yobigvirg-blog

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Two Champions of Shaolin

Two Champions of Shaolin

Like any kid growing up in the 80’s, I was addicted to kung fu movies. Luckily, my auntie lived with us in those years and she would be the one to rent movies from the local video store and every once in awhile she would let me go with her to pick out one kung fu  movie to watch. And that was the discipline. If I had to choose only one kung fu flick, right now. I would choose: Two Champions of…

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Art Rules with Big Virg

Art Rules with Big Virg

I like to believe that my master that taught me everything I needed to know about Art is the infamous, Mr. Bob Ross.  As a young and impressionable kid growing up hard in the suburbs of San Diego, I was fortunate enough to have a tv in my room. It was a small black and white with only 2 channels, On and Off. And when it was on, it was on KPBS public broadcasting and I watched everything up to and…

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The good people we meet

The good people we meet

The good friends we have and the good friends we lost… along the way. In this great future you can’t forget your past. So dry your tears, I say.   As it goes, it was and always will be the good people we meet that often generate our ideas of what we live to die for. Our reasoning being thoughts of love, thoughts of synergy, thoughts of kinship, peace and justice. Yet in this strange life of mine,…

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Wu-Tang Wednesday Art Lesson #1

Wu-Tang Wednesday Art Lesson #1

Im not sure if “amused” is the right word… but maybe I am slightly amused when I hear a student trying to encourage another student struggling to get through the same problem together. “Its easy. Come on.” “No. I don’t want to get messy.” “Im doing it. Look. You can do this?” “I can’t draw good.” “You’re not even trying. You’re trying to be lazy.” “Everything I make is ugly.” I wait for when they…

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Who's up first?

Who’s up first?

For baseball. Who’s up First? By Virgil Yalong Abbot Do you know the lineup for the team this year? Costello Yeah. Of course. Abbot Can you tell me their names so when I see the guys I can know who they are? Costello Sure. Its just that, these days the players all have weird names. Nicknames. Abbot Thats alright. I can get to know the team by learning the lineup. So who’s up first? Costello Yes.…

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Fresh cuts and fades

Fresh cuts and fades

I’ve been letting my hair grow out these past few weeks. Not because I want to, but because my old barbershop is closed down. I would go to Subic Bay Barber Shop maybe every two months or so to get my fade and trim off the top. Then 86 year old Fred Olfato convinced me to stop with the bullheaded cuts, he’d say, “stop the high and tights and leave some work on the top. Dap it so you could look…

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Remember the Name...

Remember the Name…

Remember this name, Mark Lagrimas. Down the street from these shining hills of Paradise. One of our own offers the beginning of what hopes to be a long and storied career in an industry that never sought us out yet put us on display on their own terms. This time, the terms are his. hehe,,, my opening lines was meant to be read intensely, sort of like a big blockbuster movie. Speaking of which,…

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When I Fell in Love with H.E.R.

When I Fell in Love with H.E.R.

What is the earliest memory you have of listening to Hip Hop? When I think about music and my younger days one memory pops out the most. Back then music was music and I never really had a preference. It wasn’t about what I liked or what genre of music was better than the other. Every saturday morning my mom would put her Pointer Sisters CD on full blast. Then calm down and sing her Perry Cuomo.…

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50 Foods that are better than your 50 Foods list because... reasons!

50 Foods that are better than your 50 Foods list because… reasons!

Just for fun. Lets consider for a minute that we were going on an all out journey for food in San Diego. Not just any food. But yummy satisfying, money-saving, and deep down can’t get this anywhere else… (maybe) type of food. Feature image is from the FilAmFest’s Kinda Kamayan event Oct 2015. I want to start with some basics though. There’s no particular order except this is written as if I just…

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The Old 1, 2...

The Old 1, 2…

On this day, in celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., I take a step back to look forward. I can quote Dr. King until my lungs turn blue and I can listen to every preacher sermon and echo of the man and his dream. Then I look up. At us. At where we are now. I don’t dare imagine what Dr. King would say now, I couldn’t guess and I wouldn’t even venture to say whether he would approve or…

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The Winter Lion

Since the beginning the winter has been my enemy. Walk with me, this is my annual health report. The biting cold negates the blood flow throughout the body and forces the muscles to work harder. Oxygen starved muscles, lack of blood flow, and the inability to push the Oxygenated blood fast enough mixed in with the shallow breaths and sudden gasps for air turn into a coughing fit. Twice now the…

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MMXV

As the year comes to a close I look back and reminisce on the times that went by. It was another up and down type of year. But I think I can honestly say that this was one of the better years. I look back and I remember standing at the podium offering my thanks to mentors, past leaders, and current colleagues as I was being recognized for my efforts of the work I do. I remember the fun days with…

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There's No Room in the Inn...

There’s No Room in the Inn…

I only have four chambers And still I yearn to be full But the keeper minding an empty heart struggles to let people in. Historically, November has been the beginning of my struggle through a difficult winter. Since being diagnosed with Heart Disease I still fret over these cold months and am constantly reminded of the nights I couldn’t sleep because I didn’t know if I’d wake up the next day. Of…

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The podcast finale

So its been a grueling three weeks. But not really. Its like what we used to say in the movies… Its been real… Its been fun… its been real fun. And now its done. Thank you to the Media Arts Center San Diego for the space and special shout out to the students. Here are your final projects. https://bigvirg.files.wordpress.com/2015/11/show_kara.mp3 From the Media Arts Center San Diego, Our Podcast…

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Media Arts Center Podcasting Workshop

Media Arts Center Podcasting Workshop

After two weeks of the workshop the students at the Media Arts Center have quickly picked up the ideas of how to do your own podcast. The goals of this workshop is to teach the students how they can start podcasting today with the equipment they have available to them right now without going out to the store to buy expensive equipment. The first project of the class was an exercise to get the…

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How are you? Don't bother to ask.

How are you? Don’t bother to ask.

Just a little rant. Because. Life. This is a bit rough but most conversations and first meetings always begin with a formal “How do you do?” But if you already know the person… and you can’t always expect to know their current condition or if you should you even ask about it… and the usual answer is always… “Fine.” “I’m good, you?” even if you just lost your job, a relative just died, or half the…

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Tuesdays with Big Virg: An Inability to Back Down

Tuesdays with Big Virg: An Inability to Back Down

“Rage, Rage against the dying of the light” or nah…

I recently asked my younger brother if he’s ever been in a fight. With a little thought he said no and I was surprised.  My brother and I seem to be on such different planes of the world and I started thinking about Fight Club when they mention how you never really know anything about yourself until you’ve been in a fight.  Just like it is said,…