(Note: Those who have read the ‘Baling’ post, skip this entry. Nothing new here)

THIS IS ANOTHER ARTICLE that talks about our Korean friends, in fact, the fourth that had to do with the topic. But before I proceed, let me tell you that writing about Koreans is not something I really want to do as a columnist. Precisely the reason I missed the past four Tuesdays straight is that I did a lot of serious thinking about what direction to take as a writer.

And I realized that what I really want to write about is World Peace, Food Shortage, Tibet, how to save the Black Rhino and the Giant Panda, and other issues of global significance, like the Balanghoy Festival.

Read More Here…

if you can’t read the text in the sun.star house ad below, i copied it here for you. this came out in last Saturday’s issue of the paper. I need to post this to feed the ego. so spare me the raised eyebrows.

it would be nice if you can also comment on who in the list of sun.star columnists is your favorite and why. i don’t have their names here. No need, because when you hate or love a columnist, it’s certain that the name is etched in your mind. whatever you write here about their columns they won’t know because they don’t visit this site. so feel free. but expect my editor’s instinct to work when a punch hits the crotch. and you can bet your ass no comment about INSOYMADA will make it here.

OPINION WRITERS FROM SUN.STAR CEBU AND SUN.STAR SUPERBALITA (CEBU)

“Individually, each has his own voice, her own niche, varying in substance and style from the others. Collectively, they pack a wallop, an enormous force in shaping public opinion. Each columnist seeks to inform, entertain, or inspire, yet also questions, teases, challenges, disputes. Motivated by noblest of motives: public good.”

Thanks to friend and former Sun.Star colleague Aledel Gonzalez for sending me the following report.

KINSHASA (Reuters) – Police in Congo have arrested 13 suspected sorcerers accused of using black magic to steal or shrink men’s penises after a wave of panic and attempted lynchings triggered by the alleged witchcraft.  >> Read article here

I wouldn’t have wanted to post anything about rectums here because that part of our body has suffered enough already. But there’s an aside in the VSMMC scandal that helps us newsroom people cope with the stupidity of it all (we look for something amusing in the news, or we won’t survive this kind of job). In cases like the VSMMC scandal, the media is not allowed to name the victim, so we assigned a name for him. But when you have several media outlets covering the same story and assigning a name to the victim, confusion starts.

Sun.Star calls the victim “Janjan” – at his request.

Cebu Daily News calls him “Danilo”

Balitang Bisdak calls him “George”

One radio station calls him “Mr. Florist”

Balitang Barbero (that’s the general public for you) calls him “Bayot”

Read More Here…

I arrived late for a meeting with a Korean client (yes ‘client,’ kay publishing consultant man kuno ko niya). Ug ang Koreana pwerteng sukoa.

Koreana: Lurinthoo, what happen? I come far just see you here Ayala. And you? And you? Late to come!

Me: I’m so sorry J (that’s her name, for Jaimee). It was heavy traffic in Mambaling.

J: Baling? You say home in text. Now Baling?

Me: Mambaling J. It’s where I live. It’s far from here, and I don’t have a car.

J: Aaargghh, Lurinthooo. Three already. Me here two. You hour late Lurinthoo! Me no car also, but taxi.

Read More Here…

Mao ni ang nahitabo sa “3rd album.” Nakarecord na mig five (or was it six?) songs sa Zzubu Studios late 2006 and early last year. Nasud na tanang instrumento (except for some minor additions that I’m sure we would be having later on in the recording). Generally, akoang vocals nalang kuwang. Nalangay lang kay sige’g gigs (it was the time when the so-called “bisrock” was making it big in the Visayas and Mindanao areas). Also, I had yet to finish the lyrics of some of the songs.

Read More Here…

naglungtod nga kalipay. kinawat sa payag ni vince cinches.

Our Korean friends never seem to run out things to amaze us. First there was the mysterious V sign, next they jumped on each other in some water cliff down south (a sad chapter in our province’s korean-dominated tourism industry), now here’s this news about them celebrating what they call Black Day, where lonely hearts drowned their sorrows in black noodles. And they’re serious about it. If you commiserate with our flamboyant neighbors, read kagul-anan gilumsan sa noodles.

I hate you rey siasar aka suedemonkey for posting this in your blog.  Pero sa tinuod lang, gimingaw pud ko gamay sa banda. Gamay lang ha.

I’m choosy when it comes to friends, that’s why I only have few. Most of them are characters — mga palahubog, laagan, kiat, way libog, way paki, artists, prosties, pimps, adik, zombies. They made it to my short list because of two things only: they don’t speak ill of others, and they have an unquenchable thirst for life (and beer).

I wish I could say the same thing about “friends” in cyberspace. But cyberspace is an imagined world in virtual reality. Everything that happens there should be understood in that context.

So, here’s a list of people (see under “barkada” on the sidebar) who fit that definition of cyberfriends. Some of them I know personally – our shared corner in the blogosphere is just a confirmation of the friendship we already share in real time. Most are, well, virtual friends who might be speaking ill of their own mothers as we speak. Whatever. Let’s keep returning the visit.