Multiplied.

My blog here in blogger doesn't look like a lonely one-entry marker anymore because of the imported posts from my Multiply account. Multiply is closing their social networking services and so I'm archiving my old posts here.

Good gracious, I didn't realize I had so much free time before.

A lot of the old entries needs cleaning up; some need revision and updates.

Maybe I'll finish doing those next year. Or not. I can't even update my new blog anymore.

I almost forgot that this blog existed.

But there was a time when I spread myself all over the Interwebs.
Here my new corner. Do drop by; let's have some tea.

For sure, spamming is a very important sign of a true friendship.

While idly browsing the webs, I came across a "clan" (something like a cross between a clique and an organization) with these listed rules and regulations for their members:

Rules & Regulations

1. Members/officers are required to send at least 12 gms* per week.
2. Members are required to use tag for sending GMs. The tag must consists the name of the clan, clan nick and name of the team.
3. New comers are required to send GM within 48 hrs.
4. Updated list is a must.
5. Strictly no GM war.
6. No sex invites or malicious invitation.
7. Members must send his GM to all the members of the clan especially to officers.
8. Members are required to participate in activities set by the officers.
9. Members are allowed to recruit members but not authorized to screen the applicants. Applicants should be forwarded to the recruitment officer for screening.
10. Applicants are allowed to join other clan as long as he can manage and separate their activities.
11. Members/officers are required to attend the GEB** once in a month.

Warning for Expulsion

1. incorrect usage of tag
2. failure to meet the required number of gm.
3. GM war
4. failure to participate in text or clan activities.
5. any type of offensive GM to a member/officer.
6. disrespecting the officer.
7. selective gm.
8. No GEB appearance without valid reason.
8. Recruiting the members to join other clan will be subjected to automatic termination.
9. Member will be given 2 warnings. Initial and final warning. Upon the third warning will result to automatic expulsion.

*GM means group messages.
**GEB means "general eyeball" -- a quaint relic from the time when instant messengers ruled the interwebs, although I don't many of the kids who use the term actually know what the letters mean.

I want to tell them it's not cool to shameless steal the Four Nations logo from 'Avatar, The Last Airbender' as their clan logo.

What I found funny is how the clan describes itself its aims this way: "We are united as one to show the true meaning of friendship, trust, loyalty, love and camaraderie."

The way I read it, they are saying that friendship, trust, loyalty, et cetera, are to be shown by their members through parochialism, blind adherence to rules, herd mentality, obedience to officers, and indiscriminately spamming your so-called friends.

Well. I would like to assert that I believe spamming your friends is a privilege you get for being friends with them; real friends will humor you most of the time for it. At least, my friends do when I spam them.

However, I like to think of my friends as people I need no obligations to; as such, I will do favors for them out of affection not coercion. My friends are those guys I could openly disagree with on some issues with both of us knowing that doing so will not affect our friendship. Either of us could stop texting the other for days or even months without the other person purging the missing party's phone number.

And yeah, you have to apply to get into a clan. Most of them have officers who screen applicants to choose only those worthy to be part of their group.

I was not really a permanent part of any clique so I do not get clans. Maybe it works for some people; it wouldn't work for me.

Papa Americano.

I overheard a co-worker from the other account requesting for "Papa Americano" to be played over the speakers in the office. The real title is actually "We No Speak Americano" by Yolanda Be Cool and DCUP; it's the latest dance track played on perpetual repeat and booming across the speakers at work. Actually, it was released a year ago, but Filipinos have this tendency to hold on to dance hits far longer than the song's shelf life.

Every time I hear the song, I feel like a seizure is coming over me.

The dance song samples an old Neapolitan song, Tu Vuò Fa' L'Americano by Renato Carosone. It was used in The Talented Mr Ripley; I mentioned this to remind myself that I should see that movie.

The song title could be translated as "You pretend to be American", or more idiomatically, "You're an American wannabe" (thank you, Wikipedia). And because of that, I will try not to dislike the dance song as much. I mean, for it to be played on repeat in a call center by people who have no idea what the sampled lyrics actually means?



That's a really lovely irony.

A few days back, I found a poem draft written on a receipt. It's now on my fridge's door.

A Tagalog poem, which is unusual because I hardly write in Tagalog. I must've written this at least four years ago, but forgot about it. I found it tucked inside an old notebook while looking for something else.



Walang tulog ang breakwater...

Walang tulog ang breakwater
habang ang mga tao'y minamasdan
ang alon. Halos di maaninag,
humahalo sa kulay ng langit
sa madaling araw.

Kasama kitang naglalakad:
Ika'y nagsasalita habang
ako'y tatango, aayon maya't maya
nang wala namang naiintindihan.
Ang sabi mo, ilang ideya na
ang iyong naibigay -- mga ideyang
pwedeng maisulat bilang tula.

Kasama kitang naglalakad:
Nakatanaw sa ilaw ng parola
habang pinakikinggan ang hampas
ng alon, ang takbo ng sasakyan.
Nilalabanan ang antok na 'di mo alintana;
gising ang iyong diwa ngayong madaling-araw.

Hawak ko ang iyong kamay
at kasama kitang naglalakad.
Dalawa tayong isip sa magkaibang lugar;
magkasalo sa natitirang oras bago
sumikat ang araw.


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Sometimes what you find are not the things you were looking for. But I'm glad I found this. I made some minor edits to a few lines and removed one line altogether; otherwise, the transcript is how the poem was written on the paper.