It's a personal blog after all

Hello my dear readers (hehe). I was giving myself a head ache trying to think of a topic for a new post when I realized i don't need one. Lol. It's a personal blog after all -

My Past Life

So, I'm still in Batangas and do not have a scanner here nor the photos from my past life that I would love to share with you. Yes, my past life - the more exciting one - or rather, the more blog worthy one?

I had the life of a celebrity (lol, not really), or a super hero (is there a difference?) - finishing schoolwork then making a dash and a costume change in a phone booth (or a taxi cab) to make it to the next concert. Voila!
 

While still with the UPCC, I sang "Sana Ngayong Pasko" solo for Mel and Jay's Christmas Special (long before it became Mel and Joey!), I shared the stage with the late Fernando Poe, Jr. when he received his Lifetime Achievement Award at the FAMAS (I have a newspaper clipping to prove it too), shared a song with premier Classical mezzo-soprano Janet Sabas-Aracama and the uber Ms. Nanette Inventor on a concert finale number, I've recorded back-up tracks for a couple of local artists plus one international Pinoy broadway artist, and have sung in numerous company events and high profile weddings. And I was still in the University then!

Oh, and I haven't mentioned the 3 International tours I joined...

Woof Winners: Writers Offering Our Finest Contest for October 16

It was a four way tie for the winners of this week's WOOF contest and I am honored to be one of them. It is my first time to participate and I appreciate the warm welcome. Thank you WOOF and thanks to those who voted for me!


WOOF Contest – Top Picks


Non-Fiction
Reyjr – “Trauma in Ondoy's Wake”
- A recounting of our story during the devastation of typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana).

Poetry
Zorlone – “Curious Encounters” 
- This poem was made in response to the theme "Curiosity Killed the Cat" at the artist's challenge at the inferno.

Dragon Blogger – “Filthy Thoughts” 
- Poem about having unsavory thoughts.

Fiction / Flash Fiction
Zorlone – “Water on the Glass Window” 
- Elmot took the train home one rainy evening and found out what had prevented him to move on.


Brought to you by PlotDog Press with
the Serial Suspense Screenplay "Intervention"

Singapore Night Safari Adventure

I'm a Singapore Tourist Lah Series

Our first night in Singapore was spent walking around in the jungle, dark, tired and sweaty, but all those creatures at the Singapore Night Safari kept us interested and excited - we actually stayed until they needed to close. Lol!

Preparing for a Night Safari

We arrived at the Changi Airport in Singapore late in the morning on a Saturday. Our plan was set - have lunch, go home to drop off our bags, go to Orchard Road to change some money, visit the Raffles Hotel for some original Singapore Sling, then off to the Singapore Night Safari!

Homework: English to Batangueño translations

Translating from English to Tagalog to Batangueno. Wow. I'm such an expert. Not! Why not give it a go yourself?

Kids, do your own Homework

Humor me, I say.

Laiya Beach, Batangas

Several weeks ago, I found a comment on my CBox from Jasmin, a student from Davao, and she was asking if I could translate some English sentences into Batangueno for her. She obviously did not read my profile page. Heh heh heh.

Friends, I am not Batangueno (although at this rate, I may very well become one lol). No offense to my kabareks - I think Batanguenos are a great people. Very strong and solid, a brave and assertive bunch. I love kapeng Barako, but I'm still looking for a genuine local place around here where I can buy some - recommend a place to me!

In the interest of nationalism, I prefer to refer to Batangueños as "Filipinos in Batangas" and say "Batangueño" to mean the dialect they speak around here. And for the record, I have, not once, heard anyone here say "Ala-eh!"

Turning Bloggers into Published Writers

I am pleased to share with you that the collection of Inspirational Thoughts and Stories of Bloggers from All Over the World has now been published and is available online. I have one story as part of this collection - so now I can add "published writer" to my Profile page. woot!

The lady behind this “creative work of love” as she puts it, is JenaIsle, a professor from Pampanga, Philippines. In an interview with American writer Holly Jahangiri, Jena speaks of her "frustrations of unpublished work" and then the "joy of being published" and wanting to share this experience with other bloggers and writers.

And now this here is the result - an inspirational book born of an inspirational story.

If you would like to own a copy of this book, you can place your orders here.

ps I can't wait to get my own! 

Postmortem Review for Typhoon Ondoy Flood Rescue and Relief Operations

It's been almost a week since I posted our traumatic Typhoon Ondoy experience, and was at a loss about how to move forward with my blog. Now I know how - this will be my last Typhoon Ondoy post.

When I began writing down my recounting of the events that transpired during Typhoon Ondoy's devastation, one of the Philippines' worst tropical storms, I had only one thing on my mind - I had to release this fear and frustration over everything that I experienced. I did not expect my posts about Typhoon Ondoy to be one of the most read articles on this blog. To everyone who visited, Thank you, and I do hope the compilation of Typhoon Ondoy stories here did help you also to begin your healing.

I have one more thing in mind though. After every big operation or project, an analysis or review is done at the end to assess where improvements can be made. We call this a postmortem review or an after action review (AAR).  I am sure the government will have one about Typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng. Here are some of my contributions...

The RCS for Typhoon Ondoy victims in GK Village

For all Filipinos who have opened their homes and wallets to help our kababayans pick up and start again after the devastation of Ondoy, THANK YOU. Let the rebuilding continue.

For the benefit of Typhoon Ondoy victims in the Gawad Kalinga Village in Sitio Pajo, Brgy. Baesa in Quezon City, ALL85 presents Maestro Ryan Cayabyab, together with the Ryan Cayabyab Singers (RCS) in "ALL85 GOES GK!", Nationbuilders 25 years after.

The concert, originally scheduled on Oct 3, was moved to Oct 17 because of the devastation of back to back typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng. The show must go on - and it does on Saturday, October 17, 8pm at the Music Museum, Greenhills...

Trauma in Ondoy's wake

The sunburn on my nose and forehead has begun to peel. No, I did not go to the beach. Who would go in this weather?

 

Saturday Surprise: Flash Flood

We had so many things planned for that weekend: maybe a barbecue lunch, dinner out to a fancy resto, a movie, some errands perhaps, or a relaxing massage - but our weekend activities was decided for us instead by Ondoy.

I wanted to sleep-in that Saturday morning (I drove home from Batangas the night before) but was woken up early by my worried girlfriend Liz: her sister Belle lives in Pasig too, and the flood in their area is rising fast. My dad and I had a quick coffee and tried to make our way to Belle's house. One of my Uncles volunteered to drive my Lolo's Tamaraw FX for us - we needed a high enough vehicle. The traffic was horrible. When we finally reached Ortigas Extension via East Bank Road, the FX could no longer move forward because there was already about a meter deep water. Even on foot, the water was already too deep to traverse. We saw one vehicle being pushed across - it was the only one that tried.

Share your Ondoy Story to help the Nation Heal

The victims of the ravaging flood brought about by typhoon Ondoy are in dire need of the basic necessities: food, clothes, shelter. Please send your donations to these addresses.

I am not a psychologist, but I do know that talking about your traumatic experiences helps you cope with the emotions, knowing that your experiences are shared my many others gives you a sense of assurance that things will get better.

Where were you when...

I encourage you to talk about your story, here, on your blogs or with friends and family: share how you lost and how you survived, share your frustrations, vent your anger, release it and learn from it, let's give suggestions to each other about what to do next time or how to build safety in our lives...

Dealing with a vehicle submerged in flood water

We are all still reeling from the damage caused by typhoon Ondoy - we have lost lives, houses, livelihoods and properties. Now that recovery has begun, we are looking forward to getting our lives back to normal. My next few posts hopefully bring some hope back - some reassurance that things will be better soon.

What to do when your car is submerged in a flood?

Images of cars and other vehicles floating in flood water or stacked over each other reminds me of the horror that was Ondoy. I was myself praying the water would stop rising on that rainy Saturday night - the water level reached up to our garage where our cars were, but thankfully it stopped right at my car's rear tires.

But a lot of our kababayans are not as lucky. Right now their cars and other vehicles are dead, filled with mud and gunk. But there's hope still. I suggest you show this post to someone you know whose vehicle / car was submerged in the flood water of Ondoy. It just might save him/her his vehicle...

Launching my own domain: Reyjr.com

The trumpets sound!

Ladies and Gentlemen, I respectfully introduce you to my blog:  

Reyjr.com | Born on a Syzygy

 

Born out of friendships across the globe,

Born out of passion for blogging. Unfold

a brand new chapter online, behold.

Born on a Syzygy - let life be told.

Invite you to stay, ti's my humble abode

in this blogosphere. Not to be bashful - be bold

and ask you to read all the stories retold.

Born on a Syzygy - Reyjr dot com... sold!

-reyjr

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Vice Presidential candidate Mar Roxas' (Royal) Family Tree

He's a former President's grandson, but Vice Presidential candidate Mar Roxas is also an Araneta.

Mar Roxas was born Manuel A. Roxas II, a namesake of his grandfather, former President Manuel Roxas. We all know this obvious connection because of the name, but I think the majority of us do not know that Mar Roxas is an Araneta.

The Akafellas needs a Tenor - it could be YOU!

I am excited to share with you that the Philippines' premier pop-capella singing group, the Akafellas, is looking for a new dude to complete their awesome octet.