Block Rocking and Slide

Jam 88.3 has been my radio station of choice since 2002, 2003.  No offense to NU --- I don't know if it's age, but at that time I was not liking what I was hearing.  Too many Linkin Park- and The Creed- rip-offs, and I am not even a fan of those music.  Anyway, Jam was new around that time, and it was actually my sister who suggested I start listening to that radio station.  I guess I was pretty impressed that the station would be a great company, especially those nights when I would just want to take the car for a ride whilst Dashboard Confessional's cover of "Nightswimming" was playing in the background.

I was quite glad when Jam introduced its "Block Rocking Thursday" as part of their programming.  This means tons of music along the orbits of Korn, Chemical Brothers and Prodigy.  It's usually kick-ass music that makes you want to bang your head, and it is a truly great wake-upper as you deal with the building Thursday traffic that is portentous of the weekend jam ahead.

"Slide" is the "oldies" program every Friday and one can expect the great hits of the 90s and earlier.  From The Beatles to Nirvana, your ears will be treated to rock, alternative and grunge.

I kinda thought that Jam was looking for an excuse to play more 90s music.... which is a really, really good excuse!  Admit it, the 90s and earlier years have been the greatest --- so far --- music-wise.  I admit I am biased because these are my favorite genres.  The thing is, even though we have new bands to appreciate like Bloc Party, MGMT, the Shout Out Louds, and those amazing indie rock groups from Canada like Stars, Broken Social Scene and Metric, the 90s remain to be a definitive music era.  At the moment I am not even sure how to define music these days.  The "alternative" musicians do not have the same clout as their counterparts a decade ago.  Sure, they Grammys awarded Arcade Fire with one of the most coveted awards, but Arcade Fire does not have the same influence as, say, Alanis Morisette, if you know what I mean.  I have to say I was expecting Eminem would win and I would think that Eminem deserved that award as well.

In film, productions are defined as either "commercial/mainstream" or "indie" (though "indie" is also associated with "art house", but an indie can be mainstream as well, of course).  The difference is not really in the substance (as opposed to the spectacle, which can be a huge difference), but the main influencing factor, in my opinion, is economic-political.  It's creative control equals who provides the money.  The general understanding is that as an independent you can do whatever you want.  Is it the same in music?

The line among genres are getting blurred these days, and I think it's because artistic sensibilities are changing. It's all about reaching more audiences.  For instance, RX 93, which is more "pop" or "mainstream", has been apparently playing Death Cab for Cutie sometimes.  I guess this is because even though DCC is "indie" or even "emo", the music is accessible to the ears.  I have to say the same for some Stars music, but Broken Social Scene and Metric are still enveloped in this membrane that requires an acquired taste.

I sort of like the idea of being a "snob" when it comes to tastes, from movies to music.  But as sensibilities are changing, so does the art.  Or is this how art evolves?  You know how it is --- from the elitist "high art" perception which is very Victorian to the liberalization that is exemplified by Andy Warhol.  But even though Andy Warhol is "commercial", that doesn't make him a "lesser" artist, right?

So there was the 90s and here is today.  We look back to the glory days mainly because they are worth glorifying.  We just have to figure out what is about today that we will glorify in the future.

(Professional) Maturity

On the way to work today I noticed that the drizzle picked up and for a few minutes the rain poured.  However, as I carefully cruised on Buendia southbound, conscious of the slippery pavement and the occasional commuter on bicycle and motorcycles, the view ahead of me shifted to what seemed like a symbolic snapshot in most movies --- where the clouds part and the bright sun streams through.

Of course I am sounding chirpy today as I got to work quite early.

For the past, say, five months I have been clocking in and out.  I have a desk, made my accomplishment reports, and tried to look busy on not-so-busy days.  I did my own version of knowledge management --- I actually read on industry-related articles and write-ups when there is nothing to do.  I complemented these readings with other materials which I think is relevant to my industry, in general.  Yes, even though I have given up on my freelance lifestyle, for the first time in my life I feel that this is the discipline I am looking for: it's called a routine.

But of course whilst freelancing I had this same routine of being a couch potato if I am not working on something.  See, sometimes too much freedom is not exactly freeing, if you know what I mean.

Then again, work is not always rosy, which is what it is, really.

Previously I wrote about investing in experiences and this is making me think more of what I want to experience.  I am not going to jump into the major ones, but I want those little things I get to do, get to experience, which I can integrate with my routine.  Like volunteering.  Or maybe taking up a language course although I already did that with French.  Or take up a class.  Something.  Something.

To be perfectly honest, I want to teach scriptwriting.

Doing than Owning

This article from the online Time magazine caught my sensibilities today:

Want Happiness? Don't Buy More Stuff --- Go on Vacation

As an adult in my early 30s, I have always wondered what to do with what I "have".  I know of people my age who have started investing in many ways: real estate, stocks, blue chips, whatever.  I am currently renting and although I have an idea how stock works, I do not really care much for them.  Alright, I am not going to delve into the state of my personal finance, but the article got me thinking, "What is money for, really?"

I do think we define money based on our life choices.  When people learn of some of the things I do --- travel, dine out, do the occasional shopping and spa afternoons --- I tell them, well, I only have myself to take care of.  But then again, I don't "own" a lot of stuff.  During the time I was freelancing I traveled a lot. If people saved up for iPods, I saved up for the next great adventure.  These days my travels have been so far due to work.  My experiences have been tied up to my professional direction.

Frankly, I feel that I need to do more.  I can't believe that once the clock strikes six I just want to go home.  It's not because of the traffic really, but I guess I do not really want to spend my post working hours inside the shopping mall.  I think this is a huge challenge, living in Manila.  Recreation has been unfortunately tied to consumption, and if you want to go somewhere, the mall is the most convenient place to go to.  It does suck that one of the major activities one inescapably has to do in Manila is to shop... because the activity is dangling right before our eyes.

I think to be able to have more meaning in this existence is to redefine the experiences you want and not the the things.  So I throw this question to this small galaxy that is Manila... what else is there?

On Rains and Cars and the Manila Traffic

I live in Manila, and believe me, this city remains to amaze me.

I am not going to rant here how bad traffic can get.  I mean, heck, I've seen and driven through the LA freeway in similar state, so I'd like to say that all these problems with traffic pretty much have to do with... how to deal with it.  Patience is a virtue, but you gotta be prepared.

Everyday --- well, except during my number-coding day ---- I drive to work.  It's not really a long drive if you think about it.  From Mandaluyong to the western edge of the Makati CBD, on lighter days I can make it in fifteen minutes.  On "normal days", 30-45 minutes will do.  Some days, though, it takes me more than an hour.  Crazy, huh.

I love to drive and I am known for what I call "secret passages".  These secret passages are NOT shortcuts, but rather alternative routes that can save you time but they sometimes require extra miles.  For instance, every time I drive north from my apartment in Mandaluyong, I take the San Juan route.  I take this specific street off Bluementritt which can lead me straight to N. Domingo or Aurora Boulevard.  From there, I take New Manila, the Scout area, and then Edsa via the Kamuning or Quezon Avenue u-turn.  Of course this does not save me from specific traffic blockages, i.e. corner of Broadway and N. Domingo which can be a pain because of the traffic light at the corner of Broadway and Araneta.  So what I do, if the left from N. Domingo to Broadway becomes a pain, I go straight, head to the Horseshoe area, and take a left instead at the old Magnolia that will lead me to Hemady.  And then I end up on E. Rodriguez where I get to choose between Thomas Morato or this small street leading to Kamuning.

Come rainy season, the trick with knowing all these shortcuts is you have to be aware of the flashflood areas. Mandaluyong, despite being a good alternate route between Makati and the north, is flood-prone.  Stay away from the Maysilo Circle as much as you can.  You can try the Barangka route, but this road tends to get really crowded because of the market.  And yes, it intersects Boni Avenue, hence the traffic can become a nightmare even on regular days.

San Juan is also a tricky area.  I think San Juan has lesser flooding because the area is generally hilly, but of course, as hills go up and down, there are certain sections that can get flooded with the snap of your fingers. An example is this area at the end of Manalo heading to Ver which offers salvation via the ends of Kalentong and then the higher ground at Bluementritt.

Anyways, I am now thinking maybe I should share some Manila traffic tips.  Because seriously... I know a lot of them.

Cross-post: How to Marry Jason Segel: Imagining Meeting Jason Segel

How to Marry Jason Segel: Imagining Meeting Jason Segel: "I am quite amazed with the fact that even though I haven't written here in a while, a few souls somehow manage to wander to this blog by mea..."

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I have decided to venture into the funny, on a dark and rainy Thursday morning.

Professional Blogging

I am thinking of blogging professionally.

I have been blogging for years but I have gone MIA recently.  Let's say in the past 3-4 years I have been inactive compared to the time I was really blogging.  And what I mean by really blogging --- it's all about writing thoughts and fears and annoyances.  It's a true journal, the kind that starts off with "Dear Diary" and ends with "Revenge!  Revenge!"

Yesterday I visited my old blog in Livejournal.  I actually made friends online, via that blog.  A stranger would drop by, read my blog, and this person would add me as a "friend".  And then there were comments.  And then I would add back, and the next thing you knew, you were making comments about each other's sex life and sharing seduction plans.

Right now, blogging has become less personal.

I think people are not that interested to learn about people as they used to.  Why the hell not --- we are bombarded with reality TV anyway.  The guys at Jershey Shore, albeit the fact that all they do is get drunk and kiss each other and generally piss about everyday... now that's the current demand.  Frankly, despite the fact that I go to work everyday, I clock in and out, and I go out once or twice a week, my life is far more colorful.  Because my thoughts actually have substance.

These thoughts --- are they something worth blogging about?  Why do people blog these days?  Do people still share pieces of themselves on the Internet aside from their reviews on the latest gadgets, the movies, the social scene, and what they are wearing?

I am currently using Twitter more mainly because I want to get the hand of these "stream of things".  I do not want to be left behind and grow old without having a clue how FourSquare works.  But hey... I haven't even got an iPod, my phone is in its rustic stage at 2 years old despite it being 3G and touchscreen and wi-fi enabled (it's very vintage considering the turnover of technology these days).

So if I am going to be a professional blogger, what am I going to write about?

Picking Up

The last time I wrote here was November 2010.  That was about seven months ago.  Looking back, it was a pretty tumultuous period.  I had a project I couldn't get off the ground.  I was not taking as many projects as I used to which is why I got pretty broke around that time (and then I managed to get a cool project-based arrangement which expanded my writing).  I lost  few friendships.  I was trying to get my dating life in order while nursing a broken heart --- in which case, this said "dating life" remains to be in the height of suspense in the manner of, "Who is the next guy?  Is this going to be a mistake again?  Is she temporarily going to give up on this tiring quest of finding love, hence is she going to "use" another guy (again) in way of pantawid-gutom (eow!)?"

Seriously --- every time there is the attempt to get things right this time around, there are always the glitches.  It kinda makes life exciting.  Kabbalists will probably point out that finding the light is the main purpose after all.  It is all about not going to the dark place.  As this Reese Witherspoon character read from a self-affirmation post-it in this movie which I can't remember the title of (because it was pretty ho-hum even though it starred Reese, Paul Rudd and Owen Wilson), "Courage is not the lack of fear but the mastery of fear" --- or something.  Anyway, it is all about the mastery.  Balance is another word.  But hey, let's give ourselves the permission to be human, alright?

Come late December I accepted this full time job.  I am not going to disclose my job details in this blog, but a lot of the exciting happenings in my life is because of this job.  It's pretty cool.  I have travelled to three countries starting last March, and yes, thanks to this job, I have finally set foot in the United States of America and spend some time in France.  Actually, at the moment I am picking up this blog while on a lay-over in Incheon, Korea from Los Angeles to Manila, and I am dang glad that this airport is modern, well-designed, and lay-over-friendly.  And it has free Internet too.

So yes.  Career-wise it is a bit of a weird turnout, but still very much in the film industry which I refuse to get out of.  I somehow call this stint motivated by a "personal noble cause", which, funnily, this Hollywood guy I met at an LA party could not help but laugh as --- yes --- "personal" and "noble" do not really go together.  But you know.  We have such quirks.  Besides, anything noble has to come from a personal cause.  Something along the opposite ends of psychic numbing, which means you are being proactive about it instead of complaining, complaining, complaining.  Or being apathetic and indifferent.

I think in the next year I am going to make some drastic career moves.  I can't help but say that somehow I learned something from my LA trip.  It was short but personally and professionally necessary.  Hey, I might not have met Jason Segel on this trip, but I have managed to find myself discovering this working balance among inspiration, idealism, and being a plain hard-ass.  I am no longer in my 20s.  I have managed to set my foot in the process of awakening this time around.