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Sunday, 18 December 2011
Friday, 24 December 2010
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The True True Meaning of Christmas
This is a repost from http://filipinofreethinkers.org/2010/12/23/the-true-true-meaning-of-christmas/ by Red.
I have always loved Christmas. When I was a kid, this was like a bonus birthday, a time when I could ask for another expensive gift. When I was a teen, Simbang Gabi gave me an excuse to go out past curfew with friends and, of course, see a lot of pretty girls, especially in prestigious churches like those in Alabang. And even when I lost belief in the Christ, who Christians assert to be the reason for the season, I never lost my love for the holidays. This is because I know, and have always known, the true meaning of Christmas.
But it is not the same meaning preached by the bishops and priests. I read of a bishop who wrote an article about how Christmas is supposed to be about worship, not courtship. Nor is it supposed to be about commercialism or consumerism or anything material. Even your loved ones — your friends, your family, your special someone — have to take a backseat to the true event which allegedly inspired the celebrated day. After all, they argue, can there be Christmas without Christ?
Yes, there can. And for centuries before it was even called “Christmas,” there has. It was called Saturnalia. It was one of the most popular Roman festivals. But if it was so popular, how come only a few know about it today?
We have the Church to thank for this. They wanted to compete with the pagans celebrating Saturnalia, so they invented a celebration of their own to coincide with it. This is how Christ’s birthday was born. This is interesting for two reasons. First, they had to make an exception for Jesus — it was considered pagan to celebrate birthdays at that time. Second, they didn’t even know when Jesus was born (they still don’t). Eventually, after centuries of conditioning — not to mention the Crusades and Inquisition — Christmas came to replace Saturnalia as the default December celebration.
So for the early Catholic Church, Christmas meant competing with the pagans. But what did it mean for the pagans who invented it?
Saturnalia was introduced to raise the spirits of soldiers and citizens after a bad beating in battle. Students took a break from school, people gave and got presents, everyone had good food and drinks and the celebration that went with it. Everyone — even the slaves. Many described it as the best of days. And although the festival still involved rituals offered to Saturn (the god of sowing), it was clear to everyone why it was a wonderful time.
And this, I believe is the true reason for the season. A lot of bad things may happen in a year, but at the end of it, you get a chance to celebrate life by giving and receving, eating and drinking, and most importantly sharing the experience with people, in this world — right here, right now. The bishops and priests want to make it about an event that happened thousands of years ago — it might not have happened at all. And they want to make it about receiving rewards in a place that’s worlds away from this — a world that might not exist at all.
But by trying to distract us from this world they are merely trying to be consistent with what they have done before. They have stolen the holidays from the pagans, and they want to keep it that way.
Yet people always remember the true meaning of Christmas — of Saturnalia — no matter how much they know about its history. They may attend the Misa de Gallo or pray before Noche Buena, but they instinctively know why they are happy. It may have taken me years to realize this, but I’ve never needed the Savior myths or the Sunday masses to enjoy Christmas. All I needed was to exchange greetings and presents, or even just share a meal or a drink, with people — even just a person — that I truly love.
Sunday, 12 December 2010
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To My Friend
On Politeness, Truth and Laughter
Sometimes, being nice to people is not being nice to the truth. Politeness must never be allowed to trample honesty. Offending by telling the truth is not being rude, keeping the truth from others is.
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Our beliefs are not just our beliefs. We can’t just say, “Well, these are my belief and yours are different. We disagree, but that’s alright. Now, can’t we just all get along and be friends and say everything is fine and dandy?” Our beliefs dictate how we live life and how we view it; they dictate how we treat others and how we want to be treated. Most importantly, our beliefs will, if we are conscientious enough, define how we act in matters of life and death – in other words, in everyday matters. We therefore cannot skirt around our beliefs. In the face of the world, this we must say: “These are my beliefs, and these are my reasons for believing them. If you disagree with them, let us argue that we may see who is in the right.”
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We must learn how to laugh at matters of life and death from time to time, for after all, a good hearty laughter is what makes life worth living. But we must never use laughter to hide the truth. Rather, we must employ laughter to entice the truth. Hence, never must we forget that the truth does not like the dumb laughter of the shallow and dishonest. The laughter that will entice the truth is like the laughter of a warrior: bold, hearty and harsh.
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Fighting for the truth is not defending a conviction to the death. Fighting for the truth is seeking after the truth. We must never argue to win an argument. In any argument, it must be the truth that is the victor, for otherwise, both sides lose. But before we enter any dispute we must never forget this: any argument from which no laughter was derived is a waste of time.
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The truth is a jester and loves only a jester. The truth never comes to him who takes everything with a heavy heart.
[This is reposted from the author's blog, 'Physics, Philosophy and Phantasmagoria'.]
Saturday, 06 November 2010
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ME TEN Childhood Candies & Junk Foods
Continuing me looking back at my chilhood days, I thought of this list. Noong kabataan ko (lol), nakakakuha lamang ako ng pera matapos hilutin ang lola, bunutan ng puting buhok ang aking ama at/o magmukmok sa ina ko.
10. SweetCorn
Price: Piso
Ah these little yellow balls, lagi ko ko itong binibili noon dahil madami compared sa iba.
9. CheeseDog
Price: Piso
Sadly wala akong makitang picture, but this is that two-piece per pack junk food na hotdog shaped arina covered in cheese plus vetsin. Favorite because you get two! for your Piso.
8. Piknik
Price:Piso
Again wala akong makitang picture but eto yung star shaped na covered in cheese. Marami din itong laman so sulit din. Sobrang alat pero that's what I wanted back then.
7. Orange
Price: I don't remember
This is a staple sa takatak boys kasama ng juicy fruit at menthol candies. Something chewy and fruity like a gum but you can swallow it, yehey.
6. Bubblegum Pula (cherry balls) & Chicklet
Price: 10 Centavos each
The cheapest in the list! You get ten for your Piso! So minimix ko, limang chicklet at limang cherry balls. Gannyan ung itsura ng chicklet sa pic.
5. Ostia
Price: Dos
Nung bata pa tayo hindi pa pede subuan ng ostia ng pari kaya nagagalit tayo kasi, hindi tayo belong sa simbahan na ito. Ang kapatid kong si Jed, ay iniiyakan pa rin un, kaya ibinili xa ni papa supot ng ostia na totoo! Back to this brown sweet circular candy. Again dahilan ko ulit ay marami for a small price and fave ko maasim.
4. Tira Tira
Price: 50 centavos
Sobrang tamis nito! I always buy this kahit na lagi lang namang dumidikit sa ipin ko at galit na galit ako.
3. LaLa
Price: Tres
Ung 3 pesos na yan, yan ung presyo noong madalas pa ako bumili. Clear plastic lang ang balot tsaka yellow lang lettering nung LaLa, la pang red. Pretty cheap for a chocolate diba?
2. Ube and Langka
Price: 50 centavos
Parang nagiging parehas na rin ang lasa ng dalawang ito. Pero hanggang ngayon binibili ko pa rin. Parang bumabalik ang buong childhood memories ko bawat kagat ko sa candy na ito. Lol.
1. Sampalok
Price: Depends
Ang walang kamatayang sampalok. Lahat ng tindahan na nagtitinda nito binibilhan ko. Sa pag pili pa lang ng mga pictures, naglalaway na ako. Favorite ko ung malapit dito sa amin, dati, na tig-dos lang and sobrang laki na at maasim talaga! *laway
Lately na lang yang moniegold e, pero yan na ung staple ko ngayon dahil may anghang na rin na fave ko with my sampalok.
Honorable Metion:
ChocNut
Hindi kasi ako mahilig sa mani e. Pero hindi nga naman ito pedeng mawala sa mga listahan na katulad na ito.
I'm sure you have your own favorites, SHARE mo naman!
Thursday, 28 October 2010
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ME TEN Nostalagic Anime
I am not an avid fan of Anime so this list may not contain the best of what it can offer. Just that, this list contains the animes that entertained me as a youngster, which I now think is fair to say that I'm not one anymore. Now that I'm not looking forward to seeing more of it, I will always treasure the memories they shared with me. Yan ang nostalgic!
This is still incomplete. I'll finish it some other time.
10. Lovehina (ラブ ひな Rabu Hina)
Where I saw it: GMA 7
The series tells the story of Keitaro Urashima and his attempts to find the girl with whom he made a childhood promise to enter the Tokyo University.
One of the funniest ever. A lot of surprises every episode. I thought I saw this before college, so that moment might be contributory to me liking it. Plus the lead guy is living with all these cute girls and they all seem to like him --- Super Soft Core.
9. Ranma 1/2 (らんま½ Ranma Nibun-no-Ichi)
Where I saw it: RPN 9
The story revolves around a 16-year old boy named Ranma Saotome who was trained from early childhood in martial arts. As a result of an accident during a training journey, he is cursed to become a girl when splashed with cold water, but hot water will change him back into a boy.
The gender bending story amazed me as a kid, you don't get that by watching sesame street. My favorite character would be that crazy old guy who loves women undergarments. Again, another Super Soft Core.
8. Full Metal Alchemist (鋼の錬金術師 Hagane no Renkinjutsushi, lit. "Alchemist of Steel")
Where I saw it: GMA 7 + Animax? + Internet
Set in a fictional universe in which alchemy is one of the most advanced scientific techniques known to man, the story follows the brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric, who want to restore their bodies after a disastrous failed attempt to bring their mother back to life through alchemy.
This is by far the best between anything ont he list in terms of the story. I will probably still enjoy watching this one.
7. Dragon Ball & Dragon Ball Z (ドラゴンボールZ(ゼットDoragon Bōru Zetto)
Where I saw it: GMA 7
It follows the adventures of Son Goku from his childhood through adulthood as he trains in martial arts and explores the world in search of the seven mystical objects known as the Dragon Balls, which can summon a wish-granting dragon when gathered.
Just pure brute, thus, the early UFC to enjoy. Endless tournaments and fighting for that Balls for a wish. Like what most of us do for that "Heaven". Favorite character is Ten Shin Han because of that eye and Trunks because of that purple hair.
6. Zenki (鬼神童子ZENKI Kishin Dōji Zenki, lit. "Demon Child Zenki")
Where I saw it: ABS-CBN 2
Zenki appears to be a child who transforms into his true and powerful demon form. Chiaki needed to use the bracelet to transform Zenki into his true form. . Zenki likes the seeds of Karuma.
The typical superhero. New villain every episode, but they get stronger and stronger til' the THE BOSS decides to take it own hands but this time the protagonist already achieved the epitomy of his power. End. Hey that woman controlled the BEAST! Freakin' SSC's.
5. Ghost Fighter (幽☆遊☆白書 Yū Yū Hakusho, lit. "Ghost Files" or "Poltergeist Report")
Where I saw it: IBC 13 and GMA 7
The series tells the story of Yusuke Urameshi, a teenage delinquent who is struck and killed by a car while attempting to save a child's life. Yusuke is revived and appointed the title of "Underworld Detective". It becomes more focused on tournaments as it progresses.
Favorite character is Dennis, sadly he lost his last battle ;and Yomi, that blind badass! And ofcourse Jin! --- nah I just saw him while researching for this.
Trivia: Only GMA ran it with the name Ghost Fighter.
4. Naruto (NARUTO—ナルト—)
Where I saw it: ABS-CBN 2
The plot tells the story of Naruto Uzumaki, an adolescent ninja who constantly searches for recognition and aspires to become a Hokage, the ninja in his village that is acknowledged as the leader and the strongest of all.
A ninja. I dreamed of being one, a true cold-blooded assassin. Ok, Naruto delivered the ninja fights, a decent story and variety I want.
3. Midori no Hibi (美鳥の日々 )
Where I saw it: DVD
A shōnen fantasy manga by Kazurou Inoue. The series is about a high school boy who one day finds his right hand replaced with a girl named Midori and his attempts to return her to her real body.
A simple love story that
2. Akazukin Chacha (赤ずきんチャチャ or "Red Riding Hood Chacha")
Where I saw it: Cartoon Network
A shōjo manga series by Min Ayahana.The series follows the adventures of a fumbling student magician named Chacha, who habitually wears a red hooded cloak, as she seeks the truth about her family and defend the kingdom against its enemies.
1. Doraemon (ドラえもん)
Where I saw it: GMA 7
Nobita's failures in school and subsequently, his career, have left his family line beset with financial problems. In order to alter history and better the Nobi family's fortunes, Nobita's great-great grandson Sewashi sent him a robot called Doraemon.
Honorable Mention:
Flame of Recca (烈火の炎 Rekka no Honō)
Where I saw it: GMA 7
Recca Hanabishi, who is interested in ninja and often gets into fights because he made it publicly known that the person who manages to defeat him will earn his services as a loyal ninja. He eventually pledges his loyalty and services as a ninja to Yanagi Sakoshita, a girl with the innate ability to heal any wound/injury. Recca soon discovers that he possesses the innate ability to control/manipulate flames.
Fave character is Dylan unfortunately he lost, like Dennis in Yuyu Hakushu, in the final battle. Dang!
superjustine
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- Name: Justine Ivan
- Location: Philippines
- Gender: Male
- Member Since: 3/31/2006
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Isa sa mahirap na pinagdadaanan ko ngayon ang pagtingin sa mga pictures ng graduation ng mga ka batch ko. ARAY.
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tsk tsk missed another class, another exam. tsk tsk.
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a)grabe masama na'tong nafefeel ko towards... b) grabe ang tamad ko..
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