Can’t fight with an Eclipse….

Sa wakas — natapos ko na rin ang ikatlong aklat sa Twilight saga  - Eclipse.  Alam ko – medyo mabagal – pasensya na po. Medyo busy lang. Pero dahil sa mga pangyayaring ayaw ko na munang isipin – free as a bird ako this week. Kaya ayun — nagkaroon ako ng panahon na magbasa ng magbasa ng magbasa.  And finally nga – natapos ko na yung 3^rd book.  Sisimulan ko na nga sana yung fourth book. pero naisip ko na mas mainam na isulat ko na muna ang mga nasa isipan ko bago ko simulan yung ikaapat na aklat. Wala lang. Baka kasi biglang magbago ang aking pag-iisip pag binabasa ko na yung kasunod. Alam nyo naman ako – paminsan ay pabago-bago ng isipan.

 

Unang-una — I have to admit something. I am now hooked with Twilight. Saw the movie (it was good). Read 3 of the 4 novels. And is excited to start with the 4^th one.  Nung una – medyo nakakasuka kasi yung mga cheesier than real cheese na mga linya. Pero sabi ko nga – once you got over that — okay na naman. Pag wala na yung ick-factor  and you get to know the characters… you’ll be hooked, line and sinker! 

 

After reading the 3 novels — ito ang mga nasa isipan ko  :

 

1.        Medyo naiinis na ako kay Bella. Kulit. Tigilan ang pagseself pity. Tigilan na ang pag-iisip na kasalanan nya lahat. Lalo lang gumugulo e.  

2.        Naawa ako kay Jacob. Hay…. ang kasalanan lang naman nya ay ang umibig (insert gagging sound here).

3.        Minsan sarap tadyakan ni Edward. Lagi na lang perfect gentleman.  Minsan kailangan din maging bad boy.

4.        Sabi sa Moulin Rouge – The greatest thing you’ll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return — same din kaya ito sa vampire/werewolf world?

5.        Pwede bang i-consider na “to love and be loved in return” ang sitwasyon nina Bella at Jacob? Love naman ni Bella si Jacob e.. Mas love nga lang nya si Edward.

6.        Bakit kaya Eclipse ang pamagat ng 3^rd book. Hmm… dahil natakpan ng pagmamahal ni Edward ang pagmamahal ni Jacob?

7.        Pwede kayang magka-pet na aso ang werewolf? O hindi nila ito pwedeng pet dahil sa kung tutuusin – same family sila?

8.        Pwede kayang magka-pet na aso ang vampire? O hindi dahil sa ang away nila ay with werewolves and other species of the same family?

9.        Parang mas gusto ko ang ability ni Alice to see the future kaysa sa ability ni Edward na maging mabils. Wala lang – kung sakali kasi — pwede akong maging fortuneteller. Sabagay – yung mabilis –  pwede akong sumali sa track and field. Kaso – hindi naman ako sporty.

10.     Tingin ko – mas pwede akong maging vampire — kasi mahilig ako sa malalamig na lugar. Ang problema lang – namumutla ako pag nakakakita ng maraming dugo. Hmmm… Meron kayang vampire na vegetarian?

11.     Hindi ako pwedeng werewolf — walang dahilan. Basta tingin ko hindi lang pwede. Hindi naman lahat ng bagay ay kailangang may dahilan.

12.     Mukhang hindi magaling na pulis si Charlie. Biro mo naman – gabi-gabing may ibang tao sa kwarto ng anak nya — wala syang nararamdaman. O biglang tumatahimik sina Bella at Edward pag papalapit sa kwarto si Charlie?

13.     Sabagay – nakakabasa nga pala ng isipan si Edward… so alam nila kung papalapit si Charlie. Hmm.. Okay.  Erase na muna yung sinabi ko sa #13.

14.     Magagalit ka ba kung sakaling bigyan ka ng mga vampire ng “cold shoulder treatment”?

15.     Nagtatalik kaya ang mga vampire? Kasi di ba lagi silang cold? E di hindi sila nagiging hot sa isa’t isa.

 

Yan na lang muna. Di ko na kayang pigilan ang aking sarili. Kailangang simulan ko nang basahin ang ikaapt na libro.  Bilang pangwawakas — iiwan ko sa inyo ang isang excerpt from the book Eclipse. Puno ito ng pagka-keso… pabayaan nyo na… Oks lang naman maging cheesy once in a while….

 

 

  “ He’s like a drug for you, Bella.” His voice was still gentle, not all critical. “I see that you can’t live without him now. It’s too late. But I would have been healthier for you. Not a drug; I would have been the air, the sun.”

 

The corner of my mouth turned up in a wistful half-smile. “I used to think of you that way, you know. Like the sun. My personal sun. You balanced out the clouds nicely for me.”

 

He sighed. “The clouds I can handle. But I can’t fight with an eclipse.”

 

- Excerpt from Eclipse – by Stephenie Meyer

Pahabol lang…..

Dahil sa ilang buwan na rin ako na medyo madalang  akong magsulat – naisipan kong magkaroon ng isa pang entry bago matapos ang taong ito. Isang entry ito na wala talagang tema – yun kung ano lang ang pumasok sa isipan ko. Pwede ko ring isama dito ang ilang mga pangyayari na hindi ko naisulat dahil sa ako ay busy or nagkukunwaring busy or tinatamad.     

 

- There is one entry sa blogsite kong ito na medyo hindi maganda ang dating sa ilang mga nakakabasa. May isang sentence daw kasi na medyo racist ang dating. Anong sentence. Well – nabanggit kasi ako tungkol sa isang suggestion ko na pwedeng pagkuhaan ng alternative source of energy.  Bilang tugon sa mga paalala kong natanggap — i-update ko po itong entry na ito. Sa mga mga mambabasa – kung medyo may na-hurt sa aking entry – pasensya na po.

 

- Tutal nasa racist na tayong usapan. Avenue-Q had its run in Singapore last Oct-Nov. Ang maganda — it was staged by the same people who did the Avernue-Q run sa Pinas.  Most of the cast are Pinoys. I can’t recall the names now (except for Frenchie D and Aiza Seguerra) but they were all quite good. I become a fan of Avenue Q when a friend suggested that I listen to the sound track. But watching it live is definitely way-way better kaysa sa pakikinig lang. Sobrang nakakatawa talaga. All the songs are great – but the songs “It Sucks to be Me”, “Everyone’s a little bit racist” and “The Internet is for Porn” is hilarious. Nakakatawa talaga lalo na pag makikita mo yung mga actions. Hay.  Schadenfreude!       

 

- I saw the Twilight movie last week. It’s surprisingly good —- siguro kasi ay hindi sila masyadong nag-deviate from the book. I particularly like the scene na naglalakad si Bella then followed by Edward papunta sa gubat without talking to each other. Then some fancy cameraworks. Galing. Parang ang dami nasabi nung dalawa sa isa’t-isa without really saying the words. I’m now reading the second book – New Moon. I guess I am officially caught by the Twilight fever.    

 

- I read from somewhere na binili daw ng ABS-CBN ang rights to turn Twilight into a telenovela.. Nung una ko itong nabasa – I can’t help but roll my eyes in disbelief. Asa pa. Couple of days ago – I read that Perz Hilton (quite well known American showbiz blogger) wrote an entry tungkol sa Pinoy Twilight. The pinoy version will be entitled “Takipsilim” and will have Rayver Cruz and Shaina Magdayao playing Edward and Bella. My reaction – wala lang. Let’s wait and see kung ano ang kalalabasan.  

 

- Still with Takipsilim —- binasa ko yung mga iniwang comments dun sa blog entry. I’m actually expecting the Twilight die hards to spew fire with the Pinoy Twilight idea. Ang medyo – for the lack of a better word – interesting ay yung mga iniwang comments ng ating mga  fellow pinoys. Better if your read it yourself — baka naman ako lang ang medyo napataas ang kilay….. link to the article (http://perezhilton.com/2008-12-23-filipino-version-of-twilight-to-begin-production-soon)

 

 

- Tuwing New Year ay maraming pamahiin na sinusunod. Unang-una na dito ang pagbabayad ng utang  before the year-end para debt free ka sa pagpasok ng bagong taon. Pag debt free ka daw sa pagpasok ng taon — the entire year ay madali ang pasok ng pera and hindi mo na kailangan mangutang pa. It’s actually a good superstition kasi napipilitan ang lahat – ok… ang ilan – na magbayad ng utang.  Anyway – just today – a couple of my friends settled their utang sa akin (lunch, taxi fare etc).  Para daw hindi sila abutan ng New Year na may utang. Dahil sa may pagka-antipatiko talaga ako — I reminded them na techinically – hindi pa rin naman sila debt free. They still have the credit card purchases which – kahit hindi pa kasama sa due – ay technically utang na rin. Hindi pa nga lang due – but still — utang ito. Then there’s the housing loan sa bangko. For 10 or 15 years — may utang ka.. So — it doesn’t really matter kung bayaran nila ako sa utang nila sa akin or hindi. Kung titingnan mo talaga — until the last amortization sa housing loan is paid — if naniniwala ka sa pamahiin na ito — you are destined for financial difficulties. Hehehehe.  Suggestion ko — pumunta ka Joyce Lim ng Charms and crystals. Marami siyang binebenta na pangkontra!

 

- Isa pang pamahiin ay ang pagbili ng 12 types of round fruits. Swerte daw ito.  We did this nung papasok pa lang ang 2008. Unfortunately — nabulok lang yung ibang prutas dahil sa dami. Since malas ang mag-aksaya ng pagkain — sa tingin ko ay na-cancel out nito ang swerte na dala ng 12 prutas. Kaya ayun – 2008 is not that financially rewarding. Moral lesson — you have to buy the fruits and eat it too. At least – di man maging swerte — napakinabangan naman ng katawan mo ang vitamins at iba pang nutrients nito.

 

-  Hindi pa man din pumapasok ang 2009 ay puro negative na ang sinasabi ng lahat dito. Oo nga…. kasama ako dito….  Lahat nga e…. Pero napag-isip-isip ko na unfair itong masyado kay 2009. Hindi pa siya dumarating ay na-judge na sya. Dapat hindi tayo masyadong judgemental. Sabi nga – positivity attracts positive energy. Kaya dapat — we welcome 2009 with a positive attitude. Para positive ang energy na ma-attract natin. Tingin nyo?  A ewan ko sa inyo — basta ako — I’m giving 2009 a chance to prove itself — sabi nga – wag tayong masyadong “NEGA”!

 

 

- Muli…. Happy New Year….  

Takipsilim

 

 

 

                                                                                                                     

For the past few weeks – I have been noticing all the hype surrounding

the movie Twilight. I know nothing about the Twilight saga book kaya I

was quite intrigue with all the hoopla.  Dahil sa akin curious nature

— fine…. likas na pagiging tsismoso – I decided to rent the first book couple of weeks ago.

 

Finally – I finished the book today. Alam ko ang nasa sa isipan nyo – aiyah.. so slow what. Pasensya na po – medyo busy.. sick pa.. kaya hindi ko natapos agad. Patawarin nyo na ako – tao lang… minsan mabagal magbasa.  Anyway – it’s no Harry Potter (Harry Rules!!!) – but I have to admit – it’s not a waste of time. Once you get passed the gagging reflex brought about by the mushy lines — its really not that bad. Storyline may not be that original. Pero the way na isinulat yung kwento – napakasimple  na parang may kakwentuhan ka lang kaibigan.  I may have finish the first book but it is still early to tell if I will be hit by the twilight bug.

 

 

 

Anyway – I am to start on the second book – New Moon. Tingnan natin kung ano ang mangyayari….   I would like to end this entry with an excerpt from the Twilight novel… Bakit ito napili ko. Wala lang. Simple lang kasi. But it says a lot……

 

“You’re wrong, you know,” he said quietly.

“What?” I gasped.

“I can feel what you’re feeling now – and you are worth it.”

“I’m not,” I mumbled. “If anything happens to them, it will be for

nothing.”

“You’re wrong,” he repeated, smiling kindly at me.

 

 P.S. Should I see the movie? Need to check my calendar…medyo busy e… probably a twilight screening (pun intended)… salamat sa 24 hours cinema!

Dry Spell

I am in a “blogging” dry spell. Yup. Wala akong maisip na isulat. Gone are the days na dire-diretso lang ang patipa ko sa aking keyboard while the ideas flow freely. Ngayon – I have been staring at a blank MS Word page for a few minutes now and still — wala pa rin. Nada. Zilch. Zero. Iniisip ko nga ang madalas na topic ko sa aking blogs :

1.        Food! — hmm…. Nada… I haven’t been to any new eating places lately. I haven’t eaten anything out of the ordinary. So far – lahat ng kinakain ko ay on the “OK lang”  list. I had the “best banana walnut muffin” for merienda yesterday – but it seems ordinary with every bite. Don’t get me wrong — it was delicious… still the best banana walnut muffin in my opinion — but seems ordinary…. Hmmm….

2.        Television — hmm… Zilch….  Wala akong sinusubaybayan ngayon sa Boobtube…. Walang teleserye na nakakuha ng aking attention. 

Walang Kapalit – dapat na itong palitan. Masyado nang stretch ang story.

Kokey – hmm… the character is weirdly lovable… di ko alam kung nakakatakot sya or nakakatuwa. Hmm… kailangan ko pagisipan mabuti yan.

Ysabella  –   nagiging boring. Parang walang chemistry between the lead stars which is odd dahil magsyota sila. Or maybe it’s the too much drama… the initial episodes are very promising… but somehow the recent ones are too melodramatic. Coney Reyes is good though.

Natutulog pa ang Diyos — well the title says it all … it seems that everyone is sleeping while making this series. The characters can’t act….  no chemistry….  Plot and dialogues are  bad…  hmm.. basta.. I can’t say anything good about this series. Mukhang kailangan nating gisingin ang Diyos dahil I do think that we need a miracle to make this show worth watching.

Margarita – hay… don’t start with me… I was able to catch a couple of episodes.. In fairness — Wendy is not that terrible in acting… may potential ika nga… but the dancing… more… more… more practice! Sobrang gasgas na ng storyline nito…. Kung dvd ito – iluluwa na ng dvd player kasi unplayable na.

As for the “imported” shows — nandyan pa rin naman ang mga usual suspects — Brothers and Sisters, CSI, Veronica Mars, Grey’s Anatomy, Ugly Betty etc.  Mukhang sa “local” shows lang talaga mayroong shortage of good and quality television e.   Hay…. kailan ba sisimulan ang Maging Sino Ka Man? Miss ko na si Celine, Jackie, Ely at JB!

       

3.        Current Events —  as per normal… yan ang aking description sa mga news and current events na nangyayari. Sa Pinas – the usual stories pag ganitong panahon — baha at bagyo. Syempre nandyan pa rin ang mga ever reliable na corruption, dirty politics at mga oppositions. Lam nyo – ang mga Pilipino (me included) – napakagaling maghanap ng mali na ginagawa ng iba. Kaya buhay na buhay ang mga oposisyon sa Pinas e.  Just read in the news that the senate will again open up the Hello garci issue. Isa lang masasabi ko dyan – Hello! Senate!…. mukhang wala na namang mga batas na maipapasa.  Dapat siguro ang senate isama na lang sa NBI… hilig naman nila mag-investigate e. Does anyone still care about the Hello Garci issue? Hmm.. sabagay … meron… yung oposisyon… para magkagulo at baka sakaling makaupo sila ng mas maaga bilang presidente. Kung ako sa kanila —- isapuso muna nila ang ibig sabihin ng “united opposition” – kasi sila-sila nag-ooppose sa isa’t-isa. Sabagay – oposisyon nga e.

4.        Travel — asa pa hehehe.. the only traveling I do nowadays is from Simei to Tanjong Pagar via Bus 531.  Saka MRT pala  from Tanjong Pagar to Simei.  Nandyan pa rin naman paminsan-minsan ang taxi… but.. I am happy to mention na nabasawan na ang aking pag-tataxi. Wala na akong pangtaxi e… mahal…  Bago ko malimutan… a bright light in the horizon… possible trip to Bangkok! Fingers crossed…..

5.        Gadgets — hmp.. pangtaxi nga wala e… pangbili  pa ng bagong toy.  The Motorola V9X is still to be released… baka end of this year daw or early next year.  The new IMac…. Hmm… tempting…. pero mukhang no-deal.  Mas practical yata ang MacBook Pro…. My computer expo next week dito sa Singapore – tingnan natin kung gaano kagaling ang aking self-control.

6.        Movies — haven’t watch any movie lately.. the last movie I saw was The Simpsons… no movie night last Friday … slept early…. Wanted to watch the third Bourne movie.. but friends says I need to watch the 2^nd installment first.  Might watch Hairspray this weekend — seems that I need some singing in my boring life….

7.        Books — tambak ang books ko sa bahay…. Bili ng bili.. di ko naman binabasa….  Anyway.. darating din siguro ang time at mababasa ko ito… recently — I’ve been browing on some fiction books sa bookstores…. Gusto ko kasing magbasa ng isang novel na masasabi ko talagang wow…. Yung I missed half of my life kung di ko ito nabasa? So far… wala pa akong napipili… kung meron kayong suggestion… suggest nyo lang… pero make sure na talagang worth basahin ha… I wanted somethimg different… kakaibang storyline….  No  auto/biographies please……

8.        Office — same-same.  Lakad pa rin ng lakad si Chichay. Puro pa-japorms pa rin si Ate Vi. Malapit nang mawala  si Ate A. At  nakakatawa pa rin ang pagmumukha ni My Sassy Neighbor. Nothing to report….

9.        Friends — hmm… meron ba ako nun? Alam nyo naman ako loner…. Hehehehe….. wala naman ako masyado natsitsismis sa mga sangkaibiganan. May mga sad L…. May mga happy J…. may mga deadma…. May mga praning…. All in all — tuloy pa rin ang ikot ng mundo.

10.     Plans — I am thinking of enrolling to something… Cooking? Pwede….  Computer Related course like java, html etc ? Pwede rin…. Something artistic — computer graphics, photography? Pwede rin. Driving? Pwede rin. Isa lang problema – naghahanap pa ako ng mag-sponsor ng aking scholarship… hehehehe….. that … or  need to save muna pangbayad ng tuition fee…  Sa mga mag-volunteer to sponsor sa aking quest to further my education — contact me anytime J

Yan.. yan ang aking top 10 topics sa aking mga blog. At wala talaga ako maisip na isulat sa kahit ano man sa kanila …This dry spell  should end soon. Baka iisa na lang nga ang aking fan – mawala pa.  For the meantime — tiis-tiis na lang po muna tayo… Ganyan talaga ang buhay … minsan may tagtuyot … hmm…. cloud seeding….. pwede din kaya itong sagot sa aking “blog” dry spell?    

It’s over?

Warning:  Contains Spoilers of the book Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Read at your own risk.

Walang sisihan!  Finally …. I finished reading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows last night.  How was it? Hmmm… a roller coaster ride! Grabe… characters are dying here and there. Di pa nga ako nakakarecover  sa pagkamatay nung isa ….. may namatay na naman.  Yun ang dahilan kaya medyo natagalan akong basahin ito (4 days). Pag may namamatay – tumitigil muna ako sa pagbabasa. Wala lang. Nakakalungkot e. Pag medyo tanggap ko na yung pagkamatay nung character…. tinutuloy ko ang pagbabasa. As in affected hehehehe.. Wag nyo na ako pagtawanan — nasubaybayan ko kasi si Harry since he first became a wizard. Kaya parang kapamilya ko na rin sya. 

Sa lahat ng namatay — pinakanalungkot ako sa pagkamatay ni Dobby. Hay. Kawawa naman sya. Inis na inis nga ako kay Harry e. Sinabi na kasing bawal sabihin ang pangalan ni He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named…. Wala pa rin… sinabi pa rin… ayan.. nahuli tuloy sila at kailangan sagipin sila ni Dobby! Hmp. Ayun – nasaksak tuloy si Dobby at namatay! Hmp. He died a hero! Hay…. tapos yung nilagay pa sa tombstone nya “Here lies Dobby, a free elf”… hay… kaiyak….. 

Habang binabasa ko yung book – minsan naiinis ako kay Harry. Kasi after ng lahat ng pinagdaanan nya – minsan he still make stupid mistakes…. Kaya ayun.. napapahamak sila.  Pero afterwards – naisip ko rin.. he’s only 17. Sa lahat ng pinagdaanan nya – a few mistakes once in a while is forgivable.  Alam naman natin na he’s really not that great with magic…. but he possess courage and bravery … love and inate goodness. At itong mga qualities na ito ang dahilan why he was able to survive lahat ng obstacles na napagdaanan nya…. why he was able to be of Voldemort’s equal.  Of course – those people around him helped so much – but during those critical times that really matter – he was alone… it was all him.  

Expectation is really high for this book – especially the final confrontation between Harry and Voldemort. Initially – it did not meet my expectation. However – naisip ko rin na I may have too high expectation. Yung nasa book naman ay maganda na rin. Not a spectacular — but still really good. Nung una ko kasing nabasa – naisip ko na nadefeat na naman nya si Voldemort on a technicality. Pero after re-reading the chapter — naisip ko na it is as what is expected.  Voldemort showed his weakness na matagal nang binabanggit ni Dumbledore – arrogance. Harry on the other hand showed bravery beyond compare – his greatest quality. The previous books have laid the groundwork – and the final confrontation is just finishing it. 

The book also answered a lot of questions na matagal na nasa sa isipan nang lahat … and more. There are a few surprises especially on the last few chapters. Suggestion ko lang — read and reread the  last chapters. Ito kasi ang mag-tie up ng mga loose ends. As with the other books – the last few chapters are more of a narration of what has transpired… an explanation kung bakit nangyari ang mga nangyari. 

I can go on and on about the book – pero I do think it will be better if you get to experience reading the book yourself.  Me telling the story is like robbing you of the joys and pleasure the book have provided me.  

As for the Potter fans — does the last book means it all over? Nope. I don’t think so. We still have 2 Harry Potter movies to look forward to. And if you are like me —- I can read and reread the seven Harry Potter books a million times… and it will still be like reading it for the first time – a great adventure with the Boy who lived!

Unleashed!

              

The day has arrived! Bought a copy at 8:30 a.m. today. It was Potter fever everywhere I looked. One big surprise — saw Hagrid selling Potter books at Easpoint mall!                                            

Abakada…Basa

Pansin ko lang… for the past few months – I have been spending longer time infront of the tv and surfing the net. Nawawalan tuloy ako ng panahon sa other finer things of life. Tulad ng Nintendo Wii! J And reading.

Nung unang panahon….. bata pa si Sabel…. nakabakya pa si Nena…. I used to read a lot. During those times pa naman wala pa akong pera to buy books. Kaya nagtitiis na lang ako sa panghihiram. And since beggars can’t be choosers …. I read anything that I can borrow. Wala nang pili-pli pa. I started with Nancy Drew mystery novels. I am a Choose Your Own Adventure book series fan as well. This series gives you the porwer (though limited) to change the story depending on the choices that you made. My cousins who use to live with us read a lot of Sweet Dreams and Sweet Valley High books. Pinatulan ko din ito… kaya kilala ko ang Wakefield twins at naintindihan ko kung bakit sila naiyak sa P.S. I love you hehehehe.

When we transferred to the province – mas pahirapan na ang books. I would sometimes borrow from the school library but the titles are very limited. I would also borrow from friends….. Dito ako naintroduce sa medyo mature pocketbooks like Harlequin Romances at Mills and Boon. Ito kasi yung mga binabasa ng mga parents nung mga kaibigan ko that time. Swerte na kung paminsan-minsan ay makahiram ng Stephen King. Pag talagang tagtuyot – pati Tagalog novels ay pinapatulan namin. During those days kasi – cable television and the internet access are not yet available to all. Dahil wala rin naming mapanood sa local channels – better na aliwin mo na lang ang sarili mo through reading.

When I went to college – lumuwas na ako ng Manila. My cousins are now into romantic historical novels. Yung ang mga cover ay si Fabio na naka-angkla sa babae na puro cleavage. I still don’t have the money to buy books … kaya nakikibasa pa rin ako. Johanna Lindsay and Julie Garwood are the writers that I can still remember. The Regency series (The Lion’s Lady, Guardian Angel, The Gift and Castles) and Western series (For the Roses, The Clayborne Brides and Come the Spring) of Julie Garwood at yung Malory-Anderson Family Saga series ni Johanna Lindsay ang medyo natatandaan ko pa. Nito ring mga panahon na ito nadiscover ko ang Recto — second hand books! Pag may free time – pumupunta ako sa recto at nagkakalkal sa mga tambak na second hand books.This paved way para makabasa naman ako ng iba genre at authors. Dito ko na nakilala sina John Grisham, Michael Crichton at Tami Hoag. Bukod sa mga manong at manang ng recto — natuklasan ko din ang Booksale at yung Merriam Webster sa Morayta. Dito na medyo lumawak ang aking pagbabasa.

Nung nagka-work na ako — medyo nagkaroon na ako ng budget to buy books. I still continue to look for good finds sa mga second hand stores… pero naintroduce na rin sa akin ang brand new books from National Bookstore at Powerbooks. I love Powerbooks in Arnaiz (Pasay Road). I used to hang out there — and read.. and read.. and read…. Tapos dun pa nagwork yung isa kong friend… kaya napadalas lalo ang aking pagtambay dun. It was in Powerbooks that I discpvered the books of Amy Tan (The Joy Luck Club, The Kitchen God’s Wife and The Hundred Secret Senses).

Dito naman sa Singapore — San Bookshop is a heaven sent. You can borrow the book – and after a couple of months return it. Let’s say I borrowed a book and paid SGD$18. After two months – I can return it and they will give me back SGD$13. SGD$5 lang talaga ang bayad for the rental. Since 2 months – we normally rotate the books among friends … before returning it. Kaya kadalasan 2 to 3 persons have read the book before it was returned. Tipid pa rin di ba? Borders, Kinokuniya and MPH are the other bookstores here in Singapore that has a good stock of titles. Dito ko naman sa Singapore nadiscover sina V.C. Andrews, Dave Pelzer, Dan Brown and J.K. Rowling.

Then cable TV and broadband internet entered my life. These 2 + work = no more time to read. Swerte na if I can finish a magazine in one sitting. I still go to booksales sa Expo pag mayroon.. I buy a few titles and store it at home – sabi ko pag nagkatime babasahin ko. Pero hindi dumating ang time na yun. When I was jobless — and nasa Pinas … I again started reading. Wala kasing cable sa province kaya I have all the time to read. Pero nung bumalik ulit ako dito sa Singapore … wala… backseat ulit. Sarap manood at maginternet e.

I still read magazines (GQ, Details, People, Entertainment Weekly, Entrepreneur, FHM) – pero novels… hindi na… Kaya couple of weeks ago – naisip ko that I need to read again. I asked a friend to recommend one title that can bring me back to reading. She suggested “Running with Scissors “ by Augusten Burroughs. I started reading it last Sunday (July and finished it the other day (July 11). What is it about? Ano masasabi ko? Hmm… maybe pag sinipag ako.. I might do a blog about it. Pero .. no promises… lam ko naman na mabobore lang kayo. Saka kahit namn nung nag-aaral pa ako wala ako tiyaga gumawa ng book report.

As for now – I need to finish reading “Why Men Don’t Listen and Women Can’t Read Maps” by Allan and Barbara Pease. I bought this book a month ago kasi a friend recommended it… I think it’s time to start reading and finish it real soon. J

Potter-fever!

July should be declared as Harry Potter month! The whole world is feverish in anticipation with the release of the 5^th Harry Potter movie (Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix) and the seventh – (and as for now we assume  as final) book (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows). Pottermania is at its peak this month!

 July 11, 2007 — a day that will go down in history as the day Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix opened in movie houses around the world. (Singapore opening is late by one day – actual opening is July 12). I (along with all Potter and non-Potter fans) am already predicting box office success. The first time I saw the trailer – I was in awe. Sa tingin ko this will be the best Potter movie ever. The special effects looks flawless. Very believable! Excited na akong makita ang final scene where Harry and the DA along with the members of the Order battles Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters! Ano kaya ang itsura ng death scene ni Sirius? Of course – the new characters (Luna, Professor Umbridge, Bellatrix, Tonks)  are worth watching out for. Paano kaya sila makakasabay sa ibang characters na since the first movie ay magkakasama na? Musta na kaya ang bangayan nina Ron and Hormonie este.. Hermione pala. And of course – the much talk about Harry Potter’s first kiss with Cho.  

While reading the Harry Potter books — I am already envisioning how the characaters look like. Kaya sa tingin ko may mga characters na I consider as a “miscast”. I think that Richard Harris fits Dumbledore’s character to a T. Michael Gambon’s portrayal is more of a loony… than Dumbledory.  Gary Oldman is a great actor – pero parang hindi sya dapat kinuha to play Sirius. Sirius could have been played by Hugh Jackman. Bakit? Kasi sa book – he was described to be a handsome and a rogue fellow.  Katie Leung as Cho Chang ? Frankly – she is forgettable.  This is sad as Cho played an important part in Harry Potter’s life. Sana lang – they have chosen someone na may dating. Kasi she will be in a couple of scenes lang.. she have to make an impact. I am also a little worried about the actrees playing Ginny Weasley. In the book – she is supposed to be a silent beauty that will officially blossom on the 5^th movie. Well…. let’s wait and see. But hey – they did a wonderful job on the other main characters. Harry, Ron, Hermione, Professor McGonagall, Voldemort, Snape, Lucius, Hagrid, the Weasleys — can’t ask for anything more! 

I love the last 4 movies.  A lot of scenes from the book never made it to the film – but this is okay. The important thing is that the film stayed true to the book. I can’t wait to see the 5^th film. As the trailer is incredible — I have high hopes for the film. Hopefully – I won’t be disappointed.   

To all the Potter fans — isa lang ang masasabi ko…. CONSTANT VIGILANCE!!!!!