25 Things To Always Remember

• Your presence is a present to the world.
  
• You are unique and one of a kind.
  
• Your life can be what you want it to be.
  
• Take the days just one at a time.
  
• Count your blessings, not your troubles.
  
• You will make it through whatever comes along.
  
• Within you are so many answers.
  
• Understand, have courage, be strong.
  
• Do not put limits on yourself.
  
• So many dreams are waiting to be realized.
  
• Decisions are too important to leave to chance.
  
• Reach for your peak, your goal and your prize.
  
• Nothing wastes more energy than worrying.
  
• The longer one carries a problem, the heavier it gets.
  
• Do not take things too seriously.
  
• Live a life of serenity, not a life of regrets.
  
• Remember that a little love goes a long way.
  
• Remember that a lot - goes forever.
  
• Remember that friendship is a wise investment.
  
• Life’s treasure are people together.
  
• Realize that it is never too late.
  
• Do ordinary things in an extraordinary way.
  
• Have a heart, hope and happiness.
  
• Take the time to wish upon a star.
  
• DON'T FORGET HOW VERY SPECIAL YOU ARE!

It's nice to remember happy thoughts. Being positive attracts more positive things. Being negative attracts more negative things. Take time to look around you. Good things come to those who do good things.

Just A Little Smile

Here's a story I found as I was browsing. Somehow I felt this story should be shared to everyone to remind them of the simple things in life. With our ever-growing population, things become more complicated. People become too busy and they forget about the simplest things that make them happy. Sometimes they also miss a lot of chances to make things right, only because they become too preoccupied with the pleasures of life that blinds them.

JUST A LITTLE SMILE

Mark was walking home from school one day when he noticed the boy ahead of him had tripped and dropped all of the books he was carrying, along with two sweaters, a baseball bat, a glove and a small tape recorder. Mark knelt down and helped the boy pick up the scattered articles. Since they were going the same way, he helped to carry part of the burden. As they walked Mark discovered the boy's name was Bill, that he loved video games, baseball and history, and that he was having lots of trouble with his other subjects and that he had just broken up with his girlfriend.

They arrived at Bill's home first and Mark was invited in for a Coke and to watch some television. The afternoon passed pleasantly with a few laughs and some shared small talk, then Mark went home. They continued to see each other around school, had lunch together once or twice, then both graduated from junior high school. They ended up in the same high school where they had brief contacts over the years. Finally the long awaited senior year came and three weeks before graduation, Bill asked Mark if they could talk.

Bill reminded him of the day years ago when they had first met. "Did you ever wonder why I was carrying so many things home that day?" asked Bill. 

"You see, I cleaned out my locker because I didn't want to leave a mess for anyone else. I had stored away some of my mother's sleeping pills and I was going home to commit suicide. But after we spent some time together talking and laughing, I realized that if I had killed myself, I would have missed that time and so many others that might follow. So you see, Mark, when you picked up those books that day, you did a lot more. You saved my life."

There are many people in this world that needs help. Sometimes you don't know you've already helped someone, but your good deeds will have it's reward one way or another. Suicide is one of the most difficult things in life that needs special attention. People who have committed suicide will never be understood. The letters and remembrances don't mean so much when you're gone. It is very important for us and the future generation to understand that committing suicide is not the best way to solve any problem. It is actually the beginning of suffering. 

People just need to learn how to really care for other people and everything around them. Of course, learning to care in the most sincere way. If you can touch someone's life today, do so. The days are passing by really quickly. The next thing you know, it might just be too late. 

Magic!

What is Magic?

People of all civilizations, since the early times of man, have placed their faith in the use of various forms of magical practices. The difference might be seen in the methods, but clearly it is used worldwide up to now.

Magic, as Aleister Crowley defines, is the art of science of causing change to occur in conformity with will. In other words, it is caused by an emotion. Magic was developed into two forms based on emotion:

1) Having a motivation to benefit mankind (White Magic)
2) Having a motivation to injure mankind (Black Magic)

Sadly, Magic has been misunderstood ever since. In the olden days, people who engaged in magical practices, whether White or Black, was called a "Witch" and their practice called, "Witchcraft". Actually, as Magic is defined, anyone may learn and use magic anytime they please and may not call themselves as witches. Witches are not necessarily described as malevolant magicians, but they are also cunning folks, or the wiser beings.

Over the years, Magic has evolved into many different forms. Some branching out to a new age form and some still clinging to the old age practices. Magic is actually everywhere, seen commonly in our very own religions. There is only one thing that binds Magic to the earth users. This is called the Universal Cosmic Law. It is the law that exists by virtue which forms its framework and holds it together.

I believe that Magic is anything created from a fusion of energies and emotions to control and predict the events of the natural world. Magic is developed through science and religion. During the Renaissance, magic was everywhere, it even became an art form, artes liberales and there were 7 Magical Arts that many had dwelt on.

7 artes magicae:

1) Geomancy - refers to using earth's natural elements to produce a shape to be interpreted. (Feng Shui)
2) Chiromancy - also know as pseudoscience, refers to characterizing and predicting future events through lines on the palm. (Palmistry)
3) Pyromancy - refers to using fire as a source of energy to control.
4) Aeromancy - refers to using observations of the atmospheric and weather phenomena to predict and characterize events.
5) Scapulamancy - refers to using an animal's shoulder blade burned to produce cracks to predict the future events.
6) Hydromancy - refers to using water as the source of energy and dropping a natural object onto water to create and predict outcomes.
7) Necromancy - refers to using spirits and souls of the dead to seek for help.

If you notice, these arts are basically produced with the help of nature and its natural elements, only controlled by human. For me, Magic is anything that happens out of the ordinary. Even a simple thing could be of Magic. Here's a story I'd like to share that's also Magic!

There was this Hindu who saw a scorpion floundering around in the water. He decided to save it by stretching out his finger, but the scorpion stung him. The man still tried to get the scorpion out of the water, but the scorpion stung him again.

A man nearby told him to stop saving the scorpion that kept stinging him.

But the Hindu said: "It is the nature of the scorpion to sting. It is my nature to love. Why should I give up my nature to love just because it is the nature of the scorpion to sting?"

Don't give up loving.

Don't give up your goodness.

Even if people around you sting.

This is what Magic is to me...

4 Noble Truths

LIFE MEANS SUFFERING.
To live means to suffer, because the human nature is not perfect and neither is the world we live in. During our lifetime, we inevitably have to endure physical suffering such as pain, sickness, injury, tiredness, old age, and eventually death; and we have to endure psychological suffering like sadness, fear, frustration, disappointment, and depression. Although there are different degrees of suffering and there are also positive experiences in life that we perceive as the opposite of suffering, such as ease, comfort and happiness, life in its totality is imperfect and incomplete, because our world is subject to impermanence. This means we are never able to keep permanently what we strive for, and just as happy moments pass by, we ourselves and our loved ones will pass away one day, too.

THE ORIGIN OF SUFFERING IS ATTACHMENT.
The origin of suffering is attachment to transient things and the ignorance thereof. Transient things do not only include the physical objects that surround us, but also ideas, and -in a greater sense- all objects of our perception. Ignorance is the lack of understanding of how our mind is attached to impermanent things. The reasons for suffering are desire, passion, ardour, pursuit of wealth and prestige, striving for fame and popularity, or in short: craving and clinging. Because the objects of our attachment are transient, their loss is inevitable, thus suffering will necessarily follow. Objects of attachment also include the idea of a "self" which is a delusion, because there is no abiding self. What we call "self" is just an imagined entity, and we are merely a part of the ceaseless becoming of the universe.

THE CESSATION OF SUFFERING IS ATTAINABLE.
The cessation of suffering can be attained through Nirodha. Nirodha means the unmaking of sensual craving and conceptual attachment. The third noble truth expresses the idea that suffering can be ended by attaining dispassion. Nirodha extinguishes all forms of clinging and attachment. This means that suffering can be overcome through human activity, simply by removing the cause of suffering. Attaining and perfecting dispassion is a process of many levels that ultimately results in the state of Nirvana. Nirvana means freedom from all worries, troubles, complexes, fabrications and ideas. Nirvana is not comprehensible for those who have not attained it.

THE PATH TO THE CESSATION OF SUFFERING.
There is a path to the end of suffering - a gradual path of self-improvement. It is the middle way between the two extremes of excessive self-indulgence (hedonism) and excessive self-mortification (asceticism); and it leads to the end of the cycle of rebirth. The latter quality discerns it from other paths which are merely "wandering on the wheel of becoming", because these do not have a final object. The path to the end of suffering can extend over many lifetimes, throughout which every individual rebirth is subject to karmic conditioning. Craving, ignorance, delusions, and its effects will disappear gradually, as progress is made on the path.

A Worthy Experience in 2008

Life is a Game. Practice makes Perfect. Forgive and Forget.

This is the story of "G&g - Goals & girls"

In mid 2008, our production company was commissioned by a well-known company in Malaysia, Red Communications SDN BHD, to produce a Philippine version of its award-winning film "G&g - Gol n Gincu", turned into a hit Malaysian series, directed by Bernard Chauly. With no hesitations, the company started its pre-production stage, from creating a story to fit the Philippine audience, go-sees and talent scouting to find the best actors and actresses that will portray the specific characters in the story, building props and designing sets, actors' training and character development, finding the best possible locations, and so much more. I was even part of the cast, where I was part of Shasha's futsal team. I also provided some training and blocking for all the futsal scenes in the series, since I had been playing soccer since Middle School back in Indonesia. It gave me a chance to play again somehow, after not being able to play since I left college. A good exercise, I guess. Hahaha! I even had my real soccer mates to play roles in the first episodes of the story just to give it a little more kick.

Casting was a bit challenging for the supporting cast, as we wanted fresh faces. Fortunately, we found a cast that, not only portrays the character physically, but also through their own personalities, as most of them were able to relate to their own roles as the story went by. Since most of them never played soccer or futsal before, we had to show them some basic skills they needed so that it would look a little more realistic as we shoot the scenes. With the help of professional soccer players from the Mizuno team, it definitely gave them more confidence.

The first week of taping was, of course, the most difficult, as everyone was still trying to get used to how things work and move. It was given that, time would go slow, and it actually did. I wouldn't say that we didn't have hard times, like arguing, pretending, covering up, blaming, and all that stuff, because we did and we all learned our lessons. Things got better, of course. ;) The cast became deeply involved with their characters as the story went by. It was definitely a good learning experience for the cast, not only they underwent training and support, not mentioning the dramas in between, from our veteran director, Direk Al Quinn, who showed them his commitment to making this a good production. This gave everyone the chance to prove themselves and perform better.

Here are some BTS shots, from the first few episodes. The first video is the scene of Eddie's team playing a futsal game. The second video is where Patrice tries to play futsal with Shasha and her team.

Here are the dream sequences where, first, the main character dreams about her fear from losing a fight, and the other one, where she brings out her frustration, stands up and meets a guy who she would fall in love with as the story goes. Patrice gets caught up in a game of love and hate.

I even had my car used in the story, as Shasha's car. My partner did most of the driving scenes for our car and all the other cars used in the series.

As the story went by, more and more back stories of other characters were revealed with more discoveries, complications, challenges and realizations. The whole production was finally getting together. By the end of the year of 2008, everyone was already hoping that the TV Series would launch its first 4 episodes, but it didn't. Wow! How long are we going to wait? Hah!

Since the beginning of the pre-production stage, I had been part of the development process as well, I worked closely with the writer, director and producer and was given the chance to write some episodes. I wrote Episode 11 and the Season Ender, Episode 13. I was also responsible for organizing and managing the wardrobe for the series and styling the cast, specifically, Empress Schuck, Lovely Rivero, Nikki Guevara, Paw Diaz and Kristel Moreno.

We ended production Mid-November of 2008, with the season-ender. The show finally aired its Pilot Episode, "I want a Striker, not a Cheerleader" on July 19, 2009 on TV5, gaining a 3.8% TV rating from Mega Manila - AGB Nielsen. I believe it's a good rating for a new show in a newly launched network. The hardwork paid off somehow. ;)

The last day of shoot was the last time we all saw each other, in set, in our sweaty clothes and in stress-mode. The perseverance, support, commitment, and understanding that each one had put in to make the production work, could never be replaced.

Here are some photos from our Christmas Party 2008, with the cast and crew of G&g - Goals & girls and our other TV Show, 3R - Respect, Relax, Respond.

(Click on the photo to go see the rest of the photos)

For more info about the show, please visit its official site:

G&g - Goals & girls

For more info about our production company, please visit:

BLUE SCREEN ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION

Still Thoughts by Dharma Master Cheng

THE GOAL OF LIFE

Life lasts but a few decades, whereas wisdom is eternal. Just as we give life to our children, we should also provide them with wonderful memories and an education with love. In this way, we can make our wisdom immortal. The reason the world, the nation, society and families cannot achieve a peaceful and friendly state is because we only fight to survive, but fail to discover the significance of survival.

THE SPIRIT OF RELIGION

All human affairs are reciprocal. Our lives will be filled of truth, goodness and beauty, if we treat other people with sincerity and consider things with an open mind. To be really free, we must have a religious spirit and a true goal in life.

LOVE AND ROMANCE

If a person indulges in excessive self-love, he can hardly avoid conflict with others. He thinks that others are making fun of him, and he is afraid of what they might do to him. Being so suspicious and insecure, he feels that his life is only misery. If you want to lead and inspire others, you must first light up your heart. A true leader must be sincere and hardworking, not just capable. You must accommodate others with an open heart and give your love to all living beings. A river of love can be as dangerous as a tidal wave; an ocean of lust can be as treacherous as a hurricane. It is painful when you fail to attract the one you love, yet it is even more unbearably painful when you succumb easily to other temptations after winning the one you love.

True love does not distinguish time, place religion or race. No matter when or where people are suffering, if we can see, hear and reach them, we should do our best to help them without asking for anything in return. We should offer our pure love even to people with whom we do not have a special relationship, and we should have the compassion to share in the unhappiness of others. The desires of ordinary people can never be satisfied. The desires for material comforts and carnal pleasures in life are like waves, coming one after another. This is the source of unhappiness.

ACTIONS ARE WORTH MORE THAN WORDS

We must be careful about what we are going to say. We must make sure our words will be reasonable, inspiration and helpful. You should always keep your mind free from anxiety, cultivate healthy concepts of life, conquer worry, and shun the material desires of this world. When you have, do not be greedy for more; when you have not, do not be frustrated. This is the way to achieve mental and spiritual freedom. We can never rely on others to help cultivate our morality. We can only enjoy the fruits of enlightenment by our own efforts.

We should not forget: "No Pain, No Gain."

MONEY AND FINANCE

Our wealth is like fire: in winter, it can keep you warm; but if you get too close, it can be dangerous. If you can't let go of it, it will be like holding a piece of hot iron: you will surely get burned. Worldly fame and fortune are like ice: it looks beautiful, and it can keep your tea cool in summer; but if you hold it too long in your hands, you will suffer frostbite. People are confused: they know that fame and wealth can be dangerous, yet they are willing to be hurt. For fame and wealth, most people dishonestly flatter others. You must know that it is painful when people cannot be honest with each other. If you don't want this pain, turn your greedy heart into an honest heart. Earn your money honestly and use it in meaningful activities for the good of all. In this way, you will be happy and free. Money can hurt people, but it can also save people. We should use money to help others, and not be used by it. If the rich and powerful cannot learn to limit their desires, they will have nothing but unlimited anguish. If people cannot let go of fame and wealth, their spiritual lives will become corrupt and everything will be meaningless.

HEALTHY YET USELESS

We must always walk on the road of justice. If a person only walks on the road of evil, he is more pathetic than a person with no feet. A devil is one who blocks the road of justice, prevents people from doing good things, and breaks their commitments. The devil outside of you is not as horrible as the one inside your heart. The inner devil can disturb your sense of peace and love so that you harm others and ruin yourself.

Real Beauty Grows Naturally

If looks can be deceiving, so they say... 

then take a look at this...

Look closer... 

what do you see?

Is it an illusion?

Who would have thought that onions could fly?

Or mountains be as soft as dough...

And peas float on the red sea...

And peppers as tall as trees...

Natural beauty... is grown from nature itself... 

you only need to take a closer look to see what is real... 

a beauty so natural is what's REAL...