The Horse And His Boy
Hello, everyone! How's it going? It's already been around a month since my last post, isn't it? Ah, time does fly by quickly, especially when you're quite busy. Especially now that it's exam season over here, we got a lot of things to accomplish and submit...
That aside, I would like to talk about a theatrical performance that my church mates and I watched yesterday. It's a rendition by Trumpets Inc. of The Horse And His Boy, the third book (chronological order) of The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis. This book is about Shasta, a boy in the land of Calormen who attempts to escape to Narnia with Bree, a talking horse. Unlike the other books, the main protagonists of The Horse And His Boy are not the Pevensies. Instead, it is Shasta and Bree, who are later joined by Aravis and Hwin (the latter is also a talking horse).
I've already read the book prior to watching the production, actually. It wasn't the best book in the series, but I did enjoy reading it. I really liked Shasta in the book, though it took me quite a while to form a mental image of his appearance (when I was reading it). But I did like his clumsy personality. I found that sort of awkwardness endearing, especially in book characters. Needless to say, I have added him to my list of literary boyfriends (╯✧∇✧)╯
Aravis, on the other hand, was my #goals. Like ugh, a brave fighter and at the same time a sought-after maiden? Um, SIGN ME UP. Aravis should give me lessons, as she is the warrior princess I aspire to be. I ship her with Shasta.
Now, for the stage production itself. It was held in this large auditorium in the Meralco Theater. We actually missed the first part because of traffic caused by the temporary closing of some roads (thanks, APEC). Nevertheless, I had a wonderful time watching the two-hour presentation. The actors and actresses were amazing! Please, their skills are literally goals. The props and costumes were also really cool, especially the ones for the Talking Beasts (that's Bree, Hwin, and Aslan)! I'm sorry, I am positively obsessing right now, I cannot get over it. The play was absolutely smashing!
And oh, Shasta and Aravis! Please, catch me right now. Hold me back before I go on a fangirl speech. Their OTP score has absolutely skyrocketed. I shipped them, yes. But after watching the play, I was simply... surprised. I am also very sorry, but I just have to say this— Shasta is so cute. I like Shasta/Prince Cor ⁄(⁄ ⁄•⁄-⁄•⁄ ⁄)⁄
He was so adorable and I just wanna hug him after watching the play, and... Ffffff, I cannot even right now. I am in that phase. Sorry Shasta/Prince Cor's actor, I am kind of obsessing over you right now.
I also saw him up close after the play. I didn't ask for a picture or anything though. I was too awkward (yep, living up to the blog name).
All that aside, I guess that my takeaway from the show is the reminder that things happen for a reason. Just like Shasta/Cor, we go through a ton of difficult things. We may see ourselves as extremely unfortunate. But really, in the end things will work out. All those hardships are simply a form of trial, training, or test to further your abilities.
Well, I suppose that's all for today. Thanks for reading! Tell me, have you ever read the book or watched this play that I was talking about? Do share your thoughts in the comments!
Alrighty, until then. Ciao!~ <3
Labels: theatre
Mortality
Hello everyone. It is I, and today's blog post is a little more pensive than usual.
Last Thursday, I had a strange dream about death. In it, I saw my parents lie in a coffin, as everyone was mourning. Needless to say, I was as well. I woke up with a damp pillow.
Now yesterday, I watched a movie called "The Girl Who Leapt Through Time" (it's amazing and infuriating). The title pretty much explains what it is about— a girl who can leap through time (literally). She uses this time-traveling ability to fix her past mistakes and avoid difficult situations. Although halfway around the movie, she begins to experience the consequences of her actions. One of this film's themes is "time waits for no one."
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| Yeah, screenshots FTW! |
Now, it reminds me of mortality (yes, forgive my morbid mind). Time waits for no one. In real life, we cannot will time to stop. It's impossible. If we're running late for an appointment, we can't ask time to stop for us. If we're having fun, we can't ask time to stop so we can go on forever. Time goes on, whether you like it or not.
There is also this one incident regarding Cyndago. If you frequently watch YouTubers, you may be aware of them. They are a trio who run their own YouTube channel. Almost a month ago, Daniel— one of the guys— attempted suicide. He failed, but still passed away soon after since his attempt did some irreversible damage.
Those who are in the know about them are aware that these folks dyed their hair with Markiplier for raising awareness for depression and bipolar disorder. Quite ironic, isn't it? They were trying to raise awareness for a cause that one of them was suffering through. We all didn't know. I suppose we cannot really judge, because I'm sure Daniel was going through his own troubles at that time as well. (You will be missed, Daniel Kyre.)
What I garner from these things is that time is continuous— life is continuous. It's constantly moving ahead, bringing us along. And, one of the things life brings along is death.
You may ask, where am I going with all this? Well, it's human nature to take life for granted. It's always present, seeing that we all have it. We never get to appreciate it and its value, because it is always present from the moment we're born until our last breath, and we only get to see it fade away when someone else's does. The bad thing about this is that it's usually our loved ones' lives we see disappear. But, we can't help them. We cannot do anything but watch because time waits for no one. It will always be too late to tell them what you feel. It is only at those moments that you realize you have to tell them you love them. I watched Markiplier play a game called I Remember The Rain, and he said something that really hit home.
"Tell the ones you care about that you care, because the problem with things like this is that some things get left unspoken and you never know... You never know when the thing you care about will be taken away from you whether it's your control or not.
So remind the people around you that they matter, and more importantly than anything that they matter to you. And you know, maybe you'll hear it from someone that you matter to them too, and that'll come right when you need it the most."
Things happen. Life sucks. But, we still gotta live life because just like what The Girl Who Leapt Through Time says, time waits for no one. The true value of life is one we only see at the last minute, but it shouldn't be so. I suppose you can never really put a precise value on it. It's priceless.
So what do we do about it? I think the opposite of the phrase works too— don't wait for time. Let's be honest, the right time will never come. This moment only arrives when you think it is, and when you believe from the bottom of your heart that it is meant to be.
We all know of
Shia Labeouf's extreme motivational speech, I'm sure. It's the video where he constantly yells out "JUST DO IT" in an aggressive manner. Honestly, we all probably laughed at it. The video is too ridiculously fitting as a glorious internet meme. In all honesty though, it's actually really inspirational once you listen to what he's really saying. There's one part where he says, "yesterday you said tomorrow, so just do it!". I believe this to be especially agreeable. Don't wait for the right time to do your homework, don't wait for the right time to choose which job you want. Don't put off life, because once it leaves it's never coming back. If you want to show people you care, then do it today. Don't settle for less. Help them carry their bags, or even just a simple hug. It's okay if it isn't a big grandiose event, as long as you do it.
I guess I may or may not be a little guilty of that too. I sometimes become rude and uptight to my own family, but I never get to show them that I do care. I take it for granted as well. We all sort of do.
Oh well. Perhaps it's about time we needed a wake-up call anyways.
Labels: anime, musings
The 36th Manila International Book Fair
Hey there everyone! (｡^‿^)ﾉﾞ It is I, and today we shall be talking about the 36th MIBF!
Alright, so what is the Manila International Book Fair? It is one of the biggest book events in the Philippines, and has been around for quite a while now (36 years). There's a variety of books to be found— from textbooks and encyclopedias to comic books and novels. Book signings and launches are also held, as well as other literary events.
I must say, I actually enjoyed my time there. I went on the 19th, right after my midterms (which I almost certainly failed). It was my first time and the number of people was slightly overwhelming, but I still had fun! I was fangasming from all the literature that surrounded me, it was absolutely glorious. Oh, and Best of Anime was held nearby as well, so you can see how much of a treat this is. (Although I wasn't able to visit BoA, I saw tons of cosplayers around and it was basically the best. Two things I love together <3). Now if any of you went to BoA, leave a comment and tell us how it was! I am curious! ( ^-^)/
All that aside, SMX CONVENTION CENTER IS HUGE. I LOVE IT. I do not have pictures, but trust me when I say it is. We had to line up first to get in though, as there were lots of other people too. The line moved quickly though, and we were inside in no time.
The excitement and bustle hung on the atmosphere, rubbing into me. I felt really hyped just being surrounded by all these books, and my kin! Aisles and aisles of books were on display: paperbacks, hardbound, they were all there. I even saw a Game of Thrones graphic novel which I ABSOLUTELY ADORED, but ended up not buying. Regrets :(
Now, as for the book signings. Colleen Hoover, the author of Ugly Love, was there! And ughh, KIERA CASS SENSEI WAS THERE >:O I MISSED AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET HER AND I AM FURIOUS!! Nooo, my beloved sensei :'(
Ah, and there was an interesting pen that I saw. For all the Chinese school students here, you must know of the Chinese calligraphy brush, otherwise known as the
mo pit. Alright, so I saw one. But it has an ink cartridge. Literally works like how a regular
mo pit would, and you wouldn't need to dip it in an inkwell anymore! Dude, that was mad awesome.
Now, for the books. What else is there to say? There were miles and miles of books lined up on shelves, and just as much people as there were books. I bought Zoella's book Girl Online (MY FIRST YOUTUBER BOOK), and a couple more others, including We Were Liars and Flowers For Algernon. My only complaint is that my copy of Girl Online had a small defect
inside the cover, which I only discovered after opening the book for the first time. Mind you, it was in plastic packaging so I wasn't able to thoroughly inspect the book when I bought it. I'm still a bit upset about that. Perhaps I am just a very unlucky person...
All in all, my first time attending the MIBF is definitely memorable! It was absolutely amazing, and I'd love to go again next year!
Well, that is all for now I suppose. Sorry for the late post! That aside, has any of you attended this event before? Leave a comment~~
I suppose that's all for now. Ciao! <3
Midterms and Motivations
Hi everyone! (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:・ﾟ✧ It has, once again, been a while. But I've returned! ლ(́◉◞౪◟◉‵ლ)
Anyways, perhaps you can infer from the title that I am currently in my midterms. Then why, you may ask, am I here with a blog post? That's simple. I am avoiding responsibility I am taking a short break from all the work. Math was very arduous work, and it's fan-freakin'-tastic that it is over. Sure, I probably failed miserably and might have to repeat the semester, but that's okay! #BleakOptimism
I don't know why, but I find it sad how our society puts a frighteningly big emphasis on mathematic ability. It's just sad, especially for people like me who are inept in academic endeavors. I mean, I can't do math but I can write fanfictions. I can speak. I can present arguments. Where do my undocumentable talents come to use? Ah, such is life.
Speaking of midterms, I also can't fathom why we students are passive-aggressively asked to fulfill unbearablly high expectations. I mean. Yeah. I wanna learn, I wanna get good grades! But at this point, it's like it's all that matters, and I don't like it. Or maybe that's just my brain rage-quitting through ranting. I do not know ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Probably gonna fail all my tests (￣O￣;)
Moving on, there is one motivating force that drives me to do well. The Manila International Book Fair!! I'm going there after my midterms, and will be meeting with a friend who I haven't seen in quite a while so I'm pretty stoked (╯✧∇✧)╯ I hope my wallet and grumbling stomach will forgive me during weekday lunchtimes...
Well, I better get back into the zone if I want to scrape by with a passing grade. I may do another post after the book fair, documenting what I have experienced. Hmm, we'll see how this works out when the time comes. Oh well, ciao everyone! And if you guys are having exams too, then good luck and God bless! May the force be with you all! (•̀◡•́)و ̑̑
Labels: rants
Reminiscing
Hello, everyone!（＾Ｏ＾☆♪ It's been like, 3 months? 4 months? Goodness gracious, sorry for neglecting this place (つД`)ノ
The past summer was really bittersweet, with equal parts bitter and sweet. Sweet because I attended a nationwide youth conference, and went to HK and Macau afterwards. Bitter because it all had to end... *sighs* I already miss my conference buddies (u_u)
But I suppose nothing really lasts forever, no? Time passes, and events end. It's okay though because when we feel sad, it means that we are alive— we felt happiness, and you can only know the difference when you have experienced both~~ <3
Speaking of which, that brings to mind a thought. Does everyone reminisce? Well, I suppose most of us— if not all— do. There's just a warm, nostalgic feeling that fills me when I do remember the past. Part of me says to continue, and explore the libraries of my memory. On the other hand, part of me also says to stop— to move on, and keep the memories in where they are. Oddly, both ring of the truth.
There are times in which I want to relive wonderful days. It makes me happy to think about them once again and to remember— but what's strange is that sometimes they are tinged with sadness. It elicits the thought that perhaps I may never experience it again. Most of the time, I know that it's true. Maybe it was the last time I was going to see those people, as we've all gone our separate ways. Such a bittersweet thing. Oh, but what wonderful times. It can't be helped, you know?
The other side of me though, tries to reprimand me. Why do these happy things sadden me? Aren't they supposed to motivate me? Shouldn't these thoughts tell me to get out there, and make new memories? In a sense, I suppose so. Memories are unique objects, and each is different for the other. It is impossible to recreate every aspect of it— the feeling, the place, the people. In the memory we hold, they will be immortalized as so; but it changes. In reality, they all change. It will be impossible to make an exact copy of it. That begs the question: what do we do?
Well, this is what we do— we make new ones. We cannot replicate a memory, but we can go out and make them. We managed to make happy memories before, so what's stopping us from making them again? True, they won't be the same; they never will be. But similar or not, happy memories are happy memories, and they aren't all the same. There's your family, your friends; go out and be happy with them! Or if not, then do something you enjoy! All we really need to do is to just smile at the past as it ushers you to keep on walking.
Remember this: the past is a trampoline. If you decide to look ahead, you will go places. Just like a trampoline, it's your choice if you want to stay on it motionlessly, or to jump to higher grounds and explore new things. You never forget the trampoline— your past. You're always going to go back, but it will empower you and not bring you down.
Perhaps that's not the best analogy, but I think it fits right now. I think y'all get what I mean (=^x^=)
Well, I guess that's about it for now. Maybe I'm just a little too optimistic? Perhaps. But I like to think about this topic, as I feel like this subject, though it means one thing, is unique to each of us. Some like it, some don't. But in the end, it's still there— a small bunch that's kept away in the crevices of our minds :)
Final thoughts, anyone? Do you guys think like this too, or perhaps you have a different perspective on things? Feel free to leave a comment, or drop by the c-box >:3 Thanks for reading, if you got this far! Ciao everyone, and have a great day! ( ^-^)/
Labels: musings, summer
Summer Woes
Hello there everyone. It's me again, and I felt rather bored today so I opted to write a blog entry discussing my current lethargic state (⊙﹏⊙✿)
Do you ever feel like doing nothing? And I'm not referring to having no activities planned for your vacation. I'm talking about that apathetic state of mind we experience when we have no duties or responsibilities to fulfill in school/work. Sounds awesome right? Well, it is for a couple of weeks. But soon after, we sometimes descend to a stage in which we've exhausted our hype and have a crisis of sorts. Unfortunately, this may or may not result in us squandering a good 2-4 months of our lives lazing around listlessly. Does anyone ever feel the same way? Because I do (๑ △ ๑)`* The feeling of possibly wasting vacation saddens me, and somehow scares me as well. It's probably just a phase, but I can't help but expect myself to do many things this summer— so much that I can't help but be sad about not being able to do as much as I hoped.
Lately, I've been doing some self-reflection. What did I really do this summer? My daily summer routine is to go on YouTube, then brush up my French on that app Duolingo (which, by the way, is a great way to kill time ^_^). Most of my friends are abroad for the summer, so I don't really have a lot of people I can talk to. But that's besides the point. I haven't really done anything significant the past couple of months, and it makes me feel a little bad about myself. Do any of you relate to that? I hope you can relate to that somehow (^_^;) Phineas and Ferb may know what to do with their 104 days of summer vacation, but I (and perhaps you as well, reader?) am going through a phase of summertime lethargy. I have no idea what to do with my vacation.
Still, I've thought of things I can busy myself with. Having an activity/hobby to pursue is a good idea. Perhaps, take a part time job? Learning to play a certain instrument or studying a new language would probably be a good use of time as well. As for me, I'm thinking of picking up my guitar again, since it has been a while. Maybe my love for the instrument will be rekindled ( ˘ ³˘)❤ And French. As a frequent obsess-er (that's a word I cobbled up just now. Forgive me) over language, I've decided to start learning French for the fun of it
and perhaps it can help me boost me résumé when I'm older LOL. By trying to do these things, I hope to get rid of my summer woes~♪ But for now, I'll be waiting for my daily prime-time anime to run on TV (≧∇≦)/
And on an ending note, lazing around with no responsibilities to fulfill does feel good. But even if busying yourself with hobbies/activities during summer is great, savour the joy of being responsibility-free while it lasts :♡.•♬✧⁽⁽ଘ( ˊ▽ˋ )ଓ⁾⁾*+:•*∴
That's it for now. Do you have any summer woes yourself? Feel free to leave a comment, or perhaps a message in my C-box at the "chat" tab. Maybe we could have a lovely chat~~ Ciao, my friends (︶▽︶)
Labels: musings, summer
Concerts and A Slight Sunburn
Hello there everyone! How's it going?
✿ It's been like, almost a month since my last blog post! The past week, a couple of noteworthy things happened, so I guess I ought to make a post about it. 〜(￣▽￣〜)
A couple of days ago, some church friends and I went to this outdoor adventure park. It was enjoyable. There was this giant swing thing, and you can go rappelling, and all that. Alright, so this anecdote will be about the part where I tried out the wall climbing attraction. TAKE A SEAT FOLKS. GRAB YOUR POPCORN AND YOUR DOG/CAT/PET, AND GET READY FOR MY WEIRDNESS. (੭ˊ▽ˋ)੭✧
As you all probably know, I'm an unproductive Asian who spends 80% of my time sitting/lying down while watching YouTube and sleeping. And from that, we can all guess how good I will do when I suddenly do a very strenuous physical activity like wall climbing.
Fast forward to 1:30 in the afternoon, it was my turn to take a shot in this wall climbing thing. This would be my first time doing this,
and I'm terrified because the wall was towering but the wall doesn't seem too high. I see that people do it and reach the top. Seems like a simple task right?
Well no, THE ANSWER IS NO. DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE WALL. Like, seriously. First few minutes? Easy as pie. Then almost halfway through, I was literally flailing my arms around and did a futile attempt on raising myself up while gripping on the holds. I was wailing "GUYS. CAN'T ANYMORE. CAN'T. I CAN'T. " between gasps.
I bet that was a wonderful view for those below me.
And afterwards, I just collapsed on a bench under the shade and remained like that for at least 15 minutes. Very nice. Also, I think I got a slight sunburn on my nose, because the skin in around my face is somewhat peeling. Also, I got a very faint tan line on my ankle, which I suppose is from my socks. Cool.
And just last night, I attended a Hillsong concert with my mother and some of her friends. My arms and shoulders were still sore from the previous day's wall climbing endeavor, but it's a Hillsong concert. I can't just turn that down (☆▽☆) It's funny, when I got home after going to that adventure park, my mother was like "oh by the way, we're going to a Hillsong concert tomorrow."
I was like "um
what." Because, if your mother just casually told you that after you come home sore all over, then... Like what? (^_^;) But the concert was really fun, so no regrets there. ♡✧
So... I think that's all for today. If you've read until this point, then thank you very much! So I guess I'll see you guys next time. I guess my question for y'all is: how is your summer going so far? Feel free to leave a message in my Cbox, located in the chat tab! Ciao for now! ヽ（◕◡◕❀ฺ ）ノ
Labels: summer
The Horse And His Boy
Hello, everyone! How's it going? It's already been around a month since my last post, isn't it? Ah, time does fly by quickly, especially when you're quite busy. Especially now that it's exam season over here, we got a lot of things to accomplish and submit...
That aside, I would like to talk about a theatrical performance that my church mates and I watched yesterday. It's a rendition by Trumpets Inc. of The Horse And His Boy, the third book (chronological order) of The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis. This book is about Shasta, a boy in the land of Calormen who attempts to escape to Narnia with Bree, a talking horse. Unlike the other books, the main protagonists of The Horse And His Boy are not the Pevensies. Instead, it is Shasta and Bree, who are later joined by Aravis and Hwin (the latter is also a talking horse).
I've already read the book prior to watching the production, actually. It wasn't the best book in the series, but I did enjoy reading it. I really liked Shasta in the book, though it took me quite a while to form a mental image of his appearance (when I was reading it). But I did like his clumsy personality. I found that sort of awkwardness endearing, especially in book characters. Needless to say, I have added him to my list of literary boyfriends (╯✧∇✧)╯
Aravis, on the other hand, was my #goals. Like ugh, a brave fighter and at the same time a sought-after maiden? Um, SIGN ME UP. Aravis should give me lessons, as she is the warrior princess I aspire to be. I ship her with Shasta.
Now, for the stage production itself. It was held in this large auditorium in the Meralco Theater. We actually missed the first part because of traffic caused by the temporary closing of some roads (thanks, APEC). Nevertheless, I had a wonderful time watching the two-hour presentation. The actors and actresses were amazing! Please, their skills are literally goals. The props and costumes were also really cool, especially the ones for the Talking Beasts (that's Bree, Hwin, and Aslan)! I'm sorry, I am positively obsessing right now, I cannot get over it. The play was absolutely smashing!
And oh, Shasta and Aravis! Please, catch me right now. Hold me back before I go on a fangirl speech. Their OTP score has absolutely skyrocketed. I shipped them, yes. But after watching the play, I was simply... surprised. I am also very sorry, but I just have to say this— Shasta is so cute. I like Shasta/Prince Cor ⁄(⁄ ⁄•⁄-⁄•⁄ ⁄)⁄
He was so adorable and I just wanna hug him after watching the play, and... Ffffff, I cannot even right now. I am in that phase. Sorry Shasta/Prince Cor's actor, I am kind of obsessing over you right now.
I also saw him up close after the play. I didn't ask for a picture or anything though. I was too awkward (yep, living up to the blog name).
All that aside, I guess that my takeaway from the show is the reminder that things happen for a reason. Just like Shasta/Cor, we go through a ton of difficult things. We may see ourselves as extremely unfortunate. But really, in the end things will work out. All those hardships are simply a form of trial, training, or test to further your abilities.
Well, I suppose that's all for today. Thanks for reading! Tell me, have you ever read the book or watched this play that I was talking about? Do share your thoughts in the comments!
Alrighty, until then. Ciao!~ <3
Labels: theatre
Mortality
Hello everyone. It is I, and today's blog post is a little more pensive than usual.
Last Thursday, I had a strange dream about death. In it, I saw my parents lie in a coffin, as everyone was mourning. Needless to say, I was as well. I woke up with a damp pillow.
Now yesterday, I watched a movie called "The Girl Who Leapt Through Time" (it's amazing and infuriating). The title pretty much explains what it is about— a girl who can leap through time (literally). She uses this time-traveling ability to fix her past mistakes and avoid difficult situations. Although halfway around the movie, she begins to experience the consequences of her actions. One of this film's themes is "time waits for no one."
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| Yeah, screenshots FTW! |
Now, it reminds me of mortality (yes, forgive my morbid mind). Time waits for no one. In real life, we cannot will time to stop. It's impossible. If we're running late for an appointment, we can't ask time to stop for us. If we're having fun, we can't ask time to stop so we can go on forever. Time goes on, whether you like it or not.
There is also this one incident regarding Cyndago. If you frequently watch YouTubers, you may be aware of them. They are a trio who run their own YouTube channel. Almost a month ago, Daniel— one of the guys— attempted suicide. He failed, but still passed away soon after since his attempt did some irreversible damage.
Those who are in the know about them are aware that these folks dyed their hair with Markiplier for raising awareness for depression and bipolar disorder. Quite ironic, isn't it? They were trying to raise awareness for a cause that one of them was suffering through. We all didn't know. I suppose we cannot really judge, because I'm sure Daniel was going through his own troubles at that time as well. (You will be missed, Daniel Kyre.)
What I garner from these things is that time is continuous— life is continuous. It's constantly moving ahead, bringing us along. And, one of the things life brings along is death.
You may ask, where am I going with all this? Well, it's human nature to take life for granted. It's always present, seeing that we all have it. We never get to appreciate it and its value, because it is always present from the moment we're born until our last breath, and we only get to see it fade away when someone else's does. The bad thing about this is that it's usually our loved ones' lives we see disappear. But, we can't help them. We cannot do anything but watch because time waits for no one. It will always be too late to tell them what you feel. It is only at those moments that you realize you have to tell them you love them. I watched Markiplier play a game called I Remember The Rain, and he said something that really hit home.
"Tell the ones you care about that you care, because the problem with things like this is that some things get left unspoken and you never know... You never know when the thing you care about will be taken away from you whether it's your control or not.
So remind the people around you that they matter, and more importantly than anything that they matter to you. And you know, maybe you'll hear it from someone that you matter to them too, and that'll come right when you need it the most."
Things happen. Life sucks. But, we still gotta live life because just like what The Girl Who Leapt Through Time says, time waits for no one. The true value of life is one we only see at the last minute, but it shouldn't be so. I suppose you can never really put a precise value on it. It's priceless.
So what do we do about it? I think the opposite of the phrase works too— don't wait for time. Let's be honest, the right time will never come. This moment only arrives when you think it is, and when you believe from the bottom of your heart that it is meant to be.
We all know of
Shia Labeouf's extreme motivational speech, I'm sure. It's the video where he constantly yells out "JUST DO IT" in an aggressive manner. Honestly, we all probably laughed at it. The video is too ridiculously fitting as a glorious internet meme. In all honesty though, it's actually really inspirational once you listen to what he's really saying. There's one part where he says, "yesterday you said tomorrow, so just do it!". I believe this to be especially agreeable. Don't wait for the right time to do your homework, don't wait for the right time to choose which job you want. Don't put off life, because once it leaves it's never coming back. If you want to show people you care, then do it today. Don't settle for less. Help them carry their bags, or even just a simple hug. It's okay if it isn't a big grandiose event, as long as you do it.
I guess I may or may not be a little guilty of that too. I sometimes become rude and uptight to my own family, but I never get to show them that I do care. I take it for granted as well. We all sort of do.
Oh well. Perhaps it's about time we needed a wake-up call anyways.
Labels: anime, musings
The 36th Manila International Book Fair
Hey there everyone! (｡^‿^)ﾉﾞ It is I, and today we shall be talking about the 36th MIBF!
Alright, so what is the Manila International Book Fair? It is one of the biggest book events in the Philippines, and has been around for quite a while now (36 years). There's a variety of books to be found— from textbooks and encyclopedias to comic books and novels. Book signings and launches are also held, as well as other literary events.
I must say, I actually enjoyed my time there. I went on the 19th, right after my midterms (which I almost certainly failed). It was my first time and the number of people was slightly overwhelming, but I still had fun! I was fangasming from all the literature that surrounded me, it was absolutely glorious. Oh, and Best of Anime was held nearby as well, so you can see how much of a treat this is. (Although I wasn't able to visit BoA, I saw tons of cosplayers around and it was basically the best. Two things I love together <3). Now if any of you went to BoA, leave a comment and tell us how it was! I am curious! ( ^-^)/
All that aside, SMX CONVENTION CENTER IS HUGE. I LOVE IT. I do not have pictures, but trust me when I say it is. We had to line up first to get in though, as there were lots of other people too. The line moved quickly though, and we were inside in no time.
The excitement and bustle hung on the atmosphere, rubbing into me. I felt really hyped just being surrounded by all these books, and my kin! Aisles and aisles of books were on display: paperbacks, hardbound, they were all there. I even saw a Game of Thrones graphic novel which I ABSOLUTELY ADORED, but ended up not buying. Regrets :(
Now, as for the book signings. Colleen Hoover, the author of Ugly Love, was there! And ughh, KIERA CASS SENSEI WAS THERE >:O I MISSED AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET HER AND I AM FURIOUS!! Nooo, my beloved sensei :'(
Ah, and there was an interesting pen that I saw. For all the Chinese school students here, you must know of the Chinese calligraphy brush, otherwise known as the
mo pit. Alright, so I saw one. But it has an ink cartridge. Literally works like how a regular
mo pit would, and you wouldn't need to dip it in an inkwell anymore! Dude, that was mad awesome.
Now, for the books. What else is there to say? There were miles and miles of books lined up on shelves, and just as much people as there were books. I bought Zoella's book Girl Online (MY FIRST YOUTUBER BOOK), and a couple more others, including We Were Liars and Flowers For Algernon. My only complaint is that my copy of Girl Online had a small defect
inside the cover, which I only discovered after opening the book for the first time. Mind you, it was in plastic packaging so I wasn't able to thoroughly inspect the book when I bought it. I'm still a bit upset about that. Perhaps I am just a very unlucky person...
All in all, my first time attending the MIBF is definitely memorable! It was absolutely amazing, and I'd love to go again next year!
Well, that is all for now I suppose. Sorry for the late post! That aside, has any of you attended this event before? Leave a comment~~
I suppose that's all for now. Ciao! <3
Midterms and Motivations
Hi everyone! (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:・ﾟ✧ It has, once again, been a while. But I've returned! ლ(́◉◞౪◟◉‵ლ)
Anyways, perhaps you can infer from the title that I am currently in my midterms. Then why, you may ask, am I here with a blog post? That's simple. I am avoiding responsibility I am taking a short break from all the work. Math was very arduous work, and it's fan-freakin'-tastic that it is over. Sure, I probably failed miserably and might have to repeat the semester, but that's okay! #BleakOptimism
I don't know why, but I find it sad how our society puts a frighteningly big emphasis on mathematic ability. It's just sad, especially for people like me who are inept in academic endeavors. I mean, I can't do math but I can write fanfictions. I can speak. I can present arguments. Where do my undocumentable talents come to use? Ah, such is life.
Speaking of midterms, I also can't fathom why we students are passive-aggressively asked to fulfill unbearablly high expectations. I mean. Yeah. I wanna learn, I wanna get good grades! But at this point, it's like it's all that matters, and I don't like it. Or maybe that's just my brain rage-quitting through ranting. I do not know ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Probably gonna fail all my tests (￣O￣;)
Moving on, there is one motivating force that drives me to do well. The Manila International Book Fair!! I'm going there after my midterms, and will be meeting with a friend who I haven't seen in quite a while so I'm pretty stoked (╯✧∇✧)╯ I hope my wallet and grumbling stomach will forgive me during weekday lunchtimes...
Well, I better get back into the zone if I want to scrape by with a passing grade. I may do another post after the book fair, documenting what I have experienced. Hmm, we'll see how this works out when the time comes. Oh well, ciao everyone! And if you guys are having exams too, then good luck and God bless! May the force be with you all! (•̀◡•́)و ̑̑
Labels: rants
Reminiscing
Hello, everyone!（＾Ｏ＾☆♪ It's been like, 3 months? 4 months? Goodness gracious, sorry for neglecting this place (つД`)ノ
The past summer was really bittersweet, with equal parts bitter and sweet. Sweet because I attended a nationwide youth conference, and went to HK and Macau afterwards. Bitter because it all had to end... *sighs* I already miss my conference buddies (u_u)
But I suppose nothing really lasts forever, no? Time passes, and events end. It's okay though because when we feel sad, it means that we are alive— we felt happiness, and you can only know the difference when you have experienced both~~ <3
Speaking of which, that brings to mind a thought. Does everyone reminisce? Well, I suppose most of us— if not all— do. There's just a warm, nostalgic feeling that fills me when I do remember the past. Part of me says to continue, and explore the libraries of my memory. On the other hand, part of me also says to stop— to move on, and keep the memories in where they are. Oddly, both ring of the truth.
There are times in which I want to relive wonderful days. It makes me happy to think about them once again and to remember— but what's strange is that sometimes they are tinged with sadness. It elicits the thought that perhaps I may never experience it again. Most of the time, I know that it's true. Maybe it was the last time I was going to see those people, as we've all gone our separate ways. Such a bittersweet thing. Oh, but what wonderful times. It can't be helped, you know?
The other side of me though, tries to reprimand me. Why do these happy things sadden me? Aren't they supposed to motivate me? Shouldn't these thoughts tell me to get out there, and make new memories? In a sense, I suppose so. Memories are unique objects, and each is different for the other. It is impossible to recreate every aspect of it— the feeling, the place, the people. In the memory we hold, they will be immortalized as so; but it changes. In reality, they all change. It will be impossible to make an exact copy of it. That begs the question: what do we do?
Well, this is what we do— we make new ones. We cannot replicate a memory, but we can go out and make them. We managed to make happy memories before, so what's stopping us from making them again? True, they won't be the same; they never will be. But similar or not, happy memories are happy memories, and they aren't all the same. There's your family, your friends; go out and be happy with them! Or if not, then do something you enjoy! All we really need to do is to just smile at the past as it ushers you to keep on walking.
Remember this: the past is a trampoline. If you decide to look ahead, you will go places. Just like a trampoline, it's your choice if you want to stay on it motionlessly, or to jump to higher grounds and explore new things. You never forget the trampoline— your past. You're always going to go back, but it will empower you and not bring you down.
Perhaps that's not the best analogy, but I think it fits right now. I think y'all get what I mean (=^x^=)
Well, I guess that's about it for now. Maybe I'm just a little too optimistic? Perhaps. But I like to think about this topic, as I feel like this subject, though it means one thing, is unique to each of us. Some like it, some don't. But in the end, it's still there— a small bunch that's kept away in the crevices of our minds :)
Final thoughts, anyone? Do you guys think like this too, or perhaps you have a different perspective on things? Feel free to leave a comment, or drop by the c-box >:3 Thanks for reading, if you got this far! Ciao everyone, and have a great day! ( ^-^)/
Labels: musings, summer
Summer Woes
Hello there everyone. It's me again, and I felt rather bored today so I opted to write a blog entry discussing my current lethargic state (⊙﹏⊙✿)
Do you ever feel like doing nothing? And I'm not referring to having no activities planned for your vacation. I'm talking about that apathetic state of mind we experience when we have no duties or responsibilities to fulfill in school/work. Sounds awesome right? Well, it is for a couple of weeks. But soon after, we sometimes descend to a stage in which we've exhausted our hype and have a crisis of sorts. Unfortunately, this may or may not result in us squandering a good 2-4 months of our lives lazing around listlessly. Does anyone ever feel the same way? Because I do (๑ △ ๑)`* The feeling of possibly wasting vacation saddens me, and somehow scares me as well. It's probably just a phase, but I can't help but expect myself to do many things this summer— so much that I can't help but be sad about not being able to do as much as I hoped.
Lately, I've been doing some self-reflection. What did I really do this summer? My daily summer routine is to go on YouTube, then brush up my French on that app Duolingo (which, by the way, is a great way to kill time ^_^). Most of my friends are abroad for the summer, so I don't really have a lot of people I can talk to. But that's besides the point. I haven't really done anything significant the past couple of months, and it makes me feel a little bad about myself. Do any of you relate to that? I hope you can relate to that somehow (^_^;) Phineas and Ferb may know what to do with their 104 days of summer vacation, but I (and perhaps you as well, reader?) am going through a phase of summertime lethargy. I have no idea what to do with my vacation.
Still, I've thought of things I can busy myself with. Having an activity/hobby to pursue is a good idea. Perhaps, take a part time job? Learning to play a certain instrument or studying a new language would probably be a good use of time as well. As for me, I'm thinking of picking up my guitar again, since it has been a while. Maybe my love for the instrument will be rekindled ( ˘ ³˘)❤ And French. As a frequent obsess-er (that's a word I cobbled up just now. Forgive me) over language, I've decided to start learning French for the fun of it
and perhaps it can help me boost me résumé when I'm older LOL. By trying to do these things, I hope to get rid of my summer woes~♪ But for now, I'll be waiting for my daily prime-time anime to run on TV (≧∇≦)/
And on an ending note, lazing around with no responsibilities to fulfill does feel good. But even if busying yourself with hobbies/activities during summer is great, savour the joy of being responsibility-free while it lasts :♡.•♬✧⁽⁽ଘ( ˊ▽ˋ )ଓ⁾⁾*+:•*∴
That's it for now. Do you have any summer woes yourself? Feel free to leave a comment, or perhaps a message in my C-box at the "chat" tab. Maybe we could have a lovely chat~~ Ciao, my friends (︶▽︶)
Labels: musings, summer
Concerts and A Slight Sunburn
Hello there everyone! How's it going?
✿ It's been like, almost a month since my last blog post! The past week, a couple of noteworthy things happened, so I guess I ought to make a post about it. 〜(￣▽￣〜)
A couple of days ago, some church friends and I went to this outdoor adventure park. It was enjoyable. There was this giant swing thing, and you can go rappelling, and all that. Alright, so this anecdote will be about the part where I tried out the wall climbing attraction. TAKE A SEAT FOLKS. GRAB YOUR POPCORN AND YOUR DOG/CAT/PET, AND GET READY FOR MY WEIRDNESS. (੭ˊ▽ˋ)੭✧
As you all probably know, I'm an unproductive Asian who spends 80% of my time sitting/lying down while watching YouTube and sleeping. And from that, we can all guess how good I will do when I suddenly do a very strenuous physical activity like wall climbing.
Fast forward to 1:30 in the afternoon, it was my turn to take a shot in this wall climbing thing. This would be my first time doing this,
and I'm terrified because the wall was towering but the wall doesn't seem too high. I see that people do it and reach the top. Seems like a simple task right?
Well no, THE ANSWER IS NO. DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE WALL. Like, seriously. First few minutes? Easy as pie. Then almost halfway through, I was literally flailing my arms around and did a futile attempt on raising myself up while gripping on the holds. I was wailing "GUYS. CAN'T ANYMORE. CAN'T. I CAN'T. " between gasps.
I bet that was a wonderful view for those below me.
And afterwards, I just collapsed on a bench under the shade and remained like that for at least 15 minutes. Very nice. Also, I think I got a slight sunburn on my nose, because the skin in around my face is somewhat peeling. Also, I got a very faint tan line on my ankle, which I suppose is from my socks. Cool.
And just last night, I attended a Hillsong concert with my mother and some of her friends. My arms and shoulders were still sore from the previous day's wall climbing endeavor, but it's a Hillsong concert. I can't just turn that down (☆▽☆) It's funny, when I got home after going to that adventure park, my mother was like "oh by the way, we're going to a Hillsong concert tomorrow."
I was like "um
what." Because, if your mother just casually told you that after you come home sore all over, then... Like what? (^_^;) But the concert was really fun, so no regrets there. ♡✧
So... I think that's all for today. If you've read until this point, then thank you very much! So I guess I'll see you guys next time. I guess my question for y'all is: how is your summer going so far? Feel free to leave a message in my Cbox, located in the chat tab! Ciao for now! ヽ（◕◡◕❀ฺ ）ノ
Labels: summer
Books 
My friends 
Homestuck 
More time to read books please 