Jose Rizal On Facebook

This is too funny!  Thanks to Lennie for sharing this gem.  I was in a bit of a crappy mood, but after reading this, it surely drove the mood clouds away.

WHAT IF MAY FB NA NUNG PANAHON NI RIZAL?

AT NUNG PANAHON NG KKK AT NI HEN. AGUINALDO?

7 Lakes (The Kids)

While visiting the 7 lakes in San Pablo, Laguna, I realized that the subject that drew my camera lens the most: kids.  They’re the most emotionally transparent people, so it’s a joy to capture them on an image.

No need to pose them, just linger as they do their thing, and before you know it, they’ll present you with opportunity after opportunity to compose a photo.

For some reason, I didn’t feel like doing landscapes, so I whipped out my zoom lens and started shooting like mad.  The kids were just wonderful.  Even when I was just starting to take pictures, together with animals, I loved snapping photos of children.

I guess they’re also the least suspicious.  They don’t see taking pictures as invasive of their privacy, in fact they love hamming it up even.  And like animals, they move the way they will, unhampered by the idea of being watched or photographed.

And they don’t have that self-consciousness that usually mars a character portrait of older people.  They have an openness that’s a wonder to shoot.

Sometimes, not always of course, the best way to ruin a travel photo, is to tell your subject that you’re taking a picture, and zap, all life and charcter leaves the face, and left is a frozen mask, with an awkward smile, and a nervous expression.  Not kids, their faces light up in front of a camera, and they even do tricks.

That’s why going through my San Pablo pics, I decided to post all the kid pics in one set.  You just have to love them.

It was like photographing my cats though.  You sort of lurk and wait around until they do something really cute, then you pounce by clicking the shutter.  It’s a joy when you capture those cute unguarded moments.

But my favorite photo for the ENTIRE trip was of this one kid who really lingered in my head for days…in fact, I’d say until now.  He was the saddest looking boy I had ever seen.  He wasn’t crying or anything, but he just had so much sadness in his eyes.  It was a haunting image that I was never able to shake off.  When he looked into the camera, it was piercing.  I’ll never forget that sad little boy.

The Best And The Rest 161

I love the truly tactless.  As opposed to the outright mean, tactless people don’t want to hurt, they just don’t have an edit button.  So it’s kind of refreshing because you know what’s really on their mind, without the meanness factor.

December 4, 2008 → The Top Ten Tactless Quotes – Silentrushersince96

1. Her Royal Shyness – At the wake of my late husband, one lady guest gave her condolences then noticed the mole on my cheek below the eye and said: “Tsk, tsk, tsk, kaya ka pala nabalo…”
2. Alecks54/Tsutsugamushi – When my nephew found out that my dad’s age is 60, he quipped: “Lolo, eh di malapit ka nang mamatay?”
3. Your Highness – I once heard my friend tell his neighbor as-a-matter-of-factly: “Alam mo, mag-donate ka ng marumi mong dugo para matanggal yang mga tigyawat mo sa mukha!”
4. Dr. Girl – One prof said: “Obese people are predisposed to having cardiovascular diseases.” Then a frend said to another friend in front of the class: “Ay, prone ka!”
5. Urduja – I’m 9 years older than my estranged husband. One time, before he introduced me to a new colleague, the new guy said: “Bro, nanay mo?”
6. Marissa – We own an internet cafe. One time a customer’s mom said out loud to her son: “Ang dami palang yagit dito!”
7. Big Momma Chef – When I was  at a clothing store in Glorietta to look for a Christmas gift, the saleslady who was standing at the entrance said to me: “Ma’am sa inyo ba? Wala po kaming large sizes dito!”
8. No name – My 2-year-old son has a syndrome which makes him hairy. Our neighbor said when she saw my son: “Wow ang cute, parang gorilla.”
9. No name – My friend gave me an analogy for my pimples when she accompanied me to the derma: “Yang mukha mo, parang mumurahing apartment. Pag may umalis, may umuupa agad.”
10. Gie – On the FIRST day of my mom’s wake, someone texted me: “Wala na pala mama mo. Paano na yung utang niyo?”
11. Yrovi – When we went to Batangas where the houses were all made of bamboo, my 5-year-old son said: “Are these people squatters?”
12. His Cuteness – Noong bata pa ako lagi akong tinutukso ng mga lolo’t lola ko tuwing may kasalan: “Uyyy, siya na susunod!” Tumigil lang sila nung minsang nakipaglibing kami, sila naman ang tinukso ko: “Uyyy, sila na susunod!”
13. Midsis – I’m used to being mistaken as older than my actual age. The worst was, while parking in U.P., a guard said: “Ma’am, faculty?”
14. Cutie Girl – Every Friday, my mom would announce: “Walang ulam! Lumabas kayo! Maghanap kayo ng asawa para hindi kayo old maid!”
15. No name – I showed a friend a picture of me with my crush.  I asked: “Guwapo ba?” She said: “Oo ang guwapo! pero yung babae pangit!”
16. No name – During a wake for a high school classmate who committed suicide, a mom told one of my classmates: “Yang friend niyo, hindi magandang example.”
17. Pony – When a gay friend and I went to a famous high-end clothes store to shop, a saleslady approached my friend and said he can’t buy any of their clothes. When he asked why not, the saleslady said: “Bawal po kami magbenta ng damit sa bakla.”
18. Catherine dela Reya – After a guest sang one of his songs from his album, a famous TV host asked: “Ikaw ba talaga kumanta nun? May ghost singer ka no?”
19. Sophie – Right before an operation, one doctor said in front of the patient: “Yung huli pala nating inoperahan, patay na?”
20. JM - In our class, we are brainstorming about what should we name our talk show. My classmate suggested: “SYMFONIA!” Then I shouted: “Ang pangit naman ng pangalan!” Turns out it was her acoustic band’s name.
21. Babyangie – When I asked permission from our coach to miss a game because my uncle died, he said: “Bakit, mabubuhay ba yun pag pumunta ka?”
22. Yñaki – A lady went to our sari-sari store and asked: “Kuya, pwedeng pasalat ng itlog niyo? Titignan ko lang kung magaspang.” Apparently, the more magaspang the egg, the fresher it is.

Videos I Like 5

Here’s the Daughtry acoustic version of Lady Gaga’s Pokerface.  I love it because he treated it as a serious cover, and not just some novelty camp version of the song.  This guy’s coolness knows no ends!

Daughtry’s Pokerface

I looove this one! This is the cutest teenage girl ever!  Especially in the end, when…okay, I don’t want to spoil anything.  Just watch it and you’ll see what I mean.

Harry Potter’s Biggest Fan

I don’t know if I’ll laugh or feel bad about this bear cub who gets spooked so easily!  He reminds me of our own cat, Aras, who was this jumpy when he was a kitten.  The sound of the vacuum cleaner would send him in a panic, much in the same manner as this cub.

Scared Baby Bear

This is just for the sake of schadenfreude.

Single Ladies Fail

This goes to show, you can never be too old to go trampy!

Russian Britneys

What a weirdo.  All because of his mom cancelling his Worlds Of Warcraft account.  I was a spoiled brat, but I never took it to this level.

Greatest Freakout Ever

Hmmm…now I feel like I’ve been kinda ripped off.  At least it involved the lesser movies like Jungle Book and Aristocats.

Disney Templates

One of these days I’ll video my cats on catnip and post it here.  It’s really weird! They freak out and get all sexy and writhe on the floor and act like they’re high on drugs.

Catnip: Cat Drugs

This is amazing.  I had goosebumps.  The song had a lot to do with it though, it’s Please Don’t Go by Barcelona.  I’m torn though, because fish belong in the open ocean, unless you subscribe to the idea that animals in zoos act as “ambassadors” to help bring about conservation.

Kuroshio Sea

The Best And The Rest 160

Kids nowadays are so smart.  Sometimes, too smart for their own good.  They say never to talk to kids as if you were talking to kids.  Talk to them the way you’d talk to an adult; you’d be surprised at the results.

December 2, 2008 → The Top Ten Smartest Thing You Ever Heard A Kid Say – BuchoCgirl06

1. No name – I was drilling my 5-year-old son for his spelling contest. I told him to spell “axes”. He said, “I dont know if you want A-X-E-S or A-C-C-E-S-S.”
2. SC – I have a 7-year-0ld nephew who was watching Barney. After a while, he said: “There are no purple dinosaurs.”
3. Bulakeña – I’ve been a widow for 6 years. One time my kids asked: “Mommy, bakit di ka pa mag-asawa?” I answered: “Kasi mga bata pa kayo.” They countered: “Hindi naman kami ang maga-asawa eh…ikaw.”
4. SPY Shadow – My neighbor’s kid proudly brags to his playmates: “My 4-year-old sister can spell her name backwards: Anna.”
5. Jesse – My 5-year-old son David was very sick yesterday, so my wife said to him: “Sana ako na lang may sakit.” David said: “Hindi mama, dapat wala tayo sakit lahat.”
6. No name/His Cuteness – Nanay: “Anak, mahiya ka naman, linis ako ng linis tapos ikaw puro laro ka lang!” Anak: “Mas nakakahiya naman yata kung ako ang naglilinis at ikaw ang naglalaro…”
7. Lissadelvalle – My son and I just missed the closing of Bread Talk, so I said: “Sorry anak, wala nang bread.” He said to me: “Eh di mag-talk nalang tayo.”
8. Mac1 – I was talking on the phone with my wife. After, I noticed that our 5-year-old son was listening and said to me: “Sinong kausap mo, asawa mo?”
9. Time Traveler’s Wife – I saw a pasa on my 5-year-old niece’s leg, and I said: “What’s that?” She answered: “Oh…it’s a HEMATOMA.”
10. No name – A little girl asked: “Mommy, why do you have some white hair?” The mommy answered, “Each time you do something bad, a strand of white hair grows.” Then the little girl asked: “Then why is ALL of grandma’s hair white?”
11. Getitreal – I was asking my cousin if “commitment” was spelled with 1 or 2 T’s. A younger cousin butted in: “Gawin mo nang tatlo para sigurado!”
12. Aeon – I told my 6-year-old nephew that babies are made by the birds and the bees. He said: “Talaga? Akala ko sperm cell at egg cell?”
13. His Cuteness – My sister was telling her daughter: “Kainin mo na food mo, ang daming batang gustong kumain, pero walang makain!” Her daughter answered: “Eh di ibigay mo sa kanila yung ayaw kong kainin!”
14. Carlos’ Mom – We were visiting my late dad at the cemetery and I told my sons to ask for guidance from their Lolo because he was very wise. My 8-year-old said: “He’s not so smart. He ate too much sweets and now he’s dead.”
15. Dark Choco Boi – A friend’s student asked: “Bakit tinawag na orange yung prutas na orange?” My friend answered: “Kasi kulay orange.” The student countered: “Eh bakit ang apple hindi tinawag na red?”
16. No name – Sinita ng mama ko yung pinsan kong lalake dahil inaaway niya yung babae kong pinsan. Sabi ng mama ko: “Ang lalaki hindi dapat pumapatol sa babae.” Sabi ng pinsan ko: “Hello, ang pumapatol sa lalake, bakla!”
17. Geyp – Dad: “The only word in the English language that starts with ‘SU’ but is pronounced as ‘SH’ is ’sugar’.” Son: “Sure…”
18. No name – I told my niece: “Finish your food! Ang daming batang nagugutom!” She answered: “This is GLUTTONY…”
19. No name – My friend’s 3-year-old kid saw her parents getting dressed. She said: “Uuuy…si daddy…iki-kiss ang dede ni mommy!”
20. No name – My 4-year-old son, was taught never to fight with girls. So when he was being bullied by this little girl, he told her: “I have 2 word for you…BREATH MINTS.”
21. JoTad – Our Ilokano yaya was planning to put up her own canteen. When she asked for name suggestions, my eldest blurted out: “I know, PAGOODFOOD!”
22. Ang Manunusok – My 4-year-old cousin wanted to walk with us on the beach. I told him: “Magpaalam ka muna sa mommy mo.” He waved at his mom and said: “Mommy, paalam!”
23. Yñaki – When my brother asked his son what he wanted from Santa one Christmas his sone shouted: “BMX BIKE AND LASER SWORD!!!” My bro told him: “Don’t shout, Santa’s not deaf.” His son answered: “I know, but Lolo is.”
24. Kate – I told my daughter: “Mamaya pa tayo aalis, pinapalamig ko lang itong coffee ko.” She answered: “Bakit mo pa pinakulo, kung palalamigin mo lang pala?”
25. Joperman/Aya – My sister was explaining to her 3-year-old son that she spanked him because she loved him. After the talk, the kid slapped her and said: “I love you too.”

7 Lakes

The first time we visited San Pablo, we tried to visit all 7 of the 7 lakes.  But we were only able to go to 3 because it rained on us like anything!  As if we never earned our lesson, we revisited the place, around the same time last year, hoping to get different results.  Fortunately for us, the weather cooperated, and although it threatened to pour many times during the photo trip, we stayed pretty dry the whole time.  Unfortunately though, we were able to visit only 6 lakes:

Bunot Lake

Our first stop was Bunot Lake. For some strange reason, everyone around the lake seemed to carry guns.  It was a little creepy, but I’m pretty sure they had very good reasons for carrying firearms.  We were also able to visit Bunot lake the last time, but dark clouds forced us to abandon the trek around it.  This time, we were able to

Lake Pandin/Lake Yambo

The lake we enjoyed the most were the twin lakes, Pandin and Yambo, separated only by a thin strip of land.  It was a treat, because we got to ride in a balsa, powered by 6 grandmothers!  We almost felt so guilty having these lolas paddle the raft for us, but they assured us that they do this regularly for a living and that it’s just a day’s work for them.  We even got to drink from a natural falls!  it was sweet water filtered by nature.

Lake Calibato

This is the lake that we missed, because according to our guides, the path getting there is too, and I learned a new Tagalog word, masukal. I thought, “It’s too sweet?”  Apparently, “masukal” means thick with vegetation growth or something like that.  So it’s pretty difficult to get to, especially with city slickers like us.

Lake Palakpakin

This is the lake where we got rained on the last time.  But the weather gods were smiling at us, it didn’t rain until we were safely under our blankets in the resort.

Lake Mohicap

This was also a quick shoot, we just went to one spot on the lake and shot some pics.  It was also possibly the most quiet, most still of the 6 lakes we saw.  Almost zero activity.

Sampaloc Lake

The most famous of the 7 lakes, and the most accessible.  I remember taking some of my earliest attempts on infrared photography on this lake.  This is also the busiest lake, with so many people living around it.

(Up next: The kids)

The Best And The Rest 159

Like Prince said in his song Let’s Go Crazy, “…boy versus girl, in the world series of love!”  And let’s not forget the gays and lesbians as long as we’re at it.  Technically, homophobia still has it’s roots in misogyny.  Let the games begin!

November 28, 2008 → The Top Ten Sexist Quotes – SC

1. Q – My cousin: “Ayoko nga mag-nurse! Pang babae at bading lang yun!”
2. Kendzee – A guy officemate: “Dapat sundin ng mga babae ang bibliya at pagsilbihan ang mga lalaki!”
3. Ehem - “Women are from Venus, men are from Mars. What about gay men? I guess they are from a black hole! Because they SUCK!”
4. Astroboy – “Pag ang lalaki ay lapitin ng babae, ang tawag sa kanya SIKAT. Pag ang babae ay lapitin ng lalaki, ang tawag sa kanya MALANDI. Pag nagpulong-pulong ang mga babae ang tawag dun TSISMISAN. Pag nagpulong-pulong ang mga lalaki, ang tawag dun INUMAN.”
5. Sexybelly18 – I used to work as a technical rep for a call center. I had a male caller who had problems with his cable connections. Working for 4 years as a tech, I knew the problem right away, but we’re still required to check so I was just about to assist him, when he suddenly asked, “Can you just transfer me to a male agent?”
6. Marcus – A car was swerving erratically so me and my wife made a bet.  I bet it was a woman driver, she bet it was a man.  When I overtook, we saw that it was a man.  My wife gloated: “Tignan mo, lalaki!” I countered: “Oo nga lalaki, lalaki na kung mag-maneho, parang babae!”
7. Lagendairy – Sociology prof: “Mas matalino ang lalaki kasi dalawa ang ‘ulo’, pero mas madaldal ang babae kasi dalawa ang ‘bibig’.”
8. Solo – From a comedian: “Men only want 3 things from a woman: Food, Sex, and Silence.”
9. Acer – “Ayoko sa babaeng hairstylist. Mas magaling ang bading!”
10. Rovivrus Nobag – “Beer contains female hormones and can turn men into women. After 5 pints,men become talkative,unreasonable, irritable, they cry for nothing and urinate while sitting.”
11. SC – Overheard: “Kababaeng tao, naninigarilyo…”
12. Ken: I work for a bank & there’s a silent rule w/in the company: “Gay officers not allowed. Gays steal.”
13. Ang Manunusok – Back in college, people say that gay men shouldn’t be physical therapists. They might take advantage daw or manghihipo.
14. Mr. Perk – My father stopped my only sister from taking up engineering because she’s a girl.
15. Audrey – In this school where I work, boys are not allowed to play volleyball and girls are not allowed to play basketball. If you ask the owner why, he’ll say: “Hay naku, baka maging bakla ang mga lalaki at tomboy ang mga babae!”
16. Mia La Fea – I once heard my dad tell my mom during an argument: “Ako ang lalaki sa bahay na ito, kaya ako ang masusunod! Kaya tumahimik ka na!”
17. GRACiA – One gay jokingly said: “Ang mga babae talaga ang salot sa buhay namin. Kakainin na lang namin, uupuan pa nila!”
18. Pancakes – After watching Twilight, our boss said: “Disappointing. The movie sucked because it was directed by a woman.”
19. SC  – “Ang lalaki parang cholesterol: masarap, pero bad for the heart.”
20. Geyp – Bill Maher: “If you were on a sinking ship and yelled, ‘Women and children first!’ How much feminist opposition do you think you’d get?”
21. SC – A professor wrote on the black board: “a woman without her man is nothing”. He said to his students: “Place punctuation marks in that sentence.” All the boys wrote: “A woman, without her man, is nothing.” While all the girls wrote: “A woman: without her, man is nothing.

Lola Techie

So funny! I’m pretty sure most of you have seen at least one version of this hilarious series, but just in case you haven’t, or you missed one, especially if you’re abroad, here they are.  Presenting: Lola Techie!

Here’s a short version of that ad, this time threatening via Twitter.

Here’s a really LOL version featuring Counterstrike.  Reminds me of the one time or two that I actually played it.  I used either of these two nicknames: “Veggie Boy” or “Jejomar”.  Don’t even ask me why.  Even if you’re not familiar with the game, you’ll find this side-splitting, if only because of the talent’s incredibly credible portrayal of the hip grandma.  They should give that actress a bonus!

And here’s the short version of that ad.

I want a grandma just like that!

The Best And The Rest 158

No, you perverts.  “Swallow me whole” is not a porn movie title, nor does it refer to an intimate act between two consenting adults.  It refers to embarrassing moments when you feel as if you want the earth to open up and swallow you whole.

November 27, 2008 → The Top Ten “Swallow Me Whole” Moments

1. Mondster – A friend was texted by a voluptuos vixen inviting him to a seminar for a networking company. She said: “Try is good, but do is better.”  He texted me: “Pare, gusto daw niya ako i-do!” Only thing was, he mistakenly sent the text back to the girl.
2. Gorgeous Bitch – During an office Christmas Party, my longtime crush approached me and said: “May gusto sana akong sabihin sa iyo…” Thinking he was about to profess his undying love, Ipushed: “Ano yun?” He said: “Ano kasi…” Me (kinikilig): “Sabihin mo na kasi!” Him: “May stain ka sa skirt.”
3. Lingerer – When asked during a Labor Law class what a galunggon was, a classmate answered: “Duh? Of course…it’s a leafy vegetable!”
4. Jiezl – One time in school, I was walking with a guy classmate when I slipped.  I grabbed on to him as I fell.  Akala ko I grabbed his hand, until I saw him grimacing in pain.  Sa crotch pala niya ako napa-kapit.  Basag ang itlog!
5. Killjoy – In college, during one finals, our prof told the class tot ignore a test item because someone made a mistake in the numbering. My classmate joked: “Ma’am sinong tanga ba ang gumawa ng exam?” The prof answered: “Ako.”
6. No name – We had this Spaniard who worked in our company.  One time, while inside the elevator with the Spaniard, I said to my friends out loud, “Ang laking kastilaloy pero sigurado ako maliit ang tit* nito!” Then the door opened and in walked our boss.  The Spaniard said: “Boss, ano oras miting natin?”
7. Mix Master – I dated this girl for 2 months, but we ended it because it just wasn’t working.  2 years later, I attend a family reunion and I saw her again.  Apparently we were cousins.
8. Uglybelle – My husband never wears underwear.  One time he sqatted to pick up something from the floor, when his shorts split open and his “jewels” fell out from the hole!
9. SC – First time I went to my boyfriend’s house, an old lady opened the gate. I said: “Yaya, pwede pa C.R. muna?” Turns out the lady was my boyfriend’s mom!
10. Niknokniknoknik – One day, on my way down the stairs at the Quiapo overpass, I missed a step and started falling all the way down the stairs! Worse, natangay ko lahat ng tindera at pulubing nanlilimos on my way down! Ayun, nagkalat lahat ng tindera, pulubi, paninda, at barya sa ibaba ng stairs.

Simple Shoes

The RX management shared with us some shoes with their deal with Simple Shoes so I ended up with a free new pair! I got the Toemorrow model and I really loved it! It was comfy and it looked cool.  I got curious and checked out their website and I found out that they’re a very green company using stuff like old tires for the soles and unbleached hemp for the bodies.  And they claim that their shoes are biodegradable.  As in, if you bury it, it will break down completely.   I was really impressed because not only do they look great, but they’re earth-friendly as well! I’m not getting paid to write this, in case it’s starting to sound like a paid ad, but I really wish there were more companies that would take this route to being eco-friendly.  I feel the same way about this company as I did when we test drove the Prius.  And whenever I find a product or company with whom I share the same goals, then I do whatever little I can to support it.  Here, watch two of their videos.  There are more on Youtube:

And green Hollywood took notice.  A lot of the earth-conscious stars have taken notice and have patronized this brand.  Check out these photos courtesy of simpleshoes.multiply.com:

Chace Crawford

Jack Black

Ellen DeGeneres

And even Bella Swan

So I really put my support behind companies like these who make being eco-friendly cool at the same time.  It’s true, sometimes, the earth friendly products are fuglier than the less eco-friendly counterparts, so it makes supporting them less easy.  But I honestly love my free pair so much that I’m seriously buying a new pair soon.  I’ve got my eye on a couple of models already.  Check out their products and make up your own mind.