Paper and Ink

A Cinderella Story

2012-10-24T00:33:00.000+08:00

A few hours of being a princess, but a lifetime to remember.

It was a windy October morning. Everyone was rushing past, getting ready for the wedding. Being the wallflower that I am, I stood at the background, watching the other bridesmaids fussing over their headdresses. I was the last one to have my makeup done, and I was struggling to wear my snugly fit gown as the wedding coordinator hollered that the photoshoot with the bride was way behind schedule. Just great.

As I watched my reflection on the mirror, I was shell-shocked. I could hardly recognize the slender young woman, donned with a red empire-cut gown with a red hat sitting atop the now-ironed hair. I looked surprisingly gorgeous.

For that one day, I felt like Cinderella. A few hours ago, I was just in my plain old jeans and pink hoodie top. Now I looked like some princess that came out from a fairy-tale book. But unlike Cinderella, I ruined my shoes while running, not just leaving it for some prince to pick up. And unlike her, I didn't dance gracefully at the ballroom. I was like a stiff rod, barely knowing what dance step was next, stepping over my dance partner's shoes every chance I got.

As I swayed to the tune of the music, the lovey-dovey aura of the wedding suddenly struck me. Everything looked so marvelous. The soft reddish hue of the lights and the sparkly overhead decorations made the mood all the more festive and romantic. I had the time of my life, laughing and dancing and goofing around.

When the night ended, I reverted to my normally plain look, stripping off from my princess-like facade. My head was still up on the clouds even after a few days after that night, and I wondered: Will I be like Cinderella that after the ball, a charming prince will come searching for me? Will I have my happily ever after?

True Friends Forever

2012-10-21T02:45:00.000+08:00

Reminiscing the course of our friendship: from the day we first met till the day we decided to eat at NeoNeo.

It was June of 2007, the start of term at the University of San Carlos. It was my first day in college—the start of my journey as a nursing student.

As I entered the classroom for my first class, a dark girl sitting at the front gave a broad smile.

“Hi! I’m Ericka Garcia from Bohol. What’s your name? Why are you alone? You want to sit with me?”

Overwhelmed by her questions, I only managed to say “Hi, I’m Kristenne” and sat next to her. She was really friendly and started to talk to me non-stop for the next few minutes. I was relieved when Maricris came in, the girl I made friends with during enrollment.

“Oh, my friend is here. Mind if I sit next to her?” I said to Ericka, who willingly obliged.

I sat at the middle part of the classroom next to Maricris (or Kring-kring as we like to call her), and engaged ourselves to a casual talk. It was still the second time we’ve been together, so we were still pretty much shy. Our conversation was cut short when a loud laughter came from the back, which came from the plumpish girl with long hair.

After a few minutes, our chemistry teacher arrived, and as a tradition in every first day of class, we proceeded to the awkward “introduce yourself” activity.

A girl with big, round eyes went first. “I’m Caroline Tabucanon from Ormoc, Leyte,” she said in a well-articulated voice. All the rest of the class stood up to give a brief introduction about their selves. Then it was the plumpish girl’s turn.

“I’m Paulina Gabisan from the University of San Carlos, south campus,” she said with a flair of confidence. Typical, I thought, a girl’s high graduate.

The class proceeded with the usual orientation of the school’s mission, vision, and other essential know-hows of being a new student. The hours dragged on while I tried to recall all the names of the curious people I found rather interesting. Then the teacher gave us the signal to go out for lunch.

As I walked through the hallway with my new classmates, someone suddenly clutched my right arm. A pretty girl with very long hair smiled at me and said, “You’re Kristenne, right? I’m Kristhy. Let’s eat lunch together!”

I was mildly surprised by Kristhy’s friendliness, considering that we barely know each other. But then, I was still pleased. At least I gained a few more friends.

I wonder who my close friends will be in college, I mused. My silent conversation with myself was cut off when Kristhy started to talk to me again.

It was going to be a long day.

_____________________________________________________

July 28, 2012—It was Ericka’s birthday. By this time, we already graduated from college and are now registered nurses. But a lot has changed ever since the first day in class five years ago.

We were at SM, eating dinner together as a celebration for Ericka’s day, and a sort of catching up for all the months of not seeing each other.

Sitting next to me was Pau. I never thought that the plumpish girl would turn out to be one of my best friends. I felt nostalgic when she announced that she’s going to Singapore within the year to study. Pau’s been going in and out of the country for the past few months, and we weren’t surprised that she’ll be proceeding her education abroad. Even so, I’m gonna miss her.

Right across Pau was Caroline. There was absolutely more to her than what you can see. Beyond the simple clothes she usually wears is a heart dedicated to teach the unfortunate and poor. Caroline has volunteered as a teacher for children sponsored by her church. She was traveling all around the country for her volunteer work, so it was really great to have her around in time for Ericka’s birthday.

Ericka was sitting right in front of me. The birthday girl was donned in a corporate attire, fresh from her class at law school. My extroverted friend is going to be an attorney in a few years, and she was still ranting about how many cases she has to print out and read that night.

Pau was texting with Kristhy, who is currently in Davao doing volunteer work for her hemophilia organization. It was too bad she wasn’t with us that night. As we ate dinner, we mentioned Maricris. We have no idea where she is right now, but we had a lot of laughs just by reminiscing her corny jokes. It was so much fun being with my crazy friends again.

After dinner was over, we went our separate ways.

__________________________________________

It’s funny to think how time flies by so quickly. We’re now five years older and five years wiser than the very first time we met. We may not be able to talk to each other that much; we may not have so many opportunities to stop by and say hello. But we all know deep in our hearts that no matter what happens, we are all bonded with each other through a thing we call friendship.

Friends come and go, but true friends are there to stay—forever.

Bucket List: A Reflection

2012-06-21T20:00:00.000+08:00

I recently watched the movie, Bucket List, starring one of my favorite actors, Morgan Freeman.

A bucket list is basically a list of things you wish to attain in life. The benefit of listing down your goals and dreams is, it can serve as a motivating force for you—an inspiration to persevere in life no matter the consequences.

I vaguely remember back in high school that I wrote my own set of bucket list in one of my secret diaries. Now, looking back, it is kind of surprising that most of the things I listed have been accomplished in 6 year's time (I was 14 back then)—and I'm not even old enough to rush into things before I die!

Let me share to you my own bucket list. The boldfaced items are the ones that have already been fulfilled :-)

My Bucket List

1. To work in a publishing company or a news publication as an editor or columnist, just like Elizabeth Wakefield in Sweet Valley or Theresa in Message in a Bottle.

2. To become rich!

3. To have my own bank account.

4. To cut my hair really short and dye it red.

5. To own a cellphone that has excellent camera quality and can store a lot of music. [This is a bit outdated. Almost all phones right now have those features, haha!]

6. To be independent. [On the process. But I am living on my own now and earning for myself.]

7. To marry the man I love and have three kids.

8. To have my own coffee shop or bookstore.

9. To be a writer and write my own book.

10. To go to Disneyland, London, Italy, and China.

11. To go bungee jumping.

12. To grow old with my husband and see our grandchildren together.

13. To have my own house.

14. To have my own laptop. [Which I am using right now.]

Almost 50% of my list are already marked checked!

My secret? Be yourself, don't be afraid to take the road less traveled, and never hesitate on pursuing your dreams no matter how impossible it may seem to be.

Believe me, it took a lot of rethinking when I decided to shift my career into full-swing. (Being a nurse, becoming a writer, then to an editor!) And it certainly took a lot of courage to chop off my long tresses to have the pixie cut that I have always been dreaming of.

But then again, it does ring true when you say "The most terrifying things in life turn out to be the most worthwhile."

How about you, what's your bucket list?

Overly Attached Girlfriend Goes Viral

2012-06-19T21:21:00.002+08:00

Laina, the Overly Attached Girlfriend.

Overly Attached Girlfriend—a viral picture of a creepy girl in a blue shirt in social networking sites such as 9gag and Facebook.

The creepy girl is actually Laina Walker who posted a video on YouTube about a parody of Justin Bieber's hit song "Boyfriend." The video made 6,101,421 hits as of this writing. A screen shot of the video circulated in many social networking sites, gaining popularity as a meme in 9gag as the Overly Attached Girlfriend.

Laina has also posted her own version of Carly Rae Jepsen's "Call Me Maybe" on YouTube, again portraying her creepy-girlfriend-themed lyrics. The recent video made 1,693,065 hits to date.

Personally, I think that Laina is cool despite her scary wide-eyed obsessive look. The hilarious lyrics definitely compensates for the not-so good singing voice. She is definitely one successful YouTuber, albeit in a very odd way.

Here are here videos, under the user name wzr0713:

JB Fanvideo

(Parody of Justin Bieber's "Boyfriend")

CRJ Fanvideo

(Parody of Carly Rae Jepsen's "Call Me Maybe")

PS: If you get a chance to transcribe the lyrics, please comment it here! :-)

Army Navy Hits Cebu!

2012-06-18T21:00:00.000+08:00

Army Navy's Double Burger.
Photo courtesy of my camera-savvy friend,
Cecille Paz! :)

Army Navy—a US Navy-inspired restaurant located at IT Park, Lahug, Cebu City.

If you want a taste of traditional American fast-food dining, Army Navy is the best place for you! You can choose from a variety of gourmet burgers, burritos, steaks, fries, tortilla chips, quesadillas, fried chicken, soups, soft drinks, and coffee.

You might want to try out their Bully Burger (valued at 250php), arguably the best burger in town!

Their Freedom Fries (valued at 65php) is also a great must-try.

Don't miss out on their Steak Quesadilla (valued at 165php), a great choice for an appetizer or light snack.

Ambiance-wise, the setting generally gives you a feeling of being in an actual US Army cafeteria, complete with long iron benches, metal tabletops, and the pleasant smell of burger patties hot off the grill.

I absolutely love their condiments! You might want to try the white one (I think it's sour cream and onion)—a great pair for your burger and burritos.

Food service is great too. But it is a good idea to go there earlier during peak meal hours (12:0 0noon to 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.). You do not want to wait for long stretches of time when you are really that hungry. .

For a complete list of their menu, visit their official website at Army Navy dot com.

Lenovo Ideapad S205 - Specs and Review

2012-06-16T22:43:00.000+08:00

After 5 months of saving, I finally got the chance to buy a new netbook! Special thanks to my dearest parents for making everything possible :)

I got a Lenovo Ideapad S205. It's not as tiny as my previous netbook (a ten-inch Acer Aspire One), but the processor is waaayyy better, and an IBM product, so it has its share of advantages. I call him Vong, the Lenovo. So here are his specs:

Processor: AMD Fusion E450 Processor( 1.65 GHz 1 MB)
Operating system: Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64
Graphics: ATI Mobility Radeon 6310
Memory: 4.0GB PC3-8500 DDR3 SDRAM 1066 MHz
Display: 11.6" HD Glare with integrated camera 1366x768
Hard Drive: 500 GB 5400
Battery: 6 Cell Lithium-Ion
Network Card: Lenovo BGN Wireless
Camera: Integrated 1.3MP Camera

I'm not a techie type of person, so my review for this product would mostly delve on a normal user's point of view (By normal, I mean someone who doesn't have a gist about technical stuff. More or less like Grandma level).

Review

Positive

I loooove the unique lid design! It's like having a G-mask for free!
Superior processor. I heard AMD is better than the Celeron types. (Actually, I have no idea. Just got good advise from my brother-in-law and sister.)
Light weight, ideal for small ladies like me.
Handy. Definitely great for freelancers who goes up and about working in different settings.
Operating System is already great considering that it's a netbook. Most netbooks only have the starter kit types.
Comfortable keyboard. Great for typing, so it totally fits freelance writers. haha :)

Negative

Lid is kind of wobbly. Not as stable as I expected.
Mediocre battery life. Can last up to a maximum of 6 hours with the right energy saver settings. But if used at its optimal state, can last about an average of 3 hours.
A little pricey for a netbook, but still at a reasonable price.
Not ideal for gaming. Only for light usage, such as internet browsing, word processors, music, and movies.

I've had Vong for more than a week, but so far so good :)

Top 5 Things I Learned About Being Employed

2012-05-26T22:53:00.000+08:00

Almost 90 days of being employed have made me realize a few things about employment – the perks and sunny days of receiving a good-enough paycheck, and the downsides of salary deductions and monster co-workers.

1. Academic credentials can help you land a job – even without hot-shot backers.

While it's great to have an impressive line of character references, it still boils down to how you carry your own self during the recruitment process. And chances are, if you have excellent grades in you transcript of records, that should speak for itself. Word of advise: Don't be afraid if you're labelled as a nerd. It'll pay off in due time. Really.

2. Everything you learned in school is not all applicable in reality.

Calculus, geometry, trigonometry, Rizal studies, and whatever subjects you took in college and high school – I can't seem to think of a way to use that with my line of work. Of course, unless you're an engineer or professor, those could be of help. But really, all the information fed by your teachers in school are not all that helpful when you're starting to work.

3. In order to survive, you must take shit from your boss.

Quoted by my friend, Ericka. In a dog-eat world like this, joining the large pool of unemployed people is suicide. So to keep your job, you have to learn to shut up and keep whatever sarcastic replies you can think of whenever your boss throws fire at you – even if you think it's already unfair.

4. The customer is not always right.

We get to deal with different types of people everyday -- like clients that are angry, depressed, inquisitive, overly cheerful, or those with plainly crazy demands. If I were to set aside my professionalism, I'd probably be arguing with a client that has an out-of-this-world-logic. They ain't right all the time. Seriously.

5. I don't need a job. I need money.

I can't imagine working my ass off for somebody for the rest of my life. I realized that my primary motivating reason to work is to earn money for my own needs and to save for the rainy days. Eventually, we need to make room for bigger dreams, and that excludes being an employee forever.

My three-month training period is looming very near meaning by next month, I might be unemployed and back to square one in job hunting. As of the moment, I'm still open for other job opportunities – be it in line with nursing or not. The important thing is, I should be able to land a job that I'm truly happy with :)

Passing the NLE, LIKE A BOSS

2012-02-16T20:38:00.001+08:00

DATE: February 16, 2012, Thursday

TIME: Approximately 1700 hours

LOCATION: My room

MOOD: Hungry

So I was on my laptop finishing my articles for the day. Was about to take a short Facebook break before having my snacks, and then proceed to writing again.

But then, a post on Facebook took my attention, and my heart stopped beating for a split second.

The Board Exam results for the December 2011 NLE have been released. OFFICIALLY.

With trembling hands, whirring head, chest about to explode, I CTRL+F my name on the letter G list, and BAAAAM!

I PASSED.

I KJHAFKCNFGHCLAHLUSGULGHULAGUAGHSUGU

PASSED!!!

I am so totally very very veryyyyyyyy happppyyyyy!!!

And then, I recalled all the things that I thought about days before the exam.

TOP 10 THINGS THAT I WAS THINKING OF DOING

IF, IN ANY CASE, I FAIL THE NLE.

(I was daydreaming about this right after taking the exam, since I totally expected to fail)

1. Change my name to Yna Manggugubat.

2. Move to another city, start a new life with a new name. Call that DISSOCIATIVE FUGUE.

3. Have a full plastic surgery to change my face.

4. Write an obituary on ALL newspapers to make people believe I died.

5. Hang myself inside my cabinet, just like in The Tale of Two Sisters.

6. Jump off the Mactan Bridge.

7. Jump off in the middle of the sea while taking a boat ride to Cebu.

8. Never go out of the house again. Ever.

9. Pretend to be a mentally-ill patient and be admitted to a mental hospital. For life.

10. Deactivate my FB account, and make a new one with only my best friends and immediate family as contacts.

TOP 5 THINGS THAT I WAS THINKING

AFTER PASSING THE NLE

1. I screwed up. I didn't attend review classes religiously and I PASSED??

2. Oh my God. I have to tell EVERYONE.

3. HA! I PASSED!

4. OH GOD. I really PASSED?

5. Now that I'm a Registered Nurse, where the hell will I get a nurse-related job??

But then, WOOOH! THANK YOU LORD! PASSED THE NLE, LIKE A BOSS! :)

To everyone who passed, CONGRATULATIONS! For those who haven't, well, look on the bright side. There's always another chance :)

For those who haven't seen the December 2011 NLE Results, here's the link:

December 2011 Nursing (NLE) Board Exam Official Results

Learn to Count Your Blessings Instead of Crap

2012-02-09T23:16:00.001+08:00

With all the shit happening to your life, do you find time to think about the bright side of things?

I am a struggling fresh graduate.

I have volunteer work every morning, 5 times a week, at our municipality’s Rural Health Unit.

I do freelance online writing jobs in the afternoon, and also at night; handling 2 jobs at least, and earning sufficiently -- for a person who doesn't have to worry about paying the bills, the rent, etc.

My current weekly allowance is equivalent to my daily allowance in high school.

I do not have the resources to buy all the usual luxuries I have when I was still a student.

I do not have a social life, and without Facebook, I am probably a social outcast by now.

I am not sure of what I want in life, and my passion is way far out from my expected profession.

But despite all the crap, I believe that I’m still blessed.

I have a caring family – parents who love me no matter how much I disappoint them; two sisters who are always so supportive; two brothers-in-law who became my protectors; and a nephew and a niece who never fails to make me smile.

I have the bestest best friends in the world – who, inspite of their craziness, they give me thoughtful and honest advise on things that I share to them; who are very understanding no matter how insane, murderous, and out of this world my thoughts are; who always give me reasons to laugh about.

I thank God that no matter how stormy the weather is, there’s always a rainbow waiting for you in the end.

Learn to count your blessings instead of counting all the crap.

The Agony of Waiting

2012-02-06T14:28:00.001+08:00

It’s been 49 days since the day our licensure exam ended.

49 days of being an unemployed college graduate stuck in a limbo of being broke, bored, and enjoying the emotional turmoil, oscillating from being happy to being depressed.

And counting.

The uncertainty of when the results would come out, or whether I passed or not is killing me. Literally.

And people have a knack to say “Relax.”

I mean, DUH. My next big step in life, finding a job, all depends on the licensure exam results. If I pass, then I’ll practice my profession. If not, then I’ll utilize my other talents.

Sure, I currently have an online part time job that pays me sufficiently for my unmarried-no-strings-attached-no-humongous-responsibility early 20’s life. But then again, being part of the professional circle is a big achievement for me.

And to be in that exclusive circle, I have to pass the board exam and be legally allowed to practice my profession in my country.

When the calendar pages finally turned to February, I suffered many sleepless nights. I’ve had gastric upsets. Crazy bipolar-like mood swings. And a bountiful supply of acne.

And all the false alarms and “chismis” about only 20% of the whole group passed, or the results will come out today definitely isn’t helping.

So advise to people who have no other purpose in life but to create havoc to other’s sanity: GET REAL. Our anxiety is already beyond imaginable. Don’t try to push us more.

(Sigh)

But then again, the best thing I can do right now is to wait.

Oh the agony.

The Thing About Being UNEMPLOYED

2012-01-27T23:49:00.000+08:00

I know a lot of people share my sentiments. You don't have to be a genius to realize the increasing number of unemployed people worldwide -- those who are uneducated and have college degrees alike.

And I'm one of them.

Well, the unemployed college degree holders, I mean.

And yes, this is more of a rant than just a plain old blog entry.

It's been 9 months (and counting) since I graduated from college. From a prestigious university. With a bachelor's degree. And I still don't have a job.

The thing about being unemployed? Well, it's not exactly fun.

You're BROKE. I mean seriously, back when I was still a student, I have more than enough money to splurge on food, cellphone load, books, and other necessities of being a college student. But now? I'm too embarrassed to even ask for money from my parents.

You don't have a SOCIAL LIFE. No money, no gimmicks with friends. Ergo, no social life. Simple as that.

You incessantly wonder what your PURPOSE IN LIFE really is. I mean, here's the thing: You spent more or less 16 years in school to get an education. You take the board exam to be legally allowed to practice your chosen profession. But when it comes to looking for a legit job, you've got opportunities for entry-level jobs close to none. If there are jobs that you can apply for, the competition is too damn high. Then you get dejected and wonder if the course you took in college was what you really wanted to do for the rest of your life. Then you think about exploring stuff, until you reach a point where you wonder what your purpose in life is. Talk about a quarter life crisis.

You get BORED. While in school, you crave so much for a vacation. But in reality, too much of a good thing can be bad. And watching too much TV, internet all night, or sleeping all day? Seriously, you get bored once the realization sets in that you'll be doing the same old rubbish for the next indefinite days. Months, even.

The COOLEST thing
I've ever discovered during my
days of being a BUM! :D

But then again, while browsing 9GAG, I read a post about a 9gagger who's been on a wheelchair since he was still young who said that, "No matter how bad things look like, there's always the good side of everything."

(Read the original post HERE)

And I realized that he does make a point.

So I listed several things that I should be HAPPY ABOUT for being unemployed:

You have ALL the time for 9GAG.
...
...
...
And uhm, yeah, you have ALL the time for 9GAG.

Close enough.

Well, at least I'm being optimistic. Somehow.

Fellow bummers, let us be forever alone in the unemployment zone. Together.

I know, I'm not making any sense here. But I'm positive that I'll find work soon. At the right moment :)

The Thing About BRACES

2012-01-23T21:51:00.003+08:00

Pink rubbers! :)

I had a date with my dentist today. For one reason: One of the brackets of my brace got dislodged after eating non-tender meat. (And I'm lucky not to have swallowed it!)

I've been visiting my dentist since time immemorial. My teeth is just like a facebook status: it's complicated.

To sum up my case, I have too large teeth with too little space in my mouth. So just recently, I'm wearing braces -- again. My teeth got a relapse from years of neglect when I started college. Now that I'm done with school, I have all the time to have my teeth checked and finally get fixed.

So there are a bunch of things that I realized for the 3 weeks that I've been wearing braces.

The BAD side of wearing braces:

I look like a nerd.
The diet restrictions - soft-diet, no sticky and hard food.
You get a perpetual "duck face" look.
You talk weird (like "s"turns to "sssh"), plus the spitting.
Again, I look like a nerd.

The GOOD side of wearing braces:

The colorful rubbers.
The colorful rubbers.
The colorful rubbers.
The colorful rubbers.
The colorful rubbers.

My inspiration, Katy Perry
in her "Last Friday Night"
nerdy chic look :)

I tried to stay optimistic about wearing braces. Katy Perry's "Last Friday Night Look" inspired me, though. After borrowing my friend Pau's glasses, and some wacky moments with my other crazy friends, Ericka, Kristhy and Anjo, here's what I managed to pull off after trying the nerdy chic look:

Close enough.

Oh well.

Anyway, 2 of the photos I posted here are taken by my blooming photographer friend, Ericka Garcia. For more of her works, visit her blog: Be Happy Blue!

SCOLIOSIS: The Untold Story

2012-01-11T00:03:00.000+08:00

Scoliosis,
an abnormal lateral curvature
of the spine.

I've noticed that a lot of my friends have been diagnosed with scoliosis, something that I also have. A not-so uncommon abnormality of the spine, but the way I see it, it is a poorly understood condition.

Whilst Google can site you several references to what scoliosis is like, how it is manifested, diagnosed, treated, prevented, and other trivial information about it, here, I'm going to write about my actual experience of being a scoliotic -- something that I don't talk much about to others.

It all started way back in 2003, when I was at my ninang's birthday party who also happens to be a nurse. I was at my preteens, wearing a fitting blouse. My ninang noticed how my hips were unusually unequal, and advised my parents to have me checked for scoliosis.

Milwaukee brace,
a common and cost-effective
treatment for scoliosis.
I got this image from google.
Mine looked exactly the same,
but was made out of plastic materials.

A few weeks after, we went to a doctor and I was diagnosed with scoliosis. The doctor says it's idiopathic, meaning the cause is unknown. But I guess mine was more of hereditary since I know a lot of my relatives, in the maternal side, who also suffer from the same condition.

Since the curvature was only 23 degrees in angle, the doctor said that we should wait until the angle doubles before we start treatment. My parents weren't convinced, so we had a second opinion in Cebu City.

The second doctor advised me to wear a body brace while the angle is still small and manageable. I'm still young, so my bones were still "pliable", a good candidate for a brace treatment. And anyway, we couldn't afford to pay for a surgery for my spine.

So he gave a stat order to have me fitted for a milwaukee brace. So we went to an Occupational Therapist in Cebu who makes those kind of braces. He used a plaster of paris to wrap around my torso, waited for a little while to have it dried, and then cut through it to have the mold removed from my body. (It was really awkward).

Me wearing my milwaukee
brace.

After 5 days and some final refitting, I finally sported my body brace. The first time I saw and actually wore it, I thought, "My God, this is hideous!" The brace was made out of plastic material and a light type of metal (probably aluminum), with leather paddings on designated areas where the curvature needs to be corrected. The back part of the brace was adjustable with belts. So when I had to wear and remove it, I'd just fit it from the back and strap the brace up so that it could fit snugly around my torso.

The brace wrapped around my upper hips and stomach, with a hollowed part near the breasts, with metal supports around the neck so as to keep my posture always erect. I had to wear the brace 23/7, which gives me only an hour each day to remove it, enough for me to take a bath and have my skin breathe out. At times, in my dire attempt to have my treatment hastened, I'd remove my brace less than an hour a day. So yes, I had to wear it even when I'm sleeping.

My actual x-rays for the duration of my treatment.

Wearing the brace had so many discomforts. Activity restrictions were expected, so I can't dance nor do curl-ups. So I had to give up PE and had to do an alternative activity (joining the choir, in my case). Anyway, for the discomforts, let me enumerate them with their corresponding solutions that I have made:

1. Prickly heat. My first battle to wearing the brace was the bout with having prickly heat. Having plastic wrapped around your body for 23 hours a day isn't good for the skin integrity because of the body heat being insulated within the plastic, plus my own body sweat.

Solution: Wear a sando or thin sleeveless shirt before wearing the brace helps. That way, the plastic won't come in close contact to your skin. I also find using Fissan Prickly Heat Powder pretty effective in relieving itchiness.

2. Sleeping. Believe me, as much as walking around with a body brace is uncomfortable, lying in to sleep is 10x more unsettling.
Solution: I find it uncomfy sleeping on a very soft mattress, since your body weight plus the brace will make you buried around the soft mass of foam you're lying unto. So I prefer sleeping on a harder mattress. That way, you'll have better and sturdier support for your back. Sleeping with many pillows isn't very comfortable too since the brace goes up to your neck, making it hard to breathe. So I prefer sleeping on just one pillow, enough to support my head and neck.

3. Dressing up. I was a teenager that time, and the brace wasn't too conforming to fashion. With the added bulk, I had to wear clothes that were twice my usual size.
Solution: Well, since you can't do anything much about being un-fashionable, I choose to consider my comfort more than trying to fit in with the rest of the crowd. I look different already with my brace, so I try to fit in by being comfortable with what I look like.

4. The pain. Yes, wearing the brace is painful. The leather paddings were made to help maneuver your body to help correct the curvature. Thus, pressure is exerted to the specific areas being maneuvered. For the duration of my treatment, I had blunt dark markings on the areas of my skin where the paddings were. Cold weather also adds to the pain. For some reasons, the coldness shoots up pain to spine. Plus, whenever I get my period with accompanying dysmenorrhea, back pain also joins the party.
Solution: I don't usually take pain medications, but it helps. Most of the time, I manage the pain non-pharmaceutically by just lying in bed, having a rest, doing some imagery, or the distraction method by watching TV.

5. The stares and bullying. How many freaky people do you see wearing a weird thing around their necks? Well, close to none. So I get a lot of stares from strangers wherever I go. The only persons who don't get dumbstruck by my brace are my family, close friends, and classmates who see me everyday. It was unsettling at first, getting a lot of attention than usual, but I learned to live with it. And yes, I get bullied. A lot. Being in a public school, many boys make fun of me, calling me rude names and treating me like I have a disability. That's something I never got over it, leading me to state of depression. I run to the girl's bathroom to cry after school, and only my best friend knows it. (Now the public knows, hehe). Being a teenager and not fitting in and being bullied was something that I couldn't handle well.
Solution: Get someone to talk to about your feelings. If my best friend wasn't there for me to watch me cry and wallow in misery, I'd probably be in a mental institution by now suffering from a major depressive disorder, haha.

Although wearing the brace had its share of advantages. For one, I always had a discount for any public transportation. If it wasn't because I was a student, it's because the driver thinks I'm a person with a disability (so I also had a privilege to sit at the front). And some people gave me a lot of special treatment, even in my classes where physicality was involved. And others were very nice to me too (I take it more of pity than being empathetic, but nonetheless, I appreciate the stroke of kindness).

Anyway, after 2 years of going back and forth to Cebu 4 times a year to have myself x-rayed, and faithful devotion to the Senior Santo Niño, my scoliosis was finally corrected! Less than the expected duration of my treatment, though. All praises to the Lord! :)

Now, I'm 5 years free of not wearing my milwaukee brace. I kind of miss wearing it, but then, never in a million years would I ever wear it again. haha. I haven't been back to my orthopedist in a while, and the best I've done to prevent any remissions (if it is even possible), is to keep proper body mechanics and good posture. I heard swimming is a good exercise to strengthen the back, and I might get around to doing it on a daily basis.

So I hope this post helps the many scoliotic people out there. Maybe to help you guys deal with the condition, and perhaps empower you in some sort of way that there's always hope for everything :)

MOVIE REVIEW: The Last Song

2012-01-10T22:21:00.000+08:00

I haven't been doing much lately. After graduating from college last year and with my review classes for my licensure exam done, I'm off to doing absolutely nothing -- yet.

So today, I'm glad Star Movies decided to show several great chic flicks spontaneously. I had a movie marathon, and one of the films that struck me most is The Last Song.

I've heard of both the film and the book, but I thought, "Ah, another Nicholas Sparks creation." But when I got around to actually watching the movie, I was like, "Wow!" and decided to make a movie review.

Review:

Miley Cyrus plays as the rebellious protagonist,
Ronnie Miller.

First off, the actors.

I'm not much of a Miley Cyrus fan, but I've seen her act in the Hannah Montana series and the movie. I kind of stereotyped her to being the typical Disney Channel kid who only acts to goof around and look oh-so-cute and carefree. But seeing her sporting a new role in The Last Song made me realize how her acting has improved through the years. And it goes to show how Miley can portray more mature roles -- another talent other than being a good performer (although, I must admit, her singing isn't that good).

Liam Hemsworth
as the dashing leading man,
Will Blakelee.

Next, Liam Hemsworth. It's the first time I've ever seen this guy on TV. All I could say is, he's really handsome. The kind of South Carolina hunk you'd imagine if you've been reading a lot of Sparks' novels.

All in all, the movie's pretty good. No, that's actually an understatement. It's GREAT. Again, Nicholas Sparks has hit the touchy part of everyone's tear ducts. He never fails to make me cry, whether it be his novels or the films that are made out of them.

Nicholas Sparks,
among the greatest writers of all time
who really knows how to touch his
readers' heart strings.

This is a new twist to his usual genre of adult romance. The Last Song, even though it's generally a love story, but specifically, it's a story about a special kind of love between a father and a daughter. Few novelists actually write about that, and I applaud Nicholas Sparks to be able to put into ink (and film) that father-daughter love perfectly.

I, for one, am close to my father. One of the reasons why I loved the story so much (except for the fact that the father dies of cancer).

For those who haven't seen the movie, I recommend you watch it. It will definitely be worth it, even if it's Hanna Montana we're talking about. I haven't read the book yet, but I'm looking forward to actually reading it.

You can read a summary of the plot in wikipedia. <-- Click on this link if you're interested :)

Breaking Dawn Official Soundtrack Includes Bruno Mars' "IT WILL RAIN"

2011-11-26T11:35:00.000+08:00

Photo taken from trailersofficial

The first part of the last installment of the Twilight Saga, Breaking Dawn, unleashed its fury last November 18, 2011, wooing vampire-werewolf fans all over the world.

What I like about the movie:

1. Its wonderful stint of the fairy tale-like, forest-inspired wedding.

2. The intense, romantic honeymoon scenes at Rio.

3. The astonishing portrayal of Bella's pregnancy.

4. The detailed way of showing Bella's final vampire transformation.

5. Jacob Black's reactions (it's funny, actually, especially when Bella started drinking fresh blood. LOL).

What's more is its new twist with the movie's official soundtrack. It includes Bruno Mars' "It Will Rain" that is sure to be a new hit in the music industry. Bruno stated that watching the scenes from Breaking Dawn Part 1 inspired him to finish writing the song.

"I started writing ['It Will Rain'] a little bit on tour. I was just writing to write. I had my guitar with me on tour when I was in the States. I never finished it.

"The opportunity came up to go see some scenes in Breaking Dawn. When I saw a couple of the scenes I was like 'That song I started might be perfect for this'… I've seen a couple of things. I might have seen them get married."

Source: Digital Spy

But a common query from Bruno Mars and Twilight fans alike: "Which part of the movie was the song played?"

I myself had a hard time remembering which scene. But after further research (thanks Google!), "It Will Rain" was played during the end credits and somehow, during a short bit of the love scenes.

We'll know for sure after the official DVD of Breaking Dawn Part 1 will be released. That way, we'll have unlimited opportunities to repeat the movie over and over again just to find that specific scene(s) where Bruno Mars' song was played.

Anyway, here's the official music video, accompanied by its lyrics. Enjoy listening!

IT WILL RAIN

Bruno Mars

Source: Directlyrics

If you ever leave me baby,

Leave some morphine at my door

‘Cause it would take a whole lot of medication

To realize what we used to have,

We don’t have it anymore.

There’s no religion that could save me

No matter how long my knees are on the floor

So keep in mind all the sacrifices I’m makin’

Will keep you by my side

Will keep you from walkin’ out the door.

[Chorus]

Cause there’ll be no sunlight

If I lose you, baby

There’ll be no clear skies

If I lose you, baby

Just like the clouds

My eyes will do the same, if you walk away

Everyday it will rain, rain, rain...

I’ll never be your mother’s favorite

Your daddy can’t even look me in the eye

Oooh if I was in their shoes, I’d be doing the same thing

Sayin there goes my little girl

Walkin’ with that troublesome guy

But they’re just afraid of something they can’t understand

Oooh well little darlin’ watch me change their minds

Yeah for you I’ll try I’ll try I’ll try I’ll try

I’ll pick up these broken pieces ’til I’m bleeding

If that’ll make you mine

[Chorus]

Cause there’ll be no sunlight

If I lose you, baby

There’ll be no clear skies

If I lose you, baby

Just like the clouds

My eyes will do the same if you walk away

Everyday it will rain, rain, rain...

[Bridge]

Don’t just say, goodbye

I’ll pick up these broken pieces ’til I’m bleeding

If that’ll make it right

[Chorus]

Cause there’ll be no sunlight

If I lose you, baby

There’ll be no clear skies

If I lose you, baby

Just like the clouds

My eyes will do the same if you walk away

Everyday it will rain, rain, rain...

Christmas Wish List

2011-11-25T18:34:00.003+08:00

Haven't updated my blog in a while and I missed writing already.

With Christmas fast approaching (exactly a month away), I know most people are thinking of what they want to receive for Christmas. I, for one, have been pondering of what kind of gifts I want to have:

Photo taken from itechnews.net

1. A portable external hard drive

My laptop's been carrying 2 years' worth of documents, pictures, music, and movies that I don't want to lose if worse comes to worst. Having a backup for my files would be great and owning a portable external hard drive is a practical solution. I've been wanting to save for one, but then again, my prospective unemployment next year drives me to save my money for more worthier things that I need (e.g load for my cellphone).

I don't know exactly what brand or other specifics for a hard drive is best. I'm not that techie. But then, this PINK Samsung Mini S2 Portable Hard Drive appeals much to me. Primarily for its color, and its not-so expensive price.

Photo taken from popbee.com

2. Forever 21 Dress

I'm not exactly a fashionista or anything of that sort, and I already own one Forever 21 dress (a generous gift from a Tita). But somehow, with Forever 21 invading Cebu, I kinda want to have another dress. Something flowery, sweet-looking, pastel-colored, cute, and conservative-- something that suits my character.

Photo taken from blogspot

3. A new laptop

As mentioned, my laptop has been existing for 2 years and more now. And recently, Lappy hasn't been her usual fast and efficient self. I've been thinking of having it reformatted, getting a new OS, and giving it some major updating. But then, having a new and more up-to-date laptop would be a better choice, I think.

I don't mind whether its a notebook or netbook (or better yet, a macbook), for as long as it's durable and pink. Honestly, for an artistic girl like me, aesthetics matters a lot.

Photo taken from kaboodle.com

4. Victoria's Secret Pure Seduction Perfume

I sooooo love this scent. The one that I have right now was a gift from my brother-in-law when he came back from abroad. I've been using it for over a year and in a few months, it'll be totally consumed. I know I can buy the cheap class A types that can be easily bought through the internet. But I want the authentic one just like what I have now. Nothing's better than the original Victoria's Secret. tee-hee ^_^

Photo taken from blogspot

5. Pass the December 2011 NLE.

Seriously, I don't care if i don't get my Wishes 1 to 4, for as long as I can pass the Local Nursing Board Exam this December 2011. I've been working hard for the past 6 months, and I don't want my efforts to be wasted. And most importantly, I want to make my parents proud and happy.

This is my ultimate wish for Christmas, my birthday, the new year, sinulog, valentine's day-- Perhaps for the whole year round. My life and future depends on it. My anxiety level is escalating as the days come closer for the exam date to come.

Then again, why do we take up so much time thinking about what gifts we want to receive for Christmas? Wouldn't it be better to give than to receive? To cause joy to others rather than be the recipient of happiness?

The true essence of Christmas isn't about exchanging gifts, the belief of Santa Claus, or the food prepared on the table. Rather, Christmas is about the birth of Christ-- God's greatest gift to us. And the best way to thank God for His wonderful gift is to give love on Christmas-- to share what we have and to make others happy.

BUUUUUT on second thought, I don't mind getting my heart's desires this Christmas ^_^

Life, Love and Aging

2011-08-30T20:00:00.000+08:00

Originally wrote this article as a reflection of something I was going through before, and posted it on facebook. I submitted it to our college's magazine and was eventually published. This time, I'm reposting it here in my very own blog. Enjoy reading! :)

Changes will always happen in the course of life, and the most evident are the physical ones.
We may look like gods and goddesses right now-- what with our youthful bodies. But no matter how much you try, age will inevitably transform us. A few years from now, lines will start to form on our faces. Women get pregnant and get sagging breasts and build up cellulites. Men get their beer bellies. We get fat, have wrinkles, and eventually will have to wear glasses as we grow older. When we wake up in the morning, we might look like hags without our makeup-- dried up saliva, milky tears, and awesome-smelling breaths from the night before. Yes, it is important to look our best, but we will never be pretty or handsome at all times.

Thus, it is important to love someone for who they really are, for what they areinside and not for what they look like on the outside. Because if the pretty outer wrapping of beauty and youth will unravel, and the gaunt and unfamiliar face of age replaces it, will the love you once think you felt still be there?

Love entails constant adjustments and compromises. We must learn to deal with each other's imperfections. Physical attraction may be important at the start of a relationship, but as the years go by, what is essential is the mutual understanding the two of you share.

Of Love and Acceptance

2011-08-14T21:42:00.002+08:00

Mama always tells me that in choosing my partner, I have to get to know him well first.

That principle didn't evade me even in the world of nursing: Assess before you diagnose, plan, implement and evaluate.

But what if even after thorough assessment, you still find out that there are things yet to be discovered? What if even after all those years of knowing a person, you realize that you actually didn't know him well enough after all?

My recent emotional turmoil has led me to reflect on these things-- something that has been bothering me for weeks, and might still be plaguing my mind for the next days ahead.

Anyway.

I don't think it was a discrepancy in my part of assessing that particular somebody. It was just simply because people are always like that -- we change, we reconstruct existing behaviors, and learn to adapt new ones.

I have come to realize that in every relationship, acceptance is a vital part in building trust and harmony. Seeing my parents fight despite all the years of being together is proof that misunderstandings and rough roads are always part of commitments, and most of them are products of the parties' contrasting views and attitudes.

Everyone is unique. We all have individual differences that make each of us special. These differences may lead to conflicts and the only way to resolve the issues is through acceptance.

Others might think that when they discover something new to a person they thought they knew for years, they would think that that person was only faking -- creating a pleasing facade to attract people, only to discover the ugliness within. In some cases, that may be true. But if you truly love someone, you have to keep an open mind that not all things are made to be known to others.

People are complex creatures and change is always a part of life. We need to learn to accept things as they are and what they will become as the years progress.

When you love someone, you have to learn to accept that person for who he is; admire his strengths, and be patient with this weaknesses. Love him not only for what you liked in him, but also for the things that make him human -- his temper, his quirks, and his seemingly weird ways. For when you learn to understand him, acceptance and respect follows.

[Credits to deviantart for the image I used in this article.]

USC's Musical Genius: ULY TENCHAVEZ

2011-07-27T23:42:00.002+08:00

University of San Carlos -- One of the best universities in Cebu that not only brags for its ability to produce excellent graduates, but also hones a variety of talents. One of which is Ulysses Tenchavez, a Clinical Instructor from the USC College of Nursing.

What makes Sir Uly special is that he is not only a nurse educator, but also a musical genius. A song writer/composer and singer rolled into one. His songs are filled with emotions that almost everyone could relate to, with well-said lyrics, a catchy tune, and a soothing voice (his of course).

Here are two of his own compositions that are gaining popularity in Youtube (with accompanying lyrics ^_^):

Angel By My Side

I always thought you were the girl for me ‘cause you always took the best in me,

I tried to find the words to describe you when I never thought I’d feel this way..

Refrain:

Oh how I wish this pain inside me would finally subside,

I wish that I could end it all..

End it all in just one night..

Chorus:

And if I could have an angel by my side,
Help me through the pain I feel inside

The day you left it all behind

And I know that you had to go away

There’s no other reason left to stay

Til now I pray, that you could’ve stayed..

Now I’m all alone in my room with nothing but a memory,

A memory of a girl who strucked me down and dropped me on my knees,

(Refrain)

(Chorus)

It’s so hard to live my life without your love,

It’s so hard because it’s you I’m thinking of,

Can’t sleep, can’t think don’t know what to do..

I don’t know why I still long for you

I always thought you were the girl for me ‘cause you always took the best in me..

(Chorus 2x)

Comfortable

Hey beautiful, come over here
there's so many things i wanna whisper in your ear
can't let you go,i need you so
don't u know that your the one that i've been searching for

what took u so long to get here
what does it take to be near to ur heart
i'm gonna never let this fall apart
coz i don't wanna be anywhere else than right here with u

baby i'm willing to make this last
coz a princess like u only deserves the best
and you'll never be lonely again
coz what we have is what we're longing for
a love

[chorus]
so comfortable, so comfortable
i never knew that this love cud grow and be so beautiful

spending all this time with you
everything seems so brand new
if you're feeling what i'm feeling too yeah we could
be strong and make it through

can't imagine a day without you in it
gotta believe in this love coz i must admit
honestly no one ever means this much to me
and this love you bring is everything i want and need

[ Stay updated with Sir Uly's songs HERE! ]

HARRY POTTER: A Look Back

2011-07-15T23:09:00.002+08:00

IT ALL ENDS.

The 7 sequels of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter has finally commenced with the 2nd part of the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows movie.

Warner Brothers has recently launched a 5-minute tribute video of the much-loved Harry Potter series. For HP fans, this will truly bring nostalgic moments of the movie and book that have become part of our childhood. Let us journey back to where it all started and where it now comes to an end-- but then again, Harry Potter will always live by in our hearts forever. <3

La Marea Pastry Shop and Lavazza Cafe

2011-07-11T20:30:00.000+08:00

Sample Menu. Take your pick!

One of Cebu's pride in terms of food and beverage is La Marea Pastry Shop and Lavazza Cafe, found in the heart of the city with 3 branches you can chose from:

Cross Roads, Banilad
The Walk, IT Park, Lahug
Paseo Arcenas, Labangon

La Marea serves a wide variety of sweet treats, cakes and coffee, starting at 50php.

Their best seller to date is the Warm Brownie Cup. At 95php, taste the delectable fusion of oven-fresh brownie topped with your choice of ice cream (vanilla or chocolate).

Warm Brownie Cup with Vanilla ice cream.

Cozy setting, friendly and efficient staff, good service, great food. Definitely a must try when you're here in Cebu.

La Marea is open daily, from 9:00 am to 12:00 am.

For more information, visit their site: La Marea Pastry Shop and Lavazza Cafe.

[ Photos taken by my humble but talented sister, Cecille. Thanks Ate! ]

SNEAK PEEK: 20 Pictures from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2

2011-07-08T00:31:00.002+08:00

Credits to Warner Brothers and Danny Cox of Examiner.com for the pictures.

[ You may view the original post HERE. Selected photos only. ]

Feast your eyes Harry Potter fans! :)

Professor Snape

Harry comes face to face with Voldemort.

Probably during the battle at Hogwarts?

Again, probably during the battle at Hogwarts -- almost at the end.

The power trio.

Harry, Ron and Hermione in action.

The dragon guarding Gringotts.

Let me guess... Narcissa Malfoy? Correct me if I'm wrong.

When McGonagall transfigured the castle statues to life during the battle at Hogwarts.

Future Mrs. Potter

Nymphadora Tonks

End part: Harry vs Voldemort

End part I guess.

Snape again.

Neville takes out the Sword of Gryffindor.

Harry vs Voldemort showdown.

Gringotts scene where Harry takes the cup of Hufflepuff from the Lestranges' vault.

Draco and his cronies.

Harry vs Voldemort showdown -- go Voldy!


Voldemort and the Deatheaters

It all ends - JULY 15, 2011 :)

MOVIE SPOILER: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2

2011-07-03T00:40:00.003+08:00

Got this note from Tumblr by fyeahbryanpritz. Reblogged it here in Blogger instead. (I don't have a Tumblr account).

ALL CREDITS ARE GIVEN TO fyeahbryanpritz. I do not claim ownership to the contents of this post. Additional comments are made here, though, since I am also a big Harry Potter fan.

[ You can read the original post HERE. ]

The following are scenes in the movie that are deviated from the book. Sorry for those who haven't read HP7. You should read the book as early as now if you want to be guided throughout the movie. :)

So for Harry Potter readers who are so loyal to the book (like me), get a grip of yourselves since you will realize just how much have been changed in the movie:

Mr. Ollivander, the wand maker, is familiar of the Deathly Hallows. In the book, he hasn't got an idea what it is.

When Griphook was killed by Voldemort, the Sword of Gryffindor (a Horcrux) disappears from his hands.

Aberforth, Dumbledore's brother, didn't explain Albus' life story.

When arriving at Hogwarts, Harry bursts into the Great Hall furious at Snape for standing in Dumbledore’s place, even demanding that Snape tell everyone how he killed Dumbledore.

Prof. McGonagall duels Snape in the Great Hall in front of the entire school before he turns to black “smoke”, smashing through a window.

The Protective Shield that the Hogwarts teachers placed around the school destroys anything that attempt to get through it. During the beginning of the battle at Hogwarts, it instantly kills 17 Death Eaters.

During the start of the battle, Harry and Ginny kiss, the directors placed this in to show their relationship and love for each other.

When Voldemort destroys the shield around Hogwarts, the Elder Wand cracks a bit by the amount of power used.

Both Bellatrix and Snape create the largest Dark Mark over Hogwarts the Wizarding World has ever seen.

Harry, through his connection to Voldemort, sees a memory of the Grey Lady at Hogwarts, making Harry realize that Ravenclaw is connected to one of Voldemort’s Horcruxes.

Harry goes to Ravenclaw Tower alone and does not encounter the Carrows in the common room. Amycus does not spit in McGonagall’s face. In the book, he was accompanied by Luna and they had to duel with the Carrows.

A scene is added in Hogwarts where Ron and Hermione enter the Chamber of Secrets to acquire a Basilisk's Fang to destroy one of the horcruxes, Hufflepuff's Cup. In the book, Ron and Harry just gave a passing narration of what happened.

Ron and Hermione are nearly killed in the Chamber of Secrets when they are attacked by a tsumani created by Voldemort, as their “lives flashing before their eyes” they lean and kiss each other.

A scene where Ron and Hermione are chased by Nagini is added probably after the Chamber of Secrets scene.

Some changes made for the Half-Blood Prince film, such as the circumstances of Harry hiding the Potions Book in the Room of Requirement, may also result in some additions.

Vincent Crabbe doesn’t appear in the film due to the drug charges against actor Jamie Waylett and Gregory Goyle will die in his place.

Blaise Zabini is present in the Room of Requirement scene with Draco.

Fred Weasley duels a Death Eater during the battle, and then gets disarmed, and cornered by many other Death Eaters. This is likely what leads to his death. Not the way the book portrayed that Bellatrix killed him.

Aberforth fends off hundreds of Dementors during the Battle of Hogwarts with a tidal wave Patronus. In the book, he only used one Patronus.

Lavender Brown is killed during the battle by Fenrir Greyback.

Nigel Wespurt is killed during the Battle, and Neville Longbottom carries his body into the Great Hall. Clearly this is a substitute for Colin Creevey, as he has been since the fourth film.

The scene where McGonagall magics desks and other inanimate objects to life in the battle is omitted from the film.

Death Eaters burn down the Hogwarts Quidditch Pitch.

Buckbeak, Centaurs and House-Elves don’t appear during the Battle.

The final battle between Harry and Voldemort will be extended, and while other parts of the second phase of the Battle of Hogwarts will be shown, the primary focus will be centered on Harry and Voldemort.

Once Harry reveals himself, Voldemort locks Harry up asking how he escaped death, after Harry tells him Voldemort lets him out. This causes their chase around many different places in Hogwarts.

Nagini is not in a protective sphere.

Snape’s death will not take place in the Shrieking Shack, but in a "Crystal House" that can see the Boathouse and the castle burning. Art director Andrew Ackland-Snow explained why: "We wanted to Snape to die in more dramatic atmosphere. He dies in a n extremely good way."

Voldemort slashes Snape’s throat open with the Elder Wand using the Sectumsempra spell, before ordering Nagini to “finish him”. Nagini’s attack is not seen, but Snape’s screams are heard and the windows of the Crystal House are splattered with his blood as Harry, Ron and Hermione watched in horror.

Voldemort attacks the Great Hall from the Boathouse, causing it to burn and collapse.

Scabior duels Neville on the Covered Bridge, and is killed when half of the bridge collapses.

A scene is added in Snape’s flashback where he comes to Godric's Hollow, after Lily and James were killed in 1981.

Harry tells Ron and Hermione that he is a Horcrux, and that he must die. Hermione tells him that she suspected so all along.

Instead of Harry being naked when arriving at King's Cross he is instead fully clothed, he also sees Voldemort in the image of a red, slimy breathing thing.

Narcissa Malfoy was looking for signs of life but finding none until Harry leaps out of Hagrid’s arms.

During the Battle of Hogwarts, Harry grabs Voldemort and throws them both off the roof of the castle. They nearly reach the bottom when Voldemort apparates them both away. Ginny will see Harry and Voldemort falling off the cliff.

Harry and Voldemort duel at the Entrance Courtyard instead of the Great Hall.

After being struck with the Killing Curse, Voldemort turns to ash, and crumbles apart in a similar manner to Quirrell in Philosopher’s Stone.

After the conclusion of the battle, Harry, Ron and Hermione stand on the remains of the Covered Bridge discussing the events of the past year. Harry snaps the Elder Wand in two and throws it over the side.

I don't know how this guy got all these information, but we'll know for sure the actual turn of events soon! :)

FEATURED MOVIE: Transformers 3 - Dark of the Moon

2011-07-01T13:57:00.002+08:00

One of this year's most awaited movies is Transformers 3: Dark of the Moon which was released last June 29, 2011.

Genre: Action/Sci-Fi

Running Time: 2 hours, 40 minutes

Synopsis:
In 1969, NASA detects an alien spacecraft to have crashed on the far side of the moon and sends Apollo 11 to investigate it. The crash was discovered to be a Cybertronian Spacecraft called "Ark", the last remnants of the war between the Autobots and Decepticons.

The "Ark" was piloted by Sentinel Prime, an Autobot, which carried the "Pillars", a technology that would save and restore Cybertron once and for all.

All these discoveries were made top secret by NASA for years until Optimus Prime found out about a fuel cell from the "Ark" that the Soviet Union attempted to use a source of energy. Optimus Prime, together with the other Autobots, set forth to the moon to retrieve Sentinel Prime and the "Pillars." However, only five pillars were recovered out of the hundreds that were supposed to exist.

Meanwhile, Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) is fresh from graduation, frustrated by unemployed life, and has a new girl friend, Carly Spencer (Rose Huntington-Whiteley). He was eventually hired in a mail room and meets Jerry Wang (Ken Jeong), who reveals himself as a conspiracy theorist and tells Sam about the mystery of the "dark side of the moon."

Sam soon realizes that the Decepticons have lured the Autobots into a trap. With Sentinel Prime brought back to life, he can activate the Pillars and re-build Cybertron. Sentinel turns his back from the Autobots, saying that the only way to save their planet (Cybertron), is to make allies with the Decepticons.

Insights:

New movie, new faces.

The new leading lady, Rose Huntington-Whiteley. She's pretty and hot, and not to mention the sexy British accent. But still, Megan Fox still remains as the reigning "Transformers Girl." Sorry, Rose. And yeah. For couples, height does matter.

Rose Huntington-Whiteley and Megan Fox

Who is better?CARLY vs MIKAELA

Patrick Dempsey.
The awkward guy from "Enchanted" is now the
bad guy in "Transformers 3"

The antagonist, Patrick Dempsey. The last time we saw him was in "Enchanted," being the awkwardly romantic guy. Now, it's sort of weird seeing him carrying a new role that's in contrast to his previous one in Enchanted. Not to stereotype him, but in my personal opinion, he's better being Robert Philip than being the evil playboy accountant Dylan Gould.

Shia LaBeouf as Sam Witwicky

Old faces. The story line.

Shia, as always is still the endearing, funny protagonist. He's so good at being hysterical.

I think it's a bit far-fetched that Neil Armstrong and company were sent to the moon to investigate on a crashed alien spacecraft. But I have to give credit to the very creative story line.

The movie all in all is absolutely AWESOME. Battle scenes were stupendous. Best viewed in 3D! If you want an action-packed film, this is the movie you should watch.

The soundtrack is really great too. For Linkin Park fans, you should check out their lead single for Transformers 3:

Crazy for "Crazy Little Thing Called Love"

2011-06-27T13:32:00.004+08:00

So my friends introduced me this Thai movie called "Crazy Little Thing Called Love (First Love)" telling me how "kilig", sickeningly sweet, and totally relevant for everyone who has gone through the puppy-love phase during high school.

Plus the lead guy is so handsome.

When I finally got to watch it, it was more than kilig, sweet, or relevant-- it was ABSOLUTELY AWESOME! One of the BEST romantic-comedy movies I've ever seen!

I won't delve into details about the story, you HAVE to watch it yourself if you want proof of how great the movie is. You can download it HERE.

My insights:

1. No matter how immature adults might think of the movie, truth is, everyone has gone through secret crushes and romances at some point of our lives, right?

2. Nothing compares to the feeling of falling in love for the first time.

3. You don't have to change yourself just to have the subject of your affection like you back. If someone is genuinely interested in you, he'll take notice no matter how you look.

4. Supplementary to number 3, you don't have to prove to someone just how amazing you are. Don't pretend to be someone you're not. Just be yourself.

5. Put your feelings of love into good use. Make it as your source of inspiration, not an instrument to destroy yourself.

6. Being in love doesn't guarantee a lifetime of happiness. Getting hurt is inevitable. So you have to learn to live with it.

7. Love is patient. It truly is. Romantic feelings take time to grow into something much deeper and permanent. True love can't be rushed.

8. Action speaks louder than words. You can't just say you love someone. You have to show it. And by showing it, it means you have to go the extra mile to tell the person how much you care for him.

9. If you want something to happen, don't just expect, do something about it.

10. And lastly, if you love someone, don't keep it a secret, tell him! There's nothing wrong with falling in love. It's human nature. Don't be shy.

My BEAST friend, Jan McKingley Hilado, made a cool video about "Crazy Little Thing Called Love." Credits to Parokya ni Edgar's song "Pangarap Lang Kita." The video shows just how important it is to tell the person how much you feel for her. :)