The Great Hawaiian Heist: A Saga Of Slow Math and Lost Slices

We did not know we were playing Pizza Games: Iloilo Edition, that afternoon, where the rules of geography, economics, and basic addition are optional, but the "20-minute wait" is eternal.

Yesterday, a simple quest for a ₱79 Hawaiian Buy-One-Take-One turned into a high-stakes psychological thriller.

It was a journey that took us from the affordable borders of SM City Iloilo to the "Premium Republic of Festive Walk," and eventually to the brink of a medical emergency - a potential stroke.

In the mysterious world of Pizza logistics, the 500 meters between SM City Iloilo and Festive Walk is apparently an international border crossing - like crossing the Rio Grande River to McAllen, Texas, USA..

SM City: ₱79 for two slices. (The "Cubao Price," at Geta Way Mall, is the same as legend has it.

Festive Walk: ₱99 for the same two slices. We know it by heart because only Spinach Pizza costs P99.

The Satire: Does the flour at Festive Walk contain gold dust? Is the pineapple harvested by vestal virgins?

Or is there a "Walking Fee" hidden in the dough? It’s the same company, the same oven, and presumably the same ham—yet, somehow, the air at Festive Walk is 25.3% more expensive?

At this rate, if you buy pizza at the airport, it might cost you a kidney and a down payment on a condo.

My first issue with the service is the take-out crew. The crew is said to be the "mirror of the company," but this particular mirror was clearly covered in grease and confusion.

The Atmosphere: There were three crew members, but they were clueless that customers were waiting. There was a long queue, and we were privy to listening as ear-witnesses to their conversation punctuated by loud guffaws and giggles about everything except pizza.

The Math: Watching the cashier handle change was like watching a computer from 1995 try to run a high-definition video. She wasn't just "calculating"; she was experiencing a mathematical crisis over a ₱20 bill.

In a hospital where I am working, every second counts; a one-minute delay is a disaster.

At the Pizza Outlet in Festive Walk, a one-minute delay is just the preamble to a twenty-minute symphony of incompetence.

Then came the climax of our tragicomedy. Four glorious, cheesy slices sat on the tray.

We were ready. The math worked: there were two of Us (Michael and I) 2 people x 2 slices = 4 slices. It was a geometric destiny.

-The Twist: The crew decided to pull a "Robin Hood in Reverse." They gave two of our slices to a customer who was already inside, leisurely dining, and probably hadn't even started eating yet.

-The Crew's Logic: Why give the pizza to us standing at the counter in a hurry, when they can reserve it for someone who is currently sitting down, enjoying the air conditioning, and hasn't even noticed the "heated argument" about the two slices of pizza happening ten feet away?

When we pointed out the obvious—that the other customer could wait for the next batch since they weren't going anywhere—the crew stood their ground with the stubbornness of a mule guarding a bridge.

Spoiled brats ... was that the orientation they received on their first day of work?

-The Firm Statement: "If you want the other two slices, you have to wait for another 20 minutes."

-The Reality: In the Philippines, "20 minutes" is a mystical unit of time that can last anywhere from 45 minutes to a full lunar cycle.

Why was there no "advance cooking"? In a mall full of hungry people, the Pizza outlet decided to cook, but prudence dictated they had to wait and see. Kapag magluluto ng marami… baka sumobra at hindi na mabili.

They cook "patingi-tingi" (in bits), as if they’re afraid that if they make too much pizza, the smell of the pizza will alienate customers and drive them away.

We were raised on the dictum that "The Customer is Always Right."

But at this branch, the dictum was: "The Crew is Always Tired and Does Not Care About Your Schedule." Or how hurried you are.

I offered a compromise. I offered a reason. I offered a way for everyone to get the pizza they needed without spiking their blood pressure.

But the crew’s judgment was final. It wasn't about "business side" logic; it was likely about the "I don't want to wash an extra tray" logic.

We walked out of that mall with two slices of pizza and a blood pressure reading that could power a small village.

Something is really wrong. As customers, we were the ones adjusting instead of the crew adjusting to us.

Yes, the pizza is thick. Yes, it is tasty. Yes, it is cheesy. But it turns out, the "Special Promo" at Festive Walk includes a free side order of Ineptitude and a large serving of Existential Dread.

The Lesson? If you’re in a hurry, don't ever make side trips that will turn an ordinary afternoon into a stress-packed itinerary.

You end up more tired and angry ... remembering only the hustle and the bustle ... and forgetting the thick pizza, how delicious they are ... and once cut, it's dripping with cheese like molten lava.

I just have to remind the pizza supervisors, though... (I should have had a talk with them that afternoon). Please check how your crew on how they deal with customers.

Food crews drive customers away permanently primarily through a combination of rude behavior, indifference, and poor service quality, often stemming from undertraining or burnout.

Blind Fanaticism 101

 

Are you tired of the exhausting burden of critical thinking? Does your brain hurt whenever you try to look at "both sides of the coin"? 

Do you find that pesky thing called "objectivity" gets in the way of your favorite politician’s social media aesthetic?

Well, it looks like you made it.  You are about to graduate from the boring school of being a rational citizen, and with just a little make-over, you are about to join the cult, the glorious order of Blind Devotees. 

 If you want to maintain your status as a top-tier fan who would defend their political idol even if they were caught setting fire to the national treasury, follow this simple guide.

1. Putting Them In The Pedestal

• The Rational Mistake: Treating a politician like a public servant. Let them go around like ordinary mortals.

• The Fanatic Way: Your idol is not a public servant; they are a deity in a blazer or barong Tagalog. Do not put them on a pedestal—that’s not high enough. Mount them on a golden throne in the sky, well above the reach of laws, facts, and standard human decency. If they are walking on the ground, they might get dirt on their shoes. We don't like that.

2. The "Praise/Criticize."

• The Rational Mistake: Praising the good, criticizing the bad. “I like their healthcare policy, but I’m concerned about the corruption charges.”

• The Fanatic Way: This is "heresy." If the idol does something good, you must worship it as a miracle. If the idol does something bad (like, say, stealing billions or lying to the nation), you must reframe it as "strategic genius."

  • Example: If they steal, they are simply "redistributing the blessings." If they lie, they are "managing the public’s perception for national security." Criticism is for people who hate the country.

3. The "Two Sides of the Coin"

• The Rational Mistake: Looking at both sides of the coin to understand the whole picture.

• The Fanatic Way: Why look at the other side of the coin when your side has the idol’s face on it? The other side is just "Fake News," "Destabilization," or "The Work of the Opposition." Coins were meant to be flipped, not analyzed. If you ever find yourself thinking, "Hey, maybe the critics have a point," quickly refresh your feed until you find a meme that confirms your bias and resets your brain to factory settings.

4. Public Servant vs. Public Master

• The Rational Mistake: Believing the phrase "Public Servant."

• The Fanatic Way: This is clearly just a polite euphemism from the colonial era. They are our masters; we are the interns. Our job is to defend them, ignore their flaws, and fight their battles on Twitter. If they demand tax money, we pay. If they demand silence, we will be quiet. If they demand we hate our neighbors for disagreeing with them, we sharpen our pitchforks.

5. The Golden Rule of Blind Loyalty

Never, ever let the facts win. If you are presented with evidence—a signed document, a video, a bank record—ignore the content and focus entirely on the intent of the person showing it to you.

• Did they show a record of theft? How dare they attack the idol!

• Did they ask a question? Disrespectful!

• Did they suggest the idol should be accountable? Treason!

Remember, being a rational supporter requires effort, nuance, and the courage to admit when you’re wrong. That sounds exhausting. 

Being a blind fanatic is easy! All you have to do is turn off your brain, protect your favorite surname at all costs, and pretend that the "Public Servant" you voted for is actually an infallible superhero who is never, ever wrong.

If you find yourself accidentally using logic, take a deep breath, close your eyes, and repeat after me: "My idol is perfect, the facts are fake, and critical thinking is a liberal conspiracy."

Post Now ... Delete Later

This satirical essay treats the recent episode surrounding a viral Facebook post and its subsequent apology to the Philippine actor Dingdong Dantes as a compact case study in contemporary rumor economies and the performative rituals of online contrition. 

Framed with mock-seriousness, I analyze how a single impulsive share can propagate through algorithmic amplifiers to generate affective metrics — over one million reacts in this instance — and how those metrics operate as ersatz evidence in the public imagination. 

The irony is that the spectacle of mass engagement substitutes for verification; the more hearts an assertion receives, the more it is treated as truth, regardless of source credibility.

At the center of this micro-drama is an individual identified in social media reports as a supporter of a political faction, who posted an unverified statement purporting to quote the actor’s admiration for a prominent political scion. 

The post, rapidly internalized and retransmitted by compatriots, accrued roughly 78,000 heart reactions before the author deleted it and issued a brief apology. 

In satirical terms, the apology functions less as a genuine epistemic correction than as a ritualized damage-control maneuver: a standardized form of remorse that preserves social standing while minimizing cognitive dissonance among adherents. 

In more earnest terms, the episode illustrates the fragile boundary between belief and broadcast in digitally networked publics.

The wording of the apology — a terse “Sorry po” coupled with a defensive preface that others had posted the same material on platforms such as TikTok and Threads — invites a reading as strategic equivocation. 

The apologizer simultaneously disowns responsibility and aligns with a crowd-sourced epistemology: if many circulate it, it must have merit. 

Satirically, one might imagine a university offering a course titled “Collective Assertion: How to Convert Reposts into Reliable Knowledge,” complete with case studies on heart reactions as peer review. 

More soberly, this pattern underscores the importance of media literacy and the need to decouple affective engagement from evidentiary standards.

Ultimately, the episode offers both a comic tableau and a cautionary tale. 

The celebrity who becomes the inadvertent object of a rumor is compelled to witness the social media adjudication of truth in real time; the fan who apologizes performs the social ritual that restores equilibrium with minimal cost. 

For students of communication and civic life, the lesson is clear: algorithms reward amplification regardless of veracity, and cultural phrases like “Sir Ding Dantes, sorry po” serve as shorthand for a larger civic deficit — the inability or unwillingness to interrogate sources before amplifying them.

If anything, the incident should prompt critical reflection rather than another round of reflexive hearts.

Scrolling Social Media In The Bus

We were just wondering that while inside the bus, where the space is cramped, and the heat is blistering ... why do people have the compulsive habit of casually looking, viewing, and exploring content like photos, videos, profiles on platforms in a relaxed and undirected way ... almost similar to looking through a shop without intending to buy?

Was it an unconscious way of flaunting their expensive phone as if saying: "World ... look ... this is my new iPhone 17 Pro Max."

But I doubt that is even the case. Even regular guys with not-so-fancy phone brands are also doing the same thing. Almost the same nauseating routine.

I really felt dizzy as they scrolled through their photo galleries, and much more when they started showing off their latest escapade on an island in their skimpiest bikini.  

Was it a conscious ostentatious display ... or was it to show something from their gadget in a very open manner .... so people nearby will notice ... provoking envy or admiration?

Sabi nga ng kasama ko: "Di bale sana kung maganda." 

Oy kitam ... may halong inggit siya? Or naiinis lang siya the way some people do it.

Katulad kahapon sa bus na sinakyan namin ... FLAUNTING, DISPLAYING PROUDLY, and SHOWING OFF showed its ugly head when a not-so gorgeous lady in her thirties scrolls down her photo album for all her seatmates to see. Obviously wala naman siyang kilala doon dahil nagiisa lang naman siya.

What was disgusting was when she showcased her new Italian leather jacket by wearing it to the beach in broad daylight and pretending to be cold (ayon sa kanyang kwento sa katabi) to make sure everyone on the beach saw it. Naniwala ba naman kami sa kanyang palabas? Heck no. 

Maliwanag pa sa sikat ng araw, na ang sikat ng araw ay obviously ay tanghaling tapat. Nasa beach siya tapos naka-leather jacket siya? Hindi ba siya naiinitan? Was she "dressed up to the nines" so obviously inapprorpriate dahil ang OOTD niya was way too eloaborate and ill-advised ... tapos sa beach pa??

Nangiintriga lang ba kami? Iresponsable ba ang aming observation? Hindi eh. May ebidensya. In one of the image humihiyaw ang malaking wall clock ... It was 12 noon sa Boracay!

Although we love it when a peacock flaunts its colorful fan-like tail feathers ... or when a zebra sashayed with its striking black and white stripes ... but when a person spreads their wings in full regalia (overdoing or exaggerating it to catch attention) ... it is infuriating, let alone aggravating.

And what the hell are the onlookers doing ... (the non-participating observers and spectators, ang mga miron), the other group of people completing the equation? They are as annoying as the first group of flaunters.  

They are the seatmates. They were not invited, but they craned their neck to see the photos up close and personal. Hindi naman nila kilala yong tao. But they were gawking ...(as if feeling close) at nakikiusyoso? Bakit nga ba?

Did they do it because of boredom? Was it curiosity? Mahaba-haba ba naman ang biyahe kaya pampalipas na rin ng oras ang pag-scan ng Facebook ng may Facebook? 

And this is worse ... hindi pa nakontento ha ... kinuha din niya ang kanyang iphone ... ni-reasearch ang pangalan ng may-ari ... kaya scrolling galore silang dalawa. Para silang long lost friends na ngayon lang nagkita at ni-reminsce lang ang kanilang good old days. 

So why this strong interest to see more? Nakakita ka lang ng naka-bikini sa Facebook at lumuluwa na ang mata mo?  Naintriga ka lang ba kung ano pang stages of undress ang posible mong makita? Yong may-ari naman tickled pink ...(kulang sa attention si ate)  dahil may nagkainteres sa kanyang palabas.

Was this habit time-filling? Maybe. Commutes are downtime, so it is perfect for scrolling through feeds to pass the time.

Oh well, commuting on a bus can indeed provide unique opportunities to observe and reflect on the diverse behaviors and motivations of fellow passengers, offering insights into human psychology and social dynamics, and most especially their PSYCHE.

Ang Dapat Mong Taasan

Ang Dapat Mong Taasan!

There is one thing na dapat TAASAN mo ... at yan ang PANGARAP mo. Aim high and hit the mark.

There are two things na huwag mong TAASAN. One ... huwag mong taasan ang IHI mo. ... and two ... ang TINGIN mo sa sarili.

Be humble. Mag-umpisa ka lang nang trabaho ... complete wardrobe change na agad? Dapat gugulatin mo ang lahat sa galing mo sa trabaho hindi .... yong daanin mo sa pakontesan ng damit ang laban.

Ano ba ang gusto mo ... kikita ng pera o magpasiklab ka sa mga workmates at mag-model-modelan ka?

Too superficial! And too juvenile! Di ba first day of work mo pa lang ... if I were in your shoes dapat magpa-impress ako sa boss at huwag sa mga kasamahan lang.

Sometimes, people who think and behave this way are wrestling with their own personal demons, and they try to hide their ineptness and incompetence by using the defense mechanism of compensation. This can manifest in various ways, such as dressing up to mask personal insecurities or attempting to cover up clumsiness or awkwardness.

And The Winner Is Exposes Pinoy's Toxic Behaviors

We saw And The Winner Is ... the other day ... and I believe the reviewer who said that Meme Vice indeed went out of his comfort zone ... to give us a thought-provoking movie. True the usual VG brand of slapstick comedy was there ... but the movie's soul delves deeper into what we Pinoys usually ignore why breadwinners go out of their way to be USED ... and be ABUSED.

Ginagawa ba nila ito dahil gusto lang nilang makatulong ... or gusto lang nilang magpakabayani?  This nagging question demands answers and to the director's credit he succeeded in bringing to light how far a breadwinner will go to help his family in need. Was there a need in the first place one will ask ... or namimihasa lang ang ating pamilya dahil may isang member na nagvolunteer akoin lahat?

May mga reklamo ba sila sa kanilang pagiging breadwinner ... do they have regrets ... or have they become repentant accepting this awesome job? What happens kung sa tagal ng panahon pamilya ang naging sentro ng kanilang buhay ... na mistula ginawa na nilang araw ang gabi ... at palipat-lipat siya sa napakaraming part time jobs para kumita at makaipon ... nauwi lang pala sa wala ang kanyang pinaghirapan?

Bambi (female for Bamboo) in that scene where he made that lengthy soliloquy: "Ano pa ba ang silbi ng pagiging breadwinner ko" ... ngayon naubos na at winaldas na nang kanyang pamilya ang pinapadala niya at pinag-ipunan niya.

Ano pa nga ang silbi niya ... ngayong wala na siyang financial na maitulong? Will the family member's attitude changed ngayong wala nang mapigang gamit sa kanya? Kailangan pa bang ituloy ang magandang samahan ngayong wala na siyang mai-ambag ... monetary that is. Or tuluyan nang mawasak ang pamilya at magkanya-kanya na?

What is worst ay niloko siya ng bawat member ng pamilya ... "Ate ito ang magiging kuwarto mo" ... pina-dim light pa para makita ang mga revolving lights ... ano yon parang disco? Kinuha lang pala ang ideya sa isang advertisement.

Ang brother niya naman nasa itaas ng isang building na under construction (isang OFW nagpagawa ng isang building?) at pinavideo pa: "Ate ito ang floor mo ... kanya kanya tayong floor dito."

Nang nagkabukuhan na ... tanong ni Bambi: "Ano na ang nangyari sa bahay na pinagawa ko?" Sagot ng brother: "Ate babayaran ko naman eh."

Ha? Babayaran niya ... kailan at paano dahil wala naman siyang trabaho. Babayaran sa panaginip? Ilang eksena na ba sa tunay na buhay ang naringgan ko ng ganyan?

The movie also examines the toxic notion that the OFW as breadwinner takes all the responsibility for sending everything that the family needs - while the rest of the family continues their kind of life devoid of responsibility and direction. Nagpakasasa sila sa kaunting biyaya na hindi naman kanila.

The movie also succeeded in showing other toxic Pinoy traits and attitude ... yong mga kapatid na mando ng mando na padalhan sila ng sapatos or the like ... laway lang at kapal ng mukha ang kapital ... na parang pinupulot lang ang pera abroad.

It also question another toxic Pinoy behavior na iisa lang ba ang breadwinner sa pamilya? Bambi question that when he said: Ako na lang ba lahat ... bakit wala man lang akong BACK UP? ... and she question her elder sister na pumunta rin sa abroad pero walang kusang tumulong? Di ba gagaan sana ang problema kung ito ay pinag-usapan ... at pinagtulong-tulongang lutasin?

More often than not ... instead of appreciating the work and his effort ... siya pa ang sinisi at inakusahang siya ang may kasalanan ng lahat kung ano man ang nangyari sa kanya. Do breadwinners really deserved to be blamed "Desisyon mo yan ... wala namang nagoobliga sa iyo?"

Ang younger brother ni Bambi ay may lihim palang pagkasuklam sa desisyon ni Bambi at bakit tinanggap nito ang responsibilidad bilang breadwinner. Kulang na lang sabihin niya na mas approve siya sa set-up na ang kinikita mo ay para lang sa iyo. 

Kahit hingi siya ng hingi ng pasalubong ... ayaw na ayaw pala nitong tularan si Bambi ... dahil ayaw niya sa ganyang masalimuot na buhay. At ayaw niya sa taong hindi man lang marunong magtira para sa sarili.

At dahil wala na ngang pera si Bambi ... at may kanser pa pala in the end ... kailangan bang magbago ang trato sa kanya ng pamilya dahil wala na silang mahuthot sa kanya?

All in all ... naipakita ng pelikula (pati na rin yong segment sa Showtime "Kung Sino Ang Breadwinner") what made them accept such gargantuan responsibility. 

It boils down to one thing - their love of their family ... at yong ayaw nilang makitang napariwara sila dahil lang sa kakulangan ng pera at opportunity.

Toxic Filipino Culture

What is toxic ... and what is not? Toxic is toksik - venomous. poisonous, destructive, and dangerous. Kailan ba naging toxic ang isang culture ... at kailan ito hindi? Meron bang yardstick to measure na ang isang trait or attitude ay toxic ... or isa lang itong guniguni na ginagamit ng tao dahil feeling niya ay agrabiyado siya sa sitwasyon?

Bakit Filipino lang palagi ang reklamo ng reklamo ng mga ugaling ating nakagisnan ... I still have to hear an American or a British complaining about theirs. 

Hindi kaya yong Filipino Culture ay hindi naman TOXIC ... kundi yong mga taong nagiisip na TOXIC ang siyang TOXIC? You know marami sa atin ang mararamdamin, pikon, walang pasensiya, at ang hilig talaga magreklamo.

Let us examine these cultures one by one. Toxic nga ba o hindi ... at baka may nagover-react lang? Basta tandaan natin huwag tayong maapanghusga. Weigh the situations carefully ... kung sa tingin natin ay toxic nga ... iiwasan nating gawin din ito sa iba para hindi tayo makapagperwisyo.

TOXIC CULTURE: Manana Habit

MEANING: The Manana habit stems from the Spanish word manana, which means tomorrow. Ibig sabihin may ugaling Pinoy tayo if we postpone tasks for later ... which somebody sarcastically termed procrastination.

We tend to put off what is originally planned TODAY and have everything in full motion ... Tomorrow. In Tagalog ... it is like saying "Mamaya na ...: or "Saka na ..." kesyo manood muna ng PBA finals ... kesyo matulog muna ... at sumasakit ang ulo ... or kesyo ... he needs a break pronto ... at marami pang kesyo.

Manana habit encourages procrastination ... cramming at failure to do the task on time. Familiar ba sa inyo ang mga word na jamming ... overloading ... crowding ... jam-packing?

Ang theme song nila ay "May Bukas Pa".

Ano mga tol ... toxic nga ba? Sa ganang akin ... kung naka-apekto ito sa productivity mo at sa trabaho mo ... at sa performance mo at magandang record mo ... bigyan mo ito ng pansin.

And just to be fair ... may magandang balita ding dala ang manana habit. For one it emphasizes mindful prioritization of tasks based on their value, gravity, and urgency.  Secondly ...  putting off the work for later ... can give you a first-class look at what time management should be.

It also gives you the window to refresh yourself and your mind ... at huwag na lang yong subsob kalabaw ka at trabaho na lang ng trabaho.

Toxic Filipino Traits

 We must stop endorsing ... maintaining ... and preserving toxic Filipino practices ... like we back them up, sustain them or preserve them to last another lifetime. It is not simply 'part of the culture' yan (kahit saang angulo mo tingnan ay talagang nakakahiya). Kaya a plan of action is needed to actively resist them ... so we can break the cycle. 

One of these toxic traits is bringing uninvited people to a party.

Hospitality is a defining trait of Filipino culture, characterized by its people's generosity and heartfelt welcome. That is a generous trait all right ... but it is not a license for you to tag along 5 more people ... mga taong hindi man lang kilala ng host.

Nang gate crash ka na ... nagdala ka pa ng isang barangay na pakakainin? What happens now ... kung ang handa ng kaibigan mo is not enough. Pinahiya mo na ang sarili mo ... lalo na si frennie mo (pahiram Rhoda ... pagamit sa lambingan ninyo ni Maritess of Batang Quiapo fame)

Yong party naman should not be treated as an opportunity para sa isang libreng tsibugan. Para ito sa mga kaibigang kilala ... at ang party is the time for them to catch up and reminisce the good old days. Nakakailang isipin na nagkumustahan kayo ... tapos may limang miron sa tabi ninyo na nakamasid at nakikinig ... at kung minsan nakisabat pa sa usapan. 

What could be more appalling .... ay kung maisipan pa ng mga kaibigan mo ang mag-take home at walang galang silang kukuha ng plastic bag para magbalot. 

Isip isip mga ineng at tsong. Nabusog ka na ... gusto mo ng take out para sa libreng hapunan?

Responding To Netizens Comment

Iha ... maintiendihan mo ang pinagsasabi mo ... pag ikaw ay matanda na rin at ganoon din ang trato sa inyo ng mga anak ninyo?

How can you say toxic culture .... kita mo pamunu-an na ng Milo ang nagtanggal kay Carlos na maging model nila dahil hindi sila naniniwala sa points of view at mindset ninyo. Huwag ninyong sabihin na mali sila.

One thing is sure we are living in matriarchal society. Tapos ngayon gusto ninyong bagohin ang kultura ... to think na napakabata pa ninyo ... tapos nagsusuggest kayo ng total overhaul ng sistema ... dahil the narrative is too convenient for you?

What goes around ... comes around and I hate rubbing it in your face ... kung ikaw na ang nasa sitwasyong ng mga magulang ni Carlos. Baka mahimasmasan ka at bawiin mo bigla ang mga sinabi mo: starting with the reactions ng sarili mong parents sa mga maanghang mong pananalita.

Remember hindi nakasalalay ang tagumpay ninyo sa mga gintong medalya. Oo puno kayo nga biyaya ngayon ... pero pansamantala lang yan. Nothing is permanent in this world. Pinatikim lang kayo nga konting biyaya .... nagbago na ng ugali at naging madamot?

Tanongin mo si Carlos kung happy ba siya sa naging desisyon niya. One thing is sure ... there is a void in him, yong feeling na buo siya ... pero bakit parang merong kulang? Yong feeling na despite the money, the adulation that he is getting ... bakit parang may feeling of emptiness wanting to be filled.

You know what I mean ... dahil sa success at pera ninyo nagiging madamot kayo at kasabay diyan ang pag-itsa puera at buong giting na nakipaghiwalay kayo sa mga magulang ninyo ... for good ... walang reservation at pakundangan dahil nagiging selfish at greedy na kayo. See what money can do?

Tuwang tuwa ka nga at Olympic champion ka ... ang tanong ba ay kompleto ba ang happiness na yan ... eh sinasarili lang ninyo? Kumakain ka nga ng masasarap na pagkain ... but at the back of your mind sumagi ba sa isip mo na may mga magulang ka at kapatid ka na kumakalam ang tiyan sa gutom?

Doon sa victory celebration niya sa ASAP sa ABS CBN ... wow na wow siya sa lahat ng pagbunyi at pagtingala ... pero nakaya at nalunok niya ... na ni isa sa pamilya ay wala doon at hindi man lang naimbitahan? OO mali ang ginawa ng mother niya na kumampi sa iba instead of staying loyal to him bago pa ang Olympics.

OO mali ang paggamit ng kanyang ina sa pera niya but what is that sa grasya na tinatamasa niya ngayon? Saan na ba ang linyang: "Share your blessings ..." tinapon na lang sa bintana? Ang pera pag nawala ay puedeng kitain ulit... pero ang tuluyang wakasan ang isang buong pamilya dahil hindi ka sang-ayon sa ginagawa ng mother mo ... is preposterous. It is reckless ... imprudent, misguided and ill-considered.

There is no perfect parent ... or a perfect children. Lahat ay nagkakamali. Pero ang pagkamali ay puedeng pagusapan ng lahat ng members ... at puede kayong maggawa ng plan of action ... or groundrules para maiwasan itong mangyari ulit.

Hindi ba pwedeng pagusapan yan ng matino na walang ibang taong nagsusolsol at nakiki-alam? Hindi ba pwedeng magkapatawaran na ... at ipaliwanag ang kanyang saloobin sa mga rules and regulations tungkol sa paggamit ng kanyang pera ... and instructions that states the way things should be done ... what her family is allowed or not allowed to do?

It is bad na mag-wish ng masama sa kapwa ... but what happens kung iikot ang gulong ng buhay at biglang nasa ilalim bigla kayo. What happens kung ubos na ang pera ninyo ... at wala na yong dating liksi mo para tumambling? What happens kung isang one day millionaire phenomenon lang pala ang lahat, at naubos na ninyo ang yaman at yabang ninyo?

I hate to see Carlos in that situation (the parable of the prodigal son ) if he dares to swallow his pride to return to his family ... nagmakaawa para lang siya ay tanggapin.

Maraming nang nangyayari na ganyan iha. Mga amang hiniwalayan ang mga asawa , nagpakasasa sa mga biyayang ibinigay ng nasa ITAAS ... pagkatapos luhaang bumalik sa kanyang original family dahil wala na ang mga grasya ... pati ang ikalawang pamilya ... and the worst of all matanda na at may sakit na.

Isipin mo ang kirot ... yong nagsisisi ka na at lahat ... pero hindi ka matanggap ng mga anak mo dahil pinili mong iwanan sila kapalit doon sa isang pamilya na akala mo ay forever at panghabang buhay na ... panandalian lang pala.

Truth hurts iha ... at sana huwag mong isiping that I am sanctimonious and holier than thou para magbigay ng unsolicited opinion ko. And that I am morally superior and hypocritically pious para mag-impose na ang mga paniwala ko ay tama. Far from that. Nangyari na kasi sa akin ... iba iba lang ang kwento pero suma-total ganoon pa rin ang buod ng istorya.

Take it from somebody who has been there. I am just reminding you of your sins of omission and commission ... the lacks and the excesses you made because of your youthful indiscretions.

Toxic Filipino Traits

Some people can't accept that they are wrong. Tested and proven ... na siya ay nagkamali .... gumagawa pa rin ng paraan para ituwid ang general perception  that he slipped ang committed some gaffes.

Mga tol ... tao lang tayo ... okay lang na magkamali.  Ang hindi okay ay yong hindi matanggap ng pride mo na pwede palang madiskaril ang dream project mo. And it leaves a sour taste in the mouth if you continue blaming critics just because they tell you the obvious.

Grow up, little man!

Toxic Motherly Concern This Christmas

Are you this type of parent?  Yong bang pag may regalo si baby boy this Christmas ... tapos alam mong mahal ito ... aba gusto mong itago dahil baka lang masira ... o baka mawala?

Come on let the kid enjoy ... sa kanya ang gift na yan at hindi sa iyo.

Kung natakot kang mawala o masira ang regalo ... I think the best way you could do is oversee him with his activities para safe ang anak mo ... pati na ang regalo.

Don't spoil his Christmas by being too over-protective about everything. Remember ibinigay ang gift na yan ... para paglaruan niya ... hindi para amagin sa bag mo.

Ang gusto MO ... ay hindi NIYA gusto! Gets?