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Attitude

I've recently posted some nasty stuff on Facebook commenting on certain people's show of "attitude" both online and offline. Kids these days think they're way cooler when they call themselves "bitches" and "bastards" and refer to each other with such endearments. Yet, when the words are actually uttered in their truest sense, they get insulted and parade all their "drama queen antics" all over Facebook or to anyone who'd want to listen as if they're the most important people in the world. They're just so full of themselves and it gets to me sometimes and mind you, I don't easily get annoyed especially since I do handle lots of people on a day to day basis. To those of you wondering, I work as a part-time college instructor in a private college here. I teach marketing, economics and a bit of literature. Only the fun stuff. Hehe!

So anyway, I've come to realize that in a world that teaches us that life is a race, people will inevitably run fast to get ahead of each other. It doesn't even matter if they knew what actual race they're on or what they're racing against and what they do to get past another. As long as people tell them they have a time to limit to do something, they will run. I see that everyday among friends, students, even colleagues. No one pauses. And because life is a race, people have made up thousands of ridiculous ways to get ahead. It doesn't even matter who they hurt and what kind of evil monster they've turned themselves into. Plus people think you'll run faster if you stand out and so many people come up with insane ways to rebel against status quo not minding the kind of legacy they're leaving to the world. It's a cookie-cutter world they say and it pays not to follow the mold. So everyday, people do everything they can the get out of the mold not realizing everyone else is doing the same. 

And what do you get after all these struggles? Exhausted people. People who run through life half-asleep. People who no longer smell the air and feel the breeze. People who go out on the beach and yet go home more exhausted than they've ever been. Then you get couples who need thousands of adrenaline-rush activities to do together to bond and stay in their idea of a marriage. This is the society we've created because we unwittingly run a race that does not even exist.

I was once that kind of person. Everyday it's a struggle to see people running past me in my own idea of a race. So what do I do? I give everyone attitude, pretending that I loved my life and having that "to hell with the world" mantra. I thought I was cooler that way. Then I realized what a lame poser I was, being a bad ass when all I wanted was some signal, some recognition that I actually mattered. Isn't that why we're struggling to be different than everyone else? 

Then I encountered Jesus. Jesus, who chose to love me and all of me without any condition; and who loved me anyway despite all my excesses and shortcomings. Jesus' life has been marked with love. He tells us that to genuinely love a person is to give them love even if they don't deserve it. He also reminds us that to truly love Him and His Father, is to always, always act in love. It doesn't matter what you get out of it. He said it is easy to love lovable people but what about your enemies? Can you love those that hurt you and those that don't necessarily matter to you? When He gave His life, it was for EVERYONE. It doesn't matter if people receive His love or not, He gives it anyway. 

So this sunny season, may we reflect on what kind of life we are living. Are we running too fast or is life a leisure walk in the park? Do you actually enjoy every waking moment because you do or you need to see someone else's misery in order to be happy? An idiot (from the Bollywood Film 3 Idiots, which is another story) once said, don't run after success; instead, be passionate about what you do and strive for excellence so that success will run after you. I choose to honor God this way, and experience Jesus' love this way -- to never settle for mediocrity because He died so I can live a life worthy of heaven while here on earth. I don't need to stand out because my Father in heaven knows that I do. So I will embrace each opportunity to get to know of His love deeper and let others experience that as well.

Defense + Summer

I can almost smell the summer breeze. I've taken yet another hiatus and this is because my students are going through their final defense for the first part of their research study. I used to hate this part of the school year when I was a student. Every year there seems to be one important paper that will make or break you. And if you're graduating that's triple the pressure because there is no next semester for a chance at a rebound nor will there be removals. There are countless of sleepless nights and cup noodle-dinner days that you'd have to endure to get to the finish line. I was looking forward to becoming one of the advisers whom in my opinion before would just sit down, eat (some cases I've seen), and critique. But I was dead wrong.

This is my first taste of becoming one and it's driving me crazy. Seven groups are under me right now and I have to guide them every step of the way. And my OC-ness is kicking in too plus the pressure of doing this the first time. Most of the advisers have known the panelists for quite a while now (apparently they're the same panelists every year) and they know what exactly to expect. They said that the panelists ask almost the same questions so the others know what to anticipate. But here I am groping in the dark. Hopefully I've given enough and done enough for my students. It doesn't help too that most of them are such scaredy cats. I told them to trust themselves by trusting God. It was a nice opportunity to pray for them and remind them that God desires that they prosper and have a future. First defense officially commences tomorrow. And since I am the first adviser to help my students finish their papers, all groups under me are going on their defense earlier than everyone else. So tonight I'll be coaching and praying. God bless us all!

Aftermath

Adam Lambert's Aftermath (acoustic version) has been on a constant replay both in my mind and on my iPod. Our city is along a coastline and we were in the middle of conducting a High School recollection when the Tsunami Alert Level II was issued and everyone was asked to immediately leave the school premises and run for safety. A little exaggeration there but there actually was a mild panic yesterday especially in the low-lying areas of our city. And we were really asked to leave and postpone for the nth time the scheduled recollection. I had to break the news to the students in the middle of our getting-to-know session and I was asked by a rather panicky teacher not to make the students panic. So I made the announcement and prayed over everyone for comfort and peace knowing that God is sovereign. If it was His will that we be spared, then all's good. However, if it truly is His will that we experience nature's wrath then I hold on to His promise that He will never leave nor forsake us.

The tsunami came and went. Thankfully, we were spared because the waves that hit us were no more than a meter high. But the devastation in Japan is heart-wrenching. It makes me really sad to know that the city/town of Sendai was badly hit too. That city holds a special place in my heart because my Dad bought me a wooden Sendai doll when I was a little girl and I've always wanted to check out the city in the future someday. But, in the aftermath of all this tragedy, I am reminded by Adam Lambert in is fantastic vocals, that we are not alone. And so, even though this song is about identity and self-acceptance which is what Adam's charity is all about, I dedicate it to the country and people I love so much. The song reminds us of LOVE. Love that will make us rise again and remind us that indeed in the aftermath, WE ARE NOT ALONE.

Renewed

(image via Sheena Loves Sunsets)

It's been a while since I last posted here. I can't believe how many times I've actually began a blog entry with that sentence but there's always a point in my life where I just bounce from place to place, blogs to blogs, careers to other careers and even from one venture to another.

I am about to begin another project yet again and this has been something that I've been praying for since the day I decided to settle in my hometown. I teach in a private college here as a part-time instructor and can honestly say that throughout my professional life, I've never seen a bunch of people so discouraged and unmotivated to be everything God created them to be. I was brought up to dream big. There's a Filipino joke that says the only thing that's free is our dreams so we might as well put it to good use and dream the biggest of dreams. Unfortunately, that concept is foreign to my students. I begin each of my classes by asking my students what they want to be after graduation and most of them would tell me that they'd be willing to settle for any job as long the pay gets them through the day. Whatever happened to pursuing what you're passionate about; to seeking out your promised land? Apparently, that is no longer how the world works today and because of so many reasons, people now live simply in order to survive. Surviving no matter how passion-less is living and that is how it's going to be unless someone does something.

And so it is for this reason that I, together with three of my students, decided to begin meeting together and hopefully soon meet with other students as well to encourage each other in order to be reminded of how precious we are in the sight of God, who sent His son to die for us so that we can be all that He designed us to be. Psalm 149 verse 14 declares,

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

Each of us is meant to impact the world in different ways. It doesn't matter if the dent we make is big or small -- the point is we are all wired to leave a dent onto this earth for the glory of His name.

Our meetings began two Saturdays ago. There is no strategy as of yet; and there isn't really a formal system at work. We've decided to just choose to love the way Jesus did and begin our ministry from where He began His and that is with love and compassion for everyone.

Planning Weddings in Surigao City

I'm losing my whole life in Your purpose and for Your heart's desire. I'm running with blinded eyes, faith as my guide, let Your love take flight. - Devoted Citipointe Live

God truly surprises me in indescribable ways that leaves me in awe of His wonder. He constantly reminds me that He has my best interest at heart no matter how challenging the road I need to traverse in order to get to His promised land; nor how long the season of waiting will last. It was a rainy and rather dreary afternoon when I landed the gig I am working on right now after months of praying, brainstorming and little attempts of marketing. I've had a share of setbacks in the past, probably enough to discourage one to start anew. So there was a time when I didn't want to take risks nor did I even think of investing my heart into something that might not take off as well as I wanted it to. And the scarcity of capital resources has always been a constraint to getting anything done. So for a time, I guess I've entered a phase in my life where playing safe has been the ongoing mantra. But with God, there are no safe zones because He has promised that despite the impending dangers and challenges, He is there. And so with this new venture, I'm running with blinded eyes, faith as my guide, letting His love take flight...

Alodia Gosiengfiao and Luis Manzano, Dating?

image via here

When popular showbiz blogger and ABS-CBN insider Darla Sauler posted pictures of Luis Manzano and Alodia Gosiengfiao together on her blog implying that the two were somehow (or are starting to be) involved romantically, people started flooding the said blog posting nasty comments  defending one of the three parties involved in the controversy: Alodia, Luis and Luis' former beau Angel Locsin. Alodia was somehow blamed as the last straw that caused Luis and Angel to finally put a period to their attempts to get back together. Apparently this has been happening for quite sometime now and it was only through Alodia's facebook page that I even knew there was an issue. I frequent Angel's online forum fan clubs but there was no mention of the said rumor except when Angel tweeted a certain warning saying that all girls should be careful of guys who are "manloloko". A lot of the fans immediately linked the said tweet to Luis and the girl he is currently seeing and exclusively dating despite Angel's claim that the said tweet was totally random.

This issue has been discussed so many times already and has been given a conclusion in one episode of The Buzz. There is even a video of the said episode in Alodia's facebook page. Here's the video. The hosts clarified that nothing is going on between the two; and one of the hosts, Charlene Gonzales during discussion even named Alodia's real boyfriend.

It is clear that this issue is nothing but a publicity stunt by ABS-CBN to promote Alodia and Luis' upcoming show called L.O.L. (Laugh Out Loud). The show will be airing in the coming months and will feature pranks and practical jokes that the team will do to both celebrities and ordinary people. The show will also mark Alodia's first official mainstream showbiz gig. 

Several factors drew my attention to this issue. But first of all let me just say that I never believed the issue to be true because I've known Alodia and the guy she's been dating for quite sometime now and even met them during conventions. And I've mentioned this before, I am a fan of Alodia and of Angel Locsin (serious level) so I was bound to stumble upon and talk about this issue in some way. The real reasons why I am dedicating a blog post to this issue are as follows:

1. I am totally appalled at the way the Buzz co-hosts' discussed the said rumor and their un-awareness of the Cosplay subculture. It's one thing to not be interested. I totally get it that none of them have really encountered anime and all the other things surrounding that aspect of the geek culture. It's just my belief however that if you're going to talk about something on air, you have to at least research about things you don't understand. I mean they could've have just googled the term Cosplay and it would have made them appear a little less stupid than the way they did. 

2. ABS-CBN totally disrespected Alodia by giving her a negative publicity as an informal launch. What a way to introduce Alodia to the Filipino masses! Alodia has a fierce (and when I say fierce I mean they really really bite, hehe!) legion of fans in the country and is internationally recognized by a certain niche to be on a goddess level so I don't get why they had to give her a masa-level publicity. Sure, she's not yet marketable to the masses at this point in her career and her craft is not something a lot of people are even aware of, but her good looks and natural charm will win anyone over. Besides, she has an international stature. Anyone with international stature will draw the masses in no matter what the reasons are. Unfortunately, ABS-CBN decided to draw bad blood against Alodia's fans by giving her this kind of cheap stunt. If they market mainstream actresses with intrigue-laden issues then I don't think that same strategy will work in promoting Alodia. I really didn't think she needed it nor do I think it's the way to launch a show. Sure, it's being talked about all over the web but there's bound to be some backlash later. They should have talked to e-Games or the convention organizers who have worked with Alodia before, so they will know her real marketing power.

3. This has somehow caused a rift between Alodia and Angel's fans. The true-blue Angel Locsin fans will easily dismiss this to be nothing but a publicity stunt but there are already comments in Darla's blog that are derogatory towards Alodia and it saddens me. Fans will defend their idols without thinking and will compare the two and prove against each other who's the better person. Instead of possibly winning over Angel's fans, ABS-CBN drove them away from Alodia. This won't affect everyone but there's bound to be some casualties.

They say negative publicity is still publicity and is therefore useful. However, if rubbed the wrong way, it will burn whoever its subjects are right Manny Pacquiao and Krista Ranillo? TV Networks should start really understanding their market instead of doing a one-size-fits-all marketing strategy; which is plain lazy. That way they can maximize the potentials of the stars, people, and shows they are trying to build up. No wonder online media platforms like YouTube is now getting most of the viewing public's attention and television companies' attempts to go online is sort of desperate and may be a little too late.

Driftwood Christmas Decors

My Mom and I made something festive out of her driftwood collection. We both love to decorate and tinker around with almost anything. And I believe we both really like making things pretty and giving everything a personal touch. So here are the products of that. Everything you see here is handmade and locally sourced. They can be used as table centerpieces or shelf decorations.  These are FOR SALE but only for Surigao City meet-ups. Still thinking if there's a way to ship them. But the rest of the products can be found here: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2071920&id=1310169630 So far we've had customized orders. Hehe! Hope y'all like 'em!

Macross Frontier: The False Songstress

I've finally seen it! After waiting for the fansub to come out for more than a year I've finally laid my eyes on it. *insert tears* Macross has been my favorite anime franchise ever since I was a little girl, so when they announced that a 25th anniversary anime series was going to be released two years ago, I was more than ecstatic. Of course I followed the series with a burning passion and fell in love with it almost the same way as I did with SDF Macross. SDF Macross however, remains to be on a skyscraper level of love for me though. Nonetheless, I waited for the movie sequel to the Macross Frontier series with massive enthusiasm in the hopes that it would contain answers to many questions left unanswered by the series two years ago.

So how did the movie fair? Unfortunately, it seemed a bit so-so for me and this is where I'm really frustrated. I still loved it but it didn't really have that much emotional effect on me as the series did. I really can't pinpoint what went wrong. I'm maybe too much of a Ranka fan that I felt her exposure and rise to stardom (or role in the defeat of the Vajra) in the movie was downplayed compared to that of Sheryl's. I don't know why they went on the Sheryl path (no offense to the fans though). I felt like the movie was made for her. I also didn't like the changes they made on Ozma. I loved how bad-a$$ he was in the series especially his low tolerance to Alto's emotional outbursts. He seems to really kiss-ass with Alto in the movie which frankly is a bit annoying and cliche (eww at the welcome initiation). Maybe that's what happens when you compress a 25-episode series to two hours. Certain charms of the series had to be sacrificed. That didn't happen with Macross: Do You Remember Love? (the movie retell of SDF Macross) though. Sure, certain characters that fans loved were given a less share of the limelight but the Misa-Hikaru-Minmay love triangle became more epic. And I liked their take on the story with Misa discovering one of the most amazing love songs of all time. I guess my expectations were a bit too high. It's really difficult to top something so incredibly epic.

I loved the animation of the Macross Frontier movie though and the re-arrangement they did on some of the songs. Surprisingly, the fanservice moments didn't annoy me although I felt they were a little bit forced and trying hard to join the trend of fanservice animes. Overall, the movie will really make any Macross fan happy. Especially those that waited too long to be immersed once again in the mystical Macross universe. Come on, let's all dream and fly! Yikes! Can't wait for the 2011 movie! Anyway, here is the movie version of the song Diamond Crevasse performed live by May'n and Megumi Nakajima with no less than Yoko Kanno on the piano!

Socorro Surigao del Norte and Rejuvenate Surigao Mission Trip

Dapat magpopost ako ng formal na update sa blogsite ng church namin kaso wala ako sa mood para maging formal. Besides may naka-assign na gumawa nun hinihintay ko na lang ang update niya. Almost one month delayed na 'toh pero hanggang ngayon totally overwhelmed pa rin ako sa ibang level na awesome-ness ng love ni God for us, and most especially for me. Towards the end of September I was struggling with so many things kaya wala masyadong update. Sometimes I really do think I bite off more than I can chew kaya mejo nalulunod din ako sa dami ng trabaho. Pero ewan ko ba, ang sweet sweet lagi ng timing Niya. Just when I'm about to really lose it, he reminded me once again that I am loved even beyond what I can comprehend. Sabi ni Dr. Charles Spurgeon:

"There are no crown-wearers in heaven who were not cross-bearers here below."

While I believe that to be true, my life has been a testament of endless blessings. Sure, ang dami-daming moments when I felt like I'm being seriously refined through the flame pero I always feel like I've been transformed into something spectacular after. So on to the real updates. We were privileged to be joined by our brothers in Christ from the USA last September 27 to October 8. And what a fruitful trip that was! Officially, Rejuvenate Surigao ang pangalan ng mission. Super need kasi namin as a church ang rejuvenation. We are a very young church plant (2008) and already in the span of two years, we've been through a lot of trials together. But God has always been good and faithful. Everyday talaga is a walk of faith. 

One of the best parts of the trip was our visit to Socorro, Surigao del Norte. While we were unable to visit the famous Sohoton Cove (home to the sting-less jellyfish) and Bucas Grande's spectacular beaches, God showed us another side of Socorro that we immediately fell in love with -- His people. Kami dapat ang magmi-mission trip dun but instead we were treated like Kings and Queens. The human in me had a bit of doubt at the beginning anticipating kung ano'ng catch sa extravagant welcome and accommodations but there was none. Hindi ko ma-describe talaga yung mga pangyayari in sequence kasi sobrang I was really floating the whole time. I had an opportunity to share the Word through the explanation of our church's mission and vision. As of this time, in the works na ang mga possible developments na we will help do sa area all for His glory. Ang haba ko lagi mag-blog kaya putulin ko na dito and let the pictures speak for themselves. Credits to Pastor Nathan Klein of Turning Point Church World Outreach Center for the pictures.

Our Pastors with the kids...

Pastor Jon leading worship. The worship team couldn't go full band kasi sa islands toh at mabigat mga instruments.

The welcome crowd!

In the works na ang development project for this area. 20 hectares to be donated to us by the patriarch of the farmer's association. He said, He will will bless us according to His glorious riches!

After lunch, snacks na naman! Ako yung girl na matakaw na nasa gitna! Super obvious. Salvaro pala yung kinakain namin. It's sort of a cassava crisp thingie with latik! Sarap!

Lunch! Araw-araw ganyan promise! Allergic ako pero natutuwa ako kasi Php1000/kilo ang lobster! Galing sa farm nila yan. Lahat ng food actually produced by the farmer's association.

The HS kids! All of them received Jesus that day! I couldn't ask for more!

Where we were housed. Nasabi ko talaga, "Mission trip ba 'toh?" Ang bongga kasi. Pag-aari ang building na yan ng farmer's association. Mejo mini-hotel ang dating niya pero di pa daw nila dinidevelop kaya konti lang available rooms. Nonetheless, tig-iisa kami ng double beds! Heaven talaga after a long, exhausting trip.

So ayun. High na high pa rin ako actually. Thank You Lord for showing us just another glimpse of how much you love us. For Your glory!

Mag-Shot: Almost!

I'm not into fashion magazines. And I'm really a spaz when it comes to dressing up and matching clothes with accessories. I don't consciously follow trends and my rule has always been to dress comfortably no matter what the occasion. But when I started seeing people in what-used-to-be my tiny geek world, dress up as our favorite anime and game characters (a.k.a the art of Cosplay) I began to develop interest in other people's ability to expressively wear their personality. Art has always fascinated me (in the traditional and classical form) but I never really saw fashion as another avenue where art could creatively and magically flow. Suddenly, color combinations and accessories mattered to me. I'd even spend a significant amount of time online reading about fashion trends just so I'd know. I still didn't have the inkling to totally immerse myself into that girly world (anime and books came first of course). But I was contented with just knowing what was in and what's considered to be so last season. Back then, it was Tokyo street fashion, then I discovered pink, and of course fashion trends in Europe and other fashion capitals of the world -- all this happening while the cosplay subculture in the country is slowly beginning to draw a large audience share.

 image copyright Alodia Gosiengifao and Tricia Gosingtian

Then came the cosplay phenomenon that is Alodia Gosiengfiao. So many people don't really admit it but Alodia and her personal brand in niche modelling (whatever you may want to call it) is greatly responsible for making cosplay a profitable venture and thus, getting it some mainstream media attention. And because I was so smitten by her (in a non-creepy way if I may add), I followed her blog. Sure, we were both from Anime Club but we were not really in the same circles. I got to know more about her through her blog and during conventions and also through the people I've worked with. I also checked out the stuff she was in and the things she's endorsing. That's when I got to know of a certain fashion magazine for teenagers. 

Alodia was featured in the said magazine and I wanted to see what she was like away from the cosplay world. I wasn't really planning on purchasing the said magazine but upon reaching National Bookstore some unknown force prompted me to just go ahead and buy the issue she was featured in. As I began browsing through the pages of the said mag, I realized how useful most of the features were and without knowing, I actually was able to read the whole thing even the fashion features and was fascinated. Sure, since it's for teens some stuff that were in their were a bit cliche but I didn't really minds. And before I even began to notice, I started buying issue after issue. That was when I realized that my love affair with said mag has truly begun and was blossoming. I later decided to e-mail the editor of the said mag to share my story. I wasn't really expecting anything from it. But then one fateful day after a stressful thesis meeting, I got an e-mail that is from nameofeditor@webaddress-of-the-mag.com. I was in a total shock. Why on earth would she be responding to my e-mail? Then I read what was inside and I almost literally fell off my seat. The editor said she liked my story and she wanted to give me a full-page feature. Apparently she liked my writing and doesn't want the whole thing published just in the editor's corner. She even gave me her personal yahoo messenger user ID so we can chat about what she wanted to accomplish with the page. She said the other magazine staff were interested in doing the feature and if everything goes well, my article will be featured and I'd be getting a share of the spotlight as well.

It would have been a great opportunity but I blew it. After that brief exchange, I got sick and went through what I still consider as the worst days of my life: thesis problem, a traumatic breakup and trouble with certain commitments. I was never able to get back to the magazine people. The moment I did, I received an e-mail that the editor who wanted to do my feature has resigned. I actually even bought the last issue that she was still the EIC to. And even until now, the poem she posted in her goodbye message is tacked on my wall reminding me that my deepest fear is not that "I'm inadequate". That has been an inspiration to me. 

The magazine has never been the same after she left so I generally stopped subscribing. And no I wasn't bitter; it's just that the magazine has taken on a different route. Whatever substance and depth I saw before has been replaced by the glitz and glamor of local showbiz and Hollywood. Or maybe I've changed. I don't know but even though the project didn't materialize, I was a better person after that experience.

I was able to work with another magazine after that. My life has taken on a different direction now and I'm interested in a lot of different things too. God has poured out so much passion for so many things in my heart today that the journey despite being bumpy has been such an amazing ride. I never really shared this with anyone but since I'm reaching another milestone in my life, I guess now is the time to tell this story.

And despite the popularity of online media and publications, I believe print is not dead and will live on. I'll be supporting that despite my longing for a Kindle. Hehe. So above is an ode to the printed word -- a lovely video from Anthology Magazine. 

Disappointment

Magtatagalog ako ngayon para mas totoo. Inspired ako by Jethro -- isang kathang-isip na character na binuhay ng isang teleseryeng kinakatuwaan namin ng Nanay ko ngayon ang Imortal. Tulad ko nagboblog din siya dito sa blogspot, at tulad ko ang dami ding bumabagabag sa kanya ngayon. Bagamat sobrang fantasy ng mga problema niya, pareho naman ang magnitude na ito sa reality ng mga issues ko. Una, di niya alam kung kaduwagan ang ginawa niyang pagtakbo mula sa taong maaaring nakakaalam sa katotohanan sa likod ng mga issues niya. Hindi niya sigurado kung dahil do'n may mapapahamak o napahamak na. Sa kanyang pagtakbo, akala niya mababaon na lang sa limot ang mga katanungang iyon. Pero hindi. Dahil ang totoo ay totoo at kahit saan ka magtago, hahabulin ka nito. Gaya niya marami rin akong tanong at disappointments na mas pinili kong itago na lang at ibaon. Subalit gaya niya, hinahabol na rin ako nito. At gaya niya nahihirapan akong magsinungaling sa sarili ko. At least ang blog na ito, bagama't matalinghaga ay totoo so eto kung ano lang ang totoo.

Kanina mejo may masakit na nangyari. Wag na nating idetalye kasi ayoko nang magdrama. Ang dami kasing excuses, dami pa dahilan. Pero in the midst of it all, bigla ko na-miss ang Dadad (Lolo ko sa father's side) ko. Kasi alam ko kahit magka-kandaleche-leche ang lahat, he wouldn't accept crap. Yun siya eh, kahit masakit, kahit baduy, kahit mukhang cheap, basta totoo dun siya. Walang halong kaplastikan, yung totoo lang. Tough love, ika nga. Pero mas tatanggapin ko yun kasi at least yun, totoo. Hindi pretentious. So sa araw na 'to, kahit nung buhay ka pa di tayo masyadong close, para sa'yo toh. Na-mimiss kasi talaga kita eh. 

New Layout, New Ventures

It has been a while since I last posted. And I vowed to keep this blog active. However, real life is catching up on me plus we've had internet problems for weeks hence the unintended hiatus. I changed my blog layout to reflect my current fascination for simplicity and the color blue. This is a standard blogger template but I'm bound to upgrade this soon once inspiration hits me. The header image will probably remain.

Also, we are thinking of putting up a new venture. I am actually busy taking care of that. Will be posting all about it later too. So that's it. Just a quick and rather really short update. Will post pictures too of the fire update once I get my room back. We have visitors and my nephew's going to get an operation so it's rather a bit chaotic at home right now. So yeah, just letting y'all know that I'm still alive.

Miss Philippines Venus Raj is Miss Universe 2010 4th Runner-up

 (image via: here)

We Filipinos are suckers for getting our proud little country into the limelight of the international stage hopefully for the right reasons (after the numerous road mishaps and the hostage crisis yesterday, we deserve a breather) and beyond Manny Pacquiao. Venus Raj did that today during the 2010 Miss Universe Pageant held in Madalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas despite her "major major blunder" during the question and answer portion. 

I guess I was a bit disappointed because after Miriam Quiambao, she was the only Pinay who came close to clinching the title; and it's been a while for us Filipinos to see one of our own make it as a finalist in one of the world's most prestigious competitions. The sad part is, the crown would have fit her beautifully. In my honest opinion, her exotic looks are a stand out. With a 22-inch waste line, she was exquisitely stunning in her swimwear; and she looked gorgeous, regal and elegant in her evening gown.

While I am no beauty pageant expert, I felt that she gave up after reaching the top five, probably too overwhelmed at the fact that she actually made it that far. The question too (minus the pressure and compared to those asked of the other candidates) was rather easy and personal. She was asked by William Baldwin (whom I remember vividly for his annoying role as Serena van der Woodsen's father on Gossip Girl) what she thought was her biggest mistake in life. I think it's great that she doesn't believe in regrets and have so far done nothing "major" in her 22 years of existence. What irked me in the way she answered though, was the way she continuously referred to Baldwin as a "sir" and why on earth she thanked him for that "(un)wonderful" question. It's a very typical Filipino beauty pageant filler of an answer.

In a way too, her continuous reference to Baldwin as a "sir" reflected our hierarchical society (even when the world is moving towards a system of equality and away from societies where social classes dictate the way of life for most) and and inferiority to other nations. In the Philippines, foreigners especially Americans  are always referred to as "sirs" or "ma'am s" for all the wrong reasons. While I appreciate the fact that Filipinos are (too) respectful, I still think that our use of titles are more of results of our feelings of inferiority towards other developed nations rather than as a genuine sign of respect. This is an awful generalization against my own culture, but it's a fact everywhere in the country. I've worked with Americans and people from other countries, and from my own experience, they would like nothing more than to be treated as equals with the right amount of respect and without the unnecessary attempts at patronizing. 

I think as a country, in order to actually become known throughout the world as a mighty nation, we should start moving forward and join hands with other nations in creating a truly border-less world where anyone can be whoever he/she wants to be. 

Despite all this, I am mighty proud of Venus Raj. I think she represented our country well. Her life story at the same time is really inspiring and I know from this point forward, she would inspire many. Though it's wonderful that she feels that she has done no "major major" (here we go again) blunder in her life, I think mistakes do matter because without them, we wouldn't learn. And lessons learned, make us better persons. But all in all, congratulations Venus!

Back, Surigao City Fire

It's awful to be sick. I was sick for more than a week two weeks ago. I literally couldn't get out of bed as a result and my entire body hurt. Flu has never hit me this bad. And when I finally did recover, work backlog consumed most of my time that it became impossible to even go online. My facebook page has never been this stagnant; and I'm unable to answer non-work related e-mails. I miss the internet and I miss blog-hopping. But now, I'm back with a vengeance. I will be visiting other blogs later. 

On to a different thing, I am sad to report that almost 200 families were left homeless after a fire razed through one of our city's biggest slum areas last Saturday. The fire started in the block directly in front of our church/ministry center. In the middle of all the chaos, I couldn't even do anything except text the worship team who at that time was supposed to start their practice for Sunday's worship service. I had to be in a beauty pageant in the school where I teach and I couldn't leave because I was at the judging table tabulating scores and also judging the students' pirate costumes. It's a relief that the fire never got to our church and no one I know got hurt or lost their properties. It is sad though that almost all of our neighbors lost their homes and properties to the fire. An old lady, whom I was told was paralyzed, didn't make it our alive either. There were two children who got trapped and died too. The houses in the area were made of combustible materials; so as a result, it took three hours to completely put out the fire. Here are some of the photos of the fire courtesy of Ma'am Sharon Guerra:

And what was left of the area after:

We praise God that our church is safe. Times like these are truly difficult even for us who actually made it out unscathed. However, looking at what was left, especially seeing the place so ghastly truly breaks our hearts. Even though the reasons are hard to understand at times, our Lord God remains sovereign and in control of all. Not everyone in church is able to give a lot including our family (with financial difficulties all over the place). But yesterday, even in our nothingness, we decided to pool in whatever we can give just to be able to give to those who lost everything. My mom and I raided our closets and so did the other members of our church. In total, we were able to give away 5 sacks of clothes and 2 sacks of footwear. I am also collecting pledges. Some of my friends have pledge to donate clothes, rice and toiletries. We will accept donations for as long as they will come. We are also willing to provide temporary shelter to those who have nowhere else to go. If you are willing to give something, either in cash or kind, please contact me through my facebook page.

Updates on the donations and all to be posted soon.

Unexpected Gift Art

My artist friend Jherry was working on my aunt's soon-to-open medical spa marketing campaign when he stumbled upon my stick figure drawings.*dies of shame here* So yeah, I really really love art but I know how much it doesn't love me back. I however, am for visual/graphical expression so with stick figures I somehow manage to visually express my thoughts and experiences. My friend doesn't openly criticize but he doesn't lie as well; so I was pretty happy when he said he enjoyed my drawings and even commented that somehow they are more "expressive". Two days later, I found this in the same folder where I save my stick figure drawings to:

He called it romantic rain and indeed it is. But boo! This is maybe his attempt to draw something stick-figure like but it fails to be anything ugly. It's still too pretty to be considered crude and man do I love the blush on both the girl and the boy's cheeks. Hehe!

Jherry illustrates for me and for most of our clients. Manga-style art is actually his specialty (since he loves anime like me!) but he occasionally does graphics design work and does character commissions over at Deviantart. He's still a college student though and his time to do freelance work is extremely limited but he's so talented that I sometimes coerce him to accept more projects. His artworks are actually diverse so do check his site out here.

Fullness of Joy

Jesus is indeed the sum of my desires and the fullness of my joy... I marvel in His presence.

Bandslam

It's been a while since I last wrote something here and I do have an explanation for that but that will have to be done in the next entry because it's so hilarious that it deserves its own spotlight. For now however, I'd like to focus on reviewing one of the latest movies I saw. Our little city has not had any cinema/movie theater for at least 15 years now and since this is such a small city, theaters have difficulty operating profitably and has focused on showing either titillating films and/or those movies with mass appeals (mostly locally produced ones) that are so corny you'd drown in 10 truckloads of corn kernels while watching them. So anyway, during movie night we watched Bandslam.

I'm probably one of the very few people who actually prefer feel-good, predictable, and teenybopper films. I know saying that contradicts the other statement I made about corny films but with all due respect to the filmmakers of our nation, most Pinoy movies are really worse than the worst Hollywood-produced teenybopper movie you've seen. So knowing that Bandslam starred the likes of Vanessa Hudgens, I was expecting it to be a High School Musical-esque kinda film. But I was extremely wrong. Sure the movie had all the elements of the classic teenybopper/feel good/musical-themed movies but there's so much charm in the film that it somehow manages to elevate it self two notches higher than the movies of the same genre/target audience.

To recap, Bandslam is about two (plus one later) teenagers forming an unusual bond through their shared love of music. They would later assemble a crew of like-minded misfits and social outcasts to form a rock group that would later perform in a battle of the bands competition called "Bandslam". Because of its coming-of-age and musical themes, the movie had trite moments but the story presentation was handled so tastefully that it actually delivers despite the rather formulaic parts. Plus, all of the main characters: Vanessa Hudgens (Sa5m - pronounced as Sam with a silent 5), Gaelan Connell (Will Burton) and Aly Michalka (Charlotte Barnes) actually developed rather beautifully that you'd grow to love them despite the stereotypical natures of their characters. Plus, Lisa Kudrow is her usual brilliant self. Lisa plays Will's mom and unlike most teen film moms, the approach she gave her character is refreshing and becomes an integral part of the progression of the movie. On the plus side too, the film's source of conflict is rather unusual. Typical rom-coms would have its two main characters falling out because someone either cheated or was being untrue to himself/herself. While Bandslam had those bits, Charlotte's experiment and her reasons why as one of the films sources of conflicts was rather new and a welcome relief.

I also enjoyed Will's growth especially when he was placed under such a pressure situation. I was expecting him to breakdown but instead he used his pain to recover and made an amazing introduction for the band. Despite his internal conflicts, I do believe that the maturity he has gained from all those experiences made him a credible manager for such a band. Vanessa Hudgens was easy to love too. The character she played was admittedly very reminiscent of the Adam's family's Wednesday (with the black clothes and monotone) voice but when she started gaining confidence you'd see a sparkle in her eyes that makes you believe that she was actually born to perform. The supporting cast offers a great comic relief too. I especially loved the drummer and his affections for Will's mom. The bassists and guitarist are also perfect for each other even the brass players. The band also has characters who only knew how to play classical music (one is even obsessed with keeping her cello tuned) and watching them grapple with new types of music is really fun.

Another plus factor is of course the movie's music. It has everything from punk, rock, reggae, rap, ska and so much more. Plus, I really enjoyed how balanced "I Can't Go On, I'll Go On" in terms of identity and the kind of music they played. Phil's song (Somebody to Fall Back On) was such a sweet sweet song that I actually almost cried listening to it. I Can't Go On, I'll Go On's version of Everything I Own (Vanessa Hudgen's rendition) was also so amazing. American Idol ought to learn from them on how to make something familiar your own; and how to make it modern and relevant while still retaining its nostalgic feel. And also, the cameo appearance of Will's hero was so sweet! You'll have to find out who it is.

Overall, I'm pretty happy about the movie. It's kind of sad though that the film didn't do well commercially. Critically however, I believe it's a gem. Would have enjoyed watching it in the cinema but watching it on DVD is also really worth it. And no, actually owning the DVD is way cooler than just renting it. I believe it's worth the money and I feel like I can actually watch this again if only for the music. So in conclusion, here's a video montage of the film with Someone to Fall Back On in the background. Enjoy!

Jaded

So it's a little crazy for me this week. So many things to do and read. I have to come up with a marketing campaign, prepare for a seminar, come up with graphic designs (I don't do them; I just conceptualize how they're supposed to look and the artist and I have good chemistry) and write tons of papers! Plus, there are essays I need to grade. So that's me studying my seminar materials and trying to grade essay papers all at the same time. When I get bored reading my students' essays I study my seminar notes. That way you don't waste time staring into space wondering why on earth your student wrote what he/she wrote and expect you to NOT GIVE him/her a big fat F for his/her gobbledygook. Doing two things at the same time also makes it less boring. Haha! And yes, I try to stay away from the computer while studying and making the grades; but apparently here I am again. So just a short update. I have to get back to that other table like NOW.

BC Bloggers 4 Now Open!

I have been waiting for this to open again and finally it's here! BC Bloggers 4 is now open. So if you're new to blogging and is finding it hard to gain links to your blog;  tired of exchanging links one blog at a time; and looking for friends in the blogosphere, then you absolutely have to join this batch. Here's how:

1. Make a blog post about BC Bloggers 4 to help spread the word. Invite your blog friends everywhere!

2. Put the BC Bloggers badge in your sidebar. The code can be found here.

3. Make a page dedicated to BC Bloggers where you intend to post the links. It doesn’t matter if it’s in the navigation bar or at the sidebar as long as it is linked in the homepage.

4. Once done with 1,2, and 3, fill up the application form.

 

Pretty simple, huh? So join us now!