A film that grabs and strangles your Emotions
Region: Philippinesby Marciano Paroy Jr. Recently, I got hold of a DVD copy of the modern classic “Schindler’s List” – that masterpiece directed by Stephen Spielberg which hit theaters in 1993, and ran away with most of the awards in almost all major award-giving bodies in film the following year, especially the Academy Awards or Oscars in the USA. When I watched it inside the movie theater back in 1993, while a college student in UE, I remember feeling that it was ... more
Views: 1506A Weird artist Named Michael
Region: Philippinesby Marciano A. Paroy Jr. Writing about Michael Jackson would immediately reveal that one grew up in the 1980’s – and thus reveal one’s age. That pegs die-hard MJ fans to be at their 30’s now. But then, he started out in the show business as a young kid, so his multitude of fans include my generation’s parents – those who knew the songs “I’ll Be There,” “Ben,” “Music and Me,” in their original Jackson 5 vers... more
Views: 2095Diay wa-ig ayanda Balakang, and other Summer reminiscence
Region: PhilippinesPlus: memories stored inside the mobile phone by Marciano A. Paroy, Jr. When I recently lost the mobile phone where my Smart number was housed, I initially thought only about how much it cost me way back in 2005. As I made my calculations, I simply told myself (in a self-conciliating manner) that the gadget had somehow outlived its usefulness with me: the nodes seem not to be aligned with the keypad any longer, the sim slot rejects the sim now and then, etc., etc. Anything really to sort of... more
Views: 1302To sink or swim: a realization in Sison, Pangasinan
Region: PhilippinesThere are events and people that – like lightning and thunder cracking through a still and cloudless day – leave us with the realization that we do not own all the troubles in the world. No matter how much we exaggerate and over-amplify all of our sorrows, somebody else’s woes would simply render our anguish a needle prick in the arm compared to a real hard blow dealt on the other person. We make mountains out of molehills, so to speak, when another person has a volcano to g... more
Views: 1581IN DIFFICULT TIMES LIKE THIS
Region: PhilippinesIN DIFFICULT TIMES LIKE THIS, a polio-stricken young man has the self-assurance to smile – reflecting our brighter prospects for 2009. Little does he know that he forms part of the young population on whom Dr. Jose Rizal pinned his hopes before his execution 112 years ago – a sacrifice commemorated last December 30. The polio-stricken youth attended the occasion, hoping to acquire clients for his shoe-shining venture (made possible by the DSWD). &nb... more
Views: 634IN DIFFICULT TIMES LIKE THIS
Region: Philippines
IN DIFFICULT TIMES LIKE THIS, a polio-stricken young man has the self-assurance to smile – reflecting our brighter prospects for 2009. Little does he know that he forms part of the young population on whom Dr. Jose Rizal pinned his hopes before his execution 112 years ago – a sacrifice commemorated last December 30. The polio-stricken youth attended the occasion, hoping to acquire clients for his shoe-shining venture (made possible by the DSWD). &nb... more
Views: 1201SOMETHING INSPIRING… FOR A CHANGE
Region: PhilippinesOkay, we’re supposed to write something inspiring here. 2009 came in minus the usual thunderous welcome we traditionally prepare for the new year. Well, there was some noise alright, but compared to past new year celebrations, this one sort of fizzled – a mere headphone, instead of the familiar loud speakers. And this is good. Perhaps, we’re learning. ***** According to the SWS survey, 92% of Filipinos shall face 2009 with high hopes. Now, a negative attitude whi... more
Views: 1072IS THERE HOPE FOR US PEOPLE OF TABUK?
Region: PhilippinesIt has not been a good year. By anyone’s standards, 2008 has been a year of suffering which threatened not only our belief in our capacity to do something meaningful – but which also threatened our belief in life itself. We cried. We lost people that mean a lot to us. For instance, the gays lost a friend. Well, some gays may not exactly consider Gillian to be a real friend – considering his character that exasperated us in the gay community – but he was a hu... more
Views: 1236When Non-Tabuk Residents Stand by your Door and say “Christmas…”
Region: PhilippinesThe spirit of giving. We all have been imbued with this Christmas concept early on in our lives. And so during the Christmas season – but within our ability to give – we open up our wallets, purses, bank books, and shell out a little (sometimes a little too much) to those outstretched palms that greet us as we approach our doors to respond to that persistent and impatient knocking. Now, there is nothing wrong with giving. The only problem is that the person whose outstret... more
Views: 839WHEN A BEAUTY CONTEST RESULT IS QUESTIONED – Oh no, not again!
Region: Philippines
Criteria are put in place to govern competitions. They are created to ensure that the highest set of standards will serve as the yardstick in the selection process of any form of competition – to isolate the “excellent” from the “mediocre,” to come up with a ranking from the best to the worst. This hurts, but then that’s how competitions go – otherwise we shall never come up with an “ideal” that everyone has to aspire for.... more
Views: 1057
