Thank You, April Boy Regino

I was never a big fan of him, but as a music lover and as an artist, I had sooooo much respect and appreciation for him because of his music, and because of the genuine happiness he brought to soooo many people. As an artist, I do music to express myself and because it makes me happy doing it. If what I do makes people happy, that's a big plus. April Boy made a difference in the lives of people, and I'm sure his music will forever live on.

Thank you, April Boy Regino, for your music, for your heart, and for the happiness you brought to millions of Filipinos.

My Very First Mystery Box!

This was the first time I tried a Mystery Box, and probably the last time.

Check it out why.

 

Castiel's Love

 "When Jack was dying, I made a deal to save him. The... The price was my life. When I experienced a moment of true happiness, the Empty would be summoned and it would take me forever.  I always wondered, ever since I took that burden, that curse, I wondered what it could be, what... what my true happiness could even look like. I never found an answer. Because the one thing I want... ...it's something I know I can't have.  But I think I know... I think I know now. Happiness isn't in the having. It's in just being. It's in just saying it."

"I know how you see yourself, Dean. You see yourself the same way our enemies see you. You're destructive and you're angry and you're broken. You're "Daddy's Blunt Instrument." And you think hate and anger, that's... that's what drives you. That's who you are. It's not. And everyone who knows you sees it. Everything you have ever done, the good and the bad, you have done for love. You raised your little brother for love. You fought for this whole world for love. That is who you are.... You're the most caring man on Earth. You are the most selfless, loving human being I will ever know...You know, ever since we met and ever since I pulled you out of Hell, knowing you has changed me. Because you cared, I cared. I cared about you. I cared about Sam. I cared about Jack. I cared about the whole world because of you...  You changed me, Dean."

15x18 Despair

40 Lessons & Realizations

I've had sooo many learnings and realizations in my 4 decades of existence, and I'm sharing 40 with you - one for each year - with the hope that you may also learn even a few things from it. 🥰

You are Worthwhile

Since today is the first day of my birth month, I am sharing my reflection for those who need to hear (or read) it. 🥰

Love and light to y'all!

Tuloy ang Laban

So it turns out that the school didn't want me to skip this (first) batch of Theatre students. Instead of transferring my lone student to the other classes, they transferred one student to my class.

We had our fifth and last official session last night, and though all the sessions were fun, they were also stressful for me. As I mentioned before, I had to research because our classes were curriculum-based. Then using 2 old laptops in this "new normal" added to the stress. I have been in theatre for 27 years, and I've been a teacher for 19 years, but I really dislike teaching theatre online. It's just not right.

I will have to continue researching for the run of Batch 1 - sort of like second semester if it's a normal school. At least I already have the knowledge, experience and materials for the next batches of Run 1. Still hoping though that we will be able to have face-to-face sessions soonest.

In the meantime, laban lang!

September Sandwiches

We've been doing this since 2013, a little project off the stage and on to the streets of Cebu.

Because of the pandemic, we are taking a step back this year to hopefully move 2 or more steps forward soon.

To everyone who has supported us through the years, THANK YOU!

This is a little look-back at CTC's September Sandwiches.

Pagliacci the Clown

Man goes to doctor. Says he's depressed. Says life seems harsh and cruel. Says he feels all alone in a threatening world where what lies ahead is vague and uncertain. 

Doctor says, "Treatment is simple. Great clown Pagliacci is in town tonight. 

Go and see him. That should pick you up." 

Man bursts into tears. 

Says, "But doctor... I am Pagliacci."

Return of the King

LeBron James has just won his 4th Championship and his 4th Finals MVP.

With his 3rd NBA Team.

At the age of 37.

In his 17th year in the NBA.

Let that sink in.

It's been a while since I last talked about The King in this blog, but I've continued to follow his awesome career, and continued to root for him and wherever team he's playing for. Today, he didn't only help the LA Lakers win their 17th title, he also helped a lot of this teammates who were counted out by so many people before they were given the chance by the Lakers. Even LeBron himself was counted out by so many, especially after he got injured last year and the Lakers didn't even qualify for the Playoffs.

What a year it has been.

It was sweet because it was against LeBron's former team (where he won his 1st two titles), the Miami Heat. To make it sweeter, LA's battle cry since Kobe's tragic death has always been "Mamba" and "For Kobe".

The upcoming off-season will be exciting as there will be personnel changes in the roster of the Lakers. Whatever happens, this will be a season worth remembering. 

The Lakers are the 2020 NBA World Champions.

2020. What a year.

Huge Realization

I was chosen as one of the theatre mentors in a new performing arts center a few months ago. The biggest difference between this and other centers is that this is a curriculum-based training center. I was chosen because of my experience in theatre (27 years this month), but when I saw the actual curriculum with the topics to be discussed, etc., I was, right there and then, slapped with a huge realization that I am illiterate and incompetent. For the first 2 sessions, I researched, learned the topics, then made the informational materials just a day or two before our actual classes. I think I did a satisfactory job with my 2 students for the first 2 sessions.

Now that 1 student quit the training because of his studies (hopefully not because of theatre class or because I was lousy), I got 1 student left while the other mentors (who are formally trained so they're wayyyyy better than me) has 3 or 4. The center owners said that the ideal number per theatre class is 5, so I immediately suggested that they transfer my student to any of the other classes so we will experiencing interacting and working with other students. I hope that they will grant that request for the sake of the student.

I have accepted the fact that I am incompetent with formal theatre training since I've not experienced any of it. All that I have are experiences on and off stage with a lot of great directors, but sometimes, experience is not enough.