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One of the reasons why I don’t have a favorite author is because I think that authors tend to reach a “low point” in their career and produce works that aren’t as good as their previous ones.

Reading Murakami’s Dance Dance Dance is a good example. I like Murakami’s works in general because he managed (consciously or unconsciously; whether he denies it or not) to combine Western aspects of literature to Japanese ones. Now that I get more familiar with his characters, I think what attracts me more to his works in general is the idea that he has intellectual, and to some extent, idealist characters/protagonist. It’s not much about the “wasakan ng utak” that walrus from Peyups.Com refers to (I don’t even see his works as “wasakan ng utak”, really, but anyway I digress), but mostly because his characters think too much. These aspects of his characters’ personalities make me draw near to them but at the same time it make me feel detached to them. In that way, I admire Murakami for creating “real” people for I believe that human beings are complex creatures that we cannot be compartmentalized in certain personality categories. Read the rest of this entry »

Finished watching season two of Kindaichi Shounen no Jikenbo. Of course the cases focuses more on murders pero I really liked how the stories were executed. I also like the romance part between Kindaichi and Miyuki here. Kamukha ni Domoto si Sakurai Sho (and considering that pareho silang Johnny’s performers, this is quite amusing). I also like the humor in this show. Medyo creepy nga lang yung stories, although it’s creepier than the third season (with Matsumoto Jun, another Johnny’s). Siguro dahil na rin dun sa quality ng videos, medyo luma kasi.

I just got an e-mail from The Bookman last night. The Bookman is an independent used bookseller in Winnipeg, and he sometimes sells books at the U of M. Anyway, the Bookman sent an e-mail to his patrons because the University’s Special Functions got an order to not allow the Bookman to sell books at the campus anymore because he’s seen as a competitor of the University Bookstore.

It doesn’t make any sense to me. First, the Bookman isn’t at the campus everyday. For me, I don’t think a 4-day stay within like, I dunno, a 2-month period at the campus will really hurt the U of M Bookstore’s revenue. Also, not all of the books being sold by The Bookman are available at the U of M Bookstore. I think this is the reason why some people go visit used bookstores in general — they have rare/hard-to-find books and these stuff aren’t easily available on commercial bookstores.

I’m not at the U of M this year, but I’ve been buying books from the guy. It just annoys me that this has to happen, really.

Masitneun sex geurigo sarang (맛있는 섹스 그리고 사랑 | The Sweet Sex and Love, 2003)
Director: Man-dae Bong

I actually do not know what’s the whole point of this film. I am guessing that this portrays a relationship that started in a very hasty fashion in which its sole foundation is sexual attraction. And what happens when you enter a relationship that is just about sex and not about anything else? A bit of a disaster, if I may say.

There’s just too many sex here and the plot’s really thin, so one might make a mistake that this is a pr0n film. Despite that, the sex scenes where done in a very sensual and discreet way, which I find really amazing, considering that the scenes weren’t made of too much cuts (or if there are a bunch of cuts there, it was done is a very clean and smooth way). Other than that, I actually don’t know what to say much about this film.

I like this show! I thought that making a show about the country life is really good, although based from the first episode I already got an idea what to expect from the characters. It’s a bit predictable I guess, but I like the story nonetheless. Also I am happy to see familiar faces (i.e. Nakamura Shido, Toda Erika and Koide Keisuke).

What’s nice about this show I guess is that despite of the reasons that inspired this drama, it really does not pretend to solve everything. I can also relate to the characters, albeit they’re agriculture majors, because they are about my age and are students themselves. So yeah. I like this show.

Okay, so I went to my grad ball yesterday. Probably one of the most expensive days of my life, ha ha. I went to the salon around 4:00 with Joann and had my hair and make-up fixed. I… am really not a fan of dark make-up but yeah, whatever. No make-up stays well on my face. I wonder if it’s a good thing or a bad thing.

I had an up-do. Which I haven’t had for years. Anyway, this was the dress that I bought for that day. Very simple, but I like it very much. Also bought a purse, a pair of glass pearl necklace and earrings, and a pair of shoes. And I had to pay for the ‘do as well. So yeah, Lots of money.

We dropped off Joann, and then went to pick up Cheree to help me with my false nails.

Escort/Date picked me up exactly at 7, and reached the place around 7:30, just in time for dinner. Met two people from our table (an old lady and her guest) and was followed by a very cute and lively couple later. Food was okay. Music was okay (a bit too old school, but maybe that’s just me). Drinks were okay. Location was good. And yeah. I think it was an okay night. Read the rest of this entry »

Onmyouji (陰陽師, 2001)
Director: Takita Yojiro
A fun film to watch mainly because its approach is very straightforward. The movie is a fictional account of Abe no Seimei’s life, and by the way the movie was presented, you’ll get the idea that it’s not pretending to be “real” or something like that.

Abe no Seimei’s life is surrounded by myths already, so making a movie like this is not surprising.

It was just a bit “odd” because the characters spoke in standard Japanese. I was expecting that they will speak an older Japanese (more “lyrical”) but then again, who will even dare watch that? He he. I like Nomura Mansai’s acting; he seemed very “natural.” For a Heian-period movie it was entertaining and the plot was easy to understand.

Onmyouji II (陰陽師 II, 2001)
Director: Takita Yojiro
Ah, sequels. Surprisingly there wasn’t really a direct connection between the first movie and this one, as previous events weren’t even mentioned. However this movie dealt more with Shintoism, as it includes the story of the sun goddess Amaterasu and her bother Susa-no-O, the god of sea. The movie retained its cast, so there’s nothing to worry about acting and portrayal and such.

My only quirk in this movie is the introduction of the antagonists since they just appeared out of nowhere. The way they were introduced didn’t really make sense at first until the history behind Himiko was presented. I think that was the time when the movie’s story flowed smoothly.

Graduation ball preparations

Three days before the ball. I’ve finally got the stuff that I need. I think I need to get my date those boutonierres (sp) (or as what Jocey calls it, “Man-flowers” LOL). Photo above shows my shoes and my accessories. I’m opting for a classy yet simple look hence I think a pair of glass pearl necklace and earrings will do the trick. I won’t post the photo of the dress yet since it will totally kill the whole thing. Haha. You know the feeling when you wear something and you feel that the dress was really made for you? There you go. I guess the word is COMPLEMENT. Read the rest of this entry »

June: buhok mu lang nagbago sa itsura mu eh
Angela: baket kelangan ko ba talaga magbago?
June: i was expecting more changes..
Angela: like?
June: hmm.. di ko lam eh.. gusto ko sana un di na kita makikilala..
Angela: Well sorry I didn’t live up to your expectation. Bakya pa rin ako.

Isang bahagi lamang ito ng pag-uusap namin ni June, dati kong ka-blockmate sa UP, noong nagpang-abot kami sa Y!M kagabi. Isa siya sa mga malapit kong kaibigan noong kolehiyo kaya naman nabigla ako noong nabanggit niya ito sa akin. Kaya naman umariba ang isang tanong: Kailangan bang magbago?

Hindi ko alam kung isa ba itong patunay sa stereotypical image na nabubuo sa isip ng mga Pilipino kapag may mga kaibigan silang nangibang-bansa o tuluyan nang nag-migrate. Anong klaseng pagbabago ba ang inaasahan nila? Kailangan bang blonde o may tina na ang buhok? Kailangan bang slang o may twang na sa pananalita? Kailangan bang hindi na matatas sa wikang Filipino?

Hindi ko alam, medyo nabagabag kasi ako sa ideyang ito. Kasi kung totoo man ito, maraming implications. Tulad na lamang na kailangang alisin ang pagiging mukhang Pilipino at kailangang maging banyaga. Para “hindi na makilala.”

Pero sa totoo lang, wala akong makitang dahilan para dumaan pa ang isang Pilipinong nangibang-bayan sa ganitong magastos na proseso para lamang “hindi siya makilala” ng kanyang mga naiwang kaibigan sa Pilipinas. Wala namang nakakahiya kung moreno ang kulay ng iyong balat (ang mga sobrang puti nga, gumagastos nang maigi sa mga tanning salons para maging kulay tan o moreno lang eh). Wala namang nakakahiya kung nagsasalita pa rin ako ng Pilipino sa loob ng bus kapag kausap ko ang mga kapwa ko Pilipino.

Mas gusto ko ang ideyang sa kabila ng matagal kong pamamalagi sa ibang bansa (at pagiging mamamayan nito), ay napanatili ko pa rin ang mga bagay na makakapagpatunay na isa pa rin akong Pilipino. Hindi iyon nakakahiya. At hindi iyon kailangang magbago.

Out of 5 subjects, 4 na yung naka-upload sa online record ko sa school. Ang nakakaasar pa nito, isang buwan na lang before ng graduation ko. Hindi ko alam kung magmamartsa ba ako dahil nga ang tagal mag-release ng grade ng professor ko. Ang nakaka-badtrip pa, elective naman ‘yun at saka alam ko namang pumasa ako. At eto pa. Yung klaseng ‘yun, pinasa ko yung requirement a couple of days before my dreaded 3-consecutive day final exams. Tapos nauna pa ‘yung 3 final grades ko dun sa 3 klaseng ‘yon! Anakanaman.

Anyhow, grad ball ko sa Biyernes. Will upload photos siyempre. At saka may bago na naman akong trabaho. So at the moment, dalawa yung p/t jobs ko. Tamang-tama para makaipon ako at makapagbakasyon.