Television vs. Girls

I've listen down the top 10 reasons why I think guys actually prefer television to girls for companionship. Not that I understand boys mind you, but I tried putting myself in their shoes, and this is what I (plus my overactive imagination) came up with.

Disclaimer: If it feels that I'm betraying womankind with this article, I swear I am not. Nor am I a girl-hating, techno-obsessive person either. I'm just trying to have fun with my pen. Honest.

1. Televisions are way much cheaper. The total costs include the initial investment when you actually purchase it, its contribution to the overall electricity bill and the occasional repair every 2 to 3 years. You don't have to shell out money on weekly dates. You don't have buy gifts and remember every monthsary or anniversary to commemorate the date of purchase.

2. Televisions offer variety. You don't have to listen to the same story of how her mom beat up her dad for the nth number of time over and over again. You're in the mood for blood and gore, go pick a war movie that's showing on HBO. If you're in the mood to laugh your head off, switch on the comedy channel. Whatever you want is just a click away.

3. You can turn the television on mute if you want peace and quiet. Heck, you can even completely turn it off if you want to.

4. Televisions are available 24 x 7. They don't get tired. They don't need rest. They don't need to be coaxed out of giving a repeat performance.

5. You can always trade in your television once they are obsolete. Upgrade one, upgrade all. You don't have to rely on the half-new, half-old model that you bought some five years back.

6. Televisions are just there all day long. You don't have to think of new places to take them to. You don't have to worry that they'll be bored with doing the same routine every week. You don't have to change your bedroom techniques just to make sure your partner is not bored. They're just... there all the time.

7. Televisions come in all sizes and packages. Big or small. Japanese or German. Flat or not. Colored or black and white. Just provide the specs and voila!

8. Televisions don't need perfect manners or grooming. You don't have to shave and dress up in your best Sunday clothes to watch your favorite TV. You don't even have to pretend that you like the hors devour that you ordered in that ridiculously expensive restaurant that your girlfriend wanted to go to. You can even curse every other person on earth while you're watching and they wouldn't cringe. You can just slob around all day in your pj's, eat chips and drink beer while watching ESPN all day long.

9. Televisions won't force you to meet their manufacturer parents or their production batch mates. You don't need to engage in any awkward "Is this guy good enough for my daughter?" moments. You don't need to answer questions of how much you earn and when you plan to marry their daughter. Televisions are the perfect loner partners.

10. Televisions are not naturally insecure. You do not need to reassure them that their clothes are not too tight nor their zits are too obvious. You don't even have to be extra caring and understanding when girls are PMS-ing. In fact, you don't even have to have any reaction at all in front of the tube. That's how secure TVs are.

But then again, televisions don't offer the same zest and warmth that you get out of finding your soul mate, your one true love either. They cannot comfort you when you just received news that your dad is critically ill or when your child just said that he hates you and never wants to talk to you again for the rest of his life. They also do not warm your bed nor do they offer hugs and kisses just because they are happy to see you.

So, guys, which would you choose? Televisions or girls? :)

No Priest Is Tone Deaf

Maybe I'm just lucky, but at least, from my experience, I haven't heard any priest who's tone deaf yet.

Weird accents, yes. Boring sermons, definitely yes. But when they actually sing words of God, their voice comes across as pure and strong.

This works really well with me because I love to sing. I think that singing is one of the best ways to communicate. Hearing mass is okay. Saying your responses after the priest is also okay. But when I sing in harmony with the choir, the priest and the whole congregation, it just hits me right where it counts. I feel closer to humanity and to God. I feel more open and self-expressive. And I feel like at that moment that you open your mouth and belt out the first few notes of a worship song, it just feels so darn good.

Those of you whom I'm personally acquainted with know that I've recently re-discovered my Catholic faith. After more than 10 years of spiritual confusion and eventually complete withdrawal, I've started once again to look for my spiritual side - the one that believes that good triumphs over evil and that good guys do not finish last.

I've been roaming around neighboring towns and cities, looking for the church that I feel like I would belong in. I also tried different schedules - at un-"godly" hours of 7 in the morning or even as late as 6 in the evening. Thus, I've came across quite a few priests for the past four weeks or so.

Some are native Filipinos, while some are clearly imported from Mainland China. Some have a wacky sense of humor that reminds you of a religious Jay Leno, while others seem to have none at all. Some look positively angelic, while some actually look like they're just dressing up as priests because they look like they have this constant mischievous thoughts on their minds.

But regardless of the differences, I surprisingly found something common in all of them. They have different voices when they preach the Gospel. But when they sing, assuming that they do not have colds at that time, every single one of their voices come out solid and forceful.

Now I don't claim to have seen and heard all priests all over the world, but so far, I haven't encountered any priest yet who can't carry a tune... Well, at least during Mass that is. I'm not sure how they'll fare at a karaoke bar, but definitely, inside the house of God, they'll be able to join Amreican Idol and not be laughed at.

I wonder: Is this one of the unwritten requirements of becoming a priest? Just kidding.

Bittersweet

When your childhood friend is pregnant and will become a mother in 7 months' time... When your little sister strikes new friendship with other people... When your best friend initiates a romantic relationship with somebody he had really liked for a long time... When your 7-year old son gains new playmates who understands techno lingo and gets higher Nintendo and WII scores than you...

When these things happened, I knew precisely in that millisecond that things will never be the same between us. The people that you have loved and nurtured have suddenly matured and found courage to spread their wings out in the big bad world out there.

All you are left with is a sense of bittersweet happiness, a feeling of foolish pride and hundreds of fervent prayers of hope and best wishes.

That their bold leap of faith into life may bring them more happiness and completeness they could have ever hoped for beyond the safe and perfect little world that both of you have created and lived in for the past years.

That they may still remember and not forgo several years of bonding just for the sake of new ones.

That despite leading a life separate and distinct from you, they may continue to invite you to share in the next chapter of their lives together.

At the end of the day, although it does feel like it sometimes, I realized that I never really lost them. They weren't mine to selfishly keep and hold on to. I just lent them to other people equally deserving of their affection. Thus, this will hopefully expand the circle of relationship that I currently have.

This time, I will learn to love not just my childhood friend, but even her new husband and soon-to-be son or daughter. I will learn to watch movies and have dinner not just with my best friend, but even with his girlfriend-to-be. I will learn to appreciate not just my little sister who is not so little anymore, but even the new great set of friends that she gets along with very well. I might even learn more tips and tricks on conquering Nintendo and WII games from other kids who are around my son's age. Who knows? Anything is possible.

All in all, it's not a bad deal. In fact, it's a pretty darn good deal.

I just have to get used to this mode of thinking. That's all.