A Thousand Years by Nicholas McDonald

I never thought A Thousand Years can be sung by a guy but Nicholas McDonald did it and he almost made me cry.

Video posted by The X Factor UK

Reaction to The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones

This contains a little bit of spoilers.

I have not read the book nor read the reviews.  It was a random decision brought on by three factors:  cheapness of the movie ticket, limited choice (either that or The Conjuring), and plenty of time.  It turned out to be a great decision because of Lena Headey (who here agrees, please raise your hand).  She was the best thing about the movie.  She was 3-parts sexy accent, 3-parts bad-ass, and 3-parts sleeping.  Even asleep she was awesome.

The movie was OK to pass the time.  It felt icky when they got to the part where the two characters turned out to be siblings after kissing passionately.  Again, I did not read the book so do not judge me for feeling there was some kind of wrong from that point onwards.  Hopefully, they're not really siblings.

I did not have any expectations when I bought the ticket but so many details were unexplained.  Some just suddenly popped out from nowhere so I had more questions than answers at the end.  Lastly, the movie did not motivate me to read the book.

I know it is a trilogy so they will probably make a second movie.  Maybe I will watch it if Lena is there again and has more exposure even if she will still be partly asleep because, as I have said, she is awesome regardless.

Restore factory setting of life

All the memories I stored in my phone was wiped out.  I don't know how it happened.  My contacts, photos, voice recordings, messages, customized settings... everything.

Ironically, I don't feel bad.  I feel... relieved.  I can finally start over.

It's not giddiness that's making her smile but awkwardness and the twinkle in her eyes is not bliss but the tears that she's holding back.

-makofrappe 8.5.2013

The Voice PH: Taw and Kimpoy "Without You"

The whole 3 minutes gave me goosebumps.  It was a battle and a duet at the same time.  They tried to win while also trying to bring each other up.  It was beautiful.

Taw vs Kimpoy "Without You"

YouTube video by PINOYEntertainment

140 is not enough

Tweeting when what I really want is to write a novel.  It's funny because I don't even know what to tweet nor write about.

Hugs

Someone hugged me today.  I've been hugged a  lot of times but this was different.  It was so pure I could've cried.  It was a simple hug but there was so much love and acceptance.  There was neither expectation nor judgement.  I felt so safe like everything will be alright.  There I was lying down, she uttered a single word and then hugged me.  I lied there and cherished it knowing it will not last long.

I probably needed that hug, I just didn't know it.  I did not deserve it as I've not been a very good friend but it was given to me.  It was more than just a hug for me.  It was love.

Thank you be.

Bring IT to Life

You know how the people who lived before us never imagined that there will be airplanes, cellphones, and laptops? I can remember a time when the gadgets we currently enjoy were but figments of imagination of film-makers and writers.  With the very, very fast pacing of technology, I won't be surprised if the things I see in Nikita, Point of Interest, Iron Man, and other high-tech or sci-fi movies/series will soon be out in the market.  The future technologies that will be created to improve our lives will turn into monsters that can also destroy us.  Just like in the movies.  I hope these stories remain fictitious forever.

Poem: T(h)ree

I have three days left to submit my final paper in school which would decide if I will graduate or not.  I suddenly remembered the poem I discovered while still in UP.  The title of the poem is THREE.  It is based on the poem Tree in terms of format, etc.  I don't know how to describe it.  A parody maybe?  Anyway, here is the poem.  To explain the poem, a grade of three is the passing rate in UP (1-highest 4-fail).  When I pass my defense and get to visit UP someday, I will look for this shirt.

 

Three

 

I think that I shall never see

a grade as lovely as a three.

A three I've earned from blood and sweat

when failing is a serious threat.

A three I've asked from God all day

knowing praying is the only way.

 

The Essence of a Woman... huh?

I came across a page in a newspaper containing photos of women who were contestants in a beauty pageant.  I have never understood the fuss on beauty pageants such as Miss Universe, Bb. Pilipinas, and others.  However, what I understand is that the Bb. Pilipinas winner represents the Filipinos and should have the beauty that Filipinos can be proud of when she represents us in the Ms. Universe.  But there is also a Q&A portion so they probably also want to measure the mind, right?  So going back... when I saw the photos, I tried to see if I know any of them.  I looked at their pictures and I felt confused and several questions popped into mind such as:

 

• Why are some of the poses sexy and sultry? (in the photo)
• Why do they need to wear a gown and a bathing suit? (during the contest)
• Why is there only one portion where the brain is measured and why is it the last portion? (during the contest)

 

If I can make changes on the program, some of my recommendations are:

 

1.  Contestants should be active in a social cause/s for at least 3 years.  Examples are tree-planting, medical missions, feeding programs, red cross, prison visit volunteer, etc.

 

2.  The contest will start with the Q&A portion so that all contestants will be given a chance to showcase their intelligence.  Or at least how well they can answer pageant questions.

 

3.  They will not wear make-up.  Make-up can change a person's look.  If they want to see beauty, going natural is the best.

 

4.  No height requirement. Filipinos are not tall on the average.

 

What do you think?

What A Feeling

I just want to share this beautiful rendition of What A Feeling which is originally sung by Irene Cara and is the theme song for the movie Flashdance.  This version is by Drew Ryniewicz in the X Factor US.

Video by Christopher Netanyahu

  

 

This version is very short but here is the complete lyrics.  I think that it's a really beautiful and meaningful song but I appreciated it the more because of Drew's rendition.

 

Book Review: Slammed by Colleen Hoover

I was invited by Goldie of My Book Musings to write a book review.  I decided to write a review about Slammed by Colleen Hoover which was recommended to me by a friend when I mentioned that reading a book of poetry is included in my bucket list.  No, Slammed is not a book of poetry but it has poems.  Here is my review, with permission from My Book Musings where it is originally posted.

It takes time

Moving on.
It takes time.
I am happy today because I realized that I'm over some hang-ups. It took awhile but still.
I'm over and I love it.
Soon I hope every sad memory will come to pass and I can have a brighter view of the future with less baggage.
Lighter, brighter, happier.

A quote on loving forever

"Because we never stop silently loving those who we once loved out loud." - Oriah

Time to say goodbye*

"Baby patay na si Ken..."

I heard my younger sister say to her boyfriend over the phone.

I was lying in my bed, woken up just in time to hear the bad news. I feigned sleep while I listened to her recount the story.

I listened and I felt my heart.  Nothing.  Then I understood my defense mechanism.  Blocking the painful thoughts.

"OK sige go back to sleep.  I will eat then clean the bathroom."

She put down the phone and I took a peek.  She lay there on her stomach with an iPod on her left hand.  I decided to check the time on my cellphone.  She saw me awake and sat down on my bed.

"Patay na si Ken."  I sat up and gave her a hug.  She told me what happened.

I laid back in my bed and I felt a single tear roll down my left cheek.

The verse I'd like to sing on my deathbed

"Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess within the veil,
A life of joy and peace."

- 5th verse, Amazing Grace

I like the song Amazing Grace.  I discovered just 20 minutes ago that the version we sang during a concert and the one of Susan Boyle's is lacking.  The verse above is the 5th verse.  The words are by John Newton published in 1779.

A quote on writing

“One does not only wish to be understood when one writes; one wishes just as surely not to be understood.” -Friedrich Nietzsche

Twinkle twinkle little smile

I remember this character from Samurai X.  He was an orphan living with relatives.  They usually beat him even for small things especially when they're drunk (which is OFTEN).  Then one day, while his uncles were punching and kicking him, he suddenly smiled.  Confused, his uncles stopped and then left.  He realized that they thought he was enjoying being beaten up and as psychos probably know, it's not fun to inflict pain on people who enjoy getting hurt.  So the little boy smiled whenever his uncles and aunts beat him because it was the only way he knew to make them stop.  Then he just smiled all the time.  Well, he killed them eventually but that's not the point.

People sometimes ask me how I know that something is wrong with them even when they look happy.  It's because of this, when your mouth smiles, the eyes should twinkle.  So next time you see someone smiling, do not assume that they're fine.  Sometimes they smile to mask the pain.

A quote from a grieving mom

"Parents do not wish for their child to live or die but only not to feel pain or fear." - Bai Bing Bing

I am not sure if I got the words right but the gist is there.  These words are from Bai Bing Bing of Taipei.  Her daughter was a victim of a kidnapped-for-ransom-turned-murder in the late 1990s.  They eventually found her daughter floating in the river after 15 days and autopsy showed that the girl has been dead for about 8-10 days.  She was raped and badly beaten and died from internal bleeding.  During the burial, Bai said she told her daughter that it was the [best ending] because in death, she (the little girl) will no longer feel pain.

I wish for a place when we do not fear for our lives and for our loved ones' lives.

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*Pardon if there are errors.  I saw the documentary in the Crime & Investigation Channel between 12nn-2pm January 6, 2013.