Switching On the Sun

Among Star Wars fans, you'd know that famous line as from that of Darth Vader... It's similarly the same among fathers who have to fight for their rights over their children; not as "Darth Vader" though, but against "Dark Invader". Yet how "dark" could that "invader" be for a father to sacrifice almost everything including giving up the chance to be there for his kids? In a way, it's "Star Wars" when opposing sides respectively claim they're the "star" (of their side of the story) in their custody battle; usually at the expense of who they depict as the "antagonist" as if to justify their act as the right one and 'them' to be the chosen one; perhaps like Anakin who has gone to the dark side... "Anakin'ng pating!!" Have they even asked or considered as to whose expense is it actually; the feelings of the children corresponding with the emotional and mental implications as...

Dear Joanne, Ane? Or would you prefer “Dear Ms. Fallarme”? Pardon the formality as calling you by what I’m used to would most likely spark off your sarcasm: “Don’t call me ‘Mommy’, I’m not your mother!” While in contrast, beginning this with “Dear Wifey” may well be spontaneous but would seem off. It’s after all a Valentine’s Day letter. Corny as it may sound, I think you rather want to be addressed as any of the more popular terms of endearment (you’re just in denial). Whereas “ Spicy ” as opposed to the usual “sweet” appellations and as I’ve considered you to be, directly aims to be (ironically) sweet; which isn’t the intention behind this. As a matter of fact, you don’t see me that way… or you simply find blandness in how I instinctively substantiate such “lovability”. Anyway, I similarly don’t intend to draw a “What the hell?!” reaction given that it’s not the normal “Awww” (with all the likely emoticons attached to it) kind for such a letter. Thus, this “o...

Coming from a 4 Days/3 Nights out-of-town work-related engagement, a time off would be a welcome breather; thus, catching up on movies which I haven’t given much attention to for quite some time is one relaxing indulgence. I’ve watched 2 movies on HBO yesterday – “The Ugly Truth” and “Big Fish”. Somehow, the movies had me thinking of timely peculiarities. Though booked in Holiday Inn with breakfast buffet at Mequeni while we were in Clark, Pampanga other than having had a sumptuous dinner at AC Rumpa Restaurant and delectable desserts at Cioccolo or the “musical” nightcap at the Wishing Well Music Lounge, I yearned to get back home instead. My stay at the hotel gave me peace and quiet but I was actually missing my children’s clamoring. As expected, the food were flavorful just how Pampangeños are known to cook ‘em, however, I long to rather be eating alongside my wife (a mouthful incites considerable silence LOL) . In summation, the 2 movies correspondingly dealt with the differe...

Hi! The title is an introductory of who I am as it’s indicative of my name. Yup, that’s me. No relation to Mr. Jay Mohr though. Mohr ov-- I mean moreover, he’s real whereas I’m fictitious. He’s a TV and film actor portraying made up characters while on the contrary, I’m a fabricated figure that’ll depict valid human interest. But whatever it is, my thoughts are real… Nevertheless, who am I exactly? Logically, I’m a figment of my creator’s imagination; his alter-ego perhaps. Counter-ego is more apposite I think; a case of “My opinion” vs. (what) “I said” I assume. Nevertheless, the mere fact that you’re able to read this without having to pinch yourself to wake up, it’s as real as it gets… “Who am I” might not even interest you as who would care to be even curious of just some unknown entity. Unless I’m some up-and-coming personality gradually making a name, perhaps, a curious few would be paying attention. As how my name sounds, is how transparent I’ll try to be – “Mr. Reno Mohr.”...

With the recent and successive nature-caused blows seemingly harking back at every part of the globe as its groans of resentment, Mother Earth appears to be collecting dues. Yesterday, in observance of the Earth Hour, support and participation of a majority were an hour of some energy-saving measure. Jointly, it’s a big contribution. Compared to the collective damage she has endured all throughout however, it’s small.  Controlled by The Most High, will she be as forgiving? In general, we have been preoccupied by our own business to the point of having neglected our responsibilities to care for our home in Mother Earth. Assuming to be accepting of our shortcomings, how are we to take the dues should her charging escalate? If Japan’s deemed readiness with its technological advancements didn’t quite hold on, the concern is how it would be among the less ready. With the series of unexpected alarming natural calamities and under the contemplation of eventually experiencing the sa...

Fetching my mother from the grocery last Sunday, I’ve picked up ire as well. She was about to board the car when a cab driver wouldn’t allow her to comfortably and safely get in as he continued to unpleasantly drive towards her. As if that wasn’t enough, he rudely shouted at my mom saying she shouldn’t be boarding where we were – in a drop-off point where they too pick up their passengers. That ticked me off! I was behind the car as I just closed the compartment door right beside the cab driver. Having witnessed his arrogance, I approached and disdainfully cursed him. Pointing out his disrespectfulness seemingly admonishing him of how would it affect him if such is similarly done to her mother, I bullied him. I was somewhat harsh. The cab driver’s face suddenly changed into a terrified-pitiful look. Guilty, I knew I could have been more diplomatic… Spur of the moment rather got the better off me… If my bullying of him was witnessed by anyone, chances are, their sympathies will be ...

We were just watching some love story wherein the female lead had a painful (love) experience making it hard for her to move on. Making it worse is that her father isn’t as supportive. Then, I thought of the likelihood when my children will be in such a predicament… Those constantly updated with every article posted herein know this blog’s purpose being geared towards providing some guiding principle for my children. Knowing life span’s incalculability, the thought of leaving some sort of a legacy early on is promptly addressed. Having had my share of life’s ups and downs, only God knows when the next is. Although what we are to focus on is not much of how high or how low we get but by how we make the best out of it after timely realizing the reason for its occurrence. The pain caused by my first major heart ache one August 28 years ago was overwhelming. If there’s even a logical p oint behind it though, it’s for 2 (other) good reasons why that happened to me in the first place – ...

We just came from my daughter’s “Moving up Day”. It’s a commencement. She has satisfactorily completed the preschool program. Soon after the summer break, three months from now, she’ll be in grade 1… As I watched my daughter march on stage, I thought of the innocence still lingering in her mind perhaps on what graduation means. Then it occurred to me; it’s just a step compared to a march… As if such marching is coinciding within the month of March, though what does the third month of the year actually reminds us? If we’re to be too literal about it, it seems an evocation for us to march towards a certain direction. In fact, graduates undergo simulation of it and might as well be some sort of training in walking into a bigger responsibility. Finishing a bachelor’s degree for instance, after how many years of college education, may it be with honors, awards, citations or merely crossing the finish line, we all feel like winners. Various compliments are at hand. Every graduate or shou...

It's funny when we tend to criticize a certain story, may it be a movie or TV drama perhaps, for its unrealistic plot. Whereas it makes critics out of us or pull the wool over our eyes, we seem to be unaware of our own life's unlikely story lines. Though it's realistic for us to assess these unbelievable movie themes, we become the opposite in dealing with our own "drama". There's partiality with our reasoning, very much the subject we tend to disapprove of. That's the truth, however reality bites. Here are 5 reality check 'list': MOVIE : We approve ( giggle ) of two people falling in love with each other and having an affair despite both being attached to their respective "cruel" partners who end up as the anti-heroes we "hate" for being the hindrance to the two "in-love" characters as we assent to separation or what have you as long as they end up together. REALITY : Will we still feel the same way if the ...