Marcus Can Blog

I’ve had a couple of analogies of life in the past. I have likened life to a spider web, driving, babies and a lot more unlikely things where, surprisingly, I’ve made a connection and reflection about this thing we all call life. This time, my recent addiction to the game of checkers, called dama in Filipino, made me think that this one too is a lot like life. If you don’t believe that this game that’s almost synonymous to bumhood because it can be easily played by anyone killing time (On the streets, all the tambays need are bottle caps and stones to represent a each player’s pieces. The playing board is made by drawing lines wherever the see fit for them to spend all day.), then I’m going to give you my top 10 reasons why I do think so and probably after reading all these will convince you that it is indeed.

1. The game starts with a single step. In checkers, regardless who moves first, both player will just move one squares at a time. Everyone of us were babies once and we started walking just like everyone else, one baby step at a time. But it doesn’t stop there. Even after we’ve learned all the fundamentals in life during our infant stage, sooner in our lives, we will once again encounter this same scenario wherein we need to put one foot forward to start on that new challenge – like going to school, having a job, getting married, and having a baby just among the few. The cycle of learning, at least as long as we seek it, will repeat itself until we find ourselves contented. (“A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step” – ancient proverb)

2. Sacrifices have to be made to win. In checkers, time will come that a player will have to sacrifice one piece for him to take two of the opponent’s. As we grow older, and hopefully matured, we began to be exposed to the reality that life is never without sacrifice or compromise. We have to accept that achieving what we desire requires us to get out of our comfort zone and in so doing we experience new things, meet new people and pick additional knowledge along the way which will lead us to whatever goal we’ve set in the first place. (“One-half of knowing what you want is knowing what you must give up before you get it” – Sidney Howard, American playwright)

3. The one behind you is your best friend. In checkers, to avoid being jumped by the opposing piece, a player must ensure that right at the back of his leading piece is another one of his pieces. There are instances in our lives that even if we are ahead of the others, we must constantly check that we don’t go that far from those who we love or cherish the most because it is they whom we can rely upon in case trouble comes to us upfront. They may be are our best friend, family, wife or even God. Without them to support us, in trying times we will crumble to the ground like weak towers. (“The road to success is filled with women pushing their husbands along.” – Lord Dewar)

4. Strength in numbers is not always a guarantee. I’ve proven several times already that winning the checkers game is not determined by the number of pieces left compared to the opposing player’s. There are things in life that numbers or quantity doesn’t translate to success. In the manufacturing world where I came from, we call it “quality first before quantity (output).” This one I believe is true. Although most of us believe that there is strength in numbers, some situations in life calls for us to make use of whatever resources we have. We may have lesser friends yet they are all trustworthy. We may have lesser money yet we are contented that the others. We may not have attained higher education yet we have the opportunities. We may be against the whole world yet we have nothing but God. (“It has been my philosophy in life that difficulties vanish when faced boldly.” – Isaac Asimov, American science fiction author)

5. Short-term thinking is good but strategic planning is better. In checkers, jumping one opponent’s piece one at a time may be fine, but delaying it so as to get much more on the next is obviously better. As much as each one of us normally enjoys the short burst of satisfaction we get from things such a part-time job, finding a 100-peso bill, getting a 20% discount from a mall sale, or being treated by a friend for free beers, we however should not ignore that planning or investing for the future is a lot better despite not feeling its immediate effect or benefit. While it is not bad having short term satisfactions, it is however great if we practice “delayed gratification” and foresee ourselves reaping its rewards in the future. (“The expert in battle seeks his victory from strategic advantage and does not demand it from his men.” – Sun Tzu, Author of the Art of War)

6. You don’t always win. In checkers, just like any game or sports, victory is not always assured. Even most of the great Olympiads have experienced the agony of defeat against an underdog. Most great disappointments often occur when one expects that he is always better than the other. Once someone foster such kind of thinking, it usually results to undermining the other’s capability which often lead to being caught unguarded after realizing that he is already losing ground. So the measurement of a true person is how he is able to get back up after a sore knock out. (“When you lose, don’t lose the lesson” – Dalai Lama)

7. Paying attention to details is key. In checkers, a player failing to take note of his opponents movement and pieces’ position will lose control of the game. In life this one too applies. Being insensitive or ignoring what is going on around you will cost you big time. It therefore pays a lot to check on almost every aspect and conditions of being human – social, environment, culture, spirituality, work, etc. as these are factors that will be part of either your success or failure. (“Close scrutiny will show that most “crisis situations” are opportunities to either advance, or stay where you are.” – Maxwell Maltz, motivational author)

8. Mimicking every action your opponent makes doesn’t help. While playing checkers, I experimented with doing the exact movement my opponent makes. I soon find out that often times it either leads to a draw, or worse, to a defeat. In business (or even employment), one might succeed at first by copying products that is selling like hotcakes in the market. However, continually having the same business practice, its competitors may eventually catch up and if one fails to see it coming, and worse doesn’t have the capability to innovate, he will be spiraling into obsolescence in no time. (“But it is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation.” – Herman Melville, American Novelist)

9. Surprises do exist. In checkers, time will certainly come when your over-confidence or inattentiveness will result to either a surprise attack or better yet, an opportunity for you to jump his piece(s) on your next move. No matter how we prepare for everything in life, surprises will come our way whether we like it or not. For the favorable ones, there’s winning a raffle or lottery, meeting a long lost friend out of nowhere, getting an unexpected promotion or salary increase and so and so forth. For the bad and unwanted ones, there’s the sudden traffic jams, weather disturbances, sickness, layoffs, accidents, death and so much more that will surprise us every now and then. And not accepting the fact that they may come our way is imprudent if not delusional. So let’s expect the unexpected and deal with it accordingly as it comes along. (“Life is a great surprise. I don’t see why death should not be an even greater one.” – Vladimir Nabokov, Russian writer)

10. There is always another game. To take life too seriously is probably the most pathetic thing to do, both in checkers and in life. Personally, I look up to people who at the midst of every crisis can still project a smile and believes that tomorrow is always a brand new day. So while everything and everyone else in our fast-paced world have been so demanding and taxing, let’s not forget to enjoy the ride and keep in mind that the real reason why we opt to continue to exist and strive to improve our lives is because we care for the people whom we love the most. Carpe diem! (“Life is too important to be taken seriously.” – Oscar Wilde, Irish playwright)

 Photo credit: Steve Snodgrass

Mood: 3/10 Honks!(I’m a hi-tech bum. I play checkers on my Nokia 5800.)

Tags: bum's life, checkers, larong dama

My sleepy mind is now getting radical. Here are some lines I just thought about while preparing myself into to slumberdom:

1. If drug products can have it, why not end a political infoad with “No approved therapeutic claims” as well? Makes sense, right?

2. It’s high time we start every political TV shows with, “Voter discretion is advised.”

3. “Vote moderately.” Whatever.

4. If a candidate shamelessly decides to make a movie out of himself, then including these lines in the ending credit might just be appropriate: “Any resemblance to a saint, prophet, or a divine being is purely coincidental and most likely were just due to the intent of the character to be depicted as such.”

5. Surgeon general warning: “Voting, if unwisely, is dangerous to your health.”

These are all for now. Can you think of more?

Mood: 4/10 Honks! (sleepy, sleepy, sleepy)

Tags: election, Election 2010, halalan, Halalan 2010, voter

Several cancellations later, due to the crazy weather for weeks already, I decided to push through with my trip back to MSEUF in Lucena to do a couple of things – process my transcript transmittal to Ateneo and finally, after three long years, claim my yearbook. I went on, leaving my car at home – this, I soon regretted doing so.

Once again I experienced the butt-burning 3-hour trip (excluding the two hour waiting time at the terminal) one way and another 3 plus more hours on my way back. The butt torture could have been fine as I’ve conditioned my mind that I’ll just sit back and relax, no matter how cramped, and enjoy the sceneries – like seeing once again a stretch of funeral parlors along the highway of Sariaya, Quezon. But it didn’t happen.

Foolish me, but I must have forgotten that other than being elbow to elbow with other passengers inside the van (which most still call the FX no matter what the brand and model of the van is), one thing I have to bear with is horrific driving from its suicidal drivers. I don’t know if it’s just me, but I now seem to notice that all these drivers so far have this common way of driving that makes me wonder if a school for developing reckless drivers does exist. I’m now starting to believe that they are far worse than most bus and jeepney drivers and I wouldn’t be surprise if someday we will see another tragic news about people being killed due to these road maniacs.

***

Since my attempt to doze off during the trip have been futile in my fear that I’ll soon wake up with fluffy clouds around and some bearded man beside me (i.e., if it’s where I’ll be), my nokia 5800 became my trip buddy. On my way back, the driving became worse than the first that I shifted from listening to MP3’s to taking some video of the deadly maneuvers:

This one shows our driver changing from one lane to another with gusto as if the whole highway is a one-way road. Also captured, is another driver with a death wish overtaking despite the obvious oncoming traffic. If there’s Spy vs. Spy, I’d say what is shown here is Stupid vs. Stupid. Tsk, tsk, tsk. Is defensive driving extinct in this part of the world? Well, actually, I was wishing of capturing more stunning videos but I wished otherwise as I pity those others on board – a baby, several elderly woman, oblivious lovers, charcoals and yes, live chickens. Take note: live, stinking, chickens inside an air-conditioned van who were with me during the whole 3-hour or more ordeal. Forget about waking with fluffy clouds around…I was almost in hell already.

Mood: 3/10 Honks! (at least, I’m safely back home…smelling like stinky chicken)

Tags: defensive driving, FX drivers, Lucena, Nokia 5800, stupid drivers, Van drivers

Bengali fish curry

I love Indian-inspired food and everytime wifey makes one I’m the happiest man ever. Here’s her version of the Bengali fish curry with a presentation and taste that can shame Fish & Co’s. Really.

Mood: 2/10 Honks! (Mission accomplished)

Tags: Bengali fish curry, curry, Food, home food, Indian food

The job is about to start. In fact , last night I received the hit list. Eagerly and expertly, I studied the faces just like how I was trained. The facial features of the target got imprinted on my mind like a permanent tattoo. I looked at the eyes of each subject squarely without any hint of fear nor pity. Today I will see them.

This morning, I woke up early. In the darkness and chilling weather, I ran like hell to warm my body up. Stride after stride I mentally review today’s order of battle. I just can’t help but smile while every procedure seamlessly appears as if stored in an un-erasable digital format. I lifted weights and each time the adrenalin rush brings excitement and explicit thoughts. Hmmm. I’m really looking forward for this first mission. Few more hours I’ll execute it. Right now, I can already smell success.

Disclaimer: Not to be taken seriously. But then again…*LOL*

Mood: 3/10 Honks! (now if only these flabs can turn into well-defined muscles)

Tags: Hitman, Jobs

It looks like I was really destined to attend my first Nuffnang sponsored event last night. After cancelling the RSVP invitation when I realized that it is in conflict with my class schedule, I soon had to frantically retract it back after our professor cancelled our class as well. So last night, I eventually ended somewhere in Makati but my school. By 6pm, I was already in Bonifacio High Street, for the PLDT MyDSL Watchpad Live! event.

The event which was held at Mag:net Cafe was attended mostly by lucky bloggers (like me who got free invites), PLDT and Nuffnang Philippines bosses and staffs, and several celebrities and artists. Hosted by famous lady drifter, Pia Boren (whom I confirmed does look a lot like Hollywood actress Kirsten Dunst), it was meant to showcase and promote PLDT’s latest service for its MyDSL subscribers. Watchpad is an online service that conveniently enables one to watch, blog, chat and share, all at the same time. Visit www.pldtwatchpad.com for more info how to avail and use it.

The night where glowing laptops and ice-cold beers met woulnd’t have been complete if I didn’t get the chance to interact with fellow bloggers. At my table, I had a chat with partners Angelo and Christine Litton of HitABargain.com and Jonas Roque of the Facebuko.com that seems to be gaining popularity and recognition. I was also able to talk to the petite and bubbly Patty Dayrit of Patriciaspot and I likewise met the enterprising Jhong Relativo who is the owner of Kakikayan. Of course, other than the geeky stuffs (no pun intended), the 3-hour party was made lively with Mag:net’s Rockeoke night (normally done during Mondays) where audiences get to jam along with the band, The Johnnies. Unfortunately, the band’s loud music prevented me from going around the jam-packed bar to meet and talk to more bloggers. Anyway, I think it was a good night and there will be more I guess. Thanks again Nuffnang! (And a big thank you to Tina Gerolaga for not crossing me out of the list upon my cancellation.)

***

It’s a small world after all. One of those who made rounds to entertain the guests was Eric from Nuffnang and while chatting, led him to ask me my most dreaded question, “Where do you work?” After answering, Intel, he blurted, “Oh, my foosball table was from there!” Ti abi. Now, I know who got that most coveted table. Hahaha. Lucky you.

Foosball addicts, stalk this guy.

Mood: 3/10 Honks! (Will try to sleep early to be able to burn calories tomorrow morning)

Tags: Facebuko.com, foosball, HitABargain.com, Kakikayan, Mag:net Cafe, nuffnang, PLDT, Watchpad

Fellow Filipinos, a few more days left before the deadline of voter’s registration - October 31, 2009,  and we need to act fast. May 2010 election is fast approaching as well and the last thing we want to do is pass up on the opportunity to make each vote counted. It is in May 2010 that we get to choose who will lead our nation for the next 6 years. Remember, May 2010 is a make-or-break for us Filipinos so let’s do every effort to participate - start it by being registered and end it by being an informed voter.

Photo credit: Twitpic

Mood: 3/10 Honks! (will attend Watchpad Live! tomorrow)

Tags: halalan, Halalan 2010, Philippines, voter's registration

(Kapag Tumibok ang Puso)

I saw this posted by one of the tweeps I’m following, and told myself to give these guys a chance because unlike the first time when I saw their home-made videos on YouTube.com their TV appearances however, in my own opinion, have been nauseating, disappointing and annoying just to say a few – in short and in Tagalog, korny (if not, kornier). Surprisingly, I enjoyed watching this Kapag Tumibok ang Puso video.

Moymoypalaboy’s road to fame was through YouTube.com where they posted their lipsynched versions of a number of songs made catchy by their trademarked comical facial expressions, costumes (at times), and simple yet hilarious choreographs, all of which were done while seated in front of their webcams. I don’t exactly know the history how almost all of it became viral videos, but whatever it was, it made them very popular Filipino internet celebrities (among the likes of Arnel Pineda & Charice Pempengco) with thousands of visitors, like idle office workers, dropping by and watching their antics. Later on they stepped up the ante and their fans saw them doing production videos (I remember enjoying their video of the music Crank That by Soulja Boy) and soon enough, like one good modern times fairy tale stories, someone discovered them and signed them up to appear on TV shows. They eventually became mainstays of the local TV show Bubble Gang, and likewise performed as guest on other shows and the rest of course is history.

(I love this one…)

Needless to say, and safe to assume, that money flowed into these talented duo’s bank accounts as they signed one contract after the other. But the question if whether their TV stints increased their fan base, that I don’t know because I for one consequently shifted from being a fan to being a critic as I get more and more disappointed everytime I watch their Bubble Gang segments – and I always seem to wonder if Michael V., being a creative person, ever tried to advise moymoypalaboy to improve or bust.

(…I hate this.)

Yesterday, thinking that I’ve seen enough of these guys on TV, my rating for them reached record low when while having lunch with my wife and her ex-colleagues at Magdaragat, I lost not only my appetite but also my admiration as I watch them perform at a noontime show called SOP. I really can’t believe that they can actually get worse than what they do in Bubble Gang. I can now say that either their stuff isn’t tailored for TV or if the producers and writers of these TV shows are giving them überabsurd roles or scripts to follow. But either way, they’re losing it – unless their fans’ taste went down along with their TV performances. So if one shoutout just can make a significance, I’d like to shout it out loud, “Get them back to stick to YouTube, pleassssssseeeee!” When that time comes, I’ll be once again a moymoypalaboy fan.

Mood: 2/10 Honks! (finally, he’s going to be ours)

Tags: moymoypalaboy, Ramon Bautista, youtube

This is just to post a code for my new blog claim on technorati. 25tpxsjcra .

1 blog task done, more to come.

Even before I can catch up with what I’ve read from  Janette Toral’s Blogging from Home book which I bought a couple of weeks ago, but was only able to finish it while idly sitting at a car wash, comes more info from her Twitter account (@digitalfilipino). This time, at least, I got “fresh” updates and was able to immediately try both of it.

Janette Toral shared the following cool Twitter tools that tracks (or stalk?) a user’s Twitter activity.

Here’s one coming from www.twitteranalyzer.com which perfectly reflects the surge of my Twitter activity at the height of typhoon Ondoy. I was among those who felt hopeless and guilty about not being able to help those victims as news about them is broadcasted on TV and the Twitter-verse (twitter universe for those unfamiliar with the word). And the only contribution that time that most of those stuck at home, and like me were unaffected by the flooding, is to re-tweet or RT (again, this is the twitter version of the word relay) informations coming from those on the field like mediamen, public officials, and celebrities whose network of tweeps helped spread the critical infos, updates and even pleas for help. That day,twitting somehow lessened the guilt. Twitteranalyzer by the way also shows more like who mentioned your tweets, who’s tweet have you RT’ed the most, trending topics, etc.

This next one is provided by www.tweepsinfo.com . It’s a little bit simpler than twitteranalyzer but shows informative data as well. What I find amusing though is that it indicates how social a user is. It say’s I’m 60% social. Hmmm. What does it take to be 100%? Let’s see in the next days to come. Twitter tweeps here I come.

Mood: 3/10 Honks! (sun was up, food was great, had a couple of beers…and the whole time I was with my family – that to me is what Sundays should be.)

Tags: tweepsinfo.com, twitter, twitteranalyzer.com