Why You Need To Take Notes

I was in my search for a good image I could use for one of my compositions when I stumbled upon this quote from Judith Campbell. Granting what I am doing and feeling at the moment, I could really say... this is really true.

The mind has great powers, if you knew how to use it well. But you simply cannot deny that there are moments that no matter how you try, your mind seems to object what your heart speaks. In those moments, I should tell, go grab a pen and a paper and spill it all out! You can have a souvenir of the moment and post it as your well-emoted compositions! Haha...

[photo courtesy of http://tariqmcom.com/special-touching-heart-quotes-when-your-heart-speaks-take-good-notes/]

Words Can't Be Found

Is getting close to you

Worth taking the risk?

Or maybe I was wrong

To hope that you will turn

But you touched my heart somehow

With all the little things unknown

Never hoped that this would show,

A special feeling to keep aglow

What little story could rise

From a line full of life?

There's so much I need to say

And you've had enough to hear at bay

When the heart speaks

Words can't be found

When the beat stops

Will I see you around?

I've seen things that only the blind can see

I've heard music that was never yet played

I've seen sensations here now, not before

I sense something deeper and meaningful

Yet nobody can define what's it this time

And the questions that linger

Are the things I worry about

Holding back is getting harder

And telling is more difficult

I can't bear to lie, no I'm not the type

Admitting is not a fault, but I am scared

Forgive me I'm just too weak to tell the truth

Losing you forever is a thought I cannot hide.

(There are some points in life when you've met a person and realized that you've been touched so deep then...and there are no exact words that could tell how you feel...whichever way around, you were just thankful that a moment like that came...it's another way of saying...you have a heart that feels. :)

..another product of me in solitude. Shall I give myself a toast? Haha.)

[photo courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/iamchrislewis/4348636580/]

I Choose Change

(I made this essay based on the theme of the Student Catholic Action of the Philippines 4th Visayas-Mindanao Regional Leadership Conference 2013. We were not able to attend, anyway. :D)


Change...in what aspect?

Am I ready for change?

Which part of me is willing to go with that change?
I am not deserving to carry the slogan if I am not one of the firsts to trust and carry on its principle.. the most convincing matter is the bearer of such slogan, the prime mover of such theme. But how can I be a worthy disciple of change?

I am known to be someone a follower of traditionalism.. I have been raised within the walls of conservative dwellers, although becoming gradually open to the newly adapted norms of today's society.

Somehow, my system became used to following its adapted standards. Life may seem difficult to divert from what the usual or common are. Transition usually takes time. And the process is not that very easy. Nevertheless I am not closing the doors, because as time goes by, I have learned to accept that nothing is permanent in this world except change. I have also heard and understood why some people are afraid of change. Actually, they are not fearful of change itself. But of the things brought about by that change... People are afraid of taking risks... afraid of the consequences... especially when they are not prepared. Of course, it takes a lot of adjustments. But it demands more of courage. A thing that requires more than physical and mental, but of emotional, social, and spiritual aspects.

You know why it's sort of hard for me to readily jump out from my comfort zone and fully embrace change? Because I have been used to think and believe that if we just stand firm with our customary standards, we will not be facing scary adjustments... As my personal adage says, "Keep it fresh and original."

But in today's setting, something is not anymore fresh if it is not changed. Something becomes old, adapted, outdated thereby losing its originality through time. I guess we really need to incorporate change, anyway.

The scary part when we think about it, is that change forces us to go beyond what we usually do, and leave behind the things that we normally have around us.

Just lie a boat or a ship geared up for a cruise or battle, but just anchored on the shore... something is holding us back, not allowing us to sail into the wide, sometimes raging seas. But we never know what's beyond the horizon... what is there on the deeper seas... if we don't sail... if we don't take risks... if we don't change.

The best is yet to come. We can believe that we can change for the better. Are we just staying down and keep on living in a society full of hope yet incapacitate of reaching its dreams because its people are afraid of taking risks? afraid of forging new paths? always going with the flow? afraid of going beyond the ordinary? No. It's about time we make steps..actions..behavior..thoughts..of a more innovative approach to improve our organization, our institution, our school, our city, our Church, and our nation.

Together, united with one goal, we can be better. And that starts with ourselves... "I choose change."

Forever By My Side

I

You climb at the back porch

Knock at my window

Bringing your guitar

And tales of good night

Ref. 1

We gaze at the skies

I see your eyes shine

You look through me and

I worry no more...

Cho.

I've seen no stars tonight

But you are my only shining knight

I don't feel like being happy

But you give me the best smile

Oh when everything seems so wrong

You always make it feel alright

Can you stay with me that way?

'Cause I want you forever by my side

II

I'm getting lost alone

But you showed the way

I am about to fall

You're there ready to catch

Ref. 2

We gaze at the skies

I see your eyes shine

You held my hand and

Now is the time...

[Repeat Cho.]

Bridge:

I can't find my voice

But you sing my song..

I couldn't say the words

But you speak out my thoughts..

Cho. 2

I am a fearless princess

And you are my only shining knight

I fight for my sweetest dream

And you give me the best smile

You calm my heart, I will be fine

You always make me feel alright

Let's stay together this way

'Cause I want you forever by my side..

Coda:

..and I'll be forever by your side..

(It started with one starless..and boring..evening with a line "I've seen no stars tonight..." and the "but you are my only shining knight" was just added and sent as good evening text message to friends. Haha. And the following day, I didn't have so much to do at the office so I arranged a song. Uhm..a poem, rather. Will add the melody later. again. Lol!)

[photo courtesy of http://www.123rf.com/photo_7693797_two-teddy-bears-in-love-sitting-on-grass.html]

Happy Valentines 2013!

It's Happy Hearts' Day today!

Wishing everybody a sweet, meaningful, happy day of celebrating the hearts' day with loved ones. It's a day of love so spread the love in the world! ^_^

True love lies beyond words. It's the value of selflessness, trust, patience, and sacrifice. It's the compassion we feel towards another. It's that wonderful feeling of being loved first by God that we share to all. We don't love if we don't feel loved at all. Love begets love. So let's give love not only today on Valentines' day but always and forever!

♥♥♥

Hacking Attack on Philippine Government Agencies' Sites ~ An Eye Opener!

A featured news on Yahoo! called my attention - Hackers attack Philippine Vice President Site posted just recently by AFP News. I am not usually interested with matters concerning politics and the people in the government, but this 'hacking' thing caught me. Whoa, what a new year blast to the Philippine government cyberworld, the online portals of some small government agencies were defaced by this so-called PrivateX group.

Reports on hacking is not a very surprising thing. There are lots of intrusion here and there. What's overwhelming is that, these sites that are affected are online portals and/or web sites of Philippine government agencies..whether small or big, these agencies provide services to the people in the local and abroad. Modifying the interface (I have not actually learned what exactly the hackers have done to it), posting unmatched contents or anything that would cause disorder in the website contents surely disturbs the viewers. Worst thing would be disconnection to the source of very important details or information.

I have spent a little time viewing and inspecting government agencies' websites when I was still in the university. Of course, part of the objective was to check for user-friendliness and interactive contents, and look for a good basis for comparison in website projects. At that earlier time, we already noticed the effortless designs of the sites. Most are simple and not so complicated. This is quite understandable especially that most of the Philippine government sites just serve as communication centers. Most contents are static pages featuring the profiles and projects. There are some pages allotted for customer or client support like help lines where to address the concerns and grievances. This is what most sites are serving.

The fact that these websites are defaced posed one major warning - and that is what the PrivateX group has emphasized in their attack. The incident attested how the country's government agencies' sites are weak in terms of cyber security. The report hopefully has called immediate attention towards the concerned organizations. I just hope that future online portals should be dynamically not just appealing but interactive, should cater to a wide extent of services that can be put online, and at least, tolerant to attacks - not just created just for the sake of having a website, but should truly address its purpose, and should withstand tests of vulnerability. I guess every website creator should be alert on this.

The incident reported on the hackers' attack has both advantage and disadvantage. It was bad because we were attacked and our sites are affected but it also let us know that we have to improve our defense. It may be unethical to us but at least we know which things to target for betterment - cyber vulnerabilities and misconfigurations.

Disclaimer: I don't own the image(s) posted herein. Credits to Google.

First Resolution for New Year At Work: Report Early ~ But Not Too Early (As In One Day)

New year, new life. And so, most of us have resolutions for a new beginning, right? Well, not so long time ago, I began to quit believing that I have to update a list of resolutions for the new year. Why? It's because most of it cannot be achieved. Lol. Or should I say, I don't make it happen. Everything just turns out to be just like before. Yet, what I believed in now, is that every day is new year. You don't wait for the New Year just to change yourself. You have every chance to do better in every moment of your life.

But I'm not saying I have not made a list of things I want to improve on myself this year, okay? Well, after Christmas break, I reflected on doing better at work the next time I'll report. I guess I'll have to find enough courage to motivate (or at least find something to motivate) myself so to stop stagnating (I hate to say this but I'm usually bored) at work. I have to keep myself busy with the 'real' tasks so I can finish the necessary things as expected, so I can have time to do the 'unreal' things like you know, simply surfing on the web doing stuffs that unknowingly consume my time and before I know it I have not accomplished anything.


To psyche, I did a 'mental conditioning' on the day (and night) before my first day of duty in the year 2012. I tried to remember the things that I should do on the first hours and made a rough time-budgetting on my several tasks. And everything should begin with...reporting on duty EARLY.


So to start, I headed off for work the following morning (I just woke up fairly the same time as I did). When I was nearing the campus, I noticed there are no students arriving - which is kinda strange 'coz even on ordinary days there are still few who go to school late or not-so-early. I was sort of feeling nervous when I thought of getting reprimanded by our boss that I'm late again and worst, on the first day of the year. So I asked for time check with the driver.

It was 07:24 AM. There are no trace of usual behavior in school. The Philippine flag is hanging on the pole but no children and running or walking around (and I thought that maybe they had their flag ceremony and assembly so early). I peeked through the closed gate and had in mind the idea that maybe there is no class yet. But that's impossible, I thought, 'coz my admin officer told me that we will report back on January 3 when I asked her during the last time we met. I leaned on the doorbell when I saw that none of the classroom doors near the gate are opened. Two of the working boys were there and they are half-surprised to see me around in full uniform. And they told me that there's no class and we will all resume the next day.


Okay? So what do you call that? Indeed, I am early for work. ONE DAY early. Happy New Year... 

 

Disclaimer: I don't own the images inserted here. Credits to Google.

Merry Christmas 2011 and Happy New Year 2012!

Arite! Hello again, world of bloggers. It's me here, Charmaine, and well, it's been awhile. I've not thought of some meaty heartfelt spills to post for how many days, months, (and decades?) but I visit my place just to see if there's anything new. (Obviously there's nothing new since I haven't posted for centuries! Lol.) But anyhow, let me take this short greeting just to greet everybody a meeeeeeeeerry Christmas and a haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaappy New Year! Woohoo!

Well, it's been a busy December for me, people, (as expected but I slightly never expected ti to be so full). It's because of the annual GKK Fiesta last December 10th (lots of activities to prepare for the big day, along with other youth) maybe..but it's the usual thing here. What added up to my December fever aside from Christmas planning is that, uhm aside of course of my regular appointments at school, our Parish launched a Zonal Misa de Gallo (or traditionally called "Simbang Gabi") and our place was made as the center or host venue. And so, even though there are 5 GKKs in our zone, we need to take charge mainly of the venue preparations. I was honestly overwhelmed and glad (although this called for greater challenge and responsibility) because this became my opportunity to play constantly at a Mass. As you know, (or I still haven't shared to you, lol) that I've been playing the organ (lately, guitar before) for Liturgy of the Word solemnities/celebration in the chapel. I seldom play during Masses especially solo because I don't have much opportunity then. I just sometimes play along with some older (and more experienced) folks 'coz I'm kinda afraid I might be lost in the middle of the Mass (whoa! And I'll blame myself for distracting the solemnity. grr.)

So we started off last December 16, and my co-music committee member, also an organist in co-zonal GKK did play the organ (as the main instrument) while I and my friend, Charlie (whose forte is guitar) seemed to do the back-ups. Rem (the other organist) and I took turns in the organ (but I use my instrument while she used hers, to avoid confusion, and well, just simply talk about "mastery" and "familiarity" for preference. Hehe.) Charlie, who also took charge in leading the playing for the singing of responsorial Psalms, is more experienced in playing in Church for the Masses so I trust him for the rhythms. We did not actually had very good rehearsals (the music ministry for the Misa de Gallo) and that's admittedly a thing to be improved for by next year, hopefully, but in general, we survived!

Aside from the nine days of Misa de Gallo, we also had a Midnight Mass or actually a Christmas Eve Mass on the 24th of December, 9pm, and a New Year's Eve Mass last 31st.

Christmas was so silent for me this year. I can really feel that it's not much merry-making compared to the past Christmases. I don't know. Or maybe just, uhm it's me who spent more time with the Church's solemn observance of the season. Yeah, no much holiday perks but a feeling of contentment and happiness that we all spent the season with our family. :)

Oh same thing with the New Year. But we had our usual family gathering in our aunts' house on January 1st and all my father's siblings and cousins and nieces were there. Lots of food, goodies, games, music, gifts, movies and bondings. And oh, I had these skin scratches souvenir from my uncle's sailfin lizard pet (in my eagerness to have a photo with the reptile. Lol) ..I'm animal-lover, you see. ^_^

Who's Missing You Now

"Hi there... I miss you...

It's been a long time. We have not talked for quite a while...

I have no updates about you.. Hmmm.

Well...if you need somebody to talk to and share with...you know I'm just here..waiting. And I'd always love to talk with you."

-Jesus

*

I was making a post on our parish youth apostolate group on Facebook one evening with the first two lines as the original message. It happened that I saw a comment on one of a friend's thread that is from the PYA. It's been a long time (for real) that I wasn't updated about what's happening in the (online) group. And I missed it, though. However, when I was typing the message, I can't help but think again of one passage that I've read somewhere...it was of the same message as above, and that made me ponder of how is it really a "missing feeling" for a dear someone who is more loving and affectionate than one who misses another.

It feels light inside when you know that somebody misses you, right? It makes you feel valued somehow...and it boosts your confidence and worth as a person knowing there are also people who feels glad when you're around. Yet even more for a Father who has great love for His children that He wants all of them especially those who 'have not been with Him' for 'quite a while'..He misses all of us whom He called. And how great it is knowing that there's Someone who misses you and loves you the way He does.

"We love because God loved us first." And He loves us so much that He wants to keep updated of us. Well, we all know that He knows what we do everyday. He even knows it before we do. However, He wants us to 'talk' with Him...tell Him all of the day's work...share every joy and tear...just like a real friend. And that is how prayer is important in everyday life. Prayer is our line of communication to God. It sometimes doesn't need technicalities to pray. Even a simple talk to Him every short moment can be your communication. Just imagine how would you feel if you hear stories from a friend you missed for a long time.

Sometimes we also need to be with silence deep in our hearts to communicate or 'talk' with our dear friend. And he's just there waiting for us...calling for us...and how happy are we who are called by Him, because we feel valued, we feel cared for, and we feel loved.

May this be a message of hope to all youth who are called. :)

A nice website to read about...http://www.thechoicedrivenlife.com/seven-thoughts-on-prayer

[photos courtesy of

http://unfollowingjesus.com/files/2011/02/GIGALO-JESUS.jpg

http://theprayerwall.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/hands-folded-in-prayer-7999271.jpg

http://o5.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/a-prayer-for-times-like-these.jpg]

Filipina Beauty and Intelligence in Miss Universe 2011

I'm not so fond of following beauty pageants but having your country in the semi-finals is a thing to be proud of. Bb. Pilipinas-Universe is Shamcey Supsup, who made it as the Miss Universe 2011 3rd Runner Up. One of the judges is also a Filipina, Lea Salonga, an internationally known broadway singer. Last year's representative of the Philippines to the beauty title also made to the finals with Venus Raj as the 4th Runner Up.

Miss Philippines - Shamcey Supsup
[photo courtesy of http://www.missuniverse.com/members/profile/599558/year:2011]

Shamcey is a 25-year-old Architecture Licensure Examination 2010 topnotcher born in General Santos city. She's beauty and brains indeed and a woman of value. She is the only one among the five to answer directly the judge's question without the aid of an interpreter, and for me that's an important thing to consider. Having an interpreter allows a contestant to really able to express her thoughts using her own native language, but it would also give her the advantage to give enough time to think for a good answer. Miss Philippines answered her question with poise and confidence, and the impromptu manner is impressive.

Philippines - Preliminary Competition Gown
[photo courtesy of http://www.missuniverse.com/members/profile/599558/year:2011]

Shamcey's answer to judge Vivica A. Fox's question "Would you change your religious beliefs to marry the person that you love? Why or why not?" was "If I had to change my religious beliefs, I would not marry the person that I love because the first person I love is God, who created me. I have my faith and my principles, and this is what makes me who I am. And if that person loves me, he should love my God, too." As we all know, religion is a debatable topic among many who have their own beliefs and stands. But Miss Philippines just expressed as to what she believes in. The answer was honest and it came out just natural for her who has her own principles and values. 

Philippines - National Costume
[photo courtesy of http://www.missuniverse.com/members/profile/599558/year:2011]

Philippines - Preliminary Competition Swimwear
[photo courtesy of http://www.missuniverse.com/members/profile/599558/year:2011]

This is another feat of victory to the Philippines. Although the crown was not earned by Miss Supsup and most think that she deserves the title, she was able to portray the Filipina strength, beauty, and intelligence and everybody was happy for that.

To Miss Philippines, I congratulate you for doing your best. It's not only yourself but the whole country and the Filipino people that you brought to the international arena.

What's Wrong with Being Expressive?

Maybe there are friends who can understand our woes and we spill some of our wildest emotions to them. But there are also times when we just feel like keeping silent most of the time or find another outlet...may be through listening to relaxing music and daydream, spend time with the greener fields of nature, shout to the wall, throw stones into the air, or write somewhere in the pages of an old notebook.


Well, this is my style. Just plainly writing some thoughts into scratch papers burning the midnight oil while everybody's gone to sleep ('cause it's more silent and I can concentrate) and start searching for the right words which fits what I want to say. Such a difficult thing when you're lost for words. Haha. But trust me, when you're there, you can make more than one poem.


In my case, they are sorts of poetry pieces supposed to be finalized as songs. Knowing me, I usually can't get a song done because I lack the patience to apply music into it from the beginning until the end part. Another valid reason is that, I'm no professional somebody that can easily do it - correctly (and confidently). The important thing is, I was able to write and knowing there is at least a somebody or some people who might be able to read it and be touched, it just makes me happy.


So why not try it for yourself? Especially if there are things in your mind that you want to speak out? Come on, be a poet of your imagination.

I'll Just Write It In a Song

I

It's midnight clear and I can't sleep

Still up in bed and wide awake

Holding a pen and a piece of paper

To spill my thoughts so I feel better

*

This heart won't rest if it can't express

Of what it wants as it says best

The day's enough for the mind to pause

Yet still can't brush away the thoughts

**

So I'll just write it in a song

About it all that should have known

And I'll just put the melodies along

The lines that hide the feelings that aren't shown

II

A collage of pictures fill up my head

A web of words that can't be read

It's all about you that I think now

Because why, don't know the reason somehow

But... [Repeat *, **]

Bridge:

I wish I could spell out this odd emotion

And I hope that I could find the right words

Of what I really think

Of what I truly feel

And I pray that someday, somewhere, somehow

You will open the door as it comes to you

The message that it holds from deep within me

That right now I don't have the courage to say...

[Repeat *** 2x]

Coda:

I'll just write it in a song...

(This is it. I guess I should have made this the earliest.. Before I got the nerves to write and post compositions. Haha. Anyway, this is just another product of me in solitude..feel like writing something the previous night. :p I hope I could finally arrange and put real melodies in here. :D )

[photo courtesy of http://www.layoutsparks.com/1/205380/write-me-romantic-song.html]

If You'd Only Knew

What do I get when I would say

I like the way you make me smile

What would you feel when I would tell

You make my day complete.

When you and I had first met

I never thought it would be this way

Thinking all day long about you

Wonderin' if you would drop a call

Because I learned to laugh at your corny jokes

And learned to like your friendly presence

I don't want to think about it differently

But inside me is feeling in glee

Oh how can I discard the thought

If you're the one, well it's not so sure

Didn't want to expect, yes it's true

But I'm hoping that way, if you'd only knew...

(--,) well...this is just another result of some complicating web of words in my head..haha. Wonder when's the right time I could put some music in it..again, intended to make a song and tried to add or enhance a previously woven poem last night but it turned out to be another set of whimsical lines...pardon, this is on-the-spot :)

[Photo courtesy of: http://s1.hubimg.com]

Movie Reflection: Pirates of Silicon Valley

Plot Synopsis:

This movie is actually more of a documentary about the men behind the birth and rise of two of the famous computer technology legends - Apple and Microsoft. The story revolves around the experiences and struggles faced and the actions made by Steve Job and Steve Wozniak in Apple Computer Corporation and Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer in Microsoft Corporation with the founding of the companies to what they are now. Basically the film makes an effort in comparing the operations of the two firms and their founders. Several events mostly happened with misadventures in college, the circumstances where the actors had made attempts in building electronic gadgets like the computer, writing its first program, involving it entrepreneurial and advertising schemes of their inventions, that led into pirating schemes and the like. 

My Reflection:

This movie is actually an informative film for me that it tells us the history side of how these two famous names in the field of computer technology stood its way now and how it changed the way life is a long time ago. In the film it actually presented the experiences of the 'big' people or the founders of the company, who are just genius to think and build something they are so interested in, and how did this rivalry between the two came up. Their adventures went on from their computer inventions, loans, publicity, to victory and revolution with bankers, business and employee deals, that eventually led up to some pirating of softwares and conflicts relating to it. Funny how these events are just related when these two parties met, with ideas of pirating softwares, and business threat to each other that eventually had some up-and-down effects on the reputation of the firms. Just imagine the 'rivalry'. ^_^

Movie Reflection: Eagle Eye

Plot Synopsis:


The story revolves around an ordinary guy named Jerry Shaw who has a very ambitious twin brother Ethan who worked for the Air Force and expert in parallel algorithms and quantum electronics. Jerry later found out that his brother is dead. Facing financial problems, he withdrew money from his ATM but was surprised to see a very large sum of money in his account. When he returned from home, he found it is filled with weapons. He then received a call from an unknown woman who instructed him to escape because he is being tracked down by the FBI. Jerry did not believe her and was brought to interrogation by Agent Morgan. The unknown woman made Jerry escaped and made him join with a single mother, Rachel, who was blackmailed by the unknown woman that she will kill her son who is on the way for a band recital if she did not help Jerry escape. The woman helped the two in avoiding the police units through remote controlling any virtual networked device. The unknown woman also blackmailed other people or agents to device an crystal explosive into a necklace which has a sound-based trigger put in Sam's (Rachel's son) trumpet.

The unknown woman is actually a top secret supercomputer called ARIIA (Autonomous Reconnaissance Intelligence Integration Analyst) tasked to gather intelligence all over the world. She thinks that the executive branch is a threat to everyone and that it must be eliminated including the President's cabinet. ARIIA is housed in Pentagon and Ethan, Jerry's brother, was actually a technician who locked down the computer to prevent her plans. ARIIA commanded Jerry to cancel the lockdown and instructed Rachel to eliminate Jerry to prevent the lock from being restored. Rachel was unknowingly given the explosive necklace and was sent to the US Capitol to listen to the President's speech and left to die with his son. The trigge was set to activate when Sam plays a specific note. Jerry was helped by Agent Morgan to reach the capitol and was able to enter while dressed as a capitol policeman. He stopped the explosion before the deadly note by firing his pistol in the air. He was then shot by a confused agent. After the chaos that the ARIIA caused, the Secretary of Defense ordered that there will be no other supercomputer built again because it might be a threat to everyone.


My reflection:


Eagle Eye has such a good plot as its title implies what the supercomputer does. ARIIA follows Jerry everywhere and able to know all his related actions just like an eagle. It was so powerful that it can control networked devices and set off explosions harming civilians. The story tells us something - that sometimes all those computers, machines, gadgets, systems, or anything created so to help, aid, protect us can be the same things that threatens our safety and security.

Movie Reflection: Surrogates

Plot Synopsis:

Surrogates is a story of Agent Greer, an FBI agent who investigates the murder of surrogates. Greer and co-agent Peters investigates the mysterious murder of a college student who is linked to a man who created a surrogate-phenomenon among people. This phenomenon allows people to buy remote-controlled humanoid robots that can interact with the society and allows people to purchase picture-perfect humanoid robots assume their life roles thus enabling them to experience idealized life from the comfort of their homes. The operator of the surrogate cannot feel pain even if their surrogate is harmed or damaged. (Even Greer's wife has a surrogate but they have a tensed relationship due to the death of their son so Greer could not see her beyond her surrogate.) Greer and partner Peters investigates the death of two people killed when their surrogates were destroyed (one was the surrogates' inventor's son). The agents learned that a certain human used a new type of weapon that disabled the fail-safe mechanisms shielding the operator from harm. Greer's chase with Strickland eventually led his surrogate to be destroyed forcing him to interact with the world by his real self. Later Greer learned that the weapon was actually under a government contract by the same company that produces the surrogates. Originally designed to load a virus that would overload the surrogate's systems disabling it, the weapon unexpectedly disables the fail-safe protocols keeping the operator safe, so its prototypes were destroyed but for one. Greer later learned that it was their FBI boss who supplied that weapon to Strickland to assassinate Dr. Canter (who is becoming critical in surrogate use). Unfortunately, Canter's son who was using one of his surrogates was killed instead. Canter was using the weapon and uploads the virus to all surrogates which will destroy them and kill the operators. Agent Greer takes control of Peter's surrogate and insulates the virus so the operators will survive. This made all the surrogates in the world destroyed and people are now on their own again.

My Reflection:

This movie made me realized how harmful technology can be, especially if man has gone to the stage of creating far innovations out of his selfish desires for comfort, convenience and other reasons. Man has created a robot out of himself, and gets it on a remote control living and playing and working as if he was the one doing it. I think the idea for me is just inhuman. As it makes one live life without really on it. So just for the worldly desires. The idea that even when a surrogate is injured or damaged the operator will still be safe seems convincing. Yet what happened in the movie is a precise evidence how it could be dangerous especially when somebody tries to disable the mechanism that protects the operator. It also motivates people to be lazy, by not entirely doing or being in locations or incidents or actions that they are supposed to be in. For me, it plainly disrupts the real essence of humanity

Movie Reflection: I, Robot

Plot Synopsis:

I, Robot starts with a setting in the year of 2035 where people and robots are in the same community, living and interacting like ordinary with the latter as assistants and workers of, and programmed to live and protect their human owners. These robots are created to follow the 3 laws of robotics: (1) A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm; (2) A robot must obey orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the first law; (3) A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the first or second law. A 'robotophobic' homicide detective Del Spooner is sent to investigate on the death of USR (U.S. Robotics) co-founder and scientist Dr. Alfred Lanning who is believed to commit suicide by jumping from the tenth floor of the USR building. Having developed a distrust to robots due to an incident in the past, Spooner suspects the incident as murder. With the unwilling help of robopsychologist Susan Calvin, the detective sets out to find the answers to the mysteries, yet faces attemps to end his life by controlled robots. Although nobody seems to trust his instincts, Spooner thinks the murder is caused by USR's new robots manipulated by supercomputer VIKI (Virtual Interactive Kinetic Intelligence), moreover by an independent, experimental, more human-like NS-5 unit named Sonny.

The NS-5s are under VIKI's control, and begin to impose curfews and prisoning humans in their homes. Spooner and Calvin managed to sneak into the head office with the assistance of Sonny who has not been injected by nanites. VIKI's artificial intelligence begins to evolve and so her interpretation with the 3 laws, that's why she realizes that in order to protect humanity as a whole, some humans have to be sacrificed and some freedoms must be surrendered, since despite the efforts of robots, humans employ means of self-destruction. Lanning having learned from this planning ordered Sonny to kill him, and knowing Spooner is a kind of person who hates robots, used clues to solve the problem. Sonny proves his loyalty to mankind by helping Spooner and Calvin defeat the mad robots and inject the nanites (supposed to be used by Calvin to Sonny) into the computer core, destroying it, and returning all the NS-5's into their basic programming.

My Reflection:

Being a sci-fi film, this did not escape my interest. I,Robot had made me an impression that it's just one of those robotics film and nothing new in the techy story of the mankind-and-machines existence. But hey! Nice film. I begin to wonder 'though, is there anyone else out there who has not developed a dependence upon robots? Just like Detective Spooner? Because it makes me think, that if everyone will seem to be amazed (yes, we're all at these incredibly friendly-talking machines) at these programmed assistants (now who doesn't want assistants anyway?) by robots like these, maybe in the farther future, what VIKI has come to realize might come to reality - that robots, though created to protect mankind, will choose to use (slight) violence and wage wars especially against us who are unconsciously doing imaginative ways of destructing the earth and our kind in spite of the former's best efforts. Surely this film brings an imaginative possibility of robots taking over the rest of the world, just like the underlying concepts and morales of other robotics movie and their stories' conflicts. The idea of having a robot companion who can help with your everyday work fascinates me, especially something as close to clever and almost-human Sonny (who's already psyched). But the idea of, you know, what might happen if these creatures would conflict with your orders, wants or needs, and since they already have intelligence, be it artificial (or maybe someday, scientists will impose more human-like intelligence into these computers), war with these machines is not impossible. And what do we have against these machine-made programmed computers? Especially if we don't know much about how they should be controlled? We have flesh and blood, they have metal chips and wires. Made me think of, do robots have souls too? Would they develop robots with spirits in the future? Haha.

Movie Reflection: Wall E

Plot Synopsis:

WALL-E is a robot whose task is compacting garbage on earth. In a future when man cannot inhabit the earth anymore because of so much trash covering the surface and burying all the plants, humans have fled into a luxurious space cruise ship somewhere in the outer space living with robots who satisfy all their fancy desires. (You can just imagine humans being turned into fat couch potato with unnecessary movements like the everyday walk-and-work that we usually do, since they're just being busy sitting on their operatable couches just chatting on their virtual screens and eating and drinking.) Back on earth, WALL-E (or short for Waste Allocation Load Lifter Earth-Class) is just a small robot dedicated with his job of compressing and squeezing tons and TONS of garbage load and piling them up into buildings, and never grew tired of his duty even he's lonely and just have a pet cockroach with him. He has collected odd pieces of trash and decorate it in his home, and even got a VHS tape that eventually taught him about falling in love and holding hands (which made him dream of finding a special someone someday).

Doing his everyday routine of duty, WALL-E then meets a sleek, egg-shaped female robot named EVE (Extra-Terrestrial Vegetation Evaluator) which was sent as a search robot for signs of living which she could report to back in the luxury spaceship Axiom. WALL-E realized love at his new companion EVE. Having shown a discovered seedling by WALL-E, EVE was sent back to space to report on this green thing. WALL-E hangs on with the travel and meets all the humans and robots alike in Axiom, and program-controlled selfish machines who have lost the concepts of what was Earth all about.

My Reflection:

The good thing about WALL-E is that it was able to capture the viewer's attention to the flow of the story without even needing the real dialogues. I mean, the first scenes were not much of talking, yet it can relay the message through its superb stream of actions. And what was really an amazing centerpoint? The romance, dude! Haha. Who would have thought this could be a piece that not just bring the message of how could the ill effects of consumerism might carry us to lazy and tech-dependent blubbery creatures who don't know our real home and existence, yet conveying a uniquely sweet anecdote of how robots fall in love? The love story is just touching. The movie was light and comedic, and one can really enjoy watching this film.

The techie thing related to this reflection was that, the story was able to give precautions to mankind how much garbage (including recyclables and mettalic or nondecomposable) things could destroy the earth. The first scenes which was portrayed made me think of those dirty, rusty, and dusty place that makes my nose itchy and my eyes sore. I couldn't even imagine myself surviving in a world as close or far from that without even seeing a single green thing in my surrounding! How pathetic! And just imagine those real towers and tall buildings of already compacted trash! And those large, LARGER dumps of plain garbage anywhere? Where in the world would that go? I bet WALL-E alone could not pile them up in just one year. Tsk. Anyway, if he's just so inspired, well, I don't doubt the power of love on him. He might be tripling his efforts in gathering those debris. Hehe. That was just plainly amazing, right? The film just relayed that even machines as simple and small as WALL-E could develop a personality and even far - feeling that one emotion that defines the real existence of living on earth - LOVE.

Excellent persistence, Wall-E! :)

Make A Stand (CBCP Year of the Youth Official Theme Song)

Make A Stand is the theme song of the double celebration for the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) Year of the Youth and the Episcopal Commision on Youth (ECY)'s 25th Anniversary [December 16, 2010 - December 16, 2011]

I decided to make a repost of this song so more and more people can also have a resource and share this to everyone. Kudos to all young souls!

written and produced by Jude Gitamondoc

interpreted by Daryl Leong

with backup vocals Jean Barbadillo, Eliza Barwado, Don Eguna, Johanna Lavajo, Daryl Leong, Les Paul Pineda, Edison Saynes

arranged, recorded, and mixed by Jad Bantug at 1032 Studios

***

MAKE A STAND

How long must we sit and wait for a hero?

And how long must we waste today for tomorrow?

To our people that’s lost in the dark

We can be guiding hand, shining star

If we only could see that the hero is here

In our hearts, young as we are…

We can stand and make a stand

Heart to heart and hand in hand

Let that voice out inside

That we can’t keep on hiding

Gotta work to make things work

Gotta change to change the world

‘Cause we cannot deny, we gotta give it a try

We are never too young to come as one

And to make a stand.

Stand firm, be a guiding light to the nation

Stand proud, let's unite in one celebration

With the Power of God from above

We can tell all the world of His love

Standing firm in the faith

Doing all of our work from the heart

We've got to start to make a stand

We can stand and make a stand

Heart to heart and hand in hand

Let that voice out inside

That we can’t keep on hiding

Gotta work to make things work

Gotta change to change the world

‘Cause we cannot deny, we gotta give it a try

We are never too young to come as one

And to make a stand.

For together, we’re strong

Now it won’t be for long

Till we heal this broken land

If we live what we’ve learned

Take this time to take our turn

To make a stand!

Let that voice out inside

That we can’t keep on hiding

Gotta work to make things work

Gotta change to change the world

‘Cause we cannot deny, we gotta give it a try

We are never too young to come as one

And to make a stand.

We can stand and make a stand

Heart to heart and hand in hand

Let that voice out inside

That we can’t keep on hiding

Gotta work to make things work

Gotta change to change the world

‘Cause we cannot deny, we gotta give it a try

We are never too young to come as one

We can make a stand.

Source:

Lyrics and .mp3 file can be downloaded here

Video production can be viewed here