Ang bagsik ni Ondoy

Nakakapanlumo ang mga nangyayari sa ating bansa ngayon. Napakaraming mga lugar na nasalanta at taong nasawi. Kalunos-lunos ang mga mamamayang Pilipino naapektuhan ng bagyong Ondoy, lalo na ang mga taga-Marikina, Rizal, Arayat, at iba pang mga lugar na napinsala. Katakot-takot ang iniwan na bakas: mga daan at bahay na puno ng putik, mga bangkay na nakasabit sa mga kable ng kuryente, at mga video ng taong tinatangay ng ilog. Napakaraming kwento ng paghihirap sa balita. Ngunit ang pinakanakaapekto sa akin ay ang kwento ni June Marqueso, isang ama na kinukuha mula sa sira-sirang bahay ang computer na binili niya para sa kanyang anak. Sabi niya'y inutang pa niya ito para lang mairegalo sa anak. Dugo't pawis ang ibinigay niya para sa bagay na iyon, ngunit ngayon? Wala na. Hindi na niya ito mapapakinabangan.

Iniisip ko ngayon kung paano makakabangon ang mga taong ito. Pinasok ang bahay namin ng tubig noon. Wala mang 1 inch ang tubig na pumasok ngunit pagod na pagod kami sa paglilinis. Hanggang sa kusina kasi pumasok iyon. Nabasa din ang mga electric socket at mga AVR. Kung kami nahirapan na noon, paano pa kaya ang iba ngayon? Hindi ko maisip kung paano ko lilinisin ang isang bahay na puno ng putik habang walang tubig at kuryente, kung ako man ang nasa posisyon nila.

May balita pa ngayon na sinasabing may dalawang bagong bagyong paparating sa bansa. Paano na ba iyan?

Napakahirap. Walang pagkain, ni magandang tulugan. Bubong at lamig lamang ang naghihintay.

Sa kabila ng lahat ng ito, ano ang ginagawa ng ibang pulitiko? Nag-uusap tungkol sa eleksyon, ano pa? Ano ba naman iyon? Kung gusto niyo talagang maging mabuting pinuno, bakit hindi niyo sila tulungan? Bakit hindi niyo muna putulin ang mga pag-uusap na iyan tungkol sa pulitika? Anong klaseng logic 'yan?

At tayo namang nasa mga lugar na walang baha. Wala nga ba tayong magagawa? Hindi 'yan totoo. Maaari tayong magdonate ng pera o mga relief goods. Kung hindi naman natin magagawa iyan, ipagdasal na lamang natin ang ating mga kababayan. Dahil kahit sa ganitong panahon, prayer works.

Movie Review - Paprika

Rating: 7/10

This movie is produced by MadHouse, the company responsible for making great animes like Death Note. It's a sci-fi, horror flick that focuses on these DC Minis, machines that enable other people to share in your dream. Sure, it's a good movie and the graphics are good but it just didn't make me feel that something you get after watching a nice film. The plot is good but it's sort of hard for me to catch. Maybe I'm just that dull but whatever. It's a good one, though. By the way, this movie is recommended by Kiri-chan. :D

And, one last thing... It's not a kid-friendly movie. :D

Movie Review - Kiki's Delivery Service

Rating: 8/10

Another great film by Studio Ghibli. The story is nice, exactly what you'd expect from the company. I especially liked the songs (I'm watching the English version). They're so catchy and full of meaning. I looooooove them! Especially the last one at the end, "I'm gonna fly." Anyway, I gave it that rating 'cause it's just getting a little too repetitive for me. Don't get me wrong, Studio Ghibli is a great company and Hayao Miyazaki is one cool director but the themes are just, well, all the same. It's still a great one, though. Highly recommended. :D

Words of wisdom

Fresh, fresh, fresh!

My dad said this awhile ago (translated from Kapampangan, of course):

Everyone goes through hard times. If unbelievers can survive it, what more us believers?

Praise God! :D

Words of wisdom

Fresh, fresh, fresh!

My dad said this awhile ago (translated from Kapampangan, of course):

Everyone goes through hard times. If unbelievers can survive it, what more us believers?

Praise God! :D

Movie Review - Howl's Moving Castle

Rating: 10/10

Another masterpiece from Studio Ghibli. The characters are pretty. The plot is good. Each scene leaves you wanting for more. The ending, though, for me, is a little muddled. But it's a good movie, anyway.

Howl's Moving Castle is the perfect fairy tale, minus the cheesiness.

Book review - N is for Noose by Sue Grafton

Rating: 7/10

Yes, that's a 7 over 10. Sue Grafton is a good writer - that's undeniable - but the story just doesn't work for me. Sure, it's a mystery and I'm a fan but it just doesn't fit my taste. It feels as if something is still missing. That's just me, though. After all, she is a New York Times best-selling author. *shrug shrug*

Kinsey Mallhone is a good character, though. She's almost real to me.

Book Review - Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton

Rating: 9.5/10

This novel is just awesome. Written in simple prose, this science thriller is really the best. Michael Crichton is writing in his element. The theme is believable and the dinosaurs are so life-like you could almost feel as if they're about to nip your toes.

I could have given it a perfect rating but I felt that the gore scenes were, somehow, not enough. I expected more blood, a lot more blood.

But it's still a great read, guys. Give it a try!

Pagtulong

Noong isang araw ko lang naramdaman talaga ang ibang klaseng saya nagmumula sa pagtulong sa ating kapwa. Oo, nakatulong na ako noon pero halos lahat ng iyon ay dahil napipilitan lang ako o dahil sa iba pang mga bagay. Kadalasan kasi ay ayaw nating magbigay sapagkat iyon ang mensaheng ipinapaabot sa atin ng mundo: sa akin lang ang sa akin. Ngunit ang pagtulong na isinusulat ko ngayon ay iyong bukal sa ating puso.

Sa biyaheng pabalik ng Diliman, Quezon City ay bumababa ako ng bus sa tapat ng SM North EDSA. Upang makarating sa sakayan ng jeep ay kailangan ko pang umakyat at tumawid sa footbridge, habang dala-dala ang aking laptop at mga damit. May kabigatan ang mga dala kong ito, mas bumibigat pa tuwing umuulan dahil isang kamay lang ang gamit ko sa pagbuhat ng bag. Siguro ay aabot din sa limang minuto o higit pa ang pagtawid sa footbridge.

Nagkataon naman na naiwan ko ang aking payong sa ikaapat na palapag ng Gusaling Palma noong nakaraang Biyernes. Sakto rin naman at umuulan nang araw na iyon. Ang payong na dala ko ay pagmamay-ari ng aking nakababatang kapatid. Medyo sira-sira na ang mga bakal nito kaya naman, nang hapon na iyon ng ika-pito ng Setyembre 2009, nahirapan akong buksan ito. Malakas din ang hangin, dagdag pa sa pagkasira ng payong.

Tuwing umuulan, may mga batang lalaki at babae na naghihintay sa ibaba ng footbridge. Nagdadala sila ng payong at nagtatanong sa mga dumadaan kung kailangan nila ng payong o kaya ng magbubuhat sa kanilang bitbit na gamit. Kung oo ang sagot, papayungan ng mga bata ang mga ito hanggang sa dulo ng footbridge. Ang mga tao na ang magdidikta ng presyo.

At dahil nga sa nahirapan akong buksan ang payong, may lumapit na bata sa akin at nag-offer na payungan ako hanggang sa sakayan ng jeep. Pumayag naman ako dahil napaka-hopeless ng sitwasyon. Dala-dala ang mga gamit ko, umakyat na ako sa footbridge na kasama ang batang lalaki.

Habang kami ay naglalakad, iniisip ko kung magkano ang ibibigay ko sa kanya. Naisipan kong bigyan siya ng bente. Tinignan ko siya ng sandali at nakita napakapayat niya. Doon ko naalala ang mga cookies na binili ko sa Pampanga dalawang oras ang nakakaraan. Dapat sana'y kakainin ko ito para sumaya naman ako ng kaunti ngunit napagdesisyunan kong ibigay ko sa kanya ito. Naalala ko kasi na marami rin naman akong biskwit sa aking kwarto.

Nang narating na namin ang dulo ng footbridge, kinuha ko ang cookies mula sa aking bag at ibinigay sa kanya, sabay sabi na sa kanya na lang iyon. Hindi nagbago ang mukha niya; tinitignan niya lang ako habang kumukuha ng pera mula sa wallet. Nang maibigay ko na sa kanya iyon at papaalis na, narinig ko siyang tawagan ang kanyang mga kasama na nasa malapit lamang. Pinakita niya ang mga cookies; nakangiti siya. Maaaring medyo corny ito pero nung nakita ko ang ngiti na iyon, nawala ang bigat sa aking puso. Para bang may magic ang maliit na bagay na iyon.

Ganoon nga siguro ang dulot sa atin ng pagtulong sa kapwa. Walang kaparehas ito sa buong mundo. Hindi ito mabibili ng kahit na anumang halaga ng pera, pilak, o maging ginto man. Ika nga, ito ay priceless. Naiintindihan ko na ngayon kung bakit napakaraming tao ang gumagawa ng volunteer work samantalang hindi naman sila sinuswelduhan. Para sa kanila, sapat na ang mga ngiting isinusukli ng mga natulungang kapwa.

Movie Review - Whisper of the Heart

Rating: 10/10

Aww... This is such a nice, heart-warming movie. I didn't think it was corny at all, even with the love story. The character of Shizuku was so well-made, provided with a number of flaws that it seemed almost human. The story was believable, especially if you like to read a lot of books. Also, the thing I loved about this movie the most is that, somehow, I can relate to it. Like Shizuku, I'm a bookworm and I could just go on and on reading books forever. (The only thing is that I don't borrow books from libraries because of the limited time. I want to savor the flavor of books for a long time by owning them.) I've also thought about quitting college a lot of times and just write books. But I've learned, like her, that I need a lot of schooling and I'm willing to do everything to fulfill that dream.

The words of the Mr. Nishi were also nice. It gave me a lot of motivation to go on and to get over rejection and criticism.

By the way, it's from a manga by Aoi Hiiragi and adapted into a movie by Studio Ghibli, the studio that made great movies like Spirited Away and Ponyo. Hayao Miyazaki was also involved in the making of this movie.

This is a brilliant classic that is a must-see for any bookworm.

How I wish I too had a Seiji...

- - - - -

Anyway, three of my favorite snapshots from the movie. Why? Because in these pictures, Shizuku is like me an awful lot:

1.) I could be like this a lot. When studying, I would put away my textbook and pick up the novel I'm reading at the moment. You can't blame me when the subject is Biotechnology.

2.) I usually listen to music while studying.

3.) Animals aren't friendly with me, especially cats. They give me the silent treatment.

My life in ten or so years

I've taken a lot of quizzes on Facebook and some of them have these questions:

What do you see yourself doing ten years from now?
Where do you see yourself ten years from now?

I always answer that I see myself working, but in what line? Yes, I've taken up BA Journalism but is that really where I belong? 'Cause right now I'm having doubts whether I should continue the program or shift to Creative Writing (which is, like, my forte or something). It's not just because of Clarence, mind you (although that could be a consolation...). I've thought about future plans, goals, and my present interests. I asked myself where I would want to immerse myself. Television? Radio? Newspaper? I don't think so. Even as a student, I've already begun to see the crisis our media is suffering, especially the problems which lie on corruption. I don't want to build my life around those things. I want to be happy, because happiness is the most important thing in my life. As long as I'm happy, I'm okay. I mean, I could spend a whole day at a library and be happy just looking at the titles. (Yes, I am that shallow) Also, I think that mass communication is too vibrant, too colorful, for me. I'm more of an alone person. I don't want noise; I just want peace. I even prefer nights over the day and rain over sunshine. I'm not emo, you have to understand that. I just want to be alone and think things through. I'm not that serious either. When I say think things through, I mean day dream. That's why I shirk from people. I'm even having problems making friends or opening up to new acquaintances. I don't trust people that easily. So I think Creative Writing would be better. I'm aware that collaborations exist but you can always choose to work on your own. That is so contrary to the nature of journalism, where you run around interviewing people, gathering facts, and distributing them to people. Well, that's not what I want.

I want to be lazy. I want to be free. I want to hold my own time. I don't want to be imprisoned every day in a white patrol car. I don't want talking to people. I just want to be on my own. That's why I'm having second thoughts. And I totally don't know what to do, especially now that the first semester is nearing its end.

Oh, God, help me! I don't know what to do.

I know that if I choose something and I'm not happy with the outcome, I'll just be the loser in the end. I'll suck. I'll be the one to suffer. Man, why can't I decide? This is so hard.

I envy those people who would stick to their dream jobs. But, me? Oh, I don't know. Maybe for some people the work of a journalist and a creative writer are the same: writing. For me, no, that's not true. For one, a creative writer loves his adjectives. I love my adjectives! I cannot let them go! I don't want to be someone I'm not.

Oh, God.

Can't I just stop school?

Nah. Bad idea.

But I don't know what to do!

I don't want to waste four years of my life studying Journalism when, after all, I was made for Creative Writing. How loser does that sound to you? That is so gross. So stupid. I don't want to be stupid.

I do know one thing, though. I want to write. Books and stories mean everything to me. I cannot let them go. They're my world. They're more important than video games and anime. If they're gone... Then, just kill me, please.

... Maybe I just need to take a retreat, like Noynoy Aquino, and think a lot of things through. Or just go see a guidance counselor.

Anyway, dear blog, thank you for helping me take a load off my mind.

See you soon!

New books

Yep yep! After days of book famine, me here spent 95 pesos on three new books: Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton, The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James, and N is for Noose by Sue Grafton. All from Booksale, people!

Hurray for Booksale!

XD