Shadow Insanity

2 weeks na lang!

2005-10-23T23:00:00.000-07:00

^
Taken from Mayang's Baby Shower

I miss her terribly :(

If I had the resources to do it, I'd get on a plane and vist her in Germany. Hehe. Anyway, 2 more weeks before I can hug my michie! Can't wait to have you back in my arms!

FlyFF - Reach for the sky!

2005-10-23T22:54:00.000-07:00

I'm going to use my blog to advertise a game. Wahahaha!

FlyFF, brought to you by netGames. It's free for life. Yes, you heard me right. FREE FOR LIFE. You don't have to pay for hourly, daily, weekly, or monthly loads. Just get into the game and start reaching for the sky. :)

FlyFF Official Website: http://flyff.com.ph

If you want an installer CD, Netopia brances nationwide are giving them away!

New career - One hell of a parteh~

2005-10-22T03:15:00.000-07:00

To those who don't know, I recently just resigned from my job at PeopleSupport and I moved into the Gaming Industry. It's something that I've been thinking of for the longest time, and it's only now that I finally jumped into it.

And... OMFG.

I'm happy.

The job rocks. The casual yet professional atmosphere inside the office reminds me so much of PeopleSupport (which for me is the coolest call center in the world wahaha). The people are warm and friendly, pero when the work comes in everyone suddenly transforms into monsters. Hehe! One of my passions during my earlier years was definitely events. I just had so much fun organizing and going to events. That's pretty much what I'm doing now. What's even better is that I get a little bit of freedom and creativity because I can propose and implement programs/events (as long as they are justified of course).

Anyway, thanks to everyone who went to GameFrog on October 21, 2005! You guys made it one hell of a summit/party. There will be more to come soon... just you guys wait. :)

The downside in all of this is the fact that michie isn't here... crap. T_T Come home na. Wahhhhhhhhh @_@

Chinese food, Movies, Love, and Life.

2005-09-14T16:46:00.000-07:00

Everyone who knows me well should probably know that I just love eating Chinese food. The combination of Yang Chow Fried Rice, Chinese Beef Steak, and the damnable Nido Soup with Quail and Crab is too hard a temptation to resist. That's why when I get some cash, I usually go out and eat in North Park and Hap-Chan.

Just recently, I got my paycheck. I've been craving for Chinese food for almost a month now, and I really wanted to indulge myself in a good meal at North Park. I went over to my ATM and withdrew some dough, and I called a few friends and asked them if they wanted to eat out. Unfortunately most of them couldn't make it, but I was really desparate, and I went to North Park by myself (sad noh?).

It was right then and there, while staring at the menu of North Park that I lost my appetite. The thought of the food was good, however something was missing. Something that actually made eating this kind of food really excellent.

God damn it, I miss Mich. For those who don't know, she went to Germany for 2 months (scholarship).

What good is a gourmet meal if you don't have someone as witty and charming as her to share it with?
What is the use of going to a movie if I don't have her snuggling with me?

As cliche as it may sound, I feel so incomplete. I feel like a huge chunk out of my life was taken out and that's just a week without her! I miss her terribly and for the first time in my life, I don't look foward to weekends anymore. I love my friends and all that... but my life just feels so cold without her.

Take care of yourself while you're there, and please come home soon. I wubba j00!

On Reality and Hardships

2005-08-27T11:07:00.000-07:00

It's time to think about things unconventionally. It's time to appreciate the stuff we've been taking for granted (for one, like having a brain that can think objectively; but that's just me). Yeah, it sounds funny, but hey... I'm not the one getting miffed up with what I've been posting here (that's you, tools, wahehe). Sounds valiant, but really... I just want to have fun with thinking. You should, too. Drop your MMORPGs, china patterns, "Oprah", monthly salaries, shopping, movies and whatnot... and think. Thinking is fun, really!Seriously though... I think we've been too engrossed with the daily humdrum of monotonous, unexamined living that we've forgotten about having a rational, thinking brain. We're no better off than animals in this case, really. And that just irritates me. So here I am, with such a messianic effort, of ranting just to get the gears in your head rolling. What a pompous loon! Yeah, I agree too! - A friend

The premise of all my posts in my blog is usally experience. And that will continue to hold on this next entry that I am writting tonight. The quote above is nice in a way that it challenges the human brain to think, but I think it's kinda foolish to add some sort of morale highground (by saying that you are challenging others in a very condescending tone).

I know pain really well. Physical and emotional. And I would be a fool to say that I don't envy some people who are having it quite easy compared to what I'm going through. But then again I'm also thankful that I'm not going through what our impoverished brothers and sisters are feeling right now. Some people need to work, and they don't have the luxury of allowance or food being served at their table, day-in and day-out. Some people need to haul ass everyday, just to make sure that they survive.

Thinking is fun, yes I agree. But the "thinking" is not limited to just going about stuff that really don't need your attention. That kind of thinking usually falls to people who really have nothing much to do. I guess the only thing I want to point out is that "Doing" is far more valuable than "Thinking". People who slave themselves for money to give a better life for themselves and their children is worth applauding, than those who just sit around and think. Its hardly being an animal. Working to provide a future for yourself and your children is sacrifice. Sacrifice and charity show humanity more than anything else. The greatest act that I can think of till this day is how parents give up alot of dreams and aspirations just to give way for their children. When the time comes that I have my own child, I would rather have worked my ass off to give them a brighter tomorrow than to have just sit around and think.

Life ain't just about MMORPGs, china patterns, Oprah, monthly sarlies, shopping, movies, and whatnot. For me it's being able to make a difference in the lives of others in a positive way. Thinking helps, but never ever forget that "doing" is far more important. Also, try not to belittle the people who slave themselves to the system, because it's their show of charity and sacrifice for their children or future children.

Yes, the creator gave us a brain. But He also gave us arms, legs, and other body parts.
If the previous author challenged you to think, I challenge you to "do". Get up, work, meet people, and stop thinking about life and start living it.

Waukeen, the Eldest Son of Fenris. By: Deboahan

2005-08-23T16:52:00.000-07:00

I love this guy. His perspective drawing skillz is so roxxors. Hahaha!

On Women and Relationships.

2005-08-23T16:06:00.000-07:00

If you can live without a relationship, then it's probably for the better, I'd say. It's a sad state of affairs when you purposely (and deep within, knowingly) set yourself up to get smashed by the veritable, perennial "perfect one" (for the moment, at least) you hype yourself up to. - A friend

They say women are the smarter gender, but I beg to disagree, I just think they are perpetually confused like all geniuses are, hence the aforementioned cliche. Unfortunately, their confusion gets them nowhere at all. It gets them burning bras, showing off breasts to get dough, or kicking a guy in the face for opening the door for them. They are the perpetual lost puppies. - Another friend

These two quotes/sentiments came to my attention last night, and I can't help but comment.

The basic principle of human philosophy and theology is that there is no substitute for real life experience, and that conjecture and theory can never be enough basis to make a statement, especially if we are talking about something as complex as relating with the opposite sex. With that said, I think I've earned the right to actually say something on this matter, having had several relationships before and being in a solid 5 year relationship right now.

Not everything is served to everyone in a silver platter. Some people do not have the luxury of money, emotional support, professional and physical encouragement, and everything else, given to them at home. Not everyone can afford to shut themselves off from the rest of the world. Branding women as this and that is also just plain dumb and immature, and I will explain why in the coming paragraphs of this entry.

I've been with Mich for nearly 5 years now. If it weren't for the support she constantly gave me during the most trying times of my life, I would have probably caved in and called it quits. Love is not just romance. Relationships are not just based on sex and fun. The real deal is something deeper than that! Men were not made to impress women and vice-versa! They were made to complement and support each other. If there's one thing I learned during the past few years with Mich, is that everything I thought about women then (before the relationship with her) was high school stuff. Believe me when I say that there will come a time in your life that sex is not the only thing that matters.

Men constantly shout out that women take their actions for granted. Men have a tendency to be frustrated because their most recent effort of making their girl happy can be overshadowed with their past or recent mistakes. The fact of the matter is that men usually think forward, always on what is infront of them. Women, on the other hand, tend to think of everything. I know this because this is one of the problems that plauged the earlier stages of my relationship with Mich. I kept insisting that she can't see the stuff that I do that should matter, while she says that it's beside the point. They look to the sides, upward, downward, and even farther than what the man is looking at. It doesn't mean that women are more mature, but it just shows that one PoV is limited, and in order to fully see the beauty of life, you need to merge both views. Women only become complex if you don't know anything about them based on long term experiences.

Relationships should be about support. Real love is something that stems out from sacrifice and hard work. It is not a stupid walk in the park as most of you watch in romance movies or TV shows. I love Mich dearly because of the way we support each other. I cherish her because she's the one person that has taken an extra mile in giving me chances to improve myself, giving us room to grow as a couple. Through my ups and downs she's been there to give me warm hugs. When my family wasn't there, she was. When my friends turned against me, she stood beside me. When the world seemed to become much heavier, she was there not just to encourage me to forge on, she stepped in and carried my burdens with me. And that is what inspires true romance and real poets. Real life experience.

Go out! Meet new people! Make new friends! If you fuck around, then have fun! But don't be so condescending as to label women lost puppies or whatnot. Women are not just objects of affection or ego trophies. They are not just there for sex and kisses. Women can make a big difference in our lives, especially if we learn to respect them.

I don't know everything there is to know about women and relationships, but the one thing I know is that a woman saved my life, and she continues to do so.

129 Square - R.I.P.

2005-08-01T02:36:00.000-07:00

Even God shows mercy to businesses these days. The internet-gaming cafe known as 129 Square will finally be put to rest due to a juicy offer from the owner of the building. This is also a grace from heaven because the shop was already on the highway to hell. In the end, all of the partners will be walking away with their capital and more. Hopefully they will bring with them the lessons that were taught by the conflicts that happened during the 1 year stint of the business.

Though I have alot more rants to shout out, I will keep them to myself in honor of the shop that I once loved and took care of. I only wish that someday those who continue to condemn and accuse without evidence get what's coming to them. What comes around, goes around.

To end this post, let me quote one of the employees of 129 Square who saw me just recently:

"Sir, you look much more happier now."

I simply nodded and smiled.

Birthday Blues

2005-07-27T03:56:00.000-07:00

OMFG! Another year just passed by.

When I look back and think about 2004, it was mostly about the epic conflicts of 129 Square. Most of my life during that 1 year was dedicated to making that shop work. In that year also I look back and see who my real friends are in this world. In this year of life I've also come to realize how important Mich is to my life. Through all the troubling times and all the hardships, she was always there to support me and give me the strength I needed to get up and continue. Thank you and I wubba j00! ^^

23 na ako waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa~~ I wanna be a congressman by 30. o_o; Damn, I have a long and hard journey ahead of meh. ><

Level-up Games Incorporated - In Trouble.

2005-07-17T04:21:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, 30+ accounts in the Lydia server were deleted. You cannot delete your account in Philippine Ragnarok Online. The most you can do is to just stop loading top-up cards into it. The only people capable of deleting accounts are the IT people in Level-up Games, something which I have been claiming for the past months! It is still my belief that my account, along with Master Diwa and the guildmasters of the Esteemed House of the Crane, are victims of malpractice.

Thanks to GM Tristan and GM BS Bentaboy, my anger with LU! kinda lessened, thus making me stop my actions in bringing my case to the media. However, the Lydia people are not as understanding as I am. Just yesterday, they talked with Mike Enriquez for Imbestigador. For the next week they will be working on a video that will be actually aired in TV. I was also informed that a rival company of LU! that has connections with another media station is interested in hearing and airing the testimonies of the victims of the IT department.

Level-up Games Incorporated is in for a very messy August. I talked with the Lydia victims and they are showing twice the conviction and the resolve that I had. They will not take it to the CIDG, because my experience showed them that the system is flawed. They will take it to the media! Finally the damn IT Department will get whats due to them.

DOJ - Led by an unjust man.

2005-07-17T04:07:00.000-07:00

I was watching TV a few nights ago when I chanced upon Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales giving his comments about the statement of former President Cory Aquino asking for PGMA to resign. If I remember correctly, he said that the former President should fix her daughter before giving unsolicited advice. He later goes on and then personally attacks Dinky Soliman, who resigned from the President's cabinet that same day. I simply despise the fact that such an arrogant and disrespectful man is in charge of the Department of Justice.

I'm not that famillar with the actual pre-requisites for entering public service, but government officials, especially members of the cabinet, should at least have integrity and honor. Not only were his comments rude, they were uncalled for. Is he so clean as to have the luxury of criticizing the personal lives of the former President and Secretary? I also remember Secretary Gonzales insulting Susan Roces after she gave her heartfelt speech calling for the President to resign. He called her a "griping widow", and that "she is too beautiful to put in jail." That's three women you've attacked, why not start picking fights with men, Mr.Secretary?

How sad that the man leading the department the presumes "innocent until proven guilty" is judging all of the political opponents of his master. It is really sad to see that people like him are calling the shots in this country, especially in matters of justice!

We may have different opinons, but it is not beyond us to show respect.

Invictus.

2005-07-12T14:46:00.000-07:00

I Want To Be…
Written by: Carlo San Juan Ople

I want to live life as much as I can. I want to become responsible for the health of my family and myself. Each precious second is a moment gone with a loved one, and I want to cherish everyday as if there was no tomorrow. I owe it not only to God and to myself, but I owe it to those who need me as the years go by. I will not leave my children fatherless, and my wife a widow at an early age.

I want to be a good husband to my wife. I want to provide for her and to make sure that she can rest her head on my shoulders at the end of day. I want her to smile and thank God that she married a responsible gentleman. I will remember her lovely face and the warm embrace of my children each time temptation knocks at my door. I will ask myself each and every single time, am I willing to risk all of that for a moment of pleasure? I will come home every night and embrace the person I vowed to cherish and love for the rest of my life.

I want to be a father who my children can look up to. I want them to be proud of me and what I do. Mistakes are acceptable during an early age, but now I realize that I dare not leave a stone unturned. I will not compromise myself as a guide to my children by not doing what I have to do and finishing what I need to finish. I want my children to live a life far better that what I had. I want them to be spared of all the unjust hardships that have come my way.

I want to be a person who will be an instrument of change in the world that I live in. I want to make a difference in the lives of people. Life is so short and there are billions of human beings in this planet. I want to die knowing that people in the future will remember my name. Immortality is not a state of the soul after death, it is found in those who will keep your words in their hearts and minds after you’re gone.

It’s about time I stop being who I am now, and start growing to who I am meant to be.

Project Manager Offer

2005-07-04T16:30:00.000-07:00

One of my aunties talked to me this morning and asked me if I wanted to help her set-up an internet cafe. Oh, the memories. Hahaha! I asked her what she needed from me. Basically she wants me to oversee everything from the construction to the operations. I was abit hesitant at first, but when I asked her how much she was planning to spend on it, I was tempted. The capital rivals the money used for 129 Square.

I asked her if she already had a venue in mind, and she told me she already was talking with a broker. I thought it would be somewhere in Ortigas or Makati, since she works there, but to my shock, she said it was just along Katipunan. God really works in mysterious ways. Anyway, I'm still thinking about it. I'm trying to persuade her to move the area from Katipunan to another site because I still have good friends that are investors in 129 Square. I just find it really funny that this happened.

Good news though, house about to be sold (the one in Corinthians). Just waiting for the buyer to come back from the US (estimate early August). I still don't know what I'll do with the money when the time comes, but I'll definitely settle all my financial problems first.

Life finally seems to be picking up!

Speaking Out. (Conclusion)

2005-07-03T12:33:00.000-07:00

Amidst everything that has happened, there was one partner who stood by me through everything. He was there to defend me when I wasn't looking. He was the one who believed in my dream and in my plans for the business. He also carried a huge workload, being the treasurer and our liason to SEC, BIR, and other government agencies. But more than anything, Jocer was the only person in the group that I can actually call a friend. I won't elaborate and do a tribute here. But I will apologize to this friend of mine. I showed you a vision, but sadly we can't reach that place... yet. We're still young, and I know that someday I'll find a way to repay you for being one of the most understanding and sincere friends I've ever had. Thank you for everything and God bless.

As I come to close this chapter of my life, I want to say that it's been one hell of a ride for 129 Square. I doubt if the shop will close anytime soon, because the sales will be more than enough to keep it alive and kicking. I think that the investors I invited will get their money back soon enough, and I hope that the business becomes a success, especially if they finally listen to my ideas and get a good general manager that is separate from the actual owners. If there is anything wrong with the shop, it's definitely management.

There are a lot of lessons that I've learned, and I hope that you guys (readers) will also become better people and businessmen with what I've shared. The number one lesson, I think, is never to get into business with your friends, unless you're prepared to see them for who they really are (sometimes that's scary). When you enter a business, you don't just risk money, but you also risk your friendship. Is that gamble worth taking?

Shadow Circle Eternity Incorporated will live on, but it will be a body with no soul, because the vision and the passion is no longer there. Of course this is just a challenge, because not everything is lost yet. I know some investors are more than capable of turning things around.

Thank you to everyone who was part of this stage of my life. Thank you for the support and the love you guys have shown me. Also I'd like to thank those who did nothing but make things worse, because now I know who to trust. I pray for the strength to move on once and for all, so I can move on and pick up where I left off before this damn thing was shoved down my throat. And to those who still have grudges against me, don't worry, I will settle everything that needs to be settled to the best of my abilities (Be it emotional, spiritual, financial, and whatever).

Again, thank you to everyone that supported me, and to all those I've hurt, I apologize with a very sad but humble heart. Till the next time, ciao ^_^

Speaking Out. (3rd of a 4-part series)

2005-07-02T14:12:00.000-07:00

Trust. I'm not talking about the condom. I'm talking about the value and worth of putting your faith in someone else. To someone who hasn't felt the sting of reality, "trust" maybe just another word in your vocubulary to use at your own leisure. But if there's one thing I learned the past few months, it's that you should never give trust so freely to people.

In order to make up for the money needed for the completion of 129 Square, I took it upon myself to find investors to fill in the void. In the future I planned to buy-out these investors when my money finally frees up from the financial crisis my parents have put me to. I asked for the investors that I would be happy to include them in the business, but on the condition that their shares are to be listed under my name, and that their voting powers are also allocated to me. To make sure that their interests are protected, we would both sign a legal document that gives them the right to ask for their proportional share each time dividends is called. This was my only request, and all of the investors were more than happy to agree to it.

The company, of course, should be grateful that I managed to find a way to find 1,500,000 pesos worth of investors in a couple of days. I thought that my partners would appreciate this, but instead they despised it. They were afraid of the majority share I would hold, and they plotted and schemed behind my back.

More than the previous two owners, I put alot of trust into this next person. He's the one who's always smiling and is always happy. But his innocence is questionable, and I can't believe that he's as naive as he claims to be. If ever he is, I hope that he realizes the error of his ways if he manages to pass through this blog. This partner was instrumental in cutting down the votes I had in the corporation. Behind my back he called and talked to my investors, despite our earlier agreement that the only person who had the authority to talk to those people should be me. Without my knowledge I was already at the receiving end of basless accusations, misguided ideas, and hearsay that was meant to damage my reputation. Naturally the investors became shaky, and they asked that the shares be transferred to their name instead. This screwed up all my future plans and threw everything into chaos. Hahaha.. I remember the bullshit accusations he threw at me:

1.) I allegedly stole Piatos from the counter
2.) I allegedly took money from the cashbox (even if I never go there as a bantay and I only double check the sales)
3.) I allegedly stole Mountain Dew from the fridge
4.) I pumped up the electricity bill because I wanted to patch the games overnight because they never did it themselves.

All of these four, of course, are bullshit.

What kind of a partner... what kind of a friend would stoop to that low of a level? The answer to that question eludes me to this very day.

I pray for the strength to finally forgive these three people who have maligned, plotted, schemed, and selfishly went about destroying my dreams and my aspirations. I ask God that He guide them into realizing that they are ungrateful assholes.

You know what's sad?

Up to this day, no one has apologized or thanked me for everything that has happened in 129.

To the partner who I'm talking about, I have a direct message for you:

You told me once that if you had the power to turn back time, you'd wish that we never entered into business. I think it's good that this early in life I found out the brutal pains and truths of business. And I think it's good because that I finally found out what kind of people my partners/friends were. You were never friends. You were, and will always be, users.

Congratulations to my baby! mwah

2005-07-01T10:29:00.000-07:00

My uber so cute girlfriend applied for a scholarship in Germany a few months ago. Just today, she was rewarded an all expenses-paid 2 month course! The selection process for a program like this is very strict, and only the very best are given opportunities like this.

This is a validation of your skills as a writter and as a professional in the media industry. Don't think anymore of your past friends who looked down on you or whatnot. They don't have this chance... you do! Though those 2 months will really be lonely for the both of us, you should be excited at the opportunities this will bring about for your career as a journalist. I am proud of you and I'll support you all the way.

I wubba j00 Michie! *mwahugz*

Random Rant - Some people are just born ungrateful.

2005-06-29T06:49:00.000-07:00

When 129 Square was being constructed, one of the biggest problems we had was with the Networking and the Internet of the place. At first I thought it would never be a problem, because the electrical eng that the Interior Designer brought in asked for 80,000 pesos to completely set-up the wiring of the venue. Sadly, we were again scammed as they did a pathetic job and we had to re-do everything.

We hired a group of young graduates to do the job, under the recommendation of one of the partners. They asked for 40,000 pesos and we obliged under the condition that there wouldn't be anymore problems. We were delayed for openning for already 2 weeks, and each day lost is money gone. I have no idea how bad things would be though, as they failed to fix everything they promised to. The network was fucked up, and the internet was also going crazy. They also failed to install anti-virus programs which eventually led to a downloader virus which lagged the internet. We had to reformat everything and do the entire process again.

At this point I asked a favor from a good friend of mine who also owned an internet cafe. Most of you know him as Katsu, and he really is a technical genius. Katsu, together with my brother, and Lester (Claire's BF) literally fixed everything that needed to be done. They rewired the network, they reformatted the PCs, they installed all the patches and drivers, and they even helped in cleaning the place. Because of those three people 129 Square was operational. They never asked for a peso, even if we insisted that we pay them. The partners, upon my insistance, agreed that those three people would never have to pay if they wanted to play in 129 Square. It was our way of saying thank you and that we appreciate everything they've done for us.

After the bullshit epsidoes with me and my other partners, the most stupid thing happened. They took out the privellege of Katsu for playing without pay. One night Katsu decided to check up on 129, and he was with his girlfriend, Joy. After playing for less than an hour, they were charged. He was a bit peeved of course, since the shop wouldn't be running if it weren't for him, and that we promised him that he would never have to pay if he went to 129.

What's 30 pesos compared to the work these guys chipped in for the shop? If you were to compute the actual cost we saved by not paying them, it would amount to more than 80,000. I find it insanely rude and just plain stupid. We waste 100,000+ pesos on stupid networking people, and have someone do it for free, only to charge him 30 bucks later on for playing less than an hour (hindi pa siya binigyan ng member's rate).

So that's how they say "thank you" these days? I really regret trusting these people with my dreams and my ideas.

The future of our children is at stake here.

2005-06-27T13:08:00.000-07:00

We will take a break from the four-part series regarding 129 square to talk about the current political crisis in our country. I can't help but write about it because people are screaming "Impeach GMA" without even thinking about the consequences of this act.

I have no love for GMA and her administration. I believe that some of her cabinet members are just posers that don't have a clue on what they are doing. I also think that the husband and the son of the president are both corrupt and that they recieve Jueteng Payolas. However, I have full faith in the economic policies and reforms the president is putting forward.

The Philippine people shouldn't blame this administration on how hard life is today. One thing is stopping this country from moving forward, and that is the huge debt we owe to various foreign organizations. These loans were made by previous administrations, especially during the Marcos and Ramos regime. When you make a loan, you have to pay a yearly interest if you cannot pay the principal amount that you loaned. The budget of the Philippines is being eaten alive by the combined interests of the loans past presidents made. Former President Joseph Estrada was loved by the masses because he implemented short-term reforms that alleviated the poverty during those years. But he had no long-term plan for the Philippines. He was out to preserve status-quo.

Now the question is: How do we get out of this economic shit hole?

Simple, by letting the government generate more income for the country. This entails cutting the budget, increasing tax, and doubling efforts in collecting taxes from big time companies. The Arroyo administration is unpopular because at this stage, we are paying for the sins of past presidents. This administration is different from the past regimes because of one thing: They are serious in paying loans so that in the future, our children will have better lives than we have right now.

President Arroyo made a huge sacrifice when she formed her fiscal and economic policies. She knew that she would be the lamb sent to slaughter, but still she pushed for her reforms. Do you really think presidents like FPJ and Erap Estrada will be this serious and competent in dealing with our economic condition? Impeaching GMA is condemning our children to a life much like ours, wherein prices are bloated and the tax payers money is being used to pay for the interest of debts.

If the economic reforms are pushed through and we slowly pay-off our debts, the interest we pay per year goes down. Our budget increases drastically, enabling us to construct more facilities that will help this country move forward. Bigger budget means more jobs, more services, and more benefits. A more stable country will attract more investors and this will revive the tourism industry in the Philippines. This is a time of sacrifice. Let's all bow down to reality and accept that fact that if we don't do anything, our children will be facing the same problems or worse.

I fully support President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and her plans for the Philippines. However, I would like to appeal to the family of the President to stop being assholes. Burn in hell, Mike and Mikey.

=)

Speaking Out. (2nd of a 4-part series)

2005-06-17T02:44:00.000-07:00

No one is clean. Everyone has their own problems and faults. I really can't stand it when people make shows to make people think that they are doing things. This next topic will be about another business partner in 129. He's actually quite a hot topic these days.

Here are his supposed merits and contributions:

1.) He was responsible for bringing in the computers.
2.) He had the contact for the interior design and the furniture.
3.) He put an accountant to monitor the expenses.

Number 3 proved to be his downfall. That same employee slipped one day after talking to another of our business partners. It turns out that the 1,000,000 peso fee that we paid for the furniture and the interior design was a scam. 500,000 pesos was the actual fee for everything. The interior designer (which was his mom), took the 500,000 pesos as her comission, despite our agreement that she would bill us less than the interior designer that Joebert offered (80,000 comission only). That 500,000 was used for his share in the company. Now what kind of business ethic is that? He literally just scammed the entire company! >.<; And this was the guy who persisted on getting the papers ready and the numbers should be transparent. Yet his family doesn't want to provide us with a breakdown of the expenses in regard to the furniture and the design! Sweet irony.

I find it really funny when he boasts that he was responsible for the furniture and the computers. I remember paying for 50 computers, but up to this day (6 months into operations), only 44 are running. 6 computers have been dead despite the promise of the company of his tito (which supplied the CPUs) to fix them. I won't even bother computing how much money the company lost due to the 6 dead computers. I also remember when the PCs came in, we were delayed for several weeks because he ordered faulty and wrong PC parts, despite the fact he was given a list of what to get.

Will I ever forgive this person? Yes. Will I ever look at him again? I'll try. Will I shake his hand again? God knows.

Before throwing stones people, look at yourselves in the mirror first.

Speaking Out. (1st of a 4-part series)

2005-06-17T00:50:00.000-07:00

The past few months have literally been hellish for me. A lot of things have happened, and I will never forget the lessons learned. In writting this, I feel a deep sense of freedom and sadness. I pray that I get some sort of closure. The following posts will be about the journey of 129 Square, and internet cafe started by five friends, who later ended up as bitter enemies.

I would like to talk about friendship. One of my business partners was actually one of my bestfriends. He was one of the few people I trusted during High School, College, and even after graduation. I put so much trust on him that I never hesitated to let him know about anything in my mind. When the time came that I had a rocky relationship with Mich, I told him my thoughts and complaints because everyone needs an outlet for their frustrations. During the later years of college, I wanted to show my gratitude to him by inviting him for a business venture that I was certain would be a success. It was my way of thanking him for being a good friend to me.

Sounds peachy eh? Now let's go to the real deal.

Underneath the facade of friendship was a snake. This guy who posed as my best friend was actually just gathering information he needed to win over my girlfriend. And this didn't start and end with 1st or 2nd year college. This went well-over graduation. I only found out a few weeks ago and I even couldn't believe it at first. I've been hearing rumors about this but I always dismissed them thinking that he would never betray me. But sadly, he did.

It didn't stop there. There were times in setting up the business that people questioned him because he literally never contributed anything. But I was the first to defend him and say that he has the right to stay. The funny thing is, his group (he and his friends had a joint investment) only spoke up when the shop was making money. Not only that, they weren't just talking, but they constantly plotted to take out other business partners, seeing as the shop can actually make them rich if they had it to themselves. I can't believe that they had the gall to question my contributions to the business.

Who approached everyone and layed-out the groundwork for 129 Square?
Who brought in more than 1,000,000 worth of investors to the company?
Who was the one who managed everything to be set-up before the business began?
Who was the person who provided solutions when everything was fucking up?
Who got the contacts to fix all the screw-ups in the computers and networking?
Who managed everything at the start, when everything was rocky and we couldn't sleep at night because of all the doubts?

Sheesh.

And what do they have to say for themselves? They fixed the BIR papers. Weee.

I offered that slot in the business to you because I wanted to thank you for being a friend. I never needed your money man. Judging from the way I brought in investors, do you really think I would have problems finding someone to fill in your share?

How does he repay me? By trying to steal my girlfriend and by starting a mutiny and a scheme to oust me from the management of the business. Thank God sensible people have talked me out of being violent about this. I think I've found the strength to forgive him, but I don't think I have it in me to prevent myself to bashing his brains in when I see him.

Trust is a sacred thing people. Never give it so freely.

Waukeen - RIP?

2005-06-13T23:25:00.000-07:00

Jezus motherfucking christ. I've been playing Philippine Ragnarok Online for almost 2 years now. I was hack deleted by someone from inside Level-up-games a few months ago. I was browsing through our guild forums when I saw this picture.

I miss my blacksmith >.<;;

I never botted that account, and I was there from 0% at level 1 to 100% to level 99. It took me a year and 4 months to reach that and it was taken away because Level-up-games can't control their friggin IT team.

What's worse is that the CIDG/NBI track of getting things done ain't working. They're so slow that Erap Estrada might be freed before my case even gets forward. It's time to take things into my own hands. Ill be writting a formal letter to Level-up-games regarding my case. Hopefully out of the hundreds that work in that company, there might be 1 or 2 that have the decency to actually do their job.

God's Gift - My Angel.

2005-06-13T22:49:00.000-07:00

We will be celebrating our 5th year anniversary this coming December 8, 2005. Mich has always been there for me through everything. Most of my friends know that she literally means the world to me and that I would do anything just to make her smile.

4 and half years into the relationship, I'm still feeling what I felt the first time we came together. Though there have been bumpy spots every now and then, her eyes still captivate me in a way no other woman can. Her name in pRO really captures her personality. Alluring, sensual, classy, and just god damn beautiful. But that's just a start. Our relatioship has grown into something deep and real. I've never been more open with anyone than with Mich, and I've never trusted anyone as much as I've come to trust her.

Thank you for keeping me sane through the past few years. In Youth for Christ, people call loved ones "God's Gift". I actually agree because you've been an angel to me, and I can't thank you enough for making me realize who I really am.

The Beginning of the End O_O

2005-06-13T22:35:00.000-07:00

In all honesty, I've always wanted to write. I've always felt that I'm much older than my actual age because I've been through so much. But hey, no one is *that* special. Everyone has their own problems. However, the past few months have been hellish for me. A friend suggested that writting them out might help me reflect and put things back into perspective.

So here I am. Let the insanity begin.

Carlo San Juan Ople
Waukeen, Guildmaster of Shadow Circle