Wanggo

What do you get when you mix the Waltz with the Tango?

A Wanggo?

This has been a funny line that we quote from a movie that I can not recall anymore what the title is. People from the Pub Office way back when I was still Editor In Chief of the School Publication "The Purisimian" Of Colegio De la Purisima Concepcion in Roxas City, Capiz would always crack up when we remember this. I miss Harold "Jaja" Buenvenida, Thea Acielo, Laarni Pagharion, and the rest of the Pub Guys, and the RSA, or the Russian Secret Agents, but that is another story for another day.

Today, Wanggo is no longer the dance that is a cross between a Waltz and a Tango for me. It has become the badge of courage, in the continuing dance of life, and perhaps, a twirl with death; and Wanggo speaks. Allow me to let him speak for himself.

"My name is Wanggo Gallaga. I'm twenty-nine years old, I'm a writer, I'm HIV positive, and I'm telling my story so that others will be aware."



During the successful "Pulong Binalaybay, 2008, Mother John Iremil Teodoro, Tatay Leoncio P. Deriada, and the bunch of us writers were enjoying lunch and Tatay admonishes Mother John, Me and my writing duo, Bryan, that we should be very careful because Wanggo has come out. I chcukled immediately... "Wanggo, A waltz and a tango," I chimed. "Not just that," Tatay Leo continues, "he also announced that he is HIV possitive." There was a Karen Carpenter moment, then... There was a kind of hush. Then I go... "Wanggo who?" Mother John answered that Wanggo was the son of Award Winning Director Peque Gallaga, and was a lifestyle writer himself. One amongst us. The last statement struck a nerve. One amongst us... A writer... make that a gay writer.

I may not know who Wanggo is, but I know who Peque is! But of course, he is a proud son of Bacolod, and I was one among the many members of the theater group during my short stint at the University of Saint La Salle Bacolod Integrated School, way way back 1996 when I was in 1st year highschool, no make that grade 8, and the theater building we call home was named after him. No need perhaps to enumerate the sterling films he made, and the numerous protege's he has produced in the many semesters he taught and the workshops under his tutelage; one worth mentioning is the yearly Negros Summer Workshop, running alongside the Summer Iyas National Writers Workshop, where I was awarded a fellowship two summers ago.

The reality of the HIV/AIDS danger has never been an alien concept to me, as I was a peer counselor/facilitator during my days as a Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Chairman, when I was selected to be trained as a peer lecturer by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, but now, more than ever, the menace's ugly head rears once more, and closer than it did years back.

It is such a sad fact that after we had conducted seminars around the city, targeting people within our age bracket, our HIV/AIDS peer lecture series was canceled due to a lack of funds, support and perhaps, red-tape, as after all, the RITM of the DOH is dependent on funding for its many projects.

I feel a renewed sense of duty and responsibility, and just as it was before, I gladly count myself in, with this crusade in the best way I know. Let this blog post be my small, humble but well meaning contribution to the crusade.

For now, then, this is my small contribution to the crusade.

I may not know you, Wanggo, and you may not know me but then again, let me step up and dance in with your crusade. The Waltz of a brave soul and the Tango of Life in the clutches of a deadly menace.




Watch Wanggo Gallaga tell his story in StoryLine in ANC, this Friday, January 16 at 6 PM, with replay at 11 PM.


Spread Love

Not the Disease!


Photo and Text Credits:

Ian Rosales Casocot's Blog
http://eatingthesun.blogspot.com/2009/01/way-we-live-now.html

ABS CBN ANC
http://abs-cbnnews.com/anc/01/14/09/my-name-wanggo-gallaga-and-im-hiv-positive

http://meaningfuldistractions.wordpress.com/2008/06/

And Your Name Is...

Hah!

I know your name now! OO Ikaw nga! Hehehehe... Ang pangalan mo pala ay

Gino dela Peña! Yes... the McDo guy!


KAPUSO Pala sya. Nilaunch sila ng Artist Center noong August 2007 pa sa S.O.P at tinawag na Bratpack...

Totoy na totoy pa oh!

Ito ayon sa isang article ni Ruel Mendoza na lumabas noong 2007 sa Pep.

"Una sa listahan si Gino dela Peña, 20 anyos na commercial model. Si Gino dela Peña marahil ay may dugong banyaga pero Pinoy na Pinoy ang dating. Isang tidbit tungkol kay Gino ay ang pagbili nito ng P50,000.00 worth na Tricks Gel para lang manalo sa isang contest kung saan makaka-date niya ang kanyang showbiz crush, ang two- time FHM’s No.1 Sexiest Katrina Halili."

Daanin ba sa gel or jologs lang talaga? Hehehehe Peace!

Ito na yata ang gel!

Ito pa...

Sabi naman ni Alwin M. Ignacio:

These fine looking talents are mostly professional models, familiar faces that have appeared on print and TV ads, some of them even scions and daughters of prominent families.

The line-up consists of nine men, nine women, three kids and two singers — GMA’s Brat Pack, Batch 2007.

Gino dela Peña

What sets Gino dela Peña apart from the rest of models-turned-showbiz wannabes is the fact that he knows hard work (being a part of a real estate company that buys and sells beach properties in Palawan) and he is spiritually grounded (he plays an active role in a healing Christian ministry group that helps people with physical and spiritual disabilities). One wonders what this young man is doing in the world of entertainment.

“When I was in my teens, I did not find show business attractive. I even had an aunt who wanted me to join TGIS, but I politely declined, being an obedient son to my mom. That time, I would rather finish my studies first. In addition, I was very active in sports like soccer and basketball so the lure of entertainment was not very appealing to me. Only when I joined modeling (did I become) curious about it and the possibility of being part of it. I was wondering how actors can do what they do, especially the ones who (make) it appear so easy,” relates Gino.

“I put my heart in everything that I do, whether it’s my real estate business, the healing ministry that I am part of and now, being in showbiz. Once I put my heart into it, it becomes a passion and you know that when you work out of passion, it is still hard work but somehow, it becomes tolerable because you are inspired by the simple reason that you love what you do.”

Aside from these three men, other “brat packers” to watch out for are twins Bebs and KC Hollman, who personify sugar, spice and all that is nice; the fabulous Fariñas siblings Cristina and Rye; Lawrence Gutierrez from the clan that produced Richard, Raymond and Ruffa; and the lovable tots Nicole Dulalia, Iking Magundayao and Renz Valerio.

Mahilig pa naman ako sa preppy/yuppie!

Shempre din me nahalungkat ako na mga fexchures!

Masakit ang batok nya!

Use tulala and tigalgal in a sentence







The stiff neck look








Letch, nung una identical checkered shirt... Pati ba naman suit? Meant to be ata ah!


Kaya lang...







Goodluck sa inyo ni Katrina Crush mo pare

Hehehehehe
So yun, his name is Gino

At ang masasabi ko lang talaga ay...



KAREN PO!

Photo and Text Credits:

http://www.pinoyexchange.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-311798.html
http://www.candymag.com/teentalk/index.php/topic,181589.0.html
www.pep.ph

It's A Date!

Tutoo ba ito? http://www.pep.ph/news/20492/Eraserheads-to-stage-Final-Set-on-March-7 ?



Taena! Kung tutoo, ito na yung sinasabi nilang opportunity knocked twice and this time hindi ko na talaga papalampasin ito. Rason na kung rason na hindi ako lumuwas for that legendary night nung August. Maraming mali sa timing nun. Walang pera, walang oras, walang... basta... wala, hindi ako nakapunta, pero tangna naman, gago na ako kung papalampasin ko tong second chance na to!

It's a date repapeepz! Oi! Manila here I come! Bahala na si Batman, isama mo na si Robin (hindi Padilla ha!) si Batgirl, pati na ang buong justice friends at justice league. Luluwas talaga ako for this one. It's a Date kasi nga.

1. Baka last chance na to at never na mauulit sa kasaysayan ng musikang pinoy. Kinalakhan, kinainlaban, iniyakan, kinatuwa, kinalungkot, kinatulugan, kinagisnan, kinaibigan, minahal, ikinabuhay at maaring muntik ko na din ikinamatay ang mga awiting ito, at palagay ko, nararapat lamang na kumpletuhin na ang Eheads experience ko, coming full circle nung una ko silang narining, nakita live dito sa Iloilo, pinuntahan para makita ulit sa Bacolod, at ngayon nga, sa muli/huling pagkakataon.

2. I deserve a break. Yun na yun. Kung bakit ako tila nabuburn out ay di na mahalaga. Ang importante, ito na yun. THES ES ET! Kaya Manila, here I come. Nung nakaraan, napaaga ang schedule kasi lumuwas ako September. This time, late naman, kasi nga baka makaluwas ako ng February, pero whatever! Pupunta talaga ako!

3. Paberdey ko to sa sarili ko! Dapat lang! I deserve only the best. Kahit sabihing bale at abanse sa kaarawan ko, kiber na! Happy Birthday to me!

4. Perfect timing ito. Dahil hindi ako nag school this sem, pasok sa banga at swak na swak! Wala akong aalahaning finals, walang exams walang school load! Yahoong yahoo!

5. Bigyang closure ang relasyon namin ni Ely. Hekhekhek... yun na yon! Wag nang kumontra, pwede ba!

NOW! Sana hindi kwentong hana barbera ito ha! Maexcite na ako't lahat tapos maaunsyami naman pala! Huwell... as it is... It's a date!

A few things on the sides shempre...

1. Alangan naman mag mamanila ako for that sole reason? Konting kape kape at ikot ikot sabay kembot would be nice. Can anyone show me around?

2. The more the manyier sabi nila... kaya oist, sabit naman ako jan kung pupunta din kayo... hekhekehek

3. Tiket tiket tiket! Saan makakabili? Puhlease... pagbilhanan!

4. Afterglow... shempre pagkatapos ng concert, magmomoment... sabit ulit ako senyo puhleeeaazzeee!

5. It's a date... sabi ko nga di ba? Date di ba? Meron ba jang pwedeng kahawak kamay? Yung tipong ihaharap ko kay Ely sabay linya na "Sori Lee" (tawag ko sa kanya, kasi ang labtim namin Lee-Low; Lee for Ely Low for Luis! Parang Gel-o ba, for Angel-Piolo! Wag na kumontra kasi!) "Kailangan na matapos ang awitin natin. Sinubukan natin pero sadyang kinulang tayo sa sukat at sa bandang huli, hindi nagtugma ang iyong music at ang aking lyrics. Sya pala si ______ (peel een da vlanx) ang bagong saliw ng musika sa buhay ko. Maaring di man sya musikero pero maaring alam nya ayusin at maibagay ang sintunadong musika ng puso ko na sinira sira ng mga nagdaang mga awitin sa buhay ko. Mamahalin nya ako at di iiwan. Magiging matatag sya sa mga naging kahinaan mo. At sana, sa huling kumpas ng maestro, kantahan mo kami ng awiting sana'y di na magwawakas. Tapos uulan ng malakas. Tapos magdadramahan. Papatak ang luha, left eye, pabor sa kamera, konting blur, tutulo sya pero di lalampas sa lower lip, papatakan ng ulan, maghahalo. Zoom out! Tapos tatawagin kami sa stage, sasabihin nya, "Para sa yo to Luis, at sa bagong nagmamayari ng puso mo. Pahiram muna ng linya sa commercial, na hindi man tayo magkakatuluyan sa bandang huli, ikaw pa rin ang namumukod tangi sa lahat, at magiging aking
Huling El Bimbo. Kung sasaktan ka lang nya, lagin bukas ang Tindahan ni Aling Nena! Para sa yo ang kantang to! Rakenrol ka! Tapos kakantahan kami ni Ely ng "Tuwing Umuulan at Kapiling ka!" Etchos! Barikos! Basta! KA Date! Hehehehehe. Gaya ng sabi ng Student Comelec sa skool, the table is now open for nomination for the position of Luis' Official Date... sama mo na pati ang chair, open na din! Hehehehehee!

WEEEEEEEEEE!!!

See you there! RAKENROL!

Photo Credits:

http://metropolol.wordpress.com/2008/07/15/eraserheads-reunion-concert/

Moment

Sa mga hindi makarelate kung anong kalokohon ito, magbasa muna dito. Now where was I... Ah, oo, magmomo-ment na nga pala ako...

Hey There Again,

Kumusta naman? Nakailang French Fries ka na ba today? Alam mo, sikat na sikat ka na ngayon. Overnight success at Instant Sensation ka na. Instant pa sa Instant Lapaz Batchoy! Parang just Add Hot Water lang. Alam na ng lahat ang storya ng buhay mo, at lahat nakurot, nakiliti at nakarelate sa storya mo. Grabe na to the max ang reaction at mainit na pagtanggap ng mga tao sa yo. Marami na ring umaaway away sa akin at umaagaw agaw sa yo. Ayan, I'm sure marami na ang magpapasaya sa yo ngayon. Up to the point na willing silang kumain ng french fries na sinawsaw sa chocolate fudge buong buhay nila. Ganun ba talaga? Parang sabi lang ni Chaka Khan na "We're through before we start?" Hindi mo man lang ako nahila hila patungong kung saan saan.

Di bale, ganun talaga. Pag kasikatan nga naman at kislap ng tagumpay ang kakaway, makakalimot at makakalimot ka talaga. Sa dami nga ba naman na nilang gustong magmahal sa yo ngayon, ano ba naman ang laban ng murang pag-iibigan natin, kahit ito pa ay wagas at dalisay? Pero gaya nga ng sinabi ng isang kaibigan ko, suka na lang daw ang dalisay ngayon. Di bale, subukan ko na lang maging masaya para sa tinatamasa mong success. Iisipin ko na lang na minsan, kahit isang gabi lang, naging masaya tayo, at naging akin ka. Kahit ga kisapmata lang ang bilis nun. At least, tumibok ang puso ko kahit gaano ka iksi ng panahon.

Hindi ko hihingin sa yo na kalimutan ang lahat at taikuran ang ningning, pero...ngunit, subalit, datapwat kung nanaisin mong talikuran ang lahat, at isipin ang pagmamahalang namamagitan sa atin, kung mamarapatin mong gustuhin na ako ang makakasama, wag kang magdadalawang isip, dahil andito lang ako. Sabihin mo lang na ako talaga ang pipiliin mo, at buong puso akong kakanta ng mga linya ni Ate Shawie...

"Balutin mo ako sa hiwaga ng iyong pagmamahal, limutin ang magpaglarong kinang ng tagumpay..." At ikaw at ako, maghahawak ang mga kamay, at tuturuan ang mga puso ng isa't isa na umibig ng tunay...

Syanga pala... salamat sa shirt na bigay mo. Shirt na sabi mo, kaparehos ng suot mo dyan sa patalastas mo, at nagpapatunay na minsan, naging atin ang isa't isa!



Lubos na Nagmamahal,


Luis


TOINK!

PERZLAB

Hey there,

Alam mo, nalulungkot ako sa istorya ng buhay mo. Naiyak nga ako eh. Parang kwento din ng buhay ko. Lagi na lang talo. Laging iniiwanan. Hindi nga lang sa restawran ko sila nakikilala. Iba ibang lugar din. Hindi rin sila lahat anak ng kumare ng Nanay ko. Pero, lahat sila, iniwanan din ako. Hilahin din kasi ako eh. Madali din akong ma amaze. Madaling maloko. Mabilis mayaya at kaladkarin kung saan para maglaro, at paglaruan. Pero mas bilib ako sa yo. Mas matapang ka. Kaya mong ngumiti pa sa harap nya at sa pinagpalit nya sa yo. Kung ako yun... galit galit na! WAR kung WAR! Bitter no? Buti na lang ang sarap sarap ng smile mo, pampatamis ng bitterness. Hayaan mo na, buti nga at di kayo nagkatuluyan eh. Malandi kasi sya talaga. Can't you see? Kasama na nga asawa't anak nya, nakukuha pa nyang makipagngitian sa yo. MAHAROT SYA!

Naiintindihan ko ang nararamdaman mo, dahil madalas at makailang beses ko na ding naramdaman yan. Di bale, wag ka na sa kanya. Akin ka na lang kaya? Dun na tayo sa ibang kainan. Gumawa pa tayo ng mga bagong alaala na pwede nating balik balikan. This time, magkasama tayong mag re-reminisce. Minsan, hahayaan din kitang ikaw ang humila hila sa akin. Kalimutan mo na lang sya. Di bale kung sya ang First Love Mo. Basta't ako ang Last Love Mo. Ang Iyong Huling El Bimbo...



By the way... what's your name?


Hehehehe... Senxa na po... malakas ang tama mo sa ilusyonadong Magbabatchoy.
Ganda pa rin kasi ng kanta ng Ex boypren kong si Ely eh... Hehehehehe
Seriously... Ikaw ang first love ko... este, first crush sa taong ito...
Pero alam mo, mas masarap isawsaw ang french fries sa strawberry sundae. Super inis nga ako nung na phase out yun eh. Oh well...

Kyut ng smayl mo talaga... Love ko to!

Turning Point

"Eternity"

I feel I have reached a turning point in my life.

This actually started as early as October. Days when I felt apathetic, lackadaisical and static. It feels like a lot is going on even if my body just sits pat there and refuses to move along with the waves that wash upon my brain and perhaps, my soul. I felt bored and sluggish, but something inside me acknowledges that up ahead, there are bigger things.

At first, I blamed it on the SAD or Seasonal Afflictive Disorder, but the Holidays have come and gone, but the feeling persisted like an overdue hang-over. Then later, a friend dropped hint about undergoing QLC or Quarter-Life Crisis. However, if this is Quarter Life Crisis, how old then should we expect people to live? In my case, that would be a preposterous 120 years, if that was true, and that is if it is a crisis on my quarter-life; you do the math.

I have always been a speed demon and a daredevil, this much I know, but my body just seem to bid me to wait and not expend energy that it just kept storing. I hate the inaction but I cannot seem to coax my body to follow suit. It seems to be gearing up for something big. It is working against me, and just lets my brain go the way of the wind. I think I know what is happening. I am at a major turning point, where I am at the brink of a major change that is about to happen, and my body is gearing up for that most exciting event. As such, with the barging in of the new year, let me take stock of a few occurrences, by departments, and in no particular order. If I have time, I may post a longer blog for each but for now, some bird's eye view.

"Friendship"

Friendships:

Noticeably, my Christmas list this year was relatively shorter. I usually prepare 'generic' gifts for 'everyone' so I wouldn't forget 'someone', and usually end up with less than I prepare. This year, I had a lot of 'left-overs'. I thought that maybe, it's just that I wasn't able to meet up with these people and give out my generic gift to them because of my ramp-up job this year. Then again, yesterday, I met with a group of them over coffee, and I never bothered to give out the packs I prepared. Then, I remember my decision not to send everyone in my phone book a Christmas/New Year message. I know I have never been a believer of 'mass friendships.' I always say that I allow people to hate me. They have every right to do so, but if they do, they have to fall in line and get a priority number and wait for their turn to 'hate' me. This year, I feel that the ticket counter has just closed down. I have also never hesitated to burn bridges with friends who have either drifted, fell out of grace, or whatchamacallit. I have never hesitated weeding out my list, as I know it is impossible for me to be friends with everyone. This year, I have started picking weeds in my "like them but not really my friends" garden too. Friendships in question are all being addressed in the most efficient of manners, and all those not passing are being cut off with surgical precission. In effect, I cleared up space in this department.

"Destiny"

Relationships/Romance:

I have said goodbye to almost everyone who had me on a hang, whether by choice, or actual participation, in the flesh, or in my fantasies. I have replaced my phone's wall paper and Divine Violinist has played a final somber note in our final tryst in dreamland. CC has also received three declines in a row, and hopefully, he does get the message that I am not there at his convenience, whenever he 'finds' time for an evening or two. Old flames have also started backing off, perhaps because of CG, and our pseudo-relationship. Speaking of CG, I bid goodbye to him too, though quite belatedly, and this deserves a post on its own. I have dropped all those 'could-be's and those 'not really going any wheres'. Therefore, the playing fields have been leveled, and only serious stake holders will be allowed from henceforth. No more kibitzers.

"Mind-heart"

Professional Concerns:

Even professional dealings and concern are being carefully weighed and hand picked. I do not feel a propulsion to say yes to all professional requests, even if I had the time, if it shows no lasting impact, and appears to be spur of the moment invitations and engagements. I have also dropped and quit two web-content writing 'jobs', and a few 'consultancy' rackets as well. To date, I have declined engagements as mundane as judging a verse choir, and an invitation to spread my tarot for the new year. Speaking of spreading my tarot, I will also post my new year spread in a future blog.

"Illumination"

Studies:

This is by far the hardest choice I have made because I labored over this one for days on end. I have decided to go to the Registrar and withdraw this semester. I know a lot of people will have oppositions to this, but it is not an impetuous decision. I felt it start when I suddenly dropped out of the rat race to the bar exams a semester ago. I just felt that the pace was not right for me. I do not feel the need for speed, and needless to say, my relationship with the law books have gone a bit sour. This does not mean that I will completely abandon Law School. I still do want to become a lawyer, however, I just need time and slack right now, and instead of begrudging and the skull-drudgery task of dragging myself, or hauling myself off to school, I decided to pull on all stops and just rest for this sem. Just this sem... Call it burn out, but I think I have to simply recoup and gather my steam back. After all, it is just less than ten subjects left for me, and I do intend to finish up. I just need a break right now.

So far, these are the departments that have taken much turns at this point. More and more I begin to understand what is happening with me. IT is more than just a biochemical reaction of sorts, or an imbalance of hormones. I feel it in my bones! After all, my coming birthday on the ast day of March this year marks an important day for me. I will be three decades old. Three has always been a mystical number for Wiccans and other religions of the old path. I think I know what I am looking at right now. I am making way for a bigger, better, brighter me. I am very much excited, and I am sure that what is happening right now is a prelude to a new chapter as it unfolds. Needlessly, let me get right the term that has eluded me, and that I have skirted around, in an effort not to sound braggadocious.

Allow me to say it then...

I think I'm at a turning point.

The batchoyan has undergone a few construction and renovations.

I think I am undergoing a METAMORPHOSIS.


Sorry Mariah... I am no butterfly... I am...



The phoenix is an enduring symbol rebirth. It has always been the fire phoenix for me no matter how over rated, because, time and again, I have been burned to ashes, but continue to pick up the pieces and emerge anew.

But now, I feel differently...

I am burning bright... with perhaps a cold and lonely heart... BLUE! Yes, blue...

After all, blue flame is much more intense and hotter than orange or red...

The Blue Fire Phoenix is in its wake of emerging... A turning point... A metamorphosis...

I am excited for my next Incarnation!

Here's to my future AVATAR!

WATCH ME SOAR!


Photo Credits:

http://feed.e-khmer.net/
http://www.chinesenames.org/
http://meanttobetogether.org/
http://chineseculture.about.com/
http://www.freewebs.com/xcrystalxkatanax/

Laban o Bawi?

Nakakaynes naman tong prediction na toh! Maganda na ang simula eh... Meron pang however sa dulo! CHE! This is from http://pinoybusiness.org/2008/11/04/born-in-the-year-of-the-goat-year-of-the-ox-2009-predictions-and-forecast/. Parang Laban O Bawi ba?

A prediction in the year of the ox this 2009 is that a person born in the year of the Goat (1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003), can look forward to better luck in love in 2009 – both for male and female. A single Goat will be luckier than the previous year when it comes to dating, in fact being single and free could have contributed to this change of fate. While those who are already in a relationship would be looking forward to a more harmonious relationship, although the year could also bring them more time off from each other.


However, the Goat should watch out for love triangles that can destroy the otherwise harmonious relationship with their partner. And with two stars of Gossip shining upon them, the Goat should learn to stay quiet and just work harder, remembering to mind his own business and not sticking his nose on others, otherwise, it could only lead him to more trouble.


But despite this, the Goat can expect to have better interpersonal relationships. And with the star of Grace guiding him, he will be able to acquire help from people with influence. Promotions, which could include salary raise, and personal developments are also waiting for the Goat in 2009. Indeed, everything seems to look better.


One thing that the Goat should also watch out is the physical condition of his/her partners, and with the star Gua Su shining on him, he is likely to feel lonely along with other emotional problems. While everything really seems to look better, there are still quite a number of negative or unlucky stars shining on the Goat, threatening his health and interpersonal relationships, that is he should always be conscious and pay attention to these departments so as not to hinder his career development.

Hehehehehe...
Come What May...
And if all else fails
There is always that hot mug of coffee
And batchoy of course!

Photo Credit:

www.bluebison.net