So these articles about UP failing to live up to its stature as the Philippines' national university have been going around the intarweblogs and it's pretty sobering, depressing stuff. Honestly, I'm of the opinion that it's senseless and unproductive to point fingers at administration figurehead President Roman and expect her to do something about it. UP is a state fucking university. It can't turn in a profit like La Salle and Ateneo. Past proposals to generate some sort of revenue to compensate for the lack of government funding have been shut down by protests on this very principle. All President Roman can do is make the most of the measly budget handed to her by the fucked-up Philippine government and I'm not at all shocked by the results: tuition fees going up 300% and deserving students dropping out for lack of finances.

But just because this is really a symptom of something systemic doesn't mean we can't proactively make a difference on a micro scale. Offhand, I'm willing to sponsor a student for about P20,000 a year. If someone can show me a sponsorship system that works (or can make one that's really awesome), I can spread the word to the rest of the UP alumni here in Singapore - many of whom probably have the capacity to sponsor more than one student a year. I may not be able to do a lot about our fucked up government (short of summarily executing these scumbags in office and sending them to their very special places in hell's asshole) but I know I can make a difference in the life of at least one true iskolar ng bayan.


The articles in case you haven't read them:

http://www.inquirer.net/specialfeatures/education/view.php?db=1&article=20080620-143711
http://opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/columns/view/20080627-145004/Dropping-out-after-3-days-as-a-UP-freshman

Another Part 1! I haven't even finished a series yet!

The Bird And The Bee played in a nice small studio. I managed to watch both shows in one night even though they were both sold out when Alice told me they were actually coming. Power of persistence!

I was a bit late for the first show so I made it a point to show up early for the second and stand right in front of Inara George so I could behold her in all her fembot glory.









Ang hot niya talaga. Standing right in front of her also meant she could hear whatever I said! Yes Inara, I will be your Fucking Boyfriend (sana lang):








And that also meant I had first dibs on her guitar pick.






Pepe Torres: Assistant Brand Manager / Professional Fanboy

This was probably the best part of the night. A breath-taking 10-minute rendition of Lover's Spit that gave me the chills. Ignore the first minute where I'm still screaming/talking and still haven't realized I should shut up.

and a certain accessory makes its return.



What an epic night. There were a couple of surprises and a good number of laughs on top of an overwhelming set. I took video of 90% of the thing. Videos + detailed account to follow!

Anybody here got the programming chops to develop and possibly maintain a simple facebook app? Could be potentially profitable in the long-term but I really just want to do it for fun for right now. And yez, you shall be paid for services rendered :) If you're interestedor if you know someone who might be, do let me know!

My post-concert... post from four years ago. FOUR YEARS AGO.

http://art-of-losing.livejournal.com/92218.html

Haha at my crapful writing. Hahaha.

So I just saw Juno. And while it had me laughing and crying, it ultimately left me afraid that it may have inspired a whole new generation of pre-meditated irreverence, calculated kitsch and deliberately kooky slang. The next time you see a Juno wannabe, do the world a favor and slap that wooden pipe hanging out of her mouth. We already have the indie kids.

If you haven't already been there, be sure to check out MyDamnChannel on youtube. Hilarious, quality stuff.


Two picks to get you started:

"You Suck at Photoshop". Would be your standard photoshop video tutorial only the tutor is a highly disturbed individual in an estranged marriage, who lives out his homicidal fantasies (or possibly confesses to ) through photoshop. The second video, in what will hopefully be a series, is even better. Entertaining AND educational.




"Wainy Days". Comedian/Director David Wain (Wet Hot American Summer, Stella) on the insanity of trying not to be single. Later episodes feature Paul Rudd, Jonah Hill and Rob Corrdry. Funny!

I've been trying to figure out how I can update you guys on how I've been doing in Singapore. The combination of living in new country + living independently + new job makes for too many things to talk about so I've decided to compartmentalize my entries for now. Let's make this one about how living in a new country has been treating me.

I'm loving Singapore. Sacrilege you might say, for a UP alumnus to say such a thing. What gall this heathen has to work abroad for a multi-national company when just months ago he was almost set on taking up a position in a local firm. Long story short: It's an investment and I don't plan to stay here forever. We'll take up that long story some other time.

So yes, I'm loving Singapore. I'm blown away by the fact that they've moved past the physiological and safety levels in Maslow's hierarchy and that one of the country's major issues is the lack of creativity. Now you can look at it one way and say, wow this country's pretty sad and boring as shit or you can look at it the other way and say, what a fucking awesome problem to have! There are several discussions you can get into here that I will note down for future reference:

1. Will Singapore ever get creative? Can they can be best in class in Asia just as they are in other areas? Can social engineering induce creativity?
2. Is the Singaporean way of life set up in such away that people will never be creative? The Singaporean youth have never had a voice against the government and censorship is commonplace. Their only outlet for rebellion is fashion.
3. Which society would be better off: one with a population that's creative where 70% of the population are below the poverty line or one that's the complete opposite? Should we be pragmatic and let democracy take the backseat so we can make real economic progress?

So yes, I'm loving Singapore and as you might've surmised, I can't quite pin down why. Maybe it's being able to walk home with nothing but my iPod and the streetlights to keep me company at odd hours and still feel completely safe.

I spent my birthday here, for the first time outside of the Philippines, and I actually had a pretty good time with people I had never expected to meet. The setting is different but strangely enough, I'm almost living the same life, fragmented into different social circles.

This entry has been disjointed and I apologize. I suppose all I really need to say is that Singapore is just one big playground for me right now and I'm swinging as high as I can.

--------

Heard a great facebook joke in last night's gig. Some dude goes up on stage and says "I may not be on face book but I'm sure my face is in your book!" Add me up gangstazzzz.

Muse canceled. Boo.

This makes me happy though. Awesome video for an awesome song.



Don't worry, I promise you it's not 2 girls 1 cup.

MUSE. Bangkok. November 28.

This is supposedly their last tour date before they start working on the next album so you can expect an awesome show with pre-absolution stuff.

I'm 90% sure I can go. I'm just trying to find a way to get there from Singapore and back without taking a leave.

Who's game?

Remember that viral marketing thing I was involved in? Well it's fnally out. Direk Pancho Esguerra (Urban Dub - Frailty, Bamboo - Probinsyana) presents the Nescafe 3 in 1 flicks, featuring Pepe the povertous bum (at the time), Severo frontman and Saving Sally lead Enzo Marcos, and Moneyshot Mateo (also of Severo) hammng it up as arctic explorers, sentai-slash-lucha-libre heroes and 70s cops with bad hairdos. It's got more pop-culture references and anachronisms than you can handle! Watch out for my mullet which is even worse than my actng which is saying A LOT. Although I do a half-decent job with the voice overs for the second and third flick if I do say so myself.

So give it some internet love and spread it around like the virus Nestle wants it to be. Lord knows that the talent fee nearly wasn't enough what with all the sweatng, crotch-lovin body suits and the ensuing embarassment so who knows, maybe they'll pay us higher if this gets enough hts to warrant a follow-up. At sumali kayo sa contest! Macbooks and iPods up for grabs!

Link! http://www.nestle.com.ph/nescafe3in1/


PS

I'm sweet and creamy.


EDIT

Boo I just discovered my flick isn't working properly. There's supposed to be a scooby doo type reveal towards the end but it won't show!

I really love walking along metropolitan streets in the night. Bangkok, Manila, Singapore, I can only hope to add to the list. Tapos theme song mo "The Prayer" ng Bloc Party. Medyo self-referential na medyo self-critical na medyo swak lang talaga yung tunog habang naglalakad at huma-hop-hop sa gabi.

I'm teh drunk right now.

So it's my third day here and it's just too much to take in right now. I wish I was able to bring a camera but I guess the pictures would be better for my first week of actual living here. I know all these rules and regulations actually make life as organized, as simple and as efficient as possible for Singaporean citizens but coming from the Philippines where there are hardly any (or at least, there's the bare minimum and people don't always comply), it's a bit overwhelming. My head is swimming in figures and acronyms.

Two things I'm loving right now though:
1) The EZLink Smart Card which you just tap in MRTs and buses from your wallet (like in CSB). And now you can use it to pay the toll as well! Then you can even reload in 24-hr ATMs.
2) All the imported beer. I'm having a different brand every night.

Ms. Chocnut, may utang pa akong visit to Come Daily.

Tomorrow's the last day of my look-see trip. The rent  here is insane. Uncool insane.

Watching the latest episode of Entourage while drinking beer is as about as close as I'll get to Hollywood, I think.

Tomorrow I'm going to start looking for a decent-priced flat. Tough, considering Singapore's urban redevelopment is in full swing this year and rental rates are up by as much as 100%. Malas talaga.

If there's one thing I'm really looking forward to in Singapore, it's the concerts. I hope they get some more good bands towards the end of the year because I can't believe I just missed The Rapture and Muse by a few months! The Rapture! Augh! On August 1, my first day of work, The Cure will be in town. I hope they still have tickets by then. My cousins are already stoked about the idea of flying low-cost, catching a concert and crashing at my place.

I'm also seriously considering extending this offer to LJ-land because I think I could use the company. I have a feeling my officemates won't be into that sort of thing.  So yeah, mi casa es su casa as long as my roomies don't mind and you pay for your own tickets. A round of beers on me though :)

It's going to be my first time to fly alone. It shouldn't be a big deal but I can't help but feel like a nervous little boy.

Two things about On the Lot that make me cringe:

1. The host who annoys you with each second of screen time but still manages to be forgettable at the end of the show
2. Carrie Fisher's Paula Abdul impression