Back from Cebu and random thoughts

Arrrgh! Blog still acting up! So I’ll try not to include any URLs in this post just to be sure I don’t get any errors. The issue should’ve been resolved already but apparently the DBD::mysql module of my server hasn’t been updated yet.

Anways I just came from a trip to Cebu. Second time I visited the place, first was for work and now for a wedding. And what a wedding it was! I’m glad I don’t live in Cebu since this guy really set the bar. I can just imagine all the men there feeling mightily inadequate after hearing about it.

Mother of All Weddings

It was a wedding of a Lingkod sa Panginoon member, who was integral to the Cebu concert the group had there a few years back. Anyways, who he is isn’t what I’m here to talk about, what he did however…

The engagement was as follows:

The guy drives the girl into a main intersection of a main thoroughfare (equivalent to our EDSA) at a certain time and parks right smack in the middle along an island. He steps out of the car, goes to the back where another person disembarks (from another car) to give him the bouquet he’s going to offer the girl.

At at distance, there’s this huge tarpoline ad of his proposal to the girl. You know that awful Hang-Ten ad in Katipunan? Cut that in half, and that’s how big the thing was! Apparently, he was able to persuade Penshoppe to “lend” him their ad space for the proposal.

The girl does not see this ad immediately, because she is distracted by the private camera crew filming the whole thing. “What for” you may ask? For the reception come wedding day of course!

The wedding of course wasn’t as “gimmick-packed.” Appropriately so since it was a sacred ceremony – so the only “gimmick” was that he serenaded the bride with our song “You” while she walked down the aisle. Lyrics are as follows:

You are the sunshine that warms the sand. You are the night breeze that blows where I stand You are the fire that burns to the core You are the sea that carries me from shore to shore.

If I should fall, slipping deep into the night, You are my vision, You are my light. If I should run, racing to a bitter end, You’re my courage, my strength, You’re my friend.

Mine is the earth, thirsting in the heat of day. Yours is the raindrop, on me you lay. Mine are the questions that no one seems to share. You’re the answer to my every prayer.

Originally intended as an inspirational song, but of course Norman Agatep (the composer) purposely made it “flexible” enough to be interpreted as a love song. It obviously makes it perfect wedding song too… if only it wasn’t so damn high.

Anyways, the groom was wearing white. And honestly, I liked it. I think I want to wear white too on my wedding day. I mean my complexion should be able to handle it di ba? Plus it makes the groom more prominent amidst all the other guys wearing barongs or suits, be it the best man, sponsors, etc.

Of course all the gimmicks [appropriately] lacking in the wedding were more than compensated for at the reception. Done in the main ballroom of the WaterFront hotel, which is pretty much the only choice for any high-end, high seating capacity event.

We came in the ballroom, on the 1st quadrant there was a couch set in front of a stadium type video wall (they used projectors of course). This was for the “interview portion” – so it was kind of a “talk-show” setup.

On the 2nd quadrant, there was a stage (for the quartet that was to be playing the whole night) in front of a similar video wall. Between the 2nd and 3rd quadrant was the main stage, where the bride and groom’s table was situated. The 3rd quadrant had another video wall, and 4th quadrant was the buffet area. The whole middle portion were obviously the tables for the 1,300 guests that night.

There was a full video production for that evening. Following the bride, groom, and sponsors as they walked along the red carpet as they were introduced one by one at the beginning of everything.

The reception was one big production number to say the least. Worthy of television to say the least (ASAP style hehehe), but the more notable gimmicks done were the following:

• Pyrotechnics when the couple set foot on the stage.
• Professional AVP presentations (complete with scripted interviews complete with makeup and professional micing) One was about the groom, the other about the bride, the other about their story (and this is where the video footage of the engagement was shown)
• The theme was the “Wedding at Canaa” and “fruits of paradise” So the centerpieces were fruits, and of course there’s a part where they used the fountain to pump out wine after water (the whole water to wine thingie)

There were others of course like the whole interview portion, the couple’s choreographed dance number, etc. They even unveiled the proposal “ad” itself live at one point.

Though you might think that pimping out a reception to such levels was overkill (which probably is), I didn’t mind it at all – because it made it interesting. Usually receptions can be boring for those who aren’t that close to the groom and bride, so the extra effort to put on a “show” was much appreciated as everyone had a marvelous time instead of waiting for the thing to finish.

GMA Issue

I would’ve wanted not to comment on this since everyone has been talking about it, and to me everything happening is futile, regardless of what the outcome may be.

On one hand, I understand the masses’ opinion on how unfair it is that People Power, done by the middle and upper class ousted Erap, while no one of the same class is lifting a finger after what GMA did.

On the other, I cannot deny that there’s no one decent left to lead the country if GMA leaves. Yes, she may be inadequate, especially after this whole fiasco blew up in everyone’s faces. But who’ll be replacing her: Noli. No thank you.

I wish the curch would stay out of this. The CBCPs decision, while I agree with, I thought in bad taste. Rather, that proposal shouldnt’ve come from them. Because it gives them the image of being biased. Sure they can say that they simply want the constitution followed over the public opinion, but I don’t recall them doing the same when Erap was in power.

Personally, I think Arroyo, in spite of committing a really bone-headed mistake by being in contact with the COMELEC during elections, is still far more decent a human being than the rest of the presidentiable alternatives.

But of course justice has to be served, she can’t just be forgiven since her actions undermined the constitution, which is supposed to be the backbone of any sovereignty.

So I’m kinda caught up in the middle. Technically, if there was a good alternative for the presidency, I’d have no problem with GMA leaving, but right now, considering the sate the country is in, I don’t think we’ll be able to get back on our feet if we have people like Noli in power.

Another thing that pissed me off was when our friend mentioned that she had heard during the rally, a kid begging his/her mother that he/she was hungry and the answer was:

Teka lang, hindi pa tayo nababayaran.

Ain’t that sad? I will not even try to presume I can relate to how desperate this people may be, but I really hoped they knew better than that.

I always was for colonization. Rizal really had the right idea in reformation (though of course I’d rather with the US than Spain). But all this nationalistic bullshit is really pissing me off, only talk the talk if you can walk the walk.

We have more than proven that we are not ready, or even worthy of independence since we can’t take care of ourselves, much less our country… but that rally incident makes me take it a step further: are we really ready for democracy? Where the equal power of the vote is granted those who apparently don’t think at all?

I always hear nationalistic eggheads dissappointed with people like me who lost hope in the country. They say that you should do your part no matter how small. Or that how can I turn my back on my country so easily when it needs me the most.

The country doesn’t need anyone with “proper” methods nowadays. The government and society has already developed an immunity where the pen, or intellect could’ve made a difference. What we need is a fucking revolution. Kill everyone in power now, and replace it with fresh people, preferably from higher developed economies to set the country straight.

After which, kill-off democracy for the time being, 99% of the population is stupid, deal with it. This is not the time to have faith in the people, because most of these people we should have faith in are now part of the problem. Don’t go on giving them the power to vote then blame us “sane” people for not wasting our time. If I wanted to vote, I’d like to be sure first that these stupid “masses” don’t ruin our chances of electing a decent leader. Otherwise, I think voting as a minority is an utter waste of time, gas, ink and paper.

Truth be told, considering who we get elected, and considering the people “empowered” to select such people. I’d say the Philippines is getting exactly what it deserves.

If you want me to do my “part,” then first legalize killing, I’m sure a bunch of people (myself included) would be more than happy to clean up. Otherwise, just leave everything to divine intervention. Because no amount of “intellectual action” will ever get us out of the hole we’ve put ourselves in.