The world is divided up between people who like to watch the sunset and people who don’t. People like you are never happy. You’re anxious, Type A, egocentric perfectionist who can’t sit still and die alone with a million bucks and a thousand regrets. The people who can relax, enjoy the sunset, hold hands at the end of the day… They’re the happy ones. - After The Sunset (2004)
A few years ago, I had to repeat that scene in the above Pierce Brosnan film tens of times just to get the lines right. At that time, I was determined to be part of the half of humanity who can relax, enjoy the sunset, and hold hands at the end of the day. I still believed then, that it was a possibility if I try hard enough.
I remembered it again after reading that whether one will be happy - at least in this lifetime - is already predetermined by our genes. Wow. So much for attempting to find happiness. If this is true, then some of us were born to a life of glee and others of gloom?
Dear Sir Up There, heed my decades old prayer now please. I so want to have a happy old age and I’d love to watch sunsets. But I think I’ll need a hand to hold soon … The thought of growing old alone is getting so damn scary everyday…
My draft on the blog launching of Pampanga Governor Ed Panlilio last Saturday has been sidetracked by my fascination with the tour given to by the Juan D. Nepomuceno Center for Kapampangan Studies of the Holy Angel University in Pampanga.
Two (2) panels on the “Enigmatic Macabebes” caught my attention. On one side was a refutation of the much-maligned Macabebes - touted as traitors and labeled as “dugong aso” both by Filipinos and at times, even by their fellow Kapampangans. History has been unkind to them, particularly when they remained loyal to the Spaniards even at the height of the Revolution, when they were instrumental in the capture of General Emilio Aguinaldo, and when they fiercely served the Americans (a unit in the US Army - the Philippine Scouts - was formed in their honor).
Part of their enigma perhaps is because none from among them rose to speak and allow others to understand them. Their photographs make matters worse - with the long hair and a haunted yet piercing gaze, they are not easy on the eyes. The recent researches, however, show that the disdain is undeserved and they do have reasons - I am amused by the Tagalog (”Taga-Ilog” or river-dwellers) and Kapampangan (”Taga-pampang”, perhaps?) rivalry that begun when the Spaniards first came to Luzon.
Indeed, how can we even accuse them of treason to a country that still wasn’t in existence? The literature (Singsing - the Center’s publication) prods further that didn’t all ethnic groups at one time bound themselves into similar yet less publicized compromises with any of our colonizers?
We may never know what urged the Macabebes to have done what history claims they did. For this, their enigma continues.
Kudos to the Juan D. Nepomuceno Center for Kapampangan Studies for the wonderful job of preserving Pampanga’s heritage and thanks too, to Blogger’s Kapihan for bringing us to Pampanga.
If I leave you, it doesn’t mean I love you any less. – “Keep Me In Your Heart” by Warren Zevon (2003).
A good friend lent me his bootleg DVD copy of Boston Legal a couple of months ago. We have drifted apart, though, and I dread finishing off the series. James Spader, who reminds me of Robert Downey Jr.’s tousled-is-hot look, has become a habit.
More than the plots, I love the soundtrack, particularly this one song, Keep Me In Your Heart, played in the episode where Michael J. Fox appeared as a cancer patient. And I am borrowing it for the next days.
It seems this is a season for goodbyes. I wonder who or what else I should bid farewell to. But since my goodbyes have always been unrefined, I will not even attempt to try. I hope, though, that I will find a way to convey my deep gratitude for the chances I did not deserve, my regret for all my indiscretions and my fervent prayer that, as the late Mr. Zevon sung, you shall keep me in your heart for a while, as I shall keep you in mine.
The birthday boy describes himself (from his Facebook account) as: “Generic… work-in-progress… values family and relationships… upholds honesty, humily and sincerity.”
To me, he is a blessing and one of the most genteel men I will ever meet. Happy birthday, kapatid and congratulations again on the Masters!
Empathy in an AC RC
Originally uploaded by La Bigueña
Loved this remote control of an aircon unit at an aunt’s house. One doesn’t push “high” or “low” but buttons that say “I feel…too cool” or “I feel… too warm.”
If only there’s a similar RC for our loves…
With old friends Rina, Aileen and Lorphine
Originally uploaded by La Bigueña
Happy birthday to one of my dearest and oldest friends! (Lorphine is the one in front in the photograph) Thank you for bearing with me for during college. I really really miss you and hope to see you soon.
