Just more random thoughts...
... I believe that we meet the people we meet when we're ready for them. Until then, our paths don't cross at all, or if they do, it's just in a very tangential way. Only when we're absolutely ready for them do these new people appear.
... Everything we do, everyone one we meet, everything we experience prepares us for whatever next steps are in store in the future. The present doesn't always reveal what the future brings, so we don't always know what we're being readied for. However, I trust that we are.
... Whoever enters our lives (and whoever's lives we enter) is there for a reason. It isn't always apparent what that reason is, or for how long that person will be with us. God, in His infinite wisdom, does not create accidents. Everything and everyone has a deliberate and specific purpose.
... Death is sort of like a graduation diploma, given only to those that have completed their missions and curricula on earth.
... And where does free will come into play? I believe that we're given this gift to choose good.
That's all my brain could spit out... for now.
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
November 29, 2006 - Ano ba yan?!?
On the album front, 9 songs down, only 3 to go. Gerard just needs to record the orchestra first though before I can go in and do my thing. But, by January we should have a brand-spanking new album in the record stores for your listening pleasure. There's a lot of love that went into it, and hopefully it shows.
Anyway...
Last Monday, as we are wont to do, Rob and I had lunch at the Japanese restaurant by his office. Almost everyday we get together for the midday repast, just to break up the day (we're both busy people, and exhausted ones by day's end). When we entered only one other table was taken. Two gentlemen were seated, seemingly waiting for their order. We sat at a table far enough away from theirs, but not too far to miss the action that would follow.
As we were poring through the menu, we heard shouting coming from the gentlemen's table. The heavy, bespectacled one was shouting at the owner, claiming that his order was too salty, that he sent it back for improvements, and it turned out the same. He was hurling expletives, shouting at the top of his lungs, whilst the poor owner just took it all in stride. Rob and I couldn't help but watch and listen to what was happening. Finally, the two left the restaurant. I was flustered enough as well as distracted that it was hard to concentrate on what I wanted to eat.
I have only this to say: there is absolutely no excuse for bad behavior.
Yes, I know, the customer is always right, but there are better ways to express one's dissatisfaction. It isn't necessary to hurl "fuck you's" to get your point across. Didn't anyone teach this guy manners?
Sa totoo lang, nakakainis ang mga taong ganyan, parang walang pinag-aralan. Kung sumigaw parang may-ari ng mundo.
Unfortunately, we all have to deal with such individuals at one point or another, people who will royally piss us off. I'd like to think that when the time comes for me to have to come face to face with an asshole like that, that I would react in a classy way. I vow to never sink down to the level of dirt. May pinag-aralan ako. Yun lang.
Anyway...
Last Monday, as we are wont to do, Rob and I had lunch at the Japanese restaurant by his office. Almost everyday we get together for the midday repast, just to break up the day (we're both busy people, and exhausted ones by day's end). When we entered only one other table was taken. Two gentlemen were seated, seemingly waiting for their order. We sat at a table far enough away from theirs, but not too far to miss the action that would follow.
As we were poring through the menu, we heard shouting coming from the gentlemen's table. The heavy, bespectacled one was shouting at the owner, claiming that his order was too salty, that he sent it back for improvements, and it turned out the same. He was hurling expletives, shouting at the top of his lungs, whilst the poor owner just took it all in stride. Rob and I couldn't help but watch and listen to what was happening. Finally, the two left the restaurant. I was flustered enough as well as distracted that it was hard to concentrate on what I wanted to eat.
I have only this to say: there is absolutely no excuse for bad behavior.
Yes, I know, the customer is always right, but there are better ways to express one's dissatisfaction. It isn't necessary to hurl "fuck you's" to get your point across. Didn't anyone teach this guy manners?
Sa totoo lang, nakakainis ang mga taong ganyan, parang walang pinag-aralan. Kung sumigaw parang may-ari ng mundo.
Unfortunately, we all have to deal with such individuals at one point or another, people who will royally piss us off. I'd like to think that when the time comes for me to have to come face to face with an asshole like that, that I would react in a classy way. I vow to never sink down to the level of dirt. May pinag-aralan ako. Yun lang.
Monday, November 27, 2006
November 27, 2006 - So much for quiet...
I was right... no sleep for the weary. In this case the mommy, the abu and the yaya.
Cebu didn't treat us very well this trip... first, my mother fell in the hotel room. She didn't see the step down into the bathroom, and fell forward. Fortunately she was able to stop herself with her hands, but she suffered a sprain and bruises on her palms. She's doing just fine. Second, I ate something that triggered an allergy attack in Nicole (which meant I couldn't breastfeed for 2 days until the offending allergen was purged from me... not being able to nurse was painful for the both of us emotionally... once I was able to breastfeed her again, we were both just much, much happier). Third, I was getting allergies from the dust in the room and the hallway. And finally, on the morning of our second day there, there was unrelenting drilling outside early in the morning. It didn't help that none of us got good sleep the night before. Argh! Que terrible!
The gig went fine though.
Now we're back to our normal routine. Nic's here in the bedroom with us still (sorry, but I can't part with her, and www.askdrsears.com only reinforces my instincts to keep her close) and I'm still breastfeeding (mixed now though, she has the appetite of a racehorse).
On an unrelated note...
XBOX 360 ROCKS!!!
Cebu didn't treat us very well this trip... first, my mother fell in the hotel room. She didn't see the step down into the bathroom, and fell forward. Fortunately she was able to stop herself with her hands, but she suffered a sprain and bruises on her palms. She's doing just fine. Second, I ate something that triggered an allergy attack in Nicole (which meant I couldn't breastfeed for 2 days until the offending allergen was purged from me... not being able to nurse was painful for the both of us emotionally... once I was able to breastfeed her again, we were both just much, much happier). Third, I was getting allergies from the dust in the room and the hallway. And finally, on the morning of our second day there, there was unrelenting drilling outside early in the morning. It didn't help that none of us got good sleep the night before. Argh! Que terrible!
The gig went fine though.
Now we're back to our normal routine. Nic's here in the bedroom with us still (sorry, but I can't part with her, and www.askdrsears.com only reinforces my instincts to keep her close) and I'm still breastfeeding (mixed now though, she has the appetite of a racehorse).
On an unrelated note...
XBOX 360 ROCKS!!!
Thursday, November 23, 2006
November 23, 2006 - So quiet...
I'm currently in Cebu for the last in that corporate gig series (the show is tomorrow night). My mom, Shiela, Nicole and her yaya Maricar are here too. The yaya has the night off to spend with her family (her nephew is celebrating his 1st birthday today), and my mom's in the casino with Shiela. She needs to be accompanied today because she fell in the bathroom (she didn't see the step down from the bedroom... ouch...). Nic is fast asleep in her crib (woke up once for a nursing), so it's really just me spending some quiet time, in essence, alone. And I'm enjoying it.
Sometimes, you just have to be in a silent room, away from the television, music, or any other distractions. I really enjoy this kind of quiet. It's probably one reason I sleep as late as I do... I'm a night owl by choice. Having a child also encourages staying up late (it does for me anyway), as I feel I have to stay up to administer to her needs. We still have nighttime nursings, and I enjoy them. Great way to bond with my baby, as well as satisfy her appetite.
Rob stayed in Manila, as he has work to do, and an Xbox 360 to enjoy. Mwehehehehe, I'm actually envious.
So while I can, I shall enjoy the silence of my room. I know that in an hour or so, it'll get noisy again.
Sometimes, you just have to be in a silent room, away from the television, music, or any other distractions. I really enjoy this kind of quiet. It's probably one reason I sleep as late as I do... I'm a night owl by choice. Having a child also encourages staying up late (it does for me anyway), as I feel I have to stay up to administer to her needs. We still have nighttime nursings, and I enjoy them. Great way to bond with my baby, as well as satisfy her appetite.
Rob stayed in Manila, as he has work to do, and an Xbox 360 to enjoy. Mwehehehehe, I'm actually envious.
So while I can, I shall enjoy the silence of my room. I know that in an hour or so, it'll get noisy again.
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
I Didn't Want Pow To Go
Being a judge on Philippine Idol was an interesting experience.
From the get go I was encouraged to be frank... be honest... to just tell the idols what I thought of their performances. I felt it would be a good thing to get down to brass tacks and get specific with whatever I thought was not quite up to snuff. But, I also told myself to be generous with praise, if I felt it was deserved.
However, I also realized that as a judge, I have little to no influence on the voting. And ultimately, the true judges of the contest were the viewing public.
And it was a bit unfair.
Truth be told, the sound quality inside the theater was spectacular! I could hear nuance and expression, in spite of the crowd's applause. The band's mix was wonderful, and the singers were never drowned out. Not too much bass... or treble... nothing. It sounded perfect and I was having myself a jolly good time. But I knew that this greatness of a show that I was seeing was not by any means the same show the TV audience was seeing. Not by a longshot. I've seen Philippine Idol at home, and the sound quality is absolutely terrible. As in, not even passable. As in, unfair to the viewing public that deserves to hear what I heard.
Tip: watch it on YouTube to get an idea of what we heard. And ABC-5, FIX THIS!!!
Anyway... back to my topic.
Perhaps it wasn't Pow's best night before the microphone, and perhaps the production people choosing "I'd Give My Life For You" signalled her downfall (to her credit she sang it well, better than a few Kims I've watched in the past). But still, I don't think she should have been booted off this week. She's clearly one of the better performers with a crystal clear powerful voice that's easy on the ear. There isn't a lot of that around now, and her unique persona in a sea of homogeneity is something refreshing. I wish her nothing but the best in this business... there's a place for a voice like hers.
So... place your bets. Who do you think will take the title home? Let's see over the next two weekends just who will step up to the plate, throw caution to the wind and just perform their best.
Break a leg, you guys.
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Four RP Schools Among the Top 500 Universities in the World
I copied this off of another friend's blog.
I now hang my head in shame... WE WERE BEATEN BY THE LASALLITES, IN ACADEMICS!!!
----------------------------------
Four schools in the Philippines are among the Top 500 Universities in the World.
The research and study was undertaken by Times Higher Education Supplement-
Quacquarelli Symonds (THES-QS) World University Rankings.
The top 500 universities were chosen from among 15,000 educational institutions
worldwide. To be part of this elite list of universities, the institution has to meet
several stringent criteria, including faculty-to-student ratios and ratings given by
more than 3,000 academicians & 700 leading international employment recruiters.
The University of the Philippines (UP) was the highest ranked local
school with a global ranking of 299 and 47th among Asian universities. Behind
UP in the list are three private universities:
De La Salle (392nd),
Ateneo de Manila (484th), and the
University of Santo Tomas at 500th.
Meanwhile, the top 20 leading universities in the world are the following:
Harvard (1st), Cambridge (2nd), Oxford (3rd), Massachusetts Institute of
Technology and Yale (tying for 4th), Stanford (6th), California Institute of
Technology (7th), University of California in Berkeley (8th), Imperial
College London (9th), Princeton (10th), University of Chicago (11th),
Columbia (12th), Duke (13th), Beijing University (14th), Cornell (15th),
Australian National University (16th), London School of Economics (17th),
Ecole Normale Superieure (18th), National University of Singapore and
Tokyo University (tying for 19th).
Many of the top universities are American and British, but there are
sprinkles of representation from Australia, France, China, Singapore
and Japan. Most of the leading American universities are private; in
fact, on that top 20 list, the University of California Berkeley is the only
American public institution.
Among the leading Asia-Pacific universities on the THES-QS list of the
world's 500 leading universities, 90 are from Asia. Japan leads with 28,
followed by China (including Hong Kong) with 16, Taiwan with 8, South
Korea and Thailand with 7 each, Malaysia, Indonesia & the Philippines
with 4 each, Australia with 3, Singapore with 2 and Bangladesh with one.
I now hang my head in shame... WE WERE BEATEN BY THE LASALLITES, IN ACADEMICS!!!
----------------------------------
Four schools in the Philippines are among the Top 500 Universities in the World.
The research and study was undertaken by Times Higher Education Supplement-
Quacquarelli Symonds (THES-QS) World University Rankings.
The top 500 universities were chosen from among 15,000 educational institutions
worldwide. To be part of this elite list of universities, the institution has to meet
several stringent criteria, including faculty-to-student ratios and ratings given by
more than 3,000 academicians & 700 leading international employment recruiters.
The University of the Philippines (UP) was the highest ranked local
school with a global ranking of 299 and 47th among Asian universities. Behind
UP in the list are three private universities:
De La Salle (392nd),
Ateneo de Manila (484th), and the
University of Santo Tomas at 500th.
Meanwhile, the top 20 leading universities in the world are the following:
Harvard (1st), Cambridge (2nd), Oxford (3rd), Massachusetts Institute of
Technology and Yale (tying for 4th), Stanford (6th), California Institute of
Technology (7th), University of California in Berkeley (8th), Imperial
College London (9th), Princeton (10th), University of Chicago (11th),
Columbia (12th), Duke (13th), Beijing University (14th), Cornell (15th),
Australian National University (16th), London School of Economics (17th),
Ecole Normale Superieure (18th), National University of Singapore and
Tokyo University (tying for 19th).
Many of the top universities are American and British, but there are
sprinkles of representation from Australia, France, China, Singapore
and Japan. Most of the leading American universities are private; in
fact, on that top 20 list, the University of California Berkeley is the only
American public institution.
Among the leading Asia-Pacific universities on the THES-QS list of the
world's 500 leading universities, 90 are from Asia. Japan leads with 28,
followed by China (including Hong Kong) with 16, Taiwan with 8, South
Korea and Thailand with 7 each, Malaysia, Indonesia & the Philippines
with 4 each, Australia with 3, Singapore with 2 and Bangladesh with one.
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Tonight's the Night!
First off... PACMAN WON!!! KO'd Eric Morales in the third round. Go Philippines!
It's almost 3:30 PM on a Sunday afternoon. Nic's been sleeping nicely
today (probably catching up on the sleep she lost over the last couple
of days). It's so much fun watching her suck on her toes, play by
herself, and smile. We got her a few toys last night from the nearby
baby store, and she seems to be enjoying them.
Only 5 more hours before I have to head to Megamall for my judging
stint. It seems as though I'm expected to be completely, totally and
utterly frank (and maybe even ruthless). Well, the expectations are, to a point, right. My brother's advice
was to pull no punches with the Idol hopefuls. My mother says to
remain tactful, as the fans of the singers might just take it out on me
later on. As tempting as I know it will be to pull a Simon Cowell,
I'll just be honest without being cruel. If I hear flats and sharps,
I'll let them know. If I think they're emotionally detached from the
song, I'll let them know.
But really, what am I looking for?
Given that the theme tonight is Movies and Musicals (or is it Musicals and Movies?), I am looking for the contestants to give attention to the lyrics. These songs were written as part of or to enhance a story, so even if the music in this case is taken out of context, I would still like to hear the story the songs have to say, as per the singers' interpretations. I'm also out for intonation (i.e., staying in tune), diction, an emotional connection to the material, a connection with the audience, and a sense of joy. I wanna see that the singers are in this not just for the eventual victory, but because singing is their life, and something they really love.
I saw the song choices on another blogsite so this should be very interesting. As I sit at the judges table, I am hoping to hear some of the best performances these singers can dish out. I have a good feeling that I will.
Philippine Idol. ABC-5. 9 PM (or whatever time the PBA game ends). Watch it!
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