A 'dry run' to the apocalypse

Where were you during the tsunami scare? Honestly, I felt rather envious of those who were in the thick of the action. I would’ve wanted to be there running scared for a tidal wave that never came (thank you, Santo Niño!).Looking at the videos on YouTube and the photos shared on Facebook, it seemed like so much fun—much like how some of us like paying to get scared by horror movies or roller coaster rides(of course, not when you’re actually running for your life, but looking at things in hindsight, how amusing it would all have been).

I could not forget spending one October weekend at the Universal Studios in L.A. (for their annual Halloween Horror Nights) where the entire amusement park was transformed into one giant horror booth as soon as dusk set in, filled with my favorite scary movie characters like Freddy Krueger, Leatherface, Chucky, and many more coming to life. I’ve never had more fun!

Surely there is fun in fiction. And even more fun in fact. But looking back at the tsunami scare that saw a sea of people (not water) flood streets very familiar to me, makes me think of how, fact is, disaster could definitely strike anywhere, any time.

After all, the tsunami scare in Cebu City was a ‘dry run’ (obvious pun to being literally a dry run, no seawater engulfing Colon, etc.) to a cataclysmic disaster of global proportions that, as per the Holy Bible, will clearly come to pass and it’ll only be a matter of time before it does.

So pinangga gyud ta ni Santo Niño. Why? Because that ‘dry run’ was like a dry run to the apocalypse, a stern reminder that the world we live can end any time. The Holy Child Jesus, through a scene straight out of a Hollywood blockbuster, with crowds rivaling the Sinulog itself, reminded Cebuanos that life on earth is temporary and that we should all strive to live with our priorities in check.

People leaving their cars, doors opened and engines running, some Chinese businessman in the downtown area leaving their stores unmanned proved once more that life is more important than even our most valuable possessions. Dili gyud nato madala.

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About Boy Abunda in Queen: I was at party a few nights ago and someone mentioned that Queen (a pageant for alternatives) must’ve spent so much, with Boy Abunda doing the Q & A. Not for anything, but just to set the record straight, Boy did it for free, for the love of the gay cause so to speak. I should know, I invited him.

I mentioned the prospect of him judging to some of the organizers and told Boy about the production soon after via phone. I explained it some more during one of our taping schedules for The Bottomline and he grew excited at the whole idea of a ‘Miss Gay’ pageant that could rival even the Binibining Pilipinas in terms of production value (and at times, even in terms of the quality/beauty of its contestants).I was confident Boy would do it for free (after all, he’s done so much pro bono work for many of my development-oriented projects here and in Manila for years now, how much more for something that’s very close to his heart), and sure enough he offered to do it for free, and asked if he could do the Q and A instead of judging.

As ever, he did a terrific job! And he never charged the organizers a single cent. He also shouldered his airline and accommodation expenses, while bringing in Ladlad to support the pageant. Anyhow, just saying. I think it begs to be mentioned to give credit where credit is due.

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Tonight on The Bottomine: Actress-host Janice De Belen bares her heart and soul and talks about her failed relationships and what else she looks forward to at this point in her life.

Make sure you catch her explosive revelations and quotable witticisms tonight after Banana Split on ABS-CBN Channel 2. Encore cable telecast on the ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC), Sunday, 1 PM.

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