Dissolution Of Humanity: The Maguindanao Massacre

Trying to accept the fact that your country is in the center of attraction, once again, but, in a terrible manner. How would you like that? Just a couple of weeks ago, my country was celebrating the win of one of the best boxers to ever set foot on earth, then, this news came. From being happy, to being horrified and scared. One question circles my mind all the time --- When will my country, The Philippines, ever change? Just that simple.

I don't want to focus on this blog about the win of Manny Pacquiao in boxing a few weeks ago. It's about the violent killing of civilians and journalists in Maguindanao, that prompted the head of state to declare Martial Law in that province.

November 23, 2009, Town of Ampatuan, Maguindanao Province, The Philippines.

One of the darkest days in the Philippine History, or worse, One of the darkest days in the world history. (I may sound far fetched, but, I DO MEAN IT.)

The Maguindanao Massacre.

Para sa kapangyarihan, kailangang ang mga sagabal ay patahimikin. Siguro ganyan ang iniisip ng mga nagsagawa ng kawalangyaang ito. Dagdag mantsa na naman 'to sa dati nang namantsahang imahe ng bansang Pilipinas. Hindi pa nalilinis ang isang dumi, nagdagdag pa ng karumal-dumal na basura. Political rivalry is the main problem. Ampatuans ruled Maguindanao since 2001, and ever since then, no one ever dared to challenge for political positions in that area. Parang gusto nilang mangyari, eh, sila na lang ang mamayagpag sa lugar na yun, hanggang sa mga susunod na salinlahi ng kanilang pamilya. But one day, there's this one Esmael "Toto" Mangundadatu, dared to challenge the Ampatuan Clan and tried to file his certificate of candidacy for gubernatorial position, opposing Andal Ampatuan, Jr, son of the imcumbent governor, Andal Ampatuan, Sr.

But one day, all of their fates changed.

Mangundadatu wants to file his candidacy, but the Ampatuans sent him a warning, that if ever he files it, they'll chop him into pieces. So to deter such attack, Toto invited 37 journalists to come with him to COMELEC Office province in Shariff Aguak. But his plan backfired, as their convoys was put to a halt by at least a hundred men, 10 kilometers from the city of Shariff Aguak... And all hell breaks loose. Nalaman ko na lang na umabot sa 60 ang casualties of the massacre, maybe 30 of them journalists. Among that 60 casualties are Toto's younger sister, aunt, and his own wife. They were not just killed, but ridiculed as well. Ridiculed in a way how they were dispatched. And only a soulless person can do things that happened to the victims. They were really out there to punish those person into oblivion. Mutilation is the word that can describe what they did. And there were those civilian casualties, who were just passing by, mistaken to be a convoy as well. Unfortunately for those civilians, everyone that went to that path took all tha havoc of the ignorant peasants.

And the journalists.

Maguindanao Massacre was recorded as the single deadliest attack to the press for a long time. No wonder why Philippines placed second among the most dangerous country for journalists, trailing to Iraq. And it's not funny anymore. We're always on the hot seat in a very undesirable way. But no matter what those low-life people do, no one can stop the power of media to uncover the truth... EVER..

"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, then the world will know peace."

- Jimi Hendrix.

Pinoy Street Foods: Crash Course

"Dig in."

I was surfing through my Facebook account when i noticed groups of the most popular pinoy street foods. Reminds me of my College days in PUP, Sta. Mesa. That place is, for me, The Sanctuary of Street Foods. From the starting point where you went down from the Jeepney and look straight ahead towards the main entrance of the campus, street foods are everywhere. Imagine, ang Teresa St. (lugar ng campus namin), na parang Wall Street Market. Chaos, with style.. Hehehe.. Kahit saan ka lumingon, may street food.

I'll just share some foods that, over the years, have been very, let's say, memorable, to my taste buds. (These are the street foods that they have in our campus/ near the campus.)

Una, Ang walang kamatayan at Hall-Of-Fame-bound na pagkain na Fishballs. For ordinary people like us, this is one of the first street foods you'll learn to eat. First time kong nakatikim nito when i was 5 years old. And from that day on, humaharurot ako ng kana ng fishballs. Hehehe.. If you haven't tried this one, you better should try it now.

Sunod, The Inihaw franchise... (Hehehe, franchise talaga?). May iba't-bang klase ng inihaw na chibog sa kalye. Andyan ang basic Barbeque (pork meat). Magkakaiba nga lang sila ng timpla, so, let your tastebuds decide who's the best barbeque maker in your town. Sama na rin natin yung mga inihaw na Hotdog. Well, that's the common foods that everyone can eat. The next inihaw foods that i'll mention is something the pinoys really dig. Simulan natin sa Betamax (blood cube). Mas masarap to lalo na sa suka. Ang ADIDAS, (chicken feet). Some people said filipinos are eccentric in terms of food. Even chicken feet, we still chow on it. Hehehe.. At meron pang bituka ng baboy, isaw ng manok, bulaklak, ulo ng manok at marami pang iba. Let's just say na mahilig kaming kumain ng lamang-loob, but we're not cannibals.. Hehehe.

Meron pa. Ang Calamares (deep-fried squid). This one is one of my all-time favorites. But among the street foods-on-stick, ito ang sa tingin ko ang the expensive one. Because fishballs only costs .50 centavos/piece, while calamares is 3 pesos/each. The good thing is, you'll never get dissapointed because it's really, really good that you'll crave for more.. Wahehe.. Suka lang din ang sawsawan nito. Nothing special.

Ang Tokneneng at Kwek-kwek. Hindi pwedeng mawala yan sa recipe ng aking pinoy street foods. Minsan kasama itong nakahelera sa mga fishballs at iba pang pagkaing tinutuhog. Masarap tong kinakain nang nakababad sa suka. Pero mas "ultimate" ang kwek-kwek at tokneneng kapag ang suka ay binagsakan pa ng pipino at sibuyas. Astig talaga! Sa PUP, halos pare-pareho ang kwek-kwek, nagkakaroon lang ng variation sa sawsawan. Iba-iba sila ng timpla ng suka. So, again, let your tastebuds judge.

Nung nasa PUP pa ako, meron kaming kinakainan na masasabi kong "trademark" ng lugar na minsan naging tahanan ko. And you know what we eat??! The Mighty Lugaw All-You-Can. Nung first year pa lang ako, eto ang madalas kong kainin. For just 5 pesos/bowl, lunurin mo na ang sarili mo sa lugaw. Mura na, sulit pa. Hehehe.. Siguro, nakaka-walong balik ako para humingi ng lugaw. Hehehe.. Napapailing na lang yung nagtitinda eh. "Sino kaya tong masiba na to??!! Nakakarami na to ah??!!" Hehehe..

Madalas, may ka-jamming ako sa banatan ng street foods. Kaklase ko sya nung high school, and we both went in the same university. Siya rin ang kasama ko nung na-discover namin ang Lucky Me™ Pancit Canton with ketchup, Or Spaghetting Pancit Canton, or sa mas madalas naming tawag --- SPANTON.. Hehehe Ang bantot ng tunog pero ang sarap ng lasa nyan. Others find it weird to put ketchup in that food, but my friend and me dig it so much, that some times, we have to cook three rounds of pancit canton. Grabe! Kakaiba ang epekto sa amin ng spanton. Naging trademark na naming magtropa yun. 'Til now, we still eat that.

Meron akong bago-bago ko lang nakain, before i went here in Denmark. Isaw ng manok na coated by flour, deep-fried. Suka din ang sawsawan. The best din to.. Sumasabay na din to sa level ng calamares at fishballs. It came to a point na eto na inuulam ko sa kanin.. Ehehe..

Ang isa pang pinoy street food that's on his road to Hall Of Fame? Balut (unfetilized duck egg). Ang pamatay sa pagkain na to eh yung soup na nasa loob ng shell, lalo kung hahaluan mo ng maanghang na suka.. Hmmm, i'm craving for one balut now. Hehehe, but be careful when you eat this, 'cause it has a very high cholesterol content. Preferably, you can only eat a maximum of two baluts in one seating. Mahihilo ka kapag sumobrang dami kinana mo. Hehehe... Well, depende pa rin yan sa sistema ng katawan mo kung kayang i-endure ang high cholesterol ng balut. Still, it's one of the best pinoy street foods, ever.

Siguro may mga alam pa kayong pinoy street foods more than what i know. But one thing's for sure, as long as it is "food" we're talking about, and anything edible, game ako dyan. Kakainin ko yan. Hahaha!! Good day..

Winter Rush

Oh well, another day has passed, sa mundong ibabaw. Ewan ko sa mundong ilalim, (hehehe...) Habang nagtatype ako ngayon, eh, ang view sa labas --- the snow is falling. Well, patikim pa lang nama yan, kasi mahina lang eh, pahapyaw kumbaga. Hehe.. These is the season that the sun goes into hiding.. In short, nagdadamot ang araw, Sa summer na daw sya ulit lalabas. Hehehe..

Madalas na ang dilim sa paligid. Bilang din ang mga oras ng labas ng araw, mas madalas pa na hindi ito nagpapakita. 8 na ng umaga, madilim pa rin. Kaya siguro maraming taong nadedepress dito, lalo na sa mga taong galing sa lugar na buhay hanggang alas-4 ng madaling-araw. Yung tipong hindi mabubuhay ng walang ginagawa, kahit yung pagtambay magdamag. Walang ganun dito eh. Mga tao dito, pagdating ng alas-5 o alas-6 (pinakalate na yan), nasa loob na ng bahay yang mga yan, nagbuburo sa harap ng telebisyon. Sabagay, ano bang pwedeng gawin sa labas kung ang panahon eh di naman kaaya-aya?

Lapit na ng pasko. Ilang araw na lang. Pati ang 2009, bilang na din ang mga araw. Panibagong taon na naman. This year, i think, has never been fruitful to any nation, lalo na, sa tingin ko, ang Pilipinas. 2009 is one of the darkest years in Philippine History. Off to a bad start, ends with a rough statement. But the thing is, even though their in these kind of days, Filipinos have this no-surrender-attitude amidst the crisis they're experiencing. Christmas is still a very important holiday for pinoys. No one can deny that. Not even strings of typhoons or massacres can hold back the filipinos to celebrate christmas. Ganyan kaming mga pinoy.

It's 5pm already and im still typing here. Hehehe.. Madilim na sa labas, parabg 8 na ng gabi. Well, sabi ni haring araw eh tapos na ang serbisyo nya at maghintay na lang daw ng susunod na kabanata ng summer season. Napakadilim sa labas. Habang nagtatype ako dito sa kwarto ko, eh, nakatingin ako sa bintana. Wala akong maaninag, kundi maliliit na kislap ng mga ilaw na tila ayaw pa atang isabog ang liwanag... kasi, maliit nga yung ilaw. Hehehe... 'Ni lagaslas ng hangin di ko naririnig, pero umuusok ang aking bibig sa bawat paghinga ko ng malalim. Senyales lang talaga na nandyan na lang sa tabi-tabi ang taglamig. Pero kahit malamig, kumain pa rin kami dito sa bahay ng ice cream. Hehehe.. Walang pinipiling panahon ang ice cream dito, tag-init man o taglamig...

I've been having a movie marathon now for, maybe, a week now. Wala kasing magawa. Hehe. Watching some good ol' movies of the past. Well, not so past, but some... ah... good movies. Sometimes, i try to practice my drawing skills. Just don't want to lose the talent, so i need to sharpen that.. Hehe.. It's drives me crazy when there's nothing to do, expecially in this season.. Winter season.. Parang lahat ng nangyayari eh napakabilis. Kagigising ko lang, ilang oras lang ang nakalipas, tulugan na naman. I never noticed time so much back home, because i don't mind time before so much. But, the day when i arrived here, everything has changed. Everything seems so fast. Or maybe i just worry too much. Haaaay...

Well, just enjoy the winter season and happy holidays to all of you. Godbless.

The Good Life out there...

It's almost 6 months that i've been here, yet i've never felt discriminated here. Every people that i've met, they welcome me with open arms. Denmark maybe is a small and low-profile country, but there's a lot of things this country can boast around the world. One thing's for sure, this country can withstand a lot of struggles for years and years to come, 'cause they've got something other people don't have: they love where they came from. They love their country.

From where i came from, you know, it's hard sometimes i can't stay away from comparing. I know it's not a good thing, but it's human nature. We do sometimes compare. I just noticed things that i didn't see or experienced in my country, The Philippines, from where i am right now, Denmark.

First thing. Denmark is on the top of the food chain, along with Finland and New Zealand, as The Least Corrupt Countries in the World. They really do well in all aspects of life. The Philippines, well, at least there's a sigh of relief, not to be included in the Ten of the Most Corrupt Countries in the whole World, but, (there's a but), Philippines is the Most Corrupt Country in Asia. Haaaay, napakagandang tag. We'll be carrying it for a very long time until corruption is eradicated..

Second, people here are well-disciplined. Well, not really all, but the majority of the population here, native or foreigner, respects the law. For example, the Traffic Rules and Regulations. When the traffic light is in red signal you're supposed to stop - and that's what they do here. Not like in the Philippines, when it says red, as long as you have the chance to go and as long as there's no one crossing the street, just go! You see, the more that we violate the law, the more we get used to doing it. (teka nga, bakit ba ako ingles ng ingles, pwede namang magtagalog... hehehe..) Nasaan na nga ba ako?? Yun, yung simpleng pagsunod sa patakaran at batas. Kaya naging asensado ang bansa na ito dahil may disiplina ang bawat tao na nandito. Sabihin na nating hindi lahat ng tao dito eh disiplinado, dahil may mga taong sadya pa ring hindi naliliwanagan sa kung ano ang tama sa mali, pero, most of the people i saw here (or i encountered), follows and do the right thing. Well, to think about, hindi naman mahirap sumunod sa kung ano ang tama, its good when you get used to doing something that is right. No hassle, move freely...

What other things that makes this country so special? Actually, there's nothing really special. Life is very simple here. Denmark is a family-oriented country. They take very good care of the welfare of the people here. Dito, required kang mag-holiday. It's part of their benefits. Sa 'pinas, magpapapiyesta ka kapag pinayagan kang mag-holiday, kasi mag-aalay-lakad ka, magpuprusisyon, at magpepenitensya bago maaprubahan yung holiday request mo sa trabaho mo. They work here 5 days a week, monday to friday, saturday and sunday, off.. Di ba?? Kung babasahin, parang katulad lang ng sa atin sa 'pinas?? Pero, kapag pinaliwanag ng maayos, iba ang interpretation niyan sa kanila.. 5 days a week, 6 hours a day, per ora ang bayad, di ka pwedeng puwersahin mag-OT dahil pwede mo ireklamo ang company na gagawa nun, hassle pa sa kanila, at binibigyang-halaga yung mga complaints na yun ng gobyerno dito. Mga malls dito, up to 8pm lang. Kapag saturday, up to 5 lang. Kapag sunday, closed. They have more time with their families. Let's say they might have a boring lifestyle, but, looking on the bigger picture, spending time more with the fruits of your loved ones strengthens the bonding of the family. Hindi ka na mag-aalala na walang kasabay ang anak mo sa hapag-kainan pagdating ng hapunan. Quality time ang naibibigay at nailalaan mo sa pamilya mo. Eh, sa 'pinas? Sige, work until you die! You work ALMOST all days of the week, 8 hours a day, 382 pesos a day (yan pa rin ata ang minimum) and a lifetime of stress and ailments. Lucky for you if you can squeeze time for your family to at least spend one day of the weekend with them. Most of the time, you're forced to work overtimes, with no pay. Yes! That's right! There are companies that doesn't pay overtime work, it depends to the superiors of the work place if they will give it to you.. Try to complain why will you work overtimes, in your own expense, sometimes you'll get memo. Di ba?? ikaw na papagurin, kasalanan mo pa pag nagreklamo ka... Where else could you experience such things like that???? ONLY IN THE PHILIPPINES...

Meron pa.. The Government. Dito ang eleksyon, one day lang. The following day, declaring of winners na. Sa tin? Wait for another century to finish the counting of ballots. Then during the counting, you'll hear news about vote-buying, fraud, killings, etc.. Everytime election time comes in the Philippines, things like that happen. Kakabit na ata talaga ng eleksyon yun. AT mukhang di na mababago.. I just hope and pray that one day, we can put a righteous leader on that most coveted position. The scenario in Election Day is always the same. Nothing changed.

There's a lot of professionals around the Philippines, who chooses to work abroad, than to work there and suffer later. I mean for example, doktor ka na sa Pilipinas, but because of the not-so promising future and low income, pinili nilang maging nurse sa ibang bansa, because of higher compensations and benefits. Wherever you go, there's not a place you won't see a Filipino. Sometimes, i tried to ask them why. I only got one answer most of the time: Mahirap na dun, dito maginhawa.. Kahit nga sa Iraq, na naka-ban ang pagpasok ng mga pinoy dun, meron pa rin. Di ba ang sakit isipin at tanggapin na kahit ayaw mong talikuran ang bansang kumupkop at pinagmulan mo, kung bugok naman ang sistema ng buhay, hahanap ka talaga ng ginhawa sa banyagang lupa? They're willing to take the risk, just to give a wonderful and bright future for their family. Kahit alam nila na ang isasakripisyo nila eh ang pagkawalay nila sa mga mahal sa buhay, para sa magandang kinabukasan, aalis at aalis yan. You cannot blame those people who has that mentality. They're just being wise.

Kapag pumupunta ako sa pinsan ko dito sa Denmark, nakikinood ako ng Pinoy shows, but not the entertainment. I watch the news about the country. Paulit-ulit lang yung napapanood ko: May pinatay, may nasagasaan, mga artistang naghahangad ng posisyon sa gobyerno na wala namang alam, mga politicians na nagsisiraan, nagsusulsulan, nagbabangayan, nag-aangasan na parang mga inutil, mga political ads ng kanya-kanyang mga nagawa at ginagawa, nasunugan, ninakawan, binomba, mga welga at rally, sakuna, kalamidad, mga sex scandals, kaartehan, kabaliwan, at iba pa.. Nagiging maganda lang ata ang balita kapag nanalo si Manny Pacquiao sa isang laban nya sa boxing eh... Yun lang ang magandang balita. Maliban dun, wala na. So, sometimes, when you think about your future, do you really have a chance to fulfill that in a place where money,power, and corruption rules? I don't think so...

I love my country. I really do. I don't want to sound bias, but, you know sometimes, we have to accept that our country is sinking into the depths of hell, while others prosper - on my own standpoint. For now, there's no assurance of a secured future on a country that is plagued by corrupt politicians and hypocrites. Even if the government now says that there are improvements and developments in the country, others are still skeptical. But i still do hope that someday, the good life out here, can also be there from where i belong... Peace Out!

Controversy behind the Most Violent Video Games of All Time

Ever wonder what it feels like to be inside a game?? There's full of surprises inside of it... As an avid fan of video games, i've explored a lot of different things by playing these video games. It may be fantasy, science fiction, reality, combat, role-playing, first-person shooter or any game genres. But the common thing is, how does a video game really affects us psychologically...

Wala lang bigla ko lang naisip sumulat ng blog about sa video games. Mostly, ang gusto ko talagang i-emphasize dito yung mga violent games, 'cause recently, there has been killings again around the world inspired by video games, specifically first-person shooter games. Yung mga barilan. Naeexercise yung utak ng isang player kung papano kumilos, dumiskarte, at lumaban ang isang gunman. Ako, mahilig, as in mahilig din ako sa first-person shooting games. In fact, the first video game that i loved so much was Quake. But the first time i played it, i got horrifically terrified.. Creepy kasi talaga yung environment. Nostalgic na Claustrophoic. Parang habang nilalaro ko, ang hirap huminga. Matagal din bago ako nakaalis sa ganong pakiramdam, kasi later lon i realized, it's just a game, what's to be terrified in these things??

Tumatagl-tagal, nasanay na ako at i make it to a point na at least twice or thrice a week, makakapaglaro ako. Aaminin ko, i once became an addict for these games, and i don't know when i will stop. Hanggang ngayon naman, i still have the passion on playing it, its just that i can't find the time, especially right now i have other responsibbilities and priorities..

Balik tayo sa topic. I've read an article in the newspaper that there's an argument if the majority of video gamers are adults or kids. To think about na sa studies nila, 40-50% ng gamers eh babae, in the ages 31 to 33 years old.. Imagine that. Pero recently, gumawa ulit ng studies and they revealed that its not the adults they were concernerd about, it's the large portion of children who played these kind of games. That is the issue.

Alam naman ninyo siguro yung mga naging balita sa US na may mga estudyante na namaril ng mga kaklase at mga faculty members. One example is the April 1999 Columbine High School Massacre, initiated by Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold. Killed 12 students and a teacher. Inspired by the then, the most popular, yet the most controversial first-person shooting game. The game that started it all - Doom. That game has been one of my favorite games of all time, but becauce of the violence and gore it depicts, i don't encourage my younger brother to play it. Doom has become highly-acclaimed. Creating a lot of firsts in the game. But the problem is, it is widely criticized by the parents and the religious groups. A simple background of the game for the benefit of the readers: It starts in Mars, where there was a science lab built by the humans to conduct secret experimentations on teleportation between the moons of Mars, Phobos and Deimos. And then something stupid happened while performing an experiment, causing a lot of trouble... And all hell breaks loose.. Siguro mapapagana nyo na imagination nyo kung ano ibig kong sabihin sa "all hell breaks loose". And that's what caused a worldwide debacle about the violent game influencing the kids today.. Hindi din talaga kasi appropriate sa kanila yung ganung game, especially when they're in their tender young years. Iba ang interpretation ng mga bata sa nakikita nila habang mura pa ang kanilang mga isipan.

There's another exceptional game in terms of violence, and i also experienced to play it - the Grand Theft Auto franchise, specifically, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. This one sure is a hell of a violent game. It's more based on reality, so karamihan ng mga naglalaro, nakakarelate sa nangyayari dito. Madaming missions, madami ding bad guys, madaming counterfeits, bast, lahat ng pwedeng mali nandun sa game na yun. Yun yung tipo ng game na cannot be recommended for kids and also for teens.. Exploring age kasi un, yung tipong curious sila sa lahat ng bagay gusto nilang subukan lahat. So the game provokes a lot of things to do... Very vicious and brutal things to do.. So, in June 2003, a teenager named Devin Moore, 17 years of age, was brought in for questioning to a Faýette police station regarding a stolen vehicle. Moore then grabbed a pistol from one of the police officers and shot and killed him along with another officer and dispatcher before fleeing in a police car. He was then captured and tried for murder. He was then found guilty and sentenced to death because of his actions... Imagine that.

Evéry video game creates a very different pyschological effect on whoever plays it. Parent's guidance in their children plays a vital role on preventing something to happen. On the adult's side, discipline is the most important thing. Alam niyo up to now, avid fan pa rin ako ng first-person shooting games. Hindi nawawala yung zest ko sa paglalaro, kasi dyan ako nakakapagrelax. But i have no plans on wreaking havoc on the community. I'm not dumb. So, for those who would like to try these kind of "thrill ride" in your life, you better be ready. Better set your mind in a good mood, and everything will be well. So, dito na lang muna blog ko, at maglalaro pa ako ng Doom 3.. (Ehehe, joke lang, di ko pa naiinstall eh...) Good day!!!

Turning Back the Time...

What is it like to grow up - backwards?? I mean, your age still adds after every year, but, the different thing is, you look younger, physically...

Actually, i just watched the movie 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button'. And that was just the case in the movie... The main character gets older, but time and time, he looks younger --- and i mean younger... It kind of feels a little it akward to think about it, but, really, it did give me some questions in my mind, what if it can happen --- OR it DOES happen??
Sometimes in life, you forget about things, but there's still something that reminds you of everything that you've done in your life --- that you've forgot. Sometimes, you can't understand why such things happens on the time you least likely it would happen. AND why does everytime --- i mean, ÈVERYTIME, you regret not doing the things you should've done before?

You do things for good. Well, who doesn't want the outcome of everything that you do is good?? But sometimes, things happen that doesn't go according to the plan... It has other purposes. Maybe it could be dissapointing, maybe it could be heart-breaking, or it could be a life-changing experience. For me, for once in my life, i have realized the real essence of life. It really doesn't matter who you are, where you came from, what is your profession. What really matters is your real purpose in life. There are times that you want to achieve a lot things in a short span of time, still, you're not yet satisfied on what you've got. There are also times that you're always putting yourself on the brink of melting down, depressing yourself too much, then you realize, you're just making yourself stupid. Life is very simple. Other people says it, but they have a very complicated life... Then later on, they realize they've done everything wrong --- very, very wrong. You cannot turn back the time. It's only in the fantasy world where it happens.

We know that we can't predict what could happen in our future, so better make the most out of it. You don't want to not do the things you really love and then you'll painfully regret it so much that it could cause you depression. You don't want just wishing that you could have done things the way they're used to be... You wouldn't want to.. It's hard..

Heading off to Summer... Three years in the making

They had a great run for the title. From 2006 up to this season, they reached the NBA Eastern Conference Finals, yet they always fell short whenever they have the chance win it all. Well, the team i rooted for, the Detroit Pistons, heads off to summer in a disappointing fashion - losing the game that eliminated them - in front of their homecrowd, losing to the Boston Celtics in six games, 89-81, at the Palace of Auburn Hills, Michigan, yesterday.

It all started in 2003, when they reached they Eastern Finals for the first time since 1990 or 1991. Topping the Eastern Conference with a 50+ season wins. They were set to face the current Eastern Conference Champs that time, The New Jersey Nets. A very intense, pulse-pounding series - even if the Pistons never won a single game against the Nets in the East Finals, 4-0. Because the following year, in 2004, they had a breakout season that catapulted them to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1990, And capture the championship in five games against the heavily-favored, superstar-plagued, Los Angeles Lakers, 4-1. I thought that time they can defend the championship for at least two to three years. Well, i hope so much for the team. That one has get me.

In 2005, they have a trip back to the NBA Finals, in a battle for the ages, as the two top defensive teams in the NBA face for the first time in the history of Basketball, going up against the San Antonio Spurs. Losing the series in a heavily-battled Game 7 on the road. I thought they can regain it the following year, thinking there's always a second chance...

So, in 2006, riding their way to the Eastern Finals against the team they've eliminated from the previous year, the Miami Heat - but this time, it's them who got eliminated. As the Heat cruise to the NBA Finals and win it in six games against tha Dallas Mavericks, 4-2.

They headed to the summer with a lot of businesses to settle, signing their free agents especially the heart and soul of the team, Ben Wallace - but unfortunately, The Beast decided not to accept the Pistons offer and signed with the Chicago Bulls. That's one unforgettable event that the whole franchise won't forget for their entire lives - losing one of their most prized possessions unexpectedly. The Core of the team is destroyed, and who knows what the future has in store for them.

In 2007, they had a very colorful season, reaching 60+ wins that season, once again reaching the Eastern Finals for the fifth-straight season against the young and talented Cleveland Cavaliers. The series started with a bang, gaining a commanding 2-0 lead against the Cavs - only to lose the next four games and then again, letting go of the chance once again to reach the NBA Finals and heads back to summer re-thinking of their future with the franchise.

And now, this year, 2008, they have once again conquered the odds to hop back right straight to the Eastern Finals for the sixth straight season, locking up against the new-look Boston Celtics. They fought very hard to win the series, but as everyone expected, they lose the series in six games, 4-2, sinking the Pistons for the third straight year in the East Finals. How disapponting... How sad...

I've just read the blog on their website in Pistons.com, and the team are now clearing their lockers... Maybe, the others, clearing their lockers... for good. I don't know if everyone in the team will be back in the blue,red and white uniform next season, 'cause the management are talking about "major overhaul" for the team's future. I still hope they can still put another great run and win it all again like the last time they've won ity in 2004, those were the happy days... Some happy days to cherish for. Other players on the roster says they'll be back, but nobody really knows what the future holds for them. I hope this summer for them, they've learned a lot from the past three sluggish, disappointing seasons, for them to be able to stand again, fight back, and bring back the glory days for the Detroit Pistons. But for now, they'll be heading for the summer - empty-handed...