No Heaven, No Hell

In one of our Philosophy classes, a professor once posted a premise – what if there is no heaven and there is no hell? WHAT IF? … I had never thought of that before. 

But,  what if there is really no heaven and there is no hell? … would this change living the lives as we do?  What about of being and living good or bad?

I believe there is heaven and there is hell; that there is a place for the good and the bad after life; that there is more sense in being good; and that there is a better meaning in just living and dying.  

There is a grand design and purpose in living in this earthly life; of dealing with pains and suffering; of deprivations and richness; of being poor and being rich; of believing in something and someone bigger than all these.

The thing is, living the moment the best we can is in itself satisfying and gratifying. Life is more than just worrying about the facts of tomorrow; for the things and choices of today are ingredients for a better tomorrow.  The choice of being and living good; and being and living bad is a moment’s personal choice not to be based on what lies after and beyond that is a thing of faith.    

But, WHAT IF there is no heaven and there is no hell? … then, there is more explaining for the sages to do and a bigger faith for me … and us.  I keep my faith and live good anyway and anyhow.

V (1983): V (2009)

Spaceships and reptilian alien invasion … 1983 and 2009 is “V”. 

In 1983 was the original miniseries and weekly series TV production “V” (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085106/). It was a hit.  Watching the series is red-marked on the calendar. We were practically stuck in front of the tube whenever … the spaceships and aliens were a great show …. not missing any episode, otherwise one is totally gone and lost.  DVD Movies, Youtube and the internet were just letters and words, not yet something from a flick of a button.   The year was of Betamax (video records on rolled tape … huh?) and box TVs (no LCDs yet … huh!) …. and it takes a

decade just to watch the missed episodes on Betamax Tapes … unless, one got tired of waiting and entirely lost the excitement … just unimaginable and totally unbearable to the current generation.

… and we finally came to watching the final episode.  It was a production to last.

In a mall last year, I chanced on this familiar big bold red letter ”V” on a “VCD” … I was right, it was the hit series “V (1983)” on 4 VCDs … not bad for few of my movie collections … one from the past.

V (1983)

V (1983)

V (1983)

I picked it up and was excited to re-watch the series if only to compare the production with the alien invasion movies after some good years … like with the spaceship of Independence Day; and the aliens of Alien Series (with Linda Hamilton), and other reptilian aliens in several movies. (I really wonder why ETs are usually depicted as reptile-like ones …. hmmmm).

Now comes V (2009)

It’s already marked (again) on my calendar. I’m sure, It sure is some light years improved-production from the original “V (1983)”.  It is always fun to have watched the original and the now for the remake.  Both came for PEACE and entertainment. I’m watching it! or both …. perhaps, another round of “V (1983)” will be a good teaser before the final day …. why not? It never spoils my movie day doing it …

 

Carjacked by a Piece of Paper!

Carjackers do update their schemes … here’s one from the web.  Who knows this could save our day …

“Warning..!!!! Warning..!!!! Warning..!!!!

FROM RCMP’ THIS APPLIES TO BOTH WOMEN AND MEN BEWARE OF PAPER ON THE BACK WINDOW OF YOUR VEHICLE– NEW WAY TO DO CARJACKINGS (NOT A JOKE)’

Heads up everyone! Please, keep this circulating…

You walk across the parking lot, unlock your car and get inside. You start the engine and shift into Reverse. When you look into the rearview mirror to back out of your parking space, you notice a piece of paper stuck to the middle of the rear window. So, you shift into Park, unlock your doors, and jump out of your car to remove that paper (or whatever it is) that is obstructing your view. When you reach the back of your car, that is when the carjackers appear out of nowhere, jump into your car and take off. They practically mow you down as they speed off in your car. And guess what, ladies? I bet your purse/handbag is still in the car. So now the carjacker has your car, your home address, your money, and your keys. Your home and your whole identity are now compromised!

BEWARE OF THIS NEW SCHEME THAT IS NOW BEING USED.

If you see a piece of paper stuck to your back window, just drive away. Remove the paper later. And be thankful that you read this e-mail. I hope you will forward this to friends and family, especially to women. A purse/handbag contains all kinds of personal information and identification documents, and you certainly do NOT want this to fall into the wrong hands.

Ang Taba sa Habhab

Ala maestro sa isang “symphony orchestra” ang mamang naglalako ng pansit-hab-hab sa harap ng Mataas na Paaralan sa aming bayan.

Sakay sa bisikletang kung tawagi’y mercedes benz na may kakabit na mala-aparador na patungan at painitian ng isang-dipang-bilog na lagayan ng lakong pansit-hab-hab.

Namumula sa galit ang sukang sasa na binabaran ng isang dakot na siling labuyo. Paikot-ikot …. pasundot-sundot …. padutdot-dutdot … pabalik-balik na animoy nakikipaglaro ng eskrima ang maestrong mama sa pagsandok at paghalo sa ibabaw ng lakong pansit-hab-hab.

Walang humpay ang maestro habang ako nama’y wala ring puknat sa pagkakatitig sa kapirasong taba ng nagniningning sa balot ng mantika na wari baga’y pusakal na gwardiyado ng matitikas na ilang hiwa ng repolyo sa gitna ng dagat ng hibla ng pansit hab-hab.

Maindayog ang pagsandok ng maestro sa saliw ng hindi-maulinigang musika na tanging ilong lamang niya ang nakakarinig. Sa sipol at indayog ng ulo lamang niya ito mababatid. Wala pa ring humpay ang pagsandok sa pansit hab-hab na lalong nagpapaigting sa impit na pagnanasa sa kapirasong hiwa ng taba. Imbi ang panalangin na nawa’y masundot at makalit ng halos nakatagong tinidor na gamit sa pansandok. Ipit ang laway sa ga-bola ng ping-pong na paglunok. Walang paki ang maestrong mama at tuloy sa pagsandok.

Anupa’t kagyat na hihinto na wari bagay natapos na ang tugtog at gaya ng kurtina sa entablado, maingat na ilalatag ang nasandok na pansit-hab-hab sa kapurat na putol ng berdeng dahon ng saging na tangan naman ng maestrong mama sa kaliwa niyang kamay na may bakas pa ng puyat at pagod sa umagang pag-arenderiya sa nilutong pansit hab-hab.

Mata’y naghahalungkat sa pansit hab-hab na nasandok … ngunit wala sa nasandok … naiwan sa gitna ng ilang gayat ng repolyo at karamihan ng pansit hab-hab. Sadyang mailap ang kapirasong hiwa ng taba. Hindi nasiklot, ni hindi natinag sa haba ng kumpas ng maestro.

Sinapo ko ang dahong apaw sa pansit hab-hab … tangan sa kaliwa, inabot ang long-neck na botelya ng sukang sasa na babad sa siling labuyo …. sa pagkabigo, pinaliguan ang naunsyaming patikim sa kapirasong hiwa ng taba sa pansit-hab-hab ng maestrong mama.

Ano pa! Ang tanging nasambit … sa susunod, humanda ka kapirasong hiwa ng taba … Kagyat … pasipsip … mual sa paghab-hab ng pansit-hab-hab … may kagat ang anghang, may ngiti sa bawat hab-hab, may usal na sanay nakalit ang taba … may pag-asa sa sunod na pagkumpas … humalakhak ang lupa sa tikim ng sukang sasang babad sa siling labuyo na may bahid ng pansit-hab-hab na lako ng maestrong mama. (di pa man tapos sa paghab-hab… antimano … lisaw ang mata sa maestrong mama na may tulak ng nakakangilong-ngipin sa lamig ng natatanging pineapple palamig ….)

Undas ‘09

Filipinos have a way of celebrating life (and death at that).

Filipinos just love gatherings and reunions.  Be it a family, friends or neighbors.  It is not just the crowd, not just the food, but the fun of it all.  It is human connection and acceptance … a reunion.

Undas is more than just clean up and visiting cemeteries. Undas is deeper than just lighting candles and saying prayers.  It is not simply collecting wax or rolling candle balls. It is both a remembering and being with.  Undas is not just remembering and being-in-spirit with the departed.  It is a family reunion;  a chance to meet people – both the old and new faces … classmates, friends, buddies, and yes, even young lovers.  Another celebration of life and family.

For a time, Filipinos celebrate Undas with candles, prayers, music, food, laughter, fun, play, board games and even alcohol.  It was a real celebration … of life and death. 

But, the practice of music plays and drinking alcohol within the cemetery premises had to be toned down with the new genre of Filipino seemingly bordering on relaxing the preservation of the solemnity of the occasion with much louder music and unruly actions pumped primarily by alcohol.  At times, also resulting to violence and crimes. Unwelcome to some, but, proper to many. 

Undas is part of the tradition and culture of the Filipinos, celebrated in a way only Filipinos do, that is, pure celebration and family reunion.

“Trick or Treat” and modern Halloween costumes are of foreign influence. But, Filipinos have its own local Halloween costumes related to its Folklores of “aswang”, “manananggal”, “tikbalang”, “kapre”, “tiyanak”, “traditional barong-outfit for the dead”, “white dress”, ”dwende”, and other elemental.

There is also the ”pangangaluluwa” (pa-nga-NGA-loo-loo-wah), that is, likened to singing carols in Christmas, but this time, it’s with mellow songs of prayers intended for the departed (sadly, i haven’t seen much of it these days). 

For Filipinos, Undas is a solemn, fun, relaxing, vacation, feasting and reunion mold into one.  Imagining how it is only limits this occasion, one must be in it, immersed and involved to really understand and feel how it is.  Unlike Christmas, Undas is a rather short occasion, but, Filipinos always have a way of celebrating occasions with lasting memories.