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Monday, August 30, 2010

Season 1, Episode 10 - BADASS

Is it easy to look badass? Maybe. Perhaps with careful planning. Go watch Gerard Butler in 300. Now, that’s badass! But I guess it's a lot harder to come off as a total badass in the heat of the moment, yung walang warning, walang setup, walang pretense. Hard, pero hindi imposible.

I came across an article by Robert Brockway online and he run down what seemed to be 10 photos capturing moments of ‘spontaneous badassery’. I actually found the article and photos hilarious. Here’s a look at number 10:

10. Mildly Amused Riot Guy


Clearly, there is some serious shit going down in the foreground of this photo: an altercation, an argument, a dramatic scene or a hurried arrest. It's hard to tell exactly what's going on, but two things are certain: it happened suddenly and it is violently intense. But that smooth bastard in the background is wholly unfazed: he's just there, enjoying his beverage and the kind of cool breeze that only three unclasped shirt buttons can afford. [Crap! He actually reminds me of a client, unclasped shirt buttons and all!] If he's feeling anything at all, it's sure not shock. Mostly likely he's just appreciating the brief entertainment that Frank Stallone trying to forcibly gift-wrap Corey Haim to death has provided, before he has to go have sex with yet another supermodel on yet another yacht racing off yet another waterfall. Tedious.

9. New in Men's Fashion: Rocket Launchers


A good fashion sense is nothing if you don't know how to accessorize. Sure, this guy is looking slick in his leather boots, black jeans, frog-enclosure sweater, gray parka and ivy cap. But what really makes this outfit are the fireman's gloves, RPG and riot shield. But while you're busy just marveling at the casual, tongue-stuck-out-with-a-kind-of-good-humored-exertion expression of this armed to the teeth rioter, you're missing two important facts. One: riots are not like playing action figures at your friend’s house; equal weaponry is not distributed to all participants. He took that RPG and riot shield from a police officer at some point. And two: fanny pack. I know, right? Kind of ruins the effect, doesn't it? Somebody should say something.


[You’re probably asking yourself. What’s a fanny pack? I googled it up online and found out that it’s simply the belt bag.]

8. The Frugal Pilot


Fake! I can tell by the pixels. There are literally thousands of them. This picture is basically nothing but pixels; that's how I know it's been modified. Plus, there's just no way somebody ejects 20 goddamn feet from impact. Life isn't that dramatic. Also, you're telling me somebody snapped that exact frame - the very instant a fighter jet starts break-dancing on the tarmac? Way too convenient. Oh, and finally: if this were real, why would the pilot eject that late? What kind of hard-ass sumbitch hangs on that long? Unless that jet was made by Knight Industries and talked like KITT from Knight Rider - allowing both man and machine to develop a long-standing bond over many years of thwarting smugglers and spies together--there's not a pilot alive who'd try that hard to save their plane. Why, one second later and he'd be...


The craziest part? That little dude up there survived. That's not just laughing in the face of death; that's cumming on it after a night of filthy passion and promising to call later (but not).

7. Disappointing Fire Tornado


And here we have an angry old testament God practicing his fireballs. One could be forgiven for seeing this and thinking "badass fire tornado!" But that's not why this picture is on this particular list. No, it's here because of the fireman. Look closely:


He is, if anything, a bit disappointed. That posture is not the one you adopt right before screaming "watch out guys, fire tornado!" or "holy shit! magic is real and it's being used on me!" or even just "that was unexpected." That is the posture one adopts right before muttering "no, no it's okay I guess. It's my fault really: I've been hearing so much about this 'twister of pure, hellish fire' thing for so long - I guess I just expected it to be, I don't know, impressive."

[And he just stood there in awe!]

6. Epic Beard Rescue Squad, Go!


Unlike the previous photo, this picture is nothing but questions: namely, what Middle Eastern army is employing old-timey pirates? [Why is his hair dyed orange?? He looks like a leprechaun! And why are his shoes shiny?] Why is that magnificent bearded motherfucker wearing headphones? What is he listening to? And most importantly, what are they running from? Luckily, I have answers. In order, they are: the awesome kind, because this shit gets boring when it's your 9-to-5; Whitney Houston's cover of "I Will Always Love You" from the smash hit The Bodyguard for atmosphere [Oh, I thought he was listening to Destiny Child’s “Survivor”!]; and those cows look an ungodly level of pissed off.

5. The Roof, The Roof, The Roof is... Ah, Fuck It.


Depending on where you left the scroll button and what resolution monitor you're using, you probably saw this photo and chuckled a little bit at the audacity of those firemen at first - thinking that was the joke. There they are, apparently doing their best Daft Punk impression in the midst of an inferno, or perhaps just falling to their knees to worship whatever Elemental Gods Russians pray to these days. Then you scrolled down, and saw the half-naked Dr. House impersonator doing what he does best: enjoying a Sunday afternoon smoke on the porch, because fuck you, Rigor the Fire-Czar, he gets one day off a goddamn week and you can rain all the hellfire you want. It's not cutting into his "me-time."

4. Expensive Suit, Moustache, Uzi: Check, Check, and Checkmate


The scene depicted is the assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan, and the world learned something that day: four out of five Secret Service agents are bad at their jobs, but that's okay because the one that's left is really, really fucking good at it.

He's practically a goddamn action figure up there: he comes complete with Uzi (mid-cock), Italian wingtips and a mustache made out of revenge.

[Nah, he’s getting ready lang for his camera shot. Dapat kase sakto yung angle na makuha!]

3. The Amazing Unflappable Baby


"Hey, honey. Holy shit, I just had the best idea."

"What's that, darling?"

"Let's put the baby in front of the bear window. He'll lose his shit!"

"Won't that scar him for life?"

"Psh, fuck him if he can't take a joke. If God didn't want you to put babies in danger, he wouldn't have made them so stupid. Are you in or what?"

"Let's do this thing."

Things in the Kersland house were never the same after that day. When little Jonathan walked into a room, Dan and Marie quickly averted their gaze. They didn't know why, exactly, it was just as if the power had shifted in some quiet, unspoken way.

Also, the necklace of bear-teeth was pretty intimidating.

[Tsk, tsk. The things parents do to amuse themselves...]

2. Grand Theft Auto: Vietnam Nights


The real story of this photograph: this man has just crash-landed this helicopter in Vietnam; he's fleeing before it explodes - either because he's seen too many movies, or he's crashed too many helicopters and knows something we don't.

The story his facial expression tells: he was cruising along in his 'chopper, casually tossing Molotov cocktails out the window after lighting a never-ending chain of cigarettes with them, when out of the corner of his eye he saw a better helicopter off to the left, hit the exit button and began sprinting off to hijack the next one before the first one even hit the ground.

1. This Happens Like Eight Times a Day


"...so, like I was saying: if I wanted the paper delivered every goddamn day, I'd have fucking well ordered it, wouldn't I? You keep delivering these papers and I keep throwing them away. It's like I wake up every morning to find that a stranger has littered, just once, right on my doorstep. It's bullshi- what's that? No, ignore it. It'll explode in a second and we'll both just walk away without looking. It's how these things go."

[Anah lang! No reaction! Hahaha!]

Silent Adventurer out!

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Season 1, Episode 9 - MASCULINE



“Do you know that there’s a men’s masculine wash?!” Teppy revealed to us with matching smiley face while I sat down beside G-String.

I came in late when I joined the latest Friday Food Club gathering in Handuraw. I was supposed to join them for coffee after pero natagalan yata sila sa kaka-chika. I think this caused it. Everyone was giggling when I arrived.

“Really?” I innocently asked.

Sumingit si Yam, “As in parang Lactacyd Feminine Hygiene Wash pero panlalake?”

Teppy nodded and laughed, “Guys, I am a convert! It’s true!”

Amused, I continued to ask, “So what is it?”

Nakangiti pa rin si Teppy, “It’s called Freshman Masculine Wash. Si Franny ang nag introduce saken nito and I like it. Smooth siya and feeling mo cool and fresh ka all day, down there!”

Napabuhakhak na ang lahat sa table.

Napatanong na rin si L, “So where can you buy it?”

“Sa La Nueva Supermarket lang! Hahaha!” Franny joked. “Pero I think you can now buy them in local drugstores or something.”

“And you have a choice between Tea Tree Oil and Freeze,“ Teppy cut in. “Personally, I prefer Freeze kase ang ginaw ng feeling sa ibaba!”

Hay! Sales people talaga ‘tong husband-and-wife tandem na 'to.

Napataas na lang kilay ko while they continued on with their converstion. Kung sabagay, may katuturan naman ang hygiene wash na yan. Facial and skin care products specific for men are now readily available. Guilty ako sa pagbili nito. I know rin of a lot of guys who go to salons to get hair treatment, manicures, pedicures and facial care. Peksman!

More conscious na ang mga lalake ngayon towards personal care and wanting to look good; and obviously, with this product, wanting to look and smell good down there. C’mon, sinong lalake ang hindi nagkaka-jock itch paminsan-minsan? Hell, it can get a bit sweaty and moist down there! And, yeah, I think this masculine wash product is just the thing. And, yeah, I think I’d probably end up buying it anyway!

At may website pala sila oh: http://freshmanmasculinewash.com/

Silent Adventurer out!

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Season 1, Episode 8 - TERRIFIED

Silent Adventurer Hitlist of the Moment:

1. Terrified - Katherine McPhee featuring Zachary Levi



2. Colourblind - Darius Campbell
3. Ordinary People (cover) - Princess
4. The One Who Won My Heart - Christian Bautista
5. Airplanes - B.O.B featuring Hayley Williams

Silent Adventurer out!

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Season 1, Episode 7 - GELATO


Naughty Conversation between Friends over Gelato While Waiting for their Ride:

Friend 1: What did you order?

Friend 2: Chocolate Sorbet. Ikaw?

Friend 1: Crème Caramel.

Friend 2: [takes a portion of Friend 1’s ice cream] Mmm... [closes eyes with rousing expression]...Lami lagi imo...

Friend 1 raises his eyebrows and smiles. Realizing what she was doing, Friend 2 starts to giggle.

Friend 1: [laughing] Unsa ka lami? Mas lami pa kay...? And this is cold. Huwaton sa nato na pa initon ako, mas mo lami jud ni ay!

Friend 2: Hahaha! Buang!

While at it, Friend 1 also tries a bit of Friend 2’s gelato and grimaces.

Friend 1: Yech! I don’t like yours. Itom ug pa-it pa jud!

Friend 1 bursts into a chuckle while recognizing the naughtiness of the banter. Friend 2 snaps back.

Friend 2: Hoy! Dili itom ako noh! Unsay pa-it?! Ka lami ani!

Friend 1: Hahaha! Ka bastos jud nato uy! Maskin ice cream patulan! Stop na, gi lu-od na ko!

Friend 2: Hahaha!

Both are still laughing from their playful chitchat when their ride finally pulled in.

Silent Adventurer out!

Saturday, August 21, 2010

Season 1, Episode 6 - CR


So I'm sitting in my room, finishing up an e-mail, nung pumasok siya. Surprisingly, she wore another bright flowery get-up pero dressed down yata ang gusto i-project. She must have taken my cue when I complemented her with the yellowish floral outfit she wore the last time.

"Same transaction, same request," she instructed. And just like clockwork, I proceeded with the usual practice. While waiting for the account to load, she busied herself with scanning the latest news on the paper and went on with criticizing the articles and stories.

I thought to myself, Bad mood siguro ang lola. I decided for a little chitchat para change of vibe. “Where are you off to after this, Ma’m?”

“I’m going to fetch my grandson from school. He’ll be off at around 3:30,” she answered.

C’mon, keep it going. “Do you spoil your grandkids?” I continued.

She smiled, “Of course, it’s my job!”

Hayun, nag smile na. Oh, crap! Dead air. What do I say next?

So I'm thinking of a way to react when this overpowering smell spread all over my room. I frowned, turned my head and stared at her for a brief three seconds. Realizing that she was staring back with a quizzical look, I turned back to watch at my monitor.

Did she notice me staring at her? Whoo! What is that effin’ smell?! Hindi na ata gas ‘yan, solid na! Parang nakakasuka!

I was looking around my room to find the source of the revolting odor and landed gazing back at her. Recognizing that I had made her uncomfortable, I returned on staring back at my monitor. Alangan naman ako, I thought to myself. Dili man siguro akong Style in Play perfume ang nanimaho noh.

I was getting light-headed from the smell already. I had to make it quick and gave her what she needed. Once everything was done, she walked out of the room and stayed on in the lobby. What is she still doing?

“Is someone still using the CR?” I heard her ask one of our cleaning staff. “Is there another CR here?” she again asked impatiently.

I had to reply, “There’s another one downstairs.” She then quickly sauntered down the steps. I snickered and noticed she was already feeling the back of her pants.

When out of earshot, I called on the cleaning lady and requested, “Ate L-girl, pa-Lysol ko sa ako room please! Nalipong jud ko sa kabaho! Do you smell that?” She replied with a wince. I laughed at her reaction while she proceeded with dosing my room with the disinfectant spray.

Moral of the incident: Keep a poker face when you sh*t your pants.

P.S. I just heard from G-String that the bathroom downstairs smelled foul that day. Hmm, sino kaya ang may sala?

Silent Adventurer out!

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Season 1, Episode 5 - WON

Silent Adventurer Hitlist of the Moment:

1. The One Who Won My Heart - Christian Bautista



2. Terrified - Katherine McPhee featuring Zachary Levi
3. Airplanes - B.O.B featuring Hayley Williams
4. Nothing On You - B.O.B. featuring Bruno Mars
5. Home - Brian McKnight

Silent Adventurer out!

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Season 1, Episode 4 - PIMPLE

For almost a week already, I have been conscious with two pimples that have magically materialized on my face recently. It started with just one on my left cheek, and suddenly, another one appeared on the right.

And they just keep on growing! Tingnan mo nga naman, it's like they've got a life of their own! My brother even noticed and teased me that I reminded him of oh-so-freakin' Queen Amidala! Kay na-irritate na ko, I managed to name them 'Jack' and 'Khiana' - nakakabuwisit pero eventually, mawawala rin and sooner or later, babalik na naman.

Yes, people, I admit I am vain. Pero nakakabuwisit at how they positioned themselves! Prominent na prominent! Kulang na lang siguro costume at konting make-up at pwede na pang stand-in kay Natalie Portman! Anah lang!

Silent Adventurer out!   

Monday, August 16, 2010

Season 1, Episode 3 - TRISIKAD



Traversing the grubby corridors of Colon at around 9 in the evening, T and I were on our way home after a dinner of Balamban Liempo with Mr. A when my stomach craved for some desserts. Of course, hindi kumpleto dinner ko pag walang makain na dessert.

T looked at me and asked, "What do you wanna eat? There's that shake stand in front of the closed Chowking branch. You wanna try it?"

I gave her the glare and said, "Dili ko uy! I don't wanna risk it." And then I remembered, "Hmm, I think there's McDonald's across Gaisano. My tummy's asking for a sundae. Adto ta."

While making our way across the street, T noticed the trisikad driver lazying in a corner and snickered, "There was this funny thing that happened to me the other night here in Colon when I went home at around 4 in the morning."

"What happened?" I asked and continued walking.

T carried on, "It was scary. I was just about to finish crossing the lane when this weird trisikad driver nodded his head towards me and said 'Pang-kape lang day.'"

Muntik na akong nadapa sa sinabi niya. I laughed out loud that people started to notice.

"What a creep!" she snapped. "Anah lang! Worth lang ko pang-kape? Nescafe 3-in-1 lang ang value nako?! How much is that? Two, three pesos?!"

Still chuckling, I replied, "Basig siguro type niya mga 'coffee-skinned'!"

T laughed, "Crazy! In fairness, mas puti-puti na ra ba ko sa ako TopGel."

"Pinatulan mo na lang," I answered.

T raised an eyebrow and replied, "Hmph, ka luod uroy! He was gross and had tattoos all over. Maniac! Besides, hindi ako pang Nescafe 3-in-1 noh! Pang-Starbucks ako!"

I nodded and laughed quietly. Still, I just couldn't help myself and retorted, "Or basig pang Jimm's coffee lang siguro ka T?"

"Oy, huwag ismolin! Mahal sad ang Jimm's coffee!" she finished, as we entered the entrance to McDonald's.

Silent Adventurer out!

Season 1, Episode 2 - ORDINARY

Silent Adventurer Hitlist of the Moment:

1. No Ordinary Love (Acoustic Cover) - MYMP



2. Do You Remember - Jay Sean featuring Sean Paul & Lil Jon
3. The One Who Won My Heart - Christian Bautista
4. Home - Brian McKnight
5. Nothing On You - B.O.B. featuring Bruno Mars

Silent Adventurer out!

Saturday, August 14, 2010

Season 1, Episode 1 - QUARTER-LIFE

Now, how do I start with this again? I’m pretty sure this is the fourth (or maybe the fifth) blog that I’ve put up but I always end up not updating it regularly. Okay, I admit, sometimes I get tired of thinking up new posts, or sometimes the original passion for creating the blog is no longer there, or perhaps a complex case of ‘blogger’s block’ (if there ever is such a term) shows up, or maybe a particular direction has come to an end. Because, really, who wants to come home and write after working a 9-10 hour day? When it comes down to it, bed will always gonna trump blog.

But then, an idea or event pops up and that sudden urge to write about it rushes back. Blogging has sort of been therapeutic for me; it serves as an outlet to express my ideas, feelings and just let my mind speak itself through writing. It’s my own little escape from the things that inspire and stress me – like the one that had gotten me anxious the last couple of months.

Months leading to my birthday this year, I experienced the first tremors of the quarter-life crisis. I didn't know that it even existed but then, there was that overwhelming sensation(?). Grassy felt it too and, apparently, so does a lot of twenty-something hapless individuals. They say it hits at 25 but I recognized the first signs as I came close to my 27th birthday. My 23rd -26th had been emotionally uneventful - no nervous breakdown, no emotional distraction, and no confusion what-so-ever. Well, it came with 27. I don't know what it was about 27 that felt serious but there was definitely something as though I was crossing the boundary from wild, carefree, happy-go-lucky yuppie to adult, serious mode. And all of that quarter-life realizations hit me. What am I doing with my life? Am I happy? Do I spend too much time at work? Do I simply spend too much? Why has everyone gotten married and I’m still effin’ single?! (just pushing it with that last one). But really, I hit the bump and found myself wondering: what the hell have I done with my life?

I played down with going along with the crowd and started realizing that there are a lot of things about myself that I didn't know and may or may not like. I started feeling insecure and wondered where I will be three to ten years from now, but then got terrified because I barely know where I am NOW. I looked at how I’m living my life and understood that it was not even close to what I thought I would be doing or maybe I was just scared at the thought. I started to miss the comforts of college/high school, of groups, of socializing with the same people on a constant basis. Simply put, I felt like I was in a rut.

But just when I thought the world was working against me when I appreciated the significance of this so-called ‘crisis’ and realized that this was just a phase. Now, I’ve begun to understand myself more and what I want and do not want. I think my opinions have gotten stronger and I’m able to express myself more. I see what others are doing and find myself judging a bit more than usual because suddenly I realize that I have certain boundaries and priorities in my life right now and add things to that list of what is acceptable and what is not. Flings and hook-ups begin to feel juvenile, and getting wasted and acting like an idiot start to look so 20’s. Crap, I feel old! I may deviate myself once in a while (well, there’s no harm getting drunk or doing something crazy on odd occasions) but now, there are responsibilities and there’s that focus. There are still times though that I’d feel alone and scared and confused. Suddenly, change is the enemy and I try and cling on to the past life, but soon I realize that the past is actually drifting away and I’m left with two choices: do nothing and stay where I am or react and move forward. I choose to move forward and be realistically optimistic.

I still go through the same emotions and questions over and over but I talk it with friends and realize that I’m actually not alone in this. I’ve started to worry about money and the future and making a life for myself and my family. I’m playing the field and working toward achieving my dreams and goals. I really feel that this is a bit daunting (especially with a forthcoming endeavor I'll be going into) but as long as I’m moving forward, I feel like I’m on my way.

Silent Adventurer out!