A Haphazard Account of My Aimless Days

This is the first time I’ve seen them (at least in pictures) in like 20 years, and it made me realize how quickly time passed. We were teens back then, full of dreams, with no idea of what life was going to be. Some of us did well, some had it rough, some passed away, some had kids, and some don’t (well, me lol).

Looking back on those days made me feel a sense of achievement because I’ve come a long way from my life back then. I don’t know where this rambling is going, but it just made me realize that where I am now, I’m grateful to be.

Finally, I've visited Manila Ocean Park. This was aging for the longest time on my bucket list. I know it's just around the corner, but I never took the time to visit until now. It's a fun experience, and it feels good to feel like a kid again.

Watched Rent The Musical. My first live musical theater experience 😭 I love some musicals especially the classic ones like Singin’ in the Rain, The Red Shoes etc but I’m not the biggest fan of it. But this made me appreciate the art more and made me a fan of it. Like everything was pretty mindblowing.

Actors sing, act and dance with no chance for do-overs, and having to memorize every line, step and note plus the props they have to move around - that was mad talent. Plus nothing can beat the added dimension or sense of actually feeling the energy, the emotions and stuff live.

2023 Top Coach 🏆

This trophy is a sweet reminder that I’m doing something good in this world. My colleagues and my team, thanks for all the hard work you put in, for all the lessons, and for the trust - all of it made THIS possible. This means a great deal to me. I am sincerely grateful.

Additional:

took myself on a movie date at Cinema ‘76. A cute cinema house with an adjacent cafe that serves cakes, coffee, and sandwiches you can bring inside the theater. I love how intimate the screening rooms are- it kinda enhances the sense of community for people who share the love of films (though I am the only audience plus the couple who sat in front of me during the time slot I picked).

I watched Alex Garland’s Civil War (2024) which is a harrowing film (I’ll probably talk about in a different post) The movie stressed me tf out.

I just crossed another item on my list to visit and I tagged my friends along with me. I’ve visited the National Library for the first time. It’s always nice to continue experiencing “firsts” so I battled laziness and made time for it. I don’t know why I held it off for so long since it was just literally in Manila and it’s free. Maybe it’s because I don’t wanna look like a fool back then navigating the huge place lol. Anyway, I finally checked it out and instantly realized and regretted not having to utilize this during my high school days.

Spent the weekend catching Dune Part Two in the theaters and boy did have a super fantastic time in the cinema. I brought myself and my casual knowledge of Dune that I gained from watching the first film by Denis Villeneuve in 2021. I loved the film. It was a perfect setup for what would be a masterpiece that is Part Two and it did. Part Two was an instant sci-fi classic, a masterpiece, and an achievement in sci-fi filmmaking. It made me from a casual fan to something more. I am considering digging deeper and buying the books.

Going back to the movie - I was moved. The world-building was intricate. Denis took his time to set everything up and it paid off. He concocted some of the most jaw-dropping images and frames in the genre that is also uniquely his. And the soundtrack? My god. Hans Zimmer really cooked some magic here. There is this scene where Chani and Paul kiss in the desert and that heartfelt symphonic film score is played. I cried. It's just so magical. I feel my heart swelled up in wonder.

Every actor played their part exceptionally well, but Denis made them all somehow better. There is something about his direction that could make any actor 10x better.

When the credits rolled, the cinema lit up in warm orange light. It's like they intentionally set it up like that. The score played and I was just there staring blankly, stunned by what I'd witnessed. I stayed there a little longer and relished the moment with what would be a core memory.

Thank you, Lord, for all the love I get this year and also for the opportunities to block the unnecessary drama and shit before it gets to me.

and it’s not as easy as it looks in movies or cartoons. In fact, it’s extremely hard, especially for someone like me who gravely lacks a sense of coordination or rhythm in the body. I stayed on the side walls for roughly an hour trying to find my balance. I fell off twice when I tried to be a little confident and went for a cute little slide. I landed on my butt but I played it cool and acted like it didn’t hurt because there were people everywhere.

My feet went a wee bit sore, my body hurt, and sweating - it felt like a freaking whole cardio routine.