Train: "Can you imagine no love, pride, deep-fried chicken...?"
Me: Yeah, I can... and
JK: ..."it's a hard pill to swallow...."
***
The Grammy award-winning "Drops of Jupiter (Tell me)"is one my favorite songs by Train (of the "Marry Me" fame)... maybe, one of my favorite songs ever, too. I just love the lyrics... the melancholy that it imparts but sang so beautifully in masked sadness by the brilliant Pat Monahan in a backdrop of easy, uncomplicated, and yet, terrific music that has everything - from dramatic piano to romantic violin to a thumping rhythm section. Here, have a listen...
"Now that she's back in the atmosphere with drops of Jupiter in her hair... she listens like spring and she talks like June..."
These days, listening to "Shot Glass of Tears" (SGOT) from Jung Kook's debut solo album, "Golden"... I have these nostalgic feels that take me back to 14 years ago when "Drops of Jupiter (Tell me)" (DOJTM) was released. Although the songs are completely different in terms of music, tempo and general appeal... lyrically, there are similarities. The lyrics of SGOT and the way JK interprets it is in-your-face melancholic. And it's amazing how JK can make even the lowest register of his voice can sound so melodic... and beautiful, even when he is singing live. So gifted! His singing is quite different from Monahan's powered and nicely controlled screeches in DOJTM that show his mastery of his craft. Here, have a listen...
"She got some dangerous hobbies like chasin' after the sun and making me fall in love."
Both songs talk about one's fascination... and love... for an incredible woman. And it's beautiful... both. The lyrical genius of DOJTM is subtle and sweet, "And tell me, did Venus blow your mind? Was it everything you wanted to find? And did you miss me while you're looking for yourself out there?" So loving and indulging of one's subject of affection... and yet so tenderly longing for some affection, too. It's like a precarious balancing act between selfless love and the quiet desperation for just the smallest hint of reciprocation of one's deep affection. One can tell that whoever wrote the lyrics (and I'm quite sure it was Monahan), possesses a love that is tamed by maturity.
SGOT is a bit more juvenile in its hurried desire to let the subject of his affection know of his desperation to be healed by being loved, too: "Need something strong for the sorrow, something strong for the pain so I can wash it away. I was cold, now I'm freezin'. Stuck in permanent season, and we both know you're the reason. I'm not the same as before, I don't feel anymore."
Both songs are worth spending a Friday Night of music... lovely music - a "soul vacation".
***
Video credit: The owners of the videos are indicated in the video themselves. Thanks, YouTube, for the video links.
...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.
Just a few minutes into the New Year, the BBC via YouTube has gotten us 'all-nostalgic' and 'sappy'... but 'happy-sappy'... and party-mode happy as well.
One of the biggest hits of the '80s, "Never Gonna Give You Up" (or simply NGGYU) by the incomparable, Rick Astley, was featured by BBC to close 2023 and usher in 2024... and, oh, boy, what a treat it was, indeed!
🎶"Never gonna give you up, never gonna let you down
Never gonna run around and desert you..." 🎶
Ah, would you believe that that song was from the '80s? It still sounds good and fresh, right? And, you can't help yourself, you just gotta stand up, and dance. It has that power to get anyone into party mode - a very apt New Year's Eve party song. Love it! Rick's voice is so fantastic... he still has 'it' after all these years! And, he looks good, too... maybe, even better than how he was back in the days, huh? Ah... '80s guys, they mellow so awesomely and so beautifully!
Trivia: Rick A. is just a few years older than me. 😉😊 We are in the same age bracket, and yeah... our love for music - in all its fun and happy variants - is as strong as ever. I love it that he is still around... and doing what he does best!
NGGYU is not just our party-party song back in the '80s. It's a 'love song', too. Guys back in the days would use it to express their love and devotion to their loved one... while keeping it fun and not all that sappy. If you're a girl back then pursued by someone through NGGYU, you'd feel like you're special, loved and fun 'cause the pursuit is done on the dancefloor. It was always fun to watch the guys trying to be cool or make a complete fool of themselves on fun note with what they believed were their cool moves. By the end of the song, you know whether the guys are cool or lame. Whatever it is though... girls always had fun. Well, we all did!
Back to 2024... these days, NGGYU has an equivalent - a song that is also professing love and devotion. It's a song by Jung Kook, "Standing Next to You", or simply "SNTY". It is the main cut in JK's now epic debut album, "Golden". Like NGGYU, it is also a totally danceable song. It's just a bit more difficult to sing because JK totally flexed his wide range of vocal strength in SNTY. Nevertheless, SNTY is a worthy party-party song as well. Here, see/listen for yourself...
🎶 "... they can't deny our love They can't divide us, we'll stand the test of time
I promise I'll be right here."🎶
Aww, so awesome, right? Yes, it is! My recommendation: celebrate 2023 with NGGYU and get into the 2024 groove with SNTY. If you feel all great and awesome, then you did it all right! Happy New Year!
***
Video credit: Video 1 is owned by BBC while video 2 is owned by M-Net. Thanks, YouTube, for the video links.
The whole world already knows by now: whatever the ultra-talented golden maknae of BTS, Jung Kook (or simply "JK"), touches, it turns to gold, as in solid gold! Therefore, his first solo album, "Golden", is aptly titled as such. And, just before embarking on his Military Service in the early days of December 2023, when we thought his "Golden" campaign was coming to a close, he did it again! He had two huge surprises in a row: "3D (Justin Timberlake Remix)" and "Standing Next To You (Usher Remix)". For the two pillars of the music industry today taking interest in remixing JK's work, puts the golden maknae on a different level as a solo artist. No amount of hating from 'antis' can deny that. In fact, the hating confirms it... haters hate good things and successful people.
***
3D with JT iteration
"3D (feat. Jack Harlow)" is the second single to come out of "Golden", which was released prior to the launching of the album itself. It has this lively rhythm that entices one to sing along, get up and dance... and party! The song reminds fans what pop music is about - meant to be enjoyed, first and foremost. Jack Harlow's verses ruffled the feathers of many... but, like I said in another post, the verses were merely misunderstood. JH was showing how a pathetic, inconsiderate and selfish rake of a dude can be completely turned around by true love... and the hope of being loved as well. Some people listened to the rake part, and stopped! Naturally, that turned them off, and never saw the budding of a sweet love... in 3D! JK showed what he can do with his deep arsenal of voice power with fun beat and delicious mix of mild hiphop, dance and R&B genres. Because of that, it is a personal favorite of mine.
As if that wasn't enough, the great Justin Timberlake (JT) made the already engaging song to an ultra-loveable one with an added hip verse where JK tried his golden voice in rapping. Aww-inducing lines such as, "now let me fly you out to Seoul, South Korea. I just wanna get into your soul like Aretha," pasted instant smiles on listeners' lips... and sent avid listeners to cloud 9! Whew!
Awesome job, JK and JT! Congrats!
Wouldn't it be nice to see these two 'boy band alums' go on singing and dancing spree to the tune of 3D (Justin Timberlake Remix)? Ah, that's like bringing icons of two generations on a sweet talent per talent 'bout' - winner takes all! Can't wait until JK returns to 'pick a fight' - the beautiful collab kind - with JT!
***
SNTY, soulful with Usher
"Standing Next to You", or simply "SNTY", is the main track of "Golden". It is a great song - a personal pick for a great song of 2023. As sung by JK, it is a feast to the ears... but it's hard to sing it. One has to have a wide range of vocal prowess to pull it off: from a soft feathery caressing vocals to rhythmic R&B style that invites one to get up, take to the floor for some moves... to soft rocking growl that pleasantly surprises... to that smooth Swan Song-ish falsetto that astounds. JK sang 'em all... and nailed 'em all! What is even more amazing is that he can pull off singing it live while dancing with a challenging choreography.
He performed SNTY live a few times during his "Golden" campaign. He did great in all of them but my favorite was the very first one at iHeart Radio. Why? It was an awesome surprise! A few months before the release of "Seven (feat. Latto)", the first single from "Golden", I remember commenting on one of RM's IG stories where he shared a song by Bon Jovi. At that time, we were still waiting and wondering about JK's solo project, and RM was one of those nudging him to work on his album already. As JK was so well-known for "Euphoria", "My Time" and "Still with You", naturally, people were expecting him to work on songs similar to these old hits. I think I was one of the few who were imagining something different. So, I commented on RM's post, "imagine if JK does a Bon Jovi-like song in his solo album, huh. That would be the day!"
Fast forward to the "Golden Age": In his performance at iHeart Radio... he came in dragging a microphone stand, clad in ripped jeans and a leather jacket like a rockstar! And then he started drawling SNTY like a rockstar, too. By the time he got to the now-famous "t-t-t-take off" part (2:18 - 2:28 min), he sounded like he was so ready to give the likes of Jon Bon Jovi, Eddie Vedder and Myles Kennedy a run for their money! Man, is there anything that JK cannot do? The outcomes of his 'BTS Chapter 2' stint proved his versatility as a singer and performer! He can even act well! Chapter 2 brought out the best of JK - in every aspect, including having the confidence to go abroad on his own to perform and promote his songs. The most important strength that he demonstrated is his maturity. He now can muster the courage to ignore all the negativities and leverage the flood of positive things that came his way... winning many hearts and amassing new fans.
Last Dec. 15, he once again showed us how much he has grown as an artist as he performed SNTY alongside a legendary R&B artist: the one and only, Usher, in a music video! 'Proud' is an understatement... we, real ARMYs are utterly in awe of our golden maknae, and we thank Usher for recognizing his talent and helping to elevate JK to where he is after BTS Chapter 2. Those of us who followed the growth of this young man together with his BTS brothers, and on his own, too, were left in a flood of tears-of-joy as we watched the SNTY Usher Remix music video!
"Stop, can you feel that?
It's like heaven and earth move whenever we touch..."
Usher sang his part so beautifully... well, per Usher's usual high standard, of course. He made the R&B and mild rock-ish sound of SNTY so soulful! JK pitched SNTY masterfully with his mix of vocal ranges, Usher elevated it to an ultra-smooth cloud nine-ish sound with his beautiful voice and vibe-worthy adlibs. In the MV, JK performed as if he is equal in talent and superstardom as Usher, because he is getting there... in only a few months into his solo stint. Usher did not hold back, he did push JK to be at his best. The R&B virtouso that Usher is showed up, turning the choreography to feel like a freestyle dancing. The budding R&B specialist that our JK is played it safe in the beginning, sticking to the choreography, but stood his ground when left alone with Usher by demonstrating his own freestyle as well. It was a beautiful collaboration: two legends from two generations, side by side in an epic of a song! It was so enjoyable to watch!
Congratulations, JK and Usher!
We did get that distinct feeling that the "SNTY Usher Remix" will not be the last collaboration between these two legends. To show our excitement, we streamed SNTY MV to 60M on the eve of the "SNTY Usher Remix" MV release. And, roughly 48 hours later, we streamed the new Remix MV to 5M.
*** Image credit: The music video above is from Bangtan TV posted on YouTube while the photo is a screenshot from the SNTY official mv on YouTube - thanks, Bangtan TV, Hybe and YouTube.
As the world holds its collective breath for the official release of the first solo album of the ultra talented golden maknae of BTS, Jeon Jung Kook (or simply "Jung Kook" or "JK"), I would like to look at videos of the iconic live performance of the late 'King of Pop', Michael Jackson(MJ), and the heir apparent from the early 2000s, Bruno Mars(BM), and see how JK compares to these legendary artists. I think this is the best way to dissipate tension, and to keep the long wait bearable.
First up, the late 'King of Pop' in his legendary performance of his multi-awarded song,"Billie Jean", at the 25th anniversary of Motown back in 1983 where he unveiled his iconic dance step, "moonwalk", which changed many things in pop music and pop culture per se.
"Billie Jean is not my lover.
She's just a girl thinks that I am the one but the kid is not my son."
I was in Junior High School when I saw this iconic performance for the first time. Although I was already a big fan of Jackson Five since the first time I heard "Rockin' Robins", and has been a fan of MJ, after watching him in this performance, I became a big, big, BIG fan! After this, the room that I shared with my sisters was covered with his posters, and all my school stuff were decorated with MJ stuff. I bought glittery stockings and socks... and wore them with leather loafers. I was a total fan girl! But in those times, who wasn't? Anyway, this iconic performance changed many things in an entire generation... and whenever a turning point in pop music history is unveiled, this becomes the 'reference'.
When Bruno Mars broke through the music scene, all (myself included) were impressed by his impossibly wide vocal range that rivaled that of MJ. As such, like MJ, he is able to cover many genres effectively. Like MJ, he is a prodigy. He is one of the very few artists who make his songs sound better when he performs them live. He has so much confidence in what he can do, and he slams you and your imagination with them... and what a slam dunk it always is! And he seem to enjoy performing, too, so that anyone who watches him live is taken 100%. He just brings on the joy in the music he sings, and it's terrific! He has a naturally humorous personality, too. That adds to the awesome experience of watching him perform his music live.
"I'm too hot (hot damn). Call the police and the fireman.
I'm too hot (hot damn). Make a dragon wanna retire, man."
Ah, that was good, right? So good!
And now, JK - the K-Pop prodigy whose beautiful vocals and dancing skills with good looks to match make the global phenomenon BTS music so irresistible. These days, as the group is on hiatus due to their mandatory Military Service, the world has the opportunity to listen to the 'distilled' voice of the BTS golden maknae in its 'pure and concentrated' form. The world is completely taken by him! So far, he has been breaking many records and setting new ones with his first official solo single, "Seven (featuring Latto)", released last 14 July 2023, and the follow-up single, "3D (feat. Jack Harlow)" released on 29 September 2023.
"So, if you're ready and i you'll let me, I wanna see it in motion, in 3D."
He is good, huh? In my book, he is the rightful owner of that crown as "King of Pop" of his generation. It is incredible, given that he is Asian, and that he is not an English speaker. And yet, his global appeal is something that the world has not quite seen before. Although he has 10 years of performing as a music artist with BTS, he has only started working on his own when he sang with Charlie Puth in that collaboration that produced a huge hit, "Left and Right", released in Summer of 2022. And then, he sang the theme of the FIFA World Cup 2022, "Dreamers" (featuring Fahad Al Kubaisi). JK performed the song live in the opening ceremony in Qatar with Fahad. The 22nd World Cup saw the phenomenal Lionel Messiwin the coveted prize in the 'beautiful game' - finally, making him a real contender for the Greatest of All Times title. And, with a solo career that technically began with "Dreamers, JK is now fast-becoming as one of the strongest and most credible contenders for the "King of Pop" accolade of his generation.
JK's debut album, "Golden", shall be a testament of his talents and capabilities as a solo artist. We shall see in a few days. I am confident that his star shall shine even brighter.
***
Video credit: The owners of the videos above are indicated in credits - thanks, and thanks to YouTube for providing the link.
You know night after night, I'll be lovin' you right
Seven days a week..."
So, here we go, Jung Kook's record to launch his career as a solo artist is rounding the frenzied airwaves and cyberspace since 1:00 PM (KST) of 14 July 2023. So, basically, it's been about 24 hours as of this writing... and the frenzy seems to heighten, especially as the world waits for the Official Performance Video... with hints from Scooter Braun that it's going to 'shock' the faint of heart.
The Official Music Video (MV) revealed how good and natural JK is at acting... it just brings smile to one's face. Well, he's not 'golden maknae' for nothing, right? Right! The MV has now garnered about 40M views and 5.7M likes on YouTube as of this writing. The same MV has become #1 trending for music only about three hours after its official release, and stays as such. Crazy? Totally! Awesome? Man, must we ask? It's JK, of course, it is awesome! 💜
Okay... work beckons! 'Gotta run... later! 😅
***
Video credit: The video featured above is the official MV for the song, "Seven", by JungKook (featuring Latto). It is owned by Hybe, accessed through Bangtan TV of BigHit Music - thanks.
I think that I already established the fact of my 'shallowness' in happiness. Simple little things make me happy... the simpler, the bigger the happiness.
Six years ago, 2017, on the same day as today, June 27, I found this wonderfully heartwarming TV movie by Hallmark Movies and Mysteries. It is titled "Christmas with Holly", and it starred one of my fave Hallmark actors of all time, Sean Faris, who played the character of Mark Nagle, and that versatile actress, Eloise Mumford, who portrayed Maggie. The movie came out in 2012 as a 'Hallmark Hall of Fame' movie but I only got to discover it on YouTube in 2017 while recuperating from a terribly 'jealous of a flu'. For some reason, that seemingly simple TV movie had an incredible impact on me, and I began watching it every year on the same day that I found it on YouTube. I never talked about this favorite 'personal tradition' of mine though... until today.
Mark: "I didn't know anything about raising a kid.
She said you just start
by loving her.
The rest will follow."
It's amazing that, after six years, I still found the movie engaging, touching, beautiful... magical!
To me, that long-haired Sean Faris in the movie is still one of the prettiest men in the universe, from whichever angle you look at him... uhm, including his back. ðŸ¤ðŸ˜…😂 He also did well portraying Mark - the single guy who lived in Friday Harbor that became an instant Dad when his elder sister, Victoria, who was a single Mom was killed in a vehicular accident in Seattle. He had to stand in as parent for his orphaned niece because he was listed as legal guardian by his sister. I still think that the twin child actresses (well, child then, that is), Lucy and Josie Gallina, who played the role of six-year old Holly - Mark's niece, were superb. They conveyed so much emotion even without speaking a single word - amazing acting there! The same is true with the actors who played the role of Mark's brothers, Scott (Dana Watkins) and Alex (Daniel Eric Gold). It wasn't exactly that Hallmark 'formulaic' TV movie as it did have a wonderful story line that deviated a bit (or, a lot?) from the Hallmark 'cookie cutter' of movie production, and it's great. This is probably because it was based on the novel, "Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor" by Lisa Kleypas. It is the first book in the Friday Harbor four-book series of the New York Times bestseller author.
The movie counterpart had all the 'cuteness Hallmark armada': grown-up brothers who all lived in a huge dilapidated house by the water who bantered so comically on a daily basis because that was their way of preventing a deluge of love for each other lest they embarrass each other if they showed emotion; a beautifully vulnerable woman, Maggie, whose heartbreaks made her believe that she wasn't as amazing as she was... until a very good-looking guy with a heart of gold, Mark, came along to give her back her faith in herself by letting her show him how to find his own confidence in himself in raising this child who was thrown off by fate and was groping around, looking for true love to hold on to that only he can give; the cutest of all little girls who was so emotionally broken but spiritually whole because of true and unwavering love from his uncle; and a dog that knows what it wants and knows how to get it! Simple plot, simple scenes, no deep intellectual points to ponder, no pretentions... uhm, yeah... I know, I've mellowed... and I love it!
These days, it amazes me that one of my favorite BTS songs, "Magic Shop", which was partly produced by Jungkook, has an almost the same name as the toy shop owned by Maggie,
Magic Mirror Toy Shop. The new shop that Maggie built in Friday Harbor was pivotal in the story because that was where Holly found her inner strength to speak again after her Mom's death confused her so badly it afflicted her with temporary muteness. She just shut down, and only trusted her uncle Mark, and later, her two other uncles. When Mark and Holly met Maggie at the ferry, on their way to Friday Harbor from Holly's home in Seattle, Holly seemed to have opened up to Maggie. It was a slow process of gaining trust and giving trust between Maggie and Holly... until that day when Holly fully gave her trust to Maggie... and to life itself again. Holly spoke again, and her first word was her mother's name, 'Victoria'. The safe and magical environment that Maggie created in her toy shop that encouraged Holly to hold on to the love she was offered was quite similar to the 'magic shop' of BTS for their ARMY... and it's amazing!
Indeed, this is all that we need in life... nah, not magic. It's love. It is central to the story... love in many forms... but in whichever form, love's effect is the same - beauty and happiness in life - in all forms.
So, yeah... this is a sweet tradition that I intend to keep for the rest of my life.
***
Video credit: Thanks, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, for the video and photos. Thanks, YouTube, for the video links.
Yep, 'stunning'. That is all that I'm gonna say to describe how I feel about this photo. The view certainly left me speechless, I just had to capture the moment from where I was standing... at Diamond Hotel Manila. I was there for a week - for work. And, this view gave me the most compelling reason to limit work strictly until 5:30 pm. I just had to watch this view unfold right before my eyes.
The Manila Bay sunset remains to be one of the most spectacular scenes one would ever find in this part of the world. Too beautiful for words! But the fact that it took me nearly two months to share this here indicates how work has once again taken over my life, and it's absolutely ridiculous! Nothing beautiful about that to be sure... and yet, these days, I feel I have no choice. But right now, this very moment, I just had to free myself from the bondage of work and reconnect with 'my soul'. And so, here I am. Ah, stunning!
***
Photo credit: I own this photo. I took the shot and did the processing with very minimal color enhancement to remove the glare from the glass window. This may not be used for any other purpose.
For the first time, I experienced what it's like to preside over the Solemn Investiture of a Graduating Class as a 'top administrator' of the University that I have been serving since 1989. I presided over the Solemn Investiture of the Class of 2023 of the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) where I teach! I recited the 'formula' in conferring a Bachelor's degree and shifted the tassel of the candidates' graduation cap. It was an incredible experience, and I am very grateful! 💛
As past immediate Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, it was my role to present the candidates for graduation during the Commencement Exercises since 2013. The last time I did that was for the Class of 2019. Although I remain Dean of the Faculty until 2022 (but on Sabbatical Leave in AY 2021-2022), because of the pandemic, I did not get to do this for the Class of 2020 and Class of 2021. When I returned to the University in July 2022, I assumed a new assignment under the Office of the Rector of the University. Apparently, this qualified me to act on behalf of the University in granting the degrees of our Graduating Class during the Commencement Exercises.
In my 7-minute speech, I spoke about the Class of 2023 being "Bulletproof"... with inspiration from the most popular boy band in the world: BTS. 💜 It was an incredible opportunity... because how many ARMYs can express their admiration for BTS while passing a major milestone in their professional career? Perhaps, not so many. As such, I feel blessed... and I thank God for this incredible opportunity.
***
Image credit: The photos in the collage belong to me, Tomasinoweb and a colleague at UST - thanks!
"...we need 'earthshots'. We must harness that human ingenuity and purpose, and turn it with laser-sharp focus and urgency on the most pressing challenge we have ever faced: repairing our planet.... together, we must protect and restore nature... and fix our climate.
"...some people are motivated to act by crisis, but for many, the incentive to act only comes when they believe that change is possible, that it isn't a lost cause.
"So, now is the time for each one of us to share leadership... every single one of us has a role to play." This coming from one who was born to such unimaginable privilege, yielding his 'unique position' and turning his privilege to service that is dedicated to restoring our beloved planet in order that future generations can enjoy it is truly inspiring.
His Royal Highness, Prince William, the Prince of Wales is truly an inspirational human being. He may be imperfect (and who isn't?) and may come up short of the tremendous expectations that come with the "HRH" attached to his name no matter how hard he tries to measure up, but we know, especially now, that he is all about service.
In the past year and months, Prince William's graciousness and strength of character was put to the test in a very public character assassination that involved no other than his own brother, Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex. From many parts of the world, the perspective was that Prince Harry unfairly lambasted Prince William publicly in a bonfire of self-serving and attention-grabbing parade of private family matters 'orchestrated and scripted' to get people cruelly see things out of context in exchange of $$$. For whose benefit? Ah, we all can use our imagination to answer that question. For anyone in this world who is family-oriented, what Prince Harry and... uhm, not sure if the name is even worth mentioning here... so, I wont! Well, what Prince Harry did was a breach of trust... and he did it without remorse, too - striding cockily in Westminster Abbey a few days back like a Hollywood celebrity. Wishful thinking! It was full of drama that the world did not need. Personally, about a decade ago, I did believe that Prince Harry had finally grown up and became a responsible person after a string of embarrassing controversies. Of course, he looked grown up around the positive influence of his older brother and sister-in-law. And then all that rubbish happened, and it got me thinking... "is the old selfish, irresponsible Harry back?" We all know the answer to that... so, I will 'spare' you the details.
The Princes may have been reared in a difficult family situation as children but they were still surrounded by positive influences from which to draw good judgment regarding their situation. Therefore, we can only hope that things will be right again someday with the Princes. After all, there is something that they both share that cannot be changed no matter what: they are each other's brother.
Amid all the cruel and very public accusations, two gracious human beings who are worthy of emulation (re-)emerged: Prince William, of course, and his equally wonderful wife, Catherine, the Princess of Wales. They consistently soldiered on, serving the United Kingdom quietly and with a smile despite the obvious heartbreak. We have seen Prince William evolved from being this larger-than-life British Royal to 'just being among us' by quietly bearing the personal pain caused by his own brother, and carrying out his duties and responsibilities without 'loud' 'hollywoodish' PR stunts - much like his late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II. He worked with such perseverance and diligence, effectively earning whatever title bestowed on him by virtue of his birth, if he didn't earn it yet, that is. With the quietly elegant, and brilliant in her own right, Princess Kate, alongside him, we have seen him evolved from this young man who is born into privilege but grew up to be of substance and with a strong sense of responsibility to this wonderfully mature Servant Leader and a wonderful father to a growing family. He is worth-emulating for his humility and focus on service despite his heartache; admirable for his vision for the world and his brilliance in articulating it; and inspirational for his love and devotion to country, family and God.
While he is and will always be the son of Diana, the "People's Princess", the son of Charles III - the reigning British Monarch, and the grandson of the legend that is Queen Elizabeth II, he has effectively emerged from the shadows of his parentage and ancestors - owning his birthright with such graciousness and clarity of purpose as a world leader while keeping his reverence for history and respect for traditions that makes UK a one of a kind country that it is then and now. I do not exactly know what it means to be the King of UK and the Commonwealth, but I can certainly see Prince William to be a very good world leader. Thanks to the difficult situation with his own brother, he has 'emerged from his cocoon', and now the world sees him for the wonderful Servant Leader that he is.
I am a chemical engineer with specialization in food engineering, an educator and a scientist, and I stand by Prince William. Like him, I commit to doing the best I can, using my knowledge (as limited as it may be) and my small influence as a humble servant leader in my small part of the world to help restore and nurture our planet back to good health. May God bless Prince William and his family, and may God bless us all.
***
Video credit: The owner of the video is indicated in the video itself, The Earthshot Prize - thanks. Thanks, YouTube, for the video link.
