just less than a week and i will complete one month of taking muay thai sessions. but my problem is, im losing weight. this i do not approve. ive lost 10 pounds by combining my weekday jog and muay thai on the weekend. i guess im going to be the subject of envy by some since im the type who can easily lose weight (almost effortless). but on my end, its as annoying as having difficulties in losing weight because i have difficulties gaining weight. now, i gained weight because i eat six meals a day. (three full meals and three moderate to heavy snacks). since i started exercising, the six meals are now inadequate. so i have to eat more. it wont be much of a problem if food wasnt expensive! now that i have to eat more, i need to spend more (or maybe try to learn how to cook but at the moment, i have no interest). i try not to spend more than P100 a day on weekdays given my "just enough" monthly salary (and i go nuts on food during the weekend whenever i go to the mall). the affordable yet tasty meals i can think of are one to two jeepney rides away (and thats just a one-way commute).so my problem is, how do i gain weight, without spending a lot and at the same time, allowing me to increase my current physical activities (because im aiming to have a twice weekly muay thai session, retain my thrice weekly jog and maybe an extra day for a regular gym. im thinking i should have been an athlete if i didnt prevent myself from engaging in sports and allowing my laziness to grow when i was in high school).
right now, my shins hurt like hell. not sure if its because of the muay thai session last saturday or i over exerted myself yesterday. it could be both. im not used to doing round house kicks or hitting my shins against a punching bag. but the thing is, my shins didnt hurt as much the two weeks prior to my last saturday session. then yesterday, i thought of pushing myself further on my regular jog. so even if my body was a bit sore due to the muay thai session the day before, i jogged/run until my legs wobbled due to tiredness. at least my knees dont hurt no more. so when i attempted to repeat what i did yesterday, halfway through the jog, my shins started to feel like its shouting expletives at me (the same way my knee did a few months ago). so i had to stop because i was really having a hard time running and could only walk really slow. had to ride a jeepney home. so either i overexerted myself or its time to buy a new pair of running shoes. i think the former. im still a month away from completing my thrice weekly jog for three months. im just going to rest tomorrow since i cant risk injuring myself because i have a hearing in malolos, bulacan on wednesday morning.
Monday, February 27, 2012
are we toy soldiers of a corrupt system?
i think that taking the bar exams is something akin to going to war. going to law school is like undergoing a mental military training. like in military camp, law students are like soldiers who try to endure the required years of training. some dont make the cut and drop out. but unlike being in the military, "war" is something certain for law students. most, if not all, who finish law school will have to face the bar exams. bar reviewees then prepare their minds, bodies and spirit to at least successfully finish the four bar exam sundays. every bar reviewee and most law students know that every year, there are a number of "casualties" in the bar exams. there are those who breakdown under the pressure, those who lose confidence, those who just give up in the middle of the "battle" and walk out of the examination room. its not a physical war, for its mostly mental, but it certainly affects the body and spirit. just like in a war, you dont go to the bar exams unprepared. and no matter how skilled and prepared you are, luck (or faith) plays a pivotal role in one's survival. after a month long "war", a lot survive of course but once the results come out, only then will it be determined who were truly succesful in surviving the war. some "die" and never take the bar exams again while some live to fight another year.
the bar exams is a war where every soldier is in the front lines. lawyers are merely those soldiers of the legal profession who effectively survived such war. the courtroom battles and other fields of law practice lawyers engage in appear to be mere skirmishes compared to what bar examinees endure during the bar exams. in effect, the bar exams is, usually, the only "war" most lawyers face in their entire legal career. although law practice or the "skirmishes" do pose much more difficult situations and requires much more skill than taking the bar exams, it does not have the grand scale character of the bar exams that make it look like a full scale war.
the bar exams is a war where every soldier is in the front lines. lawyers are merely those soldiers of the legal profession who effectively survived such war. the courtroom battles and other fields of law practice lawyers engage in appear to be mere skirmishes compared to what bar examinees endure during the bar exams. in effect, the bar exams is, usually, the only "war" most lawyers face in their entire legal career. although law practice or the "skirmishes" do pose much more difficult situations and requires much more skill than taking the bar exams, it does not have the grand scale character of the bar exams that make it look like a full scale war.
take a minute bust a prayer and youre good to go - mc hammer
more than a month ago, i was at Our Lady of Manaoag in Pangasinan to pray for friends who took the 2011 bar exams. i found it a bit funny that when i took my bar exams, i didnt bother going there. after i passed the bar exams, a friend asked me if ive gone to Our Lady of Manaoag and i answered "no". surprised, he said that "di ka man lang nagpasalamat". well, i didnt go there in the first place, to ask for help or divine intervention. for me, it didnt matter which church i go to. as long as i prayed sincerely, that, i think, is enough (although i understand the point that the effort in showing such devotion and sincerity makes a difference). besides, i pray every day and my version of the Our Lady of Manaoag is the UP Chapel. up until today, i make it a habit to drop by the UP Chapel to pray whenever i go to UP for any reason.
anyway, after praying for my bar examinee friends, or as i called them in my prayer my "comrades" (ive always imagined taking the bar exams as something akin to going to war), i dropped by the church's little shop and saw a lot of rosaries. i then remembered that as a kid (during grade school to be exact), i always wore rosaries like a necklace. there was even a time that i wore three rosaries like it were some kind of bling blings (is this term still used today?). i dont even know why my mother allowed me to wear them to school (insert "oh god why" meme). i carried the habit of having a rosary with me until high school. but unlike during my grade school years, i didnt wear them. i only kept one in my pocket. then during college, i just kept it in my bag and before i even finished college, i stopped bringing a rosary with me. the rosary ive been carrying since 1996 now sits on my study table, covered with dust.
i dont know why i always had a rosary with me. i dont even use it. and my "darkest" times was when i had it with me. its weird that in high school, i stopped going to church, stopped praying and stopped recognizing God yet i maintained the habit of carrying a rosary like i always have my wallet and wristwatch. it was merely a force of habit, an empty gesture, devoid of any meaning. at least during grade school, the reason i always had a rosary with me is not for protection, like some amulet, but simply because it reminds me of my faith and i dont want to forget about it. it makes me happy to know that im in good terms with God. but the moment philosophy and science penetrated my brain, the doubt within me overcame my belief and i simply stopped acknowledging God. i didnt really become an atheist (although i think there were short periods that would be considered i was an atheist but most of the time, i just didnt like the thought of being inferior to a passive God). i just thought i do not need God to live (thats why it was common for me to say back then "hey God, look at me, im doing this on my own, without your help" or "this is it? you gotta be kidding me. is this the best you got God?"). the little faith i have left still thought there is a God but with science and philosophy dominating my state of mind, i started thinking God as insignificant in man's day to day activities. hence i became cocky and adopted the motto that "only God can stop me" in whatever stuff i do. this is why im haunted by a lot of my past actions. the "just do it" motto of nike isnt something worth following 100% of the time.
if not for law school, my faith in God wont be restored. again, its funny my faith was restored in a university that does not promote any religion. i studied in a catholic high school and catholic university but both academic institutions failed to convince me God is worth having. the reason i decided to have faith again is because i wanted to make a deal with God (because i have doubts if the devil does exist). thats how cocky ive become. to go to church, after years of criticizing God, and had the audacity to ask something in return from Him so that i would reinstate my faith in Him. anyway, i wouldnt approve of my intentions then but its because of that incident that my faith transformed into what it is now (besides, i offered a lot more than just "believing in God again" in return for what i asked. despite my initial cockiness of thinking im in the position to bargain with God, what i offered in return truly humbled me).
its not the kind of faith most people have. people go to church every sunday for whatever their reasons are but i go to church every sunday because its one of the promises i made to God, that i will fulfill such an obligation, in return for what i asked (again, among other stuff i offered). its a burden i promised to carry (its a burden because i dont believe in the philippine catholic church). whenever i pray, i make it a point not to ask for help unless really necessary. i make it a point to always be thankful. and i make it a point that i am the one in control of my life and i recognize God as the provider of such life (and for that i am grateful). the question of whether what i do is according to God's will or not falls upon my discretion and not the church's teachings. although i do consider what the church says, the fact that its composed by men means that my own discretion is as good as theirs to a certain extent. the church may have expertise in interpreting God's will but it wont change the fact it is still a human interpretation subject to personal bias and institutional prejudice. they have the authority on what's written in the Bible but they cant be an authority on how to properly live my life since i am the recipient of such gift of life and i know what it has been through and what it should go through. guidance is the most the church can provide and it cannot be mandatory on my part to follow it. thus the freedom and free will given to man remains intact. i think this is what faith should be (if not, then im sticking to my form of belief). a life with a proper balance between faith and reason. to be critical and not be a dummy to external forces and have the independence and discretion to know what is right and what is according to God's will. the most external factors can provide is guidance but enlightenment should always come from within. faith is a personal experience and in my experience, the way i practice my faith, i dont adhere to blind loyalty or blind faith. i doubt but i try not to let such doubt reach destructive heights. i follow God's will for i am His instrument but i never allow my brain to be a meaningless body part by not using the finite wisdom granted to me. the thirst for the infinite is a personal endeavor and a life long struggle. and struggles have more meaning when one's eyes are open and one's heart is filled with passion tempered by reason. i have no idea how i got to this topic and where im heading with it.
anyway, after praying for my bar examinee friends, or as i called them in my prayer my "comrades" (ive always imagined taking the bar exams as something akin to going to war), i dropped by the church's little shop and saw a lot of rosaries. i then remembered that as a kid (during grade school to be exact), i always wore rosaries like a necklace. there was even a time that i wore three rosaries like it were some kind of bling blings (is this term still used today?). i dont even know why my mother allowed me to wear them to school (insert "oh god why" meme). i carried the habit of having a rosary with me until high school. but unlike during my grade school years, i didnt wear them. i only kept one in my pocket. then during college, i just kept it in my bag and before i even finished college, i stopped bringing a rosary with me. the rosary ive been carrying since 1996 now sits on my study table, covered with dust.
i dont know why i always had a rosary with me. i dont even use it. and my "darkest" times was when i had it with me. its weird that in high school, i stopped going to church, stopped praying and stopped recognizing God yet i maintained the habit of carrying a rosary like i always have my wallet and wristwatch. it was merely a force of habit, an empty gesture, devoid of any meaning. at least during grade school, the reason i always had a rosary with me is not for protection, like some amulet, but simply because it reminds me of my faith and i dont want to forget about it. it makes me happy to know that im in good terms with God. but the moment philosophy and science penetrated my brain, the doubt within me overcame my belief and i simply stopped acknowledging God. i didnt really become an atheist (although i think there were short periods that would be considered i was an atheist but most of the time, i just didnt like the thought of being inferior to a passive God). i just thought i do not need God to live (thats why it was common for me to say back then "hey God, look at me, im doing this on my own, without your help" or "this is it? you gotta be kidding me. is this the best you got God?"). the little faith i have left still thought there is a God but with science and philosophy dominating my state of mind, i started thinking God as insignificant in man's day to day activities. hence i became cocky and adopted the motto that "only God can stop me" in whatever stuff i do. this is why im haunted by a lot of my past actions. the "just do it" motto of nike isnt something worth following 100% of the time.
if not for law school, my faith in God wont be restored. again, its funny my faith was restored in a university that does not promote any religion. i studied in a catholic high school and catholic university but both academic institutions failed to convince me God is worth having. the reason i decided to have faith again is because i wanted to make a deal with God (because i have doubts if the devil does exist). thats how cocky ive become. to go to church, after years of criticizing God, and had the audacity to ask something in return from Him so that i would reinstate my faith in Him. anyway, i wouldnt approve of my intentions then but its because of that incident that my faith transformed into what it is now (besides, i offered a lot more than just "believing in God again" in return for what i asked. despite my initial cockiness of thinking im in the position to bargain with God, what i offered in return truly humbled me).
its not the kind of faith most people have. people go to church every sunday for whatever their reasons are but i go to church every sunday because its one of the promises i made to God, that i will fulfill such an obligation, in return for what i asked (again, among other stuff i offered). its a burden i promised to carry (its a burden because i dont believe in the philippine catholic church). whenever i pray, i make it a point not to ask for help unless really necessary. i make it a point to always be thankful. and i make it a point that i am the one in control of my life and i recognize God as the provider of such life (and for that i am grateful). the question of whether what i do is according to God's will or not falls upon my discretion and not the church's teachings. although i do consider what the church says, the fact that its composed by men means that my own discretion is as good as theirs to a certain extent. the church may have expertise in interpreting God's will but it wont change the fact it is still a human interpretation subject to personal bias and institutional prejudice. they have the authority on what's written in the Bible but they cant be an authority on how to properly live my life since i am the recipient of such gift of life and i know what it has been through and what it should go through. guidance is the most the church can provide and it cannot be mandatory on my part to follow it. thus the freedom and free will given to man remains intact. i think this is what faith should be (if not, then im sticking to my form of belief). a life with a proper balance between faith and reason. to be critical and not be a dummy to external forces and have the independence and discretion to know what is right and what is according to God's will. the most external factors can provide is guidance but enlightenment should always come from within. faith is a personal experience and in my experience, the way i practice my faith, i dont adhere to blind loyalty or blind faith. i doubt but i try not to let such doubt reach destructive heights. i follow God's will for i am His instrument but i never allow my brain to be a meaningless body part by not using the finite wisdom granted to me. the thirst for the infinite is a personal endeavor and a life long struggle. and struggles have more meaning when one's eyes are open and one's heart is filled with passion tempered by reason. i have no idea how i got to this topic and where im heading with it.
Monday, February 20, 2012
looks like a really fun concert
crap. if the concert really looks fun as this music video portrays it, im screwed. well, im screwed if such a concert does happen here. if my recollection of the concert ticket price is correct, when i converted it to peso, the concert ticket costs around P22,000. i could afford it but problem is, im not going to buy only one ticket. most likely, im going to pay for my brother's ticket too. he wants to attend such a concert more than i do.
im not having a quarter life crisis
im just having a nagging thought of finding myself. to be more accurate, making sure that not one part of me gets left behind as i move forward. i think im undergoing some progress and i dont have much doubts about the direction im heading. its just that i dont want to lose my "essence" in the process, or bits and pieces of me which are scattered and compartmentalized within me (which always made it difficult for me to pull myself together).
after more than a decade, im finally taking the concrete steps i need to do to improve myself and become a better person (and after years of planning, im finally in the execution stage). ive known about this all along but i refused to recognize, acknowledge and act on it. why? its simply inconvenient to my lazy and stubborn state of mind. now that im making some progress, i just want to make sure that i move as a whole and not just as parts of me. and in order to make myself whole, i need to find myself. its not merely getting to know myself better (i know myself a lot already) but incorporating every aspect of myself into one cohesive unit. its not only about knowing my limitations and capabilities but establishing a much better harmony within me. its like finding some inner peace but not quite.
this nagging thought of finding myself started when i stumbled upon an old piece of information which reminded me of a self that i liked a lot. if im going to move forward, i dont want this self or this part of me to be left behind.
after more than a decade, im finally taking the concrete steps i need to do to improve myself and become a better person (and after years of planning, im finally in the execution stage). ive known about this all along but i refused to recognize, acknowledge and act on it. why? its simply inconvenient to my lazy and stubborn state of mind. now that im making some progress, i just want to make sure that i move as a whole and not just as parts of me. and in order to make myself whole, i need to find myself. its not merely getting to know myself better (i know myself a lot already) but incorporating every aspect of myself into one cohesive unit. its not only about knowing my limitations and capabilities but establishing a much better harmony within me. its like finding some inner peace but not quite.
this nagging thought of finding myself started when i stumbled upon an old piece of information which reminded me of a self that i liked a lot. if im going to move forward, i dont want this self or this part of me to be left behind.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
chocolate love + bar review = come from behind victory?
i will never forget this song. this song has been part of my "review ritual" during the bar review (well, latter part of the bar review. my bar review song before this was "highway star" by deep purple). right before i start hitting the books/review materials, the first step was to get myself a cup of coffee from mcdonalds matalino. due to my tight budget then and my dislike for riding tricycles, i just walk whenever i go to mcdonalds. i then head back home and switch on my laptop. while waiting for my laptop to finish booting up, i prepare the coffee i just bought from mcdonalds. once my laptop is all done with its preliminaries, i play SNSD's Chocolate Love music video and watch it while drinking my coffee. then i play some more snsd music videos until i finish my coffee. but i always start with Chocolate Love just to establish some routine. once i finish my coffee, im already fully relaxed and my brain's likewise stimulated, not only by the coffee, but also visually thus generating better brain activity. with a nicely set up mood, i start studying.
hmmm. there is a japanese professor by the name of Professor Sawaguchi from Hokkaido University who claims that SNSD's Genie promotes brain development. when i heard this, i thought its a bit absurd. but then again, there are scientific findings that sound silly (cant think of one right now). the fact that i passed the bar by adding this routine in my bar review could somehow support such claim. but then again, this should be subjected to experimentation since during the time i was waiting for the bar results, my addiction to snsd during the latter half of the review could have resulted either way. its either the cause of my failure or truly helped me in passing the exams. so im not really sure myself how it affected my bar exams. sure it helped me in getting in the mood to study and stay sane (i was already dying of boredom because of the months of just reading law stuff. sick and tired of reviewing day in and day out) but it also deprived me a lot of review hours because i spent half of the day (from afternoon to 2am on the average) watching youtube videos of snsd.
anyway, before i digress further, this isnt the chocolate love music video. its their practice video and they really look good even in sweatpants. their synchronized moves are hypnotic. the interesting thing about this video is how uninterested the guy at the side of the room is. he looks really bored despite the fact nine girls who leaves millions of guys (and girls) in awe are dancing right in front of him. its like just another day at work for him, nothing out of the ordinary, nothing special.
hmmm. there is a japanese professor by the name of Professor Sawaguchi from Hokkaido University who claims that SNSD's Genie promotes brain development. when i heard this, i thought its a bit absurd. but then again, there are scientific findings that sound silly (cant think of one right now). the fact that i passed the bar by adding this routine in my bar review could somehow support such claim. but then again, this should be subjected to experimentation since during the time i was waiting for the bar results, my addiction to snsd during the latter half of the review could have resulted either way. its either the cause of my failure or truly helped me in passing the exams. so im not really sure myself how it affected my bar exams. sure it helped me in getting in the mood to study and stay sane (i was already dying of boredom because of the months of just reading law stuff. sick and tired of reviewing day in and day out) but it also deprived me a lot of review hours because i spent half of the day (from afternoon to 2am on the average) watching youtube videos of snsd.
anyway, before i digress further, this isnt the chocolate love music video. its their practice video and they really look good even in sweatpants. their synchronized moves are hypnotic. the interesting thing about this video is how uninterested the guy at the side of the room is. he looks really bored despite the fact nine girls who leaves millions of guys (and girls) in awe are dancing right in front of him. its like just another day at work for him, nothing out of the ordinary, nothing special.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
so today is valentines day...for some people. for me, i call it tuesday.
when i went jogging a few hours ago, i saw, aside from the heavy traffic, a lot of guys making some last minute flower shopping. the choice of flowers were already very limited and most probably, the prices have increased. wow. the things guys do just to satisfy their women. reminded me of the times i took part in this valentines thing.
i remember half a decade ago...wait...its already more than half a decade ago. wow. its been that long. it feels like just a couple of years ago. anyway, more than half a decade ago, i went to a valentines date and i forgot to bring flowers. yep. of all the things i could forget, i forgot the flowers. i had a really busy day then. being a law student can be hectic at times. i was really drained during that time and i had to go home to go to our family dinner for valentines day. we went to a nearby restaurant. after the family dinner, i went back home to change and my grandmother, who was informed i had a date, told me not to do anything stupid or anything i will regret. she doesnt have to remind me of that. one of my fears is to suddenly have a family of my own. not all surprises are pleasant (but i admit, suddenly having a family of my own cant be all bad. although financially it is). anyway, i was tired and drained and on my way to the restaurant for the date. i didnt bring my car since i wasnt in the mood to drive. too tired. during my commute, while at the waiting shed, there was this old lady selling roses placed in a small metal bucket. i thought of buying a few but i was too busy thinking of something else. so i thought, i will just finish whatever im thinking then im going to buy them roses. well, the next time i remembered buying it was when my date asked me about it. crap. so i honestly said, "i thought of buying them but i forgot". doesnt the thought count? im that kind of guy who doesnt make that much effort. like a blockmate said a month ago, i can be sweet sometimes. but most of the time, im not. im too busy being me.
i remember another date a few years ago where i somehow "scolded" my date to finish everything on her plate. aside from the fact that im going to pay for the somewhat expensive dinner, i dont like to see food being wasted. so i said were not going to leave until she finishes everything. im that kind of guy who acts like an annoying parent when im a few years older than my date. since we were going to watch a movie, i even rushed her to finish it because the movie was about to start soon. she just kept whining she was already full. she managed to eat a few more bites before i ended up eating some of her leftovers (because she managed to use her aegyo to convince me to eat it. she's the kind of girl who knows how to use her aegyo to her advantage. coincidentally, a kpop singer with a similar aegyo reminds me of her) so we can finally head towards the cinema. im that kind of guy who doesnt want to be late for a movie.
then there's the instance when, not really a valentines date, but i managed to buy the flowers for someone on valentines day. i asked the flower shop to prepare it beforehand so i will just pick it up on the morning of valentines day. problem is, i had the flowers but i dont know how to give it to my intended recipient. she's the kind of girl that's hard to locate. so i spent all day waiting for the moment to give it to her. i managed to give it to her thanks to a friend. i didnt mind waiting all day (sort of) because that incident gave me a nice feeling back then but now that im thinking about it, it reminds me of the guys i just saw at the flower shops earlier today. im currently that kind of guy who just watches other people enjoy this somewhat special tuesday. i dont feel bad to be this guy today. maybe because i have good memories of this "special" day in the past.
the thing i realized now is that, valentines day for me usually doesnt have a good start but it usually ends well. i always sleep with a smile whenever such a day ends. tonight will be the same because of this realization. or maybe i just feel good lately (someone made a comment a few weeks ago that she noticed that im cheerful than usual. i smile more often than the usual and my expression is strangely brighter. maybe she hasnt seen me for quite some time).
i remember half a decade ago...wait...its already more than half a decade ago. wow. its been that long. it feels like just a couple of years ago. anyway, more than half a decade ago, i went to a valentines date and i forgot to bring flowers. yep. of all the things i could forget, i forgot the flowers. i had a really busy day then. being a law student can be hectic at times. i was really drained during that time and i had to go home to go to our family dinner for valentines day. we went to a nearby restaurant. after the family dinner, i went back home to change and my grandmother, who was informed i had a date, told me not to do anything stupid or anything i will regret. she doesnt have to remind me of that. one of my fears is to suddenly have a family of my own. not all surprises are pleasant (but i admit, suddenly having a family of my own cant be all bad. although financially it is). anyway, i was tired and drained and on my way to the restaurant for the date. i didnt bring my car since i wasnt in the mood to drive. too tired. during my commute, while at the waiting shed, there was this old lady selling roses placed in a small metal bucket. i thought of buying a few but i was too busy thinking of something else. so i thought, i will just finish whatever im thinking then im going to buy them roses. well, the next time i remembered buying it was when my date asked me about it. crap. so i honestly said, "i thought of buying them but i forgot". doesnt the thought count? im that kind of guy who doesnt make that much effort. like a blockmate said a month ago, i can be sweet sometimes. but most of the time, im not. im too busy being me.
i remember another date a few years ago where i somehow "scolded" my date to finish everything on her plate. aside from the fact that im going to pay for the somewhat expensive dinner, i dont like to see food being wasted. so i said were not going to leave until she finishes everything. im that kind of guy who acts like an annoying parent when im a few years older than my date. since we were going to watch a movie, i even rushed her to finish it because the movie was about to start soon. she just kept whining she was already full. she managed to eat a few more bites before i ended up eating some of her leftovers (because she managed to use her aegyo to convince me to eat it. she's the kind of girl who knows how to use her aegyo to her advantage. coincidentally, a kpop singer with a similar aegyo reminds me of her) so we can finally head towards the cinema. im that kind of guy who doesnt want to be late for a movie.
then there's the instance when, not really a valentines date, but i managed to buy the flowers for someone on valentines day. i asked the flower shop to prepare it beforehand so i will just pick it up on the morning of valentines day. problem is, i had the flowers but i dont know how to give it to my intended recipient. she's the kind of girl that's hard to locate. so i spent all day waiting for the moment to give it to her. i managed to give it to her thanks to a friend. i didnt mind waiting all day (sort of) because that incident gave me a nice feeling back then but now that im thinking about it, it reminds me of the guys i just saw at the flower shops earlier today. im currently that kind of guy who just watches other people enjoy this somewhat special tuesday. i dont feel bad to be this guy today. maybe because i have good memories of this "special" day in the past.
the thing i realized now is that, valentines day for me usually doesnt have a good start but it usually ends well. i always sleep with a smile whenever such a day ends. tonight will be the same because of this realization. or maybe i just feel good lately (someone made a comment a few weeks ago that she noticed that im cheerful than usual. i smile more often than the usual and my expression is strangely brighter. maybe she hasnt seen me for quite some time).
Sunday, February 12, 2012
shared passion, trust and love are the elements of great relationships
i was on tumblr an hour ago and saw a post reblogging a youtube video. i checked it out and i was impressed by how good the maker of the video is in video editing. its not something really remarkable but it impressed me anyway. impressed me enough to wish that this person makes more videos, and longer ones (and not end the videos a bit abruptly). i think the thing i like about this person's created vids is that this person seems to capture the essence of materials he or she uses and manages to form some harmony with his or her chosen music (or maybe there's just a lot of crappy videos on youtube making this person's vids stand out). in any case, these videos are really good and better than the usual ones i see.
in the video below, i think he or she managed to portray in such a short amount of time how nine girls rose to the top (their debut up to their rise to the top were well documented so there's really a lot of material that can be used and that makes it difficult because narrowing it down is a challenge). it really made me think after seeing the progression of the materials this person used, that snsd probably had no inkling back then that they would be this popular or that their efforts and hardships would pay off on such a grand scale.
seeing the videos above made me remember how poor my video editing skills are. i mean, the vids below took me hours to finish and it only contains pictures! whenever i see fan made videos on youtube which only contains pictures, i automatically brand it as lame. so i really do think the videos i made are lame too and i wish i have much better video editing skills. if only i was in college, i would probably be doing that now, making fan made videos of snsd (therefore, i would spend more hours in front of the computer) and improving my really lame and really poor video editing skills.
this video makes me realize how much i like my college blockmates. i dont recall why i made this video in the first place. i recall i spent hours doing this and it was during the time i was in hibernation mode. i also remember missing a get together during this time. i have no idea where the original file of this video is. although its nice i managed to have an online copy, the resolution of the original is way much better.
i miss the days when i was collecting female celebrity wallpapers. i really spent hours looking for high quality wallpapers of hot female celebrities. i really stayed up really late just collecting wallpapers. this was a nice hobby that ended abruptly during my senior year in law school.
cake1 from anubz on Vimeo.
i think my brain is stimulated a bit since i spent the day finishing a pleading that's due tomorrow. its a labor case and my almost non-existent passionate side comes out a bit whenever i write labor case pleadings.
in the video below, i think he or she managed to portray in such a short amount of time how nine girls rose to the top (their debut up to their rise to the top were well documented so there's really a lot of material that can be used and that makes it difficult because narrowing it down is a challenge). it really made me think after seeing the progression of the materials this person used, that snsd probably had no inkling back then that they would be this popular or that their efforts and hardships would pay off on such a grand scale.
seeing the videos above made me remember how poor my video editing skills are. i mean, the vids below took me hours to finish and it only contains pictures! whenever i see fan made videos on youtube which only contains pictures, i automatically brand it as lame. so i really do think the videos i made are lame too and i wish i have much better video editing skills. if only i was in college, i would probably be doing that now, making fan made videos of snsd (therefore, i would spend more hours in front of the computer) and improving my really lame and really poor video editing skills.
this video makes me realize how much i like my college blockmates. i dont recall why i made this video in the first place. i recall i spent hours doing this and it was during the time i was in hibernation mode. i also remember missing a get together during this time. i have no idea where the original file of this video is. although its nice i managed to have an online copy, the resolution of the original is way much better.
i miss the days when i was collecting female celebrity wallpapers. i really spent hours looking for high quality wallpapers of hot female celebrities. i really stayed up really late just collecting wallpapers. this was a nice hobby that ended abruptly during my senior year in law school.
cake1 from anubz on Vimeo.
i think my brain is stimulated a bit since i spent the day finishing a pleading that's due tomorrow. its a labor case and my almost non-existent passionate side comes out a bit whenever i write labor case pleadings.
Saturday, February 11, 2012
im going to be in a lot of pain tomorrow
as promised to myself, i started going to the gym earlier today. however, i didnt go to a fitness gym (although im considering it). i didnt go to a sleazy men's health club either. i went to an MMA gym. yep. an MMA gym.
one of the reasons i started doing the regular jog thing was because im bothered by how sluggish ive become. i wanted to familiarize my body with my new weight and restore my agility. my physical speed and agility is one of my best kept secrets and when i noticed that im not as fast and agile as i was, then i just lost something im proud of. so i thought, if im going to go to the gym, might as well do something that will help me boost my sense of coordination (aside from improving my agility) in a non-boring way. in short, something like a sport. so im hitting two birds with one stone. by going to an MMA gym, im not only going to a gym, im also engaging in a sport. another reason i thought of going to the gym was because when i went surfing a few weeks ago, i realized how poor my upper body strength was. i was really disappointed with how weak ive become (so that weekend getaway was one of the factors that made me decide to go to a gym).
i initially wanted boxing sessions but i ended up going for muay thai . i thought i can handle the initial muay thai lessons since ive been jogging for months now. but then again, even if ive been exercising for months, my stamina and endurane didnt really improve. its an admitted weakness and i really dont know how to go about it (thats why speed is very crucial for me since i have low stamina, i always try to finish things quickly before i run out of juice).
halfway through the session, i was starting to struggle a bit. fortunately, i managed to finish my first session but every time the trainer/trainor says three (or four or two) more sets (one jab, one straight, two elbow, two knee kicks, etc. or any other combinations) during the latter half of the session, my mind was screaming "aaaaaahhhh!!!!" in exasperation. so i thought of snsd. if 9 girls (or most kpop girl groups) can handle hours of dancing on high heels with blisters on their feet (and get occasionally stepped on by fellow members on high heels) with barely enough sleep (due to their tight schedules) just to master their choreographies, an average guy like me should be able to endure a measly hour of exercise (its one of those moments where one hour can feel very, very long). at least i didnt whine a while ago (although during the last five minutes of the session, im starting to express that i was extremely drained by not kicking very hard).
my challenge to myself now is to attend this gym weekly for at least three months, without fail. if i miss just one week, the three month period shall be reset until i complete three months with going to such gym once a week (so far, ive managed to accomplish the thrice weekly jog).
one of the reasons i started doing the regular jog thing was because im bothered by how sluggish ive become. i wanted to familiarize my body with my new weight and restore my agility. my physical speed and agility is one of my best kept secrets and when i noticed that im not as fast and agile as i was, then i just lost something im proud of. so i thought, if im going to go to the gym, might as well do something that will help me boost my sense of coordination (aside from improving my agility) in a non-boring way. in short, something like a sport. so im hitting two birds with one stone. by going to an MMA gym, im not only going to a gym, im also engaging in a sport. another reason i thought of going to the gym was because when i went surfing a few weeks ago, i realized how poor my upper body strength was. i was really disappointed with how weak ive become (so that weekend getaway was one of the factors that made me decide to go to a gym).
i initially wanted boxing sessions but i ended up going for muay thai . i thought i can handle the initial muay thai lessons since ive been jogging for months now. but then again, even if ive been exercising for months, my stamina and endurane didnt really improve. its an admitted weakness and i really dont know how to go about it (thats why speed is very crucial for me since i have low stamina, i always try to finish things quickly before i run out of juice).
halfway through the session, i was starting to struggle a bit. fortunately, i managed to finish my first session but every time the trainer/trainor says three (or four or two) more sets (one jab, one straight, two elbow, two knee kicks, etc. or any other combinations) during the latter half of the session, my mind was screaming "aaaaaahhhh!!!!" in exasperation. so i thought of snsd. if 9 girls (or most kpop girl groups) can handle hours of dancing on high heels with blisters on their feet (and get occasionally stepped on by fellow members on high heels) with barely enough sleep (due to their tight schedules) just to master their choreographies, an average guy like me should be able to endure a measly hour of exercise (its one of those moments where one hour can feel very, very long). at least i didnt whine a while ago (although during the last five minutes of the session, im starting to express that i was extremely drained by not kicking very hard).
my challenge to myself now is to attend this gym weekly for at least three months, without fail. if i miss just one week, the three month period shall be reset until i complete three months with going to such gym once a week (so far, ive managed to accomplish the thrice weekly jog).
Friday, February 10, 2012
Sunday, February 05, 2012
im old. i really should start working my ass off
girls' generation were on the late show with david letterman last week and their performance was flawless (i still cant shake off the somewhat sloppy performance they did a few months ago in an awards show). i wasnt expecting they would be doing some sort of promotions in the US any time soon since all of them are gainfully employed by doing other activities. currently, four of them are actresses in dramas (three are lead actresses for "love rain", "speed" and "fashion king" while one has an eight episode stint in the drama "wild romance"), two are permanent cast members in a reality/variety show ("invincible youth" season 2 and one of these two will also be part of the musical "catch me if you can", becoming the fourth member of the group to be casted in another musical) and three are permanent MCs/hosts of a music program (one of the three just finished her lead role in the musical "Fame" which lasted for a few months). these activities are in addition to attending various other programs as guests and hosting their own program where all nine of them are together ("girls generation and the dangerous boys").
this is why one of their wishes they consistently say when asked what they want is...be given time to rest. but i think this is something half-meant on their part. they know that popularity doesnt last forever and they are seizing the moment and taking every opportunity they can hold on to. its reflected on their hardwork and dedication. they invested so much to be where they are now. they used up their pre-teen to mid-teen years training to become professional celebrities. this is their chosen line of work after all. this is no different from studying to become a lawyer for years and working one's ass off everyday for a decade (or maybe a little over half a decade) to at least get back all the time and effort invested during the law school years (and this is why im not earning much. because i really didnt invest any time and effort preparing for my chosen line of work)
anyway, the performances they made in the US (the late show with david letterman and live with kelly, just hours apart) became a news item in various countries (Malaysia, Indonesia, Ukraine, Italy, France and Spain). i thought, is it really that news worthy? then with the kind of foreign news we have (viral youtube vids), i thought "yep. it is". a girl group from south korea isnt something new. the wonder girls have made an international impact a few years back. but the thing with girls generation is their doing it with their own approach. they have their own way of establishing themselves and i find it interesting how theyre doing it.
this is why one of their wishes they consistently say when asked what they want is...be given time to rest. but i think this is something half-meant on their part. they know that popularity doesnt last forever and they are seizing the moment and taking every opportunity they can hold on to. its reflected on their hardwork and dedication. they invested so much to be where they are now. they used up their pre-teen to mid-teen years training to become professional celebrities. this is their chosen line of work after all. this is no different from studying to become a lawyer for years and working one's ass off everyday for a decade (or maybe a little over half a decade) to at least get back all the time and effort invested during the law school years (and this is why im not earning much. because i really didnt invest any time and effort preparing for my chosen line of work)
anyway, the performances they made in the US (the late show with david letterman and live with kelly, just hours apart) became a news item in various countries (Malaysia, Indonesia, Ukraine, Italy, France and Spain). i thought, is it really that news worthy? then with the kind of foreign news we have (viral youtube vids), i thought "yep. it is". a girl group from south korea isnt something new. the wonder girls have made an international impact a few years back. but the thing with girls generation is their doing it with their own approach. they have their own way of establishing themselves and i find it interesting how theyre doing it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)