The Wolverine (2013)

Reviving my X-Men (or should I say Marvel) fandom after many years, I resolved to watch every movie about the X-Men. These days when I am strictly scrimping to save for future trips, a contest from my favorite newspaper, The Philippine Daily Inquirer, was my key to getting free tickets to The Wolverine at Robinsons Galleria last July 27. Two nights before the screening, I jumped for joy when I received an email saying I won three free tickets! Now who else to bring with me but my sisters with the hope that after watching this film, they will also become Marvel fans.

Japanese actress and model Rila Fukushima as the red-haired kickass female assassin

The film doesn't disappoint. In fact, with all the fighting scenes, one can never get bored. Oh yeah, there's always the pervading presence of Jean Grey haunting Logan almost everytime. It breaks the heart to see this tainted hero battle his guilt and conscience and it hurts just as much seeing him temporarily lose his mutant ability to heal and regenerate after an infection caused by Viper (that sexy vixen in green who reminds me a lot of Poison Ivy). 

Otakus will surely enjoy the film especially since most scenes were filmed in Japan. The simple yet elegant funeral for a wealthy and respected man attended by many people and disturbed by armed men with tattoos is very much like in animé. The contrast between modern and traditional Japan, from the character Yashida himself to his household to the background settings is wonderfully captured. Add to these the Japanese cast, in particular Rila Fukushima who played the red-haired assassin and Tao Okamoto who played Mariko Yashida, granddaughter of the dying Yashida patriarch. These two somehow eclipsed Hugh Jackman with their superb acting and fighting skills. And who doesn't love a kickass female in short skirt and with a sword in her hands? That simply is LOVE!

And how can I forget that unforgettable bullet train scene wherein Logan had to fight off one of the thugs out to kidnap Mariko? The suspense buildup was intense though one of course expects the Wolverine to win that part since it's way too early for him to die anyway.

Overall, I must say that this movie is a must-see. I'm looking forward to seeing more of Yukio. That girl rocks!

Learning by Rote

I have always thought that once I step out of school, I would be freed from learning by rote which is oftentimes the method adopted by teachers who teach WHAT to learn than HOW to learn. In high school, I disliked my Chinese class because we were asked to memorize the whole article and even essay questions for exams have fixed answers such that those with good memory can of course get good grades provided they exert an effort in memorizing the text. This despite the Chinese abhorring 死記硬背 which roughly translates to memorization without understanding. In defiance, I would always answer essay questions using my own words, and how I understood the texts. I was too busy with many things to waste time in 死記硬背 and it simply didn't make me feel good to have answers imposed on me. That was just stupid, you take out the creativity and the exercise for critical thinking.

And yet now I am pressured to pass the exam with a perfect score. Actually you commit one mistake and you fail, that's how harsh it is. I don't know what's worse, the questions never change and all you have to do to pass is to memorize every possible question and the corresponding answer, or be questioned about your skills because you've taken the test several times and yet you can't perfect the exam to pass. Again, being the stubborn type, I simply refuse to review and memorize just to pass. I take exams seriously. I see exams as one way to test what I know but I don't believe that it measures what I am capable of. And even if I fail the exams one after another, I still think that I am capable of doing greater things because I know HOW and not because I know WHAT though it cannot be denied that knowing WHAT also plays an important role in the HOW process. However, to stop at knowing WHAT is foolish; one must go beyond and explore the WHY's and the HOW's.

If true education is the goal, training must be done. Training in this regard does not mean just sitting in front of a lecturer and taking down notes, but providing hands-on practice so that learners actually get to feel what it's like to do what is needed. We always say that theory and practice must go hand in hand, but oftentimes we disregard one in favor of the other. There must be balance so that learners will understand that theories are there to serve as guides and thus are not the end-all be-all of learning, and that these are open to modifications as the situation sees fit. And also, that it doesn't matter if what you do doesn't fit any theory as long as it is logical and it works. Who knows you might have just have to create a new theory of your own. My point, in a nutshell, is that whatever knowledge we have of the world is provisional, and that there are MANY things to uncover, discover, and invent. We live in an ever-changing world where the truths of yesterday may be false today and true again in the future. And in order for this dynamism to continue, in order for the pool of human knowledge to expand, we need courageous minds which are willing to explore and conquer the status quo.

On Different Interests and Human Relations

Today is the second day of the week-long workshop in UP. It pleased me to have someone finally interested in 三國, the TV drama series aired last year in a Taiwanese cable channel. For months last year, it ruled my life, making me rethink of human greed and ambitions, as well as the means employed by people to get what they want. This year they aired the series on the same TV channel (evidence of the popularity of this Chinese classic, aside from this funny video on a fan), which is just as perfect since I have been getting into Game of Thrones and the two series have many things in common with regards to politics. (The difference I can think of right now between the two series is that 三國 doesn't have soft porn, unlike Game of Thrones. That, and aside from the genre: 三國 is historical fiction, whereas Game of Thrones is fantasy--- though George says many of the scenes are inspired from history.) The thought of producing an article from this observation has been with me since I started Game of Thrones but I guess it depends if I can sneak it in my schedule.

And then just a random thought: perhaps the reason why I find it hard to be friends with other people is because I have weird interests. While many are into romantic J-drama or Western series, I am more into anime, action J-series, and Chinese period dramas. It's just strange that it's only now that I realize how I care very little for what is in vogue at the moment, but rather pursue that which truly interests me. And this has caused me to feel left out a lot because most of the time, I don't know what people are talking about and I get weird looks when I ask about things that I like.

Still, no matter how uncomfortable I am when people around me think I'm an idiot or a retard when they for example, talk about popular franchise movies which I largely ignore, I always think that life is too short to waste time on things I don't really like. So I end up watching obscure movies and series, and reading obscure books (eg. The Perfumed Garden) which nobody in my circles has heard of. I may have lost opportunities to quickly establish relationships based on similar tastes but at the end of the day, I feel like at least, I have my own secret silent sanctuary.

In the end, it doesn't even matter. (to quote Linkin Park)

So goodbye, bittersweet love. I am now free from these weird feelings I have for you. I truly wanted to understand you, to delve into your world, but I guess I love myself more to destroy myself for you.

June 2013

How time flies! Half the year is done and yet there are too many things to do and accomplish. It's still a wonder I was able to post entries in my blog last month,but if my dear readers notice, most are just about travels which are way past the deadline. Still, I hope readers get something from reading my posts.

Heavy rains start to visit us and so I see the need to rise up earlier than usual and to report to work early to avoid the rush hour in the afternoon. Our MRT system sucks big time and it doesn't help that we have irresponsible, undisciplined commuters. Buses are not the best choice especially when it rains since major thoroughfares get flooded way too easily and one simply doesn't want to get stuck in bottleneck traffic for hours on end.

Last month, I finished watching Game of Thrones Season 2 and finally got hold of a copy of Season 3. When HBO aired the penultimate episode of Season 3, the internet was abuzz with spoilers the following day. An officemate spilled the beans on the death of two important characters so I was in a dilemma as to watch Season 3 or wait until the year is finished so it won't be long before they release Season 4. Then again, my reading pace of "A Clash of Kings" has been slow thanks to my suddenly hectic schedule. I told myself to finish the book first before proceeding with the third season.

A friend and I attended the showing of Wanko - The Story of Me, My Family and Rock at the Japan Foundation. Before heading to the venue, we had early dinner at Lola's Best which was just across Pacific Star. There really is nothing special about the food and the servings are too small. Anyway, the movie is a touching story on human resilience and animal loyalty. It's an inspiring story about how a family starts a new life following a disaster that wrecked havoc on their beloved island. At times funny and most times touching, it's the sort of movie that one will love to watch over and over again.

In line with a promise to myself to reconnect with people who played an important part in my life, I finally met up with my highschool friends after almost 5 years of no meetups. It's fun to reminisce about highschool life with people with whom you share fond memories.

Add to my hectic schedule is my acceptance to tutor a friend. We would chat online and discuss French grammar and such. It's a somewhat nice way for me to refresh my memory and it forces me to think of efficient ways to teach the language.

On June 24, I went to a friend's house for the San Juan Fiesta. We had so much fun singing karaoke. It's my first time to experience a Pinoy fiesta and I'm relived to find that it's not as crazy as I thought it would be. My friend told me that in the morning of the feast day though, people would throw buckets of water at random people. It's a good thing we went there after office hours.

Last, my proudest achievement this month is that I succeeded in practicing frugality. The last two weeks of June are a testament to how I can spend less, by focusing on important things (like food and transportation) and by resisting the urge to buy books. It helps that one of my projects this year is to read at least 50 books from my collection. The first half of the year has passed and I am nowhere near my target. (Fail!)