Unhealthy Overtimes

Having a schedule of four-days-on-four-days-off is quite a challenge. Six months into my work and I've fairly managed to get used to it.

Okay, in case you didn't get it, here's how that works: four four days -- or ratherm 2 days and 2 nights -- I go to work, say Monday to Thursday. That is day on Monday and Tuesday, night on Wednesday and Thursday. Then the next four days I'm off, so that's Friday to Monday. Cycle continues: on from Tuesday to Friday, off from Saturday to Tuesday, on from Wednesday to Saturday, and so on.

The caveat for this is that within the four days we're off, one of those days -- usually the second or third day-off -- we're on standby. That means we have to be on-call twenty-four hours during that day and be ready to go to the office in case the need arises, such as when a colleague supposed to work that day day can't come due to illness, emergency, whatever.

Well, one of the worst-case scenarios happened to me: for two straight weeks, I had three overtimes; one before the first workweek, one, between the two, and one after the second week... It may not be much but since two of those are nightshifts, it's not really a pretty thing to do. When you cover a nightshift, you've actually lost two "days" -- the day before the nightshift and the day after -- since you need to sleep after the shift.

Not that I blame my coworkers that I cover for. Things happen. It's just that it occured to me three times in a row. It's not fun...

...it's bloody difficult!!! Your body clock can't adjust that well if you do that often. Just when you are normalizing your body clock -- that is, adjusting so that you will be awake during the day and sleeping at night again -- the manager calls you and you have to go to work for a nightshift cover. Not good. Bad. Very bad indeed...

Guess my body couldn't take any more of that punishment... The next work shift, I couldn't make it on my first day. Oh well, tough luck for them! Working for 3 days instead of four is a welcome break. Good thing also because I'm on vacation leave for two weeks after that. :)

Finally some good news for my body with a struggling body-clock! :))

Endeverafter - No More Words

It's 2:00 PM and I just woke up and extremely hungry. It's been a gruelling week -- working 3 days and 3 night 12-hour shifts is just not that fun. This song kinda gets me in that feel-good zone. Helps me get through those tight spots. :)

Stick it the man! Yeah! Hahaha! :)) Uh ahem... Right, umm... Moving on.....



Endeverafter - No More Words

I got a sharp stick, I keep in my pocket
I speak volumes never utter a word
When you strike a match, a fire will happen
But the line between the smoke and the flames get blured

Don't you see the writing on the wall(Don't you see the writing on the wall)
You're in way over your head
You're gonna drown in the things that you said

Time has come and gone for words
A thousands threats I've heard before
But words are cheap, but lies are faint to me

Time has come and gone for words
A thousands threats I've heard before
And all your words are too big to take

It's a paradox, A mystery, A riddle
A door in your face and only I have the key
Do understand, you'll be caught in the middle
Caught in a web by being spun by me

Don't you see the writing on the wall (Don't you see the writing on the wall)
Just a victim of your own conceit
The architect of your own defeat

Time has come and gone for words
A thousands threats I've heard before
But words are cheap, but lies are meant faint to me

Time has come and gone for words
A thousands threats I've heard before
And all your words are too big to take

Never walk away from a fight that's worth fighting
Never hesitate when you know you're gonna act
Never waste your words on a fool who won't listen
Never sell your soul cause you'll never buy it... back

Time has come and gone for words
A thousands threats I've heard before
But words are cheap, but lies are faint to me

Time has come and gone for words
A thousands threats I've heard before
And all your words are too big to take

Time has come and gone for words
A thousands threats I've heard before
But words are cheap, but lies are faint to me

Time has come and gone for words
A thousands threats I've heard before
And all your words are too big to take

Note: Yeah, this is the entrance song of WWE Superstar Jeff Hardy -- one of the best high flyers in wrestling of all time.

In case you want the Jeff hardy Titantron video, check this out. It's repetitive though. The video loops after every 15 seconds or so...

Well, I better get that hokkien mee! :))

Many events this Saturday!

This is a great day for me for many reasons.

First, it's my dad's birthday! He's ty-eight years old. (Hehehe. Guess how old he is? It's between twenty and sixty! :)) ) I called to greet him early this morning. :) They said the entire clan is going to Alabang to dinner to celebrate. Wish we could have been there, but... well.... that's how life is. I'm just glad that he would finally be getting out of Sucat for once. :)

Today is also the wedding day of our friends, Tin and Jason. Just too bad for me because I'm in the office. Tin and Jason. Congratulations! Have a great and meaningful married life!

This day also serves as a reunion of sorts. Neil, Cel and the family are here again after about three months vacation in the Philippines. Nice to see everyone here again.

Lastly, Che finally gave me my birthday gift. A brand new iPhone!!! Whoopeee! I'm having a blast right now. I'm just trying to download the free stuff from the App Store. I'm still thinking of the other apps which I may need for it. Any suggestions?

The only thing preventing me from fully enjoying this day? Well, work. :) Hehehe... Oh well. After today, I'm up for two night shifts... hopefully the iPhone can help me get through them just fine. :)

Watching over the 2010 Philippine Elections

Been watching the news today and it's amazing to see this year's turnout for all election-related activities. One year before the 2010 elections, it's soooo great to finally see the Filipino people finally starting to care about the upcoming elections. And not just the tradional way.

Pinoys -- especially young ones -- have always been techno-savvy. And it's finally great to see that the people are now using this technology not just for fun and entertainment but also for stuff that really matter. From high-calibre cellphones to the internet, hopefully this technology will finally ensure that we will have clean elections.

A foreigner once said to me that "the Filipinos are a good people, but they deserve better leaders." Over the years, after seeing how rampant election fraud is -- and seeing how the voters sell out the next six years of their lives for small quick cash usually not exceeding 1000 pesos -- I thought maybe Filipinos DO deserve the leaders that we're getting. Basic law of karma: you reap what you sow... You let bad people become leaders, then you get led by these bad people to God knows where. Your choice, your consequences, for better or worse.

The news mentioned that some citizens of Cebu -- the city which gave the current president the landslide victory during the last national elections -- felt guilty because they are the ones who basically gave power to the current administration -- the administration that is riddled with unending controversies of graft and corruption, unethical behavior, under-the-table arrangements, you name it. Whence before thou art proud for ensuring the success our current leaders, are thou now still proud knowing the shame these leaders hath brought forth to our nation?

Can't picture a better and more current example of a "double-edged sword". Goes both ways, the good and the bad. That just cuts right through you, doesn't it?

Anyway, point is, this one single city had a great influence over the outcome of the past election and, consequently the prsent situation of our nation. At least they made their solid choice heard. How about the other cities or the other people fior that matter? Why did they not show the same solidarity that Cebu has shown? Do they not care enough for their voices to be heard? Do they not care who leads them for the next six years? Don't we have the foresight to think of the future, not just the now?

Crap. Well, maybe they don't.

Maybe that's why Philippines, once one of the leading powers in Southeast Asia, has now taken a backseat and got overtaken by our neighbors.

We are left behind.

And we are left behind because of the leaders we chose to run our country.

It's our fault... now, let's fix it.

I hope that's the last time we, as a people, allow dirty elections. People always complain they want change. They want the Filipinos to have better lives. Well, in that case, shut up, stop whining your pants off, step up, and vote for leaders who can give you that.

We do deserve better. Let's work for it. 365 days to go before the 2010 elections. Let's start ensuring clean elections now.

Go go go! Register to vote now!!

Check out this site which promotes clean 2010 elections. It's got to be worth it.

My Birthday '09

I treated the guys for dinner to celebrate my birthday. Finally had a chance to try out the cam. :)

Pre-Dinner
Took some pictures around the Explanade-Marina Square area. Here are my favorites.



Dinner At Glutton's Bay
The main event. Good thing we were early! If we came 10 minutes later, we would not have any place to sit! Oh, and good bye diet!!! :)) Hahahaha!!!



"Dessert" at McCafe
It's a bit late but we aint done yet. Went to McCafe in Marina Square - thankfully open 24hours as my birthday draws to a close...

Whoa! Pacquiao knocks out Hatton in Round 2!

MAIN EVENT: Manny Pacman Pacquiao vs Ricky Hitman Hatton
02-May-2009, 06:00 PDT/09:00 PM EDT
MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada

Manny Pacman Pacquiao	Tale of the Tape Update	Ricky Hitman Hatton
30 yrs	Age	30 yrs
5'6 1/2"	Height	5'6"
23"	Arm Length	22"
138 lbs	Weight	140 lbs
148 lbs	Tonight	152 lbs
53	Total Fights	46
48	Win	45
36	KO	32
3	Loss	1
2	Draw	0

Judges:
Michael Pernick
CJ Ross
Glenn Throwbridge

Referee:
Kenny Bayless

Announcer:
Michael Buffer

Round 1:

3:00 - Pacman and Hitman knocks gloves together to show respect and they were on their way.

2:40 - Hitman gets early advantage in the first minute, bullrushing the Pacman but almost always missing the mark. Pacman on the defensive, as usual, during this feel-your-opponent round.

2:08 - Ref had to break the two several times by this time -- Pacman found his head or arms locked under the Hitman's elbow -- whether that was intentional or not is anybody's guess... When locked, Hitman took advantage and has thrown cheap shots at Pacman's head and ribs.

2:02 - Pacman forced to the ropes for the first time in this bout. Still, his guard was up, so none of the Hitman's punches get through.

1:46 - Hitman locks Pacman's head under his right arm and Pacman's left arm under Hitman's right. Ref had to break up the two again. Pacman looked pissed at that point.

1:28 - Pacman began his aggressive streak landing several hits to either side of Hitman's head. He caught Hitman as he was rushing him and his guard was down. Playtime's over....

0:56 - KNOCKDOWN# 1! The lighning right hook of Pacman staggers Hitman's vertical base knocking him down for the count. No matter how much I replay the video, I simply can't see the right hook that Pacman has thrown. You have to see it in slow-mo to see the devastating right that shatterred the Hitman's jaw. It's one of those Discovery Channel's Time Warp moments. :) This is the first time Pacman used his "new techniques -- the right hook!"

0:40 - Hitman recovers and the ref starts the bout again. Everything was on a downward spiral for Hitman at this point...

0:08 - KNOCKDOWN# 2! This time, a heavy straight left struck the Hitman's temple. Hitman goes down for the count again. Another TimeWarp moment.

0:00 - Round Ends. We see Pacman quickly getting out of harm's way. Hitman was intensely pissed as well. He went after Pacman even after the bell rings. Good thing ref stepped in. Can't really blame Hitman though. You were knocked down twice. Which fighter wouldn't be pissed...


Round 2:

2:48 - Hitman takes the advantage again, leading with an aggressive charge, similar to what he did in the first round.

2:36 - After the ref breaks, Hitman unleashed a right hook of his own surprising Pacman. The only solid blow he has landed this round, though it barely affected the Pacman.

2:35 - 1:20 - Mostly the same: exchange blows, they lock, ref breaks, lather rinse repeat. Pretty much the same for most of the midround..

1:19 - Ref breaks the two again and warns Hitman for locking Pacman's head and the near low-blow Hitman has just thrown.

0:08 - KNOCKDOWN# 3! Once again, Pacman scores with his vicious left. Some say it was a left hook. I say it's a left straight, and I'm sticking with it. Well, you be the judge. Anyway, his left blasted again the Hitman's jaw knocking him down and the ref had to stop the fight.

This part was actually a bit scary. We thought Hitman was suffering a severe concussion, stroke, or something worse. He was lying flat on his back and seems to be having a hard time breathing and it took him some time to get up. Thank goodness!

Official Results:
Pacman wins via a TKO on 2:59 of Round 2
Pacman is the New IBO Light-Welterweight Champion
Pacman is still the Pound-For-Pound Champion

Manny Pacman Pacquiao	PUNCH STATS	Ricky Hitman Hatton
73	Landed	18
127	Thrown	78
57%	Percentage	23%

Manny Pacman Pacquiao vs Ricky Hitman Hatton - Tale of the Tape

Manny Pacman Pacquiao	Tale of the Tape	Ricky Hitman Hatton
30 yrs	Age	30 yrs
5'6 1/2"	Height	5'6"
23"	Arm Length	22"
138 lbs	Weight	140 lbs
53	Total Fights	46
48	Win	45
36	KO	32
3	Loss	1
2	Draw	0