RIP Francis Magalona

I'm not really a fan of rap music or hiphop but, like most Filipinos of my generation, I am a fan of Francis Magalona. He was such a big thing when I was in high school; performing his breakthrough song "Mga Kababayan" was even one of our music assignments back then.

People die all the time, but when an icon of your youth passes away, you just can't help but be affected. You will mourn in your own way.

Found these in YouTube. A video of him singing Kaleidoscope with Parokya ni Edgar and, of course, Mga Kababayan.

I Am A Big Fan of Rafael Nadal...

...but I could not bring myself to celebrate fully his victory over Roger Federer in the Australian Open Men's Finals this year. It is indeed a victory, as Nadal is reportedly the first Spaniard ever to win the Aussie Open title. Moreover, all the odds were against him. His body is still physically aching from that five-hour semi-finals match with Fernando Verdasco, from which he only had a day to recover compared to Federer's two days.

However, I have never seen Federer break down like that. He was so tearful he could barely deliver his speech at the awarding ceremony. He was openly crying. Federer wanted this title, and he would want every Grand Slam title that would come his way from now, because he only needs one more to be able to match Pete Sampras' 14 Grand Slam record. But as long as Rafael Nadal is there to stand in his way, Federer will have a very hard time to grab that 14th. Rafael Nadal, who has defeated Federer in the French Open and Wimbledon last year, is deeply implanted in Federer's head. it will take a lot of work for Federer to get that psychological advantage that Nadal has over him out of his system.



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And still, Nadal deserved to win this year's Australian Open. He is indeed a champion, and I see him dominating the world of men's tennis for quite a while. Or at least men's tennis wouldn't be so boring, just as it had become for me when Andre Agassi retired.

And I Begin Again

It has been more than a year since I had last posted on this blog. I even forgot that it still exists. Between my freelance work, my current addiction to World of Warcraft, and whatever personal and family issues that I have to deal with on a daily basis, I didn't really have time to update or maintain this blog.

But this blog exists. And it waits for me to pour my musings on it. After all, even though I write for a living, I write using other people's voices and never my own. So few opportunities ever come my way to be able to write in my own voice, and I am not exactly one to create my own opportunities.

Nonetheless, I have to start somewhere. For now, this blog is the only place where I can start. And so, I begin again.

Erap Verdict: Guilty

History just got made in the Philippines. Former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada is convicted for plunder by the Sandiganbayan a little over six years after he was booted out of the Malacañang Palace.

I'm not really surprised about this verdict. Those who actually hoped or thought that Erap will be acquitted were just fooling themselves. To acquit Erap of this crime, so to speak, is to pull the rug under Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's government, removing the legitimacy of said government and her right to stay in Malacañang.

I don't really care whether Erap really did help himself to the government's coffers. For a leader to do such is not something new in the Philippines. I cannot help but feel a small tinge of pity for the man, however. His trial and the verdict is not a triumph in justice but rather the result of political machinations. At least in my thinking.

New Look

I got tired of how this blog used to look like, and I certainly want something pretty. The thing is, my knowledge of how to code really nice templates is nil. So, thanks to Google, I found a pretty website called FinalSense.com and helped myself to their lovely templates.

I still have to make a few tweaks, but I am certainly liking my blog's new look.