Gladiators in My Dream

They say dreaming is a result of randomly firing neurons, but however random the activity is, I think our brain is hardwired to make order out of chaos. If it's not the case, then you sleep sane, and wake up demented.

Last night I had one very lucid dream. Unlike my other lucid dreams, I was not a character in the dreamworld. I seem to be just watching how the events unfold for the two gladiators.

The dream was about an older gladiator with a striking resemblance to Elijah Wood. Imagine him baring his chest, grasping defiantly on the hilt of his long, broad sword, and wearing a pair of bold leather sandals. He was a warrior at his prime. He led several wars to victory. He was undefeated in duels. Eventually, the hobbit, now standing muscularly tall, became the king of his land. He ruled prosperously until a series of wars threatened the supremacy of his Kingdom...

Then enter an Eric Bana-ish gladiator. He was appointed by Elijah Wood as the soldier-general, the post which he once held. Eric was equally fierce and foreboding but his character is not as commendable as that of Elijah's. He resisted helping the poor. He did not defend the weak as he considers doing so outside of his duty. He is bound by the rules of war. He also doesn't care for his wife. Elijah heard of this and summoned Eric to his court. The King tried to talk Eric out from his unacceptable ethos. As a former gladiator himself, he must know best. I really can't remember their dialog but I'm sure the exchange was acrimonious. They ended up challenging each other in a duel.

The King cast off his linen clothes and wore once again the countenance of a gladiator. The night was dark. There was no source of light except for the big torch at the center of the coliseum, burning as fiercely as the two men. Both turned and faced the Elders of the Kingdom who watch from a fair elevation from the battle ground. The torch continues to burn. The white, rigged pillars casting off their majestic shadows...
My dream ends here.


I so wanted to witness what would happen next. But what could I do? hmmmpf!

Lying is a By-product

I hate liars. I hate lying. But I sometimes can't help spouting petty lies. I think I made another one today and I was convicted about what the Bible says: Liars go to hell. I thought about it for a while and I realized that lying is, in and of itself, not the sin. The underlying reason why one lies is because one does not do the right thing. Lying is a cherry on top of sins galore.

I know, Jesus said that one should not tell a lie. That is a categorical statement. No exceptions entertained. However, there are morally ambiguous situations where one can't help but to tell white lies. And I'm sure that you've heard people saying that there's no such thing as a black or white lie. Black, or white or pink, some lies even result to desirable ends and some are just plainly benign. I wonder if one tells the truth, even if in the short- term it would have unpleasant results, perhaps in the long-term, it would result to a more positive outcome, or an eternally rewarding repercussion in heaven.

Anyway, one thing is clear to me. I lie because I do wrong things. I told myself: "Do the right things and lying would become unnecessary. Period." But then, would that mean I can't stop weaving lies?

To all my blogger friends

Please include my new blog entitled "Travelin' Fashion" in your blogroll. As the name says, it's about Travel & Fashion in Korea.

Travelin' Fashion: An exchange student’s blog where he talks his walk.

Mashisoyo is Korean for delicious. ^^;

A Kaleidoscopic Bibimbapish Post, Samut-saring Karanasan ng mga Ipinalit-pinagpalit na Magaaral

Alumni’s Experiences : International College Student Exchange Program between
the Republic of Korea and ASEAN Nations.




I belong to Batch 2007.

What is exchange student in Filipino? Anyone?

Blog Readability Meme

**** Start Copy Here *****

1. Take the Readability Test for your blog(s) here.
2. Paste the result on your site.
3. Copy and paste this tag on your blog (make sure to include the links).
4. Add your link to this tag.
5. Tag as many friends / readers / victims as you want!

Read My Mind, Joan Joyce, Life in Korea, Apt1014, Elliot
[your turn!]

TV Reviews

I'm tagging Tentay Patis, Sollee, My Subconscious Talks, Marvs18, Kengkay, Crissy's Heaven
MLC

I can't touch things that are true...

Kaiinstall ko lang ng Google Earth on my laptop just to show my father what it can do. Hayon, punta kaming Paris, Cairo at kung san-san pa. When he went out of my room (baka napagod at di na-keri ang kata-travel),I decided to stay on Google Earth for a few more minutes. It's statistically expected for me to visit Korea, and I ended up landing on Daejeon University. Though the map isn't updated to 2007 geography (andaming kulang na buildings sa DJU) it made me recall Aslan's line in Chronicles of Narnia Prince Caspian:

"Things never happen the same way twice."

Point is: We need to grow in many different ways. But I'm such a creature of habit...

I know for a fact that kahit maglulupasay pa ko sa loob ng subway, when I get back to Korea again, things will never be the same for a number of reasons. Worst thing that could happen when I'm already there is when these words are pushed from my mouth: I had been better off in the Philippines.

Yeah, I shouldn't be expecting a fairy tale-themed life in this life. That's why I made a wish in my previous post.

Life on Film

A movie that is too long is a boring movie; you just want to cut it short and continue watching it later (you might not even want to do that). Is life not at all different? I have lived for two decades and a year and--for another decade or so--I cannot see my self doing the routinary mess that 'surprises' me everyday. Yes, I have a good family, I did well as a student, I have an easy and relatively high-paying job, I am surrounded by great people. Yet I want to have a lifespan of a butterfly. Each stage of their lives are well-demarcated. There is no confusion. Butterflies know no angst.

I yearn to live a life that's short and extremely eventful. I know it can't happen. And I can only wish in my hearts of hearts that I'd be reincarnated not as a person, but as a character in a soap opera about romantic love. I know I'm crazy. But come to think of it. As a persona in a soap, in 24 hours you have done what a centenarian has done in his lifetime. There is character development, you know your role, your purpose. You'll be able to travel to a lot of places, to be romantically loved, to be hurt and recover as if recovery is the next fastest thing to light...Yeah, I'd like to live in a soap opera. I don't wanna get tired. I don't wanna get sick and be confined for a long time. I don't wanna wear diapers or face the threat of being put in Home for the Aged. Yet I want to enjoy life, even if it is for just a short time. And isn't it that happiness, even in real life, ephemeral? So why not just live it on film?

Family Reunion

This will be my first domestic flight. I'm going to Leyte today (time check, 1:41am) to meet my distant relatives. I'm expecting to see the beauty of the Philippines from above. Sana di matabunan ng eyebags ko because I have to wake up at 4:00am. Again, Google will be penalizing me for my brief 2-day inactivity.

See you all on Monday! ^^;

Winning Moment

A couple of days ago, eto nangyari. Magpapaphotocopy ako ng thesis ko so I could have a personal copy. I was wearing an aviator "bubuyog" sunglasses non and a black with red stripes, semi-fit, hooded t-shirt when the manong mangxe-xerox exclaimed:


"Uy kamukha ni Rain oh!"

Marami kasing Koreans sa UPLB. Ako naman, natawa sa loob-loob ko. Tas sabi ko:

"Manong paphotocopy nga po nito. Tatlong kopya." Aba, ang Rain, nagtagalog! hehe.

Just that. Natuwa lang ako. Yang mga ganyang tipo ng panloloko ang maganda. Socially beneficial. hehehe.

Halo-halo for the Rainy Days

It never occurred to me that I would be admitted to the in-house TESOL training program in the company I work in. My attendance was as bad as it could get plus I received an IR for something so trivial. Yeah, I was really supposed to resign, as the post below broadcasts. It just so happened that I went to work earlier than usual and I was able to talk with my supervisor, who I usually don't get to see since she goes home at 5pm; I report to work at 7pm. She informed me that I passed the screening despite my tardiness and what-nots. So today, I have to retract my resignation since the company would be subsidizing the bulk of the training fee. I was also renewed as a full-time tutor.

To be honest, I don't feel that happy. I wanted to work in ADB actually...But then it would mean renting an apartment in Ortigas; ADB HQ is 3 hours away from my residence. I have to cook my own food, I have to do laundry by myself...I have to...oh, the list goes on. The point is, I can't. I would be more willing to pay for some else's services but what would be left from my salary? I just want to experience even just for a year the empowerment having a job could bring. I am single. My parents don't oblige me to contribute to family expenditures. I can splurge all I want.

But then again, I can't envision myself working for 8 hours everyday doing the same things over and over. I look forward to doing something more dynamic, like doing some serious research and development projects (+ occasional travel) as a part of an international organization. I could be a materialistic kid but in my heart of hearts I yearn to help my countrymen extricate themselves from poverty. I see the key in policy development. ODAs, educational reform, microfinancing, community training, guillotining the old politicians and burning at the stake dirty gnasty cronies.

Yeah! \m/!

My Name is Rain

This month is clear month for me. Alam ko, corny. Clear as in clearance moments not Bi's (비) clear shampoo. hehehe. Pano ba naman, I've just accomplished my graduation clearance form last week, then eto na naman, I'm clearing out from the company where I teach English. This week's Friday magaalsabalutan na ko. haha. Yan, clearance ulit, exit interview, job hunting. This time, I want to build my career in Asian Development Bank, or in any international organization.

To me, there's no such thing as resignation. I don't resign to my fate. There's no last day for me. Everyday is a new day.

Bye, my dear Korean students. 안녕히 계세요. 열심히! ^^;

Ironed Fashion

When I arrived in Korea last year 2007, I thought I could be included in its annals as the worst-dressed person to have ever walked the country. I won't post my pictures here since it will be, at the very least, an act of self-defamation. But right now I think have integrated my fashion-floppy old identity with my current fashion-okay self. Sounds psychological? I guess it is. I never thought before the serious extent to which one's confidence can be influenced by the clothes one wears. I thought this was just a cliche, a conspicuous hobby of the haves, the aorta of the vain vertebraes such as humans.

In Korea, everyone is like a walking christmas tree especially in Spring and Autumn. Scarves with patterns of beautifully alternating colors, layered clothes that flatter the wearer's features, various jingaling-jingalingdongs both women and men wear as accessories, uber small leather 'bags' and mags (manbags) they carry about--all these adorn most Koreans you'll see on the streets. And need I mention the hair-do?

I usually buy clothes from the internet. The online market in Korea is so vibrant and secure that it's as popular, if not more, as offline shopping. The latter, however, allowed me to practice and correct my pronunciation of Kkakkajuseo (discount please)-- and if it's just to challenge my charm--offline shopping is more exciting, and oftentimes more rewarding. ^^;

Here are some clothes I bought online:

Back to business

I lost my internet connection for a month and so my blogging life suffered. -_- Now, I'm really back. I'll try to post something new everyday.

Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian--A Must See

I watched Chronicles of Narnia Prince Caspian yesterday with my friends and it was amazing! It is way better than the first one in every element. The main actors (Pevensie children) have matured in their craft, the swordfights and battle scenes are awesome, CGs are magnificent. It's unthinkable for me that Narnia only got a mere 63% fresh rating in rottentomatoes.com.

Some say that there are some dragging scences, dead air moments in the film. Though I agree that indeed there are, I think that those parts are necessary and inevitable (our lives,too, have a lot more freewheeling moments that does Narnia). Also some people mistake cuts for character development as cuts that are boring. Anyhow, what I want to say is: Watch Chronicles of Narnia Prince Caspian and you won't be disappointed.

The pundits are just in for winning the best single-sentece critique they can post in rottentomatoes. Don't believe them. There are a lot more ready-to-use negative adjectives than are positive ones.

20 Questions Tag

20 QUESTIONS TAG
Here are the Rules for this tag :
Remove one (1) question from below and add in your personal question, make it a total of 20 questions, then tag eight (8) people on your list. List them out at the end of this post.
1. What is your favorite food?
- spaghetti and barbeque
2. What was your happiest moment when you were a child?
- when I learned how to ride the bike
3. Where is the place that you want to go the most?
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art
4. Which part of you do you hate the most?
- teeth
5. When you encounter a sad moment, what do you do?
- go out for a walk
6. What are you afraid to lose the most?
- family
7. If you win $1 million, what would you do?
- buy a real house in the province
8. What do you love the most about last year (2007)?
- I went home to the Philippines with my son twice!
9. Which actor/actress would you like to play you in a movie?
- Maggie Cheung
10. How do you cope with boredom?
- I don’t really have enough time to get bored
11. Till now, what is the moment that you regret the most?
- ignoring my drunk father the day before he died
12. What type of person do you hate the most?
- inconsiderate
13. What is your ambition?
- win $1 million
14. If you had one wish, what would you wish for?
- cure for all diseases
15 What is your weirdest dream?
- spreading jam on my wristwatch and eating it
16. What has been the craziest thing you’ve ever done in your whole life?
- become a fan
17. What do you look forward to in 2008?
- school
18. If your life is a song, what title best fits it?
- APO’s When I Met You
19. What is your inspiration in life?
- my family (cliche)
20. If you were to change one event in your life, what would it be?
- my Korean wedding (i should’ve tried to lose weight!)
I got this from: Can of Thoughts
I’m tagging Life in Korea
Amos Gene
Can of Thoughts
Sweet Lyka
Jyrevi
Marc Dionisio
Macky
Donna de Garcia
Etavasi
4-4-4-4
Scrumdiliumptious
Mommy’s Little Corner
ALouraine