Think Out Loud

Promise. I have never watched a Tagalog movie on the big screen, EVER. 

Until recently.

No thanks to Ate Mayla, I was compelled to watch Bulong, a horror-comedy flick of Angelica Panganiban and Vhong Navarro. It never crossed my mind I'd see this on cinema, let alone blog it.

I know, corny, baduy, pang-masa - you name it (no offense to Tagalog moviegoers)- but I had FUN. That's right. It's a pretty hilarious movie, especially when you're with people who just looove to laugh. One thing that made it bearable was I'm not iffy with Angelica Panganiban. Her lines were so funny and her acting was great too. And the ghost was the best! She was supposed to be scary but ended up insanely funny, especially the part when she knocked out Conan's (Vhong) head because he was so stupid. He mistakenly read "Bohol" as "Bulol".

Hahaha, good one. It was one of the best.

It's a good movie to watch on a lazy weekday night - when you just want to relax your mind, hang out with friends, and exercise your bellies with many laugh out louds.

I guess in a lifetime, there's always a first for everything.

It's telethon week again! This time, our telethon is entitled:


Yes, Ikaw ang Bida! For the whole week, segments about kids will be featured on the 700 Club Asia.

As always, we were assigned to lead the praise and worship for the first day. After that, we spent the whole night praying for the show and watching it. Compared to the other telethons I have watched, this is probably the lightest, less tensed telethon I've ever been to. So I strongly recommend that you watch the show tonight until Friday at 11PM on Qtv. You'll enjoy hearing compelling stories of kids and how their faith in God amazed even the well-experienced adults.

Here are some pictures from last night while waiting for the show. Thanks to Ate Yahon for thinking of bringing a camera that even I (insanely crazy about cameras) forgot to do.

Since the rise of dictatorship to the restoration of democracy, the Philippines has become nothing but a bygone. Year after year, the once highly regarded country in Asia sank deeper and deeper into a quick sand of ill luck where poverty is everywhere, children are dying, journalists are on the run, criminals are walking around freely, power is coveted, and hard-earned tax money are vanishing. Crimes have become nothing but a sign of normality; the scales of justice tipping favorably on one side. It's a well-crafted tar pit of wickedness. And through the years, it just hardened the hearts of many and sadly, left millions hopeless.

Was the country discovered only to be doomed in the end? Is it bitter fate? Probably many believed it that's why many have become apathetic.

But in the midst of the abysmal quandary, there were brave ones who stepped up. Too much negativity and wrongness were a jolt of electricity that pushed them further into boldness.  Finally, people braved to question such circumstances. Is it really fate? Are we really inclined to doom? No, it's not. And we have to do something about it.

Being known as the "only Christian nation in Asia", Filipinos used a weapon they were good and known to be good at: Prayer. During the first People Power Revolution, people joined together to pray. During the second People Power Revolution, people once again prayed. And when things heated up even worse than the last, the Christian people once again came together to fast, pray and and repent for the sins of the nation for three whole days. Such an event was held a month before the last presidential elections. Now there's a new president. It's been a year and if one looks at the newspapers, it seems that God has been listening to the cries and prayers of His children after all. Massive expose's are happening. Government offices are being swept clean of corruption. Most importantly, throngs of people are giving their lives to the Lord.

The "Only Christian Nation in Asia" believed that this quandary happened not because of fate, but because of the nation's high disregard to the Word of God through the people's blatant wickedness and craftiness. It's a consequence of faults ignored and consented. It's a punishment brought by the Almighty God.

Interestingly, the Philippines is not the only one who thinks that the nation's problems were a consequence of disobedience to God. Thousands of miles away, through scorching deserts and war-torn streets, the Muslim Radicals also believe that their "bad luck" is caused by a spiritual force.

What happened to the Muslims?


Centuries ago, the Muslims were once considered a world power. Their military and economic powers were vast and great. They once led the world into the era of discovery. They were great in scientific feats. They owned vast areas of land. They conquered, killed, enslaved, and wrapped the world into their own hands. But now, their former glory has become nothing but a trail of dust. They are now ruled by tyranny. Muslim people live in terror. Their once "glorious" soil has become a breeding ground of terrorists.

What had happened?

Bernard Luis, a Princeton University Scholar on Islamic and Middle East History, gave an interesting explanation on this. Since the Muslims centuries ago made travel to Asia very difficult for the Westerners, the Westerners decided to find ways on how to get to the East continent without having to pass through the dominating Middle Eastern countries. And so, what started as a dangerous voyage to the unknown became an eruption of discovery for the Westerners. Their knowledge, where a majority was contributed by the Muslim scholars, was leveled up. It certainly left the Middle East behind. And before they knew it, they were "choked" by Islam while the "rest of the world moved on".

Centuries later, the Muslim's pride was trampled on after the tumultuous defeats they gathered at their end. Worse, the abhorred Israel was recognized as a country and defeated them in a series of wars. This enraged the Muslims, particularly the radicals. They believe that this ill-luck of power change with the West was nothing but a spiritual thing. They believed this was a punishment of Allah for their impudence and insolence. Their leaders have become secular. Their government has forgotten the Islam. With that, they saw the need to re-educate their people and bring them back to the roots of Islam religion, including killing the "unbelievers" which is infamously known as the "Jihad".

To this day, Middle Eastern countries run by Radicals are being led by their religious ideals. But while the Philippines is called the "only Christian nation in Asia", Middle East has Iran which is the "only Islamic nation in the world" because their Islam-run law. The two countries have similarities in terms of believing that their ill luck is caused by a spiritual force, but while one is run by peace and love, the other is run by radicalism and hatred.



This essay was based from the non-fiction book of Joel C. Rosenberg entitled Inside the Revolution.

Last Friday, my boss was interviewed in Sa Totoo Lang, a radio program of the 700 Club. It is being aired at Inquirer's DZIQ every weekday at 1PM. My boss asked me to accompany her on her live interview and I did.

When I entered the savvy looking studio (which screamed "professionalism"), I oddly felt right at home. It was like a fog has been lifted. It has been sometime since I have last been in a radio station, and it was at that moment that something clicked in my head gears. An electricity jolted in my system at a realization.

I belong here.

For the past few months, I've been studying and contemplating the "job" where I would fit in. So far, being in the print media is not really giving me that sense of satisfaction, although I have yet to see again because of some assignments I had recently. For me, the past few months was like having an identity crisis, but this time a "career" crisis. I didn't know what I really want to do. I don't know where I would fit in. But that quick trip to the radio station somewhat cleared my confusion. But then, I don't know. Maybe I just missed working on radio and I just felt that kind of excitement like when you see a longtime friend you haven't seen in years. But it certainly pushed my excitement a notch. For a while, I felt useful. It even took some effort to restrain myself from talking into the microphone. I certainly missed the excitement of live radio shows. That certain hushed tension is always something that you could only associate with live radio shows and nothing else.

I'm excited for my boss' next guesting on the 18th. I wonder if the excitement would be even greater than the last.

Nag-a-arm wrestling habang may klase

Tuma-tambay at nagcu-cutting classes

Nahuli ng teacher!

Nagulat!

Nung lumapit, mas lalong nagulat!

Nagsisihan. Pinapunta tuloy sa Principal's office

Scared of what awaits them.... mwhahahahahahahaha (monster laugh) THE END

Have I mentioned our office already moved to a new location? Well, OUR OFFICE MOVED TO A NEW LOCATION! Yesterday, it was dedicated and members of the Mancom and Board of Trustees graced us with their presence. It started around 11:30AM and ended fairly quick. But because we decided to have photo sprees around the office (which I will upload later on), we ate lunch at half past one. But eating with co-workers is always a great thing and in my case, it's one of the best so it assuaged hunger attitudes. It's like having lunch with the whole family. We usually spend the time cracking jokes and poking fun at each other so snorted water and flying grains of rice is a usual thing in our "household".

It's like living in a sitcom everyday.

But yesterday was extra special. For the first time since this year entered and since our move to the new office, our department staff was complete. So yesterday we took a "family" photo. And once again, the three amigas, with Kuya Ben as the photographer, joined forces in creating chaos and craziness in our everyday sitcom.