Monday, July 28, 2025

CASINO ROYCE

Not in Montenegro but at Clark Global City.

A regional dialogue instead of a Texas Hold 'em poker tournament.

Le Chiffre, Dimitrios, and Mr. White disguised as Crising, Dante, and Emong dressed in four colors of polo barong.

For 4 days, the Premium Ballroom buzzed not of slot machines but the chimes and bells of the "Missing Middle", of distribution and food assitance spinning in roulette wheels while in a nearby bingo table, numbered capacity building and regional collaboration were announced for the benefit of the cage cashier who traded gaming tokens for a torn Euro bill that will cover breakfasts at the 21 All-Day Dining Buffet, the gym at Level 2, and a cabaret show on Day 1.   

(Day 1 featured a quickie with "I" on behalf of M.

By afternoon of Day 3, the "Missing Middle" was drafted by the bureau and dispensed at the relocated gateposts of old Fort Stotsenburg as Dante and Emong waltzed with crones while dumping rain on the the ghost of Manoling who was called to the Celestial Lodge 7 hours after having a photo with an American general, almost 3 months since granting a general amnesty to the collaborators of the great war, and many years before Mt. Pinatubo erupted to usher the casino invasion of Clark Air Base. 

(Day 3 was when everyone checked out except for a blue umbrella.)


Finally, Aling Lucing picked the remaining sisig morsels  from Donenoo's charcoal grill that is sweating with melted fat from various cuts of fresh beef and pork from Korea Town where the partnership amendments, a counterpart creation, a request for project change and a waiver, and two goals got caught up in the storm.

EIDC sounds like Quantum and TB might be the Obanno of a coded reheated birthday lechon that's as chewy as the last 4 sticks of pork barbecue in Bakal 2 yet soft and delicate like two pressure-cooked sinampalukang ulo ng kambing from a Saturday cocktail where the Phantom Biker, soused in 6 bottles of Pale Pilsen, disappeared into a line of drying laudry.  

His name is Bert, Shu-Bert.

And he takes his beer chilled and bottled, not poured and iced.

Monday, July 21, 2025

UNQUOTABLE QUOTES

"Sa puno ng maputing suso hinango ang laman para sa kalderetang bibe, kilaweng kambing, at sisig ni Aling Lucing."



“Immunize a dog and you’ll find an ancient motorbike inside a leaking aquarium that smelled like the PET Scan appointment of two Monday meetings".

"Love is the energy of life, gender inclusive and low carbon in Kuala Lumpur, and sometimes confused too like a consultancy requisition for the social protection of a special economic zone near Manila".  

"The budget is not just a collection of numbers but an expression of counterpart creation, understanding pass downs, partnership amendments, final report submissions, and a catch-up meeting".

"You're only as good as your last haircut and a leak-proof roof to host ASEAN 2026".

"Bridges become frames for looking at the world around us until a typhoon locked my bike wheels for two days".

"Ang mga naghapunan ng keso at pulang alak ay higit pa ang katapatan sa Banal na Rosaryo ng mga Anghel na kumupkop sa Museu ng mga nakatikas pahingang Puntod".


Monday, July 14, 2025

REDEMPTION POEM (with apologies to Bob Marley)

Internship, yes, was marked “F”
Rectified by the leadership
Two "3s" were fished out
From the “Incomplete” pit
Like the haunting of the Balete
Quezon is Baler's almighty
PRISMA delivered in our generation
Though partially




Won't you let us swim
This ocean of beer?
'Cause all I ever hoped
ADMU reclaimed  
CLSU reformed



 
OPAs emancipated(?) from delays
Social Protection will free our minds
ASEAN shall have clean energy
'Cause OPR can't stop the bike
How to Speak Up on Climate Justice
While we drink lagers and swoon?
CANSA is CANSEA in New Delhi
The Ironman fulfilled a wish