BG MSC* of Our Lives

How do we compare the music then and now?

It cannot be denied that in other countries, US most specially, music has far greater development now in contrast to before and in our country.

Music helps us cope up with any problems in life because as simple as listening to them, we can relate to the lyrics. Whatever mood we are in at the moment, we somehow choose the music that goes along with it - something we can call background music of our lives. It greatly affects us, or me for this matter. On the point of view of listeners or audiences, it provides inspiration. On the point of view of the artist, they profit, promote the industry, and express themselves all at the same time.

If music before relay messages that people want to convey, they do more nowadays because people tend to be liberal because it is in their culture. They tell more stories about sex as what I have noticed, a bit worse and worrisome because the topic is not pleasant to the minds of the young people.

We have a lot of variation to choose from (genres as we call them) but as users of this kind of media, we still have to be careful.

"...Music makes the people come together..."

-Madonna

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*BG MSC - background music; abbreviation used in scripts

Hear Me Out

Yesterday, I finally had the chance to have a proper consultation. I really didn't expect to feel light after the conversation and that's what happened because I've been talking about the same thing with other people. The good thing here is that people listen and I gained different kinds of advice  I hope this dilemma can be solved as soon as possible so that I can go on again normally.

Remind Me (3)

"Money is a bitch for bringing the worst out of people,

especially when they've got an addiction to feed."

-"Saturday's Child" by Ray Banks

I am not a b****, but I know how money greatly affects the behavior of a person. Still, I am also not that kind of person. I have my savings. Nonetheless, I have a different kind of addiction.

For someone who is intellectually inclined, who excels more in academics over sports, I am like anybody else, I have a habit of collecting items - preferably books.

I can say that I've "got an addiction to feed" because I have this impulse to buy books that I like when I see them most especially if they are rare or hard to find. There are so many interesting books out there. Let's just say that I prefer books of some unknown authors. What I do is even though I still have a lot of pending books to read, I like to keep what I find right away. It's like I want an assurance that I have it with me than regret losing it the moment I come back to where it is located in a bookstore.

With that, I have to promise myself that I have to control and contain it because presently, we have a problem financially and as a graduating student, there are lots of expenses and I have to invest on that. Books can wait in their shelves; my future cannot.

I, Eric Pastor, do hereby solemnly promise to avoid as much as possible, to the best of my ability, the call to purchase books, either with friends or family or with myself alone; to focus more on the important things that involve my future and my family's welfare; to understand that my collection can wait. Please remind me. Thank you.

Remind Me (2)

I have something to tell you...

Since I was young, I always had a problem with my tonsil. A simple milk can spoil the moment, a small candy can make a bitter-sweet revenge, a cold drink can make the situation hot. What I'm saying is I have a sensitive tonsil to easily catch tonsilitis.

After a reflection that I always break my promises to myself because of being sick again of cough and cold for two weeks, two weeks of misery, I came to a conclusion that I need to put it in a writing to be effective. Hence, this contract. Please don't hesitate to bother and remind me of this thing. Thank you.

I, Eric Pastor, do hereby solemnly promise to stay away from any kind of sweet foods, allowing me to only eat biscuits, e.g. Magic Flakes (Cheese), Bread Stix, Eggnog, Graham (Honey), Skyflakes, One One and the likes; to stay away from sodas, e.g. sarsi, sprite, sparkle, mirinda, among others; and to avoid anything cold or with ice, a combination of the previous mentioned, e.g. ice cream, cake, etc. because health is wealth; hence I have to take good care of myself for there’s this chance that every time I get sick, some seconds or minutes tick away even though I don’t drink or smoke. Please remind me. Thank you.

Depleting Species

(First published on WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2008 through a class blog project.)

Species are endangered today around the world due to the effects of human activities.

The only permanent in this world is change. Meaning to say, the things we want most and need could only be acquired when time gives it to us, and even unwanted things. Time could also get, whether you like it or not, some things you should loose and let go off by a moment. These things have the ability to change human life style and the world.

The idea is that the world is changing as time pass by. I should tell you that at this very moment, some animals are already extinct and the reason why this continues to happen is because of abusive human activities.

It is very sad to say that animals of some type are slowly vanishing and yet there are no discoveries of other new species. So as a living thing, why don’t you help conserve these animals that we could also call as “treasures of the earth”? They do have the right to live in peace because they share a part in this world. They supply our needs in terms of food (e.g. milk of cow), protection (like of dogs that guard our houses), and so many more. Always remember the earth is not for us only.

Even you are only one, your care for animals count for if we combine altogether, we can win against the people intentionally harming this world and those who are illegally doing activities like illegal loggers on the first place that cut young trees instead of old ones that results to the loss of their habitat called deforestation. Think about it before it's too late and before time runs out.

“The nature has given man one tongue and two ears, that we may hear twice more than we speak.”

-Epictetus

********** NOTHING FOLLOWS **********

P.S.

As I was editing and updating my blog interface, I suddenly remembered that the first time I had a blog is in high school. Though I was just a contributor back then, I am still fascinated by what we've accomplished as a class. It was an achievement. Now, I am maintaining my own. I still like to remember our output so I decided to put a link at the bottom of my page.

Also, as I read my entry again, I somehow got confused. I can’t believe that I write this way back then. Nonetheless, I hope that whoever reads this gets my message.

MABUHAY HS II-C Sun Yat Sen!!! :))

AB3: .hack// Another Birth (vol. 1//INFECTION)

Akira, who hates role-playing games, still enters an online fantasy game called The World to be able to discover the mystery to save her younger brother who lost consciousness while playing.

It cannot be denied that the young generation today is hooked with these kinds of online games. Parents can describe this as a different kind of addiction - an addiction because kids choose it over study, over meal, or even over sleep. Even though they are just in front of a computer, they communicate with other players who are playing at the same time as they are.

Internet, which is considered as the new media, takes over all forms of media that we know of. Somewhat, it can be identified as a package or all-in-one. While others preserve the traditional media, this new media still has negative effects just like the others. In social media, cyber-bullying exist and identity theft. For gaming, it is like the new gadgets that comes out because people can already play just by sitting down, unlike before wherein you call your friends to play activities that involves one’s presence physically like tumbang preso, patintero, sekyu-base, piko, mataya-taya, and others.

.hack// Another Birth is a series that calls our attention to remind us of the thought that “too much of something is bad.”

AB2: PLEASE DON’T COME BACK FROM THE MOON

This is a story about Michael Smolij who lives in a neighborhood wherein fathers just left one day leaving a note that they went to the moon. He was just a teenager at that time and guess what? He hated his father for what he did. Father figure is important while a child is growing up.

He doesn’t like it but he has to move on. When he was asked by his mother what did he like to he answered, “A writer, I guess.” and thought it had just occurred to me, but suddenly it sounded right. It was what I wanted to do.

He pretty much knew what he was doing even though sometimes he feels lost, doing adult stuff even at a young age. Nonetheless, he knew what the basic principle is when you are in a radio station: “Dead air was the mortal sin of radio broadcast.”

He is a smart kid. Though he did some bad things in his youth, drinking and other vices, he grew up to be a man and became a father to his family. He did not leave his town because inspite of all, there is still happiness in Maple Rock.

AB1: MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE

Nicholas Sparks is known for his spectacular works about love. His third book is entitled "Message in a Bottle."

The story runs around Theresa Osborne, a divorced woman with a son. One day, as she was spending time alone in a beach, she found a bottle washed ashore. In it, she discovered a letter written by Garrett Blake, a man who lost the love of his life in an accident.

Theresa is a writer for Boston Times. One idea of this profession (journalist) that pretty much applies to the real world is the concept of "Her years as a reporter had taught her to take nothing for granted, to make a plan, and to do her best for anything." Another thing that can be used from the story is the importance of one language skill, also a tool of communication, i.e. writing.

Sparks believes in the lasting power of love and in this story, the characters were connected through the letters. This one had a special twist in it – it used bottled messages – to give more value to its worth, to make it more special.

Before technology advanced as they are nowadays, there was just snail mail. However slow it may be, as long as the message was sent, it was all that matters. These kinds of letters can be kept and their importance will never fade because they will always contain the feelings and message being expressed, as well as the effort dedicated to accomplish the output. This kind of story wants us to once again appreciate the worth of letters.

“The immediacy, accessibility, and simplicity of pen and paper are indispensible.”

(Reader's Digest January 2011: Cyndi Freiman)

Annotated Bibliography Special Series

Media Studies is a good subject for media practitioners to take because it analyzes all possible tools of communication and how they are utilized in different forms every day. Knowing that each one is powerful in their own ways alone, what more if they are combined with the others? Furthermore, a lot of stories can be derived from them in film, advertisement, print, and the likes.

Print, the focus of this entry, specifically books, is a product of the need to communicate and relay messages or lessons – be it non-fiction or fiction. Academic books, for example, educate by discussing different topics that are applicable in real life. Fantasy on the hand, entertains by revealing a story that narrates the life of the character. This is just one genre. Fiction has different genres that an individual can choose from depending on his interest. In this kind of print, authors use a combination of various communication tools because it can the profession of the protagonist or s/he uses them for any reason (it cannot be denied that anyone uses at least one form anytime and anywhere).

This series will talk about three fiction novels.

WRITING/PRINT:

Message in a Bottle by Nicholas Sparks

BROADCAST/RADIO:

Please Don’t Come Back from the Moon by Dean Bakopoulus

ONLINE/INTERNET:

.hack// Another Birth (vol. 1// Infection) by Miu Kawasaki

TVC*: Television Change

What do you think are the changes and challenges of television?

Since its beginning, television in the Philippines has changed a lot. Many challenges came but it helped in the development. However, as a student of mass communication who became media literate who have been studying this particular medium for quite some time now, it improved not entirely for the greater good.

Listening to the group reporter's discussion, the main reason for its acquisition is to channel educational programs. Television really has a great power in influencing; it has great potential if it is maximized to its full capabilities. Nowadays, yes, it still does educate, but it's more on the business sector. Networks give audience what they want, not entirely what they need. That much I know is the result of change as time pass by. It just can't be denied that it really became beautiful as technology became more advanced.

Presently, we have to be careful in using different kinds of mediums. We have to remember that "we use it," not "it uses us."
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*TVC - an acronym for Television Commercial