Thank You and Goodbye, Manu the Dog

Manu (more known as Nung)
December 9, 2005 - June 21, 2014

I remember the night you were born. You were so beautiful. You were the second eldest puppy in the litter and the biggest among your siblings. No one said anything but everyone silently agreed that we were gonna keep you. 

You might have been the largest puppy but when it came to feeding and finding your way to your mom you were slow and clumsy. You always smelled of poop and one of the other puppies sometimes peed on you. The first time I put you on my lap I was in love. We decided to name you after Manu Ginobili, but we loved calling you Nung among your many (and I mean a lot) nicknames. You were as gentle and loving as you were cute. You have always been photogenic even in your last weeks. That's why you have more pics. Name every angle, we have pics of you. Even when new dogs came, you were the favorite. 

You growing up with Dunkin and Chubby was fun to watch. Dunkin was more playful and Chubby smarter. You just watched while Dunkin played and cocked your head left to right when given instructions or asked questions. You were always outsmarted by your sister. Chubby knew how to open the gate and even fix her bed made of used clothes. Your clumsy attempt at fixing yours was endearing. We nicknamed you dumb dog but for that we loved you more.

When we lost the other dogs and only you and Chubby and her daughters were left, we were still happy. With Dunkin gone, everyone's attention was on you. It might seem cruel to the other dogs but we couldn't help it. And good dog that you are, you returned all that love and attention.

Million Spots

Some nicknames: Manung, Nung, Nu, baby boy, old boy, Inung, Inu, Minung, big boy, Minu, big dog, baby dog

I remember you used to go places whenever you slipped out of the gate. Sometimes we went crazy just looking for you or when we catch you digging for food in a trash. You were always so stubborn and you shunned discipline. But you never abused your privilege. You were gentle and sweet and your beautiful, brown, soulful eyes were enough to be granted forgiveness.

I remember chasing you with a stick when you didn't want to go home. I never really wanted to hit you, just scare you enough to get you home safely. You had a few fights with other dogs and well, you weren't every good at defending yourself. That's why we were so protective of you. I remember checking every street in the subdivision with my sister Doreen. We spotted you at the last street when we saw your bright white fur in the dark.

When passers-by attempted to hurt you it enraged us. It is sad that the people in my country either looked at dogs as food or pest. You and the other dogs had to be watched over. 

When you had mange after eating crabs and shrimp from a careless, filthy neighbor, you lost most of your beautiful white and brown hair. Your thick neck that we loved to touch was gone. But even when you were at your ugliest, you were still our baby boy... and even took some embarrassing photos.

I'm proud that even without proper training you learned some commands over the years. You can even understand commands in three different languages. You complied easily enough except when Mama was around to spoil you. Oh it isn't easy to get mad at you at all. Even when you had distemper and you didn't wanna eat and get up for a month. At that time we didn't have enough money to give you the best medicine and attention but Mama and Doreen worked hard to feed you, make you drink, clean you up, and look after you all the time. I remember spending my savings just to make sure the veterinarian checked you. Even going so far as wanting you alone to survive even if the other dogs don't get enough attention. You almost gave up on us but we wanted you to stay. Not you. Your death would be unacceptable.

When you finally opened your eyes after that ordeal we were overjoyed. I think by then everyone in the family has realized the same thing. You were family and if we lost you, it would have hurt us really bad. When you got sick it was also the first time the veterinarian discovered you were carrying another disease. She said it wouldn't be so fatal yet so we had no choice but to ignore it for a while until we have enough money to get you treated. Yet you survived distemper so we thought you'd survive the other disease too. When you got fatter again and your eyes glowed, your thick neck looked thick again, we got too happy and careless. But it was only after a while that we realized our mistake.

You became a part of our life even more after that incident. You were the most photographed, most mentioned, most hugged and caressed, and even the butt of our jokes. We even started asking each other in the family "ikaw si Nung?" (are you Nung?) or "asa si Nung?" (where is Nung?) "Kinsa si Nung?" (who is Nung?) and calling you a Boy Scout. If there was a question that had no easy answer we always said to each other "ask Nung."

Years passed and the symptoms got worse but me and my two sisters were in college and we could not spare anything for your medicine. Two dogs passed away and only you and Chubby were left. Chubby got sick too and you were getting older and slower. Still, our old baby Nung was well-loved. You no longer ate trash whenever you slip past the gate and you never wandered too far. You were more mature. Irritable maybe; you hated passing cars and children being too noisy when you're taking a nap, but you were a good dog. Everyone who didn't know you were scared because you might bite. They thought you were a big, terrible, rabid dog. They didn't know we were always worried because you were clumsy, cowardly, and stubborn.

When we got new puppies you were the first to accept them. When Chubby wanted to hurt one of them you defended the puppies and almost got into a fight. I thanked you when I saw what you did. You were devoted even when our attention slightly shifted to the new dogs. Still, you got more photos, bigger bones, more food, and more pats and hugs. There was talk of letting you go because you were old and sickly. Someone even said you were a stinky dog. Me and my sisters objected to all talk of kicking you out of the family. Never Manu. I'd rather let the puppies go than you.

And because we got new puppies your treatment was postponed, almost forgotten. What hurts the most, while thinking about all the chances we could have had of saving you was that you never wavered  in your love for us. You have always been good and never complained of your pains. Yes you were whiny when you wanted to go out and explore and you were frail and cowardly, but you were strong when you're with us. I hope you can forgive us for all the chances we let slip by. I'm sorry we didn't have money to have your eye checked and we could not afford the surgery for that cauliflower growth. 

For the late nights when no one came home earlier than usual and consequently for the late dinner, for those times when we were too lazy to play with you, walk you or give you attention, for those few times when we were frustrated and angry, for the times when you were hurt and in pain and we could not do anything---we are very sorry.

I regret not being a good enough sister to you. We all regret that we were too poor to give you the medical attention you needed.

Letting you go was the hardest, but seeing you in pain was the most devastating. The night I saw that you couldn't pee anymore, I felt like my world was gonna fall apart. We already knew that because of our carelessness sooner or later you were gonna leave us. But there was no preparing for your imminent death. You were behaved and curious during the trip to the vet. I already had a feeling we might be given a choice to let you go. I wanted to cling to some hope but it will only hurt you more. For some months I tried picturing the house without you but now that you're no longer here I felt I wasn't really ready. The house seems empty without our baby boy. I will miss your whining, your loud big boy bark, your howling when no one is home, the way you cocked your head when you listened, the way you react when you smell something awful or how you're scared of bugs and some toys, the way you begged to go out or ask for food, the way you use your front paws to get our attention (the famour "kuhit"), they way you smile---Manu Smile---when you pose for the cam, the way you played (you just chase us all over, nip at our shorts and bark), your wagging tail and your infamous brown spots that we wanted to count. I could name more... We will miss you a lot, Nung. 

Thank you for being with us when we were poor, sick or healthy, miserable or happy, cold or loving. Thank you Nung for being strong in your last few days. When the veterinarian said we had to put you to sleep it was so hard to say yes but then you looked at the vet as if you were saying it was the best suggestion. Thank you for giving us a chance to love and care for you. Call me biased but you are and will always be my favorite dog. Thank you for learning the complicated command "wait" whenever we get ready to go out. Thank you for accepting your dog and human family. Thank you for the wonderful eight years. Thank you Nung! Goodbye "old baby boy."

The Manu Smile

*photos (except the last photo below) are unedited and taken using digicams, slr cams, phone cams

Uta no☆Prince-sama♪ Maji Love 1000%

Nanami Haruka grew up a lover of music. Inspired by the idol Hayato, she decides to follow her dreams of becoming a composer by studying at Saotome Academy. It serves as a training ground for both future idols and composers. Its owner is also the founder of Shining Agency who promised that successful graduates will get a chance to debut. To do this however, each composer has to pair up with an idol then compose, write, and perform a song to graduate. Haruka learns that the toughest part of the challenge was not in looking for talent but in choosing the right person to work with. 

Although obviously a romance series, the students are forbidden to have romantic relationships with partners. Nonetheless, the guys have taken an interest in Haruka and her music. As graduation nears, her confusion grows as she gets to know each potential partner, all of them deserving of her talent and attention.

Haruka with friend Tomochika

The story might not be so different from other series of the same genre and the character types common but the music is something else. The songs performed by Saotome Academy idols-in-training Ichinose Tokiya, Ittoki Otoya, Hijirikawa Masato, Shinomiya Natsuki,  Jinguji Ren, and Sho Kurusu more than made up for the lack of flair in the story. There's some serious singing and beautiful music and  lyrics from this series. The ending theme alone was enough to make me squeal the first time I watched it. Add to that the beautiful animation and an overload of attractive young men, this 12-episode first installment of the series will definitely make girls sigh and giggle.

(Back, from left) Sho, Natsuki, Tokiya, Masato, Ren
(Front) Otoya and Haruka

Rating: 8 out of 10

Character name - Voice actor

STARISH:

Ichinose Tokiya - Miyano Mamoru

Ittoki Otoya - Terashima Takuma

Hijirikawa Masato - Suzumura Kenichi 

Shinomiya Natsuki - Taniyama Kishou

Jinguji Ren - Suwabe Junichi

Kurusu Sho - Shimono Hiro

Aijima Cecil - Toriumi Kousuke

Nanami Haruka - Sawashiro Miyuki

Kuroko no Basuke Season 1

Seirin High's basketball team has had little success so far and as a new school year starts, the members saw an opportunity to recruit some of the freshmen and hopefully acquire some talented players. At the outset Kagami Taiga made a good impression with his physique and competitive nature when he handed in his application. The upperclassmen think they have a good find but the others seem average. Among these newbies is Kuroko Tetsuya. Dismissed as physically average by the team coach Aida Riko, Kuroko possesses an ability that's unheard of. Small, unnoticeable, and with almost no skill in basketball, everyone was surprised to learn that Kuroko was the sixth man of Teiko Middle School.

Seirin High's starting five. (from left) Kagami, Hyuga, Mitobe, Kuroko, and Izuki

Teiko Middle School's basketball team created a sensation when they destroyed most of their opponents during their stint. The starting five were such fierce competitors with no equal that they were dubbed the Generation of Miracles. Their success, Seirin later learned when they witnessed what Kuroko can do, was pieced together by Kuroko's talent and role as the Phantom Sixth Man. 

Kise (Facing Kuroko)

(Middle) Midorima

Kuroko uses his technique of misdirection to steal and create passes that cannot be anticipated by both teammates and opponents. He does this without being noticed by the other players while he moves around the court. This ability comes with a price however not only because the passes are unpredictable but Kuroko is prone to injury and fatigue as well. 

Overcoming these is what Kuroko has to do to contribute further to the team. Now that they have a prodigy of a player in Kagami, experienced upperclassmen and a good coach, Seirin looks poised to rise to the top in the inter-high school tournament. But will these be enough to beat the other schools that also have new players, some of which are from the Generation of Miracles?  Kise Ryouta, Midorima Shintarou, and Aomine Daiki have successfully raised their teams' competitive level and all of them are now rivals.

Aomine

Most sports anime usually have for a lead character either a prodigy or an average but promising athlete. Kuroko is a new specimen because he is a mediocre but overspecialized athlete with little promise of further improvement. Physically he isn't gifted and he doesn't even know how to shoot. In a physically demanding sports like basketball, a guy like this is unusual if not completely useless on court. Like most series of the genre, Kuroko no Basuke follows the story template of a rising team with new talent on its way to a national tournament. To get there Kuroko and the rest of Seirin have to face the former's talented ex-teammates.

Tetsuya #2

As for the other characters, Kuroko's teammates save Kagami are easy to forget because there is few or no character development at all. The known players from the Generation of Miracles however are easily distinguishable. In fact, there seems to be more focus on the stories and characters of Kagami, Kise, Midorima, and Aomine than on Kuroko. I guess that is consistent with his near-invisible ability.

The animation is beautifully done especially the matches. Even the opening and ending themes are action-packed. The pace is fast and the matches aren't always stretched in several episodes. There are few commentaries or analyses from bystanders on court during matches but the players themselves explain and show enough of the special moves that viewers can appreciate. Exaggeration of characters' on-court abilities of course is to be expected. Overall, the series has lived up to its hype.

Kagami and Kuroko

Rating: 9 out of 10

Beelzebub

Beelzebub is a 60-episode series which follows the antics of the high school delinquent Oga Tatsumi and a baby that came from a man floating downriver. His best friend Furuichi Takayuki could not believe that the kid is a son of the demon king sent to be trained in the human world and afterwards destroy it until he saw what the baby could do.

At the start of the series, Oga and Furuichi tried to find a new host for Baby Beel among the students at Ishiyama High. The school, notoriously known for its delinquents, is full of strong hosts who might be capable of withstanding Beel's powers. Beel grows fonder of Oga the longer they are together but it's becoming difficult for Oga to control the baby's temper. What's more, Oga has to deal with wet nurse Hildegarde and dimensional transfer demon Alaindelon. They instruct Oga how to take special care of the baby.

New characters are introduced during Oga's search for a new human parent. The prospect of getting rid of the baby seemed even more possible when Oga learns of the Touhoushinki, the four strongest students of Ishiyama.  The first member he meets, Hajime Kanzaki, seemed promising with his drop heel kick but Oga defeated him easily. Himekawa Tatsuya has more brains than Kanzaki and money besides but he was no match for Oga's strength as well. The choices left are Kunieda Aoi, the strongest female in Ishiyama, and Tojo Hidetora, rumored to be the strongest of the Touhoushinki. Meanwhile, Beel's admiration for Oga grows stronger with every opponent he defeats.

Oga and Baby Beel with the Touhoushinki

The series later shifts to new opponents when Ishiyama's strength was questioned when the strongest of the delinquents temporarily move to a new school and Beel's brother issues a challenge to his claim on the throne. Although the setting is a school, an overused setting in most recent series, the lead character is an unusual type. He is neither smart nor sympathetic and good-natured. Neither does he have a tragic back story that makes him a brooding, quiet type. Oga is boisterous, average at best, and usually tactless. Coupled with Beel's cuteness, they make a fun combo to watch.

Beel, Oga, and Furuichi

One of the strengths of the series is its unforgettable supporting cast. The humor is effective because the diverse characters sometimes clash or blend so well together. Their distinct personalities make them easy to love and remember. 

The fight scenes are as good as the comedy as well. I did not expect this from a gag anime but the individual and group fights are something to look forward to. Be it hand-to-hand combat, magic, or weapons-based (even hard court action), Beelzebub has plenty to offer. The story isn't lost as well even with so much goofing around and a lot of filler episodes. 

Just a couple of episodes into the series and I was hooked. I wish there were more. It was too good and too short. The characters are hilarious, the action scenes awesome, and the cliche looked fresh for a while. I definitely enjoyed every part of it, something I couldn't easily say for most anime even among my favorites.

The Zebul mark

Rating: 10 out of 10

Arcana Famiglia

The island of Regalo is watched over by an organization called Arcana Famiglia, the members of which have made contracts with the Arcana cards. Each card comes with an ability bestowed on the user. Arcana cards are what is commonly called Tarot cards. The symbols on them represent the role and weapon/power granted to each Famiglia member. 

In this anime adaptation of the visual novel and video game, 12 cards are represented. One of these, The World, has a contract with Mondo, the boss of Arcana Famiglia.

In Mondo's birthday celebration, he announced that he is staging a tournament to decide the next boss of  the organization. His reasons for wanting to step down will be revealed later as the tourney nears. Included in the prize is a wish granted to the winner and his daughter's hand in marriage. However, Felicita refused to become a prize and instead joined the Arcana Duello. The other Arcana users vying for the prize are also contending for Felicita's affections. In the forefront are Nova and Liberta. The other are Debito, Pace, Luca, Dante, and Jolly.    

Most of the episodes are allotted to the back stories of the main characters. Romance is definitely more than just a hint if you have seven boys grabbing for your attention. That outcome however is left for the audience to decide. If romance isn't your thing then  the duels might be something to look forward to at the beginning of the series. However, the anticipated fight scenes were skipped and downplayed as the focus shifted to the acclamation of the lead female's desire to choose her own path. Like most series  based on female-oriented romance novels and dating games, the series is plagued by male characters exalting the lead female. Then again, if it has been consistent with most series of its genre, then it has probably fulfilled its purpose.

For me however, the series was a disappointment because I was expecting some good fights (after all the supposed highlight was the Arcana Duello). Besides, the romance part isn't more entertaining than other series of this type that I've watched. On the other hand, the animation isn't bad and the other characters seem interesting enough.

Rating: 6 out of 10

07-Ghost

This supernatural, sci-fi anime follows Teito Klein's quest for answers about his newfound abilities and the redemption of his friend Mikage. Teito, a former combat slave, is capable of uzing Zaiphon, the ability to form energy out of emotions. This Zaiphon manifests in words and can be channeled with the use of weapons. At the start of the series, Teito is a military academy student in Barsburg empire and is prized for his ability as a Zaiphon user. Everything changed when his meeting with chief of staff Ayanami brought memories from his childhood, prompting him to attack Ayanami.

Teito Klein

It turns out that Teito is a prince of the Raggs kingdom which was destroyed during the search for a talisman called Eye of Mikhail. The Barsburg empire invaded Raggs and was forced to give the Eye of Mikhail to his son. 

Teito was caught in his haste to attack Ayanami, forcing Mikage to find a way to rescue him. Wounded and fearing for the life of his best friend, Teito is rescued by three bishops from 7th District, a supposedly neutral zone. The series then goes on to explain the fall of Verloren at the hands of the Seven Ghosts (thus the title) and its connection with the war. 

7th District's bishops Frau, Castor and Labrador

At the start of the series, the plot and fight scenes seemed to have potential. There is always a promise of explosive confrontations because of the background of the characters. However, the fight scenes lack flair and the promise is unfulfilled. 

One redeeming feature of the series is the Zaiphon. Its background, forms, and use are intriguing. The story of Verloren and the Seven Ghosts are also highlights. Even with an elaborate history however, the series failed to engage my attention most of the time.

As for the characters, the bishops can sometimes be engrossing but the character types used have generally nothing new to offer. For those who are not into boys love, the series has some hints of it and Teito's obsession with Mikage might be a turnoff. 

Ayaname

Rating: 6 out of 10