I never really liked ska or reggae before, but Supertones just gradually let me love the genre, and increasingly loving it.

Here’s one video, entitled: Little Man.

People judge by the outward appearance by default. Whether you’re a Filipino, American, Austrian, Jew. Everybody is guilty of this disturbing mentality. Some ignoramus will conclude that you are this and you are that basing on your clothes, hair, skin and race. If you “look” rich or pretty you get special attention, and you will go unnoticed if you are ugly, or be treated harshly if you resemble a terrorist.

Just recently, a drummer of a rock band Deicide had been falsely accused of bank robbery. Okay, it was just suspicion. He was suspected of robbing a bank. The mess started when he went to the bank to deposit some money that their band earned the previous night from merch sales (t-shirts, CDs etc). The bank staff got suspicious because his appearance and amount of money he was carrying wasn’t a perfect match.

Full story here
But cheer up God is on our side. He never judge people by the outward appearance, but looks at the heart. It’s in 1 Samuel 16:7

This is not to brag or for you to emulate the silly things i did in school. It just makes me smile remembering those things.

Always remember this: What we do now will always comeback to us in the future. The bible says “What you sow is what you reap.” is always true.

Here it is:

Back in fourth year high school at MSU-IIT.

I drew the face of my teacher in caricature style, then doing the same thing the following week. Then when she was about to enter the room, she saw the cartoon drawing (again) on the blackboard from a distance. She became suspicious. She did not go in right away, but went out somewhere and asked another student from another class to erase the drawing on the board.

Minutes later, she came in, with a trace of anger/blush on her face but in a minimal level (thankfully). She demanded for the guilty one to come out or she will flunk the whole class (i know it was just a bluff). I resisted. But one of my classmates told me to admit.

I heeded.

She was surprised that it was me. I’ve been known to be a “good” boy in school. After some preaching and sermon, she went out again.

Later, our school director (principal) summoned me into his office. Good thing, he was nice. He was smiling while advising me not to draw my teacher’s face again.

Hey, do you have your own naughty experince that you can share? Just hit the comment link.

All men and especially women have the desire to look good physically. As young as three years old already have this consciousness of what is good looks, and little kids know whether they look good or not.

Men particularly the unprivileged ones would like to have Sam Milby’s or Wentworth Miller’s hunky looks pasted on their faces. Those who don’t have enough cash go to the gym while those who have money to burn go to the plastic surgeon. Women wear makeup, jewelry and if those are not enough they put on revealing and tight clothes to show off their bodies.

Men and women do this beautification thing for one or two of the following reasons. Simply to be noticed by everyone around; to dig chicks easily, or lure men without working so hard; applying for a job would minimize all the troubles. I heard some companies accept an applicant because of his or her “pleasant” appearance.

Didn’t you know that there are also downsides of being good looking? Some of you may not believe it, but there are quiet a few.

Downsides of being good-looking:

Pride. It will make you conceited. Satan was guilty of this. He was handsome, and to add to that he was gifted with musical skills, a rank of second in position after God. Because he thought all the attention are all his, but he was wrong. Very wrong. He got kicked out of heaven. Now he is out making everyone ugly. Watch out, stick to Jesus.

Dumb. Everyone thinks of you as dumb. All you have is beauty, and no brains. You can prove them wrong, that if you have the brains to support your good looks.

Hated. Myth has told you that if you have the good looks all human beings and women in particular will love you. You are wrong again. There are a number women and a few gays who just simply hate you for no apparent reasons. Perhaps psychologists have the answer reagarding this strange behavior.

Hardwork. Look at the actors in the movies. Good looking ones always get the lead role, they always get the projects. Producers pick out the pretty ones by default, and that means they are always working, and it will affect your health in the process. In monarch countries during the ancient times they chose handsome men to become their kings, and a king was practically for all time the one who lead in battle, and the unfortunate ones gets killed.

So there. There could be more, but I will add them here if I will experience more downsides in the future. Hehehehehe.

One of the seemingly and practically impossible to execute best things I planned to do this year is: Forgiveness.

I opened up the year 2007 with such a noble act, forgiveness. Yes, thank you for the admiration. It was a bit accidental though, but as they say ‘everything happens for a reason.’

Some of you may have read my previous blog entry regarding my horrible first Starbucks experience. They have not apologized to me or to my friend for giving us a coffee mixed with nuts and bolts, literally.

For over a year after that incident at Starbucks Ayala-Cebu, I vowed not to drink nor eat any of Starbucks’ products as my way of retaliation of their lukewarm or non-response to my complaint I sent through email.

How I forgave Starbucks
In the morning of January 1 after sleeping out at a friend’s house the night before, I was in EDSA waiting for a bus. I waited approximately 5 minutes before I could take an air-conditioned one.

The bus was several meters away from the point I got inside when I realized that the smallest bill in my wallet was 1,000 pesos (20$). I had no choice but to get out of the bus, and look for a food stall to buy so I could divide my money into smaller bills.

But the area in EDSA that I stopped at had no food stall, no McDonalds, no Jollibees. I walked, and walked for some distance, long enough to squeeze a few drops of sweat, until I read a sign that says: Rockwell. It’s a business center, and out of curiosity I entered there because I have never been into this nice looking place.

After walking for another several meters I saw Starbucks at a distance. There were no other restaurants or coffee shops opened at the time, just Starbucks, my hated Starbucks.

My mind was playing around: Should I buy something at Starbucks and so I don’t have to walk kilometers long for home? It’s also time to forgive them; it’s time to be free!

I heeded. I bought a cinnamon.

Starbucks earned, and I earned as well. Corny sya no?

Forgiveness is not just Jesus’ commandment, but it is also any person’s means to freedom from any emotional bondage. It benefits us good health. According to a study that 80% of the patients’ sicknesses in the hospitals are cause by unforgiveness lurking inside their hearts.

This is the email i sent to Rustans Coffee, the Philippine franchise owner of Starbucks.

Hi,

My name is Jeffrey Wong, from Mandaue City Cebu, and presently working at Some Company Name.

I emailed you because of a “minor” issue encountered at Starbucks Ayala Cebu, when one of my companions found 2 screws in her cup of coffee. It happened around 12:00 midnight of August 27. There were about 6 of us, and each of us had coffee. I believe it was all our first time to visit Starbucks. We all enjoyed not just the coffee but also the place. Then my friend wondered why she can hear an unsual sound everytime she drank the coffee. The coffee was half full when she discovered 2 screws inside the cup.

We called the attention of the staff, then we gave the 2 screws already placed inside a paper cup. We were expecting either of two things from them: A replacement of the coffee or an apology. An informal apology was already enough though, never mind the replacement. Minutes passed, and we heard nothing from them. So I went to the counter and asked if they have email. The lady (i believe she’s part of the admin staff) asked me if “it was about the 2 screws” and i said yes. Then came a reply from her that i wasnt expecting. She basically said, Sir, there’s nothing to worry about, because the 2 screws are clean, and besides it’s already midnight when you ordered the coffee.

Okay, let’s say the screws were 100% clean, and germ-free. What if my friend accidentally swallowed those “clean” screws?

More power (and grace) to the Stabucks franchise!

Attached is the receipt or if you don’t want to download the attachment i provided a link to it.

http://www.yourimagehost.com/is.php?i=25010&img=rc1.gif

God bless!

A concerned Starbucks Customer,

Jeffrey B. Wong

The company I am working for had a small informal party last Saturday November 18 done in one of the big bosses’ other business located someplace in Glorietta, in Makati (Philippines). It’s a typical restobar, with sexy usherettes (luckily); at the sidewalk entrance were ugly bulky, chubby bouncers. The waiters are in citrus colored shirts. Wide TV screen showing music videos of black R & B musicians. Usual drinks, light beer, iced tea; sorry that’s all I know. I’m not alcoholic.

While I was at the entrance, the pretty usherette politely told me that I CAN’T GO inside because of the short pants I was wearing, it’s their rule (stupid rule that is). I don’t have any idea what’s the purpose for, perhaps for the place to look “decent” and “formal”. Don’t get me wrong, but the clothes I was wearing that night wasn’t that bad at all; the shorts had two side pockets like you see on a soldier’s pants, and it was knee length. I had shoes on, with ankle socks; I wore a t-shirt with no holes or rips, and no stain marks. Just enough to demand or show respect.

I replied to the two usherette albeit controlling myself, “But I am from Webcompany (name withheld, sorry), and we were not informed beforehand about the bar’s rules.” Then the other lady went inside to call their manager. But the manager was as hard as Gloria’s arrogance, he said I can only go in if I stay indoors, and not on the sidewalk area.

Then my hottie and sexy project manager came to my rescue who was in one of the tables in the sidewalk area, she was wearing a short shorts, while she was pleading to the manager to just allow me in, I told the usherettes, “Look at her, she’s wearing shorts.” Then I heard a reply I cannot believe, “It’s ok sir, because she’s a lady.” Toink!

Thankfully after much pleading I was permitted inside. I was scanning around the place, and then I saw a bald guy in short pants. Then I blurted out, “There’s a guy over there wearing shorts.” Then my officemate answered, “Well, he’s a celebrity, a singer named Jay-R.”

*Cough! Cough! Cough! Cough!*

Jay-R is off the hook on this. It’s the restobar and its stupid rule!

I won’t go back there unless it’s really, really, really required by the company!

Jars of Clay - Crazy Times

One of my favorite bands: Jars of Clay. I actually saw them live when they came to the Philippines in Cebu City in 2006. Though this is not the actual their live performance. Worth the money spent.

School Bukel
English Pronunciation Reeducation

This is my so-called little analysis on what’s the correct pronunciation of the word “oracle.”

Let me start it with a short story of a man from the Visayas.

His name is Chris, who proficiently speaks three Filipino dialects: Ilonggo, Cebuano or traditionally known as Bisaya, and Tagalog, but formally called as Filipino. He grew up in Ilo-ilo and went to Cebu for his collegiate education.

Chris has a good academic background and an admirable working ethics. In his recent work he is one of its team leaders. His company mainly renders programming for various companies abroad. Adept in English as he is, part of his job is to train people and thus talking is a necessity.

In one of his talks, he mentioned the word “oracle” in a sentence. But right after he spoke that very word, laughter echoed in the room from the mouths of the tagalog-speaking individuals. Chris knew it was the way he pronounced “oracle,” but he just humbly kept quiet because he was sure he pronounced it correctly. Then his American superior’s turn to speak, he also had the chance to include the word “oracle” in his sentences. The American pronounced the word “oracle” the way Chris did. The superior just continued on with his discussion, a deafening shame reverberated in the ears and minds of those jeering tagalog-speaking creatures.

Apologies for the disintegration of your excitement, but the story about Chris has now end.

Now let’s do a little investigation. Let’s dissect the word “oracle.”

According to Random House Dictionary:
Oracle - a divine utterance made by a God through a priest or a priestess in response to an inquiry.

Correct pronunciation: www.answers.com/oracle

It’s an inverted e and not e!

What is an inverted e?
Occurs in unaccented syllables before l preceded by t, d, or n, or before n, preceded by t or d to show syllabic quality, as in:
Cra-dle www.answers.com/cradle
Red-den www.answers.com/redden
Met-al www.answers.com/metal
Men-tal www.answers.com/mental

Let’s compare it with words that has an e pronunciation:
Bell (bel) www.answers.com/bell
Smell (smel) www.answers.com/smell

I therefore conclude “oracle” is pronounced as www.answers.com/oracle / orakal / orakoal and NOT orakel !!! I therefore conclude that our Filipino brothers in Luzon have been fed with some erroneous English pronunciations all along.