whapakk.

I’ve thought about it, and I think I just might, just not now. I’m seriously contemplating going back to school (without having to quit my job, of course), and thinking about the course I’m considering, it does seem like there’s still a bunch of things I need to learn. I do not know if it’s better to learn them by myself through textbooks and consultations which is a lot cheaper, but I think if I’m going to be really serious about this one I’d have to consider going through the more popular channel of learning the subjects via a professor, a classroom, and a laid-out curriculum.

I won’t be doing it for the sake of buffing up my resume. I really need to learn some things for my future plans, and this is just one way to (erm) build my fundamental understanding of things I should know when the right time comes.

I’ve still have a lot of time to think about it. If I do take up the course, I’ll probably do it not earlier than Q3 of 2010. I’ll probably be using the time between the moment I decide to go for it and Q3 to save up, and I just realized last night that what seemed like cheap education isn’t really cheap (not at all, actually). I’ve just realized that I’m gunning for something that’ll cost me more than I’m earning right now, and it’s something that’ll definitely hurt my wallet. (But then again, I think that sometimes, when it comes to education, paying for it with your own money almost always guarantees your drive to study, lest you want to regret shelling out about a hundred thousand bucks per year for nothing.)

Hmm.

I just want to talk a bit about Michael Jackson.

I’m not a big fan. I was one of the people who went WTF at him for holding his baby out of their balcony and into the obvious danger of falling some storeys off their building. I was one of the people who thought he’s got a few loose screws in the head for his antics and his multiple cosmetic surgeries. I was entertained by those Pugad Baboy comic strips featuring him, those strips that made fun of his transition from being dark to pale white.

But I’ll remember him for his music. I got a Casio keyboard for my grade school graduation, and Beat It was one of the first tunes I tried to learn (guess what, I never got it right). I didn’t know a lot of songs back when I was a kid, but we had this karaoke software and I played Bad and Billie Jean a lot, not knowing the songs, never having heard Michael Jackson sing it live or otherwise. I’ve seen a lot of people dance to Thriller, and I wasn’t aware that their dance steps were Jackson’s signature moves.

When I finally understood how much of an icon MJ was, I understood how much respect he deserved. The way he electrified crowds, the way his songs became pop classics, and his talent and energy during performances, they all scream about the respect that is due his way.

And so yes, he deserves a grand mourning. He deserves the sadness of this whole generation left without one Michael Jackson. All the controversies, the antics, they all contribute to his identity, but at its center is his music, still: a presence-commanding individual with unequalled talents.

I pay you my respects, MJ.

One week after I replaced one of my guitar’s strings, another one snapped.

Stupid string.

I guess I’ll be playing that other instrument (in the background) in the meantime.

Last night was Sugarfree Night at Route 196, Katipunan Extension. Julianne, The Ronnies, and the Itchyworms performed and gave tribute to the band, which has been playing for about ten years now.

I originally thought about going to the Myx event at Mag:net Bonifacio High Street (to watch pogi rock bands Hale, Hilera, and 6CycleMind) and sure enough, no one wanted to watch with me, even for just the heck of it (erm, ridiculing the bands while they’re playing on stage is one thing, and being swarmed by teen fans screaming, “I Love You Chump!” is another; misspelling intentional). Then I heard about the Sugarfree gig at Route 196 which had the same entrance fee and way better music, and the decision was easy: Route 196 it is.

I also wanted to practice shooting in low-light gig venues, and Route 196 gave me exactly that. I found it a real challenge to shoot in such a small space (which got even more cramped as people started to fill the venue) and without much light to work with. Most of the shots I got were in black and white, with an intentionally very high ISO setting for that grainy effect; I tried taking videos but they sucked big time, with very dark visuals and bad audio. (I wasn’t pleased at all with the photos I came up with; it doesn’t matter if it’s my first time, they suck, I’m a bad photographer.)

Now Playing.

Julianne played her songs and a cover of Sugarfree’s Tulog Na. It was my first time listening to her play live, and I think she’s good. Better than many female singers (armed with a guitar) I’ve heard, actually.

Julianne.

The Ronnies covered Burnout and Mariposa, along with their usual set of tunes from the eighties. I think I’ve heard them before, but I can’t remember when. Sizzling hot!

The Ronnies.

Unang Araw was covered by the Itchyworms, who also performed their staple songs, including Freak Out, Baby and Beer. One of the funnier moments last night was when they played a short cover of the San Miguel Oktoberfest jingle. If I had to can their whole set in a couple of words, it’d be funny-electric.

Jugs and Kelvin of Itchyworms.

Finally, Sugarfree had their turn, playing Prom, Telepono (with another San Miguel Oktoberfest intro), Unang Araw, Kwarto, a couple of new songs, Burnout/Bilanggo (Rizal Underground cover), another new song, and Mariposa. I think the last new song Ebe sang (alone) was great, it’s just too bad I didn’t catch the title. Another night of great music. (Too bad Jal wasn’t there.)

Ebe.

Now imagine how my night would have turned out should we have gone to the Myx Mag cover launch instead? Po-po-po pogi rock.

“Alam mo, kung nasa akin pa ‘yung ID ni Maganto, hindi tayo maiipit dito sa trapik. Ang lakas rin ng ID na ‘yun, ipapakita mo lang, wala nang magagawa ‘yang mga nanghuhuli na ‘yan. Dati, pinapara ako nung nagta-trapik, sabi ko lang, ‘Nagmamadali kasi may pinautos si Chief,’ sabay ipapakita ko lang ‘yung ID tapos wala, nagkamot nalang ng ulo ‘yung nanghuli.

“Pero ang totoo niyan, napulot ko lang rin ‘yung ID na ‘yun eh, may naisakay kasi ako noon, dati pa ‘yun, babae sa Manila Peninsula. Eh, sabi niya, ‘Eto, magagamit niyo ho ito,’ sabay abot nung ID ni Maganto nga, hindi ko na rin tinanong ko bakit niya ako inaabutan ng ID noon, eh baka magamit ko nga tapos baka biglang bawiin, eh sayang naman, di ba? Tapos ‘yung sumunod na araw rin, naisip kong subukan nga, eh kasi trapik rin noon eh, lumusot ako sa saradong U-turn slot, nagmamadali rin kasi ako kasi may kailangan akong sunduin. Ayun nga, pagkalusot ko pinituhan agad ako nung nagbabantay, bawal raw doon, bakit raw ako lumiko. Ako naman eh kung makakalusot, maganda, lalo na’t di ko naman alam kung totoo nga ‘yung ID na binigay sa akin nung babae. Eh nahuli na ako, wala na rin, kaya pinakita ko na rin ‘yung ID, tapos gaya nga nung bilin sa akin nung babae, sabihin ko lang raw ‘yung pangalan ni Maganto, kaya sabi ko, ‘Pinapatawag lang ho ni General Maganto.’ Pinalampas ako! Ok, sabi ko noon, ‘Ok nga ‘tong ID na ‘to, totoo nga.’ Pero siyempre hindi ko naman inabuso masyado. Ginamit ko lang kung talagang tingin ko nasa tama lang ako kasi alam mo naman, may iba naman talagang nanghuhuli diyan na pera-pera lang talaga, kahit wala kang violation eh huhuliin ka parin. Doon lang, tsaka ko lang talaga ginamit ‘yung ID.

“Para bang binigyan ka ng kapangyarihan, ganoon ‘yung pakiramdam, na taob mo ‘yang ibang mga taxi na ‘yan, ‘yang mga Benz at Pajero na ‘yan, lamang ka kasi may ID ka ni Maganto. Siyempre talo ka sa totoong mga sasakyan ng gobyerno, pero ‘yang karamihan ng mga normal na sasakyan, angat ka talaga.

“Kaso lang, nung mawala si Maganto sa puwesto, hindi ko na rin ginamit ‘yung ID. Kasi nga, siyempre wala na ‘yung tao, ano pang silbi nung pangalan niya? Tsaka bakit nga ba nawala sa puwesto ‘yun? Magaling ‘yung si Maganto eh. Magaling talaga.”

- Mamang Drayber

I’ve come to hate Mondays: no car, stupid cab drivers (90% won’t let me in as a passenger), the usual weekend bliss hangover, no camera, no packed lunch, costly food and transportation here at Bonifacio High Street, and a whole lot more.

I’m a whiner.

I whine about Mondays just because.

The solution is: buy another car, sleep early on Sundays, and stash everything (camera, lunch, tripod, whatever) in the car and bring it all to work. But, how the fuck can I afford a new car? Of course, I already know the answer to that question, and I’m trying my best to do it, but it’s going to take a long while. In the meantime, I’ll have to shut it and endure these stupid Mondays.

I thought exploring car catalogs would bust stress. I thought wrong. It’s depressing. The cars I want are over a million bucks’ worth of metal and leather and electronic shit.

Mondays suck.