Lines In My Head

There's this idea that life hits you the hardest when you least expect it. But I guess, in a more realistic manner, there comes a point in time where you already have an inclination that things are going south, yet you still try your hardest to deny the cold, hard facts and hope for a positive outcome. That's the exact moment when life  supposedly  hits you unexpectedly. Some would dramatically call it "the ending", but not really. You'd still be a fine, living, breathing human being the day after, just with a new pair of bloodshot eyes to contend with. I had that belief that I'd never go through such a stage again but I guess I was wrong. Hurled into that boiling pit of emotions, I told myself that I knew how to handle this phase already but I guess I was wrong. I thought I had it all figured out -- the right pieces, the right chemistry, the right answers -- but again predictably, I was wrong. What I ended up with was a wrecking ball (Miley Cyrus reference...

That stage has improved a lot. This is almost a month late but still. I had a phase in my life especially during my college years when I was so into local bands. I used to spend a significant amount of my allowance buying records from Odyssey(!) and scouting the Sarabia Optical Shop in UP Shopping Center for any hidden gems from indie bands. It was only natural then that I'd have this long-term February love affair with the UP Fair. Match made in Sunken. This year, I decided to watch on a Wednesday. The event for the night was called "Roots" and historically the event has been really good in terms of band line-up and how organized the program is. Understandable since the organizers are musically inclined student orgs from UP Diliman - guys who are knowledgeable and passionate about their craft. Anyway, I saw the lineup for the night weeks prior, found it cool, bought tickets, and patiently waited in line to get inside the fair grounds. Aside from a few n...

Masahiro Tanaka. Ace of Diamond. Aside from the memorable and nostalgic retirement tours for Mariano Rivera and Derek Jeter (watch this epic  video to relive those moments), the New York Yankees have absolutely stunk (relative to Yankee expectations) the past two years. Missing two consecutive postseason sucks. Watching an uninspiring cast of broken-down sluggers, struggling hurlers, and a bunch of replacement-level retreads sucks even more. Double ugh. But...that doesn't mean I won't follow and root for the team anymore. There are still plenty of reasons to watch and cheer for the Yankees and well, here are mine. Warning: The following list contains tons of baseball jargon, inside jokes, and unfamiliar names. Enjoy! 1. Masahiro Tanaka's splitter - An absolute thing of beauty. Unless you're the batter flailing helplessly against it. Filthy. 2. The return of A-Rod - The most enigmatic Yankee ever is back and I am secretly rooting for him to mash this ...

Welcome to another edition of The Homegrown Squad . The defending champions San Antonio Spurs are notoriously known for being a well-run organization and for being adept at scouting, assessing, drafting, and developing their players. That is the image that they have been conjuring for the last couple of years. Does this perception match the actual product on the court though? Let's see! Same rules as before apply. The top twelve active players originally drafted by the team are selected to form a competitive roster. On to the Spurs' list! Note: Career per game averages are in this order (Points, Rebounds, Assists, Steals, Blocks)

Inspired by a recent web article, I've decided to make my own list of albums that stuck with me throughout the past year. While I honestly thought this would be an easy exercise given my propensity for discovering new bands and music, it's strange that I've been having a hard time compiling such a short list. Either there was a drought of quality records or I haven't been paying much attention to the scene lately. More of the latter, I guess. I managed to come up with ten albums though and knowing my affinity for emo-pop-punk jams, you won't be seeing any Ed Sheerans, Ariana Grandes or Iggy Azaleas here. Instead, you'll get... HONORABLE MENTION(S): Lift A Sail - Yellowcard (Released: October 7, 2014) Key Tracks: One Bedroom, The Deepest Well 1989  - Taylor Swift (Released: October 27, 2014) Key Tracks: Blank Space, Clean, Out Of The Woods We Don't Have Each Other  - Aaron West and The Roaring Twenties (Released: July 8, 2014) Key Track...

It’s really hard to describe how good or bad a year has been given that there is so much variability that happens within 365 days. It’s like a collection of positives and negatives wherein if you get a net positive value in the end, then you say you’ve had a damn good year. Otherwise, meh.  In any case (and most especially for an optimist like me), I find it better to reminisce about the feel-good stories rather than sulk at the mishaps and misses. Welcome to my rainbow-colored view of 2014. A relatively quiet family life. No health, financial, emotional problems. That is why I find it always a pleasure to make that 3 hour bus trip to Bataan. Nothing beats the comfort of home. A promotion in my professional career. Something I didn’t really wish or ask for but thankful nevertheless for the opportunity, challenge and additional benefits (!) bestowed upon me. A successful first year in my MBA program. Passed all my pre-MBA courses and honestly appreciated my Leadership class e...

Being alone in one little quiet hole certainly induces episodes of reflection. The same thought process happens when I'm standing under a constant stream of cold water or looking at the hypnotic waves of the sea. I guess one of the reasons I write is to put all these random ideas into a giant imaginary ball then throw it away using one meaningless, harmless post. This is one of those posts.