Habagat Monsoon

Being unable to go out because we are living inside the university campus and having this very gloomy weather makes us ignorant of what is happening outside this huge, fenced territory. We are not updated of the news; we are not even informed accordingly of class suspensions.

Being accredited of Autonomous Status makes our university able to have control over classes that is why last week, when all other universities in Cavite don’t have class, we have. Haaaay. We were a bit disappointed but at the same time we were glad of not losing a day of doing nothing. Though truly, class rooms are just a few meters away from dormitories, walking under heavy rain is not easy. It’s cold, wet, muddy, and school shoes will have a possibility of wearing-out. But this week, circumstances are on AUPian’s side. Malacanang declared that there are no classes in all levels – elementary, high school and college. That’s why since Tuesday, August 7 until now, we don’t have classes.

Although people here are overwhelmed of this advisory (including me), I still feel worried and anxious about the happenings outside. I haven’t watched news yet but have read from the web and some friends from Manila text me about them and they are not in a good condition - floods in different places. I even learned from an off-campus classmate that there are no typhoons. I just knew that this is just a monsoon yesterday night from texts. I opened my Facebook account this morning and saw different kinds of wall posts, pictures, opinions, and unique stories:

Here is something that really caught my attention:

This spread not only in Facebook but also in text messages last August 7, 2012. Photo not mine. Credits to the person who made this.

I don’t believe in coincidences but I believe in the Word of God.

I will not make any disagreeing assertions about this but I’ll share a bit of the prophecy in the Bible.

I believe that Christians are all aware that we are in the ‘end-of-the-world’ time, and the first thing people are asking is, what are the signs?

7 "Teacher", they asked, “when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?’

9 “When you hear of wars and revolutions, do not be frightened. These things must happen first. But the end will not come right away.”

10 Then he said to them: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.

11 There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.

25 There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea.

26 Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken.

Luke 21: 7, 9-11, 25-26 (NIV) 

Such phenomena, not only the situation of the Philippines but also of the other countries should not shock or fright us. But these must remind us that soon, all these sorrowful events shall come to end. That we must not point out to God and blame Him the cause of these. All are planned according to God’s perfect will. What we just need to do is to fully depend on Him.

I’m even grateful that I am a Filipino. By just looking at those photos above, it makes me realize that my countrymen are valiant and strong. No matter what calamities strike, they still care to make fun out of it. They just smile and pray. The faith they have is what makes them brave. So proud to say that I am a Filipino. :)

*All photos are not mine. Credits to Facebook.com and to people who own them.

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The Illusionist Movie Review

I was really amazed by this 2006 movie, The Illusionist.

I once mentioned in one of my posts that I am really late in watching movies. But anyway, better late than never. :D If you have viewed this movie already and had taken a moment watching even the beginning credits, you will find that it is based to a short story by Steven Millhauser, Eisenheim, The Illusionist. As a fan of classic literature and very fond of short stories, I searched the web, wanting to read the story after watching the movie yesterday night. I was somewhat curious to find resemblances between the two arts. Millhauser is not a popular writer that’s why his works are a bit hard to find. Good thing I found a PDF file!

Credits to Google.

After reading the story, I wasn’t that satisfied maybe because I already saw the movie and had known already about the features. But If I were to recommend you, read first about the story then watch later the movie.

The plot is about this popular magician who does tricks with striking originality. The common magical illusions other magicians do, he replace them with uncanny and notable inventions of his own. And this magician is Eisenheim. In the short story, the whole thing evolves only around Eisenheim’s incredible magic and competition with his rivals in the theatre world where they perform.

In Neil Burger’s adaptation of the movie, the story focused to Eisenheim’s love story. The story had been narrated from the point of view of the chief inspector, Herr Uhl, who was a fan of him but later became a secret investigator of Eisenheim’s tricks because of the crowned prince. I forgot to mention that the setting was in late 1800’s and beginning of 1900’s in Vienna. Eisenheim had only one love; they were childhood sweethearts but their relationship was unwanted because the girl came from a well-known family of their country while Eisenheim was a son of a cabinet maker only. Truth is, knowing the life of Eisenheim was even a mystery. It had only been read from newspapers and magazines. Little is known about his early life and his life outside the realm of illusion. This had made the story exciting and peculiar. It’s funny how I shifted my point of view from the protagonist to the narrator. If you are not focused on the movie, you will not understand how and why it came to that climax. I thought Eisenheim was just only skilful in making his own devices for magic and also dexterous in performing illusions. I even thought that he’s weak especially when it came to the part of spirituality and ghosts. But as the movie reaches its end, it proved that Eisenheim is intelligent and is exemplary with tricks and secrets.

Edward Norton (credits to Google)

My rating of this movie? 9/10. It should’ve shown more tricks and more competition with his fellow magicians just like in the story. But its revision and the setting up of the reason to Eisenheim’s vanishing was excellent! I also like that Edward Norton played Eisenheim’s character. He was perfect for it.

You can click here and read the short story.

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