QOTD

 QOTD #32: On fear, courage... and love.

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by PAM

"Man, I was... I was terrified. I tried drinking, you know, make it all go away, but... it didn't work. Nothing did.  Then I realized a good Marine doesn't act in the absence of fear.  They act in the face of it.  So, I did."

- Jack Sheridan (Martin Henderson), 'Virgin River' S6:E3

Yep, it's one of those weekends when there is so much to digest and reflect on because the whole week has been a 'colorful collage' of many important events, many of which were challenging, a handful were stressful and tiring, and some quite sobering.  

So, yep, I had a week of emotional roller coaster filled with intellectual 'adventures' and leadership puzzles, and personal realizations.  Unlike Jack Sheridan - the lead character played by Martin Henderson in the Netflix series, 'Virgin River', though, who was also faced with a colorful barrage of dangerous encounters as a Marine captain and thereafter, I didn't try drinking - I never will.  I do understand the fear - the unsettling awareness of the danger that lies ahead, and how it can strike at any moment.  It doesn't help that I tend to overthink things sometimes...

especially when there is very little known alternative to avoid the expected danger. Such anticipation can lead to panic and decision paralysis, which is the worst effect of fear.

When I was younger, I was usually unafraid to take on 'fearsome matters' just because I believed... no, I knew, I knew then that the more fearsome the challenges were in front of us, the greater the learning - whether the challenge was surmounted or not.  Therefore, 'acting in the face of fear', and acting with the best possible decision under the circumstances, always brought the most satisfying outcome - win or lose.  

These days, after learning so much from previous experiences, I have been losing my appetite for facing danger and all the monstrosity that comes with it.  Not that I am afraid... I remain unafraid.  Let's just say that I am more in touch with my mortality these days... and given all the time I spent in facing danger and the excitement of 'acting in the face of it' in a thankless job, I am now more inclined to the quiet, 'less exciting' life.  I guess the thankless nature of my job is the biggest factor of danger that I usually faced (and still face), and the biggest reason why the 'appetite' dwindles and it inclines somewhere else.  I now enjoy getting home before the sun sets, cooking and savoring freshly cooked meals, watering the plants and almost literally watching them grow... and just enjoying a quiet evening without so many things racing in my head, and keeping me awake all night.  Many people say, I'll get bored and will soon crave the 'dangerous life'.  So far, my interest keeps inclining somewhere else.

These days, spending 'busy' weeks are so unbelievably stressful for me even when such weeks are actually just a 'walk-in-the-park when compared with my pursuits back in the days when I was the equivalent of Jack Sheridan's Marine captain in my Academic Unit in the University.  I guess my passion for dangerous pursuits has dwindled... or, I may need a new scenario to rekindle my appetite for slaying danger and all the monstrosities that come with it.  And just exactly how will I do that?  Okay, now... that might just be the equivalent of 'acting in the face of danger'.  And my pulse quickens.... 💓🙏

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Image credit:  The image in this post is from Netflix through Entertainment Weekly - thanks both.

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QOTD

 QOTD #31: On the journey of discovery, getting off track... and returning to one's true passion

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by PAM

"Who you are isn't finite.  You'll be different a year from now, ten minutes from now.  So, embrace who you are in this moment."

- Ronnie Sullivan (Brandon Quinn), 'Sweet Magnolias', S4:E7

Yes, I am one of them worriers in this world.  I sometimes am unable to stay in the moment... I will admit.  Okay, I just did... admit.  By the time people say, "ahhh", "hmmm," with eyes closed and face seemed to be illuminated by a glorious light from up above after taking that perfect bite from a delicious main course of a fabulous dinner, I would already be imagining the dessert... and all the very many possibilities... such as someone choking if the dessert was a rice cake of sorts.  My hyper imaginative mind will then race to far flung places such as 911 and someone being rushed to the Emergency Room due to some nasty tapioca pearl getting caught in someone's throat or something.  So, if someone would ask my opinion about the steak and whether or not it was cooked to my liking, I wouldn't know how to answer.  In fact, I hardly know what were served at dinner at all!  But when someone gasped for air... that's it, I would be on my phone dialing 911 - emergency, someone is choking!!         

As I binge-watched Season 4 of "Sweet Magnolias" to have my favorite young couple, Ty and Annie, keep me company as I work, work, work... into Valentine's Day, Annie's Dad, Ronnie, caught my attention as he set Annie's worried mind at ease.  The gorgeous, kind and naturaly talented budding artist, Annie, was stressing her brains out over College applications.  She was doubting herself whether this or that school would be a good fit for her as she wants to study photography... and what if she chose one school and then realized one day that photography was not her real passion?  What then?  She was imagining a thousand and one scenarios, and it drover her crazy.    

I can relate with Annie... not that I'm a 17-year-old girl deciding about college!  No, not that, of course!  I was fifteen (15) years old when I started college... and I just wanted to study!  I didn't have the crisis that Annie had.  My National College Entrance Examination (NCEE) Test (yes, we had that in the Philippines when I was in High School) score and qualitative analysis indicated that I can pursue anything... and I positively felt that way, too.  I chose chemical engineering in two universities where I took entrance examination, political science and journalism in another.  I passed in all... but I decided to study chemical engineering at the University of Santo Tomas (UST)... not that I knew what I was doing.  I let my faith work, and it led me to teaching chemical engineering in the same University later.  The rest is history as they say.    

These days, I am handling a relatively important assignment at work... and I remain interested and engaged.  However, as I also begin to 'slow down' in preparation for retirement, my original passions that I consciously set aside to give way to what was practical for me and my family decades ago are now 'bubbling back' towards the surface... and it's becoming more and more difficult to ignore. So, my passion for what I do at work started to dwindle a bit... until it's becoming quite impossible to ignore my real passion.  

Decades ago, it was easier to choose between what was practical and needed, and what I was (am) passionate about.  I chose 'practical and needed', hands down... because I love my family and I have always been committed to my family.  I never regretted my choice because, over the years, as I wholeheartedly fulfill my obligations, I discovered myself... and the many gifts that God gave me that enabled me to accomplish many things.  Everyday, I felt excited because of the hope to discover something new.  Without a doubt, who I am and who I can be is finite as only God is infinite.  But putting trust in God as I embarked to the journey of discovery, I felt that the hope in my heart - that is centered in God's love, made me believe that 'anything is possible'. Indeed, 'the possibility is endless' as they say... and if we worked hard, we can realize many of those possibilities. Sometimes, our choices cause us to stray away from the road that leads to the better version of ourselves.  This is when prayers lift the clouds in front of us, fortify our vision... and the road to happiness reveals itself in front of us.  The journey continues.  Perhaps, that's what Ronnie Sullivan meant when he said to Annie, "what you are isn't finite".  One moment, we are plunged in a sea of confusion, but with a small prayer and lots of faith, we are bathed in a light of clarity... a beautiful experience that only God's love can afford us. 

I can say that the journey of discovery has been awesome!  These days though, there are a few remaining reasons to stay practical... but the call to pursue passion gets louder and louder.  I feel that there is more to discover. And, to continue discovering... I have to change course.

Oh, and Happy Valentine's Day, y'all!

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Image credit:  The photo of Ty (Carson Rowland) and Annie (Anneliese Judge) is borrowed from Tudum by Netflix - thank you.

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Happy CHRISTmas!

Christ with us... Emmanuel.

Our King - the King of Kings - is born!

Gloria in excelsis Deo!!

Christmas is here!  The glitters, the twinkling lights, the colorful decor, the beautiful carols, and all the magical merriments... indeed, "it's the most wonderful time of the year"!  Good cheers fill the air, and there is much merrymaking all around.  It's that season when hearts open up to give and receive joy... sometimes in the form of gifts wrapped in colorful boxes and made so pretty by bows or sparkling little ornaments, or in the form of heartfelt wishes that seem to magically light up our world with much beautiful emotions that only the heart can define. 

But for our family, Christmas is always been about Him - Christ.  Christmas is all about Him... the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ and the greatest love that made it happen.  I feel fortunate that, over the years, God has used me as an instrument of giving love to our family on the day of His only Son's birth.  My nieces and nephews and their parents saw how Christmas became a tradition of a special day to express love, care, and familial affection.  Over the years, they have started building their own families, and it is wonderful to see them keep the tradition in their own families.  Most of them remember....

...and they come to visit on Christmas day to show their love, and it just absolutely warms the heart.  

This year is very special because it is our first time to celebrate Christmas day at our new 'second home' in a City about 45km south of our 'primary home'.  Of course, we spent Christmas Eve and had our Christmas Eve dinner in our primary home after attending Misa de Gallo.  We then traveled to our second home on Christmas morning where my siblings and our nieces and nephews came to celebrate Christmas with us.  It was only for a few hours of merrymaking as they have their own plans, too... but it was more than enough.  It was enough to make us feel how blessed we are... and how God's love is in everyone's heart in our family - happiness, indeed!  And we so love that little babe in that magical manger!

From our family to yours, HAPPY CHRISTMAS!!  May God bless us all.   

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Image credit:  All photos in this entry belong to me. 

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Sunday reflection (or rant)...

 ...on the beauty of gratitude (and an 'unsettling disruption').

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by PAM

In my world of Education 'industry', at least, this small part that is still not fully changed (or corrupted) by artificial intelligence (AI) to an unfeeling (too) data-centered 'industry'... where human connection and relation remains to be the means by which real intelligence is uncovered, nurtured towards natural flourishing, and enabled to help constitute the greater good, it is, indeed, a beautiful experience to be receiving a token of gratitude from those with whom we forged real connections. 

I feel that we achieved a little success today.  I received an email from a former student of ours at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) who just passed the November 2024 Licensure Examination for Civil Engineers.  She started her journey in the Faculty as an Electrical Engineering student but decided that she wanted to pursue Civil Engineering instead.  She then applied to change program.  The Faculty is a student-centered academic unit (AU) that implements programs that support and enable students to grow to mature individuals that are able to discern and identify their strengths as basis of their decisions moving forward.  As such, we guided her through the process of changing her program, and she did so successfully.  When we let her know that her application was approved, she expressed delight and promised that she will become a full-fledged civil engineer.  And she did.

"Ever Grateful, Ever Hopeful"

And what was the first thing (okay, maybe second... or third.  Uhm, I gotta strong feeling that it's really fourth) she did after passing the Licensure Exam?  Well, she sent that email above.

I always consider my profession as an educator and higher education institution (HEI) administrator as one that requires the accomplishment of so many (many, many) tasks... that are mostly 'thankless'.  We do them anyway... well, I do them, anyway, because I do believe they are necessary and that they are worth-doing.  The worth is not immediately realized but when it is realized... it's just the greatest of things... well, at the very least, among the greatest of things.  There have been (many, many) times when I thought that our efforts in doing what we do are in vain.  The 'system' is slowly 'diminishing' educators as mere 'facilitators' of learning whose place is on the 'sidelines' while learners take the center stage with all those blinding beams of light focused on them while the fakest of fake social media expect them to be perfect otherwise they are cancelled, gaslighted or just tossed to the pack of trolls.  Uhm... it's no wonder why learners suffer from so much anxiety.  Learning has become so daunting than ever before for students... that many of them fake learning... and they have a 'great' help in doing this: AI.  All they have to do is take to social media, and post things that flatter many... including themselves.  For some, mostly themselves.  And when they are unable to sustain the flattery, their minds and spirits get gnawed by anxiety... and send them spiraling to depression.  They suffer... and for what?  Exactly - for nothing!  It is because nothing much in that fake platform is ever true or sincere - 'enhanced' this, 'enhanced' that.  And yet 'the system' pushes learners to its claws... and away from learning deeply, thoroughly, and meaningfully... and grow in gratitude, hope and love.      

Educators are no longer regarded as 'partners' in the process of learning... learners' guide and companion in the beautiful journey of discovery... of continuous learning.  After all, with all the fakery out there, all the more that guidance is necessary.  However, we are expected to merely facilitate learning... anticipate learners' needs and be there when they cry for help... like paid nannies, poorly paid nannies, that is.  We are no longer regarded as scholars, as scientists who inspire learners to explore the unknown, uncover the truth - whole truth and nothing but the truth.  And yet, we are expected to 'deliver the goods' in terms of research publications - products of scholarly pursuits, that send the HEI that we serve to the top of global university rankings.  Odd?  No, not just odd... it's ironic!  

So much irony these days, indeed.  We invented AI to make our lives 'easier', and yet, the use of AI usually complicates our lives.  Many of us lose the meaning of life (and good living) altogether.  As we attempt to 'simplify' our lives through AI, our lives tend to become more complicated... and we expose ourselves to so much vulnerability, insecurity.  And, as we load AI with the power to 'read our minds' and 'listen to our thoughts'... we feel more unsafe than ever before.  No, I am not against AI per se.  I believe that 'benign AI' is the product of human being's authentic intelligence and the benevolent desire to elevate the quality of human life.  However, because of greed and the maniacal desire of others for recognition, fame, glory and money (and just the mere ignorance by some - plain and simple), AI has become an 'unsettling disruption' that sets fire to the natural order in human lives.  As such, I am against using AI in ways that allow the decaying of our authentic humanity; and I absolutely oppose the promotion of the 'wonders' of AI that mislead the younger generations, depriving them to experience the authentic beauty of human life and their natural development to the wonderful individuals that they are meant to become.      

🎶 "Most of freedom and of pleasure

Nothing ever lasts forever

Everybody wants to rule the world." 🎶

Despite my frustrations in the overhyping of AI in the most misguided ways these days, I remain hopeful that this product of authentic human intelligence will be used wisely by the next generations.  Not all is lost, and there is much yet to be gained.  

Happy Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary!

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Image credit:  The content of the screenshot email belongs to my former student.

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Saturday Photo(s)

 

Yep, "it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas"... well, at least in my second home it is only 'beginning' to look a lot like Christmas, 'cause it's been looking a lot like Christmas in most parts of the Philippines since after 'Undas' (All Saints Day and All Souls Day).  In most part of the country, it's been looking (and sounding) like Christmas since September!  

We love Christmas in this part of the world.  In fact, we did display our new little Nativity Scene

with a bunch of 'Christmassy' little things in our second home... also after Undas.  Well, what can I say, we are Filipinos to the core, especially when it comes to celebrating Christmas!  

We do believe that Christ is, indeed, the 'reason for the season'.  And so, what is more important is preparing ourselves to renew our being one with our Lord.  We prepare to accept the Baby Jesus in our homes, in our hearts and in our lives... and be renewed by the immeasurable love that is the very meaning of His birth.  Therefore, before we get lost in the twinkles of glittering Christmas lights and the razzle-dazzle of Christmas parties, we remind ourselves of the true reason why we celebrate Christmas.  And, usually, the Nativity Scene is the most important 'physical reminder'.  So, in our family's practice, the nativity scene always comes first.  Along with it is the Christmas wreath with advent candles - a reminder of how the whole Christian world come together in prayer to prepare for the birth of Jesus.  All the rest of decorations come later.  And, anyway, it is so complicated to put up Christmas tree and hang Christmas lights and other decorations... and getting them down and storing them away is even more painful!  So, even if I did give in to 'national pressure' and put up Christmas tree and lights today, sometimes, I question myself about putting up Christmas decorations... well, aside from the nativity scene and Christmas wreath thats is.  We only have two kids in our huge family now who still appreciate sparkly Christmas decors (uhm, at least, for a few minutes... and then back to their gadgets).  All the rest are just a bunch of 'big kids'... who just want to sleep all day during Christmas break! 🙋😅

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Image credit:  All photos in this entry belong to me, and may not be used without permission. 

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QOTD

 QOTD #30:  When reality strikes... and it takes you by surprise.

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by PAM

 

"...and since I am currently one of the women sitting home thinking, 'if I could only find a man like Aragorn', he picked me.

- Lorelai Gilmore, "Gilmore Girls" S4:E22 

I wasn't thinking of posting anything here today... or in the next few days, or maybe weeks.  I have planned to spend my 'free time' just getting back to healthy state and just forgetting about work, or anything that requires an effort to not be the introvert that I truly am - regardless whether the reason for getting out of my 'introvert cocoon' is a family matter, friends matter or what have you.  I planned of locking myself inside my own little introverted world and resume

binge-watching "Gilmore Girls" (GG) on Netflix... and ignore the (ignorable) fact that there is a whole wide world out there... a teeny tiny part of which is curious whether I am still alive or have ceased existing altogether.  

And then GG S4:E22 came on - an episode where Lorelai was contemplating dating her long-time dependable and permanent ('cause nothing much in Lorelai's life is permanent, except the love between her and her daughter, Rory) friend, Luke Danes.  In the previous episode, Lorelai and Luke attended Luke's sister's wedding... and they 'oddly' hit it off as they danced at the reception... and after Luke realized in the middle of listening to a self-help audio book that at every important point in his life (good or bad) in the last (almost) two decades, there has always been that one person he would like to share it with - Lorelai.  Hence, the odd feeling of being together at the wedding, and saying goodbye afterwards at Lorelai's doorstep... which did not escape Lorelai. So, in E22, she was dissecting the situation with Rory... trying to determine whether Luke would really like to date her, or just taking pity on her newly single self (again) after her last relationship ended abruptly due to 'family complications', which is almost always the case for Lorelai's lovelife.

Ah... that caught your attention, didn't it?  Lovelife!   You think I'd be talking about my own lovelife here.  Well, I am sorry to disappoint but I do not have a lovelife, at least, not the romantic kind that you might be expecting... and therefore, there is nothing of the sort to talk about here.  That's the reality, my reality.  It's a good reality, too, and I'm happy.  So, deal and move on!

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Thinking of Aragorn in a universe parallel with Lorelai Gilmore's

What caught my attention in GG S4:E22 is Lorelai's mention of Aragorn from the "Lord of the Rings" (LOTR).  I've seen this scene before... but it still caught me by surprise.  I blame my current (and, perhaps, forever) 'single blessedness' to him, Aragorn.  He is so dashing, brave, intelligent, incredible leader, and just about perfect, especially as portrayed by Viggo Mortensen in the series of films by Peter Jackson. That 'Aragorn speech' at the Black Gate in "LOTR: The Return of the King" (LOTR:TROTK) alone, and the courage he showed to make good his speech all throughout the film series, especially in that monumental Battle of Helm's Deep in "LOTR: Two Towers", and in the books by J.R.R. Tolkien, will forever haunt me, and will always be the standard on which men should be measured... in my book.

"Hold your ground, hold your ground... this day we fight!"

So, if this scene from LOTR:TROTK made many women in this world, including the fictitious Lorelai Gilmore, to expect even the smallest hint of perfection in men, can you blame them?  Can you blame us?  Still speechless in amazement?  Uhm, yeah... that's what I thought!    

Alright, back to GG... and the thoughts of Aragorn. Oy!  

Ciao!

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Video Credit:  Thanks, Youtube, for the video link.

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Enduring the flu...

 ...again! Ugh!

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by PAM

And here we go again... down with the flu. Man... insane.  

And as flu caught me alone in my second home, I have no

A sick person's meal, prepared by the sick person.

choice but to tend to myself.  I have been cooking my meals even when I feel like I am unable to lift the spatula.  I know I could just order food... but that's a lot of wrappers and wrappers and packaging and packaging, layer after layer - too much waste, I can't bare it... especially after enduring that 'parade of typhoons' that hit the Philippines over the last few weeks.  No, thank you.  It is time to take action and contribute in mitigating climate change... no matter how small the contribution is, it is still a step towards the right direction.  So, yeah, I'll do my best to cook.  So far, I am able to manage... without aggravating my health condition... I think... uhm, I hope! 😅 The effort is real, and the hunger that builds up while cooking progressed so very (very) slowly is like Smaug himself waiting to devour Bilbo Baggins!

One of the things that I really, really hate about coming down with the flu is that flu usually goes with a sore throat.  And if one had been terribly abusive of one's health (hence, the flu in the first place), the sore throat can be so terrible that it goes with a 'shut-off vocal cords'.  Air is blocked completely from creating sound waves... one can't make the smallest of sound no matter how hard one tries to scream.  It is totally frustrating that I just want to stuff my mouth with food to compensate... but swallowing is a labor, too.  So, yeah... did I mention frustrating?  'Cause it is! 

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The voiceless pain

Feverish, mightily uncomfortable from body ache and painful throat, dizzy and weak, watery eyes and no voice... that's me today.  And I am very, very frustrated. 😞  As I write this post this very moment, I am binge-watching one of my ultimate favorite TV shows, the "Gilmore Girls" (GG) series, because I have been so bored staring at the ceiling in my bed. And I am extremely frustrated that I am unable to sing along with the show's theme song, "Where you Lead" by the brilliant Carole King (CK).  

🎶"I always wanted a real home with flowers in the window sill.

Well, if you wanna live in Stars Hollow, baby, you know I will...

Where you lead, I will follow, anywhere that you tell me to...."🎶

I do enjoy singing the theme song. In fact, for hardcore Stars Hollow fans, it is one of the highlights of watching GG.  Every episode begins with some sort of an overview of what the next 45 minutes will be about... and then just when you are about to say, "huh? What?  Whaaat??", the theme song rolls in, and you know you are, indeed, at the right place.  So, you cozy up with a bucket of popcorn on your lap, and all other concerns in life far, far away from your mind.  Every episode also ends with some sort of an "aaaww" or an "oh, nooo" moment that made us want to speed up the week back in the early 2000s in order to see the next episode.  These days, with Netflix stringing the episodes per season in a binge-worthy array, the "aaawww" or "oh, no" moment is followed real fast by the "whaaaat" moment.  And something has to relieve a fan from such heightened emotion.  I guess I do not have to emphasize that the relief comes from the theme song.  A moment when one's sanity says bye-bye momentarily as one sings along with the fabulous CK while watching highlights of the show.  

So, imagine how painful it is for an avid GG fan like myself when he/she is unable to get the smallest of sound to sing along with CK - argh, torture!     

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The sweetness of working from home

As I mentioned before, I have been appreciating my new surroundings in my second home, close to my new primary workplace.  I have been realizing in the past days as I work from home

Through the sheer curtain at the window,
it seems that something is 'on fire' outside.
But it is just the sunset... in its glorious beauty.

that wherever I sit to work in my new home, I see the very green sceneries outside through the 'countless' windows we have.  I have been complaining to my sister that I have no blank walls to hang paintings and pictures, and there are very few spaces where I can park my favorite art pieces.  These days, I am beginning to accept... and appreciate the big windows that allow me to see my green surroundings.  At the moment, that relieves my painful and watery eyes, and I'm grateful.  The small lanai by the side of the house, or the small backyard, allows me to soak in the healing warmth of sunrise.  Also, in many places where I can sit to work in the afternoon while I eat snacks before taking medicine (again), I have a view of the lovely sunset in this part of the world... and enjoying the sunset is one of my 'guilty pleasures'.  I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to enjoy these things... even if what afforded me to enjoy them is a health issue.  There is always something good in any of our experiences.  Sometimes the goodness is an immediate outcome that we can enjoy, other times, we need to dig deep to discover it.  And the greatest gift is experiencing goodness without having to dig too deep.  These days, I appreciate that enjoying sunrise and/or sunset does not require digging deep. So, again, I am grateful.

My 'voiceless pain'... or 'painful voicelessness' is kind of taken over by the sweetness of working from home... even when the reason for working from home is the 'voiceless pain'.  And yes, I am grateful. Indeed, I am.

If you have gotten this far, uhm... I am so sorry but did I just waste three minutes of your life?  I did?  I knew it!  I am extra-incoherent today.  But, hey, I am grateful... to you for enduring my incoherence.  I appreciate you.   

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Image credit:  The photos in this post are mine.  I took them, they belong to me.

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Saturday Photo

 

'The best things in life are free...'
Nature's unadulterated colors are simply the most naturally breath-taking.

These days, I feel that I am on my way to striking a balance between life and work... with life gaining a bit more of its lost ground to work in the past years.  This is because I am spending more and more time in my 'second home' - close to my 'new work assignment'.  

Traffic is almost of zero consequence here in my 'second home'.  Although the distance between my 'primary home' and my 'older workplace' (I have two offices) in Metro-Manila is almost the same as the distance between my 'second home' and my 'new work place', the time I spend in traffic these days is nothing compared to the traffic that I endure when I am in Metro-Manila.  I can leave home 15-20 minutes before my call time at my 'new workplace', and make it there on time, unhurriedly.  The same when I go home, I only need about 15 minutes to reach home.  In Metro-Manila, I allot 1 to 1.5 hours for traffic on my way to work, depending on the time of day.  In the afternoon/evening, when I go home, travel time is usually 1.5 to 2 hours even when I leave my workplace at 8:00 in the evening!  It has become so ridiculous and senseless to live in Metro-Manila, especially if there is a better option.   

So, these days, I have time to sit by the patio, take a deep breath, read a little bit (that's leisure reading, mind you!) while JungKook sings in the background, and take notice of and appreciate how beautiful the skies are in this part of the world... well, my entire surrounding actually.  Time affords me this 'luxury', and this new place affords me time without sacrificing the comforts and convenience of an ultra-modern life... and I am, indeed, grateful. 🙏

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Image credit:  The photo above belongs to me, I took it.

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Saturday Photo(s)

 

Having so much fun in the thick of preparations at the construction site for the

UST-Dr. William T. Belo Interdisciplinary Research Institute (UST-WiTBIRIn)

in the campus of the University of Santa Tomas in the City of Santa Rosa, Province of Laguna.

 

These past days, one can say that, yes, I am 'in my element'.  Finally, the 'boring' phase of my 'new job' has dissipated, and now, my Team is entering a zone where we all can be 'in the zone', indeed!  Construction of the second building in our new campus is about to go on 'full swing'. And I hope that before we're done constructing it, we would be ready to begin the third... and the fourth after that... and the fifth... and so on - I hope. We have five years to build the 'necessary buildings', and 15 years or so to develop the campus in its 'first iteration'.

I often enjoy the 'planning stage' of any project, or any 'mission', especially when it is a pioneering endeavor.  So, naturally, when our Office was created just two years ago upon my return from my one-year Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship at Penn State University, Cornell University and Boise State University, I had a great time thinking, researching and talking to many people, planning, designing, and building the foundation of our Office, which begins from building the Team ... and hoping and dreaming of the best outcomes - dreaming mostly. 

One of the things that I love about this process is meeting like-minded people, and more so, people of very little to zero faith in what our 'mission' is about.  The former reinforce our courage to keep believing and diving into the unknown, and the latter, serve as reminders to persevere and keep the faith if good results have to be had.  In our current construction project, there are a few 'non-believers'.  Unfortunately, they are the most exasperating ones... so, it has been very, very tough, indeed.  It was so mightily boring to spend so much time and effort to make them see things from a different perspective, and to acknowledge that there are other ways of accomplishing things. Just because a method is 'tried and tested' does not mean that it can be applied on all things and in all situations. And that a 'seat of authority' is not always a seat of infallibility.  In many cases, it is a seat that allows one to serve better and to serve more people.  Very fortunately, I do have an incredible Team... they make me feel that not every battle is mine to fight... or fight alone.  So, yep, I am lovin' my Team, and I am lovin' our pace despite the challenges!  And when we do occasionally achieve something significant, we remind ourselves that we can see many wonderful things from our vantage point only because we 'stand on the shoulders of giants'. 

So, this week, our current construction project, the UST-Dr. William T. Belo Interdisciplinary Research Institute (UST-WiTBIRIn), reached a milestone.  And we are, indeed, very happy and absolutely grateful.  Faith, perseverance and teamwork do pay off.   And, I am celebrating here through The Script's music, "Hall of Fame" just like how the namesake of the building that we are constructing (the 'giant' on whose shoulders we stand, in this case) is in our UST Engineering Hall of Fame...

"Yeah, do it for your people, do it for your pride.

Are you ever gonna know if you never even try?"

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Image credit:  The photos in the collage were borrowed from colleagues and used here with their permission - thanks.

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Speaking of MTV...

 ...here's something significant.

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by PAM

After speaking in my recent post here about how Duran Duran and their contemporaries in the second 'British Invasion' dominated the beginning of the MTV era in the '80s, I got reminded of the iconic collaboration between one of the best guitarists the world has ever seen, Mark Knopfler, and his famous band, Dire Straits, and the one and only legend himself, Sting.  Their song is called, "Money for Nothing"... which started with Sting filling the airwaves with his peculiar voice declaring how he wants his MTV.  And the very best time they shared the stage to perform their iconic song is at the historic Live Aid concert on 13 July 1985 in front of 72,000 people at the Wembley Stadium in London while 100,000 more watched them live via satellite from the other venue of Live Aid, at the John F. Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, PA.  It was watched all over the globe via satellite... and it dropped on our TV set in the Philippines, too.  And what an amazing experience it was!   

"Listen here, now that ain't workin' that's the way you do it.  You play the guitar on the MTV.  That ain't workin' that's the way you do it. Money for nothin' and your chicks for free."

The Live Aid concert was the coming together of the greatest music artists of the '80s across the Atlantic, organized by Sir Bob Geldof of the Irish band, Boomtown Rats, of the "I don't like Mondays" fame, and the Scottish musician, Midge Ure of Ultravox, to raise funds for and awareness of the famine in Ethiopia, Africa.  It started with the gathering of the frontrunners in the 'British Invasion 2' as a 'charity supergroup' called, Band Aid, to record the song, "Do they know it's Christmas?" (DTKIC) in 1984.  I remember, I was freshman in College.  I stepped out of my classroom one December morning to listen to it when it was played for the first time on radio... because I knew it was history unfolding.

One of the very best performances at  Live Aid happened in Wembley Stadium.  It was that of Queen with their larger-than-life late frontman, Freddie Mercury, showing why they are one of the very best music legends of all time.  And, of course, the genius guitar player that is Sir Brian May showed up, too, as well as their painfully awesome drummer, Roger Taylor, and their great bass player, John Deacon, strutted his thing on stage, too. 

"Mama, ohh, didn't mean to make you cry.  If I'm not back again this time tomorrow, carry on, carry on as if nothing really matters."

Ahh... didn't that make you feel nostalgic?  And speaking of MTV and other music media that sort of pushed back that classic music medium that endured many generations: the good old radio, how does this make you feel...

"You had your time, you had the power, you've yet to have your finest hour.  Radio, radio..."

Ahh... man, what I wouldn't do to go back to the '80s!  Queen is too good, right?  Right!  Alright!

Of course, the great Irish band, U2, with their legend of a frontman, Bono, and their legend of a guitarist, The Edge, also made their mark in Wembley as they performed two of their greatest hits, "Sunday Bloody Sunday" and "Bad".

"How long, how long must we sing this song?  ...'cause tonight we can be as one..."

Powerful, isn't it?  Then and now, U2 and U2 music are just so iconic... in so many ways.  They are absolutely brilliant!  I saw them in the Manila leg of their Joshua Tree World Tour... and I lost it, I wept! 

Let me end with a song that was staple in the '80s, "Everytime you go away", by the owner of the voice who sang the first line in DTKIC, Paul Young.  He just turned 68 yo... and he just got married for the second time, too.

Ah... there so many challenges in this world, but with great music such as these, it just makes our burden a bit lighter.  Thank goodness for good music, and thank God for brilliant music artists!

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Video credit:  All videos belong to Live Aid - thanks, YouTube, for the video links.

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