...friends and pizza...

Joy and I went out one hot Wednesday afternoon to buy something then on our way home we decided to grab some chow and settled in Da Vinci's Pizza ( Its a stone throw's away from us and I've been bugging her about not yet eating there, so we check it out). Good thing, the place was not that crowded and I welcomed the somewhat cool air that emanated from its AC unit ( though not cool enough for me, still it helps).

Joy demonstrates the art of enjoying a slice of pizza

We happened to brought along her camera so we took pictures of just about anything( an excuse to try out the new lens).

The stray cats caught my fancy while I aimed the camera at them. They were game and I think that they liked the attention:-)

...to kill a mockingbird...

I have read "To Kill A Mockingbird" a long time ago. It was suggested by my aunt. We shared this same passion when it comes to reading. Even before I started to read it, she give me a rundown of what the story was all about and she concluded that it's a classic and a good read. I take her word for it. True enough, I was captivated by the story and entertained, much more that it was told through a child's point of view.
After a time, I forgot all about that book. I left home to live in another city. Then, one day, while I was browsing for something noteworthy to read on the Internet, I chanced upon this site "World's Strongest Librarian". I find it entertaining and insightful. I read about his book reviews and there was one about TKAM. That set me off, I was eager to read the book again. After reading Josh's review of TKAM, I went out to look for the book at BOOKSALE ( to no avail) and eventually bought one from National Bookstore.
I'm not going to write here a review of my own because you're better off reading Josh' review at his site. I'm just going to share my experience while reading the book for the second time. I always have this thing when I read, that is being transported to the story. I feel like I'm a silent onlooker while the story unfolds. I forget about the time and sometimes, hunger( and that's unheard of me). Well, somehow, I can relate to Scout's ( lead character) dilemma when it comes to behaving herself as she deemed fit as compared to what was expected from her by the society she belonged to. To me that is complicated but Scout managed to overcome it with the help of her father. Scout was mindful of how people who belong to the so-called "elite" society treated those that were on the lower rungs of the social ladder. According to her, "I think there's just one kind of folks. Folks."
If you haven't read the book yet, I suggest that you do so. And see for yourself why it is such a classic story....

"They're certainly entitled to think that, and they're entitled to full respect for their opinions... but before I can live with other folks I've got to live with myself. The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience. "
-spoken by the character Atticus

...if being DIFFERENT is an abomination...

"We're frightened of what makes us different."-Anne Rice

I do my hair the same way for as long as I can remember since I started sporting a long 'do. I wear the same type of shirts and jeans. I don't do make-up and I am repulse to the idea of donning on a dress. ( weird?) I've been this way since I was little. I never thought that it would cause some untoward comments coming from prying eyes. I relate to people in a certain way that oftentimes construed as I am shy or something ( If they only know what's on my mind) I don't do small talk if I don't need to. I always try to follow Law # 4. I avoid attention at all cost because I abhor it. I'm good at being invisible ( of course, not physically) and retreating to my own world. Yes, I've been told that I am different because I don't do stuff others generally do. I don't gush over "teleserye" like normal people do. If I am to chose, I prefer spending my time with a good book than making perfunctory remarks I really don't mean. Of course, I'm not saying that I'm against what others are doing but it doesn't mean I want to be in it. In our society, there is always the consensus that we, in some way or another, should try to forge our conformity to what is expected from us. I'm not saying I'm all for breaking the law, no I'm not like that. I'm still a law-abiding citizen. Being different does not necessarily mean you run amok. To be different is just that---DIFFERENT. And I guess there's no reason for one to fret about it. I've learned to get used to hearing comments about me "being like this and not like that". Well, people are always bound to make remarks ( myself included), the trick there is how not to let it get to you. ( I've heard a comment about me which prompted this post, how's that for not letting it get to you?)....

"If being DIFFERENT is an abomination then, all the more reason to be one."

...remembering my Lola...

"Grandmother-grandchild relationships are simple. Grandmas are short on criticism and long on love."-- Author Unknown

Today is my Lola's birthday. She would have been 95. I grew up so attached to my grandmother that it seemed like I was never going to be away from her. She doted on me to the point of being her favorite among her grandchildren. She was always there for me and at that time, I really did not care about anything as long as she was there. I could never do wrong in my Lola's eyes. I've done a lot of mischief in my youth, but it was tempered by my Lola's admonition. I could not recall any instance that she scolded me. She was there when I got drunk for the first time, while I was bawling my eyes out, mumbling about going to New York; Lola was there, whispering words of comfort, until I fall asleep. She took it upon herself to give me “baon” for school. My being a morning person, I think, I got it from her. She always tells me that it’s not good to wake up very late ( true enough, my mother has no problem with me when it comes to getting out of bed during school days, most often, I even wake up ahead of her). My grandmother has told me a lot of things that nowadays can be construed as old wives’ tale. But then, sometimes, there’s some grain of truth in it, it's just up to me to discern it. There are some aspects of what I am right now that would have not been there if my Lola was not around while I was growing up. She had given me something far better than any material thing and sometimes (especially those times when I badly needs someone to just be there) I wish she’s still here. Too bad, I really did not give much attention to her when she was still around, I was too eager at that time to leave home and to attend college in another place.
Lola will always be a part of me albeit she's gone now. Happy birthday, Granny.

...poignant rendition...

One of the songs played during the funeral mass of former President Corazon Aquino, which I can say is one of the most fitting tribute to a an extraordinary leader. And I'm not just saying this just because I'm a fan of Lea Salonga. Anyone can see it for themselves...

...poem...

I'm a frequent visitor of Paulo Coelho's blog since I'm his fan in FaceBook ( one good thing I got from the site). I came across his forum about the one poem that strikes you most ( your favorite poem to keep it simple). I remembered that I used to have a book of a collection of poems from various known poets. It really belonged to my aunt in her school days. The pages were already brittle and yellowed. I left the book at home and I can't recall where I have put it in the many boxes of old books and paper I have. Anyway, here's one poem that I like the most.

If
by Rudyard Kipling

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too:
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream---and not make dreams your master;
If you can think---and not make thoughts your aim,
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same:.
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build'em up with worn-out tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings,
And never breathe a word about your loss:
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings---nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much:
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And---which is more---you'll be a Man, my son!

...do you Facebook?...

Since the advent of the network site Facebook, people around the world has been captivated by it, to put it mildly. Other network sites has taken the backseat since FB came. I guess for someone who is really into networking then this may be heaven to him or her. I mean you can just put any stuff about your self--status updates, photos, applications, online games, etc. You can even get in touch with people whom you haven't heard in like, a hundred years? ( okay, I'm going overboard with the hundred years here) But the point is, you can just do about anything here and that's what make it so popular with the hoi polloi.

I have accounts in different network sites--Multiply, Friendster, MySpace and Facebook. No, I'm no networking nut, heck, I don't even feel comfortable meeting new people. Then why all these sites? Well, I get involved with them for the different purpose they served. I was into Friendster first, then Multiply. I registered for MySpace because it was one way that I get to keep in touch with my cousins in Canada ( for free). Plus, the one thing I like about this site is that I get to look for songs I like and put it in my own playlist. At the moment, I logged in at Myspace just to listen to the songs in my playlist. Then my cousins, moved to Facebook and that how it all started for me. I heard about reports on issues regarding the use of Facebook---about how they will keep your information and photos you uploaded even if you delete your account. It got me wary for a while. But then it did not deter me from uploading photos anyway.

I'm impressed with people who have so many friends on their profile. ( I've been a Facebook user for quite a time now but my friends remained below 30...it just goes to show that I'm no people person...) They must be very, very friendly I suppose. Anyway, I guess its cool to meet new people so you can add them to your friendlist. I'm just wondering though, how can you say someone is your friend? It is just because you came from the same school years ago or he or she happened to know someone you knew also. I guess I misunderstood the word "friend". Well, just a thought....

...final goodbye...

Tell me not, in mournful numbers,
Life is but an empty dream!
For the soul is dead that slumbers,
and things are not what they seem.
Life is real! Life is earnest!
And the grave is not its goal;
Dust thou art; to dust returnest,
Was not spoken of the soul.
-HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW-

Today the Filipino nation bid their final goodbyes to the one and first ever woman president of our nation. A lot has been told about her--from her being a simple housewife to later on as the one responsible for the termination of the much clamored dictatorship that had been holding our country in paralyzed for a number of years. Former President Corazon Aquino had exuded the traits of what a leader should be. And no one can top that.

...death is no end...

I took one day ( that was yesterday) from posting something on my blog. I felt that I have nothing to write anyway. Since rediscovering my fondness for putting into words my thoughts on just about anything, I make it a point to at least post something on my blog everyday. Yesterday, there was really nothing. I mean I could not come up with anything to write about. I woke up past seven yesterday morning and when I turned on the TV, I was met with the news of the death of our former President Corazon Aquino. I was taken aback for a moment and I stared at the TV screen for awhile. "Tita Cory", as she was called by her friend and supporters, finally just bowed down from this life. There are a lot of things attributed to her especially the People Power in 1986. At that time, I was almost 10 years old. I remembered the L-sign (or Laban). I have only vague memories of that time in our history. Cory Aquino, until her death, remains a humble and unassuming individual. And she remained steadfast with her faith in God.