The Day The Earth Stood Still

The entire city was flooded.

It was just like Waterworld without Kevin Costner’s terrible thespian skills.

Typhoon Ondoy sure knew how to party and decided to spread the love one weekend.

The bastard cut off power lines, flooded streets, invaded houses, contaminated water supply, severed phone connections, wrecked vehicles, took lives of innocent people, and never looked back.

Mali Bay was not spared.

It never floods in our area. But I guess I spoke too soon.

It was Raft3r’s own version of the hit reality show Survivor.

Isolated. Famished. Distraught. Stranded. Helpless.

But I never felt more ALIVE.

Post script: Not all of us have the time to volunteer nor the financial capability to donate, but all of us can PRAY. That is the best help we can provide to the victims.

How To Lose Friends & Alienate People

How far would you go for your friends?

I know people who would entrust their lives to their friends but not to their families.

On the other hand, there are some who treat their friends like shit.

In my three decades of existence, I have seen the best and the worst in people. Everyone knows happened to those characters in The Beach, right?

In a dog eat dog world, having friends help cushion the blows.

Humanity is such a complex subject. It would probably take an eternity to have it fully figured out.

Meeting new acquaintances is fairly easy. Maintaining relationships is the problem.

21...Ways To Grow

1. Learn to laugh at yourself.

2. Be carefree.

3. Try everything once.

4. Pick up a new language.

5. Join Facebook.

6. Be grateful.

7. Get rid of negativity.

8. Spend some alone time.

9. Travel.

10. Pray more.

11. Learn a new sport.

12. Get silly with kids.

13. Stop making excuses.

14. Conquer your fear.

15. Think outside the box.

16. Let go of the past.

17. Spend less.

18. Practice altruism. Bayanihan rocks!

19. Listen to music. Janet Jackson is awesome.

20. Free yourself from hatred.

21. Visit The Deadbeat Club regularly.

Post script: Happy birthday, Babe! This post is entirely dedicated to you.

All I Want For Christmas Is You

Now it can be told.

Christmas really begins in September.

How else can you explain the abundance of Janet blessings? My wifey is everywhere!

Yes, Raft3r is blushing. Big time!

After a show stopping performance at the VMAs, Janet released her new single Make Me.

The new song is off the hook and a certified shout out to classic Janet hits. You can listen to Make Me here.

Raft3r’s wife is the cover girl for Harper’s Bazaar current issue. She just wrapped up a movie and a new album is slated for release early next year.

Janet is also writing a memoir and is now on Facebook and Twitter.

Suddenly, Raft3r’s sentiment on the previous post doesn’t really matter anymore.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Post script: This post is dedicated to one of the loyal and avid readers of The Deadbeat Club. Happy Birthday, Len! This one's for you.

September

September, for most Pinoys, is the start of the Christmas Season.

For Raft3r, September means something else. It’s the month when HUGE expenses come to haunt me.

On September 08, 2006, I purchased a car – by impulse.

At that time, I was amazed as to how affordable buying a car was. The monthly payment was the mere cost of a mobile phone. It was that cheap. So I thought.

Three years later, I struggle to make ends meet. It was a mistake to buy a car I don’t even need. In fact, the car I bought is seldom used.

Insurance, registration, and monthly amortization were all due first week of September. I had to shell out close to $550.

Raft3r is now dead broke.

Note to self: Impulse buying is no longer a luxury I could afford.

It's Over

A passing fancy is defined as a novelty that captures the attention of the general public for a relatively brief period, until either people lose interest in it, or the next "big thing" comes along.

Raft3r has now loss ALL interest in the following:

- One night stands;

- Anna Kournikova (It gets tiring defending her on why she never won a single’s title.);

- Weight loss;

- Putting my best foot forward (It’s either you like me or you don’t.);

- Reading; and

- Starlet Locsin (You know what makes a person SEXY? It’s called LOYALTY.).

Four Weddings And A Funeral

Wait.

Lemme rephrase that.

The title should read Four Funerals And A Wedding.

Yes, you read that right.

For the past thirty days, Raft3r has been to enough funerals to last a lifetime.

Death is not funny. In fact, it alienates people.

For the past weeks, I have witnessed four friends mourn over the death of their loved ones. It is not a lovely sight.

Imagine retelling the story of how one of your parents passed away to every visitor. The agony is unimaginable.

By the end of the month, Raft3r is invited to a wedding. I don’t like weddings. These days, getting married is like suicide.

The death total - by then - would be five.

Never Say Never

Raft3r will never:

- Have hair highlights;

- Be debt free;

- Stop collecting anything he fancies;

- Lose faith in my country;

- Rely on Wikipedia for credible and accurate information;

- Pay for sex;

- Lower my standards; and

- Run out of ideas. (FYI: I think I just did.)

Funny How Time Flies (When You're Having Fun)

Raft3r's first live Slam experience.

These were taken exactly a year ago when I was - at least - 10 pounds lighter.

Working Class Hero

When I was kid, I originally wanted to be a detective.

On fourth grade and I became a teacher’s pet, I wanted to be an educator.

During my puberty years, I wanted to be a porn star.

In college, Raft3r took a double major course. That’s when tragedy struck.

I became clueless on what I wanted to do with my life. I did not know what direction to take with my professional career.

My folks wanted me to become a professional liar (i.e. a lawyer).

Raft3r somehow fell into working for foreign governments. It’s not a bad gig. In fact, the perks are awesome.

On Monday, both US and Canada celebrate their labor force.

Whatever job you have, be proud of it. Your job brings food money to the table.