Life today is really very tough. It’s more than the queues you always bump into in any government offices. While others could not feel it, it could sound arguable for me that even the least finesse I had was overhauled heaving the weeks that went by. Tough things were never the same. Strenuousness of everyday games wasn’t momentarily felt that the aftermaths had still fretted me for sometimes. It seemed I had been sporting all day long without that complacency unmindful that resting should have been the last leg of it all.

Life’s in the fast lane. But, where does the trip lead us? It’s all but an endless cycle of gone-bys.

It’s a never ending challenge for me making sense my daily classroom lessons to students who easily get bored with the mimicry of ideas they used to when they were yet elementary and high school. Teaching the broader perspective of literature is never fun without new media or without innovation. Take this instance, my nephew, Mojo, aged five who’s ever engrossed to watching HBO and Cartoon Network breaks leg to tell to anybody the movie or show he just watched. He’ll be anxious if you would watch the movie that he just saw for he would really want to tell the story rather than you’ll do the watching. At the very onset of his preparatory year for school he’s been living up a way of advancing himself to learning the tinkling of anything fast rather than doing what we used to in a very relaxing life 10 years ago.

While I was doing a round last Sunday, July 29, in Surigao City with that same nephew, I was keenly observing what has changed in the city for the past 7 years where I had my longest stay ever. There’s nothing much changed except for the new food chains and the new university. Behind the challenges of turning big metros like Manila, Cebu and Davao into sleepless cities, Surigao City remains to be laid-back. At least, I may say that the city still offers that serene and hassle-free life much that traffic never peaks. That Sunday just gave me few stops. My first stop was the Cokaliong’s office. While I was purchasing a ticket for my Cebu trip I was really startled upon noticing that the person behind the glass of the counter beside the cashier was that same nephew smiling at me managing to reach the keyboard. He said he wanted to play with it. The least I sensed was being thankful that there was no damage. My second stop led me to Metrobank’s ATM. Again, my nephew was so quick as lightning does; he got a hold of playing the keys of the machine and the welcoming voice of the machine-operated woman made him more enticed to press the keys. He said he wanted to play with it. My third stop was the nearest internet café to load up my cellphone. Just before I could give my number that nephew had already placed himself on to the network’s server tinkling again the keys. He said he wanted to play with it. No wonder the desktop computer they had at home was unused for sometimes that’s because, according to my sister, the mother, her two kids had been playing with it unstoppably giving it the damage.

Children today seem to be unusual. They do things which are beyond our expectations. They crave for things which are not for them. They are living life in the fast lane. They easily understand things. They easily spoil milk for coffee. They boil down imagination for real-life action. That enigmatic experience with my nephew is seemingly my overtime concern with students who also grow up living in the fast lane. They easily get bored but they do not fill in the boredom to liven up the moment. They always ask for something new but they don’t interact to expound the idea. They don’t want to be reprimanded but they always do things nonpolitically. They want the laxity of life such that they don’t want to read nor study. They’re nonchalant. All they need is for them to be over-spoon-fed. They live in the fast lane and for them living with it only needs few and passing lessons, lessons which they need only for what seem to be useful for them in a given frame of time. They’re living one leg behind idling it overtime. My nephew lives in the fast lane. He’s inquisitive to what’s exactly happening in and around him. He’s always got the whys to my answer. He’s maturing fast. He’s tekkie. He’s using it for fun. He’s got the balance of everything. For him, I sense, living in the fast lane is living in high spirit to embark into the new mind cycle after a taste of innocence.

There were those traffic jams, as always, in metro Cebu. I was on way for my seminar on E-Commerce at the University of San Jose-Recoletos. Organizers were hopelessly waiting for me because it was already 5:43pm and I was still in my class at the Nursing Department of the University of Cebu in Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue and the seminar should start at 5:30. Traffic jam was everywhere much that it was the 31st of July, payday. It was 6:11pm and I was still in Mandaue City which I should take more jams before reaching Cebu City. We had to take routes which should have been less used by commuters. Finally, we reached at 6:45pm. Everybody was all set for me to start the seminar. But, technology did not permit me to start the seminar right away. My laptop did not work with me so I need to have another unit to get all started. Another laptop was secured but nobody had brought USB-SD for data transfer. Finally, I remembered that my cellphone would work with the transfer. It did. Nobody knew exactly that my presentation was done on the eleventh hour; while I was giving the prelim to my nursing students beginning at 4:30, I was also working with my presentation. It gave me a total of 99 slides. I was helpless but I needed to finish everything that I could have something to present on that evening. Ingenuity buffed me to success. The finality took me around 8:30pm but all of them were engrossed of the new idea I presented. My seminar could have been that damaging and wasteful if I did not leave one foot on the fast lane.

My nephew gave me a lesson to ponder on: Life is not always the same. Somehow, it always coils to change, and it’s faster than before. Today’s race is not anymore a walkathon but a marathon. That’s why I’m always thinking ahead of making sense doing things in the fast lane. I always make sure that whenever hiatus takes in I should be on the ball to patch it that I will always be on the road. Because of it and the cycles of gone-bys, I must not delay. Still, I need to slow down and rest awhile! #

I just happened to get a dose over the net of the which’s and why’s in the world’s new 7 wonders. The ancient world wonders had vanished long time past with the exception of the Pyramid of Giza in Egypt. The ancient wonders stood highly as a symbol of man’s great ingenuity created for the purpose of beauty and power. Today, we see wonders which count among older remains dating back the BC period which still stand amidst crises – man-made or natural. But who’s going to judge and who’s to account the existence of these wondrous wonders? Needless to answer. The judgment was done. Lisbon, Portugal proudly hosted the celebration of the 070707 moment – the unveiling of the new 7 wonders of the world.

The Idea

It was the ambitious idea of Swiss adventurer Bernard Weber to come up with a new group of 7 wonders. The campaign was launched in 1999 with Weber's Switzerland-based foundation which aims to promote cultural diversity by supporting, preserving and restoring monuments.

Within UNESCO’s list of 851 world heritage sites, LA Times reported that nearly 200 candidate sites from among those listed were chosen by Internet balloting. Further, it said that the number was scaled down by a panel of experts to 21 finalists. However, yahoo.com stated that the 21 finalists were chosen according to votes earned within the campaign period which started in 2006.

The Criterion

Choosing something fairly and squarely is one thing to be dealt with in this kind of world affair. A competition with criteria which are set justifiably reap good rave. But in this kind of competition the only criterion is popular voting.

Quoting latimes.com, “In developing countries where the Internet is taking off, such as China, millions of people enthusiastically cast votes for their favorite monuments. Since the Great Wall was one of the candidates (and a winner), it was an easy guess just where most of those votes went.

In the fabled Incan capital of Cuzco, Peru, Internet cafes reportedly had been full for weeks with supporters clicking their votes for the nearby majestic ruins of Machu Picchu.

In Jordan, Queen Rania lobbied (successfully) on behalf of the ancient red-stoned desert city of Petra.

The Spanish royals, along with Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, did their bit (unsuccessfully) to promote the candidacy of the Alhambra, the 13th century Moorish citadel in Granada.

Elsewhere, there was indifference, and even indignation.

Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, referring to the enormous volcanic-rock carvings on Chile's remote Easter Island, said: "None of us need a vote to know that Easter Island is a marvel."

Apathy and disdain apparently doomed Stonehenge, Britain's prehistoric collection of circularly arranged megaliths. "The polling arrangements" in the contest "are so flawed that they make even Eurovision Song Contest judges look objective," sniffed London's Independent newspaper.

And in Rome, the campaign never caught fire. Calls last week to both the city government and the Culture Ministry could find no one who had even heard of the competition.

Fortunately for the 2,000-year-old Colosseum near downtown Rome, there is enough popular sentiment among Italians and, especially, among legions of foreign visitors to catapult the onetime amphitheater of the gladiators into the winner's circle.

Speaking of Rome, the Roman Catholic Church complained that none of the finalists was a Christian church, noting instead the inclusion of Istanbul's Hagia Sophia, a 6th century Byzantine church converted to a mosque by the Ottoman Turks nine centuries later. Christian prayer there today is prohibited.”

It’s the same old story we used to know from international singing competitions or beauty pageants. Here is another case lining up of what we knew from AI’s Sanjaya with the call center theory, Jasmine Trias with the heroine theory, Miss Universe’s Photogenic Award for our Filipinas with the I-love-my-own theory, etc. The winnings end up a bit half-baked because of nonstandard criteria.

The competition is not all about the greatness of the wonders but a competition of the wondrous count of a population. It is a competition which is looking beyond the site’s value or importance.

Our ill-fated Eighth Wonder

It had been dubbed as the eighth wonder of the world but our very own Banaue Rice Terraces has ended its glory that even Filipinos have lost that sense of pride or maybe because we were not informed of that world competition. These two sides of our coin simply make us Filipinos powerless in world affairs that our synergy is put in vain to claim that eighth wonder back.

Our eighth wonder is more than what the new 7 wonders boasted. It’s more than worship and knowledge, welcoming and openness, perseverance and persistence, community and dedication, engineering and protection, joy and suffering, love and passion. After all, what our eighth wonder offers is LIFE.

But, it is sad to note that although locals today still tend to the rice and vegetables on the terraces, more and more younger Ifugaos do not find farming appealing. The lucrative work in hospitality industry generated by the Rice Terraces make them dependent losing the value and the ingenuity brought by their forefathers 2000 years back. One day the site will just be another forgotten piece in our own history.

The New 7 Wonders
(http://www.new7wonders.com/)

"The 7 Wonders will all be equal – there will be no ranking," cites the web.

The Pyramid at Chichén Itzá (before 800 A.D.), Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

Chichén Itzá, the most famous Mayan temple city, served as the political and economic center of the Mayan civilization. Its various structures - the pyramid of Kukulkan, the Temple of Chac Mool, the Hall of the Thousand Pillars, and the Playing Field of the Prisoners – can still be seen today and are demonstrative of an extraordinary commitment to architectural space and composition. The pyramid itself was the last, and arguably the greatest, of all Mayan temples. It symbolizes Worship & Knowledge

Christ Redeemer (1931), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

This statue of Jesus stands some 38 meters tall, atop the Corcovado mountain overlooking Rio de Janeiro. Designed by Brazilian Heitor da Silva Costa and created by French sculptor Paul Landowski, it is one of the world’s best-known monuments. The statue took five years to construct and was inaugurated on October 12, 1931. It has become a symbol of the city and of the warmth of the Brazilian people, who receive visitors with open arms. It stands for Welcoming & Openness.

The Great Wall of China (220 B.C and 1368 - 1644 A.D.), China

The Great Wall of China was built to link existing fortifications into a united defense system and better keep invading Mongol tribes out of China. It is the largest man-made monument ever to have been built and it is disputed that it is the only one visible from space. Many thousands of people must have given their lives to build this colossal construction. It is incredible proof of Perseverance & Persistence.

Machu Picchu (1460-1470), Peru

In the 15th century, the Incan Emperor Pachacútec built a city in the clouds on the mountain known as Machu Picchu ("old mountain"). This extraordinary settlement lies halfway up the Andes Plateau, deep in the Amazon jungle and above the Urubamba River. It was probably abandoned by the Incas because of a smallpox outbreak and, after the Spanish defeated the Incan Empire, the city remained 'lost' for over three centuries. It was rediscovered by Hiram Bingham in 1911. It is a symbol of Community & Dedication.

Petra (9 B.C. - 40 A.D.), Jordan

On the edge of the Arabian Desert, Petra was the glittering capital of the Nabataean empire of King Aretas IV (9 B.C. to 40 A.D.). Masters of water technology, the Nabataeans provided their city with great tunnel constructions and water chambers. A theater, modelled on Greek-Roman prototypes, had space for an audience of 4,000. Today, the Palace Tombs of Petra, with the 42-meter-high Hellenistic temple facade on the El-Deir Monastery, are impressive examples of Middle Eastern culture. It is a great symbol of Engineering & Protection.

The Roman Colosseum (70 - 82 A.D.), Rome, Italy

This great amphitheater in the centre of Rome was built to give favors to successful legionnaires and to celebrate the glory of the Roman Empire. Its design concept still stands to this very day, and virtually every modern sports stadium some 2,000 years later still bears the irresistible imprint of the Colosseum's original design. Today, through films and history books, we are even more aware of the cruel fights and games that took place in this arena, all for the joy of the spectators. It is now a symbol of Joy & Suffering.

The Taj Mahal (1630 A.D.), Agra, India

This immense mausoleum was built on the orders of Shah Jahan, the fifth Muslim Mogul emperor, to honor the memory of his beloved late wife. Built out of white marble and standing in formally laid-out walled gardens, the Taj Mahal is regarded as the most perfect jewel of Muslim art in India. The emperor was consequently jailed and, it is said, could then only see the Taj Mahal out of his small cell window. It is the greatest symbol of Love & Passion.

Pyramid of Giza (2600 B.C. – 2500 B.C.), Egypt

It is an Honorary Candidate as pushed by the Egyptian officials with the premise that it is the only living wonder of the ancient world.

What’s Next

Come 08.08.08 will be another milestone to unveil the new 7 wonders of nature. I did my nomination of the seven wonders of nature we have – Mt. Mayon, Taal Volcano, Boracay Island, Surigao’s Sohoton Cave, Sulu Sea’s Tubbataha Reef, Palawan’s St. Paul’s Underground River, Palawan’s El Nido Cliffs. After the nomination follows the scaling to 21 then the final unveiling. Hope we will make it, fairly and squarely!#

Today is May 1, 2007. It’s 7:27pm.

It’s yet an hour and 54 minutes after watching the two successive loads of Spider-man III’s Philippine premiere. While we are one of the earliest in the world premieres, I must have been too early, too, to post a new article such that my weekly brewing of idea is yet set tomorrow. But I think there’s something special to rave from this movie after a long semi-couch viewing inside a big screened hall. I should say there’s more in Spidey III than the usuals.

There’s the usual: unfathomable stunts - spinning, threading, webbing, thwacks, high skyscrapers, good cinematography, music (played) espressivo, and a whole lot ideal cast package. Also, there’s always the combination of strength and elasticity in Spidey that’s always purported in him as a unique superhero.

The complexity found in spider’s web building is the same continuum contained in Spidey’s life in the third series as agitated more in the varied angles of his very apparent conflicts – Peter Parker (himself), Mary Jane Watson/MJ (his girlfriend), Harry Osborn (best friend turned enemy and back), Flint Marko/Sandman (accused as murderer of his uncle), Eddie Brock/Venom (an attention-getter freelance photographer in the company he’s working with who became his rival in the photo work; the black spider after him).

Spidey 3 gives viewers a chance to meet the flamboyant Spidey and the overconfident Peter. Along with the success of releasing people from tragedy and other havocs as Spidey, his presence was vital in New Yorkers’ festal life making him that flamboyant; and, the overconfidence he had was just part of the shift-effect from red to jet-black Spidey.

The setting pedals one from the dark underground tunnel to New York’s high skyscrapers. Particularly, there’s Broadway, Spidey’s flat, city streets, hospital, Daily Bugle (his office), Harry’s mansion, his aunt’s house, jazz café, and park.

Though Peter Parker had equipped himself balanceable devotion to MJ and duty as a superhero, he was still catapulted by his own enemy who was himself. MJ was never wrong when she said, “Everybody needs somebody’s help. You. Spider-man.” But, Peter was hardened by his own weakness.

When his suit suddenly changed to jet-black, a dark side of him was also formed which led him to become aggressive, annoying, arrogant, overconfident, uncaring, and vengeful. There was the twist of the fate he must have mustered along as a compassionate hero. The seducing power the jet-black suit brought in him thwarted his plan of winning back MJ. Peter Parker has succeeded in twisting his turning point bringing himself closely to establishing a more focused decision of following his compassionate self. He wasn’t wrong that finally he was set free. In his last words he said, “It’s man’s choice that makes him.”

But, there’s MORE in Spider-man III. Yes, there’s nothing more of the usuals, though, of the unrealistic idea and in those which I sized up in my third paragraph but what makes it more than the usuals is that the movie gives me a more surprising and appealing theme which is really SMART in nature in terms of objective. It’s Specific, Measurable, Action-oriented, Realistic, and Time-bound. Thematically, the movie closes to the SMART conception of these values which were fairly treated in the story: forgiveness and friendship. They’re SMART because they’re shown piece by piece and exemplified through the different scenarios each character portrayed. There’s interweaving of conflicts leading to one tangible result which is LOVE. That, for me, beyond all those impracticable façade of Spider-man III there’s still worth for one to know and believe its underlying silver-lining theme. #

The Advent

It was just New Year's day of 2000, I was fourth year college then, when my father had an argument with my mom. It was just passing for me, thinking that it was beyond my benefit. But what they argued was all about their gift to me. So, before I went back to the State U, mom gave up and turned over to me P5,000.00 for a new cellphone. I was surprised! I then said to myself, "I am now one of the generated tXters.

In Cagayan de Oro City I bought my first Motorola which was the commonest cell everyone was tied up at Limketkai Mall.

Texting has started to revolutionize in the Philippines in the early part of 2000. It spices up the Filipinos' daily gizmos and gimmicks as they party down nightlife and side life. Since its rundown, it has claimed a great impact in the world. The National Telecommunications Commission recorded in year 2000 over 28 million text messages made by Filipinos in just one day higher than Europe's 20 million, Australia's one million and North America's 600,000. With this Philippines could have been the texting capital of the world. What a wasteful fact for this poor Philippines!

Communication analysts, few years back, cited that there would be a twist of making mobile phones more technical and would have expansions in terms of technical capabilities and service applications. To contain better standard in texting and calling coverage, the network band of 900 and 1800 was standardized with the passport to coverage, the GSM400, which operates in the 400MHZ frequency band, enhances coverage and becomes multiband operators. Not far from what was expected, Bluetooth, Symbian, and WAP were developed. Bluetooth brought telecoms and IT manufacturers together in the creation of a short-range wideband radio standard to allow mobile phones, palmtops and portable PCs to communicate with each other without cables. Symbian was mobilized to develop operating systems for mobile multimedia communications devices. Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) is simply a global, open protocol allowing users to access services on line from their small-screen mobile phones using a built-in browser. Further, Mobile Multimedia Mode (WWW:MMM) launched by Ericsson, Motorola, and Nokia simplifies recognition of mobile internet applications by identifying compliant services, internet sites and smart phones.

Advantages

Cellphones are everywhere nowadays whether in schools, in the offices, in churches and even in the sidewalks. All are now busy keying cellphone buttons, head bowed and in silence. The breakthrough of cellphones has closed the tying up of many to telephones and the remarkable influx of texting has also found the demise of analog cellulars and telephones. Today, the impact of cellphone using has risen up like hot pan de sal. For most, it's a medium of acknowledging the computer age and the age of extra-telecommunication.

Cellphone has, in a sense, brought many advantages. To name a few:

Cellphone has regulated and updated human communication. Before, one would mind to visit public calling offices or corner him at home to communicate with somebody. Not now, cellphone breaks the stay-at-home habit of communicating.

Cellphone defines convenience. From the side tables now cellphone has invaded your palm and pocket. Unlike telephone, cellphone offers convenience as it has been modified as light day-load equipment and can be held anywhere. Telephone tails cord to connect individuals via satellite but cellphone entails a wireless mode.

Cellphone breaks the fear of expression. Anybody can speak clearly and loudly, not hindered by fear to express, because cellphone breaks the spell to say "I love you." A boy may court a girl via cellphone; a debtor may opt from paying his debt unafraid to speak the consequence, or a daughter may ask mom's permission to a night party without hesitations. That's the language of cellphone - in a mute mode.

Cellphone is man's bestfriend. With this new fad to giggle, a new friend anytime, you can play with it. Moreover, it's a help in times of danger.

Whether one has that big-size cellphone or that which looks odd at all or it may be trendy, none among young generations would say it's useless because for them it's of great help.

Disadvantages

Have you been keying words like 'k' for okay, '2d' for today, or any of its kind and then sending all without realizing how much the fuzzes cost? Then, you are one of those being fooled by this technology. Many would say that the advent of cellphone is nothing but part in either bane or boon.

Cellphone costs an amount a second. Message sent costs P1.00. Even texting just a single letter will cost the same amount. Call rate per minute is P8.00 and even if a minute is not consumed for a call the same rate would be deducted to an account.

Cellphone affects human behavior. We always think, in it there's that pizzazz. From a timid to a funky being now cellphone invades individual spheres whether physical, moral, or intellectual. It creates in him a sense of pride which makes an individual's existence humbug.

Cellphone injects errors. Most common effect of cellphone is that it makes English words erroneous in terms of spelling when spelled out in common usage. During an exam a student wrote a sentence, "I'l c u l8r." which is "I'll see you later." Because an individual is used to texting words in short, they get used to it and apply it in everyday communication.

Cellphone adds up to crime and accident rate. The advent of cellphone gets an instant target for common robbers. Cellphone snatching is now common in the metros and adds up to major crime rates. It does not pay a good turn for victims for it would end up in them nothing. On the other hand, it lobbies accident to individuals who are always on the go keying words and handling calls while driving.

The Choice

There's that Nokialization. It is evident in every Filipino, rich and poor alike. The certainty that mitigates one to live within the fad of today is of man's instinct to be in the in-thing. Whether you are boggling your mind to spend money to buy this thing or not, start to generate your inner self to think before doing so. Evaluate first the many instances at which and when does cellphone help, or does it to anybody in daily life? #