Monthly Archives: July 2011

Life is Like a Cup of Coffee

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Today, I want to share to you a little story, which was also shared by an old classmate of mine… It is a great read.  I hope you guys will like it.

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Life is Like a Cup of Coffee

Spiritual Story by Unknown (from here)

A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor. Conversations soon turned into complains about work and life.

Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups – porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite – telling them to help themselves to the coffee.

When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said: “If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups have been taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones.  While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress.

Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee.  In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink.  What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups… And then you began eyeing each other;s cups.

Now consider this: Life is the coffee; the jobs, money and position in society are the cups.  They are just tools to hold and contain Life, and the type of cup we have does not define, nor change the quality of life we live.

Sometimes, by concentrating only in the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee.  Savor the coffee, not the cups!  The happiest people don;t have the best of everything.  They just make the best of everything.  Live simply.  Love generously.  Care deeply.  Speak kindly.”

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Hope you guys loved the story as much as I have.  Again, I did not write this story ( as much as I want to take credit for it ), but the credit goes to the author of this story, albeit we don’t know who he is.  Also, credit goes to http://www.spiritual-short-stories.com and also to my old classmate, Harold Lu, for sharing this story with us.

Avatar: The Legend of Korra [trailer]

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Sometime last year, I mentioned in one of my blog post about Nickelodeon’s plan to create a spin-off/sequel for its successful cartoon series “Avatar: The Last Airbender“.  Now I present to you the official trailer for the sequel, currently titled “The Legend of Korra“.

 Just to give you a brief background, The Legend of Korra takes place 70 years after the end of the The Last Airbender story arc.  Korra, the new Avatar after Aang, is a rebellious water bender from the Southern water tribe, the same tribe that Katara and Sokka was from (The Last Airbender characters.).  Anyway, for more details regarding Korra and the new cartoon series, please click here.

Anyway, here’s the trailer… Enjoy! (Also, a pic of Korra)

Jefferson and Kurt Bringas

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Take a look at these guys, Jefferson and Kurt Bringas.  I found this video, by accident. And after listening to their story, I truly feel for them.  Their story is really touching.  I just had to share this with you.

From what they told us, Kurt has cancer of the bones.  And his brother has always been there to support him.  And despite everything that they have been through, you can see in their faces that they haven’t given up hope.  I really hope that they win this competition.  I am rooting for them.

Here is a video of their audition for the talent show, Pilipinas Got Talent.

fishing time @ Co-Jordan

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Last Saturday, July 9, 2011, “Team Nat” went to another team-building activity.  The venue, Co-Jordan Pond Seafood Restaurant.

Co-Jordan is located somewhere in the vicinity of Consolacion, Cebu.  I’m not really sure of the name of the place but it is located near Consolacion Community College and Redwood Subdivision (I think it’s name is Redwood).  It’s a nice, quiet place… a little secluded and the ambiance is relaxing.

To get there, you can ride a jeepney bound for Lilo-an and stop just near the place where the new SM Mall in Consolacion is being constructed.  Afterwards, you can ride a tricycle from there, for P10 fare, and tell them you are heading to Co-Jordan.  It’s quite easy to get there actually.

Anyway, we departed IT Park at around 7:00 am and arrived about an hour after at the fishing place.  At first glance, you will see that the design of the place is just very simple… its like seeing a collection of bahay-kubo in one area.  now, I’ve been to other fishing area sites here in Cebu but Co-Jordan’s atmosphere is totally different from the others I’ve been to.

So, after arriving, we rented out a big cottage worth P500.  it was quite nice… it had a hammock on one corner, a videoke machine and even a rocking chair.  Truly, a place for you to relax.  Then we rented out some fishing poles @ P10 each, bought fish bait @ P10 each also and same price also for the fish feeds.  Then we started catching our prey for lunch.

After an hour of catching bangus (milk-fish), we were able to get around 10 kg. worth.  Well, I guess its due to the fact that we were still the only people in the place.  So, we took our haul and had the people there clean it up and serve it.

All in all, it was a great experience.  We had fun, and we were able to relax after a week of hard work.  Food is also great, especially the kinilaw.  The place is very decent.  The attendants are accomodating.  Given the chance, I will definitely take my family there next time.

Here are some pictures we took from there (credits goes to Leah and Ivy).

Movie Review: 13 Assassins

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The last time I felt good watching a classic Samurai film was Seven Samurai, which was directed by Akira Kurosawa.  There were other movies with similar settings that I have watched, but none compares to the latest one I just saw, 13 Assassins (Jûsan-nin no shikaku).

13 Assassins, directed by legendary filmmaker Takashi Miike, tells the tale of Shimada Shinzaemon and his 12 men, as they accomplish the mission set to them, to kill the young, cruel son of the former Shogun, Lord Naritsugu.  This movie is a remake of an old 1963 black-and-white Japanese movie, with the same title, by Eiichi Kudo.

The premise of the story is quite simple actually: Set in Feudal Japan, a well respected clan takes in a new leader, the cruel, younger son of the former Shogun, Lord Naritsugu.  Naritsugu commits whatever violent acts he could think of… rape, murder.  Despite all this, no one dares to defy him because he is protected by his position.  A member of the Shogun’s council then hires Shinzaemon, and gives him a mission: to assasinate Lord Naritsugu before he joins the council.  Shinzaemon, together with a few chosen men, then defy the odds and sacrifices their lives in order to fulfill the task assigned to them.  The last part of the movie culminates with Shinzaemon and his men, fighting in a village against 200 of Lord Naritsugu’s men, lead by his old rival, Hanbei.

Personally, I really, really, really, really, REALLY LOVED IT!  The story maybe simple, but how the director described it in the movie was great.  Also, this is the first Samurai movie I have watched that does not use the usual “anime-style” way of spilling blood whenever you cut someone with  a blade.  Well, at least the way the blood flows in the movie is much realistic than the movie Azumi, not that I have anything against that movie.

The movie also shows to the audience how samurai’s act during those times and how important honor is for them.  For Hanbei’s case, he knows that the master he serves is evil yet despite all that, he follows his vow to protect his lord at the cost of his life.

The actors played their roles well, despite most of us not recognizing any of them.  Some of the characters are memorable, especially Shinzaemon’s student.  Some also offer some funny moments in the movie.

All in all, I give the movie 4.5 out of 5.  This movie is now available in DVD and Blu-ray.  Check out the trailer below, as well as a link to their website.

site: http://www.13assassins.com/

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