The Lounge at 7th High

It's TGIF-mode for you and friends. Where to go?

When you're in the mood for a classy and music-filled chill night-out with friends, why not spend it at

The Lounge at 7th High?

The Lounge at 7th High - Full Menu

The menu of The Lounge at 7th High.

Presidential Car - 3 Reasons Why PNoy Deserves a New Car

For the past few days, the debated issue of giving Philippine President Benigno "NoyNoy" Aquino III (or PNoy as he is affectionately known) a new presidential car has been gaining quite a bit of heat from many fellow Filipinos. Granted, any significant expense for a public official automatically raises eyebrows here in the Philippines (who can blame them?) but here is my rundown of reasons why it is perfectly alright to grant PNoy his new presidential car.

President NoyNoy Aquino, probably wondering Y U NO approve his new car.

Rivalry: Ateneo-La Salle Musical

"Rivalry" is a play that puts the famed blue-vs-green pissing contest between two of the top private universities in the Philippines on-stage in a musical.

Blue vs Green, since 1939.

What is Hip-Hop?

Earlier, we - Skittlez Crew - had the great honor and privilege to be taken under the wing of none other than one of the founders of Filipino hip-hop, Jmasta.

Aside from the bboy foundations, hip-hop history and culture, and tricks he taught us, he shared some amazing pearls of wisdom that isn't just for the random street dancer. He taught us how to 'keep it real', really.

Over 20 years on, and still rocking.

Note: These are not verbatim; I have kept the spirit of the lessons alive (even if synthesized for clarity), if not the exact wordings. Any and all errors of fact are mine alone.

On Knowledge

"Hip Hop isn't just about choreography or the dance itself. You have to know your roots and your history. The years when hip-hop was born, its roots from disco, its music from rock, the first important events, even historical hip-hop places. You have to know all of these to know hip-hop."

"To truly know hip-hop, imagine you're entering a big box. Inside that box are all the styles ever created and invented, all within the big thing called hip-hop. Bboy, locking, popping, krump - they're all part of the big hip-hop entity."

On Battles

"You can't be a hip-hop dancer if you haven't been battle-tested on the cypher; you're just a toy. The cypher is sacred; when you dance in it and you have no idea what you just did after (and no one else does) - the spirit of dance took over."

"Losing is never an option. When you do anything, do it to win. When you do lose, that's okay, learn from it because it shows the things you need to improve on."

"If someone in your crew is weak, it's everybody's fault. You dance as a team, you learn as a team. No man left behind. Everything is done as a team."

On Hip-Hop

"You can never ever say 'I was hip-hop'. Years from now, you may be older and working already, dressed in your corporate attire.. but when you hear a beat and your head bobs to it, you're hip-hop. You never left; it's in you forever."

"My generation is getting old. I'm giving these knowledge to you guys, and I pray that you continue this, continue teaching and giving knowledge to the next generations. One day, one of you will teach my kid hip-hop.That's how hip-hop works because we are all in a family.

"I've learned not to ask for anything when I give knowledge on hip-hop. Why? Because these things, they are small stuff here on Earth, but they're big things for God, and He rewards with many blessings."

"The things every hip-hop practitioner must know are the four elements and the four pillars. The elements are emcee, bboy, DJ, and graffiti. The pillars are peace, love, unity, and have some fun."

*

So what is hip-hop? I think more than a dance and a culture, it's also a rich and sacred living thing present in each and every one of us. It's something we just know when we feel it.

We're proud and so humbled to have him call us 'family'. It wasn't simply inspiring; it was a call to action for us - the new generation of hip-hop artists - to make sure the torch is passed on and the rich culture and history kept alive.

Jmasta is from Battle Crew International and Zulu Nation. He gives workshops to aspiring and experienced dancers alike all around the country, and is heavily involved with bringing the love of hip-hop to orphans.

Skittlez Crew holds open training sessions almost daily at the Yuchengco Lobby, De La Salle University. No experience necessary. All you need to bring is an open mind and the hunger to learn.

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DLSU Back in the Day

I saw these great pictures of my Alma Mater, De La Salle University, on my Facebook updates a little earlier. DLSU is situated smack in the heartland of the capital city, and it's quite a different sight now. 

Pictures are all courtesy of Lasallian alumnus Mr. Bibera, from his photo album "Nostalgia Manila".

Circa 1925.

Circa 1930s.

Post-Second World War.

St. La Salle Hall, circa 1970s.

St. La Salle Hall aerial view, circa 1970s.

Taft Avenue, home of DLSU, early 1980s. No LRT island yet.

St. La Salle Hall, circa 1980s.

Aside from being a beautiful school (we're quite famous for featuring Neoclassical architecture on our halls), the images above depict Manila at its finest, in my opinion. Note the clear, blue skies and the visible sky. Currently, there are almost a dozen condominiums surrounding De La Salle University (I live in one) and the skies are grayish-blue at best due to all the pollution. It's my dream that the Green Zone project* may help bring back Taft Avenue to its glory days as a gorgeous, sexy campus.

A hundred years on, and we're moving for a clean, modern look with the Centennial Hall, expected to rise by June 15, 2012. That's another blog post, though.

Jay~

I cannot thank Mr. Bibera enough for these images and making them publicly available. Animo La Salle! Pictures retrieved on January 28, 2012 from photo album "Nostalgia Manila". 

De La Salle University was known as De La Salle College when these images were taken. The creation of De La Salle - College of St. Benilde paved the way for DLS College to be DLS University. Just some info :)

*The Green Zone is an institutionalized project to turn Taft Avenue (from V. Cruz LRT 1 station to Quirino LRT 1 station, respectively) from the most polluted place in the Philippines (in terms of air quality) to the cleanest. Launched on January 18, 2012. Expected results between 2017 to 2022.

Lotay Yang - Big Brother to the World

I've been a 'big brother', kuya (Filipino), and abang (Malay) to so many people in my 23 years. I see the lack of siblings as a blessing; I get to treat all my friends as my brothers and sisters, and for the younger ones, I feel especially accountable to and for.

Having said that, it's nice to have a big brother for a change. Not a kuya in the sense that I have someone to simply consider asking advice from or someone who guides me through tough times. No, not like that at all. I am blessed with having met a friend who is genuinely caring and compassionate, and one who provides spiritual support, guidance, and wisdom in both words and in actions. A true big brother, in every sense of the word. That man is Lotay Yang.

L-R: Clement Yeung, Ruhani Rabin, Gerry Belardo, Jenny Cruz, me, Lotay Yang.

I met him through another friend (whom I met through social media), Ruhani Rabin, and on first impressions, I could already tell Lotay was someone who would be a big brother to the whole world, if he could. He exuded this aura of encouragement; it's impossible to be negative around him. He told me that his inspiration to do good and be a man who lives by his inspirational words was to honor his father, a man of exceeding goodness as well. Our similarities began here, as both of us have suffered the pain and loss of our fathers. 

The more I learn about Lotay, the more astounded I become. He has inspired countless men and women, and his life is a testament to the unconditional good the human spirit is capable of. I am humbled that a man who dreams to 'bring the love and hope of Jesus to a hurting world' would treat me as a younger brother.

Some of the most uplifting words from the man:

"Be a good son. You become a good son when you make your mother happy."

"Who's in charge of your life?"

"Pride makes a single mistake worse."

"Love doesn't judge; love simply loves."

"Happiness is giving without strings attached."

Your life is an open book, and the world, its readers. Will you be an inspirational book, guiding others to do good and challenging themselves to be better? It's up to you. Who's in charge of your life?

Jay~

Lotay Yang is the founder of Black Card Circle, a group of trusted influential individuals, and Black Card Circle Foundation, a non-profit organization. Follow him on Twitter and be inspired.

iStudio High Street BGC

Repaired my old (read: antique) iPod video 80GB at iStudio, High Street, Bonifacio Global City and I must say the service is excellent. The technician cleaned the insides of my technologically-ancient sound machine, as well as replaced the click wheel for free. To think that I didn't even purchase my iPod from there, that was decent service if I ever had one (the problem I sought to fix was an outdated software problem - which was fixed in about 10 minutes). This is perhaps one of Apple's biggest selling points for me: good, hassle-free service. The technicians were all very friendly, and the sales associates were quite chatty with the people waiting in line at both the cashier and the service area.

Why do I have to blog this? Well, I'm not the biggest Apple fan, but this particular branch may sway me a little :) Just sayin'.

iStudio

B3, Bonifacio High St., Bonifacio Global City,
Taguig, Metro Manila Philippines 1634
info@istudio.ph
Tel: (632) 8562395
Telefax: ( 632) 8562396

Store Hours:
Monday - Sunday : 11:00 am to 10:00 pm

Jay~

Abusive Caregiver Caught on Camera

There's something chilling when a caregiver - the person a family entrusts a helpless and frail member to - is capable of committing such despicable, repeated acts of mercilessness, cruelty, and sheer and absolute disrespect of the elderly.

WARNING: Graphic and violent content.

The caregiver's name is Carmen Pereira, 52, and this incident occurred in New Jersey, USA towards the end of October. As far as I know, the family of the 91-year old lady seen being abused in the video above installed a webcam when their matriarch began displaying suspicious bruising around her body. Mrs. Pereira is currently being charged with "aggravated assault with extreme indifference, endangering the welfare of an incompetent person, and neglect of an elderly/disabled person".

Jay~


Video recorded by victim's family (2011), retrieved on December 15, 2011 from ARCHIEzzle's YouTube channel.

Stereotyping the Planet

I hate to think of the reason why that sheep is upside-down.

I came across this thought-provoking picture, "The World as We Know" at Anis ART, and it struck something in me because I ended up looking at it for quite some time, reflecting on the narrow world-view the picture presented while at the same time offering a reasonably accurate portrayal of places. Places where the vast majority of us Earthly tenants may never set foot upon.

The sweeping generalizations presented in the picture have important implications to each and every one of us, especially with how we, as citizens of our own countries and belonging to specific groups of people, see ourselves and those around us. I personally see at least five major implications from the liberal assumptions taken in this picture.

Drop a note in the comments section if you think likewise :)

Jay~

Anis ART (2011), retrieved from Facebook on December 15, 2011.

Grandma's 76th at Ayala Triangle

Since it was my grandma's birthday this month, PJ and I decided to do something different for her this year and took her out. The place was Ayala Triangle, located in Ayala Avenue, Makati, and it was perfect timing as our dinner trip coincided with the famous Christmas light-show at Ayala Triangle. We celebrated my grandma's birthday at MOMO, which is turning out to be one of our favorite restaurants.

Pretty lights.

Pretty lights again.

My girl and my grandgirl :)

Calamari.

Mussels (I remember this one was marinated in beer or something)

Cappuccino soup.

Pumpkin soup.

Mussel pasta.

Us and the birthday cake.

The girls with the lights.

With grandma and the lights.

Happy birthday! :D I hope you enjoyed yourself. I wish my grandma health and happiness for many more years, as well as more awesome birthdays like the one she had this year. We love you!

Jay~

Meralco Business Hours

I had a terrible time looking for Meralco's business hours online (seems to be unavailable on their website) so please consider this a public service blog post. 

Weekdays:

8am - 5pm

Weekends (payments only):

8am - 12pm

Jay~

9/11 - Defining a Decade

9/11 Tribute Lights light up the Manhattan skyline.

It has been ten whole years since the world experienced one of the worst attacks on a nation in recorded history. It was an attack that painfully exposed the vulnerability of the world's lone superpower, and an attack that prompted two major wars and many more small-scale operations. It was an attack that affected the lives of virtually everyone, from policy makers to the average air traveler. It was 9/11, and akin to 12/7 (Pearl Harbor), it will forever be an event that can be summed up and remembered just from the date of its occurrence.

9/11 occurred when I was thirteen years old, in the first year of my secondary school. I remember watching it live on television, and as it unfolded, my young mind was understandably confused and scared at the same time. I grasped neither the impact nor the importance of this event at that time. Six years later, as I majored in International Relations, the 9/11 attacks virtually became the center of my academic life. As I wrote papers on national security, domestic and international policy-making, international law, and even international economics, 9/11 somehow, some way found itself in my work. It defined so many things that we are 'used to' now. Strict airport security measures? This stemmed from 9/11. "Terror" as a household word? Blame it on 9/11. Muslims around the world - radical and moderate alike - branded as "fundamentalists" or worse, "terrorists"? 9/11 played a big part. The attacks on America not only changed our experiences in the days that followed; lifestyles and mindsets changed as well.

Ten years on, the world is still experiencing two combat theaters, Iraq and Afghanistan. American involvement in these two countries - I have said this countless times on many academic papers - have strained the American (and in turn, global) economy and willpower to its limits. These wars have destroyed billions of dollars worth of property, displaced hundreds of thousands of people, alienated entire demographics, and claimed an appalling number of lives. Al-Qaeda, the group claiming responsibility for the attacks, has recently lost its mastermind, Osama bin Laden, after more than nine years of eluding international operatives. Has this changed anything, created an impact that can be felt? It still remains to be seen. What is important, perhaps, is that the world knows that threats can and may come from anywhere. A culture of paranoia has been created from 9/11.

9/11 represents, in my opinion, two sides of a coin. On one side, you have the United States and its allies, defending themselves and reacting to the terror attacks. On the other side, the radical religious groups, hellbent on bringing down democracy and everything Western. In the middle, much like the proverbial coin, is the very thin and small group of neutrals and fence-sitters, choosing neither side and risking the complete wrath of the other. Ten years on, this group division is still very much evident. Ten years on, we still remember, and we are still affected, whether we like it or not.

Jay~

External Links:
25 Powerful Images of 9/11

Math Says You Should be Married at this Age

Yes.

Professor Anthony Dooley of the University of New South Wales devised a formula to calculate 'the ideal marrying age'. I personally think it's very convincing.

The magic formula:

1. Take the oldest age that you would like to be married.
2. Subtract from it the youngest age that you would like to be married.
3. Multiply the answer by 0.368.
4. Voila! Your ideal marrying age, according to Professor Dooley.

The formula takes into account "maximum rewards for minimal costs" - which I assume tries to calculate the 'readiness' of an individual to tie the knot. Even if you're a skeptic, it's still pretty fun.

I got 28.2 years of age, pretty near my ideal :)

Jay~

Heroes

What defines a 'hero'?

A hero is one because s/he inspires others to strive to be a higher being, to attain a higher sense of purpose in life (and perhaps the next?). A hero is not reckless; rather, s/he is courageous. Taking risks without knowing and understanding the consequences is what separates the village idiot from a true hero. The hero is selfless, and yet loves life, but it is this love of life that commits him/her to sacrifice all for the sake of his/her principles, flag, family, and loved ones.

Because s/he knows that those things are the things that s/he lives for.

With that, let us honor our heroes. The ones who are doing the best that their bodies, abilities, and souls can in order to QUITE LITERALLY keep the world safe.

The workers, technicians, scientists, and other personnel working 24/7 to fix the broken nuclear reactors in Japan.

I look up to all of you, knowing certain death must come from this and yet choosing to do what is right, given the right skills and expertise that each of you have. Thank you for trying to save all of us. Thank you for trying to save the world.

'nuff said.

Jay~

For further reading: Yahoo! News report on Japanese workers committed to die if need be.

Willie Revillame and JanJan: A New Low to an Old Show

This was an issue that has been around for a couple of weeks now, but has only come to my attention recently. It's a well-known fact that here in the Philippines, entertainment shows abound (though their methods of "entertaining" are rather dubious at times) and one particular show, hosted by a certain Willie Revillame, takes the cake for appalling "humor".

There is a video of this incident, but I feel it is not necessary to spread it around until the kid's face is obscured to spare him further humiliation, degradation, and loss of respect. Here is a post with a screenshot of the performance. Basically, this is the picture:


The show's host, Willie, has gained some notoriety on certain tasteless and allegedly exploitative acts in order to promote his show. He throws around money like cheap candy (in this particular case, he hands P3,000 to JanJan's aunt for hugging him. Yeah, he needs more of that.) and in the eyes of many viewers "struggling to make ends meet", he's the second Jesus himself. This show featuring JanJan, however, is just horribly wrong.

It starts off innocently enough. A poor kid from a poor family is featured on a show. Fine. He is asked to dance. Fine as well. However, the child's dance was akin to the sort that red-light district performers are prone to do, which wouldn't be as terrible as it became had the kid not been crying during his entire performance. He was clearly distressed, but the show's host, the kid's aunt, and the vast majority of the audience were egging him on. For the next five minutes or so, Willie repeatedly asked JanJan to perform over and over again. The distressed look on the kid's face never disappeared. He was given P10,000 (about $200) for his troubles.

Entertainment vs Morals
The issue that many people such as myself are bringing up in response to this show is not because we "hate" Willie Revillame. For some, that is indeed true. I am indifferent as to who he is. My personal problem is that this man allows unacceptable things to happen; a child of 6 years dancing provocatively on stage for money definitely counts as unacceptable in my books. Aside from that, the fact that many people find this practice "alright" for "poor people" is not only judgmental; it is a display of total dumbf*ckery (pardon the language, I'm pretty mad).

When the host was explaining "how difficult life is... he's [JanJan] doing this for his family..", did any of the viewers stop to think why a child would do this "for his family"? Yes, life is hard, especially in a third-world country like ours, but dignity and self-respect shouldn't be the first two things to be sacrificed for two hundred bloody dollars. In the video, the kid mentioned his dad operated a parlor (a barbershop) and the host was suggestively questioning the father's occupation, which he does not have a right to do. JanJan's family is much better off than many other Filipinos simply because his father has an occupation. Yeah, an occupation but not honor and certainly not the protectiveness expected of a father. Why am I putting so much of the blame on the father? The kid says he learned to dance that way FROM HIM. And of course, the father - along with the mother and the ecstatic aunt - would have given permission for him to appear on television the way he did. This scares me; parents and guardians have no qualms about sacrificing the dignity and self-respect of children for the sake of "providing for the family" and/or "making a living during desperate times".

Oh, and it also did not help that the host, the crowd, and the viewers that day I am sure, were hooting and cheering as a child (who should either be in school, watching cartoons, or playing in the park) showed the country what he is being taught to do all for the sake of making a quick buck.

We have prostituted our society.
All of us are liable, unless we speak up and stand up against this. United, we the people of the Philippines, can topple an institution that has made a mockery of our supposed Christian values and the familial ethics we claim to be so proud of.

Thanks to Definitely Filipino for the picture and some info.

Jay~

EDSA I 25th Anniversary

According to this article from Inquirer.net, there will be no classes on all levels (public and private) around the country to commemorate the "People Power" revolution that happened a couple of years before I was born, in 1986.

A brief background: This particular revolution - relatively bloodless, surprisingly, seeing as revolutions are usually red-affairs - toppled a dictatorial regime that lasted more than a decade under then President Ferdinand Marcos.

I do, however, still have work on that day. Bummer. Sometimes, it is really great being a student again. LOL.

Jay~

UST: New Home of the Bar Exams

My alma mater, De La Salle University Manila, has traditionally been the venue of the Bar Exams, with lawyers-to-be gathering inside the campus to take the exams that would make or break their legal future. However, a grenade attack last during last year's exams, as well as the construction of our new Centennial Hall have made the Supreme Court of the Philippines reconsider the venue of the exams. That honor now goes to the Unibersidad ng Santo Tomas (or University of Saint Thomas, but no one in their right mind would call it that here in the Philippines).

Popularly known as "Uste" (oos-teh), UST is the oldest university in Asia at over four-hundred years. Founded in 1611, it is also the largest Catholic university in the world in terms of student population in a single campus. Uste is definitely one of the best universities in the country, and is famous for the medical disciplines that it offers.

I also cannot help but think that as much as I love the neoclassical design of La Salle structures, Uste's New World feel is also pretty breath-taking:

UST's crest.

UST's varsity crest.


Well then. I suppose the Bar Exams have found a fitting home :)

Read more here; pictures from here and here. UST history courtesy of UST website.

Jay~

Cobain 100 - 0 Bieber

I don't know who Justin Bieber thinks he is, but he definitely crossed the line for me when he supposedly compared himself with one of the world's greatest rock icons - and a personal musical hero of mine - Kurt Cobain of Nirvana.

First and foremost, if you have never heard of the band Nirvana, kindly open another tab on your browser, go to YouTube, and search for Nirvana songs. Must have gotten humid under that rock, ey?


"I feel like the Kurt Cobain of my generation, but people just don't understand me."
- Justin Bieber

Justin Bieber was born on the year that Kurt Cobain took his own life. He is as old as Kurt has been dead, and yet Nirvana songs still play on radios and are still downloaded and bought up to now - almost seventeen years since. With all due respect, Justin Bieber, you have absolutely no idea what you were talking about.

While Bieber may be one of the more popular (read: popular to screaming teenagers who have never listened to music on a cassette tape and whose lives would be ruined by the disappearance of the iPod) "musicians" right now, he needs to realize that there is no way he can ever say that he thinks "he is the Kurt Cobain of his generation". Cobain made a cultural and social impact to youth society in the mid-1990s, pioneered a movement we now know as grunge, outranked Elvis Presley in 2006 as the highest earning deceased artist, and left an iconic legacy that will be remembered decades from now. Bieber's contribution to society is his high-pitched voice waiting to break. Plus his mismatched lyrics to his apparent personality. So Mr. Bieber is either completely ignorant, or his ego is larger than the asteroid that him on the head.

In conclusion, Justin Bieber is already ragged on by many, many bloggers and online forums; statements as ill-informed as this latest gaffe will do him no favors. Remember Justin, do not bloody touch legends.

I should have read this article months ago.
Now I'm suffering from "late-rage" LOL.

Jay~

SCC Board Meeting - Cebu

I had my first out-of-town business trip ever yesterday. Destination: Cebu City, a place that I've been wanting to go to for the longest time.

Departure, around 0645 hrs.



Welcome to Cebu!

Maxwell Hotel room.

Had some downtime since we arrived at the hotel around 0930 hrs; slept off my allergy medicine until about 1120 hrs then went down for lunch. Lunch was really awesome, and I had a huge heaping slab of back ribs, while the boss opted for some traditional pork adobo.


Rested after lunch, then took a quick shower in the hotel room. Around 1430 hrs, we were picked up by Mr. M. Go, Board Member of the SCC Board of Trustees. I think he's got a really cool job; apart from being a college board of trustees member, he also owns a trucking company and banks. What a combination haha. We arrived at the Cebu City Sports Club, a private club in the middle of the metro. Then it was board meeting time!



Then we went around. Just passed by the SCC stand for the upcoming Sinulog Festival in Cebu, and the popular dried fish market, where I didn't take any pictures since we were busy picking dried fish to bring back. LOL.

Then at 1800 hrs, it was time to go back to the airport. The boss' flight was supposed to be at 1900 hrs, but the arrival of the airphilexpress plane one hour later than scheduled forced him to leave Cebu at 1945 hrs while my flight was supposedly at 2035 hrs. I was still having dinner around 2000 hrs when I heard my name on the P.A.! Apparently, we were leaving way ahead of schedule (I used Philippine Airlines). I was the last one in my plane. How embarrassing :(

Well anyway, back to the office tomorrow, and that means reports and paperwork on the trip but it's all good. The experience was great, and I sure could get used to these sort of trips :D

Jay~