One Day in Makati…

Normally, the idea of going to First Academy of Computer Arts (FACA) is like visiting a university I’ve graduated from. My visit to FACA yesterday, however, was unlike those days when I would go to my university just to loaf around while wallowing in nostalgia. I went there with a purpose, fully intent to have that dealt with lickety-split, and without scanning to see if anyone I knew was there so that I could high-five with them and pretend that we were so thrilled by this sort of accidental meeting. I want my only goal to be met quickly. Professionally. No digression. Without commotion. Yes, I was (still am) busy. Couldn’t stay too long. I’ve completed my final project since nearly half a year ago, and I’ve since been waiting to get the certificate that recognizes me as a student who has indeed completed his course. My classmate got his certificate last week, and because we both submitted our project the same day, I thought mine should be ready. I was wrong, a conclusion thoroughly predictable from my way of writing. People working in FACA told me that I had to sign a request form if I want to get a certificate. I was befuddled. How inefficient! Shouldn’t my final project be enough a hint of my wanting to get a certificate? What other reasons could I have for submitting that?

I left FACA, and I thought that since I was in Makati anyway, I should go to Greenbelt.

One of my stops was the bookstore, Powerbooks. Frankly, I don’t like this bookstore anymore. I used to like it a great deal back when I was in college, but right now it bores me, as it doesn’t have the books from the authors that I like. It lacks a decent collection of graphic novels, sci-fi and fantasy books, and the only kind of book it is superabundant with are the business kind, which, frankly, people my kind don’t dig that much. But that wasn’t what drove me out of the bookstore yesterday. What drove me out was the music. Okay, I know it sounds really finicky, but hear me out! I just don’t understand why Philippines’ bookstores are so insistent in playing phone-on-hold musuck on their radio. The idea is that they should play songs that people can put in the back of their minds so as not to disturb any reading, but can’t they at least choose the ones that do not sound so revolting?! What I heard was a disgusting, stomach-curling, bossa nova rendition of Stevie Wonder’s “You are the Sunshine of My Life”! Yech! Since I’m a big fan of all the albums and all the songs Stevie Wonder released on his classic period, some things when done forever earns my disrespect. You do not, for instance, try to take any music from his classic Talking Book album just for the sake of pandering to a certain demographic. And who exactly digs those bossa nova versions of popular songs anyway?!

I’m sick of these Bossa Nova moron artists thinking that just because Bossa Nova is (was) huge, it grants them the permission to cover songs by singing in a monotonous asthmatic voice backed by repetitive and predictable instruments. I don’t wanna hear  bossa nova pollutions of Eleanor Rigby, With or Without You, I Can’t Get No Satisfaction, and You are the Sunshine of My Life. To give you an idea how bad it was, play the Stevie Wonder’s original.

You Are The Sunshine Of My Life (Stevie Wonder)

Now imagine a Bossa Nova harpy singing that “I feel like this is the beginning” line. You just don’t believe her saying it – you don’t believe anything is beginning - because she doesn’t inflect, and with her lazy singing you’d think that she was trying to say “I feel like this is just me sleeping”. It’s that bad.

The remaining of my time in Greenbelt was less memorable. I went to Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf and found out that chocolate fudge cake + mocha mudslide = chocolate overdose, which made me sick. Yeesh, why did I even try those combinations despite never being a big fan of chocolates? (By the way, I ate that cake for Perlette since I promised her that I’d celebrate her birthday by eating a cake for her – it sucks that we’re countries apart.) I also found it incredibly hard to read any book when a coffee shop plays stupid electronica music cobbled lazily with Garageband by people devoid of any musical talent.

Anyway, my intent to shop for certain things in Greenbelt was fruitless. It’s here where I have to ask for some help. The “certain things” I spoke of were actually gifts, and I’m clueless about what specifically. See, I have to give gifts to some women friends. Emphasis on friends, meaning they’re not people whom I have any romantic inclinations. The problem is, I don’t know what to give them. So, guys, help me? I need suggestions.