So long, February 2013...

...may our paths never 'cross' again.  You were too tough!  Whew!
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by PAM

"I should get some sleep because tomorrow might be good for somethin'...."


Ups and downs, laughter and tears, victories and defeats, love and disappointments ... yep, 'crazy' month.  February was exactly that for me this year... or, perhaps, Feb is just a 'little unwell'?  Uhm, yeah, maybe that.  Whatever it was, it was tough, tough, tough!  Even 'moments of victory' had to be won in tough 'contests'... mostly contests between work barking at me annoyingly like a mad dog and personal welfare begging for my attention.  'Madness' almost always won... but ya know, it doesn't matter now 'cause it's finally over! 

Farewell, February 2013....

"I think that my head is cavin' in...don't just stand there,
say nice things to me 'cause I've been cheated, I've been wronged.  
...I wanna push you around.  I wanna take you for granted... well, I will."

...you were cruel and gentle at the same crazy time, you crazy month.  But thanks for the lessons learned, Feb 2013.  I feel that they changed me - in a lot of ways, good ways.  I enjoyed the challenges that brought out some very fine moments of wisdom and strength of character behind this façade of fragile temperament... the hearty laughter that forged new friendships and strengthened old ones, and the priceless moments of affirmation that, hey, I do have a good life!  Priceless, indeed!

But, yeah, ya may go now, Feb... but I know that soon enough I'm gonna think of you... and how you used to be. :)

***

Alright, perhaps, a 'bonus video' is in order.  So, how 'bout this...

"I believe I have the strength to carry on... now it's up to me what will be."

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Video credit:  Thanks, YouTube, for the video links.

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Life is good....

...and beautiful, and colorful, and as fragrant as a fresh flower.
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by PAM

The perks of being a 'spiritual parent' to many kindred souls...

Tough times call for tough measures... therefore, bring on life's irresistible beauty to chase away all the ugliness around! That kind of beauty given with such thoughtfulness by really nice people, those who are destined to make a difference in this world someday... Thomasian Engineers all!

Thanks, guys!  You turned an ugly day to a really beautiful one. :)
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Break!

Right now!
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by PAM

I need help... I'm drowning in a sea of heavy workload - and on a weekend, too!  :(  I need a break... an outlet to let-off some steam. The pressure is too much, I feel like my brain is about to burst out of my skull anytime. Does anyone have a hardhat to spare? ;)  

Anyway, yesterday I gave a Talk to our graduating students in the ChemE Department.  While I enjoyed giving the Talk, it grudgingly necessitated reminiscin' the good old days in good old Grad School... Cornell, basically.  It brought back warm memories, very good ones, happy ones... and it felt so good. However, it also brought back to the surface some 'what-could've-beens', a few 'what-ifs', a little regret, and some feeling of vindication.  Mixed feelings...  mixed emotions... and yet, I do believe with all my heart that everything happens for a reason - very good reason.  I know that, in time, I'd find out what the reason is for the mixed feelings I'm feeling right now, and I'm sure it will make so much sense. Therefore, I resolve to keep movin' on, and keep enjoyin' this journey... whenever possible, and as much as possible.  

In the meantime, I just want to take a break.  There has to be a song to match this 'inner chaos'. Wait...  'match'?  Right!  Hmmm..... So, how 'bout I take a break with this...

"If you see me out, you don't know me.  Try to turn your head.  Try to give

me some room... to figure out just what I'm going to do."

"... and everyone here knows that everyone here is thinking 'bout somebody else."  Really?  Uh, yeah, ya bet!  It's "Back 2 Good" by Matchbox Twenty... back in the days when Rob Thomas was just all about singing his thoughts and baring his soul through his music - in raw and naked truthfulness and honesty.  But, as his wonderful musicality deepened over the years, he became 'too serious' with sounds, rhythm and the impeccability of notes in his songs.  I prefer the irresistible charm of his 'imperfect rhythm', blended beautifully with the honesty of his soul, and his brand of 'let-lose' sort of emotional gnarling singing... how 'bout you?  Uh, yeah, 'you'!  :)

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 Video credit:  Thanks, YouTube, for the video link.

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Saturday photo

by PAM

Faith + Perseverance + Brilliance = A Dream Realized

Speaking of "Fields of gold", the kind that joyfully sparkle with brilliance... I had a chance to walk in one again today - yep, I'm that lucky!  Not sure if I deserve it though.  ;)

It all started with a little dream... Serj (Serjan Abalos), Nica (Angelica Francisco) and Sarah (Sarah Alyssa Cruz) were dreaming to represent the University in a prestigious research contest, like the amazing alumni of our research lab did last year.  Their work was on the production and physico-chemical characterization of yogurt made from heat-treated carabao's milk with adjusted whey protein-to-casein ratio.  They worked very hard... even on weekends and holidays.  Their faith - in God, in themselves, and in one another - grew stronger each day as they persevered through all the 'good-data' and 'bad-data' days, and it made them believe that they can do it.  I am fortunate to have seen their transformation from curious-kids-with-a-dream to humble-little-experts-in-the-making in that little lab of ours... and it's incredible! 

About two weeks ago, their prayer was answered... they got qualified in the Championship Round of the "Philippine Institute of Chemical Engineers National Undergraduate Research Contest 2013"!  Unfortunately, pressing demands from work prevented me from experiencing the joy of seeing their final transformation to young experts, first hand, as they presented the results of their research work to a national audience. :(  But it felt wonderful to receive the news that their hard work paid off.  They bagged the first runner-up trophy in a fierce competition!  I almost flipped with happiness when I learned about it! All the sacrifices, missed weekends, and exhaustive struggles to get the job done were so worth it. I hope that this experience would be a source of inspiration for them, and a source of strength and faith when they finally venture in the 'real world' and face some tough challenges.

Ah, the perks of being in the Academe - so many priceless moments! :)  Yep, I'm one very proud research mentor and thesis adviser! :)  Woohoo!

Congratulations, guys!  Good job! 

***

Fields of Gold...

...I'm walking in one right now!
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by PAM


It's been a really incredible week-and-a-half... lots of hardwork and heavy 'weight lifting'.  It was extremely tiring, but was all worth it because the results were too awesome!  Lots of overwhelming moments of little triumphs here and there, tons of sweet bonding moments with people you didn't think you could get along with, loads of amazing discoveries, an overflow of renewed commitment and affection, a rich sprinkling of strange feelings and odd situations but amazingly nice just the same, mesmerizing beauty of friendship, faith and hope.  Lots of love in the air... for each other, for the Institution that sustains our sense of community and friendship, and for the one God that makes all this beauty and sense of appreciation possible.  

Yep, very, very nice days, indeed!  So much to celebrate for... so many, many incredible gifts from up above!  Therefore, we celebrate with something suitable... something extravagantly beautiful, soothing, and deeply touching...      

"Will you stay with me, will you be my love?

...I never made promises lightly.  And there have been some that I've broken.

But I swear in the days still left, we'll walk in the fields of gold."

"Fields of gold" by Sting... one of my favorite songs.  Beautiful words and beautiful music, put together by one beautiful man (*sigh*) - Sting, of course. :)  It's even nicer when you listen to it with earphones, hearing nothing else but the rhythm created by the bass (played by Sting himself) and some drums, the mesmerizing guitar playing, and Sting's beautifully accented singing. 

Oy!  Life is good... challenging, but good!  Thank you, Lord!

***

The celebration ain't complete without some 'rounded beauty'...  and I swear, I need to kick something round around, too, just to dissipate some energy.  My belly is on fire, I feel like I'm spittin' some anytime. :)  Therefore, time for some footie beauty via UEFA Champions League... bring on Milan vs. Barça!  Oy, oy, oy! 

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Video Credit:  Thanks, YouTube, for the video link.

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Happy V-day!



Happy Valentine's Day!

And because V-day is all about corny, cheesy (or, is it chocolatey?) and... uh, romance, here's one for the hopeless romantic...

"No, it's not my imagination... I'm the king and you're the queen of hearts."

Oy!  Here's to cheesiness! 

Cheers!  :)

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Video credit:  Thanks, YouTube, for the video link.

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Inspire me, February...

...will ya?  Please?
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by PAM



And so, another month begins... wouldn't you know it?  Because February is "love month", let's begin our February posts with a celebration of 'the one love' that heals...

"Lord, I know that your love is healing..."

There is too much hurt in this world of ours.  So much so that one can end up covered with wounds and bruises, if one was not careful.  Those wounds and bruises that merely mar the skin are the easiest to handle... but those that violate the heart, or break the spirit are the most dangerous kind... they can cause illness - the kind that acelerates into the "acute stage" in no time, and then traverses the threshold of bearable pain to an extreme case of hatred, which puts out the light of wisdom in our minds, takes away the soothing spring of hope in our hearts, and puts out the beautiful song of trust in friendship that delightfully surrounds us.  And then, we become empty, un-inspired... we lose our passion in what we do, we lose the spiritual fervor that allows us to see the point in commitment.  In fact, we begin to cease seeing reasons, until we see nothing at all... as hatred blinds us, paralyzes us, leaving us unable to feel. 

And so, when we experience pain, it is wise to immediately seek for healing, for hope, for friendship... for God's love.

And, maybe, it helps not to take ourselves too seriously... to keep reminding ourselves that we are 'work in progress' and that we're, actually, not all that great...

"People say that I'm amazing, I'm strong beyond my years...

...they don't know that I come running home when I fall down,
...'cause deep inside this armor, the warrior is a child."

Wouldn't it be great to have a place to 'come home to' when we fall down?  A place that welcomes us when we need to rest, to help us win time's sympathy and heal all wounds and bruises from a gruelling 'battle'... like an ailing child nurtured to wellness by a loving father or mother?  Yes, we could have that anytime... if only we could learn to keep the immaculate innocence of a child's heart... the hopefulness and the delightful cheerfulness of a trusting child... and the wisdom and commitment of a dependable grown up. Yes, we could be in that place anytime - within ourselves - if we could only be in God's loving heart.

Ah, February, you have (so much) work to do.  I hope you're up to it... 'cause imagine if you're not.

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Video credit:  Thanks, YouTube, for the video link.