I grew up in a Catholic upbringing. I was born into a Catholic Family- mom’s Catholic, Dad’s Catholic, everybody’s Catholic. However, the family isn’t really that staunchly religious except for my lola on my father’s side (she’s about 80) and one of my titas (who’s about 60).
Relatives say a miracle once happened in my room. The house we are staying in now used to be the house of my grandparents; it’s where my dad was born. Now, it’s just us- my Dad’s family- who live there. Our relatives say that my room was once my lola’s room where she once saw rose petals falling from “heaven” through a ray of light coming through the window. It was probably a miracle of the Virgin Mary since she was and still is a devout Marian.
A hundred decades later, the only miracles happening in this room are me cleaning it up, and me not messing up the entire space- which are unfortunately the same.
My question is: Was my lola’s rose petal miracle real? More so, are all the miracles we’ve been hearing about all these years true?
I am now at a state of confusion when it comes to the Divine (not ZsaZsa Padilla, mind you). I guess I’ve just become too much of a realist over the past year that the validity of something that exists “out there” or “in the heavens”- something greater than all of us, something that cannot be proven by reason nor science- is something that I now find hard to believe.
When I say “realist”, I mean this attitude that “I would only believe things that I actually see around me; things I could touch, feel, and hear.” And unless its’ something tangible or something proven as a fact, it’s something that may just be phony.
Friends who had a similar Catholic upbringing were shocked when they heard me explaining this personal view on God. I say: “Heck, if we really are a free society, we should all be open to the fact that we don’t think alike.”
Catholic Schools cannot guarantee the same effect on all its students. Some of us grew up in families where Sunday Obligations are seen as a weekly affair. I, on the other hand, have mostly been left to my own decision-making; giving me time to ponder if going to Church every Sunday actually makes sense.
Religion is about faith: “We don’t see God. We just need to have faith that He exists.”
I still believe in Jesus the Man because His existence was proven by history with hard-known facts. More so, I remain a huge fan of His goodness and unconditional love.
But whenever I go to Church, I see mostly hypocrites. Yes there are some who go to hear the word of God, leave Church and try their best to follow Jesus’ good examples. I know that this bunch still exists, and I respect them whole-heartedly. On the other pew, I know and sense that the rest are just dressed and pretending to listen- in one ear, out the next.
My stand is that unless you could actually live a life sincerely following Christ’s examples, don’t even dare showing up in Church. That is something I know I can’t do, so I’d rather be the realist that I am than be the hypocrite that most people are.
Tony Parker met Super Boink one afternoon at Lonely Hearts Club.
He remembers the first thing he liked about Boink was that Boink conversed really well (“And by well, Tony means with sense and with proper English,” prompts echoserang frog #1).
Tony has what he calls the “Malate Prototype”. These are guys who don the latest hairstyles (spikes, colors and all), who look like they go to the spa 3x a week, buff bods courtesy of Fitness First (“Coz’ where else is the gay-est gym in town?,” comments echoserang frog #2), body-fit tops and skinny jeans, and they are also always with the company of the same prototypes every Saturday night in all the gay-est places in town (Malate, Government, the likes).
Now don’t get Tony wrong. He does sport some not so typical hairstyles every now and then himself. He even has a history of coloring his hair mahogany (“Yep, get that. MAHOGANY…” says the frogs in chorus before vomiting all together) and styling it after this “look” featured in a magazine that he saw back in February of 2008. He worked that hairstyle and color for about 2 months and a half. After which he thought: “OK that’s it. Summer’s about to end and so should this look.” And so he went and shaved his big head. “Argh…” chants the frogs.
***
“I may look like the “prototype” sometimes. I admit this. I just don’t like to be with someone who looks the same…” – Tony Parker
***
Does Tony have the worst luck in finding true love?
His love chain reads a history of Sloppy Joes, Dwarfs, Stars of Yester-Years, Hermits, and whatnot.
What’s wrong with him? Is he really just so much of a Gemini that what his college professor told him about Geminis “not getting from life what they want” is unfortunately true? Or is he just exaggerating and taking life too seriously that maybe, the best is yet to come for him?
***
Recent reports have stated that Tony Parker is back in the Lonely Hearts Club again but this time, he’s just back for some fun. I mean, life is already too serious for him in Wonderland that it might just be too much for him if he takes the love thing too seriously as well.
“Mary Chong, you are my eternal companion when it comes to this whole love stuff! I’ve only been friends with you for more than a year yet we’ve already shared so much! Cheers man!”
***
At the moment, Tony Parker is extremely hungry. Thank god he’s burgis (“Which only lasts in a ZAP!” cries the frogs).
In a while, he’s meeting Via Mare, Scott Vakula and Mary Chong- characters you’ll hear more of in the coming editions. GRRRROOOOOWWWLLLL… goes Tony’s tummy. Haha. Bye.
Tony Parker usually doesn’t have a lot to say with whatever he’s wearing.
Well, it’s not like his shirt should blurt out something.
He’s the typical jeans and t-shirt kind of guy. He gets up in the morning, he takes a bath, he combs his hair, he pulls out a top and a bottom (pardon the choice of words, you naughty minds) and out the door he goes.
But it’s not like he’s supposed to make a statement with the piece of cloth hanging off his neck. However, existing in a world where fads and the people who start them co-exist with him, it’s quite tempting for him to do the same thing.
Hail the fashion icon: Carrie Bradshaw. Tagged as the 11th greatest character ever created for TV (at least by Bravo), this fictional sassy New Yorker put the FASHION on Television (and the echoserang frogs second the motion).
***
Tony is a Sex and the City fanatic. The first time he saw the show was on a Holy Tuesday. As usual, there wasn’t much to watch on local TV during this time of the year. Thank God they have cable. This series that started in 1998 came to his attention only about 5 years later (Echoserang frogs go: “Blame the economy. Third world countries are usually last in order…”). The same way that he was hooked to FRIENDS and to greasy-but-super tasty food, this show also got him to the CORE. He suddenly found himself stuck in front of the TV every Tuesday night. Whenever the show was on, nothing else existed (not even a bitchy echoserang frog screaming in the background). Eventually, it was transferred to a Thursday night time slot. Heck, the time changed but Tony Parker’s obsession never did.
***
Sex and the City is about 4 girls living in New York City. Carrie, the writer, is like the glue that holds them together. She’s each of her friend’s best friend. Samantha Jones, the headstrong PR Executive, is the one who has an appetite for sex much wilder than a lioness that hasn’t tasted meat in a year. Charlotte York, the art gallery gal, is the optimist. She’s the one whose head is in the clouds when it comes to love. And Miranda, the lawyer, is the often sarcastic and cynical one in the group. And whenever they all get together, it’s often an opinion-boxing match on love, sex, career and life in general.
Tony was crushed when the show ended in 2004 (the same way that his world stopped turning when FRIENDS ended that same year. And whenever there’s no bad-but-tasty greasy food present on the dining table). The end of SATC on TV felt to him like the “end of an era”. The thing about Tony is that he rarely gets “hooked” on something. And whenever he does, he gets hooked all the way (“Yeahhh…” moans the wart-filled frogs. Eowww…).
***
Although Sex and the City ended, Carrie Bradshaw’s shoe marks never left. She remains in pop culture as the fashion “it” girl of TV. The show helped labels like Manolo Blahnik and Jimmy Choo become the must-haves for aspiring fashionistas. It was a fashion storm that the SATC girls stirred up. And it’s something that not even the women of Wysteria Lane could manage to cook up (pardon the angry fan-resentment).
Carrie Bradshaw remains to be a fashion icon to this day. The show’s numerous syndications in several countries help sustain the fashion bug that she kicked off to a start. She’s an icon and a fictional force to be reckoned with. And her shoes are never leaving the building.
Tony Parker once told Mary Chong that if he snags the writer post at Wonderland, he would be more of a daredevil when it comes to fashion. Before, in the Alps, he was pure plain Jane/plain Tony- jeans, t-shirt, shoes… nothing fancy, nothing daredevil-ish. He wore the same things over and over again. “Palibhasa wala rin kasi siyang gaanong budget pambili ng maraming damit kaya recycle din lang siya ng recycle!” says the angry crowd of echoserang frogs.
It’s not like he wants to don a bright pink sweater in the middle of a sunny day just to catch attention. Tony just probably wants to take more risks this time in Wonderland. His fashion sense had always been on the safe side; always black or white.
***
Tony knows that he can never really pull off being a fashionista. But he’s not aiming to be a fashionista. Fashionistas become fashionistas in lieu of setting trends and grabbing attention. Tony may want to grab some attention, yes. Pero wala sa plano niya ang mag-set ng trends. He just doesn’t have the balls for it. As with everything, he’s afraid to start things that are supposed to be big. Like relationships or leadership seminars, for that matter (“Huh?” says echoserang frog #1).
***
Tony remembers back in grade school when he was awarded the prestigious Dux Leadership Award during the 6th grade graduation. It was a one in a thousand award handed to only one deserving student who has exemplified great leadership skills throughout the elementary years. Of course, Tony was very proud of it back then. “The medal was huge!” comments echoserang frog #2. It was as large as his fist! But now, Tony kind of wonders if he really has leadership skills.
Looking back, Tony thinks nabinigay lang yun sa kanya dahil ang dami niyang sinalihan na clubs. As in like 9 out of 10! “Nawili!” cheers echoserang frog #3. Tony was super active back then. It’s funny because as he grew older, nag-decrease naman yung drive niya to be the bibo kid in campus (echoserang frogs laugh).
***
Tony was batch Valedictorian in 6th grade. He then became just one of the many Second Honor-awardees in high school. And then in college, one of the many regular graduates na lang siya na umakyatng stage, nagpa-picture at kumuha ng diploma.
Tony often attributes this “decrease in academic excellence” with his involvement in theater. He started his love affair with theater during his high school years. Their high school drama club had an audition for new members during his freshman year. When the results for those who passed were posted, Tony was number one. This somewhat came to him as a surprise as he was really more inclined to the academics (the sciences, language and all that stuff) as opposed to the arts when he was growing up. He could bravely say that the acting thing is something that is already innate with him. Tony Park surprised himself when he realized how easy being on stage or performing in front of people was for him. “As in, wala siyang hiya!” comments echoserang frog #1, who was present during the auditions. “Stage fright had never been a grave issue for me.” replies Tony in the slick manner that he had always attended to questions thrown by the press (Echoserang frogs: “Chos…”).
However, there was this one very unforgettable incident back in Tony’s grade school years. It was Buwan ng Wika (August) and he was chosen by his Filipino teacher to sing “Ako ay Pilipino” (in English, “I am a Filipino”) at the morning flag ceremony. He thought back then that it was a chance of a lifetime. His teacher, who we will hide under the codename “Ms. Nemo”, saw his talent for singing during the first week of her class when each student was asked to show a talent that he can be proud of (“He” really is the appropriate pronoun to be used here since they were all boys. That’s how it was in Tony’s school- all boys sections and all girls sections. Sigh…).
Tony remembers that ill-fated day when he sang in front of everybody. He was wearing the traditional camisa de chino tucked into red pants and he was barefoot. He remembers staying on the 6th floor of their building before going down to the school grounds. He was preparing for his “big singing debut” (“Yeah right!” remarks the echoserang frogs in chorus).
It was a couple of minutes to 7am, which was the usual time that their school’s flag ceremonies are held. He was at the 6th floor. He remembers looking down at the crowd of about a hundred- consist of all the elementary students from the first to the 6th grade. They were all lined up on the school grounds with their teachers. They were all waiting for the ceremony to start. Tony was upstairs. He was barefoot (Not so accurate factoid: As tradition dictates, wearing a camisa dechino with red pants look better with bare feet. Sleek chic at its best. Lol.).
It was right about 7am when he was called to already proceed downstairs since the ceremonies were already about to start. He was nervous. He kept repeating the song in his head, singing each line as he made his way down. Zooming into his brain, he thought he had it in the bag. He thought he was going to nail it. “Ang laki ng kumpyansa sa sarili!” comments one of the frogs- 1, 2 or 3, who cares at this point. They’re just a bunch of frogs.
Tony Parker remembers walking on the school grounds like as if he was walking to his death. Ironically, he only looked like he was walking to his death but truth be told, he knew he was going to do well. “Masyado akong confident sa sarili ko kaya kung gaano kataas ang lipad ng utak ko, ganoon din kalalim ang ibinabagsak ko.” he says in a recent interview.
He waited for his turn that morning- in his white camisana labang-Mr. Clean, and his red pants. And once again, take note, he was barefoot. He was barefoot and it was cold. He kept repeating the lines of the song in his head while he stood waiting.
Minutes later…
“AY PUMIYOK!” exclaimed the crowd.
It was so tragic. End of story.
***
Tony Parker and the Echoserang Frogs is about the real and the ideal, as what life ought to be.
The real is the now. It is every breath you take. It is the present situation. It is the gush of the wind on your face. It’s the sound of the cars passing by. It’s the sight of the tall building on the corner of here and there. It’s the things you can’t deny. It’s the things that are there. They’re the things that are tangible. You know it’s there. And it is what it is. It’s how it looks, it’s how it sounds and it’s what it means. Other than all that, it’s already ideal.
The ideal is the dream. It’s what things ought to be. It’s what you may wish your reality is. It’s the sound of the traffic jam that’s turned into a gentle noise. It’s the sight of the tall building that becomes the part of your own mini-movie. It’s the feel of someone’s touch that shouldn’t mean anything, even if it does. It’s the things we think up in our heads. Imagination? Not quite. It’s a bit less limitless than that. The ideal is bound by our ultimate wants and needs. It’s what our reality ought to be.
***
Currently, Tony Parker is enjoying the nature of his job as a writer in Wonderland. It’s very rewarding considering that the job is very output-oriented. It doesn’t feel very exhausting. “Time seems to fly so fast in the world of a writer…” he remarks, this time with dreamy eyes and a pen stuck to one of his nose holes.
Two full weeks have already passed since he started and he thinks that he’s already kinda getting the hang of it. Or so he says.
November 4, 2008. Election Day today in the United States.
Barrack Obama is sexy in a weird way. I guess it’s because he’s this really manly man. He’s not good-looking, though. It must also be the fact that he has the balls to fight his way to the White House and be America’s first black President.
He’s so unlike McCain, who’s just another old guy to want to sit in the Oval Office. A lot of other US Presidents have the McCain prototype- white guy, kind of old, the usual.
I think the White House needs a President with a new look. So go put Obama in the White House people.
Charla and I exchanged words about the US Presidential Elections. She’s rooting for Obama like me. According to her, McCain reeks of being a Bush neophyte. And I think she has a point.
Just now, I finished reading this article at cnn.com. It talked about the proposals of both candidates on the tax scenario in the States.
McCain is aiming for tax cuts for all income levels, whether rich or poor. Obama on the other hand is aiming for tax cuts only on the middle classes, which comprise the biggest chunk of the American population.
In other words, he would only apply the tax cuts on those who need them most. As per the wealthy ones, no tax cuts are to be credited. This is because they are already earning much for them to get “extra benefits” from the government.
I mean, if they want that kind of special treatment, they should go here to the Philippines where there is “corruption galore”.
I got this quote from Obama on cnn.com which said that “If you make under $250,000, you will not see your taxes increase by a single dime - not your income taxes, not your payroll taxes, not your capital gains taxes, nothing… Because the last thing we should do in this economy is raise taxes on the middle class."
What Obama wants to happen is to cut taxes for every American except for those who are either singles who earn more than $200,000, and married couples who make more than $250,000.
And it doesn’t end there. Obama also wants to expand tax breaks for lower and middle-income groups. He would expand the earned income tax credit. He would give those making less than 150,000 dollars in income 500 dollars in tax credit in the first 8,100 dollar income.
He would offer those making less than 75 thousand dollars a 50 percent federal match on the first 1 thousand dollars of savings; and for those senior citizens, who make less than 50,000 dollars from having to pay income tax.
I think this is all very appealing. And what does McCain have to say?
McCain would impose the tax cuts on EVERYONE including those who earn more than 250,000 dollars. He will make permanent what Bush started in the first place.
Bush already tried to do the same thing; in fact, this was already enacted back in 2001 and 2003. What McCain is trying to do now is continuing his legacy. Let’s just hope that he is less of a comic act lest he win. But hey, Bush sure was fun.
McCain, aside from wanting to maintain all tax cuts, also aims to do these other things: He also wants to increase the exemption for dependents, which is very beneficial to parents. He also wants to lower the corporate tax rate. He wants to make expensing rules more generous for small businesses. And he also wants to lessen the bite of the state tax. Ouch.
From where I stand, which is way over here in the Philippines, that (and maybe this is partly influenced by the nature of Pinoy politics), Obama appeals more to the masses whereas McCain appeals more to the upper classes.
In other words, Obama has an “Erap appeal” minus the showbiz background and multiple wives-track record. McCain, on the other hand, is just like any other traditional politician who takes after previous Presidents; with long established relationships with the most powerful people in society.
Obama is the “new kid in the block”. McCain is the proven and tested “politicko”.
Who will win? Who will you choose?
The new kid with the fresh ideas? Or the one who goes after the shadow of a leader who has already endured some time in the White House?
It’s the battle of the new and the classic- like leather jacket versus a suit. Which would you wear?
*Upon publishing of this entry, Obama has already won. Turns out America listened to me. Kidding.
For nasty comments and destructive criticisms, rant all you want at the comments box. Be nice.
Charla, Sammy, Mira and Me: The Lords of DowneTown.
Charla is the conservative one. Mira crosses the line of being uptight and being promiscuous. Sammy is outrageous and flamboyant; one whose presence is ever-felt. He is the life of the party. And me, the glue that holds us all together.
Truth be told, I’ve been like this since high school. I’ve always been the one to call everyone for a coffee, a movie or a night out.
I am the spearhead; this is my perennial role. Ironically, I’m a loner most of the time. The joke is on me.
What’s up with my friends?
Charla is happy with Elle. Sammy is currently on leave as he is currently stressed from work. Mira, amidst her job dilemma, is surviving and fighting. She is playing the Good Samaritan to her college best friend. She’s proving that she wants nothing to do with this certain student.
I also told her to ignore Stella’s habitual drunken texting rendezvous with her. Or else, she’ll continue playing doormat to that “player”.
As for me, I’m the chronicler of everyone’s lives. My life now is lame and boring. Thank God my career is doing fine (like career is a separate entity).
I am greatly inspired by Joe Vitale, author of “Hypnotic Writing: How to seduce and persuade customers with only your words”. It’s a great book that my senior writer lent me.
I’m also reading “Twilight” by Stephanie Meyer, which I will review in a separate entry.
Upon publishing of this entry, Charla is still very happy, Sammy is still asleep, Mira is already applying for a new job and I am still here- writing for love, waiting for love and wanting to be loved.
Wherever that came from.
For nasty comments and destructive criticisms, rant all you want at the comments box. Be nice.
Writing is shaping up well. Miss Cancer and the rest aren’t here yet. Just me and Cora, who is playing some music from her table.
I love the songs she plays everyday. Jason Mraz, Beach Boys, Hotdog, VST- all retro, very retro. Her taste in music is cool. I like it. It’s a breath of fresh air in the face of modern music; ironic that the classics can be fresh.
It’s cool to stick to the classics in modern times. More often than not, today you are “cool” if you only watch the latest TV shows, music, events, etc. This is when you get tagged “cool”. Or “hot”- if you ask Paris Hilton.
Cora is nice. Given some time, we could really hit it off as friends. She’s not hard to get along with. She’s very laidback. No hassles. Smooth.
This reminds me of my old friends. Where are they by the way? Let me check.
Charla is happy with Elle. Sammy is getting the cold shoulder from his workmates. Mira is playing the good girl card. And I’m writing.
Writing, writing, writing. I am writing while dying to quit the rut I am in.
My personal issues are ugly. But I’ll do my best to seep them in here. I will try to relate my personal stuff as references that would shed light on my friends’ experiences.
From real to reel, I will try to craft daily realities into slices of my ideal mini-movie. After all, we are our lives’ own writers. It’s all up to us to make it happen. Hell, I’ve been doing it for years.
If you want to be a writer, you have to write, write, write. Just like if you want to be an actor, you have to act, act, act. That’s how you become someone. You have to keep on doing that thing that you want to be doing for the rest of your life.
There should be no stopping your tracks. You should keep going. No matter what the distraction, no matter how shitty your mood, no matter what the environment, you should keep going.
Something I should’ve done with acting, I know. I should’ve kept acting. I should’ve stuck to that script even if I was heartbroken or in a bad mood.
So now I will keep on writing. I will be inspired by ideals and by people. That’s how a writer makes it. A writer has to keep writing until it becomes second nature to him.
Don’t feel that you’re drying up with ideas. Just keep writing.
Anyhow, I’m alone now with Miss Cancer. She arrived 5 minutes ago, shortly after the other Wonderlanders came.
Cora decided to get lunch, and invited the others. It’s just Miss Cancer and me now at the office.
It’s friggin’ silent. Sir Dennis Marasigan of CCP said that there’s nothing wrong with silence between characters on stage. But I’m in Wonderland- not a stage but a cold, rectangular office.
There’s nothing wrong with silence. Just keep writing. Even if the silence between you and Miss Cancer is awkward. Just keep writing.
I just texted Mira and Sammy. But they haven’t replied yet. They’re not even online.
Sammy probably went home already, asleep on his lily pad. And Mira is probably in their office but their server is down. I also texted Charla, but it’s taking her forever to reply. What I want to do is go down and escape this awkwardness.
The deafening silence is enveloping me. The solution? I will eat. Oh great, Charla just replied.
In closing, let me ask: “Bakit mahirap ngumiti nang nakakunot ang noo?”
Let me know when you’ve tried.
For nasty comments and destructive criticisms, rant all you want at the comments box. Be nice.
I'm the weirdo my mother planet sent to Earth to inject some "weirdo-ness" into this all too uptight world. During regular days though, I'm just your average human being trekking through the murky realities of life.
