Loving ‘Coach Spo’

It was in one of a local channel’s episode of NBA Action when he drew my attention. It was a lot like love at first sight, in the littlest way possible.

And my instincts did not fail me, Erik Spoelstra is Filipino—much credit to his inviting resemblance to Erik Menk, I was right.



Despite the Heat bowing down to the Celtics in the Playoffs, my interest towards him did not wane. This thing, a recent proof of idolatry of that sort.

A Dutch-Irish-Filipino descendant, son to Former NBA Executive Jon Spoelstra and Filipina mom Elisa Celino, Erik was an outstanding cager in Jesuit High School in Portland, Oregon, setting career-best records in assists, 3-pointers and field goal percentage.  He was starting point guard for the University of Portland Pilots from 1988 to 1992 where he was named West Coast Conference Freshman of the Year. He went on to coach Herten Ruhr Devils, a German professional basketball team later on.

Spoelstra joined the Miami Heat in 1995 and was assigned to various duties including scouting and training. He has worked alongside NBA legend Pat Riley, who often then reminded him to ‘get ready’, somewhat preparing him for the head coach position in the occurrence of his exit. Spoelstra, the youngest head coach in NBA history is slowly making his own mark in the league. Having been flexing muscles with Dwayne Wade and the rest of the Heat, Spoelstra is showing much confidence in his crew finding strength in his schooling persistence.

And I could not love him more as I read over his interview in Filipinas Magazine and I quote, “There is one thing that I am definitely interested in doing in the future, and that is helping develop basketball in the Philippines. I have been talking recently with the NBA about me putting together basketball clinics in my mother’s home country, hopefully in one of these next couple of seasons. It will be a wonderful chance to see some of my family over there and reconnect with my roots.” Oh.



I just think that’s so nice of him to still recognize his roots. The idea of him sharing his expertise back here sounds promising. I am crossing my fingers for that to happen some time soon.

I’m pretty sure that’s a sight to see even if you are a basketball junkie or not.

After all, the Celtics just broomed them out of contention.

Flying back home here might just be the next best thing.

Potchskii and Me

The idea of having a baby sister sounded so good to me. This is actually with no offense to my younger sister Sai, as she is no longer one and she never acted like one when most of the time it felt that she was more ate-ish than I am. I have always believed that we’re twins. Only that I was a year older. However you want to put that.

Poof! And then came Potchskii! Whom people from school thought was one of my siblings. Gabriel and her, they were unbeatable partners in crime. And I am their willful accomplice. Haha. In other words, dakilang kunsintidor ako. Shot.

 

And I couldn’t be as excited for her as she ventures into another chapter of her teenage life—college. I was a proud ate when she made it to Letran to take up digital arts. And her playing her A-game in volleyball will rather be a plus-plus! I just pray she wouldn’t mess up. Potch, alam mo na mangyayare sa’yo pag nagkataon. Sa haba ng buhok mo, sawa ako sa pagsabunot sa’yo!

 

She was growing up so fast that she even outgrew me already. Of course Gab’s case, iba yun. He has been monsterized. Haha!

Well, one way or another, they both will outgrow me, but not the stance that I will always have for them. I’m kind of protective, you know.

So people don’t dare. Haha. Ako na’ng maldita.  

over coffee v1. arresting lyric lines~

Home-based on a scorching Friday!

Here’s to unstoppable music in the background (like I love it) and missing way-home traffic jam! Yey! Lucky me, there isn’t so much that I need to do work-related.

Having mentioned about music in the background (which I effortlessly indulged  myself with today), I thought of enlisting arresting lyric lines from my current stirring hypes and divergences. This batch never falls short in giving me some rigid feel of emotional pinches! (Ouch.) Haha! Read on. You might even get your own.

1.     ‘You’re like an Indian summer in the middle of a winter, like a hard candy with a surprise center.’ ~Thinking of You, Katy Perry

 

Sometimes, it’s just so hard for us to read people. Well, that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re difficult. There could just be other ways lang to get to their core. Nonetheless, para sa’kin, I’m up to the challenge, as always. Hehe.

 

2.     ‘Something always brings me back to you. It never takes too long.’~ Gravity, Sara Bareilles

 

Unfair. Sometimes no matter how hard you try to do some letting go, nag-u-u-turn ka pabalik ng ganun-ganun lang! It’s like you thought you took one step, pero you took two back pala. Timangers!

3.      ‘How do I slow down? I can’t relate to my heart now, I’ve thrown what I’ve known, I’m running on empty.’~ Lovesick Mistake, Erin McCarley

 

People have the tendency to rush things to the point na everything’s so mixed up already. It just still makes sense to take things one step at a time. Hush dear, hush. (Me telling that to myself. Haha!)

 

4.     ‘Oh love it’s easy if you don’t try to please me if you don’t want to see me anymore..’~ Here We Go, Mat Kearney

 

Simple: Wag paasa. If ayaw, ayaw. If gusto, gusto. Nothing in between. Para iwas hassle. Kase sabi nga ni Oprah Winfrey, “There’s no such thing as half-assed.” Tama?

 

5.     ‘As many times as I blink I’ll think of you tonight..’~ Vanilla Twilight, Owl City

Of course you couldn’t keep up with having to count how many times you blink! And that’s just melting sweet to think that you have somebody thinking of you as many times as he blinks! Aw. DIP na yan! Die in place! Haha!

Good vibes come right by. Happy weekend everyone! (Extended weekend for me! )

I’m not gonna write you a love song!

[caption id="attachment_16" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="dex, tin & me~guitar sessions underway!"][/caption]

It’s the utmost of dreams I have alongside Tin—to be able to write our own songs.

Back in college when we both enjoyed alternately scribbling thoughts for RІEІAІDІ, my beloved ALT ROUTE’s  heir, a dissection of songs’ lyrics and lines,  we aimlessly jived up to something close to wishful thinking—us strumming our guitars down while jazzing up our very own pieces.

To date, that remains to be some sort of a pipe dream. Haha.

Ang Bilog, our common ground for alter-ego and pseudo names, was sponge-like in absorbing and revealing our ill-dwelling feelings concurrently. It couldn’t get any better than that. It’s serene in character, too much different from the enthralling action of the sports page. I couldn’t be but engaged. After the hustles and bustles, it was but soothing to give in to some laid back stuff.    

It’s aftermath? Rumbling emotions wrapped up in verses and anecdotes, almost always like somebody else speaking in our behalf. Poetry became our powerful tool. It even came handy some time then, like a jargon we all knew of speaking. Tin and Dex, they were very much good company in this emo much stance. It’s not like they’re emo-emo, emo alone could qualify. Haha. It’s like, our brain streams streaming in unison. How does that sound now? Poetry and music—perfect fit!

I couldn’t quite recall my first published one or the one I wish I could have laid down melody for, just like how Dex does it marvelously. Hats down. Nonetheless I still am up to the idea of having my first song written and played for you know who.

And a collaboration won’t be that bad of an idea. With Tin and Dex’s genius, ours will linger indefinitely.

slapdash

Just like how Wednesdays are to me, this day, this early, is quite thickset.

The ride to work was riot. Arjae and I hit the same bus together. We were our makulit selves, as always. It's quite amazing though that despite the fact that we missed a lot of times together, our closeness never changed. Besides, he’s the closest guy friend I have from grade school. Tagal na din pala.

On the side of our hirits and animated stories, it wasn’t in any way uncanny for us to talk about some somber stuff. That’s us doing a little growing up there. And it’s just odd having known that we’re on the same boat, quite on the same boat. Rocking on the same boat.  Neither needed to spill some more. It’s like I-got-him-he-got-me thing up for us.

We could have grown a little, but we’re going to grow up some more. And I’m going to cut my hair short again, Arj. There’s no stopping me. Haha. And there won’t be no stopping our pizza party too.

It’s me, you and Janina.

Chalk it up.

status: brewing!

"Better late than never."

I'm quoting Carlos for saying that to me a couple of times now. And I couldn't be but ecstatic about having this one going for real! (yelling.) 

This is the sole thing that leaves me naked. I mean, with all the writing and stuff, my lucidity is rather apparent. Nothing beats it.

My 'doodling-the-hours-down'  pastime has got to be going somewhere--somewhere this bare but overly awesome!

I'd say say kudos to me!