21 FOR 21 ON 21: Wish #8

WISH #8: FIND MY MATE* WHEN THE PROPER TIME COMES.

* - Daw sapat lang bah.

Yes, I admit it. Even if I'm that eccentric and [more often] introverted, I am a human being. No man is an island. Social interactions, obladi, obladah... socializing, yadda, yadda, yadda. I also get attracted to the opposite sex. AND YES, PEOPLE WITH CEREBRAL PALSY (like me) HAVE FEELINGS TOO.

And what kind of lady do I want be with? Apparently, she is not Jinri Park. (Hehe! Indi man gid 'ko amo 'na ka-ambisyoso.)

The type of girl that I want to be my life partner would be someone who:
- has good attitudes, social graces, and personal ethics (or morals)
- knows how to be assertive without being too domineering
- knows how to be accommodating without being too submissive
- knows how to be smart and wise without being too highfalutin
- has a healthy sense of humor and an open mind
- can appear (and be) beautiful without trying so hard
- isn't too materialistic and capricious

BOTTOM LINE: I just want to be with A SIMPLE LADY.

If Divine Providence allows it, I wish I could have a girlfriend perhaps six years from now (after I finish graduate school and, perhaps, my PhD). The reason why "six years from now" is that I still have plans for life, like getting a career, and fulfill my life goal of writing and publishing some books. And besides, it's not just practical for my part to date and court and other mushy, lovey-dovey stuff. (Gahd, that makes me sick.)

And lovey-dovey stuff costs money, time, effort, and stress.

It does not mean that I have totally ignored the emotional aspect of my life, though. I too want to meet the girl of my dreams, tell her how much I would do for her good, and hope to gain her acknowledgement, if not her approval. But, since I do not have a career (and a stable, secure life) of my own yet, I can only look and dream of her (whoever she is). After all, I'd rather not waste my time and resources (and hers, as well) over such mushy "romantic" nonsense. We now live in a world where socioeconomic stability is important, and no lady would want to end up with an already physically-challenged guy who is unaccomplished and underprivileged.

Anyway, to the girl of my dreams (kon sin-o ka man), I can wait for you. However, the question is, "Will you wait for me?"

In the meantime, I'll just live a cold and not-to-solitary life while working for a stable and bright future. -_-

Oh, and happy Thursday. I don't believe in that sugar-coated, consumerist crap they call Valentines.

* * * * *

Good luck, godspeed, God bless! NEXT WEEK NA!!!

21 FOR 21 ON 21: Wish #9

WISH #9: BECOME AN IRON CHEF. (OR HAVE A PHILIPPINE EDITION OF IRON CHEF).

WHOSE CUISINE WILL REIGN SUPREME?

When someone asks what the oldest profession is (it's not what you think it is, you naughty-minded blokes), cooking is way older. (Besides, daw waay pa man prostitution sang hunters and gatherers pa lang ang mga tawo?)

I've been watching cooking shows since I was four and I used to play "luto-luto" as a kid. I even remember playing with my older brother and pretend that we have a halo-halo stall (it was actually a box for keeping my toys). Of course, our make-believe halo-halo is actually a cup filled with Duplo blocks (they look like Legos, but only bigger and less likely to choke a toddler).

But, it was this cooking competition show from Japan (and imported by Food Network) that totally converted me into a foodie. The theatrics and dramatic production are awesome, but what drew me to the show most of all is the elevation of cooking from everyday drudgery to high art. And the culinary arts became a spectator sport. Because of this show (and its incarnations in other countries), a new perspective shone upon chefs, that the craft they practice is not just work, but an art and science requiring great creativity and knowledge. Chefs and cooks should be revered and treated with esteem.

And so, I too learned to cook, as a hobby like writing or drawing. Now, it's just instant noodles, eggs, hot dogs, de lata, and tig-ang that I'm good at. I've graduated from those. I can make soup, bake, stir-fry, deep-fry, and more. It's a pity that at the time when my interest in Iron Chef grew, the show already ended its original run way long ago (back in 1998 or 1999). But I never stopped learning to cook and love food, because food cannot be erased from human identity and culture. (And I did not, do not, and will not hesitate to learn to cook despite my cerebral palsy.)

If there are some things I learned from Iron Chef, I learned about the importance of perseverance, that one should not give up when there are people (especially challengers) who are attempting to pull him or her down (like every Iron Chef's predicament). I learned of rising back up when toppled down, because Iron Chefs do not always win. I learned also of the importance of learning and passion in whatever pursuit, because Iron Chefs respect tradition while looking for progress.

And I also learned the importance of making do with what you have.

Can you improvise a dessert kon amu 'ni theme ingredient mo?

Sure, there is Iron Chef America, Iron Chef UK, Iron Chef Thailand, Iron Chef Vietnam, but nothing can ever compare to the original.

\

Ti, san-o pa yah magka-Iron Chef Philippines?

Filipino cuisine is just as diverse, you know.

And they recently "renovated" the Japanese version.

It's a pity that they replaced "Allez Cuisine" with "Good Gastronomy"!

Their original announcer and that quick-talking floor reporter too. ("Fukui-san?")

And, NO MORE BELL PEPPER CHOMPING!!! WHY?!!! 

Earth calling to Philippine TV execs! IF YOU WANT TO RAKE IN RATINGS, BUY THE FRANCHISE OF THIS SHOW FROM FUJI TV! AND DON'T SCREW IT UP! (Tani, GMA7 lang. Kapuso ko daan. Hehe!)

And make sure you get this guy as Chairman!

* * * * *

Oh well. 7 more days to go before 21. Good luck, godspeed, God bless!

...and ALLEZ CUISINE!

21 FOR 21 AT 21: Wish #10

WISH #10: CONDUCT SCIENTIFIC EXPERIMENTS TOGETHER WITH THESE GUYS...

"Our death ray doesn't seem to be working. I'm standing right in it, and I'm not dead yet."

 -- Jamie Hyneman

This being Mythbusters, one myth I'd like to test for confirmation, plausibility or "bustedness" is...

"DO POLITICIANS WITH INTEGRITY WHO ARE FOR GENUINE PUBLIC SERVICE STILL EXIST?"

Now that's a social myth worth proving (or disproving).

Confirmed? Plausible? or Busted?

* * * * *

Eight days to gooo before 21! Woohoo! Good luck, godspeed, God bless!

21 FOR 21 AT 21: Wish #11

WISH #11: GROW A BEARD WHEN I'M OLDER. WAY OLDER.

Because beards are epic.

 

Even God Himself has a beard, they say.

Need I say more?

* * * * *

10 more wishes. Good luck, godspeed, God bless!

21 FOR 21 AT 21: Wish #12

WISH #12: GET AN INCREASE IN BODY MASS.

I wish I could get more sleep and food.

...like those bears during hibernation season.

So I could grow from this...

Recognize him from those old softdrink adverts.

To this...

Triva: Akebono, the famous and first non-Japanese (he's Hawaiian)
yokozuna, used to be relatively slim during his younger days.

And hopefully become this...

He seems to be a healthy fellow.

* * * * *

Here's to a dieting plan that hopefully works. Good luck, godspeed, God bless. 11 more wishes left. Sorry for the delayed post.

21 FOR 21 AT 21: Wish #13

WISH #13: TAP INTO THE SPIRITUAL WORLD.

Kind of like this... But more of a Catholic approach (since I'm Catholic myself).

Ang ma-summon ko yah abi, si St. George the Dragon-Slayer (that would be cool) or St. Francis of Assisi (and give me beastmaster powers... ooh.) or kon medyo high level na gid...

Archangel Michael

Aaand because the Spirit World not only houses good spirits,

Somebody out there is bound to raise hell.

Literally.

So, I might need reinforcements from these guys...

Who you gonna call?

* * * * *

Good luck, godspeed, God bless us all, I guess. A dozen wishes remain.

21 FOR 21 AT 21: Wish #14

WISH #14: TRAVEL EVERY CONTINENT

My Dream Travel Itinerary (and proposed activities):

* Asia
 - Japan (watch a sumo match, go ninja-spotting and eat real ramen from a ramen stand)
 - Mongolia (go horseback riding with the descendants of Genghis Khan and try to traverse the Silk Road)
 - Vietnam (try Vietnamese cuisine and see the battlefields of the Vietnam War)
 - Israel (go on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land with falafel in hand)
 - Turkey (see the Hagia Sophia with baklava in hand and watch an Ottoman military band)
 - China (feast on Chinese cuisine after seeing the Great Wall and witnessing some Shaolin monks practicing)

* Europe
 - Scotland (get me some bagpipes and a kilt, go to the Highlands, and dress up as a Pictish warrior)
 - Ireland (drink ale and listen to jigs in Irish pubs, visit places that became prominent during the Troubles)
 - France (buy myself a big block of cheese after visiting Paris's Eiffel Tower and Provence's lavender fields)
 - Italy (visit a Roman Colosseum, get gorged on pizza and pasta, and get the Pope's blessing in the Vatican)
 - Scandinavia (VIKING SPOTTING! after feasting on a smorgasbord)
 - Spain (go on a pilgrimage by foot to Santiago del Compostella before going to a tapas bar in Barcelona)
 - Germany (feast on sausages and lagers during Oktoberfest, watch a Rammstein concert)

* Americas
 - Cuba (hang out on the beaches and meet and greet Fidel)
 - Peru (climb Macchu Picchu and ride a llama)
 - Chile (watch a Nueva Cancion concert after seeing the Easter Island statues)
 - U.S. (eat in diners and delis, visit Disneyland or Hollywood, watch a Civil War reenactment)
 - Mexico (explore Aztec ruins after a meal of tamales, nachos and burritos, harvest vanilla beans)

* Africa
 - Morocco (shop at a souk, go camel-riding and explore the Sahara)
 - South Africa (meet and greet Nelson Mandela)
 - Ethiopia (visit the Battlefield of Adwa, Coptic churches and old imperial castles)
 - Tanzania (visit Olduvai Gorge, go on a safari, and climb Mt. Kilimanjaro)

* Oceania
 - Australia (learn the didgeridoo from the Aborigines and pet koalas)
 - New Zealand (learn the Maori haka dance, pick kiwifruit, and visit the scenery from Lord of the Rings)
 - Polynesia (island-hop, fish with locals, scuba-dive)

* * * * *

I should start saving for this, I guess. 13 more wishes. Good luck, godspeed, God bless!