I'm a Baby!

Naabutan naming nina Celery at Val ang huling performance ng “Nilo at Fili Dos Mil,” sa napakagandang PETA Theater. Sa panulat ni Nicanor Tiongson, nalagay sa modern times ang mga nobela ni Rizal. Sa direksyon ni Soxy Topacio, umulan sa stage! (‘Yun talaga ang na-comment ko haha! Pero du’n kasi naipamalas ang magic ng theater, eh.)

After 100 years, napaka-relevant pa rin ng mga ideya ng ating pambansang bayani. Si Ibarra ay isang idealistic young politician na gustong ipatigil ang logging sa kanyang bayan dahil nga marami ang nasasalanta ng baha. Si Elias ang kanyang kababatang namundok dahil hindi na bilib sa sistema. Si Padre Salvi ay naging corrupt na militar. Si Simon, ang disenchanted at heartbroken rebel.

Hanggang ngayon ang opposing, yet somehow complementary views nina Elias, Mayor Ibarra, Kumander Simon, Basilio ang nagiging point of contention pa rin ngayon kung paano nga ba labanan itong kanser ng lipunan. Meron na ba tayong maayos na sistema na nangangailangan na lamang ng maayos na pamamalakad? O kailangan ba ng isang drastic na pagbabago upang tunay na makapagsimula tayo nang maayos? Gaano nga ba ka-effective sa indibidwal na pagbabago upang mabago ang ating lipunan, kung hindi nga naman magbabago ang komunidad na kinabibilangan ng indibidwal?

Minsan merong old stored memories kang bigla na lang magfa-flash sa ‘yung consciousness. Hindi mo alam kung bakit, at hindi mo rin alam kung para saan pero malalaman mong may impact pala ‘to sa’yo…

Sa mga Starstruck auditions, iba’t ibang tao ang nakikita mo. Nakakausap mo sila pero hindi mo talaga sila nakikilala liban na lang sa info sheet na fini-fill out nila, at sa kaunting minutong nagpe-perform sila sa’yo.

One time, there was this young man na nag-audition. Nakalagay sa info niya na isa siyang college student. Binondo pa ang address niya. He has a Chinese family name at chinito rin siya. Pero ibang-iba ‘yung tindig niya sa mayamang chinitong nai-imagine kong may-ari ng mga business establishments sa Chinatown.

Nang tinanong ko siya kung bakit gusto niyang mag-artista, naluha siya dahil bilang panganay raw ay gusto niyang masigurong makapagtatapos ng pag-aaral ang kanyang mga kapatid. Hindi sadyang artistahin ang looks at talents niya pero kitang-kita mo ang sincerity niya kaya sabi ko na lang na galingan niya ang pag-aaral dahil ‘yun ang makakatulong sa kanyang pangarap sa kanyang mga kapatid.

got this from one of my egroups.

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Have you heard of Senate Bill No. 2464, the ANTI-OBSCENITY AND
PORNOGRAPHY ACT OF 2008? It's now quietly pending in the Senate.
Meaning, this absurd, outrageous, oppressive bill has been passed in
Congress without causing any stir.

What is it, you ask? Let the bill tell you itself:

From Section 3, Definition of Terms:

(a) "Obscene" refers to anything that is indecent or offensive or
contrary to good customs or religious beliefs, principles or doctrines,
or tends to corrupt or deprave the human mind, or is calculated to
excite impure thoughts or arouse prurient interest, or violates the
proprieties of language and human behavior, regardless of the motive of
the producer, printer, publisher, writer, importer,seller, distributor
or exhibitor such as, but not limited to:

(1) showing, depicting or describing sexual acts;
(2) showing, depicting or describing human sexual organs or the female
breasts;
(3) showing, depicting or describing completely nude human bodies
(4) describing erotic reactions, feelings or experiences on sexual acts
or;
(5) performing live sexual acts of whatever form.

(b) "Pornographic or pornography" refers to objects or subjects of film,
television shows, photography, illustrations, music, games, paintings,
drawings, illustrations, advertisements, writings, literature or
narratives, contained in any format, whether audio or visual, still or
moving pictures, in all forms of film, print, electronic, outdoor or
broadcast mass media, or whatever future technologies to
be developed, which are calculated to excite, stimulate or arouse impure
thoughts and prurient interest, regardless of the motive of the author
thereof.

(c) "Mass media" refers to film, print, broadcast, electronic and
outdoor
media including, but not limited to, internet, newspapers, tabloids,
magazines, newsletters, books, comic books, billboards, calendars,
posters, optical discs, magnetic media, future technologies, and the
like.

(d) "Materials" refers to all movies, films, television shows,
photographs, music, games, paintings, drawings, illustrations,
advertisements, writings, literature or narratives, whether produced in
the Philippines or abroad.

SEC. 4. Punishable Acts. - The following acts are declared illegal and
punishable:

(a) Producing, printing, showing, exhibiting, importing, selling,
advertising or distributing obscene or pornographic materials in all
forms of mass media;

(b) Causing the showing or exhibition, distributing or the printing,
publication or advertising, or the selling of obscene or pornographic
materials in all forms of mass media;

(c) Showing, exhibiting, selling, or distributing obscene or
pornographic movies in whatever format, whether produced in the
Philippines or abroad, in any restaurant, club or other places open to
the public, including private buildings, places or houses where the
viewers are not limited to them owners thereof and the members of his
family;

(d) Writing any obscene or pornographic article in any print or
electronic medium;

(e) Performing, demonstrating, acting or exhibiting any obscene or
pornographic act in any form of mass media; and act in public, public
places or any place open to public viewing.

(f) Performing, or allowing the performance of, live sex or live sexual
act in public, public places or any place open to public viewing.

SEC 5: PENALTIES

(c) Showing, exhibiting, selling or distributing obscene or pornographic
movies in whatever format, whether produced in the Philippines or
abroad, in any restaurant, club or other places open to the public,
including private buildings, places or houses where the viewers are not
limited to the owners thereof and the members of his family, the penalty
of imprisonment of not less than three (3) years nor more than six (6)
years and a fine of not less than Two hundred thousand pesos
(P200,OOO.OO) nor more than Five hundred thousand pesos (P500,OOO.OO)
shall be imposed;

(d) For writing any obscene or pornographic article in any print or
electronic medium, the penalty of imprisonment of not less than three
(3) years nor more than six (6) years and a fine of not less than Two
hundred thousand pesos (P200,OOO.OO) nor more than Five hundred thousand
pesos (P500,OOO.OO) shall be imposed;

(e) For performing, demonstrating, acting or exhibiting any obscene or
pornographic act in any form of mass media, the penalty of imprisonment
of not less than one (1) year nor more than three (3) years and a fine
of not less than One hundred thousand pesos (PlOO,OOO.OO) nor more than
Three hundred thousand pesos (P300,OOO.OO) shall be imposed; and

…and it becomes more outrageous as it goes along.

Why have we let this monstrous bill slip past us? Not a peep, even from
UP. I can just imagine the sort of awful Bradburyan future we'll have
after this bill is passedâ€"whitewashed media equals the death of
Art. That, and every Writers Night held in jail. See you there
everybody!

Should we let this happen?

SOURCE:
http://www.senate. gov.ph/lis/ bill_res. aspx?congress= 14&q=SBN- 2464

i am so, so in love with that piece, "Rey Writes 30," yes the one right before this one. I think it is my best written piece in this entire blog so far! It's witty, imaginative, 'yung writing style, 'yung innovation. I am not kidding. You must think I'm such a gago writing this. Maybe this entry is another reason why I so wanna tell you the story about this post but I just cannot post it here. Please YM or PM me or text or call me please so I can tell you the story. (It might even be because I'm strapped to a bomb right now and if anyone ym's pm's or texts or calls me I will explode)

Hope to hear from you SOON! please help me!

"30 Days"
Ito ay sa sa pinaka-proud kong nasulatang produksyon. It’s a GMA-produced reality shows that lasted for a season. With host Lorna Tolentino, a dozen showbiz has-beens are given a second chance in showbusiness. (Nax! Straight English 'yung sentence na'yon! Nasa AVP writing mode yata ako.) Nanalo si Dino Guevarra na hindi naman exactly kasikatan pero compared to his non-existent showbiz career nu'ng pinakasalan niya si Kim, napaka-visible at namamayagpag na si Dino ngayon! Unang natanggal si Bianca Lapus na wala pa rin hanggang ngayon. (Last seen sa Showbiz Central two weeks ago yata complaining that the approved annulment filed by Vhong Navarro said she was "psychologically incapacitated." Tsk! There's that AVP tone again.) Based on the opposite turnout of Dino's and Bianca's careers, 30 Days really lived up to its promise of giving these stardom's rejects a second chance at, uhm, characteractordom. Second chance pa rin 'yun.

30 days
Tulad ng haba ng palugit na ibinigay ko noon upang matanto ang aking tunay na nararamdaman, ito rin yata ang panahon na napagdesisyunan niyang hindi niya pala ako mahal (kahit ‘yun ang sinabi niyang pinaniwalaan ko naman). Grabe! Makata mode naman ngayon! Remember my kuwento about this guy I dated who died? Remember that before his demise I was contemplating whether I’d want to pursue something with a very ideal guy – na halos lahat ng criteria mo sa mamahalin mo ay nasa kanya na - pero ang problema ay hindi mo siya tunay na mamamahal (meaning the guy who died)? Remember, too, when my friend JF advised me to give it “a month”? A month! Thirty days! Tapos ang ending bago pa dumating ang deadline ay well, may dead na? Ang tragic nu’n sobra! Which puts into perspective what I suffered in the past month. It just dawned on me, “He gave me a month.” He gave me a month! Early into the short-lived “relatioship,” tinanong niya ako kung kelan kami nag-meet. I consulted my appointment book at na-pinpoint ko ang exact night ng “MET R.” Siya rin ang nagpaalala weeks after na, “We met a month ago.” Na-sweetan ako kasi ako nga hindi ko naalala the date we first met tapos he was counting the days pala. ‘Yun na ang isa sa pinakamalambing na pag-uusap. Nag-3-2-1 na ang pagtingin niya sa’kin, hindi ko man lang nalamang on cam na pala ako. Huli ka! Gago ka! Umibig ka! Sa isanggagonghindikamanlangnakausapnangharapansahuli! (hindi rhyme pero it captures everything kasi, eh.)

30 years
old na'ko sa December 25, 2008. Invited kayo sa birthday party ko, “REY na 30!” 9PM till the next day. Venue: TBA (Pinagpipilian Victoria Court Austin Powers Room, Sohotel Party Room, Resto in Antipolo, Some Hotel Suite, seryoso ‘to). Reply to this post to confirm attendance! Now na!


-30-

10:00 PM – Maaga-aga akong umuwi galing sa gym. Pinilit na naman ako ng trainor kong mag-renew na agad dahil hindi siya aabot sa quota for the month of July. Kulang na lang daw siya ng 9,000 pesos! Pumayag na lang ako nang sinabi niyang dodoblehin ang session ko! Wow!

10:10 PM – Nag-log on. Finally after more than a month of following up my application ay nakabit na rin last week ang aking DSL sa bahay! Grabe! Tuyung-tuyo na’ko sa Xtube!

10:35 PM – Tumawag si Sheila. “Nasaan ka?” “Bahay.” “Good. D’yan ka lang. Papunta kami ng officemates para i-surprise si Thea.” Midnight kasi magbe-birthday na ang aking ka-Powerbarkada’t neighbor na si Thea. Kung puwede raw salubungin ko sila sa lobby. Ayos! Something to do. Kaninang umaga pa naman ako naghahanap ng inuman dahil nga nakaka-depress ang weather pero ang aking usual drinking buddies ay sumabay sa pag-ulan at nag-raincheck (Get it?)

10:45 PM - Nag-YM si Doc Kit. Kinakamusta ako. Tinanong kung nag-register na raw ako for WRT. Hindi pa sabi ko. “Open na ba ang registration?” “Yes.” Shit! Mga ilang linggo na rin akong nagtataka kung bakit wala pang announcement about this much-awaited “Half-Ironman” distance race on October. Agad akong pumunta sa extribe.com.ph at naandu’n na nga ang online registration form! At ang last day ng early bird registration rate (P5,000 instead of P7,000) is today! July 29! Buti na lang nag-YM si Kit! Agad akong nag-text sa organizer kung puwede ko pang ihabol ang bayad ko. Yes daw sabi ni Taleng. Nagsulat ng tseke (pero medyo natagalan sa pagba-balance, Math kasi) at nagbihis na para pumunta ng St. Ignatius.

11:00 PM - Umalis na ng bahay. Buti magaganda na ang highways connecting Marikina and Pasig and Libis.

11:10 PM – Kumakatok na’ko sa bahay nina Taleng at Eric. Chumika ng konti. At least na-beat ko ang deadline nila.

11:30 PM - Tumatawag na si Sheila. Bakit ko raw binubuksan ang pinto ko? “Eh, umalis lang ako saglit.” Sumunod na lang ako at hindi ko na naabutan ang “Surprise!” moment. OK lang, naabutan ko naman ang white wine, cheese at cold cuts with the Sheila, Thea, Ria, Louise, and Rocky-by-baby.

So heto ako ngayon, two months behind the training program na ginawa ni Monica. Pero naniniwala kasi ako sa pagto-throw ng hat over the fence, para may motivation kang akyatin ‘yung pader. Pinangako ko sa sarili kong kakarera ulit ako sa White Rock and now I just got to do it. Guys, pag-pray n’yo ako, ha. SERYOSO!

sabi ng mga taga-campaigns and grey, the ad agency that handles this project, lumabas na raw today ang aking article. agad naman akong tumakbo sa tindahan sa baba para bumili ng dalawang kopya ng inquirer. pero ibang kuwentong peyups ang naandun. nag-email ako sa kanila tapos agad naman nilang sinabi na nu'ng saturday pala lumabas. taray! ang nabasa ko kasi 'yung kahapon, sunday, na kuwento ni maricel laxa. at least weekend edition ang sa akin. pero nu'ng tumawag ako kina adrian para hanapin sa pdi nila, wala naman daw. hay! hemingways, ito na ang kuwento ko. sana maibigan n'yo. kung meron sa inyong kopya nito sa dyaryo, please ibalato n'yo na lang po sa'kin. salamat!


HOST NG BAYAN

Graduate na’ko ng UP nang sumali ako sa UP Mountaineers. Ang aking official reason ay dahil tumataba na’ko sa pagsusulat sa TV kung saan stress, puyat, at kainan ang daily regimen. Pero ang ‘di ko noon maaming dahilan, gusto kong matupad ang pangarap kong maging host ng Elvis, ang rock concert na traditionally ino-organize ng UP Mountaineers sa may tambayan nila nu’n sa Main Lib. Dito kahit umulan at magkaputik-putik ang grounds, tuloy ang tugtugan ng mga bandang sikat, ‘yung mga pasikat pa lang, and in the case of Romeo Lee and the Brownbriefs, ‘yung mga bandang ito lang ang katangi-tanging gig for the entire year.

Mula nu’ng pumasok ako sa UP nu’ng 1996 hanggang grumadweyt four years later as part of the University’s first batch of the new millennium (parang si Manilyn), ay naging abala ako sa pagho-host ng iba’t ibang events sa campus. Nagsimula sa Broadcasting Association, ‘yung org ko sa college. Naalala ko pa nu’ng minsang nag-organize kami ng screening ng “Kama Sutra.” Ang daming pumunta kaso nasira ‘yung TV at VCD player kaya para hindi kami walkout-an ng mga tao eh gumawa kami ng instant symposium. Buti’t nakapaghatak kami ng isang MA student na willing pag-usapan ang Kama Sutra kahit na ang tanging credential niya sa topic ay ang pagiging Indian national.

Since then, marami nang orgs ang kumuha sa’kin to host their events - mula sa mga maliliit na fundraisers hanggang sa UP Fair (naka-Amerikana pa’kong nag-host du’n, ha!) Nakalibre na’yung org, enjoy na enjoy pa’ko. Win-win, ‘di ba?

Ang typical UP concert nu’n ay tugtugan ng banda after banda after banda. Kelangan lang ang host para mang-aaliw sa tao habang nagtotono ‘yung next band. ‘Yun ang trabaho ko. As this was the 90’s, kasagsagan pa rin nu’n ng Pinoy Band Explosion. Kung alam ko nga lang na magiging icons ng Pinoy music ang ilang bandang ini-introduce ko nu’n, nagpa-picture na’ko sa kanilang lahat - Rivermaya, Razorback, Wolfgang, Parokya ni Edgar at lahat na siguro ng sikat na banda nu’n! Kinikilabutan akong isipin na bago sila nag-disband ay nakasama ko pa sa stage ng Main Theater sina Ely, Marcus, Raymond at Buddy ng Eraserheads, probably the best band UP has ever produced, nang mag-perform sila sa Freshmen Concert.
Sa mga events na’to natanong ko ang mga tulad ng SugarFree, Itchyworms, Makiling Ensemble, at Stonefree kung bakit ‘yun ang ipinangalan nila sa banda nila. Ngayon sikat na sila.

Bukod sa mga concerts, naging busy rin ako sa pagho-host ng mga “male beauty pageants.” Maraming ganyan sa UP – ‘yung tipong naka-drag ang mga lalakeng contestants; at para mas masaya at challenging, bawal sumali ang mga self-confessed badings. Kaya aliw na aliw ang mga nanonood kapag ang bruskong varsity player eh kokoronahang Mutya ng Molave!
Para manalo naman sa Mutya ng BA, kelangang maka-create ang mga orgmates ng kandidata/o ng evening gown na gawa sa dyaryo. May time limit!

Nasisiyahan din akong mag-host ng mga events sa mga dorms kasi iba ang camaraderie at saya ng audience na nakatira sa iisang bubong. Na-host ko ang Open House ng Narra entitled “CaNARRA Late @ Night” (na pun daw ng “Cannot Relate at Night,” labo!) at ng “Hmmm…Hmmm…Blah!Blah!Blah” na title ng isang inter-dorm-singing-contest-and-extemporaneous-speechmaking-competition. Napaka-unique ng concept, ‘di ba?

Meron din akong hinost na political event, ang USC Election Debate organized by the Philppine Collegian. Although dahil nakalimutan kong may second stanza pala ang UP Namig Mahal, siningit ko na ang aking closing spiels habang kumakanta pa ang mga tao! Ang sama ng tingin sa’kin ng mga hardcore aktibista.

Ang dami-dami-daming events nu’n pero iba-iba ang tipo ang audience. Sa UP ko natutunang makihalubilo sa kanilang lahat.



Rey Agapay
BA Broadcast Communication (UP Diliman 1996-2000)
96-04074