From JK Rowling herself: Dumbledore is gay

Ah, Dumbledore did have someone special-- Grindenwald. Saw the news off oui's blog and checked the Leaky Cauldron too. Incredible, but with Jo's explanation, makes sense. Interesting event transcript.

Tama nga hinala mo, oui! Haha.

The link to the news:

J. K. Rowling at Carnegie Hall Reveals Dumbledore is Gay; Neville Marries Hannah Abbott, and Much More

My Laptop: RIP. Is it time to switch to a Mac? Let me know.

After three weeks of waiting, I finally got the news. My laptop is dead. The technician said it was a busted circuitboard. Apparently, getting a new board for my old laptop is not practical anymore (It'd cost like a new basic laptop already).

Hay, Murphy's Law. Bakit ngayon pang naghahabol ako ng thesis at kailangan ayusin ang biochem lectures.

Anyway, I've been scouting for a new laptop via the net. I intend to get it elsewhere- HK, Sngapore, or the US. (As long as I finalize the list of people going there and getting back here by november). I've also been seriously considering getting a MacBook recently. A friend just got his after being a long-time PC-user and he's had a great experience so far.

My major concerns about getting one before were compatibility issues but since the new Leopard OS is coming out in a week, all that's been blasted away. (Check out the bootcamp feature using this link: BOOTCAMP-run windows on your mac too. You can run two operating systems at the same time on a partitioned drive with the new OS. Grabe na ang MAC). Hopefully, I can get it discounted too with the help of another friend.

LEOPARD'S BOOTCAMP

MAC-users and fans, tell me what you think. You know what they say- "Once you go MAC, you never go back." Is it time? Hehe.

His Dark Materials Addiction Part 2

New Addiction: His Dark Materials

Since Harry Potter is done (How long 'til the encyclopedia, Jo?!). I've been looking for new easy reads on the fantasy/sci-fi side. I got a copy of a collection of Philip K. Dick short stories (Human Is?) and have gone through some of them. Philip K. Dick is a great writer-- interesting and scary how he conceptualized his futuristic plots and died a year before I was born. (FYI- the films Blade Runner, Minority Report, Paycheck, A Scanner Darkly, and Next are all based on his stories). I wanted something more substantial, at least in terms of scope and length.

I saw the trailer of The Golden Compass recently and was intrigued on what book it was based. Good thing Oui here was a Philip Pullman fangirl and raved about the series. Visited Fully Booked one evening, saw a really nice (and cheap) paperback edition, and bought it. The first two chapters weren't very engaging, but when Lyra, the lead girl, began to travel, I couldn't put the book down! I finished it early one morning and just had to buy the last two books that day. I still don't think it'll top my Harry Potter fanaticism, but it may just be too early to tell.

Hopefully, I finish the series this week.

Funny story too- I was calling different bookstores to ask if they had the next two books. Let me just say that it was a challenge every time I asked for "The SUBTLE Knife". May isang hindi talaga ma-process yung silent "B" at paulit-ulit ako tinanong. Hay. Hindi ko alam kung malulungkot ako o ano.

If you haven't read the Dark Materials series, start now! Great twists await. Plus the film comes out first week of December. If you have read it, wait for me. Then let's talk.

Tanghalang Pilipino: Mulan Revisited

A bunch of my mom's friends wanted to give me a gift for the chemboard results. When they asked what I wanted at the moment, I said that Tanghalang Pilipino seemed to have an interesting line-up of shows this season and that I was interested in seeing them. I've always been a Tanghalang Pilipino fan, ever since seeing their first stage adaptation of Himala, which I still hold as the best original Filipino musical I've seen. (Too bad there's no cast recording... Bring it back and record it, TP!)

I finally learned these friends of ma's were willing to get me a season pass and soon enough, I was off with a friend to see Mulan. Unfortunately, I missed Pilipinas Circa 1907, but knowing I can see the other shows hassle-free is exciting.

Their 21st season is billed as "Powerplays: Tagisan ng Lakas". The following excerpt and the season image are from their official site: www. tanghalangpilipino.com:



"Tanghalang Pilipino’s 21st Theater Season comprises plays that delve into issues of power and power relations. PILIPINAS CIRCA 1907 examines political conflict and family relations through a pair-of star-crossed lovers amidst the period prior to the 1907 national elections, a time when America was more than just in the hear. MULAN is a musical retelling of the Chinese tale where wars are fought not just by men but between Gods, fit for children of all ages. EJ attempts to delve into what makes heroes and the sacrifices they make as it re-imagines the lives of two contemporary martyrs – Edgar Jopson and Evelio Javier. KUDETA is a wickedly funny play about a coup that topples a country’s President and how he manages to thwart his enemies with all the weapons in his disposal."


Not mentioned in the quote is their revival of Mario O'Hara's Insiang which won the 2003 Aliw Awards for Best Play, Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Actress.



Not Quite Disney = Very Good

As there was already a Disney version, I knew Mulan would be something very familiar and accessible. Martin and I went to the theater knowing the prod would be in Filipino, but joking there would be a moment when the Mulan would suddenly break into song with the lyrics, "Look at me. I can never pass for a perfect bride or a perfect daughter..."- ala Lea Salonga or Christina Aguilera. Of course, we would be shocked (and laughing inside) if this ever happened.

For TP's Mulan production, we expected a whimsical adaptation that would, at the very least, be a feast for the eyes. As it had Gino Gonzales as production designer, the show, we knew, would not let us down in this aspect.

Fortunately, there was no Disney "Reflections" moment (but there was another song depicting the exact same scene of Mulan's major decision) and the show, over-all, was a delight to watch. The music was reminiscent of traditional Chinese operas and instrumentals that set the mood of the show. Although some songs were not exactly catchy and were hard to understand or follow at times, the show did not suffer much from these difficulties.

Visually, Mulan was wonderful. It was advertised as a children's play, and had I seen it as a young kid, I would have been amazed at how the characters looked like. Watching the musical was like seeing a live-action anime, with the characters in colorful padded costumes and their hair arranged in uncanny, sometimes almost comedic, ways.

Images from the programme and http://www.tanghalangpilipino.com/:

Most amazing are Marjorie Lorico and Jonathan Tadioan who played Empress Wang Mu and the Jade Emperor, respectively. Donning gigantic body-pieces (ala-Higantes Festival), these actors played the kingdom's monarchs. Literally, the emperor and empress were portrayed as gods-- larger than life, with control over all aspects of their citizens' life. Kudos to these two who brought life to the characters very well despite being in those gigantic costumes.

The movement of the characters added to the charm of the show, as almost every character's line had a corresponding action. More engaging are the martial-arts inspired choreography. The exaggerated movements, as a whole, turned out like a well-planned dance that makes one feel like watching a traditional Chinese opera or a Japanese Noh.

The production was short (perhaps so as not to bore the children watching it) and we would have wanted to see more. Still, it was satisfying and I look forward to seeing the rest of the shows this season. Can't wait for Insiang.

Initiale

Dahil simula na naman nga ito ng pagsusulat sa blog (na ipinangako ko sa sarili ko at sa ilang kaibigang seseryosohin na), heto muli ako. Susubok. Dahil bagong simula, isang pagbabahagi sa mga simula. Ito ang talumpati ko nang tanggapin ang parangal ng No.1 chemistry board passer sa 2007 PRC Panunumpa ng mga Bagong Kimiko.

Initiale.
Talumpati sa Panunumpa ng mga Bagong Kimiko
Ika-7 ng Oktubre 2007, Manila Hotel
DPPeralta

Kagalang-galang na mga pinuno, natatanging mga panauhin, mga kapwa bagong-kimiko, kapamilya, at kaibigan, isang magandang hapon sa inyong lahat.

Ito ang panahon ng paggawa.

Hayaan ninyo akong magbahagi ng kwento mula Pambungad sa Metapisika, akda ni Padre Roque Ferriols ng Kapisanan ni Hesus, hango sa Landas ng Tsinong Pilospong si Tswang Tsu.

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Noong araw, meron daw isang matandang manggugulong. Nagkataon na habang gumagawa siya ng gulong, dumaan ang isang hari. Nagbabasa iyong hari.

Ano ba ang binabasa mo, o hari?

Mga dakilang katha ng marurunong.

Ang mga marurunong na iyan – buhay pa ba sila o patay na?

Patay na.

Kung ganoon, huwag mong tatawaging dakilang katha ang binabasa mo. Kung talagang may dakilang kinatha ang isang tao, matutuklasan lamang ito sa kanyang mismong buhay. Ang mga kasulatan ng isang tao ay labi lamang ng kanyang pamumuhay. Kung baga sa pagkakarpintero, pinagkataman lamang at pinaglagarian iyang aklat na hawak mo. Bagay lamang itapon o igatong.

Nagalit ang hari: Tinutuya mo yata ako. Kung hindi mo mapatutunayan ang iyong kasasabi, pupugutan kita ng ulo.

Diniskursohan naman ngayon ng matanda ang hari:

Tignan mo ako. Pitumpung taon na ako. Gumagawa pa ako ng gulong. Sinabi ko na sa anak ko: Kapag magaan ang kamay mo, anak, lalabas na walang hugis ang gulong. Kapag mabigat naman ang kamay mo, hindi pa yari ang gulong, nawasak na. Pagalawin mo ang kamay sa pagitan ng magaan at mabigat.

Pinakinggan ako ng anak ko at naunawaan niya ang aking salita. Ngunit hindi pa siya makagawa ng gulong. Hanggang ngayon, ako pa ang nagpapakapagod. At bakit? Sapagkat hindi pa nauunawaan ng anak ko, kung papaanong makagagalaw ang kamay sa pagitan ng magaan at mabigat. At papaano nga bang makagagalaw ang tao nang ganito? Hindi ko kayang sabihin. Kaya ko lamang gawin. Sapagkat, sa paggawa ng gulong, kapag nasabi na ang lahat ng masasabi, ang pinakamahalaga ay hindi masasabi. Magagawa lamang. Mauunawaan lamang ng kamay na gumagawa. At kapag nagawa na, lalabas na pinagkataman lamang at pinaglagarian ang lahat ng nasabi.

At ano naman ang nangyari sa anak? Hinuha ni Padre na habang nagsasalita ang hari, narinig ng nagtatagong anak ang usapan at tinignan ang kanyang mga kamay. Sa paggawa ng gulong pinagalaw niya ito, pinabigat at pinagaan. Araw-araw, subok siya nang subok. Minsang tabingi, minsang sira, hanggang unti-unting dumami ang nagawa niyang tunay na gulong. Hindi naglaon ay buo na ang pag-uunawa ng kanyang kamay. Manggugulong na siya.

Kalian ba ako naging manggugulong? Hindi ko alam. Basta’t sikap ako nang sikap, at sa sandaling hindi ko alam, natuto ako.

Pumunta siya sa libingan ng ama at sinabing, “Ama, tama yata ang sinabi mo. Hindi nga masasabi ang pinakamahalaga. Subalit nagkamali ka yata nang sabihin mong pinagkataman lamang ang lahat ng nasabi. Kung hindi ko sinubukang gawin ang masasabi, hindi sana tinubuan ng pag-unawa ang aking kamay.

Di naglaon ay nagkaroon din ang batang manggugulong ng sariling anak. Namuhay sila sa piling ng ibang manggugulong. Sa kasamaang palad, sa ibang ito, nasabi na ang lahat ng msasasabi, sabi pa rin sila nang sabi. Naalala ng manggugulong ang ama. Sa kanyang anak ngayon, naisip niyang pinakamabuting sabihin ang lahat ng masasabi, at pagkatapos nito, ay tumahimik, at gumawa. Bumisita siya sa libingan ng ama at wala na siyang masabi. Napakalalim ng katahimikan. Maliwanag na pala ang lahat.

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Salamin ng pagkatuto natin ang kwento ni Tswang-Tsu. Marahil para sa ating lahat, nagsimula ang lahat sa impluwensya. Sumunod ang mga taon ng pagkamangha, pakikinig, at pag-aaral. At ngayon, sumasapit ang buhay-propesyunal.

Katulad ng ama, kahit papaano ay may humimok sa ating pasukin ang karerang ito. Pilit man o bukal sa loob, may nagpagalaw sa ating maging kimiko at mabuting aalalahanin at pasalamatan natin sila ngayon.

Sa maniwala kayo’t hindi, matagal-tagal na paghihimok at pag-iisip din ang kinailangan ko sa pagiging kimiko. Ginusto kong maging isang doctor o Molecular Biologist noon. Naaalala ko pa ang aplikasyon ko pagpasok sa Ateneo at ang paglista ng mga kursong nais ko. Una- BS Biology. Ikalawa- BS Psychology. Sumunod- Applied Math, at huli sa lahat, isang kursong Management na may halong kimika. Matapos ang matinding pag-iisip, pagdarasal, at pagkonsulta sa kaibigan, kapamilya, at sa minamahal naming guro sa kimika sa mataas na paaralan noong si Dr. Assunta Cuyegkeng, napagdesisyunan kong lumipat sa kimika dahil ito raw ang mabuting huhubog sa akin sa linyang nais kong pasukin. Kung hindi rin siguro dahil sa mabuti kong karanasan sa kimika sa mataas na paaralan, hindi marahil ako nahimok at wala marahil ako rito ngayon. Hindi ko unang pinili ang linyang ito, subalit kinupkop ako nito, pinalago at itinangi. Nagsimula ang lahat sa isang nagbigay-liwanag sa propesyong ito para sa akin.

Sumunod ang mga taon ng pakikinig at pag-aaral. Naaalala natin ang mga propesor na sabi nang sabi, at tila walang tigil ang pagsasabi. Kahit sila ay pinasasalamatan natin ngayon. Namangha tayo sa mga kayang gawin sa mundo ng kimika, nagulantang sa mga tanong ng mga terror, at nag-alinlangan sa pagsubok gumawa sa laboratoryo. Hindi rin naglaon, natapos ang mga taon ng pagkamangha at pakikinig. At heto— naririto tayo ngayon matapos maipasa ang ilang pagsusulit. Matatawag na raw tayong propesyunal.

Paano nga ba natin masasabi ngayong propesyunal tayo? May isang tiyak na panahon, minuto, o segundo ba? Hindi yata natin masasagot ang katanungan katulad ng batang manggugulong. Kung tama ang wika ni Tswang Tsu, malayu-layo pa ang tatakbuhin natin. Marami-rami pang sirang gulong na gagawin.

At ano nga ba ang kahulugan ng “propesyunal” sa atin? Tuwing nababanggit ang salitang “propesyunal,” iilang bagay ang mabilis na sumasagi sa ating isip. Nariyan ang kimikong taga-analisa sa laboratoryo- papasok araw-araw, susukat rito, magpapagana ng instrumentong ito’t iyan. Magbabasa at magpapaliwanag ng ilang resulta, at sa pagtatapos ng araw ay uuwi sa paghihintay ng muling pag-analisa sa susunod na araw. Hindi sana nalilimita rito ang pagtingin natin sa “propesyunal.”

Ang pagiging propesyunal ay hindi ang pagkamatay ng pagkamangha, o ang simula ng isang nakababagot na buhay-trabaho. Para sa akin, landas ng tunay na propesyunal na ipagpatuloy ang hiwaga ng kanyang karera at bigyang buhay at halaga ito sa lahat ng nasa labas ng kanyang propesyon.

Ang propesyunal ay siyang may mabuting maidudulot— hindi pagkabagot, kundi tunay na liwanag sa pagsisilbi sa nakararami. Ika ni Tswang Tsu, “Ang dakilang katha ng isang tao ay matutuklasan sa kanyang mismong buhay.” Hindi ang nalaman natin mula sa mga libro ang mahalaga. Hindi ang ID o papeles na matatanggap natin maya-maya ang mahalaga. Hindi ang anumang magiging titulo natin. Hindi ang papuri, parangal o sweldong sasapit. Pinagkataman ito. Tayo at ang magagawa natin ngayon ang may halaga.

Hayaan ninyo akong magtapos sa akda ng isa sa mga paborito kong manunula, si Rainer Maria Rilke. Wika ni Rilke sa Aleman sa kanyang tulang Initiale,

Aus unendlichen Sehnsüchten steigen

endliche Taten wie schwache Fontänen,
die sich zeitig und zitternd neigen.
Aber, die sich uns sonst verschweigen,
unsere fröhlichen kräfte—zeigen
sich in diesen tanzenden Tränen.


Sa mahusay na salin ni Douglas Johnson,

Initial.

Out of infinite longings rise
Finite deeds like weak fountains
That arc, timely and trembling.
Yet that which is otherwise silent,
Our joyous strengths—become

Apparent in these dancing tears.

Ngayon ay bagong simula, at alam nating walang humpay ang ating mga nais pang maabot. Haharap pa tayo sa maraming sakit at hindi natin magagawa ang lahat, subalit may magagawa tayo. Sa pagtubo natin bilang propesyunal, nawa’y maging tunay na liwanag tayo para sa iba.

Ito ang panahon ng paggawa.