STP

I just remembered to put this down. I'm a little dyslexic. I suck at spelling. So yeah, its out there.

Its my Nth Saturday at home, and I have to say, I'm feeling great about it. I'm saving money, being sober means no hangovers, and of course I'm a lot less tired. I don't know how I could live before with all the going out. This is really a good place, where I'm at right now. Inspiration.

Anyway, I came to a harsh realization today.

Its obvious to everyone that our country isn't in great shape. The economy is basically shit, there's a huge disparity between the have's and have not's, and it grows everyday. The government that is supposed to organize the country is actually causing more trouble than good. The president is robbing her constituents blind, and no one cares anymore. And I really can't believe I'm saying this, but yes, it sucks to be Filipino sometimes.

Aside from the fact that other countries see the Philippines as a nation that harbors terrorists, we also have to put up with embarassment upon embarassment the government puts us through. From the Subic rape case, to the ZTE scandal, other countries think we're all prostitutes, waiting for the next payoff. Who can blame them, the people we put into office act like they are. They'd bend over the fastest if you dropped a quarter.

To make things even worse, this afternoon while driving, I had one of the worst experiences ever. So yeah, I was on the third lane of East ave. and from my right a tricycle (another Filipino public transport abberation) tries to cut me off going to the left while I was stopped. If you can imagine, I'm on the third lane so he's in the right most lane and he's trying to turn fucking left at the stop light we were at. Retarded right? Well yeah, so anyway, I don't let him pass on the grounds of being a dumb, inconsiderate, fuck. We start to move, I go along and check the rear view mirror and see him giving me the finger. Wow right? Fan-fucking-tastic. He was the asshole, and he still has the fucking audacity to give me the international friendship sign? I'd tell you what I did next but I was reminded by someone very close to me that I shouldn't have done it and shouldn't be proud of it, so I'll just leave that to your imagination.

I've had other experiences similar to this that lead me to think that people who have less than others sometimes expect those who have more to be more than considerate-- they expect the person who has more to be tolerant. Moreover, they even push it sometimes and think its okay to act a certain way just because they see themselves in a more "sorry" state. I'm really not one to rag on the have not's, but its a big problem here in the Philippines. I know, you might say, its easy for me to talk this way since I've never lived a life of poverty but at the end of the day, we're still all people. Responsibility is not based on income. Being considerate is not based on income. You don't have the right to fuck others over, just because you think you're being fucked over yourself. Though I think respect is not gained but should be inherent, I do believe it can be lost.

Now, enough of the hate. On to what I think is the solution to the problem. Off of the top of my head, I have to say education. You educate the masses to make the right choices, and we have a better government. Educate the future leaders of the country, give them a sense of nationality, pride, and responsibility and you breed better leaders. The country, for one reason or another, now has an undeniable culture of greed and self-service. Its everywhere. In the government, in the institutions, and sadly in the people.

We are all Filipinos. All of us have equal basic responsibilities to the country and to each other. The leaders are only as good as the people they serve. Power to the people. Give them the ability to think and decide for themselves. Before we start to move mountains, we need to move ourselves.

No blog will do it. Not even one person can. But it can start in our generation. And that is enough to make me proud to be Filipino again. The mere hope that our generation, so fed up with what we grew up with, will one day realize that its time to help ourselves, and quit blaming the person next to us. We are all in this together. Its about time we save the Philippines.

Shoots.

Aspects of the Downhill Slide

"There's a place where America's manifest destiny collides into the pacific ocean, a place where the fabled route 66, the roadway of American dreams terminates. This is Dogtown."

Dogtown and Z-boys.

If you want to understand the passion behind skating this documentary will educate. Writen and directed by Stacy Peralta, a legendary skater in his own right, the documentary chronicles the history of the Z-Boys, a skate crew in the 70's that single handedly changed the face of skateboarding.

I just went out to skate for two minutes. I wish I could begin to write down how it feels to just go out and hit it. But I can't. This documentary comes very close. Perfect illustration of how culture, art and skating interact to develop style. The characters involved are just that-- characters that build such an interesting story. All of them share the intense passion to rip, but are different people that have totally different styles.

Get your hands on this one.

And cool.

Alright, to be fair, I'll answer my questions!

1. I don't eat breakfast cuz i'm never up as early. When i wake up, its closer to lunch so i just have that. Really not a morning person, but i'm starting to find out that mornings are nice.

2. How old i am? Old enough. Hahaha! I'm 22 turning 23 in August. Getting younger by the second! Gyeah!

3. I have a lot of things but right now its skating... and getting people to skate. That's kinda obivious. But anything related to skating. You really all should try it. Btw, don't forget April 22, 8pm UP. Earthday Skate! Saving the earth and skating!

4. anywhere with zuv. skating. Mary Hill, or the Menlow skate park.

5. Harder. Depends where. If i can skate, of course my board. hahaha

See that was fun right? hahaha Shoots!

My Turn

Since its early, and my brain isn't fully functional yet, let's all do something fun. Its my turn to get to know a little about those of you who read this-- those 2 of you who happen by this blog!

Answer on the comments page nalang! This should be fun!

Questions:
1. Do you eat breakfast? (cuz i don't)
2. Zuv and I had a conversation before about having a passion, and I wanna know what's yours?
3. How old are you?
4. What's one place you wanna go to right this second? Be creative!
5. Obeject you can't live without?

So there. Don't shy. Hahaha!

Future Primitive

Today I went out with my mom to check out my future "home." Its strange thinking that in a few months, everything that I've been accustomed to in terms of where I rest my loins will be different. Now, I walk down the street and its Pat's house. When I move there, I walk down the street and its Greenbelt. Its really exciting but at the same time unnerving since I've grown comfortable with what I have now. True, I may have grown too comfortable in the sense that here at home, I practically don't have to do anything, but when I move there, its going to be all me.

Baptism of fire, right from the get go. I start work, after going to school all my life. I'm going to be living alone, after being just a few steps from my parents for as long as I can remember. No grace period. Boosh.

Still, its exciting. Its the beginning of my life. Independence. Freedom. I know there are a lot of things I'm going to miss about living with the parents, but I guess I have to grow up now... okay no. I'm just moving out. :D


And by the way. We got to skate that place I've been wanting to hit for such a long time. It did not disappoint. Despite the fuckin heat, Migolo (migs) and I had a blast. I think we almost died of heatstroke but it was all worth it.

shoots!

Robot Love

Can't really think of anything else. I miss and love Saab a lot. :)

we should be turning japanese

Channel surfing led me to a random show about Japanese technological developments. It was pretty interesting to see that a country as advanced and as forward as Japan has grown more interested in sustainable development. Its amazing to see a whole country take a more progressive stance in protecting the environment. If they can do it, I'm sure the rest of the world can.

Here are some of the more interesting things:

1. Green Roofs - Japan, being the country where the Kyoto protocol was signed, has made it a law in its capital that buildings being renovated or built have roofs with vegetation. To take it further, the local government requires that 70% of the roof be covered by plants.

I don't know the exact details of the Kyoto protocol. I am sure however that it was signed by several countries to regulate cO2 emissions. A country, I think, is given a certain quota (in tons of cO2) that it cannot go over. For every ton that it goes over, the country is taxed.

2. New Plastic - They actually developed a plastic that is microwavable. This was being featured when I stumbled upon the show so I don't know the whole deal. All I know is that the plastic is biodigradable. It can cut down the amount of non-biodigradable waste the world has immensely.

3. Paper Discs - This one was such a trip. They can now actually make compact discs made of paper. And yeah, the discs aren't bad. In fact, they have a 25 gb capacity. Crazy!

Things are looking up. All of us have a responsibility to the environment and every little thing counts. Keep it green everybody!

Shoots!

The Movement

It was rainy today. There was nothing to skate. I was then left to do the next best thing—hangout with a good friend and talk skating. The Starbucks on Katipunan provided the perfect venue to hate the rain amidst the planning for the future of Whiskey Hill. Migs and I hatched brilliant plans of world domination while he sipped his coffee from a dirty-white Starbucks mug. Ominous laughter echoed through the huge Petron complex where the little quaint coffee house was situated. Not a nook or cranny was left peaceful.

Alright, I’m just kidding. It really rained and we really chilled in Starbucks, but no plans for world domination were hatched, and laughter was kept discreet. We did plan for the future of Whiskey Hill and it looks crazy.

The reason we ever got into the business, if you could call it that, was because we wanted to share the proverbial “stoke” with the Filipinos. I’m hesitant to call it that because everybody uses “stoke” nowadays and it loses its meaning. It really doesn’t compare to anything else. To give you an idea, imagine the feeling of freedom, satisfaction, excitement, fear and all that jazz then multiply by the feeling of spirituality and maybe, just maybe you come close. In fact, I think it was Gerry Lopez aka Mr. Pipeline who said, “You hear them call us “surf-bums” but you never hear “religious bums” when it’s practically the same feeling.” Skating and surfing have very similar cultures and I have to agree with Mr. Lopez. There is really a spiritual drive to it. And Whiskey Hill wants to be the church!

From the start we’ve always wanted to do this for the people. More than selling a board we want to inspire a culture driven by motion, art, friendship, responsibility and of course da stoke brah. Of course, we needed to make a profit to keep it going but that was always second to the progression of the culture. As skaters, for skaters, we really couldn’t rip people off. Especially when these people were the ones who would share and help in realizing the dream.

It’s been almost a year since we got our maiden shipment. Looking back, we’ve made a lot of good friends, skated some of the most awesome places, met a lot of cool people, and have had a ton of fun doing it.

Lookin forward to more pavement to skate, more people to meet, and more rain to hate!

Took!

just for fun.

tucking makes things go faaaast :D

Beep, Beep!

Two things for the three of you who read this blog!

First, there's going to be a big skate session on April 22, 2008. That's earth day for all of you didn't know, and a bunch of us are going to get together in UP to hangout and skate to push for skateboarding as an alternative form of transportation. I know its not as feasible in the Philippines as it is in other parts of the world but even a little helps. So if you skate, or want to skate, or just want to make a stand and celbrate with us on Earth Day, come on along. Its an international event. In different cities all over the world people are going to hangout and document each of their earthday sessions!

Second, skate tayo sa UP ngayun Sunday ng hapon! hahaha yay!

Shoots!

thank you bbq

Aright, BBQ's are fun. I just came from my good friend Pat's house. Started grilling at like 5 and i left at around 12:30 and they were still at it. Missed the pretty girl a lot. :)

Why do i think BBQ's are great? Well, i'm not really the club person anymore. I don't wanna pay to get into an uncomfortably packed place only to pay even more money for overpriced beer/food. Aside from that, the music they play isn't even that great. I'm not really big on dancing anyway, nor am i that into socializing. so yeah, i'd rather chill out by a pool and fire up the grill. Good free food, i get to pick what i listen to, and it isn't a sardine can!

One thing i miss doing is like watching a band play live. There's something about good live music that's just crazy. thank god i'm watching Modest Mouse in May. woot woot.

Shootz

there rolls a riot van

I haven’t skated in like a week and I’m pretty bummed about it. Not like depressed bummed but more like, I know I should be riding more and I’m not so I feel a little guilty. The sun is finally out and I haven’t taken advantage of it. What can I do, the last fucking week everyone was out of town. Aside from that my favorite spot in the city was on lock, so I wasn’t really itching to skate all that much. There’s this one really nice spot in Timog I’ve been raring to hit, I just always get kicked out by the guards. One day though, I will get my revenge.

the truth about being sober

I’ve been sober for two and a half weeks now. No alcohol at all. I know, for a lot of people that should be easy, but for me it’s monumentally hard. I’ve pretty much spent the last half-decade of my life neck deep in beer. I don’t mean this in an alcoholic way; I’d say I just enjoy a drink more than the average guy. Besides that, it’s also in my circle. All my friends drink and the only person I know who doesn’t is my dad, and that’s because he’s allergic.

It’s very scary to think about not drinking again. I’ve had so many good times drunk with friends. One thing I have in common with most of my very good friends is actually our penchant for being stupid. Alcohol helps us achieve this goal in a much shorter, less embarrassing (while you’re doing it) manner. I remember times in Luis’ house in San Francisco when the two of us would just get drunk and shoot empty bottles in the yard. Or like that time I got my nickname, Kaklus. Fuck, see, those things are fun in themselves, but is actually more fun when you’re drunk. I’m sure there are a thousand things I’m going to miss about drinking (and a thousand and one I’m not), but at the end of the day I know it should be worth it. No more hangovers, no drunk driving, and a lot less really dumb mistakes (Jack and Jaeger do not go together).

The truth about being sober, at least in my case, is that it’s surprisingly enjoyable. Yeah, I do miss a lot of things you can only find at the bottom of the bottle, but these things I don’t need. For a time I was worried about losing my self because drinking had been a big part of me, but later on I realize that it was just dumb to think that. Though I was a drinker, that’s not who I am, its not what I want to be. It was only part of what I did.

We’ve had some awesome time’s there amigo. But I’m looking forward to what I know will even be better times. I’ll see you around.

Cheers!