The benefits of playing musical instruments

Playing a musical instrument offers a multitude of benefits that extend beyond simply creating music. Firstly, engaging with musical instruments serves as a powerful brainpower booster. Research suggests that playing an instrument activates multiple areas of the brain simultaneously, leading to enhanced cognitive function, improved memory retention, and increased problem-solving skills. This cognitive stimulation can have long-term effects, contributing to better academic performance and overall mental acuity.

Moreover, learning to play an instrument can serve as a memory enhancer, sharpening both short-term and long-term memory abilities. The act of memorizing musical pieces, chord progressions, and note sequences strengthens neural connections in the brain associated with memory formation and recall. As individuals practice and refine their musical skills over time, they experience improvements in their ability to remember information and recall it with greater accuracy and efficiency.

Beyond its cognitive benefits, playing an instrument is also a powerful confidence builder. Mastering a musical instrument requires dedication, persistence, and patience, and each milestone achieved along the way boosts self-esteem and self-efficacy. As individuals overcome challenges and make progress in their musical journey, they develop a sense of accomplishment and pride in their abilities, which extends to other areas of their lives.

Additionally, playing an instrument serves as an effective stress reducer, offering a therapeutic outlet for emotional expression and relaxation. The act of immersing oneself in music, whether through playing or listening, has been shown to reduce stress hormones, lower blood pressure, and promote feelings of calmness and relaxation. As individuals engage with music, they experience a sense of mindfulness and presence in the moment, providing relief from the pressures and anxieties of daily life.

In conclusion, the benefits of playing musical instruments are vast and varied, encompassing cognitive, emotional, and psychological dimensions. By engaging with music, individuals can enhance their brainpower, improve memory function, build confidence, and alleviate stress. Whether for personal enjoyment or professional pursuit, playing an instrument offers a rewarding and enriching experience with lifelong benefits.

Pag-Ibig sa kapwa

Pag-big sa kapwa'y pag-ibig rin sa Diyos.
At ito ang pumukaw sa ating puso't kaluluwa.
Gintong-aral na sinasakatupara'y dito nagsimula
Ikalat sa buong mundo at tayo'y giginhawa
Bikig sa ating puso'y unti-unting mawawala
Imbing naghahari'y kusa ring matitinag
Gawing kapaki-pakinabang ang ating buhay.

Delay your anger

"It does not pay to say too much when you are mad enough to choke.
"For the word that stings the deepest is the word that is never spoke.
"Let the other fellow wrangle till the storm has blown away.
"Then he'll do a heap of thinking about the things you didn't say."

—James Whitcomb Riley

Insights in the foundational principles of morality and you

Philosophers interested in theories of knowledge have another option for justifying beliefs – coherentism. To picture this theory at work, think of a web. A belief sits at each node in the web, and is connected to other beliefs through strands of logic. Each belief is justified by its relationship to other beliefs, themselves justified in terms of connection to other beliefs, which (eventually) which are all tied together. There are no foundational beliefs – no self-justified propositions that serve as a "foundation" for all others. Everything is justified by the quality of its connections to everything else. Some beliefs are very well connected. Others are connected only by thin threads.

The main aim of moral philosophy is to find the foundational principle of metaphysics of morals uses this idea in the first two chapters of his Groundwork. He wanted to develop a certain principle or principles used to make the ordinary moral judgments, which would be accepted by any normal, sane adult person doesn't address the moral skeptics, who need a reason to act morally, he has another aim – to establish some moral principle and show that this principle is rational. His idea is that "creatures with rational wills" have autonomy.

But there are other aims of moral philosophy according to Kant. One of the questions of moral philosophy is – What ought I to do? the answer to this question needs to be something more that just informing the fundamental principle of morality. Kant offers a categorization of people's basic ethical obligations to themselves and others. Kant states also that there should be something said about absolute end of human's behavior, like the Highest God and the relation of it to moral life.

Kant often discusses the question of the method of moral philosophy to reach its aims. According to him the fundamental philosophical matters are to be addressed a priori, this means without using the observations of human beings and their behavior. As soon as the fundamental principles of morality are established a priori, the certain conclusions as for the further behavior of a person can be drawn with the help of the fact from his experience. But Kant himself doesn't always use only a priori method, as he talks for example about empirical facts, about practical principles, which determine people's wills.

These ten principles can serve as the analytical base for any social problem. For example, if anyone wonders why catholic church documents focus so frequently on war, peace, nuclear weapons, the economy, abortion, euthanasia, health care, education, and a wide range of other topics that have a clear social and moral dimension, these principles provide the necessary framework for understanding that teaching.

This Highest God to "Kant is complete moral virtue together with complete happiness, where the first one is the basis for gaining the second". Really few of people deserve the happiness. Kant called immorality (unlimited time for people to perfect themselves) and well being (given by Divine Providence) the "postulates", necessary for reason if to talk about moral matters.

Principles are important. Once internalized, they lead to something. They direct our choices. They prompt us to act. A principled person has a place to stand. He knows where he is coming from and where he wants to go. Principles give us purpose. Those of us who are teachers yearn, deep in our hearts, to help form principled persons who are ready and willing to act responsibly.

The newest member of the family

 

This is Alexandrea, my first niece. Born last October 09, 2012 in the city of Ilagan, Isabela. At four months old, she can now responds to some of our gestures, she yells during her playtime. Currently, she is currently recognizing the Sponge bob's toy. Love it.

The new city of Ilagan

City Mayor Jay with a thumb up saying we are now a city.

Last August 11, 2012 successfully converted the Municipality of Ilagan into a city. The city now joins the rank of the other 143 cities in the Philippines.

Let me quote some famous sayings and anecdotes that a city must have:

“A great city is one where people want to go out of their homes. Public space is a magical good, and it never ceases to yield pleasure; we should give it a lot of attention. Public good prevails over private interest. A great city is where we all feel not excluded. The quality of the sidewalks in a city is the most telling thing. Just as a bird needs to fly, fish need to swim and deer need to run, we need to walk.”

Source: EcoLocalizer (http://s.tt/12tu9)

“The most valuable asset in a city is its road space. The road space can be used as a society wishes. How do you want to distribute this space between pedestrians, bicycles, mass transit and cars—this is a political decision. Trying to solve traffic jams with bigger roads is like trying to put out a fire with gasoline. If there was more space for cars in London or New York, there would be more cars. Making new parking lots in London has been banned for over 40 years.”

Source: EcoLocalizer (http://s.tt/12tu9)

“A city speaks, a city creates behavior. We want people to be able to leave their cars at home. In Holland a political decision was made to support bicycle infrastructure. It is done little by little. In Japan 30% of people who arrive at a train station arrive by bike. To have a safe bicycle route is a right; governments have to take a risk, show leadership and do the uncomfortable thing to invest in the necessary infrastructure. Bicycle use is a great symbol of equality. Someone on a $30 bike and a $30,000 car are equal in the street. A cyclist has as much right to use the road space as does a car. In developing countries 15-35% of people’s income is saved by those who travel by bicycle. In the future, bicycles will continue to become more and more important.

In 200 years people will say how could they live in those horrible 2010 cities? The 20th century will be remembered as disastrous for cities, as they were designed to accommodate cars, not people. “ Source: EcoLocalizer (http://s.tt/12tu9)

A visit to Ilagan Santuary

The last time we visit Ilagan Sanctuary was April 22, 2012. A wonderful experience with new people.

About two hours of walking before reaching the Pinzal Falls but most of us enjoy the scenic beauty of the place. It's definitely a commendable visit for you guys, despite the area leading to the falls do not have yet any concrete paths for an easy reach in a matter of minutes.

Find time to visit again, maybe the next summer of 2013. Enjoy enjoy and enjoy. :D