A day in the life…

I’ve always maintained the belief that when something gets lost permanently, just thank your stars that at least it wasn’t you.

See yesterday evening, my mom told me that my lola, who’s here in the country for a vacation, lost her watch and bracelet in the tiangge area of Market! Market! that morning.

She didn’t notice they got lost until it was almost time to go home.

My lola, mom, and tito stopped by Market! Market!, probably because my lola wanted to shop for stuff. According to my mom, they stopped at a tiangge stall and bought something (my mom did not elaborate on what it was). She said the vendor took his/her time looking for a change for 100 pesos. And that’s when it probably happened.

My lola said she didn’t feel anything or noticed anyone trying to snatch her watch.

And she got upset, not because the watch was "pricey", but because it was a priceless gift from my cousins. And the bracelet was given to her by my mom (who also planned on giving it to my tita in Canada).

My mom and I theorized that probably the vendor was involved in this dirty snatching scheme. Like what she said, it was odd that the vendor did not have change for just 100 pesos. He/she must have waited until the snatcher could do his job.

And then what, they sell it and share the profit?

But of course they would not admit it, would they?

I told my mom, despite what happened, it was a good thing she didn’t get hurt or lost something more important (like her IDs and passport, which she brings along everywhere she goes) or anything. But yeah, it was important to her — it was a gift — and it was taken from her just like that.

In a country and time where cellphones cost you your life, no place is safe from these evildoers. Everywhere, there is a criminal (petty or worse) lurking around, waiting for an unsuspecting victim.

It’s just so sad how they can stand doing these things to innocent people, who have worked so hard to earn, when they resort to the get-rich-quick scheme of stealing.

And there is nothing else we can do but to be vigilant.

To my friendsters, let’s always be careful wherever we are.

And to that thief and vendor in Market! Market!, I just have one thing to say: KARMA COMES AROUND WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECT IT.

Bask in your riches now. I’ll let the Higher Being render your punishment in time.

So, I’m moving on.

The first question everyone asks is: Why?

I say, why not?

It’s fine to be comfortable. But too much comfort can be bad for you. All those cushy feeling you get, it’s gonna be irritating that it brings you headaches and backaches. That’s why I like Papa Bear’s bed. It ain’t soft, and it helps your back straighten up.

No, seriously. Well, the comfortable part may be true. There is another reason, though. It’s in Steve Jobs’ commencement address to the Stanford’s graduating class made some time back.

I’ve made an entry about this before here in my blog. But for purposes of illustration, here is an excerpt of the text… that kinda applies to me.

"Don’t lose faith. I’m convinced that the only thing that kept me going
was that I loved what I did. You’ve got to find what you love. And that
is as true for your work as it is for your lovers. Your work is going
to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly
satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to
do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep
looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know
when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better
and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it.
Don’t settle… Stay Hungry.  Stay Foolish."

Simply put, I have to spread my wings further. Five years is an accomplishment, but in a relative sense. Outside, the experience I’ve gained is not enough. Plus future plans are being laid out. I just realized how many opportunities I have missed to develop my skills just because I was having fun.

But the fun should stop here. I need discipline. I need direction. And the Extensive Cohesive is acting up, in my case.

I’ll gradually have fun as I go along, I’m sure of it. I just need to feel again what it’s like to be there on the first day of school.

Back to square one. In a few weeks.

It’s been two days after Pinoys have cast their votes. According to the ABS-CBN Halalan site, Escudero and Legarda are leading the tally. Pulse Asia exit polls have it at 6-4-2 in favor of GO. Notice three candidates with military background (and who have instigated rebellion against past and present governments) are most likely to win. Jumping to GMA’s quick count, it’s 7-4-1 in favor of GO as of last night.

Hmm, guess advertising works in terms of people’ perceptions on candidates. The "People’s Dragon" feels "Ang Gara ng Buhay"  after four of Team Unity’s bets make it in the Magic 12. "Ko-Recto". "Boom Tarat". Erm…

Crying Lady will have to "Say Chiz" even if she lands at #2. At least, it’s her co-opposition who takes the #1 spot. Credit it to his "Sipag at Tiyaga".

Ah, shoot. Lemme stop.

——–

Heroes just aired its 22nd episode.

Interesting how each episode leaves me wanting for more. Damn cliffhangers.

I love the recent episode. There was a scene between Hiro and his dad mirroring a scene involving Nathan and Linderman in episode 19 (correct me if I’m wrong). It’s like watching a comic book coming to life — not that it hasn’t, but the treatment is so different here unlike those recent Marvel movies. And Sylar is so freakingly cute here!

It’s so cool, a week’s dose of Heroes is not enough.

——–

While Heroes is my addiction #1 at present, here’s #2: Shaider songs.

I have been looking for the songs and background music of this metal hero show. Unlike other songs of American animation or Japanese hero series, Shaider’s songs had a more distinct characteristic to it that adds to the creepy feeling when you see a big talking head and his transvestite nephew/niece. Plus it’s a nice BGM for those who want to binge on KFC chicken or pechay. Or grow little Fuma-fumas like they’re live Tamagotchis.

Try listening to them or remember the songs. Believe me, no other song on kiddie TV has affected most Pinoy kids but the Fushigi-shigi song, with the arms-swaying-in-the-air step.

Three days from now, it’s already election time.

Thanks to the media, I’ve been aware of who’s running for what.

Heck, even our mayoralty candidate has a TV ad.

Discussions have been going around as to who my friends and family will vote for. Most of them fall short of coughing up 12 names for the senatorial positions. My mom is voting 11-0-1 in favor of the Genuine Opposition (in which my mind screams "This is madness!").

As for me, I have seven names that I’m sure to write. And then there are three other names that have a 60-70% chance in my ballot. They’re a mixed bunch of GO and TU, and an independent.

Thing is, I hope my vote counts.

You know politics in the Philippines. It’s never clean. Issues of vote buying surface, flying voters rise from the ashes, nuisance candidates parade the streets, candidates are gunned down one by one, candidates try to discredit each other based on knowledge, sanity or even marital status.

And there’s the perennial problem of a power shortage during the ballot count.

No wonder there are a lot of Filipinos who choose not to exercise their right to suffrage. Because they know that their votes would just go to waste because of massive cheating (I sound like an embittered senatoriable, sheesh!).

And no matter what the government says about them curbing these problems, they still happen.

Ah, if the Philippines were a reality show, we would be a hit. Action, suspense, drama, comedy all rolled into one.

And that I can probably say about the elections, too.

Well, good luck to us Filipinos. I hope we get through this.

And I’m hoping we won’t be suffering from sudden brownouts.

Is there such a thing as a sad smiley?

Got this text around 7AM this morning. It goes:

Congrts ur simcrd # Won P560,000, n our 2nd Anv,Fre,Rafle Drw last April, 16-07 frm:Millionaires Club Inc.4 mor info &dtails call me nw!Im SEC, EDGAR LEDESMA.

It’s so easy to fall for these scams, if you’re very gullible.

Point #1: I never joined any text contests before, moreso recently. Randomly selected? Well, there is a possibility. But …

Point #2: there is no DTI number contained in the text message. Promos, such as a raffle draw, would require getting a permit from the DTI. That I should know. How long have I been in advertising not to?

Point #3: Why should I call this Edgar Ledesma guy? If it were a legit promo, he would have called me, not the other way around.

Point #4: To pose as a legit company with a legit promo, you should not text in text lingo. No shortcuts of words. Another dead giveaway.

All in all, Edgar Ledesma, with cellphone number 09272980635, is a scammer. Beware.