UMBRELLA, ELLA, ELLA, EH, EH!

UMBRELLA, ELLA, ELLA, EH, EH!
this post is exclusive for my number one avid reader: mama!

I promised to post these pictures for my mother. haha! it's a funny thought! my class this morning was canceled. So i went straight to Ipil to read ANATOMY OF FILM by Bernard Dick until my momma send a text message requesting to post these pictures.

So there you have it!

Ciao! God Bless!

GRILLED: BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN

GRILLED: BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN
recent controversial DVD acquisitions

Critics, like the pompous Roger Ebert, hailed it. It is the most controversial film both of its art and its content. It is one of the most important film of twenty first century. It's accented to be a subtext of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet or the recent Titatnic (1997) about two star-crossed lovers' journey to eternal love.






It was my first time to watch this three-Academy award winning film.

Yes, i hesitated it to watch it at first. It's too controversial, too publicized, yet it became a household title, as everyone would know. I was just enamored by the power of this film, and in general, the power of a film to stir up a massive tour-de-force in history.

I also hesitated because of the content. Homosexuality specifically homosexual love, a nuisance topic as i generally speak of it, is a little inappropriate and a sad thing to talk about with friends during high school days. High school, where sexuality was such a taboo, is the end of the world for such topics. The questions of sex is a dark churn in the mind. The fruits of tertiary education enabled me to understand the aspects of such topics and the importance of such aspects. Aspects of homosexuality are often attacked by stereotypes. The level of stigma is high, as one homosexual friend would admit. My teacher in Panitakang Pilipino 19 (Panitikan at Sekswalidad) devoted the entire semester last summer explaining the roots, consequences, and allegory of the controversial premises of homosexuality. Madam Glecy Atienza drawn us to look at the modes of expression of homosexual love as parts of literature and the art which requires semantical critical viewpoint and commentary. Criticism always originates from viewpoint on the modes of expression of a concept. This is even more helpful in understanding the spectrum of society at large.

So "Art for art's sake" and for a wider scope of my critical eye, i should watch this important film.

Here is the trailer:

Ciao!

Godbless!

"Art for art's sake!"

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--------------------------

--------------------------

ADRIAN DOLLENTE MENDIZABAL
5th Year
B.S. Chemical Engineering
University of the Philippines - Diliman
Student No.: 2006 - 4#324
Contact Number: 09167838551 (please introduce yourself)
Phone Number: 011 63 2 3324367 (Intl) or (02) 3324367 (Domestic)

email: adrian.lessegers@gmail.com
facebook: http://www.facebook.com/adrian.lessegers
twitter: http://twitter.com/lessegers
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ask me a question: http://www.formspring.me/lessegers

Address:

Unit 7, 15-C Pitimini St., Roosevelt Avenue,
Quezon City

---------------------

MISSING MY CRUSH/BEST FRIEND/GIRL FRIEND

MISSING MY CRUSH/
BEST FRIEND/
GIRL FRIEND
a friend whom i cherish through the years

It's been three years now
The winds of the past are painful.
Memories just makes you cry.
and you don't know why. (sori, walang maiisip na ka rhyme. :)

Of this beautiful girl
walking on the side walk
Mysteriously attractive
and meaningful.

My eyes, are they blinded?
to see such a beautiful girl
My heart beats fast
and she noticed me:
"Anung tingin tingin mo dyan?
Stalker! Asa pa you! Here's my number: 091++++++++,
text me papa! Hmmmm!"

And that was the beginning
of everything...
I miss you Anagie!




Photos from Mark Sesbreno (musta ka na Mark, kamusta mo naman ako kay anagie!)

Ciao! Godbless!

Film Research + Newman's Death

Film Research + Newman's Death
a blog + life status post

did you know that Paul Newman died just this morning? He had cancer.

Young!

Adult!

Aged!

I was shocked.

My day was haggard. I had an exam this morning at ChE 32, and a PSYSC event in the afternoon. So i was thinking of spending my time tonight on film research over the net, so i really spend the night researching about film critics and their disappearance on broadsheets and publications. At www.cinematical.com, the news fled into my mind like a rocket ship, so i stopped and write a blog post about it.

A tribute to an actors life, his passion for cinema is unparalleled.

-May he rest in peace. -


Ciao! Godbless!

GRILLED: BEFORE THE RAIN (1994)

GRILLED: BEFORE THE RAIN (1994)
Recent DVD acquisitions

I am watching this film at the very moment i am blogging this post. It was a bit old for me though it's a 1994 film. The resolution, though a DVD copy, is not clear, dissolved and noisy. but then, Art for Art's sake, i watched it. I'm on the half part now, i wanted to continue but some people keep buzzing on my yahoo messenger. (i hope it's not about chemistry for goodness sake!)

I think this film is captured on a 16 mm film. It's really looks vintage and old but with color, i wonder how Milcho Manchevski pulled this off. This is my first time to watch Manchevski's film, he uses symbolism which i like. A semiotic approach to criticism would resolve the hidden message of this film.


Awards: hmm.. Leone d'Oro at Venice Film Festival last 1994. it is about violence and peace, topics which interest more these days. Leone d'Oro is the equivalent of Palme d'Oro of Cannes Film Festival.

But then here's a trailer:

Ciao! God bless!

GRILLED: IRIS (2001)

GRILLED: IRIS (2001)
recent DVD acquisitions

---------------------------------------------------
"Human beings love each other in sex, in friendship, and when they're in love. And they cherish other beings --- humans, animals, plants, even stones. The quest for happiness and the promotion of happiness is in all of these and the power of our imagination."

-----IRIS MURDOCH (1919 - 1999)
-----------------------------------------------------

In memory of my Lola Conching, i watched Iris (2001) yesterday. I am thrilled and subliminal about the film, because i was about to see a similar story my lola and Iris shares.

After watching it, i sat in sit silent and reflecting on the loss of my lola who died two years ago. i wanted to cry but no tears rolled from my eyes. It seems the oblivion in so deep, to painful to remember.

in her battles through Alzheimer's disease, Judi Dench crafted a character quite like her.
in her battles through becoming a philosopher and a novelist, Kate Winslet envisioned her are the vibrant young Iris Murdoch.

Watch this trailer:

Ciao! Godbless!

DEVELOPMENT OF A NATION: A PERSONAL CHOICE

DEVELOPMENT OF A NATION:
A PERSONAL CHOICE
by Adrian Mendizabal
September 24, 2008

OMG! ang haba ng letter! i just finished reading it... It so comprehensive, tackling a lot of issues both of the university and of the Filipino nation. But then i thought, W. SyCip is attacking a singular character! And after rereading it again, yes, he is talking about the Filipino as a symbolism of a nation. This nation, he defines, is a rather vague, unarguably full of contradictions and on the verge of extinction. However, there is no such thing as an extinction of a nation.

Human beings constituting a nation, in it's most fundamental form, are not limited by time. Of this post-modern age where technology is 'speeding' up almost literally every constituent of life to achieve it's full form or purpose, time is not limiting factor of human beings. Yes, we are behind among Asian countries rise for development. On a more acceptable level, a Filipino, generally speaking, is less developed than other Asian countryman, but this is not because we are running out of time. What is this race that we are joining into with other Asian countries? Is this race heading for that ultimate validation that we in ourselves can be considered a developed country? What is then development?

These questions involves not only the fundamental laws of governance but, for me, are questions to the fundamental laws of us, as human beings. If there is a race, then time seems to be halting us from achieving that ultimate goal. But this is not truthfully and absolutely so. Human beings are limited by their nature and tendencies. In other words, the development of a nation does not depends on issues of time, but to the issues of Filipino character that every countryman has.

The development of nation, for me, is a personal, humanistic choice that every countryman must make. it is in itself, a personal issue. Human nature is not something that we are born with, it is not even genetic. It is learned. It is shaped by education. The process of acquiring the nature that, we in ourselves have, started when we are taught by our parents the rudimentaty themes of life. It begins with color. Then with pictures, and followed by the acquisitions of numbers, symbols. And then we went into the stage of applying or realizing that this forms are forms of truth. This cognitive process programs our understanding of our world, it also recalls humanistic themes such as love, hatred, regret, happiness, sadness, dread that we have accessed before we are born. Thus, the development of a nation wholly depends on the education or knowledge of each individual citizens.

Education is most important. Without education, there would be no language to facilitate susceptibilty to various forms of tribulations.

Philippines is not suffering because of the lack of time in achieving its goals. Let us not look at our nation as a car racing with other nations for ultimate development. There is even no such thing as an ultimately developed nation (Utopia). The same as there is so such thing as an ideal man. We see our country as ourselves. We must enveloped ourselves not as separate views but we must see ourselves as the nation itself. The reason why we don't prosper as nation because we see ourselves in other nations identity. What is really a Filipino identity? We have to view ourselves as unique and identifiable citizens, in order for our country to stand on its own. This is a social and a personal responsibility.

Living in a country is more of an internal struggle than an external one.

Then what are we looking for all this time?

Haven't you realize it yet?

- yes, it is happiness. Happiness is a much more strange word for me than mystery. Happiness comes in many packages and in a unexpected ways. But, take note, that happiness is not freedom. Freedom is not a matter of choice but a matter of want. But happiness is a choice. If we look at ourselves, a self-image of nation, as not happy, we end up being sad.

The way we think about ourselves in inevitably reflected in our faces. We cannot hide our shame. We cannot hide our sadness. We cannot hide our happiness. If there are people who can do that, there are themselves unhappy people living unhappy lives. Our nation, as we look at it more of ourselves, is reflects a dismal, unlivable space. Is this what we feel right know? Is this what other people feel about themselves all their lives? Are we really empty-hearted citizens of our country? We, must begin a quest. and this is a quest for happiness.

happiness is more of cooperative than individualistic. If a person wanted to be happy all by himself, then by default, he is unhappy. happiness is shared by every people. Every human beings love each other. And we love other beings. We even love non-beings like stones. (Murdoch). We are capable of happiness if we share them with others like us.

To be good is to be happy. Good is ethically bounded. Therefore, happiness is an ethical term. Happiness is not achieve by acts of morality alone. Moral conduct is in itself a way of achieving such happiness. but that is not the most important purpose of life. A good life is a life that is simply satisfying. Simplicity is not a key word here, but satisfying. The means for satisfaction must be guided by the acts of morality. Simplicity is not a term that considers a life lived with simple things, ordinariness because such things are short lived and temporary. Simplicity refers to the level of understanding that a human must have --- and that level corresponds to the lowest level. Simply satisfying refers to understanding moral life like a child. This does not implicate that we should have a childish perspective on viewing our actions as good or bad. This, however, implies that we should view moral life as simple as a child understanding of right and wrong. For example, a child knows that lying is bad, whereas, in an adult perspective, a lie can be categorized into multifarious forms.

Happiness is leading a simply satisfying moral life.

If this is what we see in ourselves, if this what we envisioned in ourselves as human beings, the nation that we hold in ourselves shall bear fruits of development. Our nation is even more connected to us than we could ever think of. Philippines is in every heart of every Filipino citizen. It is, itself, the citizens.


Originally made(fresh with grammatical errors) by:
Adrian D. Mendizabal
2006 - 41324
B.S. Chemical Engineering
email me:
lessegers@yahoo.com
adrian.lessegers@gmail.com
see my blog, i posted this reply and the letter:
http://adrianmendizabal.blogspot.com Click! Click! Click!

A LETTER FROM W. SyCip

A LETTER FROM W. SyCip
a forwarded email...

i received an email from my ChE instructor Ninette Ramirez and i was shocked by the message. I ought to make a reply and end up making an essay which i will be shortly posting after this post. So here it is.


QUESTIONS FOR THE FUTURE OF U.P.
> September 3, 2008
> By W. SyCip
>
>
> PRESIDENT EMERLINDA ROMAN, MEMBERS OF THE FACULTY AND
> FRIENDS OF U.P.
>
> NOT BEING A GRADUATE OF THE LEADING EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION
> OF THE COUNTRY, I AM DEEPLY HONORED THAT YOU HAVE INVITED ME
> TO BE ONE OF THE SPEAKERS IN YOUR CELEBRATION OF A HUNDRED
> YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE NATION.
>
> IN TODAY'S TALK I INTEND TO RAISE A NUMBER OF VERY
> FRANK QUESTIONS. SINCE YOU RECEIVE MORE GOVERNMENT FUNDS
> THAN ANY OTHER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION IN THE COUNTRY, I, AS
> A TAXPAYER, MAY CLAIM THE RIGHT TO DO SO.
>
> I HOPE YOU WILL NOT CONSIDER THIS AS AN ABUSE OF THE
> GRACIOUS INVITATION EXTENDED ME BY PRESIDENT ROMAN.
>
> 1. GOING OVER THE BOOK *THE UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILPPINES -
> A UNIVERSITY FOR FILIPINOS* WHICH WAS PUBLISHED AS U.P.
> CELEBRATED ITS DIAMOND JUBILEE TWENTY FIVE YEARS AGO, ONE
> CANNOT MISS THE INTRODUCTION THAT SAYS "...A U.P.
> DEGREE HOLDER IS GENERALLY BELIEVED TO BE MORE CAPABLE THAN
> MOST COLLEGE GRADUATES, AS WELL AS IMBUED WITH A SENSE OF
> PURPOSE...WITH MINDS CAPABLE OF NEW IDEAS AND PERCEPTIONS
> AND PASSIONATE COMMITMENT TO THE SOCIAL GOOD".
>
> IF U.P. HAS ACCURATELY CLAIMED THAT DURING THE PAST 62
> YEARS, AFTER WE LEFT THE U.S. UMBRELLA, U.P. GRADUATES HAVE
> OCCUPIED THE PRESIDENTIAL CHAIR FOR 46 YEARS, THEN I MAY ASK
> YOU "WHY ARE WE IN SUCH A MESS?"
>
> OVER FIFTY YEARS AGO, WE WERE TOLD THAT WITH OUR ADVANTAGES
> OF BEING A CHRISTIAN NATION AND A DEMOCRACY, WE WILL BE,
> NEXT TO JAPAN, THE LEADING NATION IN EAST ASIA. TODAY WE
> FIND OURSELVES IN A STEADILY DECLINING POSITION REGARDLESS
> OF WHAT MEASURE WE GO BY: POVERTY INDEX, PER CAPITA
> SPENDING ON EDUCATION, CRIME RATE, CORRUPTION RANKING,
> PEACE AND ORDER, RURAL HEALTH, THE LIST GOES ON.
>
> UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE EVEN FOUND OURSELVES, INSPITE OF OUR
> LARGE POPULATION, WITH THE LAMENTABLE DISTINCTION OF BEING
> THE ONLY MAJOR SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATION THAT DID NOT WIN ANY
> MEDAL AT THE RECENTLY CONCLUDED OLYMPIC GAMES.
>
> CAN WE BLAME THE RELIGION SPAIN BROUGHT TO OUR SHORES FIVE
> CENTURIES AGO FOR OUR LIMITATIONS OR THE U.S. FOR THE
> FAILURE OF OUR DEMOCRACY? SHOULDN'T OUR DECADES OF
> FREEDOM BE LONG ENOUGH FOR US TO CORRECT ANY INHERITED
> DISADVANTAGES?
>
> WITH ALL THE TALENTED PEOPLE WE HAVE, WHY HAVE WE NOT BEEN
> ABLE TO PRODUCE A LEE KWAN YEW, WHO IN ONE GENERATION
> BROUGHT HIS PEOPLE IN SINGAPORE TO INCOME LEVELS OF THE U.S.
> OR GERMANY?
>
> OR A K. T. LI OF TAIWAN, A PHYSICS GRADUATE OF CAMBRIDGE,
> WHO INTRODUCED THE COMPUTER TO EVERY AGE GROUP IN TAIWAN SO
> THAT THIS SMALL COUNTRY HAS BECOME THE LARGEST EXPORTER OF
> COMPUTERS AND COMPONENTS?
>
> OR A MAHATHIR OF MALAYSIA WHO GREATLY IMPROVED
> INFRASTRUCTURE AND INCREASED INCOME LEVELS OF ALL CITIZENS
> IN A MIXED SOCIETY OF MALAYS, CHINESE AND INDIANS?
>
> OR A GENERAL PARK OF SOUTH KOREA WHOSE TOUGH AND
> DISCIPLINED ADMINISTRATION INDUSTRIALIZED A COUNTRY WHERE
> THE LARGE FIRMS SUCCESSFULLY COMPETED WITH THE COMPANIES OF
> ITS FORMER COLONIAL MASTER?
>
> OR A DENG HSIAO PING WHO RELEASED THE ENERGY OF HIS PEOPLE
> TO ACHIEVE IN 25 YEARS THE GREATEST REDUCTION OF POVERTY IN
> WORLD HISTORY?
>
> WE DID HAVE THE PROMISE OF A RAMON MAGSAYSAY WHO AS
> SECRETARY OF DEFENSE GREATLY IMPROVED PEACE AND ORDER BUT
> WHOSE UNFORTUNATE EARLY DEATH 50 YEARS AGO PREVENTED HIM
> FROM CARRYING OUT A PROGRAM TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF THE
> BOTTOM GROUP OF OUR PEOPLE.
>
> THEN WE HAD RAFAEL SALAS, A BRILLIANT GRADUATE OF U.P. IN
> 1969, FRESH FROM MANAGING THE TRANSFORMATION OF CHRONIC
> SHORTAGE INTO AN ASTOUNDING PHILIPPINE RICE SUFFICIENCY
> BREAKTHROUGH, SALAS ACCEPTED A UNITED NATIONS OFFER TO HEAD
> A FLEDGLING FUND. HE BELIEVED AT THE U.N. THERE WOULD BE A
> POSSIBLITY OF MAKING A CONTRIBUTION TO SOLVING WHAT HE
> THOUGHT WAS
> BECOMING ONE OF THE WORLD'S MAJOR PROBLEMS -
> POPULATION. HE THOUGHT THAT THE SAME STRATEGIES EMPLOYED IN
> THE RICE SUFFICIENCY PROGRAM, WOULD WORK IN A SOPHISTICATED
> INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENT AS THEY DID IN TRADITION BOUND
> PHILIPPINE RURAL COMMUNITIES. IN FACT HE WAS PROVEN RIGHT.
> ALEX MARSHALL OF THE UNITED NATIONS POPULATION FUND WRITES:
>
> "THE CONSENSUS WHICH SALAS BUILT IS MORE THAN AN ACT
> OF DIPLOMACY. IT IS THE SOLID EVIDENCE OF THE RECOGNITION
> WORLDWIDE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF POPULATION IN DEVELOPMENT
> PROGRAMMES. IT HAS HELPED TO CHANGE THE POLICIES OF
> GOVERNMENTS; IT HAS HELPED TO CHANGE THE LIVES OF MILLIONS
> OF PEOPLE. IT HAS SET MEN AND WOMEN FREE TO MAKE CHOICES FOR
> THEMSELVES, AND HELPED SECURE
> THE FUTURE OF CHILDREN YET UNBORN. THEY AND ALL OF US STAND
> IN HIS DEBT."
>
> BUT FILIPINOS HAVE SURMISED THAT RAFAEL LEFT THE
> PHILIPPINES BECAUSE HIS INTEGRITY AND COMPETENCE COULD NOT
> SURVIVE IN A CLIMATE OF GOVERNMENT CORRUPTION.
>
> WILL U.P. BE ABLE TO PRODUCE OTHER LEADERS LIKE SALAS AND
> CAN THEY SUCCEED IN THE PHILIPPINE POLITICAL SOIL?
>
> IN 1983, THIRTY YEARS AFTER HE HAD GRADUATED FROM THIS
> UNIVERSITY, AND AT THAT TIME AN UNDER SECRETARY GENERAL AT
> THE UNITED NATIONS, HE RETURNED HERE TO RECEIVE AN HONORARY
> DOCTOR OF LAWS DEGREE FROM HIS ALMA MATER. AS SALAS THANKED
> THE UNIVERSITY FOR THE HONOR CONFERRED ON HIM, HE ALSO TOOK
> LEAVE BY ASKING THE QUESTION:
>
> "WHAT CAN THE SCHOLARS OF THIS UNIVERSITY DO TO SOLVE
> THE PROBLEMS OF THE PHILIPPINES WHEN IT WILL BE A COUNTRY OF
> 70 MILLION PEOPLE"?
>
> HIS WIDOW, CARMELITA R. SALAS, THE HIGHLY RESPECTED
> PHILIPPINE AMBASSADOR TO THE CZECH REPUBLIC, SPEAKING AT THE
> WORLD POPULATION DAY FORUM IN MANILA THIS LAST JULY, POINTED
> TO THIS VERY SAME CONCERN. TODAY, SHE SAID, THE PHILIPPINES
> IS A COUNTRY OF 89 MILLION, AND IN 2030 WILL BE CLOSE TO 140
> MILLION. AGAIN, RAFAEL WOULD HAVE ASKED THE SCHOLARS OF THIS
> UNIVERSITY THE SAME QUESTION TODAY.
>
> I ASK: WHAT WOULD BE THEIR ANSWER?
>
> POST EDSA I, IN FEBRUARY OF 1987, WHEN FREEDOM IN THE
> PHILIPPINES HAD BEEN WON WITH WHAT THE WORLD WOULD KNOW AS
> "PEOPLE POWER", SALAS WAS KEYNOTE SPEAKER AT THE
> DISTRICT MEETING OF ROTARY CLUBS IN MANILA. IN A SPEECH THAT
> ONE ROTARIAN REFERRED TO AS THE BEST SONA HE HAD EVER HEARD,
> RAFAEL SPOKE ON "MANAGING THE AFTERMATH". LET ME
> READ TO YOU PART OF WHAT HE SAID:
>
> "BUT THIS FREEDOM CANNOT BE FULLY EXERCISED UNLESS
> THERE IS ORDER. GOVERNMENTS ARE INSTITUTED TO INSURE PEACE,
> STABILITY AND CONTINUITY; TO ENABLE THE CITIZENS TO PLAN
> THEIR FUTURE AND INSURE THE SURVIVAL AND GROWTH OF THEIR
> CHILDREN. THE RESUMPTION OF HOSTILITIES WITH THE NPA AND THE
> CONSTANT THREAT OF REBELLION IN MINDANAO AND A VERY HIGH
> INCIDENCE OF CRIME ARE POINTERS OF THE LACK OF ORDER I SPEAK
> OF. INSECURITY STIFLES PRODUCTIVITY. NO LONG-TERM INVESTMENT
> AND HIGH PRODUCTIVITY CAN BE ENCOURAGED WHEN BUSINESSMEN
> FEEL UNCERTAIN AND INSECURE. THE ADMINISTRATION HAS EXERTED
> A SINCERE EFFORT TO RESOLVE THESE PROBLEMS. BUT TIME
> PRESSES.
> ORDER MUST PREVAIL. A FREE SOCIETY CANNOT BE MOBILIZED FOR
> DEVELOPMENT UNLESS THERE IS A FEELING OF SAFETY AND
> CONFIDENCE IN THE FUTURE."
>
> THE SAME SPEECH WOULD HAVE BEEN RELEVANT POST EDSA II.
>
> HOW PROPHETIC AND UNFORTUNATE THAT THINGS HAVE NOT CHANGED
> THE PAST 20 YEARS!
>
> BUT "WHY" WE MUST ASK OURSELVES.
>
> LET US BEGIN BY FOCUSING ON EDUCATION.
>
> WE TEND TO UNFAIRLY BLAME EVERY CURRENT ADMINISTRATION FOR
> OUR PROBLEMS. BUT CAN'T WE SEE THAT THE STEADY DECLINE
> OF EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS IS THE CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF THE
> NEGLECT OF MANY ADMINISTRATIONS AND THE UNWILLINGNESS TO
> ADOPT LONG TERM SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS THAT CANNOT BE SOLVED
> BY A RIBBON CUTTING EVENT!
>
> THE SUCCESS OR FAILURE OF ANY ORGANIZATION DEPENDS UPON ITS
> POLICIES AND EFFORTS ON DEVELOPING ITS HUMAN RESOURCES. FOR
> A NATION TO ADOPT SHORT TERM POLICIES ON EDUCATION IS
> NATIONAL SUICIDE! DOESN'T THE SOLUTION OF PEACE AND
> ORDER PROBLEMS DEPEND UPON RELATIVELY EQUAL EDUCATIONAL
> OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE RICH AND POOR, FOR THE CHRISTIANS AND
> MOSLEMS?
>
> 2. WE AS A NATION ARE PROUD TO HAVE A UNIVERSITY OLDER THAN
> HARVARD. PROUD THAT U.P. CELEBRATES THE SUCCESS OF A HUNDRED
> YEARS. WE ARE PROUD OF ATENEO, LA SALLE AND MANY OTHER
> CATHOLIC UNIVERSITIES WHERE MEN AND WOMEN OF UPPER INCOME
> GROUPS ARE EDUCATED.
>
> WE PRAISE THESE INSTITUTIONS OF LEARNING BUT AS A NATION WE
> SEEM TO ACCEPT THE SCANDALOUSLY HIGH NATIONAL DROPOUT RATES
> OF STUDENTS IN BASIC EDUCATION. THE FIGURES ARE WORSE IN
> MOSLEM AREAS AND IN POOR COMMUNITIES.
>
> IN MANY TOWNS AND VILLAGES, SYNERGEIA, LED BY NENE GUEVARA,
> AND WORKING WITH MAYORS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS WHO WANT
> CHANGE, HAS IMPROVED LITERACY RATES. BUT MUCH, MUCH GREATER
> NATIONAL EFFORTS ARE NEEDED.
>
> AS THE RECIPIENT OF THE LARGEST OF GOVERNMENT EDUCATION
> FUNDS, SHOULDN'T U.P. ENDEAVOR TO ENLIST ITS MANY
> SUCCESSFUL AND WEALTHY ALUMNI IN A CAMPAIGN TO RETURN TO
> THEIR ALMA MATER THE BENEFITS THEY HAVE RECEIVED FROM THE
> SCHOOL AND THUS ENABLE MORE FUNDS TO BE DIVERTED FROM U.P.
> AND ALLOCATED TO BASIC EDUCATION?
>
> SHOULD THE STUDENTS FROM UPPER INCOME GROUPS NOT BE ASKED
> TO PAY FOR THE FULL COST OF EDUCATION? WHEN UPPER INCOME
> FAMILIES SEND THEIR CHILDREN ABROAD, THEY DO PAY "FULL
> TUITION". SHOULD THEY NOT BE ASKED TO DO THE SAME IN
> THEIR OWN COUNTRY?
>
> HAS U.P. STUDIED HOW NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES HAVE DROPPED
> POVERTY LEVELS?
>
> THE ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK JUST RELEASED A REPORT POINTING
> OUT THAT THE PHILIPPINES AND INDIA, WHO CLAIM TO BE
> DEMOCRACIES, LAG BEHIND EAST ASIAN COUNTRIES IN REDUCING
> POVERTY. CHINA AND VIETNAM, BOTH AUTHORITARIAN STATES, ARE
> THE TWO COUNTRIES THAT HAVE RAPIDLY REDUCED POVERTY. ARE
> THERE LESSONS TO BE LEARNED HERE?
>
> WHY HAVE SINGAPORE AND THAILAND DEVELOPED HOSPITALS FOR
> "MEDICAL TOURISM" WHILE WE SEND OUR EXCELLENT
> DOCTORS AND NURSES TO DEVELOPED COUNTRIES? SHOULD WE NOT
> ADVOCATE SOME SYSTEM WHERE DESTINATION COUNTRIES COMPENSATE
> US FOR TRAINING THESE PROFESSIONALS?
>
> ARE INWARD REMITTANCES OF POOR OVERSEAS WORKERS WITH
> DIVIDED FAMILIES OFFSETTING OUTWARD REMITTANCES OF UPPER
> INCOME FILIPINOS, EDUCATED IN SUBSIDIZED SCHOOLS LIKE U.P.,
> AND SETTING UP HOUSEHOLDS ABROAD?
>
> YOU CAN, OF COURSE, TELL ME THAT THE WORLD IS FLAT AND
> YOUNG PEOPLE SHOULD BE FREE TO MOVE ANYWHERE. YES - OUR
> YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN SHOULD GO ABROAD - IT WIDENS THEIR
> HORIZON AND GIVES THEM THE SKILLS TO BETTER SERVE THEIR
> COUNTRY. BUT WE SHOULD STRIVE TO KEEP THEIR HEARTS FILIPINO
> AND WITH A RESOLVE THAT THEY WILL RETURN TO SERVE IN THEIR
> COUNTRY'S DEVELOPMENT. AND
> GOVERNMENT POLICY SHOULD WORK WITH THEM TO USE ITS LIMITED
> RESOURCES TO REDUCE POVERTY AND IMPROVE THE LIVES OF ALL
> CITIZENS.
>
> IS U.P. DOING ITS PART TO HELP GOVERNMENT ADOPT LONG TERM
> EDUCATIONAL MEASURES TO ENSURE THIS?
>
> 3. WE ALL AGREE ON THE NEED OF NATIONAL UNITY. CAN WE POINT
> TO THE POLITICS OF FRATERNITIES AS THE ROOT OF THE EXCESSIVE
> TIME SPENT ON NATIONAL POLITICS? OR IS THE LACK OF UNITY A
> BASIC
> DISADVANTAGE OF AN ISLAND NATION?
>
> IS THE SLUGGISH PACE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THE RESULT OF
> BLIND ACCEPTANCE OF WESTERN THINKING THAT POLITICAL FREEDOM
> OR DEMOCRACY COMES AHEAD OF ECONOMIC FREEDOM? DOESN'T
> DEMOCRACY ASSUME THAT THERE MUST BE THE "RULE OF
> LAW" WHICH IMPLIES AN INDEPENDENT JUDICIARY WITH WELL
> TRAINED AND WELL PAID HONEST LAWYERS? WHERE JUDGES MAY BE
> POORLY PAID AND SUBJECT TO POLITICAL PRESSURES IS IT
> POSSIBLE TO HAVE AN INDEPENDENT JUDICIARY LET ALONE A
> WORKING DEMOCRACY?
>
> U.P. HAS PRODUCED EXCELLENT LAWYERS AND MANY OF THE BAR
> TOPNOTCHERS THAT ARE MANAGING THE LARGE LAW FIRMS - BUT ARE
> THEY LEADERS IN REFORMING THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM?
>
> 4. U.P. AND ASIA
>
> HOW CLOSE IS U.P. TO RECOGNIZING THAT THE PHILIPPINES IS
> PART OF ASIA AND THAT CHINA, INDIA AND JAPAN WILL BE
> EXERTING MORE INFLUENCE ON OUR FUTURE THAN THE U.S. AND
> EUROPE?
>
> IS THE FACULTY OF U.P.'S SCHOOL OF ASIAN STUDIES DEEPLY
> KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT THE CULTURE AND THE POLITICAL THINKING
> OF OUR NEIGHBORS AND ARE THEY PROFICIENT IN OTHER ASIAN
> LANGUAGES?
>
> EVEN JAPAN, VERY CLOSELY ALLIED TO THE U.S., DOES NOT HAVE
> THE GOVERNMENT OR ECONOMIC STRUCTURE OF THE WESTERN WORLD.
> THE PARTY IN POWER HAS NOT CHANGED FOR OVER 50 YEARS AND ITS
> CORPORATE STRUCTURE AND BEHAVIOR ARE VERY DIFFERENT FROM
> WESTERN FIRMS.
>
> WITH THE TOYOTA DONATION, YOU WILL AT LEAST HAVE THE
> PHYSICAL STRUCTURE FOR THE SCHOOL OF ASIAN STUDIES. BUT THE
> FACULTY IS EVEN MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE BUILDING.
>
> DOES OUR BEING THE ONLY CATHOLIC COUNTRY IN ASIA, WITH AN
> EXTREMELY CONSERVATIVE CHURCH LEADERSHIP, SEEN ONLY IN
> POLAND AND MALTA, HAMPER OUR CAPACITY TO UNDERSTAND OUR
> ASIAN NEIGHBORS? WHAT IS THE ROLE OF U.P. AS THE ONLY WELL
> KNOWN PHILIPPINE UNIVERSITY THAT IS NOT CATHOLIC?
>
> WITH A 6% MOSLEM MINORITY AND OUR DEPENDENCE ON IMPORTED
> ENERGY, DOES U.P. HAVE A FACULTY THAT IS KNOWLEDGEABLE IN
> THE HISTORY AND CULTURE OF THE MIDDLE EAST AND FLUENT IN
> ARABIC LANGUAGES?
>
> TO FOLLOW U.S. POLICY, WHICH WILL HAVE TO FAVOR ISRAEL, CAN
> ONLY SPELL DISASTER FOR THE PHILIPPINES.
>
> HAS U.P. STUDIED WHAT MEASURES SHOULD BE TAKEN TO NARROW
> THE EDUCATION GAP BETWEEN CHRISTIANS AND MOSLEMS?
>
> 5. U.P. CAMPUS
>
> ABOUT 10 DAYS AGO I WAS PRESENT AT THE CEREMONIES WHEN
> TOYOTA, RESPONDING TO THE EFFORTS OF GEORGE TY, AGREED TO
> DONATE THE VERY ATTRACTIVE P100 MILLION BUILDING TO U.P. ITS
> ARCHITECT, JOSE DANILO SILVESTRE, DEAN OF THE COLLEGE OF
> ARCHITECTURE, ASSURED ME THAT HE AND OTHER ALUMNI LIKE MR.
> PALAFOX, NOTED URBAN DESIGNER, WOULD BE WILLING TO DONATE
> THEIR TIME AND EXPERTISE TO
> LANDSCAPE THE PRESENT CAMPUS.
>
> MAINTENANCE OF A "NEW" CAMPUS CAN BE ASSIGNED TO
> BUILDING OCCUPANTS OR FRATERNITIES, OR STUDENT
> ORGANIZATIONS. MAYBE YOU CAN COLLECT PARKING FEES FROM CARS
> PARKED IN THE CAMPUS. TALENTED FILIPINO ARTISTS AND
> SCULPTORS CAN THEN BE ENCOURAGED TO DISPLAY THEIR WORK IN
> THE CAMPUS!
>
> DOES U.P. HAVE A DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR ITS LARGE CAMPUS?
>
> 6. U.P. AND TOURISM
>
> OUR 3,000,000 ARRIVALS A YEAR ARE WAY BEHIND OUR
> NEIGHBORS' 10 TO 12 MILLION VISITORS. TOURISM BENEFITS
> ALL THE PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRYSIDE. OUR PEOPLE ARE KNOWN TO
> BE THE MOST HOSPITABLE AND FRIENDLY. WE ARE AHEAD OF OUR
> NEIGHBORS IN ENGLISH, THE FIRST LANGUAGE OF TOURISM.
>
> WHEN I VISITED BOHOL LAST YEAR I WAS TOLD THE INFLUX OF
> GERMAN TOURISTS TO THE ATTRACTIVE ISLAND IS DUE TO THE 200
> GERMANS WHO HAVE HAPPILY SETTLED THERE WITH THEIR FILIPINA
> WIVES.
>
> THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY WILL BE THE GROWTH AREA OF THE
> COUNTRY. WILL YOUR DIFFERENT SCHOOLS PLAY A MAJOR ROLE IN
> ASSISTING SECRETARY DURANO ACHIEVE HIS TARGETS?
>
> 7. U.P. AND AGRICULTURE
>
> I HAVE MET MANY THAIS WHO ARE GRADUATES OF THE PRESTIGIOUS
> LOS BAÑOS AGRICULTURAL SCHOOL. BUT I WONDER WHY THE THAIS,
> WHO USUALLY BRING BACK A FILIPINA WIFE, HAVE MADE THAI
> AGRICULTURE MUCH MORE PRODUCTIVE AND EFFICIENT THAN WHAT WE
> HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO HERE.
>
> LET US TAKE NOTICE OF THE DOLE SUCCESS STORY. AS DEAN OF
> THE BUSINESS SCHOOL, CESAR VIRATA HAD STRONGLY ADVOCATED
> COOPERATION WITH LOS BAÑOS. THROUGH HIS EFFORTS, DOLE
> ESTABLISHED THEIR VERY SUCCESSFUL AND PRODUCTIVE
> AGRI-BUSINESS OPERATIONS IN MINDANAO.
>
> WITH THE CATHOLIC CHURCH'S CAMPAIGN AGAINST A SOUND
> GOVERNMENT POPULATION POLICY, WHICH IN TURN HAMPERS THE
> COUNTRY'S CAPACITY FOR ADDRESSING ITS POPULATION GROWTH
> RATE, PERHAPS U.P.'S CONTRIBUTION TO INCREASING RICE
> PRODUCTION, CAN PREVENT A RECURRENCE OF THE PROBLEM THAT WE
> HAD THIS YEAR!
>
> I WAS ON THE BOARD OF A MALAYSIAN PALM OIL COMPANY THAT WAS
> DIVERSIFYING INTO BAMBOO, THEY TOLD ME THE BAMBOO EXPERTS
> WERE IN LOS BAÑOS. YET WE IMPORT BAMBOO SHOOTS FROM CHINA!
>
> SINCE AGRICULTURE IS STILL THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF OUR
> ECONOMY, SHOULDN'T U.P. THEN, IN COOPERATION WITH
> SUCCESSFUL FARMERS, PUT PARTICULAR FOCUS ON THE STUDY AND
> IMPLEMENTATION OF EFFICIENT FOOD PRODUCTION TO BRING FOOD
> COSTS DOWN?
>
> 8. ALUMNI RELATIONS
>
> A NEW UNIVERSITY HAS THE DISADVANTAGE OF NOT HAVING A
> SUCCESSFUL ALUMNI GROUP THAT YOU CAN TAP FOR FUNDS.
>
> U.P. HAS THE ADVANTAGE OF CELEBRATING A CENTENNIAL WITH
> VERY DISTINGUISHED AND WEALTHY GRADUATES IN PRACTICALLY
> EVERY FIELD OF ACTIVITY. BUT HAS YOUR DEPENDENCE ON
> GOVERNMENT FUNDS RESULTED IN A NEGLECT OF YOUR ALUMNI? HOW
> MANY BUILDINGS, LABORATORIES, AUDITORIUMS, PROFESSORIAL
> CHAIRS HAVE BEEN DONATED BY YOUR MANY PROSPEROUS ALUMNI?
>
> MANY OF THE FACILITIES AT THE PHILIPPINE GENERAL HOSPITAL
> NEEDS IMPROVEMENT. YET THIS WAS THE TRAINING GROUND OF MANY
> DOCTORS FROM U.P. ONE VERY SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE U.P. MEDICAL
> SCHOOL GRADUATE IN THE U.S., WHO IS PLANNING TO RETIRE HERE,
> TOLD ME HE WAS SHOCKED WHEN SOME OF HIS CLASSMATES HERE WERE
> BRAGGING ABOUT HOW LITTLE TAXES THEY WERE PAYING INSPITE OF
> THEIR
> LUXURIOUS HOUSES, CARS AND TRIPS ABROAD!
>
> ARE YOUR ALUMNI AWARE THAT THEY CAN LEGALLY REDUCE TAXES BY
> DONATING TO U.P.? MAYBE YEARLY SEMINARS TO UPDATE YOUR
> GRADUATES ON THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN THEIR PROFESSION CAN
> ENCOURAGE THEM TO GIVE AN ANNUAL AMOUNT TO U.P.
>
> I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT A WELL ORGANIZED AND AGGRESSIVE ALUMNI
> RELATIONS OFFICE WILL YIELD LARGE DIVIDENDS FOR U.P. AND THE
> NATION.
>
> 9. FACULTY
>
> THE GREATNESS OF A UNIVERSITY IS ALWAYS MEASURED BY ITS
> FACULTY. FACULTY THAT WILL INSPIRE NOT MERELY INSTRUCT.
> MENTORS THAT WILL ENCOURAGE LEARNING AND THE USE OF THIS
> KNOWLEDGE TOWARDS NATION BUILDING.
>
> A NATION'S PROGRESS IS ALSO DETERMINED BY WHAT IT DOES
> TO DEVELOP ITS HUMAN RESOURCES.
>
> I READ THE REPORT OF YOUR NATIONAL COLLEGE OF PUBLIC
> ADMINISTRATION AND GOVERNANCE AND WAS VERY IMPRESSED WITH
> THE QUALIFICATIONS OF THE FACULTY AND LECTURERS. ASIDE FROM
> SEMINARS, PUBLICATIONS AND WORKSHOPS, WON'T IT BE
> WONDERFUL IF THEY CAN IMPLEMENT THE MANY CHANGES THEY ARE
> ADVOCATING, IN BASIC EDUCATION, IN THE CIVIL SERVICE, IN
> LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND IN THE FIGHT
> AGAINST CORRUPTION?
>
> MY CONTACTS WITH YOUR FACULTY ARE MAINLY FROM YOUR
> EXCELLENT SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS AND THE BUSINESS SCHOOL AND,
> OF COURSE, WITH CYNTHIA BAUTISTA WHO HAS GIVEN INVALUABLE
> HELP TO THE MAGSAYSAY FOUNDATION IN FOCUSING ON ITS PLANS
> FOR THE NEXT 50 YEARS.
>
> IS THIS STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE I SEE ALSO FOUND IN THE
> OTHER DEPARTMENTS?
>
> CAN U.P. ENCOURAGE ITS BRIGHT FACULTY TO PUBLISH OBJECTIVE
> POSITION PAPERS ON NATIONAL ISSUES THAT WILL STOP THE
> ENDLESS AND CONFUSING DEBATES THAT ARE IN FULL PAGE ADS IN
> THE DAILY NEWSPAPERS?
>
> CONSIDERING THE CONTRIBUTION U.P. CAN MAKE IN OUR
> NATION'S FUTURE, SHOULD THIS UNIVERSITY NOT HAVE A
> "THINK TANK" WITH EXPERTS FROM ITS DIFFERENT
> SCHOOLS, POSSIBLY ALSO WORKING WITH NON U.P. GRADUATES, TO
> STUDY WHERE THE NATION IS TODAY, ITS NEGATIVES AND
> POSITIVES, AND HOW IT COULD
> MOVE FORWARD IN THE NEXT 25 AND 50 YEARS?
>
> HOPEFULLY, OUR MANY BRIGHT PEOPLE WILL UNITE BEHIND THIS
> PROGRAM TO REDUCE POVERTY AND PUT THE PHILIPPINES AGAIN IN A
> RESPECTABLE POSITION IN ASIA.
>
> MAYBE SOME OF THE QUESTIONS I HAVE RAISED MAY BE EXPECTING
> TOO MUCH FROM AN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION, WITH LIMITED
> FUNDS, TO SOLVE ALL OF OUR NATIONAL
> PROBLEMS.
>
> BUT IT IS THE PRICE OF LEADERSHIP. THE BRIGHTEST YOUNG MEN
> AND WOMEN COME TO YOUR CAMPUS AND FOR THESE YOUNG MINDS, YOU
> MUST ENDEAVOR TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN THE BEST FACULTY IN
> EVERY SCHOOL.
>
> IT IS MY PROFOUND HOPE THAT AGAINST ALL CHALLENGES, THIS
> GREAT UNIVERSITY, WITH AN INSPIRED ADMINISTRATION, A STRONG
> FACULTY AND AN ALUMNI CONSCIOUS OF ITS RESPONSIBILITY TO THE
> NATION, CAN, TOGETHER WITH THE SECRETARY OF EDUCATION, TAKE
> THE LEAD IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF MAJOR REFORMS IN OUR
> PUBLIC SCHOOLS, WITHOUT WHICH POVERTY REDUCTION WILL BE
> DIFFICULT. AND
> WITHOUT WHICH, EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL ITS CITIZENS TO
> BENEFIT FROM ECONOMIC GROWTH WILL NOT BE ATTAINABLE.
>
> WITH THE PRESENT FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES FACING THE
> DEVELOPED WORLD, OPTIMISTS ARE IN SHORT SUPPLY. BUT CAN WE
> HOPE THAT WE COULD FOLLOW THE PATH OF IRELAND, ALSO A VERY
> STRONG CATHOLIC COUNTRY, THAT WAS ABLE TO CONVINCE THE
> POLITICAL PARTIES TO ADOPT A COMMON ECONOMIC PROGRAM WHICH
> RESULTED IN THE RETURN OF THE YOUNG TALENTED PEOPLE THAT HAD
> MIGRATED TO THE UNITED
> STATES AND UNITED KINGDOM? CAN THE VERY COMPETENT AND
> DISCIPLINED ECONOMISTS OF U.P. LEAD IN SUCH AN EFFORT?
>
> ONLY THEN CAN A UNITED, PEACEFUL AND PROSPEROUS NATION
> BECOME A REALITY!
>
> U.P. ALUMNI CLOSELY IDENTIFY THE OBLATION WITH THEIR ALMA
> MATER. BUT HOW MANY OF THEM REALLY KNOW THAT WHEN THE
> SCULPTOR TOLENTINO CREATED THIS FIGURE OF A YOUNG MAN WHOSE
> ARMS ARE OUTSTRETCHED IN A GESTURE OF SACRIFICE TO HIS
> COUNTRY AND HUMANITY, THE ARTIST ALSO PLACED AT ITS FEET A
> CLUSTER OF "KATAKALANTA" LEAVES, A PLANT THAT
> RAPIDLY MULTIPLIES TO SYMBOLIZE, AS
> TOLENTINO TELLS US THE "UNDYING STREAM OF HEROISM IN
> THE FILIPINO RACE."
>
> AS THIS UNIVERSITY CELEBRATES ITS HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY I
> ASK A FINAL QUESTION: CAN WE EXPECT FROM U.P.'S
> LEADERSHIP THIS HEROISM THE COUNTRY BEGS FOR?


CIAO!! God Bless!

Joshua Bell Kills Me

Joshua Bell Kills Me
classical music addiction

I was addicted to classical music when i was in high school. i listened to Beethoven and Chopin like an avid geek. The nature of my mind back then is grand, as i would consider it. I used classical music to connect thoughts to writing my one and only novel. It mingled with the voice of my characters like a lasting torture of pleasure.

I must admit that this particular video kills me.

Joshua Bell has a sense of perfection. His hearing is most remarkable. Truth and clarity is enveloped in his musical talent, telling us that music is not just a form of expression of our hearts but a concise definition of our emotions. He abstracted Chopin Nocturne in C# minor in a tumultuous stance, taking it far from our galaxy. The power of a violin to play the Nocturne is diversion that i couldn't forget. I was used to the music being played in percussions rather than string. In it's most deep form, i present to you the perfectionist of music, Joshua Bell with the most ardent Chopin Nocturne in C#min:

Ciao! God Bless!

IMAGE OF THE DAY!

IMAGE OF THE DAY!
random images from my laptop!

Salvatore (toto) wishing for the rain to come!
Cinema Paradiso!

Ciao! Godbless! what a plurk day!

GRILLED: NOTES ON A SCANDAL (2006)

GRILLED: NOTES ON A SCANDAL (2006)
recent DVD acquisitions

One of the most riveting movie i have ever seen this September. Judi Dench was absolutely delightful in her portrayal as Barbara Covett, the destroyer. And Cate Blancett, as Sheba Hart, was a treat for her portrayal as the victim destroyed by a scandal.

These powerful actresses molded a plot, throwing me into my chair with my eyes definitely fixed in my laptop monitor. The story was driven by the madness of a spinster (Dench's Barbara), and the agony of the accused (Blancett's Sheba). Definitely a satisfaction!

It was nominated for four awards last 79th Oscars including Best Actress Judi Dench and Best Supporting Actress Cate Blancett.

Enjoy this theatrical trailer:

Ciao!
Godbless!

IMAGE OF THE DAY!

IMAGE OF THE DAY!
recent images from my laptop!

a classic scene from CINEMA PARADISO (1988)

It is the most romantic film i have ever watched this year!

Ciao Godbless!

PLURK: IS MICROBLOGGING COOL?

PLURK: IS MICROBLOGGING COOL?
comments and suggestions

My friend gave me a link via email to this PLURK website! I deleted it and considered it a spam... A few days later, he urged me to try visit the link, so i did. it's just a typical cyberspace talk between friends: one tries to understand another, and the other one, trying hard to divert the discussion to other things. Or is this just another case of a gay to a homophobe talk, i really don't know. Most of my talks with this friend of mine composed of Bryanboy, Katy Perry, and a bunch of stuff that i wasn't aware off.

So i visited this Plurk website. Clicked, clicked, and clicked. This is something that i do not like about Plurk. Where is the dashboard? where is the customize button? where is everything?

One of the basic stuff on a blog site is a dashboard. Not just a dashboard but an organized dashboard.
i mean take a look at this:

is this my dashboard?




or this?

Where the heck is my dashboard?

One thing PLURK... make it compact! every blogger needs a page in cyberspace where he or she could lessen the burden of finding the dashboard. It irritates more than anything.

What is this?

Some kind of roasted beef or a zombified pig? God! Please tell me what creature is this? Plurk is definitely a weird microblog site. I hate it for those details!

On the contary, i like their timeline theme. It just cool. A diversion that i always wanted. A horizontal view is definitely relaxing. No effort to move the vertical bar down, and your microblogs are arranged chronologically, from your very recent post. It's cute and organized.

Another thing that i like about Plurk is that it can be customized like other blog websites. And it also provides links to find those sites, so less effort on googling it up.


If you have been, by anyhow, plurking or invited to plurk, think twice. One thing that you have to think about is that you are limited by 140 characters. Which is for me a challenge, since i am a blogger who likes to keep his sentences long.

PLURK = PUKE + LURK!

isn't that disgusting?

if you are currious, google up PLURK!

Ciao! Godbless!

GRILLED: TAXI DRIVER (1976)

GRILLED: TAXI DRIVER (1976)
recent DVD acquisitions

Movie Poster

Definitely the most remarkable scene from the movie!

After watching this film, I said to myself, this is Scorsese. This is him. Robert De Niro created the most important character in film history. Possibly one of the greatest villains.

This highly acclaimed film, received a lot of academy award nominations and also a lot of controversies. Jodie Foster, then, a young actress, did a controversial role of a young prostitute. And yes, you could see her becoming 'the' Jodie Foster, a great actress who gave us Sarah Tobias, in The Accused (1988).

Enjoy the trailer:

ciao!
Godbless!

GRILLED: Y TU MAMA TAMBIEN (2001)

GRILLED: Y TU MAMA TAMBIEN (2001)
recent film acquisitions

I always wanted to rerun this film. It was about a year ago since i watched this highly acclaimed film. And of course with objective of seeing Bernal acting style! idol! Superb actually, and critical...

Here watch the trailer:

Ciao!
God bless!

GRILLED: CINEMA PARADISO

GRILLED: CINEMA PARADISO (1988)
recent DVD acquisitions

Yesterday, having found out that my father sent me The Allowance, I thought of budgeting for another DVD. So i went up at Stall 1, as always, and acquired 2 important DVDs. One, was Cinema Paradiso and the other one, by Michael Moore, an American satirist who made Farenheit 9/11.

Cinema Paradiso won Best Foreign Film in the Oscars last 1989. It was edited to a longer version six years ago, last 2002, adding the director's cut. Directed by Giuseppe Tornatore, it was a magnificent love story across time. He was also the director of Malena (2000).

Ciao! GOdbless!

IMAGE OF THE DAY!

IMAGE OF THE DAY!
random images from my laptop

Jonathan Rosenbaum, fatso! no offense!



Ciao! nyt nyt!

SUPER LOL CAT

SUPER LOL CAT
cool cat videos

HAHA! this video is so funny! Ma, you should watch this!

Ciao!
Good Morning!
Godbless!

IMAGE OF THE DAY!

IMAGE OF THE DAY!
random images over the net

this is not equal to .....





this!

Ciao!

REFLECTIONS: Sandaling Pinakahihintay

REFLECTIONS: Sandaling Pinakahihintay
deep thoughts

I actually like this song because of it's arrangement. It subtle and peaceful and it quiets the soul.
Enjoy!

Ciao!
Godbless!

IMAGE OF THE DAY!

IMAGE OF THE DAY!
random images!

Nobody knows this movie because it has a lot of censorship issues. I need to hibernate tomorrow at the library to make some research. I am in the process of making my first ever film critic of this movie, BAD EDUCATION (2004).

Ciao!

Godbless!

unFilmed: PLANT Visit @ Balara Water Treatment Plant

unFilmed: PLANT Visit @
Balara Water Treatment Plant
recent acads hapenings

I have an erratic day. Just this morning our class on Environmental Engineering 31(intro to Envi. Eng'g and pronounced as "e-ne") went to a water treatment plant of Manila Waters at Brgy. Balara, U.P. Campus. Here are some snap shots from the tiring trip.

A sprint to Balara... Wee!



Balara... As Usual!




Arriving at the Entrance of the Plant!
GO engineers!



Filtration Plant! This is so nerd! I love NERD POSTS!



Clean! very clean!




Mocha Frappe, anyone?




The Arena! This is where the water from our
shower and faucets comes from! nice! It's about
1o million cu. meter of running water from
La Mesa Dam!




Okay! Balance! Balance! you don't
want Frappe on your hair!



Hydrolic JUMP! JUMP! i said JUMP! hmmp!
Coagulation bed!



OMG! it's 30 meter deep! you don't want to fall in there!




Lamela Tubes! New Settling technology!
Weee! Japanese people are so, so great!




Backwash 101! if you're a Geek and a chemical
Engineer, you must know this process
by heart and soul!



Everything Push the button! the Ayala Corp. Facility
wants to upgrade this into an automated system!
OMG! Robots Engineers!



Chlorine Tanks! It can kill you in minutes!



Torture Cl2 chamber now open



is that arabic or just a doddle?




In case of Cl2 poisoning, drink this, it loosens the throat!
wahaha! it's never been proven, but workers here
are acquainted with this liquor for the rest of their lives.
Shhhh.... Ayala doesn't know!

Thank God! I am alive!

Ciao!
Godbless!