Alright, this song is about a student's first day in school.  June is the month for school here in the country.  


This song came out on TV screens as the theme song of a TV ad for deodorant and I found it so cool because this body odor is truly an experience of all especially teeners who still go to school.  (Talking from experience ok?).  


For this entry, let me talk about deodorants (or anti-perspirant, as you wish). 


Once upon a time, deodorants are still to be invented, there was an earth element called Aluminum Hydroxide (some say potassium alum or tawas).  When I was still a kid, they sell this in solid form, like the shape of a rock.  Older people admonished us, the kids of that time, to use tawas for elimination of under arm smell.  We did.


Then the time came when we can already afford to buy a commercial deodorant.  What ease it brought us.  Imagine just holding a stick under your arm then stroke or spray towards it.  Much user-friendly than a tawas; more elegant to use.


I don't recall how long was it since I last saw a tawas being sold in the market.  All I know, I stopped looking for it because of the wider availability of commercially offered deodorants in the supermarkets.  Fast forward to the future... in one of the department stores in our locality, there was a powdered tawas on display in their shelves.  Instantly, I grabbed the merchandise because they are selling it in powder form and you has the choice of either the scented or unscented one.


You just have to apply a tiny amount of the powder in your underarms and you will not get an instant result, of course.  There were days when despite the use of generous amount of the powder, I could still smell that odor under my arms.  I thought I will be frustrated with my sudden change of brand.  Well, after a few months of using it, I noticed the lack of that smell in my arms.  There was a day when I forgot to apply the powder and there was no "disaster".  So intentionally not apply the powder the following day and the same consequence.  Three weeks there after, I still get the same result.


Now, I feel freedom! Freedom from smell, freedom from inconvenience, freedom from expenses (on deodorant or tawas use).  I hope this phenomenon in my body will keep going.  Should the odor come back, I still have supply in my cabinet, no worries.


I am sharing this with you because I think this is truly cool.  I hope you will get something out of my testimony.  If you have an experience with tawas, adverse or not, please feel free to share by clicking the comment button below.  


As for now, enjoy the lyrics of the song which I translated for you.


=====================
First Day Funk - Parokya ni Edgar
Let's do the funk 
Let's do the first day funk 

First day of school dapat cool na cool!  (dapat = must be)
Mas cool pa sa tubig ng swimming pool!  (Cooler than the water in swimming pool)
Dapat talaga maganda na agad ang pasok (First entry must be really good)
Pagpasok mo ng classroom, dapat umuusok!  (Entering the room must be with smoke)

Wag na wag kang mapapraning! (Don't be ever fooled)
Sagot kita! diretso ang tingin!  (I got your back, look straight)
Di dapat maatat na mapansin, (You must not be too eager to be noticed)
Kahit hot lahat, dapat chill pa rin! (Even if everyone is hot, you should still chill)
Hinding hindi yumuyuko, kahit na nakaupo! (You never bow, even when seated)
Di ko sinasabi na dapat maging mayabang. (I'm not saying that you should be boastful)
Pero dapat di ka mahiyain na halaman? (But you must not be as shy as a plant)
Confidence chong, lakas loob! (Confidence bro! Strong self-esteem)


Wag na wag kang patataob (Never be overturned)
Kahit sa tapat ng maganda mong kakalase! (Even in front of a pretty classmate)
Mas lalo na sa prof mong mukhang salbahe!?dance! (especially with the prof who looks vicious! dance!)

Let's do the funk 
Let's do the first day funk 

Refrain 

Itaas ang kamay, iwagayway (Raise your hand and wave)
Salute the prof at sabay kaway?  (Salute the prof then wave)
Mag-classmate high-5 lang kayo (If you are classmates, just high five!)
Now don't be shy, kwela skwela 'to  (now don't be shy, this is cool school)
Just raise your hand kung may sagot  (Just raise your hand if there is an answer)
If you don't know the answer, eh di lagot! (If you don't know the answer, beware!)
Just erase the board, at magsayaw (and dance)
Lagyan ng funk ang pag-galaw sayaw! (Put funk in your moves, dance!)

Let's do the funk 
Let's do the first day funk 

May dumating na isang babae! (There arrives a woman)
Sobrang hottie na ka-klase, (so hot a classmate)
Sya'y lumapit at nag "hi" (She approaches and says "hi")
Ako nama'y napakaway? (And I waved)
Akala ko ako ang kanyang kinakawayan (I though she was waving at me)
at hindi ko inakala na ang nasa likuran!? (and I didn't thought it was someone at my back)
Kahit na napahiya, hindi ako kinakabahan! (Although I was embarrassed, I didn't get nervous)
Wala na tong ibang mapupuntahan. sayaw! (This will go nowhere, dance!) 

Let's do the funk 
Let's do the first day funk 

(repeat refrain) 

Let's do the funk 
Let's do the first day ..

I am aware that there have been many versions of this song and the latest was that version used in the movie Armageddon.  I watched that movie and I should admit, I cried at its ending.

I grew up hearing this song as sung by John Denver.  I may be younger than his generation but I love his songs.  As a kid, I couldn't see myself as "leaving on a jet plane" simply because I am afraid of heights.

I fear heights especially boarding a plane due to movies showing planes that crash and other natural calamities that strike air crafts.  I was afraid of the thought that I may not survive a plane crash or I may be a crash magnet. (Silly me!) Well, maturity brought me opposite convictions in life. In fact, I have prepared myself of death. Funny!

Hey, one can't help but repose your life to the aircraft and to the pilot who directs the plane during voyage to the skies.  It is like religion. "You commend your spirit into your God."

Those were my thoughts when I boarded the plane.  "I am prepared", I told myself.  However, seated beside me is my sister.  I know her thoughts are different from mine leaving behind her 3 kids.  As a mother, one can't help but miss your children and think of them when you're gone.  Silly me really for thinking thoughts like these when we were en route the Land of the Merlion.  However, as sister passengers in a plane, we did not talk about the worst scenario.  We enjoyed the view above the clouds. We read the magazine and see photos of tourist spots in Asia and the Philippines. We talked about the activities of our fellow passenger regardless of their sex or color or race.  We slept.  I read my law book.  As a passenger of the plane, I diverted my attention to those activities and did not bother to think of the worst scenario.

Well, to end this entry, I finally took the step to board an airplane and one thing that played on my mind was this song.  It helped me eliminate my childhood fears on flying in the plane.  Thank God!

Til next entry.
=======================
Lyrics of the song
Leaving on a Jet Plane

All my bags are packed I'm ready to go
I'm standin' here outside your door
I hate to wake you up to say goodbye
But the dawn is breakin' it's early morn
The taxi's waitin' he's blowin' his horn
Already I'm so lonesome I could die

So kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you'll wait for me
Hold me like you'll never let me go
Cause I'm leavin' on a jet plane
Don't know when I'll be back again
Oh babe, I hate to go

There's so many times I've let you down
So many times I've played around
I tell you now, they don't mean a thing
Every place I go, I'll think of you
Every song I sing, I'll sing for you
When I come back, I'll bring your wedding ring

So kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you'll wait for me
Hold me like you'll never let me go
Cause I'm leavin' on a jet plane
Don't know when I'll be back again
Oh babe, I hate to go

Now the time has come to leave you
One more time let me kiss you
Close your eyes I'll be on my way
Dream about the days to come
When I won't have to leave alone
About the times, I won't have to say

So kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you'll wait for me
Hold me like you'll never let me go
Cause I'm leavin' on a jet plane
Don't know when I'll be back again
Oh babe, I hate to go

Cause I'm leavin' on a jet plane
Don't know when I'll be back again
Oh babe, I hate to go

This is my entry to Techie She’s Lucky Blogger Weekly Giveaways Week No. 3. This week’s prize is one year free blog hosting sponsored by JDMaBelleverlasting of “Hope, Faith and Love of a Stay at Home Mother”

Thank you for visiting my sponsors as indicated above. And now to my song for the day:

I have blogged about my mother before.  In fact, there have been numerous entries about my mother who has the greatest "influencer" in my life when it comes to music and art in general.  I have a collection of her poems and I intend to post them here one of these days (when my addiction to contest joining would subside).

As a matter of fact, all of my blogging activities, my mother is my first audience.  She listens, she seems interested (and I'm not really sure if she really is) and she gives me that surprise look.

Well, as this old Spice Girl song goes.... Mama, I love you.

I am proud to say, I tell my mom how much I love her almost everyday and I kiss her and hug her every so often.

I love my mother.


LYRICS OF THE SONG MAMA
by Spice Girls


She used to be my only enemy and never let me be free 
Catching me in places that I knew I should'nt be 
Every other day I crossed the line I didn't mean to be so bad 
I never thought you would become the friend I never had 

Back then I didn't know why 
Why you were misunderstood 
So now I see through your eyes 
All that you did was love 
Mama I love you. Mama I care 
Mama I love you. Mama my friend. You're my friend 

I didn't want to hear it then but I'm not ashamed to say it now 
Every little thing you said and did was right for me 
I had a lot of to think about,about the way I usedto be 
Never had a sense of my responsibility 



Back then I didn't know why 
Why you were misunderstood 
So now I see through your eyes, all that you did was love 
Mama, I love you. Mama, I care 
Mama, I love you. Mama ,my friend. You're my friend 


But now I'm sure I know why, 
Why you were misunderstood 
So now I see through your eyes 
All I can give you is love is love 
Mama I love you. Mama, I care 
Mama, I love you. Mama, my friend,You're my friend 
Mama, I love you, Mama ,I care 
Mama, I love you, Mama, my friend, You're my friend 

Who wouldn't know about this famous song? It has been the national anthem of everyone where here in the Philippines, the lyrics goes like this:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

In American setting (I see or hear them sing this on movies with birthday scenes), they name the person who is celebrating the birthday.  It goes something like "Happy birthday dear John, Happy birthday to you!"

That's the way it normally goes right? But I for one, is not really familiar with singing a song with just one syllable like the name JOHN.  In music, one syllable means one note but an artist can make one syllable into multiple notes.

I am leaving that to the music experts all right.  I just wrote about this song because I was blog-walking tonight and I saw a picture of a hundred dollars as a contest prize! Isn't that marvelous?  You better check the site if i were you, you can visit here and you will find a very gallant image such as this one:

Do not delay ok? This is a once in a blogging lifetime chance to win this grand price, get to meet the sponsor of this contest, leave your birthday greetings and cross fingers in order to win.

Remember, you can only get a chance to win if you will visit the site and get more details of joining.

Goodluck to all of us.

I have always wanted to write about this song since the first day I've seen its music video.  The scene was spectacular when a firework was coming out of her heart. It is like saying that life's happiness can be found within.  These feelings do not have to be grand, famous or magnanimous.  What matters is there is happiness at what ever amount or size or status there is.


I have all of a sudden wrote about fireworks because I would like to talk about CMFads.  The advertising site I had in this blog for over a year now.  I was not familiar with how it works until I gave it a closer look.  There is a new feature, which is the Firework, that I am considering to avail of in a few days.


Working with CMF is fun, especially for a blogger who is not really "techy" when it comes to blogger matters such as the intricacies involved in a "widget", a "disclaimer page", a "URL" much more with "SEO", "Affiliates" and the like.  These are alien words to me... until now.  I just pretend to know them, the simplest way I could make my brain cells understand them.


I was taking a good look at my CMF page when I realized that I have gained a few $$$ in my account. The thought of earning makes me like CMF even more.  Now, other than earning, which for me means passive income, (not that much but enough to make my few minutes of blogging "worthy"), here are the few things why I like CMFads:


1.  It is user-friendly.  
You see, not all bloggers are expert bloggers.  Like me, I am here willing to learn the complexities of the world wide web.  Logging on the system of CMFads is very simple and what I find very user-friendly is when I added a gadget here at blogspot.  All I did was click on "get codes" then pasted it on my blogspot, then presto! I instantly had my CMF ads on my blog.


2.  Clicking is fun.
I have played a few computer games and I cannot fathom how much clicks I have done in the entire duration of the few occasions that I was playing computer games.  At CMFads, clicking is just like a game for me with a tinge of fun in it because you get to visit a lot of websites within its network.  I find it really amazing and you will not imagine my grin while I am clicking and earning.


3.  Traffic and Exposure.
We all know that traffic is important in order for a website or a blog to be noticed in the www.  I tried the "buy spike" feature of CMFads and undoubtedly, it has brought significant amount of traffic into my site.  There is still a long way for me to gain much exposure on my blog and this is definitely the reason why I would stick with CMFads.


Now for my readers out there, and for those I have already invited, click this CMFads link and experience the fun of blogging, clicking and earning.


Now for the song lyrics of Firework.


Firework lyrics
Songwriters: Dean, Esther; Eriksen, Mikkel; Hermansen, Tor Erik; Perry, Katy; Wilhelm, Sandy Julien;

Do you ever feel like a plastic bag
Drifting through the wind, wanting to start again?
Do you ever feel, feel so paper thin
Like a house of cards, one blow from caving in?

Do you ever feel already buried deep?
Six feet under screams but no one seems to hear a thing
Do you know that there's still a chance for you
'Cause there's a spark in you?

You just gotta ignite the light and let it shine
Just own the night like the 4th of July

'Cause baby, you're a firework
Come on, show 'em what you're worth
Make 'em go, oh
As you shoot across the sky

Baby, you're a firework
Come on, let your colors burst
Make 'em go, oh
You're gonna leave 'em falling down

You don't have to feel like a waste of space
You're original, cannot be replaced
If you only knew what the future holds
After a hurricane comes a rainbow

Maybe you're reason why all the doors are closed
So you could open one that leads you to the perfect road
Like a lightning bolt, your heart will blow
And when it's time, you'll know

You just gotta ignite the light and let it shine
Just own the night like the 4th of July

'Cause baby you're a firework
Come on, show 'em what you're worth
Make 'em go, oh
As you shoot across the sky

Baby, you're a firework
Come on, let your colors burst
Make 'em go, oh
You're gonna leave 'em falling down

Boom, boom, boom
Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon
It's always been inside of you, you, you
And now it's time to let it through

'Cause baby you're a firework
Come on, show 'em what you're worth
Make 'em go, oh
As you shoot across the sky

Baby, you're a firework
Come on, let your colors burst
Make 'em go, oh
You're gonna leave 'em falling down

Boom, boom, boom
Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon
Boom, boom, boom
Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon


Lyrics copied here.

There is a TV soap opera in Philippine television launched sometime May.  I watched the pilot episode and the title is 100 days to Heaven (this link will direct you to the trailer of the show via Youtube.)  What made this so significant to me is that this is the only soap opera i watched.  It is not yet finished but as long as I could steal a time from reading my books, I would sneak in and glue my eyes on the tube.

It has a good story, I could say. However, I cannot comment too much about it since I only had few occasions to watch it.  I will not claim to be an expert about the show but I know it is giving viewers a lesson to live with.

I searched the net for a translation of the movie theme but there was none so I decided to blog about it and share my translation of the lyrics of the song Mahiwaga as sung by Fatima Soriano.  By the way, the story of the artist who sang this song also had a wonderful and miraculous story.  Please check out Fatima Soriano's website here and find out the story of her life.


Mahiwaga performed by Fatima Soriano
(Mysterious)


Mahiwaga ang buhay ng tao (Life is mysterious)
Ang bukas ay di natin piho (We are not certain of the future)
At manalig lagi sana tayo (And so we should always have faith)
Ang diyos ang pagasa ng mundo (The Lord is the hope of the earth)

Pag-ibig sa ating kapwa tao (Love our fellow)
At laging magmahalan tayo (and we should always be loving)
Yan ang lunas at ligaya  (that is the cure and happiness)
At pag-asa ng Bawat Kaluluwa (And the hope of every soul)


Pag-ibig sa ating kapwa tao (Love our fellow)
At laging magmahalan tayo (and we should always be loving)
Yan ang lunas at ligaya  (that is the cure and happiness)
At pag-asa ng Bawat Kaluluwa (And the hope of every soul)


Yan ang hiwaga ng buhay ng tao (that is the mystery of life)


=====
There goes my translation of the song and as usual, I'm seeking your comment for whatever mistranslated words or any errors in the lyrics.


Thanks.

Here is another contribution from my reader Quisan... please read on.
========================

When I’m With You by Faber Drive
      Music tells exactly what I feel whenever I’m hurt, sad, lonely, in love, happy and especially whenever I encounter heartbreaks. It’s the best way to release my emotions to the point that I could hardly explain my feelings to anyone at least I can sing it. For me, music is my life.  Without it I’m like a dead clock that can’t move without its battery. I also define music as my problem absorber ‘coz eventually it turns back the smile on my face.
        “When I’m with you” is my all time favorite song since high school, for me this song never gets old. I enjoy it more when I used to sing and played it with my guitar. It became more my favorite when I watched the music video which interprets a sad love story of a couple who meets a car accident which caused death to his girlfriend while her boyfriend is fighting for life. The song really touches my heart and leaves an important lesson to treasure, because every moment that you share your life with your love ones or special one make sure that you don’t hesitate to say or express how much you love him/her because if God took him/her away from you at least there’s no reason to regret.
      The most remarkable thought of the lyrics for me is this “whatever it takes 
I’m not going to break the promise I made” because for me it really shows that promises are not meant to break, so if I could just use my tears to build a stairway, and memories a lane, I'd walk right up to heaven and bring his girlfriend again.

quimsann

Alright, this is a nice song. When it comes to melody, it will surely captivate your ears. However the song talks about a lost love... one that just disappears for no reason.


Then I was reminded of a story of my friend who said his love disappeared for the reason that he felt neglected.


In a relationship, sometimes it is nice to feel that one is needed.  It may be too tasking, that is why I said "sometimes" one has to feel that they are needed, especially for the guy who feels that he has to serve his partner as much as he can, as much as he is needed.  You know how guys tend to be protective all the time.  It's not as if being protected means admitting that a woman is weak.  It's probably just nature.


Everyday, most of the decisions are coming from the girl and out of courtesy, the guy gives way.  But it didn't do well between them, at least for the guy. He just though everything would turn out all right but it didn't. Their daily arguments, struggles and decisions in life originated from the girl.  Bravo to the girl for being able to handle relationship.  But relationship is a two-way process. 


The girl was too strong, the girl was so sure of what she was doing and the guy, who is so overwhelmed at what the girl could do, didn't feel his existence anymore, much less his importance to her life.


Out of the blue, the guy just said "I am exhausted" - exhausted for trying to capture the girl's attention and be noticed in at least voicing out his feelings.  He was duped into believing that the girl can do it so what is his use?  It even didn't occur to the guy that the women will be hurt.  No inkling at all.


He said goodbye. Goodbye is a hurting phenomenon and he didn't even realize that the woman will surely be hurt. He didn't see it coming, he did not have an idea that a strong woman could actually feel hurt.


It must have been love, they could have been a perfect couple... but it's over now.  Worst, they just parted ways like the never shared love each other.


It is always sad when lovers become enemies.  I myself, cannot understand it. Why?




Lyrics of the song
IT MUST HAVE BEEN LOVE


Lay a whisper on my pillow 
Leave the winter on the ground 
I wake up lonely, is there a silence 
In the bedroom and all around 

Touch me now, I close my eyes 
And dream away... 

It must have been love, but it's over now 
It must have been good, but I lost it somehow 
It must have been love, but it's over now 
From the moment we touched till the time had run out 

Make believing we're together 
That I'm sheltered by your heart 
But in and outside I turn to water 
Like a teardrop in your palm 

And it's a hard winter's day 
I dream away... 

It must have been love, but it's over now 
It was all that I wanted, now I'm living without 
It must have been love, but it's over now 
It's where the water flows, it's where the wind blows 

It must have been love, but it's over now 
It must have been good, but I lost it somehow 
It must have been love, but it's over now 
From the moment we touched till the time had run out