The curse of being good

 Recently, my dad and I had a simple conversation on FIBA and the Philippines’ lost chance of making it to the finals because of team Iran. “We didn’t win, Dad,” I muttered as he was saying the game was really good. “Yes, but at least we showed them we can. We almost made it.”

Almost.

I was astonished at how my dad accepted the defeat as if it was victory. He even continued by saying that we should take pride in being good at basketball despite our height deficiencies.  

A few months ago, the Azkals made a name by defeating the defending champion, Vietnam, in the Suzuki Cup. People got suddenly interested with the team. They made headlines everywhere – something only Pacquiao does regularly. But during the play against Indonesia, my heart burned as I saw the promising young team got defeated. People, though hurt, celebrated the Azkals’ defeat like it was all the team’s worth – making it to the semi-finals. I wallowed in dismay, honestly, because I saw the game and it was so heartbreaking. I was never really a football fan until a friend showed me how left out the Filipinos are in terms of the most popular sport in the universe.

The conversation with my dad brought me to remember the quote I often hear in the church. “The good is the worst enemy of the best.”

Onyok Velasco

People often get contented with being the second best, and as I have observed, the Filipinos are all too excited for it, like we know we are good, but always only second to something better. When Onyok Velasco lost the gold in the 1996 Olympics, we tried to contest we deserved the win, but we slowly sank in the reality that we can always be cheated at – after all, we’re just a third world country with a booming population of achievers who always almost make it.

Miriam misses the title

We have a long list of “Almost-but-not-quite’s.” We have Marian Quiambao, in a win I know she deserved so well. It was followed by Venus Raj, losing to the title of Ms Universe by a (couple of) notch. The list is endless (though I can't seem to find them all hehe). Our history has been bombarded with seconds that being first is too alien, too farfetched that upon achievement, we create demi-gods, a testament to our seemingly unbelief for our talents.

Venus Raj

I think one of the things we should get out of is our acceptance at being second. Second is never first. Never forget that. I was asked by my boss who the second best golf player in the world is. I said I didn’t know. I had no idea. He said, “Exactly.”

Filipinos are good. We deserve to be number one. This is not being arrogant, this is being truthful. Facts that we are second continue to plague our lives that I get tired of hearing it. The truth is that we are good - and I pray for the day that when asked again by my boss who the best person in the world is now, I can proudly say, a Filipino, “that’s why you hired me.” Then he can unabashedly say, “Exactly.”

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For the unemployed, here’s  quick guide on how to secure  legal licenses.


BARANGAY CLEARANCE – P25

1. Go to your respective barangay and give and ID that shows your current address – a proof that you really  are part of that barangay and not some alien creature trying to get by in securing an earthly address.
2. Before the clerk does anything, pay P25 first.
3. The clerk will type your basic information on the computer and print it out. In pronto, you will see a paper emerging from her printer and she will ask you to sign it and run after someone who will sign it on behalf of the whole barangay itself. I ran after a guy in green, who was a kagawad, chitchatting with his minions outside the barangay hall.
4. The clerk will stamp your paper with dry seal.
5. You leave happy.

POLICE CLEARANCE – P70

1. Go to the nearest police station.
2. Ask where to pay for the police clearance.
3. Pay P70 to get a form which you will fill  up.
4. Submit to the window assigned to receive your form.
5. Wait to be called.
6. When called, go to the window where  you will get your photo taken.
7. You can choose not to smile, unless you’re guilty of something, better make your clearance presentable.
8. Wait again.
9. When called, your clearance will be released photo-finish.

NBI CLEARANCE – P115

1. This is tricky and a pain in the... First fall in line to get your form. (Note:  Better go there early because this  is by  far the longest  to get.  But because everyone almost has the same idea, you will still end up lining with the number 200 something. I suggest if you have time to spare, go there after lunch  or a bit later before the afternoon cut off. By then it won’t be too hot and people won’t be too grumpy.)
2. PayP115 for local (employment and other  local purposes) or travel  (for... travel. This is used for visa purposes most of the time. I don’t know how else to use it. I use it all the time though and never got the chance to have the local one).
3. Fill in the form.
4. Have your  hand inked and mark the sheet with your thumb and  hand prints. If you feel like it, you can buy a  pair of cheap wet ones to clean your hands. It is not compulsory. It’s a business of the man doing  the printing  I guess. If you feel like making him feel bad, bring your own expensive Wet Ones.
5. Submit your form to the window for photo-taking. If you’re the vain kind, try dressing up for your clearance day so you don’t look bad in those papers. Don’t smile.  Criminals and people with criminal intents don’t smile.
6. Wait. This  takes hours or if you have a “hit” (a namesake) you will wait ten days.
7. Meanwhile, better bring something like a book, a magazine a board game or a cellphone with video recorder because the waiting game with hot-headed  people can be nasty.
8. While waiting, you can also get your other clearances. This saves time and disposition.

MUNICIPAL TRIAL COURT – P80

1. Go  to the MTC office  and present your intent.
2. Make sure you have your police clearance and community tax certificate with you.
3. Pay P80. (P30 is for the stamp)
4. Wait.
5. Check for errors and sign the paper.
6. Smile at them. Especially when they’re nice.

REGIONAL TRIAL COURT CLEARANCE - ?

1. Check if they only process papers half day. I didn’t, so I have no RTC clearance and have no idea how to get one.

MAYOR’S CLEARANCE – P50

1. Different from Mayor’s Permit, mind you.
2. Pay P50 at the appropriate window.
3. Present your receipt and give your barangay and police clearances, and your community tax certificate Make sure you have a photocopy of all those.
4. Wait.
5. Read something / Chat with the guard / Throw a tantrum. This is tricky also because there is no one assigned to do this and this alone. You seem to be making pakiusap for someone inside the mayor’s office to type  one for you and if that someone is typing a thousand-page report, your one-page, less-than-a-hundred word clearance will have to wait.
6. Sign the paper and leave.
7. Say thank you to the guard.

The processes may vary from one city to another. I am particularly grateful to the City of Las Piñas for a fast and reliable government system with no fixer and no noon breaks to accommodate all our needs.  The free coffee and cold  water  was also prized.


Special mention to Ate Maricar of the Community Tax  Certificate division.

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To the man who did and does it again: Pacquiao da man

CNN's news report on Pacquiao's latest victory

He fights like a madman. He conquers the ring like a king. He's swooned over by ladies and men alike. He sings. He acts. He drinks beer. He is the best pound for pound boxer in the entire universe (given there are no Pacquiao Venusian counterparts). He currently holds a seat in the House of Representatives. When he tweets, people go nuts. He speaks better English than your seatmate. He has a loyal family et al. Anything that has to do with him and his face and his knuckles and his shorts sell like diamond in sporting houses.

He is known all over the world even with those who don’t have TV.

And he’s a Filipino.

Just in case you don’t know.


Read more on Pacquiao defeats Mosley on CNN.

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Sleeping in an Airport - We have the worst airport in Asia (You didn't know?)

Sleeping in an airport

Do you sleep in airports?

It’s official. We have the worst airport in Asia. After years of denial, someone finally realized it’s no use hiding it. It has circulated the web last week and each time I encounter a link to the news, I close my window, turn off my laptop and walk away.  

No I don’t, but you get the idea.

I live near the airport. In Parañaque. Commuting, it’s around 30 minutes inside a jeepney, 20 inside an FX. Unless you’re me, you take the FX. Driving, it’s just 7-10 minutes. If you’re Tto Brt, it’s just 3 minutes.

As a child, I would be fascinated by planes flying over us and be amazed at the hugeness of these planes. As an adult, I get irritated by the noise. Planes cutting you mid a conversation are just annoying. We don’t really live near enough to experience hearing the sonic sound of airplanes during breakfast. But we see planes every time we drive around Parañaque. I have a friend who lost her best friend because one commercial plane decided one day to just skip the runway and land on her best friend’s house.  They live in an exclusive village near the airport runway. I hear these tragic stories every time. One time, before takeoff, a couple of grass self-combusted in the runway and had the entire takeoff operation paralyze for a while.

NAIA voted 5th worst airport in the world

All my life, I’ve been exposed to the killer traffic near the airport, and as I wait on the vehicle to move another inch, wonders of how the foreigners view the Philippines seeing the first things they see outside Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) engulf me. I mean, sitting in the comfort of an airconditioned car, I am already appalled at the scenery, how much will an excited foreigner make out of it?

So the news that we have the worst airport in Asia is kind of, well, not new. I haven’t been to Terminal 1 yet but Terminal 2 is bad enough in the arrival area (I like the departure area, sorry). And I just looooove Terminal 3. It’s new. It’s cold. It’s... new. I love it, but maybe because the budget airlines are there (hee hee) and the cheapness of it all made the big difference.

People in the website http://sleepinginairports.net/, the site that released the airport rankings, were complaining of bad comfort rooms and services in Terminal 2. Terminal 2 suddenly is equated to NAIA itself, so people don’t really know other terminals exist. But that does not have any bearing. They still think our airport is hideous. I don’t know the real score, but if it’s in Terminal 3, I would. I have 2 friends from the sanitation division and I know they do not sleep until all the bowls and sinks are squeaky clean. I know 3 people from the maintenance division and interviewing them, they gladly made out their own version of professional evaluation of Terminal 1. They are the people behind keeping the water drops from leaking into the bunbunan of important international officials upon arrival. I salute these people.

What does the government do about this? I have no idea. I tried googling reactions from the government’s side, but found nothing. Hmm. I didn’t try enough, I know.

If you want a real laugh, try reading http://sleepinginairports.net/. It’s very entertaining, and informative. You’ll get the feel of different airports from different people – who sleep in these airports. I think I will contribute something for Clark (DMIA).

Have you tried sleeping in an airport? I have. It’s super nice.

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Do we need the RH Bill?

Intramuros-2
Originally uploaded by ikeorganus

For the people who actually say something about this, I hope they've read the bill. I hope they actually understand before they say something about it. It will only make them look, er, unintelligent and when things like that happen, I'm saddened. I am yet to read the full text. It think I can find it here. Maybe I'll download it and print it to read it before I sleep.

But I still have a few more chapters to read about the book of Acts. I guess the RH bill can wait.

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A Beautiful Boxer

No, this is not another film review.

Before I post about the Oscars, which I do not plan on doing anyway, let me say I am amazed to see her last Saturday (or Sunday, I forget) in her final moments before the super-bantamweight championship announcement in California. I wasn't able to watch the game, but hey, she's so cute that unless she wears dentures, I would say she makes a good toothpaste commercial specially made for boxers.

She's truly, truly beautiful and she reminds me of Kuya Erc's boxing gloves in his room. Makes me want to become a boxer again... Nah.

For the news, click here. 

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