Ask me anything. http://formspring.me/alwynvillaruel

Anonymous asked: pogi. link ko tong blog mo sa blog ko ah -maica

Sure.

It was Chrizo (http://myspace.com/chrizobeats), a producer friend of mine, who first showed me the site. He also made me hear his entry for a particular week when I dropped by his studio a while back. I’ve never really done sampling so I got curious. Later on, BoJam told me that he would also join the Weekly Beat Sessions (WBS), so this got me more curious. Since I’ve never done sampling as a production method, I thought maybe I could learn a thing or two from the producers featured in WBS.

So I asked Chrizo to introduce me to Illa, the site’s moderator (and progenitor), through Facebook. I got into WBS’ mailing list just in time for Christmas; and we flipped ‘The Christmas Song’ by Nat King Cole. This week we flipped “Telegram” by Eleanore Mills.

It’s interesting how different people would interpret and chop up a song in different ways. I guess this is what makes WBS so interesting from a producer’s standpoint. You get to see (or hear) how a particular producer interprets a song; and through the beat that such producer makes, you get to know a piece of him/her.

I hope the site gets more hits, not only from producers but to artists as well. It’s a good avenue for artists to hear producers that maybe they would get to work with someday.

Many thanks to Chrizo and Illa. On to the next sample!

Link: http://www.weeklybeatsessions.com/

You heard.

Dear Noynoy,

You are now swamped with suggestions and advice, but just the same, I hope you’ll have time to read what this octogenarian has to say.

You were not my choice in the last election but since our people have spoken, we must now support you and pray that you prevail. But first, I must remind you of the stern reality that your drumbeaters ignore: you have no noble legacy from your forbears. It is now your arduous job to create one yourself in the six years that you will be the single most powerful Filipino. Six years is too short a time — the experience in our part of the world is that it takes at least one generation — 25 years — for a sick nation to recover and prosper. But you can begin that happy process of healing.

Bear in mind that the past weighs heavily on all of us because of the many contradictions in it that we have not resolved, whose resolutions would strengthen us as a nation. This past is now your burden, too. Let us start with the fact that your grandfather collaborated with the Japanese. Your father was deeply aware of this, its stigma, its possibilities. He did not leave any legacy because he did not become president. He was a brilliant and courageous politician. He was an enterprising journalist; he had friends in journalism who can attest to his effulgent vision, who did not profit from his friendship, among them Nestor Mata, Gregorio Brillantes — you may consult them. I cannot say I did not profit — he bought many books from my shop and when he was in Marcos’s prison, your mother brought books from my shop to him.

Forgive me for giving you this unsolicited advice. First, beware of hubris; you are surrounded by panderers who will tell you what is nice to hear. You need to be humble always and heed your conscience. When Caesar was paraded in ancient Rome before the cheering multitudes, there was always a man chanting behind him: “Remember, you are mortal.”

I say to you, remember, the poor — some of them in your own hacienda — will be your ultimate judge.

From your comfortable and privileged cocoon, you know so little of our country and people. Seek the help of the best — and the best do not normally want to work in government and neither will they approach you. You have to seek them.

Be the revolutionary your father wanted to be and don’t be scared or wary of the word “revolution.” It need not be always bloody. EDSA I was not. Your father wanted to destroy the most formidable obstacle to our progress — the Oligarchy to which you and your family belong. To succeed, you have to betray your class. If you cannot smash the oligarchy, at least strive to have their wealth develop this country, that they bring back the billions they stashed abroad. You cannot do this in six years, but you can begin.

Prosecute the crooks. It is difficult, thankless and even dangerous to do this. Your mother did not do it — she did not jail Imelda who was the partner in that conjugal dictatorship that plundered this nation. Watch her children — they were much too young to have participated in that looting but they are heirs to the billions which their parents stashed abroad. Now the Marcoses are on the high road to power, gloating, snickering at our credulity and despicable amnesia.

You know the biggest crooks in and out of government, those powerful smugglers, thieves, tax cheats — all you really need is guts to clobber them. Your father had lots of it — I hope he passed on to you most of it.

And most of all, now that you have the muscle to do it, go after your father’s killers. Blood and duty compel you to do so. Cory was only his wife — you are the anointed and only son. Your regime will be measured by how you resolve this most blatant crime that robbed us of a true leader.

And, finally, your mother. We loved her — she united us in ousting an abominable dictator. But she, too, did not leave a shining legacy for her presidency was a disaster. She announced a revolutionary government but did nothing revolutionary. She promised land reform but did not do it. And most grievous of all — she transformed the EDSA I revolution into a restoration of the oligarchy.

She became president only because her husband was murdered and you became president elect only because your mother died. Still, you are your father’s son and may you now — for the good of this country and people — scale the heights he and your mother never reached.

I am 85 and how I despair over how three generations of our leaders failed! Before I go, please let me see this unhappy country begin to be a much better place than the garbage dump our leaders and people have made it. You can be this long awaited messiah but only if you are brave enough and wise enough to redeem your father’s aborted promise.

Hopefully yours,

F. Sionil Jose

Source:

The Philippine Star; May 23, 2010.

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=577469&publicationSubCategoryId=86

“Starfish”, by yours truly.

Watch this.

The pertinent provision of the 1987 Philippine Constitution (Article VII, Section 6) reads:

“Section 6. The President shall have an official residence. x x x”

Please reply to this post if you know of a particular piece of legislation that deals with the topic. But for the purposes of this entry, and to the best of my knowledge, this is the operative provision of law that deals with the official residence of the President of the Republic of the Philippines.

Legally speaking, what is only required is that the President should have an official residence. It means that the President may or may not choose the Malacañang palace as his or her official residence, provided that one should be established for the duration of his term. Thus, if Noy becomes president-elect, he may opt to establish an official residence different from the Malacañang palace and/or the Arlegui residence.

Until I find a particular piece of Philippine legislation that officially establishes the said palace as the official residence of the President of the Philippines, I would have to say that Noy is within the bounds of the law if he chooses his mother’s home in Times Street as his official residence, should he become president.

My point, however, is this. If he chooses to live in a condominium or house less regal than the Malacañang palace, what does that say about the Filipino people? What does that say about him? Personally, I think its a little within the bounds of “holier than thou”. It’s like saying, “Hey, I think that the palace has become a symbol of corruption in Philippine government, so I don’t like to live there. I’d like to live somewhere else so that I could protect my pristine public image.” I think that line of reasoning is plainly pathetic.

The Malacañang palace plays a big part in Philippine history. While it may be true that its regal stature has been marred with negative public perception, it should be accorded proper respect. Malacañang is and should be the center of Philippine government as it always has been. That is why a long line of Philippine presidents have lived within the palace’s walls. And if Noy is worth the Filipino he says he is, then he should respect that and should instead devote his efforts into clean governance so that the negative public perception would be reversed, instead of finding a new condominium or whatever dwelling he wants.

Noy, think twice. Please.

"Friends are like buttcheeks. Shit separate them, but they always come back together."

— Anonymous

"Beats, son!"

— Jim Poblete

A quick recipe:

1. Saute onion and garlic in a hot, pre-oiled pan or wok.
2. Add in a can of Ligo Premium Sardines.
3. Mix.
4. Let it simmer for 3 minutes.
5. Add a little kalamansi and salt to taste.
6. Let it simmer for another 30 seconds.
7. Serve with hot rice.

Good stuff.