On Gay Rights

"There are people who have said that I’m being brave for being openly supportive of gay marriage, gay adoption, basically of gay rights, but with all due respect, I humbly dissent. I’m not being brave. I’m being a decent human being. And I don’t think I should receive an award for that or for merely stating what I believe to be true, that love is a human experience not a political statement. However, I acknowledge that sadly we live in a world where not everybody feels the same. My family and I will help the good fight continue until that long awaited moment arrives, when our rights are equal and when the political limits on love have been smashed." – Anne Hathaway 

This is one of the most compelling statements I’ve ever encountered. I first came across this statement of Anne Hathaway in Tumblr. It has gained thousands of ‘likes’ and reposts.

Some assent to her views and some question it. Of course, I share her views and I appreciate her advocacy.

Also, I think this is a proof of how statements – more so, advocacy – of prominent people could be so influential. Anne Hathaway – from how I see it – is a good person; and a good person fighting for a cause would somehow equate to it being a worthy one. She was able to give confidence to those she’s advocating for and to those who have the same belief.

On gay rights: I believe in the love of my God, that my God is an understanding God. I refuse to acquiesce that He would punish people because of their gender-preference. You could be the straightest guy on earth but also the most evil one. It doesn’t matter what inclination you have as long as you’re a good person.

On gay marriages: I believe in love, whatever kind it is as long as it’s true. And if a gay marriage is founded on love, by all means, let it be.

* * *

Prejudice is just ignorance. - Blaine, Glee Season 2

Quotes from the Hunger Games Series

I was hesitant to read the Hunger Games Series at first. The plot seemed to be all action-packed and I was not interested in that kind of novels. But my friends reassured me that it wasn't what I thought it was so I read the three books in ‘one-seating’.

The first book is a page-turner; the second book is as enticing as the first; the third book, in my opinion, is a letdown but still provides an interesting conclusion to the story.

* * *

These are my favorite lines from the Hunger Games Series by Suzanne Collins:

HUNGER GAMES

·                     I also want to tell him how much I already miss him. But that wouldn't be fair on my part.- Katniss

·                     I take his hand, holding on tightly, preparing for the cameras, and dreading the moment when I finally have to let go. - Katniss

·                     She has no idea. The effect she can have. - Peeta Mellark

·                     Kind people have a way of working their way inside me and rooting there. - Katniss

·                     Stupid people are dangerous. - Katniss

·                     "Deep in the meadow, hidden far away

            A cloak of leaves, a moonbeam ray

            Forget your woes and let your troubles lay

            And when it's morning again, they'll wash away

            Here it's safe, here it's warm

            Here the daisies guard you from every harm

            Here your dreams are sweet and tomorrow brings them true

            Here is the place where I love you."

            -Katniss

·                     Well, I don't have much competition here. - Peeta

            You don't have much competition anywhere. - Katniss

·                     No, it happened. And right when your song ended, I knew - just like your mother - I was a goner. - Peeta

CATCHING FIRE

·                     I always channel my emotions into my work. That way I don't hurt anyone but myself. -Cinna

·                     You know, you could live a thousand lifetimes and not deserve him. - Haymitch

·                     “It's not necessary. My nightmares are usually about losing you,” he says. “I'm okay once I realize you're here." — Peeta

·                     Because, sometimes, things happen to people and they're not equipped to deal with them. -Katniss

·                     "Highly unlikely but not impossible."

·                     Hey. I just wanted to make sure you got home. - Katniss

            I live three houses away from you. - Peeta

MOCKINGJAY

·                     Some walks you have to take alone.

·                     They'll either want to kill you, kiss you, or be you. -Finnick

·                     "You're still trying to protect me. Real or not real," he whispers. "Real," I answer. "Because that's what you and I do, protect each other."

·                     "I knew you'd kiss me."; "How?" I say. Because I didn't know myself.; "Because I am in pain," He say's. "That's the only way I get your attention." -Gale

·                     Please feel free to take this personally- Johanna

·                     "You love me. Real or not real?"  I tell him, "Real." 

Remembering the Maguindanao Massacre

It was a crime so heinous that everyone wanted to see justice be served instantly. But two years has passed and  justice for the deceased is still beyond reach.

Dying is a given. But to die the way they did is inexplicably unfathomable. Heartless. And all for what? The desire to stay in power? Unimaginable. Unforgivable. Evil.

Let us not forget the 57 people whose lives were wasted because of the continued existence of the climate of impunity and warlordism in our country. May those responsible for this crime, who thinks they are beyond the reach of law, be punished for what they had done -- for ruthlessly murdering those women, journalists and other unknowing victims.

May this never happen again. Let us not forget. Justice for the victims of the Maguindanao Massacre!

Lola Aurelia and the Power of Kindness and Social Media

Photo by Reddie Js (Reposted from Facebook)

Netizens have sympathized with this image of Lola Aurelia with a note on her back stating that a certain Luis Matias is missing. Lolo Luis is Lola Aurelia's husband. It turns out, he had been missing for two weeks prior to the day this picture by Reddie Js went viral.

For the entire day of November 22, 2011, my news feed was filled with the picture. The news was such a hit that it reached national media attention. The evening broadcasts featured the story with the good news that Lolo Matias was found near a train station in Quirino. Lola Aurelia and Lolo Matias were reunited, and as they say, it was the best news for that day.

This story is overwhelming.

Lola Aurelia and her dedication to find her husband through her own meager way... I will no longer speak of the power of love for the picture and videos of their reunion can already speak for themselves.

The power of kindness is another story. Reddie Js, the one who took the picture, posted and asked his friends to share. This exemplifies what a simple act of kindness and concern can do. He did not know her yet he took it upon himself to, first, talk to her. She was a stranger but he talked to her and had enough compassion to ask her story. How many among us would actually stop our busy lives and do what he did? I hope all of us will emulate him and do our random - or maybe not so random - good deed everyday.

But this success story would not have been possible if not for the thousands of people who shared the post and contributed to its being viral. Time and time again, social media has proven to be useful in terms of information dissemination and, sometimes, inciting actions. We are aware how negative these social networking sites can be, but this positive side of the coin, in my opinion, far outweighs its defects.

A happy ending to a good story, it's what everybody wants and needs to hear these days.

Tick Tock Life Clock

Photo from buzzle.com

When we are students, our clocks work like a COUNTDOWN, counting days before end of classes, before graduation. After graduation, our life clocks zero in: 00:00:00. 

2010 was remarkable because it was the year I finally felt that the real LIFE CLOCK is finally ticking. It scares me but it makes me resolve to make every second, every year count.

* * *

During my pre-graduation days, I remember wanting for the clocks to stop working, just for a day or two. I needed time to (forgive the emo term) grieve but could not afford it because of my academic and extracurricular activities. I realized then that time stops for no one. With a clock that works like a countdown, pausing is detrimental. Time would catch up on you no matter what.

After school days, things became a lot different. Pausing became a valid option. Consequences may or may not be disadvantageous depending on whether you really need it and depending on what you do with it and what you do after.

Unlike in the life of a student, in the real world, you dictate your pace. Just be ready anytime to deal with the consequences of your actions because the real life clock doesn't work  like a countdown. There's no definite deadline; there's no "3,2,1 STOP!" You just have to put it in good fate that you're ready when it stops.

* * *

Nothing is as far away as one minute ago. 
-Jim Bishop

3 Vampire Series

There was a time that I got addicted to contemporary vampire series. I got sick of them after some time. But rationally thinking about it, I still think they're good enough. I'm not hard to please.

Now that the first part of the last installment of the Twilight Saga is out, I'm reminded of the two other Vampire series I read last year: "The Vampire Diaries" and "Vampire Academy".

"The Vampire Diaries" is now a popular TV series. I think the production steered away from the story of the book -- I'm not sure, I don't follow the TV series. If ever, I'm glad they did. The Vampire Diaries Book Series got so lengthy, boring, repetitive and pathetic.

The "Vampire Academy", I like better. The characters are captivating and their lines are memorable. However, I got very disappointed with its ending. I thought it would end after six  books -- let me repeat, SIX!!! I mean, it's no Harry Potter series. I was wrong! The ending was an indication that there would be another book where the then-minor characters will be the lead ones. I think the seventh book is out now.

The Twilight Series, in my opinion, is an entertaining series. I've read all four books in (figuratively) one-seating, I can't afford to hate it. I think it just got overrated, then gained a lot of haters, especially after the first movie was out. It was not what fans (and non-fans) expected --well, it was not what I expected. After "Twilight", I chose not to watch the succeeding movies in the cinema. The haters gained confidence and the fans lost theirs.

They're good books. But maybe I'm still sick of vampire series, I don't have any plans of reading any vampire book anytime soon.

* * *

I failed to take note of Twilight Series quotations but here are remarkable lines from "The Vampire Diaries" and "Vampire Academy":


THE VAMPIRE DIARIES SERIES (by LJ Smith)


The Awakening

• Evil will never find peace. It may triumph, but it will never find peace.
• She was like fire burning in ice, like the keen edge of a silver dagger.
• And there hadn't been butterflies in her stomach—there had been bats.
• It doesn't matter if you can't say it right now. I'll say it for both of us. And someday you'll learn.

The Struggle

• You’re the mirror?  …You’ve stolen my soul.

The Fury

• This was what the human brain did to itself when faced with something it simply couldn't deal with. Matt had shut down, turned off.
• "You won't let go of me?" - Elena; "No." - Stefan; "Then I won't be afraid." – Elena

Dark Reunion

• But just because it's hopeless doesn't mean it's all right to stop fighting.
• There's no excuse for giving up just because it looks like we're going to lose. We have to try—because the other choice is to surrender.
• The killer would have to shred him nerve from nerve, muscle from muscle, cell from cell to make him leave her.
• Deep down you just want to live your safe little lives in your safe little houses until you go to your safe little graves!
• To go on trying.
• I'm not like you? – Damon; It doesn't matter.-Stefan

The Return Nightfall

• She wanted to put into words all the feelings that were piled behind her clumsy tongue and stubborn mind.
• Boys! ...I mean I know they’re totally necessary and all, but sometimes they Just Don’t Get It. - Bonnie; Just wait till you try men. - Meredith
• And if the car breaks down, I’ll walk; and when I can’t walk anymore, I’ll crawl. But I will find him. – Elena

VAMPIRE ACADEMY SERIES (by Richelle Mead)


Vampire Academy

• You don't keep me around to be nice. - Rose
• Don’t worry. I won’t bite. Well, at least not in the way you’re afraid of. - Christian
• Teach me how to fight. I already know how to run away. - Rose
• If I let myself love you, I won't throw myself in front of her. I'll throw myself in front of you. - Dimitri

Frostbite

• Things die. But they don't always stay dead.
• This isn't a Christmas special! This is my life. In the real world, miracles and goodness just don't happen. In the real world, you can make your own miracles. -Rose
• It was one thing to accept that I couldn't have Dimitri. It was something entirely different to realize someone else could. - Rose
• You can't force love, I realized. It's there or it isn't. If it's not there, you've got to be able to admit it. If it is there, you've got to do whatever it takes to protect the ones you love.- Rose

Shadow Kiss

• Keeping love buried was a lot like keeping anger pent up, I'd learned. It just ate you up inside until you wanted to scream or kick something.- Rose
• You don't have to keep up with the hard-to-get thing. You've already got me.-Adrian
• Rose is in red. But never in blue. Sharp as a thorn. Fights like one too. - Adrian
• My cigarettes and I are going outside. At least they show me respect.- Adrian
• Everyone likes feeling special. Being part of an elite group is a way to do that. - Adrian; But you weren't part of it? - Rose; No need. I already know I'm special. - Adrian
• With someone you loved, you could be anywhere, and it would be incredible - Rose
• We try to do what's right, or rather, what others say is right. But sometimes, when that goes against who we are…you have to choose.-  Dimitri
• The minutes didn't fly, but they did eventually pass.
• You might be surrounded by clouds, but you’ll always be like sunshine to me. - Adrian 

Blood Promise

• You're burned into my mind forever. There is nothing, nothing in this world that will ever change that. – Dimitri
• I’ll count the seconds until you return - Christian
• As we grow and change, sometimes things we’ve experienced before take on new meaning. It’ll happen for the rest of your life. - Dimitri
• You are young. You’ve barely lived. E veryone thinks their first love is the only one they'll ever have. - Abe
• Don't beat yourself up over what you could have or should have done. The past is gone. Move on to the future. – Avery
• We need to be together. – Dimitri; Why? - Rose;  Because i want you – Dimitri; Wrong answer. – Rose
• I will always love you. – Rose; That's what I was supposed to say. - Dimitri
• Adrian’s Voicemail: I know how devastated you must be to miss me but leave a message, and I’ll try to ease your agony as soon as possible. – Adrian

Spirit Bound

• It's a shame, because if I could dream, I know I'd dream about you. Without dreams, I have to be content with my own imagination--which is almost as good. - Dimitri
• Eternity will be lonely without you- Dimitri
• Rose, nothing in this world could make me hate you. - Adrian
• Don't be sorry you loved him. That's part of you, part you have to let go, yeah, but still something that's made you who you are. - Adrian
• Trying to figure it out was like being on a hamster wheel. A lot of work. No progress.
• You're beautiful in battle. Like an avenging angel come to deliver the justice of heaven. – Dimitri; Funny. That is kind of why I'm here.- Rose; Angels fall, Rose.- Dimitri
• Not just a miracle. A fairy tale. 
• We'd known each other only a year, but we'd lived a lifetime in it - Rose
• Don't you think that if God can supposedly forgive you, it's kind of egotistical for you not to forgive yourself? - Rose
• I've given up on you. Love fades. Mine has.- Dimitri
• You can't help the way you feel. - Adrian
• You forget: I have an addictive personality. I’m addicted to you. - Adrian
• Are you real? You're a dream within a dream. I'm afraid touching you will make me wake up. You'll disappear. – Adrian
• I cheat at cards and buy liquor for minors. But I would never, ever force you into something you don't want. - Adrian
• Sanctimonious Bitch! – Rose

Last Sacrifice

• Sometimes the greatest tests of our strengths are situations that don’t seem so obviously dangerous. Sometimes surviving is the hardest thing of all. – Abe
• Tradition demands sacrifice… as does tragedy. 
• You’ve got to take it on faith that the enemy of your enemy is your friend. – Victor
• Enjoy what you have, every little detail of wherever you are. Don’t focus on where you aren’t. – Dimitri
• It goes against every rule of the universe. – Rose
• Some rules are bigger than the universe. – Sydney
• You know, sometimes I think I love you. – Lissa; Sometimes? – Christian; All the time. But I’ve got to keep you on your toes. – Lissa; Consider me kept. – Christian
• It’s an honor to meet you at last. Seeing you from a distance was beautiful. Up close? Divine. – Blake Lazar
• You have good taste. Of course, since you’re dating me, we already knew that. – Adrian
• …anger based on calculated reason is more dangerous than anger based on blind hate.
• Because sometimes, a person can get so caught up in the details that they miss the whole…It’s you. You’re beautiful. So beautiful, it hurts me. – Dimitri
• Behaviors and feeling rarely line up. – Sonya
• You’re so wise in many ways…and so young in others. – Sonya
• I don’t believe in soul mates, not exactly. I think it’s ridiculous to think there’s only one person out there for us. What if your soul mate is in Zimbabwe? What if he dies young? I also think “two souls becoming one” is ridiculous. You need to hold on to yourself. But I do believe in souls being sync, souls that mirror each other. – Sonya
• A queen must possess nothing to rule because she has to give everything she has to her people. Even her life. – Lissa
• That’s how we have survived. We hold on to our pasts and embrace our present. We take the best of it all and grow stronger. - Lissa

3 Idiots: A Must- Watch

I don't own the rights to this photo.

"3 Idiots", a bollywood movie, follows the quest of friends trying to find Rancho who disappeared after their college graduation. It is filled with flashbacks of when the three idiots were in college. The movie showcases how genius Rancho is and how he has changed the lives of his friends.

It is one of my favorite movies because it teaches values in a fun and heartwarming way. The story's theme revolves around (1) how pressure in schools must be reduced; (2) how learning is more important than education; (3) how important friendship is; and (4) how to pursue excellence without sacrificing things that you value.

The following are memorable quotes from the movie:

•  Pursue excellence, and success will follow, pants down. - Rancho
• Your friend fails, you feel bad. Your friend tops, you feel worse. -  Farhan
• Today my respect for that idiot shoot up. Most of us went to college just for a degree. No degree meant no plum job, no pretty wife, no credit card, no social status. But none of this mattered to him, he was in college for the joy of learning, he never cared if he was first or last. - Farhan
• This is college, not a pressure cooker. Even a cirus lion learns to sit on a chair in fear of the whip; but you call such a lion well-trained, not well-educated.-  Rancho
• No, sir. I wasn't teaching Engineering. You're an expert at that. I was teaching you...how to teach - Rancho
• You're crossing the line. - Farhan

      -No, I'm drawing one. - Raju

• Everyone turns into a yes-man to get the job. - Recruiter
• Aal izz well.

These quotes do not capture the entirety of the movie. It has a lot of memorable scenes, like those in the classrooms, with Raju's and Farhan's parents, the hospital, and many more scenes and dialogues that one has to watch to understand. "3 Idiots" is a must-watch, especially for students, parents and teachers. Actually everyone should watch it. It is a quality movie that would not disappoint.