19.

Time: 8:04 p.m.
Where: In the study table.
Now Playing: "Money" by The Drums.

---

I am not imitating Adele though because of her albums entitled with her age on it when she made that certain album for the likes of "19" and the recent success of her album, "21", again, which was her age when she recorded that album. I am a fan of her music though but it's totally off-topic to this blog entry. The title is my current age right now and I suddenly felt like I am getting older now. I mean, the more you age, the more you have responsibility in your life that eventually, you'll get a job, you'll help your aging parents to give back to them, love life, having your own family. Wait. I am to fast forward. Probably, I am one of the persons that is totally scared of responsibilities and stuff. It's like... I feel... like a kid. Haven't matured a bit. I know... I tried but I think that just one year away at 20 and I won't be a teenager anymore that cements that I can't goof around no more.

But I know that is life, problems will come and you'll try to figure it out for yourself or with a little helping hand. Also, decision making is a must now. I am also scared to fail in making crucial decisions sometimes probably because I am too independent. Probably, I shouldn't think these for a moment though and it'll just cause me too much pressure for a little bitchin' in life and celebrate my simple yet special day today.

While I was busy surfing today, thanks to the SAMistas and to my ultimate crush, Sam Pinto for making me a birthday fansign this year. Truly made my day. For their treat this year, they served me a simple yet scrumptious black forest cake with pansit and lomi. Yeah, I just want a simple celebration and nothing fancy like the others have these days with karaoke and drinking pee-like beer. Just me and my family. :) LOL, didn't drag my friends to come to my place. Hahaha! Tomorrow, we'll watch "Praybeyt Benjamin", featuring Vice Ganda, as their treat for me. He/She... yes, he is just one of my favorite comedy acts here in the country. That's why last year, they surprised me to watch "Petrang Kabayo". I think it was shown late October last year as well, just five days before my actual birthday if I recall. Sam Pinto was also in the film as well that made the movie perfectly bonus, with comedy and some fatal attraction with my ultimate crush. LOL.

I guess that's my special day for today. I just hope that come next year, when I am 20, I will have a different mindset, different mentality and just go with the 'good flow'.

---

Time: 12:16 a.m.
Where: Still here.
Now Playing: "Money" by The Drums (on-repeat).

Gaddafi.

Time: 7:23 p.m.
Where: In my room.
Now Playing: "Fire" by Kasabian.

---

While I was busy playing FIFA 12 yesterday, and using TweetDeck at the same time, I just saw a tweet that somehow shocked me but not really surprising. Mixed. By the way of shocked, because it's all of a sudden, by way of not surprised that people of Libya had hatred of him throughout the years. Moammar Gaddafi was killed yesterday and I saw the amateur video just moments ago. It was severely brutal and totally manhandled Gaddafi. With people punching him, stabbing him, and he was like a vegetated man. I am somehow sad because of the people of Libya chose to kill him and not suffer, I mean, they should've not kill Gaddafi, he should suffer more in the prison but they let them suffer and eventually died by wounds especially in his head and body area where he was smashed by something heavy in his head and shot a the body. I mean that was brutal for what I saw in Al Jazeera, and Al Arabiya.

42 years ago, Gaddafi step up as Libyan president and the people of Libya helped him to get in that position by ousting his predecessor. 42 years later, he was killed by the civilians who had a huge hatred on him for 2 decades. I can compare Gaddafi to two people, Osama bin Laden and Ferdinand Marcos. The longest reigning president of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos, who spent 21 years on the Malacañang Palace, he did a tremendous job as president. Because of him, we had highways and the implementation of the MRT and LRT that made our country at that time the most advanced country behind Japan. Also, because of him, we lost some of rarest Gold that could eventually make our country rich with that huge amount of resources, it was like finding a oil depot. Also, because of him, corruption started to be a way of life in the political world and people wanted for Marcos to step down and he did because of the mighty People Power we started. Yes, I didn't exist when the revolution started but every Filipino knows the story behind the EDSA People Power. Now, Gaddafi and Osama. They both did a devilish thing that people from all over the world couldn't forget. We all know what happened on 9/11, right? Ten years after, Osama was found in Pakistan and killed. Euphoria was suddenly felt in the streets of U.S. of A! Same for Gaddafi. He was the Public Enemy # 1 on Libya and he was pummeled, crushed, and just brutally dismantled by the anti-Gaddafi men. I was saddened on how those people just manhandled Gaddafi yet I was happy for the people of Libya that they can liberate themselves and start over again what they missed in the world community.

I just wish that here in our country, we will learn this valuable lesson especially to the powerful men of the country. Our president, senators, and so on. Like what the famous Spiderman saying goes, "With great power comes great responsibility."

---

Moammar Gaddafi (June 1942-October 20, 2011)

Time: 10:12 p.m.
Where: Still here.
Now Playing: "How Deep is Your Love?" by The Rapture.

The Legacy of Steve Jobs

Time: 12:26 a.m.
Where: In the desk of the bed room.
Now Playing: "Don't Stop (Colors on the Walls)" by Foster the People, on iTunes.

---

Well, I am one of the persons who envies my friends that has an iPod, or an iPhone, or the latest iPad because I know that it'll accompany me to my daily life. Like for the instance of the iPod. I am passionate with music like everyone else so I gotta listen to my favorite bands and keep those new releases in. Plus, if I have one, I can scrobble it directly to my Last.fm account. If I have an iPhone, I could do it all in one gadget. I can text, call, play apps, play music, play video, surf on the net and more. I had an experience using an iPhone with my college friend Sean and it was cool. Same goes if I have an iPad, it's like the miniature laptop if you ask me. All you gotta do is slide, plus it's convenient. That's how Apple products catches my attention all these years especially with new releases.

So, I heard yesterday morning that the co-founder and former CEO of Apple Steve Jobs passed away. Well, my initial reaction was shocking because I haven't received any news from him lately since he unveiled the iPhone 4. When I heard he was battling Pancreatic Cancer for seven years, I was like... all these years of presenting latest from Apple, the man behind the popular black shirt with jeans while on Apple HQ, was all this time suffering yet he was still doing his therapy and Jobs had a liver transplant back in 2007.

Here it is. The young Steve Jobs and the old Steve Jobs. What is the difference? In my opinion, nothing. No comparison. Steve Jobs just grow old but he still have that creative mind of his and made people convenient with their daily life. He's like the Thomas Edison of the modern era if you ask me. He's truly one of my inspirations.

Jobs helped us to make our lives easier through his creative mind and with a heart of wanting to see the world a better place. It's his passion in technology. Since he invented the Mackintoshhome computer and I was astounded with that when I saw the video of him releasing Mackintosh. The personal computer speaks for itself . That's what I saw in my two eyes. Even though it's old. I was amazed because at that time, there were no forms of communication, besides television to people, telegram and telephone, but Jobs and the other 1984 men changed it, for the sake of the bright future ahead of their time. They even edges the 1989 version of the home computer. That was astounding.



I remember when I watched on CNN on October 6th, that was a Thursday, they featured a video wherein Steve Jobs was one of the speakers for Stamford University's commencement exercises on 2005. Included to his speech was his views on death. The video below.



Steve Jobs physically maybe gone but people felt like he's here with us by using the Apple products he invented throughout the years in the modern era like the iPod, iPhone, and the iPad. Steve Jobs is one of my inspirational people. He had a tremendous contribution to the technology world. Thanks a lot for everything. RIP Steve Jobs. You left your mark on our desks, on our ears and in our hands. Thank you for bringing the future to everyone of us. You are a visionary from Apple to the whole wide world. I may not have any of Apple's products but I feel every people that somehow touched their lives with an iPod, an iPhone or iPad. iSad! iPray!

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Time: 2:39 a.m.
Where: Still here at the desk, mourning.
Now Playing: "Best I Ever Had" by Vertical Horizon, on iTunes.

Fashion Avenue

Time: 9:54 p.m.
Where: In the living room.
Now Playing: "Waste" by Foster the People.

---

This is the first I felt so euphoric. So happy when I saw Alodia Gosiengfiao and her sister, Ashley Gosiengfiao very close, in the flesh when they were about to get out of the mall. They were like twins when they were side-to-side in. But first, lemme tell the rest of what happened, starting from the top. We waited to SM Muntinlupa with my friend, for two hours in order to see them in the flesh. So, my long time friend, Cedric, did some soundtripping while playing our favorite pastime, playing Pokemon. I just remember that one of them used to play Pokemon and that's Alodia. LOL.

After two hours of wait, we got to see Alodia and Ashley performed one of their best sessions. They performed one of my favorite songs from my favorite British pop punk band The Ting Tings' "Shut Up and Let Me Go". Ashley sang this song. Not familiar with what Alodia sang earlier but I am sure it was Japanese. Lastly, they performed "Super Bass" originally sung by Nicki Minaj with Ester Dean on the rapping part. I saw their video creating the cover which was good and seeing it live was paid-off, they were good in performing live. Bad start yet, bumawi sila. :)

Here's how my me and my friend captured the performed song. Low quality on the video, long story on how my friend captured it pero the sound quality was quite good.




Now the main focus was on the fashion show for the FASHION AVENUE clothing line and I saw some stunning designs of the clothes that was sorted into different places of the world such as Paris, New York and more. I was still looking on Alodia because she was stunningly beautiful at that night, no portrayals whatsoever, just pure her. I mean, she didn't portray an anime character like the famous Haruhi Suzumiya, one of my personal favorites, but tonight, she was being herself. Ashley was also elegant with her tops and black boots, if I am not mistaken.

After the fashion event, all people were on a ruckus. Just piling and following the two into the new store. Everyone was all going bananas at that point, including me, as a huge fan of both of them. Screaming, bribing those security guards just to let us in. Parang nasampahan kami ng Temporary Restraining Order kanina. Yes, I have scoliosis but I fight to the guards just to have some decent position and somehow to let us in after being bumped and crushed a lot, yes, not good for my health but I kept it clean just to see those human living dolls. Some got lucky because they saw both of them early because they bought some clothes with receipts and they need receipts just to see, meet and greet the Gosiengfiao sisters. If I only knew that buying their products and showing the receipt will make us get pass and get some personalized autographs, sweet greets and some bragging rights. I was so close of buying one of their tees but when one man said, this was the last batch. I was very very disappointed with the organizers. Seriously. I can't blame the guards that were pushing tremendously so hard but with picking only few to barge in to them and more of us got unlucky. Didn't get my dream to somehow have both Alodia and Ashley some autographs, pictures and greets with them. I know, it's such a shame but we got some things to do before they left, we acted like a paparazzi chasing famous stars on the way home. Not exactly all the way to Capitol Hills, but just outside the mall.

I am sure Ashley and Alodia remembered me because I was the guy with the bonnet. I was "moonwalking in front of the two gals". I was wearing a red shirt, a Manchester United kit to be exact, because I am huge fan of the football club, with an "Aon" in front because that's the club's shirt sponsor so I know they would recognize me. Headgears sure are getting the attention, sometimes. This is the proof but I did a stupid move that I can be sure for being disappointed and I cried about this back home. It was like a very suicidal reaction and expression I had. I accidentally deleted Alodia retweeted. She retweeted my tweet and I just deleted it accidentally. Not intentional because I want a retweet really badly when I got home. I was thinking of that. When I go home, I will send Alodia some tweets and she retweeted and then, I was gonna select the "favorite" button and then, there goes, "deleted". I was screaming on the house and getting crazy. That's how crazy I was this day. I kept tweeting Alodia and she didn't respond, probably I spammed a lot for the greediness on getting that retweet once again. I failed. Too much regret talaga. ;(

From having a euphoria from the start of the day, ended with a big regret. September 25, 2009, one of the worst days of my life because of Typhoon Ondoy/Ketsana, September 25, 2010 was one of the greatest days of my life when a huge family buffet and some fun time along. September 25, 2011, one of the best and one of the worst days of my life. Mixed emotions. You can tell by reading this blog again on how my day went through. Good night and I hope I can sleep and move on with this. Being a fanboy of my crushes sometimes kills with too much obsession, like this. Obsession kills. I can be a fan pero with limitations dapat, wag lubos lubos because in the end, you will have a great depression when you didn't get what you want. Chances are pero not this time. :) Time to move on.

---

Time: 11:31 p.m.
Where: Still here, alone with the rest asleep.
Now Playing: "Waste" by Foster the People. ("Looping it. Try hearing this song because the lyrics somehow involves my day")

Cheap Shot!

Time: 8:11 p.m.

Where: In the study table.

Now Playing: "Good Life" by OneRepublic.



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What just happened this day? Well, I'll let myself to rewind my day first. We had our family bonding together by doing what we did years ago, jogging, and playing badminton. Makes a lot of work out, fitness and health awareness plus, the bonding time we had. After that, we had a sort of extraordinary breakfast then went to the Church. Then, we went home and my father and I kept talking about the much anticipated bout between Floyd Mayweather and Victor Ortiz. Too much hype here though because we Filipinos wanna make sure that Mayweather would win to somehow inch closer to the megafight we wanna see and waited years to somehow manage this bout. Manny Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather. I said I wanted Mayweather to win for that megafight to be negotiated but I root for Ortiz to have a knockdown only so that it may have some preview on what will happen to Pacquiao vs. Mayweather but it never happened. It's such that Mayweather was too defensive and picking his shots.

Here we go and tuned in onto the fight. Rounds 1, 2, and 3 were dominated by Mayweather pretty clearly until the whole world witnessed what Round 4 had. Mayweather was very aggressive from the start of the round and kept his defensive style with the specialty of being an evasive fighter until suddenly, Victor Ortiz woke up and attacked Mayweather, cornered him and onto the ropes on the right side until he jumped shortly and his head collided with Floyd's chin. A clear headbutt. Joe Cortez, the referee of the match, gave a one point deduction to Ortiz for the said headbutt. He went to Floyd and said sorry to him with an expression of kissing his cheek as a sign of sportsmanship that he was sorry for what he did. After that, here's what happened.

Joe Cortez was just staring a the ringside where the judges' table and the timekeeper was, I don't know if he was going to say "time-in" or just doing it silently, or probably just stare at them and Victor Ortiz was just looking at the referee if the fight would continue (the wave-off thing in boxing that signals to fight or engage) and Ortiz didn't see any of it or hear the word "fight". So, he thought Cortez was still communicating with the judges at ringside. So while waiting, Ortiz gave Floyd a hug and said sorry. He was too apologetic and shook Floyd's dirty orange gloves until... BOOM! Floyd started to connect with a powerful one-two that knocked-out Ortiz and dropped to the canvas. I was like, oh, that should be a disqualification. One the slow-mo, I noticed that Joe Cortez was not looking when that controversy happened and after the first power punch, Ortiz was not defending himself anymore and BOOM received the second power punch and down he went.



My over-all analysis is this. Blame three of them. I meant of Floyd, Victor and the referee, Joe Cortez. Why blame Ortiz? Because of the very clear headbutt that somehow enraged Floyd and lead to that dirty cheap shot to him. Why blame Joe? Because that signature phrase he got that "I'm fair but firm" was not seen because he was a blind old man and there should be no excuses for that and he should not be a referee anymore. He didn't even waved off his hand to signal for the fighters to continue the match and he was staring too much at ringside. Now, when the knockdown occurred, he immediately counted Ortiz and he was like oh, a knockdown and didn't realized that he didn't signal for them to fight. It's like WWE that the referees not watching the match or getting distracted by one wrestler to punish the other one (untying the ropes, stalling the referee by having your assistant with you, then one will get a steel chair, championship belt, whatsoever to punish), then, the referee would count 1... 2... 3. Sh*t! This is boxing you old goat! Now, why blame Floyd? He kept telling his fans, "I'll give my fans what they wanna see" and he gave the fans some sh*t. About his alter ago being a douche, a coward, an opportunist. He had NO RESPECT to Victor. Ortiz hugged him for a friendly gesture and said "Oh, I am sorry for the headbutt" and Floyd responded with one-two, and Floyd said, "Oh, yeah, apology accepted" and start jumping on the corner and being a self-proclaim champion while other people thought he was a big asshole.

Many of our boxing analysts thought that Mayweather was very unsportsmanlike. Atty. Ed Tolentino said on Facebook, "Floyd Mayweather Jr. did not violate the law of boxing, he violated the spirit of the sport. For all the violence in the sport, a boxer ain't a thug. Joe Cortez should never be allowed to referee again. He claims he is "firm and fair," but he is also blind. Ortiz forgot the No.1 rule in boxing: "protect yourself at all times." Advance notice to Pacquiao: If ever you meet Mayweather, show no mercy. Beat him to a pulp." I concurred him a hundred percent. I was enraged after what saw and thought that Pacquiao should really fight this badass guy and teach him a lesson about respect and not being a sissy. I also thought that this was a fixed match. I mean, from what I saw, It was like they were all doing a show for us but a scripted show. From the commentators, to the entertainers themselves. Ortiz was interviewed and he was like didn't complain at all and he was so very happy on the outcome. It was like a bribe happened so that Mayweather will win this. Guran-DAMN-teed for Floyd. The commentators thought in the first place that it was legit while the audience kept boo-ing Floyd for what they noticed and that Joe Cortez moment where he showed his personality as an old goat and didn't look on what was happening in the ring. If I were Ortiz, I should issue Mayweather a rematch and as a fan, I would sacrifice another wait for the dream bout between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather because I really wanna see a real fight between them, and not a fluke one with WWE-style of boxing with bribing the the referees and they aren't looking at all or an Edge-like Mayweather, the ultimate opportunist and after that rematch, I just hope Pacquiao will have that no mercy attack on him and beat his black ass (no racism though, just pissed)!



Just watch this arrogant, brash narcissist Floyd Mayweather on what he had to say with HBO's Larry Merchant after the fight.

---



Time: 9:29 p.m.

Where: Still here.

Now Playing: "No Surprises" by Radiohead.

Tampisawan sa Soldead.

Time: 9:36 p.m.
Now Playing: "Change Your Mind" by The Killers.
Where: In the balcony.

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It's better than never but on August 20, ten days after I am writing this, we had our Family Reunion. It's our yearly tradition to gather the clan together but this year, we enjoyed the resort and went swimming. Medyo dumami kami this year and mas marami, mas masaya kumbaga. Family reunion, the chit-chat, kamustahan, tinatanong kung ilan taon ka na and stuff. Ahhh... good times. Till next year ulit.



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Time: 9:59 p.m.
Now Playing: "All These Things That I've Done" by The Killers.
Where: Still here.

Almost but not Kuwait.

Time: 1:24 p.m.
Where: In the study table.
Now Playing: "Amber" by 311.

---

Well, still can't get over on what happened on last week where the Philippines vs. Kuwait match-up began and ended. It's better late than never. It's such that I am satisfied that the Azkals fought hard up to the very end and it was a very proud moment. Did their strategy throughout the two legs it's such that the Al-Azraq was too experienced and too good for us. It's not a shame to lose to an experienced squad like Kuwait who ranked 95th in the FIFA Rankings as of now comapred to the Azkals' 162nd spot.

First Leg Observation: I just noticed that the match opening up a bit between the two sides, especially in our side but the last line of defense were solid until they loosen up the grip and concede a goal in the 16th minute. Miscommunication between Sabio and Gier. Still blaming Sabio for getting out of the box. Another miscommunication happened in the second half, and again, it was in the central defense. Sabio did it again. Hay, scrambling in front of goal, still, the nifty right foot by the Kuwaiti defender, Neda, scored and put up a cushion, it was 2-0. The third goal was just pure skill on the Kuwaitis and showing the inexperienced of the Azkals in the defense. It was just collapsed out after being solid in the last 50 minutes.



Michael Weiss, the coach/manager of the Azkals, didn't trust his other players on the bench in the likes of Roel Gener, and Simon Greatwich, who were later substitutes in the last four minutes of the match. Another thing, we truly missed the presence of the armor of the central defense, Captain Aly Borromeo and the heart of the midfield, Stephan Schrock who mostly dictates the run offensively and a hardworker on taking on those forwards out. It was 3-0, in favor of Kuwait. Experience kills youth.

Second Leg Observation: The Azkals woke up and attacked the on Kuwait's half for all 45 minutes but it was the counter-attacking strategy of Kuwait that made the match competitive in both sides of the pitch. Al-Mutwa, who was silent in the fist leg, just rushed forward in the first half and I think 3 on-target attempts was close, either it hit the post or over the crossbar. Felt the prescence of Aly and Schrock again as they defend and control the pace of the game respectively. Chieffy was persevere to keep the possession throughout the first half and it was worth it. He passed the ball to Phil yet it was broken and the ball was on Schrock and he shocked and electrify the whole Rizal Memorial Stadium with a roar! What a stunning strike was that. Goosebumps every time I watched this video below. What a proud moment. At first, before kick-off, I just wish a goal for the Philippines, win or lose, qualified or not, against the mighty Kuwait and it happened. Thanks to Schrocki.



However, in the second half though, just like Leg 1, the center defense was just our main problem. Yes, more pressure applied in the second leg but it was just not enough to utilize the Kuwaitis from scoring. Etheridge did his best to get those loose balls in front of him but that second goal was just pure miscommunication, and on the opposite side, Kuwait's experience dominated the Azkals' youth. It was a nice game that thrilled the whole nation although it was a disappointing loss. It's understandable that the Azkals are still in the developing mode, getting the chemistry of the players, the system, the rotation, the proper formation in each fixture and hopes for Philippine football to grow.

Future of Philippine football

Now that football is back in the Philippines after being dominant in the sport in Asia half a century ago, I am hoping that the government or probably MVP, to build a huge, state-of-the-art football stadium. Probably, an 80,000+ capacity crowd inside supporting for the Azkals is more fun to watch than the previous matches. Also, the United Football League, our version of the Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A, etc., to grow and to be televised for the people to be aware about local club football plus, they will able to learn more about the beautiful game. Also, international exposure is the key on a higher FIFA ranking. We need to have international friendlies once in a while. Facing higher ranked teams will be good for us. It may lower our morale but every loss is a win, winning experience, that is. Grassroots development and continuous programs on football should be on the move as well. The Azkals management is also doing the search for fresh talent in Europe, U.S. and hopefully, they'll go to South America. I hope there will be Filipino-Brazilians, Filipino-Argentinians or Filipino-Uruguayans there to showcase their talent and play for our national team, playing with our colors. I wish the best of luck for Philippine football and as an avid football fan, I am happy that the Azkals existed and football was reborn here because of them. That's their main objective as well, to revive football, for football to be part of the list of Juan de la Cruz's favorite sports. Go Azkals Go!

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Time: 2:59 p.m.
Where: Still here.
Now Playing: "Doubt" by Delphic.