The Magic That Ate Your Brain And Our Dignity

Destination achieved.
Much to awareness, there was more to learn.
Youth. Formal prints. Obligations.
Pushed to commit, desire to omit.
Fun, yes. Smiles, friends, people, lots of them.
Time, energy, and intelligence, though, spent on unpromised hours.
The gates seemed to be locked for one revolution. Tired of the +, the meaningless rituals of those who claim devoted. Even the supposed unchained suns were clouded with white dusts from the dark green surfaces of those tiny rooms.
Told self it won't be long.
Pressure went on. Lies revealed. Issues conceived.
Monsters exists. Them cloaked in beauty and sunshine. Magic exists. Magic that encourages youth to go on despite lack of determination, effort, and intelligence. Hated the magic. Hate the magic. Prints changed, reluctantly. Whines, grunts, steams.
The lock rusts. It had always been. Ink used as a key to salvation, if not, freedom.
Dropped stacks, left them there, gracefully left.
Rights obtained, wings grew, angel of a different direction. Not hell, not heaven.
The world is full of lies. How sure are you that you were never used with such magic?

Everything Eric

I love my name. But together, they are not phonetically rhythmic. Think abour Madonna, Britney Spears, John Lloyd Cruz, and Hugh Hefner. These names are fun to utter. But my name.. The stresses don't seem to jump like fireworks.

James Eric Garcia. James Garcia. Eric Garcia. James Eric Aquino Garcia.

I think it could have been better if Eric came first. During my first work, I spent the whole school year as a teacher with my name in many files as Eric James Garcia for the mere reason that the secretary of the school when I arrived there felt it better that way. Even the first copy of my contract had my name that way.

I decided to be known as Eric in 2010 as part of 'moving on' from some stuff I was leaving behind. That's why in my 2nd work, the first few people who knew me would call me James. (My apologies to them for the confusion). I chose to be Eric because the name sounds fancier.

And I think that it's too passe to have the letter J as the first letter of one's name. I find the letter E very meaningful more especially because most of my favorite words begin with it. Euphoria. Eccentric. Ecstatic. Electric. Enigma. Explain. Elaborate. Emphasize. Enamored. Everything! Everything E!

My names have meanings which I don't know whether they encourage me or mock me. "James" came from a Hebrew word meaning "supplanter." I am not sure though what thingamajigg would I be supplanting. If there is a person out there in my life who is so great then let me know, I'd be glad to take over his or her position. That's if I could handle it.

There are three meanings of the name "Eric" from the Old Norse. These are "forever," "alone," and "ruler" (Double-meaning: I'm good at lengths--hahaha). Does this push me in becoming a forever lone ruler? And if so, of what? That's yet for me to find out.

My friend Osonnie likes her name because her name is very unique. Actually, it is a combination of her parents' names. If I were to create a name for myself, I would definitely want to invent one. But there are other names I would choose to have which are not really common like "Trevor" or "Kiyoshi." (When I say common name here, I mean, at least in the Philippines).

However, pretty much, I love my name. It is just incredible how much our names could take us into many thoughts. Our names are not mere utterances nor alphabets. Cliche, but, they give meaning to us. They made us who we are. Without them, we would never be where we are now. Without them, we would never know who we really are. And without them, how would people know us? Like I used to usually tell my students: Do not let your names be spelled on your birth certificate and your tombstone; Let it be spelled across the globe.

How about you? Have you ever wondered much about your name?

This Must Be Pop

To be honest, I am a huge pop music junkie. I just happen to be inclined to catchy stuff, but it does not mean I like all pop songs.
There are thousands of them out there that I dislike because I'm so sick of hearing them. I disliked 'Umbrella,' 'Nothing on You,' and 'Empire State of Mind' because they were fleas in my ear. But I simply cannot parry the way other pop songs amuse me. Admit it, 'Telephone' is catchy yet quite meaningful and interesting--something new lyrically. And let's face it, despite being shallow with its lyrics, 'Hold It Against Me' gets your ears pleased. It's kind of how pop music works; it's not artistic enough (usually), it's plain old entertainment--more of a drivel that aims to be sold and, yes, to lead people to a certain perspective.
Notice how this era's revolving around a certain theme. Isn't it quite odd that music nowadays is usually using four-on-the-floor beats? What's funnier is that we no longer much talk about love--it's all about partying. It is not that I'm saying that love should be taken as a big deal nowadays but, I guess what pop music is trying to say now is to get up and just enjoy life.

But that's not the latest. I'm seeing a pattern of new pop songs nowadays. Lately songs like "Raise Your Glass," "We R Who We R," "Firework," "The Best Thing about Me Is You," and "Born This Way" seem to deliver one message: to be proud of oneself. These songs are meant to be pop for the very reason that the artists behind them want to deliver the message of unity, justice, and equality to a bigger crowd. Some of these songs are not really deep, which means they aim to reach even those who are not much educated.

I believe that Madonna is a very deep person spiritually. She uses pop music because I think she wants her profundity to be shared across the globe. This reminds me of her saying that she wants people to start thinking like her. Sure.

Pop music isn't really supposed to annoy our ears. They are supposed to tell something and that something is wished to be told among many people in this planet. Why would they be called pop in the first place if they are not meant to be popular?

He Exists

Meet my son. He is a topnotcher in class. He doesn't take his studies seriously. For him, it's just part of living. Just like when he plays soccer and basketball. Which makes him very athletic and a hot item for girls.
He loves his parents. But he loves his dad more. He loves my ideas and would like to continue my dreams. He is not really Mr. Nice Guy, he gets cranky and cocky at times.. But his acts are contextually appropriate.
Someday, he's going to marry a girl he faithfully loves. He's going to be successful in life. He's going to be famous and our name would appear in Wikipedia. Still I can't believe he's done it.

Yes, he is born already. He exists. I wouldn't know all about these if he didn't. He has not yet materialized totally, though. If you can recall Greek mythology, Athena was born from Jupiter's head. The same way with my son---figuratively though.

Yes, I've been longing to have a son. I don't know. I just have that longing to be proud of someone, and that someone could carry my name. I long for a son who could do things that I might not be able to do anymore. Of course this is selfish thinking, considering that he's got a mind and dreams of his own. Well, whatever he wants, I just want the best for him.

Now, to find a mother... Hmmmmm....

Fried A

Aah, Friday. The way the sun shines ain't the same as it usually does these days. It beams throught the clouds, letting us get a glimpse of a brighter day ahead.
Yes, Friday. A gateway to freedom to many. A breath before a lovely phrase. A touch before a kiss. A kiss before a slumber. A slumber after a war. A breeze before a wave.

There goes that happy tune inside your head as you walk on the streets, meet your friends, and prepare for your work. It is the last day of work for most people. It is the murderer that we all love; cutting the evil claws of stress and frustration at the end of the day.

Look at the people around me: frizzy hair, sweating, eye bags bulging, sleepwalking. What a beautiful sight. Soon we will be on ourselves, out there, in the wild, free! Soaring in the clouds as two suns embrace us with their comforting heat. Those two suns are ours! OURS ALONE!

But now, I got to face this. Here I am, in front of a computer, finishing the load for the week, sipping on coffee, listening to pop music to heighten up my energy. My body's tired, and it would be too tiring to keep on complaining. Just enjoy the day. We should not waste our energy with negative things.

We just do what we do. It's part of life. At the end of the day, we all end up the same. Grab your Friday, sip it, let it warm your soul, let the stress not bother you and instead challenge you. There is no easy way to weekend than a peaceful, fine, Friday with you and your determination to get things done.

Nah, I'm no optimist. If you're going to look back, I do not sound like this before. I just LEARN.Why don't we just try learning something new everyday?

Missed!

Oh yes, love is definitely in the oxygen that you inhale and the carbon dioxide that you let out along with the dirt of city's everyday air pollution. Yes, it's the love month. Valentine's day is approaching. Can you feel the heat of the sun gushing through the ozone layer? Oh, the heat of love. The couples strolling around parks. Oh, the sight of them surrounded with joy, laughter, and cigarette butts.

Love, oh, love. They all end up in the corners, celebrating each other's warmth and undying thirst for each other's body. Oh, what joyous sight, the celebration of love everywhere--the growing population of Manila!

The everyday conversation of sweet nothing--see how they bring them all together. Sweet, sweet, conversations voluntarily oblivious of the poison of the government. Look at all the flowers and chocolates and condoms being sold out in stores while little children hunger and sell sampaguitas on streets.

See how they focus their eyes on each other. Yes, love brings us together! We build dream houses, spend cash for the sake of living together. See them live! Oh, what sweet sight of homeless people out the door.

Come, enjoy love. It has become an escape to reality—a reality in which TRUE love should be celebrated and shared. Where there is more than just two people.

Why Blow?

In jeepneys, there can be hold-ups. In FX, there are sexual exhibitions. In trains, you can be sexually molested. In tricycles, your stuff can be snatched. In buses, you can be blown up. These are the cruel scenes in Philippine public transport that happen whenever wherever.
I just don't get it. Why? Why do these kinds of Pinoys do these things? Don't they see the consequences that their fellow countrymen, even they, may suffer?
Actually, I took these situations in a different perspective. If people keep doing these, do they promote less use of public transport? And if that's the case, do they want us to start using bicycles? Now, don't get me wrong, not all can afford a car in this country. The most affordable vehicle available would be bikes. Hence, are we leading to a nation inclined to less use of fossil fuel? Moreover, are we going to get used to sweaty officemates everyday? Will this be a good step for those who die for slimmer figures?

To a more serious note, I am really saddened to how these people give our country a bad image to the world. Do we really need to exhibit crime just to show how much we are suffering in poverty? Do we have to act like animals and hurt other people just to gain what we want?
It's not yet too late for change. Our country does not prosper because we, not only government officials, are trying to step on one another to reach our goals. We are all acting the same. Why not help one another? Why are we only united when we want to cheer for Pacquiao's fights? Why not pull each other up?
The recent explosion of a bomb in a bus on EDSA made me wonder: what will those terrorists get when they bomb buses? Do they earn through body counts? And then what, People fear them? And then what, will they have a better land to live on? It's a shame that they do these without proper consideration. They are only setting traps on their own feet. What if other groups blow up their loved ones? Don't they know how that feels?
Shame shame shame.

It's Lucky Bitch

The house was dark as I stepped in and notice on one table a tiny plate with rice on it. At that very sight, I had the feeling that my little sister Britney-not has bought yet another chick which she would eventually kill. Not that my little sister is a prospect for PETA counseling, she just usually buys chicks and calls them after the Pokemon named “Torchic” which all die due to, well, simple childish negligence. It even came to a point that my best friend Taylor and I started placing bets on how many days will her new chicks live. My little sister blamed her Torchics' deaths to our bets.

As I proceeded inside the house through the dim light of my phone, I stepped on something wet. I had that strong feeling that it was not spilled water. As I checked, I found a tiny ball of black beside it and I almost squealed in excitement (spare me) when I realized that it was a bitch—erm, I mean,puppy!

Meet Lucky, our new pet at home. A friend of dad gave it to us. The name is given by my little sister who is a huge fan of Britney Spears, not Jason Mraz or Kamikazee. Lucky is a little shy because she is a newborn. She whines a lot but not out loud. She's (still) nice to people.

This is the very first time that our own house had a puppy. And I got excited with taking care of it. Maybe because I like the company of something inhuman, though I choose cats because they are more extraordinary than bitches, I mean, dogs. What is odd is that I felt that I was ready to wipe its waste of floors and give it bath when needed. One problem is to potty train. Of course, it would be hard to predict when they are about to drop bombs on certain locations, so it is one tough job when taking care of bitches (yes,bitches shit everywhere). I guess, once the animal raises its legs, we must start carrying it all the way to the bathroom (which reminds me of a scene in Bruce Almighty). Or for an easier yet slightly costly way, we could let it wear diapers. Pfft! Yeah, right!

Taking care of animals is no joke. This requires responsibility and care to creatures who deserve also good life like us humans. That's why I keep on placing bets with Taylor before on the Torchics that we had at home. I want to let my little sister realize what life she could be wasting for lack of responsibility. Well, I am not going to let it happen to Lucky... I guess. Haha