Am I Reincarnated?

Reincarnation is still to be proven but a lot of people have been made into believing this phenomenon as they have seen some similarities or have been in situations that made them truly believe that they have past lives. So let me just tell you what I know about this topic. Our universe holds a lot of mysteries and sometimes we wonder about those. I, myself, have been intrigued with life itself. I don't hold any religious principles while writing this. I don't have scientific evidence either to prove myself. In fact, I'm not going to prove that I'm right. I'm simply writing this one to voice out my curiosity of the topic and hopefully, in turn, would make you curious, too.

I heard my friend before that soulmates are actually one spirit that was divided into two. Well, I don't actually believe in the possibility before. I have read a lot of books about reincarnation and life after death but they only made me question on the topic more. I have also heard about urban legends, for example, the similarities between Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy. It's a popular legend, some of it aren't true. But there are similarities.

You might wonder what happens when a person dies. After a person's death, his spirit or energy ascends. Where to? Legends have it that when another person dies, another one lives. Those legends might not exist until today if they didn't have a little truth in them.

The spirit might look for a vessel to transfer to: another being. If it doesn't find one, it will stay until it can search for one. The vessel and the spirit must match; otherwise, it will leave the body sooner as it gets there. Spirits may have memories; only that they are trapped into our subconscious. During deep meditations and sometimes, in our dreams, those memories would seep through. Of course, you might not remember it or regard it as something not true since it didn't actually happen in your lifetime.

Today, I have found out something. If legends were true that I have lived after a person died. The most likely person who have been my past life was Yusaku Matsuda. He was a Japanese actor and he died on my birthday. I have always been fascinated with Japanese culture and arts since I was a child and have always dreamed of going there. Also, it was my childhood dream to be acting in the theater. I would usually write scripts for our school plays and would make short films for the amusement of others. It could happen to anyone but this one fact, startled me. Yusaku's mother had intentionally recorded a wrong birth date on his records. The same as mine. (Please refer to my previous post Happy Birthday from Mom).

Well, that's all for now. I don't fully believe in the theory myself but I always keep an open mind to "what if's" and other possibilities.

Hunger Games

When my friend introduced me to this book several months ago, I was wondering if it was worthy to read. I've read the first book which moved me to tears with sentimental scenarios but I seem to be restless without reading the other two books of the trilogy.

I was able to get hold of a copy but haven't pulled myself yet into reading them until the movie adaptation to the first book was released.

My friend and I were satisfied with the actress who portrayed Katniss Everdeen. She played it well and although some parts of the movie were altered from the original part of the book, we were able to go home with smiles on our faces.

Then, I realized that I want to know how it would end. So I started reading the second book to the series: "Catching Fire". Again, I relived the feelings I had when I read the first book "Hunger Games"--the desperate call for survival, the adrenaline that rushes to me like I myself was a tribute: a chess piece to a game that reeks of death, manipulated by outsiders.

I was able to go through the second book with a thousand questions on my mind. And the most unexpected thing happened, I began to start reading the third book--eager to know how the story would unfold and end.

But it wasn't at all pleasant to read. I felt emptiness upon reading it, like my very life was being sucked out from my body. The fire of idealism covered almost all the pages of the book but ended into the throngs of realism.

Was it real...

When all you hear are lies, you won't be able to identify the truth anymore. Reality becomes twisted and you would find yourself mistrusting people around you.

You will have a faint grasp of what's real and what's not. But you still cling to the hopes that you will be able to find something true behind those lies, just so you could get a grip of what little sanity is left within you.

The third book, Mockingjay, gave me only one unified feeling after I read it: Emptiness with a Sad truth. The truth that things won't go your way, that some things are meant to be played, that sometimes you have to keep a role to present.

But surely, one can only hope that after being mentally tortured., you would lose a part of yourself: your sanity. And that even though how you push it out of your head, the memory would sink in back like a mist.

...or not real?

The Vow

Today, I plan to make it up for lost time with my best friend. We haven't seen each other for days and I really miss her so much. So I planned to treat her out for a movie and since The Vow is in cinemas.

The film, The Vow, showed up during Valentine's Day in the U.S. and only now was it shown in theaters here in the Philippines. But I did not dare miss it (especially because Channing Tatum is the lead actor). The story tells about how a married couple who suddenly drifted apart because of an accident that cost the woman's memory.

Paige, played by Rachel McAdams, doesn't have any memory of her husband, Leo (Channing Tatum). Her recent memory was being in law school and engaged with her former love, Jeremy. She can't remember being in love or married to her husband.

Realizing this, Leo was determined to retrieve her memory and get their married life back on track. But it wasn't that easy.

I was intrigued with how the characters will get back together. I sent my best friend a message to meet me in the theater. I got there first--just 15 minutes before the first showing comes up. She was on her way. I bought two tickets for us and waited for her. I was a bit hungry so I thought of buying some popcorn and drinks for us. While I was at the counter, I turned my head around the area looking for a sign of my best friend when I suddenly caught a familiar face...a very familiar face: my boyfriend... with another woman. Well, that pretty much settles everything.

I was shaking when I paid at the counter. I wanted to go to him and punch him in the face but he already went inside the theater. So I gave him a message asking if the woman who's with him is his girlfriend. He replied like he was oblivious to the situation. He's a total jerk. When I told him that I was in the theater he finally told the truth...through text messaging. (gawd! he doesn't even have the balls to be honest!) Thank God my best friend arrived and I tried to hide my shaking. My best friend hates him to the core. Now I know why.

The movie was already starting when we went inside and I couldn't internalize the first scenes because of what I had seen. He was texting me trying to apologize (which was pointless and downright bullsh*t) and that he wants to be a better man and that he tried to work things out between us (he was talking nonsense). I said my last goodbye (it was futile to continue with the crap) and told him that he was the biggest mistake that ever happened in my life.

It was ironic experiencing those things while watching a romantic movie. I was more than glad that my best friend was there to support me. She made me laugh and we made silly jokes while watching the movie and I realized how much I missed her. I realized how so much time I had wasted with dating and having relationships with a bunch of A holes. I was more than determined to pick myself up and get on with my life.

I cried a tear or two when the movie ended. Partly because I'm hurt but mostly because I'm relieved. Relieved that I knew about it before it was too late. The movie showed unconditional love and proved that if things are meant to be...they will be. I want to believe that there's someone meant for me too. Maybe not now, but there will be. I deserve a chance to happiness. I'll search for my ever after.

Something Borrowed

I've seen this movie title in my best friend's computer files. I'm a little curious about it since I saw the trailer but I never had the chance to watch it. The movie is a film adaptation of Emily Giffin's novel with the same title and was released last year. Well, just recently I watched this movie after a heated conflict with one of my colleagues, hoping I'd get that "feel good" feeling I get in some romantic movies. So I watched it and turned out I was wrong. Terribly wrong.

The movie seemed complicated on how the characters make it too difficult to be with each other by hiding secrets and telling lies. The story was dragging that I'd really prayed that the movie would end in an hour. I felt awful about Rachel, played by Ginnifer Goodwin. She's a wimp, inferior...someone who can't decide for herself. And she's a lawyer for Christ's sake! How did she become a lawyer in the first place? Don't get me wrong. I don't mean any harm...but aren't lawyers supposed to be fighters? I just don't get it. For several years, she let her best friend, Darcy (Kate Hudson) overcome her. She hid in her best friend's shadows all her life and it took a lot of reality checks before she saw the big picture.

Her former crush and best friend's fiance, Dex (Colin Egglesfield), is a total douche bag. Rachel and Darcy don't deserve a person like him. He's not man enough to have his own decisions. It seems that he's just playing along with the women. I don't even know why (after all what happened...after Rachel finally got to see her flaws and be with her best friend) she still chose to be with the guy. It's terrible. I actually believe that she's better off with Ethan (John Krasinski). Both women deserve someone better.

The characters have hidden affection for each other and the whole scenario seemed to be a big rat race full of regrets, silenced words and unrequited love. Maybe this kind of scenario happens in real life but if it really exists, I don't want to be in any way part of it. It's too complicated, drastic and pathetic. And all for the sake of what they call "love". 

But love doesn't ONLY exist in romantic relationships. It also exists in your relationship with the people around you...your friends. Friends should be seen as your equal and not a competition or whatsoever. If I will be given a choice between my best friend and a former crush, I'd choose my best friend...every time. I'd choose to be straightforward and honest with my best friend. She won't get away with something that will make me truly happy and I would be the same to her. It's a pact of trust and loyalty. Lying to her would eat me up and foreseeing how badly she'll get hurt if I do this/that would totally break my heart. 

I guess love can be Something Borrowed. If you can't pay it, better return it.

Unofficially Yours

No strings attached, no 3rd party, no parental objection, no peer pressure.
So how do you make a conflict out of a seemingly perfect love story?
The story tells about two people who had their hearts broken before.
One, came from an 8-year long relationship but is ready to face the challenges again of a new love.
The other, left by the man she loved for 5 years, has closed her doors and let her fear of loving again grow within her.

My friend and I, watched this movie a few days ago. He could deeply relate with the story and he was almost close to tears when he remembered his loved one. (how I envy him. haha)
 It's a feel good movie. Although I can't fully relate to it, I remembered a lot of my friends in this same scenario. (Not being unofficially someone else's but making sacrifices or letting go of opportunities just to be with their loved one.) And since I can't really relate to it, I can only give you some reasons why you should/should not watch it because I don't want to spoil it all for you.  Here it goes:

Why You Should Watch It
1. You (for men) can find the girl of your dreams in this movie: Beautiful and Hot Angel Locsin. (maybe one of her daring movies?)
2. It tells you not to give up on your dreams and to grab every opportunity. Don't hold back because your loved one says so. Remember: If he/she loves you, they will let you "grow".
3. As what of my friends would say. "Love conquers all, even fear."

Why You Shouldn't Watch It
1. The characters are too good to be true. (I don't mean the looks.) They have no flaws in this movie, especially the male character.
Mackie Galvez is played by John Lloyd Cruz, portrayed as your typical guy-next -door: VERY nice, VERY charming (seems perfect to me).
Angel Locsin is Ces (short for Princess. i don't know what her last name is). She is the PERFECT girlfriend material: beautiful, sexy, independent and career-driven. You can actually wrap her in a box and give to your mommy.

Some would actually compare this movie with Friends With Benefits. Well, they're somewhat alike with the "let's-have-sex-but-we-are-not-committed" part but I think it's more similar with the movie No Strings Attached (gawd. maybe I should make a review about this too. this was released last year). The same concept of believing that two people can have a non-committal-only-sex relationship in the beginning but found themselves falling in love with each other in the end. (When I think about it, they are ALMOST the same)

P.S. I must say the movie poster is the best I've seen in Filipino romantic comedy movies.

*Official movie poster from Star Cinema

I'm Getting Married

My sister and I happened to pass by a thrift shop located on the 2^nd floor of a shopping mall yesterday. They sell a lot of items in the store but what we did not expect to find there is a: WEDDING DRESS.

 It's an A-line dress resembling an A and flows fluidly from bust to hem.

It has a cathedral train which is commonly used in formal weddings.

The sleeves cover the arms from the shoulder to the wrists and are made of lace.

It has a scoop neckline which arcs down from one shoulder to the other in a “U” shape.

(The neckline can't be seen clearly because I'm still wearing a shirt underneath.)

The dress is still in good condition. The laces are not torn although the sleeves on the wrists look a bit flaxen.

The dress costs Php 850 only!

My sister wanted to buy it, asking me to wear it on my wedding. But I refused vehemently. Usually, wedding dresses are kept by their owners because they serve as reminders of their wedding, which is a very special event for every woman.

I can't stop wondering how it got there in the 1^st place. Knowing that it's already used, I might end up in a “Shake, Rattle & Roll” movie.

(While taking these photos, everyone in the store were staring at us. Gawd!)

Captcha and Etc.

I know we're all familiar with this:

We usually encounter this when we're making an account or a request on a specific website.
We call it CAPTCHA.
CAPTCHA stands for Completely Automated Public Turing (Test to Tell) Computers and Humans Apart. It's a computer-generated security measure to determine whether the request comes from a computer program or a genuine human being by distorting TEXT (see picture above). Basically, it's a visual-perception task.
Normally, humans don't have problems with this simple task. It only becomes a challenge when you have visual impairments.




 
Recently, I discovered this feature on Gmail. I was about to send an e-mail (for the longest time) when something like this showed up:

It was 2:00 in the morning and I could barely read so maybe I could do Math! (I don't know what do they call it. geesh!) It'll give you time to solve these simple problems in a minute (60 seconds!)

There's actually no problem with these measures created by websites. But I sometimes find myself in trouble from time to time because of some scenarios. (And I end up smiling at myself for making mistakes. hehe)

Worst case scenario #1
You haven''t slept yet because you're trying to meet a deadline. You send an e-mail to your client or you send (whatever you're working on) online and then MATH! (Cram!)

Worst case scenario #2
You are in a hurry to send an e-mail and this comes out. You're on the last item then suddenly your screen shuts off. (Power shortage)

Worst case scenario #3
You're sending an e-mail and this showed up. Someone's peering at your computer screen (may be your nasty brother/sister or your high school enemy), and you try to solve the problems uncomfortably making sure you won't make any mistakes. (Gotcha!)

The next time you find yourselves facing this problem on your screen, what do you do?
a.) Look for your eyeglasses or corrective lenses
b.) Grab a calculator
c.) Count with your fingers
d.) Mumble some numbers
e.) Cover your screen
f.) Curse a mouthful


If you can think of other worst case scenarios, please leave it on the comment box. Thanks! ;D

Happy New Year

I've been pretty busy for a while and I was not able to post anything new here on my blog. (gawd) I know it's awful leaving my blog like this. So this 2012, I'll do all my best to post something new. (I'll keep my fingers crossed). Have fun reading ;D