CUSTOM AVATAR

Tks to Chris!, the multi-talented vocalist of Mesh and Woohoos for fulfilling my dream to be depicted as a Southpark character LOLZ! If you want to see the rest of the special edition Southpark-feat-Woohoos, check out http://thewoohoos.blogspot.com

REPLACEMENT TENNIS STRINGS

Most likely candidates could be:
1. Luxilon Big Banger 16 Original:
-perfect for 98-100 racquet head size.
-a favourite among hardcourt and claycourt pros (Nalbandian, Coria, Ferrer, Ferrero)
-advertised features: gives more power, durable, show no loss of efficiency, don't move, impervious to atmospheric conditions.

2. Babolat Pro Hurricane, guage 15L:
-used by Nadal and Roddick, perfect for oversized rackets
-advertised features: polyester based durability string. New construction process called Technology XFP which utilizes Babolat's latest string material Xtrem Futur Polymer.
-the hell with the above technologies, i'm only considering based on trust, it being used by Nadal.

3. Luxilon Big Banger Alu Power 16L:
-used by Agassi, Kuerten, Gasquet, defenitely perfect for my Ti Radical OS as these players use the same family of racquet and head size.
-same features as Big Banger Original, only finer in gauge and offers better control.

4. Gamma ZO Sweet:
-i'm too comfortable to let go of this as i'm already quite happy with my game using this brand. been using it for the past 2yrs. if the issue is durability, i might try lowering my tension from 66 to maybe 60. and maybe by doing that will compromise control but will add more power to my game. hence, basic players start off with more control, then gradually adds power to their game as their level advances.

Useful references:
Pro Equipment Log: 2005 US Open Men Players
Pro Equipment Log: 2006 Australian Open

Note: Tensions above 38.5 are in pounds; 38.5 and below are in kilograms.

Now its time to hit the gear shops and compare prices.

Mesh Potatoes Gig at 'Rock D Fort'

PRE GIG:


SET:
Ordertaker
Balong Malalim
Senti and Esem
Banal Na Aso, Santong Kabayo
Prinsesa
Giyang
Beep Beep

POST GIG:
Suntok Sa Buwan by Launchbox

MR. CLAY by BAMBOO

REALITY CHECK!

Recently was on a rooftop of a building somewhere in Orchard with my bosses. Magnificent views, predominantly residential condos all over. One Boss shared a thought and goes like, "if one condo unit is surely more than a million plus, that makes the unit-owner a millionaire. a condo block will have at least 20-50 units, and so 50 millionaires per block. if we were to count how many blocks around the Orchard area, that would roughly be more than ten thousand millionaires living in the area. so what's the point being a millionaire if you are just one of them? it doesn't makes sense anymore."

Bassist departure from the Woohoos signifies an advent for better things to come. Be it for the Woohoos to be disbanded or to move on, its still for better things. Music, just like any other form of art should not be rushed, even if its for the sake of money. Goals should be clear. It will guide us to the right path. Leader, yes we need one but I better not be. I hate politics and i get sick eating it. I'm just another artist, that to me makes enough sense already. Point, everyone has and should be valid. But it has to be spoken out, and heard, otherwise it becomes pointless. Doubts, I have none with the Woohoos. Let's move on and just have fun playing good music.

ROCK D FORT PICS

Wifey and kid (left), Celes' wifey and kid (right) posed with Bamboo (former Rivermaya frontman). The band dropped by to sign autographs before our set started.



an artist by the name of Chng offered a free sketch of me. he's been sketching faces to publish a book in future.

THANKS FOR 'ROCKIN WITH US AT D'FORT!

'Mesh Potatoes' gig won't be fun without our dear friends who came down and supported us. THANK YOU VERY MUCH from the bottom of our hearts! The next will always be the best!


other videos (in enhanced audio and wide-HD format lolz):
Senti and Esem
Banal Na Aso, Santong Kabayo
Prinsesa
Giyang
Beep Beep

Broke my string!

My string would normally last within 4-months. This time it broke after exactly 5-1/2-months.


Couldn't be lack of inspiration due to Andre's been inactive in the circuit these days. Nadal's been motivating me to hit balls harder and with more topspin.

It's because normally, Dec-Jan is a slack period due to the long holidays. Plus the 3wks absence due to jammings. Now i'm contemplating on changing my brand of string. I have been using Gamma's ZO-sweet for the past 2yrs since it was introduced. It has given me terrific results however, its lifespan seems not that practical. I'm gonna make a study to justify whether to use a new brand or not. (To be continued)

Mesh Potatoes at RockdaFort

Pls. check ROCKONSINGAPORE for details.

Da Vinci Code

After watching and reflecting about this movie, i can say it did not moved me at all. It was to me like just another crime fighting mystery movie. Nice to see glorious architectures like the Rosslyn Chapel and Paris' Louvre Museum. Did it changed my faith? I didn't think so. I can somehow relate to Robert Langdon's experience when he was a boy, fell in a well and struggled for help till morning. Here it goes: When i was abt. 18yrs old i fell for this girl named 'Baet.' Her group of friends one day organized a swimming outing in 'Wawa Dam' in Montalban and i was invited to come along. My parents then didn't like the girl that much, i knew they won't allow me to go so i did without permission. Wawa dam is a river at a foot of a group of mountains. The river as the locals knew is haunted. Unknown to me, the river is known for having claimed so many lives of mostly strangers (according to the locals there). When we arrived i was too eager to show off my swimming skills so i was one of the first who tried the water. I swam from one side of the river to the other side, as i reach the other end, grabbed the rocky wall but somehow was slippery. I panicked and for about a minute i struggled to get a good grasp but was helpless. I was praying o my God pls. help me. I nearly drowned and thought that could be the end of me. Lucky, one of Baet's uncles saw me from the other end and quickly swam towards me for the rescue, am so ever thankful i'm still alive today. While changing i realized i had pinned a 'Mother Mary medallion' onto my swimming shorts. That medallion was part of the prize i won from an art competition (theme was "Mary and her role in Edsa Revolution) in Marist high school. Marist School by the way is run by Marist Brothers, a catholic congregation. I was told by Brother Flores during the awarding that the medallion was blessed by Pope John Paul II when he last visited Manila. Could that medallion did save my life? Somehow i lost that medallion, and all along I knew, that it was faith that saved me.
(as i just refreshed my memory, above was edited. The medallion prize was won from an art competition and not from an essay writing contest).

A Bamboo Blast, 4Jun06

Thanks Ling for the complementary pass at Bamboo's gig at Bar None, Mariott(also extended thanks to Ling's guru 'cikgu Addy'). I really had a good time. Twas a sunday so wifey opted to stay home for an early rest, but she had a handphone stream of the perfomance.

Set started with a bang with 'Mr. Clay,' one of my fav Bamboo song. Another fav song, 'Masaya' they did last. Not certainly the last coz they gave two encore numbers, '214' and 'Much Has Been Said' (if i'm not wrong) , kindly granting the full-house crowd's request.

Things i appreciate from the performance is Bamboo's cool voice, Vic's absolutely ferocious drumming skills, and reliving the good 'ol 'Rivermaya classics.' Playing those hits brought back the glory days of RM, reminiscing the songs 'Kisapmata, Ulan, Hinahanap-hanap Kita and 214.' Other songs they did with equal power and crowd intensity are Halleluiah, Noypi, These days, (sorry i can't remember all).
From where i stand at the mosh area its too difficult to see Vic, the drummer. Occasional tip toeing doesn't help at all so i guess, i'm gonna have to wait till 17th & 18th Rockdafort to really have a chance to watch Vic's virtuoso with a clear unobstructive view. One thing i noticed from his cymbal setup he has inverted 'broken' splashes (2-tiers) on top of his right 'rock crash.' According to another drummer friend, broken cymbals create a distinct sound some pros incorporate to add uniqueness in their playing. Nope its not Bar None's coz before and after Bamboo's performance there was only one crash on each stand used by 'concave scream' and 'jive talkin'.
Image Links:
Me, Ling, Chris, Audrey
Mosh pit from where i stand w/ Norman
Tropang pasaway sa mosh w/ Allan, Norman
DJ Mario Jamming with 'Jive Talkin' (Ling's guru's band)
Concave Scream (local band opening act to Bamboo)
Some more Bamboo pic_01
Some more Bamboo pic_02

What's on the fridge today?

Soon as i came home today, the little girl was to eager to show her latest artwork. "It's a duck daddy!" Hmmm...can't figure why until i look closer and saw the pencil lines. Amazing, coz she had drawn the duck's face frontal. Here's a closer shot:

Tennis Blisters

Here's what you get after missing tennis action for 3weeks.

Dave Weckl's video helped rid off drumming blisters, but for tennis i doubt if there's such.