Of Movies ^_^

Yes. I am a fan. Of the movies. Of all sorts of genre. Of all the good and beautiful ones. Of the not-so-good ones. Of the okay ones. I simply love movies. I take movies as works of arts depicting the instances and realities of life and whatever lies beyond the grasp of human reason.

I watch all sorts of genre: romantic comedy, action, drama, thriller, horror, fantasy, sci-fi, 'groundbreaking independent films'. I watch films from all over the world (yes, subtitles are useful, without them, I would have missed a lot of good ones).

Escapism. This is something that a movie, whether good or bad, can always offer. But there is something about escaping reality that makes you think, and really think hard about reality. It helps you to ponder on things that you haven't even remotely considered before. When you can identify with the theme of the movie, or with its characters, it helps you realize that whatever opinions, emotions, and experiences you have, is shared with you by the whole world. When you think you have wasted your time sitting through a really crappy movie, it makes you shrug the annoyance off and proudly say, that oh well, you've been tough enough to go through a bad movie, nothing can go wrong with your day.

I classify movies into three major categories:

1. Now-that's-entertainment movies --> those movies that are just plain fun and simple (although some would have elaborate plots and twists), but these movies won't really leave an impact, you watch the whole thing, you laugh, you cry, you get angry, you scream, you shout, you feel all sorts of emotions... but at the end of it, tadaa! it's just another movie. Someone calls you right after the movie, and you forget everything about the movie: plot, characters, music, etc. Never to be remembered again until the day that you have had the chance to watch it again.

2. Life-changing-decision-altering movies --> these may be any kind of movie, it may be different from one person to another, but these movies generally are the ones that can really make you look at life from a fresh perspective, consider your thoughts, provoke debates among peers; these movies are the ones who will stay with you for a long-time, will give you inspiration in life; these are the type of films that makes you look at yourself in the mirror, and ask yourself, well... how have you been so far and how is the world right now?

3. I've-wasted-my-time movies --> after watching these type of films, you end up feeling disappointed, you feel that you could have used your time to deal with more relative matters in your life but you also end up feeling proud because, you have endured the movie and sat through the whole thing (constantly rolling your eyes and being critical of every single frame)

I would consider a movie to be really good based on (not in order):

1. Cinematography - lighting, camera movement, colors, depth of field and focus, are all very important to me. I can watch a movie just for its cinematography alone.

2. Acting - but of course! actors give life to a story, so without good ones, no good story will come out

3. Writing - oh the script! I love a good dialogue. I find philosophy in words.

4. Directing - the director is the story teller, he envisions the story, and gives life to it; a good vision and a lot of skills.

5. Originality - there are millions of movies out there, and being original in every sense of the word won't hurt a bit

6. Music/Soundtrack - hmmmm... sets the mood, gives stories a groove

7. Believability - I would have to believe and be immersed in what I am watching, whether the movie is fictional, whether the story took place in the past, present, or future, or in some other dimension, the movie should be able to convince me that the events in the movie are all happening and true in every sense of the story.

A combination of all these will be a perfect form of escapism which will lead you back to reality on stronger grounds.

Next: My all-time favorite movies ^_^

Pagkabigo, Panghihinayang = kaya lahat, basta may nakikitang pag-asa

Tanong: Paano mo bibigyan ng solusyon ang maduming tubig (waste water) sa Pilipinas?

Sagot: Magtayo ka ng "waste water treatment facility"

Yan yung problemang kinakaharap ng Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) para sa mga sinasakupan nilang munisipalidad.

May oportunidad: nagbigay ang USAID ng tulong para mag-seminar yung mga eksperto ng Local Government Units (LGU) dito sa Taiwan ukol sa nasabing problema.

3 LGUs: Angono, Calamba, Lucban = nagpadala sila ng mga kinatawan (inhinyero, konsehal, arkitekto, bise-mayor, atbp.) upang dumalo sa seminar at pagpupulong.

Naimbitahan kami (2 araw) sa mga pagpupulong at pagsasanay na ito

Nakakalungkot pero kulang talaga ang mga tao sa gobyerno na desidido na gumawa ng pagbabago. Nakakalungkot kasi nasaksihan mo kung paano talaga umiikot ang pulitika sa Pilipinas, kung paanong ang mga taong ito sa gobyerno ay kulang sa kagustuhan na gumawa ng kung ano ang mabuti para sa bayan at sa mga taong-bayan. Nakakalungkot kasi nasaksihan mo na nga sa Pilipinas, mas lalo mo pang nasaksihan sa ibang bansa.

Pero nakakatuwa kasi may mga tao pa rin na desidido na maglingkod sa publiko, buong puso, buong buhay. Saludo ako, nagbibigay sila ng inspirasyon at pag-asa. Hindi sila ganoon kadami, ika nga e, mabibilang mo gamit ang mga daliri mo sa kamay (sobra pa), pero alam mo na meron. Saludo ako sa Lucban, hanga ako sa dedikasyon ng mga taong ipinadala ng LLDA.

Mahirap simulan ang pagbabago, pero kung hindi ako, ikaw, kung hindi ikaw, siya, kung hindi siya, sino? Kung hindi ngayon, kailan? Paulit-ulit pero dapat isa-isip at isa-puso.

Marami ako'ng natutunan at napagtanto nitong nakalipas na dalawang araw. Totoo pala na may mga pangyayari sa buhay mo na huhubog sa mga prinsipyo mo: itong karanasan na 'to, isa sa magbabago at magpapatibay ng landas na balak ko'ng tahakin.

Ang panalangin ko, maituloy-tuloy ko, natin, yung mga prinsipyo na 'to kahit nakakapanghinayang yung mga nasasaksihan natin at alam ko na masasaksihan pa natin sa hinaharap.

Tanong: Handa na nga ba tayong mabigo? Handa ba tayong harapin ang realidad?

Sagot: Naghahanda, dapat inihahanda ang sarili.

Pero handa rin ako'ng maglingkod at maghanap ng solusyon. Ikaw? ^_^

Almost a month in Tainan, Taiwan...

Yep! almost a month...

I already explored Tainan City (by foot). Another month and we'll (Jen, Reggie & me) officially know the "whats & wheres" of this city by heart. ^_^

I love Tainan. It's where culture meets modernity. ^_^

The nationalities I have met so far:

Indonesian, Malaysian, Canadian, Japanese, Vietnamese, Korean, Africans (from Burkina Faso, Nigeria & Swaziland), Mongolian, Swedish,

Polish, New Zealander, Taiwanese (of course), & Filipinos (which is always like meeting someone you have known for a very long time already)

I now know that Taiwan is developed in its own right. It may not be a member of the UN; may have long-standing issues with the PROC and other countries as a result of such... but Taiwan is holding on its own. The political and economic climate of the country is very stable. The people are disciplined and most if not all, uphold the rule of law. They have a very good waste management system; good infrastructures; good traffic system; standard education; and many more things that a developing country would want to have and hold.

I already know some Chinese phrases (mostly useful for eating out & shopping)

Sumptuous food. Big servings. Milk tea everywhere. You'll never be hungry here. However, breakfast is not very popular as most of the shops open at around 10 or 11 am. Yummy snacks.

The 7-11 here is more than just a convenience store. Most of the transactions can be done here. It's where bills are paid, it's where taxi is called, and they offer a lot of other services that makes life, well, convenient. Plus literally every corner has a 7-11. Walk a few steps, blink your eyes and voila, you're right in front of another 7-11 store.

Tainan is where the rich people of Taiwan are. Porsche, BMW, Benz: student cars, everyday cars, ordinary cars. A Toyota Camry is only a cab. :))

Chunghwa. Taiwan's biggest telecom company. Cheap call rates so people don't text much.

Friendly & warm people.

Temples everywhere. Confucius temple, Chihkanlou temple, I could go and on....

I found JIL Tainan already! Yey! Excited to attend the service on Sunday!

Banyan Garden. Squirrels. Dogs.

Choice of transportation: bicycle, motorbike, car, or walk ^_^ buses and trains are not that popular if you are just to roam the city; they're meant for long-distance travels.

It's amazing how the Lord works to bridge the gaps of culture, language, background, affiliation, and nationality. We've attended the Welcome Party of the NCKU Christians of Light & Salt Club.

Just a month and all of these. Amazing experiences happen everyday. More to come. Can't wait!

^_^

MDP - Summer Intensive Course

The Master's Program in Sustainable Practice (MDP) is a pilot program of the National Cheng Kung University. This is in collaboration with the different departments of the university with the goal of creating an interdisciplinary program combining the specializations of the people involved to develop and promote a sustainable environment. The fields of specialization range from engineering and architecture, to life sciences and social sciences.

MDP was initiated by Dr. Jenny Su of the OIA and the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and is spearheaded by Dr. Fukushima of the Department of Environmental Engineering. The Summer Course was held from August 22 to September 5, 2010.

Random words to describe it: intensive, non-stop, super fun, field trips, educational, informative, binding, heartwarming, friends, impressive professors, what-an-experience moments, passionate individuals, ideas, inputs, concepts, memories to last forever ^_^

Taiwanderful?

First day at NCKU.

Our flight went well: smooth take-off and smooth landing. Kudos to Mr. Pilot.

Random Observations:

1. very prompt and very reliable airport pick-up service

2. very accommodating and very eager student buddies and guides - Apple, Vicky, John, Stella, and other friendly faces who welcomed us with warmth

3. time passes by sooooooooooo slowwwwwwwwwwwwww :) we're in the province so that's just that, but we can take advantage of that when we already have research papers to do. We'll get to finish the papers & then we'll have time to have some fun fun fun

4. the campus is huge, and we're talking huge. It's a community on its own.

5. the dorms: so-so (the ones that we have been into), but i can handle that, I just hope that we can get a better deal :)

6. food - plenty to choose from

7. the Office for International Affairs - friendly staff, reliable, gives out very useful info

8. animal sightings: dogs (students can have their pet dogs, so there are plenty roaming around the campus) and a squirrel

9. I'm very glad that Tita Cons (Reggie's mom) decided to go with us. She's great! :)

10. I'm very happy that I'm going to be here with Reggie & Jen. We will be taking this journey together, so be it.

11. I'm going to be compelled to learn Mandarin that's for sure :) And I'm excited about it.

Did we make the right decision? I believe so. I believe that everything happens for a reason. I believe that the Lord led us here.

Let's see what happens. Exploration continues... :)

I am so happy and overwhelmed with the blessings (overflowing) that I have been receiving. The Lord's unfailing mercy and love is really unbelievable.

I recently graduated from the University of Santo Tomas with a degree of AB Asian Studies. I was immediately employed a few weeks after graduation. And now I have two MA scholarship grants to choose from: one is from the Catholic University of Korea, and one is from the National Cheng Kung University - Taiwan.

As you can see, I have chosen the latter.

I don't know if I made the right decision just yet but what I do know is that I am blessed with so much love and support from my parents, family and friends, that I don't think it matters what I choose anymore. I think the important thing is that I am willing to take the risk, explore, and grab the opportunity.

So with that, I am very much excited to live and study in Tainan City. However, I am also taking a risk here: living your comfort zone and starting a life as an expatriate may not be easy as it seems. But then again, how will I know if I won't try? There's still a lot of things to do, and I feel that time is ticking so fast. My admission package hasn't arrived yet but the things I have to do is mounting up by the minute. But oh well, everything will fall into place in God's perfect time.

So yehey for all of these!

I hope and pray that you are as happy as I am this weekend! Enjoy!

Don't forget to enjoy every single moment of every single day. Life is delicious, hence, it's always worth the risk.

Yehey! Finally: a blog!

Hello everyone!

It's been a long time (around 4 years I think) since I had my last blog!

Since I am starting a new chapter in life, I wanted to be able to share to the world all the things that I am going through and everything else that I have yet to conquer.

This blog will discuss anything and everything under the sun. So hop along and join me, together let us experience life as it is: sweet, bitter, happy, fun, sad, nerve-wrecking, exciting, and overwhelming.

I have always thought of life as food: we crave for all the things we want and end up either being fully satisfied or not.

But one thing is for sure--- sweet, bitter, or a combination of both, as always,

Life is delicious!