"My Heart Will Go On"

(Note: This blog entry is in response to the topic, "Assume that you could go back in time and prevent a great catastrophe, which event would you choose and why?")

On the 21^st of December, 2012, it was said that the world would end. Thank heavens, it didn't. But my world did end – shattered to pieces. Or maybe I'm just overreacting. But really, who cares if my heart couldn't go on?

 

If you're wondering about the cause of my heartache, blame Titanic – the movie I watched on the day (or night) the world was said to end. So I figured, if I could go back in time and prevent a catastrophe from happening, I'd choose to save Titanic from colliding to that giant killer iceberg and to keep it afloat until it reaches its final destination – New York – not the depths of the North Atlantic ocean.

If I could have had water-bending powers to get the giant iceberg out of Titanic's way, or the simple power to order the ship's captain to put the engine to a halt and wait until the iceberg melts away instead of risking the iron-made great ship to steer away from the unconsciously mighty iceberg, I could have saved hundreds of people: high- or low-class; captain, seafarer, servicemen, or passenger; children, women, and men. The scarce number of lifeboats available would have been useless and might have been until now. The magnificent RMS Titanic may have been preserved in a well-lighted and well-kept museum rather than magnificently depreciated down the bottom of those ice-cold waters.

However, if I have saved Titanic, there wouldn't have been a movie that grossed millions of dollars. There wouldn't have been no heart-warming and heart-breaking story of fictitious Jack and Rose. Titanic would be merely known as the famous largest ship afloat at the time of its maiden voyage who was blocked by an iceberg thus delayed in its arrival on the docks, rather than “the so-called unsinkable ship that didn't stand a chance against the mighty iceberg”. Titanic wouldn't have been as famous as it is now – only a mere part of history. Most of all, there wouldn't have been the greatest lesson learned: even the greatest has an end.

Miss U

(Note: This blog entry is my response to the topic, “Is there someone you were jealous of as a kid or someone you secretly envy now? Why?”)

I don't secretly envy her. I don't really think I envy her either – I think it's more of an admiration or an awe-striking feeling. And she's not really just one person. Who is she? THE Miss Universe.

THE Miss Universe. She's not really a particular winner of the pageantry although the name and the country comes with it. You know....I think you know what I mean – it's just her.

She's the woman who emerges as the winner among the pool of beauties and brains. She, herself, is a product of her own country, of her own culture, to which she proudly represents in competition with her fair rivals to the crown. Dubbed as the most beautiful and brainiest – not just in the world, but in the universe (funny questions arise though why it's always from planet Earth who wins), who wouldn't want to be called that?

Of course, the reigning queen gets to sit on her throne for a year until she passes on the crown to her successor. On the year in throne, though, it's not all beauty and relaxation. Like other royals, she also has duties, functions, and responsibilities she needs to perform during her term. It seems to bear a lot of stress and pressure though – the hectic schedules, left-to-right conventions and talks and on-camera activities, while having to take care of her face, her skin, her body. But the almost-world tour, which everyone dreams of having, and a year's supply of beauty products, which is extremely thrifty, comes with being the queen. Life-changing experiences all throughout the reign might well be the priciestly priceless, or pricelessly priciest (whichever), prize of all.

Lastly, winning the title must be her greatest moment of pride. Oh, not just her pride, as she also is the pride of her country, but also of her beloved native land's. She takes home, too, honor and glory – priceless huge things that wake and relive the spirit of nationalism.

Just recently, the Miss Universe 2012 Coronation Night was held in Las Vegas on the evening of December 19th but aired in the Philippines on the morning of December 20^th. I'm sure that every regular watcher of this said pageant has come altogether to witness the enthronement of the woman who wears the coveted crown and title.

My Favorite Spot in Ateneo de Davao University

Note: This blog entry is on the topic, "My favorite spot/hang-out place in/around AdDu", in fulfillment of a classroom activity.)

I like hanging out most at the canteen – or what is now popularly called as the cafeteria. Of course there are reasons why I consider the canteen as my favorite spot. Situated at the Finster Hall's basement, one appreciates the seclusion of the place that gives one a somehow relaxing feel from all the worries in school; also, it can be accessed through the many staircases of the said building. First, the set-up of the place allows one to choose a comfortable atmosphere in where to sit down for a meal, a snack, a study session, or just a nice chit-chat with one's company. One can find the air-conditioned part of the cafeteria enclosed by the glass walls separating the non-air-conditioned side of the place. Once one can choose a spot (as one can freely choose a table to stay at during the non-peak hours, otherwise, one can battle for even a single chair), one can sit down on those metal, ergonomically-designed, Ateneo-branded, colored chairs matching the wooden colored tables which are spread throughout the space. Second, one can acquaint themselves of one's school mates, regardless of year level and course, or may also find interesting people – those physically appealing, those geniuses, those classmates in other subjects, or even those......normal acquaintances – they're interesting, too, being normal. Third, of course, a canteen wouldn't be a canteen without the presence of food. The line-up of different food stalls and stores located on opposite sides of the horizontally-set rectangle offers a variety of goods, each with its own specialty and weight, allows one the freedom to buy whatever they want to feed their stomachs – grumbling or not. Lastly, one wouldn't count the canteen or the cafeteria as one's favorite spot if it weren't for the friends one keep as warm company.

Weeeeeeeird.

Notice: This blog entry of mine on the topic “Three weird facts about me” might you find weirdly written. I'm just living it now, really.

One. I wet my hair at night. So I don't take a bath in the morning. No, not that I don't really take a bath....just....half-bath as we call it. Many say it's really “damak” or “luod” not to wet the hair in the morning; but really, does dirt really accumulate in the hair at night – in bed – while cuddling your pillows? Contradictorily, I think those who take half-baths at night actually transmit the dirt and germs they've acquired whilst outside their homes to their sleeping thrones – well, the hair's easier to wash than the linens... And really, the most the sleeping-with-a-wet-hair can do is get your hair in uniquely different styles everyday – but I still choose to do my hair to my trademark ponytail though.

Two. I'm the darkness girl. It's not an obvious fact to people who barely know me, but for my high school super classmates who's been with me for 3 years, they've really somehow attributed “darkness” to me. Why? It's because most of the time, I take the side of the “evil” ones like the Fire Nation (of Avatar: The Last Airbender) and the Slytherins (of Harry Potter). Also, I get pleased when someone gets killed in fictional movies, books, and especially in Filipino teleseryes. Yes, it hurts sometimes to kill off these characters (especially the most-loved characters in the books), but it really does bring out some feelings from the audience (Hah. Excuses..). For the Filipino teleseryes, I think deaths of protagonists would make the storyline more exciting and less predictable. How easy is it to kill off the characters, really. Another, I have so longed to know about guns and knives and use them for defense. I don't mean to kill though, but maybe I could serve in the military in some secret elite group that aims to trim down the number of criminals roaming free...or maybe a Death Note's gonna be an easier way? Cute. On a serious tone, sometimes I get scared of myself though, if I could really do or mean whatever I'm blabbing about here about violence and death. But here's a good advice: don't let me lose my nerve on you – the most I can do is murder you on my mind.

Three. I'm still waiting for my Hogwarts acceptance letter to be delivered by one of the school's owls. You'd think I'm a bit over aged for that – being a seventeen-year-old waiting for an eleven-year-old-magic-folk's school acceptance letter from the best school of magic there is: Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. But I don't really care, I would grab the opportunity to study in this awesome school even if my Trace's just broken (there's a benefit there, actually). I'll never lose hope of ever getting that coveted letter – because I believe....I'm a witch, and a pretty awesome one once trained up a bit....

3 other random, weird facts about me:

-Sometimes, I randomly laugh for no reason. Good thing I do that with my closest friends around – or I'll be perceived as a.....you know what I mean. They don't know why I'm laughing. I don't know why I'm laughing. Maybe.....I just remembered something really funny – something that just popped into my head at that random moment? Or not. Or something. Oh, I don't knooow...

-I'm....BOUNCY. I was bouncy back in high school. I guess I couldn't be that, now I'm in college, except when I'm with my high school classmates. It's the imploring eyes and bouncy ponytail, not to mention the cheeky cheeks, whenever I bounce up and down at random moments while having little chats while standing up. But it's really weird, isn't it?... Bouncy...

-I'm easily moved to tears. No, it's not being iyakin, or sensitive, or hormonal.. Weirdly, most of the time I don't know why I get teary-eyed! Or maybe it's just the wind, or the sunlight, or the yawn. Hah. Excuses...

Forgive me, for this very long post and those 3 more facts – that's...magis. :D

If I Could Meddle With Time...

(Note: This blog entry is on the topic, "Imagine that you could travel in time. Where would you go and why?")

If I could meddle with time, I'd want to witness the different lives of my parents loooooong before I was born....

If could travel through time, I'd want to see the life my father, with his parents and siblings, back in his hometown. I would want to see the teenage faces of him and his siblings who I just recently saw or have seen through few photographs, and those I've never even seen before. I would want to see how beautiful my grandmother looked like in her “mother years”. I would want to see my grandfather who passed away long before I was born. I would want to see how the 5 children, 4 boys and a girl, were raised and disciplined. I would want to see how those 5 children lived harmoniously under one roof.

I would want to know how it is, in his childhood, to live in a time when they'd had to walk their way to school in the morning and back home at night – in a province that didn't had electricity. I would want to experience playing the games they've played, or climbing the trees they've climbed plus stealing its fruits they've all coveted. I want to know how it is to dine with ginamus and toyo, or what else have they to find, as their viand when nothing could be served for dinner,but still uncomplaining with what they have – or don't have. I want to know, as my father's story tells, of how they'd been forced to eat the “luod” vegetable dishes their Lola served, or how they'd loved their favorite lutong-bahay food.

I would want to know how it is, in his college years, to live far from his family to study in the city. I would want to know how he struggled to attend his classes with an empty stomach, or how he managed to continue while he had to work to help his parents for his expenses.

If I could travel through time, I'd want to see the life of my mother, with her parents and siblings, in the city. I would want to see the youthful faces of my grandparents and compare the faces of my titos and titas then and now.

I would want to know how my mother, and her siblings, did in school with only 10 pesos as their tuition fees (of course it was somehow big money then). I would want to know how 5 children, and their parents, lived in a small space and made it a home. I would want to know how they went through their not-well-off life through their mother's cooking and their father's drumming (in the band. He is a musikero.). I would want to know how my grandparents managed to send my mother to the Ateneo despite their difficulties.

Furthermore, based on their stories, I would like to go back to the time when Victoria Plaza was then the most popular hang-out place in their office days. I would want to witness their frenzy over the sought after Mister Donuts (or was it Dunkin Donuts?) pasalubong from someone who just came back from Manila; it's funny that nowadays, these donuts stores are everywhere to be seen and most people would just pass without looking. Also, I want to know how places in the city looked like before then compare it to the huge transformations they never imagined would happen, but did.

Knowing their stories would greatly delight me, but unfortunately, not all of their experiences before could they still remember. I wanted to know because I want to understand how they came to be who they are today and how they shaped me through their different experiences before. I also came to realize...it's amazing how unwell-off families of fives or dozens or more could send their children to school and manage to live a life; compared to most of the families under the poverty line nowadays...

I know these experience are not mine to recount...but if I could meddle with time.....

Idiots and Magic – What a Combination!

November 23, 2012

Time Started: 7:26PM

Time Ended:  9:28PM

(Note: This is my blog entry for the topic, “My favorite movie”.)

Idiot.  Who would love an idiot?  What more, 3 of them?  I'll tell you who: ME!  I'm talking about the movie 3 Idiots, a 2009 Indian comedy-drama film, a loose adaptation of the novel Five Point Someone by Chetan Bhagat.  It was just 2 years after its release that I discovered this stunningly beautiful motion picture.  I admit that at first, I wasn't very willing to buy and watch the DVD because I've never really watched Indian movies before; but I must say I'm such an idiot for thinking that because this more-or-less 3-hour movie is just absolutely worth the time.  It tells of a story of three engineering friends whose friendship remains strong through whatever; two of them are on the quest in finding their best friend who has been missing since their college graduation, and recounting their college years while traveling through a long winding road.  This truly captivating, inspiring, and entertaining movie never fails to make me laugh and cry (or teary-eyed) every time I watch it.

From idiocy, let me move on to a another world.

Magic.  Now, who could not know of this?  Of course, I'm referring to Harry Potter, one of the best and most successful film franchises of the time which is based on the best-selling seven-book series authored by J.K. Rowling.  I was in Grade 1 the first time I saw the first film together with my aunt and cousin.  That time, however, I still didn't quite understand the story and therefore did not appreciate it much.  I was then in Grade 6 that I started to read the books and watch the movies; since then, I've been a Harry Potter fan.  The movies were very good visual representations of the books – with a great cast and crew with their outstanding performances, a well-written script, and well-respected directors, producer, and distributor.  I can say I have been truly bewitched by these movies.

I'm not sure if I'm ever going to get tired of these movies, but they are my absolute favorites.

The Perks of Being a Harry Potter Fan

I have been a fan of Harry Potter since Grade 6; and, after all these years, I have had perks of being one. Here are just some of those:

First, you get transported to a magical world and experience a magical life. I highly respect J.K. Rowling, the author of the famous Harry Potter books, for having created an exclusively magical world of wizarding folks. The world she has created is actually not very different from the Muggle world, the world of the normal and non-magic folk – our world; however, she made it more fascinating, interesting, and exciting. Some of the undeniably awesome things she's created in the Harry Potter universe are: the ever-famous wizarding sport of Quidditch that is played on broomsticks; the out-of-this-Muggle-world subjects and lessons in the ancient school of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry; the only all-wizarding village of Hogsmeade in Britain, the infamous diagonally-aligned shops in Diagon Alley; and the desirable possessions of wizarding folks such as cauldrons for potion-making, quills and parchment for their writing, owls for mail delivery, broomsticks for travel and/or sport, and most importantly, wands for spells, enchantments, and the like, for which is the most important gear a wizard or witch should have; and many other things you will love in the magical world of Harry Potter. For these reasons and more, I can say that the Harry Potter books, aided with movies, will actually make you develop your creativity and broaden your imagination.

Second, you get to expand your vocabulary and get to love books and reading. With J.K. Rowling's wide knowledge and brilliant use of words in her famous novels, you get to add up more words in your vocabulary. Although, you may not remember every meaning of every word you've looked up, at least you will not be ignorant of the existence of these words. Also, with its friendly language and comprehensible thoughts, you will not fear to read all seven books even if it gets thicker every time. Furthermore, with the undying enthusiasm for reading, which has been awakened by the wonderful Harry Potter experience, you get to develop your love for books and reading that which quenches your thirst for knowledge and/or entertainment.

Lastly, you get to meet new acquaintances and gain new friends who are and/or who will become Harry Potter fans, too. When you're a fan, you cannot easily contain yourself from expressing your fandom, love, and enthusiasm for the series; so, you tend to talk about these things to your friends (some, much to their annoyance), but you get to influence them to read the books and experience the experiences you've had as you've read the books. If you successfully do this, congratulations! You have just contributed goodness to this world by gathering up people who could admire a very good piece of literature. Also, you meet people who are also co-fans and you may luckily gain them as your friends to whom you could easily relate with on your Harry Potter madness. For either or both of these, you can always develop bonds, with your former-ordinary-Muggle-friend-to-a-wizard-or-witch-wannabe or your newfound friends, like no other.

For these and more, I hope I've somehow convinced you, with just some of the many perks you can get of being a Harry Potter fan, enough to make you one of us now.

I Don't Like This

November 16, 2012

Time Started: 6:46PM

Time Ended:  9:02PM

I don't like this. I don't like writing. I don't like this at all.

In writing this blog, I still had to be in my best possible mood, at the best time start, on a topic that just popped into my mind as I was going to bed several nights ago. I am writing (or typing) this in my moment of cramming to beat the deadline at 11:59pm sharp tonight.

Why don't I like writing? Well, maybe I don't really dislike it at all – it's just that....there are factors to consider for me to somehow come up with an acceptable composition.

One factor is my mood and inspiration. I may identify my three different modes. First, the times that I get very inspired which then gets me to the mood of writing. This immense feeling pushes me to write – or, my heart would burst. These moments are triggered when I get fed up with so much emotion. These times, however, happen only once in a blue moon. Second, the times that I am inspired or just in the right mood to write. During these times, I may or may not have much idea on the topic I should be writing about but I can still manage to squeeze out some juice from my brain. These times occur more often than the first. And third, the times that I have no inspiration at all. These occur almost all the time whenever a teacher announces for a writing activity in the classroom that is to be submitted at the end of the 50-minute period – one of the main reasons why I always dread the high school's infamous on-the-spot writing that always made me worried of the scores I'll be getting. During these times, I have observed that I am one of the last people to ever get started – that when I look over to everyone's who's within my reach to check on their progress, I always get down-hearted because I realize they're now half-way through their introductory paragraphs, some even starting on the body, while my paper lies on my desk, crisply clean – nothing written but my name, section, and date. Not only did I dread those impromptu writing but also those take home essays that fill up a specified number of pages or those that require a minimum amount of words – both that actually demanded high-level thinking skills for reflections and persuasive essays.

Another factor is the given topic that I should come up with a write-up. For me, there are three kinds of topics. First is the interesting one. It is the kind that tickles my interest and something that I know much of that can bring me to a considerable mood in writing (my 2^nd mode, as indicated above). Second is the topic that somehow lets me write something worth reading or is forgivable enough that is written by someone (that's me) who also has something to say, however little. Lastly is the topic that I absolutely have no idea about, or at least something that I cannot say anything about because of its depth and seriousness. In addition, I feel most displeased whenever a teacher gives the liberty to the students to choose any topic that they should discuss in writing. While other, or most, people enjoy this ultimate freedom, I feel so lost.

As a child with a very youthful imagination, I found writing easy and enjoyable. It was then in my high school days that I felt awful with compositions. In college, now, this feeling has come up to a whole new level – I start to actually fear writing. I'm not afraid of it because I'm not confident with my spelling or grammar, but because I fear that I may not be able to live up to the standards of college education through the content of my works. But I hope, that sooner, I will be able to find joy and confidence in my writing.

 

"Writing is easy. All you do is stare at a blank sheet of paper until drops of blood form on your forehead."

 -- Gene Fowler