Every now and then, a new music sensation comes to being, and it just captures the imagination and vibes of a generation. The sensation is either the music itself or the artist. In some cases, it's both. If the artist is brilliant, the song, or songs, become the 'anthem' of the captivated generation... the artist becomes iconic, and the music becomes the very symbol of the said generation. The '50s had the likes of Elvis Presley and Chuck Berry; '60s had the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan to name a few; the '70s had Stevie Wonder, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin and the Queen among many others; the '80s had Michael Jackson, Madonna, Prince and a host of British acts like U2, Wham, The Police and Culture Club; the '90s had the grunge music with Nirvana and Pearl Jam leading the pack, and a host of American and British boy bands; the early 2000s had Eminem, Justin Timberlake and Coldplay as well as Beyonce, Lady Gaga and more; and now, this generation (and all the others who are occupying space in this generation from previous generations) have no other than...
"So, I'ma light it up like dynamite..."
...BTS, of course!
This is a much delayed post on this iconic act of the 21st century from South Korea! I have been meaning to write this post since 2019 - when, in principle (yes, I am talking about 'principle' here), I signed on to become a 'card-carrying' ARMY - the worldwide fandom of BTS! Believe it or not, the decision paralysis to post was because I cannot make up my mind about what 'iconic' video to feature given the hundreds of great ones they have had, and still having... and yeah, it was hard to make time to post, too. I gotta admit that their dancing in this video is a bit tamed compared with their all-out bone-breaking, death-defying moves in their past live performances and videos. However, I do believe that this video is 'iconic' in that these young men finally totally captured the world's wildest imagination on what an Asian act could do. Yes, I am saying "Asian" rather than just South Korean... because I am so proud to share the same natural hair color with these young men as many Asians, I'm sure, are, too. Hehe... I'm just kidding. It isn't about race or ethnicity, it's about being, uhm, just 'an ARMY'! To be sure, the ARMY transcends all sorts of boundary, and this is why I love BTS!
Anyway, I apologize as I cannot say anything else that will not sound incoherent, or worse, stupid at this point... just because I am hyperventilating right now.... as I always do when I watch BTS. So, let's just be fully captivated by these young men and their total performance. And, if this is not enough, we can also view this...
...or this...
And while we're at it, why don't we add a little humor with this...
...and this, too...
And if these are not enough, perhaps this and this can fill your need for some BTS love today.
Yes, I waited for almost three years before posting something on BTS. I even went to S. Korea in early 2019 to have a taste of the beauty of the place that inspired them to work hard and be who they are today. Although, that trip, of course, was all about fulfilling a promise, too. Perhaps, that's what made traveling to Seoul that time so apt to become an ARMY. Our BTS was a promise: a promise of excellent iconic music of a generation that was so difficult to define; and now, that promise has been fulfilled. Now, we can just go about admiring them, and just being a part of that incredible, loyal ARMY that love these seven beautiful souls because our mutual desire to make this life beautiful is mirrored by every single note they sing, every move they make in their performances, and every sincerely happy smile they flash to their army. I am sure it was never an easy ride for them... we can see the tremendous sacrifice and discipline they impose on themselves, which make them a great reminder that good things do not come overnight. We have to work with constant commitment and heartfelt tenacity... and in unison and harmony with one another to make a truly positive and lasting impact.
So, really, BTS is just happiness, and I love them!
***
Video credit: The videos used in this post belong to BTS, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, the Late, Late Show with James Corden and Billboard Music Awards. Thanks to YouTube for the video links.
...by buona vecchia Italia, la bella. =============================================================== by PAM Come to think of it, "good old" sounds just about right to describe Italia. It's good, it's old - ancient even, and it's unbelievably beautiful! La bella, indeed! Naturally, just the thought of it inspires musings and everything else that feels good, soulful and beautiful. The New York Times on-line article, "The Hidden Treasures in Italian Libraries", has got me gasping for dear life itself. My heart felt thoroughly 'teased', it was beating double time. No, it wasn't a fatal experience. It was a blissful one, actually. It took me, with vividness of imagination, to another place... Italy, naturally. I felt like something around
A little memento, a world of memory.
me broke into a powerful operatic singing and those melodic murmurs in Italian from love-struck men and women, admiring the opera. It was February in Italy all over again for me... and it teases the imagination. Oy! As if the whole 'teasing conspiracy' was not enough, I found a little memento from the warm and beautiful Firenze, lying around my bedroom. It was a little souvenir mug that I have unwittingly forgotten about. I was deciding where to put it. Obviously, I was unable to make the hard decision and left the little memento in a temporary location, still all wrapped up in a white "souvenir shoppy" paper. Just when I was sighing, closing my eyes, imagining how the Italian libraries described in the article looked like, I opened my eyes to the little memento... and it simply took my breath away! These things... these little things, surprising things, seemingly insignificant things, but the ones that make you smile a heartfelt smile... they make life so beautiful, so worth living for. See? God is not fair! Just when you're about the glare at Him for all the curve ball He throws your way, He surprises you with these little gifts... that teases the imagination, reminding you how lucky you are to have been experiencing so many wonderful things. And, the mere realization brings you to your 'happy place'. Then you're faith is renewed once again... God is good. And, yes, life is, indeed, beautiful! Che bello! 😊 *** About the photo: A miniature mug, a memento from from Florence, Italy. ***
A candy for the eyes and the imagination... ...'so close, and yet so far'.
What? Has it been a full week now since my last post? Hmm... what can I say, I'm getting better at this, ain't I? 😛 Used to take a full couple of months in between posts for me since... uhm, four years ago? Has it been that long now?Yep, four years ago when there was ample time to express one's self... four years ago when there was work-life balance. Hmm... feels like forever! 😣 Speaking of work-life balance, I was really excited when I was called to a Planning-Workshop with peers. No, I'm not a sucker for this sort of things... of course not, hello! Every single second in my workplace is a 'planning-workshop' of sorts + action all at once. So, I do have my daily fix of this gig just because my workplace is all that challenging... and I do have a brilliant Team that makes the whole scene thoroughly delightful. So, a very 'structured' gig is not really my cup of tea. It's just that the venue was out-of-town, about three-hour drive from the City. It was a lovely beach resort that I haven't seen in about twenty years. I 'googled' it, and it wasn't anything I remembered from twenty years ago. It was much more beautiful now, and that got me all excited! 😊 So, I joined the activity in good spirit... only to feel my excitement deflating and going south every second of the three-day gig. I never even saw the sunset, and never got to dip my feet in the beach... just because we worked from 7:30 a.m. (yeah, even eating breakfast felt like 'a lot of work') to 8:00 p.m. (yep, dinner felt like work, too). In the evening, I felt exhausted and brain-dead, that I just wanted to curl in bed and drown my 'sorrows' in music. 😫 Yeah, that definitely made me feel like a 'boring, buttoned-up principal' from the 'old school' rather than an 'innovative engineer' around really cool buddies who think outside-the-box and knew how to have fun... while hard at work. Well, I guess, there is a variety of things that make a variety of people tick. Therefore, no point in bringing 'em together and insist on singular thought process... and still expect 'em to get many things done? That is either 'brave' or 'naive'. 😐 To be fair, I don't really know what the 'formula' is, and I'm sure people tried so hard to be productive. What I do know is that this particular formula does not work... not for me, anyway. What can I say, the 'I-got-this-so-let-me-be' detached nature of millennials has caught up on me? Then again, that's just me... and I'm not all that perfect. So, I guess I'm the 'odd' one. And yet, I feel like coaxing people to, "come on, now... it's the 21st century. Outta the box now... it's really nice out here! Come and see!" 😃 I'm probably just being cynical, sorry... so don't mind me. *** What I think But, I think I know what happened there. Someone was trying so hard to express their gratitude and affection to a squad that they built with blood, sweat, tears and a decade worth of energy, but were 'forced' by obstinate circumstances to leave behind their squad... just when the squad needed them the most. Like the great 'general' that the squad leader is, the 'general' wanted to prepare the 'captains' to a fierce battle ahead. More than that, the 'general' probably wanted to have the squad all for itself for a few days to assure them that they are ready for the battle, too... and to just bond, just share a heap of laughter over just-all-fun conversations. But administrative 'facilities' do not allow even 'generals' to do this, so our 'general' opted for good ol' Planning-Workshop. I think that all everyone in that Planning-Workshop really wanted to do was to just bond with the 'general', too! 'Cause ya know, there can't be a kick-ass captain without a kick-ass general! Then again, in the first place... a 'squad' is not the same as a 'Team', y'see. If you ask me, I prefer Team. I do have one in my own workplace, and it's awesome! So yeah, Punta Fuego was a classic case of 'the right people with the right feelings but in a mismatched circumstance'! The featured photo was one of the ONLY TWO photos I've taken in the three-day gig... and I'm a sucker for photos of beautiful sceneries! Somehow, the beautiful sceneries were not enough to inspire creative juices to flow. What a shame! My fault entirely, I must admit... although I did enjoy a 30-minute dip in the infinity pool. And even that, did not inspire 'proper documentation' through photos. But, yeah, there were two or three (maybe four, even five, actually) kindred spirits that made the whole 'ordeal' bearable though, God bless them! 😇 *** What I wish Do you know what's fun? Well, it's the Graham Norton Show! That episode with Dan Stevens after Matthew Crawley's demise in Downton Abbey was hilarious (well, most parts, anyway), so was that episode with Benedict Cumberbatch, Eddie Redmayne and Bryan Cranston; and that episode with Hugh Jackman, Michael Fassbender and James McAvoy. But this here (below) is, I believe, one of the very best episodes. You're welcome! 😎
Graham to Hugh: "It's an odd look for a man, but you carried it off."
Hugh to Graham: "...so, I brought my favorite wooly jumper, but not my red 'lippy', which I left at home."
Bill: "Lippy?" (laughter)
Hugh to Bill : "Yeah, 'lippy', what's that mean in America?"
Bill to Hugh: "I dunno!" (laughter)
Matt to Graham: "I think that the key to my performance (in "Behind the Candelabra") is I borrowed Hugh's 'lippy'." Graham to Matt: "It gets around." Matt to Graham: "And I was actually asked to wear wooly jumper in every single scene."
Hugh to Graham: (sounding disgruntled) "How many guests have walked out of the show?"
Maaan, comedic banter at its best... such good time, indeed! See, Punta Fuego could've been this fun! 😎😊 *** About the photo: Taken from the reception hall of the lovely Club Punta Fuego in Nasugbu, Batangas, Philippines. Video credit: Thanks, YouTube, for the video link. ***
...to sing about 'the shape of you'! =========================================================================== by PAM I know, I know, the past few posts were grim. OK, so let me make it up to you (assuming we have a 'you' here, that is) with this, and see if it doesn't crack you up like it did me...
"Come on, now, follow my lead... I'm in love with the shape of you..."
Hahaha.... oh, gosh! Now, isn't that fun? So hilarious!
But, really, seriously... what if, the great "Presidential Lecturer" himself really tried singing "Shape of you"? I'd wager he'd do really great. Are we ever going to find out? Ah, gosh... I wish we'd see the day when Pres. Barack Obama really gets the pop singing going, seriously!
OK, I wish I had more time here... but I gotta go. 'Daily grind', ya know... whatever.
***
Video credit: Thanks, YouTube, for the video link.
We waited for one whole year, anticipating the return of the last Jedi Master, Luke Skywalker, to "active duty", and it's after the demise of Han Solo, too - last year's most tragic outcome in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. What we have in our hands is not a ticket to see Skywalker swing that phenomenal lightsaber of his again. Instead, we have a "flashback" to connect the future with the past. This year's installment by the Galaxy, "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story", is the first of the planned 'stand alone' Star Wars films. These films will be comprised of a collection of stories happening in the 'vast universe' that dawned upon us through the very first film in the George Lucas franchise, "Star Wars: A New Hope", in 1977. Nearly four decades later, we find ourselves, "Jedi Knight wannabes", still tingle in anticipation of this new installment to thicken the Star Wars plot.
We are kids all over again... and it feels awesome! Alright then, "do or do not, there is no try." And do "aim for the target... and don't get cocky, kid"!May The Force be with us all! ***
...it down, down, down! And let the pressure down! ========================================================================= by PAM I'm really tired. I am. I kid you not, I'm serious. I really wish that we had more days in a week, and that we had more than two days to call "weekend" because Saturday is still a work day for me... and then, it goes on and on until evening, too. So, on Sundays... I'm just "dead", I can't even begin to describe how tired I feel. :( And, you know what, when we can't describe how tired we feel, chances are we're on the verge of catastrophic 'mental break down' - and that is never good, it's beyond 'bad' in fact. Therefore, I need to re-charge a bit... 'cause the last five weeks were EXTREMELY hard. I worked like a 'madwoman' every single minute of my extended days - seriously! Through it all, I kept chastising myself what a terrible and merciless brute I was to myself, whipping myself to labor like a slave horse 24/7 in those five looong weeks! And I am done for. I am completely exhausted that when I move one finger, it feels like lifting a 10-lb weight - it's just too hard, my tank is completely empty! I'm on the verge... therefore, I must STOP! So, yep, I need to 're-charge my batteries'! I need something to remind me how beautiful life truly is... and not as bleak and dreary as the tiresomely boring schedule and work load I am so unfortunately stuck with at the moment. I need help - quickly! A shot of happy sunshine... some 'sugar rush', a rush of happiness! So, let me begin with this...
Graham Norton: "Guys, I know I'm paid to chat, but I think it's fair to just put
all the cards down, and we all stare (at) Henry for a while." (5:19 - 5:30)
Russell Crowe: "They pay you so well but they treat you like s**t." (14:15 - 14:20)
Hahaha... I expected to be wowed by the legendary Russell Crowe's wit and humor and the extremely talented Amy Adams' wit and humor, and be awed by Henry Cavill's wit, humor, and, ahem, absolute beauty... but I didn't expect to end up teary eyed from all the laughter. :) These guys were brilliant in this show's episode! Graham Norton is just amazing, he is. And, yes, I am only three years late, too! Graham looks a lot younger in this video than he does now... but better late than never! :) But if you happen to be interested in the 'updated' version of the video above, click here. Now, that is funny, too. Henry Cavill is as beautiful as in the first one, but Ben Affleck did his best, and Amy Adams is funny without even trying. So, it's all great! :) And what is 're-charging batteries' if it doesn't include something from James Corden? I say, it isn't truly re-charging batteries - seriously. Therefore, here's the man whose show "The Late Late Show with James Corden" just won its first Emmy Awards: Outstanding Interactive Show and Outstanding Variety Special:
"Where's my jacket, guys? Where's my Danny Zuko?
I can't! I can't go on without my f***in jacket, guys! Where is iiit?" (1:11 - 1:25)
Hahaha... oh, gosh, don't you just love this man and the creators of this Show? So creative, so hilarious, I tell ya! Hahaha... but James Corden is not just funny, he's a warm big bear.
Alright, time for some snack. Uh, what? I'm 're-charging batteries' here, of course, it involves midnight snacks! ;)
*** Video credits: Thanks, YouTube, for the video links. ***
I looked up to the skies in exasperation earlier this evening, between 7:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., as I gave up chasing our doggie, who enjoyed his "freedom", carelessly running around outside our premises without a leash, ignoring speeding automobiles and motorbikes... and then I saw something extraordinary in the night sky that made me gasp for breath. The full moon was shining unusually bright with a rainbow of vibrant colors around it like a multi-color ring. It was beautiful... and eerie at the same time.
I raced inside the house and grabbed my point-and-shoot in my purse, aimed it at the moon... but could only manage a faint representation of what I was actually seeing. I'm not sure why the moon looked the way it did, except that we are supposed to expect the "supermoon" on the 9th of September this year.
Well, I thought I'd document this day with a post. So, there.
...linking up and about to consolidate progress. ====================================================================== by PAM Eversince the Heads of State of the 10-member Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) linked arms to vow to open one another's doors to accommodate and cater to one another's needs in a collaborative manner via "One ASEAN 2015", also known as "ASEAN Intergration 2015", or "ASEAN Economic Zone 2015", to achieve regional progress, citizens of ASEAN countries have started to view things differently. They started opening their "windows" and begin to pay attention to what is going on
2014 AUChEEdS... first, historic, relevant.
outside their own "four walls", and begin to imagine themselves as a true member of a community - the ASEAN community. The Higher Education sector of the Philippines is not an exception to this "look-out-the-window-and-observe" paradigm shift. Over the past how many years, members of this sector are not just merely looking out the window and observing, they have been adopting good practices by their close and distant neighbors. And now, Filipino educators have opened their doors as they reached out to invite their ASEAN counterparts to the Philippines in dialogues and shared experiences to forge a strong relationship, partnership, cooperation that they hope would help usher in "One ASEAN" in 2015 on positive note. The Chemical Engineering Education sector of the Philippines, represented partly by the Philippine Institute of Chemical Engineers (PIChE) College of Fellows and the PIChE- Metro Manila Academe Chapter (MMAC) have been doing the 'observing', 'sharing' and the 'adopting' for years now. This year, they (or, should I say "we"?) went on to organize the 2014 ASEAN Undergraduate Chemical Engineering Education Summit (2014 AUChEEdS) dubbed, "Educating the new generation of ASEAN Chemical Engineers". In the first AUChEEdS, Chemical Engineering students and faculty members from ASEAN countries met to learn together, to establish camaraderie as they learn from each other, and just to get to know one another. Colleagues from non-ASEAN countries (the United States of America, Australia and Japan) also participated by sharing their own experiences and good practices, some via webinar. And, it was a wonderful event! I believe that now, more than ever before, members of the Chemical Engineering Education Sector of ASEAN realize that, indeed, they have many things in common, and share many values. Therefore, it is easy to collaborate in a way that will consolidate the thrusts and achievements of the Chemical Engineering Education sector in the region for greater, more lasting, and more meaningful progress. ***
University of Santo Tomas, AY 2014 - 2015 Opening Day
...I guess because I just want a little something to remember this day by. So, before I collapse from exhaustion - from lack of sleep for the past three days - let me post this here. After delivering the Discurso de Apertura today, and after the adrenaline rush subsided, I felt like crawling under the table during lunch with the VIPs of the University, and doze off there for the next, uhm, 24 hours! Noticing my silence and the signs of exhaustion showing around my eyes, one person, who obviously wanted to cheer me up, said, "oh, wow! So now you are already in the history books of the University... so young, and already in the history books! How does it feel?" I stared at him, not fully comprehending, to be honest... and I said, "I'm really sleepy... seriously! Where can I get coffee?" I had to stay awake for another five hours or so, and had to survive the General Faculty Meeting, which is traditionally held in the UST Faculty of Engineering after the Misa de Apertura, after which the Academic Year (AY) is officially opened, and followed by the Discurso de Apertura. Considering the huge endeavors that we need to pursue this AY, I didn't just have to stay awake during the Meeting... I needed to pay close attention to details... and preside the Meeting! Oh, dear. Anyway, I think I survived... but, I'm collapsing soon. So, let me stop here. I'm not sure what the relevance of this event is in my life (and I'm not sure I'll ever have the luxury of time to ponder it)... 'cause I did it not for myself but for the Faculty of Engineering. But, I thank God sincerely just the same... 'cause my friends in the Faculty didn't gag at the Discurso. :) If only for that, I say this day is one of the very best days of my life! :) And yet, I claim none of the glory. To God be the glory! *** Image credit: Thanks, Varsitarian, for the photo. ***
QOTD #22: The 'truth' about boys and girls. ================================================================================ by PAM
Just as “bossy” might be said to undermine female leadership, “nerd” might be
said to have undermined male intellectualism.
- Margaret Talbot in the article, "Don't ban "bossy" published on The New Yorker :) The article on The New Yorker from where I lifted this QOTD made me smile... actually, it made my day! Considering that today we had our Students Recognition Day in the University where our very best students who excelled in various areas were recognized, this article getting to be the one that made my day is big. :) My excuse: aw, c'mon, I deal with high-achieving students all day - every single day - in the Faculty of Engineering, it's routine for me! :) Anyway, back to the article... so, is this how we view "gender equality" now... alright, whatever, call me bossy, just quit wailing if I call you nerd, OK, dude? ;) Incidentally, the student who gave the acceptance speech, on behalf of all the high achiever of students who received awards this evening, was a girl! :) She received various awards in at least three areas: academic excellence, leadership, and service leading to community development. And no, she didn't sound "bossy" at all! ***
A celebration! ==================================================================== by PAM This morning, I joined a 'celebration'... a celebration of the life and achievements of an educator, a brilliant scientist and a formidable scholar who is beloved and respected by a multitude of current and former students, colleagues, and friends.
A celebration of a Scholar's life and achievements...
...a celebration of the joy of being an educator.
Indeed, if you commit to pursuing excellence in what you love most in this life, enjoying the journey, spreading love as you travel... appreciating the people you meet, offering them your sincere friendship, and appreciating the 'scenic views' along the way, keeping a snapshot of each in your mind, and in your heart... indeed, life would reward you with the same appreciation and love you spread as you go through life. I consider myself to be truly fortunate to have worked with the one person whom I have always admired from afar. I thought I will never be worthy to be a part of his circle, and yet, somehow, fate put me within his circle of influence... and it changed my life and the way I view things forever - for the better. This morning, as part of the 75th Year celebration of the Graduate School of the University of Santo Tomas (UST), a Festschrift, in honor of the most accomplished scientist and educator in UST, Prof. Fortunato B. Sevilla III, Ph. D., was launched. The 'Festschrift' launched was a volume of Acta Manilana, the official publication of UST in Science and Technology, containing 71 papers, 40 of which are contributed by Prof. Sevilla's colleagues and collaborators abroad. The Festschrift was a tribute to Prof. Sevilla's work as a scientist and his contributions to the advancement of Chemistry education and S&T research in UST... and in the Philippines. Congratulations, Sir Fortune! We love you! ***
QOTD #21: It's 'mathematically correct'! =============================================================================== by PAM
"Mathematical knowledge is unlike any other knowledge. Its truths are objective, necessary and timeless."
- Prof. Edward Frenkel (UC Berkeley) In the article, "Is the universe a simulation?" The NY Times Sunday Review What an interesting article. I still subscribe to Brian May's personal rule as a Scientist though, that we can only hope to understand what is in front of us. Beyond it, is a Truth that our abilities and logic as human beings and the capacity of the highly sophisticated tools that we have developed to enhance our abilities, such as Science and Technology, can never match for absolute understanding. Therefore, scientists must stop at a certain boundary, and dare not cross it. And yet, as Christians, we embrace that Truth with all our being, that Truth that is God, that is of God. But going back to Math... just a few days back, I sat to listen to a lecture by one of our Math professors in the UST Faculty of Engineering, one of the activities in the celebration of our "Engineering Week". He lectured about Quaternions, which are a number system that extends complex numbers so they can be analyzed the same way we do matrices in linear algebra. Even when our colleague tried to make the lecture sound "light" and not too "stressful" for the applied science audience (myself included), somehow the questions that he extracted were leaning towards application rather than the theoretical aspects of Quaternions. And, we gathered that Quaternions have vast applications in animation and game development... to the delight of our Computer Science comrades, quite naturally! :) Apparently, the application of Quaternions is in 3D computer images, and make possible the quick transition of a thousand frames, one after another, that makes animation, specifically in computer games, more realistic in simulating real movement. I know, very cool. And yet, that is still a very small thing compared with simulating the Universe... at least, from the context of limited human understanding. At the end of the series of a variety of lectures was a lecture on Liturgy by our Regent... the best way, I think, to put all our wonderful S&T stuff in their right places. Yeah, it was a great (geeky) day - the Catholic University way! ***
And geek it out! :) ========================================================================== by PAM Red Day? Pink Day? Whatever day... I think it's all about love. And love should be celebrated! therefore, here's to love... cheers! :) And, I'm lovin' today's doodle... the Google Valentine's greetings. It's very cute! :)
Geeks, unite... and celebrate Googly Valentine's Day!
And, because sappy is happy, in the spirit of true V-day sappiness, we sing...
"I feel it in my fingers, I feel it in my toes...
Love is all around me, and so the feeling grows."
*** Image credit: Thanks, Google, for the image. Video Credit: Thanks, YouTube, for the video link. ***
...by number. ================================================================= by PAM This is what I love about holidays, y'see. You could actually entertain the mind with the 'good stuff': reading books! If you have the courage to mute your phone and switch-off your laptop to enjoy the holiday, that is. I'm trying to do that now... listening to the Beatles, and re-reading....
Four, six, nine... and then you lose five, and 'the files'. Good stuff!
...Science fiction, of course! What else?? I have to admit though that it was the 'beautiful' boyAlex Pettyfer, the ultra-cool Timothy Olyphant and the kick-butt Aussie chick, Teresa Palmer, who got me into "reading by number" last year. The trio played the role of aliens from the planet Lorien who, along with 16 others, escaped the destruction of their planet by the evil Mogadorians. Unknown to them, a couple more from their planet escaped the Mogadorian invasion. They came to Earth to re-group and train in order to regain rule of their planet when the right time comes. By 'right time', they mean that time when the nine 'chosen' gifted children (or Garde) from Lorien (Numbers one to nine) would have developed their 'Legacies' (or superpowers) to full strength with the aid of their respective Guardians (or Cepans), and become strong enough to fight the Mogadorians to victory. Not yet ready for full battle as their Legacies have not been fully developed, Numbers One to Three, and their guardians, were already murdered by the Mogadorians who pursued them to Earth. With the protective Loric charm cast upon them by the leader of their Lorien Elders before their escape from the Mogadorians, the Garde could only be killed consecutively according to their numbers... therefore, Number Four was next. In the film version, Pettyfer played the role of Number Four, Olyphant his guardian, and Palmer as the awesome Number Six - the fierce one. While the film was "average" in quality... it was interesting enough to spark interest in the book, and in the Lorien Legacies series. And, it kinda thrilled me, too, that "I am Number Four", the first in the Lorien Legacies series, spent seven consecutive weeks as New York Times' #1 Bestseller in the ...uhm, ahem, Children's books category! :) Well, it only means one thing: I'm still a child at heart... and that I haven't outgrown my childlike fascination for the awesomeness of science... entwined with a bit of imagination and love for fantasy. Who knows, I might just be able to retain that, in spite of the heavy grown-up stuff I have to deal with every single day, and pursue writing science fiction when the right time comes? By 'right time', I mean when my time in the "busy office" comes to a close? Not such a bad idea, eh? Ya bet! We'll see.... :)
But, nah, I don't have the print version of "The Fall of Five", the fourth book in the series... I have the soft version on my iPad. And, it's great, because I thought I won't have the patience to resist ripping the pages from the book as I fume in anger over Five's stupidity! Yep, I am that "engaged". :) Alright, I'm gonna have to stop here. I am supposed to be enjoying the holiday before going back to work... tomorrow. Yep, on a Saturday. I do work seven days a week... at least, 70 hours a week! Yep, I work the hours and the job of a high-flying Engineering firm consultant... and earn like an average Consulting firm staff. Tragedy? Nah, I'm quite happy... and very proud of it! :) Oh, but, ahh... ask me again next year! Haha.... Happy Chinese New Year, folks! ***
...and give way to 'le mindfulness'. ====================================================================== by PAM
Yeah, I caught the bug... you can say that again. Uhm, but not the nice make-up, etc.... nah. :) Do I wish I caught that, too? Uhm... too much work, thank you very much! :) But I'm trying it out... this "Mindfulness" thing, that is. Uummm.... OK, that's it, I need to hear music. :)
"I feel so uninspired... my head is battling with my heart
My logic has been torn apart... it's all because of you."
Alright, let's try again. Uummmm.... Wait... was that my phone? Ugh, what now??? Oh, it's someone else's! OK, let's begin again. Uummm.... Dang, what an awesome goal! Oooppss... OK, seriously now. Uuummmmmm.... *** Video credit: Thanks, YouTube, for the video link.
Foodie-ing in KL and Ipoh, Malaysia. ================================================================== by PAM
Scratching the surface... and craving for more.
It's not my first time to be in Kuala Lumpur, but it was my first time to be in Ipoh. It's amazing to see KL's progress from the first time I saw it in 1999, and then in 2000, 2007, 2010... and then, this year. The rate of progress is incredible. The infrastructures are, without a doubt,
The 'mandatory' pic at KL's 'mother ship' before satisfying the tummy. :)
indicators of very good and progressive engineering in the country, and the global business establishments that now saturate the City Center sprouted like bundles of mushrooms, all clustered in an obviously well-thought of Urban Planning. Man, if only our own government would stop exporting our awesome Filipino engineers and have them re-engineer our country instead... any first-world country will have a run for its money! I also enjoyed the three-hour bus ride from KL to Ipoh. The inter-City hi-ways are amazing... nothing short of a developed/industrialized country's, and yet, the surroundings are so impressively green. The thick 'bushes' of Palm trees are incredible! I remember traveling back-and-forth to KL and Putra Jaya back in 2007, the roads were already impressive then... they were obviously very new because there were not enough signs then that my friend and I missed our exit a few times. :) But now, the drive reminded me of the summer roadtrips my friends and I used to take from Ithaca, NY to NY City, which even my family and I once did, too! The feel is the same. And, Ipoh is a charming city, especially its Old Town, with old structures and houses preserved from ages ago. I have to admit though that I don't think I'll ever get used to the quiet environment of KL, and especially Ipoh. I've gotten so used to the City Buzz of lively Manila... I'd always crave it! But, back to food... I know, a few days is not enough, never enough, to really have an honest-to-goodness feel and appreciation of any city's local cuisine. But, my sister and I did our best. Our verdict: the street foods of KL are very good (but, dang, I don't even have a photo... I was too busy eating!)... and the incredible burger of Burps & Giggles in Ipoh is a must-try. ***
Paul Marion J. Demapelis, a Thomasian - numero uno! University of Santo Tomas - numero dos!
Amid all the gloom that typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) brought comes a ray of hope for rebuilding: the Filipinos' resilience because of strong faith in God... coupled with the commitment and idealism of budding engineers in the country.
Aside from those disturbed sleeps we've had because of typhoon Yolanda, we have had a few more sleepless November nights, just waiting, waiting... waiting for the results of the November 2013 Civil Engineers Licensure Examination given by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) Board of Civil Engineering. Nope, we weren't doubting our graduates' capabilities, and their commitment to pass the daunting Examination - aw, man, not at all! We were simply excited to see how our graduates would fare compared with their peers from 227 Engineering Schools in the country.
And here's how they did: out of 3,168 passers from 6,584 Exam takers, one of our graduates took the #1 spot (Paul Marion J. Demapelis), and two others shared the #3 (Kristoffer Dave A. Tabong) and the #9 (Randolph C. Camaclang) spots with other passers from other Universities in the Top 10 passers who obtained the highest scores. More importantly, they distinguished our University in that pool of 227 Universities in the country that were represented in the previous Examination. They captured the #2 spot for us in the Top Performing Schools (schools with more than 50 exam takers and 80% or better passing rate) in the country by posting a passing rate of 91.79% (that's an incredible 179 passers out of 195 exam takers) against a national passing of 48.12%. Of course, we are VERY PROUD of them, and VERY PROUD of their mentors in the Civil Engineering Department! :)
And, today, I am proud to see them taking their Solemn Oath as professional Civil Engineers, wearing their Dominican Crosses around their necks... and that renders the oath to be a true vow to practice their profession with honor and integrity, and with firm commitment to excellence - all in the service of those who need their help, and for God's greater glory. May God bless them always!
...a proud moment for a teacher. ====================================================================== by PAM Just a couple of years ago, I was gauging, calibrating my approach in my teaching in order to effectively reach them, how I could effectively mentor them. I was feeling my way through to build a two-way road where I could help them understand and appreciate Momentum Transfer, Thermodynamics, and Membrane Technology. We did manage to find each other where there is enough light for illumination. At some point I believed I saw them transition
Congratulations to the newly licensed Thomasian Chemical Engineers! May you illuminate your work places with your light of Thomasian values. Be good engineers! Serve, and serve well.
from young people aspiring to become engineers to actually blossoming engineers. I believe this was during our "Product Innovation Challenge + Mini Expo"event. Along the way, there were ups and downs, too... man, were there ups and downs! :) There were 'ugly moments'... but there were countless beautiful moments as well. And then, they graduated... and then they have become all-ready to conquer the world with a "Thomasian Engineer passport". And, this afternoon, they just earned themselves a "visa" to practice their profession in the so-called "real world"... and, boy, am I proud! To see them with wide-eyed hopefulness as they savor their first 'success' as professional, which they earned on their own... like toddlers who took their first step unaided... aw, man, it was priceless indeed! I'm glad that, in spite of all the heavy challenges today, lady luck showed me a hint of a smile, and I managed to squeezed in a few minutes to see them take their oath as newly licensed Chemical Engineers. Congratulations to the new batch of newly licensed Thomasian Engineers - all 69 of them! We're very proud of you guys! I wish you great things in all your future endeavors. Godspeed. ***
...it's all I want for Christmas! ======================================================================== by PAM I thought I'd never outgrow the child-like feeling of anticipation and excitement, looking forward to unwrapping gifts in this season of gift-giving and merry-making... but I did! Now, I wish for nothing else but some "me-time" during the holidays... gifts are good, but I prefer quality time for much-needed rest. It's been a really, really exhausting year! I cannot even begin to look back to the past 11 months without cringing over that challenging roller coaster ride of 2013! I don't think there is a word to describe the exhaustion that I feel right now. No matter how profound the inspiration to offer one's time and self to meet the challenges, it is unfortunate that the body is not immune to 'wear and tear'. Since last week, I basically am just languishing through the days, just wishing for the year to be over soon, with the thoughts of the coming holiday and the cheers it brings as my inspiration to keep going. Yep, dude, I'm so looking forward to the holidays when I could just sleep in... think of nothing but give my tired bones and 'battered' body and mind some rest. I'm so looking forward to a few 'slow days' when I could just wake up at 8:00 in the morning and drink my coffee lazily as I watch our furry bundle of cute antics does his thing. I am so looking forward to spending hours in a rocking chair under our mango tree, just
"Me-time" is leisurely reading time. Oy, what a great time!
reading leisurely as my mind and body recuperate from all the incredible challenges that 2013 so mercilessly hurled in front of me.
*** Two months ago, I celebrated Alice Munro's win of the Nobel Prize in Literature. I've always been a big fan of hers. I love her works - the simple words, crocheted into an alluringly beautiful story that unknowingly draws one into a maze that is the intricacies of human nature, engages one to relate his/her own understanding of himself/herself with Ms. Munro's views as if the story she was telling was the reader's own story, and coming out of it with much amazement. Early this year, I bought a 2009 Alice Munro paperback, "Too much happiness", that I meant to read during summer. It is a compilation of 10 short stories. Yep, I could get as sentimental as buying paperback even when I maintain a 'relationship' with my iPad. :) Anyway, summer 2013 passed, and I only managed to read one short story! Not even Ms. Munro could weave a web of great imagination that could hold me in a momentary blissful trance that only reading literary works could do... that's how extremely busy 2013 had been. :( Nevertheless, I'm still
Holiday theme: making quality time to appreciate this 'borrowed time' more.
thankful. I feel blessed with so much opportunities to make this borrowed time useful and meaningful.
This holiday season, I have the 'perfect' gift to myself - read the Munro book in its entirety! :) Of course, I intend to finally 'devour' my Thor comics as well - even get "The Dark world" DVD if it's already available - and, spend time reading those articles on The Economist that I missed during the last three months or so, and feast on a few 'camera tricks' with my photography stuff, too, if I could get some more "bonus" time. :) Hopefully, the body could recuperate enough to enable the mind and heart to find ways to give more in 2014. Yep, I am so looking forward to have some much deserved (man, I hope so!) "me-time" during the holidays. Uh-huh, it's feeling a lot like Christmas already! :) ***
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