ATSPAR (III) contenders must hear a ****

“There are two major types of contenders joining a writing contest: those who expect and those who don’t… But what should both realize after the contest?” (My response to ColdExpress’s “ Meet the Natives”)

ATSPAR III preludes ALTPA in a regional level. The latter is in Luzonwide level and is being held in February of the subsequent year, few months after its regional counterpart during November. For the benefit of those who live outside this archipelago, these two are writing contests held annually for campus journalists. The words “tertiary schools press conference” can be extracted from these acronyms, which technically means they’re intended only for college students. Meanwhile, ATSPAR III has celebrated its tenth anniversary this November.

THAT NOVEMBER 2008 DAY I’ll never forget. The azure November sky was crystal clear, the atmosphere was unruffled, and the temperature was tepidly blended. Although being consternated about the results and feeling nauseous, I was still certain that I will hear my name and see myself once again, going in front of the faceless crowd of campus journalists, receiving my opulent medal of either bronze or silver, and being applauded by all and sundry. Afterward, I thought I’ll be seeing my banner flogging in front of our university’s main building. And so I expected that from Edwin de Leon too. These were then my expectations…

Kalaguyo (Paramour): The rhythm of illegal love affair

“You’re already somebody else’s angel, so I’ll just look at you from a distance, simulating as if our love could have been more than illegal…”

When I was a kid, I dreamed of learning how to sing, but my father sent me to piano lessons instead. After four years, I pursued some voice lesson, yet it didn't work for me. The bottom line: I can only play piano and that’s just occasionally, but I don't sing. Now, if I play the music of Bad Romance, would you sing its lyrics for me? (Photo credit: http://jamdigitalproductions.com)

KUNG TUTUUSIN, MAS MASAYA pa nga ang maging "kalaguyo" o "third party" o "paramour" kung tawagin sa Ingles. Maaari din ang "inamorato" o "inamorata" para maging partikular sa kasarian. Kapag kalaguyo ka, wala kang dapat asahan, wala kang karapatan maghabol, at wala ka din karapatang pumili ng oras. Bagaman hindi mo kasalanan na may nararamdaman ka, kasalanan mo kung pakikinggan mo ang nararamdaman mo. Dahil kasalanan mo, wala kang karapatang magreklamo kapag nasaktan ka. At kapag tapos na ang lahat sa inyo, madali lang tanggapin dahil sa simula't sapul, 'di naman talaga dapat yun nag-umpisa.

A man is not a bird

In the cage is a bird assumed to be singing. Apparently, it does not look like a man, does it? (Photo credit: http://blog.dugnorth.com/)

THOU SHALL NOT TEACH a man what righteousness is by putting him inside a cage. Instead, thou must give him due freedom—from this freedom, he shall comprehend the meaning of righteousness.

And when he gets home, he has certainly become a learned man.
****

Circumlocutory likeness of two dissimilar words

Two pieces of paper and a pen for writing in a contest such as a press con. The first paper will serve as your rough draft, which you may keep as a memento. The second paper will be submitted to the judge as your final copy, which could be your key to attaining victory.

HE STARES AT YOU with his dagger eyes. Then he lifts his fist, fleetingly stares at it, and his squeaking voice says, "You want this?"—my nephew's reaction when he gets annoyed...

Last week, I've seen Jonathan de Quiroz—former USC President in AUF and one of the few Suma Cum Laude and TOSP awardees, in the same school, who graduated in 2006 (to shorten the long description, “high-profile person”)—at the waiting contour of bus passengers. I approached him and he flashed a hesitating smirk while saying, “Hi!” Then he stuttered, "Uh… uh, I’m sorry. What's your name please?"

The theoretical existence of God: Why should I say happy holiday instead of Halloween?

Approved image of God in the Vatican City—a concept that is in stark contrast to the Born Again Christian belief as stated in, for example, Jeremiah 10.
TO TAKE A WALK in the mall on the 31st of October certainly leads me to seeing kids and young adults wearing their witches' hat, their lips covered with cosmetics from bloody red to black lipsticks, or their faces powdered-white with extremely pale foundation. Perhaps, other modern-day Halloween party-goers who have the guts would probably wear hazel brown contact lenses, simulating as if they were Edward Cullen of Twilight, or some might strip off their shirt and portray to be someone from the clan of Jacob. I just hope I won't see anybody mummified by white cloth all over his body, accompanied with somebody else who's carrying a sarcophagus, and have plenty of scarabs following them. Well, what can I say?

Dose of sweet caffeine to end bittersweet dreams

“I’LL JUST KEEP ON dreaming ‘til my heartaches end.” This line, I suppose, is the most intellectual advice you could hear from a human being whose heart, poetically speaking, functions more than his brain—someone who decides according to his feelings rather than his thinking. Scientifically speaking, he must have been predisposed by endogenous opioid peptides called the “endorphin,” which is produced by his pituitary gland and his hypothalamus, thus leading to, for example, a feeling of well being.

Yesterday, I’ve spent hours with two of my high school friends, Lee and Angie. We prattled about such things that are pointless for others, I think; yet there’s one thing I’ve noticed: we’ve grown just enough for our age bracket, but in my case, something has been left behind.

Spongebob sent me a letter in my dream on a Friday

Why did I dream of someone whom I haven’t been thinking of recently and whom I suppose I can do without, then abruptly see myself in a scenario much like that of Zhao Wei who was crying for the death of her sister, Shu Qi, in an Asian movie (So Close)? Is this to remind me of a wound that should be healed? Perhaps, this is what nonbelievers call “coincidence” or “fate”; believers call it the “will of God”—

…to dream of a letter sent by someone whom I would like to conceal in the name “Spongebob.”

…AND THE LETTER SAID, “Thank you for everything you’ve done for me, everything I have said, everything I have shown to you, and everything we’ve shared were true. To the ‘next me’…” Then I paused and rejected to read the subsequent lines. The first lines on the front page, as I recall, were just lyrics of songs. The lines at the back page of the letter, however, were different.

When I’ve read the last three words, everything turned in slow-mo. That bus station where I was hailing for a certain bus, which I presume would traverse me either to Makati or Pampanga, was composed of a cemented way and there were divisions securing people from vehicles—those divisions were steel railings.

Matamis ang sinful cake (Sweet is a sinful cake)

One of the famous cakes for College students in Pampanga: the Sinful cake of Ala Crème (Image credit: http://1.bp.blogspot.com)

GO AND EXPLORE THE world outside; become an explorer! Then, transform your life from a blameless to a sinful one.

Trap eyes with the “traps”

THE TRAPEZIUS MUSCLES (“TRAPS”) are the large diamond-shaped muscles that run between the back of the shoulders and reach up to the neck. They are two of the largest and most important muscles in the upper body.

According to fitness experts at Men’s Fitness, developing these muscles requires you to do plenty of pull-ups and cable rows, and raise your shoulder girdle up in shrugs. Performing front and rear barbell lifts will greatly increase the appearance of the shoulders too, thus balancing them with your traps. Side lats and front lats also help in the process, provided that you use the appropriate weight of dumbbells. However, the best exercise to achieve your goal is the lateral pull down (both rear and front), where you lift weights by holding a horizontally positioned steel handle that is connected with heavy plates. Confused? Consult your fitness instructor.

Not a form of surrender

NEVER FIGHT FOR PEOPLE who are not worth fighting for; however, never mistake this as a form of surrender…

She's more than just an imperfect angel

Mariah Carey at the pinnacle of her performance of “I Want to Know What Love is” while belting her “whistle register.” This is a screenshot of a video, which was captured during one of her live performances. The video is posted on YouTube.com. To view so, click here.

HER MOST RECENT ALBUM is titled Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel.

Mariah Carey (MC), unquestionably, is an unparalleled artist. When people in the music industry converse about whistle register, MC is the very first name to emerge in mind.

Conversely, a "whistle register" is also known as the “flute tone,” “whistle tone,” or “flageolet.” According to VocalFocus.com, “Flute register starts usually around B above the staff for women and B on the staff for men. This can also be found a bit lower in the voice for lower voice types.” (Click here for more information and facts about the whistle register.) In the case of MC, she can reach until F7#.

I miss the angel singing

Charmaine Piamonte on her first week in Pinoy Pop Superstar when she first won the Championship title, which she defended for four consecutive weeks.

PUTATIVELY, I WOULD HAVE written a different topic; however, I got captivated in viewing Charmaine Piamonte's videos on YouTube.com redundantly. Thus, I’ve forgotten what I was about to write...