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It’s been a while since the last JPop post. So here’s Koike Teppei and Eiji Wentz, aka WaT, singing Toki Wo Koete - Fantastic World. This is a large video, smaller version at the end of the post. I have included the lyrics in Romaji. An English translation of Toki Wo Koete-Fantastic World is also included below.

Toki Wo Koete-Fantastic World
WaT

Ima o ikiru koto ga
Mirai tsukuru no nara
Asu ni kakeru hashi ni narou
Woh woh woh

Asa no hi ni somaru machi
Hajimari o utau kimi
Kizamareru toki no naka
Kimochi wa kasanariau

Nagare yuku hito no nami
Sono naka de bokutachi ga
Meguri au kakuritsu ni
Omoi o hasete mita

Sure chigau hito sorezore ni
Taisetsu ni omou hito ga ite
Boku mo mata (boku mo mata) Kimi to iu(kimi to iu)
Kizuna ni deaetan da

Itsuka tadori tsukeru
Haruka tooi risou e
Kimi to tsunaida te wa hanasainai yo
Hashire! Toki o koete
Egao afureruhodo
Sekaijuu ga kagiyakidasu
Woh woh woh

Sugite yuku nichijo wa
Nareru ma mou nai kurai
Itsudatte ichido kiri
Yarinaoshi wa dekinai kara

Guuzen mo hitsuzen mo
Koeta you na meguri ai
Kimi wa mou kizuite iru
Sono toki ga ima nan da

Kokoro kara wakariau nante
Deki wa shinai to shitte iru kedo
Sou negau (sou negau) Boku ga ite (boku ga ite)
Kimochi wa tomerarenai

Ichiban daiji na mono
Sore ni kizuita toki
Kimi ga ima made yori mo chikaku natte
Hashire! Toki o koete
Egao afureruhodo
Sekaijuu ga kagiyakidasu
Woh woh woh

Itsumo wasurenai de
Itsumo tayasanai de
Kimi no egao ga sekai gaeru kara

Itsuka tadori tsukeru
Haruka tooi risou e
Kimi to tsunaida te wa hanasainai yo
Hashire! Toki o koete
Egao afureruhodo
Sekaijuu ga kagiyakidasu
Woh woh woh

English translation of Toki Wo Koete-Fantastic World by ndhaa

If being alive now
Creates the future
Then I’ll form a bridge to tomorrow
Woh woh woh

The morning sun colors the city
You sing praise for the day’s beginning
As time ticks away
Our emotions are as one

The crowd keeps moving on
Within it we try
To turn our thoughts
To the probability of meeting each other

Every person that passes by
Has someone dear to them
And I too have found
The bond that is you again

*Someday we’ll be able to reach
That faraway ideal
I won’t let go of your hand
Run! Last for all time
The whole world starts to shine
As if it’s overflowing with smiles
Woh woh woh

Each day passes by so quickly
We don’t have time to get used to it
We only get one chance
Because there’s no way to do it over again

Meeting you was more than coincidence
It was more than inevitable
You already know
That moment is now

I know it isn’t possible
To understand each other from the heart
But here I am, wishing for it
And my emotions can’t be stopped

When I realized
What was most important to me
You were closer than ever before
Run! Last for all time
The whole world starts to shine
As if it’s overflowing with smiles
Woh woh woh

Don’t ever forget it
Don’t ever stop it
‘Cause your smile will change the world

(Repeat*)

Treat the author to a cup of coffee.

Most people think political bloggers are stiff, serious all the time, aloof, ivory-tower-dwelling persons who don’t know how to crack jokes, and who won’t laugh at any jokes. They don’t have the time for frivolous things; they only talk about politics and social issues (and the occasional gossip). The political bloggers have this reputation that somehow turns off (well, not really turn off) some people, and some even shout “nose bleed!” when talking with political bloggers.

But. They are human beings too. They laugh, they cry, they agonize, they take a bath, they eat, they visit the crapper when needed, they breathe the same polluted air.

And to prove that political bloggers are human beings, too, just invite them to videoke. Nothing beats a microphone and a loud sound system blaring YMCA.

So that’s what Ria Jose found out last night when we went to Red Box Greenbelt 3, together with Juned, Fritz, Poyt, Billycoy, Marcelle, Arpee (who went home agad, ander kasi), Markku (with girlfriend), and Jayvee (with girlfriend). Unfortunately for you (and fortunately for me), there are no incriminating evidence. Yet. Anyway, it was a fun night, which was definitely a concert by Marcelle, with occasional assist from anyone. And for the first time, I came home super duper uber late. Lagot ako sa nanay ko.

And thankfully, by mutual consent, there are no videos. Ay, meron yata. Yari ako. Huhuhu.

So there. No wonder a noted political blogger avoids videoke like SARS. I now understand.

Treat the author to a cup of coffee.

Being a Makati boy has its advantages and disadvantages. The biggest disadvantage is that I live in the lakes of Caloocan; travel time is at least an hour if it isn’t rush hour yet. I have to leave at 6:30 AM if I want to arrive at 8 AM. And then there’s the MRT. And then the rush home.

I had been hoping not get employed at Makati, since the cost of working here is high - the food, the travel fare, the costume, the works. So when I got a job offer here, I was consoling myself that I would be lucky enough if the company would match my salary from the previous employer. While the offer did exceed the previous one, the increase was eaten by inflation already. And the EVAT.ha

It has been a week. I think I got the hang of the travel. Mornings: take the MRT. Afternoons: take the bus. Bus is slower, but at least I get to sit, and not engage in wrestling. And smelling arm pits. Yeah, I do get bombarded by fumes, but that’s way better than smelly arm pits, IMHO. And I get to avoid entering Trinoma, which saves my wallet from impending bankruptcy.

The food is very expensive. The cheapest is fifty pesos, delivered to your building in styro. Your food choices are limited by your budget; the smaller, the limited choices you have. Good thing my mom sees the philosophy in bringing packed lunch. She’s the ultimate cheapskate, and I got that from her.

Going back to food: there’s McDonald’s, 7-11, and Mini-Stop downstairs; Starbucks several buildings away; Krispy Kreme, another McDonald’s, and another Starbucks across the street. And I have never been into any of them. Wait. I had been to McDonald’s downstairs and Starbucks several buildings away.

I don’t like smart casual. I like casual. I like going to work in shirts and pants. My morning dress up ritual is simple: just grab what’s on the cabinet. But smart casual has changed that. I should be thankful, though; unlike that rock star who always appears to be selling insurance (kidding, but you get the point).

The irony of my Makati life (so far) is that I know some bloggers who work here, but we haven’t met yet for coffee or merienda. It should be a small world, but we are separated by tall buildings and heated underpasses and US time. And also, Glorietta nor Greenbelt is my tambayan. I don’t get to tambay, since like most grunts, I join the mad rush towards home.

There’s a certain belief than when you work in Makati, you have arrived. Heaven knows what a lie it is. It is an airconditioned purgatory, where men in ties and women in heels (or vice versa) atone for their mistake of even thinking that there is glamor in Makati work.

What I like about Makati is that everywhere you go, there is a bank. Paying bills has always been a good excuse to get off the office. And Smart Tower’s just across Rufino; that’s where I had applied for Smart Bro, and that’s where I had paid my cellphone bill for last month. And The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf is just a block away, so spending my GC is not a problem (how to spend it, that’s the problem).

Also, I am forced to walk. I must admit that a month of inactivity (plus eating) has led me to high blood pressure. I am glad to have my forced walk back; it is my online exercise.

Anyway, I am not sure how I will fare as a Makati boy. Indicators are not good at the moment. Seeing people go and hearing others talk about leaving, all at your first week is I think too much for my morale. But people come and go, as they say. But we’ll see.

Treat the author to a cup of coffee.

If you find yourself charged with a crime, it is best that you know what to do, what your rights are, and how to protect yourself.

First, know what to do. It helps to be calm at all times, and be logical. It cannot be helped if you feel afraid when the law enforcers knock at your doors - that feeling may give the false impression that you are hiding something. When cops ask you questions, stick to what you know, and don’t add anything else. This applies if you are not being arrested. If that is the case, see the next paragraph.

Second, know your rights. Ask for a warrant of arrest. Let them state the Miranda doctrine. Ask for a lawyer before you start answering their questions.

Third, protect yourself. You can do this by finding a good lawyer. If you live in Los Angeles, you can look for good Los Angeles Criminal Lawyers | California Criminal, DUI Defense lawyers.

Remember, always keep your cool.

Treat the author to a cup of coffee.

Attended last Friday’s Buhay Coke ng Blogger’s Party at Taste Asia, which is at the SM Hypermarket, SM Mall of Asia. Before that, I took a walk, savored the cool breeze, and saw my attempts to find a network attached storage fail miserably. The tech shops at MoA were disappointing and uninviting.

One queen famously said “After us, the deluge.” Well, I dunno if there was a queen before the event, but indeed there was a deluge of Coke Zero. For the record, I had two cans that night, a personal record. I dunno, I find Coke Zero to be lacking in sweetness. Maybe that’s just me, since another blogger told me that he found Coke Zero to be sweeter than regular Coke.

Memorable moments:

* For the first time (finally), I get to be a volunteer for Marcelle’s magic. Either I am not a good liar, or he’s a shaman.

* Shari’s “scary moment” turned out to be an elaborate Punk’d. So says Marcelle. BTW, go read her blog post about the youth’s involvement (or non-involvement) in politics and governance.

* The Jester-in-Exile’s attempts to appear as an angel. MONUMENTAL FAIL, translating Dra. Tess‘ comments in LOLspeak. And their attempt to make me violate my own curfew. Me=fail.

* Jeff almost slumping down, due to being awake for 24 hours. Seriously, you should see it. Like this one.

* Fritz making good his promise to be whoop-ass P&S photographer. Seriously, just take a look.

* Juned’s bad-ass, it-could-kill lense. Which played well with his scary mask. Take a look at the casualties. Fritz is partly to blame for some of the casualties.

* The Manila Foodistas came in full force. Tiff was mighty proud of her figure. Jeff, Josh, and I saw no difference, really. Kidding!

* Loads of Bloggers Da Who moments, but I’ll leave that for AJ to chronicle.

Kudos to self-confessed Coke addict Aileen Apolo for a blast of an event. You can find other blog posts about the event listed in her blog.

Treat the author to a cup of coffee.