A Pig Named Malou Fernandez

Malou Fernandez is very famous these days. She’s been talk of the town across socioeconomic levels. Too bad she’s not enjoying it, as I’m sure of… because she won’t be able to show her face to the public for awhile. Everyone is calling her a pig… not because she’s overweight… but because she acts like one. I think people can forgive her for acting like a diva and for being one hell of a social climbing elitist… but for being degrading of others is another story.

She not only insulted the OFWs in her article “From Boracay to Greece”, she’s also defended herself by calling those who spoke up against her writings humorless illiterate.

No one can blame the people who have responded with curses and bad words that attacked her personally. She deserves it. She’s not even sincere in her (sarcastic) apology. I don’t think she even understands why a lot of people hate her guts. She has irked the Filipino people, not for being a cheap brand-dropping bitch, but for being an insensitive brat who thinks so highly of herself and so lowly of others, especially of the hardworking OFWs. The worst part is... she’s also a Filipino.

Originally, I don’t want to give her a space in this blog. But heck, maybe she deserves some after all… if only for uniting the Filipinos into showing our support to the OFWs.

-chebong

"VINDICATION" is a dish best served... GOLD!

Ey-Yo... Eh-Eh-Eyo...... Ey-Yo... Eh-Eh-Eyo!!!!

*uhrrmmmm*... Sorry 'bout that, let me compose myself a little... *whew!* okay, I think I got it under control now... lemme' see, where was I? oh yeah....

Yesterday was the start of the second round eliminations in the current season of UAAP basketball. Chebong and I were invited by our good friend Mox to watch the pride of our beloved Alma-Mater, University of Santo Tomas' Growling Tigers go up against the Green Archers of De La Salle University. I was excited at the idea of getting to watch live college ball again. It's been a little less than 10 years since I got to go to one of these things live and "a-little-bit-psyched-up" would be a pretty weak description of what I was feeling one week prior to game-time.

Admittedly, it was pretty weird getting back into the whole "school spirit" thing. I remember back in college when my buddies and I used to go to these things. One can't help but reminice on the things that made it all one heck of a fun ride: the cheers the chants, the jeers, the cheerleaders... (oh yeaaah...cheeeerleaders... heh heh heh). Going through the motions of it all after a long period of inactivity made for some pretty awkward moments at first.

We got ourselves upper-box tickets with seats located roughly at the center-area that got us a pretty good view of the courtside action. We did'nt get to actually sit at our designated seats (nobody at these things does anyway) and ended up taking spots along one of the center aisles. Being among mostly college kids was a little bit awkward at first, especially when the cheering and chanting started and one tiny bit of realization set in... we did'nt know any of the chants they were doing!

It was embarassing...

Well, like the bright campers that we prided ourselves to be... we got the hang of the new chants eventually as the game progressed, thereby managing to look a little less silly during the rest of the event.

The game itself did'nt change with the passing of years. The same adrenalin rush of watching cagers from both Universities trying to out-do each other was still the main reason school spirit is always at an all-time high during UAAP season.

tiger cub at the game... yep... we start 'em off young...

This particular game was no exception. Coming from a 17 game losing streak that started way back in 1999 against DLSU, the UST Growling Tigers have been itching for some payback for quite some time now. The first half of the game was pretty depressing on our part since UST was putting in a pretty horrible game... too many missed shots and too many turn-overs got me to thinking that maybe us watching the game live turned out to be bad luck for our home team.

Luckily for us, after the half-time break, (and after probably a helluva lot of ass-whupping in the locker rooms by UST Head Coach Pido Jarencio...) the Tigers came out strong and were giving the Archers a run for their money!

until the 4rth quarter that is...

It all happened so fast... yet so agonizingly slow (don't ask... I cant figure that one out myself), but regardless of the increased offensive and defensive strategies of UST, the Archers managed to put an impressive 12 point lead with 1:57 remaining in the game. This was it... "payback's gone down the drain"--- I thought to myself: "If some sort of miracle is gonna happen... it had better happen soon!"... and from the looks of the kids around us, I'd gather they were'nt thinking much different.

I dont know if the big Guy upstairs heard me and all the other Tiger fans silently praying to the high heavens for help... but something happened... It wasnt that noticeable at first (considering the large lead already attained by DLSU) but the Tigers were ACTUALLY fighting back!!! Like it's striped namesake, the UST cagers silently and ferociously fought their way out of the corner that DLSU ushered them into. Every steal, jumpshot, three-pointer and free throw went in like clock-work closing the 12 point gap and sending the game into heart-stopping overtime!

I'm not sure what fueled the Tigers during that fantastic run... or what was going through their minds as the clock was slowly counting down to oblivion. What was clearly evident to all the fans that night was how much their hearts were into the game. This game was a testament to fighters who wouldnt back down to insurmountable odds, to improbable heroes and impossible victories... an underdog story? Not hardly...

It's the Growling Tiger story.

UST beat DLSU in overtime last August 11, 2007. Managing an 8 point lead with a final score of 81 to 73 against the dazed Green Archers... the Tigers have finally gotten their payback.

Viva USTe!

Tigers Ruuuuuule!!!!!!

- Buboy

Back to the dungeon next week

Starting next week I will be reporting back to work every Monday. I thought going to the office once a week will be a welcome break from being home everyday (and supposedly being bored) but right now it’s not what I’m feeling. Right now I’m dreading the day that I need to go back to work. I don’t know why. Must be because I learned that Jane, my assistant, is 4 weeks pregnant when she’s only been married for one month. Perhaps because of the incident that happened (non-signing of contract of new employee) before I went on leave. Or maybe I just really got tired of working. I still do not know.

So what have I accomplished for the past 3 weeks? Well, I finished the 1st season of Grey’s Anatomy; read Inca Gold by Clive Cussler, The Villa by Nora Roberts, and Good Omens by Neil Gaiman & Terry Prachett. I have cleaned and partly organized our rooms and I started going to Baclaran. Currently I’m reading One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Oh, and I’ve been accompanying my mother-in-law to her medical check-ups and stuff. I guess I have been busy somehow... Yeah right, I am still trying to convince myself.

-chebong

Missed friends are not lost friends

Last weekend I got to talk to one my best friends from grade school via YM. Although I have a pc with internet access at work, a broadband in Pasig and vibe in Las Piñas (this is not too long ago until the pldt line got corrupted around our area in Las Piñas and any dial-up can’t sustain a connection for more than a minute!), I did not install YM because I’m not much into chatting. Last Saturday Buboy had to install it in Pasig because I was waiting for a message from someone who broke my heart (she made me think that she’ll get me to write articles for her, the b*tch!). But then maybe her only role in my life is to link me with my old friend. Well, the moment I was logged in, there was Doc Lani! I missed this girl sooo much! It has been years since we saw each other last because she went to the US. I can’t wait till I talk (or make that chat until I buy a headset and cam for our pc) to her again and make up for all the years that passed. There definitely are a lot of updates to make :o)

-chebong