Dance and Fear

What enables a dancer to freestyle? What opens up a dancer's mind to a limitless sky of creativity and a never-ending well of move after move after move? After spending almost four years dancing, and learning so much from so many people, I suppose I have some semblance of an answer.

Not a care in the world.

The Mind/Heart Killer

Fear, not just in dance, kills the ability of the heart and mind to act in unison. Everything that we do passionately, I'd like to believe that it is because we consciously love doing and learning it (the mind) and we will subconsciously feel incomplete and dissatisfied without it at all (the heart). Fear brings doubts, and doubts raises self-consciousness to such a level that a dancer feels s/he "needs to impress" and "look good" in a session. Fear of negative comments, laughter, and getting labeled as 'wack' creates a dancer that thinks too much of rejection and 'not being good enough'. Fear's essential impact is preventing a dancer from sharing his/her entire being (feelings, emotions, skills, etc.) on the dance floor. In other words, a dancer who feels s/he must prove something to someone ends up not being able to freestyle with a limitless mind and a sharing heart.

The Opposite of Fear

In the book Gates of Fire by Steven Pressfield (which, by the way, is my favorite book of all time), the Spartan general Dienekes (of "We'll fight in the shade" fame) teaches his young warrior-squire Alexandros the meaning of fear and its opposite. While defending Thermopylae (of "300" fame), Alexandros - exposed to the horrors of war at the young age of 18 - eventually discovers the opposite of fear. It is also the exact same answer that I've learned from several individuals I respect highly in the Filipino dance community. The opposite of fear is love.

Unconditional

Love doesn't judge; it doesn't have an opinion. All it does is be. Nothing more, nothing less, nothing else. When a dancer loves his/her art so much that the world ceases to exist around him/her, something magical happens. A dancer in love with everything about the art will not care  S/he hits every single beat every single time, moves that flow into each other materializes one after the other smoothly, and best of all, a story is told. Freestyle is considered by some to be somewhat of 'a test' on whether or not a street dancer can really dance. No practice, no choreography, no pre-sets. Just the music and the moment. Love for the art, love for one's inspiration(s) (be it one's Faith, a life-changing moment, or someone important), and love for one's self all brings out the dancer in his/her best form. A dancer just dances. Love doesn't care who wins or loses, who's amazing or who's wack, and it definitely doesn't have a standard of 'good' or 'bad'.

Just dance.
Out with the fear, in with the love.

One love, chyeah.

Jay~

This post is inspired by my experiences with my beloved Skittlez Crew, a group of friends that have grown into a huge family that inspires many Lasallians. Also much inspiration came from my dance mentor Michael 'Decky' Decano, first Papi of Skittlez and a leader not just in the crew but of people as well. Many thanks go to Phillip Pamintuan aka Adrum the Warrior of Murda Fam and Krumpinoy, a titan in faith and in the dance community. I have so much love and respect for crews that freestyle out of love: Unschooled, Krumpinoy, UPM Indayog, and Bandila Fusion, among others.

Picture courtesy of morethanastance.com; retrieved on January 31, 2012.

"Just Dance" quote courtesy of Phillip Pamintuan, 2012.

Rainbow Run - Result

Congratulations to the organizers, Pep Squad, for an amazingly fun event!

5k in 29:00, bib #0922

One thing I enjoyed about this run was the fact that it wasn't very crowded. The gun-start of the different distance classes were spaced very evenly and this ensured - for the most part - that runners weren't ending up in big, crowded clusters. There were also a ton of water stations all along the route, which I'm sure many runners appreciated. McKinley Hills' intense elevation variations drained a lot of the participants - I heard a lot of groaning and complaining at uphill approaches! - but it was a great challenge for me, especially as I was very ill on that day. As this run was for the LGBTF (the F stood for "and Friends") community, I invited my former gymnastics coach, Coach Ajjie, to join me. We've been running buddies all month, and this was his first race of the year. We posted a pretty good placing (I was #32, he was #33) considering we started a whole five minutes behind the 5k gun-start!

All in all, Rainbow Run was a great race. The pick-up-as-you-go-along system for the Finisher's Kit/Goodie Bag was also a nifty idea, and we went home with nice loot.

Jay~

DLSU Back in the Day

I saw these great pictures of my Alma Mater, De La Salle University, on my Facebook updates a little earlier. DLSU is situated smack in the heartland of the capital city, and it's quite a different sight now. 

Pictures are all courtesy of Lasallian alumnus Mr. Bibera, from his photo album "Nostalgia Manila".

Circa 1925.

Circa 1930s.

Post-Second World War.

St. La Salle Hall, circa 1970s.

St. La Salle Hall aerial view, circa 1970s.

Taft Avenue, home of DLSU, early 1980s. No LRT island yet.

St. La Salle Hall, circa 1980s.

Aside from being a beautiful school (we're quite famous for featuring Neoclassical architecture on our halls), the images above depict Manila at its finest, in my opinion. Note the clear, blue skies and the visible sky. Currently, there are almost a dozen condominiums surrounding De La Salle University (I live in one) and the skies are grayish-blue at best due to all the pollution. It's my dream that the Green Zone project* may help bring back Taft Avenue to its glory days as a gorgeous, sexy campus.

A hundred years on, and we're moving for a clean, modern look with the Centennial Hall, expected to rise by June 15, 2012. That's another blog post, though.

Jay~

I cannot thank Mr. Bibera enough for these images and making them publicly available. Animo La Salle! Pictures retrieved on January 28, 2012 from photo album "Nostalgia Manila". 

De La Salle University was known as De La Salle College when these images were taken. The creation of De La Salle - College of St. Benilde paved the way for DLS College to be DLS University. Just some info :)

*The Green Zone is an institutionalized project to turn Taft Avenue (from V. Cruz LRT 1 station to Quirino LRT 1 station, respectively) from the most polluted place in the Philippines (in terms of air quality) to the cleanest. Launched on January 18, 2012. Expected results between 2017 to 2022.

Lotay Yang - Big Brother to the World

I've been a 'big brother', kuya (Filipino), and abang (Malay) to so many people in my 23 years. I see the lack of siblings as a blessing; I get to treat all my friends as my brothers and sisters, and for the younger ones, I feel especially accountable to and for.

Having said that, it's nice to have a big brother for a change. Not a kuya in the sense that I have someone to simply consider asking advice from or someone who guides me through tough times. No, not like that at all. I am blessed with having met a friend who is genuinely caring and compassionate, and one who provides spiritual support, guidance, and wisdom in both words and in actions. A true big brother, in every sense of the word. That man is Lotay Yang.

L-R: Clement Yeung, Ruhani Rabin, Gerry Belardo, Jenny Cruz, me, Lotay Yang.

I met him through another friend (whom I met through social media), Ruhani Rabin, and on first impressions, I could already tell Lotay was someone who would be a big brother to the whole world, if he could. He exuded this aura of encouragement; it's impossible to be negative around him. He told me that his inspiration to do good and be a man who lives by his inspirational words was to honor his father, a man of exceeding goodness as well. Our similarities began here, as both of us have suffered the pain and loss of our fathers. 

The more I learn about Lotay, the more astounded I become. He has inspired countless men and women, and his life is a testament to the unconditional good the human spirit is capable of. I am humbled that a man who dreams to 'bring the love and hope of Jesus to a hurting world' would treat me as a younger brother.

Some of the most uplifting words from the man:

"Be a good son. You become a good son when you make your mother happy."

"Who's in charge of your life?"

"Pride makes a single mistake worse."

"Love doesn't judge; love simply loves."

"Happiness is giving without strings attached."

Your life is an open book, and the world, its readers. Will you be an inspirational book, guiding others to do good and challenging themselves to be better? It's up to you. Who's in charge of your life?

Jay~

Lotay Yang is the founder of Black Card Circle, a group of trusted influential individuals, and Black Card Circle Foundation, a non-profit organization. Follow him on Twitter and be inspired.

40 Little Ways to Share

I am inspired by zenhabits.net with its list of 34 Little Ways to Share with the World, and I've created my own, Philippine-friendly list. It's a little more, because Filipinos are - I believe - a very friendly and warm people, capable of compassionate acts and greener actions, given the chance. In no particular order:

1. Greet the security guard back.
2. Smile at the teller/cashier/barista.
3. Donate unused clothes and/or canned goods to a local charity*
4. Press an elevator button for someone who can't reach it.
5. Give up your MRT/LRT seat to someone.
6. Say 'thank you' to someone.
7. Teach a kid a coin trick.
8. Give used books to a school library.
9. Dispose of trash properly.
10. Deposit coins and change to Bantay Bata collection cans.
11. Join a fun run for a charitable/environmental cause.
12. Skip the car a couple of times a week.
13. Give free rides (if you have a car) once in a while.
14. Bake/get some cookies/pastries and share them with a neighbor.
15. Volunteer at a fund-raiser/charitable organization.
16. Tip the pedicab driver.
17. Tip the waiter/server.
18. Hold a potluck.
19. Pay for someone's jeep ride.
20. Put in a good word for someone.
21. Give a friend a call - just to say hi.
22. Fix something for free.
23. Share an inspiring quote on Twitter or Facebook.
24. Write an instructional blog post on something you're good at.
25. Snacks for the office mates.
26. Babysit.
27. Ask the boss how's he doing.
28. Re-post funny pictures and/or videos.
29. Spot for a gym newbie.
30. Buy fresh and buy local.
31. Walk and take the stairs whenever possible.
32. Pick up trash before the janitor does.
33. Rack someone else' weight plates.
34. Baon lunch to share.
35. Sign up for paperless billing.
36. Blog and/or tweet great, money-saving deals.
37. Help a friend move.
38. Be someone's kuya (big brother) or ate (big sister).
39. Learn a new skill and teach it to friends.
40. Allow someone to go first when lining up.

*De La Salle University (South Gate) is a depository for donations to Typhoon Sendong victims. Local 7/11 branches accept cash donations as well. 

Good luck, and always remember that sharing follows the Golden Rule.

"Treat others how you would like to be treated."

Jay~

One Reason Why Fast Food is Bad

It's just not normal.

From Mr. Jerome Morgan, Jr.'s Facebook picture below, the fast food item has been out of refrigeration or any sort of preservation for quite a while (understatement) and yet it's still visually - and eerily - similar to one cooked moments before. 

Try not to gag.

Not quite the 'happy meal'.

Another interesting Facebook page to those who still cannot be swayed from the unhealthiness of fast food can check out this page, where the author will attempt to eat that McMuffin after a year.

Really. Try not to gag.

Jay~

Picture retrieved from here on January 26, 2012.

My Green Dream

The picture says it all :)

Taken on Day 2 of the first ever Green Leaders Conference, hosted by De La Salle University.

Good air = good runs :)

What's YOUR Green Dream?

Jay~

jasoncruz2388.blogspot.com

Hi there! You made it, you found my blog again.

I've decided to do a little 're-branding' of sorts, and to unify my social media account names. Since I've been using "jsncruz" for Twitter ever since I signed up for that, I thought that it's a good idea to 'link' that name to my blog as well.

Out with the long, draggy blog name and in with the compact, condensed one!

I hope to continue producing content that gets better and better, and of course, thank you for visiting. Readers inspire me to write. 

Follow me on Twitter!

Jay~

5 Worst Post-Workout Food

I've been at this losing-weight-working-out thing for a couple of years now, and I've had some pretty good wins against flab. A major part of losing weight (and keeping it off!) is the food we eat right after burning calories. What saddens me is the mentality of "hey, I worked out pretty hard and burned a lot, so I deserve some fast food". It doesn't work like that. That's wasting all the sweat and pain you've gone through, and sets your fitness goal calendar way back. With all the sights and smells of Manila food, make this your guide of things to avoid right after your run at CCP or a weights session at the gym. While these are all convenient food items, they will really mess up your gains.

And really mess up your tight shirts.

French Fries

Really. While the fast food chains all around the country offer this convenient snack, it's probably one of the worst things you can eat for weight-loss. The small, thin slices have so much surface area for oil-absorption you might as well guzzle the liquid fat. The salt won't do you any favors either, even if you just ran a 21k. This goes for the flat mojos too.

Street Food

You're tired and hungry, and the manong at the local corner street grill have some tasty chicken- and pork isaw (innards/guts) for sale. Pass on it. Animal innards have some of the highest caloric contents in an animal (it's really fatty, if you haven't noticed from the taste) and the thick, sugary sauce brushed on them aren't helping either. Even worse are the breaded, deep-fried ones. Avoid at all costs.

Soft Drinks / Iced Tea

I have noticed from my morning runs that it seems like every block around any town has a vendor (on foot or on a make-shift stall) selling drinks. I bring my own water when I run so I don't buy from these vendors, but I have noticed people guzzling down soft drinks or iced tea for hydration. Aside from the obvious unnecessary calories, the caffeine in both drinks act as a diuretic (makes you pee) when you should be hydrating.

Burgers

For me, there are no healthy burgers, especially in Manila. The basic ingredients pretty much spell out a disastrous post-workout meal: fried (burgers are rarely grilled here) processed meat patty in-between two halves of a white, fluffy bun. And that's not even considering the ketchup, barbecue sauce, or mayo you're about to request on it. Additional pain if you opt for the processed cheese slice too.

Extra Rice

A popular 'bonus' in many eateries in Manila are the offerings of "unlimited rice" or a cheaper order of extra rice. Aren't you working out to lose weight in the first place? No, you do not need the extra empty calories from the white stuff. No, it's not 'free' either, because you're paying for it with inches on your waistline. Stick with one serving, and cut even that out if you can.

It's not all gloom-and-doom though. I personally like a cup of taho after a run. It's offered usually in the mornings everywhere (just listen for a booming shout of "ta-hoooooooooo" on your way home). Opt for half the usual serving of syrup, and what you'll get is a warm and tasty snack packed with protein from the tofu. There are also peanut vendors all around, and a serving of steamed peanuts (usually about a cup, with shells) gives a good amount of muscle-building protein and some fiber too.

And always, always drink plenty of water :)

Jay~

Picture retrieved from this website, Jan 24, 2012.

Timex Run - Result

Not one of the races I enjoyed :)

5k in 29:29, bib #6447

 

Jay~

Back from the Dead Like a Makavelli..

I apologize for the silent stretch. I've been busy with De La Salle University's first Environment Week. A blog post on the week is in order! Stay tuned.

Jay~

One Green Future

From January 16, 2012 to January 21, 2012, De La Salle University will be having its very first Environment Week. All week, various booths and exhibits will showcase the many ways we can all contribute to a better and greener environment. Also, there will be tours on De La Salle University's sustainable facilities as well as a two-day conference to cap everything off. 

Let us all join together for ONE GREEN FUTURE.

Greener than ever!

We hope to set the bar on sustainable development both within a campus setting and our neighboring communities. Our environment - especially the area of Taft Avenue, Manila - needs us more than ever. Dreams can come true. We Dream Green.

Like us on Facebook!

Jay~