Quiet Tinkles

Father Solo and Other Stories for Adults Only by Isagani R. Cruz

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



This is a collection of 5 stories (Father Solo, Once Upon a Time Some Years from Now, Termination, Picked, What I Did Last Summer). This is labelled "For Adults Only" not just because of its erotic content, but also because of the ideas here that young minds may not appreciate or understand. (For example: politics, psychology, academic pursuits, etc.)

The language is lovely, the storytelling is neat and superb (although Picked here needs some getting used to), and the plots were quite unexpected for me (I had some shock to get over here and there, but that's what makes it interesting!).

This book is just a few pages, so I read it in more or less one sitting. Quick, easy, mature.



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Dadaanin by Alwin C. Aguirre

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Sa kakaunting salita lamang, andaming misteryong magbabalandra sa harap mo.

Sa ‘sangdaang kwento, marami kang madadaanang klase ng panunulat. May kwento ng pag-ibig, paghahanap, pagpapasákit, pananaginip. May kwento ng lungkot, ligaya, takot, pantasya.

Sa ‘sandaang salita, buo na ang diwa – at mayroon ka pang mananamnam na aral habang pinapagpag ang natirang mahika sa mga salita.

PS: Dapat lang yatang basahin ang mga paunang salita mula sa mga pamamatnugot. Doon nila ipinapaliwanag ang kanilang *mga* layunin sa paggawa ng ganitong klaseng libro.

PPS: Natuwa rin ako sa maiikling biograpiya ng mga manunulat. (Mahahanap ito sa mga huling pahina.)

{100 na salita}



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Lumayo Ka Nga Sa Akin by Bob Ong

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Bago ang lahat: Hindi ako mahilig mag-saliksik ukol sa isang libro bago ko ito basahin, kaya nagulat na lamang ako nang malaman ko na hindi pala nobela ang librong ito, kung hindi ay koleksyon ng tatlong dula / screenplay. (Aksyon / horror /drama -- o yun nga lang ba?)

Babala: Sa aking palagay, nangangailangan ng mambabasa ng konting pag-iisip, at konting pagkakaintindi sa larangan ng industriyang panlibangan, para tunay na maunawaan at mabigyang-halaga ang mga dulang ito. Patnubay ng magulang ay maaaring kailanganin. Huwag din lamang kalimutang isuot ang 3D Glasses.

[Dahil sa patuloy na pag-aaral at pag-hahasa ng kaalaman ko sa araling panlipunan, ako'y lubos na natuwa (at lubos ding nadismaya) sa mga eksenang ipinalabas sa librong ito.]

Nakakatawa (para sa akin) ang simpleng pag-lalahad ng mga bida(?) at kontrabida(?) ng kanya-kanyang kwento ang totoong kalagayan ng sitwasyon ng kasalukuyang (2012!) estado ng pamPilipinong sine at panitikan (at iba pang porma ng sining). Kalunus-lunos man ang katotohanan, ako'y humalakhak pa rin sa pag-ganap at pag-arte (ng walang ka-workshop-workshop!) ng mga tauhang ito nang ayon sa kanilang parte: cliche', madaling mahulaan, gamit na gamit na personalidad. [Magsama kayo ng palitaw mo sa impyerno!]

Ngunit hindi lamang ang mapapanood natin sa telebisyon o makikita sa sine ang tila binabatikos sa mga dulang ito. Narito rin ang paglalarawan ng pang-araw-araw na (kung tutuusin nga naman) buhay ng karaniwang Pinoy - ang pag-pila para makasali sa sikat na variety show, ang pagiging call center agent, ang Facebook / Twitter / Angry Birds, ang nakakalat na basura sa tabi-tabi, ang pinakapangit na paliparan sa buong mundo. Sa isang libro, natalakay ang lahat ng ito (at marami pang ibang paksa!), at (para sa akin) sa isang kakatwang paraan pa!

Para sa akin, ang sarap talaga nitong basahin. Ito'y hindi lamang dahil sa paraan ng panunulat, kung hindi ay para rin sa maraming palaisipan na ansarap (at o kay pait) na namnamin.

Goojab!

PS: Ang ikalawang screenplay rito ay hindi ko lubos na nagustuhan, bagaman kawiliwili rin naman nitong basahin. Totoo, may mga malalim na paksa rin dito, pero tila hindi masyadong nagningning (para sa akin) ang mga tauhan dito, at mas nagmukha siyang diskurso kaysa sa isang pag-kukwento.



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It's honestly been a while since I've posted anything here (and I haven't even updated my wishlist yet! Hahaha!), but I just have to blog about my experience getting a Paypal account whilst here in the Philippines.

I read up online on possible ways to maneuver this "buying things online" gig I wanted to try out, and ended up with noticing how netizens keep on mentioning how Unionbank's EON card works pretty well, with little to no charges. It's also a debit card, which I like in particular, seeing as how I am trying to remain credit card-free until the day I would deem it utterly necessary to get one.

DAY 0.5:

First of all, I applied for a Paypal account. As suggested by several blogs out there, I got a Personal account, especially since I was only aiming to buy stuff... For now, anyway. Just one thing I'll comment on this: use the name you have/want to have on your card for your Paypal account. (E.g. name: April Binondo C. Domingo-- you can choose to have your name on Paypal as "April Domingo" and not "April Binondo Domingo", but make sure that's the name you have/want to have on your card as well.) You can't change your name on Paypal without having to go through a seemingly tedious process, you see. (I learned this only after the entire process >_> Go figure.)

I have no EON card at that time, so I researched that as well. After a few articles (all thanks to the wonders of the Internet!), I readied the materials necessary, which was essentially cash (I got out some 1k+, though probably just some 500php is necessary, to cover the EON card activation charge + initial Paypal charge), and at least 2 valid government IDs. (Not really student IDs / office IDs; more on government IDs, such as driver's license, SSS card and the like. You can find a list on the Unionbank website.)

I then enrolled first using the EON Online Application on the Unionbank website, and got via text (in a few minutes after my registration) my referral number. I was also told which branch I should go to for my official enrollment (yeah, gotta appear there personally), so I looked over my schedule, saw some free time on a Friday, and decided to get it fixed as soon as I can muster.

DAY 1:

The branch I was to go to is a typical Mon-Fri, 9am-3pm branch, so I had little time to spare on a weekday, but I was happily enough able to find some time then. So I went to the bank, asked about, and was directed to the New Accounts section. I had to wait a bit... It seemed like there was another person before me who was getting a new EON account too. When it was my turn, they asked me for my referral number, then handed me a couple of forms. I didn't think I had to accomplish any, since I already accomplished them online, but I guess the signature bit was pretty important xD I did as they said, handed them my IDs (driver's license, SSS form, company ID) which they had photocopied, paid the card activation charge (350php), and happily got the card soon enough. As soon as I got it, I changed the pin in the ATM, then lined up to deposit the aforementioned money. I got this all done in about 1.5 hours.

DAY 2-4:

I was pretty excited about the whole prospect, since 1) it was my first time to enroll something at the bank on my own (LOL), and 2) I just couldn't wait to get my Flickr pro account (woo!). The day after I enrolled, I tried to log in at the Unionbank website, and I keep getting rejected. It kinda annoyed me, so I looked over the options a bit, then found on the Login menu a "enroll your card here" text. So I did that, entered my card info, then was told that I had to wait some 2 days to access my account. (I actually didn't mind this at first, but after a few more rejected attempts and some article-reading, I finally calmed down and decided to wait.)

After those 2 days (essentially Day 4), I was finally able to access my account, and danced a little jig as I headed on over to the Paypal website to enroll my card.

DAY 4.5:

I went on over to Paypal and excitedly added my new EON card. I had some trouble, however, as it kept on telling me that I had to verify my account with the bank or something. I also read in a blog somewhere that as soon as you enroll your card, Paypal will immediately charge you a little something, which they will return as soon as you verify your account. I haven't seen an indication of this charge, and was getting jittery. I decided that maybe it really takes a while for the process to occur, so I took in a deep breath, exited Paypal, then went on about trying to not think about the Paypal account.

DAY 5-6:

Incessant, tiring, fearful waiting. I kept on logging into my accounts to make sure that everything was ok, but I still wasn't getting any emails from Paypal, nor any notices from Unionbank. Sleep was intermittent, anxiety was nerve-wracking. Gah.

DAY 6.5:

I broke down and went on to review all the information I submitted to both websites. I soon figured out that my details on the EON / Unionbank website did NOT match the information I placed on the Paypal website. As a matter of fact, only details regarding my name and country were on the EON webbie profile. (I suppose I've been expecting that the data I submitted to Unionbank would be automatically updated.)

I finished inputting the data for the EON card soon enough, and went on to the Paypal website to see if it would finally work. Lo and behold - it did! I got an email from Paypal, who told me about the 4-digit number they sent over, just like all those blogs on the Internet said! I was so happy, haha!

I went over once more to the EON website, then took some minutes in looking for my "Transaction History". (At the Home page, click on "Accounts", look for the option of "Last 10 Transactions" in the drop-down menu, and hit "Go".) My own code looked like this: VISA-PP*####CODE SG(###).

I was incredibly excited (as you might have been too, should you have finally gotten to this stage after all those days of waiting!) when I got back on the Paypal website. I clicked on "Get Verified", entered the 4-digit code, and voila! Happiness! Paypal officially recognizes me!

Fin.

Once I did this, I actually went on Flickr, and got my Pro account soon enough :) (I deposited more than necessary in the first place, so I can start using my card as soon as possible.) After that time, I would be leaving my EON account to gather in the dust for some 3-4 months... And it wouldn't recognize me! I tried using my Paypal, and lo and behold - it didn't work! That would make for another story, though.

First drafted: 27 Sept. 2011.

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Today, I get a random text message from the number 0906-906-3384. I didn't reply, half-knowing I won't get an answer. The message reads (as is, and without edits):

"Alam nyo ba na may offer na 400M pesos ang Malcanang sa bawat Opposition Senator na bbliktad para tuluyang maimpeach c CJ Corona?Sa CCT ng DSWD galing ang pera"

Loads of social commentary rush through my head, but I won't bother spilling it here. Rest assured that, whatever happens in this political scene or another, I sincerely wish politicians would stop letting politics get in the way of actually serving their fellowmen. Wishful thinking, all right.

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Ina, Maybahay, Anak At Iba Pa by Liwayway A. Arceo

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Gaya nang makatotohanang kwento sa Ang Mag-Anak na Cruz: Katha na Pumapaksa sa Pagpapahalagang Pilipino (na tipon ng katha mula sa parehong manunulat), and Ina, Maybahay, Anak at Iba Pa ay koleksyon ng maiikling kwento ukol sa ilang magkakaibang katauhan (na siya tilang laging may umiibig), at nagpapakita ng iba't ibang klase ng sitwasyon at paggalaw ng iba't ibang kababaihan (sa partikular) na kabilang sa iba't ibang antas ng buhay.



Hango sa daigdig ng reyalidad, ang mga kwento rito ay hindi laging masaya (bagaman may ilan din na ganoon nga ang tema). Mayroon ditong simple at nakakatuwa, mayroon ding malalim at kahindik-hindik. Mayroon ditong babaeng nagmamay-ari ng yate, mayroon din namang babaeng nag-himagik bilang rebelde. Iba't ibang buhay, ngunit pawang nag-tatampok sa iba't ibang kaugalian ng tao, lalo ng kababaihan-- mula sa pisikal (pagiging empleyado, pagiging maganda, etc) hanggang sa emosyonal (lungkot, saya, pag-ibig, hinanakit).



Simple at makatotohanan. Makabuluhang pagbabasa para sa'kin.



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Making Your Money Work; Pera Mo, Palaguin Mo! 2 by Francisco J. Colayco

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This book is a simple and easy-to-understand guide on how you can make your money, no matter how little you think it is, grow. This book tackles topics such as mutual funds, the stock market, entrepreneurship, bonds, and almost anything you can invest your money into. These concepts may sound daunting to the layman who knows nothing about investments, but Colayco was able to make them engaging, bite-size and almost too easy to act upon (which they probably are, if you're up for the task).



I believe this book was really written with the Filipino wage-earner in mind. It has anecdotes, showing the different scenarios that unwise vs knowledgeable small-time Filipino investors have gone through. It has graphs and pictures. It sometimes has repetitive phrases, but they only seemed to emphasize rather than annoy.



I was most interested in its discussion about ages- about how I should be risking & investing more while I'm young, while placing my money into safer financial instruments as I get older (all the while reaping the benefits of my prolonged savings/investments during my younger years).



A very good read that got me motivated to take a second look at my expenditures xD a must-read not just for wannabe businessmen and stock brokers, but also to anyone who'd want to get extra cash on the side, but not wanting to take another job, nor work too hard for it. ;)



[This is the first DIY investing book I've ever read. This was actually required reading for a course of mine in college. I'm more than glad to have gotten a copy of this for my own perusal, and I'm infinitely thankful to the professor who asked us to buy a copy of this :)]



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