nag present ako ngayong linggo ng isang technical paper sa isang conference dito sa singapore. bongga nga eh (may $650 entrance fee para sa mga utu-utong gustong makinig). kung kaya, i had to break one of the sacred rules of the batjay manifesto – “don’t wear a business suit in a tropical country lest you sweat like hell and smell like hinog na langka“.

for all my preparations (make-up, manicure, kulot with haircut na pantay ang patilla, late night rehersals in front of my sleepy wife), all i got was (not a t-shirt, dummy) a stainless steel cork screw in a fancy box. TO THE ORGANIZERS: i got your subtle message, thank you very much.

event highlight: nakalimutan ng isang speaker tanggalin yung wireless clip microphone pagkatapos niyang magsalita. tuloy tuloy na lumabas sa conference room habang naririnig namin sa sound system ang conversation niya sa kanyang kasama. parang tumuloy pa nga ata siya sa banyo dahil narinig kong nag flush ang toilet, afterwards mga kaluskos sounds, pregnant pause at barely audible na “oh shit, i forgot to take the microphone off“.