I think, it's normal to feel alone even if you are with family or friends. It's normal to somehow feel like you are not supposed to be in a certain place, at a particular moment. To not feel like you have to be with someone. To not feel like you need company, sometimes. But it's not normal when you feel all these, because they make you feel this way. There is nothing wrong with you; you are simply surrounding yourself with the wrong people.
December 21, 2015
November 23, 2015
Batagaytay Trip
The family took advantage of the long weekend, and decided to have a short trip away from the city. We initially wanted to go to the beach. And Batangas seemed the closest place from Manila to unwind.
After an overnight hunt to find a beach resort with reasonable price range, we ended up at Bernabeach Resort. Our travel time took about three to four hours. Sadly, due to the holiday, there was unbearable traffic along the way. Nonetheless, we still had a great time. The resort was not grand. It only had one big enough pool for all guests. But it was still a satisfying place to relax, even only for a day. We spent the whole afternoon swimming, after having our late lunch. It was also our little angel's first time to swim. So it was memorable for everyone of us.
The next day, we visited Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Church. I had been to the place before. But it was nice having a silent moment of prayer on a Sunday. Along the way, we bought so many plants and flowers. There were so many beautiful shops in the road, you would not be able to resist buying them.
Before we finally took the road back to Manila, we dropped by at one of the branches of the famous Bag of Beans restaurant. The place, not surprising, was full of people. Their food was glorious. I definitely understood why most travel for hours just to eat here. The ambiance was really cozy. And their pretty interior made the dining experience even better.
We arrived home quite late—again, because of the traffic. There were many closed roads due to the APEC summit held here in the Philippines. It was still nice to have a short break after so many months. The view was always satisfying.
PHOTOS: iPhone // Credits to Jam
After an overnight hunt to find a beach resort with reasonable price range, we ended up at Bernabeach Resort. Our travel time took about three to four hours. Sadly, due to the holiday, there was unbearable traffic along the way. Nonetheless, we still had a great time. The resort was not grand. It only had one big enough pool for all guests. But it was still a satisfying place to relax, even only for a day. We spent the whole afternoon swimming, after having our late lunch. It was also our little angel's first time to swim. So it was memorable for everyone of us.
The next day, we visited Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Church. I had been to the place before. But it was nice having a silent moment of prayer on a Sunday. Along the way, we bought so many plants and flowers. There were so many beautiful shops in the road, you would not be able to resist buying them.
Before we finally took the road back to Manila, we dropped by at one of the branches of the famous Bag of Beans restaurant. The place, not surprising, was full of people. Their food was glorious. I definitely understood why most travel for hours just to eat here. The ambiance was really cozy. And their pretty interior made the dining experience even better.
We arrived home quite late—again, because of the traffic. There were many closed roads due to the APEC summit held here in the Philippines. It was still nice to have a short break after so many months. The view was always satisfying.
PHOTOS: iPhone // Credits to Jam
November 18, 2015
The Pinto Experience
Finally. The family and I were able to visit the famous Pinto Art Museum in Antipolo. And it was definitely worth the long wait, and the long weekend.
The museum was filled with people, though. Good for business. Bad for me. I would have taken better photos—even if I was only using my phone—if there weren't too many people crowding every corner. But it is expected, anyway. Because 1) it's the holiday; and 2) with its exquisiteness, it's really no wonder people flock into this place.
Currently run by the Silangan Foundation for the Arts, Culture, and Ecology, Pinto is owned by art enthusiast and neurologist Dr. Joven Cuanang. Its gate was first opened to the public in 2010. Since then, it gained widespread attention on the internet, and attracted over a thousand visitors.
In a local online newspaper, Museum Manager Mikey Blanco, said the owner shared his private collection of artworks to the public in order to give them the opportunity to better appreciate art and culture.
The art sanctuary is built on a 1.2 hectare property, composed of 7 art galleries. The whole afternoon may actually not be enough to explore the place. But wherever you go, you will surely be left in awe. Because aside from the obvious reason that it displays beautiful artworks, Pinto, further appeal to masses because of its southwestern-like architecture and natural garden surroundings.
The moment you walk into its entrance until you reach the very last gallery, Pinto failed not to pleasure the eyes and the minds of its visitors. Filled with various contemporary masterpieces, and indigenous arts from local artisans, its overwhelming beauty is truly worth the attention it's getting.
Pinto also knows that a lot of walking drains energy. So while taking a break, you can still enjoy the view and dine in Cafe Tan-Aw by Peppermill. They offer a variety of cuisines from pizza, pastas, desserts, burgers, to Japanese favorites. I was starved, I was not able to take photographs of all the food we ordered. But I assure you, their food satisfies the senses.
The experience is definitely priceless. You don't only get to discover local artists, but you get to enjoy the beauty of nature as well. With a full, satisfied stomach too!
Expansion of the galleries is already underway. So expect more visual and intellectual treats when you visit.
Pinto Art Museum is located along Sierra Madre Street in Grand Heights Subdivision, Antipolo City. It's open Tuesdays through Sundays, from nine to six. Regular ticket costs 180 pesos. While entrance fee for senior citizens and PWDs is 150 pesos. And children and students with valid IDs for only 100 pesos. For tour schedules and more details, visit their official Facebook page.
(c)
The museum was filled with people, though. Good for business. Bad for me. I would have taken better photos—even if I was only using my phone—if there weren't too many people crowding every corner. But it is expected, anyway. Because 1) it's the holiday; and 2) with its exquisiteness, it's really no wonder people flock into this place.
Currently run by the Silangan Foundation for the Arts, Culture, and Ecology, Pinto is owned by art enthusiast and neurologist Dr. Joven Cuanang. Its gate was first opened to the public in 2010. Since then, it gained widespread attention on the internet, and attracted over a thousand visitors.
In a local online newspaper, Museum Manager Mikey Blanco, said the owner shared his private collection of artworks to the public in order to give them the opportunity to better appreciate art and culture.
The art sanctuary is built on a 1.2 hectare property, composed of 7 art galleries. The whole afternoon may actually not be enough to explore the place. But wherever you go, you will surely be left in awe. Because aside from the obvious reason that it displays beautiful artworks, Pinto, further appeal to masses because of its southwestern-like architecture and natural garden surroundings.
The moment you walk into its entrance until you reach the very last gallery, Pinto failed not to pleasure the eyes and the minds of its visitors. Filled with various contemporary masterpieces, and indigenous arts from local artisans, its overwhelming beauty is truly worth the attention it's getting.
Pinto also knows that a lot of walking drains energy. So while taking a break, you can still enjoy the view and dine in Cafe Tan-Aw by Peppermill. They offer a variety of cuisines from pizza, pastas, desserts, burgers, to Japanese favorites. I was starved, I was not able to take photographs of all the food we ordered. But I assure you, their food satisfies the senses.
The experience is definitely priceless. You don't only get to discover local artists, but you get to enjoy the beauty of nature as well. With a full, satisfied stomach too!
Expansion of the galleries is already underway. So expect more visual and intellectual treats when you visit.
Pinto Art Museum is located along Sierra Madre Street in Grand Heights Subdivision, Antipolo City. It's open Tuesdays through Sundays, from nine to six. Regular ticket costs 180 pesos. While entrance fee for senior citizens and PWDs is 150 pesos. And children and students with valid IDs for only 100 pesos. For tour schedules and more details, visit their official Facebook page.
(c)
October 23, 2015
Christening: Marcus Clyde
Welcoming this adorable boy to the Christian world. Used a blue and green motif for the invite and banner, and to match his cute suit.
July 28, 2015
Noodles for the Hungry Hearts
Quiet and subtle, somewhere in a little room of misery and loneliness, comfort is found. Love, lush and passionate, blooms. But at a wrong place and time, how will it not wither? Wong Kar Wai serves genuine love realness in this elegantly-crafted masterpiece.
In the Mood for Love (2000)
A Wong Kar Wai film
New neighbors in a small apartment in a town in Hong Kong, 1962, Mr. Chow (Tony Leung Chiu Wai) and Mrs. Chan (Maggie Cheung), gradually find about their spouses' affairs, and soon begin their own faltering romance.
Never have I seen such brutality in a film about love this good. The plot deliberately offers a limited portion of the story, yet equally demands and showcases immense, raw emotions. The leads always sharing the most intimate, yet heart-breaking of scenes without the need of touching or even standing remotely close together. Without much words, and few short uttered dialogues, the pain, desire, and longing are expressed and held back simultaneously.
Wong maintains the distance between the leads, often playing with mirrors, showing the protagonists in separate frames. Every scene simply balanced the contained emotions and screaming hunger of the characters. With shots lurking through windows and down the passageways like the viewers are still outsiders. Empty doorways. Dark staircase. Heavy rainfall. Crowded streets and unwanted noises. The stunning, vivid palettes further complete the film's unworldly-adoring cinematography. The camera's focus remains still, encapsulating the characters' paradox of emotions. While the music also fails not to make the pain lingers. The shot slowly pans as the haunting soundtrack plays like a celebration of a found lonely soul and sudden mourning of an immediate separation. I find myself as drawn to Chow and Su as they are to each other. Wai and Cheung are perfection! I root for them. I sympathize as they both try to find solace, but are prevented by the mistakes of their spouses and their own betrayal.
Getting noodles has never been this painful. Now stained, it becomes a clear reminder of a beautiful tragedy. Wong hits exactly where it hurts the most, ultimately leading the ambiguous relationship of the two to its own downfall. Without excuse and empathy, Wong breaks hearts. Not only of Chow and Su's, but far worse, of the viewers'.
Definitely among the finest gems in the industry, In the Mood for Love's timeless beauty is beyond words. Just too darn good for the eyes and soul. An instant obsession.
In the Mood for Love (2000)
A Wong Kar Wai film
New neighbors in a small apartment in a town in Hong Kong, 1962, Mr. Chow (Tony Leung Chiu Wai) and Mrs. Chan (Maggie Cheung), gradually find about their spouses' affairs, and soon begin their own faltering romance.
Never have I seen such brutality in a film about love this good. The plot deliberately offers a limited portion of the story, yet equally demands and showcases immense, raw emotions. The leads always sharing the most intimate, yet heart-breaking of scenes without the need of touching or even standing remotely close together. Without much words, and few short uttered dialogues, the pain, desire, and longing are expressed and held back simultaneously.
Wong maintains the distance between the leads, often playing with mirrors, showing the protagonists in separate frames. Every scene simply balanced the contained emotions and screaming hunger of the characters. With shots lurking through windows and down the passageways like the viewers are still outsiders. Empty doorways. Dark staircase. Heavy rainfall. Crowded streets and unwanted noises. The stunning, vivid palettes further complete the film's unworldly-adoring cinematography. The camera's focus remains still, encapsulating the characters' paradox of emotions. While the music also fails not to make the pain lingers. The shot slowly pans as the haunting soundtrack plays like a celebration of a found lonely soul and sudden mourning of an immediate separation. I find myself as drawn to Chow and Su as they are to each other. Wai and Cheung are perfection! I root for them. I sympathize as they both try to find solace, but are prevented by the mistakes of their spouses and their own betrayal.
Getting noodles has never been this painful. Now stained, it becomes a clear reminder of a beautiful tragedy. Wong hits exactly where it hurts the most, ultimately leading the ambiguous relationship of the two to its own downfall. Without excuse and empathy, Wong breaks hearts. Not only of Chow and Su's, but far worse, of the viewers'.
It is a restless moment. She has kept her head lowered... to give him a chance to come closer. But he could not, for lack of courage. She turns and walks away.
Definitely among the finest gems in the industry, In the Mood for Love's timeless beauty is beyond words. Just too darn good for the eyes and soul. An instant obsession.
July 16, 2015
In My Twenties
"You ask what I have done with my life. Why I am 22 with so many unfinished selves. So many futures I could not commit to. But you don't know how much of my time has been spent keeping myself alive." — Lora Mathis, I Think I'm Doing Great
(via lora-mathis)
(via lora-mathis)
July 11, 2015
Misery Doesn't Need Company
Better be miserable now
than to be miserable every day
for the rest of your life.
This may sound improbable at the moment,
but one day, it won't.
You will walk again.
Run, even.
This pain you're feeling,
will be of good use,
one day.
So choose your misery:
the one that lingers;
or the one that disappears.
than to be miserable every day
for the rest of your life.
This may sound improbable at the moment,
but one day, it won't.
You will walk again.
Run, even.
This pain you're feeling,
will be of good use,
one day.
So choose your misery:
the one that lingers;
or the one that disappears.
July 5, 2015
Zombies
On a gloomy Friday night, you think about your life choices. You tell yourself to reach out to someone. But you decide not to. You still refuse to share your demons with anyone. You fight the urge, repeating words, "They would never understand." People close to you keep proving you right, anyway. So you talk yourself into bottling everything up again. You resist the temptation to drown your soul.
On a fun Saturday night, you almost recognize your laughter. But, not really. All you remember is the aching. All you feel is the aching. You want to quit again. The pain keeps swallowing you whole. You try to fight it. You laugh. You laugh at it. You laugh at yourself until you feel numb. Until you fool yourself enough that it is locked up some place you would dare not visit. Some place dark. Inside of you. And you tell yourself to forget over and over. Until you do.
On a beautiful Sunday morning, everything comes back. The locks are opened as easily as you open them eyes. Your own thoughts betray you. Your dark thoughts you secretly cherish. But you stay. A little longer, every time. There, at some place, with black clouds above your head, you stay despite your resistance. There, where you left your heart. You hope to leave someday.
On a basic Monday, you wake up again. Not even a stain of dirt on your feet. You look normal again. Oh, how you look naturally normal. You wash your face. You're going to make it. Until you don't.
“My point is: in this whole wide world the only person you can depend on is you.” — Haruki Murakami, Kafka on the Shore
July 3, 2015
She Says, She Says
"I have long needed time to not think about home, to not think about the things back home that have been weighing heavily on me — work, relationships, lack thereof. The smallness, the claustrophobia of it. All the things I’ve been trying to shrug off. I’m happy, don’t get me wrong. But that doesn’t mean that I haven’t also been keeping some hurts close to my chest. They won’t leave me when I’m home, so I guess I have to physically leave them behind and see if that works, see if that helps me forget." —Regina Belmonte
(via vivatregina)
(via vivatregina)
June 30, 2015
You in One Paragraph
"Your first mistake was loving someone who doesn’t know what love really is. It was giving them the power to ruin you, giving them enough strength to crush your soul with two fingers, and even worse, a few words. Your second mistake was telling them how much you need them, how your soul longed for something like this, how you can’t imagine long nights without them. your third mistake was falling too fast for the idea of who they were, the soft hints of hate you missed in their words, the points of concern you should’ve noticed. Your fourth mistake was loving them more. Loving each little bruise and bone, being convinced each scar had a story, even when it didn’t. Connecting the freckles on their back into constellations and secretly wishing this would last forever, baby no, you can’t wish on stars that aren’t bright. and they, they were always dark and dull. they looked at you with bored eyes, you were convinced they were only ever tired. They held you with careless, clumsy, arms. arms that never shook from holding on too tight, you kissed with motionless lips, slept with a body and no soul. But, it’s not your fault. It’s easy to fall for an idea, especially when it’s got big brown eyes and a heartbeat that sounds like your favorite song.” —Isabel C., Four
(via artidote)
(via artidote)
June 27, 2015
Hurting and Loving It
A tale about a relationship's collapse is probably one of the most common scenarios that relate to every human beings. It is the kind of classic-heavy story you want to hear on a usual gloomy night. But The Last Five Years convinces you to listen to it even on sunny days.
The Last Five Years (2014)
A film by Richard LaGravenese
Based on Tony winning-writer Jason Robert Brown's hit musical of the same name, The Last Five Years, tells the beginning and the downfall of Jamie and Cathy's marriage.
Told in a non-linear narrative, showing two sides of the story (Jamie and Cathy's POV), the film opened with a powerful, moving scene from Anna Kendrick. Beginning in the end, with only minutes, it easily captured the viewers of its heart-breaking conclusion. It was still and painful, and hit straight to the aorta. Then cut to a beautiful start of a love story -- you are chained.
Jamie, a young writer, falls in love with Cathy, a small town girl who dreams to become a Broadway actress. We witness how their love develops as they both strive to make it big in New York City. They seem to be the perfect match. However, conflicts arise when Jamie gets published, while Cathy continues to struggle with her acting career. Playing it back and forth, the film satisfyingly unravels how Jamie and Cathy eventually part ways.
Though predictable, feelings for the two leads are kept neutral, offering both the good and the bad side of each character, and giving it the right balance. You empathize with them. And you fall for them, still. Despite lacking focus on aesthetics, its brilliant music kept this piece strong for its whole running time. Kendrick (Cathy) and Jeremy Jordan (Jamie) perfectly encapsulated all the songs with outstanding performances. Kendrick's vocals made the heart-wrenching scenes a beautiful paradox. The melodies, lyrics further stick with you even with the absence of a great plot.
The musical is such a major success, it is not surprising it made it to the cinemas. Surely enough, LaGravenese did not disappoint as well. I'm in love with this.
The Last Five Years (2014)
A film by Richard LaGravenese
Based on Tony winning-writer Jason Robert Brown's hit musical of the same name, The Last Five Years, tells the beginning and the downfall of Jamie and Cathy's marriage.
Told in a non-linear narrative, showing two sides of the story (Jamie and Cathy's POV), the film opened with a powerful, moving scene from Anna Kendrick. Beginning in the end, with only minutes, it easily captured the viewers of its heart-breaking conclusion. It was still and painful, and hit straight to the aorta. Then cut to a beautiful start of a love story -- you are chained.
Jamie, a young writer, falls in love with Cathy, a small town girl who dreams to become a Broadway actress. We witness how their love develops as they both strive to make it big in New York City. They seem to be the perfect match. However, conflicts arise when Jamie gets published, while Cathy continues to struggle with her acting career. Playing it back and forth, the film satisfyingly unravels how Jamie and Cathy eventually part ways.
Though predictable, feelings for the two leads are kept neutral, offering both the good and the bad side of each character, and giving it the right balance. You empathize with them. And you fall for them, still. Despite lacking focus on aesthetics, its brilliant music kept this piece strong for its whole running time. Kendrick (Cathy) and Jeremy Jordan (Jamie) perfectly encapsulated all the songs with outstanding performances. Kendrick's vocals made the heart-wrenching scenes a beautiful paradox. The melodies, lyrics further stick with you even with the absence of a great plot.
The musical is such a major success, it is not surprising it made it to the cinemas. Surely enough, LaGravenese did not disappoint as well. I'm in love with this.
May 27, 2015
The Story of You
He asked me what my favorite film was.
I took my time to respond. It's the kind of question I think about too much. Because I like films. And he loves them. I want to impress him, but I don't know enough. I am as in love as he is with moving pictures, but we are two, very different peas in a pod with little similarities of the negative. I was careful. I said the ones that did not come first to mind. He was not pleased. He was curious. His curiosity turned hours to days. Days to months. Months to moments. To memories.
Fast and fleeting. I was his. He was mine.
He would look at me as if I was something he never thought he would have. Exhaustion from the world would disappear as I see him walk toward me, grinning. He would smile at me with teasing arrogance as he makes funny faces. But then his stares would suddenly focus on my eyes, and I would not be able to stand still. He would give my heart a heavy pounding it could barely handle. Our fingers would touch, and he would hold my hand shakily. I would lay my head upon his shoulder as I try to hide my embarrassed face. We would talk for hours, uttering words 'I love you' and 'I cannot wait to see you'. He would share stories about his day and would tell me he wished I was there with him. He would keep wanting to know stories I might want to tell through his lens. I would pause, but would not give in. He would make me listen to songs that speak his deepest, darkest desires. He would kiss me with eyes closed. Like he loves me. I would feel the butterflies slowly taking over my body. Like I truly love him. Euphoric.
Brief and momentary. He became my world. And I, not his.
I would still pull him closer. He would not fight back. But he would not go further. Down the hill, we would go. Colder, and colder, the temperature started to mirror the feelings he is losing. Still, neither of us would dare say a word. In a crowded place, polluted with loud noises, we would turn unbearably silent. And he would not try to break it. Each step, he would walk a little farther from me, and I would pretend to maintain the distance. He would take one last glimpse of me. I would watch him, until he starts to fade. Until my eyes could fool me enough that I no longer wish to replay that final scene in my head. He was not curious anymore. His unwarranted love masked as curiosity ceased easy. Turned memories to wounds. Wounds to scars. To nightmares.
(movie still from her)
April 5, 2015
Parks and Recreation: Public Service at its Finest
After seven wonderful seasons, Parks and Recreation officially bade its goodbye last February 24 (apologies for an entry more than a month overdue). Despite the farewell season appearing rushed, it was still surprisingly enough to partially let go of the parks gang we all truly loved.
Parks and Recreation (2009-2015)
Created by Greg Daniels and Michael Schur
Parks and Recreation tells the story of a mid-level bureaucrat, Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler), in the parks department of Pawnee, a fictional town in Indiana, along with her team: Ann Perkins, Ron Swanson, Ben Wyatt, Tom Haverford, Donna Meagle, April Ludgate, Andy Dwyer, and (yes, also includes) Garry Gergich.
Similar to The Office's single-camera setup, and without the studio audience or laugh track, Parks and Rec staged the look of an actual documentary. But unlike the former, the latter sometimes features two separate camera angles on the same person during interviews, several jump cuts, and more intimate scenes outside of the parks department's office. Though creators initially wanted a spin-off of The Office, what they ended up with is equally entertaining. Seven years later, we are, once again, forced to face the fact that all good things must come to an end (or you know, NBC naturally decides to end a glorious era of another exemplary series).
Set in 2017, the seventh and final season offered a different approach, but a very much worthy closure for the fans. Major life events such as April and Andy having a baby, Tom becoming a world-renowned author after the fall of his restaurant expansion, Donna starting a foundation for education, and Garry getting elected as mayor for one hundred years anointed our rivers of tears as tears of happiness. While Ron, with the help of Leslie, eventually led the life he wanted. So whether they are working for the government or a non-profit organization, in the fictional, but remarkable town of Pawnee or elsewhere, we are assured they are better than fine. The characters we watched come together in a mission to turn a horrifying pit to a beautiful park evolved into humans we all adored.
Hence, Leslie's speech could not sum up the show's vision any better:
Because in spite of its occasional shares of mocking political scandals and such, the show was never about politics. But rather, gave us an optimistic take on public service, and probably a little bit more of wishful thinking. Nonetheless, it created some instant classics like "Galentine's Day" and "Treat Yo' Self." It consistently reminded us of the beauty of breakfast foods, and the importance of work and friendship, and things in between in a way it never preached. Most importantly, it temporarily erased the cynicism in all of us with the presence of the best public servant in the form of Leslie Knope. Ergo, despite getting our hearts broken by its hurried conclusion, the one-hour finale was a satisfying send-off for the series.
Might be too sentimental, but my love for what used to be the 21st century's NBC's Big Three (The Office, 30 Rock, Parks and Rec) will remain in my heart forever and always.
(photo is not mine; credits to owner)
Parks and Recreation (2009-2015)
Created by Greg Daniels and Michael Schur
Parks and Recreation tells the story of a mid-level bureaucrat, Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler), in the parks department of Pawnee, a fictional town in Indiana, along with her team: Ann Perkins, Ron Swanson, Ben Wyatt, Tom Haverford, Donna Meagle, April Ludgate, Andy Dwyer, and (yes, also includes) Garry Gergich.
Similar to The Office's single-camera setup, and without the studio audience or laugh track, Parks and Rec staged the look of an actual documentary. But unlike the former, the latter sometimes features two separate camera angles on the same person during interviews, several jump cuts, and more intimate scenes outside of the parks department's office. Though creators initially wanted a spin-off of The Office, what they ended up with is equally entertaining. Seven years later, we are, once again, forced to face the fact that all good things must come to an end (or you know, NBC naturally decides to end a glorious era of another exemplary series).
Set in 2017, the seventh and final season offered a different approach, but a very much worthy closure for the fans. Major life events such as April and Andy having a baby, Tom becoming a world-renowned author after the fall of his restaurant expansion, Donna starting a foundation for education, and Garry getting elected as mayor for one hundred years anointed our rivers of tears as tears of happiness. While Ron, with the help of Leslie, eventually led the life he wanted. So whether they are working for the government or a non-profit organization, in the fictional, but remarkable town of Pawnee or elsewhere, we are assured they are better than fine. The characters we watched come together in a mission to turn a horrifying pit to a beautiful park evolved into humans we all adored.
Hence, Leslie's speech could not sum up the show's vision any better:
Do the work worth doing with the team of people you love.
Because in spite of its occasional shares of mocking political scandals and such, the show was never about politics. But rather, gave us an optimistic take on public service, and probably a little bit more of wishful thinking. Nonetheless, it created some instant classics like "Galentine's Day" and "Treat Yo' Self." It consistently reminded us of the beauty of breakfast foods, and the importance of work and friendship, and things in between in a way it never preached. Most importantly, it temporarily erased the cynicism in all of us with the presence of the best public servant in the form of Leslie Knope. Ergo, despite getting our hearts broken by its hurried conclusion, the one-hour finale was a satisfying send-off for the series.
Might be too sentimental, but my love for what used to be the 21st century's NBC's Big Three (The Office, 30 Rock, Parks and Rec) will remain in my heart forever and always.
(photo is not mine; credits to owner)
January 28, 2015
So Far, It's Alright
Long lines and even longer hours; deafening screams of every girl; blinding, flashing camera lights; I blend into the crowd, up close, I saw them. Then there was quiet. There was a second of calm inside my untamed brain. And I shout with all my regained energy. I saw them. In the flesh. With my own two eyes. It was surreal.
THE MEET & GREET
In my seemingly directionless life at the moment — I am not exaggerating nor am I trying to sell anything out of this — I have found a kind of comforting, shining light in the music of The 1975. They have given me more than a calming melody, an opiating language, and a soul-soothing music. They have kept me company. They have kept me going. Hence, it was never a question of whether I was going to see them (when they come back to Manila) or not, but rather how can I see them. As expected, due to my unfortunate situation which I'd rather not discuss, my dream to see them then was no way near possible. Many times I wished they were in the same island so I could have even the hopes of seeing them perform in local underground bars or running into them in the street. So perhaps, just a tad of understanding, you could imagine my inexplicable joy when it all turned into reality. Eyes wide shut, all ears open, my mind's silent screams and soul's flying-like feeling, there they were. And again. They were there.
THE CONCERT
You can say that every concert is special in their own ways. And they are. Because what the hell, listening to your favorite songs is one thing. Actually hearing them being performed live is another. Every time, the experience is different. But there is always that certain kind of feeling that you only feel during that particular moment.
Music can truly heal you or even save you. And in life full of disappointments, these are one of the rare moments you really live for. God, how I sang my heart out when they continuously played my favorite songs. I did not want it to end. Because despite the rough past couple of months, they still made it unbelievably better.
(c)
PS: apologies for the crappy iPhone quality; they looked seriously better (and closer) in real life.
In my seemingly directionless life at the moment — I am not exaggerating nor am I trying to sell anything out of this — I have found a kind of comforting, shining light in the music of The 1975. They have given me more than a calming melody, an opiating language, and a soul-soothing music. They have kept me company. They have kept me going. Hence, it was never a question of whether I was going to see them (when they come back to Manila) or not, but rather how can I see them. As expected, due to my unfortunate situation which I'd rather not discuss, my dream to see them then was no way near possible. Many times I wished they were in the same island so I could have even the hopes of seeing them perform in local underground bars or running into them in the street. So perhaps, just a tad of understanding, you could imagine my inexplicable joy when it all turned into reality. Eyes wide shut, all ears open, my mind's silent screams and soul's flying-like feeling, there they were. And again. They were there.
You can say that every concert is special in their own ways. And they are. Because what the hell, listening to your favorite songs is one thing. Actually hearing them being performed live is another. Every time, the experience is different. But there is always that certain kind of feeling that you only feel during that particular moment.
(c)
PS: apologies for the crappy iPhone quality; they looked seriously better (and closer) in real life.
January 13, 2015
January 9, 2015
Amazing Amy: Girl Gone Mad
Gone Girl is such a fun, thrilling read. Gillian Flynn writes a brilliant version of a woman gone mad for love, and offers sweet, cold revenge. *SPOILER ALERT* A perfectly planned, thought-through fake-death to punish your cheating, lying husband. To think that the husband is not even your ordinary asshole who deserves such. But he got served. Oh, he definitely did.
Gone Girl (2012)
by Gillian Flynn
Gone Girl tells the whirlwind marriage of Nick and Amy Dunne. Girl and boy fall in love; get married; marriage turns sour; boy cheats; girl finds out; girl plots to frame boy for her murder. Classic tale of a failed marriage--not.
I have never been this excited to flip the pages of a book for quite some time. After feeding myself a bunch of the notable young adult fiction novels of today, Gone Girl is like a breath of mint, fresh air in my adorably romance-fed, young brain. This is exactly why I try hard to read out of my comfort zone genres. Though before Gone Girl, I have actually read Chuck Palahniuk for the first time. Tell-All was different, and equally tasteful. What they have in common: beautifully written vicious characters, never-ending mind blowing plots (to plainly play one's innocent mind and/or simply to kill), and the unexpected ending.
Tell-All was not an easy read, though. Palahniuk wrote the book like it was a script for a stage play, spoon-feeding the readers of every little detail in a scene or every frame of a film. It was his only novel I read (so far), thus, I have nothing to compare it with except to his book adapted into screenplay Fight Club (not exactly a fair comparison, nor a comparison for that matter). Both conclusions were intriguing, and definitely surprising.
Going back to Gone Girl, I loved its ending as well. Reading through the first few chapters of Diary Amy, I cannot help but think how this lovely book captured the classic romance of a "boy meets girl" fantasy in pages; while slowly unraveling the hard truth about their romanticized marriage. Yes, in reality, everyone (or most) is probably guilty of covering up their dark and ugly side in the beginning of a relationship. However, in Gone Girl, the part where you begin to show your partner some of your worse self, took quite a bit of an extreme turn.
Flynn made the most out of every flaw of Nick and Amy. She perfectly encapsulated the brain of a stereotypical woman who will go pyscho on you if you mess with her. Amy was not only scary. She was a dangerous woman on a grand scale. While Nick was your typical cheating husband. Though, he was not the stupefying kind; he was still just a man.
Exploited with these harsh faults you do not ever wish for a person to have, you do not entirely loathe them, still. Because Flynn gives them the chance to show weaknesses, and to acknowledge mistakes. To show and be good, and at the same time, let out their inner demons. Nick is a nice guy who loves his mother and sister dearly. Amy is your dream girl with the brains and the looks. Somehow, they are of equal, complementing each other. Both remain vulnerable from each others' capabilities and shortcomings. Yet, as Flynn reveals more, you also grow fonder of these two. And you start to question your sense of morality on self-righteousness and justice. Like how the media, the police, and the public (in the book) are continuously misled by the big circus created by the The Disappearance of the Amazing Amy Story. You ask who and why you root for them.
Some may disagree (saying it's too feminist for their taste, the fuck do they even mean), but this book is pure genius. The story has the right amount of suspense and thrill. And the ending is the most satisfying (Flynn serves the conclusion to the story like a cold soup you cannot reheat). But what I truly adore about this book is how Flynn crushed the (ridiculously annoying) manic pixie dream girl premise. Amy is your "cool girl". Until, she isn't. Because no one really is (unfortunately, she crossed the border too much; turns out she's a bonafide lunatic).
(c)
Gone Girl (2012)
by Gillian Flynn
Gone Girl tells the whirlwind marriage of Nick and Amy Dunne. Girl and boy fall in love; get married; marriage turns sour; boy cheats; girl finds out; girl plots to frame boy for her murder. Classic tale of a failed marriage--not.
I have never been this excited to flip the pages of a book for quite some time. After feeding myself a bunch of the notable young adult fiction novels of today, Gone Girl is like a breath of mint, fresh air in my adorably romance-fed, young brain. This is exactly why I try hard to read out of my comfort zone genres. Though before Gone Girl, I have actually read Chuck Palahniuk for the first time. Tell-All was different, and equally tasteful. What they have in common: beautifully written vicious characters, never-ending mind blowing plots (to plainly play one's innocent mind and/or simply to kill), and the unexpected ending.
Tell-All was not an easy read, though. Palahniuk wrote the book like it was a script for a stage play, spoon-feeding the readers of every little detail in a scene or every frame of a film. It was his only novel I read (so far), thus, I have nothing to compare it with except to his book adapted into screenplay Fight Club (not exactly a fair comparison, nor a comparison for that matter). Both conclusions were intriguing, and definitely surprising.
Going back to Gone Girl, I loved its ending as well. Reading through the first few chapters of Diary Amy, I cannot help but think how this lovely book captured the classic romance of a "boy meets girl" fantasy in pages; while slowly unraveling the hard truth about their romanticized marriage. Yes, in reality, everyone (or most) is probably guilty of covering up their dark and ugly side in the beginning of a relationship. However, in Gone Girl, the part where you begin to show your partner some of your worse self, took quite a bit of an extreme turn.
Flynn made the most out of every flaw of Nick and Amy. She perfectly encapsulated the brain of a stereotypical woman who will go pyscho on you if you mess with her. Amy was not only scary. She was a dangerous woman on a grand scale. While Nick was your typical cheating husband. Though, he was not the stupefying kind; he was still just a man.
Exploited with these harsh faults you do not ever wish for a person to have, you do not entirely loathe them, still. Because Flynn gives them the chance to show weaknesses, and to acknowledge mistakes. To show and be good, and at the same time, let out their inner demons. Nick is a nice guy who loves his mother and sister dearly. Amy is your dream girl with the brains and the looks. Somehow, they are of equal, complementing each other. Both remain vulnerable from each others' capabilities and shortcomings. Yet, as Flynn reveals more, you also grow fonder of these two. And you start to question your sense of morality on self-righteousness and justice. Like how the media, the police, and the public (in the book) are continuously misled by the big circus created by the The Disappearance of the Amazing Amy Story. You ask who and why you root for them.
There's a difference between really loving someone and loving the idea of her.
Some may disagree (saying it's too feminist for their taste, the fuck do they even mean), but this book is pure genius. The story has the right amount of suspense and thrill. And the ending is the most satisfying (Flynn serves the conclusion to the story like a cold soup you cannot reheat). But what I truly adore about this book is how Flynn crushed the (ridiculously annoying) manic pixie dream girl premise. Amy is your "cool girl". Until, she isn't. Because no one really is (unfortunately, she crossed the border too much; turns out she's a bonafide lunatic).
(c)