Georgina Wilson: Esquire Philippines July Cover Girl

This woman epitomizes the saying LESS is MORE!  Always a pleasure to behold!

Gloc-9: Sirena and Other Stories

Gloc-9 aka Aristotle Pollisco in real life, have once again proven his story telling craftsmanship with his new album "Mga Kwento ng Makata" featuring the carrier single "Sirena".

Gloc-9's songs have always been of social relevance.  The poet that he is, he gets his inspiration from what he sees around him and translates them in a song.  Sirena is one such composition. The song talks about the life and struggles of the third sex in a society highly dictated on by convention.  They are laughed at, ridiculed, and sometimes abused by their parents.  

Upang matakpan ang mga pasa sa mukha/Na galing sa aking ama na tila di natutuwa/Kapag ako'y nasisilayan laging nalalatayan sa paglipag ng panahon ay do ko na namalayan... 

Let's face it,  much that the world has evolved in the last decade or so homosexuality is still frowned upon by many.  The Bible's Book of Genesis would always be quoted to prove that in the beginning God only created two:  Man and Woman.   But then, Matthew 7:1 also tells us, "Do not judge for you too will be judged."  

Colorful in his imagery and metaphors, Gloc-9's play of words never fails to stir emotive responses from his listeners.  At first I was stumped as to the title of the song.  Sirena or mermaid is half woman and half fish.  Siokoy or merman is half man and half fish.  So I guess anything in between would be SIOKE which also happens to be another word to describe a gay person.  But this is not the title of the song---SIRENA is.  And then it hit me...

Drum na may tubig ang sinisisid/Naglalakihang mga braso ang saki'y dumidikdik/Drum na may tubig/Ang sinisisid sa patagalan ng pag hinga sakin kay ay bibilib...

Such is the torture that these people get from their own parents.  Such a shame.  Such horror.  For someone supposed to be made in the likeness of God, to do such atrocities is unforgivable!  And then maybe, just maybe Gloc-9's words may well be true---

Di sinusukat ang tapang at ang bigote sa mukha/Dahil kung minsan mas lalake pa sa lalake ang bakla...

Vantec NexStar Hard Drive Dock

2.5 and 3.5 hard disk enclosures is no longer a boring site with the introduction of the Vantec NexStar Hard Disk Dock!  It's a simple as operating a cassette recorder.  All you need to do is slide your SATA I/II hard drive and you've got yourself another data storage.

Pros:

• Ease of changing from one hard disk to the other
• Good hard disk ventilation
• Fast Transfer Rate with USB 3.0

Cons:

• No hot swap can be a bitch (for those of you lazy dweebs)
• Exposed top section susceptible to pest entry if no hard disk is in place
• Hard disk not snugly fit in the dock
• Made all out of plastic and looks aesthetically cheap

Well, if you find device to your liking, it is being offered at a discounted price of Php 1,299.00.  Click on the link below for more details.

http://www.beeconomic.com.ph/deals/shopping/Groupon/716193922

Note that the price varies if you want USB 2.0 or USB 3.0.  The video provided was also a different model given that it is multiple connections.

Learning Hospitality

Last night, my daughter showed me a school waiver for their 1st semester tour.  There were 3 options stated:  Singapore, Hongkong-Macau, and Boracay.  This is part of their hospitality immersion for graduating students.  

I was already made aware of this tour a week ago by my wife and was actually anticipating how much it would cost.  I do have a contingency fund for this sort of thing given that the past couple of semesters there would almost always have a tour of some sort.  They've gone to Boracay, Iloilo, Palawan,  Ilocos, and some overnighters in a couple of hotels.  

The Boracay option is well within my contingency fund but the other two is like "Whoa!"  It's as if I'm enrolling for another semester all together!  The Hongkong-Macau trip is at Php 25,000 and the Singapore trip is a staggering Php 35,000!  Holy Momma!  That's definitely going to hurt the family coffers!  And then I thought about it some more...what if there's really a value to this trip?  I guess that's another thing to consider.  If there is truly something worthwhile that my daughter will learn in this trip, then I guess I have no choice.  But if this will only mean an experience of going outside of the country see Disneyland, Universal Studios, or play in the casinos---it's a total waste of hard earned money!

What is HOSPITALITY all about, really?

According to Mr. Wikipedia,  "Hospitality is the relationship between guest and host, or the act or practice of being hospitable. Specifically, this includes the reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers, resorts, membership clubs, conventions, attractions, special events, and other services for travelers and tourists."

Hospitality is all around us.  It is all about service and the quality by which it is delivered is where hospitality comes in.  "At Home Ako sa Jollibee" is an example of a hospitality campaign slogan.  However, it remains to be a slogan until those who will provide the service will be able to translate it into an actual customer experience.  So where does all this fit in with the curriculum of Trinity University of Asia's Hospitality and Tourism Management?  According to the university website, the following are the objectives of the Hospitality and Tourism Management:

• Continuously develop a competency-based curriculum as strong foundation for effective instruction.
• Provide faculty members who are qualified and competent, committed to help develop students who are globally competitive.
• Inculcate among students the Christian values that will serve as tools in their personal development.
• Take active part in the country’s development, particularly, the Tourism industry or its allied fields through the development of strong manpower resources.

To provide a globally competitive manpower resource.  I guess this is where the reasoning behind the international trip.  However, what can be learned from 3 days and two nights abroad that you cannot learn domestically?  Service is generic.  What differentiates it is how establishments translate this into an experience worth coming back to.  

Filipinos are noted to be a hospitable people.  This is why many service oriented companies abroad like hiring Filipinos.  Aside from being industrious we can't help but make customers feel at home.  I guess we're already globally competitive after all.

How'd Ya Like Your Melons?

No, this is not a question for women.  It's like the perennial question about your steak preference (I like mine medium rare by the way).

Boobs, tits, jugs, melons, puppies...what ever else you call them---their size can be a cause of distraction---often times a delightful one at that!  Just don't let the ladies notice for surely you'll end up with a back-hand slap to the face (or worse, a knee on you nut!).  According to a study in the University of Wellington, the breast is the first thing a man notices when looking at a woman and the longest he looks at in any given time.  It is also believed that staring at a woman's knockers can extend a man's life.  How reliable is this study?  I'm rather not sure but it does justify the oggling.  

So how'd ya like your breast?  BIG, firm, and pinkish that's the general agreement in Testosterone Nation.  Silicone enhanced accepted.  This way you have a play thing and a pillow all in one package.  But beware, in  extreme instances big jugs can be a weapon!  Get yourself cymbaled by two huge mammary glands and you'd be disoriented and temporarily deaf!  


Based on http://www.targetmap.com/viewer.aspx?reportId=5285 if you would want an abundance of big puppies you should go to the United States where majority of the women are D-cup sized.   If you're into the gargantuan sizes, Russia would be the place to be!  

Naturally, women with big melons get stared at a lot.  However, not all women find it comforting to be stared at.  But like many a life's ironies those with a small pair are envious of not having bigger ones.  You just can't win them all I guess!

Just Wondering...

After the outpouring of public sympathy in the passing of the Philippines' Comedy King it makes you wonder how the turnout will be when life's curtain  finally go down on yours.  I guess it all boils down to how many lives you've positively touched in your lifetime.  

People don't forget how you made them feel.  It is also important to pay it forward.  We have all been in tight situations before and hardships that we needed help financially, emotionally, and spiritually.  Give when the opportunity presents itself.  Giving a piece of your mind or lending an ear to someone else's problems goes a long way.  

So, have you lived a life worth remembering?

MMDA Yellow Lane Policy: Boon or Bane?

Ever since the MMDA "implemented" the yellow lane policy last July 9, commuters have had to endure a longer travel time.

Based on this policy, all buses and trucks are barred from using the flyovers, tunnels, and underpasses in specific hours of the day.   This policy has been in place by MMDA chairman Bayani Fernando in 2003 under MMDA Resolution #03-28 or the Edsa Organized Bus Route Project.  This resolution aims to effectively manage flow of the 3,000 buses plying the length of Edsa; unfortunately, it was not fully implemented.  Though I must admit that this policy have its merit the problem of enforcement remains to be a challenge.  Like all 60 km/hr speed limit along Commonwealth and the anti-jaywaking drive, buses and commuters will remain to be hard headed if this rules will not consistently be enforced.

Four days into the implementation of the yellow lane policy I got on to a bus at SM Mega Mall around 9pm  and with no MMDA enforcer manning the Ortigas flyover we drove on ahead without being stopped.  This bus was also cruising more that 60 km/hr along Commonwealth Avenue reckless as a drunk driver!  Whatever happened to the 24-hour MMDA manning of Edsa and Commonwealth?

Anyway, let's face it---the Filipino driver, both public and private, do not have the self discipline to follow traffic rules. The yellow lane is but a demarcation line and given the opportunity the undisciplined will cross it.  MMDA enforcers guard only the lane nearest underpasses and flyovers.  What happens in between is a free for all.  What results is a bunch of buses trying to squeeze back into the yellow lane before they reach the flyover and underpass.  This was what happened during my bus trip home last Monday.  Would you believe it took 30 minutes for the bus I'm in to get from SM Mega Mall to Robinson's Galleria.  Our bus was out of the yellow lane and before the Ortigas flyover we inched our way back.  Needless to say, our bus was not the only one trying to go back to the "right lane".  In no time the north-bound lane of Edsa Ortigas was blocked by these unruly bus drivers.


I do believe the problem here is the lack of strict and consistent ENFORCEMENT of the traffic rules.  MMDA should be strict not only near flyovers and underpasses but along the 24 kilometer length of Edsa.  Why do you think motorist follow the traffic rules in Makati and Subic?  Because traffic rules are strictly enforced in those places.  Walang paki-pakiusap!  Huli kung huli!  Dapat ganun ang MMDA!  If only MMDA will strictly implement the traffic rules and fine those breaking them they'd become one of the most lucrative profit centers of the government.