Trekkie

IV.Some of us have always known that the world used to spin in uneasy peace. There were the stars and stripes, and the hammer and sickle. Two global superpowers, whose array of Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles pointed at each other. Under constant threat of annihilation, people devised ways to put sense into their lives. There were the flower hippies, whose music, spoken words and non-protest

Mellow

My starving ears may have its fill of euphoric, adrenalin-dripped thumping sounds of the dance floor. But when I am disarmed and my heart is exposed, the songs on my playlist mellow to these:Natalie Walker - ColorblindHeard the song played on Jam 88.3's A Different Sunday one evening and the melody got stuck in my ears ever since. The Counting Crow's cover speaks of someone's willingness to come

The Spinner

When Arrjae Puno and I were in our early twenties, our tireless selves used to be the poster boys of Orosa. At 1 am on a Saturday morning, we would walk the streets of Malate on our way to Bed. The scene then, littered with wasted, happy folks who want to be seen and get laid were hardly a distraction. We still yearn to get to our destination.After paying the 200 pesos cover charge, we would

One For The Road

Something to smile forbecause we are still here.Finn and JakeAdventure Time

Descent

children's children of our timewill look at the skyand wonder how we used to flyfine machines such as the space shuttle.in their hearts they will feel a sense of loss;a time, those of us who were alive today hardly remembers,which they will put into wordsfor the digital universe to mourn.Story:

The Good News

Once, I got a book.It was a token from a classmate in Diliman. A Filipino-Chinese, who spends most of her time running the family business. It was a parting gift given during our last day of class. And I didn't give it much thought until I got home.I unwrapped the present to learn that it was a religious book. Not the inspirational or self-help literature but a Manga. A graphic novel that was

Bucolic Days

Know that in a few years, this article will disappear on the online pages of Inquirer. And so is the memory of Malabon and it's fishponds, in the senses and words of Neal Cruz. After reading his column yesterday, I wish a part of me had lived through his childhood.With the great bay spewing trash every time a storm passes, and the silted rivers taking with it remnants of makeshift homes hastily

London, 2012

The last time the Olympics happened in London was in 1948. A few years after the end of World War 2. The city had little choice. They were supposed to hold the games in 1944, if the Germans didn't plunge Europe into a bloody war. Instead of promoting world unity through sports competition, D-Day was commencing in Normandy. Peace was restored with Great Britain joining the victors. When the Summer

Playing God

Companions the creator seeks, not corpses, not herds and believers. Fellow creators the creator seeks - those who write new values on new tablets. Companions the creator seeks, and fellow harvesters; for everything about him is ripe for the harvest. Friedrich Nietzsche Thus Spoke ZarathustraAnd tinker these scientists did: the Caltech and Harvard bio-engineers, whose work was inspired by the

Cinemalaya 2012

Cinemalaya used to be a by-word for those artsy films you only get to see for that critique in Humanities. To watch it in a leisurely manner and deconstruct its plot without anyone's command tells of one's artistic leanings - a taste that lays dormant in me - until some higher being wakes me up from slumber to see these films in cinema.The first time I get to watch a full-length movie was in 2008

Whatever Could Take You Away

Whatever could take you away fromAnno 2070?1. Bath2. Dinner3. A post-midnight road trip to Mercato, Global City4. Cheeseburger from Johnny Steams5. Stopover at Baabaa's house6. This blog-entry7. Episode four of Game of Thrones.8. Rumors of a night-long blackout blanketing the neighborhoodOnly to turn out to be a hearsay, and you bought it wholesalelike a trader hoarding for excuses to leave the

Ash

We used to laugh, chortle and snicker every time the sub-boss jumps out of his speedboat. He faces our players like all villains do, except that his colorful and flamboyant character stand out as an icon, and a comic relief for a game deemed violent for us kids."Ayyyyyyy!! Baklaaaaaa!!" we would say, as he scissor jumps with his arms behind his head. His purple vest, neon green leggings and Lycra

Dream Of Stars

"It is their fate to fail." Chan Cho said while sipping a small bowl of omija cha. He was kneeling in front of a small writing desk with his eyes closed when Park Hyeung arrived."How do you know?""A young bird will never fly long without his mother around." The old man said. "Ask where our brothers to the north learned to send firecrackers flying to the moon?""From the west?" Chan Cho smiled."A

Linger

There were two boys in a corner. One held a guitar, his back was against the wall. He was about to strum his musical instrument, as the other boy watches."Madali-dali ang chords nito," the boy with the guitar said.In front of them was a song book. One that is printed in newsprint and had a glossy front cover. It doesn't matter where the song book came from. The essence was in the music.- Em:

Trance Vs House

It's been a while since U-Radio went on air and its absence leaves me dry without my electronic music fix. Gone are the happy days when I would travel from one place to another with dance music playing on my phone's radio. Furion's stolen and I can't even play my club tunes at Eclipse anymore. And since my dancing days are over, the current chart-toppers and club anthems have become unfamiliar to

The Radio Stations

One. I have given up on clubbing for a more sober life. Gone are the Saturday nights when I let myself get carried away and see my hips, arms and body fling to House music. The ledge-mounting, shirtless Mugen is a stuff of legends and I doubt if those who see me now would believe I carry such reputation when I was a bit younger. But it doesn't mean the sound has already left my eardrums. I still

42-In-1

Long before Bejeweled and Fruit Ninja became an app; prior to players uploading their highest scores from Temple Run; preceding the holiday season, when everyone thought Angry Birds accessories were great gift suggestions, home arcade games were already a staple of Nintendo. Like the kids of today, an entire generation got hooked with their 42-in-1s. These cartridges are where these games were

Reality Check

But what if some brilliant twerp decides to put up a website, a travel blog smeared and spoiled with facts telling about how ugly the destination is. Would it catch the world's attention? Would readers and vacation planners have informed choices when they get to know the lies behind a historic landmark, a proud people, an exotic country parading itself as the best in the world? Would it be more

This Game Will Ruin Your Life (MugenEdition)

The moment I enter my room at night, it's hard to leave my quarters. And the reason for the hermitic disappearance is this:Marie Antoine (the little girl) and Deidre (her dad)I have always wondered how it feels to have so many different lives. Like it is possible to jump from one consciousness to another. But with Sims 3, the game lets me indulge in this fantasy. I have been an old granny who

Talent Portion: Singing

I seldom decline invitations when asked to appear in KTV parties. "Okay lang." I often say. "Basta may beer, sasama ako." Consider it a gesture of pakikisama, as organizers love to crowdsource friends. These days, I join the gatherings to cheer my partner as he sings his favorite RnB songs.I am his number one fan after all. Despite my seasonal presence in videoke bars, my voice is not really