Balancing a Century

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The MOST POWERFUL WORDS... Feb. 25th, 2009 @ 08:35 pm
...I have ever read/heard in my life so far. 

"THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RELIGION AND KABBALAH

Religion assumes that the creator changes His attitude towards the person depending on the person's actions. The science of Kabbalah however states that the Upper Force is invariable, and the actions of a person can in no way affect it. 

Instead, the person's actions can change himself.... As the person changes, he corrects himself relative to the invariable and absolute Creator. 

This attitude towards himself and towards the Creator constitutes the difference betwen Kabbalah and religion. Even though religion calls for certain personal changes, religion is based on pleading with the Creator. In this world, RELIGIONS are similar to the most ancient beliefs, which extensively practice bribing the Upper Forces of nature." -Rav Michael Laitman, PhD


I have registered for a free online course on authentic Kabbalah that will start on April 12, 2009. The classes are webcasted live twice a week M/Th 8am Philippine time, but are also recorded so you can "attend" class at a more convenient time. 

From when I can remember praying when I was around 7 years old until the past few weeks that I have been moving towards The Light, I have built and held on to a few convictions that have become my basis for what is TRUE and REAL. 

1. God is absolute
2. The truth is absolute. It will be true whether you believe in it or not. Just like gravity, it is always there whether you believe in it or not. No matter what Bugs Bunny says.
3. God loves me no matter what. 
4. Our concept of reality is limited to what we can sense collectively as humans. 
5. Even though we all agree on what reality is, it doesn't mean that we are all correct. 

As I listened and read through the basic concepts of the Kabbalah, my convictions are upheld. As I contemplate more on the lessons, life's mysteries are unfolded. Visit www.arionline.info and check it out for yourself. If it resonates with you then let us learn the Kabbalah together starting April 12, 2009. The great thing about it is that it is NOT a religion. They have the audacity to call it science. 

This brings me to another idea that has been playing in mind. That, if God ever spoke in a language it will be Mathematics. Nature as explained by Science is expressed in math. And, Nature IS God. So, The Creator has to be the ultimate Mathematician. 


Categorizing Me Feb. 8th, 2009 @ 11:58 pm
Ari's Dewey Decimal Section:
189 Medieval western philosophy
Ari = 189 = 189 = 189

Class:
100 Philosophy & Psychology

Contains:
Books on metaphysics, logic, ethics and philosophy.

What it says about you:
You're a careful thinker, but your life can be complicated and hard for others to understand at times. You try to explain things and strive to express yourself.
Find your Dewey Decimal Section at Spacefem.com
Other entries
» My "Rainbow" is a Rainbow! How predictable.
Your rainbow is slightly shaded white.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

What is says about you: You are a contemplative person. You appreciate quiet moments. People depend on you to make them feel secure.

Find the colors of your rainbow at spacefem.com.

Feb. 8th, 2009 @ 10:59 pm
» Honesty, Authenticity, Candor and Gay Relationships
I can't keep secrets.  I have the highest regard and greatest respect for the truth.  And, it manifests in my life day in and day out. My close friends know that. My closest friends know it with all the painful realities, sometimes embarrassing and oftentimes cathartic consequences. 

One of my lifelong friends stopped talking to me for 5 years before she got over my "betrayal of trust." I'm glad we're talking again now, but 5 critical years out of touch is still 5 years. Those were trying times when both of us had too many life changes to count and though people essentially remain the same, circumstances change. And, our friendship just isn't the same anymore.

This is a blog of 3 shades of "the truth" in 3 relatively "long-term" gay relationships. 

Honesty. There's this guy who I see at a bar. A long time friend and contemporary. We're close enough to invite each other to his table whoever got there first. But, this time he was at the bar nursing his drink. He was crusing, meaning he was trying to hook up with the other guys in the bar. So, we both nod to acknowledge each other's presence and continue searching for prey. We've gone through this ritual several times in the span of our 2 decades long friendship. Whether or not he was in a relationship at any of those episodes, I wouldn't really know or care enough to ask. 

At this particular time, days later, he announced to the world that he was feeling a bit down. So I suggested we go to that same bar to brighten up his spirits. Well, to cut the story short, he didn't appreciate my comment. Apparently, at the time of the comment, he was in a long standing relationship.

If you don't know yet, online commentary is atonal. It's hard to know if a statement was given as a serious recommendation or as a jest meant to put some humor into a rather bleak context. If it were just me and him talking, he'd probably just reply, "hahaha ano ka ba? I have a boyfriend and I'm not allowed to go to those places." But since our conversation was broadcasted to everyone including his boyfriend... he sent me a private message to admonish my runaway mouth. I can understand that the love of his life might not be too trusting and figure out he'd been doing this he's not supposed to. Whether or not, it actually happened. So, well, I'm sorry for my apparently-not-so-innocent comment.

Authenticity. Which brings me to another good, good friend who has a nasty vice. [Come to think of it, this story applies to a good number of other people I'd be wise not to mention.] So this friend's lover has forbidden my friend to engage in said vice at least for the time they are together. And, I've seen this happen too many times with too many relationsihps even between straight partners. For example, the other guy drinks from my bottle of beer, or that he asks me to light a cigarette in complete defiance of the love of his life. And, they fight and bicker and the night is sorta ruined for everyone else. It's like, "I only want what's best for you, so change for the better or else I won't love you anymore." You're not his parent. So, well, maybe I'm sorry for lighting your lover's cigarette. 

Candor. Which brings me to another contemporary who I've known since we were too young to know better. And, again, this has happened to me soooo many times before in varying permutations. You see, I'm always looking for a not-so-nice guy to date and get to know better. Once in a while, friends come up to me and wonder why I'm still single. Sometimes, these friends in an act of pity or compassion would try to hook me up with other guys who they think would be a match for my esoteric personality. Occasionally, it happens that the people they want to hook me up with is not only someone I already know, they are also happily committed with someone else. 

Heaven forbid that their lovers would find out that the love of their life is attractive or interesting enough to be singled out by some stranger who thinks that I'd be a good match for them. Whether or not these strangers know that they are no longer single and available, it's a capital offense. It's like, "I don't want you anymore because some guy thinks you're cute and should date his friend." It's lame. I'm sorry that I'm single, and that you might think that your partner of several years could theoretically run away with me. To where??

At my age, I've realized that people will do whatever they want, with or without love. People can say and think what they want, but in the end it's still and will always be a matter of trust. People do not, or cannot "accept or respect the truth" because they need to put faith in people, they need to believe and hold on to the man-made fantasy called TRUST. 

I think people should only love those who they can accept in good and bad times. Whether they've grown fatter or thinner or sexier. Whether they've made mistakes without you knowing it and even during those times that you've accidently figured them out. I believe that love should be easy. I believe that love should have no choice, it's either you love them or you love them. Just like the theoretical love of a mother to her child.  I believe that love should not have to force anyone to change, but that love will change one for the better at the right time in complete freedom and free will. 

I know that love should be unconditional. No exceptions, no expectations and definitely no demands. I'm not really a good authority when it comes to relationships given my track record. 

But, by GOD, I know how to love. 


...and maybe that is exactly why I'm still single.


Jan. 24th, 2009 @ 04:28 am
» Charice Obama Confirmed
Yan kasi hindi nanonood ng Wowoweee... Okay lang. Dun pa kasi officially unang in-announce sa buong mundo na kasama sa Charice natin sa pre-inauguration ball ni president-elect Barack Obama sa January 18, 2008. Yun lang naman.


Jan. 14th, 2009 @ 07:40 am
» How To Clean Japanese Style:The 5S
It's been a loooooooooooong time since I learned anything new... AND useful. Today I got something off someone's posting. The  5S.

1. Sort: Keep only what you use. Store or discard the rest.
2. Set: Place the stuff that you use WHERE you use it. 
3. Sweep: Clean it up
4. Standardize: Formalize whatever you do in an orderly and consistent manner.
5. Sustain: Continue to assess procedures so that the above eSses are maintained.
6. Saftey: They put it in after the fact for additional focus. Purists don't like it. I don't like purists.

Make sense? It was made for factories, you could actually use it anywhere like in your bedroom. 


Jan. 4th, 2009 @ 02:28 am
» Sino ba si Oprah?
Yeah, yeah, yeah... it's another Charice follow-up. Eh kasi sino nga ba naman itong si Aling Oprahng 'to? Ba't ba siya sikat? At bakit napaka-importante niyang tao sa balat ng lupa? AT! Anong relevance niya sa career ng Charice na 'to?

Ang alam ko lang kasi may talk show siya na sikat. Meron siyang chumenelyn na book club at some self-tilted sorta magazine. That for some reason, she's one of the richest people in the world and "quite" influential. So BAKIT NGA BA? So punta 'kong Wikipedia. At ako ay namangha at napatunayan sa sarili na higante ang mapapala ng karir nitong ating si Charmaine Clarice Pempengco. Para siyang isang natatanging shyell na sa kahabaan ng aplaya sa isang mahabang isla tulad ng Boracay na iyong napulot na waring isang treyshure. 

MONEY
* Forbes in 2007 ranked her as the richest African American of the 20th century, and
* Within 2006-2007, sources say she was once the world's only black billionaire.

(pero walang masyadong kinalaman yan... pampagana lang)

POWER & INFLUENCE
* At #19 in the 2001 list of Global Influentials, CNN & Time.com states, she is "arguably the world's most powerful woman"
* Time put her in the Time 100 as the ONLY person making the list a record-breaking SIX (6)  times. She made it in 2004 to 2008 plus the Time 100 of the 20th century. And, if you're wondering who the next ones are in the list, there were only 4 other people who only made it FOUR (4) times. 
* VH1 declared her as "The Greatest Pop Culture Icon Of All Time" winning over Superman and Elvis Presley.
* In 2005, 2007 and 2008, Forbes named her "The World's Most Powerful Celebrity"

and, this is my favorite

* In 2005, Discovery Channel produced a 4-part TV series called "The Greatest American," placed her at #9 and dubbing her as "The Queen of Media." She was the only female in the top ten list.


With all that, I totally can't imagine the extent and enormity of an Oprah-backed career. I don't think she's ever launched a star like this before. Has she? I know she launches unknown books into the bestseller lists. Can she launch an artist into the Billboard's top charts??? We'll just have to wait and see.


Jan. 4th, 2009 @ 12:01 am
» Pinoy Taste in Entertainment
As judged by Buboy Garovillo, Kuh Ledesma, Joey Reyes, Ai-Ai De Las Alas, Deo Endrinal, Annabelle Regalado, Louie Ocampo (Chairman) and ABS-CBN texters. I'm not sure what their criteria for judging is, but this guy was hailed as the "Brightest Star" in this singing contest slash talent show. Vis-à-vis Charice.

...

Dec. 30th, 2008 @ 09:40 pm
» 2008: Year Ender

Santi blogged this and I was emotionally affected by the Questions. Here are my answers.

1. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?
- Manglimos. Ay nagawa ko na pala yun. Manglimos para sa ibang tao. Yan.
- Maghubo sa publiko. Teka, nagawa ko na din yun. Front page sa lahat ng major Sunday newspapers!? O siya.
- Umarte. Theatre ka dati diba? Sa Pelikula! Showing sa Jan 21-27, 2009. Galeria! Sure na daw. Siya nga??
- Mamuno sa isang palaro. Palagi ka naman nag-papa-game-night dati diba? Adventure race yun noh... 
- Maghost. Na naman? Boracay Open 2008. Natalo sila Derek.
- Mag-mountain bike adventure trip. Sa isang falls sa Caticlan.
- Mag-Davao. O nga first time nga yun.
- Mag-Hong Kong. Ng Libre! Thanks ulit Nins. And, Law... words will not express.
- Mag-organize ng isang linggong adventure trip. Super Ferry nang 40hrs. Parang island cruise lang, may 4-hr side trip to Iloilo pa. At magsuot ng butterfly wings sa tuktok ng napakahirap na bundok.  AT mag-white water river rafting!!!
- Umiyak sa harap ng madaming tao. Habang nakikinig sila at nakatapat ang "spotlight" sa 'kin.

* Grabe, ang dami palang nangyari sa taong ito.

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
- I make short-, mid-, and long-term goals kasi. So this year, I made it a point to have an actionable resolution regarding my leaving for the US. Done. Also, I decided to try E just once this year with just one "right" person to share the experience and as witness. But that didn't happen.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? 
Venice Casiño-Yturralde
Hazel-Marie Sarmiento-Atienza

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Tita Linda Arceo-Villaflor

5. What countries did you visit?
China

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
My very own independent life.

7. What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
November 16, 2008. The Cagbalete Kiss. May ilang ganitong moments for 2008. Eh kaso ito yung may mga paparazzi so etched siya physically sa youtube and not just "upon my memory." Moments of pure honesty when you are truly yourself, open in all your weakness and one with the Universe.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cPXhijo0rU

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I painted 3 panels for Venice for their new Xevera home. 2nd would be my slide show for Nins' 60th birthday extravaganza.


9. What was your biggest failure? 
Jennifer Legaspi.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? 
Once, my usual tonsilopharingitis. Next time I won't be using Erythromicin anymore. 

11. What was the best thing you bought?
My very first NON-pirated game. SPORE.

12. Is there anyone who made you extremely happy this year?
First and foremost, my guys4mountains family. It wouldn't be right if I didn't mention those who cared enough to spend time with me: Santi, Melvin, Omar. And, absolutely, each year since he allowed me into his life as a friend 20 years ago, Jeffry Salonga. Yes, EXTREMELY.

13. Is there anyone who made your year a not-so-happy year?
This really ugly creature who stole my moment years ago. [The only person in my entire life who has ever done it.] I saw him at this event and it just ruined that night for me. It even shook my hand and I was too aghast and paralyzed in my surprise to do anything else about it.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Technically, I had no money of my own. But, the cash and credit that my friends and family have allowed me to use were spent mostly on travel expenses, food and alcohol. 

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Charice produced by Foster. Stil am! Watch out 2009. REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REAAAALLY excited. 

16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
"Touch Me In The Morning" by Diana Ross. Hey! Wasn't it me who said that nothing good's gonna last forevah.... 

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

i. happier or sadder? 
I've grown happier each year and each moment since 1988, except maybe for 2001 when I had a major emotional slump. 

ii. thinner or fatter? 
I was at my fattest in the most important photoshoot of my life!!! 172 lbs. Thank you Dominique James for all the hide-the-tummy shoots. 

iii. richer or poorer? 
Financially, I'm at my poorest. But, with everything that I've been able to do this year, I don't feel it... as much. 


18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
A little (more) productive work. Just a little. 

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Less sleep. Unlike most people I don't like sleeping. I enjoy it but I'd rather be awake. As the song goes, I don't wanna miss a thing. 

20. How will you be spending Christmas and New Year?
Christmas was sullen. Hopefully, New Year will be better.

22. Did you fall in love in 2008?
Ahhh L'Amour...

23. How many one-night stands?
Does it have to be night? And, does it have to be just one? And! Do we actually have to stand?? hahahahaha

24. What was your favorite TV program? 
Dexter. Hands down. 
Grey's Anatomy. Coming in a quick second.
Chef at home. Worth a mention.
Heroes tanked this season. Cheesy comicky flat!!!

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I now hate the KMU. I used to just dislike them and try to avoid any conversation regarding politics in general. But, this year I was exposed directly to their ploys disrupting lives of the uninvolved and the "innocent", it's plainly hateful. 

26. What was the best book you read? 
The ONLY book I got to read this year was "And Thus Was Adonis Murdered" by Sarah Caudwell. A very witty comedy of errors. So medyo nakakahiya kasi isa na nga lang hindi ko pa natapos. Although I do like the book. But, early on, I willfully haven't been picking up a book to read this year. When travelling, I didn't want to be antisocial. At home, I'd rather play with my computer. 

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Site: last.fm
Application: orbit downloader
Artist: Corinne Bailey Rae

28. What did you want and did you get it?
I always want for more laughter, more tears and more love. Yes, on all counts.

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Mama Mia!

31. What did you do on your birthday?
Nagpa-Crispy Pata lang sa Satellite.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
More time with my only Best Friend. IMMEASURABLY.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Studied-casual. Athletic-cross-trainer.

34. What kept you sane?
Hope, no, not the cigarette!
Kongregate.com

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Michael C. Hall

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Charter Change. We need it. Please.

37. Who did you miss?
My sisters in th east coast. Tatay ko sa Bulacan. Nanay ko sa Texas. Lola ko sa Himlayan. Chuck Hipol.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
Another prisoner of freedom, wanderer and foodie: Omar Palero. 

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you (re-) learned in 2008:
Something you really want to achieve is something you will take risks for, otherwise you really don't want it in the first place. Rehash lang naman ng age-old saying na: Kung gusto maraming paraan, kung ayaw maraming dahilan. Ika nga ni David Foster, "The path to success is a straight line." Kaya't wag ka nang paligoy-ligoy pa.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:

I've got to break away
So take my hand now
cause I want to live...
Careless and free 
I want to run through the jungle
The wind in my hair and the sand at my feet
-from Animal Song by Savage Garden


Dec. 27th, 2008 @ 02:10 am
» on the map
This is it. 

I can't even begin to express how... anxiously excited I am to be thrilled in 2009. I'm going to state it here: <strong> Charice is going to be big. </strong>Grammy's big. A nomination at the very least. Inauguration or not. She's made. Billboard Charts made. Platinum sales huge. 

Her handlers are VERY determined people. And, I mean <strong>VERY</strong>. They are THE influential movers of the industry. Combined with her natural talents, she'll be the biggest star we've ever produced.

Just watch.




Dec. 23rd, 2008 @ 06:50 am

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