self-portrait

We Are...

xanderRootbeer@gmail.com (aries_arevalo_ax) — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 06:03:00 +0000

"We are two souls promised to share each other's heart until death."
-traveler

"Tayo ay ang dalawang pusong ligaw na tinadhana upang magsumpaang magamamahalan hanggang wakas."
- phoisohnlily

We are... ONE YEAR.

Apart-ness

xanderRootbeer@gmail.com (aries_arevalo_ax) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:17:00 +0000

Apart-ness
by traveler

As miles of endless ocean
between both of us exist
All of the time I missed
diminished, migrating away
Became all a sad emotion
Ever since that ill-fated day.

Poverty sets us apart
we are stranded, cast-away,
through all year delayed.
How long would it take?
It fractures my fragile heart,
this much longer, can love even wait?

What help can Home do?
NO, It doesn't help, it seems
It is striving for Its dreams
family, house and happiness
a house for me, not for you.
Our guaranteed loneliness.

Malungkot Na Tugtog

xanderRootbeer@gmail.com (aries_arevalo_ax) — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 08:35:00 +0000

Malungkot Na Tugtog
ni traveler

Biyolin ko'y umiiyak,
pati rin ang aking puso,
kanta nito'y malungkot
dahil ikaw ay nasaktan ko.

Ako'y puyatan bawat gabi
dahil ikaw ang naaalala.
Ngunit ito ang natutugtog,
ang biyolin na naluluha.

Patawad ang pagsamo ko,
marinig sana muli ang kanta mo
At ako'y masayang tutugtog
dahil ikaw lang ang mahal ko.

Hiling - Silent Sanctuary

xanderRootbeer@gmail.com (aries_arevalo_ax) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 08:01:00 +0000

A song for the broken heart...

Hiling
by Silent Sanctuary

Minsan di ko maiwasang isipan ka
Lalo na sa t'wing nag iisa
Ano na kaya balita sayo
Naiisip mo rin kaya ako

Simula nang ikaw ay mawala
Wala nang dahilan para lumuha
Damdamin pilit ko nang tinatago
Hinahanap ka parin ng aking puso
Parang kulang nga kapag ika'y wala

(Chorus)
At hihiling sa mga bituin
Na minsan pa sana ako'y iyong mahalin
Hihiling kahit dumilim
Ang aking daan na tatahakin
Patungo...

Ala-ala mong tinangay na ng hangin
Sa langit ko na lamang ba yayakapin
Nasan kana kaya, aasa ba sa wala

(Chorus)
At hihiling sa mga bituin
Na minsan pa sana ako'y iyong mahalin
Hihiling kahit dumilim
Ang aking daan na tatahakin
Patungo sa iyo, patungo sa iyo

Bridge:
Ipipikit ko ang aking mata dahil
Nais ka lamang mahagkan
Nais ko lamang masilalayan
Kahit alam kong tapos na
Kahit alam kong wala ka na...

(Chorus)
At hihiling sa mga bituin
Na minsan pa sana ako'y iyong mahalin
Hihiling kahit dumilim
Ang aking daan na tatahakin
Patungo sa iyo, patungo sa iyo

The Gulag

xanderRootbeer@gmail.com (aries_arevalo_ax) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 07:50:00 +0000

"The Gulag"
by traveler

If this was the last poem
written by me for you
it would pain me more
if that was proven true
Because I trampled upon
your tenderly garden
and have brought about
unwanted detraction.
Cloudy days and cold
raining upon my head
of guilt and shame
my apologies I said.
When water is not enough
to quench your raging fire
what can mend your heart
In this moment dire?
Where are we? I ask
Is it this slight
enough for that
to set our love aside?
I am clothed with ice
and frost breaks me up
slowly paralyzing
and taking my life astop.
I am waiting for the words
and warmth that you once had
I wait in my frozen prison
I love you, it is that!
Lest you forget me
and turn your heart away,
My dear, I love you so
until my dying day.

Filipino Expat Chronicles - Halloween at Work

xanderRootbeer@gmail.com (aries_arevalo_ax) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:47:00 +0000

Belated Jolly Halloween from Calgary! After *much* pondering and careful analysis of the events, I had decided to spend my Halloween in a fun place called work. It has been a looong time since I dressed up on a halloween... perhaps I grew up too fast, or just because it wasn't a culture in the Philippines. But in Western places like Canada, Halloween is celebrated in a secular and fun way. I guess this could let kids know more of Wicca, or just dress up for the fun of it. I decided to become like a child once more. Here are some pics...

Here's me as a Hunter, a L4D playable zombie character

My manager, dressed up as a surgeon zombie!
He's got yellow contacts, fake blood, latex bite marks effects and brush effects.

Heads up! Mutilated heads hanging above.

Novelty pumpkins, turned into cute 2-eyed spiders..

Patunayan - Silent Sanctuary

xanderRootbeer@gmail.com (aries_arevalo_ax) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:33:00 +0000

Speechless. Let this song be my song for you.

Anghel Ng Buhay Ko

xanderRootbeer@gmail.com (aries_arevalo_ax) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 05:08:00 +0000

Anghel Ng Buhay Ko
ni phoisohnlily_028

Ikaw ang nagsisilbing ilaw,
ang gabay na aking natatanaw.
Ikaw ang anghel ng buhay ko,
nagbibigay kasiyahan sa aking mundo.

Nakasama kita sa bawat oras,
handnag sumama lumipad kahit hanggang bukas.
Karamay tuwing nag-iisa,
kasama saan man magpunta.

Anghel ng buhay ko,
manatili ka lang s piling ko.
Ayokong ako'y iwan mo,
magbabago ang mundong ginagalawan ko.

Nasanay akong lagi kang nariyan,
Tanging anghel na nagbibigay kasiyahan.
Sana'y habang buhay kitang kasama,
para habang buhay maging maligaya.

In The Long Winter Night

xanderRootbeer@gmail.com (aries_arevalo_ax) — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 17:22:00 +0000

In The Long Winter Night
by traveller
for phoisohnlily_028

A blanket of darkness with me when I sleep
On a mat that has often seen me weep
while from my eyes, rivers of tears flow.
And my heart beating weakly in sorrow

What's to come? The brightest star
We both wish upon there afar
Light years away, how long does it take
a distance, the travel a wish to make?

Tomorrow never comes, like an eternal night
the winter coldness creeps in like frostbite.
I want to be with you and with you to stay
my light, my warmth, my love, my day.

Wala Na

xanderRootbeer@gmail.com (aries_arevalo_ax) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 05:04:00 +0000

Wala Na
likha ni traveler

Wala! wala! Wala na!
Ang kabuhayan ko pa ang kinuha!
Walang magawa, hindi nag-uusap,
Nakatunganga sa mga ulap.

Bakit nga ba, O Diyos ko?
hindi Mo ba ito gusto?
Matagal na ako naghihintay,
lanta na ang buhay na 'Yong bigay.

Sa una, tao's ay sumasayaw,
masaya ang kanyang bawat galaw.
Ngunit, dahil sa sobrang kabaitan,
pinautang na loob, hindi binayaran.

Kaya sige lang, hipan lang ng hipan,
sa lobo ng kanyang kalooban.
Isang araw, na hindi na niya kaya
at sumabog na lang ang galit niya.

Ang malas pa, sumabay pa ang panahon!
Umaasa sa wala, ngunit hindi makaahon
sa dagat ng buhay, ay kahirapan!
Tangay ng alon, walang pupuntahan.

Saan na ang kinabukasan,
tahimik na nabubulok sa isipan,
walang imik, walang kibo,
tumigas na ang aking puso.

Hindi natutupad ang mga gusto ko
sapagkat iba ang gusto ng ibang tao
Tinadhana ako upang magdusa
Wala. wala. wala na.

I Will Be Here - Piano Cover

xanderRootbeer@gmail.com (aries_arevalo_ax) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 04:27:00 +0000

I dedicate this song to my love, with whom I would like to share my life with. Happy monthsary, and may there be countless more.

And as the seasons are made for change and our lifetimes are made for years, I will be here. We'll be together forever.

Kismet - Silent Sanctuary

xanderRootbeer@gmail.com (aries_arevalo_ax) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 15:39:00 +0000

A song dedicated to my special one I love. Long distance relationship IS hard. The distance should be overcome, but why is it that my heart aches? All my life, I have not been given a chance to express myself, and why even now, when it was given, we have to be separated? I guess life is totally unfair.

video courtesy of YouTube:

Kismet
by Silent Sanctuary

Didn’t mean to take you for granted
Didn’t mean to show i don’t care
Didn’t mean to throw away this once in a lifetime of chance
Being with you

And I’ll drive for 2 hours
To bring butterfingers
I don’t mind the distance
This kismet’s a dance

This time i surrender
My everything forever
Life doesn’t matter
Just our souls together

Pride no longer has room in me
On bended knees in public i cry
Your name for everyone to know that i love you, i love you
Please hear me now

And I’ll drive for 2 hours
To bring butterfingers
I don’t mind the distance
This kismet’s a dance

This time i surrender
My everything forever
Life doesn’t matter
Just our souls together

Verse of Longing

xanderRootbeer@gmail.com (aries_arevalo_ax) — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 07:18:00 +0000

As it is here, I do not find
a single poem to hear
and what I seek, the warmest words
of my beloved dear

Please Help

xanderRootbeer@gmail.com (aries_arevalo_ax) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 13:27:00 +0000

Typhoon 'Ondoy' has long passed by the Philippines, yet its trail of destruction it has took around 240 lives, and has displaced hundreds of thousands. Metro Manila is in a state of calamity, where in hard-hit areas, entire houses were swallowed by the flood, and survivors have lost their all their possessions.

For some reason, I wasn't able to see the occurrences first-hand, by the fact that we have migrated to Canada 5 months ago. Is it fate that saved our family from the wrath of Ondoy? Even if I was away, I desired to risk my life to save those in distress when I saw this on the news. But lo, even if I was there, I would chicken out at the last minute. But I had to help, as a Filipino, and as a Christian. God inspired me to help the relief efforts with some of my savings.

I plead for whoever reads this blog to help our country from the turmoil. Pray for our country, the Philippines, and/or send aid through the Philippine National Red Cross at http://www.redcross.org.ph/.

We appreciate any efforts you can give, and thank you.

Mahal Pa Rin - Sam Milby

xanderRootbeer@gmail.com (aries_arevalo_ax) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 05:08:00 +0000

Lyrics | Sam Milby lyrics - Mahal Pa Rin lyrics

I just want to say I'm sorry for my faults. I miss you and I love you.

Unethical Commenting - YouTube Style

xanderRootbeer@gmail.com (aries_arevalo_ax) — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 16:18:00 +0000

As a music fan, I appreciate fellow musicians' efforts to express their talents. However, I am upset in how other "musicians" react to how cover musicians perform. Here is the video (courtesy of YouTube and amacatan), which shows a band performing These Days by Bamboo:

These are the comments for the video:

lawrenzit:
kapag bamboo ang inyong tutugtugin~~~~!!~!!!! plss.....vocalist lalo!! galaw galaw..ampota...parang bakla!! ndi ka nagaya ke bamboo./...hyper!! at nga pala..act like professional para ndi obvious~~ shit..

sxenn11029:
galing niyo mgkalat exept un basista...
hahaha...
halatadong pakute lng
vocalist niyo...
kng dito s baguio kau 2mg2g
cgrdong bbtuhin
kau ng mga manunuod...
tsk tsk...
kya mgimprove nlng kau...

vahnasuelo
gling ng lead nyo ahh.. Galing MAGKALAT.... Anyways, ung bahista lang ang kuhang kuha ung tunog.. you should polish your talent dude... sa lead guitar nyo... palitan n yan... hindi ung instrument.. ung musician itself.. XD

rightz06:
parang and daming hater d2 sa youtube.
buti nga ng post eh,,

In the world now *governed* by freedom of speech, one is likely to condemn another as an inferior being. But when posting comment, please, be ethical!

On Diploma-Mills

xanderRootbeer@gmail.com (aries_arevalo_ax) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:04:00 +0000

In the September 25 Editorial of Philippine Star, it decries the lack of quality of some Filipino higher educational institutions (HEI's), in particular, law schools. However, this is not the only field where HEI's graduates don't even make the mark. I am pretty sure that there are these "diploma mills" in nursing, education, HRM, IT, and so on and so forth. While in culture, Filipinos believe that education is the solution to poverty, these "diploma mills" charge these poor families a fortune.

THE EFFECT IS CLEAR: Our education is branded "THIRD-WORLD" because of the conceived "diploma-mill effect" of the Philippines. Yes, college grads here do not get the same treatment as college grads back at home. :(

Filipino Expat Chronicles - Random Photos of Calgary

xanderRootbeer@gmail.com (aries_arevalo_ax) — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 02:45:00 +0000

"Ground Zero"
(July 20, 2009)

Cycle path
(September 7, 2009)

I thought Klamath was a place only in Fallout 2...
(September 7, 2009)

"Ayis"
(September 8, 2009)

A Cute Ladybug

(September 3, 2009)

Filipino Expat Chronicles - Glenmore Resovoir

xanderRootbeer@gmail.com (aries_arevalo_ax) — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 14:54:00 +0000

Me and a couple of my Filipino co-workers went on a short biking trip after work. It was almost evening, so we wanted to catch the sunset on the lakeside. Back and forth, it was approximately 12 kilometers, but we spent most of the time shutterbugging. Good times!

Ruth, Oliver, and I

The beautiful sunset

Tranquil waters

"Noruko" and I at the yacht dock

Geese happily swimming

It is a lot of fun to socialize with friends... something that I haven't thought I could do here. It just shows that I am slowly growing into the niche. Just have to enjoy everyday here!

Does God Exist? - a TV Ad

xanderRootbeer@gmail.com (aries_arevalo_ax) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 14:14:00 +0000

One of my fears of the looming education-religion crisis is the removal of free practice of religion. Classrooms would become centers of atheism, and if the government would continue this, whole countries would become atheists. Scientists and professiors, or at least some of them, detest the existence of God. but here's a video that would change your mind.

The Kegon Dream

xanderRootbeer@gmail.com (aries_arevalo_ax) — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 02:51:00 +0000

The Kegon Dream
by the traveler

And so it seems distant
Too impossible it may seem
A vision in the cosmos
In the lofts, the fragile dream.

The stars, they fall into place
However shattered and broken
Pick them up, too painful to hold
Frustration is just as sudden.

Retreating inward, never to speak
Sullen solitude in the forest
A student's poem on a tree
Ever-reaching for the best

The inert suppression.
The joyous prevarication.

Reminds Me...

xanderRootbeer@gmail.com (aries_arevalo_ax) — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 17:09:00 +0000

"Pumapatak Nanaman Ang Ulan", UP Concert Choir, August 2006. Milton Keynes England.

No I wasn't there, but I dreamed that I could organize something like this.
This reminds me that I am a frustrated musician. LOL

Is It My Stupor

xanderRootbeer@gmail.com (aries_arevalo_ax) — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 02:51:00 +0000

After four months here, nothing much has been changing. I have seen sources that younger people are ahead of me, either with better jobs or are studying higher college and would graduate soon, thus having a secure future. I DON'T KNOW. I JUST DON'T KNOW WHERE I AM HEADED. It just frustrates me. Sure, people can say that God has a plan, but like a candle, my patience is being consumed drop by drop.

But considering that Christ wants from us a relationship, not a religion. Like a brother, I should trust Him that everything will be OK. But as long as I die in grace, I will be good.

I'm not stupid. I'm just misguided, inexperienced, and wrong-timed.

I've got to rest now because I have a splitting headache. #: /

Forevermore - Side A

xanderRootbeer@gmail.com (aries_arevalo_ax) — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 14:45:00 +0000

Long distance relationships are one of the greatest trials a couple has to face. This is the type of situation where one party has to go to a far place, leaving the other party behind for a valid and important reason. They opt to maintain their relationship by TRUSTING in each other and in HOPING to be together soon.

This song is dedicated to my dear Cris:

Forevermore
by Side A
www.lyrics007.com/Side%20A%20Lyrics/Forevermore%20Lyrics.html -

There are times
When I just want to look at your face
With the stars in the night
There are times
When i just want to feel your embrace
On a cold night

Refrain
I just can't believe
that you are mine now

Chorus
You were just a dream that i once knew
I never thought i would be right for you
I just can't compare you with anything in this world
You're all i need to be forevermore
All those years
I long to hold you in my arms
I've been dreaming of you every night
I've been watching all the stars that fall down
Wishing you will be mine

(repeat refrain & chorus)

Bridge
Time & again
There are these changes that we cannot end
As sure as time keeps goin on & on
My love for you will be forevermore

(refrain & chorus except last line)

As endless as forever
Our love will stay together
You are all i need to be with forevermore
(as endless as forever)
(our love will stay together)
You are all i need to be with forevermore.

Candlestick, My Dear Candlestick

xanderRootbeer@gmail.com (aries_arevalo_ax) — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 16:03:00 +0000

Candlestick, My Dear Candlestick
by the traveler

Candlestick, my dear Candlestick,
keep the cold darkness far from me
stay right here, closer, by my side
light from you flicker tenderly

Passing the days become so weak
Giving yourself consumes your life
Hang on there, my dear Candlestick
Dripping away to give us light.

Candlestick, breathing, struggles on
keeping the perfect glow, your burn
You have become too short to be.
Goes to the point of no return

Candlestick? Why, dear Candlestick?
Why did you leave us without you?
Sorry that we depend too much.
Gone now, if only we had knew.