Dancing with a “Machine”?

Yah! It’s true. I couldn’t help it. I guess I’m now addicted to it. Wondering who am I talking? It’s the game called Dance Revo. I maybe old or shall I say out-to-date to play this game but who cares, I’m enjoying it dancing to the beat of the music while following those arrows left and right on the tv screen of this machine. It is really a wonderful and fun-filled experience especially if you played it together with your friends and family.

Looking back, Dance Dance Revolution (DDR) is a music video game series produced by Konami in 1998. It was first introduced to Japanese video arcade and since then it became a popular game in Japan. After being shown in Tokyo Game Show on that same year, it gained a significant popularity in other countries. These include the Philippines when DDR was introduced by Timezone in Glorietta 4 in Metro Manila on May 1999. It gained positive response to Filipinos young and not-so- young and became the number one game in Glorietta. DDR became a widespread game also to other malls around the Philippines. It even has media coverage and featured in Saksi, Sports Unlimited and TV Patrol and made different contests out of it by different organizations like the UP Crest last December 14, 1999 and in Eat Bulaga last January 2000. Truly, DDR is one of the phenomenon games for the Filipinos.

The popularity of DDR spread and played not only in the Arcade but even at your very own house. It could serve as bonding session for every family. Just imagine your Dad, Mom, “Kuya”,”Ate”, “bunso” and even your “Lolo or Lola playing together, enjoying and laughing with each other. Wow! That’s a very cool scene don’t you think? And for those Ladies out there who want to get slim, DDR could be one form of exercise with of course along with proper diet.

I have known that Filipinos besides singing loves to dance. But most are shy and timid to do it especially in front of an audience and also because they don’t know the steps to take to coincide with a song or shall I say being a choreographer is not there thing. Well, DDR is for you! Like me, I really love dancing. And I could only do this every time there are special events in school and most are with a choreographer. I really miss those days, but now that I have tried DDR, my adrenaline sore high while playing with it. If you don’t believe it try it and you’ll surely love it.

ZOGIAC SIGNS

You want to know who you are based on your zodiac signs? Here it is...

VIRGO - The Perfectionist (Aug 24-Sept 22)
Dominant in relationships. Conservative. Always wants the last word. Argumentative. Worries. Very smart. Dislikes noise and chaos. Eager. Hardworking. Loyal. Beautiful. Easy to talk to. Hard to please. Harsh. Practical and very fussy. Often shy. Pessimistic.

SCORPIO - The Intense One (Oct 24 - Nov 22)
Very energetic. Intelligent. Can be jealous and/or possessive. Hardworking. Great kisser. Can become obsessive or secretive. Holds grudges. Attractive. Determined. Loves being in long relationships. Talkative. Romantic. Can be self-centered at times. Passionate and Emotional.

LIBRA - The Harmonizer (Sept 23 - Oct 23)
Nice to everyone they meet. Can't make up their mind. Have own unique appeal. Creative, energetic, and very social. Hates to be alone. Peaceful, generous. Very loving and beautiful. Flirtatious. Give in too easily. Procrastinators. Very gullible.

ARIES – TheDaredevil (Mar 21-April20)
Energetic. Adventurous and spontaneous. Confident and enthusiastic. Fun. Loves a challenge. EXTREMELY impatient. Sometimes selfish. Short fuse. (easily angered.) Lively, passionate, and sharp wit. Outgoing. Lose interest quickly - easily bored. Egotistical. Courageous and assertive. Tends to be physical and athletic.

AQUARIUS - The Sweetheart ( Jan 21-Feb 18)
Optimistic and honest. Sweet personality. Very independent. Inventive and intelligent. Friendly and loyal. Can seem unemotional. Can be a bit rebellious. Very stubborn, but original and unique. Attractive on the inside and out. Eccentric personality.

GEMINI - The Chatterbox (May 22-Jun 21)
Smart and witty. Outgoing, very chatty. Lively, energetic. Adaptable but needs to express themselves. Argumentative and outspoken. Likes change. Versatile. Busy, sometimes nervous and tense. Gossips. May seem superficial or inconsistent, But is only changeable. Beautiful physically and mentally.

LEO - The Boss (Jul 23- Aug 23)
Very organized. Need order in their lives - like being in control. Like boundaries. Tend to take over everything. Bossy. Like to help others. Social and outgoing. Extroverted. Generous, warm-hearted. Sensitive. Creative energy. Full of themselves. Loving. D oing the right thing is important to Leos. Attractive.

CANCER - The Protector (Jun 22-Jul 22)
Moody, emotional. May be shy. Very loving and caring. Pretty/handsome. Excellent partners for life. Protective. Inventive and imaginative. Cautious. Touchy-feely kind of person. Needs love from others. Easily hurt, but sympathetic.

PISCES - The Dreamer (Feb 19 -Mar 20)
Generous, kind, and thoughtful. Very creative and imaginative. May become secretive and vague. Sensitive. Don't like details. Dreamy and unrealistic. Sympathetic and loving. Kind. Unselfish. Good kisser. Beautiful.

CAPRICORN - The Go-Getter (Dec 22- Jan 20)
Patient and wise. Practical and rigid. Ambitious. Tends to be good-looking. Humorous and funny. Can be a bit shy and reserved. Often pessimists. Capricorns tend to act before they think and can be unfriendl y at times. Hold grudges. Like competition. Get what they want.

TAURUS - The Enduring One (April 21-May 21)
Charming but aggressive. Can come off as boring, but they are not. Hard workers. Warm-hearted. Strong, has endurance. Solid beings who are stable and secure in their ways. Not looking for shortcuts. Take pride in their beauty. Patient and reliable. Make great friends and give good advice. Loving and kind. Loves hard - passionate. Express themselves emotionally. Prone to ferocious temper-tantrums. Determined. Indulge themselves often. Very generous.

SAGITTARIUS - The Happy-Go-Lucky One (Nov 23 - Dec 21)
Good-natured optimist. Doesn't want to grow up (Peter Pan Syndrome). Indulges self. Boastful. Likes luxuries and gambling. Social and outgoing. Doesn't like responsibilities. Often fantasizes. Impatient. Fun to be around. Having lots of friends. Flirtatious. Doesn't like rules. Sometimes hypocritical. Dislikes being confined - tight spaces or even tight clothes. Doesn't like being doubted. Beautiful inside and out.

You may believe it or not but most are true. Am I right?

My Mom taught me……

To love God and believe in God. Mom never misses to go to church every Sunday. She would tell us that going to church are one way to show our love to Him. At night I could see her praying before going to bed. She would tell us that she prays to God to thank Him, ask for forgiveness and ask to make her family safe and sound everyday. She would tell us the story about her being in the bridge of death and how God grant her prayer to keep her alive for we were still young then and no one would take good care of us. And whenever our family faces problems she would tell us to hang on, for God will make a way for us to overcome this. As I grow up and commit mistake not only to her but most of all to God, I wonder why God still give me good things in life. And it cross my mind, now I know my Mom prays for me.

To forgive and not to keep hatred in your heart. Mom would just smile and still accept those people who wronged her. Saying bad things about her despite the goodness she has bestowed upon them in times when they need it the most. I always ask my Mom why she still helps those kinds of people and she would always tell us that whoever they are, whatever they have done to you, you shouldn’t close your doors to anyone who need help. Just extend your goodness and love to others, be forgiving as God forgives you and let not hatred ruined your life.

To be honest and trustworthy. Since I was young Mom would always tell me to tell the truth always so that people will trust me. Trust is what keeps people together and once it’s broken it is hard to bring back. It is also one of the causes why many relationships turn apart. Now that I am old enough and have a job, I have known that being trustworthy is what companies expected of their employee. It is also one factor why I have many friends who trusted me with their secrets.

To practice cleanliness at all times. Mom is the best for me in doing household chores. Since she was young until she got married she makes sure that everything around her is clean. From the floor to the ceiling she always has her way of doing things done. She would always tell me to practice cleanliness at home or wherever I go not only to one’s place but also to one’s self. It is one way of taking good care of one’s self and to your family. She would also tell me that it is also a preparation for me when I will have a family of my own.

To be open-minded, understanding, and patient. We are siblings of three, each of us differs in many ways and there comes a time when we commit mistakes and hurt her. Whenever we do this, Mom would patiently listen to us first; understand the reason behind it before making any judgment. She would explain to us that it’s ok to make mistakes but we should learn from it and don’t do it again. She would always tell us that in making any decisions we should always keep in mind that there is a difference between doing the right thing and doing that right thing rightly.

To be respectful. Mom would always tell me to treat each person with respect. If you want to be respected also do the same especially respect the elderly even if sometimes they are hard headed and hard to please.

To value life. Mom would always tell me that along the way, as I grow old, I will encounter many obstacle and hardships in life. Heartaches, losing someone, betrayal, loneliness are just few of the many obstacles that will test my character. And now that I have experience some of these obstacles, Mom would remind me not to give up, not to lose hope, everything will pass by. No matter how big your problem is don’t take your life in vain or never attempt to commit suicide just to escape from it, Mom would tell me. Just trust in God hold on to Him and at the end of it all are countless blessings.

In the past, I don’t understand and sometimes get irritated why my Mom keeps on reminding me about these things but now that I am getting older and have a child, without me knowing it I could say that I’m like my mother keep on reminding my child about what Mom would always tell me. Without my Mom, I don’t know if I will be the person that I am today that is why on this very special day, I want to share that the “Best Mother of All” is…My MOM.

Filipino’s Favorite Past Time – VIDEOKE

Filipino’s are known as “music lovers”. Music like POP, RNB, Alternative, Novelty Songs and music from all genres name it Filipinos can sing. And one of the means where they could express their love for music is through Karaoke (nowadays Videoke).

The word "karaoke" comes from joining two Japanese words: ' Kara'(empty) and 'Okie' (short for orchestra). “Empty” because the voice of the original singer is removed and only the songs music is played. It is like listening to an orchestra. But unlike Orchestra, in karaoke people from all walks of life can sing with this music through microphone following the words displayed on a screen or in a lyric book. Originally, karaoke was invented by a Japanese named Daisuke InoueKobe, Japan. After becoming popular in Japan, karaoke spread to East and Southeast Asia in during the 1980s and subsequently to other parts of the world in its modern state. But did you know that a Filipino named Roberto del Rosario, a Filipino inventor who called his sing-along system "Minus-One", now holds the copyrights for the device now commonly known as the "karaoke machine". This is because Inoue never bothered to copyrights his invention and after a decade of court battle with a Japanese company which claimed to have invented the system, del Rosario's copyrights were issued in 1983 and 1986. Knowing this, no wonder why karaoke is one of Filipino’s favorite forms of entertainment and relaxation.

Filipino’s young and old alike, professional singers or not, has a golden voice or trying hard, whenever they have the time they spend some hours just to have videoke with friends and colleagues. They could go to videoke bars, or just plug and play their DVD’s with their favorite songs at their very own house. Not only this because of the technology advancement you could also have videoke through internet, cell phone and even in your car.

During celebration, having videoke is now a tradition for many Filipinos may it be a birthday party, fiesta, Christmas celebration and so forth. Filipinos are indeed not only a music lover but music is part of their life

The Most Wonderful Gift from God

Many would tell me that having a baby without a husband is the worst thing that ever could happen to a woman. I disagree. Because when Chelsea came, I could say she came in to my life in the right time and place. She fills the emptiness in me and gives directions in my life. She’s my very pride and joy.

She changes the ways of my family. Not only does she brightens up our days but also gives laughter and keep our family closer together. Each day, seeing Chelsea grows up so beautiful and bubbly gives my heart an overwhelming joy. And wonder why GOD gives me this wonderful gift of life. GOD is really good and does wonderful things.

Now it's yours. What is the most wonderful gift you have received from GOD?