Ask Jon #5: The theory of cool (Updated with photos of our columnist getting jumped)
Line of Volcanoes, Borneo 7s 2010. Jon, Ned, Andrew Evro, Patrice, Wolfie. Photo by JZ.
geekwad: Do you like reading books? Is it cool for men to read books in public places? I always get odd glances when I prop open a book while waiting in line or riding public transportation. People should start realizing that the best place to carry a book around is Manila, because there is always traffic and you have to wait in line for everything.
Jon: I love reading. My longtime friends make me promise not to read their books in the shower before they lend them to me because I’m notorious for returning them in awful shape. Manila seems like the perfect place to bring books around because of all the standing around you have to do but I’ve found the MRT is so tight that it’s hard to turn the pages and the roads are so bumpy and the traffic so stop-and-go it’s hard to keep your eyes focused on anything less than size 30 font.
Is it cool for men to read books in public places? My theory on cool is: If you’re cool, you’re cool no matter what you happen to be doing. And if you’re not? All the trendy short-brimmed designer hats, slick hairdos, and false bravado in the world are not going to make you cool. In the end I think ‘being cool’ comes down to self-possession and self-awareness: knowing who you are, the things you enjoy, and then doing those things confidently because you enjoy them and not to project an image or for acceptance. I think people can sense that sort of self-possession that radiates out as confidence (and prickly defensiveness is not the same thing. It’s just the surly flip side of searching for acceptance) and will eventually come around to appreciate that no matter who you are.
A modicum of fashion sense, personal hygiene, and social skills helps too, though. Just a drop.
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Jon Morales works at the Asia Foundation and is taking his master’s in development studies at UP. He is the captain of the Nomads football club and is a member of the Philippine Volcanoes national men’s rugby team. Jon majored in economics at Brown, where he was captain of the rugby team. Before moving to Manila last year he lived in Beijing.
Got a question for our straight guy columnist Jon? Post it in Comments.
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While trying to make sense of our files we found a bunch of photos of a match between the Philippine Volcanoes squad bound for the A5N tournament in India (which they won) and the Nomads rugby club with a new member, Jon Morales. The photographer happened to take several of Jon getting grabbed. . .
by Oliver Saunders (L-R: Rupert Zappia, Kit Guerra, Ollie, Michael de Guzman (hidden, in the green socks), Jon, Ronald Fong, Phil Abraham, Kenzo West, Austin Dacanay, a Nomad.)
(L-R: A Nomad, Kit Guerra, Ollie, Michael de Guzman (hidden, in the green socks), Jon, Ronald Fong, Phil Abraham, Kenzo West, Austin Dacanay, a Nomad.)
by Gareth Holgate. (L-R: Raf Zappia, Gaz, Jon, Harry Morris (back), Michael de Guzman, Ronald Fong)
Answers to questions you might be asking, unless you wandered onto this site purely by accident >>>
December 26th, 2010 at 11:04
“In the end I think ‘being cool’ comes down to self-possession and self-awareness: knowing who you are, the things you enjoy, and then doing those things confidently because you enjoy them and not to project an image or for acceptance.”
Why can’t people understand this simple yet brilliant statement? Although some are overworking the self-awareness part and, unfortunately, come off as insufferable jerks.
December 26th, 2010 at 13:42
Dear Jon,
Uhm….wala lang.
Cute mo talaga.
Take Me, I’m Yours,
2Qt…
December 26th, 2010 at 20:23
Does John have a girlfriend or is he married? :)
December 26th, 2010 at 22:57
Do check in regularly so you won’t have to ask. Now duck!!!
December 27th, 2010 at 01:14
Jon you have to talk to my guy friends. Wow, they reaaaaally have to hear this.
December 27th, 2010 at 13:09
I heart you, Jon. Seriously, this guy is not only smart, he’s also cool. Wait, smart is cool. lol
December 27th, 2010 at 14:32
Jon, that you studied Economics at Brown makes me want to shower you with cookies. You play rugby and understand the power of incentives — now THAT’s cool. If my son grows up to have the a quarter of the self-awareness and sense of humor that you possess in spades, I will die a happy woman. Your offspring will be a wonderful contribution to the gene pool, so please procreate. Thanks for explaining your Theory of Cool, I enjoyed reading it very, very much.
December 27th, 2010 at 14:48
Aaaand I forgot to ask, did you sit for my classes by Glenn Loury when you were at Brown? I went to his paper presentation once and I found him to be a phenomenal speaker.
December 27th, 2010 at 15:27
for *any* classes by Glenn Loury
December 27th, 2010 at 16:51
@#3 sizzlingsuzie
I am wild, free, and very footloose.
December 27th, 2010 at 20:28
#4 jessica – Do check in regularly so you won’t have to ask. Now duck!!!
After that open invitation from Jon, I’m definitely running for cover hehe :D Women will start sharpening things again lol!
December 27th, 2010 at 21:33
# 10 jonnymo – Of course you are.
December 27th, 2010 at 21:48
Women will start sharpening things again lol!
Hahahahaha!
December 27th, 2010 at 23:26
Um, thank you! (I’m keeping my naughty comments to myself.)
Sino yang naka-green socks, walang patawad!
Si Kit saan nakatingin? Ang cute
parang hobbit lang, heehee.December 27th, 2010 at 23:35
Oh my, Jon was hammered O_o
December 27th, 2010 at 23:43
brewhuh23: Pag nanood tayo ng rugby bawal ang umiyak ha. Ang umiyak, pagtatawanan.
December 28th, 2010 at 00:18
ifrico — I think I thought what you thought hahaha. In Tagalog, naisip ko yung naisip mo!
Jessica– HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Mababaw pa naman ang luha ko! LOL! Drats!!! I’m already practicing tears to fall ONLY on the left eye. My gosh, kakayanin ko bang makita si Jake na madaganan?! Baka lumabas pagiging katipunera ko hahaha! Hindi nga umiyak, naglabas naman ng sibat! HAHAHAHAHA!
December 28th, 2010 at 00:55
Here is what I look forward seeing on an actual rugby match:
Oliver Saunders’ penalty kicks.
Scrums — Ang cute cute nito, para silang sunflower from top view pero hindi mo alam may eye gauging na nangyayari sa loob! Afraid! And of course,Jake as the scrumhalf needs excellent decision making skills while in the play di ba, so gooooo Jake!
The lineout — I totally love the tossing the person in the middle. Parang “wheeeeee” moment lang hehe.
Please don’t get me wrong, I’m not making fun of the rugby plays. This is how I learn about the sport. I try to relate it in different things around me so I can absorb what the players are doing, when they’re doing it and why, hehe.
December 28th, 2010 at 03:51
#14 ifrico — If I’m not mistaken, the guy in the green socks is Michael De Guzman.
December 28th, 2010 at 05:00
told you guys they were hammering me that match. My knee wasn’t right for two months after that game. Most of my nomads teammates were smart and didn’t show up to that game.
Never took classes from Loury. He moved to Brown my senior year. I was a pretty indifferent student anyway (still am).
December 29th, 2010 at 23:25
Photos 2 & 3: So that’s Jon’s game face. Intense! And those man-gams are spectacular. (Thanks, Michael De Guzman!)
Photo 4: There’s something about it that I love. While the photo captured the action, there’s something else about Jon’s attempt to struggle out of his opponents’ clutches that makes this shot somewhat dramatic. It’s a lucky shot, I should say.
(Jon, how are your knees now? I hope they’re not troubling you.)
December 30th, 2010 at 01:00
#21 Kaye — The game is intense and my goodness, the hustle and grabbing, ayyyyy!!! Somebody needs to hold my hand during the matches hahahaha! T_T And oh, you can be Jon’s Florence Nightingale, yiheeee!
December 30th, 2010 at 01:41
One reason I like rugby is because it’s brutal on the pitch but off the pitch the players are so civilized. You won’t hear trash-talking or bitching. You won’t even hear them complaining about their bruises and physical injuries. After the match against Kazakhstan, which was painful even to look at, I heard Andrew Farrar and Jon talking about what had gone on under the pile of bodies. I asked Andrew to repeat his story so I could quote him but he said, “No, they were sweethearts.” He would not say anything bad about their opponents.