The Hunger Games Movie Photos!

Ever since I have read the hunger games trilogy, I have been a big fan. I was instantly sucked in to the world of Panem. I started trying to 'recruit' readers and convince them that they wouldn't reagret reading the book or books.

Since then, a lot has happened. It was announced, of course, that it was going to be made into a movie and the cast was soon released. Now, I have heard, that it has been declared as one of the most awaited movies currently. I'm assuming that Lionsgate is taking advantage of this and hyping up as many fans as possible. The people behind the scenes - including author, Suzanne Collins - has been keeping the public aware of the happenings as much as they can. So as a HUGE and loyal fan to the book, the author, the characters, and I'm sure the movie, as well, I just couldn't control my anticipation and want to share these photos that were taken for certain websites, fansites and/or magazines such as Entertainment and Vanity Fair here. :)



The three leads.



Liam Hemsworth (Gale), Jennifer Lawrence (Katniss) and Josh Hutcherson (Peeta)




Gale and Peeta



The Tributes

 

Gale

Peeta



This one is sooooo cool!

 

Check out the official trailer to the movie here!

Personal Book Review on Hush, Hush

Being that, nowadays, the supernatural or the mysterious are such a fascination, I would say that the book Hush, Hush (the first book in the Hush, Hush saga) can satisfy our thirst for the unknown.

It is a book by Becca Fitzpatrick and is set in our world and our time, but where there are fallen angels among us humans. The main character, Nora Grey, never expected a romance to come into her life, but an intriguing guy called Patch seems to have something that just draws her to him. A series of mysterious events makes Nora doubt her judgement and makes her question if Patch is really trustworthy or not. As she snoops around and tries to get answers, she soon finds out things she never thought could be true. It's time to choose sides.

*spoiler alert!

Becca Fitzpatrick

The book is fast-paced which ensures that a reader will not get bored, and for me, it was my first time reading a fictional novel novel about fallen angels so I found it quite exhilarating. Patch also has some sort of superpowers: like he can make you see and feel thing in your head one moment, then bring you back to reality, just like what he did to Nora on the roller coaster; he seems to attract the opposite sex because he's incredibly good-looking; and he's a little stronger than the average guy, adding to the book's supernatural factor. The dark side of the novel and of the leading man just intrigues me and makes me want to know more about the character. Nora, being a simple high school student, creates the feeling of our reality and Patch's unknown world connected, even in a distant way. Patch also has this unknown past that he never seems to be willing to share. Once again it makes you want to know more.

The book, overall, is a good read and will pull you into the story specifically in Coldwater, Maine. I'd surely recommend it to my fellow bookworms. It will surely leave you wanting more. :)

Check out Becca Fitzpatrick's website

Realization After the Annual School Field Trip

I really don't know why, but I'm the kind of person who at times gets really sentimental, and once again, I was hit with this "sickness" - one that has no cure - of mine after the field trip.

*note: I added funny, yet sentimental comic strips or cartoons I found on the net. :)

A few of us still got a chance to hang out a little bit after we got back to school (via the same bus) to maybe use the restroom, make small talk or jusat catch our breath from such a tiring day. The stairs near the restroom provided free seating so I sat down next to a few of my gal pals. I was greeted and my presence was acknowlegded. They were all still talking about the rides at Enchanted Kingdom, especially the extreme ones. I couldn't help but join in because I was on all of those extremes and I couldn't wait to share and compare our individual experiences. Our small talk soon turned into a heated conversation full of laughter and big gestures and I could say that we were probably getting loud as well.

After we got all our extra excitement out, we settled back down and got hushed again. I really didn't want to go yet because the field trip day was the last day before our "mid-year assessment" (that's what the school wants to call it) or better known to be called as the sembreak. I would most likely not see any of them for around 12 days in total. My fetcher was already waiting outside, but I'll admit that I was stalling. I stood up, sat down, then stood up again. I had this one classmate who had the zipper to his bag a little open. I know a handful of my classmates who have this habit and it kind of drives me crazy. Maybe it's a pet peeve of mine to see a partially opened bag (*OC alert, haha). So I closed it. I was thanked and then brought in to the boys' conversation and I discussed most of what I'd discussed with the girls, with maybe just a few differences because we were mostly together at EK.

I couldn't stop the feeling of exhaustion and decided that it was time to say goodbye. The goodbye part was longer thatn necessary ;) I probably said goodbye, take care and stuff like that around 30 times to maybe 13 different people. Yeah, it was repetitive, alright.

 



Upon getting home, I was struck with the realization of how, in a few short months, we'd be graduating: moving on to the next chapter of our lives, closing one door and opening the one ahead of us that leads to an infinite number of different possibilities. This feeling was intensified when a classpamate of mine, Paolo, and I texted each other and he told me he thought the same. I was hit straight in the gut of how I'd miss so many things like being in one classroom, getting excited about a new seating arrangement or having a small group of teachers for the whole year that you couldn't help but get close to. I realized how I'd probably miss the small things the most: getting to share a joke with friends, getting thanks for a small favor, or getting to talk about the field trip right after having it. Most of all, I realized how quickly time can fly, not only when you're having fun, but when you're with the people you're used to... the people you could say you're soooo used to, but deep inside I'd bet you love them anyway. I know my class and my batch don't always get along, but all of us are and will always be part of SENIORS: Batch 2011-2012. Now, isn't that something. :)

Senior Year Field Trip: Part 2 of 2

If the experience through The Myth of the Human Body was opportunity enough for photos for my Senior Year scrapbook, Enchanted Kingdom (local themepark in Laguna) would practically be a huge photo shoot just waiting to happen.

The bus ride there was not as agonizingly long as we expected. It was actually just right. I think we even arrived a little bit earlier than planned, which gave some people a chance to eat an early lunch (it was around 10:45-11:15 am at the time), change clothes and get ready for our next stop as the bus was parked and our teachers were getting our special tickets counted and ready for us (it had the word student on it and our school name).

EK entrance.

As we got off the bus, we were lined up - as usual - and led to the entrance of the park which was this grand sort of caslte thing that was lined with unlit lights. It had been a long time since I had been there - I think it was the same for most of my batchmates - so the sight was almost something new to me. There were a nember of people that were there before us and were already formed in 4 to 6 lines (I'm not exactly sure) leading to several entrances. At the first gates, bags were checked and at the second gate you were given a bracellet and stamped before getting in.

My pals and I are actually just a small group and the three of us usually get together with most of the boys and hang out with them. This was the plan for today.we had all agreed to just group together and they sort of made clear early on that they didn't want just anybody to, like you know... pop up and hang around all of a sudden and we also made clear that we knew and I guess the feeling was mutual.

Arriving at EK.

EKstreme tower drop ride.

All of us rushed in and I could almost say that we were forcing ourselves not to run to the first ride we saw as we speed walked to the look for a locker area and leave any extra luggage. The closest ride to this was a 150 feet high tower drop ride called EKstreme. It was actually one of the hot topic rides in school prior to the trip. Boys will be boys and boys are competitive. It was brought about that we should ride it first and now, as in at that moment. We had just arrived and us girls were pretty hesitant. I personally thought that there was no line for two reasons: one, there was a fee of 80 pesos for regulars and 50 pesos for students, and two, they were too scared. After paying we got straight in and were told that we could just leave our belongings on the ground in front of our seats. A few already backed out and only two of us girls wanted to get adrenaline-pumped. I felt really nervous as we were buckled in. Then we were slowly lifeted up. Some of the boys we were with were telling everyone else to scream or shout - it was their way of coping, I guess.

From the ground you could see when the ride reached the top, but when you were actually on the ride, all strapped in and tied down, you couldn't see past the ride name place above each seat (as seen on the EKstreme photo), and you could hardly look sideways either. Downward was the only direction you could look all the way. So while we were being raised up slowly, I'd bet all of us were feeling like we wanted to quit. Then we were dropped. For a second I thought I left my soul, or at least a kidney up there. It was way longer than onyone expected and the feeling that you were gonna hit the ground hard made you hold your breath and close your eyes until you feel a gust of air from the mechanism's break, letting you know that it's over. I could still feel the adrenaline as we found our way out.

Space Shuttle.



Anchors Away.



We were all up to riding as much as we can, and I personally I wanted to ride all the extremes available.and we did. We went for all those first. We rode the famous ones: the Space Shuttle (roller coaster), Anchors Away, Jungle Log Jam, and Rio Grande Rapids. Also we went throught the horror house and the Flying Fiesta (hanging swings being turned in the air). We took as many pictures as we could and I'm glad to say that I liked how most of them turned out.

FIELD TRIP CANDIDS!

A couple of the boys lining up for Anchors Away




At the entrway of the Space Shuttle



Relief after being dropped a hundred-and-fifty feet





Goofin' around

 

Even though the feeling after the field trip was a mixture exhausted and kind of overwhelmed with the feeling of the whole trip as our last, it made me realize how much blessed I am to be surrounded with people whom I enjoy the company of. I couldn't wait to get scrapbooking! :)

Good Night, Sweet Angel

A short poem by Leigh Fuentes

Good night, sweet angel,

with your halo above your head.

Invite the spell that leads you to your bed.

Good night, sweet angel,

Dream like there's no tomorrow.

Let the moon take away all your sorrow.

Good night, sweet angel.

Soon the sun will rise anew,

refreshing your gentle virtue.

Good night, sweet angel,

the time is for slumber,

let the countless stars slowly take you under.

Good nigt, sweet angel.

Drift into your dreams,

for the night is not as long as it seems.

Senior Year Field Trip: Part 1 of 2

Being obvious from the title, this years annual "educational" field trip at our school  was the last one we senoirs would have. The field trip has always been a source of excitement for every student. It's a chance to break free from the evryday, normal routine we often get tired of when it's been too long. This year, - October 21, to be precise - we were scheduled to visit The Myth of the Human Body exhibit located in Taguig City. It's this place where they show real human bodies and/or their parts that have gone through a scientific process of preservation called Plastination (see link below if you wanna know more). Because we were told early on that everything in there was going to be real, we had no idea what to expect.

We were first led into a room where we watched a short video presentation about the body and it's many parts, but generally I would say it focused a whole lot more on reproduction than necessary. After that, we were grouped in smaller numbers - being that the whole high school department of our humble school was there - for the tour. I felt really bad that I goy separated from my buddy or buddies because we were grouped, but I felt lucky enough to still have been grouped with a couple of my close guy friends. One was thoughtful enough to sort of be my temporary buddy. We got the fortune of having a nice "tour guide." She was a girl who was sociable enough yet she seemed quite professional and she gave eye contact and was very open to answer any questions, even those that are a little more awkward or embarassing to ask than others. The exhibit was divided into several systems of the body (i.e. muscular, reprodustive, etc.) and these systems were represented by certain gods (i.e. Poseidon, Dionysus, etc.).  The building sort of seemed like a house inside that had many heres and theres where you would probably get lost easily if you just wandered off. It was bigger that it looked. The specimens, as they were referred to, were really a sight. those that were full or whole were positioned in a somewhat artistic way representingcertain sports or athletic activities.

*notice: photography was not allowed inside, so I simply got these photos off the net.

I never thought in my lifetime that I would ever get to see what a human's brain looked like. What my brain technically looked lik, but I guess in some ways I have been curious. Well, I did want to be an anthropologist before. Anyway, we got to see practically everything. Bones, lungs, intestined, livers. Name it. If it's part of the human body, I'd bet it was there. They also showcased a part of the exhibit where the only organs were displayed. We got to see what cancer on a lung would look like, what a tumor would look like in a certain organ; it was amazing for me.Although I will not deny that at first I was a little torn whetehr or not I was a little bothered because a couple of my classmates and batchmates mentioned to me how it was a little weird that you really could look into a face and know that it must've walked the earth just like we were now. They really had features, but I guess they just didn't expect it to be that way. I had thought about it before and anticipated seeing faces of people that are now instruments of education  to the community.

There was also a portion where different stages of the fetus where available for sight, and maybe it was because of the chemicals or the prematurity of some of the specimens, but the skin of the fetuses seems transluscent, like tracing paper just a little more jelly-like. The assortment of all that they were able to include in the axhibit ang their appraoch in presenting it was a good experience for me. It's something surely not everyone gets to see. The weirdest thing was at the end of the tour though. After all the photo-opp areas, a flight of stairs downward would lead you to a sort of ice cream parlor before reaching the exit. WEIRD. Still, The Myth of the Human Body Exhibit will surely be something I won't be forgetting any time soon.

FIELD TRIP CANDID MOMENT!

Do the JEJEpose! Hahaha, LOL!

 

•  Know more about Plastination (Wikipedia)
• The Myth of the Human Body on Facebook

El Filibusterismo: A play presented by Torn Ticket

Watching filipino plays has been an annual thing for high school students at my school for quite some time now. It is always held at Cinema 8 of SM North Edsa, and has been seen in more ways than one as a mini-field trip, so it sure sparks up excitement.

Being held at a mall, the oporunity is taken adavntage of. Students pss permission letters to our school office early on saying that they have been permitted to stay afterwards and buy something or whatever excuse they use in the book.As seniors right now, this is a very good chance for a photo opportunity.

Tata Selo, Huli and Tano: scene from the play

Since the theatre company holding it this year (on September 3, 2011, Saturday) was different from the past three years (before: Villa Teatro now: Torn Ticket), we really had no idea what to expect. We just did our best to come early for good seats. Commonly, one or two people cast in the play or part of the crew are local actors or actresses with known names in the industry of "showbizz". This year, the lead role, Simoun, was played by Jao Mapa and the whole presentation was directed by Nino Muhlach.

The play was started with the national anthem and this dramatic way it was waved on the stage and it ended with a picture=perfect momnet with the flags of the Philippines and of the Katipunan (KKK). Props were amazing as well, and there was a funny bit where all the actors moved in slow motion that was surprisingly entertaining.

Photo-Opp while waiting in line :)

Overall, the play was a success to us, even though we had to wake up extra early on a Saturday and the lining up befor entering, as usual, took aroung an hour because it still gave us a good time. They even had blood and gunshot effects, plus an explosion and a jumping-out-of-a-window-stunt that was kind of funny and unexpected... talk about keekping the audience of short-attention-spans awake. :) Not to mention the number of characters the brought about crushes... even some of the teachers agree. hahaha... Too bad this was our last time, but who know? Maybe there'll be a next time where we'll personally look for a way to but tickets ourselves just for the sake of old times.