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.

David Archuleta Live in Manila: Our A-dork-able Concert Experience

We've been counting down to the day David gets us hypnotised and so mesmerized with his "boyish charm" for days and on the night of his concert here in the Philippines, we weren't let down.

The concert was held on a school bight, but that didn't stop us. Who cares? hahaha. My dad and little brother were going to bring me to Cubao and they were to stay lurking the areas while the concert was going oon and we'd go home all together. I had been texting the friend, Kimmy, I was going with almost the whole drive there with excitement. As we were parking in the basement, my dad kept thye conversation going by asking me big of a fan I thought Kimmy was and I told him the truth, "She says David's her soulmate... he just doesn't know it yet." ;)

I fight to keep my excitement and anxiousness contained as we take the slow escalator rides up the the mall levels. I tell my dad the "default" meeting place in case we can't contact or find each other in the chaos of people surely to emerge when the contest is over. I get a text from Kimmyasking me where I am and saying that she's at the drop off in front of the Araneta Coliseum (now the Smart Araneta Coliseum) and that she can't see me anywhere. I rush off to find a girl wearing a yellow shirt with a design identical to my blue green shirt (yeah, we had shirts made). I see her with her back turned to me and I grab her from behind, and excited as we were, we jump and muffle our screams. We were about ready to get in when I realize I didn't have any money with me. I was in such a fuss that I forgot to get some from my dad.



This was what was on our shirts.

Kimmy accompanies me back to Gateway (the mall I mentioned earlier) and I ask money from my dad. My dad gives me guidelines and reminds me of things like "be careful with your things" or the "don't talk to strangers" type of thing and Kimmy keeps my three-year-old brother entertained. Later on, while walking back to the coliseum, I'm told how cute my brother was and how he kept telling Kimmy stuff. Kimmy, not knowing how to speak my brother's language, kept saying "huh?" or "what?" - and my brother, totally unaware how he still speaks baby talk, kept reapeating it until, Kimmy feigned surprise "Oh!", hahaha.... Believe me, that's always the easier way.

We buy a couple of snacks and some water (which they opened and kept the bottle caps to themsleves, by the way, ang no, I don't know why) and nachos, and we are soon pointed to where our tickets get us seated. Amazingly, we were a little less crowded on our side compared to the side opposite us and the people seated in the row in front of use were like a little of on the older side. Not older as in big-sister old but more like your aunt's mom type of thing. I'm not trying to judge or be rude, but that was how it is. Opposite is, way, waaaaaay on the other side were full of people our age, almost wild and in a frenzy before the concert even started. Random cheers and scream would most of the time start with them.

I tell Kimmy, the signs I know and have obserevd as the start of the concert come closer: spot light being tested, a big number of food vendors rush in and do their job, then they slowly disapppear, the sound booth (that'st what I contral the place where they control the sounds and maybe the lights) gets a little bit more crowded, the media people take interviews, then reserve their spaces, and finally the lights dim.

Julie Ann San Jose

False alarm. A voice on the speaker resonates around the area as it introduces Julie Ann San Jose, a local artist from the tv network GMA (channel 7). She was the opening act for David and I got to say that I admire her for the number of songs she performed. I think she sang around five not to mention it icluded Superbass by Nicki Minaj, so rapped too, and she even slipped while dancing to another song. She had a group of fans who cheered her on despite the fall and she just laughed it off, and we ended up having as much fun as we thought she was having.

Kimmy squeezes my arm and I tell her, "This is it!" as the coliseum get's even darker, and the intro tune to one of David's songs plays on the speakers. David runs from the side of the stage and greets us. He starts singing as the crowd gets wilder and sings along to the lyrics of the song. At first, I don't recognize the song, but once he gets to the chorus, I realize the song was Stomping the Roses which I was telling Kimmy about, just a while ago. Throughout the concert, I was in contact at different moments with my other concert buddy, Jancent, and he called me when I told him to so he could sing and party along even though he wasn't phyisically there with us. David sang an encore of course and Crush was his final song for the evening.

The only bummer we encountered was the concert ending... yeah, yeah, all good things come to an end. :) It actually ended earlier than we expected. It didn't even reach midnight and the concert started at eight. We guessed it was because he had no outfit change and there weren't any long breaks. David sang and sang song after song, and we loved him for that.

Kimmy and I separated for the night talking about the hightlights of the concert and how shoould buy David's speacial Asain Tour Edition of his The Other Side of Down album. We left with the funny thought of how we would both probably have a concert "hangover" the next day at school and how we'd experience the a-dork-able David in concert all over again in our dreams. :))

Girls' Night Out: Monte Carlo

A Girls' Night Out has been an idea lurking in my friend, Kit's mind ever since summer vacation, but it just never seemed to follow through or happen. He had tried to plan before, but there was always one or two of us that wouldn't be able to go or wouldn't be available.

Last July 8 (Friday), it finally happened. It wasn't as meant to be as we thought it should have been. That same day, there were try-out for ours school's girl volleyball team and since I was part of the team last year, it was kind of an expectation for me to try-out again and to at least show up. A couple of my classmates who were also invited to our night out were going to try out as well, so I wasn't the only conflict, but I guess it was just a little bigger on my part.

Try-outs that day were tiring. It was almost all work-outs; it was like going to the gym with your trainer than trying out to play volleyball. We were totally worked out and it all hurt the next day.

A classmate of mine, another one who trained as well, offered for us to just ride with her and even invited us to shower at her house. (That was such a blessing! I couldn't imagine what embarassment we could have broughjt upon ourselve if we smelled like sweat and looked like we rolled all over the floor of our court - which we did, by the way!) I guess the three of us couldn't help but move a little slow and lazy due to being tired from our physical work out at school so we took a little more time than what was planned and what we shouold have, but we took the risk anyway. I was so thankful that we had a ride because when we were filing in the car, it was raining soooo hard and our newly showered heads were greeted by rain water. -.-

Watching Monte Carlo served as a way of relaxation for not just us who came from the try-outs, but all of us. We rarely get weekends free anymore due to projects and deadlines of homeworks and college applications. We even got to bond a little bit when we stopped by a candy stall and our inner toddler came out.

Monte Carlo (starring Selena Gomez) is a very feelo good movie and was perfecty for our "Girls' Noght Out." It has the element of love and the element of adventure. The characters are also easy to realte to. The only thing most of us wished was different was something in the ending. SPOILER ALERT! Selena and her leading man in the movie didn't kiss - a second time -  in the ending of the movie so I guess it sort of left us hanging a little, but the movie was overall very fun.

Our night out was so enjoyed that, even before all of us got home, we were already starting to plan "Girls' Night Out - Part 2!" Looking forward to it!

FINALLY Getting Tickets to David Archuleta: Live in Manila

I had been bugging my mom, asking her if I could go and if she could get me tickets as soon as she could for quite some time now. I had heard rumors early on that David Archuleta was sort of being petitioned to be brought back here in Manila. His fan base here is quite big and pretty loyal. There really was no reason for him not to come back.

Once I found out that it was official, I contacted a friend of mine to ask her if tickets were out. She told me that they weren't even plugging it anywhere yet and that the news was still underground news. I was so stoked about it because, other than being a fan myself, and that Araneta Coliseum was the venue, I late found out that the ticket prices were much more available than most concerts were. The most expensive ticket was below five thousand pesos whereas others would range from around seven to twlve thousand. I immediately let my mother know and she seemed excited, just like I was. She told me that it would be okay for me to watch and that shge would want to watch as well.

A close friend of mine, Kimmy - mentioned in Getting Our UPCAT Test Permits - (Hi Kimmy!), is such a big fan that we developed this inside joke where she tells us that David is her soulmate, but he just doesn't know it yet. We kept talking about watching together or at least meeting up there. She had told me that her mom seemed like she wanted to come just like mine did and that could be our problem. She didn't mean it like they were embarassing or that we didn't want them with us, but that they might buy tickets without them telling us or that we might buy tickets of different seats.

Out-of-the-blue, my mom calls me on my cellphone one night and asks me if I really still wanted to see David Archuleta. Well, of course I did! I had been telling her about it for days now and I even called Ticketnet ti inquire for ticket prices and listed them down on piece of paper. I gev her that peper but, she gave it back to me after looking so I just posted if on our refigerator with one of those free-at-occasions kind of magnets. I think I used the one that we got from a wedding of a close relative.

I tell her that I did and she tells me that she was right beside the ticketbooth as she was talking to me at that moment. She was told that the  ticikets available were priced P3700 and those farther (I later found out that these tickets were from Lower Box A and beyond). I said that it was okay. She told me that she was willing to buy tickets for me and that I was tasked to check with any of my friends or classmetes if they would want to ask her to buy so that we would have tickets beside each other and that they wouldn't have to bother with resevations and going out of the house to buy the tickets. They could just pass the money through me since my mom would already be in possession of the tickets. I immediately got to the phone and tried to call the two frineds of mine that I know would be interested. One was taking a shower when I called, so I called Kimmy's home number. This news was too big for just texting, and calling would make realying details so much easier.

Can't Wait!!!

Kimmy's brother answered tha phone "Hello, (Last name) Residence. Good afternoon!" I say, "Hello, can I talk to Kimmy, please?" "Who's this?" and I tell him who I am. He says hi to me and then there was silence. I didn't know whether or not I should respond. I didn't know if he was still on the other end of the phone. I tried, "Hi...?" then he said, "One moment!" He was as perky as ever. Then I heard muffled voices and footsteps. As soon as Kimmy's voice was what I heard, I was like a recorded message relaying everything I got from my mother and I only stopped at certain reactions I heard from her. I could tell that she was excited, and so was I. She told me that they actually reserved tickets a few days before (I felt bummed that I waan't going to be able to watch with her thinking that she already had tickets). I suddenly realized that why would she be excited about me getting tickets if she already had her own. I asked her about th policy of the reservation lasting only one day. And she told me that she didn't know so the reservation was expired by that time. My mood went up again. :))

After finding out that Kimmy was in and was sure, the day seemed to get brighter. Now on to Alecx (Also mentioned in Getting our UPCAT Test Permits), who I'm sure would be happy to go. It turns out she couldn't. I was asking for an immediate answer and both her parents were unvailable. One came home late and one was in Dubai. It felt like, "AW MAN!"

I told my mom that it would be Kimmy and I. The way my mom was talking, it seemed like she was the same with Kimmy's mother. They were no longer planning to go. This is the down side of the story. My mom ended up not getting to buy the tickets because she couldn't withdraw from the ATM machine; it was broken.

The next two days, my mother got sick. Sick as in sick. I belive she had a slight fever and was throwing up. She missed work for those two days leaving me wondering whether she had the tickets and bought them while I was in school (sometimes, my mother is a miracle worker and she could really make things happen). When I finally asked, I found out that she had not bought them yet.

I tell my dad that I really need to get a hold of my tickets, especially now that I'm holding the Kimmy's fate in my hands (yeah, yeah, I'm exaggerating a little)! Even though she had told me that it was fine with her that we were being a little delayed because Alecx could get a chance to aske permission, still, it was like not following through with what I said. My dad told me that I could always get his help if I asked ("Superdad, to the rescue!").

So excited!!! That could be us there!

I ended up finally getting our tickets the next day. Weird, though. My mom was told at the ticketbooth at the Araneta Coliseum itself that only the Lower Box A and beyond seats were available, but when my dad went to SM, he was able to purchase Patron seats which were closer and were still not elevated, providing the hope that you could get a handshake or anything when an artist goes beyond the stage.

As soon as I get the tickets in my hands, I call Kimmy. Her brother answers again, we have almost the same conversation as before (de ja vu) and I ramble to Kimmy that it's official. I had the tickets and they were in my hands and I was looking at them. She was practically sreaming on the onther line and she told me that if I could I should tweet everything.

And so the excitement continues as we await the day where Kimmy gets to see her said soulmate and I get to go wild in a crowd of even wilder people. Archie, here we come!

Personal Book Review on The Hunger Games

Hunger Games is the first of three books in the Hunger Games Trilogy all written by Suzanne Collins, who is also the author of the Underland Chronicles. 

I first heard about this book through a classmate. I've known him ever since we were in first grade and his mother was my teacher. He always knew that I was a bookworm and he told me he had recently finished this novel. I asked him what kind it was and who wrote it. He said it was titled hunger games and that he would just bring it to school for me to take a look for myself on the next day.

 The next day, He didn't only bring the Hunger Games, but he also brought the sequel, Catching Fire, and both in hardbound. I immediately noticed how cool the cover was. It was simple yet stunning, even though I had no idea of the relevance of the bird. He gave me the books and told me that I should get a copy and get reading. He told me it wasn't like any other book. I was about teenagers that were killing each other and the way the world was during that time: the future. It wasn't the future that was projected it sci-fi movies (robotic, advanced, and full of reflective clothing), but a future that was degraded. The world had not moved forward, but backwards.

The book opens with the introduction of the main character, Katniss Everdeen, and the situation of where she lives. A country called Panem which is divided into thirteen districts, the thirteenth of which has been destroyed. She lives in the twelfth and poorest district where coal is the main product. She lives with her little sister, Prim, and her mother which she seems to be taking care of instead of the other way around ever since her father died from a mining explosion. 

Paperback Cover

Panem is place where the government or the Capitol, as they call it, controls everything and there really sems to be no escape. The Capitol controls everything through the fear of the people. Yearly, they remind the people of Panem that they powerless through what they call "The Hunger Games" in which two (one boy and one girl) teenagers are selected from each district to be put inside the arena and fight the hunger games while all people, especially the people in the Capitol watch it on live television. It is treated as if it is just a siple reality show, except for the fact that lives are taken. The last one standing receives fame, fortune, and and supplies like food and shelter. Inside the arena, it's either kill or be killed. 

Katniss was never really even chosen to go into the arena. She had taken the place of her sister during the drawing of names. Her journey starts of with training and strategic plans on how the winner would come from their district. Katniss and her fellow tribute, Peeta Mellark are guided and coached by previous Hunger Games winner of their district, Haymitch Abernathy, a drunkard, clever man who seems to care about nothing. As Katniss always thought, the odds were never in her favor.

"Winning means fame and fortune.

Losing means certain death.

The Hunger Games have begun...."

I will admit that the book had surprised me and I wasn't expecting that I would like it as much as I do. Suzanne Collins was able to fit in the book an assortment of characters and their different personalities. She was also able to portray the kind of government that no one would want, unless you were one of those who were fortunate and had no real idea of how the districts were. She was also able to show that she was quite adept in the field of media in the way that she was able to write about the way the television in the book was manipulated and how the truth was stretched in many ways. 

This book was such an experience to me. It made me think and also, it kind of gave me butterflies, as the book gives Katniss quite a love story. Even though this book is rated or in the category for young adults, anyone would be blessed with the pleasure of reading it.

A note to those who care

This post is just to send over a message.

I started this blog along with a friend of mine in school. We're really close and we still are, but it seems that he's not really the blogger or continually writing type. He said that I could carry on this blog and that's okay. Everything's cool, but from now on, I'm most likely going to write everything that will be posted on this blog.
I still give him total credit for helping me with naming this blog and I think it's darn good name and it suits whatever goes on it.

Thanks. :))

Quotes from Bob Ong

I think that Bob Ong is a great author. Even though there are times that his statements may seen harsh, he is just being straight to the point and I guess I could say he's keeping it real. He may be unique, but his writing has substance and great  humor no matter what words he uses to send the message he wishes to send to his readers.


"Gamitin ang puso para alagaan ang taong malapit sayo. Gamitin ang utak para alagaan ang sarili mo."

"Mangarap ka at abutin mo. Wag mong sisihin ang sira mong pamilya, palpak mong syota, pilay mong tuta, o mga lumilipad na ipis. Kung may pagkukulang sa'yo mga magulang mo, pwde kang manisi at maging rebelde.

Tumigil ka sa pag-aaral, mag-asawa ka, mag-drugs ka, magpakulay ka ng buhok sa kili-kili. Sa bandang huli, ikaw din ang biktima. Rebeldeng walang napatunayan at bait sa sarili."

"Huwag mong bitawan ang bagay na hindi mo kayang makitang hawakan ng iba."

"Wag magmadali sa pag-aasawa. Tatlo, lima, sampung taon sa hinaharap, mag-iiba pa ang pamantayan mo at maiisip mong di pala tamang pumili ng kapareha dahil lang sa kaboses niya si Debbie Gibson o magaling mag-breakdance. Totoong mas importante ang kalooban ng tao higit anuman. Sa paglipas ng panahon, maging ang mga crush ng bayan sa eskwelahan e nagmumukha ring pandesal. Maniwala ka."

"Huwag mong hawakan kung alam mong bibitawan mo lang."

"Bakit ba ayaw matulog ng mga bata sa tanghali? alam ba nilang pag natuto silang umibig e hindi na sila makakatulog kahit gusto nila?"

"Huwag na huwag ka hahawak kapag alam mong may hawak ka na."

Bob Ong

"Parang elevator lang yan eh, bakit mo pagsisiksikan ung sarili mo kung walang pwesto para sayo. Eh meron naman hagdan, ayaw mo lang pansinin."

"Hindi lungkot o takot ang mahirap sa pag-iisa kundi ang pagtanggap na sa bilyon-bilyong tao sa mundo, wala man lang nakipaglaban upang makasama ka."

"Kung maghihintay ka nang ng lalandi sayo, walang mangyayari sa buhay mo... Dapat lumandi ka din."

"Nalaman kong hindi final exam ang passing rate ng buhay. hindi ito multiple choice, identification, true or false, enumeration or fill-in-the-blanks na sinasagutan kundi essay na isinusulat araw-araw. Huhusgahan ito hindi base sa kung tama o mali ang sagot, kundi base sa kung may kabuluhan ang mga isinulat o wala. Allowed ang erasures."

"Hindi dahil sa hindi mo naiintindihan ang isang bagay ay kasinungalingan na ito at hindi lahat ng kaya mong intindihin ay katotohanan. "

"Mag-aral maigi. Kung titigil ka sa pag-aaral, manghihinayang ka pagtanda mo dahil hindi mo naranasan ang kakaibang ligayang dulot ng mga araw na walang pasok o suspendido ang klase o absent ang teacher. (Haaay, sarap!)."

“Kung hindi mo mahal and isang tao, wag ka nang magpakita ng motibo para mahalin ka niya..”

“Nalaman kong habang lumalaki ka, maraming beses kang madadapa. Bumangon ka man ulit o hindi, magpapatuloy ang buhay, iikot ang mundo, at mauubos ang oras.”

“Sabi nila, sa kahit ano raw problema, isang tao lang ang makakatulong sa’yo – ang sarili mo. Tama sila. Isinuplong ako ng sarili ko. Kaya siguro namigay ng konsyensya ang Diyos, alam niyang hindi sa lahat ng oras e gumagana ang utak ng tao.”

“Mas mabuting mabigo sa paggawa ng isang bagay kesa magtagumpay sa

paggawa ng wala.”

“Masama akong tao, tulad mo, sa parehong paraan na mabuti kang tao, tulad ko.”

Some of Bob Ong Books:

A New Toy in the Playground

Imagine a kid or a group of kids playing together in a sandbox or at the playground. They may get along and they may share toys, but of course when a new toy comes around, all of them would want first dibs on that toy. New is quite attractive, almost all people find it that way. New is something you aren't familiar with, it's an exploration, and it's what all the others want, as well.

A Shiny New Toy

The shiny, new toy always gets the attention. People may even end up fighting for it. They'll fight for it, vie for it. Personally, I wouldn't want to join in on anything like that, it just makes life more unnecessarily complicated. Even if I wanted to, I'd stop myself. I bet a lot of other people would do the same as well, but the problem with this is that there are circumstances when this "new toy" is just so darn shiny, that when light catches even the slightest sign of light or sunshine, and it reflects your way, it's impossible for it not to catch your eye. 

But what if that "toy" could walk, speak, was alive and breathing? Would the toy choose you if you ever chose to go after it? Would you be the last one over all the others trying to get their way? Would you prevail over all else who want the toy all to themselves? Hmmmm... That's something to ponder on. 

*Inspired by "You're like the shiny new toy now," and personal experience/s.