X Marks The Spot : Breaking It Down Since '05!

So, it's been more than a week now.

The coolest day of my life, that is. One week has already passed!

See, I've always been a big fan of Bamboo. This goes all the way back to '96, when I first heard "Kisapmata" on the radio. Up until that point, I never really cared much for Pinoy music. Maybe it was my age or something, but amazingly, Ace Of Base simply appealed to me more. Yeah...

But all that changed once I heard Rivermaya's "Kisapmata". Being exposed to Pinoy music was like opening a gift that had been sitting on the shelf for months. The next thing I know, I was hooked on music by Side A, the Eraserheads, South Border, and the like.

Above all that, though, I remained a big fan of Rivermaya.

Back in the age of cassette tapes, the only way to acquire these tapes was to physically hunt them down and purchase them from the store. This might not seem all that hard, but when the nearest record store from your house is four (!!!) freakin' hours away, you really don't have much of a choice. So, really, since I was only maybe 9 or 10 at that time, I could only go out when my parents did. And at that period, they had just moved to Davao, so there was no way for me to buy the albums. Looking back now, I truly pity myself... It got to the point where I resorted to imagining what the album cover looks like! Countless days where spent on me waiting for the songs to be played on the radio, then pressing "Record" as soon as the DJ stopped yapping. Yeah, it was pretty desperate, but without MP3s and the internet, I didn't really have a choice. So, basically, I had a collection of songs that either: (a) had some random dude introducing the song or (b) started during the 2nd line of the song. Nice.

So, really, it wasn't really surprising that when I finally arrived in the "land of no traffic", Davao City, I immediately went to the mall and purchased their first two albums. Great. Now whenever we would accompany my dad on one of his trips to Gen. Santos or Cagayan de Oro, we would blast Rivermaya non-stop! Especially fun considering it was a noisy (at that time) album and the pick-up we rode on was full of 40 and 50-somethings. Good times, indeed.

And all this brings me back to why I wrote this piece.

Bamboo.

When he made his comeback, I was really unsure of how I felt about his music. I never really liked "inspirational" songs. To me, they always sounded too "preachy". So when they released "Noypi", I was probably the Filipino who felt unmoved by the cut. And man, when I think about it now, I feel so f*cking stupid. Not feeling probably the only great modern song that empowers and applauds the filipino spirit? Shit. I really deserved all the stupidity I felt, and then some.

Eventually though, with Kricket's insistence that I appreciate the new Bamboo's music, I finally did. The more I listened, the more I felt the emotions. It was nothing like how I saw it before. This was like looking at an object from a fresh perspective, with a new renewed sense of purpose. Merely hearing the music didn't do it justice. It was more than that, and thankfully, I understood it now. And right then and there, it was over. I was once again hooked on the band. Only now, it was more than just music to me. Now it was art.


So imagine my surprise when Kricket told me she could score free tickets to Bamboo's concert! Through some weird way, she knew the drummer (Vic Mercado) and a friend of Nathan Azarcon (the bassist).

And when the band hit Davao for a small concert way back in February, we were there. In another pleasant surprise worthy of lots of hugs and kisses (YEAH!), Kricket somehow managed to have us stay at Nathan and Vic's hotel room before their concert.

A quick refresher, just to clarify the magnitude of this event...

Me=BIG Rivermaya fan=reluctant Bamboo supporter=turned BIG Bamboo supporter

So, really, do I need to even describe how I felt when I met a member of the Philippines' greatest band EVER!?!? But it doesn't even end there. Meeting them in person is icing on the cake already, but talking to them and hanging out with them for hours? That's chocolate-syrup-on-the-icing-on-the-cake-sprinkled-with-macadamia-nuts good. Crazy.

So, by the end of the night, me and Kreng managed to score some autographs, we managed to walk to the stage with Nathan and rocked out to every Bamboo hit. Perfect.

Like all good things, though, there must be an encore. And on August 16, 2008, the encore occurred.

It was unfortunate that Kricket couldn't bless me with her presence then, but it was a good night all the same. This one, I have to give it up to Buddy once more.

Similar to the last time, I was once again granted backstage passes (pinch me). Seeing how the band prepared was crazy, and at that time I felt like the dude from Almost Famous, awestruck yet trying to act all cool.

So, with a glass of J&B in my hand (thanks, Bud!), we lost ourselves in the music once more. Don't think I exaggerate, because let's face it, every one of us has done this before. And it feels so gooood.

Honestly, by then, I was waiting for the "catch". There was just too much good happening that I half-expected something out of the blue to bring me back to reality. Maybe I spill a drink on my jacket, or I unexpectedly stumble while jumping... Anything.


But really, it was as if everybody knew it was my birthday and they were helping me celebrate it. As if the free tix aren't enough, I was invited to hang out with Nathan and Ira Cruz after the gig. Damn. So yeah, I guess you could say I PARTIED WITH ROCK STARS!!! It was great chillin' with these guys, which were only made better since they were all so down-to-earth and natural. Absolutely no posturing from these dudes.

After a few more drinks and numerous photo requests, it was time to call it a night. My head was throbbing, my body was dead-tired, and I had to wake up early the next day, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Stuff like this only happens once (or twice, in my case) in a lifetime, and you just have to go all-out.

A week later, I still can't get over this. The craziness that occurred is still fresh in my mind, clear as crystal. On my way to work, I still blast "Probinsyana" full volume, non-stop. My voice is still hoarse, the result of shouting along to the songs still being felt. I still tell these tales to anyone who shows even a faint hint of interest. And despite this... No, scratch that... Because of it, I feel good.

I FEEL F*CKING GOOD.

The date was July 17, 2008.

The place, the United States Embassy in Manila.

And the time, it was early in the morning.

We left Bulacan at around 4:30 am, hoping to avoid the grating traffic. We can't be late, can't play with fire. Not today, at least. This was a very important day.

What happens today could very well decide if I will be able to go to the USA.

So, there we were at Baywalk at around 6:00 am, two full hours early for our interview. I was groggy and sleepy, but I'm glad I woke up early today. I've never been to Manila Bay at this time of the day, and I must say, I'm missing out on a lot here. As polluted as Manila is, I thought the air here was fresh. I can see why numerous people would want to wake up at 5:00 am and jog here.

Anyways, as luck (or lack of it) would have it, my documents needed for the appearance were incomplete. Instead of having the last page of my papers stamped with "$ 131.00", only "$ 31.00" was stamped.

It was 7:30 am when I found out about this, so in 30 minutes, I had to find a way to somehow put a "1" there. The VISA officer probably felt my desperation, so she offered me a postponement. I had to be there again by 10:00 am, otherwise my interview (and the f*cking $ 131.00 I paid) would be nullified. Sh*t. And to make matters worse, BPI opens at 9:00 am. Great.

We went to the nearest BPI branch we knew (the UN Avenue branch) and basically conducted a stakeout. It was really funny... I know how cautious and scared of robberies these banks are, so it must have been weird for them to see this car parked directly outside of their office an hour before they were supposed to open. Haha. And for us to tell them we were waiting for the dude who carries the keys to the vault (who I shall dub the "Keymaster" from this point on), well, let's just say the security guards were earning their pay at this moment.

So we waited and waited for the Keymaster to arrive. The wait eventually turned into a guessing game, where we tried to determine whether the person entering the bank was the boss or not.

Sample quote: "'Di yan yung boss, tingan mo, ang pangit ng kotse oh..."

And so he arrived. He was a little dude, the guy you'd never think holds the key to moolah. But he was nice. Unfortunately, he wasn't of much help. He politely directed us to another branch of BPI nearby (I think it was the Dewey Ave. branch?). He told me that was the office that dealt with problems like this, since it happens often. WTF?!?! Not exactly the best endorsement for BPI...

At around 9:00 am, I finally got BPI to correct their error. So we hurried off to the Embassy, and thankfully we were able to get inside. I really think that the appointment times are useless, as we weren't even questioned inside.

So there we were, waiting for our turn. I have to credit the Embassy here, the whole process was very seamless. Though the waiting time was a bit long, it was never a hassle. As an IE, I admire it. As an applicant, I love it.

While inside the interview room, I noticed that the person sitting in front of me is LA Tenorio of the Alaska Aces. I fought the urge to ask him what the hell he was doing here when the PBA season was in full swing. Then I remembered, his team was eliminated the previous week. Since I like him as a player (and former Blue Eagle), I didn't rub it in his face.

*By the way, since I saw him on US soil, does that technically mean I've met a basketball player in the US?*

Anyways, my grandma and I were called for our turn. I thought the interview would take place inside a room and we would all sit together and discuss stuff. I was wrong, though... We were asked to stand up during the whole interview and answer his questions by speaking at the mic/radio hybrid attached on the glass. It was really awkward.

The interview lasted about 5 short minutes, and in that span of time, we had to convince him we were coming back here. I can't say I really got to unleash my whole "I love the Philippines so much I just have to come back" speech, since he was directly asking my grandma the questions.

At the end of it all, he didn't trust us. He didn't believe we'd come back. And to think, I shaved the goatee I grew for 4 months for this.

And there it was. We were denied a VISA. We wouldn't be going to the US anytime soon. The leave-with-no-pay, waking up at 3 am on a perfectly good day to sleep, the $ 131.00 application fee, the stakeout at BPI, everything... It all went down the drain. In 5 freaking minutes.

And you know what? I'm actually relieved. And truthfully, I was happy.

Yes, the sting of disappointment was undeniable. It was the US, after all. But overall, though, I was kinda glad that I wasn't leaving Davao yet.

Don't get me wrong, I would love to be with my family again... But right now, I'm loving life alone. This is the first time I've been left behind for an extended period of time, and somehow, I feel good about it.

Right now, there's too much to leave behind. Kreng's still here. My closest friends are here, some of my relatives are here, and I'm still loving my job. Hell, ever since my mom left, I've gotten so much more involved in her business. I was given a taste and an idea of how to run a business, and right now, I think I'm doing a decent job. Since I have so much time to myself, I've even found the time to play more basketball than I ever did before.

As much as I thought life would be harder with them not around, the exact opposite has happened. My life has slowed down, and I feel more relaxed lately.

See, all these were just pipe dreams when they were still here. Now, they are facts.

I never meant for this post to sound like I like it better when they're not around. Or that I feel like I can truly live on my own right now. Very far from that, in fact.

What I mean is, with them not around all the time, I've been learning new tricks everyday. How to spend money wisely, paying (though not with my own cash) the bills, thinking of ways to cut costs, knowing your limits, learning the value of good health, etc. The importance of all those things have been amplified the second they went to the US. And right now, I'm still feeling things out.

And the denied application only means more opportunities to grow.

For that, I can safely say that it was truly a blessing in disguise.
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Epilogue: Music is a universal language. And music tells so much about a person. So in an effort to let you know me better, here are the last five songs shuffled and played on my iPod. Interpret them however the hell you want to.

1. "Believe Me, Natalie" - The Killers, Hot Fuss
2. "I Got A Woman" - The John Mayer Trio, TRY!
3. "I Want You" - Common, Finding Forever
4. "Hola' Hovito" - Jay-Z, The Blueprint
5. "Light Powered" - Deastro, Ghostly Swim

I started this blog just for the hell of it. It seems to be the "in" thing now, and I thought it'd be cool to join in on the fun. After all, it really is fun to write, and it's nice to be able to put your thoughts out there.

Slowly (as in snail-slow), my blog has picked up a few regulars. So I started scouring around the net for more blogs and saw some nice-looking blogs out there. I soon noticed that there was a lot more to blogging than just writing, and what was once considered merely an avenue for my ramblings has turned into sort of like a mini-column. This wasn't purely about writing anymore, folks. Like with cars, there has to be a peaceful balance of style and substance.

So, as recently as two weeks ago, I decided to really up my blogging game. With Kricket's help, I was able to find a better (but not perfect) template. I know skulls and bones ain't really my thing, but damn if that template didn't look hella nice! But don't worry, I'm not emo.

And soon after, I put up some nice YardBarker and BallHype buttons in every piece I wrote, even non-basketball related ones. And I must admit, it doubled my traffic. It went from one to two!

Last week I posted my Western Conference preview. It took me a while to gather my thoughts for the East preview because I've been going back-and-forth with my buddy in Canada and our convo was almost exclusively about the East. So I kinda exhausted all my East energy.

But now, I'm recharged and ready to take on the very confusing East. Off the top of my head, there are probably 10 teams with a realistic chance of making the Playoffs... That's not counting the Bobcats and New York, who could really surprise us all.

But enough talk, here's my thoughts on all the East teams.

1. Detroit Pistons - Basically the same roster as before. They supposedly have some young players waiting in the wings, but I doubt they'll make that big of an impact. This team still heavily relies on their starting lineup, but losing C-Webb (for the time being) will be a big blow. I really cant figure out why Mohammed doesn't fit the Pistons, but oh well. This is still a very solid team, although I believe the window has closed the moment Ben Wallace left for Chicago.

2. Miami Heat - The Heat!!! I can't believe what's happened to this franchise... I know they won a championship then, but I just knew that acquiring Antoine Walker and Jason Williams would blow up in their faces somewhere down the road. And this season might be that. Dwyane Wade's injury seems to get worse with every report I read, and Shaq recently suffered an injury of his own. If your healthiest player right now was once a new kidney recipient, you know there's trouble. Losing Kapono was huge, but I dont think he justified the money given to him, anyways. I don't really hate the Heat, but I have a really hard time liking them. This is a confused franchise... They are good enough to be considered contenders (mostly because of the "name" of their players) but are really mediocre. All hope rests on Wade's (aching) shoulders. Note: What if they somehow acquired Damon Stoudamire?

3. Boston Celtics - There are lots of people out there who took the conservative route and were slow in giving them credit, choosing instead to focus on their thin bench. But any time you put three HOF-qualit y players on one team, they will be good. Really good. People tell me to look at what happened to Lakers in '04. But remember, they had a Karl Malone nearing retirement, a Gary Payton that was nowhere near what he was in Seattle, and a feuding Kobe and Shaq. That will not happen in Boston, as KG and Ray Allen are two of the most professional guys out there. And please, don't forget that they are still in their primes! And in Ray's case, you dont lose your shooting touch with age. I dont think they can finish atop the East because they will obviously have to go through growing pains, but by the end of the season, we shall recognize them as the best in the East.

4. Toronto Raptors - From top to bottom, this is one of the best-built teams out there. When Jose Calderon (who could start for half of the teams in the L) is your back-up PG, you know you've done a great job. Not that Colangelo needs my seal of approval. Once again, they will depend on Bosh to lead them to the playoffs. I have no problem in believing that... But I am concerned about his health. Seems like he just cant stay completely healthy. And for a team that is really young when you think about it, they will need a leader. Signing Jason Kapono and Carlos Delfino was smart, but they aren't franchise-changing. In some ways, I think of them as somewhat similar to the Bulls. Very solid all-around, but you have to wonder how far they can take it. Good thing they have Chris Bosh, though.

5. Charlotte Bobcats - Is Jason Richardson really the go-to guy they were looking for? In my opinion, no. The guy is nice and exciting, but I just can't see him as someone who you can expect to lead a team. He's sort of like a poor man's Vince Carter, and that's not really good. It's more of a "best player available" scenario, and they were just the team with the money to spend. And I don't really get the signing of Matt Carroll when you already have Ammo. Have they given up on him already? But they have a pretty good foundation in place. Re-signing G Wallace was nice, and Felton should break out this year. Okafor is a beast down low, and it's so hard to find one of those right now. Maybe not this year, but I expect them to make the Playoffs next year.

6. Washington Wizards - First off, just want to wish Etan Thomas a speedy recovery. As for the Wiz, it's still a three-man show, although I have been hearing a lot of good reports about Andray Blatche lately. If he can develop into a Gerald Wallace-type of player, they should be very happy. Gilbert Arenas will continue his dominance (in a contract year, no less) and we can expect consistent production from Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison. All in all, this team is basically the same as last year's. Which is good, in a way. But not enough to get them anywhere near a championship. Still, though, it should be a fun ride.

7. Chicago Bulls - Welcome to Kobe Bryant's next home!!!! I know I may be getting ahead of myself over here, but Bryant going to the Bulls would be a match made in heaven. As for this season, they should also be (almost) the same team like before. They have a really good set of players, but I dont know... Something about them screams "Not good enough to be champs!!!". I think it was pretty stubborn of the GM (John or Jim?) to not trade for KG. So I hope they don't miss the opportunity to land KB24. Ben Gordon is good, but he's very streaky, although he is becoming more consistent. Kirk Hinrich is a pretty good PG, but I can't see him leading his team a la Deron Williams. Ben Wallace is slowing down, but it's nice to have backups like Noah and Ty Thomas. But I wonder: Are the Bulls silently regretting trading away LaMarcus Aldridge?

8. Orlando Magic - WTF?!?! 118 million $ for Rashard Lewis?!?! Cot damn, what was that all about? You would think the Magic would be happy to chill for now and use the newly-created cap room to build around Dwight Howard. Instead, they signed oft-injured forward Shard Lewis to a ridiculously expensive and long deal. He's not Allan Houston, but he's not exactly LeBron either. And as a result, they had to let go of Darko Milicic. You really have to question this franchise-crippling move, as they will now have no flexibilty at all. I just don't know what came over them. They better hope Lewis stays healthy (which he isn't right now) and plays to his "max player" (HA!!!) status. Jameer Nelson is a good point guard, but a part of me thinks this is as good as he can get. In 2 years, they will regret signing Lewis the same way they did with Grant Hill. Stupid.

9. Cleveland Cavaliers - It's still all about LeBron. And now, more than ever, he will have to carry the team for a full season. The Cavs are a really good defensive team, but they can't hide the fact that they are offensively-limited. Zydrunas is quickly aging before our eyes, and Gooden somehow can't stay consistent. Add to that the fact that Varejao and Pavlovic may not come back at all, and you have a team that could go from East Champs to not being mentioned as contenders. Daniel Gibson must prove his worth now that he is expected to play more, and Devin Brown was a good signing. Why can't he stay in one team, I will never know. Other than that, I can't get too excited about them. Not saying LeBron will go to New York, but he will definitely leave if things don't change.

10. Indiana Pacers - You know, this is actually the hardest-working team in the League. Why? Because they never seem to leave the treadmill they're on. Seriously, though, I dont really know what direction they're going. As a team, they are good enough to make the playoffs year in and year out, yet doesn't pose much of a threat to really challenge the big boys in the East. And with the East getting stronger, a first-round win is not expected anytime soon. Individually, they are facing the same dilemma. Jermaine O'Neal is good, but not elite. As good as he is, maybe it's time to anoint him as a very good role player instead of franchise player. Their second-best player, Danny Granger, is the same. Jamaal Tinsley is very good sometimes, sometimes not. The Pacers should make a decision now. Rebuild and tear down the core of the team or be satisified with semi-mediocrity? They should trade JO while he still has value.

11. Atlanta Hawks - This would be a very good team if only they had a Point Guard. Really. Just one really good point guard, and this team is a threat to make the Playoffs! Josh Smith is primed for a breakout year, although this is still (and should remain) Joe Johnson's team. Getting Al Horford was nice, and it was smart of them to not draft for need. He should be a great player down the line, but will probably struggle early. What can I say... This is a team with loads of potential, but it remains to be seen what will happen. I wish them success, if only because I like Joe Jo... But they still have a long way to go. Note: What if they traded for Luke Ridnour?

12. New Jersey Nets - They had to re-sign Vince Carter. Fail to do so, and you extremely limit Jason Kidd's options. It seems like Kidd will never age, so I expect the same numbers from him. The key here is health. If Richard Jefferson and Nenad Krstic all get to 100%, they should be a very scary team. And that's not counting Josh Boone, who showed last year that he is a decent ballplayer. Not re-upping Mikki Moore was very smart, and he won't be missed at all. Boston Snackbar seems to improving a lot, so he will be the first guy off the bench for the Nets. This team is exciting in the sense that they have highlight reels in Vince, Kidd, and Jefferson. Boring in the sense that I expect them to finish in the same way they did last season. But it got me to thinking, now might be the perfect time to trade Richard Jefferson for JO.

13. New York Knicks - What else is there to write about them, really? Just thinking of this team makes my head hurt, so I just have this to say... Please give David Lee the minutes he deserves.

14. Milwaukee Bucks - What is up with the Bucks getting players that have publicly declared their unwillingness to play for the franchise??? First, they draft Yi Jianlian, then they re-sign Charlie bell. Good thing Mo Williams decided to stick around, otherwise this might be the one of the most chaotic teams heading into the season. I actually applaud them for not giving into Yi's demands, but I seriously question re-signing Bell. Why sign a guy who didn't want to be there anymore? And more to the fact, why give Bell an 18.5 mil contract? Is he even worth that? Anyways, this is a good team, with enough versatility and firepower to make the Playoffs. Redd has shown he is capable of carrying the scoring load of the team, and Andrew Bogut should improve again. However, there are major questions regarding the team's health. No Playoffs this year, although the future looks bright.

15. Philadelphia 76ers - The worst team in the East. Andre Iguodala will put up great numbers, but you have to wonder how he will respond to defenses focusing on him extensively. Good thing he can pass it out to Kyle Korver, and better that Andre Miller is there to feed him easy baskets. However, Sammy Dalembert will probably never justify his enormous contract. The time is now to trade Andre Miller, so they can go full-blast on their rebuilding plans. It's going to be a long season in Philly...

Here are my picks to make the Playoffs.

1. Bulls
2. Celtics
3. Wizards
4. Pistons
5. Raptors
6. Cavaliers
7. Washington
8. Magic