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
  

Movie Review: No Other Woman

I know it's late, but I still want to make a review of this oh so popular film. My friends kept on bugging me to watch it so with the power of facebook, I was finally able to understand their infatuation with the film.

It was wonderfully directed. I never would've imagined myself cheering for Cristine Reyes. Because of all the news/ gossip about her, I was never a fan. For the first time, I actually wanted Derek to get snuffed. The script was creatively structured so that we will remember most of the lines. The locations were well-suited for the scenes. The wardrobe, apart from the "barney party", was so enviable!

Now for the characters. My friends said that Anne's character had redeeming factors towards the end. Well, yes. In some way, I understood her character while at the hospital. But for those who were saying that it was not Kara's (Anne's character) fault that Derek cheated on his wife, I'm sorry but I cannot agree. Provided that she didn't know that Ram (Derek's character)was married when they started flirting with each other, she new that he was married BEFORE THEY STARTED the affair. So she cannot feign ignorance. Ok, malandi siya. She didn't want to be in a committed relation ship, fine that's her choice! Ram is incredibly HOT, she thought he was single. FINE. But upon knowing that he IS in a committed relationship (i.e. MARRIED), kahit gaanong kalandi ung HOT married dude na un, married parin siya. OFF LIMITS. Go look for some other flirty hot dude who is not married and is willing to play. I'm sure marami dun sa tabi-tabi. Being hot and loaded doesn't justify being a mistress. Sabi nga sa movie: Ano mas mahirap kalabanin? Putang Mahirap o Putang Mayaman? PAREHO LANG SILANG PUTA. She backed off. Admirable? HELL NO. It would've been admirable if she didn't start the affair in the first place. She gave up, because she knew she lost.

Ram. No debate here. All my friends despised his character. But it just goes to show the reality that no matter how much a person loves his partner, as long as they are weak to temptations, they will cheat. Having a rich and smoking hot lady come after him is a huge stroke to his deflated ego. It's good that he returned to his wife. But he got the easy way out by getting into an accident. He was let off the hook too easily. You say that he already felt bad enough by hurting 2 women? That's his fault. Malandi siya e.

Cha. I really applaud Christine Reyes' acting here. In her afternoon drama, I find her acting to be quite flat and sometimes sharp, walang sakto lang. So this was a big breakthrough for her, IMO. I loved the scene when she confronted Ram about the affair while at the resort. You can see her pain and her anger. If I was emotional, I think that scene would've made me cry. The throw down was just a bonus. LOL

No Other Woman is a near perfect example of why I love movies from Star Cinema; great acting, captivating script, brilliant directing and production, and they try to think outside the box. They do not limit their actors to just playing the sweet, sexy, lovable characters. In one movie they are the lead, in the next they are the spiteful villains you would love to hate. They enable versatility. So why is it not perfect, well for starters I didn't love the ending. It was fine, but it wasn't my cup of tea. The storyline was already used in Aga's movie with Maricel Soriano. The approach was different, but the theme was the same: cheating husband repents and is forgiven.

My Rating: 4 out of 5.

Writer's Block...Again?

It's been a long time since I last posted on this blog...or any of my other blogs. Been busy with life. >.< A lot of stuff has been piling up and they have left me in no mood to write. Most of the time I just want to escape from reality and writing these days just makes me want to rant. I don't want that. I want to remove all the angst from my heart and mind. How will I do that? Meditation makes my head hurt. LOL Exercise makes my body ache. Talking about my problems just makes them seem more real..for once, I want to escape. But I know my problem will just get worse once it catches up to me. Since I was a kid, my parents taught me one thing: RUNNING AWAY IS NEVER AN OPTION. So time for me to exercise I guess. LOL Feeling helpless is not my thing so, until I find a solution, I will just have to roll with the punches. I Know I can find a way through this shit. I just need to find the flush...