If your goal in life is to be a best friend one could ever have, get ready to live a lonely life.

Because, whether we admit it or not, some of our friends will remember us only when they need us. Some of them will not even bother say HI via IM or text message. Most of them will forget your birthday.

When you reach out to them, you are lucky if they reply. When you approach them if you need something, you’ll find out who are your fair-weather friends.

Yet, if your goal is to be a best friend one could have, would you ditch your fair-weather friends? Would you leave those who remembers you when they need you?

Yesterday at church I saw a former student. With her was a little girl. The kid asked a lot of questions. Normally, nosy kids annoy me (to be fair, nosy adults annoy me too). That time, I wasn’t, either because I was at church, or the kid’s not abrasively nosy.

Her questions were stupefying.

1. “Bakit may balbas at bigote sya?” (Why does he have beard and mustache?) I shave once a week, and Sunday wasn’t the schedule. She couldn’t believe that I was a teacher once. Time to teach the kid not to judge someone by his appearance.
2. “San ka nakatira?” (Where do you live?) Normally, if an adult asks me this question, my answer is simple: if I answer your question, will that matter at all? Anyway, I answered her question, and she shared where she lives (as if I wanted to know).
3. “Ano pangalan nila?” (What are their names?) She was referring to my two brothers. So I gave their names, and introduced them as my brothers. Which led to the next question.
4. “Kapatid mo sila?” (Are they your brothers? The tone was incredulous and unbelieving.) This question has been asked since Heaven knows when. Yes, I am that ugly.

Sensing that I was getting annoyed, the student told the girl to hush. In fairness, she is a bright kid, she knows how to ask questions. She boasted that her grades are currently B+, but I told her to aspire for A+, and then maybe I’ll admire her.

And the icing in the cake:

5. “Gusto mo sumama sa amin? Kain ka ng meryenda?” (Would you like to come with us? Eat some snacks?) See, the girl’s bright. Of course I declined. Thanks anyway.

PS: She also inquired about my birthday and my age. Heck, she even inquired about my mom’s age!

Here is the reason why:

Shooting for a movie, a Western he he.

Just kidding, of course.

Anyway, aside from work, I am busy searching blog posts and news about Cris Mendez’s case. This is my campaign not only to finally stamp out hazing (which is wishful thinking) but also to seek justice for CA. Why don’t you join and write about it?

If you cannot access this site, and most specially if you see this screen, please send me an email at princeheinell[at]yahoo.com:

Thank you.

If you cannot access this site, and most specially if you see this screen, please send me an email at princeheinell[at]yahoo.com:

Thank you.

Live-blogging is tough. Now I know how it feels to be in front of a TV camera reporting about an on-going event live. My TV viewing will never be the same again.

Anyway, I had left out some details and people that I had met last night at Taste Asia. I failed to follow the inverted pyramid. Like, what was the event all about? So this post is to add more details that the live-blog lack and to acknowledge people that I had met and talked with. Also, I took some pictures, and I will post some of them here.

The event was organized to award the best blog post about SM Hypermarket. So obviously, the event was hosted and sponsored by SM Hypermarket. Thanks to the people behind this event.

This is the stage, before the event started. Not that much people at that time. (Click on the images to view full size. Opens in new window or tab.)

Saw Mam Noemi at the laptops area, again complimenting me on my hair; thanks. Yes, I will make this official. I had my annual haircut. He he.

So I took command of a laptop, and I sat there for three hours using it. Call me whatever, but I rarely get the chance to use one. Here’s a photo of the laptop:

As the minute passed, more people are streaming in:

And then the appetizers were served. For the record I got seven small plates: two plates of siomai, two plates of hotdogs, two plates of pizza, one plate of dumplings.

Here, Jeff and Josh were recreating the way they exchange comments over at ChickenMafia.com. And yes, Josh the Joyfulchicken is not a chicken at all, no sir.

Marcelle performed for Les Kitty and Joyfulchicken. Joyfulchicken was thinking of how he can get the ring.

Eating time! Lined up at the food, line’s not the long, though it was quite slow. I assume that some of the people were thinking if they could get extra servings, heh. Got to talk with Jhay Rocas while lining up. Anyway, here was my dinner, and I passed on several viands.

While eating, Marcelle decided to show me (finally) one trick. It was spooky and unbelievable. I’ll be honest, I have never solved the Rubik’s cube.

Impressed that Les Kitty can solve the cube in less than two minutes. She’s one scary cat, if you ask me. Joyfulchicken can attest to this.

And here, ladies and gentlemen, is the Chicken Mafia gang. At the left is the Chicken Mafia goon Joyfulchicken, and his cohorts Les Kitty, Arbet Loggins’ Chicken House, and Fire Eye’d Chicken (he chickened out and is now plain Jeff). And yes, we cornered three laptops he he.

Jeff scooted off to a night getaway with someone, contrary to Joyfulchicken’s assertion that Jeff’s off to an illegal business.

I was about to go home when Marcelle and Sorsi began the raffle. I was not willing to go home empty-handed, so I dropped my business card in the bowl, and waited.

Well, what do you know, I got this bag:

To comply with blog disclosure rules, here are the contents of the bag:

* 2 bottles of Palmolive shampoo
* 2 tubes of Palmolive conditioner
* 1 tube of Colgate toothpaste
* 4 pieces of Colgate toothbrush
* 4 pieces of Palmolive soap
* 4 sachets of dishwashing liquid soap (forgot the brand)

After that, I went home.

Ok, link love time!

People I met and talked with (not in any particular order):

* Benj (shook hands and said a 4-word sentence to him he he)
* Shari and his brother Robby
* Ivan Harry

Blog posts about the event (will be updated when you posts are up; leave the URL at the comments if you have an entry):

* Taste Asia Part II, Simply Fabulous
* Back From Taste Asia 2
* Live from Taste Asia, Truly Asia!
* Liveblogging from the SM Hypermart Free Food Party
* 13 Bonding Moments at the Taste Asia Bloggers Party
* This is why it pays to “Suit up!”
* The After-Partymath
* Taste Asia SM Hypermarket Bloggers Party
* Lady Bloggers in Focus – Taste Asia, Mall of Asia
* Bloggers in Focus – Taste Asia, Mall of Asia
* Taste Asia, Mall of Asia
* Taste Asia 2: The Man Blog Invades MoA. Nobody Gets Laid.
* Bloggers Invade Tasta Asia Again (And The After-Party Party)
* Taste Asia at SM Hypermarket
* taste asia blogger’s party @ SM hypermart – i. am. chef. in the city 3
* I Went To Taste of Asia and All I Got Was This Kikay Kit 🙂
* [Blogosphere] 2nd Taste Asia Blogger’s Party
* My slice of Taste Asia 2
* MakiBAKLA, Huwag Matakot – The TasteAsia Event 2
* SM Hypermart Taste Asia Bloggers Party Yay
* Taste Asia 2
* SM Hypermart Taste Asia Bloggers Party Yay
Technorati Tags: taste asia, taste asia 2, taste asia bloggers party
* Taste Asia 2

PS: Yes, you may grab the pictures.

7:28 PM Started blogging. Met Rocky and PJ Punla.

7:32 PM Drinking Infinit Green Tea. Too late when I found out it contains 5% alcohol.

7:35 PM Beside me is Karlo.

7:39 PM Saw AJ.

7:44 PM Eating pizza.

7:45 PM Saw Juned.

7:59 PM Eating hotdogs. (Yes, I’ll gorge myself he he.)

8:06 PM Met Jun Asis and Jonas Diego.

8:13 PM Asked Mam Aileen a work-related question (bad me).

8:14 PM Eating some fried dumplings. (This is sinful.)

8:19 PM In front of me is Joyfulchicken and Jeff. I want more hotdog.

8:23 PM Marcelle the host arrives. I was looking for hotdog, they gave me pizza. Geesh.

8:30 PM Chris is taking pictures. No, he refuses to take my pic. Boo. Met Benj.

8:43 PM Marcelle is performing magic for Joyfulchicken and Tiffany.

8:44 PM Program starts. Yay.

8:49 PM They are awarding special prizes. Sexy Mom wins.

8:50 PM Aileen Apolo announces Philippine Blogger Help Group.

8:52 PM DVD players being awarded.

9:04 PM Program ends. Time to eat. BRB.

9:17 PM Joyfulchicken finally gets to eat hehe.

9:35 PM Minutes later, I’m still not through with my food. Chicken Mafia’s having some fun. Can’t join, bad.

9:52 PM Just saw Marcelle solve the Rubik’s cube blindfolded. Spooky. Jeff’s going to the office.

9:56 PM Les Kitty‘s going to eat now. Yay. Joyfulchicken’s having his second serving. Yay.

10:00 PM Live-blogging’s finished. Signing off. Still waiting for loot bags, if any. LOL.

Hi, Ice.

First, thanks for the rather surprising email. Glad to hear from you. As much as I want to create a long reply, my brain’s dead, no thanks to stupidity, loneliness, the weather, stupidity, loneliness, the weather, wash, rinse, repeat (not in particular order).

Second, the ad is not that urgent. Don’t push yourself too hard for that. It’s not worth your health. OK?

Third, yes, I felt that I was left out, and please understand that during those times (and up to now, I guess), I was (am) one lonely person. Heck, I have almost given up looking for someone to love and instead be a best friend someone could have. But how can I be, when my own friends I don’t even know at all?

For three years, I have been thinking if what’s wrong with me. I have a family, I have a nice-paying job, yet why do I always feel lonely? I have friends, but do they really treat me as such? Why do I feel so left out all the time? Why do I always have to be the last to know? Am I not communicating right?

I always ask those questions up to now. I have no answers. Yet. Maybe there are no answers. Maybe the answers are just there, and I can’t see them yet. Maybe I’m looking at things using dark glasses. Yet time’s fast catching up on me, and I am afraid of something.

In the novelization of a Star Trek movie, there was a scene where the lead character almost died when he fell off climbing a mountain with no safety gear. He was scolded by his friends, but he said: “I know I will not die, because I have my friends with me. I know I will die alone.”

I know I will die alone. That statement has stuck in my mind. That is my greatest fear.

So I hope you understand what caused the post. I know the cause of that post was childish and stupid. I hope I have conveyed my apologies for such embarrassing juvenile remarks. It was so petty, I am scolding myself for adding to your worries, when I should be working to help you lessen your worries! What kind of friend am I! I’m so ashamed of myself!

Take care of your health. All your dreams, all the things you want to do, depend on you being strong to pursue them. Take it easy, for you have all the time in the world. It is not a race, it is a journey. Enjoy each step, for you cannot go back. When your health is no more, you cannot turn back the clock.

And lastly: treasure your friends. The true ones will stick to you through thick and thin. They will catch you everytime you fall, they will lift you up when you are down and out. Some of them will leave you, but at least you’ll know who your true friends are.

I remain, your friend,
The Prince in Hell

Dear Call Center Agent,

Ang hirap ng buhay natin, no? Ngayon pa lang tayo nagsisimulang magkakilala nang mahusay, nagkakaproblema na agad tayo. Hirap pala pag nagkakilala ang dalawang tao online, tapos magkaiba pa ang oras natin.

Tulad na lang nung last tayo magkausap sa YM. Patulog ka na, kaka-online ko lang. Medyo awkward pa naman ang daloy ng usapan natin nun, pakiramdam ko napakaboring kong tao. Kaya siguro ako single for 3 years in the running.

Tapos ngayon, ang komunikasyon natin eh, via text lang, tapos ganun pa rin, patay pa rin dahil sa schedule. Magtetext ka, tulog na ko; pag magtetext ako, malamang tulog ka or nasa office na. Siguro kaya ako single pa rin kasi maaga ako matulog.

Paano pa tayo magde-date nyan? Pag rest day mo, uuwi ka pa sa probinsya, at pagbalik mo, wala ka nang lakas para makipagkita sa akin. Dapat yata umabsent ako sa trabaho para makita ka lang. Ayoko pa naman ng umaabsent. Kaya siguro single pa rin ako hanggang ngayon.

Ang gusto ko lang naman eh makausap ka nang matagal, makilala ka ng husto, makasalo sa isang simpleng hapunan, manood ng sine, tumanaw sa kawalan katabi ka. Pero eto, umaasa tayo na sana, magtugma ang ating schedule.

Di pa rin ako nawawalan ng pag-asa. Darating din ang panahon natin.

Ingat ka lagi.

Love,
Isa pang Call Center Agent

The second anniversary of AWBHoldings.com (today) is turning up to be… interesting, to say it nicely, though it does not involve this site at all.

For every major event that involves the Philippine blogosphere (or part of it), controversy always follows. Do you still remember the controversies immediately following the 2007 Philippine Blog Awards?

Now, two weeks (exactly) after announcing the Ten Emerging Influential Blogs of 2007, another controversy raged (yes, past tense, hopefully it’s over). Called the Kid Blogger Affair (superbly chronicled by Eugene), the issue has divided a part of the blogosphere (yes, I will always emphasize on that), and hopefully it was already resolved (am I kidding myself or what).

Days into the Kid Blogger Affair, another controversy has erupted and is currently raging. It’s too early how this will end, and how a part of the Philippine blogosphere will react.

Interesting indeed.

RELATED READINGS:

Bloggers, MISrepresent!
My Comments and Suggestions for Janette Toral’s IMMAP Presentation Slides
Who’s MISrepresenting who?
‘Misrepresents,’ my foot
Dealing with hurting people (that hurt people)
Do I have to worry about a mafia in the Philippine blogosphere?
Poignant
Criticism and criticism
A Month of Blog Scandals and Wars
SUN-TU-KAN! SUN-TU-KAN!!
THE PHILIPPINE BLOGOSPHERE CONTROVERSY
(Will update this list when I get to find new posts.)