lean sa mamamayan

The girlfriend, thinking it was a play which bore the same name, was able to secure tickets for last night's Lean: Gabi ng Pag-alala at the PETA theater. I just came from a lecture of PR Guru Max Edralin at the Hotel Intercon in Makati which spanned hours, and was antsy to rush to my father who will have a kidney operation on the next day -- going to a play I've never heard before was, understandably, the last on my priorities.

But the girlfriend was excited to go and I didn't have the heart to turn away from a thing I unmindfully said yes to a couple of days ago. So amid the unexpected heavy rains and EDSA traffic, I deftly maneuvered Kewl (the car) from Makati to PETA in hopes of making it before the first act.

We need not have worried. What we thought of as a play turned out to be a gathering to remember the 20th death anniversary of Lean Alejandro -- student activitst, militant, leader, hero. He lived a short life -- he was 27 when he was assassinated -- but he touched so many lives, influenced thousands of minds, and dedicated his life to a cause that even two decades after his death, people still come from all corners of the globe, from all walks of life, to remember him.

It turned out to be a pleasant gathering. Old grizzled warriors, their hearts and minds as sharp as when they were in the forefront of battle, greeted each other with warmth, camaraderie, a few tears quickly brushed off, and yes, perhaps even love.

The girlfriend and I were obviously outsiders to this group -- everyone knew everybody else. Catching snatches of conversations while I went around the room pawing those tasty popped beans, I was witness to old ties remade, of friendships remembered, of struggles shared.

Reading some of the write ups accompanying the many pictures of Lean plastered on the walls, and hearing that beautiful piece read by a friend of Lean (the girlfriend says she's a famous journalist), I was faced with a fact I knew before but managed to forget: Behind the images of violence and incessant shouts of "ibagsak ang US-insertyourphilpresidenthere imperyalismo", these people are one of the most passionate you could ever meet. They laugh, they cry, they fight, they love as if the next minute they could die -- because that was the truth of the lives they led.

We went home shortly after Cookie Chua and Noel Cabangon sang Lean (from the play). On the way home, however, I couldn't help but wonder just how different I am compared to Lean and other leftist freedom fighters.

We both see something beyond the reality of the lives we live in, and aspire to reach that vision. We both believe with all our hearts, but even more, we question and test to evaluate the validity of our beliefs. We try to teach others to see this vision, this truth that is so evident to us.

He died for his beliefs. I'm struggling to live for the God whom I serve.


This sense of brotherhood aside, I left the gathering both impressed and prayerful about the people we saw there. They have dedicated their lives to an ideal, and lived every moment, picked every choice according to that ideal. It's hard not to be impressed by people that strong.

May peace descend upon them and their houses.

Do not go gentle into that good night
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

- Dylan Thomas (Do not go gentle into that good night)

* Lean Alejandro photo from Tinig.com
** Lean mp3 from garygranada.com

Laban!

If only for this post, I like this guy already.

I remember once, covering the Southeast Asian Games in Cebu, how Gretchen Malalad would glare at an opponent, her model-looks transforming into that of a hungry tiger eyeing a cornered prey, and punch her chest hard right where the Philippine flag was stitched on her uniform.

“Just to show my opponent what I’m doing this for,” Gretchen said when I spoke to her after the match, where she won for the country a gold medal in the karate competitions.

In that same event, Marna Pabillore also won the gold medal and then she took a Philippine flag attached to a pole thrice her height and run around the gymnasium, waving it.

Needless to say, a roar erupted in the coliseum. So loud, it shook the rafters.

Go read the rest of the post. Seriously. You could also click here to visit theboyfromsmallville's site.

The road to tomorrow

What is God's will in marriage? How can we love our in laws, despite the initial difficulties we have encountered? How should we handle the issue of money, especially since she's earning a ton more than I do? What's the godly way of raising kids? Is it better to keep the things that happened in the past buried or should we raise them like zombies? How do you keep the romance alive through the years? How do we break down the walls that we have built our entire lives and start living as one? Why is a man asked to love the woman, while the woman asked to submit to the man? What are the tips to having a mind-blowing sex life? And most importantly, on the moments when the thing we want most is to stab each other to pieces, where is the safest place to hide the knives?

These are just some of the questions Kuya Dong, our pastor, would guide us through in our sessions.

To read the rest of the article, click here or visit Leah's wedding preps blog (Counting the Days).

Rise of the Chevy Autobots!

New game! New game!

My friend Monmon buzzed me through YM and very slyly prodded me to check out www.chevyautobot.com. It's TRANSFORMERS: Rise Of The Chevy Autobots!

Level 1 pa lang ako. You guys sign up and let's challenge each other. My callsign is Mokus Maximus. Email add mpdavid @ [insert my company here -- yes, im not putting my actual email ad, you have to supply it] . com and challenge me :)

What's your excuse?

For the first time in a long time, I decided to obey the makati number coding scheme which does not provide for a window period for banned cars. I guess I woke up fearing the eagle eyes of the MAPSA. So I took a cab to the office, anticipating that I would be able to rest – perhaps even sleep – through the traffic. But it was not meant to be.

The cab driver was a chatty one. I used to not mind talkative drivers, especially when they give me a lecture on how to take care of the car...

To read the rest of the article, click here or visit stillearthbound.

FullCup End-of-Summer JAM!

We're starting the next phase of FullCup with the FullCup SUMMER JAM this May 18, 7:30 pm, at 690 Real St, Intramuros! We’ll have Converging Resonance, Banana Island, Alab, and Emanwel. Hope you can join us :)

Writer ka ba?

GMA is looking for a Publicity Specialist that will handle its News & Public Affairs accounts. So if you have a solid background on writing, willing to travel in the regions (Cebu, Davao, Iloilo) from time to time, interested in championing Serbisyong Totoo -- email me your resume ASAP.

Pakasal na tayo!

She's buried with work, her online page is experiencing death-by-stagnation, she has a million other things clamoring for her attention, clients are hunting her for help...


So what is she doing?


She's sifting through brochures.


Drop by Leah's new blog from time to time and read her adventures in wedding preparation.

pakasalnatayo.blogspot.com

Di naman obvious anong nasa isip nya these days no? :)

Bibliophile Meme

Seestur Ailene tagged me.

1. One book that changed your life.
Mythology, by Edith Hamilton. This is the first book I read that wasn't assigned by the teacher. I never knew stories could be this beautiful.

2. One book you have read more than once.
Michael Crichton's Sphere. Not that it's my all-time favorite book, but Michael Crichton's novels have always tickled the sci-fi geek in me. Chaos Theory, Unique Event Hypothesis, Extra Terrestrial Anthromorphism... just don't mind the movie versions, use your own imagination, and the book will give you a hell of a ride.

3. One book you would want on a desert island.
The Holy Bible. You want stories? You want cries of indignation and despair? Songs of hope? Truths/Mysteries? A biography of one eternally interesting man?

4. One book that made you laugh.
Tick Tock by Dean Koontz. Screwball comedy. Wacky dialogue. Remember to never anger your Thai mother!

5. One book that made you cry.
Lorenzo Carcaterra's SLEEPERS. Childhood friendships should be like this.

6. One book you wish had been written.
Love, by Jesus of Nazareth. I'd really REALLY love to read what He scribbled on the sand.

7. One book you wish had never been written.
Hmm. wala na

man. don't read if you don't like, di ba?

8. One book you are currently reading.
Yann Martel's Life of Pi. A 450-pound Royal Bengal Tiger trapped in a lifeboat with a boy who is a Christian, a Hindu, and Muslim (yep, all at the same time). About 300 days in the Pacific. A botanical-island-oddity. Robinson Crusoe would love this boy.

9. One book you have been meaning to read.
Philip Yancey's Prayer: Does it Make Any Difference?. Philip Yancey's one of my favorite Christian authors and this is his latest book. John managed to snag a copy -- I'm just waiting for him to drop it and I'm going to snatch it from him right away :)

Tag five people for this meme.

10 things weird about you

I don't really know what constitutes 'weird' for everyone, but Din (i lab this gurl) tagged me (this sounds sooooooooo 2004) so here goes:

Instructions: A person who gets tagged must write in his or her blog ten weird things or habits or little known facts about himself or herself. He or she should also state this rule clearly. At the end, he or she should tag six other people, except the one who tagged him or her.

1. I am OC about drinking water. Nanlilimahid na sa dumi ang bahay, ok lang, pero di pwedeng konti na lang ang tubig.

2. My mother enrolled me on piano lessons when I was in Grade 1. I lasted two lessons. I bugged my father to buy me a guitar in highschool to be in a band. I ended up as 'band manager'. Some people at the worship team at church actually have to pause in their singing and give extra effort to mind their tones because my singing 'influences' their voices. Nevertheless, in my dreams, I remain a rockstar.

3. I believe I have powers. basta.

4. Girl-junkie ako nung highschool. Agnostic nung college. Kristiyano ngayon.

5. I have PC games that make me sleep - as in naka-upo ako sa harap ng computer, holding the mouse, snoring. I love them.

6. I HATE RATS. George Orwell's 1984 made me this way.

7. It's so 90s, pero nagbabaligtad ako nang salita. tihak atnak, tihak as pasuu-gap. my friends have to translate on the fly.

8. I don't fix my bag, my table, my room, my house -- but I can't leave my bed unmade after waking up. First thing to do yan. ever.

9. Sa sobrang kulit ko nung bata ako, lahat nang pwedeng pagkulungan, kinulong na ako. Sa banyo, sa kwarto, sa closet, sa kulungan nang manok. 5 minutes lang naman.

10. Lahat ng girlfriends ko nung highschool -- even the ones na sobra sobrang gusto ko at pamatay na panliligaw ang ginawa ko -- ako ang nakipag-break.

I tag Leah, Ida, Bebelene, Pareng Jorge, G!, John. Mag-post kayo mga kolokoy! :p

Firefox - quickened

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

My Favorite Mistake

My Favorite Mistake
Season 3, Grey's Anatomy

[so you know what I’m talking about, drop by the Grey’s Anatomy episode guide or watch this video first:]



George and Izzie. George and Izzie. George and Izzie. They’ve been best friends since day 1. Has been there for each other through the terror residents, the death of Denny, the Meredith fiasco, ‘feeding the monster’ with Alex, STD with Olivia, the $8.7 million cheque, the death of George’s father, and Callie.

Callie, George’s wife.

It’s wrong. wrong. wrong. That’s the long and short of it. George is married, and that’s that. It was a mistake, something George and Izzie never saw coming but it did happen.

The hot, amazing – illicit – sex happened.

We saw it and we couldn’t believe our eyes. This is George and Izzie – the goofy duo that brings light moments to the otherwise overly dramatic lives of the surgeons in Seattle Grace. Sure, Izzie’s been mourning the death of Denny for a season now, but we have faith because it’s George. George the good guy. George the only guy who stood up to Callie’s father. The family-guy. The perfect, husband-material guy.

Then life pulled the rug from George’s feet through the death of his father. George being lost and holding on to the closest lifeline -- a spur-of-the-moment wedding with Callie. The constant fights with the wife. Izzie fighting for her best friend whom she thinks made a terrible mistake. Then the night they got drunk.

And the hot, amazing – and still illicit – sex happened.


I was watching this episode with my hand over my mouth completely mortified. When George finally remembered what happened, I could see the confusion and helplessness in his eyes. He knew nothing would be the same after this. He could lose his best friend. He is on the way to losing his wife. If he could take everything back, he’ll do it in a heartbeat.

But he can’t. It’s done. No power on earth can take back the mistake he made.

My favorite scene in this episode – my favorite scene in all of Grey’s Anatomy’s three series, is the linen closet scene when George just remembered what happened to him and Izzie. There were no words, because really, what can you say?

I like this scene because of its technical execution and the exemplary performance of the actors. I love it, however, because of what George chose to do in this scene.

They paced like caged animals because that’s what they really were – caged. Emotions were running sky high. They’re no longer drunk, but the sex could still happen right then and there. George was sorry, and confused, and with no inkling of an idea what to do. Then Izzie touches his face, and suddenly, possibilities – scary, surprising, confusing possibilities – arose.

George was bewildered but he knew the mistake he made could multiply in that closet. So despite emotions, despite what he wanted, despite the excitement, despite the possibilities, he walked out.

The world will say that if you feel something, be true to yourself and go for it. That’s why husbands who’s been married for 35 years leave their wives for a woman 20 years his junior who ‘gets’ him. But there are more important things than emotions. Like commitment. Like doing the right thing. At that moment in the linen closet, despite the shadow of the most horrible mistake he made in his whole life, George still chose the right thing. Most of us can’t quite claim the same.

I don’t know how the Grey’s Anatomy writers would sort this out. I don’t know how exactly but I would like to think that everything would be ok. That George would come clean to his wife, that they would work it out and everything would turn out right for them – George, Izzie, and Callie.

It will be hard, it will be hurtful, it may seem impossible, but I prefer to believe in redemption.

Both in TV and in real life.

dying of thirst, here in the fountain

In all my 26 years on this earth, 97% of my enemies emerged when I became a Christian.

I have had unbelievers laugh at me when I tell them about the Good News of Christ’s salvation – some of them my friends who jokingly remind me of what I used to do before I became a Christian. I’ve had colleagues and fellow students debate with me when I tell them about my faith. I’ve had my family cry when I speak of the need to become born again. I’ve met indifference, wonder, interest, disbelief and a host of other reactions, but not once did I get hurt when I spoke to unbelievers about sin and Jesus –- not once, until I spoke to my fellow believers.

Click here to read the rest of the article or visit Still Earthbound.

House of M

House of M is a comic book crossover mini-series published by Marvel Comics back in 2005. Lead writer Brian Bendis was quoted that House of M would "shake the world" of Marvel. While this claim may sound extravagant, House of M's far-reaching and lasting effect on the Marvel universe certainly propels it as one of the more important mini-series the publishing house has produced. Unlike Days of Future Past or the Age of Apocalypse which happened in alternate timelines, House of M took place in the mainstream Marvel universe.

To read the rest of the article, click here or visit the FullCup site.

PURE

We've had PURE light, PURE calling, PURE worship, and a host of other PUREs in FullCup's long run. Now we're going back to the basics -- plain. simple. unadulterated worship night.

PURE.

Come worship with us this Friday, March 9, 7:30 pm. Join us as we end our topic for two semesters -- "Who on Earth was Jesus?" and do what we are meant to do -- to shed our shame and fears, to let go of pride and hurts, to bow down and kneel towards the Lamb that was slain. All woship. All night. This Friday at the Cup.

i hate the cheesy things but here i am

because we met again.

now i want to be a body snatcher

BAKIT HINDI SA AKIN NANGYARI ITO????




Pare, pinag-pala ka. But for some reason, you don't want your photo posted, so I'm using your cameraman's.

Stranger than Fiction

We are all living dreary lives with the inevitability of death hanging over our heads. It doesn't matter whether you're a farmer or a rock star, the President of the land or a saleswoman no different from thousands of others, we are all living incomplete lives -- lives with holes so big we end up plugging ineffectively at them. We are, in essence, all Harold Cricks -- good at what we do but ultimately living pointless lives.

To read the rest of the review, click here or visit the FullCup site.

Autobiography: The Story of Our Lives

The questions we ask ourselves define the meaning of our lives. The answers we arrive at tell us who we are.

These are our questions.

This is who we are.

Eragon - movie review

Watching the movie Eragon is like eating a small cup of congee after you've been starved for a week - you know there's something good there, but it ends up sorely lacking.

To read the rest of the review, click here or visit the FullCup site.