Starling Reviews

The film tells about a 15-year-old student Takao Akizuki (voiced by Wataru Sekine) who skips his first class on a rainy season and sketch shoe designs in the garden at Shinjuku Gyoen where he meets 27-year-old Yukari Yukino (voiced by Kana Hanazawa) who also skips at her job. There, she bids him farewell with a tanka: a type of Japanese poetry of four lines with seven syllables each. This puzzles Takao to discover its origin and meaning.

The two continue to meet each other's company in the park on rainy mornings, but never get to introduce themselves. They continue expecting one another's presence throughout the film: sharing meals together and talking about random things yet barely able to know each other. As an aspiring shoemaker, Takao decides to make a pair of shoes based on Yukino.

He finds it hard reaching his dreams though, his brother pokes fun at him and he works part-time to save money as his parents have split and rarely get in touch with their children.

The stages of adulting and entering adult life are taxing, especially among the current generation where expectations are high and genuine relationships are hard to find amid sadness and loneliness. This is the testimony in The Garden of Words, a 2013 Japanese animated film based on Makoto Shinkai's manga of the same name.

Though the film is only 46 minutes long, Shinkai never fails to astound the audience with their superb animation; the realistic visuals and sound effects are proof of his expertise in the industry. The same applies to the voice actors who delivered their portrayals well with heartfelt emotions and solid talent.

Shinkai's direction, editing, and screenplay give the audience a spectrum of Japanese life and culture. Though the country is renowned for manga and anime, which makes them one of the richest countries in the world, the reality of life is far from the colorful animations they offer for entertainment.

The cutting-edge technology and advancements in life have pushed people in their society to work as hard as they could to be the best among the workforce as competition is dominant and making a successful career out of a vocation, such as Akizuki's dream of being a cobbler, is frowned upon due to uncertainty and impracticality in the employment market. Moreover, the Japanese are known to restrain from showing or expressing their emotions and being vulnerable as their society sees this as a 'weakness.' This is evident when they only say "I like you a lot" (大好きdaisuki). They never use "I love you" (愛してるaishiteru) as it is deemed "strong."

The Garden of Words explores emotional complexities between characters with a wide age difference, whose struggles and experiences in their individual lives bring them together someplace where they could just feel each other's presence. As Takao opens up to Yukino, the latter does the opposite and only listens to the high school boy who is full of dreams. Yukino sees her current self far different from when she was 15 years old and is frustrated with where her career is taking her as she silently waits to leave her job she often skips in the rainy season.

This animation is an allusion to learning the "walks of life" and is definitely worth watching among all ages, as it offers a heartwarming flood of emotions and makes the audience imagine the enchanting, scenic view of Japan and enjoy the beauty of the country at their gadget screens. | STARLING

The imposing of quarantine restrictions, lockdowns, and curfews for almost two years makes it challenging to go outdoors and meet new people amid the pandemic. With the recent news reports, new and stronger variants of the virus mutate, and the urgency of this global health crisis is alarming.

Before this happened, some of us could recall hearing rumors from random people on sidewalks, downtowns, and some places that there was a 'virus.' Weeks before the examination, reviewing notes and handouts from instructors was the top priority. Many students would hog in the library to study. The information might be new and intriguing. But to some who were already fed up with fake news, these were nothing but just 'speculations' meant to misinform people.

Innumerable posts and conspiracy theories had already flooded on social media platforms about this same 'virus' some people were referring to, even becoming an online trend. At school, we would be surprised to see some schoolmates and faculty wearing face masks upon catching news of this unknown, yet deadly 'virus.' As it turned out, this 'virus' was indeed catching everywhere in the globe and millions of people were catching them without any idea at all.

The last time we saw friends, classmates, and teachers face-to-face may be memories ago, after that late national emergency announcement and classes being halted just in time of finishing the exams. The next thing we knew, our family summoned us back to our hometowns.

Last year did not bid well. It did not do justice to the excitement of studying at Iloilo's top-notch university in its capital city. The years of school life on-site were cut short without prior notice, and COVID-19 emerged out of nowhere without warning.

Remote learning is an alternative to combat the need for education, but not everyone is equipped and ready for this continuation. There are still barriers despite preparations: poor signal, limited internet access, power interruptions, and lack of digital literacy. It can not be helped when individual circumstances come in the way of learning. Conducting online classes is a feat proven difficult to defeat when the great divide among the privileged and less fortunate is evident.

Despite the shortcomings, personal efforts have come in the way to address this problem. We would see some friends start a new vlog or establish their business on social networking sites either for pastime, income, or both.

There is no need to travel long distances when we can send a short message away in just a click. Reconnecting with friends and loved ones from afar must not be cut off. In these tough times, open lines for communication are some things we need the most to keep us in touch and keep us intact.

However, the frequent use of gadgets and the pressing urge to check our smartphones for school and social media updates have depleted our energy and drowned us in anxiety. We tend to forget to take a minute to blink and take our eyes off the screen.

A one-week academic break after exams is something to give stressed students a sigh of relief for withstanding the challenges of this 'new normal.' This serves as a reminder that online classes could be as taxing as on-site classes to teachers and students alike. We deserve a good rest after months-long of mental duress.

Further recognition of the hard work and service of students on academic and non-academic performance boosted the morale to maintain the university's tradition of excellence. Councils and departments have also held online seminars and team-building activities to empower and acquaint students.

The adjustments to cope with this situation are something we should be proud of. There may have been times we felt like the world was tearing apart, and so were our hearts. Though overwhelming at the beginning, the pandemic serves as an eye-opener to the truths of living: teaching and studying can be done anywhere, juggling work and family life could run our blood dry, and not everyone in this society has access to technology.

COVID-19 is an unprecedented turn of events that has changed our lives in just the spur of the moment. Time has drifted, and we may have lost track of it, but what matters most is not losing ourselves and accepting that whatever we may be dealing with, our well-being should come first. The effects of the pandemic have called for our immediate attention to reset ourselves, have a breather, and reconnect with one another. | STARLING

Vincent speaks about the unspoken feelings of a person whose artistic genius hides a mask of sadness and despair. Behind the wonderful artworks he created, they are painted with melancholic solitude. The meanings van Gogh so wanted to evoke were not understood by people who only see good things in life, not the struggles in it.

Van Gogh’s works exhibit colorful drawings of life portrayals in places he had been to and people he had interacted with. He put into painting what he saw in reality the truth of living under beautiful and harsh situations. From a view of his room where he stayed, he used his brush to reveal what it was to be less privileged in life.

McLean wants to prove that van Gogh had long been suffering and that he was not a madman, as what most people had believed in during the time the latter was still alive; only through painting did van Gogh vented on his frustrations and disappointments on his career and his life.

Van Gogh had been an advocate to the impoverished, as inspired by the still-life in his paintings which portrayed hard labor and predicaments the marginalized faced everyday. He was dedicated to change their states, but he could not do so since his help was not enough to lift them from their burden and the well-off at that time looked down at his kindheartedness.

Later on, his health declined and his paintings often had distorted impressions of art that spearheaded the movement of post-impressionism in the latter half of the 17th century. He may have had many critics who disapprove of his style, but he still continued doing what he loved yet people never learned to love in itself.

The decline of his career had compelled van Gogh to take his own life at the age of 37. He could have lived a life longer and would have many more paintings to showcase in the world if and only if he was valued as a person and not just an artist. He lacked love and moral support which only his brother, Theodorus, provided him aside from financing him through buying his paintings.

He was wanting to be recognized, yet only after his death was he finally acknowledged. His artworks were by far the most expensive to be sold in auctions and bids in charity sweepstakes. Most of them are preserved in national museums of art history in France and Amsterdam, seen and flocked by millions of tourists and art enthusiasts.

Through his life story do people in the present know the importance of well-being and human bond. One should be appreciative and grateful of the presence of those who strive to become productive and find their sense of belongingness in the society.

In the afternoon of November 18, an unpublicized, covert burial of the late president and dictator Ferdinand Edralin Marcos took place at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. The event shook the public into wild protests and criticisms, particularly the Martial Law victims and their families. Is it a start of disunity between the people and the government - or a signal for lawlessness and violence?

Not only did the secret burial of Marcos shattered the hearts of the Filipino people, it also signified betrayal among us. What is the purpose then of celebrating the EDSA People Power Revolution every February 25th if the man behind all crimes, injustice, atrocities and corruption during his term is interred within the graves of the most respected and dignified heroes and veterans of the Philippines? He was indeed a former president of the Republic, but not a World War II soldier as he and his family claims. However, it does not mean that we should just dismiss it all. After almost 21 years of his extremist rule, and 27 years of EDSA 1, the numerous acts of cruelties and social disparity displayed during his regime stays indelible in the minds of our forefathers.

Should Marcos be considered a hero? Is being a former president enough to have him qualified as being one? Well then, my dear readers, you must know that a 'hero', as defined in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, 'is a person admired for great deeds or fine qualities'. He never did anything great in the Philippine history - in fact, he just let our country stagnate in distressing hunger and poverty, add to that that we are mostly remembered in world history for his infamous Martial Law abuses with its horrible tortures performed to its innocent and powerless victims.

Speaking of tortures, killings, and sudden disappearances, I want you to take the 17-year-old Liliosa Hilao as an example. She was a student journalist in the University of the Philippines-Manila back in 1972, when she wrote in her diary: 'Democracy is dead'. A gifted young lady, she spent her time writing essays and articles about the dire situations people face under Martial Law - never afraid of voicing out her thoughts and opinions. Until such time that one night, the Philippine Constabulary captured her in her home and had her imprisoned in Camp Crame. Weeks later, only her defunct body was found at the station hospital. Autopsy reports stated that she was severely tortured for bearing several bruises on her body and was even sexually assaulted. What was worse is that the authorities claimed her of committing suicide by drinking muriatic acid and high-ranking officials declared her case 'closed'.

Believe it or not, there were many more victims I'd like you to know and the different torture methods they had experienced, but it would only fill up the whole page and would sure frighten you to your nerves.

Truth be told, he was heartless and ruthless to his critics and enemies when it came to those who contradicted him in politics and governance. He claimed properties and businesses in many ways possible. He held everything and everyone under his finger. As greed and power ruled over him, he instilled fear to his countrymen and women as their supreme ruler. He transformed into a tyrant no one had anticipated beforehand.

I am okay with him having a decent resting place, but isn't it both a disgrace and abomination to those who joined arms and revolted in EDSA 1 and to the survivors in the present? Some straight-to-the-face slap and mockery, it is. The Marcoses waited 27 years to receive approbation of having him inhumed in the Libingan ng mga Bayani; while the bit-stricken families still await until now for justice to be served to the irreplaceable lives of their lost friends and relatives.

The suffering and trauma induced off those victims are neither forgettable nor forgivable. No one is even supposed to understate the Marcos burial issue for it is a major issue to everyone, and that includes today's youth.

The feels are coming, and they will hit you hard. Set in a pandemic-struck music camp, Still puts the spotlight on young aspiring artists as they navigate through a period of isolation and struggle. Heartstrings will be pulled as they latch on hope through their music. This is their ode to the quarantine generation.

Its Exclusive PreViu on Ticket2Me.net was set today, but because of delays due to recent lockdowns, the new release date has been moved to November 12 this year. With this new release date and with teaser videos already up and making waves via Still’s social media channels, film, theater, and music enthusiasts remain in anticipation. The series is what some consider a momentous crossover of Filipino talents in these industries.

Still is Viu’s first Filipino Original musical narrative series and will consist of 8 episodes. Viu, PCCW’s leading pan-regional over-the-top (OTT) video streaming service, provides premium Asian content in different genres, from top content providers with local languages and subtitles.

Filipinos from the creative industry came together to echo the voices of artists during this difficult time without live concerts, live stage plays, and cinemas. Working on a production in the time of a pandemic is uncharted ground for the teams involved. Behind the scenes, masks and face shields are worn at all times and safety protocols are at 100%. Yet despite all the logistical humps and scheduling issues, Still was born out of a necessity to assure the viewers that artists will not stop creating and that the show, or in this case, the music, must go on.

We need to reinforce just how star-studded Still is, with top Filipino talents contributing both on-screen and behind the scenes.

Prominent headliners in the cast are Julie Anne San Jose and Christian Bautista. Julie Anne, a multi-awarded and well-loved singer-songwriter, actress, and television personality takes on the role of Laura Ramirez, a relentless dreamer filled with ambition. Christian, a Filipino household name with his successful career in music and television not just in the Philippines but also across Southeast Asia, plays the role of Nikolas, one of the camp heads going through an introspective journey.

Joining them are local theater superstars Bituin Escalante and Gab Pangilinan. Undoubtedly an icon in Philippine theatre, Bituin plays Annette Carreon, the owner of the home where the camp is held. Gab Pangilinan, praised for her unforgettable performances in Ang Huling El Bimbo, Side Show, and Mula sa Buwan, plays Sab, a voiceless writer who struggles with the thought of following her dreams.

Rising multitalented stars Gabby Padilla (FAMAS Best Actress Nominee for Billie and Emma, Kalel, 15), Lance Reblando (Ang Huling El Bimbo, Wanted: Male Boarders, Disney’s The Lion King), Mike Shimamoto (up-and-coming singer-songwriter, founder of haru), and Abe Autea (Dekada ‘70 the Musical, Nana Rosa) are also gracing the series. MC Dela Cruz, Chaye Mogg, Roco Sanchez, Ian Hermogenes, Shaira Opsimar, Matthew Chang, and Nica Del Rosario are theater and music standouts that make up the rest of the cast.

As a musical-narrative series about a music camp, the music and lyrics will be nothing short of spectacular. Nica Del Rosario, Matthew Chang, and Mike Shimamoto make up the incredible team behind the music. Nica is the credited songwriter of Tala, a chart-topping hit song that went viral online. Matthew created and directed the music for Dekada ‘70 the Musical. Mike is a singer-songwriter and, as mentioned, one of the lead actors in the series. He plays the character Iggy Gomez, the “golden boy” camp veteran of the bunch.

The creators of Still feature big names in the industry with the likes of Pat Valera (Dekada ‘70 the Musical and Mula sa Buwan), Giancarlo Abrahan (Sila Sila, Paki, and Dagitab), and Nicco Manalo (renowned film, TV, and theater actor). It’s directed by Treb Monteras (Respeto) and produced by Monster Jimenez (Respeto, Apocalypse Child).

Still is presented by Viu Philippines and This Side Up, in collaboration with Arkeofilms, TheaterFansManila.com, Flip Music, and Black Box Collab.

It’s made possible by the support of Smart 5G, FWD Life Insurance, Enervon Activ, McDelivery, Smart GigaPay, and Belo SunExpert.

The Exclusive PreViu tickets are now available for purchase at https://bit.ly/ViuStillSeries.

The editorial cartoon below illustrates the “VIP testing” controversy of some government officials published on March 23, 2020 and states in capitalized, boldfaced, and italicized letters: FREE MASS TESTING NOW!

The VIP LANE represents five of the listed people from the last person in line to the first: Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, Imee Marcos, Sara Duterte, Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, and Francis Tolentino.

On the opposite side are front liners, such as the awestruck medical technologist who wonders about testing the officials, and behind him are fellow medical personnel who are either positive or dying from COVID-19 infections.

This illustration depicts the gap between the elites and working class at a time when there are limited testing kits and many front liners are battling on mitigating the pandemic.

In spite of the call for free mass testing, it seems that this is taken lightly as those in the VIP LANE are giving puns on the first two words of the slogan in the same typeface. FREEVILEGED KAMI! which equates that the 'privileged' are free to take the test, and MASS IMPORTANTE KAMI SA INYO! make them sound similar to the ‘mass’ or ‘common people’ but they deem themselves way more important.

The former who have authority abuse their power to be prioritized despite showing no severe symptoms of infection, while the latter who are few in numbers are not tested and are left behind despite their health conditions being a topmost priority in the Department of Health triage.

COVID-19 vaccinations should be mandatory for everyone as they prevent further transmissions and lessen the severity of the disease (Haelle, 2021), especially in the Philippines which has the 2nd highest confirmed cases in the ASEAN region and 27th in the world (Bueza, 2020).

This requires constant surveillance when conducting the inoculation and a set schedule for vaccination for essential travel and front-liners (e.g., health workers, security personnel, and delivery couriers), and exemptions concerning those with comorbidity, religious, or philosophical reasons; therefore encouraging, not forcing or compelling, people to take part in the initiative and get immunized to achieve herd immunity for the community overall (Barraza et al., 2021).

But this does not equate to lasting immunity―this should be followed with frequent booster shots for prolonged immunity as variants of the virus itself are emerging. Thus, official proofs of vaccination and booster shots are to be presented, besides negative COVID-19 test results (Kramer, 2020).

The public is wary of vaccines developed within a year; anxious to be immunized even for free, and even if it were not a COVID-19 vaccine (Al Jazeera, 2021). But this will only render them susceptible to other known diseases such as dengue, malaria, measles, and polio (Santos, 2019). Unknown to many, there are already studies that enabled the speed of developing and manufacturing a vaccine, including its safety and efficacy (Stulpin, 2020).

Aside from vaccination, adherence to health protocols: proper wearing of face masks, sanitation, and social distancing, are keys to a more effective response to the pandemic (Department of Health, 2020). | STARLING

Bibliography

Al Jazeera. (2021). How the Philippines lost faith in vaccines. Al Jazeera. Retrieved April 21, 2021, from https://interactive.aljazeera.com/aje/2021/how-philippines-lost-faith-in-vaccines/index.html

Barraza, L., Hodge Jr., J., & Piatt, J. (2021, April 5). When Can You Be Required to Get a COVID-19 Vaccine? Slate. Retrieved April 21, 2021, from https://slate.com/technology/2021/04/covid-vaccination-law-mandates-requirements.html

Bueza, M. (2020, October 16). COVID-19 in charts: Where does PH stand in ASEAN, world? Rappler. Retrieved April 21, 2021, from https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/data-documents/coronavirus-charts-where-philippines-stands-asean-world

Department of Health. (2020, March 2). What can I do to prevent the spread of COVID-19? Department of Health. Retrieved April 21, 2021, from https://doh.gov.ph/node/19588

Haelle, T. (2021, April 21). Yes, vaccines block most transmission of COVID-19. National Geographic. Retrieved April 21, 2021, from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/yes-vaccines-block-most-transmission-of-covid-19

Kramer, J. (2020, August 20). COVID-19 vaccines could become mandatory. Here’s how it might work. National Geographic. Retrieved April 21, 2021, from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/how-coronavirus-covid-vaccine-mandate-would-actually-work-cvd

Santos, A. (2019, November 1). Philippines struggling to cope with back-to-back disease outbreaks. Deutsche Welle. Retrieved April 21, 2021, from https://www.dw.com/en/philippines-struggling-to-cope-with-back-to-back-disease-outbreaks/a-51084152

Teaching ethics at schools prevents crime by educating students on what is morally right and wrong since these are vital to their growth and development, by becoming aware and conscious of their actions and the consequence of doing them (University of Cambridge, 2012).

It is a universal right for children to be sent to learning facilities to guide their learning and upbringing (UNESCO, n.d.), especially when parents or guardians are unavailable in their crucial years of undergoing phases in acquiring a moral compass: a set of values that engender empathy, self-restraint, remorse, and conscientiousness, which further increases their self-understanding and emotional intelligence, not just factual intelligence in academic subjects (Yousefi, 2016).

Allowing instructors in the academe to teach ethics and foster these values helps prevent children’s and young adults’ tendency of exhibiting risky behaviors at later ages and committing legal offenses: robbery, theft, drug-dealing, and other crimes (Trivedi-Bateman, 2020).

Ethics opens the minds of students to various, opposing viewpoints and enables them to question themselves on their stance on a moral dilemma by letting them think critically and logically to make a rational decision. Thus, promoting wholesome reasoning, not just baseless statements founded on poor judgment (Capsim, 2018).

Instead of allocating higher budgets to correctional facilities and rehabilitation centers (Jourdan & Cai, 2016), the government should have focused more on the educational sector where distance learning is poorly funded and unconventional to those who lack connectivity and other resources to cope with this new normal (Rey, 2020), as school participation serves an alternative and constructive form of crime reduction and limits students from resorting in crime-related activities (Machin et al., 2011). | STARLING

Bibliography

Capsim. (2018, March 26). 4 Reasons Why Teaching Ethics is Important. Capsim. Retrieved April 21, 2021, from https://www.capsim.com/blog/4-reasons-why-teaching-ethics-is-important/

Jourdan, A., & Cai, J. (2016, November 1). Behind Philippines' ties with China, a billionaire and his rehab centers. Reuters. Retrieved April 21, 2021, from https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-philippines-rehab-idUSKBN12V2K4

Machin, S., Marie, O., & Vujić, S. (2011, May). THE CRIME REDUCING EFFECT OF EDUCATION. The Economic Journal, 121(552), 463-484. Wiley Online Library. 10.1111/j.1468-0297.2011.02430.x.

Rey, A. (2020, September 29). In Duterte's 2021 budget, Filipinos are on their own. Rappler. Retrieved April 21, 2021, from https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/in-depth/filipinos-welfare-employment-education-duterte-2021-national-budget

Trivedi-Bateman, N. (2020, May 15). Why young people commit crime and how moral education could help – new research. The Conversation. Retrieved April 21, 2021, from https://theconversation.com/why-young-people-commit-crime-and-how-moral-education-could-help-new-research-131855

UNESCO. (n.d.). Right to education. United Nations Educational, Scientific Cultural, and Educational Organization. Retrieved April 21, 2021, from https://en.unesco.org/themes/right-to-education University of Cambridge. (2012, June 25). Morality prevents crime. University of Cambridge. Retrieved April 21, 2021, from https://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/morality-prevents-crime

The widespread threat of the Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) from Wuhan, China has become a global pandemic - resulting in many countries to declare extreme measures to flatten the curve of reported cases around the world.

These include washing of hands, applying 70% solution alcohol or sanitizer, wearing of face masks and social distancing at public places . . .

And staying at home during the enhanced community quarantines (ECQs) and lockdowns for the general public to heed.

I know of a place where you never get harmed, a magical place with magical charms . . .

Indoors.

Indoors.

Indoooors!

So sang Spongebob Squarepants about the joy of staying indoors.

For two months of ECQ extensions, it’s like being a caged bird confined in the spaces of my home under prohibition of going out for fear of acquiring the deadly COVID-19 at the age of 19 and infecting my loved ones.

And if it weren’t for the extended ECQs, I wouldn’t be writing and finishing this article in dim lighting with a mouth full on chewing Cavendish and Harvey’s berry candies.

Instead of wasting your time playing games in your gadgets and stalking special someone’s social media accounts and end up sulking on self-insufficiency, why not kill that obsession and cure your boredom by doing these recommended tips to staying safe, healthy and productive at home with your family?

1) Be your own study buddy. Physical classes are still suspended in some countries until further notice while others have their resumption already through online classrooms and lectures.

With those who don’t have access to WiFi or those who have a poor network connection for mobile data, it would be impossible to conduct online classes or even send course modules due to unavailability of resources or lack theirof.

But learning doesn’t only happen in the four corners of a classroom, it can be anywhere.

Fend for yourself. If you have textbooks, read and review previous lessons and do self-tests. Teach thyself to self-study.

2) Learn a language. There’s no need to go to a language school when there are online resources like YouTube, where there are hundreds of channels that offer video tutorials and even links to their lesson transcripts; or even listen to podcasts on Spotify and Apple Music.

But if you want some tests, you can download language learning apps like Duolingo, LingoDeer or Memrise at the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store. They provide paced games that match with your level and reward you with badges for achieving quests. More so, you can invite your friends to challenge them!

And if you want real talk with your target language, you can chat online and exchange language with a native speaker.

This might be tricky, because there are some shady people on the web asking you for money and other transactions beyond your expectations.

But don’t worry though, there are websites that can guarantee you of finding serious language exchange partners such as My Language Exchange, InterPals and Polyglot Club.

With the help of a native speaker, you can help one another and study together by not just exchanging languages but also cultures!

3) Reach out to friends and family. Got that best bud that is far away from home living and studying in another city, or a place called abroad?

It may be quite a feat, especially when it’s been a long time since you’ve seen or heard from each other due to having your own personal lives and roundabouts.

Now that that cycle is broken and the pandemic is out in the open, ‘tis the time to talk to them.

If you have their number or social media, start by sending them a simple “Hi! How are you?” or try calling them and see if they pick it up. Waiting for their response can be tough, but remember that patience is a virtue.

If they don’t, don’t take it to heart - it only means they might be occupied in a task.

If they do, that’s good. Speaking to a loved one can actually reduce the stress hormone 'cortisol' and give you emotional support through these tough times of feeling lonely and isolated.

4) Have a penchant for reading. Like what you’re doing right now with this article, reading can get you informed, inspired and intact as an individual.

Start leafing through the pages of the books you’ve hoarded when you were a tsundoku. Have a shelf of read books instead of just bought books.

Reading stimulates the mind and engages you with the characters as if you were one of them, it also takes you to places you’ve never been before.

When you find it hard to pick a book and start reading, remember Daniel Pennac’s 10 Inalienable Readers' Bill of Rights.

Read something that piques your interest or curiosity, answers your questions, and relates to you.

5) Start a journal. When was the last time since you’ve held a pen and paper?

With the convenience of touchscreen phones and laptops, you don’t have to worry much of that scribble you called ‘handwriting’ when you can type your thoughts through texts with matching emojis, GIFs and the like!

Just like Anne Frank, a Jewish teenager who wrote “Kitty” entries about her life and experience during the dark days spent on hiding and surviving, penning down your thoughts and worries can calm your nerves and help you cope with stress, especially in these tight times where going outside is compromising - aside from polishing your writing and penmanship.

Begin by a word that comes out of your mind when you think of today. How are you doing? Watcha doin'? Write them down.

6) Watch your faves. Missed that movie from the theaters? No worries! If you have WiFi and that handy phone of yours, you can re-watch movies and Indies of various genres for free on iFlix, YouTube and other reliable apps and even stream them on your TV when you don't have cable and other paid subscriptions.

Be wary of those 'free streaming' sites. They have lots of ads popping out of nowhere in your browser and malware that can covertly download in your device.

Grab your snacks and drinks. Sit back. Relax. Enjoy the show!

7) Cook like a chef. When only drive-thru and ready-to-eat food are available this lockdown, you surely would munch on them after a whole day from work.

Good thing they're effortless - bad thing is that the body takes in a lot more oil, salt and preservatives leading to poor health and nutrition compared to when you prepare it yourself.

Food cravings have never been much of a problem when you have your kitchen and ingredients. A quick search of the recipe on the web or a short how-to video from Tasty takes your DIY cooking to the next level!

Get your apron and chef charisma out of the zone - just make sure you don't burn your house down.

8) Listen to music. Silence can be deafening, except for the sounds of alarms and sirens signaling curfew.

With all upcoming concerts canceled, live events are put on hiatus. But that can't be possible where there are music and video streaming apps to re-live in the moment and watch recorded uploads of your idols.

If you feel tired and lonely, listening to some upbeat tunes and melodies remedies your mood. It can even bring nostalgia from the time when you first hear it by strumming a chord in your heartstrings, just like 'earworms' replaying the lyrics in your head when you can't get over a song that's on repeat #lastsongsyndrome.

Dance and sing to the rhythm, let yourself freely be.

9) Excess fat? Exercise. Stop being a couch potato and break a sweat by doing some simple exercises that are cost-free, low-maintenance and intense workout is a big thumbs-up to those who have not started or are yet to start their fitness goals.

Did you know that planks, crunches and other similar exercises that strengthen your core muscles in preparation for doing extensive workouts can be done in the comfort of your home? Unlike other exercises that require you to go outside or to the gym, they save you the worries of expensive fees and the risk of any untoward incident on the streets, e.g. acquiring COVID-19.

Starting an exercise when you are sedentary may be difficult, but a slow progress is already progress once you consistently do it from time to time. So make it a morning habit to exercise for a healthy mind and a healthy body.

10) Do your part!

Whether you're a follower or just a random reader, you can do much more than what the above-mentioned list enumerates. Feel free to leave a comment below by sharing your additional tips on surviving this quarantine and on how you found joy in staying indoors!

As medical frontliners are working out to find the cure in the fight against the invisible enemy, the government advises against going out unless necessary.

Kudos to all health care providers, food and supplies personnel, volunteers, donors, sponsors and supportive people around the world!

There was once a boy named “Pepe,” who listened to his mother’s tale about the moth who loved flying around the flame. The moth was disobedient and never listened to his mother, who had warned him against it; the young moth, in the end, got himself caught in the flame and burned to ashes and never fluttered its wings again.

This is not about fairytales and rainbows; this is all about the young boy “Pepe” who later became the hero of the Philippines, whose death was the precursor of the revolution and the ‘spark’ that ignited the spirit of Filipinos to unite and fight for freedom and equality against the Spaniards.

These are some things we can remember of Rizal, as his story only becomes ‘history’ rewritten over for many versions and editions ripped off from secondary sources and not much from primary sources.

Everyone knows the late Jose Rizal as one of these titles from biographies written by historians: ‘hero of the Philippines’ (Charles Russel), ‘the Philippine nationalist and martyr’ (Austin Coates), ‘the great Malayan’ (Carlos Quirino), ‘the pride of the Malay race’ (Rafael Palma), ‘Asia’s first apostle’ (Gregorio Zaide), or as ‘the first Filipino’ (Leon Maria Guerrero).

For too many a biography comes a great deal of hagiography – fancy and flattering life story of a person that is overly written or exaggerated, making it appear to be way better than it really is, or was, in Rizal’s case.

The wonders of reading materials from a trusted source draw amusement and knowledge to the reader. But there are instances that we, as readers, are oblivious that the ‘facts’ we believe to be ‘reliable’ are just a fraction of the truth.

Most biographies of Rizal would tell of his outstanding intellect, his travels to Europe and Asia, his short-lived relationships with women, opinions of his alleged marriage to Irishwoman Josephine Bracken and his letters of retraction, and his writings for reforms of the Spanish regime in the country.

What readers and students of Rizal would miss is the story of his life that is overshadowed by praises and achievements on each page. There would only be mentions of his struggle as an advocate of reforms for equal rights and opportunities during the times where rumors of him as a perpetrator of an upcoming rebellion came to light; though only his novels were responsible of fanning the flames of revolution, especially his return from abroad upon knowledge of the threats his family was experiencing and his immediate capture and exile to Dapitan.

These are some things we can remember of Rizal, as his story only becomes ‘history’ rewritten over for many versions and editions ripped off from secondary sources and not much from primary sources.

Historians’ differing accounts and interviews of living relatives of Rizal or collection and investigation of documents linked to his correspondence to friends and family are proven to be challenging given that these are subject to discrepancies and debate up till the present.

The heartache of losing a first love in his teenage years leaves a deep-seated scar on Humbert Humbert (Jeremy Irons), a man who commits a crime in the name of love.

In a flashback, he searches for a place to stay and finds shelter in the home of widow Charlotte Haze (Melanie Griffith). She takes him on a tour around the property and there he meets the resemblance of his late love in the embodiment of Charlotte's daughter, Dolores (Dominique Swain), whom he calls 'Lolita.'

Lolita ignites a fire within H. H. and he becomes determined to be with her at all costs, even if it means becoming her relative. Soon enough, misfortunes happen and Dolores is motherless.

H. H. picks up Lolita and takes her on a journey through motels and nowhere, now that he has the rightful claim to her as the 'father.' He controls her life and steals her childhood, eventually pushing Lolita to the limits and leaving him searching for her everywhere. Paranoid as he is with her before and helpless now that she is gone, he slowly loses his rationality.

Irons and Swain's promising performance perfectly portrays pedophilic passion, the film adaption true to the narrative illusion of a deranged man committing crimes in the name of the same crimes he shirks accountability for. The audiences are finally aware of the reason for his reckless driving in the opening scene.

There are various shows to enjoy watching on television. You can even watch a thousand more if you have a cable subscription, but only few can afford the latter for its price is considered expensive to the masses. So instead of spending money every month to pay for it, why not switch to your local channel and watch your favorite pastime show, the telenovela?

Nowadays, their franchise and copyright are bought and there are networks dubbing or subtitling them into their own tongues. Moreover, they are adapted into various, different versions; Marimar, Pasion de Amor, and Doble-Kara are some of the recent remakes of famous telenovelas in the Philippines.

A telenovela is a soap opera, sometimes referred simply as ‘soap’, originating in Latin American countries where it was first produced and then aired nationwide. They are usually advertised with soap products, thus the term. The word is formed by combining the syllables of tele- from ‘television’ and novela from the Spanish term for ‘novel’ itself. Originally, these were once radio programs that were often sponsored by soap manufacturers; hence the term ‘soap’.

Telenovelas are run in a limited series of episodes that can take a span of a year, or even a two or more, when they have high numbers of televiewers. They can also be released internationally if they are well-received by critics or popularly watched online by netizens.

These shows are often characterized with melodramatic sentimentality as a representation of tangled interpersonal situations of the real-life drama, too emotional and stressful yet beautiful to believe. But it does not mean that all the contents of their plot are just a mixed-up overdose of fantasies and illusions the writers and creators have made out of their figment of imagination; they do not intend to delude the audience and stagnate their minds into believing that fairy tales do happen in real life. Telenovelas are works of art playwrights make to awaken people’s dreary minds of the untold stories many face in the real world.

Drama, tragedy, betrayal, revenge, humor, and relief are the key components of a telenovela. Though the combination may be exaggerated with the many additions to the cast ensemble and storyline, these are essential in the making and production. It is already a norm that telenovelas should go ‘this-and-that’ way. Regardless of many character-inserts and plot twists getting distant from the main story in itself, the theme remains constant and never-changing. There is always a moral learned from every episode for the watchers.

They can be redundant and overworking to watch at times, but televiewers can relate their experiences in real life to that of a particular character’s complication. There is no denying that you can not even notice your eyes watering and teardrops falling, either from mourning or laughter.

Telenovelas are not mere commercial shows full of deceptions. They are special media portrayals of life struggles. They teach us to dream, hope, forgive and reach the extents to become better. Like it or not, they are generally favored by the masses, though a newbie watching one show would think otherwise.

Maxi-Peel's 2014 YouTube TunaySerye (TrueSeries) features the journey of Jefferlyn 'Jeff' Serrano, who suffers from frequent acne breakouts due to stress and pollution since starting her internship at a radio station, adding that her self-esteem is declining as well as her self-confidence (de Lazo, 2016).

The product name speaks for itself. With three variants available depending on the condition of breakouts, it uses tretinoin and hydroquinone as its active ingredients to minimize the appearance of pores and pimples by removing dead skin cells through peeling (Chien, 2014).

Jeff displays confidence and assurance as she places her hand on her hips and portrays proper posture in the picture (Guilbeault, 2021). Her previously straight, black hair is dyed a lighter shade of brown, curled, and placed on her shoulders to make her stand out and be the center of attention (Fern, 2014).

She smiles without showing teeth to leave a better, positive impression of product satisfaction as it portrays a genuine smile (Davis, 2017), while the whitelighting surrounding her aids in emphasizing her glowing face holding the product on her right (Maison, n.d.).

The brand name typeface is stylized compared to its subtitles, and it has a big font size with its color in the lighter shade of green that matches the background to leave an impression of renewal and beauty (Guta, 2019). Its motto: Bagong Ganda, Bagong Pag-asa (new beauty, new hope), with the letter case capitalized in each word, aims to protect the product identity and strengthen the market recognition (Wright, n.d.), while the white font color is an indicator that the product is also an effective whitening agent.

The background color bears the brand's trademark color: green, symbolizing hope and healing (Bourn, 2011) and embracing change (Cherry, 2021) which is Maxi-Peel’s promise of eliminating pimples to gain confidence for a fresh start and peace of mind (Maxi-Peel, n.d.). The green dress and round stud earrings she wears complement her overall look, simple yet beautiful (Lior, 2011).

To reiterate Maxi-Peel's claim, the artists make use of the hashtag: a word or phrase preceded by the symbol # that classifies or categorizes the accompanying text (Merriam-Webster, n.d.). The hashtag found at the bottom, #MAXIPEELworks is part of marketing tactics used in social media platforms for the product to be discoverable to anyone curious or interested in the topic, which can trend online and boost sales (Evans, 2018).

The presentation is complete and minimalist by employing less design, but it mentions no possible side effects from using the product. Unlike most advertisements, they exclude disclaimers used to prevent misunderstanding. This technique sparks the interest of young women who need rescue from acne trouble and believe they finally found the solution. | STARLING

Bibliography

Anonymous. (n.d.). FAQ's. Maxi-Peel PH. Retrieved March 30, 2021, from http://maxipeel.ph/journey

Bourn, J. (2011, January 25). Color Meaning: Meaning of The Color Green. Bourn Creative. Retrieved March 30, 2021, from https://www.bourncreative.com/meaning-of-the-color-green/

Cherry, K. (2021, January 24). The Color Psychology of Green. VeryWell Mind. Retrieved March 30, 2021, from https://www.verywellmind.com/color- psychology-green-2795817

Chien, O. (2014, December 10). Review: Maxi-Peel Exfoliant #1. My Name is Chien. Retrieved March 30, 2021, from http://www.sparkliecandy.com/2014/12/review-maxi-peel-exfoliant-1.html

Davis, N. (2017, June 28). A winning smile avoids showing too many teeth, researchers say. The Guardian. Retrieved March 30, 2021, from https://www.theguardian.com/education/2017/jun/28/a-winning-smile-avoids- showing-too-many-teeth-researchers-say

de Lazo, C. (2016, April 11). Girl on new Maxi-Peel TVC says her pimples are not fake. PhilStar Global. Retrieved March 30, 2021, from https://www.philstar.com/lifestyle/fashion-and-beauty/2016/04/11/1570764/girl-new- maxi-peel-tvc-says-her-pimples-are-not-fake

Evans, C. (2018, August 23). What is the Purpose of a Hashtag? Markitors. Retrieved March 30, 2021, from https://markitors.com/what-is-the-purpose-of-a- hashtag/

Fern, A. (2014, November 6). I Need A Change: 16 Honest Reasons Girls Decide To Color Their Hair. Elite Daily. Retrieved March 30, 2021, from https://www.elitedaily.com/women/15-real-reasons-girls-color-hair/837139

Guilbeault, L. (2021, March 25). 22 Body Language Examples And What They Show. BetterHelp. Retrieved March 30, 2021, from https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/body-language/22-body-language-examples-and- what-they-show/

Guta, M. (2019, July 20). Know the Basics of Fonts and How They Affect Your Marketing. Small Business Trends. Retrieved March 30, 2021, from https://smallbiztrends.com/2019/07/fonts-for-marketing.html

Lior, J. (2011, September 3). The History of Jewelry: Why do we wear jewelry? Say Why Do I. Retrieved March 30, 2021, from http://www.saywhydoi.com/the- history-of-jewelry-why-do-we-wear-jewelry/

Maison, J. (n.d.). What is color grading and why is it important? Videomaker. Retrieved March 30, 2021, from https://www.videomaker.com/how-to/editing/what-is- color-grading/

Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Hashtag. Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved March 30, 2021, from https://www.merriam- webster.com/dictionary/hashtag

Saidalieva, N. (2019, March 1). Why girls straighten or curl their hair? New York Beauty & Health Magazine. Retrieved March 30, 2021, from https://nybeautyandhealth.com/2019/03/01/why-girls-straighten-or-curl-their-hair/

Original Title: バトル・ロワイアル (Batoru Rowaiaru) Story: Kōshun Takami (高見 広春 Takami Kōshun) Art: Masayuki Taguchi (田口 雅之 Taguchi Masayuki) Chapters: 119, excluding side stories and extras Content Rating: M+

Kill or be killed....

Based on Kōshun Takami's phenomenal and controversial novel of the same name, this manga tells the story of middle school students who are forced to fight to the death.

Akita Shoten of Young Champion serialized Battle Royale into a manga in Japan in 2000 prior to the film adaptation's box office success by acclaimed director Kinji Fukasaku. The manga includes exclusive interviews with the author and the illustrator of the work in each volume. By July 2003, three years after its publication, the series were combined into 15 volumes licensed under TokyoPop. The series continued up to 119 chapters that ended in 2005.

In the guise of a field trip, the grade nine students from Class 3-B of Shiroiwa Junior High School are gassed within their school bus upon taking a different route. The characters later wake up inside a classroom in another school; seated according to their seat arrangement back in school, wearing metal collars.

A bulgy man who introduces himself as "Yonemi Kamon" explains they are selected as the 'players' of the 'Program' or Combat Experiment No. 68, aka The Battle Royale Act of their Commonwealth government in Japan, now called The Greater East Asia Republic, that reinforces this controversial experiment every year by choosing one class of ninth-graders out of 50 potential candidates and transporting them to a remote location for their fighting arena, a result of nationwide student demonstration prior to the story.

Information about the Program venue and its players are classified and only authorized personnel in charge of the game know about this. Despite strong contention against international communities against its extreme policy of punishing rebels or protesters by charging them guilty of treason and sending them off, the Commonwealth still exports goods and enjoys the highest gross national product per capita in the world.

The rules are simple: bags containing some food and weapons/devices are handed out and they only have three days. Otherwise, their collars will self-destruct, killing them all ‘losers.’

Everyone is dumbfounded, who would’ve thought that the field trip you’ve been looking forward to graduation turned out to be your final destination?

The plot of the manga follows nearly close enough to the novel's that there are only slight changes and differences in its Japanese and English counterparts. Although some alterations have been made from the original Japanese version, the graphic novel adaptation followed closely the novel's plot; yet it adds details about some students through flashbacks and side stories, including each character’s profile found at the end of later chapters.

Though way more sexually graphic compared to the film and novel, the bloody violence and gory scenes are still present in the story, including curses and other known expletives in every chapter. Each turn of a page will either shun your eyes or upset your stomach. If you're not used to such scenes, prepare yourself for brutal horror.

Taguchi draws with emotion and exaggeration in every character as each struggles to battle their worst enemies: themselves. To leave the island to live is a feat impossible to achieve when authorities take pre-emptive measures to keep the game going by compelling them to kill a classmate: may it be a friend, a foe, or both.

This is the creation of an ad agency for Burger King in Singapore, 2009. This ad received flak and backlash from critics due to its sexually suggestive themes, particularly from the model who reported her image was used without consent.

The publication material above is analyzed through Freudian lens and takes into meaning the various elements deployed to create a convincing visual campaign that triggers certain drives for consumers to try and buy the product for personal gratification.

On the left is a girl who wears dark makeup and red lipstick with her mouth agape, seemingly surprised at the size of the burger on the right. She becomes a sex symbol while the latter, shaped like the male phallus, represents both her food and sexual appetite.

Below them is a slogan in large, boldfaced, and capitalized letters: IT’LL BLOW YOUR MIND AWAY. This implies eating their product is like receiving a “blowjob” or fellatio. In addition, Burger King’s tagline written in misaligned letters on the upper right, IT JUST TASTES BETTER, justifies the suggestion of leaving a similar satisfaction when receiving pleasure through oral sex.

The image of the model, product, and slogan are larger compared to other elements to create aspiration and visual appeal. Further, the subdued lighting on the background highlights the implicit sexual act and desire obtained to lure the male audience and let them imagine themselves as powerful as “kings.”

In 2009, Filipino-brand apparel Bench released another name in its Celebrity Scents Collection, introducing actor-model Jose Sixto Raphael Gonzalez Dantes III (Bigtas, 2018), also known as 'Dingdong Dantes,' in its latest addition, DesireD (Vallez, 2009).

His water-dripping and bare upper body are a perfect turn-on for males and females alike, the audience concluding that his lower body may be naked as well, with the scent described as 'unisex' (Vallez, 2009). The ripples of water represent the quenching of thirst and extinguishing the fire of sexual desire since that leads to the drying of the throat due to frequent swallowing (Villines, 2020), resulting from anxiety in seeing his provocative appearance (David et al., 1983).

The poker face reflects Dantes' nonverbal way of saying he is "in control" of the situation, despite no explicit message written in the background. With his lips pressed in a thin line, it also strengthens the severe atmosphere and utmost authority (Nelson, 2011).

The mole near his neck makes the audience take note of that specific part of the body because this feature, also known as a 'beauty mark,' is considered attractive (Irving, 1981). Besides, the body part itself is also one of the erogenous zones in human physiology (Longhurst, 2019).

Showing his armpit hair and pushing his hair back with a muscular arm flaunts his masculinity and sex appeal (Stokes, 2018). With the image tilted to the left, his face draws out his jawline and cheekbone (DiTosto, 2016). This technique is also employed to shift the focus to the product on the right after gazing at Dantes's body from the left (Soranzo, 2021).

The enlarged size of the actual product on the foreground emphasizes the water spattered on the model, which tricks the audience that they can spray it all over their body or even bathe in it in just a small bottle of a 100-ml perfume (Anonymous, 2009) whose label and packaging are not displayed unless they search online about the product details.

The mirrored and bigger 'D's' in the brand name DesireD emphasize the initials of the model's stage name: Dingdong Dantes, or simply, Dingdong.

Red is used as the font color of the celebrity's name, and the perfume symbolizes the product itself: desired (Morton, 2011). The commercial takes advantage of the model to attract the audience into buying the product, implying that Dantes is the embodiment of being 'desired': the face of passion, lust, and dominance. He is the 'ideal guy.'

At that time, Dantes has made no official statements about being in a relationship yet (Dy, 2014), thus attracting fans who desire to be the object of his desire, or men who wish to be like him, to buy the perfume and try it themselves. | STARLING

Bibliography

Anonymous. (2009). Dingdong Dantes Desired EDT | BENCH/ Online Store. BENCH/. Retrieved March 30, 2021, from https://shop.bench.com.ph/dingdong- dantes-desired-edt.html/

Bigtas, J. A. (2018, August 2). 7 winning qualities that make Dingdong Dantes everybody's dream guy. GMA News Online. Retrieved March 30, 2021, from https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/showbiz/chikaminute/662762/7-winning- qualities-that-dingdong-dantes-everybody-s-dream-guy/story/

David, B., Beck, J. G., & Sakheim, D. (1983, March). Anxiety increases sexual arousal. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 92 (1): 49-54. 10.1037/0021- 843X.92.1.49 DiTosto, A. (2016, June 27). The Perfect Selfie Angle According To Your Face Shape. Guest of a Guest. Retrieved March 30, 2021, from https://guestofaguest.com/beauty/the-perfect-selfie-angle?slide=3

Dy, L. (2014, August 17). Dingdong Dantes, Marian Rivera—that was a second proposal. Inquirer.net. Retrieved March 30, 2021, from https://entertainment.inquirer.net/149873/that-was-a-second-proposal

Irving, A. M. (1981). Malignant Melanoma (1st ed., Vol. 1). Appleton- Century-Crofts.

Longhurst, A. S. (2019, April 4). 31 Erogenous Zones & How to Touch Them: A Chart for Men & Women. Healthline. Retrieved March 30, 2021, from https://www.healthline.com/health/healthy-sex/erogenous-zonesMerriam-Webster. (n.d.).

Morton, J. (2011, February 25). Meaning of the Color Red. Bourn Creative. Retrieved March 30, 2021, from https://www.bourncreative.com/meaning-of-the- color-red/

Nelson, A. (2011, February 26). Poker Face: The Male Advantage. Psychology Today. Retrieved March 30, 2021, from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/he-speaks-she-speaks/201102/poker- face-the-male-advantage

Soranzo, A. (2021, March 30). Selfie culture: What your choice of camera angle says about you. PhysOrg. Retrieved March 30, 2021, from https://phys.org/news/2021-03-selfie-culture-choice-camera-angle.html

Stokes, W. (2018, August 3). Men Are Getting Armpit Hair Transplants Because They're Insecure About It Not Being Thick And "Manly" Enough. The Frisky. Retrieved March 30, 2021, from https://thefrisky.com/men-are-getting- armpit-hair-transplants-because-theyre-insecure-about-it-not-being-thick-and- manly-enough/

Vallez, I. A. (2009, November 17). Boy Trouble. Preview. Retrieved March 30, 2021, from https://www.preview.ph/beauty/boy-trouble?reg=feed_1

Alessandra de Rossi portrays a Filipina tour guide in Sapporo, Japan. She has been engaged to her Japanese boyfriend Nobuo for five years but is yet to be holding her dream wedding.

While resting from work one day, she receives a letter from a stranger for a meet-up at a beer garden. Thinking that Nobuo is the sender, she arrives and witnesses her boyfriend with her Filipino-Japanese friend Aiko. Broken-hearted, she leaves the scene and loses her vision.

Enter Empoy Marquez, who plays Tonyo: her friendly next-door countryperson and neighbor who drops food at her place whom she constantly snubs for self-pride. Gradually, she warms up to him and agrees to his proposal to show him around Sapporo—this time, Tonyo becomes Lea's guide in exploring the city.

"Nu'ng gabing 'yun, pinagkatiwala ko ang buhay ko sa isang saging. At nu'ng gabing 'yun, ako lang . . . ako lang ang puso na may saging." ("That night, I entrusted my life to a banana. And that night, I was the only heart with the banana.")

We get a glimpse of famous spots in Sapporo and get to know what living in Japan looks like. The ambiance adds attraction between an unlikely pair who prove that one can find genuine love regardless of sight. KZ Tandingan's rendition of Air Supply's "Two Less Lonely People" fits the moments of the two being together.

By the time Lea regains her vision, an incident happens. She chances upon Tonyo's make-shift home in a vehicle and reads his letter where she discovers he has known her for a long time ago.

Audiences are taken back to previous scenes: Tonyo's struggle of recovering from a recent breakup and his first meeting with Lea, the first person who showed him kindness and concern. Later on, he would move on from his heartbreak and change for the better, following Lea day by day.

Romantic and cheesy as it seems in the beginning, many viewers may cringe at the stalking part. Tonyo's insistence on Lea may convey how stalkers can get their way into their subject of obsession. Thus, giving false hopes and encouraging such behavior. | STARLING