Out of the Woods

from golf channel

I am really not a fan of golf, but i like Tiger Woods. He is like Pacquaio of Boxing and Michael Jordan of Basketball. They all excel in their sports and reaps a lot of money by just wearing a Nike shirt.

Bayani is way ahead of us

I never liked listening to politicians rendering their speeches. It’s very seldom I hear something the audience doesn’t expect to hear. It’s almost always a cliché.

Not BF though. He makes you understand and think. There’s always logic behind his one-liners and you have to stay glued to understand. You have to wait to believe. It is him – no shortcuts.

In chess, my father told me to think at least 4 moves ahead. It’s not that easy because I also have to think of my opponents’ possible move against my every move. So I can be thinking of 4 to the nth possible exchanges. I can only simulate 3 moves ahead until now – if Bayani plays chess, I think he can perk it up to 8 moves. I am a witness on how he transformed Marikina into what it is right now – a very progressive city. It was not easy for him at first. He received a lot of opposition from political adversaries and City residents as well. They didn’t understand BF. But he pursued his vision nonetheless. After the 3 year transformation of Marikina, the same Marikina residents who hated him calmly voted for him again – and again. Moreover, his exemplary leadership and discipline became the pillars of this small progressive city. His Marikina constituents so believed in his vision that they wanted someone who will continue his vision. As proof of this, his wife went on to become the City Mayor for nine years.

I am also a witness of how BF made MMDA affect people. In fact, I only had a vague notion on what the MMDA’s task is all about until he became the chairman. He made changes quickly and the results were felt immediately.

I once heard him say in one of his talks – “I don’t want people going to my office lining up and asking for help” – We said “what?” Then he explained – “If people keep going to my office asking for my help, it just means that my departments are not doing their jobs. ” – We said “ahhh!”

If he says he can transform the Philippines to a better country, he will. Because I believe that he is 8 moves ahead of us. And always will be.

All for Pacman

It should have been called the “Practice Day” rather than ‘The Event”. If only they could have known, no one would buy tickets worth 500 up for such a boring boxing match.  Anyway, i was one of the hundreds and thousands of Filipinos who watched it for free, sponsored by mostly politicians and local authorities for the voting public of course.

I was at Marikina Freedom Park, going in and out of the city hall, looking for a better view. I decided it’s  better to watch it outside.  I came at around 9:30 am and reserved two good seats for me and my brother. It was under the shade and just about 25-foot away from the LED van – then I ate my breakfast.

As the match between Soto-Diaz nears its end, I decided to take pictures of the seemingly impatient crowd. When i was finished, i can no longer go back to my seat. People just sat everywhere blocking all paths unmindful of the heat and their impending starvation.

So i ended up watching at the Shoe Hall – supposed to be a secret viewing place for special guests – lucky me!

Special thanks to the local officials who made this event possible.  This was sponsored by Vice Mayor Marion Andres. Also seen on the event was Mayor Marides Fernando, Councilor Donn Favis, Councilor Frankie Ayuson and other candidates for the coming election.

So was this somehow politically motivated? Of course it is – but no one is complaining, it’s all for Pacman.

Clottey cheats

The recently concluded welterweight boxing championship match between Pacquaio and Clottey was a drag. I was right, it was insipid. I felt even worse because I felt I was cheated. I knew it was going to be offense versus defense, I knew it was going to be dull, but I never anticipated it to be a con.

Although Clottey endured 232 power punches and 14 jabs from Pacman, he didn’t fight to win. 50,994 watched it live in dismay and millions on PPV most probably felt bored as they watch Clottey stood there and acted like a punching bag. He was just avoiding to be knocked out, literally.

Every athlete must play to win;  this is a sport. And in a match as huge as this, you can not just stand there and don’t give it your best shot.

There are lots of speculations as to why Clottey fought that way, but for me he just doesn’t have the heart of a champion and never again he’ll get the chance to prove he has one.

There are rules

I was told there are rules to follow to be called a gentleman. I know a few by instinct, not to kiss and tell is one. I really don’t call them rules, for me it’s just politeness. Anyway, I got some tips from women and recalled some of it as much as I can.

- always give the lady the best seat with a better view
- on a car or PUV, always let the lady get in first
- when alighting a PUV with your lady, get out first then assist your lady
- open the doors when a lady is getting in, let her in first of course
- Still, open the doors when going out, BUT, get out first (somebody told me this, check out the scene outside first, just like a bodyguard )

These are the rules I did not know at first, not on instinct that is.

So are we gentleman? I took 3 short personality quizzes found on the net, put myself on the test I thought – so vain. The first two quizzes have almost the same questions and got the same results – “I am a gentleman”. But the third quiz result was 56% Gentleman, wtf – 56%?! !

So I scrapped the test and asked real people (men & women) on what they think should a gentleman do.

And I got these unedited responses:

“respect and appreciate a lady even if she’s ugly..” – JR, 29 yrs old

“hmm, don’t talk openly about girls.” – LU, 45 yrs old

“always have a woman walk on the inside of the sidewalk, avoid public fights, keep your word, respect your elders, apologize when your wrong, don’t use profanities, don’t kiss and tell, pay your bills, don’t spit…” – JE, 50 yrs old

“shutting up during arguments with women. “ – RB, 36 yrs old

“open the car door for a lady. “ – CL, 41 yrs old

“offer a ride, ask a lady to order first” – JG, 35 yrs old

“treat a lady with equal opportunities, do not discriminate and do not hurt a woman physically, emotionally and psychologically.” – JP, 26 yrs old

“opening of car doors, during s__, make her c__ first. “ – WP, 39

Some of the replies I got are generally acceptable and doable i think. But generally hard to keep. Therefore, I came up with 10 tips that could probably pass off a man as a gentleman for the moment. These tips are easier to keep at least 75% of the time.

10. Don’t be late
9. Offer a ride (I lost a cellphone doing this, be wary)
8. Open doors
7. Pick up your woman or if you meet somewhere, walk her to her car
6. Always give the better seat
5. Always be on the danger side
4. Do not check out other women if you are with one already (try your best)
3. Watch your words, don’t give them lightly, when you do, stand by it (a very good friend told me this)
2. Pay attention and listen well, try to respond please (you think this is easy?)
1. Don’t kiss and tell

It’s downright impossible to itemize the rules without writing a book about it. But to be safe, remember another rule that supercedes all rules – different strokes, for different folks. If you don’t know, ASK!

take at your own risk – quiz links -
http://www.quizcat.com/test2/25.html
http://www.funquizcards.com/quiz/personality/the-gentleman-test.php
http://www.blogthings.com/areyouagentlemanquiz/