...and lots of BTS.
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by PAM
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| Transitioning from the old Office to the new (non-existent) Office (yet)... exploring some parts of the pretty UST campus, and getting into the swing of things. 'Let's go!' |
The 'heat is on'... and I'm feeling the heat! Whew!
Last week, I was in my University's main campus in the City of Manila. I met with key individuals as I am currently transitioning from my old Office to another Office. My former
Office for almost nine years is the Office of the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Santo Tomas (UST, or "USTe" - a term of endearment from alumni and friends of UST). Recently, I joined the Team of the Office of the Rector in the same University for a 'special assignment'... not that I am special though. Haha... Mabuti pa nga ang assignment, special, eh. Ang tao, uhm... 'regular' lang. Haha...
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| Temporarily working from home and running/brisk walking in between. |
Office for almost nine years is the Office of the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Santo Tomas (UST, or "USTe" - a term of endearment from alumni and friends of UST). Recently, I joined the Team of the Office of the Rector in the same University for a 'special assignment'... not that I am special though. Haha... Mabuti pa nga ang assignment, special, eh. Ang tao, uhm... 'regular' lang. Haha...
Anyway, the transition is not without challenges... as expected from any change, there are 'birth pains'. So, I am currently enduring that... and it's not all that easy. And, this is why I am here - to let off some steam - instead of getting agitated, getting upset and complaining, and feeling anxious. Life is short, and I am halfway through mine... if I'd live a hundred years, that is. Haha... I do not wish to spend my remaining time in this life in unproductive things, if I could find a way to be productive even when stressed out. So, aside from finding serenity in praying and meditating, I have a way of being calm in the comforts of my own room during quiet 'me time'. I am able to commune with BTS - online and offline - through their music and many other multi-media stuff that lightens up mood. That is because I am an ARMY. Hmm... perhaps, I am 'special' after all! đź’ś
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RM is first... who's next?
I've been wanting to post a feature on each member as I really like all of them. However, I haven't found the time to do that. I know that Lt. Hikaru Sulu of the Starship USS Enterprise (NC-1701) in "Star Trek" (the original series) once said, "if something is important enough, you make the time". It's not that this goal is not important enough. It's just that I have to have priorities. Writing about BTS is my personal goal, my personal joy. However, I do have a 'day job'. I'm a part of a Team on whose quality of work, many people's daily lives and future
depend. So, personal satisfaction vs. greater good? Of course, my work takes priority, right? After all, good outcomes from work also bring personal satisfaction and joy. And, if I'm efficient, I would afford to have the time to write about BTS. As it is, only family and faith are above work in my hierarchy of priorities.
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| BTS: seven purple lights that light up the skies. |
Anyway, I finally posted a feature on one of the members of BTS. Of course, the first to be featured is our fantabulous leader, RM (Kim Nam-joon). Technically though, before RM, I posted some sort of a feature for J-Hope (Jung Hoseok or Hobi) when "More" - the first single from his solo album, "Jack in the Box" (JITB), was released last July. It was not full-length but the goal was to support the release of his first solo album, which he absolutely deserves. I do adore our dear Sunshine, and I was happy that I could support him in my own little way. I salute him for his boldness to go out there, stand on his own with the blinding spotlight on him (and him alone), and fire a canon loaded with sheer talent to bring the music world to its knees! He did it, and it was awesome! However, I still owe Hobi a full-length feature, and a promised full review of JITB. I hope to 'find the time' to do that soon.
Anyway, so after RM, who's next?
Actually, my ARMY friends might have found it surprising that RM was first to be featured in this blog. They may have been expecting Jeon Jungkook (JK) to go first. And when JK goes, SUGA (Min Yoon-gi) is not so far behind.
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| SUGA (Yoongi) is awesomeness+++ personified. |
Same is true with RM, actually. He is so talented, intelligent and just awesome! But I did like his Swiss Vlog so much, and I can wholeheartedly relate with his passions. He is absolutely impressive in what he does. So, when his Vlog came out, I seized the moment and just ploughed through the post! I stroke while the iron was hot so to speak. If I waited a bit longer, I would've been so intimidated that I might not have had the courage to post that feature on him. Of course, the post is just a drop in a sea of things that could be written about RM, but I can only do my best. I'm glad, I did. Someday, when I'm retired... and RM is President of South Korea (uhm, ahem!), I will re-read that feature, and I know I would be so proud and happy.
Yeah, but, who's next...?
Alright, moment of truth! I'd love the next feature to be about JK. That young man is a person that is so difficult to write a feature story about. There is so much to write about him, and it is
impossible to focus on just one. He is so talented and so close to perfection that it's almost unfair - seriously! When I think of JK, that song, "(God must have spent) A Little More Time on You" by NSYNC always comes to mind. I saw his Vlog... it seemed 'simple enough' to write a feature story about 'cause it was just fun, fun, fun... and more fun! And then, that touching moment of him writing that profession of love to ARMY on the sand in the beach... aww, I teared up a little bit, to be honest! It was extra-special since he has not posted on his Instagram (IG) or on any social media platform for a long time when his vlog came out. So, I made up my mind a few days ago, I will write about his Vlog! But there is "Left & Right" with Charlie Puth, "Bad Decisions" with the rest of the BTS vocal line - a collaboration with Benny Blanco and Snoop Dogg. And then, recently, there is that special 8-photo folio, "Time Difference"! Man, what to do?? Maybe, I should just focus on his singing, huh? But I always listen to their old and newer songs in one go while running or brisk walking... and, oh, boy, the evolution of his artistry is just phenomenal! Too hard to write about!
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| JK - the closest being to perfection. |
Jin (Kim Seok-jin) sneaked into my heart when he did that vlog, cooking with a famous Korean Chef. I was so tempted to shoot my own video cooking, too! Hahaha... and write a side-by-side features on our menbosha. Plus, I always enjoy Jin's funny antics... he is the most effective inducer of 'LOLs' among ARMY... especially when he 'yell raps'. Hahahahaha... When I'm in a bad mood these days, I just open saved post on IG about Jin... and in a few minutes, everything in the world is right again! Aww, thanks, Jin!
Jimin's vlog is adorable... ah, well, he is adorable! I've always been into Jimin from that time when he was still this little kid from Busan with chubby cheeks who rocked Seoul with his raw artistry as a BTS member - my ARMY friends know that. In the early stages of my BTS fascination, all I ever talked about was Jimin (Park Jimin). While all seven members fight for my attention when I watch them perform, there is always that auto-focus on Jimin. I am most excited when he posts something on IG or Weverse as he is always sweet and very caring to ARMY. You can feel the sincerity, and it's heartwarming.
Aargh... and I don't even want to think about writing a feature on V (Kim Tae-hyung). That will be a gargantuan task, and I am not sure if I am equal to the task... or, if I'd be equal to the task - ever! He is like a chameleon... he switches gears a lot, and the changes are impossible to predict - even for one with a doctorate on something that involves mathematical modeling (ahem! Haha...). What one writes about V today may no longer be valid two minutes after it's posted! Hahaha... that's how dynamic his personality and interests are. Hmm... perhaps, I should pay closer attention to him, and see what is the most 'permanent' about him. But to follow V is so dizzying... he 'moves around' a lot - physically and mentally. I think it's impossible for him to stay still (mind, body and soul) even for a few minutes.
So, who is next after RM? Now, I realized that I have no definite answer to that question. Oh well... we shall see in a few days.
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Photo credit: (1-2) The photos in the first and second collages are all mine. They were processed for the sole use of this blog, and may not be used elsewhere. (3) The photos in the second image were grabbed from BTS collection of photos online while the blue and pink light background was from RM's IG account - thanks for the loan. (4) The photos from the 3rd collage were from SUGA's IG account - thanks for the loan. (5) JK's collage were grabbed from various sources including Bangtan TV and BTS Big Hit official IG account - thanks for the loan.
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