conspiracy december gig sked

Join us on Saturday, December 8, as Conspiracy celebrates its 4th Anniversary... See you there!!!

1 (Sat)- Mike Unson: 3 for 100 Yearend Special w/ Reklamo Band, Miko Pepito and Stanley Chi
3 (M)- Piano Night w/ Rica Arambulo
4 (T)- Wrtiters Nyt (Lunsad Libro ni Ed Maranan)/ Banyuhay ni Heber Bartolome
5 (W)- Noel Cabangon
6 (Th)- Early Evening Classical Music/ Toto Sorioso
7 (F)- Joey Ayala
8 (Sat)- CONSPIRACY ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION!!! Conspi Artists Jam (free entrance)
10 (M)- Piano Night w/ Rica Arambulo
11 (T)- Writers Nyt (Gabi ng Lira)/ Banyuhay ni Heber Bartolome
12 (W)- Noel Cabangon
13 (Th)- Early Evening Classical Music/ Gabi ng mga Awiting Bayan ni Jess Santiago
14 (F)- Color it Red
15 (Sat)- Cynthia Alexander
17 (M)- Piano Night w/ Rica Arambulo
18 (T)- Writers Nyt (Bicol Writers)/ Mishka Adams
19 (W)- Noel Cabangon
20 (Th)-"Piano, Cello atbp." Renato Lucas & Friends
21 (F)- Joey Ayala
22 (Sat)- Bayang Barrios & Mike Villegas
24 (CLOSED)
25 (CLOSED)
26 (W)- Noel Cabangon
27 (Th)- Early Evening Classical Music/ Lester Demetillo
28 (F)- Color it Red
29 (Sat)- Cynthia Alexander
31 CLOSED

Conspiracy Garden Cafe
"...where real people, like you and i, converge and co-inspire..."
#59 Visayas Avenue, Brgy. Vasra, Quezon City
for inquiries/reservations: 9206517 conspiracy_garden_cafe@yahoo.com

surprise shower party.... a real surprise! ;p

the surprise shower party last night for kleng was a real surprise not just for her but also for me. i dont know with the other guests, but i am completely clueless about the details of the said party since the day i was invited by another friend who organized it. well, i am even clueless about the wedding itself until last night when i finally got the invitation. hehe.... grabe! ika nga ng isa pang kaibigan.... kaladkarin din kse ako, go lang ng go! kahit pa may sakit na ko't lahat, adun pa rin ako. ganyan ko kamahal si kleng... :D

anywayz... we really enjoyed the night. we were successful in making the party not just a surprise, but a happy and meaningful event for kleng. i guess most of her very special girlfriends were present. we all connived and converged in a salon owned by one of kleng's friend, while another friend is luring her to go to the said place. o di ba? pagtulungan ba si kleng??? buti na lang, even though kleng felt that something aint right when they were on the way to the salon, our surprise was not really spoiled. na-surprise naman nga sya talaga. kaya lang, kaming mga naghihintay naman, namumuti na ang mga mata sa gutom dahil pagkatagal-tagal dumating ng lola! hay! namemorize ko na nga ata lahat ng designs ng nail art dun sa salon eh wala pa rin ang bruha! if i only had enough money, i might have gotten my nails done. nakakatuwa kse ang mga designs, promise!



as soon as kleng arrived, after the hi's, hello's, and beso-besos, lafangan na agad dahil gutom na ang lahat. then kleng was also treated with a whole salon pampering experience. i think her friend who owns the salon was responsible for that because she cant be on the wedding day itself. o ha? ang tindi bumawi no? :D at ako naman, mejo photographer ang drama, taking pictures here and there.


i have taken pictures of one of the cutest cakes ive ever seen. at siguro eh kayo din. si kleng nga di napigilan na isubo sya, ang kyut-kyut kse.... the guests naman didnt really touch it. ayaw nila siguro masira ang kakyutan ng cake.


instead, we ate the other cake, which is a birthday cake for our friend who organized the event. and in fairness, masarap sya talaga at ubos na ubos.


in its entirety, masayang-masaya naman ang lahat... i guess except for the dancer they hired. kse naman, kahit game si kleng,

ang iba namang mga kababaihan eh takbuhan ng takbuhan at ayaw malapitan at magilingan ng matipunong katawan ni chinky boy macho dancer!


hehe.... pero malas lang ng isa dahil nahuli sya at napatungan. itago na lang natin sya sa pangalang... ruffa mae quinto. hehe.... may ebidensya pa nga eh.... ;p

i havent attended weddings for quite a while. cant even remember when and whose wedding i attended last. all i know is that there was a particular time before that my schedule was very tight with weddings here and there. and not only that, i usually was either a bridesmaid or a secondary sponsor. now, most of my friends are already married and at my age, that is not surprising.

i never thought that i will be attending weddings again. not because i dont expect my few single friends to get married, but maybe because i, myself, am not that much focused on the idea anymore. i have long accepted the fact that i may not end up getting married and am ok with it. am not worried and i dont pity myself either. why should i waste my time doing that anyway? i guess its just a matter of acceptance and being happy and contented with my life. whatever is Gods plan for me, i will gladly accept it wholeheartedly...

on the 24th day of this month, am gona be attending a very good friends wedding. i am very happy for her because she has finally found the one for her after long years of waiting. i have been a witness to the story of her past loves. each of those we thought would end up at the altar, but all have failed and left her broken. and finally, she has found a curly-topped angel that brought her to the euphoric state she is in today... (hehehe.... ;p) and i hope that feeling will last for the rest of their married years together....

as a gift and an expression of love and appreciation to a great friend, i will be blogging about this meaningful event in her life. i will start by re-posting an article i wrote in my old blog last february. unfortunately, that blog was violated and i had no choice but to close and delete my account. i did that with a heavy heart because i know that there are people who had been reading my blog and truly appreciated it.

so here it is again, my article about the day paul proposed to kleng at conspiracy garden cafe.... :)

have a chummy hearts day :)

i cant remember any memorable valentines day in my entire life... ironically i may say because i had been in a very long term relationship. its sad though, to think that i cannot remember any special valentines day in those years. that which cannot be blamed on a forgetful mind that i have, but i guess it is simply because the other person doesnt really seem to make an effort to make that day extra special or meaningful nor any other occasion as well. as i tell my friends... effortless indeed... :D

it was a great hearts day at conspiracy last night. the valentines promo was such a success. i was surprised to see that almost all the tables inside were reserved when i arrived. i myself reserved a table for me and my friends. i arrived early so i waited for them. when the first group arrived, we settled on our seats and started the usual chatting, yacking, kulitan and laughter, as we wait for the others. we were so noisy, with our voices and merriment rocking the place, that it seemed conspiracy is having a major earthquake. but not anyone of us hardly expected that that night was going to be an even more blasting night for all of us...

who couldve known that i would have a great, if not the best, valentines day of my life ever? it is not because i am romantically involved with someone, but because of the company of great friends. and also because of a very remarkable moment in the life of a dear friend. i am deeply touched and honored that i am present in that occasion.

paul already told me that he has a gift for kleng and he asked one of the waiters to keep it for the meantime. he wants to surprise kleng. when the moment came, i went to the bar and got pauls gift, put it on klengs seat, as we were waiting for her to come back from the restroom. when kleng got back, she was asking what was that bag of gift and to whom does it belong to. (deadma pa ang lola ko! kanino raw ang gift? duh! iha, nasa upuan mo kaya? e di sayo! lol...) at that time we were all cajoling her to open the gift already. and she was playing hard to get by telling us no she wont open it because its her gift and she will open it whenever she pleases to. but then again, she gave in, of course, what with all of us hounding on her??? :D


pauls gift was very simple... it was a huge red mug. it has a heart drawing with their names written on it. inside it are personalized m&m chocolates, in pink and blue, to the brim. when ria got one chocolate, she screamed in blushing delight, kilig to the hilt... as it is written on the small round treat, "will you marry me?"


and when i got myself one piece, it says, "iloveyou kleng."

we were all eating and enjoying the chocolates for a while already, then kleng found a string right in the middle of the chocolates. we didnt really see it because its rather dim, as noel cabangon was still playing. when kleng pulled out the string, there was a ring at the end of it... :) and all of us were screaming...


paul and klengs wedding is already planned and set for this year. but as paul said, the proposal was rather late already. he hasnt really proposed yet, but just last night. but to a girl like kleng with simple wants and dreams, who could ask for anything more?

to my chummy friend kleng... we go a long way back since our college days, but it seems more than that. we are like more than sisters even... what with our names almost the same?!? hahaha... i am very glad that you are finally happy...

to paul... i have known you for just a very short while. in fact, ive just met you last night, but i know that you will take care of kleng...


best wishes to both of you... and as i promised kleng, i will give the best gift that i can for your wedding... since i am passionate bout music... i will give and share with you my gift of music...

thanks to both of you for making my heart fonder and my hearts day a very meaningful one...

happy hearts day!!!

ANG TANGI KONG PAG-IBIG
Noel Cabangon

ang tangi kong pag-ibig
sa puso'y laging may pintig
walang ibang inaasam
ikaw lang magpakailanman

at sana'y iyong madama
aking wagas na pagsinta
walang ibang iniisip
walang ibang panaginip

dahil ikaw, ikaw lamang
ang aking kalawakan
ikaw lamang ang buhay
pumipintig sa bawat sandali

ang tangi kong pag-ibig
ay ligayang kay tamis
kaya't sana'y iyong mabatid
itong aking paglalambing

dahil ikaw, ikaw lamang
ang aking kalawakan
ikaw lamang ang buhay
pumipintig sa bawat sandali

ang tangi kong pag-ibig
ay pangakong walang patid
walang ibang inaasam
ikaw lamang magpakailanman...

02.15.2007

conspiracy november gig sked

1 (Th)- Closed
2 (F)- Color it Red Acoustic Edition
3 (S)- Jes Bartolome, Glen at Joel
5 (M)- Piano Night w/ Rica Arambulo
6 (T)- Writers Night (Romancing Venus & Bitaw)
/Banyuhay ni Heber Bartolome
7 (W)- Noel Cabangon
8 (Th)- Early Evening Classical Music/ Toto Sorioso
9 (F) – Joey Ayala
10 (S)- Cynthia Alexander
12 (M)- Piano Night w/ Rica Arambulo
13 (T)- Writers Night (Lunsad-Libro ni Eros Atalia
/Aiza Seguerra
14 (W)- Blues & Folk Rock Night feat. Jook Jam & Plug
15 (Th)- Early Evening Classical Music/
Gabi ng mga Awiting Bayan ni Jess Santiago
16 (F) - Color it Red Acoustic Edition
17 (S)- Mike Unson: Stand Up & Deliver hosted by Stanley Chi
19 (M) – Piano Night w/ Rica Arambulo
20 (T)- Writers Night (Ripples & Vivian Limpin Exhibit)/
Banyuhay ni Heber Bartolome
21 (W)- Noel Cabangon
22 (Th)- Early Evening Classical Music/
Chris Cayzer
23 (F)- Joey Ayala
24 (S)- Cynthia Alexander
26 (M) – Piano Night w/ Rica Arambulo
27 (T)- Writers Night (Lunsad-Libro ni Ed Maranan & Ferjeekisiya) /Aiza Seguerra
28 (W)- Noel Cabangon
29 (Th)- Early Evening Classical Music/
“Light it Up” Christian Musicians Night
30 (F)- Bayang Barrios & Mike Villegas

Conspiracy Garden Cafe
"...where real people, like you and i, converge and co-inspire..."
#59 Visayas Avenue, Brgy. Vasra, Quezon City
for inquiries/reservations: 9206517 conspiracy_garden_cafe@yahoo.com

conspiracy october gig sked

1 (M)- Piano Night w/ Rica Arambulo
2 (T)- Writers Night (Bagong Buwan Arts Collective)/
Susan Fernandez
3 (W)- Noel Cabangon
4 (Th)- UP College of Music Night (7pm) /
Toto Sorioso
5 (F)- Pido
6 (S)- Cynthia Alexander
8 (M)- Piano Night w/ Rica Arambulo
9 (T) – Writers Night (MP: Malikhaing Palabas 1)/
Banyuhay ni Heber Bartolome
10 (W)- Noel Cabangon
11 (Th)- UP College of Music Night (7pm)/
Jes Bartolome, Glen at Joel
12 (F) Color it Red Acoustic Edition
13 (S) Mike Unson: Stand Up & Deliver
w/ guest Reklamo Band hosted by Stanley Chi
15 (M)- Piano Night w/ Rica Arambulo
16 (T) Writers Night (MP: Malikhaing Palabas 2)/
Gabi ng mga Awiting Bayan ni Jess Santiago
17 (W)- Noel Cabangon
18 (Th) - UP College of Music Night (7pm) /
Paolo Santos
19 (F) – Gary Granada
20 (S)- Bayang Barrios & Mike Villegas
22 (M)- Piano Night w/ Rica Arambulo
23 (T)- Writers Night (Ha-Ha-bracadabra! Comedy,
Ventriloquism & Magic)/
Banyuhay ni Heber Bartolome
24 (W)- Noel Cabangon
25 (Th)- UP College of Music Night (7pm) /
“Light it Up” Christian Musicians Night
26 (F) – Alyansa Tigil Mina Special Event
27 (S)- Cynthia Alexander
29 (M)- Piano Night w/ Rica Arambulo
30 (T)- Writers Night (Pinoy Vent Jam Live)/
Mga Salinawit ni Pete Lacaba feat. Cooky Chua,
Ricky Davao, Reli Herman at ang Taga-salinawit
31 (W)- Noel Cabangon

Conspiracy Garden Cafe
"...where real people, like you and i, converge and co-inspire..."
#59 Visayas Avenue, Brgy. Vasra, Quezon City
for inquiries/reservations: 9206517 conspiracy_garden_cafe@yahoo.com

Book Launching: MR. CONRADO DE QUIROS

back to work!

after a two day hiatus, i am now back at work. i was sick with a fever that doesnt want to come out. by that, i mean a fever that only i can feel. i feel my eyes and breath are hot, but when i or another person feels my skin or forehead, its normal. weird... i still felt so damn sick though. my head was even aching the whole night of sunday that i wasn't able to sleep well. hay...

anyway, now am back at work, and back to writing again. my TL is not around today. i guess shes gettn back at me and another co-worker who wasn't able to go to work yesterday as well. hehe... hmmm.... anyway, she deserves a break. it has been so many times she said before that she wont come to work the next day, but she still does. i guess she loves the job. and i know, as much as the entire working populace in our company knows, its just the company itself that she and all of us cant seem to love. tsk... tsk.... tsk... what a pity.... the working relationship that we developed is so great. it is hard to see those people you value go, one after the other. or at times a group of people go all at once. sad...

enough of the drama chuvaness! i just cant forget the coincidence that happened today at work. i was surprised when i read the first topic i was supposed to write for the day: "The Engagment Ring." bwahahaha! i cant help but to laugh. it was just a few journal writings ago, i wrote about identical rings. and there i was this morning, starting to write about engagement rings. oh, life! does this mean something or am i just paranoid? is it telling me that i am really attached to rings? hahaha! that i will soon wear one again? nah! am happy to be single for now, or even forever. it doesnt matter, as long as am happy with my life. trulili!!! and i do hope the next time i will ever wear one again, if i ever will, be the last. its hard to wear different rings every now and then you know!

although the ambience at work is kinda gloomy today, just like the weather, am still glad to be back. i still feel the warmth of the people i came to bond with and learned to love. so, as long as theyre there, i guess am gona be just fine. when they go, then who knows whats next?

you are my sweetest downfall...

i heard a song some time ago from pbb, during the wendy-bruce hype. i noticed that the song was always played when the love team had its "kilig moments" on the show. not that i got kilig, but you know those usual pinoy love team kilig factors that producers take advantage of. lets just say that the producers of the show really know how to sell the show to people. one kilig moment matched with a perfect song, equals perfect moment? not really. its more of a lucrative moment for networks. more viewers mean high ratings. and high ratings mean more advertisements, that equals to mucho dinero!

well, anyway, its not about wendy nor bruce, networks, ads or money, but i happen to like that song they play on those kilig moments. i always wonder about the title and the singer of the song. sadly, i never really can decipher the lyrics to be able to surf for it on the net. but anyway, thanks to a co-worker, whos a music addict like i am. sya lang pala ang sagot sa aking tanong.

samson
regina spektor

you are my sweetest downfall
i loved you first, i loved you first
beneath the sheets of paper lies my truth
i have to go, i have to go
your hair was long when we first met

samson went back to bed
not much hair left on his head
he ate a slice of wonder bread and went right back to bed
and history books forgot about us and the bible didn't mention us
the bible didn't mention us, not even once

you are my sweetest downfall
i loved you first , i loved you first
beneath the stars came falling on our heads
but there just soft light, there just soft light
your hair was long when we first met

samson came to my bed
told me that my hair was red
he told me i was beautiful and came into my bed
oh i cut his hair myself one night
a pair of dull scissors and the yellow light
and he told me that i'd done alright
and kissed me till the morning light, the morning light
and he kissed me till the morning light

samson came back to bed
not much hair left on his head
ate a slice of wonderbread and went right back to bed
oh, we couldn't bring the columns down
yeah we couldn't destroy a single one
and history books forgot about us
and the bible didn't mention us, not even once

you are my sweetest downfall
i loved you first

before i knew the lyrics, i never really thought that it was like about samson. hehe.... i guess i was drawn to the song before because of the melody and how it was sang. and as ive said, i never can understand the lyrics that much then. but anyway, i still love the song. and when i listen to it now, i always think about one thing when i hear the lines " you are my sweetest downfall....," that is, who was my sweetest downfall? i stopped one time and thought for a while. and i came to the answer that i guess all of them are. if i was not theirs, then thats okay. they are entitled to have their own assessment of whatever relationship that we had. one thing i can say, modesty aside, is that they will never be loved the same way that i did ever again. i can say that boldly because i know myself too well. and i know how much i love when i choose to. i guess my friends can back me up on that.

i believe that it is always sweet when you fall. the hardest and most bitter part is when you have to get up from that fall and leave...

conspi september gig sked

1 (S)- UP Babaylan LGBT Night
3 (M)- Toto Sorioso/ Dindo
4 (T)- Piano Night w/ Rica Arambulo
5 (W)- Michael Angelo
6 (Th)- Bayang Barrios & Mike Villegas
7 (F)- Cooky Chua & Mike Villegas
8 (S)- Banyuhay ni Heber Bartolome
10 (M)- Julianne
11 (T)- Piano Night w/ Rica Arambulo
12 (W) Noel Cabangon
13 (Th) Paolo Santos
14 (F)- Joey Ayala
15 (S)- Cynthia Alexander
17 (M)- Bobby Balingit
18 (T) - Piano Night w/ Rica Arambulo
19 (W) - Noel Cabangon
20 (Th)- Gabi ng mga Awiting Bayan ni Jess Santiago
21 (F)- Bayang Barrios & Mike Villegas
22 (S)- Mike Unson: Stand Up & Deliver w/ guest Miko Pepito, hosted by Stanley Chi
24 (M)- Jimmy Bondoc
25 (T)- Mga Salinawit ni Pete Lacaba feat. Girl Valencia, Ricky Davao, Reli Herman at ang Taga-salinawit
26 (W) Noel Cabangon
27 (Th)- “Light it Up” Christian Music Night
28 (F)- Joey Ayala
29 (S)- Michael Angelo
30 (Th)- “Light it Up” Gospel Music Night
31 (F)- Joey Ayala

Conspiracy Garden Cafe
"...where real people, like you and i, converge and co-inspire..." #59 Visayas Avenue, Brgy. Vasra, Quezon City for inquiries/reservations: 9206517 conspiracy_garden_cafe@yahoo.com

ala lang... natuwa lang ako magtake ng quiz. hehe....

Your Kissing Technique Is: Perfect

Your kissing technique is amazing - and you know it. You have the confidence to make the first move. And you always seem to know what kissing style is going to work best. Sometimes you're passionate, sometimes you're a tease. And you're always amazing!

Are You a Good Kisser?

identical rings

i dont know why people started having identical rings. in the first place, even if a person is already married, he or she, but usually its he does not really wear it. how even sure are you that your better half is wearing your ring? i had worn identical rings before and it has served me a little too well though. twice.

theres just one thing i realized... when your better half starts not to wear your ring or he/she doesnt wear your ring at all (he/she maybe just wears it when youre together), it just means that he/she is just not into you. in my experience, when i used to wear an identical ring, i wasnt afraid to be mistaken married even though i was not. for me, people who dont want to wear the ring are those who still like to attract other people. that just means you must let them go...

i never was a believer of horoscopes, but i find it amusing to read them. at times, i just read them for the sake of entertainment. i try to see if it matches with whats really happening in my life. there are times it does. i duno if thats just coincidence. but anyway, i find what i read today inspiring:

The Star card suggests that my alter ego today is the Goddess, whose superpower for rising to the occasion lies in my innate ability for inspiration. I will pursue my dreams and what makes me happy -- life's too short. I will allow time for me today. I may even get my fifteen minutes of fame by seeking recognition from others and striving to sparkle in the limelight. I am immortal! Sometimes it's better to burn out than just fade away. Find your cosmic groove, and go for it!

well thats according to my daily tarot reading. i believe though that life is too short to be wasted on what ifs and what couldve beens...

happy weekend

so much to write... so little time... so sad.... :( hmmm.... there are actually alota things i wanna write but i dont have the time i used to have before when i was still a bum. i even told my bestfriend this afternoon how i used to have all the time in my hands, i can just run to la union if i want to. but now, no more. i got alota things to do and i cant even squeeze em all in my schedule like personal favors for friends, things i need to buy, places i need to go to, people i need to meet, and a whole lota bunch. but now am happy coz its a long weekend. :) happy, happy, happy!!! and yes, am going to la union! :)



i always plan to write something before i go to sleep but i just cant. when i go home, all i know is that i just want to sleep. my brain seems so drained of all the words that am supposed to write in here. work zaps out all the words and memories in my brains. i know my co-workers share the same sentiments. quota, quota, quota... thats actually my brain ticking at work. hay... am glad i finished one article before i sleep and make that trip to la union. lest i will hear my brain tick again while picking out shells from the beaches of bauang. not my idea of unwinding...

hope i sleep well for a nice long bus ride this morning....

conspiracy august gig sked

1 (W)- Noel Cabangon
2 (Th)- Panacea
3 (F)- Joey Ayala
4 (S)- Cynthia Alexander
6 (M)- Piano Night w/ Rica Arambulo
7 (T)- Jazz Night w/ Stella Ignacio
8 (W)- Noel Cabangon
9 (Th)- Paolo Santos
10 (F)- Joey Ayala
11 (S)- Michael Angelo
13 (M)- Piano Night w/ Rica Arambulo
14 (T)- Banyuhay ni Heber Bartolome
15 (W)- Noel Cabangon
16 (Th) Gabi ng mga Awiting Bayan ni Jess Santiago
17 (F)- Joey Ayala
18 (S) White Ink Night Unplugged
20 (M)- Piano Night w/ Rica Arambulo
21 (Th)- Susan Fernandez/ Lester Demetillo
22 (W)- Noel Cabangon
23 (Th)- Paolo Santos
24 (F) Bayang Barrios & Mike Villegas
25 (S)- Cynthia Alexander
27 (M)- Piano Night w/ Rica Arambulo
28 (T)- Banyuhay ni Heber Bartolome
29 (W)- Noel Cabangon
30 (Th)- “Light it Up” Gospel Music Night
31 (F)- Joey Ayala

Conspiracy Garden Cafe
"...where real people, like you and i, converge and co-inspire..."
#59 Visayas Avenue, Brgy. Vasra, Quezon City
for inquiries/reservations: 9206517
conspiracy_garden_cafe@yahoo.com

conspiracy july gig sked

2 (M) Piano Night w/ Rica Arambulo (with open mic session)
3 (T) Writers Night/Banyuhay ni Heber Bartolome
4 (W) Noel Cabangon
5 (Th) Toto Sorioso Trio
6 (F) Joey Ayala
7 (S) Save the Climate (Greenpeace Event)/Cynthia Alexander
9 (M) Piano Night w/ Rica Arambulo (with open mic session)
10 (T) Writers Night/ Michael Angelo
11 (W) Noel Cabangon
12 (Th) Paolo Santos
13 (F) Joey Ayala
14 (S) Girl Valencia
16 (M) Piano Night w/ Rica Arambulo (with open mic session)
17 (T) Writers Night/ Gabi ng mga Awiting Bayan ni Jess Santiago
18 (W) Noel Cabangon
19 (Th) Blues Night w/ Jook Jam & guests
20 (F) Joey Ayala
21 (S) Cynthia Alexander
23 (M) Piano Night w/ Rica Arambulo (with open mic session)
24 (T) Writers Night/ Banyuhay ni Heber Bartolome
25 (W) Noel Cabangon
26 (Th) "Light it Up!" Gospel Music Jam
27 (F) Bayang Barrios & Mike Villegas
28 (S) Team Mike Unson w/ Reklamo Band
30 (M) Piano Night w/ Rica Arambulo (with open mic session)
31 (T) Writers Night/ Jimmy Bondoc & Paolo Santos

Conspiracy Garden Cafe
"...where real people, like you and i, converge and co-inspire..."
#59 Visayas Avenue, Brgy. Vasra, Quezon City
for inquiries/reservations: 9206517
conspiracy_garden_cafe@yahoo.com

KaalagaD, McDonald's and I

In October of last year, I remember reading an email from Manong Gary (Granada) which was posted on various yahoogroups that we both belong to. It was about how McDonald’s disrespected him and other Kaalagad members while the group was carrying out their mission and concern regarding the environment. I was surprised about how a multinational company like McDonald’s could even do such a thing. I also forwarded that email to my friends, who are even more astonished than I was. They too, could not believe how such a very well known company can easily push people aside, judge harshly and not take people seriously. Isn’t it ironic that they are a customer service based company and that dealing with people should be one of their strengths and expertise?

Further more, after a few days, Manong Gary posted yet another email. It was a letter sent to him by McDonald’s PR agent and his reply to this letter as well. Based on the facts that I read, I do agree with Manong Gary. McDonald’s treated Kaalagad like a PR problem they should deal with, when all they were asking was for them to lend an ear and take a stand for an environmental cause which is the least that each and everyone of us can do if we want to wake up the next day and still have our own planet to live in. Unless you would want to move to Mars or something…

I have forgotten about all those emails until early this year, in one of those semi-regular Noel Cabangon giggin’ and drinkn’ night rendezvous at Conspiracy, when Manong Gary invited me to join Kaalagad. I told him that I would not know what I can do to help the group. Besides, I never knew about Kaalagad and its causes before and never even planned nor imagined to be a part of something like it. Although I have really been pondering for a while already about what I can do for my country and this world and do things of worthy cause, I never considered myself capable. I guess, being at Conspi, surrounded by very radical individuals who fight firm with their beliefs and who have done and proven a great whole lot not just for themselves but for our country as well, I felt kind of unworthy and a mere novice in this arena.

Honestly, I was surprised when Manong Gary considered me to become a Kaalagad. But then I am also thankful because he never judged me, that I cannot do anything or that I don’t know anything. He took me to one of their meetings right there and then. And from there it all started, I became a Kaalagad. Just as simple as that… For me, it was an answered wish and prayer. Little did I know that from reading those McDonald’s battles, would also lead me to become one of their warriors. Slowly, I am learning and finding my place not just within the group but in this world as well. It is good to know and feel that I can help even in my own little way and that I am doing something meaningful and worthwhile.

Up to this date, McDonald’s still has not taken a stand. They said that they have made a move because they have changed a majority of their food containers to paper/carton already. And the only styro containers that they use are mainly for the breakfast meals. But that is not good enough… If you know that you can do something to help, however simple or grand it may be, would you bargain to save the only world that you live in? Or would you just do it without questions asked?

CFC’s (chlorofluorocarbons) released in the atmosphere depletes the ozone layer in a very, very fast rate. The ozone layer protects the earth and living things from the very harmful ultraviolet rays, which causes cataracts and skin cancer…

Think about it…