Pa speaks up for controversial Mai

(source) From Mai's dad:

PLEASE ALLOW me to respond to the many criticisms directed at Mai Mislang.

Yes, I do not deny she made a huge blooper regarding the wine served, Vietnamese gentlemen and the traffic situation in Vietnam. It was a private comment with some members of the delegation. It was not the intention to have the comment blown all over, as what happened. The mistake was she posted her comments via Twitter. She should have known better.

As a parent, I am concerned more with the negative comments it generated, both from media personalities and private bloggers. What pained me was the comment that she was raised wrongly by us, her parents. Before saying this, they should have checked first. Isn’t that the practice in media?

We have three children, a son and two daughters, and are staying in a middle-class village in Quezon City. They grew up properly in a quiet neighborhood, studied in Catholic schools for their primary and secondary education, and college at UP. Mai and her sister are members of the local parish choir that sings during Mass. In UP, she was a member of ICTUS, a religious organization in the campus parish church. She finished her course in tourism with honors.

Mai worked with a five-star hotel in Makati in its communications department. Then she moved over to government at DSWD, with Secretary Corazon Soliman and Secretary Esperanza Cabral for bosses. From there, she joined Sen. Benigno Aquino’s staff in the Senate, and then Malacañang when P-Noy won the presidency. She was a hardworking assistant coming home late nights such that even on weekends, she was out there and had to forsake our weekly family dinners. She also does philanthropy, helping an elementary school in Marikina one way or another. One time, I helped her put in the car some computers to be given away to a school. She also has a band where some evenings the members sing in a bar for the sheer joy of it, not for the money. I would say, despite her busy schedule, Mai appears to enjoy life.

It’s just too bad some members of media, broadcast and print, were too harsh on her. They made it appear that she was a spoiled brat, snooty, lacking in manners, and pointed to us parents as responsible for her lack of breeding. I vehemently deny it. We raised our children the right way. This can be checked with our neighbors; otherwise, they are not what they are today, all professionals!

Who among the media persons can say they never committed a mistake in their line of work, and if they indeed did, were never given a second chance to make up for the wrong? The same can be applied to Mai, can’t it be? Mai committed a mistake and it was all over the place, and everybody comes asking for her head!

Mai has apologized for her faux pas. And the Vietnam government was not affected, saying it was a small matter. So who are we to continue condemning her? Even in law, first offenses are normally forgiven and a second chance is given the offender.

Mai and her siblings are our heroes, no doubt about it. And our trust and love for her never waned a bit.

—ED MISLANG,edmislang2001@yahoo.com

Top dish

I was not a fan of Korean food, but there’s something about top dish that makes me come back often. Maybe because I never really enjoyed Korean dishes served in posh restaurants. I liked it better in a cozy place that seemed only like a family ran carinderia.
Top dish is situated in somewhat Makati’s version of a red light district. It’s weirdly placed next to a massage parlor, almost inconspicuous if not for the continuous inflow and outflow of Koreans and locals in its shop.

One thing I’ve noticed is the free appetizer set served at start, which by most of us Filipinos would already consider as main course, ang dami kasi. I think most Korean restaurants would have the same set of free flowing appetizers, a selection of sweet spicy dilis, kimchi, etc.

For the entrée, each dish is a must try, and if you’re a bit adventurous, you may want to try their silk worm preserved in a tin can (de latang silk worm kung baga, though I think appetizer sya haha ang ironic lang).

Top dish is located at:

4890 Durban Corner P. Burgos Street
Makati Metro Manila Philippines
Tel no: +63(2)7581122

Mga turo ng Math titser ko sa lablyp

(image source)

Iwasang mag bilang ng magbilang. Oo na, math wiz ka na pero kung gusto mong gawin, gawin mo, wag gumawa ng tally ng nagawa mo against sa nagawa nya. Hindi yan calculus na kelangan ng proof. Kumbaga sa calculator, add lang ng add, di mo kelangang pindutin ang equal sign, makikita pa din naman sa kada add mo kung gano na kadami nagawa mo.

At pakiusap lang. Wag gumamit ng MR, o Memory Recall. Tawag dun, sumbatan.

Sa subtraction me tinatawag na “cannot be, carry one” na kung saan mas maliit ang numero ng kanang dulo ng subtrahend sa minuend kaya kelangang kumuha ng isa.

Madalas sa pag bigay ng oras sa minamahal me masasacrifice. Madaming beses na kelangang himindi sa barkada kasi nagtatampurorot ng date ang iyong mahal. Kukunin mo oras mo sa sarili para ibigay sa minamahal. Keri one.

Pero me pagkakataon din namang sa mahal mo ikaw kukuha ng oras kasi importanteng mabigyan mo ng oras ang trabaho, o isang kaibigang matagal mo nang di nakikita. Kung pano lang nya iintindihin, un ang problem solving.

Kung ayaw naman ni pangga ng “carry one,” pwede din namang "plus one."

Isama si pangga, un ang “plus one.” Madalas gugustuhin ng iyong katuwang na kabuntot sya sa mga lakad. Minsan nakakatuwa, minsan hindi. Lalo na kung por da boys ang lakad. Hindi naman sa me gagawin kayong himala, pero me mga bagay na talagang sa harap lang ng mga kaibigan nyo napapagusapan.

Tamang division lang ang kelangan. Pero di pwedeng equal division. Me magagalit. Minsan pag demanding, kelngan mas malaki ang sa kanya, meron din namang di demanding at naiintindihang me iba kading mundong ginagalawan.

Pero sa totoo lang, aminin mo man sa sarili mo, minsan gusto monalang i-divide ang sarili mo. Ingat lang sa pag divide. Sa huli di na whole number ang resulta, me infinite decimal points pa. Haggard.

Sabi sa Bible, “go forth and multiply.” Ingat lang sa pagmultiply. Baka me batang mabuo, o di kaya baka bacteria o virus ang magmultiply sa kapabayaan mo. Oo, inaadvocate ko ang condom. Kung hindi mo kayang magpigil. Kung protektado ka, parang multiplication of integers lang yan. Negative times positive ay negative padin. Basta me proteksyon ka.

Oo na daig ng malandi ang maganda. Pero sa mga nagmamadaling maghanap ng kabiyak, tandaan, mahirap mag add ng fractions, hahanap ka pa ng common denominator.

Madalas, sa mga pilit makahanap ng common denominator, ang laki nang numero napuntahan ng wallet mo, basted din pala ang kahahantungan mo.

Parang graph ng hyperbola, mag gear towards the axis pero ang hirap mag meet.

(image source)

Pero kung sakaling swertehin ka, wag magtaka kung mapansin mong mas mahal mo sya kesa mas mahal ka nya. Minsan may less than at may greater than, pero bumabaligtad din yan sa kalaunan, ikaw naman ang less than sya naman ang greater than. Bihira ang “is equal to”.

Pero parang graph ulit. May x-axis, may y-axis. Pero meron din naming Origin. Un ung gitna. Matuto lang kayong magpunta sa gitna, magiging ok naman kayo. Madalas ang nakakarinding payo ng nakakatanda, “compromise.”

Sa Math din siguro nakuha ang konsepto ng open relationships. Me variable kasi. Parang algebra, substitute y with a number, kung ayaw mo ng y pwede din naming isubstitute sa x, moving on naman tawag dun.

Kitams, ang daming application ng Math sa love life.

Parehas silang sinusumpa.

Parehas silang pinag pupuyatan.

At minsan, kahit anong pagsusumpa at puyat mo, bagsak padin. Ilan ba ang kilala kong nag ulit ng Math 11? Madami dami na.

Kaya naiintindihan ko kung bakit allergic sa pag ibig ang ibang tao (gaya ni ewik), parang kung pano ko kamuhi-an ang Math. Komplikado kasi masyado.

Pero di gaya ng Math, mahirap makuha ang saktong formula sa pag ibig. Iba’t ibang tao, iba’t ibang equation ang pwedeng i-apply. Hindi lahat sakto sa banga.

Pero at least kung me problem ka sa Math o sa love life, me solusyon.

At sa huli, me result ka ding makukuha.

Kahit zero pa man yan.

How

We’ve asked “how” so many times
It’s almost second to the why’s
As often as each clink of chimes
As abrupt as all life’s surprise

But this time I ask myself,

How?

How to make you hear my heartbeat
As each lubdub whispers your name
How to make the bitter air sweet
As I hope that things will remain the same

How?

How to make up for all my faults
Of not giving you much time and soul
How to put this raging torrent to a halt
And find you in my arms and give you my all

But I’m an asshole, I know
As I still can’t find the answer
But I’m learning, though slow
To realise things and end this banter

I love you.
From that let’s work things out.
I love you.
With that is another chance.

I love you.
Like jumping on a pile of cotton candy
Like swimming in a pool of brandy
Like how my heart misses your whispering to my ear
Like how my arms feel empty without you near

Take me back to where half of me is

to your smile, to your laugh, to each and every kiss.

Declaration of Romantic Intent

(click picture to enlarge)

Ikaw? Sino gusto mo isulat dito?

Dating down

I’ve heard the term before and encountered it again while watching United States of Tara when Tara’s sister just got a boob job and started dating again.

Dating down is when you date someone “below” standard of the last date. Like if you dated a hot chick or a hunky dude, you shouldn’t settle for less than that on your next prospect.

I remember one “hobby” I had with my best bud. While passing time, we’d rate people passing by, 1-10, 10 being highest. Below 5 would be charity case already. Don’t get me wrong, we’re not exactly superficial or anything, we just know how to appreciate beauty. Though I had to hand it down to my best bud, he wouldn’t date anyone below 7, “I’ve got standards,” he says.

Though at times, I find myself curiously looking at “weirdly” paired couples.

I’ve got college blockmates and cousins who dated “cream of the crop” faces (a term my best bud coined), some of whom have even became models. But reunions would obviously tell me that they ended up, even married uhhmmm… well, to so so faces.

I’d usually be puzzled while looking at 4’s walking with 8’s and we’d rationalize ‘em thinking that they just know how to court so well, or maybe are freakingly filthy rich. After all, it wouldn’t hurt to snag a trophy date. And if it’s true love, what argument do you have with that? Nada! You don’t mess with effin true love. It’s like stealing some metro’s claydoh from his drawer. Disastrous.

And of course, dating down isn’t all about faces. You’d consider wallet capabilities, tear duct storm frequencies, brain damaging conversations, orgasmic silences, and well, sexual geyser prowess.

I remember though, one psych doctor friend from bataan who married a driver. Their love story was just filled with much family drama. Everyone opposed to the union. She held an MD degree with specializations, he held a trishaw with flags. Still, they weathered difficulties and insecurities that came their way. They say love isn’t enough to live, but for them it was.

My guess is, parents are the ultimate author of dating down rules. They wouldn’t want anyone less for their babies, would they? And most of us imbibed that rule and made it a goal whenever we switch to whore mode – that, and the pressure to introduce someone who could make your friends jaw drop envious, not to mention your ex.

As for me, I’d admit I’m fairly superficial. At least you’d want someone presentable. But my top on standards would be intellect. I’m not exactly Jimmy Neutron, just some smart ass Dennis the menace. But still, I wouldn’t want to date down on intelligence. I’d want to grow much on that aspect, and you wouldn’t get that from a hollow barbie doll. Intelligence for me is sexy. Mind fucking is simply orgasmic. Just don’t let ‘em talk about genetic mutations and pathogenesis of STDs during the act, and you’ll be ok. I guess that's why I have so many blogosphere crushes, I get so turned on with good writing. But that's another story.

I guess at start, the idea of dating is that you wouldn’t want to settle for someone less than yourself. And from there you build up a standard for the next. And for those who haven’t gotten over an ex, comparison is the usual culprit.

But at the end of the day, your heart still would end up with whomever it wants, even if it means breaking some standards.

And as for Tara’s sister, I have just finished season one, but I bet she’d end up with the fat ugly one on the next season.

Because in reality…

Love is not blind, it sees, but it doesn’t mind.

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picture source here: http://www.clipartguide.com/_named_clipart_images/0511-0908-1916-5428_Computer_Dating_clipart_image.jpg

The age of calm

I heard it somewhere that 28 is the age when one is at his/ her peak.

Do not date or be in a relationship with anyone who’s 28 or turning 28. You’ll just be asking for heartache.

Another friend quips that it doesn’t have to be 28. It could be any age wherein your hormones are at its craziest, when your pheromones are at its strongest. Or simply put, you are seemingly at your most beautiful, and you find yourself with more girls or guys at your mercy.

But after that age, things suddenly calms down. Things start to come steadily in your life, like one lego over the other, slowly building a more stable structure. And you find yourself unconsciously gearing towards a more permanent goal.

Me? 24 was possibly my 28. Not that I did anything outrageous during that age, but lemme just leave all those gory details to your guessing.

And now, a year before my 28, I find myself trying to build my own permanent structure. That everything I have are lego blocks that I’d wish to have permanently in my life.

That I find myself in a more designed path where I tend to prioritize all those that I deem important, and I suddenly find myself seriously seeking the advice of those beyond my years.

That I find myself wanting more out of what life can give me. Both material and not. A car, a new business venture, my own dream house (a cycle that goes back again to the car, but upgrading itself to a pick up truck LOL).

And though I admit, I am still quite far from finishing my own permanent structure, each day I find myself trying to get that unwavering focus on my goals. One day at a time.

It might’ve taken me too long to reach this, but at least for now I can say, “no more games, this is now the real deal.”

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P.S.
And yes geek, you’re right, it’s time to be “secure.” Hehe.

Do Not Trust Profile Pictures

All I could do was nod to this Samsung ad. It made me laugh in a weird kinda way, we are all somewhat guilty of actually using the "make yourself look good in your profile pic" tactic. I admit, I'm not exactly photogenic. I can't seem to make myself look great whichever angle I choose.

1. Hi angle - look cute:
a considerably larger head, with your eyes almost popping out like how puss in boots does his pleading stare... ok GUILTY as charged. I think I have a couple of pics like this.
this is a favorite of the patweetums.

2. Low angle - look street
this I can't pull off, i just don't feel like street. my hip hop days didn't even do me good in my social life, so i'm scrapping this out in my list.
though this angle could make you look taller. hmmmmm...
parang sam milby beach pose lang. walang mag re-react!

3. Light best side
haha! have you ever noticed that people have this one angle shoot? like if you get them for a picture, they'd always show their left side or maybe their right? for some the front would look great than showing either side.
kung me mga kaliwete magsulat, me mga kaliwete din mag pa piktyur. wahahaha.

4. Suggest nudity
I've noticed a lot have been using the summer season as an excuse to pose half nude beach photos to flaunt whatever abs they have. And even after during the rainy season, they'd still use their summer pics.
wala na bang tag ulan pics? ung tipong basang basa at hubad? try nyo? kayo na kasi ang may abs!

5. Hide bad bits
This I noticed with my li'l bro. he has this mole on his nose which he hides for his profile pics. We all got something to be insecure about which we would want to hide. I think I'll have my bro surgically remove the mole. calling my derma friends.... ehem ehem.
Pero me kilala ako crop ng crop ng bilbil shots. lahat ng beach shots hanggang boobs lang. hahaha! ang guilty mag cocomment. wahahaha.

6. Show good bits
beautiful eyes. nice pecs. nice boobs. biceps. lips. sometimes you find conversing to a talking tummy with six pack abs.
madalas daw tong gamiting nga mga hipon para i-hide ang face, mga lollipop para i-hide ang body, mga chinito, para wala lang, ilahad ang pagka chinito nila.

7. Get together
social life much? Ok I get it, you party a lot. and you love your friends a lot. either your friends make you look good because next to you their not, or they make you look tall, because next to you their shorter. ehem ehem. iilag ako. lol

8. Big shades - hide face
bumble bee shades. this got into fashion for i dunno what reason. a lot of guys have been wearing this new fad. some would even use those shades that look like your eyes were brought to the prison (shutter shades i think?).
my friend once told me, never date someone whose profile pic is all dark glasses. might as well date the dark glasses. they're cool.

9. Pop collar
I haven't exactly seen anyone use this, but frankenstein did look great after popping his collar out. haha!

10. Cover blemishes
cover it with lighting. cover it with with your hair. or maybe a book.
ang daming profile pic, emo kung emo, me nakasalampak na kamay sa mukha. ewan ko ba. hehe.

Then crop.

viola!

you do not even need to photoshop.


Sabi nila ang pambansang sigaw ng mga pangit pag may pictorial...

WACKY!!!!!

Hahaha.