Meteor Garden

While trying to arrange my our meagre collection of TV series, I came across one that was very special to me. My sisters watched it again and even after so many years it still has the same effect on me. Call me jologs or whatever but I love Meteor Garden ( Liúxīng Huāyuán), and I mean it in every sense of the word. There is not other Asian series, or even non-Asian for that matter, has had the same influence on me. Koreans remade it but the cast look so ugly. Even the Japanese tried to make their live-action version but it was still not as kilig as the Taiwanese series. I have to congratulate Yokio Kamio for coming up with the manga, Hana Yori Dango.

I remember the first time I watched it on free TV. I was in my last year in high school when I saw the middle part of the series. Live-action Asian TV series at that time weren't as popular as they are now. I have to mention 'live-action' because anime used to be popular during primetime. I usually go home early. Curiosity drew me 'cause it was my first time to watch a Taiwanese series that did not involve martial arts or history. Shan Cai (Barbie Hsu)was especially interesting. For the first time, I liked a female character. The series focused on her strengths without using her sexuality. Then I saw Hua Ze Lei (Vic Zhou). He was too skinny but my goodness, he's so good-looking.

There was nothing unusual about the love story. Looking back, it is similar to a few romance anime. There was nothing special about the plot twists either. I think what made it so memorable was how Shan Cai and Dao Ming Si's (Jerry Yan) relationship evolved. They went from mortal enemies to a super kilig (sorry English-speaking people, but I can't translate that word accurately. The nearest would be 'giggle') couple. No bed scenes, very few kissing scenes - that's what was so good about it. Conservative and yet the pace of the development was enough to make Asian girls go loco. Another factor was that Dao Ming Si is in love head-over-heels. I think most girls would agree with me that they want to be pursued by a guy who is aggressive yet at the same time won't force his way to your bed. The first few episodes will really make girls squeal. When Dao Ming Si started liking Shan Cai, he showed his boyish side. All girls love to see that. They wanna see their guy giggle over things they say or do. In a way, Dao Ming Si acted more like the girl who's in love in the series than Shan Cai. Most series have it the other way. The female goes chasing after the guy. Not everyone would agree with me, but one of the things I liked about Dao Ming Si was his possessiveness. Personally, I'd like a guy who gets jealous everytime I get close to someone.

I suggest you watch this version first before you try the others. This is still better than the Japanese anime and live-action version or the lousy Korean crap. It also has a sequel, but it's not as good as the first. If you're looking for a decent love story with a strong female character, no bed scenes - just pure romance - then this is it.

I Did It!

Two weeks ago I finally did what I've been wanting to do for three years - I have finally graduated. These past few days that I took a break, I had time to think about what I have done, what I have learned and what I wanted to do in the future.

I already miss UP Mindanao. For seven years I have learned and experienced a lot of things that I would never have in any other institution. When I was in high school I vowed to study in University of the Philippines and nowhere else. UP lang, ayoko na sa iba. It was a quest to redeem myself, my pride. I knew I was among the brightest students in school but I cannot prove that because I am not a consistent honors student. But to be able to manage to get into academic contests and get the high scores in every exam was proof enough for me. My friends tell me I'm too lazy, that's why some people who did not know my capabilities doubt my achievements. I have to admit that that statement is quite true. I was always late and I submit projects only if I feel like it - but still manage to get one of the highest scores every time. Study habits? I don't have them. I might sound arrogant but I didn't find any need to study at home because I did not find any challenge in what was taught during grade school and high school. I can say the same for my younger sisters. Doreen was a consistent honor student since kinder. Marianne graduated Magna cum laude. And Veronica is like me in a lot of aspects.

I spent more time reading books that are not related to my courses. It was also unfortunate that because I wasn't a consistent honors student, teachers readily dismiss me when considering candidates for contests and even as staff for the school paper. Even school has politics. I was also very shy.

I'm not gonna go on and on trying to glorify and justify myself. But here's what I have to say to the people who did not believe in me - your loss. The opportunity I've been wanting to have was finally given to me. Although I did not graduate with honors again, I'm proud I'm one of the elite students in the best University in the country.

Plants VS Zombies

With so many games available today, it's hard to find one that has touched both gamers and non-gamers. Plants VS Zombies is fun, easy to understand and very addictive. It's a combination of strategy, puzzle and action kind of game. I've seen first-time gamers get addicted to this game.

PVZ has four modes, namely: Adventure, Mini Games, Puzzle and Survival. You also get to grow and maintain gardens once you get to the later stages of the adventure mode.

It might look like an easy game because of the cute plants and zombies but the later stages and the bonus games need a little more strategy on the part of the players. Once you're familiar with the plant abilities and the zombies' attacks and weaknesses, it will be easier to set up a defense. This is helpful for the inexperienced players because it introduces some of the basic features in today's games: the player's ability to adapt to different opponents, different difficulty levels, the boss fights and puzzles, deciding how and what to upgrade, and strategies on how to gain resources.

It has excellent graphics and a cute ending theme. The concept itself is unique. I first played this in August 2009 and since then considered it one of the best games ever made. I highly recommend this to both experienced and first-time gamers. I don't need to elaborate more on how great this game is because you have to try it yourself. This game is a testament that you don't need to save the world - but only your backyard.

The Dragon and the Stairs

While reading Carl Jung's Man and his Symbols, it reminded me of recurring dreams I've been having since I childhood. I can still remember the last time I dreamt I was racing through dark corridors and stairs and ending up scrubbing myself in a dirty bathroom. Bathrooms, stairs, corridors. They're frightening and yet they tickle my curiosity. I'd rather not talk about though.

Another dream I had, although this one only happened once, was so bizarre I've puzzled over its meaning for years. Me and my sisters were on our way to a party. We were in a place that looked similar to Dinagat Island and walking up a sloping road toward a dark castle. I did not know what the party was for or who was the master of the house. I just knew it was a man and his myterious personality lured guests from all over the island. When we got inside the palace, people started dancing and feasting. Then the clock striked 12 midnight. Everyone started panicking. They seemed to be frightened that the master of the castle will finally show up. I suddenly had the feeling that he was going to harm everyone. For some reason I thought that he was a vampire. People started running. Outside the castle, there were buses parked and they were slowly filling up with frightened people. My sisters, and an aunt (I did not see her at the start of the dream) were already inside the bus when someone said they're not taking in more passengers. I was going to be left behind. Although I was frightened, I assured them that I'd be okay. They were crying and begging me to go with them. When the buses left, I heard a sound. People started running. I screamed and tried to work my legs as hard as I could. I saw myself running through a green field. Like most nightmares, I could not move so easily. I ducked for cover when I saw that what was chasing me was a huge, black dragon. I thought at first it was not going to see me, but it picked me up with its claws. While in its grasp, I no longer felt frightened. I felt that if I tried to appear calm, it would not harm me. So I talked to it (I could not remember what I said) and somehow I felt secure after that. He (for some reason I thought this was a male dragon) told me that I'd be okay. He then placed me on a green island. The last thing I remember was the wind kissing my face.

I also remember a nightmare that made me sick when I woke up. There was a pretty woman asking me to touch her face. She kept telling me "I'm pretty, so touch my face little one". But everytime I do, it turns rough and wrinkly. She becomes a old woman and she's laugh at my reaction. I could still feel that nightmarish skin as if it was real. She kept asking me to do it over and over again. I could not stop and all I wanted to do was wake up. When I finally did, most of the members of my family had woken up. They told me I have a fever. I was crying. I will never forget that.

I can still recall a lot of them. Usually the corridor-stairs-bathroom theme appears everytime I'm about to make a decision or something is going to happen in my life that will affect me greatly. I started dreaming about it when I got to college.

Sometimes I wake up because I felt so lonely. I just can't recall what made me feel so empty inside.

I have no difficulty in believing that those dreams mean something about myself. The book just reminded me that it's a scary but curious experience.