Pending Passions

You don't even let the alarm wake you up. You're up before it hits the ringer, and you smile because you know you're wide awake now. You're glad you're awake now. It only means it's becoming real. You get yourself ready. You fix yourself up, iron out your best clothes, and spray on your signature perfume. You check yourself in the mirror. Again. You smile. You can't believe how giddy you are. It's like high school all over again. Only this will be better. You believe this will be better. You take a cab to the restaurant. You don't take your car with you. No use in looking for a convenient parking space at that time. And besides, you don't want to risk losing an opportunity to walk home, especially when it includes the possibility of walking with that special someone. The cab driver looks at you from the rear-view mirror. He smiles. He guesses that you're out on a date. You guess it's kind of hard to hide that fact when you've been

In keeping with my tradition to write endless reviews after really awesome Transformers movies (wait, I've only written one), I have decided to spoil anyone who reads this who haven't seen the movie yet (because I'm that kind of person). This movie's cast includes Max Payne Really annoying teenage daughter Ed Sheeran and Caesar Flickerman  Also starring the voices of Eeyore Scooby-Doo Fred Flintstone Ra's Al Ghul and one of the Stabbington brothers ( Tangled ) What I remember of the almost three-hour movie Basically the humans are hunting the robots. And if in the first warning you didn't get it, I'm saying it again: SPOILER ALERT. But the humans aren't the only ones. Apparently, Lockdown, this really cool bot whose alternate is a Lamborghini (a really sleek and sexy and contoured and downright awesome  car), was sent to earth to clean up the mess the Autobots and Decepticons caused. You know, like the mess in Chicago four y

This is not a movie review, rather not the type I usually do. This is the sound of my brain screaming, then calming down, then screaming, then just zoning out. I will be blunt. Divergent  the movie was disappointing. Before I judge, I first have to set the background of my watching the movie. I guess it's hard to make a dystopian young adult novel come to life on the big screen. I guess it's hard to make a dystopian young adult novel come to life on the big screen when it's a best seller and has a large fan base. I guess it's especially hard to make a dystopian young adult novel come to life on the big screen when the Hunger Games  has already established its throne on that genre. I may be biased to the Hunger Games  and I understand that Divergent is not the same as the Hunger Games , but I cannot help myself from seeing the similarities . . . similarities I need not discuss because I'm sure other fans have exhausted that topic. My guess for the disapp

They're fighting again. I can hear them. I can hear them as if they were right here with me. Well, in a way, they are. They are here, but I can't see them. It hurts sometimes. They make the noises that make me realize that it hurts. I often just ignore them, but sometimes I just can't help it. It's good when I'm alone. I mean, it's bearable. At least I don't get embarrassed when they start shouting, screaming for attention. But they don't always keep it in. They grumble and mumble when I'm with my friends. They make those annoying fighting noises when I'm with strangers. They fight whether people might hear them or not. I could stop them. I have the power to stop them. But sometimes it feels like whatever I do, it's just not enough. I can't satiate them. They will always keep wanting more from me. They're fighting now. I can hear them. But I have nothing to give them to make them stop. It's one of those times when I can

To praise his work would be redundant, and although he definitely deserves to be written about (again) and his work complimented and taken in the highest regard, I will not be filling this post with what most people write about (I think) after they meet one very inspiring author. As some people know, Mitch Albom just visited the Philippines. On February 23, 2014 (that's today, as I write this down), he graced Ayala Center Cebu with his presence. We all know Mr. Mitch. We know his books and have read them, so like I said, I won't dwell on that. What I will talk about is the conversation that ran through my head during the, what, two- to three-hour wait. The question I had to answer was this: "What should I say to this author that would actually make an impact?" My musings went like this: Hi, Mr. Mitch. Hello, sir. Thank you so much for being a writer. Thank you so much for choosing to be a writer and being an awesome one. Hello, sir. Thank you for ch

Once upon a time, a man died for the woman he loves. Yes, sounds tragic, doesn’t it? Sounds like a Nicholas Sparks novel. But in this day and age, that’s what it means to love, isn’t it? To be willing to give up everything, including your life, for the one you love. Well, this man died. But first, he loved. He loved extraordinarily. It was almost insane. Normal people would likely choose who they love. Normal people would have standards that are more likely impossible to meet. Normal people do not easily give up everything for someone who doesn’t even seem to notice them. Normal people. But he wasn’t normal, no. He wasn’t normal at all. You see, he loved a woman, like men ought to do. You could say the lyrics “I knew I loved you before I met you” applied to him. He loved her way before they met, way before she even knew he existed. He loved her in the most profound way. What way is this? Well, have you ever tried loving someone who ignores you? Someone who intentiona

I'm getting married! Hah! I can't wait for you all to read this rather extensive discussion on  how it all happened. It’s weird and abrupt and totally something I would just make up. No. I’m just kidding. I’m not getting married (not yet, at least). But you have to admit, I caught your attention, right? J Picture from here There has been an onslaught of creative video proposals lately, and it’s been filling cyberspace to the rim. We see people singing and dancing, lip syncing and dancing, lip syncing and trying to dance, doing short films, renting out theaters and cafes and ice skating rinks and offices, all for that special event—that one moment when the future groom asks his future bride, “Will you marry me?” (Or for the truly romantic, “It would be an enormous privilege for me to spend the rest of my life loving you. Would you grant me the honor of being your husband? Will you marry me?) So I’m just going to lay this out here and now. I have nothing against al

I've been thinking lately of a time when I actually become an author. An author who has published novels and chapter books and even children’s books. An author whose books can bring tears to readers’ eyes or make them laugh while in public transportation or give them something to think about days after they turn the final page of my book. An author remembered. But then I think, Do I actually want my name to be there? I guess it’s more preference than requirement. An author’s byline is the author’s choice, right? And this brings me to the deliberating mindset I have right now. Pseudonyms In a way, I like the idea of hiding behind a name. Knowing Lemony Snicket hid behind that name has kept him mysterious and loved (and I’ve only recently found out that his real name’s Daniel Handler and that he is, in fact, still . . . wait for it . . . alive!). Using another name can give me access to stories around me without having the people think that “Oh, she might use my words i