BBC's The Other Bennet Sister

Spoilers ahead.

The Other Bennet Sister - Mary and Tom (BBC)

It's been a week since I finished watching The Other Bennet Sister, and I am having a hangover, an obsession. The last time I felt like this was last year's season of The Wheel of Time (I'm still devastated that it was cancelled). I had done one rewatch with my sister. I've invited (more like pestered) friends to watch it. My sister's close friend borrowed my copy of the book, and I already want it back. I devoured clips and tributes on social media, but I still can't get over it! So I hope writing about it will help.

There were several changes made from the book, and I was initially disappointed, but it gradually became its own entity. The book had a more serious tone and rightly so because it followed Mary's thoughts, while the show was more light and funny. It had me alternately crying and in stitches from a combination of second-hand embarrassment and kilig. While the book focused on Mary's growth through her journey from one place to another, the TV series decided to jump to the London plot, a.k.a. the love story, and what a story it was!

Some parts were improved by the show, notably the Pemberley segment. I especially loved that conversation between Mary and Elizabeth and that we got to see more of the sisters in action.

I thought the book needed more scenes between Mary and Tom, and it's still the case with the show. I felt that since the show added a non-book character, Miss Baxter, it lessened what could have been more screen time and development for our couple.

Then there was the proposal. It was beautifully made. In the book, it happened indoors. In the show, it was in a park, which is true to the theme of their favourite poet, Wordsworth. I'm happy that it was still Mary who said 'I love you' first.

Ella Bruccoleri and Dónal Finn were phenomenal! This show has really cemented Dónal's abilities for me. He was great as Mat in The Wheel of Time. I've already seen him as James Moriarty in Young Sherlock's first episode (it's on my watchlist). Plus, he's a musical actor.

I'm so glad that the show is getting more attention. We have definitely been missing some good old-fashioned and meaningful period dramas for years.

The Other Bennet Sister will be released in the US and Canada on May 6th, while the rest of the world is still waiting for an announcement. There are, however, unconventional ways to watch the show, which I used, if you really can't wait to see it. Then support it still when it comes out in your area. Personally, I cannot wait for the DVD!

National Museum of the Philippines – Davao

I read about the term microadventure last January. It is defined as an adventure that is short, simple, local, cheap – yet still fun, exciting, challenging, refreshing and rewarding. Come to think of it, as kids we had this all the time. We didn't need to travel to distant places; every new experience, however small, was an adventure.

So I made a short list of places in my area that I haven't gone to yet. Just a short one, otherwise a homebody like me would be overwhelmed. I started listing our neighboring villages, which I realized I haven't ever explored. Then I moved on to important landmarks in Davao City.

On February 28, I initially only planned to go out to use my voucher in NCCC Mall grocery, Ma-a. But then my sister wanted to come with me and that meant we'd be wandering around somewhere. After buying the groceries, she suggested we check out sewing machines in the Brother store downtown (our mother wanted to sew curtains).

So we went there and were shown the different machines available. We called our mother, and she was fine with the most basic one. We thought we'd show her the brochure first, so we decided not to buy it yet.

It was still early in the afternoon, and we were near People's Park, so off to the National Museum we went.

When the plan for the museum was first released, I thought the durian-inspired design was a bit overused and awkward. In spite of that, the final building looked neat. It is hidden by trees when you enter the park and will only be visible once you get closer. It was interesting to look at, a modern structure framed by a green canopy, with an eye-catching interplay of light and shadow.

There are four floors that are open to the public. When we visited, however, the 4th floor was closed for renovation or something.

On the first floor, we found paintings by my former high school art teacher, Sir Bong Perez. My sister was impressed! I thought his were the best paintings displayed there.

Fisherman's Village by Bong Perez

We lost track of time on the second floor, particularly the display of rocks found in the different blocks of Davao Region. They reminded me of some small rocks I collected during my high school and college field trips to the geothermal plant at the base of Mt. Apo.

The second floor was dedicated to natural history, while the third floor was about Davao's cultural heritage. Overall, there was excellent representation of Davao City.

We then had dirty ice cream outside the park. I wondered why my sister looked at me funny when I ate it all, including the bottom of the cone. Turns out the vendor, who wears a plastic glove on his left hand where he holds the cone, receives money with the same gloved hand. She thought I saw it, too. Anyway, she finished the cone as well.

Before going home, we were back at the Brother store for some last-minute shopping.

43 Years

We didn't have anything prepared for my birthday last week. We had no time to plan because things had been busy the previous few days. So it was a normal lunch at home after attending noontime Mass.

My sister, however, really wanted to go out because she filed for leave. She insisted on having a snack at Azuela Cove in Lanang, but it was too far, so I suggested places in Juna instead. She was not interested.

While looking at Google Maps again, I rediscovered the French farm-to-table restaurant in Tacunan called Tomate Cerise. This was formerly called La Fermette, and I have always wanted to go there. I showed it to her, and voilà! Instead of going far north through the city traffic, we'd go far south to the more rural part of Davao.

Inside Tomate Cerise, Tacunan, Davao City

My father was a little sick, so he stayed home; it was only us sisters with Mama.

The distance was totally worth it. The place was cozy, the air fresh, the staff helpful, and the food nice and a bit different from the usual offerings of restaurants popping up around the city. If it didn't rain, we could have enjoyed the surrounding area a bit more.

A generous serving of salad. I didn't know I could just pick and eat bougainvillea flowers.

The highlight of the trip, however, was chatting with the drivers during our rides. The taxi driver going to Tacunan questioned our choice to travel that far just to have a snack. When the taxi entered the compound of the restaurant, he exclaimed, "Mura ma'g manukan!" (It looks like a chicken coop/farm!)

Our Grab driver going home detoured inside a subdivision in Catalunan Grande. It was where he grew up, and he pointed to the house of his father.

When we got home, my father told us Kuya Jay from Bohol visited. We invited him again to visit the following day.

* * *

From the Mass that day:

"Fasting is the prayer of the body," the priest said in his homily. He also added that this Lent, we should strive to fast from the 3Ps: pleasure, possession, and power.

I am grateful for another year. <3