I’m taking a cue (and a life lesson) from Tracy Chapman…

Matters Of The Heart
Tracy Chapman

I lose my head
From time to time
I make a fool of myself
In matters of the heart

We should have been holding each other
Instead we talked
I make a fool of myself
In matters of the heart

But I asked before
Your reply was kind and polite
One wants more
When one’s denied
I make a fool of myself
In matters of the heart

I won’t call it love
But it feels good to have passion in my life
If there’s a battle
I hope my head always defers to my heart
In matters of the heart

I guess I’m crazy to think
I can give you what you don’t want
I make a fool of myself
In matters of the heart

I wish that I had the power
To make these feelings stop
I lose all self control
In matters of the heart

I can’t believe
It’s so hard to find someone
To give affection to
And from whom you can receive
I guess it’s just the draw of the cards
In matters of the heart

You caught me off guard
Somehow you reached me
Where I thought I had nothing left inside
I’ve learned my lesson I’ve been edified
In matters of the heart

I’ve spent my nights
Where the sleeping dogs lie
Not by your side
It feels so lonely
Once again I’ve left to much to chance
In matters of the heart

Here I sit
I’m feeling sorry for myself
It’s quite a sight
But I have you to thank
For reminding me
We’re all alone in this world
And in matters of the heart

I’m already missing you
Although we won’t say good-byes
Until tomorrow afternoon
Maybe when and if I see you again
We’ll see eye to eye
In matters of the heart

I have no harsh words for you
I have no tears to cry
If the moon were full
I’d be howling inside
It only hurts
In matters of the heart

If today were my birthday
I’d be reborn
As Bronte’s bird a bird that could fly
And all accounts would be settled
In matters of the heart

I’m feeling sorry for myself
It’s quite a sight
But I have you to thank
For reminding me
We’re all alone in this world
And in matters of the heart

I’m already missing you
Although we won’t say good-byes
Until tomorrow afternoon
Maybe when and if I see you again
We’ll see eye to eye
In matters of the heart

I have no harsh words for you
I have no tears to cry
If the moon were full
I’d be howling inside
It only hurts
In matters of the heart

If today were my birthday
I’d be reborn
As Bronte’s bird a bird that could fly
And all accounts would be settled
In matters of the heart…
Matters of the heart…

Alan Rickman as Jacques Roux, “The Preacher” (From BBC’s “Revolutionary Witness”)

(This was one of four monologues written by playwright Peter Barnes for the bicentennial anniversary of the French Revolution. And yes, that is Alan “Severus Snape” Rickman. As a preacher. In a cassock. Emoting. I wonder what would my “enlightened friend” think about this when she sees it?)

Cool Quotes:

“Together we lopped off that top branch of tyranny but the tree still stands and spreads. New branches hide the sun of freedom from the poor, the revolutionary tribunal is one such. I don’t recognize its authority to judge me.”

“…The good and the true had no carriages, no eighteen drummers and three executioners. A Prussian sword in the belly, and English bullet in the chest, and falling face down in the mud was their end. That’s how ordinary people die, meanly, without harps or even drums to play them out.”

“Tomorrow, before the tribunal of mumblers I shall make no attempt to defend myself. That doesn’t mean to say I’ll stay silent–never that. I’ll do what I was born to do–attack! If the verdict of that bunch of rotting fish-heads goes against me, I die like friend Marat, thus struck down by a better hand… my own!

“Living well is so much harder than dying well.”

“I have tried, to help create a people who are skeptical, rational, critical, not easily fooled or impressed; in a word, a free people, ungovernable.”

“…Just for a moment, we stopped being me and mine, you and yours, us and them, and saw ourselves instead as equals in our common humanity. We are of that generation that so transformed the world that future days and nights can never be the same. We poor clumsy men and women turned the world upside down, inside out, round and about.”

“The Revolution isn’t complete, hardly begun. Defend it. Don’t sit back, act! Without action, no life. Without life, no perfection. Without perfection, no eternal peace and freedom. For God is an active power and we do His work in fighting the great battles: light against darkness, love against selfishness, revolution against reaction, life against death.”

Eventful Week

Warning: LONG POST AHEAD!

Straight to the happenings, shall we?

1. Labor Day (Tuesday)

I went to the Bacolod City Plaza to meet up with Tatay for the International Workers’ Day Commemoration. After 126 years since the Haymarket Affair of 1886, the struggle of the working class still continues. As usual, it was characterized by chanting (“Makibaka, Huwag Matakot!”), marches and rallies, placards and streamers, and speeches of representatives from the marginalized sectors. As usual, the demands of the Filipino working class are security of employment, proper wages, proper employment, respect for human rights, and other socioeconomic reforms. As usual, the entities and institutions (especially the government) tasked with the implementation of such reforms are taking slow because they have other[s']* “agenda” to prioritize. As usual, there were entertaining, enlightening, and inspiring presentations from cultural groups between every talk or speech from the representatives.

What made May Day 2012 distinct is that Rep. Neri Colmenares (of Bayan Muna Partylist) was there at Bacolod City Plaza. He gave a talk on efforts to mobilize public servants in the House of Representatives to support/uphold pro-working class propositions/policies. These pro-worker agendas include the across-the-board, across-the-nation P125 wage increase for all public workers, Php6K increase for private employees, and nationalized industrialization. He also condemned those “bureaucrats” (a.k.a. “trapos” – traditional politicians) for siding with corporations/elitists and backing up anti-worker agenda (including demolitions in urban areas, contractualization of employees, and privatization of public/government assets and properties).

There was another distinction to this year’s Mayo Uno. According to Promotion of Church People’s Response (PCPR) National Chairperson Fr. Jerry Sabado, the military visited the Bishop’s House beside the Cathedral and in front of the Bacolod City Plaza. Allegedly, they were having a meeting with Bishop Navarra and other clergy of the Diocese of Bacolod. The notion of having the military visit that particular venue when a particular commemoration was being held on that particular day smells fishy and sounds suspicious. This reminded me of the “abominations”** an enlightened friend told me about.

And as usual, we capped the commemoration with waving flags and raised fists while singing the anthem of the working class.

* other[s] – big-time transnational, foreign & local investors and corporations
** abominations – beings corrupted by alterations brought about by power

2. Visit from Girl Buddies. Again. (Wednesday)

Since the midterm exams for summer classes were coming, I needed some diversion to break the tension and ease my stressed state before I continue tending to my academic undertakings (i.e. mga tulun-an). So, I invited my two buddies without Y-chromosomes, cousin Rhofel and “Nang” Miloy at home. We had some snacks, watched some cool videos, exchanged movies and books, and, of course, had interesting conversations on stuff. Of course, like I promised, I displayed the product of my “culinary finesse” by serving them my original (I think) mango-cashew wantons***.

Also, to “motivate” them to arrive, I told them that whoever arrives late gets a penalty. Taking advantage of proximity (her house is near mine), Rhofel arrived first. Poor “Nang” Miloy had to “suffer the consequences” of being the last one to arrive: I made her eat some dastardly confectionery imported from Europe. Never really knew what it’s called, so I researched and hypothesized that the “sweet of suffering” I gave “Nang” Miloy is called licorice.

Anyway, I thank “Nang” Miloy and Rhofel for keeping this senile 20-year old freak-of-nature company. Even if I have to pull off a Bilbo-Baggins-in-Bag-End routine, their company will always be countered with my hospitality; their friendship with mine.

(Sorry for the agony of your taste buds, “Nang”.  )

*** – I derived from Alton “Mr. Good Eats” Brown’s recipe

3. Summer 2012 Midterm Exams (Thursday)

The exams I took seemed like trivia questions, like a game show… without cash prizes. (T-T)

I had all three subjects on the same day, which meant… FREE DAY ON FRIDAY! WOOHOO!!!

Just a sidenote: There are people in the exam room who are also taking the said exam. The only difference between you and them are that you studied well, you arrived early, you have your permit and blue books ready, AND YOU DON’T NEED TO CHEAT. Such people contrary to those descriptions are called SCUMBAGS. And the worst scumbags are those who “ask you a favor” IN THE EXAM ROOM WHEN YOU ARE ABOUT TO FINISH YOUR EXAM AND FINALLY DEPART TOWARDS SWEET, SWEET LIBERTY. BEWARE OF SUCH SCUMBAGS.

In the evening, Nanay, Tatay and I had a great dinner at Alice’s Recipes. Their food is awesome, especially the pancit molo and pork ribs.

4. LOTR – Battle for Middle-Earth Madness! (Thursday-Saturday)

J.R.R. Tolkien created a great legendarium. Peter Jackson et al made a great trilogy of movies (to be followed by two more). Then, Electronic Arts made a great real-time strategy game.

I actually finished the Evil campaign months ago, crushing my enemies with multitudes of Orcs, Uruk-hai, Haradrim, a dozen Trolls, a Balrog (summoned for the final blow) and other nasties under the command of Saruman, Lurtz and the Witch King. Now, I am in the midst of the Good Campaign as I lead Gondor, Rohan and the Fellowship to victories for the Free Peoples of Middle-Earth.

My tactics for conquest? Overwhelm with numbers, obtain upgrades, and beat the hell out of the Enemy with sheer force. Do summon some temporary allies when in a pinch. Create archers (and towers) for defense. Do create cavalry for patrols, reconnaissance, and hit-and-run. Do level up each battalion. And for the love of Sam Hill, GET FIRE ARROWS!

Sigh… the death screams of Uruk-Hai (when charged by Rohirrim or shot by Archers/Elves) still echo in my mind. Next weekend naman ah.

* * * * *

That’s all for the meantime, folks. Good luck, godspeed, God bless!