Out of the Closet, Into the Streets

BLOGGERS NIGHT at KYSS Restaurant & Bar Lounge

2011-08-22T08:52:00.000-07:00

Watch as Cyber it - bloggers invade KYSS!
August 26, Friday.

9-11pm Open Bar

Music by THE ZOMBETTES
Dj's Mia Ayesa, Sanya Smith and Ornussa Cadness

Hosted By Top Bloggers:
Lissa Kahayon
Joanna Ladrido
Camille Co

For Guestlist and Table reservations:
Contact Mikhail Guingon 09175574166 or email him at mike_guingon@Yahoo.com

Names should be sent before 6pm FRIDAY.

For Guestlist and Table reservations:
Contact Mikhail Guingon 09175574166 or email him at mike_guingon@Yahoo.com

Names should be sent before 6pm FRIDAY.

Table Rates:
1. Standard: 5,000 php
2. Prive: 8,000 php
3. VIP: 10,000 php
** All tables are consumale of food and drinks

Philippines, a Finalist in the New 7 Wonders of Nature

2011-06-10T02:50:00.000-07:00

As of this very moment, while doing this blog entry. There are only

154 days

10 hours

Left to Vote until 11.11.2011

Instead of burning you time over Facebook, Twitter or any other social networking sites; flirting with your fling, chatting with your boyfriend or girlfriend, much worst...STALKING someone you like.

WHY NOT....

Use your time in helping your COUNTRY win something worth winning...

One of our country's prime tourist destination in Palawan islands is one of the 28 FINALISTS for the NEW 7 WONDERS OF NATURE. Below is the list of the 28 Finalist:

The UNDERGROUND RIVER in PALAWAN is pitted against such worthy opponents (if we can call such) with the likes of the Grand Canyon in USA, The Great Barrier Reef in Australia and the famous islands of Maldives. Let us help change the negative connotation that the Philippines is not a safe place to travel. Winning one of the spots in the New 7 Wonders of Nature will surely help the TOURISM industry of the country. If this happens, more influx of tourists will visit the country... As Dick Gordon once said, "TOURISM MEANS JOB". We are not only helping the Tourism industry, but we are also helping the Economy... Anyway, back to the main topic here.

Below is the Page dedicated to the Phillippines:

So What are you guys waiting for? VOTE NOW!!!

Here is the link: http://www.new7wonders.com/vote-2

Movie Review: BIRTH OF A NATION

2011-05-28T01:13:00.000-07:00

Hearing the title of the film at first, I had the notion in my mind that it would have a plot wherein stereotypical politics would be the major or focal ideology used in the film. But in my surprise, it turned out differently from what I have perceived. It’s a film full of controversial and intriguing interpretations of history. It showed a different view on how a nation reconstructs itself, and in my understanding the film clearly conforms to the idea that reconstruction to build a nation was disastrous. It created different personas; black people could never be integrated into a society populated by white people, in other words it depicts the inequality of black people as citizens, the rise of the masses to end slavery, it also displayed violent actions from nuisance entities and self interested politicians that bent sadistic events in the move to reestablish honest government.

People may think that the film is very demeaning or derogatory for black people; some may say that the film is racist, a nightmare of interracial brutality, rape and castigation, or simply pure evil. At first, I somehow agreed. But as I write this paper and as I dissect the film in a deeper scale, I realized and recognized the idea that a film is created to impart a lesson to its viewers. With this, I do believe that the director and writer of the film really projected a dark theme or film aura for the viewers. Why? Because it will create a hype and with this people will then make a lot of assumptions regarding the film; they will dig deeper and deeper until they themselves will be the one to see the “real” message of the film. And what is it? For me, “The Birth of a Nation” despite its controversial story is not a bad film because it argues for evil; it makes us understand how it does to learn a great deal about a film and even something about evil. Given that it deems to be culturally, historically and aesthetically significant, I suppose that this is the reason why this film is considered to be one of the best films in history.

To sum all the things that I have stated earlier; I’d rather give suggestions and ideas to those people who seem to attack the films’ proponents based on their belief that to appreciate a film is to get entertained by it. For me, this should not be the case because if cinema could only be entertaining, it could never have become the remarkable art form it is. "The Birth of a Nation," is not just a silent film but also a remarkable art that is and will be significant through time.

Memoirs of my Friendster

2011-05-28T01:07:00.000-07:00

I was in facebook.. reading the news feeds in my wall... one topic caught my attention. "FRIENDSTER WILL SHUTDOWN SOON".

When I saw the news about FRIENDSTER shutting down soon and that it will under go reconstruction and changes, the first thing on my mind was "It's about time, since I'm not into it anymore." or in a more brutal way, "Go ahead, friendster sucks anyway!"...Thats it....

Back to checking my messages and chatting with my facebook friends...telling them about the friendster news etc... they were like, "are you serious?", "is that for real?",, "i don't care"... Mixed reactions, a variety of feelings... i dont know what to really think and feel at that very moment... should I feel bad about it? or should I not care at all...

Anyway, I decided to check my Friendster Account... The primary pic was when I was still in Highschool, I read the information that I key in years ago... I find it funny actually... :) Below are some of my Friendster FACTS:

-Member since Nov 2003 which was 8 freakin yearss ago... haha
-My current shout out: "you are just like a pill, instead of making me feel better.. you keep making me ill...."
-I have 727 friends
-5 photo albums
-275 pictures uploaded
-Friendster them: Green
-834 testimonials

I read my testimonials... not all 834 since some of it can't be retrieved, sad but what can i do. I was able to copy some memorable testimonials from a bunch and I want to share it to my blogspot followers. As if you guys care! haha. But hey, at least Im going out on a limb here... Its up to you guys if you want to read it or not... Enjoy! =)

StarGazer 2008-07-05T16:59:44Z

Rbee you look pretty as ever ;]

I'm doing great over here, thanks for asking.
Living a life of adventure everyday surely takes a lot of energy to keep up with...

Well at least it's fun ;]

How bout you Rbee? It's been a while…

Jessie2008-04-11T08:24:04Z

haba ng hair ha??!! well your hair tells your story!! life cant wait..hahaha!!!

Sara2008-03-04T17:25:06Z

tinext talaga kita rbee...

bahala ka kung ayaw mo maniwala sakin...

and pls delete the key to my failure... for my lovelife and LUST in your cellphone... :D

tin 2008-02-27T17:05:09Z

saying/thinking that you're not thinking of somebody is still an act of thinking of him/her....hhhmmmmm??? love you rb!

LA2008-02-13T14:02:41Z

hey rb, since its valentines day tomorrow and all, i THENK let's not go to any of our classes please. thank you. smokes!

LA2008-02-10T14:48:20Z

i say to you heart breaker: i was the one who loved you most, but between the two of us, u lost more. coz someday i can love someone the way i loved you, but you will never be loved again the way i did. haha! happy valentines jones! im kinda not in the mood! haha

Antoni Pauline2008-01-28T09:50:48Z

hahaha the photo in the maxim cover vaguely looks familiar... i think i've seen it somewhere... in my cam maybe? hahahhaa! love it biatch! hahah! :))

dx2008-01-06T16:34:30Z

salamat ah! sorry di kita mashado nakilala nung isang time kaya prang nagulat ako. happy new year! Ganda mo ngayon! Hehe

Raffi2007-12-16T16:32:00Z

aww you're the sweetest rbee :) excited na ko makita kayo sa tuesday ;) picture picture tayo ah! haha grabe mamimiss kita this break, pero i hope classmates pa rin tayo lahat next term.. that will be fun! :) love you dear :)

Raffi2007-12-12T01:06:54Z

rbee :) loves na loves ka talaga namin ni addie :) haha ang galing mo daw eh, nahulaan mo yung secret niya.. hahahaha!! you're the best :D

mel jason2007-12-02T15:45:08Z

gwapo mo tlaga!!! aish!!! nakakabakla ka....

LA2007-11-11T01:55:03Z

rb, tell me i'm beautiful and i'll tell you who you are..

Valentine2007-10-25T11:22:22Z

sorry di nakakatxt nauubos load eh...anyways musta na?

LA2007-10-25T10:36:36Z

vows and rings are easy to forget. knowing us. lasing everyday! gangster ng gamit! hahaha! i dnt know what im saying. all i know is that i love you and downshifting is the best. DOWNshifting. if you know what i meeeaaan!!! wink!

marlon2007-10-25T02:36:22Z

RBEE. :)) hey. haha.
who knows, we might see each other again, di na nga lng sa glo. :)) sumabog na ee. :))
anyweiyz, missin' the shit outta you.
stay pretty. :)

roven daryll2007-10-22T06:45:32Z

S-L-U-T what would that spell?

RBEE!

Chris2007-09-12T13:22:38Z

hey sister, how've yah been? who the hell is this derick guy that keeps on posting comments on your page? you seem to know him. Wooot wooo...he is so fuckin' hot. anyway, hope you're doin well!

Monrovia2007-09-10T12:39:40Z

ang HOT naman ng page... pati nung owner. ;)

lick.touch.sizzle! ;) BAM!

Renee2007-08-31T05:13:14Z

i just can't see why they (men) take you for granted.. if they would only know who you really are, they would definitely fall on their knees and beg for your love and attention.. then it'll be your time to say... "SUCK ON YOU DICKHEADS! I DON'T NEED FUCKIN BITCHES LIKE YOU!" haha!! thats why i love bein a JOSSA! we just don't care what those bitches say about us.. whats important is that we stay tight.. the hell with what people think bout us.. we say what we wanna say, do what we want to do, party the way we want to, love till we've given every single piece of us, and live life as if we rule it!! right babe??:) I LOVE YOU!!

Robert2007-06-26T16:27:49Z

i miss you and i miss the gp days=((

Raina Jane2007-05-02T01:53:19Z

You're such a hottie Rbee. O diba, it rhymes? Hihihi! Miss you. :*

LA2007-04-14T06:10:57Z

l.a.: hello, good evening pede po ba kay rbee?
rbee: oy el, baket?
l.a.: RBEE-heeehee! ahaaaang sahaaakiiit! ayoooko naaaahaaa.. hahahahaha!!!

eto pala dapat dialog sinend ko sayo.. haha.. tumawag si tin kanina, punta daw kayo tagaytay ngyon.. edi ako wala.. baka daw kasi mag beat nanaman ako ng RED LIGHT SA MAKATI sabi ni ricky.. haha! to hell with the MMDA!!! this is sparta!!! haha.. ang fulfilling ng captions ko noh?! lalo na dun sa isa.. takte buti ndi kami friends ni ern wala ako plano makita nya ang mga pangarap ko sa buhay ah.. haha.. at onga pla.. we reppin theta3x.. rbee who? one word.. nyaha!!! ONLY IN AMERICA!

Amon2006-12-27T15:26:01Z

HEY!!!

la lang.. miss ya! can't wait to hang out with you guys again... lalo na sa baby ko :)
see you soon!

Valentine2006-12-09T17:36:05Z

haha! long luxurious hair! haha! lol Go on Ym sometime...I haven't talked to you in a long time...btw I miss you! haha! Yes, I do!

Abok2006-11-15T05:04:35Z

c kuya Jerby...
Rabi..
Buddharbee...
Garbage.. este Garby..
Harvey..
at kuya jerbs..

isa syang mabait na tao...

ka hang out araw araw sa GP at sinasabayan ko hanggang mcdo...

mukang masungit sa una kasi nagtataas ng kilay pero mabait. pag tulog.

madalas ko kainuman...

kayosihan..

mag palit ka na sa malboro LIGHTS nakakabuti sa health un..

mahilig nga pala makipag heart to heart talk to... may programa sya sa TV.. Master Showman with Kuya Jerbs..

cge hanggang dito na lng...
banse na ko.

x_x

magnum2006-11-12T07:00:03Z

si rbee..may frend yan..na super bait at super funny...pangalan ng frnd nya is mango..or magnum..etong c magnum...never a dull moment pag ksma...laging nkasmile at makulet...but despite all those kagaguhan..very thotful n deep..kya nga psych sya eh..a very gud consultant. tpos wag kau..sobrang cute pah! ah bsta..DABEST UN! ...NYAHAHAHHAA!!! JOKE LANG GURL! ..gurleeee!!! first...LOVE THE HAIR!!! second...LOVE YOU! hehe! onga pla..andmi kong blockmates na girls na naiinggit sau kc mas poise at prang mas babae kpa dw sa knila...hahaha! odba?! ...m super super happy tlga also na we became frends..sory b4...nyahihihi! mwah!!! ..oh..n wen dre made kwento ung "d nmn kau marunong gumulong eh..dpat gan2..." ..tangynah laftrip!!! hahahahhaa!!! we all oved that! hahaha!! oh syanezz...eto na muna..c ya! mwah! tke cre! we're just here for you!

LA2006-09-18T11:05:54Z

i just wanna love again and be loved back. im so sick and tired of trying to pretend.. i dont care if u all think he's not worth it, coz he's worth every breathin air to me.. the pain from the past cant be undone, but i just wanna feel again.. it hurts too much without love.. i want him back and take another chance on this lie called love..:c

LA2006-09-14T14:04:22Z

Sometimes it's wrong to walk away, though you think it's over
Knowing there's so much more to say..
Suddenly the moment's gone
And all your dreams are upside down
And you just wanna change the way the world goes round

Tell me, have you ever loved and lost somebody
Wished there was a chance to say I'm sorry
Can't you see, that's the way I feel about you and me, Baby
Have you ever felt your heart was breaking
Lookin down the road you should be taking
I should know, coz I loved and lost the day I let you go

Can't help but think that this is wrong, we should be together
Back in your arms where I belong
Now I've finally realized it was forever that I've found
I'd give it all to change the way the world goes round

I really wanna hear you say that you know just how it feels
To have it all and let it slip away, can't you see
Even though the moment's gone, I'm still holding on somehow wishn i cud change d way d world goes round..

loved and lost d day i let him go..:c

PAU2006-09-14T10:41:15Z

..oH rBEe..

i StiLL kNow this guy..

hE's the the onEi uSuALLy hAngout witH.. LALo na nuNG suMMer.. SobrAng daming fRieNDs.. i guESs dahiL mabaet siya at madaLIng pakisamahan..at times.. haha..jowk..sympre LAgi yun noh.. SarAp kauSap.. DAmi niyA makwekwento..stoRies of LOve, experiences, movies, basta kahit ano.. Dami niya aLam na topiC..

GwApo sana..haha.. pRetTY pLA..haha..

ActuALLy wALa LAng ako magwa kya gumgawa ako ng testi ngaun.. haha..

NwieZ.. miSS u na.. kahit madaLAs tayo magusap sa fone..

IngaTS LAgi..

GoodLuck..haha.. i wish u know what i mEAn...c",)

gel2006-09-14T09:47:41Z

rbeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee,
from the phosphate bond of my ATP coming from the mitochondria of my whole myocardium, with all the chambers of my heart , i wish you a normal cardiac rythm today..i miss you a lotz goil!!

Sara2006-09-10T12:45:33Z

Who you want to meet: smart, fun, handsome/BEAUTIFUL, patient, persistent, thoughtful, kind, friendly, reasonable, decent, grateful, studious, diligent, energetic, different, always smiling, understanding, forgiving, FAIR, frank, fascinating, tenderly seductive, well mannered, MODELS, inspiring, innovative, decisive, open minded, independent, talented, caring, humble, honest, remarkable, hard-working, confident, enchanting, one-of a kind! definitely!, special, ARTISTS!

SHET RBEE. akong-ako ah?! you want to meet me talaga! shet touched ako!! haha oo na makapal na, but remember this napaka kapal muks gurl loves you to pieces! diba nga count on me?! yes! one more night to go and i get to hug all of the xtra jossas again!!! im soooo excited to see you guys and do our thang! haha (: love you sexay! tc!

LA2006-09-02T05:20:20Z

i miss u rbee!!! kahit wala ako sa pictures mo, miss parin kita!!! hahaha.. thanks for bein my pillar of strength every single day ah.. yes, you made me stronger talaga without even breaking my heart! haha.. i appreciate our friendship talaga.. kahit namamatay na tayo sa mga bisyo, sama2 parin.. wala na to iwanan ha?! kasi alam ko pag nagka problema ako sa inyo lang talaga ko iiyak!!! kung kelan man un! hahahaha.. naiiyak na nga ko ngayon eh dahil ang payat2 mo na at ang taba2 ko parin!!! BIOFEED!!! haha i love you rbee!!! ingatan mo sarili mo ah! wag na iinom at magyoyosi!!! ulul.. hahahahaha..

roven daryll2006-08-08T13:56:37Z

P-A-R-E...

i've been missin those good old times we had as XTRA JOSSAS...

i think ive been so busy this past days that i wasnt able to find time, wind up, and have fun with you guys...

ive been missin everythin bout us rbee..

doz drinkin sessions, smoking, etc....

hmmmppp...

i do promiz to the highest slutest level of my ability that after this theatre thing im busy about eh jamming tau sunod2...

luv u rbee...

another thing pla...

BEHAVE AND BE GOOD!...

BE THE PERSON I WANTED YOU TO BE....

TAKE CARE ALWAYS....

PUTANG INAKERS MOH!...

DAHLL_SEVEN17TEEN...

cant wait for baguio and abra escapade natin dude...

daan din tayo pare sa ilocos...

muah! muah! muah! muah! muah!!!!

Timothy2006-06-29T12:39:56Z ....

Hmmmm... anu ba masasabi ko kay RB...

Ah sa unang tingin mo kay RB mukha yang mataray...

Pero sa totoo lang if you spend more time and get to know him....

Malalaman mo na...

MATARAY siya talaga!!! Joke lang yun

C RB mabait yan..

One of the persons I like to hang out with...

Very Approachable...

Good Leader...

Good Speaker...

Future Lawyer...

True Friend...

True Lasallian!

Hehehe Cge hangang d2 nalang ako sa susunod nalang ulit =)

* sana wag ka magalit T_T *

Renee2006-06-28T12:06:22Z

hei there my sexy frend!!

.rbee here is a really amazing person.. somone whom i could really depend on in times of hardships... ive known this gal for more than a month lang yet it seems like ive known him for a long tym.., very transparent niya kasi when it comes to showing his real personality.. very true to what he thinks, feels or whatever... basta napakatotoong tao... one more thing i love about this person is that he can be very flexible when it comes to socializing with other people.. mapasino ka man, basta maayos ka kausap, he'll consider you as a friend...

haha.. at first akala ko napakasuplado nito at take note i thought he didnt like me.. so i was kinda thinking twice of getting close to him.. pero nung naging close na kmi.. abah!! nakakagulat!! very cool kasama and hindi nauubusan ng kwento!! lalo na when it cums to issues about hhmm ano pa ba eh di BOYS hahaha!! kaya mahal na mahal ko yan eh.. lagi ko gusto kausap.. hahaha!:)

aryt til here muna i'ma make you another one next time.. laby0o!! mwah!

StarGazer2006-06-26T15:00:52Z

Rbee, a fine chap this guy is and Im sure that he would serve as a good friend to anyone because of his flexibility. His frankness in things are quite remarkable since the trait cant really be found on just anyone yet you are one of the blessed ones to have this. Rbee is so impulsive that theres never a dull moment when you are with this guy right here. Sophisticated and quite refined, this guy is truly a "Ladies man and a man's MAN" hehehe...
Sorry kung late tong testimonial na to alam mo naman, daming mga gawain sa mga subject natin. :P
Sorry na dude... So anyways, Ingats mehn~!

LR33 wont be complete without you man~!

Antoni Pauline2006-06-19T15:11:00Z

rrrring rrring rrring.... "Oo, palabas na. Late kami dinismiss eh."

rrring rrring rrring "oo eto na palabas na"

haha! nothing, just feel like reiterating it once again. haha. ang Best Taray Actress sa OSCARS! woohoo! haha! love ya! see you in class!! muah!

Iggy2006-06-03T09:59:10Z

Rbee, my classmate for 2 years, and also, a very special friend of mine...He helped me in a lot of ways, and I am very grateful...He taught me some important lessons in life, the kind of lessons you don't pick up everyday...He's the kind of person who would stick up for what he believes is right, and the kind of friend that won't leave you hanging in your time of need...I actually am very lucky to have met this person, for in a way, he changed my life...he made me see life in a different light...haha, this testimonial ends here, sad to say...til' next time rbee, till next time... =D

roven daryll2006-05-31T13:49:41Z

rbee...

>she's a damned bitch hu cud certainly make d asshole boiz cry...

>maganda xa eh!!!

>she's? juz rbee..

>rbee is a gud fren of myn (xtra jossa)

>i met him at de la salle-manila... blockm8 kow ang bruhang to...

>ang rami nyang kwento bout her own world...hndi nmn akow nagsswa sa pakikinig!!!

>rbee...close kow to sa class...ksma sa lunch...LA CASITA!!!!

>mhilig xa sa iced tea!!!

>cute pla ng hair moh rbee...kainggit!!!sarapp kulamin...bwahaha!!! luv u!!!

>astig nyang kasma...mataray kya dont mess wid her...

>PATAY kaH!!!..

> luv koh xa xe he's so sweet and true...

>rbee...tym may pass and if sumday diz frenship ends...

I WON'T FORGET D TYMS YOU MADE 'DAL" SMILE!!!

rock on ROQUE BENJAMIN!!!

luvlotz...

ilavu!!!

try her guyz!!!...

HOTTIE!!!

Sara2006-05-31T11:33:04Z

Rbee, my blockmate : ) here's your testimonial dear, i told you i'd make it.. :D anyway, how should i start this? hmmm... lemme start with *her* external features. GRABE, her lashes are to die for, i swear, i envy em! super, i really really want to have lashes like hers. plus grabe, she says fat sya pero c'mon, ang sexy mo parin noh! haha :D real hottie with no cover-ups :D now, internal naman. lol what a word sounds crazy but rbee's frank - as in, it can be comedic at times but although it sounds funny, under the "joke" there's the truth. she wouldn't lie nor even make "charing" people. ;) right rbee? that's why friend ko tong loka-lokang toh eh. she's fun to be with and real down to earth. not afraid of anything... simply "just do it" ang motto ng bruhang ito haha :D

rbee ah? ingat palage and remember that i'm here for you always! love na love kita gurl! :D mwaaah!

Ernest2006-05-27T13:34:47Z

RB, You ROCK my World!

phi-phi2006-04-14T13:55:02Z

hi rbee... miss na kita.. hehe... magparamdam ka naman... di mo ba alam umiiyak ako pag di kita nakakausap... haha... sana sa college kasama padin kita.. booommm... grabe kasi nakakamiss yung mga times na pinapagalitan mo ko eh. mga times na gusto mo na ko saksakin.. mga times na lagi umiinit ulo mo sakin.. grabe mamimiss ko yun.. oi wag kang iiyak ha.. haha... alam ko namang miss na miss mo din ako eh.. pero kailangan talaga magkahiwalay.. malay mo.. chumamba makita mo pa ako sa lasalle, kami ni potty kung matanggap kami... kung hindi man, nasa tapat lang kami, sa csb nagpapaka gago... alam ko rbee, alam ko.. habang binabasa mo ito, umiiyak ka na, humahagulgol, at sinasabi sa sarili : wag mo kong iwan!!! hehe... pero rbee okay lang yan, alam ko yang iyak na yan para sakin... we'll not be in vain.. hahaha!!!! dahil pag wala na ako sa harapan mo, ikaw ay nasa puso ko padin... booom!!! basta ingat ka nalang pare...

TISH2006-03-06T13:40:52Z

hey rbee..:) so this is how u spell your nme..:) all the whle i thought "rb" lang..:) R-B-E-E pala..:) nice..:) haha..:) well.:) i often chat with him na sa ym..:) wla lang... haha..:) he's super friendly..:) super fashionista....:) i liked what he wore nun prom nila..:) simple yet stylish...:) no joke..:) uhhh... he has a great sense of humor...:) he can make u smile a lot by jus being himself..:) he's also soo fun to talk with..:) im not lying... try talking to him if u want..:) i also heard from franz that he's a great v-ball player..:) nax!!! ...:) grbe ahh..:) he has a great personality na nga great athlete pa..:) well.:) till here na lang.;) just txt me if u nid anything..:)

dearest, sweetest and pretty rbee...,

hi rbee, here na ung retreat letter mo..ahem

ahem..rbee, thanks for being a really really really

great friend.. thanks for being understanding..

thanks for being really sweet.. and most of all..

thanks for spending your time with me..

rbee.. sana dont think na that your a bad

person.. cause ur really not.. and your the

complete opposite.. your the perfect one.. kxe

your make many people's day "complete and

colorful"... and im one of them.. sana rin wag kang

pesimistic.. kxe mawawala beauty mo.. hehehe..

joke lang.. hinding hindi mawawala un...

you know why did i give you that gift? kxe dba..

im your friend?? and all i want is to see you smile

and for you to be comfortable in life... kaya i gave

you a pillow... its soft so it can comfort you.. so it

could ease your pain when you have problems.. so

you can remember me when you see it.. para

matuwa ka. hehehehe... and kya may smile un..

para na rin matuwa ka sa looks nya kxe cute....

hehehe...

rbee.. forgive me sometimes kung JERK ako

and ASSHOLE... sorry rin kung madrama ako sau

minsan... sorry rin if i hurt you.. sorry rin if i make

you remember your painful past... sorry na

matataasan kita this quarter.. hehehehe..

PERO... im not sorry for falling in love with you..

kasi i saw that you were pretty outside.. but most

of all, i saw what was really inside.. i saw YOU

rbee.. the Rbee who is sweet, caring, and

everything.. hehehehe...

sana youll always be the same rbee.. sana you

wont change.. cause i know that i wont.. and how i

feel for you.. pero.. kung mag change ka.. ok

lang.. kasi.. no matter what happens, ill always be

right here beside you.. caring and loving... khit

na im no one compared to others.. hehehehe..

drama nanaman...

bsta rbee.. youre a great person.. and most

importantly.. a great friend.. for me.. there will

never ever be another.. rbee... the friend who

always cared.. the sweetest and most beautiful

friend.. take care always friend... LOVE YOU

FRIEND!!!.. MWAH!!!...

-It ends here-

The Best Speech Ive Ever Read....

2011-05-05T03:47:00.000-07:00

Over the years, I have been a fan of prominent political personalities in the Philippines, of their wit and their wisdom in dealing with things and most of all in presenting their speeches... I have read dozens of speeches from such Filipino's with the likes of:

President Ferdinand Marcos in his Mandate of Greatness Speech wherein he reiterated that:

"This nation can be great again. This I have said over and over. It is my articles of faith, and Divine Providence has willed that you and I can now translate this faith into deeds."

Ninoy Aquino's speech before the Asia Society wherein his very famous line was said:

"Is the Filipino worth suffering, or even dying, for? Is he not a coward who would readily yield to any colonizer, be he foreign or home-grown? Is a Filipino more comfortable under an authoritarian leader because he does not want to be burdened with the freedom of choice? Is he unprepared or, worse, ill-suited for presidential or parliamentary democracy?

I have carefully weighed the virtues and the faults of the Filipino and I have come to the conclusion that he is worth dying for because he is the nation’s greatest untapped resource

Mr. Marcos: Give us back our freedom or suffer the consequences of your arrogance.”

These people may have already been dead at present together with their idealism, perspectives and beliefs... But their speeches immortalized their being, up to this day we remember them for what they said and what they did....

Of all the speeches that I have read in my entire life... the best for me would be the one by Carlos P. Romulo entitled, "I Am A Filipino". It encompasses the greatness of our race, the struggles, the triumphs and even the downside moments... Reading such masterpiece enriches my mind, but most of all it touches the my very soul that reminds me to love myself and be proud to be a Filipino no matter what happens, I'll always be a Filipino...

Below is the excerpt of the speech that fueled my heart and passion to be a good citizen of this country:

I am a Filipino – inheritor of a glorious past, hostage to the uncertain future.  As such, I must prove equal to a two-fold task – the task of meeting my responsibility to the past, and the task of performing my obligation to the future.

I am sprung from a hardy race – child many generations removed of ancient Malayan pioneers. Across the centuries, the memory comes rushing back to me: of brown-skinned men putting out to sea in ships that were as frail as their hearts were stout.  Over the sea I see them come, borne upon the billowing wave and the whistling wind, carried upon the mighty swell of hope – hope in the free abundance of the new land that was to be their home and their children’s forever.

This is the land they sought and found.  Every inch of shore that their eyes first set upon, every hill and mountain that beckoned to them with a green and purple invitation, every mile of rolling plain that their view encompassed, every river and lake that promised a plentiful living and the fruitfulness of commerce, is a hollowed spot to me.

By the strength of their hearts and hands, by every right of law, human and divine, this land and all the appurtenances thereof – the black and fertile soil, the seas and lakes and rivers teeming with fish, the forests with their inexhaustible wealth in wild and timber, the mountains with their bowels swollen with minerals – the whole of this rich and happy land has been for centuries without number, the land of my fathers.  This land I received in trust from them, and in trust will pass it to my children, and so on until the world is no more.

I am a Filipino. In my blood runs the immortal seed of heroes – seed that flowered down the centuries in deeds of courage and defiance.  In my veins yet pulses the same hot blood that sent Lapulapu to battle against the alien foe, that drove Diego Silang and Dagohoy into rebellion against the foreign oppressor,

That seed is immortal.  It is the self-same seed that flowered in the heart of Jose Rizal that morning in Bagumbayan when a volley of shots put an end to all that was mortal of him and made his spirit deathless forever; the same that flowered in the hearts of Bonifacio in Balintawak, of Gregorio del Pilar at Tirad Pass, of Antonio Luna at Calumpit, that bloomed in flowers of frustration in the sad heart of Emilio Aguinaldo at Palanan, and yet burst forth royally again in the proud heart of Manuel L. Quezon when he stood at last on the threshold of ancient Malacanang Palace, in the symbolic act of possession and racial vindication.

The seed I bear within me is an immortal seed.  It is the mark of my manhood, the symbol of my dignity as a human being.  Like the seeds that were once buried in the tomb of Tutankhamen many thousands of years ago, it shall grow and flower and bear fruit again.  It is the insigne of my race, and my generation is but a stage in the unending search of my people for freedom and happiness.

I am a Filipino, child of the marriage of the East and the West.  The East, with its languor and mysticism, its passivity and endurance, was my mother, and my sire was the West that came thundering across the seas with the Cross and Sword and the Machine.  I  am of the East, an eager participant in its struggles for liberation from the imperialist yoke.  But I know also that the East must awake from its centuried sleep, shake off the lethargy that has bound its limbs, and start moving where destiny awaits.

For I, too, am of the West, and the vigorous peoples of the West have destroyed forever the peace and quiet that once were ours.  I can  no longer live, a being apart from those whose world now trembles to the roar of bomb and cannon shot.  For no man and no nation is an island, but a part of the main, and there is no longer any East and West – only individuals and nations making those momentous choices that are the hinges upon which history revolves.

At the vanguard of progress in this part of the world I stand – a forlorn figure in the eyes of some, but not one defeated and lost.  For through the thick, interlacing branches of habit and custom above me I have seen the light of the sun, and I know that it is good.  I have seen the light of justice and equality and freedom, my heart has been lifted by the vision of democracy, and I shall not rest until my land and my people shall have been blessed by these, beyond the power of any man or nation to subvert or destroy.

I am a Filipino, and this is my inheritance.  What pledge shall I give that I may prove worthy of my inheritance?  I shall give the pledge that has come ringing down the corridors of the centuries, and its hall be compounded of the joyous cries of my Malayan forebears when they first saw the contours of this land loom before their eyes, of the battle cries that have resounded in every field of combat from Mactan to Tirad Pass, of the voices of my people when they sing:

Land of the morning.

Child of the sun returning . . .

Ne’er shall invaders

Trample thy sacred shore.

Out of the lush green of these seven thousand isles, out of the heart-strings of sixteen million people all vibrating to one song, I shall weave the mighty fabric of my pledge. Out of the songs of the farmers at sunrise when they go to labor in the fields; out the sweat of the hard-bitten pioneers in Mal-ig and Koronadal; out of the silent endurance of stevedores at the piers and the ominous grumbling of peasants in Pampanga; out of the first cries of babies newly born and the lullabies that mothers sing; out of crashing of gears and the whine of turbines in the factories; out of the crunch of ploughs upturning the earth; out of the limitless patience of teachers in the classrooms and doctors in the clinics; out of the tramp of soldiers marching, I shall make the pattern of my pledge:

I am a Filipino born of freedom, and I shall not rest until freedom shall have been added unto my inheritance – for myself and my children’s – forever.

My Battle Cry

2011-03-31T01:36:00.000-07:00

photo by: cheshirecatstudios.com

Damn the people who bastardized others amelioration away from a life of routine!

Damn the people who ostracize the so called "few" for living a life of color, a life defiant from the stereotypical/traditional point of view...

Respect begets respect!

Mind your own backyard first, it aint that clean as well!

Aly Borromeo sends me a Greeting

2011-03-17T08:01:00.000-07:00

My sister was with the Team AZKALS a month ago. So he asked Aly Borromeo to greet me through this video... =)

********************************************************************************

Alexander Charles Luis "Aly" Borromeo (born 6 June 1983) is an American born Filipino footballer who plays for Kaya and is the current captain of the Philippines national team. Previously a goalkeeper, he has since become a utility player, playing as a central midfielder or center forward for his club and mainly as a central defender for the national team.

If things had turned out differently, we would have been watching Alexandre Charles “Aly” Luis Borromeo on the parallel bars, rather than on the football field.

As a young boy, the Azkals' team captain was involved in a variety of sports — gymnastics, basketball, tennis, golf, and football — and would have pursued them all if his school hadn't made him settle on just one sport.

“On my fourth year I had to choose just one sport because my grades were going down, so I chose my one true love — football,” Aly says.

It is a relationship that has definitely turned out well. As the Azkals' captain for close to seven years now, the 29-year-old Borromeo has led his team to ecstatic highs, most recently at the AFF Suzuki Cup, where the team defeated regional football powerhouse Singapore as well as Suzuki Cup defending champion Vietnam.

“I expected us to do well in the Suzuki Cup, but we never expected to defeat Vietnam, the defending champions,” he says. “I always knew that the boys had it in them not to give up, to be strong, and to be mentally composed. That was achieved.”

Borromeo and the Azkals are now touted as the driving force behind the renewed interest in football here in this basketball-crazed country. Tickets to their February 9 game against Mongolia, to be held at Bacolod's Panaad Stadium, are already sold out. Studio 23, which aired their Suzuki Cup matches against Indonesia, even said that ratings went through the roof!

Not just pretty faces
But it hasn't always looked this rosy for football in the country, or even for Borromeo's involvement in the sport. As much attention as the sport is getting now, he admits that unlike basketball players, the country's football players would not be able to support themselves by just playing football professionally.

“Here in the Philippines, you can't rely on playing football professionally. I have to work part-time and I do that now in my dad's company. If I didn't go into football, I would have put up some kind of business,” he says.

Even the team's quick ascent to popularity has been harped on by critics, who question\ the number of half-Filipinos on the team, and football's viability here in the country. “I think there are 70 percent local guys and the other 30 percent are foreigners. Most of the guys on the team have Filipino blood. No matter what, they're still going to be allowed to play and the local guys accept that. We all have one goal in mind and that is to win games,” Borromeo proclaims.

“Non-believers should just watch the sport. If they can see the physical demands and what we go through everyday, they'll see we're not just pretty faces and that we can play the game. It's fun and it's a team sport. Your confidence and your skills builds up,” he continues.

As to why he himself perseveres in a sport that is facing an uphill climb towards gaining a foothold in the country? Borromeo is candid in his response. “I don't know why I persevere. It's the feeling of being in a team sport. There's a different feeling when you make that one goal and you bang it at the back of the net,” he explains. “The whole flow of the game is enjoyable. It's not like any other sport. With football you have to be patient, you have to wait for the right time.”

Football for Pinoys
Football, says Borromeo, is an ideal sport for young Filipino people.

“It's not an individual sport and you need to have confidence in one another. For the kids, if they like to run around and chase balls and each other, this is the sport for them,” he says. “It's not true that you need a large venue to be able to play football. You can just paint a goal on the wall, you just need a ball and a couple of guys and you can play against each other.”

With Filipinos here and abroad watching closely, Borromeo promises a more aggressive team in the upcoming match against Mongolia in Bacolod.

“We're going to be an offense-oriented team and we're going to score our goals against Mongolia. We're going to try to finish them off in the first leg before we head off to the cold weather of Mongolia. We're going to do that right away,” he says.

Borromeo says a win against Mongolia is crucial if the sport is to make headway in thehearts and minds of Filipinos. “We really need to win and keep the momentum going so we can keep awareness going. We want people to be aware of the games and we don't want basketballs to be dribbled on the streets but footballs. We have to start with the youth, and hopefully in the future we can create a future for football in this country now,” he ends.

article from: http://www.mb.com.ph/node/302081/aly-borromeo-

PTBP Syndrome

2011-03-11T21:46:00.000-08:00

PTBP...

Philippine Tax Bureau Protection?

Please Take Back my Puso?

Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase - Beta?

Ano ba ang PTPB na binabanggit ko dito? Alam niyo ba? Do you guys have any idea?

Its actually Proud To Be Pinoy... syndrome ba ito?

People might actually disagree or agree with my opinion regarding the said topic...I don't care if you don't... haha...

For me, ang PTPB ay ang syndrome kung saan ang mga Pilipino ay walang sawang ipinaggyayabang at ipinagmamalaki ang mga kapwa Pilipinong namamayagpag sa kanikanilang larangan na kinikilala sa buong mundo. Good examples of which are Manny Pacquiao, Charice, Lea Salonga at kung sino sino pa...

Masama bang ipagyabang, humanga at ipagmalaki ang mga ito? HINDI... i actually do feel proud about them... Manny Pacquiao with his 8 world titles in boxing, Charice being called as the most talented girl in the world, Lea Salonga as the only Filipino who won the Olivier and Tony awards.

I get it, nakakaproud naman talaga kasi kababayan natin, kasi kalahi natin.

PERO

Bakit ang mga Pilipino sa youtube at kung saan saan pang websites.. never ending ang comments nilang PTPB... to the extent na parang inaangkin nadin nila ung tagumpay ng mga Pilipinong ito. Tama ba yun? Okay lang sigurong sabihin na "Wow, nakakaproud naman. Goodluck" pero ung ipamudmod at ipamukha sa buong mundo na PINOY NA PINAKAMAGALING, PINOY LANG MAY KAYA NIYAN etc... nakakainis... nakakahiya...

Nakakainis kasi...

First, ask yourselves... ano ba natulong mo sa tagumpay nila? sa narating nila?
Second... wala ba kayong maipagmalaki sa mga sarili niyo? I mean why ride on w/ their achievements?!?!

Kahit wala kayo mananalo si Pacquiao kasi nagtraining siya, malakas siya sumuntok, mabilis at magaling... do you think kung majority sa inyo hindi siya suportahan, hindi na siya mananalo? NO! wala ka nga mismo sa venue ng mga laban eh... buti sana kung ikaw nag train, buti sana kung may tinulong ka...

Si Charice, luck and proper timing... noong natalo siya sa LBS pinansin niyo ba ung bata? I mean did you even second guess that she can be what she is now? Ngayon siya na ang most talented in the world kuno... PINANSIN na ng Pilipino, sinuportahan na... kala mo mga die hard fans since LBS days pero hindi... NAKIRIDE sa kasikatan ng bata dahil kinikilala sa buong mundo. yan ba ang PROUD?

Si Lea Salonga kahit wala kayo, mananalo padin yan ng Oliver at Tony award dahil magaling siyang singer, maganda boses at pinaghirapan niya ang mga narating niya...

Si Regine Velasquez, hindi pinapansin noong CHONA VELASQUEZ pa siya pero nung naging ASIA'S SONGBIRD... halabira ang mga Pilipino... kulang nalang sambahin siya... (baka sabihin niyo isa ako dun... oo sinasamba ko si regine velasquez... hindi dahil Pinoy siya kung hindi dahil sa talento niya.)

Im sure by now dami ng galit.. sasabihan ako na makapal mukha ko, ano ba pakialam ko...

Siguro nga wala akong pakialam, pero blog ko ito so mind your own business.. LOL

Gets niyo ba ang sinasabi ko?

Pinoys tend to over exposed their nationality... MAGNIFIED lagi... Dapat lagi talagang sinasabi na" Wow, ang galing PTBP". Hello?!?! Try niyo sa youtube vids ni Charice/Lea/Regine... majority ng comments may PTBP...

Eto pa kinaiinis ko...
Alam natin na maraming half pinoy sa Hollywood... as in super sa glee meron, sa pussycat dolls meron, project runway, fashion industry, modeling industry, music industry etc... may half pinoy...

Ayan nanaman ang PTPB syndrome... todo proclaim nanaman na "She's half Filipina..." or "He has Filipino blood..."

WHAT THE HELL? FOREIGNERS DONT GIVE A DAMN! WALA SILANG PAKIALAM KUNG HALF YAN OR 1/4, 1/8 pinoy.... wala silang care noh!

Dahil ba may Pinoy na blood? HINDI! kesyo half chinese, korean, mongolian pa yan.. wala silang pakialam...

Pilipino lang ang gumagawa ng big deal regarding sa lahi... dahil ba proud? pwede... or dahil wala silang maipagmalaki sa sarili nila kaya kumakapit sa iba...

Go evaluate what i said... ang ibang lahi ba ganyan? some maybe pero not as EXTREME as PTPB... naiinis na nga ang ibang lahi sa mga pinoy eh because of this PTPB syndrome.. masyado daw natin inaassociate ang lahat ng bagay sa usapang race... na hindi naman dapat!!!

Sa Hollywood palang, diverse na ang mga lahi... pero they don't magnify it. Basta nasa Amerika ka.. you are considered American whether you have Indian, Japanese, Turkish, Aussie or FILIPINO blood or decent.

Gets niyo ba ang sentiments ko?

Ako, Im a PROUD FILIPINO... always have and always will... I love my own, I love my country... I will fight for this nation, government, people and race... Because its my responsibility as a citizen of this Republic... and because I am a FILIPINO...

The bottomline here is that those people who we are proud of are in their prime or in their situations not because they are Filipinos or because they live here in the Philippines but because they are talented people... because of hardwork, luck, faith...

-end-

A Different Take on Ferdinand Marcos and Ninoy Aquino

2011-02-23T09:11:00.000-08:00

The anniversary of EDSA 1 is fast approaching, and I believe that this article written by Nemenzo, Gemma from Filipinas (August 2008) is very timely and INTERESTING.

The title of the article is "A Different Take: An Interview with Rep. Roquito Ablan." A lot of you may not know him, but during the Marcos Era, he was a "force" back then.

Filipinos are made to believe that Ferdinand E. Marcos and Ninoy Aquino were really arch nemesis, rivals, and even foes. But from this interview, we can see the A DIFFERENT VIEW on what was really happening during those times.

So here it is....

Ablan shaking hands with Pres. Marcos

While writing a book about Upsilon Sigma Phi, the fraternity both Ferdinand Marcos and Ninoy Aquino belonged to, Filipinas managing editor, Gemma Nemenzo, did a one-on-one interview with Congressman Roquito Ablan of Ilocos Norte.

Ablan had the unique privilege of being close to both Ninoy, his batchmate in Upsilon (batch 1950), and Marcos, the undisputed lord of Ablan's province. With such proximity to the two political superstars of that era, the congressman had a ringside view of what was happening behind the scenes of the Marcos-Aquino saga.

Is he credible?

People close to Marcos confirm that Roquito Ablan then had a direct line to the former president. Upsilonians also know that he and Ninoy Aquino remained close friends.

Here are excerpts from the interview:

I first met Ninoy at the University of the Philippines (UP) when we were neophytes in 1950. He was a professional absentee from classes. I was working with LUSTEVECO then so I had an open expense account so I would gas up Ninoy's car.

The two of us were the most hazed neophytes in our batch. Our initiation lasted one year and one semester. We joined Upsilon because it was "the only frat in UP"; to be an Upsilonian, you must be good.

Ninoy and FM (Ferdinand Marcos) were more than friends. When Ninoy was in detention, he and FM would speak with scrambler telephones. During FM's state visit to the U.S. in 1982, the two of them talked for an hour about good times.

FM was actually considering Ninoy as his successor. He admired Ninoy for his being a courageous fighter and his vigor. They were on the same wavelength.

In fact, Ninoy's "Iron Butterfly" speech against Imelda and the Folk Arts Theater was edited by FM. I know because I was the intermediary. From the very beginning, FM gave instructions to the military to be lenient with Ninoy.

I met up with Ninoy in New York on April 22, 1983, which was my birthday. He told me he needed a passport. secretary of Foreign Affairs Collantes had earlier issued a memo stating no renewal for Ninoy's passport. So I checked with FM on the phone and Joey Ampeso, a consular officer assigned in New Orleans and an Upsilonian, was asked to assist Ninoy, which he did.

During that New York meeting, Ninoy also told me that he went to see his doctor and his medical exam might require him to rest for six months because of some heart complication. In July that year, Ninoy was told by the State Department that FM was sick and that "if I don't go home, I will not be president."

In early August, FM and Ninoy talked about the latter returning to the Philippines and FM told him not to come home yet because he (FM) was weak and he couldn't protect Ninoy.

On August 17, there was an earthquake in Laoag, Ilocos Norte, so I had to be there as acting governor. I sent two planes to meet Ninoy in Taipei but the first plane, which carried a top officer, could not locate him because he was using a passport with a different name. FM's instructions were to bring Ninoy to Basa Air Base, load him in the presidential helicopter and bring him here to Manila, to protect him.

On August 20, I left Laoag at 10 in the evening so I could be in Manila in time to meet Ninoy at the airport. I didn't think much of it then, but my plane was grounded (by someone who knew the chain of command) and the second plane was prevented from taking off When I was driving to the international airport, my car was delayed because of a rally of another Upsilonian, Doy Laurel, in front of Baclaran Church. I arrived at the airport 12 minutes after Ninoy was shot. Someone met me and said "wala na si Ninoy (Ninoy is gone)." I cried like a baby when I found out what happened. If I arrived on time I could have escorted Ninoy from the aircraft and he would not have been shot, or I would have been shot along with him on the stairs.

Nemenzo, Gemma "A Different Take: An Interview with Rep. Roquito Ablan". Filipinas. FindArticles.com. 23 Feb, 2011. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_7537/is_200808/ai_n32289968/

SMILE MAGAZINE: My Travel Blog

2011-02-19T20:59:00.000-08:00

For the February-March issue of Cebu Pacific's SMILE MAGAZINE, my travel blog for Laoag City is featured. So I would like to share it to my fellow bloggers and readers. Thanks!

LOCAL LIFE
City	Laoag City
Full Name	Rbee C. Ablan
Designation	Virtual Assistant
Touchdown	There are no taxi cabs in Laoag, the best way for you to travel within the city - tricycles and jeepneys. The fare is only Php 8 per person.
By Day	Laoag in particular is not all about its impressive stretches of beautiful sceneries, antiquated towns dominated by heavily-buttressed grand churches and ancestral homes. But you can also embark to new experiences like the 4x4 adventure & sandboarding at the sand dunes ( the setting of Mel Gibson's "Mad Max" series and Tom Cruise's "Born on the Fourth of July."), enchanting kayaking at paoay lake and a springs picnics haven at karingking waters wherein hiking, water tubing and manual cable car awaits you.
By Night	The city has retained pretty much an unhurried, laid-back lifestyle. Ebar, Bistro and Kalye are nice hangout places at night, La Preciosa would be a nice place for a family/romantic dinner with your love ones.
Sleep	Laoag City is the gateway of the north for international tourists with this I recommend the posh Fort Ilocandia Resort Hotel where in a dream vacation awaits you, as they bridge leisure and history as part of your stay.
Travel Tips	Try some Ilocos products such as BAGNET, LONGANISA, SUKANG ILOKO, and the famous Laoag Empanada. Try Saramsams Pinakbet Pizza, Dinuguan Pizza, Poque Poque Pizza and Longanisa Pizza if you wanna experience something local. Also, visit the Museo Ilocos Norte, there is an entrance fee of Php 20. The place has many interesting old stuff on display and it also has a souvenir shop inside. You’re allowed to take photos inside.

News For Sale: The Corruption of the Philippine Media

2011-02-17T12:02:00.000-08:00

photo: emilyjaneolson.wordpress.com

The article entitled, ““News For Sale: The Corruption of the Philippine Media” written by Chay Florentino-Hofilena approaches the idea of how Philippine Media evolve through the years. It illustrates the peculiarity and distinction of media corruption in the post-Marcos era. The dissertation reveals how steep, more persistent and even more prearranged it was and also how distressingly creative and more intricate to detect such corruption practices in the Media. During the said epoch, dealings and connections have become more refined, and in some cases, even institutionalized. The manner in which the process of corruption is systemized is by means of network structure between journalists, public officials, and professional public relation people. The network itself is somewhat resembling and comparable with the operation of a criminal syndicate or much worst, a mafia of corrupt practitioners. Sadly, corruption in the media really exists. Salaries are low and businesses and politicians often buy favorable coverage. Some radio commentators use their microphones to peddle influence, and the military has also used radio journalists to foment unrest against communist and Muslim insurgents. Basically, the paper tackles the history of media corruption in the Philippines and it investigates corrupt habits in the 1990s, and ascertained how a free press can be bought. Most of all it tells us how the Marcos era began such tradition wherein powerful families are investing in the media to cement political and business influence for future purposes but the most endearing damage done by Marcos' martial law is that, it dismantled the structure of the press, it weakened the professionalism and ultimately politicized the media to a staggering degree.

After reading the whole article, I have come to realized that the Mass Media is not very different at all from other institutions in the Philippines like the government. Although they like to congratulate themselves over how they are the institution people turn to for justice and retribution, the truth is that the Mass Media are just as corrupt as any other government agency, and far more cunning and hypocritical in denying and hiding the fact. Some might portray the media as selfless defenders of press freedom, the reality is, the Mass Media is just as corrupt and dishonest as the people and institutions they attack, criticize, expose and defame. This saddens me a lot, personally I felt betrayed for the Filipino people! Why? Because for me, the media should be one of the principal vehicles for informing the public about corrupt activities, they should not associate themselves with corrupt acts! They must be the one investigating and reporting on corruption. They must be the one who will shed light on the wrongdoings of public office holders and corporate executives alike. Especially at this point in time, the 2010 election is just around the corner. The Filipino people will vote for a new President, Senators, and local government officials that will serve us for how many years. And during elections, Media plays a vital role. They will be the one to present the candidates and make the voters know more about the candidates. They let them talk. They let you see the candidates. They provide vivid pictures of what candidates propose to do. They help build party decisions. They provide reasons for changes in political strategies. They facilitate budgeting financial resources for a campaign ad and for running a campaign. Those who invest in media unwittingly carve pathways either to a lose or a victory in the final counting of votes. The more the investments, the bigger and wider those pathways become. The sturdier the pathways, the better the chances of winning. The more pathways, the easier becomes the road to an elegant victory in the polls. Media pathways lead to the hearts and minds of voters that is why they must be free from corrupt practices. But in reality, Media is not always about the truth. It may merely be the dishing out of information, or an attempt to dissuade, persuade, or condition a belief. Unfortunately, candidates who have taken the bold step of talking about their perceptions of the role of the media, as they were invited to candidates’ fora, simply settled for that unpolished objective which is to enable the media to disseminate information, to enable communications to facilitate the diffusion of science and technology. But through all of this, I still believe that there are still few conscientious media people who have leaped to the right direction for the course of life that is there, defined or them and their industry. I cannot help but think that there others in greater number who are emerging to join the flock of the corrupt media, secretly or lacking a sense of embedded profession and the twin sense of excellence in doing their supposedly patriotic and heroic job, to remain misdirected. It is their misdirection that leads voters and candidates to vote for someone incapable of a position in politics and this now affects the present and future of our country.

Everyone's Allegory of the Cave (Inspired by Plato)

2011-02-17T11:58:00.000-08:00

photo: extraordinaryintelligence.com

I believe that in every one of us, there is a unique rare individual that will try to break out of their small little box or shell and with this starts a long, labyrinthine journey wherein this person will tend to discover a higher realm of reality and intellect and realize in the end the true meaning of his/her existence. For me, a person such as this is highly the paramount entity to govern the society. The knowledge of this person is not limited compared to the others but rather this person holds worthwhile knowledge that is ultimately important in life. Because of such uniqueness, this person might be misunderstood and misapprehended by those people who think different from him, by those people below the knowledge that this person has, by those people who are ordinary and have not yet come out of their own little caves. These ordinary people are not seeing reality or in other words they are rejecting what is real but instead they choose to believe and accept what they only know which is just shadowy representation of what is real. I recognized the idea that there is a very important aspect in this life which is that there are unseen and concealed truths behind or lying under the visible surface of things which only these unique, rare and enlightened individuals can only take hold of. Another realization that I have come about is the importance of education; the process of how that rare and unique individual came out of the cave is a process of education. Education is not a manner and means of laying knowledge into unfilled minds but rather of making people realize that which they already know or in other words truth is long been embedded in our minds!!! We just need to tap in enlightenment to achieve such!

Everyone's allegory of the cave can be resembled with a movie house wherein the movie projector will be the fire, the film or the negatives supplants the objects which radiates the shadows, the projected movie or the movie itself will be the shadows on the cave wall, and most of all the echo in the cave will be the loudspeakers or the sounds that surrounds the movie theater.

Not just a HOUSE but also a HOME

2011-02-17T11:37:00.000-08:00

The house where my family lives in was built in the early 80’s but was originally owned by our Yugoslavian friend Tanya Tomanovich. The structure is unique compared to those houses here in our village. It has a mixture of Filipino and American ornamentation and design in the perspective of a Yugoslavian. The house is a three storey structure which stands in a 150 square meter lot. It consists of one master bedroom, three bedrooms, one guestroom, one maids’ and drivers’ quarter, five bathrooms, two living rooms, a dining room and a dirty kitchen, two storage rooms, a garage and a foyer. Our house has two main doors, one is made of wood from an acacia tree and the other is a sliding door made up of thick glass and metal. The walls are made up of cement and stone, the floor is marble, the ceilings are wood. Our ceilings are not that high which is why we usually adopt with the outdoor temperature. Every room has huge and wide windows for air circulation and light passage; also, it has connecting doors for a faster and easy access in every room of the house to save time and for manageable movement. For me, the two living rooms are intended for the family and visitors to interact and socialize, it can be collaborated with the Filipino perspective of extended family and family love. Having many bathrooms is a plus factor, we don’t need to wait for someone to finish, and we don’t need to rush our bathroom activities, if ever a party is held at home the visitors won’t be having any problems too. The drivers quarter is located in the first floor for a reason and that is to keep guard of the main doors while the maids quarter is in the third floor for them to attend with our needs faster, because going down the stairs is easier compared to going up. In addition, the house has two staircases; the first staircase connects the first floor to the second floor and the other stairway connects the first, second and the third floor. For me having two stairways is a positive thing, especially for a big family like us. It may prevent crowdedness and also it leads to a quicker and faster access in the different levels of our house. In the question, how is your house a place versus a space, well first and foremost my house is a place for it has a purpose. It is where my family lives; it is where my family feels safe and secured. For me, my house symbolizes the structure of our family; its size, its interior and exterior design, everything about it manifests what my family is or in short our house mirrors how my family is. Also, it is a place for it is not only a house where we live in but it is more of a home. In this house, we have already experienced a lot of things, meaning it has always been part of our lives and our family history. We have a lot of reminiscences to remember whether these are good or bad memories. Like the first time my family moved in here, the first neighbors we met then later became our friends, my petty quarrels with my sisters, the New Year celebrations and many more. Moreover, it is our family heritage! Our house is not a space for it is not only built just for the sake of building the house, it is not designed to be like this for the sake of designing, but it is built and designed for a reason and that reason is my family’s vision of a home.

Talking about vision of a home, one interesting minority group here in the archipelago are the Tausug people who are found in Sulu. As I quoted one of my sources “The Tausug house is made up of bamboo and lumber. It has a sala, a rectangular room beneath a thatched roof. Some house showcase elaborate wood carving and have slits instead of windows. This is both for protection and to keep its young maidens from view. They are fond of inviting many guests to their parties thus their sala is filled with thick mattresses and mats covered with colorful cloths, that are laid on the floor and large pillows placed against the wall.” As we can see my family and the Tausug people have commonalities in terms of accompanying visitors but also we can see a vast difference in terms of style, design, structure and reason for building the house. The idea of the house building tradition of the Tausug people where the parts of the house are coordinated with the parts of the human body is very interesting and remarkable. If I was to do that in my house then the masters’ bedroom would be the human heart and the brain, because in our house my mom is a source of love, passion, knowledge and inspiration. The other bedrooms will be the hands and the arms while the maids and drivers quarter will be the legs and the feet because in a house cooperation is needed within the people living inside it, whether you’re the boss or you’re the helper, one cannot complete a task without the help of the other just like with the arms and hands or the feet and the legs. The body will be the main edifice of the house for it supports the other parts of the house. For me, the living room will be the mouth because this is where socialization takes place, then the nose can be associated with the kitchen because the nose can smell various types of food aroma. The windows of the house can be the eyes because we can see the horizon and many things outside the window.

Sources: Cabalfin, Edson. “Intersections and Exoticism.” Reconfiguring the Historiography of Philippine Art Deco Architectures.(2003). Pages 26-39.

Cabalfin, Edson. “Conquest and Resistance”. Intersections of Colonialism and Modernity in Twentieth-Century Philippine Architectures.(2005).

“Philippine Provincial Profile.” The Provincial Profile of Sulu.1998. http://www.geocities.com/lppsec/pp/sulu.htm.

The Beauty of the Songbird

2011-02-17T11:30:00.000-08:00

Since its her 25th year in the Showbiz Industry... as an avid fan, it is my responsibility to create a masterpiece for my one and only SONGBIRD, Regina Encarnacion Ansong Velasquez...

Ever since I was a child, I have always been an aficionado of the Disney Princesses because they possess and hold an incomparable beauty and glamour. Each Disney Princess has there own exceptional persona and character that really rendered my interests in them. However I was not only stricken with their beauty and glamour but also I learned to love the different stories that each princess have gone through. Such as Princess Aurora’s 100 years of deep sleep, Princess Ariel’s venture to human hood, Princess Snow White’s apple poisoning and most of all the story of Cinderella. Every story made me realized the other side of beauty, its true sense and meaning.

What is it? Are there objective standards of beauty? Or is beauty in the eye of the beholder? Must a person be beautiful to be considered great? What is the effect of experiencing beauty in life? I have chosen a very interesting topic, as I believe that her story encompasses my understanding of what Beauty really is.

Before we even heard and knew of her Cinderella story, there was just her phenomenal voice of which was never heard of in the Philippine music history. It became all the more mind-blowing, astonishing and extraordinary when one beheld the singer, a young woman whose delicate frame and features contradict her fragile aura. The infirmity vanishes from the first note of a song and in its place, an astounding blend of deep emotion and perceptible splendor is experienced. That beauty is Regine Velasquez.

photo: pinoyexchange.com

Regine also known affectionately as the Asia's Songbird around the world is a true story of rags to riches. Few people who have heard her amazing voice can say that they have never heard her equally inspiring life story. Much like a fairy tale, her humble beginnings in Bulacan have not dismayed this naturally talented singer in surpassing the performance calibers of formally trained singers of her generation. She started to sing at the age of four and upon discovering her incredible singing talent her parents supported her love for music. At age ten, Regine could be found standing neck-deep in the beach singing. It was to train her to use her diaphragm in singing and to strengthen her lungs. Teresita her mom taught her how to evoke emotion while Mang Gerry her dad helped her develop a technique in reaching high notes. She started joining singing contests at the age of ten but triumph was not always on her side. She entered 200 singing contests but only won 67 of them. She got tired of joining such contests but this didn’t stop her because it is their source of income. Her dad quit his job just to support her and be with her in every singing contest she joined. This was her motivation; she strived harder and harder to attain what she has now and what she has achieved. The year 1989 was the start of her booming career especially after winning the Asia Pacific Singing Contest, which was held in Hong Kong at the same year. This contest gave her the coveted title of Asia’s Songbird that gave her celebrity status and made her an Asian superstar. That same year, she collaborated a song with Jacky Cheung entitled "In Love With You," which reached the MTV Asia and Channel V’s top 20 music charts. She has also collaborated with artists such as Paul Anka, David Hasselhoff, 98 Degrees, Brian McKnight, Mandy Moore, Ronan Keating, Stephen Bishop, Jim Brickman, Peabo Bryson, Jeffrey Osborne, Dave Koz , Lea Salonga, Grasshopper, Coco Lee, Michel Legrand, David Pomeranz, Eduardo Capetillo and Billy Crawford. More blessings came along her way; some of her albums had good response from neighbor Asian countries achieving triple platinum, 2 double platinum and 2 golds from China, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan and South Korea. Year after year, Regine gets better by being versatile in her craft. She started to juggle her singing, film, television, and advertising careers. Both foreign and local fans supported her all this years and a manifestation of this are the awards she has received; 2 star awards, 1 Famas, 2 MTV Asia, 3 MTV Phil, 11 Awit awards, 1 Katha Awards, 9 aliw awards, 15 Guillermo Mendoza Memorial Scholarship Foundation. As a fan, I believe that she as a performer and person empowers and allows others to dream, just like what she did before. This is the best part about her. Every time she performs onstage, every time she sings a song, she reminds all of us that there was a time when it seemed like no one wanted to listen. But it is that past that makes her who she is today; strong, generous, human, pained and blessed.

photo:abante.com.ph

People might think that her achievements swollen her so much pride and that she has the “diva” attitude or that she became very conceited and self righteous but I can attest that Regine is still the humble girl from Bulacan. How can I say this? Regine staged numerous benefit concerts for different foundations such as the Bantay Bata and GMA ‘s Kapuso foundation. Also, her MTV Asia special entitled Speak Your Mind was nominated for the UNICEF Child Rights Awards. The production was highly commended for its agendum on child welfare, documenting the plight of homeless children swarming the streets of Metro Manila, in an effort to protect and safeguard their rights. Also, she has helped a lot of foundations such as the Singapore's National Kidney Foundation, the Hong Kong AIDS Foundation, the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Philippines' Bridges School for Special Children. That is why, for me Regine is at her greatest every time she decides to be small. When she displays her vulnerability and her homegrown valiance, she shimmers like a red diamond. Everything in her life blended so well, it was like everything was meant for her.

She has uncountable awards and honors but we see that her charms and graces have all blossomed along with her talent, but her beauty and talent is not all about the prestigious awards, honors, fame, and wealth that she acquired. Regine embodies a beauty that is seen only in few people. Her physical beauty is admired by her legions of fans all around the globe, from her gorgeous face, expressive eyes, sexy lips and a body of a goddess. But what makes Asia’s Songbird more attractive? More dazzling? And more divine? It’s her inner beauty, her benign heart, her down to earth persona, her unconditional love to the Filipino people, her patriotism to her motherland, her love and passion for her craft, her being a true person and her just being simply beautiful in her own right. That makes her beautiful! That is the Beauty of a Songbird!

Echoing "The Metamorphosis," "Letters to a Young Poet," and "The Little Prince".

2011-02-17T09:43:00.000-08:00

This is my longest blog as of to date. To Those People Who want to know more about me.. READ ON....

I may honestly say that I’m not the most responsible and most cynical person to understand the true and deep meaning of such great and famous works like The Metamorphosis, Letters to a young poet and The Little Prince. But as a person, I have my own perspectives, my own understanding of things, my own interpretation and view regarding things, well that is what philosophy is all about isn’t? So for this blog entry , I tam to resonate my own experiences with these three incomparable works in world literature and I plan of making this blog very open and personal as well. Here goes…

photo: amazon.com

Metamorphosis is one of the most famous works in world literature, and possibly has the most memorable opening lines in the history of story telling, “As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning after disturbing dreams, he found himself transformed in his bed into an enormous insect”. For me, my interpretation of this allegorical tale is that Gregor's transformation from hard working travelling salesman, providing for his family, to a grotesque useless insect that provokes disgust and pity and ultimately rejection by his family, represents physical disability, and society's treatment of it. I can see this in the story, but his nightmare of the barrier between the public and personal inner world being removed. The private mental life, with its sensitive and raw secrets, its ugly and embarrassing little features, the desires and instincts that we strive to keep hidden, and are forced to repress. The bug is the embodiment of the ugly and raw inside turned out, exposed for the entire world to see. Particularly nightmarish for Gregor is the fact that those who see are those he loves and whose rejecton he fears most of all, his family. For me, the best example that I can relate to this is when I came out to my family, to my friends, to the society as a gay person. It was really hard for me to come out because I was afraid to be rejected, to be looked down by other people, to be pitied by everyone, and to be a disappointment to them. I was so afraid to be open because before I came out and admitted to everyone that I am gay, I am like Gregor Samsa. I was the “BIDA” in the family because when I was in high school, I was a good student; I excel both in my academics and technical subjects in school, a consistent conduct awardee, I was also top one in class since first to fourth year high school. I was afraid to tell them because I don’t want them to change the way they look at me and treat me, I don’t want them to be distant. Another thing that’s stopping me before was, my family is in politics for more than five decades already, I was afraid that I am to be blamed if ever something bad will happen to the political position of my family. I knew that I am gay since grade 2 and I kept it until I was in 4^th year high school, actually my older sister is the only one in the family that knows about me, and she accepted me without hesitations, she supported me with my interests and endeavors at that time she was enough for me, but as time passes by I was longing for my parents and other family members to accept me. I have attempted to tell my family about my true being but the factors I’ve mentioned above kept on impeding it to happen. For eight years of hiding my true self, I felt very lonely, sad and guilty. Lonely and sad because I can’t show my family the things I REALLY want, the things I’m fond of doing, I can’t share what I truly feel, I can’t show and tell them what bothers me because I was so afraid. I also felt guilty for lying to my family, for being untrue to them and to myself as well. I kept asking myself… why the hell did I end up like this? Am I screwed or what? For eight long years I felt I was living a big lie and that my life was all about pretensions and lies.

photo from: smartshopbuy.com

My sister told me that I must tell my family soon in order for me to get out of the dark which I’ve been living for eight years. It hit me and led me to asked my self… must I? and this is where the first letter of Rilke enters the picture. For me the first letter gives the greatest advice anyone can give to someone aspiring to be anything and to do anything. You have to ask yourself the following question: "must I?" If you answer in the affirmative, then build your life in accordance with this necessity; your whole life, even into its humblest and most indifferent hour must become a sign and witness to this impulse. That you must only judge Art by the following value, has it arisen out of necessity? And for me, telling my family at that time was a necessity already. I was already a teen back then, and I was starting to mold my life, I was starting to think of my future, but how can I think of my future if I haven’t polished my present. I got tired with my situation, my sister can’t already bear to see me sad and feel bad about myself and it hurts me to see her feel that way especially when I’m the reason, my friends were also the one who keeps on pushing me to tell the truth. I also consulted our school priests about it and asked him what to do, asked him to tell God that I need him everyday of my life and asked him to tell God not to leave me and if ever I decide to tell my family about me being gay, I asked God to please give them an open mind and also a heart that will accept me as I am. The sixth letter of Rilke concerns the notion of solitude. He said that we all create a vast inner solitude. To walk inside yourself for hours without meeting anyone, that is what you must be able to attain. Through this Rilke added that we gain a child-like perspective, a great wise not understanding in exchange for defensiveness and scorn of adults. That is what I did, it led me to think a lot, led me to reflect so much, led me to many sleepless night and led me to be alone and lonely. He also said that, it’s within the vast ocean of your solitude that we can truly approach and understand the dimensions of divinity that exists. With all of my problems and worries at that time, I find God as the source of my strength, I considered him to be my diary wherein I can share and tell him everything, and I appreciated him more. How do you confront God? By being patient and without bitterness, and realize that the least I can do is make coming into existence no more difficult for Him than the earth does for spring when it wants to come. With all of this, I got the strength and determination to tell my family. The first one I opened my sexuality to was my mom, because we are so close and I felt that somehow she knows already. She was okay about it but warned me with the consequences of being a homosexual. Then my other sisters, they were not that open with the idea of me being gay because I was the only son in our family, I totally understand them but it hurts me so much whenever they badmouth me and criticize me when we fight about things, somehow they also became cold towards me, they don’t bond with me anymore like we used to and my only source of strength was my eldest sister. News easily spread out, my dad eventually knew about it, he was so disappointed. I felt that he disowned me as his son because when he knew about it, he wasn’t talking to me, he doesn’t even look at me and did not even spare a little time to bond with me, then my cousins knew they were shocked about it, the girls were happy about it but the guys were ashamed of me. We used to be closed before, go to malls, eat together and talk about almost everything but after they knew of me being gay, everything changed! And it broke my heart; it brought me more pain… I asked myself if I did the right thing or not… it took them years to accept me and at present my dad is already okay with the idea of me being gay, even my other sisters, my cousins are also cool about it now but one person who hasn’t grasped the idea of me being gay is my grandfather. He knows about it but rejected to accept it, I was one of his favorites before. He used to bring me all over the world from the United States, Europe and all over Asia when I was still a child and buy all the things I want. But as the news flew in to him, he got so furious, he even fought with my dad and told him that he will disown and disinherit me. I was so depressed… thinking, is this the life I want? I reflected a lot and concluded that this is my life, I can do whatever I want with it, that I don’t live in this world in order to please others but to please myself, be happy with myself and be proud of what I am. I think Rilke’s seventh letter is suitable with this situation in which he takes the notion of solitude and marries it with love. He said love is difficult, but that we must put our trust in what is difficult as Nature does, to exercise our beings to their fullness. With all the rejection and pains I have encountered to this journey of coming out, it was hard for them to accept me, and I think it was hard for them to even give the love they have given me before. That is why I should be the one to love them more, instead of me waiting in solitude I shifted it to love. The act of Loving another human being is the most difficult task for which all other work is mere preparation. It was hard for me to give them love at first because they hurt me so damn much, but I have prepared myself with that kind of situation that even proved my love for them. Each of us must learn how to love. To know that it springs from our oceans of solitude not from a formless merging of ourselves to another. But rather that each of us must ripen into individuals that can experience and give love, to hearken and hammer day and night. To Love is to accept a burden and apprenticeship that allows each authentic person to grow and become rather than fall back and lose what makes them unique and rare. The ultimate aim of life is the love that consists two solitudes that protect and border and greets each other.

photo from: goodreads.com
That is what I have turned into, a wounded-healer which I have already shared with you in my past blogs and if you remember I sighted a part of my personal diary about this. I can relate this part in one of the most famous lines in The Little Prince, as it states: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly, what is essential is invisible to the eye. For me being a wounded healer as I have transformed into is a great example for this line for it tackles the importance of the heart than the eye, it tackles what the heart encompasses than the eye. A wounded healer is a person who has gone through suffering, sometimes great, and as a result of that process I become a source of great wisdom, healing power and inspiration for others. In fact, I've gone through a transformation as a result of my wounds, my suffering and pain. I can actually transcend it, and successfully lead myself to a path of service. It is as if the wound itself helps me drive myself to an inner journey that becomes the transformation itself. But for me it, gives freedom and hope. It may no longer be trendy but for me it was life. I began to realize that I was called to share out of vulnerability, not strength. It began to permeate every part of my life. I no longer had to pretend they I had it all. It allowed me to bring into play other important facates of my belief system. Like vulnerability, raw, real, imperfection, and transparency. In finding my own strengths, I help other people to grow stronger. In providing strength for others, I strengthen myself. Another line from the Little Prince that I can correlate with this part of my paper is: What makes the desert beautiful? Is that somewhere it hides a well. A lot of people tell me that I have a nice personality and that I’m approachable, friendly etc. Some also says that my character is mysterious and deep and that my overall personality is vast and unpredictable, I can connect my personality to the beautiful dessert that was mentioned in the line from the Little Prince, and the well that it mentioned I can say that it is the experiences that I have encountered in my life that really made a big impact leading for me to a transformation to a better person and that this well is as deep as the experiences that I have encountered.

At present, here I am… living a happy, colorful, creative and gay life.

Gods Existence?

2011-02-17T09:13:00.000-08:00

Declarations of different beliefs are stated and many questions are ask, one of this is very interesting for it questions God’s existence and importance.

photo from: mommylife.net

And this is how it goes, what do we mean by saying that existence precedes essence?

It clearly means that man first of all exists before God, then encounters himself, gushes in the world and defines himself. If man is an existentialist and sees himself as not definable, it is because at first he is nothing. He will not be anything until he will be what he makes of himself. Hence, there is no human nature existing because there is no God to be conceived but man simply is. Man is nothing else but that which he makes of himself. I kinda agree and disagree with this, because first and foremost I am a Christian, and I believe that I am what I am right now due to the things that I have done and decided before but with God’s grace. Thus, existentialism tells us that man is responsible for himself, but do not mean that he is responsible only for his own individuality, but that he is responsible for all men. So if this is the case, even though that God does not exist for others, values and morality can still be applied! Because man does things for himself, obviously these things would be good and better for him and nothing can be better for us unless it is better for all. It is just like what my High-school teacher always tells our class, that the fault of one student is the fault of the whole class! That is why we tend to be in our proper behavior in class because we know for a fact that there are other people who will be punished due to our own wrongdoings. So I think that it is still possible for morality to be evident even without God’s existence.

You may or may not agree. don't get me wrong here. I LOVE GOD!

What Viktor Frankl made me Realize

2011-02-17T09:10:00.000-08:00

"Man is by virtue of the self-transcendent quality of the human reality basically concerned with reaching out beyond himself, be it toward a meaning to fulfill, or toward another human being to lovingly encounter."

photo from: logotherapy.univie.ac.at

Or simply that being human is relating to something rather than oneself. How can this be done? By exercising our freedom! So does this mean that Frankl and Sartre have the same perspective? In some aspects but what lacks in Sartre’s perspective is when he disregarded human freedom and faith together. As I said awhile ago, I somehow belief in Sartre right? But I also mentioned that something is lacking… and I think this is it, that my freedom is finite freedom which tells me that I am not Godlike and that I am not free from conditions. Now I know… that even though I am free to do things I want for myself, I should remember that my freedom is predetermined. Viktor Frankl also maintained that man is capable of discovering himself and life's meaning through suffering and experience.

I think Frankl wants to say that, the will-to-meaning enables man to find the reason to live. There are critical moments in a man's life when all the traditional reasons why he should live are taken away one after another, and he is made to wait for death, which would terminate a life without meaning. I somehow disagree because for me, everything can be taken from man but one thing and that is the last of human freedoms which is to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances and to choose one's own way. For me, this is what it should be!

What Jean Paul Sartre Taught Me...

2011-02-17T09:06:00.000-08:00

“Man is nothing else than his plan; he exists only to the extent that he fulfills himself; he is therefore nothing else than the ensemble of his acts, nothing else than his life.”

photo from: danassays.wordpress.com

Sounds decipherable… isn’t? Heard or read it somewhere? Oh well, this statement was familiarize by a controversial existentialists Jean-Paul Sartre. What he means is that a man is nothing else than a series of undertakings, that he is the sum, the organization, the ensemble of the relationships which make up these undertakings or simply that man, in the course of his life, has invented himself and all the values, meanings, truth, justice and religions; so man’s essence is a spin-off of his existence.

Do you agree?

SOMEHOW I do because in my life, I have been independent since I was a child, the values, meanings, truth, justice and faith taught by my parents were slowly fading as I was growing up due to the entities around me, I was the one who decided whether the values imparted by these entities were good or bad, whether these meanings and truth were deviant with the norms of the society, it was still me who decided to invent which values, justice and faith must I acquire in my life. I feel so free because of it! That is why I somehow believe in Sartre’s perspective with regards to this but I know something lacks in my decision. I know I need something else to complete it. Sartre also claims that his philosophy is rather optimistic as it encourages men to act despite the harshness of reality and that is what I’m doing. Even though that I have been experiencing a lot of hardships, pain, stress and pessimism in my life, I still try to look at the positive side of things despite all of this, I still am living my life as if I don’t have problems around me. So does it mean that my existence is free of conditions? I don’t think so, because our life and freedom is absolute and it is made up of facticity and transcendings. Facticity is where conditions of our existence are evident or simply it is our past while transcendings are the potentials and possibilities that we are going to encounter in the future. But what makes it complicated? Nothingness! How can nothingness enter the picture? It is because humans are the nothingness of yesterday and tomorrow!

I know its getting more complicated… haha!!!

“The Rise of the Masses, The Fall of the Elites”

2011-02-16T10:02:00.000-08:00

Since I have been blogging about music, food, love for the past few days... Now, I thought of blogging about my first love which is Politics... Philippine politics per se as the focal point... anyway, for this blog I would like to discuss about Marx ideology on the role of masses and elites in a certain nation. I remember writing about this when I was still in College. So here it is:

The ouster of former President Ferdinand E. Marcos and Joseph Ejercito Estrada by people power or known as Edsa I & II are manifestations on the idea that a class struggle will be successful mainly because elite capitalism has become far too unstable due to the increasingly powerful masses. It is evident, that Filipino masses increase in their numbers due to a creation of industry which led smaller businesses and low wage workers joining each other in equality and without difference. What made them more powerful is the fact that these people are aided by newfound industrial and political education, the increasingly stronger working class forms the majority of the population that is necessary for a successful political movement. Here in the country, the rise of the masses is seen through out the years, most especially seen and felt during the Marcos regime. Along with this, the fall of the elites and the consequent win of the masses is inevitable. During the 1998 elections, Joseph Estrada ran for the Presidency of the Philippines and he won landslide even if he was against a powerful foe named Jose de Venecia who has a machinery throughout the archipelago. What made Erap win? It is because of his tagline which is “Erap para sa Mahirap”. He portrayed himself as being one with the masses; he depicted an image that is marketable to the masses. The masses believed it, they supported and voted for him because they thought that Erap was the savior and the protector of the mass interests. Months after he took seat from office, different issues lambasted his administration. Issues such as graft and corruption, abuse of power or any typical elitist concern. The Philippine economy was in shambles, it was unstable and worst of all stagnant. The majority of the populace was starving and hungry, they were oppressed by the situation, they were suffering. The so-called “savior and protector” of the masses left them and turn his back from the masses. With this scenario, people were clinging for change, asking for a transformation and most of all crying for a revolution! The revolution happened again in the historic Edsa Shrine. The people mostly the masses gathered in huge groups, showed their force and power, brought their moorings in the street and toppled the Estrada Administration! The problem is now solved for a short time because the masses did not foresee that the new leader that they have chosen is somewhat the same or even worst than that of Estrada. Because of their clamor for change, it somehow blinded them that Gloria Arroyo is another Erap Estrada. What Arroyo did during this time is to get the trust of the people, and she did at first. She depicted herself as the hope that the masses have been looking and waiting for. She made everyone believe that she is the change that the revolution yielded. During those times we were standing at the exact same point like where we were in the Estrada Administration. So the question is, what will the masses do? Are they ready for another social and political revolution? Or are they tired and old of it? As we can see, our history is based on what the middle class and the masses does or do. Like for example, during the Spanish-Filipino war the masses in the leadership of Andres Bonifacio fought for their freedom and liberty. They were successful and then came a new society in the arms of the Americans. Another example is what happened during the Edsa 1 revolution when the masses demonstrated their force and power in the streets that led to the downfall of a very powerful dictator. With these examples including the demise of Erap’s administration, we can see that the course of history is changed and influenced with what the middle class and the masses execute. Our history is in accordance to what these people decide to do. They are the majority, they have the capability, they are the real authors of our history. They have power over the elites but the problem is that, they don’t know how to use it, they don’t know when and some don’t know that they have what it takes to overthrow or overpower those elites that made them suffered and abused their rights for freedom, democracy and a life that is liberated from any prejudices. Now, we have a new President... New Administration... A President from a Powerful Political ELITE family... What will the Masses do? Whats next for them? Lets soon find out...

Is There Anything Original in this World?

2011-02-16T08:42:00.000-08:00

Lahat ng Tao GAYA-GAYA... Pilipino ka man, Amerikano o kahit saang sulok ng mundo ka pa nanggaling...

Meron ba talagang ORIHINAL sa mundo? (wala akong maisip na orihinal sa mundo... may alam ka ba?)

Ultimo ang ginagamit kong mga salita ngayon sa blog ko ay hango sa iba't ibang wika o dialekto sa mundo... mapa ingles, kastila, pranses, italyano, arabo, jabacano, ilokano, bikolano at marami pa...

Mapa kultura man, sining, kasuotan, bahay, pagkain, produkto ay pareho pareho lang... iba lang ang tawag... iba lang ang pag gamit, ngunit iisa lang... may orihinal ba talaga?

Sa Kultura halimbawa ay makikita mo ang pagkakahambing natin sa mga nanakop satin... at makikita din natin na may kahambing ito sa mga nanakop sa kanila... (wag mo na akong tanungin kung ano pa yun... alamin mo mag-isa)

Sa Musika naman, kitang kita din ang pagkapare pareho.. sa Amerika meron silang hip-hop, meron din sa atin at sa iba't ibang parte ng mundo... kahit rnb pa yan, rap, po, jazz at kung ano ano pang genre ng music... parepareho lang!!! Sabihin mo ng iba't iba naman ang mga awitin... PERO. parepareho lang din naman ang tema ng mga ito.. LOVE, BETRAYAL, GOD, HOPE, CHILDREN, PEOPLE, COUNTRY etc... pare pareho lang. Tama ba ako? Pati mga mangaawit. Sa Amerika meron silang diva na si Mariah Carey, Sa Canada si Celine Dion, sa Malaysia si Siti Nurhaliza, Sa China sila Anggun, sa Hong Kong si Coco Lee at sa atin jusko... magtanong ka pa sino mga diva dito. Eh bayan ata tayo ng mga diva tulad ni Regine Velasquez na natatanging pinakamagaling na diva ng Asya! hehe...

Sa kasuotan.. lahat ng lalake naka short/pants, lahat naka-tshirt.. sa babae naka palda tapos blouse... ganun din sa mga bading... tapos kung mapapansin niyo din pati ang mga minorities naman na naka bahag lang, tapos mga babae nila ay may parang sarong.... magresearch kayo! makikita niyo... parepareho lang kahit saang lupalop pa ng mundo...

Kahit disenyo ng bahay ay magkakahambing ang lahat.... may bubong, bintana, pader at mga pinto.. may mga kwarto din... iba japanese inspired, iba zen, meron namang modern at mga bahay na bato... Pareho-pareho din...

Dito sa Pilipinas, makikita mo din na halos lahat ay GAYA-GAYA.

Sa ABS-CBN palang at GMA eh naggagayahan na... sa noontime shows may Eat Bulaga tapos ngayon may Happy Yipee Yehey, may Diva at may IDOL, may Banana Split tapos may Bubble Gang, Party Pilipinas at ASAP Rocks, pati game shows meron ang isa gagayahin naman ng isa... May the Buzz at meron din Showbiz Central! Tapos dadagdag pa ng isang major player, ang TV 5 kung saan meron din silang pangtapat sa mga nasabi kong shows ng dalawang networks... saan ka pa?! maraming pagpipilian... pero may orihinal ba na konsepto?!

Ano nga ba talaga nag punto ng blog kong ito? Nagrereklamo ba ako dahil puro gayahan nalang?

Minsan hindi dahil maraming pagpipilian, depende sa taste ng tao... Pero minsan naman oo... nagrereklamo ako, dahil puro gayahan nalang... wala bang bago? ibig sabihin ba nito walang ORIGINALITY ang lahat ng tao? eh bakit meron pang nagkakasuhan dahil sa pagnakaw ng konsepto o ideya?

Pero matawa ka man o sa hindi.. isa lang talaga ang dahilan bakit ako nagsulat ng blog tungkol dito...

photos: facebuko.com

When I was watching TV kanina.. i saw the commercial of Jollibee's new CokeFloat kung saan si Mareng Enchong ang model... Pero even before lumabas yung commercial, I already saw the Jollibee Cokefloat two weeks ago when i had my lunch there... So syempre, because I want to compare kung anong float ang mas masarap... is it Mcfloat or Jollibee Float.... My answer would be..... both... depende sa panglasa...

McFloat kasi is more dry... hindi ganun kasweet yung syrup and icecream... so okay lang.. While sa Jollibee naman, sweet yung syrup and malasa yung icecream... BUT... madaming ice... LOL

Anyway, This is where I end my blog....

Ang Pilipino Takot sa Pagbabago?

2011-02-15T09:09:00.000-08:00

Marami siguro sa inyo ang napaisip sa title na napili ko... may iba sasangayon at may iba naman na hindi... okay lang sakin dahil lahat naman ng tao may sariling pananaw at paniniwala sa buhay.

Simula pa noong unang panahon takot na ang mga Pilipino sa pagbabago...

Noon maraming mga mananakop ang napadpad sa ating mga isla... mga Espanyol na pinamunuan ni Magellan, mga Amerikanong umano'y tumulong sa atin para makamtan ang kalayaan at mga Japon na sinasabing ang Pilipinas ay para sa Pilipinas lamang..

Marahil tama ang mga sinaunang Pilipino para hindi tanggapin ang pagbabagong inihatid ng mga mananakop na ito... Nagaklas at nag-alsa ang mga forefathers natin laban sa kanila... nakamtan ang kalayaan na ating tinatamasa ngayong mga panahon...

Ngunit...

Hindi ko lang maintindihan kung bakit... bakit hindi natin tinangap ang pagbabagong gusto nilang ihatid sa bansa natin noong mga panahon na iyon... kasi kung titingnan natin ngayon, halos lahat ng GUSTO ng Pilipino ay galing sa kanilang lahat.

Kristiyanismo na galing sa mga Kastila, magagandang bahay na bato at mga Unesco World Heritage sites tulad ng mga Simbahan sa Paoay at sa Vigan ...

Wikang Ingles, hotdog, yosi, Santa Claus, chocolate bars naman na galing sa mga Amerikano...

Disiplina, origami, haiku, pwede nadin ang sushi at kung ano ano pa ang galing sa Japan...

Takot nga ba ang Pilipino sa Pagbabago? Napaisip lang ako....

Regine Velasquez - The Diva, The Icon, The Asia's Songbird (part2)

2011-02-11T00:33:00.000-08:00

Eto na ang pangalawang parte ng aking blog tungkol kay Regine Velasquez. Sa unang parte ng blog ko ay ipinakita ko kung paano pinuri at hinangaan ng mga sikat at tanyag na international composers at stars ang talento ni Regine sa pag-awit. Sa pangalawang parte ng blog ko ay ipapakita ko naman ang mga opinyon at saloobin ng mga iba't-ibang entities mula sa mundo ng politika, fashion, at marami pang iba.

Una sa listahan ngayon ay ang isa sa pinakamakapangyarihang tao sa Inglatera. Ano naman kaya ang masasabi niya sa nagiisang Sonbird ng Asya?

photo by: princeharry.co.uk

1. Prince Charles. Prince of Wales

(During his visit to Malacanang) Regine was the only one who sang for the prince on the invitation of former First Lady Ming Ramos. Regine sang "On a Clear Day," "You'll Never Know," "Sana Maulit Muli" and a Barbra Streisand medley.

The prince talked to her after singing and he said, "You did very well."

Ano naman ang mga nasabi ng mga CREDIBLE at nirerespetong mga pahayagan sa Asya at sa Pilipinas tungkol kay Regine?

photo by: bosesthevoice.wordpress.com

1. Asian Journal

"A rare breed of singer with strong lungs & well trained breathing...a certain kind of vocal resonance and proficiency...

photo by: icgmd.info

2. Philippine Daily Inquirer

“This gifted songbird has proven time and again that she is a versatile performer and interpreter of songs in diverse styles from the kundiman inspired to love songs, she has shown depth and has displayed her powerful range. Regine is undoubtedly a great chanteuse who has deepened her vocal interpretations with the RIGHT EMOTIONS.”

photo by: decal-orations.com

3. Manila Bulletin

"Most of our top selling new female singers are still and mere parrots of her in terms of vocal acrobatics and predilection to show off her high range."

photo by: tsikot.com

4. The Philippine Star

"Regine has always turned out mesmerizing , jaw dropping performances here and abroad"

photo: wowbatangas.com

5. Gov. Vilma Santos, Politician

She was interviewed and was asked who her favorite singer is, she only answered one... Regine Velasquez

photo: pep.com

6. Cong. Lucy Torres Gomez and Richard Gomez, Politician/Actor

The never missed a regine concert.

photo by: pinoyhalo.com and govph.org

7. Teodoro "Teddyman" Benigno, Award Winning Journalist and Sen. Joker Arroyo

"The singing at the ULTRA was great, the cast of singers wonderful, but mine eyes largely lighted on Regine Velasquez, Verni Varga and Rico J. Puno. At one time, when Regine was on in a slinky, figure-hugging, bare-shouldered black dress, Miriam Defensor Santiago winked at Joker (Arroyo) and myself and said: "I bet both of you have lascivious thoughts." No, I have absolutely no lascivious thoughts watching Regine Velasquez perform. Hearing her is hearing an extraordinary virtuoso belt out a song.The melody comes out like a flight of eagles when it does not stay in the air like mists around a mountain.

What also makes Regine stand out is a pristine youth and a pristine innocence even as she performs like an old-time pro. But what vocal power this girl has! She holds a high note like Samson holding the pillars of a trembling building. You wonder where the powers come from for Regine is spare, with no heaving bosom like Mae West had heaving bosom.

photo: albellpresents.com
8. Al Bell, Bellmark Records

Is she real? I mean, is Regine 'the person' real? Because looking at her photographs and listening to her voice I (get the feeling) she is."

photo: femalenetwork.com

9 .Rajo Laurel, Premiere Fashion Designer

" She is the one person that the term 'down to earth' was made for. Regine is a Phenomenon in terms of talent, yet she is real. Even if she has reached the apex of what a performer dreams to achieve in our entertainment industry, she has kept her feet on the ground."

10. Isah Red, Journalist/Editor of the entertainment section of Manila Standard Today

"Everybody calls her a song-bird. But I call her 'the' singer."

photo: starsinamillion-photos.blogspot.com

11. Bernardo Bernardo, Actor-Director

"Tremendous talent! As a performer, she still the sweet and unassuming lady I met in 1985, the 'munting dalagita na Balagtas, Bulacan."

photo: chokingonmyadobo.blogspot.com

12. Jose Javier Reyes, Award Winning Film Director/Script Writer

"The truth is that I'm a fan of Regine..."

photo: spot.ph

13. Audie Gemora, Stage Actor/Director

"Regine is... just a wonderful performer. She's so sweet, unselfish, she's so... OK, what's the opposite of unselfish? She's a generous performer. I directed her recently at Ryan's 'Retrospective' and walang ka-star-star 'yang batang 'yan. She's absolutely giving and of course, the voice is a miracle." Nonon Padilla (stage director; he directed "Noli Me Tangere" where Regine played Maria Clara): "She's great, her voice is just wonderful. She has the voice for the theater - which is unusual because now the talents that you get have tiny voices, they don't have voices that project well onstage. (In) this musical, it's not so difficult because we use mics, but with (Regine) even without mics, she can be heard (in the whole theater)."

14. Richard Roxas, Columnist

She's clearly the Diva for the New Millennium! Forget the overstated 'Song Goddess of Asia' tag. Diva of the New Millennium is it!"

15. Leah Gatdula, Music Journalist/ABS-CBN PR Team
"Her vocal power remains unmatched by any local performer or even another Asian artist. I saw Coco Lee perform live in Hong Kong for the launch of her debut album but Regine is a far better performer than the Chinese-American singer. When Regine sings she does not only entertain, she captivates and enthralls the audience and leaves them in awe."

16. Shirley Pizarro, Journalist

"Regine is a local talent with a world-class caliber. Given the right break, she could easily give other female international musical artists a run for their money because she definitely sings better than most of them."

17. Star Studio

"Regine has learned to control her powerful voice to be able to interpret songs that require sensitivity and vocal artistry."

Oh diba? Ibang klase talaga ang hatak ni Regine Velasquez! Hindi pa dito nagtatapos ang lahat... Abangan ang pangatlong blog ko tungkol dito... Ano naman kaya ang tingin ng mga kapwa OPM artists?! ABANGAN!

Valentine Story #2

2011-02-08T20:09:00.000-08:00

This second short story I made depicts a dilemma in which everyone can relate to. Which do you love most? Career or yourself? What to choose? My inspiration for this story is from my all time favorite novel, "Eleven Minutes" by Paulo Coelho... Hope you guys enjoy it!

photo from: emesekoller.wordpress.com

A young woman grew up in an environment wherein his father, brothers and uncles molests and rapes her as if she was a sex toy. Everyday, for several years... She was helpless, she felt disgusted, she hated herself for doing nothing... for keeping it a secret.... for being quiet... for allowing it to happen...

As a result of this, she initially became a prostitute, this was her source of income.

She had one client that despite her past and present life, accepted and loved her for what she really is. Her dilemma, will she stop being a prostitute and change for the better or will she stay and continue a life she is used to?

If you're in the same situation... what will you choose?

Valentine Story #1

2011-02-08T19:57:00.000-08:00

I made a short love story for Valentines Day. My inspiration for the said story is from my favorite TV Series, Queer As Folks (US). The Love of two different people with different paradigms and perspectives in life. What makes them the same? They are both gay, Justin and Brian. The Most Romantic Love Story to hit the new Millenium.

There were two lovers who was suppose to get married today but while they were standing in front of the altar, they decided not to push through with it because they believe that their love is not bound of any titles.

Both immediately told the crowd that "we don't need vows and rings to know that we love each other".
In the end, they stayed as friends because it is the safest way for them to keep each other
and it reminds them of the reasons why they fell in love in the first place... -end-

Untold Celebrity Stories #7

2011-02-08T01:05:00.000-08:00

Pure Innuendoes

They were the best of friends. They were always seen together around the
University of the Philippines (UP) campus in Diliman: one was undoubtedly
a very good-looking guy and the other was unquestionably a plain-looking
guy. Opposites really attract. Hey, but they're both brilliant students.
Well, birds of the same feather also flock together. Indeed, they were
very close to each other. Unusually close.

They were the perfect tandem. Like suman and ripe mango. Or nuts and
bolts. Peg and a hole.

They were both prot�g�es of then UP Student Council chairman Chito Gascon.
Soon, the good-looking guy took the helm as UP Student Council chairman.
But the best friends seem to follow each other's path. The plain-looking
guy also ran for the same position with the all-out support of his
good-looking friend. He won, of course.

The good-looking guy was the crush ng bayan of the iskolars ng bayan.

During lunchtime, students of all persuasions flocked to the College of
Arts and Sciences (CAS) cafeteria to catch a glimpse of the good- looking
guy. Even singer-actress Regine Velasquez later admitted on national
television that she had a big crush on the good-looking guy.

But loveless Regine's daring admission did not earn her even just a movie
date invitation from the good-looking guy; instead, the good- looking guy
merely flashed a demure smile in response to desperate Regine's
thinly-veiled date invitation.

But after finishing college, the best friends went their separate
ways. (Or so it seemed). The plain-looking guy pursued his law
studies and later taught law courses. The good-looking guy delivered the
evening news on TV, hosted a TV quiz show and wrote analytical articles on
pop culture. His good looks, intelligence and impeccable manner endeared
him to televiewers.

Despite their divergent career choices, the good-looking guy and the
plain-looking guy really seemed to follow each other's path. But this
time, their path led to a nice little apartment near the Ateneo de Manila
campus. And they shared that nice little apartment. Just the two of them.

Yes, the plain-looking guy and the good-looking guy lived together.

Those gifted with wild imagination got titillated at the mere thought of
these two young men sharing a lovely apartment. The moralists out there
shook their heads at the mere thought of the goings-on beyond that
innocent-looking apartment door amid rows of middle-class houses in Loyola
Heights in Quezon City.

But the pair would not budge from their nest. Nor would they yield to any
pressure. Not even from the plain-looking guy's bible-reading siblings who
berated him for living with another guy. The plain- looking guy's own
family started to cast doubt about his masculinity.

All telltale signs which have accumulated all those years could no
longer be ignored. People started talking openly about the two guys.

Speculations about the true nature of the pair's friendship became a daily
fodder for gossip mongers. The academic freedom which alma mater UP's
oblation symbolizes seemed to have gone beyond the duo's lust for
knowledge.

In order to prove to his family that he was not what they thought he was,
the plain-looking guy suddenly announced that he was getting married. His
family jumped with joy.

But the plain-looking guy's marriage did not dispel wild speculations
about his sexuality; instead, it only succeeded in erasing any remaining
doubt about his alleged agenda of using his wife to finally succeed in his
failed initial crack at pursuing his lifelong dream.

And it was well worth his efforts. Because this former loser's
desperate act finally triumphed. Thanks to his wife.

However, the plain-looking guy's deep friendship with his good-
looking friend took a backseat as a result of the former's new civil
status. The plain-looking guy did not want to hurt his new wife's
flourishing career nor spoil his newfound success. That's why he
played his role as a good family man to the hilt. However, he had not
forgotten his good-looking best friend at all. As a token of their undying
friendship, the good-looking guy stood as one of the godfathers of the
plain-looking guy's first baby, together with Edu Manzano, Cesar Montano,
Cherie Gil, Ciara Sotto, Angeli Valenciano, Fanny Serrano and a host of
other household names. Of course, the plain-looking guy's wife was
clueless about her husband's past.

But the plain-looking guy's wife had her share of dark past. She is a
single mother who parted ways with her good-looking "first husband" after
she discovered that her good-looking "first husband" was already married
to another woman when she hastily married him after she got pregnant at a
young age. This meant that her marriage to her good-looking "first
husband" was not legally binding after all. Now, the plain-looking guy was
her knight-in-shining-armor who rescued her from the stigma of being an
unmarried mother.

Ironically, while her non-binding marriage with her good-
looking "first husband" was solemnized by several high-ranking
priests at the cavernous Manila Cathedral amid countless clicking
cameras and thousands of shrieking admirers several years ago, her
supposedly legitimate marriage with the plain-looking guy was
officiated not by a Catholic priest but by a pastor in a cramped
living room, with only few relatives and friends as witnesses.

Later, the good-looking guy reportedly got married also without
fanfare. They said that his bride was a creative consultant for ABS- CBN
Interactive. However, some women still believe and hope that he is still
unmarried to this day.

The good-looking guy soon rose to become ABS-CBN News Channel's (ANC)
Director for Current Affairs. He has been circling the globe as host of
ANC's weekly travel show, Executive Class.

Yes, the good-looking guy is David Celdran.

And the plain-looking guy is megastar Sharon Cuneta's husband,
Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan.

Untold Celebrity Stories #6

2011-02-08T01:02:00.000-08:00

The Story of the Muslim Princess

Suppose that there was a Muslim princess from the flood capital of the
Philippines, Malabon, who has just finished her degree in Mass
Communications from the University of the Philippines with Latin honors
(cum laude). Suppose that she decided to work for Discorama.

Remember the Saturday afternoon show on GMA Channel 7 with former Senator
Tito Sotto, his brother Vic Sotto and comedian Joey de Leon as hosts? The
Muslim princess was assigned to host the Tough Hits segment of the show.
As Tough Hits girl, she did the weekly countdown of popular songs with
bastardized lyrics to elicit cheap laughs. Her mother, who was an
executive at the Philippine National Bank in Escolta, just shrugged her
shoulders whenever her colleagues would ask about her favorite daughter's
TV show.

Soon, a female newscaster of a major TV network introduced the Muslim
princess to her brother, a flight steward. After a whirlwind
courtship, the Muslim princess married the flight steward who used to be a
child actor whose only claim to fame was playing the role of a toddler
Bongbong Marcos in a Marcos bio-flick. After a couple of months, the
Muslim princess and the flight steward quietly separated.

But career-wise, lady luck smiled at the Muslim princess when she was
given a big break by the major TV network. She bagged the plum assignment
of delivering the evening news while at the same time hosting a successful
TV magazine program which was pitted against a similar program in a rival
TV network hosted by her former UP professor. However, the Muslim princess
was such a perfectionist that it was reportedly not uncommon to see
objects flying whenever she was unsatisfied with her TV staff's work.

Later, the Muslim princess got married again, this time to a well-
known local politician from a province south of Manila. The namesake of
her father, her politician husband had grown-up children close to the
Muslim princess' age and it was being talked about that his first wife
lived in the same condominium building where the Muslim princess and her
new husband occupied the penthouse. The Muslim princess' husband also
reportedly decided to become a Muslim so that he could have more than one
wife. They were blessed with two sons.

The Muslim princess' husband soon retired from politics and became
contented with being a magician and a human toothpaste applier for his
Muslim princess' toothbrush. (Incidentally, the Muslim princess once
appeared in a Close-Up Toothpaste TV commercial.) Now, the Muslim princess
and her magician husband (He could make a big Coke bottle disappear before
your eyes.) are happily separated. Later, the Muslim princess' husband was
accused of being responsible for the disappearance of his close friend.

The Story of the Black Nazarene Devotee Suppose that there was a Black
Nazarene devotee from the tamaraw capital of the Philippines who claimed
to have graduated with a business degree from the University of the East
despite his critics' contention that he just bought his college diploma
from the sidewalk of C. M. Recto Avenue. He worked as a radio reporter for
a major
radio and TV network. With perseverance, he was given a Sunday morning
radio show. Later, he would occasionally pinch-hit for
announcers whenever they would not show up for their radio program. He
also hosted a daily radio serialization of movies for a program dubbed as
Sineradyo.

His biggest TV break came when a TV network hired him for a top- rated
showbiz-oriented TV show called See-Tru. The show was hosted by gossip
queen, Lourdes Jimenez-Carvajal who was more popularly known as Inday
Badiday or Ate Luds to her legions of fans. The Black Nazarene devotee's
appearance was only through voice-over (and he was never really seen by
the TV audience) and it was always preceded by his usual line: "Ate Luds,
may phone-in question po tayo rito galing kay...". Yes, his job involved
reading TV audience's phone-in questions to Inday Badiday's movie star
guests. However, despite the TV show's enormous popularity, it was
immediately cancelled after one
of the show's female guests hurled an ashtray at another female guest.

Later, the Black Nazarene devotee married a lady executive of the radio
and TV network where he had moved up to become the host of its early
morning radio show. They adopted a girl and had a younger son later.

Never The Twain Shall Meet

Suppose that the Muslim princess and the Black Nazarene devotee met in the
same office where they both work. Suppose also that the Black Nazarene
devotee personally chose the Muslim princess as one of the principal
sponsors for his adopted daughter's wedding to one of the members of the
staff of his widely popular TV program.

Suppose further that both the Muslim princess and the Black Nazarene
devotee became elected government officials and they both decided to run
for the same government office on the same year. They both run for say,
the presidency of the Philippines. No, that's being too ambitious. Okay,
suppose that they both run for the position of Vice President under
opposing political parties. Who would you vote for?

The Muslim princess or the Black Nazarene devotee?

If you would vote for the Muslim princess, you just wasted your vote.

If you would vote for the Black Nazarene devotee, you are good at spotting
a winner (but it does not mean that you did not also waste your vote).

Because the honorary Muslim princess is former Senator Loren Legarda who
lost her bid for the Vice Presidency of the Philippines in the2002
national elections.

And yes, the Black Nazarene devotee who helps carry the replica of the
Black Nazarene image barefoot and wearing only a white undershirt (sans
bullet-proof vest) during the annual Quiapo procession as part of his
religious devotion (yes, he still does it up to this day) is Noli de
Castro, current Vice President of the Philippines.

Untold Celebrity Story #5

2011-02-08T00:59:00.000-08:00

She was born on the day of hearts, February 14. But her parents did not
name her Valentina. Not even Venus or Aphrodite. They opted for the
holy-sounding Kristina Bernadette. But she did not turn out to be a saint.

Being the youngest, Kristina Bernadette captured the heart of her father.
Father and daughter were inseparable. Until tragedy struck.

Kristina Bernadette's father was sent to prison. His heart ailment
grew worse there.

On February 14, 1974, Valentine's Day, Kristina Bernadette celebrated her
third birthday with her father in prison. On the same day, a man was
exchanging hearts with a southern belle in nearby San Juan church.

Nine years later, on August 21, the man who got married in San Juan church
was celebrating his birthday with his basketball buddies. On the same day,
Kristina Bernadette's father was killed.

Kristina Bernadette and the married man never knew each other. They lived
very different lives. But in 1994, Kristina Bernadette and the married man
met at work. Their first meeting blossomed into deep friendship. Some said
that she longed for a father figure. But the friendship blossomed into
romance which went beyond control. Kristina Bernadette used her heart, not
her head. She decided to live with the married man.

Kristina Bernadette's mother was furious at the relationship. How
could Kristina Bernadette's mother like a man who celebrates his
birthday every year on the death anniversary of her murdered husband? But
more than this was the fact that the man's heart already belonged to
someone else. In fact, he has a grown-up daughter in New York who was
nearly Kristina Bernadette's age. Despite her religious mother's efforts
to put an end to Kristina Bernadette's adulterous affair with the man,
Kristina Bernadette had her way. It didn't matter to Kristina Bernadette
that her decision prevented her from receiving church communion because
she was openly living in sin.

It did not take long before Kristina Bernadette gave birth to her
love child who was the spitting image of her live-in partner. But
Kristina Bernadette's son was born with Attention Deficit Hyper-
Activity Disorder. Her son's birth softened the heart of Kristina
Bernadette's mother who announced that Kristina Bernadette's son was her
favorite grandson. When Kristina Bernadette first planned to have a
liposuction, her mother tried to stop her, warning Kristina Bernadette
that she (the mother) was too old to take care of Kristina Bernadette's
son if something happened to her during her surgery. But as in the past,
Kristina Bernadette had her way. She went on with her liposuction.

But Kristina Bernadette's relationship with her live-in partner was
not meant to last. In her Ateneo accent, Kristina Bernadette would always
correct her live-in partner's grammatical lapses. Her live-in partner also
got annoyed whenever Kristina Bernadette would hand him a stick of
Milagrosa candle every time he used the bathroom.

According to Kristina Bernadette, the candle helped drive away the
stinking smell of her live-in partner's crap. Kristina Bernadette
confessed that she learned this trick from her mother. And when
Kristina Bernadette's live-in partner stopped pursuing his petition
for the annulment of his first marriage in San Juan church, Kristina
Bernadette began to express doubt about her live-in partner's
sincerity in marrying her. Kristina Bernadette's heart was hurt.

Their relationship turned for the worse.

Kristina Bernadette finally realized that her live-in partner could
never be her savior. She decided to leave the father of her son and her
live-in partner for many years: Philip Salvador.

Yes, Kristina Bernadette is the youngest daughter of President
Corazon (means heart in Spanish) Aquino and the late Senator Benigno
Aquino, Jr.

And yes, Kristina Bernadette Cojuangco Aquino is the full name of
Kris Aquino.

And everyone knows the heart of her story.

Untold Celebrity Story #4

2011-02-08T00:55:00.000-08:00

At a tender age of 17, Marcial was a war correspondent for The Manila Times. Marcial's war experience provided him with a treasure chest of stories which inspired him to write a movie screenplay. His screenplay was made into a movie, starring Jaime de la Rosa and a 16- year old actress named Dorothy. Helmed by renowned director Lamberto Avellana, the movie was a huge success. During the first FAMAS award ceremony in 1952, Dorothy received the first FAMAS trophy for best supporting actress for her role in the movie.

The only child of a US soldier and a Filipina, Dorothy was also a
semi-finalist in the 1952 Miss Philippines beauty contest. It was
therefore not surprising that Marcial got so enamored with Dorothy that he did everything to court her. Marcial even carried Dorothy's make-up kit during movie shootings. Marcial became Dorothy's dakilang alalay.

Dorothy studied pre-Law at the University of Santo Tomas but her booming movie career made it impossible for her to continue.

Likewise, Marcial took up Law at the University of the Philippines
but the lure of journalism ended his dream of becoming a lawyer.

Marcial became known for his gift of gab and political skill. This
led to his victory as a town mayor at a young age of 22. Meanwhile,
Dorothy became popular for her acting prowess and dancing skill. This led
to her victory in several acting derbies. Marcial's younger sister was the
director of the movie which won for Dorothy her last FAMAS best supporting
actress award.

But while Philippine politics and show business naturally intertwine,
political kingpin Marcial and movie queen Dorothy were not destined to be
together.

Dorothy married a man named Victorino who fathered her only daughter.

But their union did not last. After a series of unsuccessful
relationships, Dorothy finally tied the knot again with an American
B-movie actor-singer. In contrast, Marcial remained faithfully married all
his life to an American-educated woman who bore his only son and four
daughters.

But while Marcial survived the Korean War which he covered, he did not
survive the war on the home front. Likewise, Dorothy did not survive her
own war at home.

Both Marcial and Dorothy suffered violent deaths. Marcial was shot.

Dorothy was stabbed several times.

Committed 18 years apart, the separate murders of Marcial and Dorothy made
headlines several years ago. However, both murders remained unsolved to
this day. Some say that identifying their killers is not the issue because
everyone, except the authorities, seems to know the identity of their
respective killers. Rumors even abound that the masterminds in the murders
of Marcial and Dorothy were related to them by affinity. But the real
mystery lies in the fact that the perpetrators of these high-profile
crimes remain scot-free to this day, despite the enormous clout which the
victims' respective family wields.

Some say that Marcial's death was a result of his being branded a
communist by the government. This is ironic because the screenplay which
Marcial wrote and which won for Dorothy her first FAMAS trophy was the
second in a trilogy of anti-communist movies which were produced by LVN
Pictures in support of the government's efforts to fight communism.

Dorothy's shocking death led to embarrassing revelations about her painful
personal battle. Marcial's equally shocking death led to well-deserved
recognition of his heroic political battle.

Dorothy was killed amid rows of cars in the covered and dark parking lot
of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board(MTRCB)
building. Despite his escorts, Marcial was killed amid rows of airplanes
in a wide open space in broad daylight while descending down the tarmac of
what was then known as the Manila International Airport (MIA).

Of course, we all know Dorothy as Dolphy's TV wife, Marsha.

And we all know Marcial as Cory's real-life husband, Ninoy.

Yes, Dorothy Jones was the real name of Nida Blanca.

And yes, Marcial Bonifacio was the fictitious name on the passport of
Benigno Aquino, Jr. on the day that he was murdered.

And you know the rest of their stories.

Untold Celebrity Story #3

2011-02-08T00:50:00.000-08:00

Her Mother's Joy

Her mother has always been proud of her. Mighty proud. And rightly so.

In the spring of 1991, Julia Roberts graced the cover of People
Magazine's special issue featuring its annual list of The 50 Most
Beautiful People in the World. Together with Julia Roberts in this
ultimate list of the most beautiful people were Brad Pitt, Tom
Cruise, Madonna, Mel Gibson, Whitney Houston, Michelle Pfeiffer,
Isabella Rossellini, supermodels Claudia Schiffer & Naomi Campbell
and oops, a Filipina?

Yes, People Magazine's 1991 list of The 50 Most Beautiful People in the
World included a true-blooded Filipina who was born, raised and educated
in the Philippines.

Unlike most beautiful Filipinas who were the products of mixed
marriages and who have therefore acquired foreign physical features, this
Filipina was born to a Filipina mother and a Filipino father. It is no
wonder that she does not typify a beautiful woman by any standard: She is
short, standing only 5'2". She has a huge and deep acne scar on her
forehead. She has that distinct Asian nose (read: flat). She uses only
Avon cosmetics (gasp!) and applies makeup by herself. During her pre-Inno
Sotto days, her clothes were not made by known couturiers: They were
lovingly
sewn at home by her mother who is a dressmaker. She does not even have the
right genes to inherit beauty from: Her mother was plain, even
stern-looking. Her father was a dark-skinned guy with the tough facial
features of a hardened military man.

Although both the first names of her mother and father means happy in two
different languages, their union was not as joyous. Her mother and father
were never married, making her and her only brother illegitimate children.

In the mistress hierarchy, her mother was not even her father's
second woman. Her father had a first mistress who ranked above her mother.

She and her brother only belong to their father's third family. And yes,
the gay club performer who once appeared on national television was indeed
her half-brother. She couldn't therefore be faulted for not talking about
her father. In contrast, too much has been known about her mother. Her
mother was always visible, too visible for comfort.

Her mother gave her the name Carmen and raised her in a province north of
Manila. However, when it was time for her to go to school, her
overprotective mother brought her and her brother to Manila to give them
the best education. Carmen studied in Preciosa Soliven's Operation
Brotherhood Montessori in Greenhills where she emerged as the school's
valedictorian. However, Carmen's academic rival protested the school's
decision to award Carmen the school's highest honors, claiming that she
had better grades than Carmen. Carmen's rival even revealed that the
school's owner, Mrs. Soliven, was only fond of Carmen because she always
performed in school programs which gave Carmen an edge in extra-curricular
activities. But academically, Carmen reportedly did not really rise above
her rival.

Lured into show business, Carmen became part of German Moreno's inane
daily afternoon TV show, That's Entertainment, where she got paired with
comedian and now Quezon City Vice Mayor Herbert "Bistek" Bautista. (Some
say that Vice Mayor Bautista was so enamored with Carmen that he later
refused to marry his partner despite their having a child.) As one of the
countless stars of Kuya Germ's That's Entertainment, Carmen's talent was
overshadowed by the ridiculous mass appeal of the triumvirate of Sheryl
Cruz, Manilyn Reynes and Tina Paner.

Later, Carmen made a couple of forgettable films which were big flops.
Unsuccessful in local show business, Carmen enrolled as a BS Biology
student in Ateneo de Manila, hoping to become a doctor. However, the lure
of fame and fortune shattered her medical ambition. She followed her other
dream and landed in a |Dreamland! Yes, instead of comforting innocent and
fresh-smelling babies in a hospital, she ended up entertaining horny,
sweaty and foul-smelling drunken men in seedy bars.

When Carmen was a little girl, a local manghuhula predicted that she would
be crowned Miss Universe. Her mother, legally known as Miss Imutan, was
ecstatic upon hearing this. Sadly, the prophecy did not come true.

However, when Carmen was 18 years old, she bagged a beauty title. But it
was farfetched from a Miss Universe crown. Carmen became Miss Saigon.

Yes, the only true-blooded Filipina who was included in People
Magazine's The 50 Most Beautiful People in the World in 1991 is
Feliciano Salonga and Ligaya "Joy" Imutan's only daughter: Carmen Lea
Imutan Salonga.

Most of us know her simply as Lea Salonga.

Untold Celebrity Stories #2

2011-02-08T00:48:00.000-08:00

It Could Happen Only in the Movies

These two women move in different circles but they seem to lead
parallel lives.

Barbara C. Gonzales is the great-granddaughter of national hero, Dr. Jose
Rizal. Her great-grandmother is Dr. Jose Rizal's elder sister, Maria, a
liberated woman who was separated from her husband Daniel. Barbara is more
popularly known by her nickname, Tweetums. She once appeared in a Del
Monte tomato sauce TV commercial featuring three generations of women in
the kitchen. Yes, that was Tweetums with her daughter, Panjee, and
Tweetum's mother whom they fondly called Mamu. Tweetums
was married to Ramon Tapales, a successful businessman.
Their daughter, Panjee Tapales ( a.k.a. singer Panjee Gonzales), was
co-host of ABS-CBN's daily morning show, Alas Singko Y Media (now
Magandang Umaga Pilipinas) and its defunct Sunday morning game show with
Roderick Paulate and Eric Quizon. Panjee soon became the second wife of
ABS-CBN chairman, Gabby Lopez. (But that's another story.) Tweetums writes
about art and culture in her column for the Philippine Star.

She has published a couple of books consisting of collections of her
essays from her newspaper column. She remains a highly-respected media
personality, being the president of a major advertising company.

Socorro Alicia R. Quirino is the granddaughter of former president
Elpidio Quirino. More popularly known by her nickname, Cory, she
hosts a lifestyle show on TV. Her kidnapping ordeal a few years ago was
made into a movie entitled, The Cory Quirino Kidnap, which was directed by
massacre king Carlo J. Caparas. Cory was married to Roman Cruz, Jr. who
was the president of Philippine Airlines and head of Government Service
Insurance System (GSIS). Cory writes a regular column on fitness and
health for the Philippine Daily Inquirer. She also published a series of
health, beauty and inspirational books. She remains a highly visible media
personality with her radio and TV programs.

While Tweetums and Cory were both successful in their respective careers,
their personal lives were not as rosy. Tweetums Gonzales and her husband,
Ramon Tapales, eventually decided to lead separate lives. Likewise, Cory
Quirino and her husband, Roman Cruz, Jr., soon parted ways.

Indeed, Tweetums and Cory seem to lead parallel lives.

Then, in a strange twist of fate, the unthinkable happened. . While
geometry teaches us that parallel lines can never intersect, the parallel
lives of Tweetums and Cory did intersect.

Tweetums Gonzales got married to Cory's former husband, Roman Cruz, Jr.
Meanwhile, Cory Quirino got married to Tweetum's former husband, Ramon
Tapales.

Just like in the movies.

And you know the rest of their story.

Celebrity Untold Stories # 1

2011-02-08T00:43:00.000-08:00

I was browsing the internet, bored doing nothing... I came pass this website showing untold philippine celebrity stories... As I was reading the excerpts of that website, I came to think and wonder If these stories are true or not.... You be the judge.

Beyond Sibling Rivalry

If your siblings are married to huge celebrities and you've just lost your
chance of marrying one, would you still strive to surpass their feat? But
how could you beat being married to an award-winning actress whose mother
is a beautiful actress and whose father is the original Agent X-44 of
Philipine movies?

Or being the wife of Mr. Pure Energy?

Or being Mr. Megastar?

Now, aren't you glad that you're not among the Pangilinan siblings?

Former Penthouse Live co-host and newspaper columnist Anthony Pangilinan
married Maricel Laxa, an excellent actress who is the
lovechild of circa 60s actress Imelda Ilanan and action star Tony
Ferrer. She is also the half-sister of 1990 Miss Asia runner-up Mutya
Crisostomo Laxa.

Anthony's brother, Senator Francis Pangilinan, was a campus figure in UP
Diliman. He was the chairman of the UP Student Council in 1986. He married
no less than the megastar, Sharon Cuneta.

Their sister, Angeli Pangilinan, was a campus beauty and brain while she
was a student at the UP School of Economics in Diliman. Angeli married Mr.
Pure Energy himself, Gary Valenciano.

REWIND: In the early 80s, teenager Edgardo Jose Maria Santiago Valenciano
or Gary V. to most of us, fell deeply in love with a teenage girl who
eventually became his girlfriend. Gary's true love, they said. And they
really looked perfect together. Their friends said that they were truly
meant for each other. They were the picture of pure bliss. But not for
long.

Few weeks before Gary's first major concert in 1984, a female singer
became pregnant. And Gary was the alleged father. Gary did not deny it. At
19, Gary joined the growing list of unwed teenage fathers.

Gary's former girlfriend was shocked upon hearing about Gary's
indiscretion. She felt betrayed by Gary and the female singer. Gary's
former girlfriend was devastated.

The pregnant singer who bore Gary's child was a former Camay girl who
joined the ultra exclusive league of several generations of Camay beauties
from the first Camay girl Paquita Roces to her two daughters, Maritess
Revilla (Ang lahat ay napapalingon, at muling
napapalingon) and Rosie Revilla to actress Rosa Rosal's daughter Toni Rose
Gayda (Kutis porcelana) to concert pianist Ingrid Sala Santamaria's
daughter Crispy Santamaria to a few others. The female singer indeed
looked devastatingly beautiful in her memorable Camay TV commercial. But
there was a teeny weeny objection among his friends: She was too old for
the teenage and vibrant Gary whose popularity was just beginning to zoom
up.

Everybody knows that the female singer who became pregnant with Gary's
child was Maria Anna Elizabeth Nepomuceno Pangilinan. In 1985, Gary
exchanged vows with the female singer who is more popularly known by her
nickname: Angeli. Angeli retired from her singing group, Music and Magic.
Angeli
sacrificed her flourishing singing career and left behind her fellow
Music and Magic members led by jeepney driver's daughter-turned-nurse-
turned-singer Kuh Ledesma, tenor singer-turned-Music and Magic
co-founder-turned-musical director Jet Montelibano and
singer-turned-comedian-turned TNT-turned- bogus political asylum
seeker-turned-Michael Garfinkel
endorser Fe de los Reyes.

Angeli decided to become a full-time wife to Gary, baby Paolo's Mom and
Gary's talent manager.

Meanwhile, the pain of losing Gary has left Gary's former girlfriend
in deep shock. Gary and his new bride tried to comfort her but Gary's
former girlfriend was inconsolable.

PLAY: Gary Valenciano's most inspired and most popular composition was
first heard as the theme song of a Vilma Santos movie before it became the
title of an Aga Muhlach-Lea Salonga flick and later, the title of a Kim
Chiu-Gerald Anderson TV soap opera. The haunting melody and melancholy
lyrics of this beautiful song make one wonder where Gary drew the passion
and longing for lost love which every line of this song clearly evokes.

Listen:

Sana maulit muli

Ang mga oras nating nakaraan

Bakit nagkaganito

Naglaho na ba ang pag-ibig mo?

Sana'y maulit muli

Sana bigyan pansin ang himig ko

Kahapon, bukas, ngayon

Tanging wala ng ibang mahal

Kung kaya kong iwanan ka

'Di na sana aasa pa

Kung kaya kong umiwas na

'Di na sana lalapit pa

Kung kaya ko sana

Ibalik ang kahapon

Sandaling 'di mapapantayan

Huwag sana nating itapon

Pagmamahal na tapat

Kung ako'y nagkamali minsan

'Di na ba mapagbibigyan

O giliw, dinggin mo ang nais ko, oooh...

Kung kaya kong iwanan ka

'Di na sana aasa pa

Kung kaya kong umiwas na

'Di na sana lalapit pa

Kung kaya ko sana

Ito ang tanging nais ko

Ang ating kahapon sana maulit muli

Kung kaya kong iwanan ka

'Di na sana aasa pa

Mahal pa rin kita

O giliw, o giliw ko, oooh...

This song was originally written by Gary in English. Ironically, the
one who translated it to Tagalog was Gary's wife, Angeli.

FAST FORWARD: Now, Gary has three grown-up children with Angeli. On the
other hand, Gary's former girlfriend is now known as Mrs. Buizon. She
occasionally hosts a show on TV.

The pain has eased. Somehow. Even if the former lovers get to see each
other regularly. They meet at her Mom's house during important occasions:

Christmas. New Year. Birthday of Mrs. Buizon's mother. Mrs. Buizon's
birthday. Gary's birthday. Holidays. Easter Sunday. Every Sunday, in fact
Gary's equally famous in-laws were witnesses to the former lovers'
meetings. But they do not mind at all.

Gary's wife, Angeli, does not make a fuss over it.

Even the family matriarch, retired public school teacher Mommy Emma, is
not bothered by it.

But the truth is, they could not prevent the former lovers from
seeing each other.

Because Gary's former girlfriend has to join her mother, siblings and
in-laws during important family occasions.

And because Gary's former girlfriend was Felichi Buizon.

And because before she got married, Gary's former girlfriend was
known as Felichi Pangilinan.

And yes, because Felichi Pangilinan-Buizon is the younger sister of Angeli
Pangilinan-Valenciano.

And none of us would probably ever know the rest of this intriguing
triangle's story.

Regine Velasquez - The Diva, The Icon, The Asia's Songbird

2011-02-07T20:25:00.000-08:00

Hindi ko maitatanggi ang malaking paghanga ko sa pinakamagaling na mangaawit na nabuhay sa buong kasaysayan ng Pilipinas, si Regine Velasquez. Siya din ay tinuturing kong isa sa pinakamagaling, pinakasikat at higit sa lahat pinakahinahangaan sa Asya at sa buong Mundo. Ang taglay niyang galing sa pagawit ay maikokompera sa mga pinagmamalaking mangaawit ng iba't ibang bansa at rehiyon sa mundo. Tulad ni Mariah Carey na tinaguriang "one of the world's best selling music artist" , si Celine Dion at ang legendary Whitney Houston. Marahil maraming hindi sasangayon sa mga sinabi at sinambit ko tungkol kay Regine Velasquez... Marahil maraming magsasabi kung sino ba naman ako para ilahad na si Regine ang pinakamagaling, na siya ang pinakasikat at pinakahinahangaan. Marami sa inyo ang magsasabi na dahil ako ay di hamak na isang tagahanga lamang kaya nasasabi ko ang mga ito. Maaring tama kayo, ngunit maaring tama din ako. Kung ito'y pagdedebatihan ay marahil inabot pa tayo ng isang linggo't mahigit.

Kaya para sa ikakatahimik ng lahat ng nagbabasa at taga-subaybay ng aking blog. Labis na mas maganda siguro kung mismong galing sa mga eksperto sa sining at musika ang paglalahad kung ano ba ang tingin nila sa talento ni Regine Velasquez.

(photo from: titikpilipino.com)

1. Maestro Michel Legrand

Una sa listahan ay si Maestro Michel Legrand (sino daw?). Marami sa inyo ang hindi nakakakilala kay Maestro Legrand, siya ay mat 13 Oscar nominations - tatlo dito ay napanalo niya, may 5 Grammy award at nominado din sa Emmy's. Mga kilalalang komposisyon niya ay ang Papa Don't Preach, Windmills of Your Mind, Yentl, at marami pa. So, ano naman ang opinyon niya ukol sa talento ni Regine?

“Its tough to sing a song after Barbra Streisand, I will tell you…But to sing with Regine is, I'm in heaven..She sings so well…she has such an extraordinary technical voice…and sensitive voice and talented expression.”

"The first time I heard her sing, I said to myself, 'what the hell? I owe it to the rest of the world to introduce this voice to them'. She is the voice with both the range and the heart - which is like none I've ever heard of in my entire career."

"I am very privileged to have performed with this very talented lady here. And each time Regine sings my songs, I couldnt help but say she sings the best versions. I just never heard my songs sound so well."

2. Bryan McKnight

Sino ba naman ang di makakakilala sa kanya? Mga nagpasikat ng kantang Back at One, One Last Cry, Love is, Love of my Life, 6 8 12, My kind of girl at marami pang iba. Siya ay may 16 Grammy Nominations at MTV awardee din.

“I have to tell you..I have worked with a lot of people, and you’re.. I have to put you right up the top of the list of the most talented people I have worked with...”

"I feel like the luckiest man in the planet to be able to sing with such an incredible talent. "

When asked who his favorite Filipino artist is, McKnight answers without skipping a beat. "My favorite's Regine. Regine must be one of the greatest singers that I've heard anywhere. She can hold her own next to anyone. I doubt that anybody would want to come behind her after she sings." (AsianJournal)

3. Peabo Bryson

Isang Grammy award winner na nakatambalan ni Celine Dion sa kanta niyang "Beauty and the Beast". Pinasikat din niya ang awiting If Ever You're in My Arms Again, A Whole New World, Tonight I Celebrate My Love, Without You.

“And I must say that this maybe the only female vocalist in the world who can rival Celine Dion.”

4. Jeffery Osbourne

Isang Amerikanong R&B singer at kompositor na nagpasikat ng mga awiting On the Wings of Love, I Really Dont Need No Light, Stay With Me Tonight. Siya ang sumulat ng awiting All at Once na inawit ni Whitney Houston noon.

"SHE HAS A BEAUTIFUL VOICE, MAN-A BEAUTIFUL VOICE.."

5. David Kozzz

Isang Jazz artist na nagpasikat ng awiting CARELESS WHISPER.

“How about this round of applause for this incredible voice! I never heard that song sounding great. Thank you so much!”

6. Mandy Moore

Kailangan ko pa ba ipakilala si Mandy Moore? Mangaawit na nagpasikat ng Cry, Crush, In my Pocket, Only Hope, Can we still be friends, Have a Little Faith in me, I Wanna Be with you. Siya din ay lumabas sa mga pelikulang Walk to Remember, Chasing Liberty, Saved, American Dreamz, The Princess Diaries at marami pang iba.

Regine sang "Cry" with Mandy at the MTV Asia Awards. Mandy wrote on her official website "Along with hosting the whole MTV Awards show with Ronan Keating in Asia, I performed "Cry." It was so great because I thought it would really surprise people when the biggest pop star in Asia, Regine Velasquez, joined me to sing the song as well. The crowd went crazy and she and I really got along. She was so sweet and had learned the whole song by the time we arrived in Singapore. She has an amazing voice and actually won the award for Favorite Female.

7. Jacky Cheung

Marahil marami din sa inyo ang di nakakakilala kay Jacky Cheung. Siya ang pinakatanyag at kilalang singer sa buong Asya. Maraming nakamit na awards sa Asya pati nadin sa Amerika at Europe. Mahigit kumulang 60 million records sold ang albums niya making him the highest record selling Asian Artist.

"She was eating (pizza), something which I never did when I try to record a song. That was very amazing to me. That was the first time I ever did a duet with any artist. She has a very talented mind and gifted voice."

(Clarence Hui interviewed Jackie from the March 2002 #37 issue of Cashflow Magazine... )

You have worked with many female singers now including Priscilla (Chan), Shirley (Kwan) - Let's face it, almost every Polygram artist at that time. Sandy (Lam) and Kit (Chan), in your musical, Snow, Wolf, Lake. If you had to choose, who would you say was the most memorable?

"I would have to say Regine (Velasquez). Her singing is totally awesome. But it isn't just her technique. Yes, she has an excellent range, etc, but it wasn't until I was actually in the studio to hear her record the song that I realized just how good she is. The way she used her voice, and how she rendered every note and phrase left me speechless. I just stood there wondering, "How am I going to match this, or compliment it to do it justice?" It was that serious, but also that wonderful."

8. Coco Lee

Nagiisang Asian Singer na may tatlong number 1 singles sa MTV Asia. Tinaguriang isa sa 50 Most Powerful People in Asia sabi ng Asia Weekly. Naging singing voice ni Mulan sa Mandarin version ng nasabing pelikula. Nagpasikat ng awiting Do You Want my Love at Before I Fall in Love hanggo sa pelikulang Runaway Bride.

Photo: songbirdsource.blogspot.com

9. David Archuleta

American Idol Season 7 First Runner Up. Nagpasikat ng mga awiting Crush, A Little Too Not Over You, Somebody Out There, Angels, Elevator, My Kind of Perfect at marami pa...

“I’ve heard that there are a lot of amazing singers from the Philippines.” “My favorite is Regine Velasquez. She was actually the one who got me to be an even bigger fan of Mariah Carey because she was singing all those Mariah Carey songs that I’ve never heard before. ‘Wow.’ I said, ‘Regine is so good; she’s amazing’.’”

Hmm.. She isn’t like my idol or anything haha, but I do really like her voice! She’s an amazing singer.” WALLACE Huo: he said that he likes regine's songs on SOP he even kissed her on her face.

10. Wallace Huo

Siya ay isang Taiwanese Singer at Actor. Kilala siya sa Sound of Colors na pinalabas sa Taiwan, Hong Kong, China, USA, Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines, and Japan.

He said that he likes regine's songs on SOP he even kissed her on her face.

11. Nathaniel Flatt (V Factory)

Siya ay miyembro ng sikat ng pop and r&b band na V Factory. Kung saan nominado ang grupo nila bilang favorite band/group sa StarShine Music Awards.

He shared that he once danced at a show for Regine Velasquez in LA, and is in awe of the Filipina diva’s singing voice. (http://manilaconcertscene.blogspot.c...ival-hits.html/)

photo from: summerr-in-the-shower.blogspot.com

12. Duane Russell Ho

Siya ay kabilang sa Top Ten ng Singapore Idol na humahanga ng malaki kay Regine. Sa kanyang blog ay matatagpuan ang katanungang ito:

Who is your favourite Asian person? Regine Velasquez (omg she is so pretty!)

13. Lea Salonga

Kilala sa pagganap bilang Kim sa award winning play na Miss Saigon. Siya din ang gumanap na Cinderella sa Asian tour ng nasabing palabas. Lumabas din sa Les Miserables at marami pang broadway shows. Si Lea ang naging singing voice ni Princess Jasmine sa Aladdin at Mulan sa Mulan I and Mulan II. Isa siyang Tony and Olivier Awardee.

“Local singers known for performing in this (belting) style are regine velasquez…although I have to give her props for exploring the quieter, more soothing aspects of her range.” “Truth be told, I sometimes envy the biriters PIPES OF STEEL; The heights that their voices can reach and the physical stamina that their efforts require

"I love her voice.. it's very clean, very soothing, but at the same time very powerful. And that (vocal) range, what a magnificent range! So amazing."

photo from: http://www.abante-tonite.com/issue/oct1809

14. Charice

Youtube sensation turned International Sensation kung saan lumabas sa maraming shows sa US tulad ng Ellen De Generes, Oprah, Good Morning America, at iba pa. Nakihalubilo din sa maraming sikat na international singers tulad nila Celine Dion, Josh Groban, Usher at iba pa. Lumalabas siya sa hit tv series na Glee.

When asked about, How does she feel about performing with Asia's Songbird?

"Nagkaron po siya ng concert sa Long Beach [California]. Talagang hindi po ako nanonood ng concert pero kapag big fan po talaga ako ng isang artist, pumupunta po ako.

" She's already a legend and everybody idolizes her including my mother Raquel "Kaye" Relucio Pempengco. My mommy has bought almost all of Ate Regine's CDs and tapes and watched her videos. She's a sweet person. Not many people know that she's actually a shy person. Her voice is so powerful - sweet but powerful. Before our trip to Los Angeles last February, Ate Regine invited me to dinner at her home and cooked carbonara for us. She's an amazingly good cook, too!'

"Ah, well, you see, I always say to those who ask: it is only Ms Regine whom I had not sang a duet with of all my favorite singers…"

Hindi lang din sila ang mga international star na nakatrabaho ni Regine sa kanyang career, marami pa. Ilan pa dito ay sina:

15. 98 Degrees

Regine sang their song "Hardest Thing" with the group on SOP when they were at the Philippines. The band was amazed @ Regine's vocal dynamics. They told her that they had one of her albums.

16. Ronan Keating

Ronan stopped by the Philippines for the promo tour of his new album on 2001 and did a duet with Regine with his song "When You Say Nothing At All". Another memorable performance.

photo: http://www.reginemultimedia.com

17. David Hasselhoff (Baywatch, America's Got Talent, Click)

They Recorded a song together entitled, "More Than Words Can Say". Shot in Malibu.

photo: http://www.reginemultimedia.com

18. Fernando Carillo ( Fernando Jose sa Rosalinda)

Regine and Fernando re-recorded Regine's revival hit "IKAW" and performed it live on his major concert in the Philippines as well. He also said in a youtube video clip that his favorite is Regine.

19. Paul Anka

Nagpasikat ng mga awiting Diana, Lonely Boy, You are my Destiny at Put Your Head on My Shoulder.

Recorded a song with Regine, "It's Hard To Say Goodbye". Regine's original
duet with Paul Anka "It's hard to say goodbye" was re-recorded by none other than CELINE DION.

20. Remus Choy (Grasshopper)

Collaborated with Regine on her RETRO album on the song "I Can't Help It"

21. Norman Brown

Sang "The Closer I Get To You" with Regine.

22. Jim Brickman

Jim Brickman became an instant fan with Regine's rendition of his compositions Your Love, By Heart, and My Valentine. in their concert with Ariel Rivera and The Company and promised to write a song for her.

23. Stephen Bishop

Sang "Separate Lives" with Regine in SOP.

Ilan lang sila sa mga humahanga sa kagalingan ng nagiisang Asia's Songbird na si Regine Velasquez. Abangan ang part two ng blog ko tungkol dito! Salamat! =)

What's wrong my Philippines?

2011-02-05T01:57:00.001-08:00

We actually observe the same things, the never ending hypocrisy of the Filipino people, both from the elites and the masses... a circus of blind and selfish clowns... a theater of good performers... an avenue of evil.. a huge waste of time, a tiring scenario.. will it ever end? how? when? i dont know... as much as i dont want to loose my faith and hope for this country... i honestly say that sadly, im beginning to shatter and breakdown... does it mean that i'm afraid of accepting the fact that hope and faith is not part of the equation? is it hard for me to accept the reality that the country that i am fighting for is not fighting beside me? that the country i'm fighting for aims towards the opposite of my journey for a better philippines? I hope not.. I dont want to feel sorry and regret fighting for my heritage, my countrymen and most of all my being a Filipino...

Metapisika ng Pagibig

2011-02-01T23:40:00.000-08:00

Ano ang “Metapisika ng Pagibig”?

Unti unting nagbalik tanaw sa aking isipan ang mga pinagdaanan ko sa isang paksang nagawan na ng milyong milyong kanta, bilyong bilyong tula, telenovela, drama at kung ano ano pang abubot na mabibili sa greenhills at divisoria... ang pag-ibig.

Hindi ko makakaila na ako’y umibig at inibig nadin nang ilang beses sa tala ng buhay ko. Ang iba’y nagbigay ng kasiyahang akala ko’y hindi na matatapos pa, ang iba nama’y hindi man ganoon kaganda ang aking naranasan ay masasabi ko na ito’y pawang leksyon ng poong Maykapal para ako’y mamulat sa mga bagay bagay at higit sa lahat matuto sa mga ito. (Nagsisimula na ba akong maging makata?!) Nagpapasalamat ako sa Diyos, na kahit halos lahat ng aking pinagdaanan sa pag-ibig ay hindi kanaisnais masasabi ko na iyon ang dahilan kung bakit ako ngayon ay mas naging mabuti, malakas at di hawak na gumanda't sumexy pa. Ang tao daw ay umiibig at iniibig na may kahambing na dialogo sa karanasang ito. Ang tao kung umibig hindi dapat ang puso o emosyon lamang ang pinapairal datapwat nagiisip din ito sa pamamagitan ng kanyang intelekwal na kapasidad. Para sa blog na ito, naisipan kong maglahad ng isa sa mga ekspiryensyang pagibig na nakapagpabago sa aking pananaw ukol dito at nagpabago sa akin bilang tao.

Umibig ako noon, sa isang taong hindi ko inakalang makakagawa ng mga bagay na hindi ko inasahan. Umibig ako sa isang kaibigan, bago ko pa aminin sa kanya ang aking nadarama ay sobra na ang aming mga pinagdaanan bilang magkatoto. Para kaming “bestfriends” noon, lagi kaming magkatext at nagkwekwentuhan tungkol sa mga bagay bagay na nangyari sa araw namin o kung ano man ang pumasok sa aming mga isipan, araw-araw kaming nagkikita sapagkat pareho ang unibersidad na aming dinadaluhan at ang masaya pa dito ay blockmates pa kami. Sabay din kaming kumakain, maalaga kami sa isa’t isa at higit sa lahat “sweet” daw kami sabi ng iba naming kabarkada. Ako ay isang bakla o kabilang sa pangatlong hanay ng sexualidad sa lipunan at siya naman ay ang tinatawag na “straight” o heterosexual sa ingles. Marami ang hindi makapaniwala sa mga nakikita nila dahil isang bakla at straight na tulad namin ay parang higit pa sa magkaibigan ang pagtitinginan; magkapatid man o magbestfriends o para sa iba ay binansagan kaming “secret lovers”. Siyempre, ako ay masaya at paminsa’y kinikilig kapag kami ay tinutukso ng iba. Siya naman ay tahimik at pangit-ngiti na lamang. Hindi kami nagkakailangan dahil para samin, kami ay tunay na magkaibigan. Maraming araw at buwan na ang lumipas, hindi ko na maitago ang nararamdaman ko sa kanya. Isang araw ay buong puso kong inamin sa kanya ang tibok ng aking puso. Hindi siya nagulat sa sinabi ko, sapagkat ayon sa kanya ay napansin na daw niya dati pa, tinikom na lamang niya ang kanyang mga labi para hindi magkailangan at masira ang pagkakaibigan. Pinagusapan namin ng mabuti ito, at sa huli ay napagdesisyunan namin na maging magkaibigan na lamang at wala ng hihigit pa. Naintindihan ko ang pasya niya sapagkat mahirap nga naman ang umibig at magkarelasyon sa isang baklang gaya ko. Pagkatapos ng usapan ay walang ilangan na nangyari ngunit napansin ko ang pagbabagong hindi ko inaasahan. Doon na nagsimula ang pagkasira ng aming pagkakaibigan ngunit hindi ito naging dahilan para mawala ang pagtingin ko sa kanya. Siya ay nagging abusado, dahil alam nga niya na mahal na mahal ko siya. Ginamit niya ito para makuha ang kanyang mga kagustuhan. Kumbaga ako ay nabulag sa aking nararamdaman sa kanya; ang buhay ko ay alinsunod sa kanyang mga kagustuhan at mga desisyon. Lahat ng sinabi niya ay ginawa at tinupad ko, lahat ng gusto niya ay sinunod ko. Sa panahong ito, ako ay nagmistulang alipin ng isang makapangyarihang hari na may hawak ng buhay ko. Hindi ko siya napagisipan ng masama kahit ganoon pa ang ginawa niya sakin, kahit ganoon pa ang pinagdaanan ko sa kanya. Naging sakim siya, parang hindi na siya ang taong nakilala ko, hindi na siya ang “bestfriend” ko. Napansin ng ilan naming mga kaibigan ang sitwasyong dinaranas ko noon, tinawag nila akong martyr at higit sa lahat TANGA. Ano ba ang magagawa ko noon? Mahal ko siya ng buong puso at handa akong gawin lahat para sa kanya! Ako ay parang ibong nakakulong sa kanyang howla o isang aliping nakarehas ang mga kamay at hindi makawala sa kanyang mga bitag. Nagalit ang mga kaibigan namin sa kanya, dahil sobra na ang kanyang mga pinaggagawa at dahil dito tinulungan nila akong makawala sa madilim at malakalbaryong karanasang iyon. Ngunit sila ay nabigo. Nagtagal pa ng dalawang taon ang mga pangyayaring ito. Binigo ko ang aking mga kaibigan at ang mga taong may malasakit sa akin ngunit higit sa lahat ay binigo ko ang sarili ko. Hindi ko na alam ang aking gagawin noong mga panahong iyon, ang gusto ko lamang ay mahalin niya din ako pabalik tulad ng pagmamahal at mga sakripisyong ginawa ko para sa kanya. Kinausap ko ang Diyos kung bakit ko ito pinagdaanan, kung bakit niya ako nilagay sa sitwasyong ito, kung bakit ako pa ang napili niyang masaktan ng ganito, kung bakit ako pa sa lahat ng tao. Nagdasal ako, humingi ng lakas ng loob, malawak na paguunawa at pasensya at higit sa lahat kapatawaran para sa kanya at para nadin saakin. Hindi nagtagal, unti unti akong bumangon at kumalas sa rehas na pumipigil upang ako ay makawala sa kanya. Sa tulong muli ng Diyos at ng aking mga kaibigan, dahan-dahan at sama-sama namin nalampasan ang parte ng buhay kong ito. Ngayon, na ako’y malaya na… naiintindihan ko na ang nais iparating ng Diyos sa akin. Na ang pag-ibig ay hindi lagi kung ano ang ninanais ng tao, na ang pag-ibig ay hindi laging naibabalik sa tao dahil ang pinaka wagas na pagibig sa buong mundo ay ang pagibig na ibinigay ko sa kanya at ni Jesus sa sanlibutan, at ito ay ang tinatawag na “unconditional love”. Bilang tao, napagtanto ko na hindi dapat ang puso at emosyon lamang ang pinapairal pag nagmahal o umibig sa iba sapagkat minsan ito ang dahilan kung bakit nagbabago ang pananawa natin sa buhay, dahil nabubulag tayo sa katotohanan at realidad. Dapat ay maging matalino din tayo ukol sa paksang pagibig at higit sa lahat ito ay pinagiisipan ng mabuti.

Ang Metapisika ng pagibig ay nagpapahayag ng isang importanteng kaalaman sa lahat ng taong umiibig at iniibig. Ito ay ang ideyang: nararapat lamang umibig ang isang tao sa iba ngunit sa paraang hindi mawawala ang pagibig niya sa kanyang sarili. Sa maiksing salita, mahalin mo ang sarili mo higit sa sino man at bigyan mo ito ng sapat na importansya dahil ang “ako” o “ikaw” ang natatanging meron ka sa mundong ito na hindi kailan man mawawala sa atin.

Realizations due to Tribulations

2011-02-01T23:20:00.000-08:00

I have encountered a lot of trials and challenges in my life, some of it shattered my emotional well being into pieces and some made me as the person I am now. When I was really down due to a wide array of trials that I have stumbled upon in my life I used to think that I could never move on, that it was the end of my life that I can never cope up. I felt so useless! I was really alarmed then. So what I did was to talk to a priest who is a close family friend. I told him everything (as in everything!) that I have been through, explained and shared how I felt and how I was willing to surrender. With this, the priest then told me something very important and special about my situation. He told me not to give up because I have a really significant role in this world and in this life, he then told me that I am a Wounded - Healer. So hearing this, I was like, what is it? Was it good or what? I keep on asking myself. Wondering what it means and this is how he explained it:

It is the person who has gone through suffering, sometimes great, and as a result of that process has become a source of great wisdom, healing power and inspiration for others. In fact, a wounded healer undergoes a transformation as a result of their wound, their suffering and pain. They can actually transcend it, and successfully lead themselves to a path of service. It is as if the wound itself helps you drive yourself to an inner journey that becomes the transformation itself. One strips away the selfish, ego-based feeling of being all alone in our wound and expands to see others and how if one chooses a different role, one can help. But for me it, gives freedom and hope. It may no longer be trendy but for me it was life. I began to realize that I was called to share out of vulnerability, not strength. It began to permeate every part of my life. I no longer had to pretend thay I had it all. It allowed me to bring into play other important facade of my belief system. Like vulnerability, raw, real, imperfection, and transparency. A wounded healer for me is a person who brings healing to others as a way of helping to heal his or her own wounds. If I see people with broken hearts due to the problems that bombards the society such as poverty, then I am drawn to serve others by helping them to heal their heartache through charitable activities or more so by finishing my political science degree and by then I will be able to help those people who cannot fight because of their class status. As of now, I may offer guidance that also stimulates a process of healing within ourselves. In doing so I may stimulate their own unresolved feelings to emerge so that I can come to terms with them and make some new, positive decisions about their future. It is not necessary to create wounds or problems in order to become a good person. Being the wounded healer is not about damaging or sabotaging other peoples’ lives instead it will make me understand the problems of others because I feel from their pain and I know how and what they undergo in life through the studies that I had made in my polsci course. I need to be willing to continue healing myself as I follow a path of service of others and draw from the wisdom of my own personal experiences. In finding my own strengths, I know that I also help other people to grow stronger. Like my friends and most of all my family. In providing strength for others, I know that it also strengthens me. It’s a give and take relationship. My role in my community is simple as being a good friend, a good son, a good student and most of all a good citizen of this country.

Thankfully, I was able to talk with that priest and in an early age I was able to realize the importance of my life. That I am a special being in my own right for God created me to do wonderful things in this life. That I have to accept myself and love myself more, and I did! Actually I’m proud of myself even if a lot of people judge me because of what I am, a homosexual. I just keep in mind that God loves me no matter what, I have my family to support me and my friends to cheer me up and be loyal to me whatever happens. Despite the hardships and trials that I have gone through and that I will be going through, I have to keep in mind that these tribulations are the one’s that makes me a better person! So kudos to me, a wounded-healer!

My life: Moral in my own right..

2011-01-31T02:31:00.000-08:00

As we all know, throughout human history, communities have been concerned with the type of person that children become. That is why throughout this time, the role of adults, especially parents, in children's moral development has been very important. Parents influence their children's moral development by first examining what is meant by morality in childhood like what my mom and dad did! They taught me to distinguished characteristics or behaviors that are morally good or bad by orienting me in my young age, to develop my self-control and to have compliance and self-esteem for myself. All i can say is that this helped me so much; these characteristics and behaviors they imparted to me became one of the foundations of my moral being and made me the person i am now. But as i grew up, i met new people, joined groups and organizations that i can say made a huge impact in my life...

Why?

Because for many young people like me, before i had not known my true identity yet; who i am and my vision of what i can become, it is either practically nonexistent yet or distorted. As a result, many values that my parents taught me were imparting and dont seem to take root and later adopting my peers and groups personality and slowly becoming a permanent part of my character. Some of these strong influences in my life are my peers, media and groups and organizations i joined and i honestly know that some of these influences may redefine my future and teach false values that will lead me to seek short-term, counterfeit objectives palmed off as success but certainly i can make IWAS.

How?

If i start to live my life not in accordance with theirs, when i start to make decisions on my own without any of these influences manipulating me... but my mind is rebottling my opposing ideas!

Why?

Because, one of the strongest desires of any young person is to be accepted and approved by friends, to reach certain significance among peers! So if ever i choose to go against what they want... they might start disliking me or disowning me in their lives!!! oh man... its damn hard!!! It's natural for young people wanting the acceptance of their friends and peers. But all too often a condition for that acceptance involves the temptation to lower standards taught at home or church. Such temptation, and the pressure for acceptance can be stronger than a teen's conscience. The short-term pay off is achieving some status with friends but the consequences may be DESTRUCTIVE and DETRIMENTAL habits for some... such as smoking, alcohol, drugs, and premarital sex... and that is what happened to me!!! but the only thing is that i don't perceive that these habits are destructive to my system as a person... haha... Peer pressure, along with the effects of some of these behaviors, often results for some young people to get lower grades at school... but in my case, i still tend to have high grades and pass school!

And for me, i'm happy, satisfied and contented for what i have now... what i mean is that i am already pleased with my life, my family, my friends, everything in my life whether some people, the church, the standards of the society degrades my personality because of the moral and conduct rooted in my system... IT DOESNT MATTER AT ALL!

because at the end of the day, it is still me who can only say it is all worthid!

Philippine Music, ORIGINAL or NOT?

2011-01-31T02:28:00.000-08:00

At present, we have been criticized for being more interested and appreciative to Western music. Also, we can see that almost all our local artists are into revivals and covers of Western music as well and because of this, many foreign people criticizes Filipinos for being copycats and most of all being trying hard Westerners. These criticisms are often seen in websites such as Youtube and more. Does this mean that we really don’t have anything original? Or is the famed Original Filipino Music or OPM a false representation of Philippine Music? Is Philippine Music now in oblivion? Well for me, I believe that Philippine Music is still at its best shape despite of the criticisms thrown to it. Even if majority of our present artists are keen into reviving and doing covers of a foreign song, we must take note that the artists makes it as his or her own song by giving a different attack on the song; changing the delivery of the song, adding instruments that showcases Philippine instruments and beats, by adding other elements that is Filipino in nature and more adept to Philippine culture. Also, not all of our artists revive foreign music because there are still a lot of Filipino artists who composes original songs and melodies that are appreciated by the Filipino masses. Examples of these are the compositions of Ryan Cayabyab, Louie Ocampo, Ogie Alcasid and many more. And as I can see it, the modern way of colonization by the foreign oppressors is through their music that breaks through the local markets of the different countries in the world like the Philippines. And like before, there are still Filipinos who give importance to their own music, who still believe in the importance of Philippine music and who is willing to do something in order to protect and preserve it against the foreign music who slowly affects our local music scene. I am confident with the Philippine Music especially on my own observation with its present stand in the society, it dominates the airwaves, it dominates the hit charts, it dominates the concert scenes, and it dominates sales records. Our very own music is still alive and kicking butts and hopefully this trend will continue not only to preserve, protect and revive Philippine Music but also it is a way of remembering and giving importance with the contributions and sacrifices of the early Filipinos who fought for freedom and who gave their all for the sake of Nationalism!

Message Behind a Filipino Music Video

2011-01-31T02:17:00.000-08:00

In my Human Art class when I was in college, we were tasked to choose between 5 filipino music videos... I have chosen the music video of “Penge Naman” by Itchyworms not because its my favorite.. (haha... no noh!) but because eh isa ito sa mga pagpipilian... haha... pinili ko ito kasi I think that it showcases the elements of the new era of the film industry.

The music video is like a short film. It has a story that tackles a major issue in the world today, which is the discrimination of the physical being of a person despite the talent each acquires. The story starts in an audition room where in a group of hopeful talented people were being criticized by a panel of judges because of their looks, color, shape and size. They asked these hopeful people to change the way they look by all means; dieting till you starve, exercise till you faint, have a liposuction, undergo botox and whatever the Belo and Calayan companies offer. The funny thing is that, that scene is really ironic because the judges themselves were fat and ugly at the same time. I also noticed something written in the wall of the audition room which says: “Pogi Rock, Key to Success” and honestly speaking, in our society this is somehow true! Because as we can see, the Philippine showbizness is really a cruel industry! If your ugly, you’re out of the picture or just have minor roles and if you’re good looking, you are given a chance to shine until they find someone who is more good looking than you and when that happens, like those ugly people; you’re out of the scene! For me, this kind of thinking is really depressing and frustrating because I rather prefer a not so good looking person with an immense talent than watching a good looking person with no other talent than to smile! This paradigm should be stop at once, they tend to be an icon for a lot of people and these people try to emulate such icons. People are affected with their actions and a lot of these ordinary people try to achieve the standards that this hypocrite industry made. This music video wants to show people the reality behind the glamour and fame of show business and also the irony of this illusion! The irony is that whether the music video showed the cruelty of this business with regards to such discrimination; the artists in the video wants us to think that it’s not always that way. Why? For the fact that in reality, the Itchyworms despite their appearances is one of the most sought after bands here in the country!

Its Still You...

2011-01-28T23:49:00.001-08:00

Though i have found someone new
all this time, i wish it was you...

The thing is im not your type
i wish i could be the one you truly love
then i can be your angel sent from above
we may not be the one i wanted us to be
but i do believe God created you for me!
its too sad to think that you can never be mine
i wish i could just act it out like a mime...

You're owned by someone else now
my wishes shall end up with a bow
hoping that you'll always smile my way
surely you'll brighten up my day.

Loving you is all that i have done
but damn, now you're gone...

Everything should have been meant to be
until my good friend came to me...
"CAUSE MY LOVER IS YOUR GOOD FRIEND"
its what your lips had said,
shit! im half dead when i heard you say "ITS TRUE".
damn baby, cause its still you...

I Never Knew How Much You Mean To ME...

2011-01-28T23:47:00.001-08:00

My heart felt like a ship sinking to the sea
coz i let go of someone so dear to me
tears rolled down my cheeks seeing a picture of you and me
my mouth could only say your name silently

My heart aches whenever i see you with someone else
coz i remember the memories of us together
But seeing you happy with someone new
I felt devastated coz i never saw you as happy as ever

I sat on the roof, staring at the stars shining at night
i remembered the times you were with me
i smiled but tears rolled from my eyes
coz i never told you i love you dearly

I dont know what to do coz i was hurt when i lost you
you left me with a broken heart
now my dreams are shattered into pieces, i blame myself for everything!

I sat down and started to think that all these years you've been looking at me so lovingly
but the sad thing about it was that i never did see coz i never knew how much you mean to me...

When Will You Come Back

2011-01-28T23:46:00.003-08:00

Unopened gifts... to you from me
A silent phone... waiting for your call
Closed door... hoping that you knock

An empty chair... useless without you
Unsung song... waiting for your laughter
Alone in the rain... longing for your embrace
Lonesome in the dark... wishing you were back!

When... When will you,...
open my gifts with delight,
dial the phone to give me a call,
knock and see me waiting by my door,
sit on the chair with me by the cozy fire,
sing our song as i play my guitar,
laugh at the jokes i crack,
embrace me and keep me warm in the rain,
brighten the gloomy nights as we watch the fading moonlight?

Please, please come back soon...
and make this life of mine worth living one..

CONFUSION

2011-01-28T23:45:00.001-08:00

A new day...

I saw him...

A new face, outshining the crowd...

I met him... it felt different...

Another day has passed...

I went home...

fell asleep...

As i wake up in the morning, i long for you badly... Your sparkly little eyes, your sweet smile that lightens my day, your soft red lips that i longed to kiss, imagining your warmth and tender hugs wrapped around me that erases my worries and slowly... makes me feel safe, contented and happy.

Am i falling inlove again? is he the one? my prince in shining armor? or is it a different thing? infatuation or maybe im just not over with my dark past and it still hurts me. i dont know! im CONFUSED... but what the hell! i have moved on... i guess... hopefully... i cant stand it anymore... i cant stand those sleepless nights, those memories that hunts me and makes me ask myself of whether it may happen again or was it our last and will just be a simple memory? i hate myself for falling so badly! was i not enough? or was i to much to handle? did i ever made you feel at ease or was i so protective? weren't you happy with me or were you too happy that scared you away, thinking that you will just hurt and disappoint me? if that's the case then.... then your SELFISH! Selfish for not telling me how you felt, i may have understood you but rather you were silent and just kept it all to yourself! But you know what? if you're selfish for doing that... i'll admittedly say that i was STUPID! so stupid for not knowing how you felt, for making you think that it was all your fault, for making you feel that you were not enough... but the truth is that... you were more than enough! you are the one i wanted to be with, the one i truly love, the one that i can never replace in my heart, the one i want to spend the rest of my life with...

Through all of this... i cant help but think that...

you are GONE... and NEVER to return...

A Suffering...

2011-01-28T23:44:00.001-08:00

You're right, I am suffering… suffering because I can’t be with you yet, suffering to be with you. I can’t stand it anymore! I am longing to be with you every moment of everyday! This world is a very muddled place, how can they make us feel this way. Our love is near but yet so far, it’s like we love each other so much that it unifies us into one but also it tends to be far because of the hindrances of our relationship! As I said awhile ago, I’m suffering to be with you and the only thing that keeps me hanging and holding on is the fact that I know I love you and that you love me. I hope you’re doing fine with your life. Hope to see you soon. Always remember that you’re always in my heart.

Don't Give Up...

2011-01-28T23:43:00.001-08:00

I feel your pain and it hurts me more seeing you feel this way and undergo such troublesome. But I ask you my love to hold on and furthermore may our love flourish even if it means going against everything around us. I know that our love has been in rough roads and I also know that it would not end easily; we may encounter more problems and trials as we continue our journey of loving each other. Let us not think pessimistically but rather think that these trials and bumpy roads will make our relationship stronger and our love deeper. Please don’t give up on me… don’t give up on us. I have been also feeling the same things that you feel, but I rather set them aside and just focus what we have and what we can have. I love you, your name may sound funny but it is the only name that my heart beats for.

My I Dont Knows...

2011-01-28T23:42:00.001-08:00

i don't know if i have not been that sensitive with your feelings...

i don't know if you miss me, our talks and everything...

i don't know what keeps you irritated when i open "THAT" topic...

i don't know if you feel how much i care about you...

i don't even know if you care at all...

i don't know what i have done wrong...

i don't know why you need to let go of what we have...

i don't know what's bothering you right now...

i don't know if you still need me to listen to your problems and stories...

i don't know if you can see and feel that im hurting right now...

i don't know if you still want me to stay...

i don't know if you still want me to be part of your life...

i don't know if you will ever talk to me again...

i don't know if we'll see each other again...

i don't know if you still want me to love you...

i don't know what to do...

BUT

i do know how real and authentic my love for you is!!!

How to Enhance Relationships?

2011-01-28T23:40:00.001-08:00

In my life, i have encountered and surpassed a lot of trials.. relationship trials specifically... with family, friends and even in love... i mean.. who doesn't diba? and i know that meron pading mga dadating na new trials sa llife relationships ko... so maybe your thinking, what the hell did i do.. haha! am i a relationship expert now? nah... uhmm.. just want to share some insights regarding enhancing relationships... okay? :D more on LOVE haha... bakit ba! hehe...

So the first thing that a person should establish in a relationship is TRUST...it is a very important factor in a relationship. When trust is broken, it is the end of the relationship. Lack of trust leads to suspicion, suspicion generates anger, anger causes enmity and enmity may result in separation. (Kaya to those people who keeps on questioning their partners on alot of things... pwede ba magtiwala naman kayo!)

Another thing, in a relationship make sure na there is no pointing fingers... (oops, iba nanaman iniisip niyo! kayo talaga! haha) You should never criticize your partner for their shortcomings or when they do something wrong, always bear in mind that because of their shortcomings and weaknesses, they could not find a better partner than you. We all look forward to being loved and respected. Many people are afraid of losing face. Generally, when a person makes a mistake, he would look around to find a scapegoat to point the finger at. This is the start of a war. We should always remember that when we point one finger at a person, the other four fingers are pointing at ourselves. If we forgive others, others will ignore our mistakes too. (makes sense? oo naman noh!)

Also, the existence of overpowering is a NO NO! haha... coz many relationships fail because one party tries to overpower another, or demands too much. People in love tend to think that love will conquer all (yah right!) and their partners will change the bad habits. Actually, this is not the case... how do i know? ask yourselves! It is not easy to change, having high expectation on changing a partners character will cause disappointment and unpleasantness. (ahuh, you got that right...) the best thing to do is change ourselves and lower our expectations... its a less painful! diba? what do you think?

Then, we should also consider choosing the right words to say at the right time and place... many relationships break off because of wrong speech... (i know i did before... haha) When a couple is too close with each other, we always forget mutual respect and courtesy. We may say anything without considering if it would hurt the other party...

Most importantly, we should also be very patient. Think first before you lose your patience with someone you love. Material things can be repaired but a hurting feelings often can't. Too often we fail to recognize the difference between the person and the performance. We forget that forgiveness is greater than revenge. People make mistakes. We are allowed to make mistakes. But the actions we take while in a rage will haunt us forever.

There you go... enhancing relationships is really important... i know a lot of people who parted ways with their partner just because of simple things that they disregarded in their relationships. (specifically those that i elaborated)..

Love is...

2011-01-28T23:38:00.001-08:00

Love is a CONTRADICTION... you may love whoever you want to but not all of them will love you the way you do!!!

Love is a BIG RISK... you'll give your all; your heart, body and soul, you may even go against your principle but will that person be willing to sacrifice all for you?!?

Love is MELLOW DRAMATIC... it's like watching prime time "telenovelas" in television or for some, it's like reading a "Novel" and the main theme: love, hatred and betrayal! it sounds silly, but hey... who doesn't experience such bad days anyway?!

Love is CYCLICAL... it's a "Wheel of Fortune", it's not always a happy ending for everybody (breaking up-together again-breaking up) but for some... its the best thing that ever happened in their lives!!!

Love is a GAME... it's supposed to be about fairness, trust and honesty but that's not always the case! There are people who love just for the sake of playing around, it gives them thrill and excitement and even disregards your feelings! damn asses! lol!!!

But what heck?!!! Love maybe contradictory, a risk, mellow dramatic, cyclical and even a game! We just need to remember that LOVE is also what gives us the feeling of contentment wherein the scenario is... we sit and look back with our lives... thinking... feeling... that you wouldn't and couldn't ask for more!!! FOR AS LONG AS THAT PERSON IS IN YOUR PRESENCE, THAT IS WHAT MATTERS!

Im Gay

2011-01-28T02:57:00.000-08:00

I was browsing the net one day... I saw this heart-melting piece of art, its actually not just a piece of art... its more of a PHENOMENON...while reading it, dozens and thousands of past experiences bombarded my mind, my heart and soul. Its as if I was relieving that same day, the day I fell in love and got my heart broken and torn, but despite such tribulation I was eager to stand up and prove to the world that Im GAY, hotter than your lover and yummier than your next. LOL Anyway, I'd like to share it with you guys, hope such will deeply touch your hearts...

I once loved one man, he took my only heart
and right there in front of me, he ripped it apart
I know he didn't mean to, and the fault is mine to blame
but the guilt and pain remains all the same
but now I understand, why he ran away
now I understand why he didn't stay
he was afraid to love, and afraid to take a chance
he was afraid to leave and make another stance
he was afraid to make his mark on societies wall
he was afraid to take a leap, as he could fall
he would have rather stayed inside that rotting jail
he rather stay with society, even though I paid bail
he made his mind and stayed with society
even though he had his chance to be free
so now as I sit outside societies dream
I linger like a nightmare, making people scream
they say its just a phase, that I'll get over it soon
they say its a disease, like the werewolf and the moon
but deep down in my heart, I know it isn't so
because I have to be strong, so I can show
people like the one man who threw me in a bin
that no matter how hard they try, we will never give in!
cause what's the point of hurting us? so we can feel bad?
so we can understand what its like to be sad?
well we already know just how it feels
cause it is so hard for us to reveal
that we like the same sex, and who really gives a damn?
goes in the end we all still go all cold and clam
so who cares if I'm gay! I am proud to be
because in my world I take it as a victory
that I can make a choice and stand from the rest
be an individual and try my best
and kids at school may laugh at me and call nasty names
but you know what? it doesn't matter its all a game!
cause later on in life they will suddenly see
that the reason I was gay, was because it was me
so go on a call out names and raise your heads so high
but remember who I am, just before you die
remember that I was strong and managed to pull through
and remember that if I can do it, then so can you
so today I stand and say that I am proud to be gay
and if I had a choice... I'd have it no other way!

- Told you so? I know you just had a teary eye, Am I right my friend? What can you say about it? =)

Source: I'm Gay, Teen Poems http://www.familyfriendpoems.com/teen/poetry.asp?poem=24076#ixzz0uSjztkh9

How did I find out that I'm GAY?

2011-01-28T02:50:00.000-08:00

Finding out was really a hard and confusing thing, it didn't just snapped/popped out in thin air or i didn't just decide to be gay... Finding out ones' sexuality coincides with the persons growth as a human being. From what i remember, i already felt that i was "special" (in a sense wherein i am not like any other boy in my class or family) as young as grade two. In that very tender age of mine, i have discovered something special within me, its like a gift from the universe... i felt that i was chosen to receive a huge responsibility as a person - to be able to feel, act, think and understand both sexes in a deep way. Anyway, as i said, i was grade 2 back then when i started to notice; i felt more at ease playing with my female classmates, i love colorful objects/things, i was really loud and definitely do speak my mind out... but what made me really discover that im GAY was when i started to appreciate the God-given beauty of the same sex. As i grew older, the urge to know more of such lifestyle became stronger... i was alone in my journey though my mom was supportive, given the problems that my family was facing during those times - i dont want to be a huge disappointment... Growing up, discovering it on my own was fun and exciting at the same time.. but as we all know, life is not fair.. its a vicious game wherein faith is not always at my side... i also had my bad days, dark times, down hill drained moments... no one to run to, nowhere to hide... the society at large does not really accept the idea of homosexuality during those times, people cannot understand why im gay that is why they bash/ridicule and even to the point of degrading my well being just because they cant understand my situation, they WONT accept me... it was the darkest years of my whole existence, i was in the verge of fighting for my whole existence, my worth as a person, the acceptance of everyone, the respect, the love... despite such tribulations, i was firmed, instead of pitying myself, i had the momentum of proving everyone that eventhough im gay, im dignified, im worthy of their respect/admiration, trust and most of all acceptance. I told myself that i wont give anyone the reason to despise me for being gay; i was not the stereotypical homosexual... i believe i am more of the inspiring one... the wounds of my dark past helped me drove myself to an inner journey that led to my transformation as a person. I began to realize that i was called to share out of vulnerability, not strength. Meaning i cannot force others to accept me but rather see that life is imperfect in a way BUT it is designed different for each one of us. With this, my wounds started to heal because my whole existence itself is a manifestation of strength for others, they were able to connect with me, they were able to feel my pain... to learn with me... to heal with me... and to accept me... in finding my own strengths, i know that i also help other people to grow stronger... in finding myself, i know that i also help other people to find me, know me, discover the real me and accept me for what i really am...