Coming off a grueling work week, which included back-to-back pick-up basketball games and three consecutive heavy drinking sessions, I was drained physically and mentally. I literally ached for some rest. I was excited for last Saturday (September 26) since I will finally be able to recharge and get some Me Time. All I wanted to do was to wake up at any time I want (i.e. any time later than my daily 8:00 a.m. wake-up call) and enjoy a laidback day. The first objective, I was able to do. The second objective?  That’s an entirely different story. To say that I had a busy Saturday would be a monstrous understatement. It would just be like saying Manny Pacquiao is a good boxer. Or that the analogy I just used was terrible.

I woke up at around lunchtime. I slept soundly thanks to the lulling rain and the fact that I had too much to drink. It was still raining hard when I got up. I immediately looked outside the window of my room. My prediction was confirmed: our street was already flooded. It didn’t come as a surprise to me though since this is a normal occurrence in our area whenever it rains continuously. Hence, my quick prediction. So, I carried on with my usual weekend routine. I ate lunch, read the newspaper, and browsed channels on the T.V. The flood continued to rise. But being the self-confident bastard that I am, I just easily dismissed it, thinking it would eventually subside, like it always does. Boy, was I completely wrong. I had a giant red X mark plastered on my bastardly face.

After about an hour, the water entered our kitchen. We live in an elevated house and it was the first time flood managed to storm inside. Minutes later, the uninvited guest entered our living room. At that point, I started to feel a little nervous. More ticks later, the water was already in the master’s bedroom. I could hear the Black Eyed Peas song and proverbial Facebook status message mocking me: “I’ve got a feeling, that tonight’s gonna be a long night, that tonight’s gonna be a long long night.”

May kinasusuklaman ka bang politiko? May crush ka bang Presidentiable? Naaaliw ka ba sa mga advocacy campaign? Naiirita ka na ba sa nunal ni GMA? May gusto ka bang i-share sa iyong nakaraang voting experience? May saloobin ka ba na konektado sa eleksyon?

Kung oo ang sagot mo ay saktung-sakto ka dahil nangangailangan kami ng mga saloobin at opinyon tungkol sa paparting na carnival na kung tawagin ay Philippine National Elections.

Puwede mag-contribute in any form. Kahit essay, one-liner, quote, tula, kanta, drowing, photograph, o kung ano pa man ang maisip mo na makapagpahayag ng saloobin mo. 'Wag lang isang buong nobela o kaya sand castle. Hindi rin kailangan masyado seryoso o intelektwal o aktibista ang tono. Basta kung ano lang nasa isip mo. The bottom line is: get your message across. Para ka lang nakikipag-debate sa mga kainuman mo sa kanto.

Ang mga iko-contribute ay isasama sa isang web publication na naglalayong maging aktibo ang kabataan sa darating na eleksyon. 'Wag kayong mag-alala dahil in good faith naman ang paglabas ng publication.

Sa mga gustong mag-contribute ay pakipadala lamang ang inyong mga obra maestra sa kantonista@gmail.com o kaya ay mag-send ng personal message dito sa aking Livejournal o L.J. ayon nga sa mga cool na cool na acronym-loving people.

Sa kasamaang palad ay wala kaming maibibigay na kahit anong uri ng kabayaran sa inyong mga contribution dahil kasing nipis ng pakpak ng ipis ang mga wallet namin. Isang dumadagundong na pasasalamat lang ang aming maibibigay.

Aasahan namin ang inyong mga sagot. Olrayt? Olrayt! Maraming salamat!

The first round of the 72^nd season of the UAAP ended with a bang yesterday. Nothing’s really surprising about the records with Ateneo and FEU, as predicted, lording it over in the standings. The second round will surely be more physical and more competitive since teams will scramble for the precious Final Four slots.

With that said (the first paragraph was just to cover up this shameless plug), visit www.uaapsports.com for your one-click stop for everything that is UAAP. It not only covers the men’s basketball tournament, but the women’s and the juniors’ as well. Get all the latest scores, updates, and features about your favorite players. There are even live chats with UAAP personalities and John Lloyd Cruz. Ok, not John Lloyd Cruz.  

For an even more unashamed plugging, some of my articles have been fortunately published on the website. If you have time to burn or you simply just want to get bored to hell, you can check them out by clicking on the following: Paul Lee, Emman Monfort, Nico Elorde, and Yellow.

Violent reactions are more than welcome. Make my face fall splat on the ground.

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But wait! There’s more! The plugging doesn’t stop there.

Let’s all give our full support to Powerade Team Pilipinas by watching all of their games in the 2009 FIBA Asia Championship in Tianjin. All the games will be shown live on BTV and C/S 9.

The Nationals have advanced to the second round and they have a strong chance of moving to the quarterfinals, barring any major injuries or worse, insane officiating, which is as rare as fake plastic diamonds in international competitions.

2^nd Round Schedule

Philippines vs. Chinese Taipei

August 10, 2009

4 p.m.

Philippines vs. Iran

August 11, 2009

11 a.m.

Philippines vs. Kuwait

August 12, 2009

9 a.m.

You really can never have too much basketball. It’s a fact. It has been extensively researched since time immemorial by the great minds of civilization: from the life-preserving Egyptians to the inventors of the wheel to Hugh Hefner. It’s true.    

Just a couple of updates since I posted Part 1 of my yearly unsolicited UAAP preview. First, it was reported that La Salle's L.A. Revilla will miss Season 72 due to still unclear medical reasons. Second, La Salle apparently left out RP Youth member Papet Paredes and La Salle Greenhills star Martin Reyes on its official roster. That brings the Green Archers' rookie total to six, and not eight as I posted in Part 1.

With that said, as promised, here's Part 2 of the preview. Part 3 will be about my predictions for the season's individual awards. I know it's extemely early to tell, but I like to believe that I have some sort of foreshadowing abilities. Fortunately for you, you don't need to believe me anytime.