Blue Angel

Random Blogs of Anything Under the Sun

Where to Buy Cheap Textbooks

[ 1 Comment ] Posted on 08.15.09 under Resources

Going to college is expensive. There are a lot of things students need to spend on such as educational, living and other expenses. Educational expenses can include tuition, computer, program fees, supplies and books. Living expenses may consist of food, housing, medical or dental, phone, laundry and internet. Other expenses could comprise clothing, transportation and parking, and entertainment. Most college students are on a tight budget thus it is absolutely helpful if any of the costs incurred will be lessened. Read the rest of this entry…


College Admission Essays

[ No Comments ] Posted on 02.29.08 under Resources

College Admission EssaysWhen you are in your senior year in high school, you are always full of hopes and dreams as you make plans to go to college. Somehow at this stage, you are more certain on the things that you want to achieve when you pursue your studies. Some would want to be lawyers, doctors, engineers, I.T. Specialists, nurses, policeman, teacher, soldier, etc. I could say that you know what you want and you will do everything to get it. You are excited to graduate and start making your dreams come true. You plan to study at the best colleges and earn your degree and get your dream job. But before you can enter college, there are some requirements that you need to comply with. Otherwise, you will not be admitted. Read the rest of this entry…


College Application Essays

[ No Comments ] Posted on 01.20.08 under Resources

College Application EssaysHow would you feel if the college or university of your choice welcomes you as one of their freshmen students and you are given the once in a lifetime opportunity to even pick the course that you have always wanted? Of course, you will absolutely rejoice because you feel that your dreams are slowly being realized. Your family will also be proud of you and thus, you will also feel proud of yourself that you made your family happy. But what if you didn’t make it after all the hardwork that you exerted to be included in the magic list of freshmen students in the college or university that you want? I know that you will feel exactly the opposite. Failure to enter the school of your choice should not even cross your mind if you knew that you did everything that you can to fulfill your goal. In your lower years in school, you maintained good GPA and SAT scores because you knew that these are important but there may be other applicants whose scores are better than yours. So how on earth will you deal with that? Read the rest of this entry…


Twelve (12) Days of Christmas Song

[ No Comments ] Posted on 12.18.07 under Resources

Twelve (12) Days of Christmas SongToday I received a forwarded message in my inbox. I do not usually pay attention to forwarded emails but this one stimulated my interest. It is about the history of a well-known Christmas song entitled “12 Days of Christmas”. When I was young, I was bewildered by this song on what do all the creatures and stuff in the song have to do with Christmas. I liked it though because it is sung joyfully in a fast manner.

With the message I received earlier tonight, I learned about its origin. It fascinated me that this song actually have a significant meaning and not just presenting random gifts from a  loved one.

Based on the email I got, I discovered that from the middle of 1500s to the early 1800s, Roman Catholics in England were not given the freedom to express their faith openly. Someone during this time wrote this song as a way to catechize young Catholics.

This song is said to have a double meaning: surface and hidden.  Its hidden meaning was only limited to their church members. It was stated that each element in the carol lies a code word symbolizing a religious reality that children could remember. Read the rest of this entry…


My Last Farewell, The Last Poem of Rizal

[ 24 Comments ] Posted on 10.30.07 under Resources

Mi Ultimo Adiós (Spanish Version)
Original Version by Jose Rizal

Adiós, Patria adorada, región del sol querida,
Perla del Mar de Oriente, nuestro perdido edén,
A darte voy, alegre, la triste, mustia vida;
Y fuera más brillante, más fresca, más florida,
También por ti la diera, la diera por tu bien.
En campos de batalla, luchando con delirio,
Otros te dan sus vidas, sin dudas, sin pesar.
El sitio nada importa: ciprés, laurel o lirio,
Cadalso o campo abierto, combate o cruel martirio.
La mismo es si lo piden la Patria y el hogar.

Yo muero, cuando veo que el cielo se colora
Y al fin anuncia el d ía, tras lóbrego capuz;
Si grana necesitas, para teñir tu aurora,
i Vierte la sangre mia, derrámala en buen hora,
Y dórela un reflejo de su naciente luz!

Mis sueños, cuando apenas muchacho adolescente,
Mis sueños cuando joven, ya lleno de vigor,
Fueron el verte un d ía, joya del Mar de Oriente,
Secos los negros ojos, alta la tersa frente,
Sin ceño, sin arrugas, sin manchas de rubor.

Ensueño de mi vida, mi ardiente vivo anhelo.
i Salud! te grita el alma que pronto va a partir;
i Salud! iah, que es hermoso caer por darte vuelo,
Morir por darte vida, morir bajo tu cielo,
Y en tu encantada tierra la eternidad dormir!

Si sobre mi sepulcro vieres brotar, un d ía,
Entre la espesa yerba, sencilla humilde flor,
Acércala a tus labios y besa el alma m ía,
Y sienta yo en mi frente, bajo la tumba fria,
De tu ternura el soplo, de tu hálito el calor.

Deja a la luna verme, con luz tranquila y uave;
Deja que el alba env íe su resplandor fugaz;
Deja gemir al viento, con su murmullo grave;
Y si desciende y posa sobre mi cruz un ave,
Deja que el ave entone su cántico de paz.

Deja que el sol, ardiendo, las lluvias evapore
Y al cielo tornen puras, con mi clamor en pos;
Deja que un ser ami go mi fin temprano Ilore;
Yen las serenas tardes, cuando por m í alguien ore,
Ora también, oh patria, por mi descanso a Dios.

Ora por todos cuantos murieron sin ventura;
Por cuantos padecieron tormentos sin igual;
Por nuestras pobres madres, que gimen su amargura;
Por huérfanos y viudas, por presos en tortura,
Y ora por ti, que veas tu redención final.

Y cuando, en noche oscura, se envuelva el cementerio,
Y solos sólo muertos queden velando all í,
No turbes su reproso, no turbes el misterio:
Tal vez acordes oigas de c ítara o salterio;
Soy yo, querida Patria, yo que te canto a t í.

Y cuando ya mi tumba, de todos olvidada,
No tenga cruz ni piedra que marquen su lugar,
Deja que la are el hombre, la esparza con la azada,
Y mis cenizas, antes que vuelvan a la nada,
En polvo de tu alfombra que vayan a formar.

Entonces nada importa me pongas en olvido;
Tu atmósfera, tu espacio, tus valles cruzaré;
Vibrante y limpia nota seré para tu oido:
Aroma, luz, colores, rumor, canto, gemido,
Constante repitiendo la esencia de mi fe.

Mi Pátria idolatrada, dolor de mis dolores,
Querida Filipinas, oye el postrer adiós.
Ahi, te dejo todo: mis padres, mis amores.
Voy donde no hay esclavos, verdugos ni opresores;
Donde la fe no mata, donde el que reina es Dios.

Adiós, padres y hermanos, trozos del alma m ía,
Amigos de la infancia, en el perdido hogar;
Dad gracias, que descanso del fatigoso d ía;
Ad íos, dulce extranjera, mi amiga, mi alegr ía;
Adios, queridos seres. Morir es descansar.

My Last Farewell (English Version)
of Jose Rizal

Farewell, my adored Land, region of the sun caressed,
Pearl of the Orient Sea, our Eden lost,
With gladness I give you my Life, sad and repressed;
And were it more brilliant, more fresh and at its best,
I would still give it to you for your welfare at most.

On the fields of battle, in the fury of fight,
Others give you their lives without pain or hesitancy,
The place does not matter: cypress laurel, lily white,
Scaffold, open field, conflict or martyrdom’s site,
It is the same if asked by home and Country.

I die as I see tints on the sky b’gin to show
And at last announce the day, after a gloomy night;
If you need a hue to dye your matutinal glow,
Pour my blood and at the right moment spread it so,
And gild it with a reflection of your nascent light!

My dreams, when scarcely a lad adolescent,
My dreams when already a youth, full of vigor to attain,
Were to see you, gem of the sea of the Orient,
Your dark eyes dry, smooth brow held to a high plane
Without frown, without wrinkles and of shame without stain.

My life’s fancy, my ardent, passionate desire,
Hail! Cries out the soul to you, that will soon part from thee;
Hail! How sweet ’tis to fall that fullness you may acquire;
To die to give you life, ‘neath your skies to expire,
And in your mystic land to sleep through eternity!

If over my tomb some day, you would see blow,
A simple humble flow’r amidst thick grasses,
Bring it up to your lips and kiss my soul so,
And under the cold tomb, I may feel on my brow,
Warmth of your breath, a whiff of your tenderness.

Let the moon with soft, gentle light me descry,
Let the dawn send forth its fleeting, brilliant light,
In murmurs grave allow the wind to sigh,
And should a bird descend on my cross and alight,
Let the bird intone a song of peace o’er my site.

Let the burning sun the raindrops vaporize
And with my clamor behind return pure to the sky;
Let a friend shed tears over my early demise;
And on quiet afternoons when one prays for me on high,
Pray too, oh, my Motherland, that in God may rest I.

Pray thee for all the hapless who have died,
For all those who unequalled torments have undergone;
For our poor mothers who in bitterness have cried;
For orphans, widows and captives to tortures were shied,
And pray too that you may see your own redemption.

And when the dark night wraps the cemet’ry
And only the dead to vigil there are left alone,
Don’t disturb their repose, don’t disturb the mystery:
If you hear the sounds of cittern or psaltery,
It is I, dear Country, who, a song t’you intone.

And when my grave by all is no more remembered,
With neither cross nor stone to mark its place,
Let it be plowed by man, with spade let it be scattered
And my ashes ere to nothingness are restored,
Let them turn to dust to cover your earthly space.

Then it doesn’t matter that you should forget me:
Your atmosphere, your skies, your vales I’ll sweep;
Vibrant and clear note to your ears I shall be:
Aroma, light, hues, murmur, song, moanings deep,
Constantly repeating the essence of the faith I keep.

My idolized Country, for whom I most gravely pine,
Dear Philippines, to my last goodbye, oh, harken
There I leave all: my parents, loves of mine,
I’ll go where there are no slaves, tyrants or hangmen
Where faith does not kill and where God alone does reign.

Farewell, parents, brothers, beloved by me,
Friends of my childhood, in the home distressed;
Give thanks that now I rest from the wearisome day;
Farewell, sweet stranger, my friend, who brightened my way;
Farewell, to all I love. To die is to rest.

Pahimakas (Tagalog Version)

ni Dr. Jose Rizal

Pinipintuho kong Bayan ay paalam,
Lupang iniirog ng sikat ng araw,
mutyang mahalaga sa dagat Silangan,
kaluwalhatiang sa ami’y pumanaw.
Masayang sa iyo’y aking idudulot
ang lanta kong buhay na lubhang malungkot;
maging maringal man at labis alindog
sa kagalingan mo ay aking ding handog.

Sa pakikidigma at pamimiyapis
ang alay ng iba’y ang buhay na kipkip,
walang agam-agam, maluag sa dibdib,
matamis sa puso at di ikahapis.

Saan man mautas ay dikailangan,
cipres o laurel, lirio ma’y patungan
pakikipaghamok, at ang bibitayan,
yaon ay gayon din kung hiling ng Bayan.

Ako’y mamamatay, ngayong namamalas
na sa silinganan ay namamanaag
yaong maligayang araw na sisikat
sa likod ng luksang nagtabing na ulap.

Ang kulay na pula kung kinakailangan
na maitina sa iyong liway-way,
dugo ko’y isabong at siyang ikinang
ng kislap ng iyong maningning na ilaw

Ang aking adhika sapul magkaisip
ng kasalukuyang bata pang maliit,
ay ang tanghaling ka at minsan masilip
sa dagat Silangan hiyas na marikit.

Natuyo ang luhang sa mata’y nunukal,
taas na ang noo’t walang kapootan,
walang bakas kunot ng kapighatian
gabahid man dungis niyong kahihiyan.

Sa kabuhayang ko ang laging gunita
maningas na aking ninanasa-nasa
ay guminhawa ka ang hiyas ng diwa
hingang papanaw ngayong biglang-bigla.
pag hingang papanaw ngayong biglang-bigla.

Ikaw’y guminhawa laking kagandahang
akoy malugmok, at ikaw ay matanghal,
hiniga’y malagot, mabuhay ka lamang
bangkay ko’y masilong sa iyong Kalangitan.

Kung sa libingan ko’y tumubong mamalas
sa malagong damo mahinhing bulaklak,
sa mga labi mo’y mangyayaring itapat,
sa kaluluwa ko hatik ay igawad.

At sa aking noo nawa’y iparamdam,
sa lamig ng lupa ng aking libingan,
ang init ng iyong paghingang dalisay
at simoy ng iyong paggiliw na tunay.

Bayaang ang buwan sa aki’y ititig
ang iwanag niyang lamlam at tahimik,
liwayway bayaang sa aki’y ihatid
magalaw na sinag at hanging hagibis.

Kung sakasakaling bumabang humantong
sa krus ko’y dumapo kahit isang ibon
doon ay bayaan humuning hinahon
at dalitin niya payapang panahon.

Bayaan ang ningas ng sikat ng araw
ula’y pasingawin noong kainitan,
magbalik sa langit ng boong dalisay
kalakip ng aking pagdaing na hiyaw.

Bayaang sino man sa katotang giliw
tangisang maagang sa buhay pagkitil;
kung tungkol sa akin ay may manalangin
idalangin, Bayan, yaring pagka himbing.

Idalanging lahat yaong nangamatay,
mangagatiis hirap na walang kapantay;
mga ina naming walang kapalaran
na inihihibik ay kapighatian.

Ang mga bao’t pinapangulila,
ang mga bilanggong nagsisipagdusa;
dalanginin namang kanilang makita
ang kalayaan mong, ikagiginhawa.

At kung an madilim na gabing mapanglaw
ay lumaganap na doon sa libinga’t
tanging mga patay ang nangaglalamay,
huwag bagabagin ang katahimikan.

Ang kanyang hiwagay huwag gambalain;
kaipala’y maringig doon ang taginting,
tunog ng gitara’t salterio’y mag saliw,
ako, Bayan yao’t kita’y aawitin.

Kung ang libingan ko’y limat na ng lahat
at wala ng kurus at batang mabakas,
bayaang linangin ng taong masipag,
lupa’y asarolin at kauyang ikalat.

At mga buto ko ay bago matunaw
maowi sa wala at kusang maparam,
alabok ng iyong latag ay bayaang
siya ang babalang doo’y makipisan.

Kung magka gayon na’y aalintanahin
na ako sa limot iyong ihabilin
pagka’t himpapawid at ang panganorin
mga lansangan mo’y aking lilibutin.
Matining na tunog ako sa dingig mo,
ilaw, mga kulay, masamyong pabango,
ang ugong at awit, pag hibik sa iyo,
pag asang dalisay ng pananalig ko.

Bayang iniirog, sakit niyaring hirap,
Katagalugang ko pinakaliliyag,
dinggin mo ang aking pagpapahimakas;
diya’y iiwan ko sa iyo ang lahat.

Ako’y patutungo sa walang busabos,
walang umiinis at berdugong hayop;
pananalig doo’y di nakasasalot,
si Bathala lamang dooy haring lubos.

Paalam, magulang at mga kapatid
kapilas ng aking kaluluwa’t dibdib
mga kaibigan bata pang maliit
sa aking tahanan di na masisilip.

Pag pasasalamat at napahinga rin,
paalam estranherang kasuyo ko’t aliw,
paalam sa inyo, mga ginigiliw;
mamatay ay siyang pagkakagupiling!

Sa salin ni Andres Bonifacio