Pablo Francisco: A stand-up comedian

By: Sherwin V. Centeno

Have you ever been to a stand up bar before? Here in Cagayan de Oro, Philippines where I lived, have one but had been closed because nobody is so fond of going there and hearing those comedy acts they perform. In some places all over the world are very much hooked in stand-up comedies and seems enjoying stuff that makes them laugh. Oh, those comedians, they sure know what they’re doing to make you laugh. It helps you forget stress in work, at home, and elsewhere.
The comedy bar is simple, a stage where the performer will perform and couches where the audience would sit there comfortably drinking and eating and laughing their heart out of the jokes that the performer would say. Most of them do green jokes to make everyone laugh and some would sing and impersonate important people you might know of. Most performers here in the Philippines are gays because they are the one who most likely has the guts to do these things and has the talent of performing. It’s very hard to make a big crowd laugh. Little joke in a conversation in a small group would be fine. Inserting little green jokes during talks would simply keep a lively conversation. On a bigger crowd and on stage, oh boy, it would take a talent to fulfil that.

A friend of mine came across Pablo Francisco at youtube.com; a Hispanic- American who was born in Tucson, Arizona. Who grew up of Chilean origin performs live on stage as a stand-up comedian (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pablo_Francisco). He loves to talk about “green stuff” (you know what I mean). He surely is good at it. He is been performing for quite a while now and has a lot of fans. He can do beat box, change his voice to a woman and a man in an instant and acts along with it. Oh yes, he is really good.
How about you, do you have the talent like this?

Tuggs…tuggs…tugss…boommmmboommmm…

Who rocked the most?

Recently, there has been a battle between the two hottest Korean girl bands namely, 2NE1 and the Wonder Girls. I was kind of addicted in listening to these Korean dance beats which pushed me to write something about them. I have seen their music videos (Fire and Nobody) and I liked them both. I asked some friends of mine who among of the two is the best performer. Some preferred 2NE1 because they are more energetic and have good vocals. Some liked Wonder Girls because they are cute and hot (which I agree).

How about you who among them suits your taste?

Nobody: Another Korean Hit

“Nobody But You” is another Korean song that is hitting the airwaves nowadays. I first heard of this song when I strolled along with a friend of mine in a mall and he sang along with the chorus. I was not familiar of the song neither heard of it before. It had a dance beat that everybody seems to love listening to and singing along with the chorus part. The “Wonder Girls”, which is the name of the group, were composed of 5 girls from South Korea. Namely, Yubin, Ye Eun (Yenny), Sun Ye (Sun), Sun Mi (Mimi), and Sohee. The genre of their song were that of Larruso and Las Ketchup who sang the Jamais and the Asereje, respectively. Although, these songs were written in French and Latin, so does “Nobody but You” which was written both in Korean and English were hits in the Billboard charts.

My curiosity drove me to write about this topic. I can relate to the song through experience. I remember a couple of months back I had a very bad break up with someone. He told me that he cannot be the same guy anymore. I wanted our relationship to work out somehow despite of all the obstacles but he just easily closed his door for me. Ouch! That was quick said. Just when you thought that you were match made in heaven but ended up hell of a crap.

Translation

Nobody (english Ver)
You Know I still Love You Baby
And it will never change (saranghae)

I want nobody nobody But You, I want nobody nobody But You
How can I be with another, I don’t want any other
I want nobody nobody nobody nobody

Why are you trying to, to make me leave ya
I know what you’re thinking
Baby why aren’t you listening
How can I just
Just love someone else and
Forget you completely
When I know you still love me

Telling me you’re not good enough
My life with you is just too tough
You know it’s not right so
Just stop and come back boy
How can this be
When we were meant to be

I want nobody nobody But You, I want nobody nobody But You
How can I be with another, I don’t want any other
I want nobody nobody nobody nobody

I want nobody nobody But You, I want nobody nobody But You
How can I be with another, I don’t want any other
I want nobody nobody nobody nobody

Why can’t we just, just be like this
Cause it’s you that i need and nothing else until the end
Who else can ever make me feel the way I
I feel when I’m with you, no one will ever do

Telling me you’re not good enough
My life with you is just too tough
You know me enough so
You know what I need boy
Right next to you is where I need to be.

I want nobody nobody But You, I want nobody nobody But You
How can I be with another, I don’t want any other
I want nobody nobody nobody nobody

I want nobody nobody But You, I want nobody nobody But You
How can I be with another, I don’t want any other
I want nobody nobody nobody nobody

I don’t want no body, body
I don’t want no body, body

Honey you know it’s you that I want, It’s you that I need
Why can’t you see~

I want nobody nobody But You, I want nobody nobody But You
How can I be with another, I don’t want any other
I want nobody nobody nobody nobody

Back to the days when we were so young and wild and free
Nothing else matters other than you and me
So tell me why can’t it be
Please let me live my life my way
Why do you push me away
I don’t want nobody nobody nobody nobody but you

ge

My Heart has a Mind of Its Own

Have you ever heard of the song titled “Mind of its Own” by Christian Bautista? Hummmm… This song was not yet released here in the Philippine but was already been sang in Singapore. I heard it in one of his concerts here in Cagayan de Oro and since then I fell in love with it.

A part of the song says in the chorus part:
My heart has a mind of its own
Right or wrong it’s gonna do
Only what it feel is true
I’ll follow it where ever it goes
Anywhere it leads me to
My heart has a mind, mind of its own.

It had touched my life since I heard it. It gave me a turning point in which I consider it a jump start of a new beginning, a new chapter of my life.

Medically, though some would say that the heart dictates the emotions you are feeling right now but anatomically, your hypothalamus (found in the brain) is the one controlling your heart to feel these emotions now, it may be a lost from a loved one, a separation from a family, a death of a best friend. All may be felt, be happy, sad, despair or most of all love which we consider the most common used emotion all over the world, I, my self will say that.

Love! I have lost it, found it and lost it again. Now, I am very much afraid of falling in love again. It hurts a lot to loose the love you thought would last a life time. God had made plans for us but we are the one to decide whether to take it as it is or venture to a path which we knew we might fall down to. Thus hardship and trials will come our way but who knows, we might learn from our mistakes. I have learned some, have you?

The heart is the center of attraction of all because love is being felt by it. Also our life depends on it to live in this world. Blood passes through it and travels to our entire system thus giving it a very important role of every person’s life. Our action of love comes from it though controlled by the brain. For me, the heart gives love a deeper meaning in us all. As another song goes, “love will keep us alive”. Do you agree?

“Till Debt Do Us Part: Practical Tips to Financial Freedom”

I came across an article in The Philippine Star newspaper written by Butch Francisco, a showbiz talk show host of ABS-CBN’s Showbiz Linggo. He had a one on one interview with Chinkee Tan. As far as I could remember, his funny facial expressions on television made me laugh way back in the late 80’s. I even researched on the internet for some important information about him. His real name is Ferdinand Tan, also known as Chinkee Tan in show business. He was one of the members of Randy Santiago’s Hawi Boys, (the cowboy outlaws spoof of Philippine television) who also gave him the screen name, ”Chinkee” because of his chinito eyes. Honestly speaking, I am not a big fan of him and neither watches his shows regularly when he was still active in show business world. What brought me to write this “blog” is that he caught my attention of the book that he had written “Till Debt Do Us Part”, which I think is a very useful guide to financial management. Today, he as a successful entrepreneur, shares his practical tips on how to be debt free. Here are 11 ways taken from the book he wrote:

1. Love your profession. Be a professional. Be excellent in what you are doing. Never be late for work. Do your best. Never take things for granted. What you do not value you lose. You will never know how important it is until you lose it.
2. Save! Save! Save! Remember it is not how much you make that is important but how much money you save. Even if you make P100, 000 a month but if your lifestyle is at P120,000 a month you will be in debt. Even if you make only 20,000 a month but if you live below it you will be far of richer than the one who is making P100,000.
3. Be secure! Never compare yourself with other people. Being envious with other is not healthy. Two negative things happen, it is either you become proud that you are ahead of others or you become sad because others are ahead of you. They are both negative. The question we need to ask ourselves is that “Did you do your best and exert all effort?” If nothing happens it is not God’s will. Wait patiently for your time will come.
4. Invest! Invest! Invest! As you accumulate wealth make sure that invest it in the right places. I personally have invested some of my earnings in real estate and now I am having it leased and it is bringing me income even if I stop working. Questions you need to ask yourself “What if I stop working right now, will I still earn the money I need to support my lifestyle?” Let money work for you and do not work for money.
5. Learn before investing. People often complain about the high cost of learning. Allow me to reason with you about the high cost of ignorance. It is so difficult to earn and save money. But it is so easy to spend it. One wrong decision can cost you lifetime savings. Make sure before you invest ask, study and invest in something you understand. Learn before you earn. Read books, attend seminars and trainings that will enhance you.
6. One caution in investment. Avoid high risk investment. The higher the interest the higher the risk.
7. Diversify. Never put your eggs in one basket. You are only good as your last project. Reinvent yourself. You cannot be popular and stay in demand forever. So use your popularity as leverage in order to create more opportunities for yourself. Get involved in business, as much as possible start something you love to do. If you have no experience in running a business partner with someone who has the experience.
8. Be a wise spender. Avoid overspending and out of control spending. If money comes in too quick there is a tendency for you to spend it also too fast. Since you will have the mindset that more money will come in later. You exposed yourself by buying jewellery, a condo, lot or a car through mortgage or monthly payments. My question is “What if the money making machine stops?” What will happen to things you acquired? It will all be taken away.
9. Buy in cash stay away from debt. When you buy it in cash it is yours. Statistics shows that you tend to spend more if you buy things in credit especially if you use your credit card. Do not fall into the 12 months zero interest scheme. Credit card is the most emotionless and painless way of spending money. But once the billing statement comes “Ouch!” the pain sets in.
10. Be humble and considerate. Keep your feet planted on the ground. Make friends while you are on your way up. Never be arrogant and insensitive. Be careful of what you become in what you pursue in life. The question you need to ask yourself in pursuing your dreams and aspirations in life is, “Is it bringing out the best in me or the worst in me?”
11. Remember money is very relative. The more money you have the more relatives you have. Just like in life, if you are rich and famous you have many friends and people like to hang out with you. But you will only know who your true friends are when you lose everything. Ask those who had been there, done that.

“Hope this information will help and save you from pain and heartaches. As for me I do not believe in the saying “Experience is the best teacher.” Allow me to rephrase it by saying; learning from other people’s mistakes and experiences is the best teacher.” By Chinkee Tan

I thought of buying a copy of this book aside from the “Purpose Driven Life”. Maybe I should save to buy these two useful reading materials which are very good to ponder on.