dancing for peace with my bestfriend of the 80s [tb092010]

manila began the celebration (in asia) for earthdance 2010- a global peace festival celebrated in over 500 locations in 80 countries. sept.18th, sun-down to sun-up, Earthdance Manila broadcasted to the world (live via EarthdanceTV) the hours of non-stop dance, music and live art. there were wellness and dance workshops, an eco-bazaar, showcase of indigenous rituals and healing ceremonies too. the event culminated with the Global Synchronized Prayer for Peace at 7am Manila   (4pm California - 8pm Sao Paulo - 12 midnight London - 9am Sydney)...[the whole world (of every race, and religion) prayed at the same time, that's good!]. bantayog ng mga bayani memorial center was the chosen venue (somehow to rekindle the fire of a nation united in its desire for peace, justice and democracy). themed “Embracing All Traditions,” artists of various genres from world music to techno, electronica, jazz, and hiphop fused their styles in jamming...

that night, i was reunited too with my bestfriend in elementary school- marlyn (she went there with her 15-year old son)...the three of us enjoyed the company and the beat as we ate our all-time favorite 'chippy' and as we danced along with the fire dancers, the participants from all over, the pangalay artists circle, and other traditional and ethnic dancers. it's a delightful collision of cultures, faiths, art forms, music and dance! kadangayan, nyko maca with DJ robby sanchez of peace pilipinas, and joey ayala head the stellar line up of performers (including tapati) and sponsor representatives like epi quizon for the dolphy aid. the event has become a convergence of advocacies too... SEARICE promoted their No2GMO with a free feast of eggplant dishes from all over the country; hare krishna demonstrated labor of love in its truest as they (pray and) chant while cooking vegetarian dishes to fire up the artists’ energy for the whole event, and, bagong lumad foundation, partners up for the ISAling Lahi Project- books and audio books of the various tribes and indigenous communities documenting their culture rooted in a deep connection with the environment through songs, stories, and values.  these, and many others were also made more fun-filled with free informal workshops in pangalay, poi dancing, belly dancing, and tribal drumming.

we went home just before midnight (cinderellas-in-the-making), bringing with us memories of the once-in-a-blue-moon event: the friendship reunion in a dance-for-peace drama. whew!

another tiring-yet-fun class-work [tb031210]

sunday, march 7th, we went to candaba pampanga. my professor, my classmates and I were excited to see what's in store. it was a fieldwork cum culinary tour in the making :).

the journey from manila to the site was great, seeing both rural and urban setting of the north side of the country. pampanga is not only famous for the bird sanctuary but also for the culinary expertise of the local folks.

we wasted not a moment of that one-day event. birds were fun to look at, so is the lake full of beautiful lotus flowers and lilies. snack was wow(bibingka, espasol, chicharon, buko drink). tilapia-fishing and duck-watching is an old-yet-ever-new-experience.

we were (I am) noisy as we rode the carabao cart at high noon, for 33 minutes. lunch- awesome (chicken souped in green mangoes, steamed veggies, grilled fish and lotsa fruits).

we learned a lot from our talks with the folks in the area: their living a simple life, their agricultural concerns, their trying to help each other via cooperative and their hopes of preserving their way of life but coping with the growth of the economy.

we went on our way back to manila but we had a freak-accident in baliuag area (that would be another story) so we stayed for a bit in one of my classmate's brother's house (very nice house). they were hospitable (served us icecream-yummy!). one stop-over in the best hotel-resort there is on bulacan (8waves) then to bed, exhausted yet smiling of the memories of our (mis)adventures.

love can seriously damage your health [tb2010]

yes, this is a movie. and i have seeen this movie for free. at instituto cervantes just 15-minute ride away from my cell. with my usual movie-fest buddy ate irene, we shared laughs...true, oh so true. there are times when love... can... seriously... damage... your... health.

here's the synopsis [thank you wikipedia]...Paris. King Juan Carlos I offers a diner at Hôtel Crillon. Diana (Ana Belén) meets Santi (Juanjo Puigcorbé) , an old lover, who now is the King's bodyguard.

They remember how they met each other, 30 years ago, in another hotel, inMadrid. Diana (Penélope Cruz) and Santi (Gabino Diego) met when The Beatles were going to play. He works in the hotel. She hides under John Lennon's bed because she's in love with the singer. But, what starts is an attraction between them. It is an impossible love because she wants to be rich and famous, and he is poor and has to join the Army. When they meet again as grown-ups, Diana has become a socialite, and Santi is a pilot. Both are married, but the love goes on... 

failed attempt in welcoming 2010

of welcoming 2010, of dengue and paranoia and of hypnotizing

it's been a while since i last updated this page...
but i intend to, hopefully today or within the week.
2009 went by and now another year to enjoy (life or something like it).
god is good. life is good. i am good. this is good.

flashback december 2009

yes...very soon, it's december once more...

5 memories lingered from last year's december...

(this is aside from the fun-time with my family in gensan of course)

here they are:

i proved that TGIF is really a must-try-resto...

i saw classmate tamrat wore their national costume

i was surprised when my classmate luella gave me ticket to this ballet show

i realized wrapping gifts in brown paper and ribonning it with straw is easier and practical...

i was showered with tokens...and gifts from friends

suddenly, i thought about respect and promotion :)

What is “respect”? What is “promotion’?... Affirmation fulfills the humanity of individuals and to affirm another means to respect and promote his subjectivity and individuality (his potentiality) and social capacities. "Respect and promotion may also involve active involvement in the prevention or demolition of conditions that prevent or hamper the unfolding of human capacities which are essential to the fullness of human development. "

Respect recognizes the existence of human qualities and capacities. This is something that the market economy can not just offer for a price. It comes as individuals relate with other individuals, as he strives to understand his being a human person, and as he tries to create a world with, and within the world of others.

Man’s needs in the beginning used to be so simple – flood, clothes and a shelter just enough to protect him from heat and cold. As time passed however, these needs have grown and have extended to items tagged as wants. Men began looking at other things. He also then began realizing that there is more to the basic economic needs. Whatever needs and wants men might have, whatever it may cost, one can not deny that without the feeling of being human in its fullest sense, the individual is only ‘potentially human’. The need to for affirmation of his humanity by others will fully actualize his humanity despite the scarcity of resources, goods and services that he is facing.

A child learns to appreciate affirmation from his parents and from the individuals that surround him every day of his life. He learns to acknowledge his being by hearing what others think or say of him, and whatever makes others think or say positive, he does over and over. This is a manifestation of man’s need for affirmation at an early age. This need continues to be there as he grows old. The feeling of affirmation coupled with provisions of basic necessities will somehow provide the child the main ingredient to full life. A life that teaches him to affirm others of their existence, and, humanity too.

Respect as felt, (and not to overemphasize- earned) includes respect for intelligence. It also implies that intelligence must be developed to the fullest. Promotion is the commitment to create conditions for development and growth so potentials (including one of intelligence) are realized ---a movement from potentiality to actuality. Respect and promotion are essential demands of man from childhood to adulthood. Circumstances that may hamper both must be prevented or demolished.

It is human nature to be affirmed and accepted as human persons and anyone refused of such is de-humanized. (hmmm...thoughts...)

cancel my subscription

cancel my subscription

---

i don't need your issues.

this is the print of one of my favorite shirts.

i wish i had them on now.

sometimes irritating people are just

too much to deal with.

a pain in the neck!
---

but then again,
i have to remember that no one (nothing)
can make me feel bad/mad/sad without
my permission.
so. to hell with them (that)!