MadMusic#009: Sen No Yoru Wo Koete - Aqua Timez

Cool soundtrack from the film Bleach: Memories of Nobody I just finished watching. It wasn't hard for me to like this one since I'm a not-so-big fan of J-Pop Music. Not only that it was catchy but I also liked its message. This one's the latest in my J-Pop list! Yeah to Aqua Timez and to the 2006 animated film adaptation of the anime and manga series Bleach! I love Bleach! Do you?

Greatest Gift

It's official. I'm really having a different kind of Christmas this year. It’s different in the sense of simplicity and genuine happiness. I have never really appreciated my family this much and for once, Christmas decorations, TV specials, parties, gatherings, and even gifts doesn't matter anymore.

All I care about is the present moment; the Here and Now where everything’s finally alright between each of us. Looking back, we were never this close and true to each other that is why my heart is overflowing with a different kind of joy right now.

Gag if you must at the wisdom of this warm-hearted Who, but whatever, I don't need anything more for Christmas than this right here: my family. I am very thankful to God for the calm and stillness He has brought in our home this coming birth of the Prince of Peace.

Bye for now. Merry Christmas!

High Notes

Teehee.

I'm new in the music ministry of our parish and I'm living my dream of singing in a choir as my service for the Lord. It was fun but I realized that it wasn't as easy as it looks like when you’re already in action making all the preparations and all for the Mass. Okay, it's either I'm making that rash commentary because I'm new or our parish truly is in what I prefer to call a 'musical crisis'.

I never would have known that our parish is in desperate need of new choir members and groups had I not grabbed that opportunity to join after the Class 37 of Parish Renewal Experience which I had undergone last November.

It was something I had wanted so badly all along and now I'm offering all I have to sing passionately and wholeheartedly every Mass with the rest of the group Friends of St. Paul. I hope my service for my parish is something that would last which I could look forward to in my growth as a Christian.

Hopefully after many rehearsals and a thousand voicing exercises I could work out those high notes I'm having a hard time to reach singing as tenor.

MadMusic#008: Because of You - Neyo



Haha. I'm just mad about this song :)

Christmas Shopping

Shopping and procrastination.

Those two goes very well together for most Filipinos especially during the holiday season. Many rush up to the mall to conduct their last-minute shopping as the season of presents and parties linger. With a long list of names, a credit card, or a wallet/pouch jammed full with money, a typical Filipino will do what ever it takes, come crowd, heat and confusion, to snag great finds in the nearest and cheapest malls.

I never really liked being in the crowd especially in malls during this time of the year. Aside from the heat, visual chaos, and the usual confusion, that awful smell from various sweat glands of different people coming from all ages and walks in life, is just unbearable owing to the fact that the whole complex is air-conditioned.

I was hesitating yesterday to come in my Ate and Kuya's day at SM North Edsa. I know I'd be having a bad day if I would tag along but my desire to see the renovations and developments that has been going on for months in the said '3rd largest mall in the world', prevailed inside me.

And so went and had our very own last-minute Christmas shopping. Heck, I hate the rush but overall we had a great day, really. We snagged all that our hands (and pocket) can grab, ate in two fast food, walked in all the shops that we could walk in, visited Cyberzone and bought a new phone, ACE Hardware to grab some product catalogues (I kinda needed those to be familiar with the latest products in the field), and checked out the Annex Building that opened recently last Friday.

The Annex development was the best! I love its linear orientation, the use of glass, the twisting staircases, spacious scenic elevators, the orange and silver color schemes and the use of backlights and pinlights in the overall interior which I found chick, calming, elegant and just plain modern. My eyes feasted on every corner of that wonderful mall and I was so dazzled that I promised to drop by again when more shops have already opened.

I just love checking out new developments! And I bet I could do reviews and features for the rest of my life! Ha-ha! Looks like I just stumbled upon a new passion!

We got home at around 11:00pm, with hands full of goods, sore feet, an empty pocket and a satisfied appetite for a day away from home.

I still hate the Christmas rush but surely I know I'll be back in my favorite mall.

How's My Blogging!?

I'm planning some major changes in my blog for the year 2009. Since my priorities as an individual changed I'm thinking to might as well reflect it in the overall content and look of the page. Below are my plans, you know, just a mental note to myself in case your wandering why am I writing this post:

* blog in Filipino, my native language where I can express myself more. I'm a proud Pinoy. And I want my fellow men to see that.

* spill more juices about my life as an architecture student since I don't see much of that in the Net. All the sleepless cram nights, product reviews in the field, and informative articles regarding design and architecture! Whooh!

* embrace this page as my own with no inhibitions highlighting my everyday adventures and misadventures more than the mere opinion and rantings.

* more of my shutterbug-wannabe shots, artworks and maybe vlogging (haha! I'm a virgin in that!)

* And it's weird to be talking to no one but in case your a stranger that happened to be reading this post, just kindly asking your opinion on what you want to see more in this page.

Photocredit from dailydoseoffunny.com

Christmas Ranting: Holiday Grandiosity

Photo credit from Ricardosblog.com

Didn't notice that it was already December until Advent season became the topic last Sunday in Church. And we already know what season's coming when it's already Advent. Yup, it's Christmas.

Truth is, I don't think I'm already in the festive mode for the upcoming holidays. I don't know if it's just that I'm too loaded with school works, or the financial crisis that everybody's worrying about, or even news of terrorist attacks and political problems from faraway lands. Taking a personal look at how I put it proves how certain issues around the globe could really affect even the most average of all the average Joes and Janes.

I think this year's Christmas would be really different. Not that I'm promoting negativity but you could really feel it in the air. I hope this would be a chance for me to set my priorities and mind on what matters more in the upcoming season.

Back then, I've always looked at Christmas as a day where I get tons of gifts and stuffs, a season where stores put on big sales and that time of the year where Santa and Frosty's face is everywhere. It's only now I realize that I've always looked at Christmas in a very superficial kind of way. I didn't know that minus the gifts, the Christmas tree and all the various colorful decorations Christmas will still be the same.

I'm not a party-pooper or anything and definitely not an avant-garde tradition-breaker. I just firmly believe that we don't need material things and plain superficial symbolism to define what this season is all about. And I guess that is what we can apply in our times right now.

Remember that it is all about Christ and Christ's coming alone. Not about lights, and presents, and discounts, and Christmas Special television shows and all things welling up with 'holiday' grandiosity.

Shutterbug - Wannabe #009

I just love this set of morning and afternoon shots of your everyday mundane objects. By just playing around with the lights and shadows, one could surely make something so boring interesting. Just thought I'd share it with you. Have a nice day! XD

Shutterbug - Wannabe #008: Undas 2008

I've always found a cemetery to be fascinating. Not really the ones that give you the creeps but something you'll always see as a solemn and silent place. A place where you can remember the days with your departed loved ones; where whispered prayers always fill the air; where we commemorate all the unknown saints that who knew could be in our Creator's arms.

Now I know that it's already late. But really, I should've made this post one month ago. Above are a couple of shots I took in the small municipal cemetery of Taysan, Batangas. This is where we spend our time during All Saint's and All Soul's Day, more commonly known as Undas in the native tongue.