The {Helianthus} Project

YOUCAT Answers: On Christian Unity

2012-01-27T10:08:00.000+08:00

No. 130 Are non-Catholic Christians our sisters and brothers also?

All baptized persons belong to the Church of Jesus Christ. That is why also those Christians who find themselves separated from the full communion of the Catholic Church are rightly called Christians and are therefore our sisters and brothers. [817-819]

Instances of separation from the one Church of Christ came about through falsifications of Christ's teaching, human failings, and a lack of willingness to be reconciled - usually on the part of representatives on both sides. Christians today are in no way guilty for the historical divisions of the Church. The Holy Spirit also works for the salvation of mankind in the Churches and Ecclesial Communities that are separated in the Catholic Church. All of the gifts present there, for example, Sacred Scripture, Sacraments, faith, hope, love, and other charisms, come originally from Christ. Where the Spirit of Christ lives, there is an inner dynamic leading toward "reunion", because what belongs together wants to grow together.

*Churches and Ecclesial Communities - Many Christian communities on earth call themselves churches. According to Catholic understanding, only those in which the sacraments of Jesus Christ have been preserved in their entirety have remained "Church". This is true especially of the Orthodox and Eastern Churches. In the "ecclesial communities" that resulted from the Protestant Reformation, all the sacraments have not been preserved.

No. 131 What must we do for the unity of Christians?

In word and deed we must obey Christ, who expressly wills "that they may all be one" (John 17:21) [820-821]

Christian unity is the business of all Christians, regardless of how young or old they are. Unity was one of Jesus' most important concerns. He prayed to the Father, "that they may all be one... so that the world may believe that you have sent me" (John 17:21). Division are like wounds on the Body of Christ; they hurt and fester. Divisions lead to enmities and weaken the faith and credibility of Christians. Overcoming the scandal of separation requires the conversion of all concerned but also knowledge of one's own faith convictions, dialogues with others, and especially prayer in common, and collaboration among Christians in serving mankind. Those in authority in the Church must not let theological dialogue be interrupted.

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2012-01-26T02:11:00.000+08:00

For without you what am I to myself except

a guide to my own downfall?

+ Confessions of St. Augustine; Bk. IV, Ch. I

Book Review: YOUCAT

2012-01-24T12:29:00.000+08:00

After the Bible, here's a book which is a staple content of my backpack lately, a bedside book, as well as something I regularly bring with me at the Adoration Chapel. YOUCAT is short for Youth Catechism of the Catholic Church, which is the official catechism for World Youth Day. True enough though the questions are direct and honest, even at times tough; the answers are straightforward, relevant, and compelling - a sure "go-to" place for young people to learn the truth about the Catholic faith.

It explains: What Catholics believe and why (doctrine), How Catholics celebrate the mysteries of the faith (sacraments), How Catholics are to live (moral life), How they should pray (prayer and spirituality)

The Youth Catechism which is written in language suitable for young people, deals with the entire Catholic faith as it was presented in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC of 1997), without aiming, however, at the completeness provided in that volume. The work is structured in Question-and-Answer format, and numbers after each answer refer the reader to the more extensive and in-depth treatments in the CCC. A commentary following the answer is meant to give the young person additional help in understanding the questions that are discussed and their significance in his life. Furthermore, the Youth Catechism offers in the margin a continuous series of supplementary elements, such as pictures, summary definitions, citations from Sacred Scripture, quotations from saints and reliable teachers of the faith but also from non-religious authors. At the conclusion of the book, there's an index of subjects and persons to facilitate finding specific topics.

Plus factors: Pope Benedict XVI wrote the foreword; Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn, the editor of YOUCAT and the Archbishop of Vienna, Austria, wrote the afterword. All pages are in glossy print. Appealing graphics: try flipping the bottom-right edge of the pages to see what the cartoon stick figure does :)

What Pope Benedict XVI has to say about the YOUCAT project:

"May people say to me: The youth of today are not interested in this. I disagree, and I am certain that I am right. The youth of today are not as superficial as some think. They want to know whatlife is really all about. A detective story is exciting because it draws us into the destiny of other men, a destiny that could be ours. This book is exciting because it speaks of our own destiny and so deeply engages everyone of us."

"Study this Catechism! This is my hearlfelt desire. Study this Catechism with passion and perseverance. Study it in the quiet of your room; read it with a friend; form study groups and networks; share with each other on the Internet... You need to be more deeply rooted in the faith than the generation of our parents..."

For more information check their official website here. Check out the book trailer below:

ArchInspire #025: Board Strips 3

2012-01-22T21:14:00.002+08:00

My mates are in dire need of help. They'd almost accept any form of assistance because of their looming thesis board presentation submissions. Here's a third set of board strips I made for another title that employs the 'wave' as a design form precept for an organic mall development. I'm feasting my eyes on the other hand at any graphic image which can be used as an inspiration slash creative substance for their presentations.

Best Video of the Week

2012-01-20T12:57:00.001+08:00

Saw this cool video response of the much circulated Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus Youtube video. What I liked in this response was the clarification Fr. Claude Burns (aka Father Pontifex) made on the 'use of illogical terms and definitions' that time and time again we hear from the Evangelical realm (i.e. the false dichotomy of 'Religion Vs. Relationship'). Truly this is something that must be addressed :)

A response to the video "Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus". The purpose of this video is to do a response from a Catholic perspective, in a spirit of love, but also with a spirit of passion to defend our Mother the Church. The things that are said are not meant to offend, but we do have to be direct about what we believe and what we stand for. Join the discussion here.

Visit the video website here: Spirit Juice Studios

ArchInspire #024: Board Strips 2

2012-01-20T12:12:00.001+08:00

Here are the latest set of thesis board strips I've come up for an Art Conservatory showcasing Philippine Performing Arts :) It wasn't as hard to come up with an imagery for this one because of the many materials and resources on Filipino native art available. By far I find these latest set among the best of my works :) What do you think?

A Portrait

2012-01-16T13:00:00.000+08:00

Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish

Creative Juice #036: My Rizalian Report

2012-01-15T22:29:00.000+08:00

Chapter V - At the University of Santo Tomas (1877-1882)
Sketches done at the back of old pizza boxes :)

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2012-01-13T12:06:00.000+08:00

Oh that I might find my rest and peace in you! Oh, that you would come into my heart and so inebriate it that I would forget my own evils and embrace my one and only good, which is you! What are you to me? Have mercy on me that I may speak. What am I to you, that you should demand to be loved by me? That you should be angry with me, if I fail to love you, and should threaten me with the utmost misery? And not to love you, is not this in itself misery enough? O Lord my God, tell me what you are to me! Say unto my soul: I am thy salvation. Speak so that I can hear. See, Lord, the ears of my heart are in front of you. Open them and say unto my soul: I am thy salvation. At these words I shall run and take hold of you. Do not hide your face from me. Let me die, lest I should die indeed; only let me see your face. + The Confessions of St. Augustine (Bk I, Ch. V, par. I)

MadMusic #027: Declare Victory - Matt Maher

2012-01-09T15:36:00.000+08:00

This Song cheers me up :) Yehey!

"Every day... Christians must face a struggle, like the one that Christ underwent in the desert of Judea, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil... It is a spiritual battle waged against sin and, finally, against Satan. It is a struggle that involves the whole of the person and demands attentive and constant watchfulness." + Pope Benedict XVI - March 1, 1006

Site Review: David Lanham

2012-01-03T15:10:00.000+08:00

It was a 'like button' at first sight :) I knew it right then from the moment I saw his familiar name in the somatic icon packs i've been downloading from IconFactory. The icons were what I'd call horrendously irresistible and cute! But it was like brain juice bursting from within the depths of my creative reserve when I saw his sketches and illustrations from his personal site. Giddy!!! Pinch me my creative juices are overflowing :) ahihihi~ Here are samples of his vector art goodness :)

Wonderful Journey, 2010. Ice cream and a splash of honey takes you on a great trip.

Consumption, 2010. The consuming urge to further progress can often blind the most observant.

Mesmerized, 2010. Trolls don't just like thread, they'll also be attracted
to any kind of shiny new thing (even if it's not finished developing yet).

For more information, visit David Lanham's personal site here.

A Blessed 2011. A Better 2012.

2012-01-01T00:01:00.000+08:00

My Lord have been very gracious to me last year. And truly I have much to be thankful and joyful for. I can only hope that the best of His plans for my life is yet to come. He has been preparing my heart for months now as I hope in entering the formation program. May his mercy and love continue to transform me in His days. And may the Blessed Mother, together with the angels and saints, guide me in Hope and in Patience - the proper virtues and attitude in waiting - as I slowly witness the unfolding of his plans in my life.

Check out these readings for New Year's Day:

New Year's Day - New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia
New Year's Eve Activities - CatholicCulture.Org
Resources for the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God - Phat Catholic Apologetics

The Miracle of Blessed Pedro Calungsod

2011-12-30T12:35:00.002+08:00

From his childhood, Pedro Calungsod declared himself unwaveringly

for Christ and responded generously to his call.

Young people today can draw encouragement and strength from the example of Pedro, whose love of Jesus inspired him to devote his teenage years

to teaching the faith as a lay catechist. Pope John Paul II

Remarkable recovery by comatose woman

By Jason A. Baguia, Inquirer Visayas

CEBU CITY — She had no idea who Blessed Pedro Calungsod was until she benefited from a healing miracle attributed to the intercession of the young Visayan martyr.

The miracle, recorded in March 2003, had since led the woman to start a devotion to the 17th century catechist from Cebu, said Msgr. Ildebrando Leyson, a lead advocate for Calungsod’s sainthood.

Officials of the Archdiocese of Cebu have chosen not to disclose the woman’s name for now out of respect for her privacy. But her identity will be made public when she accompanies the Philippine delegation to the Vatican for Calungsod’s canonization, now a certainty thanks to a papal decree issued last week. Leyson described her as a businesswoman in her 50s, not a Cebuana but someone who hails from Eastern Visayas.

The woman knew nothing of Calungsod prior to her astounding recovery within hours after falling into a coma at around 2 p.m. on March 26, 2003, due to insufficient oxygen in the brain, Leyson told the Inquirer on Friday. The coma rated “3” on the Glasgow Coma Scale, meaning she had no verbal or motor response, and could not even open her eyes.

It was actually one of the doctors who prayed to Calungsod for help after the patient suffered complications a day after undergoing heart surgery in a Cebu City hospital, the monsignor recalled. “Those who were looking at her brain data knew from experience that the woman would die the next day,” Leyson said.

It was at this point of near resignation that the doctor uttered a prayer to Calungsod. At around 6 p.m., the woman woke up.

According to the doctors, if any recovery was still possible from such a comatose state, it would take weeks and the patient would be reduced to “a vegetable, paralyzed and unable to speak,” Leyson said. And yet the woman recovered in just four hours and showed no signs of physical impairment whatsoever. As word spread around the hospital, more doctors and other members of the medical staff rushed to the patient’s room.

‘Who is that?’

One of them wondered whether there had been a misreading of the patient’s brain data, but a check later showed that all measurements were accurate. “That is the miracle,” Leyson said.

According to Leyson, when the doctor told the patient that she should thank Calungsod for her new lease on life, the woman asked with a puzzled look: “Who is that?”

The grateful woman has since devoted a part of her day saying novena prayers to Calungsod, who was beatified by then Pope John Paul II in 2000, three years before the miracle.

On Monday last week, Pope Benedict XVI issued a decree acknowledging the woman’s healing as a miracle obtained through Calungsod’s intercession. During the long process of verification, it had to be established that only Calungsod was called out by the woman’s doctor and not any other saint or figure honored by Catholics, Leyson explained. The monsignor said the Pope would meet with the cardinals in February next year to seek approval on the move to declare Calungsod a saint. Only after this stage can a date for the canonization rites be set, he added.

Lay catechist Calungsod was born in what was then the Diocese of Cebu which covered the Philippine islands of Panay and Mindanao as well as the Pacific island of Guam. A lay catechist, Calungsod died in Guam while trying to defend his fellow mission worker, Jesuit priest and now Blessed Diego Luis de San Vitores, when the natives attacked them on April 2, 1672. Calungsod was 17 years old.

Machete attack

Calungsod was struck by a spear and his skull was split with a machete blow. Their bodies were then tied together and thrown into the sea.

On March 5, 2000, Pope John Paul II beatified Calungsod along with 43 other martyrs in ceremonies held at St. Peter’s Square in Rome. The Vatican officially set April 2 as Calungsod’s feast day.

In his homily during the beatification, John Paul called on the youth to emulate Calungsod: “From his childhood, Pedro Calungsod declared himself unwaveringly for Christ and responded generously to his call.”

“Young people today can draw encouragement and strength from the example of Pedro, whose love of Jesus inspired him to devote his teenage years to teaching the faith as a lay catechist,” John Paul said.

In October this year, Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma said members of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Cause of Saints and all the cardinals had voted unanimously in favor of canonizing Calungsod, who would be the second Filipino saint.

The first Filipino saint, Lorenzo Ruiz, a parish scribe and former altar boy born in Binondo, Manila, was martyred in Japan in 1637. Ruiz was elevated to sainthood in 1987. With a report from Inquirer Research

ArchInspire #023: Board Strips

2011-12-30T11:27:00.001+08:00

Been helping out lately with the board presentation of a friend's thesis. How I so missed conceptualization! Here I made four different board strips for him to choose from which will be the basis for some of the suggestions and direction he will decide on as to the overall 'look' and 'feel' of his presentation :) All were inspired by water color art (found on graphic blogs) which I took the liberty to employ upon. So which one do you think looks great?

Book Review: Manga Messiah Series

2011-12-27T11:59:00.000+08:00

If your cup of tea is manga and Christianity then here's something interesting for you - new book installments of the Manga Messiah series by NEXTmanga available for only P215 @ Fully Booked. Though nothing beats like reading the original and complete passages of the Word of God from the Bible, I think it is truly genius to use the art and media of Manga (Japanese comics) to reach out to the younger generation whom are saturated nowadays with the flood of interests and modern ideologies.

'The youth of today are not as superficial as some think.

They want to know what life is really about.'

Pope Benedict XVI, foreword of the YOUCAT

I bought my first copy of Manga Messiah from a friend's recommendation years ago - back in my pre-teen years where anime and Japanese pop art and culture dominated my interests. It came in perfect timing as I remember it was also about that time when I started to feel the thirst to know and understand life better from all that I believe and the truths that I adhere to as a Christian. The idea of studying the Gospels then from a comic-type of perspective was a bit unconventional but cool in my young mind. The series truly is a plus for young beginners :)

So here's my review:

What I have always loved about the series of Manga Messiah is its strict adherence with the Scriptures from where it was based and the consistent format from its first installment. At the bottom of each page where a scene takes place is a footnote of the verse from which one can cross-read the Bible to see the exact seen from where it was lifted.

[A] Manga Messiah, which is the first installment of the series was written by Hidenori Kumai and was illustrated by manga artist, Kozumi Shinozawa. It covers the consummated version of Yeshuah's earthly ministry in the Four Gospels of the New Testament, starting with the Anunciation of Yeshuah's birth to Mary and ending in his Ascension in Heaven.
[B] Manga Mutiny, which was written and illustrated by manga artist Ryo Azumi, covered the Books of Genesis and Exodus from the Old Testament. The flow of the story in this work was quite fast but it nevertheless successfully painted the important events and stories of God's covenant in the history and nation of Israel. A brief family tree which is of great reference is also illustrated at the end of the book - starting with Adam and Eve, going thru the generations of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph.
[C] Manga Metamorphosis, which I have yet to read was also written and illustrated by Kozumi Shinozawa. Covering the entire Book of the Acts of the Apostles, it starts from where Manga Messiah ended. Peter the Rock and Paul the Aposlte, together with other followers of Yehsuah's ministry, was the main character in this installment.

For more information of the Manga Messiah series, visit NEXTmanga.

The Lord is with Us!

2011-12-25T01:12:00.000+08:00

EMMANUEL!

Image borrowed here

Roaring Lion

2011-12-21T12:12:00.000+08:00

Be sober and vigilant. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for [someone] to devour. Resist him, steadfast in faith, knowing that your fellow believers throughout the world undergo the same sufferings. The God of all grace who called you to his eternal glory through Christ [Jesus] will himself, restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you after you have suffered a little. 1 Peter 5:8-10

The Little Prince - Vice and Virtue

2011-12-14T15:19:00.003+08:00

The Baobab Tree (Image borrowed here)

Just finished reading the classic novella by Antoine de Saint-Exupery, The Little Prince. I've read it twice in high school but it is only now that I've truly understood the meaning of some of the words of the author. What astounded me is the great connection and reference the novella had with our 'inner child' and the importance of having to look at life with a childlike perspective even as a grown adult - something that I would have never realized if it wasn't for the prayers of a particular person I met a couple of months ago :)

The novella truly is brimmed with parallelisms (well, at least for me) and I'll start off with one of the most remarkable words I found on the first couple of pages. It all came to me as a parallel of the vices and virtues in one's heart as we grow up and of bringing the unconscious to a certain level of consciousness (awareness):

"...there were good seeds from good plants, and bad seeds from bad plants. But seeds are invisible. They sleep deep in the heart of the earth's darkness, until someone among them is seized with the desire to awaken. Then this little seed will stretch itself and begin - timidly at first - to push a charming little sprig inoffensively upward toward the sun. If it is only a sprout of radish or the sprig of a rose-bush, one would let it grow wherever it might wish. But when it is a bad plant, one must destroy it as soon as possible, the very first instant one recognizes it."

It continued with a warning of consequence for being complacent and lazy:

"A Baobab (vice) is something you will never, never be able to get rid off if you attend to it too late. It spreads over the entire planet. It bores clear through it with its roots. And if the planet is too small, and the baobabs are too many, they split it in pieces."

Where the Little Prince added:

"It is a question of discipline... You must see to it that you pull up regularly the baobabs, at the very first moment when they can be distinguished from the rose-bushes which they resemble so closely in their earliest youth."

At the prince’s instruction, the narrator illustrates the overgrown planet as a warning to children. He adds that the baobabs pose an everyday threat that most people deal with without even being aware of it. The narrator states that the lesson to be learned from the story of the baobabs is so important that he has drawn them more carefully than any other drawing in the book.*

Original illustration by the author, Antoine de Saint-Exupery.

On Conscience

2011-12-11T20:17:00.001+08:00

A true conscience is not one that never needs to be corrected. On the contrary, the conscience grows in purity as it discovers more impurities. Its accuracy is measured by its demands and rigors. No one can apply himself assiduously to the meditation of the Gospel without noting with sorrow the distance between him and the ideal he is pursuing. We have already said that certain imperfections of conduct are unfortunately combined with a sincere wish to be good. From this contradiction is born the remorse that stimulates our progress.

+ George Chevrot, The Eight Beatitudes; Ch.xxiii. p.174

Makes Sense

2011-12-07T22:08:00.001+08:00

Fr. Ferdinand T. Hernando, MB:

Among the finite creatures in the world, only the human being is endowed with body and soul--a body that makes us humble for all its limits and limitations, a soul that makes us hope for transcendence and salvation. Any thought that reduces the human to the level of the physical and biological, without any regard for the transcendence of the human spirit, will logically end up in despair and frustration, as the finite can never satisfy the infinite longings of the soul. Conversely, any reduction to spiritualism without any awareness of human solidarity and interrelatedness is devoid of any social relevance and will end up in hollow spirituality, aloof and uninvolved.

Bullied

2011-12-07T20:45:00.001+08:00

Image borrowed here

It has come to my attention that at my current age of 20 years old, this wasn't the first time I have been the target of some 'pre-school bullying.' I love playing with children a lot but most of the time especially when the child has a rather strong / dominating personality, I find myself often falling easily to their premature teasing, sometimes even physical tantrums and violence. And I'm telling you, these are children aged 3 to 6 years old we're talking about.

I am just perplexed if they could have seen in me at such a tender young mind the role of an easy victim? Or is it just the 'inner child' in me trying to manifest an emotion or reaction that is ultimately derived from a more complex trauma and a deeply-rooted experience? Hmm.

Kawirduhan ko sa mga bata... Tsk-tsk.

The Advent Conspiracy

2011-11-30T11:49:00.001+08:00

Worship Fully. Spend Less. Give More. Love All
Check out their site here.

Vatican Takes over Liturgical Art and Architecture

2011-11-25T17:13:00.001+08:00

The controversial Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove California (Image borrowed here)

Great news that just gave me a brilliant idea for a thesis proposal next year!

(Vatican Insider) - A team has been set up, to put a stop to garage style churches, boldly shaped structures that risk denaturing modern places for Catholic worship. Its task is also to promote singing that really helps the celebration of mass. The “Liturgical art and sacred music commission” will be established by the Congregation for Divine Worship over the coming weeks. This will not be just any office, but a true and proper team, whose task will be to collaborate with the commissions in charge of evaluating construction projects for churches of various dioceses. The team will also be responsible for the further study of music and singing that accompany the celebration of mass.

Cardinal Antonio Cañizares Llovera, Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and Benedict XVI, consider this work as “very urgent”. The reality is staring everyone in the eyes: in recent decades, churches have been substituted by buildings that resemble multi purpose halls. Too often, architects, even the more famous ones, do not use the Catholic liturgy as a starting point and thus end up producing avant-garde constructions that look like anything but a church. These buildings composed of cement cubes, glass boxes, crazy shapes and confused spaces, remind people of anything but the mystery and sacredness of a church. Tabernacles are semi hidden, leading faithful on a real treasure hunt and sacred images are almost inexistent. The new commission’s regulations will be written up over the next few days and will give precise instructions to dioceses. It will only be responsible for liturgical art, not for sacred art in general; and this also goes for liturgical music and singing too. The judicial powers of the Congregation for Divine Worship will have the power to act.

Continue reading full article here.

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2011-11-23T16:55:00.001+08:00

Life is too short to defy God's will.

Away from you, O Lord, to whom then shall we ever go?

Movie Premier: Cristiada

2011-11-22T08:47:00.001+08:00

Behind the scenes (Image retrieved from Google)

After my last flick fest with There Be Dragons, I'm on the look-out for the premier of this cool movie that is currently in its post production.

Cristiada is about the Cristero War in Mexico in 1926 to 1929 sparked by the anti-clerical and anti-Catholic persecution of the atheist government of then president, Plutarco Elías Calles. He ordered the massacre of Catholics and attempted to secularize the country by stripping away religion. The film follows the life of ordinary citizens who decide to stand up against the corrupt and poorly-directed government to fight for their religious freedom!

The movie stars heavyweight Hollywood stars such as Andy Garcia, Eva Longoria, Eduardo Verastegui, and Peter O’Toole. The film is directed by Dean Wright who is veteran visual effects supervisor on blockbuster films including The Lord of the Rings series The Two Towers (2002) and The Return of the King (2003). This is his directorial debut.

A favorite blogger writes, "Have this film known so you and especially your kids might know the atrocities committed against Catholics by those who tout "human rights" and "separation of church and state" as infallible dogmas."

Christ the King!

2011-11-21T12:11:00.001+08:00

Here are links to cool articles on scriptural and theological reflections on the readings for The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King.

What is the "Kingdom of God" and How Can I Join? by Nicholas Hardesty
Christ the King and the Works of Mercy by Fr. Jojo Zerrudo - Sense of the Sacred
Who will judge and who will be judged on the last day? by Fr. Ryan Erlenbush
Jesus Christ, Shepherd and King by Carl E. Olson
The King and His Kingdom by Fr. Hans Urs von Balthasar - Ignatius Insight

In a Nutshell: The New Roman Missal

2011-11-15T18:00:00.001+08:00

Cool video from Life Teen:

Mark Hart helps high school teens understand HOW and WHY the words of the Mass are changing. Mark compares the "dynamic equivalent" and the "formal equivalent" of how we translate words from Latin to English, and then explains the elaborate process used to create the new Roman Missal.

The challenge for us is to study, to be obedient and to embrace this new Roman Missal with love.

UPDATE: Fr. Timoteo, Ofrasio, SJ on the new English translation of the Roman Missal and Liturgical Renewal :)

Dark Night of the Soul

2011-11-09T22:13:00.002+08:00

And God does not hesitate to ask for a more radical self-surrender from those who love him. By an apparent anomaly, he takes the sense of his presence away from them. Their prayers stop in their lips under the blow of a sudden thought: 'Is anyone listening to me?' They have to question themselves on the truths of the faith: 'Is it true?' They fulfill their daily tasks without joy, the impression that their life is useless. This is the supreme purification, the hour when one must believe in shadows, hope against hope, and love in a void. It is the hour of the great dereliction that Jesus knew on the Cross, but also the hour of our salvation.

All the saints have gone through this dark night of the soul. With less violence and a shorter duration, all the Christian faithful pass through eclipses of faith.The believer advances in the shadows with the certitude that even if he should see nothing more, God is always watching him.

x George Chevrot, The Eight Beatitudes, Ch.xxii, p.168-9

I dedicate this post for a a particular blogger. Just some food for thought. Instantly remembered your latest post while reading this paragraphs. I hope this might uplift you in some ways. I've been reading a lot of your posts tagged in 'faith.' Hehe. Bro, never doubt his presence :) Kaya natin to!

Vocation to Suffer

2011-11-08T14:28:00.000+08:00

But the true drama for the Christian who takes the Gospel seriously is that he cannot live in a just world, because he exists in a social state which is in contradiction with his ideals of brotherhood and holiness. As a member of that society, he cannot stop the sin, which he abhors, from being committed. He must live and suffer in this continual tension.

It is in this terrible contradiction that we Christians, like the Lamb of God, bear 'the sins of the world,' and by this laceration of our consciences and our hearts we continue the sufferings of the Saviour, who was crucified for the redemption of men. It is our vocation to suffer this torture, to endure the solitude of the Cross in the midst of the multitude, to be shrouded in the shadows of Golgotha and to have only the bitterness of our failures to quench our thirst for justice.

X George Chevrot, The Eight Beatitudes, Ch.xix. p.144-5

Movie Premier: There Be Dragons

2011-11-07T07:30:00.000+08:00

There Be Dragons is a drama which explores themes such as betrayal, forgiveness, friendship, and finding the meaning of life in everyday life. The movie is about

people trying to find meaning about their lives.

Synopsis and Themes from Wikipedia:

The epic film tells the story of a Spanish journalist, Robert, who is mending relations with his dying father, Manolo, who took part in the Spanish Civil War. The journalist discovers through his investigations that his father was a close childhood friend of Josemaría Escrivá, a candidate for sainthood, with whom he had a complicated relationship. Manolo became a soldier during the Spanish Civil War and became obsessed with a beautiful Hungarian revolutionary, Ildiko. She rejects him and gives herself to a brave militia leader Oriol. Manolo becomes jealous and takes a path of betrayal.

The film includes the early life of Josemaría Escrivá, a modern-day saint and the founder of Opus Dei, an institution of the Catholic Church which teaches that ordinary human life is a path to sanctity. Escrivá, who died in 1975, was canonized by John Paul II in 2002. Director Roland Joffé, who initially shied away from the project, was "ultimately intrigued by the chance to dramatize the life of a modern-day saint, particularly considering Escrivá's 'liberating' view that a path to God could be found in an ordinary life."

According to Joffé, they are "making a film about love, human love and divine love, about hate, about betrayal, about war, about mistakes, about everything it is to be a human being." The theme of forgiveness, says Charlie Cox, who plays St. Josemaria, is "always going to be a key when you're talking about Christianity at all, especially if you’re talking about a man who is canonized." Josemaria, Cox adds, "understood that the reason one must forgive is because that hatred and that anger and that resentment lives in you."

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Tara na sa Trinoma on Novermber 9! Haha. Who's coming with me to see this film?

Developments

2011-11-06T07:30:00.000+08:00

Ang paghihintay ay may kasamang paghahanda.

+36th Sunday in Ordinary time, Matthew xxv. 1-13

My preliminary research for next semester's thesis have begun. I'm taking the lead in doing a subject that involves a project for a fraternal benefit society implementing an ecclesiastical approach through sacred art and architecture :) I'll be making templates for the chapters of my thesis study starting tomorrow. haha!
There have been developments regarding my application for a particular religious congregation. I'll be visiting their convent from time to time to be familiarized with their apostolate. I'm super excited about this :D
I have to work still with a lot of personal issues. There have been a few set-backs :( but I'm no ready to give up on this one yet. May the Lord be with me in my daily walk to sanctity. I have a whole semester to perk things up and probably the rest of my life dedicated to ministry, study and prayer :)

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2011-11-05T16:03:00.000+08:00

‎'Do not back out because you have not yet fully stifled your evil tendencies:

he will remove them for you if you want him to.'

+George Chevrot, The Eight Beatitudes, Ch.8, p.129

Redeeming Halloween

2011-10-31T07:27:00.000+08:00

Image borrowed here

Here's a repost from one my fave Catholic blogs :)

There is much confusion about the origins of Halloween, and about what the Church celebrates on and around this day. Sometimes it can be a little difficult to make sense of it all. As a result, I offer the following links to articles and other resources that will help you to learn more about these holidays, and to defend them against the oh-so-typical charge that Catholics are pagans (in case you're wondering, we're not).

My High Holy Day by John Zmirak - crisismagazine.com
Halloween: It's Origins and Celebration - EWTN
All Hallow's Eve by Mary Reed Newland - Catholic Education Resource Center
Ideas for Sanctifying Halloween by Jen Miller - Catholic Education Resource Center
How Halloween can be Redeemed by Page Zyromski - AmericanCatholic.org
Is the celebration of Halloween a pagan feast? - Catholics United for the Faith, Inc.
All Saint's Day and All Soul's Day - New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia

Hunger for Holiness

2011-10-30T20:06:00.002+08:00

Is an act of contrition any different from an act of love?

In spite of those faults into which we fall again and again, we should remain eager to be united to Christ and to imitate him , eager to let ourselves be sanctified by him more and more. These are the signs, I assure you, of a hunger for holiness.

Tu solus Sanctus, Jesu Christe.

+ George Chevrot, The Eight Beatitudes - Ch.18, p.134

Update 10.28.11: Haircut

2011-10-28T11:29:00.001+08:00

Ang Pilosopiya ng Pagpapakalbo - The Philosophy of Being Bald

Creative Juice #035: OdoSketch

2011-10-22T15:06:00.000+08:00

Here's my first shot at making a masterpiece in Odosketch - entitled 'Seminarian' :)

Stumbled upon the site while bloghopping. It's super simple to use and

I just looove its sketchy aesthetic :) Why not try making yours?

Odosketch seeks to recreate the decidedly non-digital experience of working with a sketchbook. Its papery textures, variety of brushes and intentional imperfections make you forget you're working on a screen.

We also added a playback feature that recreates a drawing from empty canvas to the completed piece animating the drawer's brush strokes (complete with erasures, cross-outs and do overs) and revealing the creative process at work.

Tears

2011-10-20T09:11:00.000+08:00

The language of tears has something sacred about it.

It replaces the powerlessness of the world to express what is indefinable and inconsolable in sorrow.

It stops all talk completely: when faced with tears,

we can only be silent.

+ George Chevrot, The Eight Beatitudes, Ch. 15, p. 107

No Other Woman: A Fatherly Advice

2011-10-14T10:30:00.000+08:00

My mom and I made it to the cinema just in time for the show start of “No Other Woman,” starring Derek Ramsey, Anne Curtis and Christine Reyes. With a marking of R-13 from the MTRCB (despite its adulterous theme), the movie enfolds a story between a very suspecting wife, a lax and denying husband, and a casual and captivated temptress in their scenes of suspicion, retorts and lies. I usually don’t watch local films (because sometimes I think they are just plain superficial and corny) but my mom insisted so I finally gave in. Pass the heated graphic scenes (I have no idea the Filipinos can have those in movies!) and the dramatic background of the atmosphere; what I find most entertaining was the character played by Carmi Martin (Christine Reyes' mom) with her unequivocally hilarious motherly wisdom.

Promotional poster of 'No Other Woman'

The writers did a great job with the catchy lines and quotable quotes of the movie; almost automatically making a laughing uproar among the viewers and netizens adding only to the movie's popularity. But ever trying to be cognizant of the words of the actors, the best for me probably came from the Mr. Zalderiaga - played by Tirso Cruz III (father of Kara - Anne Curtis' role) in a scene where he was enraged over the male protagonist at the plot’s resolution. It was a piece of unprecedented advice that almost also knocked me off:

“Maybe if you’d stop hating your father so much,

you’d start being a good man.”

I promised Tirso Cruz III, I am in the process of doing just that.

Update 10.9.11: Three Encounters

2011-10-09T19:56:00.004+08:00

Council Leader: Woke up last Monday with an urge to repair restrained relationships. I marched in our community center and talked uninhibitedly with our council leader. Expressed and unloaded diplomatically my true frustrations and disappointments as a young councilor with all the rumors and shenanigans going around. I realized that building lasting relationships truly takes time and effort but how I truly wish there really was an untainted ground to start with. It’s just so hard to grow in a toxic environment.
Beggar: It was almost a week now since I had that spontaneous tender regard from a beggar that I encountered on my way to the university. I saw him in the footbridge in Cubao wearing only some rugged clothes in the middle of so many passersby. Barefoot and extending his hand to whosoever kind that will spare him some change, it was evident from his tears how exasperated and painful he felt. It was in this sight that I had a strong nudging urge to embrace him and tell him that God loves him so much. But I just walked past him with only tears welling up my eyes. I offered a prayer for him while I was on the jeepney. I wish I had done something to ease any pain that he had. I wish I had embraced him and whispered that everything’s going to be alright. I just wish I had…
Blogger Friend: I have a blogger friend who’s also contemplating about entering the seminary. Can’t wait to meet up with him and just share stories. I’m glad that I’m not alone in this one. I’ve been downloading a lot of vocation stories in Youtube for some perspective. I’m also thinking about devoting 1-2 hours of my time every other day in front of the Blessed Sacrament and continuing with my parish visits on free days. I should deposit myself more in stillness and silence.

ArchInspire #022: SARAT Low-Cost Housing for the Aetas

2011-10-08T21:51:00.001+08:00

We crammed another research and design translation. Haha. So here's a preview of our group's work-in-progress in Housing and Human Settlements - a low-cost housing project for the Aeta indigenous community of Floridablanca, Pampanga. Kept my group busy for the past two days. Forgive the rather sloppy grammar - it's the product of two coffee-saturated sleepless nights :) Tomorrow is 'Indigenous People Sunday!' How timely my post is :)

The Mourning

2011-10-01T15:30:00.000+08:00

One needs to have suffered to hear within oneself

the first timid calls of hope; hope, however, soon shows to whoever consents to listen

the dim and unknown pathways of faith.

Les Beatitudes, George Chevrot

Unconscious

2011-10-01T15:24:00.000+08:00

Narvacan Stop-over, Northern Ilocos

It was an eye-opener on my part. I’ve been talking a lot about introspection in my blog but nothing could top that Thursday when I have been blessed to see and understand some of the aspects of myself that have remained hidden for years – covered up by layers and layers of defense mechanisms and of masks. I am deeply conscious of the hurts and traumas I’ve had as a child but I didn’t know that some truly could have adverse effects on my behavior and reactions as I grow up.

Absentee parents and deficiency on open communication;
The need for a fatherly figure;
Teasing and bullying from my pre-school and elementary days; and
The image and views that other people have enforced on me to believe

Explains:

my distance from aggressive and loud individuals by first impression
my sensitivity and irritability at specific situations
my withdrawal from human relations when things are getting out of hand
my sense of paralysis when things aren't going according to plan
my high idealistic standards – keeping on pushing the boundaries
my search for the perfect masculine figure that I could emulate
my occasional bouts of emptiness, loneliness and the feeling of unworthiness
my persistent search for 'true' happiness and the denial of achievements despite all that I have accomplished
and my constant plea to be heard and to be listened to

(15-minute pause from typing habang mataimtim na humahagulgol at umiiyak na parang bata)

- all symptoms of a deep-seated low self-esteem. A rush of emotions flooded my veins. Suddenly I was feeling again all the hurt I had towards my parents. What I thought I have outgrown I realized was still there inside me - lying deceivingly dormant thru all these years. It is a shock for me to go over everything. I hated my parents for not listening. I hated them for not being communicative and emotionally involved as I grow up. I remember how I walked out in the middle of the night crying my eyes in the dim steps of our parish or even once when I wished I would not wake up. Truly, it was painful to recall and retouch all of them at once.

I see our household then and now and realized there has not been any change in the way we address our hurts and conflicts. Withdrawal seems to be the best way out for everyone if not the occasional mindless and hurtful retorts. I could put all the blame on my origins but that would truly be unfair. Because they might have been the product of a flawed parenting too.

Healing starts with listening and with understanding. I’m sure there’s still a way to make things right this time. Though I am quite sure it won’t be a breeze. I expect a lot of outpouring of emotions. It's all a process for all of us.

The healing of my inner child starts right now.

Shutterbug - Wannabe #020: Expressways

2011-09-26T10:45:00.000+08:00

Nothing could be more captivating than

the free traffic show of lights from

road signs, billboards, checkpoints, and headlights.

I just spent my weekend over at Taysan, Batangas in time for their annual celebration of the town fiesta - held during the month of September which is the feast day of Nuestra Senora de la Merced (Our Lady of Mercy) ran by religious priests of the Oblates of St. Joseph. I grabbed the opportunity at once to accompany my mother who is too keen and giddy to meet up with her old high school buddies.

There weren’t much street shows and partying commonly adhered to in the idea of fiesta, but there surely was a lot of food and namimiyesta (visitors from other towns) to tend to. I literally ate the day off last Saturday munching at what food is available on the table, played with so many cute little pamangkin (nieces and nephews) and just let the culture of hospitality and family seep in. It was truly a breath of fresh air from the fast urban living of the cityscape.

I was not able to get a lot of pictures from the event but I’m going to share below some flicks I had the Friday night we took off to Batangas. Having our seats right at the back of the bus driver was a delight because we had this panoramic view of the roads and expressways. It is very much enchanting to travel at night.

Exhibit Review: ICONS – Traditions and Transformation in Philippine Architecture

2011-09-22T16:28:00.000+08:00

Exhibit Overview:

THE Cultural Center of the Philippines unveiled an exhibition of architectural designs entitled ICONS: Traditions and Transformation in Philippine Architecture (CCP Architectural Design Competition winners) at the CCP Bulwagang Juan Luna (Main Gallery) in celebration of the CCP’s 42nd anniversary.

iReport borrowed here

Background. The said exhibit is part of the CCP Architectural Design Competition held last March 2011 for the two new iconic structures: The Performing Arts Theater and the Artists’ Center, which is two of the seven iconic buildings that will form the centerpiece of the CCP Complex’s 62-hectare Master Development Plan to provide world-wide facilities and spaces for the artists and the core programs of the Cultural Center of the Philippines.
Public Architecture. What were initially considered as oddities and blots in the urban landscape, are now visited by millions. The design of these two structures must reflect the Filipino art and culture as well as address the disconnect and disparity between the iconic development and the people.
Finalists. Selected from 17 entries that included major architectural firms in the country, the five finalists are the following: Lor Calma and Partners, Syndicated Architects, Palafox Associates, Buensalido Architects and Leandro V. Locsin Partners, Architects.

Lor Calma and Architects

With this project, the design concept that Lor Calma and Architects had is procession. The successful performances of National Artist for Theater Severino Montano throughout the 47 provinces were set as an example. The location of the site was also considered as a very strong axis for a ‘performance belt’. The two buildings are connected seamlessly as a profile of an overall language and the incorporation of green strategies were considered in the overall concept and design.

Design Concept: Procession
Simplistic in nature; organic, free-flowing and seamless in the use of form and overall lines and concept
Spaces are intelligently oriented according to the rising and setting of the sun without having the need to use external sunshading devices – a result of the careful study of the prevailing natural forces
Public spaces were oriented with varying levels of roofs providing shades with it
The design employed a modern approach but still seeks to reflect the local culture.

Syndicated Architects

Syndicated Architects derived their design from the bangka - an old form of water transportation rooted in the Filipino culture - which symbolizes a new tomorrow. The form ‘bangka’ was employed in reference to the Manila Bay which lies proximate within the CCP Master Development Complex. Evident also is the use of 8-ray sun (probably derived from the Philippine flag) in the master development parking of the site.

Design Concept: Bangka and 8-ray sun
Employed a symmetrical axial with the location of its structures to evoke balance though there is quite a variety in the use of forms in a modular context, i.e., parallelogram and circular plans that showed an impressive interior space allocations
Somewhat rigid in the systematic approach used
Use of modern materials such as glass in the façade as well as solar panel roof and wall cladding were part of their use of green strategies
Personally I think it is a modern marvel bereft of such cultural reference in its overall character

It looked like a business commercial structure/mall from the exterior

Palafox and Associates

The complex is designed to recall the dynamism of the high seas thus making of use of ‘undulating waves’ as one of its main concept, and also bring the sense of tranquility and contemplative motion that depicts the emotion of the Filipino. There were many other main concepts used which I suppose reflects the much diversity of the Filipino culture.

Design Concept: Undulating waves; duyan, balangay and regalo
Dramatic, profound and theatrical in the use of symbolisms which I think came out too literal in the design translation especially in the play of forms – which are prominently rigid in nature

The duyan concept is represented by the feature of the building having a hull-like form inspired by the balangay which reminds of the seafaring character of the nation that is in a journey of showcasing Filipino arts and culture.
The regalo concept representing the gifts and talents of the Filipino being offered to the world
The undulating waves of lines that evoke dynamism as well as resilience, movement, and revolution.

There’s too much happening with the façade that I think could use a lot of editing

There were unnecessary triangular protrusions smacked in the façade of the structure which is too strong and intimidating aside from being creative altogether
Notable as well were the mash of materials and finishes used in the different façade of the building complex

Idealistic in its design principles (8 G’s, Re-Century, and Triple E/P Bottomline Approach) – again, too much going on - yet impressive in the use of green technologies
Highly original yet showed absolutely no sense of continuity from the old structure of the CCP Complex

Buensalido + Architects

Probably my favorite in the bunch, the Buensalido Architects derived the “Weaving” as a core design concept of their proposal. A basic representation of Philippine identity, this weaving concept is a symbolism of coming and standing as one, uniting together different parts to form a coherent and strong whole, as well as a reminder of the collective strength of the Filipino people.

Design Concept: Weaving – an act that has consistently manifested itself in the different levels of our vernacular culture; evident in our local materials such as sawali, banig, jusi abaca used in barong tagalong.
Dramatic in a good way, both the structures looked like a stack of pancakes from afar, which will surely catch anyone’s curiosity and attention

I personally loved the use of ‘hyperbionic’ principles in its overall character and design

Evoking a nice ‘organized chaos’ feel, it is simple yet very intricate altogether while providing a smooth contrast with the old CCP Pambansang Tanghalan
Innovative and new in a way that it has not been seen nor done somewhere else before

Employed a juxtaposition of curvilinear and triangular forms with subtle hints of festive colors - a tribute to the diverse and unique hybrid of Filipino culture
Alive and vibrant with emphasis on the interweaving of the spaces and the very form – inspired by the intertwining of the banig, sawali, vinta, seashells and jusi fibers – as in the use of pleated volumes
Proportions of solids and voids were mimicked from the old CPP for context
Organic as well in the use of interior spaces – reminds me all of a sudden of the parts of a cell/ heart - (‘Puso ng Pinoy’ and seashells)

Highly structurally challenging from the looks of it and the lack of modularity might be a concern as to the practicality of the space allocations and conformity to existing design standards and guidelines
There is a sense of continuity with the use of the same material finishes – grey granite and travertine
Other highlights include:

Expansive in the use of pedestrian/outdoor opportunities for open space activities, in contrast to the ‘chauffeur-driven’ ramps of the old CCP
Symbiotic relationship with the interweaving of landscapes, pedestrianization and welcoming nature, expansive plazas, landscaped parks, urban steps and ramps.Festive ambiance with the innovative use of LED light shows in the exterior façade at night

Almost ambitious in some ways, I consider the design entry of Buensalido + Architects to be the type of design that one would almost automatically file under the tag of ‘too-good-to-be-true’ especially in the Philippine context. While it has some share of its own constraints, their entry still remains to be my favorite and second to the winning entry, a design that I would love to see to materialize in the future.

Leandro V. Locsin Partners, Associates

The winning design of Locsin Partners, Associates conceived the concepts that evoke the idea of sculptures within a larger garden. ‘The designs for the buildings all incorporate sustainability, economy and green qualities which were expressed in terms of the environmental impact of the buildings, material choices, energy use, operational efficiencies, and calamity readiness. The design was a translation of the aspects of Philippine culture commendably and was inherently Filipino, yet forward-looking and global in appearance.’

Modern but not too rigid with its clean use of lines – complimentary and supplementary qualities from the context of the old CCP building
Employed a unique use of irregular and modular interior spaces which I suppose to have been inspired by a mild deconstructivist approach
Simple and modern yet monumental with a sense of the old CCP Complex grandeur – true to the concept of floating massive structures which was the design concept for the old CCP building
Other highlights include:

The new Performing Arts Theater looked formal and monumental but still approachable employing bicycle and pedestrian ramps and a grand entrance to give a beckoning feel for all to step into the public space
The Artist’s Center on the other hand looked also like a mall from the exterior – a design that would contrast the CCP Main Theater’s solid singularity and will feature a series of lighter, transparent pavilions

Inspirations came from natural movements, forms, and shapes broken down into simple lines and employed in the translation and make-up of the character

Crane, rock islet, islands, waves, stilt houses and mangrove trees
‘On another level to recall the archipelagic arrangement of an island, a mangrove cluster or Badjao village, and a wave on a promontory rising out of the sea, all possible metaphors for the expression of a national architecture.’

Conclusion: The exhibit also was a free pass to have a look at the qualities, standards and the different creative processes of the different Filipino firms. Each firm has shown different conceptualization from different inspirations – a validation of the Filipino’s talent and skills through architecture that is as diverse yet global at the same time.

Gospel according to RH Bill

2011-09-21T15:35:00.003+08:00

Today is the Feast day of St. Matthew the Evangelist. Below is a supposed 'Gospel' written from the point of view of those who are Pro in the legalization of the Reproductive Health Bill, intended for them to realize what kind of 'evangelization' they have been promoting all along. If you have read C. S. Lewis' known Screwtape Letters, notice the striking familiarity in the approach and the way the whole thing was written. Please do take some time to read this :)

A Reading from the Gospel according to the Reproductive Health Bill

v.1 Brothers and sisters, love one another, but bear no children. Loving is expressed in making love, but children are the burdens of love. Without the burdens of love, making love is enjoyable, satisfying and free.

v.2 It is all right to have sex with partners before or outside marriage. The more protected you are from sexually transmitted diseases, the better for your salvation.

v.3 I beg you to spread the Gospel of "rights without responsibility" and call it "responsible love," with particular emphasis on "the right to informed choice."

v. 4 Bear no burden of telling the people about the morality, not even about the side effects of contraceptives, least of all cancer. Do not be afraid to tell them about safe, legal, accessible sex and the advantages of remaining childless in favor of your career or your health.

v.5 By all means, change the definition of when life begins, as the Epistle of Science suggests, so that you will unburden people of guilt about abortion.

v.6. As much as possible, use any of the various artificial contraceptive means by which you can attain satisfying sex without burdening yourselves with children. Abstaining from sex, whether with one’s spouse or not, does not lead you anywhere near the idea of satisfaction.

v.7. Treat fertility or pregnancy as though it were an illness. In that way, contraceptives will later be considered by the majority as “essential medicines.”

v. 8. Employers should also be enjoined to give reproductive health services to their employees as an act of justice and charity, even if sexual activity has nothing to do with their job description.

v. 9. Enjoin all public officials, whether appointed or elected, to allocate public funds even for personal purposes like sexual satisfaction. It is your right and, indeed, your duty, to give the poor and the sick the much needed access to public funds. In this way, the poor will not think of unemployment, as they easily get distracted from the more substantial issues of survival, and think only of sex.

v.10. Those who insist that job creation is more important than contraceptives or that contraceptives are dangerous should be reported to authorities for their acts of disinformation and for heaping insult on women’s reproductive rights. If they do not heed the authorities, treat them as you would a gentile or a tax collector!

Creative Juice #034: Pet Name Tags

2011-09-20T20:35:00.002+08:00

My friend - the Feisty Feline - approached me regarding the design of name tags that were supposed to be used for pets in their parish's upcoming event on the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi - which is the blessing of pets. Below are some of the preliminary layouts I've came up bound for comments and revisions.

I wanted the tags to reflect the solemnity of the event so for the first batch, I used toned down earth colours - sepia and olive, old Christian illustrations of St. Francis, and even tweaked a photo of a religious brother walking a pack of dogs. But apparently, it came a bit too formal for the occasion which my friend doesn’t really have in mind. So I came up with a second batch that reflects a fun design with the use of Pet Society characters (found over Google Image Search Engine) and a more playful variety of colours.

Here you can see the influences I've mentioned and the overall creative process I went through:

Solemn and a rather formal approach.

A mash of the traditional graphics and playful Pet Society illustration.

Dominant cartoony illustrations but with a reserved color hue.
(Notice the background I used: it was one of The Creative Dork's illustrations I shamelessly
copy-pasted and cropped without due permission T_T)

Fun and playful cartoons and a color palette
that ironically reminds me of an LGBT advocacy group. Yikes!

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2011-09-20T15:36:00.000+08:00

If there is a specific and noble virtue proper to

manliness, it is the virtue of renunciation.

Dahil ang tunay na lalaki, umiiwas sa tukso :)

Signs

2011-09-17T22:03:00.000+08:00

I talked earlier with Architect B, my so loved Thesis Adviser, regarding the priestly vocation. I presumed he knew too well since he started with AB Philosophy in a Camillian Seminary before he got another degree in architecture realizing that being a priest just was not his calling. I felt at peace and at ease with him talking to me like a true father :)

The biggest piece of advice he could share was for me to finish my degree with architecture first then decide later whether to continue with what I'm more inclined to. I have a whole year to prepare and look for possible thesis topics to venture in. He said during that period I should take the time to reflect more deeply on the matter - like what religious order I should apply for and what specializations and specific apostolate I should consider.

Truly I am not alone in my journey of discernment. I trust that God will give me the strength and courage to persevere and always be patient and faithful in making the right decision. I am going to need a lot of studying to do as well as prayers, encouragement, and the right spiritual direction. To God always be the Glory! :)

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2011-09-17T06:45:00.000+08:00

I realized that the sick and the suffering sees the world

from a totally different pace and perspective.

The Catholicism Project by Fr. Robert Barron

2011-09-16T10:31:00.001+08:00

"The Catholic story is being told but being told by the wrong people in the wrong way. We need to tell our own story. We need to get the message out so as to draw people in."

This is something I watched earlier from Raymond Arroyo's show, The World Over Live, in EWTN. A book and a 10-part DVD series by Fr. Robert E Barron that exposes the rich heritage of the Catholic Faith in architecture, art, literature and history from a thematic and visual point of view. Check out its cool video trailers below :)

Fr. Robert Barron created this groundbreaking program as a thematic presentation of what Catholics believe and why, so all adults can come to a deeper understanding of the Catholic Faith. Not a video lecture, Church history or scripture study, this engaging and interesting formational program uses the art, architecture, literature, music and all the treasures of the Catholic tradition to illuminate the timeless teachings of the Church.

The CATHOLICISM Adult Formation Program presents the strong, ecclesial dimension of the Catholic Faith – God’s revelation through Jesus Christ and His Church. It is comprehensive and faithful, appropriate for: RCIA, adult lay formation, training adult catechists, deaconate and other ministerial training and mature high school or college/university course-work. Word on Fire

For more information click: Catholicism Series and Word on Fire

Book Review: dumot by Allan Navarra

2011-09-14T00:00:00.000+08:00

WARNING: Explicit Language

Dumot is a book that illustrates fragments of a man’s aggression: his inner demons, his state of mind and physical being as he deals with the rigors of working in a challenging atmosphere. The title is a Hiligaynon word that, in English means “ vindictiveness”. Dumot is also composed of two French words (du and mot ) which mean “the word”, making it sound all hoity-toity. Almost half of the book is illustrated, which is great for people who can't read but have the time to flip pieces of paper with drawings on them, back and forth. Allan Navarra

Vizprint WIT Reader's Day Review

2011-09-12T21:41:00.000+08:00

I was supposed to participate in a tree-planting event by the Luzon State jurisdiction at the La Mesa Reservoir in Fairview last Saturday when my alarm clock failed to fulfill its purpose of waking me at 4 in the morning. I was devastated that I was left by my brothers. Fortunately on a different account, I had read the day before in Will's blog an event where I could meet the authors of my fave pop comics and literature. So goes the spontaneous change of plans for the day for failing to wake up early.

Photos from the exhibit hall of the recent Visprint Writers in Talk first ever annual reader's day held at the SMX Convention Center in the Mall of Asia Compound last Saturday (Credit goes to Ate Mylene Reyes for lending me permission to use flicks of the event)

Was hyped to see them in flesh: Paolo Fabregas (The Filipino Heroes League),

Manix Abrera (Kikomachine Komix Collection), Karen Francisco (Naermyth),

Carlo Vergara (Zsa Zsa Zaturnah) and Alan Navarra!

My starstruck moment with Alan Navarra, author of Girl Trouble (2007) and the recently released dumot. Apparently, the latter title has not been released in the market yet. The first printed copies were introduced during the event. I had mine signed. And I think I'm the first reader to have ever laid an eye in these babies :) ayeee~!

Creative Juice #033: Scribbles and Line Art

2011-09-09T17:37:00.000+08:00

The last month of August was the month of the renowned Ilocos Heritage Tour in our college. It was said that you can never appreciate the beauty of Philippine Architecture without seeing for yourself some of the best well-preserved structures in the northern city of Vigan in Ilocos Norte. Truly it was one of the most memorable trips I've had so far in my life :)

And that is exactly the theme of my creative juice feature for the day. I just remember I had hundreds of photos of that trip from last year. Photo-tweaking with Adobe Photoshop CS5 still remains one of my favorite past time (since last week). I was actually watching a video tutorial of how to turn your photo into a painting when I had a light bulb popped right above my head with one of the steps :) A lot of modifications and explorations later and I came with a final result that looked like a carefully scribbled monochrome art illustration - pretty much like the ones you'll see in the books of Architect George Salvan. I was hyped :)

A souvenir shop in Calle Crisologo

Commercial establishments in Metro Vigan.

The ubiquitous Calesa - a horse-drawn carriage :)

The 17th-century Sta. Monica Church in the town of Sarrat, Ilocos Norte.

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2011-09-08T11:37:00.002+08:00

The Lord can't do much for a talkative soul.

Fr. David Simonetti - Spiritual Direction, EWTN Live

Creative Juice #032: Adobe Photoshop Madness

2011-09-07T00:37:00.003+08:00

Handling Adobe Photoshop CS5 was pretty hard for someone who has no background with any of its previous versions. But truly I say to you, it was like ‘love at first sight.’ A new optical laser mouse, a Youtube downloader software, and hundreds of video tutorials online - these are the tools that have been very essential for me for the past few days that I've dedicated in truly learning Adobe Photoshop CS5.

I feel like an oldie for not playing as early enough with the most celebrated photo-editing tool ever invented. But heck, when it comes to squeezing and stimulating those neurons to produce the much desired graphic goodness, nothing is ever too late for such a junkie like me. So here's a couple of my photo-tweaks :) I'll keep this up and my next stop will be Jindu rendering!

(Top) My first try at changing the sky; (Bottom) Better than any oil painting canvas

Hands-on with the new 'refine edge' tool and 'content aware' tool of CS5
and an accidental Twilight-worthy digital make-up discovery.

On Vocations

2011-09-05T12:16:00.005+08:00

Pope Pius XI, Encyclical Ad Catholici Sacerdotii

‘More than a heartfelt sentiment or an emotional attraction,which may either be lacking or misleading, it reveals itself in the honestintention of the person who aspires to the priesthood, together with thosephysical, intellectual, and moral qualities, which make him fit for such astate. He who aspires to the priesthood solely because of the noble aim ofconsecrating himself to the service of God and the Salvation of souls, and atthe same time, seriously tries to acquire a solid piety, an unshakeable purityof life, a sufficient amount of knowledge… shows that he is called by God tothe priestly state.’

Jose Luis Soria, in his book 'Vocation: when God calls…'

It is hard to hear our Lord calling because His voice is never loud. The inspiration of the Holy Spirit need a certain atmosphere, and it is neither one where our energies are wasted nor a frivolous and empty-headed kind of lifestyle that fills the soul with nothing but noise and anxiety. This is why the devil knows well that the best way to drown a vocation is to choke the soul with restless, pounding waters. It is not because the call does not come; rather, it cannot be heard in such an uproar.

---

2011-09-02T17:44:00.003+08:00

God in creating us has run the risk and the adventure of our freedom. He wanted an authentic story, the product of genuine decisions, which is not fiction or some sort of game. Each man has to experience his personal autonomy and all that it implies:

trial and error, guesswork and sometimes uncertainty.

Josemaria Escriva,

The Riches of the Faith, Scepter Booklet No. 5, p. 22

Pathwalk

2011-08-30T17:11:00.001+08:00

Paths are made by walking not by waiting.

First thing in the morning, and that phrase from a routinely-sent group text message struck me. It was from a friend struggling in his thesis writing. Now I could look back and wallow in regrets for dropping out early on my thesis endeavor (and miss the chance of graduating on time), or I could look forward, fall silent, and saturate myself from the point made by that phrase in a text message.

Last July, when I visited the seminary of the Society of the Divine Word for a search-in seminar, my ideals were high. I was making all this plans for the next five years as if it were just a piece of easy. I am clearly responsible for the loss of my thesis endeavor but maybe, just maybe, I am opening myself up to the possibility that perhaps the Lord have a different plan for me. Looking at my status now, I guess I have to make a reality check again. My eyes are on the prize but my motivations are not right. And the path I’m walking is not even properly lit.

So where do I start? What I learned so far from the early chapters of the book I’m currently reading (In Pursuit of Love), with a couple of homilies and contemplative prayers, is my calling to be a lover fulfilled ultimately in my response to God’s love through my living faith. Here I am presented with a moral and social responsibility that I’ve repeatedly violated thru my sins of omission.

It personally struck me being one of the youngest elected councilors in our community - lax for almost a year now. I’ve been moaning and groaning and struggling over my duties and responsibilities, and of refusing to be a part of the dirty mumbo jumbos in the political scene, yet as an individual holding an administrative position, I have not even done half my part so far nor even tried as to my own willingness to reach out.

I have always had my age and my being in school to back me up with my duties. But surely what can I do? I am still young. I am too young. And I am clearly afraid. I am used to it. But when it comes to attending meetings, or public speeches, or dealing with a subordinate or a higher official, I am trembling. I am used to it. But I am truly trembling. *sigh*

This reminds me of the words from the Vocations Director of SVD when we did our scriptural discernment session. It was when Jeremiah was called to be a prophet by the Lord. Jeremiah gave the same response, but the Lord assured him,

“Do not say that you are too young… Do not be afraid of them, for I will be with you to protect you.

I, the Lord have spoken!”

(Jeremiah 1: 4-9)

It was a verse that clearly spoke to my struggles and calls for reassurance.

At one of my ‘eureka’ moments, I realized that no one truly is READY when you are called by the Lord. But when that calling comes, as one of my friends had said, we must answer with great promptness and obedience.

I am done with crappy cartoon TV series and movies. I figured the best way to productivity for the rest of this semester and the next is to immerse myself in prayer and in discernment. My parish, the Catholic blogs, the books and my fave series in EWTN surely is and have been a wonderful help for me.

Silent Wanderer

2011-08-28T20:40:00.000+08:00

I am still finding ways to amuse myself. I have lots of free time. Productivity is clearly stamped in my mind. And yet I still find myself stuck, bewildered, and completely engrossed on the things I still find to amuse myself. I’m running around in circles. *sigh* Wandering silently. Floating freely. Still why do I feel like an entity that is imprisoned by my liberty. So here's my pathetic attempt to jot down the things I could do to kill boredom.

Continue in reading list.
Revise old entries in my blog.
Visit Catholic blogs in my blogroll.
Buy a new book about Philippine Architecture I just saw earlier.
Buy installer of Adobe Illustrator CS5 (one that really works!).
Get copy of V-ray plug-in and practice rendering.
Buy mouse so I can brush up on my SketchUp.
Play around with Adobe Photoshop.
And lastly, find more ways to amuse myself...

Site Review: Why I'm Catholic

2011-08-27T14:26:00.001+08:00

Here's a clean and uncluttered site chock with inspiring Catholic conversion/reversion stories :) Why I'm Catholic is a site that effectively utilizes the web 2.0 in the hopes of inspiring and encouraging those who seek God in the modern world. Their mission is to affirm the reality of God and His Catholic Church by spreading subjective conversion testimonies that witness to the Truth, relying on the providence of God and the participation of readers to help spread the Gospel through what they call as “opportunities for grace”.

"Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house." - (Matthew 5:14,15)

The graces that God bestows are meant to be shared and we at Why I'm Catholic have a deep felt conviction that the graces given during a conversion/reversion are no different. The beauty of a conversion story is that although it is always deeply personal, many of the struggles and triumphs resonate universally. The simple "Fiat" associated with sharing one's witness takes one's own humble experiences and turns them into a tool for God to work in someone else's life.

Check their site by clicking here.

The End of the Flood

2011-08-25T12:42:00.000+08:00

He promises that He will remember your goodness

and even if you sin He still loves you

and is always open for your repentance.

Jen Amante

Creative Juice #031: The City

2011-08-23T19:22:00.000+08:00

NYC - Mindrelic Timelapse from Mindrelic on Vimeo.

Awe-inspiring clip filmed at the Big Apple. This one's a reposted entry too. Grabbed it the first second I realized it was a similar video of The Mountain I also reposted a while back.

*******

I've been down in the dumps for a couple of weeks now but my timely date-slash-fellowship with two girl friends yesterday refreshed my diminishing servings of hope. We crashed another friends home and had a talk-a-thon, ate lunch with some carinderia food, walk-a-thoned at Luneta, window shopped at Robinson's Place Manila, dinner merienda at Shakey's and finally topping off the day with some classic comedy favorite - Kimidora :) I am so looking forward and hyped at our Thursday's indie film marathon XD Yipee!

Importance of Dating

2011-08-19T10:07:00.002+08:00

The Inevitable: Relationships and Dating - cool article on dating and romantic relationships with emphasis on growth, maturity and being realistic :) This is something in contrast with a bitter post about online dating I did back then.

Creative Juice #29: Acoustical Tonsil Productions, Inc.

2011-08-17T18:11:00.008+08:00

Primarily conceived for the visual consummation of the respective celebrity-wannabes featured, here are the latest products of my brain juice: three new albums from a fictionated musical records group, Acoustical Tonsil Productions, Inc., featuring rising stars in the world of Pinoy Pop and OPM – Banine, Papi Bee, and Robiewill.

A brush from my rusting layout skills and a sprinkle of wit and wordplay from the daily antics of my closest friends in the university gave birth to these promotional posters slash CD cover designs of three hot-new record launching labels. So much for designing for a chief cause of advertisement, I could have sworn most of the titles in the albums are sure-fire parental red flags making no mama in this country a teensy-bit proud. Haha. (The finished images below are all just a product of the author's imagination. The use of any existing legal labels/components/logos in the said works were not intended for promotional purposes).

Banine: Pinay Prosimian Princess

Dinuguang Bopis: A Musical Anthology of Papi B

Robiewill: The Melody of Neneng Serbesa

Musings. Dreams. Insomnia.

2011-08-17T05:02:00.000+08:00

Just when you thought you quite already knew someone, you’ll be almost surprised to find out an always another side of him/her. Yesterday, I am pleased to have taken a look at another side of a friend – a side that is hurt, damaged, and deeply personal that was almost intently kept hidden. For once I admire his courage in trusting to be vulnerable in front of me; for sharing something so fragile and intricate yet something so beautiful all at the same time. It was during these times that you really push the boundaries of your understanding.
I think I had 6-8 cycles of REM sleeps last night. Almost all of them ending up in the middle of a different dream with me trying to jump and catch my breath the second I wake up. Either I slept way too early in defiance to my body clock or I have insomnia. *sighs*
It’s always refreshing to wake up at around 5am just in time to witness dawn and the slow turning of the atmosphere both in light and warmth. Always the perfect time to meditate and pray to God of all the things we hoped for and of all the blessings we want to give thanks.

Update 8.15.11: Bed-side Books

2011-08-15T09:04:00.003+08:00

My free time have awarded me with a chance to catch up with some of my reading backlogs. There are at least six bed-side books that I've been reading alternately lately, most of them are catholic reads. By far, I've been enjoying quite a lot the book 'In Pursuit of Love: Catholic Morality and Human Sexuality' by a Jesuit priest, Vincent Genovesi that discusses a handful of hot-topic issues - premarital sex, contraception and marital sexuality, homogenital expressions of love, masturbation and abortion - from a philosophical and theological stand. Challenging, sometimes I'm even forced to read a paragraph twice or thrice to digest and understand. Then even sometimes followed by a momentous stop of pondering. Truly is the joy of reading a book on Christian Ethics for the first time :)

Sinong nakaka-relate sa mga binabasa kong book? Raise your hand!

To love at all is to be vulnerable. Loveanything and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken. If youwant to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, noteven to an animal. Wrap it carefully around with hobbies and little luxuries;avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of yourselfishness. But in that casket - dark, motionless, airless – it will change.It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable.The alternative to tragedy, or at least to the risk of tragedy, is damnation.The only place outside Heaven where you can be perfectly safe from all thedangers and perturbations of love is Hell.

'The Four Loves' (New York: Harcourt BraceJovanovich, 1960)

As quoted from ‘In Pursuit of Love:Catholic Morality and Human Sexuality, 2^nd edition’ by Vincent J.Genovesi, SJ

Courage and Fluctuations

2011-08-12T14:26:00.007+08:00

Image borrowed here

Saturated by the season two episodes of Glee and their epic 12th place standing at the Nationals in the season finale, I am compelled for a momentary and ponderous stop as to my plans since I've made up my mind. I still haven’t told my adviser yet. But I do have the balls to stand up for that decision no matter how hard it shakes me to the core. Because I know for once that it’s something I chose upon to bring to myself unlike my untimely service to the people that still give the best crap out of me. I guess I am just preserving all that energy. Especially when that apex comes for me to the drop the bomb and see the looks at everyone’s faces to see the enthusiastic leader of the Thesis class they so looked upon for inspiration blown to smithereens. *sighs* I just know that I still have a shot at this next year. So yeah, the best wishes on that.

'Courage doesn't always roar.

Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying,

"I will try again tomorrow.'

Mary Anne Radmacher

Going back to the final episode of Glee, Kuya J’s words of wisdom came upon me as I looked past Rachel Berry’s dialogue on hopes and dreams. It was last Sunday when we had a small chat over an order of street kikiam. My siblings and I were planning to leave a group of church choir for another. We had a lot of issues with some of the members whom we feel like don’t even give a crap. It’s been going for a long time now so we are about almost a hundred-percent-ly sure to make that big leap. Then came Kuya J saying that it’s always good to pray and ask for some guidance in all the decisions we are about to make, because in that way we aren’t sailing the stormy seas of our cranium alone in settling on something.

His words pierced through when I realized how my prayer life has been going so far. I’ve been making a lot of plans lately without considering the Big Guy up there. You know, leaving a choir, dropping out on my thesis, entering the religious life. I already had all these in mind without stopping and asking if all that were okay or even in resonance unto His Will.

My fluctuations have been going on and on. And I believe I am experiencing one of the all-time lows in my life. Sooner or later I hope and I pray to see what truly is going on around and within me. I bet there’s no other way but to go up when you reach that rock-hard bottom from everything that's been happening.

Dear Architect B

2011-08-11T14:59:00.012+08:00

Architect B

Architectural Design 9 Thesis Adviser

A Blessed Day!

I, Nowitzki Tramonto, a 5th year BS Architecture student of the University X of the Philippines - College of Architecture and Fine Arts taking up Architectural Design 9 courageously and humbly declare to step down from my current thesis endeavor regarding a bioclimatic edifice initially entitled, ‘BIO-BERDEX: A Tropical Bionic Headquarters Complex for the Philippine Green Building Council.

It has been my practice during the course of thesis writing to stop for a moment and assess my current standing. As the thesis proponent, there are certain aspects of the study that has come to my attention during the course of investigation. The following proved to be indications of the project’s apparent unfeasibility which fundamentally arouse from a proponent-oriented proposal:

As promising as it may with the organization’s vision and mission for the real estate industry of the country, PHILGBC having been only established in the early 2006 is practically in its infancy.
Recognition of a sustainably-rated structure by the recently established BERDE building rating system is of the moment not possible. PHILGBC’s implementation programs are still in its pilot stage.
Identification of the users and its analysis was also a constraint. The number of officials and workers in its current office does not hold up for a potential thesis study. Mere reliance to the company’s projected organizational growth (which is unavailable) would only make the study a prediction and not as timely as it should be.
And lastly, there have been NO previous initiative, board resolution, or call for open proposals regarding the planned endeavor making the justification of the study blurry and the current status of the study as a viable candidate for a thesis proposal questionable.

Thesis writing has been a truly wonderful experience for me as an undergraduate student of BS Architecture. While it has been a great pleasure in the last couple of months to work on the proposal, I believe that the time has finally come for me to acknowledge the aforementioned road blocks that have been my concern since the beginning. I am looking forward for a better endeavor next year.

You have been a very gracious adviser, Sir. Thank you very much for your generosity and support in this academic venture.

Respectfully yours,

Nowitzki Tramonto

5th year BS Architecture Student

University X of the Philippines

Exile

2011-08-08T11:56:00.009+08:00

I need time. I need an exile to be exact. I need tofind myself again. Away from it all. Away from all.

Hurricane

2011-08-06T11:12:00.009+08:00

Image borrowed here

Warning: Foul-mouthed piece in uber obnoxious language ahead. I suggest you not continue.

Why can't I see myself anymore? Stressed. Distressed. Filty. Rebellious. Adjectives of all the things I feel right now.

I refuse to continue with my thesis endeavour opting to dilly dally around mindlessly depriving myself of sleep, skipping lunch or simply wasting time. I can’t see the point in going on. I’ve lost the fire, the drive and the eagerness to continue. Where did I go wrong? Fuck my present demons that just won’t leave me alone. Fuck the load that I refuse to carry. Fuck the perfect circumstances that are so fucked up I won’t even give a damn if my life gets so fucked up.

Why can't I see myself anymore? I can't even see myself in this piece of shit I’m wasting my time to write. Fuck resiliency that obviously have fled from me. Fuck my bad-mouthed stubbornness, indecisiveness and cowardliness. Fuck the hurricane that is simply too much for me to resist.

Why do I feel like my life’s been caged and predetermined since the beginning? Why am I having all this fucking uncertainty? Can I please make my own choices not based nor influenced by other people’s expectations and interests? Will I ever have the room to mess around and fuck up even just for once in my life?

Fuck the stupid useless street literature by Allan Navarra. Fuck Thirty Seconds to Mars and their music with subliminal messages and transhumanistic crap. Fuck Philippine politics and all that crab-mentality shit going on in our fucking deteriorating society. Fuck all the hypocrite turncoats slurring curses and bullets the moment you turn your back at them. Fuck them people who waste their time planning and plotting making sure weaker ones suffer and slither in pain. Fuck all of ‘em shitheads.

I am tired of this same old routine. Fuck my thesis. Fuck all those shitty deadlines. Fuck all my other commitments. I just need a break from all those shit. I need time. I need an exile to be exact. I need to find myself again. Away from it all. Away from all.

That Emo Post Again

2011-07-31T20:47:00.002+08:00

Speaking my mind and networking shout-outs all seemed so overrated.
I'll try friggin' shutting up for a change. Even for just a while. Even just for now.

Because 'they' are all starting to cloud up my mind, my words, my actions.

Full of filth. Full of shame. Full of guilt.

No amount of sleep deprivation or percent alcohol or stress-eating cravings
could ever quench the sorrow and emptiness that I feel right now.

Project: 'Manila Paper' at Sir Mots

2011-07-29T17:26:00.004+08:00

Project: Manila Paper, apparently, is the great Sir Mot's version of Ben Heime's Pencil vs. Camera. It was a brain juice explosion at first sight I just can't help myself from reposting this scrumptious eye-candy. Taken at different ubiquitous places and landmarks around Manila, the project came from the primordial brain soup of conceptual artist slash photographer Raffy Parcon. My favorites are of course the architectural creative shots shown below :) For more of Project: Manila Paper, visit Sir Mot's yummy blog here. All photo credit goes to Sir Mots and his partners in this endeavor :)

Manila City Hall

Manila Cathedral, Intramuros

Sang building to?

Filipino-Chinese Friendship Arc at Binondo, Manila

Music and Architecture: Dos Bravissimos Concert

2011-07-26T14:56:00.004+08:00

I had a blast last night at the Cultural Center of the Philippines with my brothers and sisters of Awit Papuri. Ate L (a Voice Major at UST) invited us in this wonderful rare joint concert by the world's most awarded choir from the University of Ljubljana, Akademski Pevski Zbor (APZ) Tone Tomšic of Slovenia and our very own Choir of the World winner, University of Santo Tomas (UST) Singers.

I was ecstatic because I had a lot of 'firsts' in that event. It was my first time watching a choir concert. Second, it was also my first time in CCP (I was literally and 'addictively' breathing and sniffing Leandro Locsin's concrete edifice paying close attention to the monumentality, intricacy, and 'sense of place' of the place). And last, who-are-you-freakin'-kidding-that-was-the-best-performance-ever! I tell you, there is a lot of reason to be jumpy because the theater I've been to last night was able to fuse two of my best love ever - quality choir music and quality architecture.

Refreshingly soul-stirring, I honestly had a deeper and more profound appreciation of the beautiful voices God gave us, and the ideas he continuously inspires upon the top stewards of built environment, our Architects. Swear I will never take these things again for granted. (Might as well check out this article and this article for more information about Dos Bravissimos).

Akademski Pevski Zbor (APZ) Tone Tomšič from the University of Ljubjana in Slovenia

University of Santo Tomas Singers

ArchInspire #021: Graphic Layout and Design

2011-07-21T11:15:00.002+08:00

Graphic Layout and Design have always been my favorite part in writing up and preparing data presentation and analysis. I didn’t realize how much I missed it until my thesis adviser asked me to present my case studies as part of a chapter in an interesting and comprehensive manner. Something tells me it’s not the usual ‘text-and-picture-with-caption’ layout he’s pointing out (as seen ubiquitously in any average textbook), so I made these:

National Association of Realtors Building
Foreign Case Study No. 1

Heifer International Headquarters
Foreign Case Study No. 2

St. Alphonsus Mary di Liguori Parish
Local Case Study No. 2

No photoshop application magic here, it's just your plain old reliable blank page from the Microsoft Office Publisher 2007. Primitive right? :) Some photos and texts were borrowed from 'Emerald Architecture' (A Green Source: McGraw-Hill Construction Publication). But the creative layout and analysis is all mine :)

Update 07.19.11

2011-07-19T10:40:00.012+08:00

Ma’m R might be glad to hear that I may have been doing unprecedented late-night YPE sessions on my own. I met a potential candidate last night. And I am proud that I am getting good at rejecting indecent proposals. I swear I won’t put myself again at such a given situation. *phew*
Speaking of proposals, I had just e-mailed yesterday the concerned office about my ongoing project-oriented thesis study. My fingers are crossed at coming up with results by the end of this week. I am so hoping to get on now with the next chapter which is about the site selection process and the presentation of data and analysis. If I could just get the zeal to finish off with those ‘comprehensive’ case studies. Ugh. My brain cells are not entirely tired. It’s my inner issues I am so concerned about.
I am literally dragging myself to proceed with the thesis writing. I must keep my head on the game and look straight on the prize waiting at the end of the finish line. I swear I’ll put off those Gossip Girl Season 3 episodes now.
What joy! I had just received a reply from an ordained SVD priest I messaged yesterday. He also happens to be a blogger which helped in establishing a connection. We have seven or eight common blogger contacts on Facebook. I feel jumpy and all :)

MadMusic#026: Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi

2011-07-18T14:33:00.005+08:00

Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi composed by our very own Ryan Cayabyab.
Been singing it in my head for weeks. I just can't help myself :)

Update 07.17.11

2011-07-17T05:28:00.026+08:00

I had my lunch in a fast food chain. And had my dinner in another fast food chain. Whatever happened to our good old home kitchen. Ugh. T_T
God loves me not because of who I am, but in spite of who I am. - that I learned from Fr. Jerry Orbos, SVD
Happy Birthday to my beloved Father :)
'Mga Sure-Fire Tips para Hindi Antukin sa Simbahan' Astig na post from a Catholic Seminarian's Blog

Site Review: The Online DataBase for Philippine Architecture

2011-07-11T15:59:00.002+08:00

Image borrowed from The Resident Architect

To all Filipino Architects, Architecture Students and Philippine Architecture Enthusiasts, here's a promising site that will be a consolidation of free, web-based information and exhibition of notable Philippine Architecture and Architects. (Reblogged from The Resident Architect)

Check their site by clicking this link - www.arkitektura.ph

Vocal Torture

2011-07-09T16:44:00.008+08:00

Image borrowed here

It was vocal torture. A truth that I cannot and will not deny. It is what I get from deciding to sing consecutively in four, sometimes even five, Eucharistic celebrations during Sundays. It is what I get from helping out and drowning from all the expectations that grows and feed my self-esteem. It is what I get from actually enjoying the right notes and voicings. It is what I get from singing.

But now it must all come into a stop. Bummer. As much as I hate it to be. I was reprimanded by my choir mistress yesterday regarding my being a turncoat in the vocal range of the Basses that I may have been too comfortable with to return to the range of the Tenors. It was a pain to sing all the high notes again. Signs of the strain I've been putting too much on my vocal chords.

Now, I just don't know what to do. I thought I could have the best of both worlds. But I was wrong. So wrong that I have no idea singing could be so painful. *sigh*

2011-07-04T10:22:00.000+08:00

My heart is restless, O God, until it rests in Thee.

St. Augustine of Hippo

Update 07.03.11

2011-07-03T20:57:00.005+08:00

I attended earlier a Discernment 'Search-In' Seminar for Single Young Men @ the Society of the Divine Word Seminary (SVD) inside the compound of Christ the King Parish - E. Rodriguez. Together with 2 applicants, we had an orientation, field tour, interview and brief background led by seminarians and the vocations director on what it's like to live and study inside the seminary. I am looking forward at returning every first Sunday of the week to further discern and have guidance on my calling :)
Slowly and contemplatively, may this fuel my motivation to finish my architectural thesis and eventually my collegiate degree. May the Good Lord be upon me :)
I am so loving this site: The Pinoy Catholic

Overpopulation as a Cause of Poverty is a Myth!

2011-07-01T10:28:00.002+08:00

Reposted from The Filipino Roman. Exactly my point. Do you also agree? Click here

Dwelling Place

2011-06-30T22:13:00.000+08:00

Isn’t it very strange how some songs written by complete strangers who lead completely different lives can nevertheless speak whatever you and I are unable to put into words? How then can music fashioned by another sense become someone’s own whether one sings it or simply listens to it?

When the Lord fashions a song in and through the heart of one person, the Lord inevitably place that song not only through its fashioner but in and through all who care enough to sing it and to listen to it.

We are God’s dwelling place. Our persons, our bodies, our spirits are home to God’s song. We may be ravaged by the merciless trespass of disease, made febrile by abiding pain, seared and weakened by endless treatment, but even then… even then, the Lord rests and finds comfort in us – his dwelling place.

We may be hardened by failed relationships, shrunk down and shriveled up by wrong choices, made ugly by pain we inflict on ourselves and on others, but even then… even then, the Lord rests and finds comfort in us – his dwelling place.

And that gives us comfort. You have the Lord within you and when you sing or listen to a beautiful song that speaks about you, it is the Lord… it is the Lord who finds his home in you, it is the Lord who sings his song to you to make it your own. And how lovely indeed is this dwelling place of His.

Dwelling Place - Himig Heswita

With Two Girl Friends

2011-06-26T09:48:00.033+08:00

I had a fun ‘family’ day yesterday with two great friends (my high school wife and daughter) despite the non-stop freaking downpour and my anxiety over more thesis proposals that I have to conjure from the depths of my mind so have at least one approved study to work on for two semesters.

The thesis forum did clear up my mind regarding computer-generated presentations versus manually done renderings but the agony has obviously just started. I’m dying to have my proposals submitted to the Thesis Evaluation Committee but classes were cancelled today due to the incessant raining prolonging my pain some more.

It was raining when we met up early at McDonald’s Tomas Morato; raining when we decided to go to Trinoma instead of Luneta; raining while having delish Seafood Bento at Teriyaki Boy; raining while devouring our personally-made frozen yogurt at Fruitti Froyo; and still raining when we parted at around three in the afternoon. Bummer.

With J @ McDonalds Tomas Morato

with J and K @ Tokyo Tokyo - Trinoma

Model daw ng Marks & Spencer :)

Fooling around with J

Frutti Froyo with best friends :)))

we just love doing our dance routines. hehe~

Update 06.25.11

2011-06-25T13:25:00.001+08:00

Will be away for a while. I'm working really hard with those thesis proposals. *ugh* T_T
I feel like a trend-freak scouring every architectural sites and news portals for the latest local problems I could address architecturally. Good luck with that.

Update 06.19.11

2011-06-19T15:40:00.002+08:00

Everyone voted me to be the president of our thesis consultation class. The officers and our thesis adviser are really looking forward to a semester driven by intellectual honesty, camaraderie and concord, fostering good value and genuine fellowship towards a zero-casualty thesis advising class of the school year.
I have not yet prepared any back-up proposals in case the first three ones get screwed up. I felt like having multiple heart attacks last Saturday during our consultation class. Everything is all too nerve-wracking.
I’ll be posting soon a link of our barangay’s website. We just had our pictorial last Friday (which was my birthday!). We had our session garbed up in barong tagalogs giving me the impression of being in the Senate or Congress. LOL. I could get used to that set up.
Missed our choir’s summer (read: stormy!) excursion at San Mateo but had a blast singing at today’s morning services at our parish. I missed singing so much.
Talked to one of my father figures regarding what happened then at Laguna. It was liberating to be able to speak and let out the melting pot of emotions I felt then. Just a visit to the absolution booth and I guess I am now free to move on.

20th Birthday

2011-06-17T15:54:00.001+08:00

Image by Teng Borabon

A friend whom I share the same day of birth chatting in Facebook:

Zai: Happy Birthday!

Nowitzki: same to you! LOL. Thanks~

Zai: hehe... dami mo handa noh?

Nowitzki: wala nga eh. morbid ako pag birthday ko. depressed. busy. emo.

Zai: why naman? depressed from where? from whom?

Nowitzki: ahaha. hinde ako mahilig mag-celebrate. taon-taon yan.
Nowitzki: I prefer to treat it as an ordinary day.
Nowitzki: It's a statement of one's yearning for a bigger purpose...
Nowitzki: ...something I have yet to find.

Zai: aahhh~

Nowitzki: pasensya na. pa-deep lang talaga minsan.

---

2011-06-15T21:23:00.003+08:00

Image by Teng Borabon

'It is no wonder then, that in a largely post-Christian society, modern man is faced with a crisis of identity and vocation. When a person attempts to live as if God does not exist, he forgets who he is and what he is created for.'

Alton Pelowski

Lessons in Design

2011-06-15T01:40:00.004+08:00

Disappointments and frustrations are a very positive experience in making conceptual schemes. It means you are aiming for a higher goal/purpose. It means you are willing to undergo the process several times.

HIV/AIDS Youth Peer Education Training

2011-06-13T20:28:00.014+08:00

My father woke me up to attend what I thought to be an excursion. I prepared for half an hour to catch the carpool service waiting at the City Hall fully clad in summer beach attire only to find out blindfolded that it was going to be a 2-day-and-one-night training program. Though it looked like I was completely out-of-place to be attending something that I am not even a member of, I am now considering everything to be an unusual struck of fate that opened my eyes to so much.

Young participants of the Red Cross Youth - HIV/AIDS Youth Peer Education Training

It was like a spontaneous weekend encounter retreat. The venue was awesome, the mountainous vistas were breathtaking, the food was simply great, the facilitators were very approachable and accommodating and the topics discussed were quenching and easy to digest. It was truly and simply awesome.

From the backdrop of the beautiful Boso Boso Highland Resort in Antipolo, the Philippine Red Cross Youth – Quezon City Chapter conducted the HIV/AIDS Youth Peer Education Training last weekend (June 11-12, 2011) to 22 young participants - mostly college nursing students from Fatima University and youth community volunteers from various barangays with an aim to spread the message and not the virus.

In a nutshell, here are some of the topics we delved in:

I. A Brief Historical Background of the Red Cross
II. Safer Access Framework
III. Male and Female Reproductive Systems
IV. HIV/AIDS
V. Peer Education
VI. Substance Abuse in relation to HIV/AIDS
VII. Stigma and Discrimination

Though my presence in the training was very spontaneous, I would love to continue to be an advocate and agent of change to my peer group which what the training was all about. Even if it means making compromises to my already busy schedule, I would love to because this is it. A chance that I have been praying for, a chance to reach out to the marginalized in the society, the downtrodden, the hopeless, the poor and the stigmatized, all in the spirit of genuine love and volunteerism – a service to a non-government humanitarian advocacy independent from any established system of political intervention in the country. I’ll take my chances here :) This could be my response to the long calling to serve God by serving my brothers and sisters.

Group 3: ELIDA with Ma'm John Lloyd

Creative Juice #029: Costripping a Bishounen

2011-06-11T01:05:00.005+08:00

So here are photos of my recent rendezvous with some friends at the Globe Tatoo – Swatch Cosplay Event held last Saturday – June 4, 2011 at Trinoma’s Atrium. Jumpy and all, it was my first cosplay witness - a realization of some of my high school year’s fantasy - the peak of my Japanese animation fetishistic tendencies of oriental creative brain beverages. Because of its free admission, accessible proximate venue, and a chance to glimpse the gorgeous Gosiengfao (err, or was it Gosiengtian?) in action, it was an event that I just couldn’t say no.

It was a fun and special day as it was my first ‘costrip’ experience too, showing up as a rich and irresistible executive bishounen that kind of explains my fancy formal attire in chocolate striped long sleeves and bright red tie in floral silver damask pattern - the weirdest attire I could ever pull up my sleeve minus the wigs and guns and all the other unnecessary bulky accessories so as not to gain too much attention (or so I thought was the point of ‘costripping’ at all).

Creative Juice #028: Year Zero Fashion Show

2011-06-09T16:53:00.005+08:00

Stolen Facebook photos of my elementary-crush-turned-super-gorgeous-college-model classmate walking the runway at a UST-CFAD fashion show entitled Black Easter Year Zero last year. LOL. These eye-candy photographs are so worth looking at when stumped by an unwarranted creative block. See, I've always had this thing on men's apparel I'd love to give a shot someday given the chance. I am particularly astounded to see how close and true the finished garments are to the final designer sketches. I'm literally salivating with creative juices right now :D

My most sincere apologies to the owner of these photos, please kindly leave a comment / message for any request to delete the said images.

Ain't she georgeous? :)