We place platters of sumptuous feasts on our dining tables every time we welcome the coming year. We prepare like servants for a night of feasting and eat like gods did. Wishing that in the days to come, our tables shall be filled with food and that we shall never be hungry. We fill our hearts with hope that there shall be showers of blessings all year round.
We decorate our houses with colorful pieces that symbolize wealth, prosperity and safety. We put round ornaments of various colors and sizes to attract wealth and we even light up the sky to send the demons away. We pray to the gods for a prosperous year ahead and send them our offerings of repentance and numerous promises. We commit ourselves to a higher purpose, which is to become better citizens of this world. We create a number of resolutions that have been said years before if not yearly. We always resolve to live life to the fullest.
We plan to make the coming year a better one and with less regrets. We pray for it to be kinder to us and be much more bearable as in the past years.
But despite our efforts and prayers, there still come times in the year when there are droughts and famines, and our pockets empty. When our prayers have turned into curses and promises were broken. Our commitments become lost and we become less of what we supposedly plan early in the year. When bad luck fills us in everything we do and blessings have turned into disasters. And lastly, our resolutions become nothing but a repetition of words and a conclusion that life is fucking hard and it sucks - a lot.
Again at the end of the year, the cycle repeats again.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
What rocked NU 107's boat?
I grew up hearing that "NU Rock 107" DJ phrase. I grew up with three older brothers who were either into the New Wave genre or the 80's pop rock. So NU 107 has been a part of my radio life.
What is happening right now is a sign of how far our radio has gone. Remember the time when our grandparents listened to the dramas on the radio, when every Sunday, old songs are played on air and every radio station has its own ID catering to various music genres. Remember when you would sing along when "Lee Kum Kee" is played or the "United American tiki-tiki".
Our radio industry is dying. Why? What is killing it?
Apple did. Chinese portable music players did. You did. I did. With the mass production of mp3 players, mp4s, ipod and phones with music players, anyone can listen to music anytime, anywhere. No need for radio frequencies and signals. Just a computer to which you can download your favorite music or any music that suits your mood or the ambience. Why listen to a radio station and wait for hours to hear your favorite music? Not to mention the casual interruption by advertisers?
Think of how Campus radio which used to be "cool" among College people became the Barangay LS that it is now? Because the College students can now afford a 600 peso worth mp3 bought in Quiapo. Why did the other radio networks followed? Because only few listen to them now.
The only time I can listen to radio networks now is when a ride a jeepney. I remember a friend who joked that he listens to 97.1 or 93.1 is because he is a driver. Through this, one can see the wall that divides the economic classes. The rich plays his type of song with the latest ipod while the poor tunes in to Love radio.
We kill the radio industry every time we make fun of Mr Fu's antics, when we get irritated by Nicole Ayala's broadcast laughter, when we jokingly comment on how jologs radio stations have become. It's not their fault that the times have changed. The Disc Jockeys we look up to have changed course just to stay in business. It was not their fault that advertisers no longer invest on mass media that only the economically-challenged patronize. Was it their fault that you and I no longer listen to one of the earliest forms of mass media?
How shall I tell my children that NU Rock 107 once rocked our youth? How I shall tell them that we shared coffee breaks and smoke while listening to the "NU rock 107, and that was..."
What is happening right now is a sign of how far our radio has gone. Remember the time when our grandparents listened to the dramas on the radio, when every Sunday, old songs are played on air and every radio station has its own ID catering to various music genres. Remember when you would sing along when "Lee Kum Kee" is played or the "United American tiki-tiki".
Our radio industry is dying. Why? What is killing it?
Apple did. Chinese portable music players did. You did. I did. With the mass production of mp3 players, mp4s, ipod and phones with music players, anyone can listen to music anytime, anywhere. No need for radio frequencies and signals. Just a computer to which you can download your favorite music or any music that suits your mood or the ambience. Why listen to a radio station and wait for hours to hear your favorite music? Not to mention the casual interruption by advertisers?
Think of how Campus radio which used to be "cool" among College people became the Barangay LS that it is now? Because the College students can now afford a 600 peso worth mp3 bought in Quiapo. Why did the other radio networks followed? Because only few listen to them now.
The only time I can listen to radio networks now is when a ride a jeepney. I remember a friend who joked that he listens to 97.1 or 93.1 is because he is a driver. Through this, one can see the wall that divides the economic classes. The rich plays his type of song with the latest ipod while the poor tunes in to Love radio.
We kill the radio industry every time we make fun of Mr Fu's antics, when we get irritated by Nicole Ayala's broadcast laughter, when we jokingly comment on how jologs radio stations have become. It's not their fault that the times have changed. The Disc Jockeys we look up to have changed course just to stay in business. It was not their fault that advertisers no longer invest on mass media that only the economically-challenged patronize. Was it their fault that you and I no longer listen to one of the earliest forms of mass media?
How shall I tell my children that NU Rock 107 once rocked our youth? How I shall tell them that we shared coffee breaks and smoke while listening to the "NU rock 107, and that was..."
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
A day in Pyjamas
It's been a while since I last spent the day in pyjamas. I woke up late, stayed in bed for a few more hours, went online, facebooked, surf the net for non-academic reasons, watched TV, ate and slept. Just like a bum. Take a bath late in the day, or skip lunch just to be in bed once more.
After a long time, I finally had lots of time to do nothing. With my usual busy schedule, I practically had lots of time doing lots of things, like running errands, attending classes and socializing. I usually wake up early, take a bath and start my day with my to do list.
It feels a little weird though that despite my efforts of becoming an official bum, I never did. Because here I am, blogging once more in my last night's pyjamas on my unfixed bed.
When was the last time you spent your day in pyjamas?
After a long time, I finally had lots of time to do nothing. With my usual busy schedule, I practically had lots of time doing lots of things, like running errands, attending classes and socializing. I usually wake up early, take a bath and start my day with my to do list.
It feels a little weird though that despite my efforts of becoming an official bum, I never did. Because here I am, blogging once more in my last night's pyjamas on my unfixed bed.
When was the last time you spent your day in pyjamas?
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Musings on the upcoming Barangay Elections
Tomorrow we head again to our respective electoral precincts. People will once again flood local schools to elect the leaders for their communities. The Barangay is the smallest administrative division and political unit next to the family. So, imagine your barangay as a family of families. We know that it is with the family where people get strength, support and care. In a family, you cannot chose who will head it. But in the Barangay, it is up to you to choose the leaders that will guide the family of families into becoming a better societal unit.
Choose your leaders well, you are entrusting them with your community lives as it is part of their responsibility to ensure the safety of your community and its members. You are also placing leaders who will help the community reach its potential and let the community members grow and develop into more responsible citizens.
Cast your votes wisely. Do not be fooled by the friendly neighbour who only became a friend when it was election time.
If on national elections, there is the saying "walang kaibi-kaibigan o kama-kamag-anak", I suppose, there should also be, "Walang kapi-kapitbahay..."
Choose your leaders well, you are entrusting them with your community lives as it is part of their responsibility to ensure the safety of your community and its members. You are also placing leaders who will help the community reach its potential and let the community members grow and develop into more responsible citizens.
Cast your votes wisely. Do not be fooled by the friendly neighbour who only became a friend when it was election time.
If on national elections, there is the saying "walang kaibi-kaibigan o kama-kamag-anak", I suppose, there should also be, "Walang kapi-kapitbahay..."
Friday, October 22, 2010
Another Thing to do during sembreak
8. BE A BETTER CYBERSPACE JUNKIE. I forgot that most of us youngsters are into the amazing world of cyberspace. We spend hours in front of our computers doing nothing but surf, click, read, type and click. For internet fanatics, this is the time to update your websites. Those of you who have not updated your profiles on various social networking sites, this is the time because your pictures and templates may have been so last year. You have more time now to reinvent your websites with new software programs that offer more sophisticated and exciting applications. Bloggers may have lagged in their blogs because of their research papers, the break will give you some time to make new experiences and blog it on your site. For those who have not yet blogged, this is also the perfect time to start. Facebook has provided us with games and applications that made friendster lose its place in the market, this sembreak, please check your poker accounts, your sisters in sorority life or your plants on farmville. They are dying to get a glimpse of you for the past months. You may also try updating your multiply account by uploading newer and better pictures. But don't overdo it, cyberspace can be a pain in the ass if you don't know how to manage your internet accounts right.
Things To Do During sem-BREAK
... if you can call it a break, since nowadays, semester breaks last only for a few days. It is best that we make the most of out our break from the world of papers, reports, grades and exams. It's time to take a break from sleepless nights of reading, finishing projects and meeting deadlines. We have crammed our way to meet our deadlines so I bet it would be easier to cram our way to making our few days off more meaningful and memorable.
Here are some things to do to break the boredom spell during the sembreak:
1. SLEEP. First things first. We spent sleepless nights during the finals and had gulped more than a bucket of coffee just to keep us awake for the exams. This is the time to make up for the lost time with your bed and get that sleep you have been dreaming for. For the ladies, this is the time to get that "beauty sleep" which has been very elusive due to deadlines. You may have caught yourself singing, "mahal kita... pero miss na miss na miss ko na ang aking kama at ang malupit kong unan"
But don't sleep for the rest of the break, you have plenty of time to do that in the afterlife.
2. DO VOLUNTEER WORK. Because of the typhoon Juan, many families were left homeless and are in need of your help. There are agencies like the Red Cross that are in need of extra hands to help pack the relief goods to be sent to the affected areas. If you're lucky, you might be sent to join in the distribution of these packages, thus allowing you to travel. It is also a good way to meet new people and have new friends or at least have new facebook friends.
Aside from these perks, it is also good to give a hand to our fellow Filipinos. Not only have you become a good citizen, you have also shown that you are more than your good grades and complete attendance in school. Studies have shown that when doing charity work, the brain releases endorphins that make you feel good.
3. CLEAN UP. I'm sure dust and tons of papers have accumulated on your room over the course of your "I-don't-have-time-to-clean-up" days. This is the time pick up the broom and pick up the pieces of papers that are nothing but memories of your algebra homework or your case presentation. Go through your drawers and clean up the mess brought about by the previous semester. You can sort through your hand-outs and notes ,pile them up and choose which stays and which goes to the trash bin. Or better yet, give them to a lower-batch student who might need those for reference. Not only were you able to help him'her get better grades, you also have de-cluttered your room.
It is also best to have your room cleaned, for a clean room can help you sleep better.
4. CATCH UP ON YOUR FAVOURITE TV-SERIES. DVD-Marathon time or for those who are torrent-lovers, it is time to download all that you can download. Catch up on the episodes that you have missed because of the finals. You can be a couch potato for a day or two without worrying about homework and presentations. You can do this with your friends or family. Not only were you able to finish one season, you also get to bond with the people you care about and missed. Just don't forget to share the chips.
5. TRAVEL. Or do some road-tripping/joyride with your friends without worrying about hurrying home to finish a paper. Again, it's another way to bond with your friends. It does not need to be a long drive out of town. Getting around town or nearby places can be a good way to get over your just-enough-to-pass grade given by your terror prof. You can take a dip at the pool resorts or go to entertainment parks and scream your way up in the air. You can release your angst against your group mates from hell when you take the space shuttle at EK. You can even go to the province and be with your relatives and maybe meet a new friend there.
6. READ. Not the textbooks from school! For crying out loud, please read that fiction book you bought last summer but has not read it yet. Something to enjoy and be entertained with. Not something you have to analyze and make a moral of the story essay. You may hit the nearest bookstore and check the latest bestsellers.
7. REINVENT YOURSELF. Get a makeover. Give yourself some pampering by hitting the spa or your favorite salon. Change your hairstyle, get a massage, a foot spa or have a hair treatment. Some spas and salons offer discounts to students during the break so take advantage of this. It is time to get rid of that pimple brought about by your case presentation by having a facial. When it is time for the next semester, people will be surprised by the fresh new you.
You may have been called "stresstabs model" by your happy-go-lucky friends and this is the time for vengeance and look your best.
I hope our sembreak plans will not be ruined by the forecast rainshowers over the north. There are 365 days in a year, I'm sure the rains can find other days to shower us with blessings.
**Inspired by the article, "Top Ten things to do on your sem break", MB 10/20/2010 issue
Here are some things to do to break the boredom spell during the sembreak:
1. SLEEP. First things first. We spent sleepless nights during the finals and had gulped more than a bucket of coffee just to keep us awake for the exams. This is the time to make up for the lost time with your bed and get that sleep you have been dreaming for. For the ladies, this is the time to get that "beauty sleep" which has been very elusive due to deadlines. You may have caught yourself singing, "mahal kita... pero miss na miss na miss ko na ang aking kama at ang malupit kong unan"
But don't sleep for the rest of the break, you have plenty of time to do that in the afterlife.
2. DO VOLUNTEER WORK. Because of the typhoon Juan, many families were left homeless and are in need of your help. There are agencies like the Red Cross that are in need of extra hands to help pack the relief goods to be sent to the affected areas. If you're lucky, you might be sent to join in the distribution of these packages, thus allowing you to travel. It is also a good way to meet new people and have new friends or at least have new facebook friends.
Aside from these perks, it is also good to give a hand to our fellow Filipinos. Not only have you become a good citizen, you have also shown that you are more than your good grades and complete attendance in school. Studies have shown that when doing charity work, the brain releases endorphins that make you feel good.
3. CLEAN UP. I'm sure dust and tons of papers have accumulated on your room over the course of your "I-don't-have-time-to-clean-up" days. This is the time pick up the broom and pick up the pieces of papers that are nothing but memories of your algebra homework or your case presentation. Go through your drawers and clean up the mess brought about by the previous semester. You can sort through your hand-outs and notes ,pile them up and choose which stays and which goes to the trash bin. Or better yet, give them to a lower-batch student who might need those for reference. Not only were you able to help him'her get better grades, you also have de-cluttered your room.
It is also best to have your room cleaned, for a clean room can help you sleep better.
4. CATCH UP ON YOUR FAVOURITE TV-SERIES. DVD-Marathon time or for those who are torrent-lovers, it is time to download all that you can download. Catch up on the episodes that you have missed because of the finals. You can be a couch potato for a day or two without worrying about homework and presentations. You can do this with your friends or family. Not only were you able to finish one season, you also get to bond with the people you care about and missed. Just don't forget to share the chips.
5. TRAVEL. Or do some road-tripping/joyride with your friends without worrying about hurrying home to finish a paper. Again, it's another way to bond with your friends. It does not need to be a long drive out of town. Getting around town or nearby places can be a good way to get over your just-enough-to-pass grade given by your terror prof. You can take a dip at the pool resorts or go to entertainment parks and scream your way up in the air. You can release your angst against your group mates from hell when you take the space shuttle at EK. You can even go to the province and be with your relatives and maybe meet a new friend there.
6. READ. Not the textbooks from school! For crying out loud, please read that fiction book you bought last summer but has not read it yet. Something to enjoy and be entertained with. Not something you have to analyze and make a moral of the story essay. You may hit the nearest bookstore and check the latest bestsellers.
7. REINVENT YOURSELF. Get a makeover. Give yourself some pampering by hitting the spa or your favorite salon. Change your hairstyle, get a massage, a foot spa or have a hair treatment. Some spas and salons offer discounts to students during the break so take advantage of this. It is time to get rid of that pimple brought about by your case presentation by having a facial. When it is time for the next semester, people will be surprised by the fresh new you.
You may have been called "stresstabs model" by your happy-go-lucky friends and this is the time for vengeance and look your best.
I hope our sembreak plans will not be ruined by the forecast rainshowers over the north. There are 365 days in a year, I'm sure the rains can find other days to shower us with blessings.
**Inspired by the article, "Top Ten things to do on your sem break", MB 10/20/2010 issue
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Eat. Pray. Love.
...and laugh.
It's a good movie especially to those who find themselves strangers to the life they are living.
After watching it, it somehow made me desire and dream to go out see the world, be transformed and discover myself in the process. But I wish that I don't have to break relationships, go halfway around the globe, be away from my family just to find out who I really am and what I really want.
Why do we have to cry, make others cry or ruin relationships just so we can learn? we have given others everything but none for ourselves and it is already to late to realize that we exhausted every bit of ourselves for others?
I hope I don't have to ask these questions myself one day, while traveling through the ruins of the roman empire or while riding an elephant in Thailand. I pray we all have our answers right here, right now.
It's a good movie especially to those who find themselves strangers to the life they are living.
After watching it, it somehow made me desire and dream to go out see the world, be transformed and discover myself in the process. But I wish that I don't have to break relationships, go halfway around the globe, be away from my family just to find out who I really am and what I really want.
Why do we have to cry, make others cry or ruin relationships just so we can learn? we have given others everything but none for ourselves and it is already to late to realize that we exhausted every bit of ourselves for others?
I hope I don't have to ask these questions myself one day, while traveling through the ruins of the roman empire or while riding an elephant in Thailand. I pray we all have our answers right here, right now.
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