HAPPINESS IS… BTS, Lavender, Ube, Children Dancing, Rainbows

Last week, I was stuck behind a school bus when I saw some kids playing in their front yard blowing soap bubbles. The joy on the kids’ faces was contagious. Four kids (three girls and a boy), about six years old, were running around to chase the soap bubbles being blown by an adult. The children laughed as they reached out into the air and tried to pop the bubbles. Their excited screams were music to my ears. Their innocence and simple joys lifted my heart. 

 Indeed, random moments of happiness occur when least expected.

  BTS 

 Happiness is…watching a BTS video. I am just a recent fangirl to BTS. Just a month ago, a video appeared on my Facebook feed. Epiphany was sung by BTS member Jin or Kim Seok-Jin. “I’m the one I should love”. That line could not have come at a better time.  The song was poignant and emotional and emphasized a fundamental truth: Love yourself. I have always maintained a strong façade amid all the problems in life, always putting others first. But as the song says, self-love has to come first. It has to. 

  Epiphany- Jin

Over the years, I have heard of BTS but never watched their videos until I watched Epiphany, and suddenly, I was hooked. Down the rabbit hole, I tumbled down. BTS is a 7-member supergroup from South Korea; they are a worldwide phenomenon. The group broke all kinds of music records, conquered the cultural divide, sold out arenas and stadiums. Tickets in Citifield sold out in 10 minutes. 

 Their lyrics are introspective and do not shy away from talks about maintaining mental health and promoting peace, empowerment, and self-love. Their music transcended languages and cultures and its Army of fans include all ages, races, and genders. BTS is beyond K-pop; it is its own genre. It was BTS that made me overcome my aversion to rap music, lol. 

 BTS is shattering glass ceilings and is forcing the Western world to understand their Asian neighbors. Non-Koreans are singing the Korean lyrics. Hopefully, this will pave the way for more global appreciation of all kinds of music, maybe even Pinoy music. Hopefully, this will open goodwill among all races. With their songs, they are a beacon against prejudice and for inclusivity and diversity.  It is my fervent prayer that we can shine the spotlight on anti-racism and anti-Asian hate. 

 'Butter' Official MV

LAVENDER 

 Happiness is... celebrating nature's beauty amid fields of lavender blooms, with the clear, blue sky up above, and the aromatic breeze calming heart and soul. The fragrance fills the air and cleanses my spirit. No wonder, these multi-purpose perennial lavender plants are widely used for aromatherapy. Doing my Ujjayi breathing.

 

UBE ICE CREAM 

 Happiness is… indulging in Ube Ice Cream in pandesal. Ube or purple yam is typically found in the Philippines. It can be prepared as ice cream, cake, bread (pandesal), flan, pudding, and mostly as topping on the delicious halo-halo. 

Ube is the new Matcha, a new obsession in food culture due to its vibrant color that is especially eye-catching on Instagram and other forms of social media. Filipino chefs here in the US are experimenting with ube in waffles, pancakes, and sugar pies. One consolation, Ube is known to have extra-high levels of antioxidants.

CHILDREN/TEENS DANCING

 Happiness is... watching kids and teenagers having fun. Innocence overload. 

Masaka kids Africana- Dancing to “Jerusalema”

In 2019, the South African song called Jerusalema became a summer anthem and a global hit and inspired online dance challenges all over the world. The upbeat disco-house track was composed by DJ Kgaogelo Moagi and sung by singer Nomcebo. It didn’t matter that the lyrics were in a little-known Zulu dialect. When the music moves you, you dance.

Ranz and Niana Featuring Natalia- Dancing to BTS – “Dynamite”

Ranz Kyle and Niana Guerrero are siblings in a blended family from the Philippines who rose to fame on YouTube with their dance videos and prank vlogs. But my heart melted when their youngest sister Natalia joined their dance. That little girl can dance way, way better than me. What a sweetheart!

UNICEF photo

RAINBOWS 

 Happiness is… seeing rainbows after the rain.

I wrote this in 2013- 

Driving home from Brooklyn on the Belt Parkway, I was thankful that I witnessed the magical display of Mother Nature. The bright colors of the rainbow triumphed in stark contrast against the backdrop of gray, angry clouds; its full arc high up in the dark sky. 

 The setting sun's fierce rays behind me turned the drizzling rain into silver on my windshield and transformed the waters of the Narrows Strait shimmering like gold. There was a calmness in the air as if everyone was held spellbound by this beautiful thing in the sky. 

 And as I was coasting along the Belt, right where the "Fuhgeddaboudit" sign clued me that I was leaving Brooklyn for Queens, the majestic rainbow loomed right in the middle of the road, beyond the horizon. The colors were so distinct and the rainbow so amazingly near that it took my breath away. The cars slowed down and I could almost hear the collective "ahhs". 

 I vaguely remember the scientific explanation about the rain as the prism that creates the spectrum of colors. How the lights are refracted when the sunlight hits the raindrop at an angle. ROYGBIV. In grade school, I hardly paid attention to the science behind this phenomenon. 

 As a child, I was more interested in the story of the pot of gold over the rainbow "where troubles melt like lemon drops and happy little bluebirds fly". It was our magical "bahaghari" from those innocent times when skies are blue, and the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true, just over the rainbow. 

 And if you just look closely, there's a second rainbow! With blue on the outside and red moved to the inside. Double reflections, double pots of gold. 

 A Special Performance of "Rainbow Connection" from Kermit the Frog | The Muppets

Michael Pangilinan performs "Rainbow" (South Border) LIVE on Wish 107.5 Bus