Are you ready for Rain or Shine?

Interaksyon.com

Rain or Shine seems to be the yardstick of the PBA now.  A yardstick on how the other teams should be preparing for their future games or how they should beef up their lineups in terms of physicality and durability.  

They may not have the swagger like the other teams but they surely know how to win.  They did so by conquering the most recent PBA season with a bang.  

Pbaaddicts

  

sports.inquirer.net

Their so called "unorthodox" physical defensive style is creating havoc around the league.  But this is really not something new to the league, it's just a rebirth of the style of defense the PBA has had in it's early years.

Interaksyon.com

Coach Yeng Guiao put it by saying that they lack the height or the ceiling but surely have made up for it on heft particularly with his combo guys fondly called "The Extra Rice Incorporated" compose of Beau Belga and JR Quinahan.  

Let's not forget he also has a bunch of foot soldiers that will do just as they're told in the presence of Ryan "the karate chop" Arana and Warren "the side swiper" Ibanez.

Interaksyon.com

Interaksyon.com

Interaksyon.com

I'm not really a fan of ROS mainly because of their game style but what I do admire with this team is their hard core character.  

This primarily is due to the system established by Coach Yeng whose hard core defense is a testament of his strong character.  

Many are ticked off with how this team plays defense and there's a very good reason for this - they try compensating their team's lacking in physical attributes and talent.

Interaksyon.com

But if you come to think of it, is it really due to the physicality this team shows off every game that makes them the number 1 most hated team in the league or it's just simply the guys doing the "Deed"?  The less popular guys doing the damage literally are now getting headlines.  Imagine 3 - 5 technical fouls on average per game?  Nice stat to boost up in your credential.  

What does that even mean?  Are they still playing basketball or basketbrawl?  And the funny part is that whenever they get these "T's" they act as if they didn't deserve the call or that they didn't do anything with the hand gestures and all.  Or if the other team retaliated and hurt one of their primary guys the bench goes amock cursing all over the place asking for something grave from the officials.  Crazy.

sports.inquirer.net

I just don't see Chris Tiu being a part of ROS future though as I am not sure what his role will be in this kind of system.  His demeanor is absolutely in contrast to that of his team.  

pbaonline.net 

But of course, we see Gabe Norwood and Jeff Chan both great players complimenting and thriving in this type of system.  

Rain or Shine's no - non sense attitude and aggressiveness is something that other teams should try to imitate.  This character that gets misunderstood as a sign of aggression have already made it mark in everyone's mind - If you play Rain or Shine, it's going to be a war.  

Getting ready for this team is an understatement.  

Come unprepared they will "roll over" you literally.  Bring your "A" game, they will still chop you on the ground.  Win or lose, you still get beat up by Rain or shine.  And that's just how ROS is.  Either you love them or hate them.  It's your choice.  

You can hate them all you want, but that's how they win games, so suck it up.  Man it up.  Love them?  That's another story.

Petron Blaze Boosters? What's up?

What's really up with Petron?  This question is still popping up in every basketball afficionados' minds.  So what up with Petron?

Despite them winning the championship recently under Coach Ato, people are still not convinced that the formidable team they expect Petron to be have already been unleashed.  On paper they are definitely the team to beat. Coaches, players and even fans all agree that Petron is absolutely a powerhouse.

However questions are still up in the air till this day.  They've been groping for form for 3 yrs now and this has been somewhat synonymous to them still looking for form, looking for chemistry.  But so far with no luck.  

The saying is really true, in the world of sports you may have all the best players available, but if there's no teamwork your team is in a world of pain and shame unless you have a Lebron, Wade, Bosh combination at your disposal.  Or perhaps the old Chicago team led by no less his airness MJ himself.  But this entirely is a different story

So what's really wrong with Petron then?  Petron AKA San Miguel Teams have always been composed of A1 players.  

Credits to the owner of the picture.  Got this from the internet

Looking back in the past San Miguel teams, they've always had a blockbuster team.  

Back in the days when seeing Allan, Samboy, Hector, Don Ramon in one team is a luxury to have, this SMB management made it happen.  

Quality players those days are hard to find and getting them in one team is an accomplishment plus finding the coach who can steer these players to history in the person of Ron Jacobs, Norman Black have proven to be just the perfect combination then.  
But is there anything we are missing from that part of history now?

Credits to the owner of the picture.  Got this from the internet

Credits to the owner of the picture.  Got this from the internet

Chemistry is what drives a team to a common goal and talent can back it up.  But what if you have too much of everything?  Would that translate into a dynasty?  Obviously, it won't.

The role of the "Role Players" nowadays is being overlooked.  Everyone wants to get the best players and don't want "the scavengers", "the hustlers", "the defensive guys", "the rebounders", "the Jeffs" of the Mutt and jeff combo, "the Robins" in the Batman and Robin tandem.  

Having a 12-man deep team filled with star players but no role players is a recipe for disaster.

It's no longer a question of who will shoot the ball or who will make a beautiful pass - so is it now a question of who's willing to take the back seat?  

But these players are all star players meaning they have the qualities of a leader, so what happens if everyone wants to lead in their own way by sacrificing their points by letting go of the ball and pass it onto someone else and let them shoot instead?  Imagine all of them having the same thoughts at one time?  Will this solve the issue?  Hmmm...  

Imagine this, 5 all star players on the court all proving they can pass, who will shoot the ball then?  Or all can shoot, so who  will make the pass?

Credits to the owner of the picture.  Got this from the internet.

It's a totally different story for the old San Miguel Teams, they have the players I mentioned above but what else do they have?  They had the likes of Alvin Teng, Yves Dignadice, Art Delacruz, Ato Agustin and so on.  Yes, they have role players who are just willing to do their roles and some have infact mastered doing it and one even ended up winning the MVP (Ato Agustin) for doing his role.

And then there was the dynamic trio of the two Dannys - Dynamite Danny and Demolition Danny and Olsen Racela, these three are backed up as well with complimentary players special mention to Freddie Abuda.  Whose nose for the ball is unparalleled.  

Credits to the owner of the picture.  Got this from the internet

Credits to the owner of the picture.  Got this from the internet

So what they have was a combination of great coaches, cerebral point guards, gun slinger wingmen, dominant centers, defensive guards and all around forwards all doing their business at the same time.  How did they end up in history?  Legendary.

I guess Talent equilibrium + Discipline + more is still the recipe to chemistry.  Then Chemistry + System is key to success.  

A little too much good of everything is definitely dangerous.  The best is yet to come for this team, the best is still to come. 

Barangay Ginebra... The Running Kings!

PBA season 38th has just opened and as early as now I'm all pumped up and can't wait to see all the games to unfold for my beloved team - Ginebra San Miguel. 

I watched the game on TV yesterday Ginebra VS GlobalPort and wow all the pre-season hype about them  proved to be true!  Ginebra will RUN and GUN this season and that's exactly what they did.  They RAN AND GUN the whole game and I must say, it's what I've been missing for sometime now.  It's great to see them back running up and down the floor yet again.  Thanks to their new acquisitions - Talented Fil-am combo sensations Chris Ellis and Keith Jensen and of course "El Teniente" Tenorio - the future indeed is looking very bright for our ever adored Ginebra team.  More reasons for us fans to cheer about!

Never really knew how good LA was for the Aces in the past, or I just didn't care (haha) except that he's a thorn to every Gin Kings' fans everytime the Aces goes up against Ginebra.  After that game last night?  Thank goodness he's on our side.  I knew he is good, but never expected him to be "that" good.  Cerebral and very heady.

PBA/Nuki Sabio

He may very well be the next leader of the Kings.  I'm not saying Jayjay is done, he is just not the same Jayjay that we've known for years.  Age and injuries have caught up with him.  But so I heard, He's healthy now.  If this proves true, other teams are in for a hell of a ride then.  

PBA/Nuki Sabio

And for Mark?  Do I need say more?  He's the reigning MVP  so what is there to talk about still?

As for the rookies?  They didn't fail to represent that's one thing for sure.  The hype was built, the hype was proven!  So boys, we're up with you for the flight.  Our seatbelts are fasten, flight KJ32 and Air Force CE34 take us there.  

Nothing but a championship is what they're both eyeing for the crowd favorites this season.

With this fresh blood injected in the Ginebra line up - everyone seem to have gotten their fair share of drops from the fountain of youth, it was evident on the way Mark Caguioa, Jayjay Helterbrand, Rudy Hatfield,  Mike Cortez, Kerby Raymundo and yes even Billy Mamaril played and have kept in step with the younger guys throughout the game.  

But of course, let's not forget the other young guns of the Gin Kings - Allein Maliksi, Rico Maeirhofer, Dylan Ababou and Elmer Espiritu who can definitely be a perfect complement to the fast paced game that they will be employing this season.

I am very excited to see the old fast paced, no nonsense game style of Ginebra - the same game style that made the KINGS a sight to watch and what brought them close to the hearts of their millions of fans. 

Just plainly seeing the line "RUN and GUN" connected to Ginebra once more is already a scary sight and gives me the shivers.  Seeing it on the floor - it's up for you to imagine!

POLITICAL DYNASTY, will it ever end?

newyorker.com

In the Olympics - The Passing of torch is a tradition observed with so much "gusto". In siblings - Clothes being passed from one generation to another as they grow older. Family properties, heritage, businesses and more are getting passed on by birthright.  Now even politics getting owned and passed on by powerful families?? And this is something we will not much with such gusto I bet.  I just don't get it. But please don't take me wrong on this - I just don't think it's right.  I’m not referring to any particular dynasty, families, groups or what have you.  I’m speaking in general.
But isn’t it the “opportunity to serve” supposed to be open and free for all?  Meaning everyone has equal opportunities to take a crack at it?  I just don't believe in the saying "it flows in the blood".  Not because the father knew what he was doing means that the next does, so on and so forth.

palawanpoliticaldynasty.blogspot.com

They control and monopolize a place like they bought and own it.  It's alright to take pride about where you came from or what you represent, in fact it’s all good.  One good question is who put them there?  Who gave them the right to be there in the first place?  The answer is… ding! Ding! US! 

We are so driven by our culture of tight family ties. We tend to connect the dots within our own backyard which is very explainable. It’s how we’re taught, trained and brought up.  Now they say that the only way to break this pattern is if another one will be brave enough to stand before them and win.  And then what?  Make their own dynasty?  Pass it on again term after term? Hmmm… It will never end really and this is what ticks me off.  Not for envy, jealousy, hatred or what not.  But just for the thought of it, like they own it.  

Can't we Filipinos move on and learn from our mistakes?  Come on, think about it. It's happening around us. And it’s happening all over again.  Be it in villages, churches, schools wherever... You can see it!  And yes even in Families there is Politics.

Politics, greed and thirst for power is what's going on. It’s crazy!  Filipinos are so accustomed to following and embracing traditions that even if it means nothing to them, they do it nonetheless. For what?  It’s family culture, tradition and dynasty.  What happens next? Political tragedy that's what.

And I'm not only talking about family on the first degree here. It can be family by appointment. What's so sad about this is that there's no stopping it anymore.  It’s okay if it’s for the good or if it turns out well... But what if it turned out like one of those political love stories turned sour?

Didn't it ever occur to you why the same thing is happening all over again? It’s because of wrong choices. Choices based on the wrong presumptions, impressions and motivations. Sad but true!

math.pppst.com

I like to quote "Bamboo's Tatsulok" – “Totoy kumilos ka, baliktarin ang tatsulok. Tulad ng dukha, nailagay mo sa tuktok. Hindi pula’t dilaw tunay na magkalaban. Ang kulay at tatak ay di syang dahilan Hangga’t marami ang lugmok sa kahirapan At ang hustisya ay para lang sa mayaman.  Habang may tatsulok at sila ang nasa tuktok Di matatapos itong gulo.”


This song is encouraging the youth to stand up and fight for what is right.  And it also says something about “the Triangle” being the cause of all the troubles.  This triangle shape depicts political hierarchy which has always been the case.  Whoever’s on the top of the food chain controls all below it.

Personal issues with authority?  Yes and no.  Yes whenever I see it being abused and used for personal gain.  And yes whenever I see “undeserving” people getting the post either by popularity or wealth or birthright.  And No because, I believe that without authority you’re in for a world of mess.  No policies, no law, no one to uphold it would be a scary sight as well. 

I guess what I’m saying here is the possibility of change to happen in our midst and actually for it to start from within us. 

thewordin365.wordpress.com

One thing is for sure, politics without GOD is governed with lawlessness, selfishness and foolishness which results in non-productivity and ineffectiveness of government.    

Political Dynasty is not something to be blamed for in fact it’s fine with me.  What’s not fine is if this lineage is abused at some point.  Telling someone you can’t make business there because it’s my place?  If an ordinary person says this, it’s alright.  But if this line came from someone in office, it’s totally different.

phillchida.blogspot.com

What can we do about this anyway?  Nothing.  We can spend as much time writing, debating and discussing over this but still it will never change.

However, having the fear of GOD and fear in GOD in the hearts and minds of the people in authority will definitely mean something good.  Not only in the government but anywhere and everywhere wherever there’s politics! 

Be it Dynasty or what not.  Having a God fearing political system, Political Dynasty is most welcomed!

My Magic Buffalo Wings Recipe - The Emcy Way!

Due to insistent and consistent public demand... Tada!

kitchendaily.com

I'm letting my secret out! Haha! I really love to cook.  I just enjoy manning the kitchen, that is. It all started with the taste I tried from a resto that didn't really meet my liking. Coz I'm a spice person. ;) the hotter, the chilliest the better it is for me.  


So I made up my own version of this famous buffalo wings that originated and was made famous by this popular resto in New York. Which I think till now is serving this famous chicken part. I want mine particularly sweet and very spicy combined. 


But I had to adjust to the tastebuds of my family and friends. Some can't handle the spice, while some wants it hot! I have a very good sense of taste and smell when it comes to ingredients. This I used to determine the basic ingredient which is honey and butter. 


So here goes my Emcy Buffalo Wings Recipe. 


Ingredients for chicken coating : 

centralcook.com

1kl chicken wings, 
2 med cups of flour, 
1 tbsp of salt, 
2 teaspoonfuls of ground pepper and 
4 tbsp of Jufran hotsauce. 


Ingredients for the sauce : 
1/4 slice of butter, 
2tbsp of sugar, 
4 tbsp of honey, 
2 tbsp of flour and half cup of water. 
Garlic and ginger both optional. 


Cooking Procedure : 


Cut the wings in half (proportionate to the small drumstick and actual wing), mix salt, pepper and hot sauce on to the meat. Then thoroughly coat chicken with flour. Set aside. (If possible, refrigerate meat overnight for flour to stick.). 

mysassychef.blogspot.com

Sauce prep : (this is where the secret is at.) On low fire, use a small caserolle, melt butter while stirring. Make sure to pour hot sauce and honey right away. So as not to let the butter turn oil completely. Let it mix, keep stirring. Add water and flour. Keep stirring. Adjust thickness of sauce to your choice. If you want to use garlic and ginger to add taste, sautee' it on the butter. Make sure that you cut and mince them real fine.  


Once you can smell the tangy, sweet and hot taste of the butter, honey and hot sauce combined,  Add hot sauce to taste. Your sauce is done. Prepare the chicken. Deep fry. Cook it to Brown. Once done you'll need a container where you can shake and mix the wings and sauce together.  


Pour it out and serve! There you have it. My special eMCy wings! Enjoy!  

Absolute Crooks vs the lesser crooks.

"Colorum" vans make our lives easier.  I'm one of the many commuters taking advantage of this convenience you can find anywhere, everywhere.  I commute fr cavite to makati everyday,I can choose not to and drive instead, but I don't.

Gas prices skyrocketing almost every month, toll gate to and fro, parking fees, heavy traffic all over the place - it just doesn't make any sense.  Its not worth the bother. 

Anyway, what do I really want to write here... Hmm. Colorum shuttles, convenience or not? Crime or not? From the way I see it, its more an advantage for everyone, not just me. Advantageous to the commuters, the operators, drivers and most of all the crooked MMDA! 

Agree? It's given how these "illegal" means of transportation have made its mark in our everyday routine. Making 2.5 hrs driving more like 1.5 hrs commute. It saves you time, Effort, gas and more importantly hard earned moolah.  As for the operators, drivers - it's honest business. Just imagine the fare rate for one person - 70p, not bad, not bad at all! I tell u... Its all worth it! 

Now let's go to the most interesting character in this discussion and benefactor to this transportation industry. The MMDA/LTO! It's been a part of life for these drivers evading and trying to avoid getting caught and ticketed by these so called "traffic enforcers" or "traffic aides". Its funny how this turned out a wild goose chase. Everyday they chase colorums and yet there's thousands operating still. 

The funny part is the MMDA/LTO's moves and/or operations are read by the colorums!  They just know where these fools are. They even know the exact time, car number and personnel doing the check point! 

clipartguide.com

Haha! Kudos to the colorums and kudos to the MMDA too! 

Someone just pulled the rug from under you! Guess who? Your fellow sleepers! They're just doing their job or are they? The way I see it, they're playing their authority to the hilt. Okay... 

How many times have you seen a colorum get stopped and "reprimanded" for traveling by a traffic enforcer? Too many times. So how come they're still on it? MONEY! Money talks my friend. It's all about the money! Its the universal language for them enjoying in authority. 

They're playing us for fools. And guess what? We're actually playing along with them. Don't tell me they don't have any idea where the terminals are for these operators? Come on! You can find them on major roads loading in their patronizers like me. 

So, realistically and technically speaking, both sides are breaking the law here. What we're talking about now is who's the lesser evil, who does more benefit and who does more damage! 

I'd say these "cops" do the more damage than aid. As for the colorum guys, we love you all and you're doing a good work. But please, if you can, get yourselves "legalized", do so! 

I've been hearing stories how these LTO crooks are making it difficult for operators to get franchises. Under the table is how they want it done. Asking for extra "sliders". I heard per franchise is 40k? Please correct me if I'm wrong. Now what's and how much is on top of that is the question. Some ends up being told to pay for a huge amount in hundreds of thousands so some actually pays it playing alongside the crooked system.  

See how they manipulate the system? They don't let the colorums get their permits and then wait for them on the streets where they'll make arrangements of monthly income with them. 

If only Honest to goodness set up will be followed here in our country, there'll be no offenders! But no - what am I talking about?? Am I even from here?? Come on, wake up! its all about the moolah! 

So what can I say? For the colorums - Keep it up, you're doing us a favor and for the above the law crooks - more damage, that's what it is you're giving us. So keep it up as well, you're doing us a favor too!

Daddy's Girl. Sam.

Kids are pesky... stubborn... loud... annoying... crazy...  They act up... cry out... scream...  They're just all over the place.  They'll mess it up, tear it up, turn it upside down, toss it side to side and so on.  These are how kids tear down the place.

They'll kiss you... they'll hug you... they'll smooch... touch... embrace... calm you... amaze you... sooth you... they'll make you smile... they'll make you laugh... ask you crazy questions... show you their abstract versions of you in drawing when all they drew were sticks... play legos and then ask what is it they did, they'd say "it's your office dad and this is my school" when all they showed you were scattered toys on the floor...  haha!  they'll dance for you... sing for you... play with you to your heart's content.  

They're simply amazing.  God's gifts to us.  They just know how to manipulate us really.  Our kids - can't do without them, much more can't live without them!

"DAD: Sam, why did you do that for?  Why did you throw out your lollipop?  No more surprises from me anymore, you understand...  SAM: Daddy look at me.  Lug (her version of love and hug :))!  I'm sorry, Daddy.  I love you."  BAM!!  Got me already!  No matter how mad we are.  Our kids just know how to deal with us - in their own way!

Funny it may seems, but it make sense, complete sense.  They're small versions of us, mix and match so to speak.  So they have a little bit of everything we parents have.  

with Mommy

My baby girl is so expressive in a lot of ways.  She loves to talk, play, sing, dance, draw, do crayons, play with legos and most of all - She owns our TV and dvd player!  you know, watching Woody and Buzz lightyear tell their Toy Story.  Helping daddy fish find Nemo.  Rooting for Lightning Mcqueen and Mater to fill in with the cars.  And many more...  Hahah!

No really, she does own our TV and dvd player!  Hahah!

We have to ask permission from her if we can watch movies or what not.  Then we'll wait for her approval, if she says yes, then we go on with it.  If she says no... don't worry... we still go on with it.  Hahah.  But be ready for a neverending story from her and endless tantrums while you're trying to watch.  

She'll try to block or turn the tv off.  Fair?  hahah.  I got use to it.  Annoying?  Yes! Fulfilling?  YES!  Little did I know that behind that craziness and peskiness she showed me, all she want is for me to hug her, play with her, have quality time with her and then she'd go on saying "you don't have work, Daddy?  I miss you eh."  So right there I know what she wants.  

   

Sometimes I get mad when my little girl does that while I'm trying to watch PBA, a movie or a show especially if it's Ginebra playing.  This is my off, for crying out loud.  hahah.  I'll try to divert her attention into doing something else.  Always thinking that they're gullible kids... they're not!  If you come to think of it, they know us inside out.  

This line stick with me like glue, I heard it from my old boss - "...from the day we were born, we're already doing sales!"  We know how to sell our thoughts to our parents; when we're hungry - we cry.  When we're tired and wanted to sleep, we yawn and still cry.  When we wanted a toy, what do we do?  Yes!  Still we cry.  We convince them in our own little way.

But guess what?  Now it's happening again, but this time it's on us!  

Our kids know how to use our weaknesses against us to their advantage.  More often than not, they win, but at the end of it all, you both win!  She got your attention and you got her affection!  Fair Deal?  I think so.  

...She got your attention and you got her affection!

But remember there's a thin line in being all that to the point of spoling them.  Never, under any circumstances let them win against you - especially when it comes to discipline.  But of course be willing to accept your fault as well if you're at fault.  In the first place, that's what we're teaching them.  Anyway, enough with that.

I always find myself in awe everytime I watch my little girl do her thing.  Her favorite place is the fridge.  She stays in there like it's her room.  Hahah.  We call her "our monitoring agent".  She knows our fridge.  "Dad, there's no more Chamyto.", "Dad, no more hotdog", "Dad, no more vegetables.", and sometimes "Dad, sira na ang ulam."  Ahehe.  Funny, right?  

We do alot of stuff together as well, we read, play PSP, watch DVD, go to church, pray and we take abath together.  In line with prayer, sometimes in bed she'd say "Daddy, Pray napo tyo." Yes, she does that especially if she's really dosed off and dying to sleep.  

Talk about sleeping, there's this one thing she can't do without, she can't sleep without my arms around her, she uses it for her pillow.  She has pillows around her but she would rather sleep on her "leased" arms of mine.  (now I'm crying. Ahehe.)  Seriously, she would look for my arms if I take it off her.  And yes, even if she's deep asleep..

She knows how to operate stuff, like turning and working the tv using the "merote" (that's how she calls the remote) and the on/off switch, she can wash her own bottles, helps with the dishes, she can work our DVD player, she knows the difference between a Laptop and a Desktop, she operates the keyboard/organ on her own, she pull out plugs, turn lights on and off, aircon, fan and sometimes even the stove!  

She also tells me the time even if she doesn't know how to read the clock yet.  hahah...  It's really amazing how smart she is turning out to be.

with her cousin Kuya IB

Whenever, she's out with other kids, she's the "promotor", the leader of the pack, the pasimuno - born leader?  Ahehe.  She speaks Tagalog and English fluently whenever needed.  I've always wanted her to speak English only, but it occured to me, she'll find it difficult to mingle come the time she's on her own.

I can say we're on the right path in training her in the way she should go in God's terms.  Let me just quote a verse from the Bible.  Taken from Proverbs 22:6, Says " Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

I would like to see her grow up with fear of GOD and fear in GOD in her heart.  Having that done would mean we were able to lead up a Quality Christian in her.

No matter what others may say, for me she's my angel.  She's my heavensent.  A gift from God!  She's my mini me.  And most of all she's my baby girl.  Butterfly kisses allthroughout my life, I know, I deserve it.  :)  

I Love you my baby girl, Shemiah Azriel Moira!