Summer of 2011

This year I failed to do my yearly summer wrap up on time. I do it the same time as classes start or a week after that just to have some sort of boundary or deadline for summer's end.

If I have to describe this summer in one word, it was spontaneous. Every event I have this summer was unplanned or haphazardly planned but it in the end every one of them was memorable.

Also this summer was the most "un-summery". Compared last year where summer officially started with the end of my internship, this year there was no marker of when did it officially start. As far as I am concerned, as early as the first week of March it was already summer - the feel and the humidity.

This summer I only got to read three books (such a small number compared to my usual pace), seen a couple of good and bad movies, got very sweaty by the heat, did a speech, met a lot of people, made new friends and rituals, drifted apart with some pals and learned a lot again on life and it's reins. It's all good

Since this summer was by far the most different ever since I started this blog, I will do my recap differently just randomly. Instead of my usual award giving formula from the past years.

1.) The Medical Mission
This has got to be one of those spontaneous things that I am glad I went for it totally blindsided. All I know is I signed up for it since most of my colleagues who were off also did and it was all expenses paid from the fare down to the food. And it was also an opportunity to be a good Samaritan. Because of this medical mission I was able to go to Ormoc, Leyte for a stop over before going to Pilar, Camotes both places I have never set foot till that weekend. Pilar, Camotes though geographically nearer to Leyte, it is politically under the province of Cebu. The island is very isolated and there it was very refreshing to do consultations and circumcisions in the sand in flip flops. It was fulfilling to be of help. Volunteering is such a rewarding experience indeed. We were able to explore Ormoc City in twenty minutes and got a taste of the famous local burger then there was a frenzy to catch the last fast craft back to Cebu.

2.) End of PGIship
After the most awesome twelve months ever, it finally ended and boy did we celebrate on the weekend. The graduation ceremony was fun and fast paced and I delivered a speech. We had a karaoke party the night after the commencement exercises and then on Sunday island hopping which ended on an adventure hike on some island. I got drunk to shots of vodka. Plus the waves didn't help either.

3.) Books
Of course what is summer without the usual readings. This year is the lowest record of books I have read this summer. Can't blame me I was very busy. Really. The only books I read were "The Accidental" by Ali Smith, "Imperial Bedrooms" by Bret Easton Ellis and "Safe Haven" by Nicholas Sparks. All three are worthy reads.

4.) Mantayupan Falls
I've always wanted to go and visit this waterfall two hours away from the city. I finally did and I was able to drag my fellow PGIs for an afternoon of cold water, tuba tagay, food pig out and kidding around.

5.) Gangster photo shoot
One word: FUN! Taking pictures is fun but dressing up and playing different characters can be very very exhilarating. This was for our coffee table book as a commemoration of our internship in VSMMC. The pictures as expected came out awesome. We felt like celebrities indeed because our make up artists, hair stylist, photographers though amateurs proved that they were worthy to be called professionals!

And in between all those were last days of duties, Jo's two homecomings - one for her thanksgiving and then the next was a spontaneous long weekend, winning at Trivia Nights, hosting Trivia Nights, review class started, watching blockbusters, starting a new film blog,exercising, trying to be fit, canceled getaways which frustrated me a bit and counting down the days.

Till next summer. I predict that it will even be un-summery than this year. I'm crossing my fingers for more fun moments though.

Incomprehensible Songs

Since I have been studying at least 8 hours a day recently, my constant companion a.k.a my reality check to prevent me from downward spiraling and developing mental illness, is music.

My current iPod has 8 GB capacity which is too small for my music taste. I mean sue me I used to have a 30 GB iPod Classic which never got even filled up before it was stolen so adjusting into this meager space for a broad music collection was kind of hard. Before I could put any album I want or load up on a certain rock band's discography. I do not have that privilege anymore and considering how much I love the 90's I put 350 songs worth of 90's hits which I listen to over and over again.

Though songs are not meant to be dissected like a narrative work of fiction ala Faulkner or Joyce, it has become my habit to analyze the lyrics and get into the psyche of the song writer as he was making his masterpiece. These are some of the songs in which I have listened to over and over for the past fourteen years but still can't get to the bottom of it's message or make sense of the words beyond the chords.

1.) "I Want It That Way" by The Backstreet Boys

To any aspiring pop stars out there, this song is a perfect example of a pop song - catchy, easy pitched and very karaoke friendly. Somehow the lyrics are quite contradictory. I don't get what they mean by "I want it that way"? Is it sex or something else remotely wholesome? One stanza he is telling the girl that she's his fire and desire and he wants it that way. The later stanzas he is asking if he's her fire and desire as well but he doesn't want her way? I think I am thinking way ahead and way too much.

2.) "One Headlight" by The Wallflowers

Jakob Dylan, an offspring of the enigmatic Bob Dylan, fronts this band who I think deserve more than a share of their hits. I hope they come out with a new album anytime. Oh well wishful thinking. When they debuted in 1997 one of their hit songs was this. The lyrics are well written and the song was strongly interpreted. However I don't get what they were referring to. Like was it about a marriage or a relationship and a broken down car as a metaphor? But despite of my lack of understanding on the meaning of the song, I'm loving its smooth bluesy alternative rock feel. My friend Jo and I have talked about this song a couple of times in coffee shops and so far no conclusions yet!

3.) "Tubthumping" by Chumbawamba
Ah, one of those one hit wonders of the 90s. This song does not make sense at all. The lyrics talk about whiskey, lager, cider and all those alcoholic drinks and then shifts to looking for someone apparently named "Danny Boy". I think they were writing this song drunk and high from marijuana. Nonetheless every time this plays on my iPod I can't help it but dance along in the study area, arms flailing while sitting as if I've had had tequila shots before opening my books. Ah, the precious moments and anyone who's willing can join me anytime, anywhere.

4.) "Mmmbop" by Hanson
Okay, only the chorus seems bogus. This song talks about the irony of life with similes about flowers growing and losing your hair, but I'll always wonder what is Mmmbop? Is it like a swear word like F*** You? or a mantra to keep yourself going though you want to bang your head in the bathroom mirror every morning?

This is why I love the 90's so much. Makes me think beyond thinking.

K-Pop Killed Pinoy Rock

Around five or six years ago, in the middle of the first decade of the new millennium, Pinoy music hit a new resurgence and in my opinion that was a Renaissance. A new breed of artists, groups and rock stars had conquered the charts and giving the Filipinos new music to enjoy that is a testament to brilliant song writing and a show case of homegrown talent.

Those were the days, where I was preoccupied in reviewing for my medical technology board exam where I turned to music for comfort and keeping me company in the wee hours of the morning. I usually watch MYX. Those were also the days were Pinoy music rounded up the Top 5 and I'm sure this time period I am talking about might be familiar, these were "The Day You Said Goodnight" by Hale, "Gemini" by Sponge Cola, "Hanggang Kailan" by Orange and Lemons, "Stay" by Cueshe and "Hari ng Sablay" by Sugarfree. And the bottom half of the countdown also was dominated by other Pinoy artists. During that time, Green Day, Gwen Stefani, Maroon 5, Mariah Carey and other international sensations were given a beating by these local bands. This year was 2005. I was turning 21, fresh out of college after a wild year of partying on my senior year, eager to explore the real world and armed with just a pocketful of optimism.

This was a turning point of Pinoy music, in my opinion. After this, more and more bands keep churning out fresh music and the music scene was alive again. This creative wave paved a way for more talented artists to shine.

Two years ago, K Pop invaded the Philippine shores and then the tides changed. K-Pop began to dominate. Boy bands and girl groups in weird regatta now are heard everywhere. Even twenty something girls are into K Pop, which I found a alarming. The charts that were formerly ruled by Pinoy bands or UK or American bands give way to this Korean invasion.

Last year, NU, a radio station that was crucial to the propagation of Philippine Music since the 90s has stopped broadcasting music over the air waves. As the digitization of books, movies and music is imminent, radio had to give in. It is indeed a dying medium. However it is very fitting that they have chosen "Ang Huling El Bimbo" by The Eraserheads as the last song ever to be played.

Oh well I don't hate K Pop from the core of my soul but what I don't get is how it captured the heart of the Filipinos. First the lyrics are in Korean and it is so hard to understand. Next the songs are just ditzy and kinda stupid sometimes and last the androgynous looks of these pop stars is just creepy. In fairness to them they actually make their own music.

Right now Pinoy music is in creative stagnation. Artists are doing remakes and remakes of old hits both local and foreign. Bands are breaking up and the international music scene is a strong influence among the youth here in the Philippines.

But I am hoping for another creative surge - right now it seems implausible but maybe in a little corner somewhere in the city, the rising star is still in development, a new band is still being formed or the newest diva is still entering puberty. I think it will be worth the wait. And thanks to Pinoy music I have fond memories of 2005 listening to their songs while feeling anxious, excited and satisfied that time.

And I do not dig Charice Pempengco at all.

Let's Take it Slow, so slooo...wwwww

Everything is so slow these days. It's like I can literally remember what I had for lunch three days ago, all I see is chapter and chapters of words and pictures and even my fingernails and toenails grow slower than usual. The universe is apparently teasing me too.

I have never imagined that reviewing for the looming Philippine Medical Board Exams would be this slow. Instead I thought it way back that it will be hectic and fast paced. Instead everything seems to be shot in slow motion mode.

Maybe the feeling of panic has not yet invaded my senses, right now I am still stealth on the readings albeit slower than my usual pace when I was in medical school but the absorption and retention is getting better.

To give me the drive to study harder, motivation and some form of stress release I have decided to run three times a day every week and started a blog about movies with my friend. As if I am not that busy enough, no?

Well the running is refreshing and to sweat once again gives you a feeling of liberation. Must be the endorphins. And as for the blog, we just decided to and then went for it and continue to churn out movie reviews every day. Our agreement was one movie review per day. Right now for a new website we are getting decent hits and we get people asking about where are we getting our movies and just sometimes make our friends in Facebook talk about the films. But regardless of whether we have support or readers we are pushing forward with this blog.

And to think the days would get faster with all these daily activities I had to do - plus the Project 365 is about to get done in a month. Still time must be playing a joke on me. I can even feel sometimes that the sun is dilly dallying.

Maybe this is an indirectly way of being stressed though I don't feel the usual symptoms of stress gives to me - irritability, binge eating, scalp scratching and bitchy talking. Or I'm in withdrawal from alcohol. And the rigors of routine is killing me.

I am probably the only one excited for the board exams to come. After then there are so many things to do and the possibilities are endless!

And maybe I'll change tune in a month's time. We will see.

Five Things I Wish I Could Do

Overall I am pretty contented with my life. Okay that sounded melodramatic. What I meant was I am satisfied with my skills and my command on some useless information. But this afternoon after trying to study Pathology with a slow velocity on the pick up of data, I felt a little bit pathetic that I am incapable of doing things that other people are good at.

Every time someone asks me on why do I know a lot of trivia like Summer Olympics host cities, movie stuff or music, I answer them with this: "I practically wasted my youth and teenage years watching a lot of movies, reading a lot of books and listening to music over and over again instead of socializing, taking up piano lessons or trying my hand at cooking. Oh well here are some things I wish that I could do:

1.) Play an instrument
It is my fault because as a kid I never had the patience to sit through piano lessons. All I can play are "Mary Had a little lamb" and "Do Re Mi." After that I just gave up and went to play shatong and Chinese garter to my heart's content. If I could then I would love to play the drums. During my bum days after my medical technology board exams, I wanted to take lessons but I was too ashamed. Deeply regretted it. I envy one of my colleagues, one who can play the cello and the other who can play the violin, keyboards and guitar.

2.) Cook a five course gourmet meal
My younger sister and brother both love to cook. When we were adolescents, they were very eager to try new recipes on their own with my mother's supervision of course. But right now both are busy with their respective careers - she as a marketing merchandiser and he doing his medical internship that they haven't cooked or baked for quite some time. I think I will still have time to catch up and learn how to cook on my own. I'll start with a simple pasta meal and after that maybe a five course gourmet meal will be a piece of cake.

3.) Dance contemporary
I, myself is a decent dancer. I have no formal training in any style but every opportunity to be able to dance, I grab it. I became very active in dance during my college days and medical school days. Way back in high school I was a member of the dance troupe but I did not get to perform a lot compared to when I was in med school. Watching "So You Think You Can Dance" for five years has very much inspired me to take up contemporary dance lessons. One major obstacle right now is time and my board exams.

4.) Sketch and illustrate
In this area I am just average. I can draw a great copy of a parasite during Parasitology lab or a drawing of acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis that's good enough to get me to pass Pathology lab. Other than that, I really wish that I could draw really really well - good enough to be able to publish a childrens book.

5.) Speak any foreign language fluently
I studied Spanish for two years and if I had continued I could have been fluent with it right now. I had to stop because the schedule was very hectic for high school and I have no one to practice with in the conversational exercises. Another cool language to master would be French, German and Nipponggo.