Season 6: Photo Summary Part 1

HIMYM Season 6 Part 1

Because I can't get enough of the recently concluded Season 6 of How I Met Your Mother, and for those who haven't watched it wants to know quickly what happened in the season, here is SEASON 6 in 40 screencaps. (Thank God for VLC's Snapshot option!)

I don't know if most of you have noticed but every episode of HIMYM features at least two story lines being tackled by the two groups. Most of the time, it's Marshall and Lily tackling one story line (usually baby-related) while Ted, Robin and Barney tackle another. Sometimes--but frequently used this season--an episode revolves around only one story.

Episode 1 Big Days

Story A: Marshall and Lily deal with Marvin Eriksen's
extreme involvement in their baby-making efforts.

Story B: Ted and Barney talk about this girl (Read-a McGee, haha) at a bar,
and Robin shows them that she "still got it". 

Episode 2 Cleaning House

Main story: Barney and his brother James meet James' real dad.
Barney admits that he knows Bob Barker is not his father.

Episode 3 Unfinished

Main story: Robin forgetting  Don--eventually.

Episode 4 Subway Wars

Main story: Why everyone, except Barney, needed a win.

Barney letting Robin win by tackling Ted.

Episode 5 Architect of Destruction

Main story: Ted meets Zoey.

Episode 6 Baby Talk

Story A: Why Lily wants a girl.

Story A: Why Marshall wants a boy.

Sub-story: Barney telling Robin, "You're your own daddy."

Episode 7 Canning Randy

Main story: Randy and his Wharmpess Beer.
Sub-story: Robin and her Diaper ad.

Episode 8 Natural History

Story A: Ted, Zoey and The Captain
Story B: Marshall and Lily talk about his long-forgotten
dreams of saving the environment.

Story C: Barney and Robin playing around the museum
and finding out who is Barney's dad.

Episode 9 Glitter

Two beavers are better than one: Robin and her BFF Jessica Glitter.

Episode 10 Blitzgiving

Awww, man!: The gang spends Thanksgiving with Zoey and The Blitz.

Episode 11 Mermaid Theory

Robin tries to get close to Marshall but
Marshall's trying to keep her from turning into a mermaid.

Episode 12 False Positive

Main story: Lily and Marshall get a false positive in a pregnancy test,
and this freaks out everyone BUT Ted.
Sub-stories: Robin gets  new job; asks Ted to be the Best Man at her wedding.
Barney's Favorite Things!

How I Met Your Mother 6 Review: "High Six!"

Ted and Barney doing the "high six!"

The hardest part of making a series like How I Met Your Mother work is: lengthening the story without dragging it. The continuity that the fans have loved about the show may also be its biggest obstacle. Many have said that the series' best season was the second (I beg to disagree, the fourth is my favorite) because it was as coherent and as connected to the storyline (narrating to the kids how Ted met their mother) as it can get. And, they say, that as it goes on, the show is becoming dragging.

With all these in mind, I expected Season 6 to be a mediocre season. I expected it to be a painful effort of the director/producers/writers of the show to make it longer and still try to fit it with the storyline. It may not be the best, but it has its good points. For all its faults and successes, I believe Season 6 is the most coherent, most independent season yet. One could watch the whole of Season 6 without being appraised of what happened in the earlier seasons and still get what is happening. I'm not saying it is detached from the rest of the show, what I'm saying is that it is coherent. It is a like an anthology with a very good "Introduction."

The first episode, Big Days is, for me, a preview of what will happen in the season. As the season unfolded, the issues tackled and mentioned in episode one was explained, expounded, clarified and discussed further. The main themes of Season 6 can be gleaned from this episode.



"Marshall Eriksen, Put a Baby in My Belly!"

Marshall and Lily horrified at
the thought of naming their baby wrong.

In the first episode, Marshall and Lily are trying to have a baby, with Marshall's father (Marvin Eriksen) being too involved in the process. This ticks off Lily but later on realizes that Marvin's enthusiasm is what Lily loved about Marshall. In the following episodes, the couple continue to try to be pregnant and tackle the issues related to having a baby like choosing a name (Baby Talk), planning the family finances (Natural History and Garbage Island), the possibility of being infertile (Bad News) and the effects of having a baby to the group's dynamics (Glitter). However, in the thirteenth episode, Bad News, the couple's baby-making efforts are put to a halt because of Marshall's father's death and his subsequent quest to save the planet (Exploding Meatball Sub). Finally, in Challenge Accepted, it is revealed that Marshall and Lily are pregnant.

"Rent Crocodile Dundee 3"

Marshall getting advice from his Dad.

The demise of Marshall's dad and best friend affected him deeply, and forced him to rethink his goals and priorities in life. The highly emotional Last Words is a heartfelt and all-natural episode that let the audience see the gang in their most serious and sincerest selves. No matter how fun the season is, this episode brought everyone (even the fans and the actors) back to earth. Indeed, real friendships experience real setbacks. Althroughout the season, we are 'treated' to a different side of Marshall--very different from the naughty, funny and sometimes naive Marshall we have come to love. I always thought Marshall was too good to be true (He was smart, funny, sweet and lovable) but this season he became a real person--He has fired an employee, Randy, (Canning Randy), caused Meeker to be fired (Garbage Island), became selfish (Desperation Day), ate "The Calzone" (Change of Heart), fought dirty against Barney (Perfect Cocktail), and refused to touch Lily when she was vomiting like a dinosaur (Challenge Accepted'). Season 6 is the season when Marshall matured. Who's next?

"The Captain!"

Ted and Zoey trying to make a good omelette.

Let's admit it, after Ted was left at the altar, he has mellowed--romantically speaking. But this season he got back on track and dated a married-but-later-on-divorced woman named Zoey. I did not like the insertion of Zoey into the show because I felt the writers were just dragging the story along. But later on I realized that after a setback, a romantic like Ted deserves to fall hopelessly in love, once again. Regardless that we all know that Zoey is not the "Mother" (hello, the kids are brunettes, how could they have a blond 'mother'?), I felt her character was needed to make Ted realize a very important point, lesson in life which is, "Sometimes things fall apart to make way for better things."


"Who's Your Daddy?"

Barney and his dad, Jerome--the Legendaddy.

As early as Big Days wherein Barney briefly mentions that if he had his father's number there will be no time when he's not on the phone with him, the audience are treated to a glimpse of what the season will be about for Barney. Much like Marshall's growth, Barney follows suit, albeit more slowly. Barney remains to be the fun-loving Barney we know, who accepts self-imposed challenges (Baby Talk, Natural History, Oh Honey and Exploding Meatball Sub), fights with his younger brother for attention (Legendaddy), fights with Marshall (Perfect Cocktail and Landmarks), fights with Ted over who gets to push the button to destroy The Arcadian (Challenge Accepted) and mounts the Lion of The Arcadian in his bedroom. But he manages to grow up by admitting that Bob Barker is not his father (Cleaning House), admitting to Robin that Jerome Whittaker is his father (Natural History), admitting to Honey that he is frustrated at his father's indifference to his letter (Oh Honey), giving Jerome a break by spending time with him and listening to his advice (Hopeless) and, finally, accepting the challenge of going out with Nora (Challenge Accepted).

"Finished with That"
Last season, we are led to believe that Don might be the guy for Robin. She even declined a well-respected job to be with him but, alas, he has left her and taken for himself the job Robin declined. In Big Days we saw Robin moping over Don through over-eating Cheetos and other greasy foods. In Unfinished we saw her drunk-dialling him. In Subway Wars we see her crying in the subway after seeing a picture of them together. Thankfully, Barney and Ted, and the rest of the gang, helped her get through. She has dated Max (Subway Wars) and Scooby (Change of Heart). She also has a potential love interest in her Secret Crush (Hopeless), and has chosen to disregard her feelings for Barney.


SUB-THEMES/CLUES:

"Scherbatsky, I'm Gonna Crush It"
Big Days treated us to a vision of Ted being a best man. Being the friendly guy Ted is, we think of possible weddings. The subsequent episodes in season led us to believe that it might be Ted's high school's friend Punchy's wedding. Then in False Positive we are again 'deceived' by the hint that Robin asked Ted to be his best man. Some say that it might be Ted's father's wedding or Cindy's wedding. But the season finale Challenge Accepted revealed that it was, in fact, Barney's wedding. What remains to be answered is this: Who is the woman Barney will be marrying? Is it Nora? Is it Robin? 
I do believe that it will be Barney and Robin's wedding because for the writers to not do so will make me and a lot of fans of the Barnman and Robin extremely sad. What remains to be explained is the presence of the 'Mother' at the wedding Barney's wedding.

"Go Get Her"

Season 6's Big Reveal: Robin still has feelings for Barney.

After their break-up in season 5, Robin and Barney took a break from being good friends. Thanks to the arrival of Don Frank. Thankfully this season, the two got back on the friendship track by being each other's rah-rah boy/girl. When Robin was coping with her break-up with Don in Big Days it was Barney who taunted her to sundress up. When she had a bad time at work, he let him win in Subway Wars. When Ted was telling her that she was too much "in control", he told her that this was her best quality (Baby Talk). When she wanted to play around, he gamely agreed (Natural History). And finally, it was Barney who made the reunion between Robin and Jessica possible by showing the "Space Teens" video (Glitter).
Robin, for her part, did the best she could: She acted as a vital instrument in making Barney realize that he likes Nora (Desperation Day, Garbage Island) and should go for her (Challenge Accepted) despite her feelings for him.

A Wizard, A Coin-Flip Bimbo, and A Planet Saver
This season treated us to a lot of career choice storylines. Ted becomes more involved in architecture and teaching. Robin finally gives up her 4am news anchor job and the brief 'coin flipping bimbo' slot for a 'serious' job as a "lowly research assistant" at World Wide News (False Positive). Barney's job remains to be elusive yet stable, despite his near-termination (Landmarks). Lily remains to be a dedicated a school teacher. Finally, much have been devoted to Marshall's impending career choice between saving the world (joining the NRDC) and being a family man (remaning to earn big at GNB). He finally chooses the former and tries to make the ends meet, with Lily providing the much-needed help.


CONCLUSION
Although I do love the show with all my heart, I believe it is best to end it with Season 7, with Robin and Barney's wedding so as to make the show and the story come full circle. Despite the fun the show has brought, we all would want to know who the mother is eventually.

To extend it beyond season 7 is too much of a risk, considering how old the season is, and may get. Taking into account my mapping, it is logical to assume that Ted and the Mother will meet in 2011 or 2012. 2013 being the latest. But as we know, and as the writers have announced, How I Met Your Mother has been extended up to Season 8. I guess the sure-ness of when the end will be will make the writers' job easier in plotting the story lines and making a fitting ending, that is as coherent and as loyal to the previously mentioned details.

FEARLESS FORECAST

Season 6's BIGGEST reveal: Ted will meet
the Mother at Barney's wedding

Season 7 will most likely be Barney's (and most likely, Robin's) season. The Nora and the Secret Crush story lines will be explored in this season leading to Barney's and Robin's realization of who they love, and the maturization of this couple leading to a possible wedding.

Some say Barney might choose to marry Nora and then opt to be with Robin at the last minute (judging by his reluctance over his tie in Challenged Accepted). I think this will not happen because it would steal the attention away from Ted meeting the Mother, which is the point of all this anyway.

The ending will be much like this: Ted will meet two women who will possibly be "the Mother". As Season 7 and 8 go on, the likelihood of these two women becoming the Mother will be discussed and expounded on, building up to the Series Finale, wherein the Mother will be revealed as she appears with the kids and Ted in 2030.


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You may want to read:

Season 6: Photo Summary Part 1
Season 6: Photo Summary Part  2

Quintet 3: GLEE-king out

Quintet is a monthly music review of any five songs I happen to come across/stumble upon, or were recommended, any how, any time. Suggestions from readers are most welcome because music deserves to be shared. Let me be your convert or critic.


I was a big fan of Glee during its season 1 run. My undergrad blockmate made being a fan of Glee easy. She would provide us with freshly downloaded episodes, recently released cover songs, and even coerced us into making the signature gLee sign.

But come Season 2, when I had too much TV series to be updated on and with no undergrad blockmate to make Glee-king out easy, I sort let Glee go. I periodically update myself on what's going on with the episodes but not actually watch the episodes. I thought it had evolved into something altogether unfamiliar and boring.

Somehow I got wind of how good the second season is (well, based on my limited sources like The AV Club and some Facebook friends) so I decided to Google which episodes rock the most--so as to not waste my time watching the mediocre mid-season episodes--and watch these.

One of the main story lines of Season 2 was the Santana-Brittany-Artie love story arc. And I thank the writers for this novel addition because it deepens the characters, and because the best songs of the season came from this story line.


Landslide by Gwyneth Paltrow (Ms Holly), Naya Rivera (Santana Lopez) and Heather Morris (Brittany Pears) - I'm surprised Gwyneth can sing really well. So as Heather Morris. But the biggest revelation of all was Naya Rivera. Yes, although she has sung particularly well in the past, I believe this was one of her best musical numbers to date.


Born This Way by the Glee cast - I believe this was one of the instances wherein the cover is much better than the original. The showmanship of the number (the dancing and the shirts) makes it really nice.


Songbird by Naya Rivera (Santana) - This is, by far, the most heartfelt song in the series. (I'm guessing a number of people have their own choices.)

Santana literally crying her heart out to Brittany:
"I love you, like never before"

Isn't She Lovely? by Kevin McHale (Artie Abrams) - I love listening to this song when Stevie Wonder sang it but when Artie sang it, I loved it to the point that I'm humming it in the elevator while doing office tasks. That's how catchy his version is. I've said it before but I'll say it again, Brittany is the luckiest girl in the Glee world cast as of the moment. She both has a boy and a girl crushing on/loving her. Forget about Quinn, Rachel and Tina and their numerous boys. Santana is like Kurt (remember Mercedes and now, Blaine). 

and the only non-Santana/Brittany/Artie story arc song that made the monthly Quintet cut....



Don't Stop by the Glee cast - A good recession-caused-depression reliever song. Period.


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You may want to read:


Quintet 1: Music to my ears
Quintet 2: Holy Week Playlist

Things I Missed From Glee's Season 1 (Part 1)

Things I Missed From Glee's Season 1 (Part 2)
Things I Missed From Glee's Season 1 (Part 3)

The Coolest People on Earth Theory

As a social student/graduate, I've heard time and again from my professors at UP Manila that: "ang teoryang walang praktika ay walang saysay" (English translation: theory without practice is useless). I do recognize the importance of theory in society and, to an extent, social control. But before theory is practiced, it has to be carefully thought out.

Like Barney Stinson who always comes up with theories, and Sheldon and the gang who're always talking about real scientific theories, I'll give theory-making a try.

Theory: Once you meet The Coolest People on Earth, which is, as you know, subjective, you'll always have the thought that, whatever you do with other people it wouldn't amount to the fun, the familiarity and the feel of being with The Coolest People on Earth. So, meeting The Coolest People on Earth is both good and bad; there's a sense of ambiguity--much like Schroedinger's Cat.*

Illustration: If you're a party person, imagine yourself let's say... partying with the The Coolest Person--like let's say Tim Yap or someone who you think is the coolest (take note: not just cool butcoolest)--and then the next night you party with someone else who's not The Coolest Person. You'll come in, thinking, "ah, this is not going to be as epic as last night's" because you've experienced what partying with The Coolest Person feels like. Get it?

Real-Life Example (aka my experience): Having met, liked, loved, hated, loved again, and traveled with my Undergrad friends/blockmates/"barkada" I know what being with The Coolest People on Earth feel like. No matter what I do, whoever I meet, I know that nothing will compare to the fun, familiarity and over-all good vibe-feeling I get when I'm with The Coolest People on Earth. That sometimes, since I know that nothing will ever compare to these people, I come in into a group, a friendship, comparing this new group to The Coolest People on Earth. Of course, the new group loses because of the memories, inside-jokes and experiences I've shared with former.

In a way, this hinders me to make an effort to be really close to these new set of people I'm with/exposed to. But to look at it from another view, it gives me some sort of perspective. Where to put things, what to prioritize. Yes, I recognize the fact that I do need to make the extra effort and try to get to know and enjoy these new people's company more/better. But I also know for a fact that it will always come back to The Coolest People on Earth, who not only saw and was with me during my best moments but also have seen and tolerated me at my worst. 

Note: Each person may have a different set of The Coolest People on Earth. What I consider my Coolest maybe your Worst, or vice versa. But I guess that's the beauty of this concept. It's not encompassing, it's not true in all instances (one set of The Coolest People on Earth will not be such to each and every person on this planet) but you know it's true, it works.



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The Greatest Book Ever Written

Books give me ideas. Ideas that are great; ideas that aren't; ideas that may seem crap to you but seem to be the smartest thing to me. This is why I read, voraciously.

I don't always take books, statements, lines, for what they are. I always, like nine out of eleven times, turn them into something that matters to ME. Sometimes, often times, the words, the statements, the lines would be entirely different from what it is originally used to mean. Talk about screwing communication, language.

But this is what works for me.

I've read the Catcher in the Rye, hoping to be have Aristotle's bathtub-Eureka moment I experienced when I read On the Road. But no, I didn't turn into a psychotic serial killer or a possible Pope assasinator. Having read Fight Club, and after taking in the nouvelle cuisine of anarchy that the book offered, I admit I thought of becoming Joe's Smirking Revenge but I remember the sense in life and the belief I have in life, in the world, in everyone. There lies in each soul a glimmer of hope, a tinge of goodness that is waiting to be ignited into one, big, warm ball of kindness that would light the almost-dying light in other people's soul. It's a never ending cycle that awaits to be started by one's glimmer of hope, tinge of goodness.

See how books stimulate me to think... To rediscover the ideas I thought I have lost or were covered by other seemingly important but are useless pieces of information pretending to be knowledge.

One of my greatest fears is that: if I don't read my mind, my ideas, would be only as great as the last book I've read. And you and I know the last book one has read isn't, almost always, nine out of eleven times, not the greatest book ever written. There remains that one book, that one story, that one group of words, that IS the greatest book ever written, waiting for your eyes, your thoughts. It is my quest to keep looking for the Greatest Book Ever Written, and keep hoping never to find it.




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Quintet 2: Holy Week Playlist

Quintet is a monthly music review of any five songs I happen to come across/stumble upon, or were recommended, any how, any time. Suggestions from readers are most welcome because music deserves to be shared. Let me be your convert or critic.


This second edition of Quintet features five songs I came across in different ways, and listened to during the Holy Week break. Some were recommended by friends, one I discovered while watching a movie, and one I liked when the biggest crush of my life announced his engagement on TV.


In the Beginning by K'naan
On the night of 420, I had the irresistible desire to watch Harold and Kumar: Escape from Guatanamo Bay. It turned out to be a good decision because I discovered the song In the Beginning by K'naan. It was used as a background song when Harold, Kumar and their respective love interests were touring Amsterdam. First impression: The song was so catchy it made me want to go to Amsterdam. Second, more lasting impression: It has a legitimate, sensible message.

Verdict: It's a cross between Where's the Love? by the Black Eyed Peas and Jah is Mighty by Bob Marley. It's perfect for both 'chill' 420-like moments and for road trips. I liked the song so much I even made my own video of it. More on this later.


Bent by Matchbox Twenty
One of the ways I discover good songs to listen to is through the music video links posted by my friends on Facebook. It gives variety and a sense of randomness. This song is one of those Facebook discoveries. I thought I didn't know the song but when the chorus came on, I realized that I knew the song, and I'm part of the Matchbox Twenty generation. I sang to Unwell back in high school, and even during the depressing/emo moments of undergrad.

Verdict: This song has Matchbox Twenty written all over it, and Matchbox Twenty songs are always perfect for the lip-sync-ing and air-guitaring individuals.


Dogs Days are Over by Florence and the Machine
I've heard the song and of the song title; I've heard of the band (TIME said they're one of the emerging British indie bands). It never came to mind that these two are related. Me and The Coolest People in the World laugh at song title because it reminded us of our silly nickname for the lax days of undergrad: Doggy-doggy. So now that we've graduated from undergrad and most of us are working, the song title is perfect.

Verdict: This is what Laura Marling would sound like if she hang out/jammed with... let's say, K'naan or even Sara Bareilles.


Tadhana by Up Dharma Down
Like Bent this song is a Facebook discovery. Up Dharma Down's Oo made quite an impression on me (it was on 'repeat' for two weeks on my iPod) so I decided to give this one a try. It was the same slow melody, almost the same message/topic (sad, painful love) but this seemed to be a lot sadder than and has more drama compared to Oo.

Verdict: This is perfect for times when you feel like drowning yourself or drowning out the world with sad love songs. The analogies could mean anything, depending on how you see--no, hear it. 


Beautiful Days by Kyla
Being a Kyla fan, I knew of the song way back in high school/early college. I simply thought that it was nothing more than a nice love song and an ideal sleep-inducer, like Nina's Someday and Juris Fernandez' Di Lang Ikaw. But when Kyla sang it to Rich Alvarez, my most favorite basketball player of all time and ultimate crush (as you can see from this webpage's sidebar), I appreciated it in a different light--a loving, sincere and almost wistful light.


Verdict: The song makes you want to have someone to sing it to. Fortunately, before I shed any tears or look at the guy next to me, the song ended and K'naan's In the Beginning snapped me out of it. Good thing my phone's on shuffle.


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You may want to read Quintet 1.

The New Coffee Shop

Confession: I used to go to The Gym. Not because I enjoy it but because I fear that my genes or my lifestyle will get the better of me one of these days. Same reason why I don't smoke--It's not because I super care about the environment but because I know it'll become the death of me.

Anyway, the gym thing did not work well for me because:

1. Most gyms, or at least the one I used to go to, are full of men. Yeah, we hear countless women complain about their figures, their flaws and flabs but it is the men who are actually concerned about their health and their figures...or physique (or whatever sounds manly to you. haha). Some women thrive in an atmosphere reeking of testosterone but I don't.

2. I beefed up not toned down. Contrary to popular belief that gyms, or doing the exercises, lifts, etc that the gym trainers tell you to, will make you lose weight or be slimmer, gyms are perfect for people who wants to beef up. Those people who're born skinny as a stick are ideal gym-goers. Those who're born fat, or has big bone structure, should maintain a proper diet first before going to the gym to tone down.

3. Gyms are the new coffee shops. People go there not because they want coffee or really want to work out but because they want to socialize or be sosyal. Bleh.

and some other petty reasons. So I kissed gym-going goodbye and took up sports instead.


Recently, I've become a big fan of the Thought Catalog. The articles are funny, witty, and downright true. One of the more relate-able ones is this, an article on People You Tend to Find at the Gym. Fortunately (or maybe unfortunately) for me, I only met four out of the ten people the author listed. To this list, I want to add, from my brief gym-going experience:

11. The Cool Soccer Mom who wants to be fit, stay healthy and keep her husband from cheating, or get/seduce him back.
12. The Recently Retired Man/Woman who's looking for ways to spend his/her pension money and stay healthy.
13.  The Woman Who is this near to getting surgical treatments but is either: )1) still saving up for the big Operation or having second thoughts.

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Petals, "Ostia" and Ice Cream

JAMMAMELA

For our English 30 (English for the Professions) class, a classmate (a second year student from FoodTech) created a brochure for her home-made gumamela jam. My law blockmate liked it, and even asked for a second (and third) serving but I didn't share his enthusiasm for the jam because I can't shrug off the reality that it is a flower; that I'm eating petals.

THE BIGGEST HAW FLAKES I'VE EVER SEEN

It's the size of, and looks like, a slice of Argentina meat loaf but it is a haw flake. Haw flakes, or ostia as I used to call it, reminds me of my childhood. (aww, drama) I ate half a pack because I missed eating it.

YES, I'M AN ICE CREAM JUNKIE.

The best, only, and most favorite Comfort Food ever. I eat it when I feel like celebrating, sulking, or, simply, passing time. My thighs reminds me of all the 800ml tubs of Selecta and Nestle ice cream I greedily consumed in the past.




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The Battle of the Cup Noodles

The Protagonists (l-r): Nissin Cup Noodles (Beef), Tekki Shomen (Beef Overload), Lucky Me Supreme (Bulalo)

Tekki Shomen Beef Overload

The Lowdown: It comes in a slightly bigger cup for only P19(?), and is sleek-looking. The velvet/dark pink/red-violet color makes it different from the usual yellow, blue, brown and green cups, cup noodles usually come in. The flat noodles is a nice variety from the usual round(?) noodle types. The condiments, especially the white one that comes in the transparent pink plastic looks really unhealthy. The powder, which gives it the 'beef flavor' is looks like ash. Ugh. Makes you think twice whether to eat it or not. Fortunately, once the noodles are cooked, the ash-like powder losses it ash-like quality.

What is that gray thing? It looks like ash.

The Verdict: It's ideal for those who want to save a few pesos or those who believe in giving all brands in the market a fair chance. It's not called a free market for nothing, right?


Lucky Me Supreme Bulalo

The Lowdown: Growing up on Lucky Me noodles and pancit canton (and later on, Curly Spaghetti and Sopas), I was quite biased in favor of this brand. Like Colgate and Coffeemate, Lucky Me has brand/name-recall in its favor. Aside from that, the taste is familiar to the taste of the noodles we are accustomed to. The one we equate with rainy days and bouts with sickness. The fork that comes in the cup puts the 'instant' in instant noodles. Like Tekki Shomen, Lucky Me has this white, unhealthy looking condiment. It makes you think about not putting it in but because you know it'll change the taste, you'll mix it in, still.

What is that white thing? MSG? Haha

The Verdict: It is ideal for those who're on-the-go (no need for a fork) and for those who believe that, 'Why fix it if it ain't broke?'


Nissin Cup Noodles 'Beef'

The Lowdown: It comes in a plastic cup, unlike the other two which came in pseudo-paper cups, which makes me wonder about the environment a few seconds after opening it. Unlike the other two brands, the condiments or ingredients are already mixed in with the noodles, all one has to do is pour on the hot water and wait. This takes out my doubt with the white sticky condiment that is present in both Tekki Shomen and Lucky Me. The noodle strands are, somewhat, a cross-breed of flat and round noodles. One not-so good thing, however, is its easily tear-able lid. Let's say, in the 5 times that I've eaten Nissin, the lid gets torn in half about 4 times.    

The Verdict: I like Nissin because it's a cross-breed between the Tekki Shomen and the Lucky Me. The things that I loved about the two brands are combined in Nissin (the flat noodles and the familiar Lucky Me taste) and the things that I hate are removed (the white sticky-looking condiment). One thing is missing to make it complete: the fork.

WINNER: NISSIN CUP NOODLES (BEEF)

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Note: This review does not intend to convince people that instant noodles are the smartest thing ever invented (because it isn't) or that it is a healthy food choice (because it isn't). This only serves to enlighten people on what these cup noodles offer for those who're always on-the-go or doesn't know how to cook.

Still, nothing beats the real thing:

Masuki's original mami

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Twisted 8 1/2: A visual personal music player

I treasure friends who impart: (1) seemingly weird but turns out to be useful information, (2) quirky ideas, and (3) uncommon but highly logical insights. Also, I tend to like/love friends who give sensible gifts. I will take a friend who gives me something I didn't think I needed until I was given one over a friend who gets me something really expensive.

For my birthday last year, I received, albeit belatedly, two really sensible gifts. A key ring and a book. Both signify the maturity that characterized that particular year of my existence. I never thought that a key ring would be helpful but when I was given one by a friend, it turned out to be one of my most used belongings.

No matter how crappy or lame other people think giving books-as-gifts is, I adamantly maintain the position that: Giving books as gifts is cool, or hot. 

As a kid, when I was starting to get into reading, I always had this thought that whoever gave me my first book--after I realized reading is an interest, a passion--would be the coolest person for me. It turned out, I was right. It was my mother who gave me my first set of books; and she is, by far, the coolest best person in the world.

Yes, it was given that I received a Three Little Pigs storybook when I was kid, and I read the 1993 Guinness Book of World Records, and the Science Library that came with it, quite extensively, it was not until I was in grade school when I engaged in reading as an interest. When my mom realized that her second daughter is a nerd/book-whore, she gave me three John Grisham books: The Firm, The Pelican Brief and A Time To Kill. Of course, her choice of books was influenced by my growing interest in becoming a lawyer. (I believe it was in Grade Five when I realized that the logic-ness of being a lawyer outweighs the coolness of being an astronaut or a journalist or a painter.)

After the Grisham books, I mostly bought or borrowed all the books I read. My mom's boss is one of those very few (if not the only person) who gives me books as gifts. So when my friend gave me Twisted 8 1/2 by Jessica Zafra as a birthday gift, her coolness, in my mental Coolness Rank, definitely went higher. 

My copy of Twisted 8 1/2,
one of the coolest gifts ever

The book, as I told my friend when I thanked her after reading it (three months after she gave it to me), is a very light read. You can read it almost anywhere, any time. It being black and slim sends the message to people who'd see you reading it that, "Stay away; I'm reading serious stuff." Most books do that anyway.

Despite the slimness or the brevity of the book, it was able to make my mind churn; make me think. It made me, despite the noise of Metro Manila, hear myself think. It was like a visual personal music player. Paraphrasing Zafra: "It created a force field around me, it shut out the world that is trying to swallow me whole, and defined, however tenuously, a space that is mine." A space I call my mind.

The book was relateable and lovable because Zafra wrote about the things I'm equally passionate about: Reading, Books, Music, Photography and Writing. I was able to relate to Technology, which was the main topic of her essays/articles and of which I'm not so much a fan of, because she correlated it to the aforementioned topics.

Bottomline, the book is worth having, especially for people who are turned on by prose, reality, and an occasional amount of trivia.

To end, I will quote two sentences from the book: Books are repository of human experience. They tell us what being human is all about.


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Things I Have Wanted to Do But Don't Have the Time For (Summer 2011)

Because I'm overwhelmed with how much free time I'm going to have this summer (8 weekends = 16 days, approximately fifty evenings) and with the possibility that I won't be able to enjoy all these in June, when classes start, I decided to make a list of Things I Have Wanted to Do But Don't Have the Time For. All of these I wish to accomplish during summer.

1. Play basketball or badminton...or try out a new sport... Be fit, in general.

2. Lose weight, any 'weight' would be nice.

Photo from JessicaRulesTheUniverse.com

3. Read more. Finish reading all the books I bought during the school year and those I bought and never get to read. Twisted 8 1/2 by Jessica Zafra, Naked Lunch by William Burroughs, Our Town by Thornton Wilder, Life Universe and Everything, So Long and Thanks for all the Fish and Mostly Harmless by Douglas Adams, et al.

4. Rediscover painting. This long-forgotten passion/frustration has recently captured my interest when I saw the paintings on the wall of my Law blockmate's flat. Seeing his own work on canvas reignited (naks) my desire to make and display my own work.

5. Travel. Although I won't be travelling to Palawan, or even Tagaytay, with my Law blockmates because of The India Fund, I will be travelling with my family to my father's hometown in Pangasinan to celebrate his 50-something-th birthday. My childhood memories are filled with epic road trips to Dasol Pangasinan, and this trip will reminisce those.



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5 Lessons Learned as a Student

Lessons Learned from the Week I Became a Full-Time Student
(aka The Week I Took a Leave from Work to Study for the Finals Week)

1: The things you are deprived of, you value more.

2: Life's simple joys is, simply, to be enjoyed.

3: Always keep in mind Murphy's Law but not to keep it in heart. 

4: Love is not a feeling, it's an ability. -Dan in Real Life

5: The hours of sleep you missed can be negated, although momentarily, by the right amount of coffee you take.



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Quintet 1: Music to my ears

Quintet is a monthly music review of any five songs I happen to come across/stumble upon, or were recommended, any how, any time. Suggestions from readers are most welcome because music deserves to be shared. Let me be your convert or critic.


Jo Ann's Life Essentials:

1. Glasses

2. Good book to read

3. Money

4. Hanky

5. Skyflakes and Gatorade (grape)

6. Earphones

7. Doublemints

8. Hair brush

and so on...

I call this list "Life essentials" because, basically, without these things (and a few more unlisted things) I wouldn't be able to live life or even move through life. My glasses and books make me see the world clearly--literally and figuratively; money gives me the opportunity to enjoy the simple and even extravagant joys of life; my hanky keeps my tears, sweat and other stuff in check; Skyflakes and Gatorade, my hairbrush and Doublemints keep my stomach, hair and breath and  in check, respectively.

As for my earphones... they serve a bigger, greater purpose other than signalling people who try to talk to me to step back because I'm busy or can't hear them... my earphones keep my sanity in check. Music has always been, and will always be, a personal interest and stress reliever. Often times, people would see me around work or Malcolm Hall wearing earphones (unless of course I'm talking to someone). I do this to zone the noise out. Noise that is both auditory and metaphorical. 

This week, I have spent my early mornings (well, most of the day, actually) listening to music recommended by family and friends.

Sunday - Man in the Mirror (cover)

Monday - Be There by Howie Day

Tuesday - Chasing Pavements by Adele

Wednesday - I Know Places by Lykke Li

Thursday - Ashes and Wine by A Fine Frenzy

Although I'm familiar with A Fine Frenzy and Howie Day, I Know Places and Be There are welcome additions to my playlist. Coincidentally, they both talk (or sing?) about travel (literal and figurative); choosing between staying and going. 

Listening to Chasing Pavements remind me of the "emo" days of high school, and the 'young and stupid yet happy' days of undergrad. I listen to it with a familiar wistfulness--a kind of wistfulness that is healthy to make yourself feel once in while but if abused may cause frustration. It is very timely for me to listen to it now when I'm thinking of giving up or keeping chasing pavements...the pavements of Malcolm.

Likewise, the cover of Man in the  Mirror by an unknown artist reminds me of the videoke, carefree days with undergrad block mates. I remember the Michael Jackson "phase" I had. I listened to Michael Jackson songs and nothing else. Moreover, it reminds me of the death (and the life) of the legend. 

Ashes and Wine, recommended by my elder sister, is, hands down, My Depressing  Song of the Week. Rebecca Black's Friday is a close second. 

To conclude, I was told by a teacher-blockmate that I am an auditory learner. I learn by listening to things or reciting things over and over again. Does this mean I have to forego listening to music next week, which is my 'Final Exams' week, and switch to listening to codals etc.? Perfect.

  

The clock is ticking; Go.

Is it just me or is the world running out of time?

The India Fund

Order to Self No. 1

An order creating the India (or Any Southeast Asian Country) Fund, and other purposes thereof

A photo of the Taj Mahal from http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ie/bgn/3454.htm

Whereas, being a graduate of BA Social Sciences (Area Studies) which deals with History, Politics and Culture of Southeast Asian countries (and some European and West Asian countries as well), I have learned to love travelling;

Whereas, this love for travelling has become more than an interest but a passion--a shared passion with my undergrad blockmates and friends;

Whereas, these blockmates and friends, who I refer to as The Coolest People on Earth, have traveled with me to Ilocos, Sagada, Batanes, Nueva Ecija, Cavite, Cebu and Bohol;

Whereas, despite graduation, different work and school schedules, we still share the same passion, the same love, for travelling;

Whereas, we, as a group, have committed to taking many more trips together as soon as possible, and we have decided on going out of the country;

Whereas, since we have become part of the employed class, we have to fund our trips ourselves;

Whereas, I have prepared to undertake the first step towards the goal of travelling, which is getting a passport, I now focus on the next immediate task at hand which is planning where to get the funds;

Whereas, in this light, I am creating, for my own benefit, the India (or Any Southeast Asian Country) Fund. This Fund will be used mainly for my expenses in travelling to India (or Any Southeast Asian Country) by the third or fourth quarter of this year, 2011;

Whereas, to ensure compliance to this Order, I am enjoined to publish updates regarding the implementation of this Order;

Whereas, I am hereby compelling myself to save every peso I can, take the least (if not, none) taxi rides, eat less (expensive) meals, spend less on books etc, and basically, practice other austerity measures as much as the situation permits me. Obtaining other financial resources is also encouraged.

This will take effectively upon publication in this blog site.




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Floating

Time does not cure anything. Simply, it is a cloak that deceives us. It is a placebo that leads us to think, to believe, to feel that we are well, when in fact we are anything but. We think time has helped us be better, grow better. But no, time is a magician, an illusionist. When time itself reveals to us--transports us back in time whilst staying and being in the present--that we have not changed an inch, an iota; we weep, we grieve for "all the time lost".

Time and again (pun definitely intended) we are faced by the harsh reality of the present and the indifference and impossibility of the past...and the uncertainty and wickedness of the future. We are stuck, floating floating and floating between the waves of past, present and future. Getting a whiff, sip, and taste of the past, present and future but not committing entirely to one. We give each--the past, present and future--a taste, a glimpse, a whiff of our whole being. A version of us. Little truths that if taken alone mean nothing, but if collected will mean a lot. We are afraid to choose one, for in choosing we not only opt to give our whole self but we gamble, we risk. We give up the familiarity we gained from floating from one to the other for something uncertain but promises to be something better.

Will we let these promises lure us into stopping and come down from our joyous, relaxed and comfortable floating? Or will we be firm in maintaining that floating is best thing for us, that we have once in our life stopped floating but it almost caused us not to be able to fly again?

We are unstoppable forces floating from the past, present and future waiting to encounter our own immovable objects to stop our fancy flight and make us realize that 'hey, floating is not the best/only thing we can do.'



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Why I Think Ted WILL and SHOULD Meet The Mother Soon

Robin, Lily, Ted and Barney helped Marshall deal with the death of his father
("Last Words" How I Met Your Mother)

WILL
2030 - Ted tells children that the story of how he met their mother; the boy, Luke appears to be thirteen years old and Leia appears to be fifteen.

2021 -  Ted tells Wendy the Waitress that he has two kids and is married to a wonderful woman. ("Garbage Island").

2015 - Since the first born, Leia, seems to be fifteen in 2030, it is logical to assume she is born this year. Knowing how Ted is so ready to be a father, it is safe to assume that he and the Mother only waited a year to have kids, and were married in...

2014 - Knowing Ted and judging by his past relationships, it is safe to assume that they would be together for two years before tying the knot, which means by...

2012 - Ted and the Mother become a couple, and judging by how Ted wins women over with great romantic gestures, he will meet the Mother in...

late 2011 or early 2012. 

SHOULD
Aside from the above argument being chronologically sound, I add another argument that Ted should meet the Mother soon, for the simple reason that... if the show is stretched beyond season seven, it will take its toll on the story. The plot will suffer because of the desire to lengthen the show, and milk it for what it's worth. As of now, critics are saying that the show has gone past its prime (season two being the best, they say), and is going farther and farther from the central plot (a father telling his kids how he met their mother). Although the show's concept (backward narration) is new and original, this is also the show's greatest limitation. While making the story and script, the writers have to take in mind:

1. What has been already said, to keep the continuity going

2. What this will all lead to. Ted meets the Mother in a manner that solidifies what has been said not only about Ted but also about his friends as well.

3. That in developing Ted's character, his friends' characters have to grow as well. That in creating a fitting ending for Ted's story they have to create an end--actual or constructive--for the other characters as well. 

The season could end now, while it's on its sixth, but since the other characters' stories have to be ended as well, so as to make a 'full story', I believe it will and should end in Season 7 with Barney and Robin's wedding (or and I believe this is a remote possibility, Robin's wedding to some other guy, or Barney's wedding to some other girl).

Sweeter the Second Time Around

....or Why the La Salle Women's Volleyball Team will Win the 73rd UAAP Women's Volleyball Championship

La Salle fans and critics have "marveled" at how the UST Tigresses managed to sweep the defending champions in last season's Finals. It was heartbreaking not only for the volleyball players themselves but also for their fans and supporters who taught, with the Lady Spikers' skills and almost-impeccable timing, that they were going all the way. They never lost a game in the eliminations until they met the roaring Tigresses who people said, "peaked  at the right time." That loss was the start of the Lady Spikers' spiral down to defeat.

This season, the 73rd of the UAAP, almost the same line-up that lost to UST in the 72nd season have come back to play. Except for the three players who graduated (Kaye Martinez, Camille Cerveza, Regine Diego), the line-up was intact. La Salle also recruited good players to include in their 14-woman roster.

FIVE REASONS WHY LA SALLE WILL BE CHAMPS THIS SEASON:

Mika Esperanza. The advent of this gem of a setter shows a bright future ahead for the Lady Spikers--not only for this year but in the coming years ahead. In all the years that I have been a volleyball fan, I noticed that the La Salle offense (and even defense) relies heavily on the strength of their setter. We all know what Chi Saet did for La Salle in the late 1990s/early 2000s. After her, La Salle struggled to find an equally competent player to take Saet's place. But this year, they have successfully recruited Mika Esperanza of De La Salle-Lipa. For a rookie, Esperanza have shown composure and leadership on court by deciding well, and giving efficient sets. I will be surprised if she will not win the Rookie of the Year Award this season. (Note: La Salle rookies have won this award in the past two years, Melissa Gohing and Joanne Siy.)

Improved team offense and defense. Good sets translate to better scoring. Compared to the team last year, the line-up this year has stepped up in terms of scoring. Abigail Maraño and Michelle Gumabao have both improved on their game, and are now part of the scoring threats of the team. Their improvement, and involvement in offense lessened the pressure and attention (aka defense) given to veteran-graduating players Steph Mercado and Jacq Alarca. The players have gradually realized and adapted their roles in the team.

The players' improvement on offense is also evident in defense. The consistent and efficient blocking, and the remarkable improvement in floor defense (especially in Game 1 of the Finals against UST) make up for the deterioration of their libero's play this season. I guess she's suffering from Junior jinx (as opposed to sophomore jinx).

Luck. In some cases, skills and talent alone are not enough to win games and championships. Luck definitely plays a factor, although coaches do not want to heavily rely on this. This season La Salle had the breaks of the game going for them--most of the time. Also, they were lucky to have no injuries on their key players. More importantly, they were lucky (read: fortunate) to have just one game nullified in light of the controversy involving their players.

Cruz' leadership-by-example. Not to disregard or make less of Mercado's leadership as team captain last year, Cha Cruz's ascent as the captain this season translated to the improvement, versatility and consistency of her game. Whenever the team is down (in morale or in score) or the other team is threatening to make a comeback, she would step up and score to stave off the other team's rally. During the games, she is the first to cheer for a scored point and the first to move on and forget about a botched play. She keeps focused on court, and plays with smarts--evident of a true leader.

Experience. Losing the championship last year (in a sweep manner, no less) made the team this year tougher and consequently better. The players now know how to handle pressure and not back down to the challenge and criticisms the crowd throws at them. Before the Lady Spikers reached the Finals this season, they experienced two or three five-setter matches, all of which they won. In contrast to last year, when they lost the five-setter matches they had against UST, making the team vulnerable to pressure. They didn't have 'veterans' to turn to last season; whereas this season, Alarca, Mercado and Cruz step up during big games. As a whole, the Lady Spikers have developed the toughness of a Mich Datuin, the smarts of a Chi Saet, and the skills of a Des Hernandez. The question that remains to be answered is this: Will they have the heart of an Illa Santos?

A precious morning

If death was a person I will both fear and love it. I fear encountering it now--when I consider myself too young to have made an impression on the world, and the people I have met; when I consider myself not to have achieved relevant things; when I consider myself not to have attained the degree of happiness and satisfaction that I envisioned to have; and when I consider myself to have lived through the twenty one years of my life instead of living these twenty one years to the fullest. I would love to face it when I'm ready. But as of now, I don't exactly know when that time be or what will make me feel that the time is right, but I do know that death is something I fear, as of the moment.

February will always be a special month for me for two simple reasons: on February 1990, the person who has influenced and touched my life more than anyone could (with the exception of my mother) was born *hint* *hint*; and on the 12th of February 2010, I received the news that I got into UP Law, which I consider to be the first step towards realizing my goals in life.

Today, February 8 2011, the Philippines woke up to experience the truth about life: It is precious, live it fully. First, our incumbent president, President Noynoy Aquino was born on this day, several years ago. Birth is always commemorated by celebrating birthdays, and declaring national heroes' birthdays as national holidays. Bonifacio Day is, in fact, the date of birth of the Filipino hero, Andres Bonifacio. Second, today, former Secretary Angelo Reyes committed suicide in front of the tomb of his mother in Loyola Heights, Marikina City. We, Filipinos, view death not with the same candor as we have dealt with birthdays. Shouldn't we be happy that a person died having lived his life to the fullest? Or do we readily assume that death of a person is an unfortunate thing? What does Rizal Day, which falls on the day our national hero Dr Jose Rizal died, imply then? 

On a less nationally relevant (and more personal) note, I went to work today, relatively earlier than usual. I rode the jeep to Philcoa at around 7:15, and rode another jeep to San Mateo, Maly at around 7:30pm. When we were near Ever Gotesco, the driver said to another close-by driver who was blocking his way, "Walang preno, walang preno. Na-loose brake ako." Knowing that the jeep was not at full speed, I did not panic, and got off the jeep as soon as the driver successfully "parked" the jeep near the side of the road. I rode another jeep, and arrived at the office safely.

Upon hearing of Angelo Reyes' death on the news that same morning, my mind drifted off to my jeep mishap. Questions started crossing my mind. "What if" this, "what if" that. But I choose not to dwell on the negative (aka near-death experience part two?) but on the positive side of today's events. 

To put things simply, I thank God for guiding the hand (and the foot?) of the driver of the jeep, and for steering the jeep to safety despite the lack of brakes. Commonwealth Ave. is a risky place to be in, without brakes, but surprisingly no one was hurt. 

Life is precious. God is doing his best to make us realize the joys of life and keep us from harm. He gave us life--a gift so precious no one should end but Him. The best we could do to show gratitude for this gift of life is to live it fully and right. 

Another Reason to Love Saturdays

I didn't think about putting up an entry here because... well, I'm on a writing break (from work and school) and I'm "busy" with other stuff, but since Christmas, which is big for us Filipinos, falls on a Saturday, and this blog is aptly- and relatedly- titled as such, let me greet you...

MERRY CHRISTMAS, everyone! 

May we not forget the true reason for the season. 

But if you do conform to a different belief system, that's fine, too. 

Just don't be a Christian, and forget the Christ in Christmas...and Christian.
As I always say, "May you and your families have a blessed Christmas."



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Project Monte Cristo

Eerily, in our family, unlike normal Filipino families, it is the men who cook. My dad cooks often than my mom (ergo, he thinks he cooks better. Maybe.) and my brother Jay is a wayyy better cook than Ate Jing and me. The fact that my father is an Ilokano and my brother studies cooking is, of course, a factor that works in their favor.

But if I had to pick, I'd say cooking breakfast is what I'm good at. Mainly because I'm a morning person and that breakfast cooking involves nothing more complicated than frying stuff. So with that in mind, I went on to experiment on my cooking skills--that is, if I do have them. Let's call this, Project Monte Cristo.

I first encountered this sandwich during lunch with a blockmate from law school at the Congress cafeteria. It tasted good, and looked easy to make. Then and there, I decided I would "cook" something like it, sometime. Unlike normal/aspiring cooks, I didn't search for a "recipe" to follow. I just knew of the recipe by looking at the sandwich I was eating.

My masterpiece. haha

Recipe According To Me:
Ingredients:
Bread (preferably Gardenia)
Ham (Argentina meat/beef loaf would do)
Cheese (Eden cheese tastes just fine)
Eggs
That's it. Ok fine, add salt and pepper to taste.

Preparation:
1. Buy all the ingredients.
2. Fry meat/beef loaf.
3. Cut the bread in half.
4. Put slices of meat/beef loaf in between the cut bread slices.
5. Add cheese (and mayo, if needed).
6. Douse sandwich in beaten eggs.
7. Fry.
8. Serve!

Assessment: My sister and her roommate Mishele ate it with gusto so I guess Project Monte Cristo was a success. But I could use more practice (and patience) when it comes to frying.

Recipe According To The "Experts" (aka The Internet)

This is how it was supposed to look like.

Stay tuned for more cooking sh*t. :)

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