Forever Your Child

Filed under Papa | Self | Music


It almost went by unnoticed and it did go by so fast...

Exactly a year ago, while an entire town and country from the other side of the world was mourning the devastation brought about by a hurricane, I and my family wept over our own tragic loss when Papa passed away.

And while we have practically moved on from his passing, we will never ever forget. Silently, in each of our own little way today, we paid tribute to the greatest man we have ever known and loved.

As I was listening to the latest CD I recently bought, I couldn't help but cry over one song that reminded me so much of my father and how he probably felt about me and vice versa...


Batang-bata ka pa
at marami ka pang
kailangang malaman at intindihin sa mundo...
Nagkakamali ka kung akala mo na
ang buhay ay isang mumunting paraiso lamang...

Batang-bata ka lang at akala mo na
na alam mo na ang lahat na kailangan mong malaman...
Tanggapin mo na lang ang katotohanan
na ikaw ay isang musmos lang na wala pang alam
makinig ka na lang...


Batang-bata ako nalalaman ko 'to
inaamin ko rin na kulang ang aking nalalaman at nauunawaan;
ngunit kahit ganyan ang kinalalagyan
alam ko na may karapatan ang bawat nilalang
kahit bata pa man...

Nais ko sanang malaman ang mali sa katotohanan
sariling pagraranas ang aking pamamagitan;
Imulat ang isipan sa mga kulay ng buhay
maging tunay na malaya
'sang katangi-tanging bata...
- APO Hiking Society, Batang-bata Ka Pa



I have come to realize that through all these years, despite everything I have done and achieved, in the eyes of my father, I will forever be a child...




* special thanks to the The Full Metal Photographer for the title photo...

Father
Life
Music

Saying It In 'Jest'

Filed under Blogging


I have a new 'tenant' this week and he's none other than the Jester himself!



I find his blog quite interesting. In his own words, he can be "corny, bitchy and sentimental. Sometimes, all at once..." which makes it all the more fun. And besides, I think he's also a Madonna fan and that's always a good thing in my book! Hah!

So be a dear and click on his SITE...




Blogging
Rent My Blog
Blog Explosion

Jagged Little 'Spill'

Filed under News | Environment | Travel


It's all over the local news now that the Philippines has just experienced its biggest oil spill yet. The potentially catastrophic environmental disaster happened just off the coast of the Visayan island province of Guimaras when an oil tanker (commissioned by Petron) carrying 2 million liters of fuel, sank and started leaking oil into the ocean.

While I do not consider myself a genuine environmentalist, I can say I am a nature lover. So naurally, my heart sank upon learning this news. Not only will this 'accident' ruin the pristine waters and coastline of Guimaras, one of the country's best tourist attractions, this will also affect the livelihood of thousands of fishermen in the area.


And personally, this broke my heart since in two weeks, my friends and I will be taking our trip to the Visayas and Guimaras is part of our itinerary. We've been looking forward to this trip since March when we already bought our plane tickets to take advantage of an airline company's promo. It would have been our first time to visit Guimaras to experience their wonderful beaches and taste their 'sweetest-in-the-whole-world' mangoes. We still have to decide whether we would modify our travel itinerary as a result of the oil spill incident but in any case, this has inevitably dampened our excitement for the trip...


Tropical the island breeze,
All of nature wild and free,
This is where I long to be...
- Madonna, La Isla Bonita




Guimaras
Environment
Oil Spill
Travel

Happy Birthday, Your MADGEsty

Filed under MADONNA | Videos


Today, Her Madgesty reaches another milestone as millions and millions of her royal subjects all over the world sing and scream in unison... HAPPY 48th BIRTHDAY, MADONNA!!!





To mark this special day, allow me to present a video clip of Madonna's controversial performance of Live To Tell from her record-breaking Confessions Tour that is proof that almost 25 years into her unprecedented career, she continues to not only push the envelope, but practically tear it apart!



video taken from Madonna Nation courtesy of muzik_freek



I have a tale to tell,
Sometimes it gets so hard to hide it well;
I was not ready for the fall,
Too blind to see the writing on the wall...
- Madonna, Live To Tell




MADONNA
Birthday
Confessions Tour
Video

DIVAs' Weekend v.3

Filed under Sharon Cuneta | Television


Last night, I saw a special episode of my Mega idol's show Sharon wherein her guest was no other than Asia's Songbird, Regine Velasquez (another favorite of mine). I have been waiting for this episode to be aired since I knew that they have taped this more than a month ago (even before the 'Sharon' taping that I had the privilege of going to). The episode was made even more special by the fact that Regine is celebrating her 20th year in showbusiness.



photos taken from Pinoy Exchange Forum


It was such a treat to see these 2 amazing women together on one stage. Sharon opened the show by singing Pangarap Ko Ang Ibigan Ka where she was later joined by Regine. As Sharon's way of paying tribute to Regine's 20 succesful years as the country's premier diva, several other Regine hits were sung throughout the show with some short interviews with her and those who have known her even before she became famous.

The highlight of the show was when Regine turned the tables on the Megastar by saying that it was Sharon who inspired her to dream of becoming a singer (the first song she ever memorized was Mega's classic hit, Mr. DJ). She then began her own song tribute to Sharon by doing a medley of Mr. DJ, Dear Heart, P.S. I Love You and Kahapon Lamang. As expected, Sharon was unable to hold back tears as she listened to Regine while watching a video montage of her early movies .

I've already heard of this medley performed by Regine in her concert that I saw last year and I remember being moved by it back then. But witnessing Regine on TV reprising the number for the benefit of OUR idol, I found myself crying along yet again.

If only Sharon's show was longer than an hour, she would have had more time to interview Regine and do more duets with her. That would have made the night much more wonderful (not that it wasn't amazing enough!). But so far, this has been the best Sharon episode yet!


At sana'y nakikinig siya,
naaalala kaya niya?
-Sharon Cuneta, Mr. DJ




Sharon Cuneta
Regine Velasquez
Television
Music

A BATTLE To Be Won

Filed under Blogging


This is a battle! A War! And the casualties could be your hearts and souls!
- Robin Williams, Dead Poets Society


Well, I'm just being a little dramatic...

I have recently decided to get on a battlewagon, so to speak, with just my blog as my ammunition. I am talking about Blog Explosion's Battle of the Blogs. And interestingly, despite my not-so-promising standing to date, I am enjoying the benefits of this harmless 'war'.





As of now, I have lost more battles than I won but it hasn't stop me from pitting my Material Boy against the others. I guess, Resiliency is my middle name.

Besides, I am reaping some benefits with this Battle. I get more credits, I get more traffic and I'm checking out really great blogs along the way. So at the end of the day, there are no losers. Talk about looking at the glass half-full?!?

Incidentally, I just realized that it has been exactly a year since I joined Blog Explosion and I am enjoying the ride so far...


And if at first you don't succeed,
here's some advice that you should heed...
-Madonna, Over & Over




Blogging
Blog Explosion

Over The BORDERLINE

Filed under MADONNA | Music | Videos


Several months ago, I have heard that Rob Thomas, the former frontman for Matchbox 20, sang his own version of Borderline in one of his live performances to promote his solo album. At that time, my office PC did not have access to live audio or video streams so I was unable to hear nor see his take on Madonna's classic hit.

Finally, after a long time, I got the chance to download the said performance... and I love it! I normally cringe when I listen to other artists' cover of Madonna's songs but Rob sang it well and made it his own. I've also been a fan of Matchbox 20 and I think Rob has a distinct voice and to hear him sing a much-loved Madge classic is really very entertaining.

And for those who have not seen it yet, here it is for your viewing pleasure...



Many special thanks to fire_incarnate of Madonna Fanzine for this and many other videos I recently got a copy of


This is also my way of celebrating Madonna's birthday month (she's turning 48 on August 16th). I have also decided to play ONLY Madonna songs and videos on my iPod, DVD player and my PC Media player for the whole month of August. Yes, I am having my own Madonnathon! For the past several years, I have done so but only on the day of her birthday. But now, I have taken it to a whole new level!



...feels like I'm going to lose my mind,
you just keep on pushin' my love
over the Borderline...
-Madonna, Borderline




MADONNA
Rob Thomas
Music
Videos