The lady in a pink t-shirt partnered with her knee-length maong skirt strut her way as she walked across the paralleled department in one of the biggest malls in their town. She cat-walked as if no one was around her in that public place that was always populated with different people on any given day.
While carrying a paper bag full of wooden key chains she bought from a Christian book store, her next stop was the most reputable bookstore chain in the Philippines. She glanced at the sale signboard as she slowly passed by the floor to ceiling window panels. Salivating over those discount sales was an overstatement, but nevertheless, it was a sight to see a bookstore with 50% off signs.
The lady in a pink t-shirt and knee-length maong skirt was feeling giddy as she browsed a few selections of books on sale. Hardbound and softbound. Fiction and non-fiction. Local and international authors and publishers. There were a quite few selections of printed books in an industry that was dying little by little due to the emergence of the digital age in the publishing world.
Spectators said that e-book or electronic books would soon replace the existence of the printed books and people would no longer want and need to buy printed books in a physical book store. But the lady in a pink t-shirt and knee-length maong skirt begged to disagree.
Dropping by to an NBS branch was a routine for her whenever she went to a department store and always looked forward to discounted or bargained books. That day at NBS was like any ordinary day for her, except for health protocols due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After filling out the contact tracing form, she swiftly entered the haven of any book lover. She browsed books like she normally would, reading the title and the author of the book, turning the book and glancing the price at the back, and pondering whether the book worth the price or wishing when it would go on sale. After some time of wishful thinking, she would return the to its original place, properly.
At one corner of the book store where no one seemed to notice that place, the lady in a pink t-shirt and knee-length maong skirt took an interest in surveying the corner. It had books she wanted to buy not so long ago.
to be continued...
I felt nostalgic as I watched the live-action film Aladdin by Disney. I was excited and felt like there was a bubbly feeling inside me. I was giddy and anticipation overwhelmed me. I was a sucker for Disney movies when I was a kid, who wouldn't. And I have this feeling that the kid who fans over Disney movies is still there somewhere inside me. Though as an adult I read articles and watched YouTube videos that criticized Disney's approach in handling the story where they change something to make it acceptable and appropriate to their young audience. The intention is good, they want to sell a feel-good movie inspired by existing stories that have a different representation. One can never go wrong in choosing a family-oriented and heartwarming movie from my Disney favorite films, and one of them is Aladdin.
I could just scream inwardly when I heard that there would be a remake of Aladdin. I was excited, yet I never intended to watch it in cinemas, how ironic, and I was just waiting for it to stream online. I wondered how the whole team of filmmakers could pull off such a grand production presented in its animated counterpart. I was having my doubts about the ability and capability of Disney to realize such an ambitious project, and also if they would find the right actors to give life to such wonderful characters.
In the first few days of the year 2021, my doubts about the movie were proven completely false. The live-action Aladdin by Disney was gorgeous. They had the right actors for Aladdin, Jasmine, and Genie. They pulled it off. I loved the song and dance routine like it was a musical theater production in the form of a film. It had also expressed firmly the struggle of Princess Jasmine in becoming the next Sultan of their kingdom. I didn't expect that one. I thought it was all just a romantic fling between a thief and a princess and how they could defeat the villain of the story, but it was more than that.
I think we can all identify ourselves with all the characters from Aladdin, Jasmine, Genie, Sultan, Jafar, Hakim, Dalia... at some point in our lives. They are us one way or another. I believe that just like Jasmine, we should not stay silent and go speechless when we are required not to be.
Nevertheless, this is a fun and good-feel movie for the rest of the family. You must watch it!
Through this blog, it is my first time reacting to a movie I watched. I thought I should just go for books, but I guessed we could also go get inspiration in movies just like I thought so.
The first film is Weathering With You. I saw posts about this movie for quite some time on one of my social media accounts. I was interested since I heard that the main characters of the animated movie Your Name made a cameo, but my curiosity was not enough to make me want to watch it during those times.
Ever since I was a child I have been fascinated with animated movies and the likes so it is only natural for me to watch this kind of film whenever I find the time to browse the internet and find an interesting film to get myself busy in times of idleness or if I want to have a break from reading books.
Weathering with You or Tenki no Ko is a kind of movie genre that I will definitely get myself into. It is heartwarming, full of drama, and has a sprinkle of romance. I got teary-eyed as I watched an animated film like this. I didn't expect that it was flavored with fantasy I thought it was more like the word 'weather' in the title was something like the struggles that the main characters experienced in their lives as teenagers. In literal meaning, it seems like I was wrong in my assumptions with the title, but in figurative aspects, I guess my assumptions make sense. It's like weathering with you means going through with you or with someone in facing struggles and challenges in life particularly in our society.
I admire how the characters defy the odds in realizing what their hearts desire the most. I had this thought of how I wished I could be brave like them, young as they were, they already determined what they want and what to do. Yet the plot of the story clearly showed the limitations of their desire at its resolution part, and as what the society expects them to behave. They are young and have to answer to the authority which presents the realistic part of the story. There are consequences they have to accept after pursuing their desire while neglecting their safety and without the approval of the people who are in charge of them.
This film burns with passion and warmth despite its rainy and watery season setting almost throughout the movie. Let's keep weathering!
It was morning and I was not feeling well. I felt cold and warm so I took a nap hoping the feeling would fade away. I prayed as I tried to get a little sleep to ease the cold and warmth I was feeling. It sounded ironic the way I put it, but if you are a normal human being this is exactly how you feel when you are about to get sick, you feel cold and hot. As I experienced this irony in my body, anxiety began to take over me about my plans for the first few days of 2021. I might put it behind and lose some finances due to my sickness.
Episodes just like this in my life remind me of my humanity, that there is a weakness in me, that I am limited in different aspects, yet I know that I am enough for the purpose He has entrusted me. God has supplied and will supply whatever I need. This is also a loving nudge from God that I must learn to let go of the things I can't control and fully trusting Him that all things will work together for good for those who love Him (Romans 8:28).
The year 2021 is not an exemption to the war that has been occurring even before I existed here on earth. A spiritual war has been going on since Satan rebelled against God. And the battleground for this war is our mind, thus we should fill our minds with good thoughts and ideas that edify us towards the kingdom of God.
For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God and take every thought captive to obey Christ, ~2 Corinthians 10:3-5 ESV
Living a victorious life is never easy, surely there are times of failure and losses, but He is faithful and Christ is enough. He will bring comfort in our troubled times. He will be with us when we face tribulation in our life. He will not forsake us. The LORD is always with us.
I am in the process of knowing God more and seeking Him to have that personal and intimate relationship. There are times that I waver and neglect my time with Him so I tried to improve some of my habits that will help me in my journey to know and experience Him more. I listed down below some of the materials that help me with this spiritual journey with God:
1. Journal Notebook
Ever since I decided to become a writer I always tend or prefer to pen down my thoughts and feelings in a notebook, but I was never consistent. Most of the time I just brush off the chances of penning down those thoughts and feelings. But the year 2020 made the difference, I was more determined to utilize my journal notebook in talking my thoughts and feelings with God. Hopefully, 2021 will bring the same determination as I continue to seek more of God.
2. 365-Day / Everyday Devotional
Recently, I began reading the Bible from the beginning, the book of Genesis. I was having trust issues with what the church was telling about Jesus. This was a struggle I opened to my Discipleship Group leader and other members. They prayed for me and gave references for me to watch, read, and meditate upon. Aside from reading the Bible, I thought it would be nice to have this everyday devotional book by Max Lucado.
3. Pens and Highlighters
I use Dong-A Fine Tech, they are more affordable than its other competitor. I get the quality I want at a much lower price. It is also refillable. For highlighters, I have ones from Stabilo Boss and Schneider Job collections. I just need the basics for penning down my thoughts and feelings, and sometimes my conversations with God. I also tried writing stories and poems on notebooks, but it appears to me that I am not making any progress right now.
The Armor of God
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Happy new year! God bless everyone!
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