Driving us Crazy?

Against our better judgment, we happily made that mad, mad, decision to take our boys to Ocean Park. Words cannot express the sheer heroism involved. Tina changed Manuel's diaper in a public toilet literally bursting with irate mothers and their little darlings. While Tina refuses to recount that horror, the silence that met her departure trumpeted her triumph. And no, I don't think I exaggerate.

My heroism was more prosaic: running around with Juan, lugging the strollers, creating paths where none existed. But I suppose even that might be considered heroic, especially for the boys, whose idea of heroism is as simple as a bottle of milk and as pure as a pair of new diapers.

Check out my Multiply for pics. Enjoy!

Flight of Angels

My sons, Juan and Manuel, finally took to flight...together. Sadly, the holiday season has become almost unbearably busy for us, mostly due to the many kind souls who graciously shared their time and bounty with our little family. Yet, as the Gospel according to Luke would put it, "The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few..." Despite our joy at being the recipients of so much goodwill, we simply had to beg off and whisk ourselves out of the country.

In lieu of our presence this Christmas, might I offer the prospect of pictures of us this blessed holiday season? Consider this thoughtful offer my little way of spreading some good cheer: you get to see us at our best and happiest from the comfort of your homes. We get to rest, and to borrow (most outrageously) from Shakespeare's Hamlet, "flights of angels sing thee to thy rest". Merry Christmas from the Borra Family! Pictures to come at my Multiply.

Onion Knight: Geek Tales

My wife Tina and I took my mom out for lunch at Mamou where I gorged myself on what must be the finest steak in Metro Manila. Unfortunately, no trip to Serendra is ever complete without dropping by Fully Booked, where we purchased several steaks worth of books.

Thus sated, body and soul, I'm feeling particularly frisky today. Nay, my restlessness is exceeded only by my profound delight at digging up the following articles from America's Finest News Source. Therefore, without further ado, and without referencing both this blog's title and what may perhaps be the finest RPG made for the PSP, let us begin.

Gore Wins Oscar, Nobel Peace Prize For Slide-Show Presentation

The Nobel Committee was deeply moved by Gore's employment of multi-image animation.

This entry is specifically for my good friend, Jason de Villa, who suffered what constitutes the very anti-thesis of the holiday season when he battled bravely to uphold the standards of coherent thought by patiently nurturing the enthusiastic but compositionally challenged writers of IMC's publication and enduring, in the finest Christian tradition, the largely unremarkable Powerpoint presentations of his students. You may read of Jason's adventures in editing here, and his trek into heretofore unexplored regions of Powerpoint Purgatory here.

Choice excerpts from the Onion article:

In February, Gore's montage of satellite images and title slides was awarded an Oscar by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and was hailed for presenting a "truly global message" with a clear beginning, middle, and end.

"I was stunned," said Phoenix resident Amy Swinton, 23, who saw the slide show twice in theaters. "It turns out that you don't always need flashy fonts or background colors to make a great multimedia presentation. Simple white text on an all black background can be very effective."

Man Finally Put In Charge Of Struggling Feminist Movement

WASHINGTON-"All the feminist movement needed to do was hire someone who had the balls to do something about this glass ceiling business," new head feminist Peter "Buck" McGowan said.

Charmingly politically incorrect, this article made me laugh out loud. At one point, I was counting how many times the article was going to lampoon sensitive stereotypes concerning women, but eventually gave up after being overwhelmed by the sheer chutzpah of the unknown (and I suspect, female) author.

Choice excerpts from the Onion article:

McGowan claimed that one of the main reasons the movement enjoyed so little success in the past was that the previous management was often too timid and passive and should have been much more results-focused.

"You can't waste time pussyfooting around with protests and getting all emotional about a bunch of irrelevant details," McGowan said. "If you want to enjoy equal rights, you have to have a real man-to-man chat with the people in charge until you can hammer out some more equitable custody laws."

"And don't get me started on how disorganized and scatterbrained their old fundraising methods were," McGowan added. "Let's just say the movement never really had a head for numbers."

Photo Credits:

Picture of the Onion Knight comes courtesy of Final Fantasy Wiki.

Passion in High Places

I must confess: the refreshing directness of this article's editorial slant got me to read it. How could anyone not break out a smile at CBS Reverts To Form, Begins Destruction Of Startrek.com? I can only imagine the internal battle that the author must have been waging. Do I even attempt to adhere to some sort of journalistic objectivity? But they're doing this to my people! Don't I have the right to throw out all pretense at neutrality given the immensity of the evil that is being perpetrated here?

First, and interestingly, it looks like the “so long and thanks for all the fish” news item posted by the StarTrek.com editorial team has been replaced with a “hey, keep the conversation going in our forums” post. In fact, that original post has been purged from the archives. Really tacky, CBS, really tacky. Also, worst first paragraph ever (one ‘loper notes, “It sounds like Dilbert’s boss wrote it”):

CBS Interactive, which oversees StarTrek.com, is reorganizing the way it does business to align the division’s workforce with its new vision that focuses on building communities online.

You lost me at “align the division’s workforce, blah, blah, blah”. Yeah, CBS, you know your audience.

By the way, if you’re going to focus on building community, you might want to brush up on the notion of authenticity. The entire success or failure of an online community is dependent upon authenticity. The above paragraph demonstrates, most unfortunately, the total lack of authentic voice. Most lawyers aren’t good at writing. Just a thought.

Coincidentally, a passing reference to Trekkers or Trekkies led me to discover this gem.

And yes, I'm a little bored. I've had so little time to write lately that I'm intoxicated by the opportunity to just string words together. I'll be more coherent soon, I hope. In the meantime, enjoy!

Back in Manila: Random Musings

When I first got back from Cagayan de Oro from our strategic planning session for Alpha Philippines, I had to choke back tears. While I admit that I am a sentimental sort, the tears weren't due to any realization regarding the emotional toll that separation takes on all fathers with kids. After reveling in the pristine air of Cagayan de Oro, the transition to Metro Manila air was, surprisingly, difficult for me. Odd, that.

Still, the trip was wonderfully productive. Not only did we reassess and reorient ourselves regarding our ministry functions, the ministry caught up with us when we least expected, in a sector that, surprisingly, seems to need renewal: the Philippine National Police (PNP). A courtesy call to the PNP training school in Cagayan de Oro quickly turned into an introductory talk, "Is there more to life than this?" Despite their weariness, which calls to mind the saying "Death is lighter than a feather, duty heavier than a mountain", Tito Benie Sy and Carmela Rodil sported smiles wider than sapphire blue skies of Cagayan de Oro.

I also met with Dr. Tonton Torralba about the roll out programs for the Edicongress, which is currently being buttressed in the public imagination by the campaign I Keep Love Real, which only sounds like a song from The Jets, but ought to be more successful than that talented Tongan band. More on that soon.

All in all, I'm glad to be back. I sense multiple posts coming up. It would be a shame to waste such excellent internet access.

Tidings of Laughter and Joy

I could ramble on and on about what I've been doing lately, but in the service of brevity, allow me to simply enumerate, in chronological order:

1. 2nd International Congress on Education in Love, Sex, and Life: Love, Laughter, and Life Ever After at EDSA Shangri-La. (And if you thought that was a mouthful, I assure you, it was a happily taxing as it sounds.)
2. Real Love Revolution at Le Pavilion, Roxas Boulevard.
3. Pilot Alpha Course, St. Francis Seraph Retreat House, Maghaway, Talisay City, Cebu.
4. Values Talk (with Alpha Introduction), Golden ABC, best known for their flagship brand, Penshoppe.
5. Alpha Advisers Meetings (Celsa Uy, Danny Carreon), Manila.
6. Alpha IT Day, Tent of Praise Ministries, West Rembo, Makati.
7. Alpha Live Speakers Training, Tent of Praise Ministries, West Rembo, Makati.
8. Preaching, Building Bridges Ministries, BMMC, Makati.

Oddly, despite the fact that I will soon be leaving for Cagayan de Oro for the following:

1. SERVE LIFE Congress Rosevale School, Xavier Estates Phase IV, Lumbia, Cagayan de Oro City. (Where I have a press conference with the mayor, Hon. Constantino “Tinnex” Jaraula)
2. Bishop's Brunch (To introduce Alpha to key clergymen and lay leaders).
3. Alpha Philippines Strategic Planning Session for Alpha Advisers.

I feel an odd sort of peace. Perhaps it's the Season for it. When I turned to my bible the other day, if only to renew myself in the many wonders which continue to bring light worldwide precisely because "a child was born", my eyes strayed to the following verses:

When the angels went away from them to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go, then, to Bethlehem to see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us." So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child. All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds. And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.

It's interesting how even from the very beginning, our Lord began teaching us how to welcome Him into our lives: through prayerful reflection and joyful action. Through the example of Our Lady, and the pure, simple folk who knew, despite their lack of sophistication, how to receive tidings of laughter and joy, let's try to make our holidays more in keeping with the Season.

Reflect. Pray. Share our joy!

Photo Credits:

Picture of The Nativity comes courtesy of New Line Cinema: The Nativity Story.