So Far, So Great! - Part 1

Yo, so it's been a while since I updated this blog. Two reasons: (1) school's a bitch and (2) school's a BITCH. Either way, I think this semester is shaping up to be one of the best semesters I've had in my life in the university--figured I haven't had this much of a good time (hellish workload aside) since the first semester of freshman year. For starters, I have tons to be thankful for, both in my academic, personal, professional and uh... love life. Ha ha.

So what's keeping me happy in school?

These guys.

(L-R) Sara, Ivan, Serena, EJ & Cole

with Cole

with Cole and Kristine

with Valerie

Nothing better than a solid support system to keep you afloat when all (academic) hell breaks loose. Figures--it's been close to three years since ORSEM, with trials, misunderstandings and issues aside, "we tight"! Wouldn't want anyone else to have my back but these guys.

with AB European Studies, Block G

Here's to 2 more years of stress, cramming and hilarious fun. Hope all's well on your end! 'Til the next post!

That kid on the radio.

Yes, I'm Legit In Love

The obvious answers to "How have you been?", "How is life?" and its other iterations are either you reply saying it's (1) good or bad, or (2) kebs or keribels (something new I learned last month). Lately, I found myself musing on a totally different response: "I'm in love!"

Alat, bro.

Yes, ladies and germs, that kid on the radio is in love--after what, close to 10 months of... aggressive flirtation with the general public...? I really dunno how to word "lantarang paglalandi" in English. Ha ha.

If you're gonna ask me to spill on who this person is, there's a fat chance that I would give you a blank stare and quip "No comment, next question." Who I'm seeing right now is really irrelevant to this blog post (and this blog in general) only because what I want to write about is the experience of that kind of love; what I'm feeling, and hopefully make you guys can realize what you have and appreciate it more OR realize what you don't have and make you want to find that person who genuinely loves you for who you are! 

What do I mean when I say "I'm in love!", if people ask me how I've been? For starters, if you're trying to flirt with me, it basically means GTFAFM, fully perfumed and tied with a ribbon. Kidding aside, it means I'm feeling everything imaginable! Happiness coupled with bouts of sadness, joy and pain, frustration and anger mixed with fear, side-by-side with glee, calm and glimmers of hope--all in healthy doses. But if there's one thing I'm feeling that notably stands out from everything else, it's contentment. I feel content to the point that I can honestly say that I couldn't wish for anything better for myself because I know I'm not settling. Mediocrity is soooo summer of 2011. Boom. Ha ha.

Anything else, aside from being a walking smorgasbord of emotions? Well, I'm also trying to say that I'm trying to be a better person. It's a "me" that's trying to be the best for someone else, aside from myself; a "me" that's living a life for two without being selfish--something I haven't really done in close to 2 years. It also means that my playlist on my iTunes is different: I can't seem to sing to sad, emo songs with as much emotion as I used to. simply put, hindi ko na sya feel. Happy songs and good vibes all the way for this radio disc jock.

One more thing that I'm trying to say is that I've forgiven myself. Pretty long stretch, huh? Let's just say that I'm that one person that gives myself a really tough time. I guess that failed relationship from a couple of years back took such a toll on me that I blamed myself for all of the wrongs that came out of that 2 year romance. I realized that I didn't allow myself much happiness after that; that I didn't let myself fall in love and let myself deserve anything near the idea. I guess I was beating myself up over it for so long that I just basically made myself believe that I didn't deserve to be happy; or loved for that matter.

So. Sino ba 'sya? Ha ha. I figured that I'm gonna keep it to myself and to my close group of friends for a while only because I want to try to build it some more before I can confidently tell everyone that this person is the person that I want to spend my whole life with. So until then, secret muna. Ha ha.


Rounding of with something I got out of a discussion in my Philosophy class about the nature of love, and here it goes: "Love is not about wanting to make your partner a better person. It's about wanting to be what's best for that person so she/he won't look for anything else." 'Til the next post!

That kid on the radio.

To Blog or Not to Blog?

Aside from being the author of this blog, that kid on the radio is also that kid in the university, that kid who's part of a big family, that kid who's always surrounded by friends and he's also that kid doing tons of other things. Yes, just like any college-drained teenager living in the 21st century, the call of doing anything that does not involve higher brain functions is always top priority.

To be fairly honest, as much as I am in love with writing, it does take up a lot of time (well for me, at least because I'm criminally meticulous) and time is more-or-less a luxury for junior year college students. No time for friends, night-outs, radio and everything else synonymous to fun, all in the name of academic advancement!

Case-in-point? I made the conscious decision to stay for an extra 5 hours in the library after classes got suspended due to a raging typhoon just to finish a comparative politics paper, due in 2 days! Top it of with having to read 3 books in a span of a week and BAM! Junior year sucks.

Of course, I do have enough time for Photobooth but then again, writing is a toootally different matter. Will try to update as much though, but that's not something to count on! Unless of course its earth-shattering and I just felt like writing a soliloquy about it. Ha ha. 'Til the next post!

That kid on the radio.

Call Me Maybe? Ano Daw?!

After a 3 month-long hiatus, I'm back in the blogosphere! Just in case you all were wondering where I've been and what I've been up to (which is a LOT), Imma have to ask you guys to chill first because I have to submit this online blog post for a Filipino project. It's graded, so please, bear with me as I attempt to deconstruct and analyze "Call Me Maybe" by Carly Jepsen in full-on Filipino, in 500 words or less! #lezzgow! 

"Call Me Maybe" ni Carly Rae Jepsen. Ang buong teksto ng mga titik ng kanta ay matatagpuan DITO.

Isang viral hit, ang kantang "Call Me Maybe" ng Canadian-born singer-songwriter na si Carly Rae Jepsen ay kasalukuyang tumagatinting hindi lamang sa radyo, telebisyon at internet na naaabot ng mga kabataan kung hindi pati narin sa lalong mas nakatatanda!

Ano nga ba ang mayroon sa kantang ito at sadyang pumatok sa pandinig ng nakararami? Karapat-dapat ba ang pagiging number one nito sa mga talaang pang musika tulad ng Billboard Hot 100 (at iba pa)? Bakit nga ba lumalaganap ang mga lip-sync videos na sa kasalukuyan ay pinagkakaguluhan sa YouTube, Facebook at Twitter?

Ito ay nagsisilbing kasaysayan hindi lamang ng nagbabagong mundo na lalong nagiging bukas sa mga kaisipan, kung hindi isang mundong na kahit maraming negatibong aspeto, ay kinakailangang paalalahaning maging masaya at optimistiko.

Kung bibigyan ng hatol ang "Call Me Maybe" sa tanong na kung ano nga ba ang tunay na ipinapahayag ng kanta gamit ang mga titik na pumupuna sa melodiya nito, ang maaring isagot sa tanong ay ang literal na paglarawan sa kwentong inilalahad nito. Ngunit kung sisiyasatin ng maigi, maaaring humantong sa kaisipan na hindi lamang sobra-sobrang paglalandi at mas grabeng pagkahulog ng damdamin ang dahilan kaya't naisipang ibigay ang number sa telepono, sabay sabi ng "Call me, maybe?". Isinasalamin nito ang isang lipunan kung saan katanggap-tanggap na ang babae ang gumawa ng pangunahing hakbangin sa tinitignang posibilidad sa romansa. Ipinapakita ang kawalan ng hiya (menos ang mga negatibong konteksto nito) ng kababaihan sa kagustuhang magkaroon ng love-life at ang gamit at kahalagahan ng teknolohiya (telepono) sa pagbuo at pananatili ng isang relasyon sa makabagong panahon. Haluin ang makatotohanang pagsalamin ng pamamaraan ng pag-iisip at pamumuhay gamit ang wikang naapapatotoo sa karamihan, at ang himig na nakakapang-akit: viola!  "Call Me Maybe." Isang Billboard Hot 100 chart topper.

Ang YouTube craze ng paggawa at pagupload ng video ng sarili at ng mga kaibigan habang naglilip-sync ay maaring tignan bilang isang penomenon kung saan ang pag-unawa ng kanta ng nakararami ay isang kantang tuluyan ang pagpapapahayag ng kasiyahan kaya't puro kalokohan, harutan at pagpapakita ng kaligayahan ang napapanood. Purong ang kasiyahan at pagkabighani ng isang indibidwal ang naririnig sa kanta at taliwas ito sa kadalasay' kalungkutan at pagka-emo ng karamihan ng mga kantang tinatangkilik ng masa (isa na dito ang "Somebody That I Used to Know" ni Gotye). Sa aking palagay ay ang paggawa ng ganitong panoorin ay mayroong hindi tuwirang layon na pumawi sa likas na pagkanegatibo at pesimistiko ng ating lipunan ngayon sa paghahatid ng konkretong larawan ng ligaya.

Bagaman walang katiyakan, sa aking palagay, lubos ang pagsikat ng kantang ito dahil bukod sa pagsasalamin nito kasalukuyang kalagayan ng kaisipan at pag-uugali ng lipunan ngayon, ito ay tumutugon sa pangangailangan ng pagpapalaganap ng optimistikong pananaw tungkol sa mundo ngayon.

PhotoDump - April 2012

A month in photos. Not much only because summer school kept me incredibly busy. Never doing six units in 2 months ever again. Ha ha. Either way, April was a good month (2012 being a good year in general). So far. Let's keep it that way!

April 14 - Get SOLE Photoshoot

with Get SOLE model Luigi Siy

April 15 - Karen Bordador's Birthday

with Radio1 jock Nikita and Karen Bordador

April 19 - SMART X NOKIA Lumia Private Launch Party @ Republiq!

(L-R) Radio1 jocks Nikki V., Nikita, EJ, Ysa Chong & Genille

with Radio1 jock Ysa Chong

(L-R) Radio1 jocks Genille, Ysa Chong & Nikita, RX Senior Events Officer Ms. Ea Medel & Radio1 jock EJ

April 21 - ADMU AMA's "Limitless!"

April 25 - "Happy Summer Campers" on the Manila Bulletin

Article by: Jaser Marasigan
Photos by: Andrew Pamorada
Published on: The Manila Bulletin, April 25 2012

April 28 - MYX VJ Search 2012 Auditions

That's at least one-half of my really good summer! Hope you guys had a good one too! 'Til the next post!

That kid on the radio.

Your Next MYX VJ?

So if you guys have been wondering where I've been, it's nothing special, really. Just summer school--which I'm never doing again! The work load is craaazzzzyyyy! Yes, I'm back to regularly updating my blog and I actually have tons in store for you guys so bear with me. What have I been up to? Aside from churning out tens of pages a day for my Psychology 101 and History 165 class, I've been... (wait for it)

Campaigning to be part of the MYX VJ Search 2012 finalists! Lucky number #46, I guess? Whatchoo guys think? I was pretty much surprised when "Solenn" came in and joined me--what an experience. Ha ha. Also, They're been airing it on MYX, so that's two things I can cross off of my bucket list--get 5000 hits on YouTube and get seen on national TV, not for a crime!

MYX Philippines on Facebook

Don't forget to tweet, share, like and comment on my video on YouTube! For more of the audition tapes, CLICK HERE, HERE and HERE! 

Fingers, toes and everything else--crossed! If I get in, I'll be damn well sure that I'll do anything to win this motherf*cker! Will definitely keep you guys posted. 'Til the next post!

That kid on the radio.

Blast From the Past - LSGH 4H Class Night

It's pretty much an LSGH standard that graduating classes throw their individual parties for their homeroom sections before graduation day: close to 40 students converge in a house meeting the following criteria: (1) minimal-to-no adult supervision, (2) has a gaming console, all of the latest video games and a 40-inch television screen (minimum), (3) has a basket ball court and a yard big enough for football, (4) does not allow underage drinking (I do hope you got the sarcasm on that one) and (5) has plenty of rooms for... stuff.

LSGH 4H Class of 2010

4H was pretty much a mixed bag of misfits, rascals, nerds, geeks, jocks, astists and Earl. Hi, Earl. I love these guys so much, no homo. Ha ha.

Earl

Ours was remarkable in a sense: we were the only class that had our class night out of town! One of our classmates gamely offered a near-empty 4-storied mansion in Canyon Woods, Tagaytay. I sh*t you not with the whole mansion thing, the place was huge! Sans the basketball court, it was perfect! The closest we had to adult supervision was the presence of Mr. Mario Cortez and Bro. Aikee Esmeli. FSC, by the way, who both are totally lax and chill (along with a battalion of bodyguards and drivers) so uh... yeah. Out of a class of 41, only 2 people couldn't make it because they weren't allowed (Hi, Pat and Carlos). Boo. I wonder why. 39 high school boys in one house, with all of that? Whouldathunk.

(L-R) Caleb, Baby Carl, Ralphe, Tejads & EJ

(L-R) Tejads, Caleb, Alvin, Baby Carl, Ralphe & EJ

(L-R) Migs, Chip, Luigi and EG

the house dining table

the house fridge

It was a Friday to Saturday thing and the whole endeavor was equal parts tiring, fun, costly and memorable. I do remember cooking the food on-the-fly for 40 plus people with the help of the ever-so-merciful Doldenn, somebody streaking, singing "Eye of the Tiger" at 4 AM in the morning, a friend asking for a hooker at the local 7-11, somebody falling asleep in the bathroom, a boxing match, unicorns, lots of bromancing and waking up with--hands-down--the worst hangover I've ever had.

Mari vs. Moses

Earl vs. Dan

LSGH 4H Class of 2010

(L-R) Migs and Mr. Mario Cortez

Joshie

And I would kill to do that all over again! To my 4H-Hippos (with no homo): I love you guys and I'll see you all soon! (click HERE and HERE for the complete album by Gerald Tejada) 'Til the next post!

That kid on the radio.

Those Kids on The Radio Are On The Newspaper!

A normal drive to school for the summer semester would consist of 3 things that always happen. In chronological order, (1) My mom telling me I'm incredibly late for my 9 AM class, (2) breakfast in the car and (3) "The Morning Rush."

On my way to Katipunan with my Dad, the first bit I caught as we turned on the radio was Gino, telling everyone to buy a copy of The Manila Bulletin because it featured all three of them on the Campuses & Schools section--a weekly special, published on Wednesdays. I sh*t you not, my Dad went ballistic and frantically looked for a "tak-tak boy" along C5! I finally convinced him to forego with the idea and have me buy one at the nearest convenience store instead, and as I went down, he handed me a thousand-Peso bill for a twenty-buck newspaper. LOL.

"Three Way Radio" by Jaser Marasigan
photo by: Andrew Pamorada
published in The Manila Bulletin on April 25, 2012

"Three Way Radio" by Jaser Marasigan
photos by: Andrew Pamorada
published in The Manila Bulletin on April 25, 2012 

Just a quick tidbit: If there's one thing I admire about my Dad, it's the fact that even with drivers, he insists on driving and seeing off each and every one of us (5 kids) to wherever it is we have to go to in the morning. It doesn't matter if he's sick, tired or overworked, Dad would always be the one to give our day a head start--even with the crazy Manila traffic! With or without us kids in the car, Dad's constant companion while braving the raging streets of the cosmopolitan traffic would be the car's radio. Since getting into radio in 2008, Dad's been converted to being a listener of Monster Radio RX93.1--as if he has a choice. Ha ha. Since then, it's no secret in the family that my dad is a huge fan of The Morning Rush with Chico, Delamar & Gino. I remember that one time I saw my Dad get really "kilig" because Delle greeted him with a "Hi, Sir!" Priceless.

After reading the lengthy 2-page, photographed and colored interview of the hosts of the multi-awarded, longest-running and top-rated radio show--to which my Dad quipped "Anak, sa ibang station ba, ganyan ka-"good looking" and mga DJs?", I hastily folded the section to get to the other parts of the newspaper. Lo and behold, I came across THIS!

"Happy Summer Campers" by Jaser Marasigan
photos by: Andrew Pamorada
published in The Manila Bulletin on April 25, 2012 

photo by: Andrew Pamorada

photo by: Andrew Pamorada

photo by: Andrew Pamorada

Funny how it really did take me a while to realize that it was us. For one, I half-forgot about the interview we had weeks ago. The fact that it was a full page, in full color was unbelievable too! I gotta be honest, being published in a major broadsheet not for a crime is a pretty great feeling--a perfect mix of pride, "kilig" and happy that got me smiling and giddy the whole day!

After much internet and text-blasting and the initial shock passed, it finally all came to me--something I failed to notice and it sunk in. They used this photo. Oh God, why.

(L-R) Radio1 jocks EJ, Ysa Chong, Nikita, Nikki V., Angel, Trish & Genille
photo by: Andrew Pamorada

"Happy Summer Campers" by Jaser Marasigan

photos by: Andrew Pamorada

published in The Manila Bulletin on April 25, 2012

Ha ha. Read all about it HERE! Thanks to Jaser Marasigan, Andrew Pamorada and the editorial of The Manila Bulletin for this one. That's one thing off of my bucket list. 'Til the next post!

That kid on the radio.

SMART X NOKIA Lumia Private Launch Party @ Republiq!

Smack in the middle of the week, SMART--together with Styles Entertainment--introduced the NOKIA Lumia to tech-savy Filipinos at the NewPort Mall!

The SMART X NOKIA Lumia Private Launch Party

April 19 saw the Resorts World complex welcome the SMART X NOKIA crew as they showcased, demo'd and gave away NOKIA 710's to mall-goers, bloggers and celebrities alike. Hosted by "Survivor Philippines" star KC Montero and GMA7 "it-girl" Rhian Ramos, the press-conference at the Café Republiq was jam-packed, and as they told us all about the the NOKIA Lumia 710, shutterbugs snapped away at the celebrity hosting duo.

Café Republiq
photo from ysachong.tumblr.com

(L-R) Radio1 jocks Nikki V., Nikita, EJ, Ysa Chong & Genille
photo from mikocarreon.tumblr.com

Café Republiq wasn't the only happening place that night. Top radio DJs Gino Quillamor from Monster Radio RX93.1's hit comedy show "The Morning Rush" and the stunningly beautiful Andi Manzano delighted mall-goers of the NewPort Mall to a program also made possible by SMART X NOKIA! The set-up featured LED boards, standees and demo portals for everyone to take the NOKIA Lumia 710 out for a spin!

Gino Quillamor & Andi Manzano
photo from ysachong.tumblr.com

SMART: Live More!
photo from ysachong.tumblr.com

photo from ysachong.tumblr.com

Radio1 jock Nikita with the new NOKIA Lumia
photo from mikocarreon.tumblr.com

Radio1 jock Ysa Chong with the new NOKIA Lumia
photo from mikocarreon.tumblr.com

with the new NOKIA Lumia
photo from mikocarreon.tumblr.com

fashion blogger Miko Carreon with the new NOKIA Lumia
photo from mikocarreon.tumblr.com

To cap off the night, members of the press and celebrities from SMART's long line of endorsers were treated to a private party at Republiq--the metro's premiere super club. Free flowing drinks plus east coast sounds from Miami-native Erick Morillo created an electric atmosphere, all in celebration of the launch of the all-new NOKIA Lumia--all made possible by SMART and Styles Entertainment!

photo from mikocarreon.tumblr.com

photo from mikocarreon.tumblr.com

with Radio1 jock Ysa Chong
photo from mikocarreon.tumblr.com

(L-R) Radio1 jocks Genille & Ysa Chong, fashion blogger Miko Carreon (from mikocarreon.tumblr.com), Toff Tiozon, Jim Ferrer, Radio1 jocks Nikita, nikki V. & EJ
photo from mikocarreon.tumblr.com

photo from mikocarreon.tumblr.com

photo from mikocarreon.tumblr.com

As always, any night with the Radio1 student jocks is always crazy fun, so thank you to Ysa Chong, Nikita, Genille and Nikki (and surprise, surprise: RX Senior Events Coordinator Ms. Ea Medel) for joining me last Thursday night! 'Til the next post!

(L-R) Radio1 jocks Genille, Ysa Chong & Nikita, RX Senior Events Officer Ms. Ea Medel & Radio1 jock EJ
photo by: Matthew Lee Cheng

That kid on the radio.