Because I love Nodame and her friends like that

I think my intent to create a separate blog where I could write my views on the (mostly Asian) films I have been watching is an offshoot of the past semester that was. I also wish to apply what I have learned from the three film electives I have taken. My fascination for movies seriously took shape only after taking these classes, and I feel like a changed man. HAHA.

I want to make the first entry special, so I decided to re-watch the entire Nodame Cantabile series, so I could write objectively about the The Final Movement parts II and II. I really don't know how many times I've watched random episodes, this series being one of my two all-time favorites. But I think this is the first time I watched it from the beginning.

This time, I think I was paying more attention to the music rather than the plot, and maybe on the transition rather than the acting (maybe because I already know by heart how amazing everyone in this series was haha). Maybe I'm just way too biased but I can't seem to find a fault--the fact that its approach is over-the-top is what makes it effective.

I tried watching it with double the normal speed, but it felt like I was disrespecting the artistic endeavors that made Nodame Cantabile what it is. <3

'Bakit ako titigil sa pagsambit ng mga talinghaga?'

Last Thursday, two friends and I went to watch Cyrano: Isang Sarswela starring one of our high school friends as the lead Roxanne. It was a thesis theater production and the show we watched was the first run so there were glitches. But I appreciated it nonetheless. The tale of Christian, Cyrano and Roxanne is a tale of prose, wit, music, love, ideals, history, poems and songs.

The final scene where Cyrano was dying touched me and my tears could not be stopped. My friends saw me, but I didn’t think I could explain to them then and there why I was so moved. Probably because it’s been so long since I heard such beautiful prose in Tagalog delivered with so much relevance not only to the circumstances within the story but in the present real-life as well.

Further, Cyrano’s final battle against the ghosts of the usurpers who violated his principles should’ve not been a battle he fought alone. It was a battle for the sarswela, the tradition and the music and the words that got them through the happiest and hardest of times. It was a battle fought and lost for the woman that he loved all his life. It was a battle for his ideals thwarted by forces powerful than he was. And when Cyrano gave in, I felt like, with him, I lost something precious, too.

I wish I could get a copy of the play’s script. The spoken lines and the songs were so moving and beautiful.

"Sa buwan~"

John-how-are-ye?

These past few weeks have been a blur of activities for me. So much needs to be done, and I start the first month of the new year by not sleeping for the most part.

We had to join a Public Service Advertisement contest for our advertising class. For someone who had not any comprehensive knowledge, even experience, on using Photoshop, I was in a serious pinch. I never really expected to win, just gave it my best. It was a good experience altogether--from seeking the advice of our very credible professor, to renewing concepts, to actually creating the ads (images, taglines, the works), to printing them and submitting them just an hour before the deadline (which happened to be my beloved Sho's birthday--naturally I forgot about the submission and remembered Sho, haha). It was all worthwhile, though. I am very excited as well for the convention on February 15 at San Juan de Letran where we will hear experts on the advertising talk about the craft, and of course know who will win the contest. I really do not expect to win, just having participated is enough.

I also started watching the U.S. comedy show The Big Bang Theory. An officemate shared about 50 episodes of this series (and tons of other movies) in our work network, and it didn't take long before almost all of us were laughing hard during our breaks.

January is also the anniversary month of our organization. This is what we all have been planning and preparing for since the academic year started. Naturally, until the last minute we were still busy completing the preparations, contacting speakers, assigning tasks, setting up the venue, etc. But seeing the number of attendees on a couple of the major events we have lined up was gratifying. My favorite was the symposium about the "scenes behind the scenes" in the media industry. We got to listen to media practitioners talk about their experiences that are usually unheard of by the public. I got really motivated, partly because the speakers who came were very inspiring and realistic in their advice, and partly because I have found out that someone like me who always prefers to stay behind the camera can have a remarkable career in this field. Great month for our org! We may be lacking in financial resources and there were many a hassle, but we pulled our 12th anniversary off with informative and fun events.

Of course, there are the piles of school works such as quizzes, midterm exams, papers, researches (for the "baby thesis"), and reports that take nights and nights to prepare. I also had to create a "niche" website for my Design, Layout, and Publishing class. I decided to make it about Asian films, particularly reviews about films from Japan, China and Korea. Not only will the scope be limited but I will also have a valid excuse to watch and re-watch amazing films. Horray!

Crazy month, honestly. To cap it off, my Captain Fail!Boat Sho is now 29 and The Hyde just turned 42!

Let's get in on, 2011!

Under the lush canopy, life is better

Habang naglalakad ako sa Acad Oval papunta sa Main Lib kanina, may nadaanan akong isang lolo na nakaupo sa bench. Nakatalikod siya sa’ken, at nakayuko na tila binabasa ang isa sa dalawang maliit na libro o kwadernong dala niya. Bakas sa damit niya ang pawis at nakasandal sa kinauupuan niya ang kanyang mountain bike. Hindi ko rin maintindihan, pero para sa akin, ang sandaling iyon ang isa sa mga pinakamagandang eksena na nasaksihan ko. At napasaya ako nito ng araw na iyon sa hindi ko malamang kadahilanan.

Siguro malambot lang talaga ang puso ko para sa mga nakatatanda. O kaya naman dahil nakakatuwang aktibo at malakas pa siya para magbisikleta. O marahil dahil nagagawa niya pa ring magkaroon ng tahimik na sandali para sa kanyang sarili, sa gitna ng mga puno sa Oval.

Hindi ko mapigilang isipin, ano kayang nakasulat sa kwaderno o librong binabasa niya?

Stifling an overjoyed cry at four in the morning, I am a happy fan.

I received this copy of Nightmare's a:Fantasia single in the exchange gifts portion of the Christmas party in our office. Everybody joining had to accomplish a wishlist--one column dedicated for the things worth 300pesos, another one for our "ultimate" wishes. I wrote a couple of book titles in the first column, and "L'Arc~en~Ciel/Arashi/Nightmare discography" on the other.

I expected to receive a secondhand Neil Gaiman book that night, but a:Fantasia is such a pleasant surprise! It's even beyond the price range--this single is worth around 1400yen.

To Shizuka-san, thank you! I'm so giddy with happiness. Really. :))