Caterwauling across the vastness of the oceans, the "Bears" resurrect as
Russia spreads its wings again. The heavyweight nuclear bomber Tu-95
MS or "Bear- H" (its NATO-reporting name) resumes probing flights since
August last year while the world's radars detect significant increase in the
Russian Airforce's activities gracefully blessed by President Vladimir Putin:
"Our pilots have been grounded for too long. They are happy to start a
new life."

These can all be political signals transcending the European theater,
benefitting parts of the Asian region and resonating throughout the the
Americans. But as analysts broadcast that its scant resources cannot
beef up its air power, Kremlin lifts off with a new momentum dusting off
its aircraft industries, which the West has long believed to be dead. Fear
then grips the world over as Western states scribble their inks on
numerous papers with their observers criticizing that the Russians have
the noble intention but possess the wrong idea. This comes predicated
from Moscow's mantra that the West is a natural enemy of Russia.

The British and Norwegian airforces have been forced to intercept
Russian bombers approaching near their airspace while similar incidents
are reported in the American side. A 75th birthday gift, on the
anniversary of the Russian Airforce, the United States delivered a
batch of new F-22 Raptors (US's 5th generation fighter) at its airbase
in Alaska. The Russians greeted the arrival by sending a "Bear" to meet
their American brothers. The US has been establishing a fresh network
of bases over Europe in proximity with the Soviet state that the latter
views as directly aimed towards Russia. But as the US responds that
Iran should have taken Russia's place in that assumption, the
Russians, however, redefine their strategic military condition, which
by any measure should spread beyond its borders such that calls for re-
opening its old naval bases are inching on the doorsteps of its close allies.
And, at the same time installing new Voronezh-type radar stations
capable of detecting missile launches from the North Pole to North Africa.

While everybody is paying attention to Russia, the world over tends to
dispense with the arrogance of the United States. The dismantling of the
Soviet Union is indeed a geopolitical catastrophe that precipitated the
current state of American behavior in the international political arena
-- that even the Europeans despise and sit uncomfortable with yet they
count on the Americans as a power to nullify the Soviet threath.

When was the last time I walked inside a church very eager to hear the gospel of the day and then departed such holy place with every part of the mass vividly resonating inside my mind from the opening hymn toward the responses and ultimately to the final amen?

In the days when people had to adjust their biologiocal clock as world time ticked in DST mode, I always found myself very much excited waking up an hour earlier than the usual time for I got a slot to serve again in a local mass celebrated daily in our town. That was highschool. And that was the time when I had to go through a series of trainings before becoming a Knight of the Altar, which thereafter redefined my life as a catholic: so close to God I could feel Him everytime I did altar services and so fulfilling I could internalize what my ears passed on to my brain to absorb. Definitely I memorized the variegated parts of the mass.

But things changed as I migrated to university living though I retained in my heart the desire to serve through the fraternal brotherhood KC -- a project that did not got off. I sensed no obligation to say prayers anymore and my church attendance continued to suffer. However, for a brief period of six months while on course through my board review, the power of prayers revived its importance to me again. I prayed when I needed something. It had become a part of my living that mated carnal desires with divine assistance as implored.

I still have not reeled from this spiritual dilemma. I am a bad believer and I do no good to beef up my faith. To let everyone know, nevertheless, that I collect holy rosaries, is to draw up a proposition descriptive as antithesis to my current display of faith. Will I ever go to church regularly again?

Training the lenses of my digital camera as I zoom past few visual obstacles, from the glass-doored 2nd floor living room, I acquired the most commanding view of Sta. Clara de Montefalco's church dome that stands erect on it is a crucifix facing north. It is so near yet is so far. But hey, yes, I will go to mass again. I prefer english masses, though.

ESTRANGED A/X, I

"When your'e talking to yourself and nobody's home.. You can fool yourself, you came in this world alone.. Alone.." Then comes the caterwaul of Slash's Gibson Les Paul guitar strung low. "So nobody ever told us baby how it was gonna be.." Axl's trademark voice comes thereafter in a high pitch complementing the variegated sounds of different instruments. These are of course recorded in the studio. This is ‘Estranged.’ A rock song. And I am a rocker so I love this song - a multi-part 9-minute song featuring a keyboard solo, which accentuates the multi-faceted mood of it. Train your ears to the lyrics and you will not understand though an instant appreciation of the music accompaniment shall catapult you into the realm of rock songs. But listen again carefully and you will be drawn to read between the lines. Estranged is a resident song in my mobile and a track on a couple of CDs. At nighttime, it is the music that resonates within the walls of my room – my sub-conscious mind would wake me up from sleep when it plays on the mini-component. Estranged is a part of my life now. Estranged,,,

In the underworld, anything can happen. If halos are the marks of nobility in the upper kingdom, then tridents make up the scepter of the reign down under. The constant struggle for supremacy gives birth to the so-called Underworld.. Where would you rather be..