For Once, An equal Footing: Botong V. Francisco and Francisco V. Coching

This article first appeared in the Books section of Vibalfoundation.org.

What do you intend to achieve -- especially if the points of comparison are consequential -- when you juxtapose two entities simultaneously similar and dissimilar? Is it to highlight the perceived superiority of one to the other, or to bust the myth of their disparity in candor and value?

Of Aspirations and Acceptance

This is a solicited blog entry for Vibalfoundation.org.

"Would it be fine if we offer you a position different from what you're applying for?" asked the man who picked me up at the reception as he pressed an elevator button I was too nervous to take note of. "Yes, of course, that'd be fine", I replied without thinking. Normally (meaning, during casual debates with friends), I at once heat up and spoil conversations with my antagonistic take on things; my cynicism runs high even in an otherwise genial talk. In a professional setting, however, I become an altogether different person -- a very accommodating or, sometimes, even servile one -- and very rarely during such formal conversations do I give no for an answer. I'll suffer for this sooner or later, I know.

Broad Understanding of Several Academic Fields Versus Specialization

I wrote this following my six-month stint as an OFW.

Since its conception and through its development, formal education has remained, for all its flaws, the mainstream means by which we develop as a civilization -- the part-dictated, part-volitional method through which we pass on knowledge and wisdom to succeeding generations. But as with other variables in society, education does not work in the same way for every society in terms of effects and effectiveness. So to answer the question whether students should possess a broad understanding of many academic subjects rather than to specialize in one field of study, it depends on which society is in question.

First Post, on Music, of Course.

Whether it's because my subconscious meant to get to these few select pages or the Internet just happens to be so vast a dimension of lonely thoughts that there is no place within sight for hope, it doesn't matter, but I've lately been coming across a lot of Web literature on music that are inebriated with nostalgia for days gone by, along with the consequent dismay over the ironic tandem of incompetence and insincerity held in high regard by present-day artists.

This shouldn't surprise me, mind you. In fact, I'd be typing away my own frustrations day in, day out over these things were I diligent and wise enough to do so. At any rate, I can't really tackle these at length because my arguments as seen on Facebook have largely been defying objectivity because of my angst over what I perceive is an affront to the arts.

I have one sober thought to share though, albeit a little trite: what is worse than the sorry state of the music industry is the fact that we're passive about it. I'd elaborate on this by providing a semiotic analysis of the mawkishly lovelorn songs of Revillame, or the unfortunately enduring appeal of maladroit and predictable revivals (which by the way include covers of one-week old catchy tunes) but quite a lot of astute readings of these misfortunes passed off as art have already been made in hopes of making sense of their existence.

Things, you can't deny, are as sorry as they can get. If one day we hear of a devil sighting at one of the shows of whoever is the next big celebrity, let's not pretend to be shocked and ask what the odds are, because we all very well know how close the depths to which our musical sense has plummeted is to the abyss.