One thing you know is true

5 03 2011

A couple of weeks ago, I asked a simple question on reddit, Facebook, and Twitter: What’s the one true thing you know for sure? I wanted to take a peek into people’s minds and see the truths that have been culled from years of experiences that I may or may never have for myself.

From more than 400 fascinating answers, I picked a few samples ranging from the mundane to the profound, from the cynical to the optimistic, and from the serious to the comical. I may not agree with every single statement, but I enjoyed reading them all.

THE ART OF LIVING

  • I’m going to die. Until then, I’ve still got a chance to change things.  -Disobedientmuffin
  • Life isn’t fair, but sometimes it’s unfair in your favor. -slimjames
  • My life is not being directed by M. Night Shyamalan. -Syms
  • Life only goes downhill after college. -poignantfallacy
  • There is nothing in this world more valuable than your integrity. I’d much rather die poor but respected than rich and reviled. -ShillinTheVillain
  • Nobody’s got to do anything but die. -instntkrma
  • When in doubt, make a fool of yourself. There is a microscopically thin line between being brilliantly creative and acting like the most gigantic idiot on earth. So what the hell, leap. -CheshireGreen
  • My Baba told me this…probably the best advice I’ve ever been given: Be cool. -fruitloop

THE WORLD AS WE UNDERSTAND IT

  • That everything is temporary. No exceptions. -greengoddess
  • The world doesn’t owe you shit. -rugtoad
  • If there is one thing I have learned in more than 30 years now, it is this: There is no such thing as security. Never. -Julesberry
  • Everything is gonna be alright…Everything is gonna be alright -zmoney1213
  • At first, I was not sure of anything. Then I read Descartes and I was sure that I, at least, exist. Then I read Buddhism and modern neuroscience and I am again not sure of anything. -florinandrei
  • That Descartes was an idiot. -GNG
  • Any effectively generated theory capable of expressing elementary arithmetic cannot be both consistent and complete. In particular, for any consistent, effectively generated formal theory that proves certain basic arithmetic truths, there is an arithmetical statement that is true, but not provable in the theory. -cliffhanger407
  • That nothing can be known for sure. -Gnarwal (Are you sure about that? -pokemonduck)

PEOPLE AND RELATIONSHIPS

  • People don’t want to be changed. Only if they want it for themselves will it happen. -oettinger
  • I am definitely not getting laid tonight. -Nferno
  • She’ll never love me as much as I love her. -Mattythecheese
  • People are not as unique as they think. I’ve met the same person many times in my life and yet they were all different people. -protodon
  • It’s your baby. -Nacho216
  • Don’t marry crazy. -snuka
  • Most people do not change, though the things you know about them does. -Glen
  • Love and pain are one and the same. -hmmcclish
  • This night ends with me and you. -omnilynx

THIS, TOO, I KNOW FOR SURE.

  • If you ever have a small child, it will one day by accident hit you right in the balls at full force. -Buy_More_Stuff
  • I will never sleep with Giselle. I’m also pretty sure I’ll never win the Superbowl. So pretty much I know I’ll never be Tom Brady. -turkmenitron
  • Nobody likes the smell of dirty socks. Nobody. -overcat
  • Johnny Depp is definitely hot. -prinsesavanie
  • When in doubt, drink water. -iwasapolygon
  • The Lord of the Rings is the best movie  ever. -Cristy
  • The only thing I know for sure is that I really fucking love cupcakes. -peachbot

To celebrate this outpouring of knowledge, I copied and pasted almost 9000 words of wisdom into wordle, and according to the results, here are the most common words that people use to express the things they know for sure (click image to see bigger version):


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Categories : Lists, Swirl of Thoughts

Top Ten for 10/10/10: Memorable Moments

10 10 2010
In honor of October 10, 2010, a 10-10-10 date which will not happen again for a hundred years, here’s a top ten list of  life moments to celebrate (I asked for topic suggestions, and this one came from Dennis Finocchiaro of A Flash of Inspiration — thank you!)  I found it interesting that in writing this, no accomplishment that I’ve earned or accolade that I’ve been given made the short list. I guess I’m discovering what truly matters to me, and I’m glad I found out before it’s too late. 

So here they are, ten of the most memorable experiences of my 24 years of life, in no particular order: 

  1. For my 23rd birthday, my friends and church mates threw me a surprise party. It was the day before my actual birthday, so I had no idea that anything was up, until I found myself being led along a candlelit path right up to a closed door, which opened to a crowd of smiling faces. There were balloons and streamers everywhere, along with a pink cake and other food. They put a crown of pink cadena de amor on my head and sat me in front, where each one of them came forward and made a birthday wish. For every wish, they would place one frangipani blossom in a bowl of water where a single candle floated, and by the time they were all done, the bowl was full. There was a whirlwind of other surprises: a birthday video, video messages from distant friends, calls from my family and other special people, and gifts. It was an excellent conspiracy and I never had a clue. Best birthday ever.
  2. Two of my closest girl friends, Soulmate and Angel, and I used to take a break from our busy lives every now and then to go for a girl’s day out on a secluded beach. We’d just sit and talk for hours and hours, sometimes with tears but with a lot more laughter, and I’d always leave feeling restored and refreshed, happy because of the connection I had with those two beautiful, strong, and amazing women.
  3. In 2001 and 2002, I joined the Teen Missions International camp in Palawan. I was part of the Backpack Team both times, and for 40 days every summer, we’d run obstacle courses, sleep in tents, hike for miles, cross rivers, climb mountains, and generally live so far outside our comfort zone we could barely remember what it looked like. We’d share our faith to anyone who was willing to listen, perform skits and puppet shows, and meet interesting people who both agreed and disagreed with us. I grew a lot spiritually and emotionally during those two summers, and the lessons I learned remain relevant until this day.
  4. KC and I once took off on his motorcycle and spent the afternoon drinking coffee shakes on a hillside in Mitra’s Ranch. Somehow the conversation led to the two of us tearing off a piece from a brown paper bag and writing our names, the date, and a message on it. We then decided that we wanted to put it in a bottle and throw it in the ocean. So we went back to town, found a bottle, then drove to B.M. beach. Once there, we waded out into the shallow water (the tide was low) and threw the bottle as far as we could into the waves. That done, we spent the last few hours of daylight just sitting on the sand or walking along the beach. It was completely spontaneous, fun, and unforgettable.
  5. In 2004, when I was still studying in Manila, my friend Legolas and I got into the habit of wandering around the UP campus from dusk until dawn on the weekends. We’d watch the street lamps light up with the sunset and listen to the silence descend on the trees, lawns, and buildings. Sometimes we’d buy marshmallows or a loaf of bread from the 24-hour convenience store and sit under the Checkpoint, a UP landmark, to eat. My favorite time was after a good rain, when mist hovered above the grass in the Sunken Garden and the lagoon, and the air was filled with a chorus of frogs. The acacia trees by the side of the road would shower us with their captured raindrops while the wet pavement reflected back the glow from the lamp posts. Once, after a storm, we found hundreds of frangipani blossoms fallen from their tree, and we gathered them up and scattered them on the street. I don’t know how we never ran out of things to talk about or got tired of the same old paths, but we didn’t. We’d just look up and realize that it was nearly dawn, the cars and the jeepneys were on the road again, and the street lights were being turned off. Only then would we start feeling sleepy and head home after stopping for some breakfast.
  6. I celebrated the New Year of 2008 with my family in our hometown. After  the midnight festivities, my siblings and I stayed up and went on a movie marathon until dawn. In the morning, all three of us piled into my parents’ huge bed and settled in to sleep, while they got up, had breakfast, dusted off the sing-along microphone, and sang Carpenters songs with my grandmother.
  7. Of all the PSALM National Leadership trainings that I’ve attended, the one in 2007 was the most life changing. I was in a difficult place that year, unmotivated, uninspired, and most of all, I was struggling with yet-undiagnosed bipolar disorder. Joining the seminar was my way of calling out for help, and it was answered. Everything I heard seemed to be exactly what I needed, and the people around me created a safe environment for me to admit vulnerability. Most of all, one of the lecturers was a psychologist, and he helped me take the first steps to getting the help that I needed. I was able to share with my mentor what I was going through, and I learned that my worst fears of being judged were unfounded. That was a critical point in my life, and God met me at my place of need.  
  8. In the summer of 2009, four friends and I spent a fun, unforgettable week in Siquijor. On one particular full moon night, we went to the children’s playground beside one of the old churches on the island. With the bright moon shining down on us and the fireflies flickering in the trees as our only light, we played on the swings, the slide, and the seesaws, climbed the church’s bell tower, and entertained each other with funny and scary stories. It was one of those nights that was so perfect and dream-like that I couldn’t believe it was actually happening, and I kept looking around trying to commit every single detail to memory. Even now I can recall the moon’s slow rise over the church roof, the creaking of the rickety stairs inside the bell tower, the leaves gilded by the silvery moonlight, and the sound of my friends’ laughter in the cool air. Part of me felt like a child again, but I was old enough to appreciate how precious that night’s uncomplicated happiness was.
  9. Just this summer, Niño, Rap2x, and I would wake up early in the morning and walk to Silliman farm to buy fresh milk. Once, one of the farmers even allowed us to milk the cow ourselves (it was our first time), and gave us some fruit from the nearby santol tree. We’d wander around while waiting for the milk to be pasteurized, sit on the beach and watch the morning sunlight dance on the waves, or coax the security guard (with an offer of santol) to let us inside the Silliman marine lab facilities so that we could look at the cooped up crocodiles and the whale skeleton collection. One morning, after the milk was ready, we also bought fresh eggs, fruits, and vegetables, and ended up in my apartment where I cooked a huge breakfast and texted our other friends to come over and join us. Our trio became a rowdy group of a dozen people somehow fitting into my tiny apartment and sharing scrambled eggs, eggplant omelette, and fresh milk. Great way to start the day!
  10. In 2007, six of us from the youth ministry packed a couple of tents and some provisions and camped on a small, uninhabited island in Port Barton. For three days, we swam in the sea, drank coconut juice, bathed in the rain, caught fish and gathered sea shells, built sand castles, and huddled around the bonfire at night. We watched the sun, the moon, and the stars chase each other across the sky and forgot about schedules, planners, and meetings. Our spirits simply rested and received nourishment from the Source of all the beauty around us. By the time we had to leave, our hearts were full and ready to face the challenges again. It was one of the most exhilarating experiences of my life.

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Categories : Lists, Swirl of Thoughts

Top Ten Hottest Male Fictional Characters

29 06 2010

This list of daydream-worthy characters actually started with an idea that has the potential to land me on failbook.com if I ever carry it out:


But since I haven’t found the perfect picture to represent a composite of all my fictional lovers yet, this will have do for now:

Top Ten Fictional Characters Who Melt Me

10. Buzz Lightyear of Star Command – You might say a cartoon character is out of place on this list, but I’ve loved him forever (this is Buzz Lightyear from the Disney Channel series, not from Toy Story), so I can’t leave him out. And why should I? He’s brave, heroic, and he saves the universe on a daily basis. Plus, he has the best catchphrase ever: To infinity and beyond!!! Beats Superman’s “Up, up, and away,” if you ask me.

9. Westley – He’s a pirate. In a black ninja mask.  That right there is ten different kinds of awesome already, but there’s more. He also has kickass sword fighting skills, a sharp wit, and a superb intellect. Plus he responds to Buttercup’s every whim with “As you wish.” Learn, gentlemen, learn. (The Princess Bride movie adaptation is hilarious, but it’s got nothing on the book. If you haven’t read it yet, you’re missing out on one of the best comedic experiences in fantasy literature.)

8. Hector - He’s just the most all-around decent guy in The Iliad. No womanizing, arrogance, or war-thirst here — he’s just a guy forced to fight a war he didn’t want to defend the country his irresponsible younger brother jeopardized.  But as mighty as he was on the battlefield, he was also incredibly loving to his wife and child. Both strength and tenderness in a man — who could resist that? It also doesn’t hurt that the gorgeous Eric Bana played him in Troy (a.k.a The Beautiful People Go to War, which is less an adaptation of The Iliad and more of an excuse to show as many bare, oiled muscles as possible outside of a wrestling match). I have a weakness for guys with deep, rough voices, and that man has a voice so manly he could probably make a drag queen grow ovaries.

7. Noah Calhoun - He loves nature, reads poetry, writes love letters, plays the guitar, and loves faithfully and forever. The Notebook should probably come with a warning: High Risk of Causing Female Frustration. I hate you, Nicholas Sparks, for making me fall in love with someone who doesn’t exist!

6. King Mongkut – I know he’s not exactly fictional, but I just loved how Chow Yun Fat portrayed him in the film Anna and the King. All that restrained passion and sexual tension between him and Anna was absolutely delicious to watch. Sometimes a glance is more potent than the most poetic avowals of love. And sometimes glances are all that can be shared. King Mongkut kept himself from promising Anna a future that he knew was impossible, no matter how much they both longed for it. That’s integrity even when it’s most difficult, and it separates the men from the boys.

5. Barney Snaith – The town outcast who turns out to be the best friend a girl can have, Barney is my favorite L.M. Montgomery hero. (You can keep your Gilbert Blythe, Anne.) In The Blue Castle, he introduces Valancy to the magic of woods and hills and fields, and she blooms under his care. They go wandering around the gorgeous Canadian outdoors, or they read together in front of the fire with their two cats, or they just sit on the porch watching the twilight in contented silence. This is the kind of life I want to have, and a man like Barney Snaith is the perfect someone to share it with. A girl can dream, right?

4. Captain Von Trapp* – Again, not quite fictional, but there’s something about stern, masterful men that women find fascinating. Still waters run deep, they say, and we just can’t resist wanting to see the warmth and passion beneath that cool, controlled exterior.  So when the proud captain turns to Maria in that moonlit garden and tells her that he loves her “whether or not [he] should,” you just know that he would turn the full force of his nature into loving her. And  that, ladies and gentlemen, marked my entrance to puberty — when I started watching The Sound of Music not only for the songs but for the drama between the rigid Captain Von Trapp and the impetuous Maria.

3. Alessan di Tigana bar Valentin – An exiled prince, a desperate revolutionary, a brilliant strategist, a gifted musician — the central character of G.G. Kay’s fantasy novel Tigana commands attention from both comrades and enemies alike. And can you blame them? He is both poignantly human and larger than life. And no woman, fictional or otherwise, can possibly resist being told that, “You are the harbor of my soul’s journeying.” Excuse me, I have to swoon.

2. Jesse – I have never seen so much chemistry between two leads in a modern love story as there is between Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy in Before Sunrise and Before Sunset. The way that Jesse looks at Celine — it’s as if he’s trying to figure out how in the world he happened to come across someone so beautiful. Jesse himself is beautiful: witty, articulate, intelligent, spontaneous, sensual. They captivate each other in the most bittersweet, poignant love story I have ever seen on the screen, and they convince us that it’s possible: On the most ordinary day, something unusual might happen and you might end up meeting the love of your life. And when that happens, don’t let go. (Or *spoiler alert* at least get a freaking phone number, for heaven’s sake. Jesse, I would totally have given you mine.)

1. Aragorn – There are so many sides to this Man of the West in J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings: a scholar, a poet, a healer, a vagabond, a warrior, a king. Also, a lover to Arwen Evenstar, for whom he must win his kingdom back so that he could gain her father’s approval. Elrond played the part of demanding, reluctant potential father-in-law with uncommon relish. Basically, he said to Aragorn, “Sure, you can marry my daughter, but only after you go on a suicidal mission almost forty years from the time you met.” To which Aragorn replied, “Whatever you say, Dad.” So, yeah. I’ll take this scruffy, grimy Ranger over those debonair Prince Charmings any day.

There you have it. A fabulous female friend of mine once quipped, “Honey, if he’s too good to be true, then he probably isn’t.” Well, happy daydreaming anyway. :)

__________________________________________________________

* Mr. Darcy has the same appeal, but Captain Von Trapp can actually play the guitar and sing, so more sexy points for him.

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Categories : Books, Lists, Love, Movies

Abigail needs… (LOL. Too funny.)

26 09 2009

I was messing around on the intarwebs when I saw this game.

Here’s how it works: Google “[your first name] needs” and share the results. That’s it: it is that simple. But be honest! Pass it on…

1. Abigail NEEDS A DRUMMER
— seriously, it was the first thing there, in capital letters. hahaha. oooookay…..

2. Abigail needs more character development
— um. life advice from google?

3. Abigail needs special care
— is it just me, or does this sound a bit off?

4. Abigail needs a family that will be patient in allowing her to adjust to her new home
— hey… I sense a trend here…

5. Abigail needs a therapist to help her deal with her rages and fears
— No! I cant trust anyone, not even a therapist! Everybody’s out to get me!

6. Abigail needs a date (just because she’s a puppet doesn’t mean she can’t find Mr. Right)
— apparently I’m not only hopelessly single, I’m also a lifeless doll. great. thanks.

7. Abigail needs to chew
— first, my sanity is questioned, then my love life, now my eating habits? what next?

8. Abigail needs a new cage
— hey! what the -?

9. Abigail needs you
— to play the drums. to help me develop my character. to provide special care. to help me adjust to my new home. to give me therapy. to have dinner with. to….chew? for dinner? okay, maybe I do need that cage.

10. Abigail needs a scandalous story to save her father’s newspaper
— my autobiography would probably do.

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Categories : Humor, Lists

Words of Affirmation

22 07 2009

Some words, no matter how long ago they were spoken, never lose their power. Here are a few precious, unforgettable words that have touched my heart:

I can still feel you, and I’ve never lost the feeling. (March 2003)

Proud na proud ako pag tinatawag mo akong kuya…. Kaya nga pinag-iigihan ko rin and mga ginagawa ko para maipagmalaki mo rin ako. (March 2003)

My feet will never get tired of walking with you. (Oct. 1,2008)

Why don’t you tell me your secrets? (Apr.  10, 2007)

These words, especially, are a source of strength right now:

I will never be disappointed in you. (Dec. 27, 2008)

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Longest Post-party Hangover Ever

7 02 2009

Candlelight, cadena de amor, and frangipani. A pink cake and colorful decorations. Phone calls and video messages from Palawan and Manila. And best of all, the love and laughter of friends.

It’s February already but I’m still not over the surprise. You guys just blew me away.  Let me just say thank you to these wonderful people once again:

TO MY FAMILY: For everything. Especially for muddling your way through the complexities of cyber technology so that you could send those videos to Dumaguete. I love you, technological cluelessness and all. I am so proud of you. You are the most amazing people in my universe.

SHANE, CANDY CANE, JUNIE, & JANINE: For making that night a perfect ten.  For knowing exactly what makes me happy. For getting in touch with the important people in my life and making them part of that night. For willingly going through the stress of keeping major secrets from someone you live with and talk to everyday. You shouldn’t have worried that I’d suspect anything – I was as clueless about your plans as my mom is about the internet. ;-) Thank you so much, anak, apo, and apo sa tuhod. You made me really happy. (Here I go again – I must have told you that a hundred times already. Sensya, major party hangover syndrome yan.)

ROO:   For producing that video presentation. Shane can tell you how many nights I played it before going to bed. You’ll get that academy award someday.

RAPSQUARED & KANGA: For literally running around trying to make everything all right. Nganong nagdagan-dagan man mo? Nasamad hinuon si Kanga. But on RapSquared’s part, ok ra because he got to stay in the “hotel,” otherwise known as the Silliman University Medical Center. ;-) But seriously, thank you, tall people.

KIM:   For making the day wonderful even before the party. For showing me the rainbows. For allowing me to add a new word into my vocabulary: “perfect-est”. For indulgently listening to me say over and over again that I’m really happy. And for a successful mission in keeping me distracted while the others were setting up the surprise. Best actor lage ka, Luwag…hehehe…

K.A. & MAAN: For doing the festive interior decoration. K.A., thanks so much for being there despite such a short acquaintance. Bunso, I delight in you. You both made the night really colorful.

PSALM PALAWAN: For your love that knows no limits. For your prayers and friendship. I miss you, mga palangga, now more than ever. Thank you for the messages, comments, and videos!

KUYA & CAZ: For not letting mere distance stop you from being with me that night. Wow, iba na talaga ang may superpowers. Caz, your secret identity is safe with me (and the approximately 30 other people who saw that video). Kuya ko, you will always be my personal superhero. I love you both. You really know how to make me feel special.

GARY V.: Of course I’ll marry you. Let’s do it next week.

SOLID ROCKERS: For being there. For the successful pretension that nothing out of the ordinary was afoot. Either I’m really dense, or you’re all very good actors. I prefer to believe the latter.

ORENZ: For the video. For wishing me a lifetime free of orcs. For the tour of your room. For the greeting from Kimura. For being who you are to me. Hanon le, Legolas. I am so glad I’m not the only Elf left in Middle Earth. I miss you.

WEN: For climbing that tree just to pick flowers for me. Bilib na jud ko nimo.

NIŇO: For being there. For the amazing pictures you took (I’m using one as my wallpaper for Trans). For being such a sweet friend. Thanks, Nin!

PATRICK: For that gift that took you so long to choose. For your presence that night. For being such a wonderful brother. I know that day in the Hibalag when we first met was one of the best parts of God’s plan for my life. You are such a blessing. Thanks, bro.

ANGEL & SOULMATE: For those unexpected phone calls that really took my breath away. It’s been so long. I miss you, girls. You still have the place in my heart that I gave to you, and you always will. There are so many stories waiting to be told, and I’m looking forward to the time when we can do so. I love you both so much. Forever.

PASTOR NITZ: For the most profound birthday message I have ever heard from a pastor. I will always remember to “go, grow, and glow.”

PASTOR ALONG: For planning that second surprise. It’s not your fault the weather did not cooperate. I really appreciate your thoughtfulness. Balik na lang ka next year diri sa Dumaguete. ;-)

NINUNO & NINUNA BERS: For making me feel like I was a guest on Boy & Kris. For being my kuya and ate ate here in Dumaguete. The Lord knew that I would need people like you even before we met.

PSALM BERS & BER FRIENDS: For being both the coolest and the hottest people I know not only in here in Dumaguete but everywhere. You guys are amazing. Thank you for being more than just friends, but my family. I love you, I love you, I love you – to infinity and beyond. You are so precious to me.

There are so many others who were not part of the surprise but nevertheless made my birthday special through their greetings. The Psychz. PSU and SU Psych people. PSALMists from everywhere. Friendster friends. Past and present churchmates. Thank you so much. You made me feel so loved. Hanon le.


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Categories : Lists, Swirl of Thoughts

TOP 10 SENTI SONGS

21 01 2009

Sure, there are millions of songs about love already. Nevertheless, some writers manage to come up with lyrics that are fresh and genuine and real. Here are ten of the best I’ve ever heard.

  • DECIPHERING ME (Brooke Fraser):

Friend, it’s getting late, we should be going. We’ve sat here beneath these flickering neons for hours. While I am cracking their code, you are deciphering me – for I am a mystery; I am a locked room in a tall tower.

  • LOVE IS WAITING (Brooke Fraser):

I could write a million songs about the way you say my name; I could live a lifetime with you and then do it all again. And like I can’t force the sun to rise or hasten summer’s start, neither should I rush my way into your heart.

  • THE THIEF (Brooke Fraser):

You’re ruining me with secrets and gestures and looks, with sonnets from second-hand books, playing the chords in me nobody knew how to play. You sing me to sleep, talk down my walls, look through my windows as I wait. You could be the thief I give the key to.

  • THESE DAYS (Chantal Kreviazuk):

Make me a storybook and write me away from here. I need a different now – where we can wear each other for a while and I’ll lend you my tears if I could borrow your smile.

  • THE FEAR YOU WON’T FALL (Joshua Radin):

I know you’re scared that I’ll soon be over it – that’s part of it all. Part of the beauty of falling in love with you is the fear you won’t fall.

  • SORRY TO A FRIEND (Edwin McCain):

Staring at her face, I see a past that still haunts me. The road where we split up is paved with the things I didn’t say.

  • COME AWAY WITH ME (Norah Jones):

I want to walk with you on a cloudy day in fields where the yellow grass grows knee-high. So won’t you try to come?

  • SONG FOR A DANCER (Stephen Speaks):

She dances; her footsteps like raindrops patter across the stage. Second glances – she pirouettes then slowly fades away. Lost my chances – who holds the broom that will sweep her off her feet?

  • PAPERWEIGHT (Joshua Radin and Schuyler Fisk):

Every word you say I think I should write down, don’t wanna forget come daylight.

  • SO ROMANTIC (Stacey Kent):

It was so like you to choose such a moment: the sun setting over the square, a pavement café, the local children at play, the sound of an accordion somewhere. You suddenly said fate was pulling us apart, then you shrugged like there was nothing more to add. I suppose you considered that so romantic – well, I just considered it sad.

For the record, though, my wedding song is still, hands down, Gary V.’s I Will Be Here. ;-)


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Categories : Lists, The Sound of Music

Weirdest Things That Have Ever Happened to Me

3 06 2008
  • A friend gave me a copy of the lyrics of the Tagalog version of the song I Will Be Here. He had the verses printed out, but he wrote the guitar chords by hand. It was one of my favorite songs, so I kept it in my wallet folded in a certain way. Some time later, I went on an out-of-town trip with him for a meeting we both had to attend. Our hosts had a guitar in their home, so I took out the song lyrics so that he could play it. A few days after I got home, I discovered that it was no longer in my wallet nor anywhere else I could think of.  I mentioned it to my friend a couple of months later, only to be told that he had already guessed that I’d lost it.  The week before that conversation, he had gone diving on Snake Island, one of the cluster of islets in Honda Bay near our city. He found a piece of paper on the table in one of the beach cottages on the island, and it turned out to be a copy of I Will Be Here, with guitar chords written in his own penmanship. The paper was even creased from the special way I’ve always folded it.  He showed it to me, and it was undoubtedly the same piece of paper. He thought I had gone to Snake Island just before he did and left it there by accident. However, I never went anywhere near Honda Bay since our out-of-town meeting. So how my copy of I Will Be Here got to an island to be found by the same person who gave it to me in the first place is a riddle that I haven’t been able to solve until now.

  • Some college friends and I were watching a movie in our boarding house one day – I think it was The Last Samurai. The person beside me borrowed my phone for a while and was playing around with it. Suddenly, it rang, and he handed it to me without looking to see who the caller was. To my surprise, it was his number flashing on the screen. All the while I was also holding his phone, and it was right there in my hand with the keypad locked. I checked his call register, but my name wasn’t there, yet my phone kept ringing with a call supposedly made by the guy whose phone I was holding. My friends wanted me to answer the call, but being the chicken that I was (and still am, hehe), I cancelled it. A similar thing happened later that month to my roommate; only in her case, the two phones involved were lying side by side on a table on the far side of our room. So go figure.

  • More coming up when I can remember…=)

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Sidewalk Strangers Seen Through the Glass Wall of a Restaurant

4 08 2007

  • A tall white man and a slender, dusky, petite Filipina beauty together. I wonder what it’s like for each of them. An adventure, a taste of the exotic? A tropical dalliance? Need, perhaps? Dreams of a better life? It could be any of these, but the romantic in me wonders: could it possibly, conceivably be love?
  • Two laughing young girls with long hair and eyes yet untouched by self-consciousness. They walk hand-in-hand, linked by the secrets they share and the youthful, irrepressible assurance that they will be “friends forever”. The sight of them evokes such nostalgia. How I wish I could freeze time for a while and let them stay in their world a bit longer. The years pass swiftly, however, and young girls inevitably grow up. But for now, right now, they are here, and they are magical.
  • A woman and a boy, mother and son perhaps, on an errand that worries them both. She leans on him with her hand on his shoulder, and both of them look tired. The midday heat has drawn beads of perspiration from their foreheads, but they plod on, unwilling or unable to pay for a ride. Where are they going and what do they need? Only a few centimeters of glass separate us, but I might as well be miles away, for I do not step out and ask them. I wonder – are the invisible, protective barriers we create between ourselves and others worth the alienation from our own kind?
  • A stunning young woman strolling by herself. Perfect hair, perfect complexion, perfect clothes. How many people take the time to look deeper and see if her life is as flawless as it seems? Too often the envy in us blinds us to the person behind the image, the need behind the confidence. I have no doubt that she will meet many people today who will either furtively or openly scrutinize her looks. Will she find one person, I wonder, who will simply look into her eyes and offer a smile?

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Best Movie Moments

8 07 2007

Just so you know how cheesy I really am, I made a list of those special screen moments that remain in my mind long after the credits roll. I may have gone a little overboard in the “goodbye” category, though. For some reason, I remember more tearful scenes than happy ones. For example, I could find only two winners for the “kiss” and “almost-kiss” (you know, those times when there’s this tension in the air but they never quite get there) categories. Anyway, I expect to keep updating this list in the future.

FAVORITE DANCE

#3. The Lindler by Capt. Von Trapp and Maria in The Sound of Music

#2. Sixteen Going on Seventeen by Rolfe and Leizl in The Sound of Music

#1. King Mongkut and Anna’s last waltz in Anna and the King (absolutely unforgettable)

FAVORITE “I LOVE YOU”

#3. “Can’t you see? Every step I have taken, since I was a child on that bridge, has been to bring me closer to you.” – Sayuki to the Chairman in Memoirs of a Geisha

#2. You gave me peace in a lifetime of war.” – Achilles to Briseis in Troy

#1. “I choose a mortal life.” – Arwen to Aragorn in The Fellowship of the Ring

FAVORITE KISS

#2. Peter and Wendy in Capt. Hook’s ship in Peter Pan (2003 version)

#1. Arwen and Aragorn at Aragorn’s coronation in The Return of the King

FAVORITE ALMOST-KISS

#2. Jesse and Celine in the listening booth in Before Sunrise

#1. Anna and King Mongkut at the beach in Anna and the King

FAVORITE GOODBYE

#7. “We’ll always have Paris.” – Rick to Ilsa in Casablanca

#6. “It was a dream, Arwen. Nothing more.” – Aragorn to Arwen in The Return of the King

#5. “If I die..” “No!” “If I die, I don’t know how much longer Troy will stand.”- Hector and Andromache in Troy

#4. “Yeah…okay…. I’ll see you at home…. Please, Jimmy? I’ll see you at home?” – Mae to Jim in Cinderella Man

#3. “You will never age for me, nor fade, nor die…” – Will Shakespeare to Viola in Shakespeare in Love

#2. “Your majesty, promise me! Promise me that I will see you again.” – Anna to King Mongkut in Anna and the King

#1.”We set out to save the Shire, Sam. And it has been saved. But not for me.” – Frodo to Sam in The Return of the King

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