Marvin Gaye, Olympics, Nike, Dope Beat.

So my guest roommate introduced this video to me...... I was moved. The BEAT of the song is DOPE too..... Someone should sample that beat and flip it!



But while I'm on this Summer Olympics tip, I have got to watch the opening ceremony. I saw bits of it and it just seems all kinds of crazy!

Though I am an avid viewer (and have much to learn about the logistics on the various events and competitions), I must say that I can't help but think about the story behind the Olympics. I can't help but think about the hundreds and thousands of people displaced, the homes demolished, businesses terminated, etc. etc. just to "beautify" and "modernize" China in the past several years---and just to accommodate strangers from all over the world. The people of China were witnessing their own landscape changing---making them feel strangers to their own neighborhoods--communities. It's even crazier to think that the Chinese people gave up their EVERYTHING (homes, businesses, jobs,etc) for the Olympics that last for weeks, and most can't even AFFORD to attend the games themselves! Now that's some shet.

Water of Life. Mother Earth. Fertility. Loyalty.

Katapara[ng] (baybayin): Loyalty. This year so far has been a year in review. A year of reflection. A year of looking back and learning from my past experiences. A year of realizing and feeling with such intensity the importance of loyalty. Loyalty to one's family. Loyalty to one's companions. Loyalty to one's principles. Loyalty to one's beliefs. Loyalty to one's goals. Loyalty to one's ambition. Loyalty to one's purpose. Loyalty to one's community. Loyalty to one's heart. Loyalty to one's service. Loyalty to one's actions and & words. It's more than just a word to me. It's this crazy passionate goose-bumpy feeling that guides my life. (lol..sounds crazy..but I don't know how else to explain this word!)

check out Blue Scholars' Loyalty song. http://lyricwiki.org/Blue_Scholars:Loyalty

Water design: Refer to Paulo Coelho's, By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept.
Source of Life. Essential to Life.
Feminine face of god.
Pure.
Powerful---nothing can break water apart....and even with an interruption of
rocks or pebbles, it reconnects and continues to flow effortlessly.
Mother Earth----mostly composed of water in all different forms and feeds life.
The earliest civilizations were formed near the waters..

(the left side is a "softer"design of water--which, relatively and geographically speaking, relates to Tagalog region....)

(the right side is a "rougher" design of water---which relates to the harder land of the Ilocos region.........the region in which my family is from)


Fertility Symbol: Womanhood. Womb. Place of origin and development. The sacred power of being able to give life. Historically, a source of "threat" to the oppressor/imperialist/colonizer, but spiritually, a symbol of honor, respect, and divinity.

Red: Potent. The color of bloodshed (and.. our regla! ha..which is also part of being a woman!). and.......SERVE THE PEOPLE.

Left-arm: you know what's crackin'!

I love me some old people working out.

Go Metro! Go Green!

..is the catch phrase these days.

So my bestfren from PSP2005 spontaneously came up with the idea of exploring LA through the Metro (subway). Of course being the ultimate "vacationer" of all time, which my profession affords me, I was all for it!

To my surprise (as a regular automobile driver), folks actually do use the Metro! ha. (I know....I know...this bit of reaction on my end exposes how NOT of a public transpo person I am).... In my perspective, as a "first-timer," I felt like I discovered an underground culture---literally and figuratively! ha. BUT.... alas, this "underground culture" has been in existence or in use since for quite some time now (well, at least for the sublines, its been in operation since the 1990s).

It was interesting taking the subway station in LA. I was a bit fascinated throughout the entire experience for the following reasons:

1. The modernized architecture of each station, especially my starting point of Vermont & Wilshire.


2. The unique art (different types) found in each station.


3. The relatively diverse (in age, race, class), yet calm and collected community that created a warm and non-aggressive environment within the subway cars... (bc the freakin' surface streets are a whole different story!)...




4. The subway stations appear to be operating under AN HONOR SYSTEM. Not once have I been checked for a ticket, nor did we have to insert a ticket in any gate..... (So in some way, this is good for the working class folks who are using the subway lines to get around, but I wonder what $ is being used for maintenance..)


5. I felt like a tourist.




It's kind of crazy how perspectives and experiences change with the type of transpo one uses. The stops we took and the streets we walked are areas that I usually drive through....And it's crazy because as an automobile driver, I just pass right through (trying to avoid traffic, and never really take the time to look around). As a public transpo commuter on foot, the world was seen upside down. I felt more invested in the different communities I was exploring---perhaps it's because traffic was not an issue for me, and walking around afforded me to just relax and appreciate the people and the streets.



6. I want to take the metro all the way to Long Beach next time.

Addicted....

to RUNNING/JOGGING!

so... i just realized that i think i'm addicted to running. all i do is think about running/jogging. i get worried when i make plans with folks and wonder: where can i fit my run? lol.

Last week my twin and i decided to run a different route. To our surprise we ended up running around 6.5 miles or so.... We just kept on running!......and RUNNING! (I know for some crazy runners, 6.5 mi is "nothing", but... that's a big improvement for us!)

what's going on here?

twin and i just finished the 5K in PTown. It was a really good experience for the following reasons:

1. I got to see familiar faces---folks from UCLA that graduated before i did.......and a few after....
2. I got to run on the streets that I walked for the JFAV Parade since I was an undergrad at UCLA.
3. I got to hear the community cheering all of us on----folks standing outside their storefronts and homes....smiling and clapping for us...
4. I got to see a little kid (prob. around 5 or 6 years old) cheer his other 5-6year old friend on as he ran ahead of us.....
5. It's cool to see filipinos of all ages come out and walk/run. Filipinos that appear to have come from all over..
6. I met a stalker. wtf? (it's hard to "run away" from a stalker when you are in a run. lol) WHICH, makes me think.... is this the best way to stalk someone? Since... the person could only run faster (which is challenging...or slow down, which could also be challenging...there is no way of avoiding someone there!)

AND....FINALLY.......

7. I got to see Al, Mr. PCORE himself. lol. That always brings a smile to my face or a chuckle in my life!


Shameless Ad:
The weekly gals and I want to make running a part of our lives. If you want to join us, please let me know! We are adding it permanently into our schedules.... Plus, you can save on a gym membership!

LL Cool J and the Elderly

I had to post this ASAP.



So I just watched MTV's America's Best Dance Crew (my guilty pleasure....my obsession..) and had a kick watching the MTV commercial on LL Cool J's video with the elderly!!!!! LOL. I LOVED IT! I mean, one part was kind of scary where LL started to rub one of the old woman's thighs, but hey, whatever makes her feel young again! haha. jp

Anyway, besides being blown away by Fanny Pak's performance, I was actually just blown away by LL's pool party video with the elderly!!!!!

The skinny gramz with the pink cap and floral one piece is CRAAAZY! haha.

Damn. Now that's some crazy stuff!

I am now posting the youtube link so you all can see it......(Well, this version is not exactly what I saw on MTV since this is a commentary "behind the scenes" video)....

Enjoy!

oh! ps.. I also updated my photobucket with a couple more albums---one including the "YOUTHFUL ELDERLY".... I'll bring that in tomorrow with a discussion about it bc that album explains why I came back super hardcore into running and staying in shape and being healthy.

here's the youtube link!

LL Cool J MTV Behind the Scenes

or

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rh_W-4sCc7E

O.P.C--Meet the 1st Generation!

Picture on top far right: "Mamang" (Villarin's grandma-L) and Inang (my grandma!-R) at the Desconso Gardens...
This is the first day they
ever met. So cute! I luh!


What is O.P.C?
OPC is an acronym for Old People Crew.

What is the purpose of OPC?
The purpose of OPC is to get all the old people together (our homies---our lifelong friends and partners, etc.) and hit up all the senior discount festivities that this "great nation" has "offered" the elderly. For example, OPC must take advantage of all senior discounts on movie tickets, restaurants, museums, etc. etc. The purpose of OPC is to LIVE. The purpose of OPC is to LIVE STRONG. The purpose of OPC is to LIVE YOUNG. Age is also mental. So OPC must think young to feel young! Finally, OPC serves as a support group/network for all the elderly. OPC must be present for each other because aging can be lonely if we allow ourselves to be lonely. As an OPC member, we should not allow ourselves to be stuck at home! We should be outside to enjoy the sun! Having other fellow OPC members around could make that effort to get up that much easier....... and together help each other live longer!

What is the ultimate mission for OPC?
The ultimate mission for OPC is to be "pro-life," meaning, we are all about staying alive!!!!! =) So we are flippin' that term, "pro-life!"
In order to make it as an OPC, we must take care of our health NOW!!! In order to be active, we must exercise regularly and be more careful of what we eat! What we do now affects our future and the strength of OPC!

How do I become a member of OPC?
In order to become a member, you MUST take a symbolic vow NOW to take care of your health, so that you can live the age of "qualification" to become an OPC member. In addition, think about the community in which you want to live in. I'm sure you would want to form a community with your lifelong friends and partners, so that our kids could grow up together and be surrounded with strong principled folks.....and we continue to live and grow and support each other when we get old! =)


Is this OPC legit?
Oh hell yeah. hahaha. For all of you that know me, you know OPC is going to happen! The pictures above and below is the 1st generation of OPC! They made it! haha. They made the qualifications!


PS---
If you have any lolas or lolos hanging around that you know, let me know! Let's get them together once a month!
....and..... I will be posting the rest of the pics that day with Mamang and Inang on photobucket soon...