Just how far is the East from the West?

I looked at myself and asked, how far have I gone as a Christian?

Honestly, I never planned to be like this. It never came to my mind that I'd come to know Him and worship Him. I was a rockstar before, definitely a social conformist. Attending the Sunday mass made me feel as a Christian. It never came to my mind the vision of winning souls, rather, just winning the people's hearts for my sake. This must be the West, where the sun goes down and ends its glory.

But look at where I am right now.

In the East, where the sun rises and takes dominion on earth, my life is now filled with hope. Psalm 103:12 says "as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us." Christians who are absolutely living as Christians are definitely far from their previous state. But what about the others?

I have to share this, but in Philippians 3:18-19: The Enemies of the Cross

¹⁸For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. ¹⁹Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things.

Are you one of them? Set the disparity. Invest for eternity.

Yes, I stumble too, many times. A thousand times. But I always go back to the paradigm of God holding a piece of metal. I am the metal, and God wants to form something out of my being metal. And yes we know that metals are difficult to bend and flex and form. But one thing:

Pressure is the force on an object that is spread over a surface area. The equation for pressure is the force divided by the area where the force is applied. Although this measurement is straightforward when a solid is pushing on a solid, the case of a solid pushing on a liquid or gas requires that the fluid be confined in a container. by Ron Kurtus (revised 18 March 2006)

In case we don't know or feel, oftentimes we are put into pressure. If we are appalled with pressure, be glad. For if we multiply surface area (ourselves) by pressure (things that pressure us), we get force. That means we have to exert more force (effort) to accomplish the force that was exerted on the first hand (oh yes, talk about jargons). But the bottom line is: we are molded by it. Metals are formed because of pressure exerted. When we try to open a can using a knife, we exert pressure and thus exert force. But what's the product? We enjoy our delicious meals or sauces.

This can also be applied to other people. When we handle people, as leaders perhaps, it's difficult to mold or instruct people. You have to exert force for them to move and to take the walk. But patience and determination determine our success. Also, by His grace, we succeed. It might be difficult during the start of the process (this is very applicable for me) but we, too, are molded by this difficult problem. We just need to take charge. A little pressure and a little patience for the temperature to rise, then this metal will surely melt.

Mom's back from Zamboanga, finally. Gotta set my goals tonight. Let's all level up and melt the metals!

Do you have feet?

I saw this vid posted in Facebook and my body shivered. The words punctured my heart. Are you ready to take your stand?

Finally back to blogging.

I wonder why I missed blogging. 

Perhaps the mere essence of writing made my fingers feel itchy. Perhaps my brain could no longer hold the information that are neither important nor unnecessary. Perhaps I finally realized that science sucks. Or not.

This afternoon, after unloading my things in the boarding house, I received a bad news. We are to remove our things from the house on October 15, else, we will have to pay Php 750.00, or that is equivalent to a month's rent. The owner of the house was angry because the house was really, really messy, (I, too, must admit. that the house was a mess - CR, kitchen area, dining area). Based on the person's statement, I am kicked out of the house, for a couple time and would eventually be allowed to go back during the start of the second semester. I felt devastated; four reasons:

1) This was not included in the plan. I planned my week to be fine, just enjoying the solitude inside my room and having enough time to spend time with God. I expected to just stay there this week and just be excellent in my studying habits.

2) They didn't tell me in advance. Yes, they're the owner of the house. But should they inform us ahead of time for us to prepare? And this week is final's week, i.e. make or break week for some of us. Yet, they're dispatching us this week, the week when we should really, really focus in our academic life. Too little time to prepare.

3) The fine is not fine. If you were to extend and stay there for a couple of days, say 3, days, still you would have to pay Php 750.00. And geez, they forgot that we're students.

4) My room felt the terror of Bagyong Ondoy and Peping. Water entered my room through the windows and wet my bed and many papers. I forgot to close the windows but I never thought that the water would really penetrate inside my room. 

But, nevertheless, I packed all my things with enthusiasm and without grumbling. Thank God I had my devotion today; excerpts are as follows:

Command - Philippians 2:3-4, 2:14-15

³ Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, ⁴ not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.  

   

¹⁴ Do everything without grumbling or arguing, ¹⁵ so that you may become blameless and pure, "children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation."

Promise - Philippians 2:15

       Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky.

I cleaned my room and disinfected it. Thank God my devotional notebook was not wet by the rain. The event tested me but I can say that it changed me. It made me hold on to God's promise and made me a better person. I enjoyed cleaning and doing good things. But one thing's not changed: I'd still transfer to another boarding house for I no longer liked to stay there.  

2009 Golden Globe Awards.

Yesterday, while most of us were trampling the flowers, copying the answer of our classmates, making pranks, and etcetera, the 66th Golden Globe Awards was also being held at The Beverly Hilton. and they actually gave some awards (that's what they actually do) that day.

Well, happy that Kate Winslet won two awards! Yes! And as expected, Heath Ledger won an award.

Nominees and the winners with the category are written below (Source: http://www.goldenglobes.org/)

Cecil B. DeMille Award

Steven Spielberg

Best Motion Picture - Drama

The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button
Warner Bros. Pictures and Paramount Pictures; Warner Bros. Pictures and Paramount Pictures

Frost/Nixon
Imagine Entertainment, Working Title, Studio Canal; Universal Pictures

The Reader
Mirage Enterprises; The Weinstein Company

Revolutionary Road
An Evamere Entertainment BBC Films Neal Street Production; DreamWorks Pictures in Association with BBC Films and Paramount Vantage

Slumdog Millionaire

Fox Searchlight Pictures and Warner Bros.; Fox Searchlight Pictures and Warner Bros.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama

Anne Hathaway – Rachel Getting Married

Angelina Jolie – Changeling

Meryl Streep – Doubt

Kristin Scott Thomas – I've Loved You So Long

Kate Winslet – Revolutionary Road

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama

Leonardo DiCaprio – Revolutionary Road

Frank Langella – Frost/Nixon

Sean Penn – Milk

Brad Pitt – The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button

Mickey Rourke – The Wrestler

Best Motion Picture - Musical Or Comedy

Burn After Reading
Working Title/Releasing Company; Focus Features in association with Studio Canal

Happy-Go-Lucky
Summit Entertainm

ent, Film4, Ingenious Film Partners, Miramax Films; Miramax Films

In Bruges
Blueprint Pictures; Focus Features

Mamma Mia!
Relativity Media, Playtone, Littlestar; Universal Pictures

Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Mediapro; The Weinstein Company

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy

Rebecca Hall – Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Sally Hawkins – Happy-Go-Lucky

Frances McDormand – Burn After Reading

Meryl Streep – Mamma Mia!

Emma Thompson – Last Chance Harvey

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical Or Comedy

Javier Bardem – Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Colin Farrell – In Bruges

James Franco – Pineapple Express

Brendan Gleeson – In Bruges

Dustin Hoffman – Last Chance Harvey

Best Performance by an Actress In A Supporting Role in a Motion Picture

Amy Adams – Doubt

Penélope Cruz – Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Viola Davis – Doubt

Marisa Tomei – The Wrestler

Kate Winslet – The Reader

Best Performance by an Actor In A Supporting Role in a Motion Picture

Tom Cruise – Tropic Thunder

Robert Downey Jr. – Tropic Thunder

Ralph Fiennes – The Duchess

Philip Seymour Hoffman – Doubt

Heath Ledger – The Dark Knight

Best Animated Feature Film

Bolt
Walt Disney Pictures; Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Kung Fu Panda
DreamWorks Animation SKG; Paramount Pictures

Wall-E

Walt Disney Pictures and Pixar Animation Studios; Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Best Foreign Language Film

The Baader Meinhof Complex (Germany)
The Country of Germany
(DER BAADER MEINHOF KOMPLEX) Constantin Film Produktion GmbH; Summit Entertainment, LLC

Everlasting Moments (Sweden, Denmark)
The Country of Sweden and The Country of Denmark
(MARIA LARSSONS EVIGA ÖGONBLICK) Final Cut Productions Aps; IFC Films

Gomorrah (Italy)
The Country of Italy
(GOMORRA) Fandango; IFC Films

I've Loved You So Long (France)
The Country of France
(IL Y A LONGTEMPS QUE JE T’AIME) UGC YM/UGC Images/France 3 Cinema/Integral Film; Sony Pictures Classics

Waltz With Bashir (Israel)

The Country of Israel
Bridgit Folman Film Gang/Les Films D'Ici/Razor Films/Arte France/ITVS International; Sony Pictures Classics

Best Director - Motion Picture

Danny Boyle – Slumdog Millionaire

Stephen Daldry – The Reader

David Fincher – The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button

Ron Howard – Frost/Nixon

Sam Mendes – Revolutionary Road

Best Screenplay - Motion Picture

The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button
Written by Eric Roth

Doubt
Written by John Patrick Shanley

Frost/Nixon
Written by Peter Morgan

The Reader
Written by David Hare

Slumdog Millionaire

Written by Simon Beaufoy

Best Original Score - Motion Picture

The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button
Composed by Alexandre Desplat

Changeling
Composed by Clint Eastwood

Defiance
Composed by James Newton Howard

Slumdog Millionaire

Composed by A. R. Rahman

Frost/Nixon
Composed by Hans Zimmer

Best Original Song - Motion Picture

"Down To Earth" – Wall-E
Music By: Peter Gabriel and Thomas Newman
Lyrics By: Peter Gabriel

"Gran Torino" – Gran Torino
Music By: Clint Eastwood, Jamie Cullum, Kyle Eastwood and Michael Stevens
Lyrics By: Jamie Cullum

"I Thought I Lost You" – Bolt
Music & Lyrics By: Miley Cyrus and Jeffrey Steele

"Once In A Lifetime" – Cadillac Records
Music & Lyrics By: Beyoncé Knowles, Amanda Ghost, Scott McFarmon, Ian Dench, James Dring and Jody Street

"The Wrestler" – The Wrestler

Music & Lyrics By: Bruce Springsteen

Best Television Series - Drama

Dexter (SHOWTIME)

House (FOX)
Heel and Toe Films, Shore Z Productions and Bad Hat Harry Productions in association with Universal Media Studios

In Treatment (HBO)
Sheleg, Closest To The Hole Productions and Leverage in association with HBO Entertainment

Mad Men (AMC)

Lionsgate

True Blood (HBO)
Your Face Goes Here Productions in association with HBO Entertainment

Best Performance by an Actress In A Television Series - Drama

Sally Field – Brothers & Sisters (ABC)

Mariska Hargitay – Law & Order

January Jones – Mad Men (AMC)

Anna Paquin – True Blood (HBO)

Kyra Sedgwick – The Closer (TNT)

Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series - Drama

Gabriel Byrne – In Treatment (HBO)

Michael C. Hall – Dexter (SHOWTIME)

Jon Hamm – Mad Men (AMC)

Hugh Laurie – House (FOX)

Jonathan Rhys Meyers – The Tudors (SHOWTIME)

Best Television Series - Musical Or Comedy

30 Rock (NBC)

Universal Media Studios in association with Broadway Video and Little Stranger Inc.

Californication (SHOWTIME)
Showtime Presents in association with Aggressive Mediocrity, and Then…, Twilight Time Films

Entourage (HBO)
Leverage and Closest to the Hole Productions in association with HBO Entertainment

The Office (NBC)
Deedle Dee Productions/Reveille/NBC Universal Television Studio; NBC

Weeds (SHOWTIME)
Showtime/Lionsgate Television/Tilted Productions, Inc.; SHOWTIME

Best Performance by an Actress In A Television Series - Musical Or Comedy

Christina Applegate – Samantha Who? (ABC)

America Ferrera – Ugly Betty (ABC)

Tina Fey – 30 Rock (NBC)

Debra Messing – The Starter Wife (USA)

Mary-Louise Parker – Weeds (SHOWTIME)

Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series - Musical Or Comedy

Alec Baldwin – 30 Rock (NBC)

Steve Carell – The Office (NBC)

Kevin Connolly – Entourage (HBO)

David Duchovny – Californication (SHOWTIME)

Tony Shalhoub – Monk (USA)

Best Mini-Series Or Motion Picture Made for Television

A Raisin In The Sun (ABC)
Sony Pictures Television, Storyline Entertainment, and Bad Boy Worldwide Entertainment

Bernard And Doris (HBO)
Trigger Street Independent Productions in association with Little Bird and Chicago Films and HBO Films

Cranford (PBS)
A Co-Production of BBC and WGBH Boston.

John Adams (HBO)

Playtone in association with HBO Films

Recount (HBO)
Spring Creek/Mirage Productions in association with Trigger Street Productions, Everyman Pictures and HBO Films

Best Performance by an Actress In A Mini-series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Judi Dench – Cranford (PBS)

Catherine Keener – An American Crime

Laura Linney – John Adams (HBO)

Shirley MacLaine – Coco Chanel

Susan Sarandon – Bernard And Doris (HBO)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Ralph Fiennes – Bernard And Doris (HBO)

Paul Giamatti – John Adams (HBO)

Kevin Spacey – Recount (HBO)

Kiefer Sutherland – 24 (FOX)

Tom Wilkinson – Recount (HBO)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Eileen Atkins – Cranford (PBS)

Laura Dern – Recount (HBO)

Melissa George – In Treatment (HBO)

Rachel Griffiths – Brothers & Sisters (ABC)

Dianne Wiest – In Treatment (HBO)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Neil Patrick Harris – How I Met Your Mother (CBS)

Denis Leary – Recount (HBO)

Jeremy Piven – Entourage (HBO)

Blair Underwood – In Treatment (HBO)

Tom Wilkinson – John Adams (HBO)

Rather, the city of crime.

Say hello to hell. Or maybe not.

So first, let's talk about guns, 'cakes', and guns and cocaine. Ever familiar with the things mentioned before? The film, the city of God in the film City of God, presents more of these things, along with hoodlum, robbery, deceit, corruption, and murder. Pair it with a dose of racist remarks (if you're a racist) and a hint of comedy and drama, this film will surely loose your screws.

Every scene fires up one's desire either to stop the on-going war, or to just kill someone freely. It opens the eyes of the viewers as to what are the effects of these contemptuous acts, especially for the young people. And on the later part of the movie, the viewers will see the changes that can be brought about if one's ideals are paired with revenge or any extreme emotional disturbance.

This film will surely stir your insides.

How was the concept of death incorporated in this film? Simple. The killing spree. This simple notion of death was further intensified by the director or the film editors, by dimming the film, by the use of deadly weapons, which obviously signify death, and the different roads, where the killings usually took place. Also, notice that the director of photography, if you meticulously looked at the movie completely, you'd notice that when the chicken was lacerated using that sharpened saw, it was completely focused to give the audience an idea that the film was somewhat that morbid.

Summing all up the symbols presented in this film, we can clearly say that all leads to death.

Love: The Venom and the Vortex

If you want to commit suicide because you think that your work or academic life is too exhausting, well, if you haven't been in love, you better think again.

Love creates a maelstrom inside us; a conflict between emotions that eventually stirs us and makes us different from what we used to be. It separates and takes us from our own world into another dimension that either electrocutes us when we get there or makes us feel ecstatic like we have been drugged or what. It has its own symptoms: restlessness, pimples, loss of appetite, and even dilation of pupil. It flows first through our bloodstream, like venom, instantaneously circulating and following the blood's pathway. Soon, it will reach the different organs, for example, brain, dominating each organ, and altering its corresponding functions in accordance to its own plans. There will come a time that we suffer from love, we suffer because of love. This is because humans are weak, vulnerable, and fragile when it comes to love. Love easily dominates our own system, our own body, for we wittingly (or unwittingly) allow it, and until a time that we totally lose our consciousness. Love is domineering, like us, but only stronger.

And there you are, being in the state of coma, except you can still walk, talk, eat; in short, physiological processes happen except that you are mindless, brainless, and you don't have control over things. Everything that you earned before you're struck with love are gone wasted. You throw everything away for the sake of one thing, of one person, even if several of these things are important to you.

But what makes all of these things exhausting? What makes love exhaustive in nature? It is the heart, of course. For once you've been petrified by love, as it takes over the system, its minion, the heart, also takes over. And every beat that it does, the hematic disease is being spread. And because of the feeble heart, love dominates. When it dominates, we do certain things that we almost exhaust every thing that we have. When we are almost exhausted, mutually or not, love is left and so is the feeling of physical and mental exhaustion.

As we gain our consciousness, we see ourselves six feet below the ground, tears falling, with nothing but love that now turns to false hope. We are back in our own world, nauseous because of the head-spinning journey (and feeling), as if the some of our nanoparticles are left behind. We then ask ourselves, what the hell happened? We pretend; we act as if we hadn't been bitten by a venomous snake; we defecate until our everything becomes one, and the whole world becomes whole. We breathe in deeply, and out; the journey was fun. We get a syringe, with a specific serum in it and a label that says "anti-venom", then injecting into our infected vein. We breathe in again, and out; I won't go back in there again.

So to speak: love is powerful you know. Never underestimate that.

Next time you think that life is too exhausting for you, think about love. But even if love is exhausting, per se, still, we'd want that feeling, and that's why we still persevere in achieving things. So that when we once again be whirled by love, be intoxicated because of love, we can, however, pay the things that we feel.

First Repost - Wanted: A New Activism by Nicolo Del Castillo

This article is not only applicable to the affected ones (mainly UPD), but also to other schools/establishments that suffer from "unexpected" expenses due to the mischief of graffiti.

If activism is to be acquainted with graffiti, i.e. spray-painted protests on the walls, I daresay that it is still quite an effective method. However, it depends on what is the writing all about. Quoting Ivy, "what's up with all the vandalism around and outside campus. i don't get the point of having the need to vandalize walls just to get your points across. seriously, it's passe already.", that indeed it is passe, from bored people who write useless phrases on the walls or tables, to historic people using blood as their ink, vandalism has been passed through generations, mixed with ideals and trash. (My history is a bit rusty.oops). Now, what sets the disparity between a mark from a vandal, and a mark from a passion-induced writings is mainly the author's objective. A piece of paper with mere words and sentences on it is different from a paper filled with concrete statements and ideas.

But like any paper or whatnot, certain circumstances must be considered. Not all people consider certain outstanding thoughts different to thoughts of a vandal; thus, even if the activist writes something of pure and concrete idea, if others sense it as invalid, then they consider it as a vandal. Even the price is not fair for the other party, since the writings lead to defacing/destruction of walls or objects. Well, other things are described/explained below by N.del castillo (though I like some of his points because of its trueness):
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WANTED: A New Activism
by Nicolo del Castillo

"This is in reaction to the recent vandalism of UP buildings during the UPCAT weekend.

Spray painting slogans and messages is an old, worn-down way of catching attention. What these people do not realize is that in doing so, they contribute to more resources being siphoned away from delivering education. The paint used to cover their marks, the gasoline used to buy the paint, and chase the culprits (they weren't caught but we have their plate number), all redound to money spent away from direct education.

Shouting and spray painting may still be effective, but much more so quietly distributing leaflets with arguments against the TOFI to parents waiting for their children finish the UPCAT. Engaging people in confident discussion (not memorized lines) about what increased tuition fee does for the country's future will win more hearts and minds than violently flailing words on walls.

You call spray painting brave? I beg to disagree. They run and hide after proclaiming their stand. They would rather besmirch their perceived enemies' buildings with paint than show their enemies' arguments for what they really are.

Truly brave men and women walk slowly, speaking their truth softly and clearly with the aim to convince others rather than scare them; aiming to build a constituency, rather than divide and label people as "for" & "against", "pasista" & "aktibista". The brave are not afraid to stand alone and face the current. They are steadfast in pointing to the light or an alternative way, and have faith that people will soon see their truth.

We need new activists who understand what activism is. It is to be actively, consistently, and bravely forming a stance that would shed new light to old paths and show society a new way of doing things. It is doing the small stuff that ultimately become a mountain of work. It is giving of oneself to a quest, be it a lonely one. It is braving the rain to hold a candle to the dark. "
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I'd like to further discuss my points. But I'm sleepy, and I choose my bed rather than this machine I am operating.

WARNING: Cross-posted to blogger and multiply.