My Jeepney Moment

I have been riding the jeepney for most of my life and I have been bugged by one question:  "What is the basis of measuring the capacity of a jeepney?"

I'm a big guy and being so I take up a huge part of the sitting space.  If I sit up front---no one else would be comfortable sitting beside me, that is, unless it is his trip to have half his body dangling outside of the jeepney!  Jeepnies picking up passengers at a terminal will not leave unless they are filled up.  This is where you hear barkers saying "waluhan" or "sampuan".  Where the heck did they get these numbers?!  I understand the need to earn a living but doing so at the discomfort of the riding public is despicable---especially when you loaded up a bunch of oversize people like myself!

No, I don't rant my mind whenever I get confronted with this situation.  I just make sure that I get on early so I wouldn't have to squeeze myself on the last available seat.  After all, those who don't have money---take the jeepney!

Rainy Season is Here

According to the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) the rainy season starts by end of May when the southwest monsoon becomes dominant.  Well, it is already making us feel its presence with our daily dose of rainfall in the afternoon and early evening.

I was on my way home when I missed my regular stop and upon alighting at SM Fairview I was met with a heavy rainfall that forced me to take shelter in a nearby Jollibee store.  I have been here for more than 30 minutes already and the rain has yet to show any signs of letting up.  I guess God got fed up with all the complaint about the hot summer that He decided to douse us with water.  It is cooler alright but it would be a real pain to travel especially that it is now the beginning of the school year.   Other than this---it is going to be a bitch drying the laundry!

Vampire Diaries Season 3 Finale

Claus is finally dead...well, his physical body died and gets resurrected in the body of Tyler.  Apparently, there's going to be a twist in the list of antagonist in the next season.  But that's just me.  Good thing is Caroline will no longer be tangled in terms of his feelings for Claus.  Admit it girl!  You've got a thing for the guy!

Elena finally chooses between the Salvatore brothers only to get killed in the end.  Yeah...she dies in the finale and the vampire nation celebrated the concurrent demise of Alaric who was created by the Original Matriarch to annihilate all vampires.  Oh but don't worry, in the final sequence Elena makes an Eclipse-like revival.  Can't have a fourth season without Elena there can we?  At least she won't be the weakling she used to be in the last three seasons.

Season 4 will air in October 2012.

House M.D. Season 8 Finale

After eight seasons, House M.D. aired its last episode last May 21.  In that episode we were almost led to believe that Gregory House M.D. died in a burning building forced by his own egomaniacal need for the "interesting".  But guys, this is House!  He's James Bond in a doctor's suit!  We've watched him hatch season after season of Houdini-like cunning it's no longer a surprise that he came out of that building alive!  Besides, no fun closing this series with a dead character!  

Goodbye House!

Happy Memorial Day

I just finished watching the HBO mini-series The Pacific and realized that today happens to be the celebration of Memorial Day in the United States.

America have had its share of wars and Memorial Day is the time of remembering those who have sacrificed their lives for liberty and the American way.  I am no soldier and I have not experience being in a time of war but I have read a lot about wars to say that it is no walk in the park.  Those who have fought in them and survived are scarred physically, mentally, and spiritually.  I do believe that those who died fighting are more fortunate than those who lived because they bring with them all the traumatic experience through their remaining lives.

I pray that the world leaders embrace peace more than war and should their be conflicts between nations let the words of the philosopher Sun Tzu prevail:

"The supreme general is he who defeats his enemy without fighting."

NCIS and NCIS Los Angeles Season Finale

Talk about cliffhangers!  After the season finale of NCIS and NCIS Los Angeles, viewers were left with their mouths hanging and heart thumping as Agent Gibbs and his crew's explosive end and Agent Callen's arrest put to rest their respective seasons.  Super bitin talaga!

Now I'm raring to watch NCIS Season 10 and NCIS Los Angeles Season 4.

The Corona Impeachment Trial

"He who has no sin cast the first stone."  That was what Jesus said to the mob who was about to stone a woman accused of adultery.  

Justice Renato Corona basically appealed to his accusers using this bible verse when he challenged the senators and congressmen to sign a similar waiver to open their dollar accounts.  As expected, the request was downplayed and "duly noted" by the senator judges.  That in itself tells us that the same people who are judging the Chief Justice are themselves with their own dark secrets to keep.

The Corona trial established a precedent and if PNoy is serious about his desire to have a transparent and decent government he will use this to pursue the corrupt the same way he lobbied to have the Chief Justice answer for his "crimes".  But before he does this PNoy himself should subject himself to the same scrutiny.  Unless PNoy clears himself first he will remain to be the same as his predecessors who vowed the same fight against government corruption.

Let us not dwell too much on his lovelife because it does not have anything to do with his job.  Let us scrutinize him for what he needs to do and push him to make good his promise for a better Philippines.