Song Challenge Day 19

A song from your favorite album

Bought my first album when I was in High school, it was Avril Lavigne's first album titled Let Go. I bought it with my saved money from school around Christmas time in Cebu. There weren't any good stores selling albums in Ormoc before so I was pretty excited. From then I get to buy some other albums years later like Avril's  second album, The Corr's Greatest Hits Album, Hale, Spongecola, Top Suzara, FallOut Boy and Sonicflood. Albums cost almost 500php before both locally and internationally. 

Nowadays technology offered a lot easier using the internet. I usually check an artist's album through the net and would download on torrents site. I know it's kinda illegal but then it's free and cheap. My currently fave albums today are from Lorde, Zedd, Icona Pop, Imagine Dragons and etc. I dunno it's easier and there are loads of artists out there who share songs online. Still, listening to the artist live is worth spending the money on it.

Down to my favorite album, Hale's debut album would be my all time favorite. Not only that they are Filipinos but the songs are easy, fresh and reminds me of the good old days. First heard the band on a radio station and the rest was well history. Trhough them I get to meet some other people with same interests and passion for music. it was a pretty big.

Underneath the Waves reminds me of the song were you listen to before going to bed. I think the song talks about being in love and well trusting each other. The person is telling his/her partner that he/she is ready to take their relationship on the next level. He/She is telling him/her that they will face what consequences that may come... ahhhh such a sweet song. 

There wasn't any official video of this but the one who edited below did a good job.

Lyrcis:

The stars beneath the stars
They tell me you're a secret
And everytime
I wake up in the morning
Rain is falling down on me
I feel free

You caught me by surprise
I ask you to believe me
Without a lie
We'll never have to say or feel we're sorry
Don't say we're sorry
Soon you'll see

I'm learning
I'm learning from you now

Stars fading
Free falling into you

This time i'm sure what i'm looking for
And that's what i want you to know
And i won't ever let you go

Underneath the waves
I can feel you underneath the waves

It's all been said and done to me i know it
Just let me have a chance to prove my cause
And i don't know what lies ahead for us
In any road i'll let you come my way

And i'm ready for you now
Be ready for me know
Show me love

Read more

#BangonOrmoc

I guess you probably know the news already for days now. It’s been two weeks since the one of the strongest typhoon had hit my dear country and left hundreds of damages, debris and death. The super typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan hit the Philippines last November 8,2013. The route of the typhoon mostly hit the eastern part of the Visayan island group around 8 in the morning Philippine time. The cities and towns of Leyte including Tacloban, Palo and Ormoc were hit and well chaos turned over leaving also questions to what happen, who to blame and the actions of the national government.

a motivational sign that stood amidst the ruins [pic from instagram]

During the date I was in Cebu at home fresh from my night shift duty. It started raining earlier but was still manageable. The winds got stronger around 10 AM but yeah was reluctant enough to be inside, safe and dry. It lasted 2-3 hours and during the afternoon it mostly drizzled. My brother and I started contacting my folks since we knew that Ormoc is usually passed by typhoons yet no replies or calls since the evening. Didn’t panic yet until the images and video posts emerged from the net later that night, then I was getting worried.
 
The feeling of panic when you can’t contact from your loved ones from more than 24 hours is a torture. It’s like a fucked up time bomb. Your mind creeping to things morbid. I despise it. Still can remember those three days without any news from them, mostly images and videos from reporters weren’t helping. I was able to contact one aunt but was weak due to some family issues they have so still no idea if my folks were ok.

 
Finally my father replied with “Ok ra mi but wala na atop” (We’re fine but we have no roof). It did sounded like my father so yeah it was great to hear from them. I was then able to contact the rest of the relatives hours later. My parents were chill enough but my aunts weren’t, some of them sounded panicky. You don’t want to sit next to a panicky person, sucks big time and contagious too. Thanks to them, I was on a frenzied mode of helping out and just be at home straight away. My parents were against it but I insisted. I was torn between going home or not since rumors of looting during ship docking spread like wild fire. It made me angry hearing some of it. According to the media, Tacloban was a war zone filled with people that were desperate for survival even led to some killings and rape. I don’t know it was a shocker but knowing mostly Tacloban people have this “indifferent” attitude I guess. Don’t get me wrong, I have friends who are Warays (People of Tacloban due to the dialect they spoke) but mostly they have this ego which I don’t like to describe it further. Yet these people are peace loving.

Together with the brother, we headed to Ormoc day 5 after the Yolanda incident.

the pier and first shot when I arrived

the city park [ pic from twitter]

the roofless city terminal which is located near the pier [pic from twitter]

The port and the pier looked like a giant garbage wasteland from the docks. No trees, everything was a mess icluding the park and the heat was killing it. The city was even more devastating to look at seeing that every structure, house or commercial space, was a victim. good thing they opened the fire hydrants around the area for water . The wet market along with some grocery stores were on business but with limited time due to no electtricity. Banks were slowly having transactions during day 6 after yolanda.

view from the neighborhood in Mejia

my house with the brother on the it

the neighbor's house across the street

During the night, it was creepily quite. Although we have the moon to shed some light on, the city was awkwardly silent. Some fire hydrants had this scheduled availability for water so mostly my job was to bring water and the schedule was around 7 in the evening, yep dark.

my grandmother's home in Linao which was blocked by trees

inside my grandmother's home, the floor covered in water

There were lines everywhere if you want to buy anything from grocery, hardware and gasoline but mostly Ormocanons were patient enough. People were manageable I guess since the former typhoon Uring (Ormoc Flash Flood) which hit Ormoc last November 5, 1991 was heavier. Uring swept the city with floods that left 5 thousand killed. After that, bridges and dams were maximized and ever since no heavy floods have been reported. People told me that Yolanda was stronger  and more destructive than Uring but the casualties were only 30. They were ready enough and my folks survived it.

the waiting line on Gaisano Riverside, a mall and grocery store

the city Maternity Hospital which was perished

trees torn down along the gates of the city church

The only unruly settlement was the relief goods. Its been 6 days since the typhoon and not a batch of relief goods came. The media and some people were in desperate for help and thus came the questions of the unfit from the national government.  It took a week for the goods to arrive in Ormoc.

I hate politics but it was too much. The president was mostly blaming the local governments in Leyte of the unpreparedness. The people were prepared but didn’t expect of how strong it was. Reasons behind delayed of the goods were due to the DSWD who again repacks them with seals from elected officers where in fact the people were the one who brought them, not having enough vehicles to bring the goods where in fact during last election, the candidates were able to reach the smallest roads with their campaign and just keeping the goods on factories until they were spoiled or perished due to rain.  Some of the officials had made a fool of themselves against international medias like CNN and BBC. The interviews led to how dirty Philippine Politics is and made some unruly responses from Filipinos across the world. It’s about time for the whole world to know and yes I guess they were challenged big time. They were loads of issues being raised but then our own media can be biased against it all.

There were hundreds of people from northern Leyte fled to safer cities like Cebu and Manila. Every terminal and dock were packed with people. Even when we were leaving for Cebu, the pier had become an evacuation center for some waiting for the scheduled boats to arrive.

people scavenge for electricity to contact their loved ones [pic from child fund]

Spent just 3 days at home but I wasn’t that devastated. I witnessed the people I came from are stronger and that the goodness of humanity still exist. Ormoc may not be a glamorous city but its people have strong fighting spirits. Even under the heat and finding ways of rebuilding homes, people still managed to joke around and smile. They still also managed to help each other especially on neighboring communities. My photos posted aren’t enough to say how much it felt like being there. To my fellow Ormocanons, I salute you! Survivors twice in the making.

Read more

Song Challenge Day 18

A Song That You Wish You Heard on the Radio

This song is pretty catchy! Discovered this song while surfing through youtube on some similar pages area. When a saw the trailer of a That Awkward Moment movie, this song was also featured. So I guess I should appreciate it more hehehe. Miles Teller is on that movie too! Love that guy ^^

I knew the band before with their Best Song Ever. The video is hilarious as well. I didn't quite notice them when I heard this song first. Well the chorus part is addictive once you get to hear it. It has the same jingle that just sticks to your head.

My thoughts for this song would be that it's has a pretty good jingle and tune. For its meaning, just people who have a good time with each others company. In spite of all the difficulties each of has go through, it's nice to share it with people who matter.

Lyrics:

‘member what you said to me?
We were fading heavily
On the rooftop stumbling
We’re our own worst enemies

Cause my drunken heart’s like an overflowing cup
I got too much love, too much love

We got drunken hearts (eh, eh)
And don’t know how to stop (eh,eh)
Cause we got drunken hearts (eh, eh)
And don’t know how to stop our drunken hearts

We go out, like, every night
Making out and picking fights
And even though I know it’s bad
You’re a good problem to have

Cause my drunken heart’s like an overflowing cup
I got too much love, too much love

We got drunken hearts (eh, eh)
And don’t know how to stop (eh,eh)
Cause we got drunken hearts (eh, eh)
And don’t know how to stop our drunken hearts
Our drunken hearts, yeah

My drunken heart’s like an overflowing cup
I got too much love and then I spill it
My drunken heart’s like an overflowing cup
I got too much love and then I spill it
Our drunken hearts, they’re like overflowing cups
We got too much love, too much love

We got drunken hearts (eh, eh)
And don’t know how to stop (eh,eh)
Cause we got drunken hearts (got drunken hearts)
And don’t know how to stop our drunken hearts (know how to stop)

My drunken heart’s like an overflowing cup
I got too much love and then I spill it
My drunken heart’s like an overflowing cup
I got too much love and then I spill it
Our drunken hearts, they’re like overflowing cups
We got too much love

Read more

Day 17: A Song That You Hear Often On the Radio

PS: Since I lost my prevoius song challenge list, I continued this one with the last day. So yeah this list makes up almost a year to complete ha!

I listen to the radio during mornings, preferably after i woke up during my 6a duty shifts. There are only three stations that I listen to: Monster Radio 105.9, Y101 and Home Radio 106.7 The rest of the stations are not that  you know surpass my taste in music.

Enough about that, the impotant os the song I usually hear. Well nowadays, The Script's Millionaires got me hearing and thinking. I just saw the video and yes it did well based on it's lyrics. I think almost anyone can relate to this song too.

I guess each of everyone of us feels like being rich when were in love. Even after all the noise on a Saturday night, you will always know that there is someone waiting for your at each end of the day. It's sweet and the video has the straight right up version of it.

Lyrics:

They're kicking us out saying it's time to close
We're leaning on each other try'na beat the cold
Carry your shoes and I give you my coat
Walking these streets like they're paved gold
Make many more excuses not to go
Neither one of us want to take that taxi home

ref.
Singing our hearts out, standing on chairs
Spending the time like we were millionaires
Laughing our heads off, the two of us there
Spending the time like we were millionaires
Millionaires
ooohoh ooohoh

Lost my heart and I hope to die
Seeing that sunlight hit your eyes
Been up all night but you still look amazing to me
Yeah,
Half the time of the night you only dream about
If God came down he could take me now
Cause in my mind, yeah we will always be

ref.
Singing our hearts out, standing on chairs
Spending our time like we were millionaires
Laughing our heads off, the two of us there
Spending the time like we were millionaires
Millionaires
ooohoh ooohoh

Look at us since six in the morning
If time was money, yeah we'd be worth a fortune
I swear you may think your'e rich
You could have a million euro but you cant buy this
Look at us since six in the morning
If time was money, yeah we'd be worth a fortune
I swear you may think your'e rich
You could have a million euro but you cant buy this

bridge.
And the band was on, playing our song
We messed up the lyrics as we sing along
But we didn't care,
Cause it felt like we were the only ones there
My feet where sore, my bones were raw
They're turning off the lights, when we were shouting more
Shouting more,

ref.
Singing our hearts out, standing on chairs
Spending the time like we were millionaires
Laughing our heads off, the two of us there
Spending the time like we were millionaires
Millionaires
ooohoh ooohoh
Look at us since six in the morning
If time was money, yeah we'd be worth a fortune
I swear you may think your'e rich
You could have a million euro but you cant buy this x2

Walking these streets like their paved gold
Anymore excuses is not to go
Neither one of us want to take that taxi home

Read more

October 15, 2013

Woke up the usual and timed in for work. Second day on being a nurse with my baby patient in the pedia ICU. I was psyched to get the day over for it was my last day and was the holiday. Holiday meaning double pay for some how staying 12 hours on the hospital.
 

My patient was still awake and her mother was there. Luckily my patient was attached to an oxygen cannula and to the cardiac monitor only, so it wasn’t much of a hassle.
 

Around 8:15 am, I was done with preparing her milk and giving the meds when suddenly it started to shake. I was kinda reluctant that the earthquake would stop but it got stronger. The mother was praying then onto the Lord and held on the baby crouching herself unto the floor. Instinct brought me to keep them priority so I covered them with my body not caring of my own. I was still in calm and I could hear some of my workmates screams. I started to panic a lil when I saw some falling ceiling tiles from the hallway. This was not an ordinary shake and well I think it lasted around  a minute. Instinct drove me again that it wasn’t safe and the three of us should get out.  The mother and her child was still calm and well I just pulled out all the cables and aquapack and headed to the exit. No one was badly injured but those gruesome seconds of the deadly shake was unbearable.

 the Pedia ICU after the earthquake [pic by coworker sasa]

My hands were shaking when all the trembling was over. Good thing my patient was calm enough. My other two workmates were crying and shaking as well. All I could thing next was to provide oxygen for the baby, good thing my senior staff had already secured a portable oxygen. The Pedia Resident was there and checked the baby, said she was ok. My pregnant charge nurse decided to transfer my patient to the ER, an isolation room to be exact. Together with the resident, the baby, her mother and two of us staff nurses, we headed to the ER since my workplace was on the second floor.
 

The stairs were packed of people when we got there. Everybody was in a frenzy including patients who could walk, patients who can’t but where man carried or carried on their beds, medical staff and other people who just wanted to get out of there. The hospital doesn’t have any ramps available on floors so they man carried the beds, breaking along the way some parts of the stairs.
 

When we reached the er, thankfully the isolation room was empty and the baby was still in a calm state. I just hooked her to a portable pulse oximeter and oxygen, she was fine. I was still trying to contact my brother and cousins at home. Like always, the reception was crap. I did reached them after a couple of trys and there were fine. My pregnant charge nurse followed after us and stayed there. She wasn’t suppose to stay upstairs in case some after shocks occurred.
 

Code white was on.
 

I left my patient to the care of my charge nurse so I could help others upstairs. A few people were already on the ER with hyperventilating problems, seizures, injuries due to falling objects and fainting. It was like in a movie scene. I was asking God why during those first few minutes, and thanking Him that I was safe.
 

the entrance of the hospital [pic by coworker nico]

 

tents made from bedsheets and poles built on the parking area [pic from coworker karen]

 the outside street in front of the hospital [pic by coworker siao]

 the other side of the hospital with stable patients sitting down [pic from coworker karen]

Transferring patients who are intubated is not a joke. There were seven patients on the ICU, two weren’t intubated and two adult patients on the pedia ICU both intubated. Our patients on the pedia ICU where transferred to the ICU since it was still in place. The ICU resident in charge was indecisive if to transfer all patients downstairs. News broke out that there was fire on the 5th floor due to some voltage problem but only in a room. The smell reached on the ER when I made my way up on the second floor. The Engineering department put down the fire quickly before the Fire Extinguishers got there. The significant others of the intubated patients went berserk-ed and demanded for their loved ones to get outside. Good thing the chief IM resident was there and made most of the arrangments and decision making. We had to transfer the patients. The non intubated patients were first, followed by the stable intubated ones. We were running like mad men with oxygen tanks on hand, looking for some spare oxygen gauges and ambubags. It was an adrenaline rush! All of them were placed on parking areas and other non critical patients were place on the streets with tents on. E-karts were opened, portable suction machines lined up, doctors were in a frenzy on updating the statuses of the patients and consultants ordering non stop. There was even an emergency CS made on the ER. The administration were also there.

the scenario at the Fuente Circle, Cebu after the quake [pic by coworker keith]

 

The scenario lasted even I was off my shift. It was gruesome and amazing at the same time. You could witnessed all people work hand in hand to get all those patients safe. Even the off duty staffs and alumni were there. The aftershocks were a pain in the asses but there was nothing else to do. Time flew so quickly and all I wanted was for those aftershocks to stop. That duty was so exhausted that even at night I wasn’t able to sleep properly due to the aftershocks; which my brother and I spent it in my cousin’s house in Talamban.
 

The earthquake had the magnitude of 7.2 originally from Bohol, which was a neighboring island of Cebu. It was more lethal for the Boholanos, roads and bridges been blocked and ripped open, no clean water and electricity too. Some of the fine churches were in rumbles. Even in Cebu the Basilica de Sto Niño has it’s bell tower ruined.
 

My university in North Reclamation with the bus flattened [pic from facebook]

the different churches in Bohol that were affected by the quake [pic from facebook]

 the Sto. Niño Basilica with its bell tower in shambles [pic from yahoo]

Other casualties included houses been shattered, my own university was flattened on the ceiling including the bus. Most cars were toppled down with stones and other building debris. A recorded of a hundred people (or more) died and some twenty people still missing.
 

other parts of Cebu that were affected [pic from instagram]

 

civilians who died in a fish market in Pasil, Cebu [pic from facebook]

 It was a total disaster. Even after two days, aftershocks are still present. I guess the earth is getting old. So old that earthquakes and typhoons are often now a days. Is God’s way of revenge? I don’t think so. It’s His way that this earth is not perfect. No matter how human are well trained or well prepared for such incidents, still there are some that we couldn’t predict.

Read more

Embracing EDM

I have been a lover of music ever since elementary. Although my father preferred jazz,  I was hooked to different kinds of genre. I was a boy band fanatic (not so much), a punk wannabe yes even the screamo count, an otaku for anime song, house and rave person and an indie geek. The two later were developed during college. I usually like any song but as I grew up, the taste became picky. So listening to these different songs for years had developed to have some quite a challenge. A challenge to know who the artist when I hear a unique tune. To a sense that I just googled every lyrics to the said song or if there ain’t any, I usually record it. Thanks to some apps I can know the artist swiftly.

That’s how serious I am when it comes to music.

Enough about that, I just want to share some of my favorite EDM (electronic dance music) tracks. I can still remember the first time I heard them during college class. A classmate showed it to me and the rest was history. The song was from Daft Punk ‘s Technologic (not the actual video I saw before but this was close), it has an addictive lyrical input. Even the video was creepy. What kept me psyche was when these guys had a concert, all people where like bobbing their heads to the beat or jumping. It was having this feeling that I wanna be there in the crowd itself, badly.

Ironically house and rave were another genres which years before weren’t that into main stream. Unlike now, it’s everywhere. You can hear it now playing in radios and music channels. It also erupted to different categories like electro, progressive, deep and indie dance house tracks.

Below are my all time favorites! They are usually present on my playlist even it gets old:

Miike Snow - Pretender (Deniz Koyu Remix)

The original was kinda jazzy. Thanks to Deniz Koyu he magically made it addictive. I like playing the verse on my head and reciting the part ‘I didn’t wanna wake up but then I felt your touch’. First heard it from a friend who was generous enough to give me some songs. I owe him this song.

Porter Robinson – Language


This song is amazing! At first I was kinda hesistant but when keep on repeat it has some promise. Try imagining some tranquil japanese pond during the first part of the song and when it gets to the lower notes its like hitting a danger alarm button. He did balance the track nicely with some melow piano parts. Porter is one great talented dude. If you can check some of his live gigs you will jump for it, guaranteed!

Zedd – Codec


I adore Zedd! First heard him from beatport of his song Spectrum. It was too pop for me but then I tried checking his other works. From there I discovered some pretty good tracks. He did remixed some Skrillex songs and his Zelda tune was a good one too. Yet Codec is one I find it playing on repeat. It sounded like when the piano notes are on off key but the rest are in tune. I imagine tiny fireflies flickering wildly during that part. Plus the drop bass on the end is addictive which leads then to the first part of another track called Stache. Truly worth listening.

Mango and Andre Fraunstein ft Ludik – Disappear


This song has some good memories. Perfect chillax song after a hard day of partying. The lyrics say it all about driving on an open road where its almost sunrise, sitting next to you the person you want to spend the rest of your life with. Utterly perfect and yes I had this moment years ago.

Calvin Harris – Flashback


This guy has been around for quite a while and he sings! First heard him on the youtube suggestions and this song was playing. I never knew djs can sing but well he does. I also like the video on this one where the camera is an eye view of a person walking and partying. He did mention that he preferred to be a dj rather than a singer. I dunno his voice is perfect to some of his tracks.

Sebastian Ingrosso and Alesso – Calling


This piece here reminds me of the days where non stop partying every weekend began; wasn't a party freak like years before. I still do like the version without Ryan singing. This song lead me to some new heights and I mean it! Higher feeling of high where you just jump to the beat at the chorus. The great part was I wasn’t alone during those times, I had friends who just like to jump off the problems away.

Read more

This Blog is Alive!

Hey kiddos!

I dunno if really somebody reads this blog. Anyhow just trying to put together some peices to make this one work again...

It's been 2 years I guess since I last posted something...

Still the same but there are some major changes though like my age and the friends I surround with...

Just excited I guess to be able to post again my thoughts and rumblings. Soooooo many stuff I want to share like music, food and experiences both awesome and terrible.

I still don't get some of the links and css codes for one thing but the internet is a very big and wonderful place to find answers from.

I added some new tunes though for this blog hahahha kinda loving that one! As for the rest, I hope my blog will still be readable hahahha

Ciao for now!

Read more

Song Challenge Day 16

Day 16: A Song that You Used to Love but now Hate

Yes this song got me hook so bad for months...
Until it becomes the only song you here on the radio, tv commercials and well on people
It's becoming annoying so yeah that usually me
As for the video, well it reminds me of another song I forgot the title and little stubborn to google it.
Anyways Avicii does have some great songs too on this album
As for the lyrics, well it's not that hard to forget hahahahaha

Lyrcis:

Oh, sometimes
I get a good feeling, yeah
I get a feeling that I never, never, never, never had before, no no
I get a good feeling, yeah

Read more