UFC 66: Chuck Liddell vs Tito Ortiz

I was never an MMA fan, but I just had to watch the Liddell-Ortiz bout this morning. The Iceman Chuck Liddell pummeled The Huntington Beach Bad Boy to retain his light heavyweight title. Liddell scored a knockout victory over Ortiz in their first meeting at UFC 47 (2004).

Liddell cements his mark as the pound-for-pound best UFC fighter.

Saddam executed

A lot of people have waited years, even decades for this moment. Hopefully, this marks a sign of a new and better Iraq.

Good riddance, Saddam. You will not be missed.

RP turns over Smith to US

L/Cpl Daniel Smith was handed over to the US authorities late last night in accordance with the VFA guidelines.

Finally. This has been long overdue.

So, how'd you like it now?

As the US Marines would say, "Oorah!"

Coach Carter

I finally caught the film over at HBO earlier today. I missed it when it had its cinema run.

Good stuff.

Last business day for 2006

I spent the last working day of the year participating in the FranklinCovey Focus workshop. It should be able to help me in terms of time management. My pre-workshop goal was to be able to utilize the the skills I will gain/learn so that I can prioritize properly. Ultimately, my goal is to be able to leave work around 6pm, 630 at the latest. My average work day ends at about 730-8pm.

Attending a workshop is one story, whether it helps me or not is another. I guess we'll find out next year.

Inked again

I had two new tats done tonight. This continues my streak of getting at least one done each year, dating back to a few years ago.

I'm not sure how long this streak will go on but I still have the rest of 2007 to think about it.

See you in February

I brought Barbie to NAIA this morning. She's flying back to Singapore after a short 5-night rendezvous here in Manila. She was panicking earlier as she felt she might miss her flight. I was a bit delayed in picking her up as my stomach was not cooperating.

All's well though. She made it with plenty of time to spare. She should be arriving in Singapore in less than an hour.

I'll see her in a couple of months, I'm booked to fly to the Lion City in early February

Happy Holidays!

A blessed Christmas to everyone.

Gifts

I was never the type who'd ask (or expect) for gifts. However, it just dawned to me that out of the more than a hundred people I've given jobs in IBM this year, only one gave me a Christmas gift.

Amusing.

Hurting Hammy

For some reason, my right hamstring is hurting like hell. It was the donor site from which my new ACL was harvested from.

Interestingly, I never had this much pain on my thigh considering it's been three weeks since my operation.

Weird.

Happy 25th

Quarter-life milestone.

Here's to another twenty-five years of adventure...

Cheers.

Back to business

I'm reporting back to work tomorrow after a three week hiatus. I feel much better now as I can walk normally albeit slowly. The surgical wound is close to fully healing but there's still pain on the bruised areas. Stiffness is very prevalent. It's difficult to flex and extend my knee and leg. With proper rehab, I feel confident I'll regain full mobility in a few months. Overall, I believe I'm just right on schedule.

Anyhow, my gratitude and appreciation go out to the following:

Many thanks to my physicians, Dr. Mikey Bengzon (orthopaedic
surgeon) and Dr. Lea Montemayor (anesthesiologist) for a successful
operation.

The staff of The Medical City, especially my nurses for
the round-a-clock supervision.

My HMO, Intellicare, for footing the bill. I racked up
about 140 g's in total.

My manager, Joan and the rest of WFM for multitasking in
my absence.

My friends, colleagues and family for all the
encouragement and support.

I'm looking to get back to status quo, and it all starts tomorrow.

Mon Tulfo's article about Judge Pozon, the RP-US relations, and the so-called rape...

ON TARGET
US-RP relations in jeopardy

By Ramon Tulfo
Inquirer
Last updated 02:14am (Mla time) 12/16/2006

Published on Page A26 of the December 16, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer

DON’T be deceived by Makati Regional Trial Court Judge Benjamin Pozon’s projection of being media-shy, of his seeming reluctance to be lionized.

Deep inside, he’s enjoying all the publicity over his conviction of a US Marine for allegedly raping a Filipino woman, and his adamant stand that the convicted American remain in Philippine custody.

Pozon may be a hero to leftists and women activists, but if you ask the man on the street, he’ll tell you that not only was the judge wrong in convicting Lance Cpl. Daniel Smith, he’s putting US-Philippine relations in jeopardy.

If you don’t believe me, try asking people who are neither militant nor xenophobic (hater of foreigners), which I did. They’ll tell you the victim, “Nicole,” was not raped. She had consensual sex with Smith with whom she was smitten the first time she set eyes on him.

How could there have been rape when Nicole was wearing tight-fitting jeans at that time and Smith had to wear a condom?

If you’re a woman, try taking off your tight jeans inside a car and you’ll know what I mean. If a woman on her own would have difficulty removing her jeans inside a cramped space, how much more her alleged rapist?

A woman friend (not girlfriend) was saved from being raped by a cab driver who forced her into a vacant lot because she wore tight jeans. And, of course, she shouted for help!

Nicole went with Smith in the van, and there was nothing in her statement that she shouted for help. Otherwise, the driver of the van would have testified that she did. She claims she was drunk at the time. So was Smith, who is younger than she is.

Nicole took offense at Smith’s companion calling her a “bitch” and the way she was dumped like a pig by the Americans in the street after she refused to get out of the van. That’s why she complained she was raped.

Since Pozon has already convicted Smith, he wants to have his cake and eat it too by having him remain in Philippine custody despite a provision in the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).

The VFA provides that American servicemen accused of a crime would remain in US custody pending the outcome of their trial. And the trial, as legal experts interpret it, includes the appeal after conviction.

All that the US government, our country’s friend and ally, wants is for Smith to be confined in the US Embassy while the appeal is ongoing. Can’t we accede to an ally that has helped us tremendously in winning the war against the Abu Sayyaf?

For comments and inquiries please e-mail: isumbongmokaytulfo@yahoo.com

Copyright 2006 Inquirer. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Enough with the grandstanding, Judge. Your fifteen minutes has lapsed. Stop basking in the limelight.

Bring it on

I've received some criticisms regarding my posts about the subic rape case. Apparently, this person calls me the dumbest blogger for expressing my opinion. It's funny how I irked this person so much. Never thought it will spark hostility amongst anyone. Anyhow, I'm well aware that I definitely won't be pleasing everyone with my thoughts. Kanya-kanyang blog lang yan. I have all the right to say what I want, the same way anyone else can speak their minds out too.

Oh and if it matters, there are a whole lot of other folks who share the same sentiments as I do. I wonder if they've received the same backlash from this hoodrat.

Anyway, I left the comments despite being blatantly bastos. I can actually feel all the emotion and rancor behind (the comments). Oh well, to each his own. Whatever floats your boat.

Thumbs up!

I received good news earlier tonight from my manager. She gave me an update on the recommendations they sent upper management for approval. Aside from these changes, we're doing a bit of reorganization for Workforce Management. Looks like the Big Blue is looking out for its WFM team now.

I'm hoping this is a sign of more good developments to come. Further info on these next time.

Missing work

I dropped by the office after my check-up with the doctor. I've only been out for about two weeks but it seems a lot has happened already. I saw a lot of new faces. I was told that we had reached more than a thousand employees already. When I started in IBS, we were only about five hundred. Because of the company's steady growth (and reaching the 1000 milestone), IBS is giving all of us commemorative jackets. Oh and if I'm not mistaken, we're giving the 1000th employee a spanking new Ipod.

I can't believe I'm saying this, but yeah, I miss work. Rarin' to get back.

2nd week post-op

The doctor took out the skin staples on my knees earlier. He expects the incisions to heal in about a week's time. It hurt a bit since he had to take each of the dozen staple wires out slowly to minimize bleeding. There was a stinging sensation that lasted pretty long too.

My knee flexion increased to about 120 degrees. Doc said he expects full range of motion in about 6 weeks. He said I can only start strengthening rehab once full ROM is achieved. The basis of comparison is my other leg. In essence, my right knee should be as good as my left one by mid-January. That's a tough act, but hopefully rehab goes well.

IBM Christmas Party

It's a good thing I didn't attend the One IBM Christmas Party last Saturday at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Tent. A colleague of mine said that the folks who went were mostly from Daksh. Uhh, I don't think I'd want to be stuck in a place with the Daksh crowd. There's just something about the call center vibe that I don't like. I'm not discriminating, but I've worked for a fandful of pure contact centers already and the environment is very different. It's just not for me.

Dead end despedida?

Had dinner with some friends last night. A good friend of mine hosted a despedida dinner for the girl he's wooing. She's going to California for several months and won't be back til about middle of 2007.

From the way my other friends and I see it, the situation doesn't look promising. Of course, we hope to be proven wrong.

Anyhow, money up na lang blek. The thrill's worth the investment.

----------------
Edit: Received word that everything took a turn for the best. Captured.

12 Dec 2006, 9:11 pm

Day 8 Post-Op

I went to the doctor yesterday for my eighth day post-op check-up. Feedback was mixed.

Here are the good points:
- I can drop the crutches and the immobilizer.
- I can put Tegaderm over the incisions which should make taking a shower a breeze. It used to be a bitch.
- He expects me to recover quick as my flexion is nearing 100 degrees after seven days. From experience, he says some folks need about thow weeks to reach 90 degrees.

Now the bad points:
- My skin staples need to stay another week. Damn, i can just imagine how painful it will be once he takes them out.
- The swelling and bruising will remain for about two more weeks.

Overall, I think I'm ahead of schedule. I'm starting therapy soon to regain my full range of motion. It probably will take me about 8-12 weeks to reach full leg extension and knee flexion.

More thoughts on the Subic rape case

Everyone knows her name. She's been seen on live TV during the trial. But why the hell do journalists still hide her under her pseudonym, 'Nicole'?

Once and for all, the slut's name is Suzette Nicolas. She cried rape to save her from the embarassment and humiliation of sleeping with an American soldier while being engaged to another.

------------

Evalyn Ursua, Suzette Nicolas' private prosecutor, wins the dumbest Filipina lawyer award hands down. For someone who holds a law degree, she surely is incompetent.

------------

Noted and well-respected priest, Fr. James Reuter, SJ, believes that what happened between L/Cpl Smith and Suzette Nicolas was consensual. Enough said.

He speaks the truth.

------------

There was a skirmish between the Makati police and the Americans (US Embassy security personnel and the four US Marines) after the decision was handed down. The Makati policemen were pulling Daniel Smith to one side, while his American security were shielding him from harm.

Truth be told, these four US Marines alone can wipe out the whole Makati police contingent in hand-to-hand combat.

On leave, on call

Since I'm currently on a three-week leave, I thought I'd be far away from the hustle and bustle of corporate life. Wrong. I still get my fair share of calls and texts from IBM folks. Didn't I tell you guys I won't answer any work-related inquiries while on medical leave?

Anyhow, I heard trouble and chaos are brewing in the workplace yet again. Movement is bound to happen at some point. Unless changes are made and issues get resolved, things are bound to get ugly, even uglier than Philippine politics.

Ne-Yo - Sexy Love (Duet Remix)

Ne-Yo's back with the official remix of his hit track, Sexy Love. This time, Candace Jones joins him in performing.

If you liked the original version, you'll be waxing your pole with this one. No pun intended, of course.

-------------------
Click to see my first post about Ne-Yo early this year: Ne-Yo

Caught sleeping again

I'm feeling pissed right now. I slept on a couple of auctions on Ebay and missed out on getting my bubblegum AM 90's!

Tangina.

Subic Rape Case

The verdict on the year-old Subic Rape trial against four US Marines was handed down earlier this afternoon. LCpl Daniel Smith was found guilty of raping Suzette Nicolas (aka Nicole) last year in Olongapo. The three other accused Americans were acquitted.

I honestly believe Smith (or any of the three others) was not guilty of any crime. The fact that this Suzette Nicolas willingly mingled and drank with these soldiers while she was engaged to another US Marine speaks highly of her character or lack thereof. Who would in her right mind party with people she barely knows knowing that she is set to get married to someone else. Just like other women who ply the flesh trade route in US military bases stationed across the globe, she knew what was coming. She knew what she was getting into and hell yeah she deserved what she got. She's nothing but a hoodrat whore, plain and simple.

She probably thought she could milk money out of the situation. For all the trouble that she had to go through, the court granted her a measly Php 100k for damages. For all the harassment and embarassment, it's not worth it. Buti nga.

I think it's safe to assume that the prosecution panel, Suzette Nicolas, her relatives and those who supported this whore will never set foot on US soil again. And if I were the US government, I'd make sure to cancel all the existing visas of these people. This should teach them a lesson.

It's funny how these people are all-out against the United States when in fact they dream of one day settling in the US for better opportunities. Truly hypocritical in every sense of the word.

4th day post-op

The swelling on my knee is literally going down as it's now on my ankles. It's known in the medical circles as ankle pumps. My knee is still pretty banged up though, as the bruises are still painful whenever I bend. I can now walk without crutches though I have to do it slowly. Flexion on my knee is about 100 degrees. I'm supposed to ge take therapy next week. Hopefully, I can start walking normally soon.

Stapled by a dozen

I cleansed my surgery wounds (by myself) for the first time this morning. All in all, I have one 2-inch incision and three small holes. These are punctuated by a dozen skin staple wires scattered among them.

Aside from the grossness of my wounds, they keep me paranoid of contracting infection. And it's not a good feeling at all.

Discharge

I just got home about an hour ago. I was discharged from Medical City this morning after three nights of confinement.

I can walk already with my crutches as long as I have my immobilizer on. The doctor also allowed me to bear weight on my right leg. I'll be doing knee bending exercises to help get my range of motion back soon. It's difficult but I think I'll be okay.