Thursday, October 31, 2013

The final day

Last Hooray?!
So here goes nothing! My last day at work, here at my roach infested station despite all the roach powder shit and no matter how much shit I clean. I have cleaned my station of anything to be left since months ago. I only have a mug and a knitted washcloth on my station. I have taken all my files from the computer and soon will be backing up the rest on my email.

I have tried my best all these time and kind of enjoyed the privilege with this small company  no matter how hard things have gone. Soon no one will ever remember that I stayed on a company like this. Adance Engish Hub from Makati moved into Ortigas and went from one name to another, Lustem Inc. Then it got busted and we had to be Basol Computer Services.

This is the life just to have Facebook all the time. See you again soon on my next update!

Latin Mass for All Saints and All Souls Day

I saw this post for a Latin Mass on Facebook and some of you may want to join. I may be there as well standing like a freaking tourist and taking pictures, though I wish I can video a whole Latin Mass. Well I haven't won the lottery yet.

If you need a some help this site will help you with their books and you can download them: http://musicasacra.com/literature/
Latin Mass at Quezon City

Filipino Freethinkers Meetup

Awesome FF attendees
Location: Moshi Moshi, Regis Center Katipunan
Date: Saturday, November 2, 2013
Time: 2:30pm – 5:30pm
Google Map: http://goo.gl/eEjqTd

Topics
- Porn addiction; Japan preferring porn; Don Jon
- What makes sex satisfying? (better than porn)
- Superstition and child abuse
- Are freethinkers still afraid of the paranormal?
- What scares you (rational and irrational fears)?
- The Giraffe

After the meetup we usually go for dinner and drinks somewhere nearby. If you’re not a meetup regular and can’t make it for the meetup but would like to go for the post meetup, please indicate on a post in the wall or comment so we can contact you.
Got questions about the meetup? Contact us at 0927 323 3532

* Newbies are welcome.
* Look for the FF sign (or the group of smart, sexy people).
* There is no required age, religion, philosophy, or IQ level.
* Discussions are informal yet intelligent (most of the time).
* You don’t have to talk; you can just sit in and listen.

RSVP: Filipino Freethinkers Meetup, November 2, 2013, Saturday

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

No more monsters and stuff says the Church

Source: CBCP website

Source: CBCP website
It's been years since the Catholic Church in the Philippines started to wage war over Halloween, a celebration that came into life because of their so called All Saint's and All Soul's Day.

They have been asking people not to dress up as monsters, demons or whatever they want. They want to promote the saints as models for a new kind of cosplay. I have done a good deal of cosplay when I was with the Filipino Freethinkers and it is indeed fun when done well.

But honestly most Halloween parties do make me cringe because I also see adults dressing up as anything they want to be. It's not even cute. I find these people utterly disgusting like most of the cosplayers during animation conventions here in Manila.

Movember

Mustache and beards for November? I actually like to grow my chin hair but too bad its not that thick as most men have.

So what's with Movember? It's supposed to be an awareness act for prostate cancer and other charities (I bet they are related to men and the things they get sick with).

I am a lazy shaver and I often shave on whim because I really don't give much a fuck to what I look like. And besides I feel safer with hair on my face. Guards are always alert and they always make sure my bags are checked.

Remember Nietzsche looked bad ass with his walrus mustache.

Wanna lern more about Movember?
Website
Wikipedia article

Movember facts

Dear Mom (For famewhores of another kind)

Dear Mothers,

I know your love your kid and is proud that you were able to endure carrying your kid for 9 months and having the most excruciating pain of labor. But please let your child grow into a better person with lots of real love.

You may need to bring them to work at times because of certain circumstances but they are not gadgets you need to display and to let people poke with their fingers. The kid may need to socialize but your kid is not an animal (even animals) that need to be respected and not treated as things you need for show and tell.

Monday, October 28, 2013

What's with the name?

The Tetragrammaton
Many Christians are obsessed with names and meanings especially ones that pertain to their God. Last Sunday (actually this morning too) I stayed and used my time at Rizal Park (or Luneta) in Manila. There is a place I always go to there near the Chess plaza. It's the haven for ideas of all sorts, weird and interesting.

So after listening to the same talk about the basic teachings of the Bible and religion, the clash of Islam and the teachings of Christ a group decided to talk a bit deeper about the Bible. Me and my friend another new found friend sat with the group and the question raised was with the name of God.

Some people need to have a name they want to preach. During the discussion I realized that the Bible doesn't even talk about the need to know the name of God to have salvation. Somehow it's the doctrine that came after the text that needed to reinforce the importance of the name of God.

The Old Testament has always kept the name of God to an almost secret status. Divine beings in the Bible have always eluded the question or even state their names. In the ancient Near East a name is important because with it many prayers and spells were cast and the deities are required to assist when their names are invoked.

Here is where The Catholic and most religions got it right. They never try to say the tetragrammaton or the YHWH. Most of the time it is replaced by the word that equivalent or the same with LORD (usually in all caps).

Think about this what Bible verse says you must know the divine name in order to be saved? So far I have read none. Such knowledge is not even required for salvation.


Thursday, October 24, 2013

My only Halloween frustration: Candy corn

Where are the candy corns here in Manila?
We are not talking about going to the cemeteries and the stress of everything there. That is beyond me after all these years. With my relatives completely disowning me, I feel no need to go to the cemeteries for the stress of other people. Don't we all get enough of them.

I was able to experience candy corn when I was young. I was hooked to it but as an adult I have this need to have them. So far going through candy stores and groceries, no candy corn. #WTF!

I could make my own but that is just not me. I am lazy and the thing about candies is that they should be easy to obtain and it would be a lot of work just to make candy corns.

If you know where to get candy corns please comment below.

This would make my Halloween memorable.

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Washi Tape in Divisoria

It's been a craze with many hobbyist and crafty people. The problem is that some sellers are just trying to sell to only the select few. Fear not dear washi tape lovers!

You can buy washi tape at Divisoria. You can check the whole place and it's there (from 168 to Tutuban Center). And the best thing is when you buy a lot the chance for discount is just so easy.

Usually you can buy three tapes for a hundred. But if you are really good with haggling the price can still go down. There are lots of designs to chose from. There are really cheap tapes but I wouldn't recommend you getting that. The washi tape I got says they are from Korea.

I like to put washi tapes on my postcards!

I also bought an alphabet stamp set

I had an obsession wit words on washi

Fuck you Bureau of Customs

An officemate of mine received a game console as a gift from a friend abroad. I am assumings its the US. Before he asked me when will he get the slip that is needed to get his stuff. I said just talk to your postman or the maybe to the guard at your village.

So this Friday he came late and pissed about his gift. He said he is going to call his friend abroad not to send him a game console. Because he had to pay for his gift at Php 1,300 .00+

I don't understand where does the Customs in the Philippines get their logic or brains at all. It seems they just want to suck the joy of a gift from you like a dementor. .

I'll start with my experience. I swapped a magazine from Japan (that was just a catalogue) and I was charged by the Custom retards with Php 150.00. But my friend was just robbed.



Ano bang pag-fefeeling ito? (What is with this attitude?)
Paki-explain. (Please explain.)

Monday, October 21, 2013

Word of the Day: Betrayal

Betrayal - to disappoint the hopes or expectations of; be disloyal to: to betray one's friends.

Betrayal



Saturday, October 19, 2013

Overtone singing of Lalah Hathaway

A post from a Facebook friend of mine shared a link about a person singing in chords and I was like, that is interesting. So opened the link and looked into the idea of overtone singing or singing in chords. It's such a refreshing feeling to hear the voice of Lalah Hathaway singing, "Someone" compared to the endless songs I hear from Beyonce as if singing is just about hitting high notes and screaming all the time.

Reading about overtone singing on Wikipedia I have found out that it's not even a new thing but has been done for a long time almost by many native and indigenous cultures. I bet some indigenous people in here have the same abilities as well.

So here she is and prepare yourself to be blown at around 6:10.


Now I am looking for her albums. Yehey!

Friday, October 18, 2013

Weekend activities for October 19 - 20, 2013

I am going to spend my final weeks in Manila and soon I will be in the city of Angels with a friend. As we know as the year ends many activities are available.

Beer and Spirits

Beer and Spirits
I think will be something nice to do on this Saturday. Just drop by The Collective and have fun.

Thursday, October 17, 2013

Moving to the city of Angeles

I have accepted my friend's help and soon I will be moving to Angeles, Pampanga and to a new life. For a cat person that would be stressful but I think that stress will be less compared to the stress and problems I am experiencing right now.

I don't know what and where will this lead me but the thing I learned in life is that you must keep going where the road takes you of where the road forks.

I hope to blog more and learn more of course. Cheers!

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Czech Folklore Evening featuring Kubalovci

Kubalovci at the Dusit Thani Hotel

Visiting the site of the group Kubalovci to sample their version of "When the saint go marchin' in" and  "Farkasovske" I saw their music as something fun and lively and with youth. It will be something new and interesting to your ears and I say their music is fun!

According to their website:

The Czech folklore music band Kubalovci is a group of young students from Opava, Czech Republic, playing traditional songs of Silesia, South Moravia and other regions in Eastern Europe. Wearing classic costumes of Silesia, the region they come from , Kubalovci play instruments such as fiddles, viola, contrabass and the Czech traditional cimbál.

The origin of the group dates back to year 2000 when they started playing together at local music school, supervised by their teacher, Roman Kubala. Nowadays, they perform at weddings, folklore festivals and events all around Europe, on their own or accompanying traditional dance groups of the same region.

See them at Dusit Thani Hotel this October 21st at 7 PM

Google Doodle for Friedrich Nietzsche



My most favorite person celebrates his 169th birthday. He is also the same person I was inspired to name a cat after. I have read his works and have really communicated well into me.

His words have power.

What I hate about most blog give away and contests

My question about blog promos
OK here is a blog giving away something you really want and you eagerly open their page on how to join. Now you read the mechanics and its like a quest on a RPG game. You need to follow the blog, like the Facebook page or even join a group or be friends with the blogger, don't forget that you also had to follow the rest of what ever social media he is using (the list can be endless), and then you will be asked to either post and tweet about the prize or whatever shit he/she wants you to say on your social media account.

Hope After Faith by Jerry DeWitt

Hope After Faith by Jerry DeWitt
Or as same people always say how can you have hope when you no no longer believe in God? Personally I have no problem with such a situation, because one proof is that I am still alive today.

Although it's been actually debated for a long time on what is the purpose and if you like the telos (τέλος) of existence or life. I (and I am not representing all atheists, this is just me) think that life has to mean what ever you want it to mean. It can be your cat, your family, your beautiful partner anything.

Monday, October 14, 2013

"Night in the Opera" featuring Noema Erba

Night in the Opera
featuring Soprano Noema Erba

If you like something elegant on a Saturday night then its a must to see "Night in the Opera" featuring Noema Erba. She will be singing a set of familiar songs from the great classic composers of Europe. I am sure will be remembering wonderful things as you are reminded of the song and the story of a particular Opera. 

Noema, whose first performance in the country in March 2012 got an enthusiastic response by the local audience is returning to the Philippines to present her mastery once again on the “Night in the Opera” concert in Dusit Thani Manila to be accompanied by Philippine musicians, tenor Conrado Ong III, baritone Marvin Gayramon and pianist Prof. Augusto Espino.

BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY IN THE PHILIPPINES


Czech Cultural Days 
in celebration of the
40th anniversary of the Czech-Philippine Diplomatic Relations

(Manila, October 15.- 28., 2013)

The Czech Embassy in Manila in cooperation with its project partners TRAVELIFE Magazine and The Dusit Thani Manila introduces the rich culture of its country to the Philippines and its people. Entitled “Bohemian Rhapsody”, to celebratie the 40th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between the Czech Republic and the Republic of the Philippines will bring on the islands the spirit of the tiny Central European country known for centuries under its historical name, Kingdom of Bohemia. A sequence of different cultural events focused on Czech music and cuisine will be held in Manila [and in some other regions of the Philippines] on the second half of October, 2013.

Friday, October 11, 2013

Jesus: Real or fake

Was Jesus Invented?

Many atheists still deny the existence of God and goes as well with Jesus. Unless you come from a camp similar to Bart Ehrman, you would have a more interesting answer for this.

This week my feed was full of this article that Jesus was an invented idea of the Romans. According to Joseph Atwill, Jesus was not a real person according to the ancient sources he had found.

Honestly, I have read many theories about Jesus. We live in a culture forever obsessed with the Jesus story, it might be for or against the character or the person Jesus represents. And most of these stuff written about Jesus is crap. The same goes for the many books written about the Bible and anything related to it. So I urge you guys to be careful.

I am interested with the sources he has to prove his point. But reading the articles about such a report proves that it will just go down the drain for too much conspiracy.

Read more here: http://www.covertmessiah.com/

Another article from Independent: Story of Jesus Christ was 'fabricated to pacify the poor', claims controversial Biblical scholar

Near death...and losing a job

What is at the end of October for me?

I have wondered what it feels like when your doctor says you only have until the end of the month to live. That is what happened is happening to us in our small company. As my previous posts says we only have until the end of the month to work. While this big dilemma is hovering over our heads out Team Leader is just like nothing. I mean he has his own house and his salary I bet was big enough to have let him save until the end of the year.

So no meeting and stuff its like expecting someone to visit you at the hospital but no one does. He gives less than a shit or maybe, just maybe, he is just hiding stuff to his own. In the end its still cruel for us who live on a daily basis.

I don't know until how far can my small money can take me and if I just need to just give up and die lonely somewhere out there. I am also expecting help from a person who was there since I was kicked out of Makati (my old home).

I don't know what will happen to me but I am sure to find out soon. I am still waiting for more job opening from other Korean companies.

Thursday, October 10, 2013

Filipino Freethinkers Meet-up (October 12, 2013)

Well this could be the only thing I am doing this weekend.

Details from FB and FF site:

Location: Moshi Moshi, Regis Center Katipunan
Date: Saturday, October 12, 2013
Time: 2:30pm – 5:30pm

Google Map: http://goo.gl/eEjqTd

Topics
- Cyborg Cockroach Ethics [ http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2013/10/cyborg-cockroach-ethics/ ]
- Should NASA be funded? Why haven't you seen Gravity?
- Belated Blasphemy Day Discussion (Westboro porn, etc.)
- Scrapping Pork: Apathy or hope?
- Raunchy discussion of the week

After the meetup we usually go for dinner and drinks somewhere nearby. If you’re not a meetup regular and can’t make it for the meetup but would like to go for the post meetup, please indicate on a post in the wall or comment so we can contact you.

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

FREE stickers from Zumiez

Zumiez Free stickers

It's always fun when you find something FREE espcially when its connected to your hobby. So while browsing Twitter I found about this life hack. 

The site says:

DOES ZUMIEZ REALLY GIVE AWAY FREE STICKERS?

Yes! By visiting any Zumiez store location you will be hooked up with free Zumiez stickers. If you don't live near a Zumiez store location or can't make it to the mall read below on how you can get free stickers by mail. Use the store locator to find a Zumiez store near you.

That's win moment for me.

How do I get my freebies? You send them an empty envelop with your address and they will fill them with stickers.

The address:
Zumiez, Inc.
Free Stickers
4001 204th Street SW
Lynnwood, WA 98036
USA

Read more: Free Zumiez stickers

National Museum is FREE this October

This your chance dear Pinoys to add some culture and flair to your perspectives. You can't say any excuse now since the National Museum is opening its door for the Museums and Galleries Month. So you can go to the following the National Art Gallery (former Old Legislative Building), Museum of the Filipino People (former Old Finance Building), and National Planetarium and other Museums under the mandate of the National Museum.

So take your friends and even especially your loved ones.

October is FREE for everyone who wants to visit the National Musem
They are open Tuesday to Sunday 10:00am to 5:00 pm. Closed on Mondays
Visit their site: The National Museum of the Philippines

Facebook: The National Museum

Demolisyon

If you are interested on the state of the many of the historical and heritage sites and their state, you should join this lecture.

Demolisyon
DEMOLISYON will be on OCTOBER 18, 2013; FRIDAY, 9:00AM-5:00PM
Location: Bulwagang Leandro V. Locsin, NCCA Building, Intramuros, Manila

Monday, October 7, 2013

Where is God?

Faith as small as a mustard seed

It's my second Sunday at San Agustin Church. I like the mass here because it's much more solemnly done compared to most churches. So this atheist still observes the mass from the perspective of the atheist.

It's 27th Sunday in Ordinary time (Year C) and the topic is about faith in the light of the harshness of human life especially suffering.

Here are the readings for this Sunday and I heed you to read them for you to understand the context of what I will be talking about later:

1st Reading: Habakkuk 1:2-3, 2:2-4
Psalm 95
2nd Reading: 2 Timothy 1:6-8, 13-14
Gospel: Luke 17:5-10

The sermon of the priest started with his own version of the barber paradox. He said the barber is an atheist and doesn't believe in God. He shares his disbelief in God to a customer who were unable to explain the much suffering in the world. If indeed there is a God there would be a problem since God is all good. The customer goes out done with his hair and sees a person with a long hair. The customer goes back to the barber and tells the barber that barbers don't exist. And the barber was shocked and asked how that is possible. The customer said that the person with the long hair should have cut his hair but he chose that on his own as if barbers doesn't exist. The same goes with the idea of God man is just too stubborn to go to God.

Friday, October 4, 2013

Stamps are not just paper!

I read a post by Carlos Celdran on Facebook and I was like furious. How can the Philpost just give away stamps just like that and the same goes with Carlos Celdran. Some people might just roll their eyes and say, its not important. Well stamps are important and I don't want to see our stamps in private collections. They should be enjoyed and appreciated by all Pinoys.

Here is the post of Carlos Celdran:

Dear National Museum, Ayala Foundation, Lopez Museum, ANYONE. The Manila Post Office collection of rare Philippine Stamps and memorabilia is under threat. Theyhave no means to store them properly and they are in a damp store room in the building next to the Post Office parking lot in Lawton. CAN YOU GUYS HELP? They are more than willing to let go of this collection to any Philippine agency willing to care for it and display to the PUBLIC. Please contact me, Carlos - here on facebook if you want to get in touch with Arlene of the Manila Post Office. (We will visit the Post Office on tomorrow's 930am tour.)

Bad News Friday or try a new life Friday

So the boss of our company said that our company will be closing this October. I wasn't a bit shocked when I heard this. I don't know why and I should be where will I get the money to pay the rent? Will I be willing to sleep with roosters and wake up to the smell of bird shit? No way!

After the meeting my first instinct was to open jobstreet.com. I think my worry comes mostly at starting all over again in which I am not really good with.

The end of things and the beginning of things is always a stress for me.


Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Canonization of Popes John Paul II and John XXIII

Popes John XXIII and John Paul II

A tweet from the Pope announced the canonization of Pope John Paul II as well as Pope John XXIII on April 27. With the changing times the Church still clings to its need to assert the need to reinforce ideas of the past into the present.

Pope Francis has also taken the race to assign the title saint to members of its flock. The sad thing is that even the news is even tilted over John Paul II which under estimates the great deal of work done by his previous predecessors, that is Paul VI and John XXIII.