Explore, a travel-based journalism series, provides an insight into exotic parts of the world, revealing stories about the environment, globalization, and politics. The episode Sex and Religion in Manila was aired on BBC Two at 23:20 GMT, on 19 February 2009.
In these videos, the glaring truths were featured:
Reading some books will require a certain amount of patience to finish it. You will not be easily drawn but eventually the story will pick up. I was not indeed out of focus while I was reading Northanger Abbey. But I had to pull A LOT of patience in order to reach the end page. I’m technically a week behind its (February) schedule.
The story is about Catherine Morland, who used to be tomboyish and bloomed as she reached the prime of her teen life. As she desired to have new acquaintances, she joined family friends Mr. and Mrs. Allen Wood to Bath for a few weeks. She willingly attended balls and there she gained new acquaintances. Later on, she became friends in particular with Isabella Thorpe and her brother John who fancies her, and Henry Tilney whom she likes.
As the story progressed, it was implicitly mentioned that Catherine is engrossed with the novel The Mysteries of Udolpho. Hence, when she was invited by General Tilney (Henry’s father) to Northanger Abbey estate, her imagination kicked in. Associating the General to the death of his wife. From there, the story built up. The complications followed and as predictable the ending is, against all odds, Henry proposed to Catherine.
The story is different from other Jane Austen novels. The theme is lighter, unique because of the mystery, and IS less engaging to boring. Applying the law of exceptions, not all novelists and artists will come up with excellent works. There will always be something inferior. And count Northanger Abbey as one of them.
This novel is far behind Sense and Sensibility which Kayni, Sinta, Jeanny and I did like.
For March, we’re reading Love and Friendship, and Other Early Works.
UAE people heart this shirt right now. Good job, Adidas! I almost got one. I realized that I don’t want so many team mates for a shirt. Only then and there I’m reminded of the stuff that I got from Kulturang Pilipino store before I left Manila.
Even if there are no photos, seeing the ‘menu’, err prints on this shirt bridges my homesickness for Filipino nibbles back home.
(Back print) Tuyo, taho, bagoong, pinakbet, ginataan, puto bumbong: I learned to appreciate more since I came here. Sometimes a person needs to be distant to get a clearer picture of how rich is her country’s culture.
I also got this charming black shirt with print of Philippine map and of its country code. I’m wearing this soon. This may sound strange to you, but I feel prouder when I use very Pinoy stuff while I’m here.
And this one’s the bomb. (The bag is not it its nicest form/has folded line because I immediately took a snap right after I sorted my luggage last January.) I know there are several eco bags everywhere, but I find this one a stand out because it’s made in the Philippines (heehee), the salakot part is indeed weaved from native materials, and the caption makes so much sense,
SALAKOT
Tatak ng pagiging
PILIPINO
Galing pa ito
Sa aking Lolo
Minana ko pa ito
Noong isang siglo.
How frequent does it happen to you that you planned some activities for the weekend, but ended up having a whole day affair with the television and DVD? And never regret it, anyway? That’s more or less the picture of my weekend. Maybe it’s the coming of the sandstorm that did lessen my appetite for the outdoors, seconded by the now several stuff that I need to dust off at home, concluding a sort of domesticated weekend.
My favorite multi-media store has pretty deals that led me to get a DVD collection of High School Musical (HSM) plus a disc of the concert and Emma Watson’s Ballet Shoes. It’s good to see her doing other roles other than being Hermione Granger. On the other hand, HSM doesn’t fail to cheer me. And until now I’m LSS-ing on the songs. You’d know what’s on my playlist right now.
While dusting off my stuff, sorting the usable, recyclable and ‘give it or throw it away’ stuff, I decided to just put the TV on to a Filipino channel without switching to the other even if few programs don’t make much sense anymore.
I realized that,
(a) It’s been some time since I’ve appreciated a Filipino flick. After One More Chance and A Very Special Love which I watched both at home, none followed.
(b) I actually ‘watched’ GMA Films Say That You Love Me yesterday without really watching it. Did you have that moment that you find yourself not really looking in to the TV and just hearing the dialogues because there’s nothing much to miss in the film? It’s like listening to a drama in an AM station. And with that I noticed that the film copied some elements from the Korean flick Sassy Girl. Yes, that’s the time that I looked in to the TV again.
(c) Some of the recent Filipino movies’ titles are based on songs. Anyway, that’s better than “Patikim ng Pinya” and other kinky titles. I was in my early teens then that I didn’t know why people would laugh when they hear those titles.
(d) I really watched, not just listened to, My Best Friend’s Girlfriend while it was airing last night. It’s relatively a good Tagalog flick. On a personal note, one particular scene made me smile as I remembered my (longest) high school crush when he offered me to back ride on a motorcycle with him. I think I was on my way home from a friend’s house who lives in the same street. I was so kilig. Yaiks. Puppy love nga naman.
(e) In one program, they featured all the freaky creatures in the Philippines. Tikbalang and its etymology, mananaggal, tiyanak, kapre, etc. and who actually influenced these. Most of the Filipinos are very fond of eerie feats. Then in the end, we’ll end up being duwag pag matutulog na. If I’m actually in the Philippines while watching that, I was probably scared to death already and my imagination kicked off soon. But since I’m here, the thought was brave. “Wala nyan dito”. It’s really a psychological thing. However, I still believe in few scary stories that have basis.
(f) Ang dami dami na palang bagong artista sa Pilipinas. Some look like the same. Just like with a stranger, I’m seeing them based on relative first impressions. If he or she sucks, I no longer care to watch him or her. Of course, that doesn’t always happen in real life.
(g) And a lot more. There are so many things to discover and rediscover as you spend more time at home.
My weekend went by not as I planned. But, it was good. It’s lovely to be just spending the day at home, doing the unusual or the best is by busy doing nothing. How was your weekend, by the way?
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