Condoms: Your friendly “Contradomats”

Condoms: Your friendly “Contradomats”
By: Mike Dimaano

Condom is not just a six-letter-word for six-inch penises. They come in different colors and sizes with oozing flavors. Some are for sensation (“dotted”) and some are for penetration (premiere thin). It is the latest sexual innovation that has solved every sexual frustration.

These colorful toadstools, long-nosed “dumbos”, horn-eared torpedoes are friends, not foes. It’s not just about saving the world’s demography with a piece of rubber. It’s about you, saving yourself and your partner.

Condoms are the only contraceptive that help prevent both pregnancy and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases (including HIV) when used properly and consistently.

When do you use condoms? Well of course, intercourse, you need to use a new condom every time you have sexual intercourse.

It can be difficult to talk about using condoms. But you shouldn't let embarrassment become a health risk. Maybe Moses forgot to mention it but for me, it is the 11^th commandment.

Here are some “condomandments” for those knuckleheads: The dos and don’ts

1. Never say you don’t have it. Condoms are widely available in pharmacies, supermarkets and convenient stores. 711 is 24/7 and so is Mini Stop. You don't need a prescription or have to visit a doctor.
2. Thou shall not “impregnate” thy girlfriend. Wife is acceptable but girlfriend is a no no no. It’s too risky.
3. Never leave home without it. It is your bullet proof vest.
4. Thou shall not use the excuse “Don’t you trust me?” Trust isn't the point; people can have infections without realizing it.
5. Thou shall not say you don’t feel a thing when you wear a condom. Maybe that way you will last even longer and your partner will have to make up for it.
6. Thou shall not say putting it on is a hassle part. If you’re too lazy, keep it inside your pants. It’s a lousy excuse. He/ she can even help you putting it on anyway. And man, it could be more exciting and pleasurable.
7. Never say you will pull it out on time, you’re not Spiderman. Women can get pregnant and get STDs from pre-ejaculation
8. Never say “just this once.” Once is all it takes.
9. Never use the same condom twice. You know the drill.
10. Condoms should not be flushed down the toilet as they may cause blockages in the sewage system and pollution. I’m not joking.

Most men see condoms as a necessary evil. We see them as a chance to dress for success. And a lot of women cry over spilled semen. Rubbers can do more than just protect you from viruses and paternity suits.

Well condom is still a six-letter-word and so is rubber. And they will remain words if you don’t use them. So make a choice. It’s better safe than sorry.

Sinosikat soothe thy soul

Sinosikat soothe thy soul.

By: Mike Dimaano

“Organic and original,” this is how Nick Azarcon (Sinosikat’s guitarist) describes the core of their music.

Sinosikat certainly produces a different vibe. It isn't really that complex or unique but its distinctive. The craft is a mixture of soul, rock and some progressive “trip-hop”, funk, with a borderline of low and heavy fusion jazz and chunks of reggae.

“It’s really hard to label the music but it’s really original with a little bit of everything,” says Katrina Agarrado, vocalist of Sinosikat. “That’s why we call it Pinoy Soul,” she adds.

Soul is the essence of animating and vital principle in man credited with the bags of thought, emotion, and actions and music is the language that binds everything.

The layer of soul music is sexual covered with spiritual fibers and inspired with purity, sincerity, and honesty hence the name. Who’s Kat? or who’s Famous?

“It was really Nathan’s (member of Bamboo) idea why we’d come up with Sinosikat. We were just playing with words,” says Nick. “Actually, it’s the both of it: “Who’s Kat?” and “Who’s famous,” he adds.

Sinosikat is a trio of Kat Agarrado, vocalist (2007’s NU Rock’s best vocalist), Nick Azarcon, guitarist and Reli De Vera, drummer.

Their eponymous debut album is the seed and the fruit of their hardships. It is definitely one of the must-to-put-in-your-must-hear-list. You can actually take it seriously because it is really something worth listening to. You wouldn't even have to skip tracks because every track is worth the audible.

“It’s not straight ahead rock, it’s not punk. It’s versatile. It’s entirely different from other famous-poplike female artists,” Nick explains. “Iba yung dating nya. Malasa eh,” he hastens to add.

“Expect something fresh and it gives an option to the people,” Agarrado responds in a smoothly controlled voice. “It’s babymakin’ music,” she adds.

Sinosikat’s sublime music is a combination of deep-playful words, and as tagged to rollercoaster melodies of soul, funk and jazzy-rock which you rarely hear from local bands.

“Sometimes, it really bothers me when music journalists ask me, who do we sound like,” Azarcon confesses. “I always tell them, bumili kayo ng album at pakinggan nyo,”

Their album is an equation of groovy plus sexy and quality over quantity. Despite the fact that it only has ten tracks, including Praning, So Blue, Sino and Turnning my Safety Off, which is at least 38 minutes (The length of the album), it is still worth the time and effort to drop by the nearest record store.

“We’re not disco punk, we’re not skinny jeans. Hindi kami “trendy” band. We are who we are and we play what we want to play,” says Azarcon.

“We just want to play and share our music. We’re here not for the money or just for the sake of playing. We also worked hard for this,” says Agarrado.

Sinosikat? They officially got together as a band three years ago, though they’ve been making music-separately and together longer than that. Hardworking band climbs the ladder as they strive together.

Sinosikat?

Sinosikat soothe thy soul.