Anything is ART: from the clothes you wear to the food you eat to how you speak and express yourself. Join me in my movement to drive away negativity through art by discussing anything that echoes art in daily life.
Today, March 30, 2009, we just found out that a co-worker and a friend was unfortunately one of the many people who died in the Naga accident last Saturday dawn. We, especially the ones who knew him at work, were utterly devastated that we keep on kicking and screaming inside, asking why he had to go. He was a good man and I say this not because he already passed away but because he truly was. I secretly praise him deep inside by saying “Thanks” and complementing about the meal he serves in the cafeteria. Manong Rey was a cook in the school I am working at. Now, it is so hard for me to fathom the fact that he is gone. Still, I am trying to placate the physical and emotional violence that I’ve witnessed and feel. I grieve for Manong Rey and those who died and I grieve with those families who were left behind. As they say, it is hard for the one who leaves but even harder for the ones who are left behind. I, of course, cannot fully feel the pain of those people but I truly sympathize for their plights.
At the same time, I search within and outside me reasons for this randomness. I find some but they are feeble and they don’t hold up to logic. I pray for all their souls. May God bless them, I know He will. Understanding this event is somewhat hard to accomplish. Then again these are the times when we are being asked by our Lord to trust than understand. I trust God. I trust that he has reasons we may someday know. I pray why but I don’t demand for answers. As Truman Capote best quotes it “There are more tears shed in answered prayers than in unanswered ones.”
I was supposed to name this article “Violence,” supposed to scold and yell at those reckless drivers endangering the passenger’s lives. But this I will not do today. I am too hurt. There will be a time of dressing-down but today I wish peace and serenity even with the presence of grief. Manong Rey, wherever you may be now, you are loved by everyone here and may you finally meet our creator in Heaven. Peace out!
Today has been a truly lazy yet fruitful day. I say lazy and not boring because my family and I did a couple of things together in breezy, non-physically exhausting ways which radiated repentance. These activities include eating less (really less), praying, and watching a special live mass on TV.
The mass, aired by ABS-CBN, was unique because it was filled with special testimonies and musical numbers by people from different walks of life. Today is a Good Friday, a particular day in the holy week—the faithful day when Jesus died on the cross for our sins. Christians, true to its traditions and culture, were doing certain activities today like attending sober street processions, the ‘Way of the Cross’, a Passion play which is known as the ‘Senakulo’ and of course the remembrance of Jesus’ ‘Seven last words’. The testimonies were about those who have experienced the healing power of the Lord. A segment of the mass venerated on Christ’s last seven words on the cross. One portion caught my attention and it was about Jesus’ 4th words: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Even my brother and I cannot understand why Jesus asked this. I told him perhaps it was not a sin to ask God for our misfortunes as long as we don’t blame him. And this was supported by a priest’s sincere sharing of wisdom.
I am not ashamed to say that tears ran down my cheeks as I listen to the priest's story. The said priest was asked by some people during a retreat about certain calamities in the Philippines which ended the lives of thousands of people. “Why has God forsaken them?” cried a man in a group. Soon enough, everyone in the group started raising similar questions. “I honestly do not have an idea. Don’t blame me,” the priest jokingly commented on the group’s nosy and blameful attitude.Nevertheless, the priest shared what he had to say about the matter. “We are not the only ones to ask this. Even Christ has asked this to God.” Possibly, it is at first difficult for us to accept painful events in our lives especially if we are struggling to be really good. If we lost all we had, can we still love Jesus? This question is perhaps difficult to answer that is why the priest said that we are called to pray for courage in loving God. Why courage? Because it is indeed a courageous act to love someone when we feel that love has abandoned our hearts. The priest also said that God has never forsaken anyone. He has only wished for the best even if it meant for the end of us or our loved ones. End in this case is physical for we all know that we can truly begin a new life after we die once we are reunited with Christ’s love.
Things happen for a reason even if we never know or discover them. In the end, love and sacrifice were justified as Jesus’ truly accepted his fate. This is supported with Jesus’ final utterance on the cross. “Into your hands I commit my spirit,” surrendered Christ to his Father. To surrender our lives to God is not an effortless task. That is why we should all pray for wisdom and strength to carry the cross that we bear. I pray that we will always find inspirations to help us carry the crosses that we ought to put up with in life.
High-school was a difficult time for me. It was a particular time that I felt genuinely alone. I felt I was too different from anyone else and I can feel other’s hatred and indifference towards me running through my veins. But knowing Christ made that notion false and void. This was fully confirmed as the priest recited a poem titled “Yahweh. Here.” I will try to recreate the thought of the poem since I cannot find it in the net:
“When I was lonely, tired and weak…when no one would listen and no one was there to comfort me…Yahweh, you were here.”
He was here when I thought ‘Jesus Nowhere.’ I look back at that time, especially that time I ate alone in the canteen and a guy ridiculed me in front of the others. I felt like crying that moment because no one was there to know I was hurt. But now I know I had someone that time. He truly was there, sitting beside me and listening to the aches, the tears and the screams of the heart.
Now, when I experience a cold and dark day, I just remember three words: Jesus. Now. Here. A blessed holy week to one and all!
Yesterday was indeed a concoction of bitters and sweets. Manong Rey, one of our cooks, (as mentioned in the blog entry named 'Peace. Please') died in the tragical Naga bus accident which brutally took the lives of 13 people. Three days after we have known this fact, we still feel a tinge of sorrow—perhaps this is an understatement. Nevertheless, life had to go on in the office and we did our job like before but we decided to spice things up a little bit.
Miss Maricris, our academic director was stunned by a message that her friend sent her. "I'm engaged," says her friend. Maricris was utterly astonished since that friend of her never had a boyfriend since birth. It was later found out that her friend was just pulling a stunt because it's April Fool's Day. Provoked, but in a graceful manner, Maricris decided to pull everyone’s leg as well, with the help of yours truly and Michael, our head teacher. The stunts include telling everyone in the electronic grapevine (a.k.a. the net) that she’s pregnant, telling Michael she lost her cherry, and telling an HR member how disappointed she was with the rumor the HR guy was spreading bout her. Hilarious. But all these are nothing compared to the ‘Rena stunt’ we cooked up. Rena, our assistant head teacher, has had troubles with her romantic relationships (Cough! If ever there was any. Cough! Cough!). She sort of channeled all her hurts with that one ‘special guy’ into another guy she met in through text messaging. And so, we machinated this act that will surely take her breath away…literally. Mission: to make Rena hate us and even cry (even for a few seconds). Accomplices: Me, in charge of telling Rena the ‘hideous’ secret about her text lover, Michael, the one who will back me up by adding side comments to the set-up and finally the Queen of Practical Jokes, Maricris (who thought of this plan (I’m giving out this information in case you people say we are very cruel, at least you know who to blame! Heehehehe!)). Maricris began the play by letting Rena sit at the center of a relatively small room and allowing her to settle down first. She started telling Rena that since the Lenten Season has begun, we needed to ask forgiveness, as Roman Catholics, to those people that we have hurt. “We are so sorry Rena,” added Maricris with innocent yet devilish eyes. “For what? Why?” remarked the bewildered Rena. Every accomplice started wiggling guiltily (of course this was just fine acting). “We actually…Umm…ordered…So Sorry…It was Mike’s fault!” I stammered (another fine acting). I then paused and gave her the bomb “Your special text mate (or text lover) was Arnold.” Now, Arnold was a staff at our school in charge with keeping our student’s room clean and he was also an on-call technician, electrician and repair man. Aside from the fact that Arnold already has a lover, everyone cannot imagine Rena and Arnold crossing each other’s path with a wave of awkwardness. Why awkward, you might ask. This is because Rena and her text lover (which now is presumably Arnold) had been exchanging “I love yous” and other diabetes-emitting sugary-lovey-dovey quotes and endearment. Suddenly, Rena was completely crestfallen. She looked at every one of us and then she began to cry. Her face morphed into a dreadful formation resembling that of a rotten cabbage (okay overstatement). What I’m trying to say is that she cried and we were sorry but it was so damn good (Forgive our being an ass). We immediately asked forgiveness to Rena, only this time truthfully. She smiled and then wiped her tears. Rena was fine with it; at least her text mate remained a mystery. For her, it was better that way.
Night came and we went to the wake of our dear Manong Rey. There, we shed tears and grieved for him but thanks to the small talk the priest gave, we were optimistic to live our lives again. We were reminded that time that these lives we have are not ours to keep forever. Life and death is and will always be a package; a package that cannot be separated by any force here on earth. This parcel comes in two and from the moment we are given life we are also given death.
As I munched the ‘Rosquillos’ (circular biscuits) and drank the juice when we were at the wake, it dawned on me that life is truly strange. Like the ‘Rosquillos,’ life and death is full circle everyone must complete. There is always a time for everything. Good times and bad times collide even everyday and we are forever in the sequence of laughs and tears. I just pray that we may find enough laughs and smiles to forget all our tears.
There are many rumors circulating that Britney Spears will extend her ‘Circus Tour’ here in Asia, specifically in Pinas. I'm a big fan and I would love to go and see her even if it will cost me thousands just to witness her lip-synching, panting and whoring out on stage. But then again, I changed my mind when I saw a video of her in her ‘Circus Tour’ singing 'Piece of Me' (one of my faves) in a cage. The dancing, excellent. But the lip-synching? Dang, Brit if you're gonna lip-synch anyways, do it well! But hell no she didn’t. She forgot some lyrics to the mock rap portion of the song! So, I said no, I won't see her.
However, if she does really come to the Philippines, (no pun intended for ‘Piece of Me’) I think I'll reconsider. I still want to see her! You see, I changed my mind about the whole thing (rechange actually (if there’s such a word!)).
Britney is not just a singer or dancer. She's an entertainer. In fact, I compare her to a tourist spot. Tourist spots like the ‘Taj Mahal’ or ‘Boracay’ doesn’t really have to do anything for you to be entertained right? Silly me. So Brit, bring your Circus to the Philippines and let's all have some fun!!!
You can go You can start all over again You can try to find a way to make another day go by You can hide Hold all your feelings inside You can try to carry on when all you want to do is cry
[Chorus] And maybe someday We'll figure all this out Try to put an end to all our doubt Try to find a way to make things better now and Maybe someday we'll live our lives out loud We'll be better off somehow Someday
Now wait And try to find another mistake If you throw it all away then maybe you can change [ Find more Lyrics on www.mp3lyrics.org/Mncu ] your mind You can run, oh And when everything is over and done You can shine a little light on everything around you Man it's good to be so warm
[Chorus]
And I don't want to wait I just want to know I just want to hear you tell me so Give it to me straight Tell it to me slow
Cause maybe someday We'll figure all this out We'll put an end to all our doubt Try to find a way to just feel better now and Maybe someday we'll live our lives out loud We'll be better off somehow Someday
[x2] Cause sometimes we don't really notice Just how good it can get So maybe we should start all over Start all over again
These are certain facts, observations, and insights about Hong Kong after my five-day tour in the said country:
1. Chinese people in Hong Kong are very good English speakers. 2. They are very considerate and generous in so many levels. (We were in GIORDANO, a leading HK clothing brand and bought 'pasalubongs' for our loved ones and then we asked more GIORDANO bags than the actual items and guess what? They agreed. This has not only happened ones but every time we asked for extra bags (even those expensive looking bags like LEVIS)) 3. They move very fast. HK fastfood redefine FAST FOOD service. 4. Hong Kong is very clean--not one dry leaf lying on the ground and no dust and smoke emissions from buses or cars. 5. Prostitution is legalized in Hong Kong (OMG). Explains the very few hookers and pimps on the streets. (Bwahahaha!) 6. Chinese noodles are less salty there compared to the Philippines. 7. Many middle-aged people work in fast-food joints (unlike here in Pinas). 8. People EVERYWHERE are uber fashionable. (Pinoys are catching up, I went to Ayala the other day and man, I though it was a fashion show) 9. There are so many kinds of Museums: ART, SPACE, SCIENCE... 10. People in HK are very dependent on there Octopus card (the card they use for absolutely anything they purchase but is especially used as fare for transportation) 11. HK is my dream city (so far). It is because it is a precise mesh of things eastern and western--very urban, yet traditional and relatable. And skyscrapers galore!!! 12. Everywhere in Hong Kong is a tourist spot! 13. The weather in Hong Kong is very unpredictable. One moment your happy because the sun has shone and then two seconds later, it begins to rain. (WTF?) 14. You can haggle the prices (even with branded apparels) in market places. 15. Hong Kong captures you and makes you want to go back again and again and again.
" Have you seen my Childhood? Before you judge me, Try hard to love me. Have you seen my Childhood?" - from the song "Childhood" from the album "Invincible"
- Michael Jackson (1958-2009)
* I've just seen some of MJ's music videos and it dawned upon me that although I have never really been a hardcore fan of MJ, I appreciate his music now more than ever. I guess it's never too late. He did good things and he was a good man. Whatever he did, I know he had asked forgiveness and was forgiven. His legacy has not ended...it has just begun.
Death, as they say, is not the end. It is only a transition. Peace out Michael!
These days, I am in an absolute dilemma, caught in a web of confusion and non-sense. I just really don't know what to do with my life. So gone are the days that I know exactly what I want, now, it's just some random hullabaloo. Well, my dear mentor Madonna has always (or has she?) sung (well, at least these days) about taking the moment and living life to it's fullest in its best time...NOW.
She sings:
Time goes by so slowly for those who wait No time to hesitate Those who run seem to have all the fun I'm caught up I don't know what to do
Every little thing that you say or do I'm hung up I'm hung up on you Waiting for your call Baby night and day I'm fed up I'm tired of waiting on you
Ring ring ring goes the telephone The lights are on but there's no-one home Tick tick tock it's a quarter to two And I'm done I'm hanging up on you
I can't keep on waiting for you I know that you're still hesitating Don't cry for me 'cause I'll find my way you'll wake up one day but it'll be too late
- from 'Hung Up'
And:
If you want it You already got it If you thought it It better be what you want If you feel it It must be real just Say the word and imma give you what you want
Time is waiting We only got 4 minutes to save the world No hesitating Grab a boy Grab a girl Time is waiting We only got 4 minutes to save the world No hesitating We only got 4 minutes, 4 minutes
- from '4 Minutes'
Also:
What are you waiting for? Nobody's gonna show you how Why work for someone else To do what you can do right now?
Got no boundaries and no limits If there's excitement, put me in it If it's against the law, arrest me If you can handle it, undress me
Give it to me, yeah No one's gonna show me how Give it to me, yeah No one's gonna stop me now
They say that a good thing never lasts And then it has to fall Those are the the people that did not Amount to much at all
Give me the baseline and I'll shake it Give me a record and I'll break it There's no beginning and no ending Give me a chance to go and I'll take it
You're only here to win Get what they say You're only here to win Get what they do They'd do it too If they were you You done it all before It ain't nothing new
- from 'Give It To Me'
Finally:
You don't have the luxury of time You have got to say what's on your mind Your head lost in the stars you never go far It's time for you to read the signs
On and on, on the beat goes on and on, on the beat goes On and on, on the beat goes on and on, on the beat goes On and on, on the beat goes on and on, on the beat goes On and on, on the beat goes on and on, on the beat goes
My hand, take it, you can, The time, is now, i'll show, you how
Say what you like, do what you feel, you're not exactly who you are The time is right now, you got to decide, stand in the back or be the star
- from 'The Beat Goes On'
I guess Madonna has taken notes from Saint Benedict as her songs reflect Benedict's message of the NOW. Taking you back to the first Madonna sample I gave a while ago, a single titled 'Hung Up:'
Time goes by so slowly for those who wait No time to hesitate Those who run seem to have all the fun I'm caught up I don't know what to do
is quite similar with Saint Benedict's famous line:
...we must run and do now what will profit us forever.
So I have decided to RUN, metaphorically, that is. I encourage everyone to do so, too. We've got only 4 minutes to save the world, you know.
It's been ten thousand light years since I posted an entry in this blog! I was so fixated with Facebook that sometimes I just post my blog thoughts there. Anyways, I was inspired by my dear friend Philip to bring the fire back in this blog! Thanks Phil! My blog pales in comparison with yours! You are a great writer and artist!
