Matandang Dalaga

I was doing well back home. After 33 years, I can pretty much say I was able to do accomplish a lot of my essential dreams: Buy a house for my parents Buy a car for my parents Provide for my family Put my niece to school Travel with my family Write a book Write movies Write TV shows I also have the same friends I've had since elementary, high school and college. There are times when our communication gets interrupted but it has been pretty much an intact friendship regardless of the frequency of our "get togethers". I was doing okay. I was happy. So everyone couldn't understand why I was leaving. After all, I was all set with my plans. I knew I was adopting a child if I get to 40 and I am still single. By that time, I estimated I would have enough savings to secure my child's future even if I don't work another day in my life.

I went back to my alma mater. Since I am moving to another country for a job, I won’t be seeing it for a while. I knew it was going to be a little emotional for me but I didn’t know it was also going to be cathartic. Who Was That Person? I could see myself walking those pavements. I was perpetually in awe of the proud buildings, of those intimidating holy men immortalized through those dreary statues and of those traditions never imposed but always displayed. I remember my routine, the extra-curricular activities I joined and friends I made. I remember where I hanged out, what I promised myself I would become and what I tried hard to achieve. I remember my failures, the people I hated and impressions I made. But I don’t quite remember who I was. It was as though I was reliving someone else’s life, like I was remember someone I knew back when I was in college. I don’t remember who I was then. I wonder if that version of me would recognize who I am today.

I have a theory that infidelity is not about love or the lack of it. It's all about vanity. When someone makes you feel important, desired and tingly, you feel good about yourself. Even if the current official partner still makes you feel that, having someone else want you is an ego trip of a lifetime. My first boyfriend cheated on me on the third year of our relationship with a girl he met online. I know… such a pathetic cliché. He mentioned the girl once. Let’s call her Roberta. He said she plays one his online games with her. I didn’t think much about it because I used to play games too. I know you interact with other people all the time.  Click here to read about how to determine if your boyfriend is still not over his ex.  As time went on, he would usually cut our dinner or evening conversation short so he can go online and play that game he is playing. One time I we were having dinner at his place, he even played the game while I was watch...

My then boyfriend and I were hanging out at my house. My parents were there and we were having snack. I stood up to get some water and I asked my then-boyfriend, “Want some water?” He nodded. I went to the kitchen and poured some water. When I turned, my mom was standing behind me, staring at me. “What?” I didn’t say it but that was on my mind. She burst into tears. “You’re not even married and you’re serving him!” Shit, right?

Things I Wish I Knew When I was in My Teens 1. We are all vain and most problems begin there We all have that need to feel important, to feel needed, wanted and valued. When someone pays attention to us, regardless who that someone is, we fulfill that need and we cling on to that person who fulfills that need for us. We often mistake this for love. Dumb.

Don't expect some intellectually stimulating plotline. There's no mind-boggling puzzle to solve. There is no open ended ending that will haunt you for the rest of your life. The Raid is pretty much what it is advertised to be, a violent movie... a beautifully made violent movie. Synopsis A team of police officers raids a building that is owned by a wanted criminal. When the criminal learns that they are being raided, he announces that whoever kills the intruders may live in the building for free. Apparently, the building houses Indonesia's most dangerous criminals. Things get complicated when the team learned the mission is not sanctioned and no help was arriving. It even got more complicated when one of the police officers turned out to have a special connection with one of the criminals.

Secret is a 2007 Taiwanese film that was written, directed and starred by the musician Jay Chou. Way to save some money which he didn't have a lot of as far as I understand. Synopsis Ye Xianglun (Jay Chou) met a girl in school to where he just transferred. The girl, Lu Xiayu (Gwi Lun-mei), plays a piano piece which she specifically told him not to play in the old piano in the music room. After a series of puzzling events, it was reveled that the girl is actually from 1979 and a student of the guy's father. She travels back and forth in time by playing the piano piece she found in the piano room. There's a catch, only the first person she sees when she travels forward will see her back. That's why she devised a way to make sure she sees the guy first. However, after several mishaps, she thought that the guy developed a relationship with another student so she traveled back to her time and didn't come back. Apparently, she died of asthma.

I love films and every now and then, when I have nothing to write or when I remember or just saw a really good film, I'll write about must see foreign films. This week, it is SWAY. When Takeru (Joe Odagiri), a high profile and successful photographer in Tokyo, returns home to his mother’s funeral, he reunites with two important people in his life. Minoru (Teruyuki Kagawa), his elder brother who stayed behind   to care for their parents and run their small family business and Chieko (Yōko Maki), Takeru’s ex-girlfriend with whom he broke up with when he decided to pursue a career in Tokyo. His return brings feelings of regrets, envy and resentment none of the three characters knew ever existed. Takeru was also surprised to learn that Minoru had feelings for Chieko.  Detachment from their Roots  Takeru's return highlights how he has become so detached from his roots. His leather jacket, strategically disheveled hair and dominantly black ensemble made h...