Random Thoughts by a Liberated Philantropist

Para sa Kaligtasan ng mga Sipat

2010-01-03T03:20:00.000-08:00

Natagpuan ko itong mga ito sa Sent items sa aking Yahoo Mail. Bago pa maapektuhan ng sangkatutak na bugs, kailangan ko lang silang ipaskil dito.

Para sa isang matilamsik at masipat na 2010.

Kaning Baboy

si Boy Bato,
kumain ng pagkain,
Soup Number 5

walang kamuwang-muwang
sa sakit na mararamdaman
sa hating-gabing yaon.

hindi alam ni Boy Bato
siyasatin ang nilalaman,
Soup Number 5

walang kalusug-lusog
sa laman na masasaktan
sa hating-gabing yaon.

uod na gagapang
ang nasa lamang-tiyan
sanhi ng matinding dumi,
Soup Number 5

palabas mula sa katawan
sa gitna ng inuman
sa hating-gabing yaon.

mula sa laway at pawis,
si Boy Bato, maglalabas,
pabalik lang sa pinaggalingan,

dumi sa dumi,

putik sa putik,

Soup Number 5.

ang karanasan, kinahinatnan,
siya ring naging katapusan.

Tagaktak

Sa dulo ng malupit na talim,
Nag-aasam ng malalim na taimtim
Pagharap ng aninong kulimlim,
Sa buhay na desperadong inaatim.

iRewind 2009

2010-01-01T07:14:00.000-08:00

Let the world change you, and you can change the world.
-Che Guevara

In various terminals of entertainment, our digital psyche has been enabling us to encounter countless list of trends, be it a top 20 of the worst-dressed individuals in the red carpet or the top 10 scariest places in New Zealand (etcetera, etcetera). After browsing through millions of such adrenaline-pumping lists, I felt that I should try to make a little noise in the cyber world by making one of my own.

Since nostalgia had set in during my siomai-eating escapade during December 31, I might as well try to conceive a list of my own version of the "Top 15 Events in 2009 that had Made a Mark in my Life". Without much further ado, here is the list (in no particular order):

1. Diliman Classics 2009 (a concert with the Velvet Orchestra)
Singing with a band makes one feel a great emotional high in the end, but singing with an
orchestra makes one soar, falling in love with music more. This has been one of the
greatest concert experiences that I ever participated on. I would like to thank UP Broad
Ass for giving me this golden chance.

2. Academic Gateway UPCAT Review
In the past 3 years, I have been tutoring both grade school and high school students in an
individual basis in all subjects. But, I never thought of ever handling 70 students in an
intense classroom setting for 4 straight hours. During this time, I had realized how difficult it
has been for a reviewer of whatever sort of form, be it for nurses or for engineers, to make
your students digest this mountain of information in a very limited amount of time. Also,
commuting to different teaching venues from Taft to Katipunan made the job more
exhausting. Fortunately, the cheerful staff and the hyperactive students of the center
welcomed me all the time with maximum enthusiasm making every visit worth it. I truly
am showering my thanks to my friend, Russ and Mr. Iman Gavino, for trusting me to teach
NCR Seniors some lessons in life that they, hopefully, haven't forgotten during UPCAT
time.

3. Philippine Youth for IT Congress 2009
For a second straight year, this has been one my wildest experiences to date. With 3,500
students, teachers and IT professionals from all over the Philippines at your disposal for 6
straight hours, I have to temporarily become a jester in the court onstage to keep the
populace awake for the next speaker. Also, this was my first UP Theatre hosting
experience with all the debates, politicking and all that's meant to kept for a while (secret!).
This baptism of fire literally burned my throat after the shifts. Thank you, UP ITTC, for
trusting my limited arsenal of jokes and cheesy lines.

4. Freshmen Orientation Program 2009
During the time when the freshmen of UP Diliman had first arrived in the steps of the
Economics Auditorium, I truly knew dearly from my experience that everyone felt a little
tension and anticipation given the first immersion of such students in the university. To
paint an image of what I'm trying to say, the freshmen were like cosmonauts landing in the
surface of Planet X. So, as one of the hosts, this has been pretty much my consideration
as to how should I treat or blend in with the students. Thank you, UP OCG and OSA for
this amazing encounter.

<to be continued>

5. iSing University-Wide Videoke Contest 2009
6. UP CAPES Job Fair 2009
7. AIM Leadership Camp
8. Visit of Relatives from the Land of the Big Ben
9. UP CIEM Anniversary Month
10. Ryan Cayabyab Singers Auditions
11. SCI-FI Convention 2009
12. Ondoy's Wrath and Volunteer Acts
13. UP Engineering Choir Recognition Rites Performance
14. Engineering Week 2009
15. Medical-Dental Mission in Area 17

Block-Stabbed

2009-12-07T03:19:00.000-08:00

Words are spreading like a disease,
a mountain of emotions amounts to large doses
of admiration, of appreciation.
On the contrary, little mud pits that block the way
like manure left by stray dogs,
like spit discharged by street mongers,
laying and lying in your body's face,
are obvious signs of unwarranted espionage.
Yet, the senses are blinded, nonexistent
to the point of deviating, to evict the crime.
Ending up being a cold-blooded victim
of senseless hallucination, of deception.

Rush Hour

2009-12-06T16:20:00.000-08:00

1:40 AM

The evening runs like a wind, a ski in a slope,
the head feels a sensation, hair dancing in the sea of air,
images blaze like pictures in marathon, trailing the omniscient darkness,
as the solitude is being pursued, the mind is being perused,
by the traces of destiny, sounding like heart beats,
ants marching, pulsating in every vein,
trailing the sea of cement, following every note.
The train dance still moves on, would carry on.

How Hi-Ro Saved my Life?

2009-11-30T05:33:00.000-08:00

It has been almost every single day that I sleep ultra late. Without any puns whatsoever, I really got into the habit by simply being so eager to write about anything in this exact blog. As of the moment, the exact time is 2:17 AM. I'm not joking, and I have a class the next day that would begin at 7:30 AM. So, I pretty much have 4 hours to sleep with all the personal hygiene adjustments foreshadowed.

Yes, I have always considered myself as a busy person. But, the thought of being busy in itself late at night makes me want to always do something else (not sleeping, of course). In effect, I would resort to brainstorm anything under the sun to be featured in my blog. I would actually be a little restless if I haven't produced a blog entry almost every internet session. I would always marvel and stare at the blank blog canvass. Full expression in words, indeed, takes some degree of time due to the probable readers that might invest some precious minutes reading my article, reading me.

Luckily, with all these cerebral agitations, I always make sure during my rest times to grab a pack of Hi-Ro cookies from Fibisco (free publicity!). Though it might look and taste as a direct rip-off of Oreo (take note of the rhyme!), I certainly recommend it to those who are searching for something non-caffeine containing to keep them awake at night. Hi-Ro would certainly fill your stomachs out with a certain quantity of sugar that makes the bodily hormones excited to a certain degree enabling your eyes to open up in the middle of painstaking encoding. Hi-Ro will give you a much needed push to make you feel more self-assured or confident in whatever it is that you are doing with the PC. Hi-Ro fills your stomach with sweetness that would certainly embrace satisfaction.

Okay, enough advertising. All i wanted to say here is that chocolates (or impressions of them) can stimulate brain activity even in the day's ultraelectromagnetic wee hours. This tip can save your life especially if you are procrastinating for a paper that will make you say "it's now or never".

There will be no choice. The time will be now.

Besides, if you have nothing to do, just please sleep.

P.S. Okay, don't you dare click on that white F logo with a blue background!

Ellipsis Lines

2009-10-12T06:16:00.000-07:00

Here I am, mindless, as I write this.

Random moments come and go not in pieces of great significance. Moments seem to not falter in shape, in the state of isolation. Being alone doesn't necessarily mean you are away from the world. You are trying to get inside, really inside...

Here are some poetic lines that I have excavated in my mobile phone written in the midst of the stillness of jeepney journeys (or so I thought):

Cheesy

Larawan ka ng aking tungkulin,
Huwag mo nawang lisanin,
Mahirap balikan at kamtin,
Ang pusong noo'y naging akin.

Bayanihan

Simoy ng mga malaya,
Hinagip ng tadhana,
Naging tuwirang babala,
Sa mga naglilipanang pinsala.

Falling

Waiting in line,
takes one hell of a time,
incomparable to drinking booze
added with lime,
when the innards get the loose and commotions,
By momentous proportions,
the watchful dogs desecrates from the lime,
as I try to contemplate on this sick, old rhyme.

The next one is the blog version of a freely flowing type.

Facebook

Nagbago na ang fate ng iba,
bakit ikaw hindi pa?
Pinalitan mo na ba ang status mo?
Bakit ang pagiging online mo bigla
parang nagtatagong anino?

Madalas kang mag-post dati,
langgam sa dami,
nakaririndi.

Madalas kang mag-blog dati,
damo sa dami,
nakabibingi.

Nakaririndi. Nakabibingi.

Nakangingiti. Nakakikilig.

Rindi. Bingi. Ngiti. Kilig.

Mixed emotions.

Mahirap kasi na pinagpalit ka na sa mukhang libro.
Mahirap kung wala nang nagbabasa sa iyo.

Divorced. Rejected. Incarcerated sa sariling mundo.

Pero, narito pa rin ako't nagbibigay ng

Rindi. Bingi. Ngiti. Kilig.

Sa mga taong nagtitiyaga pa ring magmasid, sumulyap.

Sa buong whole wide universe.

Miss ka na,

Multiply

Blank Canvass

2009-08-24T07:25:00.000-07:00

This post is definitely what one has to add on.

If Multiply is a freedom wall, may this entry be the start of it.

copyright 2009

Dripping Vibrations

2009-08-23T05:09:00.000-07:00

The silence envelops the surroundings as miniature drops trickle from a partially closed faucet. Deafening as it may seem, emotions that move like butterflies from one fragment of my being after another, smothering all the visual abstractions. Abstractions, that insatiably consumes one's identity.

Midget fireflies went around the glaring, deceiving light that serves as a lustful, heavenly sight for the ones with a blinded mind from the digital plight. As I stare closely at the circular shining saber habitat, my vision was blurred by black and white squares reversing its silent cadence like the visual manifestation of echoes, Like the signing off of a television program. Like the end of the perceived illusion of time.

Instantaneously, random reflections like clouds in the sky circulated my view as though words came rushing in huge numbers constantly circumnavigating my rigid eyes' planetariums of vision. Persistent voices of questions seem to blow through as shouts and screams unrelenting in my already deafened ears even though the prevailing feeling was reversed in tide.

Suddenly, the old man of soul said, "Come hither to the bed, make thy self slumber."

With the cellular phone adjusted to the right alarm settings, I looked back at the computer, blinked, and decided to sleep.

3:40 AM

It's Never Too Late to Share

2009-08-11T07:19:00.000-07:00

As idle my profiles are in other social networking sites (that makes me feel so stressed maintaining them), i just thought that maybe I could just dedicate this post to all the people who are still viewing me through this blog in Multiply (hate it when cross-posting gets really buggy).

It's time for the USS (or the Ultimate Sharing Session version 1.0).

I. Most Inspiring Movie Quotes of All Time

No matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world.
- John Keating, Dead Poets' Society

Sucking the marrow out of life doesn't mean choking on the bone
- John Keating, Dead Poets' Society

There's a time for daring and there's a time for caution, and a wise man understands which is called for.
- John Keating, Dead Poets' Society

They're not that different from you, are they? Same haircuts. Full of hormones, just like you. Invincible, just like you feel. The world is their oyster. They believe they're destined for great things, just like many of you, their eyes are full of hope, just like you. Did they wait until it was too late to make from their lives even one iota of what they were capable? Because, you see gentlemen, these boys are now fertilizing daffodils. But if you listen real close, you can hear them whisper their legacy to you. Go on, lean in. Listen, you hear it? - - Carpe - - hear it? - - Carpe, carpe diem, seize the day boys, make your lives extraordinary.
- John Keating, Dead Poets' Society

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. It's not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others. - Timo Cruz, Coach Carter

Great ambition and conquest without contribution is without significance. What will your contribution be? How will history remember you? - William Hundert, The Emperor's Club

The worth of a life is not determined by a single failure or a solitary success.
- William Hundert, The Emperor's Club

I'll be back. Hasta la vista, Baby.
- The Terminator, Terminator

II. Insight learned in an Internet Session the same time as writing this Blog

8+8+8. Take eight seconds to draw the breath through your nose, eight seconds to hold the breath and eight seconds to exhale.

III. Top 10 most Listened Tunes in my iPod

10. Porcelain, Moby

9. Knocks you Down, Keri Hilson

8. No Surprise, Daughtry

7. Be on You, Ne-Yo featuring Florida

6. The Search is Over, Jed Madela

5. The Climb (Male Version), Ahmir

4. Take a Bow (Male Version), Ne-Yo

3. When you Look Me in the Eyes (Male Version), Ahmir

2. Before I Let You Go, Freestyle

1. Promise Me, Lea Salonga

Music is total relaxation guaranteed.

IV. Books Being Read All at the Same Time Right Now

1. A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson

2. Built to Last by Dr. Jim Collins

3. Tutubi, Tutubi, Huwag kang Magpahuli sa Mamang Salbahe by Jun Cruz Reyes

4. Poetika, Pulitika by Dr. Bienvenido Lumbera

5. Engineering Economy by Luxhoj and Wicks

V. Last 5 Movies Watched

1. G.I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra

2. Last Supper Number 3

3. Kodokara Sodo (Kid Commotion)

4. Bayaw

5. Cinemalaya Shorts B

-end of the USS version 1.0-

A Word on the Limping, Handicapped Ones

2009-08-03T04:54:00.000-07:00

One friend of mine from another territory asked me to write some lines of poetry for her relative who is in 4th grade. Without any scratches (in the context of paper), here are my musings for the incapacitated:

Standing with a Foot on the Ground

As the morning sun blinks,
my slumber eyes wink,
as I stare at the canvass ceiling,
painting a new beginning.

Getting my wooden cane,
facing seemingly endless lanes,
still ever blazing my story,
in my one limb glory.

Words, dreams, thoughts, agitations,
Written and inscribed in battalions,
As I make every indelible mark,
the siren of impression speaks in a hark.

As the evening moon winks,
my awake eyes blink,
as I gaze at the charcoal ceiling,
creating a perfect ending.

(end of poem)

Now, everyone shall see the light.

Typing Maniac

2009-07-29T18:14:00.000-07:00

With much fascination, I have always wanted to type without even looking at the keyboard. For ten long years, I have been waiting for some generous souls to teach me how to touch type. Even though I finished the Typing Apocalypse Flash game in just one attempt, the factor for success was how I memorized the phrases to be typed knowing that I would be setting my visions again to the QWERTY letters.

Every now and then, in finishing reports and projects in front of the computer boob tube, my neck would always be in constant, throbbing pain. Like a day dream, I know that this will disappear in the middle of my slumber (after the dreary, painstaking computer session). But, since it has been a regular occurrence, I want this chain to be broken once and for all.

Hopefully, by playing more of such typing games, I would now learn how to touch type.

Not mistaking my cellphone keys for the keyboard buttons.

The mania commences...

Paper Bundles and Eaten Toblerone Bars

2009-07-29T07:10:00.000-07:00

Research shows that chocolate (or any other food in that makes a significant tickle of sweetness in your taste buds) stimulate brain activity. Indeed, this might sound true as proven in the middle of a Know-It-All Facebook session. For the past few days, after all the paper load that I have to do for the next day (of a specific day), I would usually sneak out a small tempting bar of Snickers and Toblerone out of the ice box and at the same time, answer several trivia quizzes in the said Facebook application. By the way, the gratuitous amount of chocolate was given to us, the chocolate fiends, by our equally chocolate-loving, guilty pleasure-inducing balikbayans from the London Bridge. If not for them, I would have not earned my Junior Brainiac status.

From American Idol to Jacky Chan movies, from Asian Food to a decade's worth of children follies, I've keyboard-mashingly (from numbers 1 to 5) tried my best to beat the competition especially with the people I know who are highly knowledgeable and ultra addicted to a specific category (like Pixar movies and Star Wars) making one chamba answer after another. I despair every moment I receive a SORRY! note, and jubilantly jump out of the computer chair (and sometimes, shout on the top of my voice disturbing my Indian neighbors) whenever I make a correct reply.

Like Archimedes in his discovery of the water displacement theory, I finally found the Facebook application that will be worth eating chocolate for and will be relaxing from making the paper bundles organized for.

At least, I've been incredibly lubricating my neurotic senses despite all the disturbances and inconveniences that I've been causing my dozing off (and sometimes, feces-reducing neighborhood cats).

But, speaking of electricity...

...ah, there's the rub.

Now, back to the boxed social reality.

Tulang Tsuper

2009-04-03T07:11:00.000-07:00

Habang nakasakay ako't sumisilay sa labas ng jeep patungong Cubao, napagtanto ko na magsulat kahit sandali ng isang maikling akda sa aking napagmamalupitang selepono. Sa gitna ng mala-hanging pagtalampas ng jeep sa kanyang dinadaanan na parang wala nang bukas, nagsulat ako tungkol sa sa kanya. Ito'y pinamagatan kong:

Jeepney

Tara na,

sa jeep ng mga nasasakdal.

Bawat sigaw ng mamang barker,

rehas sa katahimikan,

ninuman.

Instrumento ng kaganyakan,

berso ng modernong kundiman.

Pinalitan na ang busina't musika;

naghahampasan.

Saysay na nalabi na lang;

pinagmumunihan,

Sa mga parang at paglaan,

ng mga halimaw na daan.

Distant Histories

2009-04-02T05:07:00.000-07:00

According to Bill Bryson in his book " A Short History of Nearly Everything", biologically habitable planets that exist in another galaxy might have devised a powerful telescope enough to see our world 200 years ago. Since we are approximately 200 light years away from them, they might see us as people still battling Napoleon in the French Revolution. Or, in the Philippine setting, they might view the rage-filled and intoxicated guerilla men fighting the studded galleons of the Spaniards. The period of an industrialized world at war, as many would say.

This might serve as a true manifestation of Einstein's theory of relativity, but many humanists might believe that this conception of moving time and space can lead to certain doubts about not including this discovery in the process of retracing history. Speaking of history, since it is conceptualized out of human standards, the margin of error in using time as a quantifiable gauge in measuring a period scale may increase as the number of discoveries of the alternate universe increases since the otherworldly concept of time reverses the movement of "human history".

This might lead to another set of histories yet to be created in the new time standards using the new terrestrial plane as its reference point. This would make the term "pockets of time" true in a more universal way.

Anyway, this is just a little reflection on the Kepler mission. Comments are welcome for further discussion.

{Experiment}al {Poet}ry

2009-03-15T04:00:00.000-07:00

Here is a poem conceived out of a workshop activity transforming what was once an essay snippet into poetic writing. This is based on the article titled (Untitled) by Richard Jacob Dy from the Philippine Collegian Editorial Examination 2009.

KuEd School of Thought

Katuwang, turismo,

hihikayatin, isasangkot,

mitong kultura,

Pagpasok ng turista.

Pamamagitan,

ng sariling kaalaman,

anyo ng proyekto,

bansang malayo.

Makatutulong,

sangay, sa edukasyon,

sa pagpapalaganap,

kanyang kasaysayan.

Kultura,

sa pinakamababang antas,

hanggang masilayan,

edukasyong pantas.

Edukasyon,

Pinakamababang kultura

pagpapalaganap, hihikayatin.

Hihikayatin,

Pinakamababang kultura,

Pagpapalaganap, edukasyon.

Kultura, pagpapalaganap;

pinakamababang edukasyon,

hihikayatin.

Note: The abstractions were created and based on the actual essay text.

Enough Politics: The Drama Unfolds Here, Part 10

2009-03-02T22:46:00.000-08:00

Does politics consume the true agenda of pressuposed nation's liberty? Can you say preoccupied to a person held by the iron grip of politics? Does it even entail a choice for one to be subjected into the political arena or unconciously everyone eventually gets involved in it?

Definitely, politics is almost always given the opportunity to consummate our keen intellect whenever we make a stand. Sometimes, possibilities of earth-shaking proportions gets into our view whenever we ride along the momentum of this type/s of discourse.

Below is a collection of neoliberal political proverbs sent by a friend from a university in France:

(Please take note of the ironies and metaphors. They may indeed burn like a blazing hot flat iron in your self-thought.)

1. In my many years I have come to a conclusion that one useless man is a shame, two is a law firm and three or more is a congress.

-- John Adams

2. If you don't read the newspaper you are uninformed, if you do read the newspaper you are misinformed.

-- Mark Twain

3. Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But then I repeat myself.

-- Mark Twain

4. I contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle ..

-- Winston Churchill

5. A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul.

-- George Bernard Shaw

6. A liberal is someone who feels a great debt to his fellow man, which debt he proposes to pay off with your money.

-- G. Gordon Liddy

7. Democracy must be something more than two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner.

-- James Bovard, Civil Libertarian (1994)

8. Foreign aid might be defined as a transfer of money from poor peopleÂ in rich countries to rich people in poor countries.

-- Douglas Casey, Classmate of Bill Clinton at Georgetown University

9. Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys.

-- P.J. O'Rourke, Civil Libertarian

10. Government is the great fiction, through which everybody endeavors to live at the expense of everybody else.

-- Frederic Bastiat, French Economist (1801-1850)

11. Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.

-- Ronald Reagan (1986)

12. I don't make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts.

-- Will Rogers

13. If you think health care is expensive now, wait until you see what it costs when it's free!

-- P.J. O'Rourke

14. In general, the art of government consists of taking as much money as possible from one party of the citizens to give to the other.

-- Voltaire (1764)

15. Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn't mean politics won't take an interest in you!

-- Pericles (430 B.C.)

16. No man's life, liberty, or property is safe while the legislature is in session.

-- Mark Twain (1866)

17. Talk is cheap...except when Congress does it.

-- Anonymous

18. The government is like a baby's alimentary canal, with a happy appetite at one end and no responsibility at the other.
-- Ronald Reagan

19. The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of the blessings. The inherent blessing of socialism is the equal sharing of misery.

-- Winston Churchill

20. The only difference between a tax man and a taxidermist is that the taxidermist leaves the skin.

-- Mark Twain

21. The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly is to fill the world with fools.
--Herbert Spencer, English Philosopher (1820-1903)

22. There is no distinctly native American criminal class...save Congress.

-- Mark Twain

23. What this country needs are more unemployed politicians.

-- Edward Langley, Artist (1928-1995)

24. A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have.

-- Thomas Jefferson

A Student's Untimely Farewell

2009-02-24T02:08:00.000-08:00

Amiel Alcantara. I will never forget that name. Upon receiving a message regarding the tragic incident, I knew deep inside that I've not just tragically lost a student, but also a driving force in my journey as a teacher. With his brotherly praises and greetings filled with tremendous joy and unforgettable laughter, as unmagnanimous destiny was for him, no one would not feel a certain stop in the beating of one's heart in sadness and hatred (for the dreams that will never be fulfilled, for the visions that will never be conceived).

As I've read his parent's appeal for prayer, surely, I believe this is the best gift that I can give and share all for him in this moment.

Humihingi kami ng mga dasal niyo para sa kaluluwa ni Amiel Alcantara. Siya ay nasa ikaapat na baitang at mag-aaral ng Mababang Paaralan ng Ateneo de manila. Kanina lamang, siya'y naipit ng dalawang kotse sa may dismissal/waiting area, oras ng kanilang uwian. Kinailangan pa siyang hugutin mula sa ibaba ng kotse upang maialis siya sa pagkaipit. Maraming dugo ang nakita sa pinangyarihan ng insidente. Naisugod pa siya sa ospital ngunit hindi rin nagtagal at siya'y pumanaw. Nawa'y ipagdasal niyo ang kanyang kaluluwa at ang kanyang pamilya. Pakipasa ang mensaheng ito sa iba. Maraming salamat po.

I am offering my condolences to his family especially to his brother Avie who is also one of my students.

Godspeed, Amiel.

Who is Mr. Common Sense?

2009-02-06T22:44:00.000-08:00

Do we really make sense or do our senses make us?

This is a rather paradoxical question to ask, yet a very obvious one. So obvious that no one, even the philosophers, ever asked it because all statements made will nullify itself; since what had been thought in the duration of thinking shall make a contradiction to the act of thinking itself (if it is, in the first place, a valid act to one's perception).

Anyway, here's an attempt by a writer (this was sent to me by a friend) to make a forecast or to paint a not-so-distant reality of the death of common sense.

Leave a comment below if you have spurts of statements to let go off your mouth's leash.

If there's none, just enjoy and view his sense about the (global) common sense.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Obituary: Mr. Common Sense

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape.

He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as:

Knowing when to come in out of the rain; Why the early bird gets the worm; Life isn't always fair; and maybe it was my fault.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children.

It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an Aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims.

Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.

Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death, by his parents, Truth and Trust, by his wife, Discretion, by his daughter, Responsibility, and by his son, Reason.

He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers;

I Know My Rights

I Want It Now

Someone Else Is To Blame

I'm A Victim

Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone.

Chorros de la poesia (spurts of poetry)

2009-01-31T04:16:00.000-08:00

Saturday.

When I went to my former alma mater's (high school) annual fair, some inescapable force compelled me to come in terms with my former organization by attending its acoustic, open mic poetry event. To my surprise, the current members are still actively participating in the arts scene within the campus. One even had produced an album now circulating in the local music market.

Then, as far as their brand of poetry is concerned, they still ROCK (whatever that means...).

Anyway, as an alumni, I was also compelled to read some poemas. Since I wasn't prepared, I had to make two poem-lings for 15 minutes before the presentation. Below are the said poem-lings:

The Reunion

I've longed to stare at the long
terrace of thoughts,
of memories, of illusions,

I've sought to tread the transparent path,
full of reversed hopes.

Only it will rest,
in the source of my rays,
from the beacon of combined matches,
held by the ironies of days.

Stare

I want to dispose of millions,
and millions of eyes,

not parallel with their visions,

just looking at directions,
diversions,

only will they come back
to my afflictions,

my desperation.

Seriously Kidding

2009-01-28T17:13:00.000-08:00

Are jokes half-meant?

As many people would say, jokes are still statements made by one to address a trait or a circumstance passed to another. Statements, per se, requires thought value in the part of the speaker before being uttered. As a matter of fact, thinking is synonymous to relating one thought pattern to another using the means of connotation or denotation when another person is seen in the release of statements. You might say that such statements can be impulsive, yet, as rational beings, we can think in a matter of millions every single second. So, there is no such thing as a joke not well thought of.

The fact that a statement has undergone a rigorous filtering in the part of the person before being finally said means, in a way, that person meant to say the “joke” thought to another.

Why would one relate that “fact” in the “joke” if one does not actually “mean” it?

In conclusion, the joke has a degree of truth value with the intentions being expressed through a statement to another person.

A joke is not entirely a joke.

Seriously...

...just kidding

Better Be Happy to Be Better

2009-01-25T04:17:00.000-08:00

Here are some tips that I got from a friend,
simple words, simple phrases,
thoughts that ripple without end,
through eons, through ages.

Tips for a Better Life

1. Take a 10-30 minutes walk every day. And while you walk, smile.\

2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.

3. Sleep for 7 hours.

4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.

5. Play more games.

6. Read more books than you did the previous year.

7. Make time to practice meditation, yoga, and prayer. They provide us with daily fuel
   for our busy lives.

8. Spend time with people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.

9. Dream more while you are awake.

10. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.

11. Drink plenty of water.

12. Try to make at least three people smile each day.

13. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.

14. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with his/her mistakes of the
   past. That will ruin your present happiness.

15. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your
   energy in the positive present moment.

16. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn
   will last a lifetime.

17. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.

18. Smile and laugh more.

19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.

20. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

21. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

22. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.

23. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
   Don't compare your partner with others.

24. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

25. Forgive everyone for everything.

26. What other people think of you is none of your business.

27. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

28. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

29. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

30. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

31. The best is yet to come.

32. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

33. Do the right thing!

34. Call your family often.

35. Your inner most is always happy. So be happy.

36. Each day give something good to others.

37. Don't over do. Keep your limits.

38. Show this message to someone else.

Now, it's time to be fruitful and to (always visit) multiply.

The Back Story

2009-01-18T19:24:00.000-08:00

I'm back..

Now, here is something different, something personal (out of the profound stuff):

New Year

It's nice to be back in the front side of the new year. With the rain hitting the airwaves of supposedly sent text messages, no wonder people get less new year messages this time including my black as emo phone. Instead of watching Picasso-painted fireworks, I had already found contentment in watching TV specials with the digital countdown running onscreen and famous people do their fabulous vaudeville acts onstage. In addition to that, while looking at the occasional news breaks, I saw a lot of national structures being covered with smoke and a palette of colors because they are subjected to excessive usage in fireworks display (for global publicity perhaps).

Kid 1: Weee, the London Eye is exploding with stars.

Kid 2: Yes, the Taipei 101 too, with other buildings.

Kid 3: Wait, until you see, the Taj Mahal...oh...no, it's really burning.

Truly, it has been an explosive, water-drenched new year.

First Weeks

It has been a trailblazing...no...trial blazing three weeks of January. Here are the reasons:

- my uncle's untimely death due to a liver disease (+ RIP +)
- the recently concluded UP CAPES Job Fair
- the research work for a competition (management study/scientific research)
- the upcoming SCI-PHI convention
- IE 22 project
- Obama's inauguration
- spell R-E-C-E-S-S-I-O-N
- mediocre American Idol auditionees (oh, man!)
- etcetera

So, buckle up for the future, my friend, because 2009 will be a year to be cherished yet again.

God bless :)

DVD: Divisoria Daydream

2008-12-07T15:06:00.000-08:00

Walking across endless seas with people as ripples, the sight finds shores of stores as an isolated solitude with a perception impulse. T-shirts dangling colored from green to blue to red, lands a feast in a spectators kaleidoscope vision. Bargains that continue to melt in a singular denomination that either deprive or survive the holocaust of lending and spending. Human puppetry is at its peak whenever merchants of different forms, seen or unseen, careen the internal longing to the product catalyst burning under the sweltering heat of the noon sun. Catalyst, for every stall facade starts the epidemic of deep hunger, of consummation and sheer material thought.

When one leaves, one escapes the ruin of self.

The war's sunset appears. Peace now sets in.

Sa Pananaw ng mga Inglisero: Isang Balagtula

2008-12-06T04:38:00.000-08:00

"Ang hindi magmahal sa kanyang sariling wika ay mas masahol pa sa isang malansang isda" - Gat. Jose Rizal

Tugon ng isang Inglisero:

Sa patuloy na pag-ikot ng mundo, ang Ingles ang namumutawi’t nasasaulo. Halos lahat ng posibleng aspeto, ang wikang batayan, sa Ingles nakasalo. Karamihan ng mga nasasaklaw na diskurso, hindi tuwirang matatanto kung ang wika’y sa Filipino. Ang wikang ipinamumulat ay sa mundong nagpasisiwalat. Limitado ang mapaghuhugutan, kung ang sipat ay sa pambansang wika lamang. Kung gustong makita ang kabuuan, ang turo’y sa Ingles nararapat ang basehan. Nararapat na ang salimbibig ay sa pagtinging sambayanan, tungo sa kamunduan, maghuhubog sa madla, lalo na sa kabataan. Ang matinding kadahilanan, sadya nga talaga na ang kabataan ay ang pag-asa ng bayan. Kung mamarapating sabihin, marahan lang na ating angkinin, wika munang hindi atin. Sa tawag ng panahon, marapat itong itaghoy ng bayang naghihikahos para sa minimithing kaliwanagan, kalayaan, kapayapaan.

Ang pagkamit sa mga ito’y nasasarhan ng mga klaseng ang wika’y nilalampastangan. Kung sariling wika ang gagamitin, marami ang yuyurak sa kanyang kariktan dahil sa balarilang napupuno ng kalayaan. Sa wikang Ingles, kahit karamiha’y wakang interes, nabibigyan ng displina ang mga labing napupurol sa tuwi-tuwina. Hinuhulma ng mga gramatikong pamantayan ang mga isipang sa simula’y kinakalawang. Mas tuwiran ang pagpapalawig ng kaalaman, sagad sa laman at buto ang mga nagiging batid na katuwiran. Naisasatama ang mga kamalian sa mga sipat na hindi pa naisasalin ng mga sumusulat, mga manunulat. Ayon nga sa mga dalubhasa, natatamo ang pag-asa ng isang bansa na masawata ang kumpetensiya sa lahat ng sekta sa Ingles na pananalita.

Ang kaunlaran ay pasisinayaan ng mga kabataang makikipagtulungan gamit ang Ingles bilang makinaryang pakikipagtalastasan. Makaaahon ang republikang sa pamumuno’y patapon sa mas edukadong lipunan. Sa pamantayang ipinahihiwatig ng mundong kinagisnan, mainam na may kakayanan ang sambayanan na makipaglaban ng harapan kahit sa pakikipalitan ng salita o talakayan. Kahit na sadyang may kaliitan ang ating bansa, dambuhala naman ang ating katalentaduhan sa pagpapaksa, pakikipagpalitan ng mga kaisipan sa paggawa ng kulturang pangkamunduan.

Batid ng edukasyon sa ganitong pamamaraan, ang kinabukasan ang makapagbabangon sa isipang purol na nagpalalawig sa kahirapan, karukhaan. Maliban sa kasasabi lamang, magsisilbing behikulo ng pagbubuklod ng mga distrito ng bawat kanto sa siyudad ng tao ang pagsasakumbensyunal nito. Kahit ang pagpapasimuno ng panibagong digmaan sa kasalukuyan, ating maiiwasan, malalabanan ng mga katagang makapanlilikha ng bantayog na makapanlalaya sa dilang tanikala.

Awake

2008-12-01T17:04:00.000-08:00

As we had gazed heavenward seeing the coincidental alignment of planets and stars to form a man-resembling figure, the sky was looking at us intently taking responsibility to what pessimists might call a hoax or to the optimists, a miracle. In our nearing pursuit of deep slumber and of meaning to cap a long day, the smiling offering had provided us with an outlet to hope and to dream for such positive occurences to come across our agitated and metropolitan-drowned minds every once in a while. Indeed, this signifies that nature is constantly trying to awaken our rock-solid sensibilities due to the loves and pains inflicted by the rush of the world, so to speak. We are being made aware of the presence of a larger life around us by which the entity called Nature exists.

So, as we open our eyes, we will be made aware of the multiplicity of the presence of life and of its many forms. We are part of the sphere.

We are now awake.

The Frame of Thought: Fast Food Fiction

2008-11-26T05:40:00.000-08:00

As the clock hits the gears to the transition of another minute, the boy in blue draws his dreams in a yellow pad canvass. In the middle of a heated discussion, absolute zero in reverse, the pen wanders around the tainted green shrubs and escapes through the sea of clouds making unmarked footprints along the way. Despite the reverberating sound of the mentor's plead, the boy in blue continues to paint the image corners as stepped on by the darkness of ink. His eyes absorbing the memories for which the mind bleeds synonymous to waterfalls. Streams of improvised creations decisively immerses each entity to an alternate reality. Every emotion, as depicted in the canvass, has its own world.

Joy. The mirror sheds light to the face of the darling boy enabling the stretching of his face muscles, forcing him to smile. As one enters the reverse image, grass teemed with all sorts of green splashed in human bathing glory can be visualized upon realization. Hills are streaming, flowing like rhymes in poems, lines in sonnets. Winds ever abundant, regulated, in as much dense as the sleeping brown soil in multiple worldly terrains. Animals planted as families feeding with self -appearing food in the mouth of the mother. Men and women in white clothes suddenly appear in the distance walking slowly towards him. Smiling.

Upon being circled, smiles are showered upon him vertically with all the granted appreciations perforated in the mind. A thorn in the heart is disattached for the brightness of the sepia-toned (depicting the past) faces melted the bone-chilling, motion-stopping predicaments. They took his hands one-by-one shaking with much gusto as though your appearance is the light.

Multiple languages of "hello" speak in melodic, chanting voices blending in perfect pitch and harmony. The music reached the peak of the excitement mountain massaging your currenltly being churned mind. Everyone invites you home. It is as though there is no time, so you went to their homes, their minds every filled 5 minutes of visitation. It looks as though there is no end yet it seems to tickle the boy's taste for knowing, longingness.

Riiiiiiiingggggg!!

The boy suddenly wakes up with soring eyes finding himself wetting his sun-painted canvass with his tongue water. Everyone deserted the area of academic battle, the classroom. He wonders if someone else made attempts to awaken his senses (other than his dreams) before they leave the vicinity. Covered by liquid human mouth waste, the canvass materializes in full picture. He now sees the greatest masterpiece that he has ever created.

His own smiling portrait.

As though for longing, yet never coming back, to the world made by his own.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The surprise comes next...

Self Speak: A Blog about a Blog

2008-11-16T04:39:00.000-08:00

Has anyone thought of making a blog about a blog?

Of course, there have been reviews about movies, fantasies, novels, novelties, music, musicals, CDs, commentaries, etc. But, in the sheer criticizing nature of our humanity, be it disagreeable (see i'm doing it), fallacious, malicious, extravagant, horrifying, experiential, uneducated or simply thoughless, we spatter, spill, eject or release words agreeing or refuting another's thoughts within the highly congested social network.

It might suggest that we are always in an argumentative mood whenever we see a message in print shooting bulleted tomatoes at our favorite films tortured by his words of dissatisfaction.

Or, his thoughts about Neverland is indeed a non-existence since he believes wholeheartedly that fantasy is never a reality.

Or, he tries (at least) to make you believe that Santa Claus will indeed come to town this Christmas even though his fake beard (very obvious) has never been washed in twenty years in his profile photo.

Some even wage fights in an online game somewhere (over the rainbow) in this internet universe. They haven't even thought publicizing their match-ups through different social network site advertisements (with all the interactive mouse click glory). I'm sure if they did on YouTube, they would rouse even the sleepy of its subscribers to witness the brutal exchange of home videos, white-wall-backgrounded self video speeches, and copy-and-paste video creations with the topic revolving around the "Best Kids Show in the World: Sesame Street vs. Batibot vs. The Ellen DeGeneres Show".

Good thing, the most structured of it all, which had started from a blog, was the one made by the always dancing John Chu (director of Step UP series) to actually make a dance-off between the Obamanators and the McCainiacs. The winner would place "The White House" name at stake changing it to "The Hood". You guess what happened...

The Internet made it even more convenient for the keyboard tapping, "what does this button do" mentality obsessed society to paste instant replies to go on further with the highly "symbolic" conversations. They would make something like this :)...a dancing banana... :(... :P...lol...hahahaha...halabsyu...09213456789, etcetera. Better try doing the Morse Code to elevate the rungs of your social network commenting career ladder. If you could do that, you are a rocket scientist.

Some even claim blogs as their own. It's like being a Grade 6 child with this little Gundam toy made painstakingly in a week by his Grade 2 brother. Grade 6 claimed he made it. Won the school championship. End of story. Respect the "copy"right, or the "being copied" rights.

Some people might say that we have been given this degree of freedom to express ourselves to the point of snatching photos here and there like picking apples from Egypt (if there indeed are apples there). Cutting pictures to the max and pasting them in animation websites, photo simulation programs and the most dreaded (lightning) Photoshop (erasing large zits, loading 12%, 3 hours left). Many place stencilled messages right on the face signifying supreme hate and fascination.

Internet = large spray paint arena = canvass = scrapbook = peeping toms = catwalk = the Fibonacci number

Seriously speaking , blogs are portals for everyone to enter. Be careful of what you place inside (especially your not-so-good-moment pictures and NBI records) in every social networking site. It is through every account that people believe you sputter your identity. It is who you are in the different places in the world. Believe me. You have a virtual person inside this digital, articificial universe. Converse properly.

Don't speak when your mouth is full.

-a public service message from the best social networking site in the history, click here to find out-

On Leadership: A Discussion using the Mother Tongue

2008-11-16T03:21:00.000-08:00

Ang pinuno ay pinuno upang pumuno.

Ang katagang ito ay sumasalamin sa samu’t saring diskurso na napaiiral tuwing binibigyan ng kahulugan ang mga alituntunin at tungkulin ng pagiging isang lider (sa diretsahang salin). Kung bubusisiin ang padron na sinusundan ng mga namumuno sa lipunan, ito ay maoobserbahang napakalaki nang iniaaambag ng lipunan, o sa madaling salita, ng mga pinamumunuan sa pagsalin ng sipat at sulat sa makabuluhang gawain. Nagsisilbing langis lamang na nagpapagalaw sa barko ng pamumuno ang mga makabagbag-damdaming kataga at nakapupukaw na mga parirala. ‘Ika nga sa isang pamosong awitin, ang pamumuno ay “more than words” o higit pa sa salita. Kailangan ng aksyon sa pagpupuno ng kawalan, hindi lang sa ekonomikal na paraan (na puwedeng matugunan sa tamang polisiya), kung hindi sa paraang espiritwal na ang paghatid ay mula sa puso (para sa namumuno) na tiyak na sasagad sa buto (para sa mga pinaglilingkuran).

Ngunit, upang tuluyang maging instrumento ng pagbabago ang isa sa kanyang lipunan, kailangan din ng sapat na kaalaman, dahil ang pamumuno ay hindi lamang nagiging obligasyon sa sarili, isa rin itong sining na dapat ipinayayabong at ipinalalawig sa kapwa mamamayan. Mahirap humati, humimay ng teorya, sitwasyon o prinsipyo kung ang isipang patalim ay purol sa bulag na katotohanan. Ang hindi pagsasatama ng nakagisnang mga pagsasaakala o nosyon ay kakalawangin na tulad ng isang poste ng gusali na makadudulot nang pagkabagsak ng ipinundar na tiwala’t karanasan. Ang pagpuno sa isip ang siyang kapangyarihan at susi sa pagpupuno sa lipunan sa pamumuno.

Marahil, kung pagninilayan ang pinakaunang kataga ukol sa pagpupuno, mapaiisip ang ilan sa mala-Atlas na pagdala ng kamunduang problema sa proseso ng pagpupuno. May anggulo ng katotohanan ang pagdala kung ika’y magpadadala sa agos ng panahon na walang pinatutunguhang pagbabago batid ng kawalan ng pag-asa o pagtiwala sa lipunan. Ngunit, kung titignan ng pinuno ang maiaambag sa mamamayan, nariyan nga talaga siya upang pumuno ng pagsasaalang-alang sa kalagayan sa pagtungo sa kagustuhang pagbabago. Ang kagustuhan na manggagaling sa mismong sambayanan batid ng hikayat ng indibidwal na kaalaman at pagpapapuno sa isa’t isang nagpapapuno.

Sa Unibersidad ng Pilipinas, ang kaalaman ay ang nagiging sandata ng bawat isa sa pagpupuno ng paninindigang ipinanganak ng inihandog na kalayaan sa napakaraming aspeto mula sa kauna-unahang hakbang sa naturang intitusyon. Hindi maiiwasang sumapi rito, sumali roon sa paghahanap ng sarili. Lider ang bawat isa sa tao na kaharap niya sa salamin. Sa lakas ng kasalukuyang ipinaiiral na tradisyunal na pananaw na batid ng mga nakagawiang diskurso sa Unibersidad, hindi mapipigilang bato-balaning dumikit ang paninindigan sa teorya, o kung minsan, “crash culture” na inihahatid ng mga nasabing maitutukoy na liderato. Sa halip na tumingin sa sarili at pansinin ang mga pagkakapare-parehong pananaw, sa kaibahan pa rin nakakahon ang karamihan. Kaya puwede ring sabihin na ang kalayaan pala mismo ang naglagay ng rehas sa braso. Kung ibabalik sa pamumuno, kailangang malaman ang paktor ng pagsasabuklod ng bawat isang sekta o organisasyon, opisina o kolehiyo. Magiging posible ito sa pagsasapuno sa pag-unlad ng kaalaman ng bawat isa sa isa’t isa. Himayin ang mga pagkakaiba. Gumawa ng paraan sa pagpuno sa mga alinlangan. Tiyak na ang unibersidad ay isang nagkakaisa.

Kaya, kung titignan ang sarili, lahat tayo ay namumuno kahit hindi lingid sa karamihan. May sining din ang pamumuno sa taong kaharap mo sa salamin. Sa dinami-dami ng mga babasahin ukol sa pagiging isang “life leader”, hindi agarang magaganap ang metamorphosis sa lahat ng aspeto (marahil, sa espritwal may pokus). Kailangan ng mataas na antas ng pagmamahal sa pamumuno’t paglilingkod upang ang basong puno ay umapaw, sa oras ng mismong pamumuno.

Poetic License

2008-08-11T07:35:00.000-07:00

A poem is like a song that serves as a panacea to a wounded soul, a wishsong for the late dreamers, a past for the sailors staring at the monotonous amplitudes of the sea.

Allow me to breath through these passages using our local language (a convolution of the whole)

Limot/Laya

Isang libong nilibot na kurot

batid ng pighati't pagkalimot.

Nakamit, dumamit sa sundalong

namihasa't nagngalit sa hindi

pagkamit.

Isang libong nilibot na kurot

batid ng pighati't pagkalimot.

Pinilas ag kasunduang tugon

hatid ng pag-angat, posisyon

Nakasagi, tumama sa batang

Nagahasa't binalahura bago

ang buhay kinamit.

Isang libong nilibot na kurot

batid ng paghati't pagkalumot.

Himala sa New York Street

Binaybay ng barkong SUV

ang kahabaan ng dagat semento

Masigasig na hinawakan ng pagkamulat

sa mg kadalasang sulyap, iglap

ang mga uwak na tumatangis.

Ang dala'y ligayang matumal

magarbong, kagampang pighati

Bumabatingaw, nililindol

ang sikmurang kumakahol

Napuno ang blanketang kalawakan

mga salita't titik na pinakalatasan

ng kalapating parangal

na sa pagtagos ng puso'y batid.

Hindi naging hadlang

kabilaang businang unos,

sa pansamantalng pagdaong.

Minunihan, pinakalawalan

ang kalapating kalong.

Sinamantala ang paglipad,

pagkagawi kasama ng mga uwak.

Pagbalik, inaasahan ang pagkalisan

at pagkawala ng unos, isang dagta,

isang mensahe ng pagmamahal.

After the magician wields his wand, everything subsides. Silence breaks in.

Hush.

Burning the Midnight Oil

2008-07-29T06:15:00.000-07:00

Sleep tight, little child.

Unearthing nostalgic tendencies, we yearn to keep our childhood intact by our personal desires and dependencies. We look far, even overboard, to express the whimsical thoughts that we have in the middle of the battle of complexities. In the case of most readers here, whether we like to admit it or not, complexities caused mainly by the personality-gaining, gear-turning, stomach-lurching, habitat-forming, habit-inducing tasks we do in school.

We yearn to be in touch with our inner selves since preoccupation is the name of the game in the hype-driven hustle-and-bustle of strained lives immersed in the academe. Seeking to be admired by the external, positive forces, we place our attention in scrolls of self-help information to gobble up the changes yearned as much as we want. Feeling helpless, we seek for other's approval if indeed a changed man was born upon devotedly following the parameters set by the self-help experts.

From effective clock management to fraternal leadership, truckloads of suggestions are dictated in such a way that the paradigm being set deliberately would be followed. A checklist will be made to be stared at like a hawk ensuring no rule will this soul of yours fall short of. Everything, with your expectations laid out, will be straight A's if done with perfection. You continue to conform like being controlled by a Barnum & Bailey puppeteer.

Burnout. To faint is the only outlet available, to get out of all this conformity. Yet, you wake up again devouring all these information. You walk, and you go up. Little you realize, your soul is going down.

As we grow up a notch in life, we set more expectations to our mortal selves. This enables us to conform to these thoughts and penetrate the natural process by yearning to transform as quick as possible. We burn our midnight's oil in a grand proportion, there's nothing left for ourselves. We act as though every opportunity is our obligation to seize. Acting somewhat insecure. Dependent on the opportunities as though this is the only to be reinforced.

To alleviate the rising tide of this pandemic of burning, one suggestion still remains to be effective:

Sit down. Pray. Meditate. Exercise your thoughts. For self-help is helping yourself to unlock the peak of your thoughts. There is more than in your mind than what you think. Think on thinking. Widen your thought horizons. Take deep breaths, Feel. Revive.

You will realize that there are more opportunities than the physical ones.

Pockets of minutes per day of such treatment shall unearth your full potential.

Indeed, upon taking the suggestion, you have sucked the marrow out of life.

Now, like your magnanimous mom would say, nature says:

Sleep tight, little child

Speaking about Time: IE Department Seminar

2008-06-18T23:49:00.000-07:00

June 16, 2008, Tuesday, 4PM -As the chosen speaker to represent my organization, I was tasked to speak about time management using whatever devices in whatever means necessary. I thought maybe this wasn't the right topic for me since I have been somewhat tardy in some of my classes (no but's and if's). But, in my stash, so to speak, I have some accumulated insights to share with the rather confused freshmen. So, I said 'yes' and went for it even though there was prick of hesitation in my conscience.

The title of my presentation was "Beyond Chronos", referring to time management as something beyond the solid concept of time. When it was my turn to speak in the stage of the Engineering Theatre, I instantly felt comfortable since everyone seemed to look so interested to listen (or so i thought...kidding).

Well, to jumpstart my speech, I asked everyone first to do a breathing exercise (like what chorales do in their practices). When everyone's settled down, I started my 20-minute lecture aided by my Powerpoint Presentation.

"C.E.N.T.S...balance...timeless tips...multitasking...picture of tigers"

After it was done, I congratulated the freshmen for a job well done.

Hopefully, they have enjoyed as much as I've delivered it.

Wavelength: Radio Guesting in NU 107.5

2008-06-06T13:21:00.000-07:00

June 2, 2008, Monday - Going to Ortigas riding an open bus alone was such a big hassle. Thinking that I was really late for my appointment with the producer of NU 107.5, I literally felt sick to my stomach in emotional agitation. It was 7:15 PM. One of the officers texted that my appointment would be at exactly 7 PM, and I'll be having a radio guesting for a new university segment at 9-11PM. Though I wasn't that prepared to say the categorically right words. I just said to myself, "Let's get it over with! Not everyone has this opportunity". So, facing the clean transparent glass door of the station office, I entered the threshhold and went inside absolute sound resonating paradise.

Upon entering, I saw a radio component barking on empty blue chairs. Oops, I didn't see Mr. Security Guard on the right side staring at me in suspicion (looking as though I'm there for self-destruction with all the sweat of stress and exhaustion pouring all over my body). Then, I heard someone murmuring the exact words heard on the radio.

Presence of ghost whisperers...

Certainly not. Right behind the glass pane, I saw the radio desk with the lady disc jockey playing all the hyperventilated, high octaned, almost no holds barred rock music. With a crystal clear voice, she seduced her listeners to rock-and-roll high and foot stomping mayhem.

Very contrasting to her operator-worthy manner of speaking.

I thought the producer was already in the vicinity. But, unfortunately, I have to wait for an additional hour. So, speaking about my conversation with Mico Halili, the producer of the station, he made me feel very assured and comfortable in dealing with some of our sponsorship demands. It went to show that he knew how to treat and converse with people well especially when there is a serious matter to be discussed. He was willing to give all out for station promotion.

How generous!

Anyway, at exactly 9 AM, the show had started. The title is U-ROCK, a show catered to university concerns and events, hosted by George Rocha and another female DJ. Luckily, I wasn' t the first one to be interviewed.

In the show, the first one was Ms. Tolentino from the UP Centennial Organizing Committee advertising the first-ever Oblation tableau-like formation. She said that 100 male models from different countries preferably UP alumni would pose like the Oblation (yes, I know what you are thinking...get the idea) in front of local and international media such as CNN and Reuters. It will happen in June 16. The DJs had so much fun looking at Ms.Tolentino's presentation in her laptop.

The second one was a female, Atenean Junior who has an onling fashion business. I forgot the exact name. All I knew was she was forging her way to the top.

Kudos.

The third one was a lady from a laser game store wherein painless team games synonymous to paintball can be played.

Zap.

The fourth one was a Bedan cheerdancer who had invited people to come to their performances in their school and had told about their group's rigorous practices.

Cheers.

Now, as I waited after a certain college rock song for my turn, I was holding tightly to my so-called script so that I would know whatever it was I would be saying. Upon stepping in front of the microphone, I knew it was my time.

10:30 PM. I glanced at my watch hoping that people would still be listening to me at this time.
Like in initial committee meetings and family reunions, I had unhesistatingly introduced myself. Then, thinking that I've had enough of introducing myself since the time of my conception, I thought of going directly to the discussion of the FOPC Freshmen Week activities. My mind was wandering aimlessly as I had long moments of explanation (and national airtime) of what specifically these activities were. I was just daydreaming of this in the past but, now, I was right there feeling right at home while being asked by random questions.

Not the forbidden ones, so to speak.

The DJs were surprised that our activities had been scattered within a four-month duration culminated by the Freshmen Week. From Capoeira to UP bands, descriptions and advertisements were made here and there. Also, I was given the chance to plug the FOPC party (PUMP UP @ 100) happenning in an immediate date. In the end, I had the opportunity to greet some of my folks (FOPC members, friends and DAD).

After me, the floor was given to a couple of Ateneans who were also promoting their incoming Orientation activities (ORSEM). By the way, I had talked with them before my time and they knew some of my batchmates there.

11:15 PM. Leaving the radio-soaked den, I eagerly went back home still hearing the resonance of my semi-stuttering voice in the radio.

Cellphone blinking (due to the silent mode option), people said it was all fine and good.

Well, after all, it was indeed good...

...night for me.

Gawad Tulong-Dunong

2008-05-24T23:14:00.000-07:00

Kuya, hindi ko makakalimutan ang legacy mo.

For the last 5 weeks, I have taught some 4th year scholars from Ateneo, Miriam and St. Scholastica a very interesting subject (Physics) with a class period beginning at 8 and ending at 9 in the morning.

Last Friday, May 23, 2008, I was given this art-filled award made by my students in recognition to my teaching duration. A lot of work was done in the process of making it by the way it was constructed. 25 rolled notes made of 1/8 construction paper were placed inside a glass with some art sand. A monkey stuffed toy was placed right on top of an improvised lid with my nerdy picture on top of its floating,extended aluminum tail.

I was deeply touched by what Gary, one of my students had said about yours truly.
It is written on top for your reference.

Teaching is such a noble profession. So noble that I would do it free even for the rest of my life for such noble people.

P.S. My personal condolences for Alvin Espinosa, one of my first students, who had died last year due to a terminal illness

FOPC Fund Run (the event)

2008-05-24T22:27:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday, May 25, 2008, FOPC held its highly anticipated fund run in the academic oval. The fund run proceedings ran from 6 to 11 in the morning. Representatives form different member organizations ran number of laps following their collected pledges. At first, it can be seen that it was pretty difficult for some organizations to finish with the pledges ranging from 10 to 40 exhausting laps. Even though they can the work with the presence of multiple org representatives, the stress level still ran high as the sun's blistering heat drained the most out of every runner. Several organizations finished first as early as 7 in the morning, but for some, 4 hours were not enough because of the lack of presigned runner.

Fortunately, very generous sponsors from Burlington and 100 isotonic drink gave out free merchandise (through a raffle) and free refreshments respectively for the runners once they had signed up. It really wasn't an easy task if you consider the maximum human physical capacity to move around the oval even though one valid lap in the oval equates to two credited laps for the run (AS to NEC building/one lap, NEC to AS/one lap). Everyone was made to wear a rubber band corresponding to each lap that a runner had undertaken.

For the record, in the duration of the run, one man actually had 20 rubber bands in his wrist by the end of his session.

How's that for a pledge run? A marathon perhaps.

The event ended in a very peaceful manner with just 2 organizations left running for pledges (and several boxes of isotonic drinks left untouched...gulp). Hopefully, friendships were made and perhaps, reinforced in this event.

With asphalt-stomping, sunlight absorbing, isotonic drink drowning, rubber band accessorizing, and perspiration bath glory, we can say that UP students truly immortalized the saying mens sana, corpore sano meaning "a sound mind in a sound body".

Note: Better watch Chariots of Fire for more inspiring quotes on running.

Cebu Work Camp (Sinking in and Commencing)

2008-04-15T23:55:00.000-07:00

The delay of this entry was inevitable. Cebu Work Camp has ended 6 days ago.

...a time of reflection...

During this period of contemplation, I have always thought of returning, looking back at those life-changing times, those life-changing 10 days. But, there's no alternative, since we can't move back time, but to look ahead.

I don't have the power of Janus to look at both sides.

Definitely, this has been one of the best moments of my life.

Kundirana 2008 Pre-Departure Concert

2008-03-31T04:06:00.000-07:00

Last March 29, 2009, my brother Aaron's singing group, the Kundirana Music Ministry, had performed their last performance in Bro. Rafe Donato Theatre before they leave for their 1-month US tour staritn April 3. It's actually his second, at the same time, his last year performing for the group since he had already graduated from high school (La Salle Greenhills). As always, they were magnificent in almost all their song and dance numbers. So, allow me to describe what for me were the best highlights of the concert.

First, the Josh Groban medley was utterly amazing. The voice of the tenor named Vince was well-defined and so expressive to the point that he can fill a concert of his own in the near future and continue to bedazzle the audience, both the young and the old.

Second, with all the choreography that they had during the first parts of the concert, I thought they would not pull off the last encore numbers. But, guess what, I was impressed that they all made it. (Dance Numbers: Boogie Wonderland (70's), Disco Inferno (70's), Dance Medley (60's and 70's), Footloose (80's, I think), Ai No Corrida (70's), Let the Joy Rise (2000's), Electric Dreams (80's) and Sayaw Darling (Willie Revillame fame)).

Third, these guys have a loads of talent, not just in singing and dancing, but also in EMOTING. They can cover up each other mistakes even in the missed voicings. Well, the veterans of Kundirana (my brother included) did a good job on complementing what others had lacked on practicing, so to speak.

I'm sure that when they would be setting their feet in one of the stages there in the US. Spotlights wouldn't be needed any longer, because the stars have already shone beside them.

Bon voyage, Kundirana 2008.

Transport Strike

2008-03-10T17:46:00.000-07:00

Beep...Beep...Beep

Supposedly, I have a 7am class in the outskirts of my university (as if I own it). I already went out of the house to wait for the next machinery of soot and smoke to take to that place. I thought I was really, really late because I practically crammed my accounting homework.

It stinks to know that upon arrivng there a cute girl which was my classmate (yes!!) told me that there are no classes. So, staring at her smile, I replied in a very formal fashion that I was grateful for her to tell me that.
I can still remember her face. Hopefully, next time, her name. (Get out of whimsyland buster!!)

So, here I am right now, reading all the best, so to speak, articles this piece of technology has to provide while burning time and waiting for the jeepneys bark at me like hell. Thank God for Mercatornet!!

Bye. bye.

UP Elections 2008

2008-03-03T21:24:00.000-08:00

I am writing this in an internet shop in the heat of the university, college and org elections. As I wait in anticipation for the results (because it is the first time I'm running), I remain very active in looking at the progress of the votings in different colleges. I mean this is a switch in leadership. A fresh mandate is at stake especially this UP Centennial. Good luck to all the candidates!!

can't write a longer blog entry.

Life Registration

2007-11-06T02:30:00.000-08:00

We enter a series of tests to get to our desired goals.

Once a single door has been opened, another sets will sprout out of nowhere leading to destinations

...of fantasies.

...of nightmares.

...of solitary daydreams.

...of another afterlife.

...of karma.

But, once we find the dead end, be afraid, because the end is another beginning...

...of shockers and obliterated aftermaths.

...of repercussions.

Departures and Reincarnations

2007-09-30T22:44:00.000-07:00

I have seen a multitudes of Filipinos lately going on an exodus towards what we most consider as the greener pastures. In the undertaking itself, there is always a question of doubt that we ask on our interconnected consciousness, are we going to go any further in going out? Let us see in the future if such reasons would fall under the same category.

Tutor's Nightmare

2007-08-05T22:03:00.000-07:00

Exasperation (with a capital E). This is what I feel whenever I enter the house of the most maniacal tutee a man will ever encounter. Admittedly, this is my only opinion since I am the only one involved with this guy (yes, a guy) as of the moment (save for his past tutors, adios). So, here's the story, I was assigned to tutor a grade 5 kid from Ateneo who I assumed was really intelligent (which, he is, thank God!!) and cooperative. Unfortunately, even though the world will be spinned 360 degrees in 160 miles per second, the latter expectation can't just be attributed to the kid no matter what I do. His face full of salivated cookies and over-diluted orange juice would be deliberately smacked in my face while speaking word punches like what most of the kardknock rappers do. In addition to that, he would do anything to divert my topic of discourse to a mis-topic (in short, TRASH). I really hate this guy. I feel that he just needs an outlet of all the negative feelings that he has for his unaffectionate classmates (twins) or a brother figure because his brother is studying in the States. Might as well endure this guy after his exams...or forever...nightmare
(Sorry for the language. Man, I hate this guy!!)

First Draft

2007-04-24T05:55:00.000-07:00

This is actually my first time to blog and I'm one of those bunch of first-timers who are so apprehensive of what will they be writing first. As one of the redundant informative authors on writing says, "it is in the beginning where a writer makes the first impression to his readers making it the most difficult and tedious part of the process".

So, how do I fare dear readers?

All I promise is I would grant your wishes of giving freely my thoughts.

May the whirlwind combat the waves of my sea.