The last note for today is brought to you by... Charice Pempengco!

Something to bring a smile to Pinoys the world over. Singing sensation Charice Pempengco returned to Italy and conquered Italians effortlessly.



In this show Io Canto (I sing), she once again performed her staple repertoire and sang, for the first time, in Italian. The piece? Adagio (Slowly), a Lara Fabian original, if I'm not mistaken. A happy news to begin the week with.

Hope against hopelessness

The best news the Philippines has had this year is a recognition brought in by a man, though not through his force or power, not through his intelligence and cunning, not through what's exotic and peculiar. He earned it because of his good heart.

Congratulations, EFREN PEÑAFLORIDA JR., CNN's Hero of the Year! Mabuhay ka!

Tie a yellow ribbon (A Cory Aquino tribute)

Finally, a local version of the anthemic song Tie a Yellow Ribbon, revived and revised by DJ Mod in honor of Corazon Aquino. It may be remembered that the song became the theme song of Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino upon his return to the Philippines (then under dictator Ferdinand Marcos) after his exile in the US. Here's a very nice version in honor of the deceased Mother of Philippine Democracy.

One for the ages

Corazon Aquino, the widow who toppled a dictator, became the first woman president of the Philippines, and eventually restored democracy, has died. The nation mourns her demise.

So much has been said about her that this blog entry is but a speck in a blogosphere teeming with paeans in her honor. And no one should be surprised, for hers was a life well lived, a life that has been shared with many nameless and faceless people who saw in her what goodness and integrity can and should do for the republic.

Cory may not be the holiest of saints. Nor may she be the best leader the Philippines would ever get. She never claimed so anyway. Cory Aquino understood well the part she had to play in the history of this country, a part that many people would readily assume if only to have the fame and fortune that goes with it. And she took on the challenge in the same way she would cede her post years later: unassumingly, quietly, without any pomp and pageantry. In a country whose citizens usually equate "government service" with "celebrity," in a country where everyone hogs the limelight in each action he does, in a country where all people want to be stars, what Cory did was an act of heroism in itself. She knew that everything will soon end and thus it is best to end it on a high note.

We now look back to what she did with pride and thanksgiving.

True, Cory Aquino may not have moved mountains, but she gave later generations of Filipinos a better shot at it. Her example taught us that principles coupled with faith can, in fact, change lives and effect changes. She taught us that tyrants are not toppled with tyranny, but rather with integrity and selflessness.

True, there are things that could've been done better and there might have been certain decisions that should not have been taken. (I've just read some critique on Cory's part in "eradicating" the Spanish language in the country, her wishy-washy attitude toward decision-making, her weak agrarian reform program...) But an individual's worth is never measured by these little things taken separately. The mere fact that people could critique a president of the country who has recently passed on is an indelible legacy Corazon Aquino has left the Philippines.

And even on her last days, when the tides of life were slowly ebbing away, Cory Aquino stayed true to how she chose to live her life and proved to people how a nation so oblivious as the Philippines could be shaken out of stupor and act as one.

Corazon Aquino, the widow who toppled a dictator, became the first woman president of the Philippines, and eventually restored democracy to the country, is dead. The nation mourns her demise. The nation marks the end of an era.

Tudo isto é fado

Friends know that one of my biggest dreams is to ride a bike through the sunflower fields of Tuscany, Italy. Everyone shall be dressed in white, waving at me, while the song Santa Lucia is playing in the background...

...well, this was until this morning when I rediscovered the fado, the music most representative perhaps of Portugal, a moving proof of the Portuguese's intimate connection with melancholy and things forlorn, the proverbial saudades.


Here's the Queen of Fado herself, the great Amália Rodrigues, singing the anthemic Tudo isto é fado (All this is fado), a song I want to be played if and when I go back to Lisbon to eat sardines along Rua Augusta on one of my melancholy nights.

UPDATE (1 August 2009): We now dedicate this song to the memory of former Philippine President Corazon Aquino, who has just died after months of battling colon cancer. Rest in peace and thank you!

R.I.P. Michael Jackson

I'm getting word that King of Pop Michael Jackson has died today due to cardiac arrest. While the reports are still hasty and unconfirmed, and the details a bit blurry as I write this entry, I hope that MJ finds rest after a life intensely lived, a life of ups and downs, or controversies and lost loves, and, most especially, of great music that has characterized an entire generation and the many that would come afterwards.

UPDATE: We also remember in this entry the American actress Farrah Fawcett, who died hours before Michael Jackson did.

Floating through Bangkok

One of the most importat tourist attractions of Bangkok, Thailand is its floating market. Located in Damnoen Saduak (about 109kms southwest of the city), any tourist interested to see a different kind of marketplace will be enthralled at the beauty and the quaintness of the place.



Tourists can arrange for special trips from Bangkok to the floating market (with a side trip in an elephant farm and zoo). Do sample the food Thai vendors sell in boats as you wade through the canals of the area. But be very careful about purchasing souvenir items as prices tend to skyrocket in this very touristy spot.

The best commencement speech ever!

Watch this brilliant speech made by Ellen DeGeneres at graduation of the Katrina Class of 2009 of the Tulane University! Inspiring and funny to very last sentence.

Charice Pempengco in Italy!

Once again, Filipina Charice Pempengco did music wonders, this time in an Italian show called Ti lascio una canzone (literally, I leave you a song) where she did duets with Italian kids who also wanted to make a career in singing.

Charice did her staples "I will always love you," "I will survive," "The Prayer" and, in this bit, "I believe I can fly." What with all the Hayden-Katrina sex scandal, this news about the youngest face of Philippine music making waves abroad is more than enough to make us all believe in being Filipino. Mabuhay, Charice!

More naked Italian men

It's official: the most popular post of W.A.M. is that one about nude Italian men, closely followed by a hodgepodge of naked European guys. And I'm betting 50 pesos that most -- if not all -- accessed my blog thinking that I'm talking about that kind of nudes, and kept reading the entry with the hope that some flesh would be seen.

But no, since this is a wholesome (ahem!) blog, the most we could show is some hard and smooth... carved marble (ehehehe). Here's more from the Vatican; don't you just wonder why we have so many nudes in the heart of Catholicism? So here you go, dear kinky readers! Look at naked bodies and learn history!

Apollo del Belvedere. The most part of the art collection of Pope Julius II that shows the Greek god of light in his naked best... which seems to say that if you have good bone structure, you could go naked and pose all you want.

Laocoön. Another piece from Julius II's collection. The Greek prophet Laocoön is shown here with his two sons being strangled by serpents sent by the goddess Athena. Talk about revenge.

Francis Magalona's Kaleidoscope World

One of the many things that the death of Philippine Master Rapper Francis Magalona did was to bring back to the consciousness of the younger generations the music that we in the 90s loved and enjoyed.

His anthemic song "Kaleidoscope World" is one of those often played. And here is its acoustic version, rendered most beautifully by Perf de Castro, a fitting tribute to an icon whom future generations of Filipinos will remember for his art, his music, his patriotism and his optimism in the face of death.

In Memoriam: Francis Magalona

W.A.M. pays tribute to Francis Magalona, a consummate artist and the widely acknowledged King of Philippine Rap Music through whose work we, Filipinos, found a medium to express ourselves by adapting a format that used to be detached from our local culture and making it our own.

Francis' most important contribution was his ability to make being Pinoy hip and cool for younger generations who probably couldn't relate to big concepts such as nationhood, freedom and love of country beyond self. In his short life, he achieved what most could not do in a lifetime: to instill pride for one's own heritage and acknowledge the greatness of a nation when it nurtures its people. His is a void that will be hard to fill.

(Picture courtesy of this blog.)

Of balconies and memories (In Memory of Héctor)

When I was still studying in Spain, I lived in the university dorm reserved for graduate students. It's called Residencia Reyes Católicos, located on Calle Teresa Gil, Valladolid.

I was a nomad for the first 10 months of my stay there, since I was originally assigned to a first-floor room, traditionally reserved for transients. Then I was moved to a fourth-floor room, a small space for students who stayed longer. Finally, I was transferred to Room 307 that had this beautiful and spacious balcony where I used to hang out, cook using my electric paella dish or dry out shoes and clothes. This was where I would stay until I finished my Master's.

In 309 was a Spaniard from Burgos. His name was Héctor. At a young age he was already doing his PhD in Physics. He had studied French, gone to Italy to feed pigeons, tried to date girls, become a member of the Science Museum in Valladolid... too many achievements so early in life. He was a bit weird, too: delayed reactions whenever we told him stories, topics totally unrelated to the conversation, debates over the mundanest topics, a curious gaze, perhaps.

But deep in him was a beautiful soul of a person struggling to fit in while trying to be true to himself. When people began laughing behind his back or started imitating his antics, he was oblivious. He was there to study and study he did. When everyone tried to push him away, he tried his best to move in closer, although he was not successful in every attempt. And when he sensed it was futile, he kept to himself and did not say a word.

The last time I saw him was on the day I left for the Philippines, although I had the opportunity to exchanges a few e-mails with him and chat a bit afterwards. Last Thursday, Héctor passed away after falling from his balcony, the same balcony that we all had in Reyes Católicos where we hang out, cook and dry clothes. No one may ever know what's going on inside his head when he fell -- it was so characteristic of him to be secretive -- but I hope that he was not thinking how lonely and oppressive life could be.

And I hope, too, that somehow, somewhere, Héctor could read this and know that he would be sorely missed, and that other people who may be going through rough times and feel that they do not belong know that there's always a willing ear and a helping hand out there to help.

Descansa en paz, Héctor. ¡Hasta la vista!

Season of fireworks

W.A.M. bids farewell to 2008 with this music video of the song Season of Fireworks from the Taiwanese pop group F4. It has been a year of ups and downs, of many events and places we've shared and marvelled at, like the fireworks that dot the skyline on this festive eve, a proof that life, indeed, is a journey and we're all tourists making the most out of it.


As the words of this F4 song go, "I want to hold your hands and share with you this splendid season of fireworks with our beautiful memories."

HAPPY 2009 TO ALL READERS AND FRIENDS OF The World According to Marlon!

In Memoriam: Brenden Foster

Brenden Foster's wish was to feed the homeless, something he decided to do upon seeing a bunch of people on his way home from the clinic. He wanted to help the bees, as well, by distributing wild flower seeds.

At an age when most kids his age dream of toys and video games, during an era when everyone is so consumed with material wealth, Brenden Foster had learned something that most of us wouldn't even begin to comprehend.


Last Friday, at the tender age of 11, Brenden Foster died of leukemia in his mother's arms, but left a spark that was to glimmer forever.

Dying with class

Great people, it is said, are immortalized only upon their death. This becomes even more palpable when they are placed in one single place for future generations to see. This is the case of the Basilica of Santa Croce in Florence, Italy, a haven for great Florentines who through their works have moved the world.

Michelangelo Buonarroti. The great sculptor of David and the Pietà, the painter of the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, and the great inspiration for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (hihi), found his resting place in this ornate marble tomb.

Niccolò Machiavelli. The great political thinker whose most famous work is The Prince has this cenotaph erected in his honor, with an inscription in Latin that can be translated as, "No honor is enough for such great a name."

Dante Alighieri. The author of the Divine Comedy, Italy's Sommo Poeta and Father of the Italian Language, he has this tomb in his honor, though his mortal remains are enterred in Ravenna, Italy.

Galileo Galilei. The great thinker and proponent of the heliocentrism, for which he was unjustly accused of heresy, is today honored and acclaimed in this befitting memorial.

Muy agradecido por todo...

Hoy cumplo un año en Filipinas después de dos años de estudios en Valladolid, España. En varias entradas de este blog, W.A.M., siempre digo que estoy muy agradecido por todo lo que aquellos dos años me dieron: los momentos de "juerga" y diversión, los episodios de manía y tristeza, los bonitos paisajes que he capturado con una cámara de fotos... todo.

Pero más allá de esto, lo que para mí es el broche de oro es la oportunidad de hacer amistad con gente de varias partes del mundo, verdaderos tesoros que nunca fallan en poner una sonrisa en mi cara al mirar las fotos que de ellos tengo. Muy agradecido por todo... ¡hasta la vista!

Nuestra Señora del Pilar

The feast of Nuestra Señora del Pilar merges a religious observance and a secular holiday. Aside from being the patroness of Aragón, Our Lady of the Pillar is also the patroness of Spain and the whole of hispanidad, the term used in reference to all the lands that once belonged to the Spanish Empire, where, it was said, "the sun never sets."

Her feast on October 12 is also the Día de Hispanidad (or, Día de la Raza in some places in Hispanic America, the day Columbus "discovered" the New World), a time when we celebrate the common tie that binds many countries in America, Europe and us here in Asia.



Here's a video I made when I visited the Basilica of the Virgin last year in Zaragoza, Spain on August 15, the feast of the Assumption. You would see the age-old tradition of letting children who have not received their First Communion kiss the cape that covers the sacred pillar where the Virgin Mary was said to have appeared to St. James the Great (Santiago el Mayor) when the latter was evangelizing Iberia. Other than youngsters, ranking members of the Catholic clergy and the Spanish Royal Family, no one is allowed to enter the camarín of the Virgin.

The pillar, made of jasper 1.70 meters in length and 24 centimeters in diameter, is covered with bronce and silver. It remains covered throughout the year except during the feast of the Virgin.

(Va dedicada esta entrada a todas las Pilares de mi vida, en especial a AlmaLeonor que a pesar de la distancia sigue siendo una gran amiga.)

Papal audience

I distinctly remember this day, October 2, last year. I was in Rome, spending my last few days in Italy with friends and with the sole intention of attending a Papal audience. A Papal audience, for those who want to know, is the time when the Pope meets Catholic pilgrims in Rome.

I had been in Rome two years back, but I didn't know that audiences are held on Wednesdays so between catching my plane back to Spain and staying to see the Pope, I chose the former. Now many people think I'm overly religious (I think I'm not) but I am fascinated with the Catholic faith and Rome on a Wednesday teems with it. Besides, it's one of those events you could look back to when you're old and grimy and say to yourself, proudly, "I was there."


So on this fateful day of October last year, I was so eager to spend my Wednesday in Rome and be in the audience... But there's just one teensy-weensy problem: I DIDN'T HAVE A TICKET! I had tried talking to some Filipino nuns in Valladolid, Spain before going to Italy and they referred me to a Filipino priest who was supposed to be in the same audience. I waited for the (insert expletive here, ehehe) priest for about one hour and a half but he didn't show up.

It was nearly the start of the audience so I shifted to my Plan B, devised about 10 hours before the actual event. I went to the Philippine Embassy to the Holy See, just a few meters away from St. Peter's (it's probably the Embassy closest to the main square) and asked for tickets. I did get tickets (plural, since I got three just in case two forlorn souls had the same problem as I did) and went in, sat in a place that seemed faraway from all the action since people had wolfed all good seats by then while I was outside waiting for the (insert expletive here, ehehe) priest for about one hour and a half (have I told you this bit yet?). As I was fretting over not being able to see the Pope -- lo and behold! -- he came out right next to where I was seated. Talk about divine justice.

A te

This song A te by Italian singer Jovanotti is pure poetry, a song that he originally made for his wife, I've heard. I've been agonizing for days, trying to translate this to English but I'm not at all convinced with my version (it lacks oomphf). So I tried to doing it in Spanish and the version convinced me more.

Aquí está la traducción de la canción al español. Espero que os guste. I hope to make the English translation of the song soon, so please keep on checking this page out.


A ti que eres la única en el mundo
La única razón por llegar hasta al final de cada respiro mío.
Cuando te miro después de un día lleno de palabras,
Sin que me digas nada, todo me sale claro.

A ti que me has encontrado en un rincón con los puños cerrados
Con mi espalda pegada contra la pared, preparado a defenderme.
Con la mirada bajada estaba en compañía de desilusionados.
Tú me has salvado como un gato y te me has llevado.

A ti te canto una canción porque no tengo otra cosa
Mejor para ofrecerte de todo lo que tengo.
Captas el tiempo y la magia que con un solo salto
Nos hacen volar en el aire como burbujas.

A ti que eres, simplemente eres,
La esencia de mis días, la esencia de mis sueños.

A ti que eres mi gran amor y mi amor grande,
A ti que has atrapado mi vida, que la has hecho mucho más de lo que era,
A ti que has dado sentido al tiempo sin medirlo
A ti que eres mi gran amor y mi amor grande,
A ti a quien he visto llorar en mis manos
Tan frágil eras que podría haberte matado
Si te hubiera abrazado un poco más.
Y luego te he visto con la fuerza de un avión,
Deteniendo la vida con tus manos y trayéndola a la salvación.

A ti que me has enseñado los sueños y el arte de la aventura,
A ti que crees tanto en el coraje como en el miedo,
A ti que eres la mejor cosa que jamás me has sucedido
A ti que cambias todos los días pero permaneces por siempre igual.

A ti que eres, simplemente eres,
La esencia de mis días, la esencia de mis sueños.
A ti que eres, esencialmente eres,
La esencia de mis sueños, la esencia de mis días.

A ti que nunca te gustas a ti misma
Aunque eres una maravilla,
La fuerza de la naturaleza converge en ti,
Que eres una roca, una planta, un huracán,
Eres el horizonte que me acoge cuando me alejo
A ti que eres la única amiga que puedo tener,
El único amor que querría por si todavía no te tuviera aquí conmigo.
A ti que me has devuelto la belleza a la vida,
Que consigues trasformar las dificultades en un inmenso placer,
A ti que eres mi gran amor y mi amor grande,
A ti que has atrapado mi vida, que la has hecho mucho más de lo que era,
A ti que has dado sentido al tiempo sin medirlo
A ti que eres mi gran amor y mi amor grande,

A ti que eres, simplemente eres,
La esencia de mis días, la esencia de mis sueños.
A ti que eres, semplicemente eres,
La compañera de mis días, la esencia de mis sueños.