Entries from February 2009 ↓

Adapted from Paolo’s post; he will play the sly and cunning Imbestigador Heneral.  

I’m so excited to see the talented original cast reprise their roles and to see their synergy with two newcomers.

It will be staged in UP-MASA PGH Science Hall on March 6, 2009 (7 to 9 pm). For ticket inquiries you can contact 09229758815 and  09164842662.

Bathroom Voices is a play about the lives of six teachers, who while waiting for their turn in a school presentation, find themselves exchanging their sentiments and thoughts on politics, society, jobs, education, religion and womanhood. Susan is an Economics and History teacher who fancies over theories and conventions and who defends the status quo. Maritess lives in with her boyfriend and maintains a very active sex life. Yayo is the naïve one. She longs for her prince charming and hopes that she meets her one true love soon. Katrina is a single mother and a thespian. She stays with her family and together with Yayo and Susan also nurtures affection towards Lando, the school janitor. Ilda is separated from her husband and tries to raise her children on her own. Poying is a lesbian. She is the most radical of all the six. Each keeps a secret. As much as possible, they try to shield their personal lives from the prying eyes of the school administration that, upon learning their respective plights, might summarily dismiss them from their posts.

Susan, Maritess, Yayo, Katrina, Ilda and Poying represent various types of women while the school administration stands for the society where they belong. Note that distributed in various parts of the play are morals, metaphors and subtle personifications.

When the six leave for the school gymnasium to perform, Imbestigador Heneral, a shrewd detective who was all the time hiding in one corner of the bathroom reveals himself and begins his quest for the murderer he suspects to be among the protagonists. A man was killed a day before the show and he believes that his initial information, preconceived ideas and typecasts of a woman will lead him to the author of the crime. While making his logical inferences, Lando, the heartthrob unwittingly discovers him. A philosophical intercourse then ensues. Later, he becomes instrumental in catching the alleged felon. Note that in this part, the postmodernist underpinnings of the play are fully threshed out.

The teachers return to the bathroom after their performance. The anger, the passion and the sentiments are higher this time. The characters realize many important problems with respect to the role that they portray in the society. It is deeply rooted in tradition, value systems, culture and social structures that are in the first place based on some mistaken notions of power and patriarchy. The discernment engages them to decide to deconstruct, break the apathy and go against conventions. Some of them are indeed agitated; while the others remain thoughtful and grounded in reality.

Just when the heat and the angst are about to increase again, Imbestigador Heneral, together with Lando and Miss Reyes, the school principal enters the bathroom. He is now convinced that Katrina is the killer. Confrontation between him and the other teachers follows. While he is explaining, Susan cuts him short and asks that she be arrested instead. Everyone is surprised.

The unseen gazes and facial expressions which only the mirror in the bathroom sees dispel the confusion. The Imbestigador Heneral might have ingenious ways to discover and capture the perpetrator but the smallest yet most important details have escaped his so-called very sharp senses.

Tanging banyo lang ang nakaamoy. Tanging salamin lamang ang nakakita. Ang dami. Sari-sari. Punum-puno ng kahulugan. Ang galing ng banyo. Parang alam niya lahat…

This is a shout out to the God-chasers of this generation, those also collectively called “Love Warriors“. On February 14, 2009 this Saturday, join us as we take 30 minutes to pray for the younger generation…that they would truly surrender their hearts to the God who loves them more than anyone. If you have younger brothers or sisters, cousins, small group members…list down their names and pray for their hearts. Pray that their emotions will not get the best of them, but that they would seek and love and desire the Father’s heart first and above all. That purity, wisdom and obedience will overcome the temptations and lures of meaningless romance the world entices them to have… That they will wait on God, and trust Him to give them their heart’s desire at the appointed time. As kuyas and ates, we are accountable for them. We have experienced and learned much, some from mistakes made…but these are given to us also to help others…especially those who have not yet gone the way we’ve already passed. Let’s go beyond the exclusive and selfish notions of Valentines day and intercede for others. It’s also a sweet and edifying way to show that you care. It is up to you if you want to pray for them in person.

You can also pray for…

1. Wounded hearts. Healing for heartbroken friends or those whose lovedones recently passed away.
2. Your own relationships. That God will remain in the center.
3. People you love who have not yet come to know Christ, the lover of souls.
4. Strength for the love warriors in the persecuted churches around the world.



Note: This is not one of those forwarded messages that grant luck or blessings once you do it. This is totally voluntary and without incentive. You may repost this on your own blog and after praying for the people on your list, it would also be great if you can text them words of wisdom and encouragement regarding ‘love’.

Deuteronomy 5:9-11 (New International Version)

9 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 10 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.

This is a repost from my friend’s site.

I only responded to that 25 random thingies tag/meme because we discussed why people prefer reading numbered lists to long blocks of texts. Why? Ask my prof, I was sleep deprived that morning. ;-P So here’s a list of randomness:

1. I fall asleep in moving vehicles, especially in buses traversing EDSA. I even fell asleep in the MRT once, while sitting on the floor. I have also fallen asleep on the shoulder of a total stranger in a jeep. But I’ve only missed my stop once.

2. I have lived most of my life away from home and family: 10 years in dormitories and a few months’ worth of camps and conferences.

3. I am not sentimental, especially about things. I rarely keep letters, gifts or souveneirs. I never take photos (because I don’t have a camera either.)  What I keep are memories… and a lot of voice casette tapes. 

4. For nine years, my dad would be parked in front of my current dormitory everyday from 6-9pm. Every day. 

5. I can live without TV, a landline or the Internet at home. I also watch movies/DVD’s…. like, twice a year? But I can never survive without reading materials… even a medicine warning label would suffice. I also prefer watching theater musical plays to movies or concerts.

6. I went through immunotherapy in college; 3 injections every week for a year. Not sure if it worked though. I was only allowed to donate blood again after I stopped the treatment.

7. I’m a gourmand, not a gourmet. I eat almost anything, and lots! But I”m not fond of okra, ampalaya, potato chips/junk food, chocolate with nuts/fruit/stuff mixed in, or fruits (I’m too lazy to peel them). I can eat a full rice meal in 5 mins flat and can make the most of eat-all-you-can buffets. The trick is not to drink anything.

8. I speedread, so I rarely buy books. I tend to abuse the books I have, since I read anywhere, anytime and reread the books over and over and over… Secondhand books are my preference since I am annoyed at the kaartehan (no dog-ears, wrap in plastic, do not open fully else the binding will get creased ek-ek OC-ness) of keeping new, freshly printed books.

9. I’ve chipped my front tooth 3x (metal forks are not edible) and had it replastered twice. Now I need to have it patched up again. I’ve also had two wisdom teeth removed. Horrors.

10. I only realized that I needed to wear glasses due to chronic headaches and spraining my foot 5 times. I’m still undecided on contacts, since it takes me 15 minutes to put them on. Also, one of my dorm mates scared me when her eyes got infected while wearing contacts.

11. I have been to all 3 island groups in the Philippines LUZVIMIN… without spending a single cent. =) and I have friends in all those places too.

12. My parents did not pay anything for my school tuition from grade 1 to 4th year HS. And they paid a very reduced rate when I went to college at a state university. So… my CAP plan is stil unredeemed.

13. As of today, I do not own a single skirt. I have not worn one in 3 years.

14. I used to wear a tubao (Muslim-inspired bandanna) all the time in college. Now I’ve moved up to always bringing a shawl/pashmina with me wherever I go.

15. I consider household chores a necessary evil. And cleaning up only happens in my room when I’m looking for my keys or someting I’ve misplaced again.

16. I tend to avoid new technology or gadgets; I observe if other people are pleased with them before taking the l plunge. When I do have a techie object, I keep it forever. This PC is almost 6 years old (windows xp), my cellphones are both inherited and are 4 / 6 years old. My music comes from a secondhand ipod shuffle. I own a casette recorder. And that’s the extent of my techiness.

17. I am unfeminine when it comes to fashion. I hate, loathe abhor shopping. Most of my clothes have been around since college (those that still fit). My shoes and bags, however, change more often since they get annihilated in less than a year. I hate closed shoes and heels: they oppress my toes.

18. My shoulder bags are usually big, bulky, and heavy. I like being prepared for anything, so I usually have: notebook, planner, pens, makeup, toiletries, umbrella, cellphone charger, scissors, stapler, marker, bible, journal, ID cards, coin purse, tissue, water bottle, alcohol, shawl, and whichever book/handout I’m supposed to be reading for class that week. When I have classes, I bring an extra bayong/tote bag for my books. And despite numerous out of town experiences, I still do not know how to travel light.

19. I like cats but I’m allergic to them. I don’t like dogs, since they stink and I’m afraid they’ll bite me. After an iguana and a couple of lovebirds in elementary, I have never owned a pet and I’m not interested in getting any.

20. I have been paid to appear on TV three times (sikreto kung saan, kelan at paano). And theater acting gigs in college funded my first trip to Cebu for a month-long camp. 

21. I prefer text messages to getting calls… because my cp batteries tend to conk out midway through the conversation.

22. I learned to type quickly because of Yahoo Messenger and chatting, but I still do not know the proper finger placement for touchtyping.

23. My parents are both CPA’s but I hate math.

24. I used to be afraid of being by myself in a room. But now I can stay on our rooftop at night by myself or work in our department’s office (our college has a reputation for spooky and eerie events) all  alone.

25. I love brewed coffee but just tolerate instant, which has almost no effect on me. The second thing I bought with my paycheck was a coffeemaker; I also have a coffee press. Last year, i received more than 2 kilos of coffee grounds as gifts from various people. Thank you, friends!

is mind traveling, destination unknown. – Writers’ Inc.

 

I never thought of myself of a writer; lazybones that I am, I prefer to read things other people have already sweated agonized over  written, neatly laid out on yellowing pages of second hand books that I scrounge, beg or borrow.

I write only when I have to. Like papers, critiques, lecture notes, report crib sheets, lesson plans, observations, FLA/SLA research, ad nauseum… plus the hastily scribbled please!-wake-me-up-notes, to-do-lists, grocery lists, library book lists, checklists, deadlines, and do-not-touch-this-food-package-or-else-the-owner-will-eat-you-instead threats.  

Writing for me is a chore, as enjoyable as getting an impacted wisdom tooth extracted. But five years of blogging and ten years of journal writing seem to prove me wrong. I must find some joy and some meaning to continue doing it for years, without anyone coercing me to. And yes… I do find joy and meaning each time I see my thoughts rendered in print, in a more or less orderly fashion (usually less ;-P).

What is writing for? I found myself nodding, not due to sleepiness, but in agreement all throughout our class yesterday on teaching writing skills for second language learners. Writing is important because it is a means of self expression and it develops critical thinking. Check on the former, wait-a-minute! on the latter idea.

So I continues to overrun another page, finish another paper, post another blog. And quite a grand journey it is. =)

JOURNEY
Corrine May

It’s a long, long journey
Till I know where I’m supposed to be
It’s a long, long journey
and I don’t know if I can believe

When shadows fall and block my eyes
I am lost and know that I must hide
It’s a long, long journey
Till I find my way home to You

Many days I’ve spent
Drifting on through empty shores
Wondering what’s my purpose
Wondering how to make me strong

I know I will falter
I know I will cry
I know You’ll be standing by my side
It’s a long, long journey
And I need to be close to You

Sometimes it feels no one understands
I don’t even know why
I do the things I do
When pride builds me up till I can’t see my soul
Will You break down these walls and pull me through?

‘Cause it’s a long, long journey
Till I feel that I am worth the price
You paid for me on Calvary
Beneath those stormy skies
When Satan mocks and friends turn to foes
It feels like everything is out to make me lose control 

It’s a long, long journey …

Till I find my way home to You