Bullied, and bullying

10.16.2011 10:22 PM

I was inspired by a blog post of one of my college friends, whom she tackled bullying. It’s rare for one to grow without getting bullied when he was a kid. 

Social Networking Blues

10/16/2011 09:42 PM

Social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, Multiply, and even the pioneer ones like Friendster and MySpace had been the primary reason why most of the world's population have been digging the internet. It became more evident, especially nowadays where being online on either computer or computer or via cellular phone was the best thing in communicating. 

Arrested at my own home.

10.28.2011 / 11:02 a.m.

Here is a small piece of poem I personally composed. It’s about rebelling, being imprisoned, well not literally though. Feeling left alone may be the best description. How can you save yourself under that circumstance? This one’s a free verse and free style, supposedly.

Arrested at my own home.

Waking up every morning

With supposedly a smile from my face

And what I really want

Is just a piece of good vibe for today.

But how can you grow up?

Or even become a better man

When you live in the house

Full of naggers and judges?

Love and understanding are something I need

For me being a radical minded

But it was supposed to be a comfortable place, and

Not a prison cell or the vault of the dead.

No one to hear neither my talk nor my loudest cry

But I can only say “thank you” with a chuckle to the air passing by.

Misjudgments turned me

From a superhuman to a mistaken lazy-ass

Cast out from the streets of reality

With negative idiots surrounded.

Kept praying and working all day long while no one’s around

The only problem though is even gratitude doesn’t pays me back

Like things didn’t worked out

And if it falls apart, I’m gonna be blamed for

I wish I can ask my mom

“am I really your son?”

And wishing for people to understand that

It’s not always easy to be a better man.

Like a bullied student or mis-accused imprisoned man

I’m waiting for explode with my brain and heart’s like a time bomb

And the only thing that can save me here

Is a disease called “breakdown.”

--slick master

Originially written: 10/1/2011, 3.p.m.

© 2011 september twenty-eight productions.

Poppish Sound. Dumbass Mainstream?!

10/28/2011 10:39 AM

I’m not a music guru or something much inclined into (though I’m trying to aspire to be a lyricist for some time). But ever since the new artists showed up on gigs, new songs airing over CDs, MP3 players, and radios, there is one thing I asked over my mind for some time: the music is evolving, but is this the one that I should listen? Take, for instance, the rock genre. From underground, it went to mainstream slowly but surely, and from one old rock genre, it had gone to different classifications. Progressive, metal, other types of hardcore, a mixture of punk, or pop, or even rap, you name them. The same goes for rap. It went to novelty and hip-hop. But apparently, novelty was always a part of pop music.

Sensationalism Kills?!

10/28/2011 10:12 AM

Sensationalism is nothing new in media anymore. It existed even before President Marcos implemented martial law. Probably that guy has prompted to create Proclamation 1081 in 1972—or at least, the part of it. But let's move fast forward to today. 

Discs to Downloads

10/21/2011 11:03 PM

From old, classic, large vinyl, then cassette tapes, and miniature-sized-vinyl-liked compact discs to digital files like MPEG-Layer 3, or much better known as MP3(s). Since the old times of contemporary music, people have been searching and somehow owning at least one of the things I mentioned. If you're a '60s (or earlier) music lover, at least you had a chance of seeing an old vinyl record spinning at an old turntable thing called the phonograph. After all, it was in 1979 when Sony and Philips invented CDs, but I bet cassette tapes were created even earlier than that. But as time goes by, whether it's that little tape or even the Betamax to the discs-era, it can't be denied that music is part of one's daily lives, especially if they don't need the likes of radio. All he does is open up that component and play it in.

Juvenile Injustice?

10/13/2011 01:39:00 PM.

Isang artikulo ko ukol sa isang batas na tila nagiging parte ng mga ugat ng problema sa lipunan ngayon.

Isang madaling araw sa Quezon City, nasaksihan ko na ang mga batang sasampa sa likuran ng isang truck at magnanakaw ng mga bagay roon. Nakunan ng litrato bagamat mabilis ang mga pangyayari (kaya di na rin nilimbag pa). 

At nakakabahala na rin ang mga ganitong klaseng sitwasyon kahit wala na ito sa sirkulasyon ng media. Pustahan, marami pa ang mga batang hamog sa mga lugar tulad ng EDSA Guadalupe, mga nanggagahasa't pumapatay, at nagnanakaw sa bandang Pasay, Kalookan at ibang lugar sa Kamaynilaan (ayon na rin sa mga police beat reports). Unang isinulat ng inyong lingkod ito noong nakaraang taon. At teka lang, hindi naman sila nasasakdal e.

Throwback Weekend Programming

10/15/2011 09:27 AM

I wish I could include RX 93.1's Monstrous Riot here, but its schedule falls on the mid-week. Anyway, to start things out, if you are an FM radio lover, regardless of what station you are patronizing, you will notice this: for seven days that it airs, there will be like a day or two for playing classic songs. 

Chain Message Blues

10.15.2011 1:43 PM

Since not all news are broadcast or published thru the traditional media, text messaging and internet postings were two of the best means in disseminating information at present. 

But the only thing that's quite disappointing is some messages were barely unconfirmed and at times, untrue. 

Battle Review: FlipTop 2-on-2: Manila vs. Olongapo

10.15.2011 | 11:11 a.m.

I know. I’m not music or poet critic or a legit hip-hopper but it’s been a while since I dig some rap battles from FlipTop which turned out to be another worthy on my playback button. And dig this, folks. How about a 2-on-2 battle like this one from a recent event from the said battle league?

Ahon 2, a rap-battle event which held last July 1, came up with a package of heavy rap battles which can be translated into some hundred thousands to even millions of views on YouTube for some time later on. And one of the duo-versus-duo battles featured in the event was the so-called "clash of the regions" from factions Kampo Teroritmo (NCR) and Bloodline (Central Luzon).

Kampo was represented by Apoc and Dhictah while Bloodline, the group from Olongapo, was fronted by Toma Hawk and Nico.

I can’t tell you the entire details about the fight since I only personally saw that on YouTube but you should see it for yourself here. (I hate to do the spoiler’s chore anyway.)

But here’s my take: as far as the three rounds are concerned, I can tell that experience was a big factor in this fight. Even before FlipTop exists, the guys from Pasig had shown better experience on throwing up a fight. Perhaps blame it on the two’s previous setbacks. Dhictah lost in his opening game against Cameltoe while Apoc's battle career took a bad hit when he had chokes (literally) that cost his game’s winning chances. But all of them are set aside. Teamwork wise, I’ll give it to KT. They performed more than just like that. Dhictah has its own time to throw punchlines and so was Apoc.

Individually speaking, this game was considered as Apoc's big comeback battle. No doubt he was at the spotlight of the league nowadays when he appears to be one of the judges of the battles especially during Grain Assault events and so on. People may think that this guy may be a "choke king" in his early goings of his battle, but I think some emcees are on the same boat as the way he does. Example? Abra from LDP. Check his first two battles with Batas and Nothing Else. And it was only on his third battle with Harlem when he had been improving much steadily. So for the so-called fans of Filipino hip-hop, observe first before you judge.

Dhictah. I honestly don't know if there's something improved. But if you're asking about this battle... man! He even became more solid. Comedic-line wise or even personal hit. Perfect delivery.

Nico, on the other hand, was the one who never went shy and had been up to the challenge, especially if you talk about the difference between the cultures of Central Luzon and the center of the entire Philippines. Though I noticed one thing: he's trying to be more even courageous when he throw bars relating to the battle, like going up against those heavyweight shits even if his homie toma Hawk joined their opponent.

Toma Hawk was a good emcee, though the only problem is he got lost in concentration in some of his lines. He's good in his comedic lines should he not be intimidated by KT.

Round-by-round:

1: Apoc and Dhictah had a solid 8-bar-recital to start it out. It contains the names and trends of the local legends of hip-hop in the country; specifically, way back to the previous decade. See Apoc' Facebook note.

Nico and Toma Hawk on the other hand, was close to them. Very solid start, some of the lines were even good to be remarkable. Technicality wise, it's tied. But impact-speaking, I'll still give it to Heavenly Host.

2: Those Manila-Gapo comparison jokes made it a win in favor of Kampo. Full of comical punch lines. While Bloodline has been slowed down when Toma Hawk lost a little bit. And I think they're the first group who threw personal lines against their opponent during the battle.

3: It was the Kampo Terroritmo peeps whom recited their version of personals, and they even came up with the "bulkier ones." No doubt about the fact that they dominated the finale. Gapo's reppin' crew on the other hand did not go home without a fight. Props to them it was a good game to witness.

(p.s. I read Apoc's comment on a post related to this battle, saying that "the battle was supposed to have a promo OT, but due to technical difficulties FlipTop haven't been able to add it up." Also, photos posted in this blog entry are the snapshots courtesy of its video.) 

Author: slickmaster | (c) 2011 september twenty-eight productions

Aspirations and Inspirations

Aspirations and Inspirations : 5 things that made me write.

Author: slick master

10.12.2011

1:12 p.m.

It’s been a while since I wrote a blog about my personal experience since mostly I dig things about anything else happening and my opinion about it. Before anything else, I would just like to share this. I have been writing for more than 2-and-a-half years as an amateur writer-blogger. And this hobby I had somehow turn out to be a major part of my life.

I got a chance to be part of the sports writing contest of the Philippine Basketball Association in 2010, first of my few breaks in the last 3 semesters of my college life.

Another thing, the concept my group had in my school project which was a major advertising event turned out to be good as we won some few copywriting awards. Forget the rank of being the second runner-up, at least we had just proved out to be the best, and I was one of the copywriters of my group then; and it’s been a year and still remembers everything how I brought home one of the trophies we had garnered. Damn good!

On the virtual side, I have been writing some few blog entries and passed it out to some few people thru my social networking accounts. I may not have a feedback thru my blog site itself (like this one you are reading) but things turned out to be good even for a while when few people appreciated my posts.

At a fan page which tackles about the good old school days of Philippine radio, I shared this blog entry of mine which tackles about whatever happened to those good radio stations I personally listened to. Good thing it fitted out, though they revised some errors of it a bit later. I would like to thank them by the way.

And lastly, I posted the blog at an online community site and I have received some good feedbacks on it. It’s about a current issue on art versus religion then.

I personally want to take this hobby as a living though the hardest part is you have to fight on what to deal with; either practically, or doing the thing that you love.

Now, for the five things that made me inspire to write. (that was a long intro, huh?)

Everyday reality. From thanking God that you are alive to talking to your loved one and to even you playmate in basketball to whatever chores you had done to the places where you are into. It’s everything that I have been seen, heard and personally witnessed. Everything that is worth seeing.

News articles. From print to broadcast to electronic media; everything that is somehow, hot and not or whatever that is worth seeking attention to the public. If it’s worth it then I’ll write it.

Experience and opinion. Of course, if I read those ones, if I noticed everything and I personally felt that, it was a big factor for me to influence what I write, like that typhoon Ondoy which I myself was a victim of that disaster. And another thing, it also goes the other blog entries of mine which tackles about my life experiences.

Video clips. Yeah, one of my two mood-and-mind-setters in daily lives; I always have that in my desktop and USB especially if I feel that I want to write something. Whether it’s those viral funny things, local or worldwide hip-hop rap battles, short editorial clips, dance showdown, everything that is worth seeing in my eyes.

And finally… the biggest of them all. (even if I’m not really inclined into it.) MUSIC. Whether I’m feeling I want to talk fast, I listen to hip-hop. If I want to scream out, I dig rock. Going even more upbeat, I go for pop. But most of the time I used to travel back. yeah, nostalgic ones… like those early days of contemporary music from 70s to 90s. But who cares? Music was one of the few mood-setters in every human’s lives. Certainly a big influence.

So that’s how my life rolls as an amateur penman (or even cyber penman.) I do research and set my mood before anything else. Well, that’s all!

Remembering The Onslaught (Part 2)

10/04/2011 05:35 PM

While being stuck at the bridge, I talked to a student from UST whom was also stranded on his way to his residence in Antipolo City. He said there are no jeepneys passing by the the highway, causing costing him some time to stay at at the eastbound jeepney stop of SM City Marikina.

Just my opinion: Anti-Planking Law?

Anti-planking law?!
Author: n.d. a.k.a. nestor / slick master
10.04.2011
05:03 p.m.

At the heights of useless moves turning into a piece of expressions of one’s self, and now had just suddenly became part of the nation’s current events. How about the so-called planking? A move that had been once popularized by the man named Tom Green in 1993, now a resurrected movement by the youth to the extent that such act had just been also used by some activists in their protest?

Since planking had been trending around the metro, different reactions spread like a wildfire around the social networking sites. Thus, emphasizing to the negative ones whom may find it as stupid. Well, this bill proposed by the Quezon City representative Winston Castelo may favor the so-called “”planking haters.” Yes, the House Bill 5316 or known as the Anti-Planking Act of 2011.

What is its primary aim? To sanction those students and student groups who used planking as part of their demonstrations in street rallies.

By the way, in case you don’t know what the hell is planking, it is an act of a person or a group of people lying faced down in unusual locations such as the floors of a hallway/room, streets, stairs or stairways, platforms, or even the very unusual ones like at the stand of the traffic light, top of the basketball court, railings of a bridge, rooftops, or elsewhere. Their position: keeping their hands along the body and outstretched.

What are those sanctions: according to the section 5 of this said act:

The Department of Education in the case of elementary and high school students and the Commission on Higher Education in the case of college students shall draft a universal Code of Student Conduct to carry out the provisions of this Act. Further, DepEd and CHED, respectively shall issue appropriate rules and regulations to effectively carry out intent and purpose of this Act.

How will it be effective? Section 6 will tell you then.

SEC. 6. This Act shall take effect ninety (90) days after its publication in the Official Gazette and in at least three (3) newspapers of general circulation.

Okay, it sounds like a foolish, very silly act, huh? But before you throw that F-word elsewhere or even to this guy who had proposed such bill, let’s know his side why did he done that. According to him, some people whom were mostly parents of the high-school and college students were alarmed by this movement.

Castelo’s statement.

“Parents and teachers have reason to be alarmed if these similar protest actions will have as a scheme and scene otherwise warm and living bodies laid down across street highways as though they were offerings to the gods. The parent in me tells me that this precedent in the case of the this massive transport strike where militant street protesters who are students of various schools have to lie down or serve as ‘planks’ across the road to disrupt what should be normal traffic could just be very dangerous in the future. Life and limb are pretty much at risks here were unbelieving bus drivers or law enforcement authorities might just ram through these warm and living bodies rolled out on highways…I respect the rights of students to express grievances. I learn from them. I recognize the constitutional guarantee to freedom of expression. However, as a parent I can not compromise the safety of rallyist and general public. As a lawmaker we are mandated by our sworn duty to protect everyone’s welfare.”

Now, did that made clear to you? Hopefully, but my take? Honestly, I’m not seeing anything good in this bill. With all due respect to the lawmaker, I know he’s concern for the welfare but I would highly doubt that this one may be executed right away. With the protests regarding that budget cut which for these guys may be an un-motivating factor for them to come to school and educate their minds, it’s not that hard to see why. But it can’t be denied that both parties had faults in this. Since social media dictates the run of the present youngsters, well… that may be a factor why planking became one of the trends nowadays. But sometimes, over-exposure of the thing to the internet is really bad. In other words, jeez! I’d rather see other bills imposing to the society instead. Those ones that the society badly needed.

© 2011 september twenty-eight productions.

Too Passionate?

09/24/2011 | 12:19 a.m.

Natural sa atin ang maging mapagmahal na tao, lalo na sa kultura nating mga Filipino na sadayng mapagmahal sa kapwa. Pero ika nga ng kasabihan “ang lahat ng sobra ay nakakasama.”

Para ding kanta ng bandang Queen (o kung makabagong musika ka, kay Jovit Baldivino) “Too much love will kill you.” Kaya sa mga nagaganap na insidente ng tinatawag na “crime of passion,” masisisi ba natin an gating kalabisan na pagmamahal sa mga ganyang klase ng pangyayari?

Masasabi kong OO, lalo na sa panahon ngayon na naglilipana na lang ng biglaan ang mga balita sa sirkulasyon.

Philippine Sports Politics 101.

Philippine Sports Politics 101.
Author: slick master
08/25/2011
07: 22 pm

Before anything else, I am supposed to finish this piece by last week. Well, thanks to that video of Word Of The Lourd which had an episode that tackled the “politics” in the sports aspect of the Philippines. Now to finish everything, let’s nail the coffin then.

A lot of sporting events were the main highlights of the news recently. You have Smart Gilas Pilipinas a surprising team in the continent once again (well, in terms of performance.) Kobe Bryant dropped by at Manila twice, with once bringing up the superstars of the National Basketball Association (which by the way was still suffering on a lockout as of press time); and a whole lot more in basketball. But, I’m not putting the spotlight on the nation’s favorite sport this time. How about comparison and discrimination in between? What the hell do I mean? Check this.

The Philippine Azkals had caught almost everyone’s attention when they scored an upset in last time’s Suzuki Cup. Since then, the spotlight was on them. Maybe because most of the players were heartthrob-looking, good talent, etc. I can’t really point a reason. And even when they failed to score a slot on FIFA World Cup 2012, they still remained part of the sports headlines. Their games were then covered by an exclusive national TV network, a big jump from the international ones considerably that most people don’t have a cable and free TV was very accessible to the audience.

While on the other hand, The Philippine Dragon Boat Team had been dominating despite not being recognized by a lot of people. Maybe because the sport itself doesn’t even sounds familiar to the public. But, hey! They didn’t only score medals by winning games, but because of the world records they had set. In fact in the recent World Championship games in Tampa Bay, Florida USA, they scored medals – 5 of them were the highest prize called “gold.” What more can you lose aside from it? Sad to say but the answer is lack of support from the government.

Weeks ago, a post from the social networking site Facebook had been spreading out like a wildfire on pages and user profiles. It goes like this:

PH Azkals: 0 golds, 0 trophies, 5 TV Ads, 20% Pinoy
PH Dragon boat team (2011): 5 golds, 0 commercials, 90% Pinoy
PH Azkals: with sponsors
PH Dragon boat team: inutang at KKB (kanya-kanyang baon) pamasahe
PH Azkals: complete outfit
PH Dragon boat team: nanghihiram pa ng sagwan sa kalaban,

--Sasagwan ka ba sa KARANGALAN o sisipa sa KAPOGIAN?

Ok, last statement for dragon boat team seems to be a big bluff already. But whether there’s a big joke in there, there are facts that backed the hell up and it’s all displayed in that post. And even the “Palakasan” episode of WOTL can tell you that Azkals had infinite commercials indeed, thanks to the Younghusband brothers. Well, speaking of Younghusband, Phil had even a great catch – Angel Locsin. But these brothers as far as I remember were half-Pinoys and had been playing with soccer with Filipinos for a long while. And since looks are mostly recognized by everyone in the society, (don’t be hypocrite) these two were part of those magazine pages intended for modeling poses at some time.

But let’s face it, Azkals had suffered the fate of the present dragon boat team. It’s just the fact that the Philippine Sports Commission only recognizes sports that are: first, competing in the Olympics; and second, are widely played by at least numerous countries in the world. Well, dragon boat is there, (in fact it is played by at least 70 countries worldwide) but the hardest part is that politics discriminates it all. Unfair treatment as it seems, huh?

The Dragon Boat squad had been dominating despite being “under the radar” and those unworthy remarks by the officials of PSC. And as far I recalled while reading the veteran sports analyst Ronnie Nathanielsz’ tweets in Twitter by last week, he found PSC Chariman Richie Garcia’s word “pathetic.” Garcia stated that “they rather go back to their roots and eat tahong if they will not join the national Canoe-Kayak team.”

Okay, my take. Somehow, I will agree on Nathanielsz’ remark. First and foremost, how could you say such? Maybe this guy didn’t know that tahong was the food where these guys from the PDBT had gained strength. I can hardly recall a PSC official statement, saying that they cannot sponsor the squad and instead leave it to the private parties. Something which Lucio Tan’s Asian Brewery came to the rescue. By the way, try to spot that Cobra Energy Drink’s brand on their apparel.

Media-hype wise, no doubt that the Azkals had got the attention that they wanted (and in fact they even got more.) But from the old days to the present ones (and good thing that fromer basketball player Benjie Paras came to show business when he did retired) I can only put up this saying. SPORTS AND SHOWBIZ SHOULD NEVER BE MIXED IN PRIORITES. I mean, it’s not bad to be an athlete and a celebrity at the same time. It is already a given status since you’re been mostly seen and heard. But once gossips and blind items come in to your circulations, it will be hard for you to sustain the fame that you had gotten, unless you’re like Manny Pacquiao.

If you’re a hell sports fan, don’t bash your colleague. This is the hardest part. I think in basketball, this thing do exists. The one they called “crab mentality.” When a fan of their opponent cheered on his favorite team, he will bash him out until the objective judgments turned subjective. And I noticed that for a lot of times not just in forums, but also in social media sites.

But colonial mentality was also the main factor why Azkals had been favoring the most over the dragon boat crew. Try reading that wildfire post once again and you’ll see the difference.

And for every aspect of life, politics do exists. That dirty game was part of your colorful, roller coaster ride. But just don’t let it roll into you or else you’ll be in grave danger.

© 2011 september twenty-eight productions