A Sorta Gaga Comeback

forever an inspiration

It’s been a long time since I came around, been a long time but I’m back in town, this time I’m not leaving without you. – You and I, Lady Gaga

Of course, I had to begin my pseudo-comeback with none other than Lady Gaga! Actually, I just had to put the lyrics up since she’s been my gal whenever life decides to become a pain in the butt. Listening to her songs simultaneously soothes my soul and empowers me to face tomorrow proud of the scars of yesterday.

Thus, let today be another reminder of the comebacks we’re meant to live and accomplish. Despite the multitude of setbacks we may have endured over the years, we’re still capable of pursuing those dreams we thought would never come true. We only have to believe in ourselves. We only have to believe in our comeback.

Don’t hide yourself in regret, just love yourself and you’re set, I’m on the right track baby I was born this way. – Born This Way, Lady Gaga

Kaya Pala. (TBTue)

Bilang pagpapatuloy ng paggunita sa sariling wika ang tema pa rin ng Turnback Tuesdays, sinulit ko na ang paglathala ng mga isinulat ko sa aking multiply blog. Isinulat ko ito sa kasagsagan ng aking klase sa Pilosopiya noong Disyembre 2008. Hanggang sa ngayon, isa pa rin ito sa pinakabumubulabog sa aking diwa. Ano ito? Halina't basahin! (Iniklian ko na rin ang Turnback Tuesdays upang makatipid sa titik)

To the Tune of Two Left Feet

Last Friday, I finally watched Alvin Yapan's Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa with Yeng. I have been aching to watch this since the trailer came out a few months ago but just didn’t have the time. Thank God for a showing in the Ateneo.

Crazy, Stupid, Watermelon #replacetitleswithwatermelon

Must-see!

After an almost futile search for somebody to watch with me, I finally watched Crazy, Stupid, Love with my good friend Andrew last Tuesday. Though I had a few qualms, I still enjoyed watching Cal go crazy over the events that transpire after Emily proposes a divorce. Of course, how can you not love a film with such an endearing cast with an ANTM alum to boot? I actually hope though that Analeigh, who plays Jessica the babysitter, doesn’t look like that in real life because she was way beautiful in her ANTM cycle.

Since I don’t want to spoil anything about the film, I skirted the juicier snippets and would like to focus first on this conversation between Cal and his boss.

Cal: Who told you that Emily and I are getting divorced

Cal’s Boss: Amy heard you crying in the bathroom - we all thought it was cancer.
Cal: Oh…

Cal’s Boss: Thank God, man... *laughing*
Cal: Yeah, just my relationship... 

The scene ends with the whole office applauding after his boss shares the good news. Way to go, Cal’s douche boss officemates!

Is This Really Necessary? (Whatchathink Wednesdays)

A former participant who prefers to remain anonymous asked for advice regarding her current predicament in school.

She said that she finds her tests this semester much more difficult compared to the previous ones. She attributes the difficulty to her professor’s outrageous test types, her lack of a definite place and time to study and her bout with the expectations of her peers.

What should she do? Here’s a more cohesive version of my advice.

In Short, Affected. (Turnback Tuesdays)

Dahil nga nilulubos ko na ang paggamit ng wikang Filipino rito, isang talang isinulat sa sarili nating wika ang ating babalikan ngayon. Opo, nakasulat po ito sa Filipino bagama't Inggles ang pamagat. Inilathala ito sa pahina ko sa Multiply noong Setyembre 2008. Kung personal ninyo akong kilala, alam ninyong totoo ang talinhagang ginamit ko rito. Hala basa na!

Huwag ka lang sanang mabulunan.

Minsan, mayroon lang talagang mga taong inuunahan ng damdamin ang isip sa kanilang reaksyon. Sa gayon, nakasasalita o nakasusulat sila ng mga reaksyong walang naidaragdag na mabuti sa sitwasyon.

Ilabas na ang mga Kaliskis

Aaminin ko, noong una kong basahin ang isinulat ni James Soriano para sa Manila Bulletin, gusto kong kaliskisan siya ng buhay dahil taliwas sa kanyang karanasan ang naging karanasan ko sa wikang Filipino. Sa unang tingin, nakaiinsulto para sa isang tulad kong aminadong higit na gamay ang pag-isip, pagsulat at pagsalita sa wikang Filipino ang sabihing hindi ito language of the learned.

Innocence is Super Bass Bliss

I’ve recently been crazy listening to Nicki Minaj’s Super Bass. Who wouldn’t? The catchy melody and playful lyrics invite you to lose yourself in four minutes of sugary sweet bliss.

Personally, the song resonates childplay for me. It whirls me into the carefree eight year old that I was a decade and a half ago who delighted in afternoon street games with the neighbors, cheated summer afternoon naps, indulged in chocolate and candies, threw tantrums to avoid eating vegetables and bullied my toddler brother. Who doesn’t want to be that carefree again, right? To think, we wanted to hurry into adolescence back then.

The Need to Dream (Whatchathink Wednesdays)

To celebrate the 100th entry for 2011, we begin Whatchathink Wednesdays. (WTHW)

What is WTHW?

Well, I’ve always wanted this site to be a haven where readers can send in their own issues, stories or musings either for a piece of advice or insight or the simple pleasure of sharing it with the world.

You can send in your thoughts through the following:

Tweet/DM via twitter: koreokei

Ask via tumblr: koreoke

Message via FB: Personal FB page

E-mail via kangelesiv@gmail.com

Our first WTHW comes from Bernadee Uy who sent in her question via Facebook two weeks ago. It read:

Accdg to the businessman in the Little Prince: "As for me, I am concerned with matters of consequence. There is no time for idle dreaming in my life."

What do you think of this statement? joke, parang thesis =))) actually gusto ko lang malaman, what do you think are matters of consequence. and siguro yun nga, what does it mean to "idly dream"?

III. Pananatili

This is a copy of the farewell speech I gave for my Pathways participants at my final general assembly today. It's written in a loose mix of primarily Filipino with English. You might find some errors though since I didn't really edit this before I post in the fear that I might get emotional yet again. Warning: it's quite long and gets emotional at some points! Anyway, here's my tribute to Pathways, my home for the last five years.

Against the Prayer against the RH Bill

I haven’t really religiously attended mass the last few years. I know that I should attend mass every Sunday and all holidays of obligations. I’ve confessed it to a priest years ago. However, I’d like to reach that point wherein I’ll attend mass because I’ve prepared myself well enough to listen to God’s word. And not just to either sit in the pews and let my mind wander or succumb to the distractions. Both of which I’m often guilty of.

Last Sunday mass, I was unfortunately reminded why I have consciously decided to miss mass at our parish in the recent months.

Commuter personality (Turnback Tuesdays)

If you know me personally, you're probably aware that I don't drive even if I have the license. Here's a little entry from January 2007 providing some insight as to why I prefer to commute. Toodles!

One Time Only

Just one night

With the American Idol Live Tour coming in September and Adele’s songs getting more airtime here in the country, I have my hopes up that Adele will hold a concert here in Manila sometime soon. Of course, you can dismiss it as merely an illusory correlation resulting in delusion. However, I’d really do anything just to watch her live here since it’s probably going to be a rare or even a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

Just this time. This will only happen once. One time only. This will never happen again. *Insert other permutations of such thought*

Don’t we always use such reason to explain ourselves for doing deviant deeds? By deviant, I’m referring to both positive and negative experiences.

Ang Palayok ni Magneto

After contemplating on my entry yesterday, I realized that there is a kind of problem that may be the most difficult to solve. A kind of palayok seemingly impossible to shatter.

The Metaphor of the Pukpok Palayok

Source: inutiles.wordpress.com

Pukpok Palayok is a popular Filipino children’s game. Blindfolded participants are to hit the goodie-filled palayok (clay pot) using a wooden rod. The task is made difficult by the fact that the participants are made to turn in place to get them dizzy and the audience distracts them by yelling all kinds of directions. The participant who hits the pot despite all of these wins.

It was one of the children’s games I never really got to enjoy. An effect probably of my ineptitude to hit the palayok because my aim has never really been my best asset. Of the few times I tried, I think I only grazed the side of the palayok and rarely hit the palayok hard enough to shatter it to pieces. It was always a challenge of mine I suppose.

Speaking of challenges and problems, my recent musings had me tinker with the metaphor of Pukpok Palayok and relate it to dealing with the aforementioned.

A Struggle in Context

I recently surprised myself with my GMAT preparation by having the highest scores in Reading Comprehension. Since Reading as a subject has been my waterloo since elementary, I’ve come to accept the fact that it will be one of the biggest challenges I’ll have for the upcoming test. Thus, the recent revelation was a very pleasant surprise. I can comprehend fairly well after all!

Anyway, I remember that one of the test types I had most difficulty with as an elementary student was dealing with context clues. Maybe it was because of my limited vocabulary or of the fact that I’ve handicapped myself when it comes to anything related to the subject. Whatever the cause was, it instigated a struggle.

Speaking of struggles, I recently found myself struggling with the freshness of the entries I churn out. 

Almost Accident (Turnback Tuesdays)

Though this entry was written back in January 2007, it echoes something I've tried to recently emphasize in my life. What is it? You just have to read through it though you can skip the second paragraph since it just expounds on the first paragraph. Toodles!

My California King

Since I still cannot get California King Bed out of my head, I’d like to focus on Rihanna’s “so near yet so far” troubles with her California King Bed King for today’s entry. Again, a frustrating situation we may have encountered a lot of times. What have you done during such testing times, my dear reader? What will you do?

It feels like more than distance between us.

Many of us have probably experienced Rihanna’s dilemma in her song California King Bed. In the song, she laments the intangible distance that exists between her and her lover despite them being physically close. Sometimes, maybe even inseparable.

Don’t we all have a similar dose of her dilemma? Individuals who we constantly interact and live with yet who seem like live ten thousand miles apart. Woe to non-physical distance for coming between us and the people we desire to be close with!

And so can we conclude that distance, especially the non-physical kind, often leads up to nothing more than mere heartbreak?

The Gift

Every time we have a karaoke nightout, my friends always tease me to sing “The Gift” by Jim Brickman. I actually don’t know how it started. One time they just started teasing me about it. Heh. I know and I don’t think it’ll be appropriate to share it to the rest of the world. Not in this supposedly sane and decent blog of mine.

Speaking of gifts, it was the focus of the homily at the missioning mass to end Zen’s retreat last Sunday. After the mass, I’ve lingered on the thoughts throughout this week. And today seems most appropriate for me to share it with you.

Too Much Hurts (Turnback Tuesdays)

Here's an entry written back in February 2007 which reveals how I would responsibly cram back then. Kidding! Anyway, if you think this might be one of those emo entries I wrote then you're wrong. Read on and discover why too much might hurt. Toodles!

Have you had a Horcrux?

A must-read!

Central to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the seventh and final installment of the Harry Potter series, is the hunt to destroy the remaining Horcrux of Lord Voldemort. If you’re not familiar with the books or the movie, a dark wizard creates a Horcrux to contain a fragment of a their soul in the hopes of gaining access to resurrection and immortality. (Source: Harry Potter Wiki)

Actually, some of us mere muggles (wizards’ term for non-wizards) have also attempted to create our own Horcrux. 

Just a Feeling

Thanks to Marie Gene’s current playlist, I’ve recently added Maroon 5’s Just a Feeling to my own. It was love at first hearing probably because its melancholic melody unsurprisingly soothed my soul. Unsurprisingly because I sometimes seem to maneuver myself right into misery.

Looking up the lyrics online, I confirmed that the song speaks of an end of an affair and the succeeding sadness that swallows. For all who similarly have found themselves at the rawer end of heartbreak, how will you move on from such misfortune? How will you mend your broken heart?

Chasing Dreams (Turnback Tuesdays)

Trying to keep the Turnback Tuesdays tradition alive, here's an entry written April 2007 right before my junior term abroad. I think it's an appropriate entry given the changes occurring in the next few months. I hope it inspires you to chase your own dreams as well. Toodles!

II. Sala sa Init, Sala sa Lamig

Kaya mo bang ihaya ang takot at ginhawa ng nakasanayan upang yakapin ang pangako at paminsan-minsang pait ng pagbabagong inaasam?

Mahirap yakapin ang hindi sigurado. Nanlalamig ang nag-aalangan. Ninanakaw ang dapat na init ng pagtanggap ng hinahagkan.

Mahirap yakapin ang paminsan-minsang pait. Nag-iinit ang nanghihitik sa pait. Ninanakaw ang dapat na lamig ng pagtanggap ng hinahagkan.

Sa gayon, kaya mo nga bang yakapin ang sala sa init o sala sa lamig na hahagkan? O isusuko na lamang ang pagbabagong nais na hagkan kapalit na iwasan ang hinagpis na dulot ng hahagkan?

Marahil may nararapat pang tanungin. Tangan mo ba ang pinakamahirap ngunit pinakakailangan sa panahon ng pagbabago? Tangan mo ba ang tiwala?

Brain/Heart/Gut

I have been an avid lurker of Survivor Sucks, a message board devoted primarily to Survivor but devotes discussion for other reality shows as well such as my current favorite, The Amazing Race. Years ago (I don’t know if they still continue this), posters would speculate who gets eliminated or booted a few days before the actual episode airs. They labeled their speculation based on its source. They used:

Brain - who logically should go

Heart - who they want to see go

Gut - who their instincts tell them will go

A comprehensive and clever depiction of our decision bases, I suppose.

Never Be The Same Again (Turnback Tuesdays)

It's been a long time since my last Turnback Tuesday so here is an entry circa November 2005. This entry was written at such a momentous time. *wink wink* And things were definitely never the same again after this period. Still, enjoy as always!

Disclaimer: This entry I wrote sucks.

Reflecting further on the theme yesterday, I remembered the time I attended a workshop for English teachers. Yes, they were all English teachers. I was therefore very hesitant when I was asked to participate in a speaking activity. Thus, I began my spiel with an apology/disclaimer about my mastery of the language. Which our facilitator immediately respectfully dismissed.

She told the group that one should never begin with an apology or disclaimer since it reveals a lack of self-confidence and reeks of self-handicapping or performing subpar and demonstrating behaviors to protect one’s self-image in case of failure.

Between the two, I believe that the latter should startle us more since it is a symptom of selfishness.

I think you should know that I've been damaged.

After rewatching the Glee episode which featured a mash-up of Unpretty and Pretty, I got on Youtube and listened to just four TLC songs all afternoon. Of course, Unpretty, Waterfalls and the more recent hits Dear Lie and Damaged. God, I miss the music of the early 2000s.

I remember being hooked on the song Damaged for a while back then. Maybe simply because of the melody or maybe because it was a glimpse of my melancholic tendencies. Nevertheless, I watched the video again and savored the seemingly swan song of a damsel with a disclaimer of being damaged. The following line probably serves as the song's gist:

I’ve fallen in love, there’s one disadvantage, I think you should know that I’ve been damaged.

In terms of relationships, aren’t we all damaged to varying degrees in the first place?

An Advice Hatched from the Jurassic Park

When I was in college, some of my blockmates used to tease me that I had messianic complex. I won’t deny nor confirm the truth of this allegation. However, I will confirm that I sometimes do have this notion that I might have been commissioned to help save the world. ☺

As a result of such outlook, it has always been a frustration of mine when somebody asks for advice, listens, agrees in principle yet discards it altogether in the end. I did my best to utter the wisest words for him/her to simply just heed but he/she just had to not follow what I told him/her in the end. The nerve right?

Recently, however, I eccentrically have comforted myself with a line from the first Jurassic Park film. (Yes, I have learned a lot from that movie aside from the trilogy being my favorite of all time!) 

I. Abangan ang Susunod na Kabanata

Bunsod ng mga nakalipas na mga kumustuhan, malalimang talakayan, harutan, okrayan, seryosong usapan, chikahan at pagmumuni-muni, kasalukuyan tayong nasa bungad ng isang yugtong walang ipinapangako kundi ang pagiging hitik sa pagbabago.

Nakatatakot. Lagi namang nakatatakot. Sino bang hindi natatakot na mamuhay nang iba sa nakasanayan? Bakit pa nga ba kailangang may mga dumating, lumisan, mag-iba lalo na kung ginhawa na ang katambal na ng nakasanayan? Simple lang ang tugon ko riyan.

Trash Talk

You can justify and modify all you want but trash will always be trash. No amount of reasoning or alteration can change trash into gold. Yes, you could make people believe that such piece of trash is gold. However, the change occurs only in the belief and not in the actual thing. Thus, no matter what you believe in, do or say, it’s still and will always be trash.

It’s up to you if you want to deceive yourself with such illusion and suffer the consequences of delusion. Remember though, that despite everything, trash will never be gold. It will always be trash.

Only the Weak Look Back and Wonder

Eloisa and I had a twilight moment of sorts a month ago. It was 10 in the evening and we were on our way home along our usual route. When we got to Paseo de Riley, which has an eerie reputation during the nighttime, we both heard a sound which echoed like a dog howling and mocking us at the same time. Actually, we both weren’t aware that we both heard the sound. But, we instantly held on to each other, walked, no, ran faster and decided not to look back. Call it cowardice but I was never a fan of horror movies anyway. And I don’t want to imagine that I was in one at that time!

So what did I eventually tell myself to justify my actions? Only the weak look back and wonder. Quite the irony I suppose but hey, whatever works right?

Never Too Far (Turnback Tuesdays)

Despite the blog hiatus and the itch to post new entries, I decided to continue with Turnback Tuesdays to initiate some regularity in this blog of mine. So here is an entry I wrote back in January 2006 during my mother's birthday. Skimming through my livejournal entries, I was just really fascinated by this entry. Thus, I decided to use it for this week. The first part reveals the crammer I was in college. Enjoy as always!

Prayers for the Preyers

Wow, I have been on blog hiatus since the beginning of May. Summer months April and May are always most hectic because of work. Thus, I’m glad that all the summer programs are now over even though the paperwork and reports still need to be done. At least, I'll have a greater chance of a more regular blog entry release.

When I was young, carnivorous plants fascinated me the most among the flora and fauna. If you aren’t aware of them, these are plants which lure unsuspecting insects with their sweet nectar only to trap and devour them in the end. Look up the Venus Fly Trap or the Pitcher Plant online if you want more information about them.

Speaking of unsuspecting preys and deceitful predators, a few weeks back, this tweet came out:

The Thrill of the Chasing Pavements

A recent encounter made me revisit my thoughts on Chasing Pavements. Yes, I might just be too close to being obsessed with the song. Anyway, I asked myself what is it that makes people chase pavements? What is it that makes me chase pavements which lead nowhere?

Label that devil. (Turnback Tuesdays)

Turnback Tuesday returns with a post from a Tan very much fascinated with Sociology and Anthropology class from May 2006 and a devil if you know what I mean. LOL. If you're asking me about something recently, you might find something somewhere here. Enjoy as always!

Sometimes I feel like I live in Betty Go-Belmonte Station

HongKong 2010

Last week, my friend Andrew tweeted that he missed his Cubao station exit because of his tendency to space out. Thus, he was late for work that day. The consolation, he got to visit our favorite LRT2 station, Betty Go-Belmonte station! Hope you’re feeling the commuter vibe some more, Andrew!

As I shared with Ate Solvie, our director, during our introduction for the office’s stratplan, one of my ultimate dreams is to live in a city with an extensive subway/metro system. Being more a commuter than a driver, this desire is the lovechild of associating rail systems with hassle-free transportation and my reverence for efficiency.

I love riding the metro because I’m sure that I’ll arrive at my destination approximately around the minute indicated in the timetable. Despite rare unforeseen delays and troubles, in my opinion, the metro seems a more reliable choice than taking a car or a cab if you take traffic into account. On a lighter note, the metro also allows you to brighten up your day if you know what I mean.

On chasing pavements even if they lead nowhere.

Since we’re due for another Adele-related entry, I’ll share a thought on one of her more popular songs, Chasing Pavements. Actually, it’s one of the reasons why I began adoring the goddess that is Adele. And the infamous line goes:

Should I give up or should I just keep chasing pavements even if it leads nowhere?

If we go by logic, the answer is crystal clear. Give up. As simple as that. Actually, the question shouldn’t have been asked in the first place.

Ikaw na? Ako na kaya.

Two friends separately shared similar tales with me out of unease and concern. After hearing them both out, their stories seemed more than déjà vu. It turned out, they were talking about the same reaction to the same person only at different times and situations. All I could say about the person my friends were talking about after was…

IKAW NA.

(A more sarcastic and less gendered translation of “you’re the man”)

I hope you catch this disease.

A simple chat today with Ate Alma, one of the Loyola Schools’ humble icons, Ate Alma, our ever-charming, bubbly and loving photocopy lady near Sec B Foyer, reminded me of an often overlooked yet simple trick to remain happy.

Kaya Itigil mo na ang iyong Pagmamaganda.

A recent conversation about an issue that’s supposedly bothering me has left my friend irritated. The reason? I told her that there isn’t any issue and I’m just piecing up an illusory puzzle whose pieces don’t even actually fit. In short, nagmamaganda lang.

We all have issues with ourselves and with other people. However, the reality is, some if not most of the issues we have are non-issues in the first place. 

The Thirst for Love

Happy birthday Brian Chanyungco! Thank you for the many years of friendship! I wouldn’t have lasted through BMH without you. Stay awesome and model-thin!

Speaking of Aragorn err Brian, I reblogged a tumblr photo from him which contained the following:

“Unless it’s mad, passionate, extraordinary love, it is a waste of time. There are too many mediocre things in life. Love shouldn’t be one of them.”

I will be my own savior.

I absolutely love Adele. Her beyond soulful music soothes and empowers me at the same time if ever that’s possible. I’ve actually been aching to write entries about her and her songs for so long but just couldn’t find the right time. So look out for more entries based on her songs which serve as a symbol of my eternal Adele adoration.

If you watched the latest Glee episode, you’ve probably heard Turning Tables, the one Gwyneth Paltrow sang for intermission. Though Gwyneth did a decent job, I’d still like you to listen to the original by Adele. In my opinion, the song’s silent aches and breakthroughs are amplified to a level which breaks yet also frees the weary heart.

One of the lines I remember the most is I’ll be my own savior, standing on my own two feet which could be found in the song’s bridge. I found it quite appropriate for Easter today when the Lord fulfills His promise of being our savior.

This is just a mundane and ordinary entry about my Lent.

One can say that I haven’t been as religious as I’ve been this Lent as with the past years. Aside from joining the procession yesterday, I’ve primarily used my break to rest, relax and catch up on Mula sa Puso. But of course, I’ve still used parts of this break to reflect.

Despite the short time, I have actually come up with a personal challenge that you might want to try out as well!

God knows Hudas not pay.

When I first heard that Judas would be Lady Gaga’s second single off from her sophomore album, the title of this entry immediately popped in my head. For those who are not familiar with this witty Filipino wordplay, it’s usually found in jeepneys as a friendly reminder/threat for commuters to pay the fare.

Anyway, I personally found the song quite disturbing especially tackling a rather controversial biblical character. However, I promised myself a while back to appreciate the good even in the most disturbing of things. And aside from the catchy tune, I’ve had the time to reflect on what the song could mean for us.

The Black Spot and the Snake Bite

We see what we want to see.

The blackest black spot wouldn’t even be black if we see it as whitest white. Heck, even seeing it as just plain white or any other hue. Though the truth may reveal itself as a simple black spot, our own thoughts and feelings color it however we’d want to see the spot. Hopefully, we get to call black as black.

We don’t see what we don’t want to see.

And the sadder thing is, sometimes, even though the blackest black spot comes with sparkling neon lights, loud music and whatever aids for one to see it just the way it’s supposed to be, we still perceive it the way we’d want to see it. In spite of every glaring sign that we should see things in a different light.

At such point, you’d probably have been told Kung ahas lang iyan, natuklaw ka na. (If it was a snake, you would have been already bitten.) And if we let our perceptions rule us, then surely we’re really bound to suffer the bite. Only when the venom seeps and spreads would we realize that we should have seen black as black all along.

Thus, hopefully, we see things as they should be seen or else, we’ll suffer the snake bite that has figuratively wounded millions.

When Everything you have is Nothing

When All You Have is Nothing was supposed to be the title of my nanowrimo entry for 2009. Inspired by Steve Berry novels, it was a suspense thriller about a woman seeking to find nothing but the man who raped her a week before her wedding. She embarks on a vicious voyage where she oft finds herself having nothing as her everything. The novel ends with a revelation that leaves nothing unturned…

Of course, word count = nothing since all of these wrote out perfectly in my head. But I promise flesh it out hopefully in the next few years.

We hate the idea of nothing.

Pwnd.

Have you ever head of the slang term pwn? It’s pronounced as pown and used as internet jargon for owning or being owned. For example, if you effortlessly defeat your opponents while playing your favorite video game, you pwnd them. But if you lost terribly, well, you got pwnd.

Whoever told you we needed logic and science? (turnback tuesdays)

This entry is from January 2006. All I could say is that science majors should veer away from this one. LOL. Nope, just enjoy as always, my dear reader!

Well, i should've made an entry earlier in the day but sleep got the best of me. Haha. I even cursed about not getting to watch american idol only to realize that there wasn't any today. Haha. Wednesdays and Thursdays nga pala dito. I got new earphones for my ipod! Yay, you see my original ipod earphones were already frail and brittle that wires were already exposed. Haha. So i really needed new ones but didn't have the time till last saturday. Turns out, the one i bought last saturday had a defect too. The right one just wasn't working...grr. So my mom exchanged it for a new one and voila! i'm using them right now. Hehe. Oh, i got my advisory marks today. And as expected, filipino got the lowest award. But my lit grade wasn't there and i know that it'll snatch that honor from fil12! Haha. Good lord, career na toh sa fil at lit!

While discussing Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, my literature professor told us about how the world today proves to be much more chaotic. And the reason? Our thirst for orderliness. Ironic di ba? I mean it's true. Right now, everyone is crazy segregating stuff and putting order in our lives that it's making much more mess rather than helping us out. Well, not really, but come to think of it, some things are much better when left untouched or in disarray rather than trying to fix it into something that would really just make matters worse. Too much dependence on science and technology (and to think i'm a science major) sometimes disturbs the chaotic order that God has created in this world. Some things are really better left undisturbed and we should just go along and let it happen. We'll just suffer more when we try to stop it from happening or when we try to instill order in it.

The human mind dictates order but the human heart craves for the tranquility brought about by events and objects we deem as unorthodox or chaotic. Human experiences require minimal logic and almost all the time, the heart invokes us to do the craziest yet most satisfying things.

Throw logic and science away. Emotions gratify the soul.

I am so glad to be here.

As I’ve shared a few entries back, one of my favorites from the movie Shelter was the kilig montage. At the end of this montage is the scene of Zach and Sean innocently in bed in the morning after a good night’s sleep.

Sean: You’re so beautiful.

Zach: Shut up!

Sean: Hey, why don’t you take a compliment?

I’ve been unappreciative/dismissive of compliments over recent years. Personally, it’s a consequence of my being cynical after the fiasco which left me in shambles. Yes, I admit that I do have trust issues and that I continue to grapple with trust especially when meeting new people.

Closure You and I

A recent conversation with my friends Brian, Samboy and Ralf included a segment on closure. One of them thinks that my ordeal from a few years back still needs some closure. While there’s a grain of truth in that statement, I beg to differ.

Just as we celebrate beginnings, we also celebrate closures. Despedidas and graduation come to mind. Thus, we may be led to believe that everything closes orderly and pleasurably. Of course, we know that only happens in an ideal world.

Take for example, relationships. 

Which Seat Can I Take?

When Rebecca Black’s Friday first came out, I stayed away from the song. I mean it was pretty obvious that the lyrics are kindergarten at best. However, I succumbed last week and now it has annoyingly buried itself in my memory. Oh well, so much for staying away.

Despite it having an annoyingly successful hook, it shall never make up for the fact that the lyrics are utterly stupid – for the lack of a better term. And the lyric that takes the cake would be our entry’s title, “Which seat can I take?”

But haven’t we asked ourselves own brand of seemingly idiotic questions?

Have all of us been fooled all along?

For those of you who have already read several of my entries, you probably have wondered if I have really been able to live out the thoughts I’ve been churning out in this blog. The answer?

Of course not. The fact that I write something down doesn’t mean I’d instantly follow what I have said. I am also still a work in progress in terms of the things I’ve shared in this blog. I am only human and I have my own shortcomings as well. So have all of us been fooled all along?

Happily Ever After (turnback tuesdays)

I wrote this entry a few weeks before college six years ago. This was a time I'd thought to myself, "This is my fairytale." Enjoy as always.

If this is all we ever were...

If this is all we ever were…

When we find ourselves at the end of a relationship, at some point, we may have asked ourselves a similar question . Is this really all we ever going to be?

Since a Tear Fell While Listening to Glee's Get It Right

I’m the ballad kind of guy.

So when the Glee kids had original songs for regionals, I naturally gravitated towards Rachel Berry’s Get It Right. As one fellow blogger put it, the song was really made for Lea Michele to belt out. And she killed it! I actually even teared up by the end. LOL.

I would like to dedicate this song to myself. I hope I don't forget it.

If you’re following the current season of American Idol, you probably know that the farewell song is season 7 winner David Cook’s cover of the Simple Minds’ Don’t You Forget About Me. A classic tune fit for elimination.

A classic tune fit for my absentmindedness as well. Yes, I have lost 2 pairs of glasses, money, a multitude of umbrellas and countless ballpens in my lifetime. However, I could proudly say that I haven’t lost any phone or wallet. Still ain’t enough redemption, huh?

But aside from forgetting those I’ve already mentioned, I’ve also had moments when I’ve forgotten rather more significant things in my life. I’ve sometimes forgotten about my goals. I’ve often forgotten about the people around me especially those I love. Worse, I’ve sometimes forgotten about my own self. Have you had those days too?

It Just Nonchalantly Decided to Break

I’m nonchalantly looking forward to this weekend’s SM Marikina sale. The reason?

spontaneous versus conforming (turnback tuesdays)

Here's an entry from summer 2006 from my livejournal. I wanted to post this as a way to remind myself that I did learn something from college. Socioanthro was my most favorite summer class. Well, because I only had that and Filipino 14 for a summer class. LOL. Anyway, enjoy as always my dear reader and sorry for the more informal writing style.

It's Time to Logout.

Social networks have made it easier for users to participate in the process of aiding disaster victims with a simple click of the mouse. Just one Tumblr reblog, Twitter retweet or Facebook like and the user gets to donate some amount via the source institution, the one which started it all. Laudable effort for providing social network users the convenience of aiding in the comfort of their homes.

However, does it really benefit those who should benefit from it? 

#prayforjapan

I would like to pray for everyone in Japan especially those who have been severely affected by the earthquake, tsunami and now, the nuclear plant-related challenges. Let everyone in the country be safe and strong in these troublesome times and that rescue and relief be as quick and efficient to save those who are still alive. Hopefully, the country swiftly recovers from this disaster. The world is one with you.

I think Filipinos, especially those who live in flooding-prone/landslide-prone areas, can relate to what happened. Despite having calamities of much less proportion as compared with the recent Japanese earthquake, I believe that we pretty much have a good idea of the trauma the whole country must be going through.

Personally, the recent Japanese brought me back to 2009 where I experienced two typhoon-related traumatizing experiences. Emong in May and Ondoy in September. With Emong, it was just probably a weekend since we were only on vacation in Pangasinan. However with Ondoy, the agony stretched for weeks as everyone in Marikina and other affected areas tried to clean all the mud and filth that were left behind by the flood and regain the life they had before the typhoon sunk towns. Yes, the damage may not have been as bad as with Japan now but one could view similar images of tragedy and hear equally moving stories of survival.

I think times like these remind us how fleeting our lives are. Thus, we should make each and everyday count. Do the things you’d love to do and say those you’d want to say for tomorrow may not come as we expect it to be. There’s no day to live and love but today.

Please continue to #prayforjapan.

You Make Me Feel Like I'm Losing My Virginity.

oh my ang halay! but read on :)

Is the first line from Hummingbird Heartbeat by Katy Perry. A hidden gem in her Teenage Dream album despite it being beyond suggestive. But what Katy Perry song isn’t right?

In my opinion, the song uses the hummingbird metaphor brilliantly to describe the ultrafast palpitating heart we have when we experience excite and delight.

Don’t we all crave for moments which leave us with the hummingbird heartbeat? Won’t we be happier if we have more of these moments? Can’t life just supply us with a daily dose of hummingbird heartbeat instead of the occasional, heck, rare ones that we have? One can only wish.

Please Sacrifice Yourself.

I ate meat today.

Pretty deviant for a supposed Catholic since it’s Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent for Catholics. A season where people declare their own sacrifices only to have most backtrack on it a week or two later.

Probably into the season’s spirit, my friend Jared had a tweet or two about sacrifice. And this tweet of his got me thinking:

MKSM Lessons on Forgiveness and Revenge (Turnback Tuesdays)

For this week's TT, we'll go back to the time when teenage Tan was engrossed with the teleserye hit of 2007, Maging Sino Ka Man. Below the cut is a glimpse of the infamous angst from a few years back punctuated with a dramatic quote to end of the entry. Something my fans from that era surely miss! Don't worry though 'cause  2011 Tan has mellowed already...or so he thinks? LOL. Nevertheless, enjoy my dear reader!