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As I was rummaging through my spam comments, I found one mistakenly caught by Akismet. The commenter directed me to Paulo Coelho’s Blog.

I’d love to participate in his Virtual Exhibition for 100 Million copies. I have two of his books, The Alchemist and The Fifth Mountain. But unfortunately these two books are still in borrowers’ hands and to make it worst, I can’t remember who borrowed them.

My copy of The Alchemist is marked with red lines on pages where meaningful quotes are found. I hope to find my copy. For sentimental reason and because I want to join in the VI of 100 M copies…

By changing the way you do routine things you allow a new person to grow inside of you.
Paulo Coelho, The Pilgrimage
 

I finished ROME’s Season 1 DVD and now I’m ready for Season 2. My dear friend is right, it’s a killer.  

Saan mo unang natutuhan ang kahulugan ng salitang kasarinlan?

Sino ang unang nagturo sa iyo ng mga kabayanihang ginawa ng mga Pilipinong nagbuwis ng buhay upang makamtan ang kasarinlan mula sa mga mapang-aping dayuhan?

Ito ay isa sa mga watawat na makikita sa ibat-ibang bahagi ng aming paaralan. Sa araw na ito, pag-uusapan sa mga silid-aralan kung paanong nakamit ng ating bayan ang kasarinlan at ang kahalagahan nito sa bawat Pilipino.

Nakamit na natin ang kasarinlan subalit hanggang ngayon ay ipinaglalaban pa rin natin ang tunay na kalayaan.

He never taught a lesson in a classroom…
He had no tools to work with, such as blackboards, maps, or charts…
He used no subject outlines, kept no record, gave no grades…
And His only text was ancient and well-worn…
His students were the poor, the lame, the deaf the blind, the outcast-
And His method was the same with all who came to hear and learn…
He opened eyes with faith…
He opened ears with simple truth…
And opened hearts with love, a love born of forgiveness…
A gentle man, a humble man,
He asked and won no honors, no gold awards of tribute to His expertise or wisdom…
And yet this quiet teacher from the hills of Galilee has feed the needs, fulfilled the hopes,
And changed the lives of many millions…
For what He taught brought heaven to earth and revealed God’s heart to man…

The knowledge that you have emerged wiser and stronger from setbacks means that you are, ever after, secure in your ability to survive. You will never truly know yourself, or the strength of your relationships, until both have been tested by adversity. Such knowledge is a true gift, for all that it is painfully won, and it has been worth more to me than any qualification I ever earned.

JK Rowling at Harvard University

FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS: J.K. Rowling stressed the crucial importance of imagination during a speech Thursday at Harvard University’s spring commencement, saying, “We do not need magic to transform our world.”

The “Harry Potter” author also spoke about the benefit of failure, recalling the humiliations of her time in poverty before her career took off with her string of novels about a bespectacled boy wizard. Read the rest of the article here.

‘Yes, it was a magical talk’ according to Corydon Ireland of Harvard News Office.

Read the complete Commencement Address, The Fringe Benefits of Failure, and the Importance of Imagination.

I have read Paulo Coelho’s “The Alchemist” in 2003 before I began my stint in graduate school, for the 3rd time. I thought I’ve finally found my treasure. I was wrong. For it was the ‘continuation’ of my journey.

I’ve started my (graduate) school hopping in 1993 in a well established university. It was a dream come true for me to be accepted there. But something happened and I dropped the course.

In 1996, I went to a technical school. All I needed were 4 units to get an associate degree but for some strange reason, I again lost interest.

In 2001, I entered in another graduate school thinking that I was equipped to be in a highly technical field of studies. I lasted for a semester and sadly quit.

In 2003, I went back to my college alma mater and enrolled in another graduate course. Inspired by Santiago, I knew nothing will stop me for finding my treasures. I was wrong. I finished just two semesters and a summer. For in 2004, I was in for an adventure of a lifetime.

My journey led me to treasures of different kind. The treasures are called Uno and Jed. Plus the journey itself, the discoveries I’ve made and the wisdom that I’ve acquired.

Now its 2008 and I’m back in gradschool, the one I’ve left in 2004. To continue my search for the other treasure.

There are times I’m not as courageous as Santiago. Most of the time I feel that the needs of my love ones are more important than my dreams.

Sometimes I want to give up the search, the journey. But I know that if I do, its like giving up my dream, avoiding my personal legend, ignoring my destiny.

So I’m moving on. Marching to the beat of my gradschool dream.

I have other dreams too. And to realize them is like moving a mountain from one place to another. I can always look back at Santiago for inspiration. Or wish for an alchemist to help me make it when I’m down or about to give up.

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Originally written as a comment for this post on June 5, 2008.

Where is the moment when needed the most?
You kick up the leaves and the magic is lost
You tell me your blue sky’s fade to grey
You tell me your passion’s gone away
And I don’t need no carryin’ on..

How often do you get the feeling that you’re like a character in music video where each scene is littered with monotony? Watch and Listen…

How frequent do you get the sensation that some words are meant for you because the metaphor it evokes are beautifully written between the lines? Read…

Sometimes the system goes on the blink
And the whole thing it turns out wrong
You might not make it back and you know
That you could be well oh that strong
And I’m not wrong..

The lesson: Always bring a black or red marking pen.

I have always been a dreamer
Followed visions of my own
I was born to belong
To the lines of a song
And make then my home

I believe in happy endings
Though I’ve only known a few
For as rare as they are
Like a bright falling star
I found one in you

Sometimes
All the world can seem so
Friendless
And the road ahead so
Endless
And the dream so far away
Sometimes
When I’m almost
To surrender
Then I stop
And I remember
I have you
To save my day

Often my imagination
Has me reaching out too far
When I fell you were there
With your hand in the air
You knew from the start

Sometimes
After all you’ve done
To save me
Thru the love you freely
Gave me
Every step along the way
Sometimes
People ask what keeps me
Going
And in truth, it comes from
Knowing
I have you
To save my day

Sometimes
Feeling helpless
When I held you
Wishing words would come
To tell you
I have you
To save my day

I Have You, The Carpenters

Yesterday at SM City-Dasmarinas… the mall was packed because the opening of school is coming very soon. The boys didn’t mind if there were lots of people. They enjoyed the stroll.

Aside from dancing , Jed loves to use his finger to point something. When he does it, he usually utters undecipherable words .

He’s pointing something really argumentative only his imaginary friends know.

In this side, Uno concentrates on the cookies and doesn’t care about the cuddly stuffed toys behind him.

There is nothing is more musical than a sunset. He who feels what he sees will find no more beautiful example of development in all that book which, alas, musicians read but too little - the book of Nature.
- Claude Debussy