My Ideal Day

(Note: This blog entry is about the topic, “How would you spend an ideal day?”)

No worries on responsibilities – homeworks, studying, deadlines. The guilty feeling of procrastinating and cramming in the end should be eliminated. These are just some rules for me to spend an ideal day. But how would I spend an ideal day? Maybe.......

On a warm, sunny day. I can't promise to wake up early in the morning; but if I miraculously do wake up before 7am, I would take a good exercise I almost never get. I could do with a lively sunny-side-up or fluffy scrambled egg for breakfast. I'd also like to travel down a smooth well-paved road driving my own car (if I could drive, and if I had my own car) to a “nature” place – maybe lay a picnic on the banks of a clear, refreshing, blue river, or get a waterfall bath, or lay down on a mat on a windy green meadow while reading a book. Of course, I could do with all the picture takings. I could also do something different and new like talking to a stranger or an acquaintance, or bumping into a huge celebrity, and gaining them as friends while chit-chatting and sipping a cup of coffee under the coffee shop umbrella. At night, I would love to lay down on a cozy mat at a high place (maybe on a grassy, windy hill? Or on the roof?) where I could clearly see the bright stars of the universe or starry lights of the city, or both.

On a gloomy, rainy day. Who said I can't spend an ideal day on a day like this? For the record, I like waking up at 8 in the morning, realizing that the sun has been and will probably be hidden by those heavy gray clouds for the rest of the day, feeling I've had at least 8 hours of sleep, and also lying awake on the cozily chilled bed linens cooled by the air-conditioned air preserved by the equally cool environment outside. I would suffice having a movie marathon for the day – may it be a drama, comedy, suspense, horror, inspirational, heart-warming, heart-breaking, old, or new, I'm pretty sure I would enjoy watching those in my humble black flat-screen. A warm cocoa drink by the hour of 3 in the afternoon might be the perfect drink I would enjoy; and a nice grilled dinner would I also love to eat just outside the house where the warm dinner comforts my body from the shivery temperature. By the time I have washed myself, I would have allowed my DVD player to rest – but not the TV. I would want to delight myself in watching the nightly TV shows of my favorite TV station before I go to bed and wake up the next morning to face the real world once more.

The 24 hours of my ideal day may not be enough, but I want to make the most I could out of it – anyway, my ideal day comes only once in a blue moon.

"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.