Waiting...

this was in my drafts...I do not know what this is about. LOL but that cute rolling panda is still a winner. >.<

It's been a LONG time...

It's been a while since my last post, I just didn't know what to write about. My current "freelance" state isn't really doing much for my bank account. LOL

I watched a concert for the first time in my life last month, October 24, 2012 with my friends. It was a kpop concert, I never imagined myself liking pop music much less Korean Pop music but there I was, dragging my friend all over the place until the show began. I will blog about it, albeit incoherently, later.

To get rid of the post-concert depression that fans around the world experienced, I decided to read the "in" novel these days, the Fifty Shades trilogy. It was entertaining yet I think there are more publish-worthy fictions online. Will write a very brief review later as well.

In other news, I REALLY want to go visit Korea and Japan. I recently achieved my childhood dream of visiting Cambodia earlier this year and it was beyond my expectations. I might start a travel blog soon too, as requested by my friends. They have been joking that for an unemployed person, I sure travel a lot.

Well, I guess that's it for the intro.

Kpop and Reading...

In the past, I used to read while listening to music. In fact, I cannot study or read a novel without listening to music. It was my way of drowning out reality and immersing myself in my alternate world. I must say that in the past, I used to listen to rock music; OPM and Japanese Rock which seem like the perfect catalyst for my goal.

In recent months however, I started listening to Kpop particularly BIGBANG. I am so hooked on their music that my friends even find me weird. (In my defense, I also do not know why I act like this. LOL) Anyway, I started reading a new book again after months of withdrawal and I decided to change the music that I listen to while reading. We all know that kpop is widely different from rock music but I never would've guessed how much different it's result would be to my reading habit.

I could not focus on my reading while listening to kpop...not at all. Well I guess it's because trying to read while trying not to dance like a lunatic is difficult and miles apart from reading while bobbing your head (with rock music).

While writing this, I had to stop multiple times because I get distracted by the playlist. My conclusion is that listening to kpop while trying to read or write DO NOT go well with me. I prefer to listen to kpop while playing a game or while chilling, but not while trying to perform tasks which require full concentration. In addition, I will revert to my old playlist while reading or writing. :)

This is in no way bashing kpop...put yourself in my shoes. Try listening to this

while trying to ready a novel by Shuzaku Endo. LOL 

Confessions of a K-pop Noob: Fanwar Woes

Tired of getting caught between two fighting fandoms? Well, so am I.

Confessions of a K-pop Noob: Fanwar Woes

Salute to Doplhy: One of Philippines' Most Talented Artists

Truth be told, I wasn't a fan of Dolphy Quizon's comedy when I was young. Although I grew up watching "Home Along da Riles", some of his skits didn't really reach me. Perhaps it was because of my young age, where only the Flintstones and the Jetsons were able to tickle my funny bone. However some time between my adolescence and adulthood, I came across his old films. There I was able to see the genius in his comedy and the art in his drama.

Most people pay tribute to him because of his comedy that they neglect to respect his artistry. Dolphy is not just a comedian, he's a beautiful actor. His film "Markova" was the first film of his that I saw that has depth. It delved into historical facts and human aspects of war. His acting, along with his children, were so impeccable that I couldn't help but shed tears. Then I was able to watch "Ang Tatay kong Nanay" which gave me goosebumps. Because of Dolphy, I always want to cry whenever I hear the song "Send in the Clown." It just gave the song a deeper and more concrete example.

Mang Dolphy has a knack of bringing characters to life. Be it in comedy or in drama, he brings the necessary  colors to his character. He is an artist worth remembering and respecting. The nation, not just he entertainment industry, lost a very inspirational person but his legacy still lives on.

My world is a better place because of your artistry. May your soul rest in peace. It is now time for you to shine your light in the next life. Thank you.

On the Word "Justice" in the Philippines

For the larger part of my life, I have dreamed of becoming a lawyer. Unlike many people, I did not want to become a lawyer because of the title. I wanted to be a lawyer because I wanted to contribute to the justice system. As young as I was, I hated injustice but I also hated pretensions of justice. Justice for the sake of punishing someone for a crime, is not real justice. 

Shortly before graduating from college, my dream slowly disappeared. I was disillusioned. Being able to clearly see how "students" of the law bastardizes the very foundation that they stand on based on their whims made me believe that "Justice" is just a word that politicians throw around to get sympathy from voters. I was sick of seeing powerful politicians hiding behind the law to escape their accountability. 

In recent years, I was able to see that not only are the "poor" people victims of injustice but also those who come from rich and powerful backgrounds. People like our Chief Justice of the Supreme Court is now a victim of politics in the justice system. Dirty politicians make calculative decisions based on the public opinion, especially when the National Elections is just around the corner. 

I do not want to put the blame on the politicians for the death of my dream, but I would like to point my finger at the very politicians that use the word justice to bastardize our Constitution and make idiots out of the masses who placed their beliefs in them. Solons are supposed to be law makers, not law breakers. 

My Love Affair with Kpop

A couple of years ago, I was a big "Kpop Hater." I just didn't see/hear what all the hype was about. I mean, what do the people like with auto-tuned songs? Girls acting all cute and lip syncing to sickly sweet melodies and dancing like high class strippers? Boys trying to act cute and manly at the same time (and failing miserably) are really not my thing. I was (and still am) a Japanese Rock fan. That, for me, was real music. Their fan service did not fall short of my expectations and my fan girl heart was satisfied.

One group changed that stigma for me. In the past, my friend would recommend kpop songs to me, ones in Japanese to suit my palette. This, however, only backfired miserably. If I wasn't told that it was in Japanese I would only believe that it was still in Korean. Needles to say, she failed in converting me. One day, as I was watching Channel V, I saw a Music Video of Aoyama Thelma featuring SOL. I had no idea who he was, but his style completely captured me. A couple of days after watching the video, I still cannot get him off my mind, so I searched for information online. I was too shocked to find out that he was Korean, a member of a Kpop group at that! I was at a loss for words. But since I didn't like prejudice, I decided to search for his solo songs on YouTube, I did not bother with his group (LOL). I was hooked. The way he sang and the way he moved was legit. I became a closeted fan of Taeyang a.k.a SOL. For some time, I only looked at him. Then I found out that his group sang an OST for a drama that I was fond of. It was stuck in my head for days when I first heard it.
It was only this year that I accepted my fate as a VIP (BIGBANG's fanclub name). I was captured and I do not want to escape. Their songs are beyond any Kpop song I have listened to (c/o my friend). Their live performances are actually live and not lip synced. Their energy is so contagious that you cannot help but want to dance along to their songs. It is precisely because of this that I want to watch them live in concert. And I feel so lucky that after a short while of becoming a VIP, they announce that they will include the Philippines in their Alive concert tour. Now the only problem is, MONEY! LOL Nevertheless, see you there! Mark my word! haha

With this, I will leave you with two of my favorite songs at the moment.

Haru Haru
  

Love Dust