(COLUMN: the vacant seat)

GRIN n’ BEAR IT

Lanie Lei M. Madiam

            Propped on my elbows, I try to ponder on how “unnoticed” things are. Just like the unoccupied seat on the corner. Or how it would merely make me space out. A seat is a structure meant to give different business, recreational, sulking, happy, and intimate purposes such as for sitting, stepping, and standing on, a graffiti wall for baloney craps and pent-up forbidden romance, or even an indecent secret place for bubbly-no-more worn-out bubble gums. However, it could also be a place for those who seek silence and occasional detachment from the world. And at times, it is a worthless object as vacant as it is. The thing is a chair is very intricate beyond its external simplicity.

Such simple things may always bring from one wonder to another.

Like in this case, that I am currently squeezing my butt into this chair and pouring out what my mind says about how “unnoticed” things are eventually, this vacant-before-seat is now my lair.     

THE BOLD MAN says…

“AKO ANG SIMULA.”

It’s a starting line. On the other end of the road is another starting line. It doesn’t end. Yet, what starts it is definitely the subject of the starting line. “I” am the subject. But what shall “I” start?

            “I” will have to start constructing a phrase into a sentence, into a story…the story of becoming bold and still bolder for that matter. When you say bold, it is not stripping a part of you, tearing yourself from the world, stepping yourself into bigger risks, fanning yourself into perfection, but a full definition of facing yourself is what it is.  Bold is the easiest thing to become. It is expected of a man. Yet we still find it difficult to be one. In one way or another, we are already bold, because in order to survive and live, we need to and be always ready to face whatever is needed for us to survive and live life. But, we have to be bolder.

            Bolder, I say, in a sense that it is upholding ourselves into the breadth of daring. Daring emphasizes the state of mind that makes one willing to meet danger. Boldness is beyond the usual limits of conventional thought or action. It emphasizes the act of doing something that involves risk. “To be bold is not to have to think about it and simply do it.” To be bold is to make the first move, do something predictable, ask for what you want, take risks, and to rediscover who you are. “To be daring is usually not associated with masculinity (or womanhood). Man is expected to be deliberate and temperate; nonetheless, in short, to be circumspect. There’s thus a fine line between boldness and daring for most people. A man who dares is a rarity. But a bold man is typical.”, as Prof. Oscar V. Campomanes of Ateneo de Manila University English Department and the UST Graduate School shared. Boldness does not refer here to being neither brash nor boastful, as most of us act recklessly without thinking first when it should be thinking first before we act which is daring exactly. It is not utterly of pure confidence and a brilliant aura. It is overcoming the fear of success. It aims to transcend to a higher level – that of gaining courage so to speak. As courage is synonymous to daring, anyone who has courage, therefore, tends to be daring. He is apt to be bolder.

“AKO MISMO.”

            The nation. The youth. They are interconnected. They are one. It does not just start with “I”. It co-starts with “myself”--- a deeper meaning of delving and dealing with oneself for the good of others.

            The youth is said to be the nation’s hope. Some say this sentence no longer exists. To the young ones whom this is addressed, how will we have to prove the latter to be wrong? I say do not be indifferent. Do not be unmindful of what is currently happening around us. Get involved. Say what you must rightfully and righteously. At the same time, be logical and open. In school, participate in class. It is there where we are honed with the most difficult undertakings; yet, it is for us to be able to take things easier when we are to leave the portals of this pedagogy. All it takes is to be a God-fearing optimist.

Nationally, the incoming elections are near. It is in choosing carefully that we start to take a large step in shaping the government and its political system. And as we choose individually, we have to consider what it is to become a president, how to hold the wellbeing of the people and how to control the power. These, aside from scrutinizing the who and what of the presidentiables are important aspects we should look into. There’s also this one character that we must scrupulously take note: “He is a man who can stand and who already stands when no one can. He is standing in behalf of the others for justice and peace.” He is bold enough to stand out so that others may follow. And when others stand out, he sets himself to be the standard among the people. “A good example is Ninoy Aquino.”, as elaborated to me by Mr. Roli Wakit, my former teacher.

Youth comprises mostly of our population. Therefore, it should comprise mostly of the electoral votes. When we are involved, we are proving the elders and the generations before us that we exist, that there is more to us than just mere participating electorate. That though we live in a modern technology-based world and we are likely to be more knowledgeable than those ahead of us, but not wise enough to surpass the generations before us, we are also seeking for enlightenment. That what we also do is shaping a government--our government, into a nation of harmony and unison amidst trials, changing the nation and molding the future we can call our own. It is taking into action and making it into a reality that famous adage “The youth is the nation’s hope”.

Yes, we –the youth are its hope. We are its light. We are its future.

            Each of us exists to coexist with other people. We are here to be a guide, to be a leader, to be a servant, to give radiance and not abhorrence, to show way and not to murk what is ahead of us, and to be a part of a whole and a whole of a part.

            This is our role.

            It is my role and your role.

            It is becoming bolder.

“IF YOU DO THINGS WELL, DO THEM BETTER. BE DARING. BE FIRST. BE DIFFERENT.”  

{ book } botany and systematics
{ show } none. im fond of anime but im into academics these weeks

Filed under orinji no iru | hn. your pen's toilet

okay so i sat here starting at 10:30 am. then i had lunch. then i came back after my mom sat here. i took over until let's say now...11:25.... it's almost like 12 hours working on schoolpaper works and powerpoint presentations. of course i had coffeebreaks and the like. i'm just dropping by to relieve my head somehow.

in truth, i always had no interest in social networking even just making one and put your name. i felt it was boring or sorta tiring...something like that. well..lately incidences (uncontrollably and undeniably very strong for that matter) took me to the portals of multiply and tabulas. it was a "a very discreet and formal" reason.

then, i found it look exactly like some sort of a cute place ----my lair.

eversince i was a kid, i kept with me three to five notebooks that one of them breathes until now. i always find them naturally sleek (self-defined. hehe). it is personally reflective and directly a summary of the acting me and my, well, collective conscious.

so it all made sense.

okay. it would benefit me somehow. but i'm still keeping the boundaries.

words are not really enough. so i'll have key to in my thoughts later again.

----------------

back to business..

{ show } sports unlimited

Filed under dengeki daisy | hn. your pen's toilet

it's a 3:25 ferial afternoon

another day would pass by again like there had been nothing special about it. well, i should be resting by now from a hiking in masoc with two goals at hand. one is moss gathering for our investigatory proj./research in Bio 211a "taxonomical and microbial study of moss"; and the other, our whole department -- the School/College of Arts and Sciences will get together for a "clearing the area" project.

supposedly. that is

at around 4pm today....that's 25 minutes to go.....i will be one of the 18 candles of an acquaintance of mine. however (you got it right), i can't make it again. rrrrrr....

that's how many?

okay. okay. so it's all because this "something-came-up"-as-always-incident. i always thought that if i came back with a whole new picture that awaits for me, i'd be able to be "normal" again.

but then. i find things going with the flow on its own. though i am really defined by people who know me as unconsciously spontaneous, i still want my dreams to be intact.

i'm still happy and fine with all these pricky tribulations and recently-discovered crankiness of me-and-this nerve-racking world i'm currently stepping on.

i might be having difficulty too but i always keep my mood swings of three: scowling, smirking, sound blithe

(just in case in need to really calm myself, and find the stolen courage and confidence once more.)

so now that i half-heratedly regret not meeting my other appointments, meeting, social gatherings and the like, i still have to prioritize my health and my body so that i'll be able to perform my duties well.

i guess, i'll have to drop by again some other time.

(waaahhh...i'm still half-way with my powerpoint presentation. huhu)

ciao!

{ mood } yet dizzy

Filed under bleach | hn. your pen's toilet

{ music } dunno the title
{ show } gawad geny lopez jr. bayani award

Filed under the frantic disciple counts | hn. your pen's toilet

i hug myself in seek of desperate warmth
from the harsh breeze of Atlantis.
"penge"                     mumbling my lips were.....
the oasis of oblivion shrugs me out of defeat
when it couldn't tempt me to insanity
instead it now politely asks me for mercy and selfless compassion
to redeem myself from the wreckage of the darkest invasion.
"penge"                     groaning its voice was.....

{ mood } pussy-eyed

Filed under the frantic disciple counts | hn. your pen's toilet

i am dropping by to free myself from this pent-up dimension within.

i am dropping by to see what is ahead of me.

i am dropping by to acquaint myself.

i am dropping by just to simply drop by.

{ music } nestle coffeemate soundtrack
{ book } my own tabulas file. sending some reports for tomorrow
{ show } beats me
{ mood } bouncy

Filed under dengeki daisy | hn. your pen's toilet

it's sunday. i just opened my window to see a whole new world...

i am going to attend this morning mass....and do my metier.

praying things will go smoothly...

til next time.

Filed under dengeki daisy | hn. your pen's toilet

Seven years later…

2 weeks elapsed February…

Early morn…

Criiiinnnnggg!!… Criiiinnnnggg!!… Criiiinnnnggg!!...

A phone call wakes up the sleepyhead and Mr. Sun is already peeping in the window. Just then a slender hand reaches out for the phone, “Hello!? Gianni Vezeley residence. Nei Art Prism is speaking.”

“Good morning, Nei! It’s me, your aunt Anne. You still sound sluggish!”

“Good morning tita! Errr... Why did you call so early tita?”

            “I just want to tell you that we’re going to visit your favorite nephew this afternoon at exactly 3. I hope you’re not quite busy.”

            “Ahh... Sure! I think I can put up to that. Anyway, thanks for the wake up call tita!”

            “Great! Your welcome my dear. Can you tell Brandon that I need to talk to him right now?”

            “Okay. Just a jiffy... (she shouts at the other room) HEY SLEEPYHEAD! AUNT ANNE WANTS TO TALK TO YOU RIGHT NOW!”

            “Nice! Why don’t you just get up and go to his room?”

            “Nah... Hang in there...BRANDON?!?!”

“WHAT! I DIDN’T UNDERSTAND!” Brandon yells back.

“JUST PICK UP THE PHONE!”

“ALL RIGHT THEN... I GOT IT. THANKS.”

“He’s on the phone now Nei. Thanks. You better get ready for school. Bye.” Aunt Anne confirms.

“Yea. Yea. Bye too tita.” Nei hangs up the phone. She looks at the clock and it’s 4:08 AM. Then, she remembers the paper works she left last night in her study table. Oh, what a mess it is to look at as she glances over the table! So, she jumps out of bed and fixes everything. 10 minutes past, she grabs her laptop and opens her e-mail. She gets surprised to see only at least a dozen of mails when she always gets loads and loads of business e-mails and a little of how-do-you-do ones.

Just like the other days. Just like her usual days. Nothing unordinary.

                                                                                                (to be continued…)

{ book } had a pause on academics...tabulas for now
{ mood } hungry

Filed under escape pod | hn. your pen's toilet

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

Entrance: Lion King music (slow movements, curtains slowly open), Drum beats. Curtains up. Music stops. Trumpet sounds.

Scene I – The Ball

Xamiere:          Ho! Ho! Ho! Mademioselles and Monsieurs, Bon jour. Our young prince is celebrating his 21^st birthday today. In line with the fete, we will honor men of the world of inventions. Ahem! Let the celebration begin. (The ball continues.)

Narrator:          After the dancing and everything, Xamiere calls upon the attention of everyone, calls the name of each person who will give their respective gifts to the Prince. As the last name is called, an old woman steps forward.

Xamiere:          Madame Aluning of Bambangville??!!

Enchantress:  Your highness, I honor your grace with the best gift I have.

Prince:             What is this? A black rose?

Narrator:          Repulsed by her appearance and her gift, the Prince sneers at the old woman. She warns him not to be deceived by appearances, for beauty is found within. When he dismisses her again, the old woman’s ugliness melts away to reveal a beautiful enchantress. She says that she has seen no love in his heart. The time stops. A black witch appears and laughs all the way.

Black Witch:    Ha! Ha! Ha! Hi,hi,hi!

Narrator:          The black witch argues with the enchantress. Then, the black witch casts a spell to the Prince, who’ll turn to a beast, the royal servants to household objects. Afterwards, she vanishes. The enchantress can’t do anything. She can’t remove the spell but makes a condition that the spell will only be broken if....before the last magical flower petal will change into white, he learns to love someone and be loved. The enchantress calls for the white witch and they make everyone move unconsciously.

                        Meanwhile, the Prince bents down in shame. The white witch concealed the castle with thick forests and fog, and turned the castle into an old shabby cottage; while the enchantress gave the Prince a magical goblet as his window to the outside world.

Scene II – Beauty and the Villagers

Narrator:          Not far from the castle in the Cheness-Chuva Village lived a pretty belle named Kendra. She is thought to be peculiar for she loves reading books but still everyone’s fond of her. The most sought-after bachelor, Andre dreams of marrying her.

                        One day, Kendra takes a walk towards town. (Musical)

Kendra:           (singing “Breaking free&rdquo Living in my own world, didn’t understand that anything could happen, when you take the chance. I never believed in what I couldn’t see, I never opened my eyes to all the possibilities...

People:            (singing...pa-isa-isa) Bonjour! Good day!

Kendra:           Good morning, too! (continues singing) We’re soaring flying, there’s not a star in heaven that we couldn’t reach. If we’re trying, we’re breaking free...

Farmer 1:        (singing) Look at the sky tell me what do you see just close your eyes...

Beggar:           (singing) And describe it to me. The heavens are sparkling with starlight so bright...

Farmer 2:        (singing) That’s what I see thru your eyes...

All:                   (singing) We’re running, walking to get to that place to be all that we can be, now’s the time... we’re breaking free...

** Kendra reaches the library. The librarian sees her and hands out a new book.

Kendra:           (walks then sits...singing) It’s magic, you can do anything that you desire... Oh, magic!

Andre:              (to a villager....singing) I’m perfect for her... (sees Kendra and looks at her) Baby, she’s perfect for me...When I saw her face and now I’m a believer... she doubted my mind...when I’m in love, I’m a believer...

3 Girls:             (singing “I’m a Believer&rdquo When we saw his face, we were believers. He’s on our minds. He didn’t choose us...Oh, we’re in love...

Andre:              (goes near Kendra and sings) Every night in my dreams, I see you, I feel you, that is how I love you...Oh, Kendra...

Friend of Andre:          (whispers to Andre)You know, Andre, my friend – you are one lucky guy but, why do you kept on going after her when there are dozens of ladies out there wanting your attention. Kendra is a fine girl and beautiful, the most beautiful in town. But she’s not like other girls -- she’s rather odd, I say...always reading a book... (loudens his voice and looks at Kendra)...and maybe crazy too like her father.

Kendra:           My father’s not crazy! He’s a genius! (BOOM!)

(Kendra runs in the direction of the sound and everyone laughs.)

Father? Are you all right?

Father:             Yes, I am...I am. Oh! I’ll never win the fair.

Kendra:           Yes, you will. And you’ll be a world famous inventor!

Father:             (singing “Never had a dream come true&rdquo Oooooh...Everybody’s got something they have to leave behind... only grays from yesterday...let you seem to grow in time...there’s no use looking back... or wonder on how it could’ve been now...all this I know but still I can’t find ways to do right... I never had a dream come true...till the day I had you...even though I pretend that life goes on...you’ll always be my baby...I never had the words to say...you’re the one I think each day...I never had a dream come true...till the day I had you....

(Talks to his daughter) Do you really believe it? (She nods.) All right then. I’ll finish this in no time and before you know it, I’m off to the fair.

Scene III – A secret found

Narrator:          After a few hours, Mang Pepito’s invention worked. That afternoon, he packed his things on the wagon and heads off to the fair. Hours later, while on the road...A weary old woman asks if she can take a ride. In exchange of the free ride, she tells him of a shortcut way going to the fair but he is going to pass through the forest. The forest road scares Yttrien – the horse, as the animal forests howls. When suddenly, Zombies appear before them on the road.

Zombies:         Over there...Fooood...fooood...fooood....After them...after them...

(sings a tune from the movie Ice Age) Ooh, food! Wonderful food...glorious food!...Wonderful food! Glorious food! Wonderful food! Glorious food! (after singing still continue saying)...Fooood...fooood...Fooood...fooood.....

Narrator:          The horse got very scared and bolted fast, dropping Kendra’s father on the ground. Mang Pepito has no choice but to run on foot. Fearfully, he ran as fast as his feet could, that stumbles to the ground. Glancing at his back, he saw how far he had run and the zombies were no longer in sight. He stands and looks at his surroundings... He sees an old cottage insight. He approached it and knocks but no one answers. He slowly opened the door and went inside. What he sees inside surprised him and he couldn’t believe himself. He is inside a gloomy castle. Yes, a castle – indeed!

Mang Pepito:   Hello? Anybody home? Can I stay for the night? I just want some shelter and warmth... I will leave by morning...I promise...I was lost in the woods and... (enters and walks slowly around)

Louver:            Do you think the master will like it? It’s definitely... ---Wait can you hear that?

Hans:               What? Where? I can’t hear anything? ....Is that a man’s voice?

Hans, Louver and Xamiere: (Sings-“Tell me who it was&rdquo Wait a minute...tell me who it jams the bells this late...don’t look at me crazy... it didn’t feel alright...I had a lot to say...tell me who is it (3x)...whoever he is(3x)...tell me who it is...  

Xamiere:          O—ooH...this can’t be good...I don’t think we should... I don’t think He should be in here.

Hans:               Don’t be ridiculous. The poor man needs a shelter... didn’t you hear what he said...he said just for tonight...C’mon, it’s freezing out there. (starts to go in the hall)

Xamiere:          No...No...No...wait! The master does not like strangers. (Louver and Hans proceed in the hall while Xamiere slowly follows behind )

Hans:               Mister, you’re welcome in here.

Mang Pepito:   Who’s in there?

Xamiere, Louver and Hans:    It’s us!

Narrator:          Mang Pepito can’t believe what he is seeing. The entire enchanted household entertains and serves him for the night. When the Master of the house arrived and sees the stranger and hauls him off to the freezing barred cell. Mang Pepito freezes instantly.

                        Meanwhile, back in the village Kendra awaits for her father to return when a knock disturbs her thoughts. And Andre swaggers in...

Andre:              Hi, Kendra! This is the day that your dreams will come true.

Kendra:           What do you know about my dreams, Andre?

Andre:              (sings from the “The Gift&rdquo The snow is falling...the city is white...your eyes are shinning like diamonds tonight and we’re all alone... there’s no one home...you’re finally in my arms again...Coz I love you , girl... I always will and I wonder if the moment is right...The moment is right... I’m waiting to give this gift tonight I’m down on my knees there’s no better time...Tonight I’m gonna give you...Oh girl, all my heart can give...

                        (stops singing and says to Kendra) Say, you’ll marry me...

Kendra:           I’m sorry but I don’t deserve you.

Narrator:          Haplessly, Andre fails to convince Kendra to marry him. As he goes out, he falls out the doorway into a carabao manure! After Andre left, an old woman knocks and asks for a glass of water. In return to Kendra’s kindness, she gives her a book which delights her so much.

** Kendra sits and reads the book.

Kendra:           .....Oh, where are the other pages? I like this book so much, unfortunately the last pages are missing...Who is that I hear coming?

                        (Stands and goes to the window.)

Narrator:          Yttrien has returned alone with the wagon. Kendra worries about her father and asks the horse to take him to where her father is. In the forest, she sees her father’s hat inside the cottage’s gate. She rushes inside the cottage.

Derick:             Mother! There’s a girl in the hall.

Mrs. Potts:       A girl? Don’t be silly, little one.

Cabby:             It’s true. Come and see. Could she be the one?

Mrs. Potts:       (goes with them) Oh! A girl?.... A girl! There’s a girl! How wonderful! She could be the one.

Derick:             The one? What one, mother?

Mrs. Potts:       The key to be human again. Won’t you like that?

Kendra:           (goes directly to the cell) Father! What have they done to you? Why are you in that icy prison?

Beast:              Who are you? What are you doing here?

Kendra:           He is my father. I’ve come to look for him. What have you done to him? My father is a good man.

Beast:              Are you sure he is a good man? How come he trespasses into my land? He even entered my house and acts like a King in my own house!

Kendra:           He is a good man, I can assure you that. Please, Sir, let him go.

Beast:              I can’t do that. My prisoner is my prisoner forever!

Kendra:           Sir, please...(She kneels in front of the Beast)...Please, he is sick and old...(Looks at the Beast)...Wait! If somebody takes his place will you free him?

Beast:              I don’t usually do that...

Kendra:           (still kneeling but looks downward) Please, Sir... I’m willing to take his place!

Beast:              You are?... Then, fine! He can go!

Narrator:          The Beast drags Mang Pepito out of the cell and out of his castle. The Beast returns and sees her crying. He did not attempt to talk to her, instead he orders his staff to show her room and informs her that she can go anywhere in the castle except to enter the attic. The Beast also tells his staff that she would dine with him for supper. And at suppertime they went to call for Kendra and...     

Derick:             (Knocks at the door) Miss Kendra, the master says you are to dine with him for supper.

Kendra:           (Speaking from inside the room) I am not going to dine with him!

Cabby:             But, Miss...the Beast will be angry if you don’t show up. I can guarantee you it won’t be good if he gets mad, it is a lot nicer to dine with him.

Mrs. Potts:       He may not be good to look at, unlike you...but...anyway, you may not look at him if you want. You know, just stare at your food. Before you know it dinner’s over.

Dulaine:           We will wait for you till you came out of your room. For sure you will want some food later.

Kendra:           No. I am not hungry. I don’t want to dine with him.

Dulaine:           (They all leave her room, while walking...) Oh, no! The Beast won’t like it. I feel it. What would we tell him? Better tell the truth I guess...

Beast:              What took you so long to fetch her? I’m hungry! Why? Where is she?

Perth:              Still in her room, I say.

Dulaine:           She says she is not hungry, master Beast.

Beast:              You mean – she doesn’t want to dine with a Beast like me.

Cabby:             Well, don’t expect anyone to just...you know dine with you... it’s the first time...and you’re the first one she sees looking like that...and us like this...

Perth:              Cabby’s right, Beast. It’s not everyday that you see household objects moving on their own and talking and a Beast... so Beastly.

Beast:              I am the master here, am I not? I want her here NOW!!!

Mrs. Potts, Derick, Cabby and Dulaine:         But she....She says she doesn’t want to dine with you, master Beast.

Beast:              All right! If she doesn’t want to eat with me now, then she doesn’t eat at all!

** Kendra is being entertained by the household staff.(singing and dancing)...

Come on over, come on over baby(4x)...Hey, girl don’t you know I got something going on...Yes, I do...All my friends have gone and go...going to party all night long...oooh yeah...I know , you know...I just want to let you know...the gang will hide, you’ll never be alone...so girl, won’t come, we will party thru the dawn...listen to me baby...come on over...come on over...come on over baby...

                        Hakuna matata!... Hakuna matata it means need no worries(2x)...Hakuna matata(2x)...need no worries!

                        We’ll be anticipating...this is our song...we’re playing we wanna rock...rock with you...you’re seeing this right let’s do this tonight...step up baby don’t be shy...hope you feel like I am...don’t wanna play around...baby watch us move...(2x)  

Narrator:          As days go by Kendra and the Beast became friends. And...

** Beast and Kendra singing together, looking eye to eye.

                        Living in my own world, Didn’t understand that anything could happen, When you take the chance, I never believed in, What I couldn’t see, I never opened my heart Ooh, I know that something has changed, Never felt this way, This could be [ the start of something new (2x)]        

Hey, there’s a look in your eyes must be love at second sight, You know just a part of my dream nothing more it seem, Just can’t forget the picture of your smile, Everytime I close my eyes you come alive, The closer I get to touching you, The closer I get to loving you...

                        [Can you feel the love tonight... it is where we are (2x)]

**Beauty and the Beast stand to dance to the Theme song.

                        Talers all this time, True as it can be, Fairly even friends, Then somebody bends- unexpectedly, Just a little change, Small to say the least, Both a little scarred, Nor the one prepared, Beauty and the Beast, Ever just the same, Ever has a prize, Ever as before, Ever just as sure, As the sun will rise, Talers all this time, Tune as all the song, Bittersweet and strange, Finding you can change, Learning you were wrong, Certain as the sun, Rising in the east, [Talers all this time, Song as old as rhyme, Beauty and the Beast...2x]

Beast:              Are you happy here with me?

Beauty:            Yes, if only...I could see my father.

Beast:              Here, come and see. This magic goblet is my window to the outside world you can see anything and anyone you want to see. Come, take a look.

Beauty:            That’s my father. He is sick. If only I can do something to help him...

Beast:              Go, to your father. You are no longer my prisoner. I’m setting you free. Take this goblet to remind you of me.

                        (sings) I’ll let you go, I’ll let you fly, Why do I keep on asking why, I’ll let you go, Now that I’ve found, A way to keep somehow, More than a broken vow...

Beauty:            What did you say? You’re setting me free? Thank you... Thank you so much.

Scene IV – Bitter,  Sweet and Spicy

Narrator:          Beauty returned to the village. Meanwhile, her father had told them about the Beast and the talking objects and furniture in an enchanted castle by the forest. No one believed him and everybody thought he had gone crazy. However Kendra’s suitor, Andre plots to send her father to a mental institution and told the Psychiatrist that it is the only way he could make Kendra marry him after she refused his proposal.

                        As the people took Mang Pepito to the institution, Kendra steps in—saying she could prove her father is telling the truth. She shows them the magic goblet and Lo! What they saw not only surprised them but they too were frightened. They forgot about Mang Pepito’s craziness. Instead, the people, with Andre leading them marched off to the forest armed with forks and spikes to kill the Beast.

** Townsfolk singing... We will, we will knock you (2x)... knock you... We will, we will kill you (2x)...kill you!      

{ music } beeping of phone
{ mood } mellow

Filed under escape pod | hn. your pen's toilet

A  Pen

By: Lanie Lei Madiam

( 5th Place, English Feature Writing   

2006 Dvision Schools Press Conference )

          “The pen is mightier than the sword.”

            Does this line ring a bell? Or is it just a familiar mot that you’ve heard many times? Dr. Jose Rizal, the Philippines’ National Hero uttered those mere words more than a century ago when the Spaniards stepped in the Pearl of the Orient Seas. Thus, these words have left marks in the lives of many Filipinos.

            In those words, something stands always corrected. Ergo, it makes it so remarkable.

            Remarkably that, that thing has written so many scribbles in so many ways – may it be beautiful or ugly. Do you know what that thing is?

            Yes, you do. And that’s ME. Yes, it’s me. And i’m known for it. My name spells unique and sweet.  P  E N . See? Very short but there’s something else beyond those letters. You see, I have made history. I was invented by the mischievous mind and playful hands of my own maker. I was brought into this world for a purpose. For little children, I maybe their first instrument or toy in expressing themselves through the illegible markings and doodles they make. For the common people, I maybe used for writing schedules, plans, etc. For professionals, I am of great importance in making structures, decisions, options and even an idea. For architects and artists, I am a drawing and marking tool. For writers, I am a final creator of their thoughts and ideas. For expressive and non-expressive people, there I am an instrument of lexis and sensations. And for everyone left alone in this world, I am a baloney but, truly a great inspiration.

            The great, great forefathers of mankind have used things to express and say anything. In those times, when I was still not born, they use replacements of me. My name hasn’t been jumping in their tiny minds yet. Albeit the spirit inside me has long been born in this world. Only... spelled out differently.

            Sometimes, my name spells risk. It brings out the hatred and anger between two or more innocent hearts. I am something that is so sharp that I get people damp with those red blothches through those words I write. Hence, I am also considered as a messy blot, a dangerous criminal.

            Yet, I am mightier than the sword, for I bloodlessly eradicate those who block both my own and my Lord’s way.

            For all of you, my masters, I am your humble servant. To whatever you please, I will do. But in return, I ask you nothing except that I want you to give me the title,

            “A Piece, Enraging with Nurture of Love”. #

{ mood } booming

Filed under escape pod | hn. your pen's toilet

"He thinks. He reasons. He feels.

              He notices. He intercepts and colors.

      He explores beyond reality.

      He explores within reality.

                        He does.

                                    He writes.   He talks.         He shares.

The mere pleasure of forming word-tailing-word and phrase-tailing-phrase

These are all part of the intelligence he possess.

It is his knowledge.

It is his wisdom. "

This is man and his literature.

It is what makes him unique.

{ music } jed maddela
{ show } ASAP
{ mood } awake

Filed under orinji no iru | hn. your pen's toilet

foreword

            S.Y. 2007-2008. 2^nd Semester

            The ladderized curriculum of Health Sciences department has introduced to its freshmen Nursing students the HC 1 (Introduction to Elder Care and Special Needs) subject, which is a 6-month caregiver course and a preparatory course for the nursing profession.

            This course prepares the students to be globally competitive in providing and fostering care, comfort, support, and safety to infants, toddlers, preschoolers, school aged-children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly in all aspects of living.

            In order to achieve these goals, assessments, and return demonstrations are the required responses of the students to the various competencies taught through methodologies such as discussions, demonstrations, brainstorming, role plays, simulations, and video viewing/ presentations.

            It is quite enough difficult to see things through in accomplishing every tasks and topics. Complete attention and careful analysis are needed in tracing and remembering every detail. Albeit, all of these aid in the fulfillment of the vision and mission of creating a youth of pro-humanity.

!&!

            Being the first batch to pioneer the HC1 subject, we are not just advance in the lessons but we are also honed as early as now in the different objectives of the nursing and caregiving roles. In the learning activities meant to help us progress safely and continuously into performing the skills, practice, practice and more practice is definitely very significant.

            Interesting for my part, this course is also exciting and it thrills me more and more each passing day.

            Well…here are what I have learned during the lectures and in the skills a caregiver and nurse must acquire.

Pre-liminary Period

November to December 2007

            I enrolled late for the 2^nd semester, that’s why I belonged to section K.

            For the first weeks of classes, our designated teachers in HC 1 were not yet in permanently; while the rest of the other classes had already started some discussions. We had a complicated start — from schedules, and teachers to lessons, and classroom settlement.

            Finally, after everything has been settled down, our Monday to Wednesday teacher, Ma’am Shyr Javier has begun teaching to us the basics, first and foremost, the proper hand washing.

HAND WASHING

            Learning the proper handwashing technique is very different from the usual hand washing taught when I was still little.

            The single and most vital practice for averting the transfer of microorganisms, and therefore nosocomial infection, is correct and frequent hand washing. Protecting myself, my coworkers would be most necessary so that I may also provide the protection and safety needed for the patient.

            There are two types of hand washing:

(a)    medical procedure — direction starts from the elbow raised above the hands towards                                        the hands

(b)   surgical procedure — direction starts from the hands raised above the elbows towards                                the elbows

This procedure is entailed before and after every procedure and work to be made for a healthier wellness assurance of the whole lieu per se.

In hand washing, friction, running water and soap are the three most essential elements to remove microorganisms or other substances that may be present in the hands. In doing so, vigorous rubbing for approximately 10 seconds must be observed. Only the water, soap and the towelet should get contact with the skin. Avoid touching the sink. Use tissue paper or dry paper towel when turning on or off the faucet. These are due to microorganisms that accumulate in the sink and dirty hands have touched the faucet before doing the hand washing. Lathering the soap is also needed. The areas in the hands that are properly rubbed are the sub-ungal, fingernails, knuckles, interphalanges and of course the arms.  Growing fingernails must be cut short and avoid placing nail polish on fingernails.   

What we all performed was the medical hand washing. Having a new skill learned, I have experienced the necessity of doing so and the keen observation provided for the intricate details entailed in the skill. It always leads to the attainment of its objective — basic infection control.

Though every section had different instructors, who had different strategies and teachings, the concepts are still the same.

VITAL SIGNS

            Vital signs indicate the patient’s health status. Under these are temperature, pulse rate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure.

            Changes in one vital sign can trigger changes in other vital signs.

            Vital signs are assessed when a client is admitted to a health care agency to establish baseline data and when there is a change or possibility of a change in the client’s condition.

            Knowledge of the normal ranges of vital signs and of the factors that regulate and influence vital signs helps the nurse interpret the measurements that deviate from normal.

            Knowledge of factors affecting heat production and heat loss helps the nurse to implement appropriate interventions when the client has a fever or hypothermia.

            Factors affecting body temperature include age, diurnal variations, exercise, hormones, stress, and environmental temperatures.

            Pulse rate and volume reflect the stroke volume output, the compliance of the client’s arteries, and the adequacy of blood flow.

            Respirations are normally quiet, effortless and automatic and are assessed by observing respiratory rate, depth, rhythm, and sound.

            Blood pressure reflects cardiac output, peripheral vascular resistance, blood volume, and blood viscosity; peripheral vascular resistance varies according to the size of the arterioles and capillaries, and compliance of the arteries.

CHILDCARE

            Keeping the babies and older children safe and comfortable at home is the major role of a caregiver. It includes giving and providing their usual habits — feeding, clothing, bathing, cleaning, playing, merriment, resting etc.

            As a caregiver, it is an accountability to give the children basic lessons on speaking, reading, counting, and writing. Aside from those, it is also necessary to inculcate moral and spiritual values in the child’s mind. Another is that a caregiver must constantly remind the child that good manners and right conduct are a way of life.

            In this topic, I have learned that avoiding confusion and uncertainty makes the caregiver do the right thing at the right time.

THE NATURE OF HUMAN GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT

            Growth and development, which are considered a single process, go on constantly, continuing through childhood and into adulthood.

            A caregiver may care for children both healthy and unwell. Therefore, it is essential to know and understand normal development in order to be better prepared to care for any child for whom he has responsibility. I have also learned that it is a need to understand normal behavior before understanding the abnormal behavior.

            Basic concepts on children are also further viewed. Always remember that children are individuals. They are influenced by genetic factors, home and environment and parental attitudes. Chronological and developmental ages of children are the most important contributing factors influencing their care. Play is a natural medium fro expression, communication and growth in children. In the care of children, the main objective in providing health maintenance is a family-centered environment. Prevention of illness and maintenance of health are the main thrusts in the health care of heath.

            Another thing to bear in mind is the pattern of growth of the child — cephalocaudal and proximodistal— and its rates. 

            There are four theories which I have learned in order to understand better a child’s nature.

a.)                Psychoanalytical Theory of Sigmund Freud

—    Id (primary process): operates on pleasure principle

—    Ego (secondary process): conscious

—    Superego: operates on ideal principle

—    it consists of psychosexual theory ( oral, anal, phallic, latency, and genital )  

b.)                Psychosocial Model of Erickson

—    Personality development is influenced by biological, psychological, environmental and social factors throughout the life cycle. 

c.)                Interpersonal Theory of Sullivan

—    It is labeled as “self-system” that develops from infancy by the process of learning behaviors, from experiences, which relieves and avoids anxiety.

d.)                Cognitive Theory of Piaget

                        — believes that an individual has a genetically predetermined intellectual or                                     cognitive potentials

INFANCY, TODDLERS, PRESCHOOLERS,

SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN

            Physical growth, motor development, socialization and language, play of the different stages of a child’s growth and development are carefully learned in order to assess and promote health and wellness such as preventing accidents, dental health, good nutrition, cognitive stimulation, and sufficient sleep.

Mid-terms

January to February 2008

            A whole new year has started again. There are greater opportunities and new skills are prepared for us to learn, comprehend the rationales, practice, and improve.

NUTRITION

            The study of food in relation to health is what we call nutrition. It is the combination of processes by which the living organ receives and utilizes materials or substances necessary for the maintenance of its function for growth and renewal of components.

            It is by studying that I learn to know the proper diet required to be given for the infants, children and elderly, either normal or not.

            Nutritional status, the condition of the body from utilization of nutrients, must be always assessed in the patient.

            In infants, they have fast metabolism, their kidneys are still unable to concentrate urine, and they have more ECS than the adults, that’s why they need more fluids. It is necessary to learn why infants need more fluids than adults during fluid intake so that the development of the baby is watched over.

            I have also learned further information on infant feeding like the different methods, types, when and what are the introductory solid foods introduced to the baby, and the actual calorie values of milk formula. Maintaining a sterilized environment —from the preparation to the equipment — should be also kept in mind.    

HYGIENIC CARE

            The science of health and its maintenance is called hygiene. It promotes cleanliness, provides comfort and relaxation, refreshes the client, and relaxes tired, tense muscles, improves self-image by improving appearance and eliminating offensive odors, and conditions the skin.

It is highly a personal matter determined by individual values and practices.

            Its importance is to know exactly how much a client can safely do and how much assistance is required. In doing so, the client must be informed and the purpose of the procedure is explained. Always provide privacy. Position and drape the client. Never forget to perform handwashing before and after the procedure. If also needed, wear clean gloves in order to avoid contact with patient for both the client and the caregiver to safe and protected.

            Later on in the final period of the school year, we also learned and performed bedbathing for patients who are ill, bathing and changing diapers of infants as part of hygienic care. Privacy of the client is observed. Proper sanitation and cleanliness provide wellness of the patient and proper nourishment of the growth and development of the child.

Final Term

February to March 2008

WASTE DISPOSAL

            Our main objective here is to apply the fundamental principle of waste disposal in the hospital and in the community setting.

            There are some principles that must be always bear in mind. A) All patients are source of microorganisms. S) Spread of infection from the source to the others can be prevented by various methods to stop the spread as close to the source as possible. E) Effectiveness of asepsis is dependent on the conscientiousness of the ones carrying them out. P) Patient’s microorganisms leave through specific routes. S) Specific microorganisms harmful to man can be transmitted by direct or indirect contact. I) In observing asepsis, areas are considered to be contaminated if they are touched by any object that is not sterile. S) Suspected contaminated areas are considered contaminated.

            Standard precautions have to be observed during waste disposal too. These precautions are intended to prevent transmission of blood borne and moist body substance pathogens.

W) Wash your hands frequently. Follow hand washing techniques. A) Always use protective barriers. Wear clean gloves when touching blood, body fluids, secretions and excretions, and items containing these substances; mucous membrane; non-intact skin. Wear a mask, eye protection and face shield. Wear a cover gown. S) Suctioned fluids, blood, and excretions that contain blood and body fluids should be carefully poured and drained to the sewer. T) Items soiled should be removed promptly when the potential for contact with reservoirs of pathogens is no longer present. E) Ensure correct handling of soiled linen. Hold it away from your uniform. Don’t shake or toss linen. Place and transport linen soiled with blood or body fluids in leakage resistant bags. D) Disinfect, clean and reprocess all equipment before use by another patient. Clean least contaminated areas first then move to more concentrated areas. I) Items that are single use should be discarded promptly in appropriate containers with secure lids to prevent leakage during traqnsmission. S) Sharps (scalpels and needles) should be handled correctly to prevent injury. Never recap, remove, bend or break used needles. Never point the needle towards a body part.  Use one handed scoop method. Deposit disposable and reusable syringes and needles in puncture-resistant containers. P) Prevent direct patient care or handling. O) Observe good personal hygiene. S) Segregate waste. A) All health care workers with open or draining lesions should refrain from all direct patient care and from handling patient care equipment until lesions are resolved. L) Labeled items should be discarded properly.

THERAPEUTIC POSITIONS

Fowler’s Position – promotes lung expansion; decreases intracranial pressure for patients with             neurologic problems. Patient is in supine position with the head of the bed elevated 18-20   inches (approx 45 degrees).

                        High Fowler’s Position – angle of more than 45 degrees (60 – 90 degrees)

                        Semi-Fowler’s Position – angle of less than 45 degrees (often 20 – 30 degrees)

Orthopneic Position – used to promote lung expansion for the patient who has extreme           difficulty of breathing and who is unable to lie flat or with the head only moderately            elevated. Patient sits up in or at the edge of the bed with an overbed table across the lap.     The table is paddled with a pillow and elevated to a comfortable height. The patient leans             forward and rests head and arms on the table for support.

Dorsal Recumbent Position – used as a position of comfort for patients with back strain. Patient        is in supine position with the knees flexed and soles of the feet flat on the bed.

Lithotomy Position – Patient is supine. Both knees are flexed simultaneously so that the feet are           brought close to the hips. The legs are then separated widely, maintaining the flexed position. Position is used for examining the pelvic organs and examination to view the             perineal area. It is used as a birth position, since it essentially fights gravity leading to a    less active birthing process. Also used for surgical procedures and medical examinations       involving lower abdomen.

Sims’ Position – A side lying position that uses only a single supporting pillow under the head. The patient is turned afar enough onto the abdomen that the lower arm is extended behind            the back and both knees are slightly flexed and wider. It is used for the administration of            enemas or for examination of the rectal area, or for unconscious patients, in inserting            suppositories.

Prone Position – The patient lies on his abdomen with the head turned to one side and supported         with a pillow. Position is used to examine the back; to improve respiratory mechanics; to         homogenize the pleural pressure gradient, the alveolar inflation and the ventilation distribution. It is also used as an alternative for patients who are on prolonged bed rest or are immobilized; used for patients with spinal cord injury.

Supine Position – Patient is resting on his back. It is recommended after spinal surger

{ music } the will of the wind
{ mood } full

Filed under kyooiku kankei no | hn. your pen's toilet

Dominion: The Prequel to the Exorcist

By David DiCerto
Catholic News Service

NEW YORK (CNS) -- Here's something proponents of auteur theory -- that the primary creator of a film is the director -- will be chewing on for a while. Take roughly the same story, the same lead actor, the same setting, and let two directors armed with different visions and different scripts go off and make a movie.

This isn't some film-school experiment. It actually happened -- well, sort of. Several years back, the Morgan Creek production company decided to make a prequel to William Friedkin's 1973 horror classic, "The Exorcist."

Originally, Morgan Creek hired Paul Schrader to direct, but company executives felt Schrader's film wasn't scary enough (no spinning heads). So they axed Schrader, shelved the film, hired director Renny Harlin, recast some secondary roles and started from scratch. Some $80 million later, they released the refilmed movie as "Exorcist: The Beginning" in 2004. It bombed.

Schrader's subdued yet somewhat involved version is now being released -- as "Dominion: The Prequel to the Exorcist" (Warner Bros.).

The basic plot outline remains the same in both films. Set in 1949 British East Africa, lapsed priest Father Lankester Merrin (played in both by Stellan Skarsgard) wrestles with a crisis of faith wrought by wartime memories of Nazi atrocities in his native Holland, before reluctantly assuming the role of exorcist to help a possessed local boy. In both tellings, the problems start after an ancient evil is unleashed by the excavation of a Byzantine church buried in pristine condition.

Violence also erupts between the local tribesman and a regiment of British soldiers dispatched to guard the archeological dig, giving new meaning to "the devil made me do it."

In "Dominion," Clara Bellar plays village doctor and concentration camp survivor Rachel Lesno (a similar role made intentionally more sexy and played by Izabella Scorupco in "Beginning") and the idealistic young missionary, Father Francis, is played by Gabriel Mann as opposed to James D'Arcy.

Where the two films really part ways is how their respective directors handle the climactic exorcism sequences (during which Merrin rediscovers his lost faith). Harlin went for a traditional horror-film showdown, pitting Merrin against his unholy adversary in a mano-a-Mephistopheles free-for-all.

Schrader, raised a strict Dutch Calvinist, opts for a more introspective approach, having Merrin locked in a theological debate about guilt and forgiveness with Satan (androgynously played by Billy Crawford). And while Merrin is shown to be conflicted (though ultimately redeemed), the priesthood is portrayed with respect.

More a thinking-man's horror movie, "Dominion" is a marked improvement over Harlin's gorier "alternate" version, but that's not saying much.

"Dominion" thoughtfully explores the nature of evil, as well as themes of faith and doubt. In one scene Father Francis says, "Faith is not there to conquer evil, but to help (people) survive it."

However, the at times dry film is hampered by laggard pacing, shaky theology and narrative gaps -- not to mention some cheesy computer-generated effects.

The film contains some strong violence, including a graphic suicide, and several grisly murders and executions, demonic violence, a disturbing childbirth scene, a bloody medical procedure and a few racial slurs. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L --- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.

- -
DiCerto is on the staff of the Office for Film & Broadcasting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

END

Posted On: Monday, May 23, 2005

Dominion: The Prequel to The Exorcist

Starring: Stellan Skarsgård, Gabriel Mann, Clara Bellar, Billy Crawford, Ralph Brown
Director(s): Paul Schrader
Writer(s): William Wisher, Caleb Carr
Company: Warner Bros. | Morgan Creek

by Michael Sheridan

Honestly, this review’s a little late in the game. I got the opportunity to see this Dominion: The Prequel to The Exorcist at a special screening last weekend, and it was released in a handful of theaters this past Friday.

One of the reasons I’m late in reviewing this film is because I wanted to see the version that was actually released, which was directed by Renny Harlin. I’d also hoped to see The Exorcist, which I haven’t seen in years. Sadly, I wasn’t able to do either of these things last week (partially because I was swept up in Star Wars mania for the latter half of the week).

Either way, I’m taking this opportunity to sit down and dedicate myself to discussing this unique film. It’s not unique in the sense that it is particularly good, because it really isn’t, but because it’s a footnote in film history as being a film that got trashed and quickly remade by a different director.

First, let’s talk about Dominion: The Prequel to The Exorcist (kind of an oddly literal title). The story begins near the end of World War II, where Father Lankester Merrin (the priest played by Max Von Sydow in the original) is forced to pick ten people to die by a Nazi officer.

Years later, he has taken a sabbatical from the priesthood to study archeology. He makes a great discovery in Africa: a mysteriously buried ancient Byzantine church. The beautiful church ultimately hides a deadly secret: a demon had been trapped there centuries earlier. It is soon unleashed, and possess a crippled boy.

The demon quickly begins to manipulate all those around it, including a detachment of British soldiers, forcing a clash between them and the local tribesmen that could destroy them all. Merrin must rediscover his faith in order to battle the demon, before its evil can be inflicted upon the world.

Let me just say right now that in the first few minutes of the film, it’s pretty obvious why this movie was never released. In fact, the director (Paul Schrader) was summarily fired and the film was completely reshot with Harlin at the helm. The cast was also completely changed, except for its star, the always intense Stellan Skarsgård.

It isn’t that Dominion is bad, because it isn’t. Not exactly, anyway. But the first thing I thought 20 minutes into the movie was that the film had a $40 million budget, but looked like it was made for less than $10 million. The cinematography was dry, the visuals were not particularly impressive, and the scope was fairly limited. Dominion just feels like a direct-to-video movie that would air on the Sci-Fi Channel, or perhaps as the late night movie on one of the local channels. It’s completely understandable why a studio would not release it, especially with all the hype connected to it as the prequel to an infamous horror film.

The story also suffers from some needlessly slow pacing. I have no problem with a film that takes its time, but Dominion takes too long to get to the point. But the ultimate failure of the film is the lack of development for its main character, Merrin. Although we see him in the opening scene make a very difficult moral decision, and understand that this causes a serious crisis of faith for him, very little more is explored beyond that. For example, why is he into archeology? What led him to this buried church? None of this is explained or explored.

A possible romantic angle is also touched upon, but ultimately never gets realized. Aside from one or two brief scenes, no sexual tension is even developed. Being on sabbatical, as well as being human, there is plenty of room for a potential romantic relationship to evolve between Merrin and the local doctor, played with a rather stiff, detached performance by Clara Bellar, but it never even comes close to fruition.

Dominion is interesting for brief moments, but I couldn’t really call it entertaining. It’s not even particularly scary, because the audience generally knows more than the characters, so there is no suspense.

I wish I could say that I’m rooting for the underdog here. I wanted to like Dominion, because after the failure of Harlin’s version, I wanted to believe that Schrader was simply unfairly treated and his film misunderstood. And while I think Schrader probably deserved better from the studio, I also can’t blame them for shelving his movie. ##

***

{ mood } complacent

Filed under film review | hn. your pen's toilet

EXORCIST: THE BEGINNING
Running time: 114 mins
Starring: Stellan Skarsgård, Izabella Scorupco, James D'Arcy, Remy Sweeney, Julian Wadham

It's been 31 years since The Exorcist frightened a generation of film-goers and in the process, brought a new credibility to the horror genre with 10 Oscar nominations, including Best Picture. In the intervening years there have been two attempts to follow up the brilliance of director William Friedkin's take on William Peter Blatty's chilling novel about a 12-year-old girl possessed by the devil. Both failed miserably, but that hasn't deterred this latest effort. Nor the fact that Paul Schrader's completed version was all but scrapped and Renny Harlin hired to shoot a new account.

 
Apparently Schrader's version lacked the requisite blood and gore, and while Harlin's Exorcist: The Beginning contains its fair share, it's certainly not in abundance. What is lacking, though, is a decent story. One of the original Exorcist's most chilling aspects was that it involved real people in an everyday setting, elements that are always starkly more frightening than a horror tale set in some imaginary world with unrecognizable characters.

Although E:TB features Father Lancaster Merrin - with Stellan Skarsgård in the role made famous by Max von Sydow - the action is set in a remote part of Africa, where the arid landscape, along with the film's archeological thread, conjures up comparisons with The Mummy. E:TB is certainly closer in spirit to The Mummy, with its more fantastical brand of horror, than the original Exorcist.

 
Merrin first appears in Cairo in 1949, where he's plying his trade as an archeologist and looking not unlike Indiana Jones. His wartime encounters with Nazi atrocities have caused him to renounce his faith and suffer vivid flashbacks. He is approached to recover an ancient relic from a recently uncovered Byzantine church in Turkana, Kenya. That the church was reportedly built a thousand years before Christianity arrived in the region is but one of the many mysteries surrounding the church. When Merrin arrives, he finds the local villagers scared of the church, the excavation of which has brought with it a plague of death and sickness. #

Filed under film review | hn. your pen's toilet

THE

PASSION

OF THE CHRIST

“You are my friends, and the greatest love a person can have for his friends is to give his life for them.”

            The Passion of The Christ is an inspiring religious movie about the last twelve hours of Jesus of Nazareth’s life, depicting the old customs and traditions of the ancient Jews. Concentrating on one point, Christ’s Passion and Death, the story is indeed inspiring even from the title alone because it gives a deep soul-searching in our lives as human beings.

            Indeed, Christ is our Savior and our very best friend. He sacrificed Himself to die on the cross just so that we will be saved from our sins. This is the greatest love the world has ever known. His Resurrection is the greatest miracle ever. It revives and strengthens our faith and hope as we come to realize that His words and teachings bring us true happiness and give us the true meaning of life by accepting Him as our Lord and Savior.

            The suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus bring to us a new and meaningful life. He is the true Lamb who took away the sins of the world. By dying, He destroyed our death; and by rising, He restored our life.

            From the sufferings and death of Christ, we learn of God’s love for men and the evil of sin. Christ chose to suffer agonies because He loves us.

            From the passion of Christ, we learn that evil is sin (and vice versa) and that God hates sin and evil. We cannot ask God to be with us if we commit sins. Sin separates us away from Christ.

            I consider the sufferings of Christ as the most striking because they serve as an example for us, to strengthen us under trials. Christ gave us an example of patience and strength. If we encounter or receive trials, we should accept them with resignation. We must also do our tasks willingly and joyfully without complaining or grumbling. We must do things all for the honor and love of Christ.

The agony of Jesus is one of the most dramatic manifestations of His humility, humanity, and of His  brotherhood  with all mankind. #

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the world stands still. the earth grumbled so near      to the moon                to the eclipse of              darkness it brings           but the perigee no one        can tell        that seemingly      the ellicited           aura                was that         of revenge against           provocation of exemplary human deeds        no no            wrong      not human deeds  but a devil's advocate's deeds        

else it was purely  greed         that had caught human in between a rock and a hard place                   it's no use now to savage what            white is left behind             for          it is payback time

to neither rich nor poor                  but to either        the heartless        or those who lack a heart ------- a hole burrowed amidst                                                       

curving the mantle of disgrace                         the only breathing space           is to reach out your hand no matter what the cost

just           to bring back what is lost                      not the lost lives                                 but the lost           hearts        that still thrives

it is when we get stranded                 that       the threads are      thickened      by hope                      no never thinned otherwise                you stand on doubt's brick

                and there lies            the conviction of prolific         drabbles                where bodies float and scraps       are buried soaked

ondoy! should i remind to you more than thrice to not summon me when the wind no longer hisses and            the infants of death cry

for i stand here alone                   no one knows              until    you showed up                    i don't want you to ravagingly test them in desire's content                                         

i just want you to teach them as subtle as the leaves rust not with its trunks

{ music } rain drops
{ mood } contemplative

Filed under the frantic disciple counts | hn. your pen's toilet