Reconnecting with friends and fellow Fulbright Scholars and Humphrey Fellows under PAEF, Inc. Among them are: Hon. Shirley Agrupis, Ph.D. (Chairman of the Commission on Higher Education), Tony Lambino, Ph.D. (President, Ayala Foundation, Inc.) and Karol Mark Yee, Ph.D. (Executive Director of EDCOM 2).
It was a joyful and quite emotional occasion for me. So many memories - very good ones, came rushing in, and it was overwhelming. I received a Fulbright Scholarship under the Fulbright-Philippine Agriculture Scholarship Program (FPASP) in 2002 to study for my Ph.D. degree at the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) of Cornell University in Ithaca, NY, USA. The FPASP gave me a very generous five-year scholarship, and I am forever grateful. The experience was, indeed, life-changing - to say the least. It opened so many doors of opportunities for me... as well as my loved ones, and the Institution that I now serve. I returned to the Philippines (and to the University of Santo Tomas, or "UST") in 2007 where I became the 2nd woman Dean of the first Engineering School in the Philippines, the UST Faculty of Engineering, in November 2012. I served in this capacity for nearly one decade, which were some of the best and most productive years of my life. I will let history account the ups and downs, and the tremendous gains of the Faculty in those years that now became a 'norm' in its daily pursuits. For these rare opportunities, I am, indeed, grateful to God.
In Academic Year (AY) 2021-2022, I became a recipient of the Hubert H. Humphrey (HHH) Fellowship, also under PAEF. As a Humphrey Fellow, I spent nearly a year at the Pennsylvania State University ("Penn State") where I held my local Professional Affiliation (PA) at their Innovation Park at Penn State. It also gave me the opportunity to return to Cornell for my non-local PA and work with former professors and colleagues for six weeks. I also got to spend another six weeks at the Boise State University in Boise, Idaho, specifically at their Engineering Innovation Studio. That gave me the opportunity to take a step back after a tremendous ride as Dean of UST Faculty of Engineering... and determine my next 'mission', especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, I returned to UST to lead the newly launched "Office of the Assistant to the Rector for UST Santa Rosa". Four years later, we have reached milestone after milestone... and I am very grateful to God.
PAEF's March 24, 2026 event has given me the opportunity to take stack of the highlights of my professional and personal journey since the day I became a Fulbright Scholar for the first time in 2002, joining the likes of Tony Lambino that year, who is now the President of the Ayala Foundation, Inc., among others. And, in 2021, after a grueling screening process, I was chosen by PAEF's Selection Committee to become one of the five nominees of the Philippines for a Humphrey Fellowship. A few weeks later, in a world competition at the Washington, D.C., I emerged as one of the two Filipinos chosen by Washington, D.C. to finally receive the Humphrey Fellowship for AY 2021-2022. It felt extremely surreal that time. I don't think I have gotten over the thrill of receiving that good news.
I am not sure if I have done enough to deserve the honor of being a two-time PAEF scholarship recipient. I am certainly been trying very hard. Some days I feel that, perhaps, I should spread my wings wider and try a different avenue, and see how else I can serve my country and the world in a way that befits the honor and recognition that I received from PAEF, the Philippine government, and the USA. These days, I feel that this contemplation is turning the tide... and I cannot wait what awaits me elsewhere. I give my full trust to the Lord, and I surrender all the days of my life to Him and in service to Him.
***
Image credit: All photos in this post belong to me.
...country music and many more! And by 'more', I mean, 'Jungkookie more'!
===============================================
by PAM
Ah, it feels like a lifetime ago since I last wrote a 'nostalgic' post here. I have been preoccupied with so many things - important, unimportant depending on whose perspective... big things and small things, imagined and real... fun and agonizing, and everything in between... 'this and that'. Yep, I have been totally buried six feet below 'grown-up stuff'... including stuff that makes grown-ups appear irresponsible to some... such as sleeping. Ah, well...
There are so many things about the debut studio album by JungKook (JK), "Golden", that inspires musing and nostalgic feels... the most surprising of them all are the country music-sounding songs, "Yes or No" (YON) and "Too Sad to Dance" (TSTD), especially TSTD.
I am mostly a 'rock chick', and I listen regularly to pop music. I have soft spot for R&B. Uhm, actually, I am a sucker for R&B. I never thought of myself as a fan of country music... but having lived in the US for several years in three separate decades and in three different States (and visited a whole bunch of other States), too, without knowing it, I developed some leanings towards country music... okay, 'country pop' is probably the more accurate description of the songs that I like in the country genre, and definitely a lot of 'country rock'. Then again, even Taylor Swift is, first of all, a country music artist, too! But if you take a listen to some country songs, you gotta admit, they do have their distinct charm, and they make you suffer from "last song syndrome (LSS)...
"In case you didn't know, baby, I'm crazy 'bout you..." and I'd be lyin' if I said that I could live this life without you."
Hmmm... 'distinct charm', and that pinch of 'Americana' flavor. You would think that it is an exclusive 'American thing'. But then, even that beautiful New Zealand-born Aussiecountry music phenomenon, Keith Urban, who sings with such soulful depth can give justice to this country con Americana music. After all, he lived in Nashville for a chunk of his life. This is one of my favorite songs of his: his first Grammy award-winning song from more than 10 years ago, "You'll think of me".
"I went out driving trying to clear my head
I tried to sweep out all the ruins that my emotions left
Now, came "Golden"... it is astounding how JK - a S. Korean singer who is not an english speaker with a brain that is "hard-wired K-Pop" could sing a song that is quite obviously written for a country singer, or a country pop singer, in a way that sounded authentic country, or country pop. The song TSTD is a formulaic country: all that acoustics complete with whistling, the narrative way by which the lyrics are written, the melancholy but romantic words, and that bit about an older and more experienced person imparting wisdom to a younger person foolishly in love, etc. - it has 'country' written all over it. And yet, JK took it on... wore it, and slayed it!
"So last night I went to the club
Had a couple too many, threw up
Now, everybody's laughing at me
'Cause I'm way too sad, way too sad to dance
I'm way too sad to dance..."
See? C'mon, you can say it! It's good, right? It is. I love it! Some friends of mine in the US who hailed from country music-inclined rural America cannot believe that this country pop song, TSTD, that has thin slices of 'Americana' meat, was sang by a K-Pop artist who is unable to guest on American talk shows without an interpreter in tow. That is not a bad thing... it a great thing, and I'm so proud of JK! 💜
Here, this is one of those country songs (well, country rock, to be exact) that I like... I even sang it live with a band on stage at some point in my crazy life! My band and I prepared hard for it... and we did quite well (c'mon, a girl can dream!). 😉😅 It's "Play It Again" by Luke Bryan - a 10-year-old song that I only discovered about six years ago while on a roadtrip in rural Idaho, USA.
"She was like, 'oh my God, this is my song
I've been listenin' to the radio all night long
Sittin' 'round, waitin' for it to come on, and here it is.'
She was like, 'come here, boy, I wanna dance.'
'Fore I said a word, she was takin' my hand
Spinnin' me around 'til it faded out
And she gave me a kiss."
That was fun, right? Ah, I love it... and singing it live on stage with a full band and a big crowd was one of the highlights of my craziness! Uhm... I did sing "Blank Space" by Taylor Swift live on stage, too, at some point in this crazy life of mine! Haha... I had so much fun!
And then I heard JK's, YON. I knew right away that, after "3D", YON will be my biggest favorite from the "Golden" album, but I do like all songs. YON isn't country, it's really a pop song... and yet, the lyrics do give a 'country feels', and the beautiful way that JK sang it can actually compel hardcore country fans to add it in their playlists, and it's great! Here, have a listen...
"Everybody in this club so faded, I'm trippin' over getting lost on you
If we forever started out as strangers, I think my ever after just came true...
...and I gotta know, are you feeling the rush?
If so, then I think I know what's goin' on.
Are we falling in love? Say yes or no..."
I definitely know what's goin' on here. JK just won the world over. Are we falling in love? Damn, do you really need to ask? But if you insist, the answer is a definite and a huge, huge "YES"! So, yeah, let's keep listening... going back and forth between nostalgia and what is fresh and current - JK's music, that is.
***
Video credit: The owners of the videos are indicated in the videos themselves. Thanks, YouTube, for the video links.
A souvenir from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, OH
Finally, a little time to slow down... after that critical deadlines galore, big meetings here and there, a long string of speaking engagements, a peppering of 'painful' just-suck-it-all-in-it'll-be-over-soon events that introvert people like me dread, the release and live performance of JK's 'Dreamers', the release of RM's first album, 'Indigo'... and the 2022 FIFA World Cup where the phenomenal Lionel Messi - my idol - emerged victorious with his Albiceleste side. He can finally be crowned now as GOAT of the beautiful game (a long post to come soon! ⚽😭🎉) with no plausible objection from anyone, too!! Whew!
It has been a lot of sleepless nights - literally. How did I survive the last 30 days? No clue... perhaps, just the sheer force of determination to make it through to 'the other side'! I took a deep breath, focused... and just sprinted with all my might - real and imagined... and a lot of prayers!!
Anyway, I am putting finishing touches on our Christmas tree just a few minutes ago... in time for the 'big day' and tidying up my room as well. Now, I gotta admit that tidying up my bedroom is a bit of a challenge that I am hoping I'd overcome somehow... especially that I keep pausing to reminisce on things that should already have found their way in the trash bin a long time ago. I'm such a sentimental hoarded! Just a few minutes ago, I found a box of unopened stuffs hidden behind
Up close and personal...
a framed picture on the floor and leaning against the wall... and my heart started to beat faster. As I peeled off the thick wrappers of each little item, my heart kept skipping a beat with my mouth and eyes wide open with surprise! Ahh... I love that feeling - being pleasantly surprised! I found items from my travels to Rome, Florence, Shanghai, Seoul and various parts of the US just before the pandemic. I didn't realize I still have these things unopened. I thought, I have all my travel stuffs unpacked a long time ago!
I will talk about those experiences in another post. I just want to drop by here to make sure that I have something written up about the unexpected finding of this long-forgotten beautiful Christmas tree ornament - a souvenir from my first visit to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio sometime in July 2019. It was a well-spent 'free time' as I visited my research students who were working on our project on 3D printed food at the Case Western Reserve University (CWRU, or simply 'Case') that time. I did stay for a week in Baltimore, Maryland before that for the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) series of meetings and a few networking activities with our alumni in the East Coast.
I remember spending the weekend browsing the
A bagful of souvenirs from the Cleveland Museum of Art, including a set of coasters designed with the work of some of my favorite impressionists.
Cleveland Museum of Art (CMA) at the Case campus, which has a superb collection! The lawn was very pretty, too, and the walk from my hotel to the CMA was so interesting. I kept finding mini monuments of guitars in the gardens. I wondered about it... little did I know that I was going to find out in a big way!
Anyway, after a couple of hours at the CMA, I wanted to do more. So, I ventured in the City Center with my students, and visited 'The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum'. I studied for a year at the Ohio State University (OSU) in Columbus, OH sometime in the mid-90s, and I visited Cleveland a couple of times. It never occurred to me then that the 'Rock Hall' was located in Cleveland! Apparently, it was established there to honor the man - a disc jockey named Alan Freed - who referred to the music genre that was making waves in the 1950s as 'rock and roll'. I am glad that I finally had a chance to check it out.
We saw an incredible amount of exhibits from the likes of Elvis Presley,TheBeatles and The Rolling Stones to the likes of Michael Jackson and Oasis, and many more in between and beyond! Being a big R&R fan, I had a 'field day'! But after half a day, I was so overwhelmed that I was going dizzy. Surreal! It's a good thing that the 'Rock Hall' is adjacent to the Great Lakes Science Center, too, where famous Ohioan astronauts, John Glenn, Neil Armstrong, Jim Lovell and Judith Resnick... among other cool science and engineering stuffs were featured. So, we went to visit that as well... while we waited for a show at the Rock Hall to come on. It was an INCREDIBLE experience!
Anyway... I need to take it all in again. So, I am taking a little break. And, what better way to take a break than to drop by here in this blogsite for a few minutes to reminisce and share the experience?
Until then...
***
Photo credit: The photos featured here belong to me, and were processed for the sole use of this blog. They may not be used elsewhere.
After work: Enjoying a little portion of Cayuga Lake
in Aurora, Upstate, New York, halfway between Ithaca and Geneva.
About New York State
When people think about New York, perhaps, what comes to mind are the towering buildings in the urban jungle that is New York City... and mostly the sights and sounds of Manhattan... a little bit of Brooklyn, some Bronx and Queens, and just a tiny bit of Staten Island. In other words, people usually think of Metropolitan New York, and they hardly ever think of Upstate New York. And yet, most of New York State (NYS) is Upstate New York. This includes the Capital District, including Albany where the State Capitol is located; the Mohawk Valley Region, Central New York, the Southern Tier, the Finger Lakes Region, Western New York, and the North Country.
The scenic drive between Ithaca and Geneva make the 45-minute travel time like a time for Namjooning! It leaves me breathless every time!
The main campus of Cornell University is in Ithaca, NY, which is located in the very lovely Finger Lakes Region. Other people who are used to living in huge and very busy metropolitan areas might find the Region to be too secluded, "in the middle of nowhere", too quiet... like nothing much is going on except the quaint small town vibes. If you give it a chance though, it can grow on you. Well, it did to me. And soon, most days have become perfect days for Namjooning, where you just watch the beautiful day roll towards the evening, leaving a promise of a new day to keep you dreaming peacefully through the night.
***
About Cornell
Cornell has three other campuses in NYS. One is the Cornell Agritech, located in Geneva, also in the Finger Lakes Region. The AgriTech is formerly known as the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station (NYSAES), which is under the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) - the College where I did my PhD in the early to mid 2000s. It is one of the very best in the world, and some of this is due to its huge Extension Programs that cater to the agriculture and food industry of NYS, and their highly internationalized population and engagements. I am very proud to be an alumna of CALS. The professors in CALS, and all of Cornell for that matter, are very supportive of their Alumni. They keep track of our progress, and they support us in the various stages of our career. Case in point, they supported me in my Humphrey Fellowship. I worked between the Ithaca and Geneva campuses... and the drive between these two campuses is absolutely beautiful - especially during springtime and summer time.
Visiting Cornell Tech at Roosevelt Island in NYC with friends. The campus has the fascinating view of Manhattan on one side and Long Island on another.
Cornell has two campuses in NYC: (1) Cornell Tech at Roosevelt Island, which is a partnership with the Israel Institute of Technology, or simply Technion, and the (2) Weill Cornell Medicine, which is only some steps away from the tram station, coming from Roosevelt Island. It was in 2017 when I first visited Cornell Tech. It is strategically located where it is to cater to tech-based industry and businesses in NYC. That time, they were just starting operations. This year, I visited again to speak with their Chief of Administration, and I was very impressed by their progress and the ensuing expansion. I usually drop by the Weill Cornell Medicine, too, just to visit and appreciate how advanced the research works are in Medicine. This time around though, I did not get to visit because of a rather hectic schedule.
This is what I love about studying, or working as a visiting scholar, at Cornell. The quality of education is, obviously, excellent, and its campuses in the Finger Lakes Region and in NYC are beautiful! When stressed out from working hard, there is always a way to 'recuperate' and 'recharge'... right inside the campus! And, when you need to get away from it all, roaming around the immediate vicinity of the campuses give respite, too. When there is more time, traveling around the Region is physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually rejuvenating. And, when there are official University break, it is always great to enjoy the City... for as long as one saved up sufficiently, that is, because enjoying the City can be very expensive. One of these days, I shall write about my most recent visit in the City.
***
A little about me... and BTS
In the meantime, let's enjoy the official music video of BTS's "Life goes on": in the forest, which is set in a place that is quite similar to the Finger Lakes Region of NYS.
Beautiful song... beautiful young men singing to a multitude of beautiful souls
around the world from such a beautiful place.
Indeed, life is beautiful... and it goes on.
The last nine years that I've been Dean of the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Santo Tomas (there, I said it... for the first time, I think, in this Blog) were some of the most remarkable years of my life... not because of the 'prestige' of the position because I don't think I ever enjoyed the 'perks' of being Dean. In fact, I don't even know what the perks were... and I never cared to find out! I cared more about something else, the most essential thing in my leadership goals - SERVICE. The whole time, I was extremely busy trying to cultivate a 'new' culture of excellence in the Faculty. It was humbling... and I've given up so many things to do this. Looking back, I do believe that the sacrifices were so worth it. I can say with confidence, and humility, that my Team and I have achieved our goals... and so much more.
In a few days, I will be officially handing down the reins of leadership of the Faculty to my successor. I am proud to turnover the leadership of a Faculty that is completely transformed from how it was when I took over about a decade ago. And, I mean that in a very positive way, and many can attest to it, too... including history itself. I do believe that it is also accurate to say that the whole University was positively influenced by the transformations that the Faculty of Engineering has undergone. I do believe that the bigger impact of my previous service in the University as Dean of the Faculty of Engineering will be continuously felt in the coming more years, including the brilliance that my successor is about to impart. This is not to demean any of my predecessors though. In fact, I have so much respect for them... especially knowing what I know now about leadership. Still, I can proudly say that, when I was called to serve, I responded to the call wholeheartedly. I did my utmost best, leaving nothing and taking nothing for myself. In the end, I am very proud of what we have accomplished!
While I am very happy with the fruits of my service, I have been EXTREMELY EXHAUSTED, too! In the last three years, I was just 'running on empty'. There were too many MAJOR undertakings, transformations, and coping with the pandemic, including the loss of my father and my own bout with COVID-19 that I almost lost. I did not give up... but, sometimes, when life is moving about too fast and we're out of breath, we just need to get away for a little bit, to breathe fresh air to gain fresh perspective, and renew the fight in our spirits. I did that recently in Cornell... and I am no longer out of breath now. In fact, I am now getting ready to take on a bigger challenge in my workplace as I transition from the Office of the Dean to another Office... which, from what I understand is a lot bigger.
The 'new chapter' is not just about cultivating a culture. It's about cultivating a culture and setting up the 'farm' in which such culture can bloom and flourish. It will be about maintaining a fertile ground, lots of sunshine and water, the right seeds... and the right 'farmer'. I know of wonderful beautiful 'farmers' who own an incredibly flourishing 'global farm'. There are seven of them... and they are called BTS. I will need their inspiration... and I'm gonna avail it! Then I know that the best is "yet to come". And this beautiful life goes on....
Alright, let's start getting inspired now...
Man, goosebumps! They keep outdoing themselves. Too good!
Alright, I'm ready... leggo! 💜
***
Photo credit: All photos featured in this post are all mine, and I processed them for the sole purpose of this post. They may not be used anywhere else.
Video credit: The first video featured in this post belong to me. The owner of the other two videos is indicated in the videos themselves - Hybe Labels and BangtanTV. Thanks, YouTube, for the video link.
When one goes through a 're-integration' process in one's community after being away for a considerable period of time, it can be quite a struggle. I know this for a fact because I am going through this right now. Exactly ten days since I got back from a whirlwind 10-month sojourn in the United States (US), I am still ambling around, digesting what I hear around absently... like a 'buffering Jungkoook' (JK)... although not as cute, of course.
Ten months, seven States, twenty cities and towns, and three universities of affiliation, and two more that were officially visited... indeed, there is so much to write regarding my latest US sojourn although I did post a few things about it in this blog already, and yet, the best parts remain in my 'memory box'... waiting to be chronicled here. Sometimes, the memory becomes too vivid in my head, it's like watching it on a screen in front of me, forcing me to 'zone out'... hence, the 'buffering'. This is why I completely understand JK... except that, in his case, I am sure that it's due to his being a genius artist - visions of perfection keep flashing in his head, and they fascinate him... hence, the usually 'euphoric' look in his eyes when he zones out. Or, perhaps, it's just an aftermath of a video game... all of a sudden, he realized a better tactic for winning! Don't ask me why I know... because if you ask, I'd lie! Hahaha...
Anyway, as I continue to struggle to slowly reintegrate in my community even when I hit the ground running at work, let me speed up the process by 'looking back' and 'looking (very) far back'... in this nostalgic post.
***
Looking back
One of the most remarkable songs of BTS, for me, is "ON" from the album, "Map of the Soul: 7", released in the first quarter of 2020, just a few months earlier than the 7th debut anniversary of BTS... and just before the COVID-19 pandemic wrecked havoc worldwide.
The song was not meant to inspire resilience against the pandemic as it was created prior to the pandemic. Rather, it is BTS's reflection and self-affirmation, given the challenges that they surmounted as a group that brought them to where they were on the eve of their 7th anniversary. As it happened, BTS is truly destined for something great, and the words they chose in creating this masterpiece find significance in any form of human struggle. The timing of the release of "ON" couldn't be more impeccable, too, because, heaven knows that, that time, the world needed an uplifting 'anthem' to keep it afloat, which "ON" generously provided! In terms of lyrics, it is inspirational. It is like a battle cry of a generation robbed of supposedly the most significant days of their lives by a brutal virus that claimed many lives - literally and figuratively.
The song acknowledges the uncertainties around, and submits to vulnerability. "Is it the shadow that's shaking, or is it my feet that are trembling? Of course, I am not unafraid. Of course, it is not all okay..." And yet, it is encouraging one to soldier on, no matter what, "but I know, awkwardly, I flow. I fly together with that black wind." And when times became tough... really, really tough, BTS looked COVID-19 in the eye and stared it down without blinking, "Can't hold me down 'cause you know I'm a fighter. Carried myself into this beautiful prison. Find me, and I'm gonna live with ya!" And, the world stood behind these magnificent seven young men to fight for its existence against the pandemic!
𝅘𝅥𝅱𝆕 "Bring it, bring the pain, oh, yeah.
Come up, bring the pain, oh, yeah.
Rain be pourin', sky keep fallin'
Everyday, oh, na-na-na
Find me, and I'm gonna bleed with ya!" 𝅘𝅥𝅮𝅘𝅥𝅯
"ON" is not just your 'regular' fight song. It's a bold defiance against defeat... a refusal to lose, a refusal to bow under the harshness of life in general... and the punishing bitterness of the pandemic in particular. RM, Jin, SUGA, J-Hope, Jimin, V and JK stood their ground, stared pandemic in the eye, and dared it to move them where they stood. Considering how a multitude of our young generation stayed strong throughout the pandemic by just listening to BTS songs, and watching their old BTS Run episodes, interviews and MVs, BTS completely carried their generation to a decisive win!
In terms of music, this song is bound to become one of the most remembered songs of this generation. It bears the signature BTS multi-layer quality with the vocal line and rap line alternating, and sometimes coming together on top of each other faster than a bullet train, to assault the sound wave with beautiful blend of sweet vocals - feathery and thick; and muscular rapping - so bold and daring. This is why it is very hard to beat BTS. The vocal line sing so beautifully, indeed, with such thick, impenetrable quality; but the rap line make the BTS music quality absolutely 'airtight' - hard to copy, hard to match... one of a kind! The accompanying music goes from sway-worthy to hip-hop and break dance-worthy... to just totally explosive! It just grips the listener. The song changes tempo all throughout its 4 minutes and 6 seconds length without losing its grip on the listener. Yes, the song is meticulously produced, indeed, and it's bound to be a classic from this generation courtesy of these extraordinary seven young men from South Korea.
The official music video (MV) is also a work of art. Obviously a humongous effort was put in creating it, and in actually making it. But that's BTS... they never put out something that's half-baked. The seven members put their best foot forward in acting their parts out, creating a mini movie that is both visually impressive and musically unforgettable. Naturally, their dancing prowess were also exhibited, just making sure that they keep their hold of that coveted position - the artists that defined this generation. Their live performances of "ON" were also nothing less than terrific, fabulous... awesome!
***
Looking (very) far back
The first time I saw the MV of "ON", I can't help but be reminded of one of my favorite Duran Duran songs, "Union of the Snake", released in 1983. It is from their third album, "Seven and the Ragged Tiger". There were no similarities in the songs but the theme of the MVs are somewhat related... well, for me, being both a Duranny and an ARMY. See for yourself.
𝅘𝅥𝅯𝆕 "The union of the snake is on the climb.
Movin' up, it's gonna race, it's gonna break through the borderline..."𝅘𝅥𝅱𝆕
I don't think I ever understood the meaning of this Duran Duran song though. Hahaha... and after all these years, I am still struggling to figure it out. Simon Le Bon, the band's vocalist and song lyricist, attempted to explain a few times - seriously and jokingly. He completely capitalized on his attempted British poetry impressionism. His vague explanation never did anything to alleviate my confusion. Dang, Simon!Hahaha... In spite of that, I remained a Duranny until this day! Yep, I am happy to share the fandom with the late Princess Diana, too.
Being a fan does not vanish with time, and with a song that is difficult to comprehend. Being a fan is about relationship with the music that the band created. This is an unbreakable bond because they provided the 'music theme' of one's life. After all, if life is a movie, what helps it to become an obra maestra is a superb musical scoring, right? I may not understood completely what Union of the Snake meant but I remember most of the moments when I sang along with it through junior high school days - the mood and the social debacle around me. I do have history with Duran Duran and their music.
I remember, it was also in 1983 when Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, Jr. was assassinated at the tarmac of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, which was still called Manila International Airport (MIA) that time. I was in junior high school. There was national grieving, political tension, and uprising, which later escalated to the first bloodless revolution in a very long time in the history of mankind, the EDSA Revolution in 1986 - a proud moment for the Philippines. Throughout those times, Duran Duran music and the rest of the "New Wave" music of that generation were our companion in going through that unprecedented social and political debacle in our country. That is history... and nothing and no one can change history.
Back to the Union of the Snake, the MV didn't help my confusion either! Hahaha... but it's visually pleasing, considering how pretty every member of Duran Duran was. Then again, isn't that one of the reasons for MV? It is supposed to aid listeners in song recall. The song did pretty well though, peaking at #3 in Billboard Top 100 for three weeks. Considering that that "New Romantic" era, a subpart of the "Second British Invasion" (the first one being the Beatles and Rolling Stones era), was peppered with SO MANY excellent bands back then such as Wham, Culture Club, The Police, Depeche Mode, Tears for Fears, and Spandau Ballet, not to mention that it was the time of booming American pop music, too, where the likes of Prince, Madonna, Bruce Springsteen, Bryan Adams, and Hall & Oates filled the limelight. And, for this particular song, Duran Duran had to contend with the very much anticipated second collaboration of the late Michael Jackson and Beatles' Paul McCartney in that phenomenal song, "Say, Say, Say", a follow-up to their first mega collaboration, "The Girl is Mine".
***
Ah, memories... here I am again... *buffering*. Hahahaha...
Alright, I have work to do! I gotta go!
Let me leave you with the live performance of Duran Duran's Union of the Snake at the famed "Live Aid" concert in 1984. Let Simon Le Bon wow (or make you gag, whichever is applicable. Hahaha...) you with his eccentric moves on stage, Nick Rhodes' genius on the synthesizers, Andy Taylor's pretty good guitars, and that very tight rhythm section care of Roger Taylor on drums and the very pretty John Taylor (my forever crush! *blush* Haha... ) on bass.
Ciao!
***
Video credits: The owners of the videos are indicated on the video themselves. Thanks, YouTube, for the video links.
References: BTS and Duran Duran official websites, and Billboard Hot 100.
... because the present reality is too 'harsh'.
====================================================================== by PAM The last thing I'd want for this little space of mine in the www is for it to become a place for ranting - from me. So, I'm going to avoid it - ranting - at all cost. I feel that I'm beginning to forget what it's like to write creatively... I mean, yeah, creatively... as in artistically. Uhm, well, yeah, I thought I kinda know how to do that. Aren't we allowed to have our illusions? Well, that's mine, deal with it! :) My harsh reality is 'biting' me hard lately... I think I've been writing too many business letters... recommendation letters, administrative letters (is there really such a thing? Nah, I'm just making that up, just to make what I do at work sound important! Hahaha....), partnership proposals (O-K, that's not how it sounds, so don't raise your hopes!), MOU here, MOA there, Opening Remarks here, Closing Remarks there... oy! I'm losing my little artistic side - the very reason for the existence of "Sari-sari...". Alright, I know, no ranting... thanks for reminding me! Since it's too hard to get my mind off "work mode" even in the middle of the night that it's quite impossible to write anything 'creative', let me just take the easy route... write one of my formulaic stuff: Wednesday Nostalgia. And, no, that ain't cheating either... or, maybe it is... whatever! "Notebook"... ah, luv, luv, luv! "Feels like Home" by Chantal Kreviazuk... ah, luv, luv, luv! What if we put them together? Well, I'm sure it's everything that's creative and beautiful. Let's do it....
"A window breaks down a long, dark street
And a siren wails in the night
But I'm alright 'cause I have you here with me
And I can almost see, through the dark there is light."
Alright, I don't think there is a need to explain how that beautiful experience "feels like home", right? I think it's self-explanatory... or, maybe, some things need no explanation at all. So, I'm just gonna shut up right now... and play the video again. Feel free to do the same. I'm pretty sure it's worth it. So, let's do it!
Ciao!
***
Video credit: Thanks, YouTube, for the video link.
Pondering a rich and enriching experience. ================================================================================ by PAM Yesterday I was working on an 'assignment', which had me 'unlocking the door' that leads down memory lane. My 'assignment' required that I dig for photos and memorabilia from my days in Cornell University as a Fulbright scholar. My Cornell 'vault' is so massive that the little time I had to work on my 'assignment' only afforded enough to allow me to merely skim the surface, and this came up first...
AY 2002-2003 Fulbright Scholars Seminar in Washington D.C. sponsored by the US Department of State and organized by the Institute of International Education.
I remember, it was my first time to share a hotel room with a 'stranger', a fellow scholar, as we were paired by our hosts from the Institute of International Education (IIE) for our accommodation. My roommate was a Greek girl, and I learned a lot from her... uhm, ahem, I don't think I'd like to discuss that part of my experience here though. ;) Suffice it to say
Meeting Mrs. Harriet Anna M. Fulbright, the widow of Senator J. William Fulbright, in Washington D. C.
that, yeah, I think I'd like to live in Greece for a year or so someday... and see whether my former roommate's promises of Greece can actually be realized. :) Having known another Greek... a guy, a classmate in Cornell, and now I consider as one of the most intelligent people I've ever met in my life, I think that, indeed, living in Greece for a year or so should be worth it! :) More than anything else, my experience in Washington D. C. with my fellow Fulbright scholars from about 50 countries, conversing with them, analyzing international issues with them in friendly but challenging debate, going on community development activities with them in the US capital, storming the World Bank with them, and even partying with them like there was no tomorrow was absolutely personally enriching! I never felt so alive and so exhilarated in my whole life before that!
And, Cornell, too, played a big role in my life-changing experience between 2002 and 2007... Cornell was the paradise that I imagined an Academic environment was supposed to be. The campus was an absolute beauty... especially in autumn, and totally vibrant on summer days. It was the reality of my idealism as an academic before I set foot on its beautiful
Reaching my 2002 destination after 28 years of life in the academic world - as a student and as an educator.
campus on that fateful day in August 2002. I had a pilot plant for a 'playground' for my graduate studies at the Institute of Food Science and Technology to begin with! And I've met and sat in the classes of world-renowned scientists and educators. Of course, my experience there was far from 'perfect'... although I'm not sure what 'perfect' meant as far as Academic experience is concerned. And yet, it stimulated my whole being, irreversibly changed me in ways that are beautiful. I learned to be wholly independent and self-reliant, and discovered many strengths in me everytime I was challenged to respond to an interesting question. As I formulated my answers, with the help of my mentors, and tried them out to fit the question, more than ever before, I was convinced that there's no such thing as stupid answers... only stupid questions! :) And, answering even the most stupid of questions still makes you learn many invaluable things about the subject matter... and about yourself. After my stint in Cornell under the auspices of the US Department of State via Fulbright, I was a completely different person. My values were the same, but I felt I had a different outlook on many matters, and I am able to view things from different perspectives. I felt like a shy turtle that poked its head out of its thick shell for the first time, and loved what it saw. All of a sudden, it wants to spread its wings and soar like an eagle, or growl and sprint like a graceful tiger! All of a sudden, it was a turtle no more! Indeed, the only way to know more about your own strengths and God-given attributes is to dream big, and then take courage to go out there and fulfill your dreams. ***
...today! ====================================================================== by PAM It's been a very busy (joyfully busy, that is) few days, preparing for this-and-that holiday-related stuff. Good to slow down a bit and just chill with some relaxing (pop) music. For some reason, the first song that comes to mind is the first song I heard when I played that little radio I had in Lund, Sweden, as a visiting scholar in Lund University, Autumn of 1999 to Summer 2000...
"Sunshine through my window, that's what you are - my shining star.
Making me feel I'm on top of the world,
telling me that I'd go far."
---"Sunshine" by Gabrielle. It was my first time to live in the Scandinavia... and I chose the best time to go: autumn, which was actually the beginning of more than six months of biting-cold winter! It was my first time to live in a place where English is not the native language... and it was surprisingly manageable. People were nice, accommodating and efficient. They seem quiet and aloof compared with us, Filipinos, and it was not easy in the beginning, especially in the middle of all that winter gloom where the predominant color is grey against virgin white snow. Coming from a colorful tropical country that is gaily a-buzz-buzzing from overpopulation all year round, that was a major change for me. As soon as I get to speak with my research adviser though, every thing changed! She was incredibly nice... and it was because of her and all the people I worked with in the University, including the friends I made in the Catholic Church there, that Sweden will always be one of the nicest places on earth for me. Come to think of it, Sweden was beautiful... especially, Stockholm, whatever time of year! :) Aside from Academics, I did many things while in Sweden... I went hiking many times, running in all sorts of terrain, met many, many very interesting personalities, made many great friends, and went traveling, shopping and bar-hopping with some of them in various places in Scandinavia... most of all, I think I first learned the meaning of the word "innovation" from the Swedes! Yeah, I'd love to go back to Sweden... hopefully, sooner than later! :) Speaking of Sweden, this old ABBA song comes to mind, too...
"Tonight the Super Trouper,
beams are gonna blind me, but I won't feel blue like I always do
'Cause somewhere in the crowd there's you."
..."Super Trouper", one of the least known songs by the Swedish quartet, but for some reason, it's one of my biggest favorite ABBA songs. The emotions expressed in the song seemed honest and real, and yet, it didn't lack the 'ABBA quality' that's easy to listen to. Of course, the theme from my favorite teleserye these days comes to mind, too...
"Tell me how two people find each other in a world that's full of strangers.
Got to believe in magic...'cause it's magic when two people fall in love."
"Got to believe in magic" performed by Juris (originally from David Pomeranz) - the theme of ABS-CBN's teleserye, "Got to Believe" starring the cute duo, "Kathniel" (Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla). I swear, if I had kids, they would be as adorable as Kathryn or Daniel! :) I hope that these two would stay as nice and good influence to young people... and I hope that "Got to Believe" would continue to mirror Filipino traits and values: family-oriented, loving, polite, honest, humble, God-fearing, resilient and persevering, fun-loving and service-oriented.
Oy, Music Day is a good day... and "me time" is awesome time!
...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. ***
...'cause I'm feeling nostalgic. ============================================================ by PAM But I can't explain why this song comes to mind though, "You and Me" by one of my favorite newer bands, Lifehouse, of the "Everything" and "Hanging by a Moment" fame. I almost love them as much as I love the awesome Creed of the "My Sacrifice" fame. Check it....
"What day is it? And in what month?
This clock never seemed so alive.
I can't keep up and I can't back down, I've been losing so much time....
...and I don't know why I can't keep my eyes off of you."
Ever heard of "little successes here and there"? Well, I think I had some of those today/yesterday. Of course, I bled some in achieving them, but it does feel great now that I see and can taste the sweet fruits of my hard toil (with my Team)... only because they are significant to many, helpful to many, source of joy for many, empowered many, released many from the bondage of insecurity, made many happy. :)
Yep, it's a truly happy day! And yet, even the 'success' and the happiness cannot keep my mind from flying away... away from it all, and back to the time when happiness - 'my own private happiness' in my private time - filled this little and simple world of mine. So, yeah, 'success' is good, but I prefer time.
I guess, I'll never get used to this 'big wild world' where life shoved me in... this world where everything you do becomes the work of the person in your 'glamorous position' rather than the person that you are. Therefore, I must try to keep up... so that I won't lose too much time - from whatever little time I have left for myself and for 'my own private happiness'. I hope that when all these 'selfless stuff' of being 24/7 busy comes to pass, I would have little time left for myself, just enough to say to my Master when I finally face Him that, yeah, I did pay attention to my own happiness, too. And that's how this borrowed time became 'my own time', too. Okay, I think we should end on a happy 'nostalgic' note. So, how 'bout this...
"I don't know where I am but I know I don't like it...
...tenderness, where is it?
Oy! "Tenderness" by General Public. Our ever-reliable '80s music! Ah, what fun! :)
***
Video credit: Thanks, YouTube, for the video links.
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