Book review: Broken Bard, The Path of the Pacifist

Thursday, February 4, 2021 • , , ,

Psychology, factions, secret societies, and maybe even conspiracy theories - these are just some of the things you can expect from this action-packed suspense, written by Filipino author Christian Khiel Pineda Unto. Broken Bard is the first installment of the Requiem series featuring the psychology student/journalist Sky Colburn.



What is it about

The death of a psychiatric ward patient leads Sky Colburn to investigate the whereabouts of the seemingly righteous governor Richter Raven. As Sky dug deeper and deeper into Raven's back story, he didn't only prove that the governor was the mastermind of the gruesome murder - Raven is also up to creating an army consisted of mind-controlled soldiers who are either kidnapped or forced to undergo a brutal, underground training program. Soon, Sky finds himself at war against Raven and his men, and his accidental union with a secret society that aims to turn Raven down not only became his saving grace, but it also led to his discovery of something unexpected about himself. 


Psychology and mind games, anyone? 

I seldom come across fiction that has something to do directly with psychology. I find it fascinating and at the same time challenging, to be engaged on the study of how the human mind works and how powerful it is. This novel just proved just how powerful the human mind could be. Although I'd never understand why Sky chooses to play violin in the middle of an encounter with guns and other deadly weapons, the possibility that a war can commence through mind control leaves me in complete awe. Did Sky choose the right weapon to fight the war? Probably. It's bloodless, merciful, and somewhat humane, but to be able to further understand his desire to prevent bloodshed in a "war" I'd need to read the next installment of this series. Plus, for a moment it made me wonder what if these kinds of society wars really exist? What if there are really mind-controlled soldiers (who furiously post and comment on social media about who is the best leader in this country)? Needless to say, books in this subject stir my head a little bit and begin to ask, what if?


Too many questions

Some situations in the book make me want to read more of it, if only to satisfy the plot-related questions in my head. Why was Sky so invested in Abigaile's case? It wasn't mentioned anywhere if Abigaile was maybe Sky's sister, or former lover, or any other connection than being a patient in the psychiatric ward where he works. I believe there must be a much deeper reason for Sky in wanting to track down Abigaile's murderer. How did Sky manage to go against Raven, when he was just sixteen and two years later he almost singlehandedly kept his comrades in the society from dying as they were about to be defeated in the underground encounter with the Raven's Arcanum? Look, I really need answers to these questions (and maybe more) so I need that next book!


Should you read it? 

If you need a mind-bogging read, Broken Bard is for you. Although I must say that this isn’t an easy read, as it needs focus and attention to detail. If the next book is out, please! Count me in!

xo


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The basic steps to adult life

Monday, January 11, 2021 • ,


First things first, register to vote. 

When we hear the world adulting, it automatically translates to bills, making home-cooked meals, drinking tea, and maybe owning a bunch of discount cards and essential oils. While all of these are true, it's not where you start - at least in my experience. There's still some other stuff that needs to be taken care of, things that we normally do not consider as part of the process. Some might not see these as necessary, but if I had known these things early on, I might have accomplished much more things than ever. 

Yes, you can do it!

Clean your social media accounts. I repeat, clean your social media accounts. While working at Krusty Krab makes you look cooler than your friends, some potential employers and clients might think differently. Sure, your social media profile is your personal space, but keep in mind that it is also a reflection of who you are. Use a proper profile picture, consider deleting inappropriate posts, and use a more decent handle. It projects integrity and increases your trust rating, believe me. If you want to skip these steps altogether, might as well make your social media accounts private. 

Collect government IDs. It could have been great if we are issued with a unified national ID, but no. We are compelled to collect government IDs which may or may not have different purposes. It's best to start with PSA-authenticated birth certificate and NBI clearance, as they are easily available. Then go for postal ID, SSS, and TIN respectively. Passport can wait a little bit, unless you're planning to work overseas in the near future.

Finances. Open a savings account. I consider this a requirement as I can't remember the many opportunities that I have to turn down just because I do not have a bank account. Opening one is now made easy, as there are banks that require just one valid ID. Create a Paypal account as well, if you must. For international bank transfers. 

Career. The pandemic has allowed us to do employment applications online. Though this has been going on for a while now - I do not remember leaving the house just to submit resumes to potential employers. Clean up resume, make it a bit more impressive by focusing on your skills and strengths. Depending on the requirements of the job you're applying, you may also want to emphasize educational backgrounds, as well as seminars and training attended relevant to the job post. 

Time management. There are a lot of things that we can accomplish, if only we knew decent time management. When Mom said, you can never bring back the time you lost, I believed her. Plan the day, allot a considerable amount of time for every single task. Avoid procrastinating (note to self). Clean your room. Organize your Kpop shrine things. Read a book. Make dinner. Spend less time in scrolling through Facebook to make room for a more productive task (maybe unless you are a social media manager. :D)

If you have already done these, congratulations! You're on to the next adulting phase. 

Oh and yeah, determine the people who you think are worthy of your taxes.

Register to vote.

xo
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Kdrama review: Her Private Life and some fangirling shenanigans

Thursday, January 7, 2021 • , ,

It's been more than a week since I finished watching Her Private Life, and I still think of Ryan Gold and his pretty face. It's the first Kim Jae Wook drama I've seen and maybe it's time for me to broaden my horizon and start watching dramas of actors that are complete strangers to me. Anyway, this drama was aired in 2019, and I finally watched it because one, I'm a Kpop fan now and I knew I'd relate to this; two, it's Christmas break and there's nothing else to do; three, Ryan Gold is irresistibly adorable.

image source

All things relatable

Not gonna lie, the main reason I was compelled to watch this drama is because of Doekmi's (Minyoung) fangirling. Man, she's obsessed with Cha Shian, member of a fictional Kpop group White Ocean. If I didn't happen to be into Kpop, I'd wonder if her fangirling shenanigans actually happen in real life. Her studio apartment is a dream to all the fangirls out there, from her Shian standee to all of Sian's portraits she made herself. If there's a need for an ultimate fangirling guide, one must tear a page out of Deokmi's book.

that ultimate fangirling moment

Apart from being a fangirl, Doekmi is the curator of a fine arts museum, something I almost did some years ago. Okay, writing artwork descriptions is different, but still. My love for fine arts intensified while watching this drama. If you've been reading this blog (of if you follow me on Instagram), you'd know. It made me want to abruptly end my solitary confinement and visit galleries and museums so to quench my lust for artworks and analyze what they could possibly mean. 


The dark side of fangirling

If there's one thing I'd never understand about Kpop fangirling, it's that fans are enraged when they learn that their idol is involved in a romantic relationship. I mean, c'mon. It doesn't take a lot of muscles to be more mature about it and accept the fact that idols are also human with emotions and naturally they can also fall in love. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw tweets from fans cancelling EXO's Chanyeol because his pictures with his alleged ex-girlfriend circulated online, and these fans were all prepared to believe some poorly edited snapshots rather than empathize with their idol in his silence. It's sad when fans hated Chen just because he was suddenly getting married and wanted to be happy. Sure, it's sad because the possibility of them dating these fans someday is gone, but that doesn't warrant so much hate to the point of hating Xiumin too, for owning Chen's signed albums. The things Doekmi would have had to go through if our charming Ryan Gold wasn't there to save her were pretty horrible, criminal even. Although to be fair, Doekmi tried to explain how the fans must have felt - they feel betrayed because they poured every ounce of love and support they could give to their idols and only to be fooled like that. But with or without her explaining things, I'd never understand why there has to be so much loathing. In the end, all went well, because it paved the way (some big words there, huh) for Doekmi and Ryan to get closer and eventually fall in love. 

The kind of guy...

Look, if you can't get to date your idol, make sure to at least find a guy who supports your fangirling shenanigans. Find the guy who realizes it when he's at fault, never refuses to admit it, and says sorry. Find the guy who's brave enough to face his fears, by telling you about it and allowing you to help him get through it. Find that guy who goes to the park with your family for a picnic. 

But a guy who's allergic to coffee... well, I'm not sure. :D





Will you date a co-worker, though?

The things I share in this space are mostly my first-hand experience, otherwise I witnessed them happening to my close friends. So when I say that dating a co-worker is a disaster, believe me, because the odds are, I've been there and I know what I am saying. It's messy and awkward, I kid you not. Doekmi and Ryan, along with Miso and Youngjoon (What's Wrong With Secretary Kim) and Nanase and Kairi (Love Lasts Forever) have successfully brought butterflies in our stomachs as they get to spend more time with each other simply because they're in the same workplace. It really looks fun, and it's because nothing wrong has ever happened in their relationships. When Doekmi finally decided she was falling for Ryan and ended their fake relationship, it was awkward as hell, not only for them but for their other colleagues too. It's like walking on eggshells, and can you really imagine your work friends ranting about how crappy your boss is and he happens to be your boyfriend? Or worse, what if you broke up? And he starts dating someone else? Okay, let me be clear though. I'm not generally against it, but dating a co-worker has been long ago scratched from my list.

We stan character developments and undying friendships

Fangirling isn't exclusive to just ogling at the pretty face of your idol all day everyday, may it be on vLive, variety show reruns, dramas, or posters on your wall. It gave me an enjoyable workload, as I am now asked to write a paid article about Kpop stars. Neat, right? Sun-joo, Doekmi's best friend and fangirling buddy isn't just the best friend who follows Doekmi around. She has her own life, own story, and own heartbreak that Doekmi also becomes "the best friend" at some point, and I'm totally living for it. She's the epitome of fangirls who finally woke up from the dream and created her own happily ever after. It wasn't perfect by all means, at some point she was betrayed and heartbroken. But fangirls must have hearts stronger than anyone else. 

Love does not hurt. Your expectation does.

Cindy, another die-hard Shian fan, is your typical spoiled-brat who does whatever the hell she wants. Having someone like her as an intern is a pain, but really. All she needed was time and, a huge trigger, and a second chance to prove she was more than that. I mean, I know she appears to be a lot of work to become a reliable employee, but it all worked out in the end. Girl, if you know someone like Cindy, maybe you shouldn't give up on that person just yet even if my patience is about to snap I still hope that one day she'll come around.


And do you ever wonder why second leads remain on being friend-zoned? It's because they're damn too slow to confess!



The soundtrack

Just like What's Wrong With Secretary Kim, this romantic comedy also has a great list of soundtracks. I particularly like Hong Daw Kwang's Boom Boom - it's a feel good song and the guitar reminds me of my Yongieee! <3

I'm really happy to have come across this drama. It's light, entertaining and made my fangirl heart flutter even more. I think I may have found the Kdrama version of my life. 

What's the last Kdrama you've seen?

xo
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Creating goals when the new year still feels uncertain

Tuesday, January 5, 2021 • ,

Tabula rasa - a phrase I've learned from my favorite Gayle Forman book. I means clean slate. Starting over. Begin fresh. Leave everything behind as you move forward. The new year is a beautiful opportunity to do all of these, in addition to setting new goals for the year, creating vision boards and working on some long-term projects. But after everything we went through in 2020, is it still worth it? What are the odds that 2021 would be not be different? What if it's tougher? What if I'd just go #NoGoals2021 again?


If you have goals then there's nothing you can't do. But first, coffee.

Why creating goals is important

Goals make me more determined, and they provide for this constant need to prove myself. This is the reason why despite my last year's mantra, I still started working on some projects. It doesn't matter if it's something I've done before, or something simple. I set goals because they bring me joy and self-fulfilment. They give me motivation and sense of purpose. They serve as a distraction from the pressure and the anxiety brought about by the things beyond my control. They give me something to look forward to. They make me happy.


How do you create goals

I only ever use the smart strategy in my nine-to-five. Rules stress me out, and I prefer inventing my own strategy. Or maybe I use this too in my passion projects, but just subconsciously. It says the goal should be smart - specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and there's a timeframe. Producing a new story for printing is quite specific - meaning I am just going to produce a new material that may or may not be published this year. I'd measure it by word count - so if I aim to write a 30,000-word story, I should be able to record my progress as I work my way through the given timeline. Is it attainable and realistic? Yes. I've done this before, so given that I don't procrastinate or spend more time in social media than I should, I'd be able to complete a story in three months (timeframe). 


Like I said, it doesn't matter if the goal is something you've done before, or something simple. Reading 12 books the entire year is an excellent goal. Binge-watching 25 Kdramas would be amazing. Getting over a heartbreak is a brave move. Aiming to drink 8 glasses of water everyday for 365 days is one big step towards a healthier you. There is no goal more important than the other, or maybe bigger than the other. As long as it brings you the reasons on why you're doing it, it is something that you should be proud of. So write them down, determine your reasons for doing them, decide on how you'd measure your progress, see if they are achievable, and finally, give yourself a decent amount of time to work on them.


How do you achieve your goals

I really have no idea on how to achieve goals except... actually working on them. Establishing routines helps big time. Allot a certain amount of time everyday, just to work on these goals. It could be right after breakfast, or while you're enjoying your 5th cup of coffee for the day, or maybe before you hit the sack at night. Never underestimate small progress - always remember that progress is still progress. Writing at least 500 words everyday is 500 words closer to finishing my story (I did this with If I Knew Then). Reading 10 pages of a novel every evening is a small step, but it is a step towards finishing the book you're reading. Also, avoid doubting yourself. This might sound easier said than done but believe me, doubting yourself will get you nowhere. Surround yourself with people you trust and people who genuinely believe in you, and listen to them. The idiots outside your circle can talk after you've proved yourself, I kid you not. Most importantly, make sure you're still having fun. You won't continue watching a Kdrama if you realize early on it's not your cup of tea, right?


So yes, I suggest you set goals this year. Despite the uncertainty. Even of we have no idea on what 2021 might bring, let's make good things happen still. Let's make this year a memorable one, because it's the year we achieved something. 


xo

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In 2021, we'll slowly pick up the pieces

Thursday, December 31, 2020 •

If there's one more thing I should have done in 2020, it's checking out a nice set of wine glasses from Shopee.

Strawberry Farm Benguet, March 2020

There's nothing more to be said about 2020. The devastation of the pandemic has made everyone vulnerable in all life aspects. The year when I said I'd finally say yes to brand new adventures without hesitation became the year of brand new routines and accidental isolation. The year when I said I'd live life to the fullest became the year of trying to get through the day, every day. It became all about the new normal, clinging on to divine faith, and working a bit harder for survival. 

I'm done writing about my fears. I've already acknowledged how I felt this year. I want this year-end post to sound grateful and unresentful. Because despite the many things that caused me fear and confusion, there are also many things that caused me courage and understanding. 

Ohana, January 2020

Creating memories is something I'm good at. May it be good or bad, there is always, always something I remember a person with. This year taught me that memories are always good, and even if something unacceptable happens, I should always choose to remember the good things. I would never know until when I'm gonna have the chance to make remarkable memories with the people that matter to me, thus every moment should count. Besides, there's always something good to remember.

The Digital Team, February 2020

Dekada '70 + Baguio Adventure, March 2020

#NoGoals2020 went irrelevant not because the chances of accomplishing bigger goals were slim, but because my own law of survival requires achieving anything that would make me feel good about myself. I didn't go too hard on myself though, I just did the usual things I might have done had this solitary confinement didn't happen. I started and kept up with my bullet journal the entire year. I've finally released The Shape of My Heart in February under Lifebooks, a story I've worked on a few years ago. I got in to Mr. Ricky Lee's scriptwriting workshop in April, and established a book club with my two other friends in May, though still half-baked. Another two friends visit the house every Sunday since June and we'd read the gospel and do bible sharing. I also low-key started a Youtube channel in August, which I think everybody else has done out of boredom and lack of better things to do. I self-studied Hangul and now I can read Korean characters albeit slow and incomprehensively. 

The Shape of My Heart book release, February 2020

Ricky Lee's online scriptwriting workshop, April 2020

Last year I wanted so bad to delete my social media apps, for they steal a lot of my time, and make me feel crap when I shouldn't. Come 2020 and now I couldn't imagine what would have happened to me without Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Sure, they kept me from posting positivity and encouragement. They didn't allow me to share thoughts that contradict the greater netizens (unless I want to be bombarded with rude comments). They kept me informed of the important things, at least. They brought me closer to my friends. They even allowed me to explore new discoveries. 

Jung Yong Hwa Online Fan Meet on vLive, June 2020

Working nine-to-five at the comfort of your home sounds like a real deal - but I guess it doesn't agree with me. There, I said it. While I'd be eternally grateful to still be able to keep my job during this mayhem, I am tired most of the time. It's different when you're a freelancer and a project requires you to work on it through a specified deadline, versus the work that requires you to sit in front of your laptop the entire work day. It imposes the need to work more than necessary just to prove productivity. And trying to work and be productive while the world is in the middle of an ongoing crisis is quite exhausting. It drains out every ounce of motivation in me. It leaves me too spent. 

Deliveries from the Minas, September 2020

Host, After Breakup NBS + Philippine Readers and Writers Festival Online Event, October 2020

This year also proved that when all else fails, people turn to art. Although, with or without the pandemic, I know I'd still read books and watch Kdramas. This year I finished reading 15 books, watched 13 Kdramas, and a Jdrama. Oh and yes, I became an accidental Kpop fan this year. Not just an ordinary stan, but a fangirl with CDs from Korea and an official lightstick. Jung Yong Hwa and Oh Sehun made the days more bearable, especially at times when work from home set-up became too stressful and tiring. And they even mde me start working on a new writing project - a fanfic that the more I work on, the more I want it to become a "real thing" if you know what I mean. 

hohoho, say hello to my Kpop shrine!

Love Lasts Forever (Jdrama) and Her Private Life were not on the picture

2020. It was tough, but God did not just allow me to make it until today. He blessed me with good health, a stable financial resource, a home, true friends, and the opportunity to do what I love the most. Who knows, 2021 might be tougher, but at least I can welcome it with a more accepting mind and a stronger heart. 

RE-CODE launch, November 2020

Bible Sharing Titas, December 2020

So in 2021, I'll slowly try to take back the little things I have lost during the 2020 battle. Let's try to be creative again. Let's try to be motivated again, and make more things happen despite being tamed in our homes. After all, we've proven to have the capability to still be able to function well. Let's stop settling for half-baked outcomes, and work on things from start to finish. Let's not set any goals still, but work on things according to what makes us happy and stress-free. Let's just make it seem like we're doing everything for fun, but with extra effort. Besides, all the fun begins when challenges start to happen (but then, that's just me!) 

Christmas eve, 2020
Let's also buy a nice set of wine glasses. 

Cheers to hopefully a better year ahead of us. Stay weird. 

xo
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