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mastercukie
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Name: Gil
Location:
Gender: Male
Interests: People and Places. Haven't walked through the Great Wall of Chine but have climbed up the Spanish Steps and Banaue Rice Terraces!
Haven't met Maria Sharapova but am living and loving my dearest chief as we together discover people and places!
Expertise: Learning tennis but play NBA on PS2 much better. Can't prepare sushi but am good in cooking pancakes at the Greenhome. Expert in packing our luggages and charming my way through check-in counter staff with excess baggage.
Know some photography and video editing but can make people laugh before a photo is taken.
Want to learn advertising strategic planning
Occupation: Communications Practitione and
Industry: Communication and Education
Message: message meEmail: email me
Website: visit my website
MSN: greenhome204@hotmail.com
Yahoo:  greenhome204@yahoo.com
Member Since:
1/26/2005
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| Around 5pm, Tuesday afternoon, I had moved to the front of the Palacio del Gobernador. A couple of hundred students had slowly started to gather here. Many of them were wearing yellow. A few wearing their uniforms. Some wore shirts with “glowing tigers” mascot. Their lynards said it all. Glowing Tigers. Faculty of Civil Law. College of Fine Arts and Design. Education. Arts and Letters. Physical Therapy. Clearly, these students were Thomasians.
I had learned that Thomasians had been called to attend the Tuesday 9pm Mass at the Manila Cathedral. There was some commotion, specially, as the rain poured. But that didn’t dampen the spirit of the students. Most, if not all of them, had not been born during the assassination of Ninoy Aquino back in 1983 or EDSA Revolution in February 1986. This was probably their first and closest experience to a “people power” type of gathering.
Now, I feel old as I had lived through those times and been a part of EDSA Revolution. Yup, I was on top of the gate Camp Crame when Enrile and Ramos crossed from Camp Aguinaldo to Camp Crame. I snapped hundreds of photos during those days. Now, I just need to post them in Facebook or Blogger. But need to digitized them first.
I could sense that these Thomasians wanted to be part of history as cameras were snapping and clicking, using the Manila Cathedral as their background. Many proudly raised the “Laban” sign. I saw a couple of priests. The elder one even lent his umbrella to me and a middle-aged lady.
I wish and pray that behind all these “Kodak” moments, students, regardless of affiliation or course, channel all their youthful unadulterated values into specific action that will lead to change. It starts with their registration as voters, choosing and even campaigning for the right candidates, protecting their ballots and staying vigilant as the winning candidates take office.
The challenge of Ninoy’s death in 1983 and EDSA Revolution remains the same today. Food on the table for majority of the poor. Less of corruption, more of basic services. Simply, just honesty and integrity in government. | | |
| Watching the last minutes of Game 5, between the Los Angeles Lakers and Orlando Magic, fans in Los Angeles had already started celebrations. Many cheered in their homes as the Lakers celebrated in Amway Arena. My dad had teased me, through Chief, for a blowout! And I teased my friend, Neal Tieng, knowing he is a Celtics fan.
Finally, Kobe emerged from the shadows of Shaq and Coach Phil Jackson earned his 10th ring.
There were news that amidst the recession and tough times, there would be no victory parade for the Lakers. A six-figure budget was expected to spent on such a parade. But finally, the city and the Laker organization shared financial resources to celebrate the championship.
An estimated 150,000, many in purple and golf, made their presence felt along the parade that started at the Staples Center, down Figueroa Street and ended at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Photo by Mark Boster.
The Laker Girls made their presence in the packed Coliseum. Maybe, one day, I will watch a Lakers Game at Staples Stadium.
Kobe Bryant said, "We feel this championship. We feel the energy of the city. We want to do this thing again and again. So you know we'll be back next year ready to go." Photo by Mark Boster of the LA Times. Am sure many fans saw Kobe share the championship trophy with his wife and two kids on TV after Game 5 at the Amway Arena.
Did you know that the hardwood floor from Staples Center had been disassembled and then, reassembled inside the Coliseum.
"We've got an amazing young group of people here," player Pau Gasol told the crowd. "We're still hungry. We're not done yet. We want more. We want more. . . . After experiencing what we experienced in the parade coming here and being in this beautiful stadium, we want to definitely offer you more. So be ready for it." They definitely would not have won without Gasol! Photo by Mark Boster.
The celebrations was generally peaceful except for a few guys whose presence caught the attention of CHiPs along the 101 Freeway. Suddenly, I remember Larry Wilcox and Erik Estrada.
In my own way, I was celebrating, proudly wearing my old blue “take it to the hoop” Laker T-shirt. | | |
| Last New Year’s Eve, we attended Mass at Makati Shangrila and heard Fr.
Larry’s words about the holidays and the current economic crisis the
world faces. He told the crowd to find Christ through the crisis. And
must admit that those words caught my attention. Yup, there is a crisis
brewing and people say that it was going to get worse before it gets
any better. Hopefully not!
Guess, we should always be counting
our blessings and appreciate these gifts from Christ, specially, the
gift of family and friends… and of good health and a stable career.
Chief and I have been blessed since we returned from Vietnam after our
five year “tour of duty.”
We have been blessed with a tease of
parenthood with Christian Gabriel who now watches over us. Often, when
we are in desperate search of a parking slot in Greenbelt or Rockwell,
we would call out to CG to help lead us to a vacant spot… and really,
soon enough, we would find a space.
This year, we are still hopeful that Raphael will soon join our lives and get a rare experience parenthood again.
Through
the celebration, Fr. Larry kept his sermon as simple and as relevant as
possible, often giving reference to the current economic and political
environment.
And we hope that after his sermon last Wednesday
night, everyone has stronger faith that change will lead to better
lives, specially, for those who have less in life.
Happy new year everyone! | | |
| A few days before Christmas, Chief and I found ourselves around
Greenbelt 5. Actually, we were just
tamad to cook and prepare food at home. We still had paksiw na lechon
at home. But really, just tamad. Hehehe. And besides, it was a couple
of days before Christmas eve and I felt tonight was the rare night
Chief and I would have together this season as reunions lie ahead for
the next few days.
We
ended up at Le Maison in Greenbelt 5. It was a little crowded. And the
“macho chops” I ordered had run out. Huh? Albert, the waiter explained
that the last piece had been ordered. Huh? He gave a recommendation but
I opted for calamari (friend squid). It was little too "cracked"
meaning a little too breaded... that it had sharp corners and service
from the corner where we sat a little to slow. But still a good place
to dine. Anyway, am not a food critic. This was our second time here.
Our first dining experience was last August... my birthday.
Into
our dinner, we both get text messages from Bingo and Mila… asking if we
were free for coffee? That was perfect timing and advised them that we
were just in Le Maison having dinner. Around 9pm, both were standing in
front of us.
It was great to see good friends again!
We
moved to Chateau 1771 for coffee and desserts. Mila noticed that I
quickly talked to Hazel, the receptionist. I actually just mentioned to
her that EON had it’s Christmas party at this restaurant only last
Friday and she said that she remembered me. Actually, just PR. Chateau
1771 in Greenbelt 5 and is open until 11 p.m. for dinner on Fridays and
Saturdays. For inquiries, ask for Hazel but dont mention my name. You
can call 729-9760 or 0917-862-6467. One day soon, I would like to taste
their grilled king prawns. Photos from
www.3mddigitalsolutions.com/chateau
Mila
proudly showed off pictures from Unilab’s anniversary “Warrior” event.
Both she and Bingo were wearing Indonesian inspired costumes. Both
shared kuwentos about the parade that showcased its heritage and
growth. Symbolic items like the first cash register, the first Unilab
product package, etc. was passed on to the current leaders of the
company.
It quickly brought back memories of how our own
friendship grew since those days back in Saigon, when Chief was with
McCann Erickson Vietnam and Bingo was Marketing Director of United
Pharma.
Today, we hope to visit them in Jakarta next year but for now, also hope to catch up with Maribel Regino.
After coffee, Chief and I walked home while both rushed to Rockwell for last minute midnight shopping. | | |
| Pacquiao returned to country last Wednesday, a few days after his punching presence in the ring caused Oscar dela Hoya to give up after 8 rounds last Sunday. Am sure that many bloggers have written about the success of Manny Pacquiao! His illustration from pinoysports.com.ph
Here are some quick facts about his recent win, specially, his presence on HBO.
1. According to HBO, the fight at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas generated about 1.25 million pay-per-view buys.
2. It is only the fourth time a non-heavyweight bout in the US reached at least one million. Interesting to note that Oscar De La Hoya has been in the ring in all the four fights.
3. Pacquiao will get an estimated gross amount worth $11.2 million or P548.8 million from the above earnings. Can you imagine how many poor families that amount can feed for one year?
4. Pacquiao’s previous pay-per-view high was 405,000 buys registered last April in his rematch against Juan Manuel Marquez.
5. It is his birthday on December 17! He is turning 30.
6. Guess who gave him a carrot cake decorated with a red boxing glove and a green boxing belt with the inscription "World’s No. 1 Pound-for-Pound Fighter."
7. He has the World Boxing Council (WBC) Flyweight, International Boxing Federation Super Bantamweight, WBC Super Featherweight, and WBC Lightweight world titles. And the first Asian to do it!
8. He lost to incumbent Rep. Darlene Antonino-Custodio, when he ran as congressman in South Cotabato’s first district in 2007. I hope he doesn’t make his presence in politics. He only be used by “trapos.”
9. His first name is Emmanuel.
10. He rode a 22-foot float for a motorcade-parade in General Santos City | | |
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