Between Exes

Yet you still value the things you've lost the most. Because the things you've lost are still perfect in your head. They never rusted. They never broke. They are made of the memories you once had, which only grow rosier and brighter, day by day. They are made of the dreams of how wonderful things could have been and must never suffer the indignity of actually still existing. Of being real. Of

Trusteeship

At nineteen, I took over the family business as my dad and his business partner decides to spend the summer in Europe.For two weeks, I stayed at my dad's rat-infested office to look after the company's 24-hour operations. I had to make tough choices - decisions that ran against the ideals infused in our heads in school. There were brief moments of euphoria too: road trips at 3 in the morning to

Salsal

News is when a man bites a dog and not the other way around.For this reason, we were taught in Journalism how to discern news over what is mere press release. With this mindset, we begin to learn why good news seldom make it to the headlines, unless the society has become too corrupt that immorality has become the norm or a sense of optimism whiffs in the air.We were also taught how to make

Literary Bedrock

Just before bedtime, I would ask my mom to read me a book. The story and the characters play no importance. As long as the narrative can take me to another realm and another time, any children's literature would do.With my head resting on her thin legs, and with my droopy eyes half-closed, mom would summon fairies and dwarves, and even mystical herons to send me off to dreamland. She would begin

Radio Blackout

In the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and ninety four, we rendered the night to sleep and the day to work. We knew nothing of after-midnight, for our eyes were shut and our minds swept off to another realm. We found joys in what the terrestrial television had to share. There was X-Men in Channel 2 and Simpsons in Channel 9 on Fridays. Sunday nights are reserved for the Million-Dollar Movies on

Passing On The Torch

He arrived at past midnight with a box of goodies.For the past several months, I would ask him for that one thing I need for my academics - a desktop computer. He would just brush it off, uncertain of how to respond to my pleas. On my part, the academic excuse was just a ruse. I've been spending a fortune renting computers near the campus to indulge in my favorite pastime: playing strategy games.

Twenty Two

Just so you would have an idea of the life I had a few years after I stepped out of the university. The entry was lifted from my old blog. Unedited to preserve the writing style and raw emotions of my twink self.Light At The End Of The TunnelFullmetal DreamsJuly 1, 2004I thought I would last a day without worrying or thinking how bleak our future would be. I thought that by encoding my mom's

Reverence

The mini-reunion was set ahead of time. But me and my college friends ran out of steam before the meet-up finally pushed through. Say it's because of pressing matters at home - and in my case - at work. But at the last minute, my superior offered a reprieve.At 8:00 in the evening, I was able to leave the office. The destination is at Conspiracy Bar. I was there to see the last of the send-off

Mister Green

"What's your favorite color, Mugs?""Blue." I would answer quickly. "Preferably, Cerulean or Azure, if I may add.""Are you sure it's your favorite color?""Yes...""I've heard that you were once fond of green."Not so long ago, I did. I was drawn to the darker shade of green for reasons I no longer remember. It must have been the shade's calming effect. Or maybe, it nods to the old days when I used

The Megamall

I was at the SM Megamall the other day to get something. JC plans to replace his plastic hangers with wooden ones. Since my partner's demanding job eats up even his free time, I thought of buying the hangers myself and giving it to him.It took me less than an hour to find the hangers and buy them. It did help that I got my leads online. Stepping out of the Julia Vargas overpass, I went straight

The Alien Nation

February 28 2002PinoyexchangeA unique and special community was born today with the noble mission of providing an open and healthy forum where men with distinct sexual preferences for both genders are able to share their views and thoughts on this very tricky and controversial subject of bisexuality. We more than congregate and unite, we take this subject elevations higher by dealing with it

The Half Brother

Taliwas sa alam ng marami, hindi lang isa ang kapatid ko kung hindi dalawa. I have a half-brother; a sibling four years my junior. He was already featured in one of my entries. At that time he was asked by my mom to check her test papers. He bought a male companion to help him. Ang buong akala ko nga ay partner niya ang kanyang kasama. The speculation was a product of a naughty imagination

The Grand Eyeball (First Part)

It was a night I will never forget... Just like what I've said to Spiker when I left - Every minute of the EB was worth it. Sana nakapagtagal pa ako para nakapag-bonding pa ako sa kanila. Pero it was time to leave then. Ten kaming nandun, I followed them to Malate. At first, nawala pa ako pero. They were great. Lots of Dancing - Hard Dancin' talking and everything. For the first time, I am home.

Tragic Kingdom

The little prince arrives at work at past 2 in the afternoon.His first order of business is to barge into the Circulation and Dealers' Affairs Department. He looks for the manager to get the figures. The little prince needs to know how the business fared the previous day: 35% returns. 135,355 copies. P365,000 revenue. Not bad for a Monday run. To think the editor-in-chief gave the green light to

On The Day Of My Spawning

It was one of those sleepless nights. Me, face to face with the computer. Computer taking ages to load a page. Nobody complains. Twitter is yet to be coded, and when the slow web access pisses you off, you can easily ditch a service provider for another. After all, there was a menagerie of Internet pre-paid cards to choose from.In those days, social media, as a construct is yet to be conceived.

A Decade Later

4:00 pmLRT 2 Pureza StationHey Jay,How does it feel like turning a decade older?I'm off to Santa Clara to give thanks for a meaningful and blessed year. While waiting for the train to come, I thought of walking down the memory lane, hoping I could get in touch with you again. And you know what, I vaguely remember how your birthday was ten years ago. Was it the one you got so drunk and made mom

Dense

It was one of those early mornings when you're obsessed over some job assignment that not a single soul can take you away from your occupation. Especially the people you have grown to brush off.hi Spell d-e-a-d a-i-r?punta ka lantern parade? One of those classic situations where persistence rewards the stubborn.labo eh may work ako on that day kelan tayo kulitan? dunno work muna ako cecile 

The (Blog) World According To Garp

It took him just eleven words to convince me to move out of the PEx thread and into the realms of blogspot. Since the time I put up my first online journal, I never left.A flashback:February 16, 2004.The Yahoo Groups"Mej0 syrupy nga lang and s0brang dako at mahaba ang c0ntent." He was inviting us to take a peek into his world.I have always been drawn to the written word long before I became a

Into The Matrix

In front of the PCI surf the web for any human signs that may hinder my continuous assimilationwith the inorganic machine.Three years after writing the passages above, a friend who used to work at Smart Communications told me the future of the Internet:Personal computers can access the web without the need of cables. Broadband would be useless and telecommunications companies, like the one he's

Wandering Mugs

The technological means may have changed. But as I have learned halfway through my roadtrip this weekend, the desire to take people with me as I cross the countryside remains an ever-present calling.Pinoyexchange Wireless Journal. circa 2002Twittercirca 2011Consider this as the prelude of the story about my journey to the north.