The Separation of Church and State

From the Facebook status update of a friend. This is for the extremists of democracy~

For the record: The separation of Church and State is a constitutional provision that (1) commands the State to guarantee the free exercise of religion, (2) that no religion be given special endorsement or recognition by the State as its official religion, and (3) that all religions are allowed to exist and function, as long as these do not offend public morals or do not violate existing civil and criminal laws.

IT NEVER PROHIBITS THE CHURCH TO SPEAK PUBLICLY AND STRONGLY IN MATTERS OF ITS OWN FAITH AND MORALS.

IT NEVER STOPS THE CHURCH FROM COMMENTING ON PUBLIC ISSUES. IT NEVER PROHIBITS THE CHURCH FROM PURSUING ANY ADVOCACY FLOWING FROM ITS SOCIAL TEACHINGS. 

IT NEVER PROHIBITS THE CHURCH FROM PROTECTING ITS OWN FLOCK FROM THE SELF--DESTRUCTIVE VALUES OF THE WORLD. 

FINALLY, IT NEVER MAKES THE CATHOLIC PRIESTS, RELIGIOUS AND THE LAITY, AND CHURCH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS SECOND-CLASS CITIZENS.

In making laws offensive to the doctrines of the majority religion of its citizens, IT IS THE STATE THAT VIOLATES THE SEPARATION CLAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION, AND NOT THE CHURCH. So help us, God!

ArchInspire #028: Earth Chapel

The official promotional poster after the DOT 'More fun in the Philippines" meme.

Here's an overdue post from my not-so-recent visit to Bacolod City last March. It was one of the highlights of our sojourn aside from our ocular inspection and negotiation from one of the prospective donor's one-hectare site in the municipality of Murcia. During our visit, we stayed in the convent of the Recoleto friars inside the campus of the University of Negros Occidental - Recoletos. It was within the area of Greenheart Hermitage where we saw and held Mass in the Earth Chapel - a collaborative work from three Negrense artists anchored on their common advocacy of protecting the environment. Here's my review of the structure:

The chapel is the first solar-powered religious edifice in the country where it is envisioned both to have a sound spiritual and environmental atmosphere. The main material used for its walls were mud mixed with lime and rice straws. The posts and trusses were salvaged bamboo trunks and the roofing is made up of thatched cogon grass. During the day, the green-tinted old wine bottles incorporated in the structure lets in an ambient lighting aside from serving as an aesthetic recycled stained-glass window. LED lights were used to illumine the interior at night. Discarded tiles and wood slabs are only some of its notable recycled materials. The chapel was envisioned to be the center of the community's ecological reflection, owing to the spiritual inspiration of our Creator, in the hopes of transforming individuals in the community to be men and women of faith committed to protect and preserve the earth.

The collaborative project was from the brain juice of Marisol Alquiza (visual artist), who sketched and designed the chapel; Brother Tagoy Jakosalem (a Recoleto friar and an official presenter of The Climate Reality Project), who did the interior and conceptualized the incorporation of the use renewable energy to make the structure true to form and function in its liturgical scheme; and Nunenlancio Alvarado (a leading social-realist artist in the country) who designed the centerpiece of the chapel - a mosaic crucifix for the altar that depicts Christ as a suffering sacada.

The Earth Chapel adds another spiritual and liturgical venue in the island of Negros, aside from the "Chapel of the Angry Christ" in Victorias and the "Chapel of the Cartwheels" in Manapla. The chapel is a model of how a place of worship can maximize the use of renewable energy and indigenous materials in its structure.

Below are the original images I took during our visit. We also made history by celebrating the first Holy Mass in it after its official blessing from the Bishop of Negros Occidental :)

 

Christ as a suffering sacada. (Altar centerpiece by Nunelancio Alvarado)

Highlight: Ilocos Empanada

For foodies and travelers out there, a trip to Ilocos Norte will never be complete without having one of their famous Ilocos Empanada (there is a similar variety from Vigan, Ilocos Sur but this was the kind you'll usually find in Batac or Laoag, Ilocos Norte). Above are pictures of this yummy merienda I bought along the kiosks just outside the development premise of Malacanang of the North. 

Basic ingredients: rice flour for the crust with or without achuete; filling of egg and mongo sprout or parboiled mongo or grated green papaya for ordinary orders, and additional Ilocos longanisa for special orders. This is eaten partnered with a yummy condiment:  Ilocos [black] vinegar (exhibiting a taste of wine rather than a vinegar) with out without sili.

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Those feisty photographs were taken by Yours Truly :) See more of this Ilocos Norte trip with my case studies of Plaza del Norte here and Malacanang of the North here :)

On Air: The Healing Eucharist Sunday TV Mass

Behind-the-scene pictures from yesterday's morning service of The Healing Eucharist Sunday TV Mass @ ABS-CBN, presided by Fr. Joey Faller, and con-celebrated by Fr. Jerry Orbos, SVD and Fr. Glen Gomez, SVD. You can check out the official website here chock with collections of previous Sunday TV Mass videos and profiles of the celebrants. There's also an online form there where you can send your prayer requests :) We invite you to watch and be healed every Sunday at 6 in the morning, only at ABS-CBN. 

Young members of the choir :)

The boys in their barongs.

Awit Papuri Choir (Tanned by the bright studio lights!)

Book Review: dumot by Allan Navarra

WARNING: Explicit Language

Dumot is a book that illustrates fragments of a man’s aggression: his inner demons, his state of mind and physical being as he deals with the rigors of working in a challenging atmosphere. The title is a Hiligaynon word that, in English means “ vindictiveness”. Dumot is also composed of two French words (du and mot ) which mean “the word”, making it sound all hoity-toity. Almost half of the book is illustrated, which is great for people who can't read but have the time to flip pieces of paper with drawings on them, back and forth. Allan Navarra

Vizprint WIT Reader's Day Review

I was supposed to participate in a tree-planting event by the Luzon State jurisdiction at the La Mesa Reservoir in Fairview last Saturday when my alarm clock failed to fulfill its purpose of waking me at 4 in the morning. I was devastated that I was left by my brothers. Fortunately on a different account, I had read the day before in Will's blog an event where I could meet the authors of my fave pop comics and literature. So goes the spontaneous change of plans for the day for failing to wake up early.

Photos from the exhibit hall of the recent Visprint Writers in Talk first ever annual reader's day held at the SMX Convention Center in the Mall of Asia Compound last Saturday (Credit goes to Ate Mylene Reyes for lending me permission to use flicks of the event)

 

Was hyped to see them in flesh: Paolo Fabregas (The Filipino Heroes League), 

Manix Abrera (Kikomachine Komix Collection), Karen Francisco (Naermyth), 

Carlo Vergara (Zsa Zsa Zaturnah) and Alan Navarra!

My starstruck moment with Alan Navarra, author of Girl Trouble (2007) and the recently released dumot. Apparently, the latter title has not been released in the market yet. The first printed copies were introduced during the event. I had mine signed. And I think I'm the first reader to have ever laid an eye in these babies :) ayeee~!

Creative Juice #029: Costripping a Bishounen

So here are photos of my recent rendezvous with some friends at the Globe Tatoo – Swatch Cosplay Event held last Saturday – June 4, 2011 at Trinoma’s Atrium. Jumpy and all, it was my first cosplay witness - a realization of some of my high school year’s fantasy - the peak of my Japanese animation fetishistic tendencies of oriental creative brain beverages. Because of its free admission, accessible proximate venue, and a chance to glimpse the gorgeous Gosiengfao (err, or was it Gosiengtian?) in action, it was an event that I just couldn’t say no.

It was a fun and special day as it was my first ‘costrip’ experience too, showing up as a rich and irresistible executive bishounen that kind of explains my fancy formal attire in chocolate striped long sleeves and bright red tie in floral silver damask pattern - the weirdest attire I could ever pull up my sleeve minus the wigs and guns and all the other unnecessary bulky accessories so as not to gain too much attention (or so I thought was the point of ‘costripping’ at all).

Creative Juice #028: Year Zero Fashion Show

Stolen Facebook photos of my elementary-crush-turned-super-gorgeous-college-model classmate walking the runway at a UST-CFAD fashion show entitled Black Easter Year Zero last year. LOL. These eye-candy photographs are so worth looking at when stumped by an unwarranted creative block. See, I've always had this thing on men's apparel I'd love to give a shot someday given the chance. I am particularly astounded to see how close and true the finished garments are to the final designer sketches. I'm literally salivating with creative juices right now :D

My most sincere apologies to the owner of these photos, please kindly leave a comment / message for any request to delete the said images.

Gossip Boy

I'm done with the second season of Gossip Girl. LOL. Wasn't really expecting I'd get hooked :) Am off to the next season! Ahaha. XOXO. Archiboy.

It's not just food. It's a state of mind.

Ilang araw na akong wala sa sarili ko. Been stayin' up late kahit wala namang ginagawa. Nonchalant about upcoming submissions. Tulala. Parang ni-rape. Hinihingal. Napapagod. Could it be possible that I've worked up all my mojos out? I've been wallowing in creative drought  for days and I'm not really planning to take this attitude with me until next semester. No way. I have to keep up. There's no way I'm going to give up. No way.

Lord, I need your divine intervention. I need attitude reinvention.

(Update: Napahiya ako dun sa isang nagcomment. Design student pa naman daw ako eh hindi ako marunong mag-credit. Pasensya na kababayan. Yung Wordart sa itaas ay dito ko kinuha. Kinrap ko lang. hehe. Yung picture naman ng ngarag na babae ay friend ko at may permiso kong gamitin. With all due respect paumanhin uli sa iyo Renz ng the marinegeek.tumblr / the cyberniche.tumblr for using that photo without permission.)

Definition:

Sabaw is a colloquial adjective used to refer to an individual subject to a distinct condition characterized by mental remoteness, unfriendly air, detached presence, inconsistency and chronic periods of zombie-like proceedings caused by synchronized consecutive sleep deprivation, unrestrained consumption or overindulgence of caffeinated beverages and the exemplary struggle to keep up with pertinent academic requirements. Synonymous and used interchangeably with the term ‘haggard’, sabaw often paints a rather grim portrait of the brain matter liquefied from excessive traumatic stimulus (read: overuse) inside one's cranium cavity.

(harujusme. nasabaw ako sa pagbuo ng definition na iyan. ang effort ha.)

Used in Context:

• Student 1: (concerned) How's life other than your sabawness?
• Student 2: (pissed and sarcastic) Where is LIFE when all is sabawness?
• Student 3: (frantic and hyperventilating) Your life is all that sabawness! Embrace life with all it's recurring sabawness!

Valentine Treat

At dumating na nga ang araw ng aking kasiraan. Bwahaha. It never occurred on my 3 years of blogging the brain sentiment to upload a video of me dedicating a song to a nonexistent girlfriend. But oh well, such crazy acts truly are the effects of February to singles like moi. I'm not rambling about not having that special someone in this very day of commercial mushiness. All I'm saying is that this would've been the song I'd like to sing if there is one albeit the very selection was not really given that much thought. It's a song entitled 'She Is' sung by my fave American rock band The Fray :)

Forgive the low audio volume quality, you'd probably prefer listening to it in speakers full blast or with your earphones deeply embedded in your ear cavity. This ain't a vanity blog after all so forgive as well my rather oily complexion. Bwahaha. A heartfelt greetings of love to all :)

Becky University: Nowitzki Meets Theofratus and Superjaid

1.00AM. Just got home and am starting to feel a warm sensation slowly engulfing every bone and muscle of my body. Perhaps it was the XXX Cocktail Tower Theofratus Roussalier Aurelius, SuperJaid and I consumed as we sat in one corner at Padis Point Bar and Restaurant - Sky Garden SM North Edsa. It took long for the drink to take its effect on me proving how my body's becoming more tolerant at such beverages. The stenching smell of  lit cigarettes, the loud live band playing a mixed genre of pop, RnB and disco beat downstairs and the blinding LCD screen flashing commercials and movie trailers attached above SM Annex garnering much attention became our witnesses for this one very gracious night.

Padis Point - Sky Garden SM North Edsa.

SuperJaid and Theofratus Roussalier Aurelius :)

Theofratus was especially interesting in a way that we share a rather reserved personality (wari ko'y mapagnilay rin syang bata). I am glad to have met someone from my generation who grew up as well in the big QC, give a damn about books and writing as much as I do and with an odd predilection for all things Greek and mythological (Hehe. I was 10 when I started devouring every encyclopaedic article on Classical Greek mythology while making my own charts and family trees of divinities, heroes and monsters which I still keep to this day). It was fun as we started loosening our tied tongues sharing random musings about school, thesis, the city, and services (go tenors!) at our local parishes. Truly a worthy warm exchange I was craving for all night.

SuperJaid was super late (ahihi!) but nonetheless super warm and super inviting. The party hasn't even started when she came. With a spitting image of a close friend, I was the whole time wandering if she may have been a long lost twin sister of Jen. She was never awkward though we have only met and I loved how she shamefully lambasted Theo (which I suspect their way of exchanging terms of endearment) with a seasoned vocabulary that frankly blows my mind sending me guffawing all over the place.

(Update: Hindi rin nagpahuli si Theo sa pagpapakitang gilas! Mei talent syang out-of-this-world na pedeng pang-Ripley's Believe-It-Or-Not. Imagine a giraffe sticking his tongue right up his nasal cavity. ahahah!)


Ito nga pala yung mga nilafang namin :)

XXX Cocktail Tower. Hindi ko na na-jot down yung mga drinks na kasama dito. Basta ang alam ko parang sa gummy bears yung colors niya :) I liked the blue one (middle) that tasted like bubble gum with a pinch of tequila/vodka/ewan.

Club Sandwich na may French Fries and mayo-ketchup na dip :)

Popping Mushrooms. Spicy mushroom with garlic. Masarap na pamulutan :)

5 sticks ng Home-style Barbecue na may vinegar condiment :)

Highlight of the night was how I felt being with them was synonymous to attending Becky University applying for a crash course subject on 'becky linguistics and other-worldly terminologies.' I learned quite a handful of 'em (many I've heard for the first time in my life) that will send my friend, Feisty Feline a.k.a. Lady G wanna-be begging for tender mercy! I mean where on earth will you ever find a civilization that uses the following terms? Ahaha. Only in the Philippines.

• Potahkels! (used in a loving cursing manner. an instant personal favorite. hihi XD)
• Lech! / Liche! (a variation of the more popular Letse! / Leche!)
• Chor-chor (an addition to the wide array of sentence-enhancers slash word-replacers: Chorva, Chorvs, Chorvalu, Char, Charness, etc.)
• Papalicious (synonymous to the stereotypically attractive and admirable genus of the male specimen)
• Jabongga (ahm...)
• Boset! (another term for Bwiset!)
• At marami pang iba. (Juice koh. Sa sobrang dami ay nakalimutan ko na. hehe)

And yes, how can I ever forget the more explicit expressions of Theo's wordplay completely 'devoid' of any sexual entailments. *wink wink* Haha. Am not even sure I've the guts to write about them here that's why I highly recommend to my dear readers to watch out for Theofratus' blog entry on the subject.

Mga monsters sa kailaliman ng gabi XD

Gusto ko yung blurred effect. Ahaha. Parang sinadya lang :)

I was struggling at first to think of the right words to say but sooner when the liquor starts to kick in, I figured there really were no right words to think or say. It may be the last time I'm going to enjoy blogging before all my academic toxicity for this semester starts to butt in. Right then was the perfect time to unwind, hangout and savour in a couple glass of drinks with some good old bloggers. 

I am hoping it won't be our last :) Thank you again, Theo and Jaid, for satisfying my hunger for small intimate get-togethers :)

And who says I'm not pressured?

Image borrowed here

 

• I'm so pressured to have a job and earn during this early time of my life.
• I'm pressured by the amount of schoolwork I deal with everyday.
• I'm pressured to stand up as a young role model in my community when all I want to do is fuck up.
• I'm pressured to imbibe that I'm a responsible young adult when everybody else looks down on me with a smirk of doubt.
• I'm pressured to have a big and chiselled body to portray a strong and intimidating image rather than be misconstrued as weak and lame.
• I'm pressured to have a girlfriend and maintain the chain of male stoicism that runs in the blood of all the 'great' men in my family tree.
• I'm pressured to have a big and chiselled body misbelieving that it's the only way I could get the girl of my dream or even just another girl's attention.
• I'm pressured to wear the 'gender straightjacket' that what makes a man a man in this misjudging society.
• I'm pressured to get laid and be nonchalant about it - the way you see it is bombarded to everyone in the media or the way other men used to about it.
• I’m so pressured to get laid. Period.

Note: Nanibago ako sa mga pinagsasabi ko. Pasensya na sa makamundong post.

Creative Juice #017: Bjorn Bedayo

We all belong to the same generation and we do love to hear from them. Check out this budding professionals profile and get inspired. Interview borrowed from Miss Rosanna Aranaz's feature article about The SDA Project on Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Bjorn Bedayo, 18
Bachelor of Arts in Multimedia Arts
Personal Blog: bjornxmanila

“I want to be one of the most successful fashion photographers in the country. I also want to establish an advertising agency and a menswear boutique with my best friends.”

Describe your personal style:
I’m often seen wearing eclectic and street preppy outfits. I like to mix up vintage-looking pieces with modern ones. I also like playing with proportions, a long button-down with cropped pants for example. Lookbook is my style bible.

Style motto:
Fashion should be an expression of one’s style and individuality. Do not be afraid to express yourself, love the avant-garde and be eccentric.

Other than the SDA project, what do you do?
I’m the creative photographer of Versa-Vise Productions. I’ve collaborated with La Salle College International students, Onin Lorente of Style Anywhere, The Editions, Bespoke de Levenson Rodriguez, and Fashion Designers Alliance Manila. Recently, I was nominated in a Malaysia-based website Tongue in Chic’s Style Awards: The Face To Watch Out For 2010.”

Creative Juice #016: Lady Gaga Parody

Many of us may not admit it but the renowned Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta more popularly known as Lady Gaga, has been one of this generations most talented and creative eye candy and entertainment guilty pleasure. Inspired by her glamorous performances and mind-sweeping yet ultimately original fashion sense, multitudes of funny parody videos came to existence from the primordial soup of her debut songs 'Poker Face' and 'Just Dance' that has continue to grow every day.

I have seen my favorites, from our very own Youtube sensation Vinzon a.k.a. Lady Gagita and his uproarious viral performances to hysterical acapella parodies, comes a new darling piece written and directed by Orcom studs of University of the Philippines in Manila. I was surprised to see my very own friend starring as the prominent singer-songwriter but was completely calmed by the long embraced inkling that she had it in her from the very first time we met. Hehe.

Well, kidding aside, I did love her performance though it seemed she's holding back a little. Even so, I am still proud of her for making us all happy. As gwingquestor said in his comment on the video, "I'll never look at Kitty the same way again. Hehe.

Creative Juice#011: Japanese Fashion Subcultures

Images from oneinchpunch.net

My fascination for Japanese fashion and its many subcultures continues as I learn more and more by reading little bits of gems in the Net. Here's a link on an article entitled 10 Unusual Japanese Fashions and Subcultures I stumbled upon Listverse.com. The site itself is plump with various lists 'that intrigue and educate, specializing in the bizarre or lesser-known trivia.'

Personally, I found it addicting and highly entertaining.

Shutterbug - Wannabe

Moved by this wonderful urban foggy scene, I shamelessly copy-pasted this undated photo from one of my friend's album in Facebook. Haha. Many thanks to Zari for those wonderful pictures.

Around Araneta Center

There is nothing like a crisp afternoon walk after a short drizzle around the streets of Araneta in Cubao. It's been a while since my last visit among its many department stores and shopping malls so when a friend asked me to accompany him, I couldn't turn him down. I hear there are lots of on-going developments in that area including the Manhattan Garden City which is an '8,500-unit real estate project housed in 20 residential condominium towers' (model units available at their showroom in Gateway Mall on the third floor), and the current facelift of the old Ali Mall.

It just enthralls me to witness all the refurbishing and revitalization effort that the Araneta Center is conducting to the places I’ve loved and associated with maturity.

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For more information about the Araneta Center, visit their website here and check out the latest with their interactive vicinity map.