The Things That I Learned from the New Year League

Last Sunday was the finals for the New Year League for ultimate frisbee. We lost a very critical game (against Team Jogadores). Sigh…

But the game last Sunday was the one where I really leveled up.

I have the throwing skills to be a handler. Well, that’s what the Class A boys (Blue and Sher) and girls (Nina) told me last Sunday. Ever since I started playing disc, my comfort zone was really in running, defense and catching. I’m only half-confident with my throwing skills. Truthfully, I was both shocked and scared at last Sunday’s game when the team captain announced that I’m going to be one of the handlers.

Very thankful ako to Sher for the tips on how to act and move as a handler. He literally crammed me into the role, giving me pep talks and coaching me at every opportunity that I was off-field. It’s really a great feeling for me when he told me in one of his pep talks that I have the talent for handling. My next step should be not to hesitate to throw. Nina said the same thing to me: ”Magaling ka magbato. Kayang-kaya mo yung pwesto (as handler).”

Talk about team pressure.

Babad din ako sa field. Out of the 13 points played, I was in there for ten points. From my last league participation, I would have expected that I’d be down on my backside suffering from leg cramps and sore muscles by the end of the day. Amazingly, my overall condition was still okay after the game.

Despite all our team’s efforts, we lost that critical game 7-6. I have this feeling at the back of my head that I could have prevented that loss --- there was this one goal scored by the opposing team that I could have prevented if I kept to the basic rule of never leaving your eyes off your opponent. I made the crucial mistake of stealing a glance at where the disc will be coming from, and the next thing I knew is that the man I’m defending has already bolted away from me towards the goalzone.

Next time around, I commit myself to playing better.
Perfect the basics.
Remove my hesitations.
Practice.
Practice.
Practice.

And as always, have fun.

It's a Girl!

I had anticipated the kid, but we didn't do the diligence of determining its sex via ultrasound beforehand. Everybody just assumed that it was going to be a boy.

And to our surprise and collective astonishment, at 0004H of 21st February, the baby girl was born.

And here starts one of my bigger challenges in life.

Chopsuey

Too many things to write about...

1. ROCKBAND

For the last 3 weeks, I've been playing an hour each night online on Rockband. I've met some really good guitar players and superb vocalists when I sub as a drummer for their respective groups. Haha.. I've received my share of compliments for my drumming skills, like "Nice work on the drums, man!" and such.

Anyway, playing as a 'sub drummer' in the online Rockband community has earned me quite a reputation already. When I opened my Playstation account last night, I had a half dozen invites from "strangers" (online players who I haven't played with) to sub as a drummer for their "jam" sessions.

Also, out of boredom, I've created character profiles for a few colleagues who play with me occasionally. Ahahahaha.


2. TERIYAKI BOY

It was really hot yesterday afternoon.

I had a very late lunch (3 pm!) at Teriyaki Boy in Glorietta yesterday, as I've been craving for Japanese food. I was expecting that I'll be the lone customer there at that time, but there were a couple of cute Japanese college girls there chatting away over their cold soba noodles. One of them had a Hello Kitty charm dangling from her mobile while the other girl had red irises (special contact lenses, I suppose).

I seated myself across them, gave my order to the waiter, and eavesdropped on their conversation while I had my sashimi appetizer.

Now don't get me wrong... I generally don't eavesdrop. If ever I do, I have a perfectly good reason for doing it. In this case, I wanted to test out whether my Japanese language skills are still good enough for a conversation.

Halfway through my unagi don, Hello Kitty girl said something like this: "hadagi uetto waga... atsui!!". I burst out laughing! Bwahahaha! And the girls glanced at me suspiciously, with RedEye girl saying "Domo...?"

I apologized, said "Hai!" and blurted out a "sumimasen!" while smiling at them. I took out my pen and scribbled some stuff on a napkin and handed it to them, babbling that I'm not really fluent in Japanese speech but I'm pretty good at kanji writing.

Here's my rough translation of what they were talking about:

Hello Kitty girl: It's so warm here... my panties are actually wet!
Me: *snickers*, then goes "Bwahahahaha!"
Red-eye girl (suspiciously looking at me): You understood that?
Me: Yes. But I'm really sorry about it. =)


3. I went to the F.O.B. concert...

... and all I got was a t-shirt. Just kidding. I had a great time!(picture to be posted)

The last time I watched a concert at the Aranate Coliseum was when The Corrs were in Manila. Last Friday, I had the chance to watch Fall Out Boy.

Scanning quickly through the crowd (not bad... about 90% full!), I realized that:
a) almost 2/3 of the audience were kids in the 12-16 year old age bracket
b) two-thirds of the two-thirds mentioned above were girls
c) of the 1/3 who were not kids, about half of them looked like parents or chaperones, and they seem to have no clue who Fall Out Boy are

Thus, that leaves only 1/6 of the original audience who are in my age group and know that they're at Araneta Coliseum to enjoy the F.O.B. concert.

Front act was by Hey Monday, and in case you don't know who they are, tune in to Animax channel on your cable TV. Think Jonas Brothers meet Paramore, and give the female vocalist a New Yorker punk twang. Goodness.. I don't know any of their songs!

Finally, at 930pm, FOB got onstage and performed 17 songs for the night plus another 2 songs for their encore. They basically played the songs that's in their "LIve in Phoenix" concert album. Plus of course, their two hits from their newest album Folie a Deux namely "I Don't Care" and "America's Suitehearts".

Their stage presence was awesome. Neat tricks by the guitarists and energetic headbanging and stick-twirling by the drummer. The stage effects were also fantastic, specially when they performed "I Don't Care" and had all the lights onstage turned off --- all their instruments glowed in the dark, flashing on-and-off synchronized to the music and to their stage choreography.

By the end of the night, my voice was hoarse from shouting out the lyrics to their songs and joining the audience in some cued singing.


4. Gyro Now Smiles

Ngumingiti na daw si Gyro, according to Janice. I visited them early evening yesterday.

Unfortunately, Janice is a bit jealous of her husband Glenn because their 2-month old kid Gyro only smiles to Glenn (so far). Hahahaha!

Belated happy anniversary to you two, by the way.

Logic Problem

Two friends were at a hospital, just outside the delivery room.
One of them is the father of the child to be born, but the other will be the father of the same child to be born.

How is that possible?

Reality Check

I was at our head office yesterday to deliver a presentation to our group’s regional envelope manager and his successor. It was also an opportunity for me to be introduced to them and showcase my technical and supply-chain skills –- I was under the impression that it was a pre-conceived tactic by our leadership team.

Anyway, I delivered the presentation smoothly and confidently (I only stammered once!). Our guests commended our group’s showcase of competency. Even our group’s VP gave us a pat on the back.

Later in the night, after a few games of badminton with some colleagues, I joined my co-worker and our VP for drinks at a bar just behind the office. As I took my seat, our boss ordered me a beer and shot me a question:

“What’s the next job you would like, Stip?”

With no second thoughts, I confidently answered, “In the long term, I want the Fuels Technical Manager position, sir.”

”You didn’t answer my question. What next assignment would you like to have?”

“I figured that I have 2 to 3 more years of tenure at my current position. By that time, if the Fuels Technical position is vacant, I would apply for it.”

Boss took a sip of his beer, nudging me to do the same. And I took a few gulps of San Mig Light.

”There’s no way you can get that position as your next assignment.

Over the next few minutes, our boss explained why I cannot get that next assignment on my next job transfer. I needed to further broaden my skillbase. I also didn’t realize that the FTM position was two rungs above my present job level, and hence I needed a “springboard position” in case I really want to pursue that assignment.

At the end of that one-beer discussion, I’ve gained a broader view of my career options.

I wonder if an assignment in our Lubricants business is as exciting and rewarding as my current stint in our Fuels business?

I need to give that some serious thought.

I’ll start asking around.

Leveling Up

I’ve been posting a lot about disc (or more commonly known as ‘frisbee’ for non-frisbee players) recently because I’m hooked into the sport. Here’s another disc post.

Last Saturday, I believe that I’ve played my best game in a disc tournament.

It’s our team’s first time to play in pool A for a tournament league, so clearly we’re the underdogs in the bracket. Moreover, I was one of the team’s newest players --- -- barely 6 months experience of playing ultimate frisbee, along with Bai.

The veterans say that playing ultimate frisbee is 50% skill and 50% confidence. I started out in this league with some skill and little confidence (specially after hearing about the story of the big-bald-guy-frisbee-player who taunted “I’m gonna break your head like a piñata” in one of the 2008 tournaments, what little confidence I had slid down a bit more). But despite the nervousness and having clammy hands, I took the plunge just like the time when I went bungee-jumping. Once you jump out, there’s no turning back. Well, that’s how my mindset was.

Finding myself in the familiar air and grounds of Alabang Country Club, I religiously participated in the warm-ups and drills. I know that I just need to push myself harder to be worthy of being in pool A (and hopefully get a decent number of minutes on the playing field so that my 700php tournament fee won’t be a regret spend). Trying to perfect my passes, my footwork, field vision, reflexes and endurance, I wanted to assure myself that I’m good enough to be in the pool A line-up.

And on my first game for the day, our team captain Blue fielded me in for our starting line. I couldn’t believe what I heard! For the last two weeks, I get fielded during the non-critical periods of the game (such as when it’s obvious that we won’t win the match) --- that was okay with me since I’m basically a greenhorn and I perfectly understand the need to let the more skilled players have the field in hopes of still salvaging the game. I was content with watching the game, taking in how the other disc players execute their plays so that I could learn more.

On the field, Blue struck another surprise at me. He announced that I’m to be his secondary handler. Whoa! For disc games, playing as a handler is one of my low points. It’s like being the point guard in basketball --- it’s the handler’s responsibility to bring the disc down to their goal zone, and rescue the disc from their teammates if they’re being trapped by defense. It requires very good passing skills and field vision. My passing skills are only mediocre --- my key skills in ultimate are catching, defense and running/endurance --- and that further rattled what little confidence I had.

For the next 10 minutes, despite that lump in my throat called ‘fear’, I played with focus and determination. I was amazed that I can keep up with my “match” (“match” is the player from the opposing team who’s defending against you or the one that you’re defending on). My defense was good too --- I’ve managed to bring the stall count up to 8. 75% of my passes were good. I was playing at par with pool A players!
And the culminating point is that I scored our team’s first goal for the game. Wahoo!

In a span of 10 minutes, my experience and confidence leveled up considerably.

Throughout the game, Blue would field me in every so often like a regular player. I didn’t get the chance to score another goal though, but I was tough on my defense and made a couple of assists. One particularly tall white guy on the opposing team even complimented me on my running --- he admired that I was able to keep up with him during the game, applying tough defense and preventing him from scoring goals despite our large height difference.

Although our team lost, last Saturday was the best game I’ve ever played in for frisbee.

P.S.
Thanks to my workmates Julie, Val and Jay for covering my duty last Saturday. The Krispy Kremes were very much worth it for my great game experience.

I Don't Care

I say I don'te care about what you think
As long as it is about me.
The best of us can find happiness in misery.

This song has been playing over and over in my head for the last month or so, ever since I downloaded it for my Rockband game in my PS3. I love the drum sequence (really simple, but very catchy). I even played this song on drums AND on vocals at the same time.

"I Don't Care" is from the Fallout Boy's newest album Folie a Deux. The Rockband game had a great influence on my music taste for the last 2 years. I wasn't sure before that Fallout Boy was a good band with good music, but playing their songs on the game made me realize that their music (and beat) is just right for me.

And by some wild coincidence, my best friend gave me 3 tickets to the Fallout Boy's concert on Feb 13th --- not just any ticket, but Lower Box tickets. Sweet! It's a big coincidence because he got the tickets from his employer, who in turn has those free tickets because they developed the Rockband game I'm playing, and it was Rockband that got me to listening seriously to Fallout Boy songs.

It's a pity that they weren't VIP or Patron tickets, but what the heck. I don't care. Beggars can't be choosers. *grin*

I just realized that the chorus of the song "I Don't Care" is how my demeanor has been for the last many months.
As it goes, the best of us can find happiness in misery.

Dear Gyro

Remind me five years from now what video game console you wish to have for either your birthday or as a Christmas gift.

I'll also support any artistic or athletic endeavors you may develop interests in --- play the violin, or your dad's saxophone, or swimming, or peewee soccer, or taekwondo. I enjoy wargames, mountaineering, badminton, wall climbing and recently, ultimate frisbee. I'll tell you about the time your dad and I played some wargames in the housing compound and how we ended up being surrounded by a platoon of real soldiers.

I'll hand you your first comic book as soon as you are able to read. I'll explain to you why Batman is the most kick-ass superhero around, and that you should idolize him.

I'll tell you to go to Tito Emer if you want to widen your musical perspective. He's the dark dude in the photo.

I'll introduce you to Tita Val, so she can tell you how to be popular among girls. She's the other woman in the photo.

The Chinese guy in the photo is your Tito Jay. At all costs, you should not believe in everything he says. Verify his statements either with your dad, mom or me.

Be sure to be obedient to your mom and dad. They are really good people, and they know what's best for you.

That being said, welcome to the Christian world!

- Ninong Stip

Sunday

This Sunday:

1. I'm attending the christening of Gyro Benavidez Pamplona. Born last Dec 28th, looks and makes faces exactly like his dad Glenn. Gyro will be my third godson. Of course, I'm very honored to have been picked by Glenn and Janice to be their firstborn's godfather.

Hehehe... I cas see myself spoiling Gyro as he grows up.


2. First game day of the New Year League.

I'll admit it... kinakabahan ako about this league.
Because we're playing in pool A. There are a lot of other players who are in the lower bracket, pool B, who are much, much, much better than I am at playing ultimate frisbee.

Because we're like a bunch of Davids going against a horde of Goliaths.

Oh well, if I'm gonna get battered with the rest of my team, I might as well enjoy the league. It's going to be a really challenging experience.

Funny Story

This is the first funny story that I've heard this 2009.

"Ahhhh... We're at Paris, dude!"

First time namin ni Butch pareho sa Paris. So excited kami sobra to get up to the Eiffel Tower. Kahit sobrang lamig, takbo kami paakyat sa tuktok! Sira kasi yung elevator... peste talaga yang mga Pranses!

Finally, when we reached the top, we were surprised pare! Tired as we were, we got shocked and awed at the same time!

Number 1: There were many people on top. Check.
Number 2: All the people at the top of the Eiffel Tower were COUPLES!
Number 3: Nobody was using the telescopes, and nobody was taking in the magnificent view of Paris from the top of the Eiffel Tower!.

Biruin mo yun, couples left-and-right were cuddling, kissing and some were even groping each other! Geeeessh...

After being stunned and realizing what the other couples were doing there, slowly nagkatinginan kami ni Butch and nag-meet yung mata namin....

"F*ck you, pare! Don't even think about it!!", we blurted out simultaneously with our fingers pointing at each other.


There's supposed to be a lesson behind this story, but all of us at the dining table were laughing so hard by then.

- as narrated by Cris Taga, aka "Johnny Bravo" in our group, over a small reunion dinner at the Aganda household. Cris is still currently a bachelor (although we seriously think that his happy days are about to end soon. *kindat*)

RIOT, Squeaky Clean

1. RIOT

Arrgs... The frisbee league is starting on Sunday. I'm excited about it, but at the same time a bit anxious. Our team is moving up in the pool bracket, and we're going against the more elite players in the disc community. Our team has merged with another team and decided to brand ourselves Team RIOT for this tournament.

We played pick-up games with three other teams at the Sunken Garden last weekend. Ang daming tao! Seems like the whole frisbee community is preparing hard for the first league of the year.

Blue, the captain of the other team that merged with us, taught us a complex drill --- a "2-man go-to" drill. It was fast-paced, required some nimble footwork and more importantly, precise passing.

But, it wasn't my best day for frisbee. I twisted my ankle. I fumbled the disc four times in a row (which my teammates noticed).

But at least my passing was decent.

After the games and drills, we went to Shakey's for dinner and Cantina for drinks, and had ourselves a RIOT kind of time!

2. Shower shower shower... shower

I technically had to take four baths yesterday. Hahahaha!

I practically spent most of my free time soaking myself under the sun. The chilly and cloudy weather for the last few weeks at Batangas made me appreciate it.

Ten Circles of Hell

I was cooking some chili late last night when I decided to pop-in a DVD on my player and watch a Hongkong horror movie. I bought the movie many months ago but hadn’t had the time or interest to watch it until last night. It was Neraka 19.

Neraka is Hindu for hell.

The movie has its selling points – an interesting storyline, good acting, and some pretty nice girls. The only disappointment for me was it wasn’t a hair-raising, voice-muting horror movie. Japanese horror movies are much better.

Anyway, what fascinated me about the movie is that apparently there is a Chinese belief that there are 18 gates of hell, and that there are cultists who believe on the existence of a 19th gate. Hence the movie title Neraka 19.

Yeah, I know. I have a slight interest in this religious-occult genre.

I tried to do some research on these 18 gates of hell, but I couldn’t get a good match so far. But based on what has been presented in the movie, there is only one good parallelism between the Oriental belief of the 18 gates of hell against the 9 Circles of Hell presented by Dante in his Divine Comedy.

Both concepts of hell distinguished between an Upper Hell and a Lower Hell.

In Dante’s hell, as one goes lower and lower into the further circles, the space becomes smaller and smaller. Like a funnel. In the Chinese concept of gates of hell, the “hell” beyond each gate is limitless. Dante’s concept was based on the gravity of the sin at each circle – the higher the gravity of one’s sins, the deeper he goes into the circles of hell, and the more severe the retribution is. The soul carries out the punishment at his ultimate circle only.

In the movie, the Chinese gates of hell have to be passed successively for all souls. The belief was that beyond each gate of hell, one needs to survive the retribution waiting for him. The punishment is equivalent to the sin (well, as far as the movie and artistic concept implied) --- for example, the first gate of hell is “The Torture of Tongue-Cutting”. Those who have used words to offend others will find themselves cutting off their tongues themselves if they are guilty of this sin. Those who are innocent of this sin are guided on to the next gate.

Because of this, Dante’s concept of hell is eternal damnation. There is no redemption. In the movie, it was portrayed that there is a chance of redemption. If your conscience remains clear at each gate, you pass the test of the gate. When one clears the 18th gate, his soul is redeemed.

Now what happens beyond the 18th gate? Is there really a 19th gate? Based on the movie, there’s none.

The parallel question to that is what if there was a circle of hell? What punishment will be there? In Dante’s 9th circle, Lucifer is there, conscious but unable to move, frozen in ice along with the souls of the sinners “worthy” of accompanying him.

I think, just to toy with the idea, someone more evil than the devil himself would be found at the 10th circle.

This brings to mind a local joke here at our office which names a few personalities more evil than Satan. Hehehe.