Movie Reflections Plus Birthday Remembrances

Just last year, I watched 2012 in SM Batangas. Yun yung movie na nakasabay ng New Moon sa takilya. Ok siya, about sa destruction of the globe through climate change. At ngayon Nov 29 2010, napanuod ko naman ang The Day After Tomorrow kaya ko naalala na exactly this date yung isa. Co-incidence ba? Pareho ang theme nung movies. Parang naiba lang ang mga tauhan pero climate change din ang pinagmulan ng conflict sa plot.

Ang saya. Siguro they have something to tell me. On a 29 of November? Birthday ngayon ng best friend kong babae si Joanne Saldaña. Hindi naman siya ecologist. Hindi rin naman siya member ng green peace.Hindi rin siya member ng kahit anong NGOs na makakalikasan.

Hay... si JS. Birthday niya ngayon. Siya ang non-biological sister ko kasi nilagay niya sa tag sa photo sa facebook na non-biological brother niya ako. Kapatid ko nga siya pero di ko pa siya nakakasama sa birthday niya. Sad talaga. Lagi na lang wala sa tabi lahat ng pinaka importanteng tao sa buhay ko. Si Shaira for example, nasaan ba? Wala. Si Dianne? Wala ilang taon na na hindi ko nakikita. Si Rand, si Daryl, si Bryan at si Kevin... ni hindi ko pa mga nakakainuman ngayong taon na ito. Mabuti nga kahit papaano nakasama ko pa si Alot sa binyagan ng anak niya noong fiesta eh.

Pero masaya pa rin ako kasi kahit hindi ko nakakasama si JS, eh mahal na mahal niya ako. Nakakatawa nga eh. Hindi ko siya kababata. Hindi ko siya kapit bahay. Hindi ko siya kaklase noong highschool, elementary or college. Wala basta nagkakilala kami noong mga panahon na pareho kaming sobrang passionate sa theater. Nagkasama kami sa isang workshop at hidni ako participant nung workshop. As in wala talagang common denominator na institutional para magka bond kami only our love for the performing arts. Hindi ko nga alam na magkaibigan na kami until noong tapos na ang OJT ko sa CCP tapos nagkikita pa rin kami. Yun na... alam ko na na magkaibigan kami. Basta, hindi namin alam kung kelan nagumpisa. Nagulat na lang kami super close na kami.



Tinanggap ako ni JS sa lahat lahat kahit hindi niya ako kaklase o ka-org. Yung mga kababawan ko sinasakyan niya at yung mga malalalim kong ideas pilit din niyang inintindi althouh hindi namin napaguusapan si Lara Faye kasi sasapakin ako nun sa katangahan ko. Yung mga dugo namin parang connected by the arts. Parehas kasi kaming taong-teatro kaya nagkakaintindihan kami at extrovert din kasi kami pareho. Kahit sino kilala si JS sa UST. Grabe yun. Ang laki ng bag niya may dala siyang kahit ano kulang na lang martilyo. At sobrang love siya ng teatro tomasino. Ako naman naging kapamilya nila dahil pasok ako ng pasok sa usteh dahil nga dinadalaw ko si JS at si Richard. Si Chard naman kahit na minsan si kami nagkita sa UST. Tuwing andun ako wala siya. Ay one time pala noong naka duty siya sa hospital. Birthday kasi ni JS ngayon kaya puro kay JS. One time magsusulat ako tungkol kay Chad at paglalaruan ko siya dito sa blog ko hahaha.... Malakas sa akin yang dalawang yan. Make that three kasi may Myqeen pa although she comes from a different world. Noong una taka ako kasi UST sila 3 pero iba si Myqeen. Now I finally understood. But just the same lahat sila precious sa akin. Mas mataas lang talaga ang level ng friendship namin ni JS.

Kung ipapanganak kami ulit. Gusto ko magkaibigan ang mga parents namin tapos lalaki kami na magkasama para siya talaga ang best friend ko. Sigurado idol niyan si Ma'am Jem [Puna], third year adviser ko. Magkamukha sila eh. Gusto ko para kaming si Bogs at si Mia. Puwede akong maligo sa kanila kasi may damit ako sa kuwarto niya. May mga pictures kami sa wall ng kuwarto ko. Ganun? At may kakampi ako kapag andyan sila lahat. Siyempre pag inulit ang panahon perfect na. Hindi na ako ganito kapayat. Pero kahit na ganito pa rin mas masaya na kasi may kakampi ako sa lahat ng oras. I am not saying na kulang si Dianne noon. Kaso minsan kasi siya pa ang pauna sa asaran eh. Nagtampo? Hay.. si JS ang magaayos sa akin kung liligawan ko na si Faye. Todo suporta talaga. pero siguro maiiba din ang buhay namin. Hindi ganito.

Siguro nga ito ang perfect. Hindi naman namin kailangan lumaki ng magkasama. Hindi namin kailangang maging elementary classmates; maging magkapartner sa kasal ni Tita Beth, magkapartner sa sta cruzan, magkapartner sa grad ball para masabing best friends kami. Mas sweet nga kasi very unusual kung paano ang isang kalog na Krystala ng UST at ang baritone audioslave na tulad ko ay naging non-biological siblings.

Siguro gumawa lang ng paraan ang tadhana para mabawi ko kay JS lahat ng respect na hindi ko naibigay kila Kristine, Krystel at siyemrpe kay Genevie. Ang sarap pala pag mahal na mahal ka ng isang babae hindi dahil sa anumang romantic na namamagitan sa inyo. Yung parang sandalan mo lang talaga. Very genuine, very immaculate, walang bahid ng kamalisyahan at sobrang walang sablay. Oo na oo na, nanunuod ako ng perfect Match... pero hindi ganoon yung buhay ko. Hindi ko kailangan magpanggap na bakla para tanggapin ni JS.

I just have to be me.

Eh kaya naman pala very smooth kung dinadala ang sakit ng pagsagot ni Faye kay Ronel eh. I have a perfect support system. May Mom ako na over caring, tita na sobrang sweet, barkada na ubod ng saya, at andyan pa si JS. Why do I always look for persons na wala. Samantalang buong buo pa ang iba. Siguro kaya wala si Dan para maa-preciate ko na andyan sila Vicoy, si Alger, si Raprap. Siguro kaya wala si Dianne para malaman ko na andyan si JS. At siguro kaya wala si Lara Faye [pero sana dumating pa rin siya] para malaman ko kung paanong andyan lang si Mama all my life.

Ako muna, then until the time I am ready saka ko hahanapin yung tamang babae. Puwede naman na si Lara Faye pa rin yun. Pero puwede ring hindi. Dapat maging bukas ako dun. Sabi nga sa "Miss You Like Crazy" ; time is meaningless when you are in love.
Kung naantay nga nila ang five years at nagkita pa rin sila after all na munting nang maikasal, ano pa kaya kung antayin ko si Faye. Pero kung hahayan kong makulong lang dun yung buhay ko, I might miss something so important.

Wala kaming assurance ni Faye kasi isa lang yung nagmamahal. It is a myth to believe na babalik siya because my love for her is a magnet that pulls her back. I have to go on. Andyan lang sila, ang circle of friends and supporters. They won't let me down. JS won't let that happen.

I am so grateful I have a friend like this person. At tama lang na magcelebrate ako dahil today is the day na iniregalo siya sa akin.





So to my non-biological sister,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am missing you extremely!

Welcoming First Advent Sunday

My favorite color is indigo. Next to that is mauve. Next to mauve is lilac. All these three comes from one family color. They are all combination of red and blue primary colors. Red is love and anger while blue is serenity and indifference. These color can symbolize both War and Peace.

Today we mark the first Sunday of the Advent season. The color of Advent is violet. Advent is not about war and peace. It is about waiting for the Lord. It is about waiting. A normal scenario of human life. We are bombarded by so much waiting and waiting. When you are at the MRT station. When you are alone and supposed to meet someone. When you are too young to have a girlfriend. When you are a second year high school who wants to wear a toga. When it is not the right time for something. You always wait. I always wait. We all wait for something, sometime.

Advent is about waiting for the second coming and making present also the waiting for the baby Jesus born of Mary--for Christmas.

Every time i encounter the word waiting I remember a quotation from a book i read long time ago. It says and I quote;

Waiting is surrendering to God who loves us and who knows what is best for us. Waiting helps us grow in virtue. It likewise means allowing things, events, and people to flourish, to evolve, to emerge to their fullest potential.

--A Matter of the Heart p.57
by Fr Jose Aripio
Provincial Superior of SSP Phil.-Macau province

Let us focus and contemplate to this.

Waiting is surrendering to God. Everyone during Advent is invited to surrender their whole heart and soul to God. If by waiting we mean preparation for the coming of Christ, we cannot be prepared enough unless otherwise we surrender to God. Saint Paul in the second reading teaches us that we should turn away from drunkenness and other promiscuous activities.

Waiting helps us grow in virtue. When you wait you always thought that time is wasted. instead of doing something, you are spending it for waiting which for most of us is an idle activity. But while you are waiting for something God also gives you time to hope for something. Hope cannot be realized when you do not wait. You can only hope when there is something unknown in the future and you wait for it. That makes waiting very very precious. It gives you an opportunity to be hopeful. While you wait you're etiquette is also tested by fire. you will be able to gauge how much you believe in something and cling for a certain conviction. Waiting strengthens your fundamental beliefs whether you notice it or not. Lastly, the very least virtue you can improve on while waiting is patience. By being patient you learn to relax and avoid hurrying. Being patient is a sign of a clam Christian and a dignified one.

Waiting is allowing things to evolve and emerge to their fullest potential. Whenever I am asked whether as a Christian I believe in Evolution I say yes. I believe that God did not really create everything in 7 days. 7 days is very symbolic and it can mean 7 years or 7 centuries even. God allows creation to evolve. God is never in a hurry because He has no time limit. He is eternal. I believe that when you pray, God may sometime answer it late because there nothing late in the viewpoint of God. God simply wants us to wait. In waiting you can enjoy things you might not enjoy if everything is instant and that is what we call serendipity. Hurrying is not a virtue and not even an act of a dignified individual. A learned Christian knows how to wait for his turn.

Surely you can wait until Christmas...

Verbs That Cuddle Natural Leaders

We need to admit that there are natural leaders. Their instinctive capacity for leadership is exceptional. Pero kahit na ganun, we can still learn from them. yung mga gaya namin... trained leaders.

Ang mga natural leaders hindi na kailangang mag seminar para sa leadership effectiveness nila. They breath leadership like fresh air. Pero sa mga kagaya namin we have to learn what makes them extraordinary. Some of these qualities are the verbs which they employ.

1. Leaders Exemplify. Ang isang tunay na leader ay hindi basta turo ng turo or dada ng dada. lagi siyang gumagawa at sa pamamagitan ng pagiging isang modelo nagagawa niyang mapasunod sa vision niya lahat ng nasasakupan niya.

2. A Leader Unifies. Ang mga magkakahiwalay na detalyo, pinagtatagpu-tagpo yan ng isang leader. Ang mga magkakahiwalay na ideyalismo ng mga miyembro ng isang team o organization ay pinagsasamasama niya or nire-reconcile.

3. A Leader Amplifies. Siguro isa na sa pinaka da best na gawain ng leaqder ay ang paunlarin ang pagkatao ng mga miyembro niya. Ang mga members kasi kaya yan sumusunod sa leader ay dahil may gusto silang ma-accomplish kasabay ng pagsunod nila rito. Kailangan mapunan niya ang individual growth na yun expected by each member. Sigurado effective siya pag nagawa niya yun kasi hirap ako dun.

4. A Leader Edifies. Matapos ang lahat ng ito, kailangan may naitatatag na pagbabagong institutsyunal ang isang leader. Magandang idea pero maraming pinuno sablay dito. Efforts are needed mula sa members at leader para maisakatuparan ito. Mahalaga ito kasi minsan ito ang hahanapin ng mga visionaries na gusto mag join sa organization.

So these four and if there are others, forgive me for the lack of given time.

For those interested to attend my seminar-workshops for leadership;

You can contact me
+639202938352
or send message to me at
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Paul-Chirstian-Caparos/200869499853?v=info

Her Awesome Beauty Struck Everyone

It is better to be beautiful than to be good, but it is better to be good than to be ugly.
--Oscar Wilde

Kahapon, wala sana ko gagawin at magtutulog lang. Never knew na magiging reunion pala namin ng dalawa sa mga barkada. Nagkita kami ni Regine noong hapon at ganoon din ni Kenechi.

Noong hapon kasi habang nasa gitna ako ng kuwentuhan, nainform kami na may taping na nagaganap sa patyo. So I went there together with some. Nakita ko meron nga. Taping pala yun ng Sabel. An ABS CBN teleseries which stars Jessie Mendiola and AJ Perez. Sa tingin ko malapit na iyong magsimula kasi lumabas na ang teaser nito kagabi lamang.

Nag excursion ang mga mata ko sa kaputian ni Jessie Mendiola. I must say na napakaganda niya talaga. She looks different when in person. Ang buhok niya ay tulad ng mermaid at hindi yung ilong niya parang sa manekin sa SM Department Store. Maliit lang siya pero minsan iisipin mo na hindi siya Pilipino.

I think she started as a model. Tapos naging cast sa iba't ibang teen shows ng ABS under the Star Magic managent. Now it is hightime she owns her own program. Ang hirap din pala ng trabaho niya. Yun ang work na kailangan ka titigan ng maraming tao habang ginagawa mo. Sanay na rin sila. Although hindi ko alam kung gusto ko iyon. Hindi ka makaka concentrate sa dialogue mo kapag ang daming nanonood. Totally unlike music performances na talagang para panuorin ng live.

Nothing compares to the beauty of the princess of prime time TV. Malayo pa ang lalakbayin ni Jessie para matapatan niya yun. This girl is the 403rd tax payer in the Philippines, none other than, Kimberly Sue Yap Chiu, also known as simply Kim Chiu.

Next Saturday, lalabas siya sa Wansapanataym as Super Kikay with the flying tortoise. Next Sunday naman maguumpisa na ang sarili niyang series ng Your Song Presents Kim. Matatandaang lumabas na siya sa Sunday clip na ito just this year kasama si Ai Ai De Las Alas with "Maling Akala" but this time solo niya.

I admit I was struck when I saw Jessie Mendiola pero mas na starstruck ako noong first time ko makita si Kimberly Sue sa SM last January sa red carpet primer.

Well both of them are beautiful. It really depends kung anong taste ng tao. Subjective ang beauty it is in the eye of the beholder accoording to cliche.

Thirty Days Before Christmas

Last year, on this day I was in Manila. I don't remember why pero nagpunta ako ng Manila. A simple Wednesday with matching sinat pa nga. This day si so special for me and I don't know why. Noong 2003, simpleng araw lang naman siya. Wala kaming pasok on a Tuesday. Pumunta ako noon sa Liliw para magkita nga kami ni Sheshu. ero pumunta muna ako sa may Taykin kasi doon noon nakatira sila Lola. Gusto ko lang makita noon yung mga pamangkin ko. Umuulan noon. After a while pumunta na rin ako kay Sheshu [Jejomar].

Hinintay ko siya matapos maglaro sa internet shop tapos kumain kami ng pasta. Naulan pa rin. Gusto niya pumunta kami kina Queenie Mariz. Pata na patay si jejomar noon kay Quaz. Ako naman siyempre hindi nagbago... kay Faye lang atalg kahit noon. Buong umaga magkasam kami lumalakad sa mga streets ng Liliw. Haha.. ang saya.

Tapos naalala ko na pupunta pala ako kila Bryan Coroza para hiramin yung CD ng Linkin Park sikat kasi noon yung "Numb". Pumunta ako noon mga bandang 10:30am tapos umuwi na ako. Ay hindi pala. Sumakay lang ako ng jeep para iwan na si Sheshu at ang Liliw pero pumunta pa ako noon sa San Pablo. Kahit may banta pa na lalakas ang ulan.

Magisa lang ako noon. Ihahnap ko kasi ng gift si Rizzel para sa bday niya. Hay... ayun tapos umulan nga., Wala pang SM noon kaya sa San pablo Mall lang ako ang ikot. Masaya ko kapag naaalala ko yun. Kahit nga hindi ko nakita at nakasama noon si Faye, parang ganun pa rin ang pakiramdam ko noon. Hoping na one year makakasama ko siya on that date. Pero hanggang ngayong araw na ito November 25 ulit, wala pa rin siya.

Nakakainggit talaga si Ronel. Siya ang kasama ngayon ni Lara Faye kahit hindi naman niya ito minahal noon. For the first time naranasan ko na rin ang masaktan ng sobra. Yung hindi mo alam kung saan mo lalagyan ng bond aid kasi hindi mo alam kung saan yung sugat at saan nanggagaling yung pagdurugo. Alam natin na hindi sa katawan yun.

Ok pa rin naman. Masaya ang araw na ito kahit maulan. I wish I will have more of these to celebrate next years. 2006 noong makita ko siya sakay ng van nila. Masaya ako noon at umuulan ulit. Sa Liliw yun. Ang saya. At ang ganda niya.

Sana when the time comes... mai-celebrate namin ang date na ito. Kahit hindi maging kami.

Explosive November

Boom, boom, boom
Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon
Boom, boom, boom
Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon

These are the words from Katy Perry's hot single "Fireworks" at chart topper ngayon. Parang last year lang, apat na kanta ang nagpapatalbugan sa iTunes noong November; Two is Better than One ni Taylor Swift at ng Boys Lyk Girl, One Less Lonely Girl ni Justin Bieber, Down ni Jay Sean, at New Perspective ng Panic at the Disco.

Now it is November of 2010 at masasabi ko na parang sobrang explosive yata ng mga songs for this month. Kasi last october nagsimula na ngang sumikat ang kanta ni Katy Perry which I mentioned above [Well anyway may kanta ba xa na hindi sumikat for this year?] na sumisikat na ngayong November at hindi malayong mapasama sa top 100 chart ng year end countdown sa UKchart at Billboard.

Tinabunan ni Katy Perry ang iba pang naglabasang sikat na country folk at pop singer ng 2009 considering 2008 siya nagsimula. Dapat nga mas laos siya pero nasan na nga ba si Leighton Meester, Keshia, at Taylor Swift? Matapos ang twiter pix scandal ni Hallie Williams humina na rin ang eksena ng Paramore. I guess we have anough of Twilight soundtrack dose. Buti pa nga si Charice eh namamayagpag. And speaking of Charice na namamayagpag, may isa pang Filipino singer na hataw na hataw ngayong 2010.

He also made this November very explosive with his wit and talent at lalo na sa single niyang "Grenade". I am talking of no other than the Paragon Half Filipino RNB singer na si BRUNO MARS. He is my new pick. My favorite who I waited for the longest time now.

Grabe ang galing nito si Bruno Mars. Early this year he gave us "Beautiful Girls all over the world..." remember that, Nothing On You. Kasam niya dun si BOB na nakasama ni Hallie Williams sa Airplane together with Slim Shady. Later on, sinamahan niya si Travie Macoy na ex ni Katy Perry para kantahin ang famous lines ng "Billionaire". Siya yun baka lang di niyo alam. Pinakilig niya ang mga kababihan with "All She Knows". Muli niya namng sinamahan si BOB sa isnag single kasam rin si Cee Lo noong June lumabas sa Pilipinas, ang The Other Side. Ang ganda nito pero di puamtok sa mga kolehiyala nor sa mga rapper ng Dongalo.

Well, bigla muli siya sumabog in great explosion noong August 15 when the Philipine premiered his most popular solo performance of this year--walang iba kundi--JUST THE WAY YOU ARE. Humakot na ito ng katakut takot na hits sa Youtube at nagkaroon ng halos 100 cover video, kasama na ang cover singers at cover ng guitar drums at piano.

Now he is back this November with another explosive.... ang "Grenade" [his latest single]. He makes me proud as a Filipino. Next to Charice he is the best contemporary singer of the Filipino race. And as always I will post the lyrics of his song........


GRENADE by Bruno Mars

Easy come, easy go
That's just how you live, oh
Take, take, take it all,
But you never give
Should of known you was trouble from the first kiss, Had your eyes wide open -
Why were they open?
Gave you all I had
And you tossed it in the trash
You tossed it in the trash, you did
To give me all your love is all I ever asked, Cause what you don't understand is
I’d catch a grenade for ya (yeah, yeah, yeah)
Throw my hand on a blade for ya (yeah, yeah, yeah)
I’d jump in front of a train for ya (yeah, yeah , yeah)
You know I'd do anything for ya (yeah, yeah, yeah) Oh, oh
I would go through all this pain, Take a bullet straight through my brain,
Yes, I would die for ya baby ; But you won't do the same

No, no, no, no
Black, black, black and blue beat me till I'm numb Tell the devil I said “hey” when you get back to where you're from
Mad woman, bad woman,
That's just what you are, yeah,
You’ll smile in my face then rip the breaks out my car
Gave you all I had


And you tossed it in the trash
You tossed it in the trash, yes you did
To give me all your love is all I ever asked Cause what you don't understand is
I’d catch a grenade for ya (yeah, yeah, yeah)
Throw my hand on a blade for ya (yeah, yeah, yeah)
I’d jump in front of a train for ya (yeah, yeah , yeah)
You know I'd do anything for ya (yeah, yeah, yeah) Oh, oh
I would go through all this pain, Take a bullet straight through my brain,
Yes, I would die for ya baby ; But you won't do the same

If my body was on fire, ooh You’ d watch me burn down in flames You said you loved me you're a liar Cause you never, ever, ever did baby...
But darling I’ll still catch a grenade for ya
Throw my hand on a blade for ya (yeah, yeah, yeah)
I’d jump in front of a train for ya (yeah, yeah , yeah)
You know I'd do anything for ya (yeah, yeah, yeah) Oh, oh
I would go through all this pain, Take a bullet straight through my brain,
Yes, I would die for ya baby ; But you won't do the same.
No, you won’t do the same,
You wouldn’t do the same,
Ooh, you’ll never do the same,
No, no, no, no

To Consume Less Chocolates

Sometimes when you are feel you are still hungry after the meal, you grasp for the brown sweet thing you always loved--Ang chocolate.

Pero as of this time, I want to eat only the foods that I will never regret eating. A healthy diet is hard to develop specially when you are used with the old ways.

Kaya nga medyo nahihirapan ako as if fasting lahat ng weekdays. I only give myself a break every Saturdays and Sundays. I can have a glass of softdrinks or some sweets or junk foods.

May magandang naidudulot kasi nagkakaroon ng pagbabago sa budget. Hindi na kasi masyado nabili. Yung Toblerone last Satruday galing yun kay Edison. i don't spend much for chocolates nowadays.

Well... let's see kung mapapanindigan ko because just counting the minutes and it will be Christmas time.

That's a lot new story after.

No Storm Above These Clouds

Rain comes from the clouds not from the sky

Hindi umulan ngayong hapon. Salamat naman. Ang hirap kasi. Ayokong umuulan s ahapon. Isipin mo naman instead of watching the sunset lalong nagiging dim ang 4:30-5:30.

The only time of the day na wala kang puwedeng gawin. Hindi ka muna kakain kasi malapit na ang hapunan. Hindi ka matutulog kasi malapit na rin gumabi. Primetime ito ng TV at rush hour ng MRT. Awasan ng mga bata. Kaya most of the time... TAMBAY ang pinaka solusyon sa pagkabagot.

Kapag umulan paano? Kaya ayokong umuulan sa ganitong oras. Ok lang sa gabi para nasa bahay na ang marami. Ok lang sa tangahali para di masyado mainit. Huwag lang sa oras na dapat nanonood ng sunset ang mga lovers.

Parang pagsubok ng buhay ang ulan. Ayaw nating dumating when all are working just fine. Everything falling into places. Kaya nga gusto nating iwasan pero hindi sila under our control.

What you gonna do? Fly above the storms! That's the only way. You ever wonder kapag may turbulence na binabangga ang mga pilot, they always fly above the storm. Ang mga eagle ganun din. Wala kasing pressure sa taas. Dito lang sa baba. Kaya nga ang mga astronouts, they are floating in the exosphere kasi wala na ang gravity. Ano naman ang kinalaman ng physics sa totoong buhay.

Haven't you seen? May mga reflections dapat lahat ng nagaaral ng Physics sa practcial life. Dahil ang physics ay isang practical science. The astronouts represents the hollies. Kpag hindi burdensome ang buhay you float. Gumagaan ang mga banal. Sa baba lang may tensions. Tension 1 at Tension 2 sa baba lang yan. Sa posisyon ng mga COO at CEO, kaunti lang ang naglalaban laban. Sa mga kakaunting mumo nagaagawan ang mga tao sa baba. Hirap ka makakuha ng job sa baba. pero once na nasa taas, kaunti lang ang competition. Actually pina-pirate pa anga ang iba sa taas. Kasi kakaunti sila.

Thing about that. There is no storm you can find after the clouds.

Happy Bachelor

I had a strange feeling while walking along the town plaza kanina. I feel like the center of gravity is in that point. I don't know parang hinihila ako. Naupo ako sa isa sa mga sementadong upuan doon. Just for the heck of it. Sana nga tulad ngayon noong mga bata pa kami. Doon kami naglalaro ng kahit na ano. Tayaan. Sikyo. Tumbang preso. Suntukan. Tapo sinsakyan namin yung mga leon malapit dun sa monument ni Rizal.

Yun yung mga panahon na hindi ako natatakot sa panahon. Mga mama na malaki ang tiyan lang ang kinatatakutan ko. Mga aswang sa kuwento. Hindi ako natatakot sa bukas. hindi rin ako natatakot sa kahapon. Nabubuhay lang ako sa ngayon. Puro present lang ang naiisip ko. Walang inaalala sa kinabukasan, walang tinatakbuhang kahapon.

Iba ang pakiramdam ngayon. Hindi na ako puwedeng dumisplay sa plaza. Matanda na ako eh. Paano kung may makakita sa akin doon kanina. Magisa ako nakaupo. Buti pa yung mga bata puwede pa nga sila humilata doon eh. I wonder if ginawa ko din yun noong bata ako. Nakakita ako ng bata na umiiyak at ngawa lang ng ngawa doon. Inisip ko tuloy kung nagkaganon din ba ako dati.

Nakita ko ang mga batang tinuturuang maglakad ng mga tatay at nanay nila. Suddenly nag flash sa isip ko in an instant lahat yung mga classmates at friends ko noong high school na ngayon ay may asawa at anak na. Starting with Mervin Ramirez, Cyrus Consignado, Margaret Nobleza, Angelica Pomintil, Harvey Baldovino. Ang idol idol ng marami sa pagawit na si Chris Alber Morales, si Angelo Ross Agapay, at napakarami pa.

Siyempre hindi mawawala sa listahan ang perfect amicable twins na si Dianne Carlen Martin at Dan Carlo Bueno. Pareho na silang may baby girl at ninong ako ni Jewel Keshia anak ni Dan.

Ako heto pa rin. A bachelor wandering in this ellipsoid. Ano kaya ang naghihintay sa akin? Alam ko hindi pa rin naman ako ready para maging Daddy. Pero alam ko din na tumatakbo ang oras. Malaki ang advantage nila Dan at Chris dahil masusubaybayan nila ang anak nila. Plus hindi malayo ang age brakcs nila. Magkakasundo sila sa taste. Puwede pa nila maabutan ang mga apo nila kung tutuusin. Disadvantages para sa isnag taong late nagka anak ang kabaligtaran ng mga nabanggit.

Why was I stuck? Hindi ko alam kung miinis ako na hinayaan kong maiipit na lang ako sa buhay na pinili ko noon. Bakit nga ba hinayaan ko na kay Lara Faye lang umikot ang mundo ko for how many years hanggang sa maging masakit na kapag ile-let go siya. Kahit na from 2005 nakakareceive na ako requests from Mytz at Jhona na bitiwan ko na yung nararamdaman ko kay Faye.

Hindi ko rin alam kung magiging proud ako kasi bihira na ang lalaki na gumagawa ng nagagawa ko. Pursuing Lara Faye for seven years... hindi biro yun. Ni hindi naman kami nagkakasama for that long years. Nakikita ko lang siya once in a while at walang assurance na kapag tinanong ko siya ng "___" ay sasagot siya ng OO.

Unfair kung magaasawa ako. Kung pipilitin kong mahinog ang hilaw. Kawawa ang babaeng magiging asawa ko kung hindi ako handa para mahalin siya ng buo. Hindi ako handang maging kabiyak ng sinuman lalo na kung hidni siya si Lara Faye. Magiging tortrue lang s akanya gabi gabi na ang binubulong kong panagalan ay hindi kanya kundi ang walong letrang bumubuo sa pangalan ni Faye. At paano kung hindi sa letrang L nagsisimula ang name niya at ang mga anak namin panay L ang simula ng pangalan. Ano ang isasagot ko?

Siguro may reasons kung bakit hanggang ngayon wala pa akong better half. Siguro hinding hindi pa ako ready financially, physiologically, spiritually, at siguro higit nga sa lahat ay emotionally. I wanna be the best father kais yun ang hindi nagawa ng bio father ko. I wanna be the greatest Dad Leuthor, Lianne, and Lance could ever have. I want to fulfill the prophecy given to me; to find my protege who will make the drastic change in this country or even in the world. Ang dami ko pa ngang aayusin sa buhay ko.

I just have to enjoy and be merry this time. Siguro period of preparation ang lahat ng oras na ito. Huwag kong isipin na sinasayang ko ito. may pagasa pa naman. Who knows, kung talagang matibay ang nararamdaman ko kay Faye, baka maging magnet yun na magpapabalik sa kanya sa akin. Anyway the greatest fulcrum naman is the heart not material things.

There is much to enjoy in life rather than envying the friends who already are fulfilled in life. Who knows if they are convenient? Baka kahit may asawa at anak na sila eh problemado sila. I-enjoy na lang ang mga adavantages of being single. So that when time for marrying comes, hindi ko na hahanapin dahil heto na pinagsawaan ko na. I will remain pure for that lucky woman. Matapos kong pagdaanan lahat ng karma ko sa mag binastos ko dati, na siningil ni Lara Faye, siguro that girl who is coming soon is truly lucky.

Whoever she is... I am waiting for her. I will try my best to be Best pagdating niya.

His Majesty Concludes History

It is so fitting that on this week, the first part finale of Harry Potter comes to a close. The series we all loved since the beginning is now finally coming to an end. So also is the Church's liturgical season drawing to a close. The feast of Christ the King marks the end of the liturgical year and next week will be advent already. In the same way, the Church and the world is also waiting for the second coming when Christ will be ruler and King above all and that is also the end of the terrestrial history.

We all can't wait for that. What is the lesson of today's Gospel? It is partly eschatological and partly ecclessiological. There is a striking line coming from Jesus at the end which is the only line we find Jesus speaking.

"Today you shall be with me in paradise"

He didn't say heaven because the thief cannot enter heaven unless Christ return for the second coming. The thief did not die after but Jesus is truthful when said that. And that line will be the only line He will utter when he comes again. For example, he saw me, Paul you will be with me in paradise. He has nothing to say to those who are mocking him which means he has nothing to tell them when he returns. Only torment and fire awaits them. The abyss is ready! So also is heaven ready to accommodate us!

Jesus is teaching the Church to be more reflective of their sins and ask him to bring us to heaven. The story of the thief inspires us that it is never to late even if you are a sinner. The Church is collectively a clique of sinners working their way to restore the image that was lost in Eden.

Christ is our King!

Talking About Deathly Hallows

"It is a curious thing, Harry, but perhaps those who are best suited to power are those who have never sought it. Those who, like you, have leadership thrust upon them, and take up the mantle because they must, and find to their own surprise that they wear it well."

--Albus Dumbledore




Alam ko, hindi ko kayang palampasin ang pelikulang ito. Kahit pa nga ba nahati sa dalawang part ang installment ng Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows. i know they are going to make up for the unforgivable boredom brought by the previous movie Half Blood Prince.

Madilim pa nung bumangon ako kanina. I can't believe luluwas ako alone to Manila just to watch a movie. How pathetic! And yet I still did. Kahit na wala talag akong makakasama to watch it. Kung magaaya ako ng taga Laguna baka mag libre pa ako para sa meal at sa transpo. Kung ang mga taga Manila naman baka busy sila. Pero aaminin ko ilang beses kong pinagmunimunihan kung ite-text ko ba si JS or si Dimitri or sino man sa classmates ko nung college and OJT barkadas para naman may makasama. Anyway, it is not about my trip. I am top write about how the movie made a little history today. Sa kalalagay lang niyang status sa facebook, Sir John August Pamintuan described Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in the following words and I quote;

I watched Harry potter tonight and found it awfully boring. It had none of the magical kids' stuff that enthralled us before; just drama, drama, drama... for a moment I thought Potter was trying hard to be a vampire, and the director David Yates was trying to shoot Twilight

Sure ako na hindi niya nagustuhan pero ako naman nilagay kong post ay [and I quote again];

Two thumbs up for The Deathly Hallows! The plot is amazing, cinematography spectacular and Emma Watson is damn immaculately stunning...

How was that? Bakit ko nga ba nagustuhan ang movie. Siyempre una sa lahat, kung hindi ko sasabihing gusto ko eh di parang sinayang ko ang pamasahe at mall tour ko alone. Second, mas gusto ko naman talaga si Emma Watson kay Kristen Stewart when it comes to acting portrayal. Third, the movie as much as it could remained faithful to the book.

I even tried surfing the net if there are anybody out there who have the same emancipation as I had. To my surprise meron naman.the Menneapolis Movie Reviews Examiner posted a review about Harry Potter and there I quote;

With superb acting and a strong plot, the movie only pumped the break in a few spots. A scene in which a cartoon portrayed the story of the Deathly Hallows and the directing in a few action sequences wasn’t quite as sharp. Not to say the directing was bad because it was good, it just needed to be tightened up in a few scenes. The other obvious downfall is that the movie is only half of the story and keeps us all wanting more, bothered by not being able to finish in one sitting.

Hindi ko pa nakakausap ang ibang kaibigan patungkol sa movie but I am sure many are dismayed sa ilang part. Hindi naman din ako kasi masyadong technical. Basta ang hanap ko is kung mai-enjoy ko ang movie sa kinauupuan ko o hindi like, wala bang mga interuptions, hindi ba ako gininaw, or maayos ba ang Acoustics ng sinehan. Yun lang naman ang after ako pero sa kabuuan medyo nadala ako ng drama. I am not saying na hindi na ako makahintay until the next screening ng second part sa July 2011, sinasabi ko lang na enjoy talaga panuorin sa big screen ang Harry Potter. If I watched it on TV-DVD, siguro madami ako comment and that is very critical of me.

Paguwi ko sa bahay, finale airing na ng Illumina, a local TV show of the same graphics. My gosh! Why is there so much sorcery in the world? Hindi ba nila alam na bawal yun?

Boxing Ring Lessons

"Boxing is not about killing each other"

Ito ang sagot ni pound for pound king Manny Pacquiao sa isang interview kung bakit daw hindi niya ni-knock out si Margarito matapos niya itong talunin sa Cowboy Stadium kanina lamang. Tunay na isang Filipinong may delikadesa, very humane at professional ang sagot niya.

Na surpass na ni manny ang fame ni Jose Rizal bilang pinakasikat na Filipino sa mundo. Hindi nga lahat kilala si Leah Salonga pero halos buong mundo kilala na siya. Siya ang kaunaunahang tao na may walong sinturon sa larangan ng boxing. Sapat na para sabihin kong tumigil siya at mag concentrate na lang sa public service. He has proven enough. Nakaktakot na baka sa huli pa niyanglaban matalo siya. At magretiro siya kung kailan may sira na rina ng katawan. Tamang tama ito para itigil niya ang boxing at pagtuunan ang pagiging isang international diplomat and celebrity.

Malaki ang maitutulong ng pagkapanalo ni Manny matapos mag deklara ng flight ban ang mga matataas na bansa at humina ang turismo sa Pilipinas. Muling niya itong mapapasigla kung si Leah, Charice at Manny ay kapwa mag eendorso ng bansa sa international arena.

Congratz Manny! Patuloy mo kaming gawing proud...

Everything Else Shall Vanish

Now we are close enough to the end of the liturgical year. We would like to thank Saint Luke for giving us all the Gospel readings from the resume of Ordinary Times up to this Sunday. And since talking about the end, the theme of the liturgy today is also eschatological. What will it be like before the end?

As a recap, last Sunday Jesus taught us that the foci of every Catholic Christians are the heavenly things which are eternal and not the worldly things that are very transitory. Before that the Gospel readings two Sundays ago showed us how Jesus also accepted the repentant publican and how a tax collector who sincerely prayed in the temple is justified. Those readings are very comforting and make us feel light.

Meanwhile, the Gospel reading today may seem to be a little bit shocking and unpleasant. Jesus is certain that nations will indulge in wars. There will again be persecutions of Christians and faithfuls will be brought to courts. That makes it even more inconvenient.

So audacious is Jesus' words that we should take note of the things that are important after all. Search for what is eternal and do not be deceived by what is temporal. We will attempt to see again how this applies to us. Many people are amazes by how the temple is decorated with all majestic jewels and precious stones but Jesus told them that one day no stones will be found over another.

When I was still studying, I often ask myself what this conversation is for. Was it a way for Jesus to initiate His preaching about the end times? But as we go along with our lessons in Synoptic Gospels, I understood that Jesus is actually referring to all temporal attractions. What is your temple? For me it can be a beautiful girl. Jesus is warning each of us that they wont last until the parousia. A beautiful girl will soon grow old and die and all you will find after is dust. A cellphone you are craving for today will soon be outmoded and crashed. Only God can stand the test of time until time itself ceased. As a matter of fact, Jesus wants us to beware because many of the objects today will distract is from loving and worshiping Him.

Many will pretend to be God and Messiah. That can be literally read, that many false prophets will come. However, more than that, many false god will come also. They may appear to be noble causes like love for brothers and families, fight for human rights and equality, campaign for nature restoration and care for ecosystem but they can take us away from God. Many people are so busy working for these advocacies that they even forget to pray and be still, keep quiet, and commune with God. They may forget that while they are restoring the planet earth they are also loosing a place in a new Kingdom, a new Jerusalem. I am not saying that these are bad but while we are pursuing these, make sure we are not neglecting the home of the spirit, our souls. What is the use of rejuvenating a home [habitat] for humanity if in the end you loose the home of God inside you? Our love for God must be on top among all loves. It is prior to our love for family, love for the country, love for virtues, love for the ecosystem. Prior to all ideals and aspirations. Material things may deceive you also playing to be gods. Let us be watchful for the Lord will come like a flash of lightning.

Heavenly Bonds and Faith Defense

We have interesting readings for this Sunday. Once again let us reflect on them.

First Reading 2 Maccabees 7 1 - 2, 9 - 14

1 It happened also that seven brothers and their mother were arrested and were being compelled by the king, under torture with whips and cords, to partake of unlawful swine's flesh.
2 One of them, acting as their spokesman, said, "What do you intend to ask and learn from us? For we are ready to die rather than transgress the laws of our fathers."
9 And when he was at his last breath, he said, "You accursed wretch, you dismiss us from this present life, but the King of the universe will raise us up to an everlasting renewal of life, because we have died for his laws."
10 After him, the third was the victim of their sport. When it was demanded, he quickly put out his tongue and courageously stretched forth his hands,
11 and said nobly, "I got these from Heaven, and because of his laws I disdain them, and from him I hope to get them back again."
12 As a result the king himself and those with him were astonished at the young man's spirit, for he regarded his sufferings as nothing.
13 When he too had died, they maltreated and tortured the fourth in the same way.
14 And when he was near death, he said, "One cannot but choose to die at the hands of men and to cherish the hope that God gives of being raised again by him. But for you there will be no resurrection to life!"

Second Reading 2 Thessalonian 2: 16 - 17 ,3: 1 - 5

16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace,
17 comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.

1 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed on and triumph, as it did among you,
2 and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men; for not all have faith.
3 But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from evil.
4 And we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things which we command.
5 May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.

Gospel Reading Luke 20: 27 - 38

27 There came to him some Sadducees, those who say that there is no resurrection,
28 and they asked him a question, saying, "Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies, having a wife but no children, the man must take the wife and raise up children for his brother.
29 Now there were seven brothers; the first took a wife, and died without children;
30 and the second
31 and the third took her, and likewise all seven left no children and died.
32 Afterward the woman also died.
33 In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For the seven had her as wife."
34 And Jesus said to them, "The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage;
35 but those who are accounted worthy to attain to that age and to the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage,
36 for they cannot die any more, because they are equal to angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.
37 But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in the passage about the bush, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.
38 Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living; for all live to him."


Commentary

The first reading gives us a clear yet simple lesson. The pagan king is only after the eradication of Israelite religious conduct. By eating pork meat the Israelite will symbolically renounce their bond to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Some experts say that it is because of the pagans' envy to Israelite nation for they have a high religious and ethical standards when it comes to worshiping only one God while the pagan world worships several gods. More over, the conducts and practices of the gentiles are considered dirty and immodest to the Jews.

The first reading is very parallel to the main theme of the Gospel in some very reflexive details. Meanwhile, let us focus our attention on the second reading. This letter from Saint Paul to the Thessalonians serves as an exhortation or a plea for prayer. He is reminding this Church to act in accordance to how a body/community of people waits for the coming of Christ. Again this is addressed to the elders of Catholic Church but everyone of us can be ministers of God's Word. Maybe because these people are being deceived by or a force coming from the outside is offering them a new lesson which is a case similar to the first reading.

A religious stance being challenged and how Christians should face it. That statement best summarizes the three readings with their least common denominator. In the first reading, the Israelites were put to test by the king who wanted them to eat pork meat. In the second reading, Saint Paul reminds the Thessalonians to be steadfast even amidst the confusion about the second coming of the Lord. In today's Gospel we see our very Lord Jesus Christ being challenged by a different belief. A religious stance tested. The Lord shows us how to deal with traps laid by unbelievers who today we are surrounded of. In a very salient point, the Lord described the Catholic Church and the members of His body. They are the people not aspiring only to be husbands nor wives. They are the people who are even willing to be angels. Hence, the Catholic Church is the "City of God" as described by Saint Augustine. A city of God where the living people resides. Our God is a god of the living and not of the dead. Jesus referred to Him as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. who are all alive in heaven even if their bodies died. Jesus here is pointing that Christians' lives are not determined nor governed by bodily concerns but rather lives of the souls waiting to be in heaven one with the saints and the patriarchs. Marriage is dissolved when both parties' bodies died. Jesus wants us to think of heavenly things aside from earthly. Not only are we to aspire being fully human who have a wife, a child, a family but to aspire becoming angels. Angels do not have genders. They are neither males nor females. In heaven we will all be like that.

Application

To take a stand for ones faith when shaken by unbelievers. This is one of the two practical lessons I want to high light. To courageously defend our faith is not an impossible act. The readings gave us concrete examples of how Biblical characters protected it. Last Monday we commemorate the lives of all the Saints of the Catholic Church, they are testaments of how faithful Christians fought with all their lives for holiness and what they believe.

Second, the Holy Catholic Church in today's liturgy wants us to learn that a truly spiritual person is not after the things of this world. The seven brothers and their mother in the book of Maccabees valued their spirit rather than their stomach and physical comfort. They are willing to tortured and endure the pain rather than suffer in heaven. Saint Paul invited the Thessalonians to pray. To pray is a spiritual act. Saint wants us to focus on prayer life more than the things of this world. The Gospel reading is most of all teaching is that marriage, a worldly bond, is nothing compared to our bond with God. Our priority in this life being Christians, is not to marry but to do good.