BINI wants to help women realize their worth through music

BINI members (from left) Sheena, Gwen, Jhoanna, Mikha, Maloi, Colet, Stacey, and Aiah. Image: Courtesy of Star Music

By: Hannah Mallorca

In a time where women are taking charge of their destiny, BINI has emerged at the forefront of young Filipinas looking for inspiration to keep going. Their smash hit “Pantropiko” catapulted the eight-member girl group into superstar status, and the throng of screaming fans, outpour of activities, and a solo concert on the way is a sign of their stars shining brighter.

The Filipino girl group — consisting of Jhoanna Robles, Aiah Arceta, Colet Vergara, Maloi Ricalde, Gwen Apuli, Stacey Sevilleja, Mikha Lim, and Sheena Catacutan — was launched to the public in June 2021. A string of songs including “Da Coconut Nut,” “Born To Win,” “Golden Arrow,” “Na Na Na,” “Lagi,” “I Feel Good,” and “Karera” were added to their discography, which is akin to BINI exploring genres before finding their sound.

“Ang dami naming in-explore na genre, to be honest. Nag-‘Born To Win’ kami, then biglang nag-cutesy,” Gwen recalled in an interview with INQUIRER.net. “But when we started with ‘Lagi,’ pumatok na siya sa tao. Nag-boom din ang ‘Na Na Na’ sa Tiktok.”

This, in turn, dawned on the group that it was the sign they found their niche. But the group’s leader Jhoanna said they’re open to exploring more genres that showcased their identity as empowered Filipinas.

Empowering women

Apart from their music, BINI’s on- and off-screen personalities — playful, witty, and energetic — made a mark on social media. This led to a stream of people (particularly K-pop fans) joining their fanbase or Blooms. Colet admitted there’s “pressure” in the attention, but they would rather focus on enjoying the journey.

The 34 Very Best German Sayings…EVER! (20): in den Sand setzen

 

The 34 Very Best German Sayings…EVER!

By: AuthorMarcel Iseli

20. in den Sand setzen

If you are putting something in the sand, you are literally screwing something up at least in German. So whenever that happens, you could use the German saying “in den Sand setzen” to express just that. 

Now, what does this all have to do with sand? Why would you mess something up by putting something in the sand? While it is pretty easy to track the (possible) origins of some German sayings, there does not seem to be a lot of consensus about the origins of “in den Sand setzen.”

However, if you are just trying to think about what actually happens when you put something in the sand, then a possible explanation might just be that an object that has been put in the sand is simply stuck there and can, therefore, no longer be moved.

This standstill could then be metaphorically linked to what happens when you mess something up. Well, nothing happens (anymore), hence everything comes to a standstill.   

Example:

Ben kann einfach nicht mit Geld umgehen. Der hat sich letztes Jahr wieder für ne Million Euro Aktien gekauft und hat wieder mal alles in den Sand gesetzt!  

 

Translation:

Ben simply cannot handle money. Last year, he bought himself a million euros worth of shares and once again ruined everything!  

 

Can't Comment on Post on Facebook? This is why!

Heat index could hit 'danger' level in 14 areas on Good Friday, PAGASA warns

 

Ian Laqui - Philstar.com

March 29, 2024 | 11:23am

MANILA, Philippines — State weather bureau PAGASA reported on Good Friday that the heat index in 14 areas across the Philippines might reach "danger" levels.

In its 5 a.m. forecast on Thursday, the agency noted that certain areas could see a heat index soaring up to 44 degrees Celsius (°C).

The heat index, also referred to as the apparent temperature, factors in both relative humidity and the actual air temperature, providing a measure of how hot it feels.

Under the "danger" classification, temperatures range from 42°C to 51°C, posing risks of heat-related ailments such as heat cramps or heat exhaustion, as warned by PAGASA.

A heat stroke, on the other hand, might be also be probable with continued sun exposure.

The following are the areas under the “danger” level:

Roxas City, Capiz - 44 °C

Iloilo City, Iloilo - 44 °C

Dumangas, Iloilo - 43 °C

San Jose, Occidental Mindoro - 43 °C

Puerto Princesa, Palawan - 43 °C

Aborlan, Palawan - 43 °C

NAIA in Pasay City, Manila - 42 °C

Sangley Point, Cavite - 42 °C

Calapan, Oriental Mindoro - 42 °C

Coron, Palawan - 42 °C

Masbate City, Masbate - 42 °C

CBSUA Pili, Camarines Sur - 42 °C

Mambusao, Capiz - 42 °C

Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Sur - 42 °C

PAGASA advised the public to reduce outdoor activities, stay hydrated and avoid certain beverages to prevent heat-related illnesses.

The agency also advised the public to use umbrellas, hats, and wear sleeved clothing when outdoors, and to schedule strenuous activities for cooler times of the day.

The state weather bureau formally declared the beginning of the dry season on March 23, indicating the conclusion of the amihan, or prevailing northeast monsoon, which had led to decreased temperatures nationwide.

Experience spirituality and tranquility at this farm in Iloilo

A resort that integrates agriculture, leisure, and pilgrimage all in one place

BY ANGELO SANCHEZ

  

---

Holy Week is a time when many Filipinos seek solace and spiritual reflection. One perfect site for such contemplation is Garin Farm, located in San Joaquin, Iloilo.

Spanning 14 hectares, this multifaceted property operates from Tuesdays to Sundays, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., allowing guests to immerse themselves in spiritual enrichment amid its natural beauty.

A highlight of Garin Farm is the pilgrimage hill. This 480-step staircase, also known as the "Stairway to Heaven," offers visitors a journey through biblical scenarios. From the birth and baptism of Christ to the resurrection and ascension, the staircase provides the perfect destination for Holy Week reflections.

'Stairway to Heaven' (Photo: Garin Farm/Instagram)

At the top of the staircase, guests are welcomed by an altar adorned with a towering cross and intricate sculptures, creating a tableau of heaven in pristine white.

Tableau of heaven (Photo: Garin Farm/Instagram)

In addition to its pilgrim features, Garin Farm offers various activities for those seeking a different kind of break. Thrill-seekers can zip line across the tranquil lagoon or enjoy activities such as buggy car driving, boat paddling, fishing, and swimming.

The lagoon (Photo: Garin Farm/Instagram)

For those who wish to extend their visit, the property also offers overnight stays, providing a longer retreat experience.

Pool area (Photo: Garin Farm/Instagram)

5 Books to read this long weekend

All are written by female authors

BY JESSICA PAG-IWAYAN

Mar 28, 2024 05:19 PM

  

---

The Holy Week's long weekend is officially here. If you're looking for books to read to catch up on that reading habit you set this year, we've listed five books written by women. After all, we're still celebrating International Women's Month, with genres encompassing historical fiction and the dystopian era.

Your Utopia 

From the brilliant author of “Cursed Bunny,” South Korean writer Bora Chung brings “Your Utopia,” a compilation of short stories that will allow readers to experience a variety of possible fates for us humans, from total demise because of a disease to an AI elevator that develops a one-sided love for an elderly person. 

The Memory Police

Written by award-winning Japanese author Yoko Ogawa, “The Police Memory” is an International Booker Prize finalist. The story takes place on an unnamed island where things disappear, along with the memories that come with them. This book masterfully tackles the trauma of loss in a suspenseful drama setting.  

The Fountains of Silence

“Inspired by the true postwar struggles of Spain,” this book follows the story of 18-year-old Daniel who travels in Madrid with his parents, hoping to know more about the country through his camera. But Daniel discovered more than he intended to do so, which endangered him and his loved ones. Written by Ruta Sepetys (“Between Shades of Gray,” “Salt of the Sea”), “The Fountains of Silence” is a must-read for everyone who loves stories inspired by real-life situations. 

Loving the Sky

One of the most-read books from Wattpad is now available in hardcopy through Precious Pages publication. Written by Inksteady, it reflects what love is like for a young adult and the sacrifices he/she’s ready to make for that love, even if it means loving someone from afar. 

Chasing in the Wild

With more than 129 million reads on Wattpad, Precious Pages publication yet again gives us a hard copy version of this widely read online book. Written by 4Reminct, it will bring back readers down memory lane about their campus love story and whether that story ended up with one happy ending or if life’s harsh reality drifted them apart. 

Song lyrics are getting simpler, more repetitive: study

BY AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Mar 29, 2024 08:31 AM

  

---

AT A GLANCE

• Lyrics have also become angrier and more self-obsessed over the last 40 years, the study found, reinforcing the opinions of cranky ageing music fans everywhere. 

In contrast to Bob Dylan's literature Nobel, lyrics have become simpler and more repetitive over the last 40 years, a study says (AFP)

PARIS (AFP) - You're not just getting older. Song lyrics really are becoming simpler and more repetitive, according to a study published on Thursday.

Lyrics have also become angrier and more self-obsessed over the last 40 years, the study found, reinforcing the opinions of cranky ageing music fans everywhere.

A team of European researchers analysed the words in more than 12,000 English-language songs across the genres of rap, country, pop, R&B and rock from 1980 to 2020.

Before detailing how lyrics have become more basic, the study pointed out that US singer-songwriting legend Bob Dylan -- who rose to fame in the 1960s -- has won a Nobel Prize in literature.

Senior study author Eva Zangerle, an expert on recommendation systems at Austria's University of Innsbruck, declined to single out an individual newer artist for having simple lyrics.

But she emphasised that lyrics can be a "mirror of society" which reflect how a culture's values, emotions and preoccupations change over time.

"What we have also been witnessing in the last 40 years is a drastic change in the music landscape -- from how music is sold to how music is produced," Zangerle told AFP. 

Over the 40 years studied, there was repeated upheaval in how people listened to music. The vinyl records and cassette tapes of the 1980s gave way to the CDs of the 90s, then the arrival of the internet led to the algorithm-driven streaming platforms of today.

For the study in the journal Scientific Reports, the researchers looked at the emotions expressed in lyrics, how many different and complicated words were used, and how often they were repeated.

"Across all genres, lyrics had a tendency to become more simple and more repetitive," Zangerle summarised.

The results also confirmed previous research which had shown a decrease in positive, joyful lyrics over time and a rise in those that express anger, disgust or sadness.

Lyrics have also become much more self-obsessed, with words such as "me" or "mine" becoming much more popular.

'Easier to memorise' 

The number of repeated lines rose most in rap over the decades, Zangerle said -- adding that it obviously had the most lines to begin with.

"Rap music has become more angry than the other genres," she added.

The researchers also investigated which songs the fans of different genres looked up on the lyric website Genius.

Unlike other genres, rock fans most often looked up lyrics from older songs, rather than new ones.

Rock has tumbled down the charts in recent decades, and this could suggest fans are increasingly looking back to the genre's heyday, rather than its present.

Another way that music has changed is that "the first 10-15 seconds are highly decisive for whether we skip the song or not," Zangerle said.

Previous research has also suggested that people tend to listen to music more in the background these days, she added.

Put simply, songs with more choruses that repeat basic lyrics appear to be more popular.

"Lyrics should stick easier nowadays, simply because they are easier to memorise," Zangerle said.

"This is also something that I experience when I listen to the radio."

Philippine Fairy Tales (XXXII) - Philippinische Märchen (XXXII): The Flood Story (Igorot) - Die Flutgeschichte

The Flood Story (Igorot)

Lumawig's two sons decided to flood the earth to bring up mountains so that they can catch pig and deer. However, in the acts of doing this, they drowned all the people on earth except for two people; they were brother and sister. Ludwig helped the two survive the flood and after the flood subsided, the brother and sister got married and repopulated the earth.

References

Cole, Mabel Cook (1916). Philippine Folk Tales. Chicago: A. C. McClurg and Company. pp. 102–104.

Die Flutgeschichte 

The Flood Story

Igorot

Once upon a time, when the world was flat and there were no mountains, there lived two brothers, sons of Lumawig, the Great Spirit. The brothers were fond of hunting, and since no mountains had formed there was no good place to catch wild pig and deer, and the older brother said, "Let us cause water to flow over all the world and cover it, and then mountains will rise up."

So they caused water to flow over all the earth, and when it was covered they took the head-basket [a bamboo basket, in which the heads of victims are kept prior to the head-taking celebration] of the town and set it for a trap. The brothers were very much pleased when they went to look at their trap, for they had caught not only many wild pigs and deer, but also many people.

Now Lumawig looked down from his place in the sky and saw that his sons had flooded the earth and that in all the world there was just one spot which was not covered. And he saw that all the people in the world had been drowned except one brother and sister who lived in Pokis.

Then Lumawig descended, and he called to the boy and girl, saying, "Oh, you are still alive."

"Yes," answered the boy, "we are still alive, but we are very cold."

So Lumawig commanded his dog and deer to get fire for the boy and girl. The dog and the deer swam quickly away, but though Lumawig waited a long time they did not return, and all the time the boy and girl were growing colder.

Finally Lumawig himself went after the dog and the deer, and when he reached them he said, "Why are you so long in bringing the fire to Pokis? Get ready and come quickly while I watch you, for the boy and girl are very cold."

Then the dog and the deer took the fire and started to swim through the flood, but when they had gone only a little way, the fire was put out.

Lumawig commanded them to get more fire and they did so, but they swam only a little way again when that of the deer went out, and that of the dog would have been extinguished also had not Lumawig gone quickly to him an taken it.

As soon as Lumawig reached Pokis he built a big fire which warmed the brother and sister; and the water evaporated so that the world was as it was before, except that now there were mountains. The brother and sister married and had children, and thus there came to be many people on the earth.

+++

Die Flutgeschichte

Igorot

Es war einmal, als die Welt flach war und es keine Berge gab, lebten zwei Brüder, Söhne von Lumawig, dem Großen Geist. Die Brüder jagten gern, und da sich keine Berge gebildet hatten, gab es keinen guten Ort, um Wildschweine und Hirsche zu fangen, und der ältere Bruder sagte: „Lasst uns Wasser über die ganze Welt fließen lassen und sie bedecken, und dann werden Berge entstehen.“ aufgehen."

So ließen sie Wasser über die ganze Erde fließen, und als sie bedeckt war, nahmen sie den Kopfkorb [einen Bambuskorb, in dem die Köpfe der Opfer vor der Kopfabnahmefeier aufbewahrt werden] der Stadt und stellten ihn auf eine Falle. Die Brüder freuten sich sehr, als sie ihre Falle besichtigten, denn sie hatten nicht nur viele Wildschweine und Hirsche, sondern auch viele Menschen gefangen.

Nun schaute Lumawig von seinem Platz am Himmel herab und sah, dass seine Söhne die Erde überschwemmt hatten und dass es auf der ganzen Welt nur einen Fleck gab, der nicht bedeckt war. Und er sah, dass alle Menschen auf der Welt ertrunken waren, bis auf einen Bruder und eine Schwester, die in Pokis lebten.

Dann stieg Lumawig herab und rief dem Jungen und dem Mädchen zu: „Oh, du lebst noch.“

„Ja“, antwortete der Junge, „wir leben noch, aber uns ist sehr kalt.“

Also befahl Lumawig seinem Hund und seinem Hirsch, Feuer für den Jungen und das Mädchen zu machen. Der Hund und das Reh schwammen schnell davon, aber obwohl Lumawig lange wartete, kehrten sie nicht zurück, und dem Jungen und dem Mädchen wurde es immer kälter.

Schließlich ging Lumawig selbst dem Hund und dem Hirsch nach, und als er sie erreichte, sagte er: „Warum bringst du so lange das Feuer nach Pokis? Mach dich bereit und komm schnell, während ich dich beobachte, denn dem Jungen und dem Mädchen ist sehr kalt.“ ."

Dann ergriffen der Hund und das Reh das Feuer und begannen, durch die Flut zu schwimmen, aber als sie nur ein kleines Stück zurückgelegt hatten, wurde das Feuer gelöscht.

Lumawig befahl ihnen, mehr Feuer zu machen, und sie taten es, aber sie schwammen nur noch ein kleines Stück weiter, als das Feuer des Hirsches ausging, und das des Hundes wäre auch gelöscht worden, wenn Lumawig nicht schnell zu ihm gegangen wäre und es genommen hätte.

Sobald Lumawig Pokis erreichte, machte er ein großes Feuer, das den Bruder und die Schwester wärmte; Und das Wasser verdunstete, sodass die Welt wieder wie zuvor war, nur dass es jetzt Berge gab. Der Bruder und die Schwester heirateten und bekamen Kinder, und so entstanden viele Menschen auf der Erde.

Holy Week reading

 

By: Ambeth R. Ocampo - @inquirerdotnet

Historians read differently. While most people start with the so-called “Front Matter” (Title Page, Introduction, Table of Contents, etc.) historians usually start at the back of a book; checking out the Bibliography or the list of sources (manuscript, printed, oral, and digital) used in the writing of the book. Historians judge a book not by its cover but by its “Back Matter.” While normal people will consider reading a dictionary as penance for the sins of the past year, I find it an absolute joy browsing through early vocabularios or diccionarios of Tagalog from the 17th to 19th centuries. Added to my unusual taste in reading matter are bibliographies (lists of books or sources, often annotated, that form the basis of a given subject). Bibliographies published in the early 20th century from the likes of Wenceslao E. Retana, Trinidad H. Pardo de Tavera, and James Alexander Robertson enabled me to talk authoritatively about books I have not read fully nor handled physically.

Last Palm Sunday, I was invited by a friend to a “pabasa” in his garage in Cardona, transformed into a “kapilya” with an altar dominated by a crucifix and three life-size processional images of saints with their heavy beards and equally heavy velvet vestments embroidered with gold and silver thread. Instead of flowers, the altar was festooned with “palaspas” in many various designs. There was a long table with people reading from, and chanting, the Pasion text in old Tagalog. Christ was being mocked and beaten when I arrived around 1 p.m. and if I cared to stay on until the evening I would hear the burial of Christ, chanted with accompaniment by the town band.

Four decades ago, during my first immersion into Philippine Studies, I assisted a visiting ethnomusicologist who recorded an entire Pasion in Angeles, Pampanga, over two days. At the time, I learned to distinguish different tones and tunes utilized by the readers. There was plain chant, there was one that was lilting, another was used when a penitent or flagellant entered the chapel. We were told that in the Malolos passion play or “sinakulo,” music that accompanied the scene of the death of the Virgin Mary was a rowdy drinking song like “roll out the barrels” that was replaced by “Anchors Aweigh!” when the Virgin ascends into heaven. For the Resurrection, “Lupang Hinirang” or the national anthem. This is the charm of our folk religiosity that is more Filipino than Roman Catholic, when the foreign was “indio-genized” and made our own.

Protect our citizens from dangers of April-May-June and July

At the Cardona pabasa last Sunday, I told people at lunch that this time I focused more on the words rather than the tune, fascinated by the unusual turns of phrase in Tagalog difficult to translate into English. The Pasion text in Cardona reminded me of the first time I heard the short-cut passion and death of Christ in a chanted novena during a wake in Poblacion or Old Makati. I heard it again, in the background, while on the phone with a classmate at a wake in Malabon. Of Jesus sweating blood in the Garden of Gethsemane, the novena prompt for a response was “Hesus ko, alang-alang sa masaganang dugo na iyong ipinawis nang manalangin ka sa Halamanan.” When Jesus was slapped on the face, “Hesus ko alang-alang sa tampal na tinanggap ng iyong kagalang-galang na mukha.” When he carried the cross on the road of bitterness, “Hesus ko alang-alang sa paglakad mo sa lansangan ng kapaitan, na ang Cruz ay iyong kababaw-babaw.” When he was stripped of his garments, “Hesus ko alang-alang sa damit mong natigmak na dugo na biglang pinaknit at hinubad sa iyong katawan ng mga tampalasan.”

Included in the novena is the Litany of the Virgin Mary that rendered, “Mother Most Chaste” as “Inang Walang Malay sa Kahalayan.” Most complicated was “Rosa Mystica,” translated as “Rosang bulaklak, na di mapuspos ng bait ng tao ang halaga” (A rose whose worth cannot be known by human reason). Tower of Ivory was rendered as “Torreng Garing” while “Singular Vessel of Devotion” became “Sisidlan ng mahal at tangi na makusaing sumunod sa Panginoong Diyos.” Mother Most Admirable became “Inang Kataka-taka.”

My Holy Week reading was “Pasyon Genealogy and Annotated Bibliography” by Rene B. Javellana, SJ, published in 1983. It lists 31 texts from the earliest extant by Gaspar Aquino de Belen “Mañga Panalañging Pactatagobilin sa Calolova nang tavong nag hihiñgalo: Ang may catha sa vican Castila ang M. R. P. Thomas de Villa Castin sa mahal na Compañia ni Iesus. At ysinalin sa vican Tagalog ni d[on] Gaspar Aquino de Belen. At ysinonod dito ang mahal na Passion ni Iesu Christong P[añginoon] Natin na tolá; at ypinananagano sa cataastaasang poong Iesus Nazareno” (1760), to the most popular that can still be bought on Shopee today being the “Pasion Henesis” because it has an account from Genesis. It is also known as “Pasion Pilapil” for Mariano Pilapil, not the author but a priest who wrote preliminaries to the text “Casaysayan nang Pasiong Mahal ni Hesucristong Panginoon Natin na Sucat Ipag-alab nang Puso nang Sinomang Babasa” (1814). Javellana provides a road map to all these old texts, a real penitence to the uninterested but engaging to the scholar.

Why is the Philippines Asia's Most Unique Country?

The Philippines stands out among its Asian neighbors for numerous reasons. Renowned globally for their warm hospitality, Filipinos embody a spirit of kindness that transcends cultural barriers. Endowed with rich biodiversity, the country is home to unique species like the Tarsiers and boasts diverse ecosystems from coral reefs to lush rainforests. Its underwater world, adorned with sunken Japanese shipwrecks and teeming with marine life, offers unparalleled diving experiences. The iconic Jeepneys symbolize Filipino ingenuity and artistic expression, while the country's active volcanoes add a thrilling element to its landscape. With over 7,100 islands, each exuding its own charm, and cultural influences from Spanish colonization evident in architecture, art, and cuisine, the Philippines offers a tapestry of experiences that make it truly exceptional in Asia. Let us delve into the question, "Why is the Philippines Asia's Most Unique Country?" Like, comment, and subscribe for more in-depth coverage of global economies and geopolitics. Watch complete video and do not forget to visit our channel for more interesting videos. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 0:00 Have you ever pondered why the Philippines stands out more in contrast to its neighbouring nations? 0:44 The Philippines host a wealth of endemic wildlife 1:24 The Philippines is a paradise for divers 2:07 Let's not overlook the Jeepneys 2:53 The Philippines, a nation abundant with natural wonders 3:38 Moving on to the Philippines' remarkable archipelago 4:16 Let's explore the massage culture deeply ingrained in the Philippines lifestyle 5:00 Another wonderland of the Philippines is Puerto Princesa Underground River 5:42 For over 300 years, the Philippines was under Spanish rule 6:20 In the realm of art, the Spanish brought Western painting techniques and styles 7:19 Another uniqueness of the Philippines is their cuisine 8:08 Don't miss out on future explorations and discoveries