#justharu

My Top 5 Korean-Drama Recommendations:

1. Chicago Typewriter

2. Remember: War of the Son

3. Tunnel

4. D-Day

5. Class of Lies

Disclaimer: I am NOT A FAN of romantic comedies, so most of my kdrama recommendations are all under the genre of crime, mystery and thriller.

5. Class of Lies (2019)

Network: OCN

Genre: Crime, Mystery, Thriller

Episodes: 16

Plot (by AsianWiki):

Ki Moo-Hyeok (Yoon Kyun Sang) is a lawyer with a high winning rate. He only cares about money. Due to a murder case at a high school which he deals with, his reputation as a lawyer hits rock bottom. In order to regain his good name as a lawyer, he sneaks into the high school and begins to work as a temporary teacher. He tries to reveal a secret which the students have. In so doing, Ki Moo-Hyeok gets involved with Teacher Ha So-Hyun (Keum Sae Rok). She is P.E. teacher who loves her students. Ki Moo-Hyeok and Ha So-Hyun then face the students' secret.

Thoughts/Conclusion:

As I am writing this, this is the latest kdrama I have watched. This was recommended by my friend and I remembered myself including this in my list of kdramas ‘to watch’ way before, but hasn’t been able to, yet. Hahaha!

In all of the dramas I’ve watched (with the same plot as this one), this one stands out the most because of its ending ㅡ open-ended. Yes, there were still some unanswered questions, but that is what made this drama intriguing. I love how realistic the approach of the drama is in interpreting the story. That not everything gets resolved, and in this drama too, the ending with Yu Beom Jin left us with many unanswered questions.

4. D-Day (2015)

Network: JTBC

Genre: Medical Drama, Disaster, Romance

Episodes: 20

Plot (by Wikipedia):

Lee Hae-sung is a surgeon who is transferred from one of the best hospitals in Seoul to a rundown hospital with no ER. After disobeying his previous hospital director, Park Geon, he then meets Jung Ddol-mi, an orthopedic resident from Busan who came to Seoul to transfer a patient. Ddol-mi tries to meet professor Han Woo-jin, a cold robotics surgeon who works in Hae-sung's old hospital who saved her life when she was younger before going back to Busan. However, she is stuck in Seoul after trying to save a patient. Meanwhile, a sinkhole appears in Seoul followed by a big earthquake that blocks all access to the city, causing phones, electricity, and water to not function. Hae-sung teams up with Ddol-mi to treat people, but soon medicine starts to run out.

Thoughts/Conclusion:

If I will recall, I think this is the first medical kdrama I have watched? I watched this because of Lee Sungyeol of INFINITE is casted in this drama and also because of the plot. But as I go on, I found myself so absorbed in the series.

What I liked about this series aside from the plot are the actors and actresses. They all did well in portraying each character, but I have to say, Kim Young Kwang really stands out for me. He has put a lot of effort in expressing his emotions into his character and it felt so real.

3. Tunnel (2017)

Network: OCN

Genre: Police Procedural, Crime, Thriller

Episodes: 16

Plot (by AsianWiki):

In 1986, Detective Park Gwang-Ho (Choi Jin Hyuk) desperately tries to catch a serial killer. He chases after the serial killer and goes through a tunnel. On the other side of the tunnel, Detective Park Gwang-Ho finds himself in the year 2017. The serial killer has resumed the killings that began 30 years ago. Detective Park Gwang-Ho works with Detective Kim Sun-Jae (Yoon Hyun Min) and Professor of Criminal Psychology Shin Jae-Yi (Lee Yoo Young) to catch the killer.

Thoughts/Conclusion:

I was actually torn between Tunnel and Signal, but I decided to include Tunnel in my Top 5 kdrama recommendations because it tackles criminal psychology as well as criminal profiling and I have been very interested in those things lately. What makes this series intriguing is that, it shows how psychopaths and sociopaths are developing in the society.

2. Remember: War of the Son (2015)

Network: SBS

Genre: Legal Drama, Crime, Thriller, Mystery

Episodes: 20

Plot (by Wikipedia):

Seo Jin-woo has a special condition called hyperthymesia which allows him to remember almost every day in perfect detail. While his father, Seo Jae-hyuk on the other hand, developed an Alzheimer's disease, making him lose his memories. When Seo Jae-hyuk was wrongfully convicted of murder, Jin-woo vows to prove innocence of his father. Four years later, Jin-woo becomes a lawyer to put the real criminal behind bars but bribery, corruption, and betrayals would not give him an easy road to justice.

Thoughts/Conclusion:

This series has been my top 1 kdrama ever since I have watched it, but Chicago Typewriter happened (well, I’ll be talking about this later). I came across a clip from the first episode of the series in Facebook. It was the scene on Jinwoo and Inha on the bus while identifying the culprit who stole something from Inha. I was intrigued about it and how Jinwoo has sharp memory and remembers everything.

What I love about this drama is the refreshing new plot and the characters, oh, let’s not forget how good Nam Goong Min portrayed his character as Nam Gyu Man. He really showed excellent acting skills to the point that even the viewers will hate him SO MUCH. Hahaha.

1. Chicago Typewriter (2017)

Network: TVN

Genre: Historical, Fantasy, Comedy, Romance

Episodes: 16

Plot (by Wikipedia):

The series depicts three resistance fighters who lived during the 1930s Japanese occupation of Korea, and are reincarnated into the present as a best-selling writer in a slump, a fan, and a ghostwriter.

It is an epic story of comradeship, friendship, love and betrayal that lasts 80 years. As the trio of writer, ghostwriter and fan race against time to find the truth of the past that haunts them, will their discovery affect their present?

Thoughts/Conclusion:

This is actually one of the recent kdramas I’ve watched during this enhanced community quarantine and I just have to say that this is actually one of my regrets in life (ok this is exaggerated lol but anyways). I regret not being able to watch this during the release which was last 2017. But it was actually on my ‘to watch’ list at that time. I’ve seen the plot and it made me curious, so I waited for it to finish before actually starting it, but I wasn’t really able to watch it because I got busy with school.

THIS. IS. SO. SO. SO. SO. GOOD.

As I’ve said above, Remember: War of the Son used to be my top 1 kdrama of all time, but after watching Chicago Typewriter, I changed my mind. Okay hear me out, I’ve seen A LOT of kdramas with new and interesting plot, but they haven’t topped Remember yet, but Chicago Typewriter just did, and I really mean it.

For the story, there were times where I felt that the story-line was moving slow. I mean, I wasn’t expecting it to be fast-paced but there were really scenes that I think have been dragged too long and not that important. But aside that, everything was SO GOOD. YES. IT WAS SO GOOD.

I love how series unfold the genuine friendship between the three main characters during the 1930s Japanese occupation of Korea – Seo Hwiyoung, Ryu Soohyun and Shin Yul. The storytelling throughout the drama is also good, even though they were constantly shifting timelines between 1930s and the present.  

February 8, 2020  ㅡ

It was Saturday, so that means, I can sleep in and wake up late :) hehe

My day started a bit late since I woke up around brunch time. Then, I waited for my brother to arrive from school because we will be going to Quezon City to meet up with our cousins.

One of our cousins is leaving for Australia this March that's why we have decided to meet up for the last time before he leaves. We planned on having our dinner at Ayala Mall - Vertis North.

Soon after my brother arrived home, he ate lunch and prepped for a bit before we head out. It was a Saturday afternoon which means, TRAFFIC.

It is actually my brother's first time driving alone (I mean, not with my parents but just us siblings) going to Manila and guess what happened next.

We got stuck in EDSA. Hahaha! I think after passing thru Ayala, that's where the traffic started. The cars were moving but in a very very very very slow pace. We were so bored, especially my brother, that we were just looking for foods to eat in the traffic. I mean, we were in EDSA already but there were vendors walking along selling peanuts and crackers. We passed by a lot of vendors and have bought peanuts to eat while in traffic.

I even saw an ad of Yunhyeong along EDSA. I forgot the exact place but yeah. I was surprised to see an ad there.

It took us about 3hrs from Cavite to Vertis North. If not for the traffic, we could’ve arrived an hour earlier, I think? Well, at least we have arrived safe.

Kuya Porthos was the first one to arrive there, followed by Ate Anne and Kuya Ton, then us. Soon after, Ate Diane also arrived and Ate Arcee was the last. Then we had our dinner at a korean restaurant in Vertis North – Sam Stew

After that, we were walking and looking for a coffee shop where we can stay for a bit. Until we saw an escape room just few stores away from the resto. I can't believe we went and played. It was our first time playing in an escape room together.

 But before we entered the room, me and Ate Anne met with our Inspirit friends for a bit and gave out merchs (hahaha)

We took the hardest room – The Tale of Yamauba. But we failed to escape. But we were SO CLOSE to finishing it. But we had fun! It was set inside traditional Japanese home and puzzles fit the theme well.

After that, we went back to our plan in looking for a coffee shop and have decided to go to Starbucks. But me and my cousin, Ate Anne, told them that we will just be meeting our friends back at Zoo Coffee for a bit and will just follow them after.

So, we went back to Zoo Coffee to talk for a bit. Hahaha! We spent like around 15 mins there before we went back to our cousins. But when we met them, they were still finalizing where to go. They were planning to drink so they were looking for bars, I think. Then we ended up at Barcino just a few stores away from where we are sitting.

Funny how the three of us were wearing different shades of stripes that day! Hahaha!

Since I don't drink, I went out with Ate Anne and Kuya Porthos and ordered a coffee from Starbucks then we went back to the bar. I tried tasting the wine but, I really don't like the taste hahaha.

We spent a good couple of hours chatting before we parted our ways. We invited Kuya Porthos to come with us and we will just drop him off because it is along our way.

February 16, 2020  ㅡ

We went on with our usual routine during Sundays.

Wake up in the morning and get ready to attend the Sunday service at Greenbelt 1. That day too, we planned on visiting Tito's grave since it was his birthday the other day before, February 14.

So, after the service, we went to Manila South Cemetery to visit him and bought him flowers and then we lit up candles on his grave.

After a while, we left the cemetery and I told them to drop me off at World Trade Center because I will be going to the book fair (Big Bad Wolf) with my college friends, Rayn and Zaira.

My Big Bad Wolf haul for this year!

It was my 3rd time attending the Big Bad Wolf Sale. I started when I was in 4th year in college wherein I first went with my college friends, Rayn and Danielle. During my second time, I was with Fai at that time. Then for my third time, I was with Rayn (again) and Zaira. We spent I think a couple of hours browsing for books.

Soon after, we left and went to Mall of Asia. We went to eat at Yellow Cab and got to catch up with each other. We were telling stories about our experiences in our work, how was everyone doing at work and stuff like that. We then went on and looked for earrings! Until we ended up in the Paragon at MOA. Wherein we got to take some pictures in the nice backdrop there and after that, we went to Starbucks.

Our catching up ended at Starbucks. While having our drinks, we then went on again in talking and continued catching up before we part ways again.

It was a meaningful day spent catching up with my college friends. I swear it has been like, months? since we last saw each other. 

2019 was a year of firsts and lasts.

Looking back, I realized it is one of those years wherein I got to experience A LOT of things.

During the first few months of 2019, I was on my last stretch of my thesis. I was taking up Design 10 at that time. I swear, taking individual thesis is HARD. Maybe some of you prefer to work on their thesis alone to prevent conflicts between members, or to avoid having to argue with a member regarding ideas, or if ever some are not helping in the group. Well actually, I prefer that too, sometimes. But as an Architecture student, individual thesis is draining ㅡ physically, emotionally and financially (lol, ngl).

I cannot forget the day of our final defense. It was the most nerve-wracking experience for me because I have been always worrying about it because I am scared of speaking in front of others, but things happen …. and thesis, defended!

To be very honest, there were times wherein I want to give up, but I’m thankful for my friends. We kept on cheering and motivating each other that WE CAN finish this. I cannot forget those times wherein we were staying in our house, doing our thesis (which was actually during holy week) and suddenly, one of us were crying! Like, out of nowhere, she was crying, and we saw it and of course, we knew why, and we all started breaking down too, as well. How I miss those times...

We had our final defense on April 27 which was a Saturday and on the following day, April 28, I planned to meet my Inspirit friends to celebrate my defense and also to watch Avengers: Endgame. Luckily, a Sunggyu cup sleeve event is being held in Zoo Café at SM Megamall which is actually organized by one of our friends. So, we went there before and after watching Avengers. It was my first time attending a cup sleeve event here in the Philippines. I was actually wishing for more cup sleeve events, but little did I know that, that was the start… hahahahaha!

Then, months after, came our graduation day! I can say, it is the highlight of everyone’s college life. You walk up the stage, shake hands with your institute dean, and then receive your diploma. It was 5-years’ worth of tears, laughter ㅡ it was a roller-coaster of emotions.

Those past 5 years spent in college made me who I am today. I have learned how to be independent. I was staying in a dormitory since my first year of college until my last year. I learned how to budget my allowance well. Also, balancing my time between acads and fangirling. Hahaha!

5 years is indeed a long time, but I am happy to have met such amazing people throughout my entire stay. I will surely miss each and everyone of them, but I know, and I believe, that we will all be successful in our chosen field.

Moving on, I started looking for job weeks after graduation while, some of my friends went back to their provinces to have a vacation first. In my case, I only had around 2-3 weeks of rest? And I used that time to catch up with One Piece and all the other series I had to postpone watching because of my thesis. 

I swear, the waiting period after sending a resume to a company can make you go nuts. I mean, that is where your patience will be tested. I went to few interviews before I got in and started working around third week of August.

Before the end of the third quarter, I went to #UPALLNIGHTinManila. It was my first concert for this year, 2019. We were upgraded to Floor from Balcony Center. That night ended with a hi-touch event! We got to high five all the members and it was indeed a memorable night for me.

My second cup sleeve event for the year but, my first cup sleeve event for Day6! I actually thought I wouldn’t be able to attend this event because, Jae and my brother actually have the same birthday. So, I thought I’m spending the 15th of September at home but guess what? I made it to the event.

I literally spent that weekend celebrating birthdays. My brother’s birthday is actually on a Sunday, but we celebrated it the night before and after that, I went straight to my friend’s house to also celebrate hers. Good thing my friend’s house is actually just around Quezon City, so I was actually close to the venue.

Indeed, I had fun celebrating Jae’s birthday with my co-mydays! I wasn’t even expecting to be called in the raffle, but I went home with a Remember Us album! Hahaha! There were lots of freebies given on that day. We even met a new friend (finally, a sungjin stan haha), it was nice meeting new mutuals!

On to the last quarter of the year!

My first X1 cup sleeve event, but my third one for this year! I went to this event with Siege and my cousin, Ate Anne. The venue was actually crowded! Well, it was a small one, but there were lots of Oneits gathering inside so, it was jampacked. But it was a fun day! I met and made new friends in that event. But to our surprise, most of the attendees were still in senior high and college hahaha! I feel so old (lol).

Moving on, our squad planned a staycation on the last weekend of October. We rented out an Airbnb near SM North. We were lucky enough to find a beautiful one! It was like a hotel to be honest! Everything we can find inside is free! Even the coffee is from Starbucks and there is a French press available in the room. But the best part here was the large smart TV! We were playing MVs, reality shows non-stop!  

It was a tiring, but fun weekend spent with these people!

We were sleep deprived because of the intense round of Jenga! We actually stayed up till morning because of the game hahaha! The game itself was so intense but we were more focused because our biases are on the line.

Actually, we have planned this staycation way before an as far as I can remember, the only cup sleeve event we were supposed to attend was Yunseong’s, but I don’t know, this happened....

I thought I wouldn't be able to attend Seunghyub’s cup sleeve event because I have prior schedule at that time and I thought it already ended but as we were walking in the mall, we came across a café and I saw the TV was playing N.Flying music videos so I wondered why then I realized that the event is being held there!

On our last day of stay, we went out to attend Yunseong’s cup sleeve event happening on Flamingo Bloom at SM North. It was our first Woollimz cup sleeve event! Actually, this was the only event we were supposed to attend during our staycation, but we met a friend in the event and told us that there’s also an event happening at Lost Bread, still in SM North. It was an event for Eunsang and Wooseok. So, we went there after lunch then went back to Yunseong’s event.

An addition to my list of firsts this year, I attended a christening for the first time! It was Lyle’s christening. I actually went as a proxy to my cousin, Ate Anne, which was not around the country at the time. Ate JL was the first one in our circle of friends to have a baby and we were happy that we were invited. It was also our first time that our group meet in Cavite hahaha!

The four of us, together with Ate Dee, booked a place to stay for 3 days and 2 nights because we are actually going to have a reunion with our friend from Australia, Ate Nica! We spent the Friday night catching up while strolling around Araneta. On the following day, was DAY6’s concert.

#DAY6GRAVITYinMNL

I can say, this is one of the highlights of my 2019? My second concert for this year, and my second time seeing DAY6! I don’t know, but what I felt from that night seems surreal. It felt like I have become more closer to DAY6 ㅡ a step closer than before. It’s like my relationship with DAY6 grows deeper and deeper each year.

As expected in a Day6 concert, it always exceeds your expectation! It became an unforgettable night especially to PH MyDays because JAE CRIED.

“I don’t know about you, but I’m feeling 22!”

To conclude, this year was indeed a year of firsts and lasts. 2019 taught me lot of things. I am thankful to everyone I have met throughout the year. I will surely cherish all those moments spent with the people close to me. I can't wait to see were 2020 takes me!

April 27, 2019 ㅡ 

It was the most nerve-wracking experience for me. 

Our final defense,

Design 10.

I have been always worrying about the defense because I am scared of speaking in front of others but things happen...and thesis, defended!

This thesis would not have been possible without the support of many people. First of all, I would like to thank God for helping me get through this. The process was not easy, and I would have given up if He was not there to give me strength to continue in those times I felt like giving up.

To my family, my dad, thank you for accompanying me during my data collection and in supervising me and giving suggestions to further improve my project; my mom, for always being there to provide the things I needed especially for financing the production of this thesis and everything else; my younger brother, JR, thank you for those milk teas you have bought me while I am working on my thesis. I appreciate it!

To my relatives, thank you for the moral support and for all the prayers during my deliberations.

To my Design 9 and 10 class advisers and consultants, thank you for being patient with me and for your assistance, support and guidance throughout the process of this study. 

To my college friends, thank you for the support from the start until the end of the thesis. My college years were so much happier with you all, thank you! Special thanks to Da, Sean, Ken & Shua for helping me during the endorsement day in finalizing the requirements needed; to Rayn & Jayvee for helping me in printing my boards; to Zai & Syd for accompanying me in our house during the holy week to work on our thesis, those sleepless nights surely paid off! Congratulations to all of us!!

To my best friend, Nicka, thank you for always being there to support me and for understanding when I am not able to reply because I am busy working with my thesis. Thank you!

To my Inspirit family, thank you for your never-ending support and updates regarding the idol groups we stan, I appreciate it! Also, for understanding when I am not able to reply to your messages because I’m busy working. Special thanks to my cousin, Ate Anne for supporting me throughout the whole process and even being nervous for me during my final defense (hahaha, thank you again!); to my civil engineer friend, Ate Giel, thank you for the suggestions regarding the structural system in my project; to my co-arki fangirl friend, Syra, thank you for your moral support and for helping me during the process.

To my inspirations, INFINITE, DAY6, BTOB, IKON, B1A4, GOLDEN CHILD, & N.FLYING, thank you for your music. It really helped me throughout the entire process, 정말 감사합니다. Special thanks to DAY6 Jae for giving your best performance during your concert here last October 6, 2018; to my bias in INFINITE, Woohyun, thank you for releasing an album during my thesis days. The music was indeed the BEST! Special mention to 2PM Lee Junho and GOT7 Park Jinyoung, I am thankful to have met both of you during my thesis days, you guys were so good as an idol-actor!