Dispatches by Adrian Conoza

So wondering what's Up Dharma Down Community? They are the fans of a great band here in the Philippines: Up Dharma Down . Good thing I discovered and revisited them this year with their new single " Turn It Well ". Nice artwork, I like to share it with you. Credits to those who did this simple yet great artwork similar to the band's newest album, " Capacities ". Merry Christmas!

Nice to see something from Jose Rizal. Yes. He drew this one. A Christmas tree for his translation of  Hans Cristian Andersen's "Little Fir Tree" (Ang Puno ng Pino) . I hope to know that story. It's just something nice to share. Credits to the great historian Ambeth Ocampo . Maligayang Pasko!

Credits to the nice bookstore named Fully Booked It's been almost 2 months since I haven't blogged here because of life's busyness and the school's demands. I even didn't feel it's Christmas during those times. I haven't felt the emerging season for the first time.  Nevertheless, we are still celebrating Christmas—celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ (so please, don't "X" Christ in Christmas.), celebrating God's greatest love to us. That love is shown when Christ, whom we celebrate right now, was crucified on the cross, and when his blood was shed for the forgiveness of our sins.  We now already have the big solution, the greatest gift we could have: the forgiveness of sins, reunion with God, and eternal life. And what we only have to do is to accept it in our lives.  You can accept it right now. Just pray to God, say to Him that you're sorry for your sins, and that you receive His gift with all your heart, that you accept Him as your ...

A news boomed on the television last Wednesday morning while I tuned in. Talk TV is going to change to inform and inspire this October 30. What do I mean? Talk TV, another cable channel of Solar Network, will go forward as a news channel . Talk TV, launched after ETC moved to RPN 9, emphasizes on talk , with a line-up of talk shows and news programs, getting programs like Today , Inside Edition , and Dateline from its sister channels like 2nd Avenue. More programs were added as the channel evolved, being watched and patronized after its soft launch. There's The Talk , then Anderson (which became Anderson Live ), then Undercover Boss (an inspiring program). Then this: as planned and intended, Solar, being an entertainment and sports provider on TV, started on a new venture—news. Sources told it before, and I finally saw it. Solar's news service started on Talk TV with the coverage of the impeachment trial of former Chief Justice Renato Corona, recruiting veteran journalis...

" Hey, Mayor Bloomberg. I heard you took a shot at us in the  Post . What's with all the swearin' like a sailor? Fleet Week is over. It's just music. "   —  Howard Cogan of then Jack FM in New York,  picking up on  Mayor  Michael Bloomberg's  criticizing about WCBS's sudden change in format. I haven't thought of another flip in Philippine radio. They're doing it again. I turned the radio one day on 99.5 MHz while doing schoolwork, and I was surprised to hear stingers of a new station. The tagline: "This radio station is under construction..." After undergoing two reformats and going back on the air, 99.5 RT will change. The so-called "Rhythm of The City" will be replaced. Some of the programs were dismissed, including the famous The RT30 . Some of the DJs, as my sources said, bid their goodbyes, but you can still hear other DJs on the air.You can still hear the name 99.5 RT, but it's already clear that the station is working...

After tiresome schoolwork and difficult turns of life, I'm finally back for this blog. I'm back with new posts! My reflection on my summer vacation continues with the second part of "So far..." We'll go back in my second year life with a continuation of series of stories I've started with last year's "A Slap On My Face" with last 2 stories. And finally, a special blog for a friend. Thank you once again for dropping by, I hope you'll take time and read them all.

I had a post last year entitled " A Slap On My Face ", where I shared my reflections on a Biology class. It was followed by " Chaoses On My Day ", where I wrote about the first day of our second quarterly test the next day. Both of the posts turned out to be a series of stories of a struggling week I had then. Therefore, I wrote 2 posts to follow up these two, but unfortunately I neglected publishing them. But now, having the chance, since it's semestral break, I'm going to share to you those posts, but I'll advise you to read the mentioned posts first. Without further ado, here's the first one. *** "1 down...2 to go." One of my classmates said that on her post on our Facebook group page. We all had to face 2 more days of examinations. I had a quiet, focused and faithful review for our Thursday's set of tests. I did what I could do to prepare myself for those tests.. I reached school earlier than Wednesday...It was quiet, since we are o...

After several hours of closing my eyes to sleep that afternoon, I reviewed on 3 remaining subjects for me to take on Friday. Those three were English, Geometry—another major subject this second year, and the very tough of them all—Social Studies. I needed to review lots and lots of information on that subject. It's like carrying and storing on your mind 3 or more books as big as almanacs, dictionaries, or those books from Preston and McGraw-Hill. Yet, it seemed that I reviewed those things fast, I think. I took them fast, assuming and looking forward to pass them all. I geared myself up the next day for this final day of examinations. I really did pushed myself through reviewing SocStud(It shouldn't be SocSci) and keeping those lessons inserted and refrigerated on my mind for future use. While I worked on it, I began to take the first test. As a youth engaged to literature and writing, I appreciate English. For the second quarter, we recalled pronouns and the manner of using it...

Author's Note: The following post was intended to be published by the day it was written. But because  I was busy and tired, it was just posted today.  I haven't expected that I'll meet a person of grace and high spirits like you in this third-year life. I haven't thought that I'll have a close friend who is jolly and kind, and has lots of good vibes in her nerves. I really don't know how will I begin this simple blog, but every now and then I'm planning to write my heart out for a friend like you. You're one of a kind, truly. A lass who likes manga* a lot. An anime fan, or in their world, otaku. A clever student for years. A young girl who is pretty and nice, friendly and happy. You're also a jack of all trades. You can dance with gladness. You can also sing well. You also speak English with eloquence. You act roles gracefully. And perhaps, I would see you someday with an electric guitar rocking with a band. You can be fit in almost anything. What I...

Author's Note: The post was written before classes started. Due to lack of time, it was posted lately. Cyberspace The Buggles, featuring  Trevor Horn(right) and  Geoff Downes(left). Famous for  "Video  Killed The Radio Star" A part of this summer leave were simple days in the four corners of the house, in the pages of books, and in front of the TV and computer, No, not playing online games of fantasy or war that many adolescents get absorbed to. But I spent those times discovering new music, reading opinion articles, stumbling upon different things, and of course, blogging. I went back to my bookmarked tracks from The Buggles, and I searched for their other songs. Yellow Magic Orchestra, a pioneer  electronic band in Japan. "Firecracker" is their first single. I also uncovered the electronic band from Japan, Yellow Magic Orchestra, and I liked them and their compositions very much. I also listened to OPM bands like Daydream Cycle and Techy Romantics, both a...

Why fifteen? Fifteen would be my age beginning Sunday, June 10. I'm blessed to have another year in life, and I thank it to God. And while I continue on my adolescence with the age of fifteen, here are fifteen lessons and thoughts I have learned and thought in my whole life. They are many, but I have gathered some and I want them to share them to you. So here they are. 1. Do not leave a room unattended, especially the kitchen after you eat. 2. I do believe adolescents should understand and be open to discussions on human sexuality(or let's say it, sex)in a way that their minds won't be corrupted and under such limitations. 3. Anyone can be a writer and a reader. 4. Bad words are really irritating to my ears. People should use words in the right manner. 5. Discipline is important for every student...and writer. 6. Make sure the toilet's clean. 7. I'm too mature for such matters. 8. While "teenage love" works for others, I don't like to go nuts over any ...

  Author's Note: The post was written before classes started. Due to lack of time, it was  just posted today. After 73 days of summer vacation, I'll be "back to work". By the 4th of June, I'll go back to school to continue my journey with education. I'll be 3rd year this coming school year, and I expect to acquire more knowledge, cherish new experiences(let's include that Prom), and enjoy the whole school year at my new section. As I write this blog, days are counting and June 4 is coming soon. Summer has just passed. Rains occurred during the day, telling us here that it's starting to rain a lot. Then I thought of reexamining what happened on this vacation. The big question is this: did I enjoy this summer vacation? But before that, what have I done during the past 3 months of leave? There are many, and I'll list them. It's hard to list them in some good order, but I want to list as many and as orderly and clear as I can. Getaways and adventur...

Artwork by Adrian Conoza , Title: Idle Art Recently, I had a seemingly once-in-summer getaway at SM mall at our place here on Sta. Rosa, Laguna. I got that opportunity to get some strolling after staying in the house and sauntering Walter Mart—which is nearer than SM—for days. That day was our enrollment day, and after I was finally enrolled, I and most of my classmates went to SM. I haven't gone to SM for a long time. Thanks that it was enrollment day, I finally spent my carefree time there. There's the bonding, and the talking, and—at last—a larger and more different Booksale. Once again, I've talked a lot. After a long time not seeing or meeting my classmates, we were there again as classmates and friends. Then again, I unexpectedly dried my throat out as I have observed it before. I discussed a lot of things with these people, including the recent brawl between journalist Mon Tulfo and actor Raymart Santiago in NAIA; the competition and performances on American Idol ; A...

Author's Note: The article was started last Saturday, but I got busy the next day when I should have finished this. Anyway, I hope you enjoy the article. Mama, I hope what I've made is correct in grammar and understandable. I hope you like it. I'm grateful that I continue to grow and learn. It's somewhat amazing that I'm now a boy of 14 in the chapter of adolescence. It's good to see that amidst mistakes and failures I stay as a person with morale and a man having faith in God. What I've become today I thank, first of all, to God, and for my parents. And for this article, in honor of the occasion on May 13, it would be my mother. She gave birth to me at the 10th of June, year 1997. I'm sure it was hard labor. I'm sure it took my parent's—and my mother's—effort, love, and time for me to grow healthy and strong from the day she delivered me. She gave the name Paul, from the apostle Paul, to complement with Adrian, which my father brainstormed,...

At one unexpected time I clicked on my profile on Facebook, and a different kind of profile appeared. What I saw was the timeline that was known to many of the site's users several months earlier. Good thing my original profile was still seen while I saw the all-new timeline, but all would change on May 9. I preferred to wait until that day the timeline goes live, yet on that day—Wednesday—my profile was already changed. After I disregarded timeline for many months when people went on timelines and regretted later on, I came to realize that timeline is not bad. In fact, it is really a good upgrade for my profile. It is even a more organized view of my profile as well as a good appearance of it. But let's go back when timeline was something new on the World Wide Web. I first saw how timeline looks through an article on Yahoo. Upon reading it and peeking in at some photos I thought it wouldn't appear nice to me, and I'm content with my plain profile with the profile pict...

   What if you're summer is like life on Adventure Time —the animated series on Cartoon Network?    Watching Adventure Time is one of the things I do this summer. For your information, Adventure Time is one of the standard cartoons on Cartoon Network today. It is one of my favorite cartoons as a teenager who still appreciates the wonder of cartoons. It follows the adventures of Finn the human and his best friend Jake the dog in a place called Land of Ooo. The cartoons are definitely wonderful. Yes. The cartoons and the stories are weird and funky, but I like it that way. Every story is well-written and cool.  The music is cool, often featuring electronic and synthesizer-made sounds similar to video games from Atari 1600 and Family Computer of the 80's. Adventure Time is certainly distinct and unique.    What if your summer is like Adventure Time ?    I think it would be new, different yet enjoyable.    When you spend that vacatio...

   Last April 5, Maundy Thursday, I found out a breaking news on the Internet. It was shocking enough, unexpected.Angelo Castro Jr., one of the Philippines' well-known news anchors, died of lung cancer. He was 67. Wow, I thought. It was sad news for the people in broadcast journalism,especially his fellow broadcasters in ABS-CBN.      Angelo Castro Jr., known to many as ACJ, was known as a great newscaster. As spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said, he was "a calm and reassuring presence in the late evening news". He anchored The World Tonight long before I was born. He is very known in the late night newscast, which was transferred to ABS-CBN News Channel(ANC) in 1999.      Yes. I haven't watched him since he anchored the show in the 80's. But just this year, he returned hosting the newscast after he left the news desk since 2009. And so I finally saw the man. It was nice to see the ACJ who first worked as a film actor, then as ABS-CBN's news manager ...

    It has been Holy Week.People took a break from their jobs.They either leave their homes and had leisurely or spiritual vacations-whether it's Baguio or Boracay or any other place;or they'll just stay at their homes,entertaining themselves on Internet,cable TV,or DVD.The radio stayed silent for a while,beginning on Maunday Thursday,though other stations turned somber or calm as they continued playing soft music.Some local television stations on free TV temporarily left the airwaves beginning on the same day-including the People's Television(the station of the government).Most of the stations remained on air,although they began signing on at a later time and broadcasting special programming,showing cartoons,movies,and religious specials,and documentaries.Thanks to cable,I can have more entertainment and information to watch,not waiting for the stations to sign-on.When I was a very young child before,I thought radio and television stations acted this way because it's H...

The cover of The Myrmidon Project ,showing a simple newsdesk.     I just recently finished a thriller novel entitled The Myrmidon Project written by Chuck Scarborough,an Emmy-award-winning newscaster of a local station in New York(WNBC-TV);and William Murray,an author.The book was published in 1981.The novel focuses on Harvey Grunwald--a famous anchorman of the television station ACN(American Communications Network),and "the best anchorman television ever produced" who beats other newscasters of other stations in America.He demanded an annual salary of ten million dollars,and he felt it was fair enough since his contract would only last for five years.     However,the network's chairman didn't agree;but he can't and won't also loose Grunwald,for he hosts the station's evening news that topped the ratings,making his show number 1 in the country.Hence,the network formed a solution to the problem- The Myrmidon Project ,a concept of advanced technology that i...

    How time flies fast!     It has been 10 months since I met you guys.And now, we're heading on for third year.We'll be on different sections, and we'll have new teachers.We'll have new classmates(I'll be happy to have anyone of you as my classmate this third year),and sadly,others will leave for new schools.     Nonetheless, I was glad to be in section Linnaeus.I'm thankful to have friends who are friendly and cheerful.I'm blessed that I enjoyed my sophomore times with you.     Thank you for everything.Thanks for your company.Thanks for your kind friendships.Thanks for caring and helping in times of need.Thanks for the good times, and all those times.Thanks for the nice time at the acquaintance party.Thanks for the enjoyment that we had at the field trip.Thanks for every getaway that we had at SM after classes and every activities our school had.Thanks for the happy Christmas party.And thanks a lot for the rainy,yet joyful farewell party we had...