Lessons

The original plan was to ‘rediscover’ my hometown. What ended up happening was me going out twice (both for an average span of three hours) to meet two friends and once or twice to have dinner with my family. The rest of the time was spent nursing the flu virus which has, so far, successfully evaded the meds I’ve been taking to eliminate the damn thing!

But, well, you know me. Give me too much time to think and I come up with at least a couple of so-called lessons from my predicament.

One is…as cheap as pirated DVDs come, original ones will always have the best quality. That’s why they’re dubbed ‘originals.’ You can’t find quality better than the ones they offer. But pirated DVDs DO come close. And some pirated DVD sellers actually manage to have copies of films that you don’t find in legit stores. I didn’t find my copies of Shortbus, a couple of French films, and a really fine copy of Stranger than Fiction (before it was shown in cinemas) in legitimate home entertainment stores. I got them from my suki DBD manong. And it’s easier to talk to your suki DBD manong about exchanging bad copies with new ones. They even allow you to switch movies. I’m not saying I am FOR piracy. I’m just FOR practical cheap buys. But yes, I know. I’m still ’supporting’ the movement with my pirated buys. But spare me the guilt trip. I am quite aware of it already.

Second lesson. There is such a thing as READING RUT. I’ve been trying to read the Pratchett book I borrowed from Leah but I’m not in the mood yet. So I bought the last installment of Christopher Paolini’s Inheritance Trilogy, Brisingr, and am now reading that one instead. But it’s taking me forever to even finish the fourth chapter. Reading Rut. Hay.

Next thing I learned is…it sucks being away this soon from someone whom you started dating only for a time. It drives you to think about unecessary things like issues you managed to suck out of thin air. Not the best feeling in the world. But, well, it’s also nice to know that despite your incessant moodiness and irrational paranoia, he still thinks the sun shines right out of your ass.

Which brings me to this line in the movie ‘Juno’ where Mac MacGuff says what I think is perhaps one of the sweetest things a father can say to his daughter:

Mac MacGuff: In my opinion, the best thing you can do is find a person who loves you for exactly what you are. Good mood, bad mood, ugly, pretty, handsome, what have you, the right person will still think the sun shines out your ass. That’s the kind of person that’s worth sticking with.

Last lesson is…being with family, even if it’s not speaking because you’re all doing entirely different things in the same room, is still something to look forward to. Just the ‘being with family’ part is enough reason to come back home.

Another thing…I think I’m going to hate Canada! And maybe New York–but only for about a month. After that, I’ll love Canada and New York again. I know. I’m talking in riddles.

Ayun. That’s all folks!

I love you too, but I’m gonna mace you in the face

I happened to pass by Astrovision at the mall yesterday and was surprised to find that original DVDs are now being sold for a mere P299! Three years ago, I remember VCDs being sold at a price P50 more expensive. Wow. Piracy has taken its toll on local home entertainment.

Anyway, I missed seeing The Darjeeling Limited when it was shown in some cinemas in Manila so the moment I laid my eyes on the title, I bought it on impulse. This is how I usually end up buying things, by the way.

I loved the movie. It’s about three brothers–Francis, Peter, and Jack (played by Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody and Jason Schwartzman respectively)–reuniting in India for what is supposedly a spiritual journey a year after their dad’s funeral. The brothers have not spoken since. The trip ended up not really a spiritual journey but more of one that served to reunite three estranged brothers. You see at the beginning how they had deep-seated issues with one another and that there is a lack of trust among the three. But at the end of the trip, they learn to be family again.

The movie is ripe with humor and is set in the loveliest of places. India’s always been a place I want to visit. Such a unique country. So much culture in one place. And it is vividly captured in the film.

What else to expect in the movie: a ton of Louis Vuitton luggage, a king cobra, sweet lime, and Angelica Houston as the boys’ runaway mom.

All in all, I think it’s a must-see if you’re looking to watch something different from the usual Hollywood blockbuster film.

Also bought a VCD of Chances Are. It’s a movie starring Robert Downey Jr. and Cybil Shepperd. A little tragic but I loved it.

Post secret

I love Post Secret. I haven’t been lurking in the site for quite a while. Went there today and saw some that caught my attention.

Of little people (hehe):

Next one I can relate to. hahaha. It takes me back to my first kiss. Lol

If all else fails…

Counting the days

I’ve been in Davao for only 2 days and I’ve never been so restless. I should really hit the beach soon. I’m meeting up with Janie tomorrow so I’m probably going to drag her to the nearest (and one of the cheaper) resorts in Samal. Just to hang out and stare at the horizon.

I’ve been realizing some things since I came back. I realized that it’s when you’re smack in the middle of an awkward/uncomfortable/unfamiliar situation that you come face to face with yourself. Hay. At the very least, you get to know your darkest self. Which will then lead you to knowing its antithesis–your ‘highest’ self. You won’t get to that point immediately, of course. You go through your low moments first. And you let yourself give in to these moments for a time. I guess you have to really let yourself feel it fully. And when you feel as if you’ve already milked the most out of that sadness, you choose to be happy again.

Sigh. Who’d have thought relationships are this complicated? And why the hell is time moving at a snail’s pace these days? Hay. Whatever. I hope tomorrow will be better.

Home sweet home

I’m back in Davao and will be staying here until the 15th.

I don’t really know what possessed me to come back home when, really, I should be looking for a new job. It started with me supposedly visiting a few days for my parents’ wedding anniversary but it didn’t push through because I chose to stay for the last week of LEAP–hectic schedule at that time, unfortunately. So I decided to go home the week after. That way, I can stay a bit longer. I miss my two little (well, they were once) brothers and my parents. And my friends from school. And Peach, my college roommate, recently moved here so we’re meeting up tomorrow too.

ANYWAY. I wanted to stay in Manila the past few days; if only because of the bond I’ve formed with people there. But maybe there is a reason why I find myself back home after god only knows how long…okay, I know. Since last Christmas. Hehe.

I’ve been dealing with a lot of changes lately. And I do mean big ones. The fact that I am out of a job while these changes are happening might also be telling me to come back to my ’safe place’ so I can think about my recently-made choices. I know I don’t regret any of the things I chose to do the past few months–even giving up the magazine. Maybe I need to get away from the busy city and start exploring my roots again. Where everything began. Even if it’s just to get a clearer picture of what it is I really want to happen when I come back.

Maybe I need to come home to prepare myself for The Big Commitment. And I know it doesn’t only pertain to my “career” but other aspects of my life as well. Maybe that’s exactly it. Committing to the next big chapter of my so-called life. Because I DO feel that something had ended. And something is on the verge of (or already is) beginning.

I dunno. Just throwing out thoughts and musings as they come.

Igor, if you’re reading this..I’m game for the quarter life when you are!