Thanks Kuya Philip for 20 Years of Patience

In fairness to the group naman, here’s the group picture of the cast. I think God has a reason why my camera was not able to save the group picture of the staff, that is where I am part of, and Kuya Erwin. And if I remember it right, I was standing right beside him.

Thanks Kuya Philip for the 20 years of patience for the group that is composed of this kind of people, all of varying life style, and personality.

It's Just IT...

Before I went for vacation last Holy Week, I was so excited about a certain event, as in I guess, everyone can feel it on my choice of words, but it’s almost a week before I post another blog to tell a story about what has happened. I guess, after that, I am not just that excited.

The play has, as always, gone on smoothly, and many people cried. Kuya Chris is indeed great with the role as Jesus. I thought I won’t be that busy, but it was the other way around (I even got my rashes after). Me and my cousin went there at 7am (they did not have overnight rehearsal, I was there at 5am, but nobody around, so I went back home). Kids just had their breakfast at 7:30am and the old casts are not yet around (except for Kuya Charlie who was surprisingly earlier than me, for the first time, after my 9 years of stay with the group!). Ate Gigi kept on sending me messages asking how everything is. Since she’s not yet around, I have to do the things she do, check every stage and every props needed. Finalize some design if needed. At the same time, I am doing documentation, taking stolen shots of people working on the curtains and props. 8:30 and still, the stages are not finalized. The chairs and plants to accessorize the stages just came, and the gate is closed, the truck cannot get in! What was worst, 9am and the kids are still roaming around, nobody has started to put on make up and get into their costumes. The make up artist for Kuya Chris was not yet around, and other casts are still missing in action (the play starts at quarter to 10). But thank God, we started in time, one yell and everyone ran and did their part.

Honestly, I did enjoy the event; it has always been sort of a reunion for me and my friends’ way back in high school. Though Cathy was not around, it is still the same feeling, seeing and having short talk with people I had grown up with. But there is something that made this year difficult. What is it? It is because this year marked a big letting go for me…

I have never thought letting go of something so dear to your heart can be that difficult… But I am not just letting go, I am offering it all to God, since HE gave me U in return of this very difficult letting go…

I just wish Kuya Erwin is really happy with his choice of serving God all his life…

(…and I need to get used to calling him Brother, which will soon be Father…)

Cenakulo on its 20th Year

I have been part of the theater group for 9 years now, yet, on my 9^th year (and at the same time the 20^th year of the group), I am totally out of the picture. Well, honestly, I have an option, I could have filed this as a leave (I am following Germany holidays), and however, I have been into a big discussion before over my 15-day vacation leave for September, so I guess I am still on the hot list, so I did not attempted on the Holy Thursday. Anyway, I will just be out of the big picture, I will still be there as a support, not the same role I had last year, nor the same busy-ness as last year.

But on the brighter side of this, I think this is good for them and for me as well. We all do not know till when I will be here in Philippines, better that new people are learning the things I have been handling for years so it would not be that difficult when the time comes that I will be totally hands-off of the Theater. For now, they still are able to reach me through phone calls (even in the middle of my sleep this morning, and while I am at work), I just do not see them physically during preparation, but I will surely be there during the play itself (hey, I will be driving off during the wee hours of the morning just to get there in time, despite the monthly cycle I am suffering now!)…

In short, this is like a withdrawal for me from an addiction I have long been with. A withdrawal that is difficult, but as part of my growing up, I have to…

… I just wish I can get to know same lively theater group in Germany and be part of it when I have finally settled there...

Will be posting again soon, after the play tomorrow! Even if I am not one of the major cast anymore, wish us luck for tomorrow!!! :D

Nineteen Minutes

Rating:	★★★
Category:	Books
Genre:	Literature & Fiction
Author:	Jodi Picoult

"Synopsis:

In this emotionally charged novel, Jodi Picoult delves beneath the surface of a small town to explore what it means to be different in our society.

In Sterling, New Hampshire, 17-year-old high school student Peter Houghton has endured years of verbal and physical abuse at the hands of classmates. His best friend, Josie Cormier, succumbed to peer pressure and now hangs out with the popular crowd that often instigates the harassment. One final incident of bullying sends Peter over the edge and leads him to commit an act of violence that forever changes the lives of Sterling’s residents.

Even those who were not inside the school that morning find their lives in an upheaval, including Alex Cormier. The superior court judge assigned to the Houghton case, Alex—whose daughter, Josie, witnessed the events that unfolded—must decide whether or not to step down. She’s torn between presiding over the biggest case of her career and knowing that doing so will cause an even wider chasm in her relationship with her emotionally fragile daughter. Josie, meanwhile, claims she can’t remember what happened in the last fatal minutes of Peter’s rampage. Or can she? And Peter’s parents, Lacy and Lewis Houghton, ceaselessly examine the past to see what they might have said or done to compel their son to such extremes. Nineteen Minutes also features the return of two of Jodi Picoult’s characters—defense attorney Jordan McAfee from The Pact and Salem Falls, and Patrick DuCharme, the intrepid detective introduced in Perfect Match.

Rich with psychological and social insight, Nineteen Minutes is a riveting, poignant, and thought-provoking novel that has at its center a haunting question. Do we ever really know someone?"

My Verdict: A sensitive matter handled with great care. Being someone who grew in a country where bullying with kids is not so rampant (or maybe there is, but I am just not that aware since I studied in a school where it is not tolerated and given fair justice). But overall, I did not liked the story. Yes, the credit goes only for Miss Picoult's genre, she writes and was able to convey the story really good, but I found this novel to be somewhat draggy. It took me a total of 5 and half months to finish it, and the only reason I finished it is because I got 7 books waiting to be read, and it has always been my habit to finish the first one before moving on to the next book.

I still congratulate Miss Picoult for the bravery she had to write this sensitive issues, and handed down possibilities why kids might run amok in school. And I believe this is just in time and highly suggested for Germany people who are having big question mark why Tim* did that a few months ago.

*For the knowledge of everyone, an amok happened somewhere in Germany few months ago, and the suspect is of the same age as the major character in the novel. Whatever Tim's reason is, nobody knows it until now, whether he got the same reason as Peter, or a deeper one. But one thing they have in common, the computer technology that has been also an issue when this amok started...

Rants.

Lemme make this clear with you:

I-WORK-HARD-FOR-THE-MONEY-AND-NOT-JUST-PICKED-UP-FROM-THE-STREET-OF-AYALA!!!*

Crystal?

Sigh. Deep breath.

I work alone for my mom and dad (and well, included my grandma also). You think I am earning millions asking me for your allowance, when I myself is wondering whether my money will get me through till the next payday?!?! Well, my salary is even less than 0.50% to be millions (and I wish I could at least get to 1% of a million)!!!

Mama's Birthday

I Know, Too Early for Halloween (Frankenstein Castle)

Cleaning Up

Why Camera Phone and Digicam Should ALWAYS Be in Your Bag

…because sometimes, some of your favorite things happens unexpectedly*…

*in search of pullip dolls, and step-ins yesterday afternoon, the supposed-to-be 30 minute shopping was prolonged because Kyla was there… and sad to say, I do not have any camera, which my cousin was so mad of (she loves kyla so much!)…

Mom's Birthday

                       

               

A Not-So-Surprised Birthday Party

It was Mom's birthday yesterday. I planned to surprise her, but because I woke up too late, it ended up that I was the one surprised, and not much time to cook. So, I was only able to buy cake(by the way, my niece gave her cupcake and put a candle on it as well, hahaha! So sweet!)and ice cream, and no pasta for her celebration…Anyway, it is okay since she is not expect any visitor yesterday but only us in the house.



HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!

Boring...

Things have changed since we get back from training… Last year, my blogspot and facebook were still allowed PROVIDED that I do not have work load… But this time, it’s totally GONE… I understand that it is just the right way it should be, however, I am soooo bored when I do not have work load, and specially, when I want to blurt out my feelings and everything…

Oh well, I need to get used to this…