Down Shifting from the PTD On Stage Las Vegas Online Concert: Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion

Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion

On Day 3 of the concert, socmed went crazy when Kim Taehyung recognized the men in the fandom in his end ment. He did it again on Day 4 to the joyous roaring of the men in Allegiant Stadium.

Notable tweets from @GidKidDad, @KpopDad, @WhatChaGotosay and @testdrivexagb best describe this sweet and simple gesture as groundbreaking.

@GidKidDad https://twitter.com/GidKidDad/status/1515332592941223936?s=20&t=wpD3sMjZoBh7kAROzZNoVw

@KpopDad https://twitter.com/KpopDAD1/status/1516159934739611653?s=20&t=wpD3sMjZoBh7kAROzZNoVw

@WhatChaGotosay https://twitter.com/WhatchaGot2Say/status/1515737887966261248?s=20&t=wpD3sMjZoBh7kAROzZNoVw

@testdrivexagb https://twitter.com/testdrivexagb/status/1515212527516504068?s=20&t=wpD3sMjZoBh7kAROzZNoVw

My heart swelled with pride watching Taehyung on Day 4 engage the men and women in the audience. Fancams even caught the members’ reactions. They too were hyped and pleasantly surprised. This acknowledgement of diversity and inclusion in the fandom debunked the myth that ARMYs are merely 15-year-old girls screaming over androgynous Asian men.

OT7 reaction: https://twitter.com/dulcetbang/status/1515249842276118528?s=20&t=wpD3sMjZoBh7kAROzZNoVw

 Grace, Glee and Gratitude

I hope this groundbreaking gesture turns into a tradition in BTS concerts or when ARMYs gather at fan meets in the near future. Just like “Borahae! I Purple You!” (another Taehyung invention), it shows the depth of gratitude the Tannies have for ARMY; their grace to distinguish and articulate significant human experiences; and their infectious glee seen and felt in everything they do on stage, on screen and online.

It is customary for BTS to deliver their end ments before the final song. After giving ARMYs a production of high caliber, heart stopping visuals and soaring music the Tannies bring you down to a place of love and comfort. They assure everyone, themselves included, that the bond between BTS and ARMY is eternal. The divide that exists is real, but we know that we never walk alone. I don’t know about you, but their end ments always make me feel special. Kim Namjoon, particularly, has a way with words and language. He speaks to the collective ARMY, but I know, he is also communicating with me on a very personal level. Great leaders are capable of doing so.

RM made a full bow, along with Park Jimin, at the close of D4. An act of utmost respect. There was a hint of sadness that flitted in the air. It was short lived since Hybe dropped the teaser for the comeback album. The fandom is staying focused on the art and the music making process of Bangtan despite the elephant in the room.

Using We Are Bulletproof as tag line, Bangtan is reminding ARMY who they are and what they are made of.

We are forever, Bulletproof. We are not seven with you. Let’s go!

 

Poetry: Ugly Ugly Shadow

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Research and Library Skills Instruction: Understanding an Academic Paper

When students approach me for help in understanding an academic article, or when I get asked about the difference between an academic article and an article from an online website, I tell them this:

"Before reading that academic article, it is important to know its parts and what it means to you as a reader. If in the lower grades, you learned about the parts of the book, then it is time to learn about the academic paper and its components."

Knowing the parts of a book or an academic paper is a basic knowledge for citing sources, referencing and in making a bibliography. In addition, I use this infographic and photo of an academic journal "unpacked".

Previous to this inquiry, I have had sessions with the students via the English/Lit classes. My co-teacher had invited me to give a library skills lesson on using an encyclopedia and online sources.  For this lesson, I focused on accessing an article in an online encyclopedia and understanding the menus of WBO. My presentations can be views in these links: 

The BA Library Virtual Reference Help Desk

Direct Instruction as Framework for Research and Library Skills Instruction

Down Shifting from the PTD On Stage Las Vegas Online Concert

I am relatively a baby ARMY who has seen five BTS concerts yet: Sowozoo, the 8^th Muster; PTD On Stage, PTD On Stage Live Seoul, Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Albeit online, all five shows have left me asking for more Bangtan content to consume, to enjoy with ARMY friends and to ponder on the big and small things in life.

It is taking me a while to change gears. Like a movie in my mind, I play some scenes from Day 4 of the PTD On Stage Las Vegas concert over and over again. On repeat. I relish the moments that define my relationship with Bangtan and the fandom. I dream of the day when I can see them perform live. For now, I can only imagine the euphoria of witnessing the power and the purity of OT7 in the flesh.

I do not know when that day will come, but these remarkable moments from Day 4 of the PTD On Stage Las Vegas concert are keepsakes I hold close to my heart.

 From adversity to opportunity

Jin danced and sang with a cast on his left hand. Ah, resilience personified. For performances that were too complex to do because of his injury, he sat on a chair singing while looking at the members finish the routine. It wrecked my heart into tiny little pieces. His injury did not prevent him from practicing and performing as best as he can with the group though. He was even apologetic for being injured, a burden to his brothers. This mathyung does not throw his weight around.

At ending ment, when J-hope appreciated him and gave him credit for his professionalism, he felt diminished. The love and respect of a younger member who happens to be the best dancer in the group was too much to take. It was my first time to see World Wide Handsome bashful and blushing. He looked so damn sexy.

The Tannies have had injuries while on tour. Back in 2018, Jeon Jungkook had a minor accident in his hotel room in London. His left foot required stitches so he sang sitting down. Kim Taehyung had a similar predicament last October 2021 and was relegated to a comfy seat during the PTD On Stage. These mishaps led to altercations in Bangtan’s performances, but for some strange reason, their routines looked enhanced.

The Hybe production team and the Tannies are capable at turning adversity into golden opportunities. We know what happened to J-hope and JK days before their Grammy performance. With only one day to prepare as a complete unit, they called on experience and pulled out all the stops to deliver a performance never been seen on a Grammy stage.  Bangtan’s brand of teamwork and professionalism are unparalleled.

Journaling Journey: Finding Joy

 

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Direction Instruction for the Teaching of Research and Library Skills

Kuwentong Bangtan: We Are Bulletproof 2022 (2 of 2)

 Tell me your every story

At the onset of their career, Bangtan is singing their life story in WAB Pts 1 and 2. Big Hit Entertainment allowed them to do that. Bang Si Hyuk is a big believer in storytelling that comes from the heart since it is one way to touch another’s. In WAB The Eternal (June 11, 2020), the storytelling goes on. The song is a sentimental celebration of Bangtan’s triumphs over adversity in a period of seven years. This time, the members are inviting ARMYs to tell their stories too.

Oh oh

다신 멈추지 않을래

I will never stop again

여기 우리가 함께이기에

because we’re together here

Tell me your every story

Tell me why you don’t stop this

Tell me why you still walkin’

Walkin’ with us

The song ends with Jeon Jungkook sweetly crooning, “We are not seven with you” to remind us that the fame, popularity and successes they have reaped is due in part of ARMYs’ love and adoration. We know what this is all about. It gives us the courage and the confidence to weave our narratives too in a manner and in a fashion unique to our nature.

Different and diverse the fandom may be, we share our stories in the fan base we belong to, on a platform we feel safe, and in a manner that is most comfortable. It sounds trivial or mundane, but I tell you, sharing one’s story is empowering. Having someone eager to listen to our stories is a validation of a life well lived. When we are involved in a communion of stories and storytelling, we are seen and valued. Bangtan has mastered this level of communication and engagement with ARMYs. In the process, we discover our long-buried potentials and the capabilities we didn’t know we had. This is one of the many reasons why we love BTS.

WAB 2022: The New Era

Now that the Tannies are moving forward to their ninth year, a comeback album is a fitting celebration and present to ARMYs. There is much speculation, alright, including military enlistment. The PTD concert in LV is strangely emotional. While majority in the fandom brushes this aside, I am filing this specific memory and feeling in a drawer. For when BH/Hybe issue an official press release, I shall connect the dots. For now, I will focus on the forthcoming album. It looks like a discography mixed with new materials that the Tannies have been working on for years. This is going to be epic!

We are Bulletproof Pt. 2 Official MV -> https://youtu.be/lE9lkSdtZeQ

Source for lyrics:

WAB Pt. 1-> https://tinyurl.com/ybaxfz9e

WAB Pt. 2 -> https://bts.fandom.com/wiki/We_Are_Bulletproof_Pt.2

WAB The Eternal -> https://tinyurl.com/52yk2zv9

Book Spine Poetry: I can't tell you

 

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Kuwentong Bangtan: We Are Bulletproof 2022 (1 of 2)

 We Are Bulletproof 2022

The announcement of a comeback album on Day 4 of PTD On Stage LV had us all reeling. BH/Hybe has not released any official album title except a teaser title of one of BTS’ anthem songs, We Are Bulletproof. ARMY theorists are on hyper mode on the bird app. Discussions on the album’s tracks, concepts and cover design abound. Beautiful fan art, memes and video edits have started to litter socmed. Streaming goals and guides have been set up by different ARMY fanbases from all over. ARMYs are gearing up for this much awaited comeback on June 10, 2022.

So, for Tuesday Tunesday, I am sharing some thoughts about We Are Bulletproof Pts. 1, 2 and WAB The Eternal. These three songs make up the beautiful journey of BTS. A journey that speaks of resilience and inner strength built over time by being persistent and committed to stay true to one’s goal and vision. The WAB Trilogy is an inspiring saga set in song and music videos that many ARMYs consider as anthems of their life journeys as well.

The WAB Trilogy

WAB Pt. 1 is a pre-debut song written by RM in 2010. You can listen on SoundCloud via this link: https://tinyurl.com/3hry2476 . The lyrics of the song is already angst ridden. Each member sings a line or two professing an oath to prove one’s worth among naysayers, haters and exclusive groups in the existing hegemony of the Kpop industry. We know this from Bangtan’s history, but these repetitive lines in the song are catchy, “We are bulletproof”; “Coming soon”; “History in the making”. It sounds like a mantra at close scrutiny. And it is a powerful one at that because it speaks of three things: identity; readiness and the courage to fulfill a dream.

On June 12, 2013, WAB Pt. 2 was released as a second track of Bangtan’s debut single album, 2 Cool for Skool. No More Dream is the lead track and both songs have a special spot in many an ARMY’s heart especially those who were with them from the very beginning. In WAB Pt. 2 their narrative as outcasts and underdogs continues. RM raps:

“I put a twist to being an idol

Haha, hyungs who only had hip-hop pride told me it’d be impossible but

Look carefully, I place a period after impossible

I’m possible, now are we all set, boy?”

Four days after the official release, the music video went live online. It is a showcase of their immense talent and creative depth. The choreography is insane as it featured Park Jimin, lithe and sexy, somersaulting over Jhope who lies on the floor on bent knees. He throws his cap on Jeon Jungkook who is flawless in his break-dancing. Like a magician, he makes use of the two caps effortlessly charming his way into the hearts of adoring fans. Two years after their debut, the dance line earned a nickname lovingly referred to by ARMYs as the “3 Js”.

Kuwentong Bangtan: Book Club Sonyeondan

This one is a proposal from a few months back.

Book Club 1 - for independent readers. Yung choice mag-isa sa pagbabasa at magpopost na lang sya ng review niya. Kung may mag respond, g. Kung waley, kebs lang. Any member can post a book review of any length. Always use the hashtags ***

Book Club 2 - middle ground ito since member will be given a reading guide. (BTS Book Bingo or BTS Reading Challenge) Member reads at his/her own pace within a given year. Member will post on *** his/her review or response on the book he/she finished reading. Always use the hashtag ***

Book Club 3 - guided book reading. Para sa readers na kailangan may fixed sched, mas Keri mag work pag may challenge at yung gusto nyang may kasama siya mag discuss sa reading experience niya. TOB will have a list of books (7 titles) for members who decide to take on Book Club Scheme 3.  For this, we need at least 10 members to sign up. Pag less than ten, ok na ang 1 and 2. Book discussion can be done in 3 ways:

a.      By pairs or small groups via GC

b.     Monthly or quarterly via Zoom

c.      By posting reviews and responses on *** after book discussions done on GC and on Zoom

7 Books in the *** Reading Challenge 2021

1.     The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas (tie up with Spring Day and PTD)

2.     Almond (tie up with Crystal Snow, Your Eyes Tell and Lights)

3.     The Midnight Library (tie up with Zero 0’Clock)

4.     Into the Magic Shop (tie up with Magic Shop)

5.     The Little Prince (tie up with Serendipity and Moon)

6.     Demian (tie up with Wings Album)

7.     I Decided to Live as Me (tie up with Awake and Epiphany)

Scholastic Summer Seminar Series

 

Book Spine Poetry: Speak

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Book Spine Poetry 2022: When No One Understands

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The Lighthouse Diary #38: Take What You Need

It has been a month since we went back to on-site work. WOW. A lot has happened since then. 

We have had an online visit from librarians of St. Schoalstica's College. We had three days of orientation and easing into hybrid learning routines that included the strict compliance to health protocols. We have identified work to prioritize in the library with the new working arrangements. And, given our practice of close shelf library procedures, we are getting continous book requests and reservations for online consultations from teachers and students.

On top of this, I have facilitated two research sessions for our juniors; read and marked Extended Essays; and lent supervision to my advisees on academic writing and self management. The report cards of my advisees were sent out two weeks ago and already, I am getting requests for one-on-one sessions on study skills. 

In my recent on-site work in the library, I noticed that students have picked up on the insipirational quotes we set up on our easel board. Nothing big, really. But it is our way of relaying the message that socio-emotional learning is important as we all make the transition yo hybrid learning.

Since students have taken an interest on the quotations we shared, there will definitely be a second batch. I will be adding recommended books or a book list the students can check and borrow when they find an interesting title. Our Book Drop and Pick Station has been set up as well so students can pass by the library to pick up or drop their books. By now, they already know how to send us emails for queries but a reminder for them to use the OPAC is necessary. And that will go into my to-do list. 

I just find it odd to be doing a task that pretty much looks like it is the 1st term. Then again, we are living in strange times and uncertainty is something we eat for breakfast. Life goes on, so Bangtan sings. We soldier on.

Our week after the Easter Break is for off campus work  but the line up of reports to write, projects to finish and yes, the provision of library sevrices for leisure reading and research is on-going. We are looking at conducting our inventory in June - God forbid another surge. From here on, we learn KOHA, our new library management system while the last quarter of the academic year winds down.

Book Spine Poetry 2022: On the Road

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Hope's World

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Read Aloud Wednesday @Keys International School

 Around the last week of March, I was invited to read aloud for a small group of students at Keys International School. Their Teacher Librarians, teachers Al and Van, have been to Beacon Academy for a visit and professional collaboration previous to the pandemic. Over the course of the lockdown, we would get in touch on Messenger to chat and consult each other on our best practices during online distance learning. Needless to say, we have lent professional support to each other for the past two years.

When Teacher Al invited me to conduct a short read aloud session for his primary grades students, I said yes, of course. This is a regular online activity they have for their students as a break from serious and tedious routine of online learning. Of course, we learn from anything we do be it deliberate of by leisure.

So, I prepared a read aloud using Daniel Kirk's The Library Mouse.  It is my staple read aloud activity to chidlren to introduce them to books, reading, authorship and the library. Below is my slide presentation. I used the e-book copy in my Kindle for the read aloud. It was fun!

Creative Therapies 101 with SPUM Edge 2022: Bibliotherapy

The five sessions on Bibliotherapy I had with the learning community at St. Paul Manila University ended early this month. My gratitude goes to Dr. Brian Bantugan and Dr. Aimee Santillan Butial for making this possible. I may be the facilitator, but, as it alaways happens in the teaching and learning process, the teacher learns.

Here are five things I learned from the Creative Therapies 101 Bibliotherapy:

1. I learned that participants need to be introduced or to be reviewed on literary forms and media formats, including genre of literature before using texts for bibliotherapy.

2. Alongside this review are sample texts that must be read in between sessions or as asynchornous activites

3. When reviewing or providing input on the above mentioned topics, it is important to use a framework. I plan to use the "form follows function" concept to make a framework for this input session. 

4. Co-facilitators can make a difference in deepening the concepts presneted and discussed during the webinar.

5. Make use of social media platforms for engagement and extension of aysnchronous activities.

It was a big help that Dr. Bantugan presented research and theories during the sessions. His presentation on the theories surrounding creative therapies grounded the process of bibliotherapy as a legitimate strategy for the promotion and growth of socio-emotional learning.  

Kuwentong Bangtan: Dionysus

BTS' makes use of literature in their songs and Music Videos. Here is my take on the group's metaphorical adaptation of Dionysus.

Dionysus, in Greek mythology, is the god of wine, revelry and festivities, and viticulture, the process involved in the planting and growing of grapes. He is known to be present during merriment, partying and the inevitable consumption of wine. In such cases, the creation of art, music, the singing of songs and the dances follow. This is the reason he became the patron of arts, music and performances.

It is interesting to note that Dionysus is a “foreign” god among the Olympians. He is the son of Zeus from the mortal Semele but he traveled far and wide for a long while. Upon his return to Olympus, he is less Greek but more of a god who has acquired the taste, attitude and garb of different cultures from all over. Another fascinating aspect of his story is that, he was disliked by the major gods that he was killed twice. Thanks to Rhea, the titan, and Zeus, his father for aiding him back to life.

Dionysus, the BTS song in the MOTS Persona album, is an entire metaphor of Bangtan’s artistic style and identity.

It is a rock hiphop masterpiece that only the likes of J-hope, RM and Suga can conjure along with mentor Pdogg, Supreme Boi and Roman Campolo. It begins right away with buzzing synthesizers and strong percussions. RM’s cadence is firm and steady prompting anyone to sit up and listen until the vocal line harmonizes with J-hope’s melodic rapping. That is when the layering of sounds becomes intoxicating.

If the music lures the listener to dizzying headbanging or to dance in a frenzy of movements, the lyrics of the song involve word play and repetition that are both confusing and profound. This is the duality of BTS that leaves the fandom in awe. It is at the bridge where Suga’s verses come in evoking introspection of the group’s collective persona versus their real selves.

“If we pop up/ Anywhere in the world, stadium party ay

Born as a K-pop idol/ Reborn as an artist

Reborn as an artist, reborn as an artist

What does it matter if I’m an idol or an artist, cheers

Art at this level is over-drinking, over-drinking yeah

The new record is the fight against oneself, a fight yeah

Toast to this, one shot / But I‘m still thirsty”

Many Kpop idols succumb to the drunken stupor of fame. A reality that Suga struggled with for a while. A reality that many idols fall into. Some die and never get the chance to be born again. In Suga’s case, he was able to reconcile with this cycle of death and rebirth as evidenced in his mixtape and the verses that he raps and sings in Dynamite, Butter and PTD (which deserves another Tunesday post).

Like Dionysus, BTS started out as outsiders in the music industry of South Korea. While they have a stable fanbase at home, they went on tour and traveled to countries where their popularity increased and their immense talent was recognized. They have achieved a great amount of success through hard work and harbored haters along the way. The Tannies are selling out stadiums in seconds and the fandom’s adoration for them is unparalleled. Yet, the Western music industry has denied them the golden gramophone twice in a row.

We saw it happen yesterday.

Then again, BTS is the modern Dionysus who can get drunk with art and music – and love for ARMY, that they will continue crafting, performing and telling stories in ways only they can muster. They are so creative they can turn failures into doors of opportunities. Just look at the BTS logo. The door is open. Move forward. Continuously grow!