anythingasianbynakpil - Tumblr blog

[anythingasianbynakpil]

The Rising of P-POP Culture: Let’s Go Down to SB19′s Lane

The fame of Original Pinoy Music—most commonly known as OPM, bloomed across the country. As of now, there’s so much OPM Artist that we loved, supported, and adored throughout their unforgettable careers. Although the Pinoy Pop Music that has been recently known by the masses seemed a bit unique to the ears from what most of us were used to. The thing is: I don’t see so much Pop Music Artist nowadays—a good one to be specific.

But that’s when SB19 comes into the picture.

SB19, also known as Sound Break 19, is a five-member Filipino boy band formed under ShowBT Entertainment. The group consists of members Sejun, Josh, Stell, Ken, and Justin. They are the first Filipino act trained by a Korean entertainment company under the same system that catapulted K-pop artists into global stardom.  —Wikipedia. 

You see, these boys were trained for approximately 4 years before they could even produce their own music. 

Now, training to be a music artist doesn’t really match the stereotypical tradition the usual aspiring music artist in the Philippines would do. From what I’ve observed and known, most of them have little to no background with what they are doing. What I mean is, some have this God-given talent that they were able to utilize and show the world—some are the try-hards of the industry, putting in too many autotunes to save the ears of their listeners and fans.

But SB19 is different. They were trained to match the competent standards of what I call idol production wherein before someone could even debut to the industry, they should undergo a series of training be it vocal, dance, and/or discipline.  Apart from that, their songs were written and produced by them! I don’t know why but for me, SB19 proved that Filipinos can be talented when it comes to singing, dancing, and conquering the stage with charisma.

I was very glad that Filipinos got to hear SB19′s music. It’s great to see so much potential that these guys carry. They do deserve everything they have right now —from awards to recognition. 

Everything.

[anythingasianbynakpil]

Welcome to the Other Side of Fiction World: Manga Edition

Compared to Anime, the Manga is harder to promote. When I’m starting to like Anime, reading Manga is not in my style for it’s just a picture with words. 

(I asked my brother why he doesn’t like Manga and that’s how he described it.) 

But there is still a beauty from it. If the anime you’re watching is unfinished but you really want to know what happens next, Manga will help you see also a more detailed content.

If most people are not into manga because of those kinds of reason, romance manga is a preferable choice. Still, there is still a suited manga to every person but I hope this manga that I’ll introduce will pique your interest.  

“I have no idea what you really want, what you’re really thinking, or what the right thing to do really is. But I’m your friend. Let me stay.” – Takeo Gouda

My Love Story by Kazune Kawahara and Aruko

Takeo Goda is a muscular young man who’s not in luck for finding love in life and yet his handsome best friend, Makoto ends up attracting the girls’ Takeo likes. However, not all the time Takeo would be a shade of gray, he meets a cute girl, Rinko that surprisingly fell in love with him.

Looking at this, simply telling and proving that not all people would look for a good appearance but rather the pleasant beauty within. The thing I really liked in this manga is that it showed the different shades of love bringing also sweet humor to everyone. You might realize something not only romance but the things that would enlighten our soul–love connects people in a different form.

I would also recommend the anime for it has the same level of wholesomeness just in another style.

[anythingasianbynakpil]

Welcome to the Other Side of Fiction World: Anime Edition

It seems like when we deeply like something, we convince others to try the same thing, for example—an Anime that we really liked. 

People who have watched a bunch of Animes and asking them what is their all-time favorite seemed to be not so appropriate for those who have just started watching. Not to be against that their recommendation is “oof” but since those Anime Addicts is clinging to a new and unique concept which eventually ended up into liking an underrated and complicated series (again, it still really depends lol), people who're new to anime will get bored and drop it off. 

As for me who really loves persuading people to watch anime, I prefer animes that would easily hook their likings; that they won’t realize they’re looking for more and something similar to what they’ve watched, starting from light animes into complicated ones.

 Here in this blog, I would like to introduce my own dish with suited appetizers.

Author’s Note:

This blog is purely subjective but for people who don’t really have any particular genre in mind but likes an Anime which has a good storyline —I will present an Anime that should suit your taste.

Demon Slayer/Kimetsu no Yaiba

Most people know this anime, perhaps even non-anime fan knows this to the point you can surf at Facebook and feel like you have watched the entire anime from their posts. Even the cosplay event seems to be a Demon Slayer Theme cosplay. It just proves that this overrated anime is indeed a good anime that I, also cannot even question.

The storyline is simple, giving a light yet dark atmosphere so people can get through it but the hype it makes made it look like the best-anime-of-all-time one causing of misleading others to conclude this as trash. 

The story flows to the boy named Kamado Tanjirou  (竈門炭) seeks to avenge his family slaughtered by the demon and save his sister. Personally, one thing I like in this anime is how the protagonist would still forgive the demon even though it kills a bunch of people, better to say, forgiving an unforgivable person/demon. (Yes, another passing saint man.) To end your curiosity, watch it for you to understand.

Also, to persuade you more, the animation is so freaking lit (come on, the fight scene at Episode 19) and would even attract your eyes in the art style. Lastly, who would forget the queen of Anime Opening OSTs, LiSA. Her voice is fitting the vibe the anime needed.

To wrap things up, the interpretations may vary from person to person but who knows, maybe if you watch it, you will find another beauty in this anime. It’s better though if you don’t spoil yourself with what’s on the surface of the internet. Just enjoy.

Anyone who loves demon related stories but a wholesome anime at the same time?  

Here’s your order.

It’s not bad to trust an overrated anime, proving it contemplates the taste for most of the people.

[anythingasianbynakpil]

Philippines: Rice Isn’t Just Rice!

When we talk about rice, the first thing that comes in mind is that it is an example of carbohydrate, or it is a staple food that most of the world consumed. Rice is very beneficial in our body for it gives us a quick energy source; it is very practical for it matches any dish that you may serve. It has a lot of vitamins and minerals and a lot more.

Asia is the biggest producer of rice, after all, rice is very important for Asians, if there’s no rice in their table then the meal will feel incomplete. In the Philippines, rice is very special, you can eat it in any season, at any time of the day or in any course of a meal; appetizer, main course, and even dessert. 

Yes, you read that right, Filipinos are very creative in terms of making dishes that one simple food can be created into different flavors in different versions. Since Filipinos have a huge craving of sweets they create different kinds of desserts for every fruit, vegetables, and any kind of food that comes to mind. And believe it or not, they make desserts out of rice. One of the best examples of well-known rice desserts in the Philippines are Sapin-sapin, Maja Blanca, Suman, Biko, Puto, Kutsinta and many other more.

Sapin-sapin is a Filipino delicacy made out of glutinous rice, coconut, and condensed milk. It is sweet, sticky and satisfying.  Maja Blanca, on the other hand, is a bit the same to Sapin-sapin however it’s sweeter, the texture is rather soft that sticky and it has sweet corn to complete the treat. 

Next is Suman—Suman is a Filipino delicacy made up of sticky rice and is cooked and served in a leaf, it is very unique and at the same time delicious, it is not that sweet, specially made for people who aren’t that fond of sweets. Biko on the other hand, is sweeter than Suman, although it is also made up of sticky rice the way it was cooked and its literal texture is different. Biko is brown, sweet and more firm while Suman is a bit softer, it not sweet and white in color. 

Puto is a ‘cupcake’ like rice cake which has cheese on the top. It is made up of rice powder, rice flour, milk, and egg. And lastly, for Kutsinta, it is made up of rice flour, all-purpose flour, brown sugar, lye water, and annatto seeds. Its texture is sticky but chewy; it is best to serve with shred coconut. These are only one of the best examples of rice desserts that you’ll see in the Philippines and with these delicacies, this shows how Filipino love rice very much.

Rice is very important on every Asian family, whatever class you stand in the society rice very in demand. It might not be the best food you can ever imagine, but seriously, we all know that what made a meal the best is once it is served with rice.

[anythingasianbynakpil]

1001 Nights: How to Win a King’s Heart for One Thousand Nights

Do you know the story of Aladdin and his lamp? How about the story of Ali Baba and forty thieves?  Have you ever encountered The Lovers of Bassorah, The Three Apples, The Tale of the Hunchback, The Vizier and the Sage Duban, The Fisherman and the Jinni, The Seven Voyages of Sinbad, The Princes and the Princes Nouronnihar? Do you know any of these stories? Did you know that this literature changes the life of a storyteller?

One thousand and One Nights, also known as The Arabian Nights is a very popular book collection consisting of 1000 different stories. These stories were entailed for literally one thousand nights which is really peculiar and at the same time interesting. It tackles different social issues, Arabian and Turkish cultures and many other more. These stories change the fate of a storyteller and a king who’s lost his love and trust for a woman.

In ancient time in Arabia, the sultan Shahryar discovers that his beloved first wife committed adultery with a servant with this, the sultan felt so much pain and hatred towards the women, the sultan became abusive and irritated with all his wives. It is said that day by day the Sultan marries and executes the bride after the wedding night. The people (especially the ladies) of the land became threatened that the king might go mad and so they flee to another kingdom to keep their safety.

The vizier on the other hand worries about her daughter Scheherazade for she does not want to flee from the land; worst is that she volunteered to be the sultan’s next bride and so it happens. On the first night, Scheherazade requested the sultan to let her sister Dunyazad to join them for the night, she explained that before her sister flee the land she promised her a story to bid her goodbye, the king accepts this request and so when Dunyazad arrived, Scheherazade entails her very first story. The king was mesmerized and charmed by her story that nobody notices that it’s already dawn, with this she asks for another night to continue her story, the sultan granted her another night to finish the story. Scheherazade use this opportunity to save her life, and so that evening as she finished her story she proposed another one to the sultan enjoyed her first story and so she let her entail her second one.

Like what she did on their first night, she always cuts her stories and promises the sultan to continue the story on the next night; She ends the story, propose a new one, ask for rest and promise to continue for the next day. These processes continue day by day until it reaches a thousand and one nights. On the last day, after she entails her last story she honestly confesses that she can no longer think of a new story, the sultan did not mind for he already fell in love with her. The women profess her love towards the sultan and both begin their life together and the peace of the kingdom was restored.

This story showed not just the love story of two monarchs but also showed the empowerment and capacity of women in literature. In those eras, we all know that women are being discriminated against even in the present time. Scheherazade is one of the most famous storytellers in Asia, she contributed a lot of stories that promote Arabian cultures and myths, she does not express her beauty through looks but also through her wit and intelligence. Everyone has a broad mind and imagination this can take us anywhere and like Sultana Scheherazade; it can change our lives and maybe it can change our community.

[anythingasianbynakpil]

Exotic Foods in Asia

Food is a big part of every culture and it is one of the reasons why tourists visit different places around the world. Tasting various dishes is an experience one can’t miss especially the unique and bizarre ones that can’t be tasted in everyday life. So, when you found yourself in the following countries, why not challenge yourself in giving these Asian delicacies a chance?

The egg is a common food. It can be paired with bacon for breakfast, dipped into salt for snacks, and whisked for baking. But some took a different path and became a version of their own. Take, for example, balut (unhatched baby duck egg) is popular in Southeast Asian countries like the Philippines, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Laos. 

It is usually eaten together with beer as a snack. Another popular dish in Southeast Asian countries are white ant egg that is usually served as a soup.

 In China, there is a dish called pidan (century egg). It is chicken, duck or quail egg preserved in saline solution for several weeks to months giving it a creamy texture.

If talking about exotic foods, offal and blood cannot be left behind. In Korea, there is a street food called sundae (blood sausage). 

It is made by mixing pork blood with glutinous rice and cellophane noodles. The Philippines has betamax (chicken blood cubes). 

It is made of clotted blood that will be skewered and grilled. Taiwan has a pig’s blood cake made in blood, sticky rice, and soy broth. 

In Japan, shirako (fish sperm) and tuna eye are served as a delicacy. Shirako is made with fish sperm bags and usually eaten raw. Despite its appearance, the taste of tuna eye is tame, resembling a boiled squid.

Just the sight or even the mentioning of insects and arachnids gives shivers to the spine, what more if it is eaten? Believe it or not, but they are viewed as a delicious delicacy in Asian countries. For example, tarantula is fried and consumed as a snack in Cambodia. 

Beondegi (silkworm pupae) is steamed or boiled as a popular food in Korea. In Japan, crickets or grasshoppers and wasps are eaten.

Inago (crickets or grasshoppers) will be seasoned and cooked with sugar and soy sauce, perfect for a hot bowl of white rice. 

Digger wasps are boiled, dried and mixed into crackers as snacks.

Eating raw food is a little more common but what if your food is still moving in the plate? It is no problem in Korea and China as they have san nakji (live octopus tentacle) and drunken shrimps. The tentacles of the octopus are cut and freshly served. Though it can be eaten as a whole, it exposes the risk of choking for the suction in the tentacles that can cling on the throat. Shrimps are shunned in strong alcohol and served as they swim and wriggle in the pool of liquor

When describing palatable and mouthwatering food, you would probably expect an inviting aroma. But who says the food needs to smell good to be delicious? Probably the first thing that would come to mind is durian. 

It is even named the King of Fruits in Southeast Asia. It has a thorny husk and strong a smell that sticks to your clothes and hands but on the inside, it is sweet and creamy. 

In Japan, natto (sticky fermented soybean), also notorious for its odor, is devoured with rice. 

Another example of a pungent smelling dish is stinky tofu that is usually served in Taiwan, China and Indonesia. The tofu is fried crispy and served with cabbage salt and soy sauce.

It is a known fact that animals are consumed as food but what about their excretions? Bird’s nest is cooked and served as a soup in China and the Philippines.

 It is basically the spit of birds known as swiftlets or cave swift. It is rare and expensive. 

In Indonesia, there is a coffee called kopi luwak. It is made of coffee berries eaten and excreted by palm civet. Basically, it is made up of poop. Again, it is expensive and a novelty item.

Everyone has different tastes and preferences. Some food doesn’t suit the palate of everyone and the Asian delicacies I mentioned above are only some of them. So, what is your choice, are you going to try some or pass?

[anythingasianbynakpil]

K-Drama Playlist: 10 Must Watch

 Watching K-Drama is a hobby and stress reliever for many and I am one of them. I’ve been a fan since a was a little girl, with the influence of my fanatic aunt. Before I would watch dubbed shows on TV for it is the only source I could afford as a kid. Now I learned my ways to stream and download subbed versions online. People would ask why I’m so obsessed with K-Dramas and I would answer with a smile. 

Well, it has a lot to offer; diverse genre, interesting storylines, and clichés that strangely works well. Through my years of experience of watching K-Dramas, I did not only enjoy but also learned a lot. I would like to share this feeling and experience with others so here I am, about to share my personal favorites.

Age of Youth. Women in their twenties with different personalities and problems live together in a house exploring the realities youth has to offer. It gives light to different kinds of relationships, may it be family, friendship or romantic. Watching this series is a roller coaster ride. One moment you are crying, the next you are laughing, then find you’ll yourself infuriated. It is a wholesome representation of the reality youth lives in.

The Beauty Inside. A beautiful and famous actress who is notorious for running away from sets and shows hides a secret behind the cameras. Every month she changes into a different person; young or old, male or female, Korean or foreign. She crosses path with an executive director of an airline company. With his attractive appearance and intelligence, he appears perfect, but he actually suffers from prosopagnosia. This drama highlights the beauty within, the one that cannot be seen by the naked eye.

Fight My Way. Scraping off the chaebol plotline, it features the third-rate underdogs struggling to survive and fighting for their dreams. Childhood friendship blooms into a romantic one between the strong and sassy woman who dreams to be an announcer and a man who was a former taekwondo player who stopped because of his painful past. Watch them, together with their friends, achieve their goals and succeed in their own way. It is an inspiring piece especially to the third-rate underdogs in real life.

Introverted Boss. A mysterious CEO of a public relations company hides under his black hoodie. Due to his introversion, he struggles with communicating with others leading to always being misunderstood. A new energetic employee enters his company seeking revenge for the death of her sister who formerly worked as his secretary. This drama radiates the opposite attracts paradigm. It shows the struggles of being an introvert in an extrovert demanding society and the importance of forgiveness.

Reply Series (1997, 1994 & 1998). It revolves around a group of friends, timeline moving from their past to present. In short, it is a throwback to their younger days. This drama exudes nostalgy, making those who lived their youth in those times wanting to go back and satisfying the desires of those who felt they were born in the wrong era. It is truly a treat for the heart. It can make your stomach hurt from laughing and bawl your eyes out, but in the end, it leaves a lesson in life.

Sky Castle. It is a satirical drama that follows the lives of housewives living in Sky Castle, a luxurious residential area where wealthy professionals reside. Their desire to make their husbands more successful and make their children top students came with the cost of ruining their lives. It utilizes black comedy in tackling serious issues the society is currently facing, having the educational system as the main predicament. This drama shines a light on the dark side of education and status in life.

Solomon’s Perjury. A high school student fell to his death, ruling it as a suicide case, but when a witness claiming it as a murder got into an accident, uneasiness stirs the school. Frustrated by adults neglecting their pleas and questions, the students decided to hold atrial of their own to uncover the truth. This drama addresses heavy issues like suicide, bullying, domestic violence, and child abuse. It is a suspenseful and mysterious show that keeps you at the edge of your seat.

Strong Woman Do Bong Soon. A woman born with extraordinary strength became the bodyguard of a CEO of a gaming company. This drama also follows the cases of kidnapping in her district as she tries to catch the culprit. Watch her journey as she grows from being someone who conceals and tries to change into something she’s not to accepting herself. It is also a piece for woman empowerment straying from the damsel in distress prototype female lead.

Welcome to Waikiki. Three men run an almost falling into bankruptcy guest house called Waikiki. The drama depicts the friendship, romance, struggles, hopes, and dreams of young people. It is indeed a comedy show for not a single episode that will leave you not tearing up from laughter. However, it also touches some relevant issues in society without being too heavy. Though it may only appear as fun and games, you can actually acquire quotable quotes and apply them in your life. Since it doesn’t really follow a big plot, resembling a slice of life, it is easy to watch, perfect for a long stressful day.

Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo. It is a coming of age sports drama following the story of a college female weightlifter as she experiences friendship, romance and striving for her dreams. This drama is light-hearted and never loses its feel-good vibe. It is heartwarming, relatable and inspirational. If you want to have a dose of fun then this is the perfect show for you.

These have been my K-Drama playlist that I would recommend you to watch. My taste must have reflected my age and personality as I see common themes in them, but regardless of age and personality, I hope you enjoy reading this and if you ever decide to dive into the K-Drama world, just know that there is no way out! Have a fun watch!

[anythingasianbynakpil]

Asian Cutie: The Cutie Asian

“As long as you live, you’re alive,” one of the remarkable quotes coming from none other than one of the social media’s trending influencer, Albert Nicolas, better known as Asian Cutie. With his classic way of spreading humor and painting a smile onto the Filipinos’ lips, he really made his way into the stardom and our hearts.

With almost 450,000 Facebook followers, Asian Cutie boomed and showed the Philippines that in today’s generation “funny is the new sexy” or rather “funny is the new cutie.” His mesmerizing, manly mustache, and signature deep dimples might be a natural view for everyone, but his bubbly and nonchalant wit will surely change one’s perception of being a cutie.

His rise to social media emerged due to the video he posted before, teaching his viewers to cook rice, also for accusing Alden Richards of imitating his hooker dimples and style. Nowadays, he was known for his unique pun with quotes, dropping lines such as “Happiness is when you feel happy” and “Kung pakiramdam mo wala ka nang ginagawang tama, nagkakamali ka.” Some even ask for his advice regarding certain questions about love, life, and relationship. The Filipinos have fallen into his own way of making everyone laugh. Nowadays, his quotes could even linger on your newsfeed.

Asian Cutie was also the creator of the famous trend dance craze online named “single single, double double” wherein dancers would sway their shoulders alternately using various songs. According to Asian Cutie, the dance his way to encourage and allow everyone to groove to the rhythm of the music and remove their hesitation of dancing due to not mastering the steps from the youngsters even the adults, so that no one can be left behind. This signature dance steps even allowed him to perform on live television with Luis Manzano, wherein not even a single bead of sweat dripped down from him.

 However, though he was spreading good vibes online he also faced backlash and criticisms from other people, claiming that his tactics for humor is a bit too low, repetitive, and not funny at all. Still, the photographer at the same time videographer cutie was never discouraged, in lieu he used the criticism he received to be better and to spread more happiness.

“Cutie is not a face, but a feeling,” although this may sound a bit funny, it is true, and this is what Asian Cutie is trying to impart to every individual. We should not feel low and inferior regarding our own beauty, because after all being beautiful or being a cutie rather can’t just be manifested on our faces and bodies, but it is a feeling we must all possess.

 Asian Cutie is really something; he is a representation of the funny and humorous side of every Asian. All I can say about him is that...

 that’s all I can say about Asian Cutie.

[anythingasianbynakpil]

Sleeping Beauty: Awakening Asian Aesthetics Beyond the Ideals

Aesthetic is a major concern of every country in Asia. From Japan, China, Korea, Philippines, Malaysia, and other Asian nations, it is undeniably evident that beauty is a societal issue as various Eastern individuals practice regimens to conform and achieve the beauty standards they have. For them, it is more than just a means for acceptance, awe, and appreciation to be given by society but an avenue for one to boost confidence.

Although there are over 48 countries to be found on one of the largest continents in the world, the epitome of “perfection” for the majority of the populace of the region falls on the characteristics of a typical Western individual. Pale complexion, slim face, rosy cheeks, smooth skin, and the high pointed nose is what one must have to be considered beautiful. To nail this, several ways for this dream appearance have emerged in different countries.

 China introduced Meitu Pic to its people, allowing its people to use unique filters for one to notch a flawless and slim face. Also, an opportunity for one to enlarge his/her eyes. This app provides lenses regarding the raised bar of beauty in this region.

On the other hand, Koreans focus more on the aesthetic of their skin---preferring more natural and somewhat glowing mirror complexions. They were so hooked to this standard that most Koreans consume four to five products for skincare. And what can we say, glass skin is truly lit! Cosmetic surgery is also in-demand in this country where our Oppa and K-Pop idols can be found, with records revealing that Korea has one of the highest rates of surgery in the world.

Moreover, in the Philippines, even men are dripping in finesse to achieve the famous light complexion that it was recorded that 50% were found to be purchasing whitening and anti-aging ingestible. Thailand, on the other hand, recorded 69.5% of students practicing the same kind of regimen, it is also in Thailand wherein women in sub-group of Padaung wear heavy brass rings on their necks starting from the age of four to make their necks appear longer, which is considered aesthetic for them.

With those being said, it is truly amazing how Asians give value to things, especially inclined to beauty. It’s as if their body and face is an art that they’re painting and working hard to be appreciated by people. Asian courage and indomitable is truly inspiring. It serves as an assurance that they could be who they want to be and conquer what they must tame.

 However, being “beautiful” doesn’t mean that one must be tied by the chains of society’s standards. Being “beautiful” is simply accepting who you are and expressing what you want to be. One can slay even if he/she prefers not wearing make-up, you can still rock even if you don’t have the pale complexion and high pointed nose everyone dreams to have, you can invest in using beauty products to boost your confidence if you want, it is also okay if one wants to go through a cosmetic surgery to appreciate oneself even more. We can all be aesthetic regardless of what we want to do with our faces and bodies.

 Awaken that sleeping beauty within you that you fear to be judged by other people. Open your eyes that being aesthetic doesn’t necessarily mean falling into the established standard. There’s beauty beyond that because beauty can be found in any form or color. It is diverse and complex, like all of us. Because we all are beautiful.

[anythingasianbynakpil]

Ways of War: May the Fireflies Light Your Way

Have you ever watched a film that is said to be based on real-life? I’m pretty sure you have! They’re everywhere! The animated film Grave of the Fireflies is centered at the two siblings trying to survive on their own. It showed how a person would live when there is a war between the two countries. It was released way back in 1988—it’s an old movie. This movie made me realize a couple of things: first, war is a waste of resources, manpower and time; second, we should be grateful that we’re living under a roof, sleeping the peaceful night away; and lastly, being prideful won’t save you and the people you care about.

At the first minute of the movie, I saw how a bunch of families struggle to survive the bombing that took place in their town. I just can’t help but see myself on their shoes—hastily moving to get the pieces of stuff that I’ll or my family will need when military officials were to evacuate us to a place they called “shelter.” It’s just heartbreaking how a lot of innocent people died—some lost a loved one, some lost their homes and some didn’t know where and when to start anew. When there’s a war, not only soldiers die from bullets, loss of blood and infected wounds—there are also innocent civilians who are forced to look for food, shelter and to fight hunger and malnutrition every day that passes.

What I saw from the movie just confirmed my speculations. The main characters, Seita and Setsuko were separated from their parents who later weren’t able to survive the war. The journey of these two began when they decided to leave the house of their relatives and just live a place near a lake. They were able to survive for a few weeks while being homeless before they eventually used up all their food and other stuff that kept them alive. Later at the film, Setsuko was heavily sick from diarrhea caused by malnutrition and she wasn’t able to afford medicine. The poor girl didn’t even get to taste a medicine at all. It seemed to me that Seita forgot the money their mother left on a bank. They were very hungry to the point of begging someone else for food and stealing from other people was the only way they could eat. I was mad at Seita for not using that money they have to treat Setsuko. It’s just frustrating to the point where I was grabbing on to my hair really tight. I just wanted to scream at Seita and say, “Just because you can withstand being hungry and not eating all the time, doesn’t mean that Setsuko can as well!” Well, what can I expect—he was still a 14-year-old boy and most probably naïve about particular things.

Seita’s relationship with his Aunt began to falter the longer the two of them stayed under her roof. That is why—our very own Seita decided to move out of his Aunt’s house, together with Setsuko to live near a lake. It’s not really a smart move, I can say. Can’t he just endure the gun-like mouth of his Aunt? I mean, it’s better to have a place where you can sleep soundly and not worry about food rations the other day, right? I know that Seita knows that his Aunt is also working hard to help the family so why didn’t he just apologize to her? I may be sounding a little bias but if Seita just returned and apologized—he and his sibling would be more than well.

It was fun to share some insights I had while watching the film. It was very heartbreaking and even when writing this, my heart still feels heavy for the two children. You’ll need a million boxes of tissues or else your room will be flooded by your own tears.  Grave of the Fireflies is a masterpiece that is worth sharing with future generations.