a new world from the scientist’s soul

set in the post apocalyptic world devoid of humanity and soul, the movie 9 is about a group of sentient ragdolls created by the scientist who seems to be the last human on earth, struggles to fight for their survival against the catbeast and the fabrication machine.

this machine that happens to be an initial product of the human desire to create a better world order turns out to be a weapon of mass destruction after the intervention of greed, pride and power. eventually, this machine and its kinds have devastated the world and wiped out the existence of almost every human in the planet. in the movie, the catbeast machine made out of scraps and pieces of metals kidnaps 2 after he saved 9. later, 9 finds himself with the company of 1, 5, 6 and 8. 1, the eldest and the standing leader of the group forbids 9 to leave the place and explains the futility of saving 5 from the beast. he prioritizes safety rather than risking their lives to save 5. but since 9 is the more adventurous, no-fear type of creature, he encourages 5 to join him in his quest to save 5 by going down the lair of the catbeast.

the journey of 9 and 5 reminded me of frodo and sam’s journey to mordor. add to that the fact that 9 is voiced by elijah woods, the impulsive and clumsy hobbit from the lord of the rings movies. the two managed to save 5 by the help of the fighter ragdoll 7. the catbeast was defeated. they could have lived hapily ever after in their post apocalyptic world until the curiosity of 9 awakened the bigger antagonist of the story, the fabrication machine. this is the point where the real adventure begins.



shane acker’s 9 made it to my list of favorite animated movies because of its stunning visual quality. the textures, the details, the colors, and the lighting are all perfect to set the mood of gloom for the film. the steam punk-like atmosphere adds not only an artistic flair but also a bad-ass aura to the whole film.

one thing that makes the movie more interesting is that it is a visionary of the what-could-have-beens of humanity. the author and director of this movie knows what he is doing. he knows how to put his visions into the frames of his animation.

the movie does not in any way pose to be a philosophical or complicated. the plot is simple, and the characters’ goal is clear-to survive. the overall narrative may not be as complex many expects, but that does not in any way strip the movie of its message. the movie shows how one human soul can be split into many parts, each with unique personalities and traits. (each of the ragdolls’ souls is a part of the scientists’ soul.) it shows the conflicts of the soul- the oppositions among survival, fear, courage, safety, and pride. 9 tells us that if we choose to, we could always redeem ourselves from the shadows of our past actions. it tells us that no matter how bleak, gloomy and hopeless the world may seem, there will always be a way to survive and that the hope of a better tomorrow can actually happen.

***

9 is based from shane acker’s 2005 animated film of the same title. it was nominated to the academy awards best animated short film last 2006.

you can watch the animated short here.

List of Rescue hotline numbers and Donation Centers for typhoon ondoy victims

Rescue Operations

1. National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) (+632-9125668, +632-9111406, +632-9115061, +632-9122665) Help hotlines: (+65 734-2118, 734-2120) ndcchelpdesk@gmail.com
2. Philippine Coast Guard (+632-5276136)
3. Air Force (+63908-1126976, +632-8535023)
4. Metro Manila Development Authority (136)
5. Marikina City Rescue (+632-6462436, +632-6462423, +632920-9072902)
6. Pasig Rescue Emergency Number (+632-6310099)
7. Quezon City Rescue (161)
8. San Juan City Hall Command Post (+632-4681697)
9. Bureau of Fire Protection Region III (Central Luzon) Hotline: (+63245-9634376)
10. Senator Dick Gordon (+639178997898, +63938-444BOYS, +632-9342118, +632-4338528)
11. Senator Manny Villar (+639174226800. +639172414864, +639276751981)

Civil Society/ Media

1. Philippine National Red Cross (143, +632-5270000)
2. Philippine National Red Cross Rizal Chapter operations center hotline: (+632-6350922, +632-6347824)
3. Go to GMA Facebook page & post complete addresses and names of people in need of immediate help.
4. ABS-CBN Typhoon Ondoy Hotline: (+632-4163641)
5. Jam 88.3: (+632- 6318803) or SMS at JAM (space) 883 (space) your message to 2968
6. GMA Kapuso Helpline: (+632-9811950-59)

All calls for help, please help us by filling out information here at the Rescue InfoHub Center.

Sahana Disaster Management System needs IT volunteers. http://sahana.kahelos.org. Email sahana@kahelos.org.

Rubber Boat, 4×4 Trucks, Chopper Requests

1. NCRPO (+632-8383203, +632-8383354)
2. Private citizens who would like to lend their motor boats for rescue please call emergency nos: +632-9125668, +632-9111406, +632-9122665, +632-9115061)
3. You can also text (+632917-4226800 or +632927-6751981) for rescue dump trucks.
4. For those who are able to lend 4×4 trucks for rescue: Please send truck to Greenhills Shoppng Center Unimart Grocery to await deployment, Tel No. (+632920-9072902).
5. Petron & San Miguel Corporation are lending choppers for rescue operations, call/text: (+632917-8140655) ask for Lydia Ragasa

Power Supply

• Meralco (+63917-5592824, 16211, +63920-9292824) If you want service cut off to your area to prevent fires and electrocution.

Relief Aid and Donations

URGENT:

Donations of heavy duty flashlights needed for rescue operations in Cainta area. Contact Cielo at (+632918-8824356)

Businesses/ Commercial Establishments

1. Aranaz Stores in Rockwell & Greenbelt is accepting donations of any kind for Payatas communities affected by Ondoy
2. Aunt Genie’s Breadhouse in Cebu – 1279 Talamban, Cebu City In front of the Talamban Sports Complex – drop off point
3. Binalot at Greenbelt 1, call Tetchie Bundalian at (+632922-8573277)
4. Brainbeam Events, Inc. 2/F MB Aguirre Cornerhs Bldg,15 Pres Ave cor Elizalde Sts, BF Homes Pque across the old Caltex in BF. Will accept relief goods.
5. The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf will be accepting canned goods, water, clothes, blankets, towels, medicine, and emergency supplies (no cash) in all our branches on behalf of the victims of Typhoon Ondoy starting today until Friday. Your generosity will be much appreciated during this difficult time for our brothers and sisters in need.
6. Every Nation, FORT will accept donations for Red Cross esp. purified water, canned goods, and infant formula. Location @ 32nd St cor University Pkwy across Market Market.
7. Junior Chamber International Manila Baypark Tent, Roxas Blvd. will accept goods starting Monday.
8. Luca stores (Rockwell, Shang-rila, Eastwood, or GA towers): Send your old clothes & donations (no cash pls).
9. Manor Superclub, Eastwood City will accept goods and other emergency items starting Sunday at 10 am.
10. Ministop IBARRA (Espana cor. Blumentritt, Sampaloc Manila) is also accepting relief goods, Food (non-perishable goods only) Clothing, Medicines, Beds, Pillows, Blankets, Emergency Supplies to help Typhoon Ondoy victims.
11. Moonshine boutique in Rockwell also accepting relief good to help Ondoy victims in Marikina and Cainta.
12. Myron’s Greenbelt will accept relief goods
13. Papemelroti stores in 91 Roces Ave. / Ali Mall Cubao / SM City North EDSA / SM Fairview / SM Megamall / Glorietta 3 in Makati / SM Centerpoint / SM Southmall are accepting relief goods (canned goods / milk / bottled water / clothes ? NO CASH pls.)
14. PowerPlant Mall accepting donations for ABS-CBN foundation. Dropoff at admin office, P1 level.
15. R.O.X. Recreational Outdoor eXchange is accepting donation for relief good for Typhoon Ondoy victims. You can bring it in the store located in B1 building Bonifacio High St., Tel. No. (+632-8564638/39)
16. Shell gas stations – drop off point
17. Total gas stations- drop off point
18. Petron – drop off point
19. Team Manila stores in Trinoma, Mall of Asia, Jupiter Bel-Air and Rockwell shall be accepting relief goods (Canned Goods, Ready-to-drink Milk,Bottled Water and Clothes) for distribution by Veritas.
20. Whitespace 2314 Chino Roces Ave Ext as a Makati drop-off for relief goods.
21. Jollibee branches in Metro Manila – drop off point
22. McDonald’s branches in Metro Manila – drop off point

Government/ Civil Society/ Movements

1. Victory Fort is opening its doors to those affected by the typhoon. Call 813-FORT.
2. ABS-CBN through Banco de Oro account number 56300-20111 account name: ABS-CBN Foundation Incorporation
3. Akbayan?s taking donations, call 433-69-33/433-68-31 to donate or volunteer.
4. Citizens Disaster Response Center (CDRC): Relief goods for typhoon victims being accepted at 72-A Times St., West Triangle, QC. Tel (+632-9299820/22)
5. Corporate Network for Disaster Reponse bank account no. 0031 0654 02 BPI Ayala Paseo Branch for cash donations
6. Sen. Kiko Pangilinan is accepting donations @ AGS Bldg Annex, 446 EDSA Guadalupe Viejo. Contact Vina Vargas at (+632917-8081247)
7. Kabataan Partylist - Drop off donations or volunteer at 118-B Sct. Rallos QC.
   09266677163 or kabataanpartylist@gmail.com
8. Luzon Relief: Donations can be brought to RENAISSANCE FITNESS CENTER, 2nd Floor, Bramante Building, Renaissance Towers Ortigas, Meralco Avenue, Pasig City starting MONDAY (Sept.28) / 9am ? 7pm Contact Person: Warren Habaluyas (+632929-8713488) or email at luzonrelief@gmail.com
9. Miriam Quiambao drop off point: One Orchard Road Building in Eastwood, or message http://www.twitter.com/miriamq for more details.
10. Move for Chiz is asking for volunteers and donations at Bay Park Tent, along Roxas Blvd., beside Max Restaurant and Diamond Hotel in Manila, or at Gilas Minipark at Unang Hakbang St., Gilas Q.C.
11. NoyMar Relief Operations: Clare Amador (+639285205508) or Jana Vicente at +639285205499). Drop off for relief donations is at Balay Expo Center across Farmers Market Cubao.
12. Operation Rainbow (Zac Faelnar Camara) at Ayala Alabang Village needs Canned Goods, Ready-To-Eat Food, Bottled Water, Ready-To-Drink Milk/ Juice, Clothing, Blankets, contact (+632-4687991)
13. Philippine Army Gym inside Fort Bonifacio or GHQ Gym in Camp Aguinaldo are now distributing donations for Ondoy Victims.
14. Philippine National Red Cross different ways to Donate.
15. Red Cross Load Donations: Right now the easiest way to make donations from the seat of your chair is via mobile phone load. The Red Cross Rescue and Relief Operations. Text: REDAMOUNT to 2899 (Globe) or 4483 (Smart)
16. Relief Efforts for Pasig at Valle Verde 1 Village Park, contact (+632916-4945000, +632917-5273616)
17. Relief Operations Center at AGS Annex, #446 EDSA Guadalupe Viejo after PET Tower contact Ares at 0917.855.4935 or Rachel at 0918.924.1636
18. Sagip Kapamilya hotlines (+632-4132667, +632-4160387) #13 Examiner St. West Triangle, QC. and Scout Mayoran, cor. Morato, near Alex III.
19. Tulong Bayan hotlines for donations and volunteers are (+632908-6579998) Marilyn, (+632939-3633436) Jenn (+632-9137122, +632-9136254 & +632-9133306).
20. TXTPower now accepts donations via SmartMoney 5577514418667103, GCash 09179751092 and Paypal http://is.gd/3GvuN
21. World Vision partners with Phil Coast Guard and kind individuals for relief distribution to 3k families. Call (+632-3747618 local 242) or text (+632917-8623209) to help.
22. Worldvision Foundation is also accepting donations/volunteers to pack relief goods in QC. For $-donations, BPI:USDacct #4254-0050-08

Religious/ Schools & Universities

1. Assumption College San Lorenzo is now accepting donations. Please drop them off at the AC guardhouse.
2. Ateneo de Manila University is now accepting donations for the victims of Ondoy. Donations can be dropped at MVP Lobby. For those stranded/those who need help: To all students who need help or know of people who need help. Please text the name, location, and contact number to (+6329088877166). ATENEO, which is now an open shelter, accepts refugees. Call (+632917-8952792)
3. Caritas Manila Office at Jesus St., Pandacan Manila near Nagtahan Bridge (+632-5639298, +632-5639308)
4. CCF St Francis Mall, Ortigas is now accepting goods for donation.
5. CFC Center Ortigas is now open for donations in cash or kind. Call (+632-7270682 to 87) or text (+632922-2542819)
6. De La Salle University-Manila – The Sagip Metro relief operation will start to accept donation for Ondoy victims starting Monday @ 8:30 am. Please bring goods to the South Gate of DLSU-Manila.
7. De La Salle Zobel will be accepting donations tomorrow at Gym 5 (Near Gate 7 in Molave St.)
8. DLSU Medical Center will accept canned goods, blankets, clothes, water. Location is at Congressional Avenue, Dasmarinas, Cavite. Telephone lines are at(02) 844-7832 and (046) 416-4531
9. Hillsborough Village Chapel ? Water, blankets, shoes, and clothes may be sent to Hillsborough Village Chapel in Muntinlupa City. These will go to families whose houses were washed out in the nearby sitios.
10. La Salle Greenhills for Greenhills/Mandaluyong/San Juan Area, if you want to help out with the rescue and relief operations, you can drop off your donations (clothes, food, etc..) at LSGH Gate 2 or volunteer from 9am to receive, sort, repack the donations.
11. Our Lady of Pentecost Parish (+632-4342397, +632-9290665) per Gabe Mercado, donations are very much welcome. The Parish is located at 12 F. Dela Rosa corner C. Salvador Sts., Loyola Heights, Quezon City.
12. Playschool International in Better Living is open to receive relief goods. Feel free to drop it there for your convenience. No Cash Pls.
13. Radio Veritas at Veritas Tower West Ave. Cor EDSA (+632-9257931-40)
14. Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan Task Force Noah, a disaster response arm of the Jesuits, is accepting donations. Please drop it off sa Ateneo Cervini Dorm.
15. St. James Church Multi-Purpose Hall – Drop off point
16. St. Pedro Poveda College is now accepting relief goods. call the Social Action Center 6318756 loc. 121
17. UA&P Please contact Dae Lee [SEB EVP] @ 09178323533 needs donations and volunteers.
18. UP College of Arts and Letters (CAL) is accepting goods and cash. Donation center at CAL/text 0929-6454102.
19. UP Diliman USC is collecting food, clothing and/or cash. Contact TITUS 09178001909, JOSE 09273056607 and TIN 09154906106
20. Katipunan Avenue. Contact Erica Paredes at (+632917-4741930) ? they need bread, packed juice, sandwich filling (tuna, chicken, anything) You can help her make them, deliver the sandwiches to her house, or help her distribute! Call for more details.
21. Xavier School in San Juan is now accepting donations, please bring to Multipurpose Center (MPC).

Private Citizens

1. MAKATI: 5729 Calasanz St., Olympia Makati City or call for pick up at (+632-5017405 or +632-7290530) c/o Omel Santos
2. SOUTH: Accepting relief goods in SOUTH AREA. Please contact Anne at (+632915-2854240)
3. Karen Ang (that’s me)
   3 Kagandahan corner Kabutihan Streets, Kawilihan Village, Pasig
   0920-9520900
   Will forward donated relief goods to Red Cross

People Tracker (using your phones, get your friends and family to turn on their finderservice for you)

• FINDERSERVICE. For Smart, text wis to 386.
• FINDERSERVICE. For Globe, text find to 7000.

E-Donations

1. SMS: text RED to 2899 (Globe) and 4483 (Smart)
2. G-Cash: text DONATEAMOUNT4-digit M-PINREDCROSS to 2882
3. TXTPOWER.org: Paypal, Smart Money (5577-5144-1866-7103), G-Cash (0917-9751092)

Philippine National Red Cross

1. Please send cash or check donations to the PNRC National Headquarters in Manila. Checks should be made payable to The Philippine National Red Cross. They can arrange for donation pick-up.
2. METROBANK Port Area Branch
   Peso Acct.: 151-3-041-63122-8
   Dollar Acct.: 151-2-151-00218-2
   Type of Acct. : SAVINGS
   Swift Code: MBTC PH MM
3. BANK OF THE PHIL. ISLANDS Port Area Branch
   Peso Acct.: 4991-0010-99
   Type of Account: CURRENT
4. BANK OF THE PHIL. ISLANDS UN Branch
   Dollar Acct.: 8114-0030-94
   Type of Account: SAVINGS
   Swift Code: BOPI PH MM

Note: For your donations to be properly acknowledged, please fax the bank transaction slip at nos. +63.2.527.0575 or +63.2.404.0979 with your name, address and contact number.

For Credit Cards: Please fax the following info to +632.404.09.79 and +632.527.0575: Name of card member, billing address, contact nos. (phone & mobile), credit card no., expiration date, CCV2/ CVC2 (last three digits at the back of the credit card), billing address, amount to be donated. For online donations you may also visit our website at www.redcross.org.ph .

Most urgent needs

• Food items: Rice, noodles, canned goods, sugar, iodized salt, cooking oil, monggo beans and potable water
• Medicines: Paracetamol, antibiotics, analgesic, oral rehydration salts, multivitamins and medications to treat diarrheal diseases
• Non-food items: Bath soaps, face towels, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, plastic mats, blankets, mosquito nets, jerry cans, water containers, water purification tablets, plastic sheetings, and Laundry soap

FOR THOSE OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY WHO WANT TO DONATE:

• TXTPower.org has set up a paypal account for donations. Your money will be forwarded to Red Cross.
• Kapuso Foundation is also accepting credit card donations.
  2/F GMA Kapuso Center
  Samar St. cor. 11th Jamboree St. Diliman, Quezon City
  Call 9827777 loc. 9901/9904/9905.
  accepts relief goods and cash

In Kind donations

• LOCAL: Please send in-kind local donations to The Philippine National Red Cross ? National Headquarters in Manila. They could also arrange for donation pick-up.
• INTERNATIONAL:
  1. Send a letter of intent to donate to the PNRC
  2. A letter of acceptance from PNRC shall be sent back to the donor
  3. Immediately after shipping the goods, please send the (a) original Deed of Donation, (b) copy of packing list and (c) original Airway Bill for air shipments or Bill of Lading for sea shipments to The Philippine National Red Cross National Headquarters c/o Secretary General Corazon Alma de Leon, Bonifacio Drive, Port Area, Manila 2803, Philippines.

Please look at this list and this page too.

Feel free to repost this. No need to ask for my permission. Thanks to Jayvee Sacramento for helping collate the data here and with Sour Politics’.

performance anxiety

hendrix tries to strum the heart
mind screams "get up!"
body's tension spells fail

i love you - u2

i love you
do you feel loved?
-u2

i love you
magnificent
-u2

i love you
october
-u2

i love you
one
-u2

i love you
when i look at the world
-u2

i love you
all i want is you
-u2

i love you
the sweetest thing
-u2

i love you
i remember you
-u2

i love you
another day
-u2

i love you
tomorrow
-u2

i love you
touch
-u2

i love you
out of control
-u2

i love you
surrender
-u2

i love you
rejoice
-u2

i love you
elevation
-u2

beware (of) humans

perhaps one reason why most people i know sided with the aliens of district 9 is that in one way or another, each of us feels like one of them aliens- alienated, misinterpreted, discriminated, persecuted.

director neill blomkamp and producer peter jackson’s district 9 is the sci-fi movie of all the sci-fi movies of this year. it steams brilliance and boasts a fluid, visual technical entertainment.

the movie is actually more than the piles and rubbles of alien and man’s dirt and violence. this movie possesses a heart.

i think what made the character wikus van de merwe effective is his transformation. he starts at the film as the mnu (multinational united) field operative agent that shoots bullets of annoyance through the air. he pisses the aliens, he pisses other humans, he pissed me off. but as the story unfolds, we see wikus van de merwe slowly change as the alien dna merges into his. his blood, his veins, his way of thinking, his senses and his whole human body is slowly becoming alien. imagine experiencing empathy in the most tragic way.

it is only when he acquired some alien characteristics that he realizes and understands the side of the aliens. wikus van de merwe generates sympathy from the audience because he becomes the alienated human, the misunderstood one, the discriminated, the pursued and the one to be persecuted.

how he manages to resolve the tension between his human and alien side is one of the best parts of the movie for me.

district 9 is genius.

y'all, don't be kanye ayt?

here's a quick recap of all the kanye-taylor swift vma 2009 brouhaha

kanye interrupts taylor swift's acceptance speech



beyonce wins video of the year and allows taylor to deliver her speech


kanye apologizes on his blog

after a sudden silence drowned the cheers

we must remember that at the end of the day, each contest is about pleasing the judges.

may all the bashing and the sour-graping be replaced with smiles and more cheers from the crowd. you know your winners by heart. make them feel like champions in your own little way.

congratulations to all the teams who competed to this year’s uaap season 72 cheerdance competition. most teams did put up a fight and made the show entertaining to watch. congratulations to the champion and all the other winners.





mabuhay kayo up pep squad!!!

(de)composition

the moment he brushed the flakes of scattered dead skin from the bathroom sink, he knew that the old face, punched with failed expectations, bruised with the claws of desolation and stained with crossroads of dry tear paths, will be gone for long to the pits of the blackhole of obscurity.

he knew his face well- from every angle, from every feature, from every pimple mark, from every pore, to every strand of hair. he knew how to twitch a simple muscle to feign innocence, sadness, happiness or fear. he knew the right angles of his face in favor of the lighting condition and the situation. he knew his face too well- not until he fell face flat right smack into the grounds of love.

a couple of hours more and he will see his new face. form is still not evident but he is sure that it will be different this time. perhaps it will be punch, bruise and stain resistant. but no one can really tell.

the only thing certain was his renewed perspective regarding expectations. expect all of the possibilities. it’s like expecting the unexpected. then he thought, what’s the point? why even bother expecting at all?

he washed all the dead skin down the drain.

whowantstobeamillionaire?

somewhere from our shared universe, someone wishes he also possess the luck of ram mohammad thomas from vikas swarup’s novel q & a. this individual, whose crystal white tears have inked sheets and sheets of cloth into sets of black lakes, may have incomparable experiences to mr ram mohammad thomas, but he is destined to tread the darkest, rockiest, and steepest roads set by fate in the future.

like the main character from vikas swarup’s novel, this individual wishes to feel and find the luck within to help him get by the daily tests of life. this someone from somewhere in our shared universe has always been guided by common sense and the innate gift of courage that’s why he has been one of fate’s favorites. fate’s front banner for this person is: “more trials and tribulations more fun. lol.”

nobody knows if this individual will ever win the amount of 100,000,000 from whatever global currency, from any contest or from any gameshow, but it is certain that he will triumph, as long as he keeps his passion burning, as long as his love for that other someone remains and develops through time.

this person, who likes the q & a novel more than its movie adaption slumdog millionaire, believes in the power of someone’s willingness to survive- just will it and in one way or another, you can have it.

this is a story of a boy meets girl in 500 days

m ordered another bucket of beer after narrating the tragedy of his 8-year odyssey with h for the nth time. he said they were destined by fate as a couple. they were steady as the foundations of the pyramids of egypt, they were inseparable as siamese twins, and they were in love like there’s no tomorrow. they were about to be married the following month when h met some random guy in some random place. she said she fell in love, and with that, things start to fall apart between them.

for weeks, m hoped to drown beneath the abyss of beer carrying the hope that somehow, somewhere, he could fathom the logic behind h’s sudden change of heart. i told the old officemate m that there is no logic behind h’s decision. some people, whether consciously or subconsciously, work and live under the universe’s principle of randomness. and doing so makes them an enigma to others. they will always be that puzzle with a missing piece hanging on the cobwebs of your mind.

the non-linear plot and storytelling of (500) days of summer reminded me of m and h’s what-could-have-been romance. scott neustadter and michael h. weber’s screenplay revolves in spiral unpredictable motions around the lives of summer finn (zooey deschannel) and tom hanson (joseph gordon-levitt) and how randomness and chance work into their relationship.

summer is the random girl, tom is the expectant guy. the couple is the perfect example for m and h. they both look good together. deschannel and gordon-levitt are both stunners with eyes that convey depth.

just like the story of m and h, summer did something that caught tom off-guard.
things became hazy between them when tom’s expectations swallowed him whole.
because of that, summer is and will always be the enigma for tom.

it took a lot of time drowning, wallowing and swimming under oceans of liquor, work and stress before tom finally snapped back to the reality.

some people, whether consciously or subconsciously, work and live under the universe’s principle of randomness. you will never know what could happen next to all of the things in this world that you cannot directly control.

my frequent advice to friends- value and enjoy each of your relationship with the people you love by the day. carpe diem. in whatever you do, act as if there’s no tomorrow. love as if the next second will be your last. because when you love, time is irrelevant. it does not matter how many seconds, minutes, hours, days, or years you spend with one another. what matters is the quality of your relationship together.

watch (500) days of summer and you will see what i am talking about.




so, to give you a glimpse of the movie, here are the lyrics of a track from the movie's soundtrack:

this is a story of boy meets girl.

the boy, tom hanson of margate, new jersey,
grew up believing that he'd never truly be happy
until the day he met "the one."
this belief stemmed from early exposure to sad british pop music
and a total misreading of the movie 'the graduate'.

the girl, summer finn of chennicok, michigan,
did not share this belief.
since the disintegration of her parents' marriage,
she'd only loved two things;
the first was her long, dark hair.
the second was how easily she could cut it off,
and feel nothing.

tom meets summer on january eighth.
he knows, almost immediately, she is who he's been searching for.

this is a story of boy meets girl,
but you should know upfront...
this is not a love story.

ponyo is love

ponyo reminds me of the philippine mythical creature undin. she’s small, she comes from the sea and travels on land, and she finds her way to humans. at this point, you are most welcome to veer your thoughts away from the undin of the shake, rattle and roll movie. that’s plain scary. ponyo may look scary from the start, but she is cute-scary. add to that the fact that she is created, written and directed by renowned animator/director hayao miyazake (princess mononoke, howl’s moving castle, spirited away).

according to this latest studio ghibli movie- ponyo (崖の上のポニョ gake no ue no ponyo, literally "ponyo on the cliff"), ponyo is a mermaid goldfish (but isn’t she pink?) with a human face. her real name is supposed to be polumisharudin but sosuke, the kid who rescued her after being stranded from a fishing town near the cliff baptized her the name ponyo.

my initial impression with ponyo is that she is this one intrusive little creature who falls in love with the boy who feeds her ham. ponyo’s father, who appears to take care of the order of some creatures underwater, looks like the front man of a disbanded rock group. her mother is the sea, the goddess, the female with pink hair who can change her form by will.



ponyo could have been one of the simplest studio ghibli film by plot and by animation, but i think it also have potential to be one of the most heartwarming, disturbing and piercing film among others. the story is simple, ponyo falls in love and did everything, even surrendering her powers and her privileges as a mermaid to become a human girl and be with sosuke, the boy she loves.

ponyo’s story reminds me of a discourse i had with a college professor whom i think is actually a cupid in disguise as the wicked witch of the west. i remember what she told me that day, “do you really love her? if you do really love her, you should have gone with her. you would not mind the traffic, the time, and the efforts. if you really love her, you must be willing to do everything for her.” and with that, i was able to see love in its purest, unadulterated state.

a wrinkle in my time

1st of september, year 2009 at the gregorian calendar, 10:13 in the evening, pacific time- i think a bend in time has occurred to my life’s universe today. i am writing this to take into account all the things that has happened and are still happening as i am typing this note.

a few minutes ago, the 11 year old self of my almost 18 year old sister and the angst-intoxicated persona of my father years back had resurfaced, resulting to an evening of nostalgia.

father teases the sister about the horn-like formation of her hair as she gets up from her bed. he then starts mocking her about her teenage rebellious attitude and sings the lyrics of her past actions and immaturity. sister retaliates by doing what she does best 7 years ago- wail, cry and scream like a hyena possessed by the demon of pre-teen years.

an epic battle of chaos that i have not seen years ago ensues.
earlier this morning, at about 8:40 Pacific time, i saw another me at the car of the subway train that i ride on my way to work.

i do not force you to believe me. now this might sound like any typical scene from heroes or from any sci-fi media with a time travelling storyline, but it actually happened to me a while ago.

the feeling is a blended rush of fear, surprise, curiosity, anger and amusement. i saw the other me standing only a few meters away from where i was seated the moment i opened my eyes from my usual daily train nap. i had to blink and rub my eyes a few times to make sure that the other me was not just a figment of my imagination. he could be a look-alike, but having the same gray v-neck shirt, the same faded blue skinny jeans, the same aviator shades, the same height, the same hair that i used to have, and the same face and facial features that i have is too surreal to be just somebody who looks like me.

i studied the other me from my seat. although i was tempted to approach him, fear coats me for a certain reason. aside from the fact that i am 98% sure that he is another me (wearing the same clothes, hair, face that i have) we totally look different earlier. today i wear my hair semi-formal, combed to the right a la emo emilio jacinto. he wears a pseudo mohawk hair that i used to have before. the actual me wears a yellow billabong shirt, he wears the gray v-neck shirt that i also have. i wear my brown shades, he wears the black aviators that i left at the office yesterday. if there was anything that i do not possess that he owns, that is the black shoulder bag that he wears from his left shoulder. i swear, the feeling is bloody weird. seeing another you with the same facial expressions, gestures, and clothes was beyond surreal- you’d think you’re high on pot or alcohol.

the other me left the train one station ahead. he ran upstairs like what i usually do whenever i exit the train.

if ever that really is another me, i wonder what the hell is he doing on that same train at that exact moment with me. what could have been his purpose? what could have happened if, let’s say. i chased him and cornered him somewhere? i don’t now but i’d like to know the answer.

tonight, after the tides of my father and sister’s quarrel has subsided, i pray to meet this other me again tomorrow.