1st Blog Here & on Reading...

It's a Friday and I figured that I would start another set of blogs here apart from other sites where I would occasionally write and post on.

I was thinking yesterday what would perhaps be the effect on me on having to share my thoughts here?

Sure I post em, people get to read em and I take comfort in that. But is comfort all that I get from it? Or is there something at work that I am just unaware of on a conscious level?

As a writer who dreams of being published one day, I'm currently working on a new story; having put my TOLKIEN-esque epic on hold for a more young adult themed book. I guess I'm letting myself being swept up by the trend and seeing the positive effect on readership the young adult market has had in the recent years.

Harry Potter. Twilight. Percy Jackson. Lemony Snickett. Vampire Diaries. Vampire Academy. Doomspell. Silver City Sequcnce. City of Ember. Chronicles of Narnia. Lord of the Rings.

These and other titles have been responsible for an increase in readership among young adults, and some adults as well. And this is good. In a country where reading is not that encouraged, I find it heartening to see "kids" holding on to their books and actually reading in public.

Ironically, I myself have not been a reader when I was growing up and probably would have been better if I had that much of a head start. But at the moment I'm making it up by paying it forward in different ways.

One thing, I have my own reader's group, ANNE RICE PHILIPPINES, where we meet and discuss her books and how that has influenced and prodded us on to grow and influence people, not to mention, share the love and benefits of reading. Along with that, I also give away a free book every end of the month on the DWIZ- 882 AM talk show, ECHOES OF THE HEART, that I co-host with our Ms World, Evangeline Pascual. In selecting and in giving the books that I have given, I hope to re-awaken the love for reading in the youth and perhaps even in parents so that they in turn may pass on and cultivate that love to their children.

Sadly, some youth in sectors of our society, feel that entertainment can only be derived in what they see and thus television and it's ever present drama serials are the only source of entertainment and pleasure; not to mention, education.

Our lives are dramatic enough. Must we go out in search for more, when there is so much more than just drama to be had and learned by picking up a book?

Most recently I discovered a Filipino author named Melissa De la Cruz who wrote the Blue Blood series. It's about teen vampires living in New York City. Currently there are 5 books to that series and she has also written other bestselling titles. It's success stories like these that warm my heart and inspire me to work on making that dream of being published come true.


Who knows?

Maybe I already am doing it just by blogging about it....

After watching....LOVELY BONES- 7-11-2010

       They say that once that you have been touched by death, you will carry its taint forever and will always be marked by it. No matter how long ago it has been.

        It’s been almost 3 years since Dad passed away and there is not one day that I don’t remember and mention him in my prayers and thank him for the life that I live when I begin and end each and every working day.

Watched LOVELY BONES Dvd tonight and seeing how the character’s soul tried to communicate with members of her family to help piece the clues to her murder; how she would shout from the beyond to let her Dad hear her; I am reminded for the times when I would hear my Dad’s voice in my head, how he would call me when he was still around. Sometimes it would be a whisper either to give me strength if not a reminder, for doing something that I already know would not do me any good.

It would be an echo that would ring in my head and would stop me dead in my tracks, freeze me into a state of complete and utter stoppage that I would immediately desist in whatever activity I would be engaged in; even for a few seconds. In those times, I feel like I am transported back into my home when I was a child, with only his voice echoing throughout the walls.

Before I go to sleep tonight, I felt like it was 2007 all over again and my tears flow and continue to streak down my face and cheeks as I write this on a notepad, later to be transcribed on my laptop...

Although seeing the scenes of the afterlife depicted in the film reminded me of a film that I loved some years back entitled, What Dreams May Come, I couldn't help but think how it was for my Father when he translated to a higher plane and how much he wanted to convey his messages to us; his continued dreams for us the living members of his family.

I am prodded to ask then what exactly a soul’s dream is when it starts its human and physical existence here on Earth. Is it merely to experience the sensations of a physical and material universe? Or is it to bring back to the afterlife what it has learned here on Earth and add it to the nature and evolution of the Universe.

Could Dad like me, be jotting down the notes of his life, chronicling them day by day and later to be submitted for its revision, if not, approval which is not far from a being a corporate report on meetings that most of us be required to do on certain days of the week?

Its pensive moments like these that I am reminded to take note and take stock of the life that I lead; not in anticipation of the life that follows this but to fill the notepads of our lives so that when called upon to share, we may each do our part and add to the essence of the Universe.

Then again, how can we not?

For we are part of it and comes from it; the parts of a whole learning to do its part, perform the role it has been created for; before returning to the whole to complete the entire picture.

Thank you Dad for my life.

Thank you Universe for giving me life.

Thank you Life for the days that I learn to spend my journey...in Love and in Wisdom.

Thank you to the mediums that have come and continue to come into my life so that I may attain and further myself along this life’s journey to achieve one’s Highest Good, and be in touch with my Higher Self.

Blessed Be! 

My song,"HOW CAN I" on Totally Fresh Cut

Just letting ya guys know that my song,"How Can I" was currently chosen as part of Dream Fm's Totally Fresh Cut. Hope ya all can tune in and listen to it.

The song is just one of the songs featured in my upcoming album release, "LOVE HAS FOUND ME."

Thanks in advance for the support.

You can check out my other songs at www.myspace.com/cazme

Anne Rice Video Books- Repost from PEREZ HILTON

Repost from- PEREZ HILTON


Anne Rice, author of Interview With a Vampire and other favorite vampire tales is taking her literature to the next level: video books!

The author had just signed a deal with video book company Vook to turn her book The Master of Rampling Gate into a multimedia experience. Basically, Vooks integrate text, video and social networking into your reading experience. Anne explained she was excited to see how the technology will bring her over 25 year old story to a new generation:

"Vook represents a very exciting combination of new technological elements, that I think is long overdo in publishing. I'm excited that The Master of Rampling Gate is going to have new life in this form, and cannot wait to see the finished product. I'm not sure that my mind can conceive of all the possibilities of this new form. I'm learning. And it feels good."

Sounds like it could be a lot of fun for die hard fans, if nothing else.

Seriously, Twilighters: how come you guys don't have cool shiz like this? Wouldn't you just love a new way to girlishly squeal over a the story you've read over 400 times?!

Come and get it: Tickets for RENT 2010- FEB 7, 2010

RENT, the phenomenal rock musical with the hit song "Seasons of Love" is coming to Manila this February 2010!!!

RENT swept all the major theater awards of 1996 including the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, the Obie Award, the New York Drama Critics Circle Award, four Tony Awa...rds, and three Drama Desk Awards.

CAST:

Gian Magdangal as songwriter Roger Davis
Fred Lo as filmmaker Mark
Nicole Laurel Asensio/Cara Barredo as dancer Mimi
OJ Mariano as Tom Collins
Carla Guevara-Laforteza as Maureen Johnson
Noel Rayos as Benny
Job Bautista as Angel Schunard
Jenny Villegas as Joanne
Ensemble members: Gugi Lorenzana, Johann Dela Fuente, Raul Montesa, Gary Junsay, Ring Antonio, Peachy Atilano and Anna Santamaria


TICKET PRICES:

Orchestra Center - 1700
Orchestra Side - 1600
Loge Center - 1400
Loge Sides - 1100
Balcony - 800

February 7, 2010, 8:00PM (Sunday) at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza in Makati

Tickets for the show are now available. To reserve or purchase, please see the following contact details:
- Mobile: 0917.8394314 (JD), 0917.5354711 (Wendi)

- E-mail: rentbroadwaymanila@gmail.com

- Website: http:// http://rentbroadwaymanila.blogspot.com/

- Seat Plan: http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0ApQTNyYisHONdHJEOWR4aHlWQTEwTmMzMU1aU0NWeXc&hl=en

Come and get it: Tickets for RENT 2010- FEB 7, 2010

RENT, the phenomenal rock musical with the hit song "Seasons of Love" is coming to Manila this February 2010!!!

RENT swept all the major theater awards of 1996 including the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, the Obie Award, the New York Drama Critics Circle Award, four Tony Awards, and three Drama Desk Awards.

CAST:

Gian Magdangal as songwriter Roger Davis
Fred Lo as filmmaker Mark
Nicole Laurel Asensio/Cara Barredo as dancer Mimi
OJ Mariano as Tom Collins
Carla Guevara-Laforteza as Maureen Johnson
Noel Rayos as Benny
Job Bautista as Angel Schunard
Jenny Villegas as Joanne
Ensemble members: Gugi Lorenzana, Johann Dela Fuente, Raul Montesa, Gary Junsay, Ring Antonio, Peachy Atilano and Anna Santamaria


TICKET PRICES:

Orchestra Center - 1700
Orchestra Side - 1600
Loge Center - 1400
Loge Sides - 1100
Balcony - 800

February 7, 2010, 8:00PM (Sunday) at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza in Makati

Tickets for the show are now available. To reserve or purchase, please see the following contact details:
- Mobile: 0917.8394314 (JD), 0917.5354711 (Wendi)

- E-mail: rentbroadwaymanila@gmail.com

- Website: http:// http://rentbroadwaymanila.blogspot.com/

- Seat Plan: http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0ApQTNyYisHONdHJEOWR4aHlWQTEwTmMzMU1aU0NWeXc&hl=en

New Moon Photo Contest

Who would have thought that posing for and expressing your love, fascination & adoration for a series could be this exciting or in this case full of incentive. Unless your just coming out from hibernation, you would have known that the past couple of weeks, before the metro was gripped with horrific accounts of dynastic family cruelty, the metro was beset by the equally gripping and anticipated arrival of a very successful franchise. Yup, New Moon has arrived. Fans of the series, new and old, have all flocked to the cinemas wanting to see their beloved Edward once more and for some to get acquainted with Jacob and the pack from La Push. As I am guilty of the same, fans of the series can be seen taking a snapshot of the movie standees outside the cinema, enacting and striking their best Bella, Edward or Jacob pose. But just in case you didn’t know, those poses can actually be beneficial to you if you put it to good use.

You see there is an ongoing contest on the newest social networking site, Fizzer.Ph.  The prize? Oh just a cool Canon 450D Rebel Digital Camera complete with lenses and joining it is as easy as pie. Of course, one would have to sign up first on the site, making sure that you are a Filipino and of legal age. Get to know the site and upload a photo of you that is Twilight inspired. Some of the members have already uploaded their own poses ranging from having a Moon as your backdrop, colored it sepia and thus reveal your own lineage from La Push. Or you may also keep the sepia theme and with your best tank top and hair down stand just like Bella in anticipation of the fate that awaits you and brace for Edward’s arrival. Two of my fellow Twilight Coven Philippines members, Penny and Ginnie have already uploaded their photos and are raking in the votes. You can vote for them and the other entries by just clicking the Vote button at the bottom of their entry pictures and give them the rating you feel the photo deserves. The photo with the most number of star wins. Easy, right?

Now apart from registering on the site and making sure that your photo is Twilight inspired which means either, it’s vampiric, wolfish or otherwordly if not ethereal, your photo should exactly be 382 by 500 pixels and it has not been posted anywhere else on the net. So that means no Facebook, No Multiply, Friendster, Myspace, Flicker, PhotoBucket and others of the like.  Bear in mind that the contest ends on Decemer 20th at exactly 10am; just before the forecasted New Moon on the 26th  and the Blue Moon on the 31st. Sorry, can’t help it. I love looking at the moon.  So don’t be like me just gazing at the moon at night, go join the contest, take your snapshot and get yourself that Canon 450D Rebel Digital Camera this Holiday Season.

If not let me know, I sure could use some company looking up at the moon. Besides we still have ECLIPSE and BREAKING DAWN to look forward to. :)