Noel Cabangon - Kanlungan (Acoustic)

Powered by mp3skull.com

This song is entitled "Kanlungan" it is a Tagalog (Filipino) word for "refuge,harbour,haven,shelter."
I came across on this song when it was used as a background music for a fast food advert. From that very day, the music was embedded in me head.
I don't understand the whole meaning of the lyrics but I'm sure it has a very good message. You don't need to translate music, everyone can understand it.
My fellow Filipinos who can understand the lyrics, I share this music to you...may it bring you to your shelter, tuck you in your comfort refuge, be in that place where you are protected.
Have a great day everyone. ^.^

Seal - Puff The Magic Dragon

Powered by mp3skull.com

I have been searching for this one for such a long time. Finally it is here. Whoever put this link, I thank you.^.^

On Deaths

Few years back, I read this book entitled, "Death,Be not Proud." It was a story of a father fighting to find cure for his sick son. I can't really remember the story now, but I was just reminded that Death is always lurking around. 
Death,a HE or a SHE, is always around and some picture this being as a hooded person with a big scythe. I see it as my best friend who is always there and would never miss.
I got acquainted with Death at an early age. I didn't understand it right away. I was told that a person would go to sleep and would never wake up. People around, who are still "awake" would cry and some prayers will be said for the person inside a box. If the person goes to sleep for a long time,then why people cry? Do they envy the person who sleeps? Then why not sleep themselves so that they won't be sad and stop crying. That's how I got to know my best friend.
Death is always there, always with me. Death makes some people "sleep" eternally. I never cried though...until Death decided to ask my grandfather to go to sleep already.
Every friendship will be tested and that day my friendship with Death was almost severed. Why Death asked my grandfather to sleep? I want my grandfather awake. He was away from me for such a long time and I wanted more waking time with him. Death just gave me a cold shoulder, offered me no answers. I turned my back and left my best friend. I let Death go and try to forget about it. I sought other friends, Youth. The friendship didn't last long. There was Innocence also, but that was really short. Experience and Knowledge came, they stayed and I became close with them, but there is something that I wanted and only Death can give. I longed for my best friend. I want to be with Death. Experience and Knowledge tried to help but Death was special.
Then one day, I was reunited with my best friend. I was with one of my "awake" friends when Death came. We were slowly introduced again. Death paid a visit to my 6-years-old "awake" friend and asked her to sleep so that the pain of leukaemia would go away. She was very instrumental of uniting me with my long lost best friend. From that day on, we were inseparable. I have witnessed my best friend's methods of making people go to sleep. Death got a lot of tricks. Even all magicians and illusionists put together and combine their tricks, they can't beat my best friend's ability.
It was me who was proud of Death, very proud of my best friend.
My best friend is always around and always reliable. When there were times I would drift away and forget about my best friend because of some matter of consequence, Death is there, never leaving near me.
2010 started, I somewhat forgot my best friend. Experience and Knowledge didn't remind me either because Work entertained us. Death came again, reminding me that even if I started to forget, Death didn't. My uncle was visited by Death in early 2010. My uncle doesn't want to sleep yet. He stayed awake and he tried to stay awake, but my best friend got a very good ability, sang a really good, haunting lullaby that made my uncle go to sleep and left my aunt and 3 cousins in tears. My best friend's performance is always really good. Not an eye without a tear whenever Death performs the "Art of putting 'awakes' to sleep." Always grand, always unforgettable and everyone would always remember it.
My best friend made another grand entrance before 2010 ended. My grandmother's turn to sleep this time. My grandma already had foreseen it. My best friend was ever so helpful making my grandma's sleep so comfortable for her. She will be sleeping with my grandpa, they will be together again. My grandpa had been sleeping all alone. Death allowed my grandma to join my grandpa.
2011 came, just after the New Year, Death again surprised me with another unforgettable performance. An aunt of mine obliged to my best friend's request.
I'm always proud of my best friend. Other's come and go. Some may stay but sometimes not exciting. Death is always exciting to be with. We go a long, long way. Death never and wouldn't ever leave me. We will always be together and I would always see my best friend's performance.
Death, be not proud indeed! Because I, it is I, who is very proud of you.^.^

Josh Groban believe

According to the Little Prince, "Grown-up are really,really odd." I say humans are odd. When they were young,they wish to be adults fast and right away. When they get older, they begin to wish they are younger.

What I believe though is that I grew up,not so much with the height, but I grew up according to what the society dictates me...or so what the people could see and say what a grown up is. I followed that, but my brain stayed to be 5 years old.

Am I living the past? No! I lived according to what the year's trend. I just still have the same enthusiasm and the curiosity when I was still 5 years old.

I know,deep inside in every adults,in every so called grown ups have this thing inside them. Why are they scared to show this? Is it because society doesn't approve it? and that you should act your age? Who made these rules? Is it written? Where is it?

I do believe that we were born for a purpose and what is that purpose, i know not. It doesn't matter as long as I choose to live happily and I make other people happy in every way I can. When we were 5 years old, all of use were like that. We are happy in little things and we make other people smile and happy as well without us knowing it.

It should not be ONLY on Christmas day that we "find ourselves" again. Celebrate everyday, Believe each and EVERY day!

Dream! and for us to dream and see dreams vividly, we have to sleep...the magic is there. So, I end this note saying..."SWEET DREAMS, EVERYONE." ^.^

12 Vital Signs of a respectful workplace

Here's something that I got from HRM the Journal. Bosses should be reading this one.
Here is the link...  http://www.hrmthejournal.com/profiles/blog/show?id=2091800%3ABlogPost%3A21002http://www.hrmthejournal.com/profiles/blog/show?id=2091800%3ABlogPost%3A21002

End of the week, end of the month

I got this article from Paulo Coelho. I think this is the perfect time for me also to turn my page and start writing anew.
http://paulocoelhoblog.com/2010/10/12/closing-cycles-eng-espa-port/

Joni Mitchell - Both Sides Now 2000 lives

I have heared the original one that she sang and I have heard other people/singers making their own versions...I have seen the movie where this version was one of the soundtracks,still no effects on me...

Ten years later after this video,i came across it out of the blue...when the first note was played,i couldn't move. I just stared and listened and the words hit me.

Welcome to my soft side.

Nini Camelia and Uncle Rudlin

My aunt in my mother side, Nini Camelia. I call her "NINI" hard "I" like pin. Actually,it was suppose to be "aunty" but when I started to talk, I can't pronounce it well. I think I was able to read first before I really started to talk. My grand-uncle,Nini's father,has this Reader's Digest magazine collection since 1950. That was my reading source...this is another story though. Now,back to Nini...she is the youngest cousin of my mum and I even thought before that she was one of my cousins.

She studied in an all girls school here in Cebu City. Same school where her mother,Tita Luz,went...i think one of the schools, if I'm not mistaken. I would always feel excited if I would hear some news that Nini is coming home because she will have a vacation. That would mean that I would have more time with her running around the big lawn at our ancestral home in Ronda. I can have a reason to go farther from the house without being scolded by my mum because Nini is with me...hehehe!

It was Nini who gave me interest about catching butterflies and preserve them. I was never afraid of insects after that.

One thing that I wouldn't forget about Nini is that every morning she would have this runny nose. The same as my other cousins,Villalon side...hehehe...Paul is one. We have an ailment that are in common. Both of us have asthma. I can always give my mother an excuse to run as much as I can because Nini is doing it. I still can't escape with this excuse though.

One time when she was in college,she asked me if I could go with her and accompany her in the city at the dormitory where she stayed. It was summer vacation that time and she would be alone. I was very delighted about it because I can have a different environment and a chance to stay in the city for longer time. I was a bit disappointed though when we arrived at her dormitory because it was a steeper hill compared to my hometown's and the place,although the road is concrete,it is still like the country side. I have this little sense of freedom though because I'm away from my parent's watchful eyes. Actually I was grounded that time and was afraid that they won't permit me to go with Nini because prior to that, I busted me lower lip. I collided with another guy while swimming. My lower lip was ripped,the other guy's head had a big bump and bloodier.

It was here that I met Nini's husband-to-be that time,Uncle Rudlin. I liked him right away. He bribed me with comic books! It was uncle Rudlin who introduced me to X-men and to Prof. Xavier's school of young mutant. My fantasy world broadened because of this. Made me a step closer of becoming a total geek. Juggernaut vs. Wolverine was my instant favourite and I thought Jean Grey/Phoenix was not a good story. Uncle Rudlin gave me a total of 13 comic books that time. Nini's classmates were really green with envy when they saw me holding those comic books. One guy approached and tried to borrow but i did not allow him to touch any part of it. Another guy tried his luck. I think his method worked. I let him read the comic. Those comic books were part of my literary influence and my education too. Thank you for that,uncle Rudlin!I treasured those comic books until the flood covered it with mud.

Another great influence that I got from Nini (very unfortunate her architectural skills did not rub into me) was the habit of listening to music. She would tune in to this radio station,which is a hit to college students that time,I reckon. This radio station is worth mentioning here in my blog...hehehe!!! Nini would tune it to DYIO FM or popularly known as Y101. When I heard "Jack the Wack" talks on radio, I told myself that I will be like him. I got more inspired when I learnt that Jack is from the neighbouring town of my hometown. He is also from the south! His family name is also the same as my other uncle. I felt he was family.Nini was my music influence and inspired me to be a DJ. Although it it was Tita Luz who I always hear singing...i never heard Nini sing other than in the church...hahaha!!!^0^ Later when i was in high school in our journalism class,we had this "FM radio show" contest. My team won and I was voted as the best DJ. Thanks to those times that I spent with Nini listening to Y101! Not to mentioned it helped me honed my fluency in English.

Nini has helped me in many ways,directly or indirectly. She is one of my greatest influence,too. Again,i'm thankful she did not teach me how to drive...hehehe...!!! For the record! She was the one who was able to convince me to cut my long hair after I graduated high school where others failed. She even did it without any efforts. She just told me with great ease that I will be one of those who will light the candle on her wedding...and she will pay for the haircut. I accepted the deal without batting an eyelash.

Nini Camelia and uncle Rudlin are part of the few people whom I get inspiration and influence and helped me shape of who I am today.

Today is 8th of October. Nini,do you know why this day is very unforgettable for me and it always reminds me of you? I will share you this secret which my memory kept and which Yogi's memory slipped. This very day in 1983, I practised climbing a coconut tree. I learnt that you are arriving home and we talked before that, that we are going to get some coconuts and chicos. I feel from that coconut tree, 3 stories high! Yogi saw me fell but I doubt if he remembered and he did not dare to tell. I think I broke a rib or 2...hehehe!!! Only Noy Sebyo knows...my secret with the old man. A year later,in 1984,typhoon Nitang hit Ronda. Our chico tree got knocked down and never recovered including the big pomelo tree where you taught me to catch fireflies and put in a jar.

Lola Pacing

I don't know much about my ancestors, though I've met the mother of my grandfather and I was scared of her most of the time during our encounters. I thought that she was a ghost. I was 2 years old. That's my earliest memory of her. I think she died when I was 3 or 4 years old. She was ancient. That was my memory of her. How she looked like? Oh,never mind. Just think about a very healthy old person over 90 years old,that was my great-grandmother of my grandfather's side.

With my grandmother's side of the family, I only heard some stories and I would like to share this story.

Until recently,I never knew the real story of my great-grandparents,the parents of my grandmother. My grandmother has experienced a very traumatic incident during the early 1940's. It was the early stage of WWII.

From one of my uncle's account, my grandmother belonged to a prominent family. Her father,my great-grandfather was a government employee. He was then the City Assessor. Accordingly,they live in a simple modest lives and always ready to help others even think of other people first before themselves. My great-grandfather has helped a lot of people. Had he foreseen it that he would die early,he could have amass a lot wealth for himself and distribute it to his children,my grandmother and her sisters for that matter. He didn't enrich himself for he is known to be an honest man.

Then the war broke out. Soldiers of then Japanese Imperial Army invaded the Philippines. Soon,they reached Cebu. They were searching for high government officials,round them up and execute them. My great-grandfather was considered a high government official.

Japanese armies known as "Kempeitai",the military police,were the one in charge of capturing the likes of my great-grandfather. The infamous Kempeitai are known for their brutality so everyone run away and hide from them.

One story went,my great-grandparents were hiding in a cave. The Kempeitai was searching for them with a hooded traitor acting as a guide. They were well hidden in the cave but because of their dog,which was making a lot of noise,they were soon discovered by the search party. My great-grandparents were captured.

I wasn't given any details about their ordeal during the capture but they were executed immediately and was then hanged...that was the first story I heard...then another story surfaced. My grandmother together with her sisters were also captured by the Kempeitai. Their hands were tied behind their back then their parents were executed in front of them. The Kempeitai used a long bayonet to stab them and left them for dead. Later on they hanged their dead body on a tree. My grandmother and her sisters were left there to witness everything. When the dreaded Kempeitai left,my grandfather arrived. He was the one who brought my great-grandparents' body down. They could not ask for help from anybody because everyone have their own family members to bury. There were no coffins,so they ripped a closet apart and made a coffin out of it. Said a little prayer and then buried them.

I couldn't imagine how my grandmother felt that time. I don't want to dare to imagine it. Despite what happened,she moved on and raised her 9 kids. They had a hard life. My grandmother's parents did not leave them anything and whatever they had were confiscated or given to others already. My grandparents prevailed. What they lack in money they compensate with their wisdom and even more kindness. That single incident during the war was traumatic enough but my grandparents,especially my grandmother,did not teach me to hate. I know deep inside my grandmother has this hate to those who murdered her parents but she chose to live on. I am not in the position to say that she has forgiven those people. She just kept her feelings to herself. Was she thinking of revenge? I guess not or it could be that her revenge is different form. By living everyday,that's her revenge, by keeping her 9 children and brought them up,that's a revenge, by being kind and helpful,that is her revenge. She made her greatest revenge. My grandmother was able to haul her children to America. All but 2 of her 9 children are with her in America and most of the grandchildren too. She wanted me to be with them, but I have a different agenda.

Lola Pacing as she is known to all her grandchildren,a feisty woman,game show fan,a scrabble master,a mother of 9 children,wife of Lolo Inting, grandmother to countless of pups,me the number 1 knucklehead. She lived long enough and that is a revenge because she outlived,for sure, those people who,in one way or another,changed her fate.

Lola Pacing did not teach me how to hate. She taught me scrabble which I came to hate. I never won a game against her, but i was able to answer the crossword puzzle ahead of her. Only once,but that is an achievement, a big one for me. She will live longer for sure. She might still see me marry.

Dance With My Father by Luther Vandross

One of those songs that carry its message all over the world. It has a universal theme which everyone can relate to...whichever love ones you lost.

I still have my parents and they are pretty much around but I lost my grandfather. That was the greatest loss for me. After he died I also lost my trust with the rest of the humanity. I'm learning again how to trust...I pray that I will, I pray that I can...

Song's Lyrics

Back when I was a child, before life removed all the innocence
My father would lift me high and dance with my mother and me and then
Spin me around ‘til I fell asleep
Then up the stairs he would carry me
And I knew for sure I was loved
If I could get another chance, another walk, another dance with him
I’d play a song that would never, ever end
How I’d love, love, love
To dance with my father again
When I and my mother would disagree
To get my way, I would run from her to him
He’d make me laugh just to comfort me
Then finally make me do just what my mama said
Later that night when I was asleep
He left a dollar under my sheet
Never dreamed that he would be gone from me
If I could steal one final glance, one final step, one final dance with him
I’d play a song that would never, ever end
‘Cause I’d love, love, love
To dance with my father again
Sometimes I’d listen outside her door
And I’d hear how my mother cried for him
I pray for her even more than me
I pray for her even more than me
I know I’m praying for much too much
But could you send back the only man she loved
I know you don’t do it usually
But dear Lord she’s dying
To dance with my father again
Every night I fall asleep and this is all I ever dream