A New Discovery for Entertainment during this Covid-19 Lockdown- Turkish TV Dramas

Have you watch any Turkish TV dramas recently? Last month I watched for the first time a Turkish Drama on Netflix. I enjoyed it so much I searched for more Turkish Dramas and here's the top 10 in my List. I have finished Winter Sun and now binging on Black Money Love. They have all English Subtitles. 

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuMQn-7pWEc

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzrpM1_YR1A

Turkish television drama has grown radically since the 2000s. Most dramas reflect Turkish culture and are the country's most well known economic and cultural exports. Turkey is the world's fastest growing television series exporter and has currently overtaken both Mexico and Brazil as the world's second highest television series exporter after the United States.  The television industry has played a pivotal role in increasing Turkey's popularity in Asia, Europe, Latin America, Middle East and North Africa.

Turkish series are mostly produced in Istanbul, as television companies chose to settle there after the wave of liberalization for private television in the 1990s. Turkish television channels producing dramas include TRT, Kanal D, SHOW, STAR, ATV, FOX, tv8, and Kanal. The Turkish television series market is marked by stiff local competition: out of the 60 series produced every year in the country, almost 50% do not run for longer than 13 episodes due to the strong competition among the different local channels, resulting in the high quality and popularity of the longer-running productions.

The sudden and immense international popularity since the 2000s of Turkish TV dramas has been widely analyzed as a social phenomenon.(From Wikipedia)

Turkish TV series are also very popular in Spain and Latin America. The popularity of Turkish television series in Latin America and Spain is due to the nature of the plot, the atmosphere and the quality of the shooting of Turkish film production.

Since Turkey is a multicultural country, there are actors for all tastes around. Spectators love the performance of the actors. These series reflect very well the social changes in society, the processes of migration from the village to the city, the problems of domestic violence, early marriage, the division between rich and poor, the problems associated with urbanization and family values. They represent a synthesis of East and West. The world sees it as a geographical and cultural bridge. 

Meanwhile, enjoy this video-our beach house and resort in the Philippines

 Also enjoy this video highlighting time-lapse photography:

Personal Suggestion to Movie, TV and Documentary Producers: The Four Years Presidency Of Trump filled with Chaos, Deceit, Revenge and Poor Leadership Resulting to the Death of a Quarter Million Americans will be a good subject to produce. It will not only be entertaining but also history making on the Life of the Worst President of the US.

 

Are You Addicted to Social Media? Trump's Addiction to Twitter

 Lame Duck President Trump is addicted to Twitter (see site and video below).

I just finished watching a documentary on Netflix, the Social Dilemma. This is a documentary-drama hybrid that explores the dangerous human impact of social networking, with tech experts sounding the alarm on their own creations.

After watching this film,  I decided to search Wikipedia and here's some excerpts that I found relevant and informative.

"There are many ways that an addiction to social media can be expressed in individuals. According to Andreassen and colleagues, there are four potential factors that indicate a person’s dependence to social media:

1. Mood swings: a person uses social media to regulate his or her mood, or as a means of escaping real world conflicts
2. Relevance: social media starts to dominate a person's thoughts at the expense of other activities
3. Tolerance: a person increases their time spent on social media to experience previously associated feelings they had while using social media;
4. Withdrawal: when a person can’t access social media their sleeping or eating habits change or signs of depression or anxiety can become present.
5. Conflicts in real life: when social media is used excessively, it can affect real-life relationships with family and friends.

In addition to Andreassen’s factors, Griffiths further explains that someone is addicted to social media if their behavior fulfills any of these six criteria:

1. Salience: social media becomes the most important part in someone's life;
2. Mood modification: a person uses social media as a means of escape because it makes them feel "high", "buzzed", or "numb";
3. Tolerance: a person gradually increases their time spent on social media to maintain that escapist feeling;
4. Withdrawal: unpleasant feelings or physical sensations when the person is unable to use social media or doesn’t have access to it;
5. Conflict: social media use causes conflict in interpersonal dynamics, loses desire to participate in other activities, and becomes pervasive;
6. Relapse: the tendency for previously affected individuals to revert to previous patterns of excessive social media use.

He continues to add that excessive use of an activity, like social media, doesn’t directly equate with addiction because there are other factors that could lead to someone’s social media addiction including personality traits and pre-existing tendencies.

Turel and Serenko summarize three types of general models people might have that can lead to addictive social media use:

1. Cognitive-behavioral model – People increase their use of social media when they are in unfamiliar environments or awkward situations;
2. Social skill model – People pull out their phones and use social media when they prefer virtual communication as opposed to face-to-face interactions because they lack self-presentation skills;
3. Socio-cognitive model – This person uses social media because they love the feeling of people liking and commenting on their photos and tagging them in pictures. They are attracted to the positive outcomes they receive on social media.

Based on those models, Xu and Tan suggest that the transition from normal to problematic social media use occurs when a person relies on it to relieve stress, loneliness, depression, or provide continuous rewards."

So are you an Internet addict? What Platforms are you addicted? Facebook, Twitter, You Tube, Instagram? E-mails? etc...

The above article also reminded me of my previous articles on Internet Addiction as follows:

https://theintellectualmigrant.blogspot.com/2011/06/are-you-suffering-from-facebook.html

https://lifeinus1960present.blogspot.com/search?q=internet+addiction

Meanwhile enjoy this photo from my album

My banana Plant growing well in my Backyard- October, 2020
 and my pineapple guava harvest this year

*Here's an article of proof that Lame Duck President Trump is addicted to Twitter.

https://theconversation.com/is-realdonaldtrump-addicted-to-twitter-85704

Trump Dopamine Addiction to Twitter-The Most Insecure Man in the World.

Today's Headline: Trump still won’t concede, which Biden called an “embarrassment.” A look at the implications of Georgia’s Senate runoff elections-Control of the Senate.

 

Celebration of Life: Macrine J. Katague via her Favorite Music( Choral)-Part 7

This is Part 7 of 14 on the series Celebration of Life of Macrine J. Katague via her favorite music.

Macrine and I loved choral music. Our first activity in UP Diliman during our college years was our participation with the University of the Philippines Student Catholic Action Choir. *( see photo of UPSCA Choir with Macrine and I as participants on bottom of page in 1953)

In this episode I am please to post a UP Concert Chorus rendition of Bayan Ko ( My Country)-a patriotic song. This patriotic song is dedicated to President Elect Joe Biden and VP Elect Kamala Harris. It is Philippine version of My Country 'Tis of Thee'.   

Bayan Ko (English translation)

My Country

My country The Philippines

Land of gold and flowers

Love bestowed to her

Offered beauty and glow

 

Due to her beauty and grace

Foreigners are tempted

My country, they enslaved you

Gave you endless suffering

 

Even bird that fly freely

Will cry once caged

My country, they enslaved you

Gave you endless suffering

 

KORO

Even bird that fly freely

Will cry once caged

My land so fair

Yearns to break free

 

Philippines that I so adore

Nest of tears and poverty

All that I desire

To see you rise and free

 

(Koro)

While searching for the best arrangement of this song, another song that I enjoyed are from the Madrigals- another UP group who had won several International awards in Choral music-May the Lord Bless and Keep You and the UP Singers Ambassadors rendition of Maalaala Mo Kaya ( Can you Remember)

University of the Philippines Student Catholic Action Choir, 1953. Macrine sings soprano and me in the Base section!  We have 300 members from various college chapters of the university.

Macrine and I loved singing in the choir here in Northern California. In the late 1980's, we sang in our church choir on Sunday masses in Pinole, as well as with the UP Alumni, Berkeley Chapter Choir based in El Sobrante, California.

Twelve years ago, we sang in our Church Choir here in Fair Oaks. We even sang a duet of Silent Night in Tagalog at the concert before the Christmas midnight mass.

Macrine and I had also organized the Marinduque Association of the Capital Area( MACA) Christmas Caroling Group in Colesville, Maryland in the late 1990's.

Macrine used to be a soloist. She sang soprano coloratura in her younger days. Today her voice is ruined by her cigarette smoking. Her last singing activity was being paid to sing for a friend's wedding in the Philippines as well as here in US.

Madrigal Singers- Dahil Sa Iyo ( Because of You)

https://davidbkatague.blogspot.com/search?q=upsca+choir 

Meanwhile enjoy this photo of Macrine and her Lemon tree in Our residence in Fair Oaks, CA  2016

 Meanwhile, here's the Transition News of the Day from the New York Times:

Joe Biden during a campaign event last month.Erin Schaff/The New York Times

Biden has said he will undo several Trump administration policies — on climate change, the pandemic, labor unions and more — on his first day in office. European diplomats expressed relief that the next U.S. president would treat them as allies instead of rivals, while Vladimir Putin of Russia seemed to be preparing for a more acrimonious relationship. One White House tradition will return: the presidential pet. The Bidens have two German shepherds, Champ and Major. and the Breaking News

The S&P 500 jumped 3.6% and is on track for a new record after positive news about a coronavirus vaccine developed by Pfizer.

 

My Prayers were Answered-My 7th Prsidential Victory

My Prayers for the last 4 days have been answered. Joe Biden is officially elected the 46th President of the US. This is my 9th time to participate in a Presidential election in the US and my 7th winning streak. FOR THE RECORD here's a summary of the Presidential election that I have participated since 1974.

1974-1977- Gerald Ford (R) Win

1977-1981-Jimmy Carter (D) Win

1981-1989- Ronald Reagan(R) Win

1989-1993- George H. W. Bush (R) Win

1993-2001-Bill Clinton (D) Win

2001-2009- George W Bush (R) Lost (I voted for Al Gore)

2009-2017- Barack Obama (D) Won

2017-2021- Donald Trump (R) Lost ( I voted for Hilary Clinton)

2021-2025 Joe Biden (D) Win, Win, Win ! ( Tears of Joy streaming on my Face) 

     Here's an excerpt from the New York Times Today:

Biden Wins Presidency, Ending Four Tumultuous Years Under Trump

Joseph R. Biden Jr. achieved victory offering a message of healing and unity. He will return to Washington facing a daunting set of crises.

Joseph R. Biden Jr. offered himself as a safe harbor for a broad array of Americans during his third campaign for the presidency.Credit...Erin Schaff/The New York Times

By Jonathan Martin and Alexander Burns Nov. 7, 2020 Updated 12:02 p.m. ET

Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. was elected the 46th president of the United States on Saturday, promising to restore political normalcy and a spirit of national unity to confront raging health and economic crises, and making Donald J. Trump a one-term president after four years of tumult in the White House.

Mr. Biden’s victory amounted to a repudiation of Mr. Trump by millions of voters exhausted with his divisive conduct and chaotic administration, and was delivered by an unlikely alliance of women, people of color, old and young voters and a sliver of disaffected Republicans. Mr. Trump is the first incumbent to lose re-election in more than a quarter-century.

The result also provided a history-making moment for Mr. Biden’s running mate, Senator Kamala Harris of California, who will become the first woman to serve as vice president.

With his triumph, Mr. Biden, who turns 78 later this month, fulfilled his decades-long ambition in his third bid for the White House, becoming the oldest person elected president. A pillar of Washington who was first elected amid the Watergate scandal, and who prefers political consensus over combat, Mr. Biden will lead a nation and a Democratic Party that have become far more ideological since his arrival in the capital in 1973.

He offered a mainstream Democratic agenda, yet it was less his policy platform than his biography to which many voters gravitated. Seeking the nation’s highest office a half-century after his first campaign, Mr. Biden — a candidate in the late autumn of his career — presented his life of setback and recovery to voters as a parable for a wounded country.

In a brief statement, Mr. Biden called for healing and unity. “With the campaign over, it’s time to put the anger and the harsh rhetoric behind us and come together as a nation,’’ he said. “It’s time for America to unite. And to heal. We are the United States of America. And there’s nothing we can’t do, if we do it together.”

Meanwhile, enjoy this photo from my garden:

 My Ripe Ampalaya( Bitter melon)- November, 2020

 

 

My Dependence on Food Delivery Services-Will the Lord Answer My Prayers Today?

This morning both PA and GA turned blue. Biden has been leading AZ and NV since Tuesday. Biden official victory is on the Horizon! Good Bye Serial Liar Trump!   Now let's talk about Food Delivery services in my neighborhood!

The last couple of months I have been using food delivery services from three companies- Postmates, Doordash and Grubhub. Postmates have more free delivery promotions, so I used them often. The other food delivery services, I used when I ordered depend on the kind of food and restaurant they are associated with. For example if I have a craving for grilled lamb, I used Grubhub.

In my area, I could order almost all kinds of ethnic food food except for Filipino dishes. I  have ordered Chinese, Vietnamese, Mexican, Italian, Fast Food, Sandwiches, Fried Chicken and Japanese Dishes using Postmates and Doordash. I have ordered Indian, Persian and Armenian dishes via Grubhub. For details here are the link to the three food delivery companies active in my neighborhood.

1. Postmates is an American company that offers local delivery of restaurant-prepared meals and other goods. As of February 2019, Postmates operates in 2,940 U.S. cities. The service relies on mobile phone applications and their Global Positioning System capabilities to match inventories and consumer demand. 

Headquarters location: San Francisco, CA

Founded: May 1, 2011

CEO: Bastian Lehmann (2011–)

Parent organization: Uber Technologies Inc

Founders: Bastian Lehmann, Sam Street, Sean Plaice  postmates.com

 

2. DoorDash Inc. is an American on-demand prepared food delivery service founded in 2013 by Stanford students Tony Xu, Stanley Tang, Andy Fang and Evan Moore, who departed and is now a partner at Khosla Ventures.

Headquarters location: San Francisco, CA

CEO: Tony Xu (2013–)

Founded: July 2013

Subsidiaries: Caviar, Scotty Labs, Inc.

Founders: Tony Xu, Andy Fang, Evan Moore, Stanley Tang

Customer support number: (855) 973-1040 doordash.com

 

3. Grubhub Inc. is an American online and mobile prepared food ordering and delivery platform that connects diners with local restaurants. The company is based in Chicago, Illinois and was founded in 2004.

Customer service chat: Online Chat

Customer service: 1 (877) 585-1085

CEO: Matt Maloney (2004–)

Headquarters: Chicago, IL

Subsidiaries: Eat24, OrderUp, Foodler, Slick City Media, Inc  grubhub.com

 

These services are convenient but could be expensive. I try to use free delivery promos and ads. But if you have the time and want to save, order line or by phone and just pick up your order curbside.  My favorite dish is Grilled Loin lamb from our nearby Armenian Restaurant.

Meanwhile enjoy this video of a wedding ceremony and reception featuring Chateau Du Mer, ( our beach resort and conference), Boac, Marinduque, Philippines

 

https://www.facebook.com/razastillsandmotions/videos/654125195156022/ 

 

Macrine's Favorite Ternos and My Barongs- Al Souls Day

Today, All Souls Day- A Mass was offered for the soul of Macrine at St Mel's Church, Fair Oaks, CA. One of her favorite hymns on Eagle Wings was sang.

Today, it also reminded me of her Ternos and evening dresses and and also some of my barongs we wore on special occasions in the Philippines as well as here in the US for the last six decades( since 1960). 

Here are some of Macrine's Ternos and some of my Barong Tagalog*.

Our Golden Wedding Anniversary Outfit-Chateau Du Mer, Boac, Marinduque (Shade of Yellow or Gold)

Macrine love to dress up every now and then and had a several ternos (evening dress with the butterfly sleeves) and party dresses in her closet. Here are some of her favorites:

 

Macrine's Pink Terno with matching fan- she wore at her welcome Address as Chair Person of the Philippine-American Festival Committee, Washington DC, 1999

Macrine's White and Beaded Terno during my 74th BD- her most expensive terno tailored by one of Manila famous couturier

The same outfit as above-getting ready for the Gala Ball- Colesville, MD, 1999. I am with my black barong with gold embroidery in front.

Macrine in her red Terno (minus the butterfly sleeves)and me with my black barong dancing the Rigodon Dance, Boac, Marinduque, 2004

Macrine in her dark purple evening dress, Front yard of Residence, Colesville, MD, 1994. I am with my stripe lavender barong.

Macrine in her silver evening dress and mink shawl, Washington, DC

I am with my black formal suit with red cummerbund (sash for the waist) and bow tie

Macrine in her oyster white embroidered and beaded party Dress, 1988

Me with my red shirt and dark blue tie with no jacket.

 

Her Favorite Lavender Evening Dress, 1997

Terno with Light Blue Butterfly Sleeve with First Cousin Puchi , San Francisco, 1974. Me with my standard oyster white barong

Macrine with her flowered light purple party dress and me with my red Hawaiian Shirt, Chateau Du Mer Conference Hall, Boac, Marinduque, 2010

 Macrine in her hand-embroidered Party Dress from the Philippines, 1972

 

Her wedding dress, May 8, 1957 and my barong with a coconut tree design

 

   Her Wedding Dress, Boac, Marinduque, Philippines, 1957 

 

Macrine and I -Partying in 1994 and 1996- Washington DC and Maryland 

*The barong tagalog, more commonly known simply as barong (and occasionally baro), is an embroidered long-sleeved formal shirt for men and a national dress of the Philippines. It is a common formal or semi-formal attire in Filipino culture, and is worn untucked over an undershirt with belted trousers and dress shoes.

Here's the link for the most expensive barong commercially available

https://www.etsy.com/listing/583963616/barong-tagalog-pinya-fiber-cloth-with?gpla=1&gao=1&

 

Celebration of Life: Macrine J. Katague via her Favorite Music (Vocal)-Part 6

This is Part 6 (of 14) in the series Celebration of Life, Macrine J.Katague via her favorite music. This part is devoted to vocal music excluding Julio Iglesias. 

Macrine's enjoy listening to opera and broadway musicals. Her favorite male singers are Pavarotti, Domingo and Carreras( the Three Tenors). She also loves to sing solo or in the Choir.

Here's Jose Carrera's rendition of Chopin Etude #10, Op 3 popularly known as No Other Love in Spanish

No other love can warm my heart

Now that I've known the comfort of your arms
 

No other love.
 

Oh the sweet contentment that I find with you every time
 

Every time.
 

No other lips could want you more
 

For I was born to glory in your kiss.
 

Forever yours
 

I was blessed with love to love you
 

Til the stars burn out above you
 

Til the moon is but a silver shell
 

No other love, let no other love
 

Know the wonder of your spell

Here's another rendition(orchestral) of this piece that I like

Orchestral music reminds me of our voice lessons in Pinole, CA in the mid 1990's as follows:

https://marinduqueawaitsyou.blogspot.com/search?q=voice+lessons

Meanwhile, enjoy Yong Nieva singing to Macrine dated February 26, 2016, Amoingon ( Chateau Du Mer), Boac, Marinduque, Philippines

https://www.facebook.com/david.b.katague/videos/10206320460666763/

The Nieva brothers ( Rene, Oskie and Yong) singing Some Enchanting Evening to Macrine, 2016 

https://www.facebook.com/david.b.katague/videos/10206321560494258/

"I recall one time when we -- Yong, Oskie, Genny and I -- visited Manong Dave and Manang Macrine in their beautiful Chateau du Mer Resort in Marinduque some years back. Manang Macrine was not feeling well at the time and was quiet at first. But when we serenaded her with "Some Enchanted Evening", which happened to be a favorite of hers, she perked up and ended up singing along with us. We were so happy to hear her doing so that we were on the verge of tears. Such was the power of music to drive suffering and loneliness away, and would always be so ". Rene (RIP).

Meanwhile enjoy Carenna's audition at UWC musical IN THE HEIGHTS "Everything I know"

Sharing Carenna KT s audition for Lin Manuel Miranda’s “In the Heights” at UWCM. She was cast as Nina (the lead who sings this song) - “Everything I know”, which was very emotional since her Lola (Abuela) just passed away right before she left for Europe. Makes me tear up when she sings “Abuela if you’re up there, I will make you proud.” 0:09 / 3:45  

https://www.facebook.com/ditas/videos/10157848225531270/