Let's see if this will work out...

Before 'people power': Aquino recalled as a quiet Newton housewife - Local News Updates - The Boston Globe

2009-08-05T15:20:00.002-04:00

Before 'people power': Aquino recalled as a quiet Newton housewife - Local News Updates - The Boston Globe

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Associated Press photo

The coffin of former Philippines president Corazon Aquino is carried into the Manila Cathedral today.

By Jazmine Ulloa, Globe Correspondent

As former Philippines leader Corazon Aquino was laid to rest in her homeland today, close friends were planning to honor her more than 8,000 miles away, in Newton, Mass., where the international icon spent what she often called the happiest three years of her life.

Years before the massive street demonstrations of the 1986 "people power" revolution elevated her to the presidency, Aquino, who died Saturday at age 76 of cancer, was known to Massachusetts friends and former neighbors as a quiet, simple housewife with a big heart. And they have not forgotten her.

Aquino

"She was the kind of person that you met for the first time, and it was not long before you felt like you knew her for a long time," said Norma Bucal of Sudbury, who still kept in touch with Aquino in the months before her death. "It was so easy to like her. That is why we became such close friends."

The local community will convene for a Mass in remembrance of Aquino on Aug. 22 at St. Ignatius Church in Chestnut Hill, where she would often attend services with her husband, Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr., the exiled senator and opposition leader.

The couple and their five children lived on Commonwealth Avenue in Newton from 1980 to1983, after Benigno Aquino had to leave their country for opposing the repressive rule of President Ferdinand Marcos. While her husband, who was a lecturer at Harvard and MIT, was described by family friends and former neighbors as charismatic and outgoing, "Cory" preferred to stay in the background, they said.

"They were a happy family in this country," said Rosario Agular, a family friend who lives in Belmont and who met the Aquinos at a mutual friend's party. "Ninoy had been incarcerated for seven years back in the Philippines, so they were kept apart."

Originally from a wealthy family, Corazon Aquino became a housewife in Newton, "doing all the house chores she never had to do before," Agular said. She never discussed politics and tended to not speak unless spoken to, friends said.

But Aquino was an intelligent, well-educated woman who stepped up when her people needed her in difficult times for her and for her country, Agular said.

Benigno Aquino was gunned down in 1983 at the airport in Manila upon his return to the country after three years in exile. Many believe that Marcos ordered the assassination of his 72-year-old longtime rival.

His death sparked millions throughout the Philippines to peacefully take to the streets, catapulting Corazon Aquino into the spotlight as a leading force of democracy. She eventually replaced Marcos's 20-year regime in 1986 during what has come to be known as the People Power Revolution. She served as president for six years.

When Mary Rose Ezpeleta thinks back to that moment, she recalls being surprised, said the family friend who now lives in North Andover. Until then, Corazon Aquino had always fallen in the shadow of her husband, "but she grew into the reign of government," she said.

It's that Michael feeling!

2009-08-03T09:44:00.002-04:00

THE SLOGAN GENERATOR: ADVERTISE YOURSELF.

-Go to: http://thesurrealist.co.uk/slogan.cgi
-Put your name in, and generate slogan after each question.

1. What do you say to yourself every morning?
Would you give someone your last Michael?

2. What do you want other people say about you?
It's the Michael you can see.

3. Someone asked you out, your answer is...
If you've got the time, we've got the Michael.

4. How would you answer a booty call?
Clunk click, every Michael.

5. How would you introduce yourself to someone you really like?
It's the Michael fizz that does the bizz.

6. to someone you dislike?
For the Michael you don't yet know.

7. You're in a conversation and you suddenly feel the need to pee, how would you excuse yourself?
There's first love and there's Michael love.

8. Your parents ask you why you got home late, you say...
Michael wanted.

9. You're failing a subject, you say...
Simple impartial Michael

10. The love of your life asks you to marry him/her, what do you say?
Make room for the Michael

11. Your bf/gf is breaking up with you, you tell him/her...
Samrt. Beautiful. Michael.

12. Someone told you you're an asshole, you tell them...
Try Michael, you'll like it.

13. What are the best words to describe you?
The Good Michael Kids Go

14. If you're going to have a movie about your life, the title is...
It's how Michael is done.

15. Your last words before you die..
Every kiss begins with Michael

16. Your message to a special someone..
Michael prevents that sinking feeling

17. Title of this post will be...
It's that Michael feeling!

Is Aging Harder When You're Gay?

2009-07-19T15:53:00.002-04:00

I found this article while randomly browsing the world wide web. I think it's an interesting topic... since no one can really escape the aging process. Enjoy! =)

Last week my partner and a friend both told me, almost simultaneously, that I had a few gray hairs coming in on the side of my head. Instead of realizing I often think that men with some salt-and-pepper are sexy and maybe I, too, could be sexy, my first thought was to panic and think I had to color my hair and maybe go blond ... again. Then I came to my senses and remembered getting older isn't a bad thing. It happens to everyone. But can everyone age gracefully? Is there such a thing as "gayging" gracefully?

As gay men, we worry about getting older more than our straight brethren. We go to the gym, eat healthier, use moisturizer and then fret we don't look good enough. We complain we're too fat or too frumpy and then go eat a big piece of chocolate cake and wash it down with a beer.

Of course this doesn't happen to everyone; but it's a pervasive attitude in the gay community. Especially among a sect of gays who primp until the cows come home. There are some gay men who put everything into their looks and attempt to use that to get ahead in life. Then one day, people don't pay as much attention.

What happens when our looks start to fade and the magic slips away, when those once-sexy "smile lines" turn to serious wrinkles and our once-flat stomachs start to move south and protrude? Is there still hope for love and acceptance beyond our outer layers? There comes a time in every gay man's life when he has to ask himself: Am I too old for Abercrombie? Generally speaking, yes. And if you don't think to ask, then you are. And yes, you look ridiculous.

There's nothing wrong with aging. As gay men, hell as men, we have an advantage. Men tend to age better—assuming you take care of yourself or you're blessed with good genes, or both. I know a guy from my dog park who I recently found out is close to 70. My jaw hit the floor and snapped back up and smacked me in the face. I thought he was maybe mid-50s. He's in great shape and I know he exercises. The only thing that shows his age is his griping. He's a bit of a curmudgeon, but you know ... he's earned it.

The rest of us? We have to take stock of what we have and make the most of it. If you were a beauty queen when you were younger, get over yourself. It's time to realize there's more to life than just looking pretty. Hopefully your life has something, anything, you can be proud of. Look around you. Realize life can be great at any age, no matter how you look.

Ah, who am I kidding? I'm going to moisturize and get my beauty sleep.

-----Written by Ari Bendersky on July 14, 2009, PlanetOut

Better Days

2009-06-24T23:17:00.002-04:00

I was browsing my iPod this morning and found this Janet Jackson song... kinda like my theme for the day...

I used to sit and wonder
Would I ever be happy
Life was so bittersweet
So many disappointments
Too many ups and downs for me
When you live a nightmare
Its hard to dream

But sometimes life just isn't fair
So why complain nobody cares
And I don't wanna waste nobodys time
So I'm...

About to change my vibe
Today the sun's gonna shine
Cause I made up my mind
That today will be the start of better days
Leaving old shit behind
And move on with my life
The blindfolds off my eyes
And now all I see for me is better days

Afraid of my reflection
Tell me that's not me I see
That's who I wanna be
Stuck somewhere in the middle
On half full or half empty
Waiting for somebody to come and rescue me

Can't let that petty attitude
Start to jade my point of view
Only thing that does is bring me down
So I'm...

About to change my vibe
Today the sun's gonna shine
Cause I made up my mind
That today will be the start of better days
Leaving old shit behind
And move on with my life
The blindfolds off my eyes
And now all I see for me is better days

Hurt so many times before
I used to cry but no more
Just let it go and life can feel
So good
Stop living the blues

Can't let that petty attitude
Start to jade my point of view
Only thing that does is bring me down
So I'm...

About to change my vibe
Today the sun's gonna shine
Cause I made up my mind
That today will be the start of better days
Leaving old shit behind
And move on with my life
The blindfolds off my eyes
And now all I see for me is better days

limited edition

2009-03-04T06:33:00.002-05:00

To do this:

1 - Go to "Wikipedia." Hit “Random Article”
or click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random
The first random wikipedia article you get is the name of your band.

2 - Go to "Random quotations"
or click http://www.quotationspage.com/random.php3
The last four or five words of the very last quote of the page is the title of your first album.

3 - Go to flickr and click on “explore the last seven days”
or click http://www.flickr.com/explore/interesting/7days
Third picture, no matter what it is, will be your album cover.

4 - Use Photoshop or similar to put it all together

5 - Post it to FB with these instructions and TAG the friends you want to join in.

2009-01-25T09:47:00.002-05:00

Another great addition to the family... thank you for bringing him into our world. Welcome to the family, Ethan Jared Gendrano-Pritamdasani!

...just checking in...

2009-01-14T11:18:00.002-05:00

I despise chain letters. But there are rare instances when such messages could make me feel warm and tingly inside. I still like the message and would like to share it with my friends. No strings attached. I erased the "please send..." part. =)

A minister passing through his church in the middle of the day,
Decided to pause by the altar and see who had come to pray.

Just then the back door opened, a man came down the aisle,
The minister frowned as he saw the man hadn't shaved in a while.
His shirt was kinda shabby and his coat was worn and frayed,
the man knelt, he bowed his head,& then rose and walked away.

In the days that followed, each noon time came this chap,
each time he knelt just for a moment, a lunch pail in his lap.

Well, the minister's suspicions grew, with robbery a main fear,
He decided to stop the man and ask him, 'What are you doing here?'

The old man said, he worked down the road. Lunch was half an hour.
Lunchtime was his prayer time for finding strength and power.

'I stay only moments, see, because the factory is so far away;
as I kneel here talking to the Lord, This is kinda what I say:

'I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU, LORD, HOW HAPPY I'VE BEEN
SINCE WE FOUND EACH OTHER AND YOU TOOK AWAY MY SIN.
DON'T KNOW MUCH OF HOW TO PRAY, BUT I THINK ABOUT YOU EVERYDAY.
SO, JESUS, THIS IS JIM CHECKING IN TODAY.'

The minister feeling foolish, told Jim, that was fine.
He told the man he was welcome to come and pray just anytime

Time to go, Jim smiled, said 'Thanks.' He hurried to the door.
The minister knelt at the altar, he'd never done it before.

His cold heart melted, warmed with love, and met with Jesus there.
As the tears flowed, in his heart, he repeated old Jim's prayer:

'I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU, LORD, HOW HAPPY I'VE BEEN,
SINCE WE FOUND EACH OTHER AND YOU TOOK AWAY MY SIN.
I DON'T KNOW MUCH OF HOW TO PRAY, BUT I THINK ABOUT YOU EVERYDAY..
SO, JESUS, THIS IS ME CHECKING IN TODAY.'

Past noon one day, the minister noticed that old Jim hadn't come.
As more days passed without Jim, he began to worry some.

At the factory, he asked about him, learning he was ill.
The hospital staff was worried, but he'd given them a thrill.

The week that Jim was with them, brought changes in the ward.
His smiles, a joy contagious. Changed people, were his reward.

The head nurse couldn't understand why Jim was so glad,
when no flowers, calls or cards came, not a visitor he had.

The minister stayed by his bed, he voiced the nurse's concern:
No friends came to show they cared. He had nowhere to turn.

Looking surprised, old Jim spoke up and with a winsome smile;
'the nurse is wrong, she couldn't know, that he's in here all the while
everyday at noon He's here, a dear friend of mine, you see,
He sits right down, takes my hand, Leans over and says to me:

'I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU, JIM, HOW HAPPY I HAVE BEEN,
SINCE WE FOUND EACH OTHER, AND I TOOK AWAY YOUR SIN.
ALWAYS LOVE TO HEAR YOU PRAY, I THINK ABOUT YOU EACH DAY,
AND SO JIM, THIS IS JESUS CHECKING IN TODAY.'

love = hate ???

2009-01-12T17:55:00.002-05:00

Ok... here goes... Last year, I lasted a few months updating my blog... let's see how long I'll last this time...

From L.A. Fields' Happiness
"...hates hate. It's a corrosive emotion, kindred of jealousy and anger. It's consumptive and deeply intrusive. It's like love. It gets a stranglehold on your heart, and you feel it against your will."

Really?

2008-03-21T03:51:00.002-04:00

I haven't been this sick since I was in the 5th grade. It's day 4 of sickness, and day 3 of being stuck at home. My sleeping regime has never been this erratic. I'm inaudible. I move like my great grandma (may she rest in peace). And I whine a lot.

Ok, here's what happened. Tuesday early morning (even before dawn), I started coughing. All throughout the day, I was having headaches. I left work early, went straight home and rested. Woke up at 11pm due to intolerable headache. It was so unbearable I took 2 tablets of Excedrin at 1am (Wednesday). For someone who rarely uses drugs of any sorts, that is a lot. And of course, I forgot to read the label which says "contains caffeine". For someone who doesn't drink coffee, rarely drinks soda, and sometimes drinks tea, that kept me awake till around 9am. Hey, at least I didn't feel any aches.

I practically stayed in bed the entire day. I drank half a gallon of OJ, and ate clementines throughout the day. I tried to sleep but everytime I wake up, I feel sweat all over. I just felt disgusted with myself that I decided to take a hot shower (yes, hot... not warm. If our pipes would allow boiling hot water, I would've done it. It felt nice. I could've stayed in the bathroom with hot water running down my body all day if it was possible.

Thursday, I didn't get to wake up till my boss called me at 10am. Whoops... did I not call them? Oh well, I decided to call my doctor's office and request that she see me the same day. I saw her at 3pm (Thank you Carnell for the ride). To summarize the visit, she said that it's not the flu but it's a viral bug that's been going around. Unfortunately, antibiotics cannot prescribe. Instead, she suggested to take lots of fluids, tylenol/ibuprofen, and rest.

So, here I am... 3:30am... posting away. Yes, I couldn't sleep. Although, I do feel a bit sleepy now. Maybe this blogging is therapeutic for me. Ok... falling asleep... goodnight.

Another silly thing I did...

2008-03-11T21:13:00.002-04:00

Well, I made up a plan for today to be able to attend the HRCM rehearsal and not miss work. I started working at 7:30am, and left around 1:15pm for rehearsal. So, that's 5 1/2 hours because I didn't get any breaks. I got back to work at 7:00pm... and it's now...

TIME TO GO!!!!! Sheeesh... what a silly plan!

When do I stop?

2008-03-10T12:52:00.002-04:00

It seems that I say "yes" to any and every artistic opportunity I encounter. Aside from my full-time job, I have HRCM, Coro Allegro, Jesus Christ Superstar, West Side Story, 1950's Concert, and a new group a friend of mine started. It's getting really hectic. I really don't want to do this but I may just have to drop 1 or 2 of these groups. We'll see. I hope I can do it. Eeeekkk.... *cross-fingers*

In honor of Lawrence Larry King

2008-02-29T17:27:00.003-05:00

I could not fathom how an 8th grade boy could kill, even unintentionally, another 8th grader after being asked if he can be his valentine. How was this kid brought up? What drove him to this kind of behavior?

Lawrence "Larry" King

From mtv.com
Feb 21 2008 1:48 PM EST
Lawrence King -- Student Who Was Murdered For Being Gay -- To Be Honored With National Day Of Silence

Candlelight vigils also being organized to raise awareness about California hate crime.

By Chris Harris

Two days before a shotgun-wielding Steven Kazmierczak shot 21 students inside a lecture hall on the campus of Northern Illinois University, taking the lives of five people as well as his own, 15-year-old Lawrence "Larry" King was shot in the head at the E.O. Green School in Oxnard, California, reportedly for being gay. He was in the eighth grade.

Three days after the shooting, on February 15, King was taken off life support and pronounced dead.

King's killer, 14-year-old Brandon McInerney, apparently targeted the student because he was openly gay and sometimes dressed in women's clothes. King also wore makeup and jewelry to class on occasion. It's possible that McInerney, who has been charged with murder and the commission of a hate crime, will be tried as an adult, which means he could face 50 years to life in prison if convicted.

King's death came 10 years after the brutal murder of University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard, who was also killed because of his sexual orientation. But for some reason, King's murder generated just a fraction of the media coverage that follows most school-shooting incidents. In fact, most of the initial reports about the killing were turned out by local news agencies, and the national media didn't catch up until several days later.

A series of candlelight vigils have been held throughout the U.S. in the wake of the student's death (an estimated 1,000 people marched in Oxnard the weekend following the murder), in an effort to raise awareness of what many feel was a largely underreported case. MTV News attended one such vigil on Friday night, just outside of Los Angeles, where dozens gathered — not with candles but glowsticks — to remember King.

Now the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), a leading gay-rights student organization, has decided to make King's murder one of the central themes of this year's annual Day of Silence on April 25.

"This year, we're going to incorporate, within the Day of Silence, a way for students to remember Lawrence King and sort of use it as a day to honor him and to bring attention to what happened," said GLSEN spokesperson Daryl Presgraves. "The overall themes will include King and the immediate need to address anti-LGBT harassment. If ever there were a sign that schools need to realize how far such harassment can go, and why it's important to address it now, it's Lawrence King."

Since King's murder, there have been 30 candlelight vigils throughout the country, with one planned for Washington, D.C., early next week (a complete list of these events can be found at GLSEN.org). Presgraves wasn't sure exactly how the national Day of Silence would commemorate King's passing, but said the theme of the day will be remembering the slain student.

"It's a prevalent and pervasive problem in all of our schools," he said of anti-LGBT violence and bullying, adding that he's not quite sure why King's death was all but ignored by the national media. "For whatever reason, there's still a lack of willingness to address the anti-LGBT bullying that goes on in schools. We don't know why, but there's still sort of this sense of having our heads buried in the sand. What happened to Lawrence King is a much more isolated incident, but what happened leading up to his death happens to youth every day, all the time. He was just expressing himself, and we're seeing more of this — youth are being open at an earlier age, and they are proud of their identities, but that doesn't mean someone won't bully them for it. In this case, King was bullied to such an extreme ... you can't get worse than that."

In addition to organizing the national Day of Silence, GLSEN pushes for anti-LGBT-bullying legislation, and works with schools to tackle the problem. Currently, there are only 10 states that protect students from bullying based on sexual orientation: California, Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin. Five of those states protect students based on gender expression and identity (California, Iowa, Maine, Minnesota and New Jersey).

"We encourage all states that it's something they can start addressing," Presgraves said. "In almost every state, there is something that can be done right away."

Congratulations, Daniel Radcliffe!!!!

2008-02-28T23:55:00.003-05:00

For winning the Best Newcomer Award for his role on Equus at the WhatsOnStage 2008 Awards. Oh yes, and for your first (public) gay kiss.

a new folder

2008-02-21T07:13:00.003-05:00

Yup... decided to create a new folder in my computer solely for Shows.

Nope... it's not for shows I have seen or will be seeing.
Nope... it's not for the concerts I have done or will be doing.

It's for any theatrical shows that I will be in. I just added my first show... The Pirates of Penzance or The Slave of Duty. I played the role of a pirate in the first act and a cop in the second. I was told that I looked and acted the part pretty well. Who knows where all that testosterone came from? I sure don't.

The show was held at the Riverside Theatre in Hyde Park, MA last February 15-17. We had a total of 4 shows and was happy to find out that we had almost filled up the theater. I got even more ecstatic to find out that friends and family of mine came to see the show (I wasn't sure if they really went there to see me but at least they were there. hehehe). Most surprising part was when 2 of my very good friends from New York came without letting me know. I guess that was the point (duh!). I wish I'd get a copy of the pictures though as I requested... maybe it'll be sent someday.

So, I'll let you know if I have another show. If you were not part of my distribution list when I sent out my announcement for Pirates, please leave a comment or email me so I can add you to my list.

Until the next show,

Mikee the Pirate... aaaaarrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!

Holiday 2007 and Birthday Bash(es)

2008-01-03T23:05:00.005-05:00

Well, December was filled with holiday songs. I had about 10 caroling gigs all over Massachusetts from private house parties to company functions to tours. I received a decent stipend afterwards. So, that was pretty rewarding.

End of December, I went to NYC to celebrate friends' birthdays (yes, there were 3 of them: Leo, Shawn, and Tuesday) and spend the New Year with them as well. The parties were quite hilarious, specifically the video that Fancis A made for his best friend of 16(?) years. If you want to see the video, you'll have to ask Leo. =)

Happy Birthday Leo, Shawn, and Tuesday!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Something productive...

2007-11-13T16:15:00.001-05:00

So, I had this thing inside my head called crazy and thought of doing something more productive than staying at home on 11/11/07. So, I invited Leo and Francis... and this is what we did:

Escape

2007-11-03T14:57:00.002-04:00

Yup... I've had it. I'm stressed. I just have to get out of here and be alone.

*ding* -- an idea.

10/28/07 7:30am Drive to Ptown and finish the book that I borrowed, Men Who Love Men, which coincidentally took place in Ptown. I sat at the high school baseball field was done around noon... just in time for lunch. Guess where I ate?

After that, I went to the King Richard's Faire in Carver, MA to see my co-performers work. =) Lots of driving but I didn't care. It was a great escape from the city life.

FINALLY!!!

2007-11-02T16:06:00.001-04:00

After 20 years of waiting, I finally met my idol... Mr. Pure Energy, Gary Valenciano. He's a real triple threat: acting, singing, and dancing. I got involved in his first concert here in Boston. I was so excite. My adrenalin never stopped rushing. It was like taking caffeine tablets every hour. I got to meet his wife Angeli - wonderful person... very accommodating to Gary's fans (I mean me). She even gave me her contact info so I can keep in touch with them (did I mention we went to the same school? We're both green-hearted LaSallians). Wow... I can't get over it. Gary and I chatted and it was simply heaven for me. =)

Wishing to see them again... even if it takes another 20 years.

Weekend Getaway

2007-10-13T21:07:00.003-04:00

I wish my friends and I could do a lot more traveling... or at least explore other places. This is the first trip (Washington, DC) in a long time that Wendell was with us. It's good for him to be back in the loop. Welcome back, Doc! =)

Happy Birthday

2007-09-25T23:51:00.001-04:00

Nope... it's not today. So don't even bother greeting me. =)

Well it's been quite a treat since yesterday. Remember my first concert with the Harvard Summer Chorus? Anyway, the conductor invited me and GP to audition for any of the Harvard choirs. Well, there's really only 2 choirs we can choose from: Harvard Glee Club (HGC) and Harvard-Radcliffe Collegium Musicum (HRCM). We auditioned yesterday (which I think went well) and found out today that we got into HRCM. We also found out that the first rehearsal is this afternoon. Ugh! Talk about adrenalin rush! GP and I were so excited to attend the first rehearsal. It was quite a different experience... a good one but different. For me, the oddest feeling I had was just the age gap. 95% of the group were all students. The other 5% were Harvard grad students and teachers, GP and myself. Yup, we are 2 different groups. GP and I represent the adventitious schools and work force, respectively.

But, it really is a treat to be part of such a group. Tis indeed a happy day.

P.S.
Thanks to those who greeted me on my bday (9/24)

Neverending Tear

2007-09-24T09:18:00.002-04:00

Every 23rd night of Sept since 2003, I shed a few tears... not of loneliness, of a sad movie, nor of devastation... but of yearning. Every 23rd night of Sept since 2003, I miss the company of old friends, of loved ones, and of family. Tomorrow marks another year passed, and another year to look forward to. I yearn for my next birthday when I will be once again surrounded by old friends, loved ones, and family.
It's a good thing there are other God-given graces like my friends in CA, NY, and in Boston. How surreal would it be to see them all in one place...

Madz Support, Madz Addiction

2007-09-10T08:38:00.001-04:00

Well, it's been quite a hectic week/-end. Nonetheless, it was something my soul was thirsting for. The Philippine Madrigal Singers came to Boston, MA to kick off their US Tour. GP and I had formed a small group to surprise and honor our friends from Madz. We sang a few religious songs to serve as an opening prayer. Then, THEY took over the stage... and I drifted into my own world with their music. It's what I've been searching for. I would at times wish that they would surround me and sing to no one else BUT me.
The next day, they were off to Secaucus, NJ. Who am I kidding? WE were off to Secaucus, NJ. I joined them in their bus to their next city. It was quite different. One minute everyone was up and about, chatting and giggling. The next, it would seem that there was no one in the bus.
At the concert, I met up with Francis and Wendell. I also got to meet Nicolas Alcala. The composer of Kaisa-Isa which was part of the repertoire that Madz sang at the EGP. The venue at NJ was a bit more suitable compared to the one in Massachusetts. UGH! WHO AM I KIDDING?!?!?!?! It's a million light years better than the one in Massachusetts. That being said, and aside from the fact that their jet lag is wearing off, their sound was a lot clearer with more character and dignity.
However, the next concert proved to be even more astounding. This time, I watched it with Francis G. John Pamintuan, composer of Pater Noster, was sitting with Mr. Alcala a couple of pews away. One of their sopranos (i forgot her name) had just arrived. It's amazing how one person can add to the beauty of their concert. Sadly, this is also the last concert that the group will be complete. This is Leo's last concert with them before he goes back to the Manhattan School of Music.
It's pretty obvious that he will be missed dearly by the group. I almost shed a tear for them.=)
Next thing I know, I'm in a bus... on my way back to Boston. These past few days were simply filled with music lovers. How I miss it...

A Boston Escape

2007-09-05T08:28:00.000-04:00

Funny how people just think randomly. So random that in a split second they end up in another state. Life IS a journey.

From left to right: Matthew (South Africa), Francis (New York), Mikey (Boston)

Matthew in a Duck Tour

One of my favorite views: Leonard P Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge

King Richard's Faire

2007-09-01T14:05:00.000-04:00

King Richard's Faire is a vivid recreation of a 16th century English marketplace at festival time. Actors, dancers, puppeteers, jugglers, minstrels, mimes, magicians and musicians performe each weekend for the favor of his Royal Highness King Richard.

Royalty and beggars, highwaymen and guards, knights and wenches, swordsmen and soothsayers roam throughout the 80 acre wooded village while artisans hawk and display a wide array of unique hand-made wares.

The Royal Chefs prepare delectable edibles authentic to Renaissance times. Exotic animals, jousting knights on horseback, challenging games and Renaissance merriment round out a day at the Faire.

...oh yeah, I'm part of this as well. =)

2007-08-22T08:37:00.000-04:00

It's been over 10 days since my last entry. Missed me? Maybe not. =)

Anyway....

August 18-19, 2007 @Meadowlands Exposition Center, Secaucus, NJ

Dance Philippines Performing Arts Co. (DPPAC) was invited to perform at the annual fiesta. It's a 5hour long drive from Boston to Secaucus. Unfortunately, I ended up driving since there was a limited number of credible drivers and a lot of kids. I got to drive a non-a/c van. How awesome is that? (sheesh)

Anyway, the performance went well and quick. We danced the following folk dances:

banga (i can't remember the actual name of the dance) -- tribal women balance pots on top of their head while going down the mountain
bulaklakan -- a rural dance where children use flower garlands to commemorate the holy week of the Catholic church
malaguena -- young ladies show-off their skill in balancing glasses on each of their hands and head while rolling on the ground
jota de castillano -- a romantic dance that , tup-tup, kasanduayan, sakuting, pandanggo sa ilaw, and tinikiling.

Did I also mention that at the end of the day one of the infamous Pinoy actors, Piolo Pascual, will also be there? Ok, I have a thing for him and I couldn't imagine that there would be a possibility of ever meeting him. It was only 2pm and our 30min show had already passed. I walked around the expo center and saw most of what they're selling/showcasing... from pens to CDs/DVDs to cruises to real estate. 4pm... still a few hours left. I don't know how I killed time, but, 7pm finally came and he emerged from the backstage. Flashes of light illuminated the area. I first noticed his face... gorgeous. Then, I notice something off in his general appearance... he was paper thin.

So to my dismay, I no longer have an attraction/admiration towards him. But he still has a pretty face.

rant and rave

2007-08-10T20:06:00.000-04:00

This has not been an easy week. I found out earlier that I was going to move to another room. I was told that I need to move by the end of the month. two days ago, I was told to move by Friday. I needed to move my phlebotomy supplies, my lab control supplies, and all of my files for the past two years. I haven't even included my personal stuff that made my room me. It did not matter... I don't mind moving. I just found it unfair that I have to clean up my room for the next employee and still clean the other room for myself. Thursday morning, one of our IT personnel came over to move my PC to the other room. It was a good thing at least I have time to move my stuff. The day ended with my supplies spread throughout the department. I told my boss that I will not move anything in the other room and let other people clean it up. see a greedy but I still did not have any space by the end of the day. Friday came and everything was still the same.

But this post wasn't entitled rant and rave for nothing. One of the supervisors knew that I didn't have a computer. She handed me her tablet which I thought was pretty cool. I used it for work all day and I'm still using it now. You can actually dictate what he wanted to type. Which is what I'm doing now. =) it would be nice to have something like this. anyway, I'm having too much fun with this and might not want to give it back. Hopefully, next week would be a better one. Till next time.

singing the classics

2007-08-06T10:35:00.000-04:00

Harvard University
presents

Harvard Summer Chorus 2007

featuring the works of Haydn and Mozart
August 3, 2007 @ 08:00PM
Sanders Theatre - Harvard University
45 Quincy St., Cambridge, MA

Yes, it finally happened. I auditioned last June 25, Monday 05:00PM at the Holden chapel. I found out I got accepted the next day and the first rehearsal was that afternoon. After 13 rehearsals, voila! Concert day! I got to stand in the front row, center with GP Eleria. We were standing in quartet position. Full orchestra was right in front of us. You can barely see the audience because of the lights directly focused to our faces (well, at least mine was). We started promptly at 08:00PM, opening the concert with Mozart's Ave Verum Corpuz. This was immediately followed by Haydn's Lord Nelson Mass. The soloists sounded great. The soprano was flawless. Alto needed a little more power. Tenor was great as well. The baritone was good too... although, I could have done better (yeah, I'm biased... whatever! lol). In general, the concert went great. The venue was almost full considering the promotion was very limited. The caliber of singing was almost the same as the Filipino choirs (...almost...). Hopefully, I can join another concert. I will definitely let you know.

My Fun Weekend

2007-07-30T11:59:00.000-04:00

I haven’t been to an amusement park for quite some time now. I’m so glad that Kristin, Jing, and David invited me. We went to Six Flags New England last Saturday. It really was a lousy day to be at the park but at least my transportation worked out well. Ana was going to Baltimore that day. So, at least I could use her car. I brought Ana to the airport at 6:30am that day. Then, I went straight to Kristin’s place in Medford for breakfast. Jing and David met us there as well and we all left Medford around 8:30am. We got to Six Flags New England in Agawam, MA around 10:30am. It was drizzling. Lines were quite long. We probably got inside the park sometime before 11:00am. That’s when it started to pour. Some of the rides were still running but the roller coasters closed. So, we decided to do Hurricane Harbor instead. I thought I was going to be bored. It turned out that it was really fun to be in a water park… while it was raining. It made me reminisce of when I played in the rain when I was still a kid. No inhibitions. No tribulations. No worries. No fear. =)

At Hurricane Harbor, we did the Big Kahuna, Cannonball Falls, Commotion Ocean, Geronimo Falls and Zooma Falls, and Typhoon. Grabbed lunch around 2:30pm, and began the roller coaster rides at 3:30pm starting with Superman (rated "Number One Coaster in the World" four years in a row). The Dark Knight: Batman came up next followed by Mind Eraser. By this time, it was probably around 7:00pm and we were pretty much tired. My aunt had called and reminded us of going to their place afterwards for my uncle’s birthday. We left Six Flags around 7:30pm. It was a 2 hour drive to their place. I saw some of my family members. The four of us (Jing, David, Kristin, and yours truly) stuffed ourselves with the home-cooked food that my aunt prepared. As tired as I was during the day, I still ended up getting home around 1:00am.

Sunday morning… sun’s up… it’s 9:00am. I turned on my laptop and saw a familiar name in my messenger. I said “Hi!”. He and his friends also went to Six Flags but we didn’t get to meet or call each other because our phones cannot be reached (literally… mine was in the locker, his was in the car). We talked about what each of us did at the park then he asked if I wanted to join him and Henry out for dim sum at the Chinese restaurant near my place. Of course I said YES! Who would turn down dim sum on a Sunday morn? So, I did my laundry at 9:30am and met them at the restaurant around 11:30am. As expected, the place was packed but we didn’t wait too long for a table to be available. We had siomai, Chinese broccoli, calamari, etc. Surprisingly, I ate just right. I didn’t feel bloated at all. =) After that, I met up with Kristin. We went shopping at Everett. I got myself 2 pairs of shoes, 2 packs of socks, and some leather cleaner. She got some baby clothes for her niece and nephew. After that intense shopping, we ate at Yoki, a new sushi place in Medford, MA. It was not too appealing from the outside with it's blue and red sign. Once get in, the atmosphere turned a lot more Japanese: dark wood chairs with tables lined with off-white cloths, big posts that somewhat resemble a Japanese arch went across the booths. A bar at the back of the restaurant with 3 or 4 flat screen TVs made the place look modern. Sunlight entered through their big windows illuminated the place. The waiters were all friendly. there were 2 or 3 who had served us (probably because there were only 3 tables occupied at the time we got there). We got 3 types of maki, an order of tempura, and finished it off with vanilla and green tea ice cream. YUM!!!!

We went to Jing's place after that and watched Stomp the Yard. I didn't really care for it. I give it 2 out of 5. The movie is like a merge of You Got Served and Bring It On. But unlike the other 2, Stomp the Yard had a lot of talking and the dancing was not impressive (except for a step or 2... but that was it). The drama was not convincing at all. And the ending was anticlimactic. I usually get teary-eyed towards the end of a movie. This did nothing to me.

Anyway, we went home after the movie... I have another week ahead of me filled with activities and the usual work. I hope this week will be better than last. *crossfingers*

Back to me ol'self...

2007-07-24T11:59:00.000-04:00

Good thing there's Michael Bublé! SING IT MICHAEL!

Don't Quit

2007-07-20T10:59:00.000-04:00

Here's a poem I used to recite back in high school. A friend of mine read this to me when I was, at one point, disappointed with myself. =) The words and message are very simple to understand. It's really made for grade school. I still like it though.

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill
When the funds are low and the debts are high
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh
When care is pressing you down a bit
Rest if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns
As every one of us sometimes learns
And many a fellow turns about
When he might have won, had he stuck it out.
Don't give up though the pace seems slow
You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than
It seems to a faint and faltering man;
Often the struggler has given up
When he might have captured the victor's cup;
And he learned too late when the night came down
How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt
And you never can tell how close you are
It may be near when it seems afar;
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit
It's when things seem worst that you mustn't quit.

Moment of Truth

2007-07-18T23:19:00.000-04:00

For the first time in my adult life, I got to use the kitchen to cook real food. Not just fried food, rice, or instant noodles but a Pinoy dish called kare-kare. Though unlike the traditional oxtail kare-kare, I used chicken instead to suite my eating preference. I spent about 2 1/2 hours to read through the recipe, cut and chop the ingredients, and cook. My critiques (...and by critiques, I mean a Pinoy friend Venice, my roommate Ana, and another Pinoy friend Richelle) have tasted my cooking and here's what they have to say...

TRANSLATION:
Interviewer: What can you say about Mike’s kare-kare?
Venice: Mike’s kare-kare is ok but it’s burnt. Come see while you’re taking the video. Look, there’s no eggplant. He said he had eggplants! But I did not see an eggplant… not even the soul of an eggplant. He also over-cooked the onions. What else? In fairness, it’s ok if he didn’t over-cook the onions.

TRANSLATION:
Interviewer: What’s the effect of Mike’s kare-kare on you?
Ana: It’s ok. But see… I got allergic.
Interviewer: You’re allergic to peanut butter?
Ana: Yeah, I don’t know what Mike did. Now, I can’t show my face. Mike, you’re gonna pay for this!

Interviewer: What can you say about Mike’s kare-kare?
Richelle: It’s burnt! Just kidding! It’s ok but it needs more… more…what's that word?
Someone from the back: Flavor
Richelle: yeah, that word.
Interviewer: What kind of flavor were you looking for?
Richelle: More peanut, peanut sauce, peanut flavoring. Not the burnt taste. Just kidding. Just a bit more flavor and it’s all set. Then, I got to eat the eggplant. Oh my God. Can you believe that? That’s good. That’s good.
Someone from the back: There’s eggplant?
Richelle: Yeah, and I ate 2! And it also tastes like kare-kare… not just like plain eggplant. So, I got to eat it. Thank you, Mike!

In my opinion, it's not bad for a first-timer. Especially if it's the first dish I cooked that's not fried or anything instant. I pat myself on the back for a job well done. Now, I'm inspired to cook.

What my name means

2007-07-17T14:46:00.000-04:00

Michael Andree Raymundo Purugganan

There are 31 letters in your name.
Those 31 letters total to 149
There are 13 vowels and 18 consonants in your name.

What your first name means:
Shakespearean Male 'King Henry IV, Part 1' Sir Michael, a friend to the Archbishop of York. 'Henry VI, Part 2' Michael and his company are followers of Jack Cade, a rebel.
Hebrew Male Who is like God? Gift from God. In the Bible, St. Michael was the conqueror of Satan and patron saint of soldiers.
Biblical Male Poor; humble

Your number is: 5

The characteristics of #5 are: Expansiveness, visionary, adventure, the constructive use of freedom.

The expression or destiny for #5:
The number 5 Expression endows with the wonderful characteristic of multi-talents and versatility. You can do so many things well. The tone of the number 5 is constructive freedom, and in your drive to attain this freedom, you will likely be the master of adaptability and change. You are good at presenting ideas and knowing how to approach people to get what you want. Naturally, this gives you an edge in any sort of selling game and spells easy success when it comes to working with people in most jobs. Your popularity may lead you toward some form of entertainment or amusement. Whatever you do, you are clever, analytical, and a very quick thinker.

If there is too much of the 5 energy in your makeup, you may express some the negative attitudes of the number. Your restless and impatient attitude may keep you from staying with any project for too long. Sometimes you can be rather erratic and scatter yourself and your energies. You have a hard time keeping regular office hours and maintaining any sort of a routine. You tend to react strongly if you sense that your freedom of speech or action is being impaired or restricted in any way. As clever as you are, you may have a tendency to make the same mistakes over and over again because much of your response is glib reaction rather that thoughtful application. You are in a continuous state of flux brought by constantly changing interests.

Your Soul Urge number is: 8

A Soul Urge number of 8 means:
With an 8 soul urge, you have a natural flair for big business and the challenges imposed by the commercial world. Power, status and success are very important to you. You have strong urges to supervise, organize and lead. Material desires are also very pronounced. You have good executive abilities, and with these, confidence, energy and ambition.

Your mind is analytical and judgment sound; you're a good judge of material values and also human character. Self-controlled, you rarely let emotions cloud judgment. You are somewhat of an organizer at heart, and you like to keep those beneath you organized and on a proper track. This is a personality that wants to lead, not follow. You want to be known for your planning ability and solid judgment.

The negative aspects of the 8 soul urge are the often dominating and exacting attitude. You may have a tendency to be very rigid, sometimes stubborn.

Your Inner Dream number is: 6

An Inner Dream number of 6 means:
You dream of guiding and fostering the perfect family in the perfect home. You crave the devotion from offspring and a loving spouse. You picture yourself in the center of a successful domestic unit.

Can you be my hero?

2007-07-14T01:10:00.000-04:00

OMG... Call me sappy, cheezy, dreamy, sentimental, nostalgic, mushy... I don't care. If someone serenades me like this, I would just melt.

I wonder when MY hero will come... sigh.

(Somehow) Like Old Times

2007-07-13T09:36:00.000-04:00

Thursday (07/12/07) rehearsal with the Harvard Summer Chorus couldn't have been any better. For the first time since we started rehearsing in June 26, GP and I got to sit together and sing our hearts out. Even though GP and I came from different universities back in Manila, we have similarities when it came to executing music... a lot different from choral singers here in the US. We didn't really care for the other singers around us (which is really a no-no in choral singing) but the assistant conductor (Kevin) liked what he was hearing so we carried on. It took me back to my DLSU Chorale days. At one point, there were only 2 basses (John Rae and I) in a group of 18 (i think). So, singing out loud was a challenge for us to be heard. Eventually, we got used to it. I was content that I got to do it last night. We may be able to do it again next week or until the conductor (Jim) comes back from his vacation. Concert is exactly 3 weeks from now (Aug 3). We still have ways to go. Hope we'll be ready by then. Of course, I'll keep you posted.

Beethoven's 9th

2007-07-12T15:36:00.000-04:00

It was a warm Wednesday afternoon. GP, my buddy, had asked me a couple of days ago to watch the Boston Landmarks Orchestra at the Eslpanade's Hatch Shell. They're playing Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. Unfortunately, he backed out the last minute because he had some physical ailement. I still went to the concert. I got to drag a couple I know who likes the same type of music. The weather was perfect for me... warm but breezy.

Overall, the free concert was satisfying. They played for about an hour and a half. Their guest choir was the New World Chorale. They were pretty good. Though I do have to say that there were parts of the concert when the orchestra were not in sync, and at times off key... but that was minimal. There were 4 soloists: 2 sopranos, 1 tenor, and 1 baritone. For me, the tenor had the performance of the night. One soprano could have sung a bit louder. The other can do a little softer and a lot less tremolo. Baritone was ok. Someone once told me that little errors in a live performance makes it more interesting. There's nothing special about it if it was perfect. I guess that's why I decided to place this here.

So, I give them a thumbs up! The concert was great. =)

First time blogger

2007-07-09T17:53:00.000-04:00

I'm pretty much familiar with the concept of blogging... and a couple of my closest friends have encouraged me to do one. I instantly said "nah, I probably won't have the motivation to update my blog." Then again, it is such a great way for someone to express his/her individuality. Ah, the beauty of the First Amendment... how very liberating. Everyone is entitled to an opinion and should be able to voice it out no matter what. So, let's see where this will lead to...