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An Apple for the Soul

February 3rd, 2008

On my first months working in the House of Representatives, I noticed that most Congressmen carry with them a MacBook. Of course they can afford to buy one or even a dozen of MacBooks, but for them perhaps it wouldn’t make any difference if they pick the apple or some other brand. They really wouldn’t bother, they just buy it like the stuff they love to buy during elections.

I just hope that they get the chance to watching this new MacBook Air commercial with the song, New Soul by French-Israeli singer and songwriter, Yael Naim. The commercial and its song gave me a feeling like I’m being transported into a world where there are no politicians…hehehe

Wish I could have one of that Macbook Air someday. Oh and, just on the side, Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple is a brother Freemason from Charity Lodge No. 362, Campbell, California.

Here’s that Apple’s Macbook Air “New Soul” Commercial, relax and enjoy, its a good Apple for the soul:

Read more…

Life's Soundtrack

A Krismas Gift

December 17th, 2006

It’s exactly a year now since I published a post about the song “Pasko sa Binilanggo”. Unlike most traditional Christmas songs this song is not popular and there are only few who knew about it. Some of them found this post, and requested a copy of it in mp3 format. It took me a year to look for a copy and at last I found one. So for everyone who asked for the mp3 copy of this song, Rejoice!!, I have a Christmas gift for all of you.

MALIPAYONG PASKO SA INYONG TANAN!!!

Life's Soundtrack

Vive la difference!

May 8th, 2006

My take on the issue about the Filipino boy in Canada punished by his school’s director and berated for eating like a pig by using spoon and fork, is that it is a case of racial discrimination. Plain and simple. I don’t see any justifiable reason about the director’s action and reprehensible comments. I find it even stupid to use the adage “when in Rome do what the Romans do” to justify the wrongdoing and cover up the racial slur over the issue. Pigs don’t eat with spoon and fork. By using Pig to describe people who doesn’t eat the continental way smacks of racism in its most despicable form. Although I believe that not all Canadians are racists. Canada is known to be a country far more tolerant to immigrants than the US, but ironically Quebec is known to be a place where Racism is socially acceptable and where everybody assumes you’re an asshole.

A lot has already been said about the issue. I would like to share my thoughts against racism through this song by one of my favorite folk music group, the trio of Peter Yarrow, Paul Stookey, and Mary Travers, otherwise known as PPM. I thought all along that PPM has already faded into history. I never heard of them for a long time. But thanks to the internet and of course the You Tube, I found out that they are still singing their songs and even making new ones like this song entitled All Mixed Up which they made in 1990’s. Watching this video transported me back to the past when I used to jam with my old buddies singing PPM songs. Though they obviously looked like Lolos and Lola already but their music hasn’t changed a bit, their songs remain upbeat, cheerful and very meaningful.

So to all of you Racists out there better sing along and learn.

All Mixed Up
Peter, Paul & Mary

You know this language that we speak,
Is part german , latin and part greek
Celtic and arabic all in a heap,
Well amended by the people in the street
The choctaw gave us the word okay;
Vamose is a word from mexico way.
And all of this is a hint I suspect of what comes next.

Chorus:
I think that this whole world
Soon mama my whole wide world
Soon mama my whole world
Soon gonna be get mixed up.
Soon mama my whole world
Soon mama my whole wide world
Soon mama my whole world
Soon gonna be get mixed up.

I like polish sausage, I like spanish rice,
And pizza pie is also nice
Corn and beans from the indians here
Washed down by german beer
Marco polo traveled by camel and pony,
He brought to italy, the first macaroni
And you and I as well we’re able,
We put it all on the table

(chorus)

There were no red-headed irishmen
Before the vikings landed in ireland
How many romans had dark curly hair
Before they brought slaves from africa?
No race of man is completely pure,
Nor is anyone’s mind, that’s for sure
The winds mix the dust of every land,
And so will woman and man.

(chorus)

This doesn’t mean we will all be the same,
We’ll have different faces and different names
Long live many different kinds of races
It’s a difference of opinion that makes horse races
Just remember the rule about rules, brother
What could be right for one could be wrong for the other
And take a tip from la belle france: Vive la difference!

(chorus)

Life's Soundtrack, World View

A world without mirrors

April 11th, 2006

I have made a blog once about how our little ones can lead us in discovering life’s simple pleasures. I should say that it’s not only life’s simple pleasures but also great lessons in life.

Just this morning my baby Maia again led me into another great discovery. She insisted for me to sit with her and watch her favorite morning show at Nickelodeon Jr channel. There was this short musical cartoon (ala MTV) that really impressed me. It’s a song sung by the musical group Sweet Honey in the Rock about the influence adults have in forming attitudes of respect and wonder in their children and grandchildren.

No Mirrors In My Nana’s House
(Lyrics by Ysaye Maria Barnwell (c)1992)

There were no mirrors in my Nana’s house,
no mirrors in my Nana’s house.
There were no mirrors in my Na’s house,
no mirrors in my Nana’s house.
And the beauty that I saw in everything
was in her eyes (like the rising of the sun).

I never knew that my skin was too black.
I never knew that my nose was too flat.
I never knew that my clothes didn’t fit.
I never knew there were things that I’d missed,
cause the beauty in everything
was in her eyes (like the rising of the sun);
…was in her eyes.

There were no mirrors in my Nana’s house,
no mirrors in my Nana’s house.
And the beauty that I saw in everything
was in her eyes (like the rising of the sun).

I was intrigued by the cracks in the walls.
I tasted, with joy, the dust that would fall.
The noise in the hallway was music to me.
The trash and the rubbish just cushioned my feet.
And the beauty in everything
was in her eyes (like the rising of the sun).
…was in her eyes.

There were no mirrors in my Nana’s house,
no mirrors in my Nana’s house.
And the beauty that I saw in everything
was in her eyes (like the rising of the sun).

The world outside was a magical place.
I only knew love.
I never knew hate,
and the beauty in everything
was in her eyes (like the rising of the sun).
…was in her eyes.

There were no mirrors in my Nana’s house,
no mirrors in my Nana’s house.
There were no mirrors in my Nana’s house,
no mirrors in my Nana’s house.
And the beauty that I saw in everything
was in her eyes (like the rising of the sun).

“Chil’, look deep into my eyes.”
“Chil’, look deep into my eyes.”
“Chil’…”

Imagine it - a world without mirrors, where we would not see ourselves reflected as too anything - fat, skinny, plain, pretty, white, black, rich, poor. Perhaps if we were mirrored only in the eyes of those who loved and cherished us, we would have less need to put others “in their place” or to carry on with our prejudices, grudges, hatreds, and fears.

Indeed, we come to realize that we are more our children’s pupils than we are teachers to them. If only we follow what they teach us.

Family and Me, Life's Soundtrack

Pachelbel Loaded

March 27th, 2006

I love listening to Pachelbel’s Canon and all its versions. But this guy’s jaw dropping guitar rendition of Pachelbel’s Canon is kick-ass! It’s Pachelbel loaded and high on speed.

Watch this video and drool.

Ang lupit mo, Idol!!!

Move over Joe Satriani…

Life's Soundtrack