初めての映画祭！My first participation in Eiga Sai

Just this morning, I woke up earlier than usual and prepared myself to go to Abreeza Ayala Mall, where free screening of few Japanese movies was held. Abreeza was just one of the two venues for this year’s Japanese Film Festival (Eiga Sai). Thanks to The Japan Foundation for making this event possible, continuing the yearly cultural exchange between Japan and Filipinos through movies which deepen our understanding and strengthen the bonds and friendship of the people. Eiga Sai 2014 movies revolve around the theme “family”.

It was my first time to participate in this rare event, considering that it only happens once a year. I couldn’t let the chance slip by again, even if I had the option to just watch those movies at home or with friends. I am not a movie theatre person, but when I heard Ookami Kodomo no Ame to Yuki (おおかみこどもの雨と雪) is one of the movies to be shown, I couldn’t help but be curious of the people’s reactions. I had already watched the movie last year for quite a few times.  I couldn’t get enough of it. I think I can even watch it many times again without the subtitles. It’s just too adorable. It’s my favorite anime movie at the moment.

Hosoda Mamoru's Wolf Children. Photo not mine.

So why would I watch it again in a confined space full of people? I was initially conflicted. A side of me was already content that I had already watched it. The other was really curious of what other people, especially those who would watch it for the first time, would think. I was imagining if people would laugh at the scenes I found funny, go “awww” at the heart-warming scenes, or scream “kyaaaa~” at the hinted romance. When I put myself surrounded by people in that dark place and hear their raw reactions, I almost lost contact with reality. My mind was drifting away in excitement. It was a 30-70 tug-of-war of these two choices. Basically, the latter choice won, and that’s how I ended up going to the cinema for once.

I met up with some senpai from the university. As early as 10AM, the opening of the mall, free tickets for the two movies of the third day of Eiga Sai at Abreeza were being distributed. I thankfully had my senpai get one for me while they were waiting for the doors to open. The first movie was Wolf Children, which started at 10:30 AM. It was about 2 hours long. The second movie was Like Father, Like Son (そして父になる). As expected, hearing the raw reactions and funny remarks was a fun experience, aside from the satisfaction from watching the two good movies.

Photo not mine

Eiga Sai 2014 is not yet over for those who live in Davao. Read this external post for more info. Although I hope to enjoy more of the Eiga Sai this year has to offer, but I barely escaped from the other stuff I had to do just to watch today. Nonetheless, I am really happy and satisfied with my decision. J

A survey

Why are humans dubbed as the superior race of Earth?

Why do humans rule above the living beings on Earth? Why do humans feed on some edible parts of some edible plants and on some edible parts of some edible animals? Originally meant to walk on land or crawl on the mud from hunger, why did humanity decide to swim underwater, sail the waters, and fly over the terra and mare? Originally meant to strive within the planet, why did humanity decide to start conquering space? Originally meant for coexistence and procreation, why are humans killing and bashing each other? Are humans trying to be God or something greater than God himself?

Wait, are humans really that superior?

Taking a break

Oh, I really wish I had KitKat right now.
Photo not mine. Photo from KitKat.com

Hello! Thank for reading my blog posts. This post title is so straightforward that I only need to state my reason(s). 

I actually have to minimize my time lurking online (Blogger, Facebook) so I can focus on my studies. That means I may not be able to update this blog as often as I did during the first two weeks of June. Furthermore, I also have something to take care of aside from my studies and it is something more private I cannot dig it any deeper. 

Rest assured, I will come back to this blog and write a lot of things when I am unbound from these responsibilities I currently cannot run away from. 

See you around as soon as I can break free.

Sincerely,

miharusshi　みはる씨

Walk Log: Adventure #001

Ever since I introduced my love for walking, I came up with the idea of tracking down the routes in the city (or maybe in the future, of other cities I can travel to) that I have traveled by walking. Yay~

This is my first record, but definitely not the first time I walked a distance this long. Last Tuesday, June 10th 2014, I went to DOST XI Regional Office by jeep to drop off my requirements as a part of my reporting routine every semester to keep my scholar profile updated (so that I won't lose my scholarship and won't have to deal with a scolding due to a late compliance).

I'm happy to say that I belong to this awesome organization,
the only/first DOST Regional Office that holds the yearly Scholars' Congress
where DOST-SEI Region XI scholars get along and build camaraderie
through challenges that are faced by teams of scholars.
Thank you, scholar officers and SEI staff, for your hard work
in making the event possible annually!

After resting a bit on the lobby's sala set while reading articles on some awesome Filipino inventions that are practically useful in many industries, I finally wanted to go home. (But resting for a little bit more would have been so much better. Hehe.) Even before getting there, I had already decided to get home by walking.


The map shows the route by which I went home BY WALKING. It says the distance from the office to my home is approximately 1.3 kilometers, taking only 15 minutes of walking. In reality, it took me 19 minutes. Hehe. Yes, I noted the time I started walking and the time I arrived at home. Gotta improve my time, too!

I should think of my next adventure, of where my possible walking starting point and destinations will be.

Until then, my adventure record is at 001~ My first big step!

People are nice

Today was such an eye-opener. I'm not the type to open the conversation with a complete stranger, but I miraculously had the courage to break the wall between me and a fellow job applicant. That was some will-breaking move for an introvert and loner like me.

The interviewer did not arrive yet, so we had plenty of time for waiting. We just talked and talked and I listened so much to her interesting stories. She told me where she graduated from, her current job (and how much she dislikes the job, despite the good pay she gets), and some things about her family and love life. I later realized that I didn't really share much of mine. If I recall correctly, I only disclosed my intention for applying and my status at school. After talking so much, we didn't even know each other's names, so we introduced ourselves after that long conversation. 

Even with this level of acquaintance, she offered to treat me to lunch. I was reluctant at first, but it would be rude to refuse her offer so I gladly accepted it. I learned so much from her.

It made me feel like I really am inexperienced when it comes to the 'real world', the 'real life'. I still have a lot to work on and a lot of experiences to gain to help me gain confidence.

Thanks to this experience, I might become a social person, too. I hope that someday, I will be able to also share my experience to someone who needs to be briefed about the world and people around us, just like how she taught me all these things.

This is just the beginning for me. 

Go, me!

Embracing the culture of walking

Walking wasn't my thing, but I did a lot of walking even when I was an elementary kid. when going to church alone for supplementary lessons, I only walked from my home. The distance was more than a kilometer but less than two. When going to the nearest mall (Victoria Plaza), I would only walk from our house, too. Now that I think about it, I may have enjoyed walking ever since then.

Happy Independence Day!

UPDATE: Google homepage featured our holiday!

UPDATE: I've added our issues with China

It's 0:01 of June 12, 2014 as I am writing this part. This means that I stayed awake to witness the transition from yesterday to today.

To the Filipino people, Happy Independence Day!

July 4th 1946 is the original Philippine Independence Day.
That means it's still too early to celebrate it right now, eh?

Hey, are we really a free people? Yes, we are a free people in terms of geographical territories and the absence of military oppression from foreign conquistadors.

But hey, are we really living the freedom we ought to be living? I don't completely think so. The Filipinos are now being shackled by our national problems, adding them to the personal problems we are already battling with. For the past few months, what have we been facing?