Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all! May we have a wonderful and blessed year ahead of us!

...I remember the feeling, VOLTES V!

Tatoe arashi ga hukou tomo

Tatoe oonami areru tomo

Kogidasou tatakai no umi he

Tobikomou tatakai no uzu he...

Voltes V! Steve Armstrong, Mark Gordon, Big Bert Armstrong, Little John Armstrong and Jamie Robinson. Yeah still remembered every member of the Voltes Team by heart. I was on my 5th grade and everyone's agog over Voltes V. Voltes V was so intense...I cried and begged my dad to buy me a robot! Every classmate has one, no two, no three! Voltes V, Mazinger Z, Daimos, Danguard Ace, Mekanda Robot, Balatac, Jeeg, Voltron and all the other robots rampantly conquering the world in 1978.

I didn't realize how expensive that was at that time. If the jeepney fare was still 25 cents, you actually know how expensive Voltes V was? A whooping P600.00! Dang! And we just run around smashing the toy like it's bought from Carbon market! Glad my mom freaked out and spanked us and told us not to play with the robot anymore. And I appreciated the gesture, because Voltes V is still alive and well and inside the original one per box package.

For 30 years it was stocked like an old toy. Just sitting under the table at the master's bedroom inside a plastic bag, which was actually open and had dust once in a while. Nobody bothered to keep it sealed. One time when we were cleaning all our things because we migrated to New Zealand, our househelp asked for it. I SAID NO! That was the only memory I had of my dad and mom. You can NEVER lay hands on my Voltes V! EVER! Hahaha!

And so it came to pass, when we came back from NZ for just 6 months, I put my Hotwheels collection inside the liquor cabinet of my mom (which has no bottles anymore) and my Tamiya and my NBA Cards and my Gundams and my Superman and my Kobe Bryant action figure...and wait! I actually forgot about the old toy. Tsk tsk tsk bad bad Stephen!

Looking at the oldest toy EVER, pondering on what to do, and thinking "will IT actually be a part of a grand collection"? YES! I gently took Voltes V one by one, looked at the Japanese specs of the robot (which now turned into yellow), remembered that I lost the string of the spinning top (which I played with a REAL Top-the wooden one with a nail on it) and the rubber wheels which were loosened over the years.

The one I recalled was the laser sword because I had to glue the V chest over and over again because there was no good glue at that time (Pioneer & Bulldog were not born yet). The springs were not functioning and I cannot fire the missiles. 32 years old. Time really hits not only on people but also on robots.

But then it all brings back good memories. Like watching a movie to take us out of reality, playing with Voltes V was escaping from assignments and school work. There were no internets then, no cellphones, PSPs, Nintendo DS, iPads, iPhones, DVDs. Just Voltes V. Yeah and because of New Zealand, I only have my stickers. I lost my coloring books, Questor, bookmarks and all paraphernalia's of Voltes V. But hey! I kept a small Voltes V given to me by my cousin Ahia Jun and was bought in Hong Kong. And still I have to glue Voltes's head because you guessed it, there were no good glues at that time.

I had everything Voltes V in my youth. Posters, coloring books, stickers, bookmarkers, plastic Voltes V robot by Purefoods. Questor's first issue on Voltes V and Mazinger Z.

I could go on and on on how I acquired, kept, traded, played, watched, cried, laughed, angered, loved, shouted, bragged about having Voltes V. But then I have to cut it short. Just like how the former President Marcos banned Voltes V...because students won't study anymore. But as for me, it was disappointing. For my whole Voltes V years I haven't seen a full episode...and then Marcos banned it. That's why we hated him, but that's another story.

Thanks for taking the time to read. And as for 1978 ... I remember the feeling, VOLTES V!

Valen...what?

So what did you do? Spend time together, sing songs, do something special, be more polite, hold hands, smile...

What's the big deal? You should've done this everyday. Why now? Just because it's Valentines Day doesn't mean you have to treat each other well? Then bash it off again when you feel like it? Come on dude! Get serious!

The hardest part is, you just do it for one day. The rest of the 364 days of the year you tend to forget everything. Now what's wrong with the equation? Go with the flow?

You know what the **** is wrong? You just love for one damn day dude! The rest of the year? The hell only you know. That's what's killing our society. And when I see dudes giving teddy bears to their chicks man, that's totally the biggest BS I've ever seen!

Stop pretending and get a life man!

acceptance

Sometimes you pray. Sometimes intensely. Then you pray "Thy will be done". For a while, you thought the words would bring you happiness. This will be a wonderful and great time for me now. But wham! you start complaining? What's went wrong? You prayed to be given a whole new life, stress free work, more time with your family, and laid back care free life. But what went wrong?

You prayed that everything will be according to His plan. Then He gave what He thinks is right for you...and not what you think is right for yourself. That's what's wrong! You think "Thy will be done" means you can have it your way. EENNGGKKK! Think again! "Thy will be done" means you have to go the path that the Lord wants you to go, not what you think you're going. That's what keeps us complaining. Because we want it our way. We want to think that He will give us what we want. And that's not part of the plan. When you say "Thy will be done", it's His way and not your way.

So think again.

The next time you pray, when you say "Thy will be done", don't think of what will happen. Think of what will become. That means, accept what He gives you. Sometimes, what you think is bad, is not really the end of the world. There's this tiny hole that when you pass through it, then it's gonna be a blast!

The key word here is acceptance. Sometimes it's hard to swallow, but like medicine, the after effect is awesome!

broken record

Are you happy? Or just want to get a meal ticket? Sacrifices are made for work or your family. But does it involve sacrificing your own happiness? Is it worth the sacrifice?

Why can't we make both ends meet? Make both happy? Why should one sacrifice one's self when you can be both happy? Is the world this unkind? Why can't you do what you love to do and make everybody happy?

And what happens in the end? How can you reap the fruits of your labor when it's cooked with bitterness? How can you say that you'll start living your life, do whatever you want, when you are already old? Retirement doesn't tag along youth. Doing whatever you want at an old age doesn't justify a life of what if's.

Can we live a life not worrying about money? Baby's milk, food, shelter, tuition fees, clothes. Are we defining our life through the dictates of society? Through our family's tradition? Or can we define it by ourselves?

Sometimes sacrifice hurts. No one will ever tell you that they loved the sacrifice because it met a good end. Nobody loves sacrifice.

So? Are we just gonna live with it or do something about it? Please...don't sacrifice your happiness. It will be your broken record when you grow old. Think about it.

when things should've been the way it was

I was just wondering what if we didn't do the things we've done. We should've stayed instead of tried or we should've conversed instead of convinced. While pondering on these statement, "what if's" are for those who are already contented with their comfort zone. After years of "doing the same old thing", it's quite hard getting our butts off the couch. Specially when you have specialized on a career for doing nothing.

Sometimes you feel sorry for those whom you have convinced to do something in their life and then...wham! didn't make it. Maybe you're partly responsible but don't go blaming yourself because it's really not your fault. It's their decision, maybe partly influenced by you, but not entirely. The decision to move is not yours. Decisions are made with balanced reasoning. And being human is also being rationale.

But when you won't get out of your comfort zone, then all your dreams will just be...dreams. If you work for it, pray for it, and got the attitude for it, then you're gonna get what you deserve to get. Because if we don't move, then it will just be some kid's dream and an old man's nightmare. "What If" are questions for those who won't try. "What If" are questions for those who lack the courage of doing it. And "What If" are the questions of a dying man that are answered with "I should have".

So to erase the questions that's bothering you for a long time, just step out of your shell, think out of the box, get out of your comfort zone.

And when you do, you won't be thinking ... when things should've been the way it was.

Dark ... and delicious!

Yeah, I gotta admit...it's delicious! I thought I tasted it all. But then again, forgot that I haven't tried the dark side of Mocha ever since. Tried java, cookies n cream, cappuccino, latte, mocha, brewed ... but never dark.

But who doesn't fear the dark. When we were still kids, our parents, yayas, relatives and friends always scared us with stories, figures and imaginations of the dark. Sometimes we pee'd on our pants just hearing the names. Ha! Figment of our imagination. We feared the dark ... for almost a decade ... then ... came the girls! That's when we embraced darkness! Hyarhyarhyar! =P

'Nuff of that! I love dark chocolates, dark rooms...ehehe...shush! Haven't tasted dark because when it's coffee, it's always associated with bitter, sour, pweh pweh pweh (ya know what I mean). But this! Ah, the sweetness of dark mocha. I'm beginning to love this from my fave Javanilla. But a fave's a fave. A little getting used to it and wham! Dark is super!

So when you order froccino, blended or any cold coffee beverage, don't forget ... sometimes dark is delicious!

why not?

This is my fave hangout in Makati. Seattle's and Tokyo Tokyo. Every time I look at Seattle's, I crave for Javanilla. And every time I look at Tokyo Tokyo, I crave for the Red Iced Tea.

Whaddaya know! I can't help it! Every time I go to Makati, it's like a whole new me. Watching all those people passing by, students smoking Hookah pipes at Bollywood, people dressing up their dogs, looking at showbiz people shopping at Adora...crazy isn't it? But why Makati? I also love Greenhills because of the shirts...love it! You see, Makati is like the "in" place. Classy ambiance, crazy sale, beautiful girls...well anyways. It's like being social when you're not.

And you know, you can just eat at Landmark and drink coffee in Greenbelt and still retain your class. No pun intended. Really!

So every time you go to Manila for business or vacation, why not stop by at Greenbelt at 6 and just relax. Take a sip, a dunk or a crunch. Because sometimes after working hard, you deserve a break. As we all know, we can't bring a single cent to Heaven, so why not enjoy and give yourself a reward. Keep it cool and just enjoy the day! Why not?

up there but down there

Learned something today on my client call. Yeah. Thought it'd just be business.

Lifestyle. That's what we talked about. Live by your means. Don't succumb to peer pressure. But sometimes you have to taste it to live it.

Just look at your limit. Live with your limit. When you're living in the corporate world, you tend to get the perks. Blackberry. Business Class. BMWs. The complete B. But you have to differentiate THAT world from your own world. Why? Because it's not you. Definitely not you. You have your home, your family, your friends. Then there's your corporate friends, business friends, party friends and then there's peer pressure. It's kinda tiresome to catch up with things. Specially your lifestyle. You tend to catch up with your friends and live a life that is not yours.

Just step down. Put your foot down. And be humble. Enjoy what you have. Love what you have. Live what you have. Living in a corporate world is not easy. And when you get home, relax. Don't place your family in the corporate world. Because once you've tasted chocolate, you tend to eat the whole box.

As Casey Casem once said "Keep your feet on the sky...and keep reaching for the ground." Gets?

fries, fries and everything nice

Had lunch with the kids at McDonald's Ayala and YES to say it boldly...the BEST FRIES EVER!

I tried to compare it with the other brand, even with the burger, but then the other doesn't get any better at every grind. Yikes! And then again there are others like the BACONATOR in Wendy's Auckland, NZ, then Burger King and then there's even Burger Joint's Wasabe Burger! But with the fries...nothing beats McDonald's Fries!

Eat it without ketchup, I can even wander around, floating endlessly, imagining things and still putting the fries in my mouth. Not like the other. After a minute, you tend to spit it out. It's like eating raw potato. It should be fries not potato. So every time I eat out, it's always McDonald's because it's fries, fries and everything nice. =)

the journey starts here

...and then we miss a mother, a wife and everything in our lives. In everything we do, there's always a sacrifice. Opportunity knocks only once and you know that regrets are never at the beginning. If we don't take a chance, then we will always think of it as a better alternative than what we have now. And we can always turn it down if it doesn't suit us.

More often than not, people who say "what if" are those who don't take risks. So how can you be at peace with yourself if you didn't try?

More often than not, people always tell the story over and over that "if I had done it" but no. They threw the opportunity away.

More often than not, people blame being married for not having to do what they really want to do, doing what they dream of doing, and most often sacrifice happiness.

But why do you have to sacrifice your own happiness? We can always do it both ways. You can be happily married and have your own Hotwheels collection. Or even have your own classic car collections. Don't let anything stop your dream. Your family will always understand. People will start to understand. And when they do, the journey starts here.

and then you think you knew everything...

Just remembered our "migration" to Auckland, New Zealand. It was a very important and memorable experience for our family. Why important? Well my kids began to appreciate their yaya's, I began to appreciate household chores, Carol began to appreciate staying home. And why memorable? It's not only the experience that's memorable. It's the "no-guessing-what-may-happen" that we experienced.

If we didn't migrate, then we would've still have been on a high and blabber about the beauty of New Zealand, New Zealand this, New Zealand that. But no. We got to say "Ah, that was New Zealand". We get to cross the bridge. We get to experience the other side. No guessing games. You get to see the other side of the coin. And boy, you should see it to realize it. Yeah, realize that not everything on the other side is green. Not everything you hear is music. Not everything you imagined is glorious.

That's why you should appreciate everything that you have. Family. Friends. Yaya's. And even your pirated DVD's! You'll learn to face your demons, not to escape from them. You'll learn that not everything is Paradise.

And when you do ... the butterfly that you so eagerly want to catch will simply alight on your hand, when you stop chasing it.

Remember: People will never be contented in life. But when you learn to accept what you are and what you have, you will appreciate the sun set on your BMW.

The world is a better place...

Have you considered having actually satisfied yourself with self content? Well, that's the biggest question everybody asks everyday. Yeah. Being contented is as hard as the kryptonite Superman can't break.

That's our kryptonite.

Modesty aside, I'm trying to practice that. And oh man, it is hard! But one things for sure. Every time I listen to House Music, everything's just perfect. You don't need anything else. Money, iphones, DSLRs, brand new car, expensive jewelries...

Chill out. That's what they call it. Just chill out on any cravings you want. It's just temporary. When you achieve self content, then you can enjoy life. And I love what I read on the net "I asked God to give me all things so I could enjoy life...but instead God gave me life so I could enjoy all things." Awesome!

House Music. Been in this genre for years now. Like in the 80s, I was into New Wave. I like to be different. I like to listen to alternative music. Music that's not played on the FM regularly. I easily get bored that's why maybe I like house music. It doesn't overkill. It keeps your adrenaline alive. You feel that adrenaline rush. Just like Superman.

And just like House Music, you can practice self content. Just dance to the groove. Don't change channels. Just go with the flow. And when you do, you can practice self content. You don't want anything else. Just pure House. And when you do...the world will be a better place!

Thank You Auckland!

To Browns Bay: Thank you Tony and Jenny Jenkins. It was wonderful living in your house.
To Sartors Avenue: Thank you Benny and Dores. It was a wonderful vacation.
To John Downs: Thank you Das and Moi Fong for having wonderful conversations.
To Mangere East: Thank you Arvind, MaiMai and Allan O.
To Blockhouse Bay, Lynfield & Manukau: Thank you Wahoo, Chona, Gandi, Heyzl, Gail & Eddie!
To Glenfield: Thank you Donna, Kuya Rene & Ate Alice for being wonderful friends.
To Albany: Thank you Rolly and Gina for the great tennis!
To Wellington: Thank you Jimble.
To Christchurch: Thank you Botoy, Abigail & Marissa.
To Westfield, Pak n Save, Foodtown, Warehouse & New World: Thank you for the delicious groceries!
To Browns Bay & Takapuna: Thank you for the cheapest flea market!
To Auckland CBD: Thank you SkyCity Tower, Viaduct & Fish Market.
To New Market: Thank you Crocs & Kathy Van Zeeland.
To Party Bus: Thank you for being a wonderful school bus.
To Sherwood Primary & Long Bay College: Thank you for taking care of my children.
To Manila: Thank you Uncle Nemesio, Auntie Lata, Ahia Steven, Achi Sandra & Achi Angeline
To Japan: Thank you my twin brother, Stevenson and his family Mika Therese, Christian Haruki & Joshua Naoki.

World Economy and Me

Hey! Don't look at me? Everyone's been hit by the US economy and there's nothing we can do about it. Or are there?

Don't push the panic button yet. And I hope you never will. Experts say this is temporary. And I hope you'll think smart. Because ignorance is the next target. Not the rich, the investors, and specially not the banks. And you might ask what about the financial institutions that's creating havoc in the States?

It's just temporary.

Global warming is not.

We can fix what's going on with the stock market. But not Global warming. So the next time you watch the news, look at the BIG picture.

Me?

I'm just warmin' up my barbecue...

What's in it for me?

Apple announces the iphone as the cheapest PDA ever at $199?!?!?! duh? only to find out that your telecom company is selling it at $617 the cheapest! Iphones are a no-brainer. Why buy a phone that's $400 more? Are you giving away your life's savings? I hope Apple can address this because if Steve Jobs once told us that he wants everyone to have an iphone, then it remains to be a dream. And a phone you wish you'd have but remains in the magazine. It will be just a phone made popular by YMs, gossips and street talks.

And what's in it for me?

Nothing. Just waiting for an alternative from Samsung and Nokia which by the way is already available...

and waiting for the iphone to just fade away...

Compre, Apps and What-have-you's

Hay! It's been a while since I've got this jitters. The last time I think was when I took the NCEE exams in high school. Jitters, really. It's not the problems. I can handle problems. It's just like mathematics. But jitters? Count me out! I don't know why suddenly I have these butterflies in my stomach. And it's not falling in love...really.

Good that I have a brother like Son

Hay naku! With all this hulabaloos! Wow! Talk about nervous breakdown. You know, when He gives you something, always remember that it's already fixed. If you still doubt it, then just pray hard. Then he'll give someone to guide you. And for me? That someone is Son...my beloved twin.

It's not easy deciding specially when it's really major! Way too major! And with friends who you trust, well and good. But with friends who you think you trust, that's where you get a brother like Son. He balances everything...he's been there and done that! And lucky for me...I have a brother like Son! :o)

Olmos, almost...

Olmos.
Hehe...if you remember who Edward James Olmos is right? Lt. Martin Castillo of Miami Vice? Yeah, that was my time.

Almost.
This is the time I dread but if you've got these jitters like butterflies in your stomach or just little things running round and round in your tummy...well, that maybe are the nerves when you've got big decisions to make.

I don't know. Maybe it's just that you're living in your comfort zone and suddenly...Wham! Wake me up before you go-go! Sometimes it's just hard to let go of things you already are used to. But time changes, people change, and probably your address too. Time flies too fast. Yeah, that's right. Too fast, one day you'll wake up and see a different perspective in life. Physical perspective that is. Geographical to be precise.

And what is geographical? To be continued... :o)

Oh My Goddess!

Hey I'm at Changi Airport in Singapore makin' this entry. And what you think I was writin' last blog, it's quicker than I thought. Man, talk about Too Fast Too Furious! And now I'm freakin' out! Blastin' freakin' out! No decision can be made with this kind of situation I'm in!

What the **** am I gonna do!