Happy Birthday to me

Warning: There is no point to this birthday post. Just random thoughts put together.

On the year I was born, the well known First Quarter Storm happened in the gates of Malacanang, where Marcos was then President; 50,000 students and laborers stormed the palace and were met with gunfire and tear gas grenades. That year, the Constitutional Convention of 1970 was called to change the existing Philippine Constitution which was made during the Commonwealth of the Philippines.

It was also the year when they held the largest rock festival of all time, The Isle of Wight Festival, that took place with 600,000 people attending; where Jimi Hendrix, The Who, the Doors and Chicago performed. Later that same year Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin died. It was the year when Simon and Garfunkel released their final album, “Bridge Over Troubled Water” and “The Long and Winding Road” became the last No. 1 song of the Beatles.

My mother’s mother also died that year. I didn’t get to meet her but I was the three month bump under my mother’s dress in the old pictures. While all of the above was happening, I wasn’t really born yet. I arrived on the last month of that year, just when everybody else was looking back at the year that was. I was born just as my new year was about to end.

I was born in the year of chaos. I don’t think that has anything to do with my personality – although it would certainly explain a lot; I do think it played some part on how I grew up or how I was brought up. Not much has changed. It is still a chaotic world. I wonder if this world has ever known peace?

The most troublesome habit formed about being born on the year that ends in zero, I tend to count my present age according to that year. Like 2009 – I will turn 39 – only to remember that I don’t turn 39 until the year ends. And I pretty much think I’m 39 the whole year instead of thinking 38 because it was 2009. Get it? Nevermind.

I turn 39 today. I’m supposed to self-destruct at the age of 38 so while writing this I’m half expecting something to happen to me, which is unlikely, but who knows. I’ve always thought my 13 year old self was quite wise for thinking of self-destruction 25 years into her future. But if that’s not going to happen, well, onward I go.

I started the above montage four years ago. I wanted to document how I age. It was quite difficult to put together because my age and the years the pics were taken jumbles up the chronology. Anyway, a friend told me that I seem to have lots to smile about all through out my life. I agree. So despite the chaos, there is … a lot of sense of humor in there LOL. How else could I have survived all these years? So cheers to all the funny people I’ve met in my life – I thank you for your wit, your craziness and your perfect timing on the punchline.

To my God who knows me better than I know myself, thank you for another year. Again, I am overwhelmingly grateful for my weird family, my ever-lasting friendships, my wise mentors, for love in all the wrong places – LOL! ... Bansai! For Peace!

Below is The Doonesbury cartoon posted December 22, 1970 in the New York times. Pretty much sums up my philosophies in life haha!

Movement ...

Watched Avatar yesterday and regretted not watching it on 3D. Lovely special effects, creative character animation and exciting action. I also love the direction, how the cameras twist is angles that are - well, I don't know - just right? Haha. Anyway, it's a must see.

On a more serious note, I marvel at how stupid we decide on things especially the environment. We know so little about the world that we sometimes think we've seen it all. I know how ignorant and passive I can be. And I've been very good at making bad decisions in the past. But we learn. And I hope we will never be smart enough to stop learning. I think it's exciting - learning. There is so much to discover, so many new things to see. Ok, I'm going to stop now. I'm just saying ...

On the lighter side of life, I've been dancing again since Thursday. Remember my last post? :) We are the change we want to see in the world. Ask and the world will conspire to make your dreams come true. I know I keep repeating that but I honestly believe those words. They work. It's all about attitude. If you want it, make it happen. And it's happening - in a small scale - but it is just the beginning. The sudden changes in temperature is bringing out the worst of my asthma, but allow me to wiggle my booty and I will forget that I can't breathe. Haha. I just love that I can be able to move again. Don't feel that young anymore though. I have a couple of white hairs to prove it. When did I get so old? LOL. Still, age is mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't really matter.

Flash Mob

From wikipedia: A flash mob (or flashmob) is a large group of people who assemble suddenly in a public place, perform an unusual action for a brief time, then quickly disperse. The term flash mob is generally applied only to gatherings organized via telecommunications, social media, or viral emails. The term is generally not applied to events organized by public relations firms or as publicity stunts.

Saw my first flash mob dance while watching an episode of Weeds. Love it so much, I almost broke into tears - hahaha. Then my sister said that there was a flash mob that happened again in Oprah. Posted it below. And another one at the Central Station in Belgium. Then a different one in Singapore, London, Australia. Maybe they already had one in the Philippines. If someone plans to organize one here in Iloilo, Please Please let me know! I want to be right in the middle of it. I don't want to be at the side watching.

Central Station in Antwerp, Beligium - Do Re Mi by Julie Andrews


The Oprah Show, Chicago - I Got A Feeling by the Black Eyed Peas


Advertisement by T-Mobile, Liverpool St., London, England - All Time Favorites Medley


Raffles Place (Been here!), Singapore - Medley including Nobody (Wonder Girls), You're the One That I want (Grease)


Piccadily Circus, London - All The Single Ladies by Beyonce


Mall of Asia, Philippines - Medley


Weeds Episode


On a lesser note, we did something like this before in a smaller scale. It started with a Thriller wedding entourage video in You Tube. My family decided to replicate a similar dance in my cousin's wedding. The whole family gathered for 5 nights practicing Thriller and Disco Inferno. Nobody but us knew that we were dancing. My cousin and his bride did the customary bride and groom dance, then all of a sudden the whole family (young and old) were on the dance floor dancing to Thriller/Disco Inferno in what seemed to be a spontaneous dance number. The guests were thrilled and surprised but we enjoyed it as much as they did.


I guess the best thing about it is that it looked so spontaneous and took unsuspecting onlookers by surprise. It just seems like you were at the right place at the right time - and that's always a pleasant feeling isn't it?

The Difference

This was e-mailed to me this morning. It resonates.

The difference between the poor countries and the rich ones is not the age of the country: Examples are countries like India & Egypt, that are more than 2000 years old, but are poor.

On the other hand, Canada , Australia, & New Zealand, that 150 years ago were virtually unnoticed, today are developed countries, and are rich. The difference between poor & rich countries does not reside in the available natural resources.

Japan has a limited territory, 80% mountainous, inadequate for agriculture & cattle raising, but it is the second largest world economy. The country is like an immense floating factory, importing raw materials from the whole world and exporting manufactured products.

Another example is Switzerland , which does not plant cocoa but has the best chocolate in the world. In its little territory they raise animals and plant the soil during 4 months per year. Not only that, they produce dairy products of the best quality!

It is a small country that has an image of security, order & strong labor force, which made it the world's strongest, safest place.

Executives from rich countries who communicate with their counterparts in poor countries show that there is no significant intellectual difference.

Race or skin color are also not important: immigrants labeled lazy because of their countries of origin are the productive power in many richer European countries.

What is the difference then?
The difference is the attitude of the people,
influenced along the years by education, culture,
& flawed tradition.

On analyzing the behavior of the people in rich & developed countries, we find that the great majority follow the following principles in their lives:

1. Ethics as a basic principle.
2. Integrity.
3. Responsibility.
4. Respect to the laws & rules.
5. Respect to the rights of other citizens.
6. Work loving.
7. Strive for savings & investment.
8. Will of super action.
9. Punctuality.
10. and of course .... Discipline.

In poor countries, only a minority follow these basic principles in their daily life..

The Philippines is not poor because we lack natural resources or because nature was cruel to us. In fact, we are supposedly rich in natural resources.

We are poor because we lack the correct attitude. We lack the will to comply with and teach these functional principles of rich & developed societies.

If you do not forward this message
nothing will happen to you.
Your pet will not die, you will not be fired, you will not have bad luck for seven years, and also, you will not get sick or go hungry.

But those may happen because of your lack of discipline & laziness
your love for intrigue and politics,
your indifference to saving for the future,
your stubborn attitude.

Kkkccccold

Woke up at 4:30am with an idea for a project and just had to write it down. Now I can't sleep. It's colder now - December - but it doesn't feel anywhere near Christmas. We have put up all the decorations and all. I wonder, as we grow older, do we lose a bit of the Christmas spirit? Maybe it really depends on the person. I'm sure there are people out there who can still be as jolly as Saint Nick during the holidays.

I was having this conversation with a friend one day. I asked her if I've become heartless by the way I judge people. She said no. And since she's a therapist by profession, I'm assured that she knows what she's talking about LOL.

Had another mini-reunion dinner with friends at Afrique's last Monday night. We started talking about kids since one of us is obviously very pregnant and blooming at that. I wasn't the only one in the group who didn't want kids but I was the only one who didn't want to adopt. Truthfully, I can't see myself with a child - my child. Does that make me a bad mother? LOL. My preggie friend tells me that those feelings can change when you do have kids. I guess that has to happen for me to find out. I sometimes think that I will eventually regret this, not getting married and settling down. But I'm living in the now and my now seems content with what is there. My nephews and nieces are inspiration enough for me. I may not have a lovelife - but I am loved. I don't need much. Just a bit of attention now and then.

Kkkkcccold? Am I?

I guess that as long as it doesn't matter to me, it doesn't really matter. or does it? I'm confused now hahaha. Better get back to sleep.