The Redeemer

from the album Pieces of a Real Heart
performed by Sanctus Real

Sometimes I just want to start over
Cause everything looks like a wreck
And I need the courage to carry on
Cause I can't see what's ahead

And there are places I've wished I could be
Battles I've wanted to win
Dreams that have slipped through my hands
I may never get back again

But I'm still a dreamer, a believer
I've lost my faith in so many things
But I still believe in You
Cause You can make anything new

Sometimes I just wish we could say
All the things that are easy to hear
Ignore the injustice we see
And explain every unanswered prayer

But I'd rather speak honestly
And wear a tattered heart on my sleeve
Cause in the middle of my broken dreams
Redemption is here

I don't have every answer in life
But I'm trusting You one day at a time
Cause You can make a weak heart stay alive forever
This is where Heaven and Earth collide

I lift my hands and give my life
This is how my weary heart stays alive

I believe

Just a few weeks ago, the Tony Awards for Best Musical for 2011 was awarded to The Book of Mormon, a religious satire which tells the tale of two Mormon missionaries bound to Uganda to share their scriptures.

During the Tony Awards, Andrew Rannells, who played the role of missionary Kevin Price, performed "I believe". In this song, Price reconfirms his mission, commits to God what he needs to achieve and confronts the General, a local warlord and talks him into converting to the religion.

While at one point, the musical somehow ridicules the religion, it also serves a perspective on faith and doubt that even non-Mormons could appreciate. "I believe" in itself already has a lot to offer.

Here's part of the lyrics that really touched me: (Access full lyrics here)

I must trust that my Lord is mightier

And always has my back.

Now I must be completely devout

I can't have even one shred of doubt...

You cannot just believe part way,

You have to believe in it all.

The problem is doubting the Lord's will

Instead of standing tall.

I believe that God has a plan for all of us.

I believe that plan involves me getting my own planet.

The Scriptures say that if you ask anything,

If you ask God Himself he'll know.

But you must ask Him without any doubt

And let your spirit grow...

At a time when God asks you to just believe in Him and in His plans for you, this is somehow a good song to contemplate with.

Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

walang natira (no one left)

A few months ago, while I was doing my report on the media coverage of the Middle East and North African protests, I stumbled upon one of Gloc9's music videos titled Walang Natira, a social criticism packaged as a rap song.

The song talks about labor migration in the Philippines. About 1.5 million Filipinos left in 2009 alone to work abroad. Remittances from overseas Filipino workers have been the driving force of the Philippine economy for years. But it has always been a question if the government can actually take care of every Filipino they send abroad.

More than the OFW's welfare abroad, the song also pointed out the very important outcome of this labor migration.

Napakaraming guro dito sa amin ngunit
Bakit tila walang natira
Napakaraming nurse dito sa amin
Ngunit bakit tila walang natira
Nagaabroad sila
(Gusto kong yumaman)

Brain drain, which refers to the large-scale emigration of technically skilled people from one country to another. As more nurses, doctors, teachers and engineers from the Philippines move to other countries in pursuit of greener pastures, the more incompetent ones are left here, allowing the deterioration of knowledge of the field in this country.

As the last line of the song goes, "Napakaraming tama dito sa atin ngunit bakit tila walang natira."

don't stop

Don't Stop
Rumours, Fleetwood Mac
as performed by Glee

If you wake up and don't want to smile
If it takes just a little while
Open your eyes and look at the day
You'll see things in a different way

Don't stop thinking about tomorrow
Don't stop, it'll soon be here
It'll be better than before
Yesterday's gone, yesterday's gone

Why not think about times to come?
And not about the things that you've done
If your life was bad to you
Just think what tomorrow will do

All I want is to see you smile
If it takes just a little while
I know you don't believe that it's true
I never meant any harm to you

Don't you look back

resurrection song

Easter Sunday is the day we remember that God had raised His Son, Jesus, from the dead to signify that He has overcome death for our sins.

On Easter Sunday, while I was singing in church, I was reminded of the song "I'm Alive (Reprise)" from the Broadway musical Next to Normal.

The musical tells the story of a mother who suffers bipolar after losing her son, a father who tries to make his family feel normal, a daughter who wanted nothing else but her parents love and attention, and a son, who despite dead, has been treated alive, thanks to the mother. Next to Normal stages the struggles of a family when dealing with death, psychological disorder, drugs, grief and acceptance.

"I'm Alive (Reprise)" was sung by the son, Gabriel, to express that despite his father's denial and his mother's therapy that erased him from her memory, he still lives on.

When I imagined God singing this song, I am reminded that His existence can never be denied. No matter how we dislodge Him from our thoughts, the more that He will make it known that He is more than just man's thoughts. He is and always will be alive.

I'm Alive (Reprise)
I am more than memory
I am what might be I am mystery
Come closer, come closer

I am old as time
I'm forever young
I am every song that will stay unsung 

I'll find you, remind you

Until you name me
you can't tame me
This is one old game
I can play so well

I'm alive, I'm alive
I am so alive 

The medicine failed and the doctors lied

I’m alive, I’m alive,
I am death defied!
I'm alive, So alive
I'm alive

Boyce Avenue - Firework

Boyce Avenue - Firework

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Do you ever feel like a plastic bag,
drifting through the wind
wanting to start again?
Do you ever feel, feel so paper thin
like a house of cards,
one blow from caving in?

Do you ever feel already buried deep?
6 feet under screams but no one seems to hear a thing
Do you know that there’s still a chance for you
‘Cause there’s a spark in you

You just gotta ignite, the light, and let it shine
Just own the night like the 4th of July

‘Cause baby you’re a firework
Come on, show ‘em what you’re worth
Make ‘em go “Oh, oh, oh”
As you shoot across the sky-y-y

Baby, you’re a firework
Come on, let your colors burst
Make ‘em go “Oh, oh, oh”
You’re gonna leave ‘em all in awe, awe, awe

oh… You’re gonna leave ‘em all in awe, awe, awe

You don’t have to feel like a waste of space
You’re original, cannot be replaced
If you only knew what the future holds
After a hurricane comes a rainbow

Maybe your reason why all the doors are closed
So you could open one that leads you to the perfect road
Like a lightning bolt, your heart will glow
And when it’s time, you’ll know

Don’t let them to take your life for granted
you’re the only one who needs to rule your world
When life leaves you feel empty-handed
Lie low and show ‘em what you’re worth

tatsulok

(buklod. revived by bamboo)

Totoy bilisan mo, bilisan mo ang takbo
Ilagan ang mga bombang nakatutok sa ulo mo
Totoy tumalon ka, dumapa kung kailangan
At baka tamaan pa ng mga balang ligaw

Totoy makinig ka, wag kang magpa-gabi
Baka mapagkamalan ka’t humandusay dyan sa tabi
Totoy alam mo ba kung ano ang puno’t dulo
Ng di matapos-tapos na kaguluhang ito

[refrain]
Hindi pula’t dilaw tunay na magkalaban
Ang kulay at tatak ay di syang dahilan
Hangga’t marami ang lugmok sa kahirapan
At ang hustisya ay para lang sa mayaman

[chorus]
Habang may tatsulok at sila ang nasa tuktok
Di matatapos itong gulo
At ang dating munting bukid, ngayo’y sementeryo
Totoy kumilos ka, baliktarin ang tatsulok
Tulad ng dukha, nailagay mo sa tuktok

[repeat refrain and chorus]
[repeat refrain and chorus]
[repeat chorus]

Di matatapos itong gulo