...and many more!
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by PAM
TGIF!
The week has been incredible... challenging for the most part at work, but there are a lot of things that deserved to be celebrated, too. I guess that the more challenging things are, the sweeter 'victory' tastes when it's achieved... regardless whether it's fully or partially achieved, actually achieved or merely imagined. After all, 'victory is a state of mind', according to a World Cup-related social media post where Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are featured. I think that, for our sanity, we should always look at the bright side... of course, with our eyes wide open, too, to see the gloomy side. When we focus on the bright side, it is easier to imagine how to extend the brightness to lighten the gloomy side. When we see the big picture, there is always a way to do this. When we see none, there is also such thing as 're-thinking priorities'... and 'regrouping' to plan the next best strategy.
Whatever it is... the week is over, and it's time to loosen up a bit... or, a lot!
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The bright side
I had three critical meetings and an important webinar this week that went so well. Questions in my head were answered, things that were vague were clarified; and new possibilities rose in the horizon, and, boy, don't they look amazing! I have yet to figure out a lot of things still, and the work does not get easier... but it gets interesting - very interesting... and exciting!
But what is truly interesting and exciting was a message that I received from my youngest sister. She sent me and our sisters photos of the art works of my nephew - the eldest of her two kids, and that boy who resides in a huge space in my heart. Let's just call him "LA". He is now in the first grade at the Ateneo de Manila Grade School where his own father studied, too. He obtained straight A's in the first quarter of the School Year (SY), and we are, indeed, very proud of him! He has always loved Mathematics since he started schooling at age 3 years... but his Mom and Dad have been doing a great job motivating him to give all subjects equal attention. So far, so good. But what is amazing is how he has been doing so well in his Arts subject, too! Obviously he has such rich imagination and terrific creativity.
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| LA celebrated his 7th birthday last month, went trick-or-treating as Batman for the first time after two years since the pandemic, and have been showing excellent job in his art works (photos 1 to 4, clockwise starting at the upper left hand side) besides Math and Science. |
LA is a gamer - a very good one! Hehe... His parents (and us, aunties) let him play because we see him gaining confidence in talking to people, suggesting creative solutions to practical problems, and strategizing to master his school works the way he tries to master his games. His mind is fast developing to a tactical mind... strategic and naturally a problem solver. I like that because my fervent hope is that he becomes an engineer like, uhm, ahem, yours truly (and his Dad, too, actually!). Hahaha... I am okay that I don have kids of my own, but I cannot deny that I often wish that one of my nephews and nieces would become an engineer someday. All are grown-up now... except LA and his younger sister. So, my hope is alive and well! Hehe... #meddlingauntie mode.
Anyway, sometimes, we see LA playing online with teenage gamers as well as older gamers (including my brother-in-law, actually)... and he manages to win! Unlike other kids, he does know when it is time to study... and to babysit her little sister, or entertain adoring aunties and uncles, and his doting grandparents! When I got sick last year, he set aside time to pray for my recovery everyday. His Mom would message me, and there was always a video greeting from him... always telling me how much he loved me, and that I should eat well to get well soon. And that gave me the biggest reason to keep fighting for my life. With God's grace, I did survive... and that deepened my love for this boy. In a way, I owe him my life now... of course, along with other family members... and the fabulous doctors in my University.
If there is another young man that I adore more than JK (the son that I never had), it will definitely be my dearest LA - I love him to bits, and I will always do. He speaks in almost the same manner as JK... with sweetness and in such adorable voice. I have another nephew that I love fervently, too - JPM. He is tall, sporty, and a very good-looking young man... like JK, too, of course. Hahaha... but I think that he (and his girlfriend) will totally cringe if I feature him in this little blog of mine. Hahaha...
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'Offside'
In football, 'offside' is one of those things that we, fans, always debate about (with the referees! Hehehe...)! It is probably because, most often, decisions in football matches related to the offside rule tilt the favor (or odds, depending on whether you are in the losing or winning team) of the game... and often critical to winning or losing.
So, JK has been working on the soundtrack of the FIFA World Cup 2022 (WC2022) hosted by Qatar. He has been working on the Opening Ceremony performance on 20 November 2022 as well. Of course, there have been many issues on the supposed 'unsuitability' of Qatar to host the "Mecca of Football" that is the World Cup, in which 32 of
the best of the best teams from about a hundred national teams advance to compete for the pride of taking home and keeping the 'holy grail' of football for four years. People bring up Qatar's alleged human rights violations and its aversion to diversity and inclusion. I do believe that that is fair. When something is questionable, by all means, queries must be raised and answers have to be pursued until provided, and with accuracy and clarity, too - whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
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| JK, on his way to Qatar, in preparation for his performance at the FIFA WC2022 |
However, the WC2022 is about football though. The players work on the mastery of their skills in painstaking discipline and commitment as professional footballers just to be able to have the rarest chance of representing their respective countries in their lifetime in this awesome event! Many living legends of football, such as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, no matter how mesmerizingly successful they are in the football clubs where they play and played, cannot be fully considered by some passionate football fans to be 'complete' legendary footballers because they have not won the World Cup yet. And, we, football fans always look forward to watching our favorite teams and these legends of the 'beautiful game' to compete in the biggest football stage in the world... and when our teams do not win, we wait for the next four years to get yet another chance.... and the next three years and 11 months will be a long and painful build-up to the next World Cup!
In any case, win or lose, we enjoy the process of seeing the countries come together... chant and cheer - united as one in the spirit of sportsmanship, if that is the only remaining set of virtues that this world has. So, to disrupt this beautiful process due to political agenda is just very, very disappointing. I believe that not everything should be turned to politics and global gatherings a venue to push for personal beliefs and agenda. That leaves us with no space to breathe... and just enjoy life, and each other's company - as human beings... say, in this case, human beings that are enjoying the 'beautiful game' that we love. We can promote awareness of our cause while enjoying the game and observing mutual respect... but we do not need to turn it to an impassioned 'crusade' at the World Cup. It's too stressful, and it takes away focus on the 'beautiful game'... and miss the chance of coming together peacefully, learning about each other and from each other. Then again, that just goes to show how important the World Cup is. People choose it as a venue to express passionate advocacy.
These days, many ARMYs (or people pretending to be ARMYs to breach this powerful fandom?) are guilty of violating the 'offside rule' in fandom etiquette
as they publicly lambast JK for moving forward in his performance at the WC2022 Opening Ceremony. I imagine it must be very toxic for JK... that can gnaw on his mental health. They compare him with artist/s who supposedly declined the invitation to perform, citing Qatar's Human Rights record in their press releases. Everybody is entitled to his/her own opinion, of course. And yet, this/these artist/s and the many critics of the World Cup 2022 come/s from and perform/s in countries where people are abused, disrespected and/or treated unfairly on a regular basis, if not everyday, due to the color of their skin, their gender, and/or their ethnicity, or due to the social class in their society where they 'belong' that is perceived to be inferior compared with others'. I'm sorry, but I find the actions and the justifications to be contradicting. If we don't try to reach out to one another in peace and without judgment, cross the understanding divide and extend a hand in peace, and influence each other positively - through our reconciliatory actions, professions and/or artistry, how do we achieve harmony, peace and mutual respect? As a football fan for decades now, for me, the World Cup is one of the global events where I can feel optimistic about us, humans. The passion shown by the players and their coaches, their impressive skills that are mastered through hard work, the unbreakable determination to bring honor to one's country through strategy and innovation, teamwork, humor - lots of humor and camaraderie among fans and players... there are so many uplifting and inspiring things that can only be found and experienced at the World Cup.
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| 'Dreamers', soundtrack of the FIFA WC2022 |
And so, I applaud JK for his courage to 'walk the talk' in his (and his brothers' at BTS) commitment to make this world a better place - where people are united as one - through music. Consistent to his values and his adherence to mutual respect, he did not retaliate in any way to his detractors and haters, nor did the smile on his face was wiped out by disappointment or rejection. He 'turned the other cheek'... and just went on, and tried to create a beautiful music that he, obviously hopes others would appreciate - for its worth and message, and not for anything else.
And so, I wait, in great anticipation of the release of his song, 'Dreamers'. I have no doubt that it will be awesome because that's just the way he does things, the BTS way: the very best... or nothing at all!
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Image credit: (1) The collage of photos belong to my sister, borrowed just for this post. (2) JK, on his way to Qatar - borrowed from Big Hit IG account. (3) As an update to this post on 19 Nov 2022, the 'Dreamers' poster is borrowed from the Big Hit IG account - thanks for the loan.
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