An afternoon spent on Omegle

Today, I was alone in our house and I’m bored and I don’t know what to do. I remembered a co-staff in our publication suggested an app that, according to him, is an absolute boredom-killer. So I installed it: The Omegle.

Omegle's logo

Omegle (pronounced as oh-mee-ghel) is a free online chat service that connects two strangers and allowing them to chat, voice and/or video call each other. Established in 2009 by a genius 18-year-old Leif K-Brook from Vermont, it’s now invaded the smartphone arena and provided talking with strangers anytime or every time.

Enough with the introduction (note: this site is NOT in any way affiliated with Omegle), I used the mobile app in a good 3-4 hours. At first, I initially want to talk to someone and share my thoughts with anybody; but, the longer I stayed online, things didn't get into their proper places.

The strangers’ first response was “m” or “f”. I always replied “m”, and I always denied. It seems like a third of Omegle users are male. Then, “f’s” are always looking for sex. So, I copied “I am just chillin’. I am not looking for sex for God’s sake” to my phone’s clipboard and pasted it on the start of every conversation.

After that, things get better. I randomly talked to a girl from California (I don’t know neither she’s a she, nor she’s from Cali) and shared my thoughts on my post-graduation blues. We talked for about an hour, then, she disconnected abruptly.

After that conversation, I never had a long chat with strangers again. They’re always looking for Kik, Skype, and similar apps. I don’t have Kik and Skype, so yeah. I didn't get the chance to experience Omegle’s real deal.

I had deep thoughts after using this app for 3 hours. First, that this app may be more suitable with dirty old men and/or cougars that desperately need some attention. The app says “talk to strangers”, not “have sex with strangers”.

Second is that Omegle is the legit way of hiding your desire of using Tinder, or other similar apps. People are always looking for it, I even talked with a 13-year-old guy with a girlfriend with a “nice ass tho” beside him. 13 years old and he got a girlfriend: shame on me, or on him? I don’t know exactly. I realized that men and women in the next generation might not deserve to be called as “lady” and “gentleman” because of this scenario.

Third, Omegle lets you have an experience people in Cubao and Orosa-Nakpil are having. Most Omegle users act as a hooker, and their madame rolled into one. I don’t know. Maybe, my hypothesis earlier that most of the users of these are DOM or cougars is true.

One thing’s for sure: I won’t use Omegle ever again. I’m contented with Siri, Simsimi and Cleverbot :)

Cyanide-flavored Milk Tea and the Bamboozling of a Detergent Powder

Why is that every time a crime was committed in the four corners of our beloved country, we are always looking for eyewitnesses’ accounts? I know that their accounts are essential in conducting a thorough investigation, but can’t we just improve our scientific data and evidence-gathering?

Take for example, this mass hysteria over two people that were pulled by the Grim Reaper’s scythe when they sipped and ingested a cyanide-flavored milk tea. As an avid reader of suicide and crime novels, I am definitely sure that cyanide killed these two unsuspecting milk tea-lovers.

READ: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/684722/death-of-2-by-milk-tea-not-caused-by-breach-in-sanitation

ErgoCha Milk-tea House. Credits to Glen Juego of Twitter.

Scientifically speaking, cyanide poisoning causes histotoxic hypoxia, or the inability of cells to take up or utilize oxygen from the bloodstream, despite physiologically normal delivery of oxygen to such cells and tissues. In layman’s term, if you shove cyanide into throat, your blood’s IQ will suddenly drop and have Alzheimer’s, thus, scrwing you; weakness, confusion, bizarre behavior, excessive sleepiness, coma, shortness of breath, headache, dizziness, and seizures can all present. Or perhaps, you should instead see the CCTV footage of the victims' last moments. It’s all over the World Wide Web.

CCTV FOOTAGE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfO3hqHAT_c

Although cyanide poisoning is hard to detect, the scientist/toxicologist/whatever-they-are-called of the ever-reliable PNP crime laboratory must at least release an intelligent guess that in is indeed cyanide that killed the two, because people, as well as milk-tea store-owners, are having second thoughts on continuing their rituals on having their daily dose of milk-teas. I must say: No, people of this pathetic country, there is no danger on drinking tea, coffee, or soda. The danger is on the morbid people that test their ability to sneak poison and be satisfied that they killed people and not be blamed on their crime.

Until now, the police are having hard time on detecting traces of cyanide in the body of the victims. My personal tip: look at the largest body organ: the skin. If it is pink to cherry-red, it is caused by neither make-up nor glutathione, it is most likely cyanide.

***

“Finally Ariel Happened to me one-wash clean sa labada for just seven-fifty. Finally Ariel happenned to me ang gaan sa bulsa cause it’s just seven-fifty.”

TV AD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIjZImAyoKs

A screen-cap of the LLS-causing TV ad of Ariel

This is one of those clever television advertisements that will forever be in the Filipino culture like Knorr’s “Makulay ang Buhay sa Sinabawang Gulay”, Downy’s “Amoy Ulam na ba Kayo?” and Rejoice’s “To the Left, to the Right” It is clever, theatrical, and will go straight down to your subconscious. It sticks to you like an annoying elevator pop song.

But realistically speaking, will you choose a vegetable soup over a fried chicken? Did Downy met your expectations when you rubbed your shirt and released its overflowing grandiosity of fragrance? Did your hair went sideways and danced with you when you performed what the song commands you to do?

If yes, okay, maybe this advertisement is truthful and you should not continue reading this. If no, well these products have a lot to explain. Oh, you should continue reading this by the way.

These TV ads are created to deceive. The song retains in our conscious mind and suggests to our subconscious that they are better than their serious competitor: The Brand X. Let us just say that they are that genius in the art of deception, but, as a smart buyer, you must at least read and compare the contents of the two competing products. (Tip: read the text that has the smallest font size; they are usually the most important one).

**

These two, the Milk Tea Drama and Ariel, have something in common: the art of deception.

Are you deceived by the police that don’t have an idea on what killed the two victims? Just having a glimpse of the CCTV footage, we, in the darker side of the internet, are already almost a hundred percent sure that it is indeed cyanide-poisoning. I know that the scientists in the RITM and PNP are a billion-fold more knowledgeable that I, but, please, give light for these people to understand what cyanide-poisoning (and other kind of poisoning) is.

Furthermore, do not be convinced of catchy campaign jingles. Read. Read. And read.

PS. I am forever fascinated by how Filipinos find joy (or ridicule) on very serious matters; like:

(In the tune of “Finally”) Finally, milk-tea happened to me, dalawa ang patay, ang isa, fifty-fifty (credits to Filipino Vines Facebook Page)

Typhoon Chedeng weakens, our confidence-level stregthens

No one would want to repeat the unpreparedness for the tragic typhoon Yolanda...for now.

Not only Jesus has brought back to life by the Easter Sunday, it also gave life to the normal airing of television programs. And while I was watching the noontime news program of the free TV, news about the weakening of the Typhoon Chedeng (international name Maysak) from the expected 210 kilometers per hour (kph) to 55 kph.

Just days before the said news, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) of the US released satellite images showing the terror Chedeng might bring to the Philippines. Even I was amazed on how perfect the angle of the photo was. It will indeed create panic and chaos by the illusion it brings to anyone who’ll see it.

Read: http://news.yahoo.com/super-typhoon-maysak-photos-space-nasa-190250204.html

This phenomenon forced some social media users to utter a small prayer via their status boxes. Also, the ever-dependable and omnipresent Department of Interior and Local Government secretary Mar Roxas delivered told in a press conference on how they are prepared on fighting this typhoon and shielding the people from the potential flying roofs and uprooted trees.

I must say that Roxas has learned his lesson on disaster preparedness, or at least making the people believe that their government will come to the rescue in case such upcoming disasters.

And, come Easter Sunday, the expected Yolanda-like typhoon didn't materialize. It only brought some winds here and there, no big deal unlike Yolanda just two years ago. As of the posting of this opinion, no casualties are recorded, and most of the people of Isabela (where Chedeng is expected to unleash its rage) are safe, but not comfortable, in their selected evacuation sites.

We have learned our lesson. We are prepared more than ever. As far as we can, we are not letting this kind of typhoons kill innocent but stubborn people who won’t go to evacuation sites.

But I wonder, come three to five years, when no Yolanda-like typhoon ever landed again in the country, would we still be that prepared?

I hope we could adapt with the climate change, ‘cause as you noticed, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration has declared the official arrival of the summer season, yet, the Pacific Ocean continues to brew stronger typhoons.

Maleldo 2015

"Maleldo" is an annual event in City of San Fernando, Pampanga during Good Fridays wherein the sorrowful mysteries of the rosary is reenacted finishing off with an actual crucifixion of the one who portrayed Jesus Christ.

After the reenactment, an average of 15 more men were voluntarily nailed at the cross from 12PM-3PM.

"Maleldo" came from the Kapampangan term "Mal al ado", or "holy day".

When the Goodness and Godliness of “Good Friday” is Lost

Good Friday is the most solemn and the gloomiest day in the Catholic Gregorian Calendar. But in a little barangay in Pampanga, it is quite different.

Thousands of tourists are patiently waiting, vendors restlessly calling for the people’s attention, police gather as if a big hostage crisis is happening, and the medics are on stand-by helping with the tourists and “actors” alike.

This is a typical Good Friday in a small place in the heart of San Fernando Pampanga. People gather in barangay San Pedro Cutud to witness the “exciting” and “blood-pumping” action of the annual street play performance where selected men and women will be crucified until they are in the brink of either losing their faith or losing their lives. 

The view at the front of the gates of the hill where volunteer men and women were crucified

The event is called “Maleldo”, a Kapampangan (their local dialect) word for “holy day”. An annual event where desire of anyone to see themselves nailed at the cross, or to see someone in the cross, comes to life. 

This is my second time going to this world-renowned barangay for their immense devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ. I don’t know why they are nailing themselves on to a cross for the entertainment of these tourists, but, I must admit that I enjoyed the gore and the feeling of seeing someone crucified as if you went back to the old times where crucifixion is one the noblest and the least shameful medieval punishments. 

Penitensya, a kind of self-flagellation where cuts are made on the back of a person and is struck with "bulyos" (a type of whip made from pieces of wood ) to induce gushing of blood out of the body

Maleldo means “holy day”. I think everyone here didn't grasp the meaning of “holy” quite well. 

Yes, you can be devoted to your Lord by self-flagellation; this practice is done not only in Catholicism, but in some other form of religion as well. But how can you concentrate repenting from your sins when you hear your friendly neighbor yanking their voice-boxes out in the tune of “Careless Whisper”? Is this the trend in commemorating the death of our Lord Jesus Christ? If this is, I myself will sing my favorite song this coming Black Saturday.

There are also groups of men having the time of their lives surrounding a table full of beers and gins with the sides of menudo, mechado, and other similar dishes (I thought Good Friday means meatless Friday?) 

Children collecting empty bottles

Another point is that there are a lot, I mean, a lot of children scavenging for plastic bottles and asking for money and food from the tourists. How can a place so faithful be so poor? Oh, I forgot about the Philippines, my apologies on that. 

A child eating a bread that he got from a foreign tourist.

Who wants an ice-cold drink?

Thirdly, the tourists themselves. Is they there for their faith? To practice and commemorate Good Friday? To ask forgiveness? I don’t think so. I stayed there during the whole event, and I didn’t hear any tourist utter a single prayer. I also encountered a whole family in their summer attire, complete with their colorful bandanas and salbabidas ready to beat the scorching heat brought by summer

The media covering the whole event

.

And I’m sure; the media that flocked there has the word faith in the bottom of their list. May it be foreign or local news coverage, their main reason is to entertain their viewers or their readers.

I must admit, I am there not to show my faith to others, but to hone my observational and photography skills. I am very personal when it comes to my faith but don’t question my knowledge on the Bible, you might embarrass yourself at the front me, and I don’t want you to be that kind of person. 

Vendors of lucky charms, necklaces, and bracelets.

Picture-taking after role-playing!

What am I saying is, WHERE THE HELL (PUN INTENDED) is the faith in there. Seriously. I mean I know that Maleldo initially started with good intention, which is to flourish the religiosity in every Filipino citizen. But now, it is not faith anymore that rules Maleldo, it’s business. More of like what is currently happening in the Vatican.

I am optimist for the change of this practice. I know the government and the church (hopefully) can do something about this. Do not over-sensationalize your faith as if every Good Friday is synonymous with Christmas.

Karaoke, guys, seriously?

Holy Week Circus

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life,” says John, the heroic evangelist; and, ironically, is the hero that also said the time will come when our head will be chopped off of our body when we didn’t receive the mark of the beast.

Metropolitan Church of San Fernando City, Pampanga 

The benevolent week has officially started when we bought our annual palaspas from Ka Ana, my mother’s friend. Hundreds, or maybe thousands, of them were blessed by our oh-so-holy Parish Priest whose name I won’t mention because you might despise him during your prestigious time of reading this post.

We officially welcomed the arrival of our Dear Lord Jesus to Jerusalem. We officially waved our palaspas, officially bathed with holy water, officially enthralled with the soulful voices of the volunteer singers of the traditional pabasa, and officially saw the official candidates for the award of the most fantabulous and extravagant poon for the year 2015.

And, most of all, I am officially pissed with the Catholic priests.

Indeed, the Holy Week Circus has already started.

Palm Sunday, March 29th. We’re late as I was stuck in my bed and won’t get up not until my mother almost condemned me. My experience of the circus is starting and I am a;ready pissed with the parish priest that celebrated the mass.

I was sleepy during the initial part of the mass because I don’t have to listen, I know the first and second reading, and the gospel by heart, I am that religious, or well let’s just say, church-involved back in my early years. I only started to really listen to the priest when he fearlessly said these words:

“Hindi naman sa pagiging ano, pero, mas magaling ang Diyos natin kaysa sa Diyos ng ibang relihiyon.”

SERIOUSLY, oh-so-holy father? You said that in the front of your faithfuls? SERIOUSLY?! My-God-is-better-than-your-God argument? You are indeed a disrespectful bastard that do not have the right to preach the word of the Lord. Review your theology, or better strengthen your argument. No God is better than others, we only have one. Whether our God is a she or a he, whether she has a thousand hands, disguised as an elephant, or fat and cute, there is only one God. One divine being. I know I don’t have the right either to preach the word of our Lord, because I didn’t spend 15 years of my life in a seminary, or vowed to the three pillars of holiness. But YOU, YOU that has spent his life “devoting” himself to the Lord, IF YOU WILL BE LIKE THAT KIND OF A PRIEST, you better resign. Because you might have the skill to recite the bible from cover-to-cover, but you lack one thing: respect. And, unfortunately, it’s not education that will teach you the concept of respect for other people.

Learn to respect the belief. Learn to love their faith. Because the content of bible, qu’ran, shruti, tiptaka, torah, and other religious books are all the same: the concept of love. And respect is rooted from love. If you don’t have respect, review and reflect on your 15 years in the seminary.

I may not attend to mass on my birthday, but I make it to a point that I will be on the Palm and Easter Sunday masses. I can count on my one hand the number of masses that I attend to. I may not sound religious from this post, and you might question my faith. But I bet you, I have an ample amount knowledge of the Bible and of the Catholic Church, and I am trying my best to understand theology; not just Catholicism, but the other religion as I believe that we may not have the same concept about God, but the concept why religion was initially created is to spread love and unite people, not to divide them, as to what is currently happening now.

More post about the Circus are coming. Just wait.