Jukebox: A Short Novel By Jonathan Aquino (Part 1 of 7)

November 24-30 

The birthday celebration in a house in Santa Ana was in full swing. Yugyugan by Karl Roy and POT was pounding the sound system. "Sige na people! Just get on now! Sige na, sige na, sige na-ah...!" Wally, who looks like Enrique Gil in Way Back Home, had just arrived. He worked his way through the crowd.

"Russel!" he greeted his friend who looks like Sam Concepcion in Peter Pan.

"I thought you'll never come, bro!" said Russel, shaking hands.

"I was assigned to the closing shift," explained Wally. "Kitchen detail!"

"Well, the important thing is that you're here," Russel patted his shoulder, leading him to Terri, who looks like Angel Locsin in Unofficially Yours. "Sister!" he said. "You know Wally, right?"

"Of course!" Terri laughed. "How are you, Wally?"

"Oh, I'm fine, thanks!" replied Wally, flustered. "Happy birthday!" he greeted.

"Thank you!"

"Uh, this is for you!" Wally said, handing her an envelope with a pizza restaurant logo.

"Bro, if it's money, you should have given it to me! Russel joked.

"Oh, they're just gift certificates!" said Wally bashfully.

"Why, thank you, Wally!" smiled Terri. "You didn't have to bother," she assured him. "But I appreciate it!"

"Come on, bro, let's eat!" invited Russel.

"Just feel at home, Wally!" Terry told him. "You boys have fun!"

On their way to the buffet table, Wally froze. "Bro, who's that?" pointing to a girl who looks like Julia Montes in Walang Hanggan.

            "Never seen her before," Russel shrugged. "But she's pretty," he smiled. His mobile phone rang just then. "Wait, bro," he told Wally, answering it. "Hello? Where are you now? What? I can't hear you, it's too loud here!”

Wally was looking at the girl, feeling a strange sensation, wondering why the heck he's feeling that way.

"Wait, give me a minute!" Russel told the other person on the line. "Bro," he said, turning to Wally. "You go ahead, I'll join you later, okay?"

"Uh, sure, bro!" Wally said anxiously, afraid of being alone in a party.

            "Hello?" Russel on the phone as he made his way outside.

Wally turned to look at the girl again. She was approaching the buffet table. "What is this, love at first sight?" he asked himself, amused and terrified. He took a deep breath. "What the hell," he whispered. "Here goes!" Wally went up to her, his face blushing overtime. "Hi, I'm Wally," he said hesitantly, feeling electrified. "I'm a friend of Russel, you know, Terri's brother?"

"I'm Jo!" she smiled. She has an aura of self-sufficiency that Wally found intimidating and compelling at the same time.

"Jo," he repeated, relishing the name while trying to look cute. "Jo as in ... Wait, let me guess! Josephine?"

"Josefina, actually," she smiled again, getting some juice from the punch bowl. "But just call me Jo!" She took a sip. "Where's your friend?"

"He's outside," replied Wally, gesturing. "I'm sorry to barge in on you like this," said apologetically. "Truth is, this is the first time I introduced myself to anybody!"

"It's not a crime to be nice," said Jo, picking up a paper plate and going around the buffet table.

"I work in a pizza restaurant," said Wally, following her like a puppy. "Russel and I used to be classmates but I had to stop school."

            "I hope you can continue your studies someday," said Jo, forking spaghetti on her plate. "It's hard to find work if you're not a graduate."

"That's really my plan, but I need to save some money first," said Wally slicing the roasted pig. "How about you? Where do you work?"

"In a beerhouse."

"Hey, you're a joker!"

"A G.R.O."

"Seriously!"

"I am serious."

Wally stopped laughing. "Really?"

Jo nodded, taking a small slice of maja blanca. "Why? You find me immoral?"

"Where's the club?"

"Ronquillo, in Santa Cruz."

"I don't believe it!" said Wally, admiring her even more for her utter lack of pretentiousness.

"Most people don't want to believe the truth," Jo smiled, walking away.

"Wait!" Wally ran after her, balancing his plate with both hands.

They stopped in front of the French windows opening to the balcony.

"Look," said Wally, breathless. "I'm a bedspacer near Morayta, I work in Legarda, I can walk to your club! I hope you don't mind if I visit you?"

"Why?"

           "Oh, don't worry, it won't be until the end of the month," he laughed. "I need to wait for the next salary!"

Huggybear’s Favorite Nickel Creek Song

This Side

Huggybear’s Favorite Bellamy Brothers Song

Let Your Love Flow

November 17-23

Jaime Licauco

Jaime "Jimmy" Licauco is a highly evolved soul. I believe that, absolutely, and I totally understand why he is (like me) not conventionally religious—but deeply spiritual and in tune with the most fundamental truths of human existence. 

I asked Jimmy, the foremost parapsychologist in the country, three questions of the utmost importance to my life. I sent the questions via text message to his Sunday night Teleradyo show Inner Mind On Radio on Nov. 4, 2012. His co-host Charmaine Cruz read them all on air, starting with the second: 

How do I establish the link to my Higher Self? Is that the same as guardian angel? When I die, will I become somebody else's spirit guide before my next lifetime?

The only way, Jimmy says, is through meditation — going deep down to the Alpha level, the same state achieved by monks and hypnosis subjects. But this is not a one-time, big-time thing: meditation is a way of life. Bruce Lee would agree 

My third question was read next: 

Can u pls tell me if Im correct in believing that I chose this life even before I was born, based on my own spiritual path? Is it really just like a student choosing his next class based on his graduation requirements?

Jimmy said, "Yes!" stressing the importance of taking assuming responsibility for my actions. Nobody else is responsible for my life, Jimmy says—only me 

Just when the Jim 2 show was ending, Charmaine read a quick one: my first question: 

I believe in proactively helping others to balance my karma in my present n previous lifetimes. Am I in the right track?

Jimmy, before signing off, answered my question with an empathic "Yes!" 

***

I read Silva book, haven't tried because I lost it during Ondoy. The apps are practical but I forgot how. Do they work? 

The above passage is my text message to Jaime Licauco on the Nov. 11, 2012 episode of Inner Mind On Radio. The Silva Mind Control Method, developed by Jose Silva, has real-life applications useful for everyday life, like conditioning yourself to wake up, refreshed, at anytime you choose. For a working student like me, this would be invaluable. Jimmy himself read my message. Yes, he said, they do work. They are the first to introduce the concept in the country in the 80s; and while Silva seminars are no longer being conducted, his Inner Mind seminars are also teaching similar improved mind-dynamics methods.

That episode was full of listeners' questions about an incredible variety of topics. The world will not end this coming December 21st, says Jimmy Licauco, to which Huggybear fully agrees. This prediction, explains Jimmy, is a misinterpretation of the various interpretations of the Mayan calendar. We are coming to an end of cycle, characterized by weather and geologic phenomena, like Hurricane Sandy and the killer quake in Guatemala, but it's not -- repeat, NOT -- Doomsday 

(See the Huggybear story, also published in AllVoices, Do You Believe The World Will End In 2012?) 

Another equally mesmerizing subject was the Annunaki, the race of beings from the planet Nibiru as detailed by Zecharia Sitchin in The Earth Chronicles. 

(See also the recent Huggybear story on the Annunaki on our October 27 issue)

***

Anthony Pangilinan’s Magbago Tayo

It is an uplifting Saturday morning as I type this on my phone, getting ready for bed after my graveyard shift at the call center, on November 3, 2012. I'm tuned in to Magbago Tayo, the inspirational TV-radio show hosted by change-management expert and public speaker Anthony Pangilinan. He is in New Jersey at the moment, the state where, coincidentally, our company's client is based: Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, in Newark; our callers are doctors asking for patients' medical coverage and about the status of the claims they've submitted for medical insurance reimbursement. 

I didn't get the guest host's name but I took notes of the priceless new gems wisdom he shared: I love the one about sports games as analogy for life: a true leader looks at both the playbook and the score board. I may know what I want and what to do, and I also need to know where I am and where I'm headed. 

Another unforgettable lesson is from Zig Ziglar, and I'll be incorporating these into my life: 

1. "Success is the power to change." 

2. "Success is good if it does not get into your head." Conversely (and this is one of my instant favorite lines): "Failure is good if it does not get into your heart." 

3. "Success is inevitable," according to Zig Ziglar, if you do the 4 Ps: Pray, Plan, Prepare and Participate. 

The guest host also shared and expounded on Manny Pacquio's secret of success: "Extreme self-discipline" and of course, "prayer." A listener asked for advice about finding work even if he's over-aged. The guest host said the issue is "not employment but employability!" 

The guest is Efren Penaflorida, CNN Hero of the Year awardee and founder of the Cavite-based Dynamic Teen Company, whose advocacy is teaching literacy for young children and adolescents. I first heard of Efren when I came across his nomination for the CNN in 1999, and I even posted a big campaign poster on 2Rivers; my own way of showing my support, linked to the site where people can cast their votes online

It tickles me that, as listened to his amazing journey to spread literacy, I was then reading four books, alternating every couple of pages: Wayne Dyer's Pulling Your Own Strings; Whitley Streiber's Communion; Barbara Michael's Greygallows and Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf 

One of the things I'll always remember from that episode is an insight from John Maxwell: A true leader touches your heart before asking you to lend a hand. 

***

The Death of Superman

A childhood friend lent me his vintage copy of the collector's item edition of The Death of Superman around the second of July 2012. The members of the Justice League were no match for the totally indestructible and infinitely powerful villain, Doomsday. He simply trashed Maxima, Ice, Bloodwynd, The Blue Beatle, Booster Gold, the Lantern Guy Gardner, Guardian, even Supergirl who was (listen to this) the girlfriend of Luthor. There was no mention of Batman and the other Superfriends. 

There was only unstoppable destruction. 

In the end, the unthinkable has happened. 

I was shocked. I found myself mourning. The Man of Steel is dead. 

But Superman is forever

***

Bless The Child

Max (Kim Basinger) had raised Cody (Holliston Coleman) after Jenna (Angela Bettis), her estranged sister and the girl's mother, abandoned the baby. When Cody was around 10, a series of child murders terrorizes the city. FBI Agent Travis (Jimmy Smits) discovers that the victims have a common link: all were born on December 16, the day the star that guided the magis appeared over Bethlehem. 

Out of the blue, Jenna appears to take Cody away, swearing to Max that her new husband, Eric Stark (Rufus Sewell), has helped cure her drug addiction. Stark is the famous founder of the self-help group  The New Dawn. Max adamantly refuses, and the next thing she knew, the girl has been kidnapped. Cheri (Christina Ricci), a girl who escaped from New Dawn, reveals its dark side, and Max witnesses how she's murdered by the goth-costumed cult members. 

Cody, who is showing mild signs of autism, also possesses unique abilities, and she was also born December 16, a significant date for Satanic worship

November 10-17

Ariel Ureta

I first saw Ariel Ureta, the veteran actor, TV and radio host, in person when I went to the studio of DZMM Teleradyo to follow up on a script I've submitted for another ABS-CBN program around Feb 2012. He was taller than me, in a hurry, didn't see me 

On another occasion, I was standing in the corridor looking up at the display of trophies when Winnie Cordero, his co-host in their afternoon radio-TV show  Todo Todo Walang Preno and the consumer issues correspondent for the TV Patrol evening news, passed by. I greeted her and she smiled: she's nice. 

Anyway, I happened to be tuned in last Sept. 13, 2012 and Ariel was sharing a really clever article he saw in the Internet. 

Is a hammer male or female? It's male because "it hasn't evolved much in five thousand years but still useful to have around." 

Is a zip lock pouch (those transparent bags where you put sandwiches and evidences from crime scenes) male or female? It's male because  "it keeps everything in but you can always see through them." 

Are kidneys male or female? They're female because they "always go to the bathroom in pairs." 

Is a TV remote control male or female? It's female because it "gives men pleasure," and men "dont know what buttons to push but they keep trying." 

Is a Swiss knife male or female? It's male because it "looks useful at first but they spend the rest of their lives opening bottles." 

Here's my favorite: Is a subway male or female? It's male because it "uses the same old lines to pick up people."

Chinkee Tan

It revives my faith in human nature everytime I see someone who has successfully reinvented himself. Chinkee Tan was a comedian in the 90s and now he's an author, public speaker and financial management guru. I was tuned in to his Sunday morning radio-TV show Chink Positive on 92.3 NewsFM on Oct. 28, 2012. Coincidentally, the night before, I bumped into a long-lost friend, Shantel, who has gotten rich in real estate, and who inspired me to try it. This is perhaps God's answer to my prayer on how to raise money for an aunt who's in a nursing home and for my first project as a filmmaker but I'm getting ahead of myself. 

This is my text message to Chinkee's show, read on air by his co-host Christina Lazo: I love your show, very insightful. The ideas are practical and timeless. What the world needs now is a sense of empowerment and renewed purpose. Cheers! 

Full ANC Shoptalk episode featuring Chinkee Tan

The guest was Jayson Lo, a public speaker, book author and a born-entrepreneur who earned his first million when he was only 21 years old. I can deeply relate to his story on getting up again after a major setback, focusing on repaying all debts to regain that sense of freedom. 

He categorizes people's personalities into four major types, DISC, symbolized by animals commonly found in the Philippines: Dominant (eagle); Influential (rooster); Steady (carabao) and Corrective (tarsier). The tarsier is an indigenous monkey with big spooky eyes. The idea is: they see everything). 

I'm following all of Jayson's advice: "Focus on your strength." Value the 3 Cs: Character, Competence and Christ. "Love God, love others, and give your best everytime!" 

Full ANC Shoptalk episode featuring Jayson Lo

The show ends with the favorite song of the guests. In this episode, it's Hanging By A Moment by Lifehouse

Charlie's Angels  

Aug. 25, 2012: My housemates where I'm currently staying went to the 8.30 a.m. Mass. Got the house to myself. I marinated some shirts, socks and briefs in water mixed with detergent powder. I cooked scrambled egg in the microwave. They have a DVD collection of 70s cop shows, and I watched an episode of Charlie's Angels and S.W.A.T., having already seen Starsky & Hutch. Then I did some push-ups, squats and sit-ups. By the time they arrived, I've already rinsed my laundry and marinated them in fabric conditioner. A productive hour. Not bad for a Sunday morning. Now it's time to take it easy. Chill!

Susie is a popular race car driver in an all-female circuit. Unexpectedly, she dies when her engine failed. The car owner, Jerry Adams, thinks it's sabotage, so he goes to Charlie's private detective agency for help. 

Through a speaker, the elusive Charlie gives the assignment to his his right hand, Bosley (David Doyle) and his three girl sleuths 

Kelly (Jacklyn Jose) talks to Susie's parents. Sabrina (Kate Jackson) will join the race as cover. Bosley and Jill (Farrah Fawcett Majors) pretends to be traveling Christian revivalists to keep an eye on things, using their trailer as their headquarters. 

They find that the bad guys, Dirko and Wells, will use the Corbin to Baja race to smuggle diamonds across the border. Their hired mechanic, Kale, kidnaps Jill as Sabrina races againts the dirty-playing speed demon, Bloody Mary 

Batman Forever

Could it be that your nightmares are caused by painful that you subconsciously repressed? asked the psychologist Dr. Chase Meridian (Nicole Kidman) to her patient, Bruce Wayne (Val Kilmer). The billionaire-philantropist gestures to the photos and magazine articles on Batman scattered on her desk. "Maybe I should leave the two of you alone," he says, avoiding the topic, with an air of indifference but with an aura of mystery that she finds fascinating

***

The young acrobat Dick Grayson (Chris O'Donnel) witnessed his entire family murdered by the schitzphronic gangster Two-Face (Tommy Lee Jones). The boy was adopted by Bruce, who knew exacty how it feels to see your parents killed in cold blood. 

But "Broken wings mend in time," Alfred (Michael Gough), Bruce's loyal butler, tells the boy. Soon, he says, you'll be flyin again!

***

Alfred calls Bruce, the butler's face appearing on his watch, with alarming news about Dick. Bruce didn't get it at first. So okay, Dick took the car. No, it's the Jaguar. Nope, it's the Bentley either. 

"No, sir," insists Alfred. "The other car." 

Then it finally dawns on him: the boy took a joyride with the Batmobile! 

***

"What are you protecting Bruce?" challenged Chase, wanting his patient to come out of his shell. 

"Maybe we are all two people," he says. There is no way to tell what he means or what he feels. He's too inscrutable. 

***

Let me join you and make me your partner! Dick almost pleads. Bruce turns to him. Then what? he answered him. 

"You make the kill, but the pain doesn't go away!" he says. 

Then one day, Bruce continues, you'll just wake to realize that "revenge has become your life." 

Then you be will be alone, Bruce went on "like me. 

***

After his parents were murdered, Bruce tells Chase, he found his father's journal. Suddenly, during the funeral, he felt it was important for him to run away, clutching his father's journal, alone in the rain.  The earth swallowed him, and he found himself  in an underground cave. There was a light at the end of a tunnel. 

The boy squinted, and almost screamed when he saw the vampire-like creature flying towards him.

"I used that image," he tells Chase, "to strike terror," at the hearts of evil men, "ensuring what happened to me won't happen to others!"

From the journal of Jonathan Aquino, aka Huggybear 

October 17, 2012, Wednesday, 8:46 morning: 

This is one of the happiest periods in my life. I've established my own personal schedule, revolving around my fixed graveyard shift. As I write this, I'm a call center worker bee in APAC (which has just been renamed EGS) for Horizon Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Jersey account, in Northgate Cyberpark in Alabang, about a little less than 20 kms. south of Manila. I would do some dumbell workouts and do some writing when I wake up in the afternoon. I live in CENA village, 5 minutes from work, my route under the trees with grassy vacant lots on both sides in the seldom-used wide avenue jogging lane behind Bellevue Hotel makes me feel I'm back at the U.P. Diliman campus again. Good vibes! 

When I go home the next morning, I'd spent two hours, just for me, before going to sleep; this is when I'd listen to music on headphones and read, mostly aloud, with Bronx, Texas, Ohio, Brisbane, Belfast and Tennessee accents. 

I just finished Anne Rice's Interview With The Vampire. I'm now reading, all at once: Shirley MacLaine's Out On A Limb, John Grisham's The Runaway Jury and a super-rare copy of Thomas Sugrue's There Is A River: The Story of Edgar Cayce 

I'm living now to correct the karmic balance from my previous lifetimes, wanting to reach a higher level of spiritual consciousness which has absolutely nothing to do with religion. For the first time, I'm now giving time to myself, giving myself permission to be all I can be, free from the need to please others. 

It calls to mind the theme from the 80s Saturday afternoon drama series Coney Reyes On Camera, which my late beloved grandmother used to watch, and one of my earliest happy memories was lying down on the sofa with my head on her lap just to be with her. "It's my turn, to see what I can see, I hope you'll understand, this time's just for me..."

(Huggybear's photo taken Nov. 5, 2012)

November 3-9

Narinig Mo Na Ba Ang La8est

Popoy (Aga Muhlach) is bonding with his younger brother, Bong (John Prats) over sandwiches on the terrace. 

Popoy: (casually) You got a girlfriend now? 

Bong: (surprised) Why? 

Popoy: (dryly) Because your ear has grown a cellphone attached to it! 

Bong: (smiles) Yes...How about you? 

Popoy: (pause) No...Have you ever done "it"? 

Bong: (tentatively) Yes...How about you? 

Popoy: (a bit defensively) Yeah, when I was 18, in high school! 

Bong: (appalled) Shit, that was a long ago! And you've never done it since?! 

### 

Popoy is overjoyed by the news: his boss (Tessie Tomas) says he's being groomed as the next creative director of their ad agency 

Boss: (hesitant) But there's a catch. You know, during the 70s, I was into marijuana. Joots! So, personally, I have no problems with people who are "different." Do you understand? 

Popoy (confused) No 

Boss: Some people are grumbling that there's now too many gay people in that department! They're afraid our ads for truck batteries will become ads for beauty products! 

###

Later, in a bar, Popoy is consoled by his colleague, Gina (Joyce Jimenez). 

Gina: (indignant) That's discrimination! So what if you're gay? 

Popoy: (exasperated) That's the point! I'm being discriminated against, and I'm not even gay! 

### 

Gina empathizes, saying that people are judging her, calling her names like pokpok and haliparot because of her easy-to-get reputation. But, she says, "I'm just a hopeless romantic!" 

###

Popoy and Gina are in Paco Park, at night, with a box of pizza. 

Popoy: (self-conscious) Do you realize that we look a couple of idiots, having a picnic at night? 

Gina: Oh, nobody's paying any attention! By the way, I went out with Dennis last night! 

Popoy: (deadpan) I know. I was there, remember? 

Gina: What is he saying about me? 

Popoy: (neutral) Oh, nothing... 

Gina (bemused) You men are all the same. There's a conspiracy of silence. Why do men have to brag? 

Popoy: Not all. There's still some decent men left. 

Gina: Like you?

Popoy: You don't believe me? 

Gina: It's my turn to ask. Will you answer? 

Popoy: It depends. 

Gina: Are you gay? 

Popoy: Do I look gay? 

Gina: Oh, gays come in all sizes amd shapes now. Sometimes, they're even more macho than real men! 

###

One time, Popoy took Gina home and cooked for her 

Gina: That's delicious! 

Popoy: You have a strange way of flattering! You haven't even tasted it! 

Gina: Where did you learn how to cook? 

Popoy: There are recipes, and I see it on TV. 

Gina: Some men watch basketball. You watch cooking shows? 

Popoy: I want a simple life. I want everyone I care about to have a full stomach. It doesn't make me less of a man! 

###

Huggybear's favorite scene in Jose Javier Reyes' Narinig Mo Na Ba Ang La8est: Popoy and Gina are walking in the street. 

Gina: Why is it that you don't have a girlfriend? 

Popoy: Do I have to collect women to prove I'm a man? 

Gina: Of course! 

Popoy: Is that why you always have a boyfriend? 

Gina: For companionship! 

Popoy: You mean for sex? 

Gina: (laughing) That too! Gee, now you'll really believe I'm a slut! 

Popoy: You know, you have to be happy within yourself before you can be happy with other people!

Watch the FULL MOVIE

Zonker Harris

Zonker Harris is the ultimate slacker, a modern-day "Sun God" hippie surfer, totally indifferent and clueless about life, yet charming in a rogue kind of way; in other words, a man after my own heart. 

Zonk is calling home to ask if its okay to bring his buddy Mike to their house on the Coast. "Mom, what a awful thing to say!" he says on the phone, and Mike, beside him, murmured, “Never mind…” 

That's a scene from Gary B. Trudeau's book Dude: The Big Book of Zonker, a collection of his Doonesbury cult comic-strip series. 

On the way, Mike says that a police car is signaling them to stop. Zonk disagrees, finally conceding when the cop starts shooting at them. 

The cop finds marijuana in Zonk's bag. Mike is stunned. Indignantly, he tells Zonk: "I thought you finished them all last night!" 

In jail, Zonk says his dad feels guilty because he was the one who gave Zonk his first joint 

"Were they good?" asks his jail cellmate 

Zonk smiles dreamily: "Out of this world..!"

S.W.A.T.

James Street (Robert Urich) and his partner Duran are on one of their peaceful, early-morning mobile patrol duty. Responding to a emergency dispatch, they are caught by surprise when a group of snipers ambushed them. 

James is devastated; one moment, he is joking around with his partner, and the next moment, Duran is dead 

Driven by revenge, James signs up with the newly formed S.W.A.T team, with Sgt. Kay (Rod Perry), the marksman TJ McCabe (James Coleman) and the narc undercover cop Dom Luca (Mark Shera) 

But when James comes face to face with his partner's killer, he didn't get the pleasurable urge to pull the trigger. 

At that moment, their leader, Lt. Hondo Harrelson, knew that James has finally matured and grown strong enough to control his emotions, and is now worthy of being part of the elite S.W.A.T. 

"Welcome to the club!" Hondo says proudly

Some Kind of Wonderful

All-American high school kid Keith (Eric Stolz) is in love with Amanda (Lea Thompson), the most popular girl in school. But Eric is an outsider: he loves art, he works as a car mechanic and gas attendant, and his only friend is a tomboy, Watts (Mary Stuart Masterson). She warns him that Amanda is only using him to get away from her rich boyfriend Hardy (Craig Sheffer), who is plotting to beat him up 

You can't judge a book by its cover, says Watts, but you can already know the price to pay 

Then Keith is blasted by another revelation: Watts is jealous of Amanda. "Break his heart," Watts tells Amanda, "and I'll break your face!" 

There are only three things I care about, Watts tells him: herself, her drums, "and you!" 

Keith confronts her. "Why didn't you tell me?!" he said.  

She replied, "You didn't ask!"

Watch The Full Movie

Some Kind of Wonderful (The Full Movie)