Farewell MJ

Farewell MJ!

You will always be the King of Pop.

No one will ever come close to your musical genius.

Thank you for giving the world your masterpieces.

You will be remembered forever.

Photo: www.fanpix.net

A Dream

Susan Boyle is making waves in the web and I am going to have a share in spreading the word about her incredible talent as shown in Britain's Got Talent. She is more than the female version of Paul Potts to me. Go Susan Boyle! Go get' em girl!

The audience were laughing at her first but not until they heard her sing (click on photo to see video). Lesson: Dreams are for free, who can stop you from having one?

Video Link: Dwarthy of Daily Motion

Maternal Pride

I got 2 wonderful children and I am very proud of them. They are the sunshine of my life to put it succinctly.

One child is a painter who loves to tinker with crayons and watercolors since he was 2 years old. His earliest work included the walls of our bedroom where he used a mixed medium of crayola and a green stabilo. My little artist is now 4 years old and apparently influenced by the art on-line of Playhouse Disney requested me to buy him a painting set which I did this weekend. It was perfect timing my brothers D and FA paid us a visit on Sunday. FA is the one endowed with aesthetic sense and talent. He gave Speed Racer a blast with their instant painting lessons. My son’s masterpiece is now posted in my brother’s blog “Arnoland” and it really made my day.

One child is a lover of words. I am thinking and praying that she grows up embracing the gift of gab. The first thing I observed about my little girl is her preference for books over toys. She owns a considerable number of new and old books, some inherited from her brother, some sent by our Tita Mari, and mostly we bought for her during our visit to the mall. Her books occupy a good portion of space in the 3rd level of my bookshelf for her easy access and storage. She initiates our reading time before we go to bed as she pulls 2 to 3 storybooks from the bookshelf and requests me to read to her. She listens intently at every word I utter. She also knows when I skip a word or re-word a phrase for she insists that I read that same phrase again. I observed that this practice is doing her well for she did not only talk early, just last night while playing with Speed Racer, she said, “Kuya please turn off the lights.” Hubby and I exchanged looks and we started laughing, YB’s voice might be tiny but she expressed her thought in a sentence. Moreover, she’s only 2 and yet she knows how to get her kuya to follow her.


*Image by Little Ms. Nana

A Simple Lesson

I was moved by Pulitzer Prize winner Doris Kearns Goodwin, acclaimed presidential historian, winning writer, political analyst, Harvard professor and most of all, Mom to 3 sons. A bit of her 1998 commencement address at the Dartmouth College was featured by Queena Lee-Chua along with the memorable speeches of Kofi Annan and Nobel-prize-winning physicist Richard Feynman in her column Eureka. I love Kofi (who doesn't?) but right now I wish to know more about Goodwin, an extraordinary woman and her choice.

Upon withnessing the mighty life of success of Pres. Lyndon Johnson, Goodwin said: "On the surface, he should have everything....and yet the man I saw in his retirement has spend many years in pursuit of work, power and individual success that he had absolutely no psychic or emotional resources left to commit himself to anything once the presidency was gone."

She also noted in her speech a sad conversation she had with Pres. Johnson before he died when he said that he was watching the American people forget him as they were absorbed with the new president...forgetting even the great civil laws he passed. He began to think that his quest for immortality had been in vain, that perhaps he would have been better off focusing his time and attention on his wife and children. Goodwin continued in her speech that, "Despite all the money and power he was alone when he died, his ultimate terror realized."

Having witnessed Pres. Johnson's late realization in life, Goodwin gave up her teaching career in Harvard and pursued motherhood fulltime. She reoreinted her life, weighing less on work and ambition but more on raising a family. Moreover, it took her 10 years to come up with her 2nd book and this is what she got to say: I'd like to think it made no difference to the world how long it took, but it mattered to my kids when they are young. It all goes so quickly....But the point is, even if some opportunities were lost by the choices made when the children were little, there's plenty of time now to move in new directions. It was just a matter of trusting in the choices that were made."

I found Goodwin's words enlightening and her life a living example of her wisdom and the things she believes in, it seem to shed light to a "situation" that I have been contemplating for a long time already. I have always known the answers to my questions but I simply lack the courage to take the reins and move towards the direction of my liberation, from a life of mediocrity and a life filled with giving in to the expectations of others. I feel blessed for there is still time to live my life the way I see fit living it.

Want to learn more about Doris Kearns Goodwin?

More Facts on Women

Fact # 1: As we grow older, women gain weight. This happens because we accumulate a lot of information in our heads. Then, of course, we get to a point in which so much information doesn’t fit in our heads and it starts to distribute itself throughout our entire body. Now I understand it all, I’m not overweight! I’m not fat! I’m smart!! Very smart!!



Comment: I totally agree.


Fact # 2: Life should not be a trip to the tomb with the intention of reaching it with good health and an attractive and well cared for body; it should be more like a ride on a great water slide, with a big piece of chocolate in one hand and a glass of good wine in the other, with a body totally worn out from good living, and yelling...


Comment: Amen. I believe in eating to my heart’s content. I consider food as more than a required substance for energy and sustenance. It is an expression for me to enjoy the good things in life and honor the blessing of having enough food to enjoy and share with dear family and friends.


More facts:
· We don’t go bald.
· We have an international day, and a national day too.
· We can use pink as well as blue. (and purple)
· We always know our kids are ours. (this is not to say that we are not faithful wives/lovers)
· We have priority in a shipwreck.
· We don’t pay the bill. (we live in the 21st century, this is not an issue)
· We’re the first hostages to go free. (the IHL states so)
· If we are cheated on, we’re the victims .
· If we cheat, the men are the ones with the horns. (and get branded as lousy lovers)
· We can sleep with a girlfriend and not be labeled as homosexuals. (how about bi-sexual?)
· We can pay attention to several things at a time. (ask a working Mom)
· The wife of a President is the First Lady, What is the husband of a female President? (first Hubby?)
· If we decide to do a man’s job, we’re pioneers;
· If a man decides to do a woman’s job, he’s a fag. (heard about house-husbands)
· And last but not the least, we can do everything a man does, and (while) wearing heels too! (take note, women can even dash to the finish line wearing 3-inch stilletos and still manage to remain charming at the same time)

HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY!

Sources: Facts from Bumble-bee's e-mail; Images from News.com.au; and Intl Women's Day website.

The Gift

She’s a beauty. I’m referring to my brand new NEO notebook, a Christmas present from hubby who knows exactly the most practical gift I’ve secretly fancied. When he called Friday afternoon, the boom in his voice was a give-away like Eureka, I found it! Having been led on to this surprise, I could barely wait to see him in the evening and when I prodded further, he simply said, something for your writing gig.”

The moment I opened the box and freed the item of its strapping, I knew that this is going to be with me for a long time like the first Olympia typewriter I got from my father a long time ago in 5th grade. I could only utter: OMG! I felt like a kid who got her favorite toy from Santa as I held the Neo with a confident grip that seem like instinct, imprinting my jovial spirit into this tiny machine. Braveheart was smiling too, pleased with my reaction, which I guess he has predicted accurately. At least now when the moment strikes me…I can pound the keys with style Haha!

I listed mentally the number of ideas that needs body and a shot at posting. There are lots of things swirling inside my head; I have no more excuse but to put them all into writing through this little gray notebook. For now, let me savor this moment with my portable writing companion whom shall be named Neo Gray.

Catching up on the Renegade

I have a good friend who is a die-hard fan and advocate of recently elected US President Barack Obama. I realized my friend’s affinity towards Mr. Obama may be due to a common trait they share like eloquence and boldness. I find this connection a great concoction for inspiration for someone starting with his legal career; I always believe that my dear friend W have in him what it takes to be a remarkable lawyer.

I never missed out on the US Presidential elections, thanks to all the media attention. Aside from the constant midnight CNN feed that serves as Hubby’s entertainment, all visible reading materials have Mr.Obama on it, from the daily office subscriptions to personal reading purchases.

I think that the victory of Pres. Obama, the election of a black man into the highest seat of power in the United States, is a good sign for the world to see. Pres. Obama has a mix of American-African blood and has an Asian background (and relatives) that lends enigma and value to the 3rd world. His symbolic win represents the actuality of equal opportunity for all races and ethnicities given various cultural and economic backgrounds.

I remember picking this up from the CNN, it said that Mr. Obama did not only create a leader out of himself with a strong base of followers worldwide, he created a movement which he termed people who believe in change. I wish him God’s blessings for he is a man worthy of praise and support, having rose from humble origins with his intellect, strategic vision and good intentions. How I wish that someone like Obama would be in our midst as our country badly needs one.

On the lighter side, I found this bit of information on providing secret service code names for the US First Families interesting. The following code names were provided to Pres. Obama and his family: President-elect Barack Obama: Renegade; Michelle Obama: Renaissance; Malia Obama: Radiance; and Sasha Obama: Rosebud.

Want to have one for yourself? Visit the Code Generator.

For amusement purposes, I also got one for myself and the pack. As I've always referred to hubby as Braveheart, I patterned our codes with his: Hubby: Braveheart; I am: Blaze; my Son: Bearhug; and my Baby Girl: Brilliance.

So what’s yours?

Acknowledgements to the following sites:

DemConWatchBlog.com

ChannelOne.com

Photos of Pres. Obama from the Time.com website

My Birthday with the Bloomfields

The BDC gave a birthday party for me ten days before my birthday. The ten-day advance will be explained later in this post. I just can’t help but jump to the cherry of this event, well what could be greater than a great party? For my BCD comrades, it’s making my current favorite local band be a part of it. And so it was done. After my/our other favorite, we feasted on heaps of seafoods at Dampa, we went off to Eastwood to check out the musical stylings of the Bloomfields.

At this point, I am compelled to reveal the persona- lities behind the BCD. It consists of Angela, Phillip, Aldrin, Van, Nathan, Joseph and me. This dynamic group of individuals is united by a single goal to overcome every foreign adversary while upholding principled and diligent work. I leave to your imagination the context of this statement.

Since I am still having a hard time putting my thoughts into words, considering the amount of caution I’ve thrown into the air while I was band-struck, let these photos speak for this post.



As the band members, JJ Lozano and Louie Poco were working the crowds, we had the chance to mingle and have photos taken with them. A humbling experience for me since throughout my conversation with JJ, all I could say was thank you.








the Bloomfields live

The YouTube clip I have posted here last November 2007 does not give justice to the talent of the Bloomfields. The band is steaming with energy and soul, watching them live is like watching a zestful life in action. They performed rock and roll music of the 60’s, mostly songs of the Beatles, the Beachboys and the Ventures.

BCD thank you for this birthday event and for pulling out all the stops, i.e. moving personal schedules to accommodate the gig and hunting the band's manager just to get my name on stage - I choose not to elaborate on this. Let's just say, t'was a blast, a fun memory for me to keep. Long live BCD!

For more information on the Bloomfields, please check their website at The Bloomfields Band. They have a Christmas Album coming up, you might want to check it out.
Photo Sources: Ian Rica Roxas - The Bloomfields Band Website - ; Joseph's BCD photos (Nikon D80)

A Fix of Nostalgia

Mamma Mia! I never do this but today I am. I am endorsing Mamma Mia here in my blog. Surely anybody in our BD circle would go on commenting like, “What’s gotten into her brain?” Aha! To quash any of your skeptic bits, this piece was borne out of sheer rave and honesty.

Last Friday, hubby surprised me with a call, telling me that he was driving near my office to pick me up for dinner. At exactly 6:45 pm, it was timing that our BD meeting has ended, I bid goodbye to these fantastic people, the BD team, my comrades, and rush to my uncomplaining date.

Five minutes later, hubby and I were discussing which movie would be perfect for the unplanned date. We were torn between Dark Knight (DK) and Mamma Mia (MM). My reason for wanting to watch DK is buoyed by the good feedback I’ve gathered on Heath Ledger’s re-invention of his Joker character in contrast to the mix reviews I’ve read on MM. A minute more, the ABBA music-pumped movie got our vote and we finally purchased tickets and marched toward Cinema 1 with our food and iced tea supply.

The Verdict…

It was a well done choice. MM truly bring memories of nostalgia, it’s a movie on great love, well Donna (character played by Meryl Streep) had 3, tough mother-daughter bonding, finding true love and pursuing independence which had an effect on me. Well speaking from experience, I couldn’t help but reminisce my own heartfelt dialogue with Mother the early morning I woke up on my wedding day five years ago, as Meryl Streep rendered her version of “Slipping through my Fingers.” I also asked myself, “What if it would be my turn to see my Ysa through …”, I shall pray hard that a true gentleman, as awesome as hubby, would be the Man and only then would I feel confident to do so.

The Abba songs were adorably delivered and its music genre perfect for this movie shot in the picturesque Skopelos Greek Island. There is a sentimental force that ABBA binds its followers with, listening to their songs seem to turn back time and make me recall with fondness the 80’s when Dad and Mom were a young couple with 3 little children in tow.

Mamma Mia the movie is good. See it yourself and get ready to be humming ABBA songs for a week or two.