Ralph "Tito Laplap" Cecilio

Por: mimai | 1 comments |

Cagayan de Oro lost an inspiration when my uncle, Ralph Cecilio, died a few days ago. His battle with lung cancer has finally ended.

Tito Laplap, as we fondly called him, was a big man with a giant heart. He treated everyone in a special, unique way. He was also a teacher in every sense of the word - one who teaches you things beyond the four walls of a classroom. He was always ready to inspire you to learn. And this is how he became one of my inspirations back when I was still struggling to find my way as a teacher.

Nope, I was never in his classes. But he taught me a lot. He taught me the value of education. He taught me how to show my students what learning was all about. He taught me how to help my students love learning, especially when it came to all things related to Literature. He taught me that it was possible to make my students love reading and writing...and learning. All these he did without him saying a single word to me; without him teaching me what I needed to do. He only had to give me suggestions like "Let them watch this and that on channel this and that." Simple tips, but they meant a lot to me. And I learned a lot from these.

I stopped teaching in 2006. He never grew tired of it, not even when he was diagnosed with his cancer. Such courage! Such dedication! I wish I had known him much longer...I wish I had spent more time with him; more than the chit-chats we used to have every time we met each other after Sunday Mass in KetKai. But then, all that cannot be now. He has gone on to join our Master. The one who gave him his incredible gifts.

At least, I was a part of his life. At least, I was touched by his presence. Now all that I need to do is preserve every single learning that I got from him - from merely listening to him every time we talked, and from merely observing him when he was in deep conversation with someone else. I'll treasure every single one of those memories...forever. Someday, when I get the chance to go back to teaching, I know I'll be able to make use of the inspiration that he was, and still is, to me.

Now that he is gone, Cagayan de Oro has lost a shining example of an inspiration for the youth. There will not be anybody like him for years to come. He'll remain the only one.

'Bye, Tito Laplap! I'll miss you...

LEER MÁS...

Resurrected

Por: mimai | 1 comments |

After several months of keeping my blog "stagnant," I'm back! I won't deny it, I have the same excuse that most people have - I've been really busy. Yup, true! I've been too busy the past months that every time I open this little blog of mine, I'd end up falling asleep! Anyway, I'm determined to keep the ball rolling from now on. I so miss writing!

So, what have I been up the past months? Hmmmm...a lot, actually. But one of the most interesting things that I've been religiously doing is watching a lot (more than a lot, actually!) of t.v. shows and movies. I've become so addicted to downloading our favorite t.v. shows that watching them has become a part of my daily routine. Anyway, here are the shows that keep me on my toes every day:

1.Criminal Minds - I have always been a fan of this show. I love the characters and the way they work together. I love watching the BAU (Behavioral Analysis Unit) profile serial killers and murderers. I love analyzing the complex characters and situations. And I love Dr. Spencer Reid! The latest season has some twists, like Morgan taking over Hotch as head of the team - but things are just as great!

2.House - I'm a Dr. House fan! Always have been and always will be! I simply love this man! There's a lot of drama in the latest season, especially since House just completed rehabilitation/therapy for his addiction to his meds. The departure of Cameron and her separation from Chase has also left a lot of new doors open, like the return of 13 and Taub to the team. I still miss Kutner, though.

3.Ghost Whisperer - I love Melinda Gordon! I love the way she is able to help people - both living and dead. There's something beautiful in every story, in every character that is introduced into the show. This new season is a "testing" one for Melinda and her husband Jim, since they already have a son, Aidan, who, at a young age, is already showing signs that he can be more powerful than his mom.

4.Supernatural - The Winchester brothers just keeps them coming! This season is filled with a lot of angry foes and realizations for both Dean and Sam. They still have an angel guarding them, though (Castiel). It's always great to see the good overpower the evil in every episode. I guess that's one of the reasons why this show is on my list: the fact that the good always triumphs over the bad somehow gives me hope. Of course, I also want to know how things will eventually turn out for the brothers - one of whom is a vessel of God and his angels, while the other is the devil's vessel.

5.Glee - Oh, I am so loving Glee! It's just fun and entertaining! It never fails to brighten my day! I love the music and the songs, and the characters are just so close to home that I can't help but feel with them. The fact that the "Glee Club" is a major factor in the show is just awesome! I just can't help but recall grade school years...

6.How I Met Your Mother - One of the biggest reasons I love this show? Barney Stinson (Neil Patrick Harris in real life). He simply knows how to deliver the funniest, most absurd lines! HIYMYM never fails to make me laugh, no matter what mood I am in. The words "awesome," "legendary," and "suit up!" have become such a part of my life that I sometimes find myself using them!

7.Leverage - This is new in my list as the series is just on its second season. I love the way ex-con men and women are able to con the cheating and lying "big fishes" - those who won't think twice about using their power to overpower the weak and poor. The characters are fascinating and their "jobs" (or missions) involve situations that really happen in real life.

8.The Mentalist - This is also new in my list - and thanks to a friend, I've never stopped watching from the day I first "laid eyes" on Patrick Jane! Jane is like the "Dr. House" of the California Bureau of Investigation and he uses the "mind" to help his team solve crimes and close cases. He "reads" people and analyzes situations; and sometimes, he uses hypnotism. In short, he uses unconventional means in solving cases - but his teams ain't complaining! For me, Patrick Jane belongs to the same boat that Dr. Gregory House rocks! They are two of my most favorite television characters, ever!

9.Dexter - Dexter is a blood spatter specialist, one of the best. He helps solve cases. What I like about Dexter's story is its twist: at night, Dexter is a serial killer! Pretty mind blowing, right? I've seen just a couple of episodes of this show, but I'm already hooked to it!

10.True Blood - Sukie Stackhouse's story is simply interesting! And I simply love vampires!

There are several other shows that I follow , but my fascination for them hasn't reached the level of my top faves yet. Of course, I still watch my other faves - CSI (all three), Numbers, Medium, and Chuck. But for now, I'm glued to those in my top 10 list.

How about you? What about your favorite shows?

Happy viewing, everyone!

LEER MÁS...

Farewell, Michael!

Por: mimai | 0 comments |

I grew up in the 80s. The fashion, the dances, the music...and Michael Jackson.

MJ was a big part of my teenage years. I danced to his music and memorized almost every song. I tried so hard to perfect the moonwalk but only got around to memorizing the dance steps to "Beat It" and "Billie Jean". Last year, I reminisced my high school years when my office mates and I danced to the immortal MJ classic "Thriller".

Now the King of Pop is gone. No more moonwalks and creative dance moves. No more energy-packed concerts. No more Michael Jackson.

MJ's life was like a rollercoaster, so full of ups and downs. He started singing at a very young age, and although he was just a kid, he wowed a lot of people with his "majestic" singing voice. He grew up and became even better at his craft, and we grew to love him. It's true, he made quite a number of bad decisions and was pushed into the limelight for the wrong reasons several times...But the magic of his voice and his dances never stopped. In fact, they became even better.

As he went through turbulent times, his songs reflected his feelings. Songs that were full of angst, songs that begged for understanding, songs that wanted to reach out...they were all his; they were all him.

No matter what else happened to MJ in his 50 years, one thing will remain true forever: that he was the greatest entertainer we've ever had in many years. Nobody, absolutely nobody, can ever replace him, or his music, or his dances.

There is only one MJ. He captured my heart back in the 80s; he continues to do so now, even when he has gone on to another life. Goodbye, MJ. Rest well. You deserve nothing less.

LEER MÁS...

Ghost Whisperer

Por: mimai | 0 comments |

One of my favorite television shows is Jennifer Love Hewitt's Ghost Whisperer. I've seen all four seasons and cannot wait for the next one. As always, I don't really care what other people say about the show; what's important for me is that I enjoy it and I get a lot of good lessons from it.

Ghost Whisperer is about a young woman named Melinda Gordon (J.Love) who has the gift of seeing the dead (spirits). However, the show is not at all what you expect of supernatural stories. It's more heartwarming than scary, actually. You see, Melinda has a huge responsibility, and that responsibility involves using her gift. She sees spirits of dead people and helps them "finish the unfinished" so they can cross over and "go into the light".

Here is an excerpt taken from CBS.com, Ghost Whisperer's home studio. "Inspired in part by the work of famed medium James Van Praagh and of Mary Ann Winkowski, a real-life communicator with earth bound spirits, GHOST WHISPERER explores the spiritual side of life and death."

Melinda is married to Jim Gordon, a paramedic who knows about her gift. Jim is very supportive of her and even accompanies her sometimes when she does her investigations. She and Jim have an unconditional love that goes beyond any boundaries. Theirs is the stuff that we all dream of having.

Melinda's mom (Anne Archer) is also gifted but is not as open with the whole idea as her daughter is. The two of them just recently "restored" their relationship.

The Ghost Whisperer is surrounded by loving friends who never fail to help her. She has Delia (her best friend who helps run her quaint antique shop), Ned (Delia's son), and her "sidekick" Eli (Jamie Kennedy), who has the unusual gift of "hearing" (but not seeing) ghosts. In the previous seasons, Melinda's "sidekick" was Jay Mohr's Professor Payne. Also, in the earlier seasons, Melinda had another best friend who was killed when a plane crashed in Grandview (their fictional town). Melinda helped her go into the light.

All these characters have their own stories to tell; and all their stories somehow connect with what Melinda does.

What's really good about this show is that it makes you feel good after watching it. No matter how many tears you shed, you will always get that wonderful, happy feeling after watching one full episode. I've cried many tears watching families saying goodbye to loved ones about to cross into the light; or couples declaring their undying love; and parents reconnecting with children who left them early in life.

A lot of changes have been happening in the show (like Melinda and Jim finally having a baby), and I'm extra excited to find out just how powerful their little one will be.

Sometimes, I envy Melinda because she helps a lot of people without really asking for anything in return. But most of the time, I get scared thinking about what I'd really do if I were in her shoes. My greatest wish, though impossible, is to meet Melinda and spend a day with her. I'm sure I'll learn a lot from her. For we all know that even those who have gone on ahead of us have tons of new knowledge to share with us.

The show also reiterates something that I learned a long time ago, back when I was yet an innocent high school senior: "even in death, love speaks".

I hope Ghost Whisperer goes on air forever. But then again, like what the show is unconsciously trying to tell us, forever is in another realm. Maybe I'll just content myself with the idea that there may really be a Melinda Gordon somewhere in the world. And that I might get to meet her someday. Maybe in this lifetime, or in the next.

LEER MÁS...

Tears In Heaven...

Por: mimai | 2 comments |

No, this is not about that Eric Clapton song. But it is about something that the song talks about: DEATH.

The past months have been quite sad. Many people who have been a part of my life, in one way or another, passed away. Death is something that makes me think really hard. It is something that makes me reflect on the kind of life that I lead. And even if I know that death will bring you back to the Lord, I'm still afraid of it. Yes, I am afraid of death.

My fear is not so much because of the idea of death itself. It is more the fear of losing your connection with the world; with the people you love and who love you; with the people around you. It is the fear of leaving behind the people who matter most to you. It is also the fear of not being able to do enough to leave your legacy in this world.

I thought everything would stop when my mom died in February 2006, but it did not. I made several decisions that altered the course of my life, but that was that. Eventually, things became better and I was able to adjust. Then after a year, our family was dealt another blow. My aunt, Daddy's youngest sister, passed away in May 2007. It was difficult for us because it was unexpected. And she was so young.

Like what happened after Mommy passed away, I slowly adjusted. At the back of my mind, however, questions kept popping up. And my fears escalated. Death made me feel that way sometimes.

Last year, my cousin Francis Ortigas died of heart failure at a very young age. He wasn't even 40 yet! His demise made me realize that death is really like a thief. It can come to you at the prime of your life, or when you're just about to conquer the world.

Still, I am never ready when I hear that someone has passed away. It is never all right to hear that somebody I know, that someone who is a part of my life has moved on to another world. I will never be prepared for death. No one is and no one will ever be.

I know my journey in life is still quite long. I have yet many things to do and a lot of promises to fulfill. I have yet many people to help. But every time someone I know passes away, I cannot help but be afraid...for myself, for the departed's family, for everyone I know.

The only thing that I can do is pray. It's the best weapon against fear. And you know what? It never fails to work!

I am sad. I am sad because another one of the special people in my life has gone on to another world. After Lolo (Grandpa) Titang in 1986, it was MammaIn. Mama Chata in 2003. Then Mommy followed in 2006. Tita (Aunt) Diditte in 2007. Francis in 2008. This year, Lolo Nonon (Fr. Miguel Bernad) passed away. And now, Lola Dory Chaves. My only consolation, I guess, is that they lived a happy and fulfilled life. No, their lives were not perfect. There's no such thing as a perfect life. But they lived their mission and realized their visions in one way or another.

I am sad because they are not with me anymore. I cannot embrace or even touch them anymore. But I am always consoled every time I think about them...Because I know they're all looking down lovingly on us. Because I know that even in death, their love speaks a thousand words.

I will never be comfortable with the idea of death. But I know that I will always have prayers, and my faith in the Lord, to keep me steady and strong. I will have all our "angels" up there rooting for me.

So, I know that in a few days or months' time, all will be well with me.

LEER MÁS...

Farewell, Francis M

Por: mimai | 4 comments |

(This article was actually written for Goldstar. I do not know when it came out or if it ever did. I was not able to find it in the copies I bought for the week it was supposed to. Anyway, it's one of the most heartfelt pieces I wrote so I decided to share this with you.)


Master Rapper, King of Pinoy Rap, The Man From Manila, Kiko, and FrancisM. Francis Magalona was known by many names. However, to fans and peers all over the country, he will forever be the man who changed Filipino music by integrating nationalism into a popular genre called rap.

Francis, the son of Pancho Magalona and Tita Duran, popular stars of the 1940s-50s, was only 44 years old when he succumbed to acute myelogenous leukemia last Friday, March 06. I was busy editing articles in the office when I read about it. I was shocked and surprised. I did not want to believe that it was true. The truth began to sink in after I read a full account of what happened from one of the news websites I regularly visited.

I first saw Francis in the movie Bagets. But it was when I was in college in Manila and his music ruled the airwaves that I really took notice of him. Mga Kababayan was a phenomenal hit; and so were his other earlier songs like Tayo’y Mga Pinoy, Man from Manila, Mga Praning, and Cold Summer Nights. Through the years, the Master Rapper turned in one hit after another. One of his most popular hits, Kaleidoscope World, became a favorite of many (including me). Eventually, he ventured into collaborations with groups like Parokya Ni Edgar and the Eraserheads. No matter what he did, the response was phenomenal. Perhaps it was because Francis was always full of passion when he performed. He was a true artist who cared about his craft.

Nationalism was a big issue for Francis. I admired the fact that he did not find the need to march into the streets just to express his patriotism for our country. He simply poured his all in the songs he weaved. Even his paintings and photos, his other passions, spoke of his love for his country…his love for life.

Francis’ zest for life was evident in his battle with leukemia. His was a different, more serious kind. But he never gave his illness the chance to get the better of him. Instead, he shared his battle with his fans, with the people who believed in him the most. Through his multiply site, Francis posted blogs about his treatment as regularly as he could. He posted pictures, too, that showed the same fun-loving, happy Francis. Despite his pain, he kept going. He was even scheduled to perform with the Eraserheads in their concert last March 07. Ely Buendia and his crew dedicated the entire concert to his honor and sang Superproxy (a song the Master Rapper wrote for them) and Kaleidoscope World.

It’s true. Francis’ death was surprising. Tragic even, because he was so young, so talented, and so intelligent. But maybe we can all learn a lesson or two from him. One is to always love life, no matter what it has to offer us. The other is to never give up no matter what the circumstances are.

And of course, we shall all keep listening to his songs. We shall all continue to ponder on every word, every lyric that he has left for us through his music. Somewhere in between those words is a part of Francis reminding us that life must go on, whether he makes music here with us or up there with the Greatest Musician of our lives.

So long, Francis M. You shall be missed. But your music, your legacy shall live forever.

LEER MÁS...

maia's scribbles: March is Women's Month

Por: mimai | 0 comments |

maia's scribbles: March is Women's Month

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