~~ BARKADA BOLLOCKS ~~

Welcome the the very last 'Barkada Bollocks' section of the website.

It sort of brings a tear to the eye and a lump to the pants as the barkada fractures up and one moves on to the next stage in ones exciting life.
The correspondence and news section will continue - it will just utilize a new name more in line with my life at the time. What that name is - well I have no bloddy idea - I am half asleep and really not in the sort of mood conducive to witty names, comments and smutty in-your-endo.
Hmmmm perhaps I am still in the mood for the later one. :-)

It is worth noting that the GSpot_Barkada email address is still in use for correspondence to this group and, who knows, one day I may again find myself a part of another Philo community and a phoenix type G-Spot may arise from the ashes.
So please remember, your comments are always much welcome.

LETTERS TO THE AUTHOR

Considering the huge rise in visitors this last few weeks, there has been only a very small bit of correspondence. Of the five emails recieved - only the following two are shown, mostly due to foul language in reference to the scum I used to have to deal with.

Heck man,those cattle remind me of my former employer. He used to do that to me when I was down to.
PCB Dapto

Is she in jail yet.
CJ Rosebery
(Ed- Sadly I don't believe so)

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~~ RAILWAYS & INDUSTRIAL HERITAGE SOCIETY ~~

PHILS. INC. (ANZ CHAPTER)

Depite the many other changes in recent times, this important charity work continues.
We have been making some terrific progress becoming known amongst the Australian Filipino population and have just published our first newsletter "Along Da Riles". The name ofthe newsletter is obviously derived from the hit comedy "Home Along Da Riles"which starred everyone's fave Dolphey.

Donations to the society can now be made at the Pasalubong store in Sydney and we thank the owner of the store for her assistence with this.
Whatever Philo food, drink, DVD, fish, cakes, snackfood or health and beauty product you are after, you could likely get it here.

Thanks to everyone who has contrinuted to this site, read this site, or just lied about it to the rest of the Filipino community in Southern Sydney - this website has always been a product of everyones help and encouragement.
Despite the changes to the barkada, the website will continue to thrive as we approach 10,000 views - my arms length from the community now making it even more easier to convey the truth to everyone than ever before.

On the subject of Pasalubong Foodmart!

The shop will soon have an email service that will allow you to recieve occasional updates on new products, specials, product listings and also news on upcoming entertainment events.

If you would like to be added to the list (its free - walang pera) please email me at the GSpot_Barkada email address letting me know.

Best wishes
Brad

Railways and Industrial Heritage Society

Philippines Inc

(Australian Chapter)

It has been a hard 10 years in the making, but yesterday the Australian chapter of this new society became official.

Ever since I first went to the Philippines in 1999 I have wanted to do something to help preserve the important railway and other transport history of the Philippines.

On returning home I set up the 'Philippine Railways SIG' which has gradually grown to over 200 members and led to numerous websites and forums, it has also been a place where travellers and Filipino students regularly came for information.

Still it was not yet a museum, or a society that could benefit the Filipino population as a whole.

This began to change in 2007 when a group of us visited Caloocan workshops and decided it was time for something to be done, we even inspected the little railcar that has now become our first restoration project.

We later went on to find an expert in Philippine history from Pila Laguna called Jaime Tiongson. Jaime has enormous experience in the area of history and we were very lucky to gain him as our president there. He has been instrumental in our gaining acceptence in many government circles and also captured us our first television appearance.

Being stuck in Australia had me a little depressed, afterall, it was my pet project and something I had pretty much decided to devote my life to. I love the Philippines, despite being a born and bred Aussie, but moving there permanently is not really an option at the moment.
So a happy alternative had to be found and that was the 'Australian Chapter'.

So what does our group do for the parent group in the Philippines?
Glad you asked!!

We are the base for a group newsletter, we conduct fundraising and we are the membership office for the world, the only place we don't accept membership from is, obviously, the Philippines (since the group is already there).
Our board has years worth of experience in the railway industry, preservation and also the railfan hobby. This will all go towards offering technical assistance, research work and other support roles.

DOES IT ALL JUST BENEFIT RAILFANS?

No, indeed it dosen't.
Besides also covering industrial topics as well, the society here in Autralia will also help the Philippines by:
* Giving jobs to people when we outsource major work, thus helping families.
* Most restoration material will be sourced in the Philippines, thus giving companies money and helping people with jobs.
* With most money spent in the Philippines, we will also be doing a lot to help the economy!

So any membership money, or even just the occasional donation helps, not only the saving of great history, but also the country itself.

That is great for everyone!

If you can help us, perhaps with just a donation, no matter how small, please check out our

RIHSPI-ANZ WEBSITE

Thank you

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The South Sydney Filipino Community (or part of it anyway)

~~ MERRY-GO-ROUND OF MISTRUTH ~~

** THE EXCITMENT CONTINUES **

As outlined during my jog yesterday, there has been more exciting rumours going around.

It has indeed been a good decision to advertise the site via other media and mailbox drop, as the decent members of society are coming out of the woodwork with all the latest tid bits of rumour and bollocks.

Remember - for the full truth and nothing but the truth (willing to use a polygraph) keep checking out this website. I don't have the internal desire tolie, or reasons to have to make things look better for my for fear of legal repercussions.

So you may be asking yourself

"AM I A FILIPINO MUSHROOM?"

"AM I BEING KEPT IN THE DARK AND FED BULLSHIT?"

Well yes it is indeed a valid couple of questions.

Don't get me wrong, some people in the community are happy to listen to the bollocks and allow themselves to be treated like fools by the spreader, without doing themselves the honour of getting the full story.

Of course you are welcome to look like a fool - it is a free country - we fought in two world wars so you are able to make the decision to hide from reality and embrace that which is ignorance.

Of course if you have any self respect, you may wish to know the truth behind the storylines.

Now if you have heard any of the following storylines (in green) you may welcome a BREATH OF FRESH AIR, aka THE TRUTH (in red).

I was the one assaulted by them!

Interesting- how does one do that while sitting in a chair, being approached by the actual attacker?

I was attacked by Brad and a couple of guys!

This is an interesting story, which has now changed numerous times. There was only two guys there, one was myself who was trying to push the attacker off, the other was your friend who assaulted me (see earlier shot of the bruise on my arm).

Actually, while I think of it, a male Filipino friend of the attacker, who I have finally identified through a local Filo shop, was about to punch me as well but thought better of it.

These other two guys seem to have a desire to have caused themselves much trouble over reasons they had no idea about.

Those who were attacked have been taken to court!

Really, we missed this. How did we do? Did we win?

~~ BARKADA BOLLOCKS (NEWS) ~~

Hello and welcome to the latest issue of 'Barkada Bollocks' where we usually wind up all loose ends, give reader feedback and mention any other rubbish that just doesn't seem to fit in elsewhere.

Welcome Back Bernie:

A little sparrow has told me that our mate Bernie has returned from his vacation in the Philippines. Hope you had a great trip mate, will see you at your welcome back party.

Bonvoyage Paul:

No doubt before our next news update Paul will have well and truly taken off to Naga to catch up with his beautiful fiancee Mitzy. Have a safe trip mate.

FEEDBACK (EMAIL FROM OUR READERS)

Evening Brad and gang in there Sydney. Has been a long time since to was to be in contact so thought I would drop my best wishes to you all at this time. Ignore those Filipinos as some of us dont just apreciate people who care.It make me ashame to be Filipino sometimes.
Andrea V, Brisbane
** Howdee Andrea. Hows that husband of your going??? :-)
Never be ashamed to be a Filipino, many are still very good people and this sort of stuff happens in any nationality.

Picking on our buses how rude LOL
Leyland HCVA, Sydney
** Oops, didn't realise my STA driving mate checked out this site. Please, don't make the spankings too severe :-)

Give us there addresses if you have more trouble Bro
Samoan Will, Sydney
** hehehehehheheehe I wish. Thanks anyway - but no.

How are you uncle I hope you are well.
Aireen, QC Philippines
** G'day Aireen, hows things in beautiful QC? Hope things are going well with your plans for work OS.

BRAD's NEW BOOK

As many know I have spent the majority of my life writing and photographing for magazines and books both in Australia and around the world.
Apart from giving one a good knowledge of what can and can't be written in the public arena, it is also a great feeling when one finds their name published for the world to see.
Most of my writing has been in the field of public transport, most notably trains but also other types, although I have made the occasional foray into other areas. I concentrate mostly on Australia, Fiji and of course the Philippines.
Just recently this book was published and hit the bookshelves and I thought I would share it with you all.
Its 286 action packed packed pages of dribbly foamer type information for the gunzel in your family. Don't miss out on your copy now.

FESTIVE SEASON FINALE

I know I promised these last shots a few weeks ago, however, as you are all aware, trouble has seen us get behind in a lot of our endeavours of late. Gradually we are catching up with things again and the following five shots are the balance from our festive season frolicks.

~~ BARKADA BOLLOCKS (NEWS) ~~

Howdee,

I have received a number of inquiries regarding the 'comments' section of the blog site. Apparently Blogger now make membership a requirement for people to leave comments :-(

So for the benefit of those who cannot post comments I shall have this regular section to display them. If you wish to have your say, contribute a photo, share some sort of story or joke, feel free to email it to one of my email addresses and I shall include it here - if it is fit for family viewing. :-)

~ COMMENTS ~

Funny stuff pal, see you during January for some more laughs.
Gerry - Goulburn
(BRAD: Gez, am much lookin forward to catching up for some foaming again.)

Hey Brad are you sober while making these posts? They are a mega-laugh for those unable to get to your gatherings on a regular basis. Or in my case, any basis. Keep it up.
SP-GP20 - Ontario Canada
(BRAD: Yes I am. I am contantly informaed about my 'special' sense of humour)

~ COMING UP ~

In coming weeks, for those who enjoy more scenic shots, we cover our big cherry picking trip to Young as well as a sunset at La Perouse recently enjoyed by barkada members and my visiting brother in law Onyo.

Also, this weekend Bing's real friends celebrate her birthday in a huge party.
The photos and information will be covered here shortly.

~~ TILL NEXT ~~