A DISCLAIMER!

Warning: Prolonged exposure to this blog may result in sudden and uncontrollable urge to go and find author. (This has happened...not).

Anyway, my deepest apologies to my legion of fans (by "legion" I mean Reuel Culalic") for failing to update this most holy of records. In the most simple of terms, I have but one excuse: I HAVE NO TIME! Darnnit!

But, fear not, for the mighty Ryu will soon emerge out of the burden that is work to write at will, at large, and at the expense of one Reuel Culalic.

Until then, in the immortal words of John F. Kennedy: "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." (Wink!)

Reuel Birthday!

(September 15, 2007) Happy birthday Reuel Culalic and congratulations for outliving the combined life spans of Gandalf, Dumbledore, and the ever-persistent cockroach! Truly, no one can surpass such a feat.

A birthday bash was of course in full order. The birthday creature treated us to Havana where we drank and sang merrily. I had a nasty case of the dry cough, which impeded my powerful and soothing singing voice. *But, my worst of vocal conditions is still in another league than the best of what normal people like you all readers can possibly hope to achieve. Eat your heart out!!!

Anyways, here’s to next week’s drinking session where we hope a certain empanada boy and a white boy can finally join us. Until then, adios!

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*This is, of course, a big, stinking lie.

The Fantastic Five

It was bound to happen. Yup, our White Team suffered our first (hopefully, our last) loss of the season, succumbing to the admittedly much-fancied powerhouse team Blue. At the end it was a 9-point deficit. And while a loss is indeed a loss, and no excuses should be given, some forms of defeat can be taken into heart as a crowning achievement all its own.

Our defeat was one such occasion. In the first place, losing to a stronger team isn’t something to be ashamed about; losing at such a close margin with only 4 (four!!!) players against 5 in a game of basketball is something to proudly brag about.

We started with only five players (insert joke here about the selection for the first five). They were the bravest of the bravest, among them: Wally, Nuguid, Tats, Jami, and new-boy Aaron. The tallest among these players is Tats…and he stands 5’7. In the 2nd quarter, Aaron got hit by an accidental elbow and proceeded to bleed profusely from his nose (picture a blood faucet). At only 4 players, we were then at the mercy of a rampaging massacre. Needless to say, it was a ugly affair, and frustration among the boys was at an all-time high (but one quick look at Reuel and all that goes away). But, the boys were strong, unflinching, determined, and possessed an ardor you couldn’t possibly imagine. WARNING: CHEESY MATERIAL TO FOLLOW! “It was the stuff of legends. In a battle of mighty gladiators, it was as if the entire world of the Heavens stopped in its tracks to witness this most epic of battles. The angels sung their most gallant hymns; the elements displayed their most brilliant luster; and even the destructive forces of nature were tamed. They bowed to five men:

Tats – “For the Glory of Sacrifice” - Stopped smoking (for a while) to build up stamina;
Wally – “For the Glory of Fellowship” – Maintained a cool head all throughout a heated game;
Jami – “For the Glory of Confidence” – For almost single-handedly saving our offense;
Nuguid – “For the Glory of Leadership” – For driving the momentum and the defense;
Aaron – “For the Glory of Blood” – Well…for…the blood. Lots of it.

And to the other White Team who came late, thanks as well and there are no hard feelings (to Labadan, Teiji, and Banzon).

As was the description of my native land’s unprecedented economic and cultural comeback from a war-torn wasteland: “Out of the ashes rises a Phoenix.”

At it again!

Lo and behold, the White Team does it again, beating the Gold Team in a 30+ margin of victory. We are now 3-0, and we’re all excited. But…We all realize that the tougher teams will be our next opponents. It won’t be of any surprise if our next three games go either way.

But we all know what we should do to make our chances of advancing to the semis a better prospect: PRAY! Yep, pray that Nuguid’s fancy-shmancy shots will hit the mark; Jami’s catch-and-shoot rhythm to be at its highest frequency; Noel, John, and Banzon’s inside game to be of powerhouse level; Tat’s multitude of screams to be dog-unfriendly; but, most importantly, for Wally’s missed shots to not exceed 20 this time around. We can only pray. Ahem

Tats is 20!

It seems just a short time ago, that Tats was still wetting his pants regularly and gets overly excited at the sight of candy (wait, he still does that!). Awww…how times have passed. Nowadays, Tats is a true grown-up. He’s mature, responsible, goal-driven, sympathetic (unlike Reuel, who’s sympathetic without the sym), and above all else, he has discarded all his childish inklings and instincts. And, oh yeah, people happen to assume I’m always lying. Go figure.

But, the important thing is that Joratio “Tats” Nuyda has moved away from the “teen” years and into the magical threshold that is the age of 20. 20!!! It brings tears to our eyes as our beloved friend has moved on to the next step in life. Too bad that’s really not gonna make any bit of actual difference. Hehe.

Being the good and society-fearing blokes that we are, drinking away the night was the only plausible way to celebrate this transition into, ahem, adulthood. The usual suspects were naturally present: yours truly, the birthday boy (makes no sense having a birthday bash without the celebrant there, don’t you think?), Rod, Shao (with GF Saki and broad Mario), Jami, France (with GF Kay), Moc, Noel, Reuel (financer), with surprise additions foremost of which was the Supreme Student Council President Adrian Bonifacio himself. Talk about a celebrity guest!

And so we had a great time. Blah blah blah. We all agreed that the most suitable gift for Tats is definitely not any kind of object (because he might eat it…regardless of its nature), but rather, a convincing victory in our next White Team game.

Happy birthday TATS!!!

YUI!

I have two simple dreams: 1. To have a constant supply of money without me ever working; and more importantly, 2. To marry Yoshioka Yui, or YUI, for short. Simple, isn’t it?

But who is YUI, you ask? YUI is a Japanese singer/songwriter and one time actress (hopefully this will change). Her hit songs include Rolling Star and LIFE, which is the 5th opening and ending song, respectively, of the anime series Bleach. Feel my Soul was her breakthrough single, used as the official soundtrack of the popular J-dorama, Fukigen No Gene. Tomorrow’s Way was also used as the ending song for the movie Hinokio: Intergalactic Love. Che.rr.y was used for a Japanese cellular music service commercial. Her latest songs, My Generation and Understand, were also used as OSTs for the J-dorama, Seitou Shokun!, and for the movie Sidecar ni Iru, respectively. Her upcoming new single, Love & Truth, will be used for the movie Closed Note.

All these point to the fact that YUI is the new darling of the J-Pop scene in my native land. So her talent is without question, and I believe so is her look, which is the most angelic and awe-inspiring façade to behold (see picture).

However, it is her role in the movie Taiyou no Uta (A Song to the Sun/Midnight Sun) which made her a household name in Japan (ok, maybe not quite) and a fanboy favorite internationally. In the film, she played Kaoru Amane, a girl suffering from a rare skin disease called XP, which prevents her from going out during the day. The story is pretty simple: She’s sick and can’t go out during the day, so she instead sings in the town park during the night. She happens to chance upon a long-time crush-a surfer boy who delights to bask under the sun. Their love story blooms and you get the picture. Trust me, and I can’t stress this strongly enough, Taiyou no Uta is one of the best films out there. It’s a work of beauty, even without my admittedly strong bias for YUI. Find it and watch it!

And, oh, she sings her most popular song in the movie by far, Good-bye days, along with two of her other songs It’s Happy Line and Skyline.

But I end this article of worship by simply stating this: rYUIchi – its destiny!
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Taiyou no Uta was screened in various film festivals around the world including the Chicago Film Festival and a little known art film festival you might have heard called the Cannes. That means its GOOD and you should watch it!

Miracle White

(Gym 2, Southville International School and Colleges) – In what can only be described as a freak of nature, the White Team basketball club of the College Cup tourney emerged victorious once again in a 61-29 win over the freshmen team, Orange.

“I…I was jus wachin…and den…and den dey wer weneng. I du not nuw wat hapeened,” said a shocked and salivating Reuel Culalic, chief groupie of the team after the surprise win.

This is the first time that the White Team had won its first two games in succession and many people are wondering if the team can keep this pace up. “Did you see my hang-time lay-up?” was the quick reply of Paolo Nuguid, who for lack of a better point guard starts for the team, when asked about his team’s chances to make it to the semis.

White Team Off to a Good Start!

(Gym 2, Southville International School and Colleges) – The much-loathed and despised “basketball” club, the White Team, headed by renowned womanizer and coarse idiot, Ryu Uchida, won their first game against the Sky Blue Team in the College Cup: Monarchs’ Cup tournament.

It should be noted that the White Team, in its past 6 seasons in the competition, have never made it past the eliminations round. “We are really doing our best,” said Joratio “Tats” Nuyda, captain ball of the team and Marlboro Reds smoker. “Ang sakit ng aking paa!” was the reply of starting center Noel “Boy Thesis” Vergara when asked about the injury he sustained during the first two minutes of regulation. The sad giant wasn’t able to return to action during the game.

In a similar story, retired (expelled?) por…I mean…point guard Reuel Culalic, who was in the bench offering morale support had this to say after the game, “Ba ba bi boo boo!”

The 70-47 win of the White Team was a shock win which probably wouldn’t be repeated ever again.
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White Team Lineup:
Point Guards – Paolo Nuguid (empanada boy) Aaron Lacson (new boy)
Shooting Guards – Jami Ballesca (returning boy), Walter Aranza (white boy)
Small Forwards – Joratio Nuyda (bee boy), Teiji Shiwa (pretty boy)
Power Forwards – John Labadan (scholar boy), Carlo Banzon (big boy)
Center – Noel Vergara (bigger boy), Lionel Zamora (muscle boy)
Musicians – Paulo Jaranilla (eat-strings boy), Miguel de Leon (piano-the-guitar boy)
Coach – Ryu Uchida (Paul Anka boy)
Groupies – Rod Vasquez (kagawad boy), Reuel Culalic (boy)