Twentielebhen

Twenti-ten has a nicer ring to it, this coming one has two extra syllables added, but we can also just cal it tu-oh-wan-wan to save on one time-consuming syllable. And then wanwan has that funny connotation of a child's name, similar to joey and alma's daughter.

In any case, new year celebs's are always happier than Chrismases'.

Happy new year!

Happy 2011 !!!

Against Singapore

I know that the small-dose vitriol that I have for Singapore is due to the country's hypocrisy. I wrote this in two mini book reviews at Amazon (well i used the book review as an opportunity to hit Singapore hehe):

(Review of Lee Kwan Yew's From Third World to First)

The book is very good in its sincere attempt to deliver the story on how Singapore was built. Perhaps with an intention, on the side, to 1) lay down guidelines that other asian countries could follow, and 2) further promote Singapore to foreign investors. Lee Kwan Yew's emphasis on discipline and strict policies for the general public--that may be deemed oppressive in other countries--to jumpstart progress could be well-intentioned points as well. The reader cannot miss the pride on every passage that highlights the successes of Singapore as a small state-country. 

But not everyone can agree with Lee Kwan Yew's setting-aside, for example, of a free press. Freedom of expression is a right; the fruits of progress is not complete without it. 

An authoritarian government cannot hide, as well, the hypocrisy that is probably vital to compromise certain liberties, in exchange for a 'highway' towards progress. Sometimes one can also see how money is used in Singapore to discipline, and as a only parameter in decision. One case in point: a young professional Singaporean shared a story that Lee Kwan Yew once pompously said that as long as he is alive, there will be no casino in Singapore. Well, yes, he is still right, there are two casinoes now being built simultaneously in the Marina area! And what with the Geylang red-light district that the government has to acknowledge quasi-legally? Is the rationale for both of these is that they are still business ventures that Singapore will still profit from in the end? 

Lee's omission of his own compromises/hypocrisy in fact weakens the book's commentary and criticism of other countries' priorities. (He has tons of advise and lay downs on neigbors in southeast asia--taiwan, philippines, malaysia). Singapore is known as a good place to work at, but not to live in. 

The book is very thick. Ive concentrated most of the history on early Singapore (good read!) and some of his opinions on the state of Asian countries today. There are some repetitions and convolutions on this latter part. I think this book could have used a good editor before publishing. 

Still a good buy, but 3 stars only for not being as in-your face that I would have personally wanted. Hypocrisies that he should still acknowledge (and explain).

(Review of Lonely Planet Singapore)

The city guide is good in laying out bus routes, transportation, shopping sites, and noted restaurants, but I was counting on Lonely Planet to deliver a guide paired with an honest side-commentary, the same way that they did in their guide for Thailand (that one is really useable, highly recommended!). 

Well perhaps it's because Singapore is a not a very good place for tourism, bottom line. (Shopping, probably yes). Sentosa overall is a waste of time; even the dolphins they use in the dolphin show look tired and anemic. The presence of Geylang red-light district that government turns a blind-eye on also lacks the full acknowledgment in this book. Well, it's there in some passing notes, but for there is no comment like: "for a 'disciplined and moral' authoritarian state, Geylang is a famous hangout for the business travellers, and prostitutes are trooping that long street like gold mine." The book should have had a good commentary on the hypocritical presence of this place. 

A young professional Singaporean, a former colleague, shared a story once about how Lee Kwan Yew once pompously said that as long as he is alive, with chest-thumping, there will be no casino in Singapore. Well, yes, he is still right, there are now two casinoes being built simultaneously! I hope the next edition includes these comments. 

In exchange for the discipline that Singapore brags about, you cant deny upon your first landing that the country is an authoritarian state. And hypocrisy is prone in authoritarian states. Also undeniable: the press isnt free. Open the newspaper, and the local op-ed pieces discuss nothing, but taxi routes... Interesting national issues! These honest trivias and insights should be in the LP guide. 

This review might appear as a criticism more of the place than the book. But Im saying that the book should have highlighted these criticisms honestly. For example, in the intro, the overall warning at the start of the book should be that Singapore is for business travellers and shoppers only, not for interesting visits. 

These side comments (a la Theroux) add to the spice of any travelguide/travelogues. 

I was thankful for the bus routes and resto though, so 3 stars!

Ive been back to the country recently (after three years), and saw the greatest density of Filipino outside the Philippines today, perhaps even greater than in Hong Kong. Could the Singaporeans have accepted us? Should we be thankful?

Hhhhhmn. We need to ask some friends who've been there for at least two years.

Meri Krismas!

Although, it is late, and we're now broke, 

gardless if it has been said many times, many ways...

merry christmas everyone!

Isang garapong taho

Antagal ko nang nakain nang taho, isa ito sa mga paborito ko. Napanood ko rin ang taho ichi na pinagbibidahan ni Dolphy, pero ngayon ko lang napagtanto na pwede nga namang istrohin ang taho.

Bagamat ang mga nilalakong taho sa ngayon ay di na lasang-lasa ang linamnam nang soya (kumbaga'y matabang na sya), nandyan naman ang soy yummy sa mga mall na mainit init pa ang bawat luto at mukhang puro ang pagkaka-pormula nang taho.

Bagamat hindi ito soy yummy...

mukhang nakatsamba kami nang isang source na malapit ang linamnam sa mas mahal na soy yummy.

Gayunpaman, napakaigi nang isang garapong taho, dahil habang kumakain ka, komportable ang damdamin mo na di ka mabibitin. Lalasapin o lalagukin mo lang ang bawat higop o kutsara nang taho nang buong saya at satisfaction, walang alinlangan na baka maubos na sya mayamaya.

Ang sabi nang aking kapatid ay baka larawan na ito nang kasibaan--sa tingin ko'y di naman. (kuwarenta pesos ang nang-uumapaw na garapong taho na ito).

Nakakapagpasakit daw nang tuhod at kasu-kasuan ang taho dahil sa taas nang uric acid nang pagkaing ito, pero di ko naman naramdaman ang kahit anong kirot sa kahit saang joints.

Aaah, isang garapong taho, bibilhin kitang muli. 

My [poor] attempts at concert photography

Parokya ni Edgar sang at the company's Christmas Party. Chito is constantly asking what song should they play. I was screaming "Cooking ng Ina Mo," completely forgetting that the song's true title is "Lutong Bahay."

Anyway, this is one of the few real chances a hobbyist can get shooting concert photography.

(SIDENOTE: You are not allowed to bring in SLR's in local concerts. Araneta will have you deposit your gear in a small corner booth, guarded by lazy people who can't even lineup umbrellas according to their number tags.

I used a Sigma 50mm 1.4.. Seems really usable in low light, but the needed sharpness is not there yet. .

 
I also learned that a zoom lens is needed during concerts. You cannot make decent composition with a prime.

(another sidenote: Chito's voice was husky. He seems fresh from a long nap).

Anyway, the food was decent (Crowne Plaza, Ortigas).

Usapan sa isang restoran.

Isa na namang "litwit" na paligsahan ang pinangahasan kong salihan. Ang asaynment: sumulat nang nakabibilib na usapan sa isang restoran, na akma para sa litratong ito: 

Sinubukan kong alalahanin ang ilang interesanteng usapan na naranasan ko maski sa isang karinderya, pero wala, walang isang kapsula lang nang usapan na kayang iiksplika sa 1,000 salita lamang. Naroon ang ang mga nagdedeyt sa buon giorno na naulinigan nain na talampunay pero ang kanilang mga papapakyut ay mukhang di mananalo sa kontes. 

hindi ko alam kung bakit sa mga aktibista napunta ang aking interes: 

–Bakit ka ganyan, bok? Di ka naman ganyan dati, ah.
–Bakit, ano ko dati?
–Progresibo ka mag-isip dati. May malasakit sa mga layunin natin.
–Hhmn napagod lang siguro ako mamitik ng librong gusto ko sa national bookstore. Kaya naisipan ko nang kumayod at kumita.
–Oo nga alila ka na talaga nang kapitalista. Pumipilantik na rin sa kaiingles ang dila mo.
–O, di naman kita iniingles ngayon a. Purong pinoy tayo mag-usap.
–Pero dumudulas ang dila mo kanina. Ang bigkas mo sa mamitik… ma-me-tekh. Langya.
–Pasensya na, baka dumulas nga. Pero kaya ko pa rin namang ma-ki-pag-ba-li-tak-ta-kan sayo…
–Oo, pero yang damit mo, yang mukha mo, panay siguro ang facial scrub mo.
–Kailangan lang sa trabaho na maayos tayo at mabango tayo.
–Oo nga, todong sellout ka na.
–Di naman siguro, bok. Aktibista pa rin sa utak. Sumisingit pa rin ng laban, laban sa kabobohan.
–Bakit ka ba nagkaganyan, bok? Napa-maling-timpla ang gising mo isang araw at bigla ka na lang kumalas?
–Nung una, gusto kong matikman ang technology kasi. Unang humila sa akin yung PS2. Gusto kong maglaro noon nang Grand Theft Auto. Ngayon, eto–tignan mo itong cellphone.
–May cellphone din ako, di nga lang ganyan kaganda.
–Subukan mo lang pre, i-try mo lang. Sabihin mo sakin na di mo maappreciate ang technology. Itong isang produkto nang kapitalismo.
–kailangan din namin yan, may selpon din ang kilusan, pero di namin kailangan nang ganyan kagarbo.
–Ayaw mo bang kumakain sa ganitong restoran?
–Kaya kong lutuin ang halos lahat ng putahe dito.
–E pano ang ingredients, pano ka bibili? Subukan mo lang intindihin. Hindi ito simpleng sunod lang sa agos. Nakita mo yung bagong pictures ni Joma na nakadamit nang magagarang sweater. May tsiks pa na nadikit ang boobs sa braso? Suporta pa ba sa layunin natin, yon?
–Nakita ko nga at napagsabihan na sya.
–Napagsabihan nino?
–Basta di ko kailangan nyan.
–Subukan mo lang, pre. try mo lang. Hindi ito oras nang drama, pero palagay ko, pag pinagtabi-tabi tayo, pag hinubad lahat nang pretensyon, unang loyalty dapat ay sa sarili, bok.
–Kailangan pa tayo nang naargabyado, pre.
–Mas masarap mag-aral nang may internet. Mas epektib na gamitin sa akribismo ang internet. Hindi na tayo dapat… ayan na ang inorder, kumain muna tayo.
[kumain, makailang subo...]
–Patingin nga nyang cellphone mo. Ito ba yung may 4G-4G eklat?

Parte pa rin kaya ito sa aking personal na pakiramdam nang pagkalibadbad sa trabahong corporate? O talaga namang inobsolete o pinalabnaw na talaga nang technology pati mga personal na ideyalismo? 

Ah, sya nga pala, ito si Joma ngayon: 

O, diba, sino ang di madidisillusion? 

From a cubicle dweller's journal

In my work we call cheap prices as "competitive." In a meeting earlier this morning, my boss said...
"We cannot afford surprises!" These means that we should un-competitive prices? Why would you have to equate competitiveness with cheapness automatically? Hhhhhmn. Pwede, pwedeng ilusot nang katwiran.

My boss calls her macbookair, "Airmac."  What expensive shoes.

The marketing people can speak straight English all right, but they are blinded by pretensions too much, by too much positivism. Not the logical positivism that the great Woody Allen uses in his jokes, but just plain ra-ra this project will hit us jackpot earth-shaking big-time hit, it-will-be-remembered-throughout-history campaign, super-greeeatt item... after four months, the product is for phase out.

These save my sanity:

All office workers should have toys on their table.