Weekend

So, this is how my weekend went:


I won upperbox tickets to Zac Efron's Penshoppe FanCon on 29 September at the SM Mall of Asia Arena from OK! Magazine.

Since I'll be in Manila over the weekend, I decided to go...

With Joan.

Who is madly in love with Zac :)

The FanCon was the biggest event I've ever been to so far.

With all the screaming girls...

And gays...

And even guys...

It was simply crazy!

While waiting in the line, I saw one of my closest friends Paula and Monique.

They'll be watching too

Well, if you're a tween during the High School Musical era, you pretty much can't resist Zac.

Especially now that he's hotter.

Way hotter.

Anyway...

After a long wait we were finally grouped, then admitted in the Arena.

Another long wait.

Then we were seated inside.

And another excruciating wait before the show began.

Dancers opened the show...

Then local trio La Diva sang a medley.

Never the Strangers performed too.

And Jay-R.

Another final countdown...

High School Musical songs blasted in the speakers, and the UP Pep Squad danced to the tune.

Zac finally came out, and the crowed cheered.

Joan and I almost died.

Next day.

Pasig River Run.

It was raining.

The roads were congested.

So even before the run started, I already ran and walked...

I ran and walked while suffering from intense sleep deprivation.

It was a pretty long foot trip.

But I was able to finish the 5K run.

Or maybe, even more, since my classmates and I walked like a million miles searching for transpo and food.

Half of us made it to Trinoma.

I dunno what happened to the others.

Kai, Jica, and I had brunch at Conti's.

I was fetched by my pa.

Went back to the condo to rest.

And rest.

And rest...

And travel back to Laguna.

Upon arriving,

I checked my email inbox and found out that I am now a part of AIESEC-UST's Ongoing Exchange Department.

A REAL DREAM-COME-TRUE!!!

Sweetness :)


♥Andz

Infinite

Tonight, I feel infinite.

And not just because I watched "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" today, but also because I saw my high school crush for the first time in months. 

I was window shopping with my cousin at this novelty shop, when he suddenly told me that "he" was just right outside the store we were in. God, I almost died! It was nice seeing him again - his smile, his awkward stance, and his glasses. I was starting to forget how he looks like until today.

Anyway, I know you who have not watched "Perks" yet may be wondering how it turned out in the film. Well, it's like watching the novel itself with minimal cuts - thank Stephen Chbosky. He's the book's author, plus, he's also the one who wrote the screenplay and directed the movie. It's really good. 

The actors were relatively great, and they're simply perfect for the roles they played. Logan Lerman really  proved himself in this one. His growth from the Percy Jackson we know into the troubled Charlie is highly observable, and with his performance in Perks, we'll surely see him in bigger movies in the near future. 

I also loved Ezra Miller's portrayal of the ever-so-fabulous Patrick. He clearly expressed pain, joy, and concern in every scene he is in. As for Emma Watson, Perks is a great departure from her HP image, though some Potterheads may still find themselves referencing some scenes and details with Harry Potter. It's completely normal. I must point out though, that Emma is evidently struggling speaking in American accent, but that's what makes her more lovable!

Overall, Perks won't disappoint. If you loved the book, you'll surely love the movie.

On the other side, HAPPY 14th BIRTHDAY, GOOGLE!!! Thanks for being the greatest homework helper in the past few years!

And J.K. Rowling's first adult novel The Casual Vacancy hit the shelves today. Grab a copy at P945 in Philippine book shops today!

♥Andz

Book Review: Nevermore

The air was hushed and silent,

as if no one had disturbed it recently.

‘What’s all this ready for?’ Tizzie asked.

‘Is someone coming?’

‘No.’ Davy answered. ‘It’s always like this.

No one ever comes.’

‘It feels like the house is waiting.’

‘That’s because it is. Always waiting.’

Going through the spines of hard covers on a sale last weekend, a particular book caught my eye: Linda Newbery’s 'Nevermore'. It’s 200 less the original price, the title is catchy, the cover design is attractive, and the blurb smells of mystery. I love mysteries, so I bought it.

With a setting very much similar to the Frances Hodgson Burnett classic ‘The Secret Garden’, Nevermore is about a young girl named Tizzie who moved to the English countryside with her chef mother who got a job in an old house called ‘Roven Mere’.

Roven Mere is a huge and lonely place that used to be the lively home of Lord Rupert Evershall and his family. It’s been years since the the Evershalls occupied Roven Mere, and their whereabouts are still unknown. However, the helpers in the old house never ceased preparing the old house, in the hopes that the Evershalls will return soon.

Tizzie is the most curious to meet the Evershalls, especially their daughter, Greta. All she longs is to make friends, but as she explores the house, talking to the peculiar man named Finnigan – the current man-in-charge of Roven Mere – she uncovers deep secrets, and makes a startling discovery about why she’s been brought to Roven Mere.

Though I’ve long put reading children’s books to a rest, I have to admit that I really enjoyed the lightly-illustrated Nevermore. It’s a great break from the intense books I’ve been reading these days, and moreover, it made me feel like a sixth-grader again.

I especially loved the way Linda Newbery described the setting, the characters, and even the tiniest details in the story. Everything seemed so real that it made me feel as though I’m a part of the story – it is that engaging, and it’s been a while since I last felt so connected to a book.

Nevermore is something I would definitely recommend to anybody who wants to read a soft mystery as the rain pours outside, with a cup of hot cocoa at reach.

♥Andz 

Free Verse: A Happy Song... A Cheerful Melody

*Note: Since it's raining, I'd like to share this free verse I wrote during a rainy night sometime ago. It's not really a masterpiece, but I don't write poetry that much, so this is something.

A Happy Song... A Cheerful Melody

The raindrops tap on our tin roof

Just the perfect percussion

To the strumming of my pa's old guitar

A happy song he sings

A cheerful melody I hum

Together we forget

The nothing we have

And count the little we own

Ma passes by and smiles at us

Her face tired but hopeful

A piece of damp rug in her hand

An empty bucket in the other

We smile back

And she sits in between us

The cold wind blows

Ma wraps her arms around me

As pa continues to sing the happy song

And I hum the cheerful melody

Forgetting the nothing we have

And counting the little we own

Here in this shanty

While the raindrops tap on our roof.

♥Andz

Book Review: Palo Alto

It's been more than a year since I read an excerpt of Academy Award-nominee James Franco's debut novel Palo Alto in an issue of Entertainment Weekly. I loved the teaser and longed to have the book, but it's only a week ago when I got my hands on my own copy of Palo Alto.

Inspired by James Franco's own teenage experiences in his home town, Palo Alto is a raw, gripping, and thought-provoking collection of short stories which paints a graphic imagery of several troubled teenagers in Palo Alto, California, who live in drugs, alcohol, and violence.

The short stories are perfectly written, and the characters are next to realistic. The setting of every story is also well-described. Having said that, Franco evidently placed a great deal in the details he wanted in the story, which will surely evoke the reader's emotions and imagination. 

Overall, Palo Alto is a great read. In fact, it's the kind of book I'd like to write someday. However, this is definitely not for your read-and-relax moments. Four stars!

♥Andz

Lovin' Our HP Hoodies

My aunt arrived from Singapore yesterday, and look what she and my uncle got me and my cuz: HP HOODIES FROM THE HARRY POTTER THE EXHIBITION!!! It sure is tragic for a hard-core Potterhead like me to not be able to drop by the exhibit before it ends on the 30th, but at least I got something from it :)

♥Andz

What Can I Do? Balls Love Me!!!

It hurts, all right? Getting hit square on the head with a ball three times in just a few months. That may not be too unusual for some hardcore ball game athletes, or even for students in a PE class. But what's very odd - in my case, at least - is that I'm the only one who gets hit by a ball on the head A LOT in our class. It's as though I'm attracting them. Having said that, I'm not signing myself up for another PE class that involves balls again.

♥Andz

Book Review: For One More Day

Having read two of Mitch Albom's well-acclaimed novels (The Five People You Meet in Heaven and Tuesdays With Morrie) in the past, I decided to give For One More Day a shot. After all, I've already developed this liking in Mr. Albom's philosophically-inclined books.

For One More Day is a heart-warming story about a suicidal middle-aged man with a messed up life who gets to spend a whole day with the ghost of his mother, and that's pretty much it. 

I hate to admit that it's not as good as The Five People You Meet in Heaven nor Tuesdays with Morrie - which is Mitch Albom's best book, if you'll ask me. But what's so special about this book is how the author expressed that no matter how flawed a child is, his mother is always there to show him that he is loved, and that he could still change for the better.

♥Andz

Whirlwind of a Day

I think, it would be enough to say that yesterday was quite a whirlwind of a day. A quiz in science, an exhausting maths class, a report in SEA History, and a project in the afternoon. 

My friends, Jica, Joan, PL, and I rushed to Makati for an interview/meeting with ILO-IPEC (International Program on the Elimination of Child Labour) Project Manager Mr. Giovanni Soledad to interview him about child labour, specifically child soldiers.

We have this project in JRN, you see, and we are to interview politically-involved people or organisations to be able to write a story about them. The deadline's close, and since we don't have sufficient connections with people in the political world, we took on UN's ILO-IPEC to deviate from most of our classmates' work.

Right after class, we changed our outfits, hopped on an FX to get on a train, and then rode a jeepney (an air-conditioned one!) to Makati. It was our first time going to RCBC plaza on our own. I have been there several times in the past, cos my pa works in that building, but I've always went there by cab or by car, so we were pretty much lost.

Just as we were running out of time, we finally arrived at RCBC, had lunch, came up with our questions, and met my pa, who would assist us through the UN security. He also oriented us on how Mr. Soledad looks and all - they're friends, by the way.

After surrendering our ID's, we headed to the office of ILO, and we were led by the security to the alternate door of ILO. I've never used that entrance before. My pa and I usually pass through the main entrance. We were then contained in a meeting room, and we waited.

A few minutes later, Mr. Soledad came in, shook our hands, and we proceeded with the interview. It took us about two hours. Yes, two hours. There were so many things to ask, and so many things to know that we did not notice how much time we've spent. Mr. Soledad was kind enough to entertain us past our 1-hour agreement despite his busy schedule. So, thank you!

At around 5pm, I took the cab to MOA with papa, EK, and Jica (she'll head back to UST from there) to drop by the 33rd Manila International Bookfair at the SMX convention.

Gosh, there were a lot of people! And a shitload of books! With all those page turners surrounding me, I was simply on high. But the thing is, I get easily overwhelmed when I see a million books. So what happened was, I purchased just one book - Palo Alto, by James Franco. I've been waiting for it for some time now - a year, really - since the day I read an excerpt of it in an issue of Entertainment Weekly. So, no bad feelings.

We had dinner at Bistro Ravioli.

♥Andz

And I Got It.

Woke up today with my mobile beeping. 

When I checked the message, I found out that the secretary general of my school has cancelled the classes in all levels, due to the sudden flooding in the area surrounding my school and to give time to the stranded students, who spent the night at the uni, to go home and rest.

Whew! A Tuesday's been spared! No boring Bas**. No quiz in NatSci. No Stat. No reporting in Southeast Asian History!!! WOOOHOOOOO! My day has been made!

To all the Thomasians who got stranded, stay safe!

♥Andz

Fan Mail Update: Carey Mulligan Success and Bonnie Wright Pre-Print

As I have mentioned last Tuesday, I have received Carey Mulligan's autograph, but before that wonderful success, I received a pre-print from Bonnie Wright about two months ago. It was a big disappointment for me, as I badly want Bonnie Wright's autograph in my collection. Anyhow, A+ to her management for their effort in sending 
me something back - at least. 

Bonnie Wright

United Agents Ltd.

12-26 Lexington Street

London, W1F 0LE 
UK

Sent: 17/08/2011

Letter of Request 

International Reply Coupon 

SASE

Photo

Received: 12/07/2012

Letter of Request

Note from the Office of Bonnie Wright

The Photo I Sent

A Pre-print photo of Bonnie Wright

Carey Mulligan

Julian Belfrage Associates

9 Argyll Street

3rd Floor

London, W1F 7TG
UK

Sent: 25/04/2012

Letter of Request

SASE

Photo

Received: 04/09/2012

Personalised Photo 

*Postage Paid by Carey's Management :)

♥Andz

Splish-Splosh!

On the way to school this morning, I woke up on the bus realising that it was already flooded in Manila.

It had probably been raining all night long, but I never expected that the water would rise THAT fast! Coming all the way from Laguna everyday, I was simply clueless. I've never experienced getting caught in the Manila traffic with the rain pouring and the water rising. I started to panic.

I've always hated the feeling of water in my shoes, never mind flood water. But since I had to come to class on time (I was late for first period yesterday!), I had to brave the rain and the flood altogether. It's at times like that when my OCD gets tested.

I successfully alighted the bus without getting my feet wet, but when it was time for me to ride the FX (OK, just in case you don't know, an FX is a public utility vehicle in the Philippines. It has a fixed destination, and usually carries 10 people.), all the cars and buses driving by generated this tsunami-like wave splashing my feet with filthy flood water.

Splish-splosh!

God, it was disgusting! Just the thought of animal urine, human spit, solid matter, and what not in that flood - now in my shoes - could've knocked me unconscious.

I arrived in school a few minutes before 7 - just enough to disinfect and bathe my feet in antiseptic.

I just couldn't imagine what the Filipinos affected by the previous storms have been through. It really IS time for all of us to change our ways, and change our country - better yet, the world. A simple act of throwing a candy wrapper in the waste bin is already a BIG thing!

Remember, never delay doing something that could initiate positive change!

♥Andz

This Tuesday...

...I was late for first period.

...We had a quiz in Statistics - my fingers are crossed!

...I realised that my Wicked the Musical ticket is lost :(

...I finally got a copy of this week's TIME Magazine, although Aamir Khan isn't on the cover - Obama is.

...I received Carrie Mulligan's autograph :D

♥Andz

Book Review: Bumped

I've never been into dystopian novels. In fact, I've never read anything within the category of dystopias, which is why I'm asking myself: What drew me into Bumped by Megan McCafferty? 

Perhaps, it's because teenage pregnancy is involved. (I dunno why, but I've always been interested in novels that told stories about pregnant teenage girls. And somehow, I wish I could write something similar someday.) Or, maybe because I've never read anything about a virus that triggers the fertility of humankind. Or, simply because I want to read something new. Whatever it is, I don't know.

Bumped is set in the future when a virus sweeps the world, leaving everyone over the age of eighteen infertile, while making healthy, smart, and beautiful teenage girls the target of the market to provide children for desperate couples, and to perpetuate human life at the same time. 

Teenage girls who are willing to be bumped will sign a conception contract with a couple, and will be matched with a bumping partner to conceive a child in exchange of cash, cars, college tuition, and what not.

Melody Mayflower is one of the luckiest girls who scored a great deal with a rich couple, and she's also been paired with the hottest bumping partner in the world - Jondoe. But the unexpected arrival of her twin sister, Harmony, who's been separated from her since birth, twisted the carefully laid plans for Melody.

Is Bumped witty? Yes. Is it original? Very. Is it awesome? That I couldn't answer. 

I love how creative McCafferty was in painting this colourful yet terrifying world that you don't get to read a lot in books these days. The innovative terms she used in the story are also well-thought-out. However, Bumped isn't the kind of book you'll find fascinating after reading it - or at least, that's how I found it. There's nothing engaging to it. It's light and it's shallow. But over all that, I can assure you that Bumped will be worth your while.

Sequel: Thumped (After reading Bumped, I'm not sure if I'm getting this one.)

♥Andz

Words for Beauty Boost

Here are a few good words from different women I admire.
Feel inspired and feel beautiful!

♥Andz