Archive for May, 2009

Pacquiao Versus Merryweather

Pacquiao Versus Merryweather

I was on a taxi on the way to NAIA-3 awhile ago when I heard the AM radio commentator – who is anything but a fine example of objective sports journalism – claim that nobody, not even Floyd Mayweather, can stop the Pacman.

Of course it was a rip-off, considering that Pacman defeated Ricky “Hitman” Hatton in two rounds – that’s two rounds - of boxing.  So you figure that our honorable and august members of the House of Representatives probably got ripped off by the fight (well, we did), and the honorable and august President of the Republic of the Philippines will probably proclaim this as a “victory for the Filipino people.”  It will probably be PR’ed the hell as a “fairytale victory,” even.

Fairytale victory, huh?

May 3, 2009 7 comments Read More
Dumaguete Diaries I: Theory of Flight

Dumaguete Diaries I: Theory of Flight

Harold’s Mansion
Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental
6:29 PM

The weather is breezy and overcast here at Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental.  Writer City becomes Lyrics Translator City for the next two weeks.  My name is Marocharim, and welcome to the Dumaguete Diaries.  Ideally, I would be here on vacation after a 20-day work stretch, but I’m here to learn how to write.  I’m a fellow for creative non-fiction at the 48th National Writers’ Workshop, to be held at Silliman University.

dsc00210My day started – where else – at the smoking area of NAIA 3.  Which was kind of the way it should start, since I’m very acrophobic.  One thing I kind of despise about airport snackage is that the iced tea that I was drinking cost me P40, and the airport didn’t even have wi-fi so that I can rant and complain my ass off.

To add to the minor annoyances I had in the airport was the reason why I’m in the smoking area anyway.  There’s grim irony in having a reason to smoke if you’re an addict, considering how airport security took a few extra lighters I had on hand.  So basically, I’m a one-lighter fellow right now.  Which is kind of shitty, considering that all smokers have to have at least two lighters with them.  It makes dukot-izing cigarettes and lighters easier and more convenient.

Airport muzak was also fantastic.  Kids outside started singing and dancing to the tune of “Single Ladies” by Beyoncé Knowles… which had me in the mood for a quick lyrics translation:

Mag-isang madrasta, mag-isang madrasta…
Kung talagang gustuhin di lagyan ng singsing
Wag kang magalit pag nakita niya siya’y kukulit
Wu-oh, oh, oh…

Well, that was bollocks.

May 3, 2009 2 comments Read More
Writing Spirit: The Syntagmatic Algorithms

Writing Spirit: The Syntagmatic Algorithms

maro_windNote: These are my overdue reflections, epiphanies, and mindfucks making it to the 48th National Writers Workshop, to be held from May 4 to 15 at Silliman University, Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental.  – Marocharim

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The syntagma is an element of a narrative with respect to time.  To make a syntagma, you draw from a pool of possibilities; you draw from a paradigm.  It’s an analysis of a surface and a structure with respect to repetition and recurrence.

Algorithms are a sequence of instructions with respect to the shortest time to finish them.  Algorithms are either determined beforehand, or result from a possibility.  They are always well-defined; that you know what you’re doing, or if you don’t, you know where you’re going.

Writing, to me, is a syntagmatic algorithm.

May 2, 2009 1 comment Read More