Monday, February 21, 2005

Reminiscing

At dinner, my mom told me that my cousin just stepped on a nail. He went to the hospital to have it checked and the doctor gave him some anti-biotics. When he came home, he asked my mom if he was going to die. Funny. You can clearly see how these kinds of accidents goes to the head. hehehe..

Anyway, I reminded my mom that I, too, stepped on a 2 inch nail full of rust when I was little (I think I was 6 or 7 years old back then). I don't know why I didn't tell it to anyone (well, my mom was working and my grandmother... well, I'm not really sure where she was back then), but I remembered it clearly that I just placed a towel on the wound and slept on it thinking that it was just a bad dream and hope it goes away. Anyway, I also remembered that I woke up my mom was like hysterical and saw the blood gushing from my right foot. I didn't remember really what happened after that. My mom said that I was having a fever and I was, I think, going into shock. So they took me to the hospital... actually, that hospital part, I didn't really remember. When she was saying it, I was going... huh? Did that actually happen? Hehehe... maybe along with the medication they brainwashed me or something.

Then my mom also remembered the day my Kuya fell into a ditch/canal/sewer (I'm not really sure what you call that in english). But anyway, it was so dirty. And I think it was so deep. Me and my kuya were kids back then (I think I'm 5 or 6 and he was 7 or 8). I remembered that so well, because it was the day when we visited a dead relative of my cousin. Me, my kuya and my cousin were playing outside. It was kinda dark that my kuya didn't notice a ditch on the side of the road. My cousin and I was thinking where my kuya went. He disappeared all of a sudden. Then we heard he was shouting from the ditch. We went and look and the funny thing is, I rememebered, I was just laughing my ass off. I'm bad, I know. But I was just a kid. I didn't really know what to do. So I called my mom and told her that kuya fell into a ditch (I was still laughing). So they hurriedly ran outside and helped him get out of there. When my brother was out (he was as black as the night covered with icky gooey things), he bashed me on the shoulder. Huh. I guess, I really deserve that. I was so guilty that time. I should've helped him. But that was all in the past. My mom actually doesn't want to remember it. It was so horrifying for her. I can't blame her. ^_^

Bounce!

Saturday, February 19, 2005

Watch Out

Hey. I can't help but recommend to you guys to watch CONSTANTINE. It's so good. Well, that is if you really hate Keanu Reeves, then I suggest you don't watch it. Anyway, the movie has a good story. I can't really compare the film to the comic book because I haven't read any Hellblazer comics. All I know is that John Constantine was a friend of the Swamp Thing and smokes and has blonde hair. Actually, Keanu Reeves' look looks more like the Preacher Jesse Custer than John Constantine.

Back to the movie. It's so good that I watched it twice this week and hoping to watch it again next week. If you're going to watch the film, I suggest you start at the very beginning and don't leave just yet when the movie ends. Wait till the movie credits end. ^_^

Bounce!

Wednesday, February 16, 2005

Happy Birthday DAD!

Before I forget. Yesterday was my Dad's birthday. Actually, I already greeted him personally but I still haven't greeted him online. So anyway, belated Happy Birthday, Dad! May you have more birthdays to come!

Bounce!

Viva MAPUA!

This has been going around lately. My old Alma Matter, Mapua Institute of Technology, was going for a university status. Unfortunately, along with that, the name Mapua Institute of Technology would be changed to Malayan University. Well, to be precise, Mapua would be just like a name of a college within a bigger university of Malayan. It would be like College of St. Benilde to De La Salle University in Taft Ave.

The problem here is Mapua has been synonymous to great engineering and architectural graduates. The name Mapua speaks for itself. Putting it only as part of a bigger university would just belittle Mapua. They could have just changed it to Tomas Mapua University. Atleast, Mapua is still there. I guess that's the problem when some big company buys the school. The company who owns it now is known for their Malayan Banking and Insurance. And I think this is where they got the name of Malayan from. If they ever do change it, Mapua would sound like a big banking establishment or newspaper.

Anyway, for 3 days, students didn't go to their respective classes in protest to this name change. Last monday, students were asked to wear black and they all walked out of their classrooms as a sign of protest. Even the Faculty of the respective colleges allowed this walk out. It was an exciting day for the students. That day showed on how united the school can be. It was a day that Mapuans, graduate or undergraduate, showed how proud they are of MIT.

Since last week there was a petition going around the net asking to stop the name change. For those Mapua alumni who hasn't signed yet here's a link of the petition. Even if you're not a graduate of Mapua, please sign. It would mean so much to us Mapuans. Please check out Mapua Online! for more details on the on-going protest. For now, all I can say is good luck to us all.

VIVA MAPUA!

Something something

I can't think of a title that would best suit my blog today. Well, anyway, earlier, I met up with an old high school buddy in a Jollibee near our old school. We got to talk and catch up on things that we missed. Ahhh... high school days were alot of fun. Unfortunately for me, unlike him and some of my other batchmates, they usually see alot. I, on the other hand, seldomly bump on some of my old high school buddies. I'm not much of a talker. I sometimes bump into one of them and all I can say is "hey!" or "Hi!". And that's it. But deep inside me, I'm excited. Thanks to Friendster, I get to see most of them. Most of them are married and have kids. Some of them are already working/living abroad. Sigh. Then you'd suddenly realize, that you're getting old. Hehehe. ^_^

Anyway, earlier, I realized that to go to our meeting place, I have to ride on a bus. And the station that I'm to wait for the bus is the place where the bomb exploded. To tell you the truth, getting on a bus nowadays is as scary as riding on a rollercoaster. Believe me, I didn't get to sit comfortably in the bus. I was like on full alert. Looking around for some suspicious things. The bomb, btw, according to the police and witnesses, was stashed in a basket or something. So any loose packages inside the bus were considered suspicious. Talk about paranoia. I think I forgot to breathe the whole time I was in the bus. I just let a big exhale out when I got down from the bus. Back at the office, when I said to my friends where I was going and what I'm gonna ride going there, they just told me to take care. I can see their worried faces while saying it. The same goes for my other officemates who are taking a bus ride home. But, as they say, lighting doesn't strike twice in the same place. Actually, that's what I was planting inside my mind to get rid of the fear. But unfortunately, when you're in the bus, you'll tend to forget that saying and instead you'd be praying for your dear life hoping that the bus you are riding on won't explode any moment. Sigh... it's just that the Valentine's Day Bombing was still fresh in the minds of the Filipino people. So one can't help but to get paranoid.

Bounce!

Monday, February 14, 2005

Happy Valentine's Day

First of all, I would like to greet you all a Happy Valentine's Day. And my condolences to those family whose relatives died in a bomb explosion inside a bus just this evening. It's a pretty sad day today. Boy, do those terrorists hate Valentine's Day or what. They're such kill-joys. Anyway, I guess it's nothing new here in the Philippines. Well, just today, there were 3 bombing incidents. One in makati. One in Davao. And one in Gen. Santos City. It's sad that things like this happens to our country. I think there was never a year that there were no bombing incidents eversince that Rizal Day bombing last 2000 I think. After that, there were atleast 2 to 3 bomb explosions a year. It's just a matter of "if you get hit, tough luck. If not, then count your blessings". You know, that's the way Filipino's think right now. Anyway, the funny thing was, our President was supposed to be having a dinner date with her husband tonight at a hotel near the bombing incident. Well, there goes their date. Hehehe... ^_^

Well, me, I don't have a date. And I don't care. Valentine's Day is so commercialized that most products from chocolates to flowers to restaurants goes up. Plus, the added pain of heavy traffic going to the malls and gimmik places. Me? I just went to the gym and sweat it out there. It was kinda cool because there were less people in the gym tonight. I think most of the patrons are out on a date or something. I was trying to spot some girls there but my concentration was on my exercise. Anyway, when I was driving home, I encountered heavy traffic. Valentine's Day + Bombing Incident = SUPER HEAVY TRAFFIC. And the sad part there is, my way home is in the direction of the bombing incident. So what I did was I rerouted myself and went to a short cut I know. Sadly, again, most of the motorists thought of that route. So there I was, stuck in traffic, again. Phew. Well, now I'm already home.

I guess this day will be remembered in Philippine history as the Valentine's Day Bombing. Ooooh... spread the love people. Spread the love. >_>

Bounce!

Wednesday, February 09, 2005

Kung Hei Fat Choi

Hello everybody! I realize it's already evening and I haven't greeted our fellow Chinese and Muslim brothers and sisters a Happy Lunar New Year. Well, like they say, better late than never, right? Besides, The Chinese New Year is like a 15 day celebration, am I correct? Well anyway, may everyone have a prosperous new year ahead!

Bounce!

Sunday, February 06, 2005

Tsunami? Where?

Earlier today, we went to my cousin's place in muntinlupa to celebrate the feast of the Sto. Nino. I remember back then when we were little, everytime when their fiesta comes, me and my kuya would go there the day before the fiesta and sleep over so that in the morning, we could watch the parade of marching bands marching on the streets. There usually were 20 bands that pass by their house and we were so excited... not to mention waiting for those lovely majorettes leading every band. Hehehe... they were a sight to see. In the afternoons, we would go to the Chapel of the Sto. Nino not to pray but to look for certain things to buy. There were a lot of vendors surrounding the chapel. After that, we usually go to the perya or Carnival and usually ride the Caterpillar. I hate the Octopus and the Ferris Wheel. I'm scared to death of them. There were times during noon, we would go to the Aplaya or like a dock or something (because my cousins just live near the bay) and just feel the lake breeze. But now, it's not that adviceable to go there anymore because the air is foul and the water is dirty.

Anyway, back to my main topic. Earlier we were out on the streets when strong winds blew out of nowhere. The sky turned dark and was threatening to rain. Then you would hear some people say "baka tsunami na yan?" ("it could be a tsunami" in English). What the heck are you talking about? It's just windy. A little drizzle here and there. But a tsunami? Heller!!! A tsunami, by all accounts, is a very large ocean wave caused by an underwater earthquake or volcanic eruption. I know those people live near the bay but Laguna Bay is just a lake. And there was no earthquake. Not even a super typhoon (which can also create tsunamis btw). I don't know... Maybe the whole South Asian Tsunami tragedy hype scared the people. Some could be illiterate or uneducated. Some could also be just making fun of the whole thing. I don't know. But if they do, it's not funny. Well, it is funny in a sense that they don't know what they're talking about.

Bounce!

Title Change

As you would notice, I changed the title of my blog from The Jelly Belly Journal to The Jolly Jelly Journal. No, this has nothing to do about my previous post. I've just decided that I should rename it the same as the address (jollyjellyjournal.blogspot.com) so as to no confusion or anything. ^_^ That's all folks.
Bounce!

HUH???!

I was just wondering... If I ever do get slim, the title Jelly Belly wouldn't be appropriate anymore. Thus meaning that my blog wouldn't be called The Jelly Belly Journal. What the??? I guess I'm just sleepy. Don't mind me. Hehehehe... ^^;;

Bounzzzzzzzzzzzzz......

Saturday, February 05, 2005

Oops... I Did It Again

Drat. Just when I thought I have no more mangas to buy, I bought one again... no, it's two this time.

Last month I bought The Ring 1 manga from Darkhorse comics. It has mediocore artwork, I may say, and the story is completely adapted from the movie (ofcourse the japanese version Ringu and not the one with Naomi Watts). Which is kinda sad. But the manga still captured the suspense and horror of the film. After reading it I had nightmares. Heehehe... Anyway, I checked darkhorse.com and to my surprise they have 5 volumes which revolves around the Ring. Volume 1 being The Ring 1, Volume 2 : The Ring 2, Volume 3: Spiral, Volume 4: Birthday and Volume 5: The Ring 0. The movies had only 3 episodes. The Ring1, The Ring 2 and the Ring 0: Birthday. So which made wonder, how come the manga has 5 volumes? My curiosity got the best of me. I bought the other volumes. I bought volume 2 last week. And bought the last 2 yesterday. Volume 5 will come out this February.

The Ring 2 is also a direct copy of the film but the artwork is great. Kudos to Meimu for such a wonderful artwork. It really scared the shit out of me. The other two, were totally different. Volume 3: Spiral is a direct adaptation from the novel made by Koji Suzuki. It's totally different from the movie. Most of the characters are different but the premise is still the same. Only this time, it's more sci-fi than supernatural. No Sadako coming out of the TV and all that shit. It's more mind boggling. You have to read it to appreciate the story. The artwork on this one is also awesome... simple yet goregeous. Volume 4: Birthday is a continuation/conclusion of Ring 2. This time, it connects the story from the movie to the novel. This one is also done by Meimu. It was nice. Though it was not that scary. It just showed what Sadako's true intentions were. Weird is all I can say to that. (^-^)

I can't wait to buy the last volume so I can complete the set. According to darkhorse.com, the story would revolve around Sadako's teenage life. That would be interesting... it's like the movie Ring 0: Birthday. Anyway, all I can say is, it was worth buying. I suddenly have a certain interest in the horror genre. It's just, I don't want to read or watch them at night. ^^;;

Bounce!

Thursday, February 03, 2005

Korean Films

Korean fever has just hit the Philippines. Everybody's been talking about it and loving it. From soap operas to movies to young actresses (I'm talking about the sudden increase of local talent whose origins are from Korea. Some pure Koreans and some half bloods). It's fine with me. They're really pretty. I wish I can get to know one. Sigh!

Aaaanyway...

I've just watched a Korean film called Windstruck yesterday. I don't know what to make of it. It was funny and yet it's still heavy on the drama. I think it's supposed to be categorized as a romantic comedy but due to the deepness of the romantic part, it became a heavy dramatic movie. To be honest, I cried my heart out during the dramatic scenes. The only problem that I've encountered is, just when you thought that the film is over... well, it isn't. There's this scene where I cried and thought it was going to end, suddenly there's still a continuation... and it was a funny scene. Sheesh... there goes the moment. (>_>) I don't know if the same goes for the other romantic comedy Korean films but this one and My Sassy Girl, just makes you laughing at one moment then crying the next then laughing again. Then it all ends with a feeling of happiness inside like a feel good movie. Sigh.

I've also seen Fighter in the Wind. It's a Korean action film. To be honest, it's the first time where I've seen a serious movie whose leading man is not that good looking. And I like it. It was kinda wierd though. If what the label's saying is true, the character portrayed is supposed to be real or atleast Legendary. He's an immigrant in Japan from Korea. And his brother (?) was killed by the Yakuza. He went into seclusion and train himself the martial arts that his brother once taught him to get revenge. In the end, he fought all the martial arts school in Japan just to get to the big boss. It was kinda crazy. One man against all the dojos in Japan? Sheesh. Another thing is, if you like anime, I guess you'll like this one too. It has an anime feel to it. The hairstyles, the movement, the action. It's cool to watch.

Bounce!

Tuesday, February 01, 2005

Month of Hearts

Great... It's already February and I still don't have plans for Valentine's Day. Hehehe... not that I'm expecting to go out with some one on that day. It's just an expression. It's funny when you're single and everyone keeps asking you if you have any plans on Valentine's day. I mean, what's the big deal anyway? I find Valentine's Day to be overrated. Prices goes higher especially on flowers; most restaurants are jam packed (what's so romantic about that); malls, too, are jam packed; heavy traffic.

So what if I'm still single? I should be happy right? Yeah right. Who am I kidding? I fel like shit. I guess it's just me. Oh well, better make the most out of it. Being single I mean. As they say, once you have a girlfriend or wife, you can no longer do what you want or buy the things that you want. (^_^) Whatever.

Bounce!