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It will now be a regret in my life, of not having seen the Pope. I had the chance to be in MOA, but I had prioritized other responsibilities.  So during the whole time, I'm one of probably million others that stayed at home and watched intently of the Masses and Encounters of Pope Francis. While I can only imagine what might be different if I actually saw the Pope, i still feel incredibly blessed just seeing him through the television walk our lands. The effect his visit resonates is empowering. I was and still am impressed beyond belief. I feel like I can do whatever I can. I feel like contributing. I want to contribute. I want to help. I want to make this country a better place. I've selected several passages from Pope Francis's talks and speeches from the events, which stood out to me personally. Pope Francis at Malacanang "It bids us break the bonds of injustice and oppression which give rise to  glaring, and indeed scandalous, social inequalities. Re...

The San Antonio Spurs recently visited the White House. Gregg Popovich mentioned this gem: "What we do is basketball, and when you look at life and the time we have here, it's not all that important compared to other things. It helps them understand that the world's a big place, so we always try to make sure they're thinking beyond basketball, so it's been fun in that respect" It's very easy to be enamored with our work and what we do, that it soon becomes disconcerting. This reminds us that work is not as important as some other things. Things like family, friends and relationships. The world really is a big place. 

It's an interesting message from Edward Readicker-Henderson.  It's a Tedx Talk from Maui titled Kill your Bucketlist. To provide a bit of context. Edward, as we are told, has been told he has only a year to live, fifteen years ago. And he's been told this several more times throughout that period. He travels as sort of a rebellion against death. And he gives quite an insight: "I can tell you, I've never been over the edge but I've been right up to it a number of times. And the view from there, you don't care that you ran with the bulls, or swam with sharks. You care that you have never been too much of a coward to say "I love you" when it needed to be said. You care that you said "thank you" way more often than you said "please."   Your bucket list is a please. "Dear world, please give me these things. I promise i'm going to make them matter." But if you ignore the bucket list, If you just live to be alive...

I was walking out of the village today. I noticed. It's amazing that the sky is this clear.

It's the third of Richard Linklater's "Before" trilogy. There's still a signifying thread with the first two. I figured it out. It's long walks and conversations. I vaguely remember the first two. Maybe one of these days i'll arrange to watch the first two again. Just to get an overall sense of this movie. But if this movie was separate, it would seem like a family movie. Or just the daily comings and goings of parents; a brief insight of a married couple in the middle of their lives. As always, the conversation between partners and other couples are insightful. I think that's the biggest lure in all the three movies. You actually feel like you're learning something. If this is a possible future one could have. It's not so bad.  I now realize more than ever, there is no perfect person. No perfect relationship. You are going to have rough stretches.

Once This movie is awesome. I can't even begin to describe how much heart this movie has.  There's a screaming subtlety to it. Like, do you ever catch yourself in times when you feel like everything's active. Like everything's clear and calm. I made a term "a quiet kind of happiness." There's no big plot twists. No major turns. It actually seems real.  This is easily a favorite. Begin Again The characters were great; Very well rounded. I could easily identify with them; or at least know they're good people. I think that's important that the watcher gets to have some sort of connection to the character.  I don't get Levine's character though. I don't know. The story was great. A bit like Once, but highly Americanized, I think. I was wondering what would happen between the two main characters. It's built for you to be on their side. And the ending was good. Reminds me of a business move Louis CK made with his specials...

It's hard to put your finger to what really happened. In no way whatsoever does the story offer any clue to why things are happening. They are just happening.  And you are being told as events unfold right at the middle of it. Your perspective is Raymundo "Mong", A person in the broadcasting industry, seeking to fulfill a promise to his dead mother. He goes back to his roots, Magapok.  There he finds people from his past, the new town, and his old childhood love, Filomena. Other themes are given light: local politics, a career in the media, the military, etc.  While these topics are given a brief life, the events unfold without failing, without reason. Just about when you thought you've figured out what's happening. You haven't.  "Maybe this is that. No, it's isolated." You find yourself cursing at what's happening.