Tag Archives: music

Christmas Is BACK! | A Revival

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Was there a time in your life when you opted to break a family tradition? It could be because you decided it is for the best that you remove it, or you had to stall following that tradition for the time being.

We had to do the latter and skipped putting up the Christmas tree and decorations from 2023 until 2024. For 2023, it was the first Christmas without Mom, as she passed away in August of that year. We also did not set up the Christmas tree last year because our town was one of the areas here in Bicol hit by Tropical Storm Kristine, leaving extensive damage in the entire region.

By the way, we always celebrated Christmas and New Year here at home ever since I was a kid because Mom was never fond of traveling, we wanted to avoid all the Christmas rush, and she was a true-blue homebody like me. It then became a family tradition to decorate the house during the holidays, which eventually became a family bonding activity, too, that my siblings and I always look forward to every year.

Christmas 2025
The Christmas tree has stood witness to stories of all kinds. But the most memorable is definitely the one where there was a Savior born in a manger. ❤

It’s a good thing we were able to finish a lot of errands (so we can focus on decorating the house unhurried), from getting the palay seeds for the next planting season, following up on some legal matters, to having Dad’s yearly blood work, including a visit to the ophthalmologist just to name a few. For the last errand, it was a last-minute decision to have his eyes checked at Chacon General Hospital & Eye Clinic because he was complaining of eye irritation.

Thanks, Kuya, for capturing this shot. 🙂

After we’re done with his eye checkup, we bought him a new cane because his old one was already brittle. I think I entered a time machine, though, when I went inside Metro Health Clinic to buy his cane. Because when I looked at the receipt that the pharmacy gave me, it was dated October 21, when it’s supposed to be December 6. lol It got me thinking, what happened last October 21? Only to realize that October 21 was the birthday of this blog. 😀

And speaking of receipts, the serial number in Dr. Chacon’s receipt also has the number of Jesus Christ – 888. Though I advise with caution those who will study Biblical numerology because there’s a tendency that it might lead you to divination, which the Bible strictly prohibits. Going back to 888, there are Biblical references that attribute it to a new creation, new beginnings, and the resurrection.

I always believe that things happen for a reason and not because of coincidence. The number 888, the resurrection, and the title of this article, which is about revival, all fall perfectly in place. Speaking of revival, aside from the “revival” of the Christmas decorations, we are also reviving Mom and Dad’s old phonograph, which they bought during the 1970s. I’ve never tried playing this when I was young; that’s why I was so overjoyed to finally have the privilege to play it now, and it still works! For how long, that we really don’t know. And the sound quality is not that excellent anymore.

There’s something about raw music that brings nostalgia at its best. Even the crackling noise of the speaker becomes part of the music. There’s something wrong with the speed adjuster of the turntable, though, so the music doesn’t sound like the original anymore. 😀

I am also reviving Mom’s old phone because there was a bug in the recent iOS update, and my phone’s screen just froze. So, I will be using Mom’s Nokia in the meantime while I am waiting for the new update. I missed this phone, though. I feel like I am having a mental declutter when I use it because it only has the basic features of a phone, just in time to do social media fasting in preparation for the holidays.

Speaking of social media, there are two Facebook pages that I recently followed on Facebook, which I find particularly interesting. They are Jam’s Germs and Bible Creation. Jam’s Germs is all about the microscopic world, and I don’t know how it got included in my Facebook algorithm. Maybe I was a tardigrade in my past life? lol One weird fact about me is that I never held a microscope in my entire life, and I was somehow wishing a couple of months back to have a glimpse of what it’s like to work in a lab if you’re a scientist.

It looks like God granted my wish. Through this Facebook page, I got to take a peek at the fascinating world of microorganisms and how they seem to be so otherworldly. As if they don’t coexist with us. By the way, I was also wondering how scientists flirt with their partners if they are both scientists. I can imagine their convo going something like: “Hey, love, let’s create a new cell – my cells and yours combined.” 😀

Okay, enough with the tardigrades, and let’s go now to the other Facebook page I mentioned earlier, before scientists start hating me. lol The name of the Facebook page is Bible Creation, and I am not sure who runs the page. But the authors did a very good job in combining science and faith through storytelling.

Sadly, I would have to cut this storytelling of mine short because it is time for me to get my much-needed rest for the day. And Mom will surely haunt me tonight for posting these photos and sharing about our family tradition. lol

I just want to share the message that family traditions don’t have to die, too, when a loved one passes away. In fact, it should be the other way around. We keep these traditions in memory of them. ❤

During Christmas Day, I always find this necklace inside a sock that Mom would hang on our main door’s knob. She would always tease me that Santa had left a gift. But she will take the necklace back the next day. lol That went on until I became a teenager, and then I could wear it any time. This is to make sure I wouldn’t lose this necklace. 😀
This will always be one of my fondest memories of Christmas Day – the necklace with the blue pendant inside a sock hanging on a doorknob (now, a door handle). ❤

I believe the following Bible verses are the perfect ending to this article about revival:

A Time for Everything (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)

“There is a time for everything,
    and a season for every activity under the heavens:

2     a time to be born and a time to die,
    a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3     a time to kill and a time to heal,
    a time to tear down and a time to build,
4     a time to weep and a time to laugh,
    a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5     a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
    a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
6     a time to search and a time to give up,
    a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7     a time to tear and a time to mend,
    a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8     a time to love and a time to hate,
    a time for war and a time for peace.”

P.S. We miss you, Mommy. We know you’re happy because the house is well decorated again for the holidays. 😀 ❤

P.P.S. Our house, by the way, is about 50 years old already, and the Christmas decorations, including the Christmas tree, are around 20-30 years old, too. Some of the decorations were already brittle they had to be glued so we could still use them. lol

I decorated our condo’s terrace door with these curtain lights in 2020 when we couldn’t come to Bulan due to COVID-19.
These curtain lights now found their way to Bulan and blended perfectly with the Christmas stockings. Thank you, Kuya and Heather, for this photo and for helping me and Ate Boden decorate. 🙂 ❤

These photos may look beautiful, but we are actually dealing with a lot of wear and tear issues already with the house, which we plan to open to the public in the future, God willing, as a bed and breakfast. We’ve had visitors (even strangers) in the past who would take a photo of our house because they find it beautiful. So we thought, why not share the joy this house brings to the world? 😀

This house is Mom and Dad’s greatest achievement as a couple, slowly built over the past 40 years. They both designed this house with the help of an architect, and we have seen how the house transformed from being bare to becoming a masterpiece and a work of art. My siblings also contributed to the transformation, mostly with the interior design.

This house holds many memories and stories to tell, but it could someday come to ruin. But if it is still standing right now, it is because of its foundation – God. 🙂

A Throwback To How I Started Playing The Guitar

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Because today is Friday, let me share with you a little throwback to how I started playing the guitar. My Mom and my brother both know how to play the guitar. But it’s my brother who influenced me when he was in high school and I was in grade school.

This will explain why I also like to play songs by Oasis, Nirvana, Gin Blossoms, Def Leppard, Firehouse, and the like. 😀 I’m actually a combination of all of my siblings’ music interests. My eldest sister loves Enya and my second and third sister love country music. And also a little bit of Mom and Dad’s favorite music like The Beatles and Carpenters.

Do I like classical music? Yes, I do. But I only listen to them when I’m writing and studying. Instrumental music helps me concentrate because I tend to get distracted by the lyrics of pop songs. And when this happens, you’ll catch me daydreaming. 😅 I learned mostly by ear, though my brother taught me the basic guitar chords and how to pluck “When You Say Nothing At All.”

Music Through The Ages

If you play a musical instrument, then you’re most likely familiar with songbooks. We still have Mom’s songbooks actually, and they’re older than us. lol But they will all be remnants of the past since everything is digital now.

I got to seriously learn how to play the guitar only when I was in college. My brother was studying at the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) back then, and he left his guitar in our apartment. He bought me my own guitar as a graduation gift because every time he comes home, his guitar is out of tune because I used it to practice. lol Sorry, brother bear. 😂

Choosing A Guitar

I have 2 guitars back home. One has nylon strings and the other has metal strings. If you’re a beginner, I would suggest trying the nylon strings first because they’re less painful. You also have to practice consistently so calluses will develop at the tip of your fingers and they will help lessen the pain.

But if you like a clearer sound, go for metal strings though they are pretty painful, especially if you’re just starting to learn how to play the guitar. Metal strings sound more defined, especially when you strum. But for plucking, I prefer the guitar with nylon strings. You may use a capo so you don’t have to strain your voice to reach the notes, especially if they’re too high or too low for you.

Do I Need A Guitar Pick?

For guitar picks, I use them depending on my mood like if I prefer a low and mellow tune and to concentrate on my singing, I just strum using my fingers. But, if I want to concentrate on the guitar chords and less singing, I use a guitar pick. Every guitar pick creates a different kind of strumming sound depending on how thick it is.

Let Your Fingers Glide

If you’re a beginner searching for songs to play using a guitar, go for songs that only have four chords all throughout the song such as “Leaving On A Jetplane.” As for strumming, start with just one stroke starting from the upper strings down to the lower strings. Then when your hand is comfortable, you can start gliding your finger up and down over the strings. I normally use my point finger to strum.

Just a tip for beginners, try to relax your hand, especially the wrist, when you’re strumming. The more tense your fingers, the harder it is for you to strum continuously. I also discovered a trick when transitioning from one chord to the other. Just continue strumming even when you haven’t pressed all the strings that you need to press yet. It’ll sound just like a variation of that chord you’re playing. I think there’s not much difference in how it sounds, but music majors can definitely tell that you missed a string. 😀

How To Tune Your Guitar

By the way, I also tune the guitar by ear. If you’re not confident with your tuning skills, you can download a guitar tuner app. Just make sure to turn the string knobs slightly when tuning to avoid breaking the string. It’s kind of scary when a string breaks because if it’s a metal string, it just flies off and can leave a cut on your face. I already experienced this with a nylon string.

So what I would do when I feel like the string is already tight enough but I still have to tighten it a bit more is that after I turned the knob, I press all the strings together to allow them to stretch a bit and then that’s when I begin to strum again.

GUITAR W/ NYLON STRINGS: I am not a very good singer, and also not a pro guitarist. This video was also a product of the Covid-19 quarantine and the very first time that I recorded a video of my very awkward self singing. So…please be kind to me. lol 😅
GUITAR W/ METAL STRINGS: This was taken in 2017.

I am not a pro when it comes to playing the guitar. But I’ve been playing since 2002, and I keep on practicing whenever I have the time. Playing the guitar is one of my hobbies to relieve stress. And as always, music heals the soul. If I can learn this skill, I know you can, too. 👍

Here’s one of my favorite songs that I love to play on my guitar. Enjoy! ❤️

CHECK OUT THE CHORDS HERE: https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/bryan-adams/heaven-chords-20606

P.S. There was one time when my grandma heard me singing while washing the dishes, and she told me that I have a nice voice (I really am not sure about this 😅). But she also added that I should sing worship songs, too. I was still in grade school back then. And three decades later, here I am singing and playing mostly worship songs on my guitar. Praise be to God for this gift to play music. 😊🙏

“…speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord.” – Ephesians 5:19

When Loving Becomes Extraordinaire

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Here’s something short but sweet to start February, which is the month when everybody is smitten. 😉 You are deeply loved and cherished, my dear – with or without a special someone. ❤️

When Loving Becomes Extraordinaire

by Christine Lailani

You’re the only one who captured my heart in a way that nobody else could.

I hear your thoughts, you hear mine – a language that only we know.

Know that I will love every version of you: your young, your old, your calm, your furious, your happy, and your sad.

Because loving you is like loving an extraordinary person – my love extraordinaire.

🌹

“Can You Feel The Love Tonight”

“We love because God first loved us.” – 1 John 4:19

My Favorite Guitar Acoustic Covers

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I’m currently working on a couple of projects, and I got inspired even more when Spotify played my favorite guitar acoustic covers. 🥰 I will fall in love over and over again with these renditions. Oh, my heart. ❤️ I can’t wait to play these songs again on my guitar when I get back to Bicol. 😍

Singer: Kina Grannis
Singers: Music Travel Love feat. Bugoy Drilon

47 RONIN

Kai : “I will search for you through a thousand worlds and ten thousand lifetimes until I find you.”

Mika : “I will wait for you in all of them.“

❤️❤️❤️

MOOD: Rewrite The Stars

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When I first heard the acoustic rendition of this song by Joseph Vincent back in 2018, I instantly fell in love with it. Unfortunately, I still can’t perfect his staccato strumming until now. It looks like I will need to practice this song in my guitar a million times before I can play it right. 😃🎸

REWRITE THE STARS

You know I want you
It’s not a secret I try to hide
I know you want me
So don’t keep saying our hands are tied
You claim it’s not in the cards
But fate is pulling you miles away
And out of reach from me
But you’re hearing my heart
So who can stop me if I decide that you’re my destiny?

What if we rewrite the stars?
Say you were made to be mine
Nothing could keep us apart
You’ll be the one I was meant to find
It’s up to you, and it’s up to me
No one could say what we get to be
So why don’t we rewrite the stars?
And maybe the world could be ours, tonight

You think it’s easy
You think I don’t wanna run to you
But there are mountains
And there are doors that we can’t walk through
I know you’re wondering why
Because we’re able to be just you and me within these walls
But when we go outside
You’re gonna wake up and see that it was hopeless after all

No one can rewrite the stars
How can you say you’ll be mine?
Everything keeps us apart
And I’m not the one you were meant to find
It’s not up to you, it’s not up to me
When everyone tells us what we can be
And how can we rewrite the stars?
Say that the world can be ours, tonight

All I want is to fly with you
All I want is to fall with you
So just give me all of you
It feels impossible (It’s not impossible)
Is it impossible?
Say that it’s possible

But how do we rewrite the stars?
Say you were made to be mine
And nothing can keep us apart
‘Cause you are the one I was meant to find
It’s up to you, and it’s up to me
No one can say what we get to be
Why don’t we rewrite the stars?
Changing the world to be ours, tonight

“He determines the number of the stars; He gives to all of them their names. Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; His understanding is beyond measure.” – Psalm 147:4-5

My Spotify Playlist: Christian Feel-Good Beats

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If you’ve noticed, I’ve been embedding Christian music videos in most of my articles. So I thought, why not create a playlist on Spotify so we can listen to it together?

My Spotify Playlist

SPOTIFY LINK: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5xYVJZPEbDWiGR81qrABwD?si=ExX5tzMCR6afiFTWCRBS-Q

My music selection is mostly upbeat, just the perfect tunes to dance the weekend away. A blessed weekend, everyone! 🙏❤️

Here are some sample music videos from my playlist:

P.S. Stay tuned for my next article. It’s about the “beasts” in agriculture. 💪

My last “pink” entry before October (Breast Cancer Awareness Month) ends. 💗 Before our freshness fades, too. lol And no, I’m not trying Photo Lab. This was taken before the heat and sweat got the best of me. Being a farm girl really is no joke. But I’m embracing every moment of it. 🙏

My FIRST “Formal” VLOG

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Finally, I had the time last Holy Week to tinker with the “vlogosphere” while hibernating on Facebook. My sister-in-law actually suggested a few months back I should also do vlogs for all the articles I’ve written here.

Methinks it’s a very excellent idea. However, I’m fervently praying to God about it because I’m an introvert, and I’m just too awkward in front of the camera. 😀

For now, I hope this will do – the first edited (formal) video of an amateur singer and guitarist playing worship songs and other types of music. 😊

Contemplating whether to become a journeyman vlogger or not,

NewBlogSignature_edited_edited

P.S. Please don’t forget to subscribe to my channel, and thanks for watching! ❤

Strumming w/ Acoustic and Classical Guitars

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His, acoustic; mine, classical.

I have noticed that classical guitar strings easily break compared to acoustic guitar strings. The quality of both strings are different and acoustic guitars have metal strings while classical guitars have nylon strings. I had my first guitar as a college graduation gift from my brother. Starting from the day I got it until now, I think I replaced the strings for about 5 times already though I seldom play it like thrice a week to once every 2 months depending upon the availability of my schedule.

Brother bought me a classical guitar because I have been playing Mom’s guitar in our hometown in Bicol when I was in high school. But when I got here in Manila back in college, I have been messing around with brother’s guitar which he doesn’t usually approve of, by the way, because it’s always out of tune after I’m done playing. Hahaha Sorry brother dear, but thanks for lending me your guitar anyway, anyhow. 😉

But I had these broken strings to be grateful for – I learned to tune the guitar without the help of any tuning device. I always play by ear so it was easier for me to recognize if a string is slightly off-key. It was also this playing by ear that made it easier for me to replace the chords of a song if the music sheet isn’t reliable or the notes are too low and I don’t want to use the capo.

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Strike a pose before strumming.

If you are asking me why I have two guitars in my possession and you might think I am too greedy or in the habit of collecting guitars, well, my answer is no, I am neither of those. It was my hubby’s request to buy a new guitar and become my apprentice. I thought I’ll choose metal strings for him because it’s usually recommended for beginners. But if you are to ask me which one sounds better, I think that is one tough question because personally, I love both. Each of the two has its own unique sound quality depending upon the type of song you wish to play.

If, for example, you love that “stringy” and clear-sounding guitar music, choose an acoustic guitar especially if you’ll be doing a lot of plucking. But if on the one hand you prefer a more solid guitar sound which is achieved in full strumming, I suggest go for the classical guitar.

Brother chose the classical guitar for me because of its nylon strings. It’s less painful to the fingers especially if you’ll be strumming for longer periods of time but ironically, I am enjoying the metal strings of the acoustic guitar for now because it sounds more clear. 😀

2017-06-01-15-05-08

Awesome eye candies at Benjie’s Music Store. 😍

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Got these and the guitar case as freebies! God is good all the time, eh? 😀

Going back to me and hubby, let’s just say, my “me” time at home includes playing the guitar while my hubby is having his “me” time too and I think he got inspired while listening to my belting. lol Seriously though, he usually sings along while I am playing but what I hate about this is that he usually gets, you guessed that right, LSS-ed for yup, you guessed that right again (or not), let’s just say…a week.

A week?!?!?!

Yeah, yeah, I know you are squealing with laughter right now. Just imagine how irritated I am for the entire week as I listen to him singing usually one part of the song over and over again more than the national anthem during flag raising every day. 😀

But well, you know my husband, he usually does this to tease me. *sigh*

But now, it’s a good thing that he gets to play with me. Oh, but I forgot to tell you and this will be a secret between us – (whispers) he sometimes sings off-key. lol 😀

But he is a very willing student and I am a teacher by passion and by profession. 

So….

Three “buts” in a row are no good for an article thus I am ending this with my husband as a willing apprentice and I am more than glad to inspire and teach as always. 🙂

P.S.

For our duet performance, uhm, I believe it’s going to happen in about 10 years from now. *insert chuckles here* Practice makes perfect, as they say. Oh, and my favorite musical pieces? It’s none other than worship songs, of course. ❤

Amazing Grace

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(I have learned all about the song since I was a kid but I never got to read the entire poem by John Newton where the lyrics of the song were lifted from. The acapella version of LeAnn Rimes never fails to stir my soul. I hope this will help you reminisce how it feels to be saved by Grace.) 🙂

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.

’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me,
His Word my hope secures;
He will my Shield and Portion be,
As long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who called me here below,
Will be forever mine.

When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we’d first begun.

(Source: http://library.timelesstruths.org/music/Amazing_Grace/)

 

Why Does It Always Have To Be The 4th?

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Tin Ginete

The ODD String

The D string, I mean. 🙂

I’ve been playing Flicka, my guitar, since 2006 and all I could ever remember was the countless of times I had to replace the D string. And if I am not mistaken, it is the only string that I’ve been replacing for the past how many years.

If only I have the answers as to why it’s the D string that always gets broken. Because I believe I am not the only one seeking for answers. 😉

When I bought the new set of guitar strings yesterday, another guy approached the music store salesman and I heard him inquired if  a new stock of D string is already out. The salesman informed him that new stocks for the D string are not yet available.

There has been a shortage in supplies of the D string in all music stores here in Manila and I’ve been waiting for a restock but to no avail. What they do suggest though is that for you to be able to replace your broken D string, you have to buy the whole set of guitar strings which could be a big waste of money. I, for one, already have like 3 sets of nylon guitar strings still complete except for the D strings.

So yes, I am planning to give them away to anyone who has a broken nylon string other than the D string. This, I guess, is the story of the ODD string.

But then again, why does it always have to be the 4th string? 🙂