Life Credits

Some say when they’re depress, they eat a lot of foods. Others they go hang out, have some fun and merry ’til early morning. For my case, I watch movies and most of the times alone inside my room or if budget permits, go watch a movie in a cinema but still most of the times alone. When I’m stressed at work, I’ll make sure I’ll grab a movie at the nearest mall after work. And even if I already watched all the movies in my shelf, I will still grab one and watch it again if budget is constraint or I don’t have any new downloads.

But what fascinates me most of the times is the part where it shows all the important people who played significant part in the movie – the credits – where all people who played good will be there, as well as those villains; the minor roles and people behind the scene; the theme songs; the executive producer and lastly the director.

If my life is a movie, who will comprise my credits? Most probably my mom will be one of the starring roles: my bestfriend will still stand as my bestfriend; most of my closest friends will also in the list; some might stand as heartbreakers; others super villains; for sure there will be neighbors or extras played by some acquiantances; no need for stuntmen for I will do my own stunts; soundtrack will be provided by all the bands that I’ve had with either ‘Enemy Within’ or ‘Ode from Nowhere’ as the official theme song; executive producer will still be me, ala-Mel Gibson who produces a movie while he’s the main character of the movie.

Lastly, I hope my Father will be the director of the movie and not me. At the end of it all, all I want to be is to become a man after His own heart. So that if the day comes that the final curtain will ravel, He will tell with a tap on my shoulder that I did a great, blockbuster movie.

Letting you go

I just thought, it’s been a year when I seriously pursuit you, the same period that I got to know your imperfections and yet consider them perfect.

You never heard something from me about the things you indirectly demand from me. Yet still insist you’re not demanding. But then again, I said sorry and I just continued my love.

I didn’t tell you how important to me confidentiality is yet how many times you devour that essential part of me. But then again, it didn’t matter because all I know is I love you and I cannot change you. What I know is I love what’s you.

I told you my essentials are of mom’s: understanding, knows how to place herself in any difficult situation, forgiving, benevolent, piety and doesn’t keep an account of flaws. But I didn’t tell you that you failed to meet the last and yet, I kept on telling myself that love is above all essentials. All I can say is sorry on each time that those accounts are repeatitively brought up.

I told you that I sacrificed my career just to be with you and opted not to follow my boss’ command because I want that day to be yours. And even that caused me to almost be fired and have an unstable relationship with my superiors, all I want to think of is that I just hope you thought of my sacrifices and pain before telling me it’s over. But because I love you so much, all I can say when you said goodbye is ‘thank you’.

But then again, I learned a lot of things from you. It doesn’t matter how much you learned from me. This whole year is over now for me, and I’m letting you go in all of your aspect within me, including my hope of someday, we’ll still end up together.

We’ve had enough…

Had a talk with mom. So you decided again to get your kids and live for your own. By now, we’re expecting to really do your part as a parent. And we hope you won’t be returning your kids in mom’s place again when the time that you can’t stand again as a parent.

You have the opportunity now to look for your kids. Please spend quality time with them, rather than wasting your time playing games meant for kids. I don’t care if you have a relationship right now, all I care is the welfare of your kids. By now, we’re expecting you to surpass our contributions we did to your kids; finances, attention, upbringing and hopefully they’ll be good. And hopefully, in spiritual aspect too. I don’t know how faithful you are in your religion and how good you had changed, but hopefully you just walk your talk so that your kids will know that they have someone to follow – by good example.

Lastly, let us know if you won’t allow the kids to be here in Singapore this coming december. I don’t want to brag yourself from the debts that you owe me and mom, from your unpaid phone bills to your credit card bills. Rest assured, it will be the very last time that you’ll be taking advantage of either me or mom. Take this as a threat. Money is just money and it can always be replaced. But if there’s one thing you can’t replace in us, it’s trust.

You’re on your own now, including your kids, so make sure you do your part this time. We’ve had enough; mom had enough. For the sake of those people who still consider you as family, please try to respect them.

By the way, I have one request and I don’t mind if you’ll grant it or not. Since your decision to transfer Mico to the other school will make him loose his scholarship, let him just finish his studies for this year before you transfer him to the other schools.

Your brother for the last time,
Almin

Saviour Treat

Thanks Popoy for a very good movie night. It’s been a while, like 3-4 months of not seeing everyone except the drummer boy. Thanks babuys for the quality time the next day, especially those who spent money to treat the whole gang. I started to appreciate sweets now, especially ice cream and cakes. Savior treats.

It’s good that there are friends who can always give rain coats in times of rainy season. God bless you all.

Black and White World

What if there are only two colors?
What if the world is either black or white?
What if love is not red but white?
Will it be more pure?
Or what if it is black?
Can you see how dark love is?
What if there are only two choices?
Yes or No?
Left or right?
Good or bad?

What if life can only be traveled in two ways?
Which way will you go?
What path will you choose?
Stop or go?
Heaven or hell?

What if there are only black and white people?
Will there be still discrimination?
Which color is for slavery?
Which color is for power?
Will the world be like a chess game?
Kill the other and let the king remain?

Black or white?
Both are absence of color.
Be thankful God made the others.
To make life meaningful and colorful…

Popoy in Bamboo Gig

Do you know what it feels like to do something you’ve been longing to do? I’ve been in a state of madness this year because I received a lot of gifts from Him and those things were the one that even in my wildest dreams I won’t be doing. Ecstatic, I am!

I’m a big fan of Rivermaya. I completed their albums, half of them carefully downloaded from the internet (full albums). Thankfully, when I had enough money to buy CDs, I had the chance to buy all their albums from ‘Between Stars and Waves’ to present (except the recent ‘Bagong Liwanag’). The idolism for this band continued even when they decided to go in separate ways and later on, old members formed a new group which now called ‘Bamboo the band’ while the others continued the legacy of Rivermaya. Yes, I’m bald for a very long time but Bamboo Maňalac was not the reason why I decided to become one.

Before, I used to attend the band’s album launching gigs to get a fresh copy of their album and get it signed by the members. I even had a chance to have a photo with the band. During those days, I already had a band and those instances made me dream of sharing a stage with them (and the other is with PhilHarmonic Orchestra). Noypi and Mr. Clay were the most used up songs for me because these were our ‘pondos’ in Pablikschul (my band in Philippines).

Seeing life in street and travel photography…

Of all the things I want to do outside if I have with me a set of camera and guts is to take pictures and see the life of others within my viewfinder. I love travel and I love dealing with people – people that most might think ordinary ones doing ordinary things. But there are things that most people don’t really see that makes ordinary people extraordinary.

Aside from landscape, these are the areas that I want to do – street and travel photography.

What makes street and travel photography so special? Aside from the fact that these areas don’t normally require the subjects to pose for the photographer nor requires highly technical setups, there’s only thing you must capture in these areas – MOMENT. And it makes you contemplate on a lot of things when you already captured the moment, a lot of titles to think, a lot of extraordinary meaning to find out, a lot of definition to encapsulate with the photo and most of all, a lot of lessons to dig so that people who will be seeing the photo can be touched too. For sure, that’s how I see those things.

Sensitive Doer

I haven’t posted anything here in my blog so I decided to put this intead. Got this from Lizzie, a friend from PinoyGraphers@SG. I would say, the result is 99% true. Take the same test here.

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Sensitive Doers are gentle, modest and reserved persons. They cope well with everyday life and like their privacy. With their quiet, optimistic nature, they are also good, sought-after listeners and other people feel well in their company. All in all, this type is the most likeable and friendliest of all personality types. Tolerance and heir regard for others distinguish their personality. They are very caring, generous and always willing to help. They are open to and interested in everything that is new or unknown to them. However, if their inner value system or their sense of justice is hurt, Sensitive Doers can suddenly and surprisingly become forceful and assertive.

Sensitive Doers enjoy the comforts life offers to the full. They are very happy in everyday life. Sensitive Doers are often gifted artists or very good craftsmen. Creativity, imagination and an especially keen perception are just a few of their strong points. Sensitive Doers are very presence-oriented; long-term planning and preparations do not appeal to them. They take life as it comes and react flexibly to daily demands. They do not like too much routine and predictability. Their talents come more to the fore when work processes are variable and there are not so many rules. Sensitive Doers like to work alone; if they are part of a team, they do not get involved in competitive or power games and prefer living and working together harmoniously and openly.

Sensitive Doers are completely satisfied with a small, close circle of friends as their need for social contacts is not very marked. Here, too, they avoid conflicts – quarrels and disputes put considerable strain on them. Sensitive Doers are often very fond of animals and are very good with small children. As partner, this type is loyal and reliable and is willing to invest a lot in a relationship. Mutual respect and tolerance are very important to Sensitive Doers. Their love of pleasure makes them a pleasant companion with whom one can experience intensive moments. They like to look after their partner with attentiveness and small gifts and are very sensitive to the partner’s needs – often more than to their own. However, should they meet the wrong person, they run the risk of being taken advantage of. They are then deeply disappointed.

The Irony around a person…

There are a lot of things that makes life so ironic – your life, your relationship, your everything. I guess it’s really part of living in this sinister place called earth. It’s part, that’s why it really sucks.
 
There are people that you thought they are your best of friends, people you can rely on because they give you advises, makes you fell accepted and they are always there when you needed them most. You even thought so, because you have the same wavelength with them, have the same interest and have the same disposition in life. But at your back, they’re cursing you and they’re the one telling bad things about you to others.
 
Isn’t it ironic, don’t you think?
 
There are people whom you fought for them, but at the end they left you unwanted after the fight. There are people you left because you felt they didn’t fight for you, but at the end they stood for you to fight. There are people whom you treated brother, but at the end they made you feel unrelated. There are people you thought you should not relate to, but at the end, they even treated you like a blood brother. There are people whom you thought you can call them when you’re down; but the truth is, they’re the first people who turned you down. There are people whom you thought you can’t rely on them when needed; but they’re the first people who rescued you when you’re in trouble. There are people whom you assured you won’t leave them no matter what, but in fact, they’re the one who wants you to leave. Ironically, there are people who didn’t leave your side even if you don’t acknowledge them doing it most of the times.
 
Isn’t it ironic, don’t you think?
 
How I wish friends can really be friends and live out to its truest meaning. But sometimes, it’s not; that even your slightest enemy you thought of will be your friend at the very end. Yeah, that’s really ironic.

“Ode From Nowhere” explained…

“Ode From Nowhere” is a new song I composed for Banda Fantastica 3. It’s the second original song performed by Transient Attack (my band) and my first composition for this year. Supposedly, the band will not be taking part in the recently compiled BF3 album due to some band concerns, but it was a test of how far the band can go while members are tested for bandhood.

I wrote the song during the time that I felt the world was not on my side and unfortunate series of events happened in my life. It was during the composition month when (1) my nephew (godson/foster child) had pneumonia, (2) my close cousin died, (3) my dad had a stroke 2 days before my birthday, (4) my cousin’s mom was bedridden after her death, and (5) my closest uncle died. All these things happened in just one month and the lyrics of the song was gradually revised to depict what I have in my heart and mind during that period.

“Ode From Nowhere” is a story of broken people in a lot of ways. May it be because of money, fortune and luck, family, job, business, relationship, anything. It is a story of something that broken people hope to achieve and that is to at some point be on top in everything they wanted to achieve. “Ode From Nowhere” is a story of my life.