Ninth of the Ten: Do Re Mi Fa So(ngs) La Ti Do

I listen to music, I don’t have any music related intelligence. So, forgive me if my top two songs for this post doesn’t fit any of your tastes.

Music is the universal language of mankind.  ~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow,Outre-Mer

2 Songs.

1. Usahay. No, not because it’s in my local dialect: Bisaya, but because it was my grandparents themed song. It’s a great serenade song, as the old ones said so.  The song was popularized by Ms. Pilita Corrales, as I believed. But in my generation, I heard South Borders singing the serenade, they’ve done a great cover for the song.

2. Moon River. Who could not want the song? Yeah? It’s a simple song (well at least for me) yet gives a wider range of meanings. It could be simply a writer’s story and experiences, the meaning of life, the very idea of life; a journey, a river one needs to cross and of course not alone but must be with someone, a friend who never lives you behind. The world may have abandoned you but never this very friend. The friend, the story of the friend might be the popular Huckleberry Finn, who lived a carefree life along the banks of the Mississippi river. Interesting song, indeed!

Moon River. Interpreted.

Seventh of the Ten: Books!

I read any kind of books regardless of the reviews, not because I like the book but I give chance for the author to convince me that it’s worth the time. Not all books’ a good read, that’s why choose what you read. Because what defines a person are, the books you read and the friends you keep.

4 Books.

1. Harry Potter. I’m an avid fan of the Harry Potter and of J.K. Rowling. Why? For the simplest reason. I like how J.K. Rowling creatively made a whole new life and world. Giving hope for the wizards and witches’ world, a redemption from the dark ages.

2. Lord of the Rings.  A Modern Classic.

One Ring to Rule them all.

 

“…..But in the end, it’s only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come, and when the sun shines, it will shine out the clearer. Those are the stories that stayed with you, that meant something even if you were too young to understand why. But I think I know now. Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn’t. They kept going because they were holding on to something-that there’s some good in the world, and it’s worth fighting for!” 
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings

3. Tell Me Your Dreams (1998) by Sidney Sheldon. Another trial case story of Sheldon dealing with MPD or as known as Multiple Personality Disorder. The main character suffers from MPD and had 2 another alters which were  alternately controlling the main character’s behavior. I love the thrill and mystery in the story. Interesting plot but I just hate happy endings! Oopps!

4. Rizal without the Overcoat (1999) by Ambeth Ocampo. A well written book regarding Philippine’s National Hero: Jose Rizal. History and Biographies are usually a boring to read, communication is the key for an interesting read and Ambeth Ocampo, the author, captured the attention of the youth and made the life of the very well known Jose Rizal, a joy to read.

 

Let books be your dining table,
And you shall be full of delights
Let them be your mattress
And you shall sleep restful nights.
~Author Unknown

 

 

Sixth of the Ten: FoooOoOod

“you are what you eat… “

A very perfect saying for our blog challenge for the day, it’ll all be about food! If only we can partake whatever we want to partake without getting any fats, any sickness or the like.

5 Food

1. My mom’s bitter gourd with beef. It’s been my favorite ever since my mom learned cooking. It was in my fifth grade that my mom tried to cook for us. She doesn’t know how to cook, it’s been a trial and error. Cooking needs a  lot of practice, patience and love. Also, a lot of insulting and ridicules like what Chef Ramsay does.. just kidding! We never told mama that her cooking was awfully awful, we still ate whatever she puts in the table. 😀

2. My brother’s Sinigang. Whenever I go home for semesters break I always ask for his Sinigang. I am biased over this, but I love the sourness of his sinigang. I can’t compare it to anyone. My brother’s been our cook ever since he started cooking. He got potentials, I do hope he’ll study further, and maybe someday opens his own restaurant.

3. Margies Kitchen’s Chocolate Moist. Margie’s been THE only cake shop who perfected, in my opinion, the moistiness (if there’s such a word in the dictionary) in the Chocolate Moist. It’s been a demand ever since I was a child. Please visit Butuan City and taste Margie’s Chocolate Moist! I hope they will pay me for advertising them, haha! 

Sweeeet Tooth!

4. Puto and Sikwati. If you think Prince William and Kate’s a perfect couple, wait until you tasted Philippines famous breakfast treat: Puto and Sikwati. A perfect combination!

5. Kimchi. It’s pretty odd to have mentioned all local dishes and suddenly goes international. Forgive me. I loved Kimchi because of this:

Kimchi is a uniquely pungent mixture of fermented vegetables and its variations amounted to roughly 80 kinds of dishes during the Choson period. For spring, summer and fall consumption, kimchi was cured in a small quantity, but for the winter months, large quantities were made so that it could be eaten over three or four months. (source: asiarecipe.com)

It needs to be fermented for a period of time, it needs a lot of waiting for it to be eaten and can be eaten in various ways and kinds. I can’t name any other food that could be used in variety of kinds of dishes. That made Kimchi interesting for me, and it tastes great!

“If more of us valued food and cheer above hoarded gold, it would be a much merrier world.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien

Fourth of the Ten: Wants

All of us have things we desire to acquire, will it be material things, power, money, position, and the list goes along. We have that nature to acquire and for this post, I will have a list of what I wish to acquire, called Wants. Materially, I can give you a hundredth of list but I’m pretty meticulous with the list and came up with this top of my want-list.

7 Wants:

1. I want to Travel. I want to see the world, and God’s magnificence. And for my chosen profession, there’s a need for travel, to see what is happening to the world. I have a bucket list of my top places to go to, but who doesn’t have a list? 🙂

2. I want to learn Rendering, an A+ photo-realistic rendering. Whatever you see now about architecture and interiors, verify it if it’s real or a render because today, you can’t already tell which is which because of fast-pace improvement of technology, softwares and research.

A Photo-Realistic Render (c) http://renderingofarchitecture.com

3. I want to study Abroad. I know it’s not in the School where you came from, but to the excellence you do in every small things you do that bears much fruit in the future. But I want to acquire a different experience and training in Architecture. I think there’ll be much more to learn.

4. I want a Pritzker Prize. Dreams! you can never limit dreams. Pritzker Prize is an equivalent of the Nobel Prize in Architecture, and I dream of being an awardee. I still have a loooooooong way, but will never give up!

Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after the other.
Walter Elliot

5. I want (wish) to build my parents home. It will not be a dream anymore because I am already planning it, but I do wish it’ll be under my name, not of any other Architects.

6. I want to be better in writing.  I’m not much of a writer but I’m trying. It’s one of my dreams to author a book, a best-seller book. Wishful thinking 🙂

7. I want (wish) the Philippines to have sustainable infrastructures! Seeing our streets now, it continues to break my heart. How can we have a dignity lift if even our streets can’t give us one? We don’t have safe sidewalks, we don’t have effective sewers, we don’t have admirable infrastructures and we never maintain our buildings and the list goes on and on. Sigh.

“All the human and animal manure which the world wastes, if returned to the land, instead of being thrown into the sea, would suffice to nourish the world.”
― Victor Hugo, Les Misérables

Third of the Ten: Fears

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. It’s not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

 The famous quote from the movie Coach Carter. It somehow summed everything up for this post. For today, it’ll all be about fears.

8 Fears.

1. I fear that I may be inadequate. Inadequate to work, and do what I love the most. Inadequate to sympathize. Inadequate to listen and hear.

2. I fear to lose and not be able to stand up. As I was watching the game of PacMan versus Juan Marquez, it somehow gave me the intuition, to learn from the game. Indeed, it best reflects of what I really feared of. I fear to lose and not be able to get up and try the second shot. That I may not be able to stand up from the fall. For PacMan, thanks for standing up and putting a smile after that fall.

Manny Pacquiao back up on his feet after the KO in the 6th which ended the fight. 

3. I fear rejection. I feel awful every time a rejection comes. I had a lot of them last week and frankly, I don’t like it and gets me upset so much. But I thank all of my church friends who told me to reflect on it and do better. To learn from it, and take another shot. It’s great that I got rejected this early because there’ll be more, they said.

4. I fear that I may have so much success that I’ll forget how to get up when I fall. I thank the Lord so much that He gave me what is just enough for me. I don’t really know what will become if I have to much. As the saying goes, too much of anything is not good for oneself.

5. I fear that I’d be too much focused on getting that success and not enjoy what I have now. For my profession, it needs a lot of hard work and a lot of sacrifices. I just feared that of that sacrifices I’d miss something, and will not be able to savor the present.

Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present. – Master Oogway

6. I fear that I may not be able fulfill/do my life purpose. Getting caught up with “working” and “busy-busy life” , I fear I may not be able to do what I’m intended to do here in the world. I get so distracted always, and forgets my commitments. I do hope, with God’s grace I’d be back on track.

7. I fear I’ll lose my enthusiasm. I don’t want to ask for a “bagyo” (storm) but If I really need it, then I’ll embrace it and ask for strength.

8. I fear that I will not be able to liberate from my own fear.

“Fear is a tyrant and a despot, more terrible than the rack, more potent than the snake.” – Edgar Wallace – The Clue of the Twisted Candle (1916)

 

Second of the Ten: Love (Passion)

Day 2 of the Blog Challenge and todays post will be 9 loves.

It’s hard to pick only 9 because I’m the type of person who has a wide variety of interests. With much thought and evaluation I came up with these.

9 LOVES

1. I love colors. It makes everything look vibrant. It stimulates mood and it has characteristics in its own.

2. I love to read. Reading exercises my imagination and creativity.

3. I love taking pictures of people sleeping. It’s the innocence of the person sleeping that makes me joyful to capture that moment. I don’t post them in social media, I only keep them for myself. It’s too bizarre isn’t it?

Church of Light. Tadao Ando

4. I love to learn to play guitar but it doesn’t love me back. I’ve always been wanting to learn the instrument but I, for no reason, can’t push through. I’m still hoping though, maybe someday.=)

5. I love Architecture. It became the love of my life ever since I let go of the very hope of training back in Taekwondo. There’s something in Architecture that keeps reminding me to be always grounded, to be always alert and ready for battle, to be always on my toes and to be always an empty cup.

6. I love storage. 😀 In my previous post, one of my secrets were I want everything to be in complete order, yes? So, because I want to keep things in order I want everything in stored. I like boxes, cans, and everything I can use for storage. It gives me a peace of mind.

7. I love old houses. I’ve learned to love heritage structure because of my Sociology Professor and my Architectural Conservation Professor. They were so passionate about it that they were able to inspire me to value the story of the past, to value the story of each structure, that everything from the past interconnects to the present and will be in the future. And the history should be valued because it honed us to what we are now today.

8. I love books. They’re a work of art and literature weaved to perfection. Words that are carefully composed to create a harmony and book designers adding visual vibrancy to the concept of the author. What a great piece of art!

9. I love my mom. My mom is my mom and dad 24/7. She stood as the mom and dad for us since my dad, during our formative years and caught of the present need, needs to work outside the country. She’s both emotional and strong. She’s emotional because that’s what she is, and she is strong because she never let go of Her father, Her provider. She’s a great mom and I can’t exchange it to anything. I love you mom and thank you for trusting me. =)

My mom taught me to live life to the fullest and that life isn’t a sprint, it’s a marathon one must endure.A training that you must learn to love with all of your heart. A journey to Mordor, a life with purpose.

“The mystery of human existence lies not in just staying alive, but in finding something to live  for  (passion).”
― Fyodor Dostoyevsky

First of the Ten: Secrets

I’ m up for a challenge, a challenge to tell ten secrets of me. Tell me what you want to hear because I’m gonna give all my secrets away. 

Ten Secrets:

The Ugly Duckling.

1. I love rain and hates thunderstorms. I really want to dance in the rain (unless I have my laptop with me) it’s been a childhood activity whenever it rains.

2. I can’t sleep without music/lullaby, or a bedtime story. Ever since-I- can’t- remember -when, I’m having a hard time sleeping. The Ugly Duckling bedtime story is helping me feel sleepy these days.

3. I’m unstructured kind of person but I hate messy rooms! In our room, I want things to be in COMPLETE order.

4. I once collect W.I.T.C.H. magazines, I was a die-hard fan of the magazine but later on, I have to give it up because my beloved TKD gym needs funds for the renovation, so I sold all of my W.I.T.C.H. collection.

5. I collect MEMORIES. I collect tissues, stickers, plane tickets, tokens. Haha! It means a lot to me especially if I can still remember the reason why I kept it. Believe it or not, I still have ALL of my plane and boat tickets ever since my very first plane and boat trip.

6. I don’t know if it’s something a secret ‘cause I think everyone does it but I keep all of my recognition ribbons and medals.

7. I still watch PPG, Dexter’s Lab, Cow and Chicken, Samurai Jack. Well, if given the chance to watch television with cable or when I’m home.

8. I have this one certain bed sheet diary. I love white but I hate white sheets, so I made my bed sheet a canvas. Sorry mom.

9.  I’ve been wishing to be a ballerina. It’s most every girl’s dream, I guess. At least I have this tiny attempt on being girly.

10. I arranges my clothes in color-code. From the darkest hue to the lightest. It’s pleasing to the eye and it seems to look like my version of a rainbow.

It’s been tough, It took me the whole night to come up with these ten. It’s been a great exercise and activity in knowing things more about yourself. Why don’t all of you try it..? 😛

“Your visions will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.”
― C.G. Jung

Christmas Spirit

Everyday, will it be in the office, in the boarding house or in random places I passed by going home I hear Christmas Songs, kids who are now starting to carol each homes and decorations now are being set for the Holiday. It begins to look a lot like Christmas!

In one random night, doing some overtime work for my few outside-the-office-projects, I was listening to Michael Buble’s Christmas Songs and I began to sing along with the song, looking for the lyrics because I didn’t memorize any of these songs. The lyrics of the songs “Grown-Up Christmas List” caught my very attention and it somehow pierced my heart. Reading the lyrics made me realized that I’ve been too selfish, too preoccupied with me, me, me that I forgot to think of others, never in my thought to utter  prayers for others. Never  I involved my self these days in any activities that concerns others. I thank  the song writer for the wonderful and unselfish song, thank you for letting me realize to share even a thought,  a prayer for others. 😀

GROWN-UP CHRISTMAS LIST

Do you remember me?
I sat upon your knee
I wrote to you with childhood fantasies
Well, I’m all grown-up now
Can you still help somehow?
I’m not a child, but my heart still can dream

So here’s my lifelong wish
My grown-up Christmas list
Not for myself, but for a world in need

No more lives torn apart
That wars would never start
And time would heal all hearts
Every man would have a friend
That right would always win
And love would never end
This is my grown-up Christmas list

What is this illusion called the innocence of youth?
Maybe only in that blind belief can we ever find the truth

No more lives torn apart
That wars would never start
And time would heal our hearts
Every man would have a friend
That right would always win
And love would never end

This is my grown-up Christmas list
This is my only lifelong wish
This is my grown-up Christmas list

Merry Christmas Everyone!

I wonder what could be your grown-up Christmas List.. me? I’m still doing my lists… 🙂