I Like...

I LIKE...

Saturdays, because I don’t have to work and I can continue to snuggle in bed… alone.

Listening to Delilah on the radio, with her soothing voice and sappy love songs

Dog-eared books, reminders of many hours spent dreaming about other worlds

Watching AlDub fall in love. Trying to hide my wide grin. I believe that this loveteam earned the word "kilig" a place in the Oxford dictionary

A Jigzone puzzle with 247-piece triangles to completely empty the mind. No cares in the world except to click and click.

Old couples walking hand-in-hand. It's nice to know that there is a "forever".

Big veins on the patient’s arms, back when I was still at the bedside.

Old photographs of family and friends, especially when I'm homesick. Then I miss them so much more.

Boomer waiting by the window. Unconditional love.

Walking in the rain with friends as we double up in laughter. Certified Pluviophile here.

Double rainbows, double pots of gold.

Bob Ross and Norman Rockwell, geniuses and psychotherapists

The cover picture on my book, when I was young and somewhat pretty.

Challenging myself, out of my comfort zone.

Writing. Leaving a legacy of my thoughts.

Knowing that I have options, that I have so much more to offer.

I Like These Songs. Period!

Just a disclaimer. I. Am. Not. A. Belieber. I actually surprised myself that I like Justin Bieber’s latest song, “Love Yourself”. The song is in constant rotation on lite-fm radio during my hour-long drive. I liked the song before I knew who sang it. Justin can sing, after all.

Those who think that I only listen to oldies singers would be totally wrong. I am not just of the easy-listening genre. Somehow, this song from the millennial generation managed to amuse me. I can’t explain it. I like the song. Period.




I also liked Britney Spear’s “Oops, I did it again”. Perhaps it’s the goofiness or just my desire to be contrary. Oops, am I just getting to the point where I don’t care what anyone thinks of my choices?






Over the years, I have been totally won over by songs that did not fit my usual playlist. The novelty songs are out of character. I loved these songs for the simple pleasures they gave, for the catchy beat, and for the emotional connection. These songs were not belted by Dion or Houston, but they were a lot of fun to sing or dance to. I am still adding to my burgeoning list of guilty-pleasure songs.
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Psy- Gangnam Style. I don’t understand the song, but who can argue against 2,582,183,790 views as of today (5/30/16) making it the most-viewed youtube video of all time since it was uploaded in 2012? I still cannot understand the horse trot dance moves, but there is something quite enjoyable in swinging those arms in wild abandon. "Oppa gangnam style", indeed.




Papaya Dance was sung by a Polish singer in the 1970s. In 2007, this song was popularized by game show host Edu Manzano in the Philippines. The dance moves swept throughout the country until it was featured in Good Morning America. I prefer the Papaya dance moves to the Macarena and the Asereje.




Pusong Bato means Heart of Stone. A man’s heartbreak due to his loved one’s treachery. It has become an angsty anthem for the broken-hearted, some kind of cathartic release. Maybe we can all relate.

Keeping the Faith

The year-end Thanksgiving service last December 20th captured my feelings of appreciation for the blessings of this year. I reflected on the spiritual triumph for the members of the Church who persevered despite the turmoil caused by the enemies of the Church. The blessings are manifested in never-ending ways.

I believe that when you have faith, everything is possible. I am one with the INC church administration. I am One with EVM.

The AlDub Serendipity

The Aldub love team is a pleasant surprise. It is a fortunate happenstance of a split-screen romance that went viral. Their undeniable chemistry propelled this love team to unprecedented stardom that had defied expectations. The Aldub serendipity is a phenomenon that was meant to be. Five years after a chance meeting at a teen event, fate intervened, bringing an unlikely pair together. Yes, it is serendipity; a magical coming together. On July 16, 2015, the Aldub Nation was born in the Philippines.

The Beginning

Yaya Dub, as played by Maine Mendoza, was in a remote location in the baranggay for the long-running show Eat Bulaga. We are all witnesses to Yaya Dub's giddy reaction when she spotted her crush, Alden, watching her on a TV monitor as she performed her dub smash song. Alden Richards was in a television studio for the noontime TV show Eat Bulaga. The micro-expressions on Yaya Dub's face are familiar to us; haven't we all responded the same before with our old crushes in our teen years? One of the hosts, Allan K, noticed and started to tease Yaya Dub, who became even more flustered. The writers and producers took notice of the attraction and ran with the notion of a love story through split screen. Little did they know that the whole nation would be hooked as well.

The Aldub Phenomenon

The Aldub phenomenon has swept the Philippines. Last October 24, the Tamang Panahon event was held in the magnificent 55,000-seater Philippine Arena. The hashtag #AlDubEBTamangPanahon drew 41 million tweets and shattered world records. Of course, the Twitter world was perplexed by this Filipino love team that commanded such devotion. The Aldub fans cross all demographics and transcend all walks of life. Sociologists, pop culture experts, businessmen, and advertising executives scrambled to understand this social media phenomenon. The internet world became curious about our quirky pabebe wave. I must admit, I have started greeting friends (even non-Pinoys) with a pabebe wave.

Alden and Maine are the new Filipino superstars. Success couldn’t happen to a more kind-hearted couple; they are both beautiful inside and out. As the song goes, God has given them to each other. The Aldub team spelled the rebirth of Eat Bulaga to greater heights. The song "God Gave Me You" by Bryan White appropriately captured the blessings each brought to each other, and to the Aldub Nation. The interaction between Alden and Maine had awakened long-forgotten “kilig” feelings. Respect for elders and the traditional custom of courtship took center stage.

Magic of Romance

There is magic with the first blush of romance when everything is beautiful and energizing. I could relate to the extra heartbeat, that momentary loss of concentration, and that sweet, giddy feeling. And I found myself smiling in remembrance. It doesn’t matter that happily-ever-afters do not always happen, but love is a feeling meant to be shared, even if we’re mere witnesses to a blossoming relationship. We cheered with the first handshake, the first date, and the first hug. Now, we wait with bated breath for the first kiss. If this reel romance turns into a reality, I will be joining in the celebration. Fantastic, Baby.

The Haters and why I don't care

Some elitist and intellectual snobs scoffed at the adulation heaped on Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza. What irked me was the condescending attitude of some critics who chided the fans for what they called low-brow humor. The crab mentality surfaced again. The self-proclaimed high-browers have admitted that they have not even seen the show, but deigned to write scathing criticisms. These are the same people who demand political and social responsibilities in our entertainment shows (duh!). They ignored that 100% of the proceeds from the Tamang Panahon show went to create public libraries all around the Philippines. Miserable people may not appreciate the simple joys of romantic love, witty comebacks, and laugh-out-loud moments.

Innovative Television

I am a proud fan. The Kalyeserye episodes provided me with countless hours of enjoyment. Pure entertainment. Innovative television. I stand in awe of the creative genius of the writers and the spontaneous improvisations from a loose script by the three hosts (JoWaPao- Jose, Wally, and Paolo). Stand-up comedy at its best. The extemporaneous repartee between the baranggay cast and the studio hosts Tito, Vic, and Joey contributed to the amusement. Allan K’s shrieks mingled with my own.

The show was meant to be a distraction from the mind-numbing challenge of my Advanced Statistics class. Aldub provided me a much-needed respite from the stress of my doctoral studies. As I listened to the audio via my cellphone on my drive home, the traffic on the Belt Parkway had become much more tolerable. I drove with a smile on my face. Priceless.

What will be, will be. If it is meant to be.

At the end of the day, the non-fans/critics should just let us all be. Let AlDub be. Let the fans exult in our fandom. Our happiness is of no concern to any of the critics. Nobody can dictate what gives us pleasure. They will never understand; their loss.

What matters most is that Alden and Maine remain true to themselves. If this romance blooms further, the fandom will rejoice. What the fans need to remember is that the magic happened because of the two of them, not one more than the other.

If July 16 had not happened, they could have achieved individual success, but I doubt it would have been nearly as remarkable as the phenomenon they have become as a team. As far as I am concerned, July 16 evened the playing field; it did not matter that Maine was the neophyte and Alden had five years of showbiz experience. The chemistry is inexplicable; perhaps it is just that- serendipity.

And if the naysayers still bother you, you could shove them, unfriend them, unfollow them, or delete them. Or you can try this: Give them your best I-don't-care-what-you-think expression. Stick out your tongue and tell them, “Wala kang pake!” (None of your business!)



Video credit: Eat Bulaga

A 9/11 Birthday Thank-You

A birthday is a day spent in reflection and celebration for the blessings of the past year. But it takes a little bittersweet significance when that day happens to be 9/11. It has been fourteen years since that fateful day when the towers crashed.

September 11, 2001 started as just an ordinary day; clear, blue skies on a mild summer day in the normal hustle and bustle of New York City. Just an ordinary day suddenly pushed into the annals of history as the day when the world stood still and New York City went dark. Every year thereafter, Americans pause in somber remembrance for the countless people who lost their lives for a senseless tragedy.

In years to come, I still hope that the 9/11 reminiscences will always be treated with respect, dignity, and appreciation, not only for those we lost but also for those who continue to survive. We shall not forget.

So, I have kept quiet all these years, always feeling the reluctance to claim attention when everybody else mourns. In my middle age years, I do not need a boisterous celebration. I just do not want to apologize for having a 9/11 birthday, just like when a medical receptionist muttered an apology when I gave her my birthdate.

I am spending my 9/11 birthday with family. This is all I need. There is so much to be thankful for. My heart is full of grateful appreciation for the Facebook page filled with greetings and private messages. Life is good because I have Christ in my life. I have family and friends who keep me going through the years.

Fourteen years after a near-miss with tragedy, I am grateful for the chance to enjoy life as God sees fit for me, to pay it forward. There must be a good reason why I didn't board that E train on the way to a planned trip to the Twin Towers that day. I am thankful for all of you. God gave me you.




God gave me you to show me what's real
There's more to life than just how I feel
And all that I'm worth is right before my eyes
And all that I live for though I didn't know why
Now I do, 'cause God gave me you






2011 birthday post

#911birthday

Let the Men Sing

After several hours of mind-numbing review of statistics for DNP school, I suddenly felt the need for music therapy. I wanted music that relaxes, calms the nerves, and soothes the soul. As I started to look at the Adele songs, I heard the sexy baritone voice of Barry White coming from the TV. Enough of the estrogen-fueled music of my past writings. It’s the boys’ turn to strut their stuff. Let the men sing (or play).


Jason Mraz- American singer-songwriter





Pharell- American singer-songwriter and rapper




Michael Buble- Canadian singer, songwriter




Ed Sheeran-English singer-songwriter and musician




Ronan Keating- Irish musician who used to be the lead singer for the group Boyzone.




Bruno Mars- American singer, born and raised in Hawaii with a Filipino mother




Eagles- American rock band in the 70's




Barry White- American composer and singer-songwriter known for his distinctive bass-baritone voice




Jose Mari Chan- Chinese Filipino singer and prolific songwriter




Rey Valera- Filipino singer and songwriter. His songs were used as movie scores and in tv serials.




Nonoy Zuniga- Filipino singer




Israel "IZ" Kamakawiwoʻole- Hawaiian musician and entertainer, named as the "The Voice of Hawaii"




Louie Armstrong- nicknamed Satchmo, was an American jazz trumpeter, singer, and one of the pivotal and most influential figures in jazz music.




Richard Clayderman- French pianist

Kids Got Talent, Part 2

She’s too heavenly, and a joy to watch. She’s Heavenly Joy. She’s a young kid whose cuteness, pertness, and tap-dancing skills invite comparison to Shirley Temple. However, she’d rather have Jesus in her. And she’s only five years-old. Her musically-talented parents are so proud.




Heavenly Joy singing Impossible Dream. Wow!





Solomia singing “Time to Say Goodbye”.




Nathan Bautista, young rocker, “Don’t Stop Believing”




Aldrich Talonding and James Bucong, “Dance with my Father”. This was taken about 2 years ago before young Aldrich lost his father to cancer. He and his cousin went on to appear in the tv show Ellen.




Cydel Gabutero singing Power of Love





Martin Cruz, 3 y/o drummer





Kids are inspiring too. Daniel Cabrera, a nine-year old boy, was seen studying out in the street under a McDonald's lamp. Talk about persistence, something that is lacking in kids who are more privileged.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/philippines/11730467/Filipino-boy-receives-scholarship-after-photograph-of-him-studying-on-the-street-goes-viral.html

Part 1- http://jcerrudocreations.blogspot.com/2014_08_01_archive.html