Hibiscus of The Day: Amber

Hibiscus ID: Amber

Bought From Canaan Gardens

Can Be Seen at Main Street

Kantang -kanta na si Jose Marie Chan

Brrrr ... it is very cold ... thanks to typhoon Goring.  Or is it because it's ber months once again? 

And when the ber months come ...  it only means one thing ... we are going to celebrate Christmas again for four months. And one thing is sure Jose Marie Chan memes will come out soon on social media ... in strong force ... and JMC ... younger than ever.

The Ilonggo singer whose songs re-emerge in all September of the year is pleased and honored that the Philippines has made him the symbol of Christmas. He enjoyed seeing all the memes on all social media platforms ... some of them are hilarious he can't help but smile.

Isa sa mga nakakatuwa ay iyong meme na ginapos nila si JMC at pumipiglas ito sa kanyang upuan dahil malapit na ang September 1 ... at kantang kanta na siya.

 

The Rise of Monterazzas in Cebu City - Banaue Rice Terraces Replica

                                           PBB's Grand winner Slater Young brainchild
 

Time and again, as a person from the outside looking in, we have seen the imagination and the inventiveness (creativity and uniqueness) of man through ancient, classical, modern, and contemporary arts. Some of these art and literary masterpieces are displayed in cultural and history museums.

 Now, you can see man's creativity in all aspects of endeavor — from architecture, cuisine, and fashion to literature, music, and films. In fact, you can almost say that creativity and innovation are embedded in the everyday lives of everyone.

The feature above may sound too minor to some ... but some nuggets of artistry ... is evident. It is the START.

Now It Can Be Told

My friend was wondering where the location of this farm resort was ... where some of the major scenes, particularly Brother Joseph's (JM de Guzman) were shot in ABS CBN's Iron Heart.

The place is actually Ephrathah Farms located at Barangay Sariri in Badiangan Iloilo.

Some of the other major scenes were shot at Iloilo Business Park at Megaworld, Lapaz Bridge near Gaisano. Museo Iloilo, Freedom Grandstand, Iloilo River, Old Buildings in JM Basa, and Aldeguer Streets as backdrops.

I felt they have done some shooting in Janiuay or Santa Barbara if I am not mistaken. Now if you wondering where the office of Apollo (Richard Gutierrez ) in the series, the building with yellow-orange and yellow-greenish glasses, that building was also familiar ... I just can't pinpoint where I saw it. Any help?

Anything You Want to Know About Wolves in Sheep's Clothing

 

1. Question: Are wolves in sheep's clothing negative or positive?

Answer: I think it has negative connotations and implications. Some wolves are really charming as they are likable and pleasing if you base your judgment of character on their facade.  But looks can be deceiving ... in wolves what you see is not always what you get. They love to feign and pretend.  

Ask yourself why somebody is so nice and sweet when it is only your first meeting? If you are somebody naive ... don't even try to think he has the hots for you. If you are smart you should be careful because something is wrong somewhere.  Could it be why he treated you to dinner ... or he sweet-talked you meant they have some hidden agenda ... they are so desperate they want to entice and ensnare you to his booby traps.

2. Question: Christ has warned us about false prophets in the Bible that they are wolves in a sheep's clothing. Which part of the Bible was it written?

Answer: There were countless books in the Bible showing the stern warning.

-Matthew 7:15 - Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly they are ferocious wolves"

-Ezekiel 13:3-10 - Thus says the Lord God, Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing! Your prophets have been like jackals among ruins ... Precisely because they have misled my people, saying, ‘Peace,’ when there is no peace ...

2 Peter 2:1-3 -But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them, the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed, they will exploit you with false words. 

Deuteronomy 18-20 -But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.

3. Question: Why are false prophets and teachers a wolf in sheep's clothing?

Answer: As stated above Jesus has made 🚩 Red Flag emoji to warn us about the danger of false prophets and teachers in our midst. False prophets claim to speak for God, but they speak falsehood. To gain hearing, they come to people “in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves”. No matter how innocent and harmless these teachers appear on the outside, they have the nature of wolves—they are intent on destroying faith, causing spiritual carnage in the church, and enriching themselves. They “secretly introduce destructive heresies,” “bring the way of truth into disrepute,” and “exploit you with fabricated stories” 

4. Question: Why do they call a car salesman a wolf in sheep's clothing?

Answer: Car salesmen are harmless, they could not even hurt a fly.  But they are the people who know what they want and are not afraid to go after it - your money. They have the gift of the gab and are very loquacious. When they talk ... they mean business and you can't make them stop talking until you are ready to write them a check. They can wring and milk your hard-earned money and have no remorse or don't feel guilty about it.

5. Question: Why do people think politicians are wolves in sheep's clothing?

Isn't that obvious? They promised you the moon and the stars ... and all the people get were empty and broken promises. During campaigns, the candidates pretend somebody they are not ... maka-tao, may takot sa Diyos - all boils down to grandiose exaltation and self-praise just to get your nod and your support.

The cease and desist order to close ABS CBN at the time of the pandemic was the case in point. I don't care what reasons the congressmen have in nailing ABS CBN funeral coffin, but if it is just vindictiveness ... that was an all-time low especially since everybody is locked up in their homes, they need the much-needed entertainment they can get to maintain their sanity. What they did ... was like removing oxygen from somebody gasping for breath.

Maka-tao at maka-Diyos? They don't know the meaning of that. What I know is when calamity strikes ABS CBN is on the frontline attending to the basic needs of the people. And where are the sanctimonious and self-righteous people's representatives?  I still have to see any one of the 70 solons ... wading in murky waters. They were sound asleep perhaps ... the cold breeze and the heavy rains playing good music on their rooftop induce them to stay idle and sleep.

Idiom of The Day

 

Let's start using idioms or idiomatic expressions when we write. When idioms are used, it add color and texture to language by creating images that convey meanings beyond those of the individual words that make them up. An idiom can be very colorful and make a 'picture' in our minds. It also shows the writer's familiarity with English. When you want to make your writing sound more conversational, including idioms can give your writing a more relaxed tone.

Idioms allow us to say a lot with few words. Idioms amplify your messages in a way that draws your readers in and helps awaken their senses. It adds dynamism and character to otherwise stale writing. They make your writing less monotonous and your readers will think that you are smart and knowledgeable. All the while ... you only clothe your writing with elaborate idioms to create an impact... saying too much with less. 

To perfect your English, you really need to become confident in using idioms and knowing the difference between breaking a leg and pulling someone's leg. 

One reader asked however ... if I could think of any idiomatic expression that is related to the sense of entitlement. Here it is.

IDIOM: Wolf in sheep's clothing

MEANING: a person who hides malicious intent under the guise of kindness. They are someone pretending to be harmless ... but wait their true colors usually come out at the end. They are also those people who camouflage their true identity with a pleasant and friendly exterior but has actually an evil interior.

ORIGIN: This phrase originates from Aesop's fable, where the wolf wears a sheep's skin in order to blend into a flock of sheep and make the farmers easy prey for hunting. It has also biblical origins when Jesus preaches to be careful with false prophets. "They will come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly they are ravening wolves."

USING IT IN A SENTENCE: Beware of a wolf in sheep's skin in your homes ... they will enter your room unnoticed, either to steal your money or snoop around.

People Who Are Wearing Sheeps Clothing

 

Who are these people? People wearing sheep's clothing are those people who become friendly to you because they have evil plans up in their sleeves.  They pretend they agree with you 100% ... but what goes behind their minds is another story.  They make you believe he is one of you (just like a wolf infiltrating a herd of sheep pretending he is one of them). He can't be trusted and it is just a matter of time before he stabs you in the back.

Their behaviors can be likened to infiltrators, defined as somebody who secretly becomes a part of the group or a family ... whose goal is to get information and at the same time influence the way the group thinks and behaves. In movies ... they are like spies ... or a mole, soldiers, or intelligence and undercover agents who surreptitiously and gradually move into an organization, territory, or community for the sole purpose of espionage. Having trusted them ... they become traitors in the end.

Look at the way these guys operate. A good example of this is a friend of a friend who doesn't mince a word saying bad things about his friend's girlfriend.  He even helped them break up and organize their final goodbyes. And look who is he going out with at this time? Understanding his psyche ... all the deception and all that pretense of saying the nastiest words ever is just a means so he can claw his position to the girl. What a traitor!

And then ... there is this wolf who is applying for work. In his casual talk with human resources, he charmed his way to their heart saying: "I am an active contributor ... a good team player and I make things happen should I be given the chance to work with you. And the best part of it all ... I will help you succeed." Such sugar-coated one-liners can make bosses jump with joy. Little did they know ... the applicant had already sniffed frailty and weakness in them ... and this early his mind soars how he could kick their tushie once his application was accepted.

And here's another example of a pusher/pushee story gone viral in Thailand. The pushee wants a new life for himself but before he can turn a new leaf the police want him to act as a decoy so they will finally catch the pusher and put him in Rehab.  

And there are two friends who are running for top honors in high school. A befriended B so they could do assignments together and he could copy from him during exams. The sad part is that there are things that A knew that B failed and those he has problems with ... he copied from B. A becomes the class valedictorian ... to the utter disgust of B. You see ... even close friendships were not spared ... as this story tells us the lesson to watch out for these turncoats. In life, there are no permanent relationships... only permanent interests. 

However, I am more inclined to believe this lesson and make it my motto in life: Trust no one ... but yourself.  When the person strikes you as the friendliest and the most helpful person ... it is all because they WANT something from you. Remember ... the wolf in the sheep's clothing doesn't look like a wolf.