko na lang pala to dahil na-in love ako sa’yo? What if we’re not growing together anymore? What if we could be happier pero nagtiya-tiyaga tayo sa ganito, sa safe, sa "ok lang"?
Popoy (John Lloyd Cruz): Naniniwala ka ba talaga diyan?
Basha: Di ko alam. Pero alam kong may mali kaya tinatanong ko lahat ng ito. ... I wanna stop wondering "what if?", I want to know "what is". Poy, I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry.

***

Popoy: Ganun lang yun? Bash, five years. Itatapon mo lang lahat? Hindi mo na ko pwede bigyan ng isang pagkakataon para maayos ko 'to?
Basha: I already gave five years of my life Poy. It's about time you me give what I want.
Popoy: But you’re asking for too much, ang hinihingi mo mawala ka sa buhay ko.

***

Basha: Kailangan ko 'to, kailangan mo din.
Popoy: Pero ikaw ang kailangan ko.

***

Mark (Derek Ramsay): Alam mo sabi nila malas daw maglagay ng picture ng boyfriend sa opisina. Nagbbreak daw.

***

Popoy: Bash, hindi mo ba alam yung three-month rule? Lahat ng taong na-in love at nakipagbreak ay alam yun. Bash, maghihintay ka muna. Tatlong buwan. Di ba? Tatlong buwan bago ka makipag-boyfriend ulit, hindi mo alam yun?! Bash, may dalawang linggo pa 'ko eh. Dalawang linggo pa! Bat ba katingkati kang palitan ako? Ha? Lahat naman ginawa ko na ah. Lahat na ginawa ko. Ano pang gusto mong gawin ko? Putang ina naman Bash! Ganyan ka ba katigas? Parang awa mo na sumagot ka naman! Ano sumagot ka! Sumagot ka! Bash, mahal na mahal kita at ang sakit sakit na.

***

Popoy: Anj.
Anj (Beatriz Saw): o?
Popoy: Hindi pala naging si Basha at si Mark?
Anj: Hinde. Kaw kasi, di ka nagtanong eh.

***

Popoy: Bash, paano ko maaayos ang problema kung di mo sasabihin sakin? Kung hindi ko alam.
Basha: Poy hindi lahat ng problema kaya mong ayusin. And believe me, hindi mo gustong malaman kung ano yung problema ko.
Popoy: Eh ano nga kasing problema?
Basha: Gusto mo ba talaga malaman? Ako. Ako yung problema. Kasi nasasaktan ako kahit di naman ako dapat nasasaktan. Sana kaya kong tiisin ‘tong sakit na nararamdaman ko kasi ako namili nito, diba? Ako yung may gusto. Sana kaya ko ring sabihin sa ’yo na masaya ako para sa ’yo, para sa inyo. Sana kaya ko, sana kaya ko. Pero hindi eh. Ang sama-sama kong tao. Kasi ang totoo, umaasa pa din akong sabihin mo na sana ako pa rin, ako na lang, ako na lang ulit.

***

Popoy: She loved me at my worst. You had me at my best. But binalewala mo lang lahat yun.
Basha: Popoy yun ba talaga ang tingin mo? I just made a choice.
Popoy: And you chose to break my heart.
*sabay walk-out, kaloka!*

***

Popoy: Chi, kung nakaya ko, kaya mo rin. Naaalala mo nung ako nandyan? O. Eh hindi ba't ikaw pa ang nagsabi sa akin na baka kaya tayo iniiwan ng mga taong mahal natin, kasi baka merong bagong darating na mas okay na mas mamahalin tayo, yung taong hindi tayo sasaktan at paaasahin, yung nag-iisang tao na magtatama ng mali sa buhay natin, ng lahat ng mali sa buhay mo.

***

Mark: Bash, don't ever think that it was a mistake that you chose to find yourself. That you chose to love yourself a little bit more. ... Bash, minsan it’s better for two people to break-up so they can grow up. It takes grown ups to make relationships work.

***

Krissy (Dimples Romana): Poy, hindi lang ikaw ang nasaktan. Nasaktan din si Basha at nakita namin yun. She went through hell because she was the only one brave enough to face the truth that there is something wrong with your relationship.
Kenneth (James Blanco): Hindi naman niya piniling saktan ka eh. Nasaktan ka lang dahil hindi maluwag sa puso mo na ibigay sa kanya ang hinihiling niya sayo.
Krissy: Don't you see it? Kung hindi niya pinili yung sarili niya, kung hinayaan niya na ikaw pa rin parati ang masunod, her heart would have been broken every moment she's with you hanggang sa wala nang matira dun sa Bashang minahal mo. Yun ba talaga gusto mo, Poy?
Kenneth: Ang tanong lang naman Poy, mahal mo pa ba siya?
Popoy: Hindi naman nagbago yun eh. I’m just not sure if love is enough.

***

Popoy: Hindi mo alam kung gaano ka-gusto kong sabihin sa ’yo na sana tayo na lang, sana tayo na lang ulit. Pero 'pag sa tuwing nararamdaman ko kung gaano kita kamahal, hindi ko maiwasang maramdaman ulit lahat ng sakit and I’m sorry.

mam julian.

2010-08-03T13:08:00.008+08:00

If it were any other subject, we'd continue walking in and out of the classroom, talking to our seatmates, or singing from the latest "song hits" edition. But this was Third Year Physics, so someone's always on the lookout. Soon as we get news of our teacher rounding the corner of our floor, everyone goes to their proper places, sits quietly 'til she places her books and chalk on the table, and crosses their fingers that they don't get called for recitation. Sa hinaba-haba ng taong yun -- amidst drama left and right a la Gossip Girl -- we passed and I think most of us had a new found respect for the subject.

In 2000, she won as one of Metrobank's Outstanding Teachers. Our batch was the last to get the "Julian" experience -- and for this we will forever be grateful. "Ay malas niyo lang, di niyo magiging teacher si Mam Julian," I remember saying to some of our younger schoolmates. As her Metrobank blurb goes:

Ador’s zest for life shows in her effective and efficient teaching of Chemistry and Physics, her fields of expertise. As a testament to her contribution in teaching chemistry, she was honored with the Science Education Award and served as winning coach in several science competitions.

Ador believes in the multiplier effect that training others brings. Hence, she dedicated much time in training and seminars where she shares her knowledge with younger and less experienced teachers. At times, she sacrificed her family’s comfort to train fellow mentors in the hinterlands of the Cordilleras.

This Master Teacher II is currently putting scientific theory into practice by helping save the Balili River and improve the water ecology of Baguio City and Benguet Province. What better way to show her students what education is all about?

For her: “Education is life, the every life of life. It is the torch that provides light through life.”

**************
Last June 14, one of our highschool batch's favorite and most memorable teachers, Mrs. Adoracion Julian passed away. It doesn't matter why or how old she was. For most of us, she was and always will be a superwoman, immortal in our eyes.

While waiting for pledges and confirmations, I got updates from Jo Gue, Teo, and Dax and anyone else online willing to join in the conference.

Less than 10 years after graduation, how we've gone places. Quite literally for some too: some batchmates are in Manila and other parts of the country while some have gone abroad -- US, Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and the UK -- we're everywhere.

We have 4 doctors, 2 lawyers, and 1 dentist on the way. We've got board passers: Cheyenne Batnag (2nd, 2007 Electrical Engineers Licensure Exams), Lester Virata (4th, 2008 Civil Engineers Licensure Exams), Teddy Albano (2007 Mechanical Engineers Licensure Exams) and Miya Hwang (2008 Electronics Engineer Licensure Exams). We've got a brave soul in the US Army carrying a glorious six-pack (sorry, I just HAD to), NGO workers, teachers, and PR people. If our batch were to build a university, spaceflight would be the only course we couldn't carry.

Speaking of siblings, some of our batchamtes have already begun their next chapter. To date and as far as I know, we already have 3 batch babies (ahem ahem on gifts?) and another 2 on the way.

AND this is super UNDERESTIMATING pa, my counts are admittedly off -- yes, because I don't have Facebook. =P

Then there are people we haven't heard from in a while like Gideon Gabaldon and Thoriza Hansen from our Maryknoll days.

To paraphrase Angela Ines, "si Mam Julian pa pala ang mag-u-unite sa batch natin."
**************
Hanggang sa huli, Mam Julian, maraming salamat po.

Jar of Hearts - Christina Perri

2010-07-22T05:14:00.003+08:00

Unfortunately, love oftentimes gets the best of us. The majority of us would have been hurt once -- but there's always that one person that almost, if not successfully, broke our hearts into millions of irregular pieces. There's always that one person the causes irreparable damage and causes us to curse the mountains and the stars.

This person, you thought, was "The One". Suuuure. In fact, mission accomplished: The One you gave your whole heart to but got nothing in return. The One you fought hell and back for. The One who said, "never mind what they say" and promised, "it's just going to be you and me, against all odds" then left you high and dry, standing there agape wondering what the hell just happened. Unrequited love, forbidden love, one-sided relationships, and relationships built on mistrust, deceit, and pain -- these are the kinds where boundaries are just blurry lines between happiness and sorrow and heartbreak is acknowledged to be just around the corner.

People tell you you're not alone -- followed illogically by a "you'll be fine" or "everything's going to be okay". Kicking and screaming, you argue that whatever happened to others has nothing to do with you: ignoring for a moment that human evolution is actually a practice of the "learn from experience" adage. You take no comfort at all in being part of a group that fell victim to a killer that was standing right in front of them. Misery, you realize, doesn't give a damn about company. Misery would love Revenge or its cousins Johnnie, Jack, or Gilbey.

If you're the type, you'll eventually find the right song. You immortalize your situation in song, inadvertently bookmarking songs on the radio to remind you of your brokenhearted ails. You hum in on your way to school or work. In the shower, you sing it with all the emotion of a music video star. With this song in your pocket, you know that the pain is real, it's there, and yes -- you're not alone.

Christina Perri's "Jar of Hearts" is a gem for all those who have ~~fallen out of~~ been kicked out of love by those they adored the most. As she sings, you can hear the emotion, the utter pain and disgust she has for this person who left her and now wants her back. With anger, sadness, and a tinge of regret, Perri says, "Don't come back for me. Who do you think you are?"

Quick. The time to commemorate is now:

Jar of Hearts
Christina Perri

Image from the iTunes store

I know I can't take one more step towards you
Cause all thats waiting is regret
Don't you know I'm not your ghost anymore
You lost the love I loved the most

I learned to live, half alive
And now you want me one more time

Who do you think you are?
Runnin' 'round leaving scars
Collecting a jar of hearts
Tearing love apart
You're gonna catch a cold
From the ice inside your soul
So don't come back for me
Who do you think you are?

I hear you're asking all around
If I am anywhere to be found
But I have grown too strong
To ever fall back in your arms

It took so long just to feel alright
Remember how to put back the light in my eyes
I wish I had missed the first time that we kissed
'Cause you broke all your promises
And now you're back
You don't get to get me back

on startling updates.

2010-07-20T00:12:00.002+08:00

"Is it because we're old?"

A friend and I walked the moonlit streets of Ayala in search of my brother's AA batteries. Walking gear defined by her flats and my slippers, we started our unplanned evening exercise from Glorietta 5. We pondered the possibility that it must be age that's causing our problems -- although it's not far-fetched that our problems are really making us seem older than we actually are. I was overwhelmed by the news I've been getting the past weeks.

While it's not surprising to hear about marriage and promiscuity now as it was maybe 4 years ago, once in a while, you get updates that seem unreal, too soon, almost telenovela-ish: a friend with HIV, another a willing mistress, and yet another, filing for legal separation. Amidst all this, I can only pray for my peers and offer a listening ear.

To think, a couple of years back, our biggest problem was how to get past our first year in college.

Love is Endless - MoZella

2010-07-19T23:05:00.007+08:00

Despite the ups and downs, I have to remind my friends... Love is Endless.

Words coming up...

Love is Endless
MoZella
featured in the TV series Castle

One, for starry nights and
Two, for candle lights and
Three, for long walks in the sun

Four, for all the laughter
Five, for ever after
Six, your smile is just the best

Love is endless

Love, love love love, love love love, love love love
Love is endless

Seven, you're my goodlight charm
Eight, for your open arms
Nine, for best Sunday in the rain

Ten, couldn't get much better
Eleven, two once put together
Twelve, all the joy and happiness

Love is endless

Count out loud, all of the ways that life is good
On different days,
How things can change
Love always stays the same

Count out loud, it never ends
The list goes on, hit on again
Forgive forget, and let your heart begin
Love is endless

Thirteen, I got brand new eyes
Fourteen, everything's a surprise
Fifteen, not a day that I regret

Love is endless...

**************
Digital art thanks to ~angelitonegro.

another day.

2010-07-17T19:37:00.001+08:00

Many times have I tried to document my experiences through blogs. I eventually find myself trying to search for the right words only to realize that there are none. There begins the end of that chapter in my life.

When blogging didn't work, I switched to Twitter, and it seems to work for me. Completely devoid of a need to please anyone, 140 characters -- most of the time -- is enough.

The time has come again, however, when I have to start speaking out -- and saying more. Life is taking another turn and much needs to be said about love, friendship, work, family, and every other thing under the big full moon.

Enjoy the ride.