The Twilight Saga: New Moon, The Movie

I read the book, I love it! I watched the movie, I like it. But definitely not as much as I liked Twilight. In Twilight, Edward Cullen dazzled me. He was enigmatic, he was mesmerizing. In New Moon, there was less of him (as expected) and in those scenes he was either brooding or sneering. The mystery was uncovered in Twilight hence there was less excitement for me in New Moon. The sparkles were better though I think. Having said that, I am still for Team Edward!

New Moon was true to the book as Twilight was. I love the opening where Bella dreamt of the future - Bella as an old woman and Edward, still at 17. I love the meadow where the scene was taken. It gave a dreamy, soft feeling.

The effects in New Moon are far better than in Twilight. The transformation of the men into wolves were smooth. Yes, it could have been better if they morphed slowly for better impact. Maybe they will do that in Eclipse.

What I liked about the movie:

1. Edward's sparkle.
2. Bella is so beautiful.
3. The scene where the months passed by while Bella remained brooding.
4. The werewolves, the casting was good.
5. Taylor Lautner as Jacob Black for the effort of working hard so he will fit to his role.
6. The paper cut scene. I find Jasper adorable when he's helpless.
7. The parade in Italy.
8. Bella's adrenalin rush where Edward always appear in her vision.
9. The scene where Jacob did not give the phone to Bella when Edward called.

What I wished were given more creativity:

1. The series of miscommunication which made Alice and Edward think that Bella has passed away.

I can't believe there are still Twilight Saga haters, that there are still people who try to put the series down for not finding any deep, profound meaning in the books. There is none. We all know that from the start. You read these books for the sheer fun of it, not because you want an Edward Cullen or a Jacob Lautner in your life. We all know Bella is not an ideal person with her lovelorn self all over the book/movie. They are fun books, or fan books, the two apply. Everything in the book is fiction. Either you read and watch or just leave them alone.

I would like to see the third installment of the Twilight Saga, Eclipse. I read it will be shown on June 2010. Great! This is my favorite among the Twilight series. The love triangle is intense here.

Children and Household Chores

I want to believe the picture below is precious. Come to think of it, I haven't seen her do something as "noble" as this for so many months now. She used to be the one to ask me if she can do it, sometimes to the point of begging.

I was adamant because they might slip from her hands, she might get hurt and all the broken pieces scattered everywhere. But why not? We have to start somewhere when it comes to household chore assignments. We have to level up so to speak after she learned picking up and keeping her toys when she was younger.

So I let her wash the dishes, limited to only two or three lest I be accused of child labor. Haha. It was just to let her experience it. She seemed to enjoy it. But that was a few months ago. Lately, the only household chores (if you can call them that) she ever does are these two - fixing her bed and changing pillow case. Oh yes, she fixes her school bag too.


Household chores are often times a novelty for children. They have fun doing them the first few times but get tired of them after. Like most children my daughter loves playing with water so her most logical choice then would be to wash the dishes.

There may be helps around in a household but I'm one in saying that children should know basic housekeeping when they are capable already and as they grow older. Involving children in doing household chores make them more self-confident, independent and responsible.

Let me share my thoughts about children and housekeeping based on my experience, some of which I realized only lately.

1. Take advantage of that stage when the children are very curious and enthusiastic in participating in household chores. It's the best time to share and teach them the proper way of doing things. It's still like playing for them.

2. Some chores need not be gender-based. This will probably challenge the kids, especially the girls, but that's where the motivation comes from more often than not. They are excited to try new things. They will surely be proud of accomplishing something not quite expected from them in a general sense. But of course, the task should be age appropriate.

3. Sustain their interest by making a schedule of when to do what activity until this becomes a habit. This is where I fell short I believe. I was not able to sustain her first acts of being excited about some chores. But I won't fret, we'll start all over again.

4. Preparing meals or baking together are activities that foster more family bonding. I should say these two things are what my daughter and I do gladly from the bottom of our hearts.

***Read more sharing at Mommy Journey.

Post It

I discovered a site linked from Hailey's post, Post-it Notes Left to Their Fate in Public Places. I am thankful for sites like this which do not attempt to be profound or preachy but shares inspirational one-liners in a simple but creative way.


I will definitely visit this site often, if not everyday. And yes, written on the post-it was what I had just promised myself a day or two ago. Quite providential that I chanced upon it in a blog. It just echoed what was on my mind all along.

Let go, let God. Live, learn, share, enjoy life and be blessed by God. :)

"Koch" with a Short "O"

I have been watching some soap operas sporadically because of three reasons: I'm doing something else when these shows are on, my erratic schedule arriving home at night and I channel surf a lot. But of all the local soap operas I have seen, Tayong Dalawa has the perfect casting. No, I won't comment about the plot nor the roles of each character but the casting that made the story line alive.

Tayong Dalawa posted the second highest rating soap from the Kapamilya channel. They were able to topple Kapuso's Dingdong-Marian tandem. The casting has never been so perfect. Each one fits to his role especially the demented Agot Isidro, the funny, street-smart grandmother Gina Pareno and that of Cherry Pie.

The highest rating goes to May Bukas Pa. It's been extended till next year I heard. Desiree Verdadero (playing the mayor's mistress) acts well but looking at her and the suave Albert Martinez (the mayor) seems a bit odd. I'm not sure why. Desiree is pretty alright but maybe a sexier personality will be perfect for the role. Angelica Panganiban maybe.

Another miscast is John Estrada as Lorna Tolentino's husband in Dahil May Isang Ikaw. It's not that he is way younger than Lorna. It doesn't show really but there could have been an actor in the caliber of Lorna and Gabby (the soap's senior leading man) which could make this a casting coup. On my mind is Albert Martinez but he's still in another soap.

Sid Lucero is perfect for the role of an obsessed man. He is intense without over acting. I hate him. He is disgusting. He is very effective in his role. Surprisingly, Karylle gives out a realistic performance. She has a nice speaking voice for one. She can carry a role of someone that you should hate but instead will take pity on because of her obsession and her love for her mother.

Oh yes, Dahil May Isang Ikaw revolves around obsession. John's character is obsessed with Lorna. Chinchin's character is obsessed with Gabby. Gabby and Lorna are obsessed with each other so are Jericho and Kristine. Sid is obsessed with Kristine and Karylle with Jericho. My, oh, my.

The biggest miscast is Zanjo Marudo as Martin in the Filipino version of Lovers in Paris. I knew it from the very start. Martin is supposed to be a happy-go-lucky street smart rich guy. He's supposed to be somebody cosmopolitan. He has traveled the world and stayed for some time in Paris as a vagabond.

But when you see Zanjo, and hear him speak, you'll wonder if he has been anywhere but in the streets of Tralala. He cannot even pronounce the word "coach" properly. The scene sometimes is suppose to be in its dramatic highlight and suddenly you'll hear Zanjo say "koch", "koch" with a short "o". Can somebody coach him how to be in his role so he won't look like a sore thumb when in the same scene with the dashing Piolo Pascual and still handsome Christopher de Leon? Zanjo is fine but certainly miscast as Martin.

Relational Aggression

I was mulling over my daughter's predicament in school involving one of her best friends...or shall I say ex-best friend (whom I will refer here as Girl Friend or GF). Girl Friend suddenly gave her the silent treatment, without any warning. They had no arguments nor misunderstanding that could have triggered GF's attitude.

At first I just listened to her and advised her to give Girl Friend some time to talk about it. I want to think that this is just one of those things experienced by preteens and nothing to worry about. But each day stories I hear from my daughter get bothersome. I know my daughter is hurting because someone she considers one of her best friends has been giving her cold-shoulder treatment.

She was at a lost why it happened. I helped her sort out the things that transpired between them the past days but we cannot find anything unusual. My daughter said GF just stopped talking to her. Worst is Girl Friend "steals" the attention of their common friends. Girl Friend cuts in the middle of her conversation with a common friend and tries to leave her out of the conversation.

My daughter gets angry when this happens. But I know, she is hurt more than angry. She just leaves the group when Girl Friend starts on her.

You see I like Girl Friend (or used to like given the way she acts towards my daughter these days). She is bubbly and always greets me. We have no idea what happened.

I keep on telling my daughter even before that one of the keys to a lasting friendship is communication. Friends should be open if there are things they need to tell each other that can affect their relationship.

I was really surprised and very proud of my daughter's reaction to Girl Friend. Without me telling her exactly what to do, I learned she wrote Girl Friend a letter asking her what happened. Did she do something that hurt her? If she did, she is not aware of it but she apologized for whatever it is that she had done wrong.

Even older, more mature people will have a hard time apologizing and bring down their pride to patch up a ruffled friendship. What my daughter did was a very mature way of dealing with her friendship with Girl Friend.

I commended her action. I am really proud of her. I also told her she did her part and that's that. I don't want her to appear clingy especially to someone who does not seem to appreciate her effort. My daughter needs to learn too when it's time to move on. Fine if she does not respond, fine if Girl Friend goes back to their normal friendship. My daughter said, "well, that's more than fine. That will be better." Again I was surprised. Her reaction just goes to show she still wants to preserve their friendship and ready to forgive and forget whatever it is which made Girl Friend treat her coldly.

After a week, Girl Friend responded to my daughter's note. She said she finds my daughter irritating and vain (GF actually used a word I'd rather not mention here. It was really mean). My daughter chose not to answer her.

I was wondering if Girl Friend's attitude could be a form of bullying. I am sure it is. I just want to understand it more. It may not be in the form of physical or verbal abuse but it is definitely emotional abuse. I want to read more about it and how it should be dealt with. I chanced upon several websites discussing about the "silent treatment" as a form of Relational Aggression (RA).

Relational aggression is described as any behavior that is intended to harm someone by damaging or manipulating relationships with others (Crick & Grotpeter, 1995). Unlike other types of bullying, relational aggression is not as overt, or noticeable as physical aggression. However, the effects can be long lasting.

While relational aggression can take many forms, some of the methods include:
* Exclusion
* Ignoring
* Malicious gossip and rumor spreading
* Taunts and insults
* Teasing
* Intimidation
* Manipulative affection
* Alliance building
* Cyberbullying

Source: Mean Girls---Realities of Relational Aggression

It is much like the mean girls we watch on movies and television, the Queen B and the acting leader of the pact. Girl Friend is not as worst as how RAs are described above but who knows, she must be going to that point as she is trying to isolate my daughter from their common friend.

I am still weighing things if I am going to discuss this with the class adviser and the mother of GF whom I see in school. I had a few encounters with her and she seemed accommodating. Will discussing this make things better?

Generally my daughter is doing good. She's affected because she feels a friend betrayed her but I don't see any signs of depression nor lack of interest in school. She has other friends she gets along with in her class. In fact she just got accepted in their music group in school right after her first audition.

That is what I always tell my daughter. Keep a lot of friends and don't be confined with a clique. Explore and be active in extra-curricular activities she is truly interested in.

Back to my question, shall I just keep on giving advices to my daughter and let this "issue" of GF die down? I am giving it one more chance but another incident I mentioned above should occur I would request for a meeting with the adviser and the parent. If this kind of bullying continues, clearly it needs attention and resolution by adults - parents and teachers.

I'm hoping for the best.

Michael Jackson, This Is It!

I have been waiting for Michael Jackson's This Is It as soon as it was announced there is going to be a documentary of the concert to be shown in theaters. As the day of the premiere gets nearer I couldn't help but quietly anticipate the movie. It was a mixed feeling. I was happy I will be able to watch him sing and dance on stage even if they will just be snippets of the whole O2 concert. There was a tinge of sadness and then longing that this was the last time he will ever produce and perform.

At last I have watched it with my husband and daughter. See even children love Michael Jackson. They didn't even know much about him until his death which was a world wide news. He was very endearing. His appeal made a mark across generations.

I eagerly waited for the sneak previews to end and sit comfortably and savor what MJ will offer to his fans all over the world. On my mind this could be too commercialized and will only have a few footage of his actual rehearsal. I was just too happy to watch how much respect this documentary gave Michael Jackson.

His passion for his craft was very clear. I saw a very healthy and enthusiastic Michael Jackson. Reports said he dragged himself to his rehearsals and appear tired. None of these were obvious in the documentary. Everyone felt his enthusiasm and his energy.

All of fifty years and yet he danced like every bone in his body was made for the fluid moves and glides he makes.

There was no body double for this documentary. Everything was MJ. One, people can feel if there is anything fake here. Two, that will be too obvious as MJ has a certain move, sound and smile that no impersonator can consistently imitate.

MJ ran the show. Kenny Ortega was the director but Michael always has the final say. He knows what to do. His ideas seem to crop up in an instant. He was one creative person indeed.

This movie showed how meticulous he was. He wanted everything perfectly done. He was supportive of his team. He wanted them to shine. A very secured person Michael Jackson was in that sense.

He was a great leader, always inspiring his people, always calm and collected dealing with them.

The man was thin yes, but it never looked like he lived on drugs as was reported. I looked beyond the reputation the tabloids created of him through the years. Here was a man truly dedicated to his craft. That was pretty obvious if we are to look at his past performances. Just that his personal life was more of an interest than how he was as a producer, director, singer, dancer. This Is It had given us a glimpse of how he was sans all the controversies and grandiose lifestyle.

I even liked the way he looked in this documentary. Never mind that black heavily padded blazers, he was awesome! He knew what he wanted on stage. He looked manly with his long hair down, chewing gum and reviewing some scenes and auditioning dancers.

He was a great motivator. It makes me wonder why he wasn't able to do it to himself. As the fans said..."F-U-*-K the press! Michael, you're the best!" I hope to God he knew he was the best and hoped the he lived his life the best way he could. Maybe things will be different. For the life of me, I don't know why "legends" should end quite tragically. Their untimely end adds to their enigma? I could only wish that MJ's death is a hoax. Reality check....

Michael was a gift. I am glad there is This Is It, a concert documentary of the greatest performer that ever lived. I will definitely buy the DVD and will complete all the DVDs of his past concerts.

I clapped excitedly as the movie begun. I clapped admiringly with the rest of the audience as the show ended. Let me say this once again, Michael Jackson is the man!