Life in Lockdown: Unplugged

25 days in since our central government implemented the "Enhanced Community Quarantine" ( ECQ ) aka Movement Control Order in Malaysia or Stay-at-Home Order or Shelter in Place in other countries or bluntly ... a lockdown. I know that this is all in a bid to slow down or hopefully to stop the war between us and virus enemy that we don't see, but I still wake up on some days in disbelief that in this day and age of artificial intelligence and all sorts of technological advancements, we ... and not just Filipinos, but the rest of the world, are experiencing this global catastrophe.

It is a scary time. And none of us was prepared for it.
I won't say that I'm adapting. I also won't say that I could get used to this.
I'm still trying to wrap my head on everything that's happening.

How am I faring?
I am thriving and I am complying.

Those who know me offline know that I'm this little ball of unlimited energy who's so used to having her days filled with endless things to do. I must have been programmed that way. I like it. I really do. I was never a fan of meetings ( because there are a lot of things that can be resolved even via email ), but I can stay up until 6AM & just talk to someone ... over drinks, of course and I'd still be normal the following day. I dig deadlines. I hate not being able to go to work ... surprise! I enjoy planning, all that thinking & strategizing. I get excited when I discover a new restaurant, but I'm also a creature of habit when it comes to food. I have a designated hidden spot in my favorite bars. I find it interesting talking to not-so-random strangers. I get this certain kind of IK ( internal kilig ) with road trips — must be the grocery shopping before the trip, the stopovers, road trip playlists, over-priced food & drinks, the anticipation, and the hours that you spend in the car that bond you with the people you're with. Oddly, I don't like crowds, but I am happy being around and being with people.

Change was so sudden.
And this new reality that we're all in is pretty intense for me.


If you're reading this, you know that you're not alone, right? We have all been mandated to stay indoors. Some would still find a reason to complain that the government has harsh restrictions, but right now, without a vaccine, do we have a better choice? See? So, staying at home right now is good not just for our families, our friends, and our communities, but also for the world. Whether we like it or not, we're all in this together and we can only get through this together. So, when we are told to stay home, we all have to stay home — the same with the rest of the guidelines that we must all follow to survive this new normal.

The initial intent for this post was supposed to be about disconnecting and unplugging from screen time & social media, but I felt that the world decided to unplug all of us from the rest of the world and things that we loved to do outside of our homes. As much as it sucks, when I was doing all my reflective thinking at the start of the lockdown, amidst all these, I still found many things to be thankful for. For me, one of them would be the Internet. Yes? A resounding YES. Thriving would be extremely difficult if we didn't have Internet. And with that, here are a few Internet-related stuff that helped me do okay while in lockdown.

 Netflix 
My relationship with Netflix during quarantined living is a lot healthier compared to when we didn't have the lockdown. Strangely, I'm not binging. I strictly followed whatever Netflix time I set. If I wanted to stick to my sleep hours and help my immune system, I have to put some discipline with my watching time. Are you doing the same? Anyways, I hope you find something interesting from my current list. I wrote just my TOP 5.
1. Hi Bye, Mama
2. My Secret Terrius ( DONE! )
3. Itaewon Class
4. Watching Again: How to Get Away with Murder
5. Watching Again: Suits

 HBO Go 
One of my friends threw in the idea. I had my friend check if Contagion was in the roster. Woohoo! That plus the 7-day trial convinced me to download the app. I knew they showed Contagion on cable TV at one time, but I never got to watch it because of work. Before HBO Go, I got YouTube Premium on trial because I thought that I could watch Contagion for free.Ö Nope. Kaya, maraming salamat talaga HBO Go.
1. Contagion
2. Blended
3. Mamma Mia
4. Pitch Perfect
5. Stepford Wives

 Music 
Music ( with my gin mix ), well, the arts in general, has been helping me get through lockdown nights. Of course, there's still Spotify but I'm also thankful that a lot of artists have brought their shows online. While doing this, they're able to raise funds for health-workers and members of society who need assistance with food & other resources. The lockdown has hit us bad and many of our kababayans have not had work for close to a month now. Some of the artists whose livestream-ed gigs and virtual concerts that I watched were ...
1. Chris Martin's Together at Home gig
2. DJ John Robinson's lockdown parties on Twitch ( loved all the 80s & 90s songs that he played )
3. Gary V for Bayanihan Musikahan
4. Replay: Martin Nievera for Bayanihan Musikahan
5. Replay: The Company for Bayanihan Musikahan

 Online Learning 
I've always believed that learning doesn't stop in school. I've always made sure to find ways to educate myself with new learnings, one way or the other. And since we are not on a work-from-home arrangement, I have plenty of time on my hands plus I need to keep my brain working & grabbed whatever relevant virtual learning opportunity there is.
1. I enrolled in a social media marketing class. Got a lot of validation & affirmation here in what I'm doing at work.Ü
2. I got Master Class, too.
3. Webinars: Jonathan Yabut
4. Webinars: Lamudi Philippines
5. I've also been watching a few cooking videos ... fingers crossed if I will have a change of heart

Our government has extended the lockdown here in my country up to month-end, but really, who knows if it will even be lifted. I'm guessing that it will get another extension or two. Goodluck to our economy. And there isn't much that we can do, but to be good citizens of our countries — we need to continue to comply, stay home, and keep our fingers crossed for a miracle. Let's all strive to find the good in all these and do our best to remain strong for ourselves & our loved ones. Let's also try to be a little kinder to one another.

Kind of not connected to, but I checked the last post I did. Ang wild lang, because it was November 2017. I was going through a rough time then. Same as now. But writing somewhat made me feel better. Most of the time, it does naman talaga. I'm glad that I decided to inch my way back into it. Pain is one hell of a great motivator.

I want to end my comeback post with these words that struck me and stuck with me. They're from Gary V's Bayanihan Musikahan last Thursday. "When we are faced with fear, may we understand at least that there cannot be any faith if fear is not lingering around. What is it to have faith when everything is okay? But may the fear trigger the faith and may faith be fueled and sustained by hope."

Let's keep the faith & let's be nice to one another.
Here's to complying to be socially distant while doing my part to save the world.
❥_Love + Good Vibes. RUSS.

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Thank Yous
» Writing Prompt from Bloggers, Unplugged via The Daily Post
» Image from Dan Burton on Unsplash

Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!

Being in a Chinese environment and working for a Chinese-owned company for almost 6 years has become a cultural immersion for me — in a positive kind of way, of course. Dating a Chinese man and having a Chinese best friend now have brought me a good amount of knowledge and understanding about their customs, their way of life, and traditions. I also began to appreciate their cuisine and all these dishes that I used to not eat. Admittedly, before all these, I knew nothing about anything Chinese. Matter of fact, it was something that I used to avoid because this person that I used to know did not like anything Chinese ... so now's like the opposite of everything.

Ghost Month, Mooncakes, and Mid-Autumn Festival
It was in 2011 when I first learned about Ghost Month, 鬼月. I was supposed to have some house repairs done, but was warned by a friend to defer it until after ghost month. I was surprised that ghost month was strictly observed at work. We were not allowed to do big events like groundbreakings, sales rallies, inaugurations, and blessings because at this time, ghosts and spirits are believed to roam the earth. This time was similar to All Souls' Day. Every milestone, big gathering, and major purchase were done after ghost month.


That same year, I received my first Moon Cake, 月饼. For those of you not familiar with this Chinese mid-autumn festival must-have, see photo above ▲. Lucky me got tons of moon cakes that year and years after that.Ü The act of giving moon cakes to family, friends, and colleagues is a practice that dates back ages ago. Moon Cakes symbolize togetherness and if you happen to get one ( or more ), it tells the recipient that your friendship is valued by the other person. Touching, isn't it? The giving of moon cakes is just one of the customs observed by the Chinese during the Mid-Autumn Festival. This festival is considered to be the second biggest Chinese event in a year — the first one being Chinese New Year. The Mid-Autumn Festival goes back to thousands of years ago when ancient Chinese worshiped the moon for bountiful harvest. On the day that the Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated, the moon is also said to be its roundest. This usually falls a few weeks after the end of the Hungry Ghost Festival. [ Read more: The Story Behind Mid-Autumn Festival 中秋节 ]


My First Dice Game
For the past years, I was always invited to go to a Moon Cake / Mid-Autumn Festival gathering, but I never went. This year, I did things differently. My Howe always looked forward to Moon Cake month because of the Dice Game. He always explained it to me, but I never really got a good grasp of how fun it was until this year.

Dice Game rules are simple: the game involves throwing 6 dice into a bowl and if you get any one of the lucky combinations, you get a prize. There are assigned prizes ( 6th place to 1st place ) to the best dice combos. The game goes on until all prizes are won. It could take a while, but it just radiates all these good vibes when you're playing. No one goes home empty-handed or that pretty-much is the idea but I guess it depends on how many prizes are up for grabs.

In this Mid-Autumn Festival party that we went to, P and I got a lot of the sixth prize(s) + a second prize where I got to bring home Chanel goodies. To make my first Dice Game even more memorable, we also won the first prize / the Zhong Guan, which I tell you was worth the wait. If you'll look at my IG photo below, the Zhong Guan's inside the Ang Pow ( red envelope ). While it did seem like forever, waiting for one of the best combinations to come out was definitely worth our while. I guess the odds were in our favor. Our table had 15 players including us and well, the lucky 4 Fours combination was fated to come out during one of our turns.Ü It felt like Thanksgiving and the vibe was just fun, fun, fun. Every person from our table brought something lovely home. All the prizes were very nice. I gotta give it to our host for being generous and for throwing such a marvelous Mid-Autumn Festival party.

Zhong Guan! Happy Mid-Autumn Festival @asiandragonmag & Happy Anniversary. Thank you for such a fun night. #AsianDragonMagazine #ADMMooncake2016

A photo posted by R U S S (@ruussso) on Sep 21, 2016 at 6:52am PDT

After ditching several of these, I finally went to one. Woohoo for my first #MidAutumnFestival 🤗

A photo posted by R U S S (@ruussso) on Sep 27, 2016 at 6:12am PDT

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Have you ever been to a Mid-Autumn Festival gathering and played the Dice Game? Is it something celebrated in your country? Zhōng qiū jié! 中秋快乐 Peace + ❥_Love + Good Vibes. RUSS.

Carpe Diem: December 2014

Photo Credit: Toni 190
Aaaah, the 12th and last month of the year. I start to feel the Christmas rush when I see queues in Starbucks getting longer, then everywhere you go, there are just soooo many people buying presents for friends and loved ones. Everywhere I go, people seem to be extra nice. These are some of the things that I love about this month. Ever since I was a kid, aside from my birthday month, December has always been one of my favorite months. It's a good month, a happy month and every single person on earth should experience even the slightest bit of that.

Festivities during this month make us spend time with people who have been with us for the last 12 months. Other activities also bring us more opportunities to share our blessings with others. And more importantly, December usually gives us the chance to look back at the year that was ... may it be something that we want to rave about or otherwise. Sure, we can do this any time of the year, but for some reason December seems to be the perfect moment to gauge if we've been bad or good. I think we're never too old or too young for that. Agree? [ Read: November 2014 ]

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Mao in the Boardroom by Gabriel Stricker


What am I reading?
Learning doesn't end in school. I'm brushing up on some Marketing shites in my leisure time ( I know, I'm such a nerd ) and I'm reading Mao in the Boardroom.

My favorite blog this month: Flying the Nest ( www.flyingthenest.tv )
This is one of the travel blogs that I've come to visit more often. Flying the Nest is owned by an Australian couple and their blog is very informative + they post magazine-perfect photos. I am always tempted to book a flight each time I read a new blog post from Stephen and his wife. If you have a bit more extra time after reading this, please drop by Flying the Nest and get ready to be wow-ed! Trust me, you'll love this blog.



Photo Credit: Website
What I'm watching
I'm very much hooked to  Suits.  I've had a long history with legal stuff and albeit it has long been part of the past, I think the subject kind of grew on me. I haven't decided if I like Harvey Specter more than Mike Ross. I'm just in the first season, but I'm certain that I'll watch this til the very end.

What I'm eating
I'm happy to share that I'm on my fifth week with Fitness Gourmet PH's 1,200 calorie diet program. Admittedly, I struggle at times but it takes a lot of discipline to stay focused. I always remind myself that I want to achieve my goal of losing my last two ( 2 ) stubborn pounds. While I have not done a weigh in, I am pretty sure that I'm doing progress because a lot of my clothes feel "normal" again. I plan to continue Fitness Gourmet PH for a few more weeks in preparation for the upcoming 2-week long holiday here in the Philippines.



Photo Credit: Rappler's Starbucks PH holiday menu and planner

What I'm drinking
I've been putting some effort in getting drinks from Starbucks for my stickers. Yes, it is that time of the year! Do you guys have this in your country? December is probably Starbucks PH's biggest month ever since they came up with the planner 9 or 10 years ago. I gotta give it to them, it's an awesome Marketing strategy and it obviously works because people can't seem to get enough of these planners. Each year, other brands and coffee shops have had attempts to outdo & outshine Starbucks, but not one of them has surpassed the success of Starbucks when it comes to these pretty planners.

In January of this year, I promised myself that I will ditch the planner this year. I've always thought that it's crass commercialism. I've done it before and I'm positive that I can do it again. BUT. Yes, that's a big BUT ... I succumbed anyways. And, I failed miserably the moment I saw their planner in my favorite color: Red. [ Read: I Love My Quirks, v_Russ ]

What's making me smile right now?
December brings me awesome news. First would be the Official 2015 Holidays in the Philippines — there's so much room for traveling! We have 13 beautiful long weekends next year, but I may have less than that because I have work on Saturdays. Nevertheless, I'm all set to letting the travel bug bring me wherever! Osaka is top priority.

The other thing that's making me grin from ear-to-ear is something that I can't talk about right now. Although I think, the people around me are bad in keeping secrets from me. Lol! Either that, or I can easily read stuff in between the lines. I'm actually good at that. I'm all for being positive about this and I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

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December is going to be another very busy month for me and I'm still 8 stickers away from my planner, but there's no way I'm complaining. I've been blessed this year and I'm thankful for everything that's come my way and all the things that were given to me. I'm sending you tons of happy vibes all the way from Manila and I hope you're just as excited as I am with this month. Merry Christmas!  ☮..Peace + ❥_Love + Good Vibes. RUSS.

WHAT'S EVERYONE WATCHING?

Modern Family is one of the best series for me.
Image Credit: www.fanpop.com
I wouldn't say that I'm hooked on TV series because I only watch them when it's convenient. I also found myself appreciating a series or sometimes a movie ( even if initially, I never like the plot ) if someone really close to me enjoys watching them. I think the very first series that I watched is Doogie Howser, MD and the list goes on and on and on from Beverly Hills 9.0.2.1.0, to Melrose Place, to Jack Bauer's 24, Supernatural, Prison Break ( stopped after S1 ), and Lost ( stopped after S1 ).

I've also had my share of Korean Series. These kept me company when I got sick and had to stay at home for a couple of months. I watched them online and I didn't mind reading subtitles in English. P calls them "Kor-Kor". Lol, I don't know what it stands for. I've seen Coffee Prince, Kim Sam Soon, and Queen Seon Dok. There's one series from Taiwan that I spent sleepless nights: Fated To Love You. And finally, work happened. I got extra busy and I could only watch these series when I'm at home. So far, the not-so-new series that I've been following are The Vampire Diaries, Revenge, Game of Thrones ( we all love GOT! ), The Walking Dead, History Channel's Vikings, Once Upon a Time, and Modern Family.

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Image Credit: www.moviepilot.com

Lately, I've been watching more than enough reruns of One Tree Hill and Modern Family. That's when I decided, it's time to watch something new. I asked friends in Facebook to give suggestions & here are the results:

Top 3 Series Recommended by My Friends
1) How to Get Away With Murder
2) Gotham
3) Outsourced

Runners-Up
1) Constantine
2) Devious Minds
3) Hannibal

I Bought
1) How To Get Away With Murder SOLD OUT!
2) Gotham
3) Reign
4) Cool Guys, Hot Ramen


Cool Guys, Hot Ramen ( Korean Series )
Image Credit: Website

I'm so intrigued with How To Get Away With Murder and really wanted to get it because it got the most number of recommendations. Unfortunately all the shops that I checked told me that it's sold out at that time. I must have went to three or five shops until I gave up on this series and settled for Gotham, which had the second highest number of recos from friends.

And, because I like anything that looks medieval and royalty, I picked up Reign as well. I first saw the poster from a friend's post in Instagram and I asked her what it's about. I did get to watch the entire season last week. It's about Mary Queen of Scots and her life, a bit of Scotland's history, and some more history about France & England. I kinda liked it, but I think there was a poor choice in actors except for the villains. Queen Catherine of France is my new favorite villain :) [ Read: These Bad Guys Rock, Series Edition ]

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What about you? Was there a time that you got hooked on a series? What are you watching right now?  ☮..Peace + ❥_Love + Good Vibes. RUSS.

ONE TREE HILL LESSON NO. 1: DON'T JUDGE

When we're very much into a series, we usually find ourselves relating to one of the characters. Yes? Agree?

When I was starting to get hooked on One Tree Hill, I didn't expect to see myself in one of the girls in the series mainly because they're in high school. It didn't seem like there was someone who would fit the bill. Or I must have spoken too soon. Come S2 of One Tree Hill, I've grown to love the character of  Brooke Davis  because even at her lowest moments, she's always been the stronger, I-wont-take-crap-from-anyone female characters. Brooke's character has strengths that I have.


Quiet things no one ever knows
I cried a lot during the part where Marvin "Mouth" McFadden delivered an impromptu peer endorsement for Brooke Davis in the episode Quiet Things That No One Ever Knows.

In the series, Brooke Davis was always judged badly by others. I'm so sure that this also happens in the real world —— people pass judgment on others just because they talk this way or because they speak their minds, etc. People judge, without asking. People judge, without understanding. People judge because it makes them feel superior over other individuals. People judge because it probably makes them feel good. It sucks, right? I have had my share of situations when others have already "marked" me even before they get the chance to know me. It gets worse when you're aware and you well know who is saying what about you. While I will truly never understand what motivates those who recklessly judge others away, I have always made a conscious effort to not be anything like that. Yes, it can be avoided.

I used to mind and I usually tell the person off, but as I got older I have mastered the art of not tolerating such actions by simply shrugging it off and letting those who really know me speak on my behalf. As a functioning and responsible adult, I know that time is valuable and I choose to spend mine wisely. When I sense that someone is about to give me another judgmental rant, I walk away. And, if it happens in the workplace, I let my performance and actual, tangible results reflect the kind of person that I am.

There will always be that one person who will always have a problem with you. So, when things go out of hand and all the crap pile up, trust that we all have Mouth McFaddens in our lives who will genuinely be there for us and will stand up for us when the time comes. These are the people who deserve our time, friendship, and love. I don't know if I can convince you to watch One Tree Hill, but please, indulge me on this. This is a portion from Mouth McFadden's speech in one of the episodes of OTH's S2, EP14.

"She never cared what clique I was part of, the kinds of clothes I wore or the fact that I have to ride the bus. She looked past that stuff. This year, Brooke's had her share of ups and downs. Just like all of us, but most of you never saw it.  Because even when life got hard, Brooke never let it in.  She was just - Brooke. Tough, smart, one-of-a-kind." - OTH, Quiet Things No One Ever Knows || Watch it in YouTube


Image Credit: digiday

Be the bigger person, all the time.
I still can't grasp what pushes people to harshly judge someone. And, as if not enough damage has been done, the source unknowingly exerts extra effort to broadcast the bad stuff which feeds on others who share that common interest. It's when extra actions are taken that things are blown out of proportion. To be the bigger person in these kinds of situations means understanding others rather than passing judgment and most importantly validating whatever the information is before believing it. To be the bigger person means knowing when to tell the other person, "Stop. What you're doing is not helping anyone." To be the bigger person means being able to walk away if you need to.
☮..Peace + ❥_Love + Good Vibes. RUSS.

These bad guys rock. 2014 Series Edition. \m/

I love villains more than I like heroes in movies, books, and even in series. Strange as this sounds, but I have always liked the wicked guys over the good ones. Yes, they never win in any story ( and probably they never will ) but they bring all the suspense, juice, conflicts, and heart-stopping moments that, well, um make the lead characters the heroes they're supposed to be. No matter how flawed they are, there is something fetching about these bad guys that help create the most memorable and beautiful stories.

Behind every strong and successful protagonist, is a compelling and effective antagonist that everyone hates but love at the same time — be it a human, immortal, or non-human. With that, I'd like you all to meet the twisted, evil, and wicked yet charming series characters that I have grown to love.

Niklaus Michaelson, The Vampire Diaries  "He is your first love. I intend to be your last. However long it takes." - Klaus to Caroline [ 04.23 ] — Klaus, is one of the most annoying characters in The Vampire Diaries but his character grows on you. This twisted yet gorgeous rascal who beats everyone up and never ceases to unleash hell on earth is one of my favorite immortals. He's strong, hot, intelligent, old school, and has this bloody sexy British accent. Yes, he's irritating, but he shows people that even villains can selflessly love someone. What's not to love about this guy, er hybrid? Niklaus Michaelson is played by Joseph Morgan.

Victoria Grayson, Revenge  "You can spend your life being controlled by powerful men, or you can learn how to control them." [ 03.05 ] — Dubbed as "Queen of the Hamptons", Victoria Grayson is the perpetually elegant, fashionista, and powerful matriarch of the Graysons in one of the best series ever, Revenge. The only thing that I don't like about her is how she stops at nothing to break up Daniel ( her son ) and Emily. Setting my bias aside, her character is really like that of any mother who only wants the best for her children. Like all real-life moms, Victoria Grayson will do everything in her power, up to her last breath to protect her kids. Madeleine Stowe portrays Victoria Grayson in the series.

Rollo, Vikings  "Clamber, with a heart of steel. Cold is the ocean's spray ... and your death is on its way." [ 01.04 ] — Rollo is Ragnar Lothbrok's older brother in the Ireland-based series, Vikings. I just started watching this and not much has been divulged about Rollo, BUT I am more than certain that he will play a big part in making the series more interesting. He may not be a villain, but I think he is or will be one. My friends who watch the series are disgusted with Rollo, but not me. I like his brooding demeanor and his intense gaze. Clive Standen makes the fearsome Viking Rollo look both mysterious and cute.

Cersei Lannister, Game of Thrones   "The more people you love the weaker you are. You'll do things for them that you know you shouldn't do." [ 02.07 ] — Cersei, mother of Joffrey and daughter of Tywin Lannister, is despicable, but I really like her and her go-getter, no-BS attitude. She's complex, knows what she wants and most importantly, she knows how to get what she wants. She is not a good person, but she is a doting mother who will do anything for her children. She's cold and heartless and will not let anyone ( or any man ) tell her off. She's one strong, beautiful bad ass and Lena Heady does an awesome job at being Cersei Lannister.

Crowley, Supernatural  "You're good. But I'm Crowley." [ 09.23 ] — I started to like Supernatural again when they brought in Crowley aka King of Hell. Although Crowley is a sneaky, manipulative demon ( this is the part that I don't like ), there's still something charming and lovable about this character. He's witty, comes up with these funny nicknames for other Supernatural characters, has a good sense of humor, smart, and I think he's not really that bad. A lot of times, his good side shows and thanks to Mark Sheppard, Crowley is getting a lot of praises from people who watch Supernatural.

Now you guys know which series I dig and why I'm hooked.Ü
Parting words about the baddies from Agnes Repplier, "A villain must be a thing of power, handled with delicacy and grace. He must be wicked enough to excite our aversion, strong enough to arouse our fear, human enough to awaken some transient gleam of sympathy. We must triumph in his downfall, yet not barbarously nor with contempt, and the close of his career must be in harmony with all its previous development."

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Who are your TV series villains that you can't help but love?

☮ Peace + ❥ Love + Good Vibes. RUSS.

Five for Friday. Movies that make me cry ♡

I am such a sucker for movies. I can stay at home in my PJs all day, have a movie marathon, and not get tired. Being assigned to afternoon classes when I was a kid gave me tons of time to watch movies, which were mostly shown in the morning. Whenever I'd watch TV—and cable was non-existent then, almost all local channels showed old Pinoy films ... except GMA7 that aired Flying House for years and then replaced it with Super Book. Finally, when HBO, Cinemax, and Star Movies started to grace the boob tube, it was like heaven!

My film classes in college complemented this almost life-long love for watching movies. I was also lucky that I had professors who are leaders of the arts and a lot of them used film as a medium of education, both for majors and for regular subjects. It was a pretty effective method of teaching. And, with that, friends ... this post will be my first entry in FIVE FOR FRIDAY. I also promised one of my favorite bloggers, the pretty VAYIE, that I will post my 5 movies that make me cry. Top of mind, here they are:

1997, LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL ( La Vita è Bella )  I shed a sea of tears with this film and still cry so much each time I watch this. Set during the time when Germans despised Jewish people, this film is tragic but at the same time, it's full of love and humor. The main character, Guido, played by Roberto Benigni, became my ideal dad and husband. "You're serving. You're not a servant. Serving is a supreme art. God is the first servant. God serves men but he's not a servant to men." PLOT: In 1939, Jewish-Italian Guido Orefice comes into Arezzo, Italy, ultimately to open a book store. In the meantime, he will work as a waiter at the hotel restaurant where his Uncle Eliseo is the maître d'. In town, he meets a school teacher named Dora, who he calls Princess and who comes from a wealthy Italian family. For him, it's love at first sight. Despite she already being in a relationship with another man, Guido ultimately sweeps her off her feet. They get married and have a son they name Giosué. On Giosué's fifth birthday, World War II is in full force. Since they are Jewish, the Germans take away Guido, Eliseo and Giosué to a labor camp. Wanting to be with her family, Dora insists she be taken too, but she is housed in the women's side of the camp. To protect Giosué from the horror of what is happening to them, Guido tells him that they are playing a game, certain actions which garner points, other actions which take points away or disqualify one from the game. The first to reach 1,000 points wins the prize of a real tank. Guido's primary goal is to keep Giosué safe at all cost, while he tries to figure out a way to get his family out of the camp and keep the Germans at bay from learning what he is doing with Giosué. [ Source: IMDB ]

2004, IF ONLY  I'm not big on Jennifer Love Hewitt. I can't even remember how a DVD of this movie landed on the player in my house. I did watch it anyways, not once, but over and over again. Ian Wyndham's ( Paul Nicholls ) accent is just so sexy. It's one of the many films that I won't get tired of watching. I like how the story unfolds. Jennifer Love Hewitt wrote a song, Take My Heart Back, for this movie. It was good. So.... if you are a in relationship, If Only is always a good reminder. The smallest fights could break your heart, but y'know, you need to remind yourself not to take the person you love for granted. If you love the person, it's not enough that you say it. You show it. I love this scene: "I have to tell you this and you need to hear it. I loved you since I met you, but I wouldn't allow myself to truly feel it until today. I was always thinking ahead, making decisions soaked with fear. Today, because of you ... what I learned from you; every choice I made was different and my life has completely changed and I've learned that if you do that, then you're living your life fully. It doesn't matter if you have five minutes or fifty years. Samantha if not for today, if not for you I would never have known love at all. So thank you for being the person who taught me to love ... and to be loved." PLOT: After his impetuous musician girlfriend, Samantha, dies in an accident shortly after they had a fight (and nearly broke up), a grief-stricken British businessman, Ian Wyndham, living in London gets a chance to relive the day all over again, in the hope of changing the events that led up to her getting killed. [ Source: IMDB ]

1994, LOVE AFFAIR  This is a remake of a 1939 film with the same title. I remember watching this in Greenbelt 1, with my Mom and an older cousin. I was either in third or fourth grade and my Mom just adores Annette Bening, who played Terry McKay in the 1994 version. This movie perfectly fits the bill of all those if two people are meant together quotes like — "People who are meant to be together will always find their way back to each other. They might take detours in life but they are never lost." It is cheesy, but there is something in this movie that most of us can relate to. We all want to find that one person who was destined to be with us. Mike Gambril, played by Warren Beatty, and Terry McKay had a right love at the wrong time kind of thing. They did try to do something about it, but the stars probably weren't aligned yet for them. You'd be all smiles after watching it. Katharine Hepburn has a cameo appearance in Love Affair. I loved the piece that she played on the piano. I liked it so much, I learned that piano solo. "I guess I'm happy when I don't want to be anywhere else but where I am" PLOT: Ex-football star Mike Gambril meets Terry McKay on a flight to Sydney, which is forced to land on a small atoll. Both engaged to others, they become romantic on board the ship sent to take the 'plane passengers to a larger island. They agree to meet in New York three months later to see if the attraction is real. One shows up, the other doesn't, but they run into each other afterwards. [ Source: IMDB ]

1997, MY BEST FRIEND'S WEDDING A guy and a girl can never be just friends. I think it's not just possible. At one point in whatever so-called platonic relationship there is, I think there will come a time that one or both would feel some kind of an attraction. "But what makes me want to cry is I'm losing the best friend I ever had. And when he said it, I knew I felt the same. So I cried for maybe the third time in my life and I kissed him. And we've been best friends ever since. ... Nine years, we've seen each other through everything. Losing jobs, losing parents, losing lovers, traveled all over, we've had the best times. The best times of my life, maybe. ... He's the salt of the earth, kind and loyal and generous - the one constant thing in my life, is he'll always be there " PLOT: Julianne Potter is a successful and independent food critic. Her closest friend is George, who happens to be gay. Over dinner with George, she reminisces about another relationship in her past: her brief romance and long-term friendship with Michael ONeal, a freelance sports writer. Jules and Michael were such good friends, they made a half-serious promise to each other that if neither found a mate before they turned 28, they would marry each other. Soon afterward, Jules receives a call from Michael, who tells her he has met that special someone, Kim Wallace. Michael is madly in love with Kim, but asks his "best friend" to visit him in Chicago to lend him support. As the wedding date approaches, Jules becomes more desperate, but her attempts fail. However, just before the wedding, Michael gets a message that throws his relationship with Kim seriously into doubt and gives Jules her chance to share her true feelings with Michael. [ Source: IMDB ]

2007, ONE MORE CHANCE   I was not able to watch this on the big screen, but I do have this in my hard drive and it's a major tearjerker. Basha and Popoy's love story: EPIC. It's not mushy. It's not sappy. This is one of those #BOOM or #SOLID or #SAPUL or #OUCH kind of movies. #BOOM "Baka kaya tayo iniiwan ng mga taong mahal naten, kase baka merong bagong darating na mas ok, na mas mamahalin tayo, yung taong hindi tayo sasaktan at paaasahin, yung nag-iisang taong magtatama ng mali sa buhay naten, ng lahat ng mali sa buhay mo." #SOLID "I'm sorry for not saying sorry before nung nasaktan kita. Hanggang nung sa nagkahiwalay tayo, ang inisip ko, sarili ko lang, yung nararamdaman ko lang, yung gusto ko lang. I’m sorry Bash naging madamot ako. Hindi ko inintindi na, kailangan mo rin yung Bashang nawala nung minahal mo ako. Hindi mo alam kung gaano ko kagusto sabihin sayo na, SANA TAYO NA LANG. SANA TAYO NA LANG ULIT. Pero pag sa tuwing mararamdaman ko kung gaano kita kamahal, hindi ko maiwasan na maramdaman ulit lahat ng sakit. I’M SORRY. Ako naman ang may kailangan ng panahon ngayon. Para makalimutan ko lahat ng sakit. Para maalala ko lahat ng maganda at mabuti sa atin. Para bumalik yung Popoy na nawala, nung nagkahiwalay tayo. I want to stop my heart breaking, Bash. Para pag naging tayo ulit kaya na kitang mahalin nang buong buo. Nang walang takot, kung masaktan man tayo ulit. Bash,"

I want to give a shout out to the guys at Tizag.Com. I had to brush up on table codes, big help! Also, if any of you wants to join FIVE ON FIVE FRIDAY, you can visit The Good Life blog, just click on the badge below. There are lots of amazing people who have tons of great things to share. Have a fab weekend. ☮ Peace + ❥ Love + Good Vibes. RUSS.