Friday, October 31, 2008

A Toast for My Namesake

When I was still in grade school, I am often seated anywhere in the front row because of my surname. Whenever the teacher made a roll call for attendance or for whatever cause, I am always the first or if most of the time included in the first five to be called. However, my name is not as short as my other classmates' who in a very fortunate situation only bears one name and a short one. My twin classmates then have the name Jave and Jed. I still remember the one with the name Eric. Oh, yes we even had in the class a name Al. Every time my teachers would ask us to get sheet of paper and usually 1/4 of an intermediate pad, I am always deprived of space and often times just write the subject and the date under my name when my other classmates joyfully scribble those just opposite their names in the first line of their paper. Well, my name sounds American and it can be considered a name of the 90's because it consists of two names which are very common and famous for babies in that time frame. We hear one with John Joshua, a Chloe Marie, a Jude Lawrence, and many more.

My name, despite its foreign and modernistic sound for the ear of a Pilipino, was first used in 1939. It was given to a baby who was born October 31, 1939; before the occupation of the Japanese in our country. The baby is Joseph Glenn S. Austero Sr. - my father. I was named after him and so adding to my two names is a suffix "Jr."This article is not about me or about my name but about my namesake.

My father's age difference with mine is a mere 46 years and with that gap, I no longer experienced basketball sessions with him the time I was starting to embrace “teenhood” or asked advices on love and courtship. However, there are experiences that still linger in my memory that both my father and I shared as father and son.

When I was a kid I saw a picture when my father used to have me sit on his lap while he pedaled on his bicycle. This picture was made a real experience when he let me go with him one morning for a bike ride from Malinao to Tabaco after the typhoon Rosing hit our place. I may not have been exposed to sports by my father way back then but he still managed to instill in me how important I am to him even in simple ways - a reality which I realized when I am already making my own life.

He is never the father figure as other people may think of but for me he is still my great father I can be proud of. He made so many mistakes in his life but he made a way so I can see it and decide not to do the same. He loved my mother so much that when my mother came home from abroad after 9 years of staying overseas, he stayed with her despite all the things that he knows might have caused his morale to crash - he stayed with us in deep remorse just to save his family.

You know, he is not that strong in terms of decision making. He always makes it a point that every thing in the house is under his control yet with my mother's permission. His submissive character for the good cause is one of the heirs I got from him.

He seldom nags. He never spank any of my sisters even me. Even his four grandchildren have never been punished by him physically. He may have said a word but it’s not too deep that it will pierce your heart. When I was in grade four, I have received a news that my second eldest sister has given birth to my first nephew. When I told my father about the news after when he came home from work, he immediately said that we will visit my sister and the baby the next day and promised to buy me a pair of sandals. While we were both having our hairs done at a barber shop in Tabaco, he asked me what gift I would want to give to the baby. To my excitement, I exclaimed one whole dressed chicken. And he smiled. He bought that one big chicken and then paired it with formula milk. That instance have never happened again in my life afterward but I still heard from my sisters that whenever he receives his pension just some few years ago, he always have to hand in a box of milk for my nephews.

I am a witness to his dedication to God. When his health started to deteriorate, he made a pact with God through our pastor that he'd going to trade his illness so he can serve his Master in one of our Church's pioneering distant branch. In 2004, we rushed him to the Philippine General Hospital for a life battling operation of his collapsed lungs due to emphysema. He's such a strong man and managed to survive the operation at the age of 62. He stayed on with us for another 5 years and after that on February 5, 2007, he joined his Master in heaven.

During his wake I only cried once. I was sitting in front of him and thought of the good times that we had. In my mind I shared to him how lucky I am to be his namesake and his only son. I speak to him and again argued who's the actor who really played Ian Fleming's Her Majesty's Secret Service - a usual scenario which he and I always do when we are watching a James Bond movie. He anticipated watching Casino Royale but he never made it. Yes. I cried once. My girlfriend can attest to that. I cried once not because I was saddened of his death. I cried not because he has left. I cried not because of anger. NO. I cried because he will never come back again and that what is left of my namesake is a memory that will only reside in my mind.

He was a teacher. He is called everywhere as "sir." And when people call him with that, I felt like I am also regarded as someone of higher degree; a prince. My father's legacy to me as his son is not to be a successful engineer or lawyer. His legacy was the name he made of me and the life I am going to make of the name.

I may still be referred to as his son and namesake but I don't care. I am proud of it. He made so many things in life, good and bad. But for me his mistakes are his own responsibility and he taught me to shoulder my life so that I would not blame anybody for whatever decision I make. He taught me to regard mistake as a tool of learning to me and a warning to others. He had taught me so many things that this article can never contain.

Now, I am Joseph Glenn C. Austero Jr., his namesake and a proud son. Today is his birthday and I wanted to greet him Happy Birthday Papa, without you being born 69 years ago, I could not have existed and my name could not have been used. Thank you and I love you so much.

Friday, October 17, 2008

Beautiful Freak


I was in my second year college when I met the most wonderful woman in my life. I just had some traumatic experiences in relationships that time that having another one seems to me nothing but a repetition of the pain that I have recently felt. Unbeknown to me, the woman that was introduced to me one night by friend was also enduring the same traumas like mine. That night we talked, laid all our cases, and then find the common denominator between the two of us. She had my respect and I also had her's. Later our friendship grew to some level and then I realized one day that I am falling in love with the woman that was only introduced to me as an acquaintance. No. I do not fell in love because of our common grounds, though those were part of it, but primarily, I fell in love with her because of our differences. She's a freak, a beautiful one.

Ma. Krissena S. QuiƱones. She was known to her friends as Kring and she was introduced to me with this nickname. At first I was hesitant to approach this lady despite her pretty face and mesmerizing eyes. There is something in her that you can just feel the first time you saw and personally met this woman. She's brave. There is courage in her looks, yet the meekness of her being resides inside her heart. Yes. Part of her courage is her being so straightforward and aggressive. As we continue with our relationship, I came to accept that our differences became complements making us two unified, one being.

Love. This is what drives me to continue living and hoping that someday, somehow I am going to marry this wonderful woman. She taught me so much in life. She still help me learn so many things. I am proud that on December 19, we are about to celebrate our fourth year anniversary. That all happens because of this beautiful freak who kept on reminding me of the love and life that we must share moment by moment until the time set forth by the Almighty.

She's not the usual girl anybody can have. Other's might think she's indiffirent. Some may say she's not that good. Many may regard her are something not able to pass their standards. But she does not care. I do not care either. All I know is that, no matter what other tells her, she is the only one that God gave me, not simply as a friend, but a best friend, a lifetime partner, a gift.

We are not a perfect couple. Neither of us is perfect. However, we see our imperfections as something that will help us attain perfectness in God.

She is my treasure.

She is my Beautiful Freak...

Today, October 17, 2008 is her birthday.

Hon,

I have always wanted your happiness. And in my simple way letting you feel how special you are to me, allow me to present to you my gift. This might not seem so grand but let this be something that you'd treasure... Let it always be a reminder of my ardent love to you...

Be the woman you want to be... As I have said to you before, I am always here for you. I will be with you through thick and thin. Enjoy life and allow yourself to grow according to what your conscience dictates. I will patiently wait to see you grow more beautifully. Later, it will not just be me who'll be thanking you but also our future offspring. You deserve every bit of thanks and love that me and all other people gives you.

Don't forget the one that binds us together in love and faith - God. Let Him always dwell in your heart. Make Him your Lord and Savior. In that I am sure He will never make him down.

Thank you very much for all the love you gave me and still willing to give. Happy birthday and I pray for more blessings from God. I love you so much, Hon...


Yours in Christ,

Seph


Beautiful Freak - Eels

Friday, October 10, 2008

What Are You?

"Of every one hundred men in battle, ten should not even be there. Eighty, are nothing but targets. Nine are the real fighters, we are lucky to have them since they make the battle. Ah, but the one -- one is the Warrior-- and he brings the others home." -- Commonly attributed to Heraclitus, 500 BC (likely apocryphal)

I am playing airsoft and I like it so much. It is because when I play I become a soldier, hit, but never dies. LOLS. Honestly, this is not just a game of chance, but a game of mind. Yes, similar to chess... But unlike chess, airsoft needs your body to move, your legs to leap, hands to pull the trigger, and of course a mouth willing to scream "hit" when hit.

For months that I have been playing this hobby, there are several questions that I have already encountered; both internal and external questions. One of which pertains to the option of skill or gun power. Arguably, both are needed. And in fact, I certainly believe that the power of the gun and the skill must go together. However, the argument here is not about depending on it. As a soldier, your dependence must not be given to your gun or any armament or else you are nothing but a LAME soldier, a coward. What if you no longer have any armament to help you in your mission? Will you still go or surrender?

Airsoft game and the real battle involves two main factor which the player/soldier must depend on - physiological and psychological power. How well you analyzed the game and the mission is very important than you having just better gun than your team mates.

I loved what Heraclitus have said pertaining to war. See, only 1 among the 100 soldiers is actually a warrior. He has all the wit and the guts to win the war. The warrior is actually the bravest... the best... and the one with the passion and driving force to break in to the enemy's foothold and bring the rest of the soldiers in. The 9 are the fighters. I would say they are those with best built, good armament, but a portion in them is reserved to themselves. You know, human survival instinct... hehehe... Of course, in the airsoft game, nobody wants to be one of the 80 - the targets... Unless of course you are a Newbie and you do not have any idea why you are being ordered by the point man to stay upfront. LOLs... And hey, never mind the 10 left.

So, if you are a real airsoft soldier, where do you belong?

Support Airsoft in Bicol. Be a part and witness the upcoming event on Oct. 26, 2008 will be held at the View Deck, Lignon Hill, Legazpi City. The mission is dubbed Operation Hamburger Hill.

Thursday, October 02, 2008

Some Face Slapper

Just finished my office works and stumbled upon a certain blog and find this article... It's a good one and after Typhoon Pablo passed by Legazpi without any damage or winds last night I am relieved at some point by this article... This has something to do with Hurricane Katrina which put New Orleans under sea water...

"Been sitting here with my ass in a wad, wanting to speak out about the bullshit going on in New Orleans. Here goes:



For the people of New Orleans...
First we would like to say, Sorry for your loss. With that said, Let's go through a few hurricane rules: (Unlike an earthquake, we know it's coming)

#1. A mandatory evacuation means just that...Get the hell out. Don't blame the Government after they tell you to go. If they hadn't said anything, I can see the argument. They said get out... If you didn't, it's your fault, not theirs. (We don't want to hear it, even if you don't have a car, you can get out.)

#2. If there is an emergency, stock up on water and non-perishables. If you didn't do this, it's not the Government's fault you're starving.

#2a. If you run out of food and water, find a store that has some. (Remember, shoes, TV's, DVD's and CD's are not edible. Leave them alone.)

#2b. If the local store has been looted of food or water, leave your neighbor's TV and stereo alone. (See #2a) They worked hard to get their stuff. Just because they were smart enough to leave during a mandatory evacuation, doesn't give you the right to
take their stuff...It's theirs, not yours.

#3. If someone comes in to help you, don't shoot at them and then complain no one is helping you. I'm not getting shot to help save some dumbass who didn't leave when told to do so.

#4. If you are in your house that is completely under water, your belongings are probably too far gone for anyone to want them. If someone does want them, let them have them and hopefully they'll die in the filth. Just leave! (It's New Orleans, find a voodoo warrior and put a curse on them.)

#5. My tax money should not pay to rebuild a 2 million dollar house, a sports stadium or a floating casino. Also, my tax money shouldn't go to rebuild a city that is under sea level. You wouldn't build your house on quicksand would you? You want to live below sea-level, do your country some good and join the Navy.

#6. Regardless of what the Poverty Pimps Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton want you to believe, The US Government didn't create the Hurricane as a way to eradicate the black people of New Orleans; (Neither did Russia as a way to destroy America). The US Government didn't cause global warming that caused the hurricane (We've been coming out of an ice age for over a million years).

#7. The government isn't responsible for giving you anything. This is the land of the free and the home of the brave, but you gotta work for what you want. McDonalds and Wal-Mart are always hiring, get a damn job and stop spooning off the people who are actually working for a living.



President Kennedy said it best..."Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country."



He always finds a way to say things that all of us are thinking but can't figure out how to. He is so right. I get so tired of people bitching and moaning about their situation but do nothing to get out of it. Take some responsibility and stop blaming everyone around you for your problems.

I have a relative that is 30 something. This particular person had some bad shit happen to him growing up. (who didn't?) To this day, he blames everything that happens to him on his past. "It's the way I grew up, I can't help but be this way." EXCUSE ME???? You are 30 something freaking years old have 3 children, who you never see, have abandoned your wife, totally fucked up your life and this is all to blame on your rotten childhood? If everyone in the country blamed their problems on some crappy thing that happened in their childhood, we would all be crack whores and drug dealers living in the slums.

I wish people would just take the responsibility that just maybe YOU caused your life to be the way it is. And if you don't like it, then change it.
Disclaimer: The posted article was not been edited by the author. The author is not responsible for any foul words other contents of the article. Article from here.

Friday, August 29, 2008


Official Unveiling of My Call Sign

...you might know Ludlum, or Crichton, but I have been fused to the novel written by Ken Follet entitled The Needle... this novel is about to be come a classic to mind you...LoL... just two weeks ago I have decided that I call myself in our team as "needle" but it seems that the term would not just simply fit for an airsoft gamer call sign... and besides it sounds quite not too military... so because George Lucas is another idol to me, and I am a die hard Star Wars fan, just tonight I am now adopting the call sign "StormtroopR."... so friends and collegues on the game site, watch out...

...of course I won't be wearing the suit... I don't want to suffer from heat stroke with that...

...please visit Team SARS...

Monday, August 25, 2008

Cups of Tea and a Plate of Sushi

...just when I tried to capture utensils and food, I find it so beautiful to look at that I wanted to share it to you... the picture below - the two cups - was captured last June this year... this was taken at Manhattan Resort in Sto. Domingo.


...this plate of sushi was shot in Manila... this was during the Banquet Night held by the Varsitarian staffs to end the Ink Blots Journalism Conference last October 2007...



...I love these two images because of their composition, color blending, and texture...

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

North vs. South

I would like to congratulate the North Teams for the win during the 3rd Bicol Airsoft Jamboree at Illiang, Iriga City held last August 17, 2008... Your robots have finally swept off our human soldiers. LOL. You seem to have recruited millions of Aseros during that game huh... I just would like to remind all airsfoters that playing this game is not for you to hurt people but for enjoyment... Well, if you enjoy hurting people, then probably you might as well play wrestling for to have a fair game... Please always think that playing airsoft require discipline... Not because you have the best gun means you can become invincible... Remember; HONESTY, RESPECT, CAMARADERIE, HONOR...

If you are a real airsofter, you do not forget these tenets... If you call yourself an operative you do not depend on your guns power but on your skills...

August 17 is also the birthday of my friend and collegue Kuya Jude...Last August 12, Apit also celebrated his birthday... This coming Sunday, August 24, Nel and Jay, both fellow airsofters will be celebrating their birthdays too... Happy Birthday to you and to the rest of the celebrants this month...

Today, August 19, is our 3 years and 8 months anniversary of my Kring... Honey, I love you so much...

If there would be an anthem for some of the North Teams (... also South Teams hehehe) it would be this song:

Get this widget | Track details | eSnips Social DNA

Thursday, August 14, 2008

My A.E.G.

Aside from a camera, I have another object or gadget that "shoots"... yes, it really does... but it makes shots not by pushing a button but pulling a trigger... I have to confess, yes, I am an airsofter, a.k.a. airsoft operative, a.k.a. airsoft player, whatever you call it.

I never intend to write about my another hobby but lately, I grabbed pictures from a friend and comrade and deemed that it is worth to posted here.... though not so because I am the subject in the picture and of course my A.E.G. MP5...

Disregarding me in the pictures, I found so many things in terms of texture and composition in the images... Aside from that it is in gray scale, other elements are observable... So, before I babble so much nonsensical comments here, I welcome you view these pics:


Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Experimenting with Glares

Last October 2007, I made a trip to Manila for some journalism seminar. Going home to the place where I stayed, I was amazed of the yellow lights on the streets of Manila and the lights at the UST grounds. Then I decided to get some snapshots with my camera.


This dancing light was captured out of a lamppost along Roxas Blvd... I adjusted the shutter speed to the minimum to create this wonderful effect... The fiery glare created a movement that's abstract and circular...

Another shot of the same lamppost...

The next images were random shots from the edifices of the University of Sto. Tomas... The poor quality of the image maybe a result of the low pixel ratio of the camera used and the atmosphere during the time it was taken...But still, the amber, orange, yellow, and red mixtures in the photos are evident so I posted it anyway...



With these pictures I have proved to myself that having a good camera is never a requisite for you to experiment images. Though, I am still a fan of pro cams. Hope I can get one these year after I bought my dream M733 AEG rifle.

Good luck to me... LOL...

Friday, June 27, 2008

Green Landscapes


...you see, i love to travel nowhere, without any itinerary and capture everything that my lens sees... i have captured two sceneries that i loved so much because of the perfect combination of greens... i have included in the shot some distinct colors that served as accents to the pictures...


...this one was taken from Soa, Malinao, Albay...notice the stair-like "palayan" resembles that of the magnificent Mountain Province's "Hagdan-Hagdan Palayan"... the beautiful mixture of green plus the infusion of the yellowish details made the picture simply awesome.



...in this picture, taken at Payahan, Malinao, Albay, the scenery was completed by the brown details... the "kubo" and the stems of the coconut trees make the greens look more crispy and delightful...the cloudy background which hid Mount Malinao is just perfect to conceal the blue effect of the mountain...

...next post, i will showcase some of my experiments with camera lenses... i have played with the colors yellow, orange, black...

...so long...

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Solitary






...i cannot possibly explain the effects this picture gave me...my first apprehension covered mainly the aesthetic properties of the image...but later i observed that it speaks of something divine...something eternal...immortality in purest sense...
...my camera could actually unlimit the view, i could possibly call this boundless...
...so much of that, this picture has a story...when my editor back then decided to include this in our paper, one writer protested that it is not wise to be putting pictures that are "copyrighted" and was grabbed from the internet...he speculated that my picture was stolen from the internet...so my editor insisted after asking me where i got the picture that the pictures is actually an original shot...
...there is another title i want to give to this picture...maybe....Death...


Friday, June 13, 2008



Sacred Shores: Pio Duran


...let me share you some of the views i captured with my camera last May 2007... i also took pictures of the beach of Pio Duran... i was given the opurtunity to be with my friends classmates so i grabbed the chance so i can exchange experience with nature...
...check these shots and pick a choice...

...

...


...

...as a scenery "capturer," i find it amazing to play with natural colors... except otherwise i prefer having the scene shot in grayscale...i remembered Van Gogh's paintings because of these pictures...

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Sightings

...i love photography... i just don't have the right tools for it... and i am not professionally trained... i just love to capture things... see emotions in pictures... see life though not moving... refresh memories... hear laughters or weeping though silent...


... here are some of the pictures i took from the beaches of Rawis, Legazpi City and Baybay, Malinao...





Childhood Water


...i took this picture at Baybay, Malinao, Albay sometime in 2006... i was waiting for my mum that time to finish her tasks in the school where she used to teach... she asked me to fetch her that day but i came too early so decided to visit the shore... i visited this shore again last month...




Happy Departure



... this was taken at the same place... the curving beach extends through Balading, Bariw, and the rest of the coastal baranggays of Tabaco... i am still captivated by the movements of the subjects in the picture... it helped me remember an important occurence in my childhood...



Fishing on the Shore

...this one was taken at Rawis, Legazpi City...i've never seen a fishing style like this before so to my amazement i took a shot of the event...

...next post, i will be featuring some of my treasured photos that i took...though would look so experimental yet i claim to have deep portrayal of emotions, movements, and sounds...

...so long...

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

SELF REALIZATIONS

I have landed on this topic upon some observations I had in my very humble yet crap surroundings...

I am fond on irony and logic so I want to share this to you...

...I am not God so I cannot change People whom I do not make
...The future of the world does not depend on me but on the sole will of the Almighty
...I am nothing if God is within me
...Pride is simply self
...Self then is triggered by emotions
...Pain is pride
...Tolerating is far different from compromise
...The Bible should not be used for others but for self-correction, else we boast
...There is no one righteous not even one so dare not to pretend
...Lecture me of Love and I tell you about Respect
...Lecture me of Respect and I will show you Love
...Hatred is tricky
...Forgiveness is not ours
...My friends are God's gift to me
...Even my enemies are Loved by God
...Death to "self" is real life
...God loves me even if I am an enemy to many
...So I have to love even my enemies as God loves me
...All the problem in the world is caused by "SELF"
...Mastering the emotion does not mean being numb
...Friends should be trusted as God trusted us
...Enemies should be trusted for they are creation of God
...If you think you are above else, you are just saying that you know nothing at all
...Be considerate, could you be not?
...Even if I exist, my existence is not dependent on my self
...Call me an oppressor and I will hug you tight
...Revenge is not mine
...A mistake can never be corrected with another mistake
...Happy living is never subjective
...Joy is eternal
...Evil is not a person
...A person may commit mistake, be it sin, but they are not simply devil
...God forgives, so should I
...I'll my skeletons in my closet as long as you show your's
...God has his own way in tackling our own lives
...He is all knowing
...He is all power
...He is all over

Thursday, May 08, 2008

My Big Apology

I knew before that blogging will not last just like other sites that I know. But I was made wrong. Now I have decided to start blogging again... I am starting again to be comfortable being called a blogger.

Primarily, I am not that person who really fond of writing my thoughts because I fear to be misquoted or misinterpreted. Out of my mind is a bunch of ideas concreted and rooted on biblical principles basically Christian in nature. I just do believe that the existence of this religion is not solely an answer to the underlying question of the existence of God. All things that I write again here is not simply a way of expression but primarily an oceanic avenue of idea outpouring. Rest assured that what we can have here are principally based on nothing but the Bible or primarily bound to its principles. Not because I'm religious but because I am solely incapacitated of true knowledge just like you.

I apologize then about the silent years of this blog and I am greatly shamed of the reluctance. Forward again I speak, that so through this I can have a better place to talk and share with you again... So long...

FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND








I love this song by Leona Lewis...

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