Start Alone, End Alone

I went to Korea for my JTA, alone.
I went to Sogang from Incheon International Airport, alone.

Tomorrow, I'll eat lunch, alone.
Tomorrow, I'll leave Sogang, alone.
Tomorrow, I'll leave Korea, alone.

The next day, I'll arrive at NAIA 3, alone.
On that day, I will go to my home from NAIA 3, alone.

Start alone, end alone, indeed.

Comments? :D

Sidetrack to Future...What?

This week's gonna be (a bit) deadly. AND THIS POST TOO! (This is a TL;DR post so read at your own risk)

Currently, I am an exchange student in Sogang University, here in Seoul, Korea (yet, this status is about to end soon).  In almost a week, I'm going back to my home country and continue my studies.  The program (Junior Term Abroad) entitles me for only one semester here.

Back to my first statement, yes, this week's gonna be a bit deadly than the previous weeks.  More or less as deadly as my midterms week. This week is our finals week and every student, whether foreigner or Korean, have their faces into their books and lecture slides. (Just a comment, Koreans have a very disciplined study habits.  Perhaps, they got this from studying for the College Scholastic Ability Test or suneung (수능). This tests sometimes trigger the suicidal instincts of high school students, and that's another part of the story.)  Well, I may not have study habits as disciplined as the locals here but my study habits (aka cram study) puts me to survival in my life as a student.

A Night with 난타 (Cookin') Musical

This evening, we (Sogang Seouldiers) went to watch the famous 난타 /nan-ta/ (also known in English as Cookin’) Musical in its Hongdae Theater.

I arrived in the venue, together with Jonah and Tricia, at around 6PM and we walked around Hongdae first before heading to the theater. When it was time to get our tickets, we only had jeje pics on a sign of the musical at the start of the stairs (the theater is at the basement of the building, that’s why there are stairs).  We didn’t even had another photo on a much more beautiful sign of the musical on their lobby at the basement lol.

So we arrived at the lobby, waiting for the doors to be opened.  Just like other plays, camcording/photography is not allowed so I only managed to take one picture of the set before the show starts.

All of the scenes in the musical are inside the kitchen so it’s not really a big thing to see kitchen stuff on stage. However, when the show starts, all of the set turned into musical instruments, including the flowing water :O

During the show we watched (the 8PM show), the actors of Black Group is performing on stage. You may see the characters here.

STORY

The story of the musical involves a group of chefs, who are preparing for a wedding.  It turns out that there are so much orders that are to be prepared in only an hour. In addition to their small group (head chef + 2 assistants), the nephew of the manager joined the team.  The group of chefs are hesitant to the skills of the nephew, which towards the play, their relationship went well because of the nephew’s wittiness. 

PROPS

The props are mainly kitchen utensils - knife and chopping boards turned drumsticks and drums, water containers turned into drum bases, etc.  The rhythm of the musical is based on samullori, where traditional Korean instruments are changed to kitchen utensils.

COSTUMES

Chef’s uniform - of course, they are inside a kitchen.  On their last scene, the four chefs changed to black top and performed, with the manager, a series of percussion instruments (still in a form of the large water drums).

PERFORMANCE

The first part happens in some sort of a traditional Korean kitchen, that the chefs are dressed in hanboks. The rhythm sounded like a real traditional Korean performance, yet with the use of kitchen utensils. On the second part (during the present time), everyone showcases their skills on integrating cooking with performing (chopping REAL vegetables while actually beating the chopping board like a drum). The third part is some sort of a party-like, urban-styled beating.

Described in the official website, Nanta is a nonverbal musical, though the actors used very minimal words such as “6 o’clock,” “uncle,” slurping sound, screaming “AHJUMMA” on random lady at the audience, etc.  

REACTION

Overall, the performance is very entertaining as it mixes Korean traditional rhythm, new style (the use of kitchen utensils), comedy, and audience participation only saying less than 10 words. The show absolutely made the audience laugh so hard and they portrayed the story well.  The performance is world-class and jaw-dropping. I do not really go on musicals frequently but Nanta is really AWESOME!

RATING: 10 out of 10

Comments? :D

Gabo Invades Korea: Solo Trip in Gyeongju [PART 1]

So the main point of going to Gyeongju was because of the Hallyu Dream Festival.  But I went there a day ahead of my friends to have a short tour of the city.

My friend booked me a bus ticket to Gyeongju. Since I didn't sleep the night before (because of the early schedule of the trip), I took the chance to sleep on my 4-hour travel.

Then, I woke up just in time. I arrived Gyeongju!

However, I'm still worried because my I hadn't received anything yet regarding my booking in Sarangchae Hostel. And I even lost my way to the hostel >_< Good thing I could speak basic Korean phrases and I found my way to the hostel.

And just as I'd thought of, I had no room to stay in Sarangchae! But the ahjussi and ahjumma are so kind and good in English, they called my back-up hostel, Nahbi Guest House, and asked if there was a space, and Nahbi said YES! The ahjussi gave me the directions to the Nahbi Guest House, so I walked again to Nahbi. (By the way, I walked from the station to Sarangchae, then to Nahbi, with backpack and my heavy sports bag :|)

And yes, Nahbi still had a vacant solo room for 25,000 won for a night. I reserved it before someone could take that spot. I put my stuff and rested for a while because I was walking too much already. At around 1PM, I felt hungry since I had not eaten anything yet. And my search for food/soul searching began..

So that's the view from one of the streets. It's much peaceful and calmer here than in Seoul, probably because this is a province.

I decided to start looking for tourists spots as I look for place to eat. I decided to go to Hwangseong Park first because it looks near on the map. But as I continue to walk towards the direction of the park, I CAN'T SEE ANY PARK/STATUE STILL. So now I was starting to ask the locals about the location of the park.

FIRST: I asked a man, probably a college student at around 23-28 years old, where the Hwangseong Park is. I think he couldn't understand my Korean phrase (I'm still practicing -____-) so I tried to speak in a mix of English and Korean like, "Hwangseong Park odieyo? Where? Hwangseong Park? Where? Place? Direction? Odieyo?" Then he suddenly said "wait" to me in Korean and called someone on his phone. I thought he's gonna call someone to ask for direction but I eavesdropped that he's saying, "Sorry. I don't know." WHAT THE... He's asking his friend how to say sorry and I don't know in English :))))) Why couldn't he just ask for the directions... -_____- oh well, I just thanked him in Korean.

SECOND *and successful one*: So I tried asking a couple (yes, couples are everywhere even in provinces). They seem to understand the way I spoke to them in Korean because the girl suddenly points on the direction then speaks in Korean! I can't understand a thing. All I could just say, "Ne~" to whatever she says, even if she's asking me something (because one of the things she said ends in "imnikka") HAHAHAHAHAHA! I think the guy noticed that I didn't understand her and luckily *YES!* he spoke to me in English and told me to go straight and cross the river that I will see. AT LAST, AN ENGLISH SPEAKING PERSON HERE IN GYEONGJU! (Not that I'm underestimating people from the provinces in their English-speaking skills but in a desperate time like this, I would really need someone who can speak English). So I continued my journey...

FAAAAAAK! No food stores yet! All I could see are bakeries and cafes! I need real food :(( plus, I've walked so far yet I couldn't see any sign of river/water!!!

And at last, I saw the end of the long and winding road...YEY RIVER!! But as of my current location that time, I was too far from the bridge and all I could see are some sort of rocks/stones that I think was used for crossing since people in bicycles crossed the one beside it (right part of the photo below). So I walked on those stones on the left...

It was funny because I was the only one walking on the stones. I thought that time, maybe I'm the only person crossing this stones. I'd like to run so fast because people might think I'm crazy because of crossing these stones. HAHAHA! Great experience!

So when I reached the other side of the river, this was what I'd seen...

THIS IS THE VENUE FOR THE HALLYU DREAM FESTIVAL!!! I didn't know actually that this is the venue lol :))

So I walked around the area, thinking that this wasn't the Hwangseong Park yet because there should be a tall statue according to the map I had. Here are some photos I took while roaming around the area...

Comments? :D

26 Hours Left Before the Invasion

It's officially 26 hours left before my invasion of Korea will start.

I used "invasion" because I have a Tumblr account specifically for my Korea adventures. I will post pictures and random posts there.  There maybe times when I will post same content here and in my Tumblr.  Maybe sometime, that Tumblr account will turn into something like a Kpop blog.

Wait...bobo moment. I did not really explain why I used "invasion." It's because the name of my Tumblr blog is GABO INVADES KOREA as what my link shows.  It has a page about JTA and Sogang, and also about me!

As for my visa, I will claim it tomorrow so I hope there would be no more delays because classes have started in Sogang already.

I will post another blog tomorrow as I wait to board on the aircraft. :D See ya!

Comments? :D

JTA Blues

Okay. If you think being separated from your loved ones, friends, colleagues, or closest friends is the saddest part of being in the JTA program...

YOU'RE RIGHT!!

Well, for a person like me who loves to be with his/her circle of friends, it's really hard for me not to see my blockmates since we had different schedule, as if the JTA block was secluded from the rest of the world.  I became sad too when one of my closest friends in the block (both S2 and JTA) had to go to her country since her term is starting early.

Just before continuing this part, I went to the bathroom first to pee.  I passed by my dog's place where she's sleeping soundly. I was imagining how would I react if it's my time to go already. I won't be seeing my dog for four months. :( I will miss serving her dinner. I will miss her barks whenever I'm entering our house.  I will also miss how she licks my entire face (yes, my bitch likes licking me...).

I don't want to leave you...wait, you're not my dog!!
Don't worry Puss. You're still cute.

Yesterday, I went to school because I have a meeting to attend.  As I walk along the corridors of SEC C and CTC, stairs of Matteo, and JSEC, everything went back into my mind - my blockmates, best friends, org colleagues, professors.  Damn, I don't know but I really feel sad as I think that I won't be seeing these buildings, rooms, people for four months. 

I'm really gonna miss this.
Photo from renzpiration.blogspot.com

So there, I had a meeting with my project team and had a small chit-chat about their rants in life.  After our meeting, I met Andre, one of my closest friends in college, in CTC while he's waiting for his class.  I felt so happy because I had time to see my friends there while they're waiting for their class. 

Yes, I'm so clingy like yeah!

Currently, my problem is only about my visa since I still have no visa but I have booked a flight already on the 24th.  When my requirements were rejected by the Korean officers, I was just thinking of quitting the program and go back on regular 2nd semester with my blockmates.  I don't know but I feel so incomplete or uncomfortable without the people I'm used to be with.  No offense to the people I'll be with in Korea. It's not that I'm uncomfortable with you guys. I feel that we're close already but I'll be separated with other people I'm close to also.  

Oh well, this post is so emotional already. Not good for my health. LOL!

Comments? :D

List: evacuation centers, relief operations in Metro Manila

List: evacuation centers, relief operations in Metro Manila

Comments? :D

Korea!

As I was trying to change the layout of this blog, I found out that I wrote on my previous post that I should share something about my expectations about Korea and I realized that I actually failed to post something about that.

And for that, I dedicate one entire post about my expectations when I go to Korea!

I was searching for a Korean peace sign and I found this picture of a guy named Jong Hyun of CNBlue.
By the way, sorry for not posting about my expectations before! Peace (^_^)V
(Photo from cnbstorm.wordpress.com)

KOREAN POP (KPOP)
Of course! Who doesn't know anything about Kpop these days?  Aside from mobile phones and cars, Korea has been successful in exporting their talents to the world.

I was thinking if once we land on Incheon Airport, will there be any random Kpop artist/s who will greet visitors and tourists to their country? Or will the aircraft suddenly play the latest Kpop song?

Is it bad to wish that SNSD would be the aircraft's captain/s and flight attendants?

Actually, I'm not really a Kpop fan before, not until a friend introduced me to it.  We were blockmates and she'll be going to Korea too for JTA. Oh yeah, we're attending the same university too.

Does it show that she really hates Kpop? Lol.

Anyway, ever since JTA Sem 1 started, our entire JTA block has one favorite Kpop group. Presenting, SISTAR!!

PLEASE! Be our aircraft's captains too!
(Photo from allkpop)

You may want to hear there songs Loving U, Alone, and the best song ever, Ma Boy!

Now guys, tell me if this isn't their best song.
(Photo from awesomelymediocre.tumblr.com)

So much for SISTAR and Kpop...let's proceed to food!

KOREAN FOOD
If you really want to know the culture of the place, food is the best teacher! If I could, I would try all Korean food and beverages there such as kimchi, bibimbap, samgyeopsal.  And for celebration, a toast of SoJu!

Bibimbap
(Photo from molyna.wordpress.com)

Would it be lovely to taste this from its origin?
(Photo from koreanbeacon.com)

Might as well try the drink :)
(Photo from classicgirls.blog88.fc2.com)

Samgyeopsal
(Photo from kapcha.co.nz)

KOREAN TRADITIONAL CLOTHING
I don't know why but I really want to wear the traditional costumes of Korea.  Aside from experiencing it, I think I would feel like a traditional Korean, living in the Joseon dynasty (lol). They said that in Incheon Airport, you could actually have the chance to wear the costumes. Is this true and which part of the airport is this located?

So the clothing is called Hanbok and I'm really excited to wear at least any of these (bucketlist!!). Feel the entirety of Korea through their traditional clothing!

Of course, I'd want to wear the male's clothing. Though, I'd love to see some of my
female friends wear the female clothing.

FINAL NOTE
As said in our country briefing, Koreans believe in balance and harmony and that's the reason why they maintain castles in the middle of the city, as it is a sign of balance between modernity and tradition.  I'd love to experience Korea and find out more about this balance and harmony and how do they manage to maintain this.  So, 'till next time!

Oh yeah! *claps*
(Photo from kisskisskpopreviews.blogspot.com)

Comments? :D

In 23 days...

Just to release a part of my excitement to go on JTA, I decided to post something about how my JTA Sem 1 went and what I expect when I go to my country of destination.

About the Junior Term Abroad
Junior Term Abroad (JTA) is the exchange student program of our university.  This is when students spend one semester in one of the partner schools of Ateneo abroad.  Each of the four schools have different school partners; therefore, students from School of Science and Engineering (like me) cannot choose to be in the partner school of School of Management, unless the foreign university is a partner of both schools.

Students going on JTA will have special semester, namely JTA Sem 1 (before you leave), JTA Sem (I just coined this term as the semester where you are in abroad already), and JTA Sem 2 (when you go back to Ateneo).  All semesters will run for 4 months, so topics are usually compressed, from the normal 5-month semester to 4-month semester.

MIS students took the following subjects: CS150 (Computer Architecture), MIS21 (Introduction to Applications Development), MIS121 (System Analysis and Design), STAT107 (Introduction to Statistical Analysis), and PH101 (Philosophy of the Human Person I).  We have been together for 4 months, from analyzing an organization's system, to programming, to understanding computer hardwares and statistics, and even philosophizing.

MIS JTA 2012

About Sogang University
Yes, this is my school abroad. Sogang University is a Jesuit-run university in Seoul, South Korea.  It was established in 1960 by the Society of Jesus.  In the 2012 QS Asian University Ranking, Sogang University ranked 51.

서강대학교
Sogang University

Come August 24, I will fly to Korea to start my JTA Sem in Sogang.  I am a Business Administration major there and I will be taking subjects such as Principles of Marketing, International Business, Management Information Systems, Analysis of Customer Behavior and Service, and Productions and Operations Management.  I decided not to take any free elective since I am not interested in other electives there aside from management subjects.

I HAVE NO STUDENT VISA YET!
NOOOOOOO!!

Though I'm leaving on the 24th, I HAVE NO STUDENT VISA YEEEET!! I might apply next week. The weather this week has been so bad and I even got a fever last night. The timing is so wrong :| I also have to accomplish OIR stuff tomorrow. I hope my body would be okay by tomorrow :|

Comments? :D

Conquering Roles, Conquering Fears

It's still clear on my mind how I was preparing for two events at the same time.  I remembered how I adjust my sleeping patterns, my acads workload, and the meetings for each event just to meet my responsibilities in both organizing teams.

Both of the projects started the planning phase at the same time (some time around late May).  These two events are the AIESEC Philippines' Experience Conference (XPCon) and Ateneo MISA's First General Assembly (1st GA).  I was the OCVP for Public Relations for the XPCon and the Project Director of the 1st GA.

*WARNING*
This is a really long post due to photos attached. This post consists of my own thoughts about the topic.

So Near Yet So Far

My relationship with Korea: So near, yet so far
Image from: http://i32.tinypic.com/2cxz120.jpg

Hi everyone! It's been a while (or a month :|) since I blogged something...

I am actually in the Junior Term Abroad program of our university where they send students to their partner schools for a semester.  It is the exchange student program of the university.

We really have this weird schedule.  On a normal basis, students have summer semester (April to May) and first semester (June to October).  On our case, we are taking summer subjects and first semester subjects together for a duration of 4 months (April to July).  The duration is long for the summer subjects and short for the first semester subjects.

As of now, we had 3 midterm examinations down and 2 to go.  That is why I feel that Korea is within reach already, yet there are still so many obstacles to experience.

I've been talking about Korea. What's with Korea, anyway?

That is my country of destination. Yes, I will be immersed more in Korean culture (and yes, KPop is included) for 4 months.  I will be studying in Sogang University (although we don't have our acceptance letters yet).

Sogang University, Seoul, South Korea, here I come!!!!

*I am still undecided if I shall continue to create my wordpress blog, or a tumblelog to keep track as I invade South Korea....

Comments? :D

On the Issue of Plagiarism

Photo from http://flexiinfo.com/images/info.jpg

Information today has been so mixed up (or messed up) because of different channels for information such as academic researches indexed by other researches, encyclopedias, and Internet itself.  However, some institutions still value the essence of originality of thought, or creating new knowledge directly from the mind, without depending on external sources, when it comes to gathering and sharing knowledge.  If external sources were used as basis for your contribution to the body of knowledge, then it is just to give the owner his or her proper credit. Or else, the issue of plagiarism comes in.

Not just because I am about to discuss plagiarism here doesn't mean we will revolve around the meaning, effects, morality issues, etc.  What I will discuss here is the nature of plagiarism and some counter-arguments on plagiarism, which I think can be a debatable issue.

Nature of Plagiarism

A professor in my university once said, "60% only of the stuff in the Internet are true."
Photo from http://www.plagiarismchecker.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/plagiarism.gif

Purdue Online Writing Lab indicates that "...plagiarism, which is the uncredited use (both intentional and unintentional) of somebody else's words or ideas." I can only think of getting into detailed parts of each word to understand the nature of plagiarism itself. But for now, we focus on the word uncredited.

Uncredited: I cannot find the meaning of this word from mainstream dictionaries such as  Merriam Webster; although we can actually slice it to 2 parts (un + credited).  The prefix un- means not-.  Therefore, when it is joined to a word, for example, credited, it means not credited.  Credited, on the other hand, means to attribute to some person.  From the definition, we could bring up another word, attribute - to reckon as made or originated in an indicated fashion.  To reckon means to determine by reference to a fixed basis. This may look silly, but if we try to merge all the definitions we tried to bring up (of course we can define more of the words but in my discretion, this is enough), we could end up with this new definition: not determining by reference, as made or originated, to some person.  You might be asking the point of expanding a simple definition of uncredited in this issue.  Yes, the definition is simple and short to understand already.  My point in expanding is to dwell on what really is plagiarism.

Photo from http://www.german-business-etiquette.com/img/5-gifts.jpg

Crediting someone is a form of respect not just to the authors, but also to his works.  An analogy here is that, taking care of your gifts means two things: liking the gift and caring for the giver's feelings.  You are taking care of the gift a person gave you because you appreciate the value of the gift to you, and you value the connection between you and the giver.  Therefore, uncrediting something means that it is not much valuable to you, or the connection of you and your source is not valuable at all.  Giving credit to information itself gives much more value to it and it shows that you value your connection to the source.

Other words in the definition of plagiarism given by Purdue OWL are simple enough and easy to understand, so we won't dwell on those words much.

So the definition itself does not revolve only on "thanking" the source for the wonderful information you have obtained from him or her.  Crediting the source of the information means that you value the source's product, and you value the source as well, for producing the product (information).

Counter-arguments on Plagiarism
I'd like to share some of the counter-arguments on plagiarism, based on my recent encounter of a case of plagiarism:

1. With so many information today, it is not impossible that two people from other sides of the world share the same idea.
-> Yes.  There is a high probability that people would share the same ideas; however, each people could have different ways for interpreting or phrasing their thoughts.  Since it came from their minds on their own words, each idea becomes unique to each other; hence, originality takes place.  The point here is that, if you really get information from somewhere and you did not give credit to the source, then the issue on plagiarism appears. If you strongly believe that the idea is originally yours (without basing it from other sources), then the issue subsides.

2. Isn't it that the point of researching is to contribute to the general knowledge?
-> The issue may be see at that point. However, plagiarism is not exclusive to research.  It exists everywhere, although it may be called something else. Researchers do not research for the sake of just throwing and bragging their discoveries. The word there is to "contribute" and we must give them proper credit to it.

Disclaimer Note
I am not an expert in this field but these are my thoughts about this issue. The issue of plagiarism might be too old already but a lot of people now seem to disregard the essence of crediting someone's work.  If you have thoughts about the issue, you can share it with me as well. :)

Comments? :D

I Don't Know What Title to Put Here

It's been a month since I posted an entry here. Not that I'm really busy but I can't think of something to post here.

So, today is Mother's Day!

Happy Mothers' Day, mom! 

On the other note, I really miss my students in Alay Ni Ignacio.  I only managed to teach for one week and I miss teaching already.  There are times when I go to their classes just to say hi to my students.  As their graduation goes near,

HAHAHA I'm so bored...

I was trying to do a "point the camera" pose...but my photographer took a shot already -_- Fail pose

So, for the remaining months, I'll be working as a part of the OC team for AIESEC PHes XPCon.  This is the first time I'll be working in the MC level and as a part of the OC of a conference (Yes...we love conferences!). I'm so excited about this.  Also, I am the project head of MISA First General Assembly and I have plans already in my head and I hope this went well. Wish me luck~

Comments? :D

Dream High

So lately, I have been hooked into this Korean series entitled Dream High.

Dream High tells the story of six students at Kirin Art High School who work to achieve their dreams of becoming music stars in the Korean music industry. Go Hye Mi is a student who had majored in classical music but has to give up her dream by entering Kirin Art High School to pay off her father's debt. However, she needs to get two other students to also come to the school in order for her to enroll in the school conditionally. These two students are Song Sam Dong, who lives in the countryside, and Jin Guk, whom she accidentally meets while trying to escape from a loan shark. Yoon Baek Hee, formerly Hyemi's sidekick, becomes her rival in school because Hye Mi betrays her during an audition to enter the school. (DramaWiki)

Official Poster

Well, I think the scenes in the last episode are too compressed, that too many events happened in an hour.  From Hye Mi's struggle to debut in a month, to sudden planning and execution of a flash mob, to 2018.  I liked how their stories ended up but I don't like how hey crammed the events in one episode. This deserves at least 2 episodes.

Characters:
(Top) Hye Mi (Suzy), Sam Dong (Kim Soo Hyun)
(Middle) Baek Hee (Eun Jung), Jin Gook (Taecyeon)
(Bottom) Pil Suk (IU), Jason (Wooyoung)

Just as usual, I have sudden crushes on this series, IU and Eun Jung. They're so adorable in this series, especially when Baek Hee cut her hair short, and when Pil Sook was still chubby. Suzy is cute as well, but she looks like another Korean celebrity.

IU as Kim Pil Sook

When Hye Sung chose Jin Gook over Sam Dong

Hye Mi's Bird Dance looks like a Korean folk dance LOL

I'm still looking for the complete official soundtrack of Dream High in the torrent sites. I loved Sam Dong's Dreaming, the duet of Sam Dong and Hye Mi, Maybe, and when Sam Dong challenged Jason, The Last Concert.  I really loved the quality of Sam Dong's voice. Here are the lyric videos of the songs:




 
Dreaming - Kim Soo Hyun

Jeo meolli hweuimi haejineun

Naeui kkumeul barabomyeo

Meonghani seoisseotjyo

Deo isang nameun ge eopseo

Modu pogi halkka haesseotjiman

Dashi ireonayo

Han georeumhan georeum oneuldo

Joshim seureobge nae didyeoyo

Gaseum gadeukhi duryeo umgwa

Seolleimeul aneun chae

Biteul georigo heundeullyeodo

Nan tto han georeumeul nae didyeoyo

Eonjenga mannal nae kkumeul hyanghae

Idaero kkutnaneun geon anilji

Duryeoumi nal jakkuman

Mangseorige hajiman

Gaseumsok giteun goseseo

Meomchuji anhneun ullimi nal

Apeuro ikkeuljyo

Han georeumhan georeum oneuldo

Joshim seureobge nae didyeoyo

Gaseum gadeukhi duryeo umgwa

Seolleimeul aneun chae

Biteul georigo heundeullyeodo

Nan tto han georeumeul nae didyeoyo

Eonjenga mannal nae kkumeul hyanghae

Han georeumhan georeum oneuldo

Joshim seureobge nae didyeoyo

Gaseum gadeukhi duryeo umgwa

Seolleimeul aneun chae

Biteul georigo heundeullyeodo

Nan tto han georeumeul nae didyeoyo

Eonjenga mannal nae kkumeul hyanghae

Eonjengan mannal nae kkumeul hyanghae 
ENGLISHI was looking at my dream

that is being deemed far away

and I was standing blankly

i don’t have

anything left any more

I thought about giving up everything but..

I am standing up again

Even today, step by step

I step forward carefully

My heart is full of fear,

but it’s an excitement I’m embracing

I am staggering and shaking

But, I step forward towards

the dream that I am going to meet some day

As I’m thinking if it is going end like this,

a fear constantly comes,

I’m hesitating but…

Deep inside my heart

there’s an unstoppable beating

that drags me forward

Even today, step by step

I step forward carefully

My heart is full of fear,

but it’s an excitement I’m embracing

I am staggering and shaking

But, I step forward towards

the dream that I am going to meet some day

Even today, step by step

I step forward carefully

My heart is full of fear,

but it’s an excitement I’m embracing

I am staggering and shaking

But, I step forward towards

the dream that I am going to meet some day

towards the dream that I am going to meet some day

Maybe - Kim Soo Hyun and Suzy
Chagaun gaseumi eoneusae jogeumsshik
Noga naeryeonnabwa niga deureo wasseo
Geurigo nado mollae
Nae gaseumeul chaeweosseo

Eonjenbuteo inga jibe doraomyeon
Neoreul tteoolligo inneun nae moseubeul
Bomyeonseo nae mam soge
Niga inneun geol arasseo

Maybe you're the one
Maybe eojjeomyeon
Eojjeomyeon niga
Naega kidarin banjjogingeonji

Maybe it is true
Eonjena neomu
Gakkai isseoseo mollasseonnabwa
Baby I'm in love with you

Neomu neutjin anhatgil
Ijeya kkaedareun nae mam badajugil
Neutge aratjiman ijeya aratjiman
I maeumeun jeoldae heundeulliji anha

Maybe it is true
Eonjena neomu
Gakkai isseoseo mollasseonnabwa
Baby I'm in love with you

Baby I'm in love with you
Baby I'm in love with you
Baby I'm in love with you
Baby I'm in love with you
ENGLISH

My cold heart, all of a sudden,
seems to have melted because you came into my life.
And without even knowing, my heart was filled. 

Whenever I return home,
I remember you.
In my heart, you’re there.
Since I’ve known you…

Maybe, you’re the one.
Maybe, perhaps…
Maybe, you are the soulmate
I’ve been waiting for.

Maybe, it is true.
You were always so close
That’s why I didn’t know.
Baby, I’m in love with you

I hope that I’m not too late.
Hope that you’ll understand
that I’ve realized it now.

I know it’s too late…
I know it’s late now..
But….
This heart won’t be shaken again.

Maybe, it is true.
You were always so close
that I didn’t recognize you.
Baby I’m in love with you.

Last Concert - Wooyoung vs Kim Soo Hyun
jigeum seulpeun nae moseubeunmudae dwi han sonyeoaesseo nunmul chameumyeobarabogo innemudae dwie geu sonyeoneunjageun uijae anjadu son gopge moeugobarabomyeo deutnenaui yaegireulsonyeoneun nareul algiedeodeouk seulpeojinenoraeneun jeomjeomheureugosonyeoneun ureum chamjimotaebakkeuro nagabeorigonoraen kkeuchinatjimanijen bureuji anheuriiseulpeun norae
ENGLISH
Now, my sad appearance
There is a little girl (at the end of the stage / backstage)
while I do my best to fight the tears
she is staring at me

At the backstage, that little girl
Sitting in a chair
Two tender hands on each other
While she stares and listens
To my story, oh

As the girl gets to know me
She gets more and more (the blues/sad)

Step by step, she gets carried away by the song
The little girl can't control her weeping
She takes her way outside and leaves me

Although the song came at its end
Now, I won't sing about the past
This sad song

She takes her way outside and leaves me

Although the song came at its end
Now, I won't sing about the past
This sad song....

Comments? :D

No Girlfriend/Boyfriend Since Birth

I think I don't have to elaborate with the what NGSB/NBSB mean. It's too self-explanatory.

I don't know if I share the same thoughts with anyone, but whenever I hear someone say that he or she's NGSB or NBSB, I perceive them as someone who never fell in love with someone else, excluding their family, relatives, or Superior Being.

With this kind of perception on NGSB/NBSB identity, it becomes awkward for me to admit that I really never had an official girlfriend before, though, I have fallen in love a lot of times.

In conclusion, I think being NGSB/NBSB does not really mean that you haven't felt in love at all. There could be many factors that lead you to your "NGSB/NBSB"-ness. So next time, when someone asks you if you have been in a relationship, be proud to say that you are NGSB/NBSB, but make sure to follow up your answer if you have been fallen in love already sometime in your past. You might have met people like me who think differently regarding this. LOL!

Thoughts?
Regards,
Gabo

P.S. Yes, I haven't had an official girlfriend before but you can still consult me with your love life <3 ;)

Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless handheld

We Are Young on How to be A Good Catholic

Tonight

We are young

So let’s set the world on fire

We can burn brighter than the sun

            This is the chorus of the song We Are Young by Fun. featuring Janelle Monae.  I chose to represent my creed with this specific verse, aside from being my favorite part of the song, is because of different brilliant meanings it may bring.  I will explain it line by line, and then I will further explain after why it could show how a good Catholic should be.

“Tonight”

            For some, this time indicator might not matter but during this moment, most of the people, disregarding people who work on graveyard shift, are resting.  Imagine it that during nights, everything is so calm and silent, as if nothing is actually wrong.  The people who are resting at night are simply waiting for the sun to rise so they could start to work again.  These people are simply waiting for this sun, which rose and set yesterday, to rise again on that day.  Nothing seems special aside from having another day to work, to live, to do whatever these people want to do.

“We are young”

            The way I described the people on the previous paragraph refers to people who work.  These people are the kinds of people who think nothing is wrong that they would follow a routine everyday so just not to disturb the flow of their lives.

            Now, here comes the youth, which could be called as teenagers, young adults, etc.  These youth make changes to the calm society as they find themselves in this course of life.  Because of their search for who they really are, they are the ones who can see what is wrong with the current society they belong.

“So let’s set the world on fire”

            I see “fire” as a symbol for social change.  Because of the different injustices in the society, there is a need to set the fire within the darkness that makes the people blind of the real situation of their society.

“We can burn brighter than the sun”

            With these collaborated efforts for social change, people can now start look for a brighter sun every after night.

How does this relate to Theology?

            If we go back to the readings on Job, God has 2 languages: mystical and prophetic.  Mystical language refers to God’s love for us, while prophetic language refers to God’s requirements for us to do justice.

            This is what God wants us to do, to do justice, to eradicate injustices.  However, the Church has kept on saying “God wants this…God wants that…” just to have control over the entire Catholic community.  Just as discussed during the last lectures, the Church keeps on putting everything above the line, not just things regarding what to prepare during Holy Communion and the like, but also the concerns on the real situation of the society.  Because of this, our real job as Catholics is somehow being forgotten.

            In my metaphors of the chorus, the Church says that everything will be okay if we follow what they are saying, but I doubt if they see the real situation of the society.  I do not say that what they are doing is wrong but they lack immersion on the real situation of the world.  As good Catholics, we are tasked to look for these injustices and solve it.  We are the “youth” who can bring a brighter tomorrow in the society, all for the love of God.

If I were to rephrase the verse, how would it be?

ORIGINAL LYRICS	CREED
Tonight We are young So let’s set the world on fire We can burn brighter than the sun	In this time when we are blind to see what is real, As a good Catholic, I will be the light of the society, eradicating the injustices. Together, we can create the change that the world wanted

So does it mean that we should not follow the Church's teachings?

            No.  What I mean is that we have to be critical on what the Church is asking as to do.  If we have to work beyond the limits that the Church creates, we have to, as long as we are doing our task of doing good to others, together with good intentions for the betterment of society that God has created.

Final Words

           Just like the youth portrayed in the song, we, as Catholics, have to be proactive and bold enough to go beyond the limits.  If we continue to box ourselves with merely what the Church is asking us to do, we will not be as good and effective Catholics as what our society needs.  We need to “burn brighter than the sun” in order for justice to be spread among God’s creations.

Listen to the song!

Comments? :D