The borrowers are not illusory

Are you familiar with the flick/novel, The Borrowers? If you happen to hail from a different quadrant of the universe and have not heard of it, The Borrowers is a novel by Mary Norton, which later on turned into a film, about lilliputian people, roughly six to seven inches tall, who borrow things from human and somewhat manage to keep their existence unknown.

Apparently, in the real world, they don't exist. They are only fabricated in the creative mind of Norton. Maybe Norton used to lose a lot of objects, and she had nobody to pin the blame on.

Which leads me to my point. Recently, I am losing a lot of objects in my room - my Powerbooks Membership Card, CSI Miami DVDs, two books, nail cutter, razor, violet striped long sleeve polo - and I have no one to blame. I am beginning to suspect that Norton's idea of The Borrowers is actually true. Why? The objects which were allegedly stolen have significant use. Maybe the Borrowers got bored under the floorboards, and decided to join the bandwagon by watching CSI. Hey, they need to be in the trend too. However, there is a lapse in my hunch. My stuff are too big for the Borrowers, therefore my suspicion is implausible. But whatever, I reiterate, I have no one to blame.

I insisted to check the floorboards. The Borrowers aren't there. Maybe they are hiding. 

Crichton is Crichton

Finally, I had defeated the twin monsters: sloth and procrastination. Just finished reading Airframe, a novel by the salient Crichton(I like how he tenses up the readers; it is very impelling). I was told to read the novel uninterruptedly to fully create the element of suspense. However, although my reading was choppy, apprehension and anticipation still clouded the parts. In addition, the novel was written in a manner which constructs authenticity by the use of technical avionic information. I'd like to point out thought that despite this, it was composed with great attention to the readers' comprehension. I, myself, am not knowledgeable in avionics or aeronautics, but I was able to grasp the story. Something only Crichton can excellently do. Can someone make a movie version of this? I think it will shovel in gargantuan buckets of bucks.

8 will soon hit the bookshelves

I am definitely getting a copy of Zafra's eighth Twisted, a collection of her seriocomic rantings. I got wind of the book's price and it's roughly 'round 250 bucks. Now, anyone bighearted enough to get me a copy? May I just remind you, Christmas is the time for giving and the time for sharing. I'll be waiting for it.

Philippines in a predicament

I am not usually the type of person who quetches his complaints or displeasure. Normally, I just sit down and try to assimilate everything. But I reckon you already guessed that today will be different.

We are again famous around the globe. In fact, CNN and BBC highlighted us in their shows, and you know how wide their viewerships are. However, we are covered heavily by these leading news stations not because we had found the cure for AIDS or our economic growth had skyrocketed to 10%, but for some other reason. Thanks to Senator Trillanes et al. I am not going to discuss what happened since most of us are already familiar with it already. Apparently, Senator Trillanes et al are getting the hang of standoffs, coup plotting and hotel crashing. This time last 2003, the same event also occurred if you may recall. Senator Trillanes took over the Oakwood Premier Ayala Center serviced apartment tower situated in the Central Business District to show the Filipino people the alleged corruption of the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo administration. To cut a long story short, the coup plotters failed. They also underwent court hearings.

After four years, the plotters have again found a chance to air their concerns. Detained Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, Brigadier General Danilo D. Lim, and 25 other Magdalo officers walked out of their court hearing and marched through the streets of Makati, called for the ousting of the president, and clutched the entire second floor of the Manila Peninsula Hotel. But history repeats itself, they failed for the second time.

As an Economics student, I know how such event can affect the Philippine economy. Shortly after the standoff, there are already signs of retardation in market gains. This might also raise the uncertainty rate, drawing foreign investors back from laying out money in Philippine enterprises. Altogether, this particular event will create an unstable image of the government, which actually makes me huffy. But part of me wants to commend Senator Trillanes et al for exemplifying valiance and nationalism. I just don't know what to react anymore.

On a lighter note, I guess the administration people of Manila Peninsula will also change the hotel's name, like what the Oakwood owners did. So you know, Oakwood is now known as Ascott. But I guess even if they did alterations, everything will still be part of history.

The Dogeaters

"Proximity to the arts is cleansing for the soul…"

Saw The Dogeaters last Saturday and I effing loved it. It wasn't a Shakespearean caliber, but the play was worth the price.

I was early for the show. Too early, actually. So I grabbed a drink at the nearest cafe. While I was sipping my coffee, a guy moved towards me and asked if I can provide him a light. I retorted, "I don't have a light, sorry." But at the back of my mind, I wanted to shout at him and say, "I don't have a light, but I can provide you that with the use of my flaming breath." I am an arsonist, so you know. I emit flame out of my nostrils.

After the guy-asking-for-a-light incident, I rushed back to the auditorium. I got in the lift, and saw an old chum. He will be watching the show as well, together with his friends. We had a little chit-chat outside the auditorium then bade farewell after.

So I went inside and was escorted by an usherette to my seat. I spotted a couple of celebrities and other figures as I proceeded down the aisle. The usherette delivered me to my seat and immediately turned away to assist other viewers. Few minutes after, I foresaw the arrival of a group of American yuppies donned in formal attire. I heard their crisp American accents from the auditorium entrance.

The ushers checked if everyone is already settled, then signaled a thumbs up. Lights off. Curtains up. Show time.

I don't want to discuss the whole play since there are a lot of stories going on, and I'll leave that task to you. See it for yourself, I mean. Tip: Pay attention to every second in the play. You won't get bored, I assure you that. Thank God Jon Santos and Andoy Ranay were around to zest up the show with their incredible gay stints. Their roles however are rather significant to the story. Gina Alajar was flawless, performing the role of a penitent. In a nutshell, everyone performed impeccably. The running time of the show was two hours and a half. Relatively long but nonetheless diverting.

Went home afterwards to study for Economics quiz. Bummer.

Thanksgiving

I hereby propose the establishment of our own Thanksgiving Day here in our country.

In the United States, they annually celebrate Thanksgiving Day and they fete it on the fourth Thursday of November, which was yesterday. This is a traditional holiday for them and its primary purpose is to express their gratitude at the conclusion of harvest season.

We don't have Thanksgiving Day here in the Philippines. Is it because we don't have something to be thankful for? We have lots, mind you. Let me lay down some of them for you. We own a language. We are independent. We have an unusual disposition, we are always cheerful even in times of despair. We have a wide array of native delicacies. We embrace and harbor arts. We are blessed with natural resources. We gather in the dining table every Noche Buena. We practice bayanihan. And these are only a smattering of what we should be appreciative for. So my proposition? Our own Thanksgiving Holiday. But we will not only celebrate it once a year. Not twice. But everyday. Although the items listed above are often overshadowed by the rather bad experiences that we go through as a nation, we must always look to a brighter day. Everyday is a new day, consider it a blessing, not a bane. Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

Retard convo

Here's a snippet of a typical pointless conversation between me and my best chum.

Me: "Hey dude, how were things going?"

Him: "Bad. I sprained an ankle. Got pissed at my Literature professor. Lost my ID."

Me: "Mine's worse. I got a meager score in my Economics quiz. My flash drive fudged up on the day of my report, forcing me to do an impromptu."

You see, even in bleakness, we are competitive.

Him: "Oh yeah, I guess we both suck. Cheers to that! We don't have girlfriends, we're stuck in our study desks trying to figure out how we can drag the country out from the slums, which is actually implausible. Sore loser's life."

Me: "Sore loser, eh? I say MASSIVE LOSER."

Yes, we frequently disgrace our self-worths. That is therapeutic for us. Weird. Something to mull over tonight.

Why she wore lipstick in her mastectomy

I wanted to murder boredom, so I conspired with the cable channels. I arbitrarily browsed through practically all TV channels in search of a good show. And HBO did not fail in giving me one.

The film is called Why I Wore Lipstick to My Mastectomy and it was based from the book written by Nancey Silvers. Mastectomy, as defined by Wiki, is the medical term for the surgical removal of one or both breasts to eradicate a malignant tumor. In layman's term, it is done to terminate breast cancer. This shall give you a clue on how the story will flow.

Geralyn Lucas is the lead female character in the movie. She has recently graduated from journalism school and landed a dream job at a very young age. Her life revolves around her great husband and friends. It is practically the greatest epoch of her life. However, everything suddenly changes when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. You know how the C word destroys your system. Her weight dropped sharply, her crowning glory became sparse. It was some sort of a nemesis. Trying to compose and gather herself, while losing her vibrancy, Geralyn discovers self-acceptance by relying on her husband, friends, courage, humor and of course, her red lipstick. At the end of the day, everything falls in the right place. She had a child, became stronger and tougher. The story simply implies that if we believe in ourselves, everything will come into place.

Each one of us, I believe, has their own "red lipstick" in life. In everything Geralyn Lucas does, she has to have a stroke of her red lipstick. When she underwent mastectomy, when she graced in a magazine to share her struggle against cancer, she wore her red lipstick. It gives her the courage to go on with life, despite the tribulations that took place. I must note though that the use of red lipstick as a source of courage is interestingly weird. But whatever. If I may reiterate, it just shows that everyone of us has their own way of getting away from it all, no matter what kind of source it is.

Tidings

I went back to my original layout. I've been figuring out what I want for my blog for the past two weeks, and what I got from my contemplation is that I want it to be stark simple. I am sort of a minimalist, so it reflects in my blog layout. 

On a not related topic, Amazing Race Asia will be airing its second season on November 22. I heard Marc Nelson will be on the show. I gather the production team of Amazing Race has seen Marc Nelson's formidable vigor and impressive profile. He paired himself with some editor guy. I think they make up a good tandem since both guys are physically and mentally fit.

I am also considering the idea of joining the race. I reckon the show needs some flavor and pizazz. The producers should pick a diverse set of players. Yes the current roster is diverse, i.e. the players hail from different countries, but what I meant of diverse here is in terms of behavior. I, having an erratic behavior, am a good pick. I erupt under emotional strain. I curse. I provide people with names such as nitwit. I succinctly will be a good element for the show. I can flood the producers with lots of profit. Then again, no one would want to be paired up with me. Makes no sense.

Look at the bright side. I got myself a ticket for The Dogeaters. Yey! 

Short

People are intrinsically contemplative. In order for us to ingest the things that happen in our lives, we must pensively reflect on these and draw insights from this process. I believe everyone engages in this involuntarily process, no mater how surly the person is.

I have my own way of contemplating. If I want to get away from all the gauntlets that life hurls at me, I simply hush. Then I isolate myself from the world. I tend to fabricate my own quadrant, where I am not restricted to color beyond the lines, where I am superior to everyone.

To fully create my own imaginary world, I need to inject caffeine into my bloodstream. Amongst all luxuries in the world, I have found a buddy in the figure of a cup of coffee. The piquant aroma of a latte stimulates my brain cells. It arouses my subconscious mind. For me, coffee is everything.

With a cup of java beside me, I can now perform my contemplation. Much better if the java is accompanied with glazed doughnuts. Yum.