Dispatches by Adrian Conoza

Whenever I see girls and boys Selling lanterns on the street I remember the child in the manger as he sleeps The Philippines is very much known as a country that anticipates the Christmas season as early as September, the first of the "Ber Months" (the last four months of the calendar). This anticipation is very much seen on social media, especially when you see memes of singer-songwriter Jose Mari Chan (JMC) sitting beside his piano on a backdrop adorned with a Christmas tree. Surrounding the picture are words that goes: "Kontrolado ko lahat ng speakers sa mall". One would definitely react with "Haha" because he/she must have heard sometime in his/her life Jose Mari's Christmas songs playing on the malls, markets, or on radio as early as September.  From Google Images Since his timeless songs like "Christmas in Our Hearts" and "A Perfect Christmas" are in the Christmas playlist of public areas, JMC is now ...

Dear Reader, I wanna speak — nay, write — up about these "share this lucky mango", "...lucky whatever" (and even a "sad genital"?!) posts. First of all, I understand how much we want to pass semester after semester. We want, we aim, and we work to the best we can to pass our subjects, and even go beyond that (isn't it?). There's this motivation. There's this fear. I had that too.

Twice just gave us Yes or Yes . IZ*ONE debuted recently. Momoland and Blackpink are going to Manila next year. But I'm just posting today my thoughts on recent comebacks, particularly last summer. While I missed reviewing Twice's Summer Nights , I was able to write my thoughts on two notable comebacks of the past season—those of five-piece female group Red Velvet and four-member co-ed KARD. Sourced from YouTube KARD amplified summer vibes Last July, the four-piece co-ed group KARD joined other groups for a bunch of summer comebacks. Yet, KARD was back with a very unique package that consists the 6-track Ride On The Wind after last year's You&Me  accelerated KARD's sound and image to a deeper level. Ride brings KARD back to its firsthand sound, while building up a hip-hop/dance visage with identifiable tropical vibes. The mini-album's title track marked the group's comeback, jiving in with the summer feel which was tapped by other groups lik...

Look at 29 Down. That serves as an initial inspiration for this article. I encountered this clue as I answered a crossword puzzle from an issue of Dell’s easy crosswords I bought from Booksale for only P25. #29, Down. Regretted deeply. Four letters. Answer: Rued . That word sank in my mind these past days, weeks, and months as I started charting the next stage of my life after academics.

Writings are gathered from articles written by Atty. Ed Tolentino (on Spin.ph), Michael Angelo S. Murillo (on BusinessWorl d), The Manila Times , and Agence France Press (both on BusinessWorld and Manila Times ) "Spanning the globe to bring you the constant variety of sport... the thrill of victory... and the agony of defeat... the human drama of athletic competition..." That is how ABC television network in the US signed on its sports program entitled Wide World of Sports back in the 60's to the 90's. And that is what I have got myself into these past weeks and months. What before seemed to me an area I would not like, now it happens to be something I marvel about. I recently got interested in that "wide world of sports", thanks to television, newspapers, and the Internet, of course. It has been fascinating to observe the action the games produce—from the matches in the UAAP, to the battle of Ginebra and San Miguel last PBA Commissioner's...

As I have just shared in my recent blog posts here, I am an avid listener of Korean pop music. I'm even a fan of at least 3 groups. But that does not mean that Kpop is the only music I have my ears on. Before Korea's music came to my ears, it was even the sounds from another neighbor which I discovered and listened to. I have been finding a breather from the Kpop music that's been on loop in my playlist. And so I want to share with you music from Japan I have listened to these past years and weeks. Japanese music shows much talent as progressive as their building of appliances, electronics, and other good products.

💻  FEED Phone habit: Unplug, iGen: Put the Phone Down and Live by Jaquelle Crowe (DesiringGod) We need a balanced approach in viewing technology and social media without drifting into extremism (e.g., avoiding it out of fear or obsessing over it out of idolatry). And we need discipline to use technology for God’s glory instead of our own selfish gain.

💻  FEED Blackpink :  BLACKPINK’s Jisoo Scolds BLINKs In The Cutest Way Possible (Koreaboo) BLINKs adore Jisoo’s kind and generous nature. Jisoo is known to go out of her way to take care of her fans and make time for them, even with her busy schedule. Busyness :  Why Jam-Packed Schedules Can Be Dangerous by Kevin DeYoung (Crossway) The antidote to over-busyness isn’t sloth and indifference, but rather rest, rhythm, death to pride, acceptance of our own finitude, and trust in God’s providence. It isn’t work itself that’s bad busyness, but working hard at the wrong things: trying to please or control others, trying to do things we haven’t been called to do.

Source: Official Kmusic The Philippines might have another LSS and dance covers to make, and another undivided attention to Nancy as Momoland returns with their latest mini-album Fun to the World , with the carrier single "Baam".

You might have noticed Nancy first on their MV for Bboom, being at the center. But do you also see (L-R): Yeonwoo, Taeha, Jane, Daisy, JooE, Ahin, Hyebin, and Nayun? Source: Soompi.com This is the second of a two-part blog. Click here for the first part . More than Nancy Their other music is not only the thing worth looking into, but also the other members of Momoland. I'm writing this not because my biases are Yeonwoo and Nayun (and Jane too). Not also because I don't find Nancy beautiful or talented (because she's both). But because Momoland, like any other group, is a collaborative effort. Unlike other groups though, names might be hard to recall for groups with more than five members, unless you're a Once (Twice fan) or an Army (BTS fan). But in my case, the names shown in Bboom's MV has been a good help. It took less effort to recall. Might as well further argue that Bboom's have been a good intro to the group (although their first album should...

Four years ago, I was blessed to witness for the first time a concert from Hillsong United. Last 15th of June this year, they returned, together with their younger band Hillsong Young and Free. It was a very nice comeback, the same day I anticipated a Kpop group pull off their comeback. I had to set aside that anticipation for this grand night of worship which does not come very often.

The nine members of Momoland (L-R): Hyebin, Taeha, Yeonwoo, Nancy, Nayun, JooE, Ahin, Daisy, and Jane Souce: Soompi.com You must have encountered their most known hit these past months and weeks, most likely because of its catchy chorus and dance which has been copied by many—including men. Or you must have been captivated by a pretty face of one of it's members.  I'm referring to Momoland, the nine-member female group launched in 2017, which now has been getting more recognition and fame for their single "Bboom Bboom" . But the album from which it came from was their third one. And they came back this June with their fourth, joining Blackpink, Red Velvet, and Twice in releasing new content. Their catchy song, where cool EDM, synth brass, and attraction-based lyrics intersperse, has been a good introduction for many to this fresh Kpop act. And Nancy, as the most recognizable member in the music video and live performance of the song who is likened to ou...

Source: Blackpink's YouTube page, also on Fobres After a very very long wait, the remarkable YG female group of four Blackpink returned with the launch of their album Square Up and of their music video for their carrier single "Ddu-Du-Ddu-Du". The group has matured, yet their comeback was something worth the wait. When before they were Playing with Fire, now they returned "tigeowo [hot] like Fire."

Images sourced from: Google Images and  YouTube pages of Jobelle Mendoza, Si Whoo-Ree, Peenoise x Fanbois React To, and Mastermind This is a 3-part blog. Click here for the first part . For the second part, go here . ---   I felt it "Bboom Bboom" Then, the first quarter of 2018 brought in a new Kpop single: and this one later on became a fad in the country for either its dance, its music, or one of the group's members. I'm referring to the apparently one hit wonder "Bboom Bboom" by the female group Momoland. I'm convinced I got to hear it long before it became a bandwagon. Another clickbait on YouTube led me to this song, which eventually became an LSS. The starting acoustic riff got me, which was followed by the upbeat synth brass which ignites a bright and happy mood from your ears to your heart and—I guess—your body. Regardless of being compared to that foreign song from our childhood ( "Mi Mi Mi" by Serebro ) "Bboom...

Images sourced from Google Images This is a three-part blog. Click here for the first part .  Being acquainted into Kpop music in just a few days, I became its avid listener and fan. I just like the music. Although we can say it borrows from how Western music sounds, in one way or another Korean artists and producers made it their own (yes, I gotta credit the musicians!). My first favorites are girl groups f(x) and Blackpink. The electronic and the EDM vibe of f(x), likely known for " Electric Shock ", is something I got hooked on, having an ears for electronic sounds. I like their latest album 4 Walls , with the title track and " Rude Love " as my fave picks. Then Blackpink, of course. I started with " Playing with Fire ", then I turned out to love all of their songs. But it went that way very slowly.

💻  FEED Expository Preaching : Expository preaching and the recovery of Christian worship by R. Albert Mohler Jr. Worship properly directed to the honor and glory of God will find its center in the reading and preaching of the Word of God. Expository preaching cannot be assigned a supporting role in the act of worship – it must be central. Adulting : Adulting 101 by The Bright Millennial

I remember last year our block had a retreat together with another block for three days in Calaruega in Batangas, a retreat place very much known to Thomasians. On our second night, we had this talents night. Urged by some of my classmates, two of them, known to be officers of the Korean cultural organization in UST, performed a routine. They danced to the song, "Oh Nana" by K.A.R.D. I got into the song that I later asked another classmate for the title and artist. I searched for the song back at home the following day. The song got me for a long time, and I had the remaining months of my first semester playing it on a regular basis. I stated it in the title. Now I write it again here: I'm into Kpop, and here's my story of how I got to be one.

The first part was just posted two days ago .   Here's the continuation. After our candles were lit, it was the skies that turned bright. Beautiful fireworks colored the dark skies above us, themed after the movie The Greatest Showman . It began with the famous hypebeast anthem by Ex Batallion, which I admit I enjoyed and I thought it would go through the chorus! But it was just an intro. 

It's been months since I got back here. Welcome back! And finally I will post more constantly, as I bade my University farewell. I had my first Takeaway last February , and there I stated how Takeaway goes, so check it out. This is a special edition of Takeaway , in light of last Monday's graduation. Enjoy. And congrats, 4CA3, you will all be missed! And congrats to all the graduates out there, including the large number of graduates from the Faculty of Arts and Letters!

May 24, 2018 A day within my college history that I cherish. That day was when everything Thomasians have gone through culminates into a thanksgiving celebration and a momentous send-off. Before we wore our togas and finally graduate, we wore our uniforms for the last time, with pride. We also have one uniform written with messages from friends and blockmates, like an athlete's sweater autographed after winning a game. In our block, we gave our graduation pictures to those who requested them (although I cannot accommodate them all, I'm sorry). And that's the reason I woke up early that day. I have not written something at the back of my photos yet after staying late to draft those messages and haikus (unfortunately, I lately realized I didn't write a 5-7-5 poem, but a 7-5-7 poem instead). So I spent the morning writing messages at my wallet-size "limited edition trade cards". See, I have an "autographed sweater" and "limited edition...

Hi again! A week ago I finally returned to this blog, publishing my reflection on Saturdays. I plan to post a blog post fortnightly. But this time I like to do another thing which I hope would be regular in Dispatches. I call this Takeaway . Every Takeaway, I attempt to show below links on things I've seen, read, watched, or listened to in the past days and weeks. And they are all laid out here in bits, pieces, and highlights. Hope you like it. Here we go: 💻  FEED Government media : Government-owned Radyo Pilipinas (738 khz on AM band) has a new program every Saturday. It's Cabinet Report sa Teleradyo . Their second episode is interesting for its discussion about digital terrestrial TV, Emergency Warning Broadcast System, Datacasting, and better Internet connections. Also sneaked in were upcoming improvements on the Philippine Broadcasting Service. On marriage The happier you are in God before you are married, the happier you’ll be with someone else whe...

At last, I'm back on this blog. Welcome to Dispatches! R ight away here's my first entry under a new name. I have observed that almost every Saturday has been a bore. That realization hit very deep just this first Saturday of the year 2018. There were only few Saturdays that were fine and satisfying: the Saturdays before Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve, the Saturday after a very relieving retreat of our block, and perhaps the Saturdays spent outside the house. Other than those, Saturdays are almost a bore. If it weren't for the remaining school stuff I had to do, Saturdays would likely bore me out.  Sure, it's a good day when there's no job to head to or a class to attend to. But without anything to keep you moving as long as it's not tiresome, Saturdays are almost a bore. Just like last Saturday. Away from computer, the Net If I woke up earlier, Saturday would have been better—I guess. I could have gathered some courage to buy a newspaper ...