ILLUSION

               After being overwhelmed by two big events, the Visit of Pope Francis and the Sinulog 2015 I cannot help to thank God for the people who invented the internet - through them I can easily have myself "updated" with the whereabouts of the mentioned events. We cannot deny that the internet is good. Yet inasmuch as it is good, more often than not if we are not careful, we fall into the world of illusion and the real is taken for granted.
              Excuse me to cite this issue.
              But folks, I do not condemn the internet for such tendency; the problem lies mostly on the user. Thus, this blog is addressed to all who use the net.
 What good is it to have a million friends in the Facebook if in reality you have no one.
What good is it to have a million followers in the Twitter if in reality you have no one.
Do not take reality for granted.
Bring it with you when you enter the portals of the virtual world.
               The last line of my not-so-good "balak" means that the real world offers us interpersonal tips. Utilize them in making the virtual world more likely real. After all, you know which are illusions and which are not.
God bless you.

               Tsadang! Excuse me.
              

POPE FRANCIS: THE CYNICAL

Excuse me. Thank you.

Perhaps, I can describe the effect of Pope Francis to all the people in the world with these words, "excuse me." The words connote many meanings depending on how it is uttered, isn't it? By these words we can conclude that Pope Francis is a cynic - a person who questions the conventional wisdom of the world.

Pope Francis has not yet reached two years in shepherding the Roman Catholic Church yet his papacy cannot but challenge us, not only those who belong to the Catholic fold, but every human being to be instruments of mercy and compassion in today's world which experience the lack of them. He calls us to a deeper questioning of our present ways saying, "is that human beings ought to do?"

A caution: I don't intend that we should become cynical also, excuse me. Like Pope Francis I challenge you to look at the wisdom behind the things in this world created by my God and your God.

But isn't it unnerving to shout," Pope Francis: the Cynical," side by side with ,"Welcome Pope Francis to the Philippines?" Well, I leave it to your venerable hands.

Excuse me.

Mabuhay!

CHORAL DIRECTION

       
  Hey! Kumusta? Once again let me say another greeting of excuse me in order to welcome you to this another blog post of mine. In my previous blogs, if you happen to read, I hope so, the topics do not say about myself. In this blog let me tell you about myself; a talent of mine which helps me to learn the art of good attitude, in which also goodwill is my hope for success.

I love music. This passion of mine is a God-given talent. I love also to sing. All these talents in music I lay down in the arena of choral direction. But blimey, it is not music I encounter, rather it is life. Directing choral groups, young and old alike, becomes challenging because I am confronted with the challenges of aligning the different attitudes of the members and mine inasmuch as I see to it that harmony will come out in the choral singing. I discover that choral direction is not so much about music, it is 'bout life.

So fellow choral directors, I exhort you to be conscious not only of the musicality of the group but rather be attentive to the lives entrusted to you. And I would like to say, " do everything so that the best in them will surface."

I wish that you will be the melody that brings all voices into one great melody. The wonder indeed in choral direction.

GOOD WILL

Excuse me everyone. Happy New Year.

Amidst the many noise of the celebration here I am again to say excuse me. As you and I continue to move forward we always have in mind that new year reminds us to BEGIN. In my previous blog I talked about attitude quite passionately. In this blog I would like to offer an indicator of good attitude. It is no other than good will or in Cebuano terms "maayong kabubut-on."

Beginnings offer us many things; both good and bad. As we encounter different people we make friends and enemies. But no matter what definitions we attribute to people we act together with, no better medicine which can heal a scarred relationship and strengthened a growing friendship than that of good will.

Good will is the letting go of the illusion of control and believing in everybody's contribution in communal building.

This new year, good will to everyone.I believe in you. You can do it.

Excuse me.