ERIC’S SONGBOOK

Yesterday, I had the privilege of walking down the aisle of PICC for the third time, not to get a PhD but as an esteemed faculty member of the school.  I can still remember the first time I went down that aisle in June 16, 2001.  I finished a Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce Major in Business Management with honors and loyalty.  In my block, I was the only one who wore two medals in the commencement exercises.  I never thought that all the hard work would eventually pay off in the end.  College life was a rollercoaster ride from start to finish.  I had my fair share of fulfillment, depression, stress, humiliation, rejection, and triumph.  It was fun while it lasted.  After the ceremonies, Mama, Papa, Dondon, Auntie Bot and I went to Glorietta and feasted in Friday’s, one of my favorite restaurants.  Payday was the day before and I treated myself to a CD in Music One that night.  I bought the soundtrack to the Nicole Kidman-Ewan McGregor blockbuster, Moulin Rouge! 
In June 2001, I had the privilege of juggling two jobs at the same time: as a part-time faculty of the Mathematics Department, tasked to teach MATH111 to Physics majors and COMATH1 to future accountants; as a highschool Mathematics and Economics teacher in De La Salle-Zobel. 

The second time I walked down that aisle was in June 2004 after toiling for a Master’s Degree in Applied Economics.  It was the culmination of a two-year period of being broke and stressed all the time.  That night, it was the last time we dined outside together as one whole family.  We ate in Aristocrat along Roxas Boulevard after the ceremonies.  At that time, my dad was losing weight fast due to ulcer.  The next month was his first in the hospital.  It seems like my dad just waited
for me to finish my Master’s Degree.  When I was in DLSZ as a highschool teacher, he would prod and remind me to take graduate studies everytime he would pick me up from work given the fact that he is still employed and still able to support further studies.  Some may say that it was a form of divine intervention.  Quitting a job and going back to school takes a leap of faith.  I can remember after the graduation ceremonies, I bought a CD of Mario Winans’ Hurt No More from Tower Records as a gift for myself. 

The third time I walked down that aisle, I witnessed the culmination of some of my students’ college lives.  I felt happy for them, most especially, the proud parents in the audience.  It was a bittersweet experience on my part too…I missed my dad, I missed those happy times, I missed my friends and it made me realize that I am not getting any younger too and I must move on with my life.  Nonetheless, it was another experience in my life that is worth noting and sharing.  After the
ceremonies, the faculty had a fine lunch in PICC.  I loved the fettuccine with tomatoes and above all else, the blueberry cheesecake.  Two words: sumptuous and delectable!  In the afternoon, I boarded a bus going to Alabang Town Center where my mom fetched me.  We went to Abenson’s and bought a new electric fan for my room.  Just like any graduation ceremony, I had to buy a CD for me.  I settled for Michael Buble’s Caught in the Act, a DVD + CD package of his concert.  I also bought a VCD of The Legend of Zorro from Video City for some weekend viewing pleasure. 

In Buble’s album, one song that really caught my attention is his remake of a Charlie Chaplin original called Smile.  Old habits do die hard as I tend to contemplate on the lyrics of this beautiful song.

Smile
Charlie Chaplin

Smile tho’ your heart is aching,
Smile even tho’ it’s breaking,

If you just smile

Yesterday was one of the longest working days of my life.  I gave 5 make-up classes amounting to a record of 6 hours.  By the end of the day, I was really exhausted.  I have Decision Trees inside my head and they needed some trimming badly (Who wouldn’t?  I practically delivered the same lesson 5 times!).  As luck would have it, I exited via South Gate and there was this bus whose last stop in Alabang Town Center.  Without thinking twice, I boarded it only to my dismay, the traffic in Las Pinas is horrendous beyond words.  Moonwalk, Zapote and SM Southmall remain to be bottlenecks after all these years.  Almost ten years have passed, and the traffic situation is still the same.  I left DLSU at 4 pm and reached ATC by 6 pm–one of the longest bus rides I ever took that is
confined within city limits.  I was just on time for the 6:20 screening of Little Manhattan.  Dizzy and exhausted from the ride, I bought a Whopper Jr. Meal from Burger King and munched along as I watched the film. 

Little Manhattan deals with the story of a young kid believing to have found true love at a tender age of ten.  The film has its sweet, funny and light moments but nothing will really stay with you in the end.  The poor boy’s predicament in his journey towards affection remains unresolved in the end, with all its loose ends hanging.  It was fun to watch but it stops with that.  There is little or nothing in the movie that you bring home to heart.  Unless, if you were, say, 10 years old again. 

After the movie, I browsed over some CDs in Tower Records.  Sadly, they have nothing new to offer me.  But to my surprise, I was able to chance upon Kenny G’s latest offering, the last copy of THE ESSENTIAL KENNY G in Odyssey across National Bookstore.  The said CD is due
on January 24 in the U.S. but I was really surprised that it hit Philippine shores way ahead of the land of milk and honey.  The double CD boasts of 31 tracks highlighting Kenny G’s career since 1982.  Being a Kenny G fan, my personal favorites include Songbird, Silhouette, Theme from Dying Young, Havana and The Moment.  Kenny G, as a sax player, is fond of teaming up with vocalists to boost his album’s appeal.  Some of his best works with others are: Don’t Make Me Wait For Love (with Lenny Williams), Missing You Now (with Michael Bolton), and By The Time This Night Is Over (with Peabo Bryson).  To be really honest, Bolton and Bryson were two of my earliest musical influences.  I have been listening to their songs ever since 6th grade.  I can still remember that Teri Hatcher of The Desperate Housewives got her big break when she played Michael Bolton’s love interest in the music video to Missing You Now, a big hit from Bolton’s Time Love and Tenderness album, which was released in 1991.

Also, I bought my mom a VCD of one of the greatest movies of all time, so to speak.  I was able to find a copy of Gone With The Wind for P125.00!  To my surprise, it contains 4 discs, which is almost 4 hours long! Talk about a movie marathon.

Among the 31 tracks in this magnificent compilation, this track which spliced the great vocal performance of Louis Armstrong with Kenny G’s sax playing is sublime to listen to.  Thanks to the genius of David Foster.  And, I am pretty sure that almost everyone in this planet, in one time or another, has already lent his or her ears to…

What A Wonderful World
Louis Armstrong with Kenny G

 I see trees of green, red roses too I see them bloom for me and you And I think to myself, what a wonderful world

 I see skies of blue and clouds of white The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night And I think to myself, what a wonderful world

 The colours of the rainbow, so pretty in the sky Are also on the faces of people going by I see friends shakin' hands, sayin' "How do you do?" They're really saying "I love you"

 I hear babies cryin', I watch them grow They'll learn much more than I'll ever know And I think to myself, what a wonderful world Yes, I think to myself, what a wonderful world

 Oh yeah

What I have thought to be a simple rash or chalk-dust allergies last Wednesday, turned out to be chicken pox on Thursday.  Just great.  I practically missed a week’s lesson.  And now, I have 9 hours to make-up for.  The symptoms were there.  I was lethargic and I lacked appetite when the New Year kicked in.  I realized that chicken pox has an incubation period of 2 to 3 weeks, meaning that it takes to 14 to 21 days before the virus causes the skin to blister.  The varicella virus stays in the bloodstream in the said incubation period causing flu-like symptoms.  I failed to read the early signs. But the good thing is, my regimen stopped it from getting worse.  Thanks to early detection when I saw the funny blisters on my chest.  For the past week,  I was under house arrest doing nothing but eating and sleeping.  I was a prisoner of my own room.  It was depressing.  Last Thursday, I can’t even recognize my own face.  I was isolated from everyone else until two days ago when the blisters crusted over, which is a good sign despite its ugliness, meaning that the virus has expired.  I did some research recently and I realized that chicken pox has its life threatening complications like shingles, a more painful form of chicken pox which develops later in life when the varicella zoster virus (the same virus that causes herpes) gets activated.  It can also cause encephalitis which is an inflammation of the brain that might lead to coma in extremely serious cases.  Chicken pox can also lead to Reye’s syndrome, if the fever has been treated with aspirin.  Studies show that there is a link between Reye’s syndrome and aspirin given to patients suffering from chicken pox.  Reye’s syndrome is a disease affecting the brain and liver.

In the past week, I can’t help it but think about my dad when he was suffering from lymphoma.  He literally stayed at home for several months and I seldom hear him complain with all he is going through.  In this experience, I was able to commune with God.  I learned how to surrender myself and my sickness to Him.  Thy will be done, as the prayer would say.  There came a point when I realized that the human body is a shell, a prison.  The mind is willing but the frail human body can not.  Thus, it made me realize the hindering role of the physical to reaching one’s full potential.  The body is an amazing gift from God.  But we must realize the fact, that it is our responsibility to use it well and take good care of it.

I’ll be going back to work tomorrow.  Thank God, I have been cleared by the doctor in our village. Nonetheless,  I have this gut feeling that people will look at me as a walking disease…  if only I need not interact with 200 students…

What the pox?!?  Here are some links that might be of help when it comes to chicken pox…
http://www.indiana.edu/~health/chick.html
http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/skin/chicken_pox.html
http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/diseases/facts/chickenpox.htm
http://www.moondragon.org/obgyn/pediatric/chickenpox.html
http://www.cafcc.org/10ChiPox.html
http://www.mamashealth.com/chicken.asp

Letting Go
Gary Valenciano

I used to feel the emptiness inside me
I was not supposed to feel that way
I had everything I needed
But nothing ever made me
What I longed to be
The wealth, the name
The lights, the fame
Were everything to me

Let go and you’ll understand
Just let go and you’ll understand

The magic of the Internet.  Today, I had the privilege of reliving a childhood memory so precious–and that is, THE TRANSFORMERS.  I feel like a 5 year-old kid today who just got his very first Transformer ever, Sideswipe the sleek Autobot that transforms to a red car.  I can remember I bought it in Gibson’s, the bookstore beside the old Rizal Theater, where 6750 now stands.  I love the old Makati, going there was like a stroll in the park.  Thanks to Limewire too.  I was able to download two songs from its Soundtrack.  Stan Bush is a God!  I love his rock tracks called Dare and Touch.  The rhythm and style would be continuously evident in most rock bands  such as Starship and Bad English.  Modern anime will never surpass the quality of THE TRANSFORMERS THE MOVIE.  It was advance way too action-packed and energetic for something that came from 1986, exactly two decades ago.  After a hard day’s work, I suddenly feel like jumping on top of my bed pretending to be Optimus Prime transforming as a truck out of sheer happiness over what I have found!!!  I was even able to download the music video from www.seibertron.com   It was a dream of mine to collect all Transformers, most especially the Decepticons, the designs are too sleek!!!  In the mid-80s, it was a total luxury to buy a Transformer that costs around P500.00 a model.  I would even throw a
tantrum if Mama or Papa can’t buy me one.  The old Cash & Carry used to carry the best and rarest models.  SM Makati’s Toyland too was a haven!  I wanted to complete the Constructicons  too so that I could form Devastator (their mortal enemies, the Dinobots, were too difficult to collect, Grimlock’s voice is so funny)!!!  One Christmas gift I really enjoyed receiving was from my mom when she bought me Megatron from O’Smile boutique in BF Homes.  I also got an Omega Supreme from Santa Clause in December 1985 too. 

80s music fanatics and Transformers babies…join me in inging these songs!!!  The message is something that I can totally relate to! ;)  I hope you have enjoyed this piece of sky from the decade of my childhood! :)  Lately, I have been feeling like an old prune, seeing Transformers come to life online is such a rare treat!!!

Dare
Stan Bush

Sometimes when your hopes have all been shattered
And there’s nowhere to turn
You wonder how you keep going
Think of all the things that really mattered
And the chances you’ve earned
The fire in your heart is growing
You can fly, if you try leaving the past behind
Heaven only knows what you might find

Dare - dare to keep all your love alive
Dare to be all you can be
Dare - ’cause there is a place where dreams survive
And it’s calling you on to victory

The Touch
Stan Bush
(This song was played in the movie when Hot Rod was finally able to open the Matrix and he eventually became Rodimus Prime, the movie’s winning moment!!!)

You’ve got the touch

You’ve got the
power

Yeah!

After all that’s
said and done

You never walk,
you never run

You’re a winner!

Got the moves,
you know the streets

Break the rules,
and take the heat

You’re nobody’s
fool

You’re at your
best when the going gets rough

You’ve been
put to the test, but it’s never enough

You’ve got the
touch

You’ve got the
power

When all hell’s
breaking loose,

you’ll be riding
the eye of the storm

You’ve got the
heart

You’ve got the
motion

You know when
things get too tough

You’ve got the
touch

You never bend,
you never break

You seem to
know just what it takes

You’re a fighter!

It’s in the blood,
it’s in the will

It’s in the
mighty hands of steel

When you’re
standing your ground

And you never
get hit when your back’s to the wall

Gonna fight
to the end, and you’re taking it all

You’ve got the
touch

You’ve got the
power

When all hell’s
breaking loose,

you’ll be riding
the eye of the storm

You’ve got the
heart

You’ve got the
motion

You know when
things get too tough

You’ve got the
touch

You’re fighting
fire with fire

You know you
got the touch

You’re at your
best when the going gets rough

You’ve been
put to the test, but it’s never enough

You got the touch

You got the
power

Yeah!

You got the touch

You got the
power

Touch!

The Year of the Dog has been finally ushered in!  This brand new year calls for a brand new perspective on life.  From now on, I vow to always look at the bright side.  All I can do is hope and pray for the best to come.  Every day is a new day.

Last New Year’s Eve, my Mom and I went to the new South Supermarket in Alabang.  I took pride and joy of being the provider of our modest media noche.  I bought pizza, chicken, GoNuts Donuts (as per my younger brother’s request, though he kept on insisting Hot Loops), some groceries and a gallon of Magnolia’s Dulce De Leche  (Yup, Magnolia is back!).  At home, Mama prepared bihon, one of her specialties.  And to reward myself for a job well done the past year, I bought 5 VCDs (American Pie 2, Sinbad: The Legend of the Seven Seas, Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron, Mouse Hunt and The Tuxedo) from Tower Records, all of which are comedies for some unadulterated fun and Mary J. Blige’s latest effort, The Breakthrough (which, again, is a title not yet carried by Tower Records, but I was lucky enough to find the initial copies delivered to ATC’s Odyssey).  The Breakthrough is currently perched at #1 in the Billboard 200 chart on its 1st week and its catchy sophomore single, Be Without You holds the #12 position in the Hot 100 Singles chart. Among all the tracks in Blige’s album, her rendition of U2’s One is a must-hear.  My brother’s best pal, Joseph, spent the New Year with us while Auntie Ying and Malou visited us in the afternoon.  In the evening, Mama and I heard mass in the Parish of Resurrection in BF Homes and we browsed around Ruins.

Today, I went to Muntinlupa City Hall to get a Community Tax Certificate for 2006.  I ended up in Festival Supermall after that to get a haircut. 

I’ll be back to the regular grind on Wednesday morning.  It is time to burn all these stored fats.  I am slated to handle 5 QUATECH classes, each comprised of 40 students giving me a total headcount of 200.  I have this strong gut feel that a lot of them are my former COMATH2, COMCALC and BUSORGA students in the past terms.  I hope and pray that all my students will be hardworking, honest, diligent, studious, responsible, behaved and respectful.  I am pretty confident that none of them are Freshman!  Thank you Lord!  Also, I pray that God will bless me with the patience, courage and wisdom to go through this coming term. 

Here’s to a great 2006 ahead…

Feelin’ So Good
Jennifer Lopez

[RAP ]

When I opened up my eyes today Felt the sun shining on my face It became so clear to me that everything is going my way I feel like there's no limit to what I can see Got rid of fears that were holding me My endless possibilities Has the whole world opened for me That's why I'm feeling... 

[CHORUS:]I'm feeling so good I knew I would Been taking care of myself Like I should 'Cause not one thing Can bring me down Nothing in this world gonna turn me round... 

Now the day is turning into night And everything is still going right There's no way you can stop me this time Or break this spirit of mine Like the stars above I'm gonna shine Anything I want will be mine Tonight I'm gonna have a good time Call a few friends of mine 'Cause I'm loving life And tonight's for feeling... 

[CHORUS [2X]]

[RAP ]

[CHORUS ]