Gilas Pilipinas: An obsession Part 1

I stumbled upon Raybitoy's tribute to Smart Gilas Pilipinas National team yesterday. I've watched his mixtapes (which are very, very good by the way) before and well, I wanted to see the job he did with his Gilas 1 tribute.

LINK TO THE VIDEO

And before I knew it, tears were on my eyes. The memories. The sleepless nights I spent looking for livestreams for their middle east jousts. The classes I deliberately missed (Do not follow my example!) because it was in conflict with their games. The arguments I had with crabs on cyberspace who were doubting their capabilities and Filipino heritage. The opportunities I missed to go out with my friends because Gilas had a PBA game. I chose them over sleep, my classes, my productivity on the internet and my friends. I do not regret any of it.

People around me rarely talked about them. I felt isolated. I had no one to talk to personally. I had the Interbasket forums but I've been bothered by a troll named Big_ticket which reverted my status to being a lurker. Add the fact that I'm only one of the three guys in class at that time (currently the only one who happens to be a regular student) where girls are engrossed with trivial matters such as teleseryes and KPOOP (as a Filipino basketball fan, I have a natural hatred of South Korea, but not to the point of making me a racist douchebag).

It was all WORTH IT. I was obsessed. Addicted. Blinded. I didn't care. I prayed for my national team before going to bed. Daydreamed in every Trigonometry class (which I regret every examination period) about them... with their right hand on their chests, singing the national anthem in some indoor arena in London up against a European team which would probably beat them black and blue.

With every victory, they put a smile on my face. With every loss, a better performance to look forward to. I was a fanboy. I'm not ashamed.

I loved Smart Gilas Pilipinas despite the heartbreak.

Even if it ended that way, it was all worth it. Thank you Gilas. ~KP

Photo from FIBA Asia

                                 

What you are and What they think

We perceive ourselves in a different way than other people.

I'm currently enduring the sweltering heat while in bed, encoding this blog entry. I've been waiting for days for rain to shower down and cool everything up, but no. It just made the atmosphere unbearable. Because of it, concrete and other materials that absorbed sunlight during the day are now releasing vast amounts of heat. So much for a cool night's sleep right? Meh.

Google, Y U SO MALICIOUS? I typed in "hot night" and all  I got  are censor-worthy materials!

That aside, let me get to the focal point of this entry. The way we carry ourselves in public is one thing. The impression we think we give is another. The impression we actually give is another. I know a guy who worked his butt off every exam, every project and just about everything. However, whenever he got the results he desired, he was pretty vocal about it, but not to the point of him telling everyone. He was just saying things like: Yes, I nailed it! or Glad I did it!. Being a close friend of his, I knew for a fact that he is a down-to-earth person. He never flaunted his achievements or put himself in a rank higher than anyone. He'd always choose the least comfortable chair in a party.

Sh*t happens for a reason and some people have sh*tty mindsets. What my friend thought were little "expressions of satisfaction" was actually perceived as arrogance by others. When confronted, he broke down in tears and couldn't believe that they saw him like that.

Did I mention that those people who perceived him that way were aspiring honor roll graduates? Oh well. Competition really brings out the worst in everyone, that's why I think it's stultifying. Compete with yourself (not with others) and at the same time, set higher standards (because in that way, you'll become a better than what you were). There will always be people who will try to bring you down. Their mentality is "to win by defeating everybody" not "to win is simply being the best." I know my point is kind of hard to grasp, but please put a little thought into it and you'll understand eventually. =3

Someone once told me that there are three windows in knowing yourself. One is how you see yourself. Two is how others perceive you to be. Last one is things everyone, including you, never knew that you had. But hey, what others think is none of your business. If your conviction is strong and what you do and how you act goes in accordance to morality set by God and the society and if you have no bad intentions whatsoever you don't have to change... they do. =3

You're the problem, not me. The F*ck I care :)

Wait, wait.... did I use the meme correctly? LOL. G'nyt =D
                                                      

ERUPT! =3

What can I say?! CONGRATULATIONS TO THE PHILIPPINE VOLCANOES for winning the HSBC Asian 5 Nations Division 1 Championships over Sri Lanka, 28-18!
They move on to the Elite Five division next year, joining Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea, UAE and Kazakhstan with a crack at the 2015 Rugby World Cup!

Members of the Philippine Volcanoes! Credits to the PRFU Facebook Page

 This feat is, well, HISTORIC. This puts the Philippines on the world map of rugby, being one of the top five Asian nations. Heck,  rugby isn't even the premier sport in the Philippines. The Philippine Rugby Football Union had their gamefaces on last 2008, putting a remarkable effort on teaching the public "Rugby 101" and making waves in the lower divisions in Asia. Since 2008, the Volcanoes have never lost an Asian 5 Nations tournament except last year in the hands of South Korea.

Personally, I expect a rugby renaissance in the country. I see major media outlets setting the agenda and putting the Volcanoes on the spotlight, the way they did with the Azkals. Honestly, I'm not really familiar with the rules and jargons of the sport, but once you give your full attention to the commentators (kudos to Bob Guerrero and Eric Tai), it'll be a breeze.

Basketball, Boxing, Football and now the Filipinos have Rugby. Things are looking good for Philippine sports!

Raaaawwwwrrr :)

My feet hurt.

I played basketball with some friends for like, more than two hours. And I still suck. But at least I think I'm good at football (or soccer). Anyway, I'm really glad that I went with the guys today, although the games were not really the ones that made my day. =D
           

Just me right now. (Credits to google)

I'm eating my mom's bulalo while I'm typing this entry. Besides my late grandfather, I don't know anyone who is a better cook than her. If I had to choose between an expensive restaurant and buying ingredients for my mom to cook, I'd choose the former anytime.

Yummy. (Credits to google, this isn't my mom's)

I'm not really a family type of guy and I don't have a lot of friends either (because I'm really choosy when it comes to friends). I remember during my college entrance exam, my mom brought me fast food. Until now, two of my close friends are still teasing me about it, calling me "Mama's boy". LOL. I'm not ashamed. I've got a supportive mother and the hell they care. I suspect that they see it as a teasing matter because of their family background.
One has an OFW mother and the other has an apathetic one. Well, it doesn't take much to understand how they feel. All I can do is go with the flow and just consider their situation before reacting.

Not easy being a friend right? LOL. I've got nothing else to post so here's a seagull. Godspeed!

Credits to yours truly. Took it at the NY Harbor.

                          

Nostalgia Part Two: Arrival

I remember the first time I stepped into the Ball State bus in the Indianapolis International airport. It was cold day and one of the last ones we experienced. Mary and Mike fetched us inside and Eric and Shawna were doing what they do best: capturing priceless moments behind the lenses. I sniffed the air.... and yeah. Did it smell great. Here's the video of our arrival:

                             

I'm really here!

I was in a state of disbelief. I couldn't believe that I was there. I have always dreamed of being in the US, but not in this stage of my life. The journey to Indianapolis from Detroit wasn't a smooth one. We had to go through Customs and immigration and had to make a 20-minute window in order to get to our next flight. The immigration officer who interviewed me was a blonde middle-aged woman who seemed to be pretty nice. She asked about the stuff on my luggage, what was I doing there and etc. I had my passport stamped and luggage retrieved when, to my horror, we had less than ten minutes to get to our flight to Indy. Me and Gabriel left our luggage to an intimidating black man twice as large as I am who was putting bags on ramps. We then ran for like, minutes, without regard for other things except making our flight. We took the electric train to get to our boarding gate and to our relief, it was delayed. Our other companions made it afterwards.

While were on the bus heading to Ball State, I couldn't stop looking out at the window. I then realized... it was my first glimpse of the USA while on the ground.

Indianapolis International Airport Control Tower

Lucas Oil Stadium. I was like... NO WAY.

                         
I remember the first questions I asked Suzy. Where do the Pacers play? Where do the Colts play? I later found out that Lucas Oil was just a few blocks away from the Bankers Life Fieldhouse, home of the Indiana Pacers (3rd seeds baby!)
I didn't pay much attention to the chatter around me. I was hell-bent on looking at the window, trying to see every bit of America. And before I knew it, I fell asleep.

I woken up by Suzy and felt really tired (jet lag and sleep deprivation came in play). We had arrived at Ball State University.

WOOOOOOO

After the formalities, Suzy left us while Eric stayed to get some pizza (YUM) and give us a tour. We were then ushered to our rooms. I WAS EFFING FORTUNATE. There were only a few rooms in the dormitory with air conditioning. ONE OF THEM HAPPENED TO BE MINE. MINE. BWAHAHAHA. It proved to be Godsend since the days to come were as hot as in the Philippines, minus the humidity.

I had an air conditioned room to myself, a cabinet and a study table. What more could I ask for! YAHOO!

Let's just end here. :)

Part three will tackle the first days of SUSI BSU. =D 'Til next time!

                                 
                                     


















                           

A Past Obsession (PART ONE)

I'm a sports buff... at least, that's how I see myself. I follow Philippine sports, especially the national teams and athletes like they're some sort of God-given angels on earth. Gilas, Azkals, Volcanoes and Dragon Warriors. They're my personal heroes.

Looking back, my obsession before this used to be Japanese anime and manga, specifically the adventure and fighting genre. I grew out of it, but it won't hurt looking back right? I still watch and read some, but only to the point of me being called a "casual" fan. Anyway, these are three of my top 10 animes (in order and btw, I'm not including series that I haven't finished yet):

NOTE: IF YOU, IN ANY WAY, DISLIKE JAPANESE ANIME OR THINK THAT IT'S CRAP, PLEASE STOP READING.

10. Black Cat - the story is about an assassin who is part of an organization hell-bent on world peace, Chronos. This organization has elite members called "Numbers" who are basically powerful human beings with with superhuman abilities. The main character, Train Heartnet, also known as #13 and Black Cat, is a pistol wielding heartless killer who soon realized bloodshed isn't really his forte (but saving the world is!) after meeting a bounty hunter named Saya, a beautiful kimono-clad, short-haired woman. Train deals with his past, an uprising and a plan to destroy the world with his friends, Sven (also a bountry hunter), Eve (a biological weapon) and Rinslet (a thief). The fight scenes are painfully "bitin". Other than that, I find no other flaws =)

From left: Sven, Eve, Train and Rinslet (Google)

9. Law of Ueki - fits the adventure and fighting genre. It's about a middle-school student named Kosuke Ueki, selected by a god candidate named Kobusen to participate in a tournament which will determine who the next "god" is (if Ueki wins, Kobusen will be the "god") the  and who will win the "blank talent" (which is basically a blank charm and if you write something in it, that thing will be a talent). The participants are called "power-users" which are humans with abilities to turn something into another thing (like turning rubber balls into acid, beads into bombs, soil into scythes, etc). The fight scenes are really good, but are painfully filled with dialogue. But overall, it's an anime worth watching. A tale of friendship and teamwork. :)

Clockwise from left: Tenko, Ai, Rinko, Hideyoshi, Sano, Ueki and Robert 

8. Fate Stay Night - it's about Sorcerers and their servants who happen to be characters from history which includes King Arthur (depicted as a woman), Cu Chulainn, Medusa and Gilgamesh. Here's a pic

Berzerker (Hercules), Gilgamesh, Rider (Medusa), Archer, Saber (Arthur or Arturia), Caster (Medea), Assassin (unnamed Samurai), True Assassin and Lancer (Cu Chulainn)

The story is deep, includes numerous arcs and is probably complicated like hell.



All pictures are taken from Google images. To be continued ;)



                                       

Nothing much

What the hell.

I really don't get women. Their train of thought is... well... let's say has many tracks leading to the most awkward places.
This tactlessness is the main reason why I've never been in a serious relationship before. However, I do not find my situation severe, nor am I desperately looking for ways to immerse myself in a situation that I know will be an impediment to reaching my goals.

Whatever. Credits to google

Emotions should be set aside when you're trying to accomplish something, and yes, I'm a hypocrite for believing that I do the thing in the statement before this. And I have no idea what I'm supposed to add, so I'll just divert your attention to the next paragraph.

Being selfish is sometimes a necessity. You were given a chance to this wonderful opportunity that would add another glimmer to your already glamorous resume. However, you turned it down. Why did you? Is it the thought of leaving your friends for a couple of weeks? Is it the thought of your friends "not being able to be there because they were unfortunate and so you have to be with them so they won't feel betrayed by your actions." I'm talking about the one-for-all attitude. In economy class, I've learned that people face tradeoffs and how they deal with it. Do the benefits outweigh the risks? Are the benefits of the 1st option better than the 2nd one? If you refuse an opportunity of a lifetime for a couple of people that I am sure would be proud of you (heck, if they possess feelings of disgust if you took the chance, they're not your true friends), it would be nonsensical to me. It's not about them, it's about you. And if you want to help them out, why not take the chance, turn around and reach out?

Back to women. Once a month, they turn into man-eating mythological creatures. Their aggression unbound, all logic lost and nothing, absolutely nothing, will shut them up.

You try to run away from them, they'll chase you with open arms. But when if you're about to hug them, they run away like you're some kind of grizzly bear armed with a chainsaw. Women.

Imagine this dude (or dudette) with a chainsaw. Credits to google.

Nostalgia Part One: Departure

It's been nine months now.

Having traveled to the United States of America is an experience I will forever cherish for the rest of my life. Only a few people have been given this once in a lifetime opportunity, especially in the Philippines, and I consider myself
otherworldly fortunate that I was, well, given the chance.

Me and a friend were part of the seven-strong Philippine delegation to the Study of the United States Institutes of New Media and Journalism held at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana.

SUSI-Philippines. From left: Mark, Gab, Angel, Mik, Mel, Stephen , JP)

Honestly, it's my first time writing something this long about my experiences across the globe. Well, nobody really wants to hear it excluding my family, some teachers and some close friends. A few people have asked before and responded to my answers with probably a hint of sarcasm. Not that I care of course.

It was a rather uneventful flight to our flight's only stopover, Nagoya, Japan. I later found out that the airport was an island. Man made. Here's a pic.

The first thing I tried to find was the first floor. Heck, I wanted to step in authentic Japanese soil, which cannot to my dismay, is inaccessible. I never had the chance to step in Japan. Just in the 2nd floor of one of their airports. ;(

Anyway, euphoria crept in while I was there. The overwhelming sense of I-can't-explain-what made me realize that I already achieved one of my life's goals: be in a foreign country.

Nagoya-Detroit was filled with a number of occasions of me snoozing in my seat, sandwiched by an American named Rob and an old, quiet curly-haired Japanese guy who never spoke a word in the 16 hour flight. As the plane cruised, I pulled out my laptop and plugged in my headphones and started listening to music. Unknown to me however, I plugged the headphones into the hole where you're supposed to put the microphone. Rob, being the good guy that he is, was half-laughing when he told me that my laptop's speakers were on and that people around me were getting their naps cut short. I hastily remedied the situation and well yeah, I was drowning in my stupidity. An awkward, embarrassing moment I wish I'd never ever have to be in again.

Part two will tackle our arrival and yeah, more happenings in the flight that changed my perspective on myself and foreigners, particularly Americans. Here's one of them. :) Keep you posted. :)

yey :)

Well... this is my first post on this new blog. So, please bear in mind that I have no idea where to start. Hey, I doubt anyone will read this so what the heck, I'll start by introducing myself.
I'm Mikhail, a 20 year-old hopeless romantic. Wait, what? On second thought, forget that you read that. Jokes aside, I am Mikhail, a 20 year-old senior Mass Communications student based in the Philippines. Hmmm.

Basically this blog, Two Cent Chronicles, will be all about a poor man's views on anything regarding anything. And I mean anything.
To make it short, I'll talk about random stuff. Hey, life's too short to not enjoy the little things. :)

Anyway, this first post is uneventful, so here's something I dug up from Facebook.

Credits to yours truly ;)

Taken from aboard an airplane (duh). From Manila to Iloilo city.