Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Image: wallpaperweb.org

The Meaning of Christmas

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field keeping watch over their flock by night and lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them. The glory of the Lord shone around them and they were so afraid and the angel said unto them “Fear not for behold I give you tidings of great joy. It shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the City of David a savior, Jesus Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign unto you: You shall find a baby wrapped in clothes and lying in a manger.”

And suddenly there is with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward men”.

Merry Christmas!



Credits: ABC's A Charlie Brown Christmas

Holiday Movies

Can’t get into the holiday spirit? Maybe these five Christmas movies can get you out of your holiday blues.

Home Alone. – Kevin!!!! In Home Alone, 8-year-old Kevin McCallister (Mackauly Culkin) who is accidentally left behind by his family who went to France for a Christmas vacation must defend his home against a pair of bumbling burglars (Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern) known as the Wet Bandits.

Slapstick comedy at its best.

Home Alone 2. – A year after Kevin McCallister was left home alone and had to defeat the Wet Bandits, he accidentally finds himself alone again, in New York. But Kevin is not the only one new in town. The Wet Bandits, now known as the Sticky Bandits, had escaped prison and is out to rob a toy store which Kevin must now defend.

The Santa Clause. - Scott Calvin (Tim Allen) finds himself stepping into the shoes of Santa Claus after putting on jolly old St. Nicholas' suit. Better read the fine print carefully Scott Calvin.

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. In Christmas Vacation, we watch as Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) try so hard to give his family the perfect Christmas. But you know Clark Griswold, the things he does doesn’t usually go as planned. Mix in Uncle Eddie, and you have one interesting holiday.

It’s a Wonderful Life. In It’s a Wonderful Life, a desperate man (played by James Stewart) finds out what the world would have been like if he had never been born. A unique premise. A Christmas classic.

References: IMDb
Photos: from all over the internet

The Dawn

Credit: restyox

Boxed Ideas

November 2014 marks the 1st anniversary of this blog. A year of writing crap. Just kidding . I love writing. Maintaining a blog is not without its challenges. For one, it's hard to think of topics to write about. Lists are always a good idea. Just list down your favorite movies or singers and presto, you have a blog post. Or you could post videos from Youtube or audio from Soundcloud. Instant content. But if I do that, I make sure that I give credit to the person who posted the vid or sound on the internet. Having a blog is also fun. It provides me an avenue to express myself. Let's face it, not everyone will get published in magazines. A blog is the next best thing. One more thing I want to say. I may never be a J.K. Rowling or a Tolkien or a John Hughes, but I will never stop writing. I may not be able to continue this blog, but the passion in me will never die. For what would life be without writing, without stories and poems, without music and art? It would be boring and dull. For closing, I leave you with this quote I just found on the internet:

"Art individualizes you; it makes you your own person.

Life without art would be unthinkable.

A place without art is a place that can not exist, not as long as we still have thoughts."

-Madyson Roth.

Reference: http://posnackstudio.weebly.com/blog-link/what-would-life-look-like-without-art-why-do-we-need-the-arts

Ceremony

This is why events unnerve me,
They find it all, a different story,
Notice whom for wheels are turning,
Turn again and turn towards this time,
All she ask's the strength to hold me,
Then again the same old story,
World will travel, oh so quickly,
Travel first and lean towards this time.

Oh, I'll break them down, no mercy shown,
Heaven knows, it's got to be this time,
Watching her, these things she said,
The times she cried,
Too frail to wake this time.

Oh I'll break them down, no mercy shown
Heaven knows, it's got to be this time,
Avenues all lined with trees,
Picture me and then you start watching,
Watching forever, forever,
Watching love grow, forever,
Letting me know, forever.

Credits: Eric Thompson

Pretty in Pink

Andie, the girl from the "other side of the tracks" and Blaine, the rich, handsome and popular guy in school, try to make their romance work despite their different social backgrounds and amidst pressure from their friends.

Another '80s classic from writer John Hughes and director Howard Deutch.

Youtube Video: Ignazio Deddu

Work is a Four Letter Word

The Smiths with their cover of the Cilla Black song, "Work is a Four Letter Word".



Loving you is driving me crazy
People say that you were born lazy
'Cause you say that
Work is a four-letter word

So change your life
There is so much I know
That you can do
Come and see

Wide-awake
And take all of this love
That is waiting for you

If you stay
I'll stay right beside you
And my love
May help to remind you
To forget that
Work is a four-letter word

I don't need
A house that's a showplace
I just feel
That we're going no place
While you say that
Work is a four-letter word

So change your life
There is so much I know
You can do
Come and see

Wide-awake
And take all of this love
That is waiting for you

If you stay
I'll stay right beside you
And my love
Might help to remind you
To forget that
Work is a four-letter word
Oh

I don't need
A house that's a showplace
I just feel
That we're going no place
While you say that
Work is a four-letter word

So change your life
There is so much I know
That you can do
Please come and see


Wide-awake
And take all of this love
That is waiting for you

Credits: posted by ianroy27 in Youtube

It's a Wonderful Life

It's the "-ber" months and Christmas is just around the corner. Near where I live, lighted Christmas decors and lanterns are already being sold. I'm sure in a few weeks we'll be hearing Christmas songs on the radio. And we'll be seeing Christmas movies and specials on television. When I was young, I used to watch Rudolph in stop motion animation on TV. I also remember seeing the Looney Tunes gang in their spoof of the classic Charles Dickens tale "A Christmas Carol". Yosemite Sam as Ebenezer Scrooge and Bugs Bunny pretending to be a ghost. There's also this black and white movie they used to show. It's called "It's a Wonderful Life" directed by Frank Capra and starring James Stewart and the beautiful Donna Reed. This movie happens to be one of the most beloved films of all time.

The Plot

It’s Christmas Eve and a desperate man by the name of George Bailey (James Stewart), who feels like life has passed him by, stands in the brink of suicide. But heaven has other plans for George Bailey. It sends a second class angel named Clarence to save George. Before George could even jump off a bridge into a river, Clarence jumps in ahead of George forcing George to rescue Clarence. By doing that, Clarence effectively saves George. As the two dry off, George wishes that he hadn’t been born. Clarence grants this wish and shows George what the world would have been like if he hadn’t been born.

Martini’s/Nick’s

George and Clarence go to Martini’s bar only to find out that it is no longer owned by Martini but now owned by Nick, the bartender, who was uncharacteristically rude. Then enters a poor old bum and Nick spills water onto the man’s face. George recognizes the poor man as his former boss in the drug store, Mr. Gower. With young George not being there, no one prevented Mr. Gower, who was then grieving the lost of his son, from accidentally dispensing poison to a patient.

Pottersville

George and Clarence step out of Nick’s place. George walks around town alone. George gets the surprise of his life as he discovers that the town of Bedford Falls is now named after the “Scrooge-like” Mr. Potter, the richest man in Bedford Falls, and that the once quiet town is now filled with night clubs, burlesque clubs, bars, pawnshops and billiard halls. George hails a taxi and asks the driver to take him home. Ernie, the driver, was George’s friend but he doesn’t recognize George. The taxi arrives at the address given by George. What’s there was a house that was abandoned for years. Unbeknownst to George, Ernie signaled a cop to follow the cab. The cop tries to arrest George and Clarence (who magically re-appears) but George escapes after Clarence bites the cop’s arm. Clarence vanishes. George goes to his mother’s house but his mother doesn’t remember him and turns him away. George learns from his mother that his Uncle Billy was in the asylum ever since he lost his business.

Bailey Park

Thinking that he was under a spell cast by Clarence, George decides to go see the man he last spoke to before things became weird, Martini, who lives in Bailey Park. But what was once Bailey Park is now a cemetery. And in one of the tombstones is inscribed the name of George's little brother. With George not being born, no one saves George's little brother after the latter broke through the ice while sledding in the snow. George's little brother never goes to war and never gets the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Mary the Librarian

George asks Clarence what ever happened to Mary (Donna Reed). Clarence tells George that Mary becomes an old maid, she never marries, and that she works as a librarian in the public library. George hurries to the library. He catches Mary as she locks up. But Mary also doesn't remember George and screams. George chases Mary into a bar. There the townspeople gang up on George. George runs out of the bar and a cop fires at him. George returns to the bridge.

The Bridge

At the bridge, George prays that he wants to live again. The cop arrives and recognizes George. And then magically, everything was back to normal. George runs home greeting everyone he meets in town a "Merry Christmas". At home, bank inspectors were waiting for George. He was happy to see them. George embraces his family. After a while, the townspeople arrive at George's home with each chipping in money to replace the $8,000 that George's Uncle Billy lost. Everyone sings "Auld Lang Syne". Then a bell rings. George sees a book, "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer". Inside it was a note saying: "Dear George, remember no man is a failure who has friends. Thanks for the wings, Love Clarence". Clarence has earned his wings. And George realizes that his life is a wonderful life after all.

Alternate Reality

This classic film reminds me a lot like "Back to the Future II". Especially the cemetery scene in which George sees Harry Bailey's tombstone. And the town being filled with night clubs, burlesque clubs, bars, pawnshops and billiard halls, in Back to the Future II, the Doc and Marty return to an alternate 1985 where Biff owns the town of Hill Valley with his hotel and casino in the center of it.

"George Bailey, World Traveler"

In his life, all that George Bailey ever wanted was to leave his town of Bedford Falls and see the world. But he has always put others ahead of himself. After his father passed away, George continues to manage the family loan and building company so that it will not fall into the hands of Mr. Potter for the sake of the townspeople. At least until Harry Bailey returns from college and takes over the business. George waits four years for Harry’s return but he became disappointed when Harry came back home with a wife and upon learning that Harry will not manage the business but will work for his wife’s father.

George loves Mary very much but he was hesitant to marry her because of his dream of leaving Bedford Falls. He wants to do what he wants to do. For their honey moon, George and Mary were supposed to go to New York but there was trouble in the loan and building company. In order that the townspeople will not withdraw their investment in the company, George lends his and Mary’s honeymoon money to the townspeople. Again, George never gets to step out of Bedford Falls.

"I'm On The Outside Looking In" Live - original tune by Lens Manansala

This is me!

Guitar Fantasy

I have always been fascinated with the electric guitar. I just think it's so cool. Growing up, I never learned to dance (not even sweet or slow dance) but I did learn to play the instrument of choice for rock.

My First Instruments

After high school, I was able to persuade my parents to give me money to buy my first electric guitar. I was 17 then. I bought a fake Gibson (the one with the horns) in Raon Street, Quiapo, Manila. The guitar costs around 2 thousand pesos. The guitar was color black and it had metal pickups. It was too heavy and it had high action. It was very difficult to play. But despite of its flaws, I liked that guitar very much. I would use it as props. I would carry it around in my family’s sky blue Volkswagen Beetle. I would place it on top of the back seat speakers so that when friends would ride, they’d know that I’m a rocker. I was so silly back then. I gave that guitar to my cousin on my father's side.

One year later, my parents bought me my second electric guitar using my uncle’s credit card (but my folks did pay the installments). It was a violet Genesis Series, a brand which is now phased out. I got the guitar at Yupangco music store along Buendia Street, Makati City. The guitar came along with a cord which resembles the curly telephone cord from way back when and it was light green. I also got a gadget, a Boss Turbo Distortion which I later returned and exchanged for a Boss Metal Zone (which was borrowed and never returned). Looking back, I shouldn’t have returned the Turbo Distortion. That’s the effect I’d like to buy now. It’s much more expensive now.

My Current Rig

Today I still play my violet Genesis Series but I’ve also added another electric guitar. I bought a red RJ Raven in RJ Guitar Center in MOA. The color was what made me purchase the guitar. The shiny red just stands out among the other guitars on the rack. And it sounds great too! It’s a quality guitar. For gadgets, I have a Digitech Hot Head distortion pedal, a Boss OS-2 Overdrive/Distortion pedal, a Boss DD-3 Digital Delay pedal, and a Behringer Chorus Space-C pedal. I also have a Boss BCB-30 casing for my effects and a 10 -Watt Dean Markley guitar amp.

Some Lessons Learned

Last month was my birthday. I am now 37. Man, I'm old but still not mature enough. I picked up some lessons here and there through the years. Here they are:

"Just because you like someone doesn't mean she'll like you back." It took me a long, long time to realize this. I always liked girls who are way out of my league. I’ll have a crush on the most beautiful, popular girl in school. Then I’ll give it all. I mistake a “crush” for “love”. So when things don’t turn out as I want them to, I am the one who’s “crushed”. It truly hurts. Now I know more.

"Life is unfair." I always thought it was unfair when I failed out of my school from prep to second year high school. I mean I was only a kid back then. The new principal at that time should have given me some slack. But no, he didn't allow me to return the following year. I always thought this started a chain of events that led to me screwing up in my studies. But it's all in the past now. I did graduate despite that. And besides, things would have been different if that event didn't happen. I wouldn't have met new and good friends.

"Shit happens." Unpleasant events happen. Just like me failing out. These are things that happen in life. Things beyond our control, like the weather, calamities, what people think, and a whole lot of other things. So, there's really no point stressing over them.

"You can't have everything you want." I couldn't seem to find the perfect house, the perfect neighborhood, the perfect place for me. I guess the trick here is to be content with what you have, of where you are. "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade". Just make the most of what you have and be happy where you are.

"You can't please everyone." An internet meme says, "No Matter How Good A Person You Are There Will Always Be Someone Criticizing You". True. So the best way is to always do the right thing.

Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want

"Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want" cover by The Dream Academy instrumental version used in the museum scene in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" (1986)

Check this out: http://theartofilm.blogspot.com/2013/08/the-museum-scene-in-ferris-buellers-day.html

For Dad's Day

Dads —

They don’t always approve of the life choices we sons and daughters make but that's because they truly look out for our welfare.

They may always be on our case and be tough on us. That’s because they want us to become reliable and responsible.

When we screw up, they’re always there to bail us out.

Sometimes, we underrate our own dads. But really, they still know more than we do.

"I suddenly remembered my Charlemagne. 'Let my armies be the rocks and the trees and the birds in the sky'".

Behind the strong facade, dads are really softies when it comes to their respective families.

Cheers to all the dads out there. Belated Happy Father’s Day!



Photos:

www.dvdizzy.com
FedoraSmith

Grateful

After doing chores, a teen hands his mom a bill.

FOR:

• Cleaning the house


• Sweeping the floor


• Dusting counters


• Straightening books and magazines


• Clearing clutter


• cutting the grass


• putting away toys


• cleaning own room

TOTAL: 500 pesos

Mom says "Well alright, I'll pay you later.".

Later that day, the mom gives her son 500 pesos and a piece of paper with something written on it. A bill apparently.

FOR:

• School Tuition from Prep to Grade 7


• Allowance from Prep to Grade 7


• Food and Shelter for 13 years


• Clothing


• Gadgets

TOTAL: 734,558.88 pesos

The teen smiles.

Dedicated to sons and daughters who have finished school and now have jobs and who help their families in paying rent, Meralco and water bills, etc, and who may be feeling a bit tired.



Source: A comic strip I read in my high school Christian Living book

Dear Child - Pinstriped Rebels

"Dear Child" live performance by the Pinstriped Rebels at Blot Art, gig organized by Dott Seki. Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there!

Fatal Flaw

Of the list of seven deadly sins (pride, greed, envy, wrath, lust, gluttony, and sloth) under Catholic dogma, pride is often referred to as the most serious. It is the source of the other sins. In Greek tragedy, hubris or overconfident pride and arrogance leads to the protagonist's downfall."Pride comes before a fall" as the saying goes. In our daily lives, there comes a time when we have to eat humble pie or swallow our pride. The refusal to do the above in certain situations is what causes us problems.



Reference: Wikipedia

The Great Equalizer

It is said that the Philippine Bar Exams is the great equalizer. There may be disparity outside the examination rooms but inside, everyone is equal. There's no Ateneo, UP or San Beda graduate. Each is considered a barrister. Your name does not appear on the test booklet. A graduate of the University of Batangas could be Top 3. So if you're not a graduate of a prominent law school like I am, don't lose your confidence. Each barrister has an equal chance to pass the Bar. Wala sa eskwela 'yan nasa estudyante 'yan. I can't wait to start my review once again.

Holy Grail

The "Holy Grail". The cup that is said to have been used by Jesus Christ and that was sought by knights during the Middle Ages. A metaphor for something that you want very much but that is very hard to get or achieve. For law students and law grads in the Philippines, passing the Bar Exams should be their Holy Grail. For sure, passing the Bar Exams is a very difficult task (Herculean even). Just like any noble quest. Despite of this, law students and law grads must never ever give up on their quest towards their hopes and dreams.



Reference:
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary

Don't Wave/Breathe In - original tunes by yours truly

Desiderata

Taliwas sa paniniwala ng karamihan, ang tula na may pamagat na Desiderata ay hindi natagpuan sa matandang simbahan ng St. Paul, sa Baltimore, USA at may petsang 1695. Ito ay gawa ng Amerikanong manunulat na si Max Ehrmann noong 1927. Mula sa Latin, and salitang Desiderata ay nangangahulugan ng bagay na kailangan. Ang tulang Desiderata ay nagbibigay ng mga payo na maaari nating gamiting gabay sa pang araw-araw nating pamumuhay. Ang tulang ito ay sinasabing unibersal sapagkat ang mga katotohanang hatid nito ay angkop pa rin sa kasalukuyang panahon. Di tulad ng karaniwang tula, ito ay nasulat sa anyong “free verse” at mayroong malayang sukat at taludturan. Gaya ng karaniwang tula, makikita rin rito ang mga tayutay o "figures of speech".

Pumili ako ng mga paborito kong saknong sa salin ng tulang ito. Naglagay ako ng sarili kong kumento sa bawat isa.

“Hanggang maaari at walang isinusuko pakitunguhang mabuti ang lahat”.

Praktikal lang ang payo na ito. Ikaw rin ang mahihirapan kung meron kang kagalit o kinaiinisan. Sige ka ikaw rin ang sisikip ang dibdib at papangit sa kakasimangot. Dedma lang sa mga taong di ka feel. Hangga’t di ka ginagalaw, sige lang magsasawa rin ‘yan. Sabi nga ni Sampaguita “huwag mong pansinin ang naninira sa ‘yo basta’t alam mo lang na tama ang ginagawa mo”. Bakit, “nosi balasi”? At hindi rin kabawasan sa iyong pagkatao ang pag-iwas sa gulo o ang paghingi ng tawad kung ikaw ang nagkamali. Peace lang tyo men, o women.

“Bigkasin ang iyong katotohanan nang banayad at malinaw; at makinig sa iba; kahit sa dungo at walang-muwang; may isinasalaysay din sila.”

Say your piece. Sabihin mo ang dapat mong sabihin ng mahinahon. Kalma lang. Pero huwag mong ipilit ang pananaw mo sa iba. May kanya-kanya tayong opinyon.

Makinig sa istorya ng iba. Everyone has his or her story, ika nga sa Ingles. Meron kang di alam na alam naman nila at sila naman, may alam ka na di nila alam. Malay mo may mapulot kang bago na kapaki-pakinabang sa iyo hango sa kanilang karanasan. Maging bukas ang isipan.

“Kapag inihambing mo ang sarili sa iba, maaari kang maging hambog at mainggitin; sapagkat laging may taong hihigit at bababa kaysa iyo.”

Huwag mong ikumpara ang sarili mo sa iba. Meron tayong kanya-kanyang paglalaklakbay. Iba-iba ang pacing natin sa pagasenso. Huwag mong ida-down ang sarili mo. Maging masaya sa tagumpay ng iyong mga kaibigan. Maging inspirasyon sila sa iyo. Alisin na nating mga Pilipino ‘yang crab mentality na ‘yan. Maging kuntento sa kung ano ang meron ka ngayon. Magpasalamat sa Panginoon sa mga blessings na bigay Nya sa’yo.

“Tamasahin ang iyong mga tagumpay at mga balak. Magmalasakit sa iyong gawain, anumang hamak, sapagkat iyong-iyo ito sa pagba-bago ng kapalaran.”

Abutin mo ang ‘yong mga pangarap. Pagsumikapan mo. Kaya mo ‘yan. Mahalin mo ang trabaho mo. Maging proud ka rito. Huwag mong nila-lang lang ang trabaho mo kahit ano pa yun. Sabihan mo “Tindera ako!” kung ikaw ay ganun gaya ng sabi ng drawing sa poste ng MRT na malapit sa Guadalupe. Ang patuloy mong pagiging masipag ang magbabago sa kapalaran mo. Hinding hindi ka magugutom.

“Maging ikaw. Lalo na, huwag magkunwa sa paggiliw.”

Ilang beses na nating narinig ang katagang “Be yourself”. Mula pa kay Socrates na nagsabing “Know thyself” hanggang sa bandang Nirvana na nagsabing “Come as You are”. "Accept yourself" sabi ni Morrissey ng bandang The Smiths. Tama naman. Huwag kang plastik. Kumilos ka lang ng ikaw. Huwag kang magbago para sa iba. Kung di ka nila magustuhan ayos lang. Hindi mo rin sila gusto. Ituloy mo lang gawin ang nagpapasaya sa’yo. Wala kang dapat ikahiya. Wala ka namang ginagawang masama. “Be weird” kung “weird” ka and “be confident about it” sabi nga. Huwag pansinin ang kantyaw ng iba. Sabi nga ng PE teacher ko noong araw “MYOB”. Mind your own business. Hindi mo na business kung ano man ang iniisip sa iyo ng iba. Don’t give a shit about what others say about you. Mas maraming mas makabuluhan na bagay na dapat pagtuunan ng panahon mo.

“Ibukas ang loob sa pangaral ng mga taon, isukong mahinahon ang mga bunga ng kabataan.”

With age comes wisdom di ba. Matuto sa iyong mga pinagdaanan. Lahat naman tayo puputi ang buhok. Isukong mahinahon ang ‘yong kabataan kung panahon na.

“Subalit huwag ilugmok ang sarili sa mga alalahanin. Maraming takot na isinisilang sa pagod at pangungulila.”

Lagi ka na lang stress. Chillax. Sundin mo ang payo ng kanta. “Don’t worry, be happy”.

“Anak ka ng sanlibutan, hindi hamak kaysa sa mga punongkahoy at mga bituin; may karapatan kang mabuhay dito.”

You are a child of the universe. You have a right to be here on Earth. Kahit pangit ka pa, mataba, may sakit o kapansanan, o mahirap may karapatan kang mabuhay sa mundo. Lahat tayo ay nilikha ng Dyos. Sumisikat ang araw para sa lahat. ‘Yan ang huwag mong kakalimutan.

“Sa kabila ng mga kasinungalingan nito, kabagutan at mga wasak na pangarap, isa pa rin itong magandang daigdig.”

Huwag malungkot sa mga napapanood mo sa news sa TV. Di naman puro bad news ang nangyayari sa mundo. Sensationalized ang news at pelikula.

“Mag-ingat. Magsikap lumigaya.”

“You can walk away from loneliness anytime you choose”. Sabi nga ni Terry Hall ng bandang The Colourfield sa awiting “Thinking of you”. Nasasaiyo ang desisyon. Mananatili ka bang malungkot or pipiliin mong maging maligaya. Mahirap kung nasa kalungkutan ka na. Kaya’t kailangan mong pagsumikapan.



DESIDERATA
Salin ni Virgilio S. Almario

Humayong panatag sa gitna ng ingay at
pagmamadali at alagatain ang kapayapaang
masusumpungan sa katahimikan.

Hanggang maaari at walang isinusuko
pakitunguhang mabuti ang lahat

Bigkasin ang iyong katotohanan nang banayad at malinaw;
at makinig sa iba; kahit sa dungo at walang-muwang;
may isinasalaysay din sila.

Umiwas sa maharot at mapusok
mga tinik sila sa isip.

Kapag inihambing mo ang sarili sa iba,
maaari kang maging hambog at mainggitin; sapagkat
laging may taong hihigit at bababa kaysa iyo.

Tamasahin ang iyong mga tagumpay at mga balak.
Magmalasakit sa iyong gawain, anumang hamak,
sapagkat iyong-iyo ito sa pagbagu-bago ng kapalaran

Magdahan-dahan sa iyong pangangalakal;
Sapagkat and daigdig ay hitik sa panlilinlang.
Subalit huwag ka namang bulag sa kagalingan;
maraming magsisikap tungo sa matayog na mithiin;
at kahit saan, ang buhay ay hitik sa kabayanihan.

Maging ikaw. Lalo na, huwag magkunwa sa paggiliw.

Huwag ding libakin ang pag-ibig;
Sapagkat sa harap ng mga dalita at panlulupaypay
sumisibol ito tulad ng damo.
Ibukas ang loob sa pangaral ng mga taon,
isukong mahinahon ang mga bunga ng kabataan.
Alagaan ang sariling lakas upang maikalasag
laban sa biglang kasawian.
Subalit huwag ilugmok ang sarili sa mga alalahanin.

Maraming takot na isinisilang sa pagod at pangungulila.
Magpakundangan bagaman masugid
sa pagsupil sa sarili.

Anak ka ng sanlibutan,
hindi hamak kaysa sa mga punongkahoy at mga bituin;
may karapatan kang mabuhay dito.
At malinaw man ito o hindi sa iyo,
tiyaking lumiliwayway ang sanlibutan tulad ng
nararapat.

Sa makatuwid manalig sa Diyos, sinuman Siya sa iyo,
at anuman ang iyong mga tungkulin at adhika,
manalig sa sarili sa gitna ng magulang buhay.
Sa kabila ng mga kasinungalingan nito,
kabagutan at mga wasak na pangarap,
isa pa rin itong magandang daigdig.

Mag-ingat. Magsikap lumigaya.

The Greatest

Little children are the greatest. They have purity in their hearts. They are innocent. They are loved by Jesus.

Once, Jesus and his disciples came to Capernaum. After they arrived at a house, Jesus asked the disciples, "What did you debate along the way?" They got quiet because along the way they had been debating with one another about who was the greatest or who was Jesus' favorite among them. The disciples asked Jesus who was the greatest. Jesus did not tell them who was the greatest or who his favorite was. Instead, Jesus took the hand of a child in the crowd and set him in the very midst of the disciples and told them "unless you change your hearts and become as a child, you can never enter into the kingdom of heaven".

In another instance, people were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples fended them off. When Jesus saw this, he was displeased. (Oh those disciples!) He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these". Then he says "anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."

Hats off to all the little children. Yours is heaven. This post is my humble tribute to you.

Made Of Stone

The Stone Roses - Made of Stone

Your knuckles whiten on the wheel
The last thing that your hands will feel
Your final flight can’t be delayed

No earth, just sky it’s so surreal
Your pink fat lips let go a scream
You fry and melt i love the scene

Sometimes i fantasise
When the streets are cold and lonely
And the cars they burn below me
Don’t these times fill your eyes

When the streets are cold and lonely
And the cars they burn below me
Are you all alone
Is anybody home?

I’m standing warm against the cold
Now that the flames have taken hold
At least you left your life in style

And for far as i can see

Ten twisted grills grin back at me
Bad money dies i love the scene

Sometimes i fantasise
When the streets are cold and lonely
And the cars they burn below me
Don’t these times fill your eyes

When the streets are cold and lonely
And the cars they burn below me
Are you all alone
Is anybody home?

Sometimes i fantasise
When the streets are cold and lonely
And the cars they burn below me
Don’t these times fill your eyes

When the streets are cold and lonely
And the cars they burn below me
Are you all alone
Are you made of stone?

Credits: stockholmparkas for posting to YT

The Good Samaritan

The other day I chanced upon a post about the Parable of the Good Samaritan that was shared by a Facebook friend. As the story goes, a traveler (who may or may not be Jewish), is beaten, robbed and left for dead along the road from Jerusalem to Jericho. A priest and a Levite each pass by, but both avoid and ignore the man. Then a Samaritan comes along. Samaritans and Jews generally don't like each other, but the Samaritan stops and helps the man anyway. He bounds the man's wounds and pours oil and wine on it. Then he sets the man in his donkey and brings him to an inn. The next day, when he departed, he took out some coins and gave them to the innkeeper and says to him, "Take care of him. Whatever you spend beyond that, I will repay you when I return".

Some of our local stories may have been derived from this parable. Remember that Fita TV commercial where a fairy gives the guy half a sports car in return for half a Fita? That was actually a parody. In the original story, a guy gives bread to a pulubi who turns out to be a fairy. In return for the guy's kindness, the fairy grants the guy three wishes. Jose dela Cruz, a Filipino writer and poet during the Spanish regime and more popularly known as Huseng Sisiw, probably was inspired by the Parable of the Good Samaritan when he thought of the leproso and ermitanyo of Mt. Tabor in his corrido, Ibong Adarna.

Today, the colloquial phrase "Good Samaritan" means someone who helps a stranger.

In legal terms, a "good samaritan" refers to someone who renders aid in an emergency to an injured person on a voluntary basis. Good Samaritan laws give the good samaritan immunity in case an unintentional injury is caused to the person he or she rescued. They are intended to reduce bystanders' hesitation to assist, for fear of being sued or prosecuted for unintentional injury or wrongful death.

It's a bit different in the Philippines. Here the law compels people to help others in need. Abandonment of person in danger is criminally punished. Under Art. 275 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC), the penalty of arresto mayor shall be imposed upon:

"Any one who shall fail to render assistance to any person whom he shall find in an uninhabited place wounded or in danger of dying, when he can render such assistance without detriment to himself, unless such omission shall constitute a more serious offence.

Anyone who shall fail to help or render assistance to another whom he has accidentally wounded or injured.

Anyone who, having found an abandoned child under seven years of age, shall fail to deliver said child to the authorities or to his family, or shall fail to take him to a safe place."

Under Art. 365 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC), failure to lend help on the spot to injured parties is punished as criminal negligence.





Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parable_of_the_Good_Samaritan
http://thelegallyinclined.blogspot.co.nz/2009/05/apathy-as-crime-abandonment-of-helpless.html
http://definitions.uslegal.com/g/good-samaritans/
http://www.princeton.edu/~achaney/tmve/wiki100k/docs/Good_Samaritan_law.html

Where are you Fairy Godmother?

Haven't we all wished for a Fairy Godmother to magically appear and help us in times of need and grant us wishes with the wave of a wand? That would be nice, right? Wish ko lang. Anyway, the Fairy Godmother is a commonly used plot device in movies and literature (e.g. Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and Pinocchio). In fact, it has already become a cliche and not considered as good story telling nowadays. The preference being that the main character must be able to get past an obstacle himself or herself and not with the help of someone or something who comes in the nick of time to solve the difficulty. It is an example of deus ex machina. See http://writerofmoviescripts.blogspot.co.nz/2009/09/deux-ex-machina.html. If you ask me, I don't see anything wrong with the Fairy Godmother. Some of the Tagalog movies I love make use of this plot device. In other forms ofcourse. Often times, the "deus ex machina" in those movies rewards the protagonist because of his or her kindness and goodness.

Ang Hiwaga ng Ibong Adarna (1973). The story for this film comes from the classic Filipino tale Ibong Adarna. Three brothers, Prinsipe Alfonso (Panchito), Prinsipe Albano (Babalu), and Prinsipe Adolfo (Dolphy) each go on a quest to capture the magical Ibong Adarna to cure their father's illness. The prize for the one who can bring home the bird will be the throne. During their journey, each prince met a leper who asked them for bread. Two of them did not help the leper. Only Prinsipe Adolfo helped her. In return, the leper told Prinsipe Adolfo to seek an ermitanyo who lives in bundok Tabor. When the prince arrived at the place where the ermitanyo lives, he was given a lubid (rope), kutsilyo (knife) and calamansi (lime). These are things he used to capture the Ibong Adarna. I know Prinsipe Adolfo cut his arm with the knife and poured calamansi juice to his wound so that he will not fall asleep when the Ibong Adarna sings. Another advice given him was that he must make sure that the bird's droppings don't land on him. Otherwise, he too will turn to stone like his brothers.

Puto (1987). In this movie, Herbert Bautista plays good-natured and kind-hearted student Ivanhoe Dela Cruz who sells puto or rice cakes after school to help his widowed mother (Marita Zobel). Because of this, all the students in school call him Puto. He is always teased and bullied. Taking pity on him, three elves or duwendes (played by Berting Labra, Max Alvarado and Cachupoy) decide to help him. But Ivanhoe soon changes and becomes boastful forcing his duwende friends to stop helping him.

Manyika from Pik Pak Boom (1988). This movie is about an enchanted doll who comes to life (Lilet) and gives two poor orphans (Lea Salonga and Herbert Bautista) their hearts' desires. Just like in Puto, the two orphans change their attitudes once they got used to getting everything they want. In the end though, they realize their mistakes and become good persons once again.

References:

http://kidstvmovies.about.com/b/2012/10/04/who-is-your-fairy-godmother.htm
http://writerofmoviescripts.blogspot.co.nz/2009/09/deux-ex-machina.html
http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/deus-ex-machina.html
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2071408/
http://www.historyofthings.com/history-of-ibong-adarna
http://www.mavshack.com/

Eat Your Vegetables

Ampalaya con Carne. Bitter gourd or ampalaya cooked with beef tenderloin strips with tausi and thick sauce. Hmm sounds good! That could be my ulam for both lunch and dinner. That's now but before, when I was a child, you cannot make me eat ampalaya. I don't like its bitter taste. Eating it is like swallowing a pill with no water. Despite of its bitter taste, ampalaya is actually good for you. It can help in the treatment of type-2 diabetes for it contains plant insulin which is known to lower blood sugar levels. It is also packed with beta carotene which helps in maintaining and improving eyesight. It is also good for the skin. It helps prevent psoriasis and fungal infections. Ampalaya can also be used in the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases. Ampalaya seeds are good for the heart for they burn unnecessary fats that clog arteries and veins. Ampalaya also has a variety of nutrients your body needs.

Believe me there’s a lesson to be learned from eating ampalaya. In life, a lot of times we have to do something we don’t like, “particularly something that doesn’t taste good but is good for you”. It could be doing homework, studying for an exam, or exercising. These are things one may not be particularly thrilled about. But if you look at the benefits to be derived from them, they are definitely worth giving a try.



Sources:

http://ph.she.yahoo.com/the-health-benefits-of-ampalaya-162858308.html
http://heidicohen.com/free-blog-topics/

Dating Busko

Around the end of January 1992 - DBTI Makati Foundation Day Celebration - Fair. A few inches away from my barkada's booth called the "Doghouse", another booth was attracting an audience. A game was being played. A dating game. Kind of like the RPN 9 TV show "It's a Date" (hosted by the beautiful Plinky Recto and NU 107 DJ Tom Lupton aka Major Tom). The crowd was cheering. Seems everyone was having a good time. The booth was a hit considering that Bosconians rarely interact with girls let alone go out on dates. The name of the booth - "Dating Busko". What an intriguing name. A play on words really. "Dating" in Filipino being "former" and "Busko" referring to "Bosconian". The name could stand for two things: 1) Former Bosconian or an alumnus, or 2) Dating Bosconian or a Bosconian who dates.

I am proud to say that I was a "Dating Busko". That is, a former Bosconian. I don't date that much. I stayed in Don Bosco Makati for 9 years, from Prep-Second Year. If it were all up to me I would have loved to be able to finish high school in Don Bosco. I would have been a "bakal boy" like my friends who chose "Mechanical" as their shop for third and fourth year. But I had to transfer after my second year. Despite that, I believe that one who was once a Bosconian will always be a Bosconian.

Run, jump, talk and play but do not sin. It is only in Don Bosco where you can see more than 10 people playing basketball in the same court at the same time. As in 2 groups of 10 playing in the same court. Every lunch and recess you'd see that. What's more interesting is that when the clock strikes 12 noon, everything grinds to a halt. Everyone freezes like when the music stops during a game of stop dance. It's time for the Angelus. After the Angelus, it's chaos once again.

In Don Bosco students can wear different color undershirts and rubber shoes. Other schools follow strict dress codes. Some even require neck ties and tucked in polos. That's a no-no in Don Bosco. As far as I know it is only in Don Bosco where students have diaries where they would write their assignments and excuse letters. Teachers could also write remarks on those diaries. Once a Bosconian was naughty, his parents would know because he is required to let his parents sign his diary every day.

Bosconians are also good handy men. They have Shop and Work Ed subjects. Folding chairs, laminated pictures, water heaters are among the projects they would build during grade school. They know how to use a file, a T-square and Rotring technical pens because of Shop and Drafting classes. They also have weekly year level mass and mass during First Fridays and Catholic Celebrations. And during mass, a band plays instead of a choir singing.

It's been what? 21 years since I last set foot in Don Bosco? I just had so much fun and happiness during my stay there. I will always cherish those Don Bosco days.

Remembering My Lolo Ben

The aroma of burning red incense sticks. That reminds me of my late grandfather who is 100% Chinese. Lolo Ben, as I call him, was a kind and honest man. He was a great cook. He came to the Philippines during World War 2 at the height of the Japanese Occupation. He came to Ilocos via boat. He was smuggled there so he had to change his surname as he had no papers with him. In Ilocos, he met my grandmother, Lola Omeng. My Lolo and Lola later moved to Manila. To Sta. Mesa first and then to Makati. In order to make a living, my Lolo established a small restaurant (like Mabuhay Restaurant in Pasay) in Herran Street (now Pedro Gil) and a sari-sari store in Kakarong, Makati which later evolved into a carinderia after the original restaurant closed. I have high respect for the man because he was able to buy a lot and build a house on it just from the earnings of the store. My family still lives in that house. During celebrations, my Lolo would prepare his special recipes. Pansit sotanghon, bola-bola, kikyam, and camaron rebosado. All of them are my favorites but I especially like his camaron rebosado. Aside from being very delicious, the coating or batter never falls off the shrimp. No matter how hard my family tries, we cannot replicate his cooking.

My Day Job Versus My Passion

I always thought professional basketball players have the best jobs because they do what they love and they get paid for doing it. Wasn't it Confucius who said: "Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life."? But not everyone is endowed with athleticism, height and talent to be a professional basketball player. Most of us have to work day jobs instead of doing something that we really really love. Don't get me wrong I love and value my present job (it's my lifeblood) but if I were to choose, I would also want to be a professional musician or a creative writer or script writer.

Being a musician. Playing guitar has always been my passion. What I love about playing guitar is composing melody over chord patterns. I think of it as a puzzle. I just try out different notes and scales and find out by trial and error which fit and sound good over certain chords. Yehey! Eureka! when everything is spot on. It gives me great joy when I've written a melody line.

Being a writer. I've always believed that I have a knack for writing. That is, creative writing. Sentence construction was not my strong suit when I was still studying. I'm more interested in metaphors, similes and other figures of speech. I like to "express thoughts, feelings and emotions rather than simply convey information" using language. Ginang Mandigma, who is my Filipino teacher at The University of Manila and who is a "Noranian", is an inspiration to me. As an assignment, she would ask her students to make clippings of prose and poetry found in the Liwayway Magazine. The students must submit their clippings by the end of the term in order to pass her course, forcing them to be exposed to Filipino.

Another thing I wish I could be is to be a script writer for movies or komiks. I just read Mike Relon Makiling’s blog (http://direkmikerelonmakiling.blogspot.co.nz/2008/03/how-i-entered-movies.html) and it made me want to be a script writer for komiks where he started. How cool would it be to be sitting behind a desk, pounding away on a vintage typewriter churning out scripts for illustrations drawn by masters ala Mars Ravelo, Pablo S. Gomez, or Mike Relon Makiling? How cool would it be if I could write funny dialogue for Tony Velasquez’s Kenkoy? That would be very cool. Very, very cool.



References:
http://www.chrisbrogan.com/100-blog-topics-i-hope-you-write/
http://www.dailywritingtips.com/creative-writing-101/
http://direkmikerelonmakiling.blogspot.co.nz/2008/03/how-i-entered-movies.html
http://pilipinokomiks.blogspot.co.nz/2005_10_01_archive.html

Classic Tagalog Comedy Movies

Tagalog Comedy Movies from previous years hold a certain charm which more recent movies do not have. Maybe it's the song and dance number, or the excursion to the beach scene with song and dance number, or maybe it's the element of fantasy, or the nostalgia they evoke to adults like me who grew up watching them. Whatever it is, they will always be loved by audiences.

Here's a list of my favorite Tagalog Comedy Movies from previous years:

Puto (1987)
Director: Leroy Salvador

“Boy George, Travolta Elvis…Elvis, Travolta, Boy George!” These are magic words used by Ivanhoe dela Cruz in the movie "Puto". In Puto, Herbert Bautista plays good-natured and kind-hearted student Ivanhoe Dela Cruz who sells puto or rice cakes after school to help his widowed mother (Marita Zobel). Because of this, all the students in school call him Puto. He is always teased and bullied. Taking pity on him, three elves or duwendes (played by Berting Labra, Max Alvarado and Cachupoy) decide to help him. But Ivanhoe soon changes and becomes boastful forcing his duwende friends to stop helping him.

Ending with a song and dance number to the tune of Michael Jackson's "Bad" with Filipino lyrics, Puto is an entertaining film from which you could also get some life lessons. Classic Filipino storytelling.

Working Boys (1985)
Director: Mike Relon Makiling

Working Boys is a spoof of the 1984 movie Working Girls. It stars Tito, Vic and Joey and Herbert Bautista. In this movie, we follow the shenanigans of Oscar, Bert and Ernie, three oddjobmen, who can work on virtually any kind of job, and their nephew/apprentice, Kermit. There are many funny scenes in this movie. Among them -- turning Ben David’s airconditioner into a snow maker, expelling an evil spirit that possessed Balot, tearing apart Dindo Fernando’s car when only the lock was broken, casting Palito as the deceased in a lamay, painting a house using multicolor, literally putting on a show behind the picture tube (hilarious), Kermit dating three girls at once in the same venue. Piling from Mang Kepweng, if I’m not mistaken, also made an appearance in this movie.

Like Father, Like Son (1985)
Director: Mike Relon Makiling

Nanoy (Herbert Bautista) is street smart and crafty just like his con man father (Leroy Salvador). Jon Jon (Niño Muhlach) is book smart and a bit of a nerd just like his father who is an inventor (Nestor De Villa). Nanoy's and Jon Jon's families have been feuding for years because of their differing views. Despite of this, Nanoy and Jon Jon form an unlikely friendship. Fed up of their parents, Nanoy and Jon Jon decide to leave their homes combining street smarts and book smarts to support themselves.

limva123/wilbert's music hard to find music library

A lovely movie. Light and heartwarming. There’s even a talking robot. Features a touching dialogue (Maaring matiis ng anak ang magulang ngunit ang magulang ay kailanman di matitiis ang anak.) by the late Nida Blanca near the ending of the movie. I wish more movies like this could be made.

Like Father, Like Son also stars Nida Blanca (Jon Jon’s mom); Gina Pareño (Nanoy’s mom); Dely Atay-atayan (Jon Jon’s lola); Chichay (Nanoy’s lola); Lea Salonga, Gerard salonga, Cheska Iñigo (as Nanoy’s and Jon Jon’s friends); Cecille Iñigo (Lea’s, Gerard’s and Cheska’s tita in the movie) and Jimmy Santos (as the waiter at Shakey's).

Bagets (1984)
Director: Maryo J. De Los Reyes
Story: Jake Tordesillas (whom some say is the John Hughes of the Philippines)

In Bagets, we follow the coming of age story of five high school students starting their fourth year fresh in a new school after they got expelled from another school. Bagets stars William Martinez, Herbert Bautista, J.C. Bonnin, Aga Muhlach, and Raymond Lauchengco.

YT video credits - bobexr3

Ang Tatay kong Nanay (1978)
Director: Lino Brocka

Coring (Dolphy), a gay beautician or parlorista, is left with a baby by his former ward, Dennis (Phillip Salvador), forcing him to raise the baby as his own. The baby, Nonoy, (Niño Muhlach), grows up thinking that Coring is his real father. Coring would dress and act straight when he's in front of Nonoy and would also urge his gay friends (Larry Leviste and Soxy Topacio) to restrain their flamboyance whenever Nonoy is with them. Everything seems fine until Nonoy's real mother (Marissa Delgado) and Coring's former ward, Dennis, suddenly show up to claim their son. They would buy Nonoy expensive toys which Coring cannot give Nonoy. Eventually, Coring had to give back Nonoy to his real parents. Soon, Coring was back to his old ways -- joining a gay beauty contest and fashion show in a basketball court. It is here where Nonoy, who left his real parents' home to go back to Coring, saw Coring dressed in drag. The movie ends with Nonoy and Coring reunited.

One thing about Dolphy, he can do both comedy and drama very well. He is also one of those actors who could effectively portray gay roles. Galing!

Credits:

http://www.pelikula.net
http://rickyremembers.wordpress.com/category/movies/page/2/
IMDb
ledster of IMDb - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077164/plotsummary?ref_=tt_ov_pl
"My ‘Tatay kong Bakla’" By Larry Leviste - http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/57557/my-tatay-kong-bakla
limva123 in YouTube/Wilbert's hard to find music library
photos from all over the internet
socialites1969 in YouTube