...Because Eric Carmen is not just Mr. "All-by-Myself" anymore

Eric Carmen - "Make Me Lose Control"

Only the best of the 80's. Swabeh... Kag ayos! :D

That rare enjoyable moment... featuring The Cranberries

I believe it is a rarity to be able to lie down (even just to temporarily relax) in a cool atmosphere someplace where there are barely other houses (and neighbors) around at 2 or 3 AM in the morning while having a playlist of songs by The Cranberries playing on the sound system.

I was able to experience this a few weeks ago during a "beyond midnight" activity with a few co-staffers from Tolentine Star at the printing press in Talisay and we had a series of rushed overnight editing/layout/proofread sessions there.

The equation of...

 + room with air-conditioner
 + comfortably warm clothing
 + between midnight and dawn
 + great sound system
 + The Cranberries hits

...has a sum equivalent to A TOTALLY AWESOME BUT RARE MOMENT.

I can only wonder if I could be able to experience those particular circumstances again still with these in the background...

Zombie

Dreams

Animal Instinct

Linger

Just My Imagination

Ode to My Family

Sigh... Dolores O'Riordan looks pretty and has great vocals... Makes me wish that I witnessed the band's recent concert here in the country.

Good luck, godspeed, God bless to one and all!

MUSICAL CURIOSITY SATISFIED

"She's na-na-na-na falling slowly...♫"

I've heard this old school song playing on the radio a long time ago. And I've always wondered what its title is. And every time I hear it playing in my head, my curiosity about the song title and its artist has been stirring within my memory... until now

At last due to a lucky Google search a few days ago, my curiosity has been sated.


"Brick" gali ang pangalan sang kanta. "Ben Folds Five" gali ang nagkanta. I can finally LSS myself in peace.

"She's a brick and I'm drowning slowly...♫"

Para kay T'yo Ding

 

You may not be perfect, but you are the best, 'Tay. Happy Father's Day!

"Like a Stranger in a Familiar Land"

...is how I describe my first time experience as an AB Psychology in UNO-R's College of Arts and Sciences. So many familiar faces, so many unfamiliar ones to get acquainted with.

Awkward is how I can describe the feeling I get whenever people at school identify me as "anak/bata ni Sir Ding Flores." Duh?! Alang-alang nga bata man ko ni Luciano Pavarotti?! ("FIIIIGAAAROOOOOO!!!!♫)

Speaking of my father, I am grateful that he is not one of my teachers even if he belongs to the department in which my course is put under. I've already had too much Fernando "Ding" Flores at home. No more of him at school, please? Have mercy.

It's kind of weird, but consoling, that Psych people know me even if if I don't know all of them. At least, I can get to make new friends easily.

Well, here's to Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Major in Guidance and Counselling. (Kag duwa 'na ka "l" ang inyo "counseling", to whom it may concern nga naga-encode sang mga transcript sa computer files sang eskwelahan)

Good luck, godspeed, God bless!

Happy “Philippine Independence” Day… Sigh…

Philippine independence promise foiled by US duplicity
By: Bryan Anthony C. Paraiso
2:23 am | Tuesday, June 12th, 2012
Philippine Daily Inquirer

The road to our country’s independence and nationhood in 1898 was pockmarked with the naïveté, bitter rivalries and petty bickering of the revolution’s foremost actors, weaknesses that the American colonizers exploited to further their imperialist agenda in Southeast Asia.

But the biggest roadblock to Philippine sovereignty was the duplicitous face that American officials turned to the leaders of the Philippine Revolution.

In Henri Turot’s incisive narrative of the Philippine Revolution “Les hommes de révolution: Aguinaldo et les Philippins,” which was published in Paris in 1900, the French journalist noted that the US scheme to colonize the Philippines commenced even before the Spanish-American War was declared, with American emissaries negotiating with Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo in March 1898.

Turot wrote that the commander of the Petrel, one of the vessels in the squadron of US Adm. George Dewey, strongly urged Aguinaldo “to return to the Philippines and resume hostilities against the Spaniards, promising the assistance of the United States if war broke out against Spain.”

To assuage his doubts on America’s sincerity, Aguinaldo asked the commander what the United States would do in favor of the Philippines. Turot stated that the response was noncommittal: “‘The United States,’ replied the commander, ‘is a big and rich nation and does not need a colony.’”

More negotiations

Negotiations were further pursued during Aguinaldo’s sojourn in Singapore on April 21, 1898, by US Consul Spencer Pratt: “During this interview, Consul Pratt said that since the Spaniards did not comply with their promises in the treaty of Biak-na-Bato, the Filipinos had the right to continue the revolution that was suspended by the agreement that was concluded … (A)fter pressing Aguinaldo to renew hostilities against the Spaniards, he gave him assurances that the US (would) grant more liberty and material advantages to the Filipinos which the Spaniards never promised them.”

Turot wrote that Aguinaldo and Consul Pratt had agreed on 13 points to guarantee the US intentions of respecting Philippine sovereignty. Four of the most significant were:

• The independence of the Philippines would be proclaimed.
• A centralized republic with a government would be created, with members provisionally named by Aguinaldo.
• The government would recognize a temporary intervention (by) American and European commissioners to be designated by Admiral Dewey.
• The American protectorate would be established under the same terms and conditions that were accepted in Cuba.

Pratt evasive

Emilio Aguinaldo’s narration of the events published in “Reseña Veridica de la Revolucion Filipina” (True Version of the Philippine Revolution), stated that Consul Pratt was evasive of the US acquiescence to the agreement and telegraphed Admiral Dewey for advice: “Between 10 or 12 in the forenoon of the next day, the conference was renewed and Mr. Pratt then informed me that the admiral had sent him a telegram in reply to the wish I had expressed for an agreement in writing. He said the admiral’s reply was that the United States would at least recognize the independence of the Philippines under the protection of the United States Navy.

The Consul added that there was no necessity for entering into a formal written agreement because the word of the admiral and of the United States consul were in fact equivalent to the most solemn pledge, that their verbal promises and assurance would be fulfilled to the letter and were not to be classed with Spanish promises or Spanish ideas of a man’s word of honor. In conclusion the consul said, ‘The government of North America is a very honest, just, and powerful government.’”

On his arrival in the Philippines on May 19, 1898, aboard the ship McCulloch, Aguinaldo recounted that he was immediately conveyed to Admiral Dewey’s flagship Olympia, where Dewey continued to assure him that “…the United States had come to the Philippines to protect the natives and free them from the yoke of Spain. He said, moreover, that America is exceedingly well off as regards territory, revenue and resources and therefore needs no colonies, assuring me finally that there was no occasion for me to entertain any doubts whatever about the recognition of the independence of the Philippines by the United States.”

Agreed secret

Even after the declaration of Philippine Independence in Kawit on June 12, 1898, Admiral Dewey, during a visit to Aguinaldo in Cavite a month later, would point out: “Have faith in my word, and I assure you that the United States will recognize the independence of the country. But I recommend you to keep a good deal of what we have said and agreed secret at present…”

As history would show, the promises uttered by the American official would turn out to be empty and facetious, a ploy to gain the Filipinos’ support to hasten the defeat of the Spanish colonizers.

A few months later, the Philippine-American War would erupt, resulting in the death of roughly 20,000 Filipino soldiers, 200,000 Filipino civilians and 4,000 American soldiers.

Never was there a greater price paid for the false words of a mighty nation determined to accomplish its imperialist ambitions.

_________________________________________

REACTION:

My reaction to this? I don’t have much to say (since most of it will get censored or bleeped out anyway). I can say, however, that this is pure scumbaggery.MGA TANGA GID YA NGA $#!% AH! Ti, asta subong, kita gyapon ang ga-antos tungod sang pagkatanga nila sang una. Kapal-kapal man daan sang mga gapang-into sa gin-into.

Happy -quote- “Philippine Independence” -unquote- Day to all. -_- (If Philippine independence really existed…)

Hurray for Miss Abby! XD

I finally get a break after around a not-so-grueling week of campus presswork. Hopefully, the super delayed issues of Tolentine Star (2nd sem mag, 2nd sem tabloid, summer issue) can be settled at last before June 13. As for that break, first on my agenda list is to chill out at home with my Spanish teacher, Miss Abegail “Abby” Bayona, to preoccupy me from the boredom of waiting for classes to open. After a video marathon on our TV set, my parents even got to ask her to stay for dinner. Yayyy! XD

It`s just one of my half-fulfilled summer “chillaxing” plans before the school year starts; “half-fulfilled”, because I was supposed to invite to my home, both her and Mrs. Olive Jamandre (who apparently was still at Cebu… Aww…  )

Of my other summer “chillaxing” plans (which more or less are already fulfilled), I was able to do the following:

• finish my “Lord of the Rings – Battle for Middle-Earth” game
• read some Dune novels
• listen to a marathon of my favorite music
• whip up some goodies in my kitchen
• hang out with my girl buddies (since I rarely meet with my guy buddies nowadays)
• write some poetry

Bueno, gracias para el tiempo, Nang-slash-Miss-slash-Señorita Abby! At least my Friday became less boring with your company.

Good luck, godspeed, God bless to us all!

Literati Sanctuary

Books that I have read, am reading at the moment, and will be reading soon.

1. "Paul of Dune" - Brian Herbert & Kevin J. Anderson

Genre: Sci-fi

Details:
First book in the interquel trilogy to the acclaimed "Dune" series by the late Frank Herbert; written by his son Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson.

Comment:
I thought this was the Dune novel Nang Miloy told me about that cost PhP 99.00 at National Bookstore. It actually cost me PhP 70.00 at NB in Gaisano City. What Nang Miloy told me about was actually at NB in SM and titled "The Winds of Dune. Good thing, I managed to hunt the book down in time before anybody else bought it.
Content-wise (and basing from Anna Marie's comments on Brian Herbert), "Paul of Dune" lacks this so-called 'umph'-factor compared to the original Dune by Frank Herbert himself, perhaps due to the younger Herbert's derivation from his father's works. It seems like a mere "filler" story, considering its being an interquel.

Status: Tapos ko na basa 1x; ginpahulam ko kay Nang Miloy

Trivia: Nong Mike D. and Anna Marie M. introduced me to this acclaimed series.

2. "Ang Huling Dalagang Bukid at Ang Authobiography na Mali - Isang Imbestigasyon" - Jun Cruz Reyes

Genre: Metafiction, satire

Details:
(from the back cover)
Ano na ang lenggwahe ng unconscious mind at sindak? Ano ang nasa pagitan ng totoo at ng fiction? Paano paghahaluin ang personal at ang lipunan? Paano isusulat ang ngayon sa nobelang nasa isip? Hinahagilap ng akdang ito ang sagot. May kabuluhan pa ba ang mga kategorya? Para kanino?
... hindi mapapatawad na anomalya itong pinakabagong akda ni Jun Cruz Reyes. Kung wika ang batayang materyal sa paglikha ng akdang pampanitikan, paano maituturing na "pampanitikan" ang akda na ang wikang ginamit ay angkop lamang sa "borador" or "rough draft"? ... Sa madaling sabi, burara.

Comment:
Jun Cruz Reyes does prove his caliber as a writer, through his wordplay, flow of ideas, and arrangement of narrative, as well as his frankness and depth. I suppose he should take a break every now and then from his writing to accommodate his desire to more artistic pursuits, like pointilism drawing perhaps (as shown by the book cover which he drew himself).
I hope he won't mind if I underline striking statements and quotes straight from the pages of this acclaimed (award-winning and recognized) author's recent masterpiece.

Status: In the midst of my second reading of this, ginpahulam ko kay Nang Miloy. I wonder kon ginabasa n'ya man 'ni?

Trivia: I've had the privilege of meeting the author in a classroom discussion during CEGP's National Student Press Conference back in 2007. A very humble but profound guy, that chap is, despite his Palancas and other awards.

3. "All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten" - Robert Fulghum

Genre: Nonfiction, essays

Details: (from the intro and back cover)
ALL I REALLY NEED TO KNOW about how to live and what to do and how to be I learned in kindergarten. Wisdom was not  at the top of the graduate-school mountain, but there in the sandpile at Sunday School. These are the things I learned:

• Share everything. 
• Play fair. 
• Don't hit people. 
• Put things back where you found them. 
• Clean up your own mess. 
• Don't take things that aren't yours. 
• Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody. 
• Wash your hands before you eat. 
• Flush. 
• Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you. 
• Live a balanced life - learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some. 
• Take a nap every afternoon. 
• When you go out into the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands, and stick together. 
• Be aware of wonder.
• Remember the little seed in the styrofoam cup: The roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody really knows how or why, but we are all like that. 
• Goldfish and hamsters and white mice and even the little seed in the Styrofoam cup - they all die. So do we. 
• And then remember the Dick-and-Jane books and the first word you learned - the biggest word of all - LOOK. 

Comment:
Simple yet profound. Every anecdote/essay is easy to read but filled with depth. Has a certain amount of nostalgia and light-hearted humor.

Status: Ginhulam ko kay Miss Olive (my English teacher in college) and returned it to her after reading it entirely once.

Trivia: This author and his work/s allegedly inspired the writing of another author (a Filipino) who also has nostalgia, humor, easy-reading, and depth. That author's identity? Roberto "Bob" Ong. Hmm... Robert Fulghum, Roberto Ong... something smells fishy, but in a pleasant way... :3

4. "The Sulu Zone, 1768-1898" - James F. Warren

Genre: Non-fiction, historical

Details:
The Dynamics of External Trade, Slavery, and Ethnicity in the Transformation of a Southeast Asian Maritime State.

Comments
I find this book very interesting, although frankly, waay ko pa siya nabasa. Waay pa ko time. :((

Status: Contents still untouched.

Trivia: Hatag ni sa akon sang akon Social Science nga maestro. TY, Sir Jude! :D

* * * * *

Good luck, godspeed, God bless!

Nang…

…I know you’re going through tough times at the moment. There’s nothing I can directly do about it since it’s your own backyard clutter, or family concern and all. But, I suppose this is the least I can do for you, aside from hoping and praying for the better.

Hopefully, you’ll be able to go “night-swimming” on your own after the vicious currents of your waterways have finally subsided. After all, “Night-swimming deserves a quiet night,” as REM would put it.

Kaya mo ‘na yah, Nang. Manang taka, indi bala?

Well, this is encouraging…

I need all the good motivation I can get, especially after the things I’ve gone through. Any wise words of encouragement will do, but nothing beats the wisdom, the encouraging power, the simplicity and the brevity of comedian Rob Schneider (which can be summed up in FOUR WORDS ONLY):

“YOU CAN DO IT!!!”

Seeing that merely reading it lacks “umph!”, let’s watch a montage video of him saying it. 

YOU CAN DO IT! I CAN DO IT! WE CAN DO IT!!!

Good luck, godspeed, God bless!