OH yeah, 96.5 FM is already playing Christmas music.

And 99.7 shall be doing it as well.

And congrats are in order to msVoodoochild and Mangonuts.

'Tis the Season

"City sidewalks, busy sidewalks
Dressed in holiday style
In the air there's a feeling of Christmas..."
(Silver Bells)

Ah yes, once again it comes. The hectic, frustrating, stressful end of the year time that they call 'The Christmas Season.' And it's always marked off by the 'Day after Thanksgiving' sales in malls throughout the US. For me it's hard to imagine that it's already here.

Yes, I did see the decorations up on the street lamps and in the malls as soon as it hit November 1st. And yes, the Christmas/Calendar stores are up and running, as soon as the Spirit Hallowe'en stores closed down. But still, despite the glaring, in your face stuff, I have yet to feel it.

I mean, you have to pass Thanksgiving first.

Oh sure, call it what you will. UN-Thanksgiving for those that choose not to celebrate the official time that the Pilgrims learned to survive without the Natives' help, and thus were able to slowly take the natives' land for themselves. Whatever you like. It doesn't matter to me. All it means is that I get a day off work to spend with all of my family.

We hosted Thanksgiving this year. I woke up at around 11am [slept off the effects of Mission Rock] and already my parents were going crazy throughout the house. I got up and helped vacuum the rugs and then it was off to the grocery store for all the last minute things the parentals forgot. Got home around 3 and watched the rest of the Dallas-Miami game.

Our first arrival was my cousin RJ. We hung around drinking some Coronas. Slowly but surely the rest made their way in. Uncle D and Auntie S. Their sons SG and SR [along with his wife Jen]. Then it was RJ's sisters, EM and TR [who brought RJ's daughter En-En.] Soon after Uncle M and Grandma. Then Uncle A and his kids, Ju-Ju, Justin and 'Lana. Last but not least, Uncle A and his girlfriend June. Finally, it's time to eat. Ever since my mother starting making dinardra'an (sic) [dinuguan for you tagalogs out there] my Uncles have looking forward to our holiday feasts.

My brother's girlfriend 'Gaya passed by, and then special appearance by Dad's best friend Uncle L and his wife Auntie P and their daughter Jen capped off the guests for the evening. After a few smokes [yeah, I'm a voice major but what the hell, it's a holiday!] we decided to play a little poker. And once again, age prevailed over youth. Uncle A won $33 and Uncle D won $16. I lost $9 myself.

And then all of a sudden, everyone was gone. They slowly trickled out one by one until it was the family again. No more children running around, no more side talk. The house was quiet. My youngest brother, rugged8ss and I chilled on the couch. And then I woke up, and it was already Friday morning.

And now it's time for Christmas.

Bring it on baby.

I Get It Now

*A True Story*
Once upon a time, in 1982, there was a boy, let's name him Keem, and a girl, who we shall call Irma. They went to the same school, Garner Primary in Alameda, CA, from the ages of 6-8 and were in the same 1st and 2nd grade classes together. Irma, along with another little girl, Denise, were the first ones to make Keem realize his Filipino heritage. Anyway, Denise moved away and so Irma and Keem became the only Filipino kids in the class.

They were good friends too. On field trips, when kids are supposed to pick their field trip 'buddy' the girls usually stick to girls and the boys usually stick to boys. But Irma and Keem sometimes partnered up, and they didn't feel weird being the only boy/girl buddies in the class. After 2nd grade, their school closed down, so Irma went to school in her city and Keem stayed in Alameda.

Fast forward 10 years. It is now 1993, the summer before Keem's senior year in high school. That summer, Keem staffs a Filipino youth retreat with Herb. Herb shows Keem his yearbook, that of a catholic high school in Hayward, CA. As Keem is looking through the pics he sees Irma [who is now quite pretty.] Herb doesn't believe that Keem knows her, he thinks Keem is only trying to get at her. It turns out Herb knows Denise too, so he gives me, I mean Keem, Denise's number and Keem calls Denise. After catching up, Denise calls Irma, and 2 days later, Irma calls Keem. Keem and Irma get together a few times to hang out and stuff. Irma tells Keem, "We should always keep in touch because it's not often people can be friends for as long as we've been! Let's not lose touch again!"

Fast forward a couple more years. It is now 1995, and Irma is at yet another catholic school, this time a college in San Francisco. Keem goes out to hang out with Irma and Geo [her now X] at her school. But after that one time, every time Keem calls her, she never returns his calls. Keem even goes by her house to drop off Xmas cards and stuff, and yet no response. Keem doesn't get why all of a sudden there's a big cold shoulder but he doesn't let it worry him.

Then in 2000, Keem meets L [who goes out with someone very close to Voodoo] through his friend Christine, and finds out that L knows Irma. After finding out that they were going to hang out soon, Keem tells L, "Hey, tell Irma I say hi and pass her along my number so she can call me!" The next week Keem is talking to Christine. Christine says, "L told Irma she met and you and passed her your number. But Irma told L, 'Keem? He's hella ghetto!'"

Now if anyone knows Keem it's that even if he tried to be GHETTO he'd fail miserably at it. Anyway, just last Saturday, Keem was hanging out at Thirsty Bear in San Francisco, and Irma was there. She looked right at him for about 10 seconds, and then turned her head and walked away. If she had taken even one step toward him he would have gone and said hi. But she didn't. She probably looked at him about 3 more times that night but said nothing.

Wherever Irma got this 'Keem is ghetto' idea is beyond him. What's even more beyond is why she acts like she's better than him now. Things that make you go hmmmmmm.

(The preceding is based on true accounts. The names of the people within have been *cough* altered to protect the innocent.)
________________________________________________

Dude, I totally get why girls have a hard time staying close friends with other girls. It used to always make me wonder why a lot of the girls I know have more guy friends.

I get it now.

Varsity Blues

I joined the football program at Alameda High School as a junior. I wanted to be a running back on JV and score touchdowns. I didn't think about defense at all, but since you had to do defensive practice I always lined up with the defensive backs. Then in practice one day we were doing defensive jump/tip drills, as if you were trying to catch an interception. I went against my brother and ripped the ball from his hands. Later on that day, the Assistant coach came to me and asked if I would be willing to sacrifice playing time to be the 2nd string cornerback on Varsity. [I also switched from running back to wide receiver.] Defense was something that never crossed my mind, but from that day forth I was strictly defense. 3 games into the season, the starting cornerback lost his job and I started the last 6 games! Me, a no-experience Junior wannabe running back, starting for a team that was still ranked #24 in the Bay Area [1992]. I freaked out. We had a collapse that year, and ended up 5-5, and then my senior year we were 3-7.

But this year, something changed. I kept reading the friday night high school results and noticed how Alameda just kept winning and winning. They ended up 9-1, beating Encinal [our rival], El Cerrito [who usually whomps us], Pinole Valley [another strong team] and perennial playoff bound Berkeley [who played De La Salle a couple times for the North Coast Championship.] My alma mater took the league and now we're playing our first playoff game in 25 years at our home field right around the corner from my house.

And that's where I'll be, wearing my ugly old bright gold jersey screaming and cheering like a madman.

Go Hornets!


(sung to the tune of "On Wisconsin" - Univeristy of Wisconsin Madison)
Alameda! Alameda!
Plunge right through that line!
Run the ball clear down the field,
A touchdown sure this time.
Alameda! Alameda!
Fight on for her fame
Fight! Fellows! - fight, fight, fight!
We'll win this game.


Alameda! Alameda!
Stand up, Hornets, sing!
"Forward" is our driving spirit,
Loyal voices ring.
Alameda! Alameda!
Raise her glowing flame
Stand, Fellows, let us now
Salute her name!

Rollin'...In my 4.0


Well not exactly, but I did get a new used car on Wednesday. It's a Mazda 626. And for real, I'm enjoying driving again. I'm thinking of excuses to take it out. Like that Jetta commercial where dude drives his car across the street to get cups.

Also, 4 out of 5 shows done. Last concert is our Candlelight Christmas on December 6th at St. Albert's Priory in Oakland.

Poseidon


?? Which Of The Greek Gods Are You ??
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Thanks Leen!

From Mindanao to the Middle East

You all missed a great concert last Wednesday night at Knuth Hall at SF State. This has to be one of the only times I've ever since Knuth packed to its max of 300. There were people sitting in the aisle seats and even in the hallways. I've linked to the pics from that event up top.

Anyway, the show started a little after 7 [which is pretty good for Filipinos] and pretty much went off without a hitch. The Palabuniyan Kulintang Ensemble went first, playing a set of 12 songs, which was followed by the collaboration [from which the concert was named after] of Persian/Kulintang music. After intermission, the Kulintang class played two songs and last was my group, Ating Tao Drum Circle. Ava, Isabel and I played a medley of Maranao songs set to a rhythm called 'Coconut', followed by the 16 Inch Stallion, who played 'Binalig' to our funky hip hop song 'Flip Hop'. Then Master Kalanduyan came out and did 'Sinulog Kangungudan' and 'Tidto' accompanied by our 'Celebration' rhythm, and lastly he ended the set with 'Kapagonor' to our version of Tone Loc's 'Wild Thing'. After it was over, he shook my hand [I was really honored] and the crowd started chanting 'Isa pa, isa pa!' so ended with Kaluntang. In all, it was a great show.

Some pics below.


There's me [on the right] playing Babendil for Bel [on Kulintang] and Gilomonsta [on the bass drum, background.]


16 Inch Stallion [Kulintang] with MsAva [Babendil] me [background] and Master Kalanduyan [in purple.]


Master Kalanduyan's area of expertise is the four hanging gongs called Gandingan. He has won many contests in his village and is considered by many ethnomusicologists and his townsmates to be one of the very best.

I really do hope more of you can make it out next time. Look for Ating Tao Drum Circle in march. There's a good chance we might be playing at the next POMO. Unfortunately, you'll probably have to pay for this one. Don't say I didn't tell you beforehand. This is our heritage people.