Ending My May

I consider every month of my life as blessings. Tuwing start ng buwan gumagawa ako ng communication planning na dapat kung tuparin at matapos at the end of the month. Eksakto para timetable ika nga. Tuwing matatpos naman ang buwan, siyempre nire review ko ang lahat ng mga nangyari at gumagawa ako ng lists nung mga natutunan ko. Nakkatawa nga kasi sinusulat ko pa sa notebooks. Napaka old school talaga ng styles ko. pero ipektib kaya nire recommend ko talaga for everyone to review what happened to them every month.

Sa buwang ito, natutunan ko ang maghintay. Natutunan ko ang makibagay. Naappreciate ko yung mga magagndang bagay sa summer na ito na hindi na maaaring dumating pa ulit. Natutunan ko ring i-treasure yung mga nangyari nung nakaraang taon by realizing that those are actually blessings kasi hindi na sila mauulit. Naranasan ko ring bumoto at isa balot aang nararamdaman ng aking damdamin, naranasan ko ang marinig at pakinggan sa pamamagitan ng isang boto. Ngayong Mayo ko rin natagpuan ang iba't ibang uri ng kagandahan dahil sa mga Santa cruza.

Ang saya nga kasi kanina eh umulan. Naging maganda ang panahon para makatulog ako sa hapon. Napnsin ko lang parang madalas yata mawalan ngayon ng koneksiyon sa kuryente. Kahapon nawalan rin nung hapon. Ang ganda ng Naruto and I am planning to do a note tungkol dito. Truly the best Animated show in ABS. Ang saya ng solo ka sa bahay, although buryong, I have chance to do whatever I want to. At ang pinaka climax of the day ang pagdating nila Alger sa bahay kanina. Ganap na Alas otso ng gabi dumating sila Bikoy, Alger at Jerome Ardez. Sino ang magaakalang pupunta sa bahay ko si Jerome Ardez, wala! Nakakatawang experience kasi hindi ko naman yun nakakausap dati at hindi ko lang akalain na isang araw sa buhay ko darating siya sa bahay ko. Hindi ko naman kasi siya kaibigan pero ang paglipas ng panahon can also open doors to make us versatile and flexible. By that time, narealize ko na yung mga dating values natin, puwede siyang mapalitan habang nag go-grow tayo. Nagiiba kasi yung mga bagay na puwede natin pahalagahan habang lumilipas ang panahon. Sometimes, we really need to let go.

Dala nila ang laptop ni Arjan at nagpatulong si Alger para sa group thesis nila. About Thea's Closet. Kung hindi nangyari ang nangyari kanina, hindi ko malalaman na may ganun palang tindahan sa San Pablo. i don't know, I just did everuything I can to help them and give them tips para sa defense. That was a very nice experience. I will always love to help people especially if I can.

Expenditures of A Bachelor

Things I really want to buy when money rolled under my feet.

- A complete set of carpentry, mechanical, electric, and cooking tools and devices including T square, compass, tongs and different types of knives.

- A set of chess board/ scrabble/ Games of the General

- Amplifier/ Mixer/ Microphone

- Laptop / CD Burner/ USB Flash disk/ New Blacberry phone

- Digital Camera/ Video Camera [yung handy]

- Dental braces

- Solo Pictorial and Recording of original Songs

- Formal Clothes/ Ties/ New jeans, shoes, v ray, jacket, and shirt

- Electronic keyboards or [ kung kaya talaga] piano.

- Smartbro/ Tatoo and Printer and Scanner

- Magic sing karaoke

- Books { inspirational, self help, Novels, Anal geo, Civics humanities, and marketing.

Worth of Weekend

Three special events marked the entirety of yesterday. Kahapon kasi ang birthday ni E.R. and I send him my greetings on line though not personal he should know by now I also want to be there where he is celebrating. Malayo man kaisa naman siguro ako ng mga nagmamahal at nagpapahalaga sa mama. I never forget the date of his birth siguro kasi dahil kaklkase ko siya nung first year highschool. At pag mga ganung edad napakatibay talaga ng memory.

Kahapon rin ginanap ang wedding day ni Ate Denise. Siya ang dating majorette ng Blue Bubbles Band which is now relinquished by the Saint Mary's Administration. Siguro that was 1999. As of now at the 27, tamang tama lang siguro na magpakasal na rin siya sa. Denise Paula Poblete, isa sa mga naging pinakasikat na pangalan before I entered highschool just got married. Matanda na nga kami. It brings a sort of fright for me na hanggang ngayon ay single pa rin. Dumaan ako just to see them in the church at maganda naman ang wedding kaso ang init kasi ala una y media.

Nung gabi na, nanuod naman ako ng sagala sa General Luna st. kung saan dati ako nakatira noong grade 1 pupil pa ako. Maganda kaso ang tagal kong naghintay bago lumakad ang prusisyon. Buti na lang naroon sila Christine at mga kapatid niya at buti na lang may TV sa tapat so nakapanuod pa ako ng Piipinas Got Talent. very good ang Saturday night, halos 12 na nga ako nakatulog kasi inabangan ko pa yung eviction. Joe and Patrick were evicted so as Jack and Sophia.

More things will not last. Only for the mean time, we are given some opportunities to treasure what we are holding for a long a time. Pero kusang bibitiw ang mga palad pag dumating na ang takdang oras. Sasabihin mo na lang, siguro hindi talaga para sa akin.

Majestic Triune God

That our God is one in three Divine persons is the primordial doctrine a Christian should first believe. Without faith in this truth, the person cannot be considered a member of the Catholic Church. The Catholic Christian, thus, is neither a polytheistic religion nor a monotheistic religion. We are very different, we are Christian. We are {if there is a right term} Henotheist. We believe that God is one {heno is one} though there is three divine personalities.

It is hard to reconcile that 1+1+1=1 while every Mathematicians will say that it is three. But our faith transcends all arithmetical and exponential realities. though differences may be separating us from one another, our God is teaching us that there is always a reason to be one. Only one thing remains after all these. I learned that the more I dig deeper in understanding the mystery of the triune God, the more I am caught in a complex web of puzzling details about the God I am loving. There is always an iota of ignorance no matter how long the debates and researches were done. At last I am settling for the truth that the dogma of Triune God is His way of reaching out. It is enough that you have a glimpse of what you cannot truly grasp anyway because the human mind is limited and only after the resurrection of the death will I be changed in a glorified status. The world cannot contain the realities about the God whom I worship and the last words of the Gospel of John attest to this.

Nonetheless, I am still happy that there is a chance to understand the very nature, essence, substance, and persona of the God who created, redeemed, and nourished me in faith. He opted to be in three persons so that I can have different ways of relating to Him. I can distinguish the royalty of His power and I can be enlightened on how big our God is. He is so big that His majesty cannot be contained in only one personality alone. he has to be three persons so I can understand the dynamism of his Holiness. Isn't it very consoling the the sovereign God who chose to relate to us, granted us a variety of ways to approach Him? I cannot even fathom how much He wants us to encounter His greatness. All I know is that the Father is the Lord of all, He is with the world from the beginning as her Creator. The Son who according to the first reading is the wisdom of the Father and has been there from the foundation of the world. And the Holy Spirit our advocate, who is here to remind us and refresh us of the teachings of Jesus. The Spirit is the very person of God who continues to strengthen us. Everlasting God, one in three, may all praises and glory be.

Reasons for New Beginnings

At last! The rain poured out. Exactly by 3:43 in the afternoon, after a long month of waiting for raindrops, finally it comes to pass. Umulan na nga. I was having headaches because of the hot temperature. Lalo na nung Monday, napakainit kasi. Kahit kaninang umaga hindi ko rin malaman ang gagawin. Hindi ako makapagsiyesta dahil sa init. Yun pala uulan na ngayon. Ang sarap malamig. But this is a sign that summer is close to its end. Matatapos na ang tagaraw at parating na ang tagulan. Mas nakakatakot na forecast is that after the El Niño, susundan ito ng La Niña. Another stage of life, another adjustment. Siyempre lahat naman meron nun. Lahat halos ng transitory sa mundo natatapos at napapaltan. Kagaya rin ng activities for summer na kasabay ring magwawakas ng taginit.

If summer is officially ending this June, so is the vacation. Sabay yan. Sa pagpasok ng tagulan ay simula na rin ng classes. Busy na nga ang mga kabataan sa page-enroll eh. Puno na ang mga malls ng tao para sa school supplies. Tunay ngang pasukan na.

Marami ring mga palabas sa TV na para sa mga estudyante ang natapos na ngayong araw kasi nga mawawala na ang audience share nila for those programs. Isa na riyan ang "First Time" na umiikot ang istorya sa mga estudyante sa high school na nagmamahalan. Although pilit ang pagkakatapos, timely naman. Ang daming angle ang iniwan nilang naka hang. Halatang hindi pa dapat matapos ang palabas pero kailangan nang palitan. Naging corny tuloy ang ending. At the end, marami ang magsasabi na kung ginandahan pa ito, siguro bitin talaga. Pero dahil konti na lang din ang nanunuod, hindi halatang bitin.

Sa Sunday, gaganapin na ang parochial grand version ng Santacruzan. This will mark the end of the Flores de Mayo festivity of Filipino culture. Tapos na ang panahon ng mga sagala at paputukan. Closing na ang buwan, at darating na ang balik ordinaryo period. Napakahalaga na lahat may natutunan this vacation. Kasi kung wala, sayang ang lahat ng nagastos at pagstay sa bahay or with families and friends. Hope that everyone enjoyed the Summer days and the Fiestas.

Trusting My Retentive Mind

One may never know how much this day means to me. This is one of the dates in a year which I anticipates. There is no reason why. Basta pakiramdam ko lagi special ito.

Nung May 27 2002, halos lahat ng nangyari natatandaan ko hanggang ngayon. Gumising ako ng maaga kasi kailangan ko mag enrol sa Saint Mary's. Incoming third year ako nun. Binyagan naman ng anak ni Kuya Jojo sa LIliw kaya nauna maligo sila Dad, then umalis sila naiwan ako. Pagkapaligo ko, proceed ako sa SMA para sa enrollemnt at kailangan ko nga pala bumili ng libro sa library. Alam ko isang set ang binili ko including books in Mathematics, Sandigan 3, Noli Me Tangere at iba pa. Then kami ni Je, nagpunta kami sa kanila para makiramay ako kasi patay ang lola niya. umuwi ako for lunch sa bahay. Nakinig ako ng top 12 countdown sa WLSFM number 1 ang How YOu Remind Me ng Nickelback. Natulog ako tapos pagkagising ko dumating si je nanuod kami ng liga sa Municipal Gym. Ang saya ng araw na yun.

Tuwing 27 lagi nang masaya. Lalo na nung 2006 na nakilala na namin si Edison. Lagi na kami umaatend ng piyestahan dun except today kasi nga wala na siya sa Pilipinas. 2008, nagaudition naman si Gizelle sa akin and that was one very memorable day of my life having her as the first member of Afraelay. ang saya ng May 27. Hope laging ganito.

Although alam ko hindi ito ang pinakamasaya, I am still happy kahit wala ako sa piyestahan. Last year nakasama ko si Raprap at si Isaac sa handaan kila Edison pati na rin si Jophet nung gabi. That was incredible. Histories were written enough to fill the blanks of today's melancholy. Ganun dapat. So habang may paraan para i-enjoy ang isang moment, lubusin mo na. The date may come again but the same happiness comes only once. Memories make yesterday sweeter but hope makes tomorrow exciting.

Habemus Idolum {We Have An idol}

AND SO IT HAPPENED



All that I’ve predicted in my last note entitled “Unifying America” are in total reality. Tonight, May 26 in America , the newest and 2010 reigning American Idol was crowned. He seemed to be awed by the result. It was a great show and I really enjoyed it though I have to wake up earlier than what I am used to. But before that, let’s review what happened before the night.



After the hometown visit 2 weeks ago, Lee, Crystal, and Casey payed tribute to music as they performed two sets of songs. One coming from their own hearts and the other one coming from the judges. Casey performed “It’s Alright with Me” but it was honestly a dull performance. A number which I called “not bad” but not great. He didn’t have any moment to remember after that song. That was a real sign of eviction. On the other hand, Randy Jackson and Kara DioGuardi picked a song for Casey which really fits him. The song of John Mayer entitled “Daughters” and he made it a very believable performance. After that Crystal took the flame with her choice and Ellen picked a song for her. A song from Paul McArtney “Maybe I’m Amazed” which she justified anyway. Outstanding I may say is Lee’s performance of “Hallelujah” and Simon picked it up for him. That was the most innovated version I have ever heard in American Idol. That was different from Tim Urban and Jason Castro’s performances. Lee was able to hit notes I have never imagined he can ever does. Lee crumpled the other two with that song. That was the most memorable of all songs that night. By that time America already knew she will never see Casey James the next week. The next night, America decided to send Casey home. The battle continued with only two music warriors—Lee and Crystal.



Last night, the Nokia theatre was on fire. Two of the remaining contestants following their dreams are like wrestlers pushing it all to the limits. Three songs are to be delivered but only one singer will take the title. One is from those songs they’d performed and they really like. Second is from Simon Fuller, the creator and executive producer of AI. Third is from the upcoming album they will release if ever they win the contest. Lee won the toss coin so he went first. He sang “The Boxer” on round 1. However, I have to say that I didn’t like it the way I did when I first heard it. He seemed so nervous singing it. I understand, the crowd is very overwhelming. The heat is bringing more pressure in the room. Then it was Crystal singing the song from Billboard number 1, "Me and Bobby McGee" by Roger Miller. Randy brought a good comment saying, "So Round 1, duel to the finish. It started a little bit slow for me but you picked it up near the middle. At the end, it was back to that Crystal that we've known and grown to love. I'll tell you what; I hope you make a record like that. I thought it was dope." I really liked what Simon Cowell said, "This brought me back to the time when we absolutely fell in love with you. I think the last three or four weeks, it hasn't been great. This is you back on your best. You know what? We've got a competition tonight. That was terrific." Coming from Simon himself, I thought Crystal already had round 1.



Next round still started with Lee. The song is "Everybody Hurts" by R.E.M. it was the choice of Simon Fuller and I want to salute him for choosing that for Lee. I know he is a genius, god… he is one. That brought Lee into the cave of eminence. That is the song you will want Lee singing on the radio. Here are the comments of the judges;



From Randy Jackson; "That was definitely better because I can feel your passion vocally in that. It started off a little pitchy in the intro, in the first couple bars, but I'll tell you what, you pulled it together. I can feel that Lee that I love by the end. So I liked that man. It was a lot better."

from Ellen DeGeneres; "I felt like you want off a couple of times but I don't really care about that. It's really about the performance. A couple of times you really, really got into it and I was like, 'Oh, here we go. This is exciting.' Then you kind of pulled back again. I want to see you do that like you can feel everybody get excited when you did that, then you pulled back. I want to see more of that from you."

From Kara; "Lee, what makes you great as a performer is that you're emotionally accessible and that I can feel every word you're saying and you're telling a story. It wasn't a perfect vocal, but I love that about you."

From the bidding farewell man, Simon Cowell; "Lee, I thought that was -- I have to say, brilliant choice of song for you -- but you went a little bit off-melody at parts. I think what I'm feeling from you tonight Lee -- and I understand this -- you're nervous. You've got another song to come. I think you've got to really understand the importance of what this night can do in terms of changing your life. When you come out for your last performance, I want a 10 out of 10, because you're capable of it."



After that, Crystal took the stage still with the choice of the executive producer. The song is “Black Velvet” by Alannah Myles. Thanks to Christopher Rocchio because of him I can show you once again what the judges said;



Randy—“This is what I'm talking about. This is what I fell in love with from Day 1. Mama Sox is in it to win it! That was hot! Now we're talking."



Ellen—“With the wardrobe changes it's like a Cher concert in here. This is fantastic. I know you a little bit, so I know that was hard just walking down the stairs, much less singing and doing that. That was fantastic. I give you that."



Kara—“ Crystal , tonight is the night to give it your all; to kill yourself on that stage. To hit those notes that you never even tried to hit. That's what you were doing. You want it, you can tell. That's what tonight is all about."



Simon—“I had a little bit of a problem because I'm almost allergic to that song because I've heard it so many times in auditions when people have absolutely murdered it. But I've got to tell you, you took that song and you absolutely nailed it. I'm very impressed. I mean really good."





The third round started with Lee Dewyze’s performance of "Beautiful Day" by U2. This song is hypothetically his coronation song. If ever he will be crowned as American Idol. And that was great. The judges liked it. Crystal was next and she performed the last song for the night. "Up to the Mountain" by Patty Griffin was named to be the culmination song. After that, one by one the judges gave their comments but Crystal interrupted just before Simon say a word. She gave her bid to Simon. They really have a connection. She loves Simon more than the other contestants and Simon never gave a dirty remark to any of Crystal ’s number. What I love is that Will Young also performed on a Tuesday night show which is mainly for contestants’ performance alone. He payed respect to the climaxes of this season. He sang one of my favorite songs, which is his own song “Leave Right Now”.



Tonight, in America [and this morning here in the Philippines ], we all witnessed the great show ever of Fox 19 this spring. The finale episode of American Idol 2010. Alice Cooper entered with the top 12 singing School Out for the Summer. With their Princeton costumes they really looked like it was school days in Hogwarts. Kris Allen sang the Truth which is his latest single. I didn’t know Bee Gees will be surprising me. They just appeared while Siobhan and Aaron Kelly were singing their song “How Deep is Your Love”. A lot more big artists graced the show including Cristina Aguilera, Alanis Morissette, Micheal McDonalds, Bret Micheals, Paula Abdul and Janet Jackson were there to name a few. I really liked how they all bid farewell to Simon. There were tributes, three were video clippings and lastly a final song coming from all American Idol finalists from 2002 to today.



Finally, the main dish of the night. The announcement of winner. Ryan Secreast was so nervous and so excited to announce it. With his stoic tone, he mentioned the name of Lee Dewyze and confetti all around. A blaze of fire fountain. Embraces from co-finalists. Everything was like a dream but a reality. Lee made it. He is the newest and reigning American Idol from now on until we crown another one next year. Congratulations Lee! It was a very very memorable season. There will never be another American Idol season as endearing as this one. Mind you, Simon won’t be there anymore. Goodnight America, Glee is Next!

Diaspora

Who would want to go in a wedlock scheduled in May 26 2010? No one? First, aside from being untimely, it seems unwise to be somewhere out of town by May 25 knowing it is Daryl’s birthday. Who would want to be elsewhere while one of the beloved friends is having his most special day? No one. Second, May 26 is the final face off between Crystal Bowersox and Lee Dewyze. It is so unwise not to see Mama Sox crashing Lee Dewyze face to face. Who would want to be elsewhere while the battle between Crystal and Lee is televised via satellite. No one. Third, May 27 is the fiesta of all fiestas. I just have to stay in town and attend wherever the celebration is at.

I have plenty of excuses not to attend. If Kuya Jayson is not my cousin, I wouldn’t definitely be there. It was 6am when I woke up. That was Daryls birthday and know I have to make a choice. Quezon or Manila? I just have to greet Daryl a happy birthday via text and facebook , pretending that is enough. I have to escort my Mom in bringing patries for the wedding occasion. The bad thing is I was already prepared by 8am and we left home by 9:30. And the start of damning! I cannot take the fact that we have to travel without promise of comfort to a place which some did not even thought exists. First, it was hot. Second, it was hot. And thirdly to make it worse … guess what? It’s hot! I do not know why I have to endure squeezing in a crowded jeepney vehicle where you need to swivel every time there is a new passenger. These are the moments I have to ask myself why the hell I do not have my own four wheel drive. The travel was terribly a heck. You see, there is a man smoking on one side, a lady so noisy on the other, and the most violent of all is we have to unload the vehicle and cross to the other side then ride ride another one because the bridge is under reconstruction. This is just too much! I really really want to yell and scream to the top of my lungs that it is HOT. The construction is terrible. There are lanes where vehicles cannot pass because there is a sign saying “Sorry for the Inconvenience” yeah right! All a consoling word to hear is… Sorry. Before 12:00 high noon we were already there, in Tita Amparo’s residence just adjacent to Tita Rita’s. We were comforted with the boodle fight style of lunch outside [and some conversations to be exact with how I spent my entire afternoon]. Aside from sleeping, I did what my Ma’am Nikki loves to do—I people watched. A group of men slicing body parts of the swine just like embalmers do. A group of women conversing about the neighbor of the cousin of the classmate of the sister of their other kumare was there also to underscore the crowd. I also watched my nephews and nieces playing around and around and becoming a little bit annoying to some. And my Mom begging for allowances from her elder sisters. Well, you know my Mom. When it is time for my Mom to go I shadowed her until she rode the right jeepney to transport her. I saw her leaving while being uncertain if I can still enjoy outside my comfort zone. So far, that’s what I thought until Ate Violy came by with my two lovely but witty nieces to save the day. The two talkative angels brighten up the afternoon. We talked and talked until it’s dusk. The supper was enjoyable, I do not know for what reason but it is indeed. That’s when I felt it was already a reunion.

I was becoming more relaxed. I do not know if that is because of Kairah and Kim’s presence, or maybe because of the music. There is the undying videoke entertainment which became the apple of the eye of almost everybody. At first, I thought I will never be able to sing in there but after some time we sang and sang one after the other. It was one of the greatest bonding moments I had with Ate Violy. I will never forget that night. Never. Ate Leah also sang some gospel songs. Ate Marilyn joined us very reluctantly. She can sing in tune and I was glad for her. But what really turned me on is when a group of three ladies, singers they are, came by to entertain the mob with their lovely voices. And when I say lovely, those were indeed lovely. As in oh my gosh, where the hell did they came from? Sol Gecain started the show with her soft but clean and smooth rendition of “Very Special Love.” Daisy Cometa ended it with her very crispy but quasi husky version of “If I Sing You A Love Song” and when I heard that, I went wild. The night became a spectacular musical night with family and some friends. Despite the heavy musical grandeur, I still managed to watch the PBB Teen Clash with its highlights. The ignition of Bret, enflamed the night of Filipinos seating before their TV Screens . it was a long night. Daryl and some of our friends celebrated on their own while I did with the family. The people whose blood I am sharing and now I know, we are sharing the passion for music too. I wouldn’t know if I was not there. Forget about the insurmountable experience before I reached the place which never existed in Aristotle’s mind. I was glad I was there. Still uncertain but I know for as long as music is a part of it, I will endure the drama of being away from friends and life I get used to. Provided that music is a part of it, I will stay.


The next morning, I woke up early just to sing. Promise, I did. Though several are already awake. I prepared myself for the matrimony. I know that Kuya Jayson is so excited. This is his day. I am so happy for him. He had not been with me for quite a while. I confess I don’t really know him as a person. But I feel so happy for him. By the way, Kuya Inigo and his family arrived few minutes before 12 midnight. The presence of Hannah and Camille and all the others augmented the joy inside the house.

As everyone prepares, I am already singing with Kuya Inigo. This time, it is our bonding memento. When it is time to go, we were in the jeepney and reached the Air Base by 8am. The wedding finally started by 8:45. it was good. The ambiance was good. Everything seems to be perfect including the weather or maybe because there is airconditioning inside the sanctuary. There I feel very astounded by the fact that we are all there celebrating the love of two important persons. There is a spirit of love and oneness and aesthetics. Man… I love to say that beauty became like oxygen that day. Too many beautiful women not only from our family but from the other clan. And can I say that Mary Ann Acosta simply stood out from among the secondary sponsors.

We had the reception in Banay Banay Eatery. There was plenty of food. There was music. They were there again. The three of them. Actually Daisy was the Master of Ceremony. I enjoyed it. There was a banquet still in the house yard. When we came back, a battalion of food awaited us. That was one memorable day to be celebrated and a series of gunshots proved that. I know it was not only music that amalgamates us. For me there is something more. I can feel it in my heart. I do not want to be around but in there at that moment. It was love. I knew it all along. Love is the identity we all shared. Love is the color that defines us. Love is the music that unites us. Just once more, I raise my glass to Kuya Jayson. Celebrate love!

Paraclete

The Pentecost Sunday, one of the most essential parts of the Christian Liturgy. It is written in the Second chapter of Acts. It is the Third Glorious Mystery of the Holy Rosary. It is, also, the eighth week of the Easter Season. Today is the end of the Easter Season, The Holy Spirit is the most unrecognized or should I say unappreciated person of the Trinity. Our God is not only a Father, not only a Son, but also a Spirit. A Divine Spiritual being He is. Perhaps some would say that it is hard to relate with the Holy Spirit because He doesn't have a feature in our mind like that of a person. Still, the presence of the Spirit is very vital. I would like to give pointers coming from the three readings of this Sunday Mass.

"And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them."

Acts Ch. 2 verse 3 gives us the fact that the Spirit may come in different physical form because being spiritual He doesn't have any exact physical feature. He comes like a dove during the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River. He can be in a form of light or a fire. Still, we have to bear in mind that the Holy Spirit is not a physical reality but a spiritual one and only assumes physical forms for specific purposes. It is in our capacity of expressing ideals, wisdom, love and other abstract traits that teh Holy Spirit is ever present.

"Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language."

After the Pentecost, the apostles begun speaking in different languages. That is symbolic to the start of their entrance to foreign world. You see, our word is our world. It is very hard to learn a different language which is not truly native in you because it has nothing to do with your world. You have to enter the culture of another group of people. You have to enter the world of an alien persona. That is very impossible. But the Spirit enables the Apostles to do such impossible things. It is a proof of the Holy Spirit's mission of unifying the Church as one. If on the Tower Babel the people of God started to be divided because of language, the Pentecost is the opposite. The Holy Spirit is here to give oneness among God's people.

"Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God ever says 'Jesus be cursed!' and no one can say 'Jesus is Lord' except by the Holy Spirit.
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit;"

Related to that idea is the words from St Paul saying we have one Spirit but different gifts. We have to use the gifts fro our ministry. As a metaphor to that, he use the body of a person as analogue. One body but different parts, that is what we are as Church.



"And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.'"

From our Lord Jesus we read that the Spirit comes from the Father and the Son. The truth which we proclaim every Sunday in the Nicene Creed "...Spirit, the Lord the giver of Life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son."

The Spirit is the giver of life. If God the Father did not breathed on us we won't have physical life. If Jesus Christ did not breathed unto the Apostles then we will not have spiritual and ecclesiastic life. Physical death is the separation of the body from the soul. We receive our souls from the breath of the Father. It is the same Spirit. Spiritual death on the other hand is the separation of our soul from God because of sin. When Jesus breathed on the apostles, he gave them also the authority to forgive and take away sins from anyone. That means, there is a way to regain spiritual life. Isn't that marvelous, the same Spirit can give both physical life and spiritual life. The Church is alive because the Lord send the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. The source of ecclesiastic life. What would happen to us if the Spirit leaves the Church? There will be no forgiveness of sins which makes it impossible for us to be with God again. Our Church will be dead. We will be dead.

Unapologetic

These may be harsh but still just an opinion lang naman. I really don't like GMA's airing of the show "Diz iz it" I think it is a shit in television programming. Talagang gusto lang nila inisin at tapatan yung isang show na kasabay nila kasi ktang kita naman na bumebenta. Napansin ko rin na ang karamihan sa mga drama sereis nila ay kulang sa kurot ng puso. I mean walang mga lines na puno ng emosyon unlike sa kabila n amay mataas na aesthetic value at dramatic ambiance. Sorry to say, napanuod ko kasi yung buo ng "Ina Kasusuklaman Ba Kita" and I just felt parang filler lang yata ang palabas na iyon. Ni hindi pinaghandaan ang matatalas na dialogues wala. As in walang moment of high intensity of drama which is matatandaan ng mg atao sixteen year from now. And just to be sure, one of the lead actresses there is the one from "Pangako Sa'yo" na ilang taon na mula ng mawala sa ere pero remembered pa rin ng tao. Siguor may kinalaman ang network sa paggaling ng mga artista. I mean, try watching some actors in GMA and when they are in ABS, gumagaling sila. Napanuod niyo ba si Jacklyn Jose sa "Zorro"? Napakasama ng acting niya duon and so corny pero nung naging si Astrud siya sa kabila, sobrang effective niya grabe, inis na inis ka sa kanya bilang kontra bida. Thta means ang galing niya. Napanuod niyo ba si Ronaldo Valdez sa "Ful House"? Wala lang ni hindi madrama ni hindi rin comedy ang dating niya, he is just a character with dull moments. Pero nung naging si Rustico siya aka Supremo sa kabiladi ba ok siya? There are a lot of actors na pag nasa kabila walang kuwenta ang acting pero dalhin mo sa ABS nagiging colorful ang dating ng character nila.

Paano naaatim sabihin ni Ogie Alcasid na number 1 ang show ni Regine Velasquez na "Diva" gayong ang laki ng patunay na ang birthday bash ni Tricia na nilangaw kasi katapat ng birthday party ni Devon ang naging pang lima s atrending topic sa tweeter? Ni hindi nga pinaguusapan si Regine sa tweeter. I have never seen a symphaty shoutout sa facebook na nagsabing "I like Sam", or "I like Diva" or "Sana magbukas na so I can watch Diva" .... NEVER had I browse facebook friends' profile shoutouts with that statements. Pero nung kinawawa si Tricia on the very date of her birth, nagkagulo ang buong mundo sa facebook. Lahat yun na halos ang pinaguusapan. The fact that Tricia cannot even be evicted in PBB house because of inumerable votes. Lahat ito pointing to a truth that PBB is a long way ahead of the other shows.

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Anyway, marami rin ang dapat abangan sa GMA. Sa tingin ko isa sa mga magiging hit ang paparating na dram series nina Marian Rivera at Dingdong Dantes. Isa ito sa mga pinaghandaan. Nakakhiya kung lalangawin nanaman ang isa sa pinaka pinagkaguluhang programa ni Song Hye Kyo. Nangyari na ito sa nauna dahil sa pangit na acting ni Heart Evangelista. Now matatpos na ang Panday Kids. Isang programang hindi nasustain at hindi kumita dahil nakatapat ang Agua Bendita. Sa tingin mo ba mananalo sila?

Nakakatuwa na napakabilis ng soaring high ni Carla Abellana. Since we met in 2007, malaki ang iginanda niya. Sobrang bait niya at sana hindi siya magbago kahit sunod sunod ang break na ibinibigay sa kanya ngayon ng GMA Network. Naging model namin siya sa advertisement commercial ng Play and Display. Ako ang isa sa prod asst. kasi OJT ako nun. Siya naman istudyante pa rin siya and we ar eboth Third Year College that time. After the break of Rosalinda, naging host si Carla ng reality search na Starstruck 5. Naging guest siya sa The Last Prince at nagkaroon ng iba't ibang acting flicks like SRO Cinemaserye. Now she will air two programs sa hapon from Sunday to Friday makikita na siya.

Good Luck Carla, I will always be praying for your success!!!!

By the way, nanunuod daw si Carla Abellana ng It's Showtime.

Parallel

I've had two very special calls today from two special persons. Yung una ako ang tumawag... kay Isaac then yung pangalawa ako ang tinawagan ... ni Daryl.

First in the morning nasa work si Isaac I called kung kelan ang oiyesta ng MH at ngayon nga. Si Daryl nung gabi na at sinabi nga niya di xa uuwi for his birthday. He is also at work ngayon sa Starbucks.

Wow... two parallels!


I am missing my friends. Hope we can catch up one time just to refresh experiences together. Whew.... sobrang kakamiss!

Eurozone

If things continue to get worse, then Estonia may be the 17th state to join the Eurozone. Of course, without taking the story of Greece for granted, Europe is gradually facing an economic crisis nowadays. Although maaaring mangyari pero baka sa 2011 pa sumali ang Estonia. What happened to Greeks are very unbelievable, imagine kung buhay ngayon si Arostotle gugulong siya sa grave.

I do not want to believe it until sunod sunod na ang naging readings ko sa internet plus yung subscription namin ng Time magazine, every Sunday I take time to read the paper and the foreign news. I happened to watch DW-TV in Net 25 last Saturday and that's when I conclude... totoo nga ang nangyayari sa Europe. Ang inaakala natin na most stable na continent sa buong mundo [dahil may EU nga di ba]at hindi maghihirap ay sumasadlak na sa isang kagimbal gimbal na kalagayan at maaaring bumulusok pa sa pagtatapos ng 2010 at bago sumapit ang June 2011. European Union decided to have the Eurozone which is an economic rescuing coalition kung saan naroon ang mg abansang nangangailangan ng tulong mula sa ibang myembro ng European Union.

May decline na ng Euro as I can see. Bumababa yung mga nagiging interest ng mga banko even in Estonia and France I suppose kaya muntik muntik na ring mag collapse. Even sa Oslo, nagpapalit na sila ng strategies for marketing para mas maging epektibo and that is Norway ha, imagine. Nagreregudon ang mga business firms. Stable pa nga ba ang Europe as of this time?

Eschaton

All the three readings for this Sunday Mass, only points to the Ascension. It is not to the apostles, commissioning, leaving or anything. The central theme of the liturgy is none other than the ascension. As simple as that. The ascension is not about Jesus leaving us, or the apostles but it is about the triumph that it implies. There is something more after the ascension. It entails that Jesus will soon come back. Jesus went up to heaven but only as a preview of his glorious coming. Jesus will return to us. We need not be troubled, as suggested last Sunday, because Jesus will be coming back. John chapter 14 verse 27 says "You have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If you loved me, you would rejoice," If we truly love Jesus we sill rejoice that he went up to heaven because we bear the promise of his coming back. The feast of the ascension points us to the Second Coming. What would it be like on the next coming? I would like to share to you 5 things that we can know beyond the shadow of doubt about the Second Coming. Five truths that we can hope for when Jesus Christ appears to us again in the Last Day. Are you ready?

1. Jesus will LITERALLY, come back.
First thing that we can know beyond the shadow of doubt is that Jesus will come back literally. Many people say that the second coming is something iconic. It is not a literal come back but a renewal of the hearts of Christians when we will live in peace and Utopia. They say that Utopia is a second coming and Jesus will not anymore return. But John Chapter 14 verses 2-3 will enlighten us now.

"In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there you may be also."


Jesus said that He will prepare a place for us and after that He will fetch us here.Jesus will literally come here.

2. It will be VISIBLE.
Second thing we can know about the Second Coming is that it will be visible when Jesus return. The first reading says in Acts Chapter 1 verses 10-11

And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

That means Jesus will be seen exactly the way he ascended into heaven. The Bible says that God will restore the sight of the blind. Isn't it wonderful to know that when they restore their sight, the first person they will see is Jesus.

3. It will be AUDIBLE.
Third thing we can know beyond the shadow of doubt is that Jesus will return Audibly. Everyone will hear him coming because Jesus is just as excited as you are for the second coming. You will not whisper when you succeed, you will shout and He will come with a shout! The Bible says in 1 Thessalonians 4; 16

"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumphet of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first"

It is so loud that even those who are dead will be awaken. Can you imagine how loud the sound is? Even those who are asleep for a million year will be awakened.

4. It will be STUNNINGLY GLORIOUS.
The fourth thing we can know beyond the shadow of doubt is that it will be stunningly glorious on the day of the Second Coming. How do I know? Well guess what, the Bible tells me so. Revelation Chapter 19 verses 1-2 says

"And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honor, and power, unto the Lord our God: For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand"

There will be millions of angels singing Alleluia to God and they will be singing with joy and exaltation. Jesus will be dressed in white robe and with a mighty sword. Can you imagine that. Read the book of Revelation and you will see how glorious that day will be. It will be the best day in the history of mankind because...

5. It will mark the End of Human History
The Second Coming of Christ will be the end of earthly life. As said in Revelation Chapter 21.

1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new.

The message of the Ascension is - we must be ready for the second coming, because as of now Jesus is preparing a place for us there in heaven.

Astonishing

THEN THEY WERE THREE

The challenge is getting more and more exciting. The pressure is on for the remaining three finalists to become the nest American Idol. Although I have read a lot of comments saying Siobhan and Aaron deserve the spot more than Casey James, I still want to believe that America is never wrong with their verdict. Perhaps they only want Crystal and Lee to have a face off happening this 25^th of May.

United States experience a tremendous economic fall, if you remember, November of 2008. Before Barack Obama took the stage, they were in debt, they were in a mess, they were in panic, and absolutely in remorse for what had happen to them being people the strongest nation in the world. They experienced a drastic morass of changing lifestyle. This time, they are not anymore reliant to credit cards—still reliant but not like before—they are revaluing cash [Daniel Gross/ Newsweek April 26]. My cousins are telling me that they now prefer a pay-as-you-go store instead of expensive restaurants where in you need credit cards. America learned to discern which to buy from among the needs and the wants and control instant gratification mentality. The good about America, she knows when she’s falling and knows how to solve the puzzle standing as one, perhaps symbolized by the Statue of Liberty. And every Tuesday night, America is one. One in watching American Idol. This is something real unlike Pinoy Idol which is copied and which only amassed tiny percentage from among all Filipino viewers. America is indeed one when it comes to Idol, no matter the racial roots, no matter the age, no matter the status in life. It was made evident to me by the episode “Idol Gives Back” where Barack and Michelle appeared on a VTR asking the entire American nation to give donations for impoverished America, Haiti, and Africa. From Elton John to Justin Bieber a lot of stars were there to amuse, inspire, and beg for help.

This is one prime time show which became a national activity. All must have favorites; all must have a choice; all must have a vote. Who is the next American Idol? For that question alone, Ryan Seacrest was turned into a national TV figure indexical to the making and rise of a new star. Plus, how can I forget, the comments of the judges who at the same time are there to support the finalists in their quest for discovering who they are as an artist. And for this season, may I say that Ellen simply stood out from the rest. With her funny yet witty comments comparing the idol dreamers to banana, soup, tequila and other stuffs. Randy has nothing remarkable to say but “That’s hot! Man, that’s hot!” or “Pitchy over there/ Pitchy all around/ Pitchy, a little bit pitchy.” But the word pitchy does not exist so far as my reading in musicology is concerned. The right term is either to say “Sharp”, “Flat”, or out of tune. This he needs to learn. Kara, aside from her beauty, always is delicate when it comes to song choice. She is concerned with personality and what you are going thru. Simon Cowell is always busy disagreeing with the other three. I can see he wants Crystal to win from the beginning. No matter who they are, how imperfect as a person they may be, they are the perfect judge for American Idol, the perfect set for this season and maybe for all the rest. I swear, I cannot watch AI without them.

Now Michael Lynch is out. We only have three remaining Idol wannabes on their way to becoming 9^th American Idol next to Kris Allen. In my present state, friends would say I cannot afford to see Casey not winning the title after my frustration with last May 10 election in the Philippines. But should that happen, I will be very happy still because Crystal and Lee are both extraordinary persons of extraordinary genius. Being a coach of amateur singers, I know in myself that Casey’s vocal register is not as dynamic as Lee’s. Moreover, maybe it is about time to have a woman Idol. Had David Cook and Kris Allen lost the search, Casey and Lee would be the best two for finals. However, anyone from Casey and Lee may be a picture of saturation after 2008 and 2009 male winners. Still, we cannot deny the fact that Lee on the one hand is good [I mean better] and objectively a potential winner. On the other hand, Casey captured the hearts of many young ladies including Kara DioGuardi for that matter. The fight is indeed tough. It is also tough for us to predict who will win by the end of this season. It depends on the judges. It depends to America.

A foretaste will be viewed this week. One privilege of being in the top three is that they can visit their hometown. It is a chance for viewers to see how warmly welcomed are these guys in their bailiwicks. They will get to know the finalists better. If Casey still appear as reluctant as before then I suggest that America should throw him out the game. He must seize this opportunity. But his vulnerability can always be used as aid to his guitar exhibitions and for me he still has 30% chance of being in top 2. He is the only one in great danger. Oh wrong! Until next week no one is safe. Mama Sax and Dewyze needs to outrun each other still. And next week, I am certain that America once again will be divided. They need to. This is the only way to solve a problem in need of elimination. They will be divided so that once more they will have only ONE American Idol. So if ready for the new morning, I will have to say, “Goodnight America!” Glee is next!

Weekend

Hope this weekend is more of a rest rather than a tumbling.


Maraming mga soap at series ang mage-end na ngayong araw. Kanina tapos na ang "Magkano ang Iyong Dangal" na pinangunahan ng seksing si Bangs Garcia. Natapos na rin ang Precious Hearts Romance "Love Me Again" nina Johan at Cathy Remperas. Oh kitam, nanunuod ako niyan akala lang ng iba hindi. Matatpos na rin ang program nila Juday at Gladys na Habang May Buhay. ito hindi ko pinapanuod kasi may PBA naman sa channel 9.

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At the end of the week mukhang mage-end na rin ang canvassing sa senate. Ipo-proklama na bukas ang top six na senador. Maaga rin yatang magbubukas instead of 31 ay 25 na ang unang session ng kongreso matapos ang halalan. Ok yun

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Rest and party day naman para sa mga nabara sa fatigue ng election at trabaho this week ang mga aatend sa kabi kabilang concert bukas. Ang pinakamalaking concert sa taong ito gaganapin bukas sa SMX. Andun sila Jojo, Frankie Jay at marami pang iba. Grabe yun, kaso dahil kulang sa budget hindi ko nanaman mapapanuod. Ok lang yan... basta next time talaga hindi ko palalampasin ang mga gaya niyan. Marami pang darating I know. Bukas rin concert ni Jomari aka Vice sa Araneta. Marami ring a=attend dun kasi gusto ma amuse.

Hope everyone will have a memorable and enjoyable weekend. ^_^

Musiquarium

Latest post of top ten songs in billboard includes the following

Nothin On You Bruno Mars and B.O.B.
Rude Boy Rihanna
Need You Now Lady Antebellum
Hey Soul Sister Train
OMG Usher
In My Head Jaon Derulo
Somebody to Love Justin Bieber
Your Love is My Drug Ke$ha
Alejandro Lady Gaga
Airplane Slim Shaddy and Hayley Williams

Favorites

List of my favorites [incomplete]

Food--- Pasta, Chocolates, [ sa ulam Pinakbet lalo na luto ni Mama]
Color--- Indigo, Lilac, Mauve, Blue-Violet
Number--- 15
Dress--- V neck na shirt, Jeans, long sleeve for semi formal
Subject--- if your talking about subject in school; Music
Movie--- I can't pinpoint which but I know those with warlike theme
Book--- Becoming a Better You [?], there are lots
Place--- Mall [ Even when you don't wanna buy, just seat in some benches and it's relaxing]
Music--- Trance, progressive, electronic, choral, opera, orchestra, blues rock, country
Day--- That would be Thursday and Saturday
TV show--- As of now it is PBB Teen Clash 2010, American Idol SEASON 9 and Ellen
James Bond--- Timothy Dalton [para maiba]

Discussant

I happen to be the one who has the most number of notes in facebook. Other than that I have a discussion page where I can liberally air my opinions on anything under the sun. Plus this blog which I never missed writing every day. Ang saya namn na discussant ako in many of the pages I have visited and liked. Here is one from nagcocomputer, nagttxt, nanonood ng tv ng sabay sabay....YAN ANG MULTI TASKING

A discussion which I entitled ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDER

Enjoy!

In the advent of technology, everything became instant. Rapid development signaled that we must be in rapid motion too. Human beings alike cannot be divorced from technical and mechanical activities so and so. The human brain became more and more usable. Utilizing the most of human potentialities which was never before seen in history. Old scholastic tradition needs 70 percent of study time just to read books and compile information. Much of the time is wasted for chat and household chores. But when technology came to place, people augmented new flavor for human activity. First one was the auditory co-activation. Auditory Co-Activation simply put, is the ability and possibility of doing human activities along with phonoentertainment altogether without compromising the the said activity. You can listen to a phonograph and do the household chores at the same time. Later on, a transistor radio was introduced.

Another innovation, the TV, came into our consciousness. Human tried watching while doing the same work just like the way we do with radio. It worked although not most of the time. You cannot bring a TV set into your bathroom unless portable. You cannot drive and concentrate on TV at the same time. Mostly, it is radio which accompanies us in our daily activities. But since you can open the television and hear the sound coming from it, many remained fixated to that. Until Cellphone entered the scene. You can bring cellphones wherever you are. While waiting for a bus to ride, you can text anybody. While having a conversation in a launch, you can text when what they are presenting is not so special. Even in classrooms where you think it is totally forbidden, some can take time to sneak at their bags and see if there is a new message in their inbox. Truly, another world consumed us. We are not only living in a real world but also in a reel world, a virtual world to be exact. So, while talking to your grandma at home, you can also converse with your boss who's on the other line.

It is something that is normal nowadays. That simply proves that the human mind is capable of doing several things all at the same time. Psychiatric researches show that human learning is not only bound in one activity as that of a lecture type inside the classroom. The attention of students vary from time to time, to be exact, from 20 minutes to another 20 minutes. That means, before they get bored in a discussion, the professor needs to shift to another activity. That is why it is not advisable anymore to do a half day lessons in Math. Are you still doing that? Every 20 minutes a new teacher will enter the classroom door so that the attention will be scanned. You have Math, then after 20 minutes it is English, then after 20 minutes it's PE. Something happened to the attention and concentration training of individuals. We want to do it, but as soon as we get tired of it {which is easily happening} you will change your activity.

That maybe the reason why, in so far as we live in a very knowledge friendly world with internet and on line encyclopedia; where everything is accessible, this generation did not produced any philosopher. A well informed person is a million miles different from a wise person. We may be knowledgeable but not wise. Or maybe we have produced one {or two} but we never notice them and probably never will because this multi tasking environment made us busy to be busy all the time.

For you what is the advantage and disadvantage of having a multi-tasking personality?

Concede

I've never admired Senator Manny Villar until today. Just this morning, while we were watching showtime to release a little bit of tensions brought about by long election day, a news break flashed in with Villar delivering a lonely speech before the media. He is accepting his defeat in the presidential run. Ganun din ang ginawa ng iba pang mga presidentiables like Gilbert Teodoro, Eduardo Villanueva at yung bet ko si Richard Gordon. Dapat pala politicians of honor ang title ko ngayon pero tama naman na lahat dapat ng pulitiko ganun. Ngayon, hindi na uso ang "Nadaya ako scheme" kasi automated na. This is the normal scene in America, walang nagko-complain na nadaya. Ngayon lang nangyari ito marahil kasi nga ang bilis ng bilangan pero sa May 31 pa mapo-proklama ang nasabing mga nanalo kasi ayon s aSaligang Batas Artikulo VII, talataan 3; ang kongreso lamang sa pinagsanib nitong kapulungan [ kamara at senado] ang maaaring makapag proklama ng nagwaging pangulo at pangalawang pangulo. Ang tagal pa kasi hindi pa nagbubukas ng sesyon ang kongreso. Ang binilang kasi nila ay yung panahong gugulin sa pagbibilang ng resulta ng halalan na manual hindi automated.

Nagpapakita na ng pagka gentlemen ang ating mga pulitiko, isang sign na may magandang hinaharap ang pulitika sa bansang ito at sana totoo nga. Kasi naman hindi ako mapaniwala ni Legarda na taos sa puso ang ginawa niya kanina. Kung totoong tanggap na niya ng pagkatalo bakit kailangan pa niyang maghain ng mga protesta sa pandaraya eh hindi nga siya nadaya. Natalo siya. Ngayon, si Erap at Perlas na lang ang inaantay na magconcede. Si Mar Roxas, natural hindi muna siya magco-concede kasi ang lapit pa ng laban nila ni Binay. Hindi pa naman nabibilang ang kabuuan ng lahat ng boto. Partial and unofficial lahat ang nakikita natin. Maganda ang automated election natin yun nga lang kailangan pa ayusin yug ibang detalye next election.

Suffrage

I have waited long for the automated election. I am an advocate of technological advancements. Maybe because of my inclination to broadcasting and philosophy of science and technology. It maybe because 43% of my week is alloted for computer works, on line entertainment, and social networking. So, I believe that with the anti-manual election we are already having a breakthrough in our political system. Although I am still pursuing for a biparty system and hope this technocrats will be enlightened that our government is better off the way America is practicing right now. Menos ang gastos at walang nuisance candidates. Magkakaroon ba ng nuisance kung dalawa lang ang partido?

Ano ang mga suggestions ko? Dapat October to November nagbobotohan na ang Pilipinas para matesting ang PCOS Machines at ang reliability nito. Magastos? Oh My God, gumastos na rin lang tayo sa pagpurachase bakit hindi pa nag pre elction. Halimbawa nung November or Janaury dapat nagelection tayo kung sino ang Big Winner sa PBB Double Up at bibilangin ng COMELEC, ibo-broadcast ito at lahat ng Pilipino pupunta sa Ppresinto nila para bumuto kung sino ang Big Winner o kaya alin ang magandang kanat kay Lady Gaga o kay Ke$ha? Funny na naman? Seryoso ako. Thta's when we can check kung talagang pwuwede ang eleksyon. Walang sabit.

Second, dapat lahat ng 17 year old na intelelctually at physically able na mamamayan i-assign sa PPCRV so befor ethey turn 18 they know how the elections are done. Hindi puwedeng volunteer volunteer lang. Dapat nasa COMELEC or PPCRV office sila or saan mang arm ng COMELEC.
They shouls do it as imperative because tungkulin nila yan sa bayan dahil hindi naman sila boboto. Tuloy yung mga volunteers minsan hindi nakakaboto. Dapat yung mga 17 year old na hindi rehistrado legally ang nasa mga precinct.

Did I vote. Yes karapatan ko yan. Kahit ayaw ko sa sistema dapat ko gawin yan. Baki may mga bumuboto na 3 senador lang, 2 konsehal lang? Ako kung ang kelangan 12 senators, 12 talaga. Isipin mo pumila ka doon para marinig ka ng bayan, lubusin mo na, iboto mo ang dapat dahil meron naman magaaral ka lang ng profiles nila. Mapanuri ka dapat bilang botante. Kung kelangan not more than 2 na bokal, so dalawa. Bakit pa isa lang? Kung kelangan not more than 8 na konsehal, eh di walo. Bakit pito lang? It is my right and responsibility as a citizen to vote intellectually and godly. Tandaan, we elect bad leaders by not voting for the good ones. Kung hindi ka boboto at iiwan mong blanko yung spot na yun sa balot, for example vice president, eh di para mo na rin hinayaan manalo yung hindi dapat manalo.

Togather with my Mom and my sister, we proceed to our precint which precinct number 0071-A. Nagfill up lang kami ng panagalan then umalis muna ako kanina para mag internet. Bakit ako uupo dun at magaantay eh pwede naman ako i-text pag malapit na akong tawagin. Sumapit na ang oras, after 1 hour sa internet cafe, nakareceive na ako ng call at pinapapunta na ako ni Mama sa presinto to vote, 98 na ang tawag. I am number 104. Malapit na nga. So I rushed to Crisanto Guysayko Elementary School, my alma mater and pagdating ko, sakto tinawag ang pangalan ko. Pumila kami ng 10 minutes din {matagal din} saka pa ako nakapirma at binigyan ng balota {kung puwede lang iuwi ang balota as souvenir}. Nag shade ako sa isang corner at maya maya lang wala pang 7 minutes humanay na ako para isalang ang balota ko sa PCOS machine. Para lang akong nagshe-shred ng paper sa shreding machine. At ang pinaka exciting sa lahat yun pakiramdam na lumabas na sa monitor yung salitang "Congratulations!" {Kung puwede nga sisgaw sana ako ng malakas na Congratulations!} pero wala naman ako sa Wowowee para isigaw yun dahil wala namang nanalo sa palaro ng Rexona. Kasabay ko umuwi sila Paul Andrew, Arjan at Alger. Si Raprap lang ang wala. Si Isaac kasi watcher eh. Si Daryl hindi nakauwi nasa Manila. Si Je hindi registered at si Edison nasa ibang bansa. Pagkauwi ko kanina, Nasa bahay na sila Tita, Ate Jovy at Kuya Marlon. Ang saya ng lunch puno ng kuwentuhan. The mere fact na ang dami ko ring nakitang kakilala sa presinto, is a good feeling. Somehow I tried reminiscing the days na magkakasama kami. Ang pinaka the best ay dumating kanina si Kevin sa bahay, hapon na rin siya nakaboto, at binayaran niya na ako ng Php 1, 500. Long time waiting t=din parang election. Aba, mahalaga rin yung camera na yun ha. Isipin mo ang daming event na dapat nakuhanan ng picture at in-upload sa facebook ang hindi ko nagawa dahil pinagbili ko sa kanya yung camera.

Tomorrow, we will all be busy for another day of work. Hindi na holiday bukas. Maaaring may partial results na sa national election at may i-proklama na sa local. Whatever happens, I know I have all energies for that. Eh paano maaga matutulog dahil walang mga programs sa TV. All coverages. I think, this election is worth the wait. Matalo man ang ibinoto ko, alam ko na ibinoto ko kung sino ang sinasabi ng konsensiya ko na tama at taas noo akong haharap na isa ako sa pinakamatalinong botante na humawak ng balota sa araw na ito. naging mapanuri, nagisip at nagdasal para sa isang makatuturang gawain na minsan sa tatlong taon ko lang maaaring gawin para sa lahing Pilipino. At maaaring dumating ang panahon na lahat tayo ganun na. Happy Election Day!

Tranquility

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

The words of our Lord as quoted from John 14:27.

What are the signs that a person is not yet living in peace? Here are some...

1. Fear--- A person with a bad relationship to God, to himself, to community and to loved ones is a person full of fright. he doesn't know if he will wake up again alive. Or he may have good relationships but without peace of the Lord he will not be able to trust life completely. He cannot sleep for fear that a thief may enter the house. Are you this kind of person? Somebody who is insecure with life? Then maybe the peace given by Christ is not yet in you.

2. Trouble --- A person who is always in trouble because of competition, fights, wars and misunderstandings is a person without peace. How can you have peace when it is impossible to live peacefully? A person in Christ is not anymore quarrelsome.

3. Anguish--- It is normal to experience loneliness and depressions once in a while. But if you are regularly living in grief, I think there is something wrong with the you. You may not be living in God's peaceful reign.

We can live in the Kingdom of God while still alive. Jesus said "Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven" and that means if you do the will of God who is in heaven, then you are living in the Kingdom of God. In the second reading from Revelations we see a New Jerusalem where Peace and Melodious living reigns because of Jesus. We need not wait for that to come because we can experience the Peace of Christ and the Kingdom of God here at this very minute. The First Reading from the Acts of the Apostles testifies to that when the apostles came up with a negotiable resolution by engaging in a peaceful yet extensive and delicate council meeting. The apostles exemplified a peaceful discourse about the case of uncircumcised gentiles. They came up with a solution and there were no mess at all. Tomorrow on election day, we can elect and form a new set of leaders in government without bloody and violent scenarios. We just have to live in the tranquility of Jesus not as the world gives peace but as Jesus gives peace.

What are the signs that we are in peace? Let's read John again,

"Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid."

A person of peace has no fear, no trouble, no anguish. He lives in the same way as Christ would want him to be.

Revisions

It's Mom's day today. I can only thank all those women who treated me as their son. Professionally, I look up to Ma'am Nikki as a Mom because she seem to be an eagle-like mom who taught us how to fly in the industry we are in. I did an article about directing and after reading it she went the extra mile to edit my piece. Was I offended? No, because that made me feel like a son, with a mother correcting my work in need totally of revisions. Here is the e-mail;


____________________________

Dear Paul,

Congratulations! This was a very interesting paper - the thought and work you put into it deserves an equal amount of thought in my response.

My comments and opinions in red. In spite of all the comments (you know me, I can be very, very straightforward) I truly enjoyed reading this, it certainly made my mind work. I think you have succeeded in getting at least one person to think, a triumph which not all writers can lay claim to.

Nikki

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In Search of A Stage Director

If this is meant as a feature article or an op-ed piece, then it is a very good one. However, if it is meant as an academic treatise then may I gently point out that you should first tell us who you are, what your background is and how many TV shows, movies and plays you watched in order to form these opinions. How many works of each genre and each director are you familiar with? In other words, even as an article, you should first set the stage, so to speak and give the conditions under which you speak. Perhaps it is just a matter or reorganizing what is essentially a very good paper.

Another question is what is your point/ Are you trying to extoll the virtues of theater over other forms of storytelling? Are you simply trying to define what a good director is? I suggest in the interest of clarity you put your thesis statement at the beginning and then again at the end of your piece.

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Yesterday at 11:42am

There are three Filipino directors who for me towers above the rests. They are Joel Ruiz {for independent film [Mansion, Arkeofilms]}; Laurenti Dyogi {for Reality TV Shows [PBB, Pinoy Dream Academy , Pinoy Fear Factor]} ; and Chris Millado {for stage and Special Event [ Director of Performing Arts Division, CCP]}. These gentlemen embodies the traditional and modern characteristics of a movie, TV and stage directors. Essentially, my opinion is that in the interest of fairness, one should not compare film with television and with theater. These are three different forms with different demands. True, they have their basic similarities but their differences are just too glaring. Some of which I will discuss in this paper. My primordial reason in writing this is to present a thesis of unique Filipino Blend of Artistic Direction worth of our glimpse rather than concentrating on Mainstream Directors. If we were having coffee right now I would ask for your definitions of the following a) unique b) Filipino and c) mainstream I do not want to degrade and never will I say that mainstream directors are not good enough {direk Lauren is also a mainstream director [ABS CBN , And I Love You So]}. The thing is, I believe, it is high-time that Filipinos should widen their artistic values by watching more challenging visuals like Indie films, Reality Shows and Stage Plays.

Introduction

Many post modern critics Really? Who? projected that theatre arts is a vehicle that will soon decline and die. But recent studies shows that more and more people are still going to Arts and Studio Centers to watch live acting performances on stage.

I am more of a theater person than film. So I love watching stage play in all forms whether experimental, arena type or studios. Once, I talked to a couple, both friend of mine, and asked how they spend Saturdays together. The man answered that he likes dating with his fiance before or after watching a play. He use to do it so that they will have something to talk about throughout the meal. The girl nodded that she likes to watch a play now rather than go to movie houses.

The same is true to people who annually anticipates the Cinemalaya Festival. More and more people are getting tired of mainstream and traditional forms of video entertainment. Isn't video by definition a form of technology and therefore not really traditional? Reality Shows captured the hearts of viewers tired of cinematic traditions, soap operas and scripted TV series.

In fact, theatre arts did not die for the last nine years of the new millennium. Malls, Movies, Music bars, and Modern gadgets {four M's} did not stop the proliferation of Performing Arts. As Ma'am Nikki told us then it became an infectious disease to all college students as an avenue to express the identity of their generation (really, I said this? Thanks for remembering.). Which for me is true, Communication Arts 101 will remind us of the missions of mass media as a whole;


1. To inform and eventually educate the populace.

2. To entertain avid audiences so as to combat boredom and anxiety.

3. To solicit, mold, and frame public opinion for expansion of cultural identity.

4. To increase marketing domains through mediated sales, telemarketing, TV and Radio promotions, advertisements, and publicity. and;

5. To inspire/ to spread optimism/ to keep fire of hope alive and uplift spiritual plethora.

All of these are visibly true to theatre arts. And as long as stage plays fulfill these missions, it will remain a part of communications media as one of her vehicle.
More and more are interested to be apart of their college theater guilds. I am very thankful to theater for if not for her I will never establish self-reliance, leadership skills and networking strategies. Theatre people from Saint Benilde, from UPLB, form Lyceum and Teatro Tomasino. there was one shining position in theatre that we always want to be an apprentice during our college days.... that of the Director.



Who is a Stage Director?

I have to reconcile the identity of Greek standardized director and a contemporary directors of the Philippine theater. We certainly have to clarify the identity of a stage director so we can distinguish him from a film and TV director. My seven years of practicing where? again, be clear about your parameters taught me that there are five requisites to be met so that a director be very genuine on stage. A director must be a storyteller, a theater artist, a problem solver, a coach, and a leader.
Lack of these five will diminish the capacity of the stage director to prove himself different from a TV and film director. Be clear - this is your opinion. Some people would disagree with you. Let us examine each identities in a very concise manner.

1. Theater Artist---A director is first of all a thespian. A person who understands theater in a deeper sense than any other. He must be somebody who loves theater that much and be capable to creatively and resourcefully exhaust all potentialities in theater to produce the most aesthetic fruit possible. A person who assumes the role of a director and ignorant of theatrical systems is a contradiction, a lie. Ignorance of theater and stage facilities will destroy even the versatility of his actors. I agree completely. He must be able to identify the roles of his crew and the probable blocking necessary for the script.

2. Storyteller/ Communicator---A director is at all times a communicator. he must be able to relay a broad idea to his cast and crew. he must be keen in studying the script and how the audiences and theater goers will like it. He should prioritize how he will tell a story to the audiences. Hence, the director should communicate well. Clear in his ideas, the director can avoid ambiguity on stage rehearsals by dealing properly with actors and actresses. A director must possess a very audible voice and comprehensible diction to be heard and understood. Again, we are in agreement . No doubt, the three men mentioned above are men with beautiful voices. Direk Joel, Direk Lauren, and Sir Chris are all directors in posture, knowledge and personalities. Even their voices are evidences of their profession.

3. Problem Solver---An efficient director anticipates day to day problem in rehearsals. It is a fact of life. A production lives along with smiles and sufferings. However, a director can lighten the burdens of a production rehearsal by studying the weaknesses of his people. Theater problems are never more painful than to a director. That is why a director is courageous to cross the sea of adventures and be refined by enduring the fire of topsy-turvy pre-production weeks. A director loves challenges in his career and that is the only way he can grow in his craft. Yes!

4. Understanding Coach---One thing I have observed in my years in theater is that directors cannot escape being a teacher. He is always an instructor. A coach who can be relied by his actors when it comes to artistic improvement. A coach is always there to support, to guide, and to believe. It is our job to correct and encourage the actors. Again, communication plays a vital role in this process of coaching. I agree but some would disagree.
The actors should learn to listen to the director and vice versa. Once I start working with my actors, I always make it a point that they will learn basic essentials of my production method. I start with a workshop and special acting class. I always ensure tat a person learns something during our encounter. A failure on my part if I don't teach a dog new tricks. We are the coach of the production team.

5. Leader---the director stands as the executive artistic facilitator of any production on stage. His absence signifies ruin. Hence, organization is expected when there is a director. Directing is leading. To lead people means to be first in showing them direction. Without direction people scatters. Without a leader the world is astray. His mind becomes the first mind of all. His thinking never stops from the first day of rehearsal up to the TDR. The only difference of a stage director to a conductor {aside from spelling of course} is that he cannot be there on stage when his men perform. He is left alone after the TDR. A director should lead by heart, lead using his head, and lead thru his hands.

The Classic Dramatic Principles

Now I'd like to propose that each directors of stage, to be efficient, should always evaluate if they accomplish and exercise these ten stage directing principles.

1. The Value of Time. Never shall a director forget the fixed motion of theater timetable. Make tardiness a curse and learn to be professional by being on time. Always allow yourself to work in a company with ample time. If you finish everything at the right time you will never know how much comfort you can enjoy with more people who loves to be with you at the right time too.

2. The Success of Perseverance. Only perseverance can teach you not to give up easily. When you persevere you don't just teach yourself to be persistent, you teach the world that you are not cheap. When you already did your best and nothing happened, that is the only time you can quit. People who continue to work amidst the hardships of life are the only people worthy of success.

3. The Dignity of Labor. Remember, no work is too dirty that you will refuse it and no idleness is so clean that can take you to new heights. A director should give his people time to work and he himself should try t work even for a menial task. He is never entitled to degrade any crew or production aid. Try to ask the company utilities who is the director they love. They will remember the director who helped them arrange the chairs, wash dishes and segregate garbage. Funny but true.

4. The Worth of Character. Your character safeguards your leadership. There was a cliche that states "Leadership is the combination of strategy and character. But if you must be without one, be without strategy." It only shows that character is the labyrinth of leadership. Your good character builds the goodness or badness that your actors will witness. Look at the people who studied a lot in administration but are now in disastrous condition, they lacked character.

5. The Power of Kindness. I had a hard time balancing kindness and stiffness. Sometimes you really have to be strict. There are times you need to be a disciplinarian but kindness should outrun your despotism. Sir Chris Millado use to say that a director must "be loved" rather than "be feared" at all times.Iifyou are feared by actors, you will be able to get what you want but no amount of words can describe the resentment your robot-like men stored in their hearts. Be a kind director!

6. The Influence of Example. The only way for you to spread influence is by living it out. Example is the basic way we can teach implicitly. Teaching by example is easy and succinct. You are the model of your thespians. 70% of who they are and they will be on stage is of your making. You cannot force your principle t anyone, only when they find it in your example and learn the effectiveness of this concept will they apply it on their own.

7. The Wisdom of Economy. Living life simply, investment in people, continuity of production, and being goal oriented are signs of economizing in the life of a director. There is always in you a desire to create change and bring out the best. It is forever wise to save money and economize. As a director, you will always receive budget proposals from set designers, costume designers, props and make up artists. if you will spend all your coins while there are recyclable resources, you are wasting. There is wisdom in economy.

8. The Virtue of Patience. It is a fact in theater that there are slow learners in acting. People may not easily comprehend your mindset and you have to wait until stubborn actors relearn and unlearn bad habits they practiced in stage acting. Your creative team may accept your concepts as unclear no matter how succinct they may be. You need to wait the right time. My classmate Al, frequently reminds me when I am upset that ---Patience is a Virtue. I, starting then, tried to live up with that principle up to now and thanks to Al I never forget that Patience is a virtue.

9. The Improvement of Talent. Talent is your primordial asset. The sad truth is, talent is not enough. A person who is relying on talent alone is far from triumph. I tell you, your strength is composed of three elements; knowledge, skills, and talent. Talent is just an element of strength. Now, to be successful you need to have the four elements; strength, commitment, discipline, and divine assistance. How can Talent be equal to success when it just an element of strength which is only an element of success? That is fundamentals of logic. Improve your talent.

10. The Joy of Originating. I hate copy-cuts. Cats Paul not cutsWe must learn to make an original out of our craft. God created us individually as unique persons. We must have the responsibility to be original ourselves.

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So today Mom/ Ma'am Nikki, on your special day we want to join Ruth in greeting you a very Happy Mother's Day from the bottom of our hearts. Well I am sure I am not a brother of Ruth but still a son of yours. Stay as you are, a great Mom for Ruth and a wonderful inspiration for PAD practicumers.

Happy Mother's Day!