"Autumn… the year’s last, loveliest smile."

"Autumn… the year’s last, loveliest smile." 

— William Cullen Bryant

Photos and Verses by Dr Abe V Rotor

Our lugo' or talisay tree (Terminalia catappa) at home "bids autumn goodbye."

Remnants of amihan* cling to the tree,

now cinders dying, bidding goodbye;

consoling in tears, "Hanggang sa muli,"

 under my new crown, please don't cry."

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"Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree." — Emily Brontë

Fallen leaves pile up after confetti for days,
blanket of the earth, abode of crawlers, 
mulch, compost, against flood and drought;
mysterious indeed are our Creator's ways.

*Amihan refers to the Northeast Monsoon in the Philippines, a season characterized by cool, dry air and winds blowing from the northeast. 

Movies on Parade at UST

Movies Fill Our Lives

Dr Abe V Rotor

Living with Nature School on Blog

Paaralang Bayan sa Himpapawid (People's School-on-Air) with Ms Melly C Tenorio

738 DZRB AM Band, 8 to 9 evening class Monday to Friday

 

Of pirates and witches...

Fantasy comes down to earth alive

in flesh walking: ghosts, fairies,

creatures of sea and land they thrive

in human laughter and tears

that fill empty lives e’en just a while

and give the world a break

in the idleness of time passing by

cares and worries at stake  

where friends and foes hold hands,

monsters tame and meek;

stories sad and happy cater to fans,

all for freedom they seek

from doctrinaire and conventions;

for it’s imagination that rules

and dictates all human institutions

with technology its tools;

movies – books visual, by audition,

in make believe and reality,

man’s gift to himself, his own  invention,   

his passport to liberty. ~

Wizard of Oz and fairytales

Of forest deities and kingdoms 

 

Finding Nemo, the friendly fish

Of old cultures and postmodern

And adventure with the imagination …

Christmas Concert, University of Santo Tomas 2013

UST holds Christmas concert for Typhoon Yolanda relief

The University of Santo Tomas (UST) Christmas Concert Gala, the most awaited musical event on campus, marks the beginning of a new decade with a significant purpose – to help the victims of typhoon Yolanda.
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UST CHRISTMAS CONCERT. The UST Christmas Concert Gala 2013 will be aired on IBC 13 on December 24, 2013 at 7:00pm-8:00pm, and PTV 4 on December 25, 2013 at 7:00pm - 8:30pm.

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Lighting of the UST Christmas 2013

The UST Symphony Orchestra

 

Now on its 11th year, the Christmas Concert Gala has contributed to charitable causes particularly the heritage conservation efforts of the University and the scholarship fund of the Conservatory of Music.

This year, organizers decided to donate proceeds to the victims of typhoon Yolanda in the Visayas.

Spearheading the benefit concert are the UST Rector, Fr. Herminio V. Dagohoy, O.P. and the UST Christmas Concert Gala chairpersons, Fr. Isidro C. Abaño, O.P., UST Museum Director and Ms. Maricris C. Zobel, art patroness.

For this year, homegrown talents of the University will take center stage.
 

Guest performers include Dulce (photo) one of the country’s formidable belters and international competition winner who will do a rendition of J. Peterson’s “Night of Miracles” (A Christmas Cantata) and a duet with her son, David Cruz of A. Adam’s “O Holy Night.”

Two-time Choir of the World Champion; UST Singers (photo) under the baton of Prof. Fidel Calalang, Jr. and the first Children’s Choir of the World Champion, Hail Mary the Queen Children’s Choir (photo) conducted by Theresa V. Roldan will interpret popular choral pieces and Christmas classics.

Completing the roster of performers are students and alumni from the Conservatory of Music to be joined by the UST Symphony Orchestra, Liturgikon Vocal Ensemble and Coro Tomasino. (Photo below)
 

The traditional community singing will feature all-time favorites “Silent Night,” “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” and “Joy to the World.”
 

Since its inception, the Christmas Concert has always been held at the UST Chapel, recreating the European tradition of holding grand concerts in magnificent churches and cathedrals. This is also UST’s way of giving thanks to its numerous friends and benefactors for the past years.
Maiden performance was held at six in the evening on December 5, 2013 at the UST Chapel.
From Press release, UST

All star cast and traditional community singing  of all time favorites “Silent Night,” “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” and “Joy to the World.”

Photos of presentation taken by Dr Abe V Rotor, December 5, 2013.  

Go for Fresh Fruits at the Counter

 Dr Abe V Rotor 

Living with Nature School on Blog

Paaralang Bayan sa Himpapawid (People's School-on-Air) with Ms Melly C Tenorio

738 DZRB AM Band, 8 to 9 evening class Monday to Friday

 Sugarcane juice direct from the cane.  

It's like living on the farm, short of chewing the cane rather than crushing it with machine. Stands like this are found in malls. Prefer the freshly squeezed.  It takes around three minutes while whetting your appetite.  Just don't take the juice with empty stomach.  It may cause discomfort as it quickly ferments in the stomach.  Otherwise it is a health drink.   

  

Fresh fruit on stick

You don't have to buy the whole papaya or watermelon.  Just by the stick.  Malls have sections like this where fresh fruits are sold in ready-to-eat slices or tidbits. And pronto you can have your fill. As a rule pick one kind of fruit at a time. Combining fruits especially in large servings may upset the stomach.  There is moderation in everything. Because of the high perishability of  dressed fruits, it is not advisable to keep them out of the chiller for a long time.  

Other popular dressed fruits 

• Buko (young coconut), served in halves. 
• Pineapple, radial or longitudinal slices
• Mango, in halves, ripe or green
• Muskmelon and honeydew, sliced in quarters
• Dragon fruit, guayabano, apples, grapes, singly or in combination with other fruits.~

Make Fruit Wine at Home

Fruits in season, Summer 2013: Chico, Pineapple, Dragon fruit, Watermelon and Nangka 

Closeup of fruits undergoing eight days of fermentation. The filtrate is separated and bottled (glass bottle) where aging will take place in dark and cool environment for at least a year. Note: PET bottles should not be used for wine storage, only during the brewing stage when alcohol is slowly building up. 

(Article in process)

UST-AB DevCom Assignment: Allergy - world's most common epidemic. Allergy-proofing the Home and Workplace

 Allergy - world's most common epidemic

Allergy-proofing of the Home and Workplace 

Dr Abe V Rotor 

Living with Nature School on Blog

What particular allergies are you sensitive? How do you get rid of them?  A personal experience, on bond, handwritten.  

A. Allergy-Proof Your Home.

These are fairly quick, simple, and inexpensive methods of making your home friendlier to your asthma and allergies.

1. Build house on spacious lot and surroundings
2. Free house of carpet and wall paper
3. Knock on wood
4. Prefer shiny floors, materials of low-gas ingredients
5. Provide good natural ventilation
6. Let sunshine in, façade towards the east
7. Integrate house plan with  garden
8. Screen out plants that are allergen potential 
9. Design your home in unity and harmony  with natural environment, not vice versa

B. Allergy-Free Yard

1. Fix your yard to bring down allergies.
2. Go for plants native to the place (save allergy misery and labor)
3. Maintain a pest-free lawn, naturally (biological control)
4. Plant ground plants (and minimize mowing of grass lawn – source of allergen)
5. Be vigilant (weed out allergen-causing plants like lipang kalabaw, sabawil
6. Minimize the mold (remove anything that traps moistur

C. Allergy-proofing the bedroom     

1. Keep pets out. 
2. Encase sleeping place with clean sheets
3. Run your air through filter
4. Banish the blinds
5. Steer clear of soft seats
6. Filter the vents
7. Wash away the pollen
8. Debunk the mites
9. Give Teddy a bath
10. Keep food away 

D. Allergy-proofing the Kitchen

and Dining Room

1. Roach-proof your food.
2. Put a lid on your trash.
3. Get crumbs where they hide.
4. Don’t let dishes get crusty.
5. Scrub those floors and cupboards.
6. Battle roaches with smarts.
7. Call the pros.
8. Be a fan of your fan.
9. Avoid the cold mold.
10. Choose your cleaners wisely.

E. Allergy-Proofing the Bathroom,

Laundry Room, and Closets

1. Turn on the fan.
2. Harvest piles of damp stuff.
3. Pick a natural freshener.
4. Bring down the curtain on mold
5. Bleach the mold away.
6. Wash permanent-press clothes before you wear them.
7. Opt for smell-free products.
8. Be sure the clothes dryer blows outside.
9. Leave the light on.
10. Air out dry-cleaned clothes. ~

Bring Home the Rainbow

Yes, you can bring the rainbow home

 

Rainbow - the cathedral in the sky that brings the faithful of all beliefs together in awe and respect to the Creator, the unifying grace of all mankind. 

Dr Abe V Rotor

Morning rainbow across the hills and river in Bamban, Tarlac.

“There's a rainbow in the sky, all the time, don't be blind.” — Ziggy Marley.

  

 Children in the neighborhood delight in making a rainbow through an aquarium as prism.  You can make one, too, in your home.

“There's always been a rainbow hanging over your head.” — Kacey Musgraves. ~