Bring Back the Ukulele

It was the first instrument I learned to play. Not by heart but because the subject required the class to. I got hold of the ukulele when I was in grade 5. We had to learn it as part of the course of study, which meant “to be good at it or else you’ll get a red mark”. But yours truly who happens to be a lefty, sure had difficulties mastering each chord since our teacher taught us the right-handed way, and, yes, chord or songbooks anywhere are designed for righties. In most cases, the righties, the so-called majority sets the tone for the world. For how long will lefties have to endure this?

For a few months, I thought I had already mastered the ukulele. The culmination event of everything that we had learned happened to be part of our Christmas program. We performed probably a Christmas song, I guess (forgot it). What was so vivid was that I was caught up with stage fright. During the performance, I twisted some chords, was so lost. To make it up with the mess, I had to fake half of my performance to sound still in synch with the rest until the very end.

After that, I told myself that I would never get to master the ukulele or any string instrument. I am born lefty, who’s destined for other things, and this is not just for me. On the contrary, great lefties abound in the music scene. There’s Paul McCartney, Kurt Cobain, and Babyface.

While they can do it, the real question is why can’t I? I would sometimes blame my being a left-handed as the real culprit why I couldn’t master any string instrument. I tried the guitar but to no avail. Or didn’t I just have the heart for it? Or more likely lost the heart for it given the circumstances?

Don’t get me wrong. I love music. I am constantly in awe seeing people playing strings. I appreciate music. But I guess I just need to rest my case. Let it be my first and my last.

Photo source credit: Guardian.co.uk

You might ask, why a post on ukuleles? Well, I was just inspired by a video I saw earlier today on Youtube. Ha ha! The kid below is awesome!

Defining the Year to Come

In a matter of hours, it will be a whole brand new year. As we bid goodbye to 2009, something at this moment is worth doing, asking myself the things I have learned this year, from the daily encounters with people, the variations of just everything around me and the opportunities seized and lost.

Allow me to be a bit of a nation observer. Countless events have transpired before my very eyes that it would be an impossibility to contain them in one vessel. We survived, we triumphed, we laughed, we cried, we mourned, we lost our heroes, only to find young inspiring ones stepping up to the unpaved path of helping those who need our little share, those who need our comfort and company in their darkest. On being an essential part of a whole, I have learned that there’s an even bigger responsibility of being socially aware of the issues so to address them yourself and take it to the proper forum benefitting not only our sometimes stinking ego but the common people. You don’t have dive into taking the issue to the streets, though. It’s best when you know instinctively what to do and which is right or wrong.

On the dreaded politics, we sometimes hate to resign to the fact that we could never find the “one,” perfect or close to that that doesn't keep conscience at bay. We couldn’t blame ourselves for that, for history per se is blameworthy. We had been fooled in the past. I had been fooled myself. So, please, please, please, whoever you will be after the elections, I hope you will not struggle with conscience, are a true pro-people and a leader.

Learning from the bigger picture of the nation is a delight.

Now on a more personal note, deeper in thought. Doubling the efforts for the demands at work, at my little space online, and for those I set for myself, would always be a crime if I would be defeated by myself. Phew, I have never been this busy since my graduation from the so-called education. And not everything was a breeze, but I sailed through, I came out a victor save all that’s connected to life where there is special love, because some days, I wonder in life. It’s complicated. :)

So as I jump up and move on to welcome 2010, I bring with me memories and lessons that defined the year that will come to pass. I am grateful for what I have become this year, and, bigger than my previous year’s game plan, with conviction, I am looking forward to reaching new heights, discovering new lands, new destinations, and, yes, stressing this to myself, keeping the flame burning.

Happy new year, everyone!

The Light in Darkness

I’m exactly neither the scaredy-cat type nor a daredevil, but when eerie stories are told, I couldn't help it but feel the creeps. I haven’t really seen real ghosts myself just yet, so I qualify myself as lucky and, matter-of-factly, hope not to see one - for that might change my balance and composure right off the bat, forever. Ha ha!

Getting scared probably stems from the thought of death. We fear death, and we abhor all that’s dark. Dark seems to be the word that we conveniently associate with death and its reason. And the more we permit ourselves be consumed by this noun or adjective, the more we fear death and the dead. How playful can the dark be? Do you fear death?

On a lighter note, I've read a line from a book sometime ago, it goes that the more you’re unprepared with your life, the more you fear death. I closed the 24th chapter of my life three weeks ago and right now am currently seeking the subsequent chapter. As my age reels in, I’m caught up with what you call as “cramming.” Twenty-five is never neat with literally nothing on hand. Finding a good drive to keep me at pace will have to be the task of my life. Conquer the fear of death!

Tomorrow is All Souls’ Day, the day of the dead. Let us commemorate in prayer our dear departed ones, and may we gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of life.

That's all for me now!

Image: Cebu City, Philippines

Canigao Island: A Revisit

I have to post my 2009 summer experience in Canigao Island now before these photos become totally stale (I know, the long overdue is never forgivable!) . I already have 2 posts about the island, but I take the liberty to blog about it again, so you may know about it or to just keep you refreshed.

My early posts:

Canigao Island (Matalom, Leyte)

http://briefstories.blogspot.com/2009/03/brief-stories.html

http://briefstories.blogspot.com/2009/03/canigao-experience.html

Lechon (roasted pig) should be enough for the day.

At the terminal. Where's Joemill? :)

Souvenirs.

Approaching. Views from afar.

Feeling the island!

So you wouldn't get lost, here's the map, but don't wander to the protected area. The lighthouse.

Everything that breathes the island life.

Way back home. Arrived safely. Soaking in the sun all day long was surely fun.

The sun set perfectly.

To Be Aware is To Live

While many paid attention to the call, still more turned a deaf ear.

This day, the 15th of October is Blog Action Day, where bloggers all around the world unite in attacking one issue that is relevant to the global status quo. The world's most pressing concern, at least today, is climate change.

Everyone should be reminded that the worst is gradually showing its might. What happened to the greater part of Luzon, the Philippines recently is a true testament to nature's wrath. Floods, landslides, abnormal average weather, increasing global temperature, glaciers melting, etc. -- these -- are but aftermaths of an environment deteriorating, if not giving up. I am a non-expert on this matter to be honest. Scientists are debating on the real cause/s of climate change.

The simplest I can do, perhaps, is to accept the fact that the world is changing and that climate change is a serious problem. Everyone should care for the world. It just needs some loving. Some can still probably laugh at the thought of human annihilation, the next Atlantis, the next Great Flood, or a typical chaos in a movie, but shrugging the possibility is just insanely a gesture of ignoramuses.

In any way we can, we should help find its cause/s and take radical and immediate action for the environment before the worst nears in our midst. That way, we control climate change and we choose to live better.