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[bythisguy]

Here comes a random train of thought about being single.

During a lunch with my family, as I was minding my own meal my brother was talking to my parents about this friend of his, Romeo, looking for his Juliet. After that, I didn't really get to hear what he was saying next because what he said about this man's search for someone he'll be with for the rest of his life just doesn't seem sincere to me. It may sound trite but I really believe in fate when it comes to the romantic type of love. It is okay to wonder about it but you can't force action to it, you can only let it happen—whatever will—which is, of course, in the context of not doing this love thing as if it's a requisite to THE life.

This brought me to my views on society's issue with the life of being single. That Romeo's search got me feeling like being single is such a bad thing. I, for one, admit that I had this impression that a person who isn’t a partner or parent of someone is a sad person who didn't have the luxury of what most of society has: the own-family concept. However when I got to know better, I realized how wrong I was. First and foremost, no one is in any position to judge anybody's state as if they know his/her story. Sympathy is the last thing, if it's even in the list, single people need from others. No matter how well you mean by it, embarrassment would always be felt among them because of how it's just a way of saying that something's wrong with them even if there isn’t.

Sensitivity wouldn't harm anybody so it's best to think about the possible reasons why one's single when you encounter one. They could be someone who got their hearts shattered before to the point of doubting real love’s existence. They could be someone who prioritizes other things in life more like career or the family they grew up with. They could be involved in a frowned upon love affair, and were forced to hide it due to social norms. Or maybe they could simply just be one of those who don’t need to be with someone or have their own family to feel whole.

That's one of my issues with society, assuming majority means everyone, and those I've mentioned are left to suffer from people's judgement. Maybe the reason why nobody can ever feel enough and complete, if possible, is that people constantly seek other's company and validation instead of growing to be self-sufficient whether they're in a relationship or not.

I wrote this article in the hopes of reminding single people out there by all means that they're fine. Misconceptions about them all wouldn't end, I'm sure of it. What they can do is ignore them the way those ignore their rights to live a life free from prejudice, and be strong through it. Remember that THE life is for you to define.

And I hope that those in a relationship are together out of fate and genuine love rather than fear and hate of being alone. Love is best for everyone involved only when it's true.

How I wish to see the day when society has gained a rational way of life where people get to do what they want to do, and be what they want to be, as long as harm isn’t a part of it. In a perfect world, that’s possible, but in ours we could only really hope that we get to do our parts in setting people’s outlooks straight. And for the matter I just discussed, I can only wish that I somehow did.  

[bythisguy]

Film Review:”Table 19″ (2017)

                             Last year, upon browsing through random movie trailers looking for my next watch, I happen to press play to Jeffrey Blitz's Table 19; and with its 2 minutes and 25-seconds of promise, I was immediately filled with anticipation. Now, having finally watched it, it’s a bit difficult to say anything more than how expectations were exceeded. It was a light but very touching experience which was remarkable given the fact that it didn't seem like they tried to be because they made it so simple but worth writing about.

               It was a tale about this bunch of wedding attendees, portrayed by June Squibb, Lisa Kudrow, and Stephen Merchant to name a few, sharing table 19 together. All have been a part of the bride and groom's life in one way or another but not a big enough part to be seated with the major guests. They were completely clueless about this after Eloise (Anna Kendrick) who was the last addition to the group, revealed the table's truth and how she knows it by confessing her being the original maid of honor, and the event’s seat plan. Eloise wasn’t supposed to attend in the first place because in light of her recent breakup with Teddy (Wyatt Russell) the bride’s brother, she had to keep distance but she’s decided to go where she was seated at a table with an available space to occupy. Basically, the film revolved around Eloise and her unexpected company dealing with their personal issues together. They were outsiders but they were there in the mean time where they didn’t notice how they complemented each other to cope up with their problems by fate of being table mates. And the whole ensemble sure did perform the characters’ situations well inclusive from adolescence to adulthood.

               What made this film enjoyable besides the fact that it's partly comedy is that it entices you to keep watching not just for amusement but also its quality of not being under the confines of clichéd plots. At the movie's conclusion, spoiler alert: it was a happy ending, it was like a first time in a long time for me to be happy for the characters with their happily ever after. It's not that I'm anti-happy-endings; it's just that some stories force it but for Eloise and Teddy, they deserve it. I’m not a fan of love stories but with the scene where Eloise told Teddy this with powerful conviction and sincerity: “I don’t want to be disappointed by anybody but you! And I don’t want to disappoint anybody but you!” and with the other things she said which really was genuinely moving, maybe It’s not all that bad.  

               This feel-good film's a testament of how we could be the roots of our own problems and the only way to start fixing it—if we're willing to—is to acknowledge it. Admit mistakes, admit flaws, get honest, and get real. Sometimes you have to lose some to gain more; and if it’s just pride we’re talking about when we talk about losing some especially if it’s for the significant people in our lives, how bad could it be? It definitely takes a lot of guts to grow up: a message well-delivered by Table 19.  

 *the photo is from the trailer, not mine.

[bythisguy]

Film Review: “Paper Man” (2009)

           Kieran and Michele Mulroney’s “Paper Man” surprises in a subtle yet effective way; it’s filled with wit and reality that strikes slowly but surely. There are films that make people introspect parts of their lives or others’ which they all tend to overlook frequently, films that would remind viewers of what their lives are like from outside if they look in, and this one’s mine.

            The lead characters Richard Dunn (Jeff Daniels) and Abby (Emma Stone) made it easy for the film to be relatable and captivating for what they needed wasn’t that complicated but the process surely was. The film circled around how they needed each other’s company at their particular circumstances—with Richard having a long-term marital crisis and is also struggling with starting his second novel, and Abby settling for, as she calls him, a Chicken-Shit type of guy and living in the present even with many ghosts from the past. Both of them are friendless growing up which taught them to befriend themselves and make imaginary friends instead. And the latter is the soul of the story especially Richard’s Captain Excellent (Ryan Reynolds) who’s undoubtedly a reminder of youth to everyone even those who didn’t take their imaginary pals seriously.

           The screenplay was smoothly consistent with its rawness and sincerity as it aims to generate genuine emotions such as the scenes of Richard’s realization of their embarrassingly easy life, as he’d put it, and his struggles boarding on the adulthood train. Giving the imaginary people feelings was also commendable; it made me think of my imaginary person who is actually unlike Richard and Abby’s because I don’t consider mine that good however, the film has shown that like real people imaginary ones are also different from each other.  

            As a viewer I definitely had a connection with the film even though it contains a different conflict because it still squeezes out that same feeling of unhappiness we’ve all once felt out of desperation in pursuit of something. Paper Man did gently reflect the sure benefits of moving forward with the uncertainty of opening up more to the world filled with opportunities, and of opening up alone.  

*the photo is from the trailer, not mine.

[bythisguy]

Film Review: “Irrational Man” (2015)

               What makes an authentic human being? It’s a question whose answer’s not as easy as it seems. However, Woody Allen’s “Irrational Man” defined it through Abe Lucas (Joaquin Phoenix) in a way that is, indeed, universally irrational except in Abe’s terms.  

                Lucas is a new philosophy professor at Braylin College. As he entered a new environment to which his background's not a secret, he was totally not anyone's everyday man. Up his sleeves are his past experiences that shaped his present self—mysterious and radical. The traits which piqued Jill Pollard’s (Emma Stone) interest, one of his students, and is obvious with her constant blabber about him to many especially his boyfriend. Upon getting to know each other more, Jill clearly got smitten to Lucas. Eventually, Lucas and Jill developed a relationship to which Lucas was resistant at first and that ended Jill's non-exclusive relationship with her current boyfriend.

               One afternoon, as the two were dining at a restaurant, they overheard a conversation in a table behind theirs in which a woman was weeping as she shares her despair having a legal battle within her family. When the woman uttered her wish for the opposing judge to get cancer out of rage, it triggered Lucas to take a collateral action to the woman’s wish—the judge’s death. He secretly orchestrated a plan driven to make a better world with one less vermin that makes the world an extra hell for all of us, as he’d put it. After setting the plan in motion, Lucas succeeded by all means; the judge's dead, and no one even suspected of his involvement.

               Lucas avoided any circumstance that would put his secret out in the open. Nevertheless, he was unapologetic as he hopped-scotch with hidden amusement throughout the minefield, so to speak. After a series of hints, it was only a matter of time for Jill to find out which she confronted Lucas about as soon as she did. Nothing was resolved after their first argument, but when someone was accused of the murder, Jill was infuriated, and fiercely told Lucas that if he wouldn't take action, she will. The film's ending was really the defining moment of both Abe and Jill; it had put the final layer of who they are while wrapping up the whole film perfectly as well.

               I got this hunch that the film was either hurried or just strategically sewn together with tiny parts of few scenes intently disregarded in order to go straight to the point. Whichever it is, it didn't pull down the value of this philosophy porn.

               Woody Allen's script is thoroughly sincere in its message brilliantly conveyed through Phoenix and Stone’s seasoned acting chops. For a film that invokes philosophy, “Irrational Man” doesn’t take itself seriously with its no-nonsense scenes framed like it’s just a sitcom mirroring what Abe’s mind was like when he committed murder or as he would put it, just making a choice he believed in.

*the photo is from the trailer, not mine. 

[bythisguy]

Why the question “Where do you see yourself in ten years?” isn’t applicable for me.

         First of all, this post is meant to make those who are in wealth of careers and/or passion feel good about themselves.

         It’s one thing not to know what we want to do for a living when we were still in the prepubescent stage, but not yet knowing it when we’re supposed to board on the adulthood train is another. See, I’m a fresh graduate from a university with a trimestral system where I finished my studies before I knew it by the age of 18. I never actually knew the weight of finishing my studies till this episode of my life where it’s being shoved to my soul on a daily basis. I want to do something about it to show life that I get it, but I don’t think life gets me. And at this point, I’m not even disappointed about it.

         I’m not a planless person as I appear to be right now, I’m just clueless on what to do first. I plan to be happy in the future and it doesn’t get any more specific than that but most Homo sapiens doesn’t give a fart about that since they’re looking for a career-wise answer. If I become king, I’d make it a rule to not ask more questions if the only answer people respond to that question is “to be happy” because clearly, they haven’t figured it out yet or maybe they’re more focused on the state of happiness than career. One could have a stable and high-paying job but still isn’t completely happy. Exhibit A, Season 1: Chandler Bing.

         I really can’t stand people who underestimate the value of happiness. But, anyway, to answer that question in terms of career, in ten years, I see myself as an influential theater and/or film actor. Why? Because that’s what makes me feel alive, being on stage and/or camera acting and pretending to be someone else – in an intentional and good way, of course. And hopefully by then, I’m still running this blog, which would be stronger than ever, to be the other medium of my purpose: influence. However, as I said, I value happiness so much that I don’t agree with the “Career = Happiness” idea because, actually, no matter how I think I would be happy being an actor one day, I’m not eager to achieve it. And that’s where my inability of answering the question “Where do you see yourself in ten years?” dawns. Imagine, if I’m not that eager to achieve the career I want to have the most, what more with my other options? It’s all because of my obsession with the concept of happiness.

         So, for those who are happy with their careers, and are passionate about something, continue being that, pursue. And be grateful for that because at least you know where you’re headed unlike me chasing happiness without a map or a compass or anything, just me with a transparent blindfold – I can see all that there is to see but not where and what I’m supposed to be.

         Perhaps, in the succeeding months/years, my entrees in this blog would disclose my definition/s of happiness and maybe by then, my map towards it is already materializing, but for now, I’ll just stay here in my parent’s bedroom and rewatch a show about a man searching for his definition of happiness: Ted Mosby.

[bythisguy]

My journal would hate me for this.

         Greetings, Internet!

         As much as I hate what you've done to today's society, I will not be a hypocrite, and say I don't enjoy your company most of the time, especially your few sites worth spending time with, like 9GAG. That's right.

         I tried starting a blog before but I was busy back then, and short on ideas to write about given that my hands are full with college responsibilities. I hate my busy self. Whenever I'm busy, it's like no other things matter anymore but the work I'm focused on (take note of that, future employers). I never hated school for its nature of changing students for either the better or worse, all I wanted when I was working hard to finish my studies was to seriously finish my studies.

         Hitting fast forward to almost three months after I graduated, and here I am, doing what I hate the second-most -- manning our water station. Actually, it's still on my list but I don't hate it at the moment since I have no reason not to do it unlike before when I had student duties. What excuse do I have right now? Movies? Books? TV Series? More sleep? Petty. So petty for parents who are workaholics despite an injured leg and aging. So here I am, being a good son.

         I'm also currently waiting for a call from the company I just applied for this week. Waiting whether I'm hired or not, and preparing my explanation of the withdrawal of my application if ever I'm hired. They said they'd be calling today about the results, and I hope that there would be no reason for me to explain anything because I will not be hired in the first place. Besides, I don't think they liked me after the whole interview happened. Although, it's fine. It actually made me rethink what I'm supposed to be doing right now. I'm just about to start a career and I'm already this tired emotionally and mentally. What more when my career finally unfolds? I can wait. Just, please, do come.

         I think this has already much character for an introductory blog post. But, I still have more to say so, I'll proceed. What a wasteful paragraph.

         My journal would hate me for this. I know an online blog and a journal could be both different and/or the same. It's not like I'm abandoning my journal, I just think that it wouldn't be bad to have readers. I'm not one of those self-involved teenagers who share their outfits, selfies, bank accounts, and more online as though someone's life depends on it or those dumb ones tweeting "jgh" when they just got home as if it's a time sheet and their not-signing-up would be considered an absence to life. Believe me, I'm not one of those. I'm here to share random things that could be helpful to anyone. "to anyone" is the operational word, so if you don't find it helpful, don't shit on me for I didn't say "to everyone". I'm just looking forward to be an outlet of information, entertainment, and inspiration through the randomness of this blog.

         I solemnly swear to Batman that this blog would not be just about me but more on my opinions/stories that could really be helpful to anyone. And I hope to give you the feeling of reading a good book from my posts. So basically, I'm a self-proclaimed author without a novel to write but life topics to scribble about. Well, I don't know if all will be meaningful and helpful but, human, take your chances! I'm not a promising type just wait till I deliver.