“Over futile odds…and laughed at by the gods. And now the final frame. Love is a losing game” – Amy Winehouse, 2007.
Photo via mashable.com
Amy Winehouse is best known for her 2006 breakthrough album, Back to Black, the singer was known for her deep voice and brazen lyrics. Winehouse was 27. The troubled singer, has long struggled with drug and alcohol addiction, making many references to these struggles in her music. Her most popular songs include: ‘Valerie’, ‘You Know I’m no Good’, ‘Back to Black’, and ‘Rehab’
By coincidence, Jimi Hendrix, Jones, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain and Amy Winehouse have one thing in common . They were all 27 years old . Actually, the one thing they have in common is sadly – drug abuse (if found that her death was due to it ). Oh Amy Winehouse. How sad. Unfortunately, the world lost such a talented woman to this powerful disease… addiction. She was not alone. Many others are like her , who struggle to fight this disease.
Amy Winehouse once said “I only write about stuff that’s happened to me, stuff I can’t get past personally. Luckily, I’m quite self-destructive.
Amy is now in peace.
As soon as Amy Winehouse’s death broke out, people expressed in social media their thoughts on the end of the young artist’s life.
They are dead; but they live in each Patriot’s breast,
And their names are engraven on honor’s bright crest.
~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself. ~Joseph Campbell
US Memorial Day often reminds me of weekend visits to my sisters in San Francisco years ago. I didn’t think much of US memorial day when I received the invitation the of the celebration at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial today at 8:00 AM.
It was my dear husband who reminded me that US memorial day is significant to my family. A paternal uncle presumably dead was declared missing during World War 2 as he fought alongside with the USA army. He was the eldest among the six orphaned siblings, taking up law at the University of the Philippines. The eldest brother gave them hope that one day their properties that were forcibly taken away by their relatives would be given back to them. The war came and with a missing brother , they had no choice but fend for themselves with meager income from retained coconut lands. I cannot imagine how they survived.The second brother sacrificed his high school education by devoting full time as the “parent” of the brood. He ensured that the younger siblings got their education first before his own. What a sacrifice that must be.
As I listened to Ambassador Harry K. Thomas Jr memorial day message, I can only imagine the grief my father’s siblings went through. Losing both parents, their eldest brother and earning their keep. I cannot even begin to imagine what the other families felt after losing a loved one during the war. Each has their own story to tell, probably worse than my father’s family.
The ambassador said:
17,202 graves surround us in this cemetery. Inscribed on the limestone walls around us are 36,285 names of those whose remains were never recovered. In total more than 50,000 heroes are remembered here everyday. And they are not just remembered . They are honored.
My uncle is one of the 36,285 heroes whose body was never recovered. War is cruel. I don’t understand why we have to kill each other to fight for liberty, equality and justice . I know some of us are trying to make this world a safe place to live. I guess it is because we have different ideals and goals.
The children brought flowers to the memorial chapel, then stepped down the stairs and shouted together “We will never forget”
The Ambassador continued on with his message, “Jose Rizal once declared, ““What matters death if one dies for what he loves, for his land and for whom he adores?” Each of the 50,000 names transcribed in this cemetery belongs to someone who shared Rizal’s sentiments”
It must be an honor for our soldiers to fight for our country but is it really our war? Should we honor their sacrifices by continuing to strive forth the ideals for which they gave their lives?
To live in hearts we leave behind
Is not to die.
~Thomas Campbell, “Hallowed Ground”
Via Carlos Conde. Original Photo by Alan Robles.
Chit is a batch before me in UP Diliman. I never knew her but word gets around in the campus when one is quite active. Learning of her death through Twitter , it took some time for me to digest it. It came as a shock. We have mutual friends and I cannot imagine how more shocked they are. They are mourning the loss of a dear friend and colleague. The impact of a tragic death from a senseless bus drivers is just too much to comprehend. The taxi she was riding in was rammed by a bus Friday night and another speeding bus nicked the vehicle on Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City. “But it was the impact from the second bus that pinned the veteran journalist and U.P. professor to death in the cab’s backseat.”
There have been 21 tragic deaths and around 608 others were injured in more than 2,000 accidents in same Commonwealth avenue last year. I am aware of the 60 kph speed limit imposed by the MMDA on Commonwealth Avenue, a 12.4-kilometer stretch of road and still we have these reckless drivers. Mutual friends were also killed similarly on Valentines day leaving her young teens in shock.
Will another death bring about a massive road safety campaign in this “killer highway” and then become “ningas cogon” in the end?
Chit loved horoscopes. “Her husband, Roland Simbulan recalled his wife’s horoscope (for the zodiac sign Leo) on the day she died: Something will happen today that is not only evolutionary but revolutionary, and will be life-changing.”
Perhaps Chit’s death will reminds us that we are still alive to carry out some purpose that we ought to re-examine. As she told one of her students, “I hope you will use your skills to turn this country upside down.”
It’s only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth — and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up — that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had. – Elisabeth Kubler-Ross
I couldn’t believe it at first but I saw reputable news organizations tweeting about his death. Apparently Obama “Osama bin Laden was killed in a CIA operation in Pakistan. President Obama announced the news, ending years-long manhunt for the leader of al-Qaeda and architect of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on New York City and Washington, according to multiple sources.” Former President Bush in his statement ” congratulated him (President Obama) and the men and women of our military and intelligence communities who devoted their lives to this mission.”
As always, I curated twitter reactions to see the pulse. In most deaths I encounter, there is outpouring of sadness and sympathy . Osama Bin Laden’s death is quite different. At least in my timeline, I did not see signs of mourning.
Initial reactions are of disbelief then tweets of joy and relief. There are no “rest in peace” tweets so far.
I don’t feel any sense of joy but relief that he is finally caught. Even Martin Luther King Jr. does not agree with rejoicing a death. (Update- this quote is fake)
I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.
The Vatican further clarifies that:
“Faced with the death of a man, a Christian never rejoices but reflects on the serious responsibility of each and every one of us before God and before man, and hopes and commits himself so that no event be an opportunity for further growth of hatred, but for peace,”
Most reactions in Twitter prove otherwise.
My friend Sophie says “fairytale royal wedding,beatification of a wonderful Pope,and the world’s #1 terrorist gone.Is this a sign that there are better days ahead?”
I dont care how “evil” osama bin laden was; i dont see how anyone can ever celebrate the death of another human being :/
OSAMA BIN LADEN IS DEAD! YEAAAAHH YEAAAH YEAH YEAH! ITS A PARTY IN THE USA!
Oh well I hope osama rests in pieces.
Finally after all these years! Osama Bin laden is dead! Good job troops! But sorry this world still isn’t safe!
Blessed Pope John Paul II , Osama Bin Laden is dead.
To give you an idea of how the story unfolded, here is a story from ABC news.
What I found interesting is reading the tweets of @ReallyVirtual not knowing it was the raid on Osama Bin Laden. I curated his timeline to see how the story unfolded and to see it happen as he hears it .
Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal.
The first thing I do when I wake up is read my tweets. The RIP AJ Perez was most prominent in my timeline. Who is AJ Perez? I found out that AJ Perez was the lone fatality of an accident in Tarlac. AJ was declared dead on arrival by a hospital in Paniqui shortly after the accident took place at 12:10 a.m due to 2 multple head injuries. Read More →
Rest in peace, Elizabeth Taylor. I will always remember Elizabeth Taylor for her violet-eyed beauty, her stormy romances and eight marriages and her Oscar-winning performances. I also like her quotable quotes that shows snippets of her life:
Not at least until I’m dead, and at the moment I’m having too much fun being alive…and I plan on staying that way.
Every breath you take today should be with someone else in mind. I love you.
That is the thing that will give back to you all the rewards that there are. Don’t do it for yourself, because then it becomes selfish.
Give. Remember always to give. That is the thing that will make you grow.
You are who you are. All you can do in this world is help others to be who they are and better themselves and those around them.
Never let yourself think beyond your means…mental, emotional or any otherwise.
Always keep love and humility in your heart.
No one is going to play Elizabeth Taylor, but Elizabeth Taylor herself.
Humor is the only way to stay alive.
Because then it becomes about yourself…which is wrong. Giving is to give to God. Helping is to help others.
You find out who your real friends are when you’re involved in a scandal.
I suppose when they reach a certain age some men are afraid to grow up. It seems the older the men get, the younger their new wives get.
It’s not the having, it’s the getting.
Marriage is a great institution.
My mother says I didn’t open my eyes for eight days after I was born, but when I did, the first thing I saw was an engagement ring. I was hooked. Read More →
“There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness, but of power. They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues. They are messengers of overwhelming grief…and unspeakable love.” – Washington Irving
As Kumagi walks through his town, he stares in wonder at the destruction around him. Read More →
The corruption charges against the General Garcia was not something I really followed because I was busy with other matters like the Reproductive health issue. Besides, one of the bloggers was going to write about it.
Twitter was then buzzing with shock and wondering what happened.
Did he feel he could no longer hold his head high, with his former underling telling the world how he (Reyes) had left the military service with millions in people’s money? Read More →
““I would rather die a meaningful death than to live a meaningless life.” Corazon C. Aquino
That photo above is a screen capture of me taken from the Laban ni Cory documentary. I feel honored to be part of the memorable documentary. I had no idea that video was taken until someone told me. It looks like I was reflecting as I ventured out on my first attempts of citizen journalism.
Through all the combined 15 hours of coverage during your funeral procession, this has got to be the greatest outpouring of love that I have witnessed in all 52 years of my life.
I will not forget the people who sacrificed their lives for democracy.
I will make sure that my readers are aware of the implications of the Constituent Assembly before the 2010 elections, and that we should oppose Charter Change perpetuating President Arroyo and her allies in power.
I will continue with the fight, to help maintain our democracy.
