tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77729003707376494952024-03-13T13:50:11.077+08:00nephithyrionJuliennehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10260438019768627763noreply@blogger.comBlogger428125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7772900370737649495.post-60816325055352089092023-09-11T14:08:00.001+08:002023-09-11T14:14:57.749+08:00Love-hate Relationship"Love-hate relationship," started kuya Alfer. That was his relationship
with his mom. He told us in the most honest, uninhibited eulogy I have ever witnessed.<br /><br />Love-hate relationship -- that is me and my parents. But mostly love... I hope. So when I heard kuya Alfer
relate his story, I started to cry, although I tried so hard not to.
That was the first time I ever cried in a funeral, and I couldn't even
get out of the packed canopy tent to hide my face because of the sudden rainfall on a sunny afternoon. In our own language, when it rains while the sun is out, we say there's a "<i>Pista sa Langit</i>"
(Feast in Heaven). And there really was a celebration in Heaven
that day because it also happened to be Mama Mary's birthday.<br /><br />After a short while, I could hear a few sniffles here and there. What a relief! I was not alone then. Juliennehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10260438019768627763noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7772900370737649495.post-12515913539405329902022-10-23T19:44:00.007+08:002023-01-23T13:31:32.391+08:00Thoughts on Rings of Power Season One<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEglvoU3ny2dKRFdYSl_9em1X1oW70hNy2RaZs784fvlNCu5jpOtv0EwEDt_pKCm4xmBChcanNfLyzo73gxjqKYekJ1siR-iqVp8SdIqsvE4iZaPedKlVxNXl0JZ8UT8RTEE66el4mHm48_uSVV9kOGtjHg_EPAiXZ2Ztit8NXhCmdo27EixRK48M3im" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Rings of Power Gil-galad, Galadriel, and Elrond" data-original-height="453" data-original-width="680" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEglvoU3ny2dKRFdYSl_9em1X1oW70hNy2RaZs784fvlNCu5jpOtv0EwEDt_pKCm4xmBChcanNfLyzo73gxjqKYekJ1siR-iqVp8SdIqsvE4iZaPedKlVxNXl0JZ8UT8RTEE66el4mHm48_uSVV9kOGtjHg_EPAiXZ2Ztit8NXhCmdo27EixRK48M3im=s16000" title="Rings of Power Gil-galad, Galadriel, and Elrond" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gil-galad, Galadriel, and Elrond</td></tr></tbody></table><p><b>[ Spoilers ahead ]</b><br /><br />Some thoughts a week after The Rings of Power Season 1 finale:<br /></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Before anything else, a big thank you to one of my dearest friends, my LOTR buddy! If not for your constant nudging, I wouldn't have watched the show on its premiere release (I initially planned to watch it after all episodes were up).</li><li>While the overall production was pretty solid, the pacing and writing could use some improvement. There were a lot of memorable dialogues this season, and some I'd rather just erase from memory. I really hope they work on this next season.</li><li>Still about the writing --- I am aware it didn't closely follow the lore, and I still have to read The Silmarillion (done ordering a copy of the book), but from what I've gathered and what others have also noted, the backstories clarified each character's intentions and gave the plot more depth. Will find out soon enough. Whatever the case may be, I'm sure I will like the book as it is, and the show as it is, just as I was fine with the changes made to the Lord of the Rings. I'm just happy I get to see more of Tolkien's world.<br /></li><li>Character development I am most looking forward to for the whole series: Elrond and Isildur. Young Isildur seems idealistic and sweet, but also ambitious and stubborn. I already feel sad for him. ROP Elrond, on the other hand, is considerably different from LOTR Elrond. Is it purely a difference in direction? Did the personalities of the actors somehow contribute to their depiction? Will ROP Elrond eventually become like LOTR Elrond?</li><li>Yes, I adore Elrond! (Now that I think about it, Robert Aramayo has played two favorite characters now: young Ned Stark from Game of Thrones, and now young Elrond.)</li><li>I have watched the show twice as of posting. Will be watching again
as soon as I have free time and probably more times before season 2
drops. Patience, patience... </li><li>I've missed you Middle Earth! <3</li></ul><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjNMIdzTrsjNHEQWwbz6vCpy8BT6qQv5Cuk1DNQ_rzE-EbLnO88BGzamyIc3mkOyJg6yHOaPJtp3RSEZC38FObiRv-4oZwpQAl1f9Qp0cTSsYuWRfbdhn4dBDbLbxkVcdxCZ4VXaOutha3Qj1I4OtmWR_2jhbyTlOrfDOc6C249sNd9oIiKmDqvFThh" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Rings of Power Elrond" data-original-height="453" data-original-width="680" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjNMIdzTrsjNHEQWwbz6vCpy8BT6qQv5Cuk1DNQ_rzE-EbLnO88BGzamyIc3mkOyJg6yHOaPJtp3RSEZC38FObiRv-4oZwpQAl1f9Qp0cTSsYuWRfbdhn4dBDbLbxkVcdxCZ4VXaOutha3Qj1I4OtmWR_2jhbyTlOrfDOc6C249sNd9oIiKmDqvFThh=s16000" title="Rings of Power Elrond" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elrond</td></tr></tbody></table><h3 style="text-align: left;">Favorite Scenes</h3><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Elrond meeting Disa for the first time</li><li>Arondir and company fighting for the old tree <br /></li><li>The Singing: Disa's plea to the rocks and Poppy's This Wandering Day</li><li>Adar bidding farewell to the sun</li><li>Isildur and Galadriel waiting for the sunrise</li><li>Isildur and Elendil catching up after the battle</li><li>Conversation of Galadriel and Theo (Galadriel's turning point)</li><li>Elrond and Durin mining for mithril</li><li>The Stranger VS the Mystics</li><li>Galadriel and Halbrand's confrontation</li></ul><h3 style="text-align: left;">Favorite Music Themes</h3><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Main Title <br /></li><li>Khazad-dûm <br /></li><li>Númenor <br /></li></ul><h3 style="text-align: left;">Favorite Lines</h3><p></p><blockquote>"My father single-handedly sailed to Valinor, and convinced the Valar to join the war and vanquish Morgoth. So great were his deeds that the Valar lifted him beyond the bounds of this world to forever carry the Evening Star across the sky. For many years, at days end, I would look up at it wondering what might he think if he were watching me. Would he be proud of what I've accomplished with his legacy? Or disappointed by the countless ways I'd failed to live up to it? But then, one night, it struck me that I would be only too happy to hear any judgment, so long as it granted me the opportunity to have but one more conversation with my father. Do not waste what time you have left with yours." <b><i>- Elrond's speech on his father</i></b></blockquote><i></i><p></p><p></p><blockquote>”Hope is never mere, Elrond, even when it is meager” <b><i>- Gil-galad</i></b></blockquote><i></i><p></p><p></p><blockquote>“Where there is love it is never truly dark. How could it not grow... in a home like yours?” <b><i>- Elrond</i></b></blockquote><p></p><blockquote>"Because a burden shared may either be halved or doubled, depending on the heart that receives it." <b><i>- Elrond</i></b> </blockquote><p></p><i></i><blockquote>"Despise not the labor which humbles the heart. Humility has saved entire kingdoms the proud have all but led to ruin." <b><i>- Galadriel</i></b></blockquote><i></i><p></p><p></p><blockquote>"What cannot be known hollows the mind. Fill it not with guesswork." <b><i>- Galadriel</i></b></blockquote><i></i><p></p><p></p><blockquote>“What kind of father would I be if I teach our children the will of a king should be counted as dross to be cast to the wind?” <b><i>- Durin IV</i></b></blockquote><i></i><p></p><p></p><blockquote>"We do not say goodbye. We say <span><i>Namárië</i></span>. It means more than simply farewell. It means 'go towards goodness.'" <b><i>- Elrond</i></b></blockquote><i></i><p></p><p></p><blockquote>"I admire all who can see into the mystery of things, who can divine from the plainness of what is, the beauty of what could be." <b><i>- Celebrimbor</i></b></blockquote><i></i><p></p><p></p><blockquote>"There is a fateful hour in the destinies of men. An hour of judgment, in which each of us, every one, must decide who we shall be." <b><i>- Miriel</i></b></blockquote><i></i><p></p>Juliennehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10260438019768627763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7772900370737649495.post-46145708138920706752021-09-15T16:48:00.002+08:002022-06-28T11:13:41.191+08:00Zombie Dream<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Og1XyoMiCiP_2qy1NCOhZG-h5TUQZkLpDDjTJQEIXMGJZBoUlVWBUQ7hPUGGk1PmOuzmp0G72D1fqTaYv2eiikJUp5XCIk0pXyijoN977mxGB7vAqPEzPLUi6EsMZnhjPULGIFWs0NM/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Zombie Detective" data-original-height="453" data-original-width="680" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Og1XyoMiCiP_2qy1NCOhZG-h5TUQZkLpDDjTJQEIXMGJZBoUlVWBUQ7hPUGGk1PmOuzmp0G72D1fqTaYv2eiikJUp5XCIk0pXyijoN977mxGB7vAqPEzPLUi6EsMZnhjPULGIFWs0NM/s16000/Zombie+Detective.jpg" title="Zombie Detective" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zombie Detective<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /><a href="https://mydramalist.com/61063-zombie-detective" rel="nofollow">Zombie Detective's</a> first episode reminded me of a dream I had a year ago. In the drama, the zombie woke up retaining human consciousness, although unable to speak. And his first few days were spent contemplating his current state and what brought him there. His thoughts, or because he HAD thoughts, were what brought me back to the early hours of September 2, 2020, when I almost turned into a zombie...<br /><br />I found myself in a room full of people who were hiding from zombies. There were two classroom doors (the ones with glass) and a big hall outside. I was guarding one of the doors when outsiders --- two kids, two men, and a woman --- rushed into the hall. There were zombies, too, but they were not yet attacking the people clamoring to be let in.<br /><br />The people with me agreed to open the doors simultaneously. Then when we opened the doors, there was suddenly a struggle, and out of nowhere, my hand was bitten by a female zombie. We didn't have a choice; the classroom people had to let me go.<br /><br />When I got out, I saw another room full of people inside the single-storey building. One by one, the zombies went out of the building until only two of us were left. I was determined to make the last zombie leave. As a distraction, I banged and locked one of the exit doors of the building (again, there were two). And startled by the sound, she got out of the door nearest her. I got out after her and locked the door behind me. The people inside were now safe.<br /><br />I looked back at the building. I supposed no one would be watching or go looking for me as I had no family there. I decided to await my transformation quietly under a tree just a short distance away...<br /><br />In the movie <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10620868/" rel="nofollow">#Alive</a>, a bitten man was fighting his transformation. He knew it was inevitable, yet his mental state was borne out of fear of becoming a zombie. Mine was of sadness. It was one of those dreams that made me cry when I woke up. I cried thinking about how it was going to be a lonely, slow death. I guess it also represented the events of this pandemic, and a realization that eventually we all die alone.</p><p>Keep safe.</p><p>P.S. I forgot about <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1588173/" rel="nofollow">Warm Bodies</a>. I liked that, too.<br /></p><p></p>Juliennehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10260438019768627763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7772900370737649495.post-78386207627880610862021-08-17T11:21:00.003+08:002021-08-17T11:27:02.201+08:00Family Trip at Eden Nature Park<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;padding-left:0;padding-right:0;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWCcJ_bluyhxOMZUXGfy2UCk3NOC0OME8pwblmZyB1QGZ0PjhpuXwgUlkzjCNA3wLr07R_Cg6JxkPFKsRvr8pyU6C_gOOGnN8qMbR-awkYGp5qLF6RHnMvUBonw981FNJbP5UkDqoaKME/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Eden Nature Park August 2021 Photo by Jamie Mumar" data-original-height="453" data-original-width="680" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWCcJ_bluyhxOMZUXGfy2UCk3NOC0OME8pwblmZyB1QGZ0PjhpuXwgUlkzjCNA3wLr07R_Cg6JxkPFKsRvr8pyU6C_gOOGnN8qMbR-awkYGp5qLF6RHnMvUBonw981FNJbP5UkDqoaKME/s16000/2021-08-08+Eden+Nature+Park.jpg" title="Eden Nature Park August 2021 Photo by Jamie Mumar" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by my sister Jamie<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>
<p></p>
<p>When I was young, we always had family outings with cousins to the beaches. Because we lived just a few kilometers away from two of the most popular beach resorts** in Davao City in the 80s, we just walked. We would start early in the morning and pass by rows of tall coconut trees. Our humble breakfast by the sea consisted of canned sardines in tomato sauce paired with loaves of bread.</p>
<p>By the time I reached high school, these trips eventually stopped happening. The beaches near home became more polluted and were replaced by the white sands of Samal Island. Our family of five only had opportunities to visit beaches and resorts on reunions or other important events. We've never had a family vacation with just the five of us, ever --- until this August.</p>
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It was the Sunday after all of us got fully vaccinated. I booked a day trip to Eden Nature Park & Resort, an 80-hectare mountain resort in Toril, where I wanted to film my walk. I was expecting a sunny day because the first half of the week was clear and hot until it rained hard three days before our scheduled visit. It stayed cloudy with some showers till the end of the week. Thankfully, it didn't rain while we were at the resort. Instead, we were greeted by a lot of fog.<br /><br />My father always expressed interest in fishing so, I chose Eden's consumable Fishing Village Package. He caught four tilapias and had them deep-fried. Meanwhile, my siblings and I had our walk through the park. We took the long and ascending road to one of the sights, which, I found out later, can be reached by a shortcut. My mom only rested thru the day and walked about just a little because of her knee pain. But when she thanked me, it made my day! Next time, I will look for a place with flatter terrain.<br /><br /><i>**Both Times and Bonguyan Beaches are now blocked by the new coastal road.</i><p></p>Juliennehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10260438019768627763noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7772900370737649495.post-20970473336503522762021-06-08T17:27:00.000+08:002021-06-08T17:27:04.712+08:00Late Bloomer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinLWJ_1YZgi-hQhnHfZ4YhAMAwnVq8S_LJ9GJHRkR76OZxLEO7qxvK1uOVJ_z5caB_0prIi2ZahL6S6F0p_VAlC1s77e5DOKflalHlHICdp-agYtT85Zz0O-q7rwdwHrrMgjzsCySLxu4/"><img alt="dragon fruit flower - nephithyrion" data-original-height="486" data-original-width="680" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinLWJ_1YZgi-hQhnHfZ4YhAMAwnVq8S_LJ9GJHRkR76OZxLEO7qxvK1uOVJ_z5caB_0prIi2ZahL6S6F0p_VAlC1s77e5DOKflalHlHICdp-agYtT85Zz0O-q7rwdwHrrMgjzsCySLxu4/s16000/dragon-fruit-flower-1.jpg" title="dragon fruit flower - nephithyrion" /></a></div>
<p>After more than ten years, this dragon fruit has finally flowered!<br /><br />Originally planted by a neighbor, it crossed over our back fence and crawled up to another neighbor's wall and roof. But because this thorny plant was all over the place, we decided to cut it down, except for a short unreachable branch left on the other neighbor's rooftop. Without roots on the ground, it continued to grow hanging down the wall. And just days before I took this photo, we noticed a little bud.<br /><br />I didn't know that the dragon fruit is a night-blooming cactus. It was my father who luckily found the flower blooming one night last May. Who would not take out the camera for this?</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2czM0-8GUPPp2Jb9JxsDpB-kdz0rr63EFeUYEezzPQSURslotn351lweBk0PW736QH8L2cVOUxhqeBGNnZaHGeElHyEGgJEUW7gNpJK-ObDIwn4qAigX1ay27r00G1FEjcyvLUIFGCUs/"><img alt="dragon fruit flower - nephithyrion" data-original-height="486" data-original-width="680" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2czM0-8GUPPp2Jb9JxsDpB-kdz0rr63EFeUYEezzPQSURslotn351lweBk0PW736QH8L2cVOUxhqeBGNnZaHGeElHyEGgJEUW7gNpJK-ObDIwn4qAigX1ay27r00G1FEjcyvLUIFGCUs/s16000/dragon-fruit-flower-2.jpg" title="dragon fruit flower - nephithyrion" /></a></div><p>
<br />After this bears fruit, we would take it down for good to protect the neighbor's property from damage.</p><p> </p>Juliennehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10260438019768627763noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7772900370737649495.post-45502759075295016252021-05-24T17:43:00.002+08:002021-06-08T16:21:52.701+08:00Bike Dream<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left:0; padding-right:0;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdXejknetRXZ-yCPSIYBxFgkLQK5f7DLtW8WWVC7PRsy7iaNfc_kzH41xTz6lEwM6Bhg8vmPwZyaT5Hux9oSHLMJnDxyQxIcz8mSN21dg4dp1fSfgc3TH3xujD4JnVYvna1WqnwAZISJU/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="marten bjork unsplash" data-original-height="453" data-original-width="680" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdXejknetRXZ-yCPSIYBxFgkLQK5f7DLtW8WWVC7PRsy7iaNfc_kzH41xTz6lEwM6Bhg8vmPwZyaT5Hux9oSHLMJnDxyQxIcz8mSN21dg4dp1fSfgc3TH3xujD4JnVYvna1WqnwAZISJU/s16000/marten+bjork+unsplash.jpg" title="marten bjork unsplash" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@martenbjork?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Marten Bjork</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/FPYipjIcSac?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a>
</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>There were four of us biking in town, and I was third in line. The last one was a boy who was supposed to be a younger cousin. While on the road we chanced upon news that a relative of ours would be featured on television. Both of us got excited and talked about it while riding side-by-side. At the end of our conversation, the boy exclaimed how great the news was. I agreed. Because I thought our little chat ended, I moved in front of him again.<br /><br />For a second time, the boy repeated his last sentence, "Isn't it great, <i>ate</i>?" And once again I replied, <i>"O."</i> (Yes.) I moved farther ahead trying to avoid the boy. But once I turned a corner, I heard the same thing, so I just said <i>"O"</i> without looking back. I was pretty sure the boy was out of hearing by now, but this time his voice came out reverberating around me, "Isn't it great, ate?" I got a nervous hunch, so I stopped, then told the two other guys to wait. However, I went back for the boy too late... That's when I woke up.<br /><br />It was one of those dreams that made me pause and think. What did it want to tell me? The boy was not someone I knew in real life. His face was unfamiliar, yet he represented the family.<br /><br />I don't like repeating myself, and in the dream, I chose to ignore my cousin to keep from being irritated. I guess the point was for me to learn to listen even if I am hearing the same thing for the hundredth time. My parents are now in their 60s, and it won't take long before they start to be like normal old people and repeat their stories. I would need to remind myself of this dream and be patient.<br /><br /><i>(May 23, 2021)</i></p>Juliennehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10260438019768627763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7772900370737649495.post-34397235539400228502020-11-26T15:20:00.006+08:002021-05-10T22:56:40.093+08:00Scrap Yarns and a Fair Isle-Inspired Crochet Beanie<p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJip9gVykbhlI5uZiZar8qL6Gfiz5PO_dl0UoRF42ZgBTjbzuP8bc1qWYzAOrCiFI0KqjEMr5Uq2-kVfozuIZLKkZAIlRFepPtuU5UNz2ndN5s8yYb9D6438UUN4bI8CIO0wO1dmBOEMc/"><img alt="Scrap Yarns - nephithyrion" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJip9gVykbhlI5uZiZar8qL6Gfiz5PO_dl0UoRF42ZgBTjbzuP8bc1qWYzAOrCiFI0KqjEMr5Uq2-kVfozuIZLKkZAIlRFepPtuU5UNz2ndN5s8yYb9D6438UUN4bI8CIO0wO1dmBOEMc/w640-h480/scrap-yarns.jpg" title="Scrap Yarns - nephithyrion" width="640" /></a></div><br />It has been almost a year since I had a finished crochet project. The largest I've made was a grey granny square cardigan, which unfortunately came out short. Perhaps someone smaller than my size would be happy to have it.<p>Last year I had this urge to minimize my possessions, to focus on the essential things, and let go of unnecessary distractions. I didn't need a Marie Kondo to organize my life because I have always done what she was teaching. I was never a hoarder and kept everything simple. But I still felt the need to pare down a lot of things, including lists, projects, and online presence.</p><p></p><p>So I started with the easiest: books and craft supplies. I have been gradually donating my books and reducing my reading list to the ones I really want to read. No more pressure from peers and "books everyone should read" lists.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggzvPs169VnL5bR6LfVBEYjhWjfY8tokQN-Ss70MLQ_2iSKkfLFLZMF3JZaxA1XOsO_7O5pfJXPsdJ8LK-N8-Px7eRdYn-lm3JNhWkufIpGd3crSMUox0YcQaY3nR271tVsvOB9e9jW3I/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Fair Isle-inspired crochet beanie (nephithyrion)" data-original-height="890" data-original-width="1000" height="569" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggzvPs169VnL5bR6LfVBEYjhWjfY8tokQN-Ss70MLQ_2iSKkfLFLZMF3JZaxA1XOsO_7O5pfJXPsdJ8LK-N8-Px7eRdYn-lm3JNhWkufIpGd3crSMUox0YcQaY3nR271tVsvOB9e9jW3I/w640-h569/crochet-beanie-fair-isle-inspired.jpg" title="Fair Isle-inspired crochet beanie (nephithyrion)" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fair Isle-inspired crochet beanie </td></tr></tbody></table><p></p>Next, I started to gather my leftover yarns and looked for projects that could use all those up. The first one was a Fair Isle-inspired crochet beanie. This took a long time to finish because I had no idea how to do it. It's not perfect, nevertheless looks pretty when worn by my sister.<p></p><p></p><p>I have another ongoing scrap crochet project, but it looks lousy; I don't know if I can save it. We'll see.</p><p>Stay safe, everyone!</p><p></p>Juliennehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10260438019768627763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7772900370737649495.post-76630969671004484642019-08-26T14:44:00.004+08:002021-05-10T22:56:04.180+08:00Crochet BacklogSome crochet works I haven't posted on this blog:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4oNVgLlnbJVT7TEJnJvYaPyzHC4PV2uhmJ6kw8uCz35BiA2asOyVTBLX5G3I0t4m2FDdhQe7LyM8TDDMWFHjJx3FGfoDkbrYJSxVHdmpxAjR1Fzg8aONgvhkmmb23BH6kgYK-REu37y8/s1600/crochet+amigurumi+panda.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="amigurumi panda - nephithyrion" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4oNVgLlnbJVT7TEJnJvYaPyzHC4PV2uhmJ6kw8uCz35BiA2asOyVTBLX5G3I0t4m2FDdhQe7LyM8TDDMWFHjJx3FGfoDkbrYJSxVHdmpxAjR1Fzg8aONgvhkmmb23BH6kgYK-REu37y8/s640/crochet+amigurumi+panda.jpg" title="amigurumi panda - nephithyrion" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amigurumi Panda </td></tr>
</tbody></table><p>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsJCWbw9tzF1ykq_8U5oWDQ9MoY2xUVb3B80QfXsgBQ-HL16KRyDKHEG9RHBZAC4wUITEeqoSGqpqTyfiAgVjwldanAcKjyM3BclHwd0hyphenhyphenzJMWntWBiPrtbDBA1HTNI7AZbv7wUr57ZYc/s1600/crochet+amigurumi+cat.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="crochet dumpling kitty - pattern by Sarah Sloyer - nephithyrion" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsJCWbw9tzF1ykq_8U5oWDQ9MoY2xUVb3B80QfXsgBQ-HL16KRyDKHEG9RHBZAC4wUITEeqoSGqpqTyfiAgVjwldanAcKjyM3BclHwd0hyphenhyphenzJMWntWBiPrtbDBA1HTNI7AZbv7wUr57ZYc/s640/crochet+amigurumi+cat.jpg" title="crochet dumpling kitty - pattern by Sarah Sloyer - nephithyrion" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crochet Dumpling Kitty - <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/dumpling-kitty" rel="nofollow">pattern by Sarah Sloyer</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhafJ-hTaUaMYsKXoi1TfBAvnMwZ-5szsp1vG5SFv9Mf_vNdScRebm09_1093FkViusoVHNLADYU6-pobFtVwKRWF5U1BQp0C8PNFhQAndarfqcdECLLv2j1V_F4rvQt9YXI_T0VaiMiig/s1600/crochet+musical+notes.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="crochet musical notes - nephithyrion" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhafJ-hTaUaMYsKXoi1TfBAvnMwZ-5szsp1vG5SFv9Mf_vNdScRebm09_1093FkViusoVHNLADYU6-pobFtVwKRWF5U1BQp0C8PNFhQAndarfqcdECLLv2j1V_F4rvQt9YXI_T0VaiMiig/s640/crochet+musical+notes.jpg" title="crochet musical notes - nephithyrion" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crochet Musical Notes </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLkG8zHDGWxpWxPwF6HVeeNGXOUmgXkd-NEMWXRi-RGLpEAqAjjdpoGwwrqqTq9uJ_gTr5Yhapbz-gR6DbLV8EBMKR6ZnT3w1Key3G05iigCCz2zk9LZGymffs000Kw8HZYfmn5kQqRsg/s1600/crochet+lace+bookmark.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Crochet red lace bookmark - nephithyrion" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLkG8zHDGWxpWxPwF6HVeeNGXOUmgXkd-NEMWXRi-RGLpEAqAjjdpoGwwrqqTq9uJ_gTr5Yhapbz-gR6DbLV8EBMKR6ZnT3w1Key3G05iigCCz2zk9LZGymffs000Kw8HZYfmn5kQqRsg/s640/crochet+lace+bookmark.jpg" title="Crochet red lace bookmark - nephithyrion" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crochet Lace Bookmark</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Juliennehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10260438019768627763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7772900370737649495.post-32426927710899088472019-08-16T21:12:00.004+08:002021-09-03T19:00:19.066+08:00Kadayawan Walk<style>.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; }</style><div class="embed-container"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uKN_tD5hQS4"></iframe></div>
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Two days ago, I filmed a walking video around Magsaysay Park. I specially waited for this time of the year because of the Kadayawan Festival, when the tribes of Davao would build their houses inside the park --- called the Kadayawan Village. Thankfully it didn't rain the night before; the day was bright and the dirt tracks were dry.<br />
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This year's Kadayawan is noticeably different. The whole month is full of activities from different groups and sectors, including the usual trade fairs and bazaars inside malls and at the Davao Convention Center, food fests at Damosa and mall parking areas, concerts, cultural shows, exhibits, art, fashion, dance and sports events. You'd only have to look at the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/kadayawanfest/" rel="nofollow">festival's official Facebook page</a> to see what I mean. Last Monday, there was a free Taiwanese Cuisine Cooking Demonstration at the Grand Men Seng Hotel organized by Davao's Chinese Community, and yep, it's still a Kadayawan event.<br />
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Another thing that's different is the schedule of the two well-known parades. While before they were held on two consecutive days (Saturday and Sunday), this year the Indak-indak sa Kadalanan will be tomorrow, Saturday August 17, 2019, and the Pamulak or the Floral Float Parade will be on the next Saturday, August 24, 2019.<br />
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As for me, hopefully I could have some time to visit the remaining events. Happy Kadayawan!Juliennehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10260438019768627763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7772900370737649495.post-29855043042873432972019-05-07T20:25:00.000+08:002021-10-07T16:03:19.191+08:00The Last of King AlfredThe last week gave us two of the most anticipated moments in movie and TV history: <i>Avengers: Endgame</i> and <i>The Battle of Winterfell</i> in <i>Game of Thrones</i>. But then, both of them gave me <i>X-men: The Last Stand</i> vibes. Because the films only allowed for a few seconds to mourn the deaths, I barely got to feel anything. It was always... almost; not even a tear for dear Tony Stark or Theon Greyjoy.<br />
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But because of this momentum, I craved for anything 'super hero' or those set in the middle ages. This brought me back to The Last Kingdom Season 3, which I've followed since 2017. I watched the first episode of season 3 upon its release last year but was put off by Skade, an annoying sorceress.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheEEN6t8i7XgQsNNBVw0ZbSDxhsfYLLOLDHHRamMNZFhtvLoZWcv-lvwCYb_0P5fFAV3QaUqxUMlg0uN3YzqZqrWDPFBnT7_BmtnP1MWfViFQUIQRX9PCpwKV0VOPjTmiQs6CUs5S4CQU/s1600/Last+Kingdom+Aflred+Uhtred.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The Last Kingdom Alfred Uhtred Season 3 Episode 9" border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheEEN6t8i7XgQsNNBVw0ZbSDxhsfYLLOLDHHRamMNZFhtvLoZWcv-lvwCYb_0P5fFAV3QaUqxUMlg0uN3YzqZqrWDPFBnT7_BmtnP1MWfViFQUIQRX9PCpwKV0VOPjTmiQs6CUs5S4CQU/s640/Last+Kingdom+Aflred+Uhtred.jpg" title="The Last Kingdom Alfred Uhtred Season 3 Episode 9" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">King Alfred (left) having his peace with Uhtred (right).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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King Alfred had me bawling from the moment he had his one-on-one talk with Uhtred until (yes, the tears embarrassingly kept coming) his death.You see, Alfred is a very proud man, of his status, intelligence, knowledge, and faith. And these two clash all the time, mostly because of their inability to accept a culture or religion different from theirs. Yet in this long, quiet scene with Uhtred, a very weak Alfred humbled himself, admitted his mistakes and apologized, though not without getting something in return, which stays true to his character.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu2N9VkFQQStiffh5ArOlgs0YoHYy03Ea6xCqo6qUvPbWkbW_6xr8e8f2FyhJgd3mggrqxGTkdf4y6IDh1duJOjSGVfrhqkCTXcF_XtdYU_pQ5q1RP_SxwEKG2FY-MaVrG0v46rejl7mk/s1600/Last+Kingdom+Aflred+England.jpg"><img alt="The Last Kingdom King Alfred Dying Scene" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu2N9VkFQQStiffh5ArOlgs0YoHYy03Ea6xCqo6qUvPbWkbW_6xr8e8f2FyhJgd3mggrqxGTkdf4y6IDh1duJOjSGVfrhqkCTXcF_XtdYU_pQ5q1RP_SxwEKG2FY-MaVrG0v46rejl7mk/s640/Last+Kingdom+Aflred+England.jpg" title="The Last Kingdom King Alfred Dying Scene" width="601" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was always for England.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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His was a very slow death spanning three seasons; and he would have wanted to have
died earlier if not for his fear of leaving the kingdom without someone to protect his legacy and continue on with the dream of a united England.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjces9uZTAXYQuoG3hJk0d8R5b3Wzvz9zdZCXVNvZ30_cYYxe7EbZrmoDrAJhWm10Smmhu_v0u38r7vVVT6heq4yC8pu0oOXh4EEu1Stuee89wtfrPX4ApppSHulAg97zQtmO8dQUIhWtA/s1600/Last+Kingdom+Uhtred.jpg"><img alt="The Last Kingdom Uhtred He was my king." border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjces9uZTAXYQuoG3hJk0d8R5b3Wzvz9zdZCXVNvZ30_cYYxe7EbZrmoDrAJhWm10Smmhu_v0u38r7vVVT6heq4yC8pu0oOXh4EEu1Stuee89wtfrPX4ApppSHulAg97zQtmO8dQUIhWtA/s640/Last+Kingdom+Uhtred.jpg" title="The Last Kingdom Uhtred He was my king." width="640" /></a></div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"He was a man I loved and despised, but it was never less than an honor to serve him." <i>- Uhtred</i> </blockquote>
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Just like Uhtred, I go back and forth between love and 'hate' for Alfred. Sometimes I would question his decisions. But as what Uhtred said to Brida, that love will always be there. The two men were like yin and yang, complete opposites who share a complicated bond. If you have not seen the show, it would be worth a try just to see the dynamics of these two characters: on the one hand an honest, skillful warrior, and on the other a shrewd and pious, frail king. <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"You may dislike me, hate me if you wish, despise me at times. But love is immortal. It goes on." <i>- Uhtred to Brida</i></blockquote>
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David Dawson was perfect as Alfred. I will surely miss his presence on the show.<br />
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<b>P.S.</b> Before The Last Kingdom, I tried watching Vikings again, but finally gave up after Season 2 Episode 1 when Lagertha left Ragnar.Juliennehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10260438019768627763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7772900370737649495.post-38586366897078995042019-05-03T15:04:00.001+08:002019-07-06T22:23:46.556+08:00Quiet Tours Youtube ChannelSome of my favorite TV shows to watch are related to travel. There is always something relaxing about travelling videos. Back then, when it was still shown locally, I closely followed the Amazing Race and discussed passionately with my classmates. But what really gives me great satisfaction is a handheld walking or guided tour, with or without talking. These kind of videos give me goosebumps on the head --- if you know ASMR, then you know what I mean.<br />
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With the rise of YouTube, I have found several kindred channels and have benefited from them especially on chaotic times. I've decided that if ever I make a YT channel, this will be the first one on the list. So this year, three days after purchasing a GoPro, I filmed my walk to Shrine Hills where I attended a recollection, then uploaded it to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnm2C2EkZvzNCH_O0W3m3ow">Quiet Tours</a>.<br />
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<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5JMFQJWLM2A" width="560"></iframe>
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In a way, this might be a hobby that will make me go out more since I work from home; and walking would be my exercise. Aside from that, it will also be one way to document the places in and around Davao City. And lastly, I would be forced to learn video editing.<br />
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Currently I am working on my second walk --- around Victoria Plaza, the first mall in Davao City, and was recently acquired/managed by NCCC.<br />
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Please visit my YouTube channel <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnm2C2EkZvzNCH_O0W3m3ow">Quiet Tours</a>, and subscribe for future videos.Juliennehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10260438019768627763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7772900370737649495.post-40007329289698278522019-03-13T21:43:00.001+08:002021-10-07T14:26:24.294+08:00Dada Stories: Born with the caul<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh27fEPvduBllVOgESEY0JEvU1BkOUhJAmAATD2-KBg0uS7dWavVaDKfOS_juBXNxlk2DSqmdKGeKc8stbMZEdnLiHlVKPpd0_b0Th79QiHqIHIxaZHrEejZGkzzmH6W4IqZcssYYqAxGA/s1600/Dada+Jimmy+nephithyrion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Dada Stories born with the caul nephithyrion" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh27fEPvduBllVOgESEY0JEvU1BkOUhJAmAATD2-KBg0uS7dWavVaDKfOS_juBXNxlk2DSqmdKGeKc8stbMZEdnLiHlVKPpd0_b0Th79QiHqIHIxaZHrEejZGkzzmH6W4IqZcssYYqAxGA/s640/Dada+Jimmy+nephithyrion.jpg" title="Dada Stories born with the caul nephithyrion" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dada as a baby</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
My father was born wearing a helmet --- with the top half of his body covered in some remnant of the amniotic sac. This is called a "caul" birth; caul refers to that "piece of membrane that can cover a newborn's head and face" (Wikipedia).<br />
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Because this kind of birth occurs rarely, surely there are many superstitions surrounding it, and it will differ in various cultures.<br />
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During that time, it was common to give birth at home. After my father was delivered, it was believed that the midwife took the caul and used it in gambling --- most probably <i>sabong</i> or cockfighting. According to my late grandmother, my father would turn gray one moment, then recover the next, and this would happen repeatedly for some time.<br />
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It was also believed that people born with the caul would turn out naughty and invulnerable, incapable of empathy. (I cannot help but think this describes a psychopath when I was told this story. The Cebuano terms my father used were <i>momaldito</i>, <i>makublan</i>, <i>dili basta masakitan</i>). So grandma went to a <i>mananambal</i> (healer/quack doctor) and asked for a counterspell. Thank goodness Dada grew up a very kind man.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
* * * * * *</div>
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<i>Dada Stories will be a series of interesting tales, real or otherwise, that my father loves telling.</i>Juliennehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10260438019768627763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7772900370737649495.post-7260198979529132432018-10-16T16:38:00.001+08:002021-09-03T17:40:27.882+08:00Aze Ong: I am living with monsters<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Aze Ong: I Am Living With Monsters exhibition (photo: nephithyrion)" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiz5aMBAWiQoq27pzk-FExYiyu8IFL0b7d6QaPgEqDAKSBFcfmVW7NLTpTgbigP9ipkUwBwaQsv7t4hED61QTBHbPVujxgUcu6YUZCU1eWNhYmuATmTTUDIF0iX9vXwJmHvtvWIqtx6xQ/s640/Aze+Ong+1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Aze Ong: I Am Living With Monsters exhibition (photo: nephithyrion)" width="512" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aze Ong: I Am Living With Monsters exhibition</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Two weeks of staying at home except for attending mass on Sundays, I've come out of hibernation to pay my quarterly tax and see two exhibits. Last Sunday, Padre Pio's heart arrived in Davao City for a four-day visit. From the airport, it was transported to ADDU Matina for the first mass and public veneration. In the evening, there was a procession to San Pedro Cathedral.<br />
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After lunch yesterday, I started for the church, but the line ended about 50 meters from the main gate. It was 1PM, the sun was scorching directly up and the line was not moving so I decided to come back later. At 3PM, the line reached farther down the street, although this time we were shaded by the buildings, dark clouds were covering the sun, there was a cool breeze, and the line was moving faster. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifinj-dFFpX8rVRKgytekFaS6j9dTScTkwNveH3REwP5lGAVLKHCAiCJYopUe90i9QQYD2wrVMtW4gO-i3dAaLOHTdzzmDX063T13q7YRtbC0PIPWLZSoTBlwYmORwqrxUOQFc02yyYuM/s1600/Padre+Pio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifinj-dFFpX8rVRKgytekFaS6j9dTScTkwNveH3REwP5lGAVLKHCAiCJYopUe90i9QQYD2wrVMtW4gO-i3dAaLOHTdzzmDX063T13q7YRtbC0PIPWLZSoTBlwYmORwqrxUOQFc02yyYuM/s1600/Padre+Pio.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lines at San Pedro Cathedral</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Then I went straight to Aze Ong's thread art exhibit at Art Portal Gallery, where a friend of mine also works as a curator. I only intended to stay for 30 minutes, but I have not seen and talked to my friend for eight months, so... Then finally it poured after several days (maybe weeks) of false hopes. Yay!<br />
<br />
For those who want to visit, the exhibit will run until November 10, 2018 at:<br />
<b>Art Portal Gallery for Contemporary Art,<br />Paseo de Legaspi, 115 P. Pelayo St., Davao City</b><br />
<br />
This is a short description about the artist and the exhibit:
<br />
<blockquote>
What kinds of monsters are you living with? </blockquote>
<blockquote>
Manila-based visual and performance artist Aze Ong contends with monsters in homes and in the artworld in her upcoming exhibition I AM LIVING WITH MONSTERS in Davao's Art Portal, Gallery for Contemporary Art from October 12 – November 10, 2018. </blockquote>
<blockquote>
Known for her installative crocheted works, Aze Ong uses fiber as medium in creating amorphous shapes to meditate on the discomfort of dwelling in limited spaces, the lack of privacy, and the chaotic soundscape of urban dwelling, as well as issue a proposition in an artworld that has long consigned the practice of crocheting and the use of fiber as feminized domestic labor. </blockquote>
<blockquote>
The exhibition is curated by Laya Boquiren.</blockquote>
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Juliennehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10260438019768627763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7772900370737649495.post-75845357329481496692018-10-02T15:54:00.000+08:002021-10-07T16:03:12.091+08:00Netflix Take TwoThe last time I tried Netflix was to watch the Gilmore Girls revival in 2016. With that free month, I was also able to watch
Sherlock and some Doctor Who episodes, among others.<br />
<br />
Last August, I was offered the free month again and would not have signed up if not for the movie <i>To All the Boys I've Loved Before</i>. Whereas in 2016 I only played on a laptop, this time I tried it on the television, which I found out was not a good idea because then I got hooked. My watch list reached more than 50 films and series. How could I watch all of that within the free month? So, yeah, in the end I continued my subscription.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1FRIqXLRUG7oz-206nUM1WdzWmzOFR-knRFUu4b7QVQwO3uC_AaJ_TXO6p7Zi3iOBsuTTEebsd4ulOLq6YgAB7A0A3I6hY1RlByCFxPcUZ2j2-ldWFC07KeV2PBklVoPVHW_f15UZF6I/s1600/AD-The-Bible-Continues-Caiaphas.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Caiaphas, A.D. The Bible Continues" border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1FRIqXLRUG7oz-206nUM1WdzWmzOFR-knRFUu4b7QVQwO3uC_AaJ_TXO6p7Zi3iOBsuTTEebsd4ulOLq6YgAB7A0A3I6hY1RlByCFxPcUZ2j2-ldWFC07KeV2PBklVoPVHW_f15UZF6I/s640/AD-The-Bible-Continues-Caiaphas.jpg" title="Caiaphas, A.D. The Bible Continues" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Caiaphas, <i>A.D. The Bible Continues</i></td></tr>
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<br />
The best thing I got from it yet was <b><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4074084/">A.D. Kingdom and Empire</a></b> a.k.a. <i>The Bible Continues</i>. I've always loved Biblical films and was usually updated on new releases, but this one I was not familiar with. It might be because I did not bother to watch <i>Son of God</i> or <i>The Bible</i> miniseries for the sole reason that I was not "feeling" the actor playing Christ. So I watched the series with my father, and with no expectations whatsoever.<br />
<br />
AD is a continuation of The Bible miniseries. It depicts the events after the death of Christ and follows three groups of people: Pilate and the Romans, Caiaphas and the Pharisees, and the Disciples. It is <i>based</i> on the Acts of the Apostles, which is a term to mean some liberties were taken to add or subtract from the book. That's how films usually are.<br />
<br />
The best part of this series was how the characters were presented. They cast actors of different nationalities and colors, which was fine, although I admit it sometimes distracted me from the story.<br />
<br />
Pilate, who is usually portrayed somewhat fair, was in this a very cruel man. I've read that his character followed what real historical accounts of him are saying. Then there was Caiaphas, who was a person torn between the Roman law, the law of Moses, and the safety of his people. Couple that with a great actor and you've got a very intriguing character that will make you feel for him. Peter was also a highlight and maybe one of the best portrayals I've seen so far. His costume though... I couldn't take my eyes off his legs. Out of all people there, he was the only one wearing a tunic that hangs above his knees!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitVoN_lmkgwCNkbHik-e5t5a2s2iaPzbL1IxAfMTPOYl4ZRHkPVv6UyZXqIAz9ZQG9TNbaYCas7z-l1pxdUbcahWGT4P9TQtyVgaNvB7AeItGnDBkxTLnvVHsoDdAlRGrHB3e4-l7BPAo/s1600/AD-The-Bible-Continues-Saul.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Saul before conversion A.D. The Bible Continues" border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitVoN_lmkgwCNkbHik-e5t5a2s2iaPzbL1IxAfMTPOYl4ZRHkPVv6UyZXqIAz9ZQG9TNbaYCas7z-l1pxdUbcahWGT4P9TQtyVgaNvB7AeItGnDBkxTLnvVHsoDdAlRGrHB3e4-l7BPAo/s640/AD-The-Bible-Continues-Saul.jpg" title="Saul before conversion A.D. The Bible Continues" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saul before conversion </td></tr>
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My favorite in this, however, is Saul. The only other time I've seen a Saul or Paul in a film was in a late 90s miniseries called St. Paul. Looking back through YouTube videos, the 90s Saul was a bit muted compared to THIS Saul. In AD, Saul was scarily strong-willed, harsh, intelligent, full of conviction, extremely passionate about his beliefs, and zealous about his cause you could feel his hate of the Christians in your bones. In other words, the perfect candidate for a leader and preacher. Credits must go to the man who played him, Irish actor Emmett J. Scanlan.<br />
<br />
Then I found out AD was cancelled years ago... oh well. Too bad.<br />
<br />
The second good thing about Netflix is the wide range of series related to Architecture, Design, Real Estate, Gardening, and Food. It's a haven of informative lifestyle shows you can play anytime or in the background while doing something else. Compared with having cable at home, I think Netflix is a cheaper and better alternative. (But that's just me convincing myself that I made the right decision.)<br />
<br />
* * * * * *<br />
<br />
P.S. Look, I even found these books in a secondhand bookstore!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7DxObnnhyphenhyphenMOX5ftNgxAD8VixxVNPAivMXGfCgIPldVOxZEf0teebf0E9KOKoj-S8I1gjZytN0N9fhVGiaFj2T-zOg1FBe9atfEP2yx3vV2h_GW4T4HTyGseUd6bCSLr73A0sQkIzzOO4/s1600/AD-Bible-Saul-books.jpg"><img alt="I, Saul and AD The Bible Continues books" border="0" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7DxObnnhyphenhyphenMOX5ftNgxAD8VixxVNPAivMXGfCgIPldVOxZEf0teebf0E9KOKoj-S8I1gjZytN0N9fhVGiaFj2T-zOg1FBe9atfEP2yx3vV2h_GW4T4HTyGseUd6bCSLr73A0sQkIzzOO4/s640/AD-Bible-Saul-books.jpg" title="I, Saul and AD The Bible Continues books" width="640" /></a></div>
Juliennehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10260438019768627763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7772900370737649495.post-91131719337657206852018-04-27T12:07:00.000+08:002018-04-27T12:07:11.249+08:00Celebrities who look alike - Batch 5My last celebrity look-alike post was back in 2013, and I have accumulated a lot in my list that it was necessary to discard some, mostly because they did not look the same now or because I forgot who they were.
So without further ado, here's batch five of celebrities who look alike:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe2BQMESbPrSHJMRkKxf509Hf1bgqNWThNXBlXxp0Opycz6Yicbo1a3Mm6S_ma71LATzqr6wDrr5hHsgXfHnKpXqLAZaPGXEEPk4HbNdUU-EdTe1zT-rSZPeuaP_I5RsD_H-o23CnAZn0/s1600/Natalie+Wood+Anna+Friel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Natalie Wood and Anna Friel" border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe2BQMESbPrSHJMRkKxf509Hf1bgqNWThNXBlXxp0Opycz6Yicbo1a3Mm6S_ma71LATzqr6wDrr5hHsgXfHnKpXqLAZaPGXEEPk4HbNdUU-EdTe1zT-rSZPeuaP_I5RsD_H-o23CnAZn0/s400/Natalie+Wood+Anna+Friel.jpg" title="Natalie Wood and Anna Friel" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Natalie Wood and Anna Friel</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCljqPtndUVjaQZWqlL0Iq3lDfn3A84KNmrneryxATeu1EwIWZ7ii1nZy3f7dfes6_ZeS2LHiit8BIqsTf6qwf4vYf4X5_Fnh2j8y8HxKRgVYMWHzSmzbeYUo9lDAPJwUL3FcLg8GH4go/s1600/Hilary+Duff+Marla+Sokoloff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Hilary Duff and Marla Sokoloff" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCljqPtndUVjaQZWqlL0Iq3lDfn3A84KNmrneryxATeu1EwIWZ7ii1nZy3f7dfes6_ZeS2LHiit8BIqsTf6qwf4vYf4X5_Fnh2j8y8HxKRgVYMWHzSmzbeYUo9lDAPJwUL3FcLg8GH4go/s400/Hilary+Duff+Marla+Sokoloff.jpg" title="Hilary Duff and Marla Sokoloff" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Hilary Duff and Marla Sokoloff</b></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkqLdw5_bfw6L-j5WX16vwfvDYbXIlYgMXssXsFmCRMUdKweuvgWXpePLDDw_tOYtXYevNup4LywGnDeKM91eIZI9u_lJKF3EHPJ-xJ3wm_ZCkyOHl3lzDbKvIi4P7AY-r3Bsa7ujPFYY/s1600/Mary+Louise+Parker+Kaya+Scodelario.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Mary Louise Parker and Kaya Scodelario" border="0" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkqLdw5_bfw6L-j5WX16vwfvDYbXIlYgMXssXsFmCRMUdKweuvgWXpePLDDw_tOYtXYevNup4LywGnDeKM91eIZI9u_lJKF3EHPJ-xJ3wm_ZCkyOHl3lzDbKvIi4P7AY-r3Bsa7ujPFYY/s400/Mary+Louise+Parker+Kaya+Scodelario.jpg" title="Mary Louise Parker and Kaya Scodelario" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Mary Louise Parker and Kaya Scodelario</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj21y-yXooPocqfLLgjhq7iszeMWdOuro0xQ5Wf8T3SQEd3ftFplTAJTCGGzx6ipiG9KmOgpvdev5SoDZvsC9EjAjT2F9DN6hSkDXfq8wG1V8jDZKNAabBpM9icTByjyifSCs9VTWkVcfY/s1600/Keira+Knightley+Katie+McGrath.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Keira Knightley and Katie McGrath" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj21y-yXooPocqfLLgjhq7iszeMWdOuro0xQ5Wf8T3SQEd3ftFplTAJTCGGzx6ipiG9KmOgpvdev5SoDZvsC9EjAjT2F9DN6hSkDXfq8wG1V8jDZKNAabBpM9icTByjyifSCs9VTWkVcfY/s400/Keira+Knightley+Katie+McGrath.jpg" title="Keira Knightley and Katie McGrath" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Keira Knightley and Katie McGrath</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI8RPRh9uwti1L0TnNiaR50zdqW-vEMbLWWuW2emXrc6Bwyj12YCn234kKUUVLMQxqbJC4u8cCgNKoszKp7BTf5eZtELYyvU7DQftjcYUG-KY9RCymf3-ZbN_YVunqGoYJNJL558SVC-4/s1600/Orlando+Bloom+Jon+Foo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Orlando Bloom and Jon Foo" border="0" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI8RPRh9uwti1L0TnNiaR50zdqW-vEMbLWWuW2emXrc6Bwyj12YCn234kKUUVLMQxqbJC4u8cCgNKoszKp7BTf5eZtELYyvU7DQftjcYUG-KY9RCymf3-ZbN_YVunqGoYJNJL558SVC-4/s400/Orlando+Bloom+Jon+Foo.jpg" title="Orlando Bloom and Jon Foo" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Orlando Bloom and Jon Foo (Asian Orlando Bloom)</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKsX-bACY5e7R_sisLhUaaUvXRTnFbIAhRE7Kl-nuuiY_O-Qch7M7aoLrtYYhK_A4miSssy03eUDZWg7Cezrf2Rhi3SqLBPOyVirjsZIBm6HK40CObf2K8X8GGmn_3uHeKoj1NkLj0B2Y/s1600/Alan+Rickman+Ronan+Vibert.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Alan Rickman and Ronan Vibert" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKsX-bACY5e7R_sisLhUaaUvXRTnFbIAhRE7Kl-nuuiY_O-Qch7M7aoLrtYYhK_A4miSssy03eUDZWg7Cezrf2Rhi3SqLBPOyVirjsZIBm6HK40CObf2K8X8GGmn_3uHeKoj1NkLj0B2Y/s1600/Alan+Rickman+Ronan+Vibert.jpg" title="Alan Rickman and Ronan Vibert" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Alan Rickman and Ronan Vibert</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI8k3jyrI17tx9Q3N8UuKe1xfUymju-LOTZ6R9YqH0nBM2SQaSa9wRKbU-Z8IaLftgR6QJdfcZEF1DUNO4lJlS8PbfaNU1hMuk0wRF61mcwsGR6YLcJFteYHrQh5TkdWb73TBx0Gz8uRo/s1600/James+Spader+Jensen+Ackles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="James Spader and Jensen Ackles" border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI8k3jyrI17tx9Q3N8UuKe1xfUymju-LOTZ6R9YqH0nBM2SQaSa9wRKbU-Z8IaLftgR6QJdfcZEF1DUNO4lJlS8PbfaNU1hMuk0wRF61mcwsGR6YLcJFteYHrQh5TkdWb73TBx0Gz8uRo/s400/James+Spader+Jensen+Ackles.jpg" title="James Spader and Jensen Ackles" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>James Spader and Jensen Ackles</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKVjpY1MrCsbeaIz1jSfGGz1wqPel7sHxolFc1Hzhyphenhyphen5DMRfZlG0MNKQMogVmoDd9qGfpf738-U9SJ_3yQ6zVHwtE0A8tf8xWqpwbp5W8nagmliJEQqQFbMeylSejkrQ_wY0w59f-iTnbQ/s1600/Josh+Hutcherson+Nathan+Gamble.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Josh Hutcherson and Nathan Gamble" border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKVjpY1MrCsbeaIz1jSfGGz1wqPel7sHxolFc1Hzhyphenhyphen5DMRfZlG0MNKQMogVmoDd9qGfpf738-U9SJ_3yQ6zVHwtE0A8tf8xWqpwbp5W8nagmliJEQqQFbMeylSejkrQ_wY0w59f-iTnbQ/s400/Josh+Hutcherson+Nathan+Gamble.jpg" title="Josh Hutcherson and Nathan Gamble" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Josh Hutcherson and Nathan Gamble when they were kids.</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
And for the Asian (mostly Korean) celebrities:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyQsUGnWPsxxfvW1dJvEqqQEvkv07LG1egrT__3r32ATH_j-zVKqnQ3dDEEMUu2qGhO-n5WCPnyV-Ah2zaNI8Kot34BqnFRhYMlbGdMF4Vbe8L6PIs2EmXkieXM7IFYghdnRaPJtEYRsg/s1600/Shin+Min-ah+Minho.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Shin Min-ah and Minho (of Shinee) could play siblings" border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyQsUGnWPsxxfvW1dJvEqqQEvkv07LG1egrT__3r32ATH_j-zVKqnQ3dDEEMUu2qGhO-n5WCPnyV-Ah2zaNI8Kot34BqnFRhYMlbGdMF4Vbe8L6PIs2EmXkieXM7IFYghdnRaPJtEYRsg/s400/Shin+Min-ah+Minho.jpg" title="Shin Min-ah and Minho (of Shinee) could play siblings" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Shin Min-ah and Minho (of Shinee) could play siblings...</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc93CmZzHnipUNuUe8taEMAhbi8nNFqhNQtzhyt4rq_6DtZVSeVu1v-lyPRg4NwLvy4EKWT9jKlIuBaglo0BbTwIoErzbtdXmusWMRQduQaD_xzVrYk2It7JuBr1GQ1O8gEImhzHNllTU/s1600/Donghae+Amber.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Donghae and Amber" border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc93CmZzHnipUNuUe8taEMAhbi8nNFqhNQtzhyt4rq_6DtZVSeVu1v-lyPRg4NwLvy4EKWT9jKlIuBaglo0BbTwIoErzbtdXmusWMRQduQaD_xzVrYk2It7JuBr1GQ1O8gEImhzHNllTU/s400/Donghae+Amber.png" title="Donghae and Amber" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>...as well as Donghae (Super Junior) and Amber of f(x).</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix29Y2wMEoKW3Rs1Ou3p80L4odsfyWsXC8YwaQdpj2xaO_K3ceY0_Fj-0T8o7G4LPAEWKwwreanCDArE3IYRi-XK4SsXUbeNOgQih1xAINQD7tsFoP4sf6ADdQYp33zyRiBqzql-EmcfY/s1600/Sandeul+Jang+Hyuk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Sandeul and Jang Hyuk" border="0" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix29Y2wMEoKW3Rs1Ou3p80L4odsfyWsXC8YwaQdpj2xaO_K3ceY0_Fj-0T8o7G4LPAEWKwwreanCDArE3IYRi-XK4SsXUbeNOgQih1xAINQD7tsFoP4sf6ADdQYp33zyRiBqzql-EmcfY/s400/Sandeul+Jang+Hyuk.jpg" title="Sandeul and Jang Hyuk" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Sandeul and Jang Hyuk</b></td></tr>
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I might be the only one who sees this, but Sandeul (B1A4) reminds me of Jang Hyuk, especially Bright Girl-era Jang Hyuk. The resemblance may be more of their expressions, I don't know, but I just SEE it. It can also be because they're both from Busan.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ6FPSsq8visrzbhjnB9fb5jkfx1yzEgGVBWjZAgyzYEFAz_Eriw48L233twRvjNemC7OCwlBldIwO139FkO8l0Ef4bYxef6BxlbCPMLfvua02kINCex0DZ9gFQbLgFI80BGxCwfxf8UE/s1600/Yoo+Seung+Ho+Yesung.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Yoo Seung Ho and Yesung" border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ6FPSsq8visrzbhjnB9fb5jkfx1yzEgGVBWjZAgyzYEFAz_Eriw48L233twRvjNemC7OCwlBldIwO139FkO8l0Ef4bYxef6BxlbCPMLfvua02kINCex0DZ9gFQbLgFI80BGxCwfxf8UE/s400/Yoo+Seung+Ho+Yesung.jpg" title="Yoo Seung Ho and Yesung" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Yoo Seung Ho and Yesung (Super Junior)</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This clip of Yesung (right photo) from their No Other music video is exactly that "aha" moment.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVOYZ9xYPWLWeIitq5tUIjdSdfYVihSI6vULMznFSWAdp8Jj1WoR_IjP1f8_0A5ksimcGAA2OvrLWAk5RGnkO7xZjCm78Tg6v25mTwO0I_Vqng9DVfUwDCvwjqnoEIIL6DNriT7viGtWs/s1600/Leeteuk+Toma+Ikuta+Tamaki+Hiroshi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Leeteuk and Toma Ikuta and Tamaki Hiroshi" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVOYZ9xYPWLWeIitq5tUIjdSdfYVihSI6vULMznFSWAdp8Jj1WoR_IjP1f8_0A5ksimcGAA2OvrLWAk5RGnkO7xZjCm78Tg6v25mTwO0I_Vqng9DVfUwDCvwjqnoEIIL6DNriT7viGtWs/s1600/Leeteuk+Toma+Ikuta+Tamaki+Hiroshi.jpg" title="Leeteuk and Toma Ikuta and Tamaki Hiroshi" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Leeteuk (Super Junior) and Toma Ikuta and Tamaki Hiroshi</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Thankfully, someone else made this image. I got tired of looking for the perfect photos.<br />
<br />
Previously: <br />
<a href="http://nephithyrion.blogspot.com/2013/02/celebrities-who-look-alike-batch-4.html">Celebrities who look alike - Batch 4</a>
<br />
<a href="http://nephithyrion.blogspot.com/2011/08/celebrities-who-look-alike-batch-3.html">Celebrities who look alike - Batch 3</a>
<br />
<a href="http://nephithyrion.blogspot.com/2008/09/celebrities-who-look-alike-batch-2.html">Celebrities who look alike - Batch 2</a>
<br />
<a href="http://nephithyrion.blogspot.com/2007/07/celebrities-who-look-alike.html">Celebrities who look alike - Batch 1</a>
Juliennehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10260438019768627763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7772900370737649495.post-62835531690760928972017-12-18T13:24:00.000+08:002017-12-18T13:24:28.176+08:00Crochet Christmas Ball Ornaments<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi93QJ1sN45ZONCvcE07mtvFyacSjst_5GtpR6GWJBoziKk8I5JypAoRSLhCiKIyvB_MSCLrpvlA02zXCS7XSZDhEvVHyq_EARa4HNLhUKbdk8cq8VaHgF0XQGnrr6BlMamFI3xYFRpDFQ/s1600/ornaments2.jpg"><img alt="Crochet Christmas Ball Ornaments" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi93QJ1sN45ZONCvcE07mtvFyacSjst_5GtpR6GWJBoziKk8I5JypAoRSLhCiKIyvB_MSCLrpvlA02zXCS7XSZDhEvVHyq_EARa4HNLhUKbdk8cq8VaHgF0XQGnrr6BlMamFI3xYFRpDFQ/s640/ornaments2.jpg" title="Crochet Christmas Ball Ornaments" width="425" /> </a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHPvTjmhNxOAzslivSRp__dFwc1mNzWUPT0Gu0b4huqJgs_WrO8akPpBC-Nu8GtVwXJG42gURcZBpGAOcOEfJdU3W9tNuklHxC9Xgm3SsQQWXEMJLLq_eVf1oQ6641p3yhFcqfneaJEwk/s1600/ornaments1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Crochet Christmas Ball Ornaments" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHPvTjmhNxOAzslivSRp__dFwc1mNzWUPT0Gu0b4huqJgs_WrO8akPpBC-Nu8GtVwXJG42gURcZBpGAOcOEfJdU3W9tNuklHxC9Xgm3SsQQWXEMJLLq_eVf1oQ6641p3yhFcqfneaJEwk/s640/ornaments1.jpg" title="Crochet Christmas Ball Ornaments" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">bottom left so rasta!</td></tr>
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Made for a client, Dec. 2014.Juliennehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10260438019768627763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7772900370737649495.post-29860627246759781352017-10-06T19:04:00.000+08:002021-10-07T15:46:32.898+08:00Hana-sanThat was how a young Japanese soldier called my late grandmother during their WWII occupation of Davao. <i>Hana</i> means "flower," and because my grandma was around ten years old that time, the soldier probably meant that she was in her flowering age. Her real name was Beatriz.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpWrV-_rPfn52LVf_u1wFhV5Sq4J_RnjSUYv1z_QhEYo5Tz4RH9HZ2Ye844bux2LWBAbW_pTF9I3W7PIZkiaBvqIhDvFwXc8M2qXr3KK7Lkw8UQ8a6WbDGovvFQOrol1jxtzhj2r4_IGg/s1600/lola+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Lola Beatriz with Mamerto" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpWrV-_rPfn52LVf_u1wFhV5Sq4J_RnjSUYv1z_QhEYo5Tz4RH9HZ2Ye844bux2LWBAbW_pTF9I3W7PIZkiaBvqIhDvFwXc8M2qXr3KK7Lkw8UQ8a6WbDGovvFQOrol1jxtzhj2r4_IGg/s320/lola+1.jpg" title="Lola Beatriz with Mamerto" width="288" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Lola</i> Beatriz (girl) with Mamerto (left)<br />and Mama Tibay (bride)</td></tr>
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My <i>lola</i>, whose father was Chinese, was raised by her grandparents. When she was still very young, her father, a tailor, took her elder brother back to China (remember that the Chinese prefer sons). I guess they never heard from them again. Then her mother, Manuela, married another man and had other kids. <br />
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<i>Lola</i> used to help man a <i>sari-sari</i> store her grandparents owned in Panacan. That was where she met the friendly Japanese soldier, who along with other soldiers assigned around the area, were frequent customers. She said he often brought her sweet manju, something she really liked. She also learned Japanese words and songs during that time, one of which she would gladly sing when we requested. Then one day the Japanese soldiers were sent away and she never saw her friend again.<br />
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<i>Lola</i> also liked talking about a grandpa who was very fond of her. She calls him Mamerto Osorio (I think he is her great grandpa. This bit got me confused when I asked about her ancestors because the last names didn't match.) He liked bringing her when he walked about town. Then she would talk about <i>dulce</i> (she meant candies). There were always candies aplenty in her pockets.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaYyiLfp0RLdcidj3IbShgm6LwmBlLZGAe90si0e6A6detk-vkx1m8wXblq1K16kzW0YRZpQ0KKkBK9d11WuOTjS87d-l4hYEuaWR2mg_iBec56K5VDNwRJAyEiAciKlaeAw3ULc4Nq18/s1600/lola+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Lola Beatriz" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaYyiLfp0RLdcidj3IbShgm6LwmBlLZGAe90si0e6A6detk-vkx1m8wXblq1K16kzW0YRZpQ0KKkBK9d11WuOTjS87d-l4hYEuaWR2mg_iBec56K5VDNwRJAyEiAciKlaeAw3ULc4Nq18/s400/lola+2.jpg" title="Lola Beatriz" width="189" /></a>Although she descended from some of the oldest families in Davao, she grew up poor. In fact she only had elementary education. Nevertheless, she became a cook and a seamstress.<br />
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With seven children you would think a woman of her stature would find it hard to be successful, but she sent them all to college. Not only that, she even had the grace to accept into her home some relatives and friends who needed a place to stay. Though they were living in one of the poorest areas in the city, her neighbors considered her rich, thrifty, and enterprising (must be the Chinese blood in her).<br />
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Eventually she and my grandfather (who also didn't finish school) were able to save money and buy a property in Buhangin. Just thinking about all they have gone through makes me proud.<br />
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I had tough and strong grandparents. Both my grandfathers I consider warriors: one was a soldier feared even by his superiors; the other was the quietest, most intense man I have ever met. But <i>lola</i> Beatriz outlasted them all. Happy birthday <i>Lola</i>! May you be in the arms of our Lord forever!Juliennehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10260438019768627763noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7772900370737649495.post-50958907603688966322017-09-16T14:40:00.001+08:002017-09-16T14:40:37.913+08:00Crochet CrownLate post. Crochet crown for baby Sophie's first birthday.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTq_Ta3g2qVN5Ve2kApOdg4xJutMBzfYTihICDJoXRiNB8zZVcU3GtQCM9BtcKdwxsk33qKo7KswCs5cDl1wr62yhoMK5cF77PpV6Qeck3POcgBXZkwJG9mxaedEnb1Rg3EnjbHc9zF0U/s1600/_MG_2851.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img alt="Crochet crown for babies" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTq_Ta3g2qVN5Ve2kApOdg4xJutMBzfYTihICDJoXRiNB8zZVcU3GtQCM9BtcKdwxsk33qKo7KswCs5cDl1wr62yhoMK5cF77PpV6Qeck3POcgBXZkwJG9mxaedEnb1Rg3EnjbHc9zF0U/s1600/_MG_2851.JPG" title="Crochet crown for babies" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6XHSqCPpOU74dGm-l3z6DcOI3gYl7ch77DMxIpnE8M1ThbtWE_XA-_9wyULBxUHEWKpfPsiVWNasvrb-IRLebV2KTGc8Bl9jZoZHSmvCKbHorK1n_IKaVc1yFoXlGtg7aAYoGU4REW4E/s1600/_MG_2853.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img alt="Crochet crown for babies" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6XHSqCPpOU74dGm-l3z6DcOI3gYl7ch77DMxIpnE8M1ThbtWE_XA-_9wyULBxUHEWKpfPsiVWNasvrb-IRLebV2KTGc8Bl9jZoZHSmvCKbHorK1n_IKaVc1yFoXlGtg7aAYoGU4REW4E/s1600/_MG_2853.JPG" title="Crochet crown for babies" /></a></div>
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Based on this pattern by <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/184659833/crochet-baby-crown-pattern-tiara-easy" rel="nofollow">SashaPattern</a>.Juliennehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10260438019768627763noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7772900370737649495.post-9093018238206242732017-09-06T19:00:00.000+08:002021-09-03T18:58:16.440+08:00K-pop? Nah. B1A4? Yes, please.I have never been on the k-pop bandwagon. Although I have some favorite Korean songs, most of them were from movie or drama soundtracks, e.g. <i>Goong</i>, <i>The Classic</i>, <i>Sungkyunkwan Scandal</i>. Through the years, I've only had two favorite singers, Kim Jeong-hoon and Lee Hong-ki, and never bothered to look for more.<br />
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One of the reasons may be because these k-pop groups are more of the louder autotuned hip hop or techno types, which are not really my genres. I'm also not a fan of celebrities who look and feel rehearsed. You could say that these are my impressions of k-pop and their idols in general.<br />
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<b>Enter B1A4</b> <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEDIOdcjjSn76bqScRu-HhiHSOAj_VmRwxuEBiB54xi465xPe2U3MVdQih6Y8V89-_3Qc50zvXM9KPiVHmqZp0na7rMkdK-YIgf-h0zSYsKjXzBfiM98yFW9P6YnSZVghKQS6UEaOw4qQ/s1600/11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="B1A4" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEDIOdcjjSn76bqScRu-HhiHSOAj_VmRwxuEBiB54xi465xPe2U3MVdQih6Y8V89-_3Qc50zvXM9KPiVHmqZp0na7rMkdK-YIgf-h0zSYsKjXzBfiM98yFW9P6YnSZVghKQS6UEaOw4qQ/s640/11.jpg" title="B1A4" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">B1A4 from left: Gongchan, Sandeul, Jinyoung, Baro, Shinwoo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Last month I watched <i>Love in the Moonlight</i> and got interested in one of the supporting actors. Usually when I watch a film, I check out the cast, and from the ones I liked, check some of their other works. This actor's name is <b>Jinyoung</b>, and he's a singer, a member of a group called <b>B1A4</b>. Because I wanted to hear how he sounded, went straight to YouTube, and voila!<br />
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Well, I was not really impressed. His voice was fine and unique, but a little high pitched, not exactly my taste. Then I checked out his group. The first one I saw was a dance practice video. I didn't know these existed in the k-pop world. These should have been available in the 80s and 90s so we didn't have to see just segments of the dance steps in music videos, but I digress.<br />
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First video I saw was called <b>Lonely</b>:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cmBwMGWU1og" width="560"></iframe><br />
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These were some of my thoughts while watching: crazy kids; nice song; love the choreography; that tall guy is the best dancer (his name, <b>Shinwoo</b>); what a nice-looking bunch!<br />
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Then I showed the video to my sister. After the song ended, she stayed on, although she was supposed to be doing laundry. So we picked another dance practice, this time <b>Solo Day</b>. The song quality was consistently good. It was something you can sing along and dance to. The dance steps looked so fun that I promised myself I would try to copy when nobody's around. It was nothing like the usual techno/hip hop k-pop music I hear, but something that was actually k-"pop".<br />
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When the dance ended there were more behind-the-scenes clips of the boys playing around. Then suddenly one of them belted out a song in what was an undeniably glorious voice that my sister and I exclaimed at the same time (see video clip below). Even in that short song, we could tell he was special. Wow!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sZ5zTTW8ZSY?start=218" width="560"></iframe> <br />
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To make the long story short, I became an instant B1A4 fan (or bana – I just can't with these bizarre k-pop terms). It's been a week and I cannot stop listening to their albums on spotify and watching videos about them. I was fortunate enough to have the house to myself one day. Two hours and two drenched shirts were spent trying to follow dance moves without much success. I had the worst <i>pamaol</i> (muscle aches) for the next two days.<br />
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Here are some things I learned about this group: <i><b>1)</b></i> their leader Jinyoung (that actor I talked about) has been their main composer and producer since 2014; <b><i>2)</i></b> <b>Sandeul</b>, the main vocalist, is a singing contest king; He is also currently considered by <a href="https://kpopvocalanalysis.net/ranking-of-vocalists/" rel="nofollow">kpopvocalanalysis.net</a> (<a href="https://kpopvocalanalyses.files.wordpress.com/2016/12/vocalrankingguys.jpg" rel="nofollow">2016 ranking</a>) as the third best k-pop idol vocalist (read their <a href="https://kpopvocalanalysis.net/2015/03/19/b1a4s-analysis-sandeul/" rel="nofollow">very detailed vocal analysis of Sandeul</a>); <b><i>3)</i></b> WM, their agency, gives them freedom to do their own thing.<br />
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And here are some things I love about them:<br />
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<b>Melody.</b> Like I've always said from previous blog posts, for me melody is the first important thing in a song… and B1A4 makes good melodies. Their albums are really easy to listen to that non-k-pop fans might be able to appreciate. They do, however, have some electronic songs on their albums, but are calmer and more melodic than the usual. Then again the keyword is melody. Their strength lies in catchy tunes c/o the charismatic leader, and in ballads---because Sandeul!<br />
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<b>Versatility.</b> Aside from the cheerfully wholesome dance pop, pop/rock, and ballads, their songs have hints of other genres including acoustic, hip hop (c/o <b>Baro</b>, in-house rapper and beatboxer, and Shinwoo who also tries his hand at composing), reggae, funk/jazz and soft rnb/soul.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgasKSE0m-lMOV8nXVVMJJSERUmg3FumaH_WWQkv7fyuK4_SchQXgmEpcfj0jTUmlF7JWgj7hlpF2upyQ9q39wa_GTUMFeOCDOhlWsW52x5nhgpglKOBBIHjq19lqZy7t0DEfMgvEgE0t0/s1600/b1a4+gif.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="B1A4 crazy gif" border="0" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgasKSE0m-lMOV8nXVVMJJSERUmg3FumaH_WWQkv7fyuK4_SchQXgmEpcfj0jTUmlF7JWgj7hlpF2upyQ9q39wa_GTUMFeOCDOhlWsW52x5nhgpglKOBBIHjq19lqZy7t0DEfMgvEgE0t0/s320/b1a4+gif.gif" title="B1A4 crazy gif" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"<i>Dili na sila maniguwang</i> (They will never grow old)," said my father.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Personalities.</b> I don't know how other groups are, but B1A4 look innocent, sweet and hilarious when they are together. They remind me of my favorite Taiwanese group, 5566, in that they never run out of things to laugh about. They make even the most ordinary things fun. <br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3LCweQbGSKrHOxFzSkcg0vlEAUh3Ob-5ntihLUtVvywyiyUIsL_pANoRukLwf3ZfnEzu-TG3EP2DF6FBETiW9-q8Qg9E11BRmRJeUvILi2-JlIwsrOumsVzCmniOxWQuNhbCo-ZSGwwo/s1600/b1a4chair.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="B1A4 fun gif" border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3LCweQbGSKrHOxFzSkcg0vlEAUh3Ob-5ntihLUtVvywyiyUIsL_pANoRukLwf3ZfnEzu-TG3EP2DF6FBETiW9-q8Qg9E11BRmRJeUvILi2-JlIwsrOumsVzCmniOxWQuNhbCo-ZSGwwo/s320/b1a4chair.gif" title="B1A4 fun gif" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Playing before the radio show. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Although always playful, the boys are definitely very down-to-earth and natural, not trying to act cool or sexy. Professionally and personally, especially when they talk about life in general, they are very mature. They take work seriously and always think of ways to improve. They love their fans, respect their elders and each other. It's amazing how the other four look up to their leader, and how everyone looks after each other. They're like real brothers, which is enviable for a friendship.<br />
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<b>Talent.</b> Sandeul's voice. Jinyoung's composition. Baro's rap and beatboxing. Shinwoo's dance moves (Although after several viewings, I now find Sandeul to be almost as good and effortless as Shinwoo. While Shinwoo is more freestyle and grace, Sandeul is all about precision and poise. Gongchan, the youngest, is a close third.) Gongchan is said to be good at math! Lol I don't know what else to say except that Gongchan has his moments. Given more time and training, he could still develop his already beautiful soft tone and vibrato. Every one of them also pursue acting.<br />
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<u>Below is a video of Sandeul in a duet singing contest:</u><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Nzn2piHdO4s" width="560"></iframe> <br />
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<b>Looks.</b> Have you seen them? Probably the most good-looking k-pop idol group. And before I forget, they make beautiful music videos. (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6LoAX1yEe9IPYuxgcTN-aGwsNamYHcVh">link to Youtube playlist of their MVs</a>)<br />
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Alright I've finally written it all down. I felt the need to so I can move on with my life, ha! And my sister is getting tired of hearing Korean songs. But, they're just too adorable and highly underrated… so spread the love because they truly deserve more recognition.<br />
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I'm pretty late in the fandom, so I wish for them several more years of great music and good time together. I still want them to improve as singer-songwriters and mature as artists. Honestly, they should write an acapella song. That would be interesting.Juliennehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10260438019768627763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7772900370737649495.post-64905738537286116212017-04-03T14:47:00.000+08:002017-12-02T13:49:44.205+08:00Sophie and RedLate post.<br />
<i>Picnic date: March 11, 2017</i><br />
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As requested by my friend Annie, we had a mini photo shoot/picnic for her daughter, Sophie, who just celebrated her first birthday last Saturday, the first of April.<i> </i>We were accompanied by Eds, who also brought her son, Red, and all her props.<br />
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I only came for the food! :) jk<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidi9z-PjFIGoBna8MhwWxCjf4102AomFEeX_qZRUDxbHola8t15fMSgPVAyEDGwgc2tYDFg5KPi5WtzOMrjPbiQpSVUCap0C9a4AG_TlS5aYdCWjP4JR6z36ThpI9fzUeJQYbviWITTgc/s1600/_MG_2523.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Sophie (Photo by nephithyrion)" border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidi9z-PjFIGoBna8MhwWxCjf4102AomFEeX_qZRUDxbHola8t15fMSgPVAyEDGwgc2tYDFg5KPi5WtzOMrjPbiQpSVUCap0C9a4AG_TlS5aYdCWjP4JR6z36ThpI9fzUeJQYbviWITTgc/s640/_MG_2523.jpg" title="Sophie (Photo by nephithyrion)" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meet Sophie.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicrDj4DDeNKxfB3Y7SA1aqTAosZbxFjUtHma51rC5njF2gnVnxuc4y2aiW3wY-twnB_0GMbKpEVS5j-pE_BUwoSmMLRRaVf3KoZbhBwmoDCWVpmV3ISXFz2Paf-eRGGz5G63Zh5mkoHGI/s1600/_MG_2551.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Sophie (Photo by nephithyrion)" border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicrDj4DDeNKxfB3Y7SA1aqTAosZbxFjUtHma51rC5njF2gnVnxuc4y2aiW3wY-twnB_0GMbKpEVS5j-pE_BUwoSmMLRRaVf3KoZbhBwmoDCWVpmV3ISXFz2Paf-eRGGz5G63Zh5mkoHGI/s640/_MG_2551.jpg" title="Sophie (Photo by nephithyrion)" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She is a serious baby.</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiApFGB1LGyc214J4HKN0zNQ6bmi3pdTaXV8Afz9sT4FjJzqvw4pANpSHnRXYlYzB_kvXaQczW6VBju4izZUTYhjUSOb7dIwPkoM6rH6RiSDhIG6P_YboDWaoMZzJlLVas7Eu2-R05MbYU/s1600/_MG_2562.jpg"><img alt="Sophie (Photo by nephithyrion)" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiApFGB1LGyc214J4HKN0zNQ6bmi3pdTaXV8Afz9sT4FjJzqvw4pANpSHnRXYlYzB_kvXaQczW6VBju4izZUTYhjUSOb7dIwPkoM6rH6RiSDhIG6P_YboDWaoMZzJlLVas7Eu2-R05MbYU/s640/_MG_2562.jpg" title="Sophie (Photo by nephithyrion)" width="640" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfmX4MpPmzmkWpRSqX4vcj7eAe02zI9DnkbGXWRa445uCbdaFEgI2BLp_e81NfM9-63XfpBm9e774ya2IIJLsekfwiRtiW99RtEcPTZ2Fc4xy8DHlMfawIHTdv6VD6z0Ur2wtRq8vzETs/s1600/_MG_2616.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Sophie (Photo by nephithyrion)" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfmX4MpPmzmkWpRSqX4vcj7eAe02zI9DnkbGXWRa445uCbdaFEgI2BLp_e81NfM9-63XfpBm9e774ya2IIJLsekfwiRtiW99RtEcPTZ2Fc4xy8DHlMfawIHTdv6VD6z0Ur2wtRq8vzETs/s640/_MG_2616.jpg" title="Sophie (Photo by nephithyrion)" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is how you make her smile...</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5RhQaen4p_WiJIMDHGlN6roa4Gb7R5zPRdGm9cdb4QuUuwkyL8i5IDsgT1xkoDpbUu1uRbEaa6LHUkFWK7ikNN6lLIJ9HR7DgegU-iiUywrExCK2ow07EyZTZLg0GodJNbid2UodxgV4/s1600/_MG_2684.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Sophie (Photo by nephithyrion)" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5RhQaen4p_WiJIMDHGlN6roa4Gb7R5zPRdGm9cdb4QuUuwkyL8i5IDsgT1xkoDpbUu1uRbEaa6LHUkFWK7ikNN6lLIJ9HR7DgegU-iiUywrExCK2ow07EyZTZLg0GodJNbid2UodxgV4/s640/_MG_2684.jpg" title="Sophie (Photo by nephithyrion)" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">by swinging her about.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTSBl01eQCQFEbjfqXV08nDoIn2NJAI9s4CMf50ilM7erb6fy0BbqCLIi5qIhfM79D5PZTv-5za9GWDheEd5WzVYIcqr_sJb51u3ja_1IMV1jWO7fIoLzOOPO_JtROpZWqDkpONE5zDqw/s1600/_MG_2762.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Red (Photo by nephithyrion)" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTSBl01eQCQFEbjfqXV08nDoIn2NJAI9s4CMf50ilM7erb6fy0BbqCLIi5qIhfM79D5PZTv-5za9GWDheEd5WzVYIcqr_sJb51u3ja_1IMV1jWO7fIoLzOOPO_JtROpZWqDkpONE5zDqw/s640/_MG_2762.jpg" title="Red (Photo by nephithyrion)" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is Francis Edward.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_QXUI5PvZbRxxJBDQ37zFFHysGMpYwKyQxGbJP1omfpYRaYm-jYBWv4e2aRZ1Qvz125Onr3KS_lQcee5Aj68mTV3EClO2_-OsgRjtESN3uaAiNdLTL2JnuGmojxTWrh7U_iJDFGNyxmI/s1600/_MG_2764.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Red (Photo by nephithyrion)" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_QXUI5PvZbRxxJBDQ37zFFHysGMpYwKyQxGbJP1omfpYRaYm-jYBWv4e2aRZ1Qvz125Onr3KS_lQcee5Aj68mTV3EClO2_-OsgRjtESN3uaAiNdLTL2JnuGmojxTWrh7U_iJDFGNyxmI/s640/_MG_2764.jpg" title="Red (Photo by nephithyrion)" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I gave him his nickname, Red.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLvOSUcWxgDnT-qF6y_SurxOUQCKgtoZpHtWeZT6TEJniC4H_srSnedw9S2eEtK3DV3XGU0ICa7s9tNhi5fBurfc2644OV1q-RnkUOyS6P02wxHxyRXk9313AjjF1P3Akz8RmSpGYXsnI/s1600/_MG_2792.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Red (Photo by nephithyrion)" border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLvOSUcWxgDnT-qF6y_SurxOUQCKgtoZpHtWeZT6TEJniC4H_srSnedw9S2eEtK3DV3XGU0ICa7s9tNhi5fBurfc2644OV1q-RnkUOyS6P02wxHxyRXk9313AjjF1P3Akz8RmSpGYXsnI/s640/_MG_2792.jpg" title="Red (Photo by nephithyrion)" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He's very comfortable in front of a camera.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN4s1hfbqvcedVh3o7_ANKQnNEt5UiKxHeoQHVRvxiAHoi9ykIfgtKtkhEx6IF2LAyM3r6SxwMkiPIEFxuAjjDZngRT1JTACDVXEAUO5eTdGtE0ClK95Faotq1kXUyDK01Txtppe2SO10/s1600/_MG_2804.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Red (Photo by nephithyrion)" border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN4s1hfbqvcedVh3o7_ANKQnNEt5UiKxHeoQHVRvxiAHoi9ykIfgtKtkhEx6IF2LAyM3r6SxwMkiPIEFxuAjjDZngRT1JTACDVXEAUO5eTdGtE0ClK95Faotq1kXUyDK01Txtppe2SO10/s640/_MG_2804.jpg" title="Red (Photo by nephithyrion)" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red's mother, Eds, is very good with the props. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlJdWpxPqpSB1aL6et4qz5M9taSbJlGWChwWQR5odYvsH4cSFWocD0cLCM68vkxC0NmdC-v-n4c39a-BcpbgqIIraOT9XmptAzdpvQn3udfahJzMWV3Zr4TFrkgP7piSEnbg8f9n16LEs/s1600/_MG_2813.jpg"><img alt="Red (Photo by nephithyrion)" border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlJdWpxPqpSB1aL6et4qz5M9taSbJlGWChwWQR5odYvsH4cSFWocD0cLCM68vkxC0NmdC-v-n4c39a-BcpbgqIIraOT9XmptAzdpvQn3udfahJzMWV3Zr4TFrkgP7piSEnbg8f9n16LEs/s640/_MG_2813.jpg" title="Red (Photo by nephithyrion)" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnnToEqS-tL9DQHR8ah3Nwf9Vn7gGnYbrPL4F1SgBW5xjINN58Gx4eNvdtxXLwYM1UQtQoU1GLCYWwz4UvqUDgMAbLPwXCjk8GlD62HS853VBts_qp5eWkilQOW3wn8iHQAmQzqh_y2ls/s1600/_MG_2834.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Sophie and Red (Photo by nephithyrion)" border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnnToEqS-tL9DQHR8ah3Nwf9Vn7gGnYbrPL4F1SgBW5xjINN58Gx4eNvdtxXLwYM1UQtQoU1GLCYWwz4UvqUDgMAbLPwXCjk8GlD62HS853VBts_qp5eWkilQOW3wn8iHQAmQzqh_y2ls/s640/_MG_2834.jpg" title="Sophie and Red (Photo by nephithyrion)" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sophie and her escort.</td></tr>
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<br />Juliennehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10260438019768627763noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7772900370737649495.post-32534115700944600752017-03-06T15:28:00.000+08:002017-03-27T23:34:36.819+08:00MIKA<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWueYPQAJgo6pFA2wU01eH3T-M3v_hpJunx08MBuWrcGBHGUnvCR7R4r2ydYweIPhXVpFCJ2WNFWGPWU64eHwatKVIdEtJcH5wa2nlYWfElEXWjM1f529UdkcAlY6UwPHeevb2z4oh7TA/s1600/mika4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="MIKA The boy who knew too much album cover" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWueYPQAJgo6pFA2wU01eH3T-M3v_hpJunx08MBuWrcGBHGUnvCR7R4r2ydYweIPhXVpFCJ2WNFWGPWU64eHwatKVIdEtJcH5wa2nlYWfElEXWjM1f529UdkcAlY6UwPHeevb2z4oh7TA/s320/mika4.jpg" title="MIKA The boy who knew too much album cover" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mika helps design his album covers<br />
with his illustrator sister.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Where was I in 2007? Why didn't I hear about this beautiful man and his music? The first time I remember seeing Mika was from a music video with Ariana Grande called <i>Popular</i>. However the video was too interesting that I didn't pay any attention to the song itself.<br />
<br />
Two weeks ago I was having a Boyzone marathon on Youtube (including their ghost-hunting adventures in Edinburgh) and came across <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdnWUbLTyV0" rel="nofollow"><i>Gave It All Away</i></a> again, one of their last with Stephen, and such a heartbreaking song. I looked up the album details in Wikipedia because I knew Boyzone didn't write their own music. That was when I saw Mika's name, one word. He wrote <i>Gave It All Away</i>. I got curious so then searched for his other works. And man was I glad to have done that albeit ten years late!<br />
<br />
I have always been looking for artists who make happy-sad, upbeat, and inspirational songs that have great melodies. I'm a melody type of person; that's what first catches my attention. So these are basically what I like about Mika: his music, his falsetto voice is a welcome relief from all the screaming these days, his personal style, but most of all his personality.<br />
<br />
Some compare him to Freddie Mercury...and it shows, musically, sometimes. (Although no one can compare.) Personally, he reminds me of <a href="http://nephithyrion.blogspot.com/search?q=gary+cherone">Gary Cherone</a>, lead singer of the band Extreme of <i>More Than Words</i> fame, who by the way made an excellent performance of Queen's songs in the 1992 tribute concert for Freddie (Highly recommended if you're a big fan of Queen; YouTube is your friend.). But then it may just be the hair.<br />
<br />
<b>Here are some of Mika's more famous songs:</b><br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oFkSMHle8-M?rel=0" width="640"></iframe><br />
<br />
I listen to his full albums on <a href="https://play.spotify.com/artist/5MmVJVhhYKQ86izuGHzJYA" rel="nofollow">Spotify</a> and don't skip any songs. Why? Because Mika's music is like the sum of all things my generation listened to growing up. It sounds both familiar and new. Some of his musical influences can clearly be heard: from the Beatles, Queen, Michael Jackson, disco, to others reminiscent of 80s and 90s pop/rock. In fact there was one song that I was sure to be TLC. My brother also likened some songs to emo/punk of the early 2000s.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EaEPCsQ4608?rel=0" width="640"></iframe><br />
<br />
We have the same birth year! Lol I like finding gems my age.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VZQ_9eebry0?rel=0" width="640"></iframe><br />
<br />
Really, where have all the good guys (slash gays) gone? The music scene today has a shortage of superstars, like those really great ARTISTS we grew up listening to in the 80s and 90s. Honestly, for someone with Mika's talent, I don't understand why he's not more popular.<br />
<br />
Mika is one of those rare composers who write about taboo topics, too. Storytelling is obviously one of his notable strengths. And if there is one thing more memorable than his melodies, it's the characters and experiences he tells you about.<br />
<br />
(<b>Bonus Boyzone Trivia:</b> In that same album I mentioned earlier (<i>Brother</i>), Matt Hales a.k.a. Aqualung also wrote a song. Then Ollie Jacobs of Arkarna produced the one written by Mika. Both of these guys are favorites!)<br />
<br />Juliennehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10260438019768627763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7772900370737649495.post-34845317138584396772017-02-24T23:36:00.000+08:002021-09-03T18:46:40.620+08:00Did Not SurviveWhen my sister told me there was a place downtown where you can solve puzzles and other mysteries for a time limit, I could not get it off my mind. I googled it and found MysterEscape, located in Lanang. It is called an "escape room," a live adventure game where players are locked in a room and have to find clues and solve puzzles before the time runs out to escape, usually within 60 minutes. Apparently businesses like these have been popping up since 2006 and it's only in 2015 that it's reached Davao.<br />
<br />
Being a fan of this genre from movies, to series (Sherlock, Survivor), books and games, I really wanted to go. The problem was my sister thought it was too expensive. The other people I could do something like this with would be my college friends, and our reunion plan last January was cancelled so this would be a great quick bonding activity. I posted about it on our fb group and one of my classmates already heard about the place and wanted to go for months. So she set our meeting immediately on the coming Saturday (Feb 18).<br />
<br />
There were 3 rooms at the site: Girl in the Mirror (for horror fans), The Survival Game, and Redrum: a (murder) Mystery. I would have chosen to play Redrum, but when we arrived at about 5 in the afternoon, the Survival Game was the one immediately available. So we had no choice.<br />
<br />
The Survival Game's story goes like this: we were kidnapped by an unknown group and sent to a locked room where we have to find our way out before the hour is finished. We kind of started great. Ten minutes in we were already finished with the first two steps. But the third clue consumed a lot of our time and by the fourth clue I felt like we were going nowhere and needed new ideas. Too bad because the last few puzzles would have been easier. In the end we didn't make it alive with two locks still unopened, so we just took our picture before our kidnappers finally get rid of us. :)<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheTdIqy7dQ8TUj5q52eSEgMmjcG0mhcDUnJDKIcfqRcOVwHsaSI0J77czH2BKljbfOQLS-Q0oD1bNhW6hW2r_ANwvh7Gm1n8i1XTJX4VABl3SsgxcWxX96i77qF3-yYlW8PcCsloLiC40/s1600/Amat2k+MysterEscape.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="AMAT2K at MysterEscape Davao" border="0" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheTdIqy7dQ8TUj5q52eSEgMmjcG0mhcDUnJDKIcfqRcOVwHsaSI0J77czH2BKljbfOQLS-Q0oD1bNhW6hW2r_ANwvh7Gm1n8i1XTJX4VABl3SsgxcWxX96i77qF3-yYlW8PcCsloLiC40/s640/Amat2k+MysterEscape.jpg" title="AMAT2K at MysterEscape Davao" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clockwise from top left: moi, Eds, Annie, Eds' husband Francis and their son Red.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
P.S. 34 yesterday yeehaw!Juliennehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10260438019768627763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7772900370737649495.post-69944150591891333422017-01-01T16:33:00.000+08:002017-01-02T10:36:36.562+08:00New Year Fantasy Movie Marathon<br />
We had a movie marathon last night. Well, I started watching by myself, then by the second movie everyone gathered around the laptop (except my mom), because we still don't have a new television after the old one broke. My mother thought it was funny, us huddled around a small screen.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfORg7GVbQhTRpoBOHJLn8ZsVnGzAlpNNLuDyT9qc1EbsQE_wVDAkZ7e-DR8IkNQfdEGmcfixKTUKPd_hfT83KzxCJ_mfDrP82uAy5J3pMSgT7z17KpB939o-DcKzoahfQxufd-4fuubM/s1600/peregrins-gallery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" border="0" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfORg7GVbQhTRpoBOHJLn8ZsVnGzAlpNNLuDyT9qc1EbsQE_wVDAkZ7e-DR8IkNQfdEGmcfixKTUKPd_hfT83KzxCJ_mfDrP82uAy5J3pMSgT7z17KpB939o-DcKzoahfQxufd-4fuubM/s320/peregrins-gallery.jpg" title="Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The first one I watched was <b>Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children</b>, which my parents saw at the cinema. They had a lot of trips to the cinema last 2016 because of free passes for senior citizens, which is great because they have always been fond of watching movies. Obviously, I got it from them. My best friend once called me a walking IMDB, though I am nowhere near that. It must be because I kept a notebook of movies I have watched. I still continue with that habit, but it's gone digital, thanks to IMDB.<br />
<br />
Allow me to digress still...When my mother was in college, she loved going to the cinema, and I think most of the time she watched by herself. Then there was this one time when she bumped into two of her siblings inside the movie house. All three of them came separately.<br />
<br />
So back to the marathon, my favorite thing about Miss Peregrine's was Miss Peregrine herself. Eva Green was excellent. Though I like Asa Butterfield, he was not as good in this. Is it because of his age? That awkward stage? Another thing about the movie, I haven't read the book so the time loop thing was a bit confusing. I had to rewind some parts because of this and still ended up not understanding how the last five minutes happened.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx0nqWqYog0BTQEfD_hSggZC6i6v8FDjpHujSat-j_wBIuqFfHV5GAPPfs3iFI0e_ScaEFwsmHRtmFp27PQhfC-0Fw71R3dDpTy0ffrgVgw21qeGV06Vr6xPt5AYHSj6f8aQL64Nn4yig/s1600/Petes+Dragon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Pete's Dragon" border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx0nqWqYog0BTQEfD_hSggZC6i6v8FDjpHujSat-j_wBIuqFfHV5GAPPfs3iFI0e_ScaEFwsmHRtmFp27PQhfC-0Fw71R3dDpTy0ffrgVgw21qeGV06Vr6xPt5AYHSj6f8aQL64Nn4yig/s320/Petes+Dragon.jpg" title="Pete's Dragon" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pete's Dragon</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
When I started the second movie, my sister came back from buying a cake for my father (birthday boy!). Then both my parents also came back from attending mass. We watched the new <b>Pete's Dragon</b>. My parents also saw this at the cinema, but my father has not seen the first few minutes so he sat with us first. After he ate, he ended up finishing the whole movie, too.<br />
<br />
My father and my younger self have a history with the original Pete's Dragon. We watched it together when it was shown on TV. Then when he became a seaman, it was one of the VHS films he brought home.<br />
<br />
It was 10 PM when we started the third movie. This time, my brother and I continued with our Star Wars rewatch with <b>Episode III: Revenge of the Sith</b>. It was more than two hours long, that's why we had to pause by midnight because of the noise. We don't have firecrackers in Davao, but the noise is still amazingly on full volume. You have the <i>torotot</i> that my mother kept on blowing, cars honking, gates and other metals/pots/pans banging, blaring sound systems, people shouting, just chaos in the middle of the night.<br />
<br />
When the noise died down, we continued watching. It reminded me just how much I loved Episode III when I first saw it. The fight scene between Obi-Wan and Anakin was still one of the best. I still liked how Hayden Christensen brought Vader to life. But this time, since rewatching the series, I can finally understand why the prequels sucked. The script was horrible, cringe-worthy, you name it. Yikes!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
* * * * * *</div>
<br />
A bit of Nov-Dec review, but still about films:<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia8pF544gF6_WVunX3Jpc4-xzgR6ia0aWrB0ZTUNk3uTpi7maxOOOt3joFsdep66TOmkmSvODCq5Letz3wHBeLWa6asdKsZ0_AOXeasZY0mS96gbqjLpYopKVPrTzxVuS1lNTn97-ieis/s1600/Sherlock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Sherlock" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia8pF544gF6_WVunX3Jpc4-xzgR6ia0aWrB0ZTUNk3uTpi7maxOOOt3joFsdep66TOmkmSvODCq5Letz3wHBeLWa6asdKsZ0_AOXeasZY0mS96gbqjLpYopKVPrTzxVuS1lNTn97-ieis/s320/Sherlock.jpg" title="Sherlock" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sherlock</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I tried Netflix last November so I could watch the <b>Gilmore Girls revival</b>. I liked it. Didn't like Rory much. Felt bad for Jess. Happy for Lorelai and Emily.<br />
<br />
Then, I found <b>Sherlock</b> on Netflix. Though late, I'm glad to have finally seen it so I can watch the new season this January.<br />
<br />
Had another Sean Harris fix last December. Watched <b>Southcliffe</b>, the mini-series that won him a leading actor BAFTA, then <b>See No Evil: The Moors Murders</b>, <b>Red Riding</b> 1974, and some of his short films: <b>Battles</b>, <b>Native Son</b>, and <b>True Love: Once Removed</b>, which I highly recommend. I found the shorts on Youtube, you can search for them there. Though please note that Native Son and True Love both have nudity in it.<br />
<br />
Oh yeah, before I forget: I love <b>Rogue One</b>!<br />
<br />
Happy New Year!Juliennehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10260438019768627763noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7772900370737649495.post-54986744961435521312016-12-25T01:40:00.001+08:002016-12-31T19:10:18.179+08:00Merry Christmas from Hogwarts<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3TTOMTqrBX4?rel=0" width="640"></iframe></div>
<br />
This Christmas I am listening to this animated Hogwarts Great Hall Christmas ambience. It was made by Claire, one of the many ASMR artists creating videos in Youtube for relaxation.<br />
<br />
If you've never heard of it, ASMR stands for <i>Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response</i>, a tingling sensation that typically starts on the scalp then moves down the back. Not all people experience this though, and in my family I'm the only one who does.<br />
<br />
I've first watched videos like this around summer 2014, but the feeling described as ASMR I have been aware of since I was a child. I had this doctor toy set back then, but all I ever wanted to play was the patient. In high school, when we had our annual retreat, the teachers walked around to pray over the students one by one. It was very quiet and all I can hear were footsteps and whispers. When my adviser hovered her hands over my head and started whispering, it was like shivers down my spine.<br />
<br />
These activities usually relax me or tickle my brain: doctor's check-up, haircut especially blow dryers, someone applying make-up on me or others (remember the Ricky Reyes show?), massage, some cooking shows, and guided video tours. <br />
<br />
A lot of people, however, think this is weird. But for the main purpose of relaxation and from what I have read in video comments (though still not scientifically proven), it helps people relax and sleep.<br />
<br />
So, are you one of the weird bunch? If you want to try it, here are my absolute favorite channels:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/WhispersRedASMR" rel="nofollow">Emma of Whispersred ASMR</a><br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6gLlIAnzg7eJ8VuXDCZ_vg" rel="nofollow">Maria of GentleWhispering</a><br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQcfesI8G59uJ4aJmiEvcLg" rel="nofollow">Deep Ocean of Sounds</a><br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCO5gXBJ1bCW-zoKU1jZRMOg" rel="nofollow">Matt of ASMattR</a><br />
<br />
Or if you're looking for an excellent guided meditation channel:<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4jWo5kiyOCt4PnvF4jbaLg" rel="nofollow">The Honest Guys</a><br />
<br />
May you have a very relaxing Christmas!Juliennehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10260438019768627763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7772900370737649495.post-57885243976746114132016-10-20T07:30:00.000+08:002016-10-20T07:30:30.245+08:00This Day Last Year<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWsWOes8oNH9dAyyMsWkBmhv4F0XgVpxz5alJdSmWGwgdGcFNVyDk9PvLbbqki_1zkNSSVv5xEWrS6NXqjHpp5pHDWmiCqlZzf30oUIVCStnX6RrEzMYss_WAuF-iULP0tZvMqtVCURjk/s1600/IMG_1922.jpg"><img alt="October 2015 Haze Davao City" border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWsWOes8oNH9dAyyMsWkBmhv4F0XgVpxz5alJdSmWGwgdGcFNVyDk9PvLbbqki_1zkNSSVv5xEWrS6NXqjHpp5pHDWmiCqlZzf30oUIVCStnX6RrEzMYss_WAuF-iULP0tZvMqtVCURjk/s640/IMG_1922.jpg" title="October 2015 Haze Davao City" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
The haze in Davao last year was due to Indonesia's forest fires. It's not every day that we get a sunrise like this; it was waiting to be captured.Juliennehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10260438019768627763noreply@blogger.com0