Terrorist

I read from the paper last Sunday that the verdict was given to the three suspects of the Rizal Day Bombing last 2000. All three were convicted guilty of multiple murder, multiple frustrated murder, and multiple attempted murder. They were sentenced with life imprisonment. That bombing killed 22 people and wounded many. It happened about 12 noon of December 30, 2000, it's also the death anniversary of our national hero, Jose Rizal. Thus, they called it Rizal Day bombing.

I have my own story about that gruesome day. I was in another city that time. I was supposed to go back to the university where I was studying after the Christmas break. My bus is scheduled to leave at 5:00 PM. I boarded 15 minutes earlier, showed my ticket, placed my big black backpack on my seat and left to buy something to eat.

When I head back to the bus, all the passengers who boarded earlier were outside and they were looking at my direction. Well, they were actually looking at me with careworn expressions in their faces. I wondered but didn't ask and just proceeded to the door and went to my seat. Then a man approached me, he was quite pissed, and told me, "You frightened the passengers. They thought you planted a bomb because you left your bag and left right away. They went out of the bus as soon as you left. Didn't you know that there was a bombing earlier in Manila?"

I felt both funny and ashamed. I have just been mistaken as a terrorist! I said sorry and I didn't look at any passenger in the eye during the whole trip.


Click Here to Read More..

Ox

It's the Chinese New Year and we're eating tikoy. Tikoy, by the way, is a glutinous round rice cake traditionally served during Chinese New Year believed to bring "sticky" good luck for the whole year in this year that they call Year of the Ox. I always find it funny how they assign each year to an animal. I'm still clueless where the idea come from.

I learned today that the well known greeting "kung hei fat choy" which means "wishing you happiness and prosperity" is not a preferred greeting by older Chinese. The reason? It smacks crass materialism . The better greeting would be "kiong hi", which simply wishes happiness, pointing out that wealth doesn't always mean happiness. Agree.

As for me, I don't have to entrust my life to some cake for prosperity. I have a God who is able to make all grace abound to me, so that in all things at all times, having all that I need, I will abound in good work (2 Corinthians 9:8). It has always been a year of God's faithfulness for me, year after year after year. The blessings I have came from Him who makes everything "work together for good for those who love Him" and not to some ox or monkey.

I was supposed to greet you "kiong hi". Let me say God bless y'all, instead. :-)

Click Here to Read More..

Why so serious?

I first thought that this is an official poster/teaser for the 81st Oscars. Turned out to be a support campaign made by this guy. I must say that it's very creative and cleverly made.


I think The Dark Knight was one of the best movies shown in 2008. Not only because of the casting but for the brilliant script. Here's the how-I-got-these-scars lines of the Joker:

"Wanna know how I got these scars? My father was....a drinker. And a fiend. And one night he goes off crazier than usual. Mommy gets the kitchen knife to defend herself. He doesn't like that. Not. One. Bit. So, me watching, he takes the knife to her, laughing while he does it. Turns to me and he says 'Why so serious?' Comes at me with the knife,'Why so serious?' He sticks the blade in my mouth. 'Lets put a smile on that face!' And... Why so serious?"

"You look nervous. Is it the scars? You want to know how I got them? Come here. Hey, look at me. So I had a wife, beautiful; like you. Who tells me, I worry too much. Who tells me, I ought to smile more. Who gambles, and gets in deep with sharks. One day they carve her face. We have no money for surgeries. She can’t take it! I just want to see her smile again. I just want her to know that I don’t care about the scars. So I stick a razor in my mouth and do this… to myself. And you know what? She can’t stand the sight of me! She leaves. Now I see the funny side. Now I’m always smiling!"

I pity The Joker for such a lonely childhood. Great take on the role though by Heath Ledger.

The 81st Oscars will be on February 22, 2009 and will be televised in the US in ABC. Wolverine is hosting the awards night.

My thoughts are so random today.

Click Here to Read More..

Of slurps and burps

My best friend recommended me this neat and interesting dining etiquette quiz. If you love eating and traveling, this is definitely for you. This made me realize that it's really fun that each culture is different and we can always learn from each other's peculiarities.

Enjoy the quiz and tell me how well (or worse) you fared.



Click Here to Read More..

Story-Telling

These pictures came in a bit late but I wrote about this wonderful experience earlier in this blog. This was the day after Christmas and my first time to do story-telling to kids. It was awesome! I'm glad I decided to spend it with them instead of going to the beach with some friends.




Story-telling time at school was my favorite when I was a kid. One of the stories I won't forget was about Daedalus and his son Icarus. They were prisoners of King Minos of Crete and Daedalus planned their escape. He made them a pair of wings out of feathers sewn together and and molded in wax. He warned Icarus to beware of rash adventures among the stars. But the kid was so enticed by his new-found freedom and flew up high to the highest heavens until the sun melted the wax off his wings and he fell. This story has been a constant reminder to me until now that freedom comes with responsibility.

Others that are included in my list of favorites are Aesop's fables and Jose Rizal's story about the monkey and the turtle.




*Thanks Ate Vida for the pictures. You can find more here.

Click Here to Read More..

Aroroy, Masbate

Let me take you to the land where I grew up...

Aroroy is a coastal town. We call our port "pantalan" and this is what you'll see there on a clear day. That's the famous Mayon Volcano peeping on the horizon. It has always been the favorite subject of my drawings when I was a kid.

I took this on a late afternoon of December 2007. That's the "pantalan" under construction. I heard it's already finished. This picture sends me so much melancholia...

Agriculture is the common source of livelihood of the townsfolks. This is a common scene along provincial highways.

Click Here to Read More..

My Girl Anne

Hollywood's top story is about Brangelina snubbing Ryan Seacrest during the Golden Globe Awards' red carpet. I'm not gonna talk about that. It's about a story before the awards night.

I've read that who-sits-where is such a big fuss in Golden Globe. Unlike the usual awards night where the celebrities sit like that in a theater, they have a different format. I think it's the same as when you attend a wedding reception where people are arranged per table. Then there's a place they call "the pit" where the big big names are seated. Table assignments are continually revised even up to the week of the show itself.

Organizers have to be aware about who is or who is not friendly with whom or who had broken up with whom so that these personalities will be seated far away as possible. Stars' publicists try to jockey for the best tables for their clients and negotiations usually end up in emotional exchanges.

Here's a sweet story. Anne Hathaway who is bringing her mom to the awards night wrote a letter to the organizers...

My mom will be my date... she was wondering if you could please sit us near George Clooney... seriously, you'd make her 2009. Acceptable substitutes... are Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Clint Eastwood and/or Steve Carell. Thank you!

I'm not a fan (though she's so darn pretty!) but I just like girls who love their moms. :-)
Click Here to Read More..