The Contra Code on FB

As a kid growing up during the "Family Computer" age of the 80's and early 90s, I was one of those who got to experience the action-packed (?) game of CONTRA. Since most video game users back then were guys (girls were usually limited to MARIO or TETRIS, or preferred to remain in the lowtech fantasy world of BARBIE), we didn't really care whether or not there was a nice story or a good ending. All we knew was to kill the bad guys, be they ghosts, monsters or aliens.

CONTRA remains to be one of only a minute few that had a special cheat code for game enhancement. This cheat code came even before the invention of any GameShark or GameGenie or what not. It came as a hidden trick to the game itself. All you had to do was get this code ( press UP UP DOWN DOWN LEFT RIGHT LEFT RIGHT -B- -A- -START-) in during the Video game intro to get an instant 30 lives (sometimes it's as many as 99 lives). For 2 players, you had to make sure you pressed the -SELECT- button prior to -START- so the option would move to "2 Players". Here's a vid I found on Youtube :

This code would become a certification for any guy to prove that he had played CONTRA. The Masculine Game. This and other codes would increase your level of Coolness. Other codes or cheats involved pressing on the -SELECT- button in between rounds in Mike Tyson's Punch-Out to gain more energy and a certain coin trick to warp thru stages in Star Wars (I've never done this one). However, once you have done these, especially in front of others, you would be considered super cool.

Moving back to the current date, The Contra Code of way back has risen from the ashes of Obscurity and Time and made its way to the most popular Social Networking Site, Facebook. Little is known about how such code came to penetrate the pseudofantasy world of Facebook, but if you've got time and are curious, go to your "home" page and press UP UP DOWN DOWN LEFT RIGHT LEFT RIGHT B A and start scrolling up or down.

Suddenly everything will be so clear and bright.

Now I know how someone sentenced to die by the rack feels.

Watch for VERDE SPA

Been under a lot of stress and pressure lately, what with all the work backlogging because of the typhoons, with all the (tiring but fun) relief operations, and with both my reports for Grad School falling on the same week.

I finally finished my oral report on "Philippine-American Relations" and its 10-page written counterpart yesterday, for Foreign Policy Class. After the 2&1/2 hour ordeal (an hour report, the rest was defense/discussion), I told myself I needed a massage (I hadn't had one for weeks, anyway). I didn't get it last night though, because I was too tired, so I got one tonight.

I had originally considered SPADA, where I had gone the past few times, but I remembered one of the attendants there saying that there would be a new spa opening next door. When I asked her then why she was telling me this, she said she had been recruited by the said place and it would be bigger than SPADA. Remembering her advice, I decided to see if it was already open.

As I turned right going towards Adventist Hospital from Taft, I spotted it. It is literally next door to SPADA on the same building, as she said. This new place is called VERDE SPA, and it has just begun to operate. When I entered the place, I could already see that the place was bigger than the other. The counter and couch areas did not feel too cramped, and there was even space for a wash area behind the counter.

VERDE has a designated locker room area, I believe one for males and one for females, while SPADA lets their guests change in the bedroom (something I found not too spa-like). VERDE also supplies towels and "massage clothes" (i.e. robe and shorts) with slippers, while SPADA only has robes and slippers.

Intrigued by the melon scrub that the counter attendant told me they had, I requested for a body wash prior to my massage. I also wanted to compare this area to that of the other spa. As of now, this area is still a bit empty,having no matting for the concrete floor. The scrub/wash bed is a big block of concrete lined with a cushion-layer for comfort. I'd have to say that SPADA's scrub bed is still more comfortable than this, as that was a real massage bed designated for wash, but VERDE's bed provides better neck comfort as they have the facehole in the concrete bed (SPADA's bed did not). Also, I noticed that VERDE's scrub/wash room was a bit dark,but I was told that there were lights for the area, they just havent been switched on (normally done by request).

As I finished my body wash, I went up to the massage area. On the way, I spotted a little wooden sauna room, though this was not yet operational. Immediately, I thought this is going to make a huge difference with SPADA. Another this I noticed was more showers and bathrooms (SPADA has one communal little, err, people's room). When I got upstairs, I could see the size difference again with SPADA as VERDE's upstairs space looked like a large hallway with 9 bed areas. I'm not exactly sure about SPADA's upstairs because I haven't counted, or gone beyond their wash area (which is upstairs), but it still looked very much cramped compared to VERDE's area).

One vital improvement I noticed with VERDE compared to SPADA was that the beds were elevated. This "feature" makes it easier for the masseur/masseuse to focus on the massage, as the client is much closer to the hands and arms of the masseur/masseuse without the latter having to bend down or kneel. The beds of VERDE also have the faceholes on them, which are very vital to the customer's relaxation and breathing.

After my massage, I got to talk to VICTOR, the proprietor of the place, as he was manning the counter. Apparently (for those who want to try), they are having their GRAND OPENING on Saturday, Oct. 17, where their services are 50% off! When asked what other differences VERDE had from SPADA, he answered that VERDE has a Sauna Room (which I had already spotted) and a mini coffeeshop, where customers could order some snacks and drinks while waiting for their massage or waiting to go home.

So, here's a new place to go to : VERDE SPA, located on the same building as SPADA. Their price is the same, but the place is bigger, and soon to look better.

Bonfire and Oktoberfest

I have never been to any Ateneo Championship Bonfire until last night. Entering the gates of the campus for the first time in a long time, I didn't know what to expect, really. I knew it wasn't going to be just a simple bonfire where pieces of wood would be set ablaze and we'd have roasted mallows and weiners while stories of glory would be told.

When I got to the GS parking lot, the place looked as if there was a school fair. Food stalls, concessionaire booths and lots of people. People who knew each other, young and old, all part of the festivities.

It reminded me a little of our school fairs back in high school and elementary where it was all about fun booths and being with friends, celebrating and forgetting about everything negative at least for that day.

Didn't stay too long at the bonfire, for I had a prior commitment to Manny's Oktoberfest. Left Ateneo around 8:45 pm to head for Manny's place, which I overshot on entry as I had forgotten how the house looked.

Friendly faces old and new were all present to celebrate another year of friendship, another year of life. Manny and Iea prepaed lots of drinks wo partner with the delicious goulash and the sausages. Different shapes and sizes, all yummy.

So here's to you guys and all of us, for another year.

Tell the World

I woke up to a strange LSS. It was the theme song of the World Youth Day Celebration back in 1995 held in Manila, "Tell the World of His Love".

For those that don't know the song (it is infectuous, believe you me), I'm sure you can easily find the source for the audio (maybe even video) track, but let me share with you the chorus:

Let us tell the world of His love
The greatest love the world has known
Search the world for those who have walked astray
and lead them home
Fill the world's darkest corners With His light from up above
Walk every step, Every mile, Every road And tell the world,
Tell the world of His love

Then it struck me: Over the past week or so, the Filipino People have done just that. With the aftermath of Ondoy, despite the threats of Pepeng, We the people, remained steadfast in helping and sharing what we could, what we had with those who lost and did not have.

So scripture says that Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13) But what if there were a greater love by living and continuing to live for not just one's friends but our neighbors?

I remember one of our Philo101 lessons "the Socius and the Neighbor", in that society dictates that by mere association, we are all everyone else's socii. However, we choose to be someone's neighbor through our actions. With our deeds and actions this past week, the Filipino People have just become one enormous neighborhood, whether friends or not.

These relief operations are tangible examples of "giving until it hurts, giving until it hurts some more and eventually until it hurts no more". Sweat and Tears (maybe even blood?) in amounts equal to Ondoy's onslaught were (and are still being) given, all in the name of Goodness, Goodwill and Generosity.

With the light generated from within us, we have truly lit the world's darkest corners and told the world of His Love.

Standing Up to the Storm

I have never seen so many angels as I have today, not surprisingly, on the feast of the angels. I remember this day yearly because today also happens to be the birthday of my cousin, martina ANGELa. (Happy Birthday, Mima!)

Who says angels have to have wings? Church doctrine and common practice has associated the term with cute Cherubs and Seraphs, and the archangels Michael, Raphael, Uriel and Gabriel.But as far as I know, the term "angel" is derived from the latin term for "Messenger".  So, technically, when you've got a message to deliver, you are an angel. Maybe that's why even in his most evil state, Lucifer, is still referred to as a "Fallen" angel.

But lest I veer off from the goodness of this day, I have never seen so many angels as I have today. I have also witnessed the miracle of the multiplication of loaves and fish. But this time, it was the multiplication of relief goods.

Lyceum's CPAD (Communication and Public Affairs Department, where I belong) all went to Poveda to help out with repacking the relief goods. When we got there, the place was filled with angels with a unified message to send: "No storm is going to stop us from doing our little part". Classes were suspended for a whole week, yet students of all ages (some even as young as Grade 2) were all there, packing sacks and sacks of relief goods for families they don't even know.

The strange part is that the boxes of relief goods for repacking just kept on coming and coming. No politicians' names, no NGO name-droppijng, just boxes and boxes, sacks and sacks. In his time, Jesus did this same thing with just 5 loaves and 2 fish, and this took place in a specific location (a small mount, with around 5000 people, or so they say). Today we packed goods that will go out to a much bigger range and number of people. Humanity and the spirit of "bayanihan" transcend and religion. I will go out on a limb by saying that not everyone present today is Catholic (maybe not even Christian). But the angelic message still remains.

Immortalized by the most controversial "angels (in their own right)", Lennon and Macartney... "All you need is LOVE".