Let's Conquer Fear! Happy Halloween!

[Phantom:] On a hot summer night,
would you offer your throat to the wolf with the red roses?
[Ayheen:] Will he offer me his mouth?
[P:] Yes.
[A:] Will he offer me his teeth?
[P:] Yes.
[A:] Will he offer me his jaws?
[P:] Yes.
[A:] Will he offer me his hunger?
[P:] Yes.
[A:] Again, will he offer me his hunger?
[P:] Yes!
[A:] And does he love me?
[P:] Yes.
[A:] Yes.
[P:] On a hot summer night,
would you offer your throat to the wolf with the red roses?
[A:] Yes.
[Phantom:] I bet you say that to all the boys!

(Adapted from Hot Summer Night by Meatloaf)


Dear Sabine, Last year I wasn't able to wear any Phantom of the Opera masks because you were scared of them. Now? Well, just look at the picture.
Way to go!!!

Fear ONLY the Lord God who created the Universe and its laws.

By the way, that Meatloaf song above, it's just a tongue-in-cheek quote, true to the spirit of this brief season. It is not supposed to be taken seriously. Capisce?

BTW Guys! Enjoy your families, enjoy the All saint's day weekend.

And may God Bless Us All and God keep us All safe from harm!!!

End of Chivalry

Dear Kids, The battle of Agincourt between the French and the out-numbered English was fought on St. Crispian's day, 25th of October. It was a triumph of the few against the many. It also helped end the dominance in the battlefield of the armored cavalry--The Knights. Because despite of the abundance of French Knights trained in Mortal Combat, at Agincourt they were felled not by other well-trained knights who observed life long codes of honor but by arrows from the simple, not-so-aristocratic english long bow archers.

Thus the age of chivalry gasped its last few breaths at Agincourt. From then on, the field of war belongs not to the most honorably trained warriors willing to wallow in the blood of their defeated foe after a sword-to-sword/dagger-to-dagger/hand-to-hand combat where they see their enemies eye-to-eye; but to the most pragmatically trained ones who kill their enemies from a distance, hence they need not know what HONOR means. Excalibur was betamaxed out of the battlefield by arrows, and then by cannons, and now, by smart bombs from stealth bombers.

On St. Crispian's day 2007, a convicted plunderer was given pardon by the highest official of the land. It practically means that the crime never happened. Chivalry ended on the battlefield and was replaced by gunpowder long ago on St. Crispian's day. And now, SCD 2007, some would say that it is a day of infamy, others of miraculous justice. But no Filipino will be lukewarm when this day comes from now on.

In the previous post, I praised your school for taking a stand even though it was unpopular. The stand proved to be futile, and the cause truly a lost one.

But so was Thermophyle.
So was the revolt of Spartacus.
So was the stand on Massada.

So was this man's cause:

He was born in an obscure village
The child of a peasant woman
He grew up in another obscure village
Where he worked in a carpenter shop
Until he was thirty

He never wrote a book
He never held an office
He never went to college
He never visited a big city
He never travelled more than two hundred miles
From the place where he was born
He did none of the things
Usually associated with greatness
He had no credentials but himself

He was only thirty three

His friends ran away
One of them denied him
He was turned over to his enemies
And went through the mockery of a trial
He was nailed to a cross between two thieves
While dying, his executioners gambled for his clothing
The only property he had on earth

When he was dead
He was laid in a borrowed grave
Through the pity of a friend

Nineteen centuries have come and gone
And today HE is the central figure of the human race
And the leader of mankind's progress

All the armies that have ever marched
All the navies that have ever sailed
All the parliaments that have ever sat
All the kings that ever reigned put together
Have not affected the life of mankind on earth
As powerfully as that one solitary life

Chivalry may be Dead, Dear Kids, but not God.

You Got Balls

October 25, 2007. St. Crispian's Day.

"...At ang hustisya ay para lang sa mayaman."-- Bamboo

Sage goes to the school that issued the statement below. She's doing well there but most of the credit belongs to her Lola who is a retired school teacher herself and her Mom I should really pay her (them) instead of paying the school's tuition fee. But sometimes, this school reminds me why Sage studies there-- It has a lot of guts. Even though it doesn't have a UAAP team, though it ain't got no game, You Got Balls Baby!

UPHOLD THE TRUE MEANING OF JUSTICE: NO TO PARDON!
(A Statement drafted by the Miriam College Advocacy Centers)

As an academic institution that upholds the values of truth, justice, peace and integrity of all creation, the Miriam College community is against the proposed pardon for former president Joseph Estrada. Betrayal of public trust is a serious crime and anyone found guilty must face its legal consequences.

We all wish for genuine peace and reconciliation but not at the expense of justice and certainly not to accommodate the political interests of a few. Reconciliation entails acknowledgment of responsibility and guilt; remorse for the sin committed; willingness to apologize for the harm done; and genuine effort to compensate for the damage caused. All these are glaringly absent.

Granting Estrada pardon at a time when he, his family, and close friends continue to profess his innocence makes a complete mockery of the judicial system that tried him and will totally denigrate the heroic efforts of people who risked their lives for the truth.

Pardoning Estrada, as it is now proposed, will also mean that he no longer be required to restore the amount stolen. This is clearly unacceptable in the light of the principle of restorative justice and the country’s economic situation. Erap stole from the poor he swore to serve and the money should be returned to them.

Pardon will set a dangerous precedent. It will send a message to government officials that serious crimes such as plunder can easily be pardoned. What will this teach our children?

We appeal to our government officials and to the Filipino people to take a high moral ground here. Let us, as Christians, forgive when he asks for it. But former President Estrada has to do reparation for the wrong he has done, including serving his full sentence of reclusion perpetua. Schools teach the values of responsible and upright citizenship but many of the country’s leaders violate them with impunity. For the sake of our country’s future, NO TO PARDON!

BRA-VO,
BABY!

St. Crispian's Day

"Fifteen men on the dead man's chest ...Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum! Drink and the devil had done for the rest ...Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum!" -- R.L. Stevenson's Treasure Island





Dear Kids, we just watched a pirated version of the Pirates of the Carribean 3 (ahoy there mateys! that was a good yarn of a joke, eh)

What's amazing is that hindi kayo takot sa facial tentacles ni Davy Jones.

Anyway, "Dead Man's Chest" here preserves what a Living Man's Chest contains: The Human Heart. In the movie, it contains the heart of the Captain of the Flying Dutchman.

I like the part in the movie when Keira Knightley, as the democratically elected pirate KING, rallied the sagging spirits of her crew. They were facing great odds against an overwhelming armada that represented tyranny (they hanged women and children at the beginning of the movie for exercising free speech, peaceful assembly and... for singing R&B) With a stirring speech reminiscent of Henry V's St. Crispian's Speech, she succeeded in forging together the waivering resolve of searats and other scums.

Darn. It gave me a vision. One day, when you guys are about to mount a hostile takeover of Microsoft, and your pencil pushing troops are weary, take a leaf from Henry V.

"...Then shall our names,
Familiar in his mouth as household words-
ADELEINE SAGE, SABINE AYN, and SADIE ANN-
Be in their flowing cups freshly rememb'red.
This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remembered-
We few, we Happy FEW. WE BAND OF BROTHERS!
For he (or she) that sheds his blood with me today
shall be my brother (and sistah)
be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition;
And gentlemen in England now-a-bed
Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day"

Men are ruled, dear kids, with WORDS and magic.

BTW, St. Crispian's Day is on the 25th of October. Let's not celebrate it. Talo ng England ang France, doon. Ka Asar.

I also just realized that the whole epic is just about the re-telling of the legend of the Flying Dutchman. It is just like Disney's sanitized version of the Grimm's Brother's tales about cinderella, snow white and sleeping beauty.

If you will google the real legend of the flying dutchman, it is not as sympathetic as the story of William and Elizabeth. But because of the 3 movies, your heart goes out to the two who only have 1 day, every 10 years to be together. 1 day, in 10 years... for all eternity.

If that's something I have to live with, I'll take it. It may not be forever, but it's for now.


"Two hearts beat as one together It may not be forever, but it's for NOW..."
-- John Parr's American Anthem OST

I'd like to thank the Academy for this award...

I got my name in lights with notcelebrity.co.uk
Dear Sage, Yesterday you casually told us that you received a certificate from your Science Teacher. You didn't say that you were the only one who received it in your class. We only learned its real significance when some Moms of your classmates sent text messages to your Lola Letty congratulating her because you got the highest grades in Science.

Your hard work paid off. Both yours and your Lola's. We should really thank Lola Letty for this. Day in day out she concentrates on helping you accomplish your goal of being an academic achiever.

Special mention to your Mom. She takes time to teach you too. We should also thank her especially, for her genes.




and Ate Malou, Ate Ning: the support staff.

Family Weekends

Dear Kids, This weekend we went to hypermarket. While your Mom and Lola were buying groceries, you guys were left in the kiddie corner where you watched Baby's Day Out (an old 90's film). I was thrilled to find out that once upon a time, sex and the city's Cynthia Nixon was hot (she had long, blonde hair in that film. and a British Nanny's accent) I was equally surprised to see Fred Thompson, the late-comer Republican wannabee contender for 2008. He was an old hag even then and acts like there was a stick up his behind. Kinda like his performance in his first debate.

Anyway, while in the Kiddie corner, Sage made friends with the girl wearing prescription glasses and Sabine played with Anna and Ainah. While Sadie banters with other toddlers and yaya's. I'm on the look out for the occasional sexy wannabee mothers or newlywed brides who drool over you guys for being so beautiful. They wouldn't give me the time of day when I was still single but because of you guys, they actually seek out your progenitor (Me) and go out of their way to tell me how beautiful you guys are. Ofcourse I've been practicing my pick up line on them. But it has yet to work though. Your mom is betting a year's supply of FHM magz that my pick up lines will never work on any cutie.

She has yet to lose our bet. A real smartass, your Mom is.

The other pictures were take last weekend. We celebrated the Birthday of Kuya Dominic and Kitkat by going to the Fun Ranch, eating Pizza and splurging on TIMEZONE cards.

Stag Party

Dear Sage, This is the saddest song in the world for me...

Never Been To Me

Hey lady, you lady
cursing at your life
you're a discontented mother
and a regimented wife
I have no doubt
you dream about the
things you never do
but I wish someone
had talked to
me like I wanna talk to you

Oh, I've been to Georgia
and California
and anywhere I could run

Took the hand of a preacher man
and we
made love in the sun
But I ran
out of places
and friendly faces
Because I had to be free
I've been to paradise
but I've
never been to me...

Please lady
please lady
don't just walk away
Cause I have this need to tell you

why I'm all alone today

I can see so much of me
still living in your eyes
won't you share a part
of a weary heart that has
lived a million lives

Oh, I've been to Nice
and the isle of Greece
when I sipped champagne on a yacht
I moved like Harlow in Monte Carlo
and showed them what I've got
I've been undressed by kings
and I've seen some things
that a woman ain't s'pose to see
I've been to paradise
but I've never been to me...

Hey, you know what paradise is? 
It's a lie a fantasy we created
about people and places 
as we like them to be but you
know what truth is? it's that
little baby you're holding 
and it's that man you fought with this morning 
the same one you are gonna make love to tonight 
that's truth that's love

Sometimes I've been to crying for unborn children
that might have made me complete
but I, I took the sweet life
I never knew I'd be bitter from the sweet
I spent my life exploring
the subtle whoring
that costs too much to be free
hey lady I've been to paradise
but I've never been to me...

I've been to paradise but I've never been to me...

Even before I understood the lyrics it used to give me goosebumps everytime it gets aired over the radio. It's about a free spirit/callgirl who was able to have countless adventures with powerful men in the most glorious places on Earth (Greece, Nice, Georgia) and how the road of excess led her to the empty palace of wisdom... and how she desperately wish she could take it all back to lead a simple, decent life.

During my stag party, my friends gave me one. And this song kept on playing in my head. IT saved me, and her. Because even though I had the balls, I didn't have the stomach. I politely refused. Ofcourse it's a huge disadvantage on my part-- everyone in the room, except the girl ofcourse, thought I was gay.

But that's the ennobling power of music. It helps even bastards like me find our humanity lurking within.

Anyway, the beautiful portrait is of Lady Hamilton. She's the mistress of Lord Nelson, the Legendary Admiral who was more beloved by the english people than Diana even when she was still alive. The picture is in the cover of a paperback copy of Wuthering Heights. That's where I first saw her.

I didn't know she was a "Free spirit" too. I found that out the other night when I accidentally came across a wikipedia entry. I was disappointed. For years I didn't know that the most mesmerizing eyes captured on canvass belonged to a girl who probably led a life gloomed by an imperfect past. She was mistress of Lord Nelson, she probably was able to get whatever she wanted in life-- except a second chance (like the lady in the song).

This makes me wonder, had the girl in my stag party looked like Emma Hamilton, would I have refused?

Please visit
www.dennisandlei.blogspot.com
and wish them both well!!!
They will be tying the knot this month.
And No. I was not invited to the stag party.

Death of Che (Oct 9)

Dear Sabine, The real essence of Halloween is that Christ's triumph over the Devil is so absolute that all evil has lost the power to really scare us.

Just like Che Guevarra here (the poster behind you, Sabe.) During the 60's, his picture was feared by those in the non-communist world. Now, after the defeat of communism, he's become a harmless icon of a bygone era. Just like garfield (the stuffed toy beside you. Even mice fear him not)... Just like the devil.

Christ's victory on the Cross proved that the devil is defeated. Ghosts and witches and goblins are only as real as the plastic and paper that children wear as costume during halloween. The powers they supposedly wield exist in newspaper clippings and books and stupid movies because those are the only places that they can exist. Because thanks to Christ, the defeated enemy has no power to break the laws of Einstein and Newton in this Universe. We celebrate Halloween to remind ourselves that the devil may scare kids but he can't scare adults anymore --Atleast those who believe in the reign of Logic, Truth and Science in God's Universe.

Your Ninong Noey and I loved the movie "Labyrinth" ages ago. Jennifer Connelly quoted something that we should all say to the devil:

"From dangers untold and hardships unnumbered
I've fought my way into the castle beyond the goblin city
to take back the child that you have stolen...
For my will is as strong as yours
and my Kingdom is as Great..."

and then she said the magic words...

"YOU HAVE NO POWER OVER ME."

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. To "Fear" means to respect. That's why we must show NO respect to a defeated enemy called the devil for he has no power over you and me anymore. The only power he has is that of a village idiot. Every halloween we kick him around and mock the once mighty enemy who used to scare the wits out of the ignorant. And we have the Lord Jesus Christ to thank for that.

Fear God!

Defy The devil!

Celebrate Halloween!

(this is an old post. somehow I find it necessary to repost it. siguro dahil malapit na oct 9.)