Song Driver's License

 Driver's License

"Guess you did not mean what you wrote in that song about me

'cause you said forever now I drive alone past your street"

Song by Fil Am singer Olivia Rodrigo is perhaps the most covered song last January and this February. Most singers I follow interpreted what it is like driving alone.

Awit ng mga sawi sa araw ng mga puso. Walang forever

Listen to all, rate and rank your preferences

1. Jonah Baker 23K views https://youtu.be/bDWMMBAzQKc

2. Alex Aiono 285K views https://youtu.be/FQEqel1O9Zg

3. Morissette Amon 253K views

https://youtu.be/afvuQ-TWwhw

4. Conor Maynard 2.5M views https://youtu.be/ocigG_c1JLU

5. Alex Stewart 241K views https://youtu.be/E-IhB6CanW0

6. Jamie Miller 66K views https://youtu.be/-uHnHUwA06o

7. James Arthur 151K views https://youtu.be/joySprUao_k

8. Its A Money Alan Milan 67K views https://youtu.be/4XYPZZD0UKg

9. Joseph Vincent 38K views https://youtu.be/Z5mqPGBuKEc

10. Leroy Sanchez 1.1M views https://youtu.be/wIhHKgP4Ndo

11. KZ Tandingan 49K views https://youtu.be/2eFMW_SSG7M

12. Moira de la Torre 703K views https://youtu.be/5G7S09ERhnE

13. Jason Dy 10K views https://youtu.be/XSSzQLpaBIk

14. Sam Tsui and Casey Breves duet 88K views https://youtu.be/RD6etGgr6mk

Olivia Rodrigo, owner of the song 117M views

https://youtu.be/ZmDBbnmKpqQ

Roomie features his selections and assesses. With trained ear, he makes brutally frank evaluation.

https://youtu.be/YsKEhbaOqC0

• Alex Aino-known for looping. Needed to be more resonant. No release, He is good when he sings

• Alexander Stewart-quality but very standard. Sexy kind of song. Great singer. Talented

• Jamie Miller-Growl. Incredible. C#5 great voice

• Conor Maynard-most iconic cover artist. Neatly arranged and recorded. Stellar vocal performance. Same dynamics as the original. Super tuned. Super produced.

• Leroy Sanchez Incredible singer. Thick belty voice. Vocal runs. Not his best cover

Statued Pinoy Daily Workers

Statues were installed in QC honor the contribution and importance of the street sweeper, the visually impaired person and other daily workers to the city.

Further check with the QC City Administration office via web inquiry, the two statues spotted at Mother Ignacia st. are part of a contest honouring the workers such as security guard, mang tataho, traffic enforcer and other daily wage workers.

Winners of the art contest earned recognition in the DBM national program meriting installation and funding at the QC's Green Open Reclaimed Access Lane (GORA Lane) drive along Hemady, Scout Tobias, Mother Ignacia streets. GORA Lane makes streets walkable.

Statues were erected this 2021 to add visual delight. Works were done by the artists affiliated with Artalyer. ARTALYER is a Fine Arts and Decorative Arts Workshop Studio dedicated to assist and help broaden the knowledge of anyone interested to learn the Basic and Advance Techniques and History of Art Making. List of artists to be posted soon.

Info provided by the QC City Administration office. Thank you Mayor and Ms. Yana for the convenience of easy access to info.

Let us spot them all. Other fotos from the Artalyer FB site.

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Parks and Administration Department of QC replied to the query. Thanks

The sculptures along the GORA lane are made by ARTALYER CACCDI (Center for Artistic and Cultural Community Development Inc) Artists with Mr. Paul Quiano as the head sculptor.

The sculptures located at the three roads (Dona Hemady Ave., Sct. Tobias St. and Mother Ignacia Ave. aim to depict the daily life of Quezon City residents that also reflect the traditional Filipino culture. Design of statues include Street sweeper, Taho vendor, Balut vendor, school children, newspaper seller, construction worker. The design is also inclusive as it includes women, children, senior citizens and PWDs. Placing these sculptures in a public space hopes to make the experience of art more accessible for everyone.

Ang Kwento Nating Dalawa

Ang Kwento Nating Dalawa. Eavesdropping a pair's (and other friends') conversation mainly while in LRT 2 from Katipunan to Recto and in school.

Following the free spirited trio's story while walking, riding and travelling in familiar Metro Manila settings interacting in their unique pinoy gen's lingo.

Get engaged by mere stalking in the ups and downs of their lives and how they honestly deal with their emotions.

Humanity all in just a day.

https://youtu.be/eNzlfHbfgWM

Reviewer Oggs Cruz rates favourably the restraint and sincere execution of director Nestor Abrogena. Cinema One film stars Emmanuelle Vera and Nicco Manalo with Brian Corella.

https://www.rappler.com/.../ang-kwento-nating-dalawa...

Candles

Candles, an incredible link that taps to the past

Candles radiate a message of spirituality, romance, passion, security, warmth, hope, mystery

Lit candles during baptism, birthdays, wedding, death symbolise the connection and meeting of the physical and spiritual world

Communicating with our souls, there is an aura of spirituality, eternity, divinity

We light a candle for protection, health, blessing and a loving memory of a loved one

-Picked up from candledelirium blog

Closure, dreams and demons

As we approach Easter Sunday, a message that resonates with me is the brokenness of man; brokenness is manifested in our imperfection. Thus each one of has a demon inside of us.

Leonardo de Carpio as Dom Cobb in the movie Inception faces his demons projected in the father and son relationship of the dying tycoon Mr. Fischer and his only son. Through dreams, altered states were simulated to bring them back to those moments to correct for a proper closure. https://youtu.be/Qwe6qXFTdgc

Artist Imagine Dragon interpreted the demons in us in the song Demon covered by several artists. Struggling with "Demons" inside the angst is expressed in this line "When you feel the heat, just look into my eyes. It's where the demons hide. Don't get too close, it's dark inside"

Among my favorites are Sam Tsui and Max Schneiders’ https://youtu.be/_JUwcv7dUQI

and Jang Hanbyul’s versions https://youtu.be/PgA136Vu-YI

What demons do we face and how do we handle them. The message of Easter Sunday has the answer.

http://tochs.blogspot.com/.../easter-faith-reinforces...

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Sunday, April 01, 2018

Easter Faith reinforces lnequalities

Christ rising from the dead is God's fulfillment of the promise of redemption. It is a joyous moment for man as the symbol of Christ on the cross leads us to discover His redeeming love. The linen cloth in an empty tomb gives us hope amidst the hollowness.

Our brokenness can be made whole again. When we are down, in pain and in despair, our faith reinforces the inequalities made possible by Easter that "True is greater than False, Light greater than Dark and Love greater than Death.

-Paraphased from the 2018 Holy Week messages of Fr. Jett Villarin

Signs of Life. Colors of Hope, Cheerfulness and Vibrance

 

If Cats Disappeared from this World

 Lockdown Notes

"If there is one thing that will disappear in the world for you to live another day, what will it be?

If I were to disappear from this world, who would be sad?

I want to believe that the world that I existed and the world where I vanished are different

If cats would disappear from the world, how would the world change?"

Film "If Cats Disappeared from this World" an adaptation from a Japanese novel by Genki Kawamura dramatizes the importance of memories, time, life, connection with others and cats while still alive. It asks questions what a meaningful life is and how to cope with death.

Movie is a about a young postman portrayed by Takero Satoh who has less than a week to live. He encounters a subconscious (a devil) who trades with him a day extension for every matter important to him disappearing from the world.

As cellphones (relationship), movies (friend), clocks (father and time), cats (a personal pet who he shares with fondness with his mother symbolizing the self) disappear, so do the happy memories associated with them. Cats were not eventually traded for an extension.

While theme deals with death, it highlights the value of being alive; postman eventually realizes not to take for granted the people he loves and those who inspire him to be alive.

Movie closes with a memorable joyous moment when the postman's mother presents for the first time the infant to his father. Life and being alive are the ultimate barometers of humanity.

Initially viewed on Sky Cable Tagalized Channel 80. Trailer in Japanese with English subtitles lifted from YouTube. Viewed again 4 AM 29 September 2020

https://youtu.be/DF9s5Rjb_5M

World Premiere on YouTube: Mad World by Pentatonix

I was one of the 2,000 plus viewers which jumped to over 7,000 in 2 minutes who watched the premiere of Pentatonix's cover of Tear for Fear's song "Mad World" on YouTube 12 midnight 16 September 2020. After posting this, in 10 minutes viewers spiked to 33,000 plus.

Pentatonix https://youtu.be/Md8kADJwMQ0

Adam Lambert sang this in American Idol

Adam Lambert https://youtu.be/6kAWesgI5LY

This was also Gary Jules' audition song in The Voice Germany

Gary Jules https://youtu.be/U4Zk-dI23w8

The acoustic rendition of young American cover artist is also one of my favorites

Chase Eagleson https://youtu.be/ewi4LJ1visw

Mad World is an original of Roland and Curt which hit the charts in 1982

Tears for Fear https://youtu.be/u1ZvPSpLxCg

"When people run in circles, it's a very very mad world"

Coaching Article

 "Coaching has been packaged in many different ways, usually based on which client to cater to. Albeit, the principles remain the same. As human beings, we have a primal need to be heard. This simple gesture of establishing real connection by expressing thoughts and sentiments with another person make people feel their existence matters."

Coaching in the Philippines, an article in the Golden Harbour webpage with Eng. Claude Sta. Clara (candidate for doctorate in Environmental Engineering) as the subject matter expert.

Lifted Key Points

-Coaching grounded on evidence to achieve positive results

-Genuinely care for client

-Coach should invest in proper training and certifications

-Coaching basically emphatic listening

-Relationship problems before pandemic, well-being while being alone now

-Depression, a threat for those who give importance to face to face interaction

-Adapting to new normal, isolation, limited interaction, virtual

-Coachable clients, a pre perquisite

-Coaching is for people who need help to sort out their goals so that they can realize on their own

-Variety of techniques to employ for versatility

-Techniques in coaching based on human behavior research

-Client should want to change first and show eagerness

-Friendship and familiarity in Philippines setting are deterrents to objectivity

-Limited face to face interaction a reality

-Human beings have a primal need to be heard

-Establish real connection by expressing thoughts and sentiments with another person make people feel their existence matters

-Genuinely listen with unconditional positive regard while keenly observing subtle movements gestures

-Coach to be on a sensitive lookout for indicators

-Baselining. Reprogramming to dispel mindsets until manifested in behavior transferred ownership for empowerment

-Coaching has destination goals which client must recognize for him

Successful YouTubers: Puth and Mendes

Stories of two young singers whose fame astronomically soared after they were spotted on YouTube inspire other aspiring artists.

The foundation of Charlie Puth and Shawn Mendes' successes is talent honed early on as kids and further nurtured by their parents. YouTube as an enabling tool put them in the radar which linked them to hunters and eventually giant recording companies.

Music and social media exposure created exponentially their fan base and transformed these shy, lacking confidence suspected introverts to stardom. 

What makes them tick right now is striking the right notes and elements that resonate with the evolving tastes of a dynamic music audience across all continents. Audience can relate to their songs, lyrics and melody and execution whether recorded, in a music video or live. Fans are awed with their looks, moves, instrument playing, outfit, outlook bonding a strong traction between performers and listeners. This large fan base is generating these young artists an enviable revenue in millions.

What their future looks like depends on several factors in the marketplace. For as long as they enjoy composing, singing, performing and flirting with their audience and innocently manifesting their passion for their craft as young performers, they will continue to dominate the airwave and the social platforms threatening the more seasoned singers older than them.

View how Charlie and Shawn started. You might deconstruct the secret formula to success.

Charlie

Part 1 https://youtu.be/gCrVKXxA6_M

Part 2 https://youtu.be/M-JLnGuFHLc

Shawn 8.7m views

https://youtu.be/ZYkvxtriIrI

Stitches and We Don't Talk Anymore

 Two young talented and good-looking singers in their twenties who got their breaks on YouTube in the mid-century (2015) are now ranked in the top music influencers in the world. The claim to fame of both Charlie Puth, 28 years old, an American and Shawn Mendes, 22 years old, a Canadian can be attributed to YouTube. Shawn learned to play the guitar through YouTube tutorials. Charlie started to post music on YouTube only in 2009.

Charlie is associated with the hits Marvin Gaye, See You Again, Attention, One Call Away, We Don’t Talk Anymore, How Long among others while Shawn with Señorita, In My Blood, If I Can't Have You, Lost in Japan. There songs are currently hot as cover songs of hundred others aspiring artists pursuing careers in singing.

Their channels got the attention of promoters, record companies, co artists eventually earning for them recording contracts. With the support of their management companies, their music reached wider mileage, acceptance and familiarity.

Charlie and Shawn are friends mutually appreciating each other's works. They have lots of commonalities and parallel paths. Other than their hit songs, they play guitar and the piano with Charlie more technically inclined. Their hit songs landed in the top billboard charts.

Charlie is inspired by the phenomenal rise of Justine Bieber. Shawn was noticed by millions doing a cover of fellow Canadian Justin Bieber’s “As long as you love me.” Both excel in singing either recorded or live.

Shawn launched his roadshow Shawn Mendes World Tour in 2016 while Charlie’s Voicenotes Tour took off in 2018. Charlie composes and sings with a signature beat and moves with a signature style. Shawn is wilder and straps a guitar in his live performances. The songs that he sings bring out his signature voice runs. Their sell out concerts attract thousands of young females with Charlie appealing to the older ones.

Shawn had the advantage of performing in the 2018 Victoria Secret Show.

Along with their fame are corresponding net worth envied by other performers. Estimated value of Charlie is $10 million and the younger Shawn at $40 million.

Enjoy their music, brought to you by the channel that drove their fame. They are no one-hit wonders as both have established a strong brand franchise built over a short span of time. They will stay in the business because their franchise is founded on talent and their passion for music expressing the sentiments of the listening audience.

Charlie

We don’t talk anymore 2.8b views https://youtu.be/3AtDnEC4zak

Attention 1.1b views https://youtu.be/nfs8NYg7yQM

How long 3.6m views https://youtu.be/CwfoyVa980U

Shawn

Stitches 1.2b views https://youtu.be/VbfpW0pbvaU

Lost in Japan 90m views https://youtu.be/SAWzXkV3hHo

If I can’t have you 171m views https://youtu.be/oTJ-oqwxdZY

Closing Mr. Holmes

Mr. Holmes. A well crafted movie performed sensitively well by professional actors. Mr. Sherlock Holmes in his senior years reconstructs his final case aided by a young boy interested in developing his probing-solving skills.

Mr. Holmes as depicted by Sir Ian McKellen is not just facts and figures but heart too; suffering from forgetfulness and aloneness, the aging detective displays vulnerability.

British theater and film actor Ian is supported ably well by Laura Linney as Mrs. Munro, the housekeeper and mother and Milo Parker as Roger the son and the protégé.

Roger shares his interest in bees and wasps, Holmes' unfinished writings and unresolved cases. Roger was raised without a father with some resentment to his mother. Mr. Holmes' word to his protégé, "one should not leave this life without a sense of completion." Roger helped Sherlock solve his last case and in recalling the gap between a Japanese diplomat and his son.

Prior to his closure statement he told Roger relating to bees and humans, "death, grieving, mourning, they're all commonplace." Line resonates better in the language translated in Tagalized Movie Channel (80 on Sky Cable) as " kamatayan, nagdadalamhati, pagdadalamhati, lahat sila ay pangkaraniwan" said twice by Holmes.

Theme on the realization of death, fading memories, bees and wasps, conflict between mother and son, master and protege, unresolved business dramatised well in the movie at the time of the pandemic deepens our appreciation for our personal journey.

As the movie closes, Mr. Holmes recalls the people important in his life; those who have gone beyond him. But it is in solving one final case relating to the unexpected death that he understood what loneliness was. Though physically weak and emotionally vulnerable, Roger, the inquisitive protege inspired him to continue to live and to close chapters.

One of my favourites during the lockdown. In Tagalog, "may tagos!"

#AswangMovie

Aswang, a documentary of Alyx Arumpac on the killings as part of the Tokhang drug cleansing program initiated in 2017 is a disturbing capture of the nightcrawlers supported with powerful images of adults, situations and children.

Children from the sound bite captures of Jomari and other playmates imbibe the language and posturing of the criminalized adults and the police authorities nonchalantly as casual as a day to day lingo.

Documentary captures at night (except for the Baclaran church service) tracking and tracing of the victims of Tokhang in Barangay 46 Bagong Barrio Caloocan, Eusebio Funeral Parlor Blk. 49 Longos, Malabon, Sitio Kabatuhan Tullahan in Valenzuela to the secret jail in Raxabago Tondo Manila and other sitios ending in EDSA.

A mortician waits for the next case to embalm and to be claimed, a church pastor doubling as a an unnamed EJS nightshift photographer comforts the close relatives of victims, death on the street, funeral parlors, wakes on site, blood on the asphalt, candles at the site of the crime, cramped cemetery graves accommodating bodies in twos and fours, kids poking fun at the difficulty of squeezing bodies at the grave, the discovery of a secret jail behind a cabinet of a police precinct with no documentation are not scenes from a staged movie but documentation of actual scenes morbid and distressing enough to be alarmed.

Yet no police nor military is shown on video except for the sight of a flashing police mobile.

Aswang, in Philippine folklore is a monster symbolizing fear. While distressing, Arumpac ends the documentary with a hint of hope. Some “chose to stand up and look at the monster in the eye. But some refuse to be afraid.”

“Kapag sinasabi nilang may aswang, ang gusto talaga nilang sabihin ay matakot ka

Itong buong lunsod na napiling tambakan ng mga katawan ay lalamunin ka

Tulad ng paano nilalamon ang takot at tatagPero mayroon pa ring hindi natatakot at nagagawang harapin ang halimaw. Dito nagsisimula . . .”

There might be no exit nor end.

Written after viewing Aswang on Vimeo 11 July 2020

https://www.facebook.com/aswangmovie/videos/623965178220644

#AswangMovie

Lockdown on its 9th week. NCR is on MECG. The rest are in GCQ.

The matrix on Covid-19 based on incidence of testing, positive rate and capability and occupancy of health system is dynamic and constantly changing day by day.

With the several variations and conditions per island, region, province, city, town, district, barangay, policies and processes are increasing in numbers making it difficult for the majority of the citizens to keep up. Most of the steps require cross functional interdependencies.

To be current, one needs an understanding of process flow tuned in to media releases for updated versions. Even the LGUs and the Barangay have not been apprised in a timely manner on the developments.

Even media front liners are challenged. Reports are further probed and validated by senior practitioners for consistency.

One of the government officials who understands and makes an effort to explain even the exceptions is DILD Secretary Eduardo Ano. His judgments are calibrated and policy based (compliance and execution are altogether a phenomenon).

With time in my hands, I track developments and changes i.e. GMA News TV, Teleradyo DZMM, DZRH.

But what about the ordinary folks? Most common needs are getting financial aids, DSWD listing, quarantine pass, travel pass, transport, inter area transfers among others.

For the past 9 weeks, I unconditionally assist particularly the marginalized like construction workers, senior citizens, QC residents in whatever capacity to help them move to the next steps. This is also to test the processes laid down.

It is understandable that given these conditions and reality and the complexity of situations and our current political structure, the fastest way to cope is through political connection. I am still working on this linkage to help more.

This is just process. This does not even cover health related concerns.

Earthling is in distress. Each of one needs to look closely at our values for us to tide us over.

My 6 basics to survive:

1. Stay healthy. Boost my immune system. Food. Personal hygiene
2. Isolate. Face mask, distancing, disinfecting
3. Maintain a sane mental mindset. Routine. Chores. Tasks. Socia Media. Hobbies. YouTube. DIY. Helping others. Prayers. Writing articles like this
4. Stay connected. Social media, media
5.  Maintain resources. Money. Hardware. Water. Energy. Food. Data
6. Comply. Don't get detained

18 May 2020