Oblation Run 2009

December at UP is always a month of excitement for everyone because of two things: the annual Lantern Parade, and the much awaited–not to mention much publicized–Oblation Run by the Alpha Phi Omega Fraternity.

This year’s run was not as amazing as the centennial version but what is more important was that I was able to get a great view of what happened, primarily because I was late in arriving at AS to witness the event. I guess this not-so-early bird was able to catch the worm after all (and boy were there a lot of worms).

I was able to watch the fiasco right at the very front of the AS Steps where apparently APO has set up a photo op publicity right after the naked runners paraded what their mommas gave them around the building. I was even fortunate enough to smell–I mean see–Mariz Umali up close.

Anyway…back to our TITIllating topic. It was the same old run like the years before it, however I did notice that there were more mediamen hanging around to catch a glimpse of it. I just hope that Iskos and Iskas out there do not forget the relevance of the Run and remember, more than the flashing of teeny tiny disco sticks, the messages of societal change painted on the runners’ placards.

Make love not war.

UP KAROLFEST 2009

The UP Karolfest 2009 was a conglomeration of cherubim choirs all trying to reach heavenly notes for the bragging rights of being the best choir in the University. What a load of crap. We all know there’s nothing angelic about these people and the best UP choir is certainly not from such an amateur contest.

The night was an amazing mix of crazy costumes, even crazier antics, and an over the top weirdo emcee (who you can now become a fan of in Facebook…go Ate Carol!).

As always CMC was a veritable mix of harmony and showmanship. Though the choral only won second place, I believe they had the most impact among all contestants and they were really fashionable. Good job CMC for proving that we are better than wannabes who try to resurrect tie-dye shirts. There’s a reason why the fad died. (Look for the advocacy page of ‘never again to tie-die shirts).

College of Science’s win of first place is a well deserved one if only for their harmony as a choir. Their rendition of Carol of the Bells was the best one among all the competitors but their dynamism was a little lacking. Engineering placing third is quite acceptable but their costume was just weird…and too flashy (aka gold overload). But nothing beats the fashion atrocity that was CSSP…the guys looked like they were caught in a time-space warp from the 60s while the girls looked like they were about to go to the river and make palo-palo some clothes.

Conductors on the other hand were a thrill to look at. The passion and forcefulness of the Law conductress was just mystifying…literally sent goosebumps down my back. The Engineering conductor on the other hand was just plain hyper. But again nothing beats the overly hyperactive emcee (if by now you still haven’t searched her in Facebook…you’re a loser!).

Again congratulations to Himig Maskom for a job well done! Reach those high notes while maintaining a fashionable stance!

A big round of applause too to UP Streetdance for winning the Skechers Streetdance Battle 5 college category. Your performance at the Karolfest was amazing even though your CD jumped as you guys jumped. Mabuhay ang talentadong Isko at Iska!

LIVE WIRE AT CIRCUIT

For its sem starter, the UP PR+Advertising Society (UP PRAds) successfully launched its first publicity party—Circuit: Boot up. Plug in. Be electrified.

A semester spent in preparations, months of correspondence with sponsors and a postponement due to Ondoy’s wrath were finally put to rest as November 14 marked the event’s resurrection. A resurrection so grand it was like Easter came early.

A better and hotter venue was used for the night while two DJs spinned the night away with glorious beats. Online sellers from Multiply converged for a night of glamorous fashion and sexy capitalism. Two open bar setups and dozens of freebies later, and the night is a ringing success for a starting organization.

Me (fierce organizer), Chin (fiercer fellow organizer), and Bikay (ultimate people bringer)

Thanks a bunch to my co-organizer Chinette Marasigan, without who this electro-glam “debut ng bading” would never be possible!

For those who missed it, too bad, for those who enjoyed it: thanks a bunch. And for those wanting more, watch out for our next big event!

CIRCUIT REDUX

A hotter and better venue with all the right moves!

CIRCUIT

CALCULATING KIRI

“You indecent bitch!” – Sesang

The last night of the UP Sarswela Festival 2009 was the only performance I was able to watch among the lineup of various “modernized” sarswelas. The sarswela or zarzuela originated from Spain. It is a satire of sorts which involves dialogue, music, and dance often with comic relief. The sarswelas presented in the festival were tweaked a little to represent the changing paradigm of modern times.

 

            “Ang Kiri” (I am not sure with the translation, but from what I understood from the play it can be translated to a scarlet woman or a ‘malandi’ in the Filipino language…please correct me if I’m wrong) is a story of finding love only to lose it forever. It is about our never ending search for the right person who will complete us…only to lose that person to another.

 

            Sesang is a beautiful and charming woman admired by many and gossiped about by all. Amidst her opulent lifestyle and many suitors who shower her with gifts and admiration, she remains “loyal” only to Don Ramon for one reason—financial security.

 

            That is until she met the provincial boy Jacinto. His innocence and pure intentions to love someone as “impure” as Sesang, caused the scarlet woman to fall for him despite all odds. Unfortunately for Sesang, Jacinto is also in love with Pilar, his first love from the province and her seamstress.

 

            And so the vicious cycle of torn love, misery and loneliness begins.

 

            But there is of course comic relief in the persona of Sesang’s fat, obnoxious, gay butler Amboy. He who extorts money from her many suitors to get both master and servant the comfortable life they want. He who is supposedly the only other person who is able to enter her room. He who is her most trusted keeper of her secrets. He who left her once her money is all gone.

 

            Then there is Pepe. Her poet friend. Her friend who loves her more than a friend. Her friend who is willing to love her despite her fixation with Jacinto. Her friend whom she would rather not have than become a lover.

 

            Last of course is Jacinto. The puritan lover. He who does not seek riches but is given many by Sesang. He who cannot fight for Sesang because his mother disapproves of her. He who leaves her when she needed him most. He who easily forgot her when part of her died when she lost him.

 

            I pity Sesang. All she wanted was to be loved. While it might be true that she also wanted the richness the world has to offer, she was only seeking compensation for the “love” she has given to the many men who rumpled her sheets. The men who wanted her but not needed her.

 

            There is a Sesang in all of us. We give. They take. We need. They take it away. Then we are left alone again. There will always be an Amboy, a Pepe, or a Jacinto in our lives. It is up to us who we want to stay.

 

But sooner or later they will still leave us.

EVOL IS LOVE SPELLED BACKWARDS

Being the random person that I am, I decided to do something completely different this past Valentines. I don’t usually do mushy stuff, primarily because I don’t have anyone to do it to, but this year I decided to do something completely un-Jean-ish. I gave love.

In the form of chocolaty goodness.

I gave the precious apples of MCO—Cherrie, Kea, Ivy—and the golden apple herself Ana heart-shaped chocolate lollipops with their names on it to celebrate their singleness amidst the day of crazy loving.

Technically it wasn’t Valentines yet, but Cupid has a lot to do and has so little time.

So I kneeled before the bitches and showered them with my “undying devotion”. Now why the hell would I do that? Because I believe in charity. These people don’t have anyone to give them gifts on Valentines, so I became their Valentine. Good karma will of course happen and so I will have my Valentine the next time around too.

I never do anything without an ulterior motive folks…hahahaha (evil laugh!)

And so the day transpired and the night came.

Along with Jedd (Boy JJ—Jumping Jedd…you know what I’m talking about), Bikay (Girl Habulin ng Bobo), Rach (Vice Chair Lasengga), Kea (Girl with Red Obi Pimped to Robert), and Robert (Bikay’s friend who was forcibly pimped to Kea) we had the time of our lives by drinking Red Horse at the Sunken Garden.

By the time Bikay and I went inside to watch Love Rage 3 (presented by Pan Xenia Fraternity, Adelfe Enu Crea Sorority, UP Cursor, UP Circuit, Enchanted Kingdom, Penshoppe, Watsons, and Bacchus), everybody else were about to go home…coz they were already tipsy! Hahahaha! I had the last laugh because even though I drank the most number of beers, I was still relatively sober. Ang lakas pa ng loob ni Jedd na makipagpustahan na lasing na ako! Eat my shorts! Hahaha!

Anyway, inside the concert, which by the way sucked because it was stopped around 1 am due to the JJ’s (Jumping Jologs) repeated fence trashing and brick throwing, nothing much happened. Performances by Bamboo, Sugarfree, Urbandub, Kjwan, Itchyworms, Greyhoundz, Razorback, Typecast, Moonstar88, Silent Sanctuary, Kitchie Nadal, Stonefree, Mayonnaise, Cambio, Hilera, Soapdish, Giniling Festival, De Lara, Valley of Chrome, Fuse, Zelle, Salamin, Fuerzza, Chubibo, Top Junk, Intolerant, Menaya, Playphonics, Sopiz, Kelevra and many more, were all short and unfab. I totally wasted my 90 bucks.

Good thing the fireworks display was great and I was able to take good pics.

So that was how I celebrated the day of hearts: by fucking with people’s minds and drinking booze. Some things never change like Chuck Bass’ womanizing and my evol bitchin.

 

DEAR B…

Love has a quota. Out of five people only one will be happy in love. Four will never be truly happy. At least according to Lucas’ theory of love.
I was never a fan of love.
Love hurts. Love is tanga. Love is for the weak.
But it is such a magical concept: one of the better neuro-chemical sensations which our hypothalamus brings about.
And so in this month of broken hearts, single-awareness and capitalistic gain through chocolates, hearts, and cupids, I bring you my first ever Valentine blog!
Reading Ricky Lee’s fictional novel, Para Kay B (O Kung Paano Dinevastate ng Pag-ibig ang 4 out of 5 sa Atin), is a far cry from the usual love story read by your maid under her sheets every night. It explores the aches, the pains, the excitement and anticlimactic endings love brings. It explores the love of a memory, forbidden love, the hardship of not knowing how to love, love with the same sex, and of course the ever tragic fatuous love. There is no happy ending, no prince charming, no happily ever after. Just ilusyonadang frogs.

I won’t ruin your day by providing a synopsis of the novel. Read it yourself. It will be worth it. Besides I’m not in the mood of summarizing a book’s worth of concepts. It is a compelling read. Well, at least for me. I don’t usually read books.

Lee’s characters are so real, so surreal, you see them. It is a paradox of reality and literary genius. It is like watching an unfolding telenovela filled with so many twists, turns, and tragic stories, it makes “A Walk to Remember” look like a feel-good movie.

I especially loved Erica’s story, the girl from Maldiaga who doesn’t know how to love. Sandra’s was just plain sad. A certified capital “S”. The other stories were okay, but those two really stuck to the core of my being. Favorite characters are a different side though. I love AJ from Ester’s story. His witty lines and positive outlook provides much needed comic relief. Lucas is a great guy to have in someone’s life…sans the emo-ness regarding Bessie.

To give you a taste of Para Kay B’s artistic genius, I will share some of the more striking quotes the book has to offer:

“For my love transcends boundaries and reaches out to the unloved, the unsure, and the unloving.” – Bessie

“Hindi kita papatulan, dahil ‘yang pekpek mo pakawala! Isa siyang pekpek na me pakpak! Isa kang 100% certified pokpok! Sa tatlong salitang iyan lang masa-summarize ang buong existence mo—pekpek, pakpak, pokpok!” – Ester kay Bessie

“Di man ako kasingganda ng mga Nanay n’yo, di man ako kasingkinis ng mga Ate n’yo, h’wag kayong pakaksiguro dahil isa lang naman ako sa mga pinatuwad ng Tatay at Kuya n’yo!” – AJ